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News | WTA Tennis English

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

MIAMI, FL, USA – Ashleigh Barty picked up her first singles victory at the Miami Open in style, downing Eugenie Bouchard in three sets to set up a second-round clash with her countrywoman Samantha Stosur.

“It was a little bit scratchy today, but I’m happy to come through in the end and get a chance to play a second round here,” Barty told the crowd after the match.

“I love Miami and it’s the first time I’ve ever played singles here. So it’s certainly nice to play on a beautiful center court like this.”

The young Australian needed just over two hours to complete the 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 victory over Bouchard and extend the Canadian’s Miami losing streak to five matches in a row.

Barty employed the aggressive, solid tennis that led her to capture her maiden WTA title at the Alya WTA Malaysian Open three weeks ago, pouncing on a shaky Bouchard service game to break the Canadian six times during the encounter.

After narrowly dropping the opening set, Bouchard reigned in the unforced errors to rally back in the second. But the strong Barty second serve bailed the Aussie out of trouble time and again, keeping Bouchard out of the rallies. Bouchard posted 26 winners to 55 unforced errors against Barty’s 21 and 40.

“I think I was able to be very aggressive on the returns and use my forehand,” Barty explained. “I made a few errors as well but I knew I needed to be aggressive to give myself a chance, and I think I did that today.”

Awaiting in the second round will be No.14 seed Samantha Stosur, a fellow Aussie and one whose game Barty knows quite well.

“It’ll be nice to take on Sam, we’ve practice together a lot in the past even though we’ve never played against each other. I think I’ll have to be very aggressive off the return and try to take the serve away from her.

“I think it’ll be a little bit of a ‘battle of the forehands’ from us, but we’ll see how we go.”

Also in action on Day 2, a number of qualifiers recorded strong performances to make their way into the second round. Qualifiers Risa Ozaki (def. Louisa Chirico 3-6, 7-5, 6-1), Patricia Maria Tig (def. Heather Watson 7-6(4), 6-1), Taylor Townsend (def. Amanda Anisimova 2-6, 6-2, 6-3), Anett Kontaveit (def. Kurumi Nara 6-2, 6-1), Aliaksandra Sasnovich (def. Alizé Cornet 6-4, 1-6, 6-4), Varvara Lepchenko (6-3, 6-3), Veronica Cepede Royg (def. 6-2, 6-4), Jana Cepelova (def. Andrea Petkovic 6-2, 6-4) and Madison Brengle (def. Jelena Ostapenko 6-3, 3-6, 6-2) all advanced.

Also through to the second round is wildcard Bethanie Mattek-Sands, who recorded her first win of 2017 to advance past Katerina Siniakova 6-3, 4-6, 6-4. Qiang Wang came back from a first-set shutout to knock out qualifier Donna Vekic 0-6, 6-4, 6-2. Lucie Safarova defeated Yanina Wickmayer 7-6(2), 6-4, while France’s Pauline Parmentier knocked out her countrywoman Oceane Dodin 6-2, 6-1 and Shelby Rogers edged past qualifier Marina Erakovic 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(4). Wildcard Ajla Tomljanovic survived a rollercoaster against lucky loser Magda Linette to advance 6-2, 1-6, 6-2.

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The Australian Open Draw Is Out

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

The Australian Open draw is out – where’s your favorite? And who’s got the toughest quarter – Serena Williams, Simona Halep, Garbiñe Muguruza or Agnieszka Radwanska?

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News | WTA Tennis English

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

Top-seeded Angelique Kerber and third-seeded Simona Halep hope to hit the ground running at the Miami Open on Friday. We preview the must-see matchups.

Friday

Second round

[1] Angelique Kerber (GER #1) vs. Duan Ying-Ying (CHN #66)
Head-to-head: First meeting
Key Stat: Duan owns a 0-6 lifetime record against the Top 10.

Another week, another chance for Angelique Kerber to return to the form that saw her rocket to the top of the rankings in 2016. The German has struggled mightily in 2016, dropping all six of her matches against Top 35 opponents while failing to reach a final. Will Kerber find her missing mojo in Miami? Every week is a new chance to shine, she says. “I’m not looking back on the tournaments. You know, it’s a completely new year, new tournament, and every tournament starts from zero,” Kerber said after falling to Elena Vesnina in straight sets at Indian Wells. “For me, I think I got used to the pressure and everything. So I start every tournament from zero. I am going out there to play my matches, trying to win it.”

Kerber, a semifinalist here in Miami last year, will begin her week with a first-time matchup against China’s Duan Ying-Ying. The 27-year-old notched an impressive win over Germany’s Laura Siegemund on Wednesday and will be gunning for glory in her first ever match against a Top 2 opponent.

Pick: Kerber in three

[3] Simona Halep (ROU #3) vs. Naomi Osaka (JPN #49)
Head-to-head: Halep leads, 1-0
Key Stat: Halep owns a 12-5 lifetime record at Miami.

Like Kerber, Simona Halep has had a challenging year in 2017. She has gone 3-3 and had to miss five weeks due to a knee injury. At Indian Wells, Halep shook off some rust in a second-round win over Donna Vekic but she was defeated easily by Kristina Mladenovic in the third round. In Miami, Halep will look to continue to build some positive momentum, but it won’t be easy against Japan’s Naomi Osaka. The 19-year-old pushed Halep to the brink at Roland Garros last year and will be bidding for her biggest career win against Halep. Though she is 0-5 against the Top 10 for her career, Osaka has lost three of those matches in deciding sets, and two of them in deciding set tiebreakers. Will Osaka get over the hump against Halep today, or will the Romanian hit the ground running in Miami?

Pick: Halep in two

[8] Madison Keys (USA #9) vs. Viktorija Golubic (SUI #53)
Head-to-head: First meeting
Key Stat: Keys reached the quarterfinals at Miami last season.

Madison Keys made a successful return to the tour at Indian Wells after missing the first two months of the season while rehabbing her surgically repaired left wrist. Now she wants to take it a step further. “I feel like I’ve gotten some of the rust out,” Keys told reporters on Wednesday. “I also think the expectation that I have from myself is now a little bit higher. So I’m definitely trying to manage the excitement levels and also just what I’m expecting from myself.”

Keys will battle a talented 24-year-old from Switzerland who has not found her best tennis yet this season. After her most successful season on tour, Viktorija Golubic has struggled to win in 2017, but she did pick up her second win of the season on Wednesday, defeating Tsvetana Pironkova in three sets.

Pick: Keys in two

[11] Venus Williams (USA #12) vs. Beatriz Haddad Maia (BRA #166)
Head-to-head: First meeting
Key Stat: Williams won the title at Miami in 2001.

Venus Williams has more Top 20 wins at the Miami Open (11) than most players have matches and the 36-year-old is eager to tack on a few more wins in 2017. The 2001 Miami Open champion will open accounts with a second-round matchup with Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia. The 20-year-old Brazilian Wild Card got her first tour-level win since 2015 when Lesia Tsurenko retired early in the first set of their first-round match. She’ll hope to play the match of her life against Williams on Friday while Williams will look to stretch her winning streak against players outside of the Top 100 to six, and notch her 44th career Miami Open win.

Pick: Williams in three

Around the Grounds:

No.7-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova upset Serena Williams en route to a runner-up finish at Miami last year. She’ll open accounts with a second-round tussle with Luxembourg’s Mandy Minella. No.14-seeded Samantha Stosur, a two-time quarterfinalist at Miami, will face 20-year-old Ashleigh Barty in an all-Aussie Derby. It will be the first meeting between the two compatriots. No.10-seeded Johanna Konta, a quarterfinalist last year, will square off with qualifier Aliaksandra Sasnovich, while No.31-seeded Daria Kasatkina will tangle with American Shelby Rogers for the right to face the Kerber-Ying-Ying winner.

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Serena & Sharapova In Action On Day 1

Serena & Sharapova In Action On Day 1

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

MELBOURNE, Australia – When the top half of the 2016 Australian Open women’s singles draw gets rolling on Monday in Melbourne, fans won’t be left wanting for star power. Four Top 6 seeds will take the court, led by six-time champion Serena Williams and 2008 champion Maria Sharapova. Here’s a rundown of key matches to see.

Monday, Day 1
First Round

[1] Serena Williams (USA #1) vs. Camila Giorgi (ITA # 36)
Head-to-head: Williams leads 2-0
Key Stat: Williams has won 8 of 14 major titles since Patrick Mouratoglou became her coach.

Four words can neatly summarize Serena Williams’ mood as she prepares her Australian Open title defense. “I don’t look back,” says Williams, who is ready, willing and able to kick off her 2016 with a continuation of a march to history that was temporarily halted in New York last season. But her first challenge, against the highest-ranked unseeded player in the draw, promises to be a tricky one.
Italy’s Camila Giorgi pushed Williams to a tie-break during Fed Cup action last season, and she’ll hope to take advantage of the 34-year-old’s lack of match play- Williams pulled out of Hopman Cup with knee inflammation but says she’s injury-free in Melbourne – to gain an early upper hand. But Williams knows a thing or two about overcoming challenges early in Slams. She holds a 60-1 lifetime record in first rounds at majors, and has never lost one in Australia.

Pick: Williams in three

[25] Samantha Stosur (AUS #27) vs. [Q] Kristyna Pliskova (CZE # 114)
Head-to-head: First meeting
Key Stat: Stosur has never been past the round of 16 at Melbourne.

One of the most beloved Aussie athletes in recent history has yet to find her mojo at the Happy Slam, but hope springs eternal as former US Open champion Sam Stosur prepares to make her 14th career appearance in Melbourne. Though she’s only made the second week twice (and not since 2010), the experienced Stosur knows that if she plays her tennis she’ll have an opportunity to rack up a win over the talented yet unheralded Pliskova. “I want to handle myself well, play well, do the things that I need to be doing, put myself in good positions hopefully to win many matches,” Stosur said. “If I can do all that and play to my ability, then I’ll be happy.” Pliskova, the identical twin of No.9 seed Karolina Pliskova, has mustered a 5-9 lifetime record at majors, and has not appeared in the main draw of the Australian Open since 2013.

Pick: Stosur in three

[4] Agnieszka Radwanska (POL #4) vs. Christina McHale (USA # 65)
Head-to-head: Radwanska leads, 3-0
Key Stat: Radwanska has dropped only seven games in three matches versus McHale.

Many pundits are predicting a big year for Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska, and the 26-year-old has already started on the right foot by taking the Shenzhen title without the loss of a set. Radwanska, a semifinalist at Melbourne (2014) and a five-time quarterfinalist here, will face a player that has given her very little trouble in the past. The youthful, talented McHale has been troubled by the Radwanska match-up, and with red-hot Radwanska having won 22 of 26 matches dating back to last year, the challenge of coping with the unorthodox stylings of the crafty Pole promises to be even more difficult for the American.

Pick: Radwanska in two.

[5] Maria Sharapova (RUS #5) vs. Nao Hibino (JPN # 56)
Head-to-head: First meeting
Key Stat: Sharapova has played just seven tour-level matches since Wimbledon 2015.

Can Maria Sharapova shake the rust off in time to get past rapidly-rising Nao Hibino on Monday in Melbourne? The Russian has not played since the Fed Cup final last November, but she is confident that her short, sweet off-season training block and her experience will help get her through the early rounds in Melbourne. “Yes I might be more rusty,” Sharapova told reporters on Saturday, “but I’ve always been someone who treats practice as meaningful and I can take that into matches. I’m ready to go.” In Hibino, Sharapova will face one of the breakout performers of 2015. The 21-year-old won her first WTA title at Tashkent and finished a season inside the Top 100 for the first time.

Pick: Sharapova in two.

More must-see tennis: Eugenie Bouchard will look to continue her fine run of form against the always-dangerous Aleksandra Krunic in the pair’s first-ever meeting. Bouchard reached her first WTA final in well over a year over the weekend in Hobart… Italy’s Roberta Vinci begins her final Grand Slam season with a battle against Austria’s Tamira Paszek. Though Paszek is ranked more than 100 places lower than Vinci, she owns a 2-0 record versus the Italian and has never dropped a set against Vinci… Luksika Kumkhum pulled one of the biggest upsets of the 2014 Australian Open when she upset sixth-seeded Petra Kvitova in the first round. Will lightning strike twice for the Thai qualifier, or will Kvitova get her revenge… France’s Kristina Mladenovic got an exceptionally tough draw this year at Melbourne. Seeded for the first time at the Aussie Open, she drew former finalist Dominika Cibulkova, whom she has lost all five previous encounters against.

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Insider Notebook: Upsets And Azarenka

Insider Notebook: Upsets And Azarenka

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

MELBOURNE, Australia – Day 2 at the Australian Open was highlighted by the early exits of No.2 seed Simona Halep and No.8 seed Venus Williams, clearing the way for a surprise semifinalist to come through.

– Victoria Azarenka makes a statement: The No.14 seed picked up where she left off in at the Brisbane International and is remained undefeated for the season after double-bageling Alison Van Uytvanck in the first round. This was beyond domination. This was near perfection. The two played 72 points. Azarenka won 53 of them. Van Uytvanck won 19.

“I don’t think I’m looking for perfection,” Azarenka said. “I’m looking for effort. I’m looking for focus. I like that I was very composed today, from first point to the last point. Like it didn’t matter what the score was, I was there on every point. So that’s what I’m very happy about today.” She’ll play Danka Kovinic in the second round.

– Zhang Shuai finally gets her major win: The Chinese qualifier came into Melbourne 0-14 in Grand Slam main draw matches and she got the toughest draw of any qualifier in No.2 seed Simona Halep. Yet somehow, Zhang made it look easy. She raced to a 4-0 lead and never looked back, winning 6-4, 6-3, to pull off the biggest upset of the first round. Read more about Zhang’s near-retirement, and what this win means to her here.

– Halep suffers a mental drain: The Romanian just couldn’t get the pieces together in time for Melbourne. After injury and illness derailed her training, it always felt like Halep was playing catch-up as the season began. She was noticeably more upbeat after today’s loss than she has been here in Melbourne the last two years, where she lost in the quarterfinals. Halep admitted it was hard to come into the tournament confident.

“I can say that I am a little bit down mentally because I was very sick at home,” she said. “Then I came here with Achilles again. So it’s tough to be positive, 100%, and try everything. But I did. I think I did everything I could today. It was all I could do today. So I am okay, but disappointed, of course.”

“When I played here two years before, and last year I lost in the quarters because I was blocked, I couldn’t manage the situation, the emotions. But today was different. Today I think I was okay. Was only about the game. I played not my best tennis. I played too short. I played too soft. She could do everything with the ball.

“It’s okay. I don’t want to make this match like dramatic. It happened. You know, everyone can lose. Everyone can win. I know that. I have just to take it like it is and go ahead.”

– Konta-mania strikes again: Johanna Konta came into the Australian Open winless but she found her 2015 form quickly, playing a strong match to oust No.8 seed Venus Williams, 6-4, 6-2.

– Venus Williams to drop out of the Top 10: With her first round exit, Venus will drop out of the Top 10 after the Australian Open. She is currently entered into the Taiwan Open, which starts on February 6th. As she did at the 2015 French Open, Venus declined to appear for a press conference after her loss. Under ITF rules she could be fined up to $20,000.

– Misaki Doi’s Slam breakthrough will have to wait: Over the last year, Doi has become one of my favorite players to watch. Her forehand has turned into a real weapon as she’s added a more aggressive stance to her game. Against No.7 seed Angelique Kerber, Doi had match point and at 6-5 in the second set tie-break only to miss a makeable forehand return; Kerber escaped with a 6-7(4), 7-6(6), 6-3 win. Doi lost despite hitting 59 winners — 42 off the forehand side — compared to Kerber’s 35 winners.

It’s a tough pill to swallow for Doi, who has now won the first set off Kerber, Bencic, Svitolina, and Ivanovic in her last four Slams. She lost all four matches.

Garbine Muguruza

– Garbiñe Muguruza makes a confident start: The Spaniard showed no signs of the foot injury that’s derailed her season so far, beating Anett Kontaveit 6-0, 6-4. She also caught a break when Kirsten Flipkens pulled off the win over the very dangerous Mirjana Lucic Baroni. Muguruza will play the Belgian in the next round.

– Naomi Osaka’s culture clash: Osaka followed up her strong qualifying run to win her first match at a major, in her Grand Slam debut no less, beating Donna Vekic 6-3, 6-2. She was greeted in the secondary interview room by a standing room only crowd of Japanese and English-speaking reporters and jokingly pleaded to the moderator to only have questions asked in English.

“I’m trying to study Japanese but I get really nervous when I hear it,” the Osaka-born Osaka said. “It’s really fast; sometimes it sounds like they’re rapping, so then I’m just like, ‘Oh my god; I didn’t hear the first part of the question.’ Then I look like an idiot, and I don’t want to look like an idiot.” Watching the 18-year-old try to bridge her two cultural backgrounds will be very interesting.

– Opportunity knocks: With Halep and Venus’s losses, the seeds remaining in the bottom quarter: Karolina Pliskova, Madison Keys, Ana Ivanovic, Ekaterina Makarova, and Sabine Lisicki. Also floating is Alizé Cornet.

– Quote of the Day: Azarenka was asked about the last time she remembers being double-bageled herself. She remembered it vividly.

“I was 11 years old. I was trying to get into Nationals for under 18, but obviously I was too young and I didn’t get in. Somebody retired and they gave me the spot. I was in school writing my essay. My dad came in and said, Hey, you got to go. I said, Where, dad?

“He said, ‘You got a spot. You can go and play.’ I was like, ‘Really?’ He was like, ‘Yeah.’ So I got excited, went to the court, got beat, I cried myself to sleep that day, and that was horrible experience.

“But, you know, I came back to practice the next day, and I don’t think that ever happened to me again. Hard work pays off.”

By The Numbers:

2: Garbiñe Muguruza, Agnieszka Radwanska and Angelique Kerber each with a chance to move as high as No.2 in the WTA Rankings after the Australian Open:
-Muguruza needs SF or better
-Radwanska needs Final or better
-Kerber would need to win title
-If none of the above, then Halep will stay at No.2

4: Four Chinese women have advanced to the second round of the Australian Open – X.Han, Q.Wang, S.Zhang and S.Zheng – the most Chinese women through to the second round of a Slam since 2006 Wimbledon (Li Na, QF; Peng Shuai, 3r; Zheng Jie, 3r; Sun Tiantian, 2r).

12: Through the completion of the first round, 12 of the 32 women’s seeds have been eliminated from the tournament, including two of the Top 8 seeds – No.2 Simona Halep and No.8 Venus Williams. Since the Grand Slams adapted the 32-seed draw at 2001 Wimbledon, the 12 seeds is the most to lose in an opening round.

All photos courtesy of Getty Images.

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WTA's 11 Co-No.1 Doubles Teams

WTA's 11 Co-No.1 Doubles Teams

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970
Lisa Raymond and Rennae Stubbs were the best doubles team at the start of the new millenium; the US-Aussie pair began 2000 with their first major title at the Australian Open, becoming Co-No.1s just before that year's US Open.

Lisa Raymond and Rennae Stubbs were the best doubles team at the start of the new millenium; the US-Aussie pair began 2000 with their first major title at the Australian Open, becoming Co-No.1s just before that year’s US Open.

Virginia Ruano Pascual and Paola Suárez became Co-No.1s in the summer of 2004 after capturing the first two legs of the Calendar Year Grand Slam, winning a total of eight majors as a team.

Virginia Ruano Pascual and Paola Suárez became Co-No.1s in the summer of 2004 after capturing the first two legs of the Calendar Year Grand Slam, winning a total of eight majors as a team.

Lisa Raymond ascended to Co-No.1 again in 2006, this time with Aussie Sam Stosur, with whom she reached five major finals - winning two at the 2005 US Open and 2006 French Open.

Lisa Raymond ascended to Co-No.1 again in 2006, this time with Aussie Sam Stosur, with whom she reached five major finals – winning two at the 2005 US Open and 2006 French Open.

Liezel Huber joined Cara Black atop the WTA Doubles rankings at the end of 2007, when the team won the WTA Finals in Madrid - capping a successful successful season that saw them win two of the four major tournaments at the Australian Open and Wimbledon.

Liezel Huber joined Cara Black atop the WTA Doubles rankings at the end of 2007, when the team won the WTA Finals in Madrid – capping a successful successful season that saw them win two of the four major tournaments at the Australian Open and Wimbledon.

The sport's preeminent sister act have dominated the doubles scene throughout their storied singles careers, winning three Olympic Gold medals in addition to their 13 Grand Slam doubles titles.

The sport’s preeminent sister act have dominated the doubles scene throughout their storied singles careers, winning three Olympic Gold medals in addition to their 13 Grand Slam doubles titles.

Flavia Pennetta joined partner and good friend Gisela Dulko a few weeks after the two won their first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open; the team known as Dulketta had also ended 2010 with a win at the WTA Finals in Doha.

Flavia Pennetta joined partner and good friend Gisela Dulko a few weeks after the two won their first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open; the team known as Dulketta had also ended 2010 with a win at the WTA Finals in Doha.

Kveta Peschke and Katarina Srebotnik both became No.1 for the first time after winning their first major title at the 2011 Wimbledon Championships.

Kveta Peschke and Katarina Srebotnik both became No.1 for the first time after winning their first major title at the 2011 Wimbledon Championships.

Liezel Huber become Co-No.1 with a second partner in the spring of 2012; that partner was none other than Lisa Raymond, who was back at Co-No.1 with a third partner in her historic career. The Americans paired up ahead of the London Olympics, and cementing their partnership with the 2011 US Open title.

Liezel Huber become Co-No.1 with a second partner in the spring of 2012; that partner was none other than Lisa Raymond, who was back at Co-No.1 with a third partner in her historic career. The Americans paired up ahead of the London Olympics, and cementing their partnership with the 2011 US Open title.

Italians Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci had each been No.1 apart, but finally shared the top spot in 2013, not long after toppling the Williams sisters en route to their first Australian Open title.

Italians Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci had each been No.1 apart, but finally shared the top spot in 2013, not long after toppling the Williams sisters en route to their first Australian Open title.

Hsieh Su-Wei and Peng Shuai had burst onto the scene in 2013 after winning the Wimbledon Championships, and consolidated their place as the best team in the world when they became Co-No.1s a few weeks before winning their second major title at the 2014 French Open.

Hsieh Su-Wei and Peng Shuai had burst onto the scene in 2013 after winning the Wimbledon Championships, and consolidated their place as the best team in the world when they became Co-No.1s a few weeks before winning their second major title at the 2014 French Open.

Sania Mirza capped an undefeated run through three straight tournaments by reaching No.1 last spring, but it wasn't until the start of 2016 that Swiss Miss Martina Hingis was able to ascend to the top spot as well; the pair have been undefeated since August, with wins at Wimbledon, the US Open, and the 2015 WTA Finals in Singapore.

Sania Mirza capped an undefeated run through three straight tournaments by reaching No.1 last spring, but it wasn’t until the start of 2016 that Swiss Miss Martina Hingis was able to ascend to the top spot as well; the pair have been undefeated since August, with wins at Wimbledon, the US Open, and the 2015 WTA Finals in Singapore.

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News | WTA Tennis English

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

Tuesday

Quarterfinals

[2] Karolina Pliskova (CZE #3) vs. [26] Mirjana Lucic-Baroni (CRO #29)
Head-to-head: Tied, 3-3
Key Stat: Pliskova and Lucic-Baroni have played three-setters in each of their last three meetings.

Mirjana Lucic-Baroni has already matched her total of Top 10 wins from the previous four seasons by notching three in 2017 and, on Sunday, the 35-year-old will try to make it four when she meets No.2 seed Karolina Pliskova in her first Miami Open quarterfinal.

Pliskova, who is in the Miami quarterfinals for the second time, knows it will be a challenge. She was knocked off by Lucic-Baroni in January, falling 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 to the Croatian in the quarterfinals at the Australian Open, and their last three battles have all gone the distance.

“She’s always tough,” Pliskova told WTA Insider on Monday after easing past Barbora Strycova in straight sets. “She has a big game and it was close in Australia.”

The head-to-head points to a toss-up but Pliskova comes in as the favorite based on her ranking and the expectations she has set by becoming one of the most lethal players in the last 52 weeks. Now the No.1 Czech, Pliskova is expected to come through these types of matches and she certainly has the game to do it. But how can she keep her veteran opponent off balance so that her blistering groundstrokes don’t take over the match? It’s a task that has proved difficult for many this season and it will be interesting to see how Pliskova approaches playing Lucic-Baroni from a tactical perspective.

Lucic-Baroni, meanwhile, will approach the challenge of facing Pliskova’s game with no fear. She’s playing some of the best tennis of her life – why shouldn’t the fairytale continue?

“It’s always nice when you beat a top player and then beat them again not too long after, so it’s not a ‘fluke,'” Lucic-Baroni said last week in Miami after defeating No.5-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska for the second time this season. “I know people like to say stupid things sometimes. But I don’t pay attention to that. I know I can play some great tennis and that’s really all I care about doing.”

Pick: Pliskova in three

[12] Caroline Wozniacki (DEN #14) vs. Lucie Safarova (CZE #36)
Head-to-head: Wozniacki leads, 4-3
Key Stat: Wozniacki’s 21 victories in 2017 place her second on tour.

Caroline Wozniacki is back in the last eight of the Miami Open for the fifth time overall and the first time since 2014, and the Dane faces a former Top 10 player on the rise in Lucie Safarova. The Czech secured her first Top 10 win since 2015 when she defeated World No.4 Dominika Cibulkova on Monday in straight sets. If that doesn’t give you an idea of what type of form the 30-year-old Czech is in, consider this: Safarova’s 16 wins in the first three months of the season are already more than she had in all of 2016. She has yet to drop a set this week and has reached the Miami Open quarterfinals for the first time on her 12th career appearance.

Can the southpaw take it a step further and shut down Wozniacki on Tuesday? It will be a difficult task. Wozniacki has won three of her last four against Safarova and is running hot as she prepares to play her sixth quarterfinal of the season. The match will likely hinge on how well Wozniacki can implement her return tactics against Safarova’s serve. The Czech entered the tournament ranked fourth in percentage of service games won this season, while Wozniacki ranked No.6 in percentage of return games won.

Pick: Wozniacki in three

By the Numbers
4 – Number of wins that Lucic-Baroni notched at Miami from 1998 to 2016. She will try to win her fourth match of the 2017 tournament against Pliskova.
22 – Pliskova took over the WTA lead in wins for 2017 with her 22nd win on Monday.
9 – Number of times that Caroline Wozniacki has reached at least the quarterfinal in her last ten tournaments.
16 – Lucie Safarova’s 16 wins (16-6) in 2017 have already surpassed her win total for all of 2016 (15-18).

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Kvitova Splits With Coach Kotyza

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

Former World No.2 Petra Kvitova announced on Monday morning that she and coach David Kotyza had ended their seven year partnership. Beginning at the start of the 2009 season, Kvitova began her meteoric rise up the rankings with Kotyza at the helm, winning two Wimbledon titles, and a WTA Finals trophy in 2011, the year in which she was one match from finishing at No.1 in the world.

WTA Insider spoke with Kotyza last fall during the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global; check out that interview here – the audio version can be found on the WTA Insider Podcast – and read Kvitova’s statement on Facebook below:

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