Tennis News

NEW YORK, NY, USA – With defending champion Flavia Pennetta retiring from tennis at the end of last season, there will be a new champion in Flushing Meadows this year. But will it be a familiar face? Top seed Serena Williams comes into the US Open seeking her seventh title, a record-breaking 23rd major crown, while several former champions loom in the draw as well, like Samantha Stosur, Venus Williams, and Svetlana Kuznetsova. But with the No.1 ranking also at stake, will fellow top seeds Angelique Kerber, Garbiñe Muguruza and Agnieszka Radwanska make their mark?

Read on to delve into the US Open résumés of all the Top 16 seeds…

1. Serena Williams (USA)
17th appearance (84-10)
Best result: Champion (2001-2002, 2008, 2012-2014)
Best Grand Slam result: Champion (22): 1999 US Open, 2002 French Open, 2002 Wimbledon, 2002 US Open, 2003 Australian Open, 2003 Wimbledon, 2005 Australian Open, 2007 Australian Open, 2008 US Open, 2009 Australian Open, 2009 Wimbledon, 2010 Australian Open, 2010 Wimbledon, 2012 Wimbledon, 2012 US Open, 2013 French Open, 2013 US Open, 2014 US Open, 2015 Australian Open, 2015 French Open, 2015 Wimbledon, 2016 Wimbledon

2. Angelique Kerber (GER)
9th appearance (16-8)
Best result: Semifinal (2011)
Best Grand Slam result: Champion (1): 2016 Australian Open

3. Garbiñe Muguruza (ESP)
4th appearance (1-3)
Best result: Second round (2015)
Best Grand Slam result: Champion (1): 2016 French Open

4. Agnieszka Radwanska (POL)
11th appearance (19-10)
Best result: Fourth round (2007-2008, 2012-2013)
Best Grand Slam result: Final (1): 2012 Wimbledon

5. Simona Halep (ROU)
7th appearance (12-6)
Best result: Semifinal (2015)
Best Grand Slam result: Final (1): 2014 French Open

6. Venus Williams (USA)
17th appearance (69-15)
Best result: Champion (2000-2001)
Best Grand Slam result: Champion (7): 2000 Wimbledon, 2000 US Open, 2001 Wimbledon, 2001 US Open, 2005 Wimbledon, 2007 Wimbledon, 2008 Wimbledon

7. Roberta Vinci (ITA)
14th appearance (19-13)
Best result: Final (2015)
Best Grand Slam result: Final (1): 2015 US Open

8. Madison Keys (USA)
5th appearance (5-4)
Best result: Fourth round (2015)
Best Grand Slam result: Semifinal (1): 2015 Australian Open

9. Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS)
14th appearance (33-12)
Best result: Champion (2004)
Best Grand Slam result: Champion (2): 2004 US Open, 2009 French Open

10. Karolina Pliskova (CZE)
4th appearance (2-3)
Best result: Third round (2014)
Best Grand Slam result: Third round (3): 2014 US Open, 2015 Australian Open, 2016 Australian Open

11. Carla Suárez Navarro (ESP)
9th appearance (11-8)
Best result: Quarterfinal (2013)
Best Grand Slam result: Quarterfinal (5): 2008 French Open, 2009 Australian Open, 2013 US Open, 2014 French Open, 2016 Australian Open

12. Dominika Cibulkova (SVK)
9th appearance (12-8)
Best result: Quarterfinal (2010)
Best Grand Slam result: Final (1): 2014 Australian Open

13. Johanna Konta (GBR)
4th appearance (4-3)
Best result: Fourth round (2015)
Best Grand Slam result: Semifinal (1): 2016 Australian Open

14. Petra Kvitova (CZE)
9th appearance (16-8)
Best result: Quarterfinal (2015)
Best Grand Slam result: Champion (2): 2011 Wimbledon, 2014 Wimbledon

15. Timea Bacsinszky (SUI)
8th appearance (4-7)
Best result: Third round (2008)
Best Grand Slam result: Semifinal (1): 2015 French Open

16. Samantha Stosur (AUS)
13th appearance (21-11)
Best result: Champion (2011)
Best Grand Slam result: Champion (1): 2011 US Open

NEW HAVEN, CT, USA – Top seed Agnieszka Radwanska ended lucky loser Kirsten Flipkens’ dream run at the Connecticut Open, winning 6-1, 6-4 to book a semifinal against defending champion Petra Kvitova.

Watch live action from New Haven this week on WTA Live powered by TennisTV!

Flipkens became one of two lucky losers to reach the semifinals after replacing the ailing Lesia Tsurenko and powering past Belinda Bencic and Caroline Garcia, but she just didn’t have enough in her arsenal of slices and volleys to grab her first win over the World No.4.

Radwanska dug from her own bag of tricks against Flipkens, switching up the pace between line to line rallies and killer dropshots.

But the Belgian didn’t roll over, and produced some spectacular tennis – and razor sharp shot-making – to earn the break right back and level the match at 2-1.

This rally from @FlipperKF and @ARadwanska ? #CTOpen16 pic.twitter.com/DKSevPxqjk

— WTA (@WTA) August 25, 2016

 It was the last game Flipkens would win for a while, though, as Radwanska’s cerebral style of point construction kept her seemingly always a step ahead. She rattled off five games in a row to take the set and an early break in the second.

Finally finding her footing late in the match, Flipkens rallied to get the break back and began to meet Radwanska blow for blow, creating for some incredible rallies.

TWEENER SPOTTING! ?

But really, how AWESOME was that rally?! #CTOpen16 pic.twitter.com/PN5DPFqkoO

— WTA (@WTA) August 26, 2016

“It’s always entertaining for us, as well, playing rallies like this,” Radwanska said of the rally above. “Of course, she’s a very tricky opponent. You can really expect from her those kind of shots. Very good touch, very good hands. We had a lot of matches with rallies like this.”

Radwanska just stayed more consistent throughout and finally earned the decisive break at 5-4, taking the match after an hour and 22 minutes. The top seeded player hit 25 winners to 16 unforced errors – a high number for the usually tidy Radwanska – against Flipkens’ 21 winners and 27 unforced errors.

With the victory Radwanska is through to her first semifinal at the Connecticut Open, where three-time champion Petra Kvitova awaits across the net.  

“I’m just very happy to make the first semifinal,” Radwanska said. “Especially that it’s a very strong tournament. It means I had a couple of good matches, a couple of good wins.

“Well, I guess now I have really nothing to lose, especially I’m playing Petra next.”

DUBAI, UAE – Barbora Strycova snatched up the last spot in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships semifinals, upsetting No.17 Ana Ivanovic in straight sets, 7-6(5), 6-3.

Ivanovic, a three time quarterfinalist in Dubai, was looking for her first semifinal spot against Strycova. On paper their head-to-head record was one-sided: Ivanovic had won all three of their previous encounters in straight sets, never losing more than three games in a set.

“I had to change a little bit something,” Strycova said of her game plan against Ivanovic. “The previous matches I was hitting a little bit back, so I had to change the pace and stand a little bit closer. It was working pretty good and I felt good on my return.”

The Czech started the match ahead with a 4-2 lead. After a quick conversation with coach Nigel Sears, Ivanovic righted the ship and came back to win three games in a row to get ahead 5-4. The players stayed level to send the match into a tiebreaker. Ivanovic climbed to a 4-2 lead but a double fault at 5-3 up gave Strycova an in, which she took to rally back and clinch the tiebreak – as well as the opening set – at 7-6(5).

Ivanovic rebounded to start off the second set breaking Strycova at love, but Strycova dashed hopes of a comeback when she broke right back to level the score. The Czech pushed ahead to a 4-2 lead and didn’t look back, serving out the match at 6-3.

“I am very pleased,” Strycova said after the win. “It’s been a good match for me, and playing Ana is always tough because she’s such a big champion and a big player hitting the ball really hard. I’m happy with my performance today.”

Earlier in the day, Elina Svitolina backed up yesterday’s win over No.2 Garbiñe Muguruza by beating CoCo Vandeweghe 6-4, 1-6, 6-2.

Svitolina broke Vandeweghe early and took the first set 6-4, but Svitolina was in danger when the American got her powerful groundstrokes and heavy serve going in the second set. She broke Svitolina three times in the 28 minute set, leveling the match, 6-1.

Vandeweghe came out firing to a 2-0 lead in the final set but couldn’t hang on, forehands suddenly misfiring. Svitolina won six consecutive games to win the match, 6-2.

“I had a good start then I was struggling a bit,” Svitolina said after the match. “I think it was something in my head. I was just somewhere not on the court, but I was really happy that I could find a way to start the third set well.

“I was 2-0 down but I still felt that I was getting there.”

With the win, Svitolina is into her first Premier-level semifinal of the year where she is set to face Sara Errani – the Italian owns a 1-0 head to head record against her.

“If someone told me I would be in the @DDFTennis Semifinals, I wouldn't believe it!” -@BaraStrycova #WTA https://t.co/pjj0oLJJbT

— WTA (@WTA) February 18, 2016

DUBAI, UAE – Sara Errani returned to the final of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships after a hard-fought win over Elina Svitolina on Friday afternoon.

Watch live action from Dubai & Rio de Janeiro this week on WTA Live powered by TennisTV!

Despite trailing 3-1 in the second set, Errani produced a typically punchy fightback to prevail, 6-4, 6-4. The Italian, who lost to Petra Kvitova in the 2013 final, will meet either Barbora Strycova or Caroline Garcia on Saturday.

“It’s tough today – it’s hot and Elina hardly missed a ball at first – so I just tried to stay focused every point,” Errani said in her on-court interview.

Both players had their moments in the opening set, but it was Errani who held her nerve when it most mattered, some resolute defending helping her to the decisive break in the ninth game.

Struggling with a At times in the previous round, Errani had cut a forlorn figure, but there were no signs of fatigue against Svitolina. From 3-1 down in the second set she pegged back, then surged past her faltering foe.

Errani’s last title came exactly one year ago, in Rio de Janeiro, and she is excited about the chance to get her hands on some silverware again.

“It’s always unbelievable for me to play a final and I’m really happy to be here.”

More to follow…

The US Open draw is out and it’s a doozy. With No.1 Serena Williams chasing Steffi Graf in the record books and No.2 Angelique Kerber chasing down Serena in the rankings, here’s how the draw shook out.

At a glance:

Where did the top seeds land?

Top Half: No.1 Serena Williams, No.4 Agnieszka Radwanska, No.5 Simona Halep, No.6 Venus Williams.

Bottom Half: No.2 Angelique Kerber, No. 3 Garbiñe Muguruza, No.7 Roberta Vinci, No.8 Madison Keys.

Potential Round of 16: Serena Williams vs. Samantha Stosur, Simona Halep vs. Carla Suárez Navarro, Agnieszka Radwanska vs. Timea Bacsinszky, Venus Williams vs. Karolina Pliskova, Madison Keys vs. Svetlana Kuznetsova, Garbiñe Muguruza vs. Johanna Konta, Roberta Vinci vs. Dominika Cibulkova, Angelique Kerber vs. Petra Kvitova.

Potential Quarterfinals: Serena Williams vs. Simona Halep, Agnieszka Radwanska vs. Venus Williams, Garbiñe Muguruza vs. Madison Keys, Angelique Kerber vs. Roberta Vinci.

Seven Thoughts on the Draw:

Tough opener, tough draw for Serena Williams: Earlier this week I took stock of Serena’s chances at this year’s US Open, which sees her come into the tournament with just three singles matches under her belt since winning Wimbledon and nursing a right shoulder injury. Despite the questions surrounding her lead-up getting a soft early draw might allow her to play into form in the first week.

That’s not the draw she got.

Serena opens her tournament against one of the toughest unseeded players in the draw in World No.36 Ekaterina Makarova. Two years ago this was a semifinal here in New York, which Serena won 6-1, 6-3 en route to the title. Makarova has beaten Serena at a Slam back in 2012 at the Australian Open.

“She’s a big fighter,” Serena said during media day on Friday. “She never really stops. I think one thing I think that’s pretty impressive is she gets a lot of balls back. You think she’s not super quick, but she is.”

From there the draw gets no easier for Serena. She’s in a quarter that includes last year’s semifinalist Simona Halep, who has lost just one match since Wimbledon, along with Wimbledon semifinalist Elena Vesnina, Carla Suárez Navarro, Sam Stosur, Daria Kasatkina, and Camila Giorgi. Potentially looming in the semifinals: Her sister. Venus Williams, Agnieszka Radwanska, and Western & Southern Open champion Karolina Pliskova look to be the favorites to get out of the second quarter.

Simona Halep’s uphill climb: Of all the top seeds, No.5 Halep got the “draw loser” of the day. The World No.5 was a win away from securing a Top 4 seed last week in Cincinnati. She ended up losing to the only woman who has beaten her since the French Open, Angelique Kerber; as luck would have it, she may have to beat Serena to equal her semifinal result from last year.

The road to get to the quarterfinals will be a tough one, and Halep will need to be sharp from her first match, where she opens against Kirsten Flipkens, who is coming into New York with some confidence after making the quarterfinals at the Connecticut Open. Halep could then face either Lucie Safarova or Daria Gavrilova in the second round, with Timea Babos looming in the third round. That’s not an easy first week if those players play near their best.

Angelique Kerber has good look at No.1: Aside from a potential second round match against Alizé Cornet and Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, this is a good draw for the German, who has a chance of taking over the No.1 ranking from Serena after the US Open. She opens against World No.116 Polona Hercog, but then has very winnable potential match-ups against Sara Errani, Petra Kvitova or Elina Svitolina (both are still playing in New Haven) in the Round of 16, with a struggling Roberta Vinci or Dominika Cibulkova in the quarterfinals.

Garbiñe Muguruza and Madison Keys anchor a balanced quarter: Muguruza and Keys headline the third quarter which is most notable for the number of Americans landing in this section as well as the overall youth and rising stars. No.8 Keys will have to go through two Americans in her first two rounds, as she opens against Alison Riske and Madison Brengle or wildcard Kayla Day in the second round. She could face a third American in the third round in No.28 seed CoCo Vandeweghe.

Muguruza, meanwhile, could see a rematch of her Olympic loss to Gold Medalist Monica Puig, who slid into the No.32 seed after Sloane Stephens was forced to withdraw with a foot injury. Those two could face off in the third round. Muguruza’s potential Round of 16 opponent is No.13 seed Johanna Konta. The Brit has a nice draw into the second week, though her opening round against Bethanie Mattek-Sands could be tricky depending on the American’s post-Olympic comedown.

Spoiler Alert: In total, the bottom half of the draw is fairly balanced and drama-free, but there are four veteran women who look primed to cause some upsets. No.9 Svetlana Kuznetsova and No.18 Barbora Strycova could derail Keys’ quest for a breakthrough run on home soil, while No.14 seed Petra Kvitova and No.12 seed Dominika Cibulkova could be the ones who knock Kerber out early.

Karolina Pliskova could finally snap her Slam slump: No.10 seed Pliskova tore through the draw in Cincinnati last week, easily beating both Muguruza and Kerber for the biggest title of her career. But she’s never made the second round of a Slam…anywhere. Her best result here was the third round in 2014. That should change this year.

Pliskova was drawn into a soft quarter with Radwanska, who has never played particularly well in New York, and Venus Williams, who can be a wildcard on any given day. Pliskova could face Venus in the Round of 16 and Radwanska in the quarterfinals.

The Olympic Effect: For players like Monica Puig, Venus Williams, Petra Kvitova, Elena Vesnina, and Bethanie Mattek-Sands, can they translate their Olympic success into Slam success? Kvitova is the only one to have played since Rio and she is already into the semifinals of New Haven. Understandably, Puig will be under the spotlight in New York. As the first athlete ever to bring a gold medal home to Puerto Rico, everyone will be looking to see if she can back it up with more strong play in front of a partisan crowd.

First Round Matches to Watch:

Top Half: Serena Williams vs. Ekaterina Makarova, Camila Giorgi vs. Samantha Stosur, Lucie Safarova vs. Daria Gavrilova, Simona Halep vs. Kirsten Flipkens, Eugenie Bouchard vs. Katarina Siniakova, Julia Goerges, Yanina Wickmayer.

Bottom Half: Svetlana Kuznetsova vs. Francesca Schiavone, Petra Kvitova vs. Jelena Ostapenko, Alizé Cornet vs. Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, Johanna Konta vs. Bethanie Mattek-Sands, Madison Keys vs. Alison Riske, CoCo Vandeweghe vs. Naomi Osaka, Barbora Strycova vs. Monica Niculescu, Yulia Putintseva vs. Sabine Lisicki.