Social Buzz: Monterrey And Charleston
All the best from the world of social media as the week begins with tournaments in Monterrey and Charleston.
All the best from the world of social media as the week begins with tournaments in Monterrey and Charleston.
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia – The comeback continued for two-time Wimbledon quarterfinalist Tamira Paszek on Monday, as the Austrian dispatched 2005 French Open quarterfinalist Sesil Karatantcheva, 7-6(3), 6-4, to reach the main draw of the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy.
Watch live action from St. Petersburg & Kaohsiung this week on WTA Live powered by TennisTV!
Once a Top 30 player, Paszek came back to the game last spring and has rocketed up nearly 140 spots in the rankings since last fall. Starting the season at No.172, she had to play qualifying at the ASB Classic and the Australian, going on to reach the semifinals of the former to put herself within striking distance of a Top 100 return.
“The good part about playing qualies is that you get a lot of matches, and you get a good rhythm, which is especially important at the beginning of the year,” the 25-year-old told WTA Insider in January. “I’ve always been the type of person that tries to see the positive aspect of things, so I’m really looking forward to it.”
Awaiting the Austrian in the main draw is Carina Witthoeft; the two played once before in French Open qualifying back in 2014, with Paszek winning, 6-0, 6-1.
Joining Paszek in the main draw is Klara Koukalova; the former World No.20, who took out Patricia Maria Tig, 6-4, 6-3.
All four qualifiers will be in action again on Tuesday, along with Fed Cup heroines Monica Niculescu – who nearly led an upset of defending champion Czech Republic with a win over two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova – and Barbora Strycova, who took part in the decisive doubles rubber to defeat Romania, 3-2.
Niculescu begins her tournament as the No.9 seed – so bumped when Anna Karolina Schmiedlova withdrew due to a right ankle sprain – and takes on local wildcard Natalia Vikhlyantseva. Strycova takes on one of the qualifiers, Kateryna Kozlova; Kozlova defeated top qualifying seed Laura Siegemund, but the German nonetheless found her way into the main draw as a lucky loser.
Closing out play on Tuesday will be a pair of Russians, No.5 seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and the fast-rising Margarita Gasparyan, who take on Koukalova and Bojana Jovanovski, respectively.
Highlights from first and second round action at the Western & Southern Open.
While some stars are still working hard on the tennis court, others are enjoying a well-deserved break…and some amazing gifts.
Defending champion Heather Watson is using her time off at the Abierto GNP Seguros wisely – by sitting in the stands and recording the performance of her friend and Great Britain Fed Cup teammate Naomi Broady.
Ace ace baby ? Thanks to bae @heatherwatson92 for the video
Alizé Cornet is having fun in Mexico.
Thanks to those who came out in the heat yesterday to support me ? ! Always a thrill to play in Mexico ! Next match tomorrow vamos ?? pic.twitter.com/8JqNOPLzia
— Alize Cornet (@alizecornet) April 5, 2017
Elsewhere, thrillseeker CoCo Vandeweghe is in deep water.
?????
And new World No.7 Johanna Konta is ready for a very special delivery…of her favorite food.
I can't wait for my present!! #anxiouslywaiting https://t.co/nJFwY5PCvt
— Johanna Konta (@JoKonta91) April 6, 2017
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia – Playing in her home country, No.5 seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova won a thrilling first round encounter with qualifier and former Top 20 player, Klara Koukalova, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.
Down 0-3 to start the match, the 24-year-old won six of the next seven games to take the opening set, but it came down to the wire against the Czech veteran, who had beaten her in their last two meetings.
“She started really well; actually she played really good the whole match,” the Russian said in her on-court interview. “She played three matches in qualifying, so I think that was the key for her. I had a really slow start and didn’t feel in good shape, but the only thing I did was fight.
A new event on the WTA calendar, Pavlyuchenkova was impressed by some of the in-match entertainment, including an intricate light show to announce the players.
“That was amazing. Maybe that’s why I had a slow start,” she said with a laugh. “I was still thinking and looking around.
“The crowd was amazing, as well. I love playing at home. It’s Russia!”
The Russian was equally effusive in her praise of the event before main draw action began at the gala dinner.
“It’s good for Russian tennis and great for Russian fans to have another WTA tournament in this country. St Petersburg is a beautiful backdrop for this event. I’m very happy to be here and proud to welcome players from all over the world to my home country.”
Clocking in at just over two hours, Pavlyuchenkova booked a spot in the second round, where she’ll play German youngster, Carina Witthoeft.
“I’m really old already, 24! But it’s not about age. I think she’s good. She’s fresh, and didn’t have a bad start to the year. I have to be really focused and play a lot better than today.”
Earlier in the day, Witthoeft had dispatched qualifier and former World No.26 Tamira Paszek, 6-3, 6-3. Fellow qualifier Kateryna Kozlova had better luck, upsetting Fed Cup heroine Barbora Strycova, 6-3, 6-4. No.9 seed Monica Niculescu had few problems taking out local wildcard Natlia Vikhlyantseva, 6-0, 6-3, and Yanina Wickmayer set up a second round with No.2 seed Roberta Vinci when she beat Jelena Ostapenko, 6-4, 6-3.
Rising Russian starlet Margarita Gasparyan played the final match of the night in St. Petersburg, dismissing Bojana Jovanovski, 6-1, 6-2.
In her downtime in Montréal a few weeks ago at the Rogers Cup, Petra Kvitova paid a visit to the WTA Media TV truck to find out a little bit more about the people who broadcast her matches all around the world.
She learned about everything that goes into producing a tennis match, from switching between the eight to 12 cameras per court, keeping match stats, creating slow motion replays, and much more.
“It’s amazing how many cameras there are at the same time on the same court!” Kvitova said. “When I play, sometimes I just see one camera!”
A joint venture between the WTA and Perform Group, WTA Media will produce all main draw singles matches and semifinals and finals of all doubles matches from 2017.
Check out Daria Kasatkina’s shot of the day against Daria Gavrilova at the Volvo Car Open.
KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan – Venus Williams has no intention of winding down any time soon. That much was made abundantly clear at the tail end of 2015, when the seven-time major winner rolled back the years to lift titles in Wuhan and Zhuhai, climbing back into the Top 10 in the process.
Even a stuttering start to the new campaign has failed to dampen the evergreen American’s enthusiasm. Williams is back in Asia this week for the inaugural Taiwan Open, in Kaohsiung, where she is top seed.
As headline act, Williams is afforded the luxury of a Wednesday start and the opportunity to sit down with wtatennis.com to talk sisterly inspiration, Taiwanese tennis and turning it up to EleVen.
On the inspiration behind her enduring success…
“Well I have this inspiration called Serena Williams! So that helps a lot. But also I love the game and it’s been wonderful to play this game. And when you love it it’s easy to give everything, every time.”
On Taiwan…
“I’ve already hit for a couple of hours on the court so I haven’t had the chance to see a lot. I’d love to see the mountains and the city. But from the plane it looked amazing!”
On the Amazing Chan Clan…
“First of all they’re really wonderful people. They welcomed me here and told me if I needed anything to let them know – so I think I’ll take them up on that. This year or last year I was watching them at the WTA Finals and it was unbelievable doubles – so exciting to watch it. Never played against them at the same time – I’ve played against them when they weren’t playing together and that was never easy. I guess now they’re going to be representing the country in the Olympics and that’s so awesome for tennis and so exciting for Taiwan.”
On her Olympic legacy…
“Oh the Olympics are very special. For me, the most important moments in my career were at the Olympics, especially being able to play with my sister. I’m hoping to have the honor to play again this year. Of course if you win it’s unbelievable but to participate is everything as well. I’m really looking forward to it – if I make it!”
On going all the way up to EleVen…
“I design a collection called EleVen by Venus and that stands for being better than a 10 and every time bringing your best. I just enjoy it. I love making active wear and I think one day we need to come to Taiwan – sooner rather than later.”
CINCINNATI, OH, USA – No.5 seed Agnieszka Radwanska won the last nine games of a late-night third round encounter with No.10 seed Johanna Konta, 6-7(1), 6-4, 6-0, to complete the quarterfinal line-up at the Western & Southern Open.
Watch live action from Cincinnati this week on WTA Live powered by TennisTV!
“She’s a great player,” Radwanska said during her on-court interview. “We never played before, but I’ve seen many of her matches, and she’s played great tennis. I knew it wouldn’t be easy, and it was an exciting match playing together for the first time. I’m just so happy with the win.”
Konta needed to reach the semifinals in Cincinnati to have a chance of making her long-awaited Top 10 debut, and appeared on course to keep that dream alive when she reeled off the last seven points of the first set tie-break.
“It was a very tight match in the beginning. The tie-break slipped away too quickly, that’s for sure.”
Flick lob from @ARadwanska! ? https://t.co/0EUn8aOrGp
— WTA (@WTA) August 19, 2016
A tired looking Radwanska trailed the Brit 4-3 on serve in the second set but somehow caught fire when it mattered most, hitting 27 winners throughout the three-setter to 31 unforced errors, and converting six of her 10 break point opportunities.
What was the Pole’s secret to success as Thursday night became Friday morning?
“I was able to break at the end of the second set, and I think I started to play better tennis and much more aggressive. I think I woke up because I had eight ladies dancing in front of me; that just woke me up!”
Shutting Konta out after midnight, Radwanska booked the last remaining spot in the quarterfinals, where she’ll play No.3 seed Simona Halep, who is riding a 12-match winning streak.
“I’m just very happy to make the quarterfinals here, especially since it’s always a strong tournament with no easy matches,” she said after the match. “Andrea, Johanna in the first two matches, and now Simona in the next match. I just hope I can play the same good tennis tomorrow.
“I think against Simona, I have nothing to lose; she’s having a great season and playing really good tennis. I’m just going to go out and enjoy.
“But first, rest tonight!”
How did @ARadwanska pull out the win?
Eight dancing ladies @CincyTennis! ???? https://t.co/4JktDPxOWW
— WTA (@WTA) August 19, 2016
CHARLESTON, SC, USA — Caroline Wozniacki won all four sets she played as day turned to night on Thursday in Charleston, as the 2011 champion ousted Anastasia Rodionova, 6-3, 6-3 to reach the quarterfinals for the fifth time at the Volvo Car Open.
“It was tough conditions to play in this wind, a little chilly tonight as well and then playing someone who doesn’t give you any rhythm,” Wozniacki assessed at the close of her second match of the day. “Obviously she plays a lot of doubles, so she was coming in, doing drop shots and hitting the ball hard and then slow. She was definitely trying to break my rhythm up, and it was difficult. But I managed to pull through.”
The No.5 seed defeated Annika Beck in straight sets earlier on Thursday, and showed no ill effects of having to play two matches in the span of a few hours. The Dane has never lost before the quarterfinals in five career appearances in Charleston, and advances to face Jelena Ostapenko in Friday’s quarterfinals.
The former World No.1 won 15 straight points over the first four games of the match to take command before the qualifier got on the board and a foothold in the match. The Australian broke and held serve in a lengthy game, saving five break points in total, to close the deficit to 4-2, but Wozniacki held on from there to take four of the next five games to lead by a set and a break.
.@CaroWozniacki wraps up the first set 6-3! #VolvoCarOpen pic.twitter.com/Kfr7lvkXQK
— WTA (@WTA) April 6, 2017
Rodionova saved a trio of break points in the fifth game of the second set, and broke the Wozniacki delivery at love to level the match. Nonetheless, the qualifier who scored upsets against Duan Ying-Ying and Sara Errani to reach the third round was unable to conjure another stunner as the Dane secured the final three games to move safely through to the last eight.
Second Round ✅
Round of 16 ✅
Advances to @VolvoCarOpen Quarterfinals ✅All in a days work for @CaroWozniacki! ? pic.twitter.com/NZbsHpckpX
— WTA (@WTA) April 7, 2017
Looking ahead to Friday night, Wozniacki lost the only match she’s played against the Latvian teenager at the Connecticut Open last year, as she attempts to reach the semifinals in Charleston for the first time since raising the trophy in 2011.
“I think I’m well-prepared for tomorrow. I got some clay tennis in today and feel like I’m just going to go out there and have fun and do my best and see how it goes,” Wozniacki said. “I’m just playing right now. I had one practice session before the tournament started for me, and that was it. I just kind of run on experience and try and figure it out.”