Miami: Madison Keys' Shot Of The Day
Madison Keys had Friday’s shot of the day on Day 4 of the Miami Open.
Madison Keys had Friday’s shot of the day on Day 4 of the Miami Open.
Svetlana Kuznetsova took a dip into South Florida with a trip to Miami Beach, making new friends and challenging her team to feats of strength. Check out the video here!
MIAMI, FL, USA – Top seed Angelique Kerber recovered from breaks in both sets against big-hitting American Shelby Rogers to advance, 6-4, 7-5, and reach the fourth round of the Miami Open.
“It was a good match,” she said in her post-match press conference. “I was trying to feel my game again. I was moving good, but it was not so easy because she didn’t play badly. I was trying to stay positive and play my tennis.”
Kerber was playing her first match since her late-night victory against Duan Ying-Ying, and suffered a slow start to Rogers, who reached the French Open quarterfinals last spring and began 2017 with a win over Simona Halep at the Australian Open.
.@AngeliqueKerber with a peach of a backhand!
She wins FOUR straight games! #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/nWfsB3sQ22
— WTA (@WTA) March 26, 2017
The German reclaimed World No.1 from Serena Williams at the start of the fortnight in Florida, and showed some of why the two-time Grand Slam champion has been so tough to beat in the last year, rolling through six of the next seven games from a break down to take the opening set.
“It’s always good to have close sets, especially when you win them at the end because they give you confidence that you can go out in your next match knowing you can win close matches because you’ve just done it a day ago. I’m looking forward to the next match.”
Incredible pass from @AngeliqueKerber! #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/1bkzF8lYCE
— WTA (@WTA) March 26, 2017
Rogers kept fighting, however, and fought off multiple break points in the fifth game to engineer another service break. Much like the first set, Kerber took control from there, winning five of the final six games to seal the hometown favorite in just under 90 minutes.
“If you win the match, you’re always happy about your performance. In the second set, she was 4-2 up and we’d played a long game. That was important because she was playing well, but I was staying positive and believing in my chances. I think that was the key to the match.”
In all, Kerber struck 17 winners to only 22 unforced errors; Rogers took far more risks throughout, her 34 winners were ultimately undone by 51 unforced errors.
.@AngeliqueKerber eases into @MiamiOpen Round of 16!
Defeats Rogers 6-4, 7-5! pic.twitter.com/JpmYBoSegY
— WTA (@WTA) March 26, 2017
Up next for top seed is Japanese qualifier Risa Ozaki. Ozaki was already enjoying her best-ever result at a Premier Mandatory tournament when she broke new ground on Sunday, besting Kerber’s countrywoman Julia Goerges, 7-6(5), 6-3.
“I’ve never played against her, but I saw a little bit on TV because she played Julia today. I think she’s playing good here, coming from qualies, so she has a lot of matches and confidence.
“She has nothing to lose, so it’ll be another good match.”
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
MIAMI, FL, USA — Former World No. 5 Lucie Safarova recorded her first top 10 win since 2015 at the Miami Open on Monday, defeating World No. 4 Dominika Cibulkova, 7-6(5), 6-1 for a place in the quarterfinals.
“It was a great match and I’m really excited to be for the first time here in the quarterfinals,” Safarova told WTA Insider after the match. “I knew I had to come out really strong and play fast, and [not] let Dominika play her game. She puts a lot of balls back and she’s a very big fighter so I had to be really sharp and strong, which I was. I’m really happy it worked out.”
Now ranked World No. 36 and on the comeback trail from a bacterial infection that hampered her for parts of the past two seasons, Safarova earned her first win against a member of the WTA top 10 since defeating Angelique Kerber at the 2015 BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.
Added Safarova: “[Winning today] means a lot. It feels great to be there again with the best players, being able to beat them means my level is there again.”
The pair, who were meeting for the eighth time overall in Miami, saw an opening set decided in a tie-break for the fourth time after trading breaks twice in the set. Trailing 4-3 in the tie-break, Safarova rifled a backhand return winner to pull level before running off three of the final four points to take a one-set lead.
Turning point in that tiebreak: this return from @luciesafarova, who goes on to take it 7-5. So intense she actually forgot the score! pic.twitter.com/k0vDTPD63N
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) March 27, 2017
“We’ve played so many matches against each other, of course also practices,” Safarova said about her history with the Slovak. “We know each other very well and we know what to expect!”
The second set proved closer than the score indicated inside the lines, as Safarova wrapped it up in 55 minutes — just one minute shy of the mark in the first. Four of the set’s seven games went to deuce, and the Czech was forced to save three break points before converting on her third match point for the win.
First Top 10 win since 2015!@LucieSafarova beats Cibulkova 7-6(5), 6-1 for a place in @MiamiOpen Quarterfinals! pic.twitter.com/fu1OruTDZI
— WTA (@WTA) March 27, 2017
Safarova will take on Caroline Wozniacki in the quarterfinals, who advanced after Garbiñe Muguruza retired with illness after the opening set. The pair have played seven times, with Wozniacki holding a 4-3 head-to-head lead.
“She’s playing great tennis again,” Safarova said of the Dane. “I think it’s a little bit similar game to Dominika — Caroline puts a lot of balls back. I have to be patient but play aggressive and again come up strong and try to go for it. I feel healthy now — thank God! (laughs) — and I’ll…keep trying to push my limits more and more.”
Highlights from the match between Garbiñe Muguruza and Caroline Wozniacki.
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!
Stat of the day from Day 7 of the Miami Open, presented with SAP.
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).
Karolina Pliskova reflects on her performance against Mirjana Lucic-Baroni at the Miami Open.