Google Play App Download

Tennis News

From around the world

News | WTA Tennis English

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

ACAPULCO, Mexico – Australian Open semifinalist Mirjana Lucic-Baroni closed out quarterfinals night at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel, dispatching French veteran Pauline Parmentier, 6-2, 6-3, to advance into her second straight semifinal in what has been a stunning start to her season.

“I feel great,” the top seed said after the match. “I played a solid match and that was good enough to win. I’m very excited to be in the semifinals, for sure.”

Playing her first tournament since earning a pair of Top 5 wins over Agnieszka Radwanska and Karolina Pliskova en route to her first Grand Slam semifinal since 1999, the Croatian veteran was also enjoying her first WTA event as a No.1 seed – even trying her hand at traditional guacamole. 

Into the semifinals without dropping a set, she showed off her signaure firepower to knock out Parmentier in just over an hour behind 22 winners to just nine unforced errors. Nonetheless, Lucic-Baroni insisted she got a good test ahead of her next match against No.7 seed Lesia Tsurenko.

“It was very close; it was closer than the score. The points were tough. I think this court suited her. It took off with her spin and she made me work hard. I feel good right now and I’m glad I’m through.

“I’m just going to recover, do the same as every day and try to feel as good as possible for tomorrow. Then I’ll be back to give it another go!”

Hoping to reach her first final since last spring’s Internationax de Strasbourg – and win her first title since the 2014 Coupe Banque Nationale – Lucic-Baroni could also earn another career-high ranking should she reach the final on Friday.

Source link

Mladenovic Sets Up Serena Meeting

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

PARIS, France – No.26 seed Kristina Mladenovic has saved some of her best tennis for her home major tournament, and this year’s Roland Garros appears to be no different; the French No.1 eased past former doubles partner Timea Babos, 6-4, 6-3 to book a third round clash with 21-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams.

Mladenovic and Babos spent the last few years as one of the tour’s top doubles teams, reaching the 2014 Wimbledon final and qualifying for the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global, but the former began 2016 with countrywoman Caroline Garcia in preparation for the Rio Olympics, while the latter has paired with fellow big hitter Yaroslava Shvedova.

“It was extremely difficult to prepare this match,” she said in her post match press conference. “And she is a girl I know by heart. She’s one of my best friends. We have known each other since we were really kids.

“When you know your opponent by heart usually this is not good, because there’s pressure, there’s tension. You anticipate her shots, you try and change your game to surprise her.

“But it’s also the attitude, the general atmosphere. You don’t exactly know what to expect and what to do.”

Mladenovic and Garcia have come into the doubles event as favorites to end Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza’s bid at the Santina Slam, while Babos is in the midst of a career-best season, upsetting Venus Williams in the Internazionali BNL d’Italia after starting the clay court season with a run to the semifinals in Rabat.

The match appeared straightforward from the start for Mladenovic, who raced out to a quick 3-0 lead, but lost the next four games despite holding points for 4-1. That proved to be the final twist in Court Philippe Chatrier’s last match of the day, as the 23-year-old won the last three games on the bounce to clinch the opening set, and just one service break decided the second for her to win the match in 79 minutes.

“I tried to work a lot on statistics with my coach. This is what we did. We looked at her past seven or eight matches on clay in the recent weeks, or, for instance — well, we looked at her stats. That’s to help me in what I was going to do.

“But look at her stats, today she did totally the contrary of what you have in the data.

“This is the beauty of our sport. It’s also why this match was difficult. I was ready.”

In what could be a rivalry for the future, the two exchanged powerful groundstrokes from the back of the court, with Mladenovic hitting 22 winners to Babos’ 13, but it was the 22 erros from the big-serving Hungarian that proved disastrous; Mladenovic managed to reign in her error count to 18.

Serena Williams stands between the Frenchwoman and the second week of Roland Garros; the two have never met before, but the three-time champion will could well face stiff opposition from the inspired youngster and the enthusiatic French crowd.

“The first word I would use is ‘at last,’ because, well, what can I say? It’s going to be difficult. Maybe I wanted to have a better draw, but then also I think it’s very positive.

“I have to take it very positively. This is an experience, something to do, it’s a dream. I grew up watching Serena play. Then I’m going to play against her.

“So she is the best, I think, in my sport. She’s a legend. I’m extremely happy, because this is a challenge.

“She is dominating. She’s been dominating every single match in the recent years. And it’s going to be very complicated. And as we speak, frankly, I’m very happy so far. I enjoy what I have done. I know how difficult it was for me at the beginning of the tournament, so what I will do is – of course I will debrief my matches. I will enjoy these two wins, and then I will try and get ready as best I can for this match against Serena.”

Earlier in the day, Virginie Razzano wasn’t able to match Mladenovic and Alizé Cornet’s wins against No.29 seed Daria Kasatkina, falling, 3-6, 6-1, 6-3, but Pauline Parmentier backed up her run to the quarterfinals of the Internationaux de Strasbourg with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Irina Falconi. No.15 seed and Rome finalist Madison Keys continued her clay court renaissance, defeating Mariana Duque-Mariño, 6-3, 6-2 to book a third round encounter with either Julia Goerges or Monica Puig.

Karin Knapp followed up her upset win over No.5 seed Victoria Azarenka by beating Anastasija Sevastova, 6-3, 6-4, and will play Yulia Putintseva, who pulled off an upset of her own over No.28 seed and 2014 semifinalist Andrea Petkovic, 6-2, 6-2.

Dominika Cibulkova and Carla Suárez Navarro booked the most high-profile clash as the Mutua Madrid Open runner-up recovered from a second set hiccup to shut out Ana Konjuh, 6-4, 3-6, 6-0, while Suárez Navarro was emphatic in her 6-1, 6-3 victory over Wang Qiang. 

Source link

News | WTA Tennis English

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

ACAPULCO, Mexico – No.2 seed Kristina Mladenovic is through to her second final of the year at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel after withstanding a tough challenge from Christina McHale.

Just a month after clinching her maiden WTA title at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy, Mladenovic is set to battle for another title after her 7-5, 4-6, 6-2 victory over the American.

“It’s a very tough tournament, great players and every single round is difficult – everyone wants to win and stay as long as possible in this beautiful place Acapulco,” Mladenovic said after the match.

“I’ve been fighting through all matches, and conditions are very difficult here because it’s hot and humid, but I’m enjoying my time here in Acapulco and I’m excited to be in a final.”

The pair’s only previous meeting came right here in Acapulco back in 2014, where McHale emerged victorious in straight sets over the Frenchwoman and made a run to the final.

The story unfolded differently on Friday night as Mladenovic employed her high-risk, high-reward game. She broke early at 3-2 to establish a foothold, but struggled to serve out the set in the blustery Acapulco conditions.

McHale took advantage of a Mladenovic double fault and pounced on some vulnerable second serves to finally get the break back. But No.2 seed didn’t panic, wrenching a break right back and serving out the set to love.

McHale imposed her game more in the second set; she cut down on her unforced errors and started to dictate rallies with her forehand as Mladenovic’s net game, usually a strong part of her strategy, began to break down.

The American grabbed the break in the final game to take the set and send the match to a decider.

After trading breaks to start the final set, Mladenovic took command once again, backing up her strong serve with a booming forehand to keep McHale on the back foot during the Frenchwoman’s service games. She rattled off three games in a row to close out the match and book her spot into her first Acapulco final.

She’ll face No.7 seed Lesia Tsurenko for the title after Mirjana Lucic-Baroni was forced to retire in the first set citing gastrointestinal illness.

“I just have to focus on myself tomorrow,” Mladenovic said. “I’m going to just enjoy today’s win, recover and do work with my physio.

“That’s the most important part for me, because today I hung in there a lot. I gave a lot of energy in another long match with tough conditions, so my first goal is to try to recover and be 100% tomorrow. I’m sure it’ll be a great final.”

Source link

News | WTA Tennis English

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

Former Great Britain Fed Cup captain Judy Murray has praised Johanna Konta for being a great role model – and has called for more women to get involved in tennis.

In an interview with the UK’s Daily Telegraph to mark International Women’s Day, Murray said it was important to encourage women into all levels of sport.

“Everyone looks at the sports stars, like Johanna Konta or [now-retired heptathlete] Jessica Ennis, and they are great role models,” she said, “but even more important, for me, is to have women in key decision-making positions. They will think and act much more on behalf of women, because they know how we tick.”

 Murray is spearheading campaigns to get more girls playing tennis as well as calling for more women to take up coaching, which she says will increase female participation across all age groups.

“Our strongest pockets within the UK, in terms of numbers of girls coming through, tend to be in places where there is a strong female coach,” added Murray.

Source link