Miami: Shot Of The Day (Wednesday)
Johanna Konta had Wednesday’s shot of the day at the Miami Open.
Johanna Konta had Wednesday’s shot of the day at the Miami Open.
WTA Insider Courtney Nguyen | Victoria Azarenka looks to become the third woman to win the Sunshine Double against 2006 Miami champ Svetlana Kuznetsova. Follow it all live right here!
It’s time to crown March’s WTA Shot Of The Month. There were some incredible shots to choose from this month, and we narrowed it down to the five best – have a look at the nominees in the above video and cast your vote for your favorite shot before voting ends Thursday at 11:59pm ET!
The winner will be announced Friday, April 8.
How it works: five shots are selected by wtatennis.com, and the winner is then determined by a fan vote on wtatennis.com.
THE WINNERS
Former No.1 Victoria Azarenka continues her climb back to the top, overpowering Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-3, 6-2 in the final to claim the Miami Open title and secure her return to the WTA Top 5.
Azarenka, a two-time champion here in Miami, won her third title of 2016 in dominating fashion without dropping a set. Even more impressive, her back-to-back titles in Indian Wells and Miami complete the Sunshine Double, a feat last achieved 11 years ago.
With the win, Azarenka also cements her position as No.1 on the Road To Singapore Leaderboard, leapfrogging Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber for the top spot.
Read the full story and watch highlights here. | As It Happened: Game-by-game analysis.
In doubles, Bethanie Mattek-Sands completed a Sunshine Double of her own. Mattek-Sands and partner Lucie Safarova capped off a fairytale reunion on Sunday afternoon with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Timea Babos and Yaroslava Shvedova in the final of the Miami Open. The American now joins Martina Hingis and Natasha Zvereva as the third player to win both events in the same year.
Read the full story here.
GAME, SET, MATCH: WTA Insider
Game: Victoria Azarenka did what she does…
The numbers are plain as day: Azarenka is the best player in the world…right now. By going undefeated in March to become the first woman since 2005 to complete the Sunshine Double by winning both the BNP Paribas Open and Miami Open, Azarenka vaults to No.1 in the Road to Singapore Leaderboard ahead of Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber and World No.1 Serena Williams. A look behind the RTS rankings only underscores just how dominant Vika has been through the first quarter of the year.
Not only is she 22-1 on the season, capturing two of the biggest titles of the season so far as well as another significant title at the Brisbane International, but she’s done it guns blazing. The draws did not break open for Azarenka and she did not pick up her points and wins cheaply. She beat Serena to win Indian Wells, avenged her loss to Kerber en route to the title in Miami (and is 2-1 already this year against Kerber), and has notched good wins over No.4 Garbiñe Muguruza, No.8 Roberta Vinci, No.18 Karolina Pliskova, and No.21 Johanna Konta. In Miami and Brisbane she did not lose a set en route to the trophy. In Indian Wells she faced the toughest task in tennis – beating Serena in a final – and came through with a poised and focused performance to win in straight sets.
This is what Azarenka can do on hard courts and it, in particular, is what she has historically done in the first quarter of the season. In 2013 she went on a 15-match win streak to win the Australian Open and Qatar Total Open. A year before that she started the year 26-0, winning the Sydney International, Australian Open, Qatar Total Open, and Indian Wells, before finally running out of gas in the Miami quarterfinals. In all, 13 of her 20 titles have come in the first quarter of the season, when she is at her freshest and the playing on her favorite surface.
Set: …But can she keep it up?
That’s one of the big questions as the tour turns away from her best surface and towards the clay. Clay is not her worst surface (statistically that would be grass) but her results have varied greatly on the slower surface. She has won just one title on clay, in Marbella in 2011, but she has routinely put herself in position to do better. She has made the final of the Madrid Open twice (2011, 2012), and the Internazionali BNL d’Italia and Porsche Tennis Grand Prix once apiece.
“Definitely very motivated for clay season,” Azarenka said. “I always been a high favorite [sic] of proving people wrong, and that’s what also motivates me a lot.
“Going into clay season, people say it’s not my favorite surface and whatever. I’m going to work pretty hard to make sure it’s going to be my favorite surface.”
Match: Serena looking for solutions on clay.
Not since 2012 has Serena gone titleless through the first quarter of the year. That also happened to be an Olympic year. Back then she was ranked outside the Top 10 to start the season and was still finding her form after suffering a foot injury and pulmonary embolism that left her hospitalized in 2011.
She went on to go through a tear on clay, compiling a 17-match win streak with titles at the Volvo Car Open and Mutua Madrid Open, before pulling out before the semifinals in Rome. She would lose in the first round of the French Open to Virginie Razzano, but we all know what happened after that: Wimbledon champion, Olympic gold medalist, US Open champion, and WTA Finals champion.
All that is to say, don’t worry about Serena Williams quite yet.
RANKING MOVERS
Notable singles ranking movers for the week of April 4, 2016.
Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS), +6 (No.19 to 13): 30-year-old Svetlana Kuznetsova turned back the clock to make the biggest ranking jump of the fortnight. A Miami Open champion in 2006, her run to the final 10 years later bumps her up six spots with a Top 10 berth in sight.
Victoria Azarenka (BLR), +3 (No.8 to 5): Kuznetsova’s opponent in the Miami final, Victoria Azarenka, has been on fire and on the rise all year. By claiming the Miami Open title (and thus completing the Sunshine Double, winning back-to-back Indian Wells and Miami titles), she earns a spot in the Top 5.
Timea Bacsinszky (SUI), +3 (No.20 to 17): Bacsinszky’s run to the Miami semifinals halted a string of disappointing results since the start of the season and puts her at No.17.
Angelique Kerber (GER), +1 (No.3 to 2): First-round exits in Doha and Indian Wells saw Kerber’s ranking dip to No.3, but the Australian Open champion righted the ship in Miami. Her run to the semifinals sent her back up to her career-high ranking of World No.2.
UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS
Katowice Open
Katowice, Poland
International | $226,750 | Hard, Indoors
Monday, April 4 – Sunday, April 10, 2016
Volvo Car Open
Charleston, USA
Premier | $687,900 | Clay
Monday, April 4 – Sunday, April 10, 2016
Claro Open Colsanitas
Bogotá, Colombia
International | $226,750 | Clay
Monday, April 11 – Sunday, April 17, 2016
Porsche Tennis Grand Prix
Stuttgart, Germany
Premier | $693,900 | Clay, Indoor
Monday, April 18 – Sunday, April 24, 2016
TOP 20 PLAYER SCHEDULES
1. Serena Williams
2. Angelique Kerber – Charleston, Stuttgart
3. Agnieszka Radwanska – Stuttgart
4. Garbiñe Muguruza – Stuttgart
5. Victoria Azarenka
6. Simona Halep – Stuttgart
7. Petra Kvitova – Stuttgart
8. Roberta Vinci – Stuttgart
9. Maria Sharapova
10. Belinda Bencic – Charleston, Stuttgart
11. Carla Suárez Navarro – Stuttgart
12. Flavia Pennetta
13. Svetlana Kuznetsova – Stuttgart
14. Venus Williams – Charleston
15. Lucie Safarova – Charleston, Stuttgart
16. Elina Svitolina – Bogotá
17. Timea Bacsinszky
18. Karolina Pliskova – Stuttgart
19. Ana Ivanovic – Stuttgart
20. Sara Errani – Charleston
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
Best wishes to those celebrating birthdays this week:
Sorana Cirstea (ROU) – April 7, 1990
Risa Ozaki (JPN) – April 10, 1994
With Serena Williams and fiancé Alexis Ohanian expecting their first child, stars from the tennis world and beyond have been congratulating the 23-time Grand Slam winner.
@serenawilliams ?❤ ?!! You will be such an amazing mother and I wish your family health and happiness for the best journey in the world ?
— Angelique Kerber (@AngeliqueKerber) April 20, 2017
“Auntie Caro” sounds pretty good to me☺️? Everyone around me getting pregnant! What a beautiful time ??❤️??????
— Caroline Wozniacki (@CaroWozniacki) April 20, 2017
There's gonna be a baby GOAT ….. We are so happy, and we know @serenawilliams will be a great mother
— andyroddick (@andyroddick) April 20, 2017
A baby and a wedding? A VERY special year ahead for @serenawilliams So happy for her new journey…
— Chris Evert (@ChrissieEvert) April 19, 2017
Serena Williams is a GODDESS https://t.co/B5wlHFNIud –
SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!!!!— ROSIE (@Rosie) April 19, 2017
Me upon hearing @serenawilliams is preggers! ❤?????❤ CONGRATUFREAKINGLATIONS!!!! pic.twitter.com/EuvOIAuKKG
— Karlie Kloss (@karliekloss) April 20, 2017
An interview with Angelique Kerber before her opening round match at the Volvo Car Open.
March was defined by four breakthrough players who brought some impressive performances to the second month of 2016. Which one soared the highest?
Have a look at the nominees for March’s Breakthrough Performance of the Month and cast your vote before Thursday at 11:59pm ET! The winner will be announced Friday, April 8.
March 2016 WTA Breakthrough Performance of the Month Finalists:
Daria Kasatkina: Kasatkina’s breakthrough season continued with her first Premier Mandatory quarterfinal at the BNP Paribas Open. Unseeded in Indian Wells, the 2014 French Open junior champion began her tournament with a win over two-time winner Daniela Hantuchova, saved match point against Monica Puig and upset Timea Bacsinszky to reach the last eight, falling to Karolina Pliskova. The Russian’s run in Miami was cut short by World No.5 Simona Halep, who she pushed in two tough sets in the second round. Kasatkina is currently up to a career-high ranking of No.35 and is seeded for the first time at a Premier-level tournament at the Volvo Car Open.
Naomi Osaka: The Japanese teenager had another big week, this time in Miami. In her tournament debut, Osaka blew past Sara Errani in straight sets to reach the third round for the first time at a Premier Mandatory tournament. With her booming game, she is up to her own career-high ranking of No.95.
Timea Babos: 22 year old Timea Babos’ consistent 2016 kicked into high gear in Miami when she reached the round of 16 at a Premier Mandatory for the first time in her career. Playing Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber under the lights on Center Court, Babos appeared undaunted for much of the contest, even leading by a break in the final set before the German’s experience ultimately shone through. The former ace leader is ranked inside the Top 40 at No.39 for the first time, as well, and looks poised to move even farther up the rankings in singles and doubles, where she reached the final with Yaroslava Shvedova.
Nicole Gibbs: The former Stanford All-American has come good on the WTA level in a big way in 2016. Gibbs reached the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open and nearly pulled off the upset against two-time Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova. In between major success on the court, Gibbs also earned praise off of it from the likes of Billie Jean King and Chris Evert for her passionate defense of equal prize money. Following up her run in Miami, she reached the third round before bowing out to 2015 Wimbledon runner-up Garbiñe Muguruza.
2016 Winners:
January: Zhang Shuai
February: Jelena Ostapenko
How it works:
Finalists are selected by wtatennis.com
Winner is then determined by a fan vote on wtatennis.com
Samantha Stosur takes on Aleksandra Krunic in the first round of the Volvo Car Open.
On this episode, WTA Insider Senior Writer Courtney Nguyen reviews the final weekend of the Miami Open, where Victoria Azarenka continued her incredible start to the season by winning her third title of the year, beating Svetlana Kuznetsova in straight sets to win Miami and become just the third woman to complete the Sunshine Double. Hear from Azarenka herself as she discusses her upcoming transition to the clay, the inherent stress of going for the American sweep in March, and how she feels to be back in the conversation amongst the game’s elite.
Nguyen is also joined by 18-time major champion and BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore ambassador Martina Navratilova to analyze the first three months of the season and preview the upcoming clay swing. Are World No.1s Serena Williams and Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis stuck in a slump? Can Victoria Azarenka continue to rack up titles on a less favorable surface like clay? Can Petra Kvitova win without a coach? Navratilova weighs in on those questions and more in a free-ranging discussion of 2016’s contenders and pretenders so far.
Azarenka: “Being a part of the discussion, I don’t listen to it that much, because it’s not interesting to me. Opinions, talks, it’s all more for people who are outside the sport. For me, I need to work and focus on my work, because it’s not going to happen if I don’t put the work in.”
Navratilova on Serena: “You don’t panic. Not when it comes to a great player like Serena Williams. I just think she needs to find some joy. It seems to me she’s just not happy on the court. Even when things were ot going her way it seemed like she was embracing that fight and right now I don’t see her embracing that fight. Sometimes that’s enough to not be able to finish those comebacks. If she finds that emotion, that passion for being in those fights then I think she’ll right the ship. There’s nothing wrong with her game.”
Navratilova on Kvitova: “Coachless doesn’t work. You can’t coach yourself. Even Roger Federer needed a coach. He was always with Severin Lüthi but he would pick up other people.”
Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or on any podcast app of your choice and reviews are always helpful, so if you like what you’ve heard so far, leave one. Get new episode alerts by following us on Twitter @WTA_Insider.
CHARLESTON, SC, USA – Former World No.21 Elena Vesnina has tended to play some of her best tennis on green clay throughout her career, and this week has seen the Russian’s resurgent season hit new heights at the Volvo Car Open, overcoming some blustery conditions and an inspired opponent in Laura Siegemund to win, 7-5, 6-4, and reach the semifinals in Charleston.
Watch highlights, interviews and more video from Charleston right here on wtatennis.com!
“I’m really enjoying my time here in Charleston,” Vesnina told Andrew Krasny during her on-court interview. “I love the city, the tournament, and I love this crowd! I’m playing well, even today with really tough conditions to play in.
“I was talking to myself about the wind, arguing with the wind, asking him to stop blowing that hard. It didn’t work! That’s why I had to work hard to win this match.”
Vesnina reached the final of Charleston back in 2011, and showed some of that vintage form early in the match against Siegemund as she raced out to a 4-1, double break lead. In the midst of a career-best season herself, Siegemund didn’t take the deficit lying down, eventually earning both breaks back to level the opening set at 5-5.
.@EVesnina001 on playing against her opponent, herself, and the wind! ??? #VCO2016 https://t.co/etAfeyCekV
— WTA (@WTA) April 8, 2016
Undaunted, Vesnina broke once more to clinch the opening set and move out to an early break in the second. Three points from victory, Vesnina was about to put away a forehand volley when Siegemund’s hat flew from her head, causing a let to be called. The mishap led to one last surge from the German, who got within two points of leveling the second set as she did the first, but the top doubles threat weathered the storm and earned a sixth straight victory in straight sets.
“I was trying not to rush the points because I was controlling the rally,” Vesnina said, having hit 22 winners to 24 unforced errors, and venturing to net 18 times, winning 11 of those exchanges. “I was the one attacking, coming in and trying to hit aggressive from the back.
“It was a little bit tricky with the wind and after 4-1 Laura played really well, much better than at the beginning of the match. I was just trying to play and fight.
“With these conditions, it’s impossible to show your best tennis. You just have to go and fight for every point.”
Vesnina’s opponent was decided by the last match of the day, won by former French Open finalist Sara Errani, who turned around a tricky opening set to defeat Yulia Putintseva, 7-6(2), 6-1. In the meantime, the newlywed has generously fielded questions as to whether her autumn marriage to Pavel Tabuntsov has led to her uptick in form.
“[Tournament Manager] Eleanor Adams, she was like, ‘I know why you’re playing good.’ She told me this morning. I’m like, ‘Why?’ ‘Because you’re still on the honeymoon.’
“I’m like, ‘Eleanor, he’s not even here. I’m alone.’ She’s like, ‘doesn’t matter.'”
Sneaky dropper, @EVesnina001! ?? #VCO2016 https://t.co/9qpxw7qkUj
— WTA (@WTA) April 8, 2016
Errani appeared out of sorts to start the match, falling behind an early break and finding herself two points from a one set deficit as Putintseva served for it at 5-4. From there, the Italian veteran gritted her way through an ensuing tie-break only to run away with the match in under two hours. In all, she hit 21 winners to only 18 unforced errors – Putintseva hit 25 winners but 35 errors – an maintained an always-impressive 89% first serve percentage.
“The first set was one hour and 15 minutes,” she told Andrew Krasny during her on-court interview. “It was really long, really tough and every game was, ‘Advantage, deuce, advantage deuce!’ But it was good and in the second, a bit more easy. I started to play a little bit better.”
Into the Volvo Car Open semifinals for the first time in her career, Errani has already struck gold by winning the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, and will have an opportunity to reach yet another Premier final on Saturday.
“I’m really happy to be in the semifinals; for me it’s amazing. I know every match is really tough, so I’m really happy.”
.@SaraErrani books the last spot in the @VolvoCarOpen semifinals! Defeats Putintseva, 7-6(2), 6-1! #VCO2016 https://t.co/2WCbNbDoGt
— WTA (@WTA) April 9, 2016