Miami: Azarenka Interview
An interview with Victoria Azarenka after her win in the final of the Miami Open.
An interview with Victoria Azarenka after her win in the final of the Miami Open.
ACAPULCO, Mexico – Eugenie Bouchard just turned 23 this weekend, and the folks at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel made sure the Canadian celebrated the date in grand Mexican style.
Things didn’t look very festive earlier in the day, when Genie tweeted a photo after spending her birthday at the airport.
Spending my birthday at an airport, as you do. #athletelife pic.twitter.com/XMly5SkxOD
— Genie Bouchard (@geniebouchard) February 25, 2017
But the Abierto Mexicano Telcel was ready to save the day, and as soon as Genie touched down in Acapulco she greeted with a full Mexican fiesta.
We have a cake waiting for some Canadian player who is celebrating her birthday today in #Acapulco. ?????? pic.twitter.com/SSZiwcoIPc
— #AMT2017 (@AbiertoTelcel) February 25, 2017
The tournament arranged a huge welcome party – complete with cake, balloons and an entire mariachi band who serenaded her with birthday songs in English and Spanish.
?Éstas son las mañanitas que cantaba el rey David… ?¡Feliz cumpleaños, @geniebouchard! ??????? pic.twitter.com/W9PunK5zKB
— #AMT2017 (@AbiertoTelcel) February 25, 2017
Arriving to your hotel in Acapulco like…
Gracias @AbiertoTelcel for the welcome! ? pic.twitter.com/DGbPHR0N76
— Genie Bouchard (@geniebouchard) February 26, 2017
Check out the video above to see Genie ring in her birthday in Acapulco!
Highlights from final round action at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Alya WTA Malaysian Open top seed Elina Svitolina claimed her 250th WTA win with a 6-2, 6-3 first-round win over qualifier Su Jeong Jang on Tuesday.
That moment when you win 250th @WTA match ??@alyawtamo pic.twitter.com/CDSr0mFnej
— Elina Svitolina (@ElinaSvitolina) February 28, 2017
The 22-year-old also extended her winning run to 13 matches despite spirited resistance from Jang, who lies 138 places lower in the WTA rankings. The Korean stole a break back in the second set at 3-1, but the reigning champion showed the class that has seen her win back-to-back titles at the Taiwan Open and Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships to come through.
Elina Svitolina picks up 250th career WTA win!
Wraps up a 6-2, 6-3 win over Jang Su Jeong! pic.twitter.com/YOJTmnP0It
— WTA (@WTA) February 28, 2017
In the biggest shock of the tournament so far, the promising Russian 18-year-old Anna Kalinskaya defeated No.5 seed Caroline Garcia 7-5, 6-2. The WTA World No.23 became the third seeded player to be dispatched in the first two days in Kuala Lumpur, while Kalinskaya was able to celebrate her first ever main draw victory.
What an upset!
World No.173 Anna Kalinskaya knocks third seed Caroline Garcia out of @alyawtamo 7-5, 6-2! pic.twitter.com/xs9HQRyrhG
— WTA (@WTA) February 28, 2017
“Of course I feel a little bit more confident now,” said Kalinskaya afterwards. “I understand that I can play with the players in the top 50, top 100 and it means a lot to me. For the next match I will prepare and hope I play better than today.”
An interview with Belinda Bencic before the start of the Qatar Total Open.
Magda Linette has Friday’s shot of the day at the Alya WTA Malaysian Open.
Zheng Saisai takes on Angelique Kerber in the second round of the Qatar Total Open.
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Ashleigh Barty says the world is seeing her best performances on a tennis court so far as she celebrated a day of double delight at the Alya Malaysian Open.
First she secured a spot in the singles quarterfinals by beating fellow qualifier Miyu Kato, 6-0, 6-3 – and then she went one better in the doubles alongside Casey Dellacqua, progressing to the semifinals as they defeated Nao Hibino and Varatchaya Wongteanchai 6-4, 6-0.
“We have to say this is my best start, best career performances to date,” the 20-year-old told the press afterwards. “We’re happy to be playing well and enjoying our tennis.”
.@AshBar96 books a spot in @alyawtamo Quarterfinals!
Races past Kato 6-0, 6-3! pic.twitter.com/Muq7rPmwBL
— WTA (@WTA) March 2, 2017
The Australian returned to tennis a year ago following a break during which she turned her sporting skills to cricket, playing in the first-ever Women’s Big Bash League for Brisbane Heat. She thinks that the time off has served her well.
“My tennis game this time is a continuation from my last career – I’m a little bit older, a little bit more wise, more mature, so I think that’s helped my game immensely,” she revealed.
That isn’t to say that putting her racquet down was an easy thing to do.
“I certainly missed playing tennis,” she admitted. “It’s what I’ve done since I was five years old. It’s been a part of my life for so long. It’s what I am born to do.”
Barty is proving that with her recent form, and she has an extra incentive to win – her best friend and doubles partner Dellacqua.
“I really am loving being out here, getting to play singles and enjoy some success, and then of course to be on the court with my best friend for doubles is a bonus as well – it’s nice to be back out here with Case and to see her happy as well,” she added.
An interview with Roberta Vinci after her win in the third round of the Qatar Total Open.
Kristina Mladenovic takes on Christina McHale in the semifinals of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel.