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Cepelova Ends Peng's Dalian Hopes

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

DALIAN, China – Jana Cepelova ended Peng Shuai’s campaign at the Dalian Women’s Tennis Open at the first hurdle after a three-set win on Wednesday.

Watch live streaming from Dalian all week right here.

In a closely fought encounter, No.6 seed Cepelova held her nerve during a tense conclusion to close out a 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 victory in a fraction over two hours.

Exactly two years ago, Peng produced some of the best tennis of her career to reach the semifinals of the US Open. However, since then success has been thin on the ground after a debilitating back problem forced her to miss nearly all of 2015.

Progress since her return has been slow, struggling for wins away from the ITF Circuit. Against Cepelova she had her chances, threatening to get edge ahead in the deciding set only to surrender the solitary break in the seventh game.

Elsewhere, there were wins for Cepelova’s fellow seeds, Wang Qiang, Duan Ying-Ying and Tamira Paszek. Top seed Wang withstood a late rally to defeat Nigina Abduraimova, 6-4, 7-6(4), while Duan, the No.3 seed, provided further home cheer with a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Sara Sorribes Tormo.

No.4 seed Paszek was pushed even harder, but finished strongly to see off You Xiaodi, 7-5, 5-7, 6-1.

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Graf Plays Part In Zhuhai Final Festivities

Graf Plays Part In Zhuhai Final Festivities

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

ZHUHAI, China – Since her retirement 17 years ago, WTA legend Stefanie Graf has largely shied away from the limelight. However on Sunday she took center stage once more, gracing the final of the Huajin Securities WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai between Petra Kvitova and Elina Svitolina.

Tournament ambassador Graf continued her busy weekend in Zhuhai, conducting the coin toss before taking in Kvitova’s masterclass.

Twenty-four hours earlier, in her first public activity ever in mainland China, Graf visited the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, where she played mini-tennis with Caroline Garcia.

Check out the best photos from finals day, courtesy of the WTA Elite Trophy!

Steffanie Graf

Steffanie Graf

Stefanie Graf

Click here for a photo gallery of all of Graf’s activities in Zhuhai.

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Insider Podcast: Serena Passes Test

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

WTA Insider | In the latest Daily Dispatch, hear Italian journalist Luca Baldissera’s take on his compatriot Roberta Vinci as well as a preview of the remaining fourth-round clashes.

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Vote: October's WTA Breakthrough Of The Month

Vote: October's WTA Breakthrough Of The Month

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

October's WTA Breakthrough Of The Month

October was defined by three breakthrough players who brought some impressive performances on and off the court. Which one soared the highest?

Have a look at the nominees for October Breakthrough Performance of the Month and cast your vote before Thursday at 11:59pm ET! The winner will be announced Friday, November 11.

October 2016 WTA Breakthrough Performance of the Month Finalists:

Daria Gavrilova: One of the tour’s fastest rising stars had an October to remember. The Russian-born Aussie kicked off the month with her first win over a reigning No.1, defeating Angelique Kerber in Hong Kong. Gavrilova took that momentum into Moscow to reach the final of the Kremlin Cup in both singles and doubles with partner and good friend Daria Kasatkina.

Johanna Konta: Konta made her biggest breakthrough yet on the WTA level, reaching her first Premier Mandatory final at the China Open. Seeded No.11 in Bejing, Konta upset No.5 seed and US Open runner-up Karolina Pliskova and No.8 seed Madison Keys en route to the championship match, where she fell to Agnieszka Radwanska.

Peng Shuai: Impressive though her resume had been, a WTA singles title had long eluded 2014 US Open semifinalist Peng Shuai, who missed most of the 2015 season due to a back injury. Upsetting Venus Williams in Beijing, Peng rolled into the Tianjin Open high on confidence, finally winning her first WTA title.

2016 Winners:

January: Zhang Shuai
February: Jelena Ostapenko
March: Nicole Gibbs
April: Cagla Buyukakcay
May: Kiki Bertens
June: Elena Vesnina
July: Kristina Kucova
August: Karolina Pliskova
September: Naomi Osaka

How it works:

Finalists are selected by wtatennis.com
Winner is then determined by a fan vote on wtatennis.com

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Kuala Lumpur: Picture Perfect

Kuala Lumpur: Picture Perfect

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970
The stars of the WTA - including Hsieh Su-Wei, a champion here in 2012 – are gracing the courts at the BMW Malaysian Open this week.

The stars of the WTA – including Hsieh Su-Wei, a champion here in 2012 – are gracing the courts at the BMW Malaysian Open this week.

But before the competition started it was time for the player party. Czech doubles partners Karolina Stuchla and Lenka Kuncikova were wore matching jumpsuits.

But before the competition started it was time for the player party. Czech doubles partners Karolina Stuchla and Lenka Kuncikova were wore matching jumpsuits.

Several players – including Asia’s best – were among those at the Kuala Lumpur player party.

Several players – including Asia’s best – were among those at the Kuala Lumpur player party.

Roberta Vinci, the newest member of the WTA Top 10, hit the catwalk for the annual player party fashion show.

Roberta Vinci, the newest member of the WTA Top 10, hit the catwalk for the annual player party fashion show.

The resurgent Eugenie Bouchard walked the runway…

The resurgent Eugenie Bouchard walked the runway…

…as well as Ukraine’s No.1 Elina Svitolina.

…as well as Ukraine’s No.1 Elina Svitolina.

Vinci, Svitolina, Daniela Hantuchova and Bouchard were the stars of the night.

Vinci, Svitolina, Daniela Hantuchova and Bouchard were the stars of the night.

The BMW Malaysian Open started in 2010 and is currently in its seventh year on the WTA calendar.

The BMW Malaysian Open started in 2010 and is currently in its seventh year on the WTA calendar.

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Insider Podcast: US Open Final Preview

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

NEW YORK, NY, USA – It’s finals weekend at the US Open, as new World No.1 Angelique Kerber looks to solidify her spot atop the WTA rankings with a second Grand Slam title.

Standing in her way is No.10 seed Karolina Pliskova, who kept the German from hitting No.1 at the Western & Southern Open. Pliskova became the first Czech woman to reach a US Open final by becoming the fourth woman to ever beat both Williams sisters at a major tournament – the first since Kim Clijsters in 2009.

Hear from both finalists in their own words in the latest Daily Dispatch from the WTA Insider Podcast:

Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, TuneIn or on any podcast app of your choice to ensure you never miss an episode when they go live. Reviews are always helpful, so if you like what you’ve heard so far, leave us one. You can also get new episode alerts by following us on Twitter @WTA_Insider.

Follow @WTA_Insider

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Twitter Reaction: Kerber Claims US Open

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

After the world was done holding its breath throughout a tense final, the tweets came pouring in for US Open champion Angelique Kerber and finalist Karolina Pliskova.

Check out some of the best tweets, right here on wtatennis.com!

First up, here from the woman herself, who took time from her various post-win duties to post this celebratory message:

 Some of Germany’s biggest sports stars at home and abroad took to Twitter to celebrate Kerber’s achievement, including NBA star Dirk Nowitzki, F1 pilot Nico Rosberg and a whole host of World Cup winning soccer players.

Of course, the WTA’s stars and legends were also tuned in to the final, and they had plenty of words for both of the finalists after the match.

Here are the best messages from Kerber and Pliskova’s WTA peers:

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