In an open letter on social media yesterday, Li Na announced that she will be retiring from tennis due to lingering knee injuries. The 32-year old Australian Open champion hasn’t played in a match since losing in the third-round at this year’s Wimbledon, and retires on the heels of the new tournament in her hometown…
Maria Kirilenko of Russia moved into the quarterfinals of the Korea Open on Thursday, knocking off third-seeded Czech Klara Koukalova 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-0. The win marks the first time she has won back-to-back matches since last September as she continues her comeback from a knee injury that forced her out of the first three months…
Caroline Wozniacki fought back from a set down to defeat Australian qualifier Jarmila Gajdosova 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 to move into the Toray Pan Pacific Open quarterfinals in Tokyo. The U.S. Open finalist faced an array of winners off Gajdosova’s racket, but was able to play her defensive style in the final two sets. Despite hitting no aces,…
This marks the fifth installment in the series “Secrets of the Tennis Greats.” I have sought to uncover the one distinctive and overriding character trait that determined the greatness of the top players in the world. Yes, all of the tennis greats have much in common, including natural talent and the ability to work hard,…
In a matchup of former world number ones, Ana Ivanovic defeated Victoria Azarenka 6-3, 6-4 to reach the quarterfinals of the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, Japan on Wednesday. In her first match play since an early exit at the US Open, the Serbian took advantage of nine-double faults by Azarenka to notch her…
Agnieszka Radwanska moved one step closer to defending her title at the Kia Korea Open early Wednesday as she pitched a shutout in a 6-0, 6-0 rout of South African Chanelle Scheepers. The top-seeded Pole needed just 49 minutes to dispose of Scheepers and advance into the quarterfinals. Scheepers had a chance to grab momentum…
Simona Halep became the third player to qualify for the BNP Paribas WTA Finals in Singapore, the WTA announced Monday. The second-ranked player in the world has enjoyed a breakout year in 2014, and has shot up to No. 2 in the world rankings. “Simona Halep’s ascent over the last couple of years has been…
Mirjana Lucic-Baroni continued her resurgent 2014 season as she cruised past top-seeded Venus Williams 6-4, 6-3 in the Coupe Banque Nationale final from Quebec City on Sunday afternoon. The win gave the Croat her first WTA title in over 16 years, a record for the longest time in between title wins. Her last title came…
Venus Williams cruised into the quarterfinals of the Coupe Banque Nationale on Thursday night, knocking off Ukrainian Olga Savchuck 6-1, 6-2 to reach the final eight. “Everything worked so well today,” said Williams. “When my first serve is going in that helps a lot. I was able to play so offensively off the first serve….
The order of play for this weekend’s U.S. vs. Slovakia Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group Playoff tie was determined at a draw ceremony on Thursday, hosted at The Stonegate in Hoffman Estates, Ill. Hoffman Estates Mayor Bill McLeod drew the names at Thursday’s draw. The opening day of play in the best-of-five match…