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Best Of 2015: ATP Heritage Review

  • Posted: Dec 27, 2015

Best Of 2015: ATP Heritage Review

Dec272015

ATPWorldTour.com marked a number of milestones and historic anniversaries throughout 2015

Djokovic At No. 1
Novak Djokovic finished as the year-end No. 1 in the Emirates ATP Rankings for the fourth time in five years and passed two greats in 2015 in the list of most weeks spent in top spot. The Serbian moved past Rafael Nadal on 13 April with 142 weeks, and John McEnroe on 2 November with 171 weeks for fifth position in the all-time list. Today, he is enjoying his 178th week as the summit of men’s professional tennis behind Jimmy Connors (268 weeks), Ivan Lendl (270 weeks), Pete Sampras (286 weeks) and Roger Federer (302 weeks). Djokovic enters 2016 having been ranked No. 1 for 78 straight weeks – the longest stretch since Federer’s 237 straight weeks in 2004-08.

Federer’s 1,000th Match Win
Federer added another jaw-dropping achievement to his great career on 11 January, in the first week of the 2015 season. By capturing the Brisbane International crown, he became just the third player in the Open Era (since 1968) to notch 1,000 singles match wins. Connors, the all-time record-holder with 1,253 match wins, achieved the feat in early 1985, while Lendl (1,071) brought up the milestone as Basel in October 1992. Federer will begin 2016 just 13 match wins (1,059) away from breaking Lendl’s mark.

Tomas Berdych (25 February, Dubai) and Andy Murray (31 March, Miami) also both recorded the 500th match wins of their careers.

Karlovic Keeps Swinging
As Ivo Karlovic edged closer to Goran Ivanisevic‘s ATP record aces tally (since 1991), the Croatian fired down a new marker of 45 aces in a best-of-three set match on 19 June by beating Berdych in the Gerry Weber Open quarter-finals. It was the fifth time since 1991 that 40 or more aces had been hit in a best-of-three match. Karlovic broke his previous record of 44 aces, hit against Daniel Brands in the Zagreb first round in February 2014. The 6’11” Karlovic finally broke Ivanisevic’s aces record on 8 October at the China Open, when he struck 26 aces – for a career total of 10,247 – past Pablo Cuevas to jump 10 clear of his fellow Croat (10,237 aces).

Doubles Milestones
As Daniel Nestor (999 match wins) stands on the brink of becoming the first doubles player to record 1,000 match wins, 2015 was a significant year for Leander Paes in his 25th season on the ATP World Tour. The Indian celebrated his 700th doubles victory on 27 May and competed with the 100th doubles partner of his career, Marcel Granollers, at Nottingham on 24 June. Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan saw their streak of 143 weeks at No. 1 in the Emirates ATP Doubles Rankings end on 2 November, when they were replaced by Marcelo Melo.

Finals Club Launched
The ATP World Tour celebrated year-end championship participants from the 1970s at The O2 in London as a new initiative, Finals Club, was launched. Stan Smith, the first singles and doubles (w/Ashe) champion at Tokyo in 1970, and four-time winner Ilie Nastase joined 20 other players in mid November as they reconnected with the sport, their peers, as well as the world’s best players of today.

Grand Slam Anniversaries
ATPWorldTour.com reflected on Arthur Ashe‘s greatest triumph on a tennis court on 5 July, the 40th anniversary of his 1975 Wimbledon final victory over Jimmy Connors. On 11 July 1985, Boris Becker‘s life changed forever as the 17 year old lifted his first Grand Slam trophy at the all England Club. Pete Sampras is still the youngest winner of the US Open, a trophy he first won on 9 September 1990.

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Infosys ATP Beyond The Numbers: Andy’s Answers

  • Posted: Dec 27, 2015

Infosys ATP Beyond The Numbers: Andy’s Answers

Dec272015

A quick glance at the Infosys ATP Beyond The Numbers year-end stats shows just how dominant Andy Murray has become on the return game, and how he is carving a place among the game’s all-time greats

When considering the best returners in the annals of the sport, names like Andre Agassi, Jimmy Connors and Lleyton Hewitt are quick off the tongue. But there’s a sizeable crop of current stars that are rapidly inserting themselves into the discussion, including Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, David Ferrer and World No. 2 Andy Murray, long one of the best returners in professional tennis.

Since turning pro a decade ago, Murray has made a living out of neutralising power servers with his athletic return game. So solid is the Scotsman that he regularly ranks among the ATP World Tour’s best on the return charts. In fact, between 2007 and 2015, Murray finished among the top five in first-serve return points won (seven times), second-serve return points won (nine times) and return games won (seven times).

Year
1st Serve Ret. Won
 		2nd Serve Ret. Won
 		Break Pts. Converted
 		Return Games Won
2007 34% 55% 40% 32%
2008 33% 54% 42% 29%
2009 35% 56% 46% 33%
2010 32% 55% 42% 30%
2011 37%* 56% 46% 36%
2012 32% 56% 41% 31%
2013 34% 55% 44% 31%
2014 33% 55% 44% 32%
2015 33% 55% 45% 31%

BOLD = career-best, * = ATP World Tour leader

“The return has become a very important part of the game,” said Murray. “Before, when the courts were extremely quick, it was a different game. Guys were holding serve a lot more than they are now. That was a bit because of the surface. I just think that the return is maybe more important than the serve now because of the [slower] surface.”

Get more at Infosys ATP Scores & Stats

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The Numbers Game: 2015 Recap Part 3

  • Posted: Dec 26, 2015

The Numbers Game: 2015 Recap Part 3

Dec262015

In the final installment of a three-part series, ATPWorldTour.com examines the stories behind the numbers in 2015

GRAND SLAM WINS

Stan Wawrinka was the only player to defeat Novak Djokovic in Grand Slam tournaments this year, stopping the Serb in the final of Roland Garros.                                   

Player

2015 Record

Titles

Novak Djokovic

27-1

   3

Stan Wawrinka

21-3

   1

Andy Murray

19-4

   0

Roger Federer

18-4

   0   

Tomas Berdych

14-4

   0

Richard Gasquet

14-4

   0


TIE-BREAK WINS

Big serving helped John Isner, Ivo Karlovic, Kevin Anderson and Gilles Muller find success in tie-breaks in 2015. The four men also led the field in total aces on the year.                

Player

Tie-Break Record

Titles

John Isner

 40-28

  1

Stan Wawrinka

 34-11

  4

Ivo Karlovic

 32-44

  1 

Kevin Anderson

 31-22

  1

Gilles Muller

 28-18

  0

   

TOP 10 WINS

Djokovic became the only player to beat each player in the Top 10, compiling a tour-best 31-5 record.

Player

Top 10 Record

Titles

Novak Djokovic

31-5

11

Roger Federer

15-6

6

Andy Murray

12-10

4

Stan Wawrinka

9-8

4

Rafael Nadal

7-11

3

 

ATP MASTERS 1000 WINS

Djokovic, Andy Murray and Roger Federer (16-6) were the only players to claim an ATP Masters 1000 tournament this season.                         

Player

2015 Record

Titles

Novak Djokovic

39-2

   6

Andy Murray

30-5

   2

Tomas Berdych

22-9

   0

Rafael Nadal

21-9

   0

John Isner

20-9

   0

  

DECISIVE SET WINS (Third or Fifth Set)

Kei Nishikori was the most accomplished comeback artist in 2015, leading the field in deciding set wins and also in wins after losing the first set.                                   

Player

2015 Record

Titles

Kei Nishikori

18-6

3

Novak Djokovic

16-2

11

Gilles Simon

16-8

1   

Steve Johnson

16-9

0  

David Ferrer                

15-2

5

Viktor Troicki

15-9

1

Joao Sousa

15-10

0

Ivo Karlovic

15-12

1

 

WINS AFTER LOSING FIRST SET                   

Player

2015 Record

Titles

Kei Nishikori

13-13

   3

David Ferrer

12-15

   5

Kevin Anderson

11-19

   1

Fernando Verdasco

11-22

   0

Ivo Karlovic

10-18

   1

Feliciano Lopez

10-21

   0

 

MATCH WINS                          

Player

2015 Record

Titles

Novak Djokovic

82-6

   11

Andy Murray

71-14

   4

Roger Federer

63-11

   6

Rafael Nadal

61-20

   4              

Tomas Berdych

57-22

   2

                       

 

EMIRATES ATP RANKING IMPROVEMENTS  (from year-end 2014 to 2015)

 

IN TOP 50 (25-more spots)

Britain’s Aljaz Bedene improved his Emirates ATP Ranking by exactly 100 spots and ended 2015 at a career-best No. 45. Benoit Paire returned from injury to reach No. 19 and win the Comeback Player Of The Year award.                                                             

Player

Ranking Jump

2014 – 2015

Aljaz Bedene

+100

145-45

Benoit Paire

+99

118-19

Viktor Troicki

+79

102-23

Borna Coric

+47

91-44

Marcos Baghdatis

+39

85- 46

Bernard Tomic

+38

56-18

Thomaz Bellucci

+28

65-37

Jiri Vesely

+25

66-41

 

IN TOP 100 (40-more spots)

Hyeon Chung secured the 2015 Most Improved Player Of The Year award by breaking into the Top 100 for the first time.                                                               

Player

Ranking Jump

2014 – 2015

Inigo Cervantes

+ 180

252 – 72

Yuki Bhambri

+ 156

249 – 93

Daniel Munoz-De La Nava

+ 134

209 – 75

Hyeon Chung

+ 122

173 – 51 

Guido Pella

+ 82

156 – 74

Taro Daniel

+ 81

177 – 96

Steve Darcis

+ 77

163 – 86

Marco Cecchinato

+ 72

162 – 90

Thanasi Kokkinakis

+ 70

150 – 80

John Millman

+ 67

159 – 92

Lucas Pouille

+ 55

133 – 78

Alexander Zverev

+ 54

137 – 83

Denis Kudla

+ 52

121 – 69    

Rajeev Ram

+ 51

140 – 89

Illya Marchenko

+ 49

143 – 94   

 

Teenagers (10) in Top 200 (Listed by Age)

Player

Rank

Age

Frances Tiafoe

180

17 Years, 10 Months

Taylor Fritz

177

18 Years, 1 Month

Andrey Rublev

174

18 Years, 1 Month

Alexander Zverev

83

18 Years, 7 Months

Borna Coric

44

19 Years

Jared Donaldson

135

19 Years, 1 Month

Karen Khachanov

152

19 Years, 6 Months

Hyeon Chung

51

19 Years, 6 Months

Thanasi Kokkinakis

80

19 Years, 7 Months

Elias Ymer

137

19 Years, 7 Months

 

21 & Under (6) in Top 100 (Listed by Age)

Alexander Zverev took home the ATP Star of Tomorrow Award presented by Emirates for being the youngest player in the Top 100. 

Player

Rank

Age

Alexander Zverev

83

18 Years, 7 Months

Borna Coric

44

19 Years

Hyeon Chung

51

19 Years, 6 Months

Thanasi Kokkinakis

80

19 Years, 7 Months

Nick Kyrgios

30

20 Years, 7 Months  

Lucas Pouille

78

21 Years, 9 Months

 

17 & Under (5) in Top 500 (Listed by Age)

Player

Rank

Age

Duckhee Lee

230

17 Years, 6 Months

Orlando Luz

454

17 Years, 9 Months

Frances Tiafoe

180

17 Years, 10 Months

Stefan Kozlov

352

17 Years, 10 Months

Michael Mmoh

456

17 Years, 10 Months

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Serena Wins AP Athlete Of The Year

Serena Wins AP Athlete Of The Year

  • Posted: Dec 26, 2015

NEW YORK, NY, USA – Serena Williams has gotten yet another accolade for her phenomenal 2015 season, being named the Associated Press Female Athlete Of The Year for the fourth time.

In a vote by US editors and news directors, Williams was chosen in somewhat of a landslide, earning 50 first place votes – soccer star Carli Lloyd finished in second place with 14 first place votes. UFC stars Ronda Rousey and Holly Holm and basketball player Breanna Stewart rounded out the Top 5.

Williams had one of her very best seasons in 2015, collecting three Grand Slam titles – the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon – to bring her career haul to 21, holding the World No.1 ranking from start to finish, and winning a whopping 53 of her 56 matches during the year (the only losses coming to Petra Kvitova, Belinda Bencic and Roberta Vinci at Madrid, Toronto and the US Open).

Associated Press Female Athlete Of The Year is the latest in a long list of accolades Williams has received for her dynamite 2015 season – she earned the WTA Year-End World No.1 Singles Ranking presented by Dubai Duty Free, she was voted WTA Player Of The Year and Sports Illustrated Sportsperson Of The Year, and earlier this week she was named ITF Women’s World Champion as well.

She’s now been Associated Press Female Athlete Of The Year four times – 2002, 2009, 2013 and 2015. The only other women’s tennis player to win four is Chris Evert (1974, 1975, 1977 and 1980).

The only woman who’s won more than four times is Babe Didrikson (one for athletics and five for golf).

Other women’s tennis players to have received the award are Helen Jacobs, Helen Wills Moody, Alice Marble, Maureen Connolly, Althea Gibson, Maria Bueno, Billie Jean King, Evonne Goolagong Cawley, Tracy Austin, Martina Navratilova, Steffi Graf, Monica Seles, Martina Hingis and Jennifer Capriati.

Williams will kick off her 2016 season in two weeks at Hopman Cup in Perth, Australia. It’s a team exhibition event that includes singles and mixed doubles – she will represent the USA with Jack Sock.

The Associated Press is a global news network that delivers news from across the globe, 24 hours a day. It was founded in 1846 and has been the first to report many of history’s most important moments through its journalists, photographers and videographers. For more on the AP, visit www.ap.org.

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Here's What The Players Tweeted On Xmas

Here's What The Players Tweeted On Xmas

  • Posted: Dec 25, 2015

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The Numbers Game: 2015 Recap Part 2

  • Posted: Dec 25, 2015

The Numbers Game: 2015 Recap Part 2

Dec252015

In the second part of a three-part series, ATPWorldTour.com examines the stories behind the numbers in 2015

Winning Titles Without Losing a Set (10)

Seven players won ATP World Tour titles without dropping a set in 2015, but Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic were the only players to accomplish the feat at Masters 1000 events.

Player

Sets Won

Tournament

Stan Wawrinka

8

Chennai (4 wins)

Richard Gasquet

8

Montpellier (4 wins)

Rafael Nadal

8

Buenos Aires (4 wins)

Roger Federer

9

Dubai

Benoit Paire

10

Bastad

Roger Federer

10

Cincinnati

Tomas Berdych

8

Shenzhen (4 wins)

Tomas Berdych

7

Stockholm (4 wins)

Novak Djokovic

10

Beijing

Novak Djokovic

10

Shanghai

First-Time ATP Winners (6)

Players trying to win their first ATP World Tour title this season are 6-10 after going 5-10 last season. Here are the first-time winners:

Player

Age

Tournament

Jiri Vesely

21

Auckland

Victor Estrella Burgos

34

Quito

Jack Sock

22

Houston

Dominic Thiem

21

Nice

Denis Istomin

28

Nottingham

Benoit Paire

26

Bastad

Doubles Title Leaders

New No. 1 Marcelo Melo and the Bryan brothers led the way on the doubles court in 2015.

Player

Titles

Bob Bryan

6

Mike Bryan

6

Marcelo Melo

6

Henri Kontinen

5

Rohan Bopanna

4

Raven Klaasen

4

Lukasz Kubot

4

Top 10 Doubles Team Rankings

Jean-Julien Rojer and Horia Tecau, who won the doubles crown at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, ended the year with a tour-high 48 wins.

Team

Match & Finals     W-L

Match TB W-L

1 Rojer/Tecau

48-21            3-2

9-7

2 Bryan/Bryan

44-16            6-1

14-4

3 Dodig/Melo

34-12            3-1

12-1

4 J. Murray/Peers

43-24            2-6

6-12

5 Bolelli/Fognini

26-14            1-3

5-5

6 Herbert/Mahut

30-12            2-3

4-6

7 Bopanna/Mergea

31-16            2-3

4-9

8 Matkowski/Zimonjic

33-22            0-3

8-7

9 Peya/Soares

34-24            2-1

6-12

10 Pospisil/Sock

23-10            2-2

8-5

Qualifying Leaders

Brothers Mischa and Alexander Zverev combined for 12 successful qualification bids in 2015, but Nicolas Mahut was the lone qualifier to capture a title this year. The Frenchman used his all-court game to good effect in winning ‘s-Hertogenbosch on grass.

Player

No.

Best Result – Tournament

Mischa Zverev

8

QF – Stuttgart, Valencia

Michael Berrer

7

3R – Indian Wells

Nikoloz Basilashvili

6

2R – Doha

Kenny De Schepper

6

2R – Auckland, Estoril, Wimbledon

Thanasi Kokkinakis

6

2R – Delray Beach, Cincinnati

Denis Kudla

6

SF – Atlanta

Paul-Henri Mathieu

6

Runner-up – Kitzbuehel

Edouard Roger-Vasselin

6

2R – Indian Wells, Metz

Aljaz Bedene

5

Runner-up – Chennai

Taro Daniel

5

2R – Valencia

Thiemo de Bakker

5

2R – Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo

Matthew Ebden

5

1R – 5 times

Austin Krajicek

5

QF – Memphis, Tokyo

Illya Marchenko

5

QF – ‘s-Hertogenbosch

Ruben Bemelmans

4

1R – Australian Open, Miami

Alejandro Falla

4

3R – Miami

Alejandro Gonzalez

4

1R – 4 times

Andrey Kuznetsov

4

2R – Geneva

Dusan Lajovic

4

2R – Basel, Paris-Bercy

Yen-Hsun Lu

4

1R – 4 times

Nicolas Mahut

4

Winner – ‘s-Hertogenbosch

Yoshihito Nishioka

4

QF – Delray Beach

John Patrick Smith

4

1R – 4 times

Yuichi Sugita

4

1R – 4 times

Luca Vanni

4

Runner-up – Sao Paulo

Elias Ymer

4

1R – 4 times

Alexander Zverev

4

2R – Miami

Longest Finals (Games)

Novak Djokovic out-lasted Roger Federer to capture the last two major tournaments of the year, while Rajeev Ram survived a serving showdown against Ivo Karlovic in Newport.

Wimbledon (best of five)

Novak Djokovic d. Roger Federer 76(1) 67(10) 64 63 – 45 games

US Open (best of five)

Novak Djokovic d. Roger Federer 64 57 64 64 – 42 games

Newport

Rajeev Ram d. Ivo Karlovic 76(5) 57 76(2) – 38 games

Munich

Andy Murray d. Philipp Kohlschreiber 76(4) 57 76(4) – 38 games

Longest Finals (Time)

Andy Murray faded late against Djokovic in Melbourne and in Miami, but got his revenge in Montreal seven months later.

Australian Open (best of five)

Novak Djokovic d. Andy Murray 76(5) 67(4) 63 60 – 3:39

Munich

Andy Murray d. Philipp Kohlschreiber 76(4) 57 76(4) – 3:04

Montreal

Andy Murray d. Novak Djokovic 64 46 63 – 3:00

Miami

Novak Djokovic d. Andy Murray 76 46 60 – 2:47

Monte-Carlo

Novak Djokovic d. Tomas Berdych 75 46 63 – 2:43

Longest ATP World Tour Matches (3 Hours+)

Madrid

Marcel Granollers d. Gael Monfils 76 67 64, 2R – 3:20

Rio de Janeiro

Fabio Fognini d. Federico Delbonis 64 67 76, QF – 3:12

Houston

Kevin Anderson d. Jeremy Chardy 75 67 76, QF – 3:08

Montreal

Jeremy Chardy d.  Ivo Karlovic 67(9) 76(13) 76(4) – 3:08

Casablanca

Carlos Berlocq d. Pablo Carreno Busta 46 76 64, 1R – 3:07

Munich

Andy Murray d. Philipp Kohlschreiber 76 57 76, Final – 3:04

Rio de Janeiro

Joao Souza d. Blaz Rola 64 67 64, 2R – 3:02

Shortest Finals (Games)

Casablanca

Martin Klizan d. Daniel Gimeno-Traver 62 62 – 16 games

Sydney

Viktor Troicki d. Mikhail Kukushkin 62 63 – 17 games

Estoril

Rafael Nadal d. David Ferrer 63 62 – 17 games

Auckland

Jiri Vesely d. Adrian Mannarino 63 62 –  17 games

Rio de Janeiro

David Ferrer d. Fabio Fognini 62 63 – 17 games

Buenos Aires

Rafael Nadal d. Juan Monaco 64 61 – 17 games

Madrid

Andy Murray d. Rafael Nadal 63 62 – 17 games

Shortest Completed Finals (Time)

Sydney

Viktor Troicki d. Mikhail Kukushkin 62 63 – 1:04

Estoril

Rafael Nadal d. David Ferrer 63 62 – 1:05

Auckland

Jiri Vesely d. Adrian Mannarino 63 62 –  1:07

THE LAST TIME…IN 2015

  • No. 1 and No. 2 seeds reached a final: No. 1 Novak Djokovic d. No. 2 Andy Murray, Paris-Bercy (13 times in 2015, seven times in 2014, nine times in 2013)
  • Top four seeds in semifinals: Shenzhen: (1) Berdych d. (3) Robredo, (4) G-Lopez d. (2) Cilic
  • Top eight seeds in quarterfinals: Gstaad (last time prior ’09 Montreal, Top 8 ranked in QFs)
  • A player won the title without dropping serve: Roger Federer (49 games), Cincinnati; also Ivo Karlovic (56 games, saved 19 BPs), Delray Beach
  • An all-left-handed final: Jiri Vesely d. Adrian Mannarino, Auckland
  • An all-unseeded final: Viktor Troicki (Q) d. Mikhail Kukushkin (Q), Sydney; Jiri Vesely (Q) d. Adrian Mannarino, Auckland
  • A player outside Top 100 reached final: Q-Pierre Hugues Herbert (No. 140), Winston-Salem
  • A player outside Top 100 won title: Rajeev Ram (No. 161), Newport
  • An unseeded player won a title: Joao Sousa, Valencia (10 times overall in 2015)
  • A wild card reached/won final: Tomas Berdych, Stockholm (d. Sock)
  • A qualifier reached a final: Pierre Hugues Herbert (No. 140), Winston-Salem
  • A qualifier won title: Nicolas Mahut d. David Goffin, ‘s-Hertogenbosch. Also in ’15 Viktor Troicki (Sydney), Jiri Vesely (Auckland)
  • A lucky loser reached SF: Borna Coric (l. to Federer), Dubai
  • Five left-handers in QF: Auckland (Falla, Mannarino, Ramos Vinolas, Vesely, Young)
  • Last Monday final: Oct. 5 (Shenzhen: Berdych d. Garcia-Lopez). Prior: Munich (May 4)
  • Winner beating No. 1, 2 & 3 seeds: Benoit Baire, Bastad (d. Goffin in 2R, Cuevas in SF, Robredo in F)
  • Winner beating No. 1 & No. 2 seeds: Rajeev Ram, Newport (d. Isner in 1R, Karlovic in F)
  • Playing four three-set matches en route to final: Benoit Paire (Tokyo)
  • First-time winner beating four seeds: Jack Sock (Houston)

OTHER 2015 STATISTICS

  • The winner in ATP singles finals this year won 59 of 66 times (.893) when capturing first set. Last year 43 of 63 times (.667); 46 of 65 times in 2013 (.708)
  • Longest singles TB (15-13): Jeremy Chardy d.  John Isner 67(9) 76(13) 76(4), QF Montreal;
  • Gilles Muller d. Bernard Tomic 76(3) 76(13), QF Sydney
  • Longest doubles TB(25-23): Cabal-Farah d. Krajicek-Monroe 76(25-23) 63, 1R Washington
  • The longest Match TB (19-17):Gabashvili-Berankis d. Delbonis-Lajovic 46 62 19-17, 1R Hston;
  • Cabal-Farah d. Brown-Kamke 63 67 19-17, QF, Acapulco
  • Left-handers went 6-10 in finals (Nadal-3, Bellucci, Klizan, Vesely), 8-6 in 2014 (Nadal-4, Debonis, Klizan), 12-10 in 2013, 8-6 in 2012, 3-14 in 2011
  • Players attempting to capture their first ATP World Tour title are 6-10 in finals (5-10 in 2014)   
  • There have been two Match Point(s) Saved Winners this year: Denis Istomin, Nottingham (QF); Rajeev Ram, Newport (in 1R & QF). There were seven in 2014
  • Most Match Points Saved: 7, Jeremy Chardy d. John Isner 67(9) 76(13) 76(4), QF Montreal

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Kvitova: Serena's Big Threat In 2016?

Kvitova: Serena's Big Threat In 2016?

  • Posted: Dec 24, 2015

SHENZHEN, China – Petra Kvitova had some big moments in 2015 – three Premier titles at Sydney, Madrid and New Haven, her first US Open quarterfinal and, for a brief period, getting back to No.2.

But there was something else that’ll go down in the record books – a shocking win over the World No.1.

“She went for broke on every serve, every return – I hit some second serves, 170, 175, and she would just hit them for winners,” Serena Williams said after falling to Kvitova in the Madrid semifinals.

“For sure I’m happy I won today,” Kvitova said after her 6-2, 6-3 victory in the Spanish capital.

“I had never beaten Serena before, so this is a really special moment for me, of course.”

With that victory, Kvitova became the only player to beat Williams in straight sets in 2015 – and with that, could the big-hitting Czech, a former World No.2, be the World No.1’s biggest threat in 2016?

She certainly knows how to bring her best on the biggest stages – also Williams’ favorite stages. Kvitova has two Grand Slam titles to her name, Wimbledon in 2011 and 2014, and she’s been to the semis or better at the Australian Open and French Open, and the quarterfinals of the US Open as well.

The World No.6 is also an impressive 17-6 in WTA finals – more importantly, 2-0 in Grand Slam finals.

“I don’t really like the beginning of the tournaments, for sure, but that’s how it is – it’s probably normal that I’m improving my game with each match in a tournament,” Kvitova said. “And then when the finish line comes, I’m feeling better about my game. Unfortunately I can’t just play finals, which is sad!”

Speaking of finals, Kvitova suffered a rare loss in a title match at the WTA Finals in Singapore this year – to Agnieszka Radwanska – though she did score a big win over Maria Sharapova in the semis.

She was asked afterwards what she was hoping to work on in the off-season. “The main thing I want to do is improve my health,” she said. “I have a few weeks for that, so I hope it’s going to help me, and my main goal is to be prepared and healthy for the next season. For sure that’s my biggest goal.”

Kvitova will kick off her 2016 season at the Shenzhen Open in Shenzhen, China, an International-level event that boasts twice the usual International prize money – $500,000. Radwanska will be there too.

“I’m very happy to be going back to Shenzhen,” Kvitova commented. “Last year I had a very nice time. Everyone was very kind to me, and it was also very nice to see my good friend Li Na when I was there.

“I look forward to playing there again, seeing Li Na again and hopefully winning the title this time.”

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Can Venus Win A Grand Slam In 2016?

Can Venus Win A Grand Slam In 2016?

  • Posted: Dec 24, 2015

AUCKLAND, New Zealand – In two weeks, 2015’s WTA Comeback Player Of The Year – Venus Williams – will try to keep her momentum going, kicking off her 2016 season at the ASB Classic. The big question about the new year isn’t whether she’ll be able to defend her title there, though – it’s something bigger.

Can the seven-time Grand Slam champion and former World No.1 capture another major?

If the hunger she described in November in Zhuhai – where she won her third WTA title of the year – is anything to go by, the World No.7 might just get back into that Grand Slam winner’s circle again.

“Being back in the Top 10 is what every player is working for, and I’m really excited about it, but I’m still very hungry. I’m ready for more,” Williams said. “I’ve had so many experiences in tennis but I still expect a lot from myself – I’m very happy to be moving forward, but I want to continue.

“I don’t want to stop. I want to keep improving in the rankings and winning events and all that.”

After falling as low as No.137 in the world a few years ago after her Sjögren’s Syndrome lay-off, a lot of people wrote her off – and they kept writing her off as she struggled to stay in the Top 20.

But Williams has silenced the doubters before, and she’s just done it again.

“It doesn’t matter who you are or what you do, everyone is willing to write you off. No one thought I would win Wimbledon in 2005 – I was 24 years old, and in sports people always think you’re done. But you’re not done until you say you’re done. I won that title that year, and it meant everything to me.

“I believed in myself,” Williams continued. “That’s one of the trophies I keep in my bedroom because it represents believing in yourself, really just trusting your instincts, and betting on yourself.”

Williams’ first shot at her eighth Grand Slam title will come at the Australian Open. Along with the French Open, it’s her toughest major – her best result in Melbourne is one final, just like in Paris.

But there’s a new kind of aggression coming off the Williams racquet lately – she’s always been one of the most aggressive players in the game, but the years of experience have brought even more clarity.

“At this stage of life it’s about finding that happy medium of playing the percentages, being smart and using your experience, but at the same time continuing to be aggressive,” she explained. “For me, it’s innate. I would be aggressive on every single shot if I could. It’s not the smartest thing to do – you have to work the point, and you have to realize what to do on the court at the right times.

“But there’s always a part of me that’s very free, like the young player who went for every shot.”

How will the former World No.1 do Down Under? Follow all the action right here on wtatennis.com!

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Best Of 2015 Second Quarter

  • Posted: Dec 24, 2015

Best Of 2015 Second Quarter

Dec242015

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