Tennis

Billie Jean King Cup Slovenia joins Italy and Canada in semi-finals

Published

2 years ago

November 10, 2023

Nancy

Billie Jean King Cup Slovenia joins Italy and Canada in semi-finals

(Seville) Slovenia, thanks to its success in the first single of the match against Kazakhstan on Friday in Seville, is assured of finishing first in group B and as such qualifies for the semi-finals of the Billie Jean King Cup.

The Slovenes will meet Italy on Saturday, which had already secured its qualification on Thursday by finishing first in Group D, for a place in the final.

The other semi-final will see Canada, also qualified since Thursday, face the winner of the United States-Czech Republic match, which will determine the winner of Group A.

Against Kazakhstan, Kaja Juvan (104^e world) brought the point of the match, synonymous with the semi-final, to Slovenia by crushing Anna Danilina (814^e), to whom she only left one game, 6-1, 6-0 in 53 minutes.

In group D, the meeting, for the honor, between France and Germany, eliminated from the race for the semi-finals by Italy, turned in favor of the French.

Clara Burel (61^e) had put France on the right track by beating Julie Niemeier (162^e) 6-4, 6-3. Then Varvara Gracheva (44^e), for her baptism of fire in the competition, brought the victory point to the Bleues before the double, benefiting from the retirement due to injury of Tatjana Maria (57^e) while the German led 3-0.

Each BJK Cup match consists of two singles followed by a doubles. The first in each of the four groups advance to the semi-finals.

The 2022 edition was won by Switzerland, victorious in the final over Australia, two nations eliminated in the group stage this year.

Source: lapresse

Nancy

I am a sports journalist who has worked in print and online. I have authored articles for a sports website and have covered sports news for over 6 years.

Tennis

Adelaide tournament Victoria Mboko advances to final

Published

4 hours ago

January 16, 2026

Nancy

Adelaide tournament Victoria Mboko advances to final

Victoria Mboko did not last long on the field in the semi-final of the Adelaide tournament, Friday in Australia.

The 19-year-old Canadian defeated local favorite Kimberly Birrell in just 59 minutes of play, 6-2, 6-1.

Mboko, 17^e player in the world, slammed eight aces against none for her opponent, 107^e world racket.

In the final, the Torontonian will face the winner of the other semi-final, which pits Russian Mirra Andreeva, third seed, against her compatriot Diana Schnaider.

The duel was short-lived, since Mboko was never broken and she only offered a break point to her opponent, who was unable to take advantage of it.

PHOTO MICHAEL ERREY, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Victoria Mboko returns a ball to Australia’s Kimberly Birrell during their women’s singles semi-final at the Adelaide International tennis tournament.

On the other hand, the Canadian broke Birrell five times in seven occasions. She also won 80% of points played on her first serve and an impressive 86% of points played on her second serve.

His dominance on serve was unquestionable, with Birrell winning only 47% of the points contested on his first ball.

Both players committed three double faults.

Thanks to this victory, Mboko will climb to at least 16^e world ranking following the tournament. A victory in the final would allow him to enter the top 15.

This competition in Adelaide serves as preparation for the Australian Open, which will take off on Sunday. In the first round, Mboko will face Australian Emerson Jones, 155^e player in the world.

Source: lapresse

Nancy

I am a sports journalist who has worked in print and online. I have authored articles for a sports website and have covered sports news for over 6 years.

Tennis

Semi-final matches of WTA 500 in Adelaide and WTA 250 in Hobart have been announced

Published

16 hours ago

January 15, 2026

Nancy

Semi-final matches of WTA 500 in Adelaide and WTA 250 in Hobart have been announced

Quarter-final matches were held in challenging tournaments on January 15 WTA 500 in Adelaide And WTA 250 in Hobart.

Last year’s champion Madison Keys, who placed second in the 500 meters race in Adelaide, lost to Victoria MBoko, who will compete with Kimberly Birrell in her next race. The Australian eliminated Jacqueline Christian.

In another semi-final match, “neutrals” Mirra Andreeva and Diana Schneider will compete. Unfortunately, Maya Joynt and Emma Navarro lost their matches.

WTA 500 Adelaide. 1/4 final

topnet

🏳️Mirra Andreeva [3] – Ayla Tomljanovic [WC] – 6:2, 6:0
🏳️Diana Schneider [9] – Emma Navarro [6] – 6:3, 6:3

bottom of the network

Kimberly Birrell- Jacqueline Christian [Q] – 5:7, 6:1, 7:5
Victoria Mboko [8] – Madison Keys [2] – 6:4, 4:6, 6:2

WTA 500 Adelaide. Semi-final matches

🏳️Mirra Andreeva [3] – 🏳️Diana Schneider [9]
Kimberly Birrell- Victoria Mboko [8]

Video review of match day in Adelaide

First seed Emma Raducanu lost to Tayla Preston in the 1/4 final stage in Hobart. The Australian representative will face third-seeded Iva Jovic in the semi-finals – the American eliminated Magda Linett.

Elisabetta Cocciaretto defeated Anna Bondar and Antonija Ruzic defeated Olga Danilovic. Anna and Antonia will meet in the lower group in the semi-finals.

WTA 250 Hobart. 1/4 final

topnet

Emma Raducanu [1] – Talia Preston [WC] – 2:6, 4:6
Iva Jovic [3] – Magda Linette [8] – 6:3, 6:7 (5:7), 6:2

bottom of the network

Anna Bondar- Elisabetta Cocciaretto [Q] – 2:6, 2:6
Antonia Ruzic – Olga Danilovich – 6:3, 6:3

Video review of match day in Hobart

Source: Sport UA

Nancy

I am a sports journalist who has worked in print and online. I have authored articles for a sports website and have covered sports news for over 6 years.

Tennis

Adelaide tournament Victoria Mboko advances to semi-final

Published

19 hours ago

January 15, 2026

Nancy

Adelaide tournament Victoria Mboko advances to semi-final

(Adelaide) Canadian Victoria Mboko scored her second career victory against a player from top 10Thursday, winning 6-4, 4-6 and 6-2 against the American Madison Keys to reach the semi-finals of the Adelaide tournament.

Mboko (17^e), who is looking for a third WTA title, will cross swords with Australian Kimberly Birrell (107^e). Mboko defeated Birrell in Montreal, en route to the National Bank Open title last summer, in their only other duel on the circuit.

Mboko had previously defeated the Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia (59^e) and the Russian Anna Kalinskaya (33^e) in Adelaide. This is her first tournament since Hong Kong, which she won in November 2025.

Keys (ninth) had won his last 11 matches in this tournament, winning the title last year. She also triumphed there in 2022. Last year, she then continued her momentum to lift the Australian Open trophy.

After suffering three breaks in the second set, Mboko was solid in the third set with balls in hand, giving Keys no break opportunities. In particular, she won 73% of the rallies with her second ball during the third round.

Mboko won 93 of 180 points (52%) in this match.

Source: lapresse

Nancy

I am a sports journalist who has worked in print and online. I have authored articles for a sports website and have covered sports news for over 6 years.