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Eastbourne: Where To Watch

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

KEY INFORMATION:
Tournament Level: Premier
Prize Money: $776,878
Draw Size: 48 main draw (16 byes)/32 qualifying
Qualifying Dates: Saturday, June 18 – Sunday, June 19
First Day of Main Draw: Sunday, June 19
Singles Final: Saturday, June 25, 1pm GMT
Doubles Final: Sunday, June 25, after singles final

MUST FOLLOW SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS:
@WTA
@WTA_Insider – WTA Insider, Senior Writer Courtney Nguyen
@BritishTennis – LTA handle
Get involved in conversations with the official hashtags, #AegonInternational and #WTA.

TOURNAMENT NOTES:
· Former champion Agnieszka Radwanska returning to tournament for the 10th time as top seed.
· Roberta Vinci is No.2 seed while defending champion Belinda Bencic is No.3 seed. Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova is also in the draw, as are two of last year’s Wimbledon quarterfinalists, Timea Bacsinszky and Madison Keys.
· There have been nine different champions in the past nine years in Eastbourne. Six of the nine are in the field this year – Bencic (2015), Keys (2014), Elena Vesnina (2013), Ekaterina Makarova (2010), Caroline Wozniacki (2009) and Radwanska (2008).
· Click here to see the draw in full.

WILDCARDS:
Naomi Broady (GBR), Tara Moore (GBR)

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Photos | WTA Tennis English

Photos | WTA Tennis English

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970
Simona Halep was all smiles as she snapped a photo next to the iconic “AO” sign.

Simona Halep was all smiles as she snapped a photo next to the iconic “AO” sign.

Former No.1 Venus Williams got a hero’s welcome to Melbourne Park from all of the Australian Open’s ball kids.

Former No.1 Venus Williams got a hero’s welcome to Melbourne Park from all of the Australian Open’s ball kids.

She was joined by little sister Serena, with whom she’s set to play doubles for the first time since the Olympics.

She was joined by little sister Serena, with whom she’s set to play doubles for the first time since the Olympics.

The ball kids were back in action again as World No.1 Angelique Kerber joined fellow defending champion Novak Djokovic for a stroll through the grounds.

The ball kids were back in action again as World No.1 Angelique Kerber joined fellow defending champion Novak Djokovic for a stroll through the grounds.

The pair had one last photoshoot with their respective trophies before the tournament got underway.

The pair had one last photoshoot with their respective trophies before the tournament got underway.

Australia’s Daria Gavrilova had a fun taste at Woolworths Summer Sensorium joined by – you guessed it – more Australian Open ball kids.

Australia’s Daria Gavrilova had a fun taste at Woolworths Summer Sensorium joined by – you guessed it – more Australian Open ball kids.

Gavrilova was back on the tennis court later for Australian Open Kids Day.

Gavrilova was back on the tennis court later for Australian Open Kids Day.

Is that a big enough racquet for you Dasha?!

Is that a big enough racquet for you Dasha?!

Gavrilova was joined by a host of ATP stars and a cast of colorful characters.

Gavrilova was joined by a host of ATP stars and a cast of colorful characters.

Meanwhile, Serena Williams got to meet the next generation of Australian stars at a Wilson event with Destanee Aiava and Jaimee Fourlis.

Meanwhile, Serena Williams got to meet the next generation of Australian stars at a Wilson event with Destanee Aiava and Jaimee Fourlis.

Serena is seeking record-breaking Grand Slam No.23 in Melbourne, as well as a return to World No.1.

Serena is seeking record-breaking Grand Slam No.23 in Melbourne, as well as a return to World No.1.

British No.1 Johanna Konta was thrilled to be back in Melbourne where her huge breakthrough started.

British No.1 Johanna Konta was thrilled to be back in Melbourne where her huge breakthrough started.

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Wozniacki Impresses In Eastbourne Opener

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

EASTBOURNE, England – Caroline Wozniacki stepped up her Wimbledon preparations with a confidence-boosting win over Alizé Cornet at the Aegon International Eastbourne on Sunday.

Watch live action from Eastbourne this week on WTA Live powered by TennisTV!

Playing just her third match since March, Wozniacki showed few signs of rustiness, briskly pocketing the first set then coming from a break down in the second to complete a 6-1, 6-3 victory.

The Dane is currently ranked at No.35 in the rankings – her lowest position since May 2008 – after missing much of the season with an ankle injury. And after making her return in Nottingham last week she is refreshed eager to test her mettle ahead of the year’s second major.

“I feel confident on my feet, I’ve worked really hard to get into the best shape possible and do a lot of stability work, so now I’m feeling comfortable on my ankle and the grass,” Wozniacki said.

“It’s nice to be on a nice court with a great crowd and also to get another match in before Wimbledon. I’m just excited every time I go on court now.”

In the other three opening round matches there were wins for Jelena Ostapenko, Timea Babos and Kristina Mladenovic.

Ostapenko continued the good form that took her to the Birmingham quarterfinals by prevailing in her all-teenage battle with Daria Kasatkina, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. Babos edged out Camila Giorgi, 6-4, 7-6(3), while Mladenovic prevailed in an equally close encounter with Yanina Wickmayer, 7-6(6), 6-4. 

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Hingis & Mirza Qualify For Singapore

Hingis & Mirza Qualify For Singapore

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

SINGAPORE – Doubles co-No.1s Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza have become the first players to qualify for the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global, the WTA’s crown jewel event where the world’s Top 8 teams will battle for a $7-million prize purse.

“Qualifying for the WTA Finals for the second year in a row with Sania is very exciting,” said Hingis, three-time WTA Finals doubles champion. “We enjoyed every moment in Singapore last year and hope to defend our title amongst the best doubles teams in the world.”

Mirza added, “Being able to achieve such great success together has been a dream come true. Having won the WTA Finals in Singapore last year as well as multiple tournaments in such a short period of time has been an unbelievable experience. I’m very much looking forward to competing in Singapore once again to try to make it three titles in a row.”

The collaboration between Hingis and Mirza began at the 2015 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, where they achieved instant success by taking the title and eight more by the end of the year, including the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global. This year, Hingis and Mirza have already claimed five titles – Brisbane International, Apia International Sydney, Australian Open, St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy and the Internazionali BNL d’Italia – Rome. As a result, the Swiss-Indian duo, known as “SanTina” to their fans, will attempt to defend their title in Singapore in their second appearance as a team.

Here is the current doubles Road to Singapore Leaderboard:

1. Martina Hingis (SUI) / Sania Mirza (IND)
2. Caroline Garcia (FRA) / Kristina Mladenovic (FRA)
3. Andrea Hlavackova (CZE) / Lucie Hradecka (CZE)
4. Chan Hao-Ching (TPE) / Chan Yung-Jan (TPE)
5. Xu Yifan (CHN) / Zheng Saisai (CHN)
6. Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) / Elena Vesnina (RUS)
7. Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP) / Arantxa Parra Santonja (ESP)
8. Julia Goerges (GER) / Karolina Pliskova (CZE)
9. Vania King (USA) / Alla Kudryavtseva (RUS)
10. Timea Babos (HUN) / Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ)

The doubles competition will begin in Singapore on October 27 and is a single elimination contest between the Top 8 doubles teams of the 2016 season, all vying to hold the Martina Navratilova Doubles Trophy. Total prize money for doubles stands at $1.4 million with the champion team taking home up to $500,000.

Martina Hingis, Sania Mirza

Want to watch SanTina go for season-ending glory? Tickets packages for the WTA Finals are already available!

For the latest updates and insights, follow on Twitter (@WTAFinalsSG), Facebook (facebook.com/WTAFinalsSG) and Instagram (@WTAFinalsSG).

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