Watson finally makes it to the 4th round at Wimbledon
The 121st-ranked Watson, making is her 12th appearance at the All England Club, advanced to the fourth round on Friday by beating Kaja Juvan 7-6 (6), 6-2. “I actually wasn’t that nervous,” said Watson, who had lost in the first round six times since making her Wimbledon debut in 2010. In the next round, Watson will face Jule Niemeier of Germany. Qualifier Jack Sock finished off a 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (1) victory over another American, Maxime Cressy, in a match that was suspended Thursday after the second set. Frances Tiafoe and Tommy Paul were also among those eight, and they already earned themselves a spot in the fourth round.
wftv.comBarty opens her 2022 season with win over Gauff in Adelaide
A two-time major winner, Barty is aiming to be the first Australian woman to win her home major since Chris O'Neil in 1978. Barty reached the Australian Open semifinals in 2020 and the quarterfinals in 2019 and last year. She had a bye in the first round at Adelaide, one of the main tune-up tournaments for the Australian Open which starts Jan. 17. She then had 11 double-faults in the second set to give her 18 in total for the match. Travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic mean there’s a crammed schedule of tournaments before the Australian Open.
wftv.comSwiatek back to winning ways at French Open; Sinner survives
France Tennis French Open Poland's Iga Swiatek plays a return to Slovenia's Kaja Juvan during their first round match on day two of the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, Monday, May 31, 2021. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) (Thibault Camus)PARIS — (AP) — Defending French Open champion Iga Swiatek picked up Monday right where she left off last year in winning the title: running yet another opponent this way and that on the red clay of Roland Garros in a take-no-prisoners straight-sets victory. In first-round play in the men's draw, rising Italian star Jannik Sinner, a quarterfinalist on his debut at Roland Garros last year, had a far harder time. Williams, chasing a record-tying 24th Grand Slam singles title, was headlining the first of the new scheduled night sessions being introduced by Roland Garros this year. In pre-tournament practice on the clay, Swiatek tested her high-kicking forehand and double-handed backhand against the master of those arts at Roland Garros: Rafael Nadal.
wftv.comSwiatek off to winning start in French Open defense
France Tennis French Open Poland's Iga Swiatek plays a return to Slovenia's Kaja Juvan during their first round match on day two of the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros in Paris, France, Monday, May 31, 2021. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) (Thibault Camus)PARIS — (AP) — Defending French Open champion Iga Swiatek picked up Monday right where she left off last year in winning the title: running yet another opponent this way and that on the red clay of Roland Garros in a take-no-prisoners straight-sets victory. In pre-tournament practice on the clay, Swiatek has tested her high-kicking forehand and double-handed backhand against the master of those arts at Roland Garros: Rafael Nadal. Like the 13-time men's champion, Swiatek used those tools to devastating effect against Juvan, particularly during a dominant first set in which Swiatek gave up just three points on serve — one of them a double-fault. ___More AP Tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2021 The Associated Press.
wftv.comPalermo sets example for the return of tour-level tennis
A view of the central court during Palermo Ladies Open tennis tournament in Palermo, Italy, Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020. Tour-level tennis resumed after a five-month enforced break and players at the Palermo Ladies Open had to handle their own towels and not shake hands of opponents. (Palermo Ladies Open via AP)ROME The only player who tested positive for the coronavirus was withdrawn from the tournament without ever setting foot at the venue. Local organizers and the WTA Tour have been vigilant about abiding by strict health protocols in order to hold this weeks Palermo Ladies Open, the first tour-level tennis tournament for men or women in five months. A large part of the players are coming from Palermo, Palma said.
Serena Williams defeats Naomi Osaka in rematch
Despite the loss, Osaka, who crashed out of Wimbledon in the first round last month, will return to the world No. Williams, meanwhile, who was recently ousted by Simona Halep in the Wimbledon final, looked in fine form against her Japanese opponent as she surpassed Arantxa Sanchez Vicario's record of 32 Rogers Cup wins. Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, videos and featuresThe pair seemed evenly poised in the opening set until Williams broke in the seventh game. READ: Nick Kyrgios enjoys one of the 'favorite weeks' of his lifeAfter the match, Osaka spoke of her admiration for Williams, whom she has beaten on their two previous meetings. READ: WTA Finals offer historic $4.75 million prizeThe 21-year-old has previously dubbed Williams her "tennis mom."