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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Shocks galore as Noskova steamrolls Badosa
IT WAS chaos for seeded players everywhere in Abu Dhabi, with the Round of 16 seeing four higher ranked chances bow out and another on the ropes before turning it around. The most comprehensive wins of those upsets went to young Czech Linda Noskova who stormed pst second seed and world number 10 Paula Badosa […]
Ons-wards and upwards for Jabeur in Abu Dhabi
FORMER world number two Ons Jabeur kick-started her Abu Dhabi campaign with a hard-fought win over former Roland Garros champion Jelena Ostapenko 7-6 7-5, to reach the second round of the WTA 500 event. Jabeur suffered knee and shoulder injuries last season that bookended her 2024 campaign and saw her freefall down the rankings. Much […]
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 […]
