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WTA

Muchova wins Doha for first title in seven years

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Karolina Muchova lifted a WTA trophy for the first time since 2019 as the Czech defeated Victoria Mboko 6-4, 7-5 on Friday in Doha.

Canadian Mboko was playing her second final of the season after going down in Adelaide in January to Mirra Andreeva.

Muchova backed up her long-ago title from 2019 in Seoul with victory in 94 minutes.

“It’s been a while since I won a tournament,” the winner said. “it’s just nice to get that feeling again. To be reminded of that victory feeling here in Doha, it’s incredible.”

The 29-year-old spent the third-longest time between drinks, trailing Sorana Cirstea  (13 years) and Viktorija Golubic (eight).

Over her dry spell Muchova dropped four finals to Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff
 and Zheng Qinwen.

ATP

RG to retain the human touch in linecalling

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Roland Garros will continue to buck the trend of electronic linecalling, with Grand Slam tournament boss Amelie Mauresmo laying down the law on Thursday in Paris.

Unlike the other three majors which have sent teams of line judges into early retirement, the clay major will stick with the tried and true for another edition beginning on May 24.

In addition to tradition, the skid marks left on the dirt by ball makes determining in or out subjective enough to often require a keen eye.

“They are not 100% reliable,” Mauresmo said of the electronic systems currently in use.“Our decision was to stick to our way.”

But the former WTA No. 1 suddenly flipped the script when it comes to the controversial suggestion that women should play best-of-five-sets at the four majors just like the men.

The idea has drawn scorn from top women, but that does not dissuade Mauresmo.

“You can’t change a format overnight to go from best of three to best of five. But if we think about it, would it be only the semifinal, the final, or for all matches?” the former Wimbledon champion said.

“This could be a win-win situation but we have to talk about this with the women players.”

The Wimbledon winner admitted that she had often yearned during her playing days for longer contests.

“When I did the Masters (season-ending) final ( 2005) I would have wanted to do the final in best of five. So maybe one day, you never know.”

The former player would not be drawns out on the dreaded night matches at Roland Garros, formerly a fully daytinem event.

“We will talk about scheduling when the time comes,” she said.“Nothing is closed and nothing is set in stone, it depends on the draws and the lineups.”

Also on the table are likely to be the distribution of night matches, with women barely registering in the night-tiem hours during the 2025 edition.

On the final Saturday there has been one change: The men’s doubles final will be played before the women’s singles final and not afterward.

“We will talk about scheduling when the time comes,” the TD said. “Nothing is closed and nothing is set in stone, it depends on the draws and the lineups.”

In the continuing prize money arms race among the four Grand Slams, Roland Garros announced a rise to a global USD 72 million in player payouts, a rise of USD 6.25 million.

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Billy Jean King Cup

Underdogs GB pull off BJK win over Australia

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Team GB pulled off  a 3–1 victory over Australia in the Billie Jean King Cup in Melbourne,to secure  their place in the Finals in Shenzhen, China, next September.

17-year-old debutant Mika Stojsavljevic secured a huge win in her first ever tie.

Harriet Dart battled back from a set down to secure the crucial second point and with her  partner Jodie Burrage, teaming up for the first time, defeated Storm Hunter and Ellen Perez 6-3, 6-4 on Melbourne’s hard courts to clinch an unassailable 3-0 lead in the best-of-five qualifying tie.

The GB squad became the second side to qualify for September’s eight-team finals in Shenzhen, joining hosts China, with defending champions Italy confirming their place  by completing a 3-0 win over Japan.

Losers Australia will now have compete in November’s play-offs.

GB team captain Anne Keothavong is confident Great Britain can “do something special” as they eye up a maiden BJK title win.

Main photo:- Team GB celebrate in Melbourne – by LTA

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Indian wells

Mystery injury to keep Sabalenka from Stuttgart

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An undisclosed injury will prevent Aryna Sabalenka from fronting up in Stuttgart as the WTA begins the spring clay season at its traditional indoor venue on Monday.

The world No. 1 who lifted the Miami Masters title in March to conclude the so-called American “Sunshine Double”, said that she would not be competing at the German venue, but revealed few specifics.

“Unfortunately, I suffered an injury after Miami and even though I tried everything to recover in time, I’m not ready to compete,” she said on Instagram

“I always love coming back to Stuttgart. The atmosphere, the fans and the support I feel there are so special to me, and of course, I was really hoping to have another chance to fight for that Porsche.”

Sabalenka has played and lost four finals at the event which awards a Porsche to the champion.

Main photo:- Aryna Sabalenka completed the Sunshine Double – by ISF Ltd

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