Fresh Princess: Shelby Rogers' Fed Cup Rap
Shelby Rogers put a lyrical twist into the traditional Fed Cup rookie speech by performing her own version of the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air theme song.
Shelby Rogers put a lyrical twist into the traditional Fed Cup rookie speech by performing her own version of the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air theme song.
NEW HAVEN, CT, USA – As the WTA’s last stop before the US Open, the Connecticut Open in New Haven is known for having a stacked field. This year is no different, with 20 of the WTA’s Top 31 players set to feature at the Premier-level event.
Even more impressive, the tournament has announced a player field comprised entirely of players who will compete in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
“From a rankings perspective, all of these players would be seeded at a Grand Slam, which shows how deep and talented the player field is for the 2016 Connecticut Open,” said Tournament Director Anne Worcester. “From Grand Slam Champions to talented Americans to more than 20 Olympians – the field will be dynamic, international in flavor and extremely competitive.”
Four-time champion Caroline Wozniacki took the first wild card into New Haven in her quest for a record-breaking fifth title at the tournament.
Here’s the full list of players committed to play at this year’s Connecticut Open:
Svetlana Kuznetsova
Petra Kvitova
Jelena Jankovic
Caroline Wozniacki
Roberta Vinci
Madison Keys
Dominika Cibulkova
Karolina Pliskova
Timea Bacsinszky
Elina Svitolina
Sara Errani
Sloane Stephens
Kiki Bertens
Belinda Bencic
Johanna Konta
Daria Kasatkina
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
Barbora Strycova
Ekaterina Makarova
Irina-Camelia Begu
The Connecticut Open, a Premier-level event and part of the Emirates Airline US Open Series, will be held August 19-27 at the Connecticut Tennis Center at Yale. Tickets are on sale now – click here for more information.
Victories from Ekaterina Makarova, Elina Svitolina and Francesca Schiavone headlined a dizzying opening day of Fed Cup action in World Group II.
Here’s how the ties stand after day one:
Russia 1 – 1 Chinese Taipei
Ekaterina Makarova found herself leading a group of young talented Russians this weekend, with two of her teammates making their Fed Cup debut and the average team age just 20 years old.
“It’s a totally different situation because every time I was playing I was one of the young players, even when I had a good ranking. But it was someone like Elena Vesnina in the team every time teaching me,” Makarova told FedCup.com before the tie.
“Now there are two girls who are debutants and it’s a good experience for me. We have a great atmosphere the girls are very nice. We’re looking forward to this weekend.”
The 28-year-old survived a scare to defeat Lee Ya-Hsuan 6-3, 5-7, 6-1 and put Russia ahead in front of a delighted Moscow crowd.
But Chang Kai-Chen put Chinese Taipei back on track, brushing away Fed Cup debutant Anna Blinkova, 6-3, 7-5.
Romania 0 – 2 Belgium
Hosts Romania were stunned on day one as Yanina Wickmayer and Kirsten Flipkens’ brace of victories put Belgium firmly in control of the tie.
Without Simona Halep and Irina-Camelia Begu, Romania struggled in singles as Flipkens dominated the opening rubber against Monica Niculescu, 6-3, 6-4.
“I knew I had to be patient and wait for the right moment to move forward,” Flipkens told press after the victory.
“It would have been a lot more difficult against Simona Halep as she is a top five player. Against Monica, I was confident going forward as I created my chances and took them when they came.”
Cirstea had a golden opportunity to rescue a point for her side, leading 5-2 in the opening set but Wickmayer came roaring back to edge through in a tight battle, 7-6(4), 5-7, 7-5.
Ukraine 2 – 0 Australia
The hosts Ukraine are in full control over Australia after Elina Svitolina and Lesia Tsurenko notched wins on day one.
Tsurenko opened proceedings with a comfortable win against Daria Gavrilova, easing past the Australian 6-2, 6-3.
“I’m very pleased with my game today,” Tsurenko explained to FedCup.com. “After the first games, the captain asked me to play deep. Don’t try to hit flat. That was the key. To play deep and wait for the right moment, and stay focused in the point whatever happened.”
Svitolina had a harder time against Barty, whose game made a mockery of her No.156 ranking as the Australian quickly took the opening set. Svitolina hit back just as strong, and finally tamped down the resistance to win 4-6, 6-1, 6-2.
“I’m happy about today, although not about the score,” Barty said afterwards. “Elina is a tough player, with a lot of experience. She raised her level. The score of the second and third set doesn’t reflect how close the games where.”
Italy 1 -1 Slovakia
Fed Cup veteran Francesca Schiavone and Slovakian debutante Rebecca Sramkova left their countries level in Italy to close out day one.
At home and on clay, Schiavone fought past Anna-Karolina Schmiedlova 6-3, 6-1 to give Italy an early lead.
“I have to speak with my body, it’s not easy to handle three hours like before – but today I enjoyed my one hour and a half and I’m happy to bring the point to my national team. It’s my last Fed Cup so there are some big emotions,” said Schiavone, who will retire from professional tennis at the end of this season.
No.116 Sramkova took on Sara Errani, and came back from a set down to win 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.
“I was nervous in that first set but I just said to myself ‘I’m going to win it’. I just changed my thinking,” Sramkova told FedCup.com after the victory.
Photos courtesy of FedCup.com
BASTAD, Sweden – A relieved Anna Karolina Schmiedlova returned to winning ways with a straight set victory over Susanne Celik in the first round of the Ericsson Open on Monday afternoon.
Watch live action from Bastad, Stanford and Washington DC this week on WTA Live powered by TennisTV!
Schmiedlova’s 6-1, 6-3 win was her first at a WTA event since January and sets up a second-round meeting with either Katerina Siniakova and Jana Cepelova.
“I’m really happy that I won because I lost, I don’t know how many – I didn’t count – maybe 15 matches in a row, so it’s a special feeling and I’m very happy,” Schmiedlova said.
“It was a good match. She played well – I didn’t know her very well as I hadn’t played her – and I think she can be a good player. But I’m really happy that I won, even thought I was a little bit nervous at the end.”
If Schmiedlova was feeling pressure at the end, she masked it well, reeling off the final three games to close out a morale-boosting victory. Having lost so matches – many from commanding positions – the overriding feeling after finally making it across the line was of relief.
“I’ve been playing better the past weeks. I also played well at Roland Garros – I lost against Muguruza, but it was three sets and I really felt good. Also last week [in Bucharest] I lost from match point up, so I’ve already played tough matches and maybe today I was a little bit more experienced than her at this level,” she added.
Elsewhere in the top half of the draw, Karina Knapp defeated Denisa Allertova, 6-2, 6-4. Meanwhile, in the final round of qualifying, there were wins for Katerina Siniakova, Kateryna Kozlova, Lucie Hradecka, Jana Cepelova and Sara Sorribes Tormo.
Find out what Angelique Kerber and company have been up to on and off the court at one of the WTA’s most popular stop-offs, the Ericsson Open.
CoCo Vandeweghe takes on Nicole Gibbs in the second round of the Bank of the West Classic.
An interview with Johanna Konta after her win in the quarterfinals of the Bank of the West Classic.
Karolina Pliskova has Saturday’s shot of the day at the Qatar Total Open.
An interview with Venus Williams after her quarterfinal win at the Bank of the West Classic.
DUBAI/BUDAPEST – The Middle East Swing takes the tour into the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, the first Premier 5 event of the 2017 season. Meanwhile, tennis returns to Budapest for the inaugural Hungarian Ladies Open. What are the top stories to look out for in what promises to be another wild week on the WTA tour?
Check out 10 things to know right here on wtatennis.com:
Doha?❤? pic.twitter.com/piEpXrFcxK
— Karolina Pliskova (@KaPliskova) February 18, 2017
1. Pliskova closes in on Doha/Dubai double.
Since the Middle East swing was created in 2001, just two women have swept both events: Martina Hingis (2001) and Justine Henin (2007). Karolina Pliskova put on a comprehensive performance at the Qatar Total Open to become the first to win two titles in 2017; the Czech is seeded No.2 in Dubai and opens against either St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy champ Kristina Mladenovic or Shenzhen Open winner Katerina Siniakova.
2. Kerber gets crack at No.1.
Angelique Kerber lost the top spot after Serena Williams won the Australian Open, but the German could take it back should she win Dubai. As the top seed, she’ll play countrywoman and wildcard Mona Barthel, who is working her way back from a disastrous 2016 that saw her sit out several months due to illness. Can the two-time Grand Slam champion turn around a tough start to 2017?
Your #DDFtennis top three seeds, ladies and gentlemen pic.twitter.com/OjwGnHHcoG
— Reem Abulleil (@ReemAbulleil) February 19, 2017
3. Cibulkova in the swing of things.
Dominika Cibulkova admitted to having a slow start to the season when press during All-Access Hour. Two straight semifinals and a 400th career match win have given her a big bump heading into Dubai, where the Slovak is seeded No.3. Her first opponent will nonetheless be tricky, as Ekaterina Makarova won their most recent match in Melbourne.
4. Another Radwanska/Pironkova rematch?
Speaking of Melbourne rematches, No.4 seed Agnieszka Radwanska could play dangerous floater Tsvetana Pironkova in her opening round; the two have split their last two matches at the French Open and Down Under. But the Bulgarian will have to get past Hobart International champion Elise Mertens for a chance at pulling off the upset.
On Top of the World! @GarbiMuguruza enjoys a breathtaking sunset at the ? tallest building, the @BurjKhalifa! pic.twitter.com/POJrzLwn6M
— WTA (@WTA) February 19, 2017
5. Muguruza’s cultural revolution.
Garbiñe Muguruza has enjoyed a solid start to 2017 and is already enjoying her time in Dubai – taking in the sights like the Burj Khalifa. The No.5 seed opens against either Kateryna Bondarenko or qualifier Aryna Sabalenka, with Radwanska looming in the last eight.
6. Svitolina seeks a big breakthrough.
Elina Svitolina starts 2017 with a win over then-No.1 Kerber and a title run at the Taiwan Open. The Ukrainian youngster heads to Dubai looking for more of both, with a first Premier title firmly in her sights. Seeded in Cibulkova’s quarter, Svitolina opens against qualifier Zhang Saisai, with Naomi Osaka serving as possible third round opposition.
Into the 2nd round ! @DDFTennis #DDFtennis #FlyWithCaro @Nikecourt @yonex_tennis ???????✈️?? pic.twitter.com/jV570InLHI
— Caroline Garcia (@CaroGarcia) February 19, 2017
7. Big teams reunite in doubles.
The first big event since the Australian Open sees several familiar teams pair up in Dubai, led by top seeds Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic, and Olympic Gold medalists Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina. The draw also features the return of Martina Hingis and Chan Yung-Jan, who teamed up for the first time in Doha, reaching the semifinals.
8. Babos does Budapest.
Timea Babos caps a career-best 12 months with a hero’s welcome at home in Hungary. One of three hometown favorites in the draw – leading wildcards Dalma Galfi and Fanny Stollar – Babos plays her first round against wildcard Ipek Soylu, who won the Huajin Securities WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai in doubles last fall.
First time playing on a court made up of— WOOD! ???#Budapest #WTA pic.twitter.com/nwygHF4C88
— Irina Falconi (@IrinaFalconi) February 18, 2017
9. Safarova shoots for first title in 10 months.
Lucie Safarova last took home a WTA title at home in Prague, having more than a few ups and downs since then. The Czech veteran is seeded second in Budapest, with Magda Linette drawn as her first opponent. Can the former World No.5 breakthrough in Bedapest?
10. Goerges attempts to erase Fed Cup disappointment.
Julia Goerges had a strong start to her season, upsetting Caroline Wozniacki en route to the semifinals of the ASB Classic, but a knee injury sustained at Fed Cup threatend to derail her momentum. Seeded third in Budapest, Goerges opens against a qualifier in what will be likely be an important test for the big-hitting German.