Tennis and All That

While watching Serena play at Indian Wells, it struck me that, although she is eligible to enter up to 8 tournaments using her special ranking of number 1, she is nonetheless technically playing at Indian Wells as an unseeded, unranked player despite winning the Australian Open only last year so regaining the number 1 spot, whilst in the very early stages of pregnancy. I was surprised and shocked because having children is a normal occurrence and, I think, should entitle women to come back to their original spot in the world rankings ie Serena should have returned as joint number 1 with Halep. This would also enable her to be seeded in tournaments because seeding is dependent on actual, official world ranking so a special ranking doesn’t give you a seeding. Serena hasn’t even been away from the tour for that long, in the scale of things, and is returning quickly after a complicated childbirth. The current system places maternity in the same category as an injured player, which I t...

I’m watching Indian Wells and enjoying the matches. There are so many amazing matches it’s hard to choose favourites or single any out.   It’s great to see Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka back. I was impressed by the Azarenka/Watson match which was hard fought with both hitting the ball very hard. Azarenka won but went on to lose to the US Open champion Sloane Stevens whose powerful shots and accuracy proved hard to push back against. Serena also had a hard 2nd round match against Bertens who is so fast it’s difficult to get a ball past her but Serena prevailed winning 7-6 7-5. She also beat Diyas, ranked 53 in the world, in the first round with incredible cross-court shots, great returns and improved movement. Serena is looking great. Kvitova had to battle past Putintsteva, ranked 81, in a tough 3 set match. Her powerful shots and great volleys won her the match but maybe tired her out for the next round where she lost to Anisimova but Kvitova has had an incredibly succe...

Today is International Women’s Day. This year, 2018, the theme is #PressforProgress. The emphasis is on gender parity which is taking a long time coming! It’s a global women’s movement stretching across all continents, races, religions, sexual and gender identities, age, economic circumstances, classes and cultures. It’s not until all women are empowered, respected and treated as equals that we can say true parity exists. My #PressforProgress is to bring to light the visibility of women (which includes celebrating women’s achievements) and, in particular, to press for gender parity. It’s time! You can join me in pressing for progress by going to: https://marchingasonefeministblog.blogspot.co.uk/2018/03/international-womens-day-8th-march-2018.html My press for progress in Sport is to see girls/women represented in all sports with an aim for 50/50 parity. However, for this to happen there needs to be more investment in women’s sport. Media coverage of women’s sport must ...