Charleston: Daria Kasatkina vs Irina-Camelia Begu
Daria Kasatkina takes on Irina-Camelia Begu in the quarterfinals of the Volvo Car Open.
Daria Kasatkina takes on Irina-Camelia Begu in the quarterfinals of the Volvo Car Open.
Karolina Pliskova takes on Daria Kasatkina in the quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas Open.
After a thrilling three set match on Charleston’s Stadium court, good friends Daria Kasatkina and Daria Gavrilova met at the net for an amusing attempt at a fake-out handshake.
Serena Williams takes on Agnieszka Radwanska in the semifinals of the BNP Paribas Open.
Simona Halep takes on Yaroslava Shvedova in the third round of the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open.
Three-time champion Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova looked on course for a fourth Abierto GNP Seguros title after taking down No.3 seed Caroline Garcia in straight sets and booking a place into the final.
Jelena Jankovic tries her hand at the WTA Frame Challenge.
Agnieszka Radwanska has Wednesday’s shot of the day at the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open.
CHARLESTON, SC, USA – Kicking off finals Sunday at the Volvo Car Open, World No.1 Bethanie Mattek-Sands treated the Charleston crowd to a rousing doubles match alongside partner and Australian Open co-champion Lucie Safarova.
Up against a newly formed Czech duo in Lucie Hradecka and Katerina Siniakova, Mattek-Sands and Safarova recovered from a tough second set to rebound in the match tie-break, winning, 6-4, 1-6, 10-7, to take home their second title of the season – and Mattek-Sands’ third overall.
The win triggered a lengthy celebration from two of the tour’s biggest personalities, and even a revival of the Shaun T-choereographed dance the two debuted after winning in Melbourne.
Check out some the best photos from after the match right here, courtesy of the Volvo Car Open:
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.
She does it! ?@Vika7 Azarenka captures @BNPParibasOpen crown & is heading back to the Top 10! #WTA https://t.co/bapdsRCuiu
— WTA (@WTA) March 20, 2016