Tennis

Elena Rybakina's impressive run against world No. 1s continued at the WTA Finals on Wednesday night, as she defeated Aryna Sabalenka in their final round-robin match. Despite being eliminated from contention for the semifinals, Rybakina ended her tournament on a high note with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 victory over the top-ranked player.Rybakina's victory over Sabalenka marked her sixth win in her last eight matches against reigning world No. 1s. She had previously lost her first two such matches against Ashleigh Barty, but since the start of the 2023 season, she has been dominant against the top-ranked players.Rybakina's success against world No. 1s is a testament to her ability to rise to the occasion against the best players in the world. She has shown a remarkable ability to adapt her game to different opponents and find ways to exploit their weaknesses.In her match against Sabalenka, Rybakina displayed her powerful serve and aggressive groundstrokes. She broke Sabalenka's serve five times and hit 25 winners to secure the victory.Despite her impressive performance against Sabalenka, Rybakina was unable to qualify for the semifinals of the WTA Finals. She lost her first two round-robin matches against Jasmine Paolini and Zheng Qinwen, which ultimately cost her a spot in the knockout stage.Nevertheless, Rybakina's victory over Sabalenka is a positive sign for the future. She has shown that she is capable of competing with the best players in the world and has the potential to achieve even greater success in the future.

Zheng Qinwen's impressive season continued on Monday as she secured her first victory at the 2024 WTA Finals, defeating Elena Rybakina 7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-1 in a thrilling encounter.The Chinese star, ranked seventh in the world, had lost her opening match to top seed Aryna Sabalenka but bounced back with a determined performance against Rybakina, the fifth seed. The match was a tale of two halves, with Zheng dominating the first set and Rybakina taking control of the second. However, Zheng's resilience shone through in the final set as she broke Rybakina three times to seal the victory.Zheng's victory keeps her hopes of reaching the semifinals alive. Should Sabalenka defeat Jasmine Paolini later in the evening, Zheng will face Paolini in a winner-takes-all clash for the second semifinal spot.Rybakina, who had lost her opening match to Paolini, is now officially eliminated from semifinal contention. The Kazakh player had been hoping to make a strong start to her partnership with new coach Goran Ivanisevic, but she was unable to find her best form in Riyadh.Zheng's victory is a testament to her remarkable progress over the past year. The 22-year-old has reached her first Grand Slam final at the Australian Open, won a gold medal at the Summer Olympics, and claimed three titles on the WTA Tour. Her success is a reflection of her hard work, determination, and exceptional talent.The quick indoor conditions in Riyadh suited Zheng's aggressive style of play, particularly her powerful first serve. She served at 53% through the opening set and used her serve to great effect in the tiebreaker, which she won 7-4.Rybakina fought back in the second set, breaking Zheng twice to level the match. However, Zheng regained her composure in the final set and played with renewed intensity. She broke Rybakina three times and served out the match with an ace to secure a memorable victory.Zheng's victory is a major boost for her confidence and will give her hope of reaching the semifinals. She will face Paolini in her final round-robin match, while Rybakina will play Sabalenka.

Jasmine Paolini's WTA Finals debut was a resounding success as she overcame Elena Rybakina in a thrilling 7-6 (5), 6-4 encounter. The Italian's victory marked a historic moment for her country, making her the first Italian to compete and win a match at the WTA Finals since Flavia Pennetta in 2015.Paolini's triumph is a testament to her remarkable season, which has seen her amass 40 wins. Notably, nearly half of these victories (19) have come at the year's five most prestigious events. She reached the finals at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon, while advancing to the fourth round at the Australian Open and US Open.Beyond her Grand Slam success, Paolini has also excelled at WTA 1000 tournaments, claiming 14 wins this year. Her crowning achievement was capturing the title in Dubai, the biggest triumph of her career. In total, 33 of her 40 wins have come at the WTA 1000 level or higher.Paolini's rise to prominence is a testament to her unwavering determination and exceptional talent. Her ability to perform consistently at the highest level has propelled her into the ranks of the world's elite players. As she continues to compete at the WTA Finals, Paolini has the potential to make even more history and inspire future generations of Italian tennis players.

Elena Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, has announced that Goran Ivanisevic will be her new coach for the 2025 season. The news came as a surprise to many, as Rybakina had recently parted ways with her long-time coach, Stefano Vukov.Rybakina, who is currently ranked No. 5 in the world, has been seeking a new coach to help her take her game to the next level. She believes that Ivanisevic, a former Wimbledon champion and successful coach, is the ideal person to guide her."I'm really looking forward to this partnership," Rybakina said. "I think he's a great champion and he has so much experience. I'm really looking forward to start...for me [it] was important to get better."Ivanisevic, who has coached several top players in the past, including Novak Djokovic, is excited to work with Rybakina. He believes that she has the potential to become one of the best players in the world."I'm very happy to be working with Elena," Ivanisevic said. "She's a great player with a lot of potential. I think we can work together to achieve great things."Rybakina and Ivanisevic will begin working together during the pre-season and will continue their partnership into the 2025 season. Rybakina is confident that Ivanisevic can help her reach her full potential."I'm sure since he said 'Yes' he also, so...It's just very interesting for me," Rybakina said. "I want to learn. I'm just looking forward. As we just said, it's something new for me. Also, I've been with one coach for long time. I want to learn."Ivanisevic has a proven track record of success as a coach. He helped Djokovic win nine major titles, two ATP Finals titles, and seven Masters 1000s. Rybakina is hoping that Ivanisevic can help her achieve similar success.

Two of the biggest names in tennis, Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina, have arrived in Saudi Arabia to prepare for the season-ending WTA Finals. Both players have been out of action since the US Open, but they are now ready to return to competition.Swiatek, the world's No. 2-ranked player, has been working with new coach Wim Fissette in the two weeks since she officially tabbed the Belgian to lead her coaching team. She is eager to return to action and regain the top spot in the rankings, which she lost to Aryna Sabalenka on Oct. 21.Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, has also undergone a high-profile coaching change this year. She parted ways with Stefano Vukov ahead of the US Open and has been shrouded under a cloud of uncertainty about her physical and mental health in the weeks since. However, she looked in good spirits as she traveled to Riyadh with her team.Both Swiatek and Rybakina have put to rest some of the lingering doubts about their respective statuses with their mere presence in Riyadh. However, it remains to be seen what sort of form they will bring to the match court when the tournament officially begins on Saturday.

Six players have secured their spots in the prestigious WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with two spots remaining up for grabs.Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina, Jasmine Paolini, and Jessica Pegula have joined world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and world No. 2 Iga Swiatek in the exclusive tournament.Gauff, ranked No. 3, has had a successful season with two titles and six semifinals, including at the Australian Open and Roland Garros. Rybakina, despite withdrawing from the US Open, boasts a 41-9 record with three 500-level tournament wins.Paolini, who reached the finals of both Roland Garros and Wimbledon, will also be competing in doubles alongside Sara Errani. Pegula, like Gauff, will be making her third consecutive WTA Finals appearance after winning titles in Berlin and Toronto and reaching the finals of Cincinnati and the US Open.The remaining two spots will be determined by the seventh-ranked and eighth-ranked players in the tour's singles race. Currently, Zheng Qinwen and Emma Navarro hold those positions, but Barbora Krejcikova, the Wimbledon champion, could potentially qualify if she finishes between No. 9 and No. 20.Krejcikova is currently 12th in the singles race, with a significant lead over Madison Keys, who is ranked 21st. If Krejcikova qualifies, she would take the eighth spot ahead of the eighth-ranked player.The WTA Finals will feature the top eight singles players and eight doubles teams, competing for a share of the $5 million prize pool. The tournament will be held from October 23-30 in Riyadh.

Top-Ranked Swiatek Withdraws from Korea Open, Depleting Star PowerWorld No. 1 Iga Swiatek has withdrawn from next week's Korea Open, dealing a significant blow to the tournament's hopes of attracting top-tier talent. Swiatek's withdrawal comes just days after her participation was confirmed, citing fatigue following her quarterfinal loss at the US Open.The absence of Swiatek, who has won five Grand Slam titles in the past two years, is a major setback for the Korea Open, which was elevated to WTA 500 status in 2024. The tournament had hoped to showcase some of the world's best players, but with Swiatek's withdrawal, it has now lost all of its expected Top 10 stars.World No. 4 Elena Rybakina and No. 8 Emma Navarro have also opted out of the Korea Open. Rybakina cited a back injury, while Navarro, who made her Top 10 debut this week, noted a change in schedule.The withdrawals of Swiatek, Rybakina, and Navarro leave Daria Kasatkina, Beatriz Haddad Maia, and Diana Shnaider as the top-ranked players in the field. Former US Open champions Sloane Stephens and Emma Raducanu have moved into the main draw, along with American Amanda Anisimova.The Korea Open, which will be held in Seoul from September 19-25, is one of the most prestigious tournaments on the WTA calendar. The tournament has been won by some of the biggest names in women's tennis, including Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, and Petra Kvitova.Despite the absence of Swiatek and other top players, the Korea Open is still expected to attract a strong field of competitors. The tournament offers a total prize pool of $757,900, making it one of the most lucrative events on the WTA Tour.

Elena Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, has parted ways with her longtime coach Stefano Vukov after five years of collaboration. The announcement was made by Rybakina herself on her Instagram stories on Thursday.Rybakina's decision to end her partnership with Vukov comes ahead of the 2024 US Open. The Kazakh player has worked with Vukov throughout her rise up the WTA rankings, achieving significant success under his guidance. However, Vukov's coaching style has attracted criticism from fans and fellow coaches, including Hall of Famer Pam Shriver.Shriver, who currently coaches Olympic silver medalist Donna Vekic, has expressed concerns about Vukov's treatment of Rybakina. In a tweet in 2023, Shriver stated, "I hope she finds a coach who speaks and treats her with respect at ALL times and does not ever accept anything less."Rybakina responded to Shriver's comments with a strong defense of Vukov, claiming that he is a passionate coach with a deep understanding of her as a person and an athlete. She emphasized that she would never tolerate a coach who did not respect her or their hard work.Despite her defense of Vukov, Rybakina has now decided to end their partnership. The Kazakh player has not yet announced a replacement coach. She is scheduled to play her first round at the US Open against Australian qualifier Destanee Aiava.Rybakina's decision to part ways with Vukov is a significant development in her career. It remains to be seen how this change will impact her performance on the court. However, the Kazakh player has proven her resilience and determination in the past, and she will undoubtedly be looking to continue her success in the future.

Elena Rybakina Withdraws from Paris Olympics, Shaking Up Women's Singles DrawShortly after the release of the women's singles draw for the Paris Olympics on Thursday, the withdrawal of Elena Rybakina sent shockwaves through the tournament. The No. 3 seed, behind Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff, was slated to face a challenging path in the draw.No official reason was given for Rybakina's withdrawal, but the Kazakh has struggled with illnesses throughout 2024. She has withdrawn from several tournaments, including Indian Wells, Rome, Eastbourne, and Dubai. She also retired from her second-round match in Berlin.Rybakina's absence has significant implications for the draw. Caroline Garcia moves into her slot as the No. 17 seed, facing Jaqueline Cristian in the first round. Australia's Daria Saville now takes Garcia's place against sixth seed Zheng Qinwen.In mixed doubles, Rybakina and Alexander Bublik have been replaced by Argentina's Nadia Podoroska and Maximo Gonzalez, who will face third seeds Coco Gauff and Taylor Fritz.Rybakina's withdrawal is a major blow to the women's singles competition. The 25-year-old is a former Wimbledon champion and one of the most dangerous players on tour. Her absence opens up the draw for other contenders, including Swiatek, Gauff, and Zheng.Rybakina's focus now shifts to the North American hardcourt swing, where she is scheduled to compete at the National Bank Open in Toronto beginning on August 6. It remains to be seen if she can regain her form and make a deep run in the remaining Grand Slams of the season.