WTA Backspin by Todd Spiker
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New York, New York...
The festivities are over. Now comes the clean-up. =DAY 15 NOTES= ...in the week's three 125 events, Pastry Fiona Ferro won her second of the season, defeating Noma Noha Akugue 6-1/6-2 in Montreux (SUI). Fiona Ferro (n°141) 🇫🇷, vainqueur du WTA 125 de Montreux (Suisse) ! Tête de série n°4, elle a battu Noma Noha Akugue (n°137) 🇩🇪, tête de série n°3, en deux sets 6-1, 6-2. À 29 ans, elle soulève ainsi son deuxième trophée 🏆 en WTA 125, le quatrième sur le cir...
Elena's New York State of Mind
Elena Rybakina has never been about the "flash." It's never been about the clothes or jewelry, nor the celebrations or dances. It's just been about her and her racket, and her ability to use it to cleanly blast fuzzy little balls out of the reach of her opponents. Over the past year, no one has done it better. And today in New York, she let her racket do all the talking yet again. She IS the moment! 🌟 pic.twitter.com/Eo1DgwoJ0w — US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 12, 2026 T...
US.13- The Day Before the Day, 25 Years After the Day
25 years later, we will #neverforget911 pic.twitter.com/xlar3dX9s7 — 9/11 Memorial & Museum (@Sept11Memorial) September 11, 2026 First... No date in the lifetime of anyone in the U.S. with an active memory of this day 25 years ago, save for any remaining from the WWII generation, more highlighted the best and worst that we have to give as humans as 9/11 did, both on that awful day, as well as on those that immediately followed and the still-ongoing psycho...
US.12- Two Hearts Beat as #1
Once more into the breach... Sabalenka has reached the final of every Grand Slam tournament on hard courts for the last 4 years 🇦🇺 Australian Open 2023 🏆 🇺🇸 US Open 2023🥈 🇦🇺 Australian Open 2024 🏆 🇺🇸 US Open 2024 🏆 🇦🇺 Australian Open 2025🥈 🇺🇸 US Open 2025 🏆 🇦🇺 Australian Open 2026🥈 🇺🇸 US Open 2026⏳ pic.twitter.com/G6zN6UCwiS — 👑 Aryna Sabalenka 🐯 Daily (@SabalenkaDaily) September 11, 2026 =DAY 12 NOTES= ...the first SF of the evening on Ashe completed...
US.11- Drive
Hang it in The Met... but, you know, in the corner by the plant that everyone walks by without noticing it. If winning ugly were an art, Coco Gauff would be Leonardo da Vinci pic.twitter.com/w6DoSBXluL — Bastien Fachan (@BastienFachan) September 9, 2026 =DAY 11 NOTES= ...#2-seed Elena Rybakina has shown the ability throughout her career to drive though opponents if she can just find that particular groove in her game that is nearly unbeatable. But ...
US.10- She Needs a Hero
Still in the mix, but also hoping for a lifeline. SABACK. TO BACK. TO BACK. TO BACK. TO BACK. TO BACK. pic.twitter.com/gdtK7LitKJ — US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 8, 2026 =DAY 10 NOTES= ...for the top-seeded two-time defending U.S. Open champ Aryna Sabalenka, it's been a trying spring and summer following her Sunshine Double triumph. As 2026 has gone on, her slippage in results has even begun to infect her finishes in majors in recent months, not i...
US.9- Against the Odds
Apparently, Zheng Qinwen liked coming back from 5-0 love down vs. Madison Keys so much that she simply decided to do it against Iga Swiatek, too. View this post on Instagram It's been two years since Zheng ended Swiatek's 25-match winning streak on the courts at Roland Garros, clipping her in the Olympic SF in Paris en route to the Gold medal. That week made Zheng's career, while Swiatek has never really been the same player since. Zheng, already a previous slam finalist (AO) i...
US.8- Her Song
It's late summer, and Aryna Sabalenka's season has seemingly been overwhelmed by forces both beyond and within her own control. But a New York three-peat is still well within her grasp. View this post on Instagram Of course, in 2025, Sabalenka also had what would have been one of the best seasons this century within her grasp, too. Yet, despite finishing another year at #1, it didn't quite work out that way. Last year, Sabalenka was in the finals of three majors (playing for an ...
US.7- There She Goes Again
And on Day 7, Madison Keys devolved back into Madison Keys again. Madison Keys lost this match pic.twitter.com/i34aEjaqU1 — Barstool Tennis (@StoolTennis) September 5, 2026 =DAY 7 NOTES= ...was it really just two days ago that "New Madi" crawled back out of the shadows to remind everyone that Madison Keys has the talent to be a true "dawg" on the court, storming back to save five MP against Anna Bondar in the 2nd Round, only to get bounced from the the...
US.6- Here Comes the Ukrainian Again
Inevitably, here comes Marta. Again. View this post on Instagram =DAY 6 NOTES= ...so, does Marta Kostyuk's "inevitability" translate to New York? Well, it has so far, at least. The #11-seeded Ukrainian advanced to her second straight U.S. Open 4th Round on Friday, handling #18 Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-3/6-2 as she tries to find her way into what would be her third consecutive major semifinal. She's 13-3 in slam action in 2026. Crazy hustle from Mart...
US.5- Hit Her with Your Best Shot
Hit with her opponent's best shot, "New Madi" re-appeared on Day 5. View this post on Instagram =DAY 5 NOTES= ...every once in a while, Madison Keys will find that dawg in her. On Thursday, she took Anna Bondar's best shot -- five times, in fact -- and lived on at this major to tell the tale. Madison Keys won this match 😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱 pic.twitter.com/P3UQggqr2b — The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) September 3, 2026 Of course, it took the #22 s...
US.4- Give 'em What They Want
Nobody Czechs better than a Czech, and no Czech is Czeching better than Karolina Muchova. Masterclass. 🎓 Karolina Muchova puts on a dominant display to cruise into R3. pic.twitter.com/Y9K3OQtSf7 — US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 2, 2026 =DAY 4 NOTES= ...the weather continued to reign in the city on Day 4 of this U.S. Open, with the 1st Round matches that didn't finish yesterday being pushed deeper and deeper into the schedule on Wednesday even as oth...
US.3- Rainy Days and Tuesdays
Is this rain normal at this point?🫠 New York City rain today storm nyc streets pic.twitter.com/DgOBYiWYZp — Charming Views (@CharmingViews) September 1, 2026 =DAY 3 NOTES= ...for most of the day on Tuesday, the players played a waiting game. Until the outside courts were finally dry enough to support action, the only women's match to occur was #22 Madison Keys' Ashe-opening 7-5/6-4 win over Hordette teen Alina Korneeva. The 2017 finalist is i...
US.2- In a New York Minute
What goes around comes back around again? In a battle of qualifiers, Olympic champ Zheng Qinwen ends the 9-match winning streak of the 16yo Kristina Liutova. 4-6, 6-3, 6-1. Very good win. Awaits Bencic or Putintseva in a very good section of the US Open draw. pic.twitter.com/DfLebmHWXc — José Morgado (@josemorgado) August 31, 2026 =DAY 2 NOTES= ...in tennis, in New York or otherwise, everything can change -- for the good, or the bad -- in a virtual minu...
US.1- New York Ungrooved
And just like that... Two-time Slam champ Barbora Krejcikova, a potential R3 opponent for #1 Aryna Sabalenka, is OUT in R1. She was defending QFs and will leave the top 50. She is also the first seed to lose in this event. Biggest win of Rakhimova's career! pic.twitter.com/PZujrRBj5L — José Morgado (@josemorgado) August 30, 2026 =DAY 1 NOTES= ...on the final Sunday of August, the U.S. Open officially got underway at Flushing Meadows, with 18 schedule...
Wk.34- Pretty Please, with a Pastry on Top
First Tour-level title feels for Diane Parry 🙌 #AbiertoGNPSeguros pic.twitter.com/FD7qswbBre — wta (@WTA) August 30, 2026 *WEEK 34 CHAMPIONS* MONTERREY, MEXICO (WTA 250; Hard Outdoor) S: Diane Parry/FRA def. Elise Mertens/BEL 6-4/0-6/6-3 WD: Maya Joint/Xu Yifan (AUS/CHN) def. Maria Kozyreva/Maia Lumsden (RUS/GBR) 6-2/4-6 [10-5] U.S. OPEN (Hard Court Outdoor) MX: Karolina Muchova/Jakub Mensik (CZE/CZE) def. Belinda Bencic/Flavio Cobolli (SU...
Wk.33- Welcome to Coco, Ohio
Summer is often the time for sequels. Is Coco Gauff about to star in the second installment of her own franchise? Sunday night MOOD! 💃 @CocoGauff | #CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/X1yzUXsT7j — wta (@WTA) August 24, 2026 *WEEK 33 CHAMPIONS* CINCINNATI (Mason, Ohio), USA (WTA 1000; Hard Outdoor) S: Coco Gauff/USA def. Jessie Pegula/USA 6-2/6-4 WD: Marie Bouzkova/Linda Noskova (CZE/CZE) def. Magali Kempen/Alexandra Panova (BEL/RUS) 6-1/6-2 ...
Wk.32- Iga with an "Eh"
Summertime Swiatek strikes again... View this post on Instagram *WEEK 32 CHAMPIONS* TORONTO, (ONTARIO) CANADA (WTA 1000; Hard Outdoor) S: Iga Swiatek/POL def. Elena Rybakina/KAZ 6-2/6-3 WD: Katerina Siniakova/Zhang Shuai (CZE/CHN) def. Sara Errani/Nicole Melichar-Martinez (ITA/USA) 6-3/6-4 The moment Iga Swiatek won her FIRST Canadian Open title 🏆🙌🍁 #NBO26 pic.twitter.com/qZkiA740Eo — Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) Augu...
Wk.31- To "Can" or "Nada," That is the Question
Many such cases lately 🤒 pic.twitter.com/3qteqOJ3KG — Jimmie48 Photography (@JJlovesTennis) August 6, 2026 *WEEK 31 CHAMPIONS* Warsaw, Poland (WTA 125; Hard Court Outdoor) S: Carol Young Suh Lee/USA def. Gabriela Knutson/CZE 6-4/7-5 D: Weronika Falkowska/Alana Smith (POL/USA) def. Martyna Kubka/Alicja Rosolska (POL/POL) 6-3/6-1 With the current WTA event in Canada again this year ending with a mid-week final (on Thursday... so stu...
Wk.30- WTA Summer Camp Gone Wild
The WTA's NextGen Summer continues..., as there are always more new stars in the tour's Heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy. After 2026 slam wins by 19-year old Mirra Andreeva and 21-year old Linda Noskova, and immediately after 18-year old Lilli Tagger burst onto the tour stage with her maiden singles title in Prague, 16-year old Kristina Liutova came to Memphis with a "you ain't seen nothin' yet" plan of her own. It played out to perfection. View this p...
Wk.29- Tag, Lilli's It
Tagger makes her move... title number #1 guess♥️ pic.twitter.com/i9PWMcjLUT — lilli tagger chats & updates (@sopp1_sopii) July 26, 2026 *WEEK 29 CHAMPIONS* PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC (WTA 250; Hard Outdoor) S: Lilli Tagger/AUT def. Daria Snigur/UKR 7-6(3)/6-3 WD: Harriet Dart/Maia Lumsden (GBR/GBR) def. Lucie Havlickova/Laura Samson (CZE/CZE) 6-4/6-4 HAMBURG, GERMANY (WTA 250; Clay Outdoor) S: Tamara Korpatsch/GER def. Anna Bondar/HUN 6-3/6-...
Wk.28- The Krejcikova Odyssey: Athens Edition
Stand up, Barbora is stirring... View this post on Instagram *WEEK 28 CHAMPIONS* ATHENS, GREECE (WTA 250; Hard Outdoor) S: Barbora Krejcikova/CZE def. Maria Sakkari/GRE 7-6(5)/6-3 WD: Chan Hao-ching/Miyu Kato (TPE/JPN) def. Maia Lumsden/Tang Qianhui (GBR/CHN) 7-6(3)/4-6 [10-7] IASI, ROMANIA (WTA 250; Clay Outdoor) S: Mayar Sherif/EGY def. Paula Badosa/ESP 6-4 4-0 ret. WD: Anastasia Detiuc/Irina Khromacheva (CZE/RUS) def. Alina Charaeva/Z...
2026 Grass Court Awards: Top of the Class
A(nother) Czech crushes it... A moment Linda Noskova will never forget 💫 #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/jjfJ7tGjyb — Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 11, 2026 Of grass stains and higher planes... Grass Court Top Players list & post-SW19 Ms.Backspin Update: HERE Grass Court Top Players list & post-SW19 Ms.Backspin Update: HERE .tg {border-collapse:collapse;border-spacing:0;} .tg td{font-family:Arial, sans-serif;fo...
Cheerio, SW19
Another grass court season is in the books... =DAY 14 NOTES= ...on the final day of play at the All-England Club for 2026, a host of intriguing champions were crowned. In women's doubles, #10-seeded Guo Hanyu & Kristina Mladenovic took down #2-seeds Gaby Dabrowski & Luisa Stefani by a 6-3/7-5 score, giving the pair their first major together and second overall title (w/ Auckland) this year. KRISTINA MLADENOVIC ET HANYU GUO CHAMPIONNES 🏆...
Educating Linda
Sometimes a moment can change everything, and sometimes everything can change. 21-year old Linda Noskova has experienced both ends of that spectrum during her still-early career, and she would do so again today on Centre Court on the biggest day in her tennis life. But it's all right... everything turned out just fine. Linda Noskova 🏆 #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/Z1lUUF4kXv — Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 11, 2026 A few months ago, Noskova was a big-hitting young would-be sta...
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