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Ivanovic & Wozniacki Shine In Dubai

Ivanovic & Wozniacki Shine In Dubai

  • Posted: Nov 24, 2015

DUBAI, UAE – Ana Ivanovic and Caroline Wozniacki, longtime Dubai Duty Free Global Brand Ambassadors and former World No.1s, had a magical night at the Dubai Airshow Dinner Gala earlier this month, watching the fastest-growing air show in the world, as well as one of the biggest singing sensations in the world, Katy Perry, who performed an exclusive concert for the guests at the gala.

Dubai Duty Free, who hosted Ivanovic and Wozniacki on the night, are the WTA’s longest standing partner – they’re also presenting partner of the WTA Pre-Wimbledon Party and the Year-End World No.1 Awards, which went to Serena Williams and Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza this year.

“For as long as I can remember, Dubai Duty Free has been one of the biggest supporters of women’s tennis. I am thrilled to continue my partnership with such a wonderful brand – we are now in our fourth year together,” Ivanovic commented. “As part of my role as their Global Ambassador I’ve taken part in many exciting activities and learnt a lot more about the culture of the region. I’m looking forward to coming back to Dubai in 2016 to compete for the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships title.”

Speaking of which, the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships – which has attracted the top women’s players in the world since its inaugural year on the WTA calendar back in 2001, and will do the same in 2016 – was also honored last Monday, receiving a five-star rating by the Dubai Sports Council.

Here are some of the best pics from both of these events in Dubai, all courtesy of Dubai Duty Free:

Dubai Duty Free

Dubai Duty Free

Here’s Ivanovic and Wozniacki with Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman of Dubai Duty Free:

Dubai Duty Free

Here they are with Salah Tahlak, Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships Tournament Director:

Dubai Duty Free

Here’s Tahlak receiving the award from Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai International Marine Club, along with Bernard Creed of Dubai Duty Free.

Dubai Duty Free

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Challenger Finals Preview: Get To Know Marco Cecchinato

  • Posted: Nov 24, 2015

Challenger Finals Preview: Get To Know Marco Cecchinato

ATPWorldTour.com previews the fifth edition of the ATP Challenger Tour Finals, commencing on Wednesday in Sao Paulo. Today, we introduce Italy’s Marco Cecchinato.

A native of Palermo, on the Italian island of Sicily, Marco Cecchinato is one of two players from Italy in the ATP Challenger Tour Finals. Looking to follow in the footsteps of 2013 champion Filippo Volandri, Cecchinato and countryman Paolo Lorenzi will seek to cap their seasons with a title at the year-end championships in Sao Paulo. The 23 year old is making steady progress in the Emirates ATP Rankings, breaking into the Top 100 for the first time in late July and peaking at World No. 82 last month.  

Tied for second among match wins leaders on the Challenger circuit in 2015, the Italian owns a 44-14 record, with all victories coming on clay. Only Inigo Cervantes has claimed more wins (45) this year. Cecchinato contested two finals in his 2015 campaign, prevailing on home soil in Turin in early May for his lone title and second overall (San Marino 2013). The 6’1” right-hander also finished runner-up in Genova. One of five Italians in the Top 100 of the Emirates ATP Rankings, at World No. 89, he made his Grand Slam debut at the US Open – his fourth tour-level main draw of the year. A qualifier in Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires and Winston-Salem, Cecchinato won the first set against Mardy Fish in Flushing Meadows before falling in four.

To be held on indoor clay at the famed Pinheiros Sports Club from 25-29 November, the field is comprised of seven qualifiers and one wild card. Contested in round-robin format, with the top two from each group advancing to the semi-finals, 125 Emirates ATP Ranking points and $91,200 in prize money will be awarded to an undefeated champion.

Rapid Fire With Marco
Key to success in 2015: I have improved a lot mentally and also my game has grown
Best match of the year: Beating top seed Albert Ramos-Vinolas 0-6, 6-1, 6-4 in Genova semi-finals
Biggest improvements: Serve and forehand
Reaction to winning on home soil in Turin: Strong emotions. My fans give me a lot of power.
On breaking into the Top 100: It was my dream since I was a child. The biggest achievement for the hard work in all my life.
On facing Mardy Fish in his US Open debut: Hard to explain the emotions. I learned a lot.
Most influential figure: My cousin and uncle, who are two tennis coaches.
Tennis idol: Marat Safin. I loved seeing him play.
Italy’s best: Andreas Seppi. The hardest worker in Italian tennis.
Goals for 2016: No specific goals [for Emirates ATP Rankings]. I want to play 70-80 matches.

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Challenger Finals Preview: Lorenzi “The Goal Is To Reach 400 Wins”

  • Posted: Nov 24, 2015

Challenger Finals Preview: Lorenzi “The Goal Is To Reach 400 Wins”

ATPWorldTour.com previews the fifth edition of the ATP Challenger Tour Finals, commencing on Wednesday in Sao Paulo. Today, we introduce Italy’s Paolo Lorenzi.

Paolo Lorenzi claimed his 300th match win on the ATP Challenger Tour earlier this year, and the Italian says he is not slowing down in his quest to reach 400.

At 33 years old, Lorenzi, who won four titles in five finals in 2015, is one of eight players to feature in the season-ending ATP Challenger Tour Finals in Sao Paulo. One of the most dominant players on the circuit this year, he won a total of 42 matches and lifted trophies in Eskisehir (Turkey), Cortina (Italy), Pereira (Colombia) and Medellin (Colombia).

Born in Rome, the World No. 68 in the Emirates ATP Rankings believes that his strong performance this year is due to several factors, but especially that he had been able to stay healthy and put in a lot of work away from the court.

“I put in a lot of work before the start of the season, putting a lot of emphasis on the physical part and I believe that it has been the key to a good campaign,” Lorenzi told ATPWorldTour.com after his victory at the Seguros Bolívar Open de Pereira. “I am very happy to have arrived at 300 wins and now my goal is to achieve 400. I believe that if I remain healthy, it is an objective that I can achieve.”

In May, in Turkey, the Italian became the third player in the history of the ATP Challenger Tour to arrive at the figure of 300 triumphs, something that only had been achieved by Spain’s Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo before this season. It was an accomplishment that had really motivated Lorenzi for the future, as retirement is not an option.

“That moment was very special. It’s not easy to arrive at 300 victories. The Challenger Tour is always very strong and competitive. The stars of tomorrow play there and so do many players that have been very high (in the Emirates ATP Rankings) and motivated to return from injury.

“At the moment, retirement is not something that I have in my head. I feel that I am playing well and I will continue competing as long as I feel that I am competitive and can win. At the least, three years. For that, I remain motivated and I am very happy of what I have achieved in my career. Why can’t I think about achieving 400 or 500 wins? That is the goal that I hope to achieve.”

Lorenzi, who reached a career-high World No. 49 in April 2013, has claimed 16 titles in Challenger tournaments in his successful career. He arrives in Sao Paulo having enjoyed great success there on the ATP World Tour, with a run to the final of the Brasil Open in 2014 (l. to Delbonis) and the doubles title match this year alongside Diego Schwartzman (l. to Cabal/Farah). All of these achievements, in addition to witnessing the success of his fellow Italians, has Lorenzi looking forward to the ATP Challenger Tour Finals and the 2016 season.

“This years has been very good for our generation of tennis players from Italy. Fognini and Bolelli won the Australian Open in doubles, Flavia (Pennetta) won the women’s singles title at the US Open against Roberta (Vinci) and the Davis Cup team reached the semi-finals. Also, Seppi beat Federer in Australia and Fognini beat Nadal three times. All this is very positive and beautiful to see that the players I have grown up with are playing this well.”

These achievements have motivated Lorenzi more than anything. For the second time (2011), he qualified as one of the eight players who will play in the ATP Challenger Tour Finals at the Pinheiros Sports Club from 25-29 November. “I have great memories of Sao Paulo. I like the city. The last time it was on hard courts and this time it’s on indoor clay, which I prefer.”

Argentina’s Guido Pella, Brazil’s Guilherme Clezar, Spain’s Daniel Munoz-de la Nava and Inigo Cervantes, Moldova’s Radu Albot and Uzbekistan’s Farrukh Dustov also qualified for the final tournament of the season.

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Upsets Of 2015: Hradecka Vs Ivanovic

Upsets Of 2015: Hradecka Vs Ivanovic

  • Posted: Nov 24, 2015

Ana Ivanovic arrived Down Under at the start of 2014 still searching for the form that once took her to the top of the tennis world. Victory in Auckland, and then a run to the quarterfinals at the Australian Open provided the springboard for a tremendous campaign that saw her return to the Top 10.

The highlight of this early resurgence came when she kicked out top seed and red-hot favorite Serena Williams on a sweltering afternoon on Rod Laver. However, 12 months later the boot was very much on the other foot.

Coming into the tournament seeded No.5 and fresh from a final in Brisbane, Ivanovic was in buoyant mood. On the face of it, the draw had been kind, too, pitting her against Czech qualifier Lucie Hradecka and far away from any of the dangerous floaters.

What followed was the upset of the tournament.

There was no hint at what was to come from the opening set, a tentative Hradecka struggling to keep the ball in court in her first Grand Slam main draw outing for 12 months. But even then, the World No.142 sensed she had a chance, Ivanovic looking uncharacteristically ordinary.

Spying a chink in the Serb’s armor, Hradecka went for the jugular, taking charge of the rallies and clubbing double-fisted winner after winner. For much of the final two sets, she was irresistible, and to the shock of those watching on quelled the nerves that must surely have been lurking to close out a famous 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 triumph.

“I was so nervous in the beginning. My hand was shaky,” Hradecka said afterwards. “But I played one time against Ana before, at Wimbledon five years ago, and I had two match points, so my goal was if I had match point this time to finish it. And I’m so happy I did it this time.”

For all her success the previous year, by her own admission, Ivanovic had underperformed at the majors, making her opening day setback all the more difficult to stomach.

“I think it’s just mentally how you approach each match,” Ivanovic said. “I really felt good before the tournament started. I had a great week in Brisbane. The level was really high. But you just have to accept that you’re going to have tough days and you got to go through the tough days to improve. I’m such a perfectionist and sometimes I judge myself too much.”

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50 Most Popular Players Of 2015: 50-41

50 Most Popular Players Of 2015: 50-41

  • Posted: Nov 24, 2015

The stars of the WTA battle it out day after day and week after week for wins, titles and ranking points – but who’s getting the most clicks on wtatennis.com, the official website of the WTA? That’s what we’ll be finding out all week this week as we count down the Top 50 Most Popular Players Of 2015.

From marquee names to WTA Rising Stars and doubles specialists, the WTA has an all-star cast battling it out all season long, and they’re all on the countdown. Where’s your favorite player on the list?

Let’s kick off the Top 50 Most Popular Players Of 2015 countdown today with No.50 to No.41!

50] Monica Niculescu (ROU)
Niculescu, whose 2015 season was highlighted by reaching her fifth WTA final at Nottingham – which included a semifinal stunner over Agnieszka Radwanska – kicks off our Top 50 countdown at No.50.

 Getty Images

49] Anna Karolina Schmiedlova (SVK)
Schmiedlova was one of the fastest-rising WTA Rising Stars in 2015, winning her first two WTA titles at Katowice and Bucharest and scoring her first four Top 20 wins, and she comes in at No.49 here.

 Getty Images

48] Julia Goerges (GER)
Runs to the second week of both the Australian Open and French Open highlighted Goerges’ year, and the big-hitting former Top 15 player from Germany comes in at No.48 on this week’s countdown.

 Getty Images

47] Andreea Mitu (ROU)
Mitu was one of the breakthrough stars of the French Open, making it all the way to the second week of a major for the first time. This year she was twice as popular as her year-end ranking of No.94.

 Getty Images

46] Zarina Diyas (KAZ)
Diyas, not just a talented WTA Rising Star but also Kazakhstan’s No.1 player, made it all the way up to No.31 in the world earlier in the year and comes in at No.46 on this week’s Top 50 countdown.

 Getty Images

45] Daniela Hantuchova (SVK #81)
Hantuchova’s season was highlighted by a seventh WTA title in Pattaya City, and though she finished at No.81 on the year-end rankings, the former World No.5’s popularity almost halves that on this list.

 Getty Images

44] Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS)
The former World No.13 from Russia had a fantastic finish to the 2015 season – quarterfinals of Beijing, title in Linz, finals in Moscow – and she comes in at No.44 on this week’s Top 50 countdown.

 Getty Images

43] Lesia Tsurenko (UKR)
Ukraine’s No.2 had an absolute breakthrough season, winning her first WTA title in Istanbul, reaching the semis of New Haven and Moscow and quarters of Indian Wells and Toronto. She’s No.43 here.

 Getty Images

42] Madison Brengle (USA)
Speaking of breakthrough seasons, there’s Brengle too – first WTA final at Hobart, the fourth round of the Australian Open and semis of Stuttgart helped her shoot up the rankings, and she’s No.42 here.

 Getty Images

41] Alizé Cornet (FRA #43)
Cornet has been one of the most popular players on the tour for years, and this year you kept clicking on the former World No.11 again. The Frenchwoman comes in at No.41 on this week’s countdown.

Getty Images

Come to wtatennis.com tomorrow for No.40 to No.31 on the Top 50 Most Popular Players Of 2015!

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Rowdy Rezaï Ready For Return

Rowdy Rezaï Ready For Return

  • Posted: Nov 24, 2015

Champions aren’t timid. The most memorable major titlists step into the court and silence their opposition. They put it all on the line and play as though they have nothing to lose.

Peaking inside the Top 15 in 2010, Aravane Rezaï almost had it all. Gone from the game for much of the last two years, the 28-year-old from Saint-Étienne speaks softly, but carries a big stick.

“I remember when I was at my best and played 100% of my capabilities,” she told WTA Insider. “It was the best feeling ever in this world.”

Born to Persian parents, the Stéphanoise has scintillating swings, and puts sensational speed behind each and every groundstroke.

“My game is definitely full power and, of course, more risky. More risk means more mistakes. I developed this game since I started tennis. It’s not work we can do in a month; it’s a lifetime of work to be able to play this way, like any player on the tour.”

Aravane Rezai

But Rezaï has never been just any player on tour. A human highlight reel, hers is a game built for big stages, for bringing spectators to their feet. Unseeded on the clay courts of Istanbul, she upset Venus Williams and Maria Sharapova to reach her first WTA final in 2007. Two years later, she earned her first win over a reigning World No.1 when she defeated Dinara Safina at the Rogers Cup.

Her most monumental moment, however, came that very next spring at the Mutua Madrid Open, where she beat a trio of top-flight players in Justine Henin, Jelena Jankovic, and Venus Williams to capture the biggest title of her career, launch into the Top 20, and land on many a shortlist to contend for major crowns.

Five years on and the Frenchwoman is more or less in the shadow of Grand Slam success. Physical problems and family discord triggered a depression that has seen her play only sporadically since 2013.

“Family issues are not easy to solve because as simple as they seem, you can’t deal with family the way you would a stranger. We never want to hurt people we love.

“I was depressed for all the issues I had with my family and I couldn’t be on the court, mentally or physically.”

Robbed of the mental toughness that made her such an unrelenting competitor, Rezaï played just three tournaments in 2014, stepping further and further away from the sport, until it seemed like nothing at all.

“When I was off the court, I didn’t want to watch any tennis or matches, just because I wanted to be cut off completely. I needed that.”

Aravane Rezai

She instead put her time into building a normal life, something that was hard to have while traveling to tournaments in father Arsalan’s camper van.

“The opportunity of this long break in my career was to spend much more time with my close friends and family. When we are on tour playing tournaments on the other side of the world, it’s not easy to share light and friendly moments.”

The former No.15 finally returned to the courts in February, resolved to commence what she calls “a second career.”

“I always knew I would play again, that it couldn’t end this way. I knew I would try my best to come back to the top, but I also knew it would be more difficult than before. At the beginning of the year, I was mentally ready to push myself to work hard.”

A packed house watched her play French Open qualifying – her first match in over 14 months – and though she wouldn’t walk away with the win, she was pleasantly surprised to find a spotlight still waiting for her.

“It always feels good to see how much people are interested about my career and really want me to come back, and that gives me power and strength to work better and do my best on the court.”

Her father and first coach is in her corner once more, while her brother Anauch serves as a hitting partner. Relieved to be reconciled with her family, Rezaï concedes there are certain challenges that come with balancing the roles of father and daughter, coach and pupil.

“My partnership with him as a coach is still fresh and I would like to try first before saying too much. He has changed a bit but still keeps this sort of fatherly protection around me.”

Aravane Rezai

Far from Court Philippe Chatrier, her second career has begun to take shape on the ITF Circuit; with two match wins at her first two tournaments following the French Open, Rezaï plans to use her protected ranking to test the waters on the WTA level.

“Of course WTA and ITF are different, but some of the high level ITFs are sometimes as good as WTA tournaments. But I don’t mind playing ITFs, returning to the roots of the sport and challenging myself again.

“I am a competitive girl so I am fine with starting low and working again to try and be back.”

A hallmark of her first career, that competitiveness is all she believes is left of the fiery young girl who first burst onto the tour in 2005, reaching the second round of Roland Garros as a qualifier.

“It’s a new beginning, I am a better person and more mature, so I now react differently to situations. I do have a lot of memories, but the beginning of my career was all about learning.”

Armed with a first career’s worth of knowledge, Rezaï has made her return all about patience, hard work, and channeling her competitive spirit into a sport about which she remains deeply passionate.

“Tennis is one of the most beautiful sports in the world. During a match, you are put in situations that you have to face in life. It’s a solitary sport, and on court, you have to deal with things on your own completely, physically and mentally.”

In a sport that is mostly mental, the Frenchwoman fearlessly employed an all or nothing style. Motivated for even more success in this second career, Rezaï need look no further than the plethora of veterans who’ve enjoyed late-career surges to know she may yet have it all.

“Players like Flavia Pennetta and Roberta Vinci prove that we can still play tennis for a very long time, and I am happy about that because I intend to play until 2024!”

All photos courtesy of Getty Images.

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Vote Now: Shot Of The Year – Group A

Vote Now: Shot Of The Year – Group A

  • Posted: Nov 24, 2015

It’s time to crown the 2015 WTA Shot Of The Year.

Each WTA Shot Of The Month winner has been placed into one of two groups.

     • Voting for Group A and Group B will close Sunday, November 29 at 11:59pm ET
     • The two shots from each group that receive the most votes will then be placed into a final group
     • Final Group voting opens Monday, November 30 and ends Sunday, December 6 at 11:59pm ET
     • The 2015 WTA Shot of the Year winner will be announced Monday, December 7

Group A

January: Maria Sharapova
February: Simona Halep
March: Agnieszka Radwanska
April: Angelique Kerber
May: Agnieszka Radwanska 

2015 Shot of Year Group A

Group B

June: Ana Ivanovic
August: Simona Halep
September: Agnieszka Radwanska 
October: Agnieszka Radwanska 
Vote In: Serena Williams

Click here or below to watch Group B shots and vote

2015 Shot of Year Group B


How it works:

Each Shot of the Month winner is placed into one of two groups.
The two shots from each group that receive the most votes will then be placed into a final group
Winner is then determined by a fan vote on wtatennis.com

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Vote Now: Shot Of The Year – Group B

Vote Now: Shot Of The Year – Group B

  • Posted: Nov 24, 2015

It’s time to crown the 2015 WTA Shot Of The Year.

Each WTA Shot Of The Month winner has been placed into one of two groups.

     • Voting for Group A and Group B will close Sunday, November 29 at 11:59pm ET
     • The two shots from each group that receive the most votes will then be placed into a final group
     • Final Group voting opens Monday, November 30 and ends Sunday, December 6 at 11:59pm ET
     • The 2015 WTA Shot Of The Year winner will be announced Monday, December 7

Group B

June: Ana Ivanovic
August: Simona Halep
September: Agnieszka Radwanska
October: Agnieszka Radwanska
Vote In: Serena Williams

2015 Shot of Year Group B

Group A

January: Maria Sharapova
February: Simona Halep
March: Agnieszka Radwanska
April: Angelique Kerber
May: Agnieszka Radwanska

Click here or below to watch Group A shots and vote

2015 Shot of Year Group A


How it works:

Each Shot of the Month winner is placed into one of two groups.
The two shots from each group that receive the most votes will then be placed into a final group
Winner is then determined by a fan vote on wtatennis.com

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Daily Insider: Serena The Sportswoman

Daily Insider: Serena The Sportswoman

  • Posted: Nov 24, 2015

– Serena Williams for SI Sportsman of the Year: Here’s Jon Wertheim on why Serena gets his vote for the annual award.

– Doing it right: Meanwhile, Serena is doing her off-season right.

– Elena Vesnina’s wedding album: The Russian posted more photos from her wedding on her Instagram here and here.

– The Return of Aravane Rezai: David Kane catches up with the French talent for WTA Insider.

– Top Performances: WTA Backspin takes a look at the best performances of the season.

– 2015 in review: Women Who Serve takes a look at the top moments of the 2015 WTA season.

– Garbiñe Muguruza X-File: She has a solid future as a commentator, don’t you think?

– And checking in on Andrea Petkovic: She seems to be doing alright.

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