2025 WTA News & Gossip

[MargaretMcAleer]

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...

I agree with you, it is a tough one, Elena said her in press conference in Doha, she was disappointed with the situation and how the process went"
My feelings are they made up in Melbourne? she wanted him back as her coach. I also feel for Goran who was blindsided by her decision, after hiring him, then telling him Vukov would also be re-joining her team. Elena is a great tennis player, I hope she can put this drama behind her and get back to what she does best and play tennis

 

[kskate2]

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...

This is what I meant about she's suffering from something akin to Stockholm Syndrome. She has a a demure spirit and appears controllable. A young woman of her stature would be enamored w/ an older guy. He's probably jealous because he knows there are a gazillion studs her age avail to steal her attention any day of the week. This is similar to the battered woman thing, where they are so focused on keeping this relationship intact, they endure mental and emotional abuse at the hands of their partner. They don't always see it as abuse and most time blame themselves for "setting him off". I pray that whatever their relationship is, if it's unhealthy in any way, that it would be brought to light so she can deal with it and move on.

 

[Kieran]

This is what I meant about she's suffering from something akin to Stockholm Syndrome. She has a a demure spirit and appears controllable. A young woman of her stature would be enamored w/ an older guy. He's probably jealous because he knows there are a gazillion studs her age avail to steal her attention any day of the week. This is similar to the battered woman thing, where they are so focused on keeping this relationship intact, they endure mental and emotional abuse at the hands of their partner. They don't always see it as abuse and most time blame themselves for "setting him off". I pray that whatever their relationship is, if it's unhealthy in any way, that it would be brought to light so she can deal with it and move on.

Yeah I think that could be true. The relationship is problematical, even though legally there’s no hindrance to the age difference, but given his position, it’s open to abuse.

But the WTA are being too coy in the way they dealt with this. They ought to provide solid reasons for their decision. And yeah, Goran must be thinking he ducked a bullet..,

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Results WTA1000 Doha,
Round of 16,

Alexandrova d Mertens 64 62, after taking out the No 1 player yesterday in Sabalenka, Alexandrova had little trouble in this match up
Pegula (6) d Kasatkina (10) 63 75
Kostyuk d Linette 64 62
Jabeur d Kenin WC 63 64
Ostapenko d Paolini (4) 63 62, Penko dominated Jazz from start to finish in this match, her first Top Ten win in 18 months!, Jazz has to 'rethink her game plan' when facing big strikers of the ball, eg Penko
Rybakina (5) d Sramkova 76(1) 62
Swiatek (2) d Noskova 67(1) 64 64, Linda was playing incredibly well in this match, coming back from being a set down, in which Iga played a poor TB, Iga managed Linda's firepower to win, Iga reaches her 4th consecutive QF in Doha
The last match of the day, Anisimova d Fernandez 63 60, Amanda had just too much firepower for Leylah to handle

 

[kskate2]

Results WTA1000 Doha,
Round of 16,

Alexandrova d Mertens 64 62, after taking out the No 1 player yesterday in Sabalenka, Alexandrova had little trouble in this match up
Pegula (6) d Kasatkina (10) 63 75
Kostyuk d Linette 64 62
Jabeur d Kenin WC 63 64
Ostapenko d Paolini (4) 63 62, Penko dominated Jazz from start to finish in this match, her first Top Ten win in 18 months!, Jazz has to 'rethink her game plan' when facing big strikers of the ball, eg Penko
Rybakina (5) d Sramkova 76(1) 62
Swiatek (2) d Noskova 67(1) 64 64, Linda was playing incredibly well in this match, coming back from being a set down, in which Iga played a poor TB, Iga managed Linda's firepower to win, Iga reaches her 4th consecutive QF in Doha
There is one more match currently in play Anisimova v Fernandez

Doesn't seem like Linda has learned anything from that Miami loss last year. This match was literally the same score. She won the 1st set TB, had chances and the lead in the other 2 sets but loses it 6-4 in the 3rd.

I think Jaz is in trouble. She has a ton of points to defend starting next week. She needed to gain as many points in these other events if she wants to stay in the top 10.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Doesn't seem like Linda has learned anything from that Miami loss last year. This match was literally the same score. She won the 1st set TB, had chances and the lead in the other 2 sets but loses it 6-4 in the 3rd.

I think Jaz is in trouble. She has a ton of points to defend starting next week. She needed to gain as many points in these other events if she wants to stay in the top 10.

Agree with you regarding Jazz, she isnt the same player, as in 2024, maybe she had reached her highest playing level in 2024.
Linda did have her chances, she has to convert those chances when playing against a top player

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

WTA1000 Qatar Open, Doha
QFs Day 7,

J.Pegula (6) vs E.Alexandrova H2H 1 all, most recent match Miami 2024 Alexandrova won in 3 sets
I.Swiatek (2) vs E.Rybakina (5) H2H Rybakina 4-3 most recent match United Cup 2024 SS win for Elena
O.Jabeur vs J. Ostapenko H2H Jabeur 4-2
M.Kostyuk vs A.Anisimova H2H Kostyuk 2-0

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Happy News,
Angie Kerber posted on her IG page, she is pregnant with her second child!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

In the first QF match at Doha
Alexandrova continues her incredible week, with wins over Sabalenka No 1 and now defeats No 5 Pegula in 3 sets 46 61 61 to reach the SFs
2nd Top 5 win of the week
Awaits Anisimova or Kostyuk tomorrow.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

In the QF match between Swiatek v Rybakina
Iga was down 2-4 in the 2nd set, her heavy fhand was again dominant in this match
Rybakina made more of a match up in the 2nd set though a DF from her handed the match to Iga
Iga reaches her 4th consecutive Doha SF
Iga becomes the woman with the longest winning streak at the Qatar Open since the tournament began in 2001, with 15 consecutive wins!

 

[don_fabio]

In the QF match between Swiatek v Rybakina
Iga was down 2-4 in the 2nd set, her heavy fhand was again dominant in this match
Rybakina made more of a match up in the 2nd set though a DF from her handed the match to Iga
Iga reaches her 4th consecutive Doha SF
Iga becomes the woman with the longest winning streak at the Qatar Open since the tournament began in 2001, with 15 consecutive wins!

Rybakina lacks that killer instinct, like she doesn't care and Iga is the opposite. I'm not sure if the tall lady can keep up with the best players in the world anymore.

I like that Jabeur is playing good again, she goes against Penko. They played last week too.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Rybakina lacks that killer instinct, like she doesn't care and Iga is the opposite. I'm not sure if the tall lady can keep up with the best players in the world anymore.

I like that Jabeur is playing good again, she goes against Penko. They played last week too.

Don,
I will give Elena a pass just as present, with all the drama again going on outside the court, Vukov has been suspended and she is not happy about it, though as a professional she needs to leave that drama off court and concentrate on her tennis
Jabeur has kind of found her playing level again

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I am watching 2 matches at present lol!

In the QF match between Ostapenko v Jabeur, Ostapenko winning 62 62
After struggling at the start of 2025 Penko is looking like Penko
She hadnt won 2 matches in a row since Wimbledon before this week and lost her last 3 matches to Jabeur
1st 1000 SF since 2022!
Ostapenko will face Swiatek in the SF she has a H2H 4-0 over Iga
Ostapenko will return to the Top 30 next Monday

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

In the final QF at Doha,
Anisimova continues her great week as an unseeded player, comes back to defeat Kostyuk 46 75 64 and reach the 2nd career WTA1000 SF.
Anisimova will face Alexandrova in the SF, another unseeded player!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

WTA1000 SFs at Qatar, Doha

I.Swaitek (1) vs J.Ostapenko H2H Ostapenko 4-0 havent played each other since Sept 2023 USO where Ostapenko won in 3 sets

E.Alexandrova vs A.Anisimova H2H 1 all, recent match May 22 on clay, Alexandrova won in straight sets

 

[kskate2]

Don,
I will give Elena a pass just as present, with all the drama again going on outside the court, Vukov has been suspended and she is not happy about it, though as a professional she needs to leave that drama off court and concentrate on her tennis
Jabeur has kind of found her playing level again

puhleeze. even before the drama she's completely unreliable. Most times, you 're wondering if she'll even make a appearance and when she does, she allows herself to get bossed by pushers and scrubs...

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

puhleeze. even before the drama she's completely unreliable. Most times, you 're wondering if she'll even make a appearance and when she does, she allows herself to get bossed by pushers and scrubs...

Well I am hopeful for the future she is too good of a player and quite frankly it would be a pity if she is just a One GS Wonder

 

[don_fabio]

Penko vs Iga could be good match today. Iga never beat her, but she's on a tear this tournament for the last few years.

 

[kskate2]

Penko vs Iga could be good match today. Iga never beat her, but she's on a tear this tournament for the last few years.

Iga wants her #1 ranking back. First order of biz is to defend these points from last year so she can re-establish some resemblance of dominance. But Osta is her kryptonite. I won't lie, it will be a tough match for Iga. All she can hope for is Osta to return to Earth a bit and make more errors than winners. If she's even remotely close in form as she was against Ons, Iga will be 0-5

 

[kskate2]

Well I am hopeful for the future she is too good of a player and quite frankly it would be a pity if she is just a One GS Wonder

I hope she isn't a one slam wonder either, but she's proven a bit fragile these days. Now she's allowed this coaching/relationship drama to cost her at least 2 years of great results in her prime.