Women Who Serve
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Coco Gauff wins Cincinnati, and it feels like '23
In just the second all-American women's singles final at the Cincinnati Open since 1970, Coco Gauff defeated Jessica Pegula to win the WTA 1000 event. It was Gauff's second Cincinnati Open title. My @tennistourtalk.bsky.social story 🎾 #tennis #CincyTennis tennistourtalk.com/136989/gauff... [image or embed] — Michael Dickens ( @michaelcdickens.bsky.social ) August 24, 2026 at 5:59 AM Earlier this month, I wondered--after Rybakina, Andreeva and Noskova-- who would be next to win a major in 2026...
Few things are inevitable, but this came close
The 2026 Cincinnati Open has given us a number of exciting and deeply competitive matches, plus the bonus of a breakthrough performance by the young Czech player, Sara Bejlek. And in tennis, anything can happen--and often does--but all along, it seemed that it would be very difficult to stop either Jessica Pegula or Coco Gauff. And sure enough, those two will meet in tonight's final. The semifinal match played between Pegula and defending champion Iga Swiatek was a contest marked by constant m...
Despite the Czech Curse, Czech tennis keeps on keeping on
🎾 #Tennis #CincyTennis #CincinnatiOpen #CincyOpen Sara Bejlek defeats the WTA #1 Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets. Aryna was cruising up 4 games to 1 & then Sara took the last 5 games. I don't really understand what just happened. [image or embed] — Mark Taylor ( @emarktaylor.bsky.social ) August 19, 2026 at 11:32 PM Karolina Muchova, probably the most injured player on the tour, withdrew from this year's Cincinnati Open in order to take care of her body in preparation fort the U.S. Open....
Iga refuses to shake it off
Swiatek d. Elina Svitolina 6-3 1-6 6-3 in Toronto Iga reaches her 1st final of 2026 She’s also into her 1st Canadian Open final 14th WTA 1000 final 31st final of her career at 25 years old ✅1st final since Seoul 2025 ✅55th top 10 win Back in business 🇵🇱❤️ [image or embed] — The Tennis Letter ( @thetennisletter.bsky.social ) August 12, 2026 at 9:36 PM Iga Swiatek's musical idol, Taylor Swift, has given many gifts to her fans, not the least being a kind of dramatic permission for women to...
Rybakina, Andreeva, Noskova, and......?
The unpredictability of the WTA is a feature that I enjoy, though--at times--real tennis fans know that the "surprises" aren't surprises at all. This year, for example, two of the tour's most talented upstarts--Mirra Andreeva and Linda Noskova--won majors. And while it was a bit of a surprise that Andreeva's first major victory was achieved on the clay courts of Roland-Garros, it felt to me that her holding a major trophy was something that happened right on time. And while Noskova has re...
Note to readers of Women Who Serve
I know that many of you sometimes get here via X, so this is to let you know that my X account was hacked exactly a month ago, and I am still unable to access it. I am doing everything I can to regain access, but I have limited control over this situation. In the meantime, my account at Bluesky is active (womenwhoserve.bsky.social). Thanks to all readers of Women Who Serve for your understanding.
My Wimbledon top 10
Linda Noskova with her 2026 Wimbledon trophy. That Grand Slam Champion glow. 🏆✨ [image or embed] — The Tennis Letter ( @thetennisletter.bsky.social ) July 11, 2026 at 1:14 PM Here are my top 10 Wimbledon occurrences, in ascending order: 10. Gone too soon: Three former Wimbledon champions played in the tournament, and all three wee potential second-time champions. Sadly, all three had challenges that have set them back. In 2022 champion Elena Rybakina's case, the challenge was chronic illne...
Meet the new (Wimbledon) boss--she's Czech, of course
Linda Noskova is a Grand Slam Champion, she wins 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 vs fellow Czech Karolina Muchova. Had 5 championship points in the 2nd set and regroups to perfection. • Youngest Wimbledon Champion since Kvitova (2011) • Likely Secures 1st WTA Finals Appearance (Top 20 Rule) • Career High #7 [image or embed] — Tennis Updates ( @tennisupdates.bsky.social ) July 11, 2026 at 12:38 PM Several years ago, after coming within a half inch of going out in a big match, two-time Wimbledon champion Petra ...
Forget the Emmys--Gauff and Muchova gave us all the TV drama we could handle
KAROLINA MUCHOVA WON THIS POINT [image or embed] — The Tennis Letter ( @thetennisletter.bsky.social ) July 9, 2026 at 10:03 AM We knew that it was going to be good. We knew that it would include every shot known (we get that from Muchova alone). But maybe we didn't know just how crazy dramatic the Wimbledon semifinal--and, to be specific, the third set tiebreak--played by Coco Gauff and Karolina Muchova, would be. Muchova, already known for her artistry on the court (but also known for her har...
Fact Czech: They're still dominating the Wimbledon draw
Having exited Wimbledon in the first round in each of her previous four visits, Karolina Muchova is into the semifinals following a 7-6, 6-4 victory over Naomi Osaka. She will meet Coco Gauff for a place in Saturday's final. [image or embed] — The Athletic ( @theathletic.com ) July 7, 2026 at 12:37 PM There are only four women left standing at Wimbledon, and two of them are Czech players. This shouldn't come as a surprise; Czechs excel on the grass. Martina Navratilova (who won the tour...
Eight women standing at Wimbledon
Marta Kostyuk gets past Ashlyn Krueger 6-4, 6-4 Wins the last 4 games from 2-4 40-30 down and makes her first Wimbledon Quarterfinal. [image or embed] — Tennis Updates ( @tennisupdates.bsky.social ) July 6, 2026 at 6:33 AM Generally speaking, the round of 16 is my favorite part of a major. There are enough really good players left to make it exciting, but not too many. The first half of the Wimbledon round of 16, played yesterday, was high on drama in several different ways. Jessica Pegula, p...
Notice to readers of Women Who Serve
My X account was hacked a couple of days ago, and even the requested attempts for me to sign in are impossible because of mysterious technical glitches. In the meantime--while I wait for more help--I'm active at Bluesky (@womenwhoserve.bsky.social). And if you notice any impersonations, etc. that you think I should know about, please let me know on the Women Who Serve contact form or via Bluesky.
USA and Czech Republic dominate Wimbledon round of 16
ALEX EALA 🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹 [image or embed] — The Tennis Letter ( @thetennisletter.bsky.social ) July 4, 2026 at 9:58 AM The Wimbledon round of 16 is upon us, and one quarter of the draw is made up of Czech players--2024 champion Barbora Krejcikova, Karolina Muchova, Linda Noskova, and Marie Bouzkova. For now, the Czech Curse has been lifted (except, sadly, in the case of 2021 champion Marketa Vondrousova), and both Krejcikova and Muchova are healthy. Those two will also compete against each other in the...
The most likely player to win Wimbleon is ______
The projected quarter-finals for the ladies' singles draw 🌱 pic.twitter.com/kABZpXfVGQ — Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 26, 2026 I don't know about everyone else, but I can't find a way to fill in that blank. Here are the women who--on paper--should be considered major contenders: Defending champion Iga Swiatek: I never thought that we'd use the word "slump" (a word I dislike, anyway) to describe the former world number 1 and six-time major champion, but Swiatek appears to be in one. She has not ...
My Roland-Garros top ten
Believe it, Mirra 🧡 #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/Taqb0R1Wz9 — Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 6, 2026 Here are my top ten Roland-Garros occurrences, in ascending order: 10: One to watch: Alisa Oktiabreva’s intention was to compete in the qualifying rounds in Paris, but she missed so much time last year because of a wrist injury that she entered the junior competition instead. That turned out well for the 12th-seeded Russian—she won the title. Oktiabreva defeated 2nd seed Sun Xinran 6-2, 6-...
Mirra Andreeva holds the Coupe Suzanne-Lenglen in Paris
🐶🏆 #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/mN9wuuSV2b — Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 6, 2026 For 19-year-old Mirra Andreeva, it wasn't a matter of "if," but--rather--a matter of "when," and "when" kept getting closer and closer. Today, in Paris, it turned into reality, as the young Russian star won the 2026 Roland-Garros title, defeating surprise finalist Maja Chwalinska 6-3, 6-2 in the final. She had some help--qualifier Chwalinska, playing her tenth match of the tournament, had visibly "run out ...
The Prodigy versus The Magician--will it be Mirra or Maja who holds the Coupe Suzanne-Lenglen?
FIRST GRAND SLAM FINAL 💗 Mirra Andreeva defeats Kostyuk 6-1, 6-3 in the Roland-Garros semifinal! #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/qTN76DLNJI — wta (@WTA) June 4, 2026 The "new" Marta Kostyuk---slayer of Iga Swiatek and all-around tennis badass--failed to make an appearance on Court Philippe Chatrier in Paris today. The wind was blowing in all directions, a factor which had hampered top seed Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals, and which appeared to complicate matters for Kostyuk. Kostyuk's serve...
Roland Garros quarterfinals--a story with twists, turns and carnage
From qualifying to the semi-finals 🔥 #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/Pi3NkkPyML — Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 3, 2026 One by one, they dropped: 5th seed and Charleston champion Jessica Pegula in the first round former champion Alona Ostapenko in the second round 13trh seed and former runner-up Jasmine Paolini in the second round 2nd seed Elena Rybakina in the second round 4th seed and defending champion Coco Gauff in the third round 6th seed Amanda Anisimova in the third round 10th seed a...
Roland-Garros quarterfinal viewing may require more than popcorn
You better believe it! Maja Chwalinska is doing incredible things at Roland Garros, she's on her 7th win a row since starting in Qs two weeks ago. pic.twitter.com/mlj5XX33UZ — Jimmie48 Photography (@JJlovesTennis) June 1, 2026 This year, the quarterfinals in Paris are especially intriguing. Two of the hottest players on the clay tour, countrywomen Elina Svitolina and Marta Kostyuk, will compete for a spot in the semifinals. Svitolina prevailed over Belinda Bencic in the round of 16 (and delive...
Russians dominate Roland-Garros round of 16, and there are also some surprises
This way into the second week! Maja Chwalinska and Iga Swiatek are in the fourth round of a Grand Slam together for the first time. pic.twitter.com/sbuJRDzozv — Jimmie48 Photography (@JJlovesTennis) May 30, 2026 When we were sorting through Polish players likely to advance to the round of 16 at Roland-Garros, I doubt that many (or any) of us picked Maja Chwalinska, but the world number 114, a qualifier in Paris, has made it to the final sixteen. Not only that, she did it by taking out Olympic ...
Predicting the French Open champion--not a good idea
During the 2026 clay season, we’ve had four 500-level tournaments and two 1000-level tournaments, which means that we’ve had six champions—and none of them is named Swiatek or Sabalenka. And while winning a pre-French Open clay court tournament—even a 1000—doesn’t always translate to winning the French Open, we would have been within our rights to think that the above mentioned players would each have won one. Or that at least one of them would have won one. Four-time French Open champio...
Deep into clay seaon, more questions than answers
BACK TO BACK TITLES 🏆😤 🧱Rouen 🧱 Madrid @marta_kostyuk | #MMOPEN pic.twitter.com/cB0ptHc6FS — wta (@WTA) May 2, 2026 Charleston, Linz, Stuttgart, and Madrid are already in the past, as well as a few 250 clay tournaments. The 500 champions are Jessica Pegula (Charleston), Mirra Andreeva (Linz) and Elena Rybakina (Stuttgart). And now we have our first 1000 champion--Marta Kostyuk. Coming up are one more 1000-level event, the Italian Open, and one more 500-level event, in Strasbourg. Missing...
Venus Williams--wild card or fold?
Venus Williams and Katie Boulter defeat Jiang/Xu 4-6, 6-3, [10-7] to reach the second round in Madrid. That’s Venus’ first win since the US Open. Crowd loved it and they were so happy as well. pic.twitter.com/8T1Phj0Sor — José Morgado (@josemorgado) April 25, 2026 Last week, a maintenance specialist was in my house. I had the television on and was watching Venus Williams playing in Madrid. He passed by, saw the screen, and asked, "Is that an old match?" I told him no, it was Madrid. He watched...
Jessica Pegula, 2025 champion, wins Charleston Open again
Jessica Pegula (photo by Daniel Ward) Though she took on the nickname of Three-Set Jess this week, top seed and defending champion Jessica Pegula put a stop to the long grind when it mattered most; she won the Credit One Charleston Open final in an hour and 22 minutes. Competing against surprise finalist Yuliia Starodubtseva , Pegula saved five of six break points, and her first and second serve win percentages were 76.5 and 52.2. Jessica Pegula (photo by Daniel Ward) The defending champ...
Yuliia Starodubtseva--the Charleston Open's surprise finalist
player photos by Daniel Ward The Charleston Open is known for many things, and one of them is the introduction of relatively unknown players to a wide audience. This year, all eyes are on 26-year-old Yuliia Starodubtseva of Ukraine. Starodubtseva was scheduled to play in the qualifying rounds, but because of a withdrawal, she was moved into the main draw. Once there, she took out Zhang Shuai, Ekaterine Gorgodze, Renata Zarazua, McCartney Kessler, and 5th seed and 2019 champion Madison Keys. St...
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