Brisbane: Destanee Aiava's SAP Stat Of The Day
In today’s SAP Stat Of The Day, Destanee Aiava scored a big win for millennium babies everywhere at the Brisbane International.
In today’s SAP Stat Of The Day, Destanee Aiava scored a big win for millennium babies everywhere at the Brisbane International.
AUCKLAND, New Zealand – Caroline Wozniacki continued her confident start to the new season by breezing past Varvara Lepchenko and into the quarterfinals of the ASB Classic.
With the dust still settling from the exits of both Williams sisters from the tournament, No.3 seed Wozniacki made light work of the gusty conditions to wrap up a 6-3, 6-3 victory.
“It was a bit of a different match, a little bit tougher conditions today. But I was happy with the way I managed to keep cool and deal with her tricky lefty serves – I was pleased with it.”
Venus Williams’ withdrawal ahead of her second-round match resulted in Wozniacki taking court a little earlier than expected, but she took the change of schedule in her stride, finishing both sets strongly to wrap up victory after an hour and 18 minutes.
.@CaroWozniacki is serving for a place in the @ASB_Classic quarterfinals – and it's no surprise when she's playing like this! pic.twitter.com/WTHph6pF3v
— WTA (@WTA) January 4, 2017
“I was in my room and I got a text asking where I was, and I was like, what do you mean? Then I found out Venus was pulling out and I needed to play a little earlier and started to stress out because I wasn’t ready.”
The former World No.1 will now play Julia Goerges, against whom she has a mixed record, winning four of their eight encounters, including two years ago in Auckland. “She’s a tough opponent, a tough match-up for me,” Wozniacki added. “But I’m excited for it, it’s going to be a good challenge. I’ve played her here before and done well, so I’m hoping I can play another good match and win.”
Goerges booked her spot by prevailing over Naomi Broady, 7-5, 6-4, in the battle of the big servers. Also advancing were Barbora Strycova, who edged past Lucie Safarova, 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(4), and Jelena Ostapenko, a 6-2, 7-6(3) winner over Mirjana Lucic-Baroni.
Daria Kasatkina has Tuesday’s shot of the day at the Brisbane International.
BRISBANE, Australia – For the second time in as many days, Garbiñe Muguruza came back from the brink to keep her hopes alive at the Brisbane International.
Muguruza entertained a record crowd at the Queensland Tennis Centre on Tuesday night, coming from match point down for to defeat the courageous Daria Kasatkina, 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(7), in one minute shy of three hours.
“What a match! It was terrible, I was suffering until last moment, but I think we were both playing amazing,” Muguruza said in her on-court interview. “The tie break is just a few points where it will be decided. I don’t know how I won but I’m glad I did it.
Another huge moment!@DKasatkina breaks back after this phenomenal challenge! pic.twitter.com/wWC8Oa8tNG
— WTA (@WTA) January 3, 2017
In a match that ebbed and flowed until the last, Kasatkina came roaring back from 4-1 down in the deciding set only to stumble when she was then presented with the opportunity to serve for it. Muguruza, somehow maintained her composure in the subsequent tie-break, wiping out a match point at 6-7 with a pin-point forehand before eventually making her weary limbs across the finishing line.
The previous evening, the Spaniard had been involved in an equally dramatic contest against home favorite Samantha Stosur. By her own admission, it is an atmosphere she revels in.
“I love to play in this type of court when the crowd is so into the match. I like to make them enjoy and suffer like me!”
This match?? @BrisbaneTennis
— Elena Vesnina (@EVesnina001) January 3, 2017
In the quarterfinals, Muguruza will face either Svetlana Kuznetsova or Destanee Aiava.
Another seed put through the ringer was Elina Svitolina, who eventually saw off Shelby Rogers, 7-5, 2-6, 7-5.
Karolina Pliskova takes on Asia Muhammad in the second round of the Brisbane International.
AUCKLAND, New Zealand – World No.2 Serena Williams won five straight games en route to her first match win since September, defeating French veteran Pauline Parmentier, 6-3, 6-4, to advance into the second round of the ASB Classic.
Relive the match as it happened on the WTA Insider Live Blog!
“It’s my first match back in serveral months and I was playing a really good player today,” she said during her on-court interview.
“COME ON!”
Yup, @SerenaWilliams is back! ✊ pic.twitter.com/w05QPuTfGh
— WTA (@WTA) January 2, 2017
“This wind was really getting to me! This whole week I practiced with no wind, but today it was so windy.
“But it was fun…well, it wasn’t fun, but it was interesting!”
Serena was forced to miss much of the second half of 2016 due to injury – though she still managed to tie Stefanie Graf’s Open Era record of 22 Grand Slam titles at Wimbledon – and hadn’t been on court since the US Open.
Overcoming a slow start, the American recovered from a 1-3 deficit to take the first set, and fought off three break points in the middle of the second to seal victory in one hour and 15 minutes.
Sneaky drop shot from @SerenaWilliams! ? #ASBClassic pic.twitter.com/gPh0vy80ld
— WTA (@WTA) January 2, 2017
“I’m feeling like I’m trying to get out there, and that every match counts. I’ve never played in front of you guys so this is really special for my career. I’ve never been here, so thanks for making me feel so welcome.”
Up next for Serena is either Madison Brengle or qualifier Jamie Loeb, two Americans who could face the top seed.
She’s back!@SerenaWilliams beats Parmentier 6-3, 6-4 in @ASB_Classic First round! pic.twitter.com/gLufwPcT5z
— WTA (@WTA) January 3, 2017
Garbiñe Muguruza takes on Daria Kasatkina in the second round of the Brisbane International.
Dominika Cibulkova and Casey Dellacqua paid a special visit to the children at the Ronald McDonald House in Brisbane with WTA Charities.
SHENZHEN, China – Defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska eased into the Shenzhen Open quarterfinals with a quick-fire win over Sorana Cirstea on Tuesday.
The previous evening Radwanska had come perilously close to a shock defeat against wildcard Duan Ying Ying, but endured no such scare this time around, wrapping up a 6-0, 6-3 victory in an hour and 19 minutes.
“After a match like yesterday, there’s always less pressure today because you know you could have gone home already,” Radwanska said. “I think I was playing much better today, more confident and everything was smoother on court and that’s why the score was like that.”
Radwanska and Cirstea have known each other since their early teenage years, and were meeting each other for the eighth time in the professional ranks. After cantering through the opening set, Radwanska found herself trailing 3-0 in the second. And she as forced to delve into her bag of tricks to avoid falling further behind before steadying the ship to chalk up a sixth win over the Romanian.
Cool as you like from @ARadwanska to save break point! pic.twitter.com/LMMCCpjaNJ
— WTA (@WTA) January 3, 2017
“I know Sorana for a long time, since junior days, so of course it’s different than when you play someone for the first time. Her ranking was up and down for a long time, but I know it doesn’t matter what her ranking is she can play very good tennis – she hits the ball very hard from both sides – and I prepared for that.
“The first set I was a bit lucky – it could have been a totally different score – and in the important moments I was taking my chances, and didn’t let go. At the beginning of the second set I lost some concentration, but it’s good that I came back.”
In the last eight, Radwanska will meet Alison Riske, whom she defeated in last year’s final. Riske was equally impressive in her 6-1, 6-1 second-round victory over Tsvetana Pironkova.
Elina Svitolina takes on Shelby Rogers in the second round at the Brisbane International.