Tennis News

BRISBANE, Australia – Alizé Cornet scored her first win of 2017 in dramatic fashion, coming back the brink of defeat to upset Elena Vesnina at the Brisbane International.

The No.7 seeded Russian, who enjoyed her first Top 20 season last year, got a rude awakening in the New Year in the form of a determined Cornet, who was two games away from defeat before mounting her comeback to advance 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(5).

“It feels really great to win the first match of 2017, on the first of January, after a thriller match against Elena,” Cornet said after the victory.

“It was the worst scenario ever, 7-6 in the third, almost three hours of match. It was a big fight and I’m happy I’m through. I feel ready for the rest of the tournament.”

Vesnina took advantage of a shaky start from the Frenchwoman to build her momentum early on, quickly taking the opening set and building up a daunting 4-1 lead in the second. But the match turned on a dime as Cornet put the pressure on, drawing out the unforced errors from Vesnina’s racquet and rattling off five straight games to level the match.

.@AlizeCornet battles past Vesnina 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(5)!

Advances to @BrisbaneTennis Second round! pic.twitter.com/dnwV6rAOIC

— WTA (@WTA) January 1, 2017

With the heat rule in effect, the pair were back on court for a tense final set, staying even blow for blow and heading into a tiebreak. After two hours and thirty-seven minutes, an ill-timed drop shot from Vesnina – on her 65 unforced errors – didn’t make it over the net and gave Cornet match point and sent her into the second round.

Up next for Cornet is Christina McHale, who had a smoother road into the second round after cruising past Sara Errani in straight sets 6-3, 6-3.

“First I have to think about recovering from this match, that’s the most important,” Cornet said. “Then I can think about the second round.

“I play against McHale, who is a very good player and had an easy first round win. I’m expecting a tough battle, but you know, this match really got me in the rhythm! I’m just ready to keep going.”

1st of january ✔
1st match of the season ✔
1st thriller ✔
1st win ✔ ??? !
Welcome to the 2017 season ? #BrisbaneInternational #lookingtired pic.twitter.com/mR3dTxdKsd

— Alize Cornet (@alizecornet) January 1, 2017

SINGAPORE – Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic have been named 2016 WTA Doubles Team Of The Year.

The pair won their first-ever Grand Slam title in 2016 at Roland Garros, the first all-French team to reach the French Open doubles final since 1971. They also reached the final of the US Open and the Wimbledon quarterfinal.

They duo enjoyed success on clay all year, winning the Volvo Cars Open in Charleston, Porsche Tennis Grand Prix and Mutua Madrid Open. Garcia and Mladenovic were also four-time finalists on hard courts as they finished as runners-up at Apia International Sydney, Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, US Open, and China Open.

The French doubles pair will be the top seed in the doubles competition at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global, where they will have a chance to claim the 2016 Year-End World No.1 Doubles Ranking, presented by Dubai Duty Free.

Congrats @KikiMladenovic and @CaroGarcia!#WTA Doubles Team of the Year! pic.twitter.com/UZiBQ59V5C

— WTA (@WTA) 21 October 2016

In a tight field, they finished with 20 points ahead of Lucie Safarova and Bethanie Mattek-Sands, who got 17, Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza on eight, while Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina got four.

WTA Doubles Team Of The Year Winners
2016: Caroline Garcia / Kristina Mladenovic
2015: Martina Hingis / Sania Mirza
2014: Sara Errani / Roberta Vinci
2013: Sara Errani / Roberta Vinci
2012: Sara Errani / Roberta Vinci
2011: Kveta Peschke / Katarina Srebotnik
2010: Gisela Dulko / Flavia Pennetta
2009: Serena Williams / Venus Williams
2008: Cara Black / Liezel Huber
2007: Cara Black / Liezel Huber
2006: Lisa Raymond / Sam Stosur
2005: Lisa Raymond / Sam Stosur

Complete listing of the historical WTA Awards.

SHENZHEN, China – Johanna Konta began her first season as a Top 10 player in imperious form, dispatching Caga Buyukakcay, 6-2, 6-0, to advance into the second round of the Shenzhen Open.

“I’m really happy to have started the year again, and I’m really enjoying my time in Shenzhen,” Konta said after the match.

Konta finished 2016 the first British player ranked in the Top 10 in 33 years, when namesake Jo Durie ended the 1983 season ranked No.6.

Check out those wheels! ??@JoKonta91 is everywhere! #ShenzhenOpen pic.twitter.com/Y14uwUVgem

— WTA (@WTA) January 2, 2017

Joining a trio of Top 10 players that includes defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska and 2015 winner Simona Halep, Konta acquitted herself well as the No.3 seed, needing just 56 minutes to defeat Buyukakcay, herself coming off a career-best season.

.@JoKonta91 starting ?!

Grabs opening set off Buyukakcay 6-2! #ShenzhenOpen pic.twitter.com/SKH3RMnSsB

— WTA (@WTA) January 2, 2017

Buyukakcay became the first Turkish woman to win a title in WTA history at home last year in Istanbul, but had no answers to Konta’s big serving display, winning just nine points on the Brit’s first serve and losing serve six times in two sets.

“I felt I did a good job of staying present and enjoying every point I got to compete out there today. I’m looking forward to my next match!”

Up next for Konta is American veteran Vania King, who spent 2016 rebuilding her ranking after a back injury. King survived Green youngster Maria Sakkari, 2-6, 6-1, 6-2, on Sunday.

.@JoKonta91 moves into #ShenzhenOpen second round after 6-2, 6-0 win over Buyukakcay! pic.twitter.com/Y187ReVeBq

— WTA (@WTA) January 2, 2017

Earlier in the day, No.4 seed Timea Bacsinszky announced her withdrawal from Shenzhen due to an abdominal injury.

“I’m pretty sad about withdrawing today. I was looking forward to playing here again in Shenzhen because I have really good memories at this tournament. But for my own health and the beginning of the year, sometimes you have to be wise and think long term.”

SINGAPORE – Following a full Asian Swing, No.3 seed Simona Halep opted to travel home for the fortnight between Beijing and the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global, both to relax and to welcome newborn niece Tania.

“I needed some rest with my family, with my friends,” she said at Saturday’s All-Access Hour in Singapore. “I played a lot of tennis. I did the training. I was pretty professional before this tournament.

“The previous two years I had my family here [at the WTA Finals], but now I’m not that important anymore,” she added with a laugh. “My niece is the most important person in my family. They are home, so I’m alone, just with my team.”

That team, which includes coach Darren Cahill, has largely been a winning combination in 2016, helping Halep to three titles, including the Mutua Madrid Open, a place she calls her “special tournament.”

“I do the same preparation for every tournament. This one is a little bit tough because it’s the last one and you have to still be focused. So it’s not easy, but it’s nice. It’s a nice atmosphere here, and I always enjoy playing here. I have great memories from 2014 [when she made her Singapore debut and reached the final]. I hope to repeat that.”

The biggest shifts the Romanian hopes to make are largely mental, with the former World No.2 chalking up her biggest disappointments to that aspect of her game.

“With Serena at the US Open I think was a mental reason that I lost that match. At Wimbledon, too, I was close to winning that match against Kerber. I will speak with [Cahill] about these mental things more.”

.@Simona_Halep doing double duty @WTAFinalsSG, chatting with Romanian press after a full AAH: pic.twitter.com/5drfsOOd3L

— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) October 22, 2016

Technically, Halep feels better than ever, particularly off the forehand side.

“I feel more confident when I hit it and I can make winners now with it.”

Kicking off group play against No.6 seed Madison Keys on Sunday evening, the 2014 runner-up hopes the third time will be lucky, especially with a 10-7 record against fellow Red Group players Dominika Cibulkova and World No.1 Angelique Kerber.

“Every year is different. Every year you are nervous. Every year you are excited to be here. Of course, in first year you might have more energy, like, ‘Wow, let’s see how it’s going to work.’ I felt this in 2014.

“Last year I was a little bit tired; now I’m better than last year. When you get experience it’s easier for you to handle the situation.”

No matter what happens, however, “Aunt Simo” is undoubtedly looking forward to a relaxing off-season with her growing family.

“I will go home to spend some time with my niece, to see her starting to grow up.”

SHENZHEN, China – No.3 seed Johanna Konta recovered from a set and 1-3 down to defeat Vania King, 1-6, 6-3, 6-2, to reach the last eight at the Shenzhen Open.

Konta had dropped just two games in her first match of the season, but endured the slowest of starts on Tuesday against King, who spent last year rebuilding her ranking following a back injury that sidelined her for most of 2015.

“Every match is difficult, regardless of the scoreline,” she said in her post-match press conference. “Yesterday had its own challenges; today had different challenges. I needed to adjust today and that took time, but I’m definitely happy with how I was able to get back into the match.

“I think I fought well and I kept myself very present and grounded, trying to create my own momentum and keep my bubble of focus. From there, it got closer and I was able to raise my level, and perhaps she dropped hers. It was a little bit of both.”

What a return! @Queen_V21 is a set and a break to the good! pic.twitter.com/jmHjAAxw4H

— WTA (@WTA) January 3, 2017

The upset bug that had taken out No.7 seed Monica Niculescu to start the day seemed poised to hit Konta from the start. King broke at love to kick off the opening set and never looked back, breaking once more to put herself one set away from victory.

“I think all credit to Vania. I think she played a very very good first set; throughout the whole match she played quite well, but especially in the first set she came out really strong and didn’t give me much of a chance to get much of a grip on the match. So I had to work incredibly hard, dig deep and really just try to create my own momentum in the second set.

“Once I did that, it became more of a competition.”

.@JoKonta91 lands the perfect lob! She's won four straight games and is serving for the set! pic.twitter.com/FceaaqYTZL

— WTA (@WTA) January 3, 2017

From a set and a break down, the British No.1 found herself three games from defeat, but nonetheless rallied, winning five straight games to level the match.

The decider was ultimately a more straightforward affair as Konta broke twice to seal victory in 96 minutes.

A brilliant passing shot from @JoKonta91! She breaks and is right back in this second set! pic.twitter.com/vJxchg3LPI

— WTA (@WTA) January 3, 2017

Up next for Konta is either Kristyna Pliskova or qualifier Chang Kai-Chen. Pliskova began the week with a thrilling win over No.6 seed Anastasija Sevastova, 1-6, 6-3, 7-6(6), while Chang scored an upset over Viktorija Golubic in straight sets.

“I had a very good season last year with a lot of great memories to take from that,” she said when asked to reflect on her breakthrough 2016. “But most importantly I’m looking to keep myself healthy this year to play a full season as much as I can. Every time I go out on the court, I’m trying to apply the same mentality as last year; I want to leave it all out there, compete every single point and do my best, looking to improve every single day.

“I have no outcome goals. I always do my best to stay process-orientated; I may sound like a broken record, and it may sound boring, but it’s the way I am!”

.@JoKonta91 advances to #ShenzhenOpen Quarterfinals!

Knocks out King 1-6, 6-3, 6-2! pic.twitter.com/dFv2f1Dqiw

— WTA (@WTA) January 3, 2017

Earlier in the day, No.7 seed Niculescu lost a tense two-setter to Wang Qiang, 7-6(4), 6-4, and suffered from health issues that required a medical timeout.

“For some reason, I couldn’t breathe so well. I had no air, so I had to call the physio. I felt I gave all I had in the first set, and then it was tough for me. I’m disappointed, but I have to wait for Hobart and Australia.

“I had some problems starting from yesterday, but I don’t know why I didn’t feel my best today. It was important to take that first set, but every time I had to serve, I felt my arms were heavy and I had no power. I still have to play doubles [with Simona Halep] so I hope to play better there.”

KEY INFORMATION:
Tournament Level: Premier
Prize Money: $795,707
Draw Size: 28 main draw (4 byes)/32 qualifying
Qualifying Dates: Saturday, April 16 – Monday, April 18
First Day of Main Draw: Monday, April 18
Singles Final: Sunday, April 24, 1.30pm CEST
Doubles Final: Sunday, April 24 (after singles final)

MUST FOLLOW SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS:
@WTA
@WTA_Insider – WTA Insider, Senior Writer Courtney Nguyen
@PorscheTennis – official tournament handle
Get involved in conversations with the official hashtags, #PTGP and #WTA.

TOURNAMENT NOTES:
· Defending champion Angelique Kerber returns to action after retiring from the Charleston semifinals with a viral illness.
· The only other former winner in the draw is Julia Goerges, who triumphed in 2011. Former finalist Ana Ivanovic (2014) has also made the trip to southern Germany.
· Agnieszka Radwanska is top seed and playing her first match since pulling out of her home event, the Katowice Open, with a reoccurrence of a long-standing shoulder injury.
· For the complete draw click here.

WILDCARDS:
Julia Goerges (GER), Anna-Lena Friedsam (GER)

WITHDRAWALS:
Belinda Bencic, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Madison Keys

SINGAPORE – On the first installment of My Performance at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global, hear from the first winner of the night as Simona Halep breaks down her dominant straight-sets victory over Madison Keys.

The match was the fourth meeting of 2016 for Halep and Keys, so the Romanian knew just how to attack Keys’ weaknesses – she explains how she targeted the backhand and how she broke down her opponent’s powerful serve.

It wasn’t just Halep’s great strategy that gave her the win, though, as her return game was also on point throughout the match. Check out the video below to find out just how deadly she was on the return.