Sydney: Tuesday Highlights
Highlights from the second round action at the Apia International Sydney.
Highlights from the second round action at the Apia International Sydney.
The fast-paced WTA season made sure that the Wimbledon whites have quickly given way to colorful outfits and after the big product launches at the grass-court Grand Slam, a number of apparel companies continued to freshen up the tennis fashion scene with new looks during tournaments in Bucharest, Gstaad, Stanford, Washington DC, Bastad and Montreal. Our tennis fashion contributor Marija Zivlak of Women’s Tennis Blog will share with us her favorites of the month, while you’re invited to tell us your thoughts in the poll following the article.
Venus Williams looked astonishing in the final of the Premier-level Bank of the West Classic, wearing the EleVen Dahlia Frontrunner Dress, whose pink dahlia print is nicely contrasted with a robin blue panel at waist.
The American also rocked the EleVen Dahlia Inspire Cap Sleeve, its matching skirt and headband.
By virtue of a deep run at the prestigious tournament, Venus also managed to showcase some solids from the vibrant collection, including the EleVen Dahlia Race Day Tank and the color-block EleVen Dahlia Triple Threat Skirt, which we later also saw at the Rogers Cup.
En route to her maiden WTA title at the Ericsson Open in Bastad, Laura Siegemund presented a variety of Tonic by Martina Hingis outfits. The German earned a rise from No.40 to a career-high ranking of No.32 in the white and navy versions of the Tonic Fall Sierra Dress, which features textured lace fabric overlay around waist and upper back.
Halterneck, cross-back straps and flounce skirt hem all work together to ensure comfortable motion.
Winner of her fist WTA @laurasiegemund congratulations #EricssonOpen @WTA pic.twitter.com/fwakAOi20t
— Swedish Open Tennis (@swedish_open) July 24, 2016
The 28-year-old wanted to mix things up, so the dress was not the only look she presented during the tournament. The German won the final in a casual, dark outfit consisting of classic shorts and a chic tank with uniquely-shaped spaghetti straps.
Yanina Wickmayer won both singles and doubles title at the Citi Open in Lotto’s Twice collection, recognizable for its graphic black and white print. Lotto likes reversible clothes and these items offer an opportunity to go for a predominantly white or a predominantly black outfit, depending on your mood. For those who don’t like busy prints all the way, Lotto prepared solid orange pieces that nicely match the company logo in printed items.
Agnieszka Radwanska also rocked a busy print this July, officially called the pink fluo space dye. The Pole’s Lotto Eclipse Dress presented at the Rogers Cup is an exceptionally feminine piece due to its flirty layered ruffles at skirt.
At the Ericsson Open in Bastad and later at the Rogers Cup in Montreal, Angelique Kerber paired her Wimbledon skirt with a ray red version of the adidas Fall Climachill Tank that includes 3D metallic dots on the interior of the upper back, whose job is to keep players cool and dry. The adidas Fall Climachill Skirt, unique for its tiered ruffle hem, is equipped with cooling technology, just like the tank.
Love my #usopenseries outfit @adidastennis @adidas
Ma tenue jusqu'à l'@usopen ?????? pic.twitter.com/OLoy6yUew1— Kristina Mladenovic (@KikiMladenovic) July 21, 2016
Kristina Mladenovic has also enjoyed the comfort of the Climachill collection this summer, as well as many other WTA players.
Nicole Gibbs looked top-notch in the New Balance Fall Victoria Dress at the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford. The halterneck, keyhole opening at upper back, side slit, laser-cut pindots around skirt hem, built-in bra, on top of all the performance-enhancing features such as the moisture-wicking fabric and antimicrobial treatment, make this spectral purple dress a standout athletic piece of clothing.
Agnieszka Radwanska talks through her quarterfinal win at the Apia International Sydney.
An press conference with Agnieszka Radwanska after her semifinal win at the Apia International Sydney.
Johanna Konta had Thursday’s shot of the day at the Apia International Sydney.
An press conference with Agnieszka Radwanska after her final defeat at the Apia International Sydney.
MELBOURNE, Australia – Angelique Kerber, Garbiñe Muguruza and Simona Halep – Adidas brand ambassadors and top seeds at the Australian Open – chatted with media ahead of the year’s first Grand Slam.
Joined by Japanese rising star Naomi Osaka, the players took part in an Adidas event where they were put through their paces in a series of workouts at the National Tennis Centre.
After working up a sweat, Kerber, Muguruza and Halep discussed their chances at the Australian Open.
“Obviously I’m nervous, I mean it’s the first Grand Slam of the year,” Muguruza said. “I wanna do it so well, so I have to be calm sometimes. So hopefully I won’t get crazy.”
Watch the video above to hear from all the players, and check out the best photos of the event right here – courtesy of Fiona Hamilton and Tennis Australia:
Qualifier Elise Mertens pulls off the first big surprise of 2017, conquering No.3 seed Monica Niculescu to win her first WTA title at the Hobart International.
For Johanna Konta, the opening weeks of the new season could hardly have gone any better. Picking up from where she left off at the end of 2016, Konta has continued to rack up the wins and on Friday evening collected her second career title thanks to a dominant victory over World No.3 Agnieszka Radwanska at the Apia International Sydney.
Success in Sydney will have tasted particularly sweet for Konta, who was born in Sydney and learnt the game in the nearby suburb of Collaroy before moving to Britain as a teenager.
Her return to Australia’s cultural capital has afforded plenty of time to catch up with old friends and family, including elder sister Eva, who is married to AFL player Shane Mumford.
“I’m just really happy I get to stay here a little bit longer,” Konta said after her quarterfinal win over Daria Kasatkina.
“I think it’s more just about prolonging my stay here, more than anything, because I get to spend a bit more time with my sister.”
#SAPStatOfTheDay: @JoKonta91 did not drop a set ALL week en-route to @SydneyTennis Title! pic.twitter.com/AFZXwPPLua
— WTA (@WTA) January 13, 2017
However, with one piece of silverware in the bag the 25-year-old’s focus is now firmly set on the Australian Open, where she reached the semifinals 12 months ago. Friday’s draw handed her a first-round date against Kirsten Flipkens, with Caroline Wozniacki and Dominika Cibulkova also lurking in her quarter.
The last British player to win the tournament was Virginia Wade in 1972, and on current form, the Briton will fancy her chances against all-comers. Ever the consummate professional, though, she is taking nothing for granted: “I’m really pleased with just the amount of matches I have been able to play. Obviously how I have done here, I take it as a really positive thing, as a nice reward along the way for the hard work that myself and my team have put in every day.
“But it’s not a reflection of how next week will go, how the rest of the year will go. It’s back to everyday hard work, because that’s what dictates how I do.”
Perfect backhand down the line from @JoKonta91! ?
Wins @SydneyTennis Final Shot of the Day! pic.twitter.com/G6k8xrlTwx
— WTA (@WTA) January 13, 2017
A meticulous approach to each and every aspect of her game has characterized Konta’s rapid ascent of the tennis ladder. As impressive as her shotmaking is at times, her mental fortitude is arguably the cornerstone of her game.
During the off-season Konta parted ways with Esteban Carril, the coach who helped chart her passage from the outer extremities of the Top 100 to the game’s elite. Impressively, the changes behind the scenes – which also included the death of sports psychologist Juan Coto – do not seem to have jolted Konta from her unerring path to the game’s summit.
She is now working with the much-respected Wim Fissette, who looks to have successfully harnessed the career momentum that has helped her win 22 of her past 27 matches.
Fissette, who has worked with Sabine Lisicki, Simona Halep, Victoria Azarenka and most famously Kim Clijsters, has a fine track record. In Konta he has another potential success story on his hands.
Very happy with winning the title @SydneyTennis pic.twitter.com/9RLwNPun4h
— Wim fissette (@wimfissette) January 13, 2017
The next step for his charge is Grand Slam glory. She has tasted it briefly, reaching the US Open fourth round twice, as well as last year’s run at Melbourne Park, and her consistency bodes well for another good showing over the coming fortnight.
“I do feel with myself that I am playing a good level. And the way it’s coming through, so far, is it’s been consistent over the last two weeks,” Konta said after beating Radwanska.
“But like I said, it’s no reflection of how the Australian Open will go… There are so many things that are a factor, and most importantly, I will continue to look at my health, happiness. And again, that will give me the best shot at trying to be consistent, like Aga. That’s pretty hard.”
She will begin her campaign on Tuesday, offering sufficient time to recover from her Sydney exploits. The conditions in Melbourne are likely to be every bit as brutal as they were in Sydney, where the WTA’s heat rule came into play on several occasions.
Konta began refueling for the battles ahead in the moments following the trophy ceremony, a British favorite getting her ready for the Antipodean press pack. “Because it’s quite late, I’m not too sure [what to eat]. I had a ham-and-cheese toasty, which was amazing!”
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – Venus Williams booked the first spot in the quarterfinals of the Olympic tennis event as she and mixed doubles partner Rajeev Ram edged past Kiki Bertens and Jean-Julien Rojer of the Netherlands, 6-7(4), 7-6(3), 10-8.
More to come…