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Kulichkova Passes Taiwan Test

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan – Elizaveta Kulichkova showed why she was one to watch at the Taiwan Open, fighting her way out of a dangerous deficit to advance past Taiwanese wildcard Ya-Hsuan Lee, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Named by WTA Insider as part of Russia’s “Generation Next,” Kulichkova entered the tournament following some of the best results of her young career: at the Australian Open, she reached the 3rd round of a Grand Slam for the first time, dealing No.25 Andrea Petkovic an upset along the way.

In Kaohsiung, Kulichkova found herself in big trouble against Lee – the Russian dropped the first set and was actually down 0-3 in the second – before she found a way to play herself into the match.

“I didn’t play my best today so I didn’t feel so comfortable on court,” Kulichkova told wtatennis.com after her win.

“I just try to concentrate on my game, keep bringing back all the balls, and then I could come back eventually.”

Also coming back to advance into the second round is Donna Vekic, who notched her first WTA-level win of the year against Alison Riske in a seesaw match, 4-6, 7-5(5), 6-3.

The Croatian found herself four points away from defeat in the second set; Riske was serving for the match at 6-4, 6-5, before Vekic broke her serve at love to force a tiebreak before grabbing the set. Vekic hit nine aces to Riske’s 12 double faults in the two hour and forty minute-encounter.

The win was a boon for Vekic, who is now working with new coach David Felgate. The pair reunited before last month’s Australian Open after splitting in 2014.

Local favorite Su-Wei Hsieh survived a mid-match surge from Japan’s Ayama Okuno but advanced 7-6(1), 4-6, 6-2. Yulia Putintseva, Zarina Diyas, Saisai Zheng and Kurumi Nara are all through to the second round while Naomi Osaka – who was looking to follow up her incredible Australian Open run – fell to Luxembourg’s Mandy Minella in straight sets.

No.1 seed Venus Williams will wrap up the Taiwan Open’s first round action when she takes the court against Taiwanese wildcard Pei-Chi Lee tomorrow.

Watch live action from St. Petersburg & Kaohsiung this week on WTA Live powered by TennisTV!

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News | WTA Tennis English

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

CHARLESTON, SC, USA – Britain’s No.1 Johanna Konta has withdrawn from the Volvo Car Open, the tournament announced on Monday morning.

Fresh from taking home the Miami Open trophy – the biggest title of her career – the Brit was looking forward to hitting the green clay of Charleston and kicking off the clay season, but was forced to withdraw citing illness and a lingering right shoulder injury.

“I’m very sorry to have to withdraw,” Konta said in a statement. “I was battling a slight shoulder injury and sickness during Miami which has taken hold.”

Konta was the No.2 seed in Charleston, and as a result of her withdrawal the draw will be shifted as per official WTA rules.

As the withdrawal came after the release of the schedule but prior to the commencement of the first match, the following procedure applies:
– Daria Gavrilova, the highest seed without a bye, takes Konta’s vacated position
– Grace Min, a qualifier, takes the spot created by the move and will start against Sara Errani

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Hingis & Mirza Visit Russian Museum

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

Saint Petersburg is a city known for its arts and culture, so it’s no surprise that doubles co-No.1s Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis made a stop to take it all in at the State Russian Museum.

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Insider Notebook: Serena, Kerber Out

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

– Serena Williams has pulled out of next week’s Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships citing illness. The withdrawal means the Australian Open remains Serena’s only competitive outing of the year.

– Angelique Kerber and Caroline Wozniacki are also out of Dubai: The Australian Open champion is still entered in Doha – a Premier 5 event this year – but has withdrawn from Dubai citing an upper right thigh injury. Wozniacki has also pulled out of Dubai citing a left knee injury. The Dane lost to Dominika Cibulkova, 6-4, 7-5, at this week’s St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy.

– Coach Henin in action: The first snaps of Justine Henin coaching Elina Svitolina in Dubai:

– Venus Williams makes her first final of 2016: The American held off a feisty challenge – is there any other kind? – from Yulia Putintseva to win, 7-5, 6-3, and advance to the Taiwan Open final. She’ll face Misaki Doi on Sunday.

– Belinda Bencic primed for a Top 10 debut: The 18-year-old Swiss phenom will make her Top 10 debut on Monday if she beats Daria Kasatkina in Saturday’s semifinal at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy.

– Bencic and Kasatkina meet for the first time: Well, at least as professionals. The two 18-year-olds faced off twice in the juniors, with Bencic winning both matches. Saturday’s match will be the first time two 18-year-olds faced off in a WTA semifinal since 2008 in New Haven (Wozniacki, Alizé Cornet).

– Count it: Some great stuff here from Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis on their 38-match win streak (“We’re counting also,” said Mirza) and Hingis has nothing but nice things to say about her former doubles partner, Anna Kournikova.

– Too good, Hev: Heather Watson wins the #TBT sweepstakes this week.

– Wozniacki’s woes: Hard courts are supposed to be Wozniacki’s bread and butter. But after a solid clay and grass season last year, Wozniacki has made it past the Round of 16 at just three of her last 13 tournaments, all on hard courts. Her week ended prematurely in St. Petersburg, as she was defeated by Cibulkova in the second round.

– Lyndrea Price speaks to SI.com: The Beyond the Baseline Podcast features Serena and Venus Williams’ sister Lyndrea Price. It’s worth a listen.

– Oh, Donna: Ever wanted to know what exactly a WTA Supervisor does during the day? Introducing Donna Kelso, who has served as a WTA Supervisor for 19 years:

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Bouchard Headlines NBA All-Star Game

Bouchard Headlines NBA All-Star Game

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

TORONTO, Canada – Former World No.5 Eugenie Bouchard tried her hand at basketball as part of the 2016 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game.

Playing for Team Canada, Bouchard was joined by fellow tennis pro Milos Raonic and coached by R&B singer Drake in a light-hearted affair that saw them defeat Team USA, 74-64.

Check out some of the best photos and tweets from the event:

Eugenie Bouchard

Eugenie Bouchard

All photos courtesy of Getty Images.

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