Tennis

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.

Coco Gauff has unofficially secured her spot at the WTA Finals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, becoming the third player to qualify for the prestigious year-end tournament. The 18-year-old American revealed the news after her semifinal defeat to Aryna Sabalenka at the Dongfeng Voyah Wuhan Open.Gauff's qualification is based on the Live-Tennis.eu ranking race, which projects her to finish inside the top eight players who qualify for the WTA Finals. The official announcement is expected soon, but Gauff expressed her excitement about returning to the season-ending championships for a third consecutive year."I'm excited. I'm looking at dresses. They have a lot of things planned for us. I'm super excited. Yeah, I heard it's going to be great," Gauff said.Gauff's qualification is a testament to her consistent performances throughout the season. She began the Asian Swing on the bubble of qualifying but solidified her bid by winning the China Open and reaching the semifinals in Wuhan.The 2023 US Open champion first qualified for the WTA Finals in 2022 and reached the semifinals in 2023. This year, she will be looking to make a deeper run in the tournament."It's my first time not playing doubles," Gauff added. "So, that's going to be a different experience. But I'm excited. I'm looking at dresses. They have a lot of things planned for us. I'm super excited. Yeah, I heard it's going to be great, so I'm excited."Unofficially, Live-Tennis.eu also projects Jasmine Paolini, Elena Rybakina, Jessica Pegula, and Barbora Krejcikova to join Gauff at the WTA Finals. That leaves one remaining spot, for which Zheng Qinwen is in pole position after reaching the semifinals in Wuhan.

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.

Jessica Pegula, the world No. 3, is determined to make amends for her dismal performance at the Dongfeng Voyah Wuhan Open in 2019, where she suffered a humiliating 6-0, 6-1 defeat in the first round.Despite her past struggles in Wuhan, Pegula is optimistic about her chances this year, having regained her form after a challenging mid-season period. A coaching switch and a prolonged neck injury had threatened her hopes of qualifying for the WTA Finals, but she has since turned her season around.Pegula's resurgence began after the Summer Olympics in Paris, where she became the first woman in two decades to win back-to-back titles at the Canadian Open. She also reached the final of the Cincinnati Open and stunned world No. 1 Iga Swiatek en route to her first Grand Slam final at the US Open."It's funny," Pegula said, reflecting on her whirlwind summer. "The US Open final seems like so long ago, and we've already moved onto the next thing."Pegula's start to the Asian Swing has been mixed, with two wins at the China Open followed by a disappointing loss to Paula Badosa in the third round. However, she remains confident in her abilities and is eager to improve upon her performance in Wuhan."I think I played some good tennis in Beijing, so I want to keep building on that, improving, and learning from what I could have done better last week so I can take it into this week," said Pegula.Pegula's experience at the Wuhan Open will be an advantage against potential opening-round opponents Anastasia Potapova and Katie Volynets, who have never played in the tournament before."It does feel like a new event in a way, especially for me," said Pegula. "It's like a new 1000 has been thrown into the calendar, but it's always nice to come somewhere that feels a little bit new."As the No. 2 seed in Wuhan, Pegula will be a major contender for the title. She could potentially face Badosa again in the third round, giving her an opportunity to avenge her recent defeat."That's what is so great about tennis," said Pegula. "Every week is a new chance to turn your year around."

Aryna Sabalenka's impressive 15-match winning streak was abruptly halted in Beijing on Friday by a familiar adversary, Karolina Muchova. The Czech player staged a remarkable comeback, erasing a break deficit in the decider to secure a 7-6 (5), 2-6, 6-4 victory over the No. 1 seed at the China Open.Muchova's resilience was evident from the outset, as she saved a pair of set points while serving at 4-5 in the opening set. Despite Sabalenka's apparent control of the match, Muchova rallied to claim the final 10 points of the encounter.Sabalenka's defeat marks her first loss since August 10, when she was eliminated by Amanda Anisimova in the quarterfinals of Toronto. While the setback prevents the world No. 2 from overtaking Iga Swiatek in the race to the WTA Finals, Sabalenka will have another opportunity next week at the 1000-level event in Wuhan.Meanwhile, Muchova has now extended her winning streak against Sabalenka to three matches, including a memorable victory in the 2023 French Open final. The 28-year-old is aiming to capture her first title in over five years, having last lifted a trophy in Seoul in September 2019.In the semifinals, Muchova will face home favorite Zheng Qinwen, who overcame a challenging serving day to defeat Mirra Andreeva in three sets. Zheng's victory marks her first WTA 1000 semifinal appearance.Zheng's path to the semifinals included a victory over Muchova in the Palermo title match in July, which preceded her gold medal triumph at the Paris Olympics. The Wuhan native will be eager to repeat her success against Muchova and advance to the final.

Garbiñe Muguruza, the former world No. 1 tennis player, is embracing a new chapter in her life after retiring from the sport. In an exclusive interview with Mujerhoy magazine, Muguruza shared her thoughts on her post-tennis life, her upcoming wedding, and her new role as tournament director of the 2024 WTA Finals in Riyadh.Muguruza, who retired at the age of 30, admitted that she never expected to leave tennis so early. However, the intense nature of her approach to the sport took its toll. "I even thought that I would lose my identity if I stopped playing," she said.Now, Muguruza is channeling her competitive spirit into new ventures. She is actively involved in wedding planning for her upcoming nuptials with fiancé Arthur Borges. Additionally, she is excited about her role as tournament director of the WTA Finals, a position that makes her the first former player to hold the post.Muguruza's appointment to the WTA Finals is a testament to her experience and passion for the sport. She won the season-ending tournament in 2021 and is eager to use her knowledge to elevate the event. "I feel very honored and excited about this opportunity," she said. "I hope to transform the WTA Finals into a showcase for women's tennis that not only grows the game but also inspires fans, especially girls and women, to pursue their dreams."Muguruza's post-tennis life is a reflection of her determination and resilience. She is embracing new challenges and using her platform to make a positive impact on the sport she loves.

Danielle Collins' disappointing season continued on Wednesday night as she suffered a fourth consecutive defeat, this time to a 152nd-ranked qualifier at the Guadalajara Open. Australia's Olivia Gadecki, who has been in impressive form at the WTA 500 event, defeated the No. 2 seed 6-3, 6-3.Gadecki, 22, dropped serve just once and broke Collins four times throughout the match. The American, who is playing her final season on tour, missed a valuable opportunity to move up the leaderboard in the race to the WTA Finals. She currently sits in eighth place, but is on the outside looking in as Barbora Krejcikova, ranked two places behind, earns an automatic spot as a 2024 Grand Slam champion to the eight-competitor field if she finishes inside the Top 20.In other action at the Guadalajara Open, Camila Osorio pulled off a tremendous comeback to oust seventh-seeded Veronika Kudermetova 7-6 (5), 6-7 (2), 7-5 in a marathon three-hour and 21-minute match. Osorio, who was down 0-5 in the deciding set, stormed back to secure the victory.Kamilla Rakhimova also advanced to the quarterfinals after Victoria Azarenka retired from their encounter with a shoulder injury. Rakhimova was leading 6-2, 3-0 at the time of the retirement.

Garbiñe Muguruza, the former world No. 1 and two-time Grand Slam champion, has been appointed as the tournament director of the season-ending WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia. This marks a significant milestone for the event, as Muguruza becomes the first former player to hold this prestigious position.Muguruza, who retired from professional tennis in April, won the WTA Finals in 2021. Her appointment as tournament director reflects her deep understanding of the game and her commitment to promoting women's tennis.The WTA Finals, which feature the Top 8 singles players and doubles teams, will move to the Saudi Arabian capital for 2024 on a three-year deal. The event will offer a record $15.25 million in prize money, showcasing the growing investment in women's tennis.In her new role, Muguruza will work closely with the WTA, the Saudi Tennis Federation, and the Ministry of Sport to oversee the strategic planning and delivery of the event. She will focus on raising tennis' profile in the region and promoting health and wellness initiatives for young people.Saudi Arabia has made significant investments in professional tennis, including title sponsorship of the ATP and WTA rankings. The Saudi Tennis Federation aims to have 1 million players in the country by 2030. Muguruza's appointment as tournament director aligns with this ambitious goal.Muguruza expressed her excitement about the opportunity, stating, "I know how special this event is for our top players, and I've also seen its potential to inspire communities all over the world. I'm excited to work with a great team to present a showcase for women's tennis that not only grows tennis but encourages all fans, and especially girls and women, to pursue their dreams."Muguruza's appointment adds to the growing number of former players who serve as tournament directors of various tour events. Amelie Mauresmo at Roland Garros and Conchita Martinez at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals are notable examples.

Jessica Pegula's return to form has been nothing short of remarkable. After missing the European clay-court season due to a rib injury, the American has stormed into the final of the WTA 500-level grass-court event in Berlin. Her victory over Coco Gauff in the semifinals marked a significant milestone in her career.Pegula's triumph in Berlin is her first final of the year, a testament to her resilience and determination. Her last final appearance came at the WTA Finals in 2022, where she finished runner-up to Iga Swiatek. Notably, this is also Pegula's first grass-court final, a surface on which she has previously struggled.Moreover, Pegula's victory over Gauff was her 20th Top 10 win of her career, a remarkable achievement. All of her Top 10 wins have come in the last three-and-a-half years, highlighting her rapid ascent in the tennis world. In fact, she has won eight of her last nine matches against Top 10 players, a testament to her newfound dominance.Pegula's semifinal clash with Gauff was a thrilling affair that spanned two days. Pegula drew first blood in the first set, but Gauff fought back to level the score. However, Pegula's resilience shone through as she broke Gauff again and served out the set.In the second set, Gauff took an early lead, but Pegula refused to be deterred. She broke back and pushed the set to a tie-break. Play was suspended due to rain, but Pegula returned on Sunday to win four of the last five points and seal the victory.Pegula's success in Berlin is a testament to her hard work and dedication. She has overcome injury and adversity to reach the pinnacle of her sport. Her victory over Gauff is a statement of intent, and she will be a force to be reckoned with in the upcoming Wimbledon Championships.