Tennis
Players bemoan lack of ranking points at Wimbledon
Players were disappointed about the absence of ranking points at Wimbledon this year but had grudgingly accepted the governing bodies’ decision, Tunisia’s world number six Ons Jabeur said on Sunday.
The world’s most prestigious tennis tournament was stripped of its ranking points by the ATP and WTA Tours over its decision to exclude players from Russia and Belarus due to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
Rankings determine a player’s ability to enter tennis events and receive seedings, and the absence of them will reduce Wimbledon to an exhibition tournament.
“It’s a very difficult decision; we’ve been talking a lot with the WTA. I wish they can find a solution but I don’t think anything will change with the no points,” Jabeur told reporters after exiting the French Open in a shock opening-round loss.
“Obviously a lot of players are disappointed.”
This year’s Wimbledon will be the first time players have been excluded on grounds of nationality since the immediate post-World War Two era when German and Japanese players were banned.
Tennis governing bodies have themselves banned Russia and Belarus from international team competitions following the invasion, which Moscow calls a ‘special operation’, but have allowed players from the two countries to compete as neutrals.
The Wimbledon move has been condemned by tennis governing bodies as discriminatory and their sanction on the grasscourt Grand Slam will mean that players will be unable to defend the points they earned in the 2021 championships.
“I wish we had points… because it’s not fair if we drop all the points without us defending anything, especially some people had finals, semi-finals,” Jabeur said.
Wimbledon’s decision has been criticised by top players such as 21-times Grand Slam champion Rafa Nadal who labelled it unfair, while world number one Novak Djokovic said he did not support the decision.
Djokovic, who will lose the 2,000 points he earned by lifting last year’s trophy, is among many who will be impacted and could drop down the rankings.
“It’s a tough decision for everybody, for some players it is probably very painful,” said former U.S. Open champion Dominic Thiem, who missed the 2021 Wimbledon with an injury.
Former U.S. Open winner Sloane Stephens, who sits on the WTA Players’ Council, said it was unfortunate for those who would lose points but backed the tours’ stand.
“The decision that’s been taken obviously wasn’t taken lightly,” she said. “I think when you are backed into a corner and that’s all you can do, I think that’s why the decision was made, and I support it.
“When you look at the principles and what our tour stands for, discrimination will never be tolerated. It’s a lot of players that will lose points. I’m going to lose points. But that’s not what we stand for as a tour.”
-Reuters
Naomi Osaka has parted ways with coach Wim Fissette after four years together across two stints, the 26-year-old announced late on Friday.
The former world number one won two of her four Grand Slam titles under the guidance of the Belgian, but is currently 75th in the rankings having returned to the tour nine months ago after a lengthy maternity break.
“Four years, two slams and a whole lot of memories,” Osaka wrote in an Instagram post.
“Thanks Wim for being a great coach and an even greater person. Wishing you all the best.”
Of the 16 tournaments Osaka has played this season, she has made the quarter-finals in only two – Doha and ‘s-Hertogenbosch – and the Japanese player has also failed to go past the second round in each of the four Grand Slams
-Reuters
Five players from the United States are ranked in the Women’s Tennis Association’s top 15 for the first time in two decades, the USTA said on Monday.
World number two Coco Gauff led the American charge followed by sixth-ranked Jessica Pegula and Danielle Collins, who climbed two spots to ninth on the list amid a remarkable farewell season.
Madison Keys was ranked 14th while Emma Navarro hopped two spots to a career-high 15th after reaching her first major quarter-final at Wimbledon.
The last time five American women featured in the top 15 was May 24, 2004, when Lindsay Davenport was fourth in the world
-Reuters
Seven-times Grand Slam champion Venus Williams and Australian soccer player Mary Fowler are among nine athletes to get a Barbie doll in their likeness as toy maker Mattel seeks to shine a light on women sports role models ahead of the Paris Olympics.
Mattel unveiled the dolls on Wednesday, each with their bespoke accessories. Fowler’s wears gloves and holds a football while Williams’ doll, dressed in an all white tennis dress and visor as well as wearing earrings, comes with a miniature racket.
The former world number one said she hoped to motivate young girls into sports with the doll.
“I literally can’t imagine my life without sports and without the game,” Williams said in a video, in which she held the doll.
“I want other young girls to have that invaluable experience of playing a sport and what it teaches you and what you learn and what you take from it, not just that moment (but) for the rest of your life… I think it’s so important for girls to be in sports.”
Other sports figures to have a doll in their likeness include French boxer Estelle Mossely, Polish sprinter Ewa Swoboda, Spanish doctor and paratriathlon athlete Susana Rodriguez, Italian former swimmer Federica Pellegrini, Canadian soccer player Christine Sinclair as well as Mexican and Brazilian gymnasts, Alexa Moreno and Rebeca Andrade.
The dolls, unveiled as Barbie turns 65 this year, “(recognise) the impact of sport in fostering self-confidence and ambition among the next generation”, Krista Berger, senior vice president of Barbie and Mattel’s Global Head of Dolls, said.
“By shining a light on these inspirational athletes and their stories, we hope to champion the belief that every young girl deserves the opportunity to pursue her passions and turn her dreams into reality,” she said in a statement.
-Reuters
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