2021 Yarra Valley Classic WTA preview: Barty returns in star-studded tournament
WORLD number one Ash Barty will make her return to the WTA Tour after 10 months off, coming in as top seed at the brand new 2021 Yarra Valley Classic. The 54-player event will feature four Top 10 players, and 16 inside the Top 50, in what is expected to be an entertaining week of […]
Is Kazakhstan an underrated tennis nation?
WHEN many think of strong up-and-coming tennis nations, countries such as the United States, Australia, Italy and Russia come to mind, but when it comes to quality over quantity and over both the ATP and WTA Tours, it is hard to discount Kazakhstan as an underrated nation. The country that is best known for the […]
Top seed bundled out as past Grand Slam winners step up in Ostrava
TOP seed Elina Svitolina is out of the Ostrava Open with her season seemingly now over on a low note, going down to Greek sensation, Maria Sakkari in straight sets. With just one international tournament remaining in the year on the WTA Tour, Svitolina looks to have ended her season with the second round exit […]
Qualifers continue to rule as three top 30 players knocked out in Ostrava
THERE were plenty of upsets to pick from on the latest day at the Ostrava Open, though the three-set win by 75th ranked Russian qualifier Daria Kasatkina against top 20 talent Elena Rybakina might have been the pick of the bunch. The 23-year-old Russian has achieved a lot more than many might expect of her […]
2020 WTA Ostrava Open preview: Elite players return for last Premier event
CZECH Republic will play host to a brand new WTA Tour tournament designed to extend the season after the entire Asian season – including the WTA Finals – was abandoned due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead what that means is this is arguably the last chance for many players to run out on court in […]
Jabeur continues Grand Slam form with Sabalenka upset
TUNISIA’S Ons Jabeur is through to the fourth round of the French Open after knocking out eighth seed Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka in three sets. The 30th seed reached the quarter finals of the Australian Open earlier this year, and could be in line to reach that feat again if she can overcome Danielle Collins in […]
Pliskova sisters downed as Ostapenko returns at full strength
DAY five at the Roland Garros saw the second day of Round of 64 action, with the women’s draw continuing to produce some intriguing results. Three more seeds fell to lower ranked opposition as the draw continues to heat up, with second seed Karolina Pliskova upset in straight sets by a tenacious Jelena Ostapenko, while […]
Teenager Tauson wins on Grand Slam debut as Pliskova and Kenin challenged
DAY three of the 2020 Roland Garros saw the remainder of the Round of 128 finish up their matches, with some predictable top seeds in Karolina Pliskova, Sofia Kenin and Aryna Sabalenka making their way through to the second round although the former two had to fight back after strong showings from their opposition. The […]
Putintseva survives against Rybakina in come-from-behind all-Kazakh triumph
YULIA Putintseva has stunned the Internazionali BNL d’Italia with a remarkable come-from-behind victory over fellow Kazakh, Elena Rybakina. The world number 30 faced a 4-6 2-5 deficit against the world number 18 and 10th seed, but found a way to fight back and win 4-6 7-6 6-2 to book her spot in the quarter finals. […]
Kenin outclassed by relentless Azarenka
A HUGE upset was the story of the day at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, with third seed Sofia Kenin going down in straight sets to in-form Belarusian Victoria Azarenka. While Azarenka has been in excellent form, making two straight finals in New York – winning one by default – it was not the fact that […]
