Tennis News

DUBAI, UAE – Chan Hao-Ching and Yaroslava Shvedova shocked top seeds Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic to make it through to the semifinals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

The fifth-seeded pair won through in a thrilling decider to take the match 7-5, 3-6, 10-3.

“We lost in a super tiebreaker and still I think we had lots of opportunities,” said Mladenovic afterwards. “We had a big lead in the first set and I think we should have closed it out and won probably, but it’s tennis, and the girls are playing well as well and in the third set anything can happen.”

Mladenovic was not too disappointed, however, adding that she and Garcia were both working on their singles game while competing in doubles.

“It’s not easy, it’s just our second tournament of the year,” she said. “I still think we had a good run in Melbourne – lost in the semis – here we had a tough tournament. It’s our goal this year, we are going to be more focused on our singles and we are trying new things, like we are switching sides every set and like really working on our singles game.”

The 23-year-old remains hopeful that she and her partner will impress over the course of the year.

“It’s just the beginning of the season,” she pointed out. “We are looking forward, the season is very long and Indian Wells, Miami coming up soon so everything is positive.”

Second seeds Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina progressed in a topsy-turvy clash with Canada’s Gabriela Dabrowski and Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko, winning 6-1, 3-6, 10-5.

Andrea Hlavackova and Peng Shuai had a straightforward quarterfinal against Chan Yung-Jan and Martina Hingis, winning in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2.

ROME, Italy – Svetlana Kuznetsova won a see-saw encounter against Daria Gavrilova on Thursday to return to the quarterfinals of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia.

Watch highlights, interviews and more video from Rome right here on wtatennis.com!

A two-time finalist at the Foro Italico, Kuznetsova kept alive her hopes of finally lifting the trophy with a 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 victory.

The result sets up a rematch with Serena Williams, whom Kuznetsova upset en route to the final in Miami. Williams came through a sterner than expected test against Christina McHale, eventually running out a 7-6(7), 6-1 winner.

Kuznetsova’s only previous encounter with Gavrilova came over three years ago, ending in a comfortable straight sets victory. Since then, much has changed – both on and off the court – for Gavrilova.

Now based out of Australia, and occupying a place inside the Top 50, Gavrilova is a threat to the game’s big names, something she illustrated by knocking out No.6 seed Simona Halep – her sixth win over a member of the Top 10 – in the previous round.

And after a rocky start against Kuznetsova on Pietrangeli, Gavrilova displayed her newfound maturity to steady the ship and force a decider. Playing the more purposeful tennis, the youngster had Kuznetsova slipping and sliding all over the place in the first game of the third set. Somehow, though, the former French Open champion managed to hang onto her serve, taking some of the wind out of the youngster’s sails in the process.

A game later Kuznetsova had the break, profiting from a heavy net cord. While she was unable to hold onto this advantage for long, she profited from a couple of tight forehands from Gavrilova to break decisively in the eighth game.

“I was a bit tense because I didn’t know what to expect, basically,” Kuznetsova said. “I was trying to figure out how I should play. I saw a couple games against Halep yesterday, but that was a weird match – not something to get ideas for today’s game.

“I played her before she went to Australia. I played her once in Dubai. She played totally different game. I know she’s a fighter and she brings lots of balls back, she changes the pace. Yeah, it was difficult match. But for her, it was different. I’m kind of the favorite, kind of, you know. She had no pressure almost. I just wanted to play my game basically and that’s it and try to dictate.”

DUBAI, UAE – Sixth seeds Andrea Hlavackova and Peng Shuai will move to the top of the Road to Singapore leaderboard on Monday after their brilliant run to the final of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

They beat Chan Hao-Ching and Yaroslava Shvedova 6-1, 6-3, to set up a final clash with Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina.

“It was closer than it looked,” admitted Hlavackova afterwards. “The second set got trickier…I’m very happy to go through.”

The Russian pair were first to book their place, beating third seeds Sania Mirza and Barbora Strycova, 6-4, 6-3.

“It was really important to win this game, and I’m just so happy that we’re in the final now in Dubai,” said Vesnina afterwards.

More to follow.