Brisbane: Shot Of The Day (Thursday)
Samantha Crawford has Thursday’s shot of the day at the Brisbane International.
Samantha Crawford has Thursday’s shot of the day at the Brisbane International.
The WTA’s all-star cast battle it out for wins, titles and ranking points all year long – but who is getting the most clicks? This week, wtatennis.com will count down the Top 50 Most Popular Players Of 2016.
Kicking off the list will be No.50 to No.41! Find out who made the cut…
50] Andrea Petkovic (GER)
Petkovic may have finished the year ranked outside the Top 50 for the first time since 2012, but as one of the WTA’s most charismatic players she remains as popular as ever.
49] Monica Niculescu (ROU)
Niculescu enjoyed one of her most successful campaigns to date, finishing off in style with a final in Seoul and derailing the in-form Petra Kvitova to lift the trophy in Luxembourg.
48] Sara Errani (ITA)
A ninth career title, at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, highlighted an up and down year for the always-entertaining Errani.
47] Yulia Putintseva (KAZ)
Putintseva was one of the breakthrough stars of the French Open, making it all the way to the quarterfinals, her ranking – and popularity – soaring as a consequence.
46] Jelena Jankovic (SRB)
Former World No.1 Jankovic continues to entertain her legions of fans across the globe, particularly in Asia where she finished runner-up in Guangzhou and made the last four in Hong Kong..
45] CoCo Vandeweghe (USA)
Vandeweghe’s star continued to rise in 2016, victory on the grass of ‘s-Hertogenbosch helping her break the Top 30 for the first time.
44] Sloane Stephens (USA)
Injury may have curtailed Sloane Stephens’ season prematurely, but not before she had collected a trio of trophies – in Auckland, Acapulco and Charleston.
43] Heather Watson (GBR)
British No.2 continues to be a firm favorite at home and abroad, particularly after her popular triumph in the Wimbledon mixed doubles final alongside Henri Kontinen.
42] Irina-Camelia Begu (ROU)
Begu impressed on the clay, going deep at Roland Garros, Rome, Madrid and Charleston, however, it was on the cement of Florianopolis that she lifted her third career title.
41] Elena Vesnina (RUS)
This year, Vesnina enjoyed a return to prominence stunning a number of higher-ranked rivals to reach the Wimbledon semifinals, while in doubles she was victorious alongside Ekaterina Makarova at both the Olympics and WTA Finals.
Come back to wtatennis.com on Tuesday for No.40 to No.31 on the list.
Simona Halep was able to win the longer rallies in her 7-6(2) 6-3 victory over Madison Keys to win the title at the Rogers Cup in Montréal.
SAP Tennis Analytics tracks how successful players are on varying rally lengths. During Sunday’s final, Halep won 62% of the rallies that were longer than six shots.
After a tight first set, Halep took control of the second by winning more of the medium-length rallies. After winning just 46% of the 3-6 shot rallies in the first set, Halep won 65% of those points in the second set.
Overall, Halep won 56% of the rallies that were greater than three shots throughout the match.
Rally length is included in the “Rally hit to” tracking on the SAP Coaches View. That particular data shows where each shot during a rally lands on the opponent’s side of the court. The display differentiates between forehands and backhands, and can be filtered by a particular score or to only show winners, unforced errors, service returns, the last shot of a rally or the third shot (first rally ball hit by the server).
For the Rogers Cup final, this data set also shows that Halep not only was winning the longer points, but she was also looking to keep the ball away from the Keys forehand. Halep directed 57% of her shots toward the Keys backhand, and for good reason. During the match, 13 of the 17 winners Keys hit came from her forehand.
The SAP Coaches View combines scoring information direct from the chair umpire with tracking data from HawkEye to allow for an in depth look at five different aspects of a match. Each tracking option can be filtered to narrow the focus to specific situations within a match, such as break points. This information is available directly to coaches in real-time during a match on their SAP tablet and also available to them online after matches.
On Sunday, Halep’s success on the longer points in the match allowed her to win her third trophy in 2016.
Roberta Vinci
2016 Quick Hits
Week 1 Ranking: No.15
Year-End Ranking: No.18 (Career-High No.7, 5/9/2016)
Season Highlights: Title at St. Petersburg
Best Major Result: QF (US Open)
2017 Outlook
To the delight of her ever-growing fan base, Roberta Vinci recently backtracked on her previously stated decision to call it quits at the end of 2016.
Vinci began reconsidering her options as early as February, when she won the her most prestigious title yet, the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy. The feat also saw her become the oldest woman in WTA history to make her Top 10 debut.
Solid showings in Doha and Indian Wells enabled Vinci continue this rise into the spring, peaking at a career-best No.7. While the summer – on either side of the Atlantic proved a mixed bag – the US Open once again coaxed the best tennis from the 33-year-old, who carved through the first four rounds before falling to eventual champion Angelique Kerber.
Having mulled over her options, the evergreen Italian feels she still has plenty to offer, announcing her decision to Sports Illustrated last month. A refreshed Vinci will bring her anachronistic game to Australia, beginning in Brisbane, and despite turning 34 in February few would bet against one last hurrah.
”I still feel like I have the desire and enthusiasm to try and do something in what is perhaps the thing I’m best at, playing tennis,” she said.
“Now don’t start asking me if this will be my last year!!! See you in Australia.”
It’s time to vote for July’s WTA Player of the Month!
Have a look at the nominees and cast your vote before Thursday at 11:59pm ET! The winner will be announced Friday, August 5.
July 2016 WTA Player Of The Month Finalists
Simona Halep: One year after reaching her first Rogers Cup final in Toronto, Halep went one better in Montréal, growing though a tough field that included Karolina Pliskova, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Angelique Kerber, and Madison Keys to win her first title in Canada, and her third of the season. Halep is currently riding a 10-match winning streak after winning at home in Bucharest on clay.
Madison Keys: Finishing a close second to Halep in Montréal, Keys returned to the Top 10 – and the Top 8 on the Road to Singapore leaderboard – by reaching her first-ever hardcourt final on the WTA tour. A three-set win over former World No.1 Venus Williams set the tone for the week, as she knocked out an in-form Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and qualifier Kristina Kucova to make the championship match.
Johanna Konta The British No.1 won her first WTA title in style at the Bank of the West Classic, defeating Venus Williams for the second time this season to reach another career-high ranking – falling just short of a Top 10 debut after making the quarterfinals of the Rogers Cup.
Venus Williams: Venus earned her eighth career Stanford final in July, and played Konta tough in a three-set defeat. Her solid run of form continued in Montréal, where she reached the round of 16.
2016 Winners
January: Angelique Kerber
February: Carla Suárez Navarro
March: Victoria Azarenka
April: Angelique Kerber
May: Garbiñe Muguruza
June: Serena Williams
How it works:
Finalists are selected by wtatennis.com
Winner is then determined by a fan vote on wtatennis.com
Tennis was no longer an Olympic sport when Maria Bueno was in her heyday, but should it have been then she would surely have walked away with gold.
During the 1950s and 1960s, Bueno lifted 19 Grand Slam titles in singles and doubles to establish herself as the greatest Brazilian to ever wield a racquet. Fittingly, the venue where the modern day greats will vie for medals at the upcoming Rio Games has been named after Sao Paulo’s favorite sporting daughter.
Now in her 70s, Bueno still plays regularly at her hometown club. One of these slots was set aside for Pat Cash and CNN Open Court to discuss her instinctive game, Grand Slam memories and, of course, the recently inaugurated Olympic Tennis Centre.
Sania Mirza completed her 90th week atop the WTA doubles rankings on Monday.
Just 10 weeks ago, the World No.1 celebrated 80 weeks ahead of the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global, where her ranking came under threat from the likes of Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic, and Bethanie Mattek-Sands. Mattek-Sands came within a match of unseating the Indian star by reaching the final in Singapore, only to fall to Olympic champions Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina.
In an ironic twist, Mirza will reunite with former partner Mattek-Sands to start the 2017 season at the Brisbane International, where they will be top seeds ahead of Makarova and Vesnina.
Mirza began 2016 with longtime partner Martina Hingis, with whom she won a third straight major title at the Australian Open, and came up just short in their hunt for the Non-Calendar Year “Santina” Slam. The pair split by summer, and Mirza formed a new partnership with Barbora Strycova, cementing their union with titles at the Western & Southern Open and Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo.
For all she has already accomplished, Mirza still has big goals for next year, including a maiden French Open title to complete her Career Grand Slam.
Few have engaged tennis fans quite like Ana Ivanovic; the former No.1 and 2008 French Open champion has a combined 4.5 million followers on Facebook and Twitter.
Those fans took to social media to express their gratitude for their favorite player with the hashtag #ThankYouAna. Check out some of the best fan tweets below:
Congratulations @AnaIvanovic on amazing career! Tennis Twitter wishes you all the best in your next life chapter. Love you ♥??? #ThankYouAna pic.twitter.com/xUULR9Tr7u
— WTA Scores (@Scores_WTA) December 28, 2016
#ThankYouAna For everything you gave to this sport, you are one of my idols, i grew up watching you play. I'll miss you ? @AnaIvanovic pic.twitter.com/XHWSHvT5IA
— Ana Maria Duarte (@anamis2002) December 28, 2016
Her signature one last time #ThankYouAna ? pic.twitter.com/GsUUIbv1MD
— Romi Castagnino (@romi_castagnino) December 28, 2016
@WTA @AnaIvanovic witnessing Ana beat Serena Williams live at the #AusOpen back in 2014! What a match! #ThankYouAna ?
— Mitch (@carnesy56) December 28, 2016
@WTA @AnaIvanovic her passion and love for the game #ThankYouAna ❤ pic.twitter.com/osQlKezXgB
— Delia Vasilca (@DeliaVasilca) December 28, 2016
@WTA Whenever she would show her strength and courage through one of her “Ajde” #ThankYouAna
— Isabel (@isblcsta) December 28, 2016
The reason I fell in love with tennis #ThankYouAna pic.twitter.com/pIFcyrTwkZ
— Isabel (@AjdeAnci) December 28, 2016
@WTA @AnaIvanovic seeing her smile on court #ThankYouAna
— Lee Gresswell (@GoonerGrez) December 28, 2016
@WTA @AnaIvanovic RG 2008, without a doubt. #ThankYouAna ❤?
— Donnatella. ♕ (@sweetbackhand) December 28, 2016
No. 1
15 titles.
A Grand Slam. #ThankYouAna pic.twitter.com/Kk7SIoP182— Ana Ivanovic (PK) (@IvanovicLive) December 29, 2016
Wishing you all the very best in retirement @anaivanovic, thanks for the memories! #HopmanCup #ThankYouAna pic.twitter.com/gSA5YIXm2y
— Hopman Cup (@hopmancup) December 29, 2016
@AnaIvanovic thank you #ThankYouAna pic.twitter.com/xUZuzdIMig
— Tennis World TV (@TennisWorldTV1) December 29, 2016
This one is a classic. She became number one. I cried. #ThankYouAna 1️⃣ https://t.co/xIOf2riTAn
— Donnatella. ♕ (@sweetbackhand) December 29, 2016
#ThankYouAna for making me love this game and being true inspiration on&off the court. Too much❤️for u over the years! You'll be so missed#1 pic.twitter.com/lR4yegJLnU
— Erdem Yıldız (@yldz3rdem) December 29, 2016
#ThankYouAna for inspiring me to play tennis again. You are my hero, my idol and my role model. Keep inspiring @AnaIvanovic. ?? @WTA pic.twitter.com/1y1DhX2tzH
— Emmanuel Damian (@damian_emman) December 29, 2016
#ThankYouAna @AnaIvanovic we will miss your smile, your charm & your talent…a beautiful soul inside & out…well done & all the best??❤✨ pic.twitter.com/Jqi2N1OqHA
— Dannii (@fikinoki) December 29, 2016
Our Tennis Princess ?? gonna miss you so much on tour! @AnaIvanovic #ThankYouAna pic.twitter.com/pi1ZUoYNXP
— Mabel (@mabelcheung14) December 29, 2016
#ThankYouAna for a those amazing years and great memories
— Lizzie (@eliza_2210) December 29, 2016
That smile, that grace, that forehand, that class….@AnaIvanovic … Tennis will miss you… #ThankYouAna
— Tejas Sonawane (@tejassonawane47) December 29, 2016
@AnaIvanovic #ThankYouAna #1 pic.twitter.com/4S2ZSbRodx
— alex (@alexaparicio07) December 29, 2016
@WTA #ThankYouAna … You will be missed Ana, good luck @AnaIvanovic
— PRO Team Tennis Camp (@ProTeamTC) December 29, 2016
@AnaIvanovic Congratulations on an AMAZING career Ana and all the best for this new chapter in your life! #ThankYouAna ❤️❤️❤️
— François Lambert (@moifrancois1) December 29, 2016
#ThankYouAna ❤?? pic.twitter.com/EYELw6lsgg
— Donnatella. ♕ (@sweetbackhand) December 29, 2016
In 2008 at Montréal. She was my idol. So, my parents bought me tickets to see her. I was 10 years old. Best day of my life. #ThankYouAna
— Isabelle (@isadescoteaux) December 29, 2016
@WTA @AnaIvanovic The incredible 3 set 2014 ASB Classic final against @Venuseswilliams ?? #ThankYouAna
— Kenan Petersen (@TheRealKenan) December 29, 2016
@WTA @AnaIvanovic We will really miss you Ana? I pray for your future success?? #ThankYouAna ❤️ pic.twitter.com/0UcVaBkmft
— Yuri (@SL_AK_Fan) December 29, 2016
WTA will never be the same without this gracious beauty! #ThankYouAna @AnaIvanovic always a bliss to watch her.
— Chrisben (@superkingchris) December 29, 2016
#ThankYouAna for all the emotions ? pic.twitter.com/VC8ZUq3DIU
— Ana Ivanovic (PK) (@IvanovicLive) December 29, 2016
Congrats on a very successful career @AnaIvanovic I will miss watching you compete Good luck on your future endeavors????#ThankYouAna #CHAMP
— Katie Gauntner (@KGauntner699) December 29, 2016
Missing her already… THANK YOU ANA! #ajdeforever#ThankYouAna
— Paola Nava (@paolanava) December 29, 2016
@AnaIvanovic #ThankYouAna pic.twitter.com/vTZmU6MS8e
— TeamAnaIvanovic (@InvanovicTeam) December 29, 2016
#ThankYouAna pic.twitter.com/CWYP79OHDb
— Cedric (@wtafever) December 29, 2016
#ThankYouAna pic.twitter.com/b6kp6HQ5qo
— GenieArmy_Thailand (@MyMacho7) December 29, 2016
#ThankYouAna pic.twitter.com/dqIWZd4kfT
— Junaid RIzvi (@imrizvi) December 29, 2016
What a funny moment it was! #ThankYouAna pic.twitter.com/9ijohL0Rtm
— Team Halep (@FansOfSimona) December 28, 2016
Extreme activities? A better wardrobe? Hear what Angelique Kerber, Dominika Cibulkova, Garbiñe Muguruza and more have as their 2017 New Year’s Resolutions!
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – World Co-No.1 Martina Hingis kept her hopes of a first Olympic medal alive as she and countrywoman Timea Bacsinszky blasted past No.3 seeds Chan Yung-Jan and Chan Hao-Ching, 6-3, 6-0 to reach the semifinals of the Olympic tennis event in women’s doubles.
Bacsinszky bounced back from a disappointing first round defeat in singles to play just her second doubles tournament of 2016 alongside Hingis, the reigning US Open, WTA Finals and Australian Open champion.
Together, the pair have dropped just one set through their first three matches, and were particularly dominant against the Chans – a formidable pair who were the last team to defeat Hingis and then-partner Sania Mirza before the duo went on a 41-match winning streak – winning the second set in just 35 minutes.
After going down an early break to start, the No.5 seeds broke serve six straight times to book a semifinal encounter No.6 seeds Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka of the Czech Republic. Hlavackova and Hradecka captured the silver medal at the London Olympics, falling to three-time Olympic champions Venus and Serena Williams, and saved three match points to defeat Russians Daria Kasatkina and Svetlana Kuznetsova, 6-1, 4-6, 7-5.
Hingis is playing her first Olympic tennis event since 1996, when she was 15 years old.
On the top half of the draw, Czechs Lucie Safarova and Barbora Strycova kept up their giant-killing run with a three-set win over former World No.1s Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci. The Italians reunited for the Olympics, but fell in a tough 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 defeat to Safarova and Strycova, who began their tournament with a win over the Williams sisters.
Rogers Cup champions Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina had a rough itinerary down to Rio for the Olympics, but the Russians have made up for lost prep time in impressive fashion, easing past No.4 seeds Garbiñe Muguruza and Carla Suárez Navarro, 6-3, 6-4.