Tennis News

INDIAN WELLS, CA, USA – Angelique Kerber is set to return to No.1 after the BNP Paribas Open, but her focus over the fortnight is finding her game.

Kerber’s return to the No.1 ranking comes after Serena Williams announced her withdrawal from both the BNP Paribas Open and Miami Open due to a left knee injury. The news meant Kerber, who ceded the top spot to Serena after the American won her Open Era record-breaking 23rd major title at the Australian Open in January, would move back up without swinging her racquet.

“I’ve been there already, but at the end, of course it feels good to reach the spot again,” Kerber told reporters at All Access Hour at the BNP Paribas Open, “but for me I came here to really focus not on becoming No.1 or the ranking.

“I was coming here to win matches. This is what I love and this is what I was practicing for the last weeks. This is more what I’m focusing on. I will try and really stay with my focus because this is my priority and I will try now not to think about getting No.1 again.”

Good to be back at one of my favorite tournaments ? #BNPPO17 #TeamAngie pic.twitter.com/OiYamDyUCK

— Angelique Kerber (@AngeliqueKerber) March 6, 2017

Reflecting on her 7-5 start to the season, Kerber believes her best is just around the corner.

“Of course it was so-so,” Kerber said, rating her start. “It could be better. But in the end I’m still feeling good. I’m positive. So I practiced good. I think it’s just one or two matches that I have to win again and then I’m in my rhythm.”

Kerber is coming off her best result of the year so far, a semifinal run at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships two weeks ago, where she lost to Elina Svitolina. The 29-year-old picked up a knee and back injury in Dubai and hopes those problems will not flare up again when she gets back to competitive play.

“After Dubai I went back home and had treatments and everything and I started practicing here again,” she said. “That’s why I came here earlier.

“The knee is fine. I don’t how it is during a match, it’s always different. But for the moment it’s fine.”

A two-time semifinalist in Indian Wells, the German will be looking to snap a four-match losing streak in the California desert, having lost in her opening round the last three years.

Kerber opens her tournament on Saturday against either Andrea Petkovic or Vania King.

INDIAN WELLS, CA, USA – Croatian wildcard Donna Vekic vaulted past American Alison Riske, 6-3, 7-6(3), to book a second round clash with 2015 BNP Paribas Open champion Simona Halep.

“I’m so happy,” she told WTA Insider after the match. “It was a bit tough in the second set, but I got through it.”

A former World No.62, Vekic has struggled with inconsistency since stunning Dominika Cibulkova to win her maiden WTA title in Kuala Lumpur back in 2014. Still, the 21-year-old has show signs of regaining her momentum to start 2017, reaching the second round of the Australian Open and the round of 16 at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy.

“This year, I’ve played some pretty good tennis. My level is definitely there, but I need to be more consistent to have it from the first point. Sometimes you need three matches to get the confidence to play well, because in practice I’m playing great. It’s just a few more matches and I’m sure it’s going to come.

“I feel really fit. I had some practice time before coming here, so I’m hoping I can keep the tennis level up.”

.@DonnaVekic puts the backhand away! #BNPPO17 pic.twitter.com/ACj1y5hOwa

— WTA (@WTA) March 10, 2017

Against Riske, she posted impressive numbers off return, winning 68% of the Shenzhen Open runner-up’s second serve points and breaking the American five times in one hour and 42 minutes – all under the watchful eye of 1997 French Open champion Iva Majoli, the first Croatian woman to win a major title.

“I love playing on big courts and stadiums. This court is amazing; I warmed up on it this morning and it was huge. But I really enjoyed my time out there tonight.

“I was more nervous than I felt before the match, so I didn’t find my game straight away. I was struggling a little bit throughout the match, but that’s because the conditions here are so different. It’s not easy to play here, and playing the American as a wildcard was tough.

“I was just trying to work through the points. I was struggling with my serve in the wind and that’s usually my advantage, how I get some free points. I just had to work through it, stay in the rallies and win the hard way.”

Great defense and winner from @DonnaVekic! #BNPPO17 pic.twitter.com/QuSV6DSwPE

— WTA (@WTA) March 10, 2017

Looming in the next round is No.4 seed and former French Open finalist Simona Halep, who will be playing her first match since St. Petersburg after skipping the Middle East swing to heal a persistent knee injury.

“I’m going to have to play good. But I’m really excited; she’s a great player. I’ve had one match here, and it’s not easy to come out and play your first match. But she’s obvious a great player who has played well here before.”

.@DonnaVekic ousts Riske 6-3, 7-6 (2)!

Faces 2015 @BNPParibasOpen champ @Simona_Halep next! pic.twitter.com/2OhG8NvgIt

— WTA (@WTA) March 10, 2017

It wasn’t all bad news for the Americans; ASB Classic champion Lauren Davis survived a Swiss onslaught from Viktorija Golubic, winning, 6-4, 4-6, 7-5. Davis next plays No.22 seed Anastasija Sevastova, who is coming off a run to the semifinals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

.@LaurenDavis93 edges past Golubic 6-4, 4-6, 7-5! #BNPPO17 pic.twitter.com/ppkWu5vk7z

— WTA (@WTA) March 10, 2017

Around the grounds, Japanese teenager Naomi Osaka impressed in her Indian Wells main draw debut, knocking out countrywoman and qualifier Risa Ozaki, 6-4, 6-2, to book a second round clash with No.30 seed and former Australian Open quarterfinalist Zhang Shuai.

Shenzhen champion Katerina Siniakova recovered from a set down to defeat the resurgent Mona Barthel, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, while former World No.5 Lucie Safarova kicked off play on Court 4 with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Spain’s Lara Arruabarrena.

Safarova will next play No.20 seed CoCo Vandeweghe, who is coming off a major breakthrough in Melbourne, where she reached the semifinals.

Ahead of the first Premier Mandatory event of 2017, the top seeds at the BNP Paribas Open convened on All-Access Hour to meet the press and answer questions about World No.1 Serena Williams’ withdrawal, who Agnieszka Radwanska would vote for in wtatennis.com’s Shot Of The Month presented by Cambridge Global Payments poll, and more from the Indian Wells Tennis Garden…

.@Simona_Halep stumped when asked to share something that no one knows about her. Says able to practice pain free, will see in matches. pic.twitter.com/GoulCpfs9E

— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) March 8, 2017

Simona Halep

On the impact of Serena’s withdrawal…
I heard she is struggling with the knees, so I understand. After she won the Australian Open she can take a long time off. She will come back at Roland Garros and she will probably win!

On how her personality helps and hurts her game…
I think I struggle with the confidence a little bit. And then on the other side I’m ambitious. And very competitive.

On her decision to play Romania’s next Fed Cup tie against Great Britain…
I think we play in my hometown. It will be great. I said I will play even if I have pain. I spoke with Ilie Nastase and told him I am coming. It will be nice. I can’t wait to be on court with him as a captain. It will be a nice experience and hopefully we can win.

“How's life going for you?” @ARadwanska: “Good. Getting old.” Table laughs. Celebrated her b-day at Cheesecake Factory. “10 year tradition”. pic.twitter.com/f2Cg1gpq4J

— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) March 8, 2017

Agnieszka Radwanska

On her toughest competition in the hot shot department…
Kirsten Flipkens. I think she is very good at those shots. Sometimes I thougth she’s gonna win, but then my shots are still better from the fans but if I had to pick, sometimes I’d pick her shots.

On celebrating her birthday in Indian Wells at The Cheesecake Factory…
That’s the tradition. Since 10 years. It’s the 10th year in the Cheesecake Factory. Different cheesecake every time. Oreo is the best one.

.@KaPliskova says she usually declines photoshoots. “I just want to play good tennis. That's the goal. I don't need to be in every magazine” pic.twitter.com/YkOJizjsXQ

— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) March 8, 2017

Karolina Pliskova

On avoiding a potential third round clash with her sister Kristyna thanks to Serena’s withdrawal…
I was kind of happy. We were supposed to meet in the third round, so she would have to win two tough matches and me one, so it was not sure that we were gonna play but it’s definitely better to be in the place that I am now.

On what would mean more to her, titles or wins over certain players…
Pliskova: Definitely both titles and some players, which we all know there are some players I don’t like to play. We all know that.
WTA Insider: You mean Aga?
Pliskova: Yeah that’s the one. So I just want to beat those players which I don’t feel comfortable on the court. And then still, it’s the titles. Doesn’t matter which titles, it’s still always a good title, a good week. It gives me a lot of confidence coming to the next tournament. I just want to try at every tournament. I think I have a good chance every week. Doesn’t matter which tournament, doesn’t matter which surface – obviously clay gonna be difficult – I just want to try. Out of four tournaments I made two finals. So I think I have a good chance every week.

On getting offers for photoshoots and magazine spreads back home…
I usually say no to everything. I just don’t need this stuff. I was not raised this way. I just want to play good tennis. For me, that’s the main goal. I don’t need to be in any magazine.

.@SvetlanaK27 holding court. #BNPPO17 pic.twitter.com/pRgJ5oqHep

— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) March 8, 2017

Svetlana Kuznetsova

On whether tournaments are more open with the absence of Serena, Victoria Azarenka, Maria Sharapova, and Petra Kvitova…
For sure it’s a shame for the fans and it’s great to see all these great players playing. But I’m not sure if it’s that open because I believe tennis these past years the level raised a lot. All matches are so difficult. It doesn’t matter who is playing. It’s so difficult to win. Yes, it’s less great players. But still the players are getting better and better and I just look forward for all those players to get back and have those great fields again.