Social Buzz: Kerber Enjoys Real Champions League Thriller
In the latest roundup of off-court action, Angelique Kerber watches a Champions League quarterfinal – and Lucie Safarova just wants to go home.
In the latest roundup of off-court action, Angelique Kerber watches a Champions League quarterfinal – and Lucie Safarova just wants to go home.
Top seed and defending champion Irina-Camelia Begu made a confident start to the Korea Open, swatting aside wildcard Jang Su Jeong in little over an hour.
BOGOTA, Colombia – A group of kids from the Colombian children’s charity ICBF got a special treat on Kids’ Day at the Claro Open Colsanitas. They were invited to a tour of the grounds and practice courts, as well as getting the chance to meet some of the areas’ biggest tennis stars.
Argentina’s Catalina Pella was on hand for a meet and greet as they checked out her practice session, and Colombia’s own Jessica Plazas signed dozens of autographs.
There were also lots of other activities, games and booths around the grounds of the Club Los Lagartos.
See all the best photos below, courtesy of the Claro Open Colsanitas!
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A week and a half ago tennis crowned a new queen when Angelique Kerber lifted the US Open to mark her ascent to the World No.1 ranking.
Watching on from the stands was Billie Jean King, the woman after whom tournament’s home is named, and who 43 years earlier paved the way for Kerber and company by defeating Bobby Riggs.
Dubbed by promoters as ‘The Battle of the Sexes’, on September 20, 1973 King took on Riggs, an ageing former major champion and shameless misogynist who claimed he could still beat any of the leading women on the fledgling Women’s Tennis Association.
Luckily, she did win. Playing to an audience of 30,472 in the Houston Astrodome – and over 100 million watching around the world on television – King abandoned her serve-and-volley game to defeat Riggs from the back of the court, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3.
When Riggs hit a high backhand volley into the net on match point, King flung her racket into the air in celebration. “I thought it would set us back 50 years if I didn’t win that match,” she said later. “It would ruin the women’s tour and affect all women’s self-esteem.”
For his part, Riggs told reporters that King simply “played too well.” The two eventually became friends, and even spoke a few days before Riggs died of prostate cancer in 1995.
Over four decades on, the match remains a landmark moment in the gender equality movement, one that transcended sport.
43 years ago today I played Bobby Riggs in a match that changed my life & was all about equality. To celebrate let's shine a light on others
— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) September 20, 2016
Lara Arruabarrena takes on Sara Sorribes Tormo in the semifinals of the Claro Open Colsanitas.
Highlights from the semifinal at the Ladies Open Biel Bienne.
SAP Tennis Analytics for Coaches powered by SAP HANA provides decisive real-time performance data. This analytical edge arms coaches and players with the insight necessary to implement crucial strategy changes during the course of the match.
“I can go on court and say to the player without any hesitation: ‘Okay, 100% of the time when they’re break point down, they’re serving here. You should look to do this,” said Nicole Pratt, coach of Daria Gavrilova.
“In Toronto, Nicole came out with the tablet and showed me a few different stats. When she showed me how far behind the baseline I was it helped a lot and I started to move back inside the court and be more aggressive. It helped me turn that match around.”
Watch the video above to hear how Angelique Kerber, Daria Gavrilova and their respective coaching teams use SAP Tennis Analytics during their matches.
Johanna Konta is one of three players left in the Indian Wells draw not ranked inside the Top 100 this time last year. Who are the other two?
An interview with Naomi Osaka after her quarterfinal at the Toray Pan Pacific Open.
INDIAN WELLS, CA, USA – Top seed Serena Williams endured a few frustrating moments against a resurgent Kateryna Bondarenko, easing past the qualifier, 6-2, 6-2 at the BNP Paribas Open.
Watch highlights, interviews and more video from Indian Wells right here on wtatennis.com!
Bondarenko came back to tennis just over 18 months ago after giving birth to a daughter, but has been playing some of the best tennis of either of her two careers in 2016, reaching the Australian Open third round as she slowly creeps back to her former career-high of No.29.
“It definitely wasn’t an easy match,” Williams told Andrew Krasny during her on-court interview. “She’s obviously been a good player in the past, and she knows how to play on big courts against big players. So, it was a good match for me.”
In complete control through the first six games, the American lost serve a game from the opening set, and battled through windy conditions and some evident angst through the 72 minute match. In the end, she hit 26 impressive winners to only 22 errors, while Bondarenko hit 13 winners to 21 unforced.
“Regardless of whether it’s windy, not windy, and you just have to be able to adjust. I always think things can be worse!”
Up next for the 21-time Grand Slam champion is No.5 seed and defending BNP Paribas Open champion Simona Halep; Williams triumphed in both of their 2015 encounters – including a tight two-set win in the finals of the Western & Southern Open.
Back at Indian Wells for only the second time since 2001, Williams said she’s feeling the love from fans in the California desert, and hopes to be the crowd favorite come the quarterfinals.
“I want to scream back that I love you too – I’m not sure if that’s appropriate – but I do; I love you guys, and thanks for your support.”