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First of all, there's no such thing as a “game clock” in tennis, in general, and no such thing as “too late” at the Australian Open and U.S. Open, in particular. … I haven’t been able to sit through one,” two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka said. The women's and men's professional tours announced just before the start of the Australian Open that they're instituting new rules this month to try to cut back on play after midnight. One problem: Those rules apply only to events run by the WTA and ATP — not Grand Slam tournaments. WHEN DOES MEDVEDEV PLAY NEXT?

Persons: Daniil Medvedev's, Rod Laver, Zero, Medvedev, “, let’s, Emil Ruusuvuori, That's, ”, John Isner, Isner, — Medvedev, Ruusuvuori, Anna Blinkova's, Elena Rybakina —, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, ” Djokovic, Lleyton Hewitt, Marcos Baghdatis —, Carlos Alcaraz, haven’t, Victoria Azarenka, “ It’s, Andy Murray, ” Murray, you’re, Coco Gauff, Felix Auger, ” Medvedev, John Pye, ___ Howard Fendrich, howard, fendrich Organizations: Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Park, Wimbledon, Australian, England, U.S ., U.S, WTA, ATP, Tennis Australia, NEXT Locations: Melbourne, New York, Australia

Djokovic, Norrie and Fruhvirtova were not prepared to blame the ever-changing types of tennis balls used year-round at the sport's highest levels, but they weren't necessarily ready to absolve that issue completely, either. He said when the ATP asks male players at the end of each season what they think can be improved about the sport, he always mentions the fluctuations among the fuzzy tennis balls. Ten brands of tennis balls — and 19 distinct types — were used across the WTA in 2023. "It does change week by week." One significant difference between tennis and some other sports is that surfaces change, prompting ball changes.

Persons: Novak, Cam Norrie, Brenda Fruhvirtova, Norrie, Fruhvirtova, “, Milos Raonic, Taylor Fritz, didn’t, I’ve, ” Fritz, “ It’s, It’s, it’s, Katie Boulter, Carlos Alcaraz, Fritz, Alcaraz, Victoria Azarenka, ” Azarenka, AP Sports Writers John Pye, Andrew Dampf, ___ Organizations: Australian, Melbourne Park, WTA, ATP, ”, Wimbledon, NHL, Major League Baseball, FIFA, U.S ., U.S, Victoria, AP Sports Writers Locations: California, Melbourne, British, Australia, Turin, Italy

☆ Sumit Nagal has made history for India at the Australian Open. So too has his next opponent, Shang Juncheng, for China
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

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

☆ A 16-year-old tennis prodigy earned $167K and the biggest win of her career, then complained about schoolwork
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Meredith Cash | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

6 Ons Jabeur early in the 2024 Australian Open. After the second-round win, Andreeva lamented the fact that she still has schoolwork to complete. 6 Ons Jabeur Tuesday in the second round of the 2024 Australian Open women's singles tournament, notching the biggest victory of her young career in convincing fashion. Mirra Andreeva reacts to beating Ons Jabeur at the 2024 Australian Open. 47 — not much has changed for Andreeva in the seven months between Roland-Garros 2023 and this year's Australian Open.

Persons: Andreeva, —, Mirra Andreeva, Melbourne's Rod Laver, Tracey Nearmy, — Andreeva, Mirra, Garros, SEBASTIEN BERDA, France's Diane Parry Organizations: Service, Melbourne's, REUTERS, Andreeva, Roland, Getty, Wimbledon Locations: AFP

☆ 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

☆ Elite women’s sports tipped to generate over $1.2 billion next year
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Elite women’s sports will generate revenue of $1.28 billion in 2024, according to financial analysts Deloitte, up 300% from three years ago. “Crucially, women’s sport is increasingly being viewed as a unique product that is becoming ever more distinct from men’s elite sport.”The forecast comes at an exciting time for women’s sports, which have generally been on an upward trajectory in recent years. The FIFA Women’s World Cup, for example, was a roaring success which brought soccer to a whole new audience. Deloitte predicts the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) tour will be a major contributor to revenue next year. Sarah Stier/Getty ImagesDeloitte’s predictions forecast that valuations of women’s teams and leagues will continue to rise, with broadcast deals becoming increasingly lucrative.

Persons: ” Jennifer Haskel, “, Luis Rubiales, Jennifer Hermoso, Sarah Stier, ” Paul Lee, ” Organizations: CNN, Elite, Deloitte, Deloitte’s Sports Business, FIFA, Tennis Association, “ Broadcasters Locations: Spanish, Spain, Europe, North America

☆ 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

☆ Raducanu withdraws from Macau exhibition match
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Tennis - WTA 500 - Stuttgart Open - Porsche Arena, Stuttgart, Germany - April 18, 2023 Britain's Emma Raducanu during her round of 32 match against Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko REUTERS/Angelika Warmuth/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 13 (Reuters) - Former U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu has pulled out of a December exhibition match at the Macau Tennis Masters as she continues to recover from wrist and ankle surgery, her management company IMG said on Monday. Raducanu was poised to return to action after her May surgeries but, on her 21st birthday, has decided to extend her time on the sidelines. Raducanu started light training in August and said she is targeting a comeback for next season. The inaugural Grand Slam of the year kicks off in Australia on Jan. 15. Reporting by Tommy Lund in Gdansk; Editing by Ken FerrisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Emma Raducanu, Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko REUTERS, Angelika Warmuth, Raducanu, Tommy Lund, Ken Ferris Organizations: Porsche, Former U.S, Macau Tennis Masters, IMG, Briton, Wimbledon, Thomson Locations: Stuttgart, Germany, Former, New York, Australia, Gdansk

☆ Billie Jean King Cup: Leylah Fernandez guides Canada to first ever title
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Leylah Fernandez led Canada to a first ever Billie Jean King Cup triumph on Sunday, securing the title with a 6-2 6-3 win over Italy’s Jasmine Paolini. Canada won the Billie Jean King Cup, formerly known as the Fed Cup, for the first time. It’s a dream come true.”Canada’s victory comes just a year after the men clinched the country’s first Davis Cup title. Fernandez was undefeated over the week as she guided Canada to victory. After Fernandez’s victory, the Canadian team was presented with the trophy by Billie Jean King, as well as blue jackets like those regularly worn by the legendary tennis star.

Persons: CNN — Leylah Fernandez, Billie Jean King, Italy’s Jasmine Paolini, Fernandez, ” Fernandez, CNN Sport’s Patrick Snell, “ Billie Jean King, “ We’re, Marina Stakusic, Martina Trevisan, Matt McNulty, Heidi El Tabakh, Magdalena Fręch, “, ” Stakusic, hasn’t, El Tabakh, ” El Tabakh, Marcelo Del Pozo Organizations: CNN, Canada, Czech, Billie Jean King Cup, Fed, Reuters, Canadian Locations: Canada, Poland, Spain, Czech Republic, Italy

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

☆ Fernandez seals Canada's first BJK Cup title
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

After the 21-year-old converted match point the Canadian team celebrated wildly on court in front of their jubilant fans. It was then over to Fernandez who duly claimed her fourth singles win of the week by outclassing Paolini. Canada's team will receive $2.4 million in prize money -- a record for the women's team event formerly known as the Fed Cup. "Congratulations to Canada for capturing their first Billie Jean King Cup title," King said. Canada are the 13th nation to win the Billie Jean King Cup and the second new champions in two years following Switzerland’s triumph in Glasgow 12 months ago.

Persons: Billie Jean King, Marina Stakusic, Italy's Martina Trevisan, Marcelo Del Pozo, Leylah Fernandez, Jasmine Paolini, Heidi El Tabakh, Martina Trevisan, Trevisan, Stakusic, Fernandez, outclassing Paolini, Marketa Vondrousova, Gabriela Dabrowski, Barbora Krejcikova, Katerina Siniakova, American King, King, Martyn Herman, Hugh Lawson, Ken Ferris Organizations: La, U.S ., WTA, Wimbledon, Fed, Billie Jean King Cup, Thomson Locations: Seville, Spain, SEVILLE, Canada, Italy, Czech Republic, Czech, American, Glasgow

☆ Doubles powerhouse Krejcikova, Siniakova part ways
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Tennis - Billie Jean King Cup Finals - Estadio de La Cartuja, Seville, Spain - November 11, 2023 Canada's Gabriela Dabrowski and Leylah Fernandez celebrate after winning their doubles match against Czech Republic's Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova REUTERS/Marcelo Del Pozo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 12 (Reuters) - Dynamic Czech duo Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova will not play doubles together during the 2024 season, the WTA said on its website on Sunday, pausing their hugely successful partnership after collecting seven Grand Slam titles together. The pair won in San Diego in September but lost to Canadians Gabriela Dabrowski and Leylah Fernandez at the Billie Jean King Cup this weekend. Siniakova initiated the split after an injury-marred 2023, according to media reports, but did not rule out a potential reunion. The Olympic doubles champions picked up their seventh Grand Slam title at the Australian Open this year. Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York; Editing by Ken FerrisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Billie Jean King, Canada's Gabriela Dabrowski, Leylah Fernandez, Krejcikova, Katerina Siniakova REUTERS, Marcelo Del Pozo, Barbora Krejcikova, Katerina Siniakova, Gabriela Dabrowski, Siniakova, Amy Tennery, Ken Ferris Organizations: La, Czech, WTA, Thomson Locations: Seville, Spain, San Diego, New York

☆ Naomi Osaka set to return to tennis at Brisbane International less than six months after giving birth
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

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

☆ Storm Hunter defies the odds to win first BJK Cup match
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Australian tennis star Storm Hunter won her first match at this year’s BJK Cup in Seville, Spain, on Tuesday, despite landing in the country just hours before it started… without her luggage. The 29-year-old had been playing in the WTA Finals doubles competition in Cancún, Mexico, last week, eventually losing with partner Elise Mertens in the semifinals on Sunday. It’s definitely been a whirlwind few days.”Hunter (left) had played in the doubles semifinals at the WTA Finals on Sunday. Clive Brunskill/Getty ImagesThe Billie Jean King Cup is akin to the women’s World Cup of tennis, pitting countries from around the world against one another. 1 Iga Świątek, opted not to play at this year’s BJK Cup, with the event starting just a day after the rain-delayed WTA Finals.

Persons: Storm Hunter, Elise Mertens, Hunter, Kimberly Birrell, Slovenia’s Veronika Erjavec, Ela Milić –, “ It’s, ” Hunter, “, It’s, Clive Brunskill, Billie Jean King, Coco Gauff, Świątek Organizations: CNN, WTA, Australia, Slovenia, Team Australia Locations: Australian, Seville, Spain, Cancún, Mexico, Kazakhstan

☆ 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

☆ 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

☆ 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

☆ 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

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 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

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