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☆ Qatar Open: Naomi Osaka reaches first quarterfinal in almost two years
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Amy Woodyatt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

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

☆ Swiatek solves Pliskova test to reach third round in Montreal
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Aug 9, 2023; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Iga Swiatek (POL) hits a forehand against Karolina Pliskova (CZE) (not pictured) during second round play at IGA Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY SportsAug 9 (Reuters) - World number one Iga Swiatek overcame an early test before running away with a 7-6(6) 6-2 victory over Czech Karolina Pliskova in Montreal on Wednesday to reach the third round of the Canadian Open. "This first match was a challenge, it's always a challenge especially against a player like that," Swiatek said during her on-court interview. In the second set, Swiatek found a new gear and followed an early break with a hold to love to grab control and never looked back as her mix of power and control proved to much for Pliskova to overcome. While serving for the match, Swiatek handed a break to Pliskova with her first double fault of the set but the Pole immediately broke back in the next game to seal the win.

Persons: Iga Swiatek, Karolina Pliskova, Eric Bolte, Czech Karolina Pliskova, it's, Swiatek, Pliskova, Karolina Muchova, Jessica Pegula, Coco Gauff, Liudmila Samsonova, Belinda Bencic, Frank Pingue, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: IGA, Czech, Canadian, U.S, Alycia Parks, Thomson Locations: Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Pliskova, Czech, Toronto

☆ Former Wimbledon champion Martinez calls for more female coaches
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, July 13 (Reuters) - More female coaches are needed on the WTA and ATP Tours says Spain's former Wimbledon champion Conchita Martinez, who on Thursday was named as tournament director for this year's Billie Jean Cup in Seville. Martinez, who beat Martina Navratilova in the 1994 Wimbledon final, has bucked the trend since retiring. She was part of compatriot Garbine Muguruza's coaching team when the Spaniard won the 2017 Wimbledon title, worked as coach to Czech Karolina Pliskova and even captained Spain's Davis Cup team from 2015 to 2017. Martinez is the exception to the rule, although another former Wimbledon champion Frenchwoman Amelie Mauresmo did have a stint as coach to three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray. I'd be very happy to see more women coaches on the women's side and why not on the men's side."

Persons: Spain's, Conchita Martinez, Billie Jean, Martinez, Martina Navratilova, Garbine Muguruza's, Czech Karolina Pliskova, Frenchwoman Amelie Mauresmo, Andy Murray, Billie Jean King, Amelie, Andy, King, She's, Martyn Herman, Ken Ferris Organizations: WTA, ATP Tours, Wimbledon, Spaniard, Spain's Davis, Reuters, Billie Jean King Cup, All England, Davis Cup, Thomson Locations: Seville, Czech

☆ Players face 'mental torture' at Wimbledon, says sports psychologist
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The All England Club's lawns will be the focus of the tennis world over the next fortnight as the world's leading players battle opponents and often their own psychological demons. UNIQUE CHALLENGES"There are a number of unique challenges elite tennis players have to face. Tennis players probably are only playing tennis for about 10 minutes of every hour they're on court," she said. Considering how much expectation he has shouldered at Wimbledon down the years, the 36-year-old has coped admirably, according to Mobed. "He is a fantastic example of someone that has worked so hard to uncover his mental strength," she said.

Persons: Toby Melville LONDON, Jana Novotna, Steffi Graf, Serena Williams, Czech Karolina Pliskova, Gaston Gaudio, Guillermo Coria, Gaudio, Katie Mobed, Novak Djokovic, Elena Rybakina, Andy Murray, Martyn Herman, Ken Ferris Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Wimbledon REUTERS, Tennis, Wimbledon, Czech, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, England, British

☆ Azarenka digs deep to beat Kalinina in Adelaide
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Jan 3 (Reuters) - Former world number one Victoria Azarenka overcame a shaky start to beat Anhelina Kalinina 7-6(9) 7-6(5) in a gruelling match at the Adelaide International 1 on Tuesday and reach the second round of the WTA 500 tournament. Twice Australian Open champion Azarenka found herself in trouble trailing 5-1 but she summoned up her fighting spirit to save five set points before edging a tense tiebreaker. "When you talk about first matches that are never easy this one was definitely at the top of the list," Azarenka said. Former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko plays Czech Karolina Pliskova later on Tuesday. Top-seeded American Coco Gauff made short work of Tatjana Maria, beating the Wimbledon semi-finalist 6-4 6-1 to snap a five-match losing streak.

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