SINGAPORE – Angelique Kerber needed three sets, but got the job done against No.7 seed Dominika Cibulkova, 7-6(5), 2-6, 6-3, to move into second place in the Red Group at the BNP Pairbas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.
Relive all the action, including play-by-play analysis, stats, and quotes from the first match from Singapore!
BERLIN, Germany – Serena Williams became the first woman to win three Laureus Sportswoman of the Year Award on Monday.
The World No.1 enjoyed an incredible 2015 season, in which she earned her second Serena Slam and the first three legs of the Calendar Year Grand Slam at the Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon. A wall-to-wall No.1 for the second time in her career, Williams finished atop the WTA rankings for the fifth time in her career.
One of only three WTA players to take home the award, Williams has been nominated ten times, winning it in 2003 and 2010.
Williams had been tied with Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva, who had also won the award twice.
The Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year is Serena Williams!
#LWSA16 pic.twitter.com/noODZ7vIWc
— Laureus (@LaureusSport) April 18, 2016
SINGAPORE – World No.4 Simona Halep always preaches the need to be “strong in the legs”. Turns out she’s not just talking about tennis.
A day after notching scoring a strong 6-2, 6-4 win over Madison Keys in her opening match at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global, a relaxed Halep was back on the practice courts at Singapore Indoor Stadium. In addition to a more relaxed attitude, it seems the Romanian is picking up a few more Australian habits from coach Darren Cahill.
New recruit for @afl Women's League with @Adelaide_FC? Great outside speed ?? @Simona_Halep will be in Adelaide for December training ? pic.twitter.com/VTGH0v9rLU
— Darren Cahill (@darren_cahill) October 24, 2016
Did that land on the roof of the Marina Bay Sands? Not bad.
Interestingly, Cahill also confirmed Halep’s pre-season plan to train in Adelaide ahead of the start of the 2017 season. That’s a notable change to her past preferences, which have favored staying home in Romania. Halep has floated the idea of doing her pre-season outside of Europe and it’s a smart decision to opt for Australia. Not only is Cahill based there, but training in the Aussie heat can only help her chances at the Australian Open in January.
But meanwhile, there’s still work to be done. Halep faces World No.1 Angelique Kerber in the second round of group play on Tuesday. Halep can secure her spot in the quarterfinals if she can score a straight-set win.
Highlights from round-robin action at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.
An interview with Madison Keys after her round-robin win at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.
Svetlana Kuznetsova’s late season surge into Singapore made headlines, but the WTA veteran’s hot shots have been turning heads all season long. Watch all of her best shots of 2016, right here!
Highlights from round-robin action at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.
In 2015, Anastasija Sevastova came out of retirement. A year later, she scored the biggest win of her career – and one of the biggest upsets of 2016 – over No.3 seed Garbiñe Muguruza at the US Open.
Sevastova was a rising star back in 2011, reaching a career-high ranking of No.36 at 20 years old. But injuries soon sapped the desire away from the young Latvian, who hung up her racquets two years later, and was off the tour for two years more. After a few stints in coaching and studying, she decided to give tennis another go.
What brought her back to the sport?
“This one, this stage,” she said, gesturing to the enormous Arthur Ashe Stadium after her second round stunner. “I mean, look at that. It cannot get bigger.”
It doesn’t get much bigger than Arthur Ashe, and they don’t get much bigger than French Open champion Muguruza.
Sevastova, who started out the year ranked No.110, played well above her ranking and took a tight opening set at 7-5 before racing out to a 5-1 lead in the second.
With the finish line in sight, she faced a bit of a mental wobble as Muguruza clawed her way back up to 5-4 with the Spaniard serving to even the score.
In 2015, she came out of retirement. Tonight, she beats a GS champ. #Sevastova d. #Muguruza 7-5, 6-4. @MBUSA #usopen https://t.co/a5xfmjm8XC
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 1, 2016
“I stopped thinking. I was thinking too much at 5-2, 5-3. Then I said, ‘Okay, I have one more chance at 5-4. She’s serving. I broke her before enough times, so I will try this one more time,'” Sevastova explained.
“And still, even then it’s only 5-5. It’s still an open match like the first set.”
That positivity took the Latvian over the finish line, breaking serve to love to clinch the biggest upset of the US Open thus far – and the biggest win of her career – winning 7-5, 6-4.
But after the match, Sevastova was the first to keep her feet firmly on the ground.
“It still hasn’t settled in,” she said in her post-match press conference. “I mean, I’m tired mentally and it’s late. Normally I go to sleep at this time.
“It feels great, but it’s still not like I won the tournament. It’s only second round.”
Sevastova would go on to reach her first Grand Slam quarterfinal – knocking out No.14 Johanna Konta along the way – but her colossal second round victory over the reigning Roland Garros champion clocks in as the No.5 biggest upset of 2016.
All photos courtesy of Getty Images.
An interview with KarolinaPliskova after her round-robin defeat at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.
CHARLESTON, SC, USA – Petra Kvitova will take to the green clay of Charleston for the first time as the Volvo Car Open announced that she’s adding the tournament to her 2017 schedule.
“I’m very excited to play in the Volvo Car Open for the first time,” Kvitova said. “I’ve heard what a wonderful city Charleston is and the Volvo Car Open is a great tournament, so of course I’m looking forward to April.”
Can't wait to finally play at this great tournament! https://t.co/mwUJgzfee7
— Petra Kvitova (@Petra_Kvitova) 13 de diciembre de 2016
“We have been pursuing Petra to enter Charleston for more than four years,” said Eleanor Adams, Tournament Manager. “To say we are excited is an understatement! Petra’s left-handed game and serve are perfectly suited for our courts. The fans will be amazed by her talent, fierceness and gracious personality – we can hardly wait!”
The two-time Wimbledon champion will be in good company on the green clay, joining Venus Williams, Caroline Wozniacki, Madison Keys, Johanna Konta, Sloane Stephens, Monica Puig and Elena Vesnina at the largest women’s-only tennis tournament in North America.
Click here to visit the tournament’s official website for more information and tickets options.