Tennis News Update

Night fever The review's coming over all 50/50. For the third night running it was the men who were given pride of place for the night match. This time it was top seed and defending champion Novak Djokovic against the local hero Pierre-Hugues Herbert. None of the women's ties of the day were deemed box-office enough by the French tennis federation and Prime Video, the outfit which broadcasts the night match. Since we're only at Day 3 and there's lots of time to go, we're not going yet going to retitle the "Under the lights" session "What about equal rights" session. We're giving it a couple of days. Patience Clearly the review has been suddenly imbued with patience. What has happened? Must have something to do with gratitude that we were able to watch matches on Court Philippe Chatrier while thousands cowered from the showers that visited the Roland Garros stadium for the first five hours of the playing day. Action got going on the courts at ...

Paris, France - The 2024 Roland Garros, one of the most prestigious Grand Slam events, has kicked off with some thrilling matches in the Women’s Singles category. Here are the highlights of the first three results: Match 1: Donna Vekic vs Tsurenko The tournament started with a high-intensity match between Donna Vekic and Tsurenko. Vekic, known for her powerful serves and aggressive baseline play, started the match on a high note. She quickly took the lead with a series of well-placed shots, putting Tsurenko on the back foot. However, Tsurenko, a seasoned player with a reputation for her tactical game, did not give up easily. She fought back with a series of impressive rallies, pushing Vekic to her limits. The match was evenly poised at 6-5 in favor of Vekic when Tsurenko had to retire due to an unfortunate injury. This win marks a strong start for Vekic in the tournament. Match 2: Wang Yu vs Timofeeva The second match of the day featured Wang Yu against Timofeeva. Wang Yu, a rising sta...

Strasbourg, France - The Internationaux de Strasbourg, a premier WTA500 event, concluded on Saturday, 25 May 2024, with American tennis star Madison Keys clinching the title in a commanding fashion. In the final showdown at the Patrice Dominguez venue, Keys faced off against fellow American, Danielle Collins. Displaying a masterclass of power and precision, Keys dominated the match, securing a straight-sets victory with a scoreline of 6-1, 6-2. Keys’ performance throughout the tournament was nothing short of spectacular. In the semifinals, she defeated Russia’s Liudmila Samsonova with a score of 6-1, 6-3, showcasing her formidable skills and determination. On the other side of the draw, Collins had a remarkable run to the finals. She overcame Ukraine’s Anhelina Kalinina in the semifinals with a score of 7-6, 6-2. Despite her valiant efforts in the final, Collins was unable to overcome the relentless force of Keys. The Internationaux de Strasbourg has once again proven to be a thrilling...

Peyton Stearns had to survive a couple marathon matches to make this week's Grand Prix Son Altesse Royale La Princesse Lalla Meryem final, but it was a very different story on Saturday, where she eased to her first WTA singles title. The 22-year-old American Stearns, ranked World No.81, defeated 66th-ranked Mayar Sherif of Egypt 6-2, 6-1 in 1 hour and 12 minutes to capture her maiden trophy on tour. Comeback complete: Stearns battled through two narrow victories in the past two days to squeak into Saturday's championship match -- her second tour-level final after a runner-up showing at 2023 Bogota. In the quarterfinals, 2022 NCAA champion Stearns trailed defending champion Lucia Bronzetti 5-0 in the third set, but the American reeled off the next seven games to make a 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 escape, saving two match points in the process. Then in the semifinals, Stearns had to grind through a 3-hour and 15-minute clash with Viktoriya Tomova, eventually prevailing 6-7(6), 7-5, 7-6(4). Tha...

Red-hot Danielle Collins continued her torrid run with a semifinal victory Friday and will face fellow American Madison Keys in the championship match of the Internationaux de Strasbourg in France on Saturday. The third-seeded Collins had 31 winners while cruising to a 7-6 (3), 6-2 victory in 99 minutes over Ukraine's Anhelina Kalinina for her 22th victory in her past 24 matches. Collins will be looking for her third title of the season Saturday after earlier winning back-to-back events in Miami and Charleston. Keys, the No. 4 seed, converted 6 of 10 break points in her 6-1, 6-3 victory over fifth-seeded Russian Liudmila Samsonova. Keys finished the match in 67 minutes. She will be seeking her eighth career title. Collins and Keys have split two previous meetings. Collins won the last one in 2020 in Brisbane, Australia. The match against Collins was the second of the day for Kalinina. She earlier upset top-seeded Czech Marketa Vondrousova 5-7, 6-3, 6-2 in a quarterfinal match that ...

Top 20 players Danielle Collins, Liudmila Samsonova and Madison Keys dodged the rain on Thursday as they all cruised into the Internationaux de Strasbourg semifinals. No.3 seed Collins was the day's last winner, getting past Clara Burel, 6-1, 6-3. With this win, former World No.7 Collins is projected to return to the Top 10 in Monday's updated rankings. Earlier, No.5 seed Samsonova was the first victor of the day, toppling No.2 seed Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-3, 6-0 after 1 hour and 29 minutes of play. No.4 seed Keys also reached the final four with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Magda Linette. Keys had to overcome a near five-hour rain interruption which started at 4-1 in the first set.  The fourth quarterfinal, between No.1 seed Marketa Vondrousova and Anhelina Kalinina, was postponed to Friday morning. The winner of that match will come back later on Friday to face Collins in the semifinals. Barring any additional weather delays, Keys will play Samsonova in Friday's semifinals of th...

After Tuesday's near-total rainout, Wednesday was a busy day for second-round matches at the Internationaux de Strasbourg. Here's a breakdown of the day's early matches as the quarterfinal lineup at the WTA 500 clay-court event took shape: Haddad Maia advances: No.2 seed Beatriz Haddad Maia of Brazil moved into the quarterfinals with a 6-4, 7-6(1) victory over Emma Navarro. In the early-round clash between Top 25 players, the Brazilian took the win in 2 hours and 16 minutes. Haddad Maia has yet to make a WTA singles final on clay, but she did post a historic result for Brazil at Roland Garros last year, where she reached her first Grand Slam semifinal. In the quarterfinals, Haddad Maia will face No.5 seed Liudmila Samsonova, in their first meeting. Samsonova was the only player to complete a match on rainy Tuesday. Keys continues clay surge: No.4 seed Madison Keys dismissed Wang Xinyu 7-5, 6-0 to clinch a spot in the quarterfinals. Keys was broken in the first game of the m...

Rain played havoc with the schedule at the Internationaux de Strasbourg on Tuesday, with only one second-round match being completed. No.5 seed Liudmila Samsonova ends the day as the only player into the quarterfinals, by virtue of her 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 comeback over Leylah Fernandez. "I think it was an unbelievable match today," Samsonova said afterwards. "I was 6-4, 2-0 down, so it was not easy to come back from that, and I found the game, so I’m really, really happy." The other matches initially scheduled for Tuesday -- No.3 seed Danielle Collins vs. Katerina Siniakova, Fiona Ferro vs. Anhelina Kalinina, and No.7 seed and defending champion Elina Svitolina vs. Clara Burel -- were all postponed to Wednesday, after rain delayed Tuesday's start of play by six hours. Samsonova surges: World No.19 Samsonova and 33rd-ranked Fernandez started their match well into the afternoon, and it hit a brief snag when the rain returned at 4-4 in the first set. That interruption la...

For the second event in a row, Iga Swiatek battled Aryna Sabalenka in a WTA 1000 final, and much like in Madrid, the Polish player won again, this time at the 2024 Italian Open in Rome. The final in Madrid was a spectacular match that went the distance and saw the Belarusian not use three match points. She also put together a solid week of tennis in Rome but admitted before the final that she dealt with some injury problems. The top seed, on the other hand, had no such problems as she continued her tremendous run in Rome with convincing wins. She was the favorite in this match because it was played on a court that favored her more than the one in Madrid. That certainly proved true on the tennis courts because Sabalenka was really no match for her. There is a good chance her injury impacted her level as well, but for the most part, it was just Swiatek being the more comfortable player on such a court. The opening set was a pretty easy 6-2 win for the world no. 1 which was impressive bec...

  ROME, ITALY   - In a stunning upset at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia 2024, also known as the WTA 1000 Rome, Irina-Camelia Begu, ranked 161 in the WTA, defeated Elise Mertens, the 27th seed, in a Round of 32 match on Sunday, 12 May 2024. Match Highlights Begu dominated the match from the outset, winning the first set 6-2. She continued her strong performance into the second set, not dropping a single game and closing out the match with a 6-0 victory. The match, which lasted for about an hour and 20 minutes, showcased Begu’s impressive form and determination. A Significant Victory This victory was particularly significant for Begu, who has been working her way up the rankings. Despite being ranked 161 in the WTA at the time, she showed no signs of intimidation against Mertens, who was the 27th seed. This win allowed Begu to advance to the round of 16, marking a major milestone in her career. Looking Ahead With this victory, Begu has proven that she can compete with the best ...

  ROME   - Defending champion   Elena Rybakina   has withdrawn from the   Internazionali BNL d’Italia   (also known as the   WTA1000 Rome 2024 ) due to illness. She was replaced in the women’s singles draw by   Océane Dodin . In a statement, Rybakina expressed her disappointment, “I am disappointed to have to withdraw from Rome this year, but unfortunately I do not feel well enough to compete. I have such good memories from last year and was looking forward to defending my title. Rome is so special to me, and I look forward to being back next year to reclaim my title and play in front of the Italian fans.” Rybakina had been in fine form throughout the clay-court swing, defeating  Iga Swiatek  en route to winning the  Porsche Tennis Grand Prix  in Stuttgart and pushing  Aryna Sabalenka  to a third-set tiebreaker in the semifinals of the  Mutua Madrid Open . However, she had been suffering from allergies in Rome an...

  In a thrilling encounter on the third day of the WTA1000 Rome 2024 tournament,   Anastasia Potapova   (23) emerged victorious against China’s rising star   Wang Xiyu   (23). Match Overview The match was a display of sheer determination and skill from both players. However, it was Potapova who managed to seize the day with her powerful serves and precise groundstrokes. The final scoreline read  6-1, 7-5  in favor of Potapova. First Set: Potapova Dominates Potapova started the match on a high note, taking the first set  6-1 . She dominated the court with her aggressive play and strategic shot placement, leaving Wang struggling to keep up. Potapova’s serves were particularly effective, putting pressure on Wang right from the start. Second Set: A Close Contest The second set saw a more determined Wang, who put up a tough fight. Despite trailing behind in the first set, Wang showed remarkable resilience and managed to give Potapova a run for her mone...

  As the sun set on the second day of the ATP Rome 2024, the historic Foro Italico was alive with the sounds of intense competition and the applause of tennis enthusiasts. The day’s matches were a testament to the players’ skill and determination, with each athlete pushing their limits in pursuit of victory. Dominik Koepfer vs. Andrea Vavassori: A Battle of Wills The Grand Stand Arena bore witness to a gripping encounter between Dominik Koepfer and Andrea Vavassori. Koepfer, known for his aggressive baseline play, took an early lead, securing the first set  6-4 . As the second set unfolded, he continued to apply pressure, extending his lead to  3-0 . Vavassori, cheered on by the home crowd, fought valiantly but struggled to match Koepfer’s intensity. Rinky Hijikata vs. Jaume Munar: Youth vs. Experience The youthful exuberance of Rinky Hijikata clashed with the seasoned clay-court expertise of Jaume Munar. Hijikata, fresh off a string of impressive performances, took the f...

  The Eternal City’s prestigious tennis event, the WTA 1000 Rome 2024, continued to captivate audiences worldwide with its second day of action-packed matches. The clay courts of the Foro Italico witnessed a series of thrilling encounters as top-seeded players and rising stars battled for a spot in the next round. Osaka’s Composure Under Pressure Naomi Osaka, the former world number one, showcased her championship pedigree by overcoming a challenging first set against Clara Burel. Osaka’s powerful groundstrokes and composed play under pressure saw her through to a convincing  7-6(2), 6-1  victory. Her performance sent a clear message that she remains a formidable force on clay. Tsurenko’s Gritty Comeback Lesia Tsurenko, known for her tenacity, displayed her fighting spirit in a nail-biting match against Donna Vekic. After splitting the first two sets, Tsurenko dug deep to clinch the match in a closely contested tiebreak, winning  6-2, 3-6, 7-6(5) . The Ukrainian’s re...

In a captivating opening match at the WTA1000 Rome 2024 tournament, Elina Avanesyan emerged victorious against Cristina Bursca in a thrilling contest that showcased the essence of tennis competition. With a final score of 7-6, 6-0, 7-5, Avanesyan's performance captivated spectators and set the stage for what promises to be an exhilarating tournament. The anticipation was palpable as Avanesyan and Bursca stepped onto the court for their first-round encounter. Both players were eager to make their mark and set the tone for the tournament ahead. From the first serve, it was clear that fans were in for a treat as Avanesyan and Bursca engaged in a back-and-forth battle that kept everyone on the edge of their seats. The first set unfolded with intense exchanges and moments of brilliance from both players. Avanesyan showcased her resilience and shot-making prowess, while Bursca matched her stride for stride, refusing to concede an inch. As the set progressed, neither player was able to ga...