iPhone | iPad
Android
Huawei
The 21-time major winner was hampered by a chronic foot injury in his defeat by Denis Shapovalov at the Italian Open
Tennis2 weeks ago
Enjoy our faster App experience
KT APPDOWNLOAD
Venus, Ostapenko make winning starts in Australia
Venus Williams of the US hits a return against Netherlands' Arantxa Rus during their Yarra Valley Classic Women's singles tennis match. — AFP
Melbourne - The tournament is one of two WTA events being played concurrently at Melbourne Park as players prepare for the Australian Open
Ageless Venus Williams opened her 2021 season with a 6-1, 6-3 thrashing of Arantxa Rus Sunday, while former top 10 players Jelena Ostapenko and Caroline Garcia also scored wins.
Williams, 40, showed few signs of having spent 14 days in quarantine in her first-round romp at the Yarra Valley Classic, grinding down her Dutch opponent in 65 minutes — an amazing 27 years after making her professional debut.
The tournament is one of two WTA events being played concurrently at Melbourne Park as players prepare for the Australian Open Grand Slam starting on February 8.
Former Australian Open semi-finalist Danielle Collins needed 75 minutes to secure her first victory of the year, a 6-3, 6-3 triumph over Belgian Ysaline Bonaventure in the same event.
Collins is back at the site of her best career major run, which saw her upset former champion Angelique Kerber en route to reaching the final four in 2019.
American Shelby Rogers also progressed, thanks to a 6-2, 7-5 win over No.12 seed Fiona Ferro, the first ranked player to fall, while Anastasija Sevastova proved too strong for Madison Brengle.
In a battle between former top five players, 2017 French Open champion Ostapenko triumphed over Sara Errani 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 in the first round of the Gippsland Trophy, charging back after losing the first set.
Former world No.4 Caroline Garcia of France also got her season on a positive note, ousting Australian wildcard Arina Rodionova, 6-3, 6-4.
"It was a lot of emotions to get back on court, finally," said Garcia.
"I tried to stay very calm and play one point at a time, and I think I improved during the match, so that's the most positive thing about today."
Other first-round Gippsland Trophy winners included former top 10 player Daria Kasatina of Russia and Kaia Kanepi of Estonia.
mp
More news from Tennis
If Djokovic does not reach the semifinals at the Italian Open, he will surrender top spot in the rankings to Russian Daniil Medvedev
Tennis2 weeks ago
Alcaraz, who beat Nadal and Djokovic in the previous round, is the youngest player since 1990 to defeat three top-five players at the same event
Tennis2 weeks ago
The Tunisian became a top contender for the French Open after her victory over American Jessica Pegula at the Madrid Open final
Tennis2 weeks ago
The 19-year-old moved to an impressive 27-3 match record for the current season
Tennis2 weeks ago
Jabeur beat American Jessica Pegula in the final, becoming the first Arab player to win a WTA 1000 title
Tennis2 weeks ago
A win on Sunday will give Alcaraz his fourth title this season, the most for any player
Tennis2 weeks ago
In an eventful quarterfinal, the 19-year-old Alcaraz defeated his idol 6-2, 1-6, 6-3
Tennis3 weeks ago