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The Evolution of Sponsorship in Professional Tennis: Understanding the Gaming Industry’s Role

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The tennis sponsorship landscape has undergone quite a transformation lately. Gone are the days when only luxury brands and equipment makers dominated courtside advertising. Now, gaming companies are stepping into the spotlight, bringing both exciting opportunities and some thought-provoking challenges. Let’s explore how this shift is reshaping the future of professional tennis.

Tennis and corporate sponsorship go way back to the swinging sixties when tournaments first started teaming up with big-name brands. Fast forward to today, and the sport has embraced a whole new world of partners. It’s fascinating to see how tennis has adapted, moving from traditional sponsorships to a more diverse, tech-savvy approach that reflects our changing times.

In professional tennis, the gaming industry is now a major sponsor of tournaments, players, and events around the world. More and more gaming and betting companies are stepping into the sponsorship arena, raising the bar with funding for the sport, engaging fans, and global exposure. This partnership not only increased the visibility of tennis but also gave the fans a means to interact with the game using betting and gaming platforms. It is worth mentioning www.bettingsitesnotongamstop.ltd for those who are willing to check the most reputable betting sites. Finally, gamstop free sites help people to understand betting platforms that work independently of Gamstop but are trustworthy and safe.

Understanding modern tennis sponsorships

Today’s tennis sponsorship game is played with different rules. Tournaments aren’t just relying on traditional revenue streams anymore – they’re serving up fresh partnerships with betting operators. Gaming company sponsorships have become increasingly mainstream in professional tennis, representing a significant portion of sponsorship revenue. This shift clearly demonstrates tennis’s evolution in our digital age.

Player perspectives and industry impact

The relationship between gaming sponsors and tennis has sparked diverse reactions within the sport. While some players express concerns about integrity, others welcome the financial opportunities these partnerships create. Tournament prize money has increased substantially in recent years, particularly benefiting lower-ranked players. It’s like adding an extra set of rungs to the tennis career ladder.

Regulatory challenges and solutions

The tennis world has responded proactively to this transformation. The Tennis Integrity Unit, established in 2008, maintains strict oversight of the sport’s integrity. Their implementation of stricter sponsorship rules has effectively reduced integrity concerns while maintaining beneficial partnerships. It’s like having a strict but fair umpire overseeing the whole game.

Future developments and trends

Looking ahead, tennis sponsorship seems to be heading toward a sweet spot between old-school and new-school approaches. The industry is moving toward hybrid sponsorship models that combine traditional advertising with digital engagement. These developments are creating new revenue opportunities while maintaining the sport’s integrity. It’s like tennis is writing a new playbook for sports sponsorship, one that balances tradition with innovation.

This evolution in tennis sponsorship reflects broader changes in both sports marketing and digital entertainment. As the sport continues to adapt, it maintains a careful balance between embracing new opportunities and preserving its traditional values. The integration of gaming industry partnerships has become a significant part of tennis’s modern identity, contributing to its growth while presenting new challenges for governance and integrity management.

WTA Finals In Saudi Arabia Inspire Locals

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Fans from across Saudi Arabia have shared their excitement from seeing the world’s top female tennis stars up close and personal at the WTA Finals Riyadh presented by PIF.

Thousands have been at the King Saud University this week to be part of the monumental event.  The positive reaction from the local fans was evident from the first serve, with the live matches complemented by fan activations to help encourage participation.

The event forms a key part of the Saudi Tennis Federation’s aim to inspire 1 million into the sport by 2030.

Monday’s action saw fans witness significant wins for WTA World Number 1 Aryna Sabalenka and Qinwen Zheng from China, with the two tennis superstars inspiring the new generation of Saudi women into the sport.

After seeing a commanding performance from Sabalenka, Tala, 15 from Saudi Arabia felt the sheer power of her idol playing on the courts of the capital. “It’s so cool to watch the best women’s players here in Saudi Arabia, you can see all the aspects of the game that you just can’t experience when you watch it on TV,” she said.

“When they’re mad or nervous, you realise they’re just like us. It’s really inspiring to see that and it gives me confident that we can become like that. Sabalenka has really impressed me to see in real life, she hits the ball so hard.

“She’s so strong and I’ve never seen a female player like that. She’s like a tiger and I really want to be like her.”

With the King Saud University stadium also seeing thousands of Chinese fans in attendance to cheer on their hero – Qinwen Zheng – the passion for the game is rubbing off on the local crowd as a result.

“I really feel a connection with Zheng after her match, I really wanted her to win after seeing her play and her energy, it’s infectious!” expressed local fan Dana, 21, attending her first ever tennis event.

“Events like this mean a lot as we get to see how the country is growing. It’s great to have the WTA Finals here and I’m really enjoying the tournament so far.”

The WTA Finals Riyadh presented by PIF is the latest event as part of the nation’s calendar of international sporting spectacles, with over 100 global sporting events being held in the Kingdom since 2018.

Arranged in alignment with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, the event aims to inspire the nation’s youthful population into an active and healthy lifestyle, with sporting events at the forefront.

Future Saudi Women Pros Hit WTA Finals Ceremonial Opening Shot In Riyadh

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Two future stars of Saudi women’s tennis hit the ceremonial opening shots on the center court at King Saud University Indoor Arena today ahead of this weekend’s start to the WTA Finals Riyadh.

The center court at King Saud University Indoor Arena is ready for action ahead of the tournament taking place from November 2-9. Built in five days by a team of 15, the court measures 44m x 21m and is made from special wood with four layers of acrylic paint. A total of 462 wooden boards were used to form the base. Additionally, three practice courts were completed in the same timeframe.

The court was unveiled earlier today by Saudi Tennis Federation President Arij Mutabugani and WTA Finals Riyadh Tournament Director Garbine Muguruza. Two tennis talents from the Saudi Tennis Federation, Dania Alzuhair and Tala Ashoor, took to the court for a ceremonial first practice in front of over fifty representatives from the local media, the WTA and the Ministry of Sport.

During the unveiling of the court, WTA Finals Tournament Director Garbine Muguruza said, “This gorgeous center court is just perfection. The colors and quality have made players very happy. Many are coming to test it, and so far, the work has paid off. It’s been a great effort, but we’re very happy with the result.”

On the impact of the WTA Finals—the first professional women’s tennis tournament in Saudi Arabia—on young girls, Muguruza stated, “The impact will encourage them to pursue this journey and sports lifestyle, which I highly recommend. It offers discipline, education, self-esteem, and confidence. Seeing their idols, like Aryna Sabalenka, here will change their lives and inspire them to pursue the sport.”

Saudi Tennis Federation President Arij Mutabagani added, “I cannot express the feeling today; it’s like a dream come true. This is the result of hard work and collaboration with different entities. It’s a great opportunity to inspire one million people into tennis by 2030 and put Saudi Arabia on the global tennis map.”

Regarding the impact of the event in Saudi Arabia, Mutabagani added, “With eight of the top players in the world almost within reach, this experience is indescribable. It’s going to be the best of the best, the crème de la crème, the crown jewel. I’m inviting everyone to come.”

Describing her experience, Tala Ashoor, one of the rising stars of the Saudi Tennis Federation said, “It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I think this is a great way for people to get into tennis”. Ashoor, who started playing at age 7 and was recently a finalist in the under-16 nationals, added, “This event is a good way for players to become more involved in tennis.”

Dania Alzuhair, a product of the Saudi Tennis Federation who will be representing Saudi Arabia in the Billie Jean Cup later this year and recent bronze medalist in the Saudi Games, said, “It’s been the best experience to be the first to play before the pros. Tennis is really fun; it’s fun to watch. People should come and watch the matches.”

The Hologic WTA Tour’s flagship event marks a new era of women’s tennis as the first-ever professional women’s tennis tournament to take place in Saudi Arabia. It is the first of a three-year agreement between the Saudi Tennis Federation and the WTA, serving as a key pillar in Federation’s aim to inspire one million people into tennis by 2030.

Greg Sharko’s “Shark Bites” In Advance Of The China Open In Beijing

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by Greg Sharko

@SharkoTennis

The following are notes and nuggets on the upcoming China Open in Beijing!

* This is the second year back for the tournament after a four-year hiatus and is the only combined ATP and WTA tournament in the four-week Asian swing. The WTA event runs over 12 days from Sept. 25-Oct. 6 and the ATP event is one week from Sept. 26-Oct. 2.

* Last year the tournament drew over 200,000 spectators as Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner won their first title in Beijing.

* There are valuable ranking points at stake with 1,000 and 500 awarded to the WTA and ATP champions, respectively, as it’s the home stretch to the year-end Finals for both tours.

* This is the first year the WTA tournament is a 96-player 1000-level mandatory event featuring all of the top player on the WTA Tour. Swiatek leads No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka by 409 points in the Race to the WTA Finals standings and for the year-end No. 1 ranking.

* The ATP tournament is 500-level event featuring five of the Top 6 players (and 6 of the Top 10). Leading the field is World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, No. 2 Alexander Zverev (after the USO), No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz, No. 5 Daniil Medvedev and No. 6 Andrey Rublev. Last year Sinner defeated Medvedev in the final as both players were making their Beijing debut (along with Alcaraz, who reached the semifinals). Sinner, who came into Beijing a year ago ranked No. 7, finished 20-2. He is 55-5 this year with an ATP Tour-best 6 titles.

* With Sinner and Alcaraz accounting for all four Grand Slam titles this season, this marks the first time in China Open history (since 2004) that all four Grand Slam winners are competing in Beijing.  It’s also the first time since 1993 that all four Grand Slam tournament champions in a season are 23 years old & under.

* Chinese tennis is on the rise with the success of Qinwen Zheng capturing the Olympic gold medal (8 Chinese women were in the US Open main draw for the 2nd time, 2019) and three Chinese men were in the US Open main draw. Teenager Juncheng Shang reached the 3rd Round and it’s the third straight year a Chinese man has advanced to the US Open 3rd Round.

* Co-tournament director Lars Graff is a former ATP chair umpire and ATP supervisor.

Tennis Hall of Fame To Host Combined Men’s, Women’s Challenger Starting In 2025 To Continue World-Class Tennis Legacy

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Professional tennis will return to the Newport, R.I. in 2025 as the International Tennis Hall of Fame (ITHF) announced a revamped Hall of Fame Open, including ATP Challenger 125 and WTA 125 level tournaments.

Scheduled for July 6-13, 2025, the Hall of Fame Open will become just the second combined men’s and women’s 125 level event in the United States. It will be the only grass court stop on the Hologic WTA Tour outside of Europe, and the first women’s professional tournament at the ITHF since the Virginia Slims of Newport concluded in 1990. Equal prize money will be awarded to both the men’s and women’s draws.

Late last year, it was announced that the long-time ATP Hall of Fame Open would not continue after 2024. Patrick McEnroe leaked the news of this announcement earlier this year, as you can read here: https://www.worldtennismagazine.com/archives/22902

Ideas of what could replace the Hall of Fame Open was speculated last year here: https://www.worldtennismagazine.com/archives/22539

“The International Tennis Hall of Fame is a global representation of the sport, and there is no better way to reflect that worldwide impact than to welcome women’s professional tennis back to Newport,” said Hall of Fame Open Tournament Director Brewer Rowe. “We are pleased to welcome the Hologic WTA Tour in concert with our ATP partners and are thrilled to provide fans with double the tennis starting next summer.”

“Elite tennis has been a part of Newport’s history since 1881. The 2025 Hall of Fame Open represents the next exciting chapter in the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s rich history of honoring the sport,” stated ITHF CEO Dan Faber. “Our distinctive venue and traditions will continue to deliver an exceptional experience for tennis fans in New England.”

Both the ATP Challenger and WTA 125 draws will consist of 32 singles players and 16 doubles teams. The WTA event will feature an 8-player qualifying draw, with a 24-player qualifying draw for the Challenger Tour event . Matches will be played on five courts simultaneously for at least four days of action.

The International Tennis Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Celebration will remain in Newport and moved to August, with more event details to be announced. 

Saudi Tennis Federation Announces Ambition To Inspire One Million To Take Up Tennis In Launching WTA Finals Riyadh

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The Saudi Tennis Federation (STF) has announced its ambition to inspire one million into tennis by 2030, as the countdown to the WTA Finals in Riyadh gets underway.

The announcement was made at the official launch ceremony of the WTA Finals Riyadh on Wednesday.  Along with the Ministry of Sport in Saudi Arabia and WTA, organisers also unveiled the new logo for the event, which features the world’s top female players in the prestigious end of year championship.

The WTA Finals Riyadh is a key element of the STF’s plans to inspire growth and participation in tennis across Saudi and is the latest international sports event to take place in the country.  Over 100 events have been staged since 2018, with 2.6 million fans welcomed, as the Ministry of Sport aims to inspire Saudis to get active and lead healthy lifestyles.

Arij Mutabagani, President of the Saudi Tennis Federation said: “The opportunity that this prestigious event will provide in Saudi Arabia is incredible and we are honoured to be partnering with the WTA to bring this elite tournament to Riyadh at the start of an exciting journey.

“It’s important the world sees that our tennis ambitions go far beyond hosting. We want to get on court and play. We want to inspire our people to fall in love with the game, to compete, to create new growth and connect to the sport globally. That’s why our pledge is important as we want to get rackets in hands in our communities and schools so that many first steps are taken as a result of the tournament. 

“For us, seeing is believing and with our aim to inspire 1 million into tennis by 2030, this event promises to deliver both impact and legacy. And I am confident that this partnership with the WTA will be a game changing experience for the sport in our country.”  

During the ceremony, the Ministry and Saudi Tennis Federation welcomed the new WTA Finals Tournament Director, Garbiñe Muguruza and WTA Finals Community Ambassador, Judy Murray back to the Kingdom.

Within the WTA’s landmark visit, Murray and Muguruza participated in the first of a series of nation-wide tennis clinics, working with over 30 young tennis talents from Riyadh to perfect their technique.

As one of the nation’s most popular sports among its young population, with more than 20 million aged under 30 years old, the opportunity to witness the world’s very best brings new excitement to the game in a way that has never been seen before in the country.

Beyond the expansion of the grassroots program, ‘Tennis for All’, which will see as many as 60,000 boys and girls introduced to the game in schools across the country, a number of new community initiatives will be announced in the coming months to further accelerate momentum towards inspiring 1 million.

Set to take place between 2-9 November, the 2024 season-ending WTA Finals will see the top 8 singles players and doubles teams compete for a record prize pool to conclude the year at the King Saud University in the capital.

Steve Simon, WTA Chairman and CEO added:“Bringing the WTA Finals as the first professional women’s tennis tournament in Saudi Arabia is an exciting moment for the WTA and our sport. 

This event allows the women’s game to compliment the commitment of the growth of tennis in the Kingdom through inspiring new players and fans in the region, as they experience top level women’s tennis for the first time.

Alongside our Saudi Tennis Federation partners, we are counting down the days to when the world’s best players descend on Riyadh for what we believe will be a thrilling season-ending finale.”

The agreement between the WTA and the Saudi Tennis Federation will see the event take place in the Kingdom’s capital for the next three years, as organisers begin the countdown towards the 2024 event.

The partnership between STF and WTA will see investment across the game in Saudi Arabia and beyond, featuring as part of the nation’s Vision 2030 strategy to inspire the youthful population of Saudi Arabia through sport.

Following the success of recent major international tennis events in the Kingdom, including the country’s first official professional event in the Next Gen ATP Finals, the WTA Finals represents a new chapter in Saudi Arabian tennis.

For information on how to attend this year’s WTA Finals in Riyadh, please visit: https://webook.com/en/events/wta-finals-tickets.

Alize Cornet Ends Historically Lengthy Career At Roland Garros

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France’s Alizé Cornet played the last singles match of her remarkable career, falling to No.7 seed Zheng Qinwen in the first round at Roland-Garros, where she was appearing for the 20th time.

Born in Nice on January 22, 1990, Cornet first appeared on the ITF Circuit in 2004 and the following year she made her Tour-level main draw debut as a 15-year-old wild card at Roland-Garros. On that occasion, she won her opening match before running into Amélie Mauresmo; two years later, Cornet won the 2007 Roland-Garros girls’ singles title and also cracked the Top 100 for the first time.

The crafty righthander reached the first three WTA finals of her career in 2008, at Acapulco, Rome and then Budapest, where she captured her maiden singles title and the first of three career doubles titles. She finished that season ranked No.16 – one of five illustrious teenagers in the year-end Top 20, alongside Victoria Azarenka, Dominika Cibulkova, Agnieszka Radwanska and Caroline Wozniacki.

Maintaining her momentum, a breakthrough run to the Round of 16 at the Australian Open saw Cornet attain her career-high ranking of No.11 on February 16, 2009. Although she would wait four years for a second singles title, the Frenchwoman ultimately contested 15 finals, her Budapest win being the first of six victories at the WTA 250 level, taking in 2012 Bad Gastein, 2013 Strasbourg, 2014 Katowice, 2016 Katowice and 2018 Gstaad.

But it is at the Slams that Cornet truly made the record books. She did not fail to appear in a Grand Slam main draw for a 69-tournament streak that ran from the Australian Open in 2007 to Roland-Garros in 2024 – an achievement unmatched in the women’s game. She became the record holder at the 2022 US Open, her 63rd Slam-in-a-row, surpassing Japan’s Ai Sugiyama.

Along the way, Cornet reached at least the Round of 16 at all four majors, including a career best quarterfinal at the Australian Open in 2022 – setting the record for most appearances at a Grand Slam (63) before reaching the last eight. Among WTA players, her overall total of 72 Grand Slam main draw appearances is bettered only by Serena (92) and Venus Williams (81).

“Alizé’s distinguished WTA results and incredible record of Grand Slam participation reflect supreme dedication to the game and a fierce competitive spirit,” said Steve Simon, Chairman and CEO of the WTA. “She can also be proud of her contribution as a role model who helped to grow women’s tennis by engaging with fans, sponsors and media in a special way. On behalf of the WTA family, I wish her much happiness and success as she takes on new adventures.”

During her career, Cornet posted 25 Top 10 wins, including seven over Top 3 opponents: No.1 Serena Williams (2014 Dubai, 2014 Wimbledon and 2014 Wuhan, via ret.), No.3 Agnieszka Radwanska (2014 Katowice), No.2 Simona Halep (2015 Madrid), No.3 Garbiñe Muguruza (2022 Australian Open) and No.1 Iga Swiatek (2022 Wimbledon, ending the Pole’s 37-match win streak). Her wins over Serena made Cornet the first player to defeat the American in three straight meetings since Justine Henin in 2007.

A four-time Olympian from Athens in 2008 through Tokyo in 2021, Cornet was also a stalwart for France’s Billie Jean King Cup team, earning 27 nominations over a 14-year span – including a non-playing role in the team’s 2019 finals defeat over Australia in Perth. Additionally, she teamed with Jo-Wilfred Tsonga to win the Hopman Cup for France in 2014.

She leaves the sport with a singles win-loss record of 545-457 (.544), including 76-72 at the Slams, and career prize money exceeding $10 million.

WTA Announces Multi-Year Partnership With Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund

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New York, NY, USA – The Public Investment Fund (PIF) and the WTA have today unveiled a multi-year partnership that will support their shared ambition to grow women’s professional tennis and inspire more women and girls around the world to take up the game. The partnership will also enhance and develop initiatives that support players at all levels.

As a Global Partner of the WTA, PIF will become the first-ever naming partner of the WTA Rankings, the highest official rankings for women’s professional tennis players. The PIF WTA Rankings will track players’ journeys, and PIF will work with the WTA to celebrate and support players’ progress and their inspirational, unique stories.

In addition, as part of its commitment to inspire youth, PIF will work with the WTA to expand existing initiatives and develop new opportunities for young players, providing a significant boost to the game’s next generation of stars.

In February 2024, PIF announced its partnership with the ATP and became the official naming partner of the PIF ATP Rankings. PIF has now become the only global partner across both the WTA and ATP Tours. PIF has also partnered with combined WTA 1000 and ATP Masters 1000 tournaments in Indian Wells, Miami and Madrid, in addition to the Beijing WTA 1000 and ATP 500 events.

The new partnership between the WTA and PIF follows the recent announcement that the season-ending WTA Finals will be hosted in Riyadh for the next three years, starting in 2024, and featuring the top eight singles players and doubles teams in the race to the WTA Finals.

The WTA partnership adds to PIF’s growing sponsorship portfolio, which focuses on investing in people, initiatives and partnerships; and embraces the brand’s four strategic pillars: inclusivity, sustainability, youth and technology. This partnership aligns with numerous other PIF initiatives that focus on women in sport.

Marina Storti, CEO of WTA Ventures, said: “We are delighted to welcome PIF as a Global Partner of the WTA and our first-ever official naming partner of the WTA Rankings. Together, we look forward to sharing the journey of our talented players across the season, as we continue to grow the sport, creating more fans of tennis and inspiring more young people to take up the game.”

Mohamed AlSayyad, Head of Corporate Brand at PIF, said: “Through our partnership with WTA, PIF will continue to be a catalyst for the growth of women’s sport. We look forward to working with the WTA to increase participation and inspire the next generation of talent. Underpinned by PIF’s four strategic sponsorship pillars, this partnership aligns with our ambition to elevate the game and bring positive growth to the sport around the world.”

PIF’s program of sponsorships uncovers new potential, investing in people, initiatives and partnerships that drive positive impact on the global stage. PIF is a catalyst for transformation globally, uplifting and enhancing sport for players, fans, tournaments and stakeholders at every level.

(L-R): Kevin Foster, Head of Corporate Affairs, PIF and Marina Storti, WTA Ventures CEO announce a new multi-year partnership between WTA and PIF to grow women’s professional tennis and inspire more women and girls around the world to take up the game. (Photo by PIF via Getty Images).

Watch Out For These Promising Tennis Stars

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Watch Out for These Promising Stars in the World of Tennis

In tennis, most of the world is hyper-focused on the big three that have dominated thousands of courts worldwide. Namely, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic have attained several and often back-to-back Grand Slam records.

However, everyone knows that the sport gives the best potential to the newer generations. While the big three are at the top of their careers, the young bloods are showing potential to be in the same place as them or even higher. In this article, we will look at the top rising athletes in tennis; read more below and check which of them is the most promising.

Holger Rune – Denmark

Holger Rune is one of the noticeable athletes from online sports betting boards to new media outlets. At just 20 years old, he is already ranked as the number 7 best tennis player in the world. 

Just a year before, he had consecutively won ATP titles and came close to a grand slam win back in the French Open quarterfinals. This year, we expect him to play the extra mile at the year’s end and be on the top of the upcoming 2024 leagues.

He could just well be one of the fastest-rising tennis athletes out of the rest. Still, given his young stature, there’s so much we have yet to see from Holger, especially on his upcoming performances for the last remaining leg of the ATP World Championship.

Lorenzo Musetti – Italy

This Italian youngblood has shown promise of potential in 2021, which did not disappoint fans, especially on his 2022 run. At the ripe age of 21, Lorenzo Musetti has achieved two ATP titles and has risen to higher ranks against other older, more experienced professionals.

In 2023, we saw more from Musetti and finished with a solid 18th place in the leaderboards. Unfortunately, he could not get a second win at the Monte Carlo Masters but amassed an impressive number of fans from his satisfying win against Novak Djokovic.

And just like Rune, Musetti is a youngblood with much to prove for himself. He may not have the ability to get grand slams right now, but he has the potential for it in the coming years.

Jack Draper- England

The British have some of the most enthusiastic sports fans, and tennis is no exception. So, for young Jack Draper to come across professionals rapidly, the pressure to do great and surpass expectations can be tremendous.

Fortunately, Jack seems to fare well in this pressure as he has made his name known during the recent ATP tour. His sheer gameplay upped his rank several times, with the closest record being the 38th-best tennis player worldwide.

Although he has yet to grab some significant ATP titles, Draper has shown to have the right potential with the proper guidance and time. After all, he has played and won against players ranking in the top 25 numerous times. In short, give him time, and he’ll do great.

Zheng Qinwen- China

Qinwen was a decorated player at a young age. In 2022, she was regarded as the WTA Newcomer of the Year with her fast-paced rise to the global rankings. She was placing herself in the 25th place in 2022 and going up to the 24th by 2023.

Zheng Qinwen’s other noticeable feats are her reasonable attempts at last year’s Grand Slam tournaments. I earned a second-round finish in the Australian Open, a fourth-round finish at the French Open, and a third-round achievement at Wimbledon and the US Open.

Since starting her professional career, Zheng Qinwen has rapidly climbed the WTA ladders. Surprising many fans, she is deemed rich in potential and a powerhouse in her respective field.

Elena Rybakina- Kazakhstan

Elena Rybakina might just stand out in tennis. But remember, she is 24 and already making rounds as a high-ranking player in the singles category and the first Kazakhstani to reach the world’s top 10 best players.

Currently sitting as the 7th best, she is a well-respected individual not in her home country of Kazakhstan. As for her recent matches, she’s still defending her Wimbledon title and has reached new heights in the Australian Open and French Open quarterfinals.

Alycia Parks- USA

Park jump-started his career in 2022 as his breakout year and was regarded as skilled and agile as legendary Serena Williams. She broke speed serving records at her budding age and rapidly moved up the ranks between 2022 and 2023 into the WTA’s top 50.

She is currently ranked as the 56th-best player. But if she could keep up the momentum and use it as leverage, she might pierce through the top 50 and even get more accolades.

Final Thoughts

In their early twenties, these athletes have broken records and surpassed what the legends could ever achieve. With the young top-ranked players overtaking the seasoned veterans individually, time could only tell which players earned the title as the number 1 best.

Fortunately, the athletes mentioned are just a few of the hundreds more in the sport. And some may have even earned Grand Slam accolades that we don’t know yet. Nevertheless, stay tuned for more news and watch for these rising potentials.

Ons Jabeur Hits “Shot of the Year” To Help Win Charleston WTA Title

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BY JAMES BECK

CHARLESTON, S.C. — What can you do when your opponent has the kind of day that Ons Jabeur had in Sunday’s final of the WTA Tour’s Charleston Open?

“You know, like even the point she played like between her legs. Like what can I do?,”

Belinda Bencic said about her 7-6 (6) 6-4 loss to Jabeur and the shot by Jabeur that was perhaps the “shot of the year” in women’s tennis.

That shot played a significant role in Jabeur’s victory that helped the Tunisian climb to No. 4 in the world in the new WTA Tour rankings and gain revenge from her loss to Bencic in last year’s Charleston Open championship match.

A POINT THE CROWD WILL REMEMBER

The scene was almost like watching something in Fantasy Land. It was that surreal.

Jabeur had a break point against Bencic’s serve that if executed could deadlock the first set at 5-5, and Bencic was set up for a shot near the net that looked like it would be a sure winner.

But then Bencic hit a shot right in the middle of the baseline. Jabeur looked helpless.

 “I honestly thought I was going to lose the point,” Jabeur said. “I saw her coming with her backhand  . . . and I’m like I’m done . . . I think she chose like the safer side. I reacted very fast. I saw the ball coming at me.”

Jabeur jumped in the air and put the racket behind her. She made contact with the ball between her legs, sending it back toward Bencic at the net. Totally surprised, Bencic put together a weak forehand volley that sailed too high toward Jabeur’s backhand near the sideline. Jabeur hit a backhand that crossed the net past Bencic’s backhand side at the net for a winner.

You can see the shot here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLjPYS6st6E

THE GAME HAD CHANGERD IN SECONDS

Suddenly, the match was deadlocked at 5-5. And the fans went wild.

“I was surprised that she didn’t anticipate on the cross, because that’s where I usually play my shots. But I think I was lucky and creative with that shot, which was amazing, and it changed up the game a bit, I think, for the first set, for sure,” Jabeur said.

The point pretty much set the stage for the rest of the match, as Bencic didn’t appear to be the same after that. She appeared to be more defensive with her shots, and her serves lost some of their zest.

The two players split the remaining two games, although Bencic had to save five set points in game 12 to push the set into a tiebreaker. Bencic even held a 6-4 lead in the tiebreaker, but Jabeur won four consecutive points, the last two with sizzling forehands cross-court to Bencic’s forehand corner that hit the sideline to close out the first set.

Bencic couldn’t believe it, even though the chair umpire got down and looked at both marks on the green clay. She was given a code warning for the first one for throwing her racket down on the line.

BENCIC HAD ONLY MINUTES TO PREPARE

Bencic also was a little unhappy about having only a short time to prepare for Jabeur’s tricky  game after having to complete her semifinal match from Saturday night against Jessica Pegula at midday Sunday.

“I had like 15 minutes to think about what’s I’m going to do (against Jabeur), and I still had the stress from Jess’ match,” said Bencic, a 5-9, 26-year-old whose game was modeled by Hingis’ mother/coach Melanie Molitor.

Bencic lost a little of her fight in the second set and quickly fell behind, 4-1. The feisty Swiss star got back to 5-4 and earned one break point in the decisive game while rallying from a 5-40 deficit. But then Bencic sent a backhand down the line that didn’t find the playing court.

ONS LIKES HER NEW TROPHY

What about the trophy? “I’m sleeping with it. I’m kicking my husband out of the bed and sleeping with the trophy tonight,” Jabeur said.

“I’ve wanted  to win this tournament for a long time. This is a pretty good start to the clay season. I don’t want to stop here. I want to continue to do more. Definitely I’m happy, and probably will celebrate for one day and then get back to training and get back to hopefully winning more matches.”

LONG HISTORY WINNING IN S.C. AND THEN FIRST MAJOR

This tournament has been one of the best for a long time, going all of the way back to the 1970s on Hilton Head Island to Sea Pines Plantation when it was known as the Family Circle Cup. It was known as a tournament that produced many champions who almost immediately captured their first Grand Slam title when they traveled to Europe.

Some of those stars who won this tournament and then almost immediately won Grand Slam  events included Steffi Graf, who went from winning back-to-back Family Circles in 1986 and 1987 to winning the 1987 French Open and completed the Grand Slam itself in 1988.

Or Justine Henin-Hardenne who won this tournament in 2003 on Daniel Island and then went to France to win her first Grand Slam event.

Mary Pierce won the last tournament at Hilton Head Island in 2000, then took off for Europe where she won her only major at the French Open.

Conchita Martinez took the Hilton Head title in 1994, then won Wimbledon the same year.

Even Chris Evert won one of her many Hilton Head titles in 1974, and turned around and won her first of many majors a couple months later at the French Open.

Tracy Austin did much the same in 1979 by winning at Hilton Head and then getting her first major title at the U.S. Open.

JABEUR READY TO WIN FIRST MAJOR

Of course, all of the great ones played in and won in the earlier version of the tournament, including the likes of Monica Seles and Martina Navratilova as well as Martina Hingis, and Venus and Serena Williams and others.

With all of that in mind, Ons Jabeur is capable of capturing her initial Grand Slam title in just a couple of months in Paris. The Tunisian is definitely talented enough to make that happen.

Barring a red-hot return by Iga Swiatek, Jabeur may indeed be the player to beat in Paris.

Getting over the hump on Sunday in Charleston should make Ons even a better player.

DID BENCIC RUN OUT OF GAS

Bencic was finishing her second match of the day. It took just six points on Sunday in a tiebreaker for Bencic to complete a 7-5, 7-6 (5) win over top seed Jessica Pegula. That was to complete a semifinal match that started on Saturday afternoon, and ended up in a late night storm that turned the stadium court surface into a muddy clay field.

The rainstorm really did a job on Pegula. She wasn’t herself. The net got in the way of her backhand too often.

“She (Pegula) is the most consistent player on tour,” Bencic said. “She is playing every tournament. She has an incredible baseline game.

“Maybe the conditions were so heavy we had a lot of weird rallies. “I’m really happy I played a good match and that I kinda adapted to the conditions.”

JABEUR DEFEATS KASATKINA IN SEMIS

On the slow wet court, Daria Kasatkina was almost helpless in the semifinals. She couldn’t put the ball away. Ons Jabeur was patient, knowing that Kasatkina couldn’t hit the ball past her. She played around with Kasatkina until she saw a clear opening on the other side of the court.

Jabeur then turned on the power to hit forehards and backhands to the open court.

Jabeur was just too powerful off the ground for former champion Kasatkina of Russia in a 7-5, 7-5 semifinal win at midday Saturday.

The match had major turns in each set. Kasatkina used her heavy top-spin and movement to jump out to a 5-2 lead in the first set, but didn’t win another game in the set.

Kasatkina was ahead 5-3 (15-15) when rain forced a lengthy delay in the first set.

Kasatkina actually had a double set point in the ninth game of the first set, but Jabeur won four straight points to close to 5-4. The Tunisian lost only two points in the next three games to close out the first set.

The second set was nearly a reversal of the first set as Jabeur took a 5-3 lead, only to see Kasatkina win the next two games before Jabeur recovered to take the last two games to advance to the final for the second straight year.

—

James Beck was the 2003 winner of the USTA National Media Award as the tennis columnist for the Charleston (S.C.) Post and Courier newspapers. A 1995 MBA graduate of The Citadel, he can be reached at Jamesbecktennis@gmail.com.

Ons Jabeur

Emma Raducanu Admits She Has Plenty of Work Ahead

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British women’s singles number one Emma Raducanu admits she has a long road ahead of her to be ranked among the best after world number one Iga Swiatek humbled her in the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Palm Springs, California. Despite Swiatek brushing her aside 6-3 6-1, there were plenty of positives for Raducanu to take home as she rebuilds after an injury-hit 2022 season.

Raducanu shot to fame in 2021 when she made her Grand Slam debut at Wimbledon after entering as a wildcard entry. The young Brit became the youngest British woman to reach the third round of Wimbledon since Elena Baltacha in 2002 with victories over Vitalia Diatchenko and Marketa Vondrousova. After qualifying for the 2021 US Open, Raducanu, then ranked 150th in the world, caused one of tennis’ greatest ever shocks by not only advancing to the final on her debut but bating Leylah Fernandez in two sets to become the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam as a qualifier in the Open Era.

Injuries Hit Raducanu’s Career Progression

Raducanu climbed to a career-high ranking of 19th in the world by the end of 2021, but it is fair to say she had struggled to reproduce her US Open-winning form over the past 12 months. The highly-rated 20-year-old is no longer a regular favorite with the best tennis Vegas odds from online sportsbooks after a mixture of poor form and niggling injuries. After contracting COVID-19 in late 2021, Raducanu struggled with blisters on her hands and feet, a lower leg injury, in addition to hurting her wrist in 2022.

The current year has seen injuries continue biting into Raducanu’s progress. First, she retired during the second round of the Auckland Open with an ankle injury and withdrew from the ATX Open due to tonsillitis. After being outclassed by Swiatek in what was a very businesslike performance from the Polish world number one, Raducanu admitted that Swiatek is streets ahead of her, as you would expect someone ranked 76 places above you in the WTA rankings, especially when it comes to physicality.

Speaking to the BBC Sport reporters following her defeat, Raducanu said, “I think that Iga played at a very good level and showed why she is number one in the world. She was ruthless with the way that she played. I think I was able to stay competitive for the beginning of the match, but ultimately she ground me down, and by the end of it, I was just taking way too long to recover from one rally.”

Taking the Positives From the Experience

There are some positives for Raducanu to take from this latest tournament. The fact she only decided to play her first-round match against Danka Kovinic 20 minutes before taking the court speaks a lot about her character and willingness to go the extra mile to achieve her goals. Second, in back-to-back matches, she defeated the Australian Open semifinalist Magda Linette and world number 13 Beatriz Haddad. Raducanu’s victory over Haddad was her best win by ranking since clinching the 2021 US Open title.

“I’ve very proud of myself,” Raducanu said, “Now it’s just about consistent work to physically get to where I want to be. I saw a taste of the level where number one is physically and how she is at the corners, repetitive and relentless. Yeah, I just couldn’t take that. I would say there is a very long way to go, but I’m definitely starting the right work now.”

The 50-Year Anniversary of Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova’s First-Ever Match

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By Randy Walker

@TennisPublisher

It was 50 years ago on March 22, 1973 in the city of Akron, Ohio, where the greatest rivalry in the history of tennis – and some could argue of all sports – began.

On March 22, 1973, in front of a few hundred fans in the blue-collar town not known at all for tennis, 18-year-old Chris Evert of Florida defeated 16-year-old Martina Navratilova of communist Czechoslovakia, 7-6 (5-4), 6-3 at women’s professional event in Akron.

“Noticed by no one but the two players themselves was a first round match at Akron, a 7-6 (5-4) 6-3 win by Evert over a chubby Czech named Martina Navratilova,” wrote Bud Collins in his authoritative tennis encyclopedia THE BUD COLLINS HISTORY OF TENNIS. “That initial meeting was merely the first step in the lustrous rivalry that was to run for 80 encounters over 16 years.”

In 2010, the Evert vs. Navratilova rivalry was profiled in an ESPN 30 for 30 documentary “Unmatched,” in which both legends discuss their famous first match.

“For me, my dream was to always play the top players… and I got to play you in the first round in Akron,” Navratilova said to Evert in the documentary. “That was like a dream come true because now I could measure myself against the next No. 1 player in the world. My goal for the match was for you to remember my name.” 

“I felt a little nervous going into the match because I’d heard about you,” Evert said. “That you were dangerous, very raw, with a great volley, a versatile game at a very young age. You knew how to hit every shot in the book. You moved well, but not as well as later on, because you were about 20 pounds heavier. 

“I was a butterball. When I got to the States, I put on weight… like, 20 pounds in two weeks,” Navratilova continued. “Because of it, I was so tired… and you just ran me into the ground.”

“I remember feeling really threatened, and the thought of, ‘Boy, if she ever gets herself in shape, she’s going to be dangerous. She’s going to be a force to be reckoned with.’”

While Evert said the highlight of her tournament was beating Navratilova, she went on to the win the event beating Olga Morozova of the Soviet Union 6-4, 6-4 in the final.

In the 80 matches of their rivalry, Navratilova had the head-to-head advantage by a 43-37 margin. Evert won the first five meetings before Navratilova won the only match between the two that was determined by a final-set tie-breaker – and their closest match – in the quarterfinals of the 1975 Virginia Slims of Washington, D.C on indoor carpet. That win for Navratilova by a 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5-4) margin was determined by a sudden-death point at 4-4 – a simultaneous match point for both players – in the final-set tie-breaker when tie-breakers were first-to-five-points “9-point” tiebreakers.

Evert’s most lopsided win over Navratilova was a double-bagel – a 6-0, 6-0 decision in the Amelia Island, Florida final in 1981. Navratilova’s most one-sided wins over Evert came in 6-2, 6-0 wins in the 1983 Virginia Slims Championships final in 1983 in New York and the 1984 Amelia Island final.

In all finals, Navratilova held a 36-25 advantage and in all matches at major tournaments, Navratilova lead 14-8. In major finals, Navratilova won 10 matches to Evert’s four. In non-major finals, the series was tied 19-19 and in three-set matches, Evert had the edge 16-14. Evert won 11 of the 14 matches played on clay, but Navratilova won the head-to-head on hard courts (9-7), grass courts (10-5) and on carpet (21-14).

In his new book THE GREATEST TENNIS MATCHES OF ALL TIME ($28.95, New Chapter Press, available here: https://a.co/d/cuulIqX), tennis historian Steve Flink rates the 1981 Australian Open final – won by Navratilova 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-5  – and the 1985 French Open final – won by Evert 6-3, 6-7 (4), 7-5 – as the two most significant of their confrontations. Flink describes this epic rivalry in this excerpt from his THE GREATEST TENNIS MATCHES OF ALL TIME book below.

“During the last quarter of the twentieth century, there were no series of matches more engaging than those played by Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert.

These clashes pitted a demonstrative, left-handed serve-and-volleyer against a patient, disciplined baseliner. They met in head-to-head competition eighty times between 1973 and 1988. The collided at least four times in every major championship. They battled gamely indoors and out, on slow and fast surfaces, in good and bad conditions, throughout their careers. Their rivalry was regarded by the vast majority of authorities as the greatest in the history of the game—not excluding the men. Others placed their confrontations in an even grander category as the most compelling rivalry produced in any sport. From the outset, the Evert-Navratilova matchup had everything working for it. As Evert herself said when she reflected on the rivalry for this book, “What made it interesting all along was the contrasts between Martina and me. If you have two players with the same kinds of games and personalities, it can be boring and repetitious. But we had so many things about us that were different. She came from Czechoslovakia and I was from Florida. She was left-handed and aggressive. I was right-handed, with a two-handed backhand, and a counterpuncher. I internalized things and she did not. We both brought our own set of fans into each match we played.”

The contrasts did not end there. Navratilova was sturdily built and over time became muscular and ruggedly athletic. Evert was known as “The Girl Next Door” and was a model of womanly grace and elegance. Navratilova was often outspoken and emotional; Evert was diplomatic and polite in the public arena. Evert turned her restraint and dignity into enduring attributes; Navratilova used her passion to engender popularity with her audiences. Navratilova would protest questionable line calls genuinely but sometimes caustically; Evert would simply register her disapproval with a stern glare at the officials. And yet, there were some subcutaneous similarities. Their respect for each other as professionals was visible and sincere. Both women were highly intelligent in person and as players.

They would become better at their craft because of the demands they placed on each other with such different brands of play. Finally, Chrissie Evert and Martina Navratilova stayed at or near the top of their profession for much longer than they could have imagined when they started their climb up the ladder.