The draw for the Mutua Madrid Open, the first WTA 1000 of the clay-court swing, was made on Sunday evening and sees Britain’s Emma Raducanu taking on former World No 1 Karolina Pliskova in the 1st-round, while British No 1 Katie Boulter receives a bye as the No 26 seed. The post Madrid | Preview: World’s best to compete in first WTA 1000 clay-court event of the season appeared first on Tennis Threads Magazine ..read more

Sloane Stephens won the title at the inaugural Open Capfinances Rouen Métropole, the WTA 250 indoor clay-court tournament in France, when the 31-year-old defeated Magda Linette, 6-1 2-6 6-2, in Sunday’s final. The post Rouen | Stephens takes WTA 250 honours in France appeared first on Tennis Threads Magazine ..read more

Elena Rybakina cruised through the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix final on Sunday, blasting past a tired Marta Kostuyk, 6-2 6-2, in 70 minutes before being driven off the ramp onto the court in her new lavender Porsche Taycan 4S Sport Turismo in front of a capacity crowd because she has not driver’s licence. The post Stuttgart | Rybakina cruises to 3rd title of the season appeared first on Tennis Threads Magazine ..read more

The final of the Barclona Open Banc Sabadell was a repeat of the previous week’s Monte Carlo Masters finsl which Casper Ruud lost to Stefanos Tsistipas, so, for the Norwegian, who had only won five games then, his 7-5 6-3 defeat of the Greek in the Catalan capital, must have been very sweet. The post Barcelona | Ruud wins first title at 500 level. appeared first on Tennis Threads Magazine ..read more

An elated Jan-Lennard Struff at the age of 33, wins his first title to become the third oldest first-time champion since the tour was established in 1990. The post Munich | Struff does it for Germany appeared first on Tennis Threads Magazine ..read more

Few would have predicted 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens would be contesting the final against Magda Linette at the Open Capfinances Rouen Métropole, the WTA 250 in France, but the American upset tournament favourite Caroline Garcia, 6-3 6-2, in the Saturday’s semi-final, while the Pole outlasted Anhelina Kalinina, the 3rd seed, 6-1 4-6 6-2, to also make the trophy match on Sunday. The post Rouen | Stephens to meet Linette in WTA 250 final appeared first on Tennis Threads Magazine ..read more

Spain’s former World No 1 Garbiñe Muguruza announced her retirement at a press conference in Madrid on Saturday, the 30-year old, who won both Wimbledon and the French Open, confirming that her extended break from the women’s tour a year ago is now permanent. The post Madrid | Muguruza announces full retirement appeared first on Tennis Threads Magazine ..read more

Elena Rybakina found a way to end Iga Swiatek’s reign in Stuttgart, and she will face Marta Kostyuk for the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix title on Sunday. The post Stuttgart | Rybakina stops Swiatek, lines up Kostyuk in final appeared first on Tennis Threads Magazine ..read more

The inaugural Open Capfinances Rouen Métropole, the WTA 250 indoor clay court tournament in France, will crown its first champion on Sunday, but, before then, there are semi-final matches to clear, featuring home favourite Caroline Garcia against 2018 French Open runner-up Sloane Stephens, and Anhelina Kalinina facing Magda Linette. The post Rouen | Garcia to face Stephens, as Kalinina meets Linette in Last 4 appeared first on Tennis Threads Magazine ..read more

Emma Raducanu pushed Iga Swiatek hard but fell in straight sets at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix on Friday night, while Marketa Vondrousova upset Aryna Sabalenka’s hopes of winning a car this year, Marta Kostyuk downed Coco Gauff and Elena Rybakina overcame Jasmine Paolini, all in 3 sets, to make the semi-finals. The post Stuttgart | Swiatek downs Raducanu as Rybakina, Kostyuk and Vondrousova advance to Last 4 appeared first on Tennis Threads Magazine ..read more