Wuhan: Kvitova vs Konta
Petra Kvitova takes on Johanna Konta in the quarterfinals of the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open.
Petra Kvitova takes on Johanna Konta in the quarterfinals of the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open.
STRASBOURG, France – For the Czech Republic’s top players, reuniting for Fed Cup finals has almost become an end-of-the-season tradition. The two-time defending champions are back in action this weekend in Strasbourg, where they’re seeking their fifth title in six years.
Karolina Pliskova, Petra Kvitova, Barbora Strycova and Lucie Hradecka will take on the underdogs France in the Fed Cup final – here’s everything you need to know about the team and the tie, right here on wtatennis.com!
Fast Facts:
Tie: Fed Cup Final, France vs Czech Republic
Dates: Nov 12 & Nov 13, 2016
Venue: Rhenus Sport – Strasbourg, France (indoor hardcourts)
Czech Captain: Petr Pala
– The Czech Republic’s last three ties have been decided in the final doubles rubber
– All of the ties in their 2016 campaign have been away, including the final
Meet the team:
Karolina Pliskova
The new Czech No.1 Pliskova earned her career-high ranking of No.5 after the best season of her career saw her lift two titles, including the Premier-level Western & Southern Open – defeating Angelique Kerber in the final – and reach the US Open final, defeating Serena Williams in the semifinals.
After such a banner season, Pliskova is looking to continue her rise with her second Fed Cup crown. Dangerous both in singles and in doubles with partners Barbora Strycova or Lucie Hradecka, the versatile 24-year-old is valuable asset for the Czech team.
Fed Cup debut: 2015
Ties played: 4
Fed Cup win-loss record: 9-2 (singles 6-2, doubles 3-0)
Fed Cup indoor record: 9-2
Petra Kvitova
Fresh from her win at the Huajin Securities WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai, a rejuvenated Kvitova dons the white, blue and red Czech national colors with a renewed sense of purpose. She always shines while playing for her country, and this year she was able to use her impressive run to the Olympic bronze medal as a catalyst to put behind her a disappointing start to the season.
Though her last appearance for the Czech Republic ended in two disappointing defeats, suffering a straight sets loss against Monica Niculescu and a three-set heartbreaker to Simona Halep in the World Group quarterfinal against Romania, Kvitova has been a crucial component to the team for years, competing in all five of their most recent finals.
Kvitova said: “I think the tennis in Czech Republic has a huge [tennis] history. When Navratilova played, all of them, we always kind of been strong for tennis, but the women’s side a little bit stronger right now, and that’s why we playing final again probably.
“Of course we should be confident to get the title for us again. I think we have a great team, and we’re going to do everything what we can. We always love playing. It will be great week for sure, and the weekend will be more special.”
Fed Cup debut: 2007
Ties played: 19
Fed Cup win-loss record: 26-10 (singles 26-9, doubles 0-1)
Fed Cup indoor record: 24-6
Barbora Strycova
The Czech No.3 Strycova sits at No.20 on the WTA rankings after reaching two finals this year, at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships and the Aegon Classic Birmingham. She’s added three doubles titles to her impressive haul, too, including a win at Birmingham with her countrywoman Pliskova.
As a result, Strycova is one of the Czechs’ go-to doubles players, though she’s also been showing off more of her singles game lately. She defeated Timea Bacsinszky in straight sets in the World Group semifinal against Switzerland before falling to Viktorija Golubic in three sets.
Strycova said: “All the Czech players, we know how to be a teammates in the week where is Fed Cup. Tennis is individual sport, so we know how to separate it.Most of the time of the year you play for yourself.
“But three weeks in a year we are so close together and we are like really – I can’t describe it, because it’s like a routine for us that we are really doing everything together in the week where we play Fed Cup.”
Fed Cup debut: 2002
Ties played: 15
Fed Cup win-loss record: 16-9 (singles 7-6, doubles 9-3)
Fed Cup indoor record: 5-5
Lucie Hradecka
As one half of the “Silent Hs” along with partner Andrea Hlavackova, Hradecka’s season in doubles has been a success. The pair started the year with an appearance in the Australian Open final, continued on to reach the quarterfinals or better at Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid and Rome, then capped it off by lifting two titles, the Coupe Banque Nationale and Kremlin Cup as well as competing at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.
As the Czech Republic’s longtime doubles specialist, Hradecka’s role could prove even more crucial this weekend – the team’s last three ties have been decided in the final doubles rubber.
Fed Cup debut: 2010
Ties played: 12
Fed Cup win-loss record: 7-5 (singles 1-3, doubles 6-2)
Fed Cup indoor record: 6-1
– Photos courtesy of Getty Images
The 2016 Aces For Humanity campaign was launched by USANA and the WTA at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells this year, where every ace hit by a WTA player at Premier-level events translates into a donation to the USANA True Health Foundation, whose mission is to provide the most critical human necessities to those who are suffering or in need around the world. For every ace hit by any player the WTA donates $5, and for every ace hit by a USANA Brand Ambassador, it’s $10.
USANA Brand Ambassadors Caroline Wozniacki, Eugenie Bouchard, Samantha Stosur, Kristina Mladenovic, Madison Keys, Sloane Stephens, Monica Puig, Zheng Saisai and Alizé Cornet (who did not play in Indian Wells) have hit 42 of the 489 aces so far – raising a grand total of $2,655 over the fortnight.
Read more about the campaign here and see below to find out who’s hit the most aces so far!
#AcesForHumanity Fan Giveaway
It’s simple: before each WTA Premier tournament guess how many total aces will be hit.
Next up is the Miami Open in Miami. Last year there was a total of 411 aces hit. It’s now your turn, take your best guess of how many will be hit in the desert this year.
How To Enter:
• Follow @WTA and @USANAFoundation on Twitter and before each WTA Premier tournament tweet the number of aces you predict will be hit during the whole tournament (Singles, Main Draw)
• Include the hashtag #AcesForHumanity
• Miami deadline is March 23rd at 11:59pm ET
• The winner will be announced April 4th
Aces For Humanity is a joint WTA and USANA initiative that benefits the USANA True Health Foundation, which provides critical human necessities to those in suffering or in need around the globe.
For full rules on how to enter, click here.
MIAMI, FL, USA – The Miami Open continues on Wednesday, with several youngsters taking center stage.
Watch live action from Miami this week on WTA Live powered by TennisTV!
Wednesday, First Round
Stadium
Eugenie Bouchard (CAN #45) vs. Lucie Hradecka (CZE #85)
Head-to-head: Hradecka leads 2-1
Eugenie Bouchard has largely left a disappointing 2015 season behind as the former World No.5 has already reached two WTA finals in Hobart and Kuala Lumpur this season. At the BNP Paribas Open, she edged past contemporary Sloane Stephens before narrowly losing to Timea Bacsinszky in the third round
Standing between the Canadian and a second round encounter with No.9 seed Roberta Vinci is Czech veteran, Lucie Hradecka. A top-ranked doubles player who reached the semifinals at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global last fall, Hradecka has beaten Bouchard in two of their last three meetings, though the latter emerged victorious in Indian Wells one week ago. Blessed with a booming game, the former World No.41 could pose trouble for the otherwise aggressive Bouchard, but has won just one main draw match all year – an emphatic dismissal of Alison Riske just two weeks ago in the California desert.
Stadium
[WC] Catherine Bellis (USA #219) vs. Monica Puig (PUR #67)
Head-to-head: First meeting
Back in 2014, a then-15-year-old Bellis stole the hearts of the American public when she outlasted former Australian Open finalist Dominika Cibulkova on an outer court at the US Open. The run ended three sets later against Zarina Diyas, but Bellis had become a star, and a name many like Monica Puig already know well.
Puig is a former junior prodigy herself, reaching the girl’s final at the Australian Open in 2011, and has been playing solid ball to start 2016. As a qualifier, she reached the final of the Apia International Sydney, upsetting Samantha Stosur in the quarterfinals. Reaching the third round at the BNP Paribas Open last week, she held two match points against Daria Kasatkina, who went on to reach the quarterfinals. With the winner to play reigning Indian Wells winner Victoria Azarenka in the second round, Bellis and Puig provide a good look at the future of the women’s game
Also on court…
Caroline Garcia begins her tournament on the Grandstand, taking on Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, while Abierto Monterrey Afirme champion Heather Watson takes on Petra Cetkovska to kick off play on Court 1. Americans CoCo Vandeweghe and qualifier Samantha Crawford finish last on Court 1 while Dominika Cibulkova and Johanna Larsson are third on Court 2 following Irina Falconi and 2010 French Open champion, Francesca Schiavone.
Peng Shuai was a few months removed from a US Open semifinal appearance when a back injury took her out of the game for almost a year.
“For me, two years ago, I was at a peak level,” Peng said at the China Open. “I could choose whether I would like to play or not. Actually, my friends and family did not agree with my surgery, because it’s too risky. Now I’m near 30 years old.”
The former Chinese No.1 agreed to have surgery, and was determined to get back to playing her best tennis.
“After the surgery, no one could guarantee I could come back to the court. What if I have more injuries if I come back to the court? I’d like to thank them for their support and care. I was a little bit stubborn to have the surgery. My friends and family supported me to undergo this surgery. It was quite a challenge for me.”
Peng began showing flashes of brilliance at home, upsetting former World No.1 Venus Williams in Beijing before finally adding a WTA title to her illustrious resume, winning the Tianjin Open.
Just shy of the Top 100 heading into 2017 (from a low of No.768), Peng is your Breakthrough Player of the Month!
Final Results for October’s WTA Breakthrough Performance Of The Month
1. Peng Shuai (70%)
2. Johanna Konta (23%)
3. Daria Gavrilova (8%)
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
August: Karolina Pliskova
September: Naomi Osaka
How it works:
Finalists are selected by wtatennis.com
Winner is then determined by a fan vote on wtatennis.com
MIAMI, FL, USA – Former World No.41 and doubles threat Lucie Hradecka earned her second WTA main draw win of 2016 in emphatic style, striking 29 winners to outlast 2014 Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2.
Watch live action from Miami this fortnight on WTA Live powered by TennisTV!
Hradecka came into the match with a winning record over the Canadian, but Bouchard had won their most recent match at last year’s BNP Paribas Open. Winning 100% of her first serve points through the opening seven games, Hradecka nonetheless raced out to a 5-2 lead before nerves set in.
“I’m so happy,” she said after the match. “It was definitely a tough match. I started very well and then at the end of the first set, I started to be a little more nervy and tight.”
Hradecka held on for the first set, but Bouchard, who has already reached two WTA finals in 2016 (Hobart, Kuala Lumpur), was buoyed by the late momentum, breaking serve and withstanding pressure from the Czech veteran to level the match.
“When I had 5-4, I served well, but I made a lot of mistakes in the second set and my first serve was not there.”
Hradecka is no stranger to high stakes – especially in doubles, where she’s qualified twice for the WTA Finals with fellow Olympic Silver medalist Andrea Hlavackova.
“Sometimes it’s tough to combine singles and doubles, but for the moment, it’s combining easily!”
She survived serveral long games on serve in the decider before Bouchard buckled in the sixth game, double faulting on break point. The two-time Grand Slam champion made no mistake in converting her second 5-2 lead of the match, clinching the victory on her third match point.
Up next for Hradecka is No.9 seed Roberta Vinci, who reached the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open before a left foot injury forced her to retire down a set and a break to Magdalena Rybarikova.
“I’ve played against her a few times, but never beaten her. It will be a little bit different because she plays more slice and is very tricky. I have to be consistent in my game, and we’ll see.”
Earlier in the afternoon, Caroline Garcia won a battle of big hitters against Mirjana Lucic Baroni, winning, 1-6, 6-2, 6-3. 2014 Australian Open finalist Dominika Cibulkova won her third straight match against Johanna Larsson, recovering from a set down to book a second round encounter with No.4 seed Garbiñe Muguruza, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2.
Christina McHale will be top seed Serena Williams’ opening round opponent; she withstood a tough battle against Misaki Doi, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5. Vania King’s comeback from a back injury continued when she pushed past a GI illness to defeat qualifier Lourdes Dominguez Lino, 6-4, 6-4, with former No.1 Caroline Wozniacki waiting in the next round. Irina Falconi and Yanina Wickmayer each earned two-set wins over Italians Francesca Schiavone and Karin Knapp, respectively, while big-serving Timea Babos eased past Anna Tatishvili, 7-6(2), 6-2.
MIAMI, FL, USA – Heather Watson rose to the occasion on Thursday afternoon, producing some sparking tennis to outclass Sloane Stephens and take her place in the third round of the Miami Open.
Watch live action from Miami this fortnight on WTA Live powered by TennisTV!
Playing on Crandon Park’s cavernous main court, Watson displayed a few early nerves before settling into the task at hand. A couple of wayward forehands handed the No.20 seed an early break, but from that moment on the Briton was nearly flawless, coughing up just 12 unforced errors as she wrapped up a 6-3, 6-0 victory in a fraction over an hour.
“I thought I played very well today, actually,” Watson said in her on-court interview. “I knew I was playing well. I started off the first few games a little bit shaky but once I started to feel comfortable I played great, which I needed to because Sloane’s such a great player.”
Watson moved to Florida at 12 to train at the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy and since then her career has been intertwined with that of Florida native Stephens. “I’ve played Sloane many times – we came up through juniors together, kind of came up on tour together at the same time – I think I’ve played her more than any other player,” Watson, who has now won five of her seven career meetings with the American, added.
Since returning from a spell out with glandular fever in 2013, Watson has made a concerted effort to play a more aggressive brand of tennis. And her positivity, particularly in the second set, will have pleased the watching Diego Veronelli, whom Watson has recently reunited with.
In the third round, Watson will need to showcase her defensive qualities, too, when she takes on the mercurial Yanina Wickmayer. “Yanina’s a great player. I don’t think I’ve played her for a long time, I’m a very different player now so it should be an exciting match.”
MIAMI, FL, USA – Angelique Kerber will look to recapture her Australian Open magic on Friday as the seeds in the lower half of the draw kick off their Miami Open campaigns.
Friday, Second Round
[2] Angelique Kerber (GER #3) vs. Barbora Strycova (CZE #32)
Head-to-head: Kerber leads, 3-0
Key Stat: Kerber has dropped only 12 games in six previous sets versus Strycova.
After producing the most brilliant performance of her career in Australia, Angelique Kerber suddenly finds herself in a bit of a funk. The German, now ranked No.3 in the world, has lost three straight and has dropped six consecutive sets since winning the Australian Open title. But Kerber is not panicking. “I had a lot to do after Australia, and I was really enjoying it.” Kerber said. “Now I had a little bit of time to rest, to work very hard again on the practice courts. I’m fit and I’m healthy and that’s the important thing, so I’m ready to go again.” The German will be tested by the always pesky Barbora Strycova in the second round. Though troubled by Kerber in the past, the wily Czech will surely be ready to pounce on the opportunity if Kerber isn’t up to snuff.
Pick: Kerber in two
[4] Garbiñe Muguruza (ESP #4) vs. Dominika Cibulkova (SVK #54)
Head-to-head: Muguruza leads, 2-0
Key Stat: As a wildcard, Muguruza reached the round of 16 in her first two Miami appearances.
Perhaps a trip back to the place where the magic started will help Garbiñe Muguruza get her lethal game back on track in 2016. In 2012, the Spaniard was given a wildcard into Miami and proceeded to notch her first career WTA-level win before defeating two seeded players (Vera Zvonareva and Flavia Pennetta) on her way to the round of 16. Four years later, Muguruza is a proven Top 5 talent who is reeling a bit, and in search of her mojo. The Spaniard will look to find it against one of the most ornery fighters on tour in Dominika Cibulkova. The Slovakian was in play for an upset last week at Indian Wells, but squandered a match point and dropped the last five games to fall to Agnieszka Radwanska in three sets. Like Muguruza, Cibulkova is no stranger to having success in Miami. In her last appearance here (2014), she reached the semifinals for the first time.
Pick: Muguruza in three
[6] Carla Suárez Navarro (ESP #6) vs. CoCo Vandeweghe (USA #38)
Head-to-head: Suárez Navarro leads, 2-0
Key Stat: Suárez Navarro had to pull out of Indian Wells with a right ankle injury.
Last year Carla Suárez Navarro reached the final in Miami and secured her place in the WTA’s Top10 for the first time. This year, the Spaniard returns with a lot of points to defend, some questions about her health and a very powerful second-round opponent to deal with. Suárez Navarro has never dropped a set against Vandeweghe, but the American is one of the few players on tour that can take the racquet out of her opponent’s hands when she is on. Still, on the slow-playing hard courts of the Crandon Park Tennis Center, one has to like the consistent grind of Suárez Navarro’s methodical attack against the hit-and-miss aggression of Vandeweghe, particularly if the Spaniard is well enough to capitalize on her fitness advantage.
Pick: Suárez Navarro in three
[13] Victoria Azarenka (BLR #8) vs. Monica Puig (PUR #67)
Head-to-head: First meeting
Key Stat: Azarenka leads the WTA Tour in percentage of service games won thus far in 2016.
Victoria Azarenka is one of two players to have won multiple titles on the WTA Tour this year. Can she make it three in Miami? The red-hot Belarusian will square off against Puerto Rico’s Monica Puig in the first round and the match-up should favor Azarenka. Puig is a hard hitter when she is in control of rallies and able to step in and rip, but with Azarenka serving and returning so well of late, it’s hard to imagine many rallies where Puig will be in the driver’s seat. Azarenka, who improved to 16-1 on the season with her victory over Serena Williams in the Indian Wells final, should be able to dictate, and advance, without too much fuss.
Pick: Azarenka in two
Around the grounds…
Three-time champion Venus Williams will look to get back to winning ways against Elena Vesnina of Russia. The pair have split four previous meetings with 10th-seeded Williams winning the last two. No.7 seed Belinda Bencic will take part in a study of contrasts when she takes on hard-serving southpaw Kristyna Pliskova in a first-time meeting. Madison Keys will begin a new era with Mats Wilander as her part-time coach by facing Kirsten Flipkens. Keys has only played once since the Australian Open, losing to Nicole Gibbs at Indian Wells.
– Chris Oddo, wtatennis.com contributor
MIAMI, FL, USA – No.2 seed Angelique Kerber showed signs of the form that took her to a maiden major title on Friday, dispatching Barbora Strycova in straight sets at the Miami Open.
Watch live action from Miami this fortnight on WTA Live powered by TennisTV!
Since her Australian Open triumph this January, things on the court have not exactly gone to plan for Kerber; a glorious Fed Cup homecoming was spoiled by a Belinda Bencic-inspired Switzerland before early exits in Doha and Indian Wells.
The draw in Miami, though, was kind to the German, pairing her with Strycova, against whom she had never lost. In fact, in their three career meetings Kerber had not even dropped a set, a record she maintained in emphatic fashion on Friday, completing a 6-1, 6-1 win in just over an hour.
“It was a great start for me,” Kerber said. “I knew that Barbora was a tough opponent and it was a tricky one – she’s played very well this year. But I always go out there and try to play my game again and try to be tough mentally, run for every ball.
“I worked very hard before Miami, because I had a lot of time after Indian Wells and I think the hard work pays off again. I’m also a little bit more relaxed and healthy.”
Grand Slam success has done little to erode Kerber’s famed work ethic. The World No.3 even sought the advice from 22-time major winner Steffi Graf in the build up to the Indian Wells-Miami double-header.
“At the end of such a great success it’s always good to celebrate a little bit and of course no one can ever take it away from me,” Kerber added. “But now it’s time to get on court and work hard again and do the same things that made me strong before Australia, getting ready for me next matches and tournaments.”
Next Kerber faces Kiki Bertens, after she overcame a disastrous start to upset No.25 seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, 1-6, 6-4, 6-1.
Angelique Kerber hit many a hot shot in 2016 on her way to becoming World No.1 – watch all of her best shots of the year right here!