Tennis News

DUBAI, UAE – No.7 seed Elina Svitolina took home her second title of 2017 – and the biggest one of her career – at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships after defeating 2011 champion Caroline Wozniacki in straight sets.

Playing in her first Premier 5 final, Svitolina showed no sign of nerves as she outhit the former World No.1 to claim the victory 6-4, 6-2 after an hour and 10 minutes.

“It’s very special for me [to win such a big tournament],” Svitolina said in her on-court interview. “I’ve played very amazing tennis this week and I’m happy it happened in Dubai.

“It’s the first trophy for me at such a big tournament, so it’s very special for me.”

“I dreamed for all my life to be in the Top 10” -@ElinaSvitolina pic.twitter.com/T4CooJ6Nw3

— WTA (@WTA) February 25, 2017

With the title, Svitolina will rise from WTA No.13 to No.10, making her the 120^th player to make her Top 10 debut since the WTA Rankings were introduced on November 3, 1975.

“I’ve dreamed for all my life to be in Top 10. It’s a very amazing feeling to enter Top 10, and do it by winning the tournament! I’m very excited for the season and very excited I could win this tournament.”

The 22-year-old Ukrainian entered the matchup against Wozniacki with a 1-0 lead in the pair’s head-to-head record, with their only meeting coming last year in Miami where Svitolina came within two points of defeat before winning 5-7, 6-4, 7-6(1).

This time in Dubai, it was a more comprehensive affair, with Svitolina injecting pace into her groundstrokes to break down Wozniacki’s rock-solid defense.

.@ElinaSvitolina captures @DDFTennis Title!

Defeats Wozniacki 6-4, 6-2! pic.twitter.com/TA3LibF8zn

— WTA (@WTA) February 25, 2017

A pair of inch-perfect passing shots left Wozniacki wrong-footed and gave Svitolina the lone break in the first set at 3-2. But the Dane refused to fade away, batting away a pair of Svitolina set points at 5-4 with some bold tennis – including a second-serve ace – to force the Ukrainian to serve it out.

Wozniacki let three break points slip by that would have leveled the score, and instead Svitolina held serve from 0-40 down to take the opening set.

Svitolina continued her momentum into the final set; after trading breaks to start, Svitolina played more aggressive to chip away at Wozniacki’s defense as the Dane’s unforced error count continued to build. Svitolina rattled off the last five games in a row to close out the match and biggest title of her career.

“It’s been a good two weeks, @DDFTennis is a special tournament for me.” -@CaroWozniacki pic.twitter.com/xVVyG0fmXK

— WTA (@WTA) February 25, 2017

Despite the disappointing loss, Wozniacki is taking away positive signs from her Middle East fortnight, which saw her reach back-to-back finals.

“It’s been a good two weeks for me – two finals, lots of matches,” Wozniacki said in her on-court interview. “Making another final here [in Dubai] is definitely great, and I’m already excited to be back.”

Another piece of good news for Wozniacki? The Dane is inching closer to her return to the WTA Top 10: with her run to the final she’ll move to No.14, and is defending just 145 points until the US Open.

The three-time Internazionali BNL D’Italia champion Maria Sharapova has received a wildcard entry into the main draw of the tournament in Rome this year.

The 29-year-old will attempt to reclaim the title she last won in 2015 as she continues her return to the WTA circuit. The tournament, which takes place from May 15-21, will be her third this year after she picked up wildcards for Stuttgart and Madrid this spring.

We officially announce the Wild Card for the 3 times Rome's Champion @MariaSharapova into the main draw of #ibi17! #tennis #WTA #Sharapova pic.twitter.com/bxrPrjI6fJ

— Internazionali Bnl (@InteBNLdItalia) March 1, 2017

Sharapova beat Spain’s Carla Suárez Navarro, 4-6, 7-5, 6-1, in the final on her last appearance two years ago, to win her most recent WTA title.

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. 

Top seed at a WTA event for the first time in her career, Mirjana Lucic-Baroni is playing some great tennis @AbiertoTelcel pic.twitter.com/Lo1QEgo64i

— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) March 3, 2017

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.

Two straight semifinals for Lucic-Baroni; No.7 seed Tsurenko next @AbiertoTelcel pic.twitter.com/G8T6MqWMC9

— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) March 3, 2017

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.”

She's everywhere! ?

Incredible play from @KiKiMladenovic! #AMT2017 pic.twitter.com/1WqNWPuaDA

— WTA (@WTA) March 3, 2017

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.

.@KiKiMladenovic makes @AbiertoTelcel Final!

Edges McHale 7-5, 4-6, 6-2! #AMT2017 pic.twitter.com/v70Pt7SDcE

— WTA (@WTA) March 4, 2017

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.”