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Injury Rules Kerber Out Of Bastad

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

Angelique Kerber’s hopes of bouncing back from her Wimbledon heartache with a title were scuppered when injury forced her to withdraw from the Ericsson Open.

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News | WTA Tennis English

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

Elina Svitolina closed out a competitive Aussie squad while Fed Cup debutantes Natalia Vikhlyantseva and Rebecca Sramkova sealed impressive World Group II wins over Chinese Taipei and Italy, respectively.

Catch up on how Day 2 went down:

Ukraine 3-1 Australia

Svitolina started off Day 1 with a comeback win over Ashleigh Barty, and picked up where she left off against Daria Gavrilova, taking a 6-3, 6-2 win to lead Ukraine back into World Group I Play-Offs.

Not content to leave Kharkiv empty-handed, Australia pulled off a thrilling three-set win in the doubles rubber, with former Grand Slam finalists Barty and Casey Dellacqua beating Nadiia Kichenok and Olga Savchuk, 6-2, 2-6, 10-8.

Russia 3-1 Chinese Taipei

Coming into Day 2 on level terms, it was up to the experienced Ekaterina Makarova to keep her young teammates ahead in Moscow. Her opponent has had success against big-time Russians in the past, having knocked out then-World No.1 Dinara Safina back in 2009 at the Toray Pan Pacific Open, and was eager for another upset on Sunday.

Twice recovering from deficits against the former World No.85, Makarova edged over the finish line, 6-4, 7-5, opening the door for rising teen sensation Natalia Vikhlyantseva to clinch the tie.

Fresh off a run to the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy semifinal, Vikhlyantseva put down a decisive, 6-1, 6-2 win over Lee Ya-Hsuan.

The win earned praise froum countrywoman and reigning Olympic Gold medalist Elena Vesnina, who thought the youngster handled the situation like an old pro:

Slovakia 3-2 Italy

Italy won their fourth Fed Cup title in 2013, but could be on the verge of relegation into Zonal play after a shocking loss to Slovakia.

Level after Day 1, former World No.5 Daniela Hantuchova earned her first Top 50 win since 2015 to defeat Sara Errani, 6-2, 6-0, setting the stage for a tense fourth rubber between Rebecca Sramkova and Francesca Schiavone.

The 2010 French Open champion declared 2017 would be her last, but couldn’t tap into that inspiration against an on-fire Sramkova, who hit through the Italian veteran in her Fed Cup debut.

Clinching the tie, 6-2, 6-4, Slovakia moved onto the World Group I Play-Offs, while Italy faces a must-win tie to prevent descending into the Euro-Africa Zone for the first time since 1997.

Belgium 3-1 Romania

Belgium pulled off an dramatic win over Romania, with Elise Mertens taking a 3-6, 7-5, 7-5 win over Irina-Camelia Begu.

Mertens started the year debuting in the Top 100 with a title run at the Hobart International, and held her nerve to see off Begu and clinch the tie for Belgium.

Romania roared into World Group back in 2015 with the help of former World No.2 Simona Halep, but with Halep nursing an injured knee, the 2014 French Open finalist could only watch from the sidelines as her team falls to within one match of returning to Euro-Africa Zone I.

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A Pair Of Perfect 10s In Montreal

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

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.

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Larsson Too Strong For Beck In Bastad

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

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.

“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. 

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Where To Watch: Montréal

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

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)

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