Tag: Tennis

SHARAPOVA BACK WITH A BANG

Maria Sharapova has returned with a bang after over a year on the sidelines.


She returned to a victory in the first round of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, getting past Italian Roberta Vinci 7-5, 6-3. During a makeshift interview at the Porsche Arena, she said she had been “waiting for this moment for a long time.”

The tennis star was found guilty of drug abuse. She was banned for two years but she appealed the sentence at the Court of Arbitration (CAS) where she won a reduction to 15 months. She complained that she had a heart issue, aside others, that necessitated her taking a Latvian-produced drug meldonium. She said she was oblivious that the drug was added to the list of banned substance in 2016 by the Anti Doping Agency. The drug is not approved for sale in the United States, and it helps her increase oxygen flow to her heart.

As she returned the biggest questions were the issue of her return after a long time out and her travails during the appeal. There were rumours that the focus of any interview would be the game but so many questions needed answers. Ahead of the game, top stars like Caroline Wozniacki and Angelique Kerber asked that Sharapova not get a wild card for the event and Sharapova’s agent blasted them. Sharapova also put the ITF on blast for not publicizing the banning of meldonium. Continue reading SHARAPOVA BACK WITH A BANG

FORMER CRICKETER WINS FIRST WTA TITLE

A former cricketer in Ashleigh Barty has claimed her first WTA singles title in Malaysia after she made the move to return to her first love.


Barty is a former Wimbledon junior champion but decided to take a break from the game during her teenage years.

Barty decided to re-commit herself to the sport after a long time out. After more than a year, she has started receiving dividends of the decision by winning her first professional tennis tournament. She saw off six players before making it to the final. She defeated Japan international Nao Hibino in the final to lift the title in Kuala Lampur.

“I think it was very unexpected going into the week, we just wanted to come here and play some good tennis and maybe squeak out three-five matches, including doubles. Even if we didn’t walk away with a title, it would have been a fantastic week. Continue reading FORMER CRICKETER WINS FIRST WTA TITLE

Martina Hingis says she had not expected herself to have the kind of season

Martina Hingis says she had not expected herself to have the kind of season she has had this year.

Hingis emerged the winner of as many as 5 Slam trophies, all partnering with the Indian players.

She clinched the Australian Open, the Wimbledon and the US Open mixed doubles titles with Leander Paes and the Wimbledon and the US Open doubles title with Sania Mirza.

The Swiss veteran is currently in India to take part in a team event and she took time out of her busy schedule for an exclusive interview to a newspaper.

She spoke heartily of India and also expressed her love for the food that she has had there.

In the words of Hingis, “It’s a beautiful country, India. The thing which is the most impressive over here is the food. The sweets, I absolutely love them. Gulab jamun, I’ve been ordering on a daily basis.”

When asked if there is any particular historical place she has visited in India or has planned to visit, Hingis said, “No, not yet. But, I have heard a lot about Charminar. So, I would like to go and have a look.”

On her grand success in the professional circuit this season, Hingis admitted that she had not foreseen herself clinching so many titles. Continue reading Martina Hingis says she had not expected herself to have the kind of season

AZARENKA AIMS HIGH

Victoria Azarenka has probably been the only player in the recent times who has matched Serena Williams in terms of class and ability.

But, Azarenka has not been as lucky as Serena fitness wise. She has had to go through an enormously grieving period with injuries continuously haunting her. Not only did she lose her no. 1 status because of injury issues, she just kept on slipping southwards and currently, finds herself outside top 30 in the rankings. Continue reading AZARENKA AIMS HIGH

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga not happy to Feature with France Team

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga reckons he should not have featured for his team France in the title round Davis Cup tie versus Switzerland.

Tsonga was not 100% ahead of that tie. He had had a few issues with his arm. But, he took painkillers and decided to get through it somehow.

However, that went in vain as he failed to guide France to the title. He actually ended up aggravating that arm problem of his while playing in first of the two singles matches.

He could not even play the reverse singles due to the injury. Continue reading Jo-Wilfried Tsonga not happy to Feature with France Team