Indian Wells: Best Shots Of The Week
Watch all of the best shots of the BNP Paribas Open – right here!
Watch all of the best shots of the BNP Paribas Open – right here!
WUHAN, China – Simona Halep has secured a spot at this year’s BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global. The Romanian joins Angelique Kerber and Serena Williams in the singles field.
Halep has secured her third consecutive qualification at the WTA Finals by reaching the semifinals with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Madison Keys at the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open on Thursday. Both of her previous appearances were in the first two editions of the WTA Finals held in Singapore – highlighted by her win over then World No.1 Serena Williams in the round-robin stage in 2014 en route to the finals followed by last year’s showing, where she defeated the 2015 US Open champion Flavia Pennetta in the round-robin stage.
“Congratulations to Simona on qualifying for the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global for the third consecutive year,” said WTA CEO Steve Simon. “She is an outstanding player who has enjoyed a very successful year with three Tour wins and fans in Singapore and following along around the world will enjoy watching her competitive spirit against the other top WTA athletes.”
Halep is one of four players to win three WTA singles titles in 2016 (also Azarenka, Kerber and Stephens), clinching her second Premier Mandatory trophy at the Mutua Madrid Open and back-to-back titles at the BRD Bucharest Open and Rogers Cup in Montréal, bringing her win-loss record to 43-14 (thru Wuhan QF). In addition, the 25-year-old reached two semifinals at the Apia International Sydney and Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati and four quarterfinals at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Miami Open, Wimbledon and the US Open.
“It means a lot to qualify for the WTA Finals Singapore – it was one of my goals this year,” said Halep. “It will be my third time in a row competing at the WTA Finals and I hope I play great. I have great memories from 2014 and am confident I can do well. I will be very focused.”
A keen tennis fan as well as an outstanding sports journalist, Dan started working on a freelance basis with the WTA in January 2017 and quickly became a key member of the Editorial team in London.
News of his sudden death was announced by his partner Liz Aubrey on Monday and tributes have been paid on social media for his contributions to both sports and music journalism, his other passion.
It is with the greatest sadness I must tell you that my beloved @DanLucas86 has passed away suddenly. He was the best person in the world. pic.twitter.com/wkb21myghr
— Elizabeth Aubrey (@aubrey_writes) March 13, 2017
Dan Lucas (former Louder Than War editor) RIP – Louder Than War https://t.co/CFzKkWwCGu
— john robb (@johnrobb77) March 13, 2017
From Northampton in the English Midlands, Dan lived in London. He had also worked for the Guardian and Telegraph’s sports departments, and music websites Louder Than War and Drowned In Sound.
Carrie Dunn, a friend and fellow content producer at WTA Networks, said: “I first worked with Dan when we were both part of the team doing live online coverage for the 2014 Paralympics. He was a sports enthusiast in the best way – his love for sport extended across disciplines and his thirst for knowledge (and his innate professionalism) meant that, even when he was encountering a discipline he did not know particularly well, he would throw himself into finding out about it. He was also a music journalist and his love for (and strong opinions about) music was also well documented – his social media feeds are testament to that. He was a good man and a good friend. On a professional level, he was a great writer and a good colleague – reliable, assiduous and someone it was fun to work with.”
Reda Maher, Head of Editorial and Social Media at WTA Networks, said: “We are shocked and dismayed by this sad news, Dan was extremely well liked and highly talented, his zest for life and enthusiasm for his craft impressed all he worked with at the WTA. Dan had a big future as part of our team. We send condolences and our deepest sympathies to Liz and Dan’s family.”
An interview with Heather Watson after her win in the first round of the Miami Open.
INDIAN WELLS, CA, USA – Sloane Stephens might be sidelined from the action at the BNP Paribas Open, but that doesn’t mean she’s been far away from the tennis courts.
While recovering from surgery on her left foot injury – which will leave her away from the tour until summer 2017 – Sloane has been taking to her new role as a reporter for Tennis Channel.
my boot adds character to every outfit I wear ? pic.twitter.com/OrFDPfeUjV
— Sloane Stephens (@SloaneStephens) March 14, 2017
“I’ve been able to hang out, watch some tennis – not what I would usually be doing at a tennis tournament!” she said on a Tennis Channel broadcast. “For the first time I’ve been able to be normal, and I’ve really had fun!”
From getting cooking lessons from celebrity chefs to player interviews to going undercover, Sloane has been making the most of her stint as a reporter. Check out some of her most memorable moments from the Indian Wells fortnight!
Working undercover a BNP Paribas Open info desk attendant:
A must watch. ?@WTA Pro @SloaneStephens went undercover for Tennis Channel Live as an info booth attendant at #BNPPO17.
Watch!!! ?? ?️ ? pic.twitter.com/voDplLBlq3
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) March 12, 2017
Interviewing American wildcard Kayla Day, who reached the third round at Indian Wells:
.@SloaneStephens and @kaylaeday having fun @TennisChannel. pic.twitter.com/4LxBvWJyH2
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) March 13, 2017
Mingling with famed chef and restaurateur Nobu Matsuhisa:
.@SloaneStephens on the job with Tennis Channel & Nobu Matsuhisa #BNPPO17 ?? pic.twitter.com/zbgArm5VOi
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) March 7, 2017
.@SloaneStephens ready to cook up a storm today at #BNPPO17 ?? pic.twitter.com/ZVWr9yaef1
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) March 7, 2017
Interviewing Vasek Pospisil after he scored a victory over ATP World No.1 Andy Murray:
If you missed it, our fav line of the day:
“I hear that you're single & ready to mingle.”
– @SloaneStephens to @VasekPospisil ?? ❤️ ?? pic.twitter.com/uUkuJQLAZY— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) March 14, 2017
“Everyone’s been like, ‘oh we loved it!'” Sloane said of the feedback she’s been receiving. “And you know how certain fans love certain players? When I did that thing on Dustin Brown, everyone was like ‘oh my god I love him, I love his hair!’
“So I’ve gotten really good feedback. But it’s mostly my family that’s been telling me it’s so cool.”
An interview with Angelique Kerber before the start of the Miami Open.
INDIAN WELLS, CA, USA – Venus Williams had to come back from a set down to oust Chinese qualifier Peng Shuai and make her way into the quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas Open.
After battling back from match point down earlier in the week against Jelena Jankovic, Venus was able to pull off another turnaround against Peng, advancing 3-6, 6-1, 6-3.
“There were some up-and-downs and errors. It was so frustrating,” Venus admitted in her post-match press conference. “But I feel like I got my focus more in that second set and towards the end of the third, because — I don’t know. I’m just a competitor.
“So if things get closer, then I think my better tennis is going to come. But obviously I don’t want things to get close. I want to try to run away with it.”
.@VenusesWilliams bossing the second set! #BNPPO17 pic.twitter.com/YOLZzAR5wt
— WTA (@WTA) March 14, 2017
It was one-way traffic for the Chinese player in the opening set, though, as Venus found herself down an early break almost as soon as she took to the court. Peng bossed the rallies with her tricky two-handed groundstrokes off both wings, and she quickly took the opening set with another solid break.
But it was a completely different story as the seven-time Grand Slam champion roared to life in the second. Venus found her rhythm to break Peng four times – the Chinese player avoided a shutout by grabbing one of the breaks back, but couldn’t stem the tide as the former World No.1 sent the match to a decider.
Comeback complete ✅@VenusesWilliams advances to @BNPParibasOpen Quarterfinals with a 3-6, 6-1, 6-3 win over Peng! pic.twitter.com/Du4ECgViqw
— WTA (@WTA) March 14, 2017
With the momentum – and the vocal southern California crowd – firmly behind her, Venus powered through the final set. She traded breaks early on, but got her second opening when a Peng double fault gifted her the chance to serve out the match.
Venus took her spot in the final eight with ease, moving into the Indian Wells quarterfinals after just under two hours.
She’ll play the winner of No.2 seed Angelique Kerber and Elena Vesnina for a spot in the semifinals.
Lucie Hradecka takes on Eugenie Bouchard in the first round of the Miami Open.
Karolina Pliskova talks about her performance at the BNP Paribas Open.
An interview with Simona Halep after her second round win at the Miami Open.