Author: Michael Dickens

An Extraordinary Finish Lifts Muguruza In Dubai

DUBAI/WASHINGTON, March 12, 2021 (by Michael Dickens) On a 31º (C) late-winter afternoon on Centre Court at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium complex, Spain’s World No. 16 Garbiñe Muguruza came into her third career Dubai semifinal against 18th-ranked Elise […]

Every Week’s A New Challenge For Cocciaretto

GUADALAJARA/WASHINGTON, March 11, 2021 Watching Elisabetta Cocciaretto play tennis serves as a reminder that there is value in hard work and optimism. It pays off. Just ask the 20-year-old Italian who has broken through to her first WTA semifinal at the […]

With Victory Comes Opportunity For Krejcikova

DUBAI/WASHINGTON, March 11, 2021 (by Michael Dickens) Widely regarded as one of the best doubles players in the world, Barbora Krejcikova is starting to gain recognition as a solo artist. That’s because the 63rd-ranked, soft-spoken Czech with steady and measured […]

Jessica Pegula: Making A Big Name For Herself

DUBAI/WASHINGTON, March 11, 2021 (by Michael Dickens) When most tennis fans think of the current state of American women’s tennis, the names that most quickly come to mind are Serena and Venus Williams, Madison Keys, Sloane Stephens, Jennifer Brady and Coco […]

It’s All Muguruza In Win Over Swiatek At Dubai

DUBAI/WASHINGTON, March 10 2021 (by Michael Dickens) Garbiñe Muguruza won her WTA-leading 15th match of the 2021 season in a duel of Top 20 players and past and present Grand Slam champions at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships Wednesday […]

Kuznetsova’s Mind Is Telling Her To Keep Playing

DUBAI/WASHINGTON, March 10, 2021 (by Michael Dickens) Many is the time that Svetlana Kuznetsova has trouble accepting that she can’t always deliver the same kind of performance she gives on the practice court during a match. However, as the 35-year-old […]

In A Day Of Dubai Upsets, Pliskova Survives

DUBAI/WASHINGTON, March 9, 2021 (by Michael Dickens) As Day Three of the WTA’s first 1000-series event of the year, the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, pared its field from 32 to 16 on Tuesday, some of the top seeds were […]

Amanda Anisimova: ‘I Know My Game Is There’

DUBAI/WASHINGTON, March 9, 2021 (by Michael Dickens) Nineteen-year-old Amanda Anisimova made her much-awaited season debut Monday evening at the WTA 1000 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. Much-awaited because she hadn’t appeared in WTA tour-level match since Roland Garros last fall. […]

Keys Regaining Form One Match At A Time

DUBAI/WASHINGTON, March 8, 2021 (by Michael Dickens) While Monday’s completion of the first round of the WTA’s 1000-series Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships was peppered with many straight set wins – by the likes of seeded players such as No. […]

Dubai First Round: From Routine To Rollercoaster

DUBAI/WASHINGTON, March 8, 2021 (by Michael Dickens) Thirty-first-ranked Ons Jabeur of Tunisia was among the group of seven first-round winners safely through to the second round of the first WTA 1000-series event of the season, the Dubai Duty Free Tennis […]