Tennis News

Having A Blast At Acapulco Kids Day

Mexico’s Giuliana Olmos joined forces with WTA Charities and a handful of ATP players at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel to give underprivileged kids in Acapulco the experience of a lifetime at the 24th edition of AMT Kids Day by Nickelodeon.

AMT Kids Day hosted hundreds of children from the Teleton Center of Childhood Rehabilitation as well as Guerrero’s DIF, an organization that works with family developments in the area.

Olmos and the players were recognized by the tournament as “Agents of Change” for making a difference by being a positive example for the youth.

Click here for more photos from AMT Kids Day!

Autism Awareness In Kuala Lumpur

In the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur, players took a break from their preparations for the Alya WTA Malaysian Open to visit Pusat Permata Kurnia, a learning centre for autistic children aged 4-7 and where the motto reads: ‘Autism Is Not A Tragedy, Ignorance Is.’

Australian buddies Casey Dellacqua and Ashleigh Barty, who teamed up in the doubles draw, were joined by wildcard Zheng Saisai and Malaysian player Theiviya Selvarajoo at the learning centre.

Click here to see more of the Permata Kurnia visit!

WTA Charities is the WTA’s global philanthropic organization dedicated to making a positive impact across the globe. Our mission is to be a social responsibility vehicle built on the WTA’s values to empower and provide for a better future. We’re dedicated to combining, strengthening and enhancing the community and charitable efforts of the WTA through its members (players, alumnae and tournaments), along with our partners.

Click here to see more WTA Charities activities!

The boldest decision of Agnieszka Radwanska’s life was one with which many people will sympathise. It came when she was 19 years old -and decided to leave her parents’ house for a home of her own.

“The toughest decision in my life was moving out from home,” she revealed in an exclusive WTA interview. Looking back, she believes it was a great choice, which helped her to learn to become more independent.

“When I moved out I started a new life and made my own decisions in my own home,” she added.

Radwanska’s reflections mark the theme of this year’s International Women’s Day – ‘Be Bold For Change’.

The WTA World No.6, who celebrated her 28th birthday on Monday, is on a run of six consecutive WTA Top 10 year-end finishes. She soared up the rankings after turning pro in 2005 and enjoyed success at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global in 2015. In addition, she was a finalist at Wimbledon in 2012 and has accumulated 20 WTA singles titles.

International Women’s Day falls on March 8 every year, and celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.

BASTAD, Sweden – With six years on the WTA calendar, the Ericsson Open in Bastad certainly knows a thing or two about what it takes to put on a great event. And the players seem to agree, having voted the International-level event as the WTA Tournament Of The Year for three of the last four years.

So what makes a perfect tournament? We asked the Ericsson Open’s top seeds and former champions – Angelique Kerber, Sara Errani, Johanna Larsson, Annika Beck and Polona Hercog – why they keep coming back to Bastad year after year. Here’s what they had to say.

1. A priceless view.

The Ericsson Open is staged at the Bastad Tennis Stadium, just a few hundred yards from the popular Bastad Beach along the Kattegatt Sea. Having the coast within walking distance gives players (and fans) plenty of chances to unwind.

Kerber: Bastad is a really special tournament, especially because it’s on the sea and for me the sea is really important; I grew up on the sea.

Beck: I’ve been here the last two years, so I’ve got good memories here. Especially if the weather is nice, you get some time off and you can go to the sea and relax and enjoy your time here.

2. Incredible, top-notch staff.

One common factor that all players highlighted was Bastad’s top-notch and ultra-attentive staff.

Kerber: What is really important as well for players is that all the staff and the tournament director and everybody is so friendly. They are taking care of you, and this is why it really feels like home. That’s why this tournament is one of the best tournaments of the calendar.

Barthel: All the people are really nice and friendly, always trying to make your time the best here. That’s what you feel in all the details and I feel like home here.

Larsson: I think this tournament is absolutely amazing. It’s been voted Tournament Of The Year because we deserve it! For the players it’s obviously unbelievable because I think everyone in the staff is very friendly and always trying to help each and every player.

SEB-ball kids are having fun during the rain delay! Always ready! ???#sebbollkallarna #båstad #centercourt #raindel… pic.twitter.com/pL9rZgjklY

— Swedish Open Tennis (@swedish_open) July 18, 2016

3. Location, location, location.

What’s more convenient than having the player hotel close to the tournament site? How about having it right behind center court?

Errani: For us, it’s amazing. We can sleep right here and just walk to the courts and play. It’s very easy for us. And it’s amazing, the beach and everything. A bit cold, though, but amazing!

Larsson: You have the facilities that are top notch, you have the rooms here – I mean, the hotel is just next to the Center Court. It makes it very convenient for the players, I think that’s a very good reason why we love this event.

4. An awesome crowd of fans.

Barthel: The stadium is really nice and the people watching are always nice. They’re supporting you. I feel at home. You know, I have a special relationship to Sweden, so it makes it even more special for me here. I always love to come back here.

Beck: The crowd is amazing, the Center Court is beautiful. There’s nothing to complain about in this tournament!

He actually loves #ericssonopen and we love #hughgrant @wta #tennis #båstad #allintennis #wta. pic.twitter.com/RYlL4qo8MN

— Swedish Open Tennis (@swedish_open) July 19, 2016

– All photos courtesy of Ericsson Open

Venus Williams says it’s superb but strange to be thought of as a trailblazer – and names the legendary Billie Jean King as the woman who inspires her.

In an interview with Forbes, she says: “It’s surreal [to be considered a leader] – but at the same time, it’s extremely motivating to know that people are watching and that it’s improving their work and their lives – so it’s symbiosis.”

The Australian Open runner-up was talking about her dual careers in tennis and in business – and suggested that there are plenty of parallels.

“Absolutely sports prepares you to set goals, to fail and to win in a way that you don’t know when you are doing it,” she said. “Business and athletics really marry each other. I can only see similarities.”

Of course she was asked about her rivalry with sister Serena – and that history-making final in Melbourne in January.

“When we play against each other each other, there can only be one winner,” she pointed out. “When I see her do something great, I want to do better.”