Google Play App Download

Tennis News

From around the world

News | WTA Tennis English

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

INDIAN WELLS, CA, USA – Sloane Stephens might be sidelined from the action at the BNP Paribas Open, but that doesn’t mean she’s been far away from the tennis courts.

While recovering from surgery on her left foot injury – which will leave her away from the tour until summer 2017 – Sloane has been taking to her new role as a reporter for Tennis Channel.

“I’ve been able to hang out, watch some tennis – not what I would usually be doing at a tennis tournament!” she said on a Tennis Channel broadcast. “For the first time I’ve been able to be normal, and I’ve really had fun!” 

From getting cooking lessons from celebrity chefs to player interviews to going undercover, Sloane has been making the most of her stint as a reporter. Check out some of her most memorable moments from the Indian Wells fortnight!

Working undercover a BNP Paribas Open info desk attendant:

Interviewing American wildcard Kayla Day, who reached the third round at Indian Wells:

Mingling with famed chef and restaurateur Nobu Matsuhisa:

Interviewing Vasek Pospisil after he scored a victory over ATP World No.1 Andy Murray:

“Everyone’s been like, ‘oh we loved it!'” Sloane said of the feedback she’s been receiving. “And you know how certain fans love certain players? When I did that thing on Dustin Brown, everyone was like ‘oh my god I love him, I love his hair!’

“So I’ve gotten really good feedback. But it’s mostly my family that’s been telling me it’s so cool.”

Source link

News | WTA Tennis English

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

INDIAN WELLS, CA, USA – Venus Williams had to come back from a set down to oust Chinese qualifier Peng Shuai and make her way into the quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas Open.

After battling back from match point down earlier in the week against Jelena Jankovic, Venus was able to pull off another turnaround against Peng, advancing 3-6, 6-1, 6-3.

“There were some up-and-downs and errors. It was so frustrating,” Venus admitted in her post-match press conference. “But I feel like I got my focus more in that second set and towards the end of the third, because — I don’t know. I’m just a competitor.

“So if things get closer, then I think my better tennis is going to come. But obviously I don’t want things to get close. I want to try to run away with it.”

It was one-way traffic for the Chinese player in the opening set, though, as Venus found herself down an early break almost as soon as she took to the court. Peng bossed the rallies with her tricky two-handed groundstrokes off both wings, and she quickly took the opening set with another solid break.

But it was a completely different story as the seven-time Grand Slam champion roared to life in the second. Venus found her rhythm to break Peng four times – the Chinese player avoided a shutout by grabbing one of the breaks back, but couldn’t stem the tide as the former World No.1 sent the match to a decider.

With the momentum – and the vocal southern California crowd – firmly behind her, Venus powered through the final set. She traded breaks early on, but got her second opening when a Peng double fault gifted her the chance to serve out the match.

Venus took her spot in the final eight with ease, moving into the Indian Wells quarterfinals after just under two hours.

She’ll play the winner of No.2 seed Angelique Kerber and Elena Vesnina for a spot in the semifinals.

Source link

Can Kerber Overtake Serena At US Open?

Can Kerber Overtake Serena At US Open?

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

The WTA World No.1 Ranking will be on the line at this year’s US Open. Can Serena Williams extend her stay atop the WTA Rankings and make history?

Only 21 players have occupied the No.1 ranking since the computer rankings were introduced in November 1975. Will we see a new player take hold of the No.1 spot for the first time in three years?

wtatennis.com breaks down the No.1 scenarios ahead of the US Open:

Serena Eyes Another Record: Williams enters the US Open as the WTA World No.1-ranked player, a distinction she has held since February 18, 2013. Through the two weeks at the US Open, Williams will extend her streak to 186 consecutive weeks, tying the WTA record for most consecutive weeks at No.1 held by Stefanie Graf (186 weeks, August 17, 1987 through March 10, 1991).

Williams currently holds a 190-point advantage over Kerber in the rankings. However, to break the record, Williams will need to at least reach the semifinals and possibly advance further. Williams is defending 780 points at the US Open as she advanced to the semifinals last year before Roberta Vinci stopped her run.

Serena Williams

As Kerber progresses, though, Williams will need to advance further:

–   If Kerber reaches the quarterfinals at the US Open, then Williams will need to reach the final to have a chance at keeping the No.1 ranking.
–   If Williams wins the US Open, she will secure the No.1 ranking, regardless of any other results.
–   A championship match showdown between Williams and Kerber, the Top 2 seeds, would see the winner walk away not only with the trophy, but the No.1 ranking.

Williams’ ranking points have come from seven tournaments in the last 52 weeks – 2015 US Open (780), Australian Open (1300), Indian Wells (650), Miami (120), Rome (900), Roland Garros (1300) and Wimbledon (2000).

What Will It Take For Kerber To Become World No.1?: Angelique Kerber is bidding to become the 22nd player to hold the WTA World No.1 Ranking since the computer rankings were introduced in November 1975. The German came within one win of unseating Williams at No.1 in Cincinnati, but fell short in the final against Karolina Pliskova.

Last year, Kerber lost to Victoria Azarenka in the third round at the US Open and as a result is only defending 130 points in Flushing Meadows.

Kerber will have a 460-point advantage from the start of the tournament. An early exit would not necessarily prevent her from moving to No.1.

Angelique Kerber

Kerber consistently has reached the final four at the tour’s biggest events with six finals appearances this year, winning the title at Australian Open and Stuttgart, finishing as runner-up at Brisbane, Wimbledon and Cincinnati. (She also reached the final at the Olympic Games, although that does not count towards ranking points). As a result, Kerber’s ranking has been on a steady incline after finishing 2015 at No.10.

Muguruza Also Has A Chance: One of three Grand Slam champions this year, Muguruza will need to reach the final at the US Open to have a chance of overtaking the No.1 ranking. Should she win her second Grand Slam title of the year, the Spaniard would take claim to the No.1 spot unless Kerber also reaches the final.

First Grand Slam Title Could Vault Radwanska To The Top: To have a chance at moving to No.1, Agnieszka Radwanska would need to win the US Open, although if she is able to win the title in New Haven this week, a run to the finals could potentially be enough.

WTA World No.1 Ranking Scenarios 

Source link

News | WTA Tennis English

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

INDIAN WELLS, CA, USA – No.28 seed Kristina Mladenovic roared back from a set and a break down to defeat 2011 BNP Paribas Open champion Caroline Wozniacki, 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-2, to not only reach her first Premier Mandatory semifinal, but also gaurantee a Top 20 debut on next week’s WTA rankings.

“It’s been a lot of matches and, to be honest, it’s like the longest kind of string of winning matches I had so far in my career,” Mladenovic said in her post-match press conference.

“It feels great, but in the same time, every day I go out there on the court or in the gym practicing, it’s for moment like that. So I’m not getting too excited. I’m just super satisfied that I am on that kind of stages right now and trying to use my chances and the my opportunities I have.”

Mladenovic had never beaten Wozniacki in three previous encounters, but their most recent meeting last fall undoubtedly gave the surging Frenchwoman hope of pulling off the upset.

“Caroline is a top player, former World No. 1. She’s also in very great shape; she had a very good start of the season, as well, and won lots of matches.

“That final in Hong Kong at the end of last year was very painful for me, very frustrating. I thought I was playing well that entire week and, in the final, I was just kind of exhausted and injured.

“Today I thought, ‘Okay, today I’m feeling good.’ When I woke up, nothing was hurting. I’m not injured. I was happy about that. I wanted to give a fight there and have no regrets.”

The start of the match saw Mladenovic with plenty of opportunities, but after six games, the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy champion was down 1-5 and 0/7 on break point opportunities.

“I wanted to take my revenge, of course. It was not easy. Again, it was a tough battle and tough conditions. We played, yeah, two hours and a half. I didn’t start the match well at all.

“I thought, when you lost three times against a player, it means that something is wrong and that you don’t really like her game.”

Edging closer in the first set, she recovered from an early break in the second to move ahead 5-3 before ultimately leveling the match in a tie-break.

“I felt like I needed adjustments. It’s the first time for me playing on that huge stadium. I just stayed very positive and composed, because I was out there battling with myself first, because I wanted kind of too much.

“I was just fighting mentally to be close with her at the scoreboard, and eventually I got my chances. And I think I played really well the tie-break.”

Mladenovic is in the midst of a career-best stretch of form, winning her first WTA title and reaching another final at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel, and only got better as the final set wore on, breaking twice to serve out the win in two hours and 33 minutes.

“I went for my game. I went for some variation. I think I played differently at some points, trying to use more the court to make her run, as well, because she was doing that pretty well to me.

“Something new I put today was the serve and volley on such important points. I impressed myself with that! Every time I would serve good on the backhand, she would go very deep and return well. I was, like, ‘Okay, let’s just be creative here.’

“It paid off, and it gave me a chance to fight a third set. I think the third set was the best of today from me.”

Maintaining impressive stats, she struck 42 winners to 39 unforced errors, and won five of six break points in the final two sets.

“I felt pretty much in control there for a while, but sometimes it is what it is,” Wozniacki said in press. “Maybe lost a little bit of concentration, let her back, and then she started playing better. It happens.

“I was trying to be very focused out there and just do my thing. I fought until the end, but it just wasn’t enough today. You can always learn and I can do better.

“But, at the end of the day, I tried my hardest and that’s all I can do.”

Up next for the French No.1 will be No.14 seed Elena Vesnina, who held off an impressive fight from former World No.1 Venus Williams to win in three sets.

“I’m going to enjoy this win and try to recover, because two and half hours on court takes a lot out of me. I’m excited and no matter who I play, I’m sure it’ll be a tough one, hopefully an exciting one with great tennis.

“I’m very happy, and hopefully I can continue.”

Source link