Eastbourne: Cibulkova vs Pliskova
Dominika Cibulkova takes on Karolina Pliskova in the final of the Aegon International Eastbourne.
Dominika Cibulkova takes on Karolina Pliskova in the final of the Aegon International Eastbourne.
What would Garbiñe Muguruza and Petra Kvitova do if they could prank any player, if they could have any super power and if they could lift any trophy? Find out in Wimbledon’s If Series.
Simona Halep hit the ground running after lengthy rain delays, dropping just two games to former French Open champ Francesca Schiavone to race into the third round at Wimbledon.
LONDON, Great Britain – No.3 seed Agnieszka Radwanska had to dig deep in her second round match against Ana Konjuh, saving three match points to narrowly dodge an upset bid from the 18-year-old Croat.
With No.2 seed Garbiñe Muguruza bowing out in a shock second-round upset, British No.1 Johanna Konta falling against the resurgent Eugenie Bouchard and Belinda Bencic retiring earlier in the day, it seemed like the 2012 finalist would be the next big name on the chopping block. But Radwanska dug deep to save three match points and deny Konjuh the biggest win of her career, 6-2, 4-6, 9-7.
Despite Radwanska going down in her opening service game, it looked like it would be a routine win for the Pole, who broke three times and made just one unforced error in the first set to get ahead comfortably.
But Konjuh, who last year became the youngest WTA title winner in almost a decade when she lifted her maiden trophy at the Aegon Open Nottingham, rallied back valiantly and put Radwanska down a break for a 3-2 lead. She cut her unforced error count by almost half – 19 in the first set to just 10 – and improved her court movement, coming up to the net more and cutting off Radwanska’s angles.
Konjuh held on to that narrow lead and fought off seven break points to take the second set and level the score against the World No.3. Under pressure, Radwanska struggled to put pace on the ball as uncharacteristic errors began to fly from her racquet.
Konjuh held her first match point at 5-3 on Radwanska’s serve, but the 18-year-old’s nerves reared their ugly head as she buried it into the net. She had two more in the next game but a heart-stopping net cord ball fell on her side, denying her the match once again as Radwanska broke back.
At 7-7 with Radwanska serving ahead 40-15, Konjuh picked up a nasty injury after rolling her right ankle while chasing down a drop shot. She was back on court after a lengthy medical time out, but her movement was visibly hampered and she struggled to find power on her serve as well as run down Radwanska’s shots. Radwanska completed her great escape and took the match 6-2, 4-6, 9-7.
Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic awaits Radwanska in the third round. Siniakova came back from a set down to topple the No.30 seed Caroline Garcia 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.
More to come…
A valiant effort from 18-year-old Konjuh, who limps off after rolling her ankle and pushing Radwanska to the limit https://t.co/bQvBulrLVA
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 30, 2016
With two titles and a couple of runner-up finishes to her name, no one can deny that Dominika Cibulkova has a nose for success in 2016. Quite literally in fact.
Tennis players are a superstitious bunch, and Cibulkova is no different. However, her pre-point ritual does not involve ball bouncing, lines or adjusting bottles. No, instead before serving Cibulkova gets a good whiff of the ball she is about to use.
It is a quirk that has not gone unnoticed, and ahead of her third-round meeting with Eugenie Bouchard the BBC’s Rishi Persad investigated just how sophisticated the Slovak’s sense of smell is…
19th seed Dominika Cibulkova has the weirdest superpower ever… https://t.co/l6pR8H96lo
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) 2 July 2016
Wimbledon 2016 is all about elegance, exposing the most sophisticated side of women’s tennis fashion. Marija Zivlak of Women’s Tennis Blog narrowed down the richness of this year’s whites to the Top 5 styles and now it’s your turn to tell us your thoughts — vote for your favorite outfit in the poll below the article!
When you have that champion’s mentality, you want to excel in everything and Serena Williams has done just that, coming to the tournament as world number one and reigning champion only to also take the unofficial top position when it comes to WTA fashion at the grasscourt Grand Slam.
The NikeCourt Premier Dress impresses with the graceful half turtleneck, a new silhouette in Williams’ attire, while the pleated skirt with two tiers in back brings a flash of flirty vibrancy to the all-white look. The racerback, featuring a bonded zipper, is a tried-and-true design that enables optimal range of motion.
Stella McCartney made sure that last year’s Wimbledon runner-up and newly-crowned French Open champion Garbiñe Muguruza looked the part, indulging in laser-cut holes that have been the standout visual characteristic of her clothes in recent months. The Spaniard’s adidas Fall Stella McCartney Skirt is a feminine cut with high-performance Climacool technology, 3D fabric and ventilation channels that ensure ultimate comfort in intense matches and hot weather conditions. The adidas Stella McCartney Core Tank is equipped with Climalite moisture management, while added visual appeal and functionality are provided by the curved mesh panel at upper back.
Venus Williams decided to impress with a less-is-more approach, sporting a simple cap-sleeve EleVen dress from the Club collection. The clean design features discreet contrast binding at waistband, while when it comes to performance it boasts moisture-wicking properties, superior breathability, as well as protection from UVA and UVB rays.
Keeping her outfit subdued, the five-time Wimbledon champion caused a fashion earthquake with her hairstyle — a huge braided bun on top of her head, whose strawberry red highlights play with the tournament’s classic white tradition.
After the French Open zebra clothes that will remain one of the most eye-catching tennis collections ever, adidas stepped on the Wimbledon grass absolutely toned down, not only complying with the tournament’s strict clothing guidelines, but also not experimenting with cuts and silhouettes, opting for a timeless sporty design and clothes that captivate with their technological advancements.
The no-frills Climachill collection instantly seduces all those who want high-performance apparel in the traditional aesthetics package. The ensembles worn by Angelique Kerber and Simona Halep, as well as the dress worn by Ana Ivanovic, are all equipped with innovative fabrics and active cooling technology that lowers the body temperature and provides an instant chilling sensation on contact.
Heather Watson stole the show at the WTA Pre-Wimbledon Party presented by Dubai Duty Free, wearing an olive green latex dress designed by Brett Mettler, and the Brit made sure to also look her best in action at the prestigious lawns. The New Balance Spring Tournament Tank features mesh trim at neckline that nicely matches the hem of the skirt from the same collection. Wearing the top tucked in, Watson exposed the skirt’s engineered elastic waistband with cutouts. The tank’s sleek spaghetti straps in the Y formation have been New Balance’s choice pretty much throughout the 2016 season.
Now it’s time for you to tell us who is your Wimbledon fashion favorite!
And then there were eight! It’s quarterfinal day at the All-England Club and we’re previewing each of the four matchups at WTATennis.com, courtesy of contributor Chris Oddo.
Tuesday
Quarterfinals
[1] Serena Williams (USA #1) vs. [21] Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS #23)
Head-to-head: Williams leads, 5-0
Key Stat: Pavlyuchenkova has only won one set against Williams in five previous tilts.
It’s a time-honored tradition at Wimbledon. As the second week kicks in Serena Williams lifts her game to another level. The 21-time major champion did just that on Day 8, easing past Svetlana Kuznetsova, 7-5, 6-0 on Centre Court to move a step closer to a seventh Wimbledon title. On Tuesday she’ll face Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova for the sixth time. Is Serena emotionally ready for another battle on Day 9? “I wake up since I was three years old to do this,” Williams told reporters after her victory on Monday. “These are the moments that I live for. The passion and the intensity that I have is what makes me Serena. I can’t change, nor would I ever want to be different.” Though she’s defeated Pavlyuchenkova all five times she’s faced her, Williams is not taking anything for granted heading into her 45th career Grand Slam quarterfinal. “I just know that going into that match, I definitely need to be ready,” she said. “I’ve lost to players that have never beaten me in the past in some big situations. I definitely don’t want that to happen.”
Pick: Williams in two
Elena Vesnina (RUS #50) vs. [19] Dominika Cibulkova (SVK #18)
Head-to-head: Tied, 3-3
Key Stat: Cibulkova has won nine matches in a row.
The magical ride continued for Dominika Cibulkova at Wimbledon on manic Monday as the Slovakian outlasted Agnieszka Radwanska in a three-set, three-hour thriller that was being tabbed as the best match of the fortnight around the grounds. Cibulkova gave every inch of her being to get past Radwanska and was thankful to get through after saving a match point late in the third set. “Today was the most physically tough, it was the toughest match for me I would say my whole career,” she said. “I felt really, really tired when the match was going on.” On Tuesday she’ll have to dig deep again against surprise quarterfinalist Elena Vesnina if she intends to reach her first career Wimbledon semifinal. Vesnina squeaked by her doubles partner Ekaterina Makarova on Monday, 5-7, 6-1, 9-7, to reach her first Grand Slam quarterfinal in her 42nd appearance at a major.
Pick: Cibulkova in three
[5] Simona Halep (ROU #5) vs. [4] Angelique Kerber (GER #4)
Head-to-head: Halep leads, 3-1
Key Stat: Kerber is one of three former Grand Slam champions remaining in the draw, along with Venus and Serena Williams.
Two WTA elites backed up their seeds nicely on Day 8, and on Tuesday Simona Halep and Angelique Kerber will vie for a spot in the semifinals at SW19. Halep holds the edge in the pair’s head-to-head but Kerber can claim the confidence that comes with being crowned a Grand Slam champion earlier this year at the Australian Open. “I was feeling that my tennis is getting better and better every day,” said the German after dispatching Misaki Doi in straight sets on Monday. “This is what counts in the second week of a Grand Slam.” Halep, who edged Madison Keys in a tough round of 16 tussle on Monday, is ready for another big challenge in the quarterfinals. “I know Angelique very well,” Halep said. “I’m confident. I have to be. I am playing well. I am into the tournament already, so I had tough matches before. I’m looking forward to play against her, and I know it’s going to be tough.” Expect this battle of former Wimbledon semifinalists to be epic. Both players are dialing in their best form, and both are hungry to advance.
Pick: Halep in three
[8] Venus Williams (USA #8) vs. Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ #96)
Head-to-head: First meeting
Key Stat: Williams has reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals for the first time in six years.
A Wimbledon legend, finding her mojo at the scene of her first Grand Slam triumph. That’s the story of 36-year-old Venus Williams, the oldest woman remaining in the draw but also a very legitimate threat to recapture the glory of Wimbledons past here at SW19. Williams was in stellar form on Monday, taking out Carla Suárez Navarro in straight sets to set up a quarterfinal clash with unseeded world No.96 Yaroslava Shvedova. Despite the fact that Williams hasn’t pushed this deep in a Wimbledon draw since 2010, the five-time champion is confident that she’s ready to keep this run going. “Yeah, it’s been a few years,” Williams said. “But I’ve been here before. I’m not, like, a deer in the headlights. So, of course, I want more. That’s what anybody would want in a quarterfinal.”
Pick: Williams in three
By the Numbers:
81 – Combined number of major quarterfinals Venus and Serena Williams have reached in their career. Serena owns a 31-13 record in major quarterfinals; Venus owns a 19-16 record.
36 – Number of three-set matches played in the first four rounds at Wimbledon out of a possible 120.
77– Percentage of first-serve points won by Serena Williams. The American has won the highest percentage of first-serve points among the remaining participants in the draw.
1 – Players to have reached the round of 16 without the loss of a set (Kerber).
Recently reunited Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina cruised into the Wimbledon quarterfinals, where they will next face Venus and Serena Williams in women’s doubles.
Venus and Serena returned from their singles matches to dispatch No.4 seeds Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina to reach their first Wimbledon semifinal since 2012.
Serena and Venus Williams advanced to their first Grand Slam final in four years with a hard-fought win over Julia Goerges and Karolina Pliskova on Friday.