Charleston: Laura Siegemund vs Anastasija Sevastova
Laura Siegemund takes on Anastasija Sevastova in the quarterfinals of the Volvo Car Open.
Laura Siegemund takes on Anastasija Sevastova in the quarterfinals of the Volvo Car Open.
MONETERREY, Mexico – As a part of the WTA Charities initiative, Americans Ashley Weinhold and Caitlin Whoriskey spent Tuesday morning in Monterrey with a group of athletes that are part of the Special Needs Athletes Association of Nuevo Leon, alongside Mexican businessman Carlos Bremer.
Weinhold and Whoriskey helped the athletes paste small scraps of tissue paper on a banner filling the Abierto GNP Seguros logo with bright colors, and the morning ended with everyone enjoying some tasty tacos.
“I want to congratulate the organizers of this event, it has continuously been gaining strength every year,” Bremer said about the WTA event. “I think everyone should support these big events that come to Monterrey and to Mexico.”
Catch a glimpse of the visit and the finished product, courtesy of Abierto GNP Seguros:
WTA Charities is the WTA’s global philanthropic organization dedicated to making a positive impact across the globe. Our mission is to be a social responsibility vehicle built on the WTA’s values to empower and provide for a better future. We’re dedicated to combining, strengthening and enhancing the community and charitable efforts of the WTA through its members (players, alumnae and tournaments), along with our partners.
Click here to see more WTA Charities activities!
Daria Kasatkina came back from a set down against the tricky Laura Siegemund to move into the first WTA singles final of her career at the Volvo Car Open.
BIEL/BIENNE, Switzerland – Kristyna Pliskova continued her steady climb up the rankings as she scored the first big upset of the Ladies Open Biel Bienne, knocking out No.4 seed Roberta Vinci, 6-4, 6-4 to advance into the second round.
“I’m happy I’m back indoors, because my serve works even better here than outside,” she said after the match. “I think this match was pretty solid from my side; I faced just one break point, which is kind of good. She’s not in her best form, so that helped me get it done in two sets.”
Pliskova recovered from a set down to defeat Vinci at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships just two months ago, but was far more decisive on Monday, striking 10 aces and getting a crucial break in each set to seal the win in one hour and 13 minutes.
What. A. Shot.@KrisPliskova gets the early break in the second set! #WTABiel pic.twitter.com/zhMPSGtdTS
— WTA (@WTA) April 10, 2017
“I learned a lot from our match in Dubai, and even more from the time before I’d played her and I’d lost like 6-1, 6-1 five years ago. I knew her slice is brilliant. She proved that again, but I learned a lot from both matches.”
Up next for Pliskova is either Donna Vekic or Sorana Cirstea; with her quick serve and fearsome groundstrokes, the unseeded Czech youngster will certainly be one to watch in the indoor courts of Biel/Bienne this week.
Delicate touch from @KrisPliskova! ? #WTABiel pic.twitter.com/J2IoOloHya
— WTA (@WTA) April 10, 2017
“The court is kind of different from others, but so far I like it.”
Earlier in the day, Elise Mertens caused another upset by defeating No.8 seed Monica Niculescu, 6-2, 6-2. The first winner in the tournament’s history was Germany’s Mona Barthel, who ousted Jana Cepelova, 6-3, 6-4.
In the latest roundup of off-court action, Angelique Kerber watches a Champions League quarterfinal – and Lucie Safarova just wants to go home.
BOGOTA, Colombia – A group of kids from the Colombian children’s charity ICBF got a special treat on Kids’ Day at the Claro Open Colsanitas. They were invited to a tour of the grounds and practice courts, as well as getting the chance to meet some of the areas’ biggest tennis stars.
Argentina’s Catalina Pella was on hand for a meet and greet as they checked out her practice session, and Colombia’s own Jessica Plazas signed dozens of autographs.
There were also lots of other activities, games and booths around the grounds of the Club Los Lagartos.
See all the best photos below, courtesy of the Claro Open Colsanitas!
WTA Charities is the WTA’s global philanthropic organization dedicated to making a positive impact across the globe. Our mission is to be a social responsibility vehicle built on the WTA’s values to empower and provide for a better future. We’re dedicated to combining, strengthening and enhancing the community and charitable efforts of the WTA through its members (players, alumnae and tournaments), along with our partners.
Click here to see more WTA Charities activities!
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Lara Arruabarrena takes on Sara Sorribes Tormo in the semifinals of the Claro Open Colsanitas.
STRASBOURG, France – Kristina Mladenovic withstood a spirited comeback from Alison Riske to take her place in the quarterfinals of the Internationaux de Strasbourg.
Watch live action from Strasbourg this week on WTA Live powered by TennisTV!
Leading 5-1 in the final set, Mladenovic appeared to be coasting towards victory. However, Riske had no intention of going quietly, saving four match points to draw level at 5-5.
As the tension ratcheted up inside the stadium, the Frenchwoman drew courage from a vocal crowd, stopping the rot to reach the sanctuary of a tie-break. In a dramatic finale, Riske fended off a further two match points, before Mladenovic belatedly closed out a 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(5) victory with an ace out wide.
“Physically it was tough out there today. Long, tight rallies. A lot of mistakes from me,” Mladenovic said. “The crowd were the difference. There was suspense – at 5-1 I think we thought it was done but she fought back to get the tie-break.
“She saved a lot of match points but I’m just happy I could get the win today. I took the tie-break point by point, calmed things down. That was the key.”
Mladenovic, the No.4 seed, is hoping for an easier outing when she takes on occasional doubles rival Alla Kudryavtseva on Thursday.
“She plays doubles like me a lot which should be interesting. It will be a tough match but hopefully without the drama of today,” Mladenovic added.
Joining Mladenovic in the last eight will be wildcard Pauline Parmentier, after she held her nerve to knock out No.2 seed Sloane Stephens, 6-3, 1-6, 6-4, in the day’s final match.
Advancing in more straightforward fashion was No.7 seed Elena Vesnina, who won 6-4, 7-5 against Kateryna Bondarenko. No.8 seed Timea Babos, meanwhile, slipped to a 6-1, 6-4 defeat against Mirjana Lucic-Baroni.
Highlights from the semifinal at the Ladies Open Biel Bienne.