Author: Michael Dickens

Aggressive, Consistent Kontaveit Reaches Palermo Final

WASHINGTON, August 9, 2020 (by Michael Dickens) As she stepped out onto the red clay of ASD Country Time Club’s Center Court for her semifinal match in the 31st Palermo Ladies Open in southern Italy on Saturday, fourth seed Anett […]

New Tournament, New Excitement For Serena Williams

WASHINGTON, August 9, 2020 (by Michael Dickens) Twenty-three time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams never expected to be playing in Kentucky, but it’s close to her Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., home and easy to get to. That’s why she’s excited […]

Four Great Matches, Four Big Comebacks At Palermo

WASHINGTON, August 8, 2020 (by Michael Dickens) Top seed Petra Martic reached her second WTA semifinal of the year on Friday when she became the first to book her ticket for the weekend at the 31st Palermo Ladies Open in […]

Svitolina, Bertens Latest To Withdraw From US Open

WASHINGTON, August 8, 2020 (by Michael Dickens) With the start of the US Open just more than three weeks away, day by day, the big name withdrawals are beginning to pile up. First, World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty of Australia confirmed […]

Kontaveit Handles Close Situation, Avoids Palermo Upset

WASHINGTON, August 7, 2020 (by Michael Dickens) No. 4 seed Anett Kontaveit refined her gardening skills at home in Estonia during her five-months of downtime from the WTA tour. Her second-round opponent, unseeded and 65th-ranked Laura Siegemund of Germany, stayed […]

Plenty Of Rules For Players Coming To New York

WASHINGTON, August 7, 2020 (by Michael Dickens) Earlier this week, the U.S. Tennis Association (USTA) issued revised health protocols and rules that will be in effect for players playing at the Western & Southern Open and the US Open, both […]

Rising Star Ferro Continues String Of Palermo Upsets

WASHINGTON, August 6, 2020 (by Michael Dickens) Fiona Ferro may be overshadowed by her more well-known French teammates Kristina Mladenovic and Caroline Garcia – even Alizé Cornet. Yet, the French No. 3 who was born in Belgium but now resides […]

Without Nadal Or Barty, Who Is Coming To The US Open?

WASHINGTON, August 6, 2020 (by Michael Dickens) While men’s World No. 2 Rafael Nadal and women’s World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty are the highest-profile players to decline playing in the US Open because of their concerns about travel during the coronavirus pandemic, […]

Juvan Stuns No. 2 Seed Vondrousova In Palermo

WASHINGTON, August 5, 2020 (by Michael Dickens) After just two days, the upsets have been plenty at the 31st Palermo Ladies Open in southern Italy. Early Tuesday morning, No. 3 seed Maria Sakkari was unceremoniously taken down. Then, Tuesday afternoon, No. […]

The Decision: Nadal Says No To 2020 US Open

WASHINGTON, August 5, 2020 (by Michael Dickens) Reigning US Open champion Rafael Nadal says he won’t defend his men’s singles title at this year’s Grand Slam event, preferring not to travel to New York during the coronavirus pandemic. At 8:19 p.m. CEST […]