Tennis News

DUBAI, UAE – Top seed Angelique Kerber came out on top of a much-anticipated Olympic rematch against Monica Puig, dispatching the Puerto Rican star, 6-2, 6-3 to reach her first quarterfinal at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

“It’s tough to play against Monica,” she said during her on-court interview. “I know we we played a very good match in Rio and she deserved to win in the end; she played an unbelievable match. Today I was really happy with my performance; I was trying to stay focused and play my game. I’m happy to be in the next round here!”

“I was really not thinking too much about our final in Rio, because it was a completely totally different match than today,” she later elaborated in press.

“Tonight it was a new match, new challenge for me. So I was focusing more on the day today than looking back to the last match.”

Amazing court coverage from @AngeliqueKerber! ? #DDFTennis pic.twitter.com/QVoUiO8QDr

— WTA (@WTA) February 22, 2017

Puig is in the midst of playing her best tennis since capturing Puerto Rico’s first gold medal, having reached the semifinals of the Qatar Total Open just last week. But Kerber made the best of a difficult draw to pull off some of her own best on Wednesday night, hitting 14 winners to just 12 unforced errors in the 65 minute match.

.@AngeliqueKerber smashes it past Puig! ?? pic.twitter.com/mcVBksNXVF

— WTA (@WTA) February 22, 2017

“I was trying to keep focusing on the next point, serve and move as well as I could.”

The unseeded Puig nonetheless acquitted herself well on the center court, hitting 20 winners, but a combination of 25 unforced errors and a zero for five break point conversion rate proved her undoing. Kerber, by contrast, broke serve four times, including on match point in the last game.

How did @AngeliqueKerber do this?! ? #DDFTennis pic.twitter.com/xyg4vRezPT

— WTA (@WTA) February 22, 2017

“I never played so well here, so I think things have changed a little bit this year. I feel really good on the court and I’m looking forward to playing my first quarterfinal.”

It’s been a tough start to the season for Kerber, who fell in her opening match in Doha last week to Daria Kasatkina – her second loss to the young Russian this season – but admitted to feeling under the weather during the tour’s stormy week in Qatar.

“I was a little bit sick last week. So that’s why I’m happy that I found my rhythm again. Yeah, I’m enjoying the tennis on court again.

“I was not sure how I was feeling on court because of the last week, and that’s why that was a little bit different.

“I was trying to just go out here, to make the transition from like I was practicing to the match, because I was practicing good in the last few weeks and also in the last few months.”

Up next for the former World No.1 is Croatian teen Ana Konjuh, who recovered from a set and a break down to upset No.8 seed Elena Vesnina, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(4); Kerber won their only previous meeting back in 2015 at the Bank of the West Classic.

“She plays well; we’ve played a few matches in the past and I know it’ll be another tough one, but I think I’m ready to go out and win my next match.”

.@AngeliqueKerber advances to @DDFTennis Quarterfinals!

Cruises past Puig 6-2, 6-3! pic.twitter.com/UndZ60qinu

— WTA (@WTA) February 22, 2017

Into the last eight in Dubai, Kerber is just three wins away from wresting hte top spot back from Australian Open champion Serena Williams, but you won’t catch Kerber thinking too much about that prospect.

“I’m taking things match by match. I’m just trying to focus on playing good tennis and enjoying this week.”

“I am very happy how I played the last game – it was great,” the Latvian told press after winning in an hour and 21 minutes.

Anastasija Sevastova is first through to @DDFTennis Semifinals!

Slides past Wang 6-4, 7-5! pic.twitter.com/Wh9AeknZ44

— WTA (@WTA) February 23, 2017

Currently ranked No.35, she will reach a career high on Monday after her campaign in Dubai.

Yet she had struggled to dominate this quarterfinal thanks to her opponent’s battling spirit, and it was Wang who struck first, breaking serve to take a 3-1 lead in the opening set.

The 26-year-old hit right back, though, and went on to take the first set – but Wang was not ready to give up. Even after falling behind by a break of serve in the second set, she clawed her way right back into it to level up at 5-5.

Despite the Chinese player’s determination, Sevastova eventually managed to serve it out on her third match point to secured herself a deserved semifinal berth against either CiCi Bellis or Caroline Wozniacki.

“I’m going to watch the match,” Sevastova added. “CiCi played an amazing match yesterday, Caroline has a perfect record against me…we’ll see how it is tomorrow.”

MONTREAL, Canada – 2015 Rogers Cup runner-up Simona Halep arrived in Montreal, the site of compatriot Nadia Comaneci’s Olympic triumph, in time to ring in the 40th anniversary of her Perfect 10s at 1976 Summer Games.

A dynamic gymnast, Comaneci won three gold medals, registering six perfect scores – including the first ever recorded – along the way.

“When I was 14, I didn’t understand what was happening because I was too young,” she said, reflecting on the other-worldly achievement. “As time goes by, I treasure more and more what happened and I realize it was a big deal.”

Check out tweets from Comaneci and Halep, who have become friends as the young Romanian has risen up the ranks. After winning her second Premier Mandatory title at the Mutua Madrid Open, Halep was presented the trophy by Comanci during the winner’s ceremony.

Thank you @Simona_Halep and @darren_cahill for being with us in Montreal for the 40 th anniversary of the perfect10 pic.twitter.com/Uj7o4IYthD

— Nadia Comaneci (@nadiacomaneci10) July 22, 2016

Congratulations, @nadiacomaneci10 – 1976-2016! #nowords #respect #theperfect10 #montreal1976 #olympics pic.twitter.com/P6KuThG5Bk

— Simona Halep (@Simona_Halep) July 22, 2016

BASTAD, Sweden – Johanna Larsson moved one step closer to reclaiming her Ericsson Open title by knocking out No.4 seed Annika Beck in Friday’s quarterfinals.

Watch live action from Bastad, Stanford and Washington DC this week on WTA Live powered by TennisTV!

Appearing at this stage for the fifth time in the past six years, Larsson looked surprisingly ill at ease early on, at one point even dropping her racquet mid-rally as she slipped 3-1 behind. However, urged on by a supportive crowd, she did not trail for long, a run of four straight games turning the set on its head.

While the Swede was unable to serve out the set at 5-4, she hit back immediately, guiding a forehand winner down the line to earn three more break points. Beck surrendered with a backhand into the net and when the same wing let her down a few minutes later the set was over.

As the disappointment lingered, Larsson sensed her moment establishing an early second set lead and wrapping up a 7-5, 6-1 victory after an hour and 20 minutes.

Larssons break ball to 4-1 in 2d was as important as it was spectacular. #ericssonopen @WTA pic.twitter.com/6nacZQsuvz

— Swedish Open Tennis (@swedish_open) July 22, 2016

“I played very well today, I’m happy with my performance – I thought I was really solid out there, I took advantage of the crowd and was just really happy to be out there,” Larsson said. “I think I’m on a good path – today was a good match – and if I can just keep going and keep solid, and if I can keep going and take my chances I’ll have a very good chance in the semifinals.”

There she will face Katerina Siniakova after she upset No.2 seed Sara Errani, 7-6(2), 6-3. On the other side of the draw, Laura Siegemund and Julia Goerges succeeded where their compatriot Beck failed by advancing to the semifinals.

In the schedule’s opening match, Siegemund defeated Lara Arruabarrena, 7-5, 6-3, before Goerges followed up with a 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 win over Karin Knapp. 

DUBAI, UAE – No.7 seed Elina Svitolina is into the biggest final of her career after upsetting top seed Angelique Kerber in straight sets at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Friday; standing between her and her sixth career title is none other than 2011 champion and former World No.1 Caroline Wozniacki.

Check out everything you need to know about this high-stakes affair right here on wtatennis.com!

1. Svitolina can crack the Top 10 if she wins on Saturday.
Svitolina has been on the cusp of making her Top 10 debut for quite some time, and the Ukrainian youngster can close the deal should she beat Wozniacki in the final.

2. The Ukrainian is riding an 11-match winning streak.
Svitolina recovered from a third round upset at the Australian Open in impressive fashion, picking up her fifth career title at the Taiwan Open, leading her country to a Fed Cup victory over Australia, and reaching the final in Dubai.

3. Wozniacki is definitely at home in Dubai.
A Dubai Duty Free ambassador, Wozniacki overtook former World No.1 Jelena Jankovic’s record total of match wins in Dubai on Friday, winning a 22nd match in seven appearances. She last reached the final in 2011, when she beat Svetlana Kuznetsova for the title.

4. The Dane is surging in 2017.
Wozniacki began this season much like she ended last; since reaching the semifinals of the US Open, she’s been on fire, reaching back-to-back finals in Doha and Dubai; the last time she did that was in 2014, when she reached two straight finals in Flushing and Tokyo at the Toray Pan Pacific Open.

5. The No.2 spot on the Road to Singapore leaderboard is on the line.
Not only can Svitolina earn a career-high ranking, but a win on Saturday will also send her shooting up the RTS leaderboard, all the way to No.2. The runner-up will also be in the Top 8, ranked No.5. Svitolina would make be making her debut at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global, while Wozniacki qualified four times, most recently in 2014.

6. Svitolina saves her best for the game’s best.
The No.7 seed not only defeated Kerber for the second time this season, but also owns a three-match winning streak on the former No.1, dating back to the China Open in Beijing. She also knocked then-No.1 Serena Williams out of the Olympic tennis event; in her last three encounters with World No.1s, Svitolina’s won two.

7. Wozniacki aims for Miami Open revenge.
Wozniacki and Svitolina played just once before, in the third round of the Miami Open; Svitolina recovered from a set down to defeat the Dane, 5-7, 6-4, 7-6(1) in a late-night match.

8. Svitolina is one win from her biggest title yet.
Svitolina has already racked up five titles in her young career, but all on the International level. She finished runner-up at the Connecticut Open and the Huajin Securities WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai to Agnieszka Radwanska and Petra Kvitova, respectively, and reached the final four last fall in Beijing.

9. Wozniacki returns to the big time.
Barring the US Open final, Wozniacki hadn’t reached a Premier Mandatory or Premier 5 final since 2013 at the BNP Paribas Open. This would be her biggest title since beating Naomi Osaka in the Tokyo final last fall.

10. The final takes place after a rousing doubles championship match.
Before Wozniacki and Svitolina hit the courts, new Road to Singapore leaderboard No.1s Andrea Hlavackova and Peng Shuai face Olympic Gold medalists Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina. The Russians are into their second final of the season while Hlavackova are in their third, including the Australian Open.

KEY INFORMATION:
Tournament Level: Premier 5
Prize Money: $2,413,250
Draw Size: 56 main draw (8 byes)/48 qualifying
Main Draw Ceremony: Friday, July 22, 5.30pm EDT
Qualifying Dates: Saturday, July 23 – Sunday, July 24 
First Day of Main Draw: Monday, July 25
Singles Final: Sunday, July 31, 1pm EST
Doubles Final: Sunday, July 31, following singles final

MUST FOLLOW SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS:
@WTA
@WTA_Insider – WTA Insider, Senior Writer Courtney Nguyen
@CoupeRogers – official tournament handle
Get involved in conversations with the official hashtags, #CoupeRogers and #WTA.

TOURNAMENT NOTES:
· Defending champion Belinda Bencic is one of several high-profile absentee, missing out due to a nagging wrist injury.
· There have been 12 different champions in the past 13 Rogers Cups. There are three returning champions in the field this year – Petra Kvitova (2012), Agnieszka Radwanska  (2014) and Serena Williams (2013, 2011, 2001).
· While Williams has lifted the title three times, on each occasion it has been in Toronto (where the tournament is staged during odd numbered years).
· For the rest of the major storylines following Friday’s draw, read the WTA Insider’s analysis.

WILDCARDS:
Françoise Abanda (CAN), Caroline Garcia (FRA), Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN)

WITHDRAWALS:
Victoria Azarenka (pregnancy), Irina-Camelia Begu, Belinda Bencic (left wrist), Jelena Jankovic (left leg), Lesia Tsurenko (left thigh), Caroline Wozniacki (left elbow)