Mladenovic At Home In Montréal
We caught up with the multitalented Kristina Mladenovic last month at the Rogers Cup, where she chatted with us about some of secret talents.
We caught up with the multitalented Kristina Mladenovic last month at the Rogers Cup, where she chatted with us about some of secret talents.
Petra Kvitova takes on Eugenie Bouchard in the second round of the Connecticut Open.
SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO – Monica Puig received a welcome fit for a national hero when she landed in her home country of Puerto Rico after bringing them their first Olympic gold medal.
Puig touched down in style into San Juan’s Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport on Saturday – she was at the helm of a private plane and even got to help taxi it down the runway.
Hola Puerto Rico!!!!! This is your pilot speaking ❤️✈️??? #HomeSweetHome pic.twitter.com/zWMaYZhPCv
— Monica Puig (@MonicaAce93) August 20, 2016
She was met on the tarmac by the governor of Puerto Rico, Alejandro García Padilla, who greeted her and personally welcomed her to the island.
EN DIRECTO: Gobernador recibe e @MonicaAce93 en la pista #BienvenidaMonica – https://t.co/j0Hs9j9t85 pic.twitter.com/egACljmB8R
— Telenoticias (@TelenoticiasPR) August 20, 2016
From there Puig met the media in a press conference, then went outside to wave hello to a massive crowd of fans.
Watch the video below to hear the incredible reception that Puerto Rican fans gave her:
.@MonicaAce93 arrives in Puerto Rico for the 1st time since winning her country's 1st ever Olympic Gold Medal. pic.twitter.com/Pxajjlea6p
— IMG Tennis (@IMGTennis) August 21, 2016
Check out some of the best photos of Puig’s arrival below, courtesy of Getty Images.
Kirsten Flipkens takes on Caroline Garcia in the second round of the Connecticut Open.
In less than a week, reigning Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber will take to the courts at Flushing Meadows to begin her bid for her second Grand Slam title of the year. Also at play? A chance to become WTA World No.1.
The 28-year-old is having the best year of her career, and she admits that she owes much of her late renaissance to her improved fitness.
“Right now I’m one of the fittest players in the world,” Kerber told CNN. “It’s strange, but it helps you really reach your goals at the end.”
CNN Open Court went inside the gym with Kerber to discuss how she gets Grand Slam fit, just in time for the final Slam of the year.
It took her three tries to get going, but the third time was the charm for Shelby Rogers on the WTA Frame Challenge. How many did she score? Find out right here!
Vera Zvonareva broke her social media silence to make a big announcement – a couple of big announcements, actually. The former WTA World No.2 has been busy in her year away from the tennis courts.
Zvonareva announced via her Instagram that she’d recently tied the knot and became a mother.
But that’s not all: Zvonareva had a few more announcements in store for her fans, including a return to tennis (of sorts). She’s set to join the Eurosport team and take on a commentating role during this year’s US Open.
Congratulations Vera!
World No.1 Serena Williams became the first singles player to qualify for the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.
SINGAPORE – World No.1 Serena Williams and No.2 Angelique Kerber have secured the first two singles qualifications for this year’s BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.
“Congratulations to Serena and Angelique on once again qualifying for the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global,” said WTA CEO Steve Simon. “These two athletes are incredible ambassadors for the sport and we look forward to them showcasing their best tennis in Singapore this October. Serena continues to break records and add to her already extraordinary career, while Angie is having the best year of her career so far and has firmly established herself as one of the brightest stars of the tour. They are both fan-favorites and their passion and energy on court will be sure to electrify the Sports Hub.”
Williams has amassed an impressive 29-6 record at the year-end finale, winning five singles titles from seven appearances at the WTA Finals. The 34-year-old has claimed the Billie Jean King Trophy on each of her most recent four outings, including three successive victories from 2012 to 2014. This year will mark Williams’ 10th career appearance at the tournament.
“I’m very proud and excited to qualify for the BNP Paribas WTA Finals in Singapore,” said Serena. “I have great memories of winning the title in Singapore in 2014 and being supported by so many fans. I can’t wait to be back in Singapore later this year to hopefully win my sixth Billie Jean King Trophy.”
The World No.1 has spent the majority of the season on top of the Road to Singapore Leaderboard, claiming her 70th and 71st career singles titles by winning the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome and successfully defending her Wimbledon crown. In addition, she reached a further three singles finals at the Australian Open, Roland Garros and BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, bringing her win-loss record so far this season to 33-5. Her triumph at the All England Club was especially poignant, with her seventh Wimbledon title equaling Stefanie Graf’s Open Era record of 22 Grand Slam singles titles. Her results this season have seen Williams extend her reign as the WTA’s World No.1 player, having now held the top spot for 307 weeks over the course of her career, sitting behind only Graf (377) and Martina Navratilova (332).
Fresh off her runner-up at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, Kerber has secured her fourth appearance at the WTA Finals. Her first two appearances at the event were in Istanbul, Turkey, in 2012 and 2013 – highlighted by her win over then-No.4 Agnieszka Radwanska – followed by last year’s showing in Singapore, where she beat eventual runner-up Petra Kvitova in the round-robin stage.
This year Kerber will be bidding to advance to the semifinals for the first time, after being only one set away from doing so in 2015.
Twenty-eight-year-old Kerber has enjoyed her best season yet, compiling a 47-14 record, and reaching a career-high ranking of No.2 after clinching her maiden Grand Slam title at the Australian Open. She also defended her title in front of a home crowd at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart for her ninth career singles crown. In addition, the German reached four more finals so far this season: her second Grand Slam final at Wimbledon (falling to Williams in a re-match of the Australian Open final), a silver medal at the Rio Olympics, the Brisbane International, and Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati.
“I’m so happy to have qualified for the WTA Finals Singapore for the fourth time,” said Kerber. “It is one of the most important events of the year and we all fight to qualify in the Top 8. I have great memories from my other experiences at the tournament and I hope to play some great matches and win the title.”
Watch all of the best shots of the Western & Southern Open – right here!