Indian Wells: Elena Vesnina vs Kristina Mladenovic
Elena Vesnina takes on Kristina Mladenovic in the semifinal of the BNP Paribas Open.
Elena Vesnina takes on Kristina Mladenovic in the semifinal of the BNP Paribas Open.
Johanna Konta takes on Lesia Tsurenko in the second round of the Aegon International.
MIAMI, FL, USA – With the tennis about to get underway in Miami, we take at how the players are preparing for the week ahead as well as relaxing after another successful BNP Paribas Open.
Ana Konjuh sets out on a morning run along one of Miami’s many glorious beach fronts.
Morning run??♀️ @MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/t30K4aiduT
— Ana Konjuh (@anakonjuh) March 20, 2017
Carina Witthoeft is all smiles after taking a dip in the ocean.
#afterworkfun @ Miami Beach pic.twitter.com/2hPsED0jHA
— Carina Witthöft (@WitthoeftCarina) March 20, 2017
Garbiñe Muguruza goes samba style on the pier at Key Biscayne.
Hello Key Biscayne!! ??
Happy with my double practice today…
Doble sesión de entrenooo…@MiamiOpen @WTA pic.twitter.com/41JE7kZqEw— Garbiñe Muguruza (@GarbiMuguruza) March 19, 2017
Monica Puig takes time out to cuddle her dog after practice.
Play time after practice with my cutie pie ? pic.twitter.com/vAvpIZNzdb
— Monica Puig (@MonicaAce93) March 19, 2017
Tsvetana Pironkova is yet another player to take advantage of the beautiful Miami beachlife.
Beach vibe ??????? #miami pic.twitter.com/9k6a3POW3z
— Tsvetana Pironkova (@TPironkova) March 19, 2017
And Dominika Cibulkova and Christina McHale kept a close eye on the Miami draw ceremony.
.@ChristinaMcHale and @Cibulkova are on hand for the @MiamiOpen draw ceremony! pic.twitter.com/osb7ezfPgU
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) March 19, 2017
Highlights from first and second round action at the Aegon International.
Top 20 players’ schedules, upcoming tournaments, birthdays and more – check out what’s on tap for this week as the WTA’s top players head to Miami.
Agnieszka Radwanska takes on Eugenie Bouchard in the third round of the Aegon International.
MIAMI, FL, USA – In one of the most intriguing first round matches at the Miami Open, former French Open finalist Sara Errani survived a tough battle with Former World No.7 Belinda Bencic, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, to book a second-round clash with No.30 seed Zhang Shuai.
There was more at stake for the pair than just a spot in the second round, though. Bencic came into the matchup with the Italian with a 2-0 lead in the pair’s head-to-head record, but trying to halt a downward trend that has seen her win just one WTA match all year, and just two since the 2016 US Open.
And her opponent Errani was also trying to jumpstart her season after toppling out of the Top 100 earlier in the season due to injury woes, including an adductor injury that kept her out of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, where she was the defending champion.
What a comeback!@BelindaBencic takes the second 6-4 to force a decider! #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/FDBm0P8Vu4
— WTA (@WTA) March 21, 2017
“There was a period that I couldn’t play many tournaments,” Errani, who was out for a month after the Australian Open, recalled. “Of course, when you’re home and there’s good tournaments and you can’t play it’s really tough. It’s worse having an injury than losing matches.”
“I’m just happy to be here and training and improving my fitness and my game, and just having the opportunity to play again.”
Bencic got off to a roaring start under the sun in Miami, pouncing on the Errani serve to break early and build up a 2-0 lead. But once the Italian gained a foothold in the match she came storming back, peppering her tricky game with dropshots to kick the Swiss off guard. After getting the break back, Errani reeled off seven of the next eight games to take the set and open the second with a double break lead.
A strong break to love from the Swiss halted Errani’s momentum and galvanized Bencic into action. The 20-year-old turned the tables on Errani, erasing another break to level the set at 3-3. They wrestled for momentum until Bencic notched another break to love to send the match into a decider.
.@SaraErrani books a spot in @MiamiOpen Second round!
Downs Bencic 6-3, 4-6, 6-3! pic.twitter.com/uxVgk302a2
— WTA (@WTA) March 21, 2017
But despite the strong resistance, Errani got right back on track – Bencic struggled with her serve as Errani broke her four more times, surging to a 5-1 lead. It proved too much to overcome despite Bencic’s attempts at a late comeback, and the Italian fired off a dropshot – backed up by a laser accurate passing shot – to take the match after just over two hours.
“I just tried to play every point and be a bit more aggressive with my serve,” Errani explained to WTA Insider after the match. “And even on the baseline, try to move her. This was my strategy.
“She has good timing on the ball so she took away time for me to play how I want. But I was physically quite good and I’m happy that I moved good today.”
Up next, Errani will take on Zhang for a spot in the third round in Miami.
“She’s a really solid girl, she has improved her game a lot in the past years, so it will be another tough match. But I’m just happy to be able to play it.”
Monica Puig takes on Kristina Mladenovic in the quarterfinals of the Aegon International.
MIAMI, FL, USA – Simona Halep comes to the Miami Open ready to get back on the treadmill. And that’s not just a metaphor for the tour’s non-stop grind.
“Yesterday was the first day after two months that I was on the treadmill, so I’m really happy,” a spirited Halep told press during All-Access Hour. “I can train hard; I already played two hours today with no pain.
“I’m happy about that and I’m much better than last week.”
The Romanian has struggled with health issues at the start of her last two seasons, and feels the experience will ultimately prove beneficial – especially as the year wears on.
“I’ve learned that I have to protect my body more to prevent injuries, and do certain exercises for that. After having to do them every day, I’m already sick of them, but I have to keep doing them. It’s a routine, and routine is hard to maintain at this level, but if it helps me, I won’t stop.”
The former No.2 is nonetheless eager to get into her Miami routine; the former semifinalist has good memories of the last big hardcourt event before the clay swing starts.
“I don’t remember my first time in Miami, maybe five-six years ago. I like the weather; it’s perfect here. I like to be here; it’s a great tournament. Everyone is here, boys and girls, so it’s good that it’s mixed.
“I enjoy my time, and I’m enjoying it even more because I’m healthy and I can play. I’m just trying my best every moment.”
Halep is set to rejoin a tour that has already seen some seismic shifts, and has tried to keep up with the latest impact players during her time off.
“I’m watching matches when I’m in the room and have nothing to do, when I’ve finished my work on the courts. I like watching tennis, but I can’t say I get into it too much; I just watch for fun.”
Most striking for the Romanian has been Elena Vesnina’s stunning run to the BNP Paribas Open title, an achievement that has helped her reassess her own opinions on how long she plans to keep playing.
“Elena played really good and she’s a great player. She’s won Grand Slams in doubles, so she’s right there. She’s also over 30, so the players at that age are playing much better than before. So I still have some time, no?
“For the last year, I’ve started to think that I have many years ahead. That makes me feel more relaxed, but I’m trying to take it easy. At the beginning of my career, I’d say 28, last year I said 30. Now I’m thinking more like 32.”
Halep may be putting off a drive into the sunset, but she’s already settled on her vehicle of choice, becoming the new Romanian ambassador for Mercedes Benz
“I have weird passions. I love watches and cars. Maybe that’s a little bit weird, but I love cars, and I’m really happy with this partnership.”
She begins her tournament against Japanese teenager Naomi Osaka; the pair last played at the French Open, where the No.3 seed won in three sets.
All photos courtesy of Getty Images.
An interview with Dominika Cibulkova after her win in the semifinals of the Aegon International.