Best Shots Of The Week From Sydney
Watch all the best shots of the week from the Apia International Sydney!
Watch all the best shots of the week from the Apia International Sydney!
Carla Suárez Navarro captured the biggest title of her career at the Qatar Total Open, charging back from a set down against 18-year-old Jelena Ostapenko to triumph, 1-6, 6-4, 6-4. By reaching the semifinals Suárez Navarro was guaranteed a return to the Top 10 and her win in the final sees her rise to a career-high No.6 in the new rankings.
“It’s amazing, a dream come true. I was in Top 10 last year but not No.6, so it’s a special number,” Suárez Navarro said after the win.
“This tournament was really tough. The best players in the world were here, and it’s so special. You have to play every day, and it’s not easy. But these wins give me a lot of confidence, the experience that I take from this. I’ve lost a lot of finals, so I’m really happy and excited about this tournament.”
In Acapulco, No.2 seed Sloane Stephens needed a final set tie-break against unseeded former Australian Open finalist and 2014 Abierto Mexicano Telcel champion Dominika Cibulkova, but the American finally got the job done against the Slovak, winning, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(5). Having started the year with a title at the ASB Classic, Stephens now has three career WTA titles.
“I’m just in a different place,” Stephens said of her winning start to 2016. “I’ve played a lot of matches this year already and got some of the confidence going, built up some momentum. I’m just trying to keep that going here in Acapulco.”
Read the match recap here.
GAME, SET MATCH: WTA Insider
Game: Carla Suárez Navarro hits a new high.
Win the biggest title of your career, move up to a career-high No.6, and take over the No.2 ranking on the Road To Singapore standings. That’s a good week of work from the 28-year-old Spaniard, who came into the Qatar Total Open final having lost her last three finals. She has struggled to summon her best tennis in the big moments – and it looked like the trend would continue after losing a 26-minute first set – but this is a new Carla. After Jelena Ostapenko swatted her off court in that first set, Suárez Navarro kept her wits about her. She never panicked, instead she grew bolder, altered her tactics to drive the ball into the middle of the court and away from the teenager’s forehand, and increased the pressure. In the end, her experience in the big moments paid off.
Suárez Navarro said at the start of the year that her goal was to get back in the Top 10, hopefully the Top 5, and win a title. It’s March and she’s nearly ticked off all three boxes. Now to see if she can translate that success into two of the biggest tournaments of the season in Indian Wells and Miami, where she was a finalist last year.
WTA Insider Champion’s Corner: Suárez Navarro.
Set: Sloane Stephens outbattles, outcompetes Dominika Cibulkova.
Talk about a turnaround. Stephens was 0-6 in semifinals before winning her first title last summer at the Citi Open in Washington DC. She’s now won three titles in the last seven months, going 3-0 in finals during that span, and she has won every tournament at which she’s hit the semifinal stage. In Acapulco, Stephens nearly blew a set and break lead in the final against Cibulkova. But losing the second set simply set things up for a wild and tense third set, which saw both women save break points time and time again in front of a rowdy crowd. But in the end it was Stephens, who used her defense to hang close in the final frame before taking a handful of courageous cuts to win 6-4, 4-6 7-6(5) to become the first woman to two titles this season. It was a big statement win from a player who had to endure such criticism over her inability to get things done at the business end of tournaments.
Match: Teenage romp.
Another week, another teenager makes a run. February was all about the WTA trio of eighteen year-olds, who are putting their stamp on the tour. Three weeks ago it was Belinda Bencic and Daria Kasatkina making the St. Petersburg semifinals. Last week it was 18-year-old Jelena Ostapenko, who arrived in Doha thinking she would have to play the qualification tournament. Two withdrawals later, Ostapenko was into the main draw and she didn’t waste her chance. She ousted No.5 seed Petra Kvitova and came within a few games of winning her first title. She fell short but her performance throughout the week was notable. Ostapenko’s power and timing, particularly on the forehand, was impressive, as was her feisty competitiveness.
Ostapenko jumps from No.88 to No.41 on Monday, joining Bencic and Kasatkina in the Top 50. It’s the first time three 18-year-olds occupied the Top 50 since April of 2009, when Caroline Wozniacki, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, and Sorana Cirstea matched the feat.
We kinda made it?✌?️☺️ @anakonjuh @DKasatkina @LizaKulichkova @jelenaostapenko https://t.co/jQNm2u67UY
— Belinda Bencic (@BelindaBencic) February 28, 2016
RANKING MOVERS
Notable singles ranking movers for the week of February 29, 2016.
Jelena Ostapenko (LAT), +47 (No.88 to 41): The 18-year-old Latvian made the biggest ranking jump of the week, and with good reason! She headed into the Qatar Total Open having won just one first main draw match all year and ended the week reaching her career first Premier-level final. With that result she jumped to a career high of No.41, joining fellow 18-year-olds Belinda Bencic and Daria Kasatkina in the Top 50. That makes this the first time since the week of April 6, 2009 that there are three players 18 or younger inside the Top 50.
Elena Vesnina (RUS), +29 (No.118 to 89): Elena Vesnina jumps 29 spots after her run to the Qatar Total Open quarterfinals, earning a spot back in the Top 100.
Zheng Saisai (CHN), +10 (No.73 to 63): Jumping up 10 spots to No.63, Zheng Saisai climbed to Chinese No.1, overtaking Zhang Shuai and improving her Olympic qualification bid.
Carla Suárez Navarro (ESP), +5 (No.11 to 6): After winning the biggest title of the week – and of her career – Carla Suárez Navarro is ranked a career-high No.6, putting her within striking distance of her 2016 goal.
UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS
Abierto Monterrey Afirme
Monterrey, Mexico
International | $226,750 | Hard, Outdoors
Monday, February 29 – Sunday, March 6
BMW Malaysian Open
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
International | $226,750 | Hard, Outdoors
Monday, February 29 – Sunday, March 6
BNP Paribas Open
Indian Wells, USA
Premier | $6,134,605 | Hard, Outdoors
Wednesday, March 9 – Sunday March 20
Miami Open
Miami, USA
Premier | $6,134,605 | Hard, Outdoors
Tuesday, March 22 – Sunday, April 3
TOP 2O PLAYER SCHEDULES
1. Serena Williams – Indian Wells, Miami
2. Angelique Kerber -Indian Wells, Miami
3. Agnieszka Radwanska – Indian Wells, Miami
4. Garbiñe Muguruza – Indian Wells, Miami
5. Simona Halep – Indian Wells, Miami
6. Carla Suárez Navarro – Indian Wells, Miami
7. Maria Sharapova – Indian Wells, Miami
8. Belinda Bencic – Indian Wells, Miami
9. Petra Kvitova – Indian Wells, Miami
10. Roberta Vinci – Kuala Lumpur, Indian Wells, Miami
11. Flavia Pennetta – (retired)
12. Venus Williams – Indian Wells, Miami
13. Lucie Safarova – Indian Wells, Miami
14. Timea Bacsinszky – Indian Wells, Miami
15. Victoria Azarenka – Indian Wells, Miami
16. Ana Ivanovic – Indian Wells, Miami
17. Sara Errani – Monterrey, Indian Wells, Miami
18. Svetlana Kuznetsova – Indian Wells, Miami
19. Elina Svitolina – Kuala Lumpur, Indian Wells, Miami
20. Karolina Pliskova – Indian Wells, Miami
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
Best wishes to those celebrating birthdays this week:
Alexandra Panova (RUS) – March 2, 1989
Nicole Gibbs (USA) – March 3, 1993
Laura Siegemund (GER) – March 4, 1988
Daria Gavrilova (AUS) – March 5, 1994
Marina Erakovic (NZL) – March 6, 1988
Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) – March 6, 1989
Angelique Kerber recalls her best memories from the Australian Open.
With the Abierto Monterrey Afirme in full swing, Caroline Wozniacki, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Monica Puig kicked things off by taking a walk on the wild side at the player party.
Angelique Kerber was named among Europe’s 30 Under 30 according to Forbes; how much did the two-time Grand Slam champion earn in her breakthrough 2016 season?
Cast your vote now for February’s Breakthrough Performance of the Month – Jelena Ostapenko, Daria Kasatkina, Caroline Garcia, or Zheng Saisai?
MELBOURNE, Australia – Six-time Australian Open champion Serena Williams leads the bottom half of the draw into action on Day Two at Melbourne Park. Dominika Cibulkova and Agnieszka Radwanska are also in action on the last day of Round 1. We preview all the day’s matchups right here at wtatennis.com.
Tuesday, First Round
[2] Serena Williams (USA #2) vs Belinda Bencic (SUI #59)
Head-to-head: Tied at 1-1
Key Stat: 2017 Australian Open marks first Grand Slam where Serena hasn’t been top seed since 2013 Australian Open (No.3)
Belinda Bencic’s reaction to the draw is quite different to how you’d think someone would react when finding out their first-round opponent is six-time champion Serena Williams:
“My first reaction was actually, like, really happy,” Bencic told press ahead of the match. “I’m super-pumped, like excited I get to play on the big court, I guess.
“Yeah, everyone is like, ‘Oh, bad luck with the draw.’ Me, I’m pretty happy and excited about it!”
Bencic has a reason to feel good: back in 2015, she scored the biggest victory of her career over Serena at the Rogers Cup, becoming one of just 3 players to defeat the American that year.
But a lot has changed since in two years, and injury woes have caused the Swiss wunderkind’s ranking to plummet. And Serena – as always – has her eye on making history and reclaiming the No.1 ranking in Melbourne Park.
“All I can do is do my best,” Serena said. “If I can play the way I’ve been practicing, it will be fine. I know she’s been playing well, so it will be good for both of us.”
[3] Agnieszka Radwanska (POL #3) vs Tsvetana Pironkova (BUL #64)
Head-to-head: Radwanska leads 9-3
Key Stat: Pironkova’s last Top 5 win came over Radwanska in 2016 Roland Garros R16
World No.3 Agnieszka Radwanska has many positives to take away from her run to the Apia International Sydney final: before getting thoroughly outclassed in the last match by Johanna Konta, Radwanska hadn’t dropped a set all tournament long and her tricky, deliberate game was flowing freely.
“Of course, losing finals always is disappointing,” Radwanska reflected in pre-tournament press. “But it’s still a good week with great matches against top players.
“I’m very confident. I really hope I can play the same tennis, even the tennis I played in the final. But every tournament is different story, especially in the tough first round.”
After the quick turnaround to Melbourne, Radwanska will bring all of that confidence and preparation against an opponent who has troubled her in the past: Tsvetana Pironkova. The pair have met 12 times previously, with the Bulgarian stunning Radwanska in the fourth round of Roland Garros.
“Pironkova is a very tricky opponent,” she said. “I’m expecting everything from her side. For sure it’s going to be a lot of running. I’m going to really have to work on each point.”
[5] Karolina Pliskova (CZE #6) vs Sara Sorribes Tormo (ESP #106)
Head-to-head: First meeting
Key Stat: Sorribes Tormo is playing just the second Grand Slam main draw match of her career
After her dominant performance at the Brisbane International, where she claimed the first title of her season, Karolina Pliskova took two days off before heading straight to Melbourne.
“I’ve been practicing here since Tuesday. Even yesterday,” the Czech said in pre-tournament press. “But I’ve been feeling good so far. I was even ready for Monday start, but will be ready even for Tuesday.
“That’s what I did in New York, as well. So I just did it here. I don’t know if it’s going to work, but I just want to leave everything in this tournament.”
But despite her red-hot start to 2017, Pliskova wouldn’t be drawn into discussing her Australian Open chances – not even on the eve of the tournament after drawing Sara Sorribes Tormo in the opening round.
“I would definitely not take me as a favorite of this tournament. It’s a big draw,” the Czech said in pre-tournament press. “There is a lot of players. I just take it step by step.”
“I just know my opponent from the first round. I want to pass this one. Then we can talk about the next one.”
Her opponent, Sorribes Tormo, is a 20-year-old Spaniard who might be out of her depths against the big-hitting Czech: this will be the just the second Grand Slam main draw match of her career, and her first match against a Top 10 opponent.
Around the grounds…
Reigning WTA Finals champion Dominika Cibulkova will open against No.90-ranked Denisa Allertova on Day 2. The Slovak reached the final here in 2014, and will hope her 2016 momentum will carry her to a maiden Grand Slam title. Britain’s No.1 Johanna Konta will square off against Kirsten Flipkens – Konta leads the head-to-head 2-1.
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Eugenie Bouchard continued her recent resurgence with a dominant second-round win over Kurumi Nara at the BMW Malaysian Open on Wednesday.
Watch live action from Monterrey & Kuala Lumpur this week on WTA Live powered by TennisTV!
Following a difficult 2015, Bouchard has been quietly playing herself back into form with encouraging showings at Shenzhen, Hobart and Doha. Against Nara she impressed once again, breaking four times to wrap up a 6-1, 6-2 victory.
“No match is easy. I was focused on every single point and I just tried to stay aggressive and that worked well today,” Bouchard said.
Struggles on the court and injuries off it precipitated a slide down the rankings for Bouchard. However, with the help of new coach Thomas Hogstedt – whom she teamed up with last autumn – the Canadian is relishing the rebuilding process.
“I’m on the right path, but I’m not expecting it to come in one day,” she added. “I know it’s a long journey and I had a lot of time off because of injury. It’s going to take a least a few months to get back to where I was, but I’m just trying to stay positive and focused on one tournament at a time.
“This is an opportunity to get more matches and that’s what I need right now, so I’m happy I got two here already and I’m looking forward to a couple more, hopefully.”
Rather than instigate a complete overhaul, Hogstedt, whose previous charges include Maria Sharapova, Li Na and Tommy Haas, is tinkering with his new pupil’s game.
“He thinks highly of my game and he really believes in my style of play. We’ve been working a lot on trying to stay low during the point, the footwork a little bit – I play my best when I’m in position for each ball. Some basic things like that, but it’s important to make sure everything’s as good as it can be – if you can improve something 1% it’s important because against the top players it makes a difference.”
There were contrasting fortunes for the other two seeds hoping to join Bouchard in the quarterfinals. No.3 seed Sabine Lisicki overcame a slow start to defeat Barbora Krejcikova, 7-5, 6-3, while former champion and No.7 seed Hsieh Su-Wei went down to Kristina Kucova, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.
Anastasija Sevastova takes on Kristina Kucova in the second round of the Australian Open.
The two biggest WTA tournaments of the season just around the corner. The BNP Paribas Open kicks off next week, with the Miami Open to follow. With 2,000 points up for grabs in March, here are the storylines we’re keeping an eye on as tennis’ March Madness is set to begin.
Serena Williams back in action: The World No.1 has played just one event since the US Open, making the Australian Open final in January. She withdrew from the Middle East swing citing a flu, but assured reporters this week that she’s ready and raring to go.
Serena is the defending champion – an eight-time champion, to be exact – in Miami and made the semifinals in Indian Wells last year – when she played the tournament for the first time in 14 years. With a hefty lead in the rankings – she has a 3,545 point lead on No.2 Angelique Kerber – Serena’s spot at the top isn’t in jeopardy in March. But these next two tournaments offer a big opportunity for the women behind her to close the gap before the tour moves to clay.
Kickstarter in the desert: The first two months of the season have been a false start for more than a few top players. Simona Halep and Petra Kvitova have just two wins on tour so far. Garbiñe Muguruza showed signs of traction at the Qatar Total Open, but has tallied just four wins on tour.
North America was surprisingly fertile ground for Halep in 2015. But with little momentum coming into March, No.5 Halep could take a rankings hit if she can’t find her form. She’s the defending champion in Indian Wells and went on to make the semifinals in Miami. That’s 1,390 points to defend over the next four weeks.
By contrast, No.9 Kvitova has nothing but points to gain in March. This time last year she announced her decision to take a six-week break from the tour to recharge. This year she returns to Indian Wells without a coach, having announced a split with David Kotyza after the Australian Open.
This time last year I made a big decision to take a break. Now I couldn't be more excited to go back to Indian Wells pic.twitter.com/9zXfykUTJX
— Petra Kvitova (@Petra_Kvitova) March 4, 2016
Venus Williams returns to Indian Wells: Following in her sister’s footsteps, Venus returns to Indian Wells for the first time since 2001. But this is not just a symbolic return. Back up to No.12, Venus comes into the tournament on a seven match win streak, after notching two wins at Fed Cup and capturing her first title of the season at the Taiwan Open.
As Venus wrote in her essay at the The Players Tribune, this is about tennis. “I’m looking forward to the amazing California grounds,” she wrote. “I’m looking forward to the top-notch WTA competition. And I’m looking forward to the fans – who played such an important role in helping to make last year so special. But most of all, I’m looking forward to playing tennis.
“Sounds simple – I know. But after almost 30 years of playing this sport, I’ve learned something. I’ve learned that, no matter what happens, or happened … or where you are, or where you’ve been … at the end of the day: tennis is tennis. It’s always, always tennis. And there’s nothing better.”
Victoria Azarenka looks to get back on track: Assuming she’s healthy – Azarenka withdrew from Acapulco with a left wrist injury – March could be a very good month for Vika. She’s still taken just one loss this season, to Kerber in the Australian Open quarterfinals, and she’s a former champion at both Indian Wells and Miami. Currently ranked No.15, she has just 130 points to defend this month.
Complete the sweep: How significant are Indian Wells and Miami? Complete the sweep and that’s 2,000 points in pocket, the same as winning a Slam. No one has completed the double since Kim Clijsters in 2005. But now that Serena is playing Indian Wells you have to give her more than a shot to complete the sweep, especially given her vice-like grip on Miami.
Young guns: While the veterans have been winning the trophies, the younger generation of players have shown ample signs of an impending insurgency. Belinda Bencic leads the way after making her Top 10 debut after making the final in St. Petersburg, while Sloane Stephens already has two titles, winning her second just last week in Acapulco.
Meanwhile, Eugenie Bouchard has put her 2015 season behind her, making the quarterfinals or better at three of her five tournaments. Daria Gavrilova, Madison Keys, and Daria Kasatkina are also ones to watch over the next four weeks.
Major rankings movement: With Monterrey and Kuala Lumpur still to finish, here is the Road To Singapore Top 10: Angelique Kerber, Carla Suárez Navarro, Agnieszka Radwanska, Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka, Roberta Vinci, Johanna Konta, Belinda Bencic, Sara Errani, Jelena Ostapenko, and Zhang Shuai.
Raise your hand if you predicted that.
A little over 1,000 points separate No.1 Kerber from No.4 Serena, while less than 500 points separate No.5 from No.20. That extreme bunching means we can expect a significant amount of movement in the RTS this month.
Clean Slate: Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza return to their debut tournament after having their 41-match win streak snapped by Elena Vesnina and Daria Kasatkina in Doha. Last year they went on to win their first three tournaments together at Indian Wells, Miami, and Charleston. Will it be more of the same this year?
All photos courtesy of Getty Images.