Bellis ends year on 15-match winning streak

By Niko Vercelletto Nov 30, 2016
Pop Culture

ATP stars pick their 'GMOAT': Greatest Musician of All Time

By Baseline Staff Apr 15, 2024
Social

Mikael Ymer changes his mind on return to tennis amid anti-doping ban: "Retirement was boring"

By Stephanie Livaudais Apr 15, 2024
Inside-In Podcast

Meet Beth Bellamy, the tennis champion who became a pickleball trailblazer

By Mitch Michals Apr 15, 2024
Lifestyle

Iga Swiatek announces cosmetic sponsorship with Lancôme

By Baseline Staff Apr 15, 2024
The Business of Tennis

Stefanos Tsitsipas surpasses 30 million dollars in career prize money after winning Monte Carlo

By John Berkok Apr 15, 2024
Served Podcast

“Bob did the old switch-a-roo”: Bryan Brothers swapped Olympic gold medals, but not by choice

By Liya Davidov Apr 14, 2024
Lifestyle

Andy Murray's Dunblane hotel releases new menu that honors his and wife Kim's wedding anniversary

By Baseline Staff Apr 14, 2024
Social

Ashleigh Barty and baby Hayden go on a BJK Cup date in Brisbane

By Megan Fernandez Apr 14, 2024
Social

Holger Rune isn’t here to sugarcoat things: "If I want to cry, I cry. If I want to scream, I scream"

By Baseline Staff Apr 13, 2024

Bellis ends year on 15-match winning streak

The 17-year-old's hot streak is carrying right into 2017.

ByNiko Vercelletto

Published Nov 30, 2016

Who says American tennis is lacking a new female champion? CiCi Bellis, a 17-year-old from California, just won the first WTA title of her very young career at the $125K in Hawaii by defeating the top seed Shuai Zhang.

Advertising

It's an impressive win, especially when she wasn't even sure she wanted to turn pro. Bellis was considering playing college tennis for Stanford, but after reaching the third round of the US Open—a Grand Slam best for her—she decided to join the big leagues. (She also signed with IMG).

The teenager has shown that was the right choice. Since her US Open run, she reached the quarterfinals in Quebec and ended her year on a 15-title winning streak, snagging two ITF titles in a row coming into Hawaii.

Advertising

At No. 75 in the world, Bellis is the youngest player in the Top 100. With this new ranking, she will earn automatic main draw entry into majors next year.