As 2021 comes to an end, it’s time to look forward to the year ahead in sports.
With the Winter Olympics in February, March Madness on the calendar and a landmark NWSL season to come, women’s sports fans are in store for an exciting year.
Here are the 20 athletes to know or get reacquainted with in 2022:
[Read more…] about CATARINA MACARIO, CHLOE KIM AND MORE: 20 FEMALE ATHLETES TO KNOW IN 2022by: CLARE BRENNAN | Just Women’s Sports
Former world No. 1 tennis player Amélie Mauresmo was appointed as Roland Garros’ tournament director on Thursday.
Mauresmo is the first woman to serve as the French Open’s director, replacing Guy Forget, who held the role since 2016.
“I have accepted the position of Tournament Director with clear ambitions,” Mauresmo said in a statement from Roland Garros. “I will carry them out with the same high standards, freedom and passion that have always driven me.”
The 42-year-old’s career highlights include a 2006 Australian Open title and Wimbledon championship before retiring in 2009. The French star followed up her playing career with a high-profile coaching job for British tennis icon Andy Murray.
Mauresmo was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2016.
BY: EMMA HRUBY | just women’s sports
Emma Raducanu has been named the BBC Sports Personality of the Year for 2021 after a breakout year that saw her win the US Open.
At just 18 years old, Raducanu ended Britain’s 44-year title drought in women’s Grand Slam singles, while also becoming the first qualifier to win at the US Open. The youngest British player to win a Grand Slam, she also was the youngest women’s Grand Slam champion since Maria Sharapova won Wimbledon in 2004.
Raducanu accepted the award from the BBC over video after testing positive for COVID-19 ahead of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship exhibition event. She’s set to compete in the Australian Open next month.
“It’s such an honour just to be among these nominees. Congrats to you and all your achievements,” Raducanu said in her awards speech. “I’m really happy with this, I’ve watched Sports Personality of the Year growing up and it’s an honour to be among those past winners. I’m happy for British tennis as well, and that we’ve managed to get this award… again!
“Thanks to all the fans and voters, this year has been insane. The energy this year playing at Wimbledon in front of my home crowd, that was something I’ve never felt before.”
In addition to her US Open win, Raducanu made a run to the fourth round at Wimbledon in July in what was her Grand Slam main draw debut.
Last week, three-time winner of the award Andy Murray said that Raducanu deserved to win the award, adding that he didn’t think “anyone would be too surprised if that is the outcome.”
Murray was the last tennis player to win the award in 2016.
Raducanu is the first female to win BBC Sports Personality of the Year since Zara Phillips (now Tindall) won it in 2006.
By TYLER ELLYSON
UNK Communications
KEARNEY – Claire Neil talks the talk and walks the walk – “although she doesn’t talk a lot.”
That’s how University of Nebraska at Kearney head women’s tennis coach Scott Shafer describes the lone senior on this year’s roster.
[Read more…] about Walking the Walk: Senior tennis player Claire Neil leads by exampleBy: MIAA Communications
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The league office announced today the 2020-21 MIAA Women’s Tennis Postseason Awards and All-MIAA Teams. Coach of the Year honors went to Central Oklahoma’s Jaron Maestas, Player of the Year accolades went to Central Oklahoma’s Adel-Byanu Abidullina and Freshman of the Year was awarded to Central Oklahoma’s Mae Canete. The Sportsmanship Award went to Nebraska Kearney’s Claire Neil.
The awards were nominated and voted on by all nine league head coaches sponsoring women’s tennis.
[Read more…] about 2021 All-MIAA Women’s Tennis Teams, Postseason Awards Announced
