Player Reactions & Interviews
Step inside the world of WTA player reactions and interviews, where emotions, insights, and unfiltered moments tell the stories behind the matches.
Here you’ll find players speaking openly about their performances, rivalries, comebacks, and goals throughout the season — from tense Grand Slam press conferences to candid reflections at smaller tournaments.
Whether it’s a fiery post-match reaction, a thoughtful analysis of a hard-fought win, or a glimpse into life beyond the court, this hub brings together the voices that define women’s tennis today.
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Simona Halep Slips Out the Side Door — No Tour, No Tears, Just a Clean Break
Simona Halep didn’t wait for a farewell wave or a sunset ceremony. She simply drifted off court in Cluj-Napoca at the Transylvania Open nine months ago and, somewhere between a throbbing knee and a 6–1 first set lost to Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti, realised she’d reached the end. No drama, no dossier. Another 6–1 in the…
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Dementieva and Kafelnikov on Vukov-Gate, Serve Speeds, Being an Alternate, and the WTA Finals Final : “Elena Rybakina Was Brilliant”
Russian tennis has rarely lacked for character, and few embody that better than Elena Dementieva and Yevgeny Kafelnikov — two champions who defined their eras with contrasting flair. Their insights are revealing — always filtered through a distinctly Russian lens. As Svetlana Kuznetsova remarked earlier this week, from their perspective Moscow-born Rybakina remains a Russian…
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Rybakina’s Riyadh Triumph Turns Political — Kuznetsova Applauds, Shriver Condemns as WTA Rift Deepens
Elena Rybakina should have been basking in glory. A 6-3, 7-6(0) masterclass over world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka delivered her the WTA Finals crown — the biggest title of her career outside Wimbledon. But instead of a victory lap, the 26-year-old found herself at the centre of another storm. Her refusal to stand beside WTA…
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Drunk, Seemingly Polish Fan Derails Swiatek — Season Ends on a Sour Note
It was meant to be a straightforward night for Iga Swiatek — one set up, one foot in the semifinals, and total control. Instead, a “drunk fan,” shouting apparently in Polish between serves, managed to throw the world No. 2 off her rhythm — and out of the WTA Finals. The man, apparently intending to…
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Don’t Toss the Toss: Unshaken Rybakina Serves Through Fatigue Into WTA Finals Semis
There’s a certain inevitability to an Elena Rybakina victory when the serve starts clicking — a quiet storm that no opponent seems able to read, let alone withstand. On Wednesday afternoon in Riyadh, it was Ekaterina Alexandrova who felt the full weight of that precision, as Rybakina eased into the WTA Finals semifinals with a…
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“Not just breathe, eat, and do the same thing every day”: Why Ons Jabeur Had to Step Away
Ons Jabeur didn’t walk away from tennis because she stopped loving it — she did it because that love started to hurt. Speaking in Riyadh this week, the Tunisian star opened up about her decision to take an indefinite break after Wimbledon 2024, describing a painful emotional shift that even she hadn’t seen coming. “The…
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Sabalenka’s Emotional Fire Burns Bright — but How Hot Is Too Hot?
Aryna Sabalenka once again delivered a reminder in Riyadh that her tennis is powered as much by heart as by muscle. Her 6–4, 2–6, 6–3 win over Jessica Pegula was not just a test of execution but of emotion — the kind of volatile performance that lays bare both her greatest weapon and her biggest…
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Calm, Composed, and Coming Back: Anisimova’s Words Reflect Her Rise
Amanda Anisimova’s words after her first victory at the WTA Finals captured the mood perfectly — determined, honest, and quietly confident. “It’s pretty difficult to adjust, especially when you lose the first match,” she admitted, summing up the mental grind that defines the round-robin format.“It’s a new experience for me. It’s not easy, but I’m…
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Mirra Andreeva Reveals the Real Reason Behind Her Tokyo Withdrawal
Mirra Andreeva has set the record straight about her withdrawal from the Tokyo Open — a decision that ultimately cost her a place at the 2025 WTA Finals. The 18-year-old Russian clarified that her absence had nothing to do with visa issues, contrary to speculation that spread on social media following a comment from Australian…
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Iga Swiatek Rocks the Boat in Riyadh — Still the One to Beat at the WTA Finals?
Riyadh — If there was any doubt about Iga Świątek’s intent at the WTA Finals, she dispelled it within an hour. The world No. 2 delivered a clinical 6-1, 6-2 dismantling of Madison Keys (match stats here) to open her campaign, playing with the focus and precision that have become her trademark. From the first…
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Madison Keys: “Enjoying the Climb” After Her Breakthrough Grand Slam Season
As Madison Keys prepares for the WTA Finals, she reflects on her transformative 2025 season — a year that brought her first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open and a renewed appreciation for the journey. The 30-year-old, who last played the season finale in 2016, has evolved personally and professionally since her early 20s.…
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Elena Rybakina Enters WTA Finals With Quiet Determination
As Elena Rybakina prepares for the start of the WTA Finals on November 1, she arrives in Riyadh with quiet confidence and a renewed sense of purpose after a strong finish to her 2025 season. The Kazakh player, who claimed her first title in over a year before adding another in Ningbo, believes her return…
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Wozniacki Fires Back: “Peter, You’re a Clown” — Clash with Danish Commentator Escalates
Former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki has hit back sharply at Danish commentator Peter Bastiansen after he criticized her for not making a clear decision about her tennis future. Wozniacki, who gave birth to her third child, Max, in July 2025, is currently on another break from competition. She had returned to the tour in…
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Iga Swiatek’s coach Fissette: “The Ability to Switch Off Is a Superpower”
Few coaches in modern tennis can boast a résumé like Wim Fissette. The Belgian tactician has guided a remarkable list of world number ones and Grand Slam champions — from Victoria Azarenka and Simona Halep to Naomi Osaka and now Iga Świątek.In a candid discussion on The Inside-In Podcast, Fissette reflected on his journey, his…
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Katie Boulter reflects on strong start at Japan Open 2025
Britain’s Katie Boulter has shared her feelings after an impressive first-round win at the Japan Open. The 29-year-old defeated the tournament’s No. 2 seed Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic 7-6, 6-3 to reach the round of 16. It was Boulter’s 18th win in 36 matches this season. Speaking to Sky Sports, she said she…
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Magdalena Frech Speaks Out: “We’re Treated Like Machines”
After her exit at the Wuhan Open and the wave of online abuse that followed, Magdalena Frech spoke out against the harsh playing conditions that have become a major talking point on the WTA Tour. She’s the latest to raise concerns after several players collapsed or withdrew due to extreme heat and humidity. Fell to…
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“I Suffered a Heat Stroke”: Jelena Ostapenko Opens Up After Wuhan Open Retirement Amid Tough Season
Jelena Ostapenko has revealed that a severe heat stroke forced her to retire from her first-round match at the Wuhan Open. The Latvian star, trailing 0–6, 1–2 against Romania’s Sorana Cirstea, was visibly struggling before calling it quits. In an Instagram post, the 28-year-old thanked fans for their support and promised to “be back stronger…
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Siegemund stuns Andreeva – “I knew I’d get my chance if I stayed patient”
For Laura Siegemund, day two of the Wuhan Open turned into a memorable triumph. The German veteran battled past world No. 5 Mirra Andreeva in a gripping three-set contest, winning 6–7(4), 6–3, 6–3 to reach the second round in style. Laura Siegemund Keeps Surprising “I knew I’d get my chance if I stayed calm and…