Miami: Simona Halep vs Naomi Osaka
Simona Halep takes on Naomi Osaka in the second round of the Miami Open.
Simona Halep takes on Naomi Osaka in the second round of the Miami Open.
BRISBANE, Australia – It was Saturday, January 10, 2009 when a future World No.1 would make her first mark on the WTA tour, as a then-19-year-old Victoria Azarenka took home her very first WTA title at the Brisbane International.
The talented teenager had been knocking on the door for a while; she’d already featured in four finals, including at the previous year’s Gold Coast women’s event, which would merge with the Adelaide men’s tournament to form the Brisbane International.
Azarenka, then ranked World No.16 and seeded two at the tournament, would not be denied a fifth time and routed Marion Bartoli 6-3, 6-1 in the final.
“Everybody says the third time’s the charm but for me it is the fifth one – I’m just glad I got it,” the Belarusian laughed in her post-championship press conference.
“I just go out and play no matter what happens. That probably helped me. It was like playing a regular match – that is what helped me finish it so quickly.”
Azarenka would go on to write her name in the tennis history books and record even more significant milestones on Australian soil; she eventually took home her first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in 2012 and rose to WTA World No.1 for the first time.
But, back in 2009 at Brisbane, Azarenka was just getting started.
So young and happy! Same passion still ? https://t.co/U0iJrD8REt
— victoria azarenka (@vika7) January 10, 2017
Check out more photos of Azarenka’s maiden moment of victory, courtesy of Getty Images:
WTA Insider David Kane | Ajla Tomljanovic’s Miami Open quest may have come to an end, but the resurgent youngster won’t be deterred by on-court setbacks after over a year away from tennis.
Venus Williams remained in orbit in Miami, ousting Patricia Maria Tig in straight sets to set up an intriguing fourth-round match-up with fellow former champion Svetlana Kuznetsova.
MIAMI, FL, USA – The weather might not have been as glorious as expected, but there’s still plenty to do (and tweet about) in Miami.
Elina Svitolina popped along to the Wynwood Walls a few days ago – now Andrea Hlavackova and Cagla Buyukakcay have enjoyed a spot of art in their Miami downtime.
Stopped by #WynwoodWalls because it just seems like place to go in Miami and wasnt disapointed ! #artsyafternoon #checkmyinstagram #formore pic.twitter.com/3PBIzmRAgk
— Andrea Hlavackova (@AndreaHlavackov) March 27, 2017
Azmin elinden hiçbir şey kurtulmaz??
Day off in beautiful #Wynwood ? pic.twitter.com/7oFZU0Vp3O— Çağla Büyükakçay (@CaglaBuyukakcay) March 26, 2017
Meanwhile, one legend wished a happy birthday to another.
happy birthday to my dear friend Elton @eltonofficial @ejaforg #champion in Life pic.twitter.com/QD85EDnlBz
— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) March 26, 2017
Sloane Stephens needed a rest.
this is what real work looks like…….. @TennisChannel pic.twitter.com/27G9j0965D
— Sloane Stephens (@SloaneStephens) March 26, 2017
And whether you’re a world-class tennis player or not, Ana Konjuh certainly has some wise words of advice for you.
Closing your eyes after turning off your alarm is a very dangerous game ?
— Ana Konjuh (@anakonjuh) March 27, 2017
Karolina Pliskova reflects on her performance at the Miami Open.
Highlights from the quarterfinal clash between Karolina Pliskova and Mirjana Lucic-Baroni.
Check out Caroline Wozniacki’s shot of the day against Lucie Safarova at the Miami Open.
MIAMI, FL, USA – Johanna Konta became the first British woman to reach the Miami Open semifinals after coming back from a set down to oust No.3 seed Simona Halep.
Putting an injury-plagued start of the season behind her, Halep came into the matchup after winning consecutive matches for the first time all season here in Miami. And in the quarterfinals, the Romanian even saved match point in her late-night thriller against Sam Stosur.
But she couldn’t pull off the escape once again against Konta, falling 3-6, 7-6(7), 6-2 after a rollercoaster two hours and thirty minutes.
.@JoKonta wins a mammoth tiebreak 9-7!
Into a decider… #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/TWpn1gbFnG
— WTA (@WTA) March 29, 2017
The Brit had to overcome a slow start against Halep, though, as the Romanian came out of the gates firing and would take an early break in the opening set. Loose unforced errors during the initial exchanges cost Konta, and Halep didn’t allow her to settle into a rhythm with her changes of pace.
Dropping the first set only galvanized Konta, as the Brit notched an emphatic break to love and a 3-0 lead. But that’s when things got complicated, and Halep dodged a pair of break points and leveled the match a few games later.
She served for the match at 5-4, and was two points away from victory when Konta denied her, keeping her serve under pressure and rewarded with loose errors.
Into a tiebreaker, Halep once again saw her lead erased as Konta came roaring back from 5-3 down and edged through 9-7.
.@JoKonta91 advances to @MiamiOpen Semifinals!
Battles past Halep 3-6, 7-6(7), 6-2! pic.twitter.com/nm3n99u6s8
— WTA (@WTA) March 29, 2017
With the wind in her sails Konta grabbed the lead once again but this time didn’t allow Halep back in. She broke Halep twice to reel off the final five games and complete the comeback.
“It was a really tough match, very high level,” Halep told WTA Insider after the match. “I was so close to winning, I was two points away in the tiebreak, but she played very strong and deserved to win today.
“I’m happy to be here after the break that I had. I’m just disappointed I lost a match I had in my hands. But my confidence is there, the game is there – I just need to play matches.”
Konta be rewarded with a clash against the winner between World No.1 Angelique Kerber and Venus Williams for a chance to go even further and win a spot into her second career Premier Mandatory final.
Should she reach the final, she’s projected to return to the Top 10 after the WTA rankings are released on Monday.
“Whoever I’m playing, I’ll have a battle on my hands that’s for sure,” Konta said. “I’ve played Venus and Angie a few times. They’re going to have a tough battle tonight, and I’m looking forward to playing either of them. Either of them will be a great opportunity for different reasons.”