Taiwan: Elina Svitolina's Shot Of The Day
Elina Svitolina had Sunday’s shot of the day at the Taiwan Open.
Elina Svitolina had Sunday’s shot of the day at the Taiwan Open.
After a rollercoaster first month of WTA play Down Under, players have scattered across the globe to compete for their countries in Fed Cup. Meet the teams in action right here!
The first half of the Middle East swing kicks off at the Qatar Total Open in Doha, with 10 of the WTA’s Top 20 taking to the Gulf in search of 470 ranking points.
Here’s what’s on tap for this week on the WTA:
CURRENT TOURNAMENTS:
Doha:
Qatar Total Open
Premier | $710,900 | Hard
Top-ranked players: Angelique Kerber, Karolina Pliskova, Dominika Cibulkova and Agnieszka Radwanska
Defending Champion: Carla Suárez Navarro
UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS:
Dubai:
Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships
Premier 5 | $2,365,250 | Hard
Top-ranked players: Angelique Kerber, Karolina Pliskova, Dominika Cibulkova, Agnieszka Radwanska
Defending Champion: Sara Errani
Budapest:
Hungarian Ladies Open
International | $226,750 | Hard
Top-ranked players: Timea Babos, Lucie Safarova, Andrea Petkovic, Julia Goerges
Defending Champion: None (First Staging)
Acapulco:
Abierto Mexicano Telcel
International | $226,750 | Hard
Top-ranked players: Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Monica Niculescu, Jelena Ostapenko, Kristina Mladenovic
Defending Champion: Sloane Stephens
Kuala Lumpur:
Alya WTA Malaysian Open
International | $226,750 | Hard
Top-ranked players: Carla Suárez Navarro, Elina Svitolina, Caroline Garcia, Yulia Putintseva
Defending Champion: Elina Svitolina
TOP 20 PLAYERS SCHEDULE:
1. Serena Williams
2. Angelique Kerber – Doha, Dubai
3. Karolina Pliskova – Doha, Dubai
4. Simona Halep
5. Dominika Cibulkova – Doha, Dubai
6. Agnieszka Radwanska – Doha, Dubai
7. Garbiñe Muguruza – Doha, Dubai
8. Svetlana Kuznetsova – Dubai
9. Madison Keys
10. Johanna Konta – Dubai
11. Petra Kvitova
12. Venus Williams
13. Elina Svitolina – Doha, Dubai, Kuala Lumpur
14. Carla Suárez Navarro – Dubai, Kuala Lumpur
15. Timea Bacsinszky – Doha, Dubai
16. Elena Vesnina – Doha, Dubai
17. Barbora Strycova – Doha, Dubai
18. Caroline Wozniacki – Doha, Dubai
19. Victoria Azarenka
20. CoCo Vandeweghe
*Current player schedules as of February 13, 2017 – subject to change.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
Best wishes to those celebrating birthdays this week:
Annika Beck (GER) – February 16, 1994
Carina Witthoeft (GER) – February 16, 1995
Cara Black (ZIM) – February 17, 1979
Madison Keys (USA) – February 17, 1995
Roberta Vinci (ITA) – February 18, 1983
DOHA, Qatar – Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova was the only winner on Tuesday at the Qatar Total Open, moving through a rainy Valentine’s Day to dispatch former World No.1 Jelena Jankovic, 6-1, 6-4, and advance into the second round.
“It was quite a long day, but I’ll take it,” she said after the match. “I’m happy to be one of the first ones done today, and it’s a nice present for myself, as well.”
Pavlyuchenkova came in hot after a run to the Australian Open quarterfinals, completing a career set of last eight appearances at major tournaments. But stormy weather threatened to cool off the big-hitting Russian, who was set to open play against Jankovic, one of the most dangerous qualifiers in recent memory.
“I haven’t such a good start to a season before, but it’s exciting, and I’m just trying to take it tournament by tournament.”
Court floor being dried in order to resume the matches of the @WTA #Qatar_Total_Open! Keep following us for more updates! pic.twitter.com/IEGFVI5wIe
— Qatar Tennis Fed. (@QatarTennis) February 14, 2017
Jankovic had to battle through three rounds of qualifying for the first time since 2004 (Filderstadt), but after a year full of injuries, the 2008 US Open finalist discussed the need for more matches to help ease her back into competitive play.
“I’m feeling good but I need to get my game up there and of course my confidence and just being comfortable in the matches, being in those situations all over again, match in, match out, day in, day out, compete and fight and find my way,” she said on Monday.
Even with multiple rain delays, the Serb ultimately had few answers against Pavlyuchenkova, who hit 23 winners to just 14 unforced errors while Jankovic went 0/5 on break point opportunities.
.@NastiaPav has come out swinging after the rain delay! @QatarTennis pic.twitter.com/f7suGTINVJ
— WTA (@WTA) February 14, 2017
“I didn’t do much,” Pavlyuchenkova said of how she spent the time between play. “I was just talking with my coach, and some players as well. But I tried not to expend too much energy so I could keep as much as I could for the court. I don’t know how i managed, so I’m happy to finish this match.
“I guess I was calm,” she continued later on in a post-match interview, “and that’s the main thing, to accept the weather conditions. We were both in the same position, waiting for play to resume. I just tried to do my best.
“I haven’t done so well in the past at this tournament. I’ll try to go as far as I can and hopefully I can show some good tennis and have a great result.”
The Valentine’s Day victory reminded her of another from a few years ago at the Abierto Monterrey Afirme, where she fielded a proposal from an excited fan.
“I’d won a quarterfinal match in Monterrey, and he got on one knee with a ring. That was the last thing I expected, but it’s nice.
“At least somebody wants to marry me!”
Up next for the Russian is No.3 seed and reigning BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global champion Dominika Cibulkova.
.@NastiaPav edges Jankovic 6-1, 6-4!
Meets @Cibulkova in @QatarTennis Second round! pic.twitter.com/CK4wbLJFTP
— WTA (@WTA) February 14, 2017
Dominika Cibulkova takes on Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the second round of the Qatar Total Open.
Daria Kasatkina takes on Angelique Kerber in the second round of the Qatar Total Open.
Karolina Pliskova takes on Dominika Cibulkova in the semifinals of the Qatar Total Open.
An interview with Dominika Cibulkova before her opening round match at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Alison Riske takes on CoCo Vandeweghe in the first round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
In today’s SAP Stat Of The Day, Kristina Mladenovic scored a milestone win at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.