Latest news with #womenssingles
South China Morning Post
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Macau's Zhu claims WTT US Smash victory, then hails ‘eye-catching' display by Chen
Macau's Zhu Yuling won the World Table Tennis (WTT) US Smash women's singles title in Las Vegas on Sunday, and then praised the 'eye-catching' performance of her beaten opponent Chen Yi. Chen had captured the imagination of fans in mainland China after eliminating some of the game's biggest stars, including world No 1 Sun Yingsha, en route to the final. But Zhu, herself a former world No 1, battled back from two games down to win 7-11, 8-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-9, 11-8 at the Orleans Arena. 'I hope everyone will give Chen a round of applause,' Zhu said. 'Her performance was very eye-catching. 'She has experience beyond her age, and watching her was like seeing myself when I was younger.' Zhu Yuling (right) came back from behind to beat Chen at the WTT United States Smash on Sunday. Photo: Handout Zhu, who also urged Chen to 'be yourself' and ignore what the outside world thinks, said it was a game of fine margins.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
The One Where Iga Swiatek Got A Hug from Courteney Cox After Winning Wimbledon
Courteney Cox, center, and Johnny McDaid celebrate with Poland's Iga Swiatek as she greets her coaches, friends and family after beating Amanda Anisimova of the U.S. to win the women's singles final at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Saturday, July 12, 2025.(Andrew Matthews, PA via AP) Iga Swiatek of Poland celebrates winning the women's singles final match against Amanda Anisimova of the U.S. at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Saturday, July 12, 2025.(AP Photo/Joanna Chan) Courteney Cox, center, and Johnny McDaid celebrate with Poland's Iga Swiatek as she greets her coaches, friends and family after beating Amanda Anisimova of the U.S. to win the women's singles final at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Saturday, July 12, 2025.(Andrew Matthews, PA via AP) Courteney Cox, center, and Johnny McDaid celebrate with Poland's Iga Swiatek as she greets her coaches, friends and family after beating Amanda Anisimova of the U.S. to win the women's singles final at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Saturday, July 12, 2025.(Andrew Matthews, PA via AP) Courteney Cox, center, and Johnny McDaid celebrate with Poland's Iga Swiatek as she greets her coaches, friends and family after beating Amanda Anisimova of the U.S. to win the women's singles final at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Saturday, July 12, 2025.(Andrew Matthews, PA via AP) Iga Swiatek of Poland celebrates winning the women's singles final match against Amanda Anisimova of the U.S. at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Saturday, July 12, 2025.(AP Photo/Joanna Chan) Courteney Cox, center, and Johnny McDaid celebrate with Poland's Iga Swiatek as she greets her coaches, friends and family after beating Amanda Anisimova of the U.S. to win the women's singles final at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Saturday, July 12, 2025.(Andrew Matthews, PA via AP) LONDON (AP) — Call this episode of Iga Swiatek's marvelous tennis career 'The One Where Iga Swiatek Got A Hug from Courteney Cox After Winning Wimbledon.' Swiatek is a huge fan of the TV sitcom 'Friends,' and actress Courteney Cox — who played Monica Geller on the show — was at Centre Court on Saturday when the Polish star's 6-0, 6-0 victory over Amanda Anisimova earned her a championship at the All England Club and sixth Grand Slam title overall. Advertisement When the match ended, Swiatek went into the stands for celebratory embraces, including one from Cox. Shortly before the start of last year's French Open, Swiatek hit some tennis balls for fun with the actress. Then, after Swiatek won that tournament for the fourth time, she wore custom-made white sneakers that her shoe sponsor stenciled with the words, ' The One Where She Wins Her Fifth Grand Slam ' in all capital letters, a nod to the way the names of 'Friends' were titled. ___ More AP tennis:
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Who is Amanda Anisimova? The teenage prodigy who went from world number 191 to Wimbledon finalist
Amanda Anisimova will face Iga Swiatek in the women's singles final at Wimbledon on Saturday afternoon after the American beat world number one Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in the last four. The 13th seed completed a deserved win over Sabalenka in a dramatic match on Centre Court on Thursday, and Sunday will mark a first Grand Slam final for the 23-year-old. Advertisement Her early career had shown plenty of promise, marked by a semi-final at the French Open in 2019 at the age of just 17, though she took a brief career break due to mental health and was ranked 191st in the world this time last year. And a run to the final completes a remarkable turnaround from this time last year, with Anisimova having failed to qualify for the main draw in SW19 in 2024. But who is the American, and what has her career looked like so far? Anisimova made the final of the French Open junior competition in 2016 (Getty Images) Anisimova was born in Florida in 2001, with her parents having emigrated to the States from Russia. She took up tennis at a young age and quickly showed herself as a talented player, becoming junior world number two in 2016. Advertisement And despite only being 23, Asinimova has long been touted as a Grand Slam finalist, having won the US Open girls' title in 2017 by beating Coco Gauff in the final. 2019 would prove to be a breakout year, with the then-17-year-old beating Sabalenka in the second round and defending champion Simona Halep in the quarter-finals of the French Open. Though she would lose in the semi-finals to eventual champion Ashleigh Barty, a first WTA title win cemented her status as a promising Grand Slam contender. Anisimova was in shock at the win over Sabalenka, saying that making the final was "indescribable" (Getty Images) However, the death of her father and coach Konstantin before the US Open in 2019 stopped the youngster in her tracks, and it wasn't until 2022 that she had another run in a Grand Slam, reaching the quarter-finals at Wimbledon. Advertisement She then missed much of the 2023 season for mental health reasons, eventually returning in 2024 when ranked outside the top 400 players in the world. Last year at Wimbledon, she lost in the third round of qualifying while ranked 191st in the world, and she is now only the second player in the Open era to reach a women's singles Grand Slam final after losing in qualifying at the previous year's event. "To be honest, if you told me I would be in the final of Wimbledon I would not believe you. Especially not this soon," Anisimova said after her semi-final win. "It's been a year's turnaround. To be in the final is just indescribable, honestly." Anisimova will be playing the first Grand Slam final of her career on Sunday (Getty Images) Her performances this year have been mixed, with the American losing to Emma Raducanu in the early rounds of the Australian Open and the Miami Open, while she also exited the Madrid and Rome Open at the round of 64 stage. Advertisement However, she has picked up form in the lead-up to Wimbledon, reaching the fourth round at the French Open – where she lost to Sabalenka – and then the final at Queens last month. She will enter the top 10 in the world rankings after Wimbledon, taking her to a career-high ranking. It seems that the American has taken to the grass courts in the UK, perhaps illustrated by the difference in results from the match against Sabalenka at Roland Garros. The 23-year-old served well in the win over the world number one while also showcasing her impressive backhand – something that has earned her a reputation as one of the best returners in the women's game. Anisimova has already guaranteed a career-high ranking with her run at Wimbledon (Getty Images) After her semi-final victory, Anisimova said that 'a lot of people told me that you would never make it to the top again if you take so much time away from the game'. Advertisement "Just me being able to prove that you can get back to the top if you prioritise yourself [has] been incredibly special to me,' she explained. And she could yet go one better this weekend, with the chance to write herself in the annals of Wimbledon history in Sunday's final.
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Touching moment Kate is told not to be 'nervous' before Wimbledon final by girl, 8, who survived brain injury
An eight-year-old girl told the Princess of Wales not to be 'nervous' while presenting the trophy of the women's singles final at Wimbledon. Kate, who is patron of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, waved as she received a standing ovation on Centre Court on Saturday. The princess presented the trophy to Iga Swiatek, who won the title for the first time after thrashing Amanda Anisimova 6-0 6-0 in the final which lasted only 57 minutes. Kate consoled Anisimova, who is the first player to be 'double bagelled' in a Wimbledon final since 1911, as she collected her runner's up trophy. Ahead of the final, the princess, wearing a white belted jacket and pleated skirt, met eight-year-old Lydia Lowe, who performed the coin toss at the women's wheelchair final. After shaking her hand, the princess asked the eight-year-old whether she was 'nervous' about the coin toss, adding: 'Have you got any advice for me? Because I've got to go out.' Lydia, who suffered a brain injury in January last year, leaving her visually impaired and having to relearn to walk, talk and eat, replied: 'Don't be nervous. Take deep breaths.' Kate told Lydia that she was a 'pro' and asked her 'what does it mean to you to come and do this?', with the eight-year-old replying: 'It means loads to me.' The princess added that she wanted to say 'well done' and celebrate Lydia's 'bravery'. Lydia performed the coin toss while representing the Dan Maskell Tennis Trust, a charity supporting people with disabilities who play tennis by providing them with specialist equipment and grants. Kate also met Sophie Kneen, 12, who was selected to perform the coin toss at the women's singles final, representing the AFC Wimbledon Foundation. Speaking after meeting the future queen, Sophie said 'It was so, so good, and I'm really honoured to be able to meet her. 'She asked me a bit about the charity I'm with and I said how they try and encourage young girls to play sports.' Accompanied by All England Club chairwoman Deborah Jevans, Kate also congratulated women's wheelchair singles champion Wang Ziying and asked her whether the final was a 'good game'. The princess said to the Chinese player: 'It's very hot playing in this weather, isn't it? 'It must be nice to celebrate at Wimbledon.' The Princess of Wales with AELTC chair Deborah Jevans leaving the All England Club Lydia performed the coin toss while representing the Dan Maskell Tennis Trust, a charity supporting people with disabilities to play tennis Princess of Wales smiles as she greets tennis legend Martina Navratilova in the Royal Box on Centre Court ahead of the women's singles final Kate, who donned a bow-shaped brooch in the Wimbledon colours of purple and green, also spoke with Jefferson Iweh, a ticket sales operator, Bob Flint, an honorary steward and Wimbledon foundation host Shaniah Williams. The princess told Mr Flint, 75, who first worked at the championships in 1980: 'Well done for all the years of commitment and dedication.' Asked about meeting the princess, Ms Williams, 23, said: 'It was an absolute privilege to actually meet and have a conversation with her. She's so beautiful. 'It was really nice to catch up with her and tell her a bit about my role.' Last year, the princess presented the Wimbledon men's final trophy to Carlos Alcaraz in her second public engagement since she announced her cancer diagnosis. The Princess of Wales's parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, were seen in the Royal Box on Monday, with the Duchess of Edinburgh and the Duchess of Gloucester also in attendance. The Queen told tennis star Novak Djokovic that she was keeping her 'fingers crossed' as she visited Wimbledon on Wednesday. The Princess Royal's son Peter Phillips attended the championships on Wednesday, with Hugh Grant and former prime minister Sir John Major also in the Royal Box. Olympic champion Sir Mo Farah, former footballer Ian Wright and Welsh singer Katherine Jenkins were among the notable names to attend a hot day at Wimbledon on Saturday. Temperatures are forecast to peak at around 30C and fall short of a record for a women's singles final day, with 31.2C having been recorded on the day of the 1976 final between Chris Evert and Evonne Goolagong Cawley. Met Office meteorologist Greg Dewhurst said: 'There will be blue skies at Wimbledon throughout the day, so it will feel hot, with very high UV levels and a light wind. 'There might be a little bit more cloud around tomorrow, making it a degree lower.' The men's singles semi-final on Friday between Carlos Alcaraz and Taylor Fritz was stopped twice in less than five minutes because of crowd emergencies, amid temperatures of 32C on Centre Court. Three fans also needed attention on Centre Court on Thursday in similarly hot conditions. The men's singles final on Sunday, with highs of 29C predicted, is unlikely to break the record of the warmest closing day on record of 34.1C recorded on July 3, 1976. The extreme heat during the 1976 tournament prompted organisers to allow umpires to remove their jackets. Wimbledon has said the heat rule will apply for all singles events for players, which allows for a 10-minute break when the wet bulb globe temperature is at or above 30.1C. The rule will apply after the second set for all best-of-three-set matches, and after the third set for all best-of-five-set matches. Players may leave the court during the break, but they may not receive coaching or medical treatment.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
The One Where Iga Swiatek Got A Hug from Courteney Cox After Winning Wimbledon
Courteney Cox, center, and Johnny McDaid celebrate with Poland's Iga Swiatek as she greets her coaches, friends and family after beating Amanda Anisimova of the U.S. to win the women's singles final at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Saturday, July 12, 2025.(Andrew Matthews, PA via AP) Iga Swiatek of Poland celebrates winning the women's singles final match against Amanda Anisimova of the U.S. at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Saturday, July 12, 2025.(AP Photo/Joanna Chan) Courteney Cox, center, and Johnny McDaid celebrate with Poland's Iga Swiatek as she greets her coaches, friends and family after beating Amanda Anisimova of the U.S. to win the women's singles final at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Saturday, July 12, 2025.(Andrew Matthews, PA via AP) Courteney Cox, center, and Johnny McDaid celebrate with Poland's Iga Swiatek as she greets her coaches, friends and family after beating Amanda Anisimova of the U.S. to win the women's singles final at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Saturday, July 12, 2025.(Andrew Matthews, PA via AP) Courteney Cox, center, and Johnny McDaid celebrate with Poland's Iga Swiatek as she greets her coaches, friends and family after beating Amanda Anisimova of the U.S. to win the women's singles final at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Saturday, July 12, 2025.(Andrew Matthews, PA via AP) Iga Swiatek of Poland celebrates winning the women's singles final match against Amanda Anisimova of the U.S. at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Saturday, July 12, 2025.(AP Photo/Joanna Chan) Courteney Cox, center, and Johnny McDaid celebrate with Poland's Iga Swiatek as she greets her coaches, friends and family after beating Amanda Anisimova of the U.S. to win the women's singles final at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Saturday, July 12, 2025.(Andrew Matthews, PA via AP) LONDON (AP) — Call this episode of Iga Swiatek's marvelous tennis career 'The One Where Iga Swiatek Got A Hug from Courteney Cox After Winning Wimbledon.' Swiatek is a huge fan the TV sitcom 'Friends,' and actress Courteney Cox — who played Monica Geller on the show — was at Centre Court on Saturday when the Polish star's 6-0, 6-0 victory over Amanda Anisimova earned her a championship at the All England Club and sixth Grand Slam title overall. Advertisement When the match ended, Swiatek went into the stands for celebratory embraces, including one from Cox. Shortly before the start of last year's French Open, Swiatek hit some tennis balls for fun with the actress. Then, after Swiatek won that tournament for the fourth time, she wore custom-made white sneakers that her shoe sponsor stenciled with the words, ' The One Where She Wins Her Fifth Grand Slam ' in all capital letters, a nod to the way the names of 'Friends' were titled. ___ More AP tennis:
