Tennis

Iga Swiatek’s reign at the top has finally ended. Earlier today, Aryna Sabalenka displaced the Polish star in the WTA rankings table and became the new World Number 1. While Swiatek has been away from the court since her quarterfinal defeat against Jessica Pegula at the US Open, Sabalenka has enjoyed a winning run of late. However, recent form isn’t the only factor behind Sabalenka’s rise to the top as a controversial WTA rule came to light.

While there are as many as 10 mandatory WTA 1000 tournaments, the women’s body also requires players to play in the 6 mandatory WTA 500 tournaments. The move has been widely debated, with players calling out the grueling schedule which takes a toll on their physical and mental health. There are as many as 17 WTA 500 tournaments played in a season and players have to compulsorily play in six of them.

Sabalenka has already played in four WTA 500 tournaments this season, Brisbane International, Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, Ecotrans Ladies Open, and the Citi Open. Swiatek has played in just 2 WTA 500 tournaments, the United Cup and the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. As a result, Swiatek has lost out on crucial WTA ranking points, which has affected her downgrade from the top spot to the second position.

Further, a tennis insider also raised objections over the mandatory WTA 500 rule, saying, “The problem is not that Iga Świątek is falling to second place in the ranking, because that was predictable, Sabalenka deserved to be in the lead. The problem is the controversial rules of the WTA ranking construction. 6 mandatory WTA 500 events (XD) , the requirement to play every now and then for the best.”

Many players, including Iga Swiatek, have strongly criticized the WTA for the scheduling mess. Earlier today, it was Sloane Stephens who made her feelings felt on this matter.

Sloane Stephens joins Iga Swiatek in voicing her concerns

With a growing number of mandatory tournaments, there is hardly any breathing space left for the players. This eventually results in their physical and mental health taking a toll and not many players are able to escape injury-free from the grueling season. As a result, Sloane Stephens became the latest player to voice her concerns.

She said, “Like you’re just there because like if you don’t want to sign or you don’t you’re supposed to be or you enter the tournament or you don’t have any more withdrawals like you’re just like I’m present but I’m not like mentally and not here, but I feel like that’s just kind of one of the bad things about the tour. Both tours ATP and WTA, is that you’re kind of forced to play, even when you’re probably not in the best mental capacity, you’re probably not the best physical shape, or you might be injured or whatever it is, and you just arrive because that’s what you’re supposed to do.”

Earlier, Swiatek also expressed concerns, saying that playing more tournaments will make tennis less interesting. It is high time that the tennis bodies take into account the players’ health and ease out the tennis season. Do you feel that the WTA should scrap the mandatory rule in the WTA 500 events? Let us know your views in the comments below.

TENNIS

Angel Reese calls out WNBA as she prepares to star in new basketball league – days after admitting to struggling to pay rent with $73k salary

At 22, Angel Reese is already one of the faces of the WNBA.

The New York Liberty may have just won the 2024 WNBA Finals but Chicago Sky forward Reese and longtime rival Caitlin Clark are already the two biggest names in women’s basketball.

However, despite Reese’s obvious talents and growing celebrity status, the 22-year-old recently admitted her WNBA salary isn’t enough to cover her rent.

“I just hope you know the WNBA don’t pay my bills at all,” Reese, who is set to earn an annual rookie salary of $73,439 for 2024, said during a live-stream.

“I don’t even think that pays one of my bills. Literally, I’m trying to think of my rent for where I stay at [in Chicago]. I’m gonna do the math real quick.”

The former LSU star then quickly calculated her spending, noting that her rent is $8,000 per month.

Reese exclaimed: “I’m living beyond my means!”

“I wouldn’t even be able to get a sandwich if I wanted to,” she added. “I wouldn’t be able to eat. I wouldn’t be able to live.”

Luckily for Reese, her salary is supplemented by several lucrative endorsements with the likes of Reebok, Beats by Dre, Wingstop, Xfinity, Raising Cane’s, Panini America and Reece’s Pieces.

As a result, she has a reported net worth of $2 million.

And now the ‘Bayou Barbie’ looks set to add another revenue stream to her growing portfolio thanks to the new 3-vs-3 basketball league Unrivaled which she is confirmed to take part in.

The project — spearheaded by WNBA Finals foes Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier — is set to begin on January 17, 2025, and Reese, along with many other WNBA stars, has already signed up to play.

TNT Sports announced its multiyear media rights agreement with Unrivaled, with primetime games set to air on TNT on Mondays and Fridays, and on TruTV on Saturdays over an eight-week span.

Rookie of the Year runner-up Reese will play on an Unrivaled team in Miami, and recently spoke about what she’s expecting from the new league.

She revealed what she wants to accomplish during the league’s debut season while subtly throwing shade at the WNBA over its lack of equity for players.

“i’m excited for the league’s first season!” Reese said of Unrivaled.

“It’s amazing to be a part of a league that gives equity to players.

“I’m looking forward to playing with the best athletes and really using the time to focus on my game and getting better too.

“Being able to be in Miami from January to March, not having to go overseas,” Reese previously said. “Nobody wants to go overseas.”

“Being able to make six figures within three months,” she added.

“Being able to be housed in Miami, just being able to get better, being able to know two great players that are starting something, I think it’s amazing.”

Unrivaled is unique in the sense that it has committed ownership equity to the league’s first 30 players, which includes the likes of Kelsey Plum, Chelsea Gray, and Brittany Griner, and has the highest average salary in women’s sports history.

That’s in stark contrast to how the WNBA operates and how it distributes revenue across the league.

Where the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement (CBA) for players guarantees them a 50-percent cut of the organization’s basketball-related income, the WNBA’s CBA has no such language.

Last year, WNBA players only received around 20% of revenue shares. They get a 50-50 split of incremental revenue, just not all revenue.

WNBA salaries are significantly lower than those in the NBA, too. While the average NBA player salary last season was more than $10 million annually, the highest WNBA player salary this season is $252,420, earned by Las Vegas Aces star Jackie Young.

The W’s players are continuing to fight back against the pay disparity though, asking for more equity in the league’s shared revenues.

Players won’t be able to negotiate for those changes until 2025, which is when the current CBA expires.

However, even with the league’s recent agreement on a lucrative new TV broadcast rights deal, there’s growing speculation that WNBA players might look to opt out of their existing CBA by the November 1 deadline, aiming for substantially better terms in future negotiations.

The potential for a new CBA could have serious ramifications for the league, affecting payscales and free agency which would likely be effective as of 2026.

TENNIS

Angel Reese Makes Career Announcement After WNBA Rookie Season

Angel Reese, one of the biggest stars in the WNBA, recently announced a new business venture. Following a successful rookie season with the Chicago Sky, Reese has been busy in the offseason, opening new doors in the business world.

A recent report by Demica Inman at VIBE revealed that Reese has partnered with Cash App, a digital wallet service for American consumers. The partnership will focus on giveaways, community empowerment and limited edition debit cards.

Reese became the first athlete in WNBA history to partner with Cash App.

“Angel Reese is redefining what it means to be a game changer, authentically pushing the boundaries between sport and culture,” said Catherine Ferdon, the Cash App CMO.

Cash App will also be releasing “The Angel Machine,” which is located at W. Fulton St and No. Sangamon St. in Chicago, Illinois.

These machines will give fans an opportunity to play an “interactive game” with the chance to win Reese’s college jersey, sneakers and more.

The Cash App company will also serve as a sponsor to Reese’s “Unapologetically Angel” podcast, with plans to surprise fans with giveaways on the show.

Reese is coming off a historic rookie season with the Sky. The rookie quickly became a league superstar after being selected at No. 7 in the WNBA draft.

At 22 years old, she was named to the WNBA All-Star team after averaging 13.6 points and 13.1 rebounds per game. Reese led the WNBA in average rebounds and was the only rookie to average a double-double.

TENNIS

Don’t Leave Tennis, Djokovic Begs Nadal After Saudi Showdown

Novak Djokovic implored long-time rival Rafael Nadal to put off his planned retirement after defeating the Spaniard on Saturday in what was likely to be the final chapter of their storied rivalry.

“Don’t leave tennis, man,” Djokovic said in an on-court interview after beating Nadal in straight sets 6-2, 7-6 (7/5) at the “Six Kings Slam” exhibition in Saudi Arabia.

He added that their battles over the years had been “very intense” and told Nadal he hoped they could one day “sit on a beach somewhere” and have a drink.

Nadal, 38, announced on 10 October that he would retire from tennis after the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga next month.

Organisers of the Saudi event billed Saturday’s match as perhaps Nadal’s last singles contest as a professional.

Nadal said on Thursday he was unsure whether he would be fit enough to play singles in Malaga.

Djokovic and Nadal –- two of the sport’s famed “Big Three” along with Roger Federer –- had faced each other 60 times on the main tour prior to Saturday’s exhibition match, with Djokovic holding a narrow 31-29 edge.

Their last encounter came during the Paris Olympics on the same Roland Garros courts where Nadal won 14 French Open titles, though Djokovic triumphed easily 6-1, 6-4.

Saturday’s match was also mostly one-sided, with Nadal spraying errors and Djokovic wrapping up the first set in just 31 minutes.

Feeding off the support of the partisan crowd who openly cheered Djokovic’s double-faults, Nadal rallied to push the second set to a tie-break, reeling off winners and even treating fans to one last iconic fist pump before succumbing to Djokovic’s relentless serving.

“It’s great to see him still fighting even though he’s had injuries and struggles,” Djokovic, 37, told a post-match press conference.

It was “a very emotional day, a special day” because it was the “last time I played my biggest rival, Nadal,” he added.

“I’ve witnessed Andy Murray retiring this year at Wimbledon, Roger (Federer) a few years ago as well. And now Rafa, you know. It’s tough in some ways to see them go, because all of my career, basically, I’ve played with them.”

After being presented with a golden tennis racket, Nadal in turn thanked Djokovic for the “amazing rivalry” and “for all the moments that we shared on court”.

TENNIS

Rafael Nadal predicts when Novak Djokovic will end up retiring from tennis

Rafael Nadal made an entertaining appearance at the Six Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia but lost out to Novak Djokovic in their final ever match.

Battling valiantly against his compatriot and protégé Carlos Alcaraz, Rafael Nadal produced glimpses of his true game at the inaugural Six Kings Slam event in Saudi Arabia.

Despite playing his part in a tie that was not as one-sided as some expected, Nadal still failed to get past his younger countryman.

In the third place playoff, a final instalment of one of sports greatest rivalries took place as Novak Djokovic took on the Spaniard.

Coincidentally, Nadal’s most recent singles match also came against his great rival at the Paris Olympics, with that match – their 60th ATP encounter – falling Djokovic’s way.

With Nadal announcing his upcoming retirement this month, he has speculated over when Djokovic might join him.

Rafael Nadal predicts Novak Djokovic career and retirement plans

The pair faced off in all four major finals, with Djokovic ultimately stealing their overall head-to-head by 31 to 29.

In an era defined by the ‘Big Four’, Djokovic is the last man standing with Roger Federer and Andy Murray already having hung up the racquet.

Having won the Olympics this year – an achievement that eluded him for so long – but no Grand Slam titles, many have wondered how long the suburb still has on the professional circuit.

Speculating over his great friend’s potential career plans, Nadal told AS: “As for Djokovic, I don’t know. I think it’s human that Novak, even if he’s still healthy, is at an age and it’s logical that the clock takes its toll on all of us and that, once Federer has gone, once I’m gone, since in the end we’ve been his two great rivals, at some point he also has a small mental breakdown and will find a reason to step aside.

“That’s what happens to everyone. And Novak is good enough to, if he’s healthy, continue to be competitive at the highest level and aspire to win the most important tournaments. And if he continues to be happy doing what he does, he’ll keep it up.

“If at some point, everything he has to do to have a chance of continuing to be at the top level is no longer worth it, then he will step aside, that’s what I think.”

TENNIS

Angel Reese reps Breanna Stewart, Napheesa Collier in WNBA Finals outfit

Angel Reese sat courtside for Game 5 of the 2024 WNBA Finals, with attire repping the star players of the Minnesota Lynx and New York Liberty.

The Chicago Sky rookie wore a jersey that included Liberty’s Breanna Stewart on one side and Lynx’s Napheesa Collier on the other.

Reese posted on X two days ago asking if someone could make the jersey for her by Sunday’s decisive Game 5. Earlier today, she shouted out the artist, Jocelyn Hu, who put together the outfit.

Reese averaged 13.6 points and 13.1 rebounds per game this season. She finished second to Caitlin Clark in Rookie of the Year voting and made the WNBA All-Rookie team.

TENNIS

Coco Gauff admits what really ‘surprised’ her about her serve during the Wuhan Open

Coco Gauff suffered another serving disaster throughout her semi-final defeat to Aryna Sabalenka in Wuhan.

It was another catastrophic day for the Coco Gauff serve despite her getting so close to defeating Aryna Sabalenka.

The match was sealed by Gauff’s 21st double fault of the match – a record for a single match this year on the WTA Tour.

Despite her serving woes also present in Beijing last week, she still mangled to capture the title.

With Gauff’s game so well-rounded in all other categories, besides arguably her forehand, the 20-year-old still came so close to toppling Sabalenka, who has only lost one match since losing in Toronto two months ago.

Coco Gauff explains why her serve ‘surprised’ her

Giving up 21 free points is criminal – 24 could win you a set – yet not unusual in this stage of Gauff’s career.

It was the 19 double faults at the US Open which saw her title defense come to an end again in three sets.

Interestingly, the serve is obviously limiting Gauff’s success and win rate, yet not seeing her simply roll over for opponents.

She said, via Punto de Break: “I am working on new things, a slightly different movement, and it is logical that I may encounter problems. I was very surprised at how well my serve worked in Beijing.

“I arrived here somewhat tired, but I take many positive things from coming close to beating one of the best in the world despite my poor serving performance handicap. I think I just need time and to keep working.”

Barely anyone has got a set against Sabalenka in the past few months – this defeat is no major embarrassment or surprise, more just the latest miserable update in Gauff’s continued serving woes.

Coco Gauff is only one fix away from another Grand Slam title

Unfortunately, it’s not by any means a quick fix. The ‘yips’ are a brutal tattoo on any tennis player, remaining forcer difficulty to conceal.

However, her opponent Sabalenka is in many ways the perfect player to look at.

The Belarusian also endured a total serving nightmare during the 2022 season, striking 428 double faults in 601 service games.

Yet just a year on, the Belarusian captured the Australian Open title, something she successfully defended this year.

Gauff’s taste of a major title is something she’s naturally craving once more – luckily she has the perfect player in front of her to prove a route past her problems is possible.

TENNIS

Gauff Fights Back To Reach China Open Final

Fourth seed Coco Gauff came from a set and a break down to beat Paula Badosa to reach her first China Open final.

The 20-year-old American dug deep to come through 4-6 6-4 6-2.

Spaniard Badosa, ranked 19th in the world but a former world number two, had looked in a good position when she served at 4-3 up in the second set.

But Gauff broke and rattled off the next four games to set up a decider, eventually wrapping up victory in two hours and 21 minutes.

She will face either unseeded Czech player Karolina Muchova or home favourite and fifth seed Qinwen Zheng in the final.

Badosa, who was as low as 140th in the world rankings in May, came into the semi-final meeting on a good run of form in Beijing which included victory over second seed and US Open finalist Jessica Pegula in the last 16.

And she took advantage of Gauff’s inconsistencies, particularly on her serve which produced 11 double faults, to win the opening set and break in the first game of the second.

Gauff is working with new coach Matt Daly after ending her partnership with Brad Gilbert last month following her fourth-round exit at the US Open, where she was defending her title.

She saved four break points to avoid going 4-1 down in the second set and from then the momentum was with the American, who regained her composure as Badosa dropped her first set of the week.

Gauff broke three times in the decider to seal the win as she bids to add to her only title of the year so far from Auckland in January.

“I tried to stay focused, it was tough but mentally I just tried to reset,” she said.

TENNIS

Taylor Swift Fans Choose a Side in The Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese Drama

The Swifties have decided to become Caitlin Clark fans after an old tweet of the Indiana guard resurfaced.

The now-viral tweet from Clark was posted following Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s relationship going public.

“Taylor Swift welcome to the good side,” Clark wrote in a post on X with the hashtag “Chiefs Kingdom.”

Clark has expressed her loyalty to the Kansas City Chiefs as she has called herself a lifelong fan of the franchise.

The Swifties have taken Clark’s tweet and reposted it through several fan accounts on social media in the last 24 hours.

The sudden buzz was sparked after Reese released her latest podcast episode with special guest, Kayla Nicole.

Nicole is the ex-girlfriend of Kelce. On the Unapologetically Angel Podcast, Nicole spoke about her prior romance with the Chiefs tight end and how their relationship has changed since he started dating the “Karma” singer.

“We’ve seen each other in public spaces before, but it’s — I think that we’re both aware of the nature of his new situation that there’s just no room really for us to communicate or acknowledge each other publicly without it being spun into something crazy,” Nicole said.

Nicole and Kelce dated for five years until they broke up in 2022. Since Swift and Kelce started dating the previous year, Nicole revealed she’s received hate.

“I would be lying if I said that that level of hate and just, like, online chaos doesn’t impact me,” Nicole said. “It does, even to this day. You can go to my most recent post, and it will be people debating each other why I am worthless, and I’ll never be a talented person and I have no career.”

After the interview was released, the Swift Army immediately criticized Reese for hosting Nicole on her latest podcast episode. However, Reese was quick to respond to the criticism via her own social media.

“hating pays too,” she wrote in a post on X.

In response to Reese’s latest interview with Nicole, Swifties have dubbed Clark as the winner of the rivalry between herself and the Chicago Sky rookie.

Clark and Reese have been pitted against each other since the two were in college. Clark was the leading lady at Iowa and Reese was the same for LSU when the two programs faced off in the 2023 NCAA women’s basketball championship.

Since then, Clark and Reese were the most notable rookies people were rooting to win Rookie of the Year. After Reese sustained an injury during the latter half of the season, it became clear Clark would win the accolade.

TENNIS

Angel Reese Is Proving to Be the NFL’s Greatest Good Luck Charm

NFL teams are going to want Angel Reese on their sidelines once they see this impressive stat about her support.

Chicago Sky superstar Angel Reese has leaned into her NFL fandom during this WNBA offseason.

The 22-year-old former LSU Tigers standout has attended NFL games in four consecutive weeks. Three weekends ago, Reese was present at the San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams game in Los Angeles. Two weekends ago, she attended the game between her hometown Baltimore Ravens team and the Buffalo Bills (where she was given impressive praise from Baltimore safety Marlon Humphery). And the “Chi Barbie” was at the Chicago Bears game against the Carolina Panthers last weekend.

Reese kept the train rolling by being at Baltimore’s game against the Washington Commanders on Sunday.

Baltimore emerged with a hard-fought 30-23 win over Washington with Reese watching. And after the game, an intriguing note about Reese’s NFL fandom was made apparent on social media.

The Sporting News’ X account posted a photo of the scores at three of the four NFL games Reese has been to, showing that the team she supported (the Ravens in two of the games and the Chicago Bears in the third) at every one has won.

The aforementioned 49ers vs. Rams game isn’t included because she didn’t seem to be favoring either of the two teams. Therefore, Reese seems to be a good luck charm for her favorite squads.

Despite making her Baltimore allegiance clear, Reese also showed love to Washington Commanders star quarterback Jayden Daniels (both of whom went to LSU) and took a selfie video with Daniels’ mom.

While the Chicago Bears are on bye next week, perhaps we’ll see Reese try to keep her winning streak of support alive when the Ravens play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next Monday.