Stuttgart: Mladenovic and Garcia's Parking Challenge
Kristina Mladenovic and Caroline Garcia take the Parking Challenge at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix.
Kristina Mladenovic and Caroline Garcia take the Parking Challenge at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix.
Highlights from round-robin action at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.
Dominika Cibulkova takes on Simona Halep in the round-robin stage of the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.
Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina take on Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka in the quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.
MADRID, Spain – If Agnieszka Radwanska thought the absence of Serena Williams would make her task any easier at the Mutua Madrid Open, Friday’s draw provided an immediate reality check.
Williams’ withdrawal elevated Radwanska to top seed, but her reward is a meeting with one of the draw’s most dangerous of floaters: Dominika Cibulkova.
Last month in Indian Wells, Cibulkova came within a point of victory against Radwanska only to fall agonizingly short in a thrilling second-round clash. The Slovak followed this up with a title in Katowice and the former French Open semifinalist will present a real challenge on Radwanska’s least favorite surface.
And should she pass this opening test, things will not get any easier for the Pole. Awaiting her in the second round will be either Caroline Garcia or Johanna Konta, before a likely third-round date with one of the WTA’s finest clay courters, Sara Errani.
Defending champion Petra Kvitova is also in Radwanska’s half of the draw but has been handed a less formidable opening opponent in the shape of Lara Arruabarrena, while No.4 seed Victoria Azarenka begins against Laura Robson. Azarenka and Kvitova are projected to meet in the last eight.
Like Radwanska, No.2 seed Angelique Kerber has been placed in a tricky section. She starts against the mercurial Barbora Strycova, and also finds Sloane Stephens, Daria Kasatkina and Carla Suárez Navarro in her quarter.
Home hopes will rest chiefly on the shoulders of Suárez Navarro and Garbiñe Muguruza. Suárez Navarro opens up against big-serving Timea Babos, while No.3 seed Muguruza meets Anna Karolina Schmiedlova. Keeping Muguruza company in arguably the most open section of the draw are Simona Halep, Timea Bacsinszky and Karolina Pliskova.
Click here to see the draw in full.
Top half @MutuaMadridOpen. pic.twitter.com/cDLkYnuxPo
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) 29 April 2016
SINGAPORE – Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina came back from a set down to upset the defending champions Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis, 3-6, 6-2, 10-6 for a spot in the final at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.
Watch interviews and highlights from Singapore on the WTA Facebook page!
With their victory, Mirza’s reign as doubles World No.1 is thrown into question. Makarova and Vesnina are set to face Lucie Safarova and Bethanie Mattek-Sands in the final, and should the Russians fail to win the title, the 2016 WTA Year-End No.1 Ranking, presented by Dubai Duty Free will go to Mattek-Sands.
An interview with Svetlana Kuznetsova after her semifinal loss at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.
Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Lucie Safarova take on Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic in the semifinals of the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.
An interview with Angelique Kerber after her final defeat at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.
Dominika Cibulkova has Sunday’s shot of the day at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.