Tennis News

Next Friday the curtain will be raised on the Games of the XXXI Olympiad in Rio de Janiero. The following 16 days will see in excess of 10,500 athletes compete for 918 medals, at 34 venues, across 28 different sports.

Among those 28 sports is tennis, which will be appearing at the Games for the 15th time this summer.

So to celebrate tennis’ history at the world’s greatest sporting event, over the coming fortnight wtatennis.com will look back at the seven Olympic tennis tournaments since the sport was reinstated in 1988. Starting with Seoul…

Seoul, South Korea, 1988
Olympic Park Tennis Centre
Hardcourt

Tennis made its return to the Olympics after a 64-year absence at Seoul in 1988. And its return proved to be a historic one.

A strong line-up arrived in the Korean capital for tennis’ rebirth as an Olympic sport, headlined by the game’s latest teen prodigy, Steffi Graf, fresh from completing the calendar Slam at the US Open.

All the talk in the build-up to the event was whether she could add a golden finish to this achievement by climbing to the top of the medal rostrum.

In the early rounds, though, the media speculation appeared to be taking its toll on the 19-year-old; after laboring past Leila Meskhi in her opening match, an out of sorts Graf nearly saw her ‘Golden Slam’ dreams dashed by the Soviet Union’s Larisa Savchenko.

However, a three set tussle with Savchenko seemed to liberate the top seed, who produced some of her best tennis of the tournament to rout the United States’ Zina Garrison, 6-2, 6-0, in the semifinals.

On the other side of the draw, another of tennis’ young stars was shining just as brightly.

Were it not for Graf, 1988 could well have been Gabriela Sabatini’s annus mirabilis; the 18-year-old from Argentina had won three titles coming into the Games and was also the only woman to register wins over Graf that season, having triumphed at Boca Raton and Amelia Island in the spring.

However, their most high-profile encounter, the US Open final, had gone the way of the German, who outlasted Sabatini over three absorbing sets.

By comparison, the gold medal match in Seoul proved to be something of an anticlimax as a relaxed and uninhibited Graf swept her way into the history books with a 6-3, 6-3 win.

“I actually had a very good feeling after the first game of the match,” Graf said. “I really liked the way I was playing. I’m very excited. It’s something not many people after me will achieve. It’s amazing”

SHENZHEN, China – A day after securing a return to World No.4 – just in time for a Top 4 seed at the Australian Open – Agnieszka Radwanska won the 18th WTA title of her career at the Shenzhen Open.

By reaching the final at the International-level event, Radwanska secured herself of passing Maria Sharapova for No.4 on the WTA Rankings, which guarantees her a coveted Top 4 seed in Melbourne.

And as if that weren’t enough, the No.1-seeded Pole played near-flawless tennis to win the title on Saturday afternoon, cruising past Alison Riske in the final in an hour and 16 minutes, 6-3, 6-2.

“I think Alison was really playing solid tennis today,” Radwanska said. “She has a very powerful game from the baseline – I was really struggling from the baseline. I was really in a lot of trouble there.

“But my serve really helped me today. Also in the deciding points I was a little bit better, and I think that’s why the score was the way it was – it made it look easier than the actual match was.”

Radwanska has now won 22 of 26 matches since the US Open, picking up her 15th through 18th WTA titles at Tokyo [Pan Pacific], Tianjin, the WTA Finals and Shenzhen. She’s now 18-7 in WTA finals.

The former World No.2 is hoping to come back to Shenzhen – and not just to defend the title.

“It was my first time here, but I actually didn’t have much time to see the city. I came here pretty late. Each night I was enjoying different dinners, but didn’t have much time to enjoy the city.

“So I think because of that, I really have to come back here to Shenzhen!”

Radwanska will now head to Sydney for one last round of matches before the Australian Open.

“It’s the beginning of the year, so we’re all fresh compared to the end of the year. I’m feeling good,” Radwanska commented. “Also I have a bye there, so I’ll have a couple of days off right now.”

The doubles final took place afterwards and saw Vania King and Monica Niculescu upset No.1-seeded all-Chinese pair Xu Yi-Fan and Zheng Saisai in straight sets in an hour and 11 minutes, 6-1, 6-4.

This was King and Niculescu’s first WTA doubles title together, but they now have 20 WTA doubles titles between them – King now has 15, including two Grand Slams, while Niculescu now has five.

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— Aga Radwanska (@ARadwanska) January 9, 2016

BRISBANE, Australia – Victoria Azarenka stormed past Angelique Kerber to win the 18th WTA title of her career – and first WTA title in almost two and a half years – at the Brisbane International.

Azarenka had been on fire all week – she lost a total of just 13 games in her four matches leading up to the final – and she maintained that form against the No.4-seeded Kerber on Saturday night, facing some early resistance but taking complete control from 3-all in the first set to win, 6-3, 6-1.

The match numbers told the story – Azarenka finished with a +14 differential of winners to unforced errors, 23 to 9, while Kerber was a slightly negative -2 on winners to unforced errors, 25 to 27.

The Belarusian also improved to 6-0 lifetime against Kerber and to 60-59 against Top 10 players.

Kerber was the first to take the microphone during the trophy presentation after the match.

“I would like to say congratulations to Vika – you had an amazing week and you’re always a tough opponent,” the World No.10 said. “I was hoping to win one time against you. I think I’m now 0-6 against you! But hopefully we’ll play many more times, and next time you’ll give me a chance to win!”

Azarenka gave the props right back. “Congratulations to Angelique and thank you for pushing me – you always push my limits. I hope we get to play more matches soon and good luck the rest of the year.”

The former World No.1 had some particularly powerful words for the fans, too. “Every time I play in front of this crowd I couldn’t be happier,” she said. “My dreams come true whenever I step on the court, and I want to thank you all for showing up, motivating us so much and inspiring us so much.”

Her 2014 and 2015 seasons ravaged by various injuries, Azarenka – who finished 2012 at No.1 and 2013 at No.2 behind Serena Williams – is already looking back to her best in 2016. This is her first WTA title since Cincinnati all the way back in August 2013, where she defeated Williams in the final.

And even more daunting for her rivals going into the Australian Open? Azarenka – a two-time champion in Melbourne – has now won 35 of her last 39 matches in Australia, a stretch dating back to 2012.

Can the Belarusian make it three at Melbourne Park this year? Stay tuned on wtatennis.com…

Finish off the week with a group dab, @Vika7 Azarenka & the @BrisbaneTennis ball kids! #WTA pic.twitter.com/xA5p9BIzVF

— WTA (@WTA) January 9, 2016