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Sadikovic Steadies For Serena Challenge

Sadikovic Steadies For Serena Challenge

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

WIMBLEDON, Great Britain – At 27 years old, Amra Sadikovic is finally on the main stage. Currently ranked No.148, the Macedonian-born Swiss qualified for her first main draw at a Slam at Wimbledon, and on Tuesday she’ll get a chance to walk on Centre Court against an all-time legend in Serena Williams.

So how did Sadikovic react to seeing her name next to Serena’s in the draw?

“I was happy because to me it’s a dream coming true,” Sadikovic told WTA Insider. “You don’t get these chances every year to play one of the best players ever, and then on Centre Court, and in Wimbledon. What else? To me I’m going to go out there and fight and enjoy every single moment.

“There were a lot of players that told me, bad luck, tough draw. It is a tough draw, definitely. But I don’t look at this negative at all. It’s only positive. I can only win. I don’t feel pressure.”

Sadikovic was nowhere near the All England Club in 2014. In fact, she was nowhere near her professional tennis career. The 27-year-old walked away from her pro career at 25 and was coaching at a tennis club in Basel, Switzerland, when she happened to catch a bit of Wimbledon on the TV during a break between lessons.

Amra Sadikovic

On the screen was Eugenie Bouchard, a player Sadikovic had played and beaten before. Bouchard had played her way into the semifinals and eventually the final. It was a wake-up call for Sadikovic.

“I had lessons and I had a break. I saw she was on TV and I was like, ‘What? Really? I remember beating her.’

“I worked with kids, adults, good juniors [at the club]. It was so much fun. It’s something that I really want to do later on again again. But after a while I started missing competition. When you turn on the TV and you see the players playing the Grand Slams and you’ve beaten them, that hurts.”

Seeing women she competed against gain success on tour, Sadikovic began to consider a comeback. She missed the competition and her normal, daily routine began to grow tiresome.

“After 14 months, the last question I asked myself was are you able to get back – because I didn’t practice – body-wise, physical-wise. Then it was Timi (Timea Bacsinszky). She gave me the last kick. She’s done unbelievable. Respect for that.”

Sadikovic made her return at an ITF 20K in Essen, Germany last year in June. She qualified and made the quarterfinals, losing to compatriot Viktorija Golubic. Flash forward a year and she defeated Golubic in straight sets last week en route to qualifying for Wimbledon.

“I really gave up on pro tennis when I was 25,” Sadikovic said. Prior to retiring she reached a career-high ranking of No. 179 in 2012, winning eight ITF titles. “In the end it was because I was on court and I didn’t enjoy it anymore. I really asked myself what am I doing here? I don’t want to be here.

“It was also connected with money. It was not easy to afford all these things. I had the Swiss Federation supporting me but in the end it was not enough. My parents could not afford all this. The last 3-4 months I didn’t enjoy it on court anymore. Once I made the decision I felt relief. I don’t regret it. Thank god it was the best decision I ever made.”

Amra Sadikovic

Sadikovic says she’s returned to her “second career” with an entirely new mindset, one that is informed with the perspective she gained after walking away. She suffered from a crisis of confidence in her first career, never fully convinced she was good enough be a Top 100 player. But with the support of her family, that’s all changed.

“I have really the best family that I can have. They supported me at every step. Even my sister and her husband they said if you need money we help you out, just go and do your thing. Because I didn’t reach my potential. And I knew that.

“People told me you have the game, you can be Top 100 easily, but it was me. I didn’t believe. I was not 100% convinced I could make it. Now it’s a completely different story.”

Reflecting on her journey sees Tuesday’s match against Serena as a reward for her faith in herself and brave decision to return to the tour.

“I had problems handling pressure,” Sadikovic said, referring to her younger self. “I was afraid, scared — what happens if I lose? — instead of just enjoying playing because it’s such a privilege.

“Now I’m relaxed really because I know how it is when I worked at a coach. It’s a normal life and you have daily routines. But you get tired of it. It made me realize how nice the life of a tennis player really is. Before it was like I had to play. Now I have to be thankful that I can play against Serena, on Centre Court. So I don’t feel much pressure anymore.”

Amra Sadikovic

Quick hits with Amra Sadikovic:

WTA Insider: How do you feel about playing on grass?
Sadikovic: “For me it’s special playing on grass courts. Maybe the surface fits my game because I’m playing a man’s style game. I like to play slice. To me it’s elegant playing on grass. Everything is clean and just nice. It’s hard to explain.”

WTA Insider: For people who have never seen you play before, what should they expect from you on Tuesday against Serena?
Sadikovic: “Definitely say they are going to see variety. I hope my serve is going to work because that is also a weapon. I’m going to go out there and try to play my game and not focus on who is over there. That’s going to be the most important thing to me and then I’ll try to make her work as hard as I can.”

WTA Insider: You were born in Macedonia. How did your family come to live in Switzerland?
Sadikovic: “I was born in Macedonia but I’m not connected to this country. My parents moved during the war to Switzerland but my relatives are in Bosnia. So I’m more connected to Bosnia than Macedonia.”

WTA Insider: How did you pick up tennis?
Sadikovic: “My dad, he used to play basketball. Nobody in my family played tennis. I was watching TV all the time and I just wanted to try it. There was a match between Sampras and Agassi at the US Open and I just wanted to try that. This is how it started, when I was 9.

There was a club close to our house. When I came up with this idea that I wanted to play tennis my parents were happy because they were working a lot. We went to the club, we asked for a practice. I started right away three times a week. A week later I was playing club matches and I won the tournament. It was so cool.

WTA Insider: Did you play any other sports as a kid?
Sadikovic: “I played a lot of soccer with my cousins and basketball with my dad. It was nice but I didn’t want to depend on anyone. If I win, I did this. Nobody else. That’s why I decided to play tennis.”

WTA Insider: You’ve qualified for your first main draw at a Slam. What’s your next goal?
Sadikovic: To crack Top 100 by the end of the year.

All photos courtesy of Getty Images.

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News | WTA Tennis English

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

ACAPULCO, Mexico – 27-year-old Lesia Tsurenko captured her third WTA title at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel after a commanding victory over Kristina Mladenovic, 6-1, 7-5.

“I’m really happy to start the season like this: I had the semifinal in Hobart International and now this title here in Acapulco,” Tsurenko said after the match.

“It’s three of three now, it’s a 100% result for me and this makes me very happy,” she added, referencing her perfect success rate in WTA finals. “I’m very happy with this result, and to win the title here it’s just amazing.”

The No.2 seeded Mladenovic, who was seeking her second title in five weeks, found herself outhit from the start on Saturday night. The Ukrainian’s strong play from the baseline didn’t allow Mladenovic to find her rhythm; she was broken twice by Tsurenko and found herself down 4-0 after just 15 minutes, and was only able to hit 3 winners in the opening set.

But it was far from smooth sailing after that, with eight consecutive breaks of serve starting out the second set.

It was Mladenovic who gritted out the crucial hold first and established a late foothold at 4-5, but Tsurenko stayed mentally strong to earn her own first hold of the set straight after. She broke once more and took the match with a strong service game for her first Acapulco title.

“It was a very difficult match, I felt very comfortable in the first set but in the second I felt quite nervous,” Tsurenko explained, decked out in the traditional Acapulco winner’s blue sombrero.

“She played better, and I think I was realizing that I could get the title and that was making me nervous. She really pushed me to play my best tennis because she was attacking a lot. I was just focusing on myself and doing everything that I can. I’m really happy to win.”

“I just want to congratulate Lesia,” Mladenovic said, delighting the Acapulco crowd by giving her runner-up speech in Spanish. “You’ve played great today and all week, and especially with these tough conditions. Congrats on the title and on the rest of the season.

“Acapulco is a very special place for me because three years ago was the first time I played the tournament, and I won the title in doubles.

“This year is just the second time I’ve played here and I’ve reached the singles final!”

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Kerber Prevails In All-German Encounter

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

LONDON, England – No.4 seed Angelique Kerber booked her place in the last 16 of Wimbledon with a straight set victory over Carina WItthoeft on Saturday.

While her title rivals labored, Kerber has quietly gone about her business in the opening week, continuing her unfettered progress with a 7-6(11), 6-1 win over fellow German Witthoeft.

An evenly contested first set looked to be going Kerber’s way when she broke in the 11th game. However, Witthoeft hit straight back, capitalizing on a series on uncharacteristic errors from the No.4 seed. This fighting spirit was evident in the tie-break, too, a series of winners helping her fend off four set points before a relieved Kerber converted at the fifth time of asking.

The second set was a more stop-start affair, Kerber taking a couple of rain delays in her stride to secure a fourth-round meeting with Misaki Doi.

Kerber is through to the second week at the All England Club for just the third time in her career, and despite finding herself in a wide-open section of the draw will not be looking beyond Doi. At this January’s Australian Open, the German came from match point down to defeat Doi en route to the title.

“I am expecting a really close match. She is a lefty, as well. We never played on grass before. I think this is also a little bit different than to Australia,” Kerber said about her rematch with Doi. “But I know that she is a tough opponent. I was match point down in Australia.

“But I will try not to think about who I’m playing. I will go out there trying to play my game like always, and let’s see.”

There were also hard-fought wins for Sloane Stephens and Timea Bacsinszky in a couple of the rain-affected second-round matches. Resuming midway through the final set, No.18 seed Stephens held her nerve to see off Mandy Minella, 3-6, 7-6(6), 8-6.

Meanwhile, Bacsinszky, the No.11 seed, came out all guns blazing against Monica Niculescu, reeling off six straight games to close out a 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 victory.

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Wimbledon Monday: Manic Match-Up

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

It’s one of the most glorious days of the tennis season: Wimbledon’s manic Monday. All eight fourth-round battles will take place at SW19 and we’re previewing them right here at WTATennis.com, courtesy of contributor Chris Oddo.

Monday

Round of 16

[1] Serena Williams (USA #1) vs. [13] Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS #14)
Head-to-head: Williams leads, 9-3
Key Stat: Williams earned her 300th Grand Slam win on Sunday, which is second-most in WTA history.

After a tough second round scuffle with Christina McHale, six-time Wimbledon champion Serena Williams pushed past Germany’s Annika Beck on Sunday in 51 minutes to set up a heavily anticipated round of 16 battle with Svetlana Kuznetsova. Pleased with Sunday’s form, Williams says the McHale challenge has set her up nicely for the challenges ahead. “I think the McHale match really helped me,” she said. “To be honest, I felt like losing that first set so tight and her playing better than she’s ever played in her life really helped me to realize that I can play better and I can lift my game.” And of her Day 7 walk in the park past Beck? “It gives me a lot of confidence,” she told reporters on Sunday. “I know what it takes to win these tournaments. It’s just about now just doing it.” Kuznetsova’s confidence is also buoyed by her upset of Williams this spring in Miami. “It’s a great thing to play Serena in Wimbledon,” she said of facing the world No.1 on Monday. “I’m really happy about it. She will be the favorite, but I enjoy playing those kind of matches. I will just try to do my best.” Will her best be good enough to shock Centre Court on Day 8, or will Williams move a step closer to an elusive 22nd Grand Slam title on Monday?

Pick: S. Williams in three

[27] CoCo Vandeweghe (USA #30) vs. [21] Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS #23)
Head-to-head: Vandeweghe leads, 1-0
Key Stat: Pavlyuchenkova has won three matches consecutively on grass for the first time in her career.

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova looked stunning in her straight-sets takedown of Timea Bacsinszky on Sunday; CoCo Vandeweghe was in fine form during her straight-sets victory over Roberta Vinci on Sunday. Which one of these two powerhouses can keep it rolling on Manic Monday? Vandeweghe has had more success on the grass in general. The American has now won 11 of 12 on the surface this summer and has taken all six sets she has played at Wimbledon. A quarterfinalist last year, Vandeweghe will be the favorite heading into this tilt, but if Pavlyuchenkova’s current form holds we could be in for a high-octane scuffle. “It’s going to be a totally different animal,” Vandeweghe said of facing the hard-hitting Russian just 24 hours after facing slice-and-dicey Roberta Vinci. “She beat a tough player in Bacsinszky. We’ll see what happens when I wake up Monday morning.”

Pick: Vandeweghe in three

[3] Agnieszka Radwanska (POL #3) vs. [19] Dominika Cibulkova (SVK #18)
Head-to-head: Radwanska leads, 7-5
Key Stat: Cibulkova has won eight matches in a row.

The 13th meeting between Agnieszka Radwanska and Dominika Cibulkova should be a cracker. The pair have played three times in 2016 and all three tilts have gone the distance with Cibulkova winning two including their last meeting at the Aegon Classic just a few weeks ago. That victory has springboarded the Slovakian to some of her greatest success on grass – she took the Birmingham title and has reached the second week at Wimbledon for the first time since 2011. Can Cibulkova keep it going against a former Wimbledon runner-up who has her eyes on another deep run here in London? Or will the crafty Radwanska be the one to finally cool Cibulkova off?

Pick: Radwanska in three

Ekaterina Makarova (RUS #35) vs. Elena Vesnina (RUS #50)
Head-to-head: Makarova leads, 6-1
Key Stat: In her 42nd major, Elena Vesnina will bid to reach the quarterfinals for the first time.

Doubles partners and compatriots will battle to end each other’s singles runs on Day 8, as Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina meet for the eighth time. The matchup has favored Makarova, who has had the more distinguished singles career, but both players have shown good form at SW19. Makarova took out two-time champion Petra Kvitova on Day 6 and bounced right back on Sunday to defeat Barbora Strycova. Vesnina, meanwhile, has yet to lose a set at Wimbledon and has won six of seven on grass this season.

Pick: Makarova in two

[5] Simona Halep (ROU #5) vs. [9] Madison Keys (USA #9)
Head-to-head: Tied, 1-1
Key Stat: At 21 years of age, Keys is the youngest player remaining in the draw.

Skipping the grass tune-ups may have been the best thing for Simona Halep. Not only did she give herself time to get her Achilles injury ready, she also had ample time to gain comfort at Wimbledon, both with the surroundings and with the surface. She says she wanted to keep playing after pulling out of Birmingham with an injury, but her coach urged her to come to Wimbledon and start preparing for the Championships. “I wanted to play Eastbourne but Darren [Cahill] told me I have to come here to practice,” she told reporters on Saturday. “It’s better to get used to this club. It was a good idea. I came here very early, and I practiced every day, hard practices.” Will that practice pay off when she meets rising American Madison Keys on Monday? Keys proved to be a Wimbledon warrior in week one, twice coming through in three sets to reach the second week for the second consecutive year.

Pick: Halep in three

[4] Angelique Kerber (GER #4) vs. Misaki Doi (JAP #49)
Head-to-head: Kerber leads, 4-0
Key Stat: Doi is the first player from Japan to reach the fourth round at a major since Wimbledon 2006 (Sugiyama).

Misaki Doi is a name that holds a special place in Angelique Kerber’s heart. Kerber had “one leg on the plane” in Melbourne before rallying in the second-set tiebreaker to finish off Doi in three sets at this year’s Australian Open. So much changed for Kerber after that fateful first-round match. She won her first major title two weeks later and has reached as high as No.2 in the rankings. After flaming out of Roland Garros in the first round, Kerber is looking to continue to build on that Melbourne success by pushing further at Wimbledon. Doi, meanwhile has already reached further than she’s ever been before at the Championships. She took out Anna-Lena Friedsam in the third round to reach the second week of a major for the first time. Can the 25-year-old avenge her four career losses to Kerber with one career-defining win on Monday?

Pick: Kerber in three

[8] Venus Williams (USA #8) vs. [12] Carla Suárez Navarro (ESP #12)
Head-to-head: Tied, 3-3
Key Stat: Venus Williams is the oldest player to reach the round of 16 at a major since 1994 Wimbledon (Navratilova).

Back in the second week at Wimbledon for the 14th time, 36-year-old Venus Williams will attempt to take the next step of what could be a run for the ages. But standing in her way is an energized Carla Suárez Navarro, a player not known for grass prowess but nonetheless improving on the surface with each passing year. Williams and Suárez Navarro’s seventh meeting promises to be a battle—they’ve split the previous six. Does Williams have enough in the tank to forge ahead despite having to play three sets in each of her last two matches? One thing’s for certain: she’s up for the challenge. “Of course, I want to win,” Williams said. “There are 128 people in this draw who theoretically are here to win. But you have to do the right things at the right time. That’s what I’m trying to do. I’m trying to push myself to be right there.”

Pick: V. Williams in three

[28] Lucie Safarova (CZE #29) vs. Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ #96)
Head-to-head: Shvedova leads, 3-0
Key Stat: Safarova is back in the second week of a major for the first time in a year.

Lucie Safarova is finally reclaiming the form that saw her reach her first Grand Slam final and claim a spot in the Top 10 for the first time in 2015, after a long period of illness and injury. Is she ready to take the next stop and reach the last eight at Wimbledon for the second time in the last three years? She’ll have to get past Yaroslava Shvedova to get there. The Kazakh owns an unblemished lifetime record against Safarova, and will be high on confidence after an upset of Sabine Lisicki on Day 6.

Pick: Safarova in three

By the Numbers:

4 – Number of Russian players in the round of 16 at Wimbledon, most at Wimbledon since 2009. There are also four Americans remaining. Eight other countries have a single representative.

11-1 – Coco Vandeweghe’s record on grass this season.

33 – Number of three-set matches played in the first three rounds at Wimbledon out of a possible 112.

123 – Fastest serve of the tournament, produced by Serena Williams during her Day 7 win over Annika Beck.

7 – Players to have reached the round of 16 without the loss of a set (Cibulkova, Doi, Halep, Kerber, Pavlyuchenkova, Vesnina, Vandeweghe).

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Cibulkova Defeats Radwanska In Epic

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

LONDON, England – Dominika Cibulkova upset No.3 seed Agnieszka Radwanska in a rollercoaster encounter on No.3 Court to reach the Wimbledon quarterfinals.

In a match that had more momentum shifts than there were rain delays in the opening week, it was Cibulkova that eventually hauled herself across the finishing line, firing a forehand into the corner to close out a 6-3, 5-7, 9-7 victory in exactly three hours.

“My winners were the difference. Today was, I would say, the most physically tough, it was the toughest match for me I would say my whole career,” Cibulkova said. “I felt really, really tired when the match was going on.

“But I was just fighting for every single ball. And especially when you have an opponent that doesn’t give you any free gifts, you just know that you have to earn every single point. It takes so much energy. It’s even tougher mentally. Today was just amazing, amazing match.”

This was the latest installment in an increasingly dramatic rivalry; in Indian Wells this spring Radwanska came from match point down to triumph, before Cibulkova gained revenge following tight battles in Madrid, then Eastbourne.

However, for the first hour or so it looked like Cibulkova was on course for an unexpectedly straightforward triumph. Bullying the No.3 seed from the baseline, she eased through the opening set and then broke for a 5-4 lead in the second.

Just as she had a few rounds earlier against Ana Konjuh, Radwanska’s best tennis came with her back firmly against the wall, fending off a match point before expertly making her way into the net to break back. A few games later and they were locked at one-set all.

Radwanska continued this charge at the start of the decider, threatening on Cibulkova’s service games while whistling through her own. Cibulkova, though, was the first to break, doing so to love in the seventh game with a drop shot that would have made her opponent proud. 

Eager not to be outdone, the Pole showcased her own artistry at the net to draw level immediately. The drama, though, was only just beginning.

After weathering a series of torrid service games, Radwanska got an unexpected glimpse of the finishing line at 6-5 when Cibulkova wilted at the end of yet another energy-sapping exchange. Cibulkova responded superbly, summoning another blistering forehand to wipe out the match point.

A few games later the Slovak was on the brink once more, and this time Radwanska had no answer, watching a 56th winner sail past to end her Wimbledon dream for another year.

Cibulkova, meanwhile, advances to the quarterfinals for the second time in her career, There she will face Elena Vesnina, the winner of an equally absorbing encounter with Ekaterina Makarova, 5-7, 6-1, 9-7.

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Wimbledon: Road To The Final Four

Wimbledon: Road To The Final Four

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970
The Championships at Wimbledon kicked off with Serena Williams chasing history and several others gunning for the No.1 spot.

The Championships at Wimbledon kicked off with Serena Williams chasing history and several others gunning for the No.1 spot.

The biggest upset of the tournament came early on in the second round as Jana Cepelova sent French Open champion Garbiñe Muguruza crashing out.

The biggest upset of the tournament came early on in the second round as Jana Cepelova sent French Open champion Garbiñe Muguruza crashing out.

Venus Williams turned heads for more than just her strawberry-red hair: the five-time champion was in vintage form throughout the fortnight.

Venus Williams turned heads for more than just her strawberry-red hair: the five-time champion was in vintage form throughout the fortnight.

These rain tarps become a regular sight during the first week of the Championships as English summer rain derailed the schedule time and time again.

These rain tarps become a regular sight during the first week of the Championships as English summer rain derailed the schedule time and time again.

18-year-old Ana Konjuh’s grit won over many hearts during her second-round battle against Agnieszka Radwanska: she held match points over the No.3 seed before an ankle injury halted her progress.

18-year-old Ana Konjuh’s grit won over many hearts during her second-round battle against Agnieszka Radwanska: she held match points over the No.3 seed before an ankle injury halted her progress.

Serena Williams also faced an early scare against Christina McHale, who took her to three sets, but pulled off a spectacular comeback to advance.

Serena Williams also faced an early scare against Christina McHale, who took her to three sets, but pulled off a spectacular comeback to advance.

All the bad weather from week one lead Wimbledon organizers to make the nearly-unprecedented decision to allow play on Middle Sunday.

All the bad weather from week one lead Wimbledon organizers to make the nearly-unprecedented decision to allow play on Middle Sunday.

But the show must go on, and play continued under the roof of Centre Court as 12 seeds advanced to the fourth round.

But the show must go on, and play continued under the roof of Centre Court as 12 seeds advanced to the fourth round.

Russia was well represented in the round of 16 with four players advancing, including Ekaterina Makarova.

Russia was well represented in the round of 16 with four players advancing, including Ekaterina Makarova.

The United States also had four players in the fourth round: Sloane Stephens missed out on becoming the fifth by a hair after a roller-coaster battle against Russia’s Svetlana Kuznetsova.

The United States also had four players in the fourth round: Sloane Stephens missed out on becoming the fifth by a hair after a roller-coaster battle against Russia’s Svetlana Kuznetsova.

Through all of the ups and downs, a familiar sight: Serena Williams, back in to the semifinals of Wimbledon for the tenth time.

Through all of the ups and downs, a familiar sight: Serena Williams, back in to the semifinals of Wimbledon for the tenth time.

In fact, this marks the eleventh time that both Serena and Venus have reached the semifinal stage at the same Slam. The last time it happened was here at Wimbledon in 2009.

In fact, this marks the eleventh time that both Serena and Venus have reached the semifinal stage at the same Slam. The last time it happened was here at Wimbledon in 2009.

Dominika Cibulkova almost had to postpone her wedding – scheduled on the same day as the Ladies’ Singles final – when she advanced to the quarterfinals.

Dominika Cibulkova almost had to postpone her wedding – scheduled on the same day as the Ladies’ Singles final – when she advanced to the quarterfinals.

But Elena Vesnina did her part to keep the Cibulkova nuptials on schedule, knocking out the Slovak to advance to her first ever Grand Slam semifinals.

But Elena Vesnina did her part to keep the Cibulkova nuptials on schedule, knocking out the Slovak to advance to her first ever Grand Slam semifinals.

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova was another surprise quarterfinalist, but didn’t have enough in the tank against the World No.1.

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova was another surprise quarterfinalist, but didn’t have enough in the tank against the World No.1.

Angelique Kerber is back into a Grand Slam semifinal in emphatic fashion: she hasn’t dropped a set all tournament long.

Angelique Kerber is back into a Grand Slam semifinal in emphatic fashion: she hasn’t dropped a set all tournament long.

She beat out the No.5 seed Simona Halep for her spot in the final four.

She beat out the No.5 seed Simona Halep for her spot in the final four.

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News | WTA Tennis English

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

INDIAN WELLS, CA, USA – Kristina Mladenovic is happy to have found a new doubles partner in the highly experienced Russian grand slam champion, Svetlana Kuznetsova.

It was something of a shock when Mladenovic announced that she and Caroline Garcia were putting an end to their doubles ambitions for the foreseeable future.

Mladenovic and Kuznetsova got their partnership off to the best of starts at the BNP Paribas Open, defeating Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Kveta Peschke 6-4, 6-1. They next face Andrea Hlavackova and Peng Shuai in the second round.

The French pairing of Mladenovic and Garcia enjoyed no shortage of doubles success, winning the French Open in 2016 as well as being runners-up at the US Open later in the same year.

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