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Naomi Osaka Takes Twitter By Storm

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

Naomi Osaka is back home in Japan and into the second round of the Japan Women’s Open Tennis, and the 18-year-old celebrated in the best way: by joining Twitter.

 Naomi famously quoted the Pokémon theme song to a room full of confused journalists earlier in the year, and she kept to the theme on Twitter, bringing all of her dry humor to 140 characters. 

But quickly after posting her first few tweets, she ran into her first social media roadblock… herself.

Or, well, sort of.

Turns out, there’s a long-inactive Naomi Osaka account floating around on Twitter, and now it was up to the real Naomi Osaka to defeat her Shadow Clone…

Well, I think that proves it.

Welcome to Twitter, Naomi Osaka! Next step: a blue checkmark.

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Zhang Continues Fairytale Season In Zhuhai

Zhang Continues Fairytale Season In Zhuhai

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

ZHUHAI, China – The fairytale continues for Zhang Shuai in Zhuhai.

The wildcard won a second straight match at the Huajin Securities WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai, guaranteeing her a place in the semifinals and a first career finish inside the Top 25.

“It’s amazing because I never thought I could play this tournament, and now I’m in the semifinals,” she told WTA Insider on Thursday. “I prepared a lot for this week, so I’m really happy.”

Her storybook season began in Australia by way of Tokyo. Zhang was ranked just inside the Top 200 when she won an inaugural ITF 100K Challenger there last fall – foreshadowing what was to come Down Under. The Chinese No.1 plans to return to the Tokyo tournament next week, where she will be top seed.

“I have a lot of good memories there and want to go back. I also have a lot of friends in Japan and Tokyo; they’re waiting for me already, so it’s very exciting!

“The tournament has good food, good hotel, and good courts. I always look forward to going to Tokyo.”

Zhang Shuai

Zhang’s season won’t end there. Her final stop of 2016 brings her to Hawaii, fulfilling a lifelong dream.

“I’ve never had the chance to go. I’m already ranked in the Top 50, so I couldn’t enter a WTA 125K event, so I have to thank the tournament for giving me a wildcard.”

She found out about the wildcard into Zhuhai three weeks ago in Beijing; she had just defeated Simona Halep for the second time in nine months, the first coming in that fateful first round in Melbourne.

“She’s a really great player. My coach always says I have to learn from her, because she plays really beautiful tennis. I like her as a person too; she’s a very nice girl.

“It was amazing, even after the Australian Open, I didn’t think I could beat her again. But I’ve since been able to not only beat her, but also other Top 20 players like Timea Bacsinszky and Samantha Stosur.

“Now I believe I can do anything.”

That limitless mentality has helped her achieve a career-best season after a year in the tennis wilderness. It was just two years ago that Zhang was ranked in the Top 30 and seeded at Grand Slams, but until beating Halep, she had never won a major main draw match in 14 previous attempts.

Zhang Shuai

“Now I’m more focused on the court, focused on myself. I don’t think…anything, really! I’m not thinking about ranking or points; I just try my best, trying to play my tennis and my style. I don’t really care about whom I’m playing, or how they play. I just go!”

Zhang plans to roll into the off-season with similar gusto, hoping to maintain the momentum gained from her Asian Swing surge and bring it back to Australia for an encore performance.

“I don’t think I’ll change much about my pre-season. I’ll just try to train hard, give 100% of my heart and focus on tennis. We’re always trying to make improvements, so we’ll try to do that, too.

“But this year, I played really well, so I think I’m doing things the right way. I just want to keep going.”

Forward motion is a recurring motif from Zhang, which certainly makes sense; if you were living her dream, would you want to wake up?

“This whole year has been filled with so many amazing memories. I can’t pick just one, but of course, I can’t forget the Australian Open. I’ll remember that week forever. I also made the quarterfinal at the China Open, now the semifinals here in Zhuhai.

“This year has been a dream come true.”

All photos courtesy of WTA Elite Trophy.

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Indian Wells Thursday: Bouchard Begins

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

INDIAN WELLS, CA, USA – The first round bottom half gets started at the BNP Paribas Open on Thursday as Eugenie Bouchard takes the court looking to continue her positive momentum.

Thursday
First Round

Stadium 1

Eugenie Bouchard (CAN #42) vs. [Q] Risa Ozaki (JPN #125)
Head-to-head: First meeting
Much ink was spilled in 2015 about Eugenie Bouchard’s second-season woes. Ranked as high as No.5, the Canadian ended the year outside of the Top 40 as she struggled to close out matches and string together victories.

But Bouchard seems to have put the past firmly behind her as she rides the momentum of a red-hot resurgence into Indian Wells – she’s made two finals and has won 13 out of 18 matches this year.

“I got here early for the tournament and I was working really hard in practice just trying to improve different areas of my game,” Bouchard said in Kuala Lumpur, where she reached the BMW Malaysian Open final. “I feel like I’ve improved already since last week and for me that’s just my goal right now – to improve every single week.”

Bouchard’s first test comes in the form of Japanese qualifier Risa Ozaki. Though the pair have never played before, Ozaki made her presence known in Kuala Lumpur when she pushed eventual champion Elina Svitolina to three sets in the round of 16.

The winner is set to face No.21 seed Sloane Stephens, whose two titles in 2016 are a WTA-leading figure.

Caroline Garcia (FRA #41) vs. Christina McHale (USA #62)
Head-to-head: McHale leads, 2-1

The first women’s match on Stadium 1 sees Caroline Garcia and Christina McHale battle it out for a chance to face the No.4 seed Garbiñe Muguruza in the next round.

Both players are coming off of strong showings in Latin America – Garcia made the semifinal in Monterrey and McHale the semifinal in Acapulco. McHale already has one title under her belt though, an ITF 50K she picked up in Maui, while in her last match in Monterrey Garcia struggled against eventual champion Heather Watson as a result of a lower back injury.

Despite the head to head skewing in McHale’s favor, all three of their previous encounters have been unbelievably close; both of McHale’s wins came after three sets, and in Garcia’s straight sets victory, both sets went to a tiebreak.

 Around the grounds…
It’s youth up against experience as Monica Puig faces WTA veteran Mirjana Lucic-Baroni and 18-year-old Daria Kasatkina takes on Daniela Hantuchova. Laura Robson seeks to put her injury woes behind her as she opens against Magdalena Rybarikova.

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Monterrey: Pavlyuchenkova Profile

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

Three-time Abierto Monterrey Afirme champion Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova discusses her unlikely journey from bashing balls on the banks of the Volga to the top of the women’s game.

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Graf Hosts Charity Clinic At WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai

Graf Hosts Charity Clinic At WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

ZHUHAI, China – After visiting one of the city’s most impressive landmarks, tennis legend and WTA Elite Trophy ambassador Steffi Graf continued her whirlwind tour of Zhuhai at the Huafa Tennis Center for a charity clinic.

Click here for a photo gallery of all of Steffi’s activities in Zhuhai!

Graf was joined by over thirty talented youngsters from primary and junior high schools in the area, including 19 from Macao as well as from Huajin Securities, tournament ball kids, selected staff and one lucky iQYI SuperFan.

Yang Yanling, who was selected from the iQIYI iSuperFan campaign, got an extra treat; he enjoyed a special one-on-one conversation up close with the former World No.1. Yang was thrilled by Graf’s encouragement to continue playing tennis, and more importantly, to enjoy what tennis will bring to his life and future.

Check out all the best photos from the event right here, courtesy of the WTA Elite Trophy!

Steffi Graf

Steffi Graf

Steffi Graf

Steffi Graf

Steffi Graf

Steffi Graf

Steffi Graf

 

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McHale Fightback Earns Tokyo Title

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

TOKYO, Japan – Christina McHale produced a stirring comeback to defeat Katerina Siniakova in the final of the Japan Women’s Open Tennis and lift her maiden WTA title.

A semifinalist 12 months ago, McHale looked in store for another near-miss when she trailed Siniakova by a set and a break. However, a timely rain delay and a run of eight straight games turned the match on its head as the American closed out a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory.

In a match of multiple twists and turns, McHale was very nearly foiled at the last, Sinaikova rallying from 5-2 down to set up a tense conclusion.

Ultimately, McHale’s nerve held steady, completing an emotional victory when Siniakova tugged a backhand wide.

McHale, whose only previous WTA final came at Acapulco in 2014, endured a marathon journey to the winner’s circle, spending over 13 hours on court after going the distance in each of her five matches.

“I don’t even want to put my trophy down – i just want to hold it all the time,” McHale said during the trophy presentation. “I’ve been coming to this tournament for a few years now and I really love it here. Thanks to all the fans and everyone here for sticking through all the rain delays – we’ve had a few, especially today!”

Sinaikova, who also lost in the Bastad final this this summer, was unable to hide her disappointment at witnessing what would have been her first title slip away. “I’m here in the final for the second time and unfortunately it was really tough for me, so I’m a little sad. But Christina played really well, so congratulations to her,” she said.

More to follow…

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Graf Plays Part In Zhuhai Final Festivities

Graf Plays Part In Zhuhai Final Festivities

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

ZHUHAI, China – Since her retirement 17 years ago, WTA legend Stefanie Graf has largely shied away from the limelight. However on Sunday she took center stage once more, gracing the final of the Huajin Securities WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai between Petra Kvitova and Elina Svitolina.

Tournament ambassador Graf continued her busy weekend in Zhuhai, conducting the coin toss before taking in Kvitova’s masterclass.

Twenty-four hours earlier, in her first public activity ever in mainland China, Graf visited the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, where she played mini-tennis with Caroline Garcia.

Check out the best photos from finals day, courtesy of the WTA Elite Trophy!

Steffanie Graf

Steffanie Graf

Stefanie Graf

Click here for a photo gallery of all of Graf’s activities in Zhuhai.

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Serena Brushes Aside Siegemund

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

INDIAN WELLS, CA, USA – Serena Williams wrapped up the top half second round action at the BNP Paribas Open with a straightforward win over German qualifier Laura Siegemund, 6-2, 6-1.

Watch highlights, interviews and more video from Indian Wells right here on wtatennis.com!

Playing in her first match since reaching the final at the Australian Open and in the chilly nighttime conditions in Indian Wells, Williams found herself facing a break point right away in the first game of the match. Siegemund’s variety and a sneaky drop shot tripped her up, but the World No.1 shook off any lingering rust with ease to fend off the early assault.

From then on the match grew increasingly one-sided, with Williams simply outgunning the German qualifier, taking the ball early and attacking from every side of the court. A beautiful backhand down the line brought up set point for the top seed, which she took with one her signature swing volleys.

Siegemund continued to attack and even brought up another chance to break in the first game of the second set, but Williams roared back from 0-40 to brush it aside. Not taking the opportunity ended up being costly for Siegemund, and Williams won five straight games to wrap up the encounter in barely over an hour.

“My intensity was the key,” Williams said in her post-match interview. “[Siegemund] actually started out really strong in that first game when I was serving, she was close to breaking me.

“I knew right then and there if I wasn’t going to come out at 100% it would be a long match.”

Awaiting Williams in the third round is Yaroslava Putintseva, who earlier in the day knocked out the No.27 seed Kristina Mladenovic 6-4, 6-4.

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