Vandeweghe Olympic Blog: Episode 2
CoCo Vandeweghe shows off her impressive Olympic pin collection and gives a sneak peek into the Village dining hall in episode 2 of CoCo’s Olympic Video Blog.
CoCo Vandeweghe shows off her impressive Olympic pin collection and gives a sneak peek into the Village dining hall in episode 2 of CoCo’s Olympic Video Blog.
Elina Svitolina has Friday’s shot of the day at the BNP Paribas Open.
FLORIANOPOLIS, Brazil – No.3 seed Monica Puig powered into the Brasil Tennis Cup semifinals after a commanding win over 18-year-old Naomi Osaka, 6-3, 6-4.
Watch live action from Florianopolis this week on WTA Live powered by TennisTV!
Osaka came out swinging from the first point, displaying all the signs of her giant-killing form that has seen her reaching the third round at back to back Grand Slams this year.
“She started off very strong,” Puig said. “I just tried to keep myself there in the match the whole time. I served really well and played well on the long points, too.”
Osaka opened the match by breaking Puig’s serve, but the Puerto Rican has been in strong form all week long and was able to grab the break right back. Puig broke once more for a 3-1 lead, which she backed up with her strong service games to take the opening set. She earned another break in the first game of the second, and closed out the match after an hour and fifteen minutes.
After the match, the Puerto Rican had nothing but praise for her young opponent.
“Obviously, Osaka is super young, and I think she has an incredible potential,” Puig said after the match. “She’s a player who has many strong weapons and a great game. Of course, she’s only 18 years old, so you need to give her more time, because if she stays playing like this she’ll go very, very far.”
Puig is set to face the No.2 seeded Irina-Camelia Begu for a spot in the Brasil Tennis Cup final. The Romanian came through against No.7 seed Nao Hibino 6-2, 6-4.
“I played with Puig earlier this year in Charleston,” Begu said. “That was a really tough match, really close third set. I know it’s going to be a difficult match, but it’s the semifinals of a WTA event – I’m expecting that.”
Begu is one of two Romanians into the semifinals along with Ana Bogdan, who’s set to compete against the No.6 seed Timea Babos in the next round. Much like Puig expressed yesterday, Begu has her own reasons for feeling right at home in Florianopolis.
“Romanians are Latin, so we are very similar,” she said. “We feel good here in Brazil, we feel like home and that’s probably why we play so good here.”
Semis baby! ?? #UnoAUno pic.twitter.com/CiRAdEBoWZ
— Monica Puig (@MonicaAce93) August 3, 2016
Highlights from the second round action on Day 3 at the BNP Paribas Open.
Madison Keys talks through her second round win at the BNP Paribas Open.
Simona Halep takes on Donna Vekic in the second round of the BNP Paribas Open.
RIO DE JANIERO, Brazil – Friday saw the curtain raised on the XXXI Olympiad with a colorful opening ceremony at the magnificent Maracana stadium.
Broadcast to an audience of over three billion, it celebrated Brazil’s culture, history and nature, before former marathon runner Vanderlei de Lima lit the Olympic cauldron. The WTA was well represented on the night, with Caroline Wozniacki carrying in the flag for Denmark.
But what were Wozniacki and company up to before, during and after the show?
Tennis flag bearers!! ???? #Olympics #rio @RafaelNadal pic.twitter.com/H0g1qe7aG6
— Caroline Wozniacki (@CaroWozniacki) August 6, 2016
Almost time to walk ?????????? pic.twitter.com/t5W89w7gVW
— Heather Watson (@HeatherWatson92) 5 August 2016
WOW! What a rush!!! Let's go @TeamUSA @serenawilliams @CoCoVandey @Madison_Keys @SloaneStephens #OpeningCeremony pic.twitter.com/hz3YQ81udg
— Bethanie MattekSands (@BMATTEK) August 6, 2016
Tonight was a night to remember! Officially an olympian! ?? pic.twitter.com/y8izZiRLg5
— Monica Puig (@MonicaAce93) August 6, 2016
What a feeling to be part of this evening,so grateful and humble for being here #czechteam #OpeningCeremony #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/UCX0JBRZle
— Andrea Hlavackova (@AndreaHlavackov) August 6, 2016
Some of the best snaps from the #OpeningCeremony at #Rio2016!
?–> https://t.co/ok9z42ySeS #Olympics pic.twitter.com/4xoKIvQIUY
— WTA (@WTA) August 6, 2016
However, with many in the singles and doubles draws beginning their tournament the following morning, not everyone could enjoy the festivities…
When you're not at the #OpeningCeremony ???? #swissteam #Rio2016 ??? pic.twitter.com/dfSu4hj5AO
— Timea Bacsinszky (@TimeaOfficial) August 5, 2016
Madison Keys reflects on her display at the BNP Paribas Open.
Madison Keys takes on Naomi Osaka at the BNP Paribas Open.
Elena Vesnina takes on Angelique Kerber in the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open.