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MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Novak Djokovic held off Taylor Fritz 7-6 (3), 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 in 3 3/4 hours to reach the Australian Open semifinals for the 11th time on Tuesday. After Fritz held in the 11th game, Djokovic was agitated and gesturing to get the attention of his support team, calling for salts. After all that resistance, though, Fritz was broken in the second game of the third set when Djokovic converted his 16th chance. He hit back immediately, converting his second break point with a forehand that clipped the net and dropped for a winner. Djokovic had beaten Fritz in straight sets in all but one of their previous eight encounters, including last year's U.S. Open quarterfinals.

Persons: — Novak Djokovic, Taylor Fritz, Djokovic, he’s, Andrey Rublev, Fritz, Taylor, ” Djokovic, Coco Gauff's, Marta Kostyuk, Aryna, ___ Organizations: Melbourne Park, U.S Locations: MELBOURNE, Australia, Ukraine

☆ Australian Open: ‘Part of … war machine hurting my country and my people’ says Ukrainian of Russian and Belarusian opponents
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-19 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —For Ukrainian tennis players Marta Kostyuk and Lesia Tsurenko, focusing on tennis continues to be challenging. Kostyuk and Tsurenko have continued to avoid the usual post-match handshakes with opponents from either Russia or Belarus, which is being used as a staging ground for the invasion. “My mother sends me videos when there are missiles flying over their house,” Kostyuk told reporters. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka and said playing against players from Russia or Belarus is still “tough.”“They’re part of that … war machine hurting my country and my people,” Tsurenko said. “She said: ‘Great play,’” Sabalenka told reporters.

Persons: Marta Kostyuk, Lesia, Tsurenko, Kostyuk, Russia’s Elina Avanesyan, “, ” Kostyuk, it’s, ”, “ It’s, It’s, Sabalenka, ” Tsurenko, Lesia Tsurenko, Phil Walter, what’s, ’ ” Sabalenka, Maria Timofeeva Organizations: CNN, “, ” CNN, Getty, Kostyuk Locations: Ukrainian, Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Melbourne, Russian

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

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka reached the fourth round of the Australian Open on Friday with a 6-0, 6-0 demolition of Lesia Tsurenko. “Last year, Iga (Swiatek) won so many sets 6-0 and this is one of the goals, to try to get closer to her,” Sabalenka joked. The pair did not shake hands — as is the convention for Ukrainian players against opponents from Russia or Belarus — but Tsurenko congratulated Sabalenka verbally. Sabalenka will play Amanda Anisimova, who continued her comeback with a 7-5, 6-4 win over Paula Badosa. 4 Jannik Sinner moved into the fourth round without losing a set, thanks to a dominant 6-0, 6-1, 6-3 victory over Sebastian Baez.

Persons: Aryna Sabalenka, Rod Laver, ” Sabalenka, “, Tsurenko, Sabalenka, Amanda Anisimova, Paula Badosa, Anisimova, I’m, Men’s, Sebastian Baez, Karen Khachanov, Tomas Machac, Coco Gauff, Novak Djokovic, Tomas Martin Etcheverry, Alex de Minaur, Flavio Cobolli Organizations: —, Ukrainian Locations: MELBOURNE, Australia, Russia, Belarus, Alycia Parks, Italy

☆ Coco Gauff eyes ‘double digits’ grand slam career goal ahead of Australian Open
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-13 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Coco Gauff may have won her maiden grand slam title at last year’s US Open, but the American youngster already has that particular success in her rear-view mirror. Right now, I would say double digits would be pretty awesome,” Gauff told reporters ahead of this year’s Australian Open. Sarah Stier/Getty Images Gauff celebrates her win after the final set. Sarah Stier/Getty Images Sabalenka and Gauff pose for a photo with former player Billie Jean King before the match. Sarah Stier/Getty Images Gauff is introduced ahead of the match.

Persons: Coco Gauff, Gauff, Aryna, Serena Williams, Arthur, Mike Segar, Reuters Gauff, Mike Stobe, Sarah Stier, Shannon Stapleton, Frank Franklin II, Darren Carroll, AP Sabalenka, Danielle Parhizkaran, Al Bello, Charles Krupa, Clive Brunskill, Sabalenka, Billie Jean King, Timothy A, Clary, Elina Svitolina, Anna Karolína Schmiedlová, Brad Gilbert, ” Gilbert, CNN Sport’s Don Riddell, “ Organizations: CNN, Wimbledon, Reuters, USTA, AP, USA, Network, Sabalenka, Gauff, Getty, Auckland Locations: American, Flushing Meadows, Queens, Belarus, AFP, Melbourne

☆ Sabalenka, Rybakina to open new season in Brisbane
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Tennis - WTA Finals - Cancun, Mexico - November 5, 2023 Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka in action during her semi final match against Poland's Iga Swiatek REUTERS/Henry Romero Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Nov 28 (Reuters) - World number two Aryna Sabalenka and number four Elena Rybakina will open their 2024 seasons at the Brisbane International warm-up for the Australian Open, organisers said on Tuesday. The 25-year-old will join her fellow Belarusian and twice Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka in the 48-player Brisbane field as she prepares for her first Grand Slam title defence at Melbourne Park. "Australia holds a special place in my heart after winning my first Grand Slam there," Sabalenka said in a news release. "I can't wait to make my debut at the Brisbane International and play in front of the Queensland tennis fans." Russian-born Kazakh Rybakina, the Wimbledon champion in 2022, lost to Sabalenka in this year's Melbourne final.

Persons: Poland's Iga Swiatek, Henry Romero, Elena Rybakina, Naomi Osaka, Sabalenka, Nick Mulvenney, Peter Rutherford Organizations: Poland's Iga Swiatek REUTERS, Rights, Brisbane International, WTA, United, Victoria Azarenka, Brisbane, Melbourne, Queensland tennis, Wimbledon, Thomson Locations: Cancun, Mexico, Belarus, Perth, Sydney, Russia, Ukraine, Australia, Kazakh

☆ 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

☆ Swiatek avoids rankings distraction and focuses on the right stuff
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The four-time Grand Slam champion swept aside Jessica Pegula 6-1 6-0 to claim her first WTA Finals title, and return to the top of the rankings after being deposed by Aryna Sabalenka in September. "So I think today was ... just being narrow with your head, only thinking about the right stuff." The 22-year-old Pole said she had been distracted by the ranking race at other tournaments and it had affected her performance. Cancun was named as venue for the $9 million WTA Finals, which brings together the top eight singles players and doubles partnerships to conclude the season, less than two months before it started on Oct. 29. The tournament was supposed to conclude on Nov. 5 but rain and high winds meant the semi-final between Swiatek and Sabalenka was not completed until that day, with the final shunted to Monday.

Persons: Iga Swiatek, Jessica Pegula, Henry Romero, Aryna Sabalenka, Sabalenka, Swiatek, Chiranjit, Peter Rutherford Organizations: U.S, REUTERS, WTA, Thomson Locations: Cancun, Mexico, Swiatek, Bengaluru

☆ 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

☆ Swiatek wins WTA Finals, regains world number one ranking
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/8] Tennis - WTA Finals - Cancun, Mexico - November 6, 2023 Poland's Iga Swiatek celebrates with the trophy after winning her final match against Jessica Pegula of the U.S. REUTERS/Henry Romero Acquire Licensing RightsNov 6 (Reuters) - Iga Swiatek dominated American Jessica Pegula 6-1 6-0 to win the season-ending WTA Finals in Cancun on Monday and regain her world number one ranking from Aryna Sabalenka. The Pole broke Pegula five times and won the final 11 games in a 59-minute slaughter to capture her first WTA Finals title in a match delayed by a day due to rain. "I want to thank my team who have been with me for the whole season," Swiatek said during the trophy ceremony. The 29-year-old Pegula, who struggled on her serve and failed to match Swiatek's energy level, was gracious in defeat. "Congrats on ending the year number one and winning this tournament, it's really incredible" she said.

Persons: Iga, Jessica Pegula, Henry Romero, Swiatek, Aryna, We've, it's, Rory Carroll, Ken Ferris Organizations: U.S, REUTERS, WTA, U.S ., Thomson Locations: Cancun, Mexico, Los Angeles

☆ Swiatek swats aside rival Sabalenka to reach WTA Finals title match
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Tennis - WTA Finals - Cancun, Mexico - November 5, 2023 Poland's Iga Swiatek in action during her semi final match against Belarus' Aryna Sabalenka REUTERS/Henry Romero Acquire Licensing RightsNov 5 (Reuters) - Poland's Iga Swiatek knocked out rival Aryna Sabalenka 6-3 6-2 in the semi-final of the season-ending WTA Finals in Cancun on Sunday, putting the world number one ranking within her reach ahead of Monday's title match. The current number one Sabalenka ended Swiatek's WTA Finals campaign in the penultimate stage a year ago but lacked her usual lethal power in Cancun, as a flurry of forehand errors undermined her best efforts. The four-time major winner Swiatek wrested the momentum immediately when play resumed on Sunday, and broke Sabalenka's serve in the fourth game. The 22-year-old pumped her fists and cheered wildly as the Australian Open champion Sabalenka sent one into the net on match point. She faces a tough challenge against an in-form Pegula, who shredded the U.S. Open champion Coco Gauff 6-2 6-1 to reach the title match on Saturday.

Persons: Iga, Aryna Sabalenka, Henry Romero, Iga Swiatek, Aryna, Jessica Pegula, Swiatek, Sabalenka's, Sabalenka, I'm, Coco Gauff, Jessie, Amy Tennery, Pearl Josephine Nazare, Shri Navaratnam, Josie Kao, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Belarus, Aryna Sabalenka REUTERS, WTA, China, Swiatek, Montreal, Thomson Locations: Cancun, Mexico, U.S, Pegula, New York, Bengaluru

CANCUN, Mexico (AP) — Iga Swiatek earned her first WTA Finals title and the year-end No. She is the youngest WTA Finals champion since Petra Kvitova was 21 in 2011. Pegula called it “an amazing year.”“You continue to push me to be a better player every single year,” Pegula said. In Cancun, Swiatek defeated Sabalenka in a semifinal that began Saturday, was suspended by rain, then finished on Sunday. The singles and doubles title matches both originally were scheduled to be contested Sunday, then were pushed back after a series of showers affected play during the WTA Finals.

Persons: Iga Swiatek, Jessica Pegula, Swiatek, Pegula, Justine Henin, “ We've, ” Swiatek, Petra Kvitova, ”, ” Pegula, “, that’s, Aryna Sabalenka, Sabalenka, Pegula hadn't, Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina, Laura Siegemund, Vera Zvonareva, Nicole Melichar, Martinez, Ellen Perez, hasn't Organizations: WTA, tennis, U.S ., Russia Locations: CANCUN, Mexico, Poland, Cancun, U.S, New York, Florida, Germany, Australia

CANCUN, Mexico (AP) — Iga Swiatek gave herself a shot at her first WTA Finals title and the year-end top ranking by eliminating No. The second semifinal, Swiatek vs. Sabalenka, was stopped in the fourth game. And on this court, she was definitely way, way better than me,” Sabalenka said. Sabalenka, who won the Australian Open in January for her first major title, could have guaranteed herself remaining at No. “Overall, I feel like me and Jessie, we played really in a smart way, and we’ve really kept calm.

Persons: Iga Swiatek, Jessica Pegula, they've, ” Swiatek, Pegula, Coco Gauff, Swiatek, “, ” Sabalenka, Sabalenka, Justine Henin, Jessie, we’ve, ” Organizations: WTA, Pegula Locations: CANCUN, Mexico, Poland, United States, Cancun, “

☆ Coco Gauff convincingly beaten by Jessica Pegula in all-American WTA Finals tie
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( Manav Tanneeru | Aimee Lewis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Coco Gauff’s bid to become the first teenager since 2004 to win the WTA Finals ended in defeat after she was convincingly beaten by fellow American and doubles partner Jessica Pegula in the semifinals. Fifth seed Pegula took just an hour to complete a 6-2 6-1 win over the 19-year-old US Open champion in Cancún, Mexico. “I managed to get my act together at the end of the year,” Pegula told reporters. Spectators sit in the rain during the semifinal between Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff. According to the WTA, Gauff would have become the first teenager since Maria Sharapova in 2004 to win the tournament.

Persons: Coco Gauff’s, Jessica Pegula, Pegula, “, ” Pegula, ”, Iga, Coco Gauff, Sarah Stier, Gauff, Maria Sharapova, Sharapova, Serena Williams, “ It’s, Laura Siegemund, Vera Zvonarava Organizations: CNN, WTA, Fifth Locations: Cancún, Mexico

☆ Coco Gauff advances to the semifinals of the WTA Finals despite conceding 17 double faults in match
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-04 | by ( Manav Tanneeru | Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Coco Gauff advanced to the semifinals of the WTA Finals with a hard-fought victory over Wimbledon champion Markéta Vondroušová on Friday, despite conceding 17 double faults during the match. “I felt like I needed to hit through the court,” Gauff said afterwards, according to Sky Sports. When you play her pace and let her move you side to side, it’s tough. If the Belarusian defeats Iga Świątek in their semifinal, she will secure the year-end world No. Świątek secured her semifinal spot by defeating Ons Jabeur 6-1 6-2 while Pegula won all three of her matches in the round-robin group stages to set up a showdown against Gauff.

Persons: Coco Gauff, Markéta Vondroušová, Vondrousova, Caroline Wozniacki, Jessica Pegula, Gauff, “, ” Gauff, it’s, ”, Venus Williams, Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Iga Świątek, Świątek, Pegula Organizations: CNN, WTA, Wimbledon, Sky Sports, Gauff Locations: Czech, Cancún, Mexico

☆ Top seed Sabalenka knocks Rybakina out of WTA Finals
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/5] Nov 3, 2023; Cancun, Mexico; Aryna Sabalenka reacts to a point during her match against Elena Rybakina (KAZ) on day six of the GNP Saguaros WTA Finals Cancun. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports Acquire Licensing RightsNov 3 (Reuters) - Aryna Sabalenka outlasted Elena Rybakina 6-2 3-6 6-3 to reach the WTA Finals last four in a win-or-bust group match on Friday that was halted on Thursday due to stormy weather in Cancun. Under bright sunshine but still unrelenting winds, world number one Sabalenka unleashed an ace out wide on match point to send fourth seed Rybakina packing from the year-end tournament. "I didn't really think a lot about this match," Sabalenka told Tennis Channel. Belarusian Sabalenka joins American group winner Jessica Pegula in the semi-finals of the event between the world's top eight players.

Persons: Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, KAZ, Susan Mullane, Jessica Pegula, Kazakhstan's Rybakina, Maria Sakkari, Iga, Coco Gauff, Marketa, Rory Carroll, Ken Ferris Organizations: Cancun, WTA, Tennis, Thomson Locations: Cancun, Mexico, Belarusian, Los Angeles

CANCUN, Mexico (AP) — Jessica Pegula finished round-robin singles play at the WTA Finals with a 3-0 record a year after going 0-3 at the season-ending championship, heading to the semifinals with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Maria Sakkari on Thursday night. The fifth-seeded Pegula extended her overall winning streak to eight matches, including a title at the Korean Open last month. The 29-year-old American has won all six sets she's played in Cancun so far and will play in the semifinals on Saturday. Sabalenka won that matchup in January for her first Grand Slam title. Sabalenka was ahead 5-1 in the first set Thursday when play was being delayed because of a storm.

Persons: — Jessica Pegula, Maria Sakkari, Pegula, she's, ” Pegula, ” Sakkari, Karolina Muchova, “, Coco Gauff, Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Marketa Vondrousova, Iga Swiatek, ___ Organizations: WTA, Korean, American, Sabalenka, U.S, Wimbledon Locations: CANCUN, Mexico, Cancun

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

☆ Jessica Pegula: US star defeats world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka to reach semifinals of WTA Finals
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

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

☆ Pegula upsets top seed Sabalenka at WTA Finals, reaches semis
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/4] Oct 31, 2023; Cancun, Mexico; Jessica Pegula (USA) returns a shot during her match against Aryna Sabalenka on day three of the GNP Saguaros WTA Finals Cancun. But Pegula kept her cool and captured the first set after a tense rally ended with a backhand into the net by Sabalenka on set point. Pegula raced out to a 4-0 lead in the second set, but Sabalenka once again rallied, breaking serve to cut Pegula's lead to 5-3. After the match, Pegula pushed back on the notion that her game is lacking in power compared to the likes of Sabalenka. The Kazakh world number four will take on Sabalenka on Thursday in a battle to reach the semis, while Pegula, already through to the semis, will face Sakkari in their final group stage match.

Persons: Jessica Pegula, Aryna Sabalenka, Susan Mullane, Elena Rybakina, Maria Sakkari, Pegula, Sabalenka, Rybakina, Sakkari, Rybakina's, Maria, We're, Rory Carroll, Chiranjit, Lincoln, Sonali Paul Organizations: Cancun, WTA, Estadio Paradisus, Pegula, Tennis, Kazakh, Thomson Locations: Cancun, Mexico, Mexican, Los Angeles

☆ Swiatek overcomes early deficit to beat Vondrousova at WTA Finals
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Oct 30 (Reuters) - Iga Swiatek erased a 5-2 first set deficit and ultimately rolled to a 7-6(3) 6-0 win over Marketa Vondrousova in the Pole's first match of the group stage of the season-ending WTA Finals in Cancun on Monday. Swiatek completed the first set comeback on a double fault and a disillusioned Vondrousova went quietly in the second set. She came into her third WTA Finals with a ton of momentum, however, after winning her first WTA 1000 title of the season in Beijing, and has a chance to retake the top spot from Aryna Sabalenka in Cancun. Vondrousova, who made her top-10 debut after emerging as the surprise winner of Wimbledon, is making her first appearance at the season-ending Finals, which features the top eight singles players and doubles teams in the world. Reporting by Rory Carroll in Los Angeles; Editing by Muralikumar AnantharamanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Marketa, Swiatek, Vondrousova, Rory Carroll, Muralikumar Organizations: Wimbledon, Thomson Locations: Cancun, Beijing, Vondrousova, Los Angeles

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

☆ Sabalenka slams WTA for court conditions in Cancun
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Oct 29, 2023; Cancun, Mexico; Aryna Sabalenka returns a shot during her match against Maria Sakkari (GRE) on day one of the GNP Saguaros WTA Finals Cancun. read more"I have to say though that I am very disappointed with the WTA and the experience so far at the WTA Finals. As I said in my press conference tonight, as a player I really feel disrespected by the WTA. "The team has worked diligently on an expedited timeline amid weather challenges to ensure the stadium and court meet our strict performance standards," the WTA said. I'm very happy to be in Mexico, I'm just upset with the WTA and this situation."

Persons: Aryna Sabalenka, Maria Sakkari, Susan Mullane, Sabalenka, It's, Estadio Paradisus, I'm, Rory Carroll, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Cancun, WTA, Estadio, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Cancun, Mexico, Cancun , Mexico, Los Angeles

☆ Pegula beats Rybakina in WTA Finals opener
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Oct 29, 2023; Cancun, Mexico; Jessica Pegula (USA) shakes hands with Elena Rybakina (KAZ) after their match on day one of the GNP Saguaros WTA Finals Cancun. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports Acquire Licensing RightsOct 29 (Reuters) - American Jessica Pegula won 10 of the last 12 games to beat an error-prone Elena Rybakina and notch a 7-5 6-2 win in Group A at the WTA Finals in Cancun, Mexico, on Sunday. The big-serving Rybakina looked poised to capture the first set when she stepped to the service line leading 5-3 in the opener but Pegula raised her return game for a crucial break. Pegula, who is seeded fifth, will on Tuesday face eighth seed Maria Sakkari of Greece, who was battling top seed Aryna Sabalenka in Sunday's Group A night match. The Oct. 29 to Nov. 5 Finals features the top eight singles players and doubles teams in the world.

Persons: Jessica Pegula, Elena Rybakina, KAZ, Susan Mullane, Rybakina, Pegula, Maria Sakkari, Rory Carroll, Michael Perry Organizations: Cancun, WTA, Tennis Channel, Thomson Locations: Cancun, Mexico, Cancun , Mexico, Greece, Los Angeles

☆ Sabalenka aiming to thwart Swiatek at WTA Finals, keep top spot
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Oct 29 (Reuters) - Aryna Sabalenka has enjoyed a stellar 2023 and the Belarusian will head into the season-ending WTA Finals on Sunday in Cancun, Mexico, aiming to fend off Iga Swiatek and secure the year-end world number one ranking. Australian Open champion Sabalenka leapfrogged four-time major winner Swiatek and claimed the top ranking for the first time after the U.S. Open last month. I won a Grand Slam," said French Open champion Swiatek, who will be making her third consecutive WTA Finals appearance." Joining the mix are U.S. Open champion Coco Gauff and fellow American Jessica Pegula, who are also partners in the doubles competition. Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova, Kazakh world number four Elena Rybakina, Tunisian world number seven and Greek world number nine Maria Sakkari will also challenge the field as they look to add gloss to their seasons.

Persons: Sabalenka, Iga, Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Marketa Vondrousova, Elena Rybakina, Maria Sakkari, Shrivathsa Sridhar Organizations: U.S, China, Wimbledon, Thomson Locations: Belarusian, Cancun , Mexico, Flushing Meadows, Polish, Kazakh, Mexico, Guadalajara, Bengaluru

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