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Serena's 21 Grand Slam Titles

  • Posted: Nov 16, 2015

Serena Williams now has 21 Grand Slam titles – the third-most of any tennis player, male or female, all time. Take a look back at all 21 of them in this very special gallery!

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Garbiñe Muguruza: Year-End World No.3

Garbiñe Muguruza: Year-End World No.3

  • Posted: Nov 16, 2015

BARCELONA, Spain – After an absolute breakthrough year, WTA Rising Star Garbiñe Muguruza is No.3 on this week’s year-end rankings – the first time a Spaniard has finished Top 3 since 1996.

She had some big results in the first half of the year – semifinals of Dubai, quarterfinals of the French Open – but it was in the second half of the year where Muguruza truly hit her stride, going all the way to her first Grand Slam final at Wimbledon, where she fell to Serena Williams, and then putting together a fantastic fall season highlighted by the finals of Wuhan and her biggest career title in Beijing.

When last year’s WTA Finals points fell off Muguruza hit a career-high No.3, and after a semifinal showing at the WTA’s crown jewel event she solidified that spot on the year-end WTA Rankings.

So how does Muguruza herself look back at what has been a rocket-like rise?

“For sure it has been an incredible rise, but I think you always have to have in your mind that you can make good tournaments and achieve great things, otherwise it’s not going to happen,” she said.

“You always have to have what you want to do in your mind, and always have important objectives in your mind, to be motivated. And for me it’s just great to be in that kind of position right now.”

Muguruza’s the first Spaniard to be in the Top 3 on the WTA Rankings in more than 15 years – the last time a Spaniard was in the Top 3 was on May 21, 2000 (Conchita Martínez). And it’s been even longer since a Spaniard has finished a season in the Top 3 – that was 1996 (Arantxa Sánchez-Vicario).

This has been one of the quickest rises in years, too. Muguruza finished at a then-career-high No.21 on the 2014 year-end rankings – the last time a player who had never finished in the Top 20 finished all the way up in the Top 3 the next year was 2011 (now-two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova).

What improved so rapidly in Muguruza’s game this year?

“I’ve learned that I’m able to calm down in bad situations, clear my mind and start from zero. I’ve learned that I’m strong in these tough moments,” the Spaniard said. “Hopefully this year is great experience for me. Hopefully the tough moments I’ve lived through this year will help me next year.

“And all of the matches and emotions on the court, it’s not going to be new for me next year.”

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Wozniacki Wins Diamond Aces Award

  • Posted: Nov 16, 2015

Caroline Wozniacki receives the 2015 WTA Diamond Aces award for going above and beyond in promoting the sport of women’s tennis to fans, media and local communities through off-court and charitable activities.

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Berdych Chooses Either Or On Sponsor Visit

  • Posted: Nov 16, 2015

Tomas Berdych chooses between football or fashion, Prague or Monte-Carlo and Stan’s shorts or his own floral shirt in this quickfire exchange during a sponsor visit on Monday at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.

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CNN Open Court: Henin's Third Act

CNN Open Court: Henin's Third Act

  • Posted: Nov 16, 2015

Justine Henin may not have played a professional tennis match in nearly five years, but not even motherhood can stop this former No.1 from putting her racquet down forever.

Henin won seven major titles before officially retiring in 2008, but showed the world what she was made of in an ultimately short-lived second career two years later, one that brought her back to the finals of the Australian Open and renewed rivalries with current No.1 Serena Williams and countrywoman Kim Clijsters.

“Kim and I were No.1 and No.2 at the same time. We played Grand Slam finals; we won Grand Slams. We grew up together; we played the same tournaments from nine years old,” she said in an interview with CNN Open Court.

“I always say that if there wasn’t Kim, I wasn’t sure if I would have been the same player.”

Henin stepped away from the sport for a second time in 2011, electing to focus on family life – giving birth to a daughter in 2013 – and working with the children who play at her eponymous academy, which has been open for nearly a decade.

“I work for the kids; I try to share my experience and try to give some messages,” explained the Belgian, who was recently nominated for the International Hall of Fame alongside Helena Sukova.

“The Hall of Famers are individuals who I have admired from the time I was a young girl, throughout my career, and to this day. To be nominated for induction into this group and to have my career recognized in this way is a great honor, and I thank the committee for the nomination.”

Check out Henin’s full interview with CNN Open Court below:

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WTA Rising Stars: #WhatPowersYou?

WTA Rising Stars: #WhatPowersYou?

  • Posted: Nov 16, 2015
The biggest WTA Rising Stars are telling us what powers them - here are 10 of their answers...

The biggest WTA Rising Stars are telling us what powers them – here are 10 of their answers…

#WhatPowersYou: Garbiñe Muguruza

#WhatPowersYou: Garbiñe Muguruza

#WhatPowersYou: Elina Svitolina

#WhatPowersYou: Elina Svitolina

#WhatPowersYou: Belinda Bencic

#WhatPowersYou: Belinda Bencic

#WhatPowersYou: Caroline Garcia

#WhatPowersYou: Caroline Garcia

#WhatPowersYou: Kristina Mladenovic

#WhatPowersYou: Kristina Mladenovic

#WhatPowersYou: Heather Watson

#WhatPowersYou: Heather Watson

#WhatPowersYou: Ajla Tomljanovic

#WhatPowersYou: Ajla Tomljanovic

#WhatPowersYou: Monica Puig

#WhatPowersYou: Monica Puig

#WhatPowersYou: Laura Robson

#WhatPowersYou: Laura Robson

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