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Serena Williams Falls for the Beauty of the State of Yucatan

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Tennis superstar, Serena Williams, is the latest celebrity to fall for the beauty of the state of Yucatan’s natural wonder, traditions, gastronomy, and nature. Williams who posted on her Instagram account on her stay at the exclusive Chablé Resort last week, visited the state while on holiday with friends and family who also experienced the destination as part of an engagement celebration.   

The athlete, who was ranked world No. 1 in singles by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) for 319 weeks and won 23 Grand Slams and 73 titles, and her friends toured the state of Yucatan extensively making their home base the “White City” of Merida.

The group visited the Tsukán Sanctuary of Life, where the group enjoyed the natural wonder of a cenote surrounded by nature and vegetation. Later, they saw the emblematic archaeological zone of Chichén Itzá, where they took pictures in front of the mystical and imposing temple. Finally, they visited the “Magical Town of Valladolid,” where they tasted the delicious gastronomy of the region in the restaurant “La Casona de Valladolid” by the Xcaret group.

Williams is the latest in a group of celebrates who have made the state of Yucatan a must for the holidays. Other athletes and personalities who have visited the state this year include The Batman’s Zoe Kravitz, Magic Mike’s Channing Tatum, Supermodel Cindy Crawford and her daughter, Kaia Gerber, Formula One race car drivers Estaban Gutiérrez and Charles Lecrerc, and Denver Broncos Cheerleaders. Visitors to the state of Yucatan will have cultural, gastronomic, and historical experiences that reliable and safe, particularly after the pandemic.

Serena Williams in the Yucatan

Two legends retire: Roger Federer and Serena Williams

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I was doing the laundry when the news hit that Roger Federer was going to retire and the Laver Cup was going to be his last dance. The last dance has become such a popular saying after the Netflix series about Michael Jordan that I am casually stealing it from him.

Roger Federer announcing his retirement has had a profound impact on me. Memories of more fun times, when I would discuss tennis with my grandmother, who sadly passed away in 2013. We each had our own preferences in tennis. We were huge fans but had different tastes.

Team Kim vs Team Venus

I remember having a pseudo fight with her over Venus Williams and Kim Clijsters at the Miami finale of 2010. She was team Venus and I was team Kim. She loved Venus because she was a fighter. I loved Kim because of her determination. But we both agreed that Serena was the GOAT. She was more ferocious than Venus we found. Looking at the number of tournaments Serena won in total, we were both right.

The notorious finale that cost me desert

Serena Williams has more talent in her pinkie toe than everyone else

My grandmother and I often wondered how it was possible that Serena was still so incredibly dominant on the WTA Tour. Even after she was less motivated she would still come out on top. Or even after long absences, she would just train and come back on top. It was ridiculous.

So we figured: she either has so much more talent in her pinkie toe than the entire WTA Tour OR the competition was too weak. We like to think that the pinkie toe was the reason for her dominance on the WTA Tour.

Ofcourse things weren’t always that sunny on the WTA Tour for Serena. Like I mentioned before, at times she would just not be there but elsewhere in her mind or physically. And I wasn’t the only one who noticed it. Many fans did. And so did Chris Evert who wrote an open letter to Serena to not let her amazing tennis talent go to waste.

The letter is hard to find but Pro Tennis Fan’s Mike McIntyre has kept a copy on his website protennisfan.com. The letter is a really good read and we see it from Chris’ perspective. But I can understand Serena as well. You have won it all at some point and your hunger is stilled. What do you want out of your career? I am sure many of you can relate to some degree. What do you do when you have reached all your goals?

You evolve away from tennis. And that’s what Serena did when she retired at the US Open in 2022. I wish her a happy retirement and I hope to see her in some capacity talking about her new ventures.

Roger Federer has more talent in his big thumb than everyone else

Remember when I was doing the laundry? I left the laundry room to read up on Federer’s announcement to retire. I watched old videos of him beating his adversaries. I remember being happy when he finally beat Nadal. Or the moment he finally won his career Grand Slam by winning the French Open. Federer didn’t like the Paris clay much and it took him a long time to finally win that tournament. And I remember watching that with my grandmother. We didn’t like Nadal or Djokovic. Our hero was Roger Federer. His tennis was magical.

Or the times that he played in Rotterdam and I always wanted to go but something else got in the way that needed my attention more. I am sad to say that I had plenty of opportunities to watch him play in real life and realize now that I never will see him compete at the highest level. I will maybe see him play on the old man’s tournaments like they have at each Grand Slam tournament or the Champions Series.

When Federer announced his final match was going to be a doubles match and preferably with Nadal, I knew I just had to watch that. Nadal and Federer on the same side of court, that’s just amazing.

The moment came on September 23rd, 2022 and I was about to go watch when I saw pictures popping up online of a crying Federer holding Nadal’s hand. This time it was really over.

I still haven’t watched his final goodbye or his last dance. I just couldn’t do it. I know I will get very emotional. Not just because it’s the tennis player I have been following all these years but also the memories I have of my grandmother.

Thanks for everything Serena and Roger.

Serena Williams Makes ESPN Tennis History

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Friday’s US Open Third Round match on ESPN – apparently the last in the remarkable career of Serena Williams, as she lost to Ajla Tomljanovich of Australia 7-5, 6-7, 6-1 – is the most-watched tennis telecast on record in ESPN’s 43-year history.  An average of 4.6 million viewers (P2+) tuned in for the telecast from Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.  The previous record of 3.9 million was for the 2012 Wimbledon Gentlemen’s Championship, when Roger Federer defeated Andy Murray, in ESPN’s first year with exclusivity and first-ball-to-last-ball coverage from London.

The Primetime telecast on ESPN was the best ESPN tennis telecast on record and was the most viewed telecast of the day for broadcast and cable networks in total viewers and all key male and person demos.  Serena’s match averaged 4.8 million viewers from 7:15 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. ET and peaked with 6.9 million viewers in the 10:15 p.m. quarter-hour.

Through the first five days of the US Open, an average of 1.1. million viewers tuned in to ESPN networks, up +101% versus 2021. These are the most-viewed first five days of the US Open on record on ESPN networks.

On ESPN+, US Open coverage has to date delivered 622,000 unique viewers and 58.6 million minutes, up +65% and +72% versus 2021 through Day 5.

Other US Open Viewership Highlights

Day Four

  • ESPN2’s Primetime coverage of the Williams sisters’ doubles match was the third most-viewed Third Round telecast ever on ESPN networks
  • The match averaged 2.2 million viewers

Day Three

  • On Wednesday, Aug. 31, Williams’ second-round victory over Anett Kontaveit averaged 3.6 million viewers and peaked with five million. 
  • The entire prime-time telecast averaged 2.3 million, up 289% from last year and is No. 10 on the list of ESPN’s most-watched US Open telecasts of all time.
  • That night, ESPN led all networks – broadcast or cable – in delivering both Men and Adults in the demo groups 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54.  The network placed second for households and P2+.
  • That day’s entire 12.5 hours of matches averaged 1.4 million people, the largest for any ESPN US Open early round (Rounds 1-3) telecast.

Opening Day

  • Monday, Aug. 29, was ESPN’s most-watched opening-day and opening day prime-time US Open telecast ever.  The evening doubleheader averaged 1.7 million, up 279% from 2021 and 40% higher than the previous high in 2019.  The first match in that window, Williams defeating Danka Kovinic in the first round, averaged 2.7 million fans.
  • The audience that day for the entire 12 hours of coverage was ESPN’s largest for a US Open opening day, an average of 843,000 viewers.
Serena Williams

Iga Swiatek Is The Women’s Favorite To Win The 2022 U.S. Open

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Sportsbooks are expecting a big jump for the World number one this year. Iga Swiatek has never even made it to a quarterfinal at the US Open, yet sportsbooks are backing her to win the whole thing.  

Swiatek is given +400 odds, or an implied 20% chance to win the US Open. Her biggest competition is expected to be Simona Halep who’s also searching for her first US Open win. Halep is given +800 odds, or an implied 11.1% chance to be victorious.  

Last year’s winner Emma Raducanu is 7th on the market with +2000 odds, or an implied 4.8% chance to win her second straight US Open. That puts her ahead of former world number one Naomi Osaka who’s given +2500 odds, or an implied 3.8% chance. 

The best odds given to an American this year belong to Coco Gauff who’s given +1600 odds, or an implied 5.9% chance. That puts Gauff third on the market.  

Quote from OddsChecker spokesman Kyle Newman, “The women’s bracket is wide open. Last year we saw a qualifier win the event for the first time in history. So we know anything can happen with these women. For now, Swiatek is the favorite thanks to a phenomenal season. However, it wouldn’t be a shock to see any of the women win this year. That’s why even though Swiatek is the favorite, her odds are only equal to those of Rafa Nadal on the men’s side, second on the market. With a wide open field comes much longer odds.” 

For more detailed information, go to https://www.oddschecker.com/us/tennis/us-open-womens 

Iga Swiatek

Key Players To Watch For At The 2022 U.S. Open

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The year’s fourth and final grand slam gets underway on Monday 29th August with much to compete for at the US Open.

Defending men’s champion and world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev returns to grand slam action after being banned from competing at Wimbledon, however the unvaccinated Novak Djokovic and world number 2 Alexander Zverev are unlikely to be present. Despite this the markets have Djokovic as one of the favourites despite him not being expected to play. You can find the best in spread betting odds for Flushing Meadows here.

Daniil Medvedev

The world’s top-ranked player won his first grand slam at last year’s Open, defeating Djokovic in straight sets. Medvedev was absent from Wimbledon due to his Russian nationality however he has retained his number 1 rating as no ranking points were awarded for the Championship. Looking to be the first men’s player to retain the US Open title since 2008, he will become de facto favourite for the event once Djokovic is confirmed absent.

Carlos Alvarez

The US Open in 2021 was the first in ALvarez’s career, yet he still managed to make the quarter-final in an impressive debut performance. WInning on the hard-court surface at the Miami Open this year bodes well for the 19-year old Spaniard, who has both the health and fitness to confirm his status as Tennis’ next global superstar.

Rafael Nadal

The injury that forced Nadal to pull out of his Wimbledon semi-final against Nick Kyrgios looks to have been cleared and it will be his first time at the tournament for two years having been absent in 2021 and 2020 through injury. Needless to say, Nadal’s chance of victory rests on his health through multiple matches at Flushing Meadows.

Taylor Fritz

The 24-year old American is close to having his breakout win. Fritz pushed Djokovic to five sets in the 2021 Australian Open third round, Tsitsipas to five sets in the 2022 Australian Open fourth round and Nadal to five sets in the quarter-finals of WImbledon 2022. Inching closer, he has the serve, power on both backhand and forehand and is gaining confidence with the more high-rankin matchups. He could be a surprise package in a fascinating US Open.

Iga Swiatek

Although the women’s side of the tournament appears more open (at least in betting circles), Swiatek is the favorite to achieve victory at the US Open. The world number 1 who went on a 37-match winning streak that ended on her weakest surface at Wimbledon, is in tremendous form. With two French Open titles under her belt already she looks primed to make the US Open her third grand slam title.

Emma Radacunu

The defending US Open champion won last year as an 18-year old, but has found it a struggle with injuries and at major tournaments this year. No doubt she will be glad to be back on hard surfaces once again as she looks to finish her season off with a bang. She finally started to show some impressive form dispatching Victoria Azarenka and Serena WIlliams at the Cincinnati Masters in preparation for Flushing Meadows.

Jessica Pegula

The top ranked American’s performances have gone somewhat under the radar this year and she is currently third in the race for the WTA Finals, behind only Swiatek and Ons Jabeur. Pegula has only reached the third round of the US Open, although she has made the quarter-finals of two majors this year. The 28-year old has had one of the best seasons of her career showing steady improvement in her game and achieving personal records. Her quest for a maiden Grand Slam is very much on the cards.

Naomi Osaka

This season has been a struggle for Osaka. The 24-year old four-time Grand Slam champion has won twice before in New York and were she flying on all cylinders would be one of the shorter price favourites. Life in the limelight has taken its toll on the former world number 1, who has opened up about issues with mental health that caused her to take a break from sport last year. Injuries have plagued her in 2022, having to retire with back issues from her US Open tune-up in Toronto recently.

Serena Williams

Serena’s imminent retirement from the sport she has graced with her talent will ensure that this will be a US Open to remember. Williams evolved the game with her power, precision and mindset, leaving rivals no choice but to catch-up if they ever wanted to compete for grand slam titles. She has won at New York six times and since the last of her 23 grand slam triumphs in 2017, there have been 13 different champions across the four majors. Playing at home in her final tournament one should not count Serena completely out of the running, it would be a massive finale were the 41-year old to turn back the clocks for one final occasion.

Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz

Serena Williams ousted in first round at Wimbledon

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Serena Williams has lost in the first round of Wimbledon. After a match that lasted almost three hours, the winner of 23 Grand Slam tournaments, lost versus Frenchwoman Harmony Tan 7-5, 1-6, 7-6 (7).

With only one day of preparation, Williams hadn’t played an official match for a year in singles. She was forced to give up last year at Wimbledon with the score set at 3-3 in the first set.

With a wildcard because she dropped to 1204th place on the WTA rankings, Williams decided to go to Wimbledon anyway. So far Serena has won Wimbledon 7 times. The only training she has had so far to get some match rythm was a doubles match with Ons Jabeur.

And the lack of rythm showed as did her fitness. Her fighting spirit was there though so wait until the US Open and we will see the old Serena again. However that didn’t save her against Harmony Tan, 115th on the world ranking, who made her debut at Wimbledon.

Williams looked to make it at 5-4 in the third set when she had matchpoint but Tan’s fighting spirit did not let her down and that cost Serena the match. In a supertiebreak, 10 points, Williams took a 4-0 lead but still couldn’t win.

British crowd favorite Emma Raducanu loses in first round

The British winner of the US Open, Emma Raducanu lost in the second round of Wimbledon. Much to the dismay of the British audience she lost to Caroline Garcia 3-6, 3-6.

The 19 year old Raducanu had her breakthrough at Wimbledon 2021. She was ranked 338 of the world when she reached the 1/8 finales. After that she sensationally won the US Open title as a qualifier. However after that she reached a slump and was plagued by injuries to get consistent good results on the courts.

28 year old Garcia looks to be in bloodform after she won the grass tournament of Bad Homburg. She completely dominated Raducanu in rally’s, broke her serve seven times, hit 24 winners and won her seventh match in a row.

Serena Williams returns to the Tennis Channel

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Tennis Channel will have live coverage of all-time great Serena Williams’ first match since last summer on Tuesday, June 21, at approximately 12:30 p.m. ET. Williams, who has amassed 23 major singles titles during her career – one shy of the record for men or women – has entered the doubles field at the Rothesay International Eastbourne tournament in Eastbourne, England, airing on the network June 19-25. She has not played since withdrawing from her first-round match due to injury at Wimbledon in 2021.

Her partner is World No. 3 singles player Ons Jabeur, who won the Berlin Open yesterday and the Madrid Open in April. Williams has won multiple doubles championships at all four of tennis’ major tournaments, including six at Wimbledon which, like Eastbourne, is played on grass and set for June 27-July 10. Williams and Jabeur are scheduled to play on Center Court immediately following a men’s match that will not begin before 10:30 a.m. ET.

Serena Williams on the Tennis Channel

As the exclusive television and digital home of the women’s and men’s Rothesay International Eastbourne, Tennis Channel will have live and encore telecasts of the event throughout the week, as well as live and on-demand matches on subscription streaming service Tennis Channel Plus. Should Williams and Jabeur win Tuesday, the network will continue to carry their matches live as they advance through the tournament.

Tennis Channel (www.tennischannel.com) which is owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group, is the only television-based multiplatform destination dedicated to both the professional sport and tennis lifestyle. The network has the most concentrated single-sport coverage in television in one of the world’s most voluminous sports, with multiple men’s and women’s tournaments and singles, doubles and mixed competition throughout the year. Tennis Channel has rights at the four majors – US Open, Wimbledon, Roland Garros (French Open) and Australian Open – and is the exclusive U.S. home of all men’s ATP World Tour and women’s WTA Tour competitions, Laver Cup and Billie Jean King Cup. Direct-to-consumer streaming service Tennis Channel Plus is available to everyone in the United States and allows subscribers to select from another 4,500 live and on-demand matches and award-winning content from short-form to films throughout the tennis season. Tennis Channel International brings live competition and network content to markets in Europe and Asia via digital subscription and free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channels. Additional platforms Tennis Magazine and www.tennis.com are the largest print and digital outlets dedicated to the sport. Tennis Channel also manages a network of close to 20 podcasts.

About Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc.

Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: SBGI) is a diversified media company and a leading provider of local sports and news. The Company owns and/or operates 21 regional sports network brands; owns, operates and/or provides services to 185 television stations in 86 markets, owns multiple national networks including Tennis Channel and Stadium; and has TV stations affiliated with all the major broadcast networks. Sinclair’s content is delivered via multiple platforms, including over-the-air, multi-channel video program distributors, and digital and streaming platforms NewsOn and STIRR. The Company regularly uses its website as a key source of Company information which can be accessed at www.sbgi.net.

Roger Federer withdraws from Western & Southern Open and US Open

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Roger Federer withdraws from Western & Southern Open and US Open 2021 for surgery, says future is a little bit unclear

Roger Federer has withdrawn from the Western & Southern Open and the US Open 2021. The reason for that is a third knee surgery that is necessary to keep him playing longer. Unfortunately the news also means that Federer will be sidelined for the rest of 2021. In an Instagram post Federer explained his reasons why.

“I’ve been doing a lot of checks with the doctors, as well, on my knee, getting all the information as I hurt myself further during the grass-court season and Wimbledon,” the 40-year-old said in an Instagram post Sunday.”Unfortunately, they told me for the medium to long-term, to feel better, I will need surgery, so I decided to do it. I will be on crutches for many weeks and then also out of the game for many months.”

“I want to be healthy. I want to be running around later, as well, again, and I want to give myself a glimmer of hope, also, to return to the tour in some shape or form,” he added.”I am realistic, don’t get me wrong. I know how difficult it is at this age right now to do another surgery and try it.”

Naomi Osaka donates prize money to Haiti relief efforts

Multiple Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka has donated her prize money to support relief efforts after an earthquake hit Haiti. Osaka’s father is from Haiti and she has pledged to give whatever she earns at the Western & Southern Open to the Haiti relief efforts. The Western & Southern Open is played from August 14 until August 22.

Haiti was struck by a major earthquake that hit 7.2 on the scale of Richter. So far 1297 have been found dead according to the official reports at the time of writing.

“Really hurts to see all the devastation that’s going on in Haiti, and I feel like we really can’t catch a break,” Osaka said on Twitter.

“I’m about to play a tournament this week and I’ll give all the prize money to relief efforts for Haiti. I know our ancestors blood is strong we’ll keep rising.”

Novak Djokovic cites fatigue and withdraws from Western & Southern Open

Novak Djokovic informed fans via Twitter that he will not be playing the Western & Southern Open due to heavy fatigue.

“Dear fans, I wanted to share with you that I am taking a bit longer to recover and recuperate after quite a taxing journey from Australia to Tokyo,” Djokovic wrote. “Sadly, that means I won’t be ready to compete in Cincinnati this year, so I’ll turn my focus and attention to the US Open and spend some more time with family. See you in New York soon!” He will perhaps try his luck at Olybet Sports  

Rafael Nadal cancels Western & Southern Open with foot injury

Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from the Rogers Cup and now the Western & Southern Open says that Rafael Nadal will not be able to compete in Cincinnati due to the foot injury that has been hounding him since the start of the US Open series. It started at the Citi Open in Washington where he already indicated in several interviews that his success largely depended on how well his foot would hold.

Next to Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, Milos Raonic was also forced to withdraw citing a heel injury.

Serena Williams withdraws from Western & Southern Open at the women’s

Serena Williams was among the high profile competitors to skip the Western & Southern Open and thus grows the list of high profile players who are forced to skip the Cincinnatti tournament in 2021. Sister Venus Williams also joined that list of absentees.

“Unfortunately, I will not be playing in the Western & Southern Open next week as I am still in recovery from my leg injury at Wimbledon,” said the two-time champion Serena. “I will miss all of my fans in Cincinnati whom I look forward to seeing every summer. I plan to be back on the court very soon.”

Sofia Kenin is the next in line to skip the Western & Southern tennis tournament in Cincinnatti.

“Unfortunately I had to make the difficult decision to withdraw from the Western & Southern Open next week,” said Kenin. “I am rehabbing well in hopes to play the US Open later this month. I feel another week of recovery is necessary. I want to thank the USTA for all their efforts in holding the event during such challenging times. Best of luck to all the players.”

The field of the women’s part of the tournament is still going strong even with the withdraws.

2021 Wimbledon champion Ashleigh Barty as well as Naomi Osaka (2020 US Open, 2021 Australian Open), Barbora Krejcikova (2021 French Open) and Iga Swiatek (2020 French Open). And let’s not forget about the underdogs who won the Western & Southern Open in the past such as Victoria Azarenka, Madison Keys, Garbine Muguruza and Karolina Pliskova.

Camila Giorgi wins WTA Montreal

Italian Camila Giorgi wins the WTA tournament in Montreal by defeating Karolina Pliskova in straight sets 6-3 7-5. The WTA in Montreal title is the biggest tournament win for Giorgi ever in her career.

 “I really think I was very emotional inside,” said Giorgi. “Of course, I’m not the one that shows a lot. Of course, it’s just amazing. I’m very happy for what I did this week.” 

Karolina Pliskova had the following to say after her loss to Giorgi at the National Bank Open in Montreal:

 “I think I’m doing quite well now. Since actually the first final in Rome, I think my game really improved and I’m playing some good matches. Of course, it’s normal to lose sometimes. Of course, I would love to win all of my finals. It’s not like that it’s only in my hands. There is also somebody else. I’m playing really good players in the final.”

Despite having lost three key finals, Rome , Wimbledon and now the WTA Womens 1000 in Montreal. But proved herself to be a lovable loser in the end.

Said Pliskova: “I think she also played, like, super solid all week actually, not playing crazy like she can play sometimes. I think she played really well, serving well important moments. Yeah, just a bit better today.”

Camila Giorgi was sure to thank her father in her speech following her big win.

 “I think this comes with all the work I been doing with my father. Of course, he’s my coach. So I think all the work we’ve been putting together through all these years. I think one day I was sure and he was sure that can come in many period because I was playing very good actually. I was playing very high level already few months ago.” Though her father Sergio wasn’t in Montreal, she said they “talk a hundred times per day even FaceTime or calls.”

Daniil Medvedev takes ATP Toronto

Daniiel Medvedev has won the ATP Tournament of Toronto in this year’s edition of the Rogers Cup with a straight sets win over Reilly Opelka 6-4 6-3 thanks to Opelka’s failing serve.

Daniil Medvedev wins Rogers Cup Toronto and is now off to the Western & Southern Open

“When I played Reilly, I feel like I like to return it really far back, because otherwise it’s super tough to return,” Medvedev said earlier in the week, when he was asked about the prospect of facing the American’s serve. “At the same time, it’s obvious that if he starts making kicks and serve and volley, well, I’m not gonna have any chance by returning far back.”

Medvedev is now off to the Western & Southern tennis tournament in Cincinnatti following his great win in Toronto:

“I want to achieve more, I want to play better,” he said. “[In Canada and Cincinnati] the goal is to know where your game is.”

USA Edges Latvia In Fed Cup Thriller

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Depth and doubles was the ticket to Budapest for the U.S. Fed Cup team on Saturday in Everett, Wash., as Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Sofia Kenin soothed a long and treacherous afternoon-turned-evening with a fifth-and-decisive doubles victory over two valiant Latvians to book the Americans’ trip to the 2020 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Finals in Budapest, Hungary, April 14-19.

A day the United States began with a 2-0 lead at 3:30 p.m. turned into a 2-2 tie as 9 p.m. came and went. First, 2017 French Open champion Ostapenko defeated the newly-crowned Australian Open champion Kenin, 6-3, 2-6, 6-2, with a powerful, fearless performance that breathed life into Team Latvia. Anastasija Sevastova rode that momentum to a 7-6(5), 3-6, 7-6(4), victory over Serena Williams in the day’s second singles, Williams’ first-ever Fed Cup singles loss in 15 matches. It was a 2-hour, 25-minute war of attrition, after which Sevastova came right back out for doubles a half hour later.

That’s when U.S. Captain Kathy Rinaldi turned to Kenin — subbed in for Alison Riske — and Mattek-Sands, a team that together won the China Open title last fall and began 2020 with a 4-2 record. Mattek-Sands, previously 3-0 in fifth-and-decisive Fed Cup doubles matches, improved that record to 4-0 as she and Kenin wore down Sevastova and Ostapenko, 6-4, 6-0, in front of a second capacity crowd of 6,367 at Angel Of The Winds Arena.

The U.S. now heads to Budapest to attempt to add to its record 18 Fed Cup titles, joining fellow qualifiers Russia, Spain, Belgium, Belarus, Germany, Switzerland and Slovakia; 2019 finalists Australia and France; host nation Hungary and wild-card nation Czech Republic. The Finals will be played on indoor red clay at the Laszlo Papp Budapest Sports Arena.

The draw for the Finals will take place in Budapest on Tuesday, February 11, at noon ET. It will be live streamed at FedCup.com. 

Team nominations must be made by Tuesday, March 17, or 28 days before the Monday of the week of the start of the event. 

Final Results — U.S. v. Latvia

DAY/LOCAL TIME

Friday, 7:30 p.m. PT (10:30 p.m. ET)

Sofia Kenin (USA) d. Anastasija Sevastova (LAT), 6-2, 6-2

Serena Williams (USA) d. Jelena Ostapenko (LAT), 7-6(4), 7-6(3)

Saturday, 3:30 p.m. PT (6:30 p.m. ET)

Jelena Ostapenko (LAT) d. Sofia Kenin (USA), 6-3, 2-6, 6-2

Anastasija Sevastova (LAT) d. Serena Williams (USA), 7-6(5), 3-6, 7-6(4)

Bethanie Mattek-Sands/Sofia Kenin (USA) d.

Jelena Ostapenko/Anastasija Sevastova (LAT), 6-4, 6-0

U.S. Fed Cup Team
U.S. Fed Cup Team (courtesy USTA/Andy Ong)

Aussie Open Star Kenin Joins Serena Williams, Coco Gauff on U.S. Fed Cup Team

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The USTA and United States Fed Cup Captain Kathy Rinaldi today announced that 23-time Grand Slam champion and world No. 9 Serena Williams, No. 15 Sofia Kenin, No. 19 Alison Riske, No. 67 Coco Gauff and former doubles No. 1 Bethanie Mattek-Sands will represent the U.S. in its Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Qualifying tie vs. Latvia February 7-8 at Angel Of The Winds Arena in Everett, Wash.

World No. 33 Anasasija Sevastova, No. 45 and 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, No. 263 Diana Marcinkevica and No. 492 Daniela Vismane will represent Latvia for Captain Adrians Zguns in the best-of-five match series, which will be played on a hard court inside Angel Of The Winds Arena.

Play will begin at 7:30 p.m. local time (10:30 p.m. ET) on Friday and 3:30 p.m. (6:30 p.m. ET) on Saturday. Friday’s two singles matches will pit each country’s No. 1 player against the other’s No. 2. Saturday will feature the two reverse singles matches – No. 1 vs. No. 1; No. 2 vs. No. 2 – followed by a possible fifth-and-decisive doubles match. A revised schedule for Saturday may take place if a team clinches in the third or fourth match.

The matchups and order of play for the weekend’s matches will be determined at the official draw ceremony, which will be held at noon local time on Thursday, February 6, at Angel Of The Winds Arena. Team captains may substitute up to two of their nominated players prior to Thursday’s draw.

Tickets are available at USTA.com/fedcup. Tennis Channel will present live daily coverage nationally in the U.S.

The winner of this matchup advances to the 2020 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Finals April 14-19 in Budapest, Hungary – a new format for the Finals similar to the World Cup in which 12 nations converge on one venue to compete for the title.

The USTA has partnered with local sponsors Amazon Prime Video, Funko and Avis. Fed Cup events have had demonstrative effects on the local communities they’ve visited in recent years. The U.S. hosted Fed Cup in Asheville, N.C., in 2018, an event that generated nearly $5 million in economic impact for the region and prompted Asheville to host Fed Cup again in 2019. San Antonio hosted a Fed Cup tie in April 2019, with an estimated economic impact of $3.5 million.

Williams, 38, last played Fed Cup in February 2018 in her competitive return to tennis following the birth of her daughter. She’s 13-0 in singles and 3-2 in doubles over 10 Fed Cup ties played since 1999, when she and sister Venus were a part of the Americans’ Fed Cup title-winning team. Williams won her 73rd career WTA singles title recently in Auckland, New Zealand.

Kenin, 21, is ranked No. 15 and has reached the Australian Open semifinals in Melbourne this week. She reached a career-high ranking of No. 12 in 2019, a breakout year in which she won three WTA titles and led the WTA in hard-court match wins (38).

Riske, 29, is ranked No. 19 and reached the 2019 Wimbledon quarterfinals, defeating world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty in the process. Riske finished 2019 ranked No. 18 in the world after beginning it ranked 63rd.

Gauff, 15, is ranked 67th but is projected to rise into the Top 50 after her run to the fourth round of the Australian Open, where she defeated defending champion Naomi Osaka. The youngest player in the Top 100 by nearly three years, Gauff made her splash debut on tour in 2019, becoming the youngest player to reach the fourth round at Wimbledon since Jennifer Capriati in 1991. She would be the second-youngest American Fed Cup representative ever, after Capriati.

Mattek-Sands, 34, is a five-time women’s doubles and four-time mixed doubles Grand Slam champion. She’s currently ranked No. 23 in the world in doubles and won her 27th career WTA doubles title in with Kenin in Beijing last year. Mattek-Sands is 7-1 in Fed Cup doubles over 10 ties played for the U.S. since making her debut in 2009.

Fed Cup is the world’s largest annual international team competition in women’s sport, with approximately 100 nations taking part each year. The U.S. holds an overall 152-38 record in Fed Cup competition with a 42-7 record in home ties. For more information, including access to player and historical Fed Cup records, please go to www.usta.com/fedcup or www.fedcup.com.

Keep up with Team USA using hashtag #TeamUSATennis on Facebook (@USTA), on Twitter (@USTA), and on Instagram (@USTA). Wilson is the official ball of the U.S. Fed Cup team. Deloitte is the official team sponsor of the U.S. Fed Cup Team.

Sofia Kenin
Sofia Kenin