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 […]
Zheng seizes control to take out Uchijima in Tokyo
A DOMINANT purple patch when 5-4 down in the first set lit the flame of top seed Qinwen Zheng in Tokyo as the Chinese talent won the last nine games of the match against local hope Moyuka Uchijima to reach the Pan Pacific Open quarter finals. Uchijima took it up to Zheng early, was no […]
Katie Boults into Tokyo second round
BRITISH ninth seed Katie Boulter wasted no time in dismissing Australian qualifier Priscilla Hon to race into the Round of 16 at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo overnight. The sole seed in action, and only match that did not contain a local Japanese hope, Boulter needed just 77 minutes to get past Hon 6-1 […]
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: Ito crafts third straight upset
ADMITTING she has not got “any power” and she is “skinny”, Japanese qualifier Aoi Ito has made a name for herself in Osaka. The 188th ranked Japanese hope knows where her strengths and weaknesses lie, and focuses on what she can do, rather than she cannot, leading her to a quarter finals appearance in the […]
Experienced Erika wins battle of the Andreevas
DESPITE being ranked 51 spots lower in the world and only reaching the main draw of the Wuhan Open due to a lucky loser spot, Erika Andreeva crushed younger sister Mirra in the pair’s first ever professional match against one another. Three years her senior, Erika had won 33 of 57 matches coming into Wuhan, […]
Local hopes triumph in Wuhan
CHINESE duo Xinyu Wang and Yue Yuan both secured their spots in the second round of the Wuhan Open after first-up victories against opponents on Centre Court. The Chinese duo ranked 51st and 41st respectively were able to knock off American Caroline Dolehide and Frenchwoman Clara Burel in vastly different circumstances. While Wang was able […]
Raducanu rolls into Seoul quarters
BRITISH young gun Emma Raducanu is into the 2024 Korea Open quarter finals after putting away eighth seed and Seoul reigning runner-up Yue Yuan in straight sets. While the 6-4 6-3 defeat might appear as regulation, the match lasted two hours and four minutes and took Raducanu seven match points before closing out the contest. […]
