Rybakina cruises past Shnaider to advance to quarters on Stuttgart return Top seed Elena Rybakina beat Diana Shnaider in straight sets to qualify for the quarterfinals of the WTA clay-court event in Stuttgart on Thursday.The 26-year-old Kazakh, who was champion in 2024 but skipped last year’s event, relied on her service game as she won 6-2, 6-4 against the unseeded Russian in one hour and 12 minutes.Shnaider, ranked 19th in the world, improved in the second set but was undone by double faults at crucial moments, allowing Rybakina to capitalise.Rybakina capped the match off with her ninth ace and will next take on either Leylah Fernandez or Zeynep Sonmez in the quarters.Earlier, World No. 9 Mirra Andreeva pushed past American Alycia Parks in straight sets in their last 16 clash to extend her winning streak to six matches.Czech Karolina Muchova came from a set down to beat Elise Mertens 1-6, 6-3, 6-0 to book her place in the last eight.Muchova’s compatriot Linda Noskova crushed Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-1, 6-1 to set up a quarterfinal clash with Elina Svitolina, who cruised past German Eva Lys 6-1, 6-0 on Wednesday.Later on Thursday, World No. 3 Coco Gauff starts her bid for a first Stuttgart title when she takes on Liudmila Samsonova.Published on Apr 16, 2026 #Rybakina #cruises #Shnaider #advance #quarters #Stuttgart #return

Union Berlin’s new coach Marie-Louise Eta — the first woman to manage a Bundesliga team — is well aware of the discussions regarding her appointment last week but said on Thursday ‌she was only focused on getting the side back on the winning track.

Eta was appointed interim head coach on ⁠Saturday for the remainder of the season following the dismissal of Steffen Baumgart with Union in 11th place.

She will oversee the men’s first team through the ‌end of the campaign before moving to the club’s women’s side.

“I totally understand that in public there is this ‌issue (of the first woman as a Bundesliga coach),” she told a ‌press ⁠conference ahead of her first game on Saturday at ⁠home to strugglers VfL Wolfsburg.

“I obviously know the issue and it was never about that. It’s always about football, about working with people … and about being successful.

“I have the trust of the club ‌and I am happy about it. The most important thing now is to prepare for the weekend against Wolfsburg,” Eta said.

ALSO READ | Kompany hails Marie-Louise Eta’s appointment as ‘something special’

Asked if she had any hesitation when getting the job offer last week, ‌Eta added: “There was nothing to consider. I was at home on Saturday so I was surprised initially (to get the call) but then I was happy for this trust, ⁠and then things happened quickly.”

Eta said she was by no means an exception in football with women taking over more and more key positions ‌in many clubs around the world.

“There are female coaches out there before me. In many other countries as well,” Eta said. “I understand the issue and the interest in it but it would be nice if this issue did not exist and it was only about success on the pitch.”

Eta has been coaching Union’s Under-19 team.

She became the ‌first female assistant coach in the German top flight with Union in 2023 but her appointment this time has also triggered some derogatory social media comments, which have been condemned by the ⁠club.

“This (social media comments) does not concern me because it says more about those ⁠posting these things than about me or other people they are talking about,” she said.

“That my appointment became so big ‌may have surprised us a bit because for us it was not really. I hope in the next few years this will be less and less and people will focus on football.”

Published on Apr 16, 2026

#Union #Berlins #MarieLouise #Eta #aware #special #position #Bundesliga #focus #football">

Union Berlin’s Marie-Louise Eta aware of special position in Bundesliga but wants to focus on football Union Berlin’s new coach Marie-Louise Eta — the first woman to manage a Bundesliga team — is well aware of the discussions regarding her appointment last week but said on Thursday ‌she was only focused on getting the side back on the winning track.Eta was appointed interim head coach on ⁠Saturday for the remainder of the season following the dismissal of Steffen Baumgart with Union in 11th place.She will oversee the men’s first team through the ‌end of the campaign before moving to the club’s women’s side.“I totally understand that in public there is this ‌issue (of the first woman as a Bundesliga coach),” she told a ‌press ⁠conference ahead of her first game on Saturday at ⁠home to strugglers VfL Wolfsburg.“I obviously know the issue and it was never about that. It’s always about football, about working with people … and about being successful.“I have the trust of the club ‌and I am happy about it. The most important thing now is to prepare for the weekend against Wolfsburg,” Eta said.ALSO READ | Kompany hails Marie-Louise Eta’s appointment as ‘something special’Asked if she had any hesitation when getting the job offer last week, ‌Eta added: “There was nothing to consider. I was at home on Saturday so I was surprised initially (to get the call) but then I was happy for this trust, ⁠and then things happened quickly.”Eta said she was by no means an exception in football with women taking over more and more key positions ‌in many clubs around the world.“There are female coaches out there before me. In many other countries as well,” Eta said. “I understand the issue and the interest in it but it would be nice if this issue did not exist and it was only about success on the pitch.”Eta has been coaching Union’s Under-19 team.She became the ‌first female assistant coach in the German top flight with Union in 2023 but her appointment this time has also triggered some derogatory social media comments, which have been condemned by the ⁠club.“This (social media comments) does not concern me because it says more about those ⁠posting these things than about me or other people they are talking about,” she said.“That my appointment became so big ‌may have surprised us a bit because for us it was not really. I hope in the next few years this will be less and less and people will focus on football.”Published on Apr 16, 2026 #Union #Berlins #MarieLouise #Eta #aware #special #position #Bundesliga #focus #football

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Union Berlin’s new coach Marie-Louise Eta — the first woman to manage a Bundesliga team — is well aware of the discussions regarding her appointment last week but said on Thursday ‌she was only focused on getting the side back on the winning track.
Eta was appointed interim head coach on ⁠Saturday for the remainder of the season following the dismissal of Steffen Baumgart with Union in 11th place.
She will oversee the men’s first team through the ‌end of the campaign before moving to the club’s women’s side.
“I totally understand that in public there is this ‌issue (of the first woman as a Bundesliga coach),” she told a ‌press ⁠conference ahead of her first game on Saturday at ⁠home to strugglers VfL Wolfsburg.
“I obviously know the issue and it was never about that. It’s always about football, about working with people … and about being successful.
“I have the trust of the club ‌and I am happy about it. The most important thing now is to prepare for the weekend against Wolfsburg,” Eta said.
ALSO READ | Kompany hails Marie-Louise Eta’s appointment as ‘something special’
Asked if she had any hesitation when getting the job offer last week, ‌Eta added: “There was nothing to consider. I was at home on Saturday so I was surprised initially (to get the call) but then I was happy for this trust, ⁠and then things happened quickly.”
Eta said she was by no means an exception in football with women taking over more and more key positions ‌in many clubs around the world.
“There are female coaches out there before me. In many other countries as well,” Eta said. “I understand the issue and the interest in it but it would be nice if this issue did not exist and it was only about success on the pitch.”
Eta has been coaching Union’s Under-19 team.
She became the ‌first female assistant coach in the German top flight with Union in 2023 but her appointment this time has also triggered some derogatory social media comments, which have been condemned by the ⁠club.
“This (social media comments) does not concern me because it says more about those ⁠posting these things than about me or other people they are talking about,” she said.
“That my appointment became so big ‌may have surprised us a bit because for us it was not really. I hope in the next few years this will be less and less and people will focus on football.”
Published on Apr 16, 2026

#Union #Berlins #MarieLouise #Eta #aware #special #position #Bundesliga #focus #football">Union Berlin’s Marie-Louise Eta aware of special position in Bundesliga but wants to focus on football

Eta was appointed interim head coach on ⁠Saturday for the remainder of the season following the dismissal of Steffen Baumgart with Union in 11th place.

She will oversee the men’s first team through the ‌end of the campaign before moving to the club’s women’s side.

“I obviously know the issue and it was never about that. It’s always about football, about working with people … and about being successful.

“I have the trust of the club ‌and I am happy about it. The most important thing now is to prepare for the weekend against Wolfsburg,” Eta said.

ALSO READ | Kompany hails Marie-Louise Eta’s appointment as ‘something special’

Eta said she was by no means an exception in football with women taking over more and more key positions ‌in many clubs around the world.

Eta has been coaching Union’s Under-19 team.

“This (social media comments) does not concern me because it says more about those ⁠posting these things than about me or other people they are talking about,” she said.

“That my appointment became so big ‌may have surprised us a bit because for us it was not really. I hope in the next few years this will be less and less and people will focus on football.”

Published on Apr 16, 2026

#Union #Berlins #MarieLouise #Eta #aware #special #position #Bundesliga #focus #football

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