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Aryna SabalenkaElena RybakinaSabalenkaATP 500 de PekínAsian GamesBeijingCharlotteCoco Gauff
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Latest WTA articles

Gauff hits out at racist abuse after replayed point in Beijing sparks backlash

Gauff hits out at racist abuse after replayed point in Beijing sparks backlash

Coco Gauff said she had received an "insane" amount of racial abuse on social media after the two-times Grand Slam champion beat local teenager ‌Sun Xinran at the China Open on Monday in a match where a replayed point sparked an online backlash. The American won 7-5 6-1 to reach the fourth round, but was targeted after stopping play during a crucial point in the first set, raising her hand to complain about a flickering advertising board ⁠just as Sun was about to put away a winner. After a video review, the umpire ordered the point to be replayed. Gauff won the replayed point and held serve for 5-5 before cruising to victory against the ‌Chinese 16-year-old. Gauff, 22, said she had received a barrage of abusive messages on social media after the match. "You can dislike me or disagree about what happened without ‌being racist," Gauff, who is Black, said on X early ‌on Tuesday in reply to a post containing a racial slur. "The amount ‌of racist comments/direct messages I've received ‌in the last few hours is insane. "Lastly, I'm not a cheater or a thief." Reuters has contacted the WTA, the governing body ‌of women's tennis, and tournament organisers in Beijing for comment. The ⁠WTA has made efforts to tackle the issue of online abuse by introducing an AI-powered system which monitors thousands of players and officials on social media. A study by the WTA ⁠and World Tennis ⁠showed players were subjected to over 12,000 abusive posts and messages on social media in 2025, up from 8,000 posts a year earlier. Gauff also explained that she ⁠was following the rules when she challenged the point. Players are allowed to request video reviews of select judgment calls, including claims a distraction may have interfered with play. The American said she had spoken to Sun about the point at the end of the match. "Xinran's an incredible talent and ‌player, I apologised for the situation at the end of the match and she completely understood," she wrote. "I didn't like to see her so emotional as I've been there and I really understand what it's like but this is the beginning of an incredible career. It was an honour to share the court in front of her home crowd."

BeijingCoco GauffGauff
Oct 6, 2026 · byMobile Business
Women’s tennis tour announces prize money parity with men’s events

Women’s tennis tour announces prize money parity with men’s events

WTA announces ‘major milestone’ in fight for equality Combined WTA 1000 events to award equal prize money All combined WTA 1000 tournaments will award women equal prize ⁠money to the men from 2027, the Women’s Tennis Association has announced, ⁠with the Italian ⁠Open ​and other major events joining the rest of the category in offering the ⁠same payouts. Billie Jean King has often said that she was moved to form the women’s professional tennis circuit after earning $600 for her 1970 Italian Open title while Ilie Nastase took home $3,500 for winning the men’s tournament the same year. Continue reading...

WTA
Oct 1, 2026 · byThe Guardian
Alex Eala's Asian Games gold hopes dashed by China's Wang

Alex Eala's Asian Games gold hopes dashed by China's Wang

NAGOYA: Alex Eala's hopes of a maiden Asian Games gold medal and qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics ‌tennis tournament were crushed on Thursday as China's unheralded Wang Xiyu rallied to a 3-6 6-3 6-2 win over the Filipino top seed. Eala, the Southeast Asian nation's first WTA title winner and a fan favourite on tour, was consigned to a second singles bronze medal and third in total, having ⁠also taken the mixed doubles bronze at Hangzhou three years ago. The 21-year-old gave up a chance for ranking points and prize money at the concurrent China Open to represent the Philippines in Nagoya and may ‌get a fine and ranking penalty from the WTA for skipping the mandatory event in Beijing. Eala said she had no regrets. "I'm really happy to have experienced this, ‌to experience the support ... and to be with the ‌team and, yeah, to compete for the country," she told reporters. The world ‌number 18 was on track ‌for her first Asian Games final but her level dropped in the second set before she crumbled to a 4-1 ‌deficit in the third. The 85th-ranked Wang fought off break points ⁠against the increasingly desperate Eala before serving out the match to love at Higashiyama Park Tennis Center. "(Wang) was more consistent. I had a couple of ups and downs ⁠during the match which ⁠is something I have to talk to my team about and process," said Eala. Wang will meet 37-year-old Zhang Shuai in an all-China final. She may have ⁠her hands full against former Wimbledon and Australian Open quarter-finalist Zhang who rolled back the years to beat Kazakh Yulia Putintseva 6-4 6-2. Zhang has medalled at three previous Asian Games, taking silver in the 2018 singles in Jakarta and a team gold at her home Games at Guangzhou ‌2010. She will be in her 40s when the next Games launch in Doha in 2030 but was not ruling out playing. "I always feel like this may be my last Games. But look, aren’t I here again?" she said. "As long as you don’t give up on yourself, no one else in this world can give you that death sentence.”

ATP 500 de PekínAsian GamesBeijing
Oct 1, 2026 · byMobile Business
Elena Rybakina rides ‘ups and downs’ to transform status among tennis elite | Tumaini Carayol

Elena Rybakina rides ‘ups and downs’ to transform status among tennis elite | Tumaini Carayol

US Open champion’s relationship with her previously banned coach remains under spotlight despite her rise to the top In the bitter aftermath of her straight-sets defeat by Elena Rybakina at the WTA Finals last November, an inconsolable Aryna Sabalenka walked over to her courtside player box and slumped into a chair. Sabalenka had been completely overpowered by her opponent, a strange and unusual feeling for such a powerful player, and she was seething. Sabalenka eventually settled on a popular Russian idiom to explain Rybakina’s untouchable form, which she believed was fortunately timed: “Once a year, even a stick shoots,” she said. That stick, it turns out, has spent the past year shooting straight at Sabalenka in every significant match. Rybakina’s dominant performance in Riyadh was a clear warning and she has dominated the hard-court grand slam tournaments this year, defeating Sabalenka in the Australian Open and US Open finals. Continue reading...

Aryna SabalenkaElena RybakinaRiyadh
Sep 13, 2026 · byThe Guardian
Nike Unveils Alex Eala T-Shirt Inspired by Tennis Phenom’s Filipino Heritage

Nike Unveils Alex Eala T-Shirt Inspired by Tennis Phenom’s Filipino Heritage

Nike is honoring rising tennis star Alexandra Eala with her very own T-shirt, inspired by her Filipino heritage. Fresh off her maiden WTA 500 title at the Washington Open, and a third-round appearance at the recent U.S. Open, the 21-year-old’s name adorns the back of this unisex tee, surrounded by a sampaguita motif, paying homage […]

NikeWTA
Sep 13, 2026 · byVariety
Sabalenka and Rybakina resume epic rivalry at US Open after switch at No 1

Sabalenka and Rybakina resume epic rivalry at US Open after switch at No 1

Rybakina will top rankings after tournament as pair continue to meet one another in grand slam finals A typically understated Elena Rybakina stepped up to the microphone for her speech after her triumph at Indian Wells in 2023, her long-awaited first WTA 1000 title, and one of her first objectives was to recognise the efforts of her opponent. Rybakina congratulated Aryna Sabalenka on a strong fortnight and noted that it was the first time she had beaten the Belarusian. Sabalenka’s mouth instantly curled into a mischievous grin and, as ever, she could not halt her impulsive thoughts: “I will make sure it is the last time,” Sabalenka said, laughing. Rybakina, herself also smiling, responded instantly: “No. No, no, no. We’ll see next time.” There has since been a next time, another next time and several next times after that and as Sabalenka and Rybakina, the top two players in the world, face off at the US Open, this latest encounter proves beyond doubt they have established themselves as one of the best recent rivalries in women’s tennis. Continue reading...

Aryna SabalenkaElena RybakinaSabalenka
Sep 11, 2026 · byThe Guardian
Sabalenka and Rybakina resume epic rivalry at US Open after switch at No 1

Sabalenka and Rybakina resume epic rivalry at US Open after switch at No 1

Rybakina will top rankings after tournament as pair continue to meet one another in grand slam finals A typically understated Elena Rybakina stepped up to the microphone for her speech after her triumph at Indian Wells in 2023, her long-awaited first WTA 1000 title, and one of her first objectives was to recognise the efforts of her opponent. Rybakina congratulated Aryna Sabalenka on a strong fortnight and noted that it was the first time she had beaten the Belarusian. Sabalenka’s mouth instantly curled into a mischievous grin and, as ever, she could not halt her impulsive thoughts: “I will make sure it is the last time,” Sabalenka said, laughing. Rybakina, herself also smiling, responded instantly: “No. No, no, no. We’ll see next time.” There has since been a next time, another next time and several next times after that and as Sabalenka and Rybakina, the top two players in the world, face off at the US Open, this latest encounter proves beyond doubt they have established themselves as one of the best recent rivalries in women’s tennis. Continue reading...

Aryna SabalenkaElena RybakinaSabalenka
Sep 11, 2026 · byThe Guardian
Rybakina sinks Zheng to grab No 1 spot and set up US Open semi-final with Gauff

Rybakina sinks Zheng to grab No 1 spot and set up US Open semi-final with Gauff

Rybakina into semis after 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory Coco Gauff battles back to beat Mirra Andreeva Elena Rybakina will become the No 1 woman in the world for the first time after orchestrating a supreme recovery to reach the semi-finals of the US Open with a 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 win over the Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen. By becoming just the 30th player in the history of the WTA to reach the No 1 ranking, Rybakina ends Aryna Sabalenka’s extended spell at the top. The Belarusian has held the position for 99 successive weeks, the sixth-longest consecutive reign in history, and 107 weeks in total. Continue reading...

Aryna SabalenkaCoco GauffElena Rybakina
Sep 9, 2026 · byThe Guardian