2025 WTA News & Gossip

[MargaretMcAleer]

WTA500 Citi DC Washington
Matches Thursday 24th July,

E. Raducanu vs N.Osaka WC
V.Williams WC vs M.Frech (5)
S.Kenin (6) vs T.Townsend Q
J.Pegula (1) vs L.Fernanddez

 

[Hoergren]

Sorry I'm late but that Clara match was a thriller and a l-o-n-g one. She didn't play at her best but won - here some pictures

Stats

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Sorry I'm late but that Clara match was a thriller and a l-o-n-g one. She didn't play at her best but won - here some pictures
View attachment 10178
StatsView attachment 10179

A lot of players dont play their best at times, getting the win or winning 'ugly' is better than losing the match

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Just watching in Washington match between Osaka WC v Raducanu
Osaka needs to improve her 1st serve percentage in the 2nd set if she has a chance to win the match, currently 39% 5DFs and 16 ufe
Raducanu playing well and won the 1st set 64
Raducanu d Osaka 64 62, Emma playing solid tennis and Osaka made far too many ufe and her serve was AWOL.
I have said this many times Osaka needs 'variety' in her game, she cant rely on being a strong baseliner, needs a proper transition game, I honestly think at this stage of her career, I cant see her adding variety to her game
Emma W 12 UFE 19 Naomi W 19 UFE 38

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Taylor Townsend Q wins the 1st set 63 over Kenin the 6th seed
Taylor just backs up my earlier comment, regarding Osaka, she has variety in her game, a great doubles player as well
A thumping by Taylor in the 2nd set and she reaches the QFs defeating the 6th seed Kenin 63 60

 

[kskate2]

Just watching in Washington match between Osaka WC v Raducanu
Osaka needs to improve her 1st serve percentage in the 2nd set if she has a chance to win the match, currently 39% 5DFs and 16 ufe
Raducanu playing well and won the 1st set 64
Raducanu d Osaka 64 62, Emma playing solid tennis and Osaka made far too many ufe and her serve was AWOL.
I have said this many times Osaka needs 'variety' in her game, she cant rely on being a strong baseliner, needs a proper transition game, I honestly think at this stage of her career, I cant see her adding variety to her game
Emma W 12 UFE 19 Naomi W 19 UFE 38

She could if she get serious about getting back into the conversation. Patrick made some slight changes to Serena's game (adding more spin on the FH, taking the ball early instead of reacting, using angles to open up the court, etc) that prolonged her career and got her 10 more slams. He could do something similar for Naomi, but she has to want it.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Okay I had to go out and have watched high lights of the rest of the matches,

Venus had a tough time dealing with Frech's slice and made too many ufe notably on those three quarter length balls
The match was some what closer than the score suggests, 62 62, still a great showing from Venus overall in DC

In the final match Leylah Fernandez defeated top seed Jess Pegula, in an much need win for Fernandez who's season to date has been lack lustre, 63 16 75

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

WTA500 Citi DC Washington,
QFs
Friday 25th July,

M.Sakkari vs E.Raducanu
E.Rybalina (3) vs M.Frech (5)
L.Fernandez vs T.Townsend Q
C.Tauson (4) vs A.Kalinskaya

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

She could if she get serious about getting back into the conversation. Patrick made some slight changes to Serena's game (adding more spin on the FH, taking the ball early instead of reacting, using angles to open up the court, etc) that prolonged her career and got her 10 more slams. He could do something similar for Naomi, but she has to want it.

Serena had a all court game before she hooked up with Patrick M and was a accomplished doubles player, winning GS titles with her sister Venus
Osaka to my knowledge has never played doubles and her previous coaches really didnt encourage her, or add variety in her game
Of course it is up to Naomi, personally I will be surprised at this stage of her career if she does add variety, she has come back on the tour and has found it difficult, after having a child, maybe she should have taken a leaf out of Bencic's book and played lower grade tournaments to get match play and build from there. I know she played a lower grade clay tournament to get more practice on clay, but that was a first and once only time if my memory is correct

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

The draw for WTA1000 Montreal is Saturday July 26th at 11am local time

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

In a very hot day at the QFs in Washington
Raducanu d Sakkari 64 75, Maria had a lead of 5-2 in the 2nd set and was to serve at 5-4 and broken, Emma served out the match 75, Maria had her chances for a 3rd set but could not hold onto her lead
Raducanu makes her first SF of 2025
Raducanu is up to #32 seeding position for Cinncy and USO, her best ranking in almost 3 years

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

This was a tough fought match between Fernandez v Townsend
Leylah lead 4-1 in the 1st set, Taylor fought back to 4 all, Leylah broke and won the 1st set 64
In the 2nd set Taylor was serving for it 5-4 DF broken, 5 all, and it went to a TB for the 2nd set and Leylah won 76(4)
In really hot conditions Fernandez d Townsend 64 76(4) to make the SFs at Washington
BTW,
Fernandez and Raducanu are both into the SFs, the first time they're both been in the SFs of the same tournament since the USO 2021

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Matches are suspended due to lightening in the area in Washington, . Fans on site should seek shelter ASAP

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Play has now resumed in Washington

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Rybakina with a solid straight sets win 63 63 over Frech

Kaliniskaka continues to find some form defeating the No 4 seed Tauson 63 75

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

WTA500 Citi DC Washington,
SFs,
Saturday July 26th,
Not before 2.30pm local time,
L.Fernandez vs E.Rybakina (3) H2H 1all, most recent match August 2024 Cinncy, Fernandez won in 3 sets
Followed by,
E.Raducanu vs A. Kalinskaya First Meeting

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Congratulations are in order for Taylor Townsend who will be #1 in doubles when the new WTA doubles rankings come out on Monday, becoming the first mum ever to achieve the feat.
Taylor secured her rise to the top spot by reaching the doubles final in Washington DC with Zhang Shuai

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

The draw for WTA1000 Monteral has been completed
No 1 ranked player Aryna Sabalenka withdrew citing 'fatique'
Coco Gauff will be the top ranked seed followed by Iga Swaitek No 2 seed

These are the projected QFs for the seeds,

Gauff (1) vs Paolini (7)
Andreeva (4) vs Navarro (8)
Pegula (3) vs Anisimova (5)
Swaitek (2) vs Keys (6)

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

It was a tight contest between Rybakina v Fernandez in the 1st set which went to a TB, Elena stepped up and won it convincingly 76(2)
Elena broke Leylah in her opening service game in the 2nd set, Leylah kept on fighting broke back, when Elena was serving for the 2nd set, and the 2nd set went to a TB and Leylah lifted and won the TB 76(3)
Dont ever dismiss the fiighting spirit of Leylah Fernandez
Onto a 3rd set we go

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Taylor Townsend had to withdraw from Monteral as she was scheduled to play qualies there today, as Taylor is in the doubles final in Washington later today with Zhang.