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Inspired Cibulkova Digs Deep To Reach Wuhan Final, Returns To Top 10

Inspired Cibulkova Digs Deep To Reach Wuhan Final, Returns To Top 10

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

WUHAN, China – Dominika Cibulkova completed her arduous journey to the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open final with a thrilling victory over Svetlana Kuznetsova

Watch live action from Wuhan on WTA Live powered by TennisTV!

After over two and half hours of thrilling tennis, Cibulkova added the finishing touch to a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory by thumping a backhand onto the baseline. In the final she will face the winner of Friday’s evening session, Petra Kvitova.

“It feels great. I’m really tired right now, but the feeling to be in the final is unbelievable, and that’s why I love it,” Cibulkova said. “It’s just a great win for me today.”

Cibulkova’s path to the final has been far from straightforward. Rain earlier in the week forced the Slovak to play both her last 16 and quarterfinal matches on Thursday, making the level of play against Kuznetsova all the more remarkable.

“I would say that nothing has been easy here. I’ve had really tough matches from the first round so you don’t expect anything easy from this tournament. I’m really looking forward to another final and I want to keep going, keep playing like this,” Cibulkova added.

Outthought and outfought in the first set, Cibulkova went back to the drawing board at the start of the second. Her change of tack reaped immediate dividends, bookending a trademark drive volley with a couple of perfectly executed drop shots to break in the opening game.

“I have my notes with me [on court] for a couple of years now and it’s helping me, so it’s nothing new for me but it’s something that keeps me focused and helps me remember things to do – it’s just a reminder for me. But it helped me today.”

While this advantage did not last for long, the tide was turning, Cibulkova taking four of the last five games to force a decider.

With the contest in the balance, Cibulkova somehow managed to summon her best tennis. Serving at 4-4, 15-30, she finished a series of energy sapping points with spectacular winners to edge ahead. This sequence seemed to drain the belief from Kuznetsova, who soon found herself staring at three match points. One was enough, Cibulkova pouncing on an inviting serve to reach her fifth final of the season.

The result not only guarantees a return to the Top 10 but also boosts her hopes of reaching the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global for the first time. She will now occupy one of the eight qualification spots on Monday, regardless of the result in the final. 

WTA Finals: Get Your Tickets! 

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Muguruza Dodges Begu In Beijing, Eyes Singapore Spot

Muguruza Dodges Begu In Beijing, Eyes Singapore Spot

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

BEIJING, China – World No.3 Garbiñe Muguruza kicked off her Beijing title defense with a hard-fought win over Irina Camelia Begu, emerging victorious from the early test to move into the second round of the China Open.

Watch live action from Beijing on WTA Live powered by TennisTV!

Though a spate of unforced errors from the forehand wing left Muguruza vulnerable and allowed Begu to grab the first set, the Spaniard recovered and notched a 2-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory after an hour and fifty minutes.

“I think it’s very, very satisfying when you go to a tournament where you know you played well, you feel welcome,” Muguruza said after the match. “But honestly, this was last year. Nobody really is thinking about who won last year. It’s all about who is going to win this year, who is winning.

“I’m just going for my match, just concentrating the next one.”

Muguruza also kept her bid for Singapore on track as she eyes a return to the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.

“Definitely Singapore was a great motivation to try to find my spot,” Muguruza admitted. “Well, Beijing is one of the biggest tournaments we have, so for sure I have a great opportunity to do it well and qualify.”

Also into the second round, Belinda Bencic advanced past Annicka Beck in straight sets. In a match that featured 10 breaks of serve, it was Bencic who edged through 6-3, 6-2 after an hour and 17 minutes.

Wildcard Sabine Lisicki had a more straightforward path, powering past Mirjana Lucic-Baroni 6-2, 6-2. Yulia Putintseva and Yanina Wickmayer are also through, with Putintseva weathering a stern challenge from 19-year-old wunderkind Jelena Ostapenko to advance 6-1, 3-6, 7-5. Meanwhile, Wickmayer added to Monica Puig’s post-Olympic woes, beating the Puerto Rican 6-2, 6-0 and handing her the worst defeat since the Olympic tennis event in Rio.

WTA Finals: Get Your Tickets!

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Pliskova & Radwanska Close To Singapore, Battle Royale Set In Beijing

Pliskova & Radwanska Close To Singapore, Battle Royale Set In Beijing

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

Welcome to WTA Finals month. Here are the updated scenarios after 24 hours to digest the Beijing draw for singles and doubles…

ROAD TO SINGAPORE UPDATE – Saturday, October 1st

SINGLES:

While Karolina Pliskova and Agnieszka Radwanska are next in line to qualify for the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global, Garbiñe Muguruza, Dominika Cibulkova and Madison Keys round out the Top 8 of our live Road to Singapore leaderboard.

Carla Suárez Navarro is next in line followed by Svetlana Kuznetsova, Johanna Konta, and Petra Kvitova. Four of these – Muguruza, Keys, Kuznetsova, and Kvitova are all in the same quarter of the Beijing draw, creating some exciting early round matchups at the China Open.

Petra Kvitova

Potential R16 Match-Ups in Beijing

Interesting to note this round could have a huge say in the final qualification spots if these eight players reach this stage:

Pliskova (#4 RTS) vs Konta (#11 RTS)

Cibulkova (#6 RTS) vs Suárez Navarro (#9 RTS)

Keys(#8 RTS) vs Kuznetsova (#10 RTS)

Kvitova (#12 RTS) v Muguruza (#5 RTS)

Click here for the complete China Open draws.

Qualified: Angelique Kerber, Serena Williams, Simona Halep

Next In Line (Current Top 8)

How can they qualify in Beijing ?

Pliskova – qualifies by reaching 3r OR one of the following

·Keys fails to reach 3r AND Suárez Navarro fails to reach SF

·Keys fails to reach 3r AND Konta nor Kuznetsova reach final nor Kvitova wins title*

·Suárez Navarro fails to reach SF AND Konta nor Kuznetsova reach final nor Kvitova wins title*

*all three are in the same half so only one of these is possible

Dominika Cibulkova

Radwanska – qualifies by reaching QF OR one of the following

·Keys fails to reach 3r AND Suárez Navarro fails to reach SF

·Keys fails to reach 3r AND Konta nor Kuznetsova reach final nor Kvitova wins title*

·Suárez Navarro fails to reach SF AND Konta nor Kuznetsova reach final nor Kvitova wins title*

*all three are in the same half so only one of these is possible

Muguruza – qualifies by reaching final

Cibulkova – qualifies by winning title

Keys – qualifies by winning title

Svetlana Kuznetsova

Suárez Navarro could qualify by winning title but would also need Keys not to reach QF AND Konta nor Kuznetsova to win title

It is mathematically possible for Kuznetsova or Konta to qualify this week by winning the Beijing title BUT this would have to be accompanied by early defeats for Keys, Cibulkova, Suárez Navarro, and Muguruza. 

Currently No.9 to No.13 with points behind current projected cut-off (3137)

DOUBLES

QUALIFIED: Garcia/Mladenovic, Hingis/Mirza, Makarova/Vesnina, Mattek-Sands/Safarova

NEXT IN LINE:

Shvedova/Babos

3975

1r v Savchuk/Wang

Hlavackova/Hradecka

3775

1r vs Arruabarrena/Kalashnikova (Sun)

Chan/Chan

3760

1r bye

Goerges Pliskova

3270

1r vs Aoyama/Ninomiya (Sun)

How do they qualify in Beijing:

Babos/Shvedova qualify unless Mirza/Strycova, Atawo/Spears or Xu/Zheng win the Beijing title OR by reaching the Beijing SF

Hlavcakova/Hradecka qualify unless Mirza/Strycova reach Beijing final, Atawo/Spears or Xu/Zheng win the Beijing title OR by reaching the Beijing SF

Chan/Chan qualify unless Mirza/Strycova or Xu/Zheng reach Beijing final or Atawo/Spears win the Beijing title OR by reaching the Beijing Final

Goerges/Pliskova qualify by advancing to the same round or better than Mirza/Strycova, Atawo/Spears and Xu/Zheng and if Klepac/Srebotnik don’t win Beijing title

Remaining Teams in Possible Contention (points behind current cut-off)

Atawo/Spears

-575

Must reach at least QFs to stay in contention*
(same quarter as Xu/Zheng)
1r vs Klepac/Srebotnik (Sun)

Xu/Zheng

-600

Must reach at least QFs to stay in contention*
(same quarter as Atawo/Spears)
1r vs King/Nicuescu

Mirza/Strycova

-885

Must reach at least QFs to stay in contention*
(same quarter as Goerges/Pliskova)
1r – bye; 2r vs Dabrowski/Martinez Sanchez

Klepac/Srebotnik

-1130

8th at best, must win Beijing to stay in contention and depend on other results
1r vs Atawo/Spears (Sun)

*this will change and require a better result if Goerges/Pliskova advance.

WTA Finals: Get Your Tickets!

All photos courtesy of Getty Images.

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Kvitova, Pliskova Lead Czech Quartet Into Fed Cup Finale Against France

Kvitova, Pliskova Lead Czech Quartet Into Fed Cup Finale Against France

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

A long-awaited off-season is on hold for an elite squad from the Czech Republic, who fly to France in the hopes of winning a fifth Fed Cup title in the last six years. Karolina Pliskova and Petra Kvitova lead the team through what will be one last ride following a full fall schedule in Asia.

“It’s the last two matches of the year. There is no other choice,” Pliskova said after playing her last round robin match at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global. “I’ll just get ready. There is one week between, so I’ll just rest a little bit and forget about tennis for few days.

“Then back to the work for that last week of tennis this season.”

It was even less of a break for Kvitova, who captured her second title of the season at the Huajin Securities WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai.

“I don’t think I’m that tired,” she told WTA Insider in the latest edition of Champions Corner. “I just feel my entire body is sore, so I’ll need to take a few days off to get ready for the Fed Cup tie. I’m really looking forward, but it’s a little bit difficult. I’m a little bit tired, but winning always helps me recover faster.

“I’ll be flying to Prague, and then taking a car to go to Strasbourg, so that’ll be fun. I’m looking forward to seeing the team. We have a great team, so I can’t wait to be with them over there. It’ll be the last week of the season, so it’s great to have it then, as well.”

Petra Kvitova

Kvitova was in Zhuhai alongside countrywoman Barbora Strycova, and both discussed that special bond the team has forged throughout the week.

“All the Czech players, we know how to be teammates in the week where there is Fed Cup,” Strycova said. “Three weeks a year we are so close together. I can’t describe it because it’s like a routine for us that we do everything together in those weeks.”

Coached by Petr Pala, the Czechs have won 15 of 16 ties dating back to 2011, when the team won their country’s first Fed Cup trophy since 1988.

“I’m looking forward to the final,” Kvitova said. “I love playing Fed Cup and playing for my country. The final is always special; we’re playing away, which isn’t great for us, since France will have the home crowd advantage. We know how to play, and that the fans will support them. It’ll be about us, and whichever team is better prepared will win.

“I think we’re only small favorites to win the tie; they have a great doubles team, and even the singles players, Kiki and Caro, are playing well. It’ll be a difficult tie, but we do have a more experienced team, from all the finals we’ve played. The motivation is always there.”

The teams have faced off just twice in the last ten years, with the Czechs winning the most recent encounter in 2015. Caroline Garcia leads a French contingent captained by former World No.1 Amélie Mauresmo, and is well-aware of just how formidable the Czechs can be in this format, joking that the country could easily field two teams based on its strong roster.

Barbora Strycova, Karolina Pliskova

“Caro is funny! I never really thought like that,” Kvitova said with a smile, before breaking down their secret to success.

“I think we’re not only good players, but also good people. We’re never fighting with each other; we act as a team, and I think that’s very important. None of us make trouble, and we all work well together. If one of us needs to schedule a massage, we talk all talk and decide who gets to go first; it’s the same with practice schedules.

“Communication is very important for a team. We also have great people around us; they’re all boys, so there’s always a lot of fun throughout the week. Our stringer is DJ, and they’re all doing what they can to keep things relaex. The practices are very easy and never too stressful.

“Everything is working when you’re playing well, and everything is easier than when you’re not. We’re on a good way right now and I hope we continue like that.”

When that off-season finally does come, Kvitova plans to spend a vacation with none other than teammate Lucie Hradecka, who will likely be on hand for a potentially decisive doubles rubber against France.

All photos courtesy of Getty Images.

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Radwanska Outlasts Brengle In Miami Heat

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

MIAMI, FL, USA – 2012 Miami champion Agnieszka Radwanska battled through Saturday’s intense heat and humidity to swat aside Madison Brengle for a spot in the Miami Open fourth round.

Watch live action from Miami this fortnight on WTA Live powered by TennisTV!

The match, which started just after midday on one of the balmiest days in Key Biscayne, proved to be as much of a test of fitness as it was a test of Brengle and Radwanska’s tennis.

“Today was really hot. And yes, we both kind of have to get used to [the humidity],” Radwanska said after the match. “Today was a really tough day, and I knew that since this morning.

“You just try everything to stay cool, especially during the changeovers.”

It was Brengle, the unseeded American making her Miami third round debut, who kept her cool first, breaking Radwanska’s serve early and consolidating for a 3-1 lead.

But her efforts weren’t enough to trouble the World No.2, who quickly got the break back and leveled the score. A handful of well-crafted points finished at the net gave Radwanska the advantage, and she grabbed the next three games to take the set.

The pair hung tight to start off the second set, trading holds and breaks of serve for 2-2. But the heavy conditions began to take their toll on the American, whose shots misfired on the important points allowing Radwanska to rattle off four straight games for a comfortable win, 6-4, 6-2.

Radwanska is into the Miami fourth round for the eighth time in her career, and she’s seeking to extend her impressive run of reaching the semifinals or better in eight of her last nine events, a streak dating back to October of last year.

Though after an hour and 13 minutes in this intense heat, Radwanska is looking forward to a more immediate reward:

“One second after the match point, all I’m thinking is: the ice bath!”

Radwanska’s opponent in the fourth round is Timea Bacsinszky, who took a big step on her road to regaining her 2015 form by downing No.16 seed Ana Ivanovic, 7-5, 6-4.

In a see-saw opening, Ivanovic recovered from losing four games on the trot to hold a set point at 5-4. However, a wild forehand let Bacsinszky off the hook as the momentum swung again. The following game, the former World No.1 wavered, double faulting to surrender her serve and ultimately the set.

After struggling at the start of the year, Bacsinszky has been quietly playing herself into form in recent weeks, reaching the last 16 in Doha and Indian Wells, and despite a late rally from Ivanovic she held on the extend this streak.

Also advancing in this quarter were Simona Halep and Heather Watson. No.5 seed Halep withstood some early resistance before easing past Julia Goerges, 6-4, 6-1, while Watson dug deep to overcome Yanina Wickmayer, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, in a match lasting over two and a half hours.  

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Azarenka Leaps Past Linette

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

MIAMI, FL, USA – Looking to become the first woman since Kim Clijsters in 2005 to win the Indian Wells-Miami “Sunshine” Double, Victoria had few issues on Easter Sunday as she breezed past Magda Linette, 6-3, 6-0.

Watch live action from Miami this fortnight on WTA Live powered by TennisTV!

Azarenka enjoyed her big breakthrough in Miami back in 2009, upsetting World No.1 Serena Williams in the final for the first of four victories in her rivalry with the 21-time Grand Slam champion. Linette reached the third round after a right shoulder injury forced former No.1 Jelena Jankovic to retire from their match just five points into the contest, and struggled to combat the Belarusian’s firepower in difficult conditions – hitting only nine winners to 14 from the No.13 seed.

As a cool breeze swept through Crandon Park late in the second set, so too did Azarenka, who raced through the ultimate stages of the match without losing a game, wraping up the victory in 70 minutes.

“It was only in the last two games, but it feels much better with a little bit of wind and breeze,” she told Andrew Krasny during her on-court interview. “I hope you guys are enjoying the tennis; I know it’s really hot but stay hydrated!”

In the midst of a career renaissance, Azarenka has already captured two titles in 2016 en route to a much-anticipated return to the Top 10; with another win over Williams at the BNP Paribas Open – her first since 2013 – to capture her first Premier Mandatory title since 2012 (Beijing), Azarenka is eligible to become the third different woman to capture the elusive “Sunshine Double” by winning both Indian Wells and Miami in succession.

But from her post-match comments, it’s clear she is taking things one match at a time, refusing to underestimate any player across the net.

“She’s a grinder and whenever she has opportunity, she will take it; she has a lot of great hands and showed a lot of variety. She’s a young player with such a bright future, but I’m glad that I took advantage and I stayed on top of her.

“Playing in a tournament like Miami, you don’t expect players to give up and not try, whatever the scoreline is,” she added after the match in her press conference.

“I just wanted to stay aggressive, keep going for all my shots, and also not give her an opportunity to come back. Because once you do that, anybody can come back. I’m happy that I stayed focused. I took my opportunities and kept applying pressure.”

Up next for Azarenka is No.4 seed Garbiñe Muguruza who raced past American Nicole Gibbs, 6-1, 6-0. Azarenka has yet to play the Spaniad on the WTA circuit.

“I don’t know if I’m going to be watching the match,” she told members of the media. “Maybe a little bit. I’m sure my coach will. That’s more important for him to watch for me.

“We’ll see. I don’t like to predict who I want to play. I don’t care. But I don’t know, whoever wins, I’m going to play.”

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