Tennis News

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Eugenie Bouchard’s resurgent form continued at the BMW Malaysian Open, where she’s into the final without dropping a set so far after a win over Naomi Broady, 6-4, 6-3.

Watch live action from Monterrey & Kuala Lumpur this week on WTA Live powered by TennisTV!

Earlier in the day, Elina Svitolina made her way to the final with a win over Zhu Lin, the No.2 seed dispatching the Chinese qualifier in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3.

More to come…

Today is International Women’s Day, a day to celebrate women’s achievements throughout history and across nations.

IWD has been celebrated on March 8 since 1977, when the United Nations proclaimed the date as a time to reflect on progress made for women’s rights, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities.

The WTA marked the date with the #MySuperwoman campaign, and the stars of the WTA also took to Twitter to celebrate International Women’s Day 2016. 

Here’s what they had to say:

#perfection #happyinternationalwomensday❤️ pic.twitter.com/7VG8duT3Mz

— Elina Svitolina (@ElinaSvitolina) March 8, 2016

#OneDayIWill achieve equal rights and opportunities for all. Share your aspiration using #OneDayIWill this #IWD! pic.twitter.com/pw9fKQ2HEf

— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) March 8, 2016

I got the first flowers of the day from my coach this morning ? #womensday pic.twitter.com/RLcvCJTaCz

— Sorana Cirstea (@sorana_cirstea) March 8, 2016

Девочки,сегодня наш день! Давайте постараемся нести больше позитива,добра и света,ведь этого так не хватает нам! ❤️? pic.twitter.com/6jm0OcMIpn

— Svetlana Kuznetsova (@SvetlanaK27) March 8, 2016

Happy women's day?❤️? to all women out there but most importantly to do most inspiring women in… https://t.co/aAjlIWm3KQ

— Daniela Hantuchová (@dhantuchova) March 8, 2016

@TimeaOfficial @SteffiBuchli SuperWoman ! ?

— Patrice Touchard (@PatriceTouchard) March 8, 2016

#IWD2016 ???? pic.twitter.com/OqsvxG9PzW

— Madison Keys (@Madison_Keys) March 8, 2016

Девочки,с8 марта!Желаю всем вам весны,любви, признаний,объятий,а так же искренних слов и исполнения всех желаний!??? pic.twitter.com/tTJXpGwSbB

— Elena Vesnina (@EVesnina001) March 8, 2016

Happy #InternationalWomenDay everyone! https://t.co/jd9o3CUcWQ

— Petra Kvitova (@Petra_Kvitova) March 8, 2016

#MySuperwoman is My mother! ?
What about your Superwoman? #InternationalWomensDay #IWD2016 #loveyoumum pic.twitter.com/VaDtalJcOX

— Caroline Garcia (@CaroGarcia) March 8, 2016

Here’s to women’s STRENGTH, BEAUTY & BRILLIANCE just like a diamond!
After all you are… https://t.co/x7H1QdsbSq

— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) March 8, 2016

INDIAN WELLS, CA, USA – Zhang Shuai came out on top after being a set and 4-2 down against No.20 seed Caroline Wozniacki, winning a marathon three-hour-and-twenty-four minute match to advance to the third round at the BNP Paribas Open.

Watch highlights, interviews and more video from Indian Wells right here on wtatennis.com!

The surging Zhang, who ended last season ranked No.186 and has risen over 100 spots since, announced her presence to the tennis world at one of its biggest stages when she defeated the then-World-No.2 Simona Halep at the Australian Open on her way to the quarterfinals. She’s been skyrocketing since and owns a 15-2 win-loss record across all levels this year.

Coming out against the heavy favorite and 2011 champion Wozniacki, Zhang knew she’d have to come up with the best tennis of her career to get the upset, and that seemed like a tall order after the Dane calmly grabbed the first set 6-4.

The players traded five consecutive breaks of serve to start out what would become a rollercoaster second set. Wozniacki finally held first, getting a 4-2 lead and looking for all intents and purposes like she would eventually close out the match in straight sets. But Zhang, who was making every game into a battle, had other ideas. She broke once again and sent the set into a tiebreaker. They stayed toe-to-toe until Wozniacki finally blinked, Zhang converting her seventh set point to close out the hour-and-twenty-seven-minute-long game.

Wozniacki grabbed another big lead in the third set, breaking twice to get ahead 4-1 and get within striking distance of the third round. So long and late into the night, the crowd at Stadium 4 played their own part in the match, an enthusiastically vocal Chinese contingent chanting against Wozniacki’s loud legion of supporters. They powered Zhang to get herself back in it, though, as clawed her way back game by game until she hit her first ace to level the match at 4-4.

The Danish player just wouldn’t let go, hitting her first ace in reply to grab the next game. But even three hours into the match, Zhang was still able to find another gear. Despite Wozniacki saving three match points, Zhang emerged victorious in the marathon match, winning 4-6, 7-6(8), 7-5.

“So excited, so tough match,” Zhang said after the match. “Any time everybody play against her, always tough to win because she’s very strong mentally and very good at defense.

“She was a big challenge to me because I was not really aggressive, not really stronger. But I have to be stronger if I want to win.”

Next up for Zhang is Victoria Azarenka, who dropped just five games against Zarina Diyas on her way to the third round, 6-3, 6-2.

INDIAN WELLS, CA, USA – No.5 seed and 2015 BNP Paribas Open champion Simona Halep faced stiff opposition in rival and No.30 seed Ekaterina Makarova, but the Romanian laid down another comprehensive victory on a windy Sunday night to reach the fourth round, 6-2, 6-4.

The two began strongly on serve but Halep earned a crucial break in the sixth game and ultimately ran away with the opening set. Makarova had lost five games in a row when the Russian – a former Top 10 player who pushed Halep to three sets in their last meeting at the 2015 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships – broke back and continued to apply pressure throughout the second set before Halep broke for the match with her 16th and final winner.

“It was a tough match,” Halep told Andrew Krasny during her on-court interview. the wind was really bothering us, but I’m happy that I could win this match; I played a bit smarter, I think.

“I knew how to adapt for the wind,” she said later. “Just in one part of the court I had to hit a bit stronger, and the other with more topspin. I adjusted really well today and I’m really happy that I did it.”

Closing out the night session, Halep acknowledged the crowd, many of whom brought Romanian flags in support of the former World No.2.

“I want to thank everyone for staying; I know it’s difficult but thank you guys!”

Playing with renewed confidence, Halep has displayed the sort of form that took her to her career-high ranking and into the French Open final back in 2014. Struggling with illness and injury to start this season, Halep has felt fit and healthy since the end of the Middle East Swing and credits coach Darren Cahill with helping her adjust her mindset and firm up her tactics.

“I had tough matches this year where I couldn’t finish the match, so now I call Darren and he really helped me to finish the ball and be strong in the end and to believe that I can win and make a break.

“I’m not thinking about defending the title, but I’m really happy to be back here on Center Court. I really have great memories from last year and I believe that here I can come back with my game and with my confidence.”

Up next for the No.5 seed is Barbora Strycova; the Czech veteran has been one of the most consistent players this season with a run to the finals in Dubai and a second week showing in Melbourne; the two have split their only two previous encounters, but Halep triumphed in their most recent meeting at the 2014 China Open.

INDIAN WELLS, CA, USA – Top seed Serena Williams powered through a tough, but decisive victory over 2015 BNP Paribas Open champion Simona Halep, 6-4, 6-3, to reach the semifinals.

Watch highlights, interviews and more video from Indian Wells right here on wtatennis.com!

With strong crowd support from her compatriots, Halep started strong with an early service break, but Williams proved undaunted throughout the 68-minute affair, putting down 28 winners and only 24 unforced errors, breaking serve four times to defeat the defending champion and reach her second straight Indian Wells semifinal.

“It’s a lot of love in this stadium, and a lot of Romanians,” Serena jokingly told Andrew Krasny during her on-court interview, offering her apologies to Halep’s unflappable fanbase. “Sorry guys, but there’s definitely a lot of love here.”

Williams and Halep had played two tricky matches in 2015, including a three setter almost exactly 52 weeks ago in the semifinals of the Miami Open; with the Romanian beginning to show signs of improvement after a slow start to the season, the American admitted to being on her guard coming into the match.

“She obviously has been in good form the past couple years,” she said during her post-match press conference. “So, yeah, I feel really good just to get under there and buckle down and to win that.”

Up next for the World No.1 is soon-to-be new World No.2 Agnieszka Radwanska, who eased past two-time Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova, 6-2, 7-6(3). The two last played in the semifinals of the Australian Open, which Williams won in two emphatic sets.

“She knows how to play in big stadiums and big matches, big games. Obviously she does everything so well, including running, and this is a good surface for her because it’s a slow surface. I think I expect there will be a lot of long rallies. Honestly, I will be ready.

“I really like Aga on and off the court. I think she’s super exciting to watch on the court, and off the court I think she’s really one of the nicest people. Regardless, I think it will be a really good matchup. Whoever wins will go into the final.

“It’s unfortunate it can’t be a final, but we’ll see how it goes. I don’t think she’s won this tournament yet, but obviously she probably wants to. We will see how that goes.”

INDIAN WELLS, CA, USA – Karolina Pliskova ended Daria Kasatkina’s breakthrough run at the BNP Paribas Open with a brilliant display of controlled aggression on Thursday afternoon.

Watch highlights, interviews and more video from Indian Wells right here on wtatennis.com!

Kasatkina has been one of the fortnight’s feel-good stories, but the emotional and physical exertions finally caught up with her as Pliskova ran out a 6-3. 6-2 winner.

Pliskova, the No.18 seed, took full advantage of the friendly conditions, hitting winners at will past her weary teenage opponent. However, it was far from mindless ball-bashing from the Czech, who gave Kasatkina very little in the way of cheap points, coughing up 10 unforced errors during their hour on court.

Kasatkina held her own in the first set, withstanding the onslaught from the other end until the sixth game when Pliskova arrowed a forehand into the corner to break. With Pliskova’s own serve as dominant as ever, the set was soon in the bag.

Pliskova continued to turn the screw at the start of the second, another thumping forehand bringing an immediate break as she hurtled towards a maiden Indian Wells semifinal.

There she will face 2012 champion Victoria Azarenka, who downed Magdalena Rybarikova in a 6-0, 6-0 shutout.

While Kastakina was unable to replicate the tennis that accounted for No.12 seed Timea Bacsinszky a round earlier, it takes little away from a remarkable rise; this time last year, the teenager, then outside the Top 300, was slogging it out on the ITF Circuit.

“Now I’m Top 40,” she said in her post-match press conference. “Last year I was 340. Yeah, it was pretty fast!”