Tennis

Russian Tennis Federation president Shamil Tarpischev has criticised women’s World No. 20 Elina Svitollina for asking Russian and Belarusian players to speak out against the Russian military invasion of Ukraine . Sports stars from Russia and Belarus continue to face uncertain futures after Vladimir Putin's widely-condemned military assault on neighbouring Ukraine back in February. Millions have fled the country, and the European response has spilled over into the sporting arena on various fronts. Wimbledon officials announced such players will be barred from taking part in the prestigious tournament, which begins in June. It means the likes of US Open champion Daniil Medvedev, World No. 4 Aryna Sabalenka and World No. 8 Rublev will not be playing the grass-court Grand Slam. Ukrainian star Svitolina has been immensely vocal about the invasion, and has called on players on several occasions to publicly condemn Vladimir Putin ’s regime. After the decision to ban Russian … [Read more...] about Russian tennis chief brands Elina Svitolina a ‘nobody’ as he hits back at Ukrainian star

The Committee of Administrators (CoA), running the affairs of Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI), passed a historic order on Thursday that would ffer equal prize money for men and women in all the National zonal tournaments including National championships across age groups. A statement from the CoA read: "We hereby decide that women and girl players shall receive equal pay/awards/prize money as their male counterparts in all tournaments and competitions of the game of table tennis." Speaking to The Hindu , CoA member Surindra Dev Mudgil said: "We will be implementing the new prize money from the new season. This is the idea of Justice Ms. Gita Mittal, CoA's Chairperson, who strongly believes in equal prize money." … [Read more...] about Equal prize money from new Table Tennis season

Former tennis star Boris Becker was on Friday jailed for two and a half years after being found guilty by a British court of charges relating to his 2017 bankruptcy. The six-time Grand Slam champion, 54, will serve half of the term having being convicted at Southwark Crown Court in London over his transfer of huge amounts of money from his business account. He also failed to declare a property in Germany and concealed 825,000 euros ($866,500) of debt and shares in a tech firm. He was acquitted earlier this month of a further 20 charges, including nine counts of failing to hand over trophies and medals he won during his glittering tennis career. Becker told jurors he did not know the whereabouts of the memorabilia, including two of his three Wimbledon men’s singles trophies. Judge Deborah Taylor had released Becker — who won Wimbledon as an unseeded teenager — on conditional bail ahead of her sentencing decision on Friday. He arrived early for the hearing, wearing a striped … [Read more...] about Tennis Legend Boris Becker Sentenced to Jail For Two And a Half Years in UK Bankruptcy Case

India’s teenage rising table tennis star Diya Chitale won the gold medal in the U-19 Girls’ singles event of the WTT Youth Contender Lima 2022, beating Colombia’s Juhana Lozada 3-0 in the final. IPL 2022 – FULL COVERAGE | SCHEDULE | RESULTS | ORANGE CAP | PURPLE CAP | POINTS TABLE The Mumbai-based Diya scored an authoritative win against Juliana Lozada 11-6, 11-2, 11-5 in 31 minutes at the Villa Deportiva Nacional, Lima, Peru, on Saturday. The 19-year-old Diya was dominant from the opening round and progressed to the winner’s podium without dropping a game. The high point of her success was her fluent victory against Laura Watanabe of Brazil, the current South American Youth Champion in the quarterfinals. Diya completed a quick 11-8, 11-6, 11-7 win in a little over 30 minutes. In the penultimate round, Diya defeated Brianna Burgos of Puerto Rico 11-5, 11-2, 11-5. “I feel really great, this is the first time that I’ve won a WTT event, so it is very good for my … [Read more...] about Mumbai Teenager Diya Chitale Wins U-19 Table Tennis Title in Peru

Three-time Wimbledon champion Boris Becker on Monday dropped his claim of diplomatic immunity from bankruptcy proceedings because of his role as a sporting ambassador for the Central African Republic. The 51-year-old German ace had lodged the claim earlier this year, successfully blocking a sale of his sporting trophies and personal memorabilia to recover debt. Becker's lawyers had argued he was protected by the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. But at a court hearing in London on Monday, Tony Beswetherick, acting for the bankruptcy trustees said Becker had written in an email that he had "no alternative but to abandon the claim for diplomatic immunity". The tennis star also wrote that he was "not in a position" financially to pursue any part of this case. The sale of Becker's belongings, worth an estimated £200,000 (224,000 euros, $255,000) will now go ahead. Becker was declared bankrupt in 2017 over money owed to Arbuthnot Latham, a bank. His immunity … [Read more...] about Tennis Great Boris Becker Drops Diplomatic Immunity Claim

Daniil Medvedev has vowed he will play at Wimbledon this summer if the "tricky" situation over the ban on Russian and Belarusian players is scrapped. Amid the war in Ukraine , players from both nations were permitted to keep on competing in ATP and WTA events, but under a neutral banner with their national flags forbidden. However, the All England Tennis Club then took things a step further last month. In a strongly worded statement, they confirmed an outright ban on either country being allowed competitors , saying: "In the circumstances of such unjustified and unprecedented military aggression, it would be unacceptable for the Russian regime to derive any benefits from the involvement of Russian or Belarusian players with The Championships.” The decision has proved a divisive one, with many current players siding with those banned. Novak Djokovic was among the first to come out and argue that players were being unjustifiably punished. Russian player Andrey Rublev … [Read more...] about Daniil Medvedev breaks silence on Wimbledon’s divisive decision to ban Russian players

Tennis Australia have defended the security team at Melbourne Park after a spectator was ordered to remove a t-shirt and banner that supported Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai. Peng’s whereabouts became a matter of international concern following a nearly three-week public absence after she accused former Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli of sexual assault in a social media message posted on Weibo in early November. China condemned the ‘politicisation of sports’ on Thursday after the World Tennis Association (WTA) suspended their tournaments in the country as a result of the situation. The WTA reportedly remain unconvinced by the former Wimbledon doubles champion's public appearances since her seeming disappearance, and the topic has been blocked on China’s internet. Peng has since denied ever making the accusation that preceded her disappearance. Peng Shuai made a sexual assault allegation against a former high-ranking Chinese government official, leading to her whereabouts … [Read more...] about Australian Open defends event security after fan ordered to remove Peng Shuai t-shirt

Australian Open officials have decided to reverse their decision to ban T-shirts donning the slogan ‘Where is Peng Shuai?’ - but banners will remain forbidden from being displayed at Melbourne Park. Tennis Australia were forced to defend themselves after security at Melbourne Park ordered spectators to remove T-shirts and banners that supported Chinese tennis player Shuai . The decision received heavy criticism, including from 18-time Grand Slam champion Martina Navratilova, who branded the decision ‘cowardly’ . Victoria Azarenka , a member of the WTA Players’ Council, has also expressed her support for the doubles star while a protest has been planned for the women's final . Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley has since decided to allow such T-shirts as long as fans possess no ‘intent to disrupt’. But banners remain banned. Peng Shuai protests have taken place at the Australian Open this year ( Image: REUTERS) “If someone wants to wear a T-shirt … [Read more...] about Australian Open lift ban on fans’ Peng Shuai protest shirts after furious backlash

Bernard Tomic has been fined 100 per cent of his prize money by Wimbledon for a lack of effort in his first-round match. The Australian, who was punished for a similar offence two years ago, has been hit with a £45,000 sanction after the All England Club ruled he "did not perform to the required professional standard" during his 58-minute defeat to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Tomic was beaten 6-2 6-1 6-4 on Day Two of this year's competition, wrapping up the quickest win in the men's singles since 2004, when  Roger Federer thrashed Colombia’s Alejandro Falla 6-1 6-2 6-0 in the second round. A statement from Wimbledon organisers declared: "The Grand Slam Rule Book regarding First Round Performance states the following: 'All players are expected to perform to a professional standard in every Grand Slam match. With respect to First Round Performance, if in the opinion of the Referee the player did not perform to the required professional standard, the Referee may determine that the player … [Read more...] about Bernard Tomic fined full £45,000 prize money after dismal Wimbledon 2019 exit

Cori “Coco” Gauff has shocked tennis lovers all around the world last week with her stunning victories over Venus Williams, Magdalena Rybarikova and Polona Hercog. Prior to Wimbledon, the 15-year-old has already amassed £59,000 on the WTA tour in 2019, from tournaments such as Indian Wells, Miami and Charlestone, the latter of which she reached the quarter-finals. The teenager will more than triple that at The All England Club after progressing to the second week - before falling short to Simona Halep on Monday. After her stunning three-set win over Hercog, Gauff has earned £176,875 between singles and mixed doubles, an extraordinary amount for the tennis starlet. Off the court, she has a set of profitable endorsements from the likes of New Balance, Head and Barilla, according to Forbes’ Kurt Badenhausen, Gauff will make $1million in retainers off these deals in 2019. Gauff made a staggering amount of money from her Wimbledon run ( Image: PA) However the … [Read more...] about Cori Gauff’s net worth has staggering rise after 15-year-old’s remarkable Wimbledon run