Birmingham: Kvitova vs Safarova
Petra Kvitova takes on Lucie Safarova at the Aegon International Birmingham.
Petra Kvitova takes on Lucie Safarova at the Aegon International Birmingham.
Highlights from the first round action at the Aegon Classic Birmingham.
Last week, in honor of the Euro 2016 and Copa America kicking off, we asked tennis fans a big question: if WTA players were a national team, who would be in your starting lineup? After one week of voting, the results have been tallied up and we’re ready to unveil the Fan Voted WTA XI.
But first, let’s remind you who we chose for our official WTA starting lineup:
The WTA plays in a classic 4-4-2 formation, which means that along with a goalkeeper, we’re fielding four defenders, four midfielders, and two strikers.
Of course, fans had other ideas for which players would make the best team, so we put it to a vote.
After tallying up the numbers, here’s who made the cut in the Fan Voted WTA XI:
Here’s how it breaks down:
FORWARDS
We chose to play two of the most powerful attack-minded players in the game as our strikers, but it looks like fans wouldn’t take the field without starting the player with one of the best winning percentages in 2016: Victoria Azarenka.
We chose:
· Serena Williams
· Garbiñe Muguruza
The fans voted:
· Garbiñe Muguruza
· Victoria Azarenka
Though Azarenka also garnered a lot of votes as a potential defender, the overwhelming majority of fans voted her as a striker – and we can’t say we disagree.
MIDFIELDERS
Our midfield is packed with skillful and creative players, but fans were torn as to which playmakers they wanted in their Fan Voted WTA XI. In the end, here’s how the voting played out:
We chose:
· Agnieszka Radwanska
· Simona Halep
· Timea Bacsinszky
· Belinda Bencic
The fans voted:
· Simona Halep
· Agnieszka Radwanska
· Kristina Mladenovic
· Svetlana Kuznetsova
Fans voted for a mix of youth and experience by adding Mladenovic and Kuznetsova to the star duo of Radwanska and Halep. Though Halep was also voted as a potential defender, more fans thought she’d be a better fit in the midfield.
DEFENDERS
Our defenders are a rock-solid bunch of the most consistent, defense-minded returners and counter punchers in the game – here’s who made the cut in the Fan Voted WTA XI.
We chose:
· Angelique Kerber
· Victoria Azarenka
· Sara Errani
· Caroline Wozniacki
The fans voted:
· Angelique Kerber
· Dominika Cibulkova
· Sara Errani
· Elina Svitolina
Both back lines seem pretty impenetrable – which one do you think would stand up to the test?
GOALKEEPERS
In our WTA XI, we trusted our goal in the hands of Petra “Cech” Kvitova, but fans had a different player in mind for this position.
We chose:
· Petra Kvitova
The fans voted:
· Andrea Petkovic
Although she also grabbed a lot of votes as a defender, the vast majority of fans thought Petkovic would do a better job in goal. Do you agree with this substitution?
There’s your fan-voted WTA Starting 11! Do you agree with the fan vote or the WTA starting lineup? Which team do you think has a better shot at title-winning glory? Tweet us your thoughts – right here @WTA!
BIRMINGHAM, Great Britain – When Serena Williams was asked about young Madison Keys’ prospects in 2015, the World No.1 did not hesitate.
“I think she can go really, really far; I think that she can be the best in the world. The way she played today, I definitely think she has the potential to be No.1 and win Grand Slams.”
Now, almost a year and a half later, Keys is one step closer to fulfilling Serena’s prediction: by virtue of her win over Carla Suárez Navarro to reach the final of the Aegon Classic Birmingham, Madison Keys will move into the WTA Top 10 on Monday.
Keys’ milestone comes as no surprise for fans who’ve followed her career: she currently sits at No.16 and has been threatening a breakthrough all year long. She’s fresh off of a career-best clay court season that saw her reach her first final on the red clay of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia and make the second week of the French Open, and earlier this year, she made the quarterfinals at the Miami Open. Keys has four Top 20 wins so far this year, too.
Now, Keys adds her name to an elite group of American women who have made their mark on WTA history.
Americans To Debut In WTA Top 10 (Last 25 Years):
Lindsay Davenport (1994)
Chanda Rubin (1996)
Venus Williams (1998)
Serena Williams (1999)
Madison Keys (2016)
There have been 118 different players who have achieved a Top 10 ranking since the WTA Rankings were introduced on November 3, 1975, and 27 of those have been Americans. Keys is the first American to make her Top 10 debut since Serena did so 17 years ago on April 5, 1999.
But that’s not all – with Serena and Venus Williams already there, this will be the first time since September 2005 that there are three Americans in the WTA Top 10. Back then, Davenport was ranked No.2 with Venus and Serena at No.7 and No.9, respectively.
MALLORCA, Spain – Caroline Garcia capped a near-perfect transition from clay courts to grass with her second title of 2016, easing past Anastasija Sevastova, 6-3, 6-4, to win the inaugural Mallorca Open.
Watch live action from Birmingham and Mallorca this week on WTA Live powered by TennisTV!
“I’m glad to win any tournament; it doesn’t matter what surface!” a giggling Garcia told press after the match.
“When I arrived here, it was my first tournament on grass this year, so I wasn’t expecting to go this far or win the trophy. It’s a great achievement after a long and diffcult week, so I’m happy to be the winner.”
The Frenchwoman had always proven quite adept on clay, following up her title run at the Internationaux de Strasbourg with a maiden Grand Slam crown in women’s doubles with countrywoman Kristina Mladenovic. But success on grass had hitherto proven far more elusive, with the youngster pointing to a lack of comfort on the often slippery surface.
“For now, this is my best season; when you win your first title, you never know if you’ll win another. It was a dream to win my first, and now I have three, plus the French Open in doubles. The work I’m doing with my team is definitely paying off.”
That all changed this week in sunny Mallorca, where the No.6 moved effortlessly about the court to defeat a pair of former Wimbledon semifinalists in Ana Ivanovic and Kirsten Flipkens to capture her first grass court title on Sunday. Across the net was Sevastova, who was once ranked No.36 in the world before injuries and illnesses forced her to briefly retire. Back on court since early 2015, the Latvian has rocketed back up the rankings, returning to the Top 100 earlier this year.
But it wasn’t enough to overcome Garcia, who won 74% of ponts behind her first serve and broke serve four times in the 85-minute final.
“After so many emotions, it’s hard to remember the match. I remember match point because it was very long! There were a lot of rallies and it was a very intense match; I had to return very well because she used the serve to start aggressively. It was probably the best I played all week, trying to be aggressive and taking the opportunities when they came, so I’m happy with the way I played today.”
With her second title of the season under her belt, the French star moves back into the Top 32, helping her to become the new French No.1 and earn a seed at the upcoming Wimbledon Championships.
“It’s good, but I don’t play tennis to be No.1 in my country. It’s a good achievement but I want to go higher and higher. It’s work from every day and every week, and I’m happier that I’ve won a title to help bring up my ranking. My goal is to be better and better each week, so it gives me a lot of motivation to continue with the hard work.
“It’s always very difficult as you’re starting at a Grand Slam, and it gives me a lot of confidence to head to Wimbledon with a title. I’d never played on grass with a lot of pleasure, but I think this week it changed a lot. Grass is a very difficult surface for everyone, but now that I’ve won one, maybe I’m a favorite [at Wimbledon], but a far-away favorite! I’ll try my best to play as I played here, and I’ll need to be at 100%, and very efficient.”
Ekaterina Makarova had Monday’s shot of the day at the Aegon International.
Highlights from first and second round action at the Aegon International.
Monica Puig takes on Kristina Mladenovic in the quarterfinals of the Aegon International.
Dominika Cibulkova takes on Monica Puig in the semifinals of the Aegon International.
We all love colorful prints and vibrant colors in tennis outfits, but isn’t it nice to get back to basics from time to time? Let’s hand it over to Marija Zivlak of Women’s Tennis Blog and see the pure whites that tennis apparel companies prepared for Wimbledon 2016.
Serena Williams will try to defend her title in the NikeCourt Premier Dress, whose mock neck is a new aesthetic in the world number one’s tennis fashion. The skirt design is the continuation of Williams’ looks from the previous 2016 Grand Slams, while two tiers of pleats in the back add a special flash of style.
Eugenie Bouchard and other NikeCourt team athletes will wear the NikeCourt Premier Slam Dress, which means that skirt-top combinations are taking a back seat. Stunning power pleats that stretch all the way from the chest of this simple swing silhouette make this a truly unique piece that has daringly departed quite a bit from a classic tennis dress. When it comes to the much-talked-about length of the dress, Bouchard says that it’s perfect.
adidas’ Climachill collection is equipped with a trio of advanced technologies that provide an instant chilling sensation and lower the body temperature, an ideal choice for high temperatures.
Industry-first 3D aluminium-cooling spheres on the back and neck, the warmest parts of the body, have an immediate cooling effect on contact, mesh-like micro fibres take moisture away from the skin, and SubZero flat yarns containing titanium maximize surface contact with the skin, thus transferring the heat away from the body.
Stella McCartney’s adidas line stands out with the abundance of laser-cut holes that serve both as fashionable elements and as functional features that improve breathability. The collection’s supreme performance is supported by Climacool and Climalite heat regulation.
Caroline Wozniacki has the adidas Fall Stella Barricade Primeknit Dress ready for her Wimbledon campaign. Besides the stylish abundance of holes in the skirt, the dress is specific for its scoop neck and back and engineered mesh fabric in targeted breathability zones. Last year’s runner-up Garbiñe Muguruza is expected to wear one of the top-skirt ensembles from the London collection. One possible combination includes the adidas Stella McCartney Core Tank, which features a large mesh section at upper back, and the adidas Fall Stella McCartney Skirt, that includes exposed elastic waistband.
Venus Williams’ EleVen Game Day Dress is a classy cap-sleeve item with very subtle details: a boomerang-shaped contrast binding at waistband and light silver company logo at center chest.
Agnieszka Radwanska’s clean white Lotto look consists of the Nixia Dress made from lightweight fabrics that even the most demanding players feel comfortable in. The clean and elegant style combines technical and breathable materials with a large mesh back panel for added heat control and touch of femininity. The Stratosphere W shoes are designed to take your footwork to new heights, owing to their advanced cushioning and responsiveness, as well as maximum transpiration.
New Balance’s WTA players, led by Heather Watson, will wear the white version of the popular Spring Tournament Dress, which captivates with its sleek strappy racerback and subtle functional details such as the “N” houndstooth burnout mesh back panel. The 996v2 tennis shoes are made for players that want a stable shoe which rises up to the challenge during sharp lateral movements.
For the second Grand Slam in a row Fila’s Jelena Jankovic will exhibit Marion Bartoli’s tennis designs. The all-white Trophee collection contains six pieces of clothing created by the 2013 Wimbledon champion: a dress, a tank, two skort styles, a blazer, and pants. Details such as mesh inserts and a feminine flounce adorn the collection.
Other representatives of Fila will wear the Lawn collection which boasts a selection of tops, dresses and two different lengths of skorts. These Wimbledon whites are focused on waist-accentuating cut lines stylized with details such as curved seam lines, princess seams, and pintuck accents. The promo image shows Yaroslava Shvedova in the Fila Lawn Full Coverage Tank, which brings all the attention to the waist by a strategic use of pintuck detail at sides and peplum-inspired curved hem.
Lacoste’s designs are never too far from tradition and their Wimbledon collection is along those lines as well, although in these promotional photos of Elena Vesnina, Dominika Cibulkova and Christina McHale we can see that quite a bit of color is included in the clothes prepared for the grass-court Grand Slam, as each item has a pop of blue and fluo yellow colorblocking.
As we can see, even within Wimbledon’s strict clothing rules, there are limitless possibilities for unique and breathtaking designs.