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Parę tygodni temu Francesca Schiavone poinformowała, że przekaże bardzo ważną nowinę podczas konferencji prasowej na US Open 2018. 38-latka z pasją grała w tenisa w ostatnich miesiącach, ale jej pozycja w rankingu WTA była coraz niższa. W takim wieku trudno włączyć się do walki wyższe cele, dlatego można było się spodziewać podjęcia decyzji o zakończeniu kariery.



Schiavone spędziła na światowych kortach 22 lata. To była piękna kariera. Singlowe ćwierćfinały i deblowe półfinały wszystkich imprez Wielkiego Szlema. Osiem tytułów w grze pojedynczej i siedem w grze podwójnej zawodów głównego cyklu. Przede wszystkim jednak historyczny triumf na kortach Rolanda Garrosa w 2010 roku. Została tym samym pierwszą Włoszką, która wygrała turniej wielkoszlemowy w singlu. W kolejnym sezonie dotarła jeszcze w Paryżu do finału.
Parę tygodni temu Francesca Schiavone poinformowała, że przekaże bardzo ważną nowinę podczas konferencji prasowej na US Open 2018. 38-latka z pasją grała w tenisa w ostatnich miesiącach, ale jej pozycja w rankingu WTA była coraz niższa. W takim wieku trudno włączyć się do walki wyższe cele, dlatego można było się spodziewać podjęcia decyzji o zakończeniu kariery.



Schiavone spędziła na światowych kortach 22 lata. To była piękna kariera. Singlowe ćwierćfinały i deblowe półfinały wszystkich imprez Wielkiego Szlema. Osiem tytułów w grze pojedynczej i siedem w grze podwójnej zawodów głównego cyklu. Przede wszystkim jednak historyczny triumf na kortach Rolanda Garrosa w 2010 roku. Została tym samym pierwszą Włoszką, która wygrała turniej wielkoszlemowy w singlu. W kolejnym sezonie dotarła jeszcze w Paryżu do finału.

Omani tennis player Fatma Al Nabhani has accused officials and staff of a $25k ITF tournament at Clermont-Ferrand of racism, claiming they mistreated her during her opening two rounds, as well as throughout the week in off-court incidents.

Al Nabhani, a 27-year-old who is the Gulf region’s first professional tennis player and has a career-high ranking of 362, posted an emotional video on her Instagram page (published above), recounting some of the incidents that happened at the event in France, and reported the situation to the ITF in an email that was shared with Sport360.

“I have been playing tennis since a little kid and participating in tournaments around the world, started to play in the pro Circuit since 2007,” read the letter.

“I have never faced racism in my life, I know this is a very sensitive topic to speak about but what I faced in Clermont, France was not acceptable.


“Being a Muslim player and from an Arab country I wear leggings under my skirt respecting my religion and feeling comfortable to compete and continue playing tennis.


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“The ITF attire rule allows us to play with leggings under the knee length and I have been playing like this for the past 12 years competing in ITF and WTA [events] and I never had an issue with my attire.


“Day 1, first round match against Elsa Jacquemot from France, the French chair umpire before doing the toss looked at me and said you need to remove your leggings. I told him that I won’t remove it and I have been playing like this since 12 years he said then you can’t play. I told him please check with the tournament director before saying anything.


“The tournament director told him rules can allow her to play with leggings under the knee. So the chair umpire asked me to pull my leggings higher two inches so I can play because those two inches for him was a big deal. I pulled my leggings and didn’t say anything and played my match.”



Al Nabhani has competed with leggings under her skirt at pro tournaments on the ITF and WTA for more than a decade.


Al Nabhani won the match in three sets but then claims she faced further trouble from a different umpire in her second round against French player Myrtille Georges.


“1. During the whole match, the chair umpire is chatting with my opponent at the changeover in French that I don’t understand and both are laughing,” said Al Nabhani in her report.


“2. Matches are played with no ball kids, whenever there is a ball inside the court I make sure to remove it before the point. My opponent refused to remove anything on her side so when I complained to the chair umpire he said it’s her side and her right, I told him at least speak to her to remove it and let’s be professional the ball is distracting me during the point, he said he can’t so the match goes on.


“7/5 6/5 up my opponent serving, I collected all the balls from the court and gave it to her. She took two balls to serve and the third one she went and pushed the ball at the net in the middle of the court because she knew it annoys me.


“First time I stayed quiet, second time I went to the chair umpire and told him if he can’t speak to her or take a decision please call the supervisor I want to speak to him, he said no I am not going to call the supervisor. I told him I can’t play like this please call him it’s my right to call the supervisor, he said no.


“3. Matches have linesmen. I understand that all chair umpire make mistakes in calls but when all mistakes are against me here is a question mark. The chair umpire during the whole match did so many mistakes against me I can’t even count them, overruling the linesmen only against me. Why???”


Al Nabhani says she had seven match points in the second set and that the chair umpire kept overruling points against her. She alleges that in at least five of the seven match points he made “wrong calls”.


“I went to him and said, ‘Please you need to be fair and you need to focus this is not acceptable’, he gives me a code violation seriously!!!!!” continued Al Nabhani.


“While my opponent keeps swearing in French and saying bad things about me that I understand and also the crowd heard it and he does Nothing !!! Just because I am complaining and asking for my right I get a code violation!!!


“The chair umpire was against me since the beginning of the match and I didn’t have the right to complain to anyone not even call the supervisor to ask him to take action either for him to speak to my opponent or watch the match or add extra linesmen or do something… it’s my simple right.”


Al Nabhani decided to walk away from the match midway through the third set because she “couldn’t take it anymore”.


“Whatever I am going to do the chair umpire was taking one side only and that’s against me. All players playing at the tournament saw the match and what happened, and everyone was surprised of the chair umpire’s actions.”


Al Nabhani also noted off-court incidents in interactions with tournament staff that made her feel there was bias against her.


The ITF has yet to respond to Al Nabhani’s email, but have informed Sport360 that the team overseeing the pro circuits and $25ks are looking into the matter.


They also told Sport360 the following in a statement: “The ITF takes any allegation of racism very seriously. In accordance with our regulations we will conduct an investigation into the matter, gathering information from all relevant parties. We will respond to the player and proceed with the matter promptly.”


In her video on Instagram (posted above), Al Nabhani referred to the umpire’s conduct, saying: “The why I was treated by him, the way I was treated by some staff in the tournament, the way I was treated the match before, why? Just because I’m Muslim, just because my mum is wearing hijab, just because I’m Arab? Well I’m Muslim, I’m proud of it, I’m Arab, I’m proud of it, I’ll stand for myself and I’ll stand for all the other players. We don’t get treated this way.”


Georges, and another player who reportedly witnessed the second-round match, have been contacted by Sport360 for comment but have not responded yet.


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Player of the Year? Most impressive newcomer? Best comeback? The 2018 nominees have been revealed - who would you pick?
-A+A

WTA STAFF
October 8, 2018
ST PETERSBURG, FL, USA - The WTA has announced today its nominees for its annual year-end player awards in the categories of Player of the Year, Doubles Team of the Year, Most Improved Player of the Year, Newcomer of the Year and Comeback Player of the Year.

The winners will be recognized during the Gala Evening at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global in Singapore on October 19, and the voting timeframe reflects success throughout the regular WTA season.

International tennis media can vote for one player in each respective category up until the close of business on Friday, October 12.


The Player of the Year category features the year’s four Grand Slam champions in Simona Halep (French Open, Montreal, Shenzhen), Angelique Kerber (Wimbledon, Sydney), Naomi Osaka (US Open, Indian Wells) and Caroline Wozniacki (Australian Open, Beijing, Eastbourne), along with Petra Kvitova, who leads the tour with five WTA titles won in 2018 (St. Petersburg, Doha, Prague, Madrid, Birmingham).

In the Doubles Team of the Year category, three of the four nominees have taken home Grand Slam titles together: CoCo Vandeweghe and Ashleigh Barty (US Open, Miami), Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova (Wimbledon, French Open), and Kristina Mladenovic and Timea Babos (Australian Open, Birmingham). Elise Mertens and Demi Schuurs were one of the most prolific teams in 2018 (Hobart, 's-Hertogenbosch, Wuhan), with Schuurs taking home a WTA tour leading six doubles titles.

Simona Halep, Naomi Osaka (Getty Images)
Most Improved Player of the Year will go to one of the following: Kiki Bertens, Julia Goerges, Daria Kasatkina, Elise Mertens, Wang Qiang, and Aliaksandra Sasnovich.

Newcomer of the Year features players who made huge breakthroughs in 2018: Amanda Anisimova, Danielle Collins, Mihaela Buzarnescu, Sofia Kenin and Aryna Sabalenka.

And in Comeback Player of the Year, the following players made inspiring and successful returns to action after recovering from injury or personal reasons: Belinda Bencic, Bethanie Mattek-Sands, Ajla Tomljanovic and Serena Williams.

CoCo Vandeweghe, Ashleigh Barty (Getty Images)
Below is the full list of nominees for WTA Awards.

WTA Player of the Year
Simona Halep (ROU)
Angelique Kerber (GER)
Petra Kvitova (CZE)
Naomi Osaka (JPN)
Caroline Wozniacki (DEN)

WTA Doubles Team of the Year
CoCo Vandeweghe / Ashleigh Barty (USA/AUS)
Barbora Krejcikova / Katerina Siniakova (CZE/CZE)
Elise Mertens / Demi Schuurs (BEL/NED)
Kristina Mladenovic / Timea Babos (FRA/HUN)

WTA Most Improved Player of the Year
Player who finished inside the Top 100 and showed significant improvement throughout the 2018 season.
Kiki Bertens (NED)
Julia Goerges (GER)
Daria Kasatkina (RUS)
Elise Mertens (BEL)
Wang Qiang (CHN)
Aliaksandra Sasnovich (BLR)

WTA Newcomer of the Year
Player who made Top 100 debut or notable accomplishments during the 2018 season.
Amanda Anisimova (USA)
Danielle Collins (USA)
Mihaela Buzarnescu (ROU)
Sofia Kenin (USA)
Aryna Sabalenka (BLR)

WTA Comeback Player of the Year
Player whose ranking previously dropped due to injury or personal reasons and current season's results helped restore ranking.
Belinda Bencic (SUI)
Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA)
Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS)
Serena Williams (USA)

It’s weird what we remember when looking back on a WTA season. With every result etched into the record books, I’d rather recall the oddities .

Sure, Naomi Osaka won the US Open, but remember when she crowdsourced advice on how to hit a ‘tweener? How about what kept Simona Halep hungry for more success after winning Roland Garros? These are what give color to scorelines and first serve percentages, the moments that keep you tuned into a 10-month season, 24/7.

As 2018 comes to a close, check out my list of things I can’t let you forget.

1. That time Daria Kasatkina taught Naomi Osaka a ‘tweener.
Remember when we used to think out loud, ask questions to no one in particular? Me either. Nowadays I tweet, which is what Osaka did back in February.












The bat phone rang and ‘tweener Queen Kasatkina answered the call, converging on the BNP Paribas Open with Osaka for an impromptu master class ahead of the year’s first Premier Mandatory.

“She's bad,” Kasatkina flatly assessed after the lesson. “I don't know. She cannot get it. But she can hit the ball. If she will keep trying, I think she can do it better, because at the end of the lesson, she was already putting ball in. Technically, it was so-so, but the ball was going in, at least.”












Though Osaka hasn’t quite incorporated the trick shot into her repertoire - calling it “an unused half-skill” - she and Kasatkina nonetheless took that spirit of learning all the way to the final, and later shared a private jet to the Miami Open.

“I'm going to try not to listen to music, so I'm going to see if she's going to talk to me,” she said of their burgeoning friendship. “I'm going to see how that works out.”

2. That time Elena Vesnina took over the California desert.
Welcomed as I felt throughout my first trip to Indian Wells, I doubt my experience compared to that of defending champion Vesnina, whose impact was felt all over the BNP Paribas Open.

“It’s great that the tournament is doing this for the champions, to keep them in its history forever,” she told me of the mural that immortalized her 2017 title run.










Fans could fully treat themselves to a day dedicated to the Olympic champion and mom-to-be, feasting on a salad recipe she contributed to the tournament’s restaurant menu.

“I make this salad at home. It’s really healthy, tasty, and light. It’s perfect before a match, if you want to eat something quick for some vitamins and energy.”

The red carpet only stopped when it came time to revisit last year’s trophy swipe.










3. That time Andy and B became the Angry Birds.
Under the eyes of Vesnina(‘s defending champion portrait), Barbora Strycova was talking to me about her successful week of doubles with Hsieh Su-Wei when childhood friend Andrea Sestini Hlavackova gave a congratulatory whack with her visor.

The two had intended to play together in Indian Wells but decided too late. Postponing their partnership to Miami, the Czechs made up for lost time during the clay court season, picking up a catchy nickname in the process.



Andrea Sestini Hlavackova, Babora Strycova, BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global




“My coach came up with it in Madrid, because he saw us acting a bit feisty on the court, which, we maybe need to be a bit angry on the court,” Sestini Hlavackova explained at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global. “He said we were acting like two little angry birds, and then he said, ‘That’s actually catchy, because Angry is like Andi, and Bird is like B.’”

Based on the popular Finnish export, the name stuck as the fan favorites continued to post impressive results to qualify for to the WTA Finals, where Strycova made the semifinals in her debut appearance.

4. That time the teens took over Moscow.
Back in 2001, I convinced my mom to take nine-year-old me to a showing of the cult classic Legally Blonde. Olga Danilovic and Anastasia Potapova weren’t making many plans that summer. They were busy being born.










At 17, neither are eligible to match Elle Woods’ 179 on the LSATs, but the two earned snaps in their own profession when they became the first players born in the new millennium to make a WTA final.

Lucky loser and wildcard at the inaugural Moscow River Cup, Danilovic and Potapova treated the crowd to a memorable week of firsts that culminated in a classic three-set final.

"She’s an amazing friend,” Danilovic said after winning her first WTA title. I’ve known her all my life; we’ve been playing the same tournaments since we were 12! I think it’s a big achievement for both of us to be in a WTA final. There is not much to say, the pictures kind of say it all!"












5. That time nothing came between Simona Halep and her crepes.
Halep had just won her maiden major title at Roland Garros, and one had to wonder if the hunger was still there as the tour turned back to the North American hardcourts.

Enter coach Darren Cahill.

As it turns out, the Romanian was indeed hungry for more success in Montréal, winning her second Coupe Rogers title in a classic over Sloane Stephens and securing a helping of her beloved nutella pancakes in the process.










6. That time Sloane Stephens got to the point.
You called it a title defense, not the US Open defending champion. Stephens commanded the press room through a largely successful encore at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, returning to the quarterfinals with some statement wins and statement shots.

“She hit a dropshot, I hit a dropshot back,” she said of one in particular against out Elise Mertens. “Then she lobs me to my forehand. I ran back and hit a forehand cross-court and the crowd went crazy.”

She hangs onto the last word for extra emphasis.

While the American only deems a true title defense to be one where you defeat the same seven en route to Grand Slam glory, Stephens still used the US Open as a springboard to a highly-anticipated WTA Finals debut. Speaking of…









7. That time Stephens and Svitolina stuck it to the haters.
How much do players read their own press? Enough, it seems, for them to call out their critics.

“Everyone was, like, ‘Oh, she's a one-hit wonder, she'll never do anything again, it was just lucky…” Stephens said in Singapore.

But it was eventual champion Elina Svitolina who got the ball rolling at the beginning of the week, making a memorable dedication after snapping a 14-set losing streak to Petra Kvitova.

“I want to take this as one to go forward, and for all those people and haters that were saying that I don't deserve to be here.”

Svitolina struck that defiant stance all the way to the biggest title of her career, seemingly silencing the haters once and for all.









8. That time Karolina Pliskova binge-watched her competition.
Even if they had the time, why would players spend their time watching a sport they spend hours playing each day?

Because it’s fun, insists the once and future Ace Queen.

“Maybe sometimes I enjoy more to watch than to play, but only sometimes,” she said at the WTA Finals. “Since I was little I was watching tennis. For me, it's better than any movie.”

The former World No.1 gave a ringing endorsement of her tour, loving the drama and momentum swings each match includes, while giving her own insider analysis.

“You feel when there is a chance when some outsider is gonna beat a top player. I know some players are very tricky and very tough, and they can beat top players sometimes on Grand Slams or big tournaments.”



Francesca Schiavone, US Open




9. That time Francesca Schiavone wrote her final chapter.
It’s hard to say goodbye, something the former French Open champion learned as she toyed with her decision to retire several times in the last few years, vlogging about the journey back in 2016.

"I always felt a big passion, big love. I loved always to fight, and have a challenge,” she told me at the US Open. “The challenge brings you to push forward, and go through limits, through fantastic, and even bad things. Frustrations are always right behind the door in this sport."

Speaking to Schiavone for just six minutes, I was left with enough quotes to fill a novel, only fitting for a player who had a career worthy of an Oscar winner.

"My heart still beats for this sport,” she promised. “I will find a way to express myself, not just inside, but outside, so I can transmit some good stuff, and fight in a different way."












10. That time Sabalenka marched into the big leagues, drummer and all.
Aryna Sabalanka is, objectively, a breath of fresh air. She hits big. She smiles bright. She peppers her excited interview answers with an enthusiastic variety of swear words.

The Belarusian does everything just a little bit different, down to her insistence on fulfilling her media obligations straight after a match, racquet bag still on her shoulders.

Where others will walk on court with a small child in tow, Sabalenka lifted one into her arms at the Henquin Life WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai, eliciting ‘aws’ from the crowd.

“I’m just growing up,” she told me at the US Open. “I’m starting to feel more confident.”

Two observations that could spell bad news to the field in 2019.

Koniec sezonu to okazja do przyznania nagród i wyróżnień za dokonania z ostatnich miesięcy. Trenerem roku WTA został opiekun Naomi Osaki - Sascha Bajin. Z kolei tenisistki nagrodziły Petrę Kvitovą i Bethanie Mattek-Sands.
REKLAMA


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Nagroda w kategorii trener roku została przyznana po raz pierwszy. O wyborze zadecydowali uczestnicy programu szkoleniowego WTA. Laureatem za dokonania w sezonie 2018 został Sascha Bajin. To były sparingpartner Sereny Williams i Karoliny Woźniackiej, który w grudniu 2017 roku został trenerem Naomi Osaki. Pod jego wodzą Japonka wygrała zawody w Indian Wells oraz wielkoszlemowy US Open. Sezon zakończyła na piątej pozycji w rankingu WTA.
Petra Kvitova po raz szósty z rzędu i zarazem siódmy w karierze otrzymała nagrodę Karen Krantzcke Sportsmanship Award. To wyróżnienie jest przyznawane dla tenisistki, która zachowuje się profesjonalnie i postępuje zgodnie z zasadami fair play. Darzy szacunkiem pozostałe tenisistki i jest wzorem do naśladowania zarówno na korcie, jak i poza nim.

Tenisistki nagrodziły także Bethanie Mattek-Sands. Amerykanka, która powróciła w tym roku do sportu po poważnej kontuzji kolana doznanej podczas Wimbledonu 2017, otrzymała Peachy Kellmeyer Player Service Award. To wyróżnienie przyznawane jest zawodniczce, która działa na rzecz innych. Wspiera inicjatywy mające na celu poprawę sytuacji ogółu kobiet występujących na korcie.

Panie wybrały również najlepsze turnieje kobiecego touru w sezonie 2018. Po raz piąty z rzędu numerem jeden spośród imprez rangi WTA Premier Mandatory został BNP Paribas Open rozgrywany w Indian Wells. W kategorii WTA Premier 5 panie wskazały zawody w Rzymie, a w kategorii WTA Premier halowy turniej w Petersburgu. Najlepszymi zawodami WTA International została impreza w Hongkongu.

Po kilku tygodniach przerwy tenisistki wracają do rywalizacji. Która z nich zakończy sezon w roli liderki? Kto będzie największym objawieniem sezonu i jak poradzą sobie Polki? Przed rozpoczęciem sezonu próbujemy odpowiedzieć na sześć pytań.
ŹRÓDŁO: SPORT.TVP.PL AUTOR: MACIEJ ŁUCZAK 29.12.2018 10:32

(FOT. GETTY/TVP)
Która zawodniczka na koniec sezonu będzie liderką rankingu?

Dwa razy z rzędu ta sztuka udała się Simonie Halep. Teraz też Rumunka jest jedną z faworytek do tego, by nadchodzący sezon zakończyć w roli liderki. W 2018 roku na kilka tygodni zdetronizowała ją tylko Caroline Wozniacki.


WTA FINALS: CIOS ZA CIOS OSAKI I STEPHENS. MORDERCZA WYMIANA TENISISTEK
– Widzę trzy kandydatki do numeru jeden – Halep, Elinę Switolinę lub Naomi Osakę – przyznaje Michał Lewandowski, komentator TVP Sport. Być może zatem będzie to sezon podobny do roku 2017, kiedy na pozycji numer jeden często dochodziło do roszad. Wówczas aż pięć tenisistek zajmowało to prestiżowe miejsce.

Już na początku sezonu Halep będzie miała sporo punktów do obrony. W ubiegłym sezonie wygrała turniej w Shenzhen, a w Australian Open doszła aż do finału. Co prawda obecnie ma nad "grupą pościgową" sporą przewagę, ale uważać musi przede wszystkim na Osakę, która na początku roku nie osiągała zbyt imponujących rezultatów.

Która zawodniczka będzie objawieniem sezonu?

Tenis kobiecy ma to do siebie, że lubi niespodzianki. Możemy zatem bezpiecznie założyć, iż w 2019 roku w czołówce pojawi się tenisistka, której byśmy o to nie podejrzewali. Kto to może być?

– Patrząc na poprzedni sezon logika podpowiada mi takie nazwiska: Aryna Sabalenka, Qiang Wang lub Osaka – zaznacza Lewandowski.


TRIUMF W WTA FINALS. ŻYCIOWY SUKCES SWITOLINY
I to właśnie Białorusinka przez wielu postrzegana jest jako zawodniczka, dla której nadchodzący sezon może być pasmem sukcesów. – Aryna zrobiła na wszystkich wrażenie, bo jest niezwykle pracowita i skoncentrowana na tym, co robi. To była kwestia czasu, kiedy zacznie grać na najwyższym poziomie – powiedziała kilka tygodni temu Magda Linette.

Duży potencjał ma również Darja Kasatkina, której styl gry czasami porównywany jest do Agnieszki Radwańskiej. Rosjanka zajmuje 10. miejsce w rankingu, ale brakuje jej spektakularnego turniejowego triumfu. W 2018 roku była w finale w Indian Wells. Może teraz czas na zwycięstwo?

Która zawodniczka okaże się największym rozczarowaniem?

W tym roku na pewno więcej można było się spodziewać po Marii Szarapowej. Bardzo głośny medialnie powrót po zawieszeniu za doping nie przełożył się na razie na osiągnięcia sportowe. Co prawda Rosjanka zmagała się też z urazami, ale nawet gdy była zdrowa, to imponujących rezultatów nie osiągała.

– Moim zdaniem rozczarowaniem tego sezonu może być Serena Williams lub Naomi Osaka. Forma zarówno fizyczna, jak i psychiczna stoi u Amerykanki dużym znakiem zapytania. Natomiast Japonka może mieć problemy, jeśli nie udźwignie presji związanej z oczekiwaniami i obroną punktów – przyznaje Lewandowski.

Jak poradzą sobie polskie zawodniczki?

Na początku sezonu, w cyklu WTA, będziemy mieli okazję oglądać trzy polskie tenisistki – Magdę Linette, Magdalenę Fręch i Igę Świątek. Największe oczekiwania związane są z tą ostatnią, natomiast na razie rakietą numer jeden jest Linette.


MAGDA LINETTE O STUDIACH: GRAM Z SERENĄ WILLIAMS, A PÓŹNIEJ WALCZĘ Z KSIĘGOWOŚCIĄ
– Po Magdzie nigdy do końca nie wiadomo, czego się spodziewać. To zawodniczka o dużych wahaniach formy. Spodziewam się walki o utrzymanie się w czołowej setce. Przy pomyślnym rozwoju sezonu być może uda się jej zaatakować TOP 50 – uważa Lewandowski.

A co ze Świątek, która w Auckland debiutuje w turnieju rangi WTA? – Bardzo chciałbym zobaczyć Igę w czołowej setce. Wszystko ponad to będzie ogromnym sukcesem – twierdzi komentator TVP Sport. Polce sprzyjać będzie to, że w pierwszej części sezonu nie musi bronić punktów. Wszystko co zdobędzie, dopisze do rankingu.

W połowie ubiegłego sezonu wydawało się, że awans do czołowej setki jest w przypadku Fręch coraz bardziej realny. 21-latka zajmowała już 115. lokatę, ale druga część roku była dla niej mniej udana. Obecnie jest 162. tenisistką świata, więc o TOP 100 nie ma na razie co myśleć.

Jeżeli chce uniknąć dalszych spadków, to szybko musi poprawić formę. W ubiegłym roku dwukrotnie udało jej się przebrnąć eliminacje Wielkiego Szlema (w Australian Open i French Open). W tym momencie powtórzenie tego osiągnięcia, a nawet jak w przypadku paryskiej imprezy zwycięstwo w pierwszej rundzie, byłoby sporym sukcesem.

Na jaką zawodniczkę warto zwrócić uwagę?

– Myślę, że warto przyjrzeć się Wang. Mam wobec niej spore oczekiwania – mówi Lewandowski. Chinka zaimponowała przede wszystkim w drugiej części sezonu. Wygrała igrzyska azjatyckie, turnieje w Nanchangu i Guangzhou, dotarła do finału w Pekinie oraz podczas WTA Elite Trophy.


WYZWANIA IGI ŚWIĄTEK. "CHCĘ WYGRAĆ WSZYSTKIE TURNIEJE WIELKOSZLEMOWE"
– Będę się uważnie przyglądać Switolinie. Jestem ciekawa, czy sukces z Singapuru otworzy jej bramy do poprawienia rezultatów w Wielkim Szlemie. Warto śledzić też losy dwóch innych Ukrainek – Marty Kostiuk i Dajany Jastremskiej – uważa natomiast Joanna Sakowicz-Kostecka, komentatorka TVP Sport.

Jaka zawodniczka "zastąpi" Agnieszkę Radwańską w roli najefektowniej grającej tenisistki?

– Tak w pełni to żadna. Może w pewnym stopniu Polce będzie starała się dorównać Ashleigh Barty. Australijka jest niewysoka, ale umie zaskakiwać dobrym czuciem piłki. Pod warunkiem dobrej formy fizycznej efektowny tenis potrafi prezentować również Halep – uważa Lewandowski.

Transmisje z turniejów WTA będzie można oglądać w TVP Sport, aplikacji mobilnej i na SPORT.TVP.PL. Pierwsze mecze już 2 stycznia.