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Two-Time Wimbledon Champ Kvitova, Pliskova Exchange Coaches

PRAGUE (AP) — Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova has hired Karolina Pliskova’s former coach, and Pliskova hired Kvitova’s former coach.

The 11th-ranked Kvitova will now work with Jiri Vanek, who parted ways with Pliskova last month. The sixth-ranked Pliskova, meanwhile, has hired David Kotyza, whose seven-year partnership with Kvitova ended in January.

With Vanek, who joined her in 2014, Pliskova jumped into the top 10 and reached the U.S. Open final.

During her seven years with Kotyza, Kvitova won 17 WTA titles, including Wimbledon in 2011 and 2014. But she was struggling after their split, and former doubles specialist Frantisek Cermak, who was coaching her from April until September, didn’t change that much.

Original author: AP

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Madison Keys Splits with Thomas Hogstedt

Madison Keys, who is ranked No. 8, has severed ties with her coach Thomas Hogstedt.

Keys has stopped working with Hogstedt, who started coaching her in April, 2016. Keys won her second title in Eastbourne under his tutelage. Hogstedt worked with Genie Bouchard before joining forces with Keys.

Keys has had three coaching changes this year. She is now looking for a new coach.

Original author: Ashley Ndebele

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Milos Raonic Cuts Ties with Carlos Moya

ATP World No. 3 Milos Raonic has cut ties with his coach Carlos Moya.

Raonic posted the news on his Instagram account, thanking former World No. 1 Moya for his help.

Moya began coaching Raonic in January 2016. Seven-time Grand Slam winner John McEnroe joined the coaching team in June, which included Moya and Riccardo Piatti, but ended the relationship in August.

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2017 Top Ten Wish List

The 2017 tennis season is just around the corner and we can’t wait to see what it has in store for tennis fans.

No one predicted that Andy Murray and Angelique Kerber would end 2016 as No. 1, respectively, but they did. Will there be similar surprises in 2017? Who knows, but we do have a wish list.

10. World No. 1 Angelique Kerber had a great 2016 season where she ascended to the top of the WTA rankings. She won the Australian and the U.S. Open, and was a finalist at the Wimbledon Championships. Let us hope she is able to defend most of these points and maintain her No. 1 status, which is a huge undertaking.

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Serena Williams: Women ‘Must Continue to Dream Big’

The 22-time Grand Slam champion writes that women ”are constantly reminded” they aren’t men. She says people call her one of the ”world’s greatest female athletes,” but notes that male athletes such as LeBron James, Roger Federer and Tiger Woods aren’t described by their gender.

Williams says the equal pay issue frustrates her because women ”have done the same work and made the same sacrifices as our male counterparts.”

She says women ”must continue to dream big” to ”empower the next generation of women to be just as bold in their pursuits.”

The letter was published in Porter Magazine and republished by British newspaper The Guardian.

Original author: AP

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Keothavong Succeeds Judy Murray as Britain Fed Cup Captain

LONDON (AP) — Former tour player Anne Keothavong has been chosen to succeed Judy Murray as captain of Britain’s Fed Cup team.

The 33-year-old Keothavong was appointed national women’s team coach and Fed Cup captain on Tuesday by the Lawn Tennis Association.

Keothavong takes over the Fed Cup captaincy from Murray, the mother of top-ranked male player Andy Murray. She stepped down in March after five years as captain to concentrate on other roles.

Keothavong, who played 44 Fed Cup singles and doubles matches during her 13-year pro career, will prepare the team for the Europe/Africa Zone Group 1 tournament in Tallinn, Estonia, from Feb. 7-12.

The British team could feature top-10 player Johanna Konta, Heather Watson and Laura Robson.

Original author: AP

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Wawrinka beats Cilic, Keeps Semifinal Hopes Alive at ATP Tour Finals

Stan Wawrinka won a hard-fought match against Marin Cilic on Wednesday, November 16, 2016, keeping alive his chances of advancing to the semifinals of the ATP World Tour Finals in London, Great Britain.

Wawrinka, who’s now 1-1 in his group, won the match 7-6(3), 7-(3). Cilic had chances to push the match to the third set, breaking Wawrinka in the opening game of the second set, but Wawrinka managed to get the break back.

Wawrinka next plays Andy Murray, who’s 2-0 in their group after a tough three-setter against Kei Nishikori earlier today.

Gael Monfils, who’s in Novak Djokovic’s group, has pulled out of the event due to an injury. He will be replaced by substitute David Goffin, who faces Djokovic tomorrow.

Watch ATP Tour Finals live on Tennis Channel

Original author: Ashley Ndebele

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6th-Ranked Karolina Pliskova Parts with Coach Jiri Vanek

PRAGUE (AP) — U.S. Open finalist Karolina Pliskova has parted ways with coach Jiri Vanek, ending a partnership that earned five WTA titles.

The decision by the 24-year-old Pliskova came after she helped the Czech team retain the Fed Cup title with a 3-2 victory over France over the weekend.

With Vanek, who joined her in 2014, Pliskova jumped into the top 10 and is currently ranked sixth. She reached the U.S. Open final and qualified for the WTA Finals for the first time this year.

It was not immediately clear who would replace Vanek.

Original author: Ashley Ndebele

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Murray Overcomes Nishikori to Improve to 2-0 in ATP Finals

LONDON (AP) — Andy Murray survived the longest three-set match in ATP Finals history by outlasting Kei Nishikori 6-7 (9), 6-4, 6-4 and posting a 21st consecutive win on Wednesday.

Top-ranked Murray needed 3 hours, 20 minutes to separate himself from Nishikori. The first set alone took 85 minutes.

It is the first time since the tournament moved to the O2 Arena in 2009 that Murray has won both of his opening two group matches, and he is in pole position to reach the semifinals for the first time in four years.

That could come later Wednesday if Marin Cilic defeats Stan Wawrinka.

Novak Djokovic is already through, and defeat against Nishikori would have hurt Murray’s chances of holding onto top spot in the rankings.

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Lisicki at Kooyong, Women Return to Australian Open Warmup

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) Former Wimbledon finalist Sabine Lisicki will play at the Kooyong Classic in January, as women’s matches return to the Australian Open warmup event for the first time since 1993.

Organizers on Wednesday said the 2013 Wimbledon runner-up will join Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic and Sorana Cirstea of Romania in women’s round-robin play.

Bernard Tomic, David Goffin and Richard Gasquet are confirmed starters in the eight-man draw for the Jan. 10-13 exhibition tournament which is staged annually in the week preceding the Australian Open.

The Kooyong Classic is held at the Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club, a former venue for the Australian Open, each year since 1988 after the season’s first tennis major moved to Melbourne Park.

Pat Cash won the inaugural title, and Roger Federer, Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi are among the other former champions.

Original author: Ashley Ndebele

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Djokovic Wins Again, Reaches Seminfinals at ATP Finals

LONDON (AP) — Novak Djokovic edged a bit closer to the year-end No. 1 ranking, beating Milos Raonic 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5) Tuesday to qualify for the semifinals of the ATP finals.

Djokovic is 2-0 at the season-ending tournament, and will retake the top ranking from Andy Murray if he does better this week.

Murray is 1-0 so far, and plays his second match on Wednesday against Kei Nishikori.

Djokovic never looked at ease in his second match at the O2 Arena, but he was able to hang on through two tough tiebreakers to earn the victory.

The second-ranked Serb saved three break points in the first set, and managed to go up a break twice in the second set but Raonic responded each time.

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Tennis Hall of Fame Member Gardnar Mulloy Dies at 102

MIAMI (AP) — Gardnar Mulloy, a member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame who won 129 U.S. national titles and played competitively into his 90s, has died at age 102.

The longtime Miami resident died Monday night, said his wife, Jackie.

Mulloy won five Grand Slam doubles titles, was ranked No. 1 in the United States in 1952 and started the University of Miami tennis program. He swept United States Tennis Association grand slams in three age groups: 45s, 70s and 80s.

Mulloy, who served in the Navy during World War II, was 31 when the war ended, and his tennis career had barely begun. At age 43, he won the Wimbledon doubles title with Budge Patty and helped the U.S. Davis Cup team reach the final.

He would have turned 103 on Nov. 22.

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Thiem Wins for 1st Time at ATP Finals, Beats Monfils in 3

LONDON (AP) Dominic Thiem won his first match at the ATP finals, beating Gael Monfils 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 on Tuesday.

The eighth-seeded Austrian, who is making his debut at the season-ending tournament, could advance to the semifinals with a win over Milos Raonic on Thursday.

Second-ranked Novak Djokovic will face Raonic in the late match. Both won their opening matches, and Djokovic will advance if he wins.

Thiem struggled in the second set on Tuesday, just like he did in the loss to Djokovic on Sunday. But he improved his service game in the final set, winning 79 percent of the points on his first serve.

He was also able to break Monfils in the final game as the Frenchman produced three of his five double-faults in the decider.

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Murray Wins in his Debut as the World’s Top-Ranked Player

LONDON (AP) — Taking the court as the No. 1-ranked player for the first time, Andy Murray got the job done.

The Wimbledon champion was tested for much of his opening match at the ATP finals but still came out on top, beating Marin Cilic 6-3, 6-2 Monday at the O2 Arena.

Murray took over at the top of the rankings last week, replacing Novak Djokovic. But the year-end No. 1 ranking is still up for grabs and could be decided on Sunday if both Murray and Djokovic reach the final.

Murray struggled to win his service games in the first set against Cilic, but still ended up saving all but one of the five break points he faced. On the other side, he converted four of his five break points.

In the early match, Stan Wawrinka finally lost a match at the ATP finals to someone who hasn’t been ranked No. 1 in the world. The U.S. Open champion, who has reached the semifinals of the season-ending tournament for the last three years, lost to Kei Nishikori 6-2, 6-3.

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Mauresmo Steps Down as France’s Fed Cup Captain

PARIS (AP) — Amelie Mauresmo has stepped down as France’s Fed Cup captain as she is expecting her second child.

Former top-ranked Mauresmo made the unexpected announcement on Monday – a day after France lost 3-2 in the Fed Cup final to defending champion Czech Republic.

Mauresmo, who took over as Fed Cup captain in 2013 and also coached top-ranked Andy Murray, says her pregnancy won’t allow her to captain France during the 2017 campaign. Her baby is due in April.

The two-time Grand Slam champion said she did not let players know about her decision before Monday because she wanted “the girls to be 100 percent focused on the final.”

Under Mauresmo, France won six out of nine Fed Cup ties.

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Czech Republic Keeps Hold on Fed Cup

As the leading women from France and the Czech Republic gathered at Strasbourg for the Fed Cup Final in a festive indoor atmosphere, it was apparent to all tennis authorities that both nations could realistically expect to capture the prestigious international team championship. As the host country, France had a large dose of sentiment on their side; conversely, the Czech Republic boasted a formidable lineup which included the sixth ranked woman in the world, supported by a remarkably capable supporting cast. For those of us who followed this Fed Cup final with special interest, it always seemed certain to hold our full attention from beginning to end.

That is precisely what happened. In the end, the visiting team demonstrated their supremacy in no uncertain fashion, but, predictably, it went down to the wire before the Czech Republic came through 3-2 to secure their third Fed Cup team title in a row and their fifth in an impressive six year span. Through it all, across a stirring weekend, the player who carried her nation across the finish line was none other than Karolina Pliskova, the aforementioned world No. 6. She would split her two singles  contests before playing a crucial role in winning the last doubles encounter. At the end of a long season, after a period of considerable growth and an appearance in her first major final, despite being debilitated by so much hard work, Pliskova was commendably disciplined and determined.

But let’s review a gripping weekend chronologically. The opening act was a stirring clash between Pliskova and Kristina Mladenovic, a 23-year-old ranked 42nd in the world. One might have believed Mladenovic would be intimidated by the responsibility of taking on the U.S. Open finalist in such a daunting setting, but she acquitted herself honorably. Pliskova forged an early 3-1 lead before Mladenovic fought back tenaciously to 3-3. But Pliskova regained the initiative in the seventh game, breaking serve again with a winning backhand down the line return off a weak second serve kicker. Pliskova—the 2016 WTA Tour leader in aces because her delivery is singularly deceptive and deadly accurate—held at 15 with an ace for 5-3 and broke her adversary again to seal the set as Mladenovic double faulted the ninth game away.

The second set was locked at 3-3 but Pliskova double faulted into the net at break point down in the seventh game. The favorite got the break right back for 4-4, but soon found herself in uncomfortable territory again. She dropped serve once more, this time with an unforced error off the forehand. A buoyant Mladenovic served out the set energetically in the tenth game to make it one set all.

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Murray Needs One More Win in Paris to Take the No. 1 Spot

Come Monday morning, Novak Djokovic of Serbia might not work up as the ATP World No. 1 since he left the door wide open after his semifinal loss on Friday, November 4, 2016 at BNP Paribas Masters in Paris.

Marin Cilic of Croatia took out top seed Djokovic in straight sets 6-4, 7-6(2). This means that Andy Murray of Great Britain has a huge chance to take over the coveted title. He only has to win one more match in order to dethrone Djokovic as the ATP World No. 1.

Murray did his part today by winning his quarterfinal match. He earned his spot to the semifinal after a 7-6(9), 7-5 win over Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic. Murray next faces the winner of 4th seed Milos Raonic of Canada and 11th-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France.

Murray has a winning record against both Raonic and Tsonga. He is 8-3 in his head-to-head against Raonic, and 14-2 against Tsonga. Murray beat Tsonga on Sunday in the Vienna final. All eyes will be on Murray as he attempts his quest to be World No. 1.

Watch Paris Masters Live on Tennis Channel all week

Original author: Ashley Ndebele

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John Isner Reaches Semifinals at Paris Masters

PARIS (AP) John Isner won a hard-fought all-American contest against Jack Sock 7-6 (6), 4-6, 6-4 to reach the semifinals of the Paris Masters on Friday.

Isner looked set for a straight-set win while served up a break at 4-3 in the second set but lost his temper after a foot-fault call.

Isner, who had not dropped his serve once since the start of the week, was unsettled by the decision and was broken twice in a row, allowing Sock back in the match.

But the change in momentum did not last long. Isner capitalized on Sock’s mistakes to break him twice early in the decider.

Isner equaled his best result at the indoor tournament, making it to the last four for the first time in five years in the French capital.

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Djokovic Loses in Quarterfinals at Paris Masters

PARIS (AP) — Three-time defending champion Novak Djokovic has lost in the quarterfinals of the Paris Masters.

The top-ranked Djokovic was beaten by Marin Cilic 6-4, 7-6 (2) for the first time in 15 matchups.

Djokovic’s loss means Andy Murray can rise to No. 1 in the ATP rankings if he reaches the final.

Djokovic saved two match points in the 12th game but Cilic served extremely well to prevail in the tiebreak.

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Original author: Ashley Ndebele

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Isner, Sock Advance to Quarterfinals in Paris

Americans John Isner and Jack Sock advanced to the quarterfinals of BNP Paribas Masters in Paris on Thursday, November 3, 2016. They set up an all-American quarterfinal.

Isner defeated giant killer Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany, who took out U.S. Open champ Stan Wawrinka in the second round. Isner won in three sets 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-3. He plays fellow compatriot Sock in the quarterfinal on Friday.

Sock beat local favorite Richard Gasquet of France in a tight two-setter 6-4, 7-6(11).

Marin Cilic of Croatia and Milos Raonic of Canada also advanced to the quarterfinals. Cilic beat David Goffin of Belgium 6-3, 7-6 (9). Cilic plays Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinal on Friday. Raonic defeated Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay 4-6, 6-1, 6-2. He awaits the winner of Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Kei Nishikori of Japan.

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Original author: Ashley Ndebele

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