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☆ Pegula steamrolls Samsonova to claim Canadian Open title
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Aug 13, 2023; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Liudmila Samsonova (right) shakes hand with Elena Rybakina (KAZ) (left) after her win in semi final at IGA Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-USA TODAY SportsAug 13 (Reuters) - American fourth seed Jessica Pegula sent a warning shot to her competitors ahead of the U.S. Open as she romped to a 6-1 6-0 victory over Liudmila Samsonova in the Canadian Open final on Sunday in Montreal for her first title of the season. "It's tough, it sucks, I feel bad that we weren't able to play on a more fair playing ground," Pegula said after securing her second WTA 1000 title. Pegula was in control throughout as she went up a double break before closing out the first set on her serve and faced no resistance from Samsonova in the second frame. Reporting by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise and Chris ReeseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Liudmila Samsonova, Elena Rybakina, KAZ, David Kirouac, Jessica Pegula, Liudmila, Pegula, Coco Gauff, ", she's, Frank Pingue, Emelia Sithole, Chris Reese Organizations: IGA, U.S, Canadian, Thomson Locations: Montreal, Quebec, Canada, American, Samsonova, Russian, Toronto

☆ Jessica Pegula shocks Iga Świątek despite ‘Cotton Eye Joe’ song derailing her during crucial point
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-13 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

With Pegula 4-3 up in the second set tiebreak and having just wrongfooted Świątek with a lob, “Cotton Eye Joe” began playing on court, forcing the umpire to call a let while the song continued, and the crowd murmured in disbelief. “I’ve never had that happen, let alone with ‘Cotton-Eye Joe.’ I was like: ‘Is this really happening right now?’ Of all the songs. Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press/APThe point was replayed and that seemed to derail Pegula’s second set tiebreak, as Świątek won the next 12 points in a row, a run that included leveling the match at a set apiece. “She really pushed me, so I needed to change something up,” Świątek said afterwards, according to the WTA’s website. I’ve got to watch the match and analyze it, because for sure she was fighting for every point and I did as well.

Persons: Jessica Pegula, Cotton, Joe ”, “, ” Pegula, “ I’ve, ‘, Joe, ’, Christinne, Pegula’s, Świątek, Pegula, ” Świątek, I’ve, Elena Rybakina, Serena Williams Organizations: CNN, Canadian, Reuters, Canadian Press Locations: American, Montreal

☆ WTA roundup: Nao Hibino upsets Linda Noskova for Prague title
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Aug 7, 2023; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Venus Williams (USA) waves to the crowd after her loss against Madison Keys (USA) (not pictured) in first round play at IGA Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY SportsAugust 8 - Japan's Nao Hibino ended a four-year title drought Monday with a 6-4, 6-1 defeat of No. 4 seed and home favorite Linda Noskova at the Livesport Prague Open in the Czech Republic. After taking the opening set rather easily, Keys needed nine match points to put Williams away. "You have to find that balance between playing risky, aggressive, but not too risky, not too much, because then (Swiatek's) not going to give you many points," Pliskova said.

Persons: Venus Williams, Eric Bolte, Nao Hibino, Linda Noskova, Romania's Jaqueline Cristian, Hibino, Noskova, Keys, Williams, Karolina Pliskova, Lin Zhu of, Pliskova, Katie Boulter, Belinda Bencic, Cirstea, Victoria, Italy's Jamine Paolini, Marie Bouzkova, Sloane Stephens, Jennifer Brady Organizations: Madison Keys, IGA, Livesport, WTA, Hiroshima, Omnium Banque, Venus, Iga, Victoria Azarenka of, Thomson Locations: Montreal, Quebec, Canada, USA, Czech Republic, Tashkent, Omnium, Czech, Lin Zhu of China, Switzerland, Romanian, Victoria Azarenka of Belarus

☆ Pegula rallies past Svitolina to reach semis in Washington
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/3] Aug 4, 2023; Washington, D.C., USA; Jessica Pegula (USA) hits a forehand against Elina Svitolina (UKR) (R) on day seven of the Mubadala Citi DC Open at Fitzgerald Tennis Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY SportsAug 4 (Reuters) - Top seed Jessica Pegula came from behind to beat Ukrainian Elina Svitolina 4-6 6-3 6-4 to reach the semi-finals of the Citi Open in Washington DC on Friday. The American fired a serve up the T that Svitolina could not handle to end the high-quality contest and its riveting 54-minute third set. "I have tons of respect for her," Pegula said in an on-court interview. Reporting by Rory Carroll in Los Angeles, editing by Pritha SarkarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Jessica Pegula, Elina Svitolina, Geoff Burke, Svitolina, Pegula, I've, Maria Sakkari, Madison Keys, Rory Carroll, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: D.C, Citi DC, Fitzgerald Tennis, USA, Citi, Washington DC, Wimbledon, All England Club, WTA, Madison, Thomson Locations: Washington, USA, Ukraine, Los Angeles

☆ Russian player Zvonareva blocked from entering Poland
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WARSAW, July 22 (Reuters) - Russian tennis player Vera Zvonareva was blocked from entering Poland for reasons of state security and public safety, the Polish interior ministry said on Saturday. "The Border Guard prevented a Russian tennis player from entering Poland. Vera Zvonareva, using a visa issued by France, tried to get into our country on a flight from Belgrade to Warsaw," the ministry said in a statement. Zvonareva, who landed in Poland on Friday, is on a list of people considered undesirable there, the ministry said. "After arriving from Serbia, the tennis player stayed in the transit zone of Warsaw Chopin Airport and today after 1200 she flew to Podgorica."

Persons: Vera Zvonareva, Zvonareva, Vera, Ukraine's, Anna Wlodarczak, Tommy Lund, Pearl Josephine Nazare, Christian Radnedge, Hugh Lawson Organizations: WARSAW, BNP, Warsaw, Guard, Warsaw Chopin Airport, Tennis Association, WTA, Thomson Locations: Russian, Poland, Polish, Beijing, France, Belgrade, Warsaw, Serbia, Podgorica, Russia, Belarus

☆ Hungarian Toth apologises for erasing mark in match against Zhang
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

July 20 (Reuters) - Little known Hungarian player Amarissa Toth has apologised for erasing a ball mark during her Hungarian Grand Prix match against Zhang Shuai, with the disputed line call leading to the Chinese world number 28 to retire from the contest in tears. The home crowd jeered Zhang during the incident, while Toth shook hands with her before putting her arms up in celebration. "I am extremely sorry for what happened, I respect Zhang Shuai as a player and as a person. It was never my intention to disrespect, hurt or upset anybody, let alone Zhang Shuai. Toth, who initially defended her decision to erase the mark, added that she was hoping to speak with Zhang in the future to express her regret.

Persons: Amarissa Toth, Zhang Shuai, Zhang, Toth, jeered Zhang, Martina Navratilova, Ukraine's, Baindl, Aadi Nair, Pritha Sarkar Organizations: Thomson Locations: Budapest, Bengaluru

☆ Zhang Shuai: Tennis player retires in tears after opponent erases disputed mark on court
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Amy Woodyatt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Chinese tennis player Zhang Shuai retired from a match in tears after a tense incident with Amarissa Toth at the Hungarian Grand Prix saw Toth use her foot to erase a contested ball mark from the court. In Tuesday’s opening set, Zhang hit a crosscourt forehand that appeared to land on the line, with a line judge and later an umpire calling the ball out. Though the match continued for another point, the disputed call remained a sore point, and Zhang continued to question the decision. Zhang was incensed by the call during Tuesday's match in Budapest, Hungary. A number of tennis players decried Toth’s actions, with Australia’s Ajla Tomljanović criticizing Toth’s actions as “absolutely disgusting behaviour.”“Shuai is a better person than a lot of us for shaking the ref and that girl’s hand,” Tomljanovic wrote on Twitter.

Persons: Zhang Shuai, Amarissa Toth, Toth, Zhang, “, ”, Australia’s, ” “ Shuai, ” Tomljanovic, Victoria Azarenka, Ellen Perez Organizations: CNN, WTA, Twitter, ” CNN Locations: Hungarian, Budapest, Hungary

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

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

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

☆ Naomi Osaka gives birth to daughter, WTA announces
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Amy Woodyatt | Jill Martin | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

1 Naomi Osaka has given birth to a daughter, the WTA announced. Osaka subsequently pulled out of the French Open that year and revealed she had “suffered long bouts of depression” since winning her first major championship in 2018. Alongside a photo announcing her pregnancy, Osaka wrote: “These few months away from the sport [have] really given me a new love and appreciation for the game I’ve dedicated my life to. “I know that I have so much to look forward to in the future,” she added. “One thing I’m looking forward to is for my kid to watch one of my matches and tell someone, ‘that’s my mom.’”

Persons: Naomi Osaka, Cordae, Roland Garros, “, ‘, ’ Organizations: CNN, Former, WTA, Pan, Roland, Osaka Locations: Osaka, Tokyo

☆ Rublev grateful for Wimbledon support, wants end to 'terrible' Ukraine situation
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, July 11 (Reuters) - Russian Andrey Rublev thanked the Centre Court crowd for their noisy support during his failed bid to knock defending champion Novak Djokovic out of Wimbledon on Tuesday. Seventh seed Rublev, like the other Russian and Belarusian players in the draw, was banned last year by Wimbledon in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. I felt really great support during these two weeks. Asked if Russian players felt a sense of guilt over President Vladimir Putin's 'special military operation' in Ukraine, Rublev said: "It's not guilty. One of the conditions for their return was for players to sign a personal declaration that they do not support the war.

Persons: Andrey Rublev, Novak Djokovic, Rublev, I'm, Vladimir Putin's, It's, Martyn Herman, Ken Ferris Organizations: Court, Wimbledon, Dubai, WTA, ATP, Lawn Tennis Association, Thomson Locations: Wimbledon, Belarusian, Ukraine, Russian, Belarus

☆ Teenager Andreeva's Wimbledon run not soured by 'controversial' point penalty
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

World number 102 Andreeva was handed a point penalty after her racket flew out of her hand at 5-2 in the decider, giving match point to Keys in Monday's clash. The Russian maintained that Azemar Engzell had come to the wrong decision, saying: "For me, she didn't do a right decision. I kind of didn't expect to go that far in Wimbledon because first time on grass, I had no experience at all. We will see if I really can..."After this tournament I will take some days off just to relax and not to play tennis. I don't want to play tennis for a few days, for sure.

Persons: Madison Keys, Toby Melville LONDON, Mirra Andreeva, Louise Azemar Engzell, Andreeva, I'm, Engzell, Aadi Nair, Ken Ferris Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Madison, U.S, REUTERS, Wimbledon, Madison Keys, Lausanne, WTA, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Wimbledon, Bengaluru

☆ Swiatek continues hunt for maiden grasscourt title in Svitolina clash
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( Aadi Nair | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

I don't know, more experience, for sure, because Belinda is a really, really great player," top seed Swiatek, a former junior champion at Wimbledon, told reporters on Sunday. In Svitolina, Swiatek faces a former Wimbledon semi-finalist, who also secured a hard-fought victory on Sunday, beating Belarusian Victoria Azarenka 2-6 6-4 7-6(9). "I think she's that kind of player who is patient," Swiatek said of 28-year-old Ukrainian wild card Svitolina. DJOKOVICNovak Djokovic, attempting to win a fifth straight Wimbledon title, meets Russia's Andrey Rublev in the men's quarter-finals. He's looking for his first Grand Slam semi-final.

Persons: Elina Svitolina, Swiatek, Belinda Bencic, Belinda, I'm, She's, Jessica Pegula, DJOKOVIC Novak Djokovic, Russia's Andrey Rublev, Djokovic, that's, Aadi Nair, Ken Ferris Organizations: Wimbledon, Bad, Olympic, Belarusian Victoria Azarenka, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru

☆ Haddad Maia beats Cirstea in nick of time before rain sets in
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, July 8 (Reuters) - Beatriz Haddad Maia moved into the fourth round of Wimbledon for the first time in her career with an emphatic 6-2 6-2 victory over Sorana Cirstea on Saturday, a minute before play was suspended due to rain. Haddad Maia, who became the first Brazilian woman to reach the top 10 in the WTA rankings after her semi-final run at Roland Garros a month ago, shot out of the blocks on a cloudy morning to convert two early breaks and take a 3-0 lead. Cirstea could be heard urging herself to "Fight, fight, fight," and although she fought back with a break of her own, Haddad Maia attacked the Romanian's weaker second serve to break once again and serve out the opening set. But that only delayed the inevitable as Haddad Maia ground Cirstea down in her final service game and clinched victory on her first match point. And just in time as the rain came down, the players scrambled off, and the covers came on under grey London skies.

Persons: Beatriz Haddad Maia, Sorana Cirstea, Haddad Maia, Roland Garros, Cirstea, Haddad, Rohith Nair, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Wimbledon, Thomson Locations: Romanian, Bengaluru

☆ Wimbledon 2023: 500 days after the invasion of Ukraine, Russian and Belarusian players are playing at Wimbledon. Here’s how it’s going
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-08 | by ( Amy Woodyatt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

During the opening week, fans at Wimbledon have generally been quite warm to the Russian and Belarusian players but they’ve been especially enthusiastic to the Ukrainians. Unfortunately, they could not fight the professional Tours and others on their own,” added Zukin, who also said the ATP and WTA could do more to support Ukrainian players. CNN reached out to the WTA, ATP and The Russian Tennis Federation for comment. Tension simmers behind the scenesAway from the crowds and the cameras, Russian and Ukrainian tennis players revealed there are also strained relationships in Wimbledon’s locker rooms. Sabalenka condemned the booing and said she understands why Ukrainian players won’t shake her hand.

Persons: London CNN —, ”, they’ve, Sabalenka, I’m, Shi Tang, Russian Veronika Kudermetova’s, Elina Svitolina, ” Ukraine's Elina Svitolina, Tim Clayton, Corbis, Dmytro Kuleba, “, ” Kubela, Ian Hewitt, Yevhen Zukin, Kudermetova, Ben Rothenberg, Rothenberg, It’s, ” “, Marta Kostyuk, Javier Garcia, Kostyuk, Aryna Sabalenka, won’t, Anastasia Potapova, Iga, Slovakia’s Anna, Karolína, Svitolina, Daniil Medvedev Organizations: London CNN, Wimbledon, Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, CNN, Russian, Belarusian Victoria Azarenka, Azarenka, Ukraine’s, Russia, All England, Tennis Federation of, Tennis Association, ATP, WTA, Russian Tennis Federation, Tennis, CNN Sport, Belarus, Aryna, Spartak Moscow, Melbourne Locations: Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Belarusian, Russian, Svitolina’s, Odesa, Tennis Federation of Ukraine, Ukrainian, Kyiv, ” Russian

☆ Ash Barty: Former world No. 1 and husband announce birth of son
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Amy Woodyatt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

1 and three-time grand slam champion Ashleigh Barty has welcomed her first child with her husband, Garry Kissick. The pair announced the arrival of their son, Hayden, in a joint Instagram post Tuesday captioned “Our beautiful boy.”“Welcome to the world, Hayden!” they wrote. Last year, Barty stunned the tennis world by announcing she was retiring from the sport at age 25 while she was the world No. I’ve said it to my team multiple times, it’s just I don’t have that in me anymore,” said Barty in March 2022 when she retired. In 2020, Barty won the women’s championship at the Brookwater Golf Club near Brisbane and 15-time major winner Tiger Woods once reportedly described her as having a “great swing.”

Persons: Ashleigh Barty, Garry Kissick, Hayden, ”, Barty, I’ve, it’s, “, Tiger Woods Organizations: CNN, Former, Wimbledon, Australian, WTA Tour, Brisbane Heat, Bash League Locations: Australian, Brisbane

☆ Jabeur says now or never for Saudi Arabia to invest in the sport
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Saudi Arabia has pumped huge amounts of money into soccer, Formula One and boxing in recent years while the Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit recently ended its two-year dispute with the PGA Tour and DP World Tour by announcing a merger. I hope in Saudi they'll not just invest with the ATP, I hope with the WTA (too)," Jabeur said after beating Magdalena Frech 6-3 6-3 in her Wimbledon opener. Critics have accused Saudi Arabia of using the PIF to engage in "sportwashing" amid criticism of its human rights record. "I believe in Saudi they're doing great giving women more rights," 2022 Wimbledon runner-up Jabeur added. Men's world number one Carlos Alcaraz said he would have no doubts about competing in Saudi Arabia, while seven-time Grand Slam champion John McEnroe said tennis should not seek Saudi investment.

Persons: LIV, Steve Simon, Andrea Gaudenzi, Jabeur, Magdalena Frech, Critics, Saudi they're, It's, Carlos Alcaraz, John McEnroe, Andy Murray, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Toby Davis Organizations: PGA, WTA, men's ATP, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, Wimbledon, Saudi, Thomson Locations: Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Saudi they'll, Bengaluru

☆ Azarenka feeling the love on Wimbledon return
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Christian Radnedge | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

As part of their return, players from the two nations are playing as neutrals and are not allowed to receive state funding or have sponsorship from Russian or Belarusian companies. Britain is a major ally of Ukraine and continues to provide military support but there was no animosity from the crowd towards former world number one Azarenka as she edged past China's Yuan Yue 6-4 5-7 6-4 in the first round. "There are of course some incidents sometimes happens (at other events), but I felt like I was very welcomed everywhere. The world number two begins her Wimbledon campaign against Hungary's Panna Udvardy on Tuesday. Reporting by Christian Radnedge, editing by Ed OsmondOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Victoria Azarenka, China’s Yue Yuan, Andrew Couldridge, Azarenka, Yuan Yue, Vika, Aryna Sabalenka, Hungary's Panna Udvardy, Christian Radnedge, Ed Osmond Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Victoria, Wimbledon, ATP, WTA, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Belarus, China’s Yue Yuan REUTERS, Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, Belarusian

☆ Rublev leads Russian Wimbledon return with easy win
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Rublev is one of 17 Russian and Belarusian players in the men's and women's singles draws after they were banned in 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Wimbledon was the only one of the four Grand Slam tournaments to ban Russian and Belarusian players last year -- a decision that resulted in ranking points being taken away from the event by both the ATP and WTA Tours. As part of their return, players from two nations are playing as neutrals and must sign a "waiver" pledging not to support Russian President Vladimir Putin's regime. Players are not allowed to receive state funding or have sponsorship from Russian or Belarusian companies. He looked comfortable on the grass as he proved a class above 64th-ranked Purcell to reach the second round.

Persons: Andrey Rublev, Australia's Max Purcell, Toby Melville LONDON, Max Purcell, Rublev, Vladimir Putin's, Purcell, Martyn Herman, Ed Osmond Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Wimbledon, ATP, WTA, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Belarusian, Ukraine, Russia

I haven't played a lot of matches in the last few years and not by choice," Williams said. I put my head down and put even more work in and got myself in a much better position." Of those three matches, her only win came against Camila Giorgi -- a former Wimbledon quarter-finalist -- in Birmingham. "Last year I felt a lot of pressure here because I was number one," she said. Four Americans will be in action against each other with Sofia Kenin taking on seventh seed Coco Gauff while fourth seed Jessica Pegula faces Lauren Davis.

Persons: Venus Williams, It's, Williams, Elina Svitolina, Serena, haven't, Camila Giorgi, there's, Iga Swiatek, Zhu Lin, Nick Kyrgios, David Goffin ., Sofia Kenin, Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Lauren Davis, Rohith Nair, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Wimbledon, Court, U.S, All England, WTA, David Goffin . Four, Thomson Locations: Auckland, Birmingham, Bengaluru

☆ ‘You have to ask for help if you need it’: Billie Jean King encourages tennis players struggling with demands of the tour to seek support
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Matias Grez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Billie Jean King has urged players that are struggling with the demands of being a tennis professional to seek support from psychologists. “Being a pro-athlete is hard,” tennis great King, who won 39 major titles, told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour. “The WTA [Women’s Tennis Association] has been fantastic with mental health for years, but people would say: ‘Why aren’t you doing anything?’Billie Jean King says support is available for players on the WTA Tour. The governing body has provided staff that are dedicated to athletes’ mental health for more than 25 years, with a Mental Health Care Provider available in person at tournaments, including all four grand slams, and there are virtual meetings available upon request in between tournaments. Naomi Osaka withdrew from the 2021 French Open, citing her mental health.

Persons: Billie Jean King, Naomi Osaka, Sabalenka, “, Emma Raducanu, King, CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, JP Yim, Kathleen Stroia, Ukraine –, Aleksandr Lukashenko, Tim Clayton, Raducanu, ”, hadn't, Clive Brunskill, “ We’ve, I’ve, ’ ” Organizations: CNN, WTA, Mental Health, ‘, Virginia Slims Circuit, WTA Tour, Wimbledon Locations: Paris, Ukraine, Osaka, Belarus

☆ WTA chief says 'big issues' going to Saudi Arabia, but ruling nothing out
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

But Simon points to the success of WTA tournaments in Qatar and says Saudi Arabia has made 'huge strides'. "In February I went to Saudi Arabia to see it for myself. There are still tons of issues in Saudi Arabia but the advancement for women's rights and where they are coming from is transformational right now. Simon would not speculate on what kind of tournaments could potentially be held in Saudi Arabia, if at all. Simon said had no concerns about the safety of lesbian players competing in Saudi Arabia, but conceded it was a sensitive issue.

Persons: Steve Simon, They're, Simon, Andrea Gaudenzi, they've, Billie Jean King, Daniil Medvedev, Stan Wawrinka, Carlos Alcaraz, LIV, Martyn Herman, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Women's Tennis, WTA, ATP, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, American trailblazer, PGA, Thomson Locations: Saudi Arabia, Gulf, London, Saudi, Qatar

☆ Champion Rybakina under the radar ahead of Wimbledon
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Rybakina prefers to let her potent strokes do the talking, just as she did last year when marching to a surprise title after a sensational fortnight in London. Yet despite being the third-ranked player in the world, and having reached the Australian Open final this year as well as title runs at Indian Wells and Rome, Rybakina will saunter into Wimbledon with little fanfare. While much of the focus is understandably on top seed Iga Swiatek and number two Aryna Sabalenka, as well as the likes of Coco Gauff and Jabeur, Rybakina will quietly go about her business when she opens play on Centre Court on Tuesday. "She's got the perfect game for grass when everything is working, but everything has to be working," three-time Wimbledon champion Chris Evert said when previewing the tournament for broadcaster ESPN this week. As Evert rightly points out, successfully defending a Wimbledon women's title is no easy task.

Persons: Elena Rybakina, Hannah Mckay, Rybakina, Iga, Coco Gauff, She's, Chris Evert, Evert, Serena, Venus Williams, Steffi Graf, Rybakina's, Martyn Herman, Ken Ferris Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Wimbledon, Indian, Court, Eastbourne, ESPN, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Moscow, Kazakhstan, Indian Wells, Rome, Wimbledon

☆ WTA roundup: Coco Gauff cruises into quarterfinals
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

4 Ons Jabeur was eliminated in the second round of the Rothesay International on Wednesday in Eastbourne, England. Gauff defeated Brit Jodie Burrage 6-1, 6-1 to advance to the quarterfinals, where she will play fellow American Jessica Pegula. 3 seed needed three sets to dispatch Camila Osorio 6-2, 1-6, 6-3. Jabeur was bounced in 72 minutes by unseeded Italian Camila Giorgi 6-3, 6-2. 1 Iga Swiatek of Poland cruised into the quarterfinals with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Switzerland's Jil Teichmann in Germany.

Persons: Coco Gauff, Britain's Jodie Anna Burrage, Paul Childs, Gauff, Brit Jodie Burrage, Jessica Pegula, Camila Osorio, Jabeur, Camila Giorgi, Carolina Garcia, Ana Bogdan, Beatriz Haddad Maia, Petra Martic, Daria Kasatkina, Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys, Swiatek, Anna Blinkova, Leylah Fernandez, Lucia Bronzetti, Mayar Sherif, Katerina Siniakova Organizations: Eastbourne International, Lawn Tennis Club, Rothesay International, Madison, Bad, Canada, Thomson Locations: Eastbourne, Britain, Rothesay, England, Brazil, Bad Homburg, Poland, Germany, Egypt, Czech Republic

☆ WTA plans equal prize money to match men at combined higher-tiered events
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Jill Martin | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —These days, equal prize money is given to the men and women at the well-known grand slam events, the highest tier in tennis: The Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open. The Women’s Tennis Association, the governing body of women’s tennis, announced Tuesday a strategy to tackle pay inequity between the men and the women. The WTA plans to update the tour’s calendar and revamp prize money, with WTA 1000 and 500 combined events attaining equal prize money by 2027 and to have equal prize money for single-week WTA 1000 and 500 events by 2033. Meanwhile, at the same-level event in Rome last month, the total prize pool for men’s singles was around €8.6 million, while the women’s singles prize money pool was a little more than €3.5 million. The additional WTA 1000 events will be one-week events in Doha, Dubai and a yet-to-be-named event, according to the WTA release.

Persons: “, Billie Jean King, Sloane Stephens Organizations: CNN, Wimbledon, US, ATP, Association of Tennis Professionals, Tennis Association, WTA Locations: Indian Wells, California, Rome, Beijing, Cincinnati, Toronto, Montreal, Doha, Dubai

☆ WTA tweaks circuit with plans for pay parity in top events by 2027
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WTA 1000 and 500 combined events will accordingly reach prize money parity by 2027, while single-week WTA 1000 and 500 events will do so by 2033. The tour's revised calendar will have 10 WTA 1000 events, with Beijing (2024) and Cincinnati and Toronto/Montreal (2025) set to have larger fields. The additional WTA 1000 events will be one-week events in Doha, Dubai and a yet to be named venue. Wuhan was not named as a WTA 1000 event, while Monterrey, Strasbourg and Seoul have been promoted to the WTA 500 level. "The increase in two-week WTA 1000 tournaments combined with the ATP demonstrates a clearer alignment across both Tours."

Persons: Billie Jean King, Shrivathsa Sridhar, Ken Ferris Organizations: tennis, Tennis, ATP, WTA, Thomson Locations: Beijing, Cincinnati, Toronto, Montreal, Doha, Dubai, Wuhan, Monterrey, Strasbourg, Seoul, Bengaluru

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