At the final Premier Mandatory event of the campaign, the China Open, Agnieszka Radwanska reclaimed the trophy she won five years earlier, while over in indoor halls of Europe, Dominika Cibulkova and Svetlana Kuznetsova sealed their spots at the WTA Finals.
Petra Kvitova finds herself caught at the crossroads of two tennis eras – but she quite likes it that way.
The big hitting lefty is not quite in the generation of WTA veterans like Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova and Venus Williams. But in turn, she’s not in the crowd of new stars likes Garbiñe Muguruza, Simona Halep and fellow Czech Karolina Pliskova who are fast on the rise. Kvitova remains the first and only Grand Slam winner – male or female – born in the 90s.
How does the two-time Wimbledon champion feel about being the most accomplished member of this ‘in between’ group?
“I don’t feel any pressure,” Kvitova told China’s CCTV in Shenzhen. “I know that Serena has been there for a long time – she’s still the biggest champion that we have. And the younger generation is coming up and they are pushing us a lot. I think it’s good that we can see many [new] faces playing so well.
“There’s room in tennis right now – it’s very open. It’s nice to compete and not really be expecting who can win. It’s more difficult and less predictable this way.”
Kvitova experienced first-hand the unpredictability of the emerging younger generation: at last year’s Australian Open, she was stunned by a then 19-year-old Madison Keys in the third round.
The Australian Open is Kvitova’s toughest major: her best results in Melbourne have been an appearance in the quarterfinal in 2011 and in the semifinal in 2012. But if she could choose which of the four slams she’d like to win, the Czech is up for the challenge.
“If I could have another Grand Slam, I would pick either the Australian Open or the French Open,” she said. “At the Australian Open, the hard courts, I just love that Grand Slam a lot. I feel so relaxed in Australia.”
To make that wish come true, Kvitova is facing an uphill climb. She was forced to withdraw from Shenzhen in her first round match and later from Sydney – where she was the defending champion – due to a stomach virus. The last time she played a complete match was at the Fed Cup final, when she helped propel the Czech Republic to victory more than two months ago.
If Kvitova can shake off the off-season rust and beat her lingering illness, the Czech is poised for a deep run in Melbourne – as long as she can make it past the initial hurdles and build up the confidence she needs.
“I don’t really like the beginning of the tournaments, for sure,” Kvitova said. “But that’s how it is – it’s probably normal that I’m improving my game with each match in a tournament.
“And then when the finish line comes, I’m feeling better about my game.”
November 19, 2016
At the final Premier Mandatory event of the campaign, the China Open, Agnieszka Radwanska reclaimed the trophy she won five years earlier, while over in indoor halls of Europe, Dominika Cibulkova and Svetlana Kuznetsova sealed their spots at the WTA Finals.
Chan Yung-Jan and Chan Hao-Ching took to the culture heart of Singapore during the WTA Finals, even attempting to create traditional dress worn throughout Southeast Asia.
MELBOURNE, Australia – Victoria Azarenka, who won the Australian Open in 2012 and 2013, didn’t drop a single game in the first match of her quest for a third title at the Happy Slam on Tuesday.
The No.14-seeded Azarenka was absolutely ruthless against Alison Van Uytvanck in the feature night match on Rod Laver Arena, rolling past the Belgian up-and-comer in just 53 minutes, 6-0, 6-0.
“I’m pretty happy – I don’t think I’m looking for perfection, I’m looking for effort. I’m looking for focus,” Azarenka told reporters afterwards. “I like that I was very composed today from the first point to the last point. Like it didn’t matter what the score was in the match, I was there on every point.
“So that’s what I’m very happy about today.”
The former World No.1 was asked whether she was sticking to the dab – the American Football-inspired post-match celebration she debuted during her run to the Brisbane title – this fortnight.
“For now, yeah,” she said, after which she was asked whether it was for luck.
“I just like doing it,” Azarenka replied. “I don’t believe in luck – I believe in hard work.”
Azarenka has gotten off to a perfect start to the 2016 season, not dropping a set en route to her first WTA title in almost two and a half years at the Brisbane International a few weeks ago – losing just 17 games in five matches, in fact – and she’s now 6-0 on the year after her first win in Melbourne.
Not all of the favorites flourished, though, with five more seeds going out, most notably No.2 seed Simona Halep, who was stunned by Chinese qualifier Zhang Shuai, 6-4, 6-3 (read more here) and No.8 seed Venus Williams, who succumbed to British No.1 Johanna Konta, 6-4, 6-2 (read more here).
Johanna Larsson beat No.29 seed Irina-Camelia Begu, 6-3, 6-2, Varvara Lepchenko beat No.31 seed Lesia Tsurenko, 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-3, and Barbora Strycova outdid No.32 seed Caroline Garcia, 6-2, 6-4.
Most of the seeds in action moved through, though, including No.3 seed Garbiñe Muguruza, who out-hit Anett Kontaveit, 6-0, 6-4, and No.7 seed Angelique Kerber, who won a thriller against Misaki Doi, saving a match point down 6-5 in the second set tie-break to survive, 6-7(4), 7-6(6), 6-3.
Other winners on Tuesday included No.9 seed Karolina Pliskova, No.11 seed Timea Bacsinszky, No.15 seed Madison Keys, No.18 seed Elina Svitolina, No.19 seed Jelena Jankovic, No.20 seed Ana Ivanovic (read about her win here), No.21 seed Ekaterina Makarova and No.30 seed Sabine Lisicki.
Shuai Zhang has an emotional victory over Halep #AusOpen https://t.co/tXDpUXlw3n
— Australian Open (@AustralianOpen) January 19, 2016
How many minutes has Madison Keys spent on court? Who has hit the most aces? And in whose famous footsteps is Johanna Konta looking to follow?
An emotional Lleyton Hewitt hung up the racquet after a two-decade long career that saw him win 30 ATP titles and two Grand Slams, as well as become the youngest ever No.1 ranked male player. The Aussie legend retired at his home slam after losing to David Ferrer in the men’s second round of the Australian Open. Well wishes and tears poured in for Hewitt after the match, and several WTA stars took to Twitter to pay tribute.
Here’s how they said goodbye to the two-time Grand Slam winner:
Congrats on an amazing career LLeyton Hewitt! Your Passion and fight will always be remembered by the tennis family!!!
— victoria azarenka (@vika7) January 21, 2016
Epic Mate @lleytonhewitt
— Sloane Stephens (@SloaneStephens) January 21, 2016
What a nice moment…!! Gonna miss you, Rusty, one of the greatest fighters! @lleytonhewitt #comeon #inspiration pic.twitter.com/QrAYdCN91h
— Sabine Lisicki (@sabinelisicki) January 21, 2016
Love you Lleyton ❤️ what a beauty on and off the court #AusOpen #rusty #legend
— Heather Watson (@HeatherWatson92) January 21, 2016
Congrats on your amazing career @lleytonhewitt ??? what a fighting spirit….we will miss you!!!
— TamiraPaszek (@tamira1990) January 21, 2016
Thank you @lleytonhewitt for an amazing career that has inspired us all #HewBeauty #legend
— Shelby Rogers (@Shelby_Rogers_) January 21, 2016
It is sad to see you go @lleytonhewitt #Legend ?
— Daria Gavrilova (@Daria_gav) January 21, 2016
What a champion. What an inspiration. Thank you for all what you gave to our sport @lleytonhewitt !
— Kristina Mladenovic (@KikiMladenovic) January 21, 2016
Thanks for the memories champ #lleytonhewitt
— Martina Navratilova (@Martina) January 21, 2016
What was the best Grand Slam match you’ve seen all year? What about the best WTA match? Click here to vote!
After a career-best 2016 season, Elina Svitolina will start 2017 with a new team led by Gabriel Urpi, along with coaching consultant Thierry Ascione and hitting partner Andrew Bettles.
Urpi is an experienced coach who worked with former No.1 Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario during two of her four Grand Slam runs, 1994 Wimbledon winner Conchita Martinez, and Flavia Pennetta, helping her become the first Italian woman to crack the Top 10 back in 2009.
Both Urpi and Ascione are former ATP players, while Bettles was a hitting partner for 2008 French Open champion Ana Ivanovic.
Oliver Fawls will continue on as Svitolina’s fitness coach; the Ukrainian youngster credited Fawls throughout her successful season, one that saw her defeat both reigning World No.1s in Serena Williams (Olympic tennis event) and Angelique Kerber (China Open), reach a career-high ranking of No.14, and reach the final of the Huajin Securities WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai.
Soon after her big week in Zhuhai, Svitolina announced the end of her two and a half year partnership with Iain Hughes.
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – Monica Puig made Olympic history for Puerto Rico on Saturday night, becoming the island’s first ever gold medalist after a rollercoaster win over World No.2 Angelique Kerber, 6-4, 4-6, 6-1.
“I’m in shock, I just don’t even really know what to say. I’m so excited,” an emotional Puig reacted after the match.
Puig has been the surprise of the Olympic tennis event, playing the best tennis of her career to reach the gold medal match and dealing out upsets to the likes of French Open champion Garbiñe Muguruza and two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova along the way.
Her victory was already historic before she even hit a ball – by virtue of reaching the final, she became the first female athlete representing Puerto Rico’s to win any Olympic medal at all.
Puig now stands as the first athlete – male or female – to bring home a gold medal to Puerto Rico, ending a 68-year drought dating back to the island’s first appearance at an Olympic Games.
“This is for Puerto Rico. This is definitely for them,” she said. “They’re going through some tough times right now, and they needed this. I needed this.
“I think I united a nation. I just love where I come from.”
vcAt No.34 in the world, Puig was also the lowest-ranked woman to play for the gold since its return as an Olympic sport in 1988.
More to come…
