Rome: Keys vs. Strycova
Madison Keys takes on Barbora Strycova in the quarterfinals of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia.
Madison Keys takes on Barbora Strycova in the quarterfinals of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia.
A preview of the final between Caroline Wozniacki and Elina Svitolina at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Highlights from quarterfinal action at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia.
DUBAI, UAE – After securing the biggest title of her career at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Saturday night, Elina Svitolina is set to receive an even bigger reward come Monday.
Svitolina will rise from World No.13 to a career-high No.10, making her the first Ukrainian player ever to break the WTA Top 10.
“I’ve dreamed for all my life to be in Top 10,” Svitolina said after the final, where she defeated Caroline Wozniacki in straight sets. “It’s a very amazing feeling to enter Top 10, and do it by winning the tournament! I’m very excited for the season and very excited I could win this tournament.”
The Ukrainian came into the final in Dubai knowing a victory would clinch her Top 10 debut – and the 22-year-old didn’t let the pressure of the occasion overwhelm her.
“It’s big relief that I could win this match, because I knew that if I win this match, I’m gonna be Top 10,” Svitolina told press after the match.
“There was extra pressure. When I was warming up, added even more pressure because they announce it. It didn’t help!”
Svitolina’s milestone comes as no surprise for fans who’ve followed her career: she’s fresh off a title at the Taiwan Open earlier in the season, and with back-to-back Fed Cup wins Svitolina is in the midst of a 12-match winning streak. Last season, Svitolina took home a title at Kuala Lumpur and reached the final at New Haven and the WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai.
Svitolina is the 120th player to make her Top 10 debut since the WTA Rankings were introduced on November 3, 1975.
Serena Williams takes on Irina-Camelia Begu in the semifinals of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia.
An interview with Monica Puig before the start of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel.
An interview with Serena Williams after her win in the final of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia.
Serena Williams’ fierce competitive streak is what sets up apart and puts her on track to become the greatest female tennis player of all time, according to Roger Federer.
Speaking to Sport360 earlier in the week, the 18-time Grand Slam champion spoke of his admiration for his fellow Australian Open champion’s longevity.
“I admire everything she’s doing and has done,” he said. “I thought she was ready to check out there for a while. But she’s hung on and she’s found new ways of doing things. She’s gotten healthy again as well, she was very unfortunate on a few occasions.”
Serena’s success at the Rod Laver Arena was her 23rd Grand Slam success, which took her past the Open Era record of 22 she had previously held with Stefanie Graf and to within one of Margaret Court’s all-time record. Federer’s victory in the men’s tournament meant that both trophies were won by 35-year-olds.
“People who have done it for a long time and who are older now but are still super eager and super willing and Serena is exactly like that,” said the Swiss. “She’s a fierce competitor and on the way to becoming the greatest of all time. It’s wonderful to see her do it for sure.”
Federer’s comments come little more than two weeks after Andy Roddick called Serena one of the greatest athletes of all time. The American, who grew up training alongside Williams in Florida, described her as “not just one of the greatest women athletes of all time but one of the greatest athletes of all time.”
He added: “We need to enter her into the conversation with [Michael] Jordan and [Muhammad] Ali. I think that’s where the respect lies and where the conversation needs to go after the acknowledgement of what she’s done for women in sports.”
The story of the tournament from the Internazionali BNL d’Italia.
No.3 seed Annika Beck was among the first to arrive.
Doubles partners Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Kveta Peschke stepped out on the step and repeat.
American Irina Falconi was also on hand and ready for her close-up.
Julia Goerges was met by some extra special friends on the red carpet.
Lesia Tsurenko caught up with Simba the Bear as well.
Top seed Roberta Vinci was feeling right at home in Nürnberg in this group shot.
No.2 seed Laura Siegemund was dressed to the nines at the Player’s Party…
…and caught up with countrywomen Annika Beck and Anna-Lena Friedsam to take home some extra-special souvenirs.
The WTA stars were treated to a sumptuous dinner, and it was clear some magic was in the air…
…and sure enough, some magicians were on hand to entertain the players; Sabine Lisicki tries her luck and finding her card.