Heather Watson fought off teen Leylah Fernandez to take the Acapulco title 6-4, 6-7(8), 6-1. The Brit let slip five championship points in the second set, but was able to close out her fourth career title in three sets.

“I’m so happy to get my fourth title,” said Watson. “It’s been a few years, so I’m just really, really happy I came through that match.

“It was so up and down,” she …

Rafael Nadal picked up his first title of the new decade sweeping past Taylor Fritz 6-3, 6-2 in a 75-minute Acapulco final Saturday night.

It was Nadal’s third title in the Mexican city where he first won 15 years ago in 2005.

”I couldn’t be happier. I played a great event from the beginning to the end,” Nadal said. “Acapulco was the first big title that I won in my career, …

Aryna Sabalenka won her biggest career title stunning former champion Petra Kvitova 6-3, 6-3 in the Doha Premier 5 final.

“It was a long journey here and I put everything on tennis,” said Sabalenka following the 74-minute win. “I was actually only playing tennis and focusing on tennis and nothing else. And I think I gave everything for tennis. And I just lost my dad in the pre-season and he was …

Novak Djokovic collected his fifth Dubai title Saturday turning away Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 6-4.

Djokovic looked strong in the first but blew a second set break lead before coming back on the Greek.

“I was a break up in the second set. He [broke] right away,” said Djokovic. “I was comfortable from the back of the court playing with him. It seems like he did drop his intensity a little bit from …

Rafael Nadal returned to the Acapulco final for a fourth time after blitzing former Top 5 Grigor Dimitrov 6-3, 6-2 Friday night in Mexico.

The 33-year-old Nadal is 13-1 against the Bulgarian in his career.

“I’m very happy. A great victory against one of the best players in the world and a good friend,” Nadal said. “I think I’ve increased my level during the match, so it’s positive for me.”

Nadal will seek …

Petra Kvitova ended a 4-match losing streak to World No. 1 Ash Barty in fine style Friday in Doha, defeating the Australian 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.

“I pushed myself a lot to go more deeper to the court, not to flying back on the Qatar sign,” Kvitova said. “I tried that she couldn’t have put me away from the baseline that much, so I took time from her and she couldn’t do …

After three easy matches, Novak Djokovic was up against the wall courtesy of Gael Monfils who was in control of the World No. 1 in the Dubai semifinals.

But up a set and leading 6-3 in the second set breaker, Djokovic showed his true champion colors saving three straight match points then cruising in the decider to win his 17th straight match.

“It’s like being on the edge of a cliff,” said …

Rafael Nadal eased into the Acapulco semifinals hammering Soonwoo Kwon 6-2, 6-1 late-night in Mexico.

”The match has been much tougher than what the result said. I think it was a beautiful match to see,” Nadal said. “It was a good match against a tough opponent. I think he’s going to have a very good tennis career.”

The 22-year-old Kwon drops to 0-3 in his short career against Top 20 players.

The 2-time …

Kim Clijsters will continue her comeback to the sport at Indian Wells next month, the tournament has announced.

The former No. 1 returned last week in Dubai, then the 36-year-old will play Monterrey before appearing in Indian Wells where she twice won the title in 2003 and 2005.

Clijsters last played at Indian Wells in 2011 when she retired to Marion Bartoli in the third round.

The tournament also announced that …

Novak Djokovic continued his dominant form in Dubai on Thursday cruising past the dangerous Karen Khachanov 6-2, 6-2 in the quarterfinals.

The Serb stays perfect on the year at 16-0 and this week has lost just 11 games in six sets.

“I don’t know if I’m playing the best tennis of my career, that’s a big statement, but I’m feeling and playing well,” said Djokovic. “I like the conditions, but in windy …

World No. 1 Ash Barty put a stop to Garbine Muguruza in three sets 6-1, 6-7(4), 6-2 to reach the semifinals of Doha.

It was their third straight meeting that went the distance with Barty now holding a 2-1 lead over the Spaniard.

“I felt like I started exceptionally well and I was able to get the ball kind of in my areas a lot more,” said Barty. “Then in the second …

Novak Djokovic run has win streak to 15 after blowing past Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 6-1 to reach the Dubai quarterfinals.

“It was a great performance,” said Djokovic. “I enjoyed the way I played, coming out with the right focus and tactics. Knowing Philipp beat me 12 months ago in Indian Wells, I needed to approach this match very seriously regardless of his ranking. He is one of the most experienced players …

Ons Jabeur continued her excellent 2020 season stunning 2017 champion Karolina Pliskova 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 to reach the Doha quarterfinals.

Jabeur, who stunned Caroline Wozniacki en route to the Australian quarters, scored her biggest career win by ranking over the World No. 3 Czech. The 25-year-old Tunisian will now meet another former Czech Doha winner, Petra Kvitova.

Kvitova also went three sets to deny Jelena Ostapenko 6-2, 5-7, 6-1 in very windy …

Former No. 1 Maria Sharapova has announced her retirement from the sport of tennis. The 32-year-old has been plagued by continued injury issues and poor play.

Writing for Vogue and Vanity Fair, Sharapova made the announcement:

How do you leave behind the only life you’ve ever known? How do you walk away from the courts you’ve trained on since you were a little girl, the game that you love—one which brought …

World No. 1 Ash Barty joins four former champions in a deep field in Doha. The tournament will be without 2014 winner Simona Halep pulled out after her big title in Dubai Saturday.

Without Halep, the tournament still boasts six in the Top 10 and the last four champions: 2019 Elise Mertens, 2018 Petra Kvitova, 2018 Karolina Pliskova, 2017 Carla Suarez Navarro.

Former finalists Jelena Ostapaneko and Garbine Muguruza are also …