Dubai: Final Preview
A preview of the final between Caroline Wozniacki and Elina Svitolina at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
A preview of the final between Caroline Wozniacki and Elina Svitolina at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
BUDAPEST, Hungary – Former World No.1 Monica Seles paid a visit to the Hungarian Ladies Open in Budapest to reconnect with her roots and inspire the next generation of Hungarian tennis stars.
Seles arrived in Budapest for the Hungarian Day of Tennis, which celebrates the past, present and future of Hungarian tennis. She was joined by other Hungarian former players, like former World No.7 Andre Temesvari and Katerina Marosi.
Together they hosted a tennis clinic for Budapest’s youngest tennis hopefuls, and afterwards Seles signed autographs for her myriad fans and met the press.
“It’s been fantastic to be invited by the Hungarian Tennis Federation to be a part of the WTA tournament here in Budapest, and also to participate in the Hungarian Day of Tennis kid’s clinic,” Seles told wtatennis.com.
“I hope we can spread the love of tennis and inspire a lot of young kids to pick up a racquet, and hopefully one day see them on center court.”
A few hours later, Seles was back on site to watch Hungary’s current No.1 in action as Timea Babos took on Julia Goerges in the semifinals. Tomorrow she’ll present the trophy to the winner.
Seles will also donate a signed tennis racquet to be auctioned during the two weeks after the tournament – all proceeds will benefit the Ronald McDonald House.
Check out the photos of Seles’ visit, courtesy of Hungarian Ladies Open!
Watch Caroline Wozniacki hit the practice court ahead of the semifinals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
BUDAPEST, Hungary – Timea Babos and Lucie Safarova, the top two seeds at the Hungarian Ladies Open, moved past their semifinal opponents in straight sets to book a clash in the Budapest final.
No.2 seed Safarova needed almost an hour and thirty minutes against Germany’s Carina Witthoeft before battling through 6-4, 6-3 and reach her first WTA final since April 2016 in Prague.
“I knew Carina was playing very well, I knew I had to be tough out there and that is what I did,” Safarova told wtatennis.com after the match. “Probably experience helps, I was called a veteran on the WTA, I don´t feel like that but it was a good match.
“I am very pleased with being in a final after a long time.”
She’ll face a tough challenge in the final against Hungarian No.1 Babos, whom she teamed up with for doubles this week, reaching the quarterfinals together before Safarova was forced to withdraw with a right thigh injury.
Under the watchful eye of former World No.1 Monica Seles, top seed Babos overcame a tense opening set against Julia Goerges, the No.3 seed – she was unable to convert on three break point chances – including a set point – before finally edging through 7-5.
“Julia is a very very good player, a very experienced player on tour, so I knew it was going to be a tough one,” Babos said after the match.
“Honestly, I was a bit afraid in this match, and you could tell in the first set that I didn’t take all my opportunities. But after this, I got a little bit more into it, you could say I got mad at myself, and tried to play really aggressive and it worked out pretty well.”
Goerges was all business in the second, going up a double break to close out the 7-5, 6-1 victory in an hour and twenty minutes to reach a WTA final in her home country for the first time.
“I had a tough beginning of the year, and was just really trying to stay positive and keep my head up. Being at home, in front of this crowd and showing my emotions – this is what I was waiting for. Budapest has really turned around my season.”
Highlights from all the semifinal action at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Caroline Wozniacki had Friday’s shot of the day at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
DUBAI, UAE – No.7 seed Elina Svitolina conquered top seed Angelique Kerber for a third straight time – the second time in 2017 – to advance into the biggest final of her young career with a 6-3, 7-6(3) victory at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Svitolina kicked off the season by knocking out Kerber, then No.1, at the Brisbane International, but pulled off a hat trick of wins over the two-time Grand Slam champion on Friday, overcoming a rain delay and a late surge from an experienced – if slightly hampered – opponent to advance after one hour and 39 minutes of play.
“It was really tough,” she said during her on-court interview. “[Kerber] obviously had a medical timeout, so it was in and out all the time. The rain made it even tougher to stay focused, so it was a very tricky match. Hopefully Angelique has nothing serious with her knee and gets better soon.”
“It was a tough match,” Kerber said in press. “I don’t know what’s with my knee now, but I feel pain a little bit.
“I tried my best. This is how I am, and I’m always trying my best until the end.”
Great pace from @ElinaSvitolina! #DDFTennis pic.twitter.com/gAyIMIoCFH
— WTA (@WTA) February 24, 2017
In control late in the second set, Svitolina saw her lead slip as Kerber won three straight games to serve for a decider. Digging in her heels, the Ukrainian youngster was riding a big wave of confidence – and an 11-match winning streak after taking home her fifth career title at the Taiwan Open – and broke back to roar though the ensuing tie-break.
“I was just trying to hit the ball, move my legs, think positively, and fight for every ball.”
Kerber was fighting to reclaim the No.1 ranking, needing to win the title to wrest the ranking from Serena Williams.
“I’m not thinking about this,” Kerber said. “I mean, everybody is writing or asking, but for me, I know how it feels to be No.1. I reach it once, and for sure I will try to get back there.
“But for me it’s really important to be healthy, and at the end, if I play consistent the next weeks or months, then we will see what’s happen then. Bfor the moment, I mean, I’m not looking about the number before my name, actually.”
.@ElinaSvitolina breaks and takes the second set to a tiebreaker! #DDFTennis pic.twitter.com/OIwWpVxKHq
— WTA (@WTA) February 24, 2017
Standing between Svitolina and the biggest title of her career is former World No.1 Caroline Wozniacki, who reached her first final in Dubai since 2011 earlier in the day; Svitolina won their only previous meeting in three grueling sets.
“We played at the Miami Open last year; it was a very late match, and hopefully this next one will be good as well. I’ll give my best and we’ll see how it goes.”
A win in Saturday’s final would also guarantee her long-awaited ascension into the Top 10.
“It was up and down for me, but towards the end of 2016 I had really consistent results, and I was really consistent with my game,” she said in her post-match press conference. “So I’m really happy that I’m more mature now with my game, and hopefully I will try to stay focused.
“Of course the first thing is it’s important to stay healthy, is the most important for an athlete. Hopefully it will be good, and I will stay – of course, there will be up-and-down, but the only thing matters is how you come back from the downs.”
.@ElinaSvitolina defeats Kerber 6-3, 7-6 (3)!
Sets @DDFTennis Final vs @CaroWozniacki! pic.twitter.com/TEwHmRuXn6
— WTA (@WTA) February 24, 2017
Caroline Wozniacki takes on Anastasija Sevastova in the semifinals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
DUBAI, UAE – No.10 seed Caroline Wozniacki willed her way past surprise semifinalist Anastasija Sevastova, dispatching the Latvian, 6-3, 6-4, to reach her first final at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships since winning the event in 2011.
“I really love coming back here and playing on this court,” she said on court after earning a 22nd career match win in Dubai – the most of any at this event. “It’s amazing. The crowd is always supporting me; you guys are amazing and make this tournament special.
“Being an ambassador for Dubai Duty Free just makes it all the more sweet, playing well here every year. I’m just thrilled to be in another final.”
.@CaroWozniacki's backhand ? #DDFTennis pic.twitter.com/H9FMS4qVuW
— WTA (@WTA) February 24, 2017
Coming off a run to the final of a particularly rainy Qatar Total Open, Wozniacki dealt with a few more delays in her semifinal to advance into back-to-back finals for the first time since 2014, when she finished runner-up at both the US Open and the Toray Pan Pacific Open.
? @CaroWozniacki!
What a way to save break point! #DDFTennis pic.twitter.com/Bawyuqd7OW
— WTA (@WTA) February 24, 2017
“I’m kind of used to the rain by now; for the last two weeks it’s been on and off, but I thought we played good quality tennis so I’m extremely happy to be through.
“It’s been a good couple of weeks for me,” she later explained in her post-match press conference. “Very happy with how I have been playing. Very happy how I have managed to get through these two weeks, because it’s been very tiring mentally. The fact that I have just been staying in there and keep grinding, I’m kind of proud of that.”
Wozniacki and Sevastova last met in the quarterfinals of the US Open, where Sevastova earned a career-best Grand Slam result but twisted her ankle early on, allowing the Dane to ease into her first major semifinal in exactly two years. Sevastova was far fitter on Friday night, pushing the former World No.1 through two tough sets, each of which came down to the wire.
“She definitely was a tricky opponent. I knew going into it that she was going to be difficult. She mixes the pace up. She really tries to break your rhythm.
“I was really pleased with how I was playing. I tried to stay aggressive and tried to mix it up, as well.”
Sevastova claims this 30-shot rally with a lob! ? pic.twitter.com/Cq1f0ekYzY
— WTA (@WTA) February 24, 2017
By match’s end, the Dane had struck 17 winners to 20 from the resurgent Latvian, but almost half as many unforced errors – 17 to 31 – and maintained an impressive 70% first serve percentage to clinch victory after one hour and 26 minutes on court.
Up next for Wozniacki is the winner of the second semifinal between top seed Angelique Kerber and her nemesis, No.7 seed Elina Svitolina.
Second Final in two weeks!@CaroWozniacki defeats Sevastova 6-3, 6-4 for a spot in @DDFTennis Final! pic.twitter.com/q7Wx2vkHuM
— WTA (@WTA) February 24, 2017
“I’m just happy to play against either. They’re both great competitors and great opponents. I lost to both of them the last time we’ve played so it’s not going to be easy but I’m just thrilled to be in the final and I’m going to give it a good battle.”
Elina Svitolina takes on Angelique Kerber in the semifinals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.