Leylah Fernandez Upsets Madison Keys at Rothesay International to Reach First-Ever Grass Court Final

Leylah Fernandez has pulled off an upset…

The 21-year-old half-Ecuadorian Canadian professional tennis player has booked her spot in the women’s final of the Rothesay International, after an upset win over Madison Keys on Friday in Eastbourne, England.

Leylah FernandezFernandez scored a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 victory over the fourth-seeded Keys.

The world No. 30, Fernandez will next face Russia’s Daria Kasatkina, who scored a 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 semifinal victory over Italy’s Jasmine Paolini, on Saturday.

The title match will be Fernandez’s sixth career final but first on grass and first at a WTA 500 level or above since the 2021 U.S. Open.

Fernandez, who reached the Birmingham quarterfinals earlier this month, is pleased with her grass-court form ahead of Wimbledon, which starts on Monday.

Defeating Keys, ranked 12th and a two-time Eastbourne champion, only bolsters her confidence for the upcoming Grand Slam event.

“We’ve been working super hard the past couple of months [and] the past couple of years, so I am super happy with the results these past few weeks,” said Fernandez.

“It’s good preparation for Wimbledon, but we are just going to focus on [Saturday’s] final.”

Carlos Alcaraz to Participate in Charlotte Invitational Exhibition This December

Carlos Alcaraz will be spending time in North Carolina this December.

The 21-year-old Spanish tennis player and defending Wimbledon champion will take part in a tennis exhibition in Charlotte on December 6.

Carlos AlcarazThe third-ranked Alcaraz will face Frances Tiafoe in one match, while Madison Keys and Sloane Stephens will meet in another at the Spectrum Center, home of the Charlotte Hornets.

“All eyes will be on Charlotte as some of the biggest names in tennis face off in an event unlike any other,” Charlotte Sports Foundation executive director Danny Morrison said. “Expect unparalleled, elevated hospitality that only the Queen City can provide and, of course, elite competition in a sport that’s captivated the world.”

Alcaraz won this year’s French Open, making him the youngest male tennis player to win a Grand Slam on all three playing surfaces – hard, clay and grass.

“I am appreciative for the opportunity to compete in the Charlotte Invitational this December,” Alcaraz said. “Fans can expect an incredible night and we look forward to providing an unforgettable experience for all in attendance.”

Match times are still to be determined.

Tickets for the event will go on sale in the middle of July.

Beatriz Haddad Maia Defeats Zheng Qinwen to Win WTA Elite Trophy

Beatriz Haddad Maia has another title under her belt…

The 27-year-old Brazilian professional tennis player has claimed her third career WTA tour title by defeating seventh-seeded Zheng Qinwen 7-6 (11), 7-6 (4) to win the WTA Elite Trophy on Sunday.

Beatriz Haddad MaiaHaddad Maia, the eighth seed, needed 2 hours, 51 minutes to edge past Zheng in a tight battle, which ended the top Chinese player’s win streak at eight matches.

The 19th-ranked Haddad Maia maintained her perfect record this week with her fourth consecutive straight-sets victory. Her semifinal win over 17th-ranked Daria Kasatkina followed her opening upset victory over second-seeded Madison Keys and then Caroline Garcia to win the group.

It’s Haddad Maia’s first title on hard courts and first since Birmingham in 2022.

Her performance in Zhuhai was a welcome return to form for the 2023 French Open semifinalist who had only one win in three previous tournaments as part of the tour’s Asia swing.

Zheng, who won the Zhengzhou Open this month and the gold medal at the Asian Games in September, was just the second Chinese player to make the final of the WTA Elite Trophy after Wang Qiang finished runner-up to former world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty in 2018.

The 12-player tournament was the first postseason event on the women’s tour. It featured the 11 highest-ranked singles players who did not qualify for next month’s WTA Finals in Cancun, Mexico. Zhu Lin, whom Zheng beat in the semifinals, was the final entry as a wild card.

Beatriz Haddad Maia Defeats Daria Kasatkina to Reach WTA Elite Trophy Final

Beatriz Haddad Maia is heading to her first final of the year…

The 27-year-old Brazilian professional tennis player, the eighth seed, defeated sixth-seeded Daria Kasatkina 6-4, 6-1 on Saturday to reach the WTA Elite Trophy final.

Beatriz Haddad Maia19th-ranked Haddad Maia maintained her perfect record this week with her third consecutive straight-sets victory.

The 93-minute win over the 17th-ranked Kasatkina followed her opening upset victory over second-seeded Madison Keys and then Caroline Garcia to win the group.

Haddad Maia’s victory came on the back of her strong serve as she won 80% of her first-service points and never faced a break point against the Russian player.

She’ll face China’s top player Zheng Qinwen in the final.

Qinwen prevailed against compatriot Zhu Lin 7-5, 4-6, 6-1 to become just the second Chinese player to make the final of the WTA Elite Trophy.

The 12-player tournament is the first postseason event on the women’s tour. It features the 11 highest-ranked singles players who did not qualify for next month’s WTA Finals in Cancun, Mexico. Zhu was the final entry as a wild card.

Caroline Garcia Defeats Aryna Sabalenka to Reach Western & Southern Open Final

Caroline Garcia is one win away from another WTA title…

The 28-year-old half-Spanish French tennis player won her seventh straight match, beating sixth-seeded Aryna Sabalenka 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 on Saturday to reach the Western & Southern Open final.

Caroline GarciaIn the process, Garcia has become the first qualifier to reach the final in Cincinnati.

There were two rain stoppages during the match, totaling four hours. Garcia took the first set, but following an almost 2½-hour delay, Sabalenka forced a third set.

The second rain delay came with Garcia leading 3-1 in the third. But once play resumed, she made quick work of the Belarusian, winning three straight games to become the first qualifier to reach the finals in a WTA 1000 event.

“No one expected it, that’s for sure,” Garcia said. “It’s a long way to come from [qualifiers]. It’s one match at a time. Try to take the best from every match and improve through the tournament.”

Garcia will face Petra Kvitova, who outlasted Madison Keys 6-7 (6), 6-4, 6-3 in the other semifinal match.

It will be the ninth meeting between Kvitova and Garcia, with Kvitova winning five, including two straight wins in Miami and Madrid.

“She’s a great champion,” Garcia said. “You have to play faster and move better on court against a player like this. It’s a great challenge for me to play against Petra.”

Carla Suarez Navarro Defeats Maria Sharapova to Advance to the US Open Quarterfinals

It’s a birthday to remember for Carla Suarez Navarro

The Spanish tennis player ended former World No. 1 Maria Sharapova‘s perfect record in night matches at the US Open, reaching the quarterfinals with a 6-4, 6-3 victory Monday on her 30th birthday.

Carla Suarez Navarro

Suarez Navarro, the No. 30 seed at Flushing Meadows, face 2017 runner-up Madison Keys in her bid to reach the first Grand Slam semifinal of her career.

Sharapova, seeded 22nd, had been 22-0 under the lights in Arthur Ashe Stadium. The 2006 champion has lost in the fourth round of her past three appearances.

“Just a little too up-and-down,” is the way Sharapova described her performance Monday.

Sharapova collected the trophy in New York at age 19 in 2006 and owns a total of five Grand Slam titles, but the Russian was far shakier during this match than Suarez Navarro, who never has made it past the quarterfinals at a major.

The Spaniard will be at that stage for the second time at the US Open, five years after her other run to that round.

“A really complete performance,” is the way she described her play.

Suarez Navarro let the 22nd-seeded Sharapova create her own problems.

Sharapova had all sorts of trouble serving, repeatedly catching wayward ball tosses and committing eight double faults. She was broken in six of her 10 service games.

During lengthy exchanges from the baseline, Sharapova often blinked first, although a couple of times the righty managed to switch her racket to her left hand for a desperation shot to extend a point.

While both women finished with 15 winners, Sharapova had nearly twice as many unforced errors as Suarez Navarro, 38-20.

“I didn’t take care of the chances that I had. By ‘chances,’ I mean the balls that were a little bit shorter. I hesitated to move forward,” Sharapova said. “The balls where I did attack, I made unforced errors, especially on that inside-out forehand today.”

Since her championship, Sharapova has only once made it to the quarterfinals at the US Open — in 2012, when she lost in the semifinals. Since then, the best she has done are fourth-round exits in 2014, 2017 and 2018.

After this latest loss, Sharapova was asked whether she envisions herself getting back to her best in the future.

“First of all, if I didn’t have the belief to keep doing this and to keep having the motivation and the grind of doing this every day in order to get myself in these positions, I don’t think I would be here. I think I’ve done plenty in my career, established a lot for myself personally, professionally,” she replied.

“The belief is not something that I’m eager to show everybody else,” Sharapova continued. “The belief matters most when it’s internal and when you have a passion for something. If you don’t, it’s your choice to not continue that, not for anyone else to tell you so.”

Muguruza Defeats Caroline Wozniacki to Reach the Wimbledon Quarterfinals

It’s a little splendor in the grass for Garbine Muguruza

The 21-year-old Venezuelan-Spanish professional tennis player upset former World No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki in the fourth round at Wimbledon, reaching the last-eight at the prestigious All-England Club for the first time in her career.

Garbine Muguruza

Muguruza, seeded No. 20, defeated No. 5 seed Wozniacki in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4.

Both players had opportunities in a tight opening set, but it was Muguruza that took hers, claiming the solitary break when the Dane framed a forehand beyond the baseline. Despite a lapse in concentration at the start of the second, Muguruza displayed her growing maturity by wrestling back the momentum, producing a brilliant game – including one inspired backhand lob – to break for a 5-4 lead, then holding her nerve to serve out the match in a fraught final game.

“It means a lot because I haven’t played a lot matches on grass, so I didn’t know how to prepare for Wimbledon,” Muguruza said. “I think it’s like the third time I play here. So for me was something new. That’s why it’s special.

With the win, Muguruza becomes the first Spanish woman to reach the quarterfinals at Wimbledon since Conchita Martinez – who was announced as the new Spanish Davis Cup captain on Monday – in 2001.

Muguruza’s victory means it’s guaranteed that the Wimbledon ladies’ finalist from the bottom half of the draw will be ranked outside the top 10.

Muguruza next faces Swiss No. 15 seed Timea Bacsinszky after she fought back from a set down to beat Romanian Monica Niculescu 1-6, 7-5, 6-2.

The other quarterfinal match in the bottom half will be contested on Tuesday by big-serving American Madison Keys and Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska.

Puig Reaches Her First-Ever WTA Final at the Internationaux de Strasbourg

Monica Puig is thisclose to earning her first WTA title…

In a semifinal showdown featuring two of the WTA‘s rising stars, the 20-year-old Puerto Rican pro tennis player beat 19-year-old American Madison Keys at the Internationaux de Strasbourg to reach her first WTA final.

Monica Puig

Puig, who was competing in her first WTA semifinal, won four straight games down a break at 3-2 in the second set for a 7-5, 6-3 triumph – her eighth over a Top 50 player.

“It was a really tough match against Madison,” said Puig, currently ranked No. 56 in the world. “I have a lot of respect for her. She’s one of the up-and-comers, like me and a bunch of other girls. She’s really aggressive and is always going for her shots. She has a really amazing serve. It was very tricky.

“I knew I had to grab the opportunity. If not, it would be gone and lost forever. It’s happened on other occasions where I haven’t taken advantage. I knew once I had it in my hands, I couldn’t afford to let it go. I’m really happy with the way I fought and was able to put negative moments behind me and focus on what I had to do next.”

Puig, who hasn’t dropped a set this week, will face off against Spain’s Sílvia Soler-Espinosa in Saturday’s final.

“One of my goals is to win a WTA event,” Puig said. “I’m really close to it. It has been a difficult beginning to the year. To see how I’ve progressed in Rome last week and how I’m playing this week is just amazing. I’m really happy with the work I’ve been doing with my new coach, and I can see that the results are starting to pay off already.”

Soler-Espinosa rallied from a set and 5-3 down for a 5-7, 7-6(7), 6-3 victory over American Christina McHale. Not only that, but she had a match point against her at 6-5 in the second set and was down 5-1 in the second set tie-break. The second set alone lasted an hour and 18 minutes and the match ran two hours and 46 minutes. Like Puig, this will be Soler-Espinosa’s first WTA final, and she will be Strasbourg’s first qualifier in the final since Karolina Sprem in 2003.

“I’ve been fighting for this moment for 26 years,” Soler-Espinosa said. “I’m really happy and excited.”

In Puig and Soler-Espinosa’s sole encounter previously, Puig pulled out a 6-2

Garcia: The Unofficial MVP During France’s Fed Cup Matches Against the United States

Caroline Garcia is having a banner year… And, she’s got this week’s Fed Cup results to prove it.

The 20-year-old half-Spanish tennis player almost singlehandedly led France to a 3-2 upset of the United States in the international Fed Cup competition on Sunday.

Caroline Garcia

Garcia had a hand in all three of her country’s victories. She beat the USA’s Madison Keys and Sloane Stephens in singles matches early in the meet before joining teammate Virginie Razzano to win the decisive doubles match.

“I’m not sure what I’m doing differently,” she said. “I don’t know. I guess it’s working, so I’ll try to keep doing it, whatever it is.”

France qualified for the World Group in 2015 and will compete for the Fed Cup championship.

The USA is relegated to World Group II for next year.

Garcia and Razzano beat Stephens and Keys 6-2, 7-5 in the fifth and deciding match of the best-of-five, two-day competition held at Chaifetz Arena on the campus of Saint Louis University.

Garcia, ranked 51st in the world, came from out of nowhere to capture her first WTA championships in winning both the singles and double titles in the Claro Open Colsanitas in Bogota, Columbia, on April 13.

She carried the momentum from those victories into the Fed Cup.

“She was totally amazing, unbelievable,” France captain Amelie Mauresmo said. “She really rose to the occasion and was fearless.”

Garcia and Razzano used a pair of nifty passing shots to break Stephens’ serve in the 11th game of the second set. The pair won the lengthy 14-point game to take a 6-5 lead. Razzano then served out the match.

Garcia began her run by beating Stephens 6-3, 6-2 in the opening match on Saturday.

“She was the star of the weekend,” USA captain Mary Jo Fernandez said. “I never thought that she got nervous in any of the matches. She’s really aggressive and it’s all coming together.”

France played Sunday without its top player, Alize Cornet, who suffered a groin injury in a three-set loss to Keys on Saturday.

Fernandez took a chance on using Keys and Stephens in the series-deciding doubles match. The duo of Lauren Davis and Christina McHalewas originally slated to play.

But Fernandez chose to go with the two singles players even though they were coming off tough matches earlier in the day. Keys had just 35 minutes of rest after her loss to Garcia.

“I was trying to go with the players that had big weapons and (could) impose their game on the French,” Fernandez said.

Said Keys: “Not very often do you finish a match and go out again (35) minutes later. I was a little bit more tired.”