Mixed emotions as AO hopes find out path to glory
THE FIRST Grand Slam of 2025 is mere days away, and now everyone competing in the main draw knows who they are playing after the draw was conducted in Melbourne yesterday. In the women’s draw, some of the top five seeds got an easier draw than others. Top seed Aryna Sabalenka has got Sloane Stephens […]
Andreeva answers Ons challenge
TEENAGE talent Mirra Andreeva is through to the 2025 Brisbane International semi-finals after a hard-fought victory over her idol and returning Tunisian, Ons Jabeur. Andreeva never had it easy, but managed to shake off the former world number two 6-4 7-6 on Pat Rafter Arena to reach the final four of the WTA 500 event. […]
Birrell bolts into Brisbane quarters
NEW AUSSIE number one Kimberly Birrell is in career-best form and producing in her home state, with the German-born Queenslander cracking into double-digit rankings for the first time. The 26-year-old achieved the feat with yet another big win, this time over world number 35 Anastasia Potapova at the Brisbane International. Reaching the biggest quarter final […]
Azarenka overcomes Joint pain
TWO-TIME Australian Open winner Victoria Azarenka got more than she bargained for coming up against 18-year-old Australian wildcard Maya Joint, with the Belarusian former world number one needing three sets to shake off the fearless teenager at the Brisbane International. Though the 10th seed is also a two-time Brisbane International winner, she was the one […]
Jabeur makes winning start in Brisbane
AFTER a forgettable 2024 season, Tunisian Ons Jabeur kicked off her 2025 WTA Tour with a bang, fighting through a tough challenge against China’s Saisai Zheng at the Brisbane International last night. The 30-year-old slumped to 42nd in the world after being as high as second two years ago, following a frustrating 16-14 win-loss record […]
Slovakia sweeps Aussies in dominant performance
SLOVAKIA proved too strong for reigning semi-finalists Australia in the Billie Jean King (BJK) Cup overnight, denying the green and gold a place in the final four. After a tight first singles match, the Europeans easily destroyed Australia in the second with no need for the doubles and a spot in the semi-finals secured. Coming […]
WTA Tour winners: Lamens storms to maiden title
DUTCH qualifier Suzan Lamens is officially a WTA Tour title winner after defeating fellow qualifier Kimberly Birrell in a comprehensive 72-minute rout at the Japan Open overnight. Lamens had a tournament to remember, with the world number 125 ending up favourite in the final despite being a qualifier, destroying Birrell 6-0 6-4. There was always […]
Around the Tour: Upstaged in Antwerp; upsets galore
THERE was no shortage of upsets across multiple ATP and WTA Tour events overnight, but the major results came in Antwerp where three of the lower ranked players took out the top three seeds. In what was a dismantling day, number one seed Alex de Minaur, number two seed Stefanos Tsitsipas and number three seed […]
Around the Tour: Saito strikes in Osaka
PROMISING Japanese teenager Sara Saito is through to the quarter finals on WTA debut in her home tournament. The 18-year-old and former junior world number two upset talented fifth seed Elina Avanesyan to book her place in the last eight of the WTA Tour Japan Open. Saito had to work hard early, saving two set […]
Around the Tour: Saito strikes on debut in Osaka
JAPANESE teenager Sara Saito had a WTA Tour debut to remember, picking up an upset win over Spaniard Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in Osaka overnight. The junior girls world number two earned a wildcard into the WTA 250 event and played her first main draw match against the 22-year-old world number 62, coming away with the […]