Tennis News

From around the world

Mirza's Reign At No.1 Extends To 90 Weeks

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

Sania Mirza completed her 90th week atop the WTA doubles rankings on Monday.

Just 10 weeks ago, the World No.1 celebrated 80 weeks ahead of the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global, where her ranking came under threat from the likes of Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic, and Bethanie Mattek-Sands. Mattek-Sands came within a match of unseating the Indian star by reaching the final in Singapore, only to fall to Olympic champions Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina.

In an ironic twist, Mirza will reunite with former partner Mattek-Sands to start the 2017 season at the Brisbane International, where they will be top seeds ahead of Makarova and Vesnina.

Mirza began 2016 with longtime partner Martina Hingis, with whom she won a third straight major title at the Australian Open, and came up just short in their hunt for the Non-Calendar Year “Santina” Slam. The pair split by summer, and Mirza formed a new partnership with Barbora Strycova, cementing their union with titles at the Western & Southern Open and Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo.

For all she has already accomplished, Mirza still has big goals for next year, including a maiden French Open title to complete her Career Grand Slam.

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#ThankYouAna: WTA Fans Share Favorite Ivanovic Memories

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

Few have engaged tennis fans quite like Ana Ivanovic; the former No.1 and 2008 French Open champion has a combined 4.5 million followers on Facebook and Twitter.

Those fans took to social media to express their gratitude for their favorite player with the hashtag #ThankYouAna. Check out some of the best fan tweets below:

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Ostapenko’s Selfie Scavenger Hunt

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

For tennis fans, snagging a selfie with their favorite player is the ultimate prize. But what happens when it’s a player asking the fans for selfies?

We sent Jelena Ostapenko on a selfie scavenger hunt through the grounds of the Western & Southern Open. Find out what happened when she ambushed fans, volunteers, and more in search of the ultimate selfie prize.

It’s all in the latest episode of Dubai Duty Free: Always Full Of Surprises!

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USANA & The WTA's New Haven Aces

USANA & The WTA's New Haven Aces

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

The 2016 Aces For Humanity campaign was launched by USANA and the WTA at the BNP Paribas Open and continued in New Haven for the Connecticut Open, where every ace hit by a WTA player at Premier-level events translates into a donation to the USANA True Health Foundation, whose mission is to provide the most critical human necessities to those who are suffering or in need around the world.

For every ace hit by any player the WTA donates $5, and for every ace hit by a USANA Brand Ambassador, it’s $10.

USANA Brand Ambassadors Eugenie Bouchard, Samantha Stosur, Kristina Mladenovic, Madison Keys, Monica Puig, Sloane Stephens, Zheng Saisai, Alizé Cornet and Caroline Wozniacki hit four of the 100 aces in New Haven – raising a grand total of $520 throughout the week. Bouchard hit the most with three aces.

Read more about the campaign here and see below to find out who’s hit the most aces so far!

USANA 

USANA


#AcesForHumanity Fan Giveaway

It’s simple: before each WTA Premier tournament guess how many total aces will be hit.
Next up is the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo. Last year there was a total of 152 aces hit. It’s now your turn, take your best guess of how many will be hit this year.

How To Enter:
• Follow @WTA and @USANAFoundation on Twitter and before each WTA Premier tournament tweet the number of aces you predict will be hit during the whole tournament (Singles, Main Draw)
• Include the hashtag #AcesForHumanity
• Eastbourne deadline is September 20 at 11:59pm ET
• The winner will be announced September 26th

Aces For Humanity is a joint WTA and USANA initiative that benefits the USANA True Health Foundation, which provides critical human necessities to those in suffering or in need around the globe.

For full rules on how to enter, click here.

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Halep Kicks Off Day 2 In NYC

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

WTA Insider | On the second day of the WTA Insider Live Blog, the top half of the draw begin their US Open campaigns, including Simona Halep and Serena Williams.

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Cibulkova Hosts Youth Q&A As WTA Charities Launches In Brisbane

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

BRISBANE, Australia – Dominika Cibulkova starts the 2017 season at a career-high ranking following her year-end triumph at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global. Still, the Slovak found time to assist the efforts of the newly formed WTA Charities before kicking off her campaign at the Brisbane International.

Partnering with the Ronald McDonald House South East Queensland and the Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital, Cibulkova met a group of sick children who came prepared to ask the World No.5 questions about her life and career in Brisbane.

“They were really nice kids, asking good questions,” Cibulkova said after the event. “It was nice to meet them and I’m happy I can do this kind of thing.”

Asked what other sports she played, the former Australian Open finalist talked about the gymnastics she did as a child, but now enjoys skiing when she’s not on the tennis court. She also issued a challenge to Andre Agassi when asked which player she’d like to play.

“It’s cool that kids can get to know us a bit more, and I think they’ll follow tennis more intensely now, because when you know one of the players, you get more involved and more emotional. I think that’s really nice.”

Launched at the start of 2017, the mission of WTA Charities is to be a social responsibility vehicle built on the WTA’s values to empower and provide for a better future. WTA Charities is dedicated to combining, strengthening and enhancing the community and charitable efforts of the WTA through its members (players, alumnae and tournaments), along with its partners.

Cibulkova is the No.2 seed in Brisbane and will play her opening round match against Zhang Shuai.

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