Tennis News

MADRID, Spain – No.8 seed Carla Suárez Navarro was down an early break to the always dangerous Sabine Lisicki, but the Spaniard hit back against the former Wimbledon finalist, winning five of the next six games to run away with the match, 6-3, 6-2, and reach the third round of the Mutua Madrid Open.

Watch highlights, interviews and more video from Madrid right here on wtatennis.com!

“I wasn’t expecting a match in two sets given how I was feeling today,” she told press after the match. “I tried to be out there on the court. I tried to focus and go point by point, game by game.”

With countrywoman Garbiñe Muguruza bowing out late last night, the pressure for hometown glory was firmly on Suárez Navarro as the day session headed into its second match on Court Manolo Santana. Capable of pulling off an upset on any given day, Lisicki looked game for the challenge early on, breaking serve to start and holding to earn a 2-0 lead.

Though dealing with the effects of an upper respiratory illness – one that would later force her and Muguruza to pull out of their second round doubles match against Alla Kudryavtseva and Vania King – Suárez Navarro remained steady, and while Lisicki’s full power game was on display throughout – hitting ten more winners than her higher-ranked opponent – she was ultimately undone by her number of errors (37 to 16).

“Today I have really bad cold so I tried to be on court. I tried to play my game. You know, I was one hour or court.

“I feel good. I win. It’s the most important for me right now.”

For her part, the crowd favorite broke the German’s serve five times, and wrapped up the match in just over an hour, winning the final three games of the match and serving out the win to love.

Up next for Suárez Navarro is former French Open finalist Samantha Stosur, who advanced earlier today when Lucie Safarova was forced to withdraw due to a gastrointestinal illness.

“I’m really sorry to have to withdraw from the Mutua Madrid Open,” the J&T Banka Prague Open champion said in a statement. “I’m unfortunately too unwell to compete. The tournament is so well run and Madrid is an amazing city. I’m really sad to not be able to play. I’ve always been well supported here in Madrid and the fans here are amazing, and i look forward to returning next year.”

Suárez Navarro has split her six encounters with the Aussie, but won their most recent match earlier this year in Brisbane, and their only previous clay court encounter – also in Madrid, back in 2013.

“She is a very dangerous player because she serves well and good forehands and experience in the tour,” Suárez said of her next opponent. “She knows what it is to compete at the maximum level and how to compete here in Madrid. She knows me, so I think that it’s going to be a match where I have to give my 100%.

“I will have to rest good. Let’s see if I can recover and feel better. Let’s see if I’m prepared to play tomorrow.”

Speedy @CarlaSuarezNava ?? https://t.co/cBKI3dSzNQ

— WTA (@WTA) May 3, 2016

MADRID, Spain – No.6 seed Simona Halep is the highest ranked player left in Madrid, and the former World No.2 lived up to her billing in emphatic style on Wednesday, dispatching rival Timea Bacsinszky, 6-2, 6-3, to reach her second Mutua Madrid Open quarterfinal in the last three years.

Watch highlights, interviews and more video from Madrid right here on wtatennis.com!

Runner-up at the Premier Mandatory event back in 2014, Halep has had a up and down season thus far, but has largely been on an upward trend since reaching back-to-back quarterfinals in Indian Wells and Miami. Bacsinszky beat her in the last eight of the latter, going on to reach the semifinals of the Miami Open and capture her first title of 2016 at the GP SAR La Princesse Lalla Meryem last week. Dealing with a 24-hour turnaround from winning in Rabat, the Swiss star increased her winning streak to seven by reaching the third round of Madrid, but Halep proved too strong in the end, running away with the win in just over an hour.

“I like more to play on clay,” Halep said after the match when asked how she earned her revenge. “I changed tactics. I played less power today and I just tried to mix up the game, to be more creative on court, and to open the court better, to play more on her forehand.

“So I did a good job, and I think I adjusted my game very well to hers.”

The Romanian enjoyed another clean victory, hitting 19 winners to 18 unforced errors, and was the aggressor throughout – coming to net a whopping 19 times and winning 15 of those forays. Bacsinszky wasn’t able to step into the court in the same way that she has for much of the spring, but fatigue was largely a factor in what was her eighth match in nine days.

“I played the best I could today, but obviously against such a good player, it’s not enough,” Bacsinszky said after the match. “For sure, in these kinds of tournaments, you’re hoping not to play a player as fierce as Simona. She’s a great sportswoman and physically she’s always ready.

“Last time we met, I was doing really well physically and hadn’t played as many matches as I have here. Energy-wise, I was really on a high level in Miami and I had a lack of that today. Sadly, it’s tough to admit sometimes that you’re not better on the day; it was quite even at the beginning of the match. On the key points, you need to be fresh in your mind to make good decisions on the court, because it goes so quickly. Even if I’ve gained confidence from winning all those matches, when you have a lack of energy, it could make a huge gap between you and your opponent.”

Halep’s win guaranteed a Romanian woman in the semifinals as compatriot Irina-Camelia Begu backed up her stunning upset of Garbiñe Muguruza with yet another three-set thriller, this time recovering from a set down to defeat Christina McHale, 6-7(6), 6-4, 6-4.

“You know, I like playing for at least two hours!” Begu said with a laugh, having won her third three-setter in a row to reach the quarterfinals.

“It was a tough match; I started a little bit slower at the beginning. I had some chances, but I was too slow and she was trying to hit the ball a little bit faster. But even like this, I had a set point. I was a little disappointed after losing that set but I was trying to fight, but I’m in the quarterfinals again!”

With Romanian and former ATP player Ion Tiriac the owner of the tournament, Madrid has always been a special place for Halep, who credits the wildcard Tiriac offered her in 2013 with kickstarting her career.

“It’s a Romanian tournament, I can say,” she said with a smile. “I feel like home here. I feel good always. I have great memories from 2014. I just try to make it best tournament for myself. I try just to enjoy it, because I like it very much.

“Of course many Romanians are on the draw and they keep winning. It’s a good thing for our country.”

.@Simona_Halep making it look easy! ? #MMOPEN https://t.co/KQZ2lRWu40

— WTA (@WTA) May 4, 2016

INDIAN WELLS, CA, USA – Monica Puig dropped just two games against American wildcard Danielle Collins on her way to the second round at the BNP Paribas Open.

Puig put together a dominant performance against Collins to advance 6-0, 6-2 after just under an hour and ten minutes.

“I always like playing on center stage, I guess it’s where I feel most comfortable,” Puig said in her post-match interview. “I’m always happy to play in Indian Wells, it’s one of my favorite tournaments.”

It was a different story for Collins, who was playing in just her third main draw match of her career. She found herself outhit and out of her depth as she fell to the Olympic champion.

The 23-year-old American – a two-time NCAA singles winner at the University of Virginia – showed flashes of promise against Puig as she targeted the Puerto Rican’s backhand high over her shoulder. But she allowed Puig to dictate the pace and dominate the rallies.

.@MonicaAce93 cruises past Collins 6-0, 6-2!

Plays @KaPliskova next in @BNPPARIBASOPEN Second round! pic.twitter.com/nUyuWZWBq7

— WTA (@WTA) March 9, 2017

After being shut out of the first set after just 24 minutes, Collins rallied back to earn a confidence-boosting first break of the match to start the second set. But the joy was short lived as Puig came roaring back, grabbing the break right back to level the score before reeling off the last four games in a row for a spot in the second round.

“You never know what to expect – I used to play against [Collins] when I was like, ten years old. I haven’t played her in a few years so I needed some time to feel her out a bit. I found my groove and finished off strong,” Puig said.

Waiting in the second round is No.3 seed Karolina Pliskova – it was originally Serena Williams before she announced her withdrawal from the tournament and caused a reshuffling of seeds. Puig trails the Czech 0-3 in the pair’s win-loss record.

“For me it’s not really a huge change,” Puig said of having to play Pliskova instead of Serena. “I was already waiting on a difficult opponent if I made it to the second round, and I still got a difficult opponent in the second round.

“It doesn’t really change much; I’m familiar with Pliskova and I’ve played her a few times. Lost a few times, too. She’s near the top of the game right now because she’s an amazing player.”

MADRID, Spain – Samantha Stosur became the last woman into the semifinals of the Mutua Madrid Open on Wednesday night, ending a spirited challenge from qualifier Patricia Maria Tig, taking out the Romanian, 6-3, 6-4.

Watch highlights, interviews and more video from Madrid right here on wtatennis.com!

“I feel like I picked up well from last night,” Stosur said after the match, referring to her big three-set win over Carla Suárez Navarro on Wednesday.

“Obviously it was a different opponent, but I was able to combat that with my tennis.”

At 21 years of age, Tig earned a trio of impressive main draw wins to reach the last eight, defeating Daria Kasatkina, No.16 seed Sloane Stephens, and Madison Keys to set up the meeting with the 2011 US Open champion.

“I’m actually quite impressed with her game; she’s got a really good first serve and really goes after the ball. She moves well, slides, and hits the ball with a lot of pace – even when she’s behind the baseline. So she can be very tricky; all around, she has a really tidy game and aggressive style, so I think she’ll do quite well.”

Though the Romanian would finish the match with a positive winners to unforced error differential, the Aussie’s experience shone throught when it mattered, hitting 22 winners of her own and saving all six break points faced in the match – including three in a row at 0-40 in the final game.

“I don’t think I played really terribly for those three points to get myself in that deficit; nevertheless, it’s not the ideal start to trying to serve out a match. But I made a lot of first serves in that last game, and ended up getting through it.”

Stosur and Halep have split their six meetings. Halep has won the last three but haven’t played since 2013. pic.twitter.com/AkSSlUYQFr

— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) May 5, 2016

Into to the semifinals of Madrid for the first time in her career, Stosur booked an encounter with No.6 seed and 2014 finalist Simona Halep, who is the highest ranked player in the draw. Stosur and Halep have an even head-to-head, but the top ranked Romanian has won their last three matches – all three coming in 2013.

“We haven’t played for a long time, but when we did, we went through a span of playing each other a lot and had some really close three-setters. I’ve got to expect a tough one; she’s going to make me play and make me work. I don’t think there’ll be too many easy points out there, so when I’m able to win the point, I’ll have to win it. It’ll have to be a balance of being aggressive and being patient. Winning, but not losing on my own racquet!”

One of the most consistent clay courters of the last six years, Stosur’s singles breakout first came at the French Open in 2009, when she reached the semifinals; the veteran backed up that run the very next year by reaching the final, going through a murderer’s row of Justine Henin, Serena Williams, and Jelena Jankovic along the way.

“If I can bring my best tennis, or close to my best tennis, I do feel like I’ve got a good shot against anyone. Over the course of my career, I’ve proved that, and that’s a really good thing to know. But you’ve got to be at your best level consistently to be at the top of the game. That’s where I was a few years ago; obviously I’ve dropped back a little bit now, so I’m really working towards trying to get back there now.

“These first couple of weeks on the red clay have been really good, and I’m happy with where things are going, so I’m hoping there’s still a little bit of room for improvement.”

INDIAN WELLS, CA, USA – Croatian wildcard Donna Vekic vaulted past American Alison Riske, 6-3, 7-6(3), to book a second round clash with 2015 BNP Paribas Open champion Simona Halep.

“I’m so happy,” she told WTA Insider after the match. “It was a bit tough in the second set, but I got through it.”

A former World No.62, Vekic has struggled with inconsistency since stunning Dominika Cibulkova to win her maiden WTA title in Kuala Lumpur back in 2014. Still, the 21-year-old has show signs of regaining her momentum to start 2017, reaching the second round of the Australian Open and the round of 16 at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy.

“This year, I’ve played some pretty good tennis. My level is definitely there, but I need to be more consistent to have it from the first point. Sometimes you need three matches to get the confidence to play well, because in practice I’m playing great. It’s just a few more matches and I’m sure it’s going to come.

“I feel really fit. I had some practice time before coming here, so I’m hoping I can keep the tennis level up.”

.@DonnaVekic puts the backhand away! #BNPPO17 pic.twitter.com/ACj1y5hOwa

— WTA (@WTA) March 10, 2017

Against Riske, she posted impressive numbers off return, winning 68% of the Shenzhen Open runner-up’s second serve points and breaking the American five times in one hour and 42 minutes – all under the watchful eye of 1997 French Open champion Iva Majoli, the first Croatian woman to win a major title.

“I love playing on big courts and stadiums. This court is amazing; I warmed up on it this morning and it was huge. But I really enjoyed my time out there tonight.

“I was more nervous than I felt before the match, so I didn’t find my game straight away. I was struggling a little bit throughout the match, but that’s because the conditions here are so different. It’s not easy to play here, and playing the American as a wildcard was tough.

“I was just trying to work through the points. I was struggling with my serve in the wind and that’s usually my advantage, how I get some free points. I just had to work through it, stay in the rallies and win the hard way.”

Great defense and winner from @DonnaVekic! #BNPPO17 pic.twitter.com/QuSV6DSwPE

— WTA (@WTA) March 10, 2017

Looming in the next round is No.4 seed and former French Open finalist Simona Halep, who will be playing her first match since St. Petersburg after skipping the Middle East swing to heal a persistent knee injury.

“I’m going to have to play good. But I’m really excited; she’s a great player. I’ve had one match here, and it’s not easy to come out and play your first match. But she’s obvious a great player who has played well here before.”

.@DonnaVekic ousts Riske 6-3, 7-6 (2)!

Faces 2015 @BNPParibasOpen champ @Simona_Halep next! pic.twitter.com/2OhG8NvgIt

— WTA (@WTA) March 10, 2017

It wasn’t all bad news for the Americans; ASB Classic champion Lauren Davis survived a Swiss onslaught from Viktorija Golubic, winning, 6-4, 4-6, 7-5. Davis next plays No.22 seed Anastasija Sevastova, who is coming off a run to the semifinals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

.@LaurenDavis93 edges past Golubic 6-4, 4-6, 7-5! #BNPPO17 pic.twitter.com/ppkWu5vk7z

— WTA (@WTA) March 10, 2017

Around the grounds, Japanese teenager Naomi Osaka impressed in her Indian Wells main draw debut, knocking out countrywoman and qualifier Risa Ozaki, 6-4, 6-2, to book a second round clash with No.30 seed and former Australian Open quarterfinalist Zhang Shuai.

Shenzhen champion Katerina Siniakova recovered from a set down to defeat the resurgent Mona Barthel, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, while former World No.5 Lucie Safarova kicked off play on Court 4 with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Spain’s Lara Arruabarrena.

Safarova will next play No.20 seed CoCo Vandeweghe, who is coming off a major breakthrough in Melbourne, where she reached the semifinals.

ROME, Italy – World No.1 Serena Williams will have to run the gauntlet if she is to recapture the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, after Friday’s draw placed her in the same section as several title rivals.

After her last-minute withdrawal from Madrid because of flu, Williams will begin her clay court campaign at the Foro Italico, a venue that holds many fond memories; three times the American has been crowned champion in the Eternal City (2002, 2013 and 2014), and on the first two occasions she followed it up with French Open glory.

As one of the top eight seeds, Williams receives a first-round bye, before taking on either Anna Karolina Schmiedlova or Anna-Lena Friedsam in her clay court opener. Should she clear this opening hurdle, Williams is projected to meet Ana Ivanovic in the third round, Simona Halep in the quarterfinals, then Victoria Azarenka in the last four.

No.4 seed Azarenka is still nursing the back injury that forced her out of Madrid and will begin with the winner of Margarita Gasparyan and Irina-Camelia Begu. Also keeping her company in arguably the most open section of the draw are Roberta Vinci, Karolina Pliskova and Lucie Safarova.

Like Williams, No.2 seed Angelique Kerber has been placed in a tricky quarter. Awaiting her in the second round will be either Jelena Jankovic or Eugenie Bouchard, before a likely third-round date with one of the WTA’s finest clay courters, Sara Errani. Should she negotiate the treacherous path to the last eight, Petra Kvitova or Venus Williams could lie in wait.

Looking to bounce back from her Madrid disappointment, No.3 seed Garbiñe Muguruza will need to watch out for another banana skin; Ekaterina Makarova, Kristina Mladenovic and Elina Svitolina are all capable of scuppering her all-Spanish quarterfinal against Carla Suárez Navarro in the quarterfinals.

Click here to see the draw in full.

Notable 1Rs @InteBNLdItalia:

Keys-Petkovic (winner plays Kvitova)
Pliskova-Kasatkina
Venus-Vandeweghe
Jankovic-Bouchard
Gavrilova-Lisicki

— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) 6 May 2016