Moscow: Goerges Interview
An interview with Julia Goerges after her win in the quarterfinals of the Kremlin Cup.
An interview with Julia Goerges after her win in the quarterfinals of the Kremlin Cup.
Here’s what they’re all playing for: the Billie Jean King Trophy, awarded to the winner of the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.
But before that, there were a few things to take care of, like the draw ceremony and the Iconic Photo! Agnieszka Radwanska and Karolina Pliskova got made up together…
… along with Finals debutante Madison Keys…
…and WTA World No.1 Angelique Kerber.
That’s why she’s the fan favorite! WTA Finals defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska always has time for a selfie with her fans.
The stars headed to Marina Bay Sands for the official draw ceremony, but not before they were presented with their WTA Year-End Awards. Angelique Kerber picked up 2016 WTA Player Of The Year…
…And Simona Halep was also among the winners, being awarded the 2016 Jerry Diamond ACES Award for helping promote tennis throughout the season.
The groups were decided with Radwanska leading the White Group, which includes Garbiñe Muguruza, Pliskova and the yet-to-be-determined eighth qualifier.
Madison Keys was drawn into the Red Group, along with Kerber, Dominika Cibulkova and Halep.
What do you think of the draw, Domi?
With the draw ceremony done and dusted, the players headed to Merlion Park on the Singapore waterfront to take part in the Iconic Photo, the official photo of the WTA Finals.
Johanna Konta was also in attendance as she awaits to hear the fate of the eighth qualification spot.
Of course, before the Iconic Photo comes the iconic selfie – the unofficial photo of the WTA Finals!
And here is the Iconic Photo, featuring the seven confirmed qualifiers for the WTA Finals! Who will emerge on top against the greatest eight in women’s tennis?
The 2016 Aces For Humanity campaign was launched by USANA and the WTA at the BNP Paribas Open and continued in Charleston at the Volvo Car Open, where every ace hit by a WTA player at Premier-level events translates into a donation to the USANA True Health Foundation, whose mission is to provide the most critical human necessities to those who are suffering or in need around the world. For every ace hit by any player the WTA donates $5, and for every ace hit by a USANA Brand Ambassador, it’s $10.
USANA Brand Ambassadors Eugenie Bouchard, Samantha Stosur, Kristina Mladenovic, Madison Keys, Sloane Stephens, Monica Puig, and Zheng Saisai (Caroline Wozniacki and Alizé Cornet did not play in Charleston) hit 33 of the 192 aces on Daniel Island – raising a grand total of $1,125 throughout the week.
Read more about the campaign here and see below to find out who’s hit the most aces so far!
#AcesForHumanity Fan Giveaway
It’s simple: before each WTA Premier tournament guess how many total aces will be hit.
Next up is the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart. Last year there was a total of 153 aces hit. It’s now your turn, take your best guess of how many will be hit this year.
How To Enter:
• Follow @WTA and @USANAFoundation on Twitter and before each WTA Premier tournament tweet the number of aces you predict will be hit during the whole tournament (Singles, Main Draw)
• Include the hashtag #AcesForHumanity
• Charleston deadline is April 20th at 11:59pm ET
• The winner will be announced April 25th
Aces For Humanity is a joint WTA and USANA initiative that benefits the USANA True Health Foundation, which provides critical human necessities to those in suffering or in need around the globe.
For full rules on how to enter, click here.
SINGAPORE – Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic have been named 2016 WTA Doubles Team Of The Year.
The pair won their first-ever Grand Slam title in 2016 at Roland Garros, the first all-French team to reach the French Open doubles final since 1971. They also reached the final of the US Open and the Wimbledon quarterfinal.
They duo enjoyed success on clay all year, winning the Volvo Cars Open in Charleston, Porsche Tennis Grand Prix and Mutua Madrid Open. Garcia and Mladenovic were also four-time finalists on hard courts as they finished as runners-up at Apia International Sydney, Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, US Open, and China Open.
The French doubles pair will be the top seed in the doubles competition at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global, where they will have a chance to claim the 2016 Year-End World No.1 Doubles Ranking, presented by Dubai Duty Free.
Congrats @KikiMladenovic and @CaroGarcia!#WTA Doubles Team of the Year! pic.twitter.com/UZiBQ59V5C
— WTA (@WTA) 21 October 2016
In a tight field, they finished with 20 points ahead of Lucie Safarova and Bethanie Mattek-Sands, who got 17, Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza on eight, while Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina got four.
WTA Doubles Team Of The Year Winners
2016: Caroline Garcia / Kristina Mladenovic
2015: Martina Hingis / Sania Mirza
2014: Sara Errani / Roberta Vinci
2013: Sara Errani / Roberta Vinci
2012: Sara Errani / Roberta Vinci
2011: Kveta Peschke / Katarina Srebotnik
2010: Gisela Dulko / Flavia Pennetta
2009: Serena Williams / Venus Williams
2008: Cara Black / Liezel Huber
2007: Cara Black / Liezel Huber
2006: Lisa Raymond / Sam Stosur
2005: Lisa Raymond / Sam Stosur
Complete listing of the historical WTA Awards.
LUXEMBOURG – Third time’s a charm for Monica Niculescu, who upset the top seed Petra Kvitova to win the title in her third appearance at the BGL BNP Paribas Luxembourg Open final.
Watch live action from Moscow & Luxembourg this week at WTA Live Powered By TennisTV!
The Romanian made back to back runs to the final here in 2011 and 2012, but each time fell just short of capturing the title. But this time, Niculescu started out strong and finished even stronger, steamrolling to a 6-4, 6-0 victory to claim her first WTA title of the year.
“It was my best match this year!” Niculescu said in her post-match press conference. “I felt fantastic on the court, and after I took the first set I felt even better. I was feeling very light on the court and was catching every ball. I felt like nothing surprised me.”
“But, wow, to beat Petra in the final? That’s the best moment in my life, I think!”
A sensational performance from Monica Niculescu gives her a third career title, winning @Iwtp_lux over Kvitova 6-4, 6-0. pic.twitter.com/Gytaa7kZLe
— WTA (@WTA) October 22, 2016
Niculescu peppered her game with her signature slices, giving Kvitova plenty of trouble from the start. She broke comfortably in Kvitova’s opening service game and once again to widen the gap and earn a 4-1 lead. The Czech grabbed one of the breaks back but Niculescu clung to her lead, covering the court and powered on to take the opening set.
From here it was all Niculescu, as the Romanian rattled off the next six games to diffuse Kvitova’s lefty serve and completely shut her out of the match, claiming her first title at Luxembourg after an hour and eight minutes.
“I just have to congratulate ‘Moni’ on a great week,” Kvitova acknowledged at the trophy ceremony. “You caught everything today, it’s too bad I had to play against you! Congrats to your team and enjoy your off season.”
In her happy @Iwtp_lux trophy speech, Monica Niculescu said today is her mom's birthday, making her 3rd title a great gift! pic.twitter.com/e7JCOnYvkW
— WTA (@WTA) October 22, 2016
She also sent a shout out to the Czech U-21s National Football Team, who were out in full force to support their compatriot during the final.
Niculescu was similarly full of effusive praise for her opponent after the final.
“You had a great week, you are a very nice person I think it was a very nice final,” she enthused during her speech. “I know you’re not done – I know you still have Zhuhai! I wish you all the best and I know you can do it!
“I wish you all the best for Zhuhai – you’re a great player and I know you can do it!”
SINGAPORE – Following a full Asian Swing, No.3 seed Simona Halep opted to travel home for the fortnight between Beijing and the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global, both to relax and to welcome newborn niece Tania.
“I needed some rest with my family, with my friends,” she said at Saturday’s All-Access Hour in Singapore. “I played a lot of tennis. I did the training. I was pretty professional before this tournament.
“The previous two years I had my family here [at the WTA Finals], but now I’m not that important anymore,” she added with a laugh. “My niece is the most important person in my family. They are home, so I’m alone, just with my team.”
That team, which includes coach Darren Cahill, has largely been a winning combination in 2016, helping Halep to three titles, including the Mutua Madrid Open, a place she calls her “special tournament.”
“I do the same preparation for every tournament. This one is a little bit tough because it’s the last one and you have to still be focused. So it’s not easy, but it’s nice. It’s a nice atmosphere here, and I always enjoy playing here. I have great memories from 2014 [when she made her Singapore debut and reached the final]. I hope to repeat that.”
The biggest shifts the Romanian hopes to make are largely mental, with the former World No.2 chalking up her biggest disappointments to that aspect of her game.
“With Serena at the US Open I think was a mental reason that I lost that match. At Wimbledon, too, I was close to winning that match against Kerber. I will speak with [Cahill] about these mental things more.”
.@Simona_Halep doing double duty @WTAFinalsSG, chatting with Romanian press after a full AAH: pic.twitter.com/5drfsOOd3L
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) October 22, 2016
Technically, Halep feels better than ever, particularly off the forehand side.
“I feel more confident when I hit it and I can make winners now with it.”
Kicking off group play against No.6 seed Madison Keys on Sunday evening, the 2014 runner-up hopes the third time will be lucky, especially with a 10-7 record against fellow Red Group players Dominika Cibulkova and World No.1 Angelique Kerber.
“Every year is different. Every year you are nervous. Every year you are excited to be here. Of course, in first year you might have more energy, like, ‘Wow, let’s see how it’s going to work.’ I felt this in 2014.
“Last year I was a little bit tired; now I’m better than last year. When you get experience it’s easier for you to handle the situation.”
No matter what happens, however, “Aunt Simo” is undoubtedly looking forward to a relaxing off-season with her growing family.
“I will go home to spend some time with my niece, to see her starting to grow up.”
KEY INFORMATION:
Tournament Level: Premier
Prize Money: $795,707
Draw Size: 28 main draw (4 byes)/32 qualifying
Qualifying Dates: Saturday, April 16 – Monday, April 18
First Day of Main Draw: Monday, April 18
Singles Final: Sunday, April 24, 1.30pm CEST
Doubles Final: Sunday, April 24 (after singles final)
MUST FOLLOW SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS:
@WTA
@WTA_Insider – WTA Insider, Senior Writer Courtney Nguyen
@PorscheTennis – official tournament handle
Get involved in conversations with the official hashtags, #PTGP and #WTA.
TOURNAMENT NOTES:
· Defending champion Angelique Kerber returns to action after retiring from the Charleston semifinals with a viral illness.
· The only other former winner in the draw is Julia Goerges, who triumphed in 2011. Former finalist Ana Ivanovic (2014) has also made the trip to southern Germany.
· Agnieszka Radwanska is top seed and playing her first match since pulling out of her home event, the Katowice Open, with a reoccurrence of a long-standing shoulder injury.
· For the complete draw click here.
WILDCARDS:
Julia Goerges (GER), Anna-Lena Friedsam (GER)
WITHDRAWALS:
Belinda Bencic, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Madison Keys
SINGAPORE – On the first installment of My Performance at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global, hear from the first winner of the night as Simona Halep breaks down her dominant straight-sets victory over Madison Keys.
The match was the fourth meeting of 2016 for Halep and Keys, so the Romanian knew just how to attack Keys’ weaknesses – she explains how she targeted the backhand and how she broke down her opponent’s powerful serve.
It wasn’t just Halep’s great strategy that gave her the win, though, as her return game was also on point throughout the match. Check out the video below to find out just how deadly she was on the return.
SINGAPORE – 2014 finalist Simona Halep put on an emphatic display to outlast and outsteady American No.6 seed Madison Keys, 6-2, 6-4, to take the early initiative in round robin play at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.
Relive all the action, including play-by-play analysis, stats, and quotes from the first match from Singapore!
SINGAPORE – Svetlana Kuznetsova is a woman of many talents. Top 10 tennis player, designer, polyglot, rapper and now hairdresser.
Midway through the final set of her round-robin encounter with Agnieszka Radwanska, Kuznetsova realized something was not quite right: her haircut.
Trailing 2-1, the Russian took out her frustration with scissors, lopping off her ponytail during the changeover. The change had the desired effect, too, inspiring Kuznetsova to break back in the following game and go on to win the match.
Kuznetsova is not the first player to get an impromptu trim in the heat of battle. At last year’s ATP World Tour Finals, Andy Murray famously took a pair of scissors to his unruly mane…
