ReutersSwiatek's success helps Poland revive coastal tournament
The success of Poland's Iga Swiatek has helped bring a WTA women's tournament back to the country's coast after an absence of more than 10 years and local fans will get the chance to see her play, the organisers said on Monday. Teenager Swiatek crushed American Sofia Kenin 6-4 6-1 to triumph at the rescheduled French Open in October and became Poland's first Grand Slam singles champion. The 19-year-old was also the youngest woman to win the title since Monica Seles in 1992, the first Polish woman to reach the Roland Garros final in 81 years and the first at any major since Agnieszka Radwanska at Wimbledon in 2012.
ReutersBarty to skip Dubai event due to leg injury
The 24-year-old, who also pulled out of this week's Qatar Open in Doha for the same reason, struggled with a left thigh strain throughout last month's Australian Open, where she was eliminated in the quarter-finals. "Unfortunately I have withdrawn from the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships," Barty said. "Thank you to the event organisers and the WTA for all the work you are doing, I look forward to competing again in Miami in a few weeks time."
ReutersAfter Melbourne loss, Sabalenka vows to be ready for Serena
The strongly built Sabalenka finished 2020 with trophies at Ostrava and Linz and arrived in Melbourne for the year's first Grand Slam after picking up her third straight title at a WTA 500 event in Abu Dhabi. "I felt like I missed my opportunity because I feel like if you are coming back from 1-4 and you're kind of feeling your game and you're there, you're fighting, you just have to take this opportunity," Sabalenka told reporters in Doha on Monday. Sabalenka, who will defend her Qatar Open title this week, managed to match Williams's power from the baseline but felt her approach was not right.
