Caroline Wozniacki joined a number of megastar athletes, including Ronda Rousey and Lindsay Vonn, in newsstands this week for the 2016 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition.
The World No.19 made the trip to the island of Petit St. Vincent in the Caribbean to take part in the annual shoot and for this year’s issue, Wozniacki was photographed in a different kind of swimsuit – she wore a body-painted swimsuit inspired by For Love and Lemons. The body paint alone took about 15 hours to complete.
“I had a blast, this was so much fun!” Wozniacki said of the photoshoot. “I love my body paint. This has been such an unbelievable experience.”
It's this time of year again!!@si_swimsuit on stands today!? so excited! Go grab your copy? Photo by @Fredericpinet pic.twitter.com/B9XrwFppoj
— Caroline Wozniacki (@CaroWozniacki) February 15, 2016
It’s not the first time Wozniacki has donned a swimsuit for SI – she made her swimsuit issue debut last year.
Check out a behind-the-scenes video of the shoot and the best pictures below, courtesy of SI.com:
On Sunday, Roberta Vinci ended a two-and-a-half year title drought, beating Belinda Bencic 6-4, 6-3 to win the inaugural St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy. The title, her first since Palermo in 2013 and her first-ever on the Premier level, brought her career tally to 10 titles and punctuated a dreamy six-month span that has seen Vinci play the best tennis of her career. She will rise to No.13 on Monday; with little to defend until August, a Top 10 debut could be coming soon.
Vinci was ranked outside the Top 50 last summer when she made a run to the Rogers Cup quarterfinals, losing in straight sets to Serena Williams. Of course, we know what’s happened since then. One month later she upended Serena at the US Open to make her first major final and continued that momentum into the fall, where she made the semifinals at the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open and Huajin Securities WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai, losing to eventual champion Venus Williams both times.
At the end of the season, Vinci told reporters in Zhuhai that 2016 would be her final season. Now, after beating both Bencic and Ana Ivanovic to win St. Petersburg, Vinci admits she may have to revisit the decision later this season. “I could change my mind,” Vinci told WTA Insider. “I don’t want to play more than two or three years for sure. But yeah, maybe not this is my last year. We will see at the end of the season.”
WTA Insider caught up with Vinci after her St. Petersburg victory to discuss the current state of her game, more retirement thoughts, and the surprising reason she doesn’t consider herself “a real Italian.”
WTA Insider: St. Petersburg is a brand new tournament on the calendar this year. What made you decide to play here? Vinci: Why not? It was a new tournament. I prefer to play. After the Australian Open I spent 10 days off at home. No Fed Cup for me. Just good preparation to come here and I won a great tournament.
WTA Insider: When you returned home after Melbourne, how did you assess your start to the season? Was it a good January or a disappointing one? Vinci: No, it was a good start of the season. I always play so bad in Australia. This year I played so good in Brisbane, Sydney too. I reached the third round of the Australian Open. For me it was a good start and I’m really happy that I’m confident and in good form and I won here.
WTA Insider: What does it mean for you to win your first title since 2013? Vinci: It’s a lot for me. It’s an amazing moment. I’m not young. I’m almost done. I’m really happy. I always tried to my best. It’s not easy to practice every single day. For me this tournament was a fantastic moment.
WTA Insider: You keep saying that you’re almost done. When I asked you in Wuhan you said this would be your last season. Any thoughts about changing your mind now? Vinci: I don’t want to think about this right now. We are in February. Of course I could change my mind. I don’t want to play more than two or three years for sure. But yeah, maybe not this is my last year. We will see at the end of the season. If I can still motivate and I’m still good, why not? But I don’t want to think about it right now. I just want to enjoy my victory here.
WTA Insider: You’re playing the best tennis of your career right now. What’s the difference? What’s changed? Vinci: I don’t know the difference but I’ve been playing so good since Toronto of last year. So many points, so many results. I don’t have a secret. Maybe just relaxed outside the court and enjoy.
WTA Insider: You’re up to No.13 now and getting close to breaking into the Top 10. Vinci: I don’t want to think about the ranking. I’m almost Top 10 but we will see. So happy to be No.13 and we will see.
WTA Insider: One thing that’s clear is you seem so much fitter now compared to 10 years ago. Do you think you’re fitter now? Vinci: Yeah, much more better than 10 years ago. I lost some kilos and I run a lot more than when I was young.
WTA Insider: Why do you think you’re fitter now at 33 than when you were in your early 20s? Vinci: I don’t know. When I was young maybe it was difficult for me to practice and stay focused every single day. Now for me it’s much better. I have more experience. I feel more mature, much more than when I was young that’s for sure.
WTA Insider: So what will you to celebrate? Are you still headed to Dubai for next week’s Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships? Vinci: Tomorrow I will go to Dubai and I will arrive late there and I will play the next day. I’m a little bit tired but happy. Tonight there is a tournament party and we will celebrate there. And then go to bed.
WTA Insider: What’s your celebratory drink of choice? Beer? Wine? Vinci: I don’t like beer or wine! Just a Coca-Cola. I’m not a real Italian!
WTA Insider: Really? You’re breaking my heart, Roberta… Vinci: Maybe tonight I can drink a little bit of wine. Maybe.
WTA Insider: It’s Valentine’s Day, you know. Vinci: It’s true. Ok. One glass of wine. Just one.
You’ve probably heard their voices during a match, but how much do you know about the WTA commentators that call all the action?
In this episode of WTA’s Behind The Tour, go inside the booth with Mikey Perera and Pete Odgers, the men behind the mic at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.
“It’s a pretty special and privileged position to be in, to be watching sport for a living,” Odgers said. “But not only watching sport, but to be watching it with legends and people you’ve looked up to as a child.”
Perera added, “I just like to have fun, because after all, it’s sport. It’s entertainment; it’s supposed to be fun and that’s what I try to get into my commentaries.”
Want to hear more from WTA World Feed commentator Mikey Perera?
Check out our exclusive WTA Insider Q&A right here!
The WTA season is over but the Mannequin Challenge is here to stay – at least for now. Simona Halep, Nicole Gibbs, Daria Kasatkina and more stars gave the social media craze a try – whose do you like best?
Nicole Gibbs, CiCi Bellis and squad:
Before her run to the Hawaii Open title, CiCi Bellis joined up with Nicole Gibbs and a whole cast of American rising stars – including Sachia Vickery, Samantha Crawford, Jamie Loeb and Asia Muhammad – for their video.
The Chan Sisters and the whole Taipei 125K Challenger:
Chan Hao-Ching and Chan Yung-Jan enlisted everyone at the OEC Taipei WTA Challenger – from ball kids to photographers to umpires – in their epic Mannequin Challenge.
Simona Halep… and half of Romania’s athletes
Maybe not half, but there’s a lot: Simona Halep joined over 20 of Romania’s top athletes and trainers for a cameo in the Stejarii Country Club’s Mannequin Challenge. Check it out below – they saved the best for last!
Daria Kasatkina & Ons Jabeur:
Daria Kasatkina and Ons Jabeur and more took a break from practice to freeze for their Mannequin Challenge. Kasatkina was caught mid-racquet smash, much to the dismay of her coach.
What's going on @EMPIRETennis?@DKasatkina, @Ons_Jabeur & @platno76 are doing #MannequinChallenge! #tennis #girls #MannequinChallenges @WTA pic.twitter.com/aeyEuThzYm
The season behind us offered everything — from tennis fashion extravagance to classic sporty designs, from retro pieces to experiments with modern trends, from neutral colors to vibrant tones. Let’s give the word to our fashion contributor Marija Zivlak of Women’s Tennis Blog and see which outfits are the most memorable from 2016.
1. Serena’s Nike crop tops
In the last two decades, Serena Williams has made a profound mark on tennis fashion with her daring outfits and in her 21st pro season the American continued to push the boundaries.
Williams made a style bang at the first Grand Slam of the season, rocking a vibrant yellow Nike crop top, functionally and aesthetically enhanced by an open hole mesh at back and rounded side vents, and a super lightweight skirt, whose Breathe material gave an additional twist to the all-around pleats.
In Indian Wells and Miami, Williams showcased an omega blue version of the mind-blowing outfit, continuing to show how well crop tops work in tennis fashion.
2. adidas’ zebra print
One of the most memorable collection of the season is definitely Adidas’ Roland Garros “zebra”. Designed by Japanese Yohji Yamamoto, who found inspiration in dazzle painting used for ship camouflage in World War I and World War II, the Y-3 collection was the talk of Roland Garros with its eye-catching black and white print bringing a sense of movement and fluidity.
The fearless designer went for the bold print all the way, so not even the shoes from the collection calmed down the look.
3. Serena’s Wimbledon whites
Brands usually make their designs stand out with busy patterns, but Wimbledon’s all-white clothing rule always forces tennis apparel companies to find ways to create outstanding designs that don’t rely on the power of color and Serena Williams’ Nike dress for the grass-court Grand Slam is a perfect example of how a few well thought-out details can make a simple clothing piece outstanding.
The American’s Wimbledon dress stole our hearts with its elegant half turtleneck, flirty tiered pleated skirt and classic sporty racerback.
4. Venus’ EleVen Prism collection
Venus Williams likes to challenge her competition with prints and her Prism collection for the US Open was the most beautiful colorful design of the year. Introducing fall, the EleVen Prism Chela Dress features the season’s cool tones, but vibrant colors of summer are also there to lift our spirits for a tough match or training.
5. adidas’ US Open geometric prints
Adidas closed the season with what is in my opinion an overall best collection of 2016, inspired by the New York City skyscrapers. The collection’s main features include the triangular print, a perfect ratio of bright colors to cooler tones, and specific racerback design. What adidas did with absolute success here is offer a lot of variety, with the collection’s leitmotifs present in every clothing item.
Angelique Kerber climbed to the world number one ranking at the US Open wearing the adidas Fall Pro Tank in flash red and the adidas Fall Pro Skirt, whose geometric print represents the world’s most famous cityscape.
Simona Halep paired a tech steel version of the adidas Fall Pro Tank with the adidas Fall Pro Short, whose white mesh layer makes it the most spectacular tennis shorts we’ve had in recent years.
Ana Ivanovic rocked this gorgeous adidas Fall Pro Dress, which stands out with the way its colorblock racerback design is executed.
6. Stella McCartney’s soft color palette
The season’s best tennis clothes in pale colors were from Stella McCartney’s summer collection. Soft yellow and lilac, subtle floral print and hexagon-shaped laser-cut details characterize the separates sported by Andrea Petkovic, Caroline Wozniacki and Garbine Muguruza. Another lovely item from the collection is the adidas Summer Stella McCartney Tour Dress promoted by Wozniacki.
7. New Balance’s vibrant sportiness
The best youthful sporty look of the season included the New Balance Spring Tournament Tank, unique for its spaghetti straps with an Y-back, matched with the New Balance Spring Reversible Skirt or the New Balance Spring Tournament Skirt. Heather Watson and Nicole Gibbs energized the courts with their juicy orange combined with azalea.
8. Fila’s Heritage collection
Fila was very prolific in 2016 and they even launched a colorful collaboration with Marion Bartoli, but their best collection happened late in the season, at the US Open, featuring Jelena Jankovic’s and Yaroslava Shvedova’s Fila Heritage Stripe Dress, a harmonious marriage between modern blurred stripes and retro feel brought by the simple cut and red head tie.
Karolina Pliskova made her first Grand Slam final in the basic Fila Heritage Racerback Tank and the Fila Heritage Skirt.
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