Wuhan: Jankovic vs. Muguruza
Jelena Jankovic takes on Garbiñe Muguruza in the second round of the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open.
Jelena Jankovic takes on Garbiñe Muguruza in the second round of the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open.
MIAMI, FL, USA – Bethanie Mattek-Sands’ straight sets victory over No.9 seed Elina Svitolina was special for a number of reasons: the American wildcard was celebrating her 32nd birthday in style, notching her first Top 10 win since 2015 in the 7-5, 6-4 upset.
But one of the three aces Mattek-Sands hit during the match nearly gave her even more reason to celebrate, and almost added her name to the WTA all-time records book.
The serve registered 131 mph (210.8 kmh), but was later deemed unofficial due to interference. Had it it been verified, it would have the all-time record for fastest WTA serve ever recorded.
“The serve was an ace and it took a little bit for the miles per hour to show up,” Mattek-Sands told wtatennis.com on Thursday. “I remember I just looked back and it went, ‘131’ and I stopped.
“I looked over at Justin [Sands] and my coach, and I said to them, ‘Does that say 131?’ And they were like, ‘Yeah, that’s 131!’
Still, Mattek-Sands pulled off an impressive serving performance, averaging between 110 and 115mph on her first serves.
Check out the current all-time list:
1. Sabine Lisicki – 131.0mph / 210.8kph (2014 Stanford)
2. Venus Williams – 129.0mph / 207.6kph (2007 US Open)
3. Serena Williams – 128.6mph / 207.0kph (2013 Australian Open)
4. Julia Goerges – 126.1mph / 203.0kph (2012 French Open)
5. Brenda Schultz-McCarthy – 126.0mph / 202.7kph (2007 Indian Wells)
6. Nadiia Kichenok – 125.5mph / 202.0kph (2014 Australian Open)
7T. Lucie Hradecka – 125.0mph / 201.2kph (2015 Wimbledon)
7T. Naomi Osaka – 125.0mph / 201.2kph (2016 US Open)
9. Anna-Lena Groenefeld – 125.0mph / 201.1kph (2009 Indian Wells)
10T. Ana Ivanovic – 124.9mph / 201.0kph (2007 French Open)
10T. Denisa Allertova – 124.9mph / 201.0kph (2015 Australian Open)
WTA Insider David Kane | Catch up with former World No.5 and one half of the hottest doubles team around, Lucie Safarova after a comprehensive win at the Miami Open.
MIAMI, FL, USA – Mirjana Lucic-Baroni put together a near-perfect performance to upset the No.5 seed Agnieszka Radwanska in the third round of the Miami Open.
She needed just over an hour to complete the comprehensive, 6-0, 6-3 victory and book a fourth-round battle with American wildcard Bethanie Mattek-Sands.
“It was a great match today, she’s obviously a top player and has been for many years,” Lucic-Baroni told WTA Insider after the match. “I know what I had to do when I walked into the court. It’s always a matter of executing the plan, and I was able to do that great today.
“Today, I did a flawless job, a really beautiful performance. I’m proud of myself.”
INCREDIBLE!
Lucic-Baroni wraps up the bagel on Radwanska in under 20 minutes! #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/m5Ulcmhvfw
— WTA (@WTA) March 25, 2017
Radwanska came into the matchup with the Croat with a 2-1 lead in the pair’s overall head-to-head record, but she hadn’t won a set against her in almost a year. And in their most recent match, Lucic-Baroni sent Radwanska crashing out of the Australian Open in the second round on her way to a dream run to the semifinals.
Lucic-Baroni kept the trend going in Miami, taking less than 20 minutes to drop a bagel on Radwanska and snatch away the opening set. The Pole had little answers for Lucic-Baroni’s barrage of winners; Radwanska finished the match with five winners and just a single unforced error, but Lucic-Baroni fired 38 winners past her and made only five unforced errors.
Mirjana Lucic-Baroni does it! Again!
Knocks out 2012 champ Radwanska 6-0, 6-3! #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/RPl0QQtZSo
— WTA (@WTA) March 25, 2017
In the second set, Lucic-Baroni came away with the edge after weathering seven breaks of serve. She notched two vital holds of serve, keeping the vulnerable Radwanska serve under pressure throughout the match, ensuring that the Pole didn’t hold serve once during the encounter.
“She was playing unbelievable tennis today,” Radwanska told WTA Insider. “She was very solid from the beginning, very aggressive, hitting everything with unbelievable speed. I couldn’t do much.
“The first set went so quickly, and in the second set I had chances, but I didn’t come back and unfortunately I missed the chance to stay in the match. She was just too good today.”
Dominika Cibulkova on the practice courts at the Miami Open.
Highlights from the Miami Open clash between Simona Halep and Anett Kontaveit.
September has been marked by the US Open, but since we already voted for our NYC fashion favorites, let’s see who dominated the tennis fashion scene in the remainder of the month. Marija Zivlak of Women’s Tennis Blog will show us the clothes that have ruled the courts this fall, following the final Grand Slam of the season.
Caroline Wozniacki won the Toray Pan Pacific Open title in what she called her favorite outfit of the year: the signal green adidas Barricade Dress Set. Designer Stella McCartney created this women’s tennis dress and shorts set with mesh shoulder straps and laser-cut holes to ensure both ventilation and style. Wozniacki not only lifted her first trophy of the season feeling like a queen in green, but she followed it up with her 500th career match win at the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open.
Wozniacki completed her look with black and white adidas Stella Barricade Boost Shoes, whose seamless knit upper hugs Caroline’s feet, while boost™ is there to energize her movement.
Naomi Osaka‘s quirky young energy makes her and adidas one of the best tennis fashion matches, which we thoroughly enjoyed this month during the Toray Pan Pacific Open, as the 18-year-old Japanese spectacularly made her biggest WTA final at the Premier-level tournament in her home country.
Sporting the adidas Fall Pro Tank, featuring a statement contrast racerback with mesh insert, and the printed adidas Fall Pro Skirt, Osaka ensured a rise from No. 66 to a career-high of No.47 in the WTA rankings, beating two Top 20 players on the way.
Elsewhere in Asia, at the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open, Simona Halep showcased a wonderful pale version of the bold geometric print. The cute contrast flash red elastic waistband of her skirt perfectly matches the striking racerback of her predominantly white tank.
Right after the US Open, at the Coupe Banque Nationale, Oceane Dodin made the Top 100 for the first time in her career and became the first teenager to win a WTA title in 2016, all the while looking stylish in the black and volt Nike Fall Maria Premier Tank and Nike Fall Maria FLX Premier Short.
At the $2,288,250 Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open, Petra Kvitova eliminated world number one Angelique Kerber in one of this season’s most dramatic matches, wearing the striking Nike Winter Flex Victory Premier Skirt that wonderfully combines purple dynasty and bright mango colors in a gradient effect on all-around knife pleats. The skirt, available in two lengths, features a flat-front elastic waistband and built-in compression shorts.
The orange Nike Winter Dry Slam Tank, made of 92% Dri-Fit polyester, is a classic soft performance pique tank top, whose racerback and side slits allow optimal range of motion.
The two-time Wimbledon champion is rocking personalized speed-oriented Nike Zoom Vapor 9.5 Tour footwear. The shoe’s lightweight construction is accompanied by enough support and stability to allow confident on-court movement.
What are your favorite women’s tennis styles this fall?
Sun, sand and gorgeous ocean views: that’s what springs to mind when one hears “Miami,” and WTA stars have enjoyed plenty of that during the fortnight at the Miami Open! (© Getty Images)
Kristina Mladenovic and Daria Kasatkina took to the beach for a bit of football – but it’s not quite the kind they’re used to. (© Getty Images)
Joined by the ATP’s Jamie Murray, Bruno Soares and Joao Sousa, they got a crash course in “footvolley”. (© Getty Images)
A couple of World Footvolley pros were on hand to teach the tennis players a few moves. (© Getty Images)
Looks like Kiki’s got the hang of it! (© Getty Images)
Everyone gave footvolley a try – and it looks like they all enjoyed it! (© Getty Images)
Over in Wynwood, Elina Svitolina paid a visit to Miami’s iconic Wynwood Walls for a promotional photoshoot. (© Getty Images)
Wynwood Walls is famous for its diverse collection of street art and graffiti – which covers over 80,000 square feet of walls and features artists from all over the globe. (© Getty Images)
Elina got the chance to take in some of the colorful graffiti art… (© Getty Images)
…as well as take some photos of her own! (© Getty Images)
Back in Crandon Park, Ashleigh Barty delighted fans as she signed dozens of autographs at the Itaú Bank Booth. (© Getty Images)
The Aussie is enjoying a successful return to tennis after a sabbatical pursuing professional cricket. (© Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Dominika Cibulkova got a special visitor at her Miami Open practice session. (© Getty Images)
UFC fighter Joanna Jedrzejczyk of Poland was visiting the tournament and stopped by to meet the World No.4. (© Getty Images)
Domi tried to give fighting a go… (© Getty Images)
…and then Joanna tried Domi’s sport – good form on the forehand! (© Getty Images)
Johanna also did the coin toss during a couple of WTA matches – looks like she had fun! (© Getty Images)
Dominika Cibulkova has Friday’s shot of the day at the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open.
WTA Insider | Keep up with the WTA’s very own Monday March Madness with an all-star slate of Round of 16 matches at the Miami Open on the WTA Insider Live Blog.