Ross McLean

Senior Communications Coordinator and Journalist at International Tennis Federation

Journo & Comms. International Tennis Federation. Northerner in exile. Former Deputy Sport Editor at City A.M. and Office Manager for John Grogan MP.

Featured in: Favicon

wiley.com

mdpi.com

cityam.com Favicon

paralympic.org Favicon

businesslive.co.za Favicon

thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk Favicon

mrweb.com

ejso.com

itftennis.com Favicon

fullview.co.za + 2 more

Articles

Five things to watch at BJK Cup: 18 nations chasing a spot in Shenzhen

2 weeks ago | wtatennis.com | Ross McLean

The road to the 2025 Billie Jean King Cup Finals begins this week, as 18 nations compete in six round-robin groups across the globe. With only six spots available in Shenzhen, and former champions and first-timers in the mix, the stakes are already high. Here are five storylines to follow:At the top end of Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge -- the women’s World Cup of Tennis -- this week, 18 nations are competing in the Qualifiers with the aim of reaching the 2025 Finals in Shenzhen, China.
Santamarta Roig becomes first Spaniard to win multiple J500 titles | ITF

1 month ago | itftennis.com | Ross McLean

Article 03 Mar 2025 Andres Santamarta Roig is the first Spanish player – boy or girl – to win multiple J500 singles titles after lifting silverware at J500 Gaspar in Brazil on Sunday. Aside from Santamarta Roig, who defeated home favourite Joao Pedro Didoni Bonini 6-4 6-0 in the boys’ singles final, the only other Spanish boy to have won a J500 is Albert Ramos-Vinolas in March 2006.
Slovakia crush British hopes with doubles win

Nov 19, 2024 | billiejeankingcup.com | Ross McLean

Dominant showing from Hruncakova and Mihalikova books ticket to final and match-up with ItalyBy Ross McLeanSlovakia will contest their first Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge final in more than 20 years after defeating Great Britain in a gripping semi-final showdown in Malaga. Dynamic duo Viktoria Hruncakova and Tereza Mihalikova were the Slovakian heroines as they joined forces in a deciding doubles to dispatch Heather Watson and Olivia Nicholls 6-2 6-2.
Great Britain and Slovakia tie on a knife-edge

Nov 19, 2024 | billiejeankingcup.com | Ross McLean

The drama hots up as Rebecca Sramkova steadies the Slovakian ship with both teams eyeing a place in Wednesday’s final against ItalyBy Ross McLeanThe Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge semi-final between Great Britain and Slovakia will be decided by doubles after Rebecca Sramkova defeated Katie Boulter to level a compelling showdown in Malaga.
Semi-final Preview: Great Britain v Slovakia

Nov 18, 2024 | billiejeankingcup.com | Ross McLean

What’s at stake? By the end of this tie, one of the two nations on show will have cemented their place in the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge final, which will be contested on Wednesday in Malaga. It is also worth noting that if Slovakia defeat Great Britain, they will have beaten three Grand Slam-hosting nations – USA, Australia and Great Britain – in successive ties. That would be quite something.
Bouzkova beats stubborn Frech to put Czechia ahead

Nov 16, 2024 | billiejeankingcup.com | Ross McLean

Polish hopes now rest with Iga Swiatek to force the tie to a doubles deciderBy Ross McLeanCzechia made a promising start to the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Finals as Marie Bouzkova dispatched Poland’s Magdalena Frech in the opening singles of the day’s second quarter-final. Bouzkova prevailed 6-1 4-6 6-4 after Frech initiated a spirited comeback following a humbling opening set, with the 11-time champions now just one match-win away from a semi-final against Italy.
Preview: Germany v Great Britain

Nov 14, 2024 | billiejeankingcup.com | Ross McLean

What’s at stake? The winners will seal the last remaining spot in the quarter-finals as the business end of the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Finals begins to take shape in Malaga. Awaiting the victors in the last eight are 2024 champions Canada, who have not featured in the competition since their triumph at Seville’s Estadio de La Cartuja 12 months ago. Germany have not reached the quarter-finals since 2019, while Great Britain last achieved the equivalent of the last eight in 2022.
Preview: Japan v Romania

Nov 13, 2024 | billiejeankingcup.com | Ross McLean

What’s at stake? As with all the early ties at the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Finals, a place in the quarter-finals is the prize in a revamped women’s World Cup of Tennis finale which is pure knockout. Going a little deeper than that, Japan and Romania are both making their first appearances at a Finals, so it is a chance for these nations to showcase their talents on the competition’s biggest stage.
Preview: Spain v Poland

Nov 11, 2024 | billiejeankingcup.com | Ross McLean

What’s at stake? With the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Finals a straight knockout event – as opposed to having an initial group-stage like previous years – there is far more jeopardy. One misstep and teams are on a plane home, with their hopes of being crowned the 2024 world champions dashed. This tie is also the first tie of the Finals and nobody wants to lose on opening night. For the victors, a place in the quarter-finals against Czechia – one of four seeded nations – awaits.
Blow for Czechia as Muchova withdraws from 2024 Finals

Nov 11, 2024 | billiejeankingcup.com | Ross McLean

Dominika Salkova has been drafted into the Czechia team ahead of the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Finals following the withdrawal of Karolina Muchova By Ross McLeanCzechia have been dealt a blow on the eve of the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Finals following the withdrawal of former world No. 8 Karolina Muchova.