Dubai: Vandeweghe vs. Ka. Pliskova
Coco Vandeweghe takes on Karolina Pliskova in the first round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Coco Vandeweghe takes on Karolina Pliskova in the first round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
BOGOTA, Colombia – Playing her final season on tour, 36-year-old Francesca Schiavone not only earned her eighth career WTA title at the Claro Open Colsanitas, but also gained valuable ranking points towards guaranteeing what would be her final French Open main draw appearance, outlasting No.4 seed Lara Arruabarrena, 6-4, 7-5.
“I’m very happy and emotional,” she said in her on-court interview. “Today was a disaster match, but winning was the most important thing. Lara is improving a lot; I think she pulled a muscle and couldn’t run as well that she could, but I thank God that I could win the last three games.”
.@Schiavone_Fra's execution on point! ? pic.twitter.com/yNfBtkeLV4
— WTA (@WTA) April 15, 2017
A former World No.4, Schiavone announced 2017 would be her last season in November, and came into the clay court season without winning a main draw match all year.
Just as she first did in 2010, when she won her maiden Grand Slam title at Roland Garros, the wildcard found some extra magic on the red clay of Colombia, shocking top seed and 2016 French Open semifinalist Kiki Bertens and No.3 seed Johanna Larsson en route to her first WTA final since the Rio Open last February.
Shot of the match so far?@Schiavone_Fra is on ? ? ? pic.twitter.com/JjOtxPOhkj
— WTA (@WTA) April 15, 2017
It would nonetheless be a tough ask against Arruabarrena, a 2012 champion in Bogota who had enjoyed a career-best run at the Miami Open, where she reached the fourth round.
“There wasn’t a big difference between us. It was very close.”
The Italian kept up her impressive form to start Saturday’s final, winning her ninth straight set as Arruabarrena got the upper hand in the second, breaking serve and holding four set points to force a decider.
FORZA! ?@Schiavone_Fra captures @CopaWTABogota title! pic.twitter.com/ZOUJFKdlmp
— WTA (@WTA) April 15, 2017
Schiavone showed off her signature fighting spirit to save all four and roll through the final four games of the match to earn her 600th career win bring her ranking back to within striking distance of the Top 100.
“I’m not thinking about retirement,” she said after striking 28 winners to just 21 unforced errors. “I’m enjoying tennis.”
.@Schiavone_Fra cheesin' with the trophy ? pic.twitter.com/NxSCHrS66H
— WTA (@WTA) April 15, 2017
A beloved figure on the tour for nearly two decades, current and former players alike sent out their congratulations to the veteran:
Gradeeeeeeeeeeeeeee????! Si naaaaaa putenzzzzzzzzzz. Tvb stronzetta @Schiavone_Fra https://t.co/Nhlw0uazSG
— Flavia Pennetta (@flavia_pennetta) April 15, 2017
Gradeeeeeeeeeeeeeee????! Si naaaaaa putenzzzzzzzzzz. Tvb stronzetta @Schiavone_Fra https://t.co/Nhlw0uazSG
— Flavia Pennetta (@flavia_pennetta) April 15, 2017
You're eternal girl! You're an inspiration!! Forza @Schiavone_Fra ❤ ! Well done Chica @laraarrua ! Love you both! ???☀️?? https://t.co/wtyfj3KDFd
— Timea Bacsinszky (@TimeaOfficial) April 15, 2017
More to come…
January 27, 2016
It’s semifinal day Down Under, and Serena Williams, Agnieszka Radwanska, Angelique Kerber and Johanna Konta are in action seeking a spot in the year’s first Grand Slam final. wtatennis.com contributor Chris Oddo makes his picks.
Serena Williams is at the beach – and Melanie Oudin is running through swathes of mud.
Barbora Strycova takes on Ana Ivanovic in the quarterfinals at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Top-seeded Peng Shuai led compatriots Wang Qiang, Duan Ying-Ying and Zheng Saisai into the semifinals in Zhengzhou with a straight-sets win over Zarina Diyas.
An interview with Sara Errani after her win in the final of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
DOHA, Qatar – Caroline Wozniacki survived a late wobble on Monday evening to edge past Ana Konjuh and into the second round of the Qatar Total Open.
Watch live action from Doha & Acapulco this week on WTA Live powered by TennisTV!
Success has proven hard to come by for Wozniacki this year, and getting over the finishing line against a hungry young opponent proved anything but straightforward.
Having weathered an early storm, the former World No.1, appeared to be cruising towards victory at 5-2 in the final set. However, liberated by the apparent hopelessness of the situation, Konjuh started to swing from the hip, clawing her way back level before eventually succumbing, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.
By the time one of her thumping forehands finally found the tape, the Croatian had saved eight match points and put Wozniacki and her camp through the emotional wringer.
“It’s the first match and you just want to get going,” Wozniacki said in her on-court interview. “I wasn’t hitting it well, and she was, but then I was 5-2 up in the third set. But I thought we’d give the crowd a little bit more excitement!”
After a sluggish start, the Dane tightened things up in the second set – in which she coughed up just four unforced errors – to turn the tide. She admitted that a faster start will be required next time out, when she takes on Daria Gavrilova, an impressive 6-1, 6-1 winner over Misaki Doi.
“Hopefully the next match is going to be better and I’ll get a better start,” Wozniacki said. “I’ve practiced with her a couple of times, but I’ve never played against her in a match.
“Yeah, she’s a fighter. She likes to come with a lot of different shots out there and she’s going to have you play that extra point.”
In the preceding match, Roberta Vinci celebrated her first day as a member of the Top 10 with a near-faultless 6-2, 6-1 victory over Lesia Tsurenko. Also advancing was her fellow Italian, Sara Errani, a 1-6, 7-5, 6-3 winner over Tsvetana Pironkova.
Agnieszka Radwanska takes on Kateryna Bondarenko in the second round of the Qatar Total Open.
All of the best shots of the third round at the Qatar Total Open.