A third career singles title for the Czech ????@BKrejcikova | #PragueOpen pic.twitter.com/x958JWnnWz
— wta (@WTA) July 18, 2021
An unforgettable feeling for ???? @tamara_zidansek
— wta (@WTA) July 18, 2021
Her first crowning moment on Tour ??
Your 2021 #LadiesOpenLausanne singles champ! pic.twitter.com/vJa44iShkH
Meanwhile, though she's been more under the radar, Martincova's rise through the first seven months of the '21 season is almost as impressive as Zidansek's simply because it's been so unexpected. The 26-year old concluded 2020 at a career-best season-ending #120, but in '21 has risen into the Top 100, posted her first MD wins at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon, and this week reached her maiden tour-level singles final (she'd gone 0-3 in WTA semis in 2016, '17 and '20) in her hometown of Prague. After falling five times in qualifying when the tournament was held on clay, this year's hard court switch seems to have benefited Martincova greatly. With wins over the likes of Asia Muhammad, Viktoria Kuzmova and Greet Minnen before falling to Krejcikova, the Czech's result gives her a QF-QF-3r (Wimb)-RU stretch during which she's now gone 12-4. 29-17 across all levels this season, she'll have nearly halved her season-starting ranking come Monday, rising to a career-best #67.
Into her first WTA final ?
— wta (@WTA) July 17, 2021
???? Tereza Martincova secures her place in the @tennispragueopn final after defeating Minnen in straight-sets. pic.twitter.com/dp86gcDWdF
28-2 in her last 30 clay matches, and 31-4 on the surface in 2021, Kalinina rises to a new career high of #81 this week. Meanwhile Minnen has gotten a lot of attention due to being the fiancee (and, recently, doubles partner *and* opponent) of Alyson Van Uytvanck, but the Belgian has also been steadily climbing the WTA ranks.
In Prague, the 23-year old reached her maiden tour-level semifinal with victories over Giulia Gatto-Montcone, Anastasia Gasanova and Storm Sanders. Already a three-time slam qualifier in 2021, Minnen previously reached a QF this season in Lyon. She'll come in at #110 in the new rankings, not far off her career-best standing of #103 (attained right before last season's shutdown).
Zanevska, a two-time junior doubles slam champ ('09 US'11 RG), has been winning pro titles on the ITF circuit since she was 15 years old in 2009, but her early career success hasn't translated to the tour level until now. Yes, it helps that her career-best run comes in a three-tournament tour week, in a "thinner than normal" draw immediately following a major and right before the Olympics, but her wins in Lausanne this past week over Jil Teichmann, Stefanie Voegele and Natalia Vikhlyantseva would have been on par with a good many 250 events over the course of the season. Zanevska lost to Tamara Zidansek in the semis, but will climb to #165 on Monday, her best ranking since 2018.
Galfi's recent ITF circuit momentum -- which included s/d finals in the $100K Contrexeville last week -- carried over to the tour level in Budapest, as the #176-ranked Hungarian wild card reached her maiden WTA semifinal with wins over Aliona Bolsova, Anna Karolina Schmiedlova and Olga Danilovic without dropping a set. Once there, she pushed top-seeded Yulia Putintseva to three sets before her time in front of the home fans finally came to an end.
Great to see 2015 US Open junior champion Dalma Galfi *finally* get her first results on tour. #HungarianGrandPrix pic.twitter.com/4cMAlIQGIS
— Tennis GIFs ???? (@tennis_gifs) July 15, 2021
The 2015 U.S. Open junior champ, 22-year old Galfi's tour success has been a bit slower coming than many other recent junior would-be stars (Paula Badosa was also a girls slam winner that season), as six of the eight 2017-18 winners have already won tour titles (and one slam). Galfi has yet to make her slam MD debut, and has gone 1-5 in ITF finals since November '16 after winning her first seven pro finals on the circuit. She'll climb 24 spots in the rankings this week to #152, her highest standing since 2017 (the year she reached her career high of #136). Another former junior slam champ (2018 AO/WI girls doubles), Wang Xinyu reached her own maiden singles semifinal at the tour level in Prague. The world #147 notched wins over Leonie Kung, Liang En-shuo (her '18 AO GD partner) and Grace Min before adding hers to the growing list of Barbora Krejcikova's fallen opponents. The 19-year old, who just qualified to reach her first Wimbledon MD (below), will grab a new career-high (#131) on Monday.
First WTA semifinal on clay??
— wta (@WTA) July 16, 2021
???? Danielle Collins defeats P. Ormaechea in straight sets! #HungarianGrandPrix pic.twitter.com/fIUMFAWkgr
Umpire said ball girl made a movement towards ball & it may have impacted Kalinina in going for it. She was never getting there
— Eggy ?? (@TheBoiledEgg) July 17, 2021
But Collins' meeting with Kalinina couldn't have gone much worse, as the Bannerette lost a winnable 1st set, argued with the chair umpire about effectively losing out on a winning point when a ball kid moved during a rally that seemed about to end with Collins winning the point, complained about not being able to see the ball in fading light and Kalinina's supporters cheering her errors, took a medical timeout for an injured arm, retired down a set and 4-1, and then beat a hasty retreat from the court in blink-and-you-missed-it fashion.
No. 2 seed Collins retires due to an arm injury, Kalinina is into the finals and will face Putintseva.#HungarianGrandPrix pic.twitter.com/tBdrN63yNk
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) July 17, 2021
So, though she's not currently the highest-ranked woman doing so (that'd be about-to-be #37 Nadia Podoroska, through the Argentine has only really been in the mix for about nine months), new #44 Collins (up 5 spots) *continues* to seek her still-elusive first tour-level final.
Francesca Jones beats Oksana Selekhmeteva 6-4 7-6(4) to win the title at W60 Biarritz. pic.twitter.com/S1bFfqO0ID
— Tennis on telly ???????? (@tennisontelly) July 18, 2021
Meanwhile, at the $60K Vitoria-Gasteiz (ESP) challenger, Masarova claimed her biggest career singles title to improve to 3-0 in circuit finals in 2021 (she also won the doubles w/ Aussie Olivia Gadecki). After defeating #2-seed Veronica Cepede Royg in the QF, Masarova took out new Wimbledon girls champ Ane Mintegi del Olmo in the final, 7-6(3)/6-4. The Spanish teenager was in the tournament via a wild card and was looking to pick up her maiden pro title (she'd defeated #5 Pemra Ozgen and #1 Lesley Kerkhove en route). While Mintegi del Olmo's SW19 win made her just the third Spanish girl (Dominguez Lino & Badosa) to win a slam junior singles crown, Masarova (now representing ESP) is something of an "unofficial" fourth, having won the RG girls in 2016 while playing for Switzerland.
CHAMPION AGAIN! 16 yr old Alex Eala with her Singles and Doubles champion trophies from the Milan Italy Grade A Jr Tournament . Grass to Clay? No prob for Alex ?????? Mabuhay and keep punching !?????? pic.twitter.com/DJdq0P1NfS
— Dyan Castillejo (@DYANCASTILLEJO) July 18, 2021
Hometown heroes ????????@MarieBouzkova & @lucik2105 defeat top seeds Kuzmova/Stojanovic to lift their second title of the season together!#PragueOpen pic.twitter.com/iiWxqjHXdL
— wta (@WTA) July 18, 2021
Qualifier Rebecca Sramkova is a set to the good against #PragueOpen No.1 seed Petra Kvitova—and hitting winners like this ?? pic.twitter.com/YcfP2hFqWT
— wta (@WTA) July 12, 2021
What a battle! And what a win!
— wta (@WTA) July 12, 2021
???? Rebecca Sramkova upsets #PragueOpen No.1 seed Petra Kvitova on home soil.
The qualifier wins 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-4 in her first main draw tour-level win since July 2017. pic.twitter.com/DAHCw8gjkr
First WTA title SECURED ? ??
— wta (@WTA) July 18, 2021
???? @tamara_zidansek comes back from the brink in Lausanne to defeat Burel!
#LadiesOpenLausanne pic.twitter.com/l1cPXmOCzC
The fourth Czech singles champion in Prague ??
— wta (@WTA) July 18, 2021
???? @BKrejcikova caps off a DOMINANT week in front of home fans.#PragueOpen pic.twitter.com/VxVdWKl0pc
What a week for Barbora Krejcikova in Prague, destroying pretty much everybody to win a 3rd career singles title, all in 2021.
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) July 18, 2021
6-2, 6-0 over Martincova in the final.
22-2 since Rome, only losses to Swiatek (had MPs in Rome) and Barty (Wimbledon). Both players won those events. pic.twitter.com/sc1coMrLjz
All business from Barbora.
— wta (@WTA) July 16, 2021
???? @BKrejcikova battles past doubles partner Siniakova in straight sets to reach the last four in the Czech capital!#PragueOpen pic.twitter.com/9Sty1WiuX3
C’est @clara_burel qui s’impose dans la demi-finale 100% ???? de Lausanne : elle bat @CaroGarcia 5-7, 6-2, 6-2. pic.twitter.com/k6nZ7it9dC
— FFT (@FFTennis) July 17, 2021
Obviously, the rise to relevance of youngsters Burel and Diane Parry (and later Elsa Jacquemot) couldn't come quickly enough.
Pulling a rabbit out of the hat ????
— wta (@WTA) July 13, 2021
????@connyperrin90 with the STUNNING improv! ??#PragueOpen pic.twitter.com/DT0bkVuzUX
Comeback complete ??
— wta (@WTA) July 15, 2021
Panna Udvardy fights back for the win over No.6 seed Sasnovich in front of a home crowd ????!#HungarianGrandPrix pic.twitter.com/nDP83vxybR
?? Title locked ??
— wta (@WTA) July 17, 2021
???? @fannystollar & ???? @MikiBuzarnescu are the doubles champions in Budapest with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Korpatsch/Bolsova.#HungarianGrandPrix pic.twitter.com/zNU1dJk5oH
That Championship Winning Feeling ??
— wta (@WTA) July 18, 2021
???? Susan Bandecchi & Simona Waltert ???? def. Eikeri & Grammatikopoulou in a championship tie-break to win the #LadiesOpenLausanne doubles title!?? pic.twitter.com/dm1OeHiI2X
Your #HungarianGrandPrix CHAMPION ??
— wta (@WTA) July 18, 2021
???? @PutintsevaYulia defeated Kalinina in straight sets to secure her second WTA title! ?? pic.twitter.com/B656JkHF4K
Wait for the drop ??
— wta (@WTA) July 15, 2021
Some way to come from behind and reach a second quarterfinal of the season, ???? @stormsanders94!#PragueOpen pic.twitter.com/cVxlBbLr5Z
BIG congratulations to @beccamarino90 on her first title of the year! ??
— Tennis Canada (@TennisCanada) July 18, 2021
She defeats top seed Mayo Hibi 6-3, 3-6, 6-0 to win the ITF 25k event in Evansville, Indiana. pic.twitter.com/bBCBRoxyds
Trailblazers, together again ??
— Tennis Hall of Fame (@TennisHalloFame) July 16, 2021
Simply amazing having seven of the Original 9 experience the ITHF Museum together this afternoon, reliving memories and speaking toward the honor awaiting the group tomorrow ?#EnshrinementWeekend pic.twitter.com/MbPevIAdDp
"We were troublemakers. And now, today...we're rockstars." ?
— Tennis Hall of Fame (@TennisHalloFame) July 17, 2021
Together and ready to take their place amongst tennis' legends in the International Tennis Hall of Fame. This evening, the Original 9 will be the first group ever inducted into the ITHF.#EnshrinementWeekend | @wta pic.twitter.com/ArxeBuZPg6
It’s official!
— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) July 18, 2021
The #Original9 have been inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. pic.twitter.com/kWJ8qdarDR
"This means so much to not just me, but all of us."
— Tennis Hall of Fame (@TennisHalloFame) July 18, 2021
Welcome to the Hall of Fame, @conchitamartinz ??????#EnshrinementWeekend pic.twitter.com/RvHHdnKBH2
— victoria azarenka (@vika7) July 15, 2021
— Johanna Konta (@JohannaKonta) July 13, 2021
JUST IN: Tennis player Coco Gauff tests positive for Covid-19 and will not be competing in the Tokyo Olympics, she says. https://t.co/F23FAXEaCv
— NBC News (@NBCNews) July 18, 2021
Shirley Fry Irvin, World No. 1 in 1956, has passed away.
— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) July 14, 2021
She was 1 of just 10 women in tennis history to have won singles titles at all 4 majors.
Her passion for tennis inspired generations of players & she was a wonderful role model on & off the court. https://t.co/ThvxvjdYVv
Shirley Fry passed away at 94.
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) July 16, 2021
She won her first Grand Slam singles title at Roland-Garros in 1951 and won three consecutive major titles in the 1950s to complete a career Grand Slam.
??
© Morin & Kermadec / FFT pic.twitter.com/Ki5cN8r4Kv
The former Top 10 player and Olympic silver medalist has called time on her career.
— wta (@WTA) July 16, 2021
Wishing you the very best in your next chapter, @TimeaOfficial! ??
?????? pic.twitter.com/1Hnmu9XUiN
— Timea Bacsinszky (@TimeaOfficial) July 16, 2021
Yep, in deed ??????????? https://t.co/D56LNcN8SZ
— Timea Bacsinszky (@TimeaOfficial) July 16, 2021
Hahahahaha 😊 « semi intacte » ! https://t.co/S8vHTc7B0s
— Timea Bacsinszky (@TimeaOfficial) July 18, 2021
“Ash, to me is like a little sister.”
— ITF (@ITFTennis) July 12, 2021
Tennis legend Evonne Goolagong reacts to @ashbarty doing her legacy proud on the biggest stage.
??: @TennisAustralia
pic.twitter.com/rdLCqAGvUJ
The calm before the storm ??
— ITF (@ITFTennis) July 16, 2021
Only one more week until Olympic #tennis is back! ??#Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/w33kcd7EhV
Two years ago today, @Simona_Halep became @Wimbledon champion ?? pic.twitter.com/2iCHG5FIhZ
— ITF (@ITFTennis) July 13, 2021
Aljona Ostapenko, together with basketball player Agnis Cavars, will be the flag bearer for Latvia at the Olympics Games https://t.co/SkgLqPR69o
— Diego Barbiani (@Diego_Barbiani) July 17, 2021
It’s my birthday, so I finally got dressed up???????? #birthdaygirl pic.twitter.com/BdCa6Mbhbw
— Caroline Wozniacki (@CaroWozniacki) July 12, 2021
Let the journey begin 🥰 @Gael_Monfils pic.twitter.com/j2wvZwuHXm
— Elina Monfils (@ElinaSvitolina) July 17, 2021
Mattel launches Naomi Osaka Barbie doll for 2021 Olympics https://t.co/XoGsIEF0Eg
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) July 12, 2021
*2021 WTA FINALS*
5 - Ash Barty, AUS (4-1)
4 - BARBORA KREJCIKOVA, CZE (3-1)
3 - Dasha Kasatkina, RUS (2-1)
3 - Aryna Sabalenka, BLR (2-1)
3 - Garbine Muguruza, ESP (1-2)
*2021 FIRST-TIME WTA CHAMPIONS*
Lyon - Clara Tauson, DEN (18/#139)
Guadalajara - Sara Sorribes Tormo, ESP (24/#71)
Monterrey - Leylah Fernandez, CAN (18/#88)
Bogota - MC Osorio Serrano, COL (19/#180)
Charleston - Veronika Kudermetova, RUS (23/#38)
Charleston 250 - Astra Sharma, AUS (25/#165)
Belgrade - Paula Badosa, ESP (23/#44)
Strasbourg - Barbora Krejcikova, CZE (25/#38)
Birmingham - Ons Jabeur, TUN (26/#24)
Berlin - Liudmila Samsonova, RUS (22/#106)
Hamburg - Gabriela Ruse, ROU (23/#154)
LAUSANNE - TAMARA ZIDANSEK, SLO (23/#50)
*2021 FIRST-TIME SINGLES FINALISTS*
Abu Dhabi - Veronika Kudermetova, RUS (#46, 23)
Grampians - Ann Li, USA (#99, 20) - DNP
Lyon - Clara Tauson, DEN (#139, 18) - W
Guadalajara - Sara Sorribes Tormo, ESP (#71, 24) - W
Bogota - MC.Osorio Serrano, COL (#180, 19) - W
Belgrade - Paula Badosa, ESP (#44, 23) - W
Berlin - Liudmila Samsonova, RUS (#106, 22) - W
Hamburg - Gabriela Ruse, ROU (#154, 23) - W
PRAGUE - TEREZA MARTINCOVA, CZE (#78, 26) - L
LAUSENNE - CLARA BUREL, FRA (#125, 20) - L
BUDAPEST - ANHELINA KALININA, UKR (#95, 24) - L
*RECENT WTA ALL-NATION FINALS*
[2017]
(USA) Australian Open - S.Williams d. V.Williams
(RUS) Indian Wells - Vesnina d. Kuznetsova
(AUS) Strasbourg - Stosur d. Gavrilova
(USA) Stanford - Keys d. Vandeweghe #
(USA) US Open - Stephens d. Keys #
[2018]
(CHN) Nanchang - Q.Wang d. Sai.Zheng #
(RUS) Tashkent - Gasparyan d. Potapova
[2019]
(FRA) Lausanne - Ferro d. Cornet
(JPN) Hiroshima - Hibino d. Doi #
[2020]
(USA) Auckland - S.Williams d. Pegula
(BLR) Ostrava - Sabalenka d. Azarenka
[2021]
(RUS) Saint Petersburg - Kasatkina d. Gasparyan #
(CZE) Prague - Krejcikova d. Martincova #
-
#- tournament in home nation
*WTA TITLE LEADERS - KAZAKHSTAN*
2 - YULIA PUTINTSEVA (2019 Nuremberg, 2021 Budapest
2 - Elena Rybakina (2019 Bucharest, 2020 Hobart)
1 - Zarina Diyas (2017 Tokyo)
-
NOTE: Shvedova won 1 representing RUS in '07; 0-1 in finals as KAZ
*MOST WTA WEEKS AT #1 - week of July 19*
[w/ titles; slam wins]
377 - Steffi Graf (107/22)
332 - Martina Navratilova (167/18)
319 - Serena Williams (73/23)
260 - Chris Evert (154/18)
209 - Martina Hingis (43/5)
178 - Monica Seles (53/9)
117 - Justine Henin (43/7)
98 - Lindsay Davenport (55/3)
85 - ASH BARTY (12/2)
71 - Caroline Wozniacki (30/1)
65 - Simona Halep (22/2)
51 - Victoria Azarenka (21/2)
39 - Amelie Mauresmo (25/2)
34 - Angelique Kerber (13/3)
26 - Dinara Safina (12/0)
25 - Naomi Osaka (7/4)
21 - Maria Sharapova (36/5)
21 - Tracy Austin (30/2)
20 - Kim Clijsters (41/4)
18 - Jelena Jankovic (14/0)
17 - Jennifer Capriati (14/3)
12 - Arantxa Sanchez Vicario (29/4)
12 - Ana Ivanovic (15/1)
11 - Venus Williams (49/7)
8 - Karolina Pliskova (16/0)
4 - Garbine Muguruza (8/2)
2 - Evonne Goolagong (68/7)
*2021 ALL-NATION WD CHAMPS IN HOME NATION*
Charleston, USA - Hailey Baptiste/Caty McNally
Belgrade, SRB - Aleksandra Krunic/Nina Stojanovic
LAUSANNE, SUI - SUSAN BANDECCHI/SIMONA WALTERT
PRAGUE, CZE - MARIE BOUZKOVA/LUCIE HRADECKA
*2021 TOP JUNIOR EVENT CHAMPIONS*
SVYATOPETRIVSKE VILLAGE UKR J1: Anastasiia Gureva/RUS
SALINAS ECU J1: Natalia Szabanin/HUN
ASUNCION BOWL PAR J1: Petra Marcinko/CRO
PORTO ALEGRE BRA J1: Natalia Szabanin/HUN
BANANA BOWL BRA GA: Oceane Babel/FRA
BARRANQUILLA COL J1: Johanne Christine Svendsen/DEN
SAN DIEGO USA J1: Alexandra Yepifanova/USA
VILLENA ESP J1: Diana Shnaider/RUS
PLOVDIV BUL J1: Michaela Laki/GRE
YELTSIN CUP RUS J1: Alina Shcherbinina/RUS
RICANY CZE J1: Julia Middendorf/GER
BYTOM POL J1: Dominika Salkova/CZE
ROLAND GARROS: Linda Noskova/CZE
ROEHAMPTON GBR J1: Linda Fruhvirtova/CZE
WIMBLEDON: Ane Mintegi del Olmo/ESP
MILAN ITA GA: Alexandra Eala/PHI
Opinion | Dancing on more than 600,000 covid deaths
— Ann Telnaes (@AnnTelnaes) July 13, 2021
During last weekend’s Conservative Political Action Conference gathering, the crowd clapped when a panelist commented about the United States failing to reach a 90 percent vaccination rate.https://t.co/ksD1bm7BkB pic.twitter.com/MGwDseBwDd
"Despite an enormous head start in vaccination efforts in the United States, Canada has now surpassed the US in the percentage of fully vaccinated people."@paulanewtonCNN points out that Canada has the same social media as the US, but "we do not have that political element..." pic.twitter.com/H39RkvHgDm
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) July 18, 2021
I’ve said it before and I will say it again: Operation Warp Speed, approved by then-President Trump, is a remarkable accomplishment.
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) July 18, 2021
For his fans to not get vaccinated is an insult to that accomplishment.
Women leading the way ??
— wta (@WTA) July 14, 2021
The ??? women that have been acknowledged in the @TennisHalloFame Contributor category ??
The way pandas eat is just something else ??
— Nature and Animals (@_NatureAnimals) July 13, 2021
(TikTok: xiongmaosh ) pic.twitter.com/9O64EDy32O
I am pleased to have another microchap published by the Origami Poems Project. Missing Amy observes the 10th anniversary (7/23) of the death of #AmyWinehouse. You can download the microchap here: https://t.co/DFYTWoUSzC Folding instructions: https://t.co/td8sW49oNs #poetry
— Diane Elayne Dees (@WomenWhoServe) July 14, 2021
Biz Markie, the charismatic rapper whose infectious 1989 single "Just a Friend" became a pop culture classic passed away at the age of 57. Rest in Power ?? pic.twitter.com/3Sc3VZiTKm
— Cleavon MD (@Cleavon_MD) July 17, 2021
Sick baby fox looks adorable after she gets a bath — and snuggles up immediately with her first fox friend ?? @NurturetoNature pic.twitter.com/4mmWA2B9d2
— The Dodo (@dodo) July 17, 2021
What even is personal space? 🐕👀 pic.twitter.com/mz2OtQjxp2
— Johanna Konta (@JohannaKonta) July 18, 2021
Not something you often see. Route of the Tour de France temporarily blocked by llamas in fog. Photo from TdF Race Radio. pic.twitter.com/RSC5abj6I0
— John O'Connell (@jdpoc) July 15, 2021
Woman adopts her grandparents' grumpy cat — then realizes there's only one thing that can make her stop growling ?? pic.twitter.com/2eTdltOLhe
— The Dodo (@dodo) July 17, 2021
Check out this incredible caterpillar that mimics a feather to evade hungry birds, filmed in the forests of Ecuador by photographer Andreas Kay. pic.twitter.com/1x0jha7pwH
— Wonder of Science (@wonderofscience) July 13, 2021
A collection of me turning into random objects. pic.twitter.com/ValPdPNJIj
— Kevin Parry (@kevinbparry) July 13, 2021