Indian Wells: Bacsinszky Interview
An interview with Timea Bacsinszky after her win in the third round of the BNP Paribas Open.
An interview with Timea Bacsinszky after her win in the third round of the BNP Paribas Open.
TOKYO, Japan – Former champion Caroline Wozniacki ended qualifier Magda Linette’s run at the Toray Pan Pacific Open with a straight-set win in Friday’s quarterfinal.
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Continuing the form that took her to the US Open semifinals and past No.4 seed Carla Suárez Navarro in the previous round, Wozniacki overcame a spirited showing from Linette to run out a 6-4, 6-3 winner in an hour and 22 minutes.
World No.109 Linette needed nearly three hours to get past Yulia Putintseva on Thursday and despite having chances in both sets was unable to upset her more celebrated hitting partner.
“She’s been playing really well lately, had a lot of matches. She’s a good friend of mine and we practice a lot so we know each other’s game,” Wozniacki said. “I was just happy that I stayed tough and managed to serve it out in the end.”
Another good day at the office! Semifinals tomorrow ???? #tokyo pic.twitter.com/0CkWKkmXfv
— Caroline Wozniacki (@CaroWozniacki) September 23, 2016
The Dane drew on all her experience to take an evenly contested opening set, breaking in the final game when Linette netted with a tired forehand. Making a mockery of her lowly ranking, Linette continued to pose questions in the second set, attacking the net with relish. Ultimately, though, Wozniacki had too many answers, taking the final four games to reach a fifth semifinal in the Japanese capital.
In 2010 Wozniacki ended up going all the way and she continues her bid to reclaim the title against another Pole, No.2 seed Agnieszka Radwanska.
“We’ve played many times before, and again she’s a close friend. It’s going to be another tough one because she’s been playing well this week, but I’m just happy to be in the semifinals again.”
SYDNEY, Australia – Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova won an all-Russian battle with defending champion Svetlana Kuznetsova to advance into the quarterfinals of the Apia International Sydney.
“I’m really happy, not only because she’s defending champion, but also my fellow player,” she said after the match. “She’s Top 10 and has had a really incredible year last year. I knew it’d be a really tough match and I was just trying to play good tennis, and take this as prep for Melbourne.”
Pavlyuchenkova had lost five of her last six encounters with her veteran compatriot, and things seemed to be moving in similar fashion to start Tuesday’s match.
Kuznetsova twice moved ahead by a break of serve to start, and served for the opening set at 5-4, only to see Pavlyuchenkova reel off the last three games to nab just her third set from her fellow Russian.
“I think I did everything well! I wasn’t serving as well as I did yesterday; I was a little upset with that, but I’m so happy that even with a lower first-serve percentage, that I was able to win the match in two sets.”
.@NastiaPav takes a hard-fought first set 7-5! #SydneyTennis pic.twitter.com/OqEFfSXu2z
— WTA (@WTA) January 10, 2017
The pair exchanged breaks early in the second, with last year’s Wimbledon quarterfinalist moving ahead 5-2 after a long service game, eventually clinching the win in one hour and 38 minutes.
“It’s just very different conditions here; last week was my first match of the year, plus it was cold, windy, with fast courts. I had Goerges there and she was just serving bombs so it was difficult for me to get into any rallies.
“I had zero expectations here; I was just trying to enjoy the tennis, but it’s working good so far.”
Up next for Pavlyuchenkova is either Eugenie Bouchard or No.3 seed Dominika Cibulkova.
“Cibulkova had an incredible year last year as well; she won the Masters and is in really good form. She’s a great fighter. I’ve never played Bouchard before. I don’t think we’ve even practiced together. I don’t know what to expect so I think I’ll watch some of their match today.”
.@NastiaPav reaches the @SydneyTennis Quarterfinals!
Beats defending champ Kuznetsova 7-5, 6-3! pic.twitter.com/ievj8PWCdM
— WTA (@WTA) January 10, 2017
Caroline Wozniacki has Friday’s Shot Of The Day at the Toray Pan Pacific Open.
WTA Insider Courtney Nguyen | In the second round of the Apia International Sydney, Daria Kasatkina finally scored the win she has been threatening for months, upsetting World No.1 Angelique Kerber in straight sets.
WUHAN, China – Before main draw action got underway at the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open, the WTA stars set to take the court took to the red carpet for the Player’s Party. No.4 seed Simona Halep and No.5 seed Karolina Pliskova each struck a pose for the cameras, along with some of the biggest names in women’s tennis.
Check out the best photos courtesy of Getty Images:
Simona Halep (ROU)
Karolina Pliskova (CZE)
Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS)
Lucie Safarova (CZE)
Belinda Bencic (SUI)
Caroline Garcia (FRA)
Petra Kvitova (CZE)
Madison Keys (USA)
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS)
Carla Suárez Navarro (ESP)
An interview with Naomi Osaka after her loss in the final of the Toray Pan Pacific Open.
Highlights from final round action at the Toray Pan Pacific Open.
Simona Halep takes on Irina-Camelia Begu in the second round of the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open.
Jelena Jankovic takes on Garbiñe Muguruza in the second round of the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open.