CNN Open Court: Kerber's Homecoming
CNN Open Court relives Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber’s triumphant homecoming in Leipzig.
CNN Open Court relives Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber’s triumphant homecoming in Leipzig.
After the world was done holding its breath throughout a tense final, the tweets came pouring in for US Open champion Angelique Kerber and finalist Karolina Pliskova.
Check out some of the best tweets, right here on wtatennis.com!
First up, here from the woman herself, who took time from her various post-win duties to post this celebratory message:
US OPEN CHAMPION!!! WOW, I DID IT!!! pic.twitter.com/YpWv5A7jaM
— Angelique Kerber (@AngeliqueKerber) September 10, 2016
Some of Germany’s biggest sports stars at home and abroad took to Twitter to celebrate Kerber’s achievement, including NBA star Dirk Nowitzki, F1 pilot Nico Rosberg and a whole host of World Cup winning soccer players.
Angieeeee. Wahnsinn.
— Dirk Nowitzki (@swish41) September 10, 2016
Good luck for the final, Angelique!! ✊?✊? ??? Viel Glück, du schaffst das!!! #tennis #usopen #no1 @AngeliqueKerber pic.twitter.com/2Ux7P6XZ5q
— Nico Rosberg (@nico_rosberg) September 9, 2016
?????? Gratulation @AngeliqueKerber. Gratulation an die Nummer 1 der Welt! Wow
— Toni Kroos (@ToniKroos) September 10, 2016
A fantastic year: 2 Grand Slams, Olympic silver medallist, new World No. 1! Congrats, @AngeliqueKerber ???? #USOpen pic.twitter.com/E9TPYkfrxv
— Basti Schweinsteiger (@BSchweinsteiger) September 10, 2016
Yessss! @AngeliqueKerber #USOpen ????????? Congratulations!
— Maria Höfl-Riesch (@Maria) September 10, 2016
Of course, the WTA’s stars and legends were also tuned in to the final, and they had plenty of words for both of the finalists after the match.
Here are the best messages from Kerber and Pliskova’s WTA peers:
Congratulations @AngeliqueKerber on your @usopen championship & being the new #1 player in the world. @WTA
— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) September 10, 2016
Congrats @AngeliqueKerber ??! And @KaPliskova for an amazing #USOpen so proud of you?
— Kristina Mladenovic (@KikiMladenovic) September 10, 2016
What an amazing week for @AngeliqueKerber ! Number 1 and #USOpen Champion ?? Congratulations!???? @usopen pic.twitter.com/WrieS6X8hZ
— Gabriela Sabatini (@sabatinigabyok) September 10, 2016
Congrats @AngeliqueKerber 4 your 1st @usopen title & n° #1 ranking @WTA,but so impressed by @KaPliskova @FilaTennis pic.twitter.com/PByoi32r0O
— Marion bartoli (@bartoli_marion) September 10, 2016
Congrats to @AngeliqueKerber ?Started the year #10 & made a great career, phenomenal in 9 months!!!??#1????
— Tracy Austin (@thetracyaustin) September 10, 2016
A big congrats to @AngeliqueKerber on her 2nd major of the year AND becoming the worlds #1. It's a feat only a few have accomplished….??
— rennae stubbs (@rennaestubbs) September 10, 2016
So much valuable experience 4 @KaPliskova @usopen This just beginning.Belief behind powerful groundies & serve✅Getting stronger✅Major-soon.
— Tracy Austin (@thetracyaustin) September 11, 2016
Congrats @AngeliqueKerber for an amazing #USOpen brava ragazza!!!?
— Flavia Pennetta (@flavia_pennetta) September 11, 2016
Kerber ☝ #fav
— Daria Gavrilova (@Daria_gav) September 10, 2016
Amazing from both girls. @AngeliqueKerber that's why your now the world no1 ?
— Melanie South (@melaniesouth) September 10, 2016
Wow wow wow what a season @AngeliqueKerber ?! 2 slams ??, the olympic silver medal?, new world number one ☝, that's pretty cool!!! #congrats
— Alize Cornet (@alizecornet) September 11, 2016
No.11 seed Mirjana Lucic-Baroni outlasted Aleksandra Krunic to ease into the second round of the Volvo Car Open in Charleston.
February was packed with plenty of amazing shots – we narrowed it down to the five best.
In the end it was Agnieszka Radwanska who, in a match full of highlights against Roberta Vinci at the Qatar Total Open, played one of those shots to rule them all in the quarterfinals. As Radwanska makes her way to net, you know something magical is about to happen; sure enough, the Pole taps a volley from behind the back to put an exclamation point on an already-entertaining rally in Doha – taking home this month’s top votes.
Click here to watch all of February’s finalists.
Final Results for February’s WTA Shot Of The Month
1. Agnieszka Radwanska (84%)
2. Jelena Jankovic (6%)
3. Elina Svitolina (4%)
4. Garbiñe Muguruza (3%)
5. Belinda Bencic (3%)
2016 WTA Shot of the Month Winners
January: Caroline Wozniacki
How it works:
Five shots are selected by wtatennis.com
Winner is then determined by a fan vote on wtatennis.com
Laura Siegemund takes on Venus Williams in the second round of the Volvo Car Open.
SINGAPORE – The Russian team of Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina has qualified for this year’s BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.
Makarova and Vesnina are set to make their third appearance as a team at the WTA Finals in Singapore. The pair reached the final on their debut appearance in 2013, and fell in the opening round in 2014. The Russians also qualified for the year-end event in 2015, but had to withdraw due to an injury to Makarova.
“Congratulations to Ekaterina and Elena on qualifying for the BNP Paribas Finals Singapore presented by SC Global,” said WTA CEO Steve Simon. “This team is a favorite in any tournament, and we are thrilled to welcome them back to Singapore.”
Makarova and Vesnina began their partnership in 2012 and together have won seven titles, including two Grand Slams at 2013 Roland Garros and 2014 US Open. This year the Russian duo began the year as a team at the Mutua Madrid Open in April, where they reached the semifinals. The pair continued their success by clinching back-to-back titles at the Rogers Cup in Montréal and the Gold Medal at the Rio Olympics. In addition, they reached two finals at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome and Roland Garros. As a result, they have earned the third slot in the doubles field at the WTA Finals Singapore.
“It’s definitely very exciting to qualify for the WTA Finals in Singapore,” said Vesnina. “It was our goal when we started playing, started winning matches and started winning good tournaments, we knew that we wanted to be there. We were there two years ago and we really liked it. Last year, unfortunately, we couldn’t go because of the injury. It’s an amazing tournament – we have some great memories from there and we’re really looking forward to being there.”
“The WTA Finals is such a great tournament – and for our first year when we came out on the court, it was a full stadium for doubles,” added Makarova. “It was so fun to play out there and the fans are so excited and supportive. The whole organization and the country, it’s nice to be there.”
The current Road to Singapore Leaderboard as follows (as of September 12, 2016):
Check out Alizé Cornet’s shot of the day against Donna Vekic at the Abierto BNP Seguros.
Serena Williams’ Signature Statement Collection hit the runway at New York Fashion Week, and Venus Williams and Caroline Wozniacki were in the front row to take it all in.
Mirjana Lucic-Baroni takes on Shelby Rogers in the quarterfinals of the Volvo Car Open.
CHARLESTON, SC, USA – Mirjana Lucic-Baroni took down the hometown favorite Shelby Rogers in three sets to reach the semifinals at the Volvo Car Open.
35-year-old Lucic-Baroni – the oldest player left in the draw – first played in Charleston in 2001, the same year her opponent Rogers was a ball girl at this very tournament. The Croat had never been past the round of 16 on the green clay, but on Friday night she mounted a spirited comeback to oust Rogers from her home tournament, 6-7(7), 6-1, 6-1.
“It was beautiful in a way,” Lucic-Baroni said in her post-match press conference. “It was difficult playing against the crowd, because Shelby is from here. It’s normal. It’s always tough, but I felt they were very respectful. They were cheering for their home girl, and it’s totally normal.
“The wind was what was really difficult today. It was incredibly hard, and the fact that I came out yesterday and today playing some great tennis and winning in these conditions, it’s incredible, really, really good effort.
.@Shelby_Rogers_ saves set point and claims the first set 7-6(7)! #VolvoCarOpen pic.twitter.com/MNRXGG6ySb
— WTA (@WTA) 7 de abril de 2017
Just one point made the difference for Rogers as she took the rollercoaster opening set under blustery conditions – which Lucic-Baroni described as, “I would rather play with a live lion running around in normal conditions than play in today’s weather.”
The Charleston-native leveraged the vocal home support to inspire an early comeback as she found herself down a break with Lucic-Baroni serving for the set at 5-4. She dodged a Lucic-Baroni set point to take it to a tiebreaker, then denied the Croat another one as she edged through to take the opening set.
But the big-hitting Lucic-Baroni refused to fold, and reeled in the errors from her all-or-nothing game to shut out Rogers from the next two sets. She didn’t allow Rogers a single break opportunity as she broke the American five times in a row to snatch a dizzying ten games in a row before claiming the match – and her spot in the semifinals – in two hours and thirteen minutes.
Third Semifinal of 2017!
Lucic-Baroni downs Rogers 6-7(7), 6-1, 6-1 at @VolvoCarOpen! pic.twitter.com/Ir5ELxURsr
— WTA (@WTA) 7 de abril de 2017
“I was just trying to fight for every point,” Rogers reflected in her post-match press conference. “Like it was definitely back and forth. I thought we had a very good level. It was super entertaining; and bad luck, I wish I could have kept it up.
“But a lot of positives to take from that, and you know, moving forward into the clay season, this week’s been great for me, and so many good things to move forward and build on.”
Meanwhile, Lucic-Baroni had nothing but praise for her opponent, lauding her to the adoring Charleston crowd.
“You guys should be so proud of Shelby,” she said. “She’s such a wonderful girl, amazing tennis player with a super bright future and present as well. You should really be proud, she represents [Charleston] beautifully.”