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News | WTA Tennis English

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

Former World No.1 Maria Sharapova has picked up one of the wildcards for May’s Mutua Madrid Open as she plans her WTA comeback.

“Sharapova requested an invitation to play in the tournament and after considering it, we decided to give her a wildcard,” said Manolo Santana, the tournament director, in a statement.

“Maria is one of the best players of the last 15 years and also a past winner of our tournament. In Madrid she always plays well and I’m sure she will come back to the courts highly motivated and hoping to do well in her first tournaments.”

Sharapova, 29, last won the event in 2014, beating Simona Halep, 1-6 6-2 6-3, in the final.

“Sharapova is one of those players that all tennis fans want to see,” added Mutua Madrid Open CEO and President Gerard Tsobanian. “Her presence in the Caja Mágica is great news for the tournament, for the fans and also for the city of Madrid.”

The Russian makes her return to the tour in Stuttgart in April following her positive test for a banned substance in 2016.

Tickets and season tickets for the Mutua Madrid Open can be purchased at www.madrid-open.com and entradas.com.

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Azarenka Stuns Serena For IW Title

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

INDIAN WELLS, CA, USA – Victoria Azarenka continued her near-perfect start to 2016 by showing vintage form against an out of sorts World No.1 Serena Williams to win the BNP Paribas Open final, 6-4, 6-4, and return to the Top 10.

Watch highlights, interviews and more video from Indian Wells right here on wtatennis.com!

Playing in her first Indian Wells final since 2001, the top seed hadn’t dropped a set through her first five matches but struggled throughout the nearly 90-minute match, converting just one of 10 break point opportunities and striking 33 unforced errors.

Azarenka, by contrast, won 86% of her first serve points, and held off an impressive fightback from the 21-time Grand Slam champion – who won four games in a row with two chances to level the second set from 1-5 down – to win her second Indian Wells title, and first Premier Mandatory event since the 2012 China Open.

A gracious Serena fought back tears during her runner-up speech.

“It was really hard the last moment I had here wasn’t the greatest, so thank you so much,” she said, addressing the crowd.

“Thank you so much for the cheers; I can’t tell you how much it means to me. I can’t even begin to tell you!

“I’m just so happy to be able to stand here again.”

The Belarusian was equally effusive in her praise for Williams, against whom she has now won four of 21 total matches – becoming the only player to defeat the American in more than three championship matches.

“I wanted to first address a personal thank you to Serena. I know how emotional it was for you to be back here and you truly inspired so many people out there to see the type of committment you have to the game. It’s truly inspiring.

“Thank you for that from the bottom of my heart. You are an amazing competitor who changed the game.

“If it wasn’t for you and how hard you work and seeing you play so well, I wouldn’t be as motivated to come back and work so hard. Thank you on behalf of the sport.”

With Sunday’s win, Azarenka will return to the Top 10 for the first time since the summer of 2014, at No.8. Meanwhile, Serena remains atop the WTA rankings heading into the Miami Open, a tournament she has won eight times.

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