Two-time BNP Paribas Open finalist Svetlana Kuznetsova ended an impressive run from countrywoman Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova to reach her first semifinal in nearly a decade.
INDIAN WELLS, CA, USA – Each year, WTA players vote for their favorite tournament in six different categories, and the BNP Paribas Open earned the disctinction of Premier Mandatory Tournament of the Year for the third successive season.
New Tournament Director and former ATP No.2 Tommy Haas accepted the award last week from WTA CEO Steve Simon, who was joined by Britain’s top-ranked talent, Johanna Konta.
Click here to check out the full list of winners.
Haas has been making the rounds in his new role at this year’s tournament, posting several photos on his official Instagram:
From Malaysia and Mexico, players have jetted into the States for the start of three US swing events.
And after the rain delays elsewhere, they have been basking in the Sunshine State. Indian Wells boasts stunning mountain views as well as wonderful weather – so it’s no wonder that WTA stars love their time in California.
Right in the heart of the state’s Desert Resort communities, Indian Wells is the ideal place for rest and relaxation as well as fun and frolics. It’s home to fabulous spas, perfect for a spot of indulgence, and excellent shopping, with everything from boutiques to busy malls – and if you’re lucky you may bump into Karolina Pliskova, who’s looking forward to grabbing some retail therapy.
“When I am playing, I try to stay focused on the tennis,” she says. “But after the tournament, I will make sure to go to the Cabazon Outlets.”
And when they’re not on court, players can also enjoy dining at one of the city’s award-winning restaurants – such as Nobu, one of Svetlana Kuznetsova’s favourites.
“My friend staying with me is a great chef, so he is cooking healthy meals,” says the Russian. “But when I want to splurge, the Nobu overlooking Stadium 2 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden is amazing.”
There’s plenty more on offer too – take a tip from California girl CoCo Vandeweghe and try cruising around the desert in a four-wheeler.
“I go four-wheeling pretty much every year I come out to Indian Wells,” she reveals. “I play tennis for a living, but try to do something else fun and adventurous wherever I go.”
If you want to join your favourite tennis stars and explore Indian Wells, make sure you note Cambridge Global Payments’ Travel Tip: When booking a flight to your favorite tennis tournament, try to book on a Tuesday afternoon. Research shows that is when fares are typically the most favorable!
No.8 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova edged past Karolina Pliskova in two tiebreak sets to reach her third final at the BNP Paribas Open, where Elena Vesnina awaits.
In today’s SAP Stat Of The Day, Svetlana Kuznetsova notches a big milestone and reaches her 40th career WTA final.
See how Svetlana Kuznetsova reached the final of the BNP Paribas Open.
Hear from Elena Vesnina, the new champion of the BNP Paribas Open.
PARIS, France – Defending champion Serena Williams outlasted an inspired Kristina Mladenovic and weathered a two and a half hour rain delay to advance to the second week of Roland Garros, 6-4, 7-6(10).
After breezing through her first two matches here in less than one hour each, Williams faced her first big test of the tournament against French No.1 Mladenovic, who relishes playing on big stages in her country. In fact, of Mladenovic’s five career Top 10 wins, four have come here in Paris with two of those taking place right here in Roland Garros.
Mladenovic seemed comfortable as ever on Philippe Chatrier, the biggest stage of all, though ahead of the match she admitted to feeling the mixed emotions many players experience when playing against the World No.1.
“I have to take it very positively,” she said in her press conference. “This is an experience, something to do, it’s a dream. I grew up watching Serena play. Then I’m going to play against her.
“I’m extremely happy because this is a challenge. Well, this being said, it’s going to be very difficult.”
Mladenovic and Williams kept pace during a tense first set, which saw Williams brush away all four of Mladenovic’s break point chances while letting slip away two of her own. Mladenovic’s sneaky drop shots caught Williams wrong-footed on more than one occasion, and made for some spectacular rallies during the course of the contest.
(Very Very) Hot Shot de Kristina Mladenovic contre Serena Williams ! ??? #RG16 https://t.co/r8ZLJJ1IFd
— Roland Garros (@rolandgarros) May 28, 2016
But Williams turned up the heat when it counted. A drawn out battle at 4-4 saw Mladenovic bring up three break points, but the American blasted back to back aces to deny her. A lone break in the final game gave Williams the first set after almost an hour.
In the second set, Williams continued to keep the pressure on the Frenchwoman’s serve: Williams made her have to come back from 0-40 down to hold serve at 2-2, and then again in her next service game.
A Mladenovic ace sent the match into a tiebreak right as the rain, which had been threatening all match long, finally broke into a downpour.
Two and a half hours of rain delay later, the players were back on the court for the decisive battle. Mladenovic quickly built up a 3-0 lead, but it was short-lived as Williams broke back and rattled off four straight points to bring up her first of five match points.
Mladenovic rallied valiantly, saving match point after match point – including one with a gutsy drop shot, her go-to weapon in this match – but the World No.1 wouldn’t be denied a fifth time, and Williams took the match after a two-hour and thirteen minute thriller.
“I just made it a point to play my game,” Williams said of the tiebreak. “Up until that point I had not been playing my game. I was playing really defensive. It’s not me.
“So I just wanted to be Serena out there.”
Huge celebration from @serenawilliams. How much do you think that win meant to her? #RG16 #InsideRG pic.twitter.com/cIl9hKxiLm
— Roland Garros (@rolandgarros) May 28, 2016
The stats reveal just how evenly matched Mladenovic and Williams were throughout the match: both players hit three aces and struck 27 winners, though Williams hit 31 unforced errors to Mladenovic’s 35. The difference makers proved to be Mladenovic’s vulnerable serve – she hit seven double faults in total – and Williams’ dominance at the net, winning 15 of 25 net points.
“I think she played well,” Williams said afterwards. “I feel like I made a tremendous amount of errors. But, you know, I feel like she kind of forced me to. She forced me to go for it.”
With the win, Williams brings up a fourth round match against Elina Svitolina, who earlier in the day defeated former champion Ana Ivanovic.
Find out what Madison Keys had to say before the start of her campaign at the Miami Open.