Italy holds nerve to reach BJK Cup final
IT WAS far from easy for the Italian Billie Jean King (BJK) Cup side, with the reigning runners-up having to overcome a fierce challenge from Poland to books its place in the 2024 final. Having achieved the feat 12 months ago but fallen a win short of ultimate glory, the second ranked side will now […]
Brits Boult into BJK Cup quarters
GREAT Britain will have the chance to test itself against world number ones and reigning Billie Jean King (BJK) Cup champion Canada after sweeping Germany in the first round of the BJK Cup Finals overnight. Taking place in Malaga Spain, Great Britain needed just over three hours to secured the victory with a full-strength squad […]
2024 BJK Cup Finals preview
TWELVE teams remain in the hunt for the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup title, which kicks off overnight with the first of the knockout matches. While four nations – Canada, Australia, Czech Republic and Italy – have a first round bye, another eight are battling it out to reach the quarter finals. We take a […]
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 […]
Zheng zips into Wuhan quarters
PROVIDING a local chance in the final four, fifth seed Qinwen Zheng overcame Leylah Fernandez for the first time in three meetings. The Chinese hope has reached the last eight in her past three tournaments, being the US Open, China Open and now Wuhan Open, the latest coming from a huge 5-7 6-3 6-0 triumph […]
Tenacious Tomova fends off match points in Wuhan
BULGARIAN 29-year-old Viktoriya Tomova has snatched victory from the jaws of defeat after surving four match points against during a frantic second set tiebreaker to defeat young American Ashlyn Krueger in Wuhan overnight. The WTA Tour 1000 event’s second day saw the world number 48 come back from 3-6 down in the second set tiebreaker […]
Alcaraz brilliant best in Beijing sees off Sinner
IT WAS built up as a box office clash, and the two best players in the world delivered a match worthy of the pre-game hype. Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz – who will regain second spot in the world after making the final – fought through an incredible display of power and skill from a cramping […]
Beggars belief in Beijing with upsets galore
THREE of the four Round of 16 matches in Beijing produced a trio of massive upsets overnight, with the only one not following suit being a mid-match retirement to former number one Naomi Osaka. The Japanese star was a set and a break up on young gun and fellow Grand Slam winner Coco Gauff, before […]
Osaka cruises towards Coco in Beijing
TWO Grand Slam winners will face off in the fourth round of the China Open after former world number one Naomi Osaka raced through to the Round of 16 following a 6-3 6-2 triumph over American Katie Volynets. The Japanese star will now set her sights on Coco Gauff in what promises to be a […]
Best local hope breezes into Beijing third round
WORLD number seven Qinwen Zheng wasted no time asserting her authority on the second round match at her home WTA 1000 tournament, defeating Russian lucky loser Kamilla Rakhimova in an hour and 15 minutes, dropping just two games along the way. It was Zheng’s first career win at the event with plenty of support cheering […]