Top related persons:
Top related locs:
Top related orgs:

Search resuls for: "WTA Tour"


25 mentions found


We've put together everything you need to know about the tournament, including where to watch the Madrid Open live streams. Where to watch Madrid Open in the USAs is the case with most of the major ATP Tour events, the Madrid Open will air live on the Tennis Channel in the US. For cord-cutters, this means it's time to check out a live TV streaming package like Sling TV and Hulu + Live TV. Hulu + Live TV Hulu + Live TV includes over 90 channels, along with Hulu's on-demand library and access to Disney Plus and ESPN Plus. Shop at HuluWhere to watch Madrid Open in New ZealandSelect Madrid Open women's matches will air on TVNZ in New Zealand starting Sunday, April 28.
Persons: We've, Carlos Alcaraz, Wells, Alcaraz, Carlo Masters, you've, we've, you'll, Hulu's, ExpressVPN Organizations: Business, ATP, WTA, Madrid, Miami Open, WTA Tours, Tennis Channel, Hulu, ESPN, Disney, Tennis, Disney Plus, TVNZ, New Zealand Locations: Madrid, Hulu, New Zealand, New, Zealand
We'll show you everything you need to know about tuning in for the competition, like where to watch the Monte Carlo Masters final live stream. Where to watch Monte Carlo Masters in the USThe Tennis Channel will show the the final Monte Carlo Masters match in the US, in addition to many future stops on the ATP Tour. For cord-cutters, this means using a live TV package with the Tennis Channel, like Sling TV or Hulu + Live TV. Hulu + Live TV Hulu + Live TV includes over 90 channels, along with Hulu's on-demand library and access to Disney Plus and ESPN Plus. Shop at HuluWhere to watch Monte Carlo Masters in AustraliaThe Monte Carlo Masters final will be shown via beIN Sports in Australia.
Persons: Monte, Monte Carlo Masters, Casper Ruud, Stefanos, Greece's Tsitsipas, Norway's Ruud, Djokovic, we've, Hulu's, you'll, ExpressVPN Organizations: Business, Monte Carlo, Monte Carlo Masters, Tennis, ATP, Hulu, ESPN, Disney Plus, Sports, ATP Tour, WTA Locations: Hulu, Australia
We'll show you everything you need to know about where to watch the Miami Open women's final, including how to tune in free from anywhere. Where to watch Miami Open women's final in the USThe entirety of the Miami Open, including the women's singles final, is live streaming through the Tennis Channel in the US. For cord-cutters, this will mean trying a live TV cable alternative that carries the Tennis Channel, like Sling TV or Hulu + Live TV. Hulu + Live TV Hulu + Live TV includes over 90 channels, along with Hulu's on-demand library and access to Disney Plus and ESPN Plus. Shop at HuluWhere to watch Miami Open women's final in New ZealandIn New Zealand, the Miami Open women's singles final is available to stream for free through TVNZ.
Persons: Danielle Collins, Elena Rybakina, Iga Świątek, Coco Gauff, Naomi Osaka, Caroline Garcia, Collins, Rybakina, Ekaterina Alexandrova, Victoria Azarenka, Sloane Stephens, We'll, you'll, Hulu's, ExpressVPN Organizations: Business, Miami, Victoria, Tennis Channel, Tennis, Hulu, Sling, Disney, ESPN, Disney Plus, TVNZ, You'll, WTA Locations: United States, Kazakhstan, New Zealand, Hulu
CNN —Carlos Alcaraz won his first trophy since Wimbledon last year as he successfully defended his Indian Wells title against Daniil Medvedev. The 20-year-old Spaniard is also the first person to win back-to-back Indian Wells titles since Novak Djokovic in 2016. The second set was more straight forward for Alcaraz as he broke Medvedev twice – at 1-0 and 4-1 – before completing the victory in an hour and 42 minutes when the world No. Mark J. Terrill/APEarlier on Sunday, Iga Świątek also won her second Indian Wells title as she defeated Greece’s Maria Sakkari 6-4 6-0. It marked the 19th WTA Tour title of Świątek’s career and her second this year after winning the Qatar Open last month.
Persons: CNN — Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, , ” Alcaraz, Weeks, Matthew Stockman, Alexander Zverev, Medvedev, , Rafael Nadal, Mark J, Terrill, Iga Świątek, Greece’s Maria Sakkari, Sakkari Organizations: CNN, Wimbledon, Indian Wells, Getty, Alcaraz, Australian, WTA, Qatar Locations: California, Indian
CNN —American Coco Gauff said that she was “fueled” by a heated exchange with the umpire during her 2-6 6-4 6-3 victory against Karolína Plíšková at the Dubai Tennis Championships on Wednesday. Her first serve at deuce was initially called out by chair umpire Pierre Bacchi, but the world No. Gauff engages in a heated exchange with chair umpire Pierre Bacchi. In the end, Gauff replayed the point, then went on to win the game and the set. Amr Alfiky/Reuters“I think it just fueled me,” US Open champion Gauff said about the argument with the umpire in the second set, according to Reuters.
Persons: Coco Gauff, Karolína Plíšková, Gauff, deuce, Pierre Bacchi, Bacchi, Plíšková, Amr Alfiky, Reuters “, , “ I’ve, Andy Roddick, Pliskova, “ It’s, Anna Kalinskaya, Kateřina Siniaková Organizations: CNN, Dubai Tennis, Reuters, WTA Tour, International Tennis Federation, Qatar Locations: Dubai, Auckland, Doha
1 Naomi Osaka has reached her first quarterfinal in almost two years, after her opponent Lesia Tsurenko withdrew with an elbow injury at the Qatar Open. Osaka, who is currently ranked No.747, is the second lowest-ranked woman to reach a WTA 1000 quarterfinal, according to the WTA. Osaka has reflected on how becoming a mother has affected her attitude towards tennis, saying "It feels like I'm starting new." Robert Prange/Getty ImagesThis will be Osaka’s WTA Tour quarterfinal since she reached the Miami Open final in March of 2022, where she lost out to Iga Swiatek. “So just knowing like, I don’t have time to spend on distractions, or just things that aren’t worth my time.”“It feels like I’m starting new.
Persons: Naomi Osaka, Lesia Tsurenko, Osaka, Cordea, , Caroline Garcia, Petra ­, Robert Prange, CNN’s Becky Anderson, I’m, Karolina Pliskova Organizations: CNN, Former, Qatar, WTA, Miami, Locations: Osaka, Iga, , ” Osaka
For those Ukrainian players competing at the Australian Open in Melbourne, it’s a gesture that has more meaning than ever. I think it’s important to remember about it and do everything.”Kostyuk said journalists need to keep the news alive. “They want the drama, they wanted news, they wanted all this heating between players and everything,” she said. I still don’t understand what all these (Russian and Belarusian) players are doing here.”When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the plight of Ukrainian players was uppermost in everyone’s minds, with Wimbledon banning Russian and Belarusian players from competing that year and numerous fund-raising events held around the tennis world. Since the war began, Ukrainian players have made a point of not shaking the hands of Russians and Belarusians, sometimes to the confusion of crowds, who have blamed the loser.
Persons: Lesia Tsurenko, Aryna Sabalenka, Tsurenko, Marta Kostyuk, Elina Avanesyan, Dayana Yastremska, ” Kostyuk, , , Victoria Azarenka, Elina Svitolina, it’s, Yastremska, Svitolina, Varvara Gracheva Organizations: Wimbledon, ATP, WTA Tours, U.S, Melbourne Locations: MELBOURNE, Australia, Belarusian, Melbourne, Belarus, , Ukraine, Sabalenka, Russia, Brisbane, Yastremska
CNN —At one point last year, tennis player Sumit Nagal had less than $1,000 in his bank account. After defeating Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik on Tuesday, Nagal became the first Indian man to win a match at the Australian Open in 11 years, pocketing $118,000 ($180,000 Australian dollars) in the process. “There was a time where we had a lot of singles players playing in the slams,” he said. Shang celebrates during his Australian Open win against Mackenzie McDonald. The 27-year-old Zhang has also reached the second round of this year’s Australian Open, and a deep run in Melbourne could see him break into the top 50 for the first time in his career.
Persons: Sumit Nagal, Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik, Nagal, “ I’m, , , Germany –, Shang Juncheng, Mackenzie McDonald, Melbourne . Shang, David Gray, Shang, Zhang Zhizhen, Wu Yibing, Zhang, Jerry –, “ Tom, Jerry, Carlos Alcaraz Organizations: CNN, Bublik, , Getty, ATP, WTA, IMG Academy, Nagal Locations: Germany, India, Melbourne, China, Melbourne ., AFP, Bradenton , Florida
CNN —Four-time grand slam champion Naomi Osaka is set to return to tennis at the Brisbane International less than six months after giving birth. “I am really excited about getting back out on court and competing,” the 26-year-old Osaka said. “I always love starting my season in Brisbane and can’t wait to return. Two of Osaka’s four grand slam titles have come Down Under, her most recent victory coming in 2021. Osaka said in an interview with ESPN last month that she intends to play a busy schedule in 2024.
Persons: Naomi Osaka, hasn’t, Cordae, , Osaka, , Matthew Stockman, Andy Murray, he’ll, Holger Rune Organizations: CNN, Brisbane International, WTA, Brisbane, ESPN, Osaka, Getty Locations: Osaka, Brisbane
CNN —Jessica Pegula defeated world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets to advance past the group stage and reach the semifinals of the WTA Finals. Rybakina defeated Maria Sakkari 6-0 6-7 7-6 in Tuesday’s other match, meaning the Greek player has been eliminated after losing her second straight match. Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus plays American Jessica Pegula of United States during day 3 of the WTA Finals in Cancun, Mexico. It is only the fourth time since 2000 that a player on the WTA Tour has recorded three wins over world No.
Persons: Jessica Pegula, Sabalenka, Pegula, Elena Rybakina, Rybakina, Maria Sakkari, , , I’ve, Aryna, Clive Brunskill, Sakkari Organizations: CNN, WTA Locations: Cancun , Mexico, Kazakh, Belarus, United States
CANCUN, Mexico (AP) — Iga Swiatek says she and other women's tennis players are more united than in the past as they seek changes on the WTA Tour, including improvements to prioritize the athletes' well-being. “We are not happy with some things,” Swiatek, a three-time Grand Slam champion who was ranked No. Some players recently outlined various concerns in a letter to WTA CEO Steve Simon and during two meetings with tour leadership. Political Cartoons View All 1230 ImagesAmong the topics, Simon wrote, is late-night matches — a growing source of frustration for players. “I really feel like we — me and the other players, like, Ons (Jabeur), Coco ... and also some players that didn’t qualify for the finals — we’re really, really united, and we think the same way,” Swiatek said.
Persons: Iga Swiatek, , Coco Gauff, Steve Simon, Simon, The Associated Press —, , Coco, we’re, ” Swiatek, Gauff, Swiatek, Sabalenka, ” That's, Marketa Vondrousova Organizations: WTA, U.S, The Associated Press, WTA Board, ” Wimbledon Locations: CANCUN, Mexico, Poland, Cancun
Flawless Swiatek powers past Samsonova to claim Beijing title
  + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +2 min
The season finale, where the top eight singles players and doubles teams in the world face off, begins on Oct. 29. For sure, it was the last thing I expected at the beginning of the tournament," Swiatek said. French Open champion Swiatek also became the first player since American Serena Williams to claim five or more titles in successive years. Swiatek also became the player with the most WTA 1000 titles before turning 23 with six, eclipsing Caroline Wozniacki's five. "It was an amazing week," said Samsonova, whose run to a second WTA 1000 final of the season ensured she will return to the top 20.
Persons: Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, Samsonova, Serena Williams, Williams, Caroline Wozniacki's, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Christian Radnedge Organizations: WTA, Beijing, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, Russian, China, Belarusian, Cancun , Mexico, Tokyo, Bengaluru
2 Iga Świątek in the semifinals of the China Open on Saturday, ending her 16-match win streak. But that all came to end as Świątek cruised to a 6-2 6-3 win against the American in Beijing. “I’m really proud of myself,” Gauff said afterwards, according to the China Open. They have faced each other more than any other opponent and the match almost always ends in Świątek favor. 22 Liudmila Samsonova for the China Open title on Sunday.
Persons: Coco Gauff, Gauff, Serena Williams, Świątek, “ I’m, ” Gauff, , Florence Lo, Reuters Świątek, I’m, ” Świątek, “ It’s Organizations: CNN, China, WTA, Reuters Locations: American, Beijing, Świątek
China's Wang claims maiden WTA title in Guangzhou
  + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +2 min
The 22-year-old Wang's victory marked the fourth time that a Chinese player has been crowned champion in Guangzhou, following Wang Qiang (2018), Zhang Shuai (2013, 2017) and Li Na (2004). "It was very exciting and it's a very emotional moment because in this tournament, every player is really tough," Wang said. "I wanted a title from the first day, even when I started tennis. China last hosted a WTA tournament in 2019, before the COVID crisis wreaked havoc on the global sports schedule. The WTA was widely praised for suspending tournaments in China but reversed its decision in April.
Persons: Wang Xiyu, Russia's Mirra Andreeva, Toby Melville, Magda Linette, Wang Qiang, Zhang Shuai, Li Na, Wang, I'm, Zhu Lin, Hua Hin, Zheng Qinwen, Peng Shuai, Peng, Shrivathsa Sridhar Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, WTA, Guangzhou, women's, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Guangzhou, Palermo, China, Bengaluru
Sabalenka, Swiatek lead first set of qualifiers for WTA Finals
  + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +1 min
Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 23 (Reuters) - World number one Aryna Sabalenka will make her third consecutive appearance at the WTA Finals in Cancun, Mexico, as the governing body of women's tennis announced its first set of qualifiers for the season finale. Australian Open champion Sabalenka will be joined by four-times Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek, whom she leapfrogged to claim the top ranking for the first time after the U.S. Open earlier this month, the WTA announced on Friday. She will look to improve on her runner-up finish at last year's WTA Finals in Fort Worth. U.S. Open champion Coco Gauff booked her place in both the singles and doubles competitions. The WTA Finals run from Oct. 29 to Nov. 5.
Persons: Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, USTA Billie Jean King, Robert Deutsch, Iga Swiatek, leapfrogged, Jessica Pegula, Elena Rybakina, Shrivathsa Sridhar, William Mallard Organizations: USTA Billie, USTA Billie Jean King Tennis Center, WTA, U.S, Wimbledon, Thomson Locations: Flushing , NY, USA, United States, Cancun , Mexico, Mexico, Guadalajara, Flushing Meadows, Fort Worth . U.S, Kazakhstan, Bengaluru
WTA roundup: Ashlyn Krueger wins 1st title at Japan Open
  + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +2 min
[1/2] FILE PHOTO:Aug 6, 2023; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Camila Giorgi (ITA) hits a forehand against Ashlyn Krueger (USA) (not pictured) in second round qualifying play at IGA Stadium. 123 in the world, Krueger, 19, entered the week without a main-draw win on hard court this year and had never advanced past a quarterfinal of a WTA event. Krueger had the edge in aces, 7-3, and never had to save a break point in the 96-minute match. She broke Zhu on her first service game of the match, and Zhu was 1-for-2 in saving break points. "I think I was very aggressive today, playing a lot of really aggressive tennis and using my serve," said Krueger, who recorded 28 winners to 13 for her opponent.
Persons: Camila Giorgi, Ashlyn Krueger, Eric Bolte, Ashlyn Krueger didn't, Zhu Lin, Krueger, China's Zhu, Zhu, Grace Min, Elise Mertens, Yanina, Mertens, Jasmine Paolini, Louisa Chirico, Karolina Pliskova, Ena Shibahara, Sloane Stephens, Ann Li, Canada's Leylah Fernandez breezed, Asia Muhammad, Taylor Townsend, Hailey Baptiste, Eugenie Bouchard of Canada, Dayana, Martina Trevisan, Cristina Bucsa Organizations: IGA, Japan, WTA, Dallas, United, Thomson Locations: Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Osaka, Guadalajara, Mexico, Ukraine, United States, Italy, Czech, Japan, U.S, Asia, Alycia, Spain, Belarus
Peng then briefly disappeared from public view and the former doubles number one later denied making the accusation, sparking an international outcry over her safety. In meetings with Chinese officials and in public appearances, they should talk about Peng's case. And as for the WTA, it should keep pressing the case robustly and publicly." Reuters has contacted the WTA and Chinese Tennis Association for an update on efforts to speak to Peng since the tour's decision to return to China. This year, it will hold tournaments in Guangzhou (Sept. 18-23) and Ningbo (Sept. 25-30) before the season's final WTA 1000 event in Beijing (Sept. 30-Oct. 8).
Persons: China’s Peng Shuai, Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard, Edgar Su, Peng Shuai, Peng, isn't, Yaqiu Wang, Frenchwoman Alize Cornet, Le Parisien, Cornet, Shrivathsa Sridhar Organizations: Melbourne, REUTERS, Rights, WTA, Reuters, Freedom House, Chinese Tennis Association, Thomson Locations: Melbourne, Australia, China, Guangzhou, Asia, Ningbo, Beijing, Zhengzhou, Hong Kong, Nanchang, Zhuhai, Le, Bengaluru
WTA Finals to be held in Cancun
  + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +3 min
[1/2] Tennis - WTA Tour Finals - Panamerican Tennis Center, Guadalajara, Mexico - November 17, 2021 The WTA Finals Martina Navratilova Trophy is seen after Czech Republic's Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova won their final doubles match against Taiwan's Hsieh Su-wei and Belgium's Elise Mertens Acquire Licensing Rights Read moreSept 7 (Reuters) - The 2023 edition of the WTA Finals will be held in Cancun, Mexico from Oct. 29-Nov. 5 under a one-year agreement, the women's tennis body announced on Thursday, ending speculation that this year's event could be held in Saudi Arabia. "This edition of the WTA Finals will provide a fantastic experience for players and fans alike, offer a fitting finale for the 2023 WTA Tour, and enable us to continue building a strong future for women's tennis," said Steve Simon, WTA Chairman and CEO. After the men's ATP Tour announced last month that the Next Gen Finals would be held in Jeddah from 2023 to 2027, social media had been awash with rumours that the WTA Finals could also be headed to Saudi Arabia. The WTA Finals will end two days before the beginning of the Billie Jean King Cup finals in Seville. "The WTA weighed a number of competitive bids through a thorough process, in close consultation with the WTA Players’ Council," the WTA said on Thursday.
Persons: Martina Navratilova, Krejcikova, Katerina Siniakova, Taiwan's Hsieh Su, Belgium's Elise Mertens, Steve Simon, Simon, Chris Evert, Peng Shuai, Billie Jean King, Iga Swiatek, Aadi Nair, Toby Davis Organizations: Tennis Center, WTA, ATP, ESPN, Billie Jean King Cup, WTA Players ’, Thomson Locations: Guadalajara, Mexico, Czech, Cancun, Saudi Arabia, Jeddah, Saudi, Tunisian, Shenzhen, China, Fort Worth , United States, Los Angeles, Madrid, Doha, Istanbul, Singapore, Seville, Bengaluru
6 seed Coco Gauff. Up next for Gauff in the quarterfinals is the resurgent Jelena Ostapenko, who utterly dismantled defending champion and world No. “She’s playing really great tennis. “It’s like she’s got nothing to lose, so she’s playing at her best. She played great tennis against Ons – I haven’t watched her previous matches, but, yeah, she’s playing great tennis right now.
Persons: Świątek, Jessica Pegula, Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, Jelena Ostapenko, ” Gauff, Ostapenko, Caroline Wozniacki, , Brad Gilbert’s, , Ostapenko –, Świątek –, Timothy A, Clary, she’ll, Roland Garros, Gauff, I’ve, Wozniacki, Aryna, Kena Betancur, Zheng Qinwen, Jabeur, Zheng, Daria Kasatkina, “ She’s, she’s Organizations: CNN, Gauff, WTA, Getty, US, , Monday’s Locations: New York, AFP, Rothesay, Cincinnati
After a 6-0 6-1 rout of Sweden's Rebecca Peterson in her opening match, Swiatek did not look as at ease as she was made to work for a 6-3 6-4 win over the 322nd-ranked Australian spark plug. Saville, who has only once before beaten a world number one, seven years ago against Angelique Kerber, got the match off to the best possible start breaking Swiatek at the first opportunity. They traded breaks a second time before Swiatek would get her third of the set and hold serve for a 1-0 lead. For Swiatek the win was another step towards defending her U.S. Open crown and keeping the number one world ranking. In order to remain in top spot Swiatek must go one round further than the Belarusian in Flushing Meadows.
Persons: Iga, Australia's Daria Saville, Mike Segar, Iga Swiatek, Daria Saville, Sweden's Rebecca Peterson, Swiatek, Kaja Juvan, I'm, It's, Saville, Angelique Kerber, Louis Armstrong, Sabalenka, Steve Keating, Toby Davis Organizations: Tennis, U.S, 322nd, WTA Tour, Thomson Locations: Flushing Meadows , New York, United States, Belarusian, Flushing Meadows, New York
WTA roundup: Nao Hibino upsets Linda Noskova for Prague title
  + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +2 min
[1/3] Aug 7, 2023; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Venus Williams (USA) waves to the crowd after her loss against Madison Keys (USA) (not pictured) in first round play at IGA Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY SportsAugust 8 - Japan's Nao Hibino ended a four-year title drought Monday with a 6-4, 6-1 defeat of No. 4 seed and home favorite Linda Noskova at the Livesport Prague Open in the Czech Republic. After taking the opening set rather easily, Keys needed nine match points to put Williams away. "You have to find that balance between playing risky, aggressive, but not too risky, not too much, because then (Swiatek's) not going to give you many points," Pliskova said.
Persons: Venus Williams, Eric Bolte, Nao Hibino, Linda Noskova, Romania's Jaqueline Cristian, Hibino, Noskova, Keys, Williams, Karolina Pliskova, Lin Zhu of, Pliskova, Katie Boulter, Belinda Bencic, Cirstea, Victoria, Italy's Jamine Paolini, Marie Bouzkova, Sloane Stephens, Jennifer Brady Organizations: Madison Keys, IGA, Livesport, WTA, Hiroshima, Omnium Banque, Venus, Iga, Victoria Azarenka of, Thomson Locations: Montreal, Quebec, Canada, USA, Czech Republic, Tashkent, Omnium, Czech, Lin Zhu of China, Switzerland, Romanian, Victoria Azarenka of Belarus
1 and three-time grand slam champion Ashleigh Barty has welcomed her first child with her husband, Garry Kissick. The pair announced the arrival of their son, Hayden, in a joint Instagram post Tuesday captioned “Our beautiful boy.”“Welcome to the world, Hayden!” they wrote. Last year, Barty stunned the tennis world by announcing she was retiring from the sport at age 25 while she was the world No. I’ve said it to my team multiple times, it’s just I don’t have that in me anymore,” said Barty in March 2022 when she retired. In 2020, Barty won the women’s championship at the Brookwater Golf Club near Brisbane and 15-time major winner Tiger Woods once reportedly described her as having a “great swing.”
Persons: Ashleigh Barty, Garry Kissick, Hayden, , Barty, I’ve, it’s, , Tiger Woods Organizations: CNN, Former, Wimbledon, Australian, WTA Tour, Brisbane Heat, Bash League Locations: Australian, Brisbane
Saudi Arabia has pumped huge amounts of money into soccer, Formula One and boxing in recent years while the Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit recently ended its two-year dispute with the PGA Tour and DP World Tour by announcing a merger. I hope in Saudi they'll not just invest with the ATP, I hope with the WTA (too)," Jabeur said after beating Magdalena Frech 6-3 6-3 in her Wimbledon opener. Critics have accused Saudi Arabia of using the PIF to engage in "sportwashing" amid criticism of its human rights record. "I believe in Saudi they're doing great giving women more rights," 2022 Wimbledon runner-up Jabeur added. Men's world number one Carlos Alcaraz said he would have no doubts about competing in Saudi Arabia, while seven-time Grand Slam champion John McEnroe said tennis should not seek Saudi investment.
Persons: LIV, Steve Simon, Andrea Gaudenzi, Jabeur, Magdalena Frech, Critics, Saudi they're, It's, Carlos Alcaraz, John McEnroe, Andy Murray, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Toby Davis Organizations: PGA, WTA, men's ATP, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Wimbledon, Saudi, Thomson Locations: Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Saudi they'll, Bengaluru
Azarenka feeling the love on Wimbledon return
  + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Christian Radnedge | ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +2 min
As part of their return, players from the two nations are playing as neutrals and are not allowed to receive state funding or have sponsorship from Russian or Belarusian companies. Britain is a major ally of Ukraine and continues to provide military support but there was no animosity from the crowd towards former world number one Azarenka as she edged past China's Yuan Yue 6-4 5-7 6-4 in the first round. "There are of course some incidents sometimes happens (at other events), but I felt like I was very welcomed everywhere. The world number two begins her Wimbledon campaign against Hungary's Panna Udvardy on Tuesday. Reporting by Christian Radnedge, editing by Ed OsmondOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Persons: Victoria Azarenka, China’s Yue Yuan, Andrew Couldridge, Azarenka, Yuan Yue, Vika, Aryna Sabalenka, Hungary's Panna Udvardy, Christian Radnedge, Ed Osmond Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Victoria, Wimbledon, ATP, WTA, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Belarus, China’s Yue Yuan REUTERS, Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, Belarusian
Rublev leads Russian Wimbledon return with easy win
  + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com   time to read: +2 min
Rublev is one of 17 Russian and Belarusian players in the men's and women's singles draws after they were banned in 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Wimbledon was the only one of the four Grand Slam tournaments to ban Russian and Belarusian players last year -- a decision that resulted in ranking points being taken away from the event by both the ATP and WTA Tours. As part of their return, players from two nations are playing as neutrals and must sign a "waiver" pledging not to support Russian President Vladimir Putin's regime. Players are not allowed to receive state funding or have sponsorship from Russian or Belarusian companies. He looked comfortable on the grass as he proved a class above 64th-ranked Purcell to reach the second round.
Persons: Andrey Rublev, Australia's Max Purcell, Toby Melville LONDON, Max Purcell, Rublev, Vladimir Putin's, Purcell, Martyn Herman, Ed Osmond Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Wimbledon, ATP, WTA, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Belarusian, Ukraine, Russia
Total: 25