2025 WTA News & Gossip

[kskate2]

Welcome 2025, it's time to start a new thread. Happy New Year kids.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

There are soo many tournaments started in Australia, trying to view players matches has made me ' cross eyed'
United Cup watched Iga Swaitek in her first match, she didnt have much competition and her new coach Wim Fissette was courtside, seeing this was her first match of 2025, cant really evaluate her form.
Watched Osaka in Auckland she won in straight sets, her first match, she was okay got the win.
Hoegren will be pleased Clara Tauson also playing in Auckland won her match in straight sets
Ann Li defeats fellow American Sloane Stephens 57 64 64, in Auckland, Sloane is now on a 7 match losing streak since Wimbledon!
I am going to turn my attention to the Brisbane International today being Tuesday 31st of December, the last day of 2024, where has this year gone?
The top seeds start their matches for the new year,
Sabalenka (1) Badosa (4) Mirra Andreeva (8) Ostapenko (7) Kalinskaya (6) Shnaider (5)

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Naomi Osaka says she probably wont 'hang around' in tennis if the results dont come,
" I dont think I'm the type of player that would hang around.I have a lot of respect for all the players on tour, but the point of my life that I'm at right now, if I'm not above a certain ranking, I dont see myself playing for a while. 'd rather spend time with my daughter if I'm not where I think I should be and where I feel like I can be" ( source apnews.com/article/auckland).

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Emma Radacanu has withdrawn from Auckland citing a back injury.Emma will go straight to Melbourne for the AO
Elise Mertens also withdrew citing a right ankle injury

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Sabalenka had no trouble ( quite frankly I would be surprised if she did) winning 64 60 over Zarazua in Brisbane
Badosa (4) loses a 3 set match 63 16 62 against Avanesyan
Krueger scored a straight sets win over Kalinskaya (6)
Andreeva (8) straight sets win over Blinkova 64 64
Bouzkova d Ostapenko (7) in straight seta 76(0) 64
Kalinina d Shnaider (5) 63 46 61

I am going over to watch Coco Gauff v Donna Vekic in the United Cup havent watched Coco as yet.Some fun points between Coco and Donna, good comeback from Donna in the 1st set, playing strong offensive tennis, Coco lifted when it mattered and won the 1st set 64 for team USA.
Straight sets win for Gauff, 2nd set serve percentage improved, love her bhand one of the best on the tour, Gauff 64 62 over Dokic.Team USA lead 2-0 and mixed doubles to come. Team USA have made the QFs at the United Cup

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Brisbane International Day 6,
Navarro (2) Kasatkina (3) Kostyuk (9) Azarenaka (10) Noskova (12) are the Top seeds starting their 2025 matches.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Wimbledon doubles finalist Gabriela Dabrowski has revealed she had breast cancer surgery earlier this year, undergoing further treatment while she challenge for the sport's biggest prizes.
The 32 year old Canadian, who is a three time major champion, was diagnosed in April.
"It's a privilege to be able to call myself a survivor" Dabrowski wrote in an instagram post.
After 2 surgeries and a 3 month break from the tour, she returned to win Nottingham grass court title alongside New Zealand's Erin Routliffe in her first tournament back.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

In the United Cup,
Standout singles match Iga Swiatek vs Karolina Muchova. All 3 previous meetings have been 3 setters

 

[Hoergren]

In Auckland I just witnessed a great battle and 26 aces. It was Clara Tauson who came back from a big hole to win against Kenin - happy New Year btw.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

More seeds went down in the bottom half of the draw at Brisbane International,
#2 Navarro to Birrell, #13 Samsonova to Polina Kudermetova and #16 Yastremska to Potapova, #9 Kostyuk to Yuan, # 11 Frech to Lamens
This leaves #3 Kasatkina as the only remaining seed in the bottom half of the draw.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Brisbane International Day 7,
Round of 16,

K.Birrell vs Potapova
D.Kasatkina (3) vs P.Kudermetova
A.Sabalenka (1) vs Y.Putintseva (15)
L.Noskova (12) vs M.Andreeva (8)
V.Azarenka (10) vs M.Bouzkova
A.Krueger vs S.Lamens
A.Kalinina vs Y.Yuan
O.Jabeur vs E.Avanesyan

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Elena Rybakina's former coach Stefano Vukov will travel to Melbourne for the AO. He will be there to support her, but her main coach is still Goran Ivanisevic.
Vukov said he is in touch with Rybakina. Sofya Tartakova ( Russian journalist and sports commentator) confirms that he did not receive a ban from the WTA.
( via@CentralCourt)

Elena Rybakina posted on her instagram post,
" Hello everyone, I am excited to announce that Stefano will be joining the team for the 2025 season.Thank you all for the support and wishing you a great 2025".

 

[Hoergren]

With 26 aces in a WTA singles match, Clara Tauson gets a place in the record list as no. 5, which is actually no. 4. Pliskova has the top two with 31 and 28 aces. No. 3 is shared between Lisicki and Garcia each with 27 and then comes Clara Tauson with 26 aces - something to be proud of I think

If we're going to nerd out a bit, Pliskova lost both matches she has on the list and so did Garcia. The only one who has won a singles match and set a record in a match won is Sabine Lisicki. So let's just wave the flag for the WTA list's No. 2 with aces in a match won - Clara can be a little proud

Want more? Ok then you get the last nerd thing. The last time Clara met Kenin in Japan Clara made 22 aces, so you could say Clara is in her prime (or ES (ace) as we say in Danish) when she meets Kenin. Ok then we'll stop Mr. Hoergren.

Argh can't I have one last one? Ok then. Clara Tauson is no. 1 on the list of aces in a match won on hardcourt, when Lisicki was on grass. Get it

 

[don_fabio]

Elena Rybakina's former coach Stefano Vukov will travel to Melbourne for the AO. He will be there to support her, but her main coach is still Goran Ivanisevic.
Vukov said he is in touch with Rybakina. Sofya Tartakova ( Russian journalist and sports commentator) confirms that he did not receive a ban from the WTA.
( via@CentralCourt)

Elena Rybakina posted on her instagram post,
" Hello everyone, I am excited to announce that Stefano will be joining the team for the 2025 season.Thank you all for the support and wishing you a great 2025".

Why is she re-joining with her former coach? It is clear that things were going bad between them and now she brings him back?

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Why is she re-joining with her former coach? It is clear that things were going bad between them and now she brings him back?

I am stunned that Elena has allowed him to join her coaching team again, it was clear especially at the latter part of the 2024 season that the relationship had broken down. I am not in favor of having 2 coaches for starters, unless both coaches are on the same page.It is her decision I guess, I hope for her sake she has made the right decision allowing him back, I guess we will see.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Seeds that lost in the round of 16 at the Brisbane International,
Azarenka #10 in straight sets by Bouzkova 64 64
Noshova #12 in straight sets by Mirra Andreeva (8) 63 60 that was the match of round 16 for me, the youngster still only 17 was impressive, so early in the 2025 season
Kasatkina #3 defeated by Polina Kudermetova 16 62 75, Kudermetova came back 0-4 in the 3rd set to win the match

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Brisbane International, Day 8,
QFs,

K.Birrell vs A.Kalinina
M.Andreeva (8) vs O.Jabeur
A.Sabalenka (1) vs M.Bouzkova
A.Krueger vs P.Kudermetova

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Daria Kastakina losing in the round of 16 in Brisbane yesterday, WTA Top 8 is set.
Ons Jabeur can steal the last seeded place from Maria Sakkari if she wins Brisbane ( Jabeur has made the QFs in Brisbane)

Top 8 WTA seeds at the AO,
1. Sabalenka
2. Swiatek
3. Gauff
4. Paolini
5. Zheng
6. Rybakina
7. Pegula
8. Navarro

 

[Fiero425]

Tried watching a little of Iga in the United Cup! It was hard as she was up a break or 2 in the 1st set before allowing Boulter to come all the way back to take it in a TB! Luckily Swiatek pulled it together to win in 3 sets to assist Poland in advancing to the SF!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

ASB Classic Auckland. Day 7,
QFs.

B.Pera vs R.Montogomery
N.Osaka (7) vs H.Baptiste
M.Keys (1) vs C.Tausen (5)
A.Parks vs K.Volynets (8)