Singapore: Kuznetsova Interview
An interview with Svetlana Kuznetsova after her round-robin win at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.
An interview with Svetlana Kuznetsova after her round-robin win at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.
Ana Ivanovic is enjoying a new chapter of her life after tennis thanks to husband Bastian Schweinsteiger’s move from Premier League club Manchester United to Chicago Fire of the MLS.
The German international soccer star spoke to the media this week about the challenge of relocating to the United States after he and Ana made the decision to swap the north of England for the Windy City.
Following their arrival in Chicago, first stop for the glamorous couple was a Chicago Bulls NBA game.
Welcome, the newest member of the @ChicagoFire, @BSchweinsteiger and @AnaIvanovic to Chicago and tonight's #Bulls game! pic.twitter.com/ptLkuxSkkt
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) March 31, 2017
Speaking after her retirement from tennis at the end of last year, Ivanovic emphasised that she was excited about the next chapter of her life and, within months, she has switched continents.
On our way to Chicago!! ✈️ pic.twitter.com/YniVqIEEj9
— Ana Ivanovic (@AnaIvanovic) March 28, 2017
And it seems as if the couple have already become a lucky charm for their local basketball team as the Bulls beat Cleveland Cavaliers 99-93 in a closely fought encounter.
Happy couple enjoyed last night @chicagobulls match pic.twitter.com/pGp3SA3Rcx
— Ana Ivanovic ?? (@IvanovicLive) March 31, 2017
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CHARLESTON, SC, USA – 2010 Volvo Car Open champion Samantha Stosur eased past 2007 champion Jelena Jankovic, 6-1, 6-3, to advance into the third round in Charleston.
“I’ve had eight hours of practice on clay courts, so all in all, I’m pleased with how I started the match and got through it in straight sets,” she said after the match. “That’s not easy to do against Jelena; we’ve had some really long matches in the past, so I was glad to get through.”
Crafty shot from @BamBamSam30! #VolvoCarOpen pic.twitter.com/Oz10dPwqh6
— WTA (@WTA) April 5, 2017
Stosur is coming off a solid run to the round of 16 at the Miami Open, and was facing a tough test in Jankovic, who led their head-to-head 7-2 and won their most recent encounter at the 2013 French Open.
“Right from the first practice, I felt comfortable. I obviously had a great clay court season last year,” she added, referring to her run to the final four last spring in Roland Garros. “So I’m really trying to pick up from there, and keep the good tennis from Miami going.”
Still, it’s been a tough Sunshine Swing for the Serb, who won just one of her last five matches heading into Charleston – though she emerged victorious against Ekaterina Alexandrova on Monday – and appeared on the brink of a swift defeat as the Aussie took the opening set.
Outstanding volley by @Jelena_Jankovic! ? #VolvoCarOpen pic.twitter.com/uYoIKXhhqF
— WTA (@WTA) April 5, 2017
Jankovic settled and played more consistent tennis in the second, but Stosur proved too strong, taking the contest on one hour and 13 minutes.
“A lot of it comes down to the serve; if I can hit my spots and be accurate, it’ll be hard for my opponent.
“If I’m getting 65% or more in, that’s pretty good. On a clay court, it can be a little more because I’ll be hitting a few more kick serves, but the worst part of my year last year was my winning percentage on first serves. That’s really been a focus, and tonight that was really good.”
Up next for the former World No.4 is eiher No.10 seed Irina-Camelia Begu or Kristina Kucova.
.@BamBamSam30 is first through to @VolvoCarOpen Round of 16!
Tops Jankovic 6-1, 6-3! pic.twitter.com/X9NNwHN03V
— WTA (@WTA) April 5, 2017
Madison Brengle had to borrow a racquet to take the WTA Frame Challenge, and even she was surprised at how well she did. Was it enough to take the lead? Find out here…
PRAGUE, Czech Republic – Top seed Svetlana Kuznetsova was made to work hard for her place in the quarterfinals of the J&T Banka Prague Open, eventually subduing a dogged Madison Brengle in three sets.
Watch live action from Prague & Rabat this week on WTA Live powered by TennisTV!
On another bitterly cold afternoon in the Czech capital, Kuznetsova took some time to warm to the challenge, running out a 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 winner after just over two hours on court.
“Yesterday was really hard and today as well,” Kuznetsova said. “It looks like it’s warmer, but it’s not – thankfully it wasn’t snowing! Today I put the heat cream on, and almost all the clothes I have with me.”
The conditions affected the Russian’s game as well much as her wardrobe choices, and it was not until the latter stages that she began to resemble the player that impressed so much en route to the Miami final earlier this month.
“It’s difficult, especially on the clay, because I like when the ball bounces high, and here it doesn’t bounce at all,” she added. “It was a little bit ugly, but sometimes you need to win ugly matches, especially for me.
“In the first set I didn’t really play my game. I was struggling to move and when I don’t move my game is a little bit off.”
Earlier in the day, Lucie Safarova continued her progress when Lucie Hradecka retired from their all-Czech clash with a neck injury. Safarova, who led 6-4, 2-0 at the time of the retirement, is now through to the last eight of a WTA event for the first time since last August, and there she will face Hsieh Su-Wei.
“Obviously it’s not the best feeling after the match to win like that, but I think I played really well in the first set, served really well – there was a key moment at 5-4 when I was down 40-0 and aced her three times,” Safarova said. “Overall I’m happy with my game and ready for the next one.”
Also advancing with minimum fuss was No.3 seed Karolina Pliskova, who defeated Katerina Siniakova, 6-2, 6-4. Next up will be another hard-hitter, Camila Giorgi, after she overcame a late wobble to defeat qualifier Virginie Razzano, 6-1, 7-5.
Check out the Road to Singapore standings after Monterrey and Charleston.
BOGOTA, Colombia – Unseeded Sara Sorribes Tormo continued her march through the draw at the Claro Open Colsanitas on Wednesday, upsetting No.2 seed Katerina Siniakova in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3 to advance to the quarterfinals.
The 20-year-old scored her fourth victory of the season against an opponent ranked above her to advance to the last eight – the second WTA quarterfinal of her career.
“It feels really good to be in quarterfinals,” Sorribes Tormo told press afterwards. “I haven’t had the best start to the year, I’ve been training well but couldn’t get the results on the court.
“But thankfully in this past month it’s turned around. I’m proud of the results and of the tennis I’ve been able to produce to get here.”
.@Sara_Sorribes moves into @CopaWTABogota Quarterfinals!
Hurries past Siniakova 6-2, 6-3! pic.twitter.com/G1Lq63ccSc
— WTA (@WTA) 12 de abril de 2017
From a break down, the Spaniard reeled off six straight games to take the opener, before claiming four of the last five games with two breaks of serve to close out the one hour, 34-minute victory.
“I think I’ve played a great match from start to finish,” she said. “I started off strongly, despite the starting from a break down.
“I think those last few games in the first set were the key, because I fought very hard and found myself getting better and better. It gave me confidence to play my game and finish well.”
Joining Sorribes Tormo in the quarterfinals is Italian veteran Sara Errani, who took down Sachia Vickery in straight sets to advance 6-2, 6-3.
“I think it’s a great match and I played at a great level,” she told press. “It wasn’t easy to play against her, and against a player like her you have to create your pace because the ball flies a lot. But I’m happy to be still in the tournament for sure.”
.@SaraErrani tops Vickery 6-2, 6-3!
Plays Johanna Larsson next in @CopaWTABogota Quarterfinals! pic.twitter.com/ja7NS6LH5s
— WTA (@WTA) 12 de abril de 2017
Errani is into her first quarterfinal of the year after halting a disappointing run of first and second round losses. She’s been battling injuries – including a right adductor injury which saw her have to miss Dubai, where she was the defending champion – and as a result has slid down the rankings to outside the WTA Top 100.
“I’ve had two good matches back to back here, this is good for me. Even with the conditions here and the altitude, I’m happy to be through in both matches two sets. I’m ready to play the next match tomorrow.”
Also through on a rainy Day 3 in Bogota, No.3 seed Johanna Larsson stayed on track against Veronica Cepede Royg, edging past the Paraguayan 6-4, 6-4. No.5 Magda Linette also came away with the win in a tight encounter, taking down Elitsa Kostova 6-4, 6-4. Aleksandra Krunic is also through after tamping down a late comeback from last year’s finalist Sílvia Soler Espinosa 6-0, 7-5.