Tennis News

NEW HAVEN, CT, USA – Sania Mirza and Monica Niculescu capped off their newly rekindled doubles partnership with their first title together at the Connecticut Open, edging past Kateryna Bondarenko and Chuang Chia-Jung 7-5, 6-4.

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The last time Mirza and Niculescu partnered up was way back in 2010, where they joined forces to reach the quarterfinals at the Western & Southern Open. They played that one tournament together before calling time on the partnership, but the pair have remained friends ever since.

So when Niculescu called Mirza last week asking them to team up again, it was inevitable that World No.1 Mirza would say yes.

“I asked Sania in Cincinnati,” Niculescu explained. “I had an idea maybe she wants to play here. I ask her. When she said yes, I was so excited. It seems we won the tournament, so I’m happy I asked her.”

“We know each other for a long time,” Mirza added. “Also our games kind of suit each other, so you have that confidence. I think it helped we got a couple first easy matches in terms of the way we played. We kind of found our rhythm almost immediately.”

The newly minted pairing opened their Connecticut Open campaign with a commanding straight sets win over American wildcards Alison Riske and Louisa Chirico, then overpowered regular duo Darija Jurak and Anastasia Rodionova in straight sets. They faced a close fight against the No.3 seeded Andreja Klepac and Katarina Srebotnik, squeezing out a comeback, 2-6, 6-3, 10-8, to make it to the final.

“It’s always nice to have the week before a Grand Slam where you’re able to ease up,” Mirza explained in post-match press. “We go to New York and there’s so much happening there. Here you have nice restaurants and even though we’re in the city, you feel quite quiet around here.

“I was actually not planning on completely playing this week. But when Monica asked me, I thought we could obviously win together.”

Despite winning a title on their first tournament back together, they both made it clear that this partnership is just for the short term and both will return to their regular partners in time for the US Open.

“I play with Barbora Strycova,” Mirza assured.

“I play with Vania King,” Niculescu added. “That’s why I said I hope it’s not the last time we going to play together.”

CHAMPS! Mirza/Niculescu win the #CTOpen16 doubles title 7-5, 6-4 over Bondarenko/Chuang pic.twitter.com/Yi8WMVeUxX

— Connecticut Open (@connecticutopen) August 27, 2016

DUBAI, UAE – Sara Errani crowned her return to form with a dominant victory over Barbora Strycova in the final of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

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A former Top 10 fixture and French Open finalist, Errani’s greater big-match experience shone through as she romped to a 6-0, 6-2 victory after little more than an hour on court.

“I have no words. I’m sorry for Barbora – she’s an amazing player, but I’m really happy to win this tournament. It’s been a tough week for me, and I’m really happy for me, my team and my family and friends,” Errani told Annabel Croft in her on-court interview.

The Italian looked in pensive mood when she stepped out on court, but hit the ground running. Perhaps sensing her opponent’s own nerves, Errani won the toss and elected to receive, a decision that was rewarded by a string of unforced errors and a break to love.

With the occasion seemingly getting the better of her opponent, Errani showed no mercy, rattling through the next couple of games in the blink of an eye. When Strycova belatedly found her range, Errani was her equal, showcasing her extraordinary defensive capabilities to prevail in a 26-shot exchange and move 4-0 ahead.

After 29 one-sided minutes, Strycova surrendered the set after a couple more wild swings, and her mood darkened further when she frittered away a 30-0 lead to drop serve in the next game.

Much to the Czech’s relief, she finally got on the scoreboard a few games, punching away a double-fisted volley to end the prospect of a first whitewash in a WTA final since 2014.

But whatever questions Strycova posed, Errani had an answer for, ploughing relentlessly towards the finishing line.

“She can do everything – coming to the net, drop shots – so I just had to be focused every point and be ready for what could happen,” Errani added.

The only wobble for Errani, who coughed up a meager 11 unforced errors, came with the finishing line looming. A face saving last stand from Strycova saw her uncork a couple of rasping drives to save four match points, before finally finding the net to hand Errani the ninth, and biggest, title of her career.

“No, not really! I was trying to sing a bit, not to think too much,” Errani said when quizzed about her calm demeanor down the home stretch. “Of course, it’s tough [to win] those last points. I had match point at 5-1 and then I closed it on maybe the fifth match point. There were a lot of nerves.”

At times, Strycova was the architect of her own downfall, offsetting 15 winners with 43 unforced errors. Nevertheless, she heads off to Doha for next week’s Qatar Total Open, back inside the Top 40 and with wins over a couple of in-form rivals – Ana Ivanovic and Caroline Garcia – under her belt.

“For sure, well done to Sara,” Strycova said. “I’m sorry for keeping it so short. I tried everything, but nothing was working.

“It was a great week and I’m happy to make the final.”

In the doubles final, Chuang Chia-Jung and Darija Jurak upset No.2 seeds Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic, 6-4, 6-4.

NEW YORK, NY, USA – Ready? Set? Go! The final major of 2016 is about to get underway, and Chris Oddo has your US Open Day One preview right here at wtatennis.com.

Monday, First Round

Arthur Ashe Stadium
[2] Angelique Kerber (GER #2) vs. Polona Hercog (SLO #120)
Head-to-head: Kerber leads, 3-2
Key Stat: Kerber will ascend to the No.1 ranking if Serena Williams does not reach the semifinals in New York.

Angelique Kerber has won her last 13 matches against players ranked outside of the Top 100 at majors, and one would think that the German would be able to take care of business against Slovenia’s Polona Hercog without too much fuss on Monday. The 28-year-old southpaw has been having a banner year, and she’s the tour’s win leader as well as its hardcourt win leader. And that’s not all. Kerber was a match away from claiming the WTA’s No.1 ranking in Cincinnati, but she fell in the final to Karolina Pliskova and remains No.2 this week at Flushing Meadows. Will being the hunter rather than the hunted work in Kerber’s favor in New York? Or will she be bothered by the fact that she came so close in Cincinnati but fell short? Carrying the No.1 ranking into New York could have been a tricky proposition for Kerber, and maybe starting out in New York without it will help her relax. Kerber has been one of the tour’s steadiest players all season, winning 47 matches and claiming her maiden Grand Slam title in Australia. Unless Hercog, who has not won a hardcourt match since February, comes up with a performance for the ages, Kerber should cruise.

Pick: Kerber in two

[8] Madison Keys (USA #9) vs. Alison Riske (USA #60)
Head-to-head: Keys leads, 4-1
Key Stat: Keys owns a 15-6 hardcourt record this season, with a runner-up finish in Montréal.

She was one of the hottest players on tour until she got cooled off at the Olympic tennis event. Madison Keys stormed to the Olympic semifinals on a 25-4 tear before dropping back-to-back matches to Angelique Kerber and Petra Kvitova in both medal rounds. Will the painful experience of coming so close then being deprived of an Olympic medal fuel Keys to higher highs or will it leave her shaken as the year’s final major begins? Keys will look to exorcise a few demons in her first-round matchup with fellow American Alison Riske, but she’ll have her hands full with her feisty compatriot. Riske has lost in the first round in New York in each of the last two years but in 2013 she made a surprise run to the second week, proving that she can both embrace and perform on the big stage in the Big Apple.

Pick: Keys in two

Louis Armstrong Stadium
[9] Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS #10) vs. Francesca Schiavone (ITA #97)
Head-to-head: Kuznetsova leads, 9-6
Key Stat: Schiavone and Kuznetsova are two of the nine active Grand Slam champions in this year’s US Open main draw.

This pair of former Grand Slam champions played the longest match in Grand Slam history at the Australian Open in 2011, and at Roland Garros in 2015 they played the fifth-longest match in Grand Slam history. Both epics were won by Schiavone in marathon third sets, but anybody who witnessed these incredible encounters knows that tennis fans were the real winner. So, what will these two legends of the game bestow upon their legions of fans on Monday in New York? Kuznetsova has had the far better year, and she holds the edge in the pair’s head-to-head, but something about the Russian seems to bring out the very best in Schiavone. Though the Italian is ranked just inside the Top 100 we fully expect her to summon her Top 10 form and take Kuznetsova and fans on another turbulent, emotional ride.

Pick: Kuznetsova in three

Grandstand
[13] Johanna Konta (GBR #14) vs. Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA #109)
Head-to-head: First meeting
Key Stat: Konta has not been past the second round of her last two major appearances.

Johanna Konta’s impressive rise continues with nary a dip in form in 2016. The British No.1, who owns a 24-10 record on hardcourts this season, backed up her first career title in Stanford by notching back-to-back quarterfinals at Montréal and the Olympics. She fell in three sets in the third round at Cincinnati to Agnieszka Radwanska, and though it was a difficult loss it gave her plenty of time to come to New York and prepare for the year’s final major. Just last year Konta had to qualify for the US Open before she produced a stunning run to the second week that included a takedown of Garbiñe Muguruza in the second round. A year later the 25-year-old is just a touch shy of reaching the Top 10. It’s great news for Konta, but it comes with some added pressure and a target on her back. And 31-year-old Bethanie Mattek-Sands has always been one to shoot boldly for a target. The American pushed Serena Williams to three sets in the third-round last year at the Open, but she’ll need to find her form quickly if she is to surprise Konta – Mattek-Sands has gone winless on hardcourts this season, losing all six matches.

Pick: Konta in three

Around the grounds…
No.11 seed Petra Kvitova will seek her first career win against 19-year-old Latvian Jelena Ostapenko. Ostapenko has defeated Kvitova twice already in 2016. Olympic gold medalist Monica Puig will make her return to action against China’s Zheng Saisai in a first-time meeting on old Grandstand court. The youngest player in the draw, 16-year-old American Kayla Day, will make her Grand Slam debut against compatriot Madison Brengle.

By the Numbers…
19 – Number of players who are 30 or older in this year’s draw. 36-year-old Venus Williams is the oldest.
7 – Number of teenagers in this year’s draw. 16-year-old American Kayla Day is the youngest.
2014 – The last time four different players held major titles. That could happen again this year if someone other than Angelique Kerber, Garbiñe Muguruza or Serena Williams wins the title. It has only happened 11 times in the Open Era.
9 – Number of former Grand Slam champions in this year’s draw, of which four (Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Kuznetsova, Samantha Stosur) are former US Open champions.

DUBAI, UAE – Caroline Wozniacki has won six of her last seven matches in the Middle East, dispatching Swiss youngster Viktorija Golubic, 6-4, 6-2, to reach the third round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

Fresh off her Monday night win over Daria Kasatkina, Wozniacki began even more emphatically against the reigning Gstaad champion, racing out to a 5-2 lead to start the match. Though the Dane was broken serving for the opening set, she broke to love to reclaim the momentum.

The final stages of the match proved the most dramatic, as Golubic saved four match points on her own serve before the 2011 champion converted on her fifth and book her spot in the round of 16 after nearly two hours.

Up next for the the former No.1 is either No.9 seed Barbora Strycova or resurgent Chinese veteran Peng Shuai.

Earlier in the day, Croatian teenager Ana Konjuh scored another big win in her young career, ousting No.12 seed and former US Open champion Samantha Stosur, 6-4, 6-3, breaking the Aussie’s serve four times in the 83 minute match.

No.8 seed Elena Vesnina earned a decisive win over Japan’s Misaki Doi, 6-2, 7-5, and will play Konjuh for a spot in the quarterfinals.

Olympic Gold medalist Monica Puig continued her winning ways in the Middle East, upsetting No.15 seed Caroline Garcia, 6-1, 4-6, 6-2, to book a potential Rio rematch against top seed Angelique Kerber, who plays later today.

It was a great day for the Americans, as Lauren Davis, Christina McHale, and Catherine Bellis all won on Tuesday, defeating Kristyna Pliskova, Naomi Osaka, and Laura Siegemund, respectively. 

NEW YORK, NY, USA – Six-time US Open champion Serena Williams leads the top half of the draw into action on Day Two at Flushing Meadows. Chris Oddo previews the action right here at wtatennis.com.

Tuesday, First Round

[1] Serena Williams (USA #1) vs. Ekaterina Makarova (RUS #29)
Head-to-head: Williams leads, 4-1
Key Stat: Williams has to reach the semifinals in New York in order to have a chance at retaining the No.1 ranking.

Serena Williams holds a remarkable 63-1 record in the first round of majors but on Tuesday she’ll be facing a player that she’d surely rather see later in the draw – if at all. In fact, the last time Williams and Ekaterina Makarova squared off it was in the semifinals of the 2014 US Open in a match that Williams won easily en route to her sixth career US Open title. Williams was dominant in that tilt, as she has been so often in a Grand Slam career that has netted her 304 wins, but her current injury status has many wondering if she can be her old dominant self in New York this year. That’s the burning question ahead of this highly anticipated tussle, and we won’t have our answer until Williams and Makarova duke it out to open Tuesday’s night session on Arthur Ashe Stadium. What we do know is that Makarova owns a win against Williams on the Grand Slam stage. The Russian defeated Williams at the 2012 Australian Open and though she’s lost the last three matches and last six sets to Williams, that victory could come in handy when it comes to Makarova’s belief. As for Williams, belief won’t be the issue. For the legendary American it will be more about getting off to a quick start and proving that she’s fit enough to go on another magical run in New York.

Pick: Williams in three

[16] Samantha Stosur (AUS #17) vs. Camila Giorgi (ITA #67)
Head-to-head: First meeting
Key Stat: 2011 US Open champion Stosur has made the second week in New York four times, including last season.

A former champion will meet up with a dangerous floater on Tuesday when Aussie Sam Stosur and Italy’s Camila Giorgi lock horns for the first time on Day 2. Giorgi can be wildly inconsistent and tends to play a somewhat one-dimensional game, but the 24-year-old can be lethal on a hardcourt if she is in the zone. She reached the round of 16 at the US Open in 2013 when she won a memorable night match against Caroline Wozniacki, and the victory proved that Giorgi has what it takes to succeed beneath the bright lights of New York. Stosur will look to serve big and hope to force a lot of Giorgi errors by using her world-class topspin to move the ball above the Italian’s strike zone. It’s the veteran Aussie’s match to lose and if she remains focused, keeps Giorgi on the run and off balance, Stosur should be able to lock down the win.

Pick: Stosur in two

[5] Simona Halep (ROU #5) vs. Kirsten Flipkens (BEL #56)
Head-to-head: Halep leads, 4-0
Key Stat: Halep has won all eight sets contested against Flipkens.

Something about this match-up works decidedly in Simona Halep’s favor. The Romanian has waltzed past Kirsten Flipkens in all four of the pair’s meetings, and she has only once dropped more than four games to Flipkens in a set. But they have not met since 2014, and Flipkens comes in with pretty good form, having just knocked off Belinda Bencic and Caroline Garcia at New Haven. Speaking of good form, Halep has won 17 of her last 19 dating back to the start of Wimbledon. The World No.5 has repeatedly stated that she is feeling fit as a fiddle and is ready to make her mark in New York. “I feel that I play good tennis,” Halep said when asked to assess her performance at Montréal and Cincinnati this year. “I’m strong on my legs. Mentally I’m very good. I think it is the best period that I had this year so far.” Concerning New York, Halep says she doesn’t need to change a thing to have success. “I’m going there just to play my best, to do my best, to win matches, and to treat the tournament like I treated [Montréal and Cincinnati].”

Pick: Halep in two

Eugenie Bouchard (CAN #39) vs. Katerina Siniakova (CZE #72)
Head-to-head: First meeting
Key Stat: Siniakova is bidding for her first US Open main draw win.

Eugenie Bouchard is back at the sight of her best and darkest days of 2015. Things were going swimmingly for Bouchard in Queens last year when she reached the round of 16 with an emotional victory over Dominika Cibulkova. It was the high point of an otherwise disappointing season for the Canadian but before she had a chance to build on her success she was out of the tournament, forced to withdraw after she suffered a concussion in a freak locker room fall. Bouchard has put together a much stronger season in 2016, but she hasn’t made the second week at any of the season’s first three majors. Can the Canadian purge her New York demons and begin another run on Tuesday? To do so she’ll have to get by 20-year-old Katerina Siniakova, a talented Czech who reached the third round of a major for the first time this summer at Wimbledon. Siniakova owns a 3-8 record at majors and she’s yet to win in Queens, which is all the more reason for her to leave it all on the court against Bouchard.

Pick: Bouchard in three

Around the Grounds…
Cincinnati champion Karolina Pliskova will square off with American wild card Sofia Kenin on Day 2. The No.10-seeded Czech has yet to reach the second round of a major in 17 previous appearances. Great Britain’s Laura Robson will look to snap a six-match losing streak at majors when she faces compatriot Naomi Broady.

By the Numbers…
72 – Number of Grand Slam main draws that Venus Williams has played in. The 36-year-old will break the all-time record, passing Amy Frazier, when she takes the court against Kateryna Kozlova of the Ukraine on Day 2.
7 – Number of finals that Serena Williams has reached in her last eight Grand Slams. The American has gone 5-2 in those finals.
4 – The number of players that entered the tournament with a shot of emerging with No.1 ranking at the end of the US Open fortnight (Serena Williams, Angelique Kerber, Garbiñe Muguruza and Agnieszka Radwanska).
304 – Serena Williams current total of Grand Slam victories are just two shy of the all-time record of 306 which is held by Martina Navratilova.

NEW YORK, NY, USA – The 2016 US Open is well underway after Madison Keys took Day 1 all the way into the latest finish for a women’s match in tournament history.

But before Keys thrilled the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd, there was plenty of tennis on the menu. No.2 seed Angelique Kerber and No.3 seed Garbiñe Muguruza each played first round matches that fell on opposite ends of the difficulty spectrum, while a reflective No.9 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova booked a second round clash with former No.1 Caroline Wozniacki for what will be their 13th meeting in a tense head-to-head.

2008 French Open champion Ana Ivanovic is also on the line to discuss her tough season, and her hopes for what’s to come. It’s all here on the first Daily Dispatch from Flushing Meadows; check it out below!

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