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Reem Abulleil
@reemabulleil.bsky.social
· Nov 20
Rafael Nadal helped me maintain a connection to my ailing father | The National
My dad suffered with Alzheimer’s during the last years of his life - but the name 'Nadal' was somehow still tucked away in some miraculously accessible part of his mind
www.thenationalnews.com
A close look at the 8 singles players who competed at the WTA Finals and where they're at heading into the offseason.
www.thenationalnews.com/sport/tennis...
www.thenationalnews.com/sport/tennis...
WTA Finals: Another miss for Aryna Sabalenka while Elena Rybakina emerges as major contender in 2026 | The National
Coco Gauff coming to terms with changes to serve and Iga Swiatek looks good to complete career slam in Australia
www.thenationalnews.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:53 AM
A close look at the 8 singles players who competed at the WTA Finals and where they're at heading into the offseason.
www.thenationalnews.com/sport/tennis...
www.thenationalnews.com/sport/tennis...
That was a serving clinic from Elena Rybakina who:
Fired 13 aces
Had a 64% first-serve percentage
Won 72% of her first-serve points
Won 73% of her second-serve points
Saved 5/5 break points
Beats Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 7-6(0) to win her biggest title since Wimbledon 2022.
#WTAFinalsRiyadh
Fired 13 aces
Had a 64% first-serve percentage
Won 72% of her first-serve points
Won 73% of her second-serve points
Saved 5/5 break points
Beats Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 7-6(0) to win her biggest title since Wimbledon 2022.
#WTAFinalsRiyadh
November 8, 2025 at 6:08 PM
That was a serving clinic from Elena Rybakina who:
Fired 13 aces
Had a 64% first-serve percentage
Won 72% of her first-serve points
Won 73% of her second-serve points
Saved 5/5 break points
Beats Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 7-6(0) to win her biggest title since Wimbledon 2022.
#WTAFinalsRiyadh
Fired 13 aces
Had a 64% first-serve percentage
Won 72% of her first-serve points
Won 73% of her second-serve points
Saved 5/5 break points
Beats Aryna Sabalenka 6-3, 7-6(0) to win her biggest title since Wimbledon 2022.
#WTAFinalsRiyadh
Aryna Sabalenka: “I told Amanda that she should be proud of her season, she played incredible tennis the whole season, but it’s just the beginning for her. There are many good things coming her way for sure.”
Unreal match!! Today's semis certainly delivered!
#WTAFinalsRiyadh
Unreal match!! Today's semis certainly delivered!
#WTAFinalsRiyadh
November 7, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Aryna Sabalenka: “I told Amanda that she should be proud of her season, she played incredible tennis the whole season, but it’s just the beginning for her. There are many good things coming her way for sure.”
Unreal match!! Today's semis certainly delivered!
#WTAFinalsRiyadh
Unreal match!! Today's semis certainly delivered!
#WTAFinalsRiyadh
Anisimova plays an excellent second set to force a decider. Going 3 again here in Riyadh.
Sabalenka saved 0/3 break points and won just 3/12 of her 2nd serve points in the 2nd set.
#WTAFinalsRiyadh
Sabalenka saved 0/3 break points and won just 3/12 of her 2nd serve points in the 2nd set.
#WTAFinalsRiyadh
November 7, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Anisimova plays an excellent second set to force a decider. Going 3 again here in Riyadh.
Sabalenka saved 0/3 break points and won just 3/12 of her 2nd serve points in the 2nd set.
#WTAFinalsRiyadh
Sabalenka saved 0/3 break points and won just 3/12 of her 2nd serve points in the 2nd set.
#WTAFinalsRiyadh
Rybakina: I played a lot the last weeks, so of course it's not easy on the body. I've been serving very hard here too, a lot of tough matches, long matches. It's only the last match left so we'll try to do everything possible for my shoulder to feel better tomorrow, push myself as much as I can.
November 7, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Rybakina: I played a lot the last weeks, so of course it's not easy on the body. I've been serving very hard here too, a lot of tough matches, long matches. It's only the last match left so we'll try to do everything possible for my shoulder to feel better tomorrow, push myself as much as I can.
Jessica Pegula: "I feel like I can end this year knowing that I became a better player and hopefully have confidence and get excited to work on some things I know that I want to work on in the offseason and see if I can do the same thing next year."
#WTAFinalsRiyadh
#WTAFinalsRiyadh
November 7, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Jessica Pegula: "I feel like I can end this year knowing that I became a better player and hopefully have confidence and get excited to work on some things I know that I want to work on in the offseason and see if I can do the same thing next year."
#WTAFinalsRiyadh
#WTAFinalsRiyadh
Jessica Pegula takes the opening set 6-4 with a fist pump and a 'come on' in 41 minutes over Elena Rybakina.
Unforced error count is worryingly high for Rybakina.
25 UFEs in 10 games. Number is a little suss tbh.
Unforced error count is worryingly high for Rybakina.
25 UFEs in 10 games. Number is a little suss tbh.
November 7, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Jessica Pegula takes the opening set 6-4 with a fist pump and a 'come on' in 41 minutes over Elena Rybakina.
Unforced error count is worryingly high for Rybakina.
25 UFEs in 10 games. Number is a little suss tbh.
Unforced error count is worryingly high for Rybakina.
25 UFEs in 10 games. Number is a little suss tbh.
News: The Next Gen Finals will move away from Jeddah next year, with the Saudi Tennis Federation opting out of their five-year deal with the ATP Tour.
This year’s third edition will be the last one held in Jeddah. ATP is accepting bids for 2026 and 2027.
www.thenationalnews.com/sport/tennis...
This year’s third edition will be the last one held in Jeddah. ATP is accepting bids for 2026 and 2027.
www.thenationalnews.com/sport/tennis...
Next Gen Finals to move out of Jeddah as Saudi Arabian federation ends deal with ATP Tour | The National
December edition at King Abdullah Sports City will be last staging of tournament on kingdom's shores
www.thenationalnews.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:05 PM
News: The Next Gen Finals will move away from Jeddah next year, with the Saudi Tennis Federation opting out of their five-year deal with the ATP Tour.
This year’s third edition will be the last one held in Jeddah. ATP is accepting bids for 2026 and 2027.
www.thenationalnews.com/sport/tennis...
This year’s third edition will be the last one held in Jeddah. ATP is accepting bids for 2026 and 2027.
www.thenationalnews.com/sport/tennis...
Jessica Pegula: I felt like this year was so competitive (…) I do feel like the level has been crazy, crazy deep this year. It feels a little bit harder than maybe past years.
For AFP: www.rfi.fr/en/sports/20...
For AFP: www.rfi.fr/en/sports/20...
November 6, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Jessica Pegula: I felt like this year was so competitive (…) I do feel like the level has been crazy, crazy deep this year. It feels a little bit harder than maybe past years.
For AFP: www.rfi.fr/en/sports/20...
For AFP: www.rfi.fr/en/sports/20...
Iga Swiatek: “It would be great if the Grand Slams wanted to talk to us because that's how it's supposed to be and I don't really get why there's no more open conversation. I think for sure it's a setback and for sure the players are not happy with it.”
www.barrons.com/news/sabalen...
www.barrons.com/news/sabalen...
Sabalenka, Top WTA Stars Urge Slams To Revive 'Stalled' Negotiations
Top WTA stars, including Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek, are calling on the four Grand Slams to get back to the negotiation table and reconsider their proposals regarding revenue sharing, player welf...
www.barrons.com
November 6, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Iga Swiatek: “It would be great if the Grand Slams wanted to talk to us because that's how it's supposed to be and I don't really get why there's no more open conversation. I think for sure it's a setback and for sure the players are not happy with it.”
www.barrons.com/news/sabalen...
www.barrons.com/news/sabalen...
Sabalenka: “I totally understand the responsibility of this match that I put on my shoulders. That's why I'll go out there and there's no jokes. I'll play full. Hopefully I can just keep up with Billie Jean and help women’s tennis to get better conditions.”
www.thenationalnews.com/sport/tennis...
www.thenationalnews.com/sport/tennis...
Aryna Sabalenka insists Dubai Battle of the Sexes clash with Nick Kyrgios is 'win-win' | The National
Exhibition match has drawn criticism that it could damage status of women's tennis
www.thenationalnews.com
November 6, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Sabalenka: “I totally understand the responsibility of this match that I put on my shoulders. That's why I'll go out there and there's no jokes. I'll play full. Hopefully I can just keep up with Billie Jean and help women’s tennis to get better conditions.”
www.thenationalnews.com/sport/tennis...
www.thenationalnews.com/sport/tennis...
Iga Swiatek: “I felt good mentally, physically, and tennis-wise also it was nice, looking at the conditions and everything. So I don’t really get why I couldn’t go out of the group. Maybe I won too much in the last years and this is karma. It’s really hard for me to say (...)”
#WTAFinals
#WTAFinals
November 5, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Iga Swiatek: “I felt good mentally, physically, and tennis-wise also it was nice, looking at the conditions and everything. So I don’t really get why I couldn’t go out of the group. Maybe I won too much in the last years and this is karma. It’s really hard for me to say (...)”
#WTAFinals
#WTAFinals
Anisimova improves to 15-3 in 3-set matches in 2025. Beats Swiatek 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-2 to reach the SFs of the WTA Finals on her debut.
“It’s so funny, my mom keeps telling me, ‘You know you’ve won like so many three-set matches this year? You’re so strong’. I was actually thinking about that today."
“It’s so funny, my mom keeps telling me, ‘You know you’ve won like so many three-set matches this year? You’re so strong’. I was actually thinking about that today."
November 5, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Anisimova improves to 15-3 in 3-set matches in 2025. Beats Swiatek 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-2 to reach the SFs of the WTA Finals on her debut.
“It’s so funny, my mom keeps telling me, ‘You know you’ve won like so many three-set matches this year? You’re so strong’. I was actually thinking about that today."
“It’s so funny, my mom keeps telling me, ‘You know you’ve won like so many three-set matches this year? You’re so strong’. I was actually thinking about that today."
Via Opta Ace: Iga Swiatek has never lost 2 matches in a row from a set up in her entire career, across all levels.
Might change tonight if she loses this third set to Amanda Anisimova!
Might change tonight if she loses this third set to Amanda Anisimova!
November 5, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Via Opta Ace: Iga Swiatek has never lost 2 matches in a row from a set up in her entire career, across all levels.
Might change tonight if she loses this third set to Amanda Anisimova!
Might change tonight if she loses this third set to Amanda Anisimova!
Iga Swiatek takes a tight opening set 7-6(3) in 65 minutes over Amanda Anisimova.
Iga complains to umpire Julie Kjendlie about a fan in the stands: "He's disturbing the game. He's shouting between the 1st and 2nd serve"
Iga complains to umpire Julie Kjendlie about a fan in the stands: "He's disturbing the game. He's shouting between the 1st and 2nd serve"
November 5, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Iga Swiatek takes a tight opening set 7-6(3) in 65 minutes over Amanda Anisimova.
Iga complains to umpire Julie Kjendlie about a fan in the stands: "He's disturbing the game. He's shouting between the 1st and 2nd serve"
Iga complains to umpire Julie Kjendlie about a fan in the stands: "He's disturbing the game. He's shouting between the 1st and 2nd serve"
The level in these last 2 games from Swiatek and Anisimova has been 😮🔥
November 5, 2025 at 4:36 PM
The level in these last 2 games from Swiatek and Anisimova has been 😮🔥
Ons Jabeur: “players seeing themselves in what I was feeling. I felt I was helping them as well. For me, someone that smiles all the time, to take a decision like that and feel broken and sad was like, Oh wow. We didn't think Ons would feel that way.”
www.thenationalnews.com/sport/tennis...
www.thenationalnews.com/sport/tennis...
'I am not retiring': Ons Jabeur on breathing, healing and returning to tennis | The National
Tunisian star hopes to recapture form that made her a three-time grand slam finalist after two years of health problems left her 'broken and sad' and in need of a break
www.thenationalnews.com
November 5, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Ons Jabeur: “players seeing themselves in what I was feeling. I felt I was helping them as well. For me, someone that smiles all the time, to take a decision like that and feel broken and sad was like, Oh wow. We didn't think Ons would feel that way.”
www.thenationalnews.com/sport/tennis...
www.thenationalnews.com/sport/tennis...
Update to today’s #WTAFinals schedule:
Madison Keys has withdrawn from her match with a viral illness and has been replaced by 2nd alternate Ekaterina Alexandrova, who will play Rybakina.
1st alternate Mirra Andreeva elected not to sign in due to not being fit to play today.
Madison Keys has withdrawn from her match with a viral illness and has been replaced by 2nd alternate Ekaterina Alexandrova, who will play Rybakina.
1st alternate Mirra Andreeva elected not to sign in due to not being fit to play today.
November 5, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Update to today’s #WTAFinals schedule:
Madison Keys has withdrawn from her match with a viral illness and has been replaced by 2nd alternate Ekaterina Alexandrova, who will play Rybakina.
1st alternate Mirra Andreeva elected not to sign in due to not being fit to play today.
Madison Keys has withdrawn from her match with a viral illness and has been replaced by 2nd alternate Ekaterina Alexandrova, who will play Rybakina.
1st alternate Mirra Andreeva elected not to sign in due to not being fit to play today.
Reposted by Reem Abulleil
Auger-Aliassime has a rare quality on Tour:Keeping perspective even in a storm. He proved it in Paris again,& by not firing his long-time coach. “I learned a lot about myself,managing my career, my entourage, & how to really become a master of my career.” tennissweetspot.substack.com/p/auger-alia...
Auger-Aliassime, The One Who Keeps Finding His Way Back
Felix Auger-Aliassime has a rare quality in the tennis world: He can keep perspective even in the eye of a storm. He proved it in Paris again. And by not firing his long-time coach.
tennissweetspot.substack.com
November 4, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Auger-Aliassime has a rare quality on Tour:Keeping perspective even in a storm. He proved it in Paris again,& by not firing his long-time coach. “I learned a lot about myself,managing my career, my entourage, & how to really become a master of my career.” tennissweetspot.substack.com/p/auger-alia...
Ons Jabeur: I was scared & thinking, What if I never find joy on the tennis court ever again? But I don't think that'll be the case. I'm not retiring like most ppl think, I'll be coming back someday. When my mind & body tell me you're ready, I will come back.
www.thenationalnews.com/sport/tennis...
www.thenationalnews.com/sport/tennis...
'I am not retiring': Ons Jabeur on breathing, healing and returning to tennis | The National
Tunisian star hopes to recapture form that made her a three-time grand slam finalist after two years of health problems left her 'sad and broken' and in need of a break
www.thenationalnews.com
November 4, 2025 at 8:25 AM
Ons Jabeur: I was scared & thinking, What if I never find joy on the tennis court ever again? But I don't think that'll be the case. I'm not retiring like most ppl think, I'll be coming back someday. When my mind & body tell me you're ready, I will come back.
www.thenationalnews.com/sport/tennis...
www.thenationalnews.com/sport/tennis...
Amanda Anisimova: It’s really important to let girls and boys know to make the right decisions for yourself and listen to yourself and not try and say yes to everything and feel like you have to do certain things. I think that’s a big killer in certain ways..."
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/n...
From burnout to brilliance: Amanda Anisimova on how honesty sparked her remarkable revival
The American stepped away from the tour in 2023 to address her mental health. This year has been spectacular as she has reached two grand slam finals
www.theguardian.com
November 3, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Amanda Anisimova: It’s really important to let girls and boys know to make the right decisions for yourself and listen to yourself and not try and say yes to everything and feel like you have to do certain things. I think that’s a big killer in certain ways..."
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/n...
Swiatek: I knew he's a super experienced coach & I felt like his knowledge + my experience & the way I play should give us something big. So the 1st part of the season, the expectations were a bit too high. I should have just focused on playing and that's it.
www.thenationalnews.com/sport/tennis...
www.thenationalnews.com/sport/tennis...
Iga Swiatek on WTA Finals challenge, winning Wimbledon, her failed test and striving for perfection | The National
Polish world No 2 has bounced back from tricky start to 2025 and kicked off Riyadh tournament with emphatic win over Madison Keys
www.thenationalnews.com
November 3, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Swiatek: I knew he's a super experienced coach & I felt like his knowledge + my experience & the way I play should give us something big. So the 1st part of the season, the expectations were a bit too high. I should have just focused on playing and that's it.
www.thenationalnews.com/sport/tennis...
www.thenationalnews.com/sport/tennis...
Iga Swiatek: “I just love the feeling of knowing where the ball is going to go and having control on the court.”
Caught up with Swiatek here in Riyadh👇🏼
www.thenationalnews.com/sport/tennis...
Caught up with Swiatek here in Riyadh👇🏼
www.thenationalnews.com/sport/tennis...
Iga Swiatek on WTA Finals challenge, winning Wimbledon, her failed test and striving for perfection | The National
Polish world No 2 has bounced back from tricky start to 2025 and kicked off Riyadh tournament with emphatic win over Madison Keys
www.thenationalnews.com
November 3, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Iga Swiatek: “I just love the feeling of knowing where the ball is going to go and having control on the court.”
Caught up with Swiatek here in Riyadh👇🏼
www.thenationalnews.com/sport/tennis...
Caught up with Swiatek here in Riyadh👇🏼
www.thenationalnews.com/sport/tennis...
Spoke to Mirra Andreeva who said that missing Tokyo was NOT because of visa issues. It was a team decision not to play.
“In the end, it turned out to be a wrong decision. We’re gonna get more experience from this, next time we’re not gonna make that mistake again.”
www.arabnews.com/node/2621201...
“In the end, it turned out to be a wrong decision. We’re gonna get more experience from this, next time we’re not gonna make that mistake again.”
www.arabnews.com/node/2621201...
Sabalenka blasts past Paolini in WTA finals opener in Riyadh
RIYADH: Aryna Sabalenka kicked off her quest for a maiden WTA Finals title by blasting 11 aces on her way to a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Jasmine Paolini in Riyadh on Sunday. The world number one was at he...
www.arabnews.com
November 2, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Spoke to Mirra Andreeva who said that missing Tokyo was NOT because of visa issues. It was a team decision not to play.
“In the end, it turned out to be a wrong decision. We’re gonna get more experience from this, next time we’re not gonna make that mistake again.”
www.arabnews.com/node/2621201...
“In the end, it turned out to be a wrong decision. We’re gonna get more experience from this, next time we’re not gonna make that mistake again.”
www.arabnews.com/node/2621201...