Dubai: Errani Interview
An interview with Sara Errani after her win in the semifinals at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
An interview with Sara Errani after her win in the semifinals at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
An interview with Victoria Azarenka after her win in the final of the Miami Open.
Highlights from final round action at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
An interview with Belinda Bencic before the start of the Qatar Total Open.
Zheng Saisai takes on Angelique Kerber in the second round of the Qatar Total Open.
An interview with Mona Barthel after her win in the first round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
An interview with Roberta Vinci after her win in the third round of the Qatar Total Open.
DUBAI, UAE – Ana Konjuh breezed into the second round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships after routing China’s Zhang Shuai 6-0, 6-1.
The score was a surprise given Zhang’s impressive run in Doha last week when she beat Garbiñe Muguruza en route to the quarterfinals.
But she found her Croatian opponent on devastating form, producing a display of awesome power hitting to seal a second-round meeting with Australia’s Sam Stosur.
“The last two years I played quallies, so I’m really happy to be in the main draw this year and to keep my game like that,” said Konjuh. “Hopefully I’m going to continue.”
.@AnaKonjuh is really in the zone at @DDFTennis! pic.twitter.com/HDmxj1Lt9d
— WTA (@WTA) February 20, 2017
A Chinese player who fared much better was Peng Shuai, who comfortably defeated Leisa Tsurenko 6-1, 6-1 to set up a second-round clash with Barbora Strycova. Surprises continued on Court 1 with Catherine Bellis eliminating 17th seed Yulia Putintseva 6-1, 7-5. Meanwhile, qualifier Elise Mertens upset Tsvetana Pironkova 6-3, 6-2 on Court 3.
Bellis, ranked 70th in the world, found herself 5-1 down in the second set before reeling off an incredible six games on the trot to seal a remarkable victory.
“I got myself in a bit of trouble in the second set, but I’m glad I got out of it. I just thought to myself, stick to my game plan, just keep steady, I can come back,” said Bellis afterwards. “I can come back against anyone I set my mind to. I’m really glad I got through it. in the beginning of the second, I think I won the first game. The second game was really long.
“So I just kept thinking to myself, I’m still in this match, obviously even when I was losing, still in this match, and I’m playing well, so I can come back whenever I want and whenever, you know, I get a good rhythm. So once I went down, I just stayed calm and stuck to my game plan and came back.”
Peng Shuai advances to @DDFTennis Second round!
Storms past Tsurenko 6-1, 6-1! pic.twitter.com/de1fzAED2d
— WTA (@WTA) February 20, 2017
Elsewhere, Kateryna Bondarenko survived an opening-set blip to come through 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus. Misaki Doi claimed a notable win against Madison Brengle, the Japanese beating the American in three tight sets.
Check out all the day’s results here.
Carla Suárez Navarro takes on Timea Bacsinszky in the third round of the Qatar Total Open.
No.2 seed Lucie Safarova was made to fight in her first match at the inaugural Hungarian Ladies Open, but survived a tough challenge from Poland’s Magda Linette in three sets.