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Vote: October's Player Of The Month

Vote: October's Player Of The Month

  • Posted: Nov 14, 2015

It’s time to vote for October’s WTA Player of the Month!

Have a look at the nominees and cast your vote before Thursday at 11:59pm ET! The winner will be announced Friday, November 13.

October 2015 WTA Player Of The Month Finalists


Agnieszka Radwanska: The former World No.2 returned to the Top 5 after beating a trio of big names to capture her first-ever WTA Finals title at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global. Looking out of the tournament after losing her first two matches, Radwanska reversed her fortunes by trouncing top seed Simona Halep and took her newfound confidence into the semifinals, where she recovered from a set down to defeat Garbiñe Muguruza in three sets. Down a break in the third set of the final to Petra Kvitova, Radwanska relied on her signature guile to perform one last escape to emerge victorious in Singapore.

Petra Kvitova: Kvitova had a similarly Houdini-esque week in Singapore, reaching the semifinals despite winning only one match in round robin play, but redeeming herself in the semifinals by ousting returning rival Maria Sharapova in straight sets. The 2011 WTA Finals champion narrowly lost to Radwanska, but nonetheless ends her season on a high, finishing in the Top 8 for a fifth straight year.

Garbiñe Muguruza: Muguruza made the most of her opportunities after the US Open, turning around a post-Wimbledon lull – after reaching her first major final – to reach back-to-back finals at the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open and the China Open – winning in Beijing to clinch her debut in Singapore. Once there, she went undefeated in round robin play with wins over Kvitova, Angelique Kerber, and Lucie Safarova. Though she lost to eventual champion Radwanska, she still managed to earn a career-high ranking of No.3, where she will finish to cap a breakthrough season.

Venus Williams: Just missing out on a spot in Singapore, the former No.1 nonetheless ended her best season since 2010 in style by winning the inaugural Huajin Securities WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai – returning to the Top 10 in the process. The American survived two tough battles against WTA Rising Stars Madison Keys and Zheng Saisai before hitting her stride against Roberta Vinci in the semifinals. In a tense final against Karolina Pliskova, Williams eased past the Czech WTA Rising Star to reach her highest ranking since 2011. 

WTA October Player Of The Month

2015 WTA Player of the Month Winners

September: Flavia Pennetta
August: Belinda Bencic
July: Samantha Stosur
June: Serena Williams
May: Serena Williams
April: Angelique Kerber
March: Serena Williams
February: Simona Halep
January: Serena Williams


How it works:

Four finalists are selected by wtatennis.com
Winner is then determined by a fan vote on wtatennis.com

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15 Great Pics From The 2015 Final

15 Great Pics From The 2015 Final

  • Posted: Nov 14, 2015
History was on the line for Serena Williams - three Slams in a row, 20 total, the Aussie-French double...

History was on the line for Serena Williams – three Slams in a row, 20 total, the Aussie-French double…

And Lucie Safarova was hungry for an upset, playing the tennis of her life to make her first major final.

And Lucie Safarova was hungry for an upset, playing the tennis of her life to make her first major final.

It was their ninth career meeting, and Williams had a big advantage - she was 8-0 against the Czech.

It was their ninth career meeting, and Williams had a big advantage – she was 8-0 against the Czech.

And it looked like that pattern would continue on Court Philippe Chatrier on a sunny Saturday afternoon.

And it looked like that pattern would continue on Court Philippe Chatrier on a sunny Saturday afternoon.

Williams stormed out to a 6-3, 4-1 lead in little over an hour, with points for a 6-3, 5-1 lead.

Williams stormed out to a 6-3, 4-1 lead in little over an hour, with points for a 6-3, 5-1 lead.

Safarova, who hadn't dropped a set in six matches en route to the final, looked very down and out...

Safarova, who hadn’t dropped a set in six matches en route to the final, looked very down and out…

But there's a reason she took out players like Maria Sharapova and Ana Ivanovic earlier in the fortnight.

But there’s a reason she took out players like Maria Sharapova and Ana Ivanovic earlier in the fortnight.

The No.13 seed came alive down 6-3, 4-1, 40-15, clawing back and taking the second set in a tie-break.

The No.13 seed came alive down 6-3, 4-1, 40-15, clawing back and taking the second set in a tie-break.

Williams was on the defense - Safarova not only took that middle set, she raced out to 2-0 in the third.

Williams was on the defense – Safarova not only took that middle set, she raced out to 2-0 in the third.

But the No.1 seed turned it around from there, reeling off six games in a row to sneak out the victory.

But the No.1 seed turned it around from there, reeling off six games in a row to sneak out the victory.

Williams edged Safarova out in front of an enthralled Court Philippe Chatrier crowd, 6-3, 6-7(2), 6-2.

Williams edged Safarova out in front of an enthralled Court Philippe Chatrier crowd, 6-3, 6-7(2), 6-2.

She had her third straight Slam, her 20th overall Slam and that coveted Australian-French Open double.

She had her third straight Slam, her 20th overall Slam and that coveted Australian-French Open double.

She also improved to 9-0 against Safarova, though four of those nine meetings have been three-setters.

She also improved to 9-0 against Safarova, though four of those nine meetings have been three-setters.

Williams will now have a massive 4,421-point lead over Petra Kvitova at the top of the WTA Rankings.

Williams will now have a massive 4,421-point lead over Petra Kvitova at the top of the WTA Rankings.

She will also extend her lead over Maria Sharapova and Simona Halep on the Road To Singapore leaderboard.

She will also extend her lead over Maria Sharapova and Simona Halep on the Road To Singapore leaderboard.

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Tennis Pioneer Mike Davies Passes Away

Tennis Pioneer Mike Davies Passes Away

  • Posted: Nov 14, 2015

A former tennis champion became tennis’ greatest champion as the sport moved into the Open Era. Mike Davies, a man who modernized the game – first with the World Championship Tennis league, and later as part of the Association of Tennis Professionals and International Tennis Federation – passed away last Monday at 79 years old.

The Brit modeled his game after some of the best Australian men to play the game, including Ken Rosewall, Roy Emerson, and Fred Stolle. But the Amateur Era in which he first played lacked the modern elements necessary to make tennis a twentieth century sport, so he made a then-controversial decision to turn professional. Before the Open Era began, only amateurs were eligible to play tournaments like Wimbledon and the US Open; Davies was thus barred from the tournaments he would go on to help.

A year after his playing days came to an end, he joined the team that made up the World Championship Tennis, where he worked tirelessly to make tennis TV-friendly as executive director. The yellow ball and 90-second changeovers all come back to Davies, who ushered in a golden era of the game that was bigger and better than any in the tennis world had ever seen before. In 1972, for example, the WCT final – played by Rosewall and Rod Laver – drew in 21 million viewers thanks to his TV contracts.

Davies later worked as the Marketing Director at both the ATP and ITF, reviving the former and tripling revnue at the latter – creating the Grand Slam Committee which holds court over the four major tournaments he’d been unable to play. In 2012, he was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

“Mike was one of the true pioneers of our sport,” said WTA CEO Steve Simon. “His vision and appetite for innovation laid the foundation for the presentation of professional tennis as know it today.

“His passion and commitment will be greatly missed.”

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Maria Sharapova's Best Moments

Maria Sharapova's Best Moments

  • Posted: Nov 13, 2015
Celebrate Maria Sharapova's birthday with a gallery of all of her WTA titles - starting with Tokyo in 2003.

Celebrate Maria Sharapova’s birthday with a gallery of all of her WTA titles – starting with Tokyo in 2003.

It didn't take long for her to win WTA title No.2 - she conquered Québec City shortly after winning Tokyo.

It didn’t take long for her to win WTA title No.2 – she conquered Québec City shortly after winning Tokyo.

Sharapova defeated Tatiana Golovin in the Birmingham final in 2004 - the third-youngest WTA final ever.

Sharapova defeated Tatiana Golovin in the Birmingham final in 2004 – the third-youngest WTA final ever.

And then, probably her most famous title - Sharapova took Wimbledon by storm just a few weeks later.

And then, probably her most famous title – Sharapova took Wimbledon by storm just a few weeks later.

Sharapova came alive in the fall for the second straight year, beginning with a title run in Seoul...

Sharapova came alive in the fall for the second straight year, beginning with a title run in Seoul…

... and another one shortly afterwards at Tokyo [Japan Open], beating Mashona Washington in the final.

… and another one shortly afterwards at Tokyo [Japan Open], beating Mashona Washington in the final.

She then battled back from 4-0 down in the third set to beat Serena Williams in the WTA Finals final.

She then battled back from 4-0 down in the third set to beat Serena Williams in the WTA Finals final.

Sharapova captured three WTA titles in 2005, beginning with the Premier-level Tokyo [Pan Pacific] crown.

Sharapova captured three WTA titles in 2005, beginning with the Premier-level Tokyo [Pan Pacific] crown.

She then followed it up with another Premier-level title a few weeks later, prevailing over in Doha, Qatar.

She then followed it up with another Premier-level title a few weeks later, prevailing over in Doha, Qatar.

Sharapova's 10th WTA title came at Birmingham in 2005, beating fellow future World No.1 Jelena Jankovic.

Sharapova’s 10th WTA title came at Birmingham in 2005, beating fellow future World No.1 Jelena Jankovic.

Five more WTA titles followed for Sharapova in 2006, beginning with her first career Indian Wells crown.

Five more WTA titles followed for Sharapova in 2006, beginning with her first career Indian Wells crown.

The Russian then kicked her summer hardcourt season into high gear with a title run in San Diego.

The Russian then kicked her summer hardcourt season into high gear with a title run in San Diego.

And she peaked at just the right time - Sharapova won her second Grand Slam title at the US Open.

And she peaked at just the right time – Sharapova won her second Grand Slam title at the US Open.

But she wasn't done for 2006 - she took the fall indoor season by storm too, first conquering Zürich...

But she wasn’t done for 2006 – she took the fall indoor season by storm too, first conquering Zürich…

... and then capturing her 15th WTA title in Linz, just before the season-ending WTA Finals in Los Angeles.

… and then capturing her 15th WTA title in Linz, just before the season-ending WTA Finals in Los Angeles.

Though she finished the year in the Top 5, Sharapova brought in only one WTA title in 2007, at San Diego.

Though she finished the year in the Top 5, Sharapova brought in only one WTA title in 2007, at San Diego.

She began 2008 with a bang Down Under though, winning her third Grand Slam title at the Aussie Open.

She began 2008 with a bang Down Under though, winning her third Grand Slam title at the Aussie Open.

And she then kept her winning streak alive in Doha - her second time winning that Premier-level event.

And she then kept her winning streak alive in Doha – her second time winning that Premier-level event.

In April, Sharapova defeated Dominika Cibulkova at Amelia Island for her maiden WTA clay court title.

In April, Sharapova defeated Dominika Cibulkova at Amelia Island for her maiden WTA clay court title.

It took a while after shoulder surgery, but Sharapova won her 20th WTA title at Tokyo [Pan Pacific] in 2009.

It took a while after shoulder surgery, but Sharapova won her 20th WTA title at Tokyo [Pan Pacific] in 2009.

She got back to title-winning regularity with two International-level titles in 2010, starting with Memphis...

She got back to title-winning regularity with two International-level titles in 2010, starting with Memphis…

And then Strasbourg - the second WTA clay court title of her career after conquering Amelia Island in 2008.

And then Strasbourg – the second WTA clay court title of her career after conquering Amelia Island in 2008.

She got back to the Premier-level winner's circle in 2011, beginning on the slow clay courts of Rome.

She got back to the Premier-level winner’s circle in 2011, beginning on the slow clay courts of Rome.

And then a dramatic victory against Jankovic brought her another Premier-level title over in Cincinnati.

And then a dramatic victory against Jankovic brought her another Premier-level title over in Cincinnati.

Sharapova's domination of the 2012 clay court season brought her three WTA titles - first, Stuttgart.

Sharapova’s domination of the 2012 clay court season brought her three WTA titles – first, Stuttgart.

And then her first successful WTA title defense in five years in Rome, edging Li Na in a nail-biting final.

And then her first successful WTA title defense in five years in Rome, edging Li Na in a nail-biting final.

Sharapova then became the second active player to complete a Career Grand Slam at Roland Garros.

Sharapova then became the second active player to complete a Career Grand Slam at Roland Garros.

Sharapova's 2013 season brought her two Premier-level titles, beginning with Indian Wells in March...

Sharapova’s 2013 season brought her two Premier-level titles, beginning with Indian Wells in March…

And then another triumph on the clay of Stuttgart, beating Chinese trailblazer Li in the final.

And then another triumph on the clay of Stuttgart, beating Chinese trailblazer Li in the final.

Sharapova won four WTA titles in 2014, beginning with her milestone 30th career WTA title in Stuttgart.

Sharapova won four WTA titles in 2014, beginning with her milestone 30th career WTA title in Stuttgart.

She then continued her domination of the clay court season with a Premier Mandatory triumph in Madrid.

She then continued her domination of the clay court season with a Premier Mandatory triumph in Madrid.

And she wrapped it up at the big one, capturing her second French Open - and fifth overall major title.

And she wrapped it up at the big one, capturing her second French Open – and fifth overall major title.

Sharapova won her fourth WTA title of 2014 at another Premier Mandatory-level tournament - Beijing.

Sharapova won her fourth WTA title of 2014 at another Premier Mandatory-level tournament – Beijing.

The Russian megastar kicked off her 2015 campaign with the 34th WTA title of her career at Brisbane.

The Russian megastar kicked off her 2015 campaign with the 34th WTA title of her career at Brisbane.

She captured her milestone 35th WTA title at the 2015 edition of her beloved Internazionali BNL d'Italia.

She captured her milestone 35th WTA title at the 2015 edition of her beloved Internazionali BNL d’Italia.

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Serena Williams: Year-End World No.1

Serena Williams: Year-End World No.1

  • Posted: Nov 13, 2015

PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL, USA – She clinched it during the US Open, but this week it’s official – Serena Williams has the WTA Year-End World No.1 Singles Ranking presented by Dubai Duty Free.

It was another phenomenal year for Williams, of course highlighted by winning her 19th, 20th and 21st Grand Slam titles at the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon, putting her even closer to Steffi Graf’s Open Era record of 22 Grand Slam titles and Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24.

But there was so much more, including a 53-3 win-loss record, the only losses coming to Petra Kvitova (Madrid semifinals), Belinda Bencic (Toronto semifinals) and Roberta Vinci (US Open semifinals). She now has the two best season winning percentages on the tour since 1990 (.951 in 2013, .946 in 2015).

Williams also achieved a whole new level of dominance on the WTA Rankings in the summer – for six weeks the World No.1 actually had more than twice as many ranking points as the World No.2, which had never happened before in WTA Rankings history. Maria Sharapova was No.2 for three of those weeks (July 13 to August 2) and Simona Halep the other three weeks (August 24 to September 13).

But back to the present day, and it’s all about year-end No.1 – and this is the fifth time Williams has achieved that honor, making her just the fourth player in WTA history to do it five or more times.

Here’s the full list of players to have held year-end No.1 and the years they did it:
8 – Steffi Graf (1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996)
7 – Martina Navratilova (1978, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986)
5 – Chris Evert (1975, 1976, 1977, 1980, 1981)
5 – Serena Williams (2002, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2015)
4 – Lindsay Davenport (1998, 2001, 2004, 2005)
3 – Justine Henin (2003, 2006, 2007)
3 – Martina Hingis (1997, 1999, 2000)
2 – Monica Seles (1991, 1992)
2 – Caroline Wozniacki (2010, 2011)
1 – Victoria Azarenka (2012)
1 – Jelena Jankovic (2008)

This article used insights from WTA partner SAP, a worldwide leader in enterprise software.

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