Cagla Buyukakcay's Shot Of The Day
Cagla Buyukakcay has Monday’s shot of the day at the Alya WTA Malaysian Open.
Cagla Buyukakcay has Monday’s shot of the day at the Alya WTA Malaysian Open.
Timea Bacsinszky takes on Simona Halep in the quarterfinals of the Miami Open.
BEIJING, China – No.5 seeds Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Lucie Safarova won their 16th match in a row to capture a third straight title in the finals of the China Open, upsetting top seeds Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic, 6-4, 6-4. Both teams will be ones to watch heading into the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.
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“It’s amazing, our third tournament in a row,” Safarova said as Mattek-Sands threw in a “Team Bucie!” cheer.
“We’re really on a roll, had some really great matches here, tough ones. We played great, both of us in the final,” turning to her partner to add, “Thank you B!”
The elated pair fell into giggles.
“I’ll play next to you any time, Lucie!”
Mattek-Sands and Safarova were a game from elimination against the French in the final of the US Open, but the 2015 Australian Open and French Open champions turned the tables on the reigning Roland Garros winners and have been unbeatable ever since, triumphing in Flushing and the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open heading into Beijing.
“We had a lot of fun, like we do at every tournament,” Mattek-Sands said of their weeks in Wuhan and Beijing. “We have fun on and off the court, from the warm-ups to the dinners and foot massages. We had a lot of fun here in China and we’re looking forward to coming back.”
Their win in Wuhan guaranteed a second straight appearance at the WTA Finals, and the pair will be aiming to erase tough memories from last year, when the two were forced to withdraw in the round robin stage due to injury.
“Thanks to the Chinese fans because they were amazing,” Safarova said. “They came with all kinds of great pictures and presents, and so it was really nice and special.”
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – The weather may have prevented a full day’s play on Wednesday at the Alya WTA Malaysian Open but the rain would not have dampened the spirits of Netherlands’ Lesley Kerkhove, who reached her first WTA quarterfinal.
The 25-year-old overcame Sabina Sharipova, 6-4, 6-4, in an hour and 19 minutes on centre court. Sharipova, 22, led 4-1 in the first set but Kerkhove was unfazed. “She didn’t make any mistakes until 4-1 but it was only one break,” she said. “I held my serve to 4-2 and then broke her back. From then on I played really aggressive, good tennis.”
.@LesleyKerkhove makes first #WTA Quarterfinal!
Downs Sharipova 6-4, 6-4 at @alyawtamo! pic.twitter.com/mvFivSNJN4
— WTA (@WTA) March 1, 2017
Dutch qualifier Kerkhove upset No.7 seed Elise Mertens in the first round in Kuala Lumpur, 6-4, 7-6 (4), on Monday and next faces Nao Hibino, who lies 89 places higher in the WTA rankings, after the Japanese received a walkover against Elina Svitolina. However, the World No.195 said she relishes being the underdog.
“I’ve played only higher-ranked players here. I’m No.195, I’m not that high. So every player is better ranked than me. I like to be the underdog, it’s nice to play like this.”
In the opening singles match on day three, China’s Zhang Kai-Lin defeated Japan’s Risa Ozaki, 6-2, 6-4. Zhang’s impressive first serve – she won 64% of points off the back of hers in contrast to 35% for her opponent – proved decisive in her first main draw win of the year.
Long-time doubles partners Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka took to the court together once more at the Tianjin Open – as singles opponents – with the latter emerging victorious, 7-5, 6-4.
The Czech pair have long teamed up as doubles partners with great success, winning the 2011 French Open and 2013 US Open titles together. They will play together once more in a fortnight’s time at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.
However, their personal friendship was put to one side in Tianjin and Hradecka has admitted that it felt bizarre to meet Hlavackova for the fourth time in her career.
“You know, it was a tough match playing against Andrea,” she said after the match.
“It’s always tough because we play with each other in doubles and we’re going for the Masters. It’s really tough, you have to concentrate. It’s a strange situation, certainly.
“I’m so happy that I’m through and I’m looking forward to the next match.”
Looking forward, Hradecka says she and Hlavackova are excited to play in the Singapore, which gets underway on October 23.
“We’re looking forward to being in Singapore again, it’s great that we did it this year as well. You know, I think we’re both so excited to be there with the best doubles players in the world.”
Ashleigh Barty grabbed her place in the quarterfinals of the Alya Malaysian Open, brushing aside fellow qualifier Miyu Kato, and then with Casey Dellacqua booked a semifinal spot in the doubles.
TIANJIN, China – Monica Puig booked her place in the second round of the Tianjin Open on Tuesday with a straight sets victory over Kurumi Nara.
The Puerto Rican made a slow start to the match, being broken in the opening game but she soon recovered, breaking back to level the score at 2-2 before moving ahead at 5-3 and serving out the set.
She soon skipped into a 5-2 lead in the second but, serving for the match, she lost four straight games and was forced to confirm her victory via a tie-break.
“I’m really excited to be back here in Tianjin and I’m really excited to have won my first match, so I’m really looking forward to continuing and playing some good tennis,” she said after the game.
Commenting on the colder conditions in Tiajin, she said: “I just try and warm up my body as much as possible before going out onto the court so I don’t feel that cold but you have to deal with it in the end.”
Meanwhile, American qualifier Shelby Rogers scored an eye-catching win over No.3 seed Elena Vesnina. Serving at 5-6 in the first set, the Russian succumbed to the pressure and went down 7-5.
The 30-year-old rallied in the second set, claiming it 6-4 but, having fought back from a break down in the decider, her tournament was ended on a tie-break.
Another American to cause an upset was Alison Riske, who overcame fourth seed Timea Babos in three sets. Having cruised through the first set 6-2, the Hungarian was broken late in the second to level proceedings.
Riske raced into a 3-0 lead with two breaks in the decider and though Babos recovered one, the 26-year-old held her nerve to claim a big-name scalp.
Puig, Rogers and Riske will be joined in the second round by Magda Linette, who beat Nina Stojanovic in straight sets, Naomi Osaka knocked out eighth seed Yaroslava Shvedova, 6-4, 6-2, Lara Arruabarrena overcame Fangzhou Liu in three and Evgeniya Rodina triumphed against Christina McHale, 6-1, 5-7, 6-0.
ACAPULCO, Mexico – No.2 seed Kristina Mladenovic suffered no letdown after her three hour thriller against Heather Watson, dispatching Belgium’s Kirsten Flipkens, 6-4, 6-3, to reach the final four at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel.
“I’m very happy,” the French star said after the match. “I had great sensations when I woke up this morning; I was very satisfied with my effort last night because the work is paying off for me to win a three and a half hour battle and wake up pretty fine. My physio did a good job as well.
“We finished very late, but the advantage of playing here in Acapulco is getting to have most of the next day to work and rest. I came out very strong and didn’t even warm-up today – just fitness after three and a half hours of tennis.”
Mladenovic recovered well from playing the second longest match of the season, hitting 21 winners to just 13 unforced errors in the 82 minute match.
Solid slice from @KiKiMladenovic ? #AMT2017 pic.twitter.com/dssgWkzPzp
— WTA (@WTA) March 3, 2017
“It was similar conditions today, and I think I played really good. I fixed the big problem I had on my serve yesterday, when I hit 20 double faults! Only five today! I think overall it was a great match; I had to be very consistent but also aggressive because Kirsten has a lot of variety, and it’s not easy to control her slices here.
“The ball is flying here, but I think I did a good job playing aggressive but also being patient with her tricky game. I’m just very happy to come back after yesterday’s tough win.”
The St. Petersburg champion earned big leads to start each set, winning the first three games of the match and racing out to a quick 4-0 lead to start the second set, but Flipkens – a 2013 Wimbledon semifinalist – gave Mladenovic all she could as the match headed to a dramatic conclusion.
Powerful backhand shot from @KiKiMladenovic ? #AMT2017 pic.twitter.com/cywlI0Zhc3
— WTA (@WTA) March 3, 2017
“The first was very close, and I continued on the same path. She might have wanted to change her game at the start of the second, so she tried going for more and ended up giving me a few more unforced errors that made the difference.
“It gave me a big lead, but she kept fighting until the end, and came up with some incredible shots at the end. I had to really dig deep there, especially at 4-2 on my serve. I was in danger most of the game, but I survived and held, which was very important because had I lost serve, it would have been a different match.
JUST clips the line! ?
Impressive stuff from @FlipperKF! #AMT2017 pic.twitter.com/H19v2cohLX
— WTA (@WTA) March 3, 2017
“The last game wasn’t easy to close out either; I could feel like she was playing freely at that point and she was going for her shots. It’s obviously a great feeling to be in the semifinals here, especially after such an epic match. It feels like I’ve been in the office all day long.”
.@KiKiMladenovic defeats Flipkens 6-4, 6-3!
Sets @AbiertoTelcel Semifinal vs @ChristinaMcHale! #AMT2017 pic.twitter.com/nNfA4kVQzP
— WTA (@WTA) March 3, 2017
Up next for Mladenovic is Christina McHale, a 2014 finalist in Acapulco who ousted reigning Olympic Gold medalist Monica Puig in straight sets in the first quarterfinal. The pair last played at this very tournament, with McHale winning en route to the final.
? & a ? from @KiKiMladenovic! #AMT2017 pic.twitter.com/JccEXKygn9
— WTA (@WTA) March 3, 2017
LINZ, Austria – Roland Garros champion Garbiñe Muguruza edged closer to claiming her spot at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global, dispatching Cagla Buyukakcay, 6-4, 6-4, in the first round of the Generali Ladies Linz.
“It was a tough first round. I think we both played well, so it was a battle out there, and a great feeling to start the tournament with a win like this,” she said after the match.
Making her debut in Linz, Muguruza overcame a tough test from the Turkish No.1, who made history for her country by taking home the Istanbul title earlier this season.
“I was looking forward to Linz because it’s new for me, new city, new tournament. I don’t play a lot of new tournaments, so I was excited.
“I just try to go out there and do my best, try to win somehow, playing my tennis and being aggressive. It’s funny because it when there’s no win, everyone plays perfect. The conditions makes things equal.”
Holding on to take the first set after five breaks of serve, the Spaniard broke to 15 to start the second and served out the win in one hour and 38 minutes.
“I was calm and concentrated, even when she was playing great shots and solid in the important moments. I hung in there and waited for my opportunities.”
Up next for the former World No.2 is Monica Niculescu, who won a thrilling three-setter over Madison Brengle on Monday.
“I’ve never played against her, or even practiced together, so it’ll be interesting. I think we have opposite styles, so I think it’s going to be a fun match.”
The highest-ranked woman on the Road to Singapore leaderboard yet to qualify for Singapore, Muguruza could guarantee a second straight WTA Finals appearance by winning the title; if Johanna Konta and Dominika Cibulkova both lose their matches on Thursday, she qualifies by beating Niculescu.
“It’s something great to accomplish, to be part of the eight best players, so you obviously always have it in the back of your mind, wanting to achieve that. But I’m more focused on holding the trophy here.
“I have no idea what I have to do, but hopefully I keep winning, and I earn my spot. I go with the flow!”