Dubai: Strycova vs Ivanovic
Barbora Strycova takes on Ana Ivanovic in the quarterfinals at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Barbora Strycova takes on Ana Ivanovic in the quarterfinals at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
NEW YORK, NY, USA – Ready? Set? Go! The final major of 2016 is about to get underway, and Chris Oddo has your US Open Day One preview right here at wtatennis.com.
Monday, First Round
Arthur Ashe Stadium
[2] Angelique Kerber (GER #2) vs. Polona Hercog (SLO #120)
Head-to-head: Kerber leads, 3-2
Key Stat: Kerber will ascend to the No.1 ranking if Serena Williams does not reach the semifinals in New York.
Angelique Kerber has won her last 13 matches against players ranked outside of the Top 100 at majors, and one would think that the German would be able to take care of business against Slovenia’s Polona Hercog without too much fuss on Monday. The 28-year-old southpaw has been having a banner year, and she’s the tour’s win leader as well as its hardcourt win leader. And that’s not all. Kerber was a match away from claiming the WTA’s No.1 ranking in Cincinnati, but she fell in the final to Karolina Pliskova and remains No.2 this week at Flushing Meadows. Will being the hunter rather than the hunted work in Kerber’s favor in New York? Or will she be bothered by the fact that she came so close in Cincinnati but fell short? Carrying the No.1 ranking into New York could have been a tricky proposition for Kerber, and maybe starting out in New York without it will help her relax. Kerber has been one of the tour’s steadiest players all season, winning 47 matches and claiming her maiden Grand Slam title in Australia. Unless Hercog, who has not won a hardcourt match since February, comes up with a performance for the ages, Kerber should cruise.
Pick: Kerber in two
[8] Madison Keys (USA #9) vs. Alison Riske (USA #60)
Head-to-head: Keys leads, 4-1
Key Stat: Keys owns a 15-6 hardcourt record this season, with a runner-up finish in Montréal.
She was one of the hottest players on tour until she got cooled off at the Olympic tennis event. Madison Keys stormed to the Olympic semifinals on a 25-4 tear before dropping back-to-back matches to Angelique Kerber and Petra Kvitova in both medal rounds. Will the painful experience of coming so close then being deprived of an Olympic medal fuel Keys to higher highs or will it leave her shaken as the year’s final major begins? Keys will look to exorcise a few demons in her first-round matchup with fellow American Alison Riske, but she’ll have her hands full with her feisty compatriot. Riske has lost in the first round in New York in each of the last two years but in 2013 she made a surprise run to the second week, proving that she can both embrace and perform on the big stage in the Big Apple.
Pick: Keys in two
Louis Armstrong Stadium
[9] Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS #10) vs. Francesca Schiavone (ITA #97)
Head-to-head: Kuznetsova leads, 9-6
Key Stat: Schiavone and Kuznetsova are two of the nine active Grand Slam champions in this year’s US Open main draw.
This pair of former Grand Slam champions played the longest match in Grand Slam history at the Australian Open in 2011, and at Roland Garros in 2015 they played the fifth-longest match in Grand Slam history. Both epics were won by Schiavone in marathon third sets, but anybody who witnessed these incredible encounters knows that tennis fans were the real winner. So, what will these two legends of the game bestow upon their legions of fans on Monday in New York? Kuznetsova has had the far better year, and she holds the edge in the pair’s head-to-head, but something about the Russian seems to bring out the very best in Schiavone. Though the Italian is ranked just inside the Top 100 we fully expect her to summon her Top 10 form and take Kuznetsova and fans on another turbulent, emotional ride.
Pick: Kuznetsova in three
Grandstand
[13] Johanna Konta (GBR #14) vs. Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA #109)
Head-to-head: First meeting
Key Stat: Konta has not been past the second round of her last two major appearances.
Johanna Konta’s impressive rise continues with nary a dip in form in 2016. The British No.1, who owns a 24-10 record on hardcourts this season, backed up her first career title in Stanford by notching back-to-back quarterfinals at Montréal and the Olympics. She fell in three sets in the third round at Cincinnati to Agnieszka Radwanska, and though it was a difficult loss it gave her plenty of time to come to New York and prepare for the year’s final major. Just last year Konta had to qualify for the US Open before she produced a stunning run to the second week that included a takedown of Garbiñe Muguruza in the second round. A year later the 25-year-old is just a touch shy of reaching the Top 10. It’s great news for Konta, but it comes with some added pressure and a target on her back. And 31-year-old Bethanie Mattek-Sands has always been one to shoot boldly for a target. The American pushed Serena Williams to three sets in the third-round last year at the Open, but she’ll need to find her form quickly if she is to surprise Konta – Mattek-Sands has gone winless on hardcourts this season, losing all six matches.
Pick: Konta in three
Around the grounds…
No.11 seed Petra Kvitova will seek her first career win against 19-year-old Latvian Jelena Ostapenko. Ostapenko has defeated Kvitova twice already in 2016. Olympic gold medalist Monica Puig will make her return to action against China’s Zheng Saisai in a first-time meeting on old Grandstand court. The youngest player in the draw, 16-year-old American Kayla Day, will make her Grand Slam debut against compatriot Madison Brengle.
By the Numbers…
19 – Number of players who are 30 or older in this year’s draw. 36-year-old Venus Williams is the oldest.
7 – Number of teenagers in this year’s draw. 16-year-old American Kayla Day is the youngest.
2014 – The last time four different players held major titles. That could happen again this year if someone other than Angelique Kerber, Garbiñe Muguruza or Serena Williams wins the title. It has only happened 11 times in the Open Era.
9 – Number of former Grand Slam champions in this year’s draw, of which four (Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Kuznetsova, Samantha Stosur) are former US Open champions.
An interview with Sara Errani after her win in the semifinals at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
NEW YORK, NY, USA – Six-time US Open champion Serena Williams leads the top half of the draw into action on Day Two at Flushing Meadows. Chris Oddo previews the action right here at wtatennis.com.
Tuesday, First Round
[1] Serena Williams (USA #1) vs. Ekaterina Makarova (RUS #29)
Head-to-head: Williams leads, 4-1
Key Stat: Williams has to reach the semifinals in New York in order to have a chance at retaining the No.1 ranking.
Serena Williams holds a remarkable 63-1 record in the first round of majors but on Tuesday she’ll be facing a player that she’d surely rather see later in the draw – if at all. In fact, the last time Williams and Ekaterina Makarova squared off it was in the semifinals of the 2014 US Open in a match that Williams won easily en route to her sixth career US Open title. Williams was dominant in that tilt, as she has been so often in a Grand Slam career that has netted her 304 wins, but her current injury status has many wondering if she can be her old dominant self in New York this year. That’s the burning question ahead of this highly anticipated tussle, and we won’t have our answer until Williams and Makarova duke it out to open Tuesday’s night session on Arthur Ashe Stadium. What we do know is that Makarova owns a win against Williams on the Grand Slam stage. The Russian defeated Williams at the 2012 Australian Open and though she’s lost the last three matches and last six sets to Williams, that victory could come in handy when it comes to Makarova’s belief. As for Williams, belief won’t be the issue. For the legendary American it will be more about getting off to a quick start and proving that she’s fit enough to go on another magical run in New York.
Pick: Williams in three
[16] Samantha Stosur (AUS #17) vs. Camila Giorgi (ITA #67)
Head-to-head: First meeting
Key Stat: 2011 US Open champion Stosur has made the second week in New York four times, including last season.
A former champion will meet up with a dangerous floater on Tuesday when Aussie Sam Stosur and Italy’s Camila Giorgi lock horns for the first time on Day 2. Giorgi can be wildly inconsistent and tends to play a somewhat one-dimensional game, but the 24-year-old can be lethal on a hardcourt if she is in the zone. She reached the round of 16 at the US Open in 2013 when she won a memorable night match against Caroline Wozniacki, and the victory proved that Giorgi has what it takes to succeed beneath the bright lights of New York. Stosur will look to serve big and hope to force a lot of Giorgi errors by using her world-class topspin to move the ball above the Italian’s strike zone. It’s the veteran Aussie’s match to lose and if she remains focused, keeps Giorgi on the run and off balance, Stosur should be able to lock down the win.
Pick: Stosur in two
[5] Simona Halep (ROU #5) vs. Kirsten Flipkens (BEL #56)
Head-to-head: Halep leads, 4-0
Key Stat: Halep has won all eight sets contested against Flipkens.
Something about this match-up works decidedly in Simona Halep’s favor. The Romanian has waltzed past Kirsten Flipkens in all four of the pair’s meetings, and she has only once dropped more than four games to Flipkens in a set. But they have not met since 2014, and Flipkens comes in with pretty good form, having just knocked off Belinda Bencic and Caroline Garcia at New Haven. Speaking of good form, Halep has won 17 of her last 19 dating back to the start of Wimbledon. The World No.5 has repeatedly stated that she is feeling fit as a fiddle and is ready to make her mark in New York. “I feel that I play good tennis,” Halep said when asked to assess her performance at Montréal and Cincinnati this year. “I’m strong on my legs. Mentally I’m very good. I think it is the best period that I had this year so far.” Concerning New York, Halep says she doesn’t need to change a thing to have success. “I’m going there just to play my best, to do my best, to win matches, and to treat the tournament like I treated [Montréal and Cincinnati].”
Pick: Halep in two
Eugenie Bouchard (CAN #39) vs. Katerina Siniakova (CZE #72)
Head-to-head: First meeting
Key Stat: Siniakova is bidding for her first US Open main draw win.
Eugenie Bouchard is back at the sight of her best and darkest days of 2015. Things were going swimmingly for Bouchard in Queens last year when she reached the round of 16 with an emotional victory over Dominika Cibulkova. It was the high point of an otherwise disappointing season for the Canadian but before she had a chance to build on her success she was out of the tournament, forced to withdraw after she suffered a concussion in a freak locker room fall. Bouchard has put together a much stronger season in 2016, but she hasn’t made the second week at any of the season’s first three majors. Can the Canadian purge her New York demons and begin another run on Tuesday? To do so she’ll have to get by 20-year-old Katerina Siniakova, a talented Czech who reached the third round of a major for the first time this summer at Wimbledon. Siniakova owns a 3-8 record at majors and she’s yet to win in Queens, which is all the more reason for her to leave it all on the court against Bouchard.
Pick: Bouchard in three
Around the Grounds…
Cincinnati champion Karolina Pliskova will square off with American wild card Sofia Kenin on Day 2. The No.10-seeded Czech has yet to reach the second round of a major in 17 previous appearances. Great Britain’s Laura Robson will look to snap a six-match losing streak at majors when she faces compatriot Naomi Broady.
By the Numbers…
72 – Number of Grand Slam main draws that Venus Williams has played in. The 36-year-old will break the all-time record, passing Amy Frazier, when she takes the court against Kateryna Kozlova of the Ukraine on Day 2.
7 – Number of finals that Serena Williams has reached in her last eight Grand Slams. The American has gone 5-2 in those finals.
4 – The number of players that entered the tournament with a shot of emerging with No.1 ranking at the end of the US Open fortnight (Serena Williams, Angelique Kerber, Garbiñe Muguruza and Agnieszka Radwanska).
304 – Serena Williams current total of Grand Slam victories are just two shy of the all-time record of 306 which is held by Martina Navratilova.
An interview with Sara Errani after her win in the final of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
NEW YORK, NY, USA – The 2016 US Open is well underway after Madison Keys took Day 1 all the way into the latest finish for a women’s match in tournament history.
But before Keys thrilled the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd, there was plenty of tennis on the menu. No.2 seed Angelique Kerber and No.3 seed Garbiñe Muguruza each played first round matches that fell on opposite ends of the difficulty spectrum, while a reflective No.9 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova booked a second round clash with former No.1 Caroline Wozniacki for what will be their 13th meeting in a tense head-to-head.
2008 French Open champion Ana Ivanovic is also on the line to discuss her tough season, and her hopes for what’s to come. It’s all here on the first Daily Dispatch from Flushing Meadows; check it out below!
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ACAPULCO, Mexico – Great Britain’s Johanna Konta is no stranger to making British tennis history – she did plenty of that during her historic run to the Australian Open semifinals earlier in the year. This time, though, she did it without even having to lift a racquet.
Over the weekend, the 24-year-old reached a career-high ranking of No.26, the highest ranking for a Brit since Jo Durie held the spot in 1987. But as always, the milestones and accolades don’t faze the always-cool Konta.
“It looks pretty cool on paper,” Konta told wtatennis.com after being informed of the achievement. “Obviously I’m really happy to be where I am but I’m also very much focused on the process of things and just really giving my best in every match that I play.
“If do that where I’m ranked 26 or if I do that where I’m ranked 150, the objective stays the same.”
The objective was clear when Konta took the court at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel. The No.4 seed took on Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit in her first match since Melbourne.
The Brit quickly took a commanding 5-0 lead in the first set but struggled to close it out, Kontaveit winning three games in a row before Konta sealed the set 6-3. But after being given an inch, the Estonian took a mile when she came back to win the second set 6-3 and level the match. Konta’s woes continued in the third set – her serve was broken in the very first game for 0-1. Konta stayed calm, though, and got the break back and finished the match winning 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.
“It was a tough one,” Konta said after the match. “But it was a good match, she played really well. I really had to stick in there and keep fighting every single point and really just work hard for my opportunities.”
The drama continued in Acapulco when No.8 seed Yanina Wickmayer defeated Mexican wildcard Victoria Rodriguez 6-7(5), 6-0, 7-6(2). Rodriguez – nicknamed “Chely” by her fans – was making her WTA main draw debut against Wickmayer, and she certainly did it in style too, taking Wickmayer to three sets and two points away from defeat.
No.3 seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova had an unexpectedly easier road to the second round, going up 6-0, 2-3 against qualifier Urszula Radwanska before a nasty-looking left ankle injury forced the Pole to retire.
“I’m actually really happy with the way I started the match and how I was playing, especially in the first set,” Pavlyuchenkova said afterwards. “I think everything was working and that’s why the score was 6-0.”
Though the match ended in a retirement, the Russian – who is coming off of a quarterfinals run in St. Petersburg – relished the chance to get in some match play and adjust to the conditions in Mexico.
“I’m still a little bit jetlagged from traveling a long time so I’m pretty happy with the way it went. Just really unlucky and feel sorry for Urzsula for hurting her ankle.”
Also in action, wildcard Naomi Osaka and No.6 seed Johanna Larsson cruised in their opening round matches while Mariana Duque-Mariño dealt an upset to Alison Van Uytvanck, sending the No.5 seed out in a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 defeat.
The 2016 US Open draw features seven former finalists, including Svetlana Kuznetsova, the first Russian to take home the trophy in Flushing. Kuznetsova’s countrywoman and fellow former World No.2 Vera Zvonareva reached the final back in 2010; absent from the Open since 2012, Zvonareva will be part of the action for the first time in four years, if only from a distance.
“I’ll be commentating for Eurosport Russia for a few matches,” she told WTA Insider by phone on Wednesday. “It’ll be a huge opportunity for me. I like to watch tennis and different matches, so it will be exciting.
“I don’t know if I’ll be good at it or not, but it’ll be something good to try. I’ve only ever been in the radio booth, but not on TV. It’ll be a new experience for me, but I’m ready for the challenge.”
The gig comes as just the latest in a series of fun and exciting challenges for the Beijing Bronze medalist, who announced her marriage and newborn daughter Evelyn (Evelina in Russian) in a lengthy post on Instagram.
“I’ve had so many injuries over the last few years. I tried to come back a couple of times, first after my shoulder surgery, and then I had an Achilles injury. I needed to take a break and my physio told me I’d need six months to get back on court again.
“During that period of time, I thought maybe it’d be great to have a family, because I couldn’t do what I love to do; I couldn’t do any sports. It happened really fast, and then I became a mom this summer.
“It’s all different, being away from tennis and being a mom, but it’s great as well.”
Zvonareva’s injury struggles began not long after she and Kuznetsova won the women’s doubles title at the 2012 Australian Open. Two truncated comeback attempts – the most recent ending last spring – sent her back towards more pursuable passions like academics and athletics, the latter of which she shares with husband Alexander.
“I met my husband about four or five years ago; we met during a run. I love running, and I had been taking part in different competitions in Moscow, but for fun, not professionally, just different five or 10K runs. I was doing those and he loves running as well, so that’s how we met.
“He came with me to a couple of tournaments, but then I couldn’t continue. He would love to see me play more because he loves tennis and to watch me play, but I got injured.”
She discovered she was expecting while studying for her Master’s degree in Political Science, applying her typically studious approach to the news as her due date drew nearer.
“During the pregnancy, I tried to juggle studying and being pregnant. I took birthing courses for four months, because I’d never had sisters or brothers; my family was quite small. For me, it’s something new, so my husband and I took the courses together.
“My close friends knew, of course, but I never made it public because I prefer to keep my personal life to myself.”
Following fellow WTA stars Ana Ivanovic, Dominika Cibulkova, and Tsvetana Pironkova down the aisle, Zvonareva is able to rely on a network of compatriots who’ve began families before her.
“I heard Victoria’s news, and of course it’s great to hear she’s expecting. I’ve been in touch with some friends from the tour, especially the Russian girls and former players like Elena Dementieva, Alina Jidkova, Tatiana Panova. They all have babies by now and it’s great. We have a big community of tennis moms!”
Whether she can emulate rival and former No.1 Kim Clijsters, who won three major titles after starting a family of her own, depends on how her body responds to its return to the gym.
“I’m going to start trying to get back into shape because sport is part of my life and I want to get back in shape. I don’t know if I’ll be back on the tour or not; it’s tough to say at the moment, but for myself, I want to back into the shape I was in before and play tennis again – even if it’s just for fun.
“I want to start going to the gym three times a week, and I’ll probably start in about a week. Hopefully by October, I can start running a little bit. My first goal will be to participate in some of those five or 10K runs, because I like those a lot. From there, we’ll see, but definitely being an athlete for all of my life, I want to get back in athletic shape. I don’t know if I’ll ever come back to tennis, but I want to be in a good shape, no matter what!”
No matter what, Zvonareva has already had a career to remember, reaching a pair of Grand Slam singles finals in 2010 and winning four majors in women’s and mixed doubles. But her greatest memory remains rounding out an all-Russian podium at the 2008 Summer Games.
“For all the girls in Russia, the Olympics gives a lot of motivation. When I was younger, I watched Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Elena Dementieva when they were playing in Sydney. Yevgeny got the gold medal and Elena got the silver; it inspired all of us to continue doing what we like and to continue dreaming. It was an exciting moment for Russian tennis.
“We saw how many Russians came on tour afterwards; there was a time when we had five players inside the Top 10. It was great.”
Watching a new wave of Russians rise in her absence, she has high hopes for another strong showing at the Summer Games, especially after 2016’s gold medal in women’s doubles, won by Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina.
“I think Russian tennis has a great future. We have names like Daria Kasatkina and Margarita Gasparyan; they’re already inside the Top 100, and Daria’s been doing really well this year. I never played against her – because she was still a junior when I was playing! – but I’ve seen a couple of matches on TV, and I think she’s been doing great.
“There are also junior girls winning Wimbledon like Anastasia Potapova, so maybe we’ll yet have another Golden Era of Russian tennis.
“I’ll be happy to see a new generation of Russian players on tour, and I’ll be happy to see if they can produce the same results and maybe win gold, silver, or bronze medals in tennis as well.”
She’ll continue to enjoy the game from afar for now, and though Zvonareva admitted that little could compare with the emotions of being on court herself, the memories will always remain close to her heart – however this next chapter ends.
“I got the chance to travel around the world, and meet different people and athletes the world over. It’s not easy being a professional athlete, but tennis taught me a lot and gave me a lot. It taught me discipline, how to fight, and all different things that help me in life.
“I miss the feeling of being on the Centre Courts and the big crowds. That’s something that’s very difficult to get in life, those feelings of when you walk onto a big court at a Grand Slam to play a big match, get through tough challenges to win in the end. That’s a feeling I miss a lot, but they will always be inside me. I can always remember them, and they make me smile, and proud of my career.”
All photos courtesy of Getty Images.
NEW YORK, NY, USA – The high still hadn’t settled in for the No.48-ranked Anastasija Sevastova when she entered the press room late last night at the US Open.
Just hours earlier, she’d dealt Garbiñe Muguruza the biggest shock of the tournament, outing the No.3 seed and reigning French Open champion in straight sets.
It was definitely the win of Sevastova’s career, and certainly an occasion to celebrate. So did she have any big plans?
“I go to Five Guys maybe, eat a burger,” she answered with no hesitation, before bursting into laughter.
“I don’t know. Maybe have some drinks. My mom is here but she’s leaving tomorrow. It’s her first Grand Slam.”
“And my best friend [is here too]. We’ll maybe go somewhere. They will drink; I will watch.”
Burgers and peanuts seem like a modest plan for a player who’s just scored the win of her career and reached her best result at a Grand Slam in five years, but not for Sevastova.
Sevastova was a rising star back in 2011 when she reached the fourth round of the Australian Open at 20 years old. But injuries soon sapped the desire away from the young Latvian, who hung up her racquets two years later, and was off the tour for two years more.
So while last night’s win over the World No.3 stands as her biggest victory since her return, Sevastova is keen to stay grounded and keep the perspective she gained from her years away from the sport.
“It’s not like it’s my last match. It’s not like it’s over, the tournament,” she mused. “It’s only second round. The third round is in two days. Tomorrow I have to play doubles, so…
“Yeah, it’s a good feeling. We can enjoy it today, but tomorrow is a new day. There are other matches. Nobody thinks about the previous match. You have to think forward. But tonight I can enjoy.”
How will Anastasija Sevastova celebrate her big win? Hey @five_guys, you still open? #USOpen pic.twitter.com/TpE1dCs0Jr
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) September 1, 2016
NEW YORK, NY, USA – Venus Williams recorded her 70th match win at the US Open to sweep past Julia Goerges in straight sets and clinch a spot in the third round.
The No.6 seed shined in her first match under the roof of Arthur Ashe Stadium to reach the third round for the 15th time in her storied career, improving her record at her home Slam to 70-14.
“I’m grateful that I can still play the game I want to play right now,” the 36-year-old said. “As an athlete, as a tennis player, that’s what you want. You want to be out there and play the game you want to play.”
After trading breaks to opening the match, it was a decidedly one-sided affair as Williams took charge, covering the court and staying rock-solid at the net, allowing Goerges to commit the errors. She broke the German three more times to take the first set and a lead into the second.
When touch meets talent. @Venuseswilliams with the @evianwater Drop Shot of the Day. #usopen #DropsofGreatness https://t.co/onz1ljqyPD
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 1, 2016
Goerges’ aggressive returning brought up two break points just as Williams was serving out the match, but the American replied with a pair of huge serves into the body to jam her opponent and erase the opportunity. After masterfully chasing down a drop shot, Williams eased her way into the third round, winning 6-2, 6-3.
“I just felt like I had to dial it back a little bit, maybe play a little bit more percentage tennis, play within myself, keep my errors down,” Williams explained after the match. “Very happy that it worked out against an opponent who is seasoned, who can play, who can serve, who has a lot of big shots. So it was a nice test to come through.”
The 27-year-old German will likely rue her missed chances, having brought up five break opportunities but only able to convert one. Though their winner’s count was nearly the same – 18 for Venus and 17 for Goerges – they were separated by their unforced errors count, 17 for Venus and 22 for Goerges.
Williams awaits the winner in the match between No.26 Laura Siegemund and fellow American Nicole Gibbs.
Twirling into the third round. Congrats @Venuseswilliams. #usopen pic.twitter.com/zBEFg0oow4
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 1, 2016
More to come…