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News | WTA Tennis English

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

DUBAI, UAE – No.7 seed Elina Svitolina took home her second title of 2017 – and the biggest one of her career – at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships after defeating 2011 champion Caroline Wozniacki in straight sets.

Playing in her first Premier 5 final, Svitolina showed no sign of nerves as she outhit the former World No.1 to claim the victory 6-4, 6-2 after an hour and 10 minutes.

“It’s very special for me [to win such a big tournament],” Svitolina said in her on-court interview. “I’ve played very amazing tennis this week and I’m happy it happened in Dubai.

“It’s the first trophy for me at such a big tournament, so it’s very special for me.”

With the title, Svitolina will rise from WTA No.13 to No.10, making her the 120th player to make her Top 10 debut since the WTA Rankings were introduced on November 3, 1975.

“I’ve dreamed for all my life to be in Top 10. It’s a very amazing feeling to enter Top 10, and do it by winning the tournament! I’m very excited for the season and very excited I could win this tournament.”

The 22-year-old Ukrainian entered the matchup against Wozniacki with a 1-0 lead in the pair’s head-to-head record, with their only meeting coming last year in Miami where Svitolina came within two points of defeat before winning 5-7, 6-4, 7-6(1).

This time in Dubai, it was a more comprehensive affair, with Svitolina injecting pace into her groundstrokes to break down Wozniacki’s rock-solid defense.

A pair of inch-perfect passing shots left Wozniacki wrong-footed and gave Svitolina the lone break in the first set at 3-2. But the Dane refused to fade away, batting away a pair of Svitolina set points at 5-4 with some bold tennis – including a second-serve ace – to force the Ukrainian to serve it out.

Wozniacki let three break points slip by that would have leveled the score, and instead Svitolina held serve from 0-40 down to take the opening set.

Svitolina continued her momentum into the final set; after trading breaks to start, Svitolina played more aggressive to chip away at Wozniacki’s defense as the Dane’s unforced error count continued to build. Svitolina rattled off the last five games in a row to close out the match and biggest title of her career.

Despite the disappointing loss, Wozniacki is taking away positive signs from her Middle East fortnight, which saw her reach back-to-back finals.

“It’s been a good two weeks for me – two finals, lots of matches,” Wozniacki said in her on-court interview. “Making another final here [in Dubai] is definitely great, and I’m already excited to be back.”

Another piece of good news for Wozniacki? The Dane is inching closer to her return to the WTA Top 10: with her run to the final she’ll move to No.14, and is defending just 145 points until the US Open.

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Radwanska Edges Past Broady

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

NEW YORK, NY, USA – No.4 seed Agnieszka Radwanska survived a roller encounter against Great Britain’s Naomi Broady to move into the third round at the US Open, 7-6(9), 6-3.

“I was just couple points better today,” Radwanska said after the match. “Definitely she pushed me 100% today.”

It took Radwanska a few games to get used to the Brit’s powerful serves and unconventional groundstrokes, and by the time Radwanska found her footing in the match Broady had her down 1-4, then 2-5. The No.4 seed reeled in Broady’s big game, pulling her into the net time and time again to draw out the errors.

She took the set into a tiebreak, where Radwanska blew a big 5-2 lead and misfired a routine backhand passing shot to allow Broady to claw her way back. The Brit fired off a timely ace to rattle off five of the next six points, bringing up two set points in the process. Radwanska wrestled both away, playing tug of war until the No.4 seed broke the big Broady serve to squeeze through in the opening set.

“I think I was just too slow and didn’t really come in,” Radwanska explained the dramatic tiebreak. “You know, I pay the price, a couple set points down, it’s not fun. Especially, you know, she was serving unbelievable.

“So every point mattered in that tiebreak, especially when I could break her at least at one point.”

Broady didn’t give Radwanska any time to catch her breath, though, breaking her serve in the first game and immediately putting her in a 0-2 deficit to start off the second set. But after last’ set’s comeback, Radwanska was feeling much more comfortable against Broady’s style of play and quickly broke back to leave them even. Another late break sealed the match for Radwanska after a tense hour and 49 minutes.

Radwanska will play Caroline Garcia for a spot in the fourth round. The Pole is looking for her first quarterfinal berth, having never been past the fourth round in 11 appearances.

“Playing her is never easy,” Radwanska assessed the Frenchwoman’s game. “She’s very solid player, really hitting the ball hard, coming in. Just hitting really fast from the bounce. She’s not giving you much time.

“I think I will need to focus on the first ball, first shot, just not make her put everything in the middle because then I’ll be in trouble.”

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Bellis Moving On Up

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

NEW YORK, NY, USA – Two summers ago a 15-year-old CiCi Bellis captured the imagination of the New York public by becoming the youngest player in nearly two decades to win a match at the US Open.

Back at Flushing Meadows, she is once again the talk of the town, producing some fearless tennis to make her way through to the third round. The prize money for reaching this juncture – where she will face No.2 seed Angelique Kerber on Friday evening – is $140,000. However, the American, who has verbally agreed to accept a tennis scholarship to Stanford University, must forfeit these winnings if she is to maintain her college eligibility.

NCAA rules do permit money for travel expenses, providing the Californian with some welcome perks: “I just moved up to a regular suite,” she said after her second-round win over Shelby Rogers. “Maybe the presidential suite this time.”

Bellis is sure to receive overwhelming crowd support when she steps on Arthur Ashe to face Kerber. Among their number will be one particularly vocal contingent, who have followed the 17-year-old every step of the way since her run began in last week’s qualifying competition.

“They came out to first-round qualifying and have been to every single one of my matches since,” Bellis added. “One of them messaged me on Instagram and asked for tickets, and so I got them into my box today. Oh, my God, they call themselves Team CiCi, so it was fun.

“I think [the support] puts me in a different world. I feel like I’m not even here when I hear people like that group we are talking about. It’s surreal to me.”

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Photos | WTA Tennis English

Photos | WTA Tennis English

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970
The Abierto Mexicano Telcel is one of the players’ favorite WTA tournaments, and it’s easy to see why at beach paradise Acapulco.

The Abierto Mexicano Telcel is one of the players’ favorite WTA tournaments, and it’s easy to see why at beach paradise Acapulco.

Eugenie Bouchard & Monica Puig took to the beach with ATP’s Marin Cilic for a quick snap on the tournament hashtag sign.

Eugenie Bouchard & Monica Puig took to the beach with ATP’s Marin Cilic for a quick snap on the tournament hashtag sign.

Christina McHale and ATP’s David Goffin were on hand at the draw ceremony and trophy presentation.

Christina McHale and ATP’s David Goffin were on hand at the draw ceremony and trophy presentation.

Meanwhile, Andrea Petkovic joined Feliciano Lopez for an unforgettable experience.

Meanwhile, Andrea Petkovic joined Feliciano Lopez for an unforgettable experience.

The pair took in a hair-raising cliff diving show at La Quebrada, where divers jump more than 35 meters into the water below.

The pair took in a hair-raising cliff diving show at La Quebrada, where divers jump more than 35 meters into the water below.

Check out that stunning view!

Check out that stunning view!

Bouchard and ATP star Juan Martín del Potro took a helicopter to another scenic location.

Bouchard and ATP star Juan Martín del Potro took a helicopter to another scenic location.

They visited Pie de la Cuesta, a picturesque beach a few miles away from Acapulco.

They visited Pie de la Cuesta, a picturesque beach a few miles away from Acapulco.

Bouchard and del Potro played a bit of beach tennis…

Bouchard and del Potro played a bit of beach tennis…

Looks like fun!

Looks like fun!

But it didn’t go too well for Bouchard!

But it didn’t go too well for Bouchard!

Kristina Mladenovic and Heather Watson took to the Princess Golf Course with Robert Farah and Juan Sebastián Cabal for a different challenge.

Kristina Mladenovic and Heather Watson took to the Princess Golf Course with Robert Farah and Juan Sebastián Cabal for a different challenge.

They played a few holes of futgolf, hybrid of a golf and football.

They played a few holes of futgolf, hybrid of a golf and football.

Check out Watson’s skill with the football!

Check out Watson’s skill with the football!

Mladenovic, the No.2 seed in Acapulco, is definitely enjoying the outing.

Mladenovic, the No.2 seed in Acapulco, is definitely enjoying the outing.

Afterwards, the players challenged each other to a bit of keepy-uppy!

Afterwards, the players challenged each other to a bit of keepy-uppy!

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Vesnina: Future Fed Cup Captain?

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

NEW YORK, NY, USA – No.5 seeds Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina were all smiles after a thrilling three-set win over Sam Stosur and Zhang Shuai; the Olympic Gold medalists and 2014 US Open champions saved five match points – four on the infamous Stosur serve – to advance into the third round.

Vesnina spent the fall and early spring playing with young compatriot Daria Kasatkina as Makarova healed a lower leg injury; the pair captured last year’s Kremlin Cup title and ended the 41-match winning streak of then-Co-No.1s Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza.

“She’s a very cool girl, and a very talented player,” Vesnina told WTA Insider. “She has a great future, and it was fun when we played together. I was teaching her what to do because she had no experience in doubles, and before every point she was asking me, ‘What should I do? Where can I serve? What do I do with volley?’

“I felt like a coach on the court!”

Asked whether she saw herself as a future Fed Cup Captain – a position currently held by 2004 French Open champion Anastasia Myskina – Vesnina and Makarova debated the idea amongst themselves:

Vesnina: Me as the Fed Cup Captain? Oh, I never even thought about that! We have some time. It would be great, of course.
Makarova: But I think Elena could be a good captain.

Vesnina: You see? I didn’t know everyone thought this!
Makarova: I never thought about it either, but now I see it.

Vesnina: I’ve always loved to play for Fed Cup; Katya and I have had so many good matches, winning so many important matches in singles and doubles. It’s always a pleasure to play for your country, and for me, it’s important. So if I ever had the chance to be Fed Cup captain, I’d be happy to take on that honor, and I would try to do my best for the girls because I played and I know how important and tough it was at the same time.

Vesnina and Makarova next face No.10 seeds Vania King and Monica Niculescu for a spot in the quarterfinals.

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Venus Debuts Under The Lights

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

WTA Insider | World No.1 Serena Williams trades spots with sister Venus, who headlines her first night session of the US Open; keep up with the action on the latest WTA Insider Live Blog.

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