Svitolina Pulls Off Konta Upset For Spot In Zhuhai Final
Elina Svitolina booked a final battle against Petra Kvitova at the Huajin Securities WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai after coming back from a set down to oust the No.1 seed Johanna Konta.
Elina Svitolina booked a final battle against Petra Kvitova at the Huajin Securities WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai after coming back from a set down to oust the No.1 seed Johanna Konta.
Maria Sharapova has filed an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport seeking to annul or reduce her two-year suspension for a failed drug test at the Australian Open in January. The parties have agreed to an expedited track for the case, which will allow CAS to issue its decision no later than July 18th, 2016.
Last week, an independent tribunal appointed by the International Tennis Federation found that Sharapova committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation, and imposed a period of ineligibility of two years. Under the tribunal’s decision, Sharapova would be allowed to return on January 27, 2018.
According to a statement from CAS regarding Sharapova’s appeal, “Ms. Sharapova seeks the annulment of the Tribunal’s decision to sanction her with a two-year period of ineligibility further to an anti-doping rule violation. Ms. Sharapova submits that the period of ineligibility should be eliminated, or in the alternative, reduced.”
CAS further confirmed the parties have not decided whether or not a hearing would be held on appeal. However, “at the request of the parties, this arbitration procedure will be kept confidential and the CAS will not comment any further on this matter.”
It’s time for another WTA Frame Challenge – this time it’s Timea Babos who’s up for the test! See how she did right here!
Venus Williams, a four-time Olympic gold medalist and fashion designer, is preparing for the 2016 Rio Olympics in the most Venus way possible: by designing her own Team USA tennis outfit to be worn in the competition.
The special edition EleVen By Venus dress will be worn on a very special occasion: the 2016 Rio Olympics will be Venus’ fifth Olympic Games, a feat which matches a record set by Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario of most Olympic appearances by a female tennis player.
Here’s her impressive Olympic resume, which spans an incredible 12 years and counting:
2000 Sydney – Singles: Gold medal, Doubles: Gold medal
2004 Athens – Singles: R16, Doubles: R1
2008 Beijing – Singles: Quarterfinals, Doubles: Gold medal
2012 London – Singles: R16, Doubles: Gold medal
With her four gold medals across singles and doubles, Venus is also among the most decorated tennis Olympians. She’s tied with Serena for most gold medals, and sits one medal behind the all-time record set by Kathleen McKane.
Most Olympic Medals (all women’s tennis disciplines):
Kathleen McKane – 1 gold, 2 silver, 2 bronze
Serena Williams – 4 gold
Venus Williams – 4 gold
Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario – 2 silver, 2 bronze
With the Rio Olympics being staged on hardcourts, Venus looks set to add to her gold medal haul. She’s already got one hardcourt title under her belt at the Taiwan Open in Kaohsiung earlier this year. And odds are that she’s also going to be competing in doubles with her sister, which brings up another good omen for Venus: the Williams sisters have never lost an Olympic doubles event while partnered up.
Johanna Konta takes on Misaki Doi in the first round of the Aegon Classic.
Watch as Angelique Kerber, Agnieszka Radwanska, Simona Halep, Petra Kvitova, Johanna Konta and more WTA stars test their luck with Fortune Cookies!
Madison Keys takes on the WTA Frame Challenge – does she have what it takes to grab the lead?
Carla Suárez Navarro takes on Angelique Kerber in the quarterfinals of the Aegon Classic.
Highlights from second round and quarterfinal action at the Aegon Classic Birmingham.
Barbora Strycova takes on CoCo Vandeweghe in the semifinals of the Aegon Classic Birmingham.