Miami Sunday: Azarenka’s Double Quest
Victoria Azarenka’s quest for the Indian Wells-Miami double continues as the seeds in the lower half of the draw wrap up the third round on Sunday.
Victoria Azarenka’s quest for the Indian Wells-Miami double continues as the seeds in the lower half of the draw wrap up the third round on Sunday.
An interview with Madison Keys after her win in the third round of the China Open.
Watch Eugenie Bouchard and ATP player Juan Martin del Potro take to Pie de la Cuesta beach in Acapulco and play a beach tennis match!
MIAMI, FL, USA – No.2 seed Angelique Kerber looked down and out in the third round of the Miami Open as former No.41 Kiki Bertens flew through the opening set, but the German held steady as the Dutch qualifier became visibly unwell, retiring from the contest just as the reigning Australian Open champion began playing her best tennis, 1-6, 6-2, 3-0, ret.
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Despite breaking to start the encounter, the World No.3 struggled throughout the early stages as Bertens powered through the opening set in emphatic style.
“I think Kiki’s a great player,” Kerber told Nick McCarvel during her on-court interview. “She played very well in the first set and I was not finding my rhythm at the beginning.
“But I was trying to stay in the match, trying to fight and play my game. At the end, of course, it’s always sad when the opponent retires; I hope she gets very well very soon, but I’m happy to be in the next round.”
Bertens took a medical timeout early in the second set, suffering from a GI Illness that has caused several players problems through the first few rounds of the tournament. The 24-year-old nonetheless continued to push Kerber before the German broke away with back-to-back service breaks to level the match.
“For me, it’s not so easy,” Kerber admitted when asked about dealing with the knowledge that her opponent is under the weather. “But I’m trying to focus on my game, doing my stuff and not looking too much over the net.
“I think that helps me to stay in my rhythm and keep my focus.”
Up next for Kerber is another big-hitting youngster in Timea Babos; the Hungarian reached her first round of 16 at a Premier Mandatory with a 7-5, 6-0 win over Japanese wildcard Naomi Osaka.
Babos had enjoyed a solid start to the season but had lost back-to-back opening rounds in Monterrey and Indian Wells; a thrilling three-set victory over BNP Paribas Open semifinalist Karolina Pliskova propelled her to an even stronger level against Osaka, who rallied from 5-2 down in the opening set but was ultimately over-awed by her more experienced opponent, who made her WTA Finals debut in Singapore last fall.
“I had such a tough match against Karo Pliskova and it was good to have a day off yesterday and get ready for today’s match,” Babos said after the match. “I knew it would be a tricky one. She’s a big hitter. It was very difficult, especially in the first set. It was really powerful tennis and she was acing me a lot.
“But I guess at key moments, I was playing better, being more solid but aggressive at the same time. In the second set I found my game even more and I’m really happy to finish this way.”
Briefly the ace leader following a strong Australian summer and Middle East swing, Babos, now second behind Naomi Broady, credits a coaching change to Thomas Drouet – who helped Marion Bartoli to the Wimbledon title in 2013 – with her impressive rise in the rankings.
“Since November, I jumped around 40 spots, so it’s been a consistent improvement and I’m really happy. We’ve been working a lot in the two years since I changed coaches. Already, last year I had better results, but it’s also easier to start from the main draw and not be in qualifying all the time.
“I used to have to do a lot just to play big tournaments, where I’d be in main draw for doubles but qualies for singles. So now it also helps that I can be fresher, but now I have more belief and really enjoy playing.”
Babos has never beaten Kerber in three previous meetings, but their lone hardcourt encounter went to three sets back in 2012 – a mere weeks after Kerber herself had reached the final four at Wimbledon. Winning her first WTA main draw matches since the Australian Open, Kerber told the crowd about reuniting with childhood idol Steffi Graf when she practiced with her and husband Andre Agassi during a mid-match training week in Las Vegas.
It was a similar session 52 weeks ago that the former No.2 believes took her to new heights in 2015, culminating with her major title in Melbourne.
“I went there for a few days and practiced a few days there. It’s always an amazing feeling and an honor to be on court with both champions, to play with them and speak witht them. It’s always a great experience for me and I hope here I will play good and that it’ll help me a little bit for the next few tournaments.”
Point of the match!@AngeliqueKerber running ALL over the court!! #WTA https://t.co/m7fKUYPuar
— WTA (@WTA) March 27, 2016
Madison Keys takes on Svetlana Kuznetsova in the third round of the China Open.
MIAMI, FL, USA – Victoria Azarenka survived a late wobble to defeat No.4 seed Garbiñe Muguruza and keep alive her hopes of becoming the first player in a decade to complete the Indian Wells-Miami double.
Watch highlights, interviews and more video from Miami right here on wtatennis.com!
No one since Kim Clijsters in 2005 has managed to win the two Premier Mandatory events in the same year and Azarenka weathered a barrage of winners from Muguruza to prevail, 7-6(6), 7-6(4), and book a quarterfinal spot.
“I think it was a high-quality match for both of us. It was a lot of good striking, a lot of winners, and both of us taking opportunities,” Azarenka said. “I think today I served really well, and I played to win in important moments. Momentum shifting, I think I was a little better today.”
Azarenka has started the year like a freight train, claiming titles in Brisbane and Indian Wells and winning 19 of 20 matches. Sandwiched between her triumphs in Australia and California was the sole setback, defeat to an inspired Angelique Kerber in the Australian Open quarterfinals.
This disappointment only seems to have fuelled the fire in the Belarusian and in a contest of fine margins and superlative shotmaking against Muguruza it was her game that stood firm at the pivotal moments.
Azarenka, who lifted the Miami Open in 2009 and 2011, produced an ace and a brilliant return to recover from 6-4 down in the first set tie-break and then forged 5-2 ahead in the second. Muguruza, though, went down all guns blazing, drawing level amidst a barrage of winners only to succumb in another tie-break.
In the last eight, Azarenka will face Johanna Konta, a 6-2, 6-2 winner earlier in the day over Monica Niculescu.
A leg injury to Azarenka cut short the only previous meeting between the two in Wuhan last autumn, since when the Briton has established herself at the top of the game.
“We have played in Wuhan last year, but it was difficult to consider that a full match since I didn’t really feel physically well or wasn’t good on the court,” Azarenka said. “But it’s really impressive to see how much she improved over the last couple months. Obviously had some great results; playing with a lot of confidence.
“She has a very solid game; big serve. I’m just looking forward to that challenge.”
Fantastic quality between Azarenka-Muguruza. The stats, as great as they are, don’t even capture it. pic.twitter.com/INJzhMOrMS
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) March 28, 2016
BEIJING, China – World No.1 Angelique Kerber overcame a spirited rearguard effort – and some inspired shotmaking – from Barbora Strycova on Wednesday to take her place in the third round of the China Open.
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In an entertaining conclusion, Kerber twice failed to serve out the match before finally completing a 6-3, 7-6(4) victory. The German will now face Elina Svitolina for a place in the quarterfinals.
“The match was on a really high level at the end of the second set. We run a lot, both of us. I think we both have a great return, so I think that was also the key from both of us to breaking back,” Kerber said. “She breaks me back, and then I break her back.
“The games were still close. It was not like I lost my serve to zero or 15. There were still good points during my service games.”
After dominating their first four meetings on tour, Kerber has found Strycova a more difficult nut to crack this year. In Madrid, the Czech ran out a surprisingly comfortable straight-set winner, before threatening to repeat the upset in Cincinnati.
Once again, Kerber found Strycova in combative mood, testing her nerve as the finishing line beckoned. Several times the top seed looked to have broken her opponent’s will, yet each time she was unable to deliver the final blow.
Even with a commanding lead in the tie-break, Strycova continued to chase down lost causes, reducing her arrears to 4-3 before finally succumbing when she pulled a weary forehand wide.
“It was back and forth. In the final tie-break, I was just trying to forget about everything that happened before, just being in the tie-break, starting from zero,” Kerber added. “I was 4-0. She came back again. It was actually an up-and-down tie-break as well. But finally I won it, so it was a good match at the end for me.”
The top half of the draw will be whittled down to two semifinalists after today’s action in Miami. Here’s a breakdown of the matchups.
Tuesday, Quarterfinals
[15] Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS #19) vs. [30] Ekaterina Makarova (RUS #31)
Head-to-head: Kuznetsova leads, 5-1
Key Stat: At 30, Kuznetsova is the oldest player remaining in the draw.
After ending Serena Williams’ 20-match Miami win streak on Monday, Svetlana Kuznetsova’s big task on Tuesday will be to put her feet back on the ground so that she may focus on the next task at hand. It might not be easy, given the character of the Russian’s emotional win over the World No.1. “I have so many people saying congratulations I feel like I won the title already,” joked Kuznetsova after recording her first win over a reigning World No.1 since the 2009 Roland Garros final (d. Safina). When she comes back to earth, Kuznetsova will head into her quarterfinal against compatriot Ekaterina Makarova with confidence to burn. She has won the pair’s last four tilts in straight sets, and is a former Miami Open champion who doesn’t mind the sweltering conditions at Key Biscayne. But Makarova is in good form as well, having knocked off Top 20 opponents in consecutive matches for the first time in over a year to reach her maiden Miami Open quarterfinal.
Pick: Kuznetsova in three
[5] Simona Halep (ROU #5) vs. [19] Timea Bacsinszky (SUI #20)
Head-to-head: Halep leads, 2-0 (1-0 at Tour-level)
Key Stat: Bacsinszky recorded her fourth career Top 5 win (first Top 3) on Monday (4-13 overall).
Two players rounding into peak form will clash in a must-see quarterfinal on Tuesday, and while Simona Halep will come in as the favorite against 26-year-old Timea Bacsinszky, expect the Swiss to come out hungry for a shot of revenge. The last time Bacsinszky attempted to win back-to-back matches against Top 5 opponents she was shut down by Halep in the 2015 Shenzhen Open final, where she only managed four games. On Monday, Bacsinszky reached her first career quarterfinal at Miami with a gritty comeback against Agnieszka Radwanska, impressively wrestling control of the match from the World No.2 after a nervous start. Halep, who has won all six sets she’s played in Miami, should prove to be a tougher matchup for Bacsinszky. Many players struggle to contend with the Swiss’ world-class backhand, but the Romanian is such an exceptional mover, and so steady from both wings, that she should be able to weather the storm in the backhand rallies so that she may exploit the Swiss’ less steady forehand wing.
Pick: Halep in three
-Chris Oddo, wtatennis.com contributor
BEIJING, CHINA – No.19 Elina Svitolina scored her second win over a reigning World No.1, beating Angelique Kerber 6-3, 7-5 to advance to the quarterfinals of the China Open. She’ll play Daria Gavrilova for a spot in the semifinals.
Three takeaways from Svitolina’s solid win:
1. Mental focus was the key to Svitolina’s win.
Svitolina is a fiery player and she’s never been shy about wearing her emotions for all to see. The frustration can mount quickly for the 22-year-old, but she’s slowly learning to let go. That could be the key to unlocking another level in her game.
“Today was a good win for me,” Svitolina told reporters. “The way I played was really good. I was going for my shots, sometimes just staying with the ball, not missing in important moments.
“I think I’m moving in a good way. Playing against top players, this is the main goal. I try to really stay on their level and then get better.”
Just two months ago, Svitolina knocked out then No.1 Serena Williams from the Olympic tennis event. Now she avenged her Montreal loss to Kerber to score another win over a No.1. Svitolina’s young career continues to have its ups and downs but she remains a frustrating player to face because at her best, she isn’t going to give you free points. You have to earn every single one, and when you’re not at your best that can prove very difficult.
“The main thing is to just stay in the moment, to think about the plan, about the match, what is my next step, next action,” Svitolina said. “So I try to really don’t think about [playing a No.1]. If I think too much, I lose my way.
“Of course, Angelique or Serena, they’re not letting you play your game. If you’re out for even two, three seconds, they just going to do winners. They are there all the time. They’re not letting you go.”
Kerber had a break lead in both sets but she would finish just 2 for 11 on break points in the match. On the key points, Svitolina stood tall, worked her defense in and out of the corners, and made Kerber hit the extra ball. In Montreal, Svitolina grew easily frustrated when Kerber’s counter-punching skills resulted in impossible gets. On Thursday, Svitolina shrugged them off and got back to work.
“The main thing was just mentally to be focused,” Svitolina said. “Even if you play a good point against her, she can play some amazing shot back. Still you need to be, Next point, don’t eat yourself from inside. This is really important when you play against her because sometimes she gets some balls which is, like, unbelievable, playing amazing shots from down the line.”
Svitolina’s run in Beijing puts her in solid position to qualify for the WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai at the end of the season. Svitolina played the inaugural event last season and she’s looking forward to returning.
“The atmosphere is great there,” she said. “It’s like the second after Singapore. So there’s always motivation. Just 12 players there. It’s really special to play there. It’s still a big, big tournament. It’s really special for me.”
Angelique Kerber: “It was a tough match. I had my chances, for sure, but I didn't take it.” #ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/IUVdHWfCQx
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) October 6, 2016
2. Kerber’s China swing bore little fruit.
After winning her second major title at the US Open and rising to World No.1 for the first time in her career, Kerber’s run through China was a frustrating one, bowing out in the third round at both the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open and the China Open. That’s not the consolidating run the German was looking for, especially as she was trying to lock up the Year-End No.1 ranking before the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.
The good news for Kerber is there was no pattern through both losses. She had the bad luck of running into an on-fire Petra Kvitova in Wuhan and the two played a grueling, high-quality match that may go down as the match of the WTA season. She was the only player to take a set off Kvitova last week and she walked away with her head held high.
The loss to Svitolina was far more worrisome, though much of Kerber’s erratic play could be chalked up to the right leg injury she carried into the match. She refused to use the injury as an excuse for her loss and said she did not believe the injury to be serious, but it was evident she was unable to play her physical, counter-punching game against Svitolina. The Ukrainian played her solid game-style perfectly and forced Kerber to go for too much to terminate points. On this day the World No.1 missed more than she made.
“I think it was up-and-down match,” Kerber said. “I played a few games really good and then I did a lot of easy mistakes. She was moving good. She brings a lot of balls back. I think that was the key, why she beat me at the end.”
3. Kerber’s pre-Singapore dilemma.
Kerber is currently entered as the top seed in the Hong Kong Open next week. On one hand, playing the event would give her a chance to earn points towards the year-end No.1 ranking and a good run there could boost her confidence heading into Singapore.
On the other hand, the most important thing for Kerber is to play the WTA Finals healthy. She has come into the event sputtering in the past, having exhausted herself with last minute pushes to qualify, and she has never qualified out of the round robin stage of the event. With so much on the line in Singapore, it’s a tough choice for Kerber.
“It’s right after the match, so I don’t know exactly with my leg or whatever,” Kerber said when asked if she would play Hong Kong. “But it’s still in my schedule.”
Photos courtesy of Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC, USA – Americans Sloane Stephens and Shelby Rogers enjoyed an extra special Easter Sunday in their country’s capital; the duo teamed up with USTA President Katrina Adams to bring tennis to the White House Easter Egg Roll hosted by President Barack Obama.
Facilitating a 10 and Under Tennis Clinic, Stephens and Rogers posed for pictures with President Obama, who even briefly took the court to show off his own skills to the WTA stars. NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal was also on hand for a basketball clinic and photos with Adams and former Top 10 WTA player Chanda Rubin.
Check out some of the best photos and tweets from the event:
Honored to be at the @wheastereggroll helping @usta get kids active and on the court. @letsmove #LetsCelebrate pic.twitter.com/8SgRVbBsBE
— Sloane Stephens (@SloaneStephens) March 28, 2016
Great day at the @wheastereggroll!???@usta @katadams68 @JRBlake @SloaneStephens pic.twitter.com/k6XGppSwBs
— Shelby Rogers (@Shelby_Rogers_) March 28, 2016
Possibly the best day ever ?@POTUS pic.twitter.com/9UsfH3Mz2R
— Sloane Stephens (@SloaneStephens) March 28, 2016
.@POTUS blames his bad tennis swing on the “equipment.” #EasterEggRoll pic.twitter.com/EmHeKiRYMm
— POLITICO (@politico) March 28, 2016
