CoCo Vandeweghe On Balancing Multiple Inputs Throughout Her Career
CoCo Vandeweghe discusses the importance of listening to different voices – from parents to various coaches – throughout her career during a press conference at the Australian Open.
CoCo Vandeweghe discusses the importance of listening to different voices – from parents to various coaches – throughout her career during a press conference at the Australian Open.
Top seeds Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Sania Mirza eased into the last eight of the Australian Open mixed doubles event with Mike Bryan and Ivan Dodig, respectively.
Simona Halep takes on Caroline Garcia in the second round of the Apia International Sydney.
MELBOURNE, Australia – No.2 seeds Sania Mirza and Ivan Dodig overcame a stern test from the unseeded Gabriela Dabrowski and Rohan Bopanna to move into the semifinals of the mixed doubles competition at the Australian Open.
Mirza and Dodig needed one hour and seven minutes to complete the 6-4, 3-6, (12-10) victory despite hitting 19 winners to Dabrowski and Bopanna’s 32.
It was an interesting match for Mirza in particular, as the last time she shared a court with Bopanna they were on the same side of the net at the Olympic tennis event in Rio representing India in doubles. They finished fourth in the competition after losing the bronze medal match.
Up next for Mirza and Dodig will be a potential clash with another familiar pair of faces for the Indian World No.2, as they’ll take on either Mirza’s former doubles partner Martina Hingis and fellow Indian star Leander Paes or the Aussie duo Samantha Stosur and Sam Groth.
Also through to the semifinals are the unseeded duo of Abigail Spears and Juan Sebastian Cabal, who defeated Michaella Krajicek and Raven Klaasen, 6-4 6-3. They’ll face the winners between the top-seeded Americans Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Mike Bryan or Elina Svitolina and Chris Guccione.
The 2016 Aces For Humanity campaign was launched by USANA and the WTA at the BNP Paribas Open and continued in Montréal at the Rogers Cup, 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, Monica Puig, Sloane Stephens, Zheng Saisai, Alizé Cornet and Caroline Wozniacki hit 72 of the 320 aces at Stanford – raising a grand total of $1960 throughout the week. Keys hit the most with 43 aces.
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 Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati. Last year there was a total of 359 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
• Eastbourne deadline is August 16 at 11:59pm ET
• The winner will be announced August 22nd
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.
Serena Williams says that playing her big sister in the Australian Open final means it’s a win-win situation for her…
Petra Kvitova finds herself caught at the crossroads of two tennis eras – but she quite likes it that way.
The big hitting lefty is not quite in the generation of WTA veterans like Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova and Venus Williams. But in turn, she’s not in the crowd of new stars likes Garbiñe Muguruza, Simona Halep and fellow Czech Karolina Pliskova who are fast on the rise. Kvitova remains the first and only Grand Slam winner – male or female – born in the 90s.
How does the two-time Wimbledon champion feel about being the most accomplished member of this ‘in between’ group?
“I don’t feel any pressure,” Kvitova told China’s CCTV in Shenzhen. “I know that Serena has been there for a long time – she’s still the biggest champion that we have. And the younger generation is coming up and they are pushing us a lot. I think it’s good that we can see many [new] faces playing so well.
“There’s room in tennis right now – it’s very open. It’s nice to compete and not really be expecting who can win. It’s more difficult and less predictable this way.”
Kvitova experienced first-hand the unpredictability of the emerging younger generation: at last year’s Australian Open, she was stunned by a then 19-year-old Madison Keys in the third round.
The Australian Open is Kvitova’s toughest major: her best results in Melbourne have been an appearance in the quarterfinal in 2011 and in the semifinal in 2012. But if she could choose which of the four slams she’d like to win, the Czech is up for the challenge.
“If I could have another Grand Slam, I would pick either the Australian Open or the French Open,” she said. “At the Australian Open, the hard courts, I just love that Grand Slam a lot. I feel so relaxed in Australia.”
To make that wish come true, Kvitova is facing an uphill climb. She was forced to withdraw from Shenzhen in her first round match and later from Sydney – where she was the defending champion – due to a stomach virus. The last time she played a complete match was at the Fed Cup final, when she helped propel the Czech Republic to victory more than two months ago.
If Kvitova can shake off the off-season rust and beat her lingering illness, the Czech is poised for a deep run in Melbourne – as long as she can make it past the initial hurdles and build up the confidence she needs.
“I don’t really like the beginning of the tournaments, for sure,” Kvitova said. “But that’s how it is – it’s probably normal that I’m improving my game with each match in a tournament.
“And then when the finish line comes, I’m feeling better about my game.”
Serena Williams talks about the impact she thinks she and sister Venus have had on the sport.
MELBOURNE, Australia – It was during the wee hours of the morning for most of the world when Serena Williams defeated Venus Williams in the final of the Australian Open, clinching an Open Era record 23 Grand Slam titles.
But the impact of Serena’s victory was felt all over the world, and the congratulations poured in from big names everywhere – from her tennis peers on the WTA and beyond, to fellow sports stars and celebrities.
One of the first to send her congrats was Karlie Kloss – she gave them to the champion in person. The model was in Melbourne and at Rod Laver Arena with a front row view to Serena’s monumental achievement.
Congratulations @SerenaWilliams on your @AustralianOpen victory!! ? pic.twitter.com/k4Dl8T3nFn
— Karlie Kloss (@karliekloss) January 28, 2017
.@karliekloss and @alexisohanian congratulating the #AusOpen 2017 Champion @serenawilliams pic.twitter.com/B1iq2fLxf9
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 28, 2017
Also in the front row? Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian, though you might know him better as Serena’s fiancé:
I'm so proud of you, Serena. https://t.co/i2HhjyeJhv
— Alexis Ohanian (@alexisohanian) January 28, 2017
Serena’s fellow Nike athletes – led by basketball legend Kobe Bryant – sent had a simple yet powerful message for her: “Greatest ever.”
#GOAT pic.twitter.com/38itTeQijV
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) January 28, 2017
Greatest ever. @SerenaWilliams #justdoit https://t.co/1AIDDsYoXW pic.twitter.com/ETrlYcq5rE
— Eden hazard (@hazardeden10) January 28, 2017
Congrats, Serena! Greatest ever! #justdoit @serenawilliams pic.twitter.com/SEYPg0CxWl
— Dirk Nowitzki (@swish41) January 28, 2017
Congrats on #23 @serenawilliams!?? pic.twitter.com/KbLPCMK1qU
— Allyson Felix (@allysonfelix) January 28, 2017
The WWE even put Serena’s accomplishment in a category of its own, creating a specially-designed title belt for the 23-time Grand Slam champion. She can add this to the custom surprise she received from one of sports’ biggest legends, Michael Jordan.
The WWE created a special championship belt for Serena Williams after she won her 23rd grand slam this morning. pic.twitter.com/BT5xiAZoEt
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) January 28, 2017
But as the rest of the world woke up to the news of Serena’s history-making achievement, congratulations began to pour in from all over the Twitter-sphere.
Check out some of the best celebrity tweets:
Exciting to see @serenawilliams make more history. What an amazing tennis weekend. #WilliamsSisters
— Ben Stiller (@RedHourBen) January 28, 2017
Congrats to #WilliamsSisters #AustralianOpen2017#finals @serenawilliams #23grandslams @Venuseswilliams #history
— Mike Tyson (@MikeTyson) January 28, 2017
Up late for the best reason in the world. Venus & Serena.The tennis nerd in me is filled with fangirl joy. #AustralianOpen #SerenavsVenus
— shonda rhimes (@shondarhimes) January 28, 2017
You gotta admire these awesome women. V&S show us what family means, how to be unapologetically competitive & what a little swagger can do.
— shonda rhimes (@shondarhimes) January 28, 2017
Serena and Venus I love you both. Barriers broken smashed and demolished, you represent us all Everytime and we forever love you. Thank you
— Trey Songz (@TreySongz) January 28, 2017
The reason I picked up a tennis racquet #WilliamsSisters
— Minenhle Dlamini (@MinnieDlamini) January 28, 2017
Getting my whole life with @Venuseswilliams and @serenawilliams right now #AusOpen
— Laverne Cox (@Lavernecox) January 28, 2017
YESSS! congrats @serenawilliams ? “the top is never lonely when your best friend is there” #blackgirlmagic #sistergoals #23 pic.twitter.com/NG42csnNTX
— chloe x halle (@chloeandhalle) January 28, 2017
The Williams Sisters 2 of the most amazing sportspersons of our time …..period!!!!!! @serenawilliams @Venuseswilliams
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) January 28, 2017
G.O.A.T ???????????????????????beyond proud my friend @serenawilliams A legend! An icon! Rena congrats on your 23rd… pic.twitter.com/83ZsNd7FAk
— LA LA (@lala) January 28, 2017
Huge congrats to both Williams sisters! @serenawilliams @Venuseswilliams You guys are an inspiration! #AusOpen2017
— scott foley (@scottkfoley) January 28, 2017
Daria Gavrilova rallied the troops at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy to watch the Australian Open final; check out their reaction to championship point right here on wtatennis.com.