
Before the Sunshine Double kicks off in the United States, some stars of the WTA will visit the city of Merida, Mexico for the 2025 Merida Open Akron tournament, which is scheduled to run from February 26-March 2, 2025.
A WTA 500 event, the Merida Open is a fast-paced hard court tournament that will see 32 singles players and 16 doubles teams compete for their respective titles. Conceived in 2023, the previous two champions are retired Italian Camila Giorgi who won the inaugural edition, and Turkey's Zeynep Sönmez, who stunned the field to lift the biggest title of her career.
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Badosa hoping to continue hot streak in Merida
Former World No.2 Paula Badosa fell just one match shy of reaching her maiden Grand Slam final at the 2025 Australian Open, losing to good friend Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals. The Spaniard has been announced for the Merida Open, where she looks to continue her good form.
American Emma Navarro is the top seed at the event, and the 23-year old will be looking to win her first title since her victory at the Hobart International last year. Navarro will be joined by former US Open champion Bianca Andreescu, who has been battling with injuries and lack of form over the past two seasons.
Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia is also scheduled to compete at the Merida Open, alongside former top 10 star Maria Sakkari and Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk. Below is the list of entrants.
- Emma Navarro USA
- Paula Badosa ESP
- Beatriz Haddad Maia BRA
- Donna Vekic CRO
- Marta Kostyuk UKR
- Magdalena Frech POL
- Maria Sakkari GRE
- Magda Linette POL
- Marie Bouzkova CZE
- Rebecca Sramkova SVK
- Lulu Sun NZL
- Anhelina Kalinina UKR
- Elina Avanesyan ARM
- Veronika Kudermetova
- Camila Osorio COL
- Jessica Bouzas Maneiro ESP
- Polina Kudermetova
- Bianca Andreescu CAN
Growing up in a household where soccer was king, my earliest memories are filled with chants from packed stadiums and the rhythm of a ball being passed across neighborhood streets. But somewhere along the way, the quiet elegance and raw emotion of tennis pulled me in. What began as a curiosity became a lifelong passion; not just for the sport itself, but for the stories it tells: of grit, of heartbreak, of improbable comebacks and human resilience.
As a tennis writer, I bring the observational lens of someone who didn’t grow up in the sport, but fell in love with it as an outsider; a perspective that lets me see both its technical beauty and its emotional depth. Over the years working with TennisUpToDate, I’ve had the privilege of reaching more than 3.5 million readers worldwide, with one of my features ranking among the site’s top three articles.
With a background in storytelling and a creative mind always searching for meaning beyond the scoreboard, I aim to craft narratives that go deeper than results and rankings. Whether it’s a rising star breaking through or a veteran fighting off Father Time, I try to capture the heartbeat behind the headlines.
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- One step by another step -- WTA continues to 'lose the plot'. Too many hi-tech microphones being installed at most venues!!! Remove them (especially those along the hallways, sidewalks, and pathways throughout the venues. Not to mention (most of all) remove the mic's from the Players/Coaches Box.
mandoist06-11-2026 - Enough of her bullshit. Go marry someone.
mandoist06-11-2026 - Don't you just love this young lady!? We fans often expect athletes to be supermen and superwomen, often forgetting that they WILL GET TIRED! I love Alex's perspective. Tiredness for an athlete should never be viewed as a negative, especially if you are healthy, taking care of your body and mental health and putting in the work. What a mature perspective. Good for you, Alex!Rapunzel05-11-2026
- Jess is absolutely correct! But the disrespect is a trait I have noticed in most of the Russian players. Mirra is good but very immature and lacks humility. Conceivable needs to get a handle on that!Rapunzel05-11-2026
- Having spent weeks and weeks through the years on tour, I can say with confidence that Conchita was (is) one of the very few who realize the surprising level of maturity (and sometimes lack of) which Mirra seems to have developed in such a demanding adult world of Pro-Tennis. While at the same time reminding herself (Conchita, that is) that Mirra is still young and developing mentally and physically. The general public may forget at times, or not at all realize, these modern era young athletes do not have a 'normal' Youth. It's a major sacrifice, among countless sacrifices, these athletes must make. People who blow-off that fact are ignorant and unfair when they blurt out, "They choose fame so they have to put up with the intrusions on their lives". No, they do not.
mandoist05-11-2026 - Okay... someone with a camera was EAVESDROPPING on a private conversation. Shouldn't that be the point of discussion here? Regardless of the sensationalist crap by media, Pegula (and anyone) has a right to an opinion. There used to be an expectation that private conversations were respected, regardless of 'stardom' and whatever other defensive excuses media tries to shove in our faces. Boo-hoo if feelings are hurt. BTW: Having been employed at various tourney venues, etc., I can't tell you how nasty and offensive players can be when discussing their opponents and colleagues... in "private". Well, I could, but won't. I also challenge anyone to deny what Jessica said is false.
mandoist05-11-2026 - Vacherot is Mongasque, rather than Swiss. The tournament was Swiss :DTrwd7702-11-2026
- After a couple decades traveling to IIHF tourneys overseas... our family is done with it... and I will not be the only one!! Bad enough the NHL allows Ovachenko (a Putin Supporter and Campaigner) to live and play in the USA. Let's not forget the STATE SPONSORED RUSSIAN DOPING PROGRAMS still in effect today.
mandoist31-10-2026 - Osaka's mental state apparently does not allow her to reach any more Quarter Finals? I mean, she doesn't really have the time for tennis with all the pre-planning that must go into her 12 year-old "fashion" goals.
mandoist29-10-2026 - With her money one would think she could afford a better team of Psychiatrists?
mandoist29-10-2026








