World No.1 Iga Świątek has called for more support for Ukrainian players from the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), adding that “everything we discuss in tennis is about Belarusian and Russian players.”

Świątek’s comments on Tuesday follow incidents at the Indian Wells tournament, where Russia’s Anastasia Potapova wore a Spartak Moscow soccer jersey, and Ukrainian player Lesia Tsurenko pulled out of the tournament this week.

Tsurenko had been due to play against Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka but did not end up taking to the court Monday, with Reuters news agency reporting that organizers said that the Ukrainian had withdrawn for personal reasons.

When asked about Tsurenko at her post-match press conference, the 21-year-old Polish star Świątek said: “I totally understand why she withdrew, because honestly I respect the Ukrainian girls so much, because if like a bomb landed in my country or if my home was destroyed, I don’t know if I could handle that.”

 

As of March 12, at least 8,231 civilians have been killed and 13,734 injured in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which began 24 February last year, according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

OHCHR says it believes that the actual figures are “considerably higher, as the receipt of information from some locations where intense hostilities have been going on has been delayed and many reports are still pending corroboration.”

“I feel more should be done to help Ukrainian players because everything we discuss in tennis is about Belarusian and Russian players,” Świątek said Tuesday.

Świątek was also critical of the WTA’s leadership after Russian Potapova entered the court Sunday wearing a Spartak Moscow soccer shirt ahead of her match against American Jessica Pegula. Potopova has been pictured wearing the shirt on several occasions, including in Dubai, in a photo she posted to her own Instagram account.

“It’s a tough situation,” Świątek said.”There is a lot of tension in the locker room that, well, obviously it’s going to be there, because there is a war.

“But maybe it should be a little bit less if the WTA put some action at the beginning to kind of explain to everybody what is right and what is not,” Świątek added.

 

CNN reached out to the WTA for comment following Świątek’s criticism.

Earlier on Tuesday when asked about Tsurenko’s withdrawal the WTA said to CNN: “First and foremost, we acknowledge the emotions Lesia and all of our Ukrainian athletes have and continue to manage during this very difficult period of time.

“We are witnessing an ongoing horrific war that continues to bring unforeseen circumstances with far reaching consequences that are affecting the world, as well as the global WTA Tour and its members.

“The WTA has consistently reflected our full support for Ukraine and strongly condemn the actions that have been brought forth by the Russian Government.

“With this, a fundamental principle of the WTA remains, which is ensuring that individual athletes may participate in professional tennis events based on merit and without any form of discrimination, and not penalized due to the decisions made by the leadership of their country,” the WTA statement added.

Three-time grand slam winner Świątek continued her impressive form on Wednesday, reaching the quarterfinals at Indian Wells after defeating Emma Raducanu 6-3 6-1.

On Tuesday, Świątek beat 2019 US Open champion Bianca Andreescu in straight sets.

Elena Rybakina survived a major scare in her Abu Dhabi opener as the Kazakh was down by a set and also twice down by a break before creating an impressive comeback to beat 2022 Australian Open finalist Danielle Collins.

Rybakina, seeded at No. 1, had a first-round bye before taking on Collins, who made the Abu Dhabi main draw after winning two qualifying matches. Collins, a former world No. 7, entered the match as the underdog but she made Rybakina work very hard before the top-seeded Kazakh sealed a 4-6 6-3 6-3 win to make the Abu Dhabi quarterfinal.

By beating Collins, Rybakina, 24, improved to 3-1 in her head-to-head against the 30-year-old American. Since losing to Collins in 2021 San Jose, Rybakina has won their last meetings.

 

 

In the Abu Dhabi quarterfinal, Rybakina plays next against the winner of the match between Heather Watson and Cristina Bucsa.

How Rybakina came back to beat Collins?
Through the first four games of the match, not a single break point was seen. But that changed in the fifth game, when Collins earned the first break points and converted her second break point opportunity to go 3-2 up on Rybakina.

After failing to clinch any break points on Collins’ serve in the American’s first four service games, Rybakina had 15-40 and managed to force two consecutive break points in the 10th game – the game in which the 2022 Australian Open finalist was serving for the first set. But Rybakina missed out on a chance to completely get back into the first set after losing the next four points.

Down by a set, Rybakina also made a slow start to the second set, getting broken in the very first game of the set. Just when it seemed that Collins was pulling away, Rybakina managed to get her first break of the match and level the second set to one game apiece.

But soon after getting the break back, Rybakina again found herself down by a break after Collins broke the Kazakh in the fifth game for a 3-2 lead. Down by a set and a break again, Rybakina impressively responded by earning back-to-back breaks and winning the next four games to overturn a second-set deficit and force a third set.

After winning the second set, Rybakina also started the decider with a break but got broken back instantly in the second game. However, blowing an early third-set break didn’t impact Rybakina, who broke Collins again in the fifth and ninth games to complete her big comeback win.

Rybakina ends Collins’ last Abu Dhabi campaign
Collins, who turned 30 in December, out of the blue revealed after her Australian Open second-round loss to Iga Swiatek that this would be her final season on the WTA Tour. Although Collins battled some injuries in the last few years, there was no indication that the American was planning on retiring in the near future.

This week, Collins came to Abu Dhabi for her fourth tournament of the year. After beating four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka in the Abu Dhabi first round, Collins confirmed that her retirement statement from Melbourne wasn’t just something that was said in a moment.

 

Although Collins is just 30, she hasn’t been even a decade in pro tennis as she played college tennis before turning pro in 2016.

“Earlier this year around the holidays I decided this would be my last season. I’m feeling really happy about it and looking forward to it,” Collins said in Abu Dhabi.

“I haven’t been on tour that long, compared to some of the other players. Because I did go the college route, so I didn’t really start on tour until I was 22. In some ways it seems like it was just yesterday when I started playing and in other ways it seems like I’ve been out here for an eternity.”

Danielle Collins
Danielle Collins© Getty Images Sport – Christopher Pike

So far in her career, Collins has won two WTA titles and she also achieved a career-high ranking of No. 7 in 2022 July.

At the start of the 2022 season, Collins achieved her career-best result when she made the Australian Open before losing to home favorite Ashleigh Barty, who famously retired after that match. The second-best Grand Slam result of Collins’ career also came at Melbourne Park as she was an Australian Open semifinalist in 2019. When it comes to other Grand Slam tournaments, Collins has just been to one French Open quarterfinal.

“I certainly love my job and it’s been a rollercoaster of fun emotion. And there are also times that aren’t as fun. But just like with anything, you have that,” Collins said.

“At this point I feel like I’m ready for the next chapter, and I’m really excited about it. I needed to have an end date and it gives my family and friends the ability to come support me in some final tournaments. I think that will be really special.”

Last month, Collins revealed that she would like to become a mother one day. Over the last few years, WTA players making successful post-pregnancy returns to tennis has become a positive trend. When asked if she could also one day return to tennis as a mom, Collins didn’t shut the doors on that possibility.

“I mean never say never. I certainly love tennis and enjoy what tennis offers to my life and so I’d never say never. But it’s hard to really envision that right now. I guess I’m more just kind of focused on getting over that final hurdle,” Collins said.

The victory at the Australian Open 2024 did not allow Jannik Sinner to move from the No.4 spot of the ATP ranking. In the coming months, however, the Italian will have a great chance to attack the Top-3 of the men’s world rankings.

Novak Djokovic occupies the throne of the ATP ranking, but Jannik has a great chance of being able to take over the Serb, Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev, currently in the 2nd and 3rd spot of the ATP ranking.

Taking the 2023 situation as an example, from this period at Wimbledon, Sinner has to defend less than half of Alcaraz’s points and around 2000 points less than Medvedev, with the Spaniard and the Russian having won several tournaments last year, while Jannik still had to explode.

Specifically, Sinner has to defend 2950 points until Wimbledon and is faced with a great opportunity that could lead him to soon become the Italian tennis player with the best ranking ever.

 

Carlitos will have to defend the titles (and points) obtained in 2024 in Buenos Aires, Indian Wells, Barcelona, Madrid, Queen’s and Wimbledon. Medvedev will instead have Rotterdam, Doha, Dubai, Miami and Rome. Above all, Djokovic has the victory at Roland Garros.

It seems clear that Sinner has great chances of being able to attack the Top-3 of the ATP ranking and become the Italian tennis player with the highest ranking ever by the summer.

Flavia Pennetta praises Jannik
Flavia Pennetta, the last Italian tennis player to win a Slam before Sinner, commented on Jannik’s victory in Australia, analyzing the state of Italian tennis.

The former winner of the US Open 2015 said she attended the Australian Open final, reliving old emotions.

“As a spectator it was wonderful, I enjoyed it, commenting on it with Fabio Fognini (her husband) and Francesca Schiavone. Humanly, this stirred the memories of what I experienced in New York in 2015. Seeing him on the ground at the end of the match breathing a sigh of relief made me relive those moments, and it was very nice because that victory repays you for all the sacrifices,” she told

Pennetta then described her young countryman’s dael personality.

“Italian tennis is undoubtedly going through one of the most beautiful moments in its history, let’s say that we cannot deny the fact that Jannik is achieving these results, stirs interest, desire, desire and passion on the part of everyone for this sport, which in any case in recent years it has always given us so many successes for both men and women and we can only be happy about it.

Then I believe that today’s young generation has little desire to sacrifice itself, that’s my point of view. Jannik on the other hand is different, his example motivates everyone, both those who play sports and those who study. In general he is a beautiful example of life,” explained Pennetta.

 

On the importance of Jannik Sinner’s rise for the Italian tennis movement, Pennetta analyzed: “Undoubtedly now everyone expects him to do better and better, then there will be the moment when everything will be fine and nothing will be enough anymore.

Djokovic, number one for many years, confided to me one day, when he had reached 17 Grand Slam wins, that whatever he did was no longer enough for anyone. And he also told me: I now know what I’m worth, I’m aware of what I’ve done and I live peacefully for this.

For the others, however, if I lose the first round I’m a disaster, and if I win it’s normal. Well, I personally wish all this to Jannik, it would mean that he has won everything, I believe he has an innate gift in this, because he lets everything slide over him, manages to live things peacefully and is managing the moment very well.”

Andrea Vavassori also recently commented on Jannik Sinner’s great feat at the Australian Open.

“Jannik has always been a humble and simple person. It’s a pleasure to spend time with him. He is a source of inspiration not only for young people, but for everyone. He always says interesting things, those are the things that sports idols say.

He was good at choosing a team made up of people who help him on a daily basis. Jannik is a boy like many others, he made me laugh a lot because when he went on stage to talk to Italian President Mattarella, there was a little sketch and it felt like being at school. This is to explain the simplicity that unites us,” told Vavassori.

The 28-year-old then talked about his experience at the Australian Open in doubles with Simone Bolelli: “We started playing together last season, we knew we were a very competitive couple and Simone came from a period during which he played with Fabio, but not being able more playing together, we took the opportunity to be able to be as a couple.

From then on we reached two finals. Thinking of immediately reaching a Slam final as the first tournament was something unexpected, also because we hadn’t played since the US Open, so a few months. The first round was very complicated, then it was a crescendo. This result offers us many possibilities.”

Emma Raducanu is taking back her comment that she regrets winning the 2021 US Open as the 21-year-old Briton says she “would not trade” that unique achievement for anything else in the world.

Two and a half years ago, an 18-year-old Raducanu wrote tennis history and achieved something that no one else had done before in the game – she won a Grand Slam as a qualifier. That year, Raducanu won a total of 10 matches at Flushing Meadows – all of them in straight sets – en route to becoming a Grand Slam champion at the 2021 US Open.

After reaching the stars, Raducanu experienced the negative side of fame after she started getting heavy criticism and scrutiny when her results went south. Last June, Raducanu made a very honest but sad confession, telling the Sunday Times: “Sometimes I think to myself I wish I’d never won the US Open, I wish that didn’t happen.”

At the time of making that statement, Raducanu was coming off multiple surgeries she underwent in May. In her third comeback tournament at this week’s Abu Dhabi Open, Raducanu was asked how she is feeling now about her US Open win.

“Yeah, I think when I was saying those things, I hadn’t necessarily had the time to take a step back and reflect. Now in the position that I’m in, I wouldn’t trade it for the world,” Raducanu told CNN.

“But I think I was so wrapped up and so caught up in everything, in the whirlwind that happened after. And now having come through injury with a different perspective, I’m really grateful that I did so.”

 

Raducanu on needing surgeries and the post-surgery period
Throughout the entire 2022 season, Raducanu was dealing with constant injuries and physical setbacks. During that period, Raducanu was advised by many to work hard on getting her body right and stronger in the offseason. Raducanu listened to that advice, hiring Andy Murray’s former strength and conditioning coach Jez Green.

After putting up some big work in the gym during the offseason, Raducanu felt she was fully ready and prepared for the 2023 season and that she would avoid constant injury issues in 2023. But then, Raducanu suffered a major blow in her 2023 season-opener in Auckland, slipping badly and injuring her right ankle.

After sustaining an ankle injury, Raducanu’s wrist injuries reappeared and the Briton again started dealing with major wrist issues. Following first-round losses in Miami and Stuttgart – where Raducanu was evidently struggling with wrist pain and discomfort – Raducanu made the call it was time to surgically fix her injuries.

Reflecting on that decision, Raducanu admitted it felt “disappointing” to know she needed three surgeries and that she felt bored after initially having surgeries. Also, Raducanu noted it was difficult being “very immobile” and having to use a wheelchair following her ankle injury. But reflecting on everything now, Raducanu is drawing positives as it helped her “reset” and rediscover her “tennis hunger.”

 

“Well, I think initially I was disappointed of course, like anyone when they found they had to have three surgeries. I had three in the same week so that was very difficult. I was very immobile, I couldn’t do anything,” Raducanu said.

“After the initial boredom and disappointment, I think that I quite enjoyed the time off because I felt like it gave me time to reset and reflect on why I do tennis, why I play, what I enjoy about it and then it really gave me time to miss it and be hungry again, and I think me when I have that hunger is… yeah, it’s pretty dangerous.

“So now, when I got back to training in late November, because I had a setback, I was really, really looking forward to just making the most of every second on the court.”

 

Can a healthy Raducanu win a Grand Slam again?
Raducanu’s decision to undergo three surgeries was mostly praised by analysts and former tennis stars as the general belief was that continuing to play injured wouldn’t do the 21-year-old Briton much good. Also, many argued that being fully healthy and ready was the only situation in which Raducanu could fulfill her potential to the fullest and become the player she was tipped to be after her 2021 US Open win.

Since returning to tennis at the start of the 2024 season, Raducanu confirmed a couple of times that she is playing pain-free and without feeling any discomfort. Describing that feeling and state, Raducanu described it as “amazing.”

When addressing her game and ambitions, Raducanu highlighted that for now her goal remains improving in practice and then showing that in real matches. When it comes to her predictions for the future, Raducanu underlined that she is “far from a finished product” and that she hopes to land big titles in the future.

 

If Raducanu stays healthy long-term and keeps improving, there is no doubt that she could make some Grand Slam noise in the future

The newest member of Serena Williams’ family is getting a lot of love from Nike!

On Wednesday, the 23-time Grand Slam champion, 42, shared video on Instagram of a special delivery from her longtime partner brand — including cute shoes and tiny, adorable outfits for daughter Adira River, 5 weeks.

“Look at all this stuff for baby Adira,” she begins her Instagram Story, as she shuffles through the different outfits with one hand.

“I really love the little Nike shoes, just always so sweet,” Williams — who is also mom to daughter Olympia, 6, with husband Alexis Ohanian — says as she pans shoe boxes and then stops to focus on a tiny pullover sweater. “Look at this little crop top!”

 

“It’s pretty awesome,” she concludes, adding, “Thanks to my Nike family!”
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Serena Williams Shares Huge Haul of Nike Clothes Gifted to Her for Baby Adira: ‘Always So Sweet’
Nike gifts for baby Adira. SERENAWILLIAMS/INSTAGRAM
Serena Williams’ Daughter Olympia Shows Off Back-Hand In New Instagram: ‘Papa Is My Ballboy’
The couple announced Adira’s arrival first on TikTok, and Ohanian then shared an Instagram of their two daughters together.

“Welcome, Adira River Ohanian,” the new dad of two captioned a family photo, revealing their baby girl’s name.

“I’m grateful to report our house is teaming [sic] with love: a happy & healthy newborn girl and happy & healthy mama. Feeling grateful. @serenawilliams, you’ve now given me another incomparable gift — you’re the GMOAT,” he wrote.

“Thanks to all the amazing medical staff who took care of my wife & our daughter 🙏 I’ll never forget the moment I introduced @olympiaohanian to her baby sister.”

Speaking with PEOPLE earlier this summer, Ohanian said he was looking forward to getting the hang of having a newborn in the house again.

“I think I’ve I’ve definitely forgotten what it’s like to have a new one around, so it might be a rude awakening, maybe literally,” he said with a laugh. “But right now, we’re excited.”

Ohanian also revealed that he was feeling more confident the second time around, noting, “We’re not first-time parents anymore. I feel more confident about having a newborn, all of those things that I just had zero confidence about with Olympia because I’d never even been around babies at that point in my life.”

1. Her Swing
Spiranac played college golf at both the University of Arizona and San Diego State University, winning All-Mountain West Conference honors during the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 seasons, and leading the Aztecs to their first Mountain West Conference Championship.

She went on to play professionally in 2015, on the Cactus Tour and elsewhere, earning her first and only win so far at Scottsdale’s Orange Tree Country Club.

 

2. Her IG
Spiranac currently has close to 2 million followers on Instagram and it’s easy to see why. At first glance, she looks more like an Insta-model.

_paige.renee on Instagram

 

3. She’s a Steelers Fan
Not only can she rock the links but she has damn good taste when it comes to picking sports teams. We’d love to see her wearing, I mean, waving a terrible towel at Heinz Field.

_paige.renee on Instagram

 

4. She’s Degreed
Besides looking Insta-stunning, this beauty has brains to match. She started college at the University of Arizona before transferring to San Diego University to finish up her major in communications. Before she graduated in 2015, she was part of her college’s golf team. But this wasn’t her only passion.

_paige.renee on Instagram
5. She’s a Marvel Fan
We love her 3000.

_paige.renee on Instagram

_paige.renee on Instagram
6. She’s an SI Swimsuit Model
Spiranac blessed us with her beauty on the pages of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue in 2018. The golfing goddess looked incredibly fit as she sat on a dirt bike wearing a Top by Mikoh and a swimsuit by SLATE SWIM.

 

Swimsuit 2018: Aruba Athletes Paige Spiranac Aruba 11/10/2017 X161518 TK3 Credit: James Macari
7. She’s Got a Couple of Haters
English female professional golfer Laura Davies isn’t impressed by Spiranac.

She said: “If she’s here for any other reason than she’s a great golfer, then it’s a little bit pointless.” Ouch! So why was she getting so much backlash? I think we know why. Keep hatin’ ladies.

_paige.renee on Instagram

Novak Djokovic advanced to his 35th Grand Slam final by defeating Jannik Sinner in straight sets in the semifinals of the 2023 Wimbledon Championships.

The former World No. 1 is now just a win away from equaling Margaret Court’s record of winning the most number of Grand Slam singles titles in the history of tennis. En route to his 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(4) victory over Sinner, the Serbian landed 11 aces to book a place in Sunday’s final.

The highly anticipated match also had its share of controversies, from Djokovic being called out for hindrance due to his grunt to him mocking the hostile Centre Court crowd.

 

Things unfurled during the third set when a couple of fans screamed at the Serb while he was set points down, attempting to throw him off his rhythm. However, the veteran managed to hold his serve and retaliated by mocking the fans in return.

Tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg reacted to the World No. 2’s actions, supporting his behavior.

“Djokovic suddenly running out of f**ks to give about the Centre Court crowd is a joy to behold, and very overdue.”

Expand Tweet

One fan jokingly made a reference to the Serb’s previous controversy due to his non-vaccination status, saying:

“Djokovic regular tennis villain era is much better than his public health disaster villain era.”

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Fans, for the most part, proclaimed that they liked this new version of the Serb who does not care about anything.

Iga Świątek, the No. 1 tennis player in the women’s world ranking, may not have made it all the way to Wimbledon (she was defeated in the quarterfinals by Elina Svitolina), but she is evidently not letting it bother her as she unwinds in Crete.

The 22-year-old Pole, having the opportunity to rest before crossing over to the other side of the Atlantic (as the US Open follows in September), found herself in Greece for the second time in a few years, namely in Crete, which is becoming her favourite destination.

 

However, returning five years later, her adoration for Crete grew even more.

“I have to say I have the best job in the world as it allows me to travel to places like this. I’m seriously considering staying here until the end of the month.. Just don’t say anything to my team. For the wonderful holidays in Crete, I would like to thank @planet_escape, who took care of the smallest detail and made the short trip full of quality rest, beautiful views and delicious food,” she wrote in her post.

The Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport interviewed Hanspeter, father of Jannik Sinner, winner of the 2024 edition of the Australian Open. Hanspeter spoke with the usual reserved politeness that distinguishes his son, describing the emotions experienced in these two intense Australian weeks.

“Great joy, really nice. We spoke after the final, even if for a short time. I can say that watching him play on TV makes you suffer more, it was easier to follow him at Indian Wells or the Finals in Turin. As a child he was so, already as good at all sports as he is at his job,” he told.

 

Jannik’s dad also expressed his thoughts on the words expressed by his son during the award ceremony. “His words didn’t surprise me. That’s how he is, he quickly learned the culture of work, commitment and humility.”

Dad Hanspeter and mum Siglinde conveyed an important message to Sinner from day one. Hard work always pays off. Jannik grew up with humility and constant commitment. Values that allowed him to think about his path without paying attention to criticism and overcoming negative moments with determination.

Jannik’s words
In a press conference today in the new headquarters of the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation in Rome, Jannik spoke again about the victory in Melbourne but also about the plans regarding his imminent come back to train.

“The way a tennis player reacts to a success like this is important, as well as to defeats. I’m a simple boy, I’m 22 years old and I like playing on the computer like the others. I think they really appreciate that about me. The Paris Olympics is a key event of the year. To bring a medal but also to experience the atmosphere, meet athletes from all over the world. And I obviously hope we bring home a lot of medals.”

 

Jannik then explained why he didn’t immediately return to his house in Sesto, once again showing his maturity and virtuous behivior.

“I didn’t go immediately because it would have taken away attention in a very difficult moment. A few days ago there was an accident and two children died along with their mother. I preferred to do everything here,” he told.

Coco Gauff thought it was “funny” how her outfit went viral on X after a fan account posted a made-up Gauff quote claiming that the 19-year-old American was paying homage to Serena Williams with her yellow Australian Open outfit.

Last week, Gauff’s outfit for the 2024 Australian Open featuring a yellow top and a yellow shirt was revealed. After seeing Gauff’s outfit, one fan was reminded of a yellow outfit that Williams rocked during the 2016 Australian Open.

The fan decided to have some fun with it, posting the outfit and writing a made-up Gauff quote: “With this kit, I definitely wanted to channel my inner Serena. She is an inspiration on and off the court so this one is for her… it even has the lil crop top she had.”

 

On Monday, Gauff introduced her yellow outfit as the top-ranked American made a winning start at Melbourne Park after dismantling Anna Karolina Schmiedlova 6-3 6-0.

After the match, Gauff admitted she fell for the prank initially and even contacted her agent before realizing that the post was fake. Still, Gauff found it funny and noted she has no problems if some consider her yellow outfit a homage to Williams, the player she idolized.

Gauff: If some think this is a homage to Williams, that’s cool
“Yeah, if you want to make it a homage to her [Serena Williams], that’s really cool. That wasn’t the thought process behind it. I love Serena, and I think she has the best fashion game on the court and off the court and everything,” Gauff added.

 

“So, yeah, it wasn’t an homage to her, but it was funny how that tweet kind of circulated. I know that account was probably, like, going to laugh at this.”

For Gauff, the most important thing is that she has gotten off to a fast start to her Australian Open campaign. After losing just three games in her opener, Gauff will also be looking to deliver a strong performance against Caroline Dolehide in the Australian Open second round.