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Photos | WTA Tennis English

Photos | WTA Tennis English

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970
Wednesday was Media Day at the BNP Paribas Open, and all the top seeds were on hand for a medley of interviews. How many WTA players can you spot in this photo?

Wednesday was Media Day at the BNP Paribas Open, and all the top seeds were on hand for a medley of interviews. How many WTA players can you spot in this photo?

Agnieszka Radwanska took to the rooftop at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden for a series of video interviews.

Agnieszka Radwanska took to the rooftop at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden for a series of video interviews.

Dominika Cibulkova is ready for her close up…

Dominika Cibulkova is ready for her close up…

…while all eyes are on Angelique Kerber, who is set to return to World No.1 after Indian Wells.

…while all eyes are on Angelique Kerber, who is set to return to World No.1 after Indian Wells.

Simona Halep is thrilled to be back on the tennis court after being on the sidelines with an injury.

Simona Halep is thrilled to be back on the tennis court after being on the sidelines with an injury.

Inside the media center, No.3 seed Karolina Pliskova answered questions from the media during All-Access Hour.

Inside the media center, No.3 seed Karolina Pliskova answered questions from the media during All-Access Hour.

No.7 seed Garbiñe Muguruza comes to Indian Wells hoping to put an Achilles injury behind her.

No.7 seed Garbiñe Muguruza comes to Indian Wells hoping to put an Achilles injury behind her.

No.5 seed Dominika Cibulkova was all smiles during All-Access Hour.

No.5 seed Dominika Cibulkova was all smiles during All-Access Hour.

Radwanska, a runner up here in 2014, is hoping to do one better and claim her 21st WTA title at Indian Wells.

Radwanska, a runner up here in 2014, is hoping to do one better and claim her 21st WTA title at Indian Wells.

No.8 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova made back-to-back finals at Indian Wells in 2007 and 2008.

No.8 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova made back-to-back finals at Indian Wells in 2007 and 2008.

The Russian kept the press room in stitches with her trademark dry wit.

The Russian kept the press room in stitches with her trademark dry wit.

2015 champion Halep is thrilled to be back in Indian Wells after a left knee injury kept her away from tour for almost a month.

2015 champion Halep is thrilled to be back in Indian Wells after a left knee injury kept her away from tour for almost a month.

“I tried not to think that much about tennis,” Halep said. “I tried to be different but it’s not easy. I am addicted a little bit to this sport. When I don’t have competition, it’s tough to live.”

The most in-demand player by far was No.2 seed Kerber, who earlier this week found out she’d return to WTA World No.1 at the end of the tournament.

The most in-demand player by far was No.2 seed Kerber, who earlier this week found out she’d return to WTA World No.1 at the end of the tournament.

“I’ve been there already, but at the end, of course it feels good to reach the spot again,” Kerber said. “But for me I came here to really focus not on becoming No.1 or the ranking.”

The two-time semifinalist is looking to snap a four-match losing streak in the California desert, having lost her opening match here the last three years.

The two-time semifinalist is looking to snap a four-match losing streak in the California desert, having lost her opening match here the last three years.

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Bastad: What Makes A Perfect Tournament?

Bastad: What Makes A Perfect Tournament?

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

BASTAD, Sweden – With six years on the WTA calendar, the Ericsson Open in Bastad certainly knows a thing or two about what it takes to put on a great event. And the players seem to agree, having voted the International-level event as the WTA Tournament Of The Year for three of the last four years.

So what makes a perfect tournament? We asked the Ericsson Open’s top seeds and former champions – Angelique Kerber, Sara Errani, Johanna Larsson, Annika Beck and Polona Hercog – why they keep coming back to Bastad year after year. Here’s what they had to say.

1. A priceless view.

The Ericsson Open is staged at the Bastad Tennis Stadium, just a few hundred yards from the popular Bastad Beach along the Kattegatt Sea. Having the coast within walking distance gives players (and fans) plenty of chances to unwind.

Kerber: Bastad is a really special tournament, especially because it’s on the sea and for me the sea is really important; I grew up on the sea.

Beck: I’ve been here the last two years, so I’ve got good memories here. Especially if the weather is nice, you get some time off and you can go to the sea and relax and enjoy your time here.

Annika Beck

2. Incredible, top-notch staff.

One common factor that all players highlighted was Bastad’s top-notch and ultra-attentive staff.

Kerber: What is really important as well for players is that all the staff and the tournament director and everybody is so friendly. They are taking care of you, and this is why it really feels like home. That’s why this tournament is one of the best tournaments of the calendar.

Barthel: All the people are really nice and friendly, always trying to make your time the best here. That’s what you feel in all the details and I feel like home here.

Larsson: I think this tournament is absolutely amazing. It’s been voted Tournament Of The Year because we deserve it! For the players it’s obviously unbelievable because I think everyone in the staff is very friendly and always trying to help each and every player.

3. Location, location, location.

What’s more convenient than having the player hotel close to the tournament site? How about having it right behind center court?

Errani: For us, it’s amazing. We can sleep right here and just walk to the courts and play. It’s very easy for us. And it’s amazing, the beach and everything. A bit cold, though, but amazing!

Larsson: You have the facilities that are top notch, you have the rooms here – I mean, the hotel is just next to the Center Court. It makes it very convenient for the players, I think that’s a very good reason why we love this event.

Johanna Larsson

4. An awesome crowd of fans.

Barthel: The stadium is really nice and the people watching are always nice. They’re supporting you. I feel at home. You know, I have a special relationship to Sweden, so it makes it even more special for me here. I always love to come back here.

Beck: The crowd is amazing, the Center Court is beautiful. There’s nothing to complain about in this tournament!

– All photos courtesy of Ericsson Open

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News | WTA Tennis English

News | WTA Tennis English

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

Venus Williams says it’s superb but strange to be thought of as a trailblazer – and names the legendary Billie Jean King as the woman who inspires her.

In an interview with Forbes, she says: “It’s surreal [to be considered a leader] – but at the same time, it’s extremely motivating to know that people are watching and that it’s improving their work and their lives – so it’s symbiosis.”

The Australian Open runner-up was talking about her dual careers in tennis and in business – and suggested that there are plenty of parallels.

“Absolutely sports prepares you to set goals, to fail and to win in a way that you don’t know when you are doing it,” she said. “Business and athletics really marry each other. I can only see similarities.”

Venus Williams, Serena Williams

Of course she was asked about her rivalry with sister Serena – and that history-making final in Melbourne in January.

“When we play against each other each other, there can only be one winner,” she pointed out. “When I see her do something great, I want to do better.”

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Venus Vanquishes Bellis In Stanford

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

STANFORD, CA, USA – Former No.1 Venus Williams put on a vintage performance to dismiss 17-year-old wildcard Catherine Bellis, 6-4, 6-1, to reach the semifinals of the Bank of the West Classic.

Watch live action from Bastad, Stanford and Washington DC this week on WTA Live powered by TennisTV!

Bellis was playing in her first-ever WTA quarterfinal, and her quest to become the sixth youngest woman to defeat the five-time Wimbledon winner (at 17 years, 105 days old) was boosted by an opening service break.

The top seed quickly took the break back, however, and remained in the driver’s seat throughout the 61 minute masterclass. Breaking serve once more with a thunderous backhand winner down the line, Williams clinched the opening set and lost just one more game to guarantee the Top 3 seeds advanced into the semifinals.

Into her eighth career Stanford semi, Venus next faces fellow American Alison Riske, who was up a set on No.4 seed CoCo Vandeweghe when her higher ranked opponent turned her ankle and was forced to retire one game into the second.

More to come…

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Cibulkova Back In Top 10 & Stanford SF

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

STANFORD, CA, USA – Dominika Cibulkova defeated Misaki Doi at the Bank of the West Classic on Friday to tick off another major accomplishment in an already highly successful summer.

Watch live action from Bastad, Stanford and Washington DC this week on WTA Live powered by TennisTV!

The past few months have already brought Cibulkova significant moments on and off the court, and her 7-5, 6-0 victory over Doi confirmed that on Monday morning she will return to the Top 10 for the first time in over 18 months.

Cibulkova first broke into the Top 10 shortly after her run to the Australian Open final in 2014, staying there until Achilles surgery laid her low at the start of the following year. This star quality has been evident for much of 2016, a WTA-leading 37 wins, two titles and a Wimbledon quarterfinal appearance prompting a charge up the rankings.

Against Doi, it took a while for her class to shine through. But when the Slovak eventually acclimatized to her opponent’s frantic pace – and the sweltering conditions – she did so emphatically: a run of 11 straight games setting up a semifinal meeting with No.3 seed Johanna Konta.

“Today was really, really tough. She was playing fast from the first ball, but once I found out what I needed to do to win I was doing the right thing all the way through the match,” Cibulkova, who lifted the Stanford title three years ago, said. “I know the court, I know the balls, I know what I have to do to go all the way here.”

Like Cibulkova, Konta was forced to ride out some rocky moments against Zheng Saisai, recovering from a break down in the final set to win, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.

“I think the level of tennis really took its toll on me – she made it incredibly tough to play the way I wanted to play – so I was very glad I was able to string some points together in the third set,” Konta said.

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Dominant Wickmayer Into DC Final

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

WASHINGTON, DC, USA – Yanina Wickmayer made light of another sweltering day at the Citi Open to outplay Yulia Putintseva and reach her first final of 2016.

Watch live action from Washington DC, Bastad and Stanford this week on WTA Live powered by TennisTV!

On an afternoon when temperatures in the US capital reached as high as 97°F, No.7 seed Wickmayer was intent on keeping her time on court to a minimum. Bristling with positive intent from the outset, the Belgian rode a fast start all the way to a 6-4, 6-2 victory.

“It was very hot but its been like that every day so far. I knew she was going to make me work for every single point and it would be tough out there,” Wickmayer said in her on-court interview. “I just tried to stay positive, stay implemented focused, go for my shots and stay aggressive.”

Wickmayer’s intentions were clear from the off, a couple of big forehands helping her break in the opening game. This lead was soon stretched to 4-0 and while Putintseva managed to pull back one of the breaks it was not enough to rescue the set.

The second followed a similar pattern, Wickmayer bossing the majority of exchanges to confidently advance to the 11th final of her career. There she will face Lauren Davis after she ended wildcard Jessica Pegula’s run with a 6-2, 6-3 win in the night session..

Before that, though, Wickmayer was back on court alongside Monica Niculescu, defeating Shuko Aoyama and Risa Ozaki, 6-4, 6-3 to book a place in the doubles final. “That’s what I work for, playing finals and holding the trophy at the end of the week,” she added. “It just feels great to be in the final here I’ve done really well in the singles and doubles so I’m really enjoying my time here.”

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Serena Out Of Montréal

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

MONTREAL, Canada – Tennis Canada announced that Serena Williams is withdrawing from Rogers Cup due to shoulder inflammation.

Winner of three Rogers Cup titles, Serena reached the semifinals at the last two editions of the event.

“Due to inflammation in my shoulder, I unfortunately must withdraw from the Rogers Cup,” she said in a statement. “I was looking forward to competing in Montreal and I look forward to returning soon.”

“Of course, we are disappointed that Serena will not play in the tournament this year. The fans really enjoyed the time she spent in the city in 2014,” said Eugène Lapierre, tournament director of Rogers Cup presented by National Bank.

“Because this is an Olympic year, the players have very full schedules. Sometimes your body needs rest. We hope that Serena will recover quickly and wish her much success for the rest of the season.”

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