2020 Hobart International preview: Can Mertens win her third title?
AFTER back-to-back wins from Belgium’s Elise Mertens, then-ranked world number 56 (now 14th) Sofia Kenin won her maiden title in Hobart, defeating 25 year-old Slovakian, Anna Schmiedlova. With Mertens returning and the clear standout in the $250k tournament, the number one seed will also be joined by a host of players ranked in the top […]
Shenzhen Open: Day 4 wrap – First seed Bencic sent packing in first round
DAY 4 of the Shenzhen Open saw plenty of key matchups, with four matches in the Round of 16 taking place while the final two matches saw two players proceed to the second round, knocking first seed Belinda Bencic out in the process. Meanwhile, China did not have a good day, with four players sent […]
2020 Shenzhen Open preview: Bencic rises as key challenger to Sabalenka’s title defence
SWITZERLAND’S top female player and top 10 talent, Belinda Bencic will lead the entrants at the 2020 Shenzhen Open in China. Also featuring a two-time Grand Slam winner, a couple of top 20 players and a eastern European young gun, there is plenty to like about the upcoming tournament. FAVOURITE: Bencic is one of the […]
Year in review – 2019: Kiki Bertens
THIS year was an important break-even year for 28-year-old Kiki Bertens. The Dutchwoman was able to maintain her ninth placed ranking at year’s end, having moved up into the top 10 in 2018 after previously being ranked no higher than 18 prior to that. Rank: #9 Wins: 55 Losses: 26 Titles: 2 Prize Money: $4,208,026 […]
Year in review – 2019: Belinda Bencic
THE past 12 months have been a rapid rise for Belinda Bencic, who went from a developing talent into a genuine top performer across the WTA Tour. She won just the two titles, but collected more than half of her career prize money, and upped her output to catapult herself into the top 10. Rank: […]
Barty party rolls on
WORLD number 1 Ash Barty added to her growing trophy cabinet and bank balance over the weekend with an impressive performance against reigning champion Elina Svitolina. It was a convincing performance by the Aussie, dismissing Svitolina in two sets 6-4, 6-3 to take home the WTA title. It is the first time in five years […]
Osaka’s shoulder gives Bertens opportunity
A SHOULDER injury to world number three, Naomi Osaka threw a curveball into the Shiseido WTA Finals, with Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens taking her spot in the Red Group to ensure play continued. Remarkably, she not only showed that she was a worthy fill-in, but stunned world number one, Ash Barty by defeating her 3-6 6-3 […]
Svitolina strikes in first round of WTA Finals
REIGNING champions, Elina Svitolina has shown she is far from making at the numbers at the Shiseido WTA Finals, with a straight sets win over world number two, Karolina Pliskova. While the world number eight may have only just secured a pot at the Finals after dropping places down to number eight, she far outweighed […]
Sabalenka continues Chinese fortune
BELARUSSIAN sixteenth ranked Aryna Sabalenka has moved up two spots after down top 10 Dutch talent, Kiki Bertens in the final of the Hengqin Life WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai. It was Sabalenka’s third singles title of the year, remarkably all of which have come in China. The Hengqin Life WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai is a […]
