2025 WTA News & Gossip

[MargaretMcAleer]

More drama involving Stefano Vukov who was Elena Rybakina's former coach,
WTA tour confirms provisional suspension of Stefano Vukov, according to a report from The Athletic, Vukova is still under investigation for a potential breach of the tour's code of conduct, precluding him from acting as an official coach to Rybakina in the Australian Open
Vukov has dismissed allegations that he hasnt abused anyone and still plans to travel to Australia
Elena Rybakina reveled through her instagram post that Vukov would be back on her team to support her during the the upcoming AO. But the provisional suspension precludes Vukov from receiving a WTA credential, thereby barring him from practice courts and the players box during matches
The WTA still investigating, and once the investigation is finalised the details will be published
As it stands now the AO is abiding by the WTA rule of a potential breach of the tour's code of conduct and its provisional suspension of Vukov.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Zheng Qinwen has hired Kei Nishikori's former coach Dante Bottini for the start of the WTA Tour season. Zheng's full time coach, Pere Riba, underwent scheduled hip surgery at the end of November, and will rejoin the team after the AO

 

[Hoergren]

So far so good - fingers xed

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

So far so good - fingers xed
View attachment 9828

Is it raining again in Auckland? I am watching Paolini v Muchova in the United Cup in Sydney and went to look at the score and saw it was suspended

 

[Hoergren]

Is it raining again in Auckland? I am watching Paolini v Muchova in the United Cup in Sydney and went to look at the score and saw it was suspended

Yeah game has been interupted for a while but it''s going to resume shortly - 8.15 gmt - well one can hope - they are still drying the court. Well - raining again. 8.43 play suspended - for today, So I take a little nap now.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

In a display of technical and precision tennis Karolina Muchova extends her H2H over Jasmine Paolini 5-0 at the United Cup in Sydney winning 62 62
I love watching this young lady and hopefully this year in 2025 her body will remain healthy
Well done Karolina and Jasmine you never gave up, you just were outclassed in this match

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

It appears that the remaining QFS in Auckland were washed out and they will have to be played today
A.Parks vs K. Volynets (8)
M.Keys (1) vs C.Tauson, Tauson won the 1st set 64 and they were on serve in the 2nd set 3-4 before their match was suspended
The 2 other QF matches were played early,
N.Osaka (1) d H.Baptiste 67(2) 61 62
R.Montgomery d B.Pera 64 64

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Results of the QFs at the Brisbane International,
A.Kalinina d K. Birrell 46 61 75
I watched Andreeva (8) d O. Jabeur 64 76(2) I liked the way Mirra saved BPs, in this match, even when she was behind in the score line she found a way to win, Jabeur needs more time for her game, made too many ufe and also at times showed little patience and was frustrated.
P.Kudermetova d A.Krueger 76(5) 63
A.Sabalebka (1) d M.Bouzkova 63 64

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Brisbane International,
SFs

A.Sabalenka (1) vs M.Andreeva (8)
P.Kudermetova vs A.Kalinina

Final Ladies Doubles,
M.Andreeva/D.Snhaider vs P.Hon/A.Kalinskaya

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

United Cup SFs,
Schedule Saturday January 4, Sydney
Starts at 10.30am local time
Kazakhstan vs Poland
H.Hurkacz vs A.Shevchenko
E.Rybakina vs I.Swiatek
Mixed Doubles ( which can be changed)
E.Rybakina/A.Shevehenko vs I.Swiatek/H.Hurkacz

USA vs Czech Republic not before 5.30pm local time,
C.Gauff vs K.Muchova
T.Fritz vs T.Machac
Mixed Doubles
C.Gauff/T.Fritz vs K.Muchova/T.Machac

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Aryna Sabalenka has signed with Evolve, the agency co-founded by Naomi Osaka and her agent Stuart Duguid

 

[Hoergren]

Congrats to Clara Tauson who kept calm and won another tiebreak

Stats

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Team Poland are through to the United Cup final on Sunday, for the 2nd consecutive year, where they await the winners of either USA or Czech Repbulic ( their match starts at 5.30pm local time
Hurkacz played his best match of the cup defeating Shevchenko 63 62
Really enjoyed the match between Iga and Elena, in a hard fought battle, Iga, comes back from 3-5 40-40 and took the 1st set 76(5), with Iga winning, some of her defense in the last couple of sets in the 2nd set were outstanding, she absorbed the pace of shot from Elena, winning 76(5) 64
Iga will not be playing the mixed doubles or Hubi
Poland win the tie over Czech 3-0
In the mixed doubles,
M.Chwalinska/J.Zielinski (POL) d A.Shevchenko/Z. Kulambayeva 64 61

 

[Hoergren]

Final bound Clara Tauson winning her second singles match today against another American - Robin Monthgomery. So 1½ hour to her doubles match with Stephens. Go get it Clara - could be fun

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Final bound Clara Tauson winning her second singles match today against another American - Robin Monthgomery. So 1½ hour to her doubles match with Stephens. Go get it Clara - could be fun

View attachment 9832​

View attachment 9833

That is Clara's 4th career tour final first in more than 3 years, first outdoor final, awaits Osaka or Parks tomorrow well done!

 

[Hoergren]

And it will be Naomi Osaka versus Clara Tauson in tomorrows final after impressive play - could be a good final

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Coco Gauff played a impressive first set of tennis against Karolina Muchova at the SF United Cup in Sydney, Muchova had no answer and was just a by stander in the 1st set 61, closer in the 2nd set, still Coco upped her game when it mattered and extends her H2H against Muchova 4-0
Gauff d Muchova 61 64
Fritz v Machac up next
USA lead 1-0
Fritz wins by retirement Machac cramping badly and retired in the 2nd set 5-6
USA through to the final where they will play Poland

 

[kskate2]

If I were these US women I wouldn't play these team events if Fritz is my male counterpart. I'm sure I mentioned this before, but he's got to be the densest player in the top 20.

 

[Fiero425]

If I were these US women I wouldn't play these team events if Fritz is my male counterpart. I'm sure I mentioned this before, but he's got to be the densest player in the top 20.

Funny, I thought it was just me! I initially appreciated Taylor marrying his "baby momma," but after that I didn't think all was right w/ him! He has this stupid, vacant look and his reactions to pranks is just plain odd!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Results of Brisbane International
SFs,
A.Sabalenka (1) d M.Andreeva (8) 63 62
P.Kudermetova d A.Kalinina 64 63

Ladies Doubles Winners,
Andrreva/Shnaider 76(6) 75 over Hon/Kalinskaya