Navratilova Impressed By ‘Spectacular’ Konta
The Brit’s victory over Venus Williams at the Miami Open was applauded by the one of the game’s greatest players.
The Brit’s victory over Venus Williams at the Miami Open was applauded by the one of the game’s greatest players.
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
Former No.1 Venus Williams faced few problems against American qualifier and Mutua Madrid Open semifinalist Louisa Chirico to reach the third round at Roland Garros.
Elena Vesnina and Daria Gavrilova took to the heart of historic Charleston for the Volvo Car Open’s annual Iconic Photoshoot.
The pair played a mini-tennis match in front of Randolph Hall at the College of Charleston.
Built between 1828 and 1829, Randolph Hall is a National Historic Landmark and one of the oldest college buildings still in use in the United States.
Elena Vesnina and Daria Gavrilova at College of Charleston.
Elena Vesnina and Daria Gavrilova at College of Charleston.
Elena Vesnina and Daria Gavrilova at College of Charleston.
Elena Vesnina and Daria Gavrilova at College of Charleston.
Elena Vesnina and Daria Gavrilova at College of Charleston.
Elena Vesnina and Daria Gavrilova at College of Charleston.
MONTERREY, Mexico – Angelique Kerber cut the ribbon as the Abierto GNP Seguros officially unveiled its brand-new stadium court: Estadio GNP Seguros.
The World No.1 was one of the guests of honour as the crowds were treated to a real show in Monterrey – culminating in a stunning fireworks display.
Kerber opened her campaign on court by beating Francesca Schiavone in three sets, 4-6, 6-0, 6-4.
– All photos courtesy of Abierto GNP Seguros
March was packed with plenty of amazing shots – we narrowed it down to the five best.
In the end, it was Caroline Wozniacki’s sneaky lob that took top honors. Taking on Lucie Safarova in the Miami Open quarterfinals, the former World No.1 relied on her full defensive arsenal against the big-hitting Czech veteran. As Safarova approached the net, the eventual finalist pulled off an impressive lob that left her opponent frozen at net.
Click here to watch all of March’s finalists.
Final Results for March’s WTA Shot Of The Month presented by Cambridge Global Payments
1. Caroline Wozniacki (36%)
2. Kirsten Flipkens (24%)
3. Venus Williams (22%)
4. Bethanie Mattek-Sands (10%)
5. Elena Vesnina (8%)
2017 WTA Shot of the Month Winners
January: Agnieszka Radwanska
February: Angelique Kerber
How it works:
Five shots are selected by wtatennis.com
Winner is then determined by a fan vote on wtatennis.com
Doi, Jurak & Ostapenko Visit Children’s Hospital
Earlier in the week, Misaki Doi, Darija Jurak and later Jelena Ostapenko stopped by the MUSC Medical Center to visit kids in the hospital. The players hung out and played with the kids in the atrium of the children’s wing.
Atawo Hosts Special Olympics Tennis Clinic
Meanwhile, Raquel Atawo went and hit with the tennis players from the Special Olympics South Carolina. They ran through some drills and she gave them pointers on their game, and later answered all their questions at a Q&A session.
Also as a part of WTA Charities initiatives in Charleston, Ons Jabeur acted as a celebrity server at a fundraiser for special needs and disabilities and Kayla Day also paid a visit to Joint Base Charleston, a military base housing the United States and Charleston’s Navy and Air Force facilities.
Suárez Navarro Visits Monterrey Hospital
Meanwhile in Monterrey, Carla Suárez Navarro took time out of preparation for the Abierto GNP Seguros to visit the Christus Muguerza Hospital.
The Spaniard got the chance to meet and chat with the young patients there, who were in recovery from advanced scoliosis, and even signed some tennis balls for them as a keepsake.
See more photos of Suárez Navarro’s visit here!
Americans Get Artsy With Special Needs Athletes
Ashley Weinhold and Caitlin Whoriskey spent Tuesday morning with a group of athletes that are part of the Special Needs Athletes Association of Nuevo Leon.
The American players helped the athletes paste small scraps of tissue paper on a banner filling the Abierto GNP Seguros logo with bright colors, and the morning ended with everyone enjoying some tasty tacos.
Click here to see the finished product!
– All photos courtesy of Volvo Car Open and Abierto GNP Seguros
WTA Charities is the WTA’s global philanthropic organization dedicated to making a positive impact across the globe. Our mission is to be a social responsibility vehicle built on the WTA’s values to empower and provide for a better future. We’re dedicated to combining, strengthening and enhancing the community and charitable efforts of the WTA through its members (players, alumnae and tournaments), along with our partners.
Click here to see more WTA Charities activities!
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova takes on Angelique Kerber in the final of the Abierto GNP Seguros.
Volvo Car Open semifinalist Mirjana Lucic-Baroni rose back into the Top 8 on the Road to Singapore leaderboard while World No.1 Angelique Kerber isn’t far behind.