Tennis News

DUBAI, UAE – Jelena Jankovic was two games from elimination in the first round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. Playing against against No.5 seed Belinda Bencic – who made her Top 10 debut on Monday – the former No.1 survived an onslaught from the 18-year-old to come out on top, 4-6, 7-5, 6-4.

“I just fought every point,” Jankovic said during her on-court interview. “I tried to hang in there; Belinda was playing so well and I was almost on the edge of losing in the second set but I fought hard and I’m lucky to win.”

Coming to Dubai a mere days after reaching the final of the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy, Bencic led by a set and a break, and had her chances in the final set as well, saving 14 of 17 break points faced – including three in a row in the eighth game of the third – but Jankovic proved too strong in the end.

“I made a few tactical changes, and my fighting spirit all added up together and it made me win at the end. Belinda is coming from the finals in St. Petersburg; she’s playing very well, she’s in form, and I’m happy to win tonight.”

In a match that had little between the two, the Serb hit 37 winners to 33 from the Swiss, and eight fewer errors than her much younger opponent – 44 to 52.

“When you look at it, I’m like 12 years older than her, almost her whole age!” Jankovic joked. “That was my advantage tonight.”

Up next for the 2008 US Open finalist is good friend Andrea Petkovic; the German had a seamless first round victory over Camila Giorgi 24 hours ago, dropping just three games.

“It’s all with the ‘-ic’ if you look at it,” Jankovic said with a laugh. “Jankovic, Bencic, and Petkovic all on this side of the draw!

“It’s kind of cool, but Andrea is my friend and I know her very well. We just practiced with each other a couple of days ago. We know each other’s games and there’s no secrets.

“It will be another tough match and hopefully I can play well and we’ll see how it goes.”

“When you look at it, I'm like 12 years older than her. I'm almost her whole age!” -@Jelena_Jankovic on Bencic #WTA https://t.co/lMeue1myOq

— WTA (@WTA) February 16, 2016

NEW YORK, NY, USA – No.8 seed Madison Keys completed Day 1 of the US Open and kicked off Day 2 all at once as the young American finished a tough first round win over Alison Riske at 1:48AM, 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-2.

“I’m feeling pretty good. I just looked up, and it’s almost 2AM,” Keys told ESPN’s Pam Shriver after the match before asking the crowd, ‘Who wants to go party?

“My party will probably be a protein shake and then going to sleep, but you guys can go out and celebrate for me!”

Delayed by an opening night that featured singers Phil Collins and Leslie Odom Jr., Keys suffered a slow start against her countrywoman in what was the final first round match of the bottom half of the draw. Fending off break points that would have put her back 2-5, Keys was unable to close the gap aganst Riske, who served out the opening set and promptly broke to start the second.

UPSET ALERT: Alison #Riske takes the opening set vs. her Top 10 compatriot Madison #Keys, 6-4. #usopen @MBUSA https://t.co/8Tjag8XYkP

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 30, 2016

But Keys become one of the most consistent young talents on tour, becoming the first American to make her Top 10 debut since Serena Williams herself in 1999, and leveled the set – despite a brief medical timeout for a right shoulder injury – before forcing a tie-break.

“I didn’t know I could play such great tennis after 1AM, but it had to be after 1AM, where I started playing a little bit better, so I think that was the key.

“I’m not usually a morning person, but this kind of morning, I am. 6AM, 7AM is tougher.”

Riske was two points from victory late in the sudden death, but serving at 5-4, saw her lead evaporate beneath the pressure of Keys’ power game. With the match leveled, the Aegon Classic champion and Rogers Cup finalist ran away with the decider, clinching a second round encounter with another American, 16-year-old wildcard Kayla Day.

“I’ll do what I normally do, get my media done, try to eat some food, and then probably immediately fall asleep!”

Day is the youngest player in the draw, and has the chance for an even bigger surprise after outlasting another American, Madison Brengle, who was forced to retire from the second set of their match with a right forearm injury. Day was leading 6-2, 4-2.

“I had no idea she was injured,” the wildcard said after securing her first-ever Grand Slam main draw win. “I saw something on her arm before, but I didn’t really pay attention to that. A lot of players have tape.”

Winner of the USTA Girls 18s Championships, Day earned a wildcard into the tournament after a solid summer that began with her reaching the semifinals at junior Wimbledon.

“There were a lot of nerves in the warm-up and first game, but after the first couple of games, I just felt really comfortable out there – happy with that. It’s not always the best way to win, but I was happy with the way I was playing, and I was in control of the match.

All my life, I dreamed about playing here, so I just told myself to go out and enjoy it today, that it would a good experience, no matter the result.”

Training in Calfornia, Day knows Keys well, and looks forward to the chance to play her for a spot in the third round.

“I’ve known Madison a long time, since I was maybe 11 years old. I’ve always looked up to her as the bigger, really good player. We talk when we see each other; she’s has such a powerful game, and I think that’s what makes her so good.”

Day 1 ends with the latest finish for a women’s match @usopen w/ Madison Keys prevailing over Alison Riske 46 76 62.

Welcome to New York.

— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) August 30, 2016

NEW YORK, NY, USA – Tennis fans say that the US Open hasn’t really began until a match ends after midnight. In that case, Madison Keys and Alison Riske have inaugurated the year’s last Grand Slam in style, recording the latest finish ever in a women’s match.

“I’m feeling pretty good. I just looked up, and it’s almost 2 a.m.,” Keys joked after the match. “Who wants to go party?

“My party will probably be a protein shake and then going to sleep, but you guys can go out and celebrate for me!”

Earlier in the night, Keys didn’t have much reason to celebrate just yet. Her match was the last one on Arthur Ashe Stadium after a dramatic Opening Ceremony celebration and a men’s match delayed her start time. Riske and Keys took to the court around 11:20 p.m., and shortly afterwards Keys dropped a tight opening set.

But as the clock flew past the midnight mark, Keys’ best tennis came together, rallying to a 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-2 victory. The match ended at 1:48 a.m., the latest finish for a women’s match in US Open recorded history. The previous record was 1:35 a.m., when Samantha Stosur defeated Elena Dementieva in the fourth round back in 2010.

“I didn’t know I could play such great tennis after 1 a.m.,” Keys said. “But it had to be after 1 a.m., where I started playing a little bit better, so I think that was the key.

“I’m not usually a morning person, but this kind of morning, I am. 6 a.m., 7 a.m. is tougher.”

And as for Riske?

that was the most fun Ive ever had past 10pm- mostly because Im usually asleep by then. Thanks @usopen !!!?

— Alison Riske (@Riske4rewards) August 30, 2016

NEW YORK, NY, USA – Even before Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza’s headline-grabbing split, the doubles draw at this year’s US Open promised to be the most open in recent memory.

The surprise and sudden parting of Hingis and Mirza elevated rivals Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic to top seeds, although arguably not favorites. Fast forward a few weeks and hierarchy is no clearer on the eve of the opening round at Flushing Meadows.

Garcia and Mladenovic, who will start on Thursday, were handed what on paper appeared to be a relatively straightforward opening assignment against Kurumi Nara and Naomi Osaka – a rookie partnership not famed for their success in doubles. Nevertheless, with the French duo badly out of form – they have mustered together a total of just four wins since lifting the Roland Garros crown at the start of the summer – nothing is a formality.

Beyond that, the draw has been relatively kind; indeed, should they recover the joie de vivre that carried them through an all-conquering clay court season, a place in the last eight beckons.

There they are seeded to meet Mirza and her new partner, Barbora Strycova. In their first tournament, the two hit the ground running, collecting a title that would also give Mirza sole ownership of the No.1 ranking.

Hopes of more success were boosted by Strycova’s early singles exit, leaving the No.7 seeds’ opening week schedule clear to focus on avoiding a similar fate at their first major in unison.

Hingis is also in the top half, and also competing alongside a player smarting from a surprise loss flying solo: CoCo Vandeweghe. However, the draw has been less generous, placing them in a section containing several regular pairings, starting with Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Kveta Peschke.

Should they come through the early rounds unscathed, a potential quarterfinal showdown with 2013 winners and recent Olympic silver medalists Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka awaits.

The title favorites are arguably to be found in a bottom half of the draw containing No.2 seeds Chan Hao-Ching and Chan Yung-Jan, Wimbledon finalists Timea Babos and Yaroslava Shvedova, and former champions Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina.

Seeded No.5 this time, Makarova and Vesnina find themselves in a relatively unthreatening section, the stiffest competition likely to come from Vania King and Monica Niculescu. The Chan sisters, who fell in the quarterfinals 12 months ago, appear equally well-placed to reach the second week.

Since coming so close to tasting Wimbledon glory, Babos and Shvedova have made a couple of solid if unspectacular showings on the North American hardcourt circuit, leaving them relatively fresh for New York. They will begin with a potentially tricky assignment against crowd favorite CiCi Bellis and Julia Boserup.

Also in their section are a number of experience pairings, including Kiki Bertens and Johanna Larsson, No.8 seeds Julia Goerges and Karolina Pliskova, and two-time major winners Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Lucie Safarova.