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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

☆ Iga Świątek: How the Rolling Stones inspired four-time grand slam champion to comeback win at the Australian Open
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

1 Iga Świątek survived a late scare to beat US star Danielle Collins in the Australian Open second round on Thursday. Asked by reporters how she kept her focus under such pressure, the four-time grand slam singles champion credited an unlikely source of inspiration. Martin Keep/AFP/Getty ImagesCollins had found herself 4-1 up in the deciding set against Świątek, but the 2022 Australian Open finalist couldn’t fend off her opponent’s late surge. I’m really proud of myself because it wasn’t easy.”Świątek will now play Linda Noskova in the third round at Melbourne Park. Very solid, and I’m really happy about this match today.”

Persons: Iga Świątek, Danielle Collins, Świątek, “, I’m, ”, ” Collins, Collins, Rod Laver, Martin, couldn’t, Linda Noskova, It's, Iga, Pegula, Jessica Pegula, France’s Clara Burel, ” Burel Organizations: CNN, Australian, Getty, Melbourne

☆ Novak Djokovic struggles past home favorite Alexei Popyrin to reach Australian Open third round
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —It wasn’t pretty, but Novak Djokovic booked his spot in the 2024 Australian Open third round on Wednesday, beating Australian home favorite Alexei Popyrin in four sets 6-3 4-6 7-6(4) 6-3 in a hard-fought affair. 1 seed was able to race away during the second half of the match to continue his run for a record-extending 11th Australian Open men’s title. He deserves a big round of applause.”During his opening two matches at the Australian Open in Melbourne, Djokovic hasn’t played at the imperious levels we’ve come to expect from him. He dropped a set in his opening round match against Dino Prižmić and he struggled for consistency against Popyrin. “She has a big game, big serve, big shots, very athletic.

Persons: Novak Djokovic, Alexei Popyrin, Djokovic, “, Djokovic hasn’t, Dino Prižmić, Popyrin, Lillian Suwanrumpha, Ravi Ubha, haven’t, I’m, I’ll, Gauff, Coco Gauff, Caroline Dolehide, Leylah Fernandez, Issei Kato, ” Gauff, Sloane, Stephens, Maria, Sakkari, ” Organizations: CNN, Popyrin, Parks, Dolehide, Reuters Locations: Melbourne, AFP, Delray Beach

☆ Emma Raducanu says it’s ‘amazing to be pain-free’ as she marks grand slam return with victory against Shelby Rogers
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( George Ramsay | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Emma Raducanu made light work of her first grand slam match in almost a year, defeating Shelby Rogers in the first round of the Australian Open. “Being my first slam match back, it is definitely a little bit extra sweet,” Raducanu told reporters. Maintaining her high standard in the second set, Raducanu broke in the first game and consolidated her advantage with a further break at 3-1 when a backhand approach from the American landed in the net. 1 Iga Świątek defeated 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin 7-6(7-2) 6-2, while third seed Elena Rybakina also progressed in straight sets, overcoming Karolína Plíšková 7-6(8-6) 6-4. Jessica Pegula, the top-seeded American at the Australian Open, is looking to produce a deep run at the tournament after reaching the quarterfinals three times in a row.

Persons: Emma Raducanu, Shelby Rogers, Raducanu, Rogers, ” Raducanu, “, She’s, … I’m, Rogers ’, China’s Wang Yafan, I’d, ”, I’m, Iga Świątek, Sofia Kenin, Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, Canada’s Rebecca Marino Organizations: CNN Locations: Shelby’s, British, Melbourne

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Sloane Stephens picked up her first win at the Australian Open since 2019 when she beat wild-card entry Olivia Gadecki 6-3, 6-1 on Tuesday to reach the second round. The 30-year-old American, who won the U.S. Open in 2017, won five straight games from 2-0 down in the opening set and eased through the second to clinch victory in just under an hour. Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesSwiatek plays another American, 2020 Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin. Swiatek is looking to win her fifth Grand Slam title but first in Australia. Alcaraz, last year's Wimbledon winner, plays Richard Gasquet in the last match of the night session on Rod Laver Arena.

Persons: — Sloane Stephens, Olivia Gadecki, Really, ”, Stephens, “ I’ve, Carlos Alcaraz, Sofia Kenin, Richard Gasquet, Rod Laver Organizations: U.S, Alcaraz, Wimbledon, ___ Locations: MELBOURNE, Australia, Melbourne

☆ 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

☆ 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

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

☆ Jefferies upgrades this little-known biotech stock with more than 100% upside
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-10 | by ( Lisa Kailai Han | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The firm upgraded shares of the late-stage biotech to buy from hold, lifting its price target to $26 from $18. Shares of Vera Therapeutics have fallen 37.8% this year, but analyst Farzin Haque believes the stock's recent pullback now means an attractive entry point for investors. VERA YTD mountain VERA YTD chart "W/ shares down –30% (vs XBI –13%) since Sept 21 TVTX data release, we have become more optimistic about atacicept (dual BAFF/APRIL) clin profile," Haque wrote. Atacicept, which Vera took over from Merck, is a drug that treats certain autoimmune diseases. "W/ recent increasing focus on eGFR, VERA's OLE data from ph.II for longer-term eGFR data (expected 1Q24) has now become an important catalyst for the stock," Haque said.

Persons: Vera, Jefferies, Vera Therapeutics, Farzin Haque, VERA YTD, VERA, Haque, Lupus nephritis, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: Vera, Merck Locations: ph.II

☆ Italy reach BJK Cup semis, Australia stay alive
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Paolini, who like Trevisan also won her singles against France, then dispatched Anna-Lena Friedsam 6-3 6-2. It is the first time Italy have reached the semi-finals of the competition since 2014. Captain Alicia Molik changed her line-up and world number 155 Storm Hunter rewarded her faith by posting a 7-6(2) 6-4 victory against Anna Danilina, ranked a lowly 802nd. Later on Thursday, reigning champions Switzerland face the United States in Group A needing to win to stay in the hunt. Canada can secure their place in the semi-finals if they beat a Poland side without world number one Iga Swiatek.

Persons: Billie Jean King, Jasmine Paolini, Germany's Anna, Lena Friedsam REUTERS, Marcelo Del Pozo, Martina Trevisan, Eva Lys, Trevisan, Anna, Lena Friedsam, Alicia Molik, Storm Hunter, Anna Danilina, Yulia Putintseva, Kim Birrell, Hunter, Ellen Perez, Martyn Herman, Toby Davis Organizations: La, Germany, France, Slovenia, Kazakhstan, Switzerland, United States, Thomson Locations: Seville, Spain, Italy, Kazakhstan, France, Germany, Australia, Slovenia, United, Canada, Poland

☆ 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

☆ 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

☆ 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

☆ 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

☆ 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

☆ 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

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

☆ Ons Jabeur to donate part of her WTA Finals prize money to ‘help the Palestinians’
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

7 Ons Jabeur said she would donate part of her WTA Finals prize money to help Palestinians, in a tearful speech on Wednesday. “The situation in the world doesn’t make me happy,” Jabeur said, fighting back tears as she spoke to the crowd. It’s heartbreaking, so I have decided to donate part of my prize money to help the Palestinians.”‘Just humanity’“I cannot be happy with just this win, with what’s happening. I’m sorry guys, it’s supposed to be about tennis, but it’s very frustrating looking at videos every day,” Jabeur added. Sarah Stier/Getty ImagesBy winning her first group match at this year’s WTA Finals, Jabeur will receive at least $198,000 in prize money.

Persons: Markéta, ” Jabeur, “, ”, ’, it’s, Jabeur, Mo Salah, it's, Sarah Stier, old’s, Iga Świątek, Świątek, Coco Gauff Organizations: CNN, WTA, Palestinian Ministry of Health Locations: Tunisian, Cancun , Mexico, Gaza, Ramallah

☆ Swiatek crushes Gauff at WTA Finals, Jabeur vanquishes Vondrousova
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] Nov 1, 2023; Cancun, Mexico; Iga Swiatek (POL) returns a shot during her match against Coco Gauff (USA) on day four of the GNP Saguaros WTA Finals Cancun. Swiatek came out firing in their group stage match and broke the U.S. Open champion for a second time with a lovely looping crosscourt winner to take a 4-0 lead. The evening group stage match saw a rematch of the Wimbledon final as sixth seed Ons Jabeur got back at the grand slam winner Vondrousova with a straight set win. It was Jabeur's first win in the group after Monday's loss to Gauff, leaving both of them with one win each as Swiatek holds the top spot with two victories. All four players in the group can reach the semi-finals as Friday's fixtures pit Swiatek against Jabeur and Gauff against Vondrousova in the last round of the group stage.

Persons: Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Susan Mullane, Swiatek, Marketa, Gauff, Jabeur, Rory Carroll, Michael Perry Organizations: Cancun, WTA, Wimbledon, U.S, Gauff, Vondrousova, Jabeur, Thomson Locations: Cancun, Mexico, Jabeur, Los Angeles

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