Alize Cornet, aged 34, revealed in an interview on Canal+ that she will conclude her professional tennis career by competing in front of a home crowd at the 2024 French Open.
The former world No.11 Cornet, with an impressive Open Era record of competing in 68 consecutive Grand Slam tournaments, will retire following her 69th consecutive major appearance, a streak that started at the 2007 Australian Open. Cornet’s Grand Slam journey began at just 15 years old when she made her main-draw debut at Roland Garros in 2005. Two decades later, she will bid farewell to her beloved sport at the same venue.
Currently ranked No.107, Cornet is expected to receive a wildcard for the main draw of Roland Garros 2024, marking her 20th consecutive appearance at the prestigious tournament in Paris.
Cornet has secured six WTA singles titles in her career. The last tournament she won was the 2018 Ladies’ Championship Gstaad. Known as a giant-killer, Cornet has amassed a total of 25 wins against Top 10 players. Most notably, the Frenchwoman defeated Serena Williams three times in 2014, all while the American held the world No.1 ranking. Another significant victory came at Wimbledon in 2022 when she halted Iga Swiatek’s 37-match winning streak, the longest of the century, in the third round.
Among her other career highlights are reaching the quarterfinals of the 2022 Australian Open and advancing to the second week of all four major tournaments. She has represented France at the Olympics on four occasions and was a member of the country’s Billie Jean King Cup team for 14 years.
Professional tennis player Maria Timofeeva faced a distressing situation while in Spain for the Mutua Madrid Open tournament. After being robbed in Spain six months ago, the world No.99 returned to the country only to find herself the victim of a robbery once again, leaving her shaken and seeking advice from her followers on social media.
The 20-year-old Timofeeva took to her Instagram story to share the unfortunate news, revealing that she had been robbed of a significant amount of money. “I’ve been robbed, again!” she shared, expressing her shock and disbelief at the situation.
The incident occurred over a few days while Timofeeva was in Madrid, with the thief making unauthorized purchases totaling over 10,000 euros using her bank account. The purchases were made in Madrid, in the area where the WTA player is staying. Timofeeva expressed her confusion, as she believed her card was always in her possession, except for one instance when she left it in her hotel room while it was being cleaned.
Despite the need for a confirmation code for online purchases, Timofeeva did not receive any texts for such transactions, further adding to her confusion. “This is getting out of control,” she lamented, highlighting the recurrence of such incidents whenever she visits Spain.
Timofeeva’s debit card was blocked by her bank only after the substantial amount had been spent, as the bank had limited communication options and did not contact her sooner. She clarified that she did not use ATMs during her stay and only used her card at the official hotel of the tournament to pay for her coach’s room.
In response to the theft, Timofeeva plans to file a report with the police, hoping for a resolution to the situation. She also reached out to her followers for advice, particularly from those who may have experienced similar circumstances.
Nicole Gibbs, the retired American tennis player, and her husband, Jack Brody, welcomed their second child, a baby boy named Summer Lee, on April 22, 2024. The couple joyfully announced the news on Instagram, where Gibbs shared heartwarming photos of their newborn alongside their first child, Sky, who has now become a proud big sister.
In a touching caption, the 31-year-old Gibbs wrote: “Summer Lee made us a family of four and promoted Sky to big sister. We’re already so proud of both of them.” The Instagram post also included a sweet video of two-year-old Sky gently covering her baby brother with plush toys, saying, “Nice and cozy baby Summer.”
The tennis community poured in their congratulations, with Shelby Rogers commenting, “Congratulations! Just precious! Definitely nice n cozy. What a great big sis already!” Naomi Broady, a mother of twins, expressed her joy at the video, saying, “I think my heart just burst at Sky on the last slide.”
Additionally, among the first to congratulate the happy parents were tennis stars Caroline Wozniacki, Serena Williams, Monica Puig, and Asia Muhammad.
In a world where male characteristics are often perceived as superior, tennis reflects this trend. Diane from Women Who Serve guides us through the intricate realm of gender perceptions in this sport. By shedding light on moments where even WTA players show a preference for men’s tennis, we uncover the deep-seated social constructs shaping these perspectives. Join us as we delve into this complex topic, challenging traditional assumptions in the world of tennis.
Hailey Baptiste
In 2022, young American WTA player Hailey Baptiste, in an interview in Charleston, told Pam Shriver that every shot in tennis was executed better by ATP players. (She also revealed that she’d named her pet after one of the ATP’s kings of sexism–a man who was given a pass throughout his career for that sexism.) No one noticed. Well, I did, and I reported on it, but Baptiste was/is hardly a tennis household name.
Now world number 2 Aryna Sabalenka has revealed that she prefers to watch men’s tennis; she stated that there was more strategy in the men’s game and that she finds it more interesting to watch. Now three (so far) camps have formed on X: those who think that Sabalenka has betrayed the WTA, those who think that it’s ridiculous to ever watch women’s tennis, and those who think that women’s tennis is fine, but that it’s more exciting to watch players who are faster and stronger.
Aryna Sabalenka
The second camp has always been with us and always will be. But, as I said to someone in the third camp (and yes, it was a total waste of my time to say it), the belief that stronger and faster, i.e. male attributes, are “better” is a a product of socialization. What if we were taught that crafty and flexible were “better”? Or that the greatest skill lies in playing while sitting down and rolling on wheels?
The second camp (and perhaps some in the third) rely on the “a man could beat Serena Williams” argument. Well, duh. Men are physically stronger–haven’t they heard? The reason that I hated the Battle of the Sexes and wish that Billie Jean King had never participated in it is that it promoted the idea that tennis is tennis, when actually, men’s and women’s tennis are very different from one another. King shouldn’t have had to defeat a man to prove that she was an elite athlete. Yet the same people who like to remind us that men and women are different seem to forget that when it comes to sport.
I wish that Sabalenka hadn’t said what she said, but she’s never had much of an editor, so it wasn’t a surprise. I’ve never believed that stronger and faster is “better;” my favorite player of all time to watch was Aga Radwanska. I appreciate and enjoy (most of the time) hard hitting, but I don’t consider it to be superior hitting.
I used to watch a lot of ATP matches, but I don’t now–not because of the tennis–which I enjoy–but because so many of the players are so sexist, and I don’t enjoy watching people who consider me inferior.
The Sabalenka comment will be a thing for a while, and then fans and so-called fans will move on to something else. But the belief that male attributes are always superior to female attributes will, I’m afraid, not fade away.
How do you perceive the differences between men’s and women’s tennis? Do you believe that societal norms influence these perceptions, or do individual preferences play a greater role? Tell us in the comments below.
The 2024 Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Seville are set to feature an exciting new format, with a knockout competition replacing the traditional round-robin group stage.
Here’s a summary of the key details:
Dates: The tournament will take place November 12-20, one week later in the season compared to previous years. The last two days of the competition will coincide with the first two days of the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga.
Venue: La Cartuja Stadium in Seville, Spain will host the event.
Format: The tournament, previously comprising 12 national teams divided into four round-robin groups, will now consist of eight teams competing in a knockout round, plus the top four seeded teams advancing directly to the quarterfinals.
Round one ties will be held November 12-14, followed by quarterfinals on November 15-17, and semifinals on November 18-19. The final will be played on Wednesday, November 20.
Reason for change: The format change is based on feedback from players, captains, fans, and broadcasters, as well as the extended WTA calendar. The introduction of this new format promises to deliver an exciting and intense competition for fans and players alike.
Conchita Martinez, a former Spanish tennis player, will return as the Finals Tournament Director for the Billie Jean King Cup. The 2024 events promise to be bigger and better, offering fans an unforgettable experience and showcasing the excitement and passion of these historic competitions.
ITF President David Haggerty said, “We are offering a November to remember in 2024.” He highlighted that the slightly overlapped staging of the women’s and men’s tournaments presents an excellent opportunity to enhance viewership and fan engagement across both World Cup of Tennis competitions. “This is also an exciting way for fans to enjoy both the men’s and women’s events and, by travelling between two cities, take full advantage of the Andalusian region,” he emphasized.
The 12-nation Billie Jean King Cup Finals field features defending champions Canada, runners-up Italy, host nation Spain, wildcard Czechia, qualifiers United States, Australia, Poland, Great Britain, Japan, Slovakia, Romania, and Germany.
To say that Aryna Sabalenka‘s love life is turbulent is an understatement. Last month, the Belarusian tennis star made headlines with the tragic passing of her long-term boyfriend, Konstantin Koltsov, who, unbeknownst to the public, had actually become her ex-partner shortly before his untimely death. A few short weeks later, the 25-year-old femme fatale has already been seen in the company of another man, a race car driver and founder of Oakberry, Georgios Frangulis.
Ex-boyfriend’s tragic death in March
Sabalenka and Belarusian ice hockey player Koltsov made their relationship public in June 2021. It was dramatic in the beginning and tragic at the end. A man with three young children, Koltsov left his ex-wife frustrated when he started dating Sabalenka, even though we have no confirmation that he fell in love with the new woman while still being married. The wife initially called out Sabalenka for breaking up a home, but later on the dust settled and the wife was fine with Sabalenka: “Nice girl. My post a few years ago was dictated by emotions, it was very painful. I loved Konstantin very much… But Sabalenka treated my children well, so I have a normal attitude towards her.”
Ahead of last month’s Miami Open, while Sabalenka was in the city getting ready to play the important tournament, the world was shocked to learn about the sudden passing of her 42-year-old boyfriend Koltsov. Only a few days later did we learn that he was actually her ex at the time. He fell from a hotel balcony, probably intoxicated, and died.
New love with Georgios Frangulis?
The dust has barely settled from this tragedy, and already there are whispers of a new man in Sabalenka’s life. At the Mutua Madrid Open, the world No.2 WTA player was spotted in the arms of a man, reported to be a 35-year-old race car driver and entrepreneur, Georgios Frangulis.
What makes this situation even more interesting is that Frangulis is the founder of Oakberry, the company that announced its partnership with Sabalenka earlier this year. This detail adds weight to the speculation surrounding the relationship. Moreover, on Instagram, he is followed by both Sabalenka and her best friend, Paula Badosa.
Frangulis was born and raised in Brazil. He founded Oakberry in December 2016, a company that specializes in acai products. They offer a range of acai bowls, smoothies, and other treats made with acai berries, which are known for their antioxidant properties and potential health benefits. Oakberry has gained popularity for its healthy and delicious offerings, particularly among health-conscious consumers and those looking for a refreshing and nutritious snack or meal option.
As the new boyfriend rumors started about Sabalenka, people online took note of the fact that he has a wife. He has since deleted a photo with his lady from his Instagram! There’s even an exchange of messages that surfaced online (it could be fake!) where a fan supposedly contacted his wife and she confirmed the news and revealed that she was getting a divorce: “I am married to Georgios. But I will ask for a divorce. They’ve been having an affair since California.”
Belinda Bencic and her partner Martin Hromkovic have welcomed their first child, a baby girl named Bella, adding a new chapter to their long-term relationship.
The Olympic gold medalist gave birth on April 23, 2024, and joyfully shared the news on Instagram with a heartfelt post. The Swiss tennis star posted a touching photo revealing a glimpse of her baby’s profile and her tiny hand holding her mother’s finger, capturing a precious moment between them. In the caption, the happy mom simply wrote, “Our love.”
The new addition to Bencic’s family sparked an outpouring of congratulations from fellow WTA players. Yanina Wickmayer, a fellow tennis mom, welcomed Bencic to “the mom’s club,” describing it as “the best club in the world by far.” Ajla Tomljanovic also extended her congratulations, noting that Taurus babies are the best babies.
Joining in with the well wishes were a host of other former and current WTA players, including Jelena Ostapenko, Alize Lim, Elina Svitolina, Daria Gavrilova, Paula Badosa, Jelena Dokic, Marta Kostyuk, Barbora Strycova, and more.
The announcement of Bella’s arrival comes after Bencic shared her pregnancy with the world in early November, accompanied by a heartwarming photo featuring a pair of tiny, white baby shoes cradled in her and Martin’s hands. Alongside the photo, she expressed the excitement for the arrival of their “little miracle” and their eagerness to meet their baby.
Bencic, 27, last competed at the San Diego Open in September 2023. Throughout her career, she has achieved significant success, including winning her most recent two titles in 2023 at the Abu Dhabi and Adelaide 2 tournaments, bringing her total career titles to eight. Her recent focus has been on her growing family, and fans are thrilled to see this new chapter unfold for the professional athlete.
The 24-year-old Vondrousova, who also won a silver medal at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, has faced a series of challenges in recent weeks. In addition to the breakdown of her marriage, she has also suffered the loss of her beloved grandfather. Vondrousova withdrew from the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells in March to fly home and see her grandfather one last time.
When asked about her recent experiences, Vondrousova shared, “I’m definitely not having a happy time in the last few weeks. My marriage with Stepan ended a few weeks ago, we broke up. He moved out of the shared apartment. Even with a cat. Now we’re all single and we don’t have anyone.”
Reflecting on the end of her marriage, Vondrousova explained, “It just didn’t work out for us. It wasn’t what we both imagined, so we agreed not to be together anymore. Now we are formally resolving the divorce, but we have agreed on everything.”
Despite their short marriage, Vondrousova and Simek shared a relationship that spanned over eight years. Vondrousova continues to cherish the memories of their wedding, as she still keeps her wedding photos on Instagram. Additionally, her bio on the platform continues to read Marketa Simkova (Vondrousova). (source: Blesk.cz)
Caroline Wozniacki, Camila Osorio, and Karolina Pliskova have recently taken photos in their new blue Adidas outfit, which includes the Spring Gameset Tank and Spring Gameset Match Skirt.
Former world No.1 Wozniacki shared a selfie in her latest Adidas ensemble, which she sported at the Charleston Open. The Dane paired it with the Adidas Adizero Cybersonic women’s clay court tennis shoes.
The Adidas Women’s Spring Gameset Tank is a sleek and streamlined top designed for optimal performance on the tennis court. It features a high-cut neckline, racerback, and a breathable mesh insert at the center back. Made with HEAT.RDY moisture-wicking technology, this tank is designed to keep you cool and dry during intense matches. The item is made from 79% recycled polyester and 21% spandex.
The Adidas Women’s Spring Gameset Match Skirt features an elastic waistband, built-in ball short, and inverted side pleats for a slightly flared silhouette. Made from 100% recycled polyester for the skirt and 79% recycled polyester and 21% elastane for the short, this design is sustainable and comfortable. The four-way stretch fabric with HEAT.RDY technology keeps you cool and dry on the court.
After her loss to world No.4 Elena Rybakina in the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix final, world No.21 Marta Kostyuk stirred up discussion for her comments about the varying difficulties in draws across events on the tennis calendar and her perspective on the significance of other players’ results.
Speaking to the press in Stuttgart, Kostyuk’s comments reignited the enduring debate in tennis regarding the differing levels of competition across various tournaments. The Ukrainian, who defeated three Top-10 players en route to the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix final, highlighted the unpredictable nature of tennis. She emphasized that while she could face the highest-ranked players in a 500-level event, other players might reach the final of a Grand Slam without facing a Top-50 opponent, citing Zheng Qinwen’s run at the Australian Open as an example.
While Kostyuk’s comments sparked discussion among tennis fans, some criticized her for publicly undermining her peers’ achievements. They argued that while it’s valid to discuss the differences in draw difficulty, it’s not necessary to call out specific players and belittle their accomplishments.
Marta Kostyuk on differences between Slams & other tournaments
Tennis is different every day, every tournament. I can play a 500 play four out of five matches against top-10 players, but Qinwen this year in Australia, she made it to the final of Australia without facing top-50
This isn’t the first time Kostyuk has been criticized for her outspokenness. Earlier, she compared Emma Raducanu’s US Open victory to Leylah Fernandez’s run, pointing out that Raducanu didn’t face a Top-10 player en route to her title. “Someone can have a very easy draw, and someone can have extremely difficult,” Kostyuk said. “I have an easiest example of when Leylah and Emma were playing the final, what draw Leylah had and what draw Emma had. Emma, no offense, but Leylah was really fighting for her life every single match.”
While these observations may be factually accurate, some feel that Kostyuk’s delivery comes across as dismissive of her colleagues’ successes.
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