All articles tagged with #wta
Elena Rybakina defeated Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 in a dramatic US Open final, overcoming an Achilles injury and immense late-season pressure to claim the title and become world No. 1, while also cementing her status as a premier hard-court player and moving within one major of a career Grand Slam.
Elena Rybakina became world No. 1 for the first time during the US Open after beating Zheng Qinwen in the quarterfinals, setting up a final against Aryna Sabalenka; the Kazakh-born player emphasizes she wants to win more titles and remains focused on the next match, becoming the first Kazakh to top the WTA rankings as top contenders Sabalenka, Gauff and others navigate a year of ups and downs.
Former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki says Aryna Sabalenka is playing like the best player in the world after her flawless semifinal win over Pegula, while Elena Rybakina is set to become world No. 1 on Monday. The US Open final will pit Sabalenka against Rybakina, with Sabalenka having outperformed Rybakina in New York so far and both aiming for a major title.
Sabalenka and Rybakina reach the US Open final on hard courts, with Sabalenka chasing a third straight title and Rybakina aiming to secure the world No. 1 ranking. Both have shown dominant form and clutch resilience in the tournament, setting up a final where serve, aggression, and handling big moments will decide the crown.
This year's US Open marks the second Open Era instance where all four of the women's singles top seeds—Sabalenka, Rybakina, Pegula, and Gauff—have reached the semifinals, with Rybakina securing the world No. 1 ranking after a quarterfinal win. The last time this happened was 51 years ago in 1975, when Evert beat Navratilova en route to the title on clay. This year’s semifinals are set as Sabalenka vs Pegula and Rybakina vs Gauff, shaping the path to the final.
Taylor Townsend praised Aryna Sabalenka as a phenomenal competitor and spoke glowingly about her level after Sabalenka beat her 6-4, 6-3 in the US Open fourth round; Sabalenka advances in the title race and to potentially retain world No.1, while Townsend noted she had the tools to compete and will continue pushing, also remaining in doubles with Katerina Siniakova in pursuit of a Career Grand Slam.
Greg Rusedski lauds Alex Eala’s demeanor, composure, and improving serve after her straight-sets US Open win, calling her ‘box office’ with growing global appeal. He predicts she’s on a fast track to the top 10, could meet Coco Gauff in the fourth round, and notes her momentum and movement suggest she’ll keep rising, possibly contending for the main show on Ashe as her tournament progresses.
Filipina tennis prodigy Alex Eala, 21, ranked 18th, has become a global sensation—from her 2022 US Open junior title, making her the Philippines’ first Grand Slam champion, to tour wins including a Washington title and sold-out crowds in Toronto—driven by training at the Rafael Nadal Academy, a disciplined mindset, and a growing fanbase that has reshaped tennis’s profile in the Philippines as she chases Grand Slams and Olympic gold.
Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula will contest the Cincinnati Open final, marking the first all-American women's final at the tournament since 1970. Gauff defeated Sara Bejlek and Pegula defeated Iga Swiatek in the semifinals; the final, scheduled Sunday at 7 p.m. local time, features Pegula leading the head-to-head 5-4 but Gauff riding momentum in recent matchups.
Coco Gauff says she understands the rationale behind the WTA's new one-time SRY gene test to help preserve fairness in women's tennis, calling the debate nuanced and noting concerns about backlash against the trans community; Aryna Sabalenka also supports the testing, which began July 21, and the policy mirrors broader moves, including the 2028 Olympics’ transgender athlete ban.
Filipino rising star Alex Eala is turning heads on the WTA tour with aggressive counterpunching, smart serving, and relentless court positioning, winning her first tour title at the DC Open while drawing unprecedented Filipino fan support and beating multiple top-10 players along the way.
Alex Eala won her first WTA Tour title at the Washington Open, overcoming a first-set loss to Top seed Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-4, 6-0. Her coach, Joan Bosch, publicly congratulated her, calling the victory the goal of the year and praising her resilience after a tough match, as Eala secured a landmark week on the tour.
Anastasia Potapova, the 28th seed, defeated Coco Gauff in the third round at Roland Garros, rallying in the second-set tiebreak and closing out the third after Gauff led 3-1. Potapova advances to face Anna Kalinskaya in the fourth round, while Gauff, whose season has included injuries and illness, shifts focus to Wimbledon.
Aryna Sabalenka is pegged as the favorite in a wide-open 2026 Roland Garros women’s field, aided by her No.1 ranking and strong late-majors form despite mixed results in Madrid and Rome. The piece catalogs a deep field led by Rybakina, Świątek, Gauff, and Svitolina, highlights several dark horses such as Krejčíková, Raducanu, Eala, Kenin, and others, and flags notable first-round matches to watch, concluding with a plausible final where Sabalenka defeats Svitolina.
Coco Gauff cruised past Karolina Muchova 6-1, 6-1 to reach her first Miami Open final and will face world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, who beat Elena Rybakina to set up the final; Sabalenka is chasing the Sunshine Double as she starts the year strongly.