Tennis: Sabalenka beats Pegula to reach WTA Finals semis, Jabeur eliminated

FORTH WORTH -- Aryna Sabalenka beat Jessica Pegula 6-3, 7-5 on Friday and advanced to the semi-finals of the WTA Finals as second-ranked Tunisian Ons Jabeur was eliminated.

Greece's Maria Sakkari, ranked fifth, beat Jabeur 6-2, 6-3 on Friday night to finish unbeaten in round-robin play.

Her victory assured Sabalenka of second place in the Nancy Richey Group and a berth in the knockout stages.

Seventh-ranked Sabalenka had done her part with the victory over third-ranked Pegula.

With so much on the line, Sabalenka was dialed in from the start.

"I'm just happy that I was really focused from the beginning to the end and I was able to finish this match in two sets," she said.

Sabalenka, who improved to 4-1 against Pegula, took charge early and took full advantage of four first-set double faults from Pegula.

The second set was a more tightly contested affair, Pegula quickly erasing an early break as Sabalenka suddenly found herself struggling on serve.

Despite seven double faults in the second set, Sabalenka managed to keep it close and broke for a 5-3 lead to pile the pressure back on Pegula.

Pegula, who secured her spot in the elite season-ending event with her triumph at Guadalajara in October, responded with a service break of her own and leveled the set at 5-5, Sabalenka digging deep to win the last two games and polish it off in two sets.

"It's tough but that's tennis," Pegula said. "You have one good week, and then you're right back at it the next. There's a lot of really high highs and low lows.

"You end the year well and then I come here, lose all my matches," added Pegula, who noted the number of her defeats this week in Fort Worth was the same as she'd endured in "like three months."

Jabeur, a finalist at Wimbledon and the US Open this year, could have still sneaked into the semis with a straight-sets win over Sakkari.

But she didn't get a look in as a "fearless" Sakkari wrapped up a victory in just 69 minutes.

As group winner, Sakkari guaranteed she won't have to take on number one ranked Iga Swiatek in the semi-finals.

Instead she'll face either Caroline Garcia or Daria Kasatkina, who clash on Saturday with second place in the Tracy Austin Group on the line.

"I think I just have to keep doing what I've been doing," Sakkari said in an on-court interview. "I'm trusting myself. I'm just fearless on the court."

Sabalenka will have the unenviable task of taking on Swiatek in the semi-finals. The Polish star, whose eight titles this year include the French Open and US Open, has reigned at number one for 30 weeks.

Swiatek has won the last four of their five career meetings, including a US Open semi-final in September.

Agence France-Presse

Tennis: Serena Williams battles on as US Open farewell underway

NEW YORK --Serena Williams delayed her farewell to tennis on an electrifying opening night at the US Open on Monday as the sporting icon battled to victory in front of a star-studded crowd.

The 23-time Grand Slam winner -- who earlier this month signalled she plans to retire from tennis after the tournament -- drew on all of her experience to down lowly ranked Montenegrin opponent Danka Kovinic 6-3, 6-3.

A galaxy of celebrities ranging from Hollywood stars, fashion icons and former presidents were out in force at Flushing Meadows' Arthur Ashe Stadium to watch could have been Williams final appearance in a Grand Slam singles match.

But the 40-year-old ensured that her legions of fans will have at least one more chance to savor her talents as she dug out victory despite an error-strewn display.

"I feel so comfortable on this court and in front of everyone here," a jubilant Williams said after her victory.

"The crowd was crazy – they really helped pull me through. I was really pumped," added Williams, who won the first of her Grand Slam titles in the same arena in 1999 as a 17-year-old prodigy.

Williams admitted that deciding to walk away from the sport after 27 years as a professional was "such a hard decision."

"I think when you are passionate about something it is always hard to walk away," she said. "I have been trying to decide what to do. I love this game.

"But I was just like 'Alright, I think now's the time'. I have a family, there's other chapters in life. I call it evolution."

Williams later refused to be definitive about her retirement however when asked if the US Open would be her last tournament, teasing the possibility that she may yet play on.

"I've been pretty vague about it, right?" she said. "I'm going to stay vague because you never know."

A sell-out crowd of 23,500 had roared its appreciation for Williams as she strode into the arena wearing a striking sparkling bodice and black skirt comprised of six layers -- one for every US Open title she has won.

The roll-call of A-listers on hand for the occasion included former US President Bill Clinton, Vogue editor Anna Wintour, former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, tennis legend and Hollywood stars such as Hugh Jackman and Queen Latifah.

Williams acknowledged that leaving the spotlight -- whenever that is -- would be a wrench.

"The more tournaments I play, I feel like the more I can belong out there," she said. "That's a tough feeling to have, to leave knowing the more you do it, the more you can shine."

- Tsitsipas stunned -

In other women's draw action on Monday, former world number one Simona Halep, seeded seventh, was the biggest casualty in the first round, crashing out 6-2, 0-6, 6-4 to Ukrainian qualifier Daria Snigur.

But there were no such problems for US teenager and 12th seed Coco Gauff, who cruised past France's Leolia Jeanjean 6-2, 6-3.

Meanwhile the men's draw got under way with a stunning upset for Greek fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, who was bundled out by Colombian qualifier Daniel Elahi Galan 6-0, 6-1, 3-6, 7-5.

Earlier, Russia's defending champion Daniil Medvedev routed Stefan Koslov of the United States in the top half of the draw.

The Russian comfortably dispatched world No.111 Kozlov 6-2, 6-4, 6-0 in 2hrs 1min.

Medvedev, bidding to become the first man to defend the US crown since Roger Federer retained the title in 2008, faces France's Arthur Rinderknech in the second round.

Britain's Andy Murray, another veteran well into the twilight of his career, marked the 10th anniversary of his maiden Grand Slam win with a straight sets defeat of Argentinian 24th seed Francisco Cerundolo.

The 35-year-old Scot showed no signs of recent cramping problems in a 7-5, 6-3, 6-3 win, but admitted afterwards: "It felt like five sets."

It was Murray's first straight sets win at a Grand Slam event since 2017.

Elsewhere Monday, Wu Yibing claimed a piece of history in the men's draw, becoming the first man from China to win a Grand Slam singles match since 1959.

The qualifier upset Georgia's 31st seed Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-3, 6-4, 6-0.

But there was agony for China's other player in the men's draw, Zhang Zhizhen who squandered seven match points in a 3-6, 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (11/9), 6-1, 6-4 defeat to Tim Van Rijthoven of the Netherlands.

Spain's Rafael Nadal, chasing a fifth US Open crown and 23rd Grand Slam title overall, begins his campaign on Tuesday against Australia's Rinky Hijikata.

Agence France-Presse

Tennis: Murray says Wimbledon 'will never be an exhibition'

LONDON -- Two-time former Wimbledon champion Andy Murray said Wednesday the tournament "will never feel like an exhibition" despite it being stripped of ranking points over the ban on Russian and Belarusian players.

The decision by the ATP and WTA to remove the sport's most prestigious tournament of ranking points has prompted some players to say they may skip Wimbledon, the year's third Grand Slam.

"I'd hazard a guess that most people watching on centre court Wimbledon in a few weeks' time wouldn't know or care about how many ranking points a player gets for winning a 3rd round match," tweeted Murray.

"But I guarantee they will remember who wins. Wimbledon will never be an exhibition and will never feel like an exhibition."

Former world number one Naomi Osaka has revealed she is "leaning towards not playing" Wimbledon while defending champion Novak Djokovic said he will play despite losing 2,000 points.

But Djokovic described it as a "lose-lose situation", and the controversy has showed no signs of abating, with several players at the ongoing French Open likening Wimbledon to a high-profile exhibition event this year.

"I follow golf very closely and have no idea how many ranking points the winner of the the Masters gets," said Murray, who opted to miss the French Open to prepare for the grass-court season.

"Me and my friends love football and none of us know or care how many ranking points a team gets for winning the FIFA World Cup.

"But I could tell you exactly who won the World Cup and the Masters." 

Agence France-Presse

Tennis: Naomi Osaka bags title at 2021 Australian Open

MELBOURNE—Naomi Osaka gave Jennifer Brady a lesson in Grand Slam tennis as she cruised to a 6-4 6-3 win to claim her second Australian Open title on Saturday and cement her standing as the new queen of the women's game.

Osaka's victory over the 22nd-seeded American at a floodlit Rod Laver Arena gave the Japanese her fourth major crown.

Fans hoping for a repeat of the pair's engrossing U.S. Open semi-final last year were left disappointed as Brady froze in the spotlight of her first Grand Slam final.

Third seed Osaka played some way short of her best tennis but it was more than enough as she clinched six straight games to take the first set and stormed to a 4-0 lead in the second.

Brady belatedly conjured some resistance to break Osaka against the flow of play and claw back to 5-3.

But the American bowed out as she started, with errors flying off her racket.

Osaka served out the match to love, with a big serve sealing it when Brady thumped a forehand return long. (Reporting by Ian Ransom; Editing by Ken Ferris)

-reuters-

Tennis: Wuhan Open 'hugely symbolic' for coronavirus-scarred city

Staging the Wuhan Open later this year will send a powerful message about the city's recovery from coronavirus and have an impact that stretches beyond tennis, the tournament's co-director told AFP.

The central Chinese city was the original epicentre of the pandemic and nearly 4,000 people died from the disease there before it spread worldwide.

But the annual Wuhan Open is now pencilled in for October 19-25 after the WTA (Women's Tennis Association) this week released its provisional calendar for the rest of the year.

The schedule "is conditioned on several key factors" including player safety, government approvals and relaxation of travel restrictions, the WTA said. At present, most foreign nationals are barred from entering China.

Wuhan Open co-director Brenda Perry told AFP the tournament will not go ahead if overseas players cannot come, and that a final decision will be made around early August.

But she added: "I'm thrilled for all my colleagues and friends in Wuhan, and what this will mean to the city and the people of the city.

"It's hugely symbolic of overcoming a hugely challenging moment. They went through what seemed to me one of the most stringent lockdowns in the world," said the 62-year-old, speaking by telephone from Auckland.

"To come through that and then hold an international professional tennis event would be amazing for morale and show the world the great job they've done on recovery."

Last year's Wuhan Open had a nearly $3 million prize fund and a high-quality field, with world number one Ashleigh Barty losing in the semi-finals to eventual champion Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus.

But just a few months later Wuhan's 11 million people were subjected to a harsh lockdown that lasted 76 days and put the city in the global spotlight for all the wrong reasons. 

Perry, a former player who was New Zealand's number one, hopes that staging the tournament for a seventh year can help change perceptions.

But she can understand why some players may have reservations about signing up for the tournament, even though Wuhan is now largely back to normal.

"We probably need to educate, to be honest, what is the reality in Wuhan compared to other cities around the world," said Perry, who gave assurances that Wuhan's tough anti-virus measures have made it a safe place to visit.

"They've followed such a stringent lockdown and the recovery process has been so cautious and they still have so many protocols in place."

"I would be the very first person to put up my hand if I thought it was not safe to be going there," she added.

Like other WTA tournaments when the coronavirus-ravaged season resumes, starting at Italy's Palermo on August 3, Wuhan will have no spectators under current guidelines.

- Waiting game -

Significant hurdles still lie ahead if Wuhan is to see tennis in October.

China is now experiencing a fresh outbreak of infections in Beijing and the ATP Japan Open scheduled for October was cancelled on Thursday over fears of a second wave.

As part of measures to prevent imported coronavirus cases, China has indefinitely closed its borders to most foreigners. International air travel is also badly disrupted.

For all tournaments, from Wuhan to Roland Garros and the US Open, officials are keeping their fingers crossed.

"The tournament is four months from now and if you think back four months, to February, and what has changed and happened for better and worse round the world," said Perry.

"Four months is still a long time for things to change and know what's going to happen."

Agence France-Presse

Murray warns tennis chiefs against quick return after virus

LONDON -- Andy Murray insists tennis must take it slowly as the sport's bosses consider when to return after the coronavirus.

The men's ATP and women's WTA tours are suspended until at least July 13 due to the pandemic, while this year's Wimbledon has been cancelled.

Premier League football clubs are hoping to finish their postponed season in the summer.

But former world number one Murray believes tennis will be one of the last sports to resume due to the travel required.

"I'm sure all tennis players want to get back to competing and playing as soon as possible. But right now that is not the most important thing, Murray said on Tuesday.

"First of all, we want to get our normal lives back, just being able to go out, see friends, go to restaurants and have your normal freedoms.

"And then hopefully over time, things will start to allow for travelling and sport will be able to go back to normal as well. But I don't see that happening very soon."

Murray believes containing the virus is essential before there is any thought of tennis getting back in full swing.

At present the US Open and French Open are both set for August and September, but Murray said: "The first thing is to try and find a way to stop the virus spreading and once we have done that we will be able to do more normal things that everyone does rather than thinking about competing at sport.

"When you don't get to see it for a while, maybe people realise how much they love playing it, but just because it's difficult not to have sport just now doesn't mean we have to speed things up.

"I'm obviously no expert on this but I assume the danger is when you try to do things too quickly -- like avoiding social distancing.

"If we get back to international travel, then maybe there could be a second wave of infections and that would slow everything down again and that's not what anyone wants. Let's just get things back to normal first."

Agence France-Presse

Tennis authorities to set up virus relief fund for players

PARIS, France -- The international governing bodies of tennis said on Tuesday a relief programme will be created to provide assistance to players most affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

World tennis has been at a standstill since the beginning of March and will not resume until mid-July at the earliest following the postponement of Roland Garros and the cancellation of Wimbledon.

"With so much uncertainty around when it will be safe to restart the professional tennis tours, the international governing bodies of world tennis can confirm they are in discussions to create a Player Relief Programme," read a joint statement from the ATP, WTA, ITF and four Grand Slam tournaments.

It will provide "much-needed assistance to the players who are particularly affected during this time of the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis."

No amount was disclosed but "details are being finalised with an announcement expected in the near future," the statement added.

"Already agreed is that the ATP and the WTA will administer the Player Relief Programme and all seven stakeholders will make a significant contribution."

Novak Djokovic on Saturday revealed he was working with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal to organise aid for players struggling with the paralysis of the game due to the health crisis.

The world number one estimated raising "between $3 million (2.75 million euros) and $4.5 million". He said the cash could come from the prize money for the season-ending World Tour Finals or the final bonus pools for top players.

According to reports Djokovic, as president of the ATP Players' Council, proposed to members that players in the top 100 for singles and the top 20 in doubles contribute according to their rankings. 

The proposed scale runs from $30,000 for a top-five player to $5,000 for those between 51 and 100. 

Agence France-Presse

Tennis: ATP, WTA extend suspension of play amid coronavirus outbreak

NEW YORK - The ATP and WTA have extended the suspension of their tours until June 7, the two tennis bodies said in a joint statement on Wednesday, as the coronavirus pandemic continued to shred the sporting calendar.

The claycourt season "will not be held as scheduled" due to the suspension, the organising bodies of the men's and women's tours said. The men's ATP and women's WTA rankings will be frozen for the time.

"The challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic to professional tennis demand greater collaboration than ever from everyone in the tennis community," the associations said.

"We are assessing all options related to preserving and maximising the tennis calendar."

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) also postponed its World Tennis Tour until June 8, the organisation said on Wednesday, a day after the French Open announced a shock switch to September from May.

The tournament was rescheduled to a week after the U.S. Open concludes, a move that prompted outcry from players.

The U.S. Tennis Association said there were no plans to reschedule the Flushing Meadows tournament and it would consult with other stakeholders before making any changes.

The ATP and WTA statement urged tennis bodies to work "in unison", as the coronavirus pandemic disrupts major sporting events across the globe.

"Now is not a time to act unilaterally," the two groups said. "All decisions related to the impact of the coronavirus require appropriate consultation and review with the stakeholders in the game." 

(Reporting by Amy Tennery Editing by Toby Davis)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Tennis: Gauff, 15, stuns Venus anew in Australian Open first round

MELBOURNE -- Fifteen-year-old American Coco Gauff beat Venus Williams at the Australian Open on Monday -- the second time the teenager has dumped the veteran out in a Grand Slam first round.

Gauff surged into the second round in Melbourne with a 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 victory over the 39-year-old and will play unseeded Romanian Sorana Cirstea next.

Gauff, ranked 67 in the world and a fast-rising star in tennis, similarly defeated the seven-time Grand Slam winner in the first round last year at Wimbledon.

"That was really difficult, she played really well," said the precocious teenager. "I was really nervous for today's match.

"I was a bit shocked -- I'm sure everyone was shocked -- when they saw the draw come out but I'm glad I was able to get through it," Gauff added, referring to the repeat of their Wimbledon match.

Williams, formerly number one but now ranked 55th, conceded the first-set tie break when she hit a routine backhand overhead into the net.

Gauff, remarkably unfazed by playing someone more than twice her age, held her nerve in the second set to claim Williams' scalp once more.

Victory over Williams at Wimbledon, and her run to the fourth round there -- where she lost to eventual champion Simona Halep -- propelled Gauff into the sporting limelight.

She went on to win her first WTA title in October in Linz, Austria.

Agence France-Presse

Tennis: Barty still on top but gap narrows ahead of Australia Open

PARIS -- Ashley Barty holds on to top spot in the WTA rankings released Monday but Karolina Pliskova has narrowed the gap heading into the Australia Open.

Dumped out of the Brisbane International in straight sets last week, Barty retains a comfortable cushion of 1,607 points over the Czech, who went on to win the Brisbane title for the third time in four years on Sunday.

Barty is aiming to become the first Australian to win her home Grand Slam since Christine O'Neil in 1976 and continues her preparations this week in Adelaide

Naomi Osaka of Japan, beaten by Pliskova in a marathon semi-final at Brisbane, moves up one place to third at the expense of Simona Halep, who is also fine-tuning her Australian Open challenge in Adelaide.

Serena Williams, who ended a three-year title drought with victory in Sunday's Auckland Classic final, also moves up one place to ninth.

WTA rankings on January 13:

1. Ashleigh Barty (AUS) 7,547 pts
2. Karolina Plískova (CZE) 5,940
3. Naomi Osaka (JPN) 5,496 (+1)
4. Simona Halep (ROU) 5,461 (-1)
5. Elina Svitolina (UKR) 5,075
6. Bianca Andreescu (CAN) 4,935
7. Belinda Bencic (SUI) 4,605 (+1)
8. Petra Kvitova (CZE) 4,436 (-1)
9. Serena Williams (USA) 4,215 (+1)
10. Kiki Bertens (NED) 4,165 (-1)
11. Madison Keys (USA) 3,072 (+2)
12. Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) 2,940 (-1)
13. Johanna Konta (GBR) 2,813 (-1)
14. Petra Martic (CRO) 2,646 (+1)
15. Sofia Kenin (USA) 2,565 (-1)
16. Marketa Vondrousova (CZE) 2,390
17. Elise Mertens (BEL) 2,250
18. Angelique Kerber (GER) 2,175
19. Alison Riske (USA) 2,130
20. Donna Vekic (CRO) 2,080

Agence France-Presse

Tennis: Teenage star Gauff beats Ostapenko to win first WTA title

LINZ, Austria -- Teenage prodigy Coco Gauff won her first WTA title on Sunday following a 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 victory over Jelena Ostapenko in the final in Linz that saw her hold her first trophy aloft aged 15.

Gauff, who only entered the field as a lucky loser after failing to qualify, completed a dream week in Linz in front of a supportive crowd to become the youngest player to win a WTA event since Czech Nicole Vaidisova, who triumphed in Vancouver and Tashkent two months apart in 2004.

"I'll remember this day for the rest of my life," the delighted Gauff said after receiving a minutes-long standing ovation from 3,000 spectators.

"I had an amazing week and I hope to be back in the future."

"I'm still overwhelmed, it's shocking and crazy to say I've won my first WTA title," she added.

"This tournament was definitely not even on the calendar for me at the start of the season. 

"I didn't think I'd have a chance to get in - now I'm the champion."

Gauff will shoot up from 110 in the rankings into the 80s, according to WTA calculations, after becoming the youngest American to earn a WTA trophy since Jennifer Capriati at Toronto in 1991.

The hype surrounding the youngster has grown this year after solid performances this summer at both Wimbledon and the US Open, where she was defeated in the third round by defending champion Naomi Osaka, and her displays in Linz have enthralled tennis fans.

Gauff had to make a recovery in the final after sweeping the opening set but losing serve three times in the second as 2017 Roland Garros winner Ostapenko levelled.

"She started hitting the ball fast and coming up with winners," Gauff said. "There was not much I could do."

But the American came alive in the third set, going up two breaks before her opponent managed to save a pair of match points while trailing 5-1.

Ostapenko asserted herself with a break to make the score 5-2 in the third but was unable to extend her fightback, Gauff closing out victory a game later after Ostapenko hit a return long on the third match point.

"Well done today to Coco," Ostapenko said. "You have a bright future, it was a pleasure to share the court with you today.

"This has been a tough week for me, but I'm so glad to have made it to the final, even if the result was not what I wanted."

With her debut week on the European indoor circuit a roaring success, Gauff is now scheduled to compete next week in Luxembourg to wrap up her WTA season.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Tennis: Gauff sets up Osaka showdown in US Open third round

Crowd-pleasing teenager Coco Gauff came through a tough battle with qualifier Timea Babos 6-2 4-6 6-4 on Thursday to set up a third-round clash at the US Open against top seed and defending champion Naomi Osaka.

The 15-year-old American phenom was forced to dig deep to become the youngest player since Anna Kournikova in 1996 to reach the third round of the women's singles at Flushing Meadows.

"I was tested a lot. I think we both were just testing each other," Gauff said. "It’s just that type of match where anyone could have won."

Gauff rode into this year's tournament with enormous expectations after a dream run at Wimbledon where she beat five-times champion Venus Williams on her way to the fourth round.

A fired up Gauff prevailed after a 12-stroke rally late in the third set to set up a break point opportunity, pumping her fists wildly and shouting in excitement in front of a packed crowd that was firmly on her side.

The pair seemed nearly evenly matched, with wildcard Gauff maintaining a slightly tighter performance and committing 34 unforced errors compared to 42 from Hungarian Babos.

Gauff will face off against 21-year-old Osaka, who also holds the Australian Open title, in the third round of the tournament on Saturday for a clash that may provide a glimpse at the future of the women's game.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Tennis: Fans betting on sentimental favorite Serena to win U.S. Open

In the twilight of her remarkable career Serena Williams is more often the sentimental favorite rather than the bettors' choice but the 37-year-old American will be both as she heads to the U.S. Open chasing an elusive 24th record-equaling Grand Slam.

Despite fitness concerns and a title drought that stretches back to the 2017 Australian Open, bookmakers are backing Williams to match Margaret Court's record haul and the New York crowds, as always, will be in her corner when play gets underway on Monday at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

A six-time champion at Flushing Meadows, Williams was once money in the bank when it came to the U.S. Open. During a dominating run, she lifted the trophy three years in succession from 2012.

That is no longer the case.

French Open champion Ash Barty or Wimbledon winner Simona Halep, who ran Williams off the court in a lopsided final at the All England Club, may be sounder investments at the betting window but punters are just as likely to follow their hearts as hunches.

In all the four events she has played outside of the majors this year, her title challenges ended abruptly -- she either retired mid-match or handed rivals a walkover.

Since Wimbledon, Williams has played one event. Her hardcourt preparations were limited to the Rogers Cup which ended with the former world number one in tears when she was forced to quit the final against Bianca Andreescu after just 19 minutes after suffering back spasms.

The problem has lingered and led to Williams withdrawing from Cincinnati, and once again raised questions about her ability to withstand a two-week grind on the New York hardcourts.

"The most frustrating part is that I've had this before and it's, like, 24, 36 hours where I'm just in crazy spasm and then it's gone," said Williams after her Rogers Cup disappointment. "I'm just taking it a day at a time."

Williams may not strike fear into opponents as she once did but few, if any, will welcome having her on their side of the draw.

Not long ago, just seeing their name alongside Williams would leave opponents a crumbling wreck. The match often won before it had even begun.

But since returning from her maternity break, Williams is the one who has often looked fragile, out of sorts and out of ideas.

EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER

The last 12 months have been an emotional rollercoaster for Williams, filled with rage and tears.

A year ago the U.S. Open final ended in controversy with fiery exchanges between a fuming Williams and the chair umpire, smashed rackets, penalties and Japan's Naomi Osaka walking away with the trophy.

In Toronto earlier this month, Williams was left sobbing after she was unable to finish the Rogers Cup final.

In between, Williams, widely regarded as the greatest women's player of all-time, was a non-factor during a run to the quarter-finals at the Australian Open.

With aborted runs at Indian Wells, Miami and Rome -- with Williams picking up a single match win at each event -- it seemed as if the glory years were well and truly behind her.

However, just when everyone was ready to write her off, Williams looked more like her old self at Wimbledon -- that is until she was shockingly dismissed by Halep.

"I just have to figure out a way to win a final," said Williams after Wimbledon. "I have to just keep going, keep trying, keep working, maybe be able to play some tournaments uninjured.

"Just keep moving forward."

There once was no template, no game plan to beat Williams. Her power and guile leaving no areas to attack.

But as Williams approaches her 38th birthday, rivals have figured out that they can beat her by forcing her off the baseline and making her run.

Her fitness and durability have been exposed and opponents are seizing on those weaknesses.

Time is no longer on Williams' side in her quest for a 24th Grand Slam trophy.

"Someone told me I shouldn't look at the records any more," said Williams. "I should just focus on my game.

"I feel like I'm just really on this journey of just doing the best that I can, playing the best that I can when I can.

"I just go out there and play, see what happens. That's kind of how I've been in my whole career.

"I never thought about time in general." 

(Editing by Pritha Sarkar)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Tennis: Injured Osaka maintains top spot

PARIS, France -- Naomi Osaka holds on to the top of the WTA rankings on Monday despite injury and elimination from the Cincinnati Masters.

The Japanese lost to 20th placed Sofia Kenin in the quarter-finals on Sunday due to a knee injury. Her participation at the US Open is still uncertain.

Madison Keys jumped eight spots and is ranked 10th after she won Cincinnati on Sunday. 

Also on the rise in an otherwise unchanged top 10 is Elina Svitolina who moved up two spots to fifth, a career high for Ukrainian.

Sloane Stephens was robbed of her 10th spot in the rankings and sits at 11th after her defeat to Svetlana Kuznetsova in Cincinatti's third round. 

Meanwhile, Kiki Bertens took two steps back to 7th place and Johanna Konta was demoted to 16th.


WTA Rankings, August 19:

1. Naomi Osaka (JPN) 6,606 pts

2. Ashleigh Barty (AUS) 6,501

3. Karolína Plíšková (CZE) 6,315

4. Simona Halep (ROU) 4,743

5. Elina Svitolina (UKR) 4,492 (+2)

6. Petra Kvitová (CZE) 4,485

7. Kiki Bertens (NED) 4,325 (-2)

8. Serena Williams (USA) 3,935

9. Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) 3,320

10. Madison Keys (USA) 3,267 (+8)

11. Sloane Stephens (USA) 3,189 (-1)

12. Anastasija Sevastova (LAT) 3,167 (-1)

13. Belinda Bencic (SUI) 3,008 (-1)

14. Angelique Kerber (GER) 2,870 (-1)

15. Bianca Andreescu (CAN) 2,837 (-1)

16. Johanna Konta (GBR) 2,695 (-1)

17. Markéta Vondroušová (CZE) 2,651 (-1)

18. Qiang Wang (CHN) 2,593 (-1)

19. Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) 2,537

20. Sofia Kenin (USA) 2,460 (+2)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Tennis: Bertens earns flawless Madrid triumph with win over Halep

MADRID - Kiki Bertens won the biggest title of her career on Saturday, beating Simona Halep 6-4 6-4 in the Madrid Open final while also becoming the first woman ever to win the championship without dropping a set.

Making up for her loss in last year's final to Petra Kvitova, the clay court triumph ensured the Dutchwoman Bertens will move to a career-best fourth in the world rankings on Monday and become the highest ranked Dutchwoman in history.

The defeat was extra painful for Halep, though, who would have regained her number one ranking had she won the showpiece.

Bertens came back from 4-2 down in the first set against French Open champion Halep by winning the next three games, striking the first blow in a gripping final full of drama which lasted one hour and 27 minutes.

Bertens, who hit four aces among her 25 winners in an excellent performance, got off to an ideal start in the opening game of the second by breaking Halep, who was playing in her third Madrid final after triumphs in 2016 and 2017.

The Romanian stayed in contention but was dealt a terrible dose of luck in the eighth game which handed more momentum to Bertens.

A shot from Bertens was heading way out and would have handed Halep two break points but the wayward ball struck the Romanian's body, earning her opponent a fortuitous point that eventually led to her holding serve.

"REALLY SOLID, REALLY SMART"

"At the beginning I was a little bit searching for my game still, but I think the rest of the match I played really solid, really smart," Bertens told a news conference.

"Maybe a little bit lucky like on the 4-3 game when I hit the ball in the fence and it hit her but sometimes you need a little luck. I'm just happy how I was able to finish the match."

Bertens earned her first championship point with a scorching ace but Halep saved it with a drop volley at the net, only to then hand her rival another one by finding the net with a careless shot.

Bertens missed out again but earned a third championship point when Halep narrowly missed the baseline and she finally seized her ninth WTA title when the world number two hit a backhand out.

It was Bertens' fourth victory over a Grand Slam winner during the week on her way to the title.

"I just feel really happy. I am really proud of this week. I played some good tennis and will be number four in the world on Monday, it is just all amazing things," Bertens added.

Halep had no complaints, congratulating her opponent while admitting she played into Bertens' hands.

"She played better tennis tonight. She deserved to win the match, definitely," she said.

"I think I played wrong, and I'm upset about that. I played stupidly today, I did everything that she liked. It was a good match from her. And she deserved to win the title because she played really good tennis throughout the whole week." 

(Reporting by Richard Martin Editing by Ian Chadband)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Tennis: Osaka 'dodged bullet' in Stuttgart as rival Halep pulls out

STUTTGART -- World number one Naomi Osaka said Tuesday she had "dodged a bullet" after Simona Halep, her main pursuer in the WTA rankings, pulled out of this week's tournament in Stuttgart. 

Japanese rising star Osaka, 21, launches her clay season in Stuttgart this week, and her hopes of holding on to her spot at the top of the rankings were given a boost when world number two Halep withdrew with a hip injury earlier Tuesday.

"She was getting really close," said Osaka, who is less than 200 points ahead of Halep in the WTA rankings. "I feel like I dodged a bullet there."

Osaka said that winning was not everything in Stuttgart, where she last played as a qualifier in 2017.

"I don't want to overhype myself and say, 'I will win the tournament'," she insisted.

"I just want to have fun and experience the German crowd, because last time I was here, I was kind of a nobody."

She is definitely no longer a 'nobody', having won back-to-back Grand Slam titles in the United States and Australia since September. 

However, she admitted finding it difficult to adjust to her newfound global fame. 

"It is something that happened really quickly. In the beginning it was tough for me, because I put a lot of pressure on myself," she said. 

"I feel like there is certain things, I should be doing, that I am not doing right now."

Osaka has not won a title since her Australian Open triumph in January, suffering early exits at three recent WTA tournaments. 

She was reluctant to speak about her split with her German coach Sascha Bajin earlier this year.

"I feel like I get in trouble for answering questions like this. There were irreconcilable differences," she said.

Osaka said she hoped to get more used to playing on clay ahead of the French Open next month. 

"I feel, that on every surface of the season I do have a lot more experience than on clay."

"The bounces are different and you have to swing for the ball. For me it is a little bit difficult, because I can´t hit as flat."

Osaka is expected to play her first game on Thursday, where she faces a potential clash with Taiwan's Hsieh Su-wei, who beat her in Miami last month.

- Kerber eyes Career Slam on clay -

Reigning Wimbledon champion Angelique Kerber, meanwhile, has recovered from illness in time to launch her clay season on home soil as she eyes a career Grand Slam in Paris this year.

Kerber has won every major except the French Open since 2016, but she has never got past the quarter-finals at Roland Garros. 

"You know clay and me, you know the story," she told reporters with a smile on Monday. 

"It’s a tough challenge (to win all four Grand Slam tournaments), but I will not put too much pressure on my side."

"Right now, I will focus on the tournaments ahead, and then when I'm in Paris, I will think about the Paris situation."

Kerber missed out on Germany's Fed Cup play-off win over Latvia last week after she picked up an illness earlier this month, but said on Tuesday that she had returned to full strength. 

Halep's absence has given the German a little more breathing space.

Instead of playing a first-round match against Donna Vekic on Wednesday, Kerber gets a bye to the second round, where she faces a potential clash with compatriot Andrea Petkovic. 

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Tennis: Keys defeats Wozniacki for first time to claim Charleston title

Madison Keys overpowered Caroline Wozniacki 7-6(5) 6-3 to win the Charleston Open and defeat the former world number one for the first time on Sunday.

The win, her first on clay court, broke a nearly two-year drought for the eighth seeded American, who claimed her fourth career title.

Her previous two losses to Denmark's Wozniacki had been on hard courts when Keys failed to win a set.

"I think I served really well today, said Keys, who had predicted on Saturday that playing on clay would be beneficial in her bid to defeat Wozniacki.

"I also felt I kept a lot of pressure on her, making a lot of returns and keeping rallies going and not going for things too early," said the world number 18, who won 76 percent of points on her first serve, and fired six aces. "More than anything I really trusted my game and went for my shots."

That was most evident late in the first set and the tiebreak.

The big-serving Keys trailed 5-6 in the opening set before forcing the tiebreak, which remained close until 4-3 when the fifth-seeded Wozniacki double faulted.

Keys won the next point but twice had backhand errors to allow Wozniacki to pull within 6-5.

A backhand down the line enabled Keys to finally claim the set.

"I just knew the games I was losing in the first set I was just being too tentative and not really trusting my shot," said the 24-year-old American.

"I knew I had to go for it. I think that's how I have to play... 100 percent believing in my game."

Keys broke Wozniacki in the sixth game of the second set to go up 4-2 and when she made it 5-2 that all but clinched the match.

"It's definitely been a really great week for me, especially after having some really tough losses the last couple of weeks," Keys said. "It definitely is a very good springboard for heading over to Europe." 

(Reporting by Gene Cherry in Raleigh, North Carolina, editing by Pritha Sarkar)

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Tennis: Halep battles into Miami 4th round clash with Venus

MIAMI -- Simona Halep kept alive hopes of regaining the world number one ranking Sunday, beating Polona Hercog 5-7, 7-6 (7/1), 6-2 to reach the last 16 of the WTA and ATP Miami Open.

The 27-year-old lost her place at the top of the women’s game following Naomi Osaka's triumph at the Australian Open earlier this year.

But with the Japanese faltering here on Saturday, Halep can return to the position she last held at the end of 2018 if she lands the Miami Open for the first time.

The Romanian, who will also move up the to the top of the rankings if she reaches the final and Petra Kvitova doesn't win the title, will certainly have to put in a better display than the patchy performance which eventually sent the gutsy Hercog, the world number 93 from Slovenia, out.

"She played unbelievable and it was such a tough match," said Halep, who belted 48 winners compared to her opponent's 38 but won just 31% of points on her first serve.

"It was good to play for almost three hours though. I slowly found my rhythm but I always had belief so if I can keep doing this, I will have a good tournament.”

She next faces seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams, who swept past Russian Daria Kasatkina 6-3, 6-1.

Halep, the 2018 French Open champion and current world number three, arrived in Miami having failed to get past the round of 16 in Indian Wells and the quarter-finals in Dubai.

She started sluggishly on the center court at Hard Rock Stadium, where Hercog moved into an early 3-1 lead.

Halep finally broke back for 4-4 but another sloppy game handed Hercog the opportunity to grab a first set lead which she duly took.

Halep was far more solid in the second, despite missing the chance to draw level when she was broken serving at 5-3 and Hercog kept her nerve make it 5-5.

As the clock ticked past two hours, a brilliant drop shot by Hercog ensured a second set tie break only for Halep to emphatically win it 7-1 before the decider was sealed for the Romanian when she held to love after 2 hours and 50 minutes.

On the men's side, defending champion John Isner blew Spain's Albert Ramos-Vinolas off court with serves touching 139 mph as the American sealed an ultimately comprehensive 7-5, 7-6 (8-6) win.

He was broken in the very first game but responded by hitting a total of 16 aces to set up an intriguing match with Kyle Edmund in the last 16 after the British number one impressively saw off Canadian Milos Raonic 6-4 6-4.

"I did a lot of things well," Isner said. "I played a good first set, even though I didn't start it off well. In the second, it wasn't quite as clean. But I'm into the Round of 16 of a big tournament and I'm happy."

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Tennis: Kerber overcomes qualifier to reach Indian Wells 4th round

INDIAN WELLS -- Three-time Grand Slam champion Angelique Kerber came from a set down against qualifier Natalia Vikhlyantseva on Monday to reach the WTA Indian Wells fourth round.

Eighth-ranked Kerber, a two-time semi-finalist in the California desert, shook off a slow start to beat the 112th-ranked Russian 3-6, 6-1, 6-3.

After dropping her serve in the first game of the second set, Kerber won seven games in a row to force a third set and take a 2-0 lead in the decider.

She was unable to convert four match points against Vikhlyantseva's serve at 5-1 and was broken at love when serving for the match at 5-2 before finally putting it away.

"I think it gives me confidence that I can turn around matches, that I can play also three sets, also in the close moments that I'm there, that I can trust myself," said Kerber.

She said it was always difficult to face a player for the first time, and she'll be doing the same in the fourth round against Aryna Sabalenka, the ninth seed from Belarus who defeated Lesia Tsurenko 6-2, 7-5.

Defending champion Naomi Osaka, whose Australian Open triumph propelled her to number one in the world, headlines the battles for a place in the round of 16 when she takes on American Danielle Collins in the night session on Stadium Court.

Osaka opened her campaign with a straight-sets victory over Kristina Mladenovic, avenging her shock loss to the French player at Dubai in February.

Collins is trying to build on a breakout run at the Australian Open, where she fell in the semi-finals to two-time Wimbledon champion Petro Kvitova.

Osaka won their only prior meeting in Beijing last year 6-1, 6-0, a result that left Collins eager for "another crack" at the world number one.

"There is no way it could go any worse for me," Collins said. "That's really as bad as it can get in terms of the score and how quickly the match went."

Fifth-seeded Czech Karolina Pliskova survived an off day to reach the round of 16 with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Belgian qualifier Ysaline Bonaventure.

"The only good thing was my serve today, with a lot of aces and service winners," Pliskova said. "Overall, I think my game was a bit bad. The conditions changed from my last match, but hopefully in the next match I can play better."

That will be against Estonian Anett Kontaveit, who was leading 5-0 against 11th-seeded Anastasija Sevastova when the Latvian retired from their match.

One day after 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams retired from her third round match because of illness, Venus Williams kept the family flag flying with a 6-2, 7-5 victory over Christina McHale.

Williams pulled back a break in the second set to book a round of 16 clash with Mona Barthel, a 7-5, 1-6, 6-4 winner over Julia Goerges in an all-German contest.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Tennis: Illness ends Serena's Indian Wells bid, No. 2 Halep advances

INDIAN WELLS -- Serena Williams's first tournament since the Australian Open came to an abrupt end on Sunday as the ailing 23-time Grand Slam champion retired from her third-round WTA match against Garbine Muguruza at Indian Wells.

Muguruza was leading 6-3, 1-0 when Williams called it a day in the battle of former world number ones because of a viral illness.

"Before the match, I did not feel great, and then it just got worse with every second; extreme dizziness and extreme fatigue," Williams said in comments released via tournament organizers.

The 10th-seeded American, continuing to work her way back up the rankings in the wake of time off to have a baby, had made a strong start, winning the first three games.

But she called for the trainer after dropping six straight to Muguruza.

After a long talk with medical personnel Williams took the court for the second set, but after Muguruza held serve at love Williams called a halt.

"By the score, it might have looked like I started well, but I was not feeling at all well physically," Williams said. "I will focus on getting better and start preparing for Miami."

Muguruza, currently ranked 20th in the world, was sorry to see the match end the way it did, even though it put her through to a fourth-round meeting with seventh-seeded Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands, a 7-6 (12/10), 6-4 winner over Britain's Johanna Konta.

"We've played many times and it's always super-tough, super-exciting," Muguruza said of Williams. "I wish I'm going to see her soon and feeling better."

In fact their five prior meetings all came in Grand Slams, the last two in finals. Williams beat the Spaniard for the Wimbledon title in 2015 and Muguruza walked off with the 2016 French Open crown.

It was a tough draw for Williams, who defeated former world number one Victoria Azarenka in her second-round opener.

World number two Simona Halep had her hands full with Ukrainian qualifier Kateryna Kozlova but emerged with a 7-6 (7/3), 7-5 victory in her first meeting with the 114th-ranked player.

"It was really difficult against her because I never played against her -- it was a bit difficult to get a rhythm," Halep said.

There were service breaks aplenty as Halep and Kozlova traded four on the way to the first-set tiebreaker and four more to open the second set.

Halep's two holds -- sandwiched around another break of Kozlova's serve -- put the Romanian up 5-2 but she was broken serving for the match and needed one last break of Kozlova's serve in the final game to clinch it with a backhand up the line.

"When I was leading the match, she played without fear, I felt like she was playing much better in those games," Halep said.

"It was difficult for me to close those sets, but I'm actually proud that I could do that," added the Romanian.

Halep next faces 61st-ranked Czech Marketa Vondrousova, who followed up her win over 2018 finalist Daria Kasatkina with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over 22nd seed Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia.

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