Brisbane: Dominika Cibulkova vs Zhang Shuai
Dominika Cibulkova takes on Zhang Shuai in the second round at the Brisbane International.
Dominika Cibulkova takes on Zhang Shuai in the second round at the Brisbane International.
Highlights from all of Wednesday’s action on Day 4 at the Brisbane International.
PARIS, France – No.15 seed Madison Keys unlocked a spot in the round of 16 for the first time at the French Open, surviving a tense opening set to dispatch Monica Puig, 7-6(3), 6-3.
Keys reached the third round one year ago, but has hit new heights on what she previously deemed her least favorite surface, having made the final at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia two weeks ago.
Taking on Puig, the WTA’s top-ranked Puerto Rican, Keys was made to battle through much of the opening set, including a titanic tenth game that featured eight deuces and forced Puig to save three set points on her own serve. Following up that momentum by breaking serve in the next game, Puig couldn’t sustain and Keys raced through the ensuing tie-break from a 1-3 deficit.
The youngsters exhanged breaks to start the second, but Keys ultimately proved too strong, breaking one last time to seal the win in one hour and 37 minutes. Keys finished with an impressively positive differential despite her attacking game, hitting 30 winners to 29 unforced errors, while Puig managed 17 winners of her own, but was undone by 28 errors.
Up next for Keys is Kiki Bertens, who satisfied her country’s Olympic eligibility requirement by reaching the fourth round of a Grand Slam tournament by dismissing No.29 seed Daria Kasatkina, 6-2, 3-6, 10-8. Kasatkina saved five match points on her own serve and served for the match twice herself before the Dutch powerhouse advanced in a grueling two hours and 48 minutes.
More to come…
Lauren Davis was the first into the ASB Classic final when No.7 seed Jelena Ostapenko was forced to retire due to a viral illness.
Alizé Cornet takes on Garbiñe Muguruza in the semifinals of the Brisbane International.
Katerina Siniakova won her maiden career title with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Alison Riske in Saturday’s Shenzhen Open final.
Former World No.1 Caroline Wozniacki enjoyed a day of paddleboarding on the Sydney beaches before starting her week at the Apia International Sydney.
HOBART, Australia – There have been plenty of hints over the past year, but on Monday Francesca Schiavone finally revealed her retirement date.
Following her 6-3, 6-2 defeat to Jana Fett at the Hobart International, Schiavone announced that this year would be her last as a professional tennis player.
“I made too many mistakes, it was not easy for me to find a good rhythm,” Schiavone said following the match.
The 2010 Roland Garros champion has been one of the most charismatic players on tour for the best past of two decades, but waning motivation and a battle-weary body have convinced her to finally call it a day at the end of the current season. “This is my last year of tennis, that’s why I’m upset I didn’t give the best here,” Schiavone said.
“This year I want to give everything that I’ve learned in the last 19 years. In life I think I’ve arrived at the time to take the decision. This sport is a drug for me, I love to play this sport.”
The 36-year-old, who is still in the doubles draw in Hobart alongside Pauline Permentier, will now turn her attention to the Australian Open.
“I go to Melbourne hoping, working to find my feeling [before the Australian Open],” she added.
“This is my last year of tennis. I've arrived at the time to take the decision” – @Schiavone_Fra @HobartTennis. Via: https://t.co/EZmYQ6b6Ju
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) January 9, 2017
The new WTA Rankings – the ones the Australian Open seeds are made from – are out. Where will your favorite player be seeded at Melbourne Park? Find out right now!
No.2 seed Agnieszka Radwanska avoided the upset bug sweeping through the draw to defeat Christina McHale and secure a quarterfinal spot at the Apia International Sydney.