Caroline Wozniacki: "It's Me. I'm Bringing The Rain."
Caroline Wozniacki discovered what’s behind the WTA’s weather woes in her press conference at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Caroline Wozniacki discovered what’s behind the WTA’s weather woes in her press conference at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Svetlana Kuznetsova takes on Daria Gavrilova in the third round of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia.
Caroline Wozniacki takes on Anastasija Sevastova in the semifinals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
ROME, Italy – Svetlana Kuznetsova won a see-saw encounter against Daria Gavrilova on Thursday to return to the quarterfinals of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia.
Watch highlights, interviews and more video from Rome right here on wtatennis.com!
A two-time finalist at the Foro Italico, Kuznetsova kept alive her hopes of finally lifting the trophy with a 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 victory.
The result sets up a rematch with Serena Williams, whom Kuznetsova upset en route to the final in Miami. Williams came through a sterner than expected test against Christina McHale, eventually running out a 7-6(7), 6-1 winner.
Kuznetsova’s only previous encounter with Gavrilova came over three years ago, ending in a comfortable straight sets victory. Since then, much has changed – both on and off the court – for Gavrilova.
Now based out of Australia, and occupying a place inside the Top 50, Gavrilova is a threat to the game’s big names, something she illustrated by knocking out No.6 seed Simona Halep – her sixth win over a member of the Top 10 – in the previous round.
And after a rocky start against Kuznetsova on Pietrangeli, Gavrilova displayed her newfound maturity to steady the ship and force a decider. Playing the more purposeful tennis, the youngster had Kuznetsova slipping and sliding all over the place in the first game of the third set. Somehow, though, the former French Open champion managed to hang onto her serve, taking some of the wind out of the youngster’s sails in the process.
A game later Kuznetsova had the break, profiting from a heavy net cord. While she was unable to hold onto this advantage for long, she profited from a couple of tight forehands from Gavrilova to break decisively in the eighth game.
“I was a bit tense because I didn’t know what to expect, basically,” Kuznetsova said. “I was trying to figure out how I should play. I saw a couple games against Halep yesterday, but that was a weird match – not something to get ideas for today’s game.
“I played her before she went to Australia. I played her once in Dubai. She played totally different game. I know she’s a fighter and she brings lots of balls back, she changes the pace. Yeah, it was difficult match. But for her, it was different. I’m kind of the favorite, kind of, you know. She had no pressure almost. I just wanted to play my game basically and that’s it and try to dictate.”
BUDAPEST, Hungary – No.1 seed Timea Babos has seen her best tennis flourish in front of her home crowd in Budapest at the Hungarian Ladies Open, and during her semifinal clash against Julia Goerges there was a special guest sitting front row to take it all in – former World No.1 Monica Seles.
“It was a really big moment for me and I was very honored,” Babos told wtatennis.com after the match.
“It’s amazing, you know we don’t have very many huge Hungarian tennis players, and Monica has a Hungarian background – for her to be here today, on the Hungarian National Day of Tennis, watching us, it was really great.”
Seles, who won nine Grand Slam titles during her storied career, liked what she saw from the 23-year-old Hungarian No.1.
“I think ‘Timi’ has got a bright future ahead of her,” she said. “She played very well under very tough conditions today, there’s so much pressure on her and so many expectations.
“She hasn’t played well coming into this tournament, so for her to break through and really play the best tennis so far of the year here in her hometown of Budapest, is just really huge.”
It’s been four years since a WTA tournament was contested in Hungary, and this year’s edition will see the No.1 seed Babos take on the No.2 seed Lucie Safarova in the final.
“This is really a dream final for the tournament, and for it to happen in its first year just shows how much strength the WTA has,” Seles said. “I always enjoy coming back here [to Hungary] and I’m very excited there’s a WTA event now here. And that we have Timi in the final, it’s great for the first year of the tournament.”
“I hope the crowds can keep coming here to support her even more and make tennis very popular here so the tournament can keep growing.”
– Photos courtesy of Hungarian Ladies Open
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