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Champion's Corner: Roberta Vinci

Posted: Jan 01, 1970

Ok, maybe all that retirement talk was premature.

On Sunday, Roberta Vinci ended a two-and-a-half year title drought, beating Belinda Bencic 6-4, 6-3 to win the inaugural St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy. The title, her first since Palermo in 2013 and her first-ever on the Premier level, brought her career tally to 10 titles and punctuated a dreamy six-month span that has seen Vinci play the best tennis of her career. She will rise to No.13 on Monday; with little to defend until August, a Top 10 debut could be coming soon.

Vinci was ranked outside the Top 50 last summer when she made a run to the Rogers Cup quarterfinals, losing in straight sets to Serena Williams. Of course, we know what’s happened since then. One month later she upended Serena at the US Open to make her first major final and continued that momentum into the fall, where she made the semifinals at the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open and Huajin Securities WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai, losing to eventual champion Venus Williams both times.

At the end of the season, Vinci told reporters in Zhuhai that 2016 would be her final season. Now, after beating both Bencic and Ana Ivanovic to win St. Petersburg, Vinci admits she may have to revisit the decision later this season. “I could change my mind,” Vinci told WTA Insider. “I don’t want to play more than two or three years for sure. But yeah, maybe not this is my last year. We will see at the end of the season.”

WTA Insider caught up with Vinci after her St. Petersburg victory to discuss the current state of her game, more retirement thoughts, and the surprising reason she doesn’t consider herself “a real Italian.”

WTA Insider: St. Petersburg is a brand new tournament on the calendar this year. What made you decide to play here?
Vinci: Why not? It was a new tournament. I prefer to play. After the Australian Open I spent 10 days off at home. No Fed Cup for me. Just good preparation to come here and I won a great tournament.

WTA Insider: When you returned home after Melbourne, how did you assess your start to the season? Was it a good January or a disappointing one?
Vinci: No, it was a good start of the season. I always play so bad in Australia. This year I played so good in Brisbane, Sydney too. I reached the third round of the Australian Open. For me it was a good start and I’m really happy that I’m confident and in good form and I won here.

WTA Insider: What does it mean for you to win your first title since 2013?
Vinci: It’s a lot for me. It’s an amazing moment. I’m not young. I’m almost done. I’m really happy. I always tried to my best. It’s not easy to practice every single day. For me this tournament was a fantastic moment.

WTA Insider: You keep saying that you’re almost done. When I asked you in Wuhan you said this would be your last season. Any thoughts about changing your mind now?
Vinci: I don’t want to think about this right now. We are in February. Of course I could change my mind. I don’t want to play more than two or three years for sure.
But yeah, maybe not this is my last year. We will see at the end of the season. If I can still motivate and I’m still good, why not? But I don’t want to think about it right now. I just want to enjoy my victory here.

WTA Insider: You’re playing the best tennis of your career right now. What’s the difference? What’s changed?
Vinci: I don’t know the difference but I’ve been playing so good since Toronto of last year. So many points, so many results. I don’t have a secret. Maybe just relaxed outside the court and enjoy.

WTA Insider: You’re up to No.13 now and getting close to breaking into the Top 10.
Vinci: I don’t want to think about the ranking. I’m almost Top 10 but we will see. So happy to be No.13 and we will see.

WTA Insider: One thing that’s clear is you seem so much fitter now compared to 10 years ago. Do you think you’re fitter now?
Vinci: Yeah, much more better than 10 years ago. I lost some kilos and I run a lot more than when I was young.

WTA Insider: Why do you think you’re fitter now at 33 than when you were in your early 20s?
Vinci: I don’t know. When I was young maybe it was difficult for me to practice and stay focused every single day. Now for me it’s much better. I have more experience. I feel more mature, much more than when I was young that’s for sure.

WTA Insider: So what will you to celebrate? Are you still headed to Dubai for next week’s Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships?
Vinci: Tomorrow I will go to Dubai and I will arrive late there and I will play the next day. I’m a little bit tired but happy. Tonight there is a tournament party and we will celebrate there. And then go to bed.

WTA Insider: What’s your celebratory drink of choice? Beer? Wine?
Vinci: I don’t like beer or wine! Just a Coca-Cola. I’m not a real Italian!

WTA Insider: Really? You’re breaking my heart, Roberta…
Vinci: Maybe tonight I can drink a little bit of wine. Maybe.

WTA Insider: It’s Valentine’s Day, you know.
Vinci: It’s true. Ok. One glass of wine. Just one.

All photos courtesy of Getty Images.

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Venus Gears Up To Take On 2017… And 2018

Posted: Jan 01, 1970

TAMPA, FL, USA – Venus Williams might be gearing up for the 2017 WTA season, but the former No.1 is already outfitted through 2018.

Venus – who is set to start the year in Auckland – took some time off from her busy off-season preparations to debut the latest collection of Eleven By Venus, called Casablanca, as well as reveal some long-term career plans.

“I design all of my collections in advance, so while we’re just debuting this season’s collection I’ve actually got everything planned through 2018,” Venus said, speaking at an EleVen event in Tampa where she was showcasing the new collection.

“We’ve got all our designs ready for next year and the year after.”

Venus Williams

Her meticulous planning and commitment to EleVen has definitely showed, with her Prism collection that debuted at the US Open being named one of the Top 8 women’s tennis fashion moments of 2016.

“Last season’s collection, Prism, was inspired by a prism of light. Our inspiration was all the different colors in there, we covered the full spectrum – literally! And so Casablanca is what’s left over: the black and the white.”

“It’s just really classic motifs of black and white. When you think of the movie Casablanca, it’s a classic love story, it’s black and white. That’s really what we brought to this line, a real classic feeling. Black, white, and a little bit of red.”

Venus Williams

While her off-court entrepreneurial spirit keeps her always busy, on the court the seven-time Grand Slam champion still has just one mission.

“To win every match! Hello!” Venus laughed, adding:

“I’ve been working hard in the gym and getting back on the court. I just love the game, I really do. I love the challenge. It’s been such a part of my life that it’s hard to imagine life without it.

“I’m just gearing up for 2017 like I’m sure everybody else is.”

Gearing up for 2017 and already outfitted for 2018 – Venus is halfway to her biggest goal: the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

All photos courtesy of EleVen By Venus

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St. Petersburg: Story Of The Tournament

Posted: Jan 01, 1970

The story of the tournament from the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy.

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New Haven: Radwanska vs Flipkens

Posted: Jan 01, 1970

Agnieszka Radwanska takes on Kirsten Flipkens in the quarterfinals of the Connecticut Open.

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Azarenka Checks In With Tennis Channel

Posted: Jan 01, 1970

Victoria Azarenka was the story of 2016’s first quarter. The two-time major champion and former World No.1 rocketed back up the rankings after several seasons of injuries and inconsistencies, winning three titles and becoming the first woman in over a decade to capture the elusive Indian Wells-Miami “Sunshine” Double.

By spring, however, the Belarusian was gone from the game, announcing that she would end her season due to a pregnancy. Azarenka has since been busy preparing for the birth of her first child, but nonetheless granted an interview with Tennis Channel to update fans on her life today.

“My pregnancy’s been a completely different experience from anything I’ve done before,” she says. “In theory, you know the process, but to actually go through it, you truly start to deeply understand the magic of it. It’s been quite a ride, I have to say.

“Tennis is my career, but there’s a different part of life. This was a blessing, a gift from God. I believe I still have a great opportunity to do what I love, as long as I love playing tennis. I do, and this is an opportunity to realize how much I love what I do.”

Azarenka has dedicated her time off to her studies, but has still found time to exercise, playing tennis up to the last six weeks of her pregnancy.

“I’m doing a lot of activities I didn’t have time to do before; being at home and sleeping in my own bed is really a luxury for a traveling athlete.

“I miss the fans. I miss that moment when you go on the court and it’s a go time. As a competitor, I have to find that edge in life. I’ve been able to translate that into my studies for now, but that competitive edge is definitely something I’m missing.”

Addressing the question of a comeback, she gave fans reason to be optimistic that she’ll be back on the court sooner, rather than later.

“I don’t feel I’m missing out on someting I won’t be able to do again. For me, it’s about getting to where I want to be and be back there again. That’s my ultimate goal.

“I don’t put any time frame on myself. I would love to make it as soon as possible, but give myself a reasonable time to fully recover and be ready. I’m not going to rush anything, and it’s hard to tell before the birth actually happens. So, we’ll see, but I’m confident that I’ll be able to play tennis again pretty soon.”

Check out the whole video courtesy of Tennis Channel below:

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Safarova Earns Player Service Award For Third Straight Year

Posted: Jan 01, 1970

Lucie Safarova had much to overcome off the court this season, recovering from an illness that derailed her soaring start to last season and fighting off injuries that delayed her 2016 debut. But once she got going, she showed what made her such a dangerous opponent, particularly in doubles, where she won another major title with Bethanie Mattek-Sands at the US Open, and rode an 18-match winning streak into the final of the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global. Through all of her trials and tribulations,the Czech always finds time to give back to the player community.

As a result of her work in the WTA Player Council, Safarova was awarded the 2016 Peachy Kellmeyer Player Service Award for the third year in a row.

Selected by player vote, the Player Service Award is awarded each year to the player who has done the most for her fellow players. The player can be acknowledged for their efforts made through the Player Council or any other initiative on behalf of the general player population. This award has been voted on by players since 1977. Previous winners include Kim Clijsters, Liezel Huber, Francesca Schiavone, Pam Shriver and Venus Williams.

The Players’ Council consists of eight selected players on the tour that advocate player interests and handle grievances, changes in the tennis schedule and other concerns. Safarova is a part of the council in the 1-20 Ranking Category, alongside Samantha Stosur, Serena Williams and Venus Williams. She’s served on the Council since 2009, earning the respect of her peers through her willingness to help.

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