All Alexandr-ova for Sabalenka in Doha
IT WAS the result no one saw coming. Despite winning in Linz a fortnight ago, Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova was given little to no hope of beating the best hardcourt player in the world in Aryna Sabalenka in Doha, but then the world number 26 tore up the script. In a match that had to be […]
Virtanen outlasts Korda in Marseille
FINLAND’S Otto Virtanen is through to the second round in Marseille after collecting the biggest win of his career. Defeating fifth seed Sebastian Korda, the top ranked Finn came back from a tiebreaker down to surge into the Round of 16 via a 6-7 7-6 6-4 victory in France. Virtanen hit 51 winners including 19 […]
Swiatek swishes past Sakkari as Doha history beckons
SEARCHING to make WTA Tour history in Doha, world number two Iga Swiatek‘s 2025 Qatar Open got off to a flying start by casting aside former Top 10 player Maria Sakkari in straight sets to reach the Round of 16. In a one-sided affair, the Polish star – who despite having one of the most […]
Parks piles on pain for Shnaider in Doha
AMERICAN qualifier Alycia Parks caused a huge boilover against 11th seed Diana Shnaider to reach the second round of the 2025 Qatar Open overnight. The hard-hitting but often inconsistent Parks smashed her way to victory as one of three unseeded players to knock off seeded opponents. Parks won 6-4 7-6 in 95 minutes, blowing her […]
Alcaraz expels Demon in Rotterdam final
WORLD number three Carlos Alcaraz picked up his 17th career ATP Tour title with a hard-fought three-set victory against new world number six, Alex de Minaur overnight. The Australian underdog – who was ranked eighth coming into the Rotterdam Open had not dropped a set all tournament, but was forced to take it to three […]
Demon destroys qualifier, next escape from Alcaraz
AUSSIE star Alex de Minaur is through to another ATP Tour final, defending his achievement from 12 months prior. The eighth ranked talent – who will officially move up to sixth post-tournament – proved too good for 23-year-old Italian Mattia Bellucci. Winning in quick fashion 6-1 6-2 in 67 minutes, de Minaur gave Bellucci no […]
2025 WTA Tour preview: Qatar Open
THE first of back-to-back WTA1000 tournaments kick off this week with the Qatar Open taking place in Doha. It follows on from the WTA500 event in Abu Dhabi, and concludes in Dubai the following week with a second WTA1000 event. We take a look at what to expect from the tournament. All eyes will be […]
Bencic blitzes past Krueger for ninth WTA title
SWISS star Belinda Bencic needed three sets, but the wildcard got the job done against American Ashlyn Krueger to secure her ninth WTA Tour title, and first as a mother. Bencic made a remarkable fast-tracked return since her maternity leave, starting in the lower ITF ranks, and now winning a WTA 500 title within six […]
Everybody (Bencic’s Back) in Abu Dhabi final
IT HAS been an incredible turnaround for former Top 5 player Belinda Bencic who in the space of a few months went from battling it out on the Challenger Tour to reaching a WTA 500 final, defeating a current Top 5 player en route to said final. The Swiss star stunned top seed Elena Rybakina […]
Paul avoids Dallas disaster with relieving win
IT WAS a mixed bag in Dallas for local hopes with two of the four seeded stars – on track to face off in the semi-finals – bowing out in the Round of 16. Fortunately for third seed Tommy Paul, he was able to shake off the fact he failed to serve out the match […]
Reigning Rybakina rolls Ons in Abu Dhabi
DEFENDING her 2024 Abu Dhabi WTA 500 title, top seed Elena Rybakina reached the final four of the event thanks to a hard-fought three-set victory over former world number two, Ons Jabeur. It was great signs for both players that Rybakina was able to pull through, while for the returning Jabeur after an injury-interrupted last […]
Brilliant Bellucci downs Daniil in Rotterdam
IT WAS an upset very few could have predicted, but Italian qualifier Mattia Bellucci knocked out second seeded Russian Daniil Medvedev from the ATP Rotterdam Open overnight. Having opportunities to do it in straight sets, the Italian eventually won 6-3 6-7 6-3 to book his spot in the quarter finals of the ATP 500 event. […]
