Venus Battles Past Surging Kontaveit
No.9 seed Venus Williams edged past a surging Anett Kontaveit for a spot in the second round of Roland Garros.
No.9 seed Venus Williams edged past a surging Anett Kontaveit for a spot in the second round of Roland Garros.
Watch all the best shots of the week from the Apia International Sydney!
Angelique Kerber recalls her best memories from the Australian Open.
Angelique Kerber was named among Europe’s 30 Under 30 according to Forbes; how much did the two-time Grand Slam champion earn in her breakthrough 2016 season?
MELBOURNE, Australia – Six-time Australian Open champion Serena Williams leads the bottom half of the draw into action on Day Two at Melbourne Park. Dominika Cibulkova and Agnieszka Radwanska are also in action on the last day of Round 1. We preview all the day’s matchups right here at wtatennis.com.
Tuesday, First Round
[2] Serena Williams (USA #2) vs Belinda Bencic (SUI #59)
Head-to-head: Tied at 1-1
Key Stat: 2017 Australian Open marks first Grand Slam where Serena hasn’t been top seed since 2013 Australian Open (No.3)
Belinda Bencic’s reaction to the draw is quite different to how you’d think someone would react when finding out their first-round opponent is six-time champion Serena Williams:
“My first reaction was actually, like, really happy,” Bencic told press ahead of the match. “I’m super-pumped, like excited I get to play on the big court, I guess.
“Yeah, everyone is like, ‘Oh, bad luck with the draw.’ Me, I’m pretty happy and excited about it!”
Bencic has a reason to feel good: back in 2015, she scored the biggest victory of her career over Serena at the Rogers Cup, becoming one of just 3 players to defeat the American that year.
But a lot has changed since in two years, and injury woes have caused the Swiss wunderkind’s ranking to plummet. And Serena – as always – has her eye on making history and reclaiming the No.1 ranking in Melbourne Park.
“All I can do is do my best,” Serena said. “If I can play the way I’ve been practicing, it will be fine. I know she’s been playing well, so it will be good for both of us.”
[3] Agnieszka Radwanska (POL #3) vs Tsvetana Pironkova (BUL #64)
Head-to-head: Radwanska leads 9-3
Key Stat: Pironkova’s last Top 5 win came over Radwanska in 2016 Roland Garros R16
World No.3 Agnieszka Radwanska has many positives to take away from her run to the Apia International Sydney final: before getting thoroughly outclassed in the last match by Johanna Konta, Radwanska hadn’t dropped a set all tournament long and her tricky, deliberate game was flowing freely.
“Of course, losing finals always is disappointing,” Radwanska reflected in pre-tournament press. “But it’s still a good week with great matches against top players.
“I’m very confident. I really hope I can play the same tennis, even the tennis I played in the final. But every tournament is different story, especially in the tough first round.”
After the quick turnaround to Melbourne, Radwanska will bring all of that confidence and preparation against an opponent who has troubled her in the past: Tsvetana Pironkova. The pair have met 12 times previously, with the Bulgarian stunning Radwanska in the fourth round of Roland Garros.
“Pironkova is a very tricky opponent,” she said. “I’m expecting everything from her side. For sure it’s going to be a lot of running. I’m going to really have to work on each point.”
[5] Karolina Pliskova (CZE #6) vs Sara Sorribes Tormo (ESP #106)
Head-to-head: First meeting
Key Stat: Sorribes Tormo is playing just the second Grand Slam main draw match of her career
After her dominant performance at the Brisbane International, where she claimed the first title of her season, Karolina Pliskova took two days off before heading straight to Melbourne.
“I’ve been practicing here since Tuesday. Even yesterday,” the Czech said in pre-tournament press. “But I’ve been feeling good so far. I was even ready for Monday start, but will be ready even for Tuesday.
“That’s what I did in New York, as well. So I just did it here. I don’t know if it’s going to work, but I just want to leave everything in this tournament.”
But despite her red-hot start to 2017, Pliskova wouldn’t be drawn into discussing her Australian Open chances – not even on the eve of the tournament after drawing Sara Sorribes Tormo in the opening round.
“I would definitely not take me as a favorite of this tournament. It’s a big draw,” the Czech said in pre-tournament press. “There is a lot of players. I just take it step by step.”
“I just know my opponent from the first round. I want to pass this one. Then we can talk about the next one.”
Her opponent, Sorribes Tormo, is a 20-year-old Spaniard who might be out of her depths against the big-hitting Czech: this will be the just the second Grand Slam main draw match of her career, and her first match against a Top 10 opponent.
Around the grounds…
Reigning WTA Finals champion Dominika Cibulkova will open against No.90-ranked Denisa Allertova on Day 2. The Slovak reached the final here in 2014, and will hope her 2016 momentum will carry her to a maiden Grand Slam title. Britain’s No.1 Johanna Konta will square off against Kirsten Flipkens – Konta leads the head-to-head 2-1.
Agnieszka Radwanska survived a scare against Barbora Strycova to reach the fourth round of Roland Garros in three sets.
Anastasija Sevastova takes on Kristina Kucova in the second round of the Australian Open.
Jelana Jankovic takes on Julia Goerges in the second round of the Australian Open.
Time to switch gears in Paris. Week two beckons, and the draw has been whittled down to sweet sixteen! We preview the bottom-half matchups at WTATennis.com
Sunday, Round of 16
[2] Agnieszka Radwanska (POL #2) vs. Tsvetana Pironkova (BUL #102)
Head-to-head: Radwanska leads, 9-2
Key Stat: Radwanska has won all three of the pair’s meetings on clay.
Two players not known as clay gurus will vie for a spot in the quarterfinals as they contest their 12th career meeting in Paris on Day 8. A hundred ranking spots separate Agnieszka Radwanska and Tsvetana Pironkova, but that rankings chasm might be misleading because both are executing some of their best clay-court tennis on the terre battue this week. Pironkova has taken out two Top 20 seeds in week one, and was in scintillating form on Friday as she thumped No.19-seeded Sloane Stephens, 6-2, 6-1, to reach the Round of 16 at Roland Garros for the first time. But it is Radwanska who has held the edge in the pair’s head-to-head, winning all three of their encounters on clay, and nine of eleven overall. “Well, we played so many times, but I think the last one was also quite some time ago,” Radwanska said of the Bulgarian. “Against her it’s always a good challenge. She’s really tricky opponent. You know, I expect a tough one as well.”
Pick: Radwanska in three
[4] Garbiñe Muguruza (ESP #4) vs. [13] Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS #15)
Head-to-head: Kuznetsova leads, 1-0
Key Stat: Kuznetsova (49-12) will bid for her 50th Roland Garros win on Sunday.
One of the more heavily anticipated fourth-round clashes in Paris pits 2009 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova against No.4-seeded Garbiñe Muguruza. Both are rounding into form on the red clay, and both are loose ahead of this high-stakes contest. “I just want to go out there and just try to play my game,” Kuznetsova said after defeating Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in round three. “Since I got a bit better ranking and everything I start to be tense again, and I don’t want it to happen.” Muguruza is taking a similar approach as she prepares to meet Kuznetsova for the second time. “I have a new mindset,” she said. “I’m not thinking of what I did last year, because every time I come to a tournament, no one remembers. People remember who plays good last year, but no one cares. Let’s see who is going to win this year, let’s see who is playing well.”
Pick: Muguruza in three
[6] Simona Halep (ROU #6) vs. [21] Sam Stosur (AUS #24)
Head-to-head: Halep leads, 4-3
Key Stat: Stosur owns a 2-0 edge over Halep at Roland Garros
An injured left wrist has done nothing to slow former runner-up Sam Stosur down in Paris. Will Simona Halep, another former Roland Garros runner-up and the player who absolutely thumped Stosur in Madrid a few weeks back, be able to do it? Maybe yes, maybe no. Either way, the Aussie is not going to carry the baggage from that shellacking into her eighth career meeting with the Romanian. “I’m not going to lose too much sleep over that match going into this next one in a couple days’ time,” Stosur said confidently after squeaking past Lucie Safarova on Day 6. That said, the Aussie knows she’s up against a daunting foe in Halep. When asked what makes Halep such a tough competitor, Stosur was quick with her answer. “I think her ability to continually put you in positions that you don’t necessarily want to be in,” she said. “She’s very consistent. She moves very well. She doesn’t have a big serve but she places it well. So she’s a player that you have to beat. She doesn’t really give too much away.”
Pick: Stosur in three
[25] Irina-Camelia Begu (ROU #28) vs. Shelby Rogers (USA #108)
Head-to-head: First Meeting
Key Stat: This is the first time that two Romanians (Halep, Begu) have reached the Round of 16 at Roland Garros since 1997.
The dream became the reality for 23-year-old American Shelby Rogers on Friday as she stunned No.10-seeded Petra Kvitova to reach the Round of 16 at a major for the first time. “There was a lot of noise and a lot of applause, and a lot of emotions taking over,” Rogers said of the experience. “I immediately started crying, and it was a very incredible moment.” Sunday’s challenge? Rebooting emotionally so that she may handle the task of facing rising Romanian Irina-Camelia Begu. The Bucharest-born 25-year-old is knocking on the door of the Top 20 and has been in great form on the clay, reaching the semifinals in Rome and earning wins over Victoria Azarenka (Rome) and Garbiñe Muguruza (Madrid) this spring. Will Rogers’ wild ride continue, or is it time for Begu to make her mark?
Pick: Begu in two
By the Numbers:
8 – Number of players to have reached the Roland Garros quarterfinals while ranked outside the Top 100 since 1983. Shelby Rogers and Tsvetana Pironkova will bid to become the ninth and tenth today.
4 – Number of former Grand Slam champions to reach the Round of 16 at Roland Garros this year (Kuznetsova, Stosur, Serena Williams and Venus Williams).
4-4 – Stosur’s record against the Top 10 at Roland Garros, which includes a victory over No.1 Serena Williams in 2010.
1 – Agnieszka Radwanska could attain the No.1 ranking at week’s end if she wins the title and Serena Williams does not reach the final.
– Chris Oddo, wtatennis.com contributor
MELBOURNE, Australia – Angelique Kerber celebreated her 29th birthday with a win, but it was Australia’s comeback kid who stole hearts on Day 3 at the Australian Open.
Here’s what you need to know:
Ashleigh Barty emerges as the feel-good story of the first week.
Mention Ashleigh Barty’s name and you’ll get a big broad smile around these parts. The 20-year-old was a junior Wimbledon champion at 15 years old and a three-time Slam finalist in doubles before she was 18-years-old. But the attention and pressure from being the next great prospect from a tennis nation like Australia proved too much, and she stepped away from the sport at 17. After a brief stint playing professional cricket in Australia, Barty announced her intention to return the sport last February. As Barty put it then, “Tennis in the end, it just makes sense to me.”
Flash-forward 11 months and she’s into the third round of a Slam for the first time in her career. It’s no surprise that it came on home soil.
Gifted with incredible hands and preternatural tennis IQ, Barty returned to the tour with the one thing she lacked in her junior days: power. That power was on full display two weeks ago when she pushed World No.1 Angelique Kerber to three sets at the Brisbane International. On Wednesday night, Barty put on an arguably better performance, hitting just 11 unforced errors to 29 winners to beat No.52 Shelby Rogers 7-5, 6-1 to advance to the third round.
Round ☺️☺️☺️ pic.twitter.com/BrRb3XXz6x
— Ash Barty (@ashbar96) January 18, 2017
“Sometimes those things just click for you,” Barty said. “Tonight I felt great. I felt like I was in control, had full control of the ball off my racquet. It’s certainly nice when those things come together. It feels horrific when it doesn’t.”
Currently ranked No.223, Barty has shown she’s more than ready to eclipse her career-high ranking of No.129. That looks to be coming sooner rather than later, as her two wins in Melbourne have already pushed her up around the Top 150. Barty will play qualifier Mona Barthel, after the German knocked out No.29 seed Monica Puig in straight sets.
Regardless of the outcome, it’s great to have you back, Ash.
I ❤ Ash Barty. So natural. On and off court. Absolute gem. #AusOpen
— judy murray (@JudyMurray) January 18, 2017
Carina Witthoeft gets ahead of herself.
It’s only human. There was Carina Witthoeft, 21 years old, ranked No.82, German. Across the net was Angelique Kerber, 29 years old today (yes, it was her birthday), ranked No.1, German. And there was the scoreboard, which showed Witthoeft, who has recorded just one win over a Top 20 player in her career, up an early break in the decisive set. Was she really about to knock out the World No.1, the German No.1, and end her compatriot’s title defense?
Witthoeft was thinking the same thing. And she went on to lose six of the next seven games, as Kerber scored another resilient win, 6-2, 6-7(3), 6-2.
Plenty of ? on @RodLaverArena as No.1 #Kerber goes into a 3rd set v w/ fellow ??#Witthoeft.
? on the AO Live Blog: https://t.co/XqrMDgBLqQ pic.twitter.com/o8yFEJUSB1— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 18, 2017
“There are a lot of thoughts and sometimes they’re good and sometimes they’re worse and they bother you,” Witthoeft said. In the face of Kerber’s unrelenting defense, Witthoeft felt herself pressing, and the errors began to come.
“That’s Angie. If you go for too much the chances are there that you’ll lose the point because she’s running for every ball.”
You gotta Riske it to get the biscuit.
The young American upsets 2016 quarterfinalist Shuai Zhang 7-6(7) 4-6 6-1.#ausopen pic.twitter.com/qks800Ma73
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 18, 2017
Keep an eye on Alison Riske.
The American is playing solid, steady tennis to start the season. She beat Agnieszka Radwanska to make the Shenzhen Open final and she’s into the third round of a Slam for the first time since 2014 Wimbledon (in fact, her first round win over Madison Brengle was her first win at a Slam since that same tournament).
She’s into the third round here with a solid 7-6(7), 4-6, 6-1 win over last year’s semifinalist and No.20 seed Zhang Shuai. Asked where she feels her early confidence translating on court, Riske pointed to a sense of calm.
“I think mostly it alleviates panic,” she said. I think in moments that are tough I don’t feel threatened by them. That’s the biggest thing. that’s what the top players do so well in the crucial moments. To get to where they are, that’s the biggest thing. In times of stress they’re able to stay cool and I think that’s the biggest thing for me too.”
Riske was recently engaged, and laughed when asked how the wedding planning was coming. “I’m definitely not planning. My fiance is a little uptight about that, the fact that I’m not planning. But he understands it, his family has been in the tennis business as well. He totally gets it and I’m really fortunate for that. First of all I’m not a party planner. Tennis will be my priority for the next few years so I’m not too worried about it.”
Riske plays Sorana Cirstea in the third round and is looking to make the second week at a Slam for the first time since the 2013 US Open.
#AusOpen Blue Room: Watch Live with @SvetlanaK27 ? https://t.co/Mzyq7LyrCu
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 18, 2017
Svetlana Kuznetsova is resting her body, working her mind.
Kuznetsova isn’t playing doubles at the Australian Open, opting to focus on her singles instead. So far so good. She’s cruised into the third round and will face Jelena Jankovic. So with a full day off between matches, is Sveta getting bored? Not at all.
“When I have a day off I go to practice and then I try to read books. I’m reading a book about the history of Egypt and Athens. It’s very interesting. Something different. I want to develop myself not just as an athlete but it helps in the mentality and being a little bit smarter and wiser in life.”
As for Russian literature, “Pushkin, Dostoevsky, of course I read it all, but I can’t say I’m really into it. I believe all Russian poetry you gotta read it and feel it when you’re older. So I’d like to re-read it with time.”
“I just enjoy the game.” Svetlana #Kuznetsova through to 3R #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/TxcfAGlmhz
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 18, 2017
Old habits die hard for Sorana Cirstea.
The Romanian is into the third round of a Slam for the first time since 2011 Wimbledon, beating a hampered No.10 seed Carla Suárez Navarro 7-6, 6-3. The Spaniard has been dealing with a right shoulder injury, which forced her to serve at three-quarter speed and struggle with her backhand.
Unfortunately for Cirstea, she won’t be able to celebrate her Melbourne success with her frequent dinner partner of the last few years. Ana Ivanovic was her best friend on tour, but I’m sure she’ll be getting a congratulatory message from England later today.
Asked @sorana_cirstea about her good friend @AnaIvanovic’s decision to retire. Turns out, old habits die hard. #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/aSBDSui666
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) January 18, 2017
Quote of the Day: “She’s No.1 so I guess she’s good.”
So…how many people do you think will get confused and call it a US Open final rematch? Karolina’s twin sister Kristyna Pliskova is into the third round at a Slam for the second time in her career, beating No.27 seed Irina-Camelia Begu 6-4, 7-6(8). Now she gets a crack at the World No.1.
“I never played her but she’s No.1 so I guess she’s good,” Pliskova said, laughing. “We will see on Friday.”
“I like big courts. I play better. I think it’s slower on big courts as well, which I like better.”
So will she get some tips from Karolina, who beat Kerber to win the Western & Southern Open last summer? “She’s off now but I asked her a couple of things. I hope she’s on her phone soon.”
It's #Venus into 3R singles. 1R doubles starts today with sister #Serena #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/FncGAoqXru
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 18, 2017
Speed it up!
Venus Williams has played two solid matches to open her tournament, beating Stefanie Voegele 6-3, 6-2. She’ll play Duan Ying-Ying in the third round. After her match, Venus was asked about the speed of Rod Laver Arena and about the perceived preference for slower-paced courts recently.
“It may not be as slow as last year, but I think at the same time when the courts get too slow it creates the same kind of player, people who just never come in,” she said. “So I think the courts have to be not too slow, not too fast. It’s got to be playable. You don’t want every ball to come back. At some point there should be a winner. If you’re hitting through the court and the ball just sits, that’s not tennis. It should go through the court.”
Duan Ying-Ying on the rise.
The 27-year-old from — where else — Tianjin, has been on fire to start the season. Ranked No.87, Duan had match points on Radwanska in Shenzhen, beat CoCo Vandeweghe at the Apia International, and is into the third round of a Slam for the first time of her career. Duan came through a tough match against Varvara Lepchenko, winning 6-1, 3-6, 10-8, scoring her second win over the American this year.
Happy Birthday Angie! #Kerber continues her great run at Melbourne Park #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/T3SEV6DBdq
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 18, 2017
Some enticing third-round matches set for the top half.
Here’s the full slate of third-round matches for the top half of the draw:
Kerber vs. Kr. Pliskova, Bouchard vs. Vandeweghe, Cirstea vs. Riske, Sevastova vs. Muguruza, Barty vs. Barthel, Duan vs. Venus, Svitolina vs. Pavlyuchenkova, and Jankovic vs. Kuznetsova.
Based on form and draw, Venus has a great look to make the quarterfinals. She can’t face a Top 80 player before then. The highest-ranked player Muguruza can play before the quarterfinals is Riske at No.42. And keep an eye on Bouchard. She’s playing very well, full of confidence, and she could play the spoiler to Kerber’s title defense.
Day 4 Matches to Watch:
Naomi Osaka vs. Johanna Konta (1st match, Rod Laver Arena)
Serena Williams vs. Lucie Safarova (1st night match, Rod Laver Arena)
Agnieszka Radwanska vs. Mirjana Lucic-Baroni (1st night match, Margaret Court Arena)
Daria Gavrilova vs. Ana Konjuh (NB 6:30pm, Hisense Arena)
Andrea Petkovic vs. Barbora Strycova (2nd match, Court 3)
#Putintseva celebrating her win. #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/9jxSSDCdYs
— Patrick (@RatedRHero) January 17, 2017
And if you know, then you know:
Jelena Ostapenko vs. Yulia Putintseva (1st match, Court 8)