From top tennis tournaments to female stars like Serena Williams and Angelique Kerber, here’s our beginner’s guide to tennis
Know who the King of Clay is? Or the Swiss Maestro? Or The Magician? (Rafa Nadal, Roger Federer, and Agnieszka Radwanska , in case you wondered…) If these nicknames mean nothing to you, we reckon it’s high time you up your tennis game. And with the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global rocking up the Red Dot in October, you’ve only got a few months to swat up on all things tennis. Think tennis ain’t your cup o’tea? We reckon you’ll think again once you’ve witnessed balls flying through the air at over 200kmh during these epic gladiatorial battles. Rackets at the ready; here’s a quick round-up of all the tennis tournaments you need to follow year-round. Catch this lot, and you’ll be a tennis buff in no time!
The biggies
The must-watch tournaments on the tennis calendar are undoubtedly the four Grand Slams. Taking place annually, these tournaments offer the most ranking points, the biggest prize funds, and draw the largest crowds. Intrigued? Check out our list of sports bars in Singapore where you can catch all of the live action.
1. Australian Open: The tennis season kicks off in January with the first of the biggies: the Australian Open. Novak Djokovic is the reigning Men’s Singles champ, while Angelique Kerber holds the women’s title.
2. French Open: In late May, the tennis circus rolls into the Stade Roland Garros in Paris. Played on clay courts, the French Open is famed for long rallies and epic battles. Garbiñe Muguruza stormed to victory in the recent women’s final, while Novak Djokovic continued his winning streak with a triumph here too.
3. The Championships, Wimbledon: Strawberries and cream at the ready! Played on the green grass courts of the All England Club, Wimbledon (and it’s quintessentially British fruity snack) is a highlight of the tennis year. The almighty Serena Williams was the female victor in 2015, while Novak Djokovic (yes, again!) beat Roger Federer to scoop the men’s title.
4. US Open: The last major in the calendar season, the US Open is the last chance for the pros to stake a claim on one of the biggest titles in tennis. No points for guessing who currently holds the men’s title, while Flavia Pennetta is the reigning women’s champ.
More top action
For the rest of the season, the top pro women compete in the WTA Tour, and men in the ATP World Tour. Comprising a series of tournaments and competitions, players compete to bag points in a bid to finish top of the world rankings. And this year, the WTA Finals take place right here in Singapore!
Be sure to snap your tix up to watch the greatest eight singles players and doubles teams, think Serena Williams, Angelique Kerber, and Agnieszka Radwanska, battle it out in the crown jewel event of the WTA. Keep tabs on the Road to Singapore leaderboard to find out first which pros will be gracing the courts come October.
Tickets are on sale here.
This article is sponsored by BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global