Indian Wells: Karolina Pliskova Pre-Tournament Interview
Karolina Pliskova talks about her feelings and expectations before the BNP Paribas Open.
Karolina Pliskova talks about her feelings and expectations before the BNP Paribas Open.
Top seed Angelique Kerber dodged a spirited upset bid from Swedish wildcard Cornelia Lister, coming back from a set down to advance 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 at the Ericsson Open.
INDIAN WELLS, CA, USA – Former World No.38 Heather Watson got off to a good start on the first day of main draw play at the BNP Paribas Open, surviving a strong challenge from Nicole Gibbs, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2, to book an exciting second-round clash with countrywoman and No.11 seed Johanna Konta.
? on the backhand winner from @HeatherWatson92! #BNPPO17 pic.twitter.com/ZVm80ZFAaF
— WTA (@WTA) March 8, 2017
“The first set was very close; I think I just made a few more errors than I usually do,” she said during her on-court interview. “I tried to go for bigger targets to have bigger margin; I think that worked!”
Watson and Gibbs split their last two encounters, with the Brit recovering from a set down in their most recent meeting at last year’s French Open.
AMAZING pass from @HeatherWatson92! ? #BNPPO17 pic.twitter.com/VJXe1wXpp9
— WTA (@WTA) March 8, 2017
“I’m good friends with Nicole off the court,” added Watson. “She’s a great player, and her strengths lie in her grit and fight on the court. I knew she’d be fighting her hardest no matter what today, so I just had to make sure that I was playing well and fighting back.”
Unseeded in Indian Wells, the 24-year-old had yet to win a WTA main draw match in 2017. She nonetheless roared back from a set down against Gibbs, hitting 26 winners to 15 from her American opponent to advance in one hour and 49 minutes.
Up next for Watson is a familiar face and Fed Cup teammate in Konta; the pair won a decisive doubles rubber just three weeks ago to clinch a spot in World Group II Play-Offs for Great Britain.
.@HeatherWatson92 finishes a great rally in style! #BNPPO17 pic.twitter.com/klBqgXrUlq
— WTA (@WTA) March 8, 2017
“Jo’s another good friend of mine; we just played Fed Cup together,” said Watson. “She’s playing brilliantly; she’s really shot up in the last year and a half. I look forward to it, and look forward to the challenge.”
Konta hasn’t played a match since, withdrawing from the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships due to a left foot injury.
Over on Stadium 2, Monica Niculescu also came back from a set down to knock out fellow Romanian Sorana Cirstea, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1. Niculescu next plays No.15 seed Timea Bacsinszky.
Angelique Kerber’s hopes of bouncing back from her Wimbledon heartache with a title were scuppered when injury forced her to withdraw from the Ericsson Open.
Ahead of the first Premier Mandatory event of 2017, the top seeds at the BNP Paribas Open convened on All-Access Hour to meet the press and answer questions about World No.1 Serena Williams’ withdrawal, who Agnieszka Radwanska would vote for in wtatennis.com’s Shot Of The Month presented by Cambridge Global Payments poll, and more from the Indian Wells Tennis Garden…
.@Simona_Halep stumped when asked to share something that no one knows about her. Says able to practice pain free, will see in matches. pic.twitter.com/GoulCpfs9E
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) March 8, 2017
Simona Halep
On the impact of Serena’s withdrawal…
I heard she is struggling with the knees, so I understand. After she won the Australian Open she can take a long time off. She will come back at Roland Garros and she will probably win!
On how her personality helps and hurts her game…
I think I struggle with the confidence a little bit. And then on the other side I’m ambitious. And very competitive.
On her decision to play Romania’s next Fed Cup tie against Great Britain…
I think we play in my hometown. It will be great. I said I will play even if I have pain. I spoke with Ilie Nastase and told him I am coming. It will be nice. I can’t wait to be on court with him as a captain. It will be a nice experience and hopefully we can win.
“How's life going for you?” @ARadwanska: “Good. Getting old.” Table laughs. Celebrated her b-day at Cheesecake Factory. “10 year tradition”. pic.twitter.com/f2Cg1gpq4J
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) March 8, 2017
Agnieszka Radwanska
On her toughest competition in the hot shot department…
Kirsten Flipkens. I think she is very good at those shots. Sometimes I thougth she’s gonna win, but then my shots are still better from the fans but if I had to pick, sometimes I’d pick her shots.
On celebrating her birthday in Indian Wells at The Cheesecake Factory…
That’s the tradition. Since 10 years. It’s the 10th year in the Cheesecake Factory. Different cheesecake every time. Oreo is the best one.
.@KaPliskova says she usually declines photoshoots. “I just want to play good tennis. That's the goal. I don't need to be in every magazine” pic.twitter.com/YkOJizjsXQ
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) March 8, 2017
Karolina Pliskova
On avoiding a potential third round clash with her sister Kristyna thanks to Serena’s withdrawal…
I was kind of happy. We were supposed to meet in the third round, so she would have to win two tough matches and me one, so it was not sure that we were gonna play but it’s definitely better to be in the place that I am now.
On what would mean more to her, titles or wins over certain players…
Pliskova: Definitely both titles and some players, which we all know there are some players I don’t like to play. We all know that.
WTA Insider: You mean Aga?
Pliskova: Yeah that’s the one. So I just want to beat those players which I don’t feel comfortable on the court. And then still, it’s the titles. Doesn’t matter which titles, it’s still always a good title, a good week. It gives me a lot of confidence coming to the next tournament. I just want to try at every tournament. I think I have a good chance every week. Doesn’t matter which tournament, doesn’t matter which surface – obviously clay gonna be difficult – I just want to try. Out of four tournaments I made two finals. So I think I have a good chance every week.
On getting offers for photoshoots and magazine spreads back home…
I usually say no to everything. I just don’t need this stuff. I was not raised this way. I just want to play good tennis. For me, that’s the main goal. I don’t need to be in any magazine.
.@SvetlanaK27 holding court. #BNPPO17 pic.twitter.com/pRgJ5oqHep
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) March 8, 2017
Svetlana Kuznetsova
On whether tournaments are more open with the absence of Serena, Victoria Azarenka, Maria Sharapova, and Petra Kvitova…
For sure it’s a shame for the fans and it’s great to see all these great players playing. But I’m not sure if it’s that open because I believe tennis these past years the level raised a lot. All matches are so difficult. It doesn’t matter who is playing. It’s so difficult to win. Yes, it’s less great players. But still the players are getting better and better and I just look forward for all those players to get back and have those great fields again.
Dominika Cibulkova takes on Urszula Radwanska in the second round of the Bank of the West Classic.
INDIAN WELLS, CA, USA – Angelique Kerber is set to return to No.1 after the BNP Paribas Open, but her focus over the fortnight is finding her game.
Kerber’s return to the No.1 ranking comes after Serena Williams announced her withdrawal from both the BNP Paribas Open and Miami Open due to a left knee injury. The news meant Kerber, who ceded the top spot to Serena after the American won her Open Era record-breaking 23rd major title at the Australian Open in January, would move back up without swinging her racquet.
“I’ve been there already, but at the end, of course it feels good to reach the spot again,” Kerber told reporters at All Access Hour at the BNP Paribas Open, “but for me I came here to really focus not on becoming No.1 or the ranking.
“I was coming here to win matches. This is what I love and this is what I was practicing for the last weeks. This is more what I’m focusing on. I will try and really stay with my focus because this is my priority and I will try now not to think about getting No.1 again.”
Good to be back at one of my favorite tournaments ? #BNPPO17 #TeamAngie pic.twitter.com/OiYamDyUCK
— Angelique Kerber (@AngeliqueKerber) March 6, 2017
Reflecting on her 7-5 start to the season, Kerber believes her best is just around the corner.
“Of course it was so-so,” Kerber said, rating her start. “It could be better. But in the end I’m still feeling good. I’m positive. So I practiced good. I think it’s just one or two matches that I have to win again and then I’m in my rhythm.”
Kerber is coming off her best result of the year so far, a semifinal run at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships two weeks ago, where she lost to Elina Svitolina. The 29-year-old picked up a knee and back injury in Dubai and hopes those problems will not flare up again when she gets back to competitive play.
“After Dubai I went back home and had treatments and everything and I started practicing here again,” she said. “That’s why I came here earlier.
“The knee is fine. I don’t how it is during a match, it’s always different. But for the moment it’s fine.”
A two-time semifinalist in Indian Wells, the German will be looking to snap a four-match losing streak in the California desert, having lost in her opening round the last three years.
Kerber opens her tournament on Saturday against either Andrea Petkovic or Vania King.
MONTREAL, Canada – 2015 Rogers Cup runner-up Simona Halep arrived in Montreal, the site of compatriot Nadia Comaneci’s Olympic triumph, in time to ring in the 40th anniversary of her Perfect 10s at 1976 Summer Games.
A dynamic gymnast, Comaneci won three gold medals, registering six perfect scores – including the first ever recorded – along the way.
“When I was 14, I didn’t understand what was happening because I was too young,” she said, reflecting on the other-worldly achievement. “As time goes by, I treasure more and more what happened and I realize it was a big deal.”
Check out tweets from Comaneci and Halep, who have become friends as the young Romanian has risen up the ranks. After winning her second Premier Mandatory title at the Mutua Madrid Open, Halep was presented the trophy by Comanci during the winner’s ceremony.
Thank you @Simona_Halep and @darren_cahill for being with us in Montreal for the 40 th anniversary of the perfect10 pic.twitter.com/Uj7o4IYthD
— Nadia Comaneci (@nadiacomaneci10) July 22, 2016
Congratulations, @nadiacomaneci10 – 1976-2016! #nowords #respect #theperfect10 #montreal1976 #olympics pic.twitter.com/P6KuThG5Bk
— Simona Halep (@Simona_Halep) July 22, 2016
BASTAD, Sweden – Johanna Larsson moved one step closer to reclaiming her Ericsson Open title by knocking out No.4 seed Annika Beck in Friday’s quarterfinals.
Watch live action from Bastad, Stanford and Washington DC this week on WTA Live powered by TennisTV!
Appearing at this stage for the fifth time in the past six years, Larsson looked surprisingly ill at ease early on, at one point even dropping her racquet mid-rally as she slipped 3-1 behind. However, urged on by a supportive crowd, she did not trail for long, a run of four straight games turning the set on its head.
While the Swede was unable to serve out the set at 5-4, she hit back immediately, guiding a forehand winner down the line to earn three more break points. Beck surrendered with a backhand into the net and when the same wing let her down a few minutes later the set was over.
As the disappointment lingered, Larsson sensed her moment establishing an early second set lead and wrapping up a 7-5, 6-1 victory after an hour and 20 minutes.
Larssons break ball to 4-1 in 2d was as important as it was spectacular. #ericssonopen @WTA pic.twitter.com/6nacZQsuvz
— Swedish Open Tennis (@swedish_open) July 22, 2016
“I played very well today, I’m happy with my performance – I thought I was really solid out there, I took advantage of the crowd and was just really happy to be out there,” Larsson said. “I think I’m on a good path – today was a good match – and if I can just keep going and keep solid, and if I can keep going and take my chances I’ll have a very good chance in the semifinals.”
There she will face Katerina Siniakova after she upset No.2 seed Sara Errani, 7-6(2), 6-3. On the other side of the draw, Laura Siegemund and Julia Goerges succeeded where their compatriot Beck failed by advancing to the semifinals.
In the schedule’s opening match, Siegemund defeated Lara Arruabarrena, 7-5, 6-3, before Goerges followed up with a 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 win over Karin Knapp.
KEY INFORMATION:
Tournament Level: Premier 5
Prize Money: $2,413,250
Draw Size: 56 main draw (8 byes)/48 qualifying
Main Draw Ceremony: Friday, July 22, 5.30pm EDT
Qualifying Dates: Saturday, July 23 – Sunday, July 24
First Day of Main Draw: Monday, July 25
Singles Final: Sunday, July 31, 1pm EST
Doubles Final: Sunday, July 31, following singles final
MUST FOLLOW SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS:
@WTA
@WTA_Insider – WTA Insider, Senior Writer Courtney Nguyen
@CoupeRogers – official tournament handle
Get involved in conversations with the official hashtags, #CoupeRogers and #WTA.
TOURNAMENT NOTES:
· Defending champion Belinda Bencic is one of several high-profile absentee, missing out due to a nagging wrist injury.
· There have been 12 different champions in the past 13 Rogers Cups. There are three returning champions in the field this year – Petra Kvitova (2012), Agnieszka Radwanska (2014) and Serena Williams (2013, 2011, 2001).
· While Williams has lifted the title three times, on each occasion it has been in Toronto (where the tournament is staged during odd numbered years).
· For the rest of the major storylines following Friday’s draw, read the WTA Insider’s analysis.
WILDCARDS:
Françoise Abanda (CAN), Caroline Garcia (FRA), Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN)
WITHDRAWALS:
Victoria Azarenka (pregnancy), Irina-Camelia Begu, Belinda Bencic (left wrist), Jelena Jankovic (left leg), Lesia Tsurenko (left thigh), Caroline Wozniacki (left elbow)