As Serena Williams prepares for the Cincinnati Masters this weekend, the 23-time Grand Slam champion met the media today via video and talked a lot of the coronavirus and returning to New York.

In 2011, Serena suffered a pulmonary embolism which put her in the hospital. She knows to be careful and she chose staying in a house over the player hotel.

“I think for me I have been really just …

After five long months, men’s tennis finally returns this weekend for the re-located Cincinnati event. The tournament, which will be held in New York, marks the first ATP stop since March when the coronavirus abruptly shut the tour down on March 8 at Indian Wells.

FIVE MONTHS!

There were many times when it didn’t look like any tennis would or even could happen. With the virus relentlessly circulating through all corners …

The US Open women’s field took another hit today as Simona Halep confirmed she will not be heading to New York due to COVID-19 concerns.

After weighing up all the factors involved and with the exceptional circumstances in which we are living, I have decided that I will not travel to New York to play the @usopen,” she posted on twitter.

“I always said I would put my health at the heart …

Jennifer Brady collected her first career WTA title blasting past Jil Teichmann 6-3, 6-4 in the Lexington final Sunday.

The 25-year-old Brady never dropped a set nor surrender more than four games in a set.

“It feels great to win my first title,” Brady said. “There’s only one winner each week, so walking away with the trophy for the first time, at home in America, I’m really happy.

“I’ve always wanted to win …

Simona Halep made a successful return to tennis capturing her 21st career WTA title Sunday beating Elise Mertens 6-2, 7-5 in the Prague final.

After consecutive three set wins in the two opening rounds, the top seed didn’t drop a set in her last three matches en route to her second title of 2020.

“I’m very pleased about the way I was adjusting my game to her game,” said Halep. “At the …

Kei Nishikori will not play the Cincinnati Masters after the former Top 5 announced today that he has tested positive for COVID-19.

“I have some unfortunate news,” the 30-year-old Nishikori said in a statement. “This morning while still in Florida, I got tested for Covid19 and tested positive. I will have to pull out of the Cincinnati tournament at this time.

“Me and my team will get tested again on Friday at …

Coco Gauff’s Lexington run ended today in the semifinals at the hand of a red-hot Jen Brady who blasted past the teen 6-2, 6-4 to reach her first career WTA title match.

“I’ve been working really hard since the beginning of the year. I’ve been putting in a lot of hours on the practice courts and in the gym, and hopefully, everything just falls into place,” Brady stated.

“Reaching a final at …

Tournament favorites Simona Halep and Elise Mertens will meet Sunday in the WTA clay final in Prague. Both advanced with straight set wins in their semifinals.

Mertens hung on to deny a pesky Kristyna Pliskova 7-5, 7-6(4). Pliskova led 3-0 in the second set breaker before Mertens took seven of the next eight points for the match.

“It was a really close match, just a couple of points of difference,” said Mertens. …

Top seed Simona Halep rolled into the semifinals of the clay stop in Prague blasting past Magdalena Frech 6-2, 6-0.

The Romanian took the last five games in her best match of the week which saw two tight three set wins en route.

“The whole game… was better today,” said Halep.

“I’m happy that I can play better and better day by day. It was a good one and I’ll take it.”

The …

After consecutive three set escapes, Serena Williams’ couldn’t get lucky a third time today in Lexington. The former No. 1 was closed out in thriller by Shelby Rogers 1-6, 6-4, 7-6(5) in the quarterfinals.

The 38-year-old Serena led 3-1 in the final set breaker but Rogers benefited from a double fault and won six of the last eight points to collect her biggest win in years, and her third career Top …

In their 31st meeting, it was Serena Williams getting the better of elder sister Venus in a second round showdown in Lexington Thursday afternoon.

Serena overcame a 4-2 third set deficit winning the last four games to prevail 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in two hours, 19 minutes.

“I turned it up on the last two games,” Serena said. “It was a very high quality match.

“I’ve lost a few tight sets lately, so I …

Bianca Andreescu will not defend her US Open title. The oft-injured Canada confirmed her withdrawal today on social media.

She wrote: “‪After many discussions with those closest to me, I have made the difficult decision not to return to New York this year. I have taken this step in order to focus on my match fitness and ensure that I return ready to play at my highest level. The US Open …

Novak Djokovic officially confirmed that he’ll be travelling to the U.S. to play Cincinnati and then the US Open, the Serb announced on social media earlier today.

“I’m happy to confirm that I‘ll participate at #CincyTennis and #USOpen this year. It was not an easy decision to make with all the obstacles and challenges on many sides, but the prospect of competing again makes me really excited Smiling face with open …

The eyes of the tennis world will be focused on Lexington, Kentucky, Thursday when the Williams sisters, Serena and Venus, collide for a 31st time.

Both won their openers on Tuesday with Serena coming from a set and 4-all, 0-40 down to deny Bernarda Pera. The 40-year-old Venus overwhelmed fellow former No. 1 Victoria Azarenka 6-3, 6-2.

In this second round duel, Serena leads 18-12 taking their most recent meeting dropping just …

After dealing with anxiety about playing Palermo, Simona Halep is in town for the WTA clay event in Prague this week.

Though entered, Halep has yet to commit to playing the US Open in three weeks or Cincinnati. But the fact she’s in Prague signals her interest in playing, and increases the chances of a stateside visit.

The Romanian heads a decent field which includes the No. 2 seed Petra Martic, …