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Svitolina Tries Out Cricket With The Brisbane Heat

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

Elina Svitolina enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2016, knocking out two reigning World No.1s and reaching the final of the Huajin Securities WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai. But before playing her first match of the new year at the Brisbane International, the Ukrainian youngster tried out a brand new sport with a little help from the Brisbane Heat.

Svitolina suited up to play cricket for the first time before turning the tables on the Heat, trading in the paddle for her racquet to serve at one of her temporary teammates.

Check out the video from her exciting afternoon before the No.6 seed takes on Shelby Rogers in her second round match in Brisbane.

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Fun & Games In Shenzhen

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

A stellar cast has once again assembled for the season-opening Shenzhen Open. Find out what the players have been up to away from the court…

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Serena Surges Into Round Two In Auckland

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

AUCKLAND, New Zealand – World No.2 Serena Williams won five straight games en route to her first match win since September, defeating French veteran Pauline Parmentier, 6-3, 6-4, to advance into the second round of the ASB Classic.

Relive the match as it happened on the WTA Insider Live Blog!

“It’s my first match back in serveral months and I was playing a really good player today,” she said during her on-court interview.

“This wind was really getting to me! This whole week I practiced with no wind, but today it was so windy.

“But it was fun…well, it wasn’t fun, but it was interesting!”

Serena was forced to miss much of the second half of 2016 due to injury – though she still managed to tie Stefanie Graf’s Open Era record of 22 Grand Slam titles at Wimbledon – and hadn’t been on court since the US Open.

Overcoming a slow start, the American recovered from a 1-3 deficit to take the first set, and fought off three break points in the middle of the second to seal victory in one hour and 15 minutes.

“I’m feeling like I’m trying to get out there, and that every match counts. I’ve never played in front of you guys so this is really special for my career. I’ve never been here, so thanks for making me feel so welcome.”

Up next for Serena is either Madison Brengle or qualifier Jamie Loeb, two Americans who could face the top seed.

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