Tennis News

Venus Williams has issued the following statement in response to Tuesday’s hack on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s databases, which led to the public release of her confidential medical data:

“I was disappointed to learn today that my private, medical data has been compromised by hackers and published without my permission. I have followed the rules established under the Tennis Anti-Doping Program in applying for, and being granted, ‘therapeutic use exemptions’.

“The applications for TUEs under the Tennis Anti-Doping program require a strict process for approval which I have adhered to when serious medical conditions have occurred. The exemptions posted in the hacked report are reviewed by an anonymous, independent group of doctors, and approved for legitimate medical reasons. I am one of the strongest supporters of maintaining the highest level of integrity in competitive sport and I have been highly disciplined in following the guidelines set by WADA, USADA, the ITF and collectively the Tennis Anti-Doping Program.”

Travis Tygart, CEO of the United States Anti-Doping Agency also issued a statement denouncing the hack and supporting the athletes.

“It’s unthinkable that in the Olympic movement, hackers would illegally obtain confidential medical information in an attempt to smear athletes to make it look as if they have done something wrong. The athletes haven’t. In fact, in each of the situations, the athlete has done everything right in adhering to the global rules for obtaining permission to use a needed medication. The respective International Federations, through the proper process, granted the permission and it was recognized by the IOC and USADA.”

QUÉBEC CITY, Canada – Barbora Stefkova was a match from reaching the main draw after falling in qualies, but got a lucky break that the Czech youngster took with gusto to knock out defending champion Annika Beck, 2-6, 7-5, 6-3, to reach the second round of the Coupe Banque Nationale.

“I was a little bit lucky to get in as a lucky loser,” she said after the match. “It definitely wasn’t an easy match because she doesn’t make a lot of mistakes. She’s really solid from the baseline, running so much. There weren’t too many easy points for me, but I’m happy I made it.:

Stefkova was a late addition to the draw, but made the most of her opportunity against Beck, who’d taken the title in Québec one year ago. Down a set and 5-3, the 21-year-old saved two match points before roaring back to level the match. Recovering from a break deficit in the decider, Stefkova served out the win on her first match point.

“I just tried to keep my game, tried to play fast, and hope for the best!”

A stunned Stefkova was extra exhilarated to learn just how big her win over the No.2 seed was after the match.

“She won last year? I didn’t know that, or check her profile. So it’s a nice result for me! I just knew my first round, so I’ll need to check now!”

Stefkova next plays Alison Van Uytvanck, who began the day with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Elitsa Kostova.

It was a tough day for seeds as No.4 seed Julia Goerges bowed out to the big-hitting Ekaterina Alexandrova (who beat Ana Ivanovic in the first round of Wimbledon), 6-4, 7-6(1), and No.5 seed Naomi Broady fell to Oceane Dodin, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4. For Dodin, today’s win marked her first on the WTA level, though she had already won two main draw matches at Grand Slams.

Young Canadian Francoise Abanda ended the night with a straight-set win over Mona Barthel.

LAUSANNE, Switzerland – The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) announced today that it will issue its decision in the arbitration procedure between Maria Sharapova and the International Tennis Federation during the first week of October, 2016.

For the full release from the CAS, click here.

Sharapova has been off the court since March, when she made her initial announcement. The Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (TADP) handed down its first ruling in early June, followed by the former No.1’s decision to appeal, the ruling on which had been postponed in July.

Fresh off her run to the third round of the US Open, Catherine Bellis announced plans to turn professional. The former junior No.1 tweeted the news on Tuesday after her first round win over Amandine Hesse at the Coupe Banque Nationale.

“I think it was really just my whole summer, the WTA tournaments I played in, and obviously the US Open was a big thing for me,” Bellis told WTA Insider. “I just think I’m really confident in my tennis and confident that I’m able to compete at the WTA level consistently now.

I'm excited to announce that I have turned pro, and signed with @IMG Thank you to everyone for all your continued support! Let's go??

— CiCi Bellis (@cicibellis99) September 13, 2016

Bellis had previously announced her committment to play college tennis at Stanford University, but has been tagged as one to watch since she was 14 years old.

“I think I can always go to college after my tennis I think I can still go to college afterwards, so it wasn’t a big deal for me giving it up now because I can always go later. Also I love tennis so much. I want to be doing it for a really long time and I think my game and my body is ready for it now.”

She first broke onto the scene in 2014 when she became the youngest woman to win a match at the US Open since 1996, upsetting Dominika Cibulkova to reach the second round. The 17-year-old has since played the likes of Serena Williams at the Miami Open and Venus Williams at the Bank of the West Classic. Check out an interview with Bellis during that Stanford run on the WTA Insider Podcast:

“A couple of years ago when I had that US Open run, even in the last couple of years I’ve worked on my fitness and my strength so much, just for that reason, so I could compete consistently. I’m not getting tired in these tournaments anymore, I’m not getting tired during matches, so it’s great.

“I think I’m pretty much done growing and the huge fitness kick has helped me a lot.”

At this year’s US Open, Bellis qualified for the main draw and reached the third round at a major tournament for the first time in her career. After defeating Vikotrija Golubic and Shelby Rogers en route, she fell to eventual champion Angelique Kerber under the lights on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“I think next year it will really start to change the most because the age restriction rule will be gone for me. That will be the biggest change. But I think the next couple of months, depending on how Québec City goes, I’ll probably go back to Boca and train a little bit and then play a couple of Pro Cicuits, though I’m not sure about that yet, and then I’m playing a 125K in Hawaii in November.”

Signing with IMG, Bellis is ranked just outside the Top 100 and will play qualifier Danielle Lao for a spot in the quarterfinals in Québec on Wednesday.

.@IMGTennis excited to sign American teen @cicibellis99 who reached career-high ranking after US Open. #CiCiBellis pic.twitter.com/crsMaK0Uit

— IMG Tennis (@IMGTennis) September 13, 2016

TOKYO, Japan – No.4 seed Johanna Larsson powered past Sabine Lisicki in straight sets to advance in a day full of upsets at the Hashimoto Sogyo Japan Women’s Open Tennis.

Lisicki, who owns the WTA’s fastest serve, was broken six times in her 6-3, 6-2 defeat to Larsson.

Meanwhile, Aliaksandra Sasnovich left home fans at the Ariake Tennis Forest Park stunned when she took down the No.1 seed Misaki Doi in straight sets, 7-5, 6-3.

“I don’t get many opportunities to play in Japan, and also as a top seed I wanted to win. It’s disappointing it ended this way,” Japan’s No.1 told The Japan Times. “I couldn’t snatch it when it was a close contest late in the first set and that gave her an extra momentum, I needed to win there to stop her.”

“There were no free points with my service game, all the games were tight even with those that I managed to hold and I could never get that conviction when I served.”

No.2 seed Yanina Wickmayer, the defending champion, was also ousted in straight sets by Viktorija Golubic, 6-1, 7-6(7).

“There’s a lot more pressure when you are defending a title, and especially because I came back after I injured myself before the U.S. Open,” Wickmayer said afterwards. “It was tough for me in general.”

“I think in the second set I got to drop shots a bit better, but the fact that she had the chance to play many drop shots means I didn’t play the right way. She’s a really smart player so she did what she had to do.”

Katerina Siniakova cruised in her 6-1, 6-4 win against lucky loser Antonia Lottner. Korean qualifier Su Jeong Jang, ranked No.186, scored a big upset Saisai Zheng, coming back from a set down to advance 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.

With rain washing away most of today’s action, No.3 seed Yulia Putintseva will take the court tomorrow along with Japan’s No.2 Naomi Osaka.