Rome: Friday Highlights
Highlights from quarterfinal action at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia.
Highlights from quarterfinal action at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia.
An interview with Serena Williams after her win in the final of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia.
No.3 seed Annika Beck was among the first to arrive.
Doubles partners Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Kveta Peschke stepped out on the step and repeat.
American Irina Falconi was also on hand and ready for her close-up.
Julia Goerges was met by some extra special friends on the red carpet.
Lesia Tsurenko caught up with Simba the Bear as well.
Top seed Roberta Vinci was feeling right at home in Nürnberg in this group shot.
No.2 seed Laura Siegemund was dressed to the nines at the Player’s Party…
…and caught up with countrywomen Annika Beck and Anna-Lena Friedsam to take home some extra-special souvenirs.
The WTA stars were treated to a sumptuous dinner, and it was clear some magic was in the air…
…and sure enough, some magicians were on hand to entertain the players; Sabine Lisicki tries her luck and finding her card.
WTA players are going to give all they’ve got to perform well at the 2016 French Open, leaving it to their clothing sponsors to make sure that comfort and style are not compromised during strenuous matches. Let’s hand over to Marija Zivlak of Women’s Tennis Blog and see the outfits ready to rock the world of sports fashion during the most prestigious tennis tournament on clay.
Last year adidas made noise with designer Yohji Yamamoto’s avant-garde styles and this year the standout collaboration is again bringing us a daring one-of-a-kind range. The Roland Garros 2016 collaboration between adidas Tennis and Y-3 has produced an eye-catching print, inspired by dazzle camouflage from the 40s and 50s.
Like @AnaIvanovic, everybody faces challenges growing up. It’s up to you to overcome them and #CreateYourMark pic.twitter.com/6Fyio0GXPO
— adidas tennis (@adidastennis) May 5, 2016
Ana Ivanovic, Angelique Kerber, Simona Halep and Kristina Mladenovic will all go for these zebra-like stripes, which evoke a sense of movement even when players are standing still between points.
For @KikiMladenovic, fear is just another opponent to beat. Free your game and #CreateYourMark pic.twitter.com/VveEr2Opdl
— adidas tennis (@adidastennis) April 30, 2016
Players can opt for the visually-striking adidas Roland Garros Y-3 On Court Dress or a dazzling combination of the adidas Roland Garros Y-3 Tank to be paired with a black skort featuring layered jacquard mesh overlay.
The adidas adizero Y-3 2016 Shoes are promising to deliver incredible resilience and energy return during intense rallies, providing ultimate traction, as well as the feeling of comfort.
Nike is honoring the tournament’s host country by clothing its players in a spectrum of blues, France’s signature color, with world number one Serena Williams sporting a light photo blue NikeCourt Premier Dress, which captivates with its modern take on a classic vibe. Dropped back hem, box pleats and mesh back panel ensure comfortable fit and captivating design.
Madison Keys‘blue outfitincludes the collared NikeCourt Premier Advantage Sleeveless Polo and the pleated NikeCourt Victory Skirt, which ensures photogenic movement and minimal distractions thanks to an inner ball short.
Caroline Wozniacki‘s planned adidas Summer Stella McCartney Tour Dress included all the fashion elements we’ve loved so much, like the figure-slimming frontal colorblock, T-shaped racerback, oval mesh inset at back and floral print, bringing all the features together with a nice lilac shade. Such a pity the Dane has withdrawn from Roland Garros!
The range also includes a variety of tops and bottoms, allowing for a number of stylish combinations, my favorite being Garbiñe Muguruza‘s combo that made my March’s best dressed list: the fresh yellow adidas Summer Stella McCartney Tour Tank and its matching adidas Summer Stella McCartney Tour Skirt with four rows of laser-cut hexagons.
Jelena Jankovic will choose from these four colorful dresses, part of Fila’s limited-edition Spring 2016 collection designed by Wimbledon 2013 champion Marion Bartoli. The Serb has already debuted the dotted “eye dress” at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, becoming the top fashion talk of the tournament, and we can only look forward to seeing the rest of “Love Fila by Marion Bartoli” cooperation, especially the lavender dress with the Eiffel Tower print, inspired by the Frenchwoman’s hometown of Paris.
“I’m happy to wear something that’s different, you know. You can also go out of the comfort zone and the classic ones. I like the classic, you know, as well. But it’s also nice to sometimes have a changeup and just wear something that’s not really typical print for a tennis dress,” Jankovic said about the collection in Rome.
Other Fila athletes, most notably Karolina Pliskova and Yaroslava Shvedova, will sport the Gingham collection, celebrating the quintessential print with peacoat navy and white checks. Shvedova’s promotional image showcases the Fila Spring Gingham Racerback Tank, one of five available silhouettes of tops, and the Fila Spring Gingham Skirt, which exists in navy, gingham and white, and is designed to match all the shirts from the range.
Venus Williams prepared the EleVen Geo Swirl Dress for Roland Garros. The cut is highlighted by the narrow high neckline and thin white straps at waist for a figure-flattering effect.
Lacoste‘s WTA players, most notably Elena Vesnina and Dominika Cibulkova, will wear the Spring 2016 collection, including the above-shown Lacoste Spring Dress, specific for its quarter-zip entry at chest and keyhole cutout at center back, the Lacoste Spring Mesh Back Tank, a traditional design with mesh panels at upper back and underarms that provide breathability and visual interest, and the Lacoste Spring Contrast Tipped Skirt, a classic piece with stylish contrast binding.
Agnieszka Radwanska will wear a coral dress from Lotto’s limited-edition Lacy line, a feminine piece whose elegant lace takes on unique forms, bringing Paris runways to the courts without compromising comfort and performance. The new SS16 Stratosphere speed-oriented shoes will help Radwanska move confidently on clay, as the innovative technology provides optimal cushioning and responsiveness with every step.
Heather Watson will wear the New Balance Tournament Dress, which made my April’s best dressed list, as seen on Sorana Cirstea at the TEB BNP Paribas Istanbul Cup. Strappy racerback, “N” houndstooth burnout stretch mesh back panel and NB DRY technology ensure a good range of motion and comfortable performance with minimum sweat. The Brit will be competing in the New Balance 996v2, a lightweight performance tennis shoe made with PROBANK stability technology.
Thank you @lecoqsportif for letting me design and wear another jumpsuit at @rolandgarros this year #overalls #RG2016 pic.twitter.com/8N6R7npsr1
— Alizé Lim (@AlizeLim) May 17, 2016
Paris native Alizé Lim will try to make the second round of a Grand Slam for the first time, wearing a jumpsuit designed according to her guidelines. Another bold move by Le Coq Sportif!
A resurgent Serena Williams looked unstoppable in Rome, but can anyone derail her hopes of Grand Slam number 22? Wtatennis.com contributor Ravi Ubha dissects the Roland Garros draw.
PARIS, France – Kiki Bertens caused the first major upset of this year’s French Open by knocking out No.3 seed Angelique Kerber in the first round.
Fresh from a triumphant week in Nürnberg, where she came through qualifying to lift the title, Bertens continued her fine form to defeat Kerber, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.
Earlier this year in Miami, Bertens came within a set of toppling the German only for illness to intervene, but out on Philippe Chatrier there was to be no stopping her. Displaying the confidence of a woman riding the crest of a seven-match winning streak, she withstood the inevitable comeback, wrapping up victory on her third match point when Kerber sent a drop shot looping into the net.
Kerber is the second Australian Open champion in three years to fall at the first hurdle in Paris, following in the unfortunate footsteps of Li Na.
In Nürnberg, Bertens upset Roberta Vinci to notch up her first ever Top 10 win, and her reward for a second is a meeting with either Camila Giorgi or Alizé Lim.
More to follow…
PARIS, France – World No.2 Agnieszka Radwanska fought off Caroline Garcia and a voracious French crowd to advance into the third round of the French Open, 6-2, 6-4.
“I think I play really good two matches. Especially this one. I think this was really a tough one,” Radwanska said in her post-match press conference.
“I’m just very pleased that I could close that match in two sets, that’s for sure.”
All three of Radwanska’s previous encounters with Garcia had gone the distance, but the reigning BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global champion recovered from an early break to race out to a set and 4-1 lead before Garcia began sinking her teeth into the match.
Breaking serve twice to get within a game of leveling the set, Garcia threw in back-to-back double faults to throw a lifeline to Radwanska, who gladly took it to advance in 95 minutes.
“I’m very sorry,” a despondent Garcia said after the match. “I’m very sorry that I couldn’t really play the way I wish I would have played. I was able to play a few balls, but most of the match I just wasn’t there. Not enough. I wasn’t able to hit the ball. I wanted to hit it, and, well, just not the right game.
“I’m disappointed. I can play better. But it was a wonderful moment. It was very emotional. The public supporting me helped me coming back in the match when I thought it was over.
“I think they believed more in me than I believed in myself.”
Love watching Aga play even tho she says she doesn't like clay she sure can weave a web round her opponents still. Good fight back by Garcia
— Jo Durie (@Jodurie) May 25, 2016
Up next for the No.2 seed is No.30 seed Barbora Strycova. The Czech veteran is in the midst of a career year, having already reached the final of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. Despite losing her last nine main draw matches at Roland Garros – dating back to 2004 – Strycova edged out clay court specialist Polona Hercog 6-4, 6-4 to reach the third round on the terre battue for the first time in her career.
Radwanska has yet to drop a set against Strycova, though all four of their matches were on hardcourts, and the last was a little under two years ago at the Rogers Cup.
“I think I’m not really thinking about expectations or second week,” Radwanska said when asked about looking ahead to her next match. “I think taking match by match, and I’m just very happy to be in the third round.
“Of course now it’s not going to be easier. She’s playing great tennis, especially on clay. For sure another tough match.
“I’m healthy, in one piece, and I’m just ready for the next one.”
Aga Radwanska éteint les espoirs de Caroline Garcia dans ce Roland Garros ?. Elle bat la française 6-2 6-4 #RG16 pic.twitter.com/5qINfW0Ua0
— Roland Garros (@rolandgarros) May 25, 2016
PARIS, France – Less than 48 hours after winning the longest match of 2016, No.25 seed Irina-Camelia Begu booked her first career fourth round appearance in Roland Garros with a 6-4, 2-6, 6-1 win over Annika Beck. With No.6 seed Simona Halep’s third round victory over Naomi Osaka, it marks the first time two Romanians have reached the second week in Paris since 1997.
One of the most consistent forces on clay this season, Begu has had to battle through each of her first three matches – squeaking out wins over Americans Bethanie Mattek-Sands and CoCo Vandewghe to start the week – and it proved no different against Beck, who recovered from losing the first set to force a decider.
“It’s a bit tough because I’ve played all the matches three sets and was longer than two hours,” she told press after the match.
“In the second set I was feeling a little bit down physically, but then I said that I just have to play my game, to be more aggressive, because otherwise I will have no chance.”
“I think I did great in the third set.”
Great would be an understatement; despite losing a long game to begin the final set, Begu roared through the last six, converting the win at love to reach the second week, hitting 36 winners to 18 from Beck in the two hour and five minute contest.
“I have to enjoy every moment, so that's what I remember now. I'm just trying to keep this in my mind.” #RG16 pic.twitter.com/T8GcgztOYE
— Roland Garros (@rolandgarros) May 27, 2016
“I’m really happy about my win. Yeah, it was a tough match, but I was prepared for that.
“So I’m just happy that I got through.”
Begu makes up one half of the first Romanian pair through to the second week in Paris for the first time in nearly 20 years, when Irina Spirlea and Ruxandra Dragomir both reached the round of 16 – the latter went on to finish in the quarterfinals.
The Romanian will next play Shelby Rogers, who won an up-and-down 6-0, 6-7(3), 6-0 match against No.10 seed Petra Kvitova.
“She started playing much better in the second,” the American said after reaching the second week of a Grand Slam for the first time in her career. “I was just trying to take it point by point, because if I started to think too much, she for sure would have the advantage there. Just one point at a time, one point at a time.
“I don’t know if I could call that a habit yet, but I hope to create one out of it. That would be nice,” she added with a laugh.
“Yeah, it's pretty surreal. I'm obviously at a loss of words. It's really exciting”
Super Shelby. #RG16 pic.twitter.com/qkTsN3oFsR
— Roland Garros (@rolandgarros) May 27, 2016
On a day of big upsets, Begu and No.13 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova emerged victorious over their opposition, as the 2009 champion blew past No.24 seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, 6-1, 6-4.
When asked how she felt about her win, Kuznetsova countered, “I feel about everything,” and discussed a brief hiccup in the second set.
“I got messed up. I was up – I’m not sure how much, 3-1, 40-15, I guess – and then I was down 4-3. I got tense and started to do weird things instead of playing the game I was playing.
“Then at 4-3 I came back to play long rallies and trying to move her around.”
Sveltlana Kuznetsova est en 8ème après sa victoire contre Pavlyuchenkova 6-1 6-4 #RG pic.twitter.com/97clao8Wis
— Roland Garros (@rolandgarros) May 27, 2016
Venus Williams takes on Alizé Cornet in the third round of Roland Garros.
Garbiñe Muguruza takes on Svetlana Kuznetsova in the fourth round of Roland Garros.