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19 March 2024

One step closer: Serena Williams leads charge

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Serena Williams of the US reaches for a return against Ana Ivanovic of Serbia during the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) championships in Singapore. (AFP)

Pic: AFP

Serena Williams of the U.S. is congratulated by Ana Ivanovic of Serbia during their WTA Finals singles tennis match in Singapore. (REUTERS)

Love All: Sharapova, Serena, Caroline, Ivanovic turn it on

(L-R) Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark, Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland, Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic, Serena Williams of USA, Maria Sharapova of Russia, Ana Ivanovic of Serbia, Eugenie Bouchard of Canada and Simona Halep of Romania pose for a photo at the Gardens by the Bay during previews for the WTA Finals at Singapore Sports Hub on October 18, 2014 in Singapore. (Getty Images)




L-R Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark, Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland, Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic, Serena Williams of the USA, Maria Sharapova of Russia, Ana Ivanovic of Serbia, Eugenie Bouchard of Canada and Simona Halep of Romania pose for a group photograph at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel before the draw ceremony prior to the start of the BNP Paribas WTA Finals at Singapore Sports Hub on October 18, 2014 in Singapore. (Getty Images)

 

Serena was placed in the red group along with Simona Halep, Eugenie Bouchard and Ana Ivanovic as fans flocked to see women's tennis current top stars. (Twitter)



French Open champion Maria Sharapova, Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova, Agnieszka Radwanska and Caroline Wozniacki make up the white group.
(Twitter)

 

Serena Williams leads glamorous field ahead of WTA Finals as stars prepare ahead of Singapore event. Also seen in this picture is Caroline Wozniacki. Pic credit: Instagram

Serena Williams says comments by the head of the Russian Tennis Federation referring to her and older sister Venus as "brothers" were bullying, sexist and racist. Shamil Tarpischev was fined $25,000 and suspended from tour involvement for a year for making the comments on Russian television. He also said the sisters were "scary" to look at.
Speaking Sunday ahead of her WTA Finals defense in Singapore, Williams said Tarpischev's comments were "very insensitive, sexist and racist and in a way bullying." She praised the WTA's response to the remarks.
Tarpischev said Saturday he was unrepentant and that the comments were only meant as a joke.

 And then, those still battling ...

Doubles final winners Switzerland's Martina Hingis (R) and Italy's Flavia Pennetta lough during the award ceremony at the Kremlin Cup tennis tournament in Moscow, October 18, 2014.  (REUTERS)





Czech Republic's Katerina Siniakova hits a return against Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova during their Kremlin Cup semi-finals tennis match in Moscow October 18, 2014.  (REUTERS)




Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova hits a return against Czech Republic's Katerina Siniakova during their Kremlin Cup semi-finals tennis match in Moscow October 18, 2014. (REUTERS)




Romania's Irina-Camelia Begu celebrates her victory over Czech Republic's Lucie Safarova in their Kremlin Cup semifinal tennis match in Moscow October 18, 2014. (REUTERS)




Czech Republic's Lucie Safarova hits a return against Romania's Irina-Camelia Begu during their Kremlin Cup semi-finals tennis match in Moscow October 18, 2014. (REUTERS)