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News | WTA Tennis English

News | WTA Tennis English

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

Lesia Tsurenko came to the Abierto Mexicano Telcel on a mission after a tough loss at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. The No.7 seed ended up rolling to her third career title in Acapulco, dismissing February favorite Kristina Mladenovic in straight sets to return to the Top 50 ahead of the BNP Paribas Open, one of her favorite tournaments.

WTA Insider caught up with the Ukrainian after her on-court fiesta to discuss the key to her confidence, her work with a new fitness coach, and how she hopes to hold onto that sombrero given to her during the trophy ceremony.

Lesia Tsurenko

WTA Insider: I have to start with this: was this your first time wearing a sombrero?
Tsurenko: It was, but that’s because it was my first time winning a title in Mexico! Wearing a sombrero will always be something special for me and I’m glad this was the first time.

WTA Insider: In such a tense second set, what was going through your mind at 4-5 when you were serving to stay in it after all those breaks?
Tsurenko: I think I played really well in the first set, and I felt very confident. In the second, she changed her game a little bit and she started to play more aggressively. I was also getting more nervous because I felt this title was getting closer to me. The most important game was definitely on my serve at 4-5, and I was really happy to hold on. I felt like I could finish that match there.

WTA Insider: Kiki’s had such a good couple of weeks, but you’d beaten her three times before; what is your mindset going in against that type of player?
Tsurenko: I’ve beaten her before, but I also lost to her in Dubai last year. I know how she plays pretty well; she’s got a good serve and forehand. I was trying to focus on the way that I play and on my shots. I think that works well for me because it’s just you on your side of the court, and it makes me more nervous to start thinking about the opponent. Just hit the ball and do your shots; that’s the key, and then just fight for every point.

Lesia Tsurenko, Angelique Kerber

WTA Insider: You’ve had some tough draws to start the season – playing Angelique Kerber at the Australian Open and Peng Shuai in Dubai. How were you feeling at the start of the week and is this title something of a surprise?
Tsurenko: I was quite disappointed with my disappointment in Dubai, so I was really concentrating here. I really wanted to play well here to show some good tennis after disappointing results in Dubai. That worked really well for me; I was concentrating on each point in every match and it worked well. I’m really happy to get the title.

WTA Insider: You’re a player whose struggled with injuries; when we last spoke, you were dragging around a big ice bag for your knee at the US Open. This week, it was some of your opponents who were having some injury and illness issues. How were you feeling to be on the other end, to be the fitter and healthier player?
Tsurenko: I’ve had quite a few injuries, but I try not to think about those. That’s just how it is and I’m getting fitter and fitter. I’ve been working on my body, and that’s been working well for me, just to feel balanced in every angle of tennis. The beginning of the year was strange for me; I had a virus in Brisbane, and still feeling unwell in Hobart. Everything’s in the past, and I hope to get a lot of confidence from this win.

Lesia Tsurenko

WTA Insider: You played Acapulco for the first time just a few years ago, and you’ve gone from qualies to being a seed, winning the title. What do you make of how fast some of your improvements have been, winning three titles in the last 18 months?
Tsurenko: I’ve improved my fitness, and I also feel more confident on court, especially with my serve and my groundstrokes. I’m not afraid to make winners and be aggressive. I also feel like I’ve improved my defense; I’m moving well around the court and that gives me some good results.

WTA Insider: Are you a player who feels like they need confidence to be aggressive on the court?
Tsurenko: Fitness is the most important thing for me, because then I feel like I can play without mistakes, and stay on court for a long time. I’m able to stay concentrated in final sets – when I have to play those. For me, fitness is the biggest difference, but I’ve also become more aggressive on my serve and return. These two things are essential in women’s tennis.

WTA Insider: Speaking of fitness, talk a bit about your team; what kind of changes have you made in terms of recovery?
Tsurenko: I’m still working with the same tennis coach for the last four years now. I’m very happy with the results we’ve had together. But I do have a new fitness coach, Denis Vaschuk, who is helping to make my body stronger and more balanced. I think that’s the big advantage for me now, having him on my team. We work when I’m in Ukraine, and I also get some exercises from him even when we’re not traveling together. We keep in touch and that makes me feel even more confident in my fitness and movement.

WTA Insider: Up next for you is the BNP Paribas Open, where you’ve played some pretty epic matches over the last couple years. What do you like about that tournament and what are you looking forward to most over the next two weeks?
Tsurenko: First of all, I like hardcourts in general, and I really enjoy the tournament in Indian Wells. I like the atmosphere there, and I think the surface suits me well; it’s not too fast, so I can show everything that I can do on the court. I like the conditions, and the improvements they make every year; they make the tournament so comfortable for players. I’m really excited to go there now because I know they’ve been making even more renovations. I hope to get there Sunday so I can see everything.

WTA Insider: What is the one big memory or big moment you’ll take away from this week?
Tsurenko: The sombrero! I don’t know if they’ll let me keep it, but for sure, I’m going to get some nice photos and some good memories.

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Riske Visits Joint Base Charleston

Riske Visits Joint Base Charleston

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970
Before the start of play at the Volvo Car Open, Alison Riske was treated to a tour of the Joint Base Charleston.

Before the start of play at the Volvo Car Open, Alison Riske was treated to a tour of the Joint Base Charleston.

Riske met with Staff Sgt. David McCubbin (left) and Capt. David Schunk (right), who showed her around the C-17 Globemaster III.

Riske met with Staff Sgt. David McCubbin (left) and Capt. David Schunk (right), who showed her around the C-17 Globemaster III.

Riske on the C-17 Globemaster III.

Riske on the C-17 Globemaster III.

Riske on the C-17 Globemaster III.

Riske on the C-17 Globemaster III.

Riske on the C-17 Globemaster III.

Riske on the C-17 Globemaster III.

Riske on the C-17 Globemaster III.

Riske on the C-17 Globemaster III.

After the tour, Riske visited the on-base fitness center to hand out autographed tennis balls and meet the rest of Team Charleston.

After the tour, Riske visited the on-base fitness center to hand out autographed tennis balls and meet the rest of Team Charleston.

Riske with Team Charleston.

Riske with Team Charleston.

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Cibulkova Completes Semifinal Lineup

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

KATOWICE, Poland – Former World No.10 Dominika Cibulkova overcame a tight opening set and tricky opposition in 2010 French Open champion Francesca Schiavone to reach the semifinals of the Katowice Open, 7-5, 6-1.

Watch live action from Katowice this week on WTA Live powered by TennisTV!

The 2014 Australian Open finalist had never lost to Schiavone in three previous encounters, but the Italian veteran had enjoyed a solid week in Katowice, taking out Alizé Cornet in straight sets on Thursday. Schiavone edged ahead 4-2 in the first set but only won two more games from there. It was a particularly solid second set from Cibulkova, who converted all three of her break point chances and clinched her third WTA semfinal of 2016 in just over an hour and 15 minutes.

“I wasn’t as aggressive as I could be at the beginning, and I think this suited her,” Cibulkova said after the match. “My coach just told me to play my game and be much more aggressive, to go for my shots and I think this settled me down. It was a close first set and once I got this it changed the match.

“I lost the first game, but I knew that nothing bad was happening. I started to get going and then it was 3-1 to me and then we had a long game for I think 4-1. Then I think she started to get nervous a little bit and was going for her shots a lot more. This is a type of game that I like to play, so she was making it easier for me.”

Standing between Cibulkova and a second final of the season is Pauline Parmentier; the 30-year-old Frenchwoman dismantled hometown favorite Magda Linette, 6-2, 6-4 to improve her head-to-head to 3-0 against the Pole.

Earlier in the day, Qatar Total Open finalist and No.3 seed Jelena Ostapenko won a battle of big-hitters by taking out No.7 seed Timea Babos, 7-6(3), 2-6, 6-3. Surviving the opening set in a tie-break, Ostapenko lost serve three times to see her lead evaporate, but took better initative in the decider to earn her best result since her breakthrough week in Doha.

Camila Giorgi played the longest match of the day to reach a third straight Katowice semifinal, overcoming a second set hiccup to defeat 2013 Wimbledon semifinalist Kirsten Flipkens, 6-2, 5-7, 6-4, in two hours and nine minutes. Giorgi dropped just four points behind her first serve in the deciding set and aims to return to the Katowice final for a third straight year – finishing runner-up to Cornet in 2014 and Anna Karolina Schmiedlova in 2015.

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Vickery Victorious In Bogota

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

American Sachia Vickery was the first to reach the second round at the Claro Open Colsanitas, while No.4 seed Lara Arruabarrena weathered a rain delay to also advance.

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Ranking Watch: Sloane Ranger

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

Last summer in Washington DC, Sloane Stephens finally delivered on her boundless potential, lifting her maiden WTA title – and the monkey from her back. Intent on making up for lost time, the young American’s mantelpiece is starting to get rather crowded.

After beating Elena Vesnina in the final of the Volvo Car Open, Stephens now has three titles to her name in 2013 alone. The silverware collected in Auckland, Acapulco and Charleston has taken Stephens to the brink of a return to the Top 20.

The 23-year-old’s success in Charleston led to a jump from No.25 to No.21 in the rankings – her highest position since the summer of 2014. And with relatively few points to defend in the build-up to the French Open she has a good opportunity to improve upon her previous best raking of No.11. 

If she is rise further still, the next challenge is replicating this Charleston form at the majors. During Stephens’ initial breakthrough on tour, she suffered from the opposite problem – in 2014 she reached the fourth round or better at all four Grand Slams, only to flatter to deceive away from the big stage. 

Stephens’ victim in the final, Vesnina, is no stranger to major success, lifting the French and US Opens in doubles. Despite turning 30 later this year, the Russian has no intention of becoming a doubles specialist, something she proved with wins over Belinda Bencic and Sara Errani this past week.

This run resulted in a rankings jump from No.85 to No.51. Throw in her impressive showings in Doha and Miami, and Vesnina’s ranking has improved over 60 places this year.

Vesnina, though, is not the only player on the charge:

Dominika Cibulkova (+15, No.53 to No.38): Dominika Cibulkova has had a number of false dawns since returning from a serious Achilles injury last year. In Katowice, she finally made her big statement. After a first-round scare against Carina Witthoeft, the Slovak improved with each match, outplaying Camila Giorgi in the final to lift her first title since 2014.

Yulia Putintseva (+8 No.61 to No.53): Yulia Putintseva learnt her trade at Moscow’s legendary Spartak club, and she now looks ready to follow in the footsteps of her fellow alumni, such as Anna Kournikova, Elena Dementieva and Dinara Safina. Wins over Venus Williams and Sabine Lisicki helped the Kazakhstani to the quarterfinals, the 100 points picked up in Charleston also takes her to a career-high No.53 in the rankings.

Francesca Schiavone (+11, No.101 to No.90): One of Cibulkova’s victims, Francesca Schiavone, played some typically imaginative tennis to win a couple of rounds and continue the momentum heading into the clay court season.

Pauline Parmentier (+12, No.113 to No.101): While Parmentier was unable to maintain her electric start to defeat Cibulkova in the Katowice semifinals, victories over Magda Linette, Naomi Broady and defending champion Anna Karolina Schmiedlova ensured the tournament remained a highly encouraging one. She is now within touching distance of the Top 100 for the first time since last May.

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