Tennis News

MELBOURNE, Australia – Monica Puig survived a full-on service onslaught from Kristyna Pliskova, who fired off a record 31 aces in their second-round match before losing 4-6, 7-6(6), 9-7.

“At one point I just had to laugh, during the changeover, because it was so unbelievable,” Puig commented after the win.

Pliskova’s dominant serve is the hallmark of her game, and it was in full strength during the match. Her 31 aces set a new women’s tennis record, breaking Sabine Lisicki’s previous record of 27 aces last year in Birmingham.

But even making tennis history was no consolation for the tough loss.

“I don’t care about that right now,” Pliskova said to press afterwards. “It’s nice, but I wish I could have hit like 20 and won.”

Puig, who made the biggest final of her career last week in Sydney, approached the booming serve by keeping a positive mentality even when the win seemed just out of reach – she saved three match points in a row in the second set tie-break and another two in the third set.

“I think I just tried to stay as positive as possible, even though it was difficult at times,” Puig said. “You know, you get upset: she fires another ace and you’re just like, okay! I just tried to stay relaxed in those important moments.”

“I think it’s just about believing that you can come out of a moment like that, that at any moment you can get a second wind and come out of it.”

Up next for the 22-year-old Puerto Rican is the No.4 seed Agnieszka Radwanska. Radwanska defeated the resurgent Eugenie Bouchard 6-4, 6-2 in the second round (read about the win – here).

The all-time WTA leaderboard for most aces in a single match (WTA main draw-level only):

31 – Kristyna Pliskova
[l. Monica Puig in 2016 Australian Open second round, 4-6, 7-6(6), 9-7]

27 – Sabine Lisicki
[d. Belinda Bencic in 2015 Birmingham second round, 6-1, 7-6(4)]

24 – Serena Williams
[d. Victoria Azarenka in 2012 Wimbledon semifinals, 6-3, 7-6(6)]

24 – Kaia Kanepi
[d. Lucie Safarova in 2008 Tokyo [Japan Open] first round, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4]

23 – Serena Williams
[d. Zheng Jie in 2012 Wimbledon third round, 6-7(5), 6-2, 9-7]

INDIAN WELLS, CA, USA – USANA Health Sciences and the WTA tour have kicked off the fourth annual Aces for Humanity campaign in support of the USANA True Health Foundation, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide immediate and long-term assistance to suffering populations worldwide. USANA is a global nutritional company and has been a longstanding partner of the WTA since 2006.

Beginning with the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California this week, every ace served at a Premier-level WTA event will translate into a donation for the Foundation. For every ace served by the four USANA Brand Ambassadors (Caroline Wozniacki, Eugenie Bouchard, Monica Puig and Zheng Saisai), the WTA will contribute $20 toward the campaign, while every ace served by any other WTA player will translate into a $5 donation.

Collectively, 493 aces were recorded by USANA Brand Ambassadors during the 2016 campaign, and through this program and other charitable efforts, the WTA has contributed over $140,000 to the USANA True Health Foundation since 2011.

“We are thankful to be partnering with the WTA and our Brand Ambassadors for another year of Aces for Humanity,” said Brian Paul, the Foundation’s Executive Director of Communications.

“One hundred percent of every dollar donated to the Foundation goes directly toward charitable purposes, and the money raised through this campaign has allowed us to aid thousands of lives each year. We look forward to continuing our efforts alongside the WTA and doing our part to make the world a happier and healthier place.”

In 2016, money raised through several fundraising projects, including Aces for Humanity, allowed the Foundation to do the following:
• Provide over 6.2 million meals through its partnership with the Children’s Hunger Fund.
• Supply over $180,000 to support health education programs, food and home construction.
• Give $738,722 in Usanimals children’s multivitamins to orphanages, clinics and mercy networks throughout the world.
• Donate $180,234 in additional relief to New Zealand, Philippines, Hong Kong, France, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, and Mexico.

“I’m proud to be a USANA Brand Ambassador not only because I believe in the products but because USANA is committed to making a difference in the lives of those suffering and in need,” said Olympic Gold Medalist Monica Puig. “USANA is all about health and wellness, and through the USANA True Health Foundation, it’s for all people. I’m honored to help raise awareness for this worthwhile cause.”

This year the program will also involve regular social giveaways, including autographed tennis balls and USANA products. For official rules, head to wtatennis.com.

“The WTA is proud to continue its support of the remarkable efforts of the USANA True Health Foundation,” said Steve Simon, WTA CEO and Chairman. “Through our longstanding partnership with USANA and the Aces for Humanity campaign, we are able to provide meaningful assistance to those in need, which is something we greatly value.”

#AcesForHumanity Fan Giveaway

It’s simple: before each WTA Premier tournament guess how many total aces will be hit.
First up is the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. Last year there was a total of 489 aces hit. It’s now your turn, take your best guess of how many will be hit this year.

How To Enter:
• Follow @WTA and @USANAFoundation on Twitter and before each WTA Premier tournament tweet the number of aces you predict will be hit during the whole tournament (Singles, Main Draw)
• Include the hashtag #AcesForHumanity
• Indian Wells deadline is Thursday, March 9 at 11:59pm ET.
• The winner will be announced Monday, March 20.

Aces For Humanity is a joint WTA and USANA initiative that benefits the USANA True Health Foundation, which provides critical human necessities to those in suffering or in need around the globe.

For full rules on how to enter, click here.

January was defined by five breakthrough players who brought some impressive performances to the first month of 2016. Which one soared the highest?

Have a look at the nominees for January’s Breakthrough Performance of the Month and cast your vote before Thursday at 11:59pm ET! The winner will be announced Friday, February 8.

January 2016 WTA Breakthrough Performance of the Month Finalists:

Daria Kasatkina: Building on the momentum she’d started at the end of last season – reaching the third round of the US Open as a lucky loser and the semifinals of the Kremlin Cup as a qualifier – 18-year-old Daria Kasatkina began 2016 with a bang by defeating Venus Williams in three sets at the ASB Classic. A former junior French Open champion, the Russian came to Melbourne full of confidence and promptly upset No.27 seed Anna Karolina Schmiedlova in the first round. Backing up that win over fellow junior prodigy Ana Konjuh, Kasatkina’s run ended at the hands of World No.1 Serena Williams in the third round.

Johanna Konta: Konta’s breakthrough also involved a win over the elder of the Williams sisters; unseeded at the Australian Open, Konta took out the No.8 seed in two decisive sets en route to her first Grand Slam semifinal, where she lost to eventual champion Angelique Kerber. During her historic two weeks in Melbourne – where she became the first Brit to reach the final four Down Under since Sue Barker in 1977 – Konta outlastes 2015 Australian Open semifinalist Ekaterina Makarova in the fourth round, capturing an 8-6 final set just to reach her first career major quarterfinal, and went one step better when she ended the fairytale run of Zhang Shuai.

Zhang Shuai: Zhang came into the Australian Open without ever having won a Grand Slam main draw match in 14 previous attempts. She earned her first victory in emphatic style, however, when she blasted past No.2 seed Simona Halep in straight sets. The qualifier backed up her win with efficient wins over Hobart champion Alizé Cornet and Varvara Lepchenko – and survived a tricky fourth round with No.15 seed and 2015 semifinalist Madison Keys – before she ran out of gas on her eighth match of the tournament (three in qualifying, five in main draw) against Konta. Zhang’s run nonetheless guaranteed she would be the new Chinese No.1, a prestigious mantle with Li Na having recently retired and the 2016 Olympic Games on the horizon.

Samantha Crawford: The powerful young American has long struggled with injuries and inconsistencies since winning the 2012 US Open girl’s singles title, but had an impressive week at the Apia International Sydney. Unseeded in qualifying, she took out 2014 champion Tsvetana Pironkova to reach the main draw and hit through Belinda Bencic and Andrea Petkovic to reach the semifinals, where she lost to eventual champion Victoria Azarenka. With textbook technique and effortless power, Crawford is within spitting distance of the Top 100 thanks to her run in Sydney, and should be one to watch as her ranking continues to increase.

Daria Gavrilova: Hometown favorite Daria Gavrilova rode a wave of support into her first-ever Grand Slam second week at the Australian Open. Dismissing No.6 seed Petra Kvitova in the second round, the Russian-born Aussie won a classic third round encounter against Kristina Mladenovic and bageled Carla Suárez Navarro in her next match before falling in three. Gavrilova is another former junior champion, winning the US Open title in 2010, but a torn ACL stunted her progress and kept her off the tour for nearly all of 2014. Last year, she won the 2015 WTA Rising Star of the Year Award and is set to reach a career-high ranking of No.33 following her run Down Under.

How it works:

Finalists are selected by wtatennis.com
Winner is then determined by a fan vote on wtatennis.com