WTA News and Gossip 2014

[MargaretMcAleer]

Word is that Murray is actually about to confirm his long term partnership with Mauresmo.

Thanks for that news.Murray does seem content with Amelie.I wish them both the best.

 

[TennisFanatic7]

Source (even though this isn't really the correct thread): http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/jul/24/andy-murray-faith-amelie-mauresmo

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

As predicted since divorcing Stepanek, Nicole Vaidisova is now planning a comeback. Though she denied it at first many people didn't think she meant it and seems she didn't. Hope she makes a good comeback if/when she does.

I just read a report from Kamakshi Tandon....July 23rd in, regards to the latest news from Vaidisova.

Former world No 7 Nicole Vaidisova has indicated she is still moving toward a comeback to professional tennis.

"I'm finally able to serve with less pain than I have in over 3 years"....referring to repeated "surgeries,rehabs,and setbacks" since her retirement at age 20 in 2010 to marry Radek Stepanek.The two were divorced last year.

Her agent,Oliver van Lindonk,confirmed at the time she was trying to make a comeback.

Vaidisova did not say when she might play a tournament,writing,"its one step at a time".

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Report from Courtney Nguyen....SI.Com Thursday 24th July.

After announcing her split with coach Paul Annacone on Wednesday,Sloane Stephens has decided to pair up with Thomas Hogstedt on a trial basis.Tennis.Com Matt Cronin reports Hogstedt will be with Stephens next week at Citi Open in Washington D.C.

Hogstedt coached Maria Sharapova from late 2010 until after Wimbledon last year.During that span,Sharapova won the French Open,completing her career Grand Slam and ascended to No 1 for the first time since her shoulder surgery in 2008.

After splitting with Sharapova,the 50-year-old Swede was hired by Caroline Woznicacki during the offseason,but the two split in January,after just a few months together.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Tomljanovic,born in Croatia,to begin representing Australia....report from Kamakshi Tandon..Thursday 24th July.

Alja Tomljanovic plans to switch nationalities and will represent Australia at the U.S.Open,reports the Melbourne Age.

The 21-year-old Croatian,who has been training in the United States since she was a teenager,appears to have decided to move to Australia after working with Australian coach David Taylor since December.Following a bout with mononucleosis,the former top junior has now reached the Top 60 and defeated Agnieszka Radwanska at the French Open.

"Tennis Australia welcomes Alja to the Australian tennis family",the association said in a statement.Tomljanovic can being representing Australia in ITF and Grand Slam competition,but will not be able to play for Australia on the WTA tour until she is a citizen.

Tomljanovic joins Jarmila Gajdosova and Anastasia Rodionova as among other WTA players who have switched nationalities to play for Australia.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Eugenie Bouchard withdraws from Citi Open....report from AP...Thursday July 24th.

Wimbledon runner-up Eugenie Bouchard withdrew from the Citi Open next week.Tournament officials didn't provide a reason for Bouchard's decision to pull out of the Washington event.She hasn't played on tour since losing to Petra Kvitova in the final at Wimbledon on July 5.Ranked No 7 in the world,the 20-year-old Canadian has made three previous appearances in the Washington event.Lucie Safarova will replace Bouchard as the Citi Open's top seed.

 

[tented]

^ That's disappointing. I hope she's OK. Short of a kidney transplant, I can't imagine her skipping Canada in a few weeks.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

^ I just went to the official website for the Citi Open to see if I could get updated news regarding the reason why Bouchard withdrew....a right knee injury was the reason she withdrew.

 

[tented]

^ I just went to the official website for the Citi Open to see if I could get updated news regarding the reason why Bouchard withdrew....a right knee injury was the reason she withdrew.

Thanks for the update, fashionista.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

^ Not a problem...

 

[Fefe26]

now if only Anna Chakvetadze, would make a come back. i actually liked her. she long with Vadisova and shahar peer had promising futures.

 

[Front242]

Well Shahar Peer is still playing but hasn't been any good for years now.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

^ I just went to the official website for the Citi Open to see if I could get updated news regarding the reason why Bouchard withdrew....a right knee injury was the reason she withdrew.

That does not mean anything. They always cite some injury or other whenever they
want to withdraw from a tournament. Real reason: She thinks she is now too big to
play in small tourneys like Washington DC (which is actually the way she should
think, unlike for example say Ferrer of ATP).

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Samantha Stosur hires Nick Kyrgios's mentor...report from Courtney Walsh sports reporter,The Australian-Melbourne....July 26th.

At a critical juncture in her career,Samantha Stosur has turned to the man responsible for guiding the emergence of Wimbledon quarter finalist Nick Kyrgios.

Stosur,who returns to the court in Stanford,will be joined by coach Simon Rea for the hard court season in the US.

 

[Billie]

Ana Ivanovic appoints new coach Dejan Petrovic.....report from Courtney Nguyen SI.Com...Saturday 19th July.

Ana Ivanovic has hired former ATP pro Dejan Petrovic as her new coach.The former No 1 split with her coach of one-year Nemanja Kontic after Wimbledon.

Ivanovic will be the third Serbian No 1 Petrovic has coached.The 36-year-old,who owns his own academy in Serbia,served as Novak Djokovic's first tourning coach in 2004 and worked with Jelena Jankovic a year later.Petrovic was the No 1 Australian junior before moving back to Serbia and taking citizenship in 2003.He reached a career-high singles ranking of No 157 and played for Serbia and Montenegro in the Davis Cup,partnering Nenad Zimonjic in doubles.

That Ivanovic has again hired a lower-profile Serbian coach in Petrovic is no surprise.After a string of high-profile coaching partnerships that ultimately failed,Ivanovic's decision to hire the lesser-known Kontic last year led to a career resurgence.She won three titles during their 12-month and partnership and now,ranked No 11,she is on the verge of getting back into the top ten for the first time since 2009.Their partnership was successful in large part,Ivanovic said,because of the shared Serbian heritage which facilitated communication and understanding.

Ivanovic's next tournament is the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford which begins on July 28th.

I am really interested to see how this relationship works out. Dejan rejected an offer from Bernard Tomic to coach him because of Ana's offer. I don't think that she will ever win another major, but maybe a deep run would be a nice boost for her. I wish both of them well.

 

[Hoergren]

Caroline dress for the US Open:

and a beige version:

I think they are ok.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Nicole Gibbs earns U.S.Open Wild Card....report from Kamakshi Tandon....July 29th.

Nicole Gibbs has earned a wild card into the U.S.Open by winning the USTA's wild card challenge for the tournament.The USTA award a women's wild card to the player who earns the most points in the $50,000 pro circuit events in Sacramento,Carson and Lexington.Gibbs,who won the Carson event,clinched the wild card when she reached the final at Lexington,putting former US Open quarterfinalist Melanie Oudin in second.

Gibbs earned a US Open wild card for the third straight year,with the 21-year-old gaining entry for the previous two years by winning the NCAA championships.

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

Lisicki hits fastest serve ever!

http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/4042056/title/lisicki-hits-fastest-serve-ever

Recorded at 131 MPH it breaks the previous record by 2 miles.

 

[Hoergren]

Caroline Wozniacki to run New York City Marathon 2nd of November - she revealed on CBS this morning:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/01/sports/caroline-wozniacki-to-run-new-york-city-marathon.html?smid=tw-share&_r=0

https://www.crowdrise.com/carolinew

Here you can see the interview :

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tG7SxbnFdZ4&feature=youtu.be[/video]

 

[Hoergren]

World No.2 Li Na withdraws from @CoupeRogers, @CincyTennis & @USOpen with knee injury--> http://bit.ly/1u3dRmX #WTA

Hope you get well soon.