Miami: Azarenka Interview
An interview with Victoria Azarenka after her win in the semifinals of the Miami Open.
An interview with Victoria Azarenka after her win in the semifinals of the Miami Open.
Agnieszka Rdawanska has Sunday’s shot of the day at the China Open.
Elena Vesnina has Friday’s shot of the day at the Huajin Securities WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai.
On this episode of Behind The Tour, see how the WTA communications team keeps players’ press conferences, media commitments, and ACES activities all in order.
Wildcard Zhang Shuai became the first to advance into the Huajin Securities WTA Elite Trophy semifinal with a straight-set win over Timea Babos in the Camellia Group.
TIANJIN, China – Svetlana Kuznetsova kept up her pursuit of a place at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global by beating Donna Vekic, 7-5, 6-4, in the second round of the Tianjin Open.
The Russian currently sits at No.11 in the Road to Singapore and has an outside chance of qualifying the tournament for the sixth time in her career, and the first time since 2009.
The match began in frenetic fashion, with Vekic, who had won the pair’s only previous encounter, breaking Kuznetsova to love in the second game, only to surrender her advantage immediately.
Kuznetsova went on a four-game winning streak and though she was later broken when serving for the set, she recovered her advantage to take a decisive lead.
Vekic failed to hold her serve in the opening game of the second set, and though she got back on level terms, she was broken once more in the penultimate game of the match, with the 31-year-old serving out the match to secure a hard-fought win.
“I’m really happy to win the match, I think that Donna played very well,” Kuznetsova said after her victory.
“It was a very good match and I’m happy with the result. I was broken in the second game of the first set but, as I said, Donna played very well, she went for her shots and it took me time to figure out the tactics to play against her. It was a really competitive match.”
Kuznetsova, seeded second in Tianjin, will meet Naomi Osaka, who overcame Lucie Hradecka, 6-2, 7-6, in the next round.
WTA Elite Trophy ambassador Steffi Graf hosted a charity clinic at the Huajin Securites WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai.
TIANJIN, China – Agnieszka Radwanska stunned Tianjin when she withdrew from the tournament with a right thigh injury – shortly after showing just why she was the top seed.
The defending champion had taken Evgeniya Rodina apart, 6-1, 6-1, to progress to the quarterfinals, where she was to face Peng Shuai.
The Chinese wildcard had earlier beaten qualifier Chang Kai-Chen of Taipei 6-3, 6-2.
Radwanska is also the defending champion at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global. “It’s the end of the season – I guess everyone is struggling with something,” she said afterwards.
She added that the injury had worsened over time and that she had decided to withdraw in order to give herself the best chance of recovering in time for Singapore.
“I’m very sorry I had to withdraw…I just hope I can see my fans [here] next year — it was a pleasure to come here again,” she said.
Olympic gold medalist Monica Puig had a straightforward time of it, beating Lara Arruabarrena of Spain, 6-4, 6-2.
Alison Riske also progressed in straight sets – but Poland’s Magda Linette did her utmost to take it to a decider, eventually losing out on a tie-break, 6-3, 7-6(2).
ZHUHAI, China – Tennis legend Stefanie Graf, the ambassador for the second edition of the Huajin Securities WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai, paid a visit to the one of the city’s most impressive landmarks to promote the tournament and the host city, aiming at further connecting Zhuhai with the world.
Click here for a photo gallery of all of Steffi’s activities in Zhuhai!
In her first pubic activity ever in mainland China, Graf visited the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, a Y-shaped bridge which connects Hong Kong, Macao and mainland China, and, when completed, will be the longest sea-crossing bridge in the world.
The former No.1 was joined by Caroline Garcia, one of the 12 single players at the WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai, to play tennis at a mini court temporarily established on the landmark bridge.
Check out the best photos from the event right here, courtesy of the WTA Elite Trophy!
LINZ, Austria – Madison Keys made short work of Océane Dodin to sprint through to the semifinals of the Generali Ladies Linz.
She beat Dodin, 6-3, 6-3, in just under an hour – and will now face Garbiñe Muguruza.
“I’m not feeling great, but I’m happy I got the win today,” admitted Keys. “[Dodin] is a tough player, she can hit some really, really good shots.”
Earlier, Carla Suárez Navarro fought through against Denisa Allertova, winning 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.
In a match that lasted just under two hours, the Spaniard had moments when she looked a little nervy – and that led to her losing the second set as her opponent hit back. But she regrouped to take the decider to secure herself a match with Dominika Cibulkova.
“I think I played really good at the end of the match,” reflected Suárez Navarro afterwards. “I like the court – I like everything of the tournament.”