Stuttgart: Radwanska Interview
An interview with Agnieszka Radwanska after her win in the second round of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix.
An interview with Agnieszka Radwanska after her win in the second round of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix.
An interview with Caroline Wozniacki on her season thus far at the Qatar Total Open.
STUTTGART, Germany – No.2 seed Angelique Kerber outlasted rival and former World No.2 Petra Kvitova to advance to a second straight final at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, ousting the two-time Wimbledon winner, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.
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The reigning Australian Open champion trailed in her overall head-to-head with Kvitova 3-4 before their semifinal, but won their most recent encounter at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global. Kerber looked on course for a similarly efficient victory as she raced out to a 4-1 double break advantage – behind some stirring play and surprising double faults from her opponent.
“It’s a little bit different,” Kerber told press when asked about playing a fellow lefty. “The serve is a little bit different when it comes from a left-hander. I was warming up today with a lefty so that was maybe good for me. But still it’s always tricky to play against a lefty as well. I mean today after like the first few games I got used to it. But it’s always not so easy and a little bit different.”
Kvitova, who opted out of the Czech Republic’s Fed Cup semifinal as no to interrupt her clay court preparation, showed off her signature shotmaking to reduce the deficit, and while Kerber served the opening set out to love, it was still anyone’s game in the second set.
Things stayed level until the tenth game, when Kvitova broke through and converted her third break point of the set (she would have 13 overall). Kerber needed a lifeline that came in the form of German pop singer Helene Fischer’s “Atemlos,” which played over the loudspeaker much as it did one year earlier in the final against Caroline Wozniacki.
“The crowd really gave me a lot of energy today. They really pushed me to my limits, because I was a little bit down after the second set and then I was just trying to focus again and pushing myself. The crowd gives me so much energy to do that, and with the song and with the support of all of them, they gave me the chance like to start very well in the third set.”
Undaunted, Kerber immediately reclaimed the advantage with a break of her own, ultimately racing out to a 5-2 lead in the final set; saving three break points when serving for the match, she only needed one match point to defeat the No.5 seed in just over two hours.
“I knew how she’s playing; she’s playing really hard and aggressive and also the serve is always good. So, I was trying to move good and mentally be ready to have a great battle against her and taking this challenge. I think I was mentally ready for the match.”
A high quality match throughout, Kvitova maintained an impressive differential in winners to unforced errors (47 to 33), but hit nine double faults by match’s end – nearly doubling her total from her first three matches combined. Kerber, by contrast, kept things far more even with 17 winners to 14 unforced errors, and convered five of her 10 break point chances.
Looking to defend her title in front of a home crowd, Kerber will have to defeat either top seed Agnieszka Radwanska – who took back the No.2 ranking from Kerber last week in Charleston – or countrywoman Laura Siegemund, who is in the midst of a career-defining week after emerging through the qualifying to defeat Simona Halep and Roberta Vinci en route to the semifinals.
“I think it will be a good semi; Laura has nothing to lose. So, she will for sure go out there and try to beat Aga. But Aga will try to get into the final here as well. So, I think it will be a good match from both of them and I will be watching the match on the TV.”
No.3 seed Dominika Cibulkova warded off the formidable challenge of Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova to take a three-set victory and advance into the quarterfinals in Qatar.
World No.1 Serena Williams turned heads away from the tennis court on Saturday night, as she was featured heavily in Beyoncé’s latest longform music video, entitled, “Lemonade.”
Appearing during the song “Sorry” off of Beyoncé’s long awaited new studio album, the two pop culture icons share the screen as the Grammy Award-winning musician pays homage to Williams’ Sports Illustrated Sports Person of the Year cover photo.
Learn more about the song here and check out some footage from the video below:
Serena Williams better twerk next to Bey! #Lemonade pic.twitter.com/sBJlNgwS3S
— Essence Magazine (@essencemag) April 24, 2016
Yup ☺️ https://t.co/AU7Zjgk468
— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) April 24, 2016
We all got throne for a loop tonight. #Lemonade #Serena #Beyonce pic.twitter.com/c2v5pFJnmu
— Jonathan Scott (@jonscott9) April 24, 2016
ST. PETERSBURG, FL, USA – The WTA announced today that Dubai Duty Free, the world’s leading airport retailer, has extended its longstanding global sponsorship of women’s tennis.
Under the agreement, Dubai Duty Free continues as one of the WTA’s premier sponsors, with the partnership’s core elements designed to align Dubai Duty Free’s standing as the single largest airport duty free retailer in the world with the WTA’s premium assets.
The Dubai Duty Free Player Ambassador Program will be supported by WTA players Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark and Zhang Shuai of China. Wozniacki continues her role as a valued
ambassador for the sixth year and Zhang Shuai is newly introduced into the program, representing Dubai Duty Free’s focus on China and leveraging WTA’s extensive exposure and reach in the region.
Additionally, the agreement continues Dubai Duty Free’s sponsorship of the WTA Year-End World No.1 singles and doubles awards, most recently presented to Angelique Kerber and Sania Mirza at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.
A WTA sponsor since 2004, Dubai Duty Free’s partnership with the WTA has over the years been marked by leadership and innovation. Dubai Duty Free has been a longstanding supporter of the WTA, having been the first event in the Middle East to award equal prize money and a strong supporter of the growth of women’s tennis throughout the region. Dubai Duty Free is the owner, organizer and title sponsor of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, an equal prize money Premier tournament on the WTA calendar and a cornerstone event for women’s and men’s tennis in the Middle East. The ATP week is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year and will once again attract the top players in the world.
Past winners of the tournament include several former WTA World No.1s including four-time champion Justine Henin, three-time champion Venus Williams, Caroline Wozniacki, Martina Hingis, Lindsay Davenport and Amélie Mauresmo.
“The WTA is extremely pleased to continue our partnership with Dubai Duty Free,” stated WTA CEO and Chairman Steve Simon. “Dubai Duty Free has provided its unwavering support for women’s tennis and we look forward to this next chapter together in growing the sport even more.”
Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman & CEO, Dubai Duty Free, remarked, “We are delighted to continue our long standing association with the WTA and have introduced some new marketing initiatives that will create further global awareness of our brand. In the meantime, we are looking forward to a great fortnight of tennis, commencing on the 19th February with the WTA Premier 5 week and welcome all of our players to Dubai.”
Petra Kvitova takes on Garbiñe Muguruza in the quarterfinals of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix.
Caroline Wozniacki pulled off a stunning straight-sets victory over fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska to reach the quarterfinals of the Qatar Total Open.
Angelique Kerber takes on Petra Kvitova in the semifinals of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix.
Monica Puig advanced to her first semifinal since her historic gold medal run at Rio after coming from a set down to beat Russian teenager Daria Kasatkina.