2025 WTA News & Gossip

[MargaretMcAleer]

My Lord Did y'all catch Serena dancing or performing the Compton Crip walk dance at the SB halftime show by Kendrick Lamar. Serena looks fantastic and she almost stole his performance..I thought she looks like she was in her early 30s ..Bravo!

I think the half time and the ads were better than the game

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

New WTA Top Ten, Monday 10th February,

1.Sabalenka 8,956 points
2. Swiatek 8,770
3. Gauff 6,583
4. Paolini 5,288
5. Pegula 4,861 (+1)
6. Keys 4,680 (+1) New career high ranking
7. Rybakina 4,588 (-2)
8. Zheng 4,095
9. Navarro 3,709
10. Badosa 3,588

New Career Highs on WTA Top 100
6. Keys career high ranking
40. Kruegar
66. Lamens
75. Birrell

 

[the AntiPusher]

I think the half time and the ads were better than the game

The game was awful. Kendrick Lamar, Sza, Serena and Samuel Jackson were excellent

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

The game was awful. Kendrick Lamar, Sza, Serena and Samuel Jackson were excellent

What about Madison and her new career ranking of No 6

 

[the AntiPusher]

What about Madison and her new career ranking of No 6

That is so huge.. Madison has a legitimate opportunity to have a high seed at the GS and if she can keep it together she may add to her GS title.. Madison knows if she plays and executes her game with those foolish UFEs .. She is the real BUS Driver on the WTA.. ( a bit of hyperbole from AP)

 

[the AntiPusher]

I'm watching Svitolina vs Vondrusova.. Elina is really hitting the ball harder and flatter than her pre baby career.

 

[Front242]

I'm watching Svitolina vs Vondrusova.. Elina is really hitting the ball harder and flatter than her pre baby career.

Probably taking her aggro out on the ball. F*****g kids!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I'm watching Svitolina vs Vondrusova.. Elina is really hitting the ball harder and flatter than her pre baby career.

It has been a hard fought contest at present, from the 2nd set, Marketa really needs these wins, though at 4 all in the 3rd set, she will have to dig deep

 

[the AntiPusher]

It has been a hard fought contest at present, from the 2nd set, Marketa really needs these wins, though at 4 all in the 3rd set, she will have to dig deep

yes its been a very good 3rd set

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Leylah Fernandez had a good straight sets win over 8th seed Emma Navarro 62 62, Emma has been Hit and Miss of late.
These windy conditions have been tricky, who can handle the wind, ends up winning

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Svitolina comes through in a hard fought 3rd set to win it 75 over Marketa Vondrousova
Svitolina 06 62 75

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Qatar Total Energies Open, Doha,
Day 2 results,
Today was very tricky with the windy conditions,

Upsets,
Fernandez d Navarro (8) in a solid win 62 62, Emma has been 'hit and miss' of late.
Linda Noskova d Vekic (15) in straight sets 62 64

Iga Swaitek had no trouble in her 1st round match defeating Maria Sakkari 63 62
Daria Kastkina (10) routed Polina Kudermetova 60 60
Elena Svitolina came back from a bagel to defeat Market Vondrousova 06 62 75
Paula Badosa (9) was made to work in her first round match 63 46 62 over her Mexican opponent Zarazua

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

WATA1000 Qatar Total Energies Open, Doha
Day 3 action,

Sabalenka (1), Gauff (3,) Paolini (4) , Rybakina (5), Pegula (6), Zheng (7), Andreeva (12), Samsonova (16) begin their 1st round matches.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

This is a blast from the past, while watching Qatar, I went on social media and saw Camila Giorgi interviewing players ( male) in Beunos Aires lol!
Remember the secrecy that surrounded Camila and her family that just disappeared, really no statement from Camila she had finished her playing career, a lot of rumours, saying that her family owed taxes and had fled to the USA etc, well I nearly fell off my chair when I saw Camila interviewing, I will try to find out more info if I can

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Results from WTA1000 Qatar
Day 3,

Well No 1 player Sabalenka has fallen to Alexandrova in 3 sets, 36 63 76(5) this is Sabalenka's first tournament since the AO final, her serve let her down when it was needed., when she got the break, she could not convert, she faced 15BPs and had 53 UFE?. Well done to Alexandrova she was down 2-4 in set 3, forced a TB and won
Kostyuk d Gauff (3) 62 75, Coco's 39 UFE and DFs at the wrong time in this match, didnt help her cause at all
Ons Jabeur gets her first Top Ten win on a hard court since 2023 defeating Zheng (7) 64 62
Ostapenko d Samsonova (16) in straight sets 76(5) 75
Sramkova d Mirra Andreeva (12) 36 63 75
Anisimova d Padosa (9) in straight sets 64 63

Seeds through to the next round,
Paolini (4) Rybakina (5) Pegula (6) Kasatkina (10)

It is only round 3 and there are only 4 players from the Top 9 are left ( Keys withdrew) presently Badosa is playing Anisimova, Badosa the no 9 seed goes out in SS to Anisimova 64 63

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

After an independent investigation, Stefano Vukov - Rybakina's coach, remains suspended.
"The WTA confirms that the independent investigation into a potential breach of the WTA Code of Conduct by Stefano Vukov as concluded.
":Following this process, the suspension remains in place.To protect the confidentiality and integrity of the investigation and its finding, the WTA will not provide further details
We remain committed to ensuring that all matters are handled in a fair and objective manner in accordance with the WTA Code of Conduct"
( source OllyTennis@olly-tennis).


Further information, according to The Athletic, the report into Vukov's behaviour with Rybakina concluded.
Vukov had subjected to Rybakina to mental abuse and pushing her physical limited, which caused her to become ill
Vukov had harassed Rybakina, by refusing to leave her alone during the US Open when he sent her multiple texts, after she dismissed him from her team , in addition, he violated the 'no contact' directive that was part of the WTA's provisional suspension of him.
Increasing evidence, the two are in a 'romantic relationship, after staying in the same hotel room in Melbourne.
Vukov has been suspended for 1 year

Findings stated by Portia Archer, the chief executive of the WTA.
( source nytimes.com/athletic/60352

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

WTA1000 Doha,
Round of 16,

Alexandrova vs Mertens
Pegula (6) vs Kasatkina (10)
Kostyuk vs Linette
Anisimova vs Fernandez
Jabeur vs Kenin WC
Paolini (4) vs Ostapenko
Rybakina (5) vs Sramkova
Swiatek (2) vs Noskova

NOTE: The Top Half of the draw is Wide Open.

 

[Kieran]

After an independent investigation, Stefano Vukov - Rybakina's coach, remains suspended.
"The WTA confirms that the independent investigation into a potential breach of the WTA Code of Conduct by Stefano Vukov as concluded.
":Following this process, the suspension remains in place.To protect the confidentiality and integrity of the investigation and its finding, the WTA will not provide further details
We remain committed to ensuring that all matters are handled in a fair and objective manner in accordance with the WTA Code of Conduct"
( source OllyTennis@olly-tennis).


Further information, according to The Athletic, the report into Vukov's behaviour with Rybakina concluded.
Vukov had subjected to Rybakina to mental abuse and pushing her physical limited, which caused her to become ill
Vukov had harassed Rybakina, by refusing to leave her alone during the US Open when he sent her multiple texts, after she dismissed him from her team , in addition, he violated the 'no contact' directive that was part of the WTA's provisional suspension of him.
Increasing evidence, the two are in a 'romantic relationship, after staying in the same hotel room in Melbourne.
Vukov has been suspended for 1 year

Findings stated by Portia Archer, the chief executive of the WTA.
( source nytimes.com/athletic/60352

I think this decision is shady, given that the “victim” has said there’s nothing to see. I know, often an abused person is so traumatised that they can’t complain. That could be the case, but on the BBC the WTA say that:

"To protect the confidentiality and integrity of the investigation and its findings, the WTA will not provide further details. We remain committed to ensuring that all matters are handled in a fair and objective manner in accordance with the WTA Code of Conduct."

It would not specify how long Vukov will be banned for and it is not known which part of the WTA's code he has broken.

Looking at the NYT article you posted, “Increasing evidence, the two are in a 'romantic relationship, after staying in the same hotel room in Melbourne.”

Sorry, but this is Victorian morality. They’re not children. Consenting adults sharing a room is their own private business. It’s not evidence of anything sinister.

Now I know, the WTA have made a conclusion based upon what they feel they know is true, but without her assent, they’ve decided she was abused. They’ve violated her autonomy and without proper examination decided she’s not fit as a witness to her own life.

They may be correct, but they may also be wrong, this is why it’s shady.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I think this decision is shady, given that the “victim” has said there’s nothing to see. I know, often an abused person is so traumatised that they can’t complain. That could be the case, but on the BBC the WTA say that:



Looking at the NYT article you posted, “Increasing evidence, the two are in a 'romantic relationship, after staying in the same hotel room in Melbourne.”

Sorry, but this is Victorian morality. They’re not children. Consenting adults sharing a room is their own private business. It’s not evidence of anything sinister.

Now I know, the WTA have made a conclusion based upon what they feel they know is true, but without her assent, they’ve decided she was abused. They’ve violated her autonomy and without proper examination decided she’s not fit as a witness to her own life.

They may be correct, but they may also be wrong, this is why it’s shady.

There were many rumors that they were in a 'relationship' I think around the time before the USO last year, it turned sour, Elena also decided to part with him as a coach, this is when he decided to keep harassing her, she only played 1 match at the USO and withdrew, in 2024 she kept withdrawing from tournaments with various health problems. I have been in a relationship many years ago, when I was a 'spring chicken' with a man that was a total controller, who decided to run my life for me, I thought it was in my best interests, until I woke up?,
Vukov was still in touch by phone and came to the AO, even though he was not allowed to come to any matches etc, hence they shared a hotel room in Melbourne, this is when they made up? also she decided to part with Goran Invanisivec?
Elena is a grown woman, has repeatedly stated Vukov has never abused her, there are different kinds of abuse,mentally is one of them.We did not know what kind of texts he was sending her, they could have been abusive, we will never know.
The WTA stated that Vukov did " violate the no contact' directive that was part of the WTA'[s provisional suspension of him"

 

[Kieran]

There were many rumors that they were in a 'relationship' I think around the time before the USO last year, it turned sour, Elena also decided to part with him as a coach, this is when he decided to keep harassing her, she only played 1 match at the USO and withdrew, in 2024 she kept withdrawing from tournaments with various health problems. I have been in a relationship many years ago, when I was a 'spring chicken' with a man that was a total controller, who decided to run my life for me, I thought it was in my best interests, until I woke up?,
Vukov was still in touch by phone and came to the AO, even though he was not allowed to come to any matches etc, hence they shared a hotel room in Melbourne, this is when they made up? also she decided to part with Goran Invanisivec?
Elena is a grown woman, has repeatedly stated Vukov has never abused her, there are different kinds of abuse,mentally is one of them.We did not know what kind of texts he was sending her, they could have been abusive, we will never know.
The WTA stated that Vukov did " violate the no contact' directive that was part of the WTA'[s provisional suspension of him"

I agree with you on this and the age gap was always a red flag for a controlling relationship, but I'm not sure what help they're giving her by similarly ignoring her voice and banning him. The rumours are not fact, unless we want to silence Elena.

it's a tough one...