WTA - Budapest

The WTA tour continues in Hungary.

2022 Hungarian Grand Prix, a WTA 250 tournament, on Clay, in Budapest, Hungary, 11-17 July 2022.

Defending champion:

Yulia Putintseva (1) who defeated Anhelina Kalinina 6-4 6-0

The following players withdrew after entering but before the main draw was published:

- Claire Liu replaced by Dalma Galfi

- Marta Kostyuk replaced by Panna Udvardy

- Andrea Petkovic replaced by Kamilla Rakhimova

- Elena Rybakina replaced by lucky loser Laura Pigossi

- Ajla Tomljanovic replaced by Ekaterine Gorgodze

- Wang Xinyu replaced by Wang Xiyu 

- Zheng Qinwen replaced by Ana Bogdan 

Barbora Krejcikova, world number 16, is top seed.

The other 7 seeds are all in the top 72

There are no byes.

Djokovic 7th Wimbledon title

Gentlemen’s singles final day at Wimbledon.

2022 Wimbledon, on Grass, at Wimbledon, London, United Kingdom, 27 June - 10 July 2022.

Defending champion:

Novak Djokovic (1) who defeated Matteo Berrettini (7) 6-7(4) 6-4 6-4 6-3

Gentlemen’s singles final:

Novak Djokovic (1) (Serbia) v Nick Kyrgios (Australia)

Kyrgios won the only two previous contests between the pair. Both were straight sets victories in successive tournaments in March 2017 - 

Acapulco and Indian Wells.

This would be the first final at Grand Slam level for Kyrgios and the 32nd for Djokovic.

Kyrgios broke Djokovic in the fifth game, and that was the only occasion in set one where serve was threatened, until the tenth game where 

the Australian was serving for the set. Taken to deuce, Kyrgios just pulled out his big serve on the next two points and won the set 6-4.

Djokovic broke Kyrgios to love in the fourth game of set two and led 3-1.

Djokovic led 40-15 when attempting to consolidate, but was dragged back to deuce. He held on and extended the lead.

No more break chances until Djokovic served for the set at 5-3 and was down 0-40.

He saved the three break points, and another that arrived.

Ultimately Djokovic held serve and won the set 6-3.

Kyrgios saved two break points before holding in the opening game of set three.

Djokovic and Kyrgios both continued to hold serve without trouble, Djokovic the easier, until the ninth game.

Kyrgios was ahead 40-0, but lost the next five points and was broken.

Djokovic served for the set at 5-4.

Ace 15-0. Kyrgios forehand long 30-0. Djokovic forehand wide 30-15. Kyrgios forehand return winner 30-30. Kyrgios return out and set point.

Another return from Kyrgios was out and the set to Djokovic 6-4.

Neither player was taken to deuce in the fourth set, and a tie break was required.

Djokovic raced to 6-1 and although Kyrgios saved two match points, it was over with the next point.

Novak Djokovic won his seventh Wimbledon and 21st Grand Slam tournament 4-6 6-3 6-4 7-6(3).

Elena Rybakina Wimbledon Champion

Ladies’ singles final day at Wimbledon. 

2022 Wimbledon, on Grass, at Wimbledon, London, United Kingdom, 27 June - 10 July 2022.

2021 champion (not defending): 

Ashleigh Barty (1) who defeated Karolina Pliskova (8) 6-3 6-7(4) 6-3

Ladies’ singles final:

Elena Rybakina (17) (Kazakhstan) v Ons Jabeur (3) (Tunisia)

Head to head Jabeur led 2-1 before the final, including her winning the most recent clash - a semi final in Chicago, October 2021.

Both players were contesting their first Grand Slam final.

Jabeur won the toss and elected to receive.

Rybakina opened with three first serves and 40-0. Jabeur won the next two points, but Rybakina clinched the game with a forehand winner.

Despite a backhand winner and a forehand return winner from Rybakina, serve was held by Jabeur for 1-1.

At 30-30 in game three, Rybakina netted a forehand, and faced break point. When she hit a backhand long, the break had come.

Jabeur led 2-1, then consolidated with a love game. A drop shot backhand winning combo was the highlight.

Rybakina faced a break point in the fifth game following an excellent forehand return from Jabeur. It was saved, as was a second break point.

Eventually Rybakina held for 2-3.

Rybakina served at 3-5 to stay in the set.

An easy forehand netted by Rybakina. 0-15. Double fault and 0-30. Forehand failure by Rybakina and three set points.

Forehand netted by Rybakina and the set was won by Jabeur 6-3.

Serving at 30-30 in the opening game of set two, Jabeur was beaten by a Rybakina forehand winner. Next, a Jabeur error cost her the serve.

Rybakina let a 40-15 lead slip in game two, and had to save a break point. She did with big serving and led 2-0.

Jabeur saved a break point before holding in the third game. She trailed 1-2.

Rybakina again let a 40-15 lead slip, this time in game four. She saved two break points, the first with a forehand winner.

A double fault gave Jabeur another break chance. Also saved.

Serve held 3-1.

Jabeur was broken in the fifth game and Rybakina led 4-1.

Jabeur served at 1-5 to stay in the set.

Backhand error from Jabeur 0-15. Lob from Rybakina forcing error 0-30. Backhand winner from Jabeur 15-30. Return long from Rybakina 30-30. 

A pair of netted returns and Jabeur held for 2-5.

Rybakina served for the set at 5-2.

Forehand winner from Rybakina. Returns wide and long and three set points. An ace iced the set 6-2 for Rybakina and squared the match.

Jabeur faced two break points in the opening game of the decider. One was saved, but Rybakina then hit a forehand winner at the net to break and lead 1-0.

Rybakina consolidated by holding serve, finished with another forehand winner.

Rybakina saved three break points in the sixth game and held for 4-2.

Jabeur’s disappointment was compounded when her serve was broken in the next game.

Rybakina served for the match at 5-2.

Ace for 15-0. Double fault 15-15. Backhand winner from Jabeur 15-30. Two backhands wide from Jabeur and match point.

The match was over when another Jabeur backhand went astray.

Elena Rybakina the 2022 Wimbledon champion with a 3-6 6-2 6-2 victory.

The youngest ladies’ singles champion since Petra Kvitova in 2011, and the first from Kazakhstan.

Djokovic v Kyrgios in Wimbledon final

Semi final day at Wimbledon.

2022 Wimbledon, on Grass, at Wimbledon, London, United Kingdom, 27 June - 10 July 2022.

Defending champion:

Novak Djokovic (1) who defeated Matteo Berrettini (7) 6-7(4) 6-4 6-4 6-3

Semi finals:

Nick Kyrgios (Australia) received a walkover from Rafael Nadal (2) (Spain)

Novak Djokovic (1) (Serbia) v Cameron Norrie (9) (UK)

Djokovic won the only previous meeting between the players - a round robin match at the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin, November 2021.

Norrie would be contesting his first semi final at Grand Slam level, while Djokovic was aiming for a fourth straight Wimbledon final.

Djokovic served first and after some unusual unforced errors, was broken.

Norrie broken back immediately and it was 1-1.

In game five, Djokovic led 30-15, but lost the next three points and dropped serve.

Norrie consolidated for 4-2.

Djokovic fell further into trouble when he dropped serve in the seventh game, leaving Norrie to serve for the set.

The set was done 6-2 for Norrie, with Djokovic having dished up some of the worst tennis seen from him at Wimbledon in years.

Norrie saved a break point in the fourth game of set two. 2-2.

He saved another two in the sixth game. 3-3.

Norrie faced two more break points in the eighth game and this time he failed to save the first one. Djokovic ahead 5-3.

Djokovic served out the set 6-3.

Norrie saved two break points in the opening game of set three, but Djokovic broke with the third to lead 1-0.

Djokovic broke again in the fifth game and the lead was 4-1.

The top seed served out the set 6-2.

Djokovic broke Norrie in the opening game of set four.

Serving at 1–3, Norrie saved four break points before holding serve.

No more break points faced and Novak Djokovic served out the match 2-6 6-3 6-2 6-4 to reach the final.

Final will be between:

Novak Djokovic (1) (Serbia) v Nick Kyrgios (Australia)

Rybakina d Halep in Wimbledon semi

Semi final day at Wimbledon. 

2022 Wimbledon, on Grass, at Wimbledon, London, United Kingdom, 27 June - 10 July 2022.

2021 champion (not defending): 

Ashleigh Barty (1) who defeated Karolina Pliskova (8) 6-3 6-7(4) 6-3

Second semi final:

Elena Rybakina (17) (Kazakhstan) v Simona Halep (16) (Romania)

Halep had won the past two of the three previous meetings between the pair, the most recent a three setter in the third round of last year’s US Open.

This would be the first semi final for Rybakina at Grand Slam level.

For Halep, it would be her ninth semi at a major, and second at Wimbledon. In 2019, she proceeded to win the title here.

Rybakina served first and opened with a love game.

Halep double faulted at deuce and on break point Rybakina hit a forehand as good as a winner. 2-0 Rybakina.

Halep saved a break point in game four before registering her first game on the board.

Halep saved two break points in the sixth game, while Rybakina continued to hold serve without difficulty.

Serving at 2-5 to stay in the set, Halep led 30-0, but lost three straight points through unforced errors and a double fault.

The break point was saved and serve held.

Rybakina served for the set at 5-3. 

15-0 after her first ace. 30-0 after a forehand winner. 40-0 after a second ace and three set points arrived.

A Halep backhand winner saved one, and a Rybakina error made it 40-30. 

A wayward Hallep forehand finished the set 6-3 for Rybakina.

In the opening game of set two, Halep saw two game points disappear before being broken with the second break point given Rybakina.

Rybakina consolidated for 2-0.

Halep in the third game, for the first time in the match, didn’t face a break point.

She then broke back to love in the fourth game, four unforced errors from Rybakina.

Halep failed to capitalise, dropping serve in the next game after leading 30-15. 

Rybakina put her foot down, surrendering just a single point during a brilliant service game. 4-2.

Halep replied with a love game to keep her in touch.

Despite a couple of Halep forehand winners off second serves, it was the big first serves that helped Rybakina hold for 5-3.

Serving to stay in the match, Halep led 40-15, but deuce came after she netted a forehand and double faulted.

Match point after Halep’s forehand landed wide.

A Rybakina backhand return winner ended the match.

Elena Rybakina won the semi final 6-3 6-3, and reached the Wimbledon final.

Final will be between:

Elena Rybakina (17) (Kazakhstan) v Ons Jabeur (3) (Tunisia)

Ons Jabeur into Wimbledon final

Semi final day at Wimbledon. 

2022 Wimbledon, on Grass, at Wimbledon, London, United Kingdom, 27 June - 10 July 2022.

2021 champion (not defending): 

Ashleigh Barty (1) who defeated Karolina Pliskova (8) 6-3 6-7(4) 6-3

First semi final:

Ons Jabeur (3) (Tunisia) v Tatjana Maria (Germany)

The players first met in the second round of qualifying for the 2014 US Open, where Jabeur won in three sets.

Maria won the next contest in Linz, October 2017, while Jabeur defeated Maria in the Beijing final, October 2018.

The Wimbledon semi final would be the fourth battle between the pair, and the first semi final at Grand Slam level for both.

Maria served first and saved two break points before holding.

Not so fortunate in game three of the opening set, where Jabeur converted the second of two break chances to lead 2-1.

The third seed broke again in the seventh, and next game served out the set 6-2.

Serving at 1-1 and 15-15 in set two, Maria was beaten by a winning drop shot then double faulted to give Jabeur two break points.

Both were saved, one with a forehand volley winner. Maria held serve and led 2-1.

A forehand return winner from Maria, and some loose shots from Jabeur gave Maria a break opportunity in game four which was taken.

The break was consolidated and the lead extended to 4-1.

Serving at 2-5 to stay in the set, Jabeur let slip a 30-0 advantage with a double fault, forehand error, and a Maria drop shot winner in between.

The set point was saved, and after three deuces, serve held.

Maria served for the set at 5-3. Three Jabeur errors brought up three set points. A Jabeur backhand failure on the second ended the set.

Maria tied things at 2-6 6-3.

In game two of the decider, Jabeur hit a forehand winner to convert break point and take a 2-0 lead.

At 0-3 and 30-30, Maria was beaten by a Jabeur backhand pass, and faced another break point. It was saved.

Two game points came and went, before a second break point arrived. Maria mishit an overhead and Jabeur led 4-0.

5-0 came quickly. Jabeur had won 12 of 14 points on serve for the set so far.

Serving to stay in the match, Maria surrendered just one point in putting something on the scoreboard.

Jabeur served for the match at 5-1.

A volley winner and two Maria errors produced three match points.

One was saved when Jabeur missed with a forehand.

The match was over next point when Maria netted a return.

Ons Jabeur won the match 6-2 3-6 6-1 and booked herself a place in the Wimbledon final.

Wimbledon - Gentlemen’s Singles 1/4 finals (2)

Quarter final day (2) at Wimbledon.

Semi finals set.

2022 Wimbledon, on Grass, at Wimbledon, London, United Kingdom, 27 June - 10 July 2022.

Defending champion:

Novak Djokovic (1) who defeated Matteo Berrettini (7) 6-7(4) 6-4 6-4 6-3

Quarter final results:

Nick Kyrgios defeated Cristian Garin 6-4 6-3 7-6(5)

Rafael Nadal (2) defeated Taylor Fritz (11) 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 7-6(10-4)

Semi final match ups:

Novak Djokovic (1) v Cameron Norrie (9)

Nick Kyrgios v Rafael Nadal (2)