SAP Behind The Numbers: IW & Miami
Who were the last women to complete the Sunshine Double? And who has the most match wins? Find out as SAP takes you Behind The Numbers at Indian Wells and Miami.
Who were the last women to complete the Sunshine Double? And who has the most match wins? Find out as SAP takes you Behind The Numbers at Indian Wells and Miami.
QUÉBEC CITY, CANADA – No.1 seed Eugenie Bouchard closed out the first round at the Coupe Banque Nationale with a solid victory over Mandy Minella, 6-3, 6-4.
Earlier in the day, CiCi Bellis scored her first win as a professional tennis player in a hard-fought battle against American qualifier Danielle Lao. She needed seven match points to close out her final service game, but she got the job done 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 after two hours and twenty minutes.
“I knew Danielle was playing well – I mean, she passed qualies and beat someone really good in the first round,” Bellis said after the match. “I knew it was going to be a tough one, I’m just glad I got through.”
Yesterday, Bellis announced that she was turning professional after a summer of great results, including a third-round appearance at the US Open. Now into the quarterfinals of the Coupe Banque Nationale, it looks like
“I feel really confident after my summer of WTA tournaments and then the US Open,” Bellis explained. “I think it was time. It was an easy decision to make – I’m was very excited about it.”
Bellis will face another American in the quarterfinals after Jessica Boserup knocked out No.7 seed Evgeniya Rodina 6-4, 6-3.
A pair of qualifiers also made their way to the quarterfinals after Lauren Davis defeated No.8 seed Samantha Crawford 6-4, 6-1 and Tereza Martincova defeated Ekaterina Alexandrova 4-6, 6-1, 6-4.
More to come…
Karolina Pliskova had a thrilling finale to her summer hardcourt swing, backing up her biggest-career title at the Western & Southern Open with a run to a first Grand Slam final at the US Open.
“I’m so proud of myself,” she said after a narrow loss to Angelique Kerber in the championship match. “If someone would tell me I’m going to play finals in this tournament before two weeks I would take it.”
Pliskova ends her head-to-head series with the new World No.1 at 1-1 after winning their Cincinnati meeting and keeping Kerber from taking the top spot until her triumph in Flushing. She also became the fourth player ever to defeat both Williams sisters at the same major tournament. Saving a match point against No.6 seed Venus Williams, the Czech powerhouse stunned top seed Serena Williams in straight sets in her first semifinal.
“I’m just gonna take it tournament by tournament and try to play the game what I was playing last three weeks. I think I really did a good job. I improved in a lot of things, especially the game what I have been playing, not only against the players which are under me, but with the top players which are in front of me.
“I think that’s the key how I can, you know, be even better than I am.”
Hear more from Pliskova on her breakthrough run on the WTA Insider Podcast:
Up to a career-high of No.6 and in pole position to make her debut appearance at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global, Pliskova is your Breakthrough Player of the Month!
Final Results for August’s WTA Breakthrough Performance Of The Month
1. Karolina Pliskova (64%)
2. Anastasija Sevastova (18%)
3. Ana Konjuh (18%)
2016 Breakthrough Performance Of The Month Winners
January: Zhang Shuai
February: Jelena Ostapenko
March: Nicole Gibbs
April: Cagla Buyukakcay
May: Kiki Bertens
June: Elena Vesnina
July: Kristina Kucova
How it works:
Finalists are selected by wtatennis.com
Winner is then determined by a fan vote on wtatennis.com
The WTA World No.5, Dominika Cibulkova, has spoken in depth about the positive and negative effects of pressure on her game.
The Slovak finished last season on a high after winning the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global. However, after being knocked out in the third round at the Australian Open in January – the 25-year-old lost to Russian Ekaterina Makarova – she now feels heightened pressure.
“I didn’t feel good on the court. It was a little hard with all the pressure and all the media attention. I think that was why there were negative thoughts in my head. I wasn’t really enjoying my time on the court,” she wrote in a Straits Times column this week.
For the past two years, Cibulkova has been working closely with a mental coach in order to overcome match-day nerves – and the move is paying off.
Reflecting on the first two months of 2017, she said that she has been concentrating on turning negative thoughts into positive ones and enjoying the game.
“Dealing with pressure and nerves has always been a challenge for me throughout my career. Sometimes I want something so badly and the nerves come, especially in the tight moments.”
But it is a fine balance to strike and she is still working on balancing the increased expectations that accompany success.
“People think you just have to learn how to deal with pressure and expectations on court but that’s wrong. I make the goals smaller and then they become more manageable.”
In the lead-up to the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global, the eight singles players from last year’s edition will pen columns exclusively for The Straits Times. The monthly series begins with reigning champion Dominika Cibulkova – click here to read it in full.
February was defined by four breakthrough players who brought some impressive performances on and off the court. Which one soared the highest?
Have a look at the nominees for February’s Breakthrough of the Month and cast your vote before Thursday at 11:59pm ET! The winner will be announced Friday, March 10.
February 2017 WTA Breakthrough of the Month Finalists:
Elina Svitolina: Svitolina surged up the rankings and into the upper echelons of the women’s game in February, debuting in the Top 10 and winning the biggest title of her career at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. Along the way, she also won the Taiwan Open and amassed a 13-match winning streak, one that’s yet to be broken heading into the BNP Paribas Open.
Kristina Mladenovic: The Frenchwoman took home her first career title on one of the game’s biggest stages, surviving Yulia Putintseva to win a Premier title at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy. Mladenovic capped off the month with a win over Karolina Pliskova and another run to a WTA final at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel.
CiCi Bellis: The young American made waves in Dubai, stunning former World No.2 Agnieszka Radwanska to become the youngest quarterfinalist at the Premier 5 event since Lina Krasnoroutskaya in 2001.
Ashleigh Barty: Barty continued her impressive comeback by winning the singles and doubles titles at the Ayla WTA Malaysian Open; the former was her first career singles title and helped her make her Top 100 debut on Monday’s rankings.
2017 Winners:
January: CoCo Vandeweghe
How it works:
Finalists are selected by wtatennis.com
Winner is then determined by a fan vote on wtatennis.com
INDIAN WELLS, CA, USA – As one might expect, there are plenty of players working hard on the practice court as Indian Wells gets under way – and they’re certainly enjoying the views.
Nice view from the office @BNPPARIBASOPEN ???Тренировка с видом??? #indianwells pic.twitter.com/TMq0WiI6R5
— Elena Vesnina (@EVesnina001) March 8, 2017
Lara Arruabarrena is soaking in the sights as well.
Not many places better than this one to play some tennis. Hello from the desert?? pic.twitter.com/ifBYwwcPHH
— Lara Arruabarrena (@laraarrua) March 8, 2017
Simona Halep is toiling away under the sun and watchful eye of coach Darren Cahill – and taking on the tough task of two opponents at once.
Double trouble for @Simona_Halep. That @darren_cahill forehand still has some stick. #BNPPO17 pic.twitter.com/INxQXpSs9b
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) March 7, 2017
There was still time for a bit of fun, though. For starters, WTA Insider Courtney Nguyen was out and about with players in a most unorthodox way – riding around on a golf cart.
Elina Svitolina shared her excitement for the week ahead.
Golf carting with 13-match win-streaker @ElinaSvitolina @BNPPARIBASOPEN. pic.twitter.com/u0B9nLY0xN
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) March 7, 2017
Timea Bacsinszky confessed her “blonde moment”.
Golf carting with @TimeaOfficial, who explains why she had a bit of a “blonde moment” this morning. #creds #BNPPO17 pic.twitter.com/mXKbrpvyJA
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) March 7, 2017
And Barbora Strycova talked about suffering from jetlag.
Last golf cart of the day with @BaraStrycova talking about life, love, and home improvement. Get some sleep, Bara! pic.twitter.com/JELl5rRrrR
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) March 8, 2017
Lauren Davis took some time out to try out a relaxing yoga session.
And Zhang Shuai smiled for the cameras in a photo shoot for the Tennis Channel.
And there’s no better way than to end the day having dinner with your best girls in Indian Wells – and Kristina Mladenovic got her posse of famous friends to synchronize their footwork.
Dinner with the girls in Indian Wells!? @DKasatkina @PutintsevaYulia @Daria_gav @BelindaBencic @anakonjuh pic.twitter.com/0y0ENFwEnZ
— Kristina Mladenovic (@KikiMladenovic) March 8, 2017
NGUANGZHOU, China – No.2 seed Jelena Jankovic faced few problems in a 6-2, 6-1 rout of hometown favorite You Xiaodi to reach the second round of the Guangzhou International Women’s Open.
Playing her first tournament since the US Open, Jankovic lost just five points behind her first serve and saved four of five break points faced throughout the 66 minute match, which the Serb told press was tougher than the scoreline indicated.
“There were a lot of tough points, and I think my young opponent played very well,” she said in her post-match press conference. “She has a great game and great potential. A lot of games were really close. Though I didn’t play my best tennis, I’m happy to get through, so I hope to keep improving and get even better.”
Jankovic had a strong end to her season in 2015, winning here and in Hong Kong to qualify for the Huajin Securities WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai, and despite an injury-riddled season, still has big goals for her week in Guangzhou.
“I would like to play one match at a time, but my goal is to win the tournament. It won’t be easy because every tournament is tough and everyone is playing well, but I will try my best to achieve it.”
Up next for the former World No.1 is Sweden’s Rebecca Peterson, who dispatched local wildcard and former junior No.1 Xu Shilin, 6-3, 6-1.
“In general, I’ve loved coming to China for so many years. I’ve had quite a lot of success in this part of the world. I’d like to do well again, and so I’ll try my best to have a great Asian Swing and end my season on a positive note.
“But I’ve had a lot of injuries, two ruptures in my shoulder, and this is only my second tournament after a long time. I will try to fight and regain my confidence, get stronger, and get better with each match I play in Asia.”
Jankovic even managed to have some fun before the tournament began, sharing images from the player’s party on her official Facebook page:
Earlier in the day, 2013 Wimbledon finalist Sabine Lisicki triumphed over lucky loser Kwan Yau Ng, 6-2, 6-0, while Lesia Tsurenko defeated qualifier Junri Namigata, 6-4, 6-1. Runner-up in Tokyo’s International event last week, No.7 seed Katerina Siniakova bowed out to young Estonian Anett Kontaveit, 6-1, 6-1, while champion Christina McHale was forced to withdraw from Guangzhou due to a right shoulder injury.
Top seed Sara Errani played the last match of the night against China’s Han Xinyun.
More to come…
The boldest decision Karolina Pliskova ever made came at a very young age.
She was 12 – and she made the choice to focus on tennis rather than education.
“I decided to start with tennis and quit with school,” she said in an exclusive WTA interview. “I didn’t study at all, I just put everything into the tennis and it worked.”
It proved a wise decision for the 24-year-old, who turned pro just five years later, in 2009. After reaching her maiden Grand Slam final at the US Open in 2016, she has taken her game to a new level this year and has two 2017 titles to her name already, at the Brisbane International in January and the Qatar Total Open in Doha last month. Her success in Brisbane saw her reach a career-high No.3 in the WTA rankings on January 30.
Pliskova’s comments mark 2017 International Women’s Day, the theme of which is ‘Be Bold For Change’.
International Women’s Day falls on March 8 every year, and celebrates women’s achievements in culture, the economy, politics and society.
TOKYO, Japan – Monica Puig produced a typically gutsy comeback to upset former champion and No.7 seed Petra Kvitova and reach the quarterfinals of the Toray Pan Pacific Open.
Watch live action from Tokyo this week on WTA Live powered by TennisTV!
Despite playing much of the contest on the back foot, Puig played the more assured tennis when it mattered to run out a 1-6, 6-4, 6-4 winner.
“It was difficult conditions today – the conditions were heavy and the roof was open this time – so it took me a little bit of time to adjust,” Puig said. “I just kept fighting and that’s what got me through today.”
The Puerto Rican, who also beat Kvitova on her way to Olympic gold this summer, is yet to lose to a left-hander in 2016 and will now face either defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska or Barbora Strycova.
“I didn’t know I hadn’t lost [to a left-hander], but they’re very difficult to play and always tricky,” she said when quizzed on her record after the match.
More to follow…
WTA Insider | The Insider team addresses the withdrawal of top seed Serena Williams, the re-ascent of Angelique Kerber to No.1, and the similarly different BNP Paribas Open draw.