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☆ French Open quarterfinal recap: Sinner world No. 1, Roland Garros feels like clay again
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-04 | by ( Matthew Futterman | Charlie Eccleshare | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +6 min

Follow live coverage of Day 10 at the 2024 French OpenWelcome back to the French Open briefing, where The Athletic will explain the stories behind the stories on each day of the tournament. On Day 10 of Roland Garros 2024, the men’s tour got a new world No. Today’s headline was defending champion Novak Djokovic withdrawing from the French Open. 1 on Monday, regardless of who wins the French Open title. Ons Jabeur may have lost, but her French Open run has been a boost to her confidence.

Persons: Roland Garros, Novak Djokovic, Iga Swiatek, Ash Barty, Aryna Sabalenka, Grigor Dimitrov, Djokovic, Sinner, “ It’s, ”, Dimitrov, Coco Gauff, what’s, Gauff, Jabeur, “, It’s, Carlos Alcaraz, Tsitsipas, Alcaraz, Swiatek, Rafael Nadal —, Marketa Vondrousova, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Jasmine Paolini, Elena Rybakina, Mirra, Alexander Zverev, Alex de Minaur, Christian, Eamonn Dalton Organizations: U.S, Bulgarian, Wimbledon, French, Getty, The Athletic Locations: Paris, 3400RPM

☆ French Open day 4 recap: Swiatek wins, Kenin shocks Garcia, crowds and schedule frustrate
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-29 | by ( James Hansen | Matthew Futterman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +6 min

🇫🇷 Caroline Garcia (21), 6-3, 6-3Caroline Garcia (21), 6-3, 6-3 🇬🇷 Stefanos Tsitsipas (9) def. 🇳🇱 Jesper de Jong (Q), 6-3, 6-4, 2-6, 6-2🇳🇱 Jesper de Jong (Q), 6-3, 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 🇷🇺 Andrey Rublev (6) def. 🇪🇸 Pedro Martinez, 6-3, 6-4, 6-3🇪🇸 Pedro Martinez, 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 🇵🇱 Iga Swiatek (1) def. 🇸🇮 Tara Zidansek, 6-3, 6-4🇸🇮 Tara Zidansek, 6-3, 6-4 🇮🇹 Jannik Sinner (2) def. 🇫🇷 Richard Gasquet, 6-4, 6-2, 6-4🇫🇷 Richard Gasquet, 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 🇷🇺 Pavel Kotov def.

Persons: Roland Garros, Naomi Osaka Naomi Osaka, Iga Swiatek, Ash Barty, Philippe, Chatrier, Swiatek, Tim Clayton, Corbis, she’s, “, ”, Naomi Osaka, Ben Shelton, Kei Nishikori, queueing, Stan Wawrinka, Andy Murray, Jannik, Richard Gasquet, Sofia Kenin, Caroline Garcia, Garcia didn’t, Jesper de Jong, Jesper De Jong, olin e Garcia, Garcia, 7-5, Coco Gauff, 6-4 🇮🇹, 🇫🇷 Rich, Katie V, Dani, oren, Mathieu 🇺🇸 Madi, Clive Br Organizations: Getty, Swiatek, Philippe Locations: Osaka, Swiatek, Paris, 6-2, 6

☆ French Open Day 2: Nadal leaves Roland Garros door ajar, Andreescu returns
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-27 | by ( James Hansen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +6 min

🇺🇸 Chris Eubanks, 6-3, 6-3, 6-4🇺🇸 Chris Eubanks, 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 🇹🇳 Ons Jabeur (8) def. 🇬🇷 Maria Sakkari (6), 3-6, 6-4, 6-3🇬🇷 Maria Sakkari (6), 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 🇬🇷 Stefanos Tsitsipas (9) def. 🇨🇿 Karolina Pliskova, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2🇨🇿 Karolina Pliskova, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 🇺🇸 Ben Shelton (15) def. 🇫🇷 Hugo Gaston, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4Hugo Gaston, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 🇺🇸 Danielle Collins (11) def. 🇦🇺 Max Purcell, 6-2, 6-2, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6(10)Max Purcell, 6-2, 6-2, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6(10) 🇵🇱 Iga Swiatek (1) def.

Persons: Roland Garros, Chatrier, Rafael Nadal, Alexander Zverev, Nadal, Mateo Villalba, Bianca Andreescu, Serena Williams —, Andreescu, She’s, Robert Prange, Sara Sorribes Tormo, ”, “, Serena Williams, Leylah Fernandez, Denis Shapovalov, Felix Auger, Aliassime, Jack Draper, Andy Murray’s, Cameron Norrie, Pavel Kotov, Linda Noskova, Harriet Dart, Dan Evans, Katie Boulter, they’re, Evans, Holger Rune, Paula Badosa, Disappointment, Norrie, Andy Murray, Maria Sakkari, Varvara Gracheva, hasn’t, Maria, Elina S vitolina, 🇵, Erika, Elena R ybakin Organizations: Getty, U.S ., National Bank Locations: Philippe, Montreal, British, Rome

☆ Rafael Nadal vs Alexander Zverev preview: Nadal’s French Open aura is an opponent
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-26 | by ( Matthew Futterman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +10 min

Fans streamed through the gates, packing Roland Garros, lining up for crepes and champagne and Aperol spritzes. If that latter court is his living room, then the grounds at Roland Garros are his estate. Ever since then, Zverev has wanted another shot at playing Nadal at Roland Garros — though not in the first round, more like a semifinal or a final. The idea of playing Nadal on this clay sends chills through the spines of so many players. In 2022, I remember he came into Roland Garros not winning Monte Carlo, not winning Madrid, not winning Rome.

Persons: France —, Roland Garros, spritzes, —, Ostapenko —, squandering, Lucia Bronzetti, Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams ’, Rafael Nadal, Suzanne Lenglen, Nadal, Court Philippe, Chatrier, Uber, Alexander Zverev, Tim Clayton, Corbis, ” Nadal, He’d, Zverev, hadn’t, ” Zverev, Andrey Rublev, Misha, punking, ‘, “, ”, Rafa, Tsitsipas, Philippe, Roger Federer, it’s, “ I’m, Iga Swiatek, Rafa Nadal, he’s, “ There’s, Monte, Casper Ruud, Gao Jing, Felix Auger, Aliassime, Hubert Hurkacz, I’m, Clive Brunskill Organizations: France — Officially, — Alcaraz, Ostapenko, Roland, Getty, NBA, Nadal, Rafa, Monte Carlo, Madrid, TennisViz Locations: PARIS, France, Osaka, Court, Australia, Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Rome, Xinhua, tennis

☆ Iga Świątek: How ‘introverted’ tennis star became a four-time grand slam champion and the world’s highest-paid female athlete
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-24 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —Calm and understated, Iga Świątek rarely appears flustered by the triumphant highs and heart-breaking lows of professional tennis, but discovering that she would be crowned world No. Since rising to the top of the rankings, the Polish star has been a dominant force in women’s tennis, winning 16 titles – 21 in total – and only once dropping from the No. “When we started working in 2019, I was really, really introverted,” says Świątek. Last year, she became the first female athlete to be sponsored by sportswear brand On and has helped to develop the company inaugural tennis range. Świątek was estimated by Forbes to be the world's highest-paid female athlete last year.

Persons: Świątek, ”, “, –, ” Świątek, Aryna Sabalenka, Susana Vera, Roland Garros, you’re, there’s, hasn’t, “ We’re, Yves Herman, Daria Abramowicz, Karolína Muchová, Julien de Rosa, it’s, Eileen Gu, Coco Gauff, Emma Raducanu, Naomi Osaka, Aryna, Williams, Maria, Sharapova, ” Max Eisenbud, Taylor Swift, Andre Agassi, Lindsey Vonn, Robert Prange, Eisenbud, I’ve, ” “, Monica Seles, Justine Henin – Organizations: CNN, tennis, CNN Sport, Madrid, Reuters, Porsche, Rolex, Getty, Forbes ’, Tennis, Forbes, Serena, Brands Locations: Madrid, Rome, AFP, American, Świątek

☆ French Open draw: Nadal’s nightmare draw with Zverev? And who will stop Swiatek?
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Matthew Futterman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +9 min

Follow live coverage of the first day of the French Open 2024 today and game-by-game coverage of Stan Wawrinka vs Andy MurrayOnce upon a time, there was a tennis tournament called the French Open. When it was over, the greatest clay-court player of all time learned that he would have to play a rematch of the 2022 French Open semi-final, where Zverev tore ligaments in his ankle after pushing Nadal to his limits. They’re French Open finalists the past three years, and two of the best clay-court players in the world. She has won three of the past four French Open titles, and has become nearly unbeatable on clay. Ostapenko won the French Open in 2017 (Julien de Rosa/AFP via Getty Images)Ostapenko has beaten Swiatek all four times they have played, and won this tournament in 2017.

Persons: Stan Wawrinka, Andy Murray, Andres Gomez, Carlos Moya, Thomas Muster, Yevgeny Kafelnikov, Gaston Gaudio, Rafael Nadal, Nadal, Alexander Zverev, David Ramos, Novak Djokovic, Zverev, Rafael Nadal's, It’s, Carlos Alcaraz, Monte, Andrey Rublev, JJ Wolf, Next, hasn’t, Julian Finney, Pierre Hugues, Herbert, Luca Nardi, Alejandro Tabilo, Tomas Machac, Roland Garros, Chris Eubanks, there’s, Casper Ruud, They’re, Tsitsipas, Marton Fucsovics, Ruud, Jakub Mensik, Felipe Meligeni Alves, Nicolas Jarry, . Jarry, Corentin Moutet, Tabilo, Men’s, Ra, s 🇨🇿 Toma, Macha, Ben Shelto, 🇬 🇧Dan Evans, She has, Elen, Leo l ia Je, ike Nosk, ina, Ry, aki, Sara S orri, 🇰🇿 Yulia Putin, Cornet 🇷🇴 Sor, lina (15) Organizations: Nadal, Getty, Monte, adal Locations: German, Berlin, Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Rome, Madrid, Geneva, Italy, Chile, Czech, Ost

☆ ‘I didn’t know it would cause such a stir’: Serena Williams reveals how catsuit became an iconic fashion moment
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Amanda Davies | Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Instead, the conversation largely revolved around what she was wearing: the now iconic superhero ‘catsuit.’And, boy, was there a conversation. “I didn’t know it would have such an impact,” Williams tells CNN Sport’s Amanda Davies. “Here I am, just trying to be healthy, I was a new mom and just trying to be me. I didn’t know it would cause such a stir.”Williams was banned from wearing the catsuit at future French Open tournaments after French Tennis Federation President Bernard Giudicelli said that Roland Garros would be introducing a dress code. Serena Williams wore the now iconic catsuit at the 2018 French Open.

Persons: Serena Williams, Kristýna, “, ” Williams, Amanda Davies, Bernard Giudicelli, Roland Garros, ” Giudicelli, Billie Jean King, Williams, Giudicelli, Tim Clayton, Corbis, ”, we’ve, –, Chaz Niell, “ Don’t, “ I’d, MICHAEL BRADLEY Organizations: CNN, French Tennis Federation, Marvel, Nike, Getty Locations: Wakanda, Olympia, AFP

☆ Caitlin Clark will head to the WNBA at a critical moment for the league
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-05 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The WNBA, still emerging entering its 28th season, hopes Caitlin Clark can achieve what those athletes did and turn the league into a cultural phenomenon. WNBA players’ salaries also lag behind. Turning Clark fans into WNBA fansClark is already having an impact on the WNBA. “The need by WNBA teams to invest in fan acquisition and fan engagement is really critical to maximize this moment,” she said. Bebeto Matthews/APThe league was financially connected to the NBA, and each of the first eight WNBA teams was linked to an NBA franchise.

Persons: Woods, Venus Williams, Michael Jordan, Caitlin Clark, ”, Boris Lelchitski, Candace Parker, Jonquel Jones, ” Clark, Angel Reese, Clark, Reese, “, Phil Cook, Gregory Fisher, Nielsen, “ Caitlin Clark, Noah Henderson, Cathy Engelbert, “ We’ve, Erica Denhoff, Jessica Gelman, Gelman, David Stern, Lisa Leslie, Sheryl Swoopes, Rebecca Lobo, Bebeto Matthews, Terri Jackson, ” Donna Orender, Orender, ” Engelbert, Cameron Brink, ’, “ Clark, Donna Orender Organizations: New, New York CNN, NBA, WNBA, Indiana Fever, NCAA, University of Iowa, Louisiana State University, Tiger, USA, Sports, Reuters, Loyola University, CNN, LSU, WNBA's Indiana, Kraft Analytics Group, MIT Sloan Sports Analytics, Nielsen, Brands, Gatorade, State, longtime, Olympics, Basketball Players Association, Deloitte, Kraft Analytics Locations: New York, Chicago, Iowa, USA, Atlanta, San Francisco

☆ Simona Halep: Serving lengthy doping ban, tennis star sues health supplement company for damages in excess of $10 million
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —As she serves a four-year doping ban, Romanian tennis star Simona Halep is now pursuing legal action against a Canadian health supplements company for damages in excess of $10 million. According to the complaint, Halep used Schinoussa supplements during the 2022 US Open tournament in New York. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has said Halep’s suspension is backdated and will run from October 7, 2022, until October 6, 2026. Halep said in a statement after her suspension that she had adjusted her nutritional supplements ahead of the hard-court season in 2022. “I was tested almost weekly after my initial positive test through early 2023, all of which came back negative,” Halep said.

Persons: Simona Halep, Halep, “, ”, Laurent Gillieron, John Koveos, ” Koveos, Koveos, they’re, Halep “, ” Halep Organizations: CNN, Quantum Nutrition, Doping Agency, United, United States Anti, Nutrition, Women’s Tennis Association, Tennis Integrity Agency, Globe, CFL, NHL Locations: Romanian, New York, United States, Globe

☆ Mirra Andreeva: 16-year-old stuns Ons Jabeur in Australian Open second round, admits she’s ‘inspired’ by No. 6 seed
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Mirra Andreeva, tennis’ new teenage sensation, shocked Ons Jabeur in the second round of the Australian Open on Wednesday. 6 seed and three-time grand slam finalist 6-0 6-2 for her first career top-10 victory as she continues to show why she’s tipped for the top of the sport. Afterwards, the 47th-ranked Russian was full of respect for Jabeur and detailed how she has become a personal inspiration of hers. Andreeva added that she saw Jabeur as an idol because of “the way she’s on the court and off the court. It is the third time she has reached the third round of a grand slam having done so at the French Open and Wimbledon last year.

Persons: Mirra, ”, Andreeva, Rod Laver, Jabeur, Tracey Nearmy, Jelena Dokic, Martina Hingis, Alina Korneeva, “, It’s, Diane Parry, Kamilla Rakhimova Organizations: CNN, Russian, Wimbledon, Tunisian, Andreeva, Australian, Women’s Tennis Association

☆ Ben Shelton: US tennis star doesn’t want to ‘put a ceiling’ on what he can achieve
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-12 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —About this time last year, Ben Shelton was an up-and-coming tennis player taking his first-ever trip outside the United States. It figures, then, that Shelton enters his second full season as a professional tennis player with weighty expectations. “There’s not one path for everybody, and I don’t think that my path is perfect, but it really worked for me,” says Shelton. I don’t feel like I have too many miles on my body yet.”On the court, Shelton is physical and powerful. I think I’m also more comfortable taking away time and coming forward to the net.

Persons: Ben Shelton, Shelton, ” Shelton, Skip, Novak Djokovic, Brad Gilbert, Andy Roddick, Frances Tiafoe, Geoff Burke, Reuters It’s, Roddick, Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul, coy, someone’s, ”, Aslan Karatsev, Kazuhiro Nogi, – Carlos Alcaraz, Coco Gauff, Emma Raducanu, – Shelton, “ There’s, “, haven’t, Scott Perelman, Bryan, Djokovic, Mike Stobe, Shelton – Organizations: CNN, CNN Sport, Melbourne, ATP, Reuters, Football, Japan, University of Florida, NCAA, Roddick, Georgia Tech Locations: United States, Australia, Japan, American, USA, AFP, Georgia, Florida, Tokyo, Swiss, tennis

☆ 2023 sporting moments in pictures
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Reuters Photographers | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Filed: November 29, 2022, 11.00 a.m. GMTThe year was filled with sporting excellence, broken records and newly-crowned champions, and Reuters photographers were present to document every major twist and turn. In soccer, the Women’s World Cup shattered several attendance and viewership records, but Spain’s win was overshadowed by a sexism storm that attracted global headlines. Manchester City won their first-ever Champions League trophy en route to the treble and Napoli lifted their first Serie A title in 33 years. Novak Djokovic’s quest to establish himself as the greatest-ever men’s tennis player was the highlight of the tennis season. He won three major titles, although he ultimately lost the Wimbledon final to Carlos Alcaraz.

Persons: Novak, Carlos Alcaraz, Coco Gauff, Max Verstappen, Francesco Bagnaia, dazzled Organizations: Reuters, Manchester City, Napoli, Serie, Wimbledon, U.S, Rugby, Australia, Cricket, Formula One, Asian, Pan American Locations: South Africa, Hangzhou, Santiago

☆ Billie Jean King: Players ‘are exhausted,’ says tennis great as she urges the sport’s authorities to work together
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-25 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

It meant many of the sport’s top players opted not to play the latter – an end-of-year tournament dubbed the World Cup of tennis. Aryna Sabalenka waits during a rain delay at this year's WTA Finals. Clive Brunskill/Getty ImagesSimon responded with a letter of his own during the WTA Finals, outlining to players how the organisation was handling the issues raised. But there looks to be no magic solution to the array of problems facing women’s tennis at the moment. “But I think about men’s and women’s tennis, I don’t just think about women’s tennis.

Persons: Issues, Sabalenka, Storm Hunter, Jessica Pegula, Billie Jean King, –, Poland’s Iga, “, ” Sabalenka, Clive Brunskill, Marketa Vondrousova, ” Vondrousova, we’ve, Steve Simon, Martina Navratilova, ”, ” Navratilova, Simon Organizations: CNN, Tennis Association, WTA, International Tennis Federation, Tennis, BJK, Amazon Prime Locations: Cancún, Mexico, Seville, Spain

☆ Novak Djokovic’s 19-match winning streak ended by Italian youngster Jannik Sinner
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Jannik Sinner brought Novak Djokovic’s 19-match unbeaten run to an end on Tuesday, defeating the world No. 1 at the ATP Finals in Turin, Italy. Tiziana Fabi/AFP/Getty ImagesIt was Sinner’s second win at this year’s ATP Finals – the end-of-season competition for men’s tennis. The ATP Finals sees the eight top-ranked men battle it out to become the end-of-season champion. The 36-year-old has won six ATP Finals titles during his career, including four consecutive wins between 2012-2015.

Persons: CNN —, Sinner, Novak Djokovic’s, –, “, Djokovic, ” Djokovic, ” Novak Djokovic, Tiziana Fabi, Denmark’s Holger Rune, Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz, Hurkacz, Tsitsipas, Rune Organizations: CNN, ATP, tennis, Djokovic Locations: Turin, Italy, Serbian, AFP

SEVILLE, Spain (AP) — Leylah Fernandez and Marina Stakusic won their singles matches as Canada beat Italy 2-0 to claim its first-ever Billie Jean King Cup on Sunday. Stakusic, ranked 258th in the world, put Canada ahead by defeating No. Canada had beaten 11-time champion Czech Republic in the semifinals, while four-time champion Italy advanced past Slovenia for its first final appearance since 2013. Political Cartoons View All 1240 ImagesCanada, captained by Heidi El Tabakh, is the 13th nation to win the Billie Jean King Cup, and the second new champion after Switzerland’s triumph in Glasgow a year ago. The Canada men's team is the current Davis Cup champion.

Persons: — Leylah Fernandez, Marina Stakusic, Billie Jean King, Stakusic, Martina Trevisan, Fernandez, Jasmine Paolini, Davis, Heidi El Tabakh, Iga Swiatek, ___ Organizations: Canada, Italy, Billie Jean King Cup, La, Czech, Davis, WTA Locations: SEVILLE, Spain, Canada, Seville, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Glasgow, United States, Switzerland, Cancun , Mexico

And with that, Inter Miami got to celebrate the game's greatest player one more time in 2023. He embraced Garber, Inter Miami owners Jorge and Jose Mas, then hoisted the trophy as the crowd roared. Political Cartoons View All 1240 Images“You, Inter Miami fans, have the best player who's ever played the game,” Garber said. “He’s the main star of this match and we want to join him celebrating his eighth Ballon D’Or,” Inter Miami coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino said. But eight Ballon D’Or trophies sure swing the argument Messi’s way.

Persons: — Lionel Messi, Messi, —, Messi —, Don Garber, Garber, Jorge, Jose Mas, ” Messi, “, ”, who's, ” Garber, Ballon, Leo, Gerardo “ Tata ” Martino, NYCFC, “ You’ve, hadn’t, ” Martino, Michael Jordan, LeBron James ., Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Simone Biles, Michael Phelps, Katie Ledecky, Benjamin Cremaschi, “ He’s, I’ve Organizations: Inter Miami, Major League Soccer, New York City FC, MLS, ” Inter Miami, Inter, Argentina, Uruguay, U.S, CONCACAF, Soccer, Barcelona Locations: FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla, Paris, China, Miami, Argentina, Buenos Aires, Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, men’s

☆ BJK Cup: Billie Jean King on the career moment she’ll ‘never forget’ and the growth of the tournament named in her honor
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Billing itself as the world’s largest annual international team competition in women’s sport, the Billie Jean King Cup is akin to the World Cup of tennis, pitting countries from around the world against one another. Tennis great Billie Jean King lent her name to the tournament – which celebrates its 60th anniversary this month – in 2020 and she has fond memories of playing in it herself. It fits my personality and fits how I think about the sport,” King said. Improving women’s tennis is something King has done throughout her career in the sport. More than anything, though, King wants this competition, and women’s sport in general, to get more media coverage.

Persons: CNN —, Billie Jean King, King, “, ” King, “ It’s, Davis, Serena Williams, John G, Mabanglo, ”, Bobby Riggs, Lesley Martin, Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Iga Świątek Organizations: CNN, Tennis, US, Getty, Federation Cup, Fed, International Tennis Federation, ITF, Women’s Tennis Association, ”, WTA Locations: Seville, Spain, France, Italy, Canada, Germany, US, Australia, Switzerland, Poland, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Kazakhstan, Venus, AFP, “, ” Switzerland, Mexico

☆ Iga Świątek regains world No. 1 ranking after thrashing Jessica Pegula to win WTA Finals title
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Iga Świątek brushed aside Jessica Pegula to win the WTA Finals on Monday and return to the top of the world rankings. The win means Świątek replaces Aryna Sabalenka as the world No. “Coming back to world number one, it’s a dream come true, for sure,” Swiatek told reporters after winning her first WTA Finals title. So I’m really happy.”Since her last-16 defeat at the US Open, Świątek has won 12 out of the 13 matches she’s played, picking up titles at the China Open and now Cancún. It capped off a controversial WTA Finals, with players unhappy with the organisation of the event, run by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA).

Persons: Jessica Pegula, Sabalenka, ” Swiatek, “, I’m, Świątek, she’s, “ We’ve, Matthew Stockman, ”, Pegula, Martina Navratilova, Steve Simon, Simon, ” Świątek Organizations: CNN, WTA, China, Getty, Women’s Tennis Association, Tennis, Amazon, Sports Locations: Cancún, Mexico

CANCUN, Mexico (AP) — The women's tennis tour defended the court built for the WTA Finals as meeting its “strict performance standards” after No. “Honestly, it’s another level of disrespect from the WTA for the players, because sometimes they don’t even feel safe to move on this court. That’s not the level I expect from the WTA Finals,” Sabalenka said Sunday night after beating Maria Sakkari 6-0, 6-1 in one of the opening matches in round-robin play. ... Everything was late and (there was) no time to fix anything.”Political Cartoons View All 1223 ImagesThe venue for this year's WTA Finals was not announced until last month, under a one-year agreement with Cancun. “We’re pleased to host the WTA Finals in Cancun for the first time and worked hard to construct a stadium where the world’s top eight women’s tennis players and doubles teams compete head-to-head.

Persons: Sabalenka, That’s, ” Sabalenka, Maria Sakkari, ”, Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, it’s, “ We’re, ___ Organizations: WTA, U.S, Wimbledon Locations: CANCUN, Mexico, Cancun

☆ Coco Gauff Has Grabbed Our Attention
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-28 | by ( Liz Robbins | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Hours after winning her first United States Open tennis championship, in September, Coco Gauff took her Tiffany trophy for a nighttime swirl around the tournament grounds. 1 single from Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice:“I’m bad like the Barbie/I’m a doll, but I still want to party.”At 19, Gauff met the cultural moment and made it her own. They capture the essence of moments,” said Kirby Porter, the founder of New Game Labs, a marketing firm that helps start-ups work with athletes. I literally downloaded it, and I was like, ‘Yes, Mood!’ That’s exactly how I feel.”Born into a new generation of athlete creators, Gauff became the M.C. She not only raised her own profile, but lifted women’s tennis in need of a new celebrity after the retirement of Serena Williams.

Persons: Coco Gauff, Tiffany, Nicki Minaj, Gauff, ”, Kirby Porter, “, Gen, Serena Williams Organizations: United States, ”, New, Labs

☆ WTA Finals: Records, history and the evolution of showpiece event of women’s tennis
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —By pitting the world’s best players against each other every year, the WTA Finals have been a celebration of women’s tennis for over half a century. The end-of-year championship sees the eight top-ranked singles players and eight top-ranked doubles pairings battle it out to be crowned the ultimate champions of the year. In 1973, after a meeting with more than 60 other players, King founded the WTA – a new tour uniting all of women’s professional tennis. Mark Foley/APWith women’s tennis entering a new, more prosperous era, the WTA Finals returned for a second year. This year’s WTA Finals begin on October 29, with the final taking place on November 5.

Persons: Chris Evert, Billie Jean King, King, Bobby Riggs, ” Chris Evert, Mark Foley, Evert, Serena Williams, Julian Finney, Monica Seles ’, Gabriela Sabatini, Caroline Garcia, Aryna Sabalenka, Markéta Vondroušová, Coco Gauff, Iga Świątek, Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, Muchová, Greece’s Maria Sakkari, Aryna, Sarah Stier, Gauff, Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf, Margaret Court, Virginia Wade Organizations: CNN, WTA, Virginia Slims, American, women’s, Garden, Apple, Getty, Guadalajara, Wimbledon Locations: Boca Raton , Florida, “, Los Angeles, New York’s, Oakland, Spain, Turkey, Singapore, Cancun , Mexico, Mexico, French

☆ Coco Gauff: Even at the age of 10, tennis coach Patrick Mouratoglou was convinced US star would be ‘great’
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( Samuel Joseph | Patrick Snell | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Serena Williams’ former coach Patrick Mouratoglou came away from his first meeting with a 10-year-old Coco Gauff convinced that she was destined for greatness. Gauff and Mouratoglou have known each other for almost 10 years and worked together in an unofficial capacity ahead of this year's French Open. Gauff can now call herself a grand slam Champion. “She has learned to deal with [the pressure] at a young age, and that explains partly her ability to win her first grand slam final at only 19 years old,” said Mouratoglou. “I think the Williams sisters have inspired a lot of African Americans and Black people in general,” he said.

Persons: Serena Williams ’, Patrick Mouratoglou, Coco Gauff, “, CNN Sport’s Patrick Snell, ” Gauff, Christophe Saidi, “ Coco, ”, Roland Garros, Venus Williams, Gauff, Simona Halep, Elsa, Getty, Mouratoglou, Serena Williams, Williams, Serena, ” Williams, Scott Barbour, Tsitsipas, Holger Rune, “ She’s Organizations: CNN, Mouratoglou Academy, Wimbledon, Washington D.C, Mouratoglou, Getty Locations: United States, “, Cincinnati, New York

☆ Women’s tennis returns to China after Peng Shuai boycott
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Jessie Yeung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Hong Kong CNN —The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) kicked off its first tournament in China in more than three years Monday, ending its boycott over the uncertain fate of tennis star Peng Shuai. Peng, a three-time Olympian and grand slam doubles champion, later denied having made the sexual assault claim. But despite the lack of such an investigation, Simon announced this April that the suspension, which he called a “principled stand,” would come to an end by September. The WTA had already pulled its tournaments in China in 2020 due to Covid-19 travel restrictions. Cornet had posted an Instagram story saying her season would only resume later in October, the newspaper said.

Persons: Peng Shuai, Peng, Zhang Gaoli, –, Zhang, Steve Simon, ”, Simon, ” Peng “, Alize Cornet, Cornet, ” Cornet Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Tennis Association, United, Communist, WTA, Guangzhou, Olympic, Beijing Winter Games, Human Rights Watch, Reuters Locations: China, Hong Kong, United Nations, Beijing, Ningbo

☆ How Coco Gauff Embodies the Biggest Story in Sports
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( Kurt Streeter | More About Kurt Streeter | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

That thought flashed through my mind as I sat courtside at Arthur Ashe Stadium last week, watching Coco Gauff poleax the backhand passing shot that sealed the U.S. Open and her first Grand Slam title. My thoughts were as much about the in-sync way Gauff struck that last ball as how the moment had lined up for this column. Gauff — a sensation now at 19, much as Venus and Serena Williams were at the same age — stepped closer to her destiny. The Open was the last event I will cover as the Sports of The Times columnist. I’m moving to our National desk, where I’ll write feature stories about America’s wonder, complexity, trouble and promise.

Persons: Arthur Ashe, Coco Gauff, Serena Williams, —, I’m Organizations: U.S ., Sports, The Times

A four-year absence of elite women’s tennis in China is set to end with the Women's Tennis Association holding seven tournaments in the next six weeks as part of the tour's Asian swing. Political Cartoons View All 1163 ImagesIn doubles, Peng won major championships at Wimbledon in 2013 and the French Open in 2014. She won 23 WTA titles in doubles and two in singles and represented China at three Summer Olympics. The China Open, a WTA and ATP 1000 event, follows from Sept. 28 and will see 2023 U.S. Open finalist, Aryna Sabalenka, debut as the new world No. In October, the tour moves to the WTA 500 Zhengzhou Open and WTA 250 Hong Kong with both tournaments starting Oct. 9.

Persons: Peng Shuai’s, Peng, Zhang Gaoli, Steve Simon, “ We’ve, ”, There’s, Alize Cornet, ” Cornet, Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, Naomi Osaka, Sabalenka, — Organizations: Women's Tennis Association, WTA, Wimbledon, U.S, China Locations: China, Guangzhou, Ningbo, Hong Kong, Jiangxi, Asia, Zhuhai

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