Tennis

Tennis Channel has indefinitely suspended analyst Jon Wertheim after he made an inappropriate comment about professional tennis player Barbora Krejcikova during a broadcast on Friday. The network has apologized to Krejcikova and Wertheim has also apologized for his remarks.Wertheim's comment was widely criticized on social media, with many calling it sexist and disrespectful. Tennis Channel responded swiftly by removing Wertheim from the air and issuing a statement condemning his remarks."Tennis Channel holds its employees to a standard of respectfulness for others at all times, a standard that was not met in this moment," the network said in a statement.Wertheim has been a valued member of the Tennis Channel team for many years and is known for his insightful commentary and analysis. However, his recent comment has tarnished his reputation and raised questions about his future with the network.It is unclear at this time whether Wertheim will be reinstated by Tennis Channel. The network is likely to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter before making a decision.In the meantime, Wertheim has apologized for his remarks and said that he is "deeply sorry" for the hurt he caused."I made a mistake and I am paying the price for it," Wertheim said in a statement. "I am truly sorry for the pain I caused Barbora Krejcikova and her fans."

Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen has stormed into the WTA Finals final in Riyadh, defeating Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova in a thrilling 6-3, 7-5 encounter. The victory keeps Zheng's hopes alive of becoming the second woman in history to win both the Olympic gold medal and the year-end crown in the same year.Zheng, making her debut at the WTA Finals, displayed remarkable composure to overcome a spirited comeback attempt from Krejcikova. After dominating the early stages of the match, Zheng saw her lead evaporate as Krejcikova rallied to win four consecutive games. However, the Chinese star refused to be denied, holding her nerve to win the final three games of the first set.In the second set, Zheng continued to showcase her impressive all-court game, mixing powerful groundstrokes with deft touch. Krejcikova fought valiantly, but Zheng's determination proved too strong. The 22-year-old broke Krejcikova's serve at a crucial moment, securing the victory and a place in the final.Zheng's victory marks a significant milestone in her career. She is the youngest woman to reach the WTA Finals final in her first appearance since Petra Kvitova in 2011. She is also the 15th first-time WTA Finals competitor to reach the final, and the first since Anett Kontaveit in 2021.In the final, Zheng will face either Aryna Sabalenka or Coco Gauff. She will need to overcome a winless record against both players to become the first woman since Serena Williams in 2012 to win the Olympic gold medal and WTA Finals in the same year.Zheng's success is a testament to her hard work and dedication. She has emerged as one of the most promising young players in the world, and her performance at the WTA Finals has further solidified her status as a rising star.

Barbora Krejcikova has secured her place in the semifinals of the 2024 WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, after defeating Coco Gauff in a thrilling encounter. The Czech star, who qualified for the tournament as the lowest-ranked player, has now won two of her three round-robin matches and will face Zheng Qinwen in the last four.Krejcikova's victory over Gauff was hard-fought, with both players showcasing their impressive skills. The American, who had upset world No. 1 Iga Swiatek earlier in the tournament, pushed Krejcikova to the limit but ultimately fell short in a match that lasted one hour and 42 minutes.Krejcikova, who won her second Grand Slam title at Wimbledon this year, has been in impressive form in Riyadh. She pushed Swiatek to the brink of defeat in her first match and then defeated US Open finalist Jessica Pegula in her second.Gauff, on the other hand, had been equally impressive, winning her first two matches against Pegula and Swiatek. However, she was unable to maintain her momentum against Krejcikova, who proved to be too strong on the day.In the other semifinal, top seed Aryna Sabalenka will face Zheng Qinwen. Sabalenka, who clinched the WTA Year-End World No. 1 ranking on Tuesday, will be looking to continue her impressive form and reach the final. Zheng, who finished second in the Purple Group, will be hoping to cause an upset and reach the final for the first time.The WTA Finals is the season-ending tournament for the top eight players in the world. The tournament is divided into two groups, with the top two players from each group advancing to the semifinals.

The WTA Finals have arrived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, sparking a debate about the role of sports in promoting social change. Coco Gauff, one of the tournament's participants, expressed her belief in the power of sports to open doors and introduce positive change.Despite initial reservations, Gauff chose to participate in the event, recognizing the platform it provides for women. She emphasized the importance of visibility in fostering understanding and progress.The tournament has witnessed several notable performances so far. Barbora Krejcikova, after a period of obscurity, has regained her form, showcasing her bold and aggressive style of play. Jessica Pegula, on the other hand, has struggled with her body language, which has seemingly affected her performance.Elena Rybakina, who has faced challenges in the latter half of 2024, announced her partnership with Goran Ivanisevic for 2025, sparking optimism for her future. Coco Gauff, despite a shaky start, upset Iga Swiatek, securing a spot in the semifinals.Aryna Sabalenka, with her consistent performances in Riyadh, has clinched the year-end No. 1 ranking, solidifying her status as the player of the year. Her resurgence raises questions about the future landscape of the WTA, with Sabalenka potentially challenging Swiatek's dominance.The WTA Finals in Riyadh have become a platform for both sporting excellence and discussions about the role of sports in promoting social change. As the tournament progresses, it will be interesting to see how these themes continue to unfold.

Barbora Krejcikova's WTA Finals campaign received a much-needed boost as she defeated Jessica Pegula in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3, in their round-robin match. The victory keeps Krejcikova in contention for a spot in the semifinals.Krejcikova, the No. 8 seed, had lost her opening match to defending champion Iga Swiatek despite taking an early lead. However, she showed resilience against Pegula, the sixth seed, breaking her twice in the first set and once in the second to secure the win.The match started evenly, with both players holding serve for the first six games. Krejcikova then seized control, breaking Pegula twice in a row to take the opening set. She continued her momentum in the second set, breaking Pegula early and holding on to her serve to maintain her advantage.Pegula fought back in the third game of the second set, breaking Krejcikova's serve to get back on level terms. However, Krejcikova responded immediately, breaking back in the next game and holding on to her serve to put herself two games away from victory.Krejcikova served for the match at 5-3, but Pegula saved two match points to keep her hopes alive. However, Krejcikova remained composed and secured the victory on her third match point.The win puts Krejcikova in a strong position to qualify for the semifinals. If Swiatek defeats Coco Gauff in the second match of the day, Swiatek will advance as the group winner, Pegula will be eliminated, and Krejcikova will face Gauff for the second place.Krejcikova's victory is a testament to her fighting spirit and determination. Despite losing her first match, she refused to give up and played with great intensity and focus against Pegula. She will now look to carry this momentum into her final round-robin match against Gauff.

Defending WTA Finals champion Iga Swiatek made a triumphant return to the court after a two-month hiatus, overcoming a slow start to defeat Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 in the opening match of the Orange Group in Riyadh.Swiatek, who had not played since September due to a shoulder injury, initially struggled against Krejcikova, committing 19 unforced errors in the first set. However, she rallied back, winning 13 of the last 17 games as Krejcikova's physical condition deteriorated.Krejcikova, who had beaten Swiatek in their last two meetings, had also been hampered by injuries and illness in 2024. Despite qualifying for the WTA Finals through a new rule that grants Grand Slam winners a place in the field, she was unable to maintain her form against Swiatek.Swiatek's victory extends her unbeaten streak at the WTA Finals to six matches. She will now face Americans Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula in the Orange Group, with the top two finishers advancing to the semifinals.Swiatek's performance was particularly impressive given her recent break from competition. She credited her high-level practices with Aryna Sabalenka and Zheng Qinwen for helping her regain her form.Krejcikova, on the other hand, struggled with her movement late in the match. She held serve down 5-0 and broke Swiatek once more before eventually succumbing.The win sets the stage for an exciting Orange Group, with Swiatek, Gauff, and Pegula all vying for a place in the semifinals.

The Ningbo Open, a WTA 500 event, has witnessed a significant influx of lucky losers, with a quarter of the field now filled by players who initially failed to qualify.The tournament has been plagued by withdrawals, including Jasmine Paolini, Emma Navarro, and most notably, home favorite Zheng Qinwen. Zheng's absence has opened the door for Jaqueline Cristian, who lost in the opening round of qualifying but has now advanced to the second round to face Karolina Muchova.The chaos continued when Kathinka Von Deichmann, who had also lost in qualifying, found herself involved in two first-round matchups between lucky losers. However, her hopes were dashed by Ella Seidel of Germany.The situation took an even more bizarre turn when Yuliia Starodubtseva of Ukraine revealed on social media that she was attempting to fly back to Ningbo as the No. 7 lucky loser in line. However, with Cristian already in the main draw, it appears that Starodubtseva has missed her chance.Despite the disruptions, the tournament has progressed, with Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova emerging as the highest seed remaining at No. 4. Fifth seed Daria Kasatkina has advanced to the quarterfinals after a hard-fought victory over Katerina Siniakova, setting up a clash with Yulia Putintseva.The Ningbo Open has provided a platform for both established stars and rising talents, with the unpredictable nature of the tournament adding an extra layer of excitement.

Barbora Krejcikova, the 2021 Wimbledon champion, is known for her passion for LEGO. While she eagerly awaits a LEGO replica of Centre Court, she has been indulging in her hobby during her travels.In Beijing, Krejcikova purchased an Auspicious Dragon set, inspired by Chinese culture. In Wuhan, she has been busy preparing for the Dongfeng Voyah Wuhan Open, her debut at the WTA 1000 event.Despite being a veteran on tour, Wuhan is a new experience for Krejcikova. She is excited about the "fresh" conditions and facilities.Krejcikova is seeded seventh in the singles draw and will face the winner of Diane Perry and Hailey Baptiste in the second round. In doubles, she has partnered with Marie Bouzkova to take on Shuko Aoyama and Eri Hozumi in the first round.Krejcikova's goal is to qualify for the WTA Finals Riyadh, which she last reached in 2021. She is determined to perform well in Wuhan and make a strong impression in her first appearance at the tournament.

The U.S. Open tennis tournament is heating up, and there have been some major developments in both the men's and women's draws.In the women's draw, Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova was knocked out in the second round by Elena-Gabriela Ruse. Krejcikova had won her second Grand Slam singles title this summer, but she hasn't played any matches since the Paris Olympics. She acknowledged last week that she didn't know where her level of play was. Turns out, it wasn't good enough.No woman has won Wimbledon and the U.S. Open in the same year since Serena Williams in 2012.On the men's side, Frances Tiafoe got the rematch he wanted, a second shot at Ben Shelton. Tiafoe, the No. 20 seed, won the first two sets before his opponent, Alexander Shevchenko, retired after the first game of the third set. Shelton, the No. 13 seed, later beat Roberto Bautista Agut to advance to the third round. He ousted Tiafoe last year in the quarterfinals, stopping Tiafoe from what would have been a second straight trip to the U.S. Open semifinals.Tiafoe had short work on the steamiest day of the tournament thus far, with temperatures in New York surpassing 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius). Three men's matches ended when an opponent stopped playing, the last one sending defending champion Novak Djokovic to the third round when Laslo Djere retired early in the third set with what appeared to be pain near his hip after they played for more than two hours across the first two sets.Defending champion Coco Gauff marched into the third round on the women's side with a 6-4, 6-0 victory over Tatjana Maria. The No. 3 seed will next face No. 27 seed Elina Svitolina.Ruse, a 26-year-old from Romania, advanced to the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time and will play No. 26 seed Paula Badosa, who eliminated American Taylor Townsend.Jiri Lehecka ignored the heat to engineer the biggest comeback of his career, rallying to beat Mitchell Krueger in a match that finished a minute shy of four hours. Lehecka, the No. 32 seed, not only came from two sets down for the first time in his career, but he was even down 3-0 in the third set against the American qualifier.He will face No. 6 seed Andrey Rublev, who also came from two sets down to outlast Arthur Rinderknech.Past U.S. Open finalists Aryna Sabalenka and Alexander Zverev both won their matches in straight sets, while Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen, the No. 7 seed, rallied passed Erika Andreeva in three sets. But No. 12 Daria Kasatkina was upset by American Peyton Stearns, who will next face No. 24 seed and Olympic silver medalist Donna Vekic.Another women's third-round match will see No. 14 seed Madison Keys against No. 33 Elise Mertens. Keys, the 2017 runner-up in Flushing Meadows, rolled past Maya Joint, while Mertens knocked out Ajla Tomljanovic.