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☆ WTA Finals: How to watch and everything you need to know
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —After a season filled with absorbing storylines, the top players on tour will converge at the WTA Finals this week with the year-end No. After reaching at least the semifinals in every grand slam and winning the Australian Open, Sabalenka is currently the world No. 1 and will be joined by Wimbledon champion Markéta Vondroušová, US Open champion Coco Gauff, French Open champion Świątek, Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur, Elena Rybakina and US star Jessica Pegula. In one group Sabalenka, Rybakina, Pegula and Sakkari will face each other while Swiatek, Gauff, Jabeur and Vondrousova will play each other in the other. Sabalenka defeated Rybakina in the Australian Open earlier this year, while Rybakina exacted her revenge in the Indian Wells final.

Persons: Coco Gauff, Świątek, Markéta Vondroušová, Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, Swiatek, Emmanuel Wong, Muchová, Greece’s Maria Sakkari, Vondrousova, Sabalenka, Rybakina, “ I’m, ” Gauff, ” Coco Gauff, Gauff, Elise Mertens, Storm Hunter, Veronika Kudermetova Organizations: CNN, WTA, Tennis, Tennis Channel, Amazon Prime, Wimbledon, Świątek, Getty, Indian Wells, “ Locations: USA, Ireland, French, Indian, Cancun, Mexico, Guadalajara

☆ WTA roundup: Jelena Ostapenko upset in Seoul
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Wild card Dayeon Back, down 5-2 in the third set, rallied to beat second-seeded Jelena Ostapenko 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (4) in two hours, 13 minutes to advance. It was the first time two South Koreans won their opening matches in Seoul since 2013. 569, was able to force Ostapenko into long rallies, and the mistakes piled up for Ostapenko. In other first-round action, Liudmila Samsonova of Russia, fresh off her finals appearance in the China Open, continued her strong play with a 6-3, 6-3 defeat of Germany's Tatjana Maria. Another Russian, Kamilla Rakhimova, beat eighth seed Varvara Gracheva of France 6-3, 6-2, and Czech Linda Fruhvirtova topped seventh-seeded Peyton Stearns in three sets.

Persons: Jelena Ostapenko, Russia's Liudmila Samsonova, Florence, Jeong Jang, Sofia Kenin, Jang, Kenin, Jessica Pegula, Viktoria, Marie Bouzkova, Vera Zvonareva, Veronika Kudermetova, Zvonareva, Germany's Tatjana Maria, Daria Kasatkina of, Petra Martic, Laura Siegemund, Zhuoxuan Bai, Canadian Leylah Fernandez, Victoria, Fernandez, Anna Blinkova, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Martina Trevisan, Kamilla, Varvara Gracheva, Czech Linda Fruhvirtova, Peyton Stearns Organizations: National Tennis Center, Hana Bank, South Koreans, Ostapenko, Viktoria Hruncakova, WTA, China . Hong Kong, Victoria Azarenka, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Hana Bank Korea, Seoul, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Zhengzhou, Russia, Daria Kasatkina of Russia, Croatia, Germany, China . Hong, Canadian, Italy, France, Czech

☆ Swiatek on board with WTA's performance byes
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Shrivathsa Sridhar | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Byes are usually reserved for top seeds at events but the performance rule meant world number two Swiatek, who lost in the Tokyo quarters, went into the first round in China. World number one Aryna Sabalenka and number three Coco Gauff missed out on byes as they had not played since the U.S. Open. The Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo was a WTA 500 event, while the China Open is a WTA 1000 tournament. The WTA said it would continue to implement performance byes on a trial basis at its events during the rest of the season and throughout 2024, with adjustments made when required. Elena Rybakina pulled out of last week's Pan Pacific Open citing fitness issues, days after slamming the women's governing body for the introduction of performance byes at the event.

Persons: Iga, Slovenia's Kaja Juvan, Brendan Mcdermid, Swiatek, Jessica Pegula, Maria Sakkari, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Veronika Kudermetova, Coco Gauff, it's, Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Sakkari, Caroline Garcia, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Peter Rutherford, Pritha Organizations: Tennis, Slovenia's Kaja Juvan REUTERS, Tokyo, U.S ., Pan, WTA, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Flushing Meadows , New York, United States, Tokyo, China, Guadalajara, Mexico, Bengaluru

☆ Sinner powers past Alcaraz to book Beijing final with Medvedev
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Earlier, second seed Medvedev had an easier than expected 6-4 6-3 semi-final win over familiar rival Alexander Zverev. This was the fifth meeting between the pair this year and although Russian world number three Medvedev won three of the previous four, Zverev had won their most recent clash in Cincinnati. The American's frequent doubles partner Jessica Pegula also had to dig deep for a 6-7(2) 6-2 6-1 win over Anna Blinkova. The 29-year-old faces 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko seeking a fourth win in their fifth meeting. World number two Iga Swiatek progressed with a 6-4 6-1 win over Varvara Gracheva and fifth seed Elena Rybakina beat Tatjana Maria 7-5 6-0 after Ons Jabeur lost 7-6(5) 6-1 to Marta Kostyuk.

Persons: Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, Medvedev, Alexander Zverev, Zverev, I'm, Aryna Sabalenka, Katie Boulter, Jasmine Paolini, Sabalenka, Wells, Indian Wells, Coco Gauff, Croatia's Petra Martic, Veronika Kudermetova, Gauff, Martic, Jessica Pegula, Anna Blinkova, Pegula, Jelena Ostapenko, Iga Swiatek, Varvara Gracheva, Elena Rybakina, Tatjana Maria, Marta Kostyuk, Trevor Stynes, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: China, Tokyo, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, Russian, Cincinnati, Chengdu, Indian

☆ Flawless Kudermetova dismantles Pegula to claim Tokyo title
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

It was Kudermetova's second win over Pegula this season - following her victory in the Madrid quarter-finals - and a fifth win in her last six matches against top-10 opponents. It's my second title and I'm proud of myself," said Kudermetova, whose previous title was also a WTA 500 crown at Charleston in 2021. "I prepared myself for a tough match as Jessica is a great player and a great fighter... Pegula counted the positives after a good week in which she did not drop a set until the final. "It's always great to give yourself a chance to win the tournament," Pegula said.

Persons: Russia's Veronika Kudermetova, Jessica Pegula, Androniki, Veronika Kudermetova, Iga, I'm, Jessica, It's, Pegula, Aryna, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina, Shrivathsa Sridhar, William Mallard, Michael Perry Organizations: Pan, Ariake, U.S, REUTERS, Rights, Pan Pacific, Charleston, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, American, Russian, Madrid, Beijing, Cancun , Mexico, Bengaluru

☆ Pegula books clash with Kudermetova in Tokyo final
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The 29-year-old American, gunning for her second title of the season following her triumph in Montreal, will take on Russian Veronika Kudermetova on Sunday. The pair traded breaks early in the second set before Pegula stepped up the pressure again, firing a sizzling forehand winner en route to a 4-2 lead. Pegula finished the job when she forced Sakkari into making a mistake from the back of the court. Earlier, Kudermetova outlasted former French Open runner-up Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 7-6(6) 6-7(2) 6-3 in a gruelling battle lasting three hours and 25 minutes to make her second final of the season. "But today I'm really happy that I managed to win the match and to be in the final."

Persons: Jessica Pegula, Greece's Maria Sakkari, Androniki, Maria Sakkari, gunning, Russian Veronika Kudermetova, Pegula, Sakkari, Kudermetova, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Roland Garros, Shrivathsa Sridhar, William Mallard Organizations: Pan, Ariake, Greece's Maria Sakkari REUTERS, Rights, Pan Pacific, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan, United, Montreal, Russian, Guadalajara, Bengaluru

☆ WTA roundup: Top seed Iga Swiatek survives in Tokyo
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Swiatek rallied from 4-1 down in the first set and squandered a 5-1 lead in the second set before prevailing in just over two hours. 8 seed Veronika Kudermetova of Russia, who defeated Kayla Day 6-3, 6-3 in second-round action at the WTA 500 event. 7 seed Liudmila Samsonova fell in straight sets to fellow Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova, 6-4, 6-2. 1 seed Ons Jabeur of Tunisia eased into the quarterfinals in Ningbo, China, with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Germany's Tamara Korpatsch. 4 Anna Blinkova of Russia 6-3, 3-6, 6-1.

Persons: Iga Swiatek, Slovenia's Kaja Juvan, Brendan Mcdermid, Mai Hontama, Swiatek, Veronika Kudermetova, Kayla Day, Jessica Pegula, Spain's Cristina Bucsa, Liudmila Samsonova, Ekaterina Alexandrova, Germany's Tamara Korpatsch, Jabeur, Russia's Vera Zvonareva, Clara Tauson, Dane, Katerina Siniakova, Linda Fruhvirtova, Anna Blinkova, Lucia Bronzetti, Nadia Podoroska Organizations: Slovenia's Kaja Juvan REUTERS, Pan, WTA, Thomson Locations: Flushing Meadows , New York, United States, Poland, Tokyo, Russia, Ningbo, Jabeur, Tunisia, China, Czech, Romania, Italy, Argentina

☆ WTA roundup: Russian teen wins opener at Guangzhou
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Shnaider won six straight games in the first set and came back from a 2-0 hole in the second set to win in 75 minutes. Denmark's Clara Tauson eliminated Fruhvirtova 6-2, 7-6 (6). In other second-round matches, Martina Trevisan upset 15th-seeded Jasmine Paolini 7-5, 6-2 in an all-Italian matchup, and seventh-seeded Veronika Kudermetova of Russia downed Canada's Eugenie Bouchard 6-2, 6-7 (4), 6-4. Colombia's Emiliana Arango knocked out 11th-seeded Russian Anastasia Potapova 6-4, 6-3, and Italy's Camila Giorgi defeated Egypt's Mayar Sherif, the No. 14 seed, 7-5, 6-3.

Persons: Maria Sakkari, Russia's Diana Shnaider, Carl Recine, Diana Shnaider, Claire Liu, Shnaider, Liu's, Linda Fruhvirtova, Denmark's Clara Tauson, Magda Linette, Jodie Burrage, Minnen, Harriet Dart of, Akron Hailey, Karolina Pliskova, Baptiste, Pliskova, Martina Trevisan, Jasmine Paolini, Veronika Kudermetova, Canada's Eugenie Bouchard, Victoria, Caroline Dolehide, Emma Navarro, Sofia Kenin, Sachia Vickery, Colombia's Emiliana Arango, Anastasia Potapova, Italy's Camila Giorgi, Egypt's Mayar Sherif Organizations: Melbourne, Guangzhou, Harriet Dart of Great Britain, Guadalajara, Akron, D.C, WTA, Victoria Azarenka, Thomson Locations: Melbourne, Australia, China, Czech Republic, Poland, Britain, Spain, Belgium, Harriet Dart of Great, Akron Hailey Baptiste, Washington, Guadalajara, Mexico, Russia, Belarus, United States

☆ 2023 US Open women’s draw: everything you need to know
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-27 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —With the final grand slam of the season nearly upon us, there are plenty of storylines for fans to get excited about. In the women’s singles draw, a player hasn’t won back-to-back titles since Serena Williams won it three times in a row between 2012 and 2014. ESPN will be broadcasting the grand slam in the US – the 15th consecutive year it has done so. Home favoritesThere will be plenty of competitors for the home fans to get behind in the women’s singles draw. Although reigning champion Świątek comes into the tournament with another French Open title under her belt and is ranked world No.

Persons: hasn’t, Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Williams, Veronika Kudermetova, Paula Badosa, Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff –, Pegula, Gauff, Camila Giorgi, Jelena Ostapenko, Cameron Spencer, Caroline Wozniacki, Świątek, Emma Raducanu’s, Sabalenka, Belinda Bencic, Quinn Rooney, Aryna Sabalenka, Markéta Vondroušová, Elena Rybakina, Jabeur, Barbora Krejcikova, Daria Kasatkina, Zheng Qinwen Organizations: CNN, 143rd, ESPN, Sky Sports, Eurosport, US Tennis Association, Cincinnati Masters, Flushing, Belgian, Minnen, North, Washington D.C, & Southern, French, Wimbledon Locations: Flushing Meadows , New York, Europe, Flushing Meadows, North American, Montreal, Cincinnati

☆ Best of the rest: Another surprise in store in U.S. Open women's draw?
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-24 | by ( Aadi Nair | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

While her greatest success has come on grass, 2022 Wimbledon champion Rybakina's style can be devastating on hard courts, as she showed in some key clashes with major rivals on the surface this year. The 24-year-old beat Sabalenka in the Indian Wells final and got the better of Swiatek in straight sets at both the Australian Open and Indian Wells. Muchova will be feeling particularly confident, having reached the final of the Cincinnati Masters with wins over two top-10 ranked players -- Sabalenka and Sakkari. Muchova's compatriot Vondrousova will be hoping to build on her title-winning Wimbledon run, while two-time Wimbledon champion Kvitova is one of the most experienced players in the draw and will prove a tough test for any opponent. The presence of former world number ones Venus Williams and Caroline Wozniacki, who have been given wild cards by organisers, adds another layer of unpredictability to the draw.

Persons: Elena Rybakina, KAZ, Daria Kasatkina, David Kirouac, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Rybakina, Maria Sakkari, Sakkari, it's, Caroline Garcia, Garcia, Sloane Stephens, Marketa Vondrousova, Karolina Muchova, Petra Kvitova, Barbora Krejcikova, Marketa, Muchova, Vondrousova, Kvitova, Venus Williams, Caroline Wozniacki, Wozniacki, Williams, Veronika Kudermetova, Aadi Nair, Toby Davis Organizations: IGA, U.S, Wimbledon, Sabalenka, Indian Wells, Australian, Cincinnati, Kazakh, Washington, U.S ., WTA, Tennis, Thomson Locations: Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Flushing Meadows, Indian, Indian Wells, Washington, Cincinnati, Czech Republic, Bengaluru

☆ Venus Williams receives wildcard to play in 24th US Open at age 43
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Venus Williams will take part in a record-extending 24th US Open after receiving a wildcard from the US Tennis Association (USTA) to compete at this year’s tournament. Williams, now ranked 533rd in the world, made her US Open debut in 1997 and went on to win the title in 2000 and 2001. Denmark’s Caroline Wozniaki will make her first grand slam appearance since retiring after the 2020 Australian Open after the former world No. The 2018 Australian Open champion retired in 2020 to start a family, but returned to action at the recent Canadian Open after more than three years away from the sport. The US Open, the final grand slam of the year, gets underway on August 28.

Persons: Venus Williams, China’s Zheng Qinwen, Williams, Veronika Kudermetova, Denmark’s Caroline Wozniaki, Caroline Wozniacki, Robert Prange, Wozniacki, Australia’s Kimberly Birrell, Markéta Vondroušová Organizations: CNN, US Tennis Association, Cincinnati Masters, Wimbledon

☆ Williams playing at a 'better level' after injury-hit start to season
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Aug 14, 2023; Mason, OH, USA; Venus Williams celebrates after beating Veronika Kudermetova during round one of the Western & Southern Open at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason Monday, August, 14, 2023. Mandatory Credit: Cara Owsley-USA TODAY Sports/File photoAug 15 (Reuters) - Seven-times Grand Slam champion Venus Williams says she is now playing at a better level than at the start of an injury-plagued 2023 season after sealing her first top 20 win in four years by beating Veronika Kudermetova at the Cincinnati Open on Monday. read more"I think I'm at a better level than I started the year, to be honest," Williams told reporters. I'm fine game-wise, but playing matches is a different ball game." Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter RutherfordOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Venus Williams, Veronika Kudermetova, Williams, Cara Owsley, old's, Roland Garros, Elina Svitolina, Camila Giorgi, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Peter Rutherford Organizations: & Southern, Lindner, Tennis Center, USA, Cincinnati, Auckland, Wimbledon, Birmingham, Thomson Locations: Mason, OH, USA, Cincinnati, Auckland, Bengaluru

☆ Venus Williams picks up first win against top-20 opponent in four years
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Thomas Schlachter | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Venus Williams rolled back the years with a vintage performance to secure her first win against a top-20 player in four years. The 43-year-old Williams defeated Russian Veronika Kudermetova 6-4 7-5 in the first round of the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati on Monday. Kudermetova is seeded 16th in the tournament and would have been expected to ease her way past Williams, but the seven-time grand slam winner had other ideas. So that makes it satisfying, to be able to get a win with very little time to prepare.”This was Williams' first win against a top-20 player in four years. Her previous victory against a top-20 opponent also came at the Western & Southern Open in 2019 when she defeated Kiki Bertens in the second round.

Persons: Venus Williams, Williams, Russian Veronika Kudermetova, Kudermetova, “, Aaron Doster, ’ ” Williams, ’, That’s, ” Williams, Kiki Bertens Organizations: CNN, & Southern Locations: Russian, Cincinnati

☆ Williams upsets Kudermetova, Stephens beats Cocciaretto at Cincinnati
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Mandatory Credit: Cara Owsley-USA TODAY SportsAug 14 (Reuters) - Venus Williams upset 16th-ranked Veronika Kudermetova 6-4 7-5 at the Cincinnati Open on Monday, as her unseeded American compatriot Sloane Stephens overcame a sluggish start to beat Italy's Elisabetta Cocciaretto 7-5 6-2. The Russian missed another opportunity to win the second set when Williams fended off a break point in the ninth game with an unreturnable serve. Cocciaretto took control early on and built a 5-2 lead that gave her two chances to serve out the set. But Stephens dialed up the pace and broke to love on each occasion as she used a five-game winning streak to wrap up the opening set. Stephens can expect a tougher test against sixth seed Garcia, who is 4-2 all-time versus the American including a pair of first-round wins at the Cincinnati Open.

Persons: Venus Williams, Veronika Kudermetova, Cara Owsley, Sloane Stephens, Italy's Elisabetta Cocciaretto, Williams, outmatched, Kudermetova, Stephens, Cocciaretto, Caroline Garcia, Garcia, Elina Svitolina, Caroline Wozniacki, Wozniacki, Varvara Gracheva, Frank Pingue, Amy Tennery, Rory Carroll, Ken Ferris, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: & Southern, Lindner, Tennis Center, USA, Cincinnati, Wimbledon, U.S ., Thomson Locations: Mason, OH, USA, Russian, Guadalajara, Toronto, New York, Los Angeles

☆ Vondrousova one step from 'mission impossible'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON, July 13 (Reuters) - For Marketa Vondrousova the very notion of winning Wimbledon was an impossibility a year ago, but on Saturday she has the chance to add her name to an esteemed list of Czech champions. Not only that, but Prague-based Vondrousova, 24, can become the first unseeded woman to win Wimbledon. I didn't play for almost six months, so it was very tough," Vondrousova told reporters when asked to cast her mind back 12 months. It was really sad," Vondrousova, who made a tentative return to the second-tier ITF Tour last October, said. But something clicked and she has beaten 12th seed Veronika Kudermetova, 20th seed Donna Vekic, 32nd seed Marie Bouzkova and fourth seed Jessica Pegula.

Persons: Miriam Kolodziejova, Stepan Simek, Elina Svitolina, Martina Navratilova, Jana Novotna, Petra Kvitova, Vondrousova, Marketa, Susan Mullane, Ash Barty, Karolina Muchova, Veronika Kudermetova, Donna Vekic, Marie Bouzkova, Jessica Pegula, Frankie, He's, Martyn Herman, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: Wimbledon, Court, Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Slams, ITF, Thomson Locations: Czech, Wimbledon, Prague, London, United Kingdom, Berlin

☆ Wimbledon 2023: 500 days after the invasion of Ukraine, Russian and Belarusian players are playing at Wimbledon. Here’s how it’s going
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-08 | by ( Amy Woodyatt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

During the opening week, fans at Wimbledon have generally been quite warm to the Russian and Belarusian players but they’ve been especially enthusiastic to the Ukrainians. Unfortunately, they could not fight the professional Tours and others on their own,” added Zukin, who also said the ATP and WTA could do more to support Ukrainian players. CNN reached out to the WTA, ATP and The Russian Tennis Federation for comment. Tension simmers behind the scenesAway from the crowds and the cameras, Russian and Ukrainian tennis players revealed there are also strained relationships in Wimbledon’s locker rooms. Sabalenka condemned the booing and said she understands why Ukrainian players won’t shake her hand.

Persons: London CNN —, ”, they’ve, Sabalenka, I’m, Shi Tang, Russian Veronika Kudermetova’s, Elina Svitolina, ” Ukraine's Elina Svitolina, Tim Clayton, Corbis, Dmytro Kuleba, “, ” Kubela, Ian Hewitt, Yevhen Zukin, Kudermetova, Ben Rothenberg, Rothenberg, It’s, ” “, Marta Kostyuk, Javier Garcia, Kostyuk, Aryna Sabalenka, won’t, Anastasia Potapova, Iga, Slovakia’s Anna, Karolína, Svitolina, Daniil Medvedev Organizations: London CNN, Wimbledon, Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, CNN, Russian, Belarusian Victoria Azarenka, Azarenka, Ukraine’s, Russia, All England, Tennis Federation of, Tennis Association, ATP, WTA, Russian Tennis Federation, Tennis, CNN Sport, Belarus, Aryna, Spartak Moscow, Melbourne Locations: Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Belarusian, Russian, Svitolina’s, Odesa, Tennis Federation of Ukraine, Ukrainian, Kyiv, ” Russian

☆ Wimbledon 2023: The favorites to win the championships, the main challengers and how to watch
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-02 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Despite struggling for form in the lead up to the French Open, Djokovic found his A-game when it mattered most in Paris and looked largely unstoppable. Lisi Niesner/ReutersRybakina became the first player from Kazakhstan to win a grand slam title after beating Ons Jabeur in three sets in last year’s Wimbledon final, catapulting her to stardom overnight. Belarussian Sabalenka and Poland’s Iga Świątek are joint favorites to win the title alongside Rybakina, according to bookmakers. Sabalenka has three titles to her name this year, including that maiden grand slam in Australia, and has matched her career-high of No. Iga Swiatek is a four-time grand slam champion but is yet to win Wimbledon.

Persons: Novak, Roger Federer’s, –, Björn Borg –, Djokovic, Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, Garros, Carlos Alcaraz, Susan Mullane, Reuters Alcaraz, Alcaraz, – Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Casper Ruud, Holger Rune, Frances Tiafoe, Julian Finney, Francis Tiafoe, Chile’s Nicolas Jarry, Elena Rybakina, Donna Vekić, hadn’t, Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina, Linda Noskova, Lisi Niesner, Reuters Rybakina, Belarussian, Iga, Rybakina, Sabalenka, Aryna Sabalenka, agains Karolina Muchova, Veronika Kudermetova, Świątek, Tatjana Mariana, hasn’t, Joaquim Ferreira, Coco Gauff, Ekaterina Alexandrova, Madison Keys Organizations: CNN — Tennis, All England Club, Wimbledon, Roland, Queen's, USA, Sports, Reuters, Queen’s, Getty, Stuttgart, Eastbourne International, Czech, Stade Roland, Bad, Junior Wimbledon, Bernarda Pera, BBC, ESPN, Tennis Channel Locations: London, Paris, Germany, Wimbledon, Kazakhstan, Australia, United Kingdom

☆ WTA roundup: Russian stars to clash in Dutch final
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

7 Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus in Saturday's semifinals of the WTA 250 grass-court event. Kudermetova is 2-1 against Alexandrova, who won the last meeting in the semifinals of this tournament last year en route to the title. Rothesay OpenKatie Boulter and Jodie Burrage will meet in Nottingham, England, on Sunday in the first all-British WTA Tour final since 1977, when Virginia Wade beat Sue Barker in San Francisco. Boulter advanced with a 6-4, 7-5 win over another countrywoman, Heather Watson, while Burrage took down France's Alize Cornet 7-5, 7-5 in her semifinal match at the WTA 250 grass-court tournament. Boulter overcame a 4-3 deficit in the opening set and dug out of a 4-1 hole in the second set against Watson.

Persons: Jodie Burrage, Ukraine's Lesia Tsurenko, Paul Childs, Veronika Kudermetova, Ekaterina Alexandrova, Kudermetova, Slovakia's Viktoria, Alexandrova, Katie Boulter, Virginia Wade, Sue Barker, It's, Heather Watson, Burrage, France's Alize, Boulter, Watson, Cornet Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Ukraine's Lesia Tsurenko REUTERS, Slovakia's Viktoria Hruncakova, Hruncakova, Sasnovich, British WTA, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Netherlands, Belarus, Saturday's, Kudermetova, Rothesay, Nottingham, England, San Francisco, Leicester

☆ Rome Masters: Ukrainian tennis player refuses to shake Russian opponent's hand after semifinal victory
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( Matt Foster | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Ukrainian tennis player Anhelina Kalinina refused to shake hands with Veronika Kudermetova, her Russian opponent, following the former’s victory in the semifinals of the Rome Masters in Italy on Friday. Speaking to reporters after the match at Foro Italico, Rome, Kalinina said, “We didn’t shake hands because the girl is from Russia basically. It’s no secret why I didn’t shake, because this country actually attacks Ukraine. We are here to play tennis.”Veronika Kudermetova began the tournament as the world No.12. Antonietta Baldassarre/Insidefoto/LightRocket/Getty ImagesKalinina denied the idea that her opponent’s nationality influenced the topsy-turvy nature of the match, describing Kudermetova as “a top player, a very great player.

☆ Kalinina hopes Rome run provides some comfort for Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Kalinina's entire family is now in Kyiv following Russia's invasion of Ukraine -- which Moscow calls a "special military operation" -- but constantly face danger. "It's really important to win every match, because of what Ukraine goes through," Kalinina said after her 7-5 5-7 6-2 win on Friday. "I really hope that I give a tiny, small light, maybe some positive emotions for my country. So I really hope that Ukraine enjoys a little bit." It's no secret why I didn't shake, because this country attacked Ukraine," Kalinina said.

☆ Rybakina defeats Ostapenko in rain-delayed Italian Open semi-final
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

ROME, May 19 (Reuters) - Seventh seed Elena Rybakina beat Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko 6-2 6-4 in a rain-delayed semi-final at the Italian Open on Friday and will play Anhelina Kalinina in Saturday's final. Rybakina prevailed in a fairly straight-forward first set in a match delayed by more than an hour - and then interrupted - due to persistent rain. Ostapenko gained momentum in the second set and took a 3-0 lead but Rybakina shortened the distance to 4-2 just before rain briefly forced the players off court. "I didn't start that well the second set. Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru and Anita Kobylinska in Gdansk Editing by Christian RadnedgeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Dominant Sabalenka ends Sakkari's run to reach Madrid final
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/3] Tennis - Madrid Open - Park Manzanares, Madrid, Spain - May 4, 2023 Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka celebrates winning her semi final match against Greece's Maria Sakkari REUTERS/Juan MedinaMay 4 (Reuters) - World number two Aryna Sabalenka brushed past Maria Sakkari 6-4 6-1 in the semi-finals of the Madrid Open on Thursday to set up a potential second straight final showdown with top ranked Iga Swiatek. Sabalenka and Sakkari's ninth meeting on tour and first on clay ended with the 24-year-old Belarusian extending her win-loss record over the Greek ninth seed to 6-3. Sabalenka, who was champion in Madrid in 2021, stayed on track for her second title of the season in style after winning the Australian Open in January. She won an impressive 70.7% of her first serve points and saved five of six break points while sending down four aces against Sakkari. The Belarusian will next face the winner of Swiatek or Russian Veronika Kudermetova in Saturday's final.

☆ Alcaraz downs Khachanov to reach Madrid semi-finals
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Fernando Kallas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/5] Tennis - Madrid Open - Park Manzanares, Madrid, Spain - May 3, 2023 Spain's Carlos Alcaraz reacts during his quarter final match against Russia's Karen Khachanov REUTERS/Juan MedinaMADRID, May 3 (Reuters) - World number two Carlos Alcaraz stayed on course for his fourth title of 2023 by powering into the semi-finals of the Madrid Open with a 6-4 7-5 win over Russian Karen Khachanov on Thursday. Alcaraz managed to break the Russian's serve in the seventh game, closing the first set 6-4. Alcaraz has reached 18 consecutive wins in Spanish clay-court tournaments since losing to Rafael Nadal in Madrid two years ago on his 19th birthday. In the women's singles, Russian Veronika Kudermetova beat American Jessica Pegula 6-4 0-6 6-4 and reach the Madrid Open semis. Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Christian RadnedgeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Kudermetova to remove Russian sponsor logo to play at Wimbledon
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

May 2 (Reuters) - Russia's Veronika Kudermetova said she will remove the logo of sanctioned Russian sponsor Tatneft from her kit so she can compete at Wimbledon this year. Wimbledon banned Russian and Belarusian players in 2022 over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine but said in March it would accept them as neutral athletes for this year's championships. Kudermetova's sponsor Tatneft, an oil and gas company, was sanctioned by the European Union last June. "I think for Wimbledon, it's not allowed to play with the badge from Russia, I know that," Kudermetova told reporters at the Madrid Open on Monday. "If I would like to play Wimbledon, I need to take the badge off," she added.

☆ Kasatkina thankful Russian players still able to compete
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

May 1 (Reuters) - Daria Kasatkina said she is thankful that Russian tennis players are still able to compete in international tournaments while other sports have banned them due to the war in Ukraine. Some sports have recently begun to readmit Russian and Belarusian athletes following recommendations issued by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) last month. Wimbledon banned players from the two countries last year but said in March it would accept them as neutral athletes. "I'm happy that we will be able to come back this year and to be honest we are (in) the luckiest sport as we are able to compete still." "The saddest part is the war is still going on, so of course the players from Ukraine have got a lot of reasons to not shake our hands," Kasatkina said.

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