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Konta: WTA Most Improved Player Of The Year

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

SINGAPORE – Johanna Konta has been overwhelmingly voted as 2016 WTA Most Improved Player Of The Year.

Konta has enjoyed her best season to date, starting at the Australian Open, where she became the first British woman to reach a Grand Slam semifinal since Jo Durie in 1983. She went on to match Durie in ranking as well as result, finally ending the drought of British women in the Top 10 after reaching the final of the China Open, a Premier Mandatory event.

In between, Konta captured her first WTA title at the Bank of the West Classic, stunning former No.1 and Stanford champion Venus Williams in three scintillating sets. In 10 matches against Top 10 players, Konta won six encounters, and also has a 12-2 record in tie-breaks – the second best on the tour this season.

Her achievements have not gone unnoticed and she received 40 votes, ahead of Monica Puig with five, Kiki Bertens with three and Laura Siegemund with one.

WTA Most Improved Player Winners
2016: Johanna Konta
2015: Timea Bacsinszky
2014: Eugenie Bouchard
2013: Simona Halep
2012: Sara Errani
2011: Petra Kvitova
2010: Francesca Schiavone
2009: Yanina Wickmayer
2008: Dinara Safina
2007: Ana Ivanovic
2006: Jelena Jankovic
2005: Ana Ivanovic

Complete listing of the historical WTA Awards.

 

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Kerber & Halep Drawn Together In WTA Finals

Kerber & Halep Drawn Together In WTA Finals

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

Angelique Kerber and Simona Halep have been drawn in the same group for the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global, which starts on Sunday.

The German, who will finish the year as World No.1, is seeded top for the tournament and she has avoided an early meeting with defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska.

Kerber, who is bidding to qualify from the round robin stage of the WTA Finals for the first time, has been drawn in the Red Group, alongside Halep, the winner of three titles in 2016, Dominika Cibulkova, whose late-season from carried her into the tournament and Madison Keys, who has reached a career high of World No.7 this year.

The Red Group

Radwanksa, who defeated Petra Kvitova in last year’s final, leads the White Group, which also features Garbiñe Muguruza, who won her first-ever Grand Slam at the French Open in June. Karolina Pliskova, who was defeated by Kerber in the final of the US Open, is the final known player in the group, with one place yet to be determined.

That spot will be filled by the Brit Johanna Konta unless Svetlana Kuznetsova wins the Kremlin Cup. The Russian plays Elina Svitolina in the semi-final in Moscow later on Friday.

Read: Kerber, Radwanska Lead Red & White Groups In WTA Finals Round Robin Draw

The White Group

Official WTA Finals Mobile App, Created by SAP

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Radwanska Reflects On Singapore Success Ahead Of WTA Finals Return

Radwanska Reflects On Singapore Success Ahead Of WTA Finals Return

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

SINGAPORE – No.2 seed Agnieszka Radwanska is rested and ready to to mount a strong title defense at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global. Currently ranked No.3 and in good form after winning the China Open two weeks ago, Radwanska says her career-best run to the title in Singapore last fall still feels like yesterday.

“Of course, it’s always great to be back in the place that you have a lot of good memories,” Radwanska told reporters during All-Access Hour on Saturday. “As you know, time flies, so I really feel like it was a week ago. It’s always great to come back, especially [as]I really hope that I can still play my best tennis here and try to do the same [as last year].”

While much of the focus on Radwanska’s recent surge has been on her success through Asia, her initial improvements began over the summer on North American hardcourts. She is 21-4 since the Olympic break, winning two titles at the Connecticut Open and Beijing. She comes into Singapore on an eight-match win streak.

“I think I had really great couple of weeks in Asia, so I’m feeling good. I’m pretty confident,” she said. “I just hope I can keep it up and really play the same good tennis that I was playing especially in the China Open.

“There is always a little bit more pressure when you really have to defend a big title, a lot of points. But on the other hand, when you’re Top 5, Top 10, you’re pretty much defending every week, more or less. So just trying not to really think about it and of course just try to repeat what I did last year.”

Radwanska will begin her campaign on Monday when the White Group gets underway, but as of Saturday morning she did not know who she would be playing. Radwanska is set to play the No.8 qualifier, which will be either Johanna Konta or Svetlana Kuznetsova. The Russian can knock Konta out of the eighth qualifying spot if she wins the Kremlin Cup on Saturday. The uncertainty shouldn’t bother the Pole. Tennis players regularly get less than 24 hours’ notice of their opponent during regular tournament weeks.

In addition to either Konta or Kuznetsova, Radwanska will also face Roland Garros champion Garbiñe Muguruza and US Open finalist Karolina Pliskova in round-robin play.

“I think it’s always very interesting because pretty much every match is 50/50 and you’re really going to see good tennis,” Radwanska said.

And will there be any more trick shots on tap in Singapore for the WTA’s Hot Shots leader? Radwanska explained the technique behind her signature style.

“Well, I think sometimes when you have this half a second to think what you going to do with the shot, I think most of the players maybe will hit as strong as possible,” she said. “I’m the one maybe just to want to do something else, because I can’t really hit as strong as the others. So that’s why I was always trying to do something else. Just use my hands.”

Official WTA Finals Mobile App, Created by SAP

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Halep Hurries Past Keys, Draws First Blood In WTA Finals Red Group

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

SINGAPORE – No.3 seed Simona Halep made an impressive start as round-robin play got underway on Sunday. Making her third BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global appearance, Halep dismissed No.6 seed Madison Keys, 6-2, 6-4, to move into first place in the Red Group.

Watch live action from Singapore this week at WTA Live Powered By TennisTV!

“I felt very well on court today,” she said after the match. “It was better that I knew her. I played [her a] few times this year. I won every time, so I had an advantage.

“But still I played good tennis. I think I played exactly what I had to play against her. I was focused, everything went as I wanted, so I’m happy with the way that I played.”

Emerging onto Centre Court following the opening ceremonies, Halep converted her fourth break point in a long third game to grab the early momentum from Keys, herself a WTA Finals debutante.

“I played in Montréal against her and the court there was faster, the game. I felt really a lot [of] her power.

“[The court] here was less. I could maneuverate [sic] the game as I wanted. The ball is staying low here, so I think [it] fits me. It’s good that I can be strong on my legs.”

Falling behind a set and a break to the confident Romanian, Keys took a coaching timeout with Thomas Hogstedt that helped her break serve for the first time all match, but was ultimately undone by 41 unforced errors to only 16 winners.

“I just think having a match under my belt there is a little bit less nerves going out next time and I can go and play with nothing to lose,” Keys noted in her post-match press conference.

“But I think I the biggest thing is just being excited that I am getting to go out and play another match here.”

Hitting five winners to 12 errors of her own, Halep kept her cool and her consistency to break straight back on a sensational backhand pass. On her third opportunity, she served out the win in one hour and eight minutes.

The former World No.2 moves into the lead in the Red Group, while Keys will need strong performances in her next two matches to have a chance of making the semifinals.

“The atmosphere is like I’m home every time I play, so it’s really nice,” Halep said. “I saw many flags in the crowd, so [that] makes it special.”

Click here to catch up with the match courtesy of the WTA Insider Live Blog, as well as an exclusive Insider Reaction.

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Serena Wins Third Laureus Award

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

BERLIN, Germany – Serena Williams became the first woman to win three Laureus Sportswoman of the Year Award on Monday.

The World No.1 enjoyed an incredible 2015 season, in which she earned her second Serena Slam and the first three legs of the Calendar Year Grand Slam at the Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon. A wall-to-wall No.1 for the second time in her career, Williams finished atop the WTA rankings for the fifth time in her career. 

One of only three WTA players to take home the award, Williams has been nominated ten times, winning it in 2003 and 2010.

Williams had been tied with Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva, who had also won the award twice.

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Kuznetsova On Her Fight For Singapore Spot

Kuznetsova On Her Fight For Singapore Spot

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

Svetlana Kuznetsova clenched the final spot for the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global after a straightforward victory against Daria Gavrilova in the Kremlin Cup.

The Russian powerhouse’s last WTA Finals appearance was seven seasons ago (2009), but this time around she’s feeling the energy. “I’m playing my best tennis for like five seasons, and it shows because now I’m in Singapore,” she said after her win in Moscow. “I’m really pleased with the win and making it to the Finals again after such a long time.”

Kuznetsova will be the first to admit that her journey has not been easy. When asked how she defended her title, she responded, “I don’t know. I fought in every match. I tried to win. I had very tough matches because I didn’t [feel] comfortable with the tennis I played.” She added, “But I understood I could win even with bad tennis. I leveled up my tennis.”

This level up didn’t come in physical form either. The 31-year-old defending champ improved her psychological state. She’s thinking more, playing more stable. She said, “I used to think: What do I have to do to achieve this or that…And I understand that ‘that’ level is already in the past. Every day I am working to get on a different level.”

The next level starts in Singapore and the 17-time title winner finds peace with herself for making it this far. “I didn’t even think I’d get there. I just wanted to play my tennis.” she says “And whatever happens. It’s a bonus.”

Kuznetsova plays her first match in Singapore against Agnieszka Radwańska at 7:30 p.m. on Monday. “It will be a tough match” Kuznetsova says. “I don’t expect anything else.”

Official WTA Finals Mobile App, Created by SAP

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