Doha: Dominika Cibulkova Interview
An interview with Dominika Cibulkova after her second round victory at the Qatar Total Open.
An interview with Dominika Cibulkova after her second round victory at the Qatar Total Open.
SINGAPORE – No.3 seed Simona Halep made an impressive start as round-robin play got underway on Sunday. Making her third BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global appearance, Halep dismissed No.6 seed Madison Keys, 6-2, 6-4, to move into first place in the Red Group.
Watch live action from Singapore this week at WTA Live Powered By TennisTV!
“I felt very well on court today,” she said after the match. “It was better that I knew her. I played [her a] few times this year. I won every time, so I had an advantage.
“But still I played good tennis. I think I played exactly what I had to play against her. I was focused, everything went as I wanted, so I’m happy with the way that I played.”
Emerging onto Centre Court following the opening ceremonies, Halep converted her fourth break point in a long third game to grab the early momentum from Keys, herself a WTA Finals debutante.
“I played in Montréal against her and the court there was faster, the game. I felt really a lot [of] her power.
“[The court] here was less. I could maneuverate [sic] the game as I wanted. The ball is staying low here, so I think [it] fits me. It’s good that I can be strong on my legs.”
A sensational backhand pass from @Simona_Halep to now serve for the match! #WTAFinals pic.twitter.com/Na7q8vXvfF
— WTA (@WTA) October 23, 2016
Falling behind a set and a break to the confident Romanian, Keys took a coaching timeout with Thomas Hogstedt that helped her break serve for the first time all match, but was ultimately undone by 41 unforced errors to only 16 winners.
“I just think having a match under my belt there is a little bit less nerves going out next time and I can go and play with nothing to lose,” Keys noted in her post-match press conference.
“But I think I the biggest thing is just being excited that I am getting to go out and play another match here.”
.@Simona_Halep talked to @AndrewKrasny about her win vs Keys in the @WTAFinalsSG opening match #WTAFinals pic.twitter.com/no7cASgreb
— WTA (@WTA) October 23, 2016
Hitting five winners to 12 errors of her own, Halep kept her cool and her consistency to break straight back on a sensational backhand pass. On her third opportunity, she served out the win in one hour and eight minutes.
The former World No.2 moves into the lead in the Red Group, while Keys will need strong performances in her next two matches to have a chance of making the semifinals.
“The atmosphere is like I’m home every time I play, so it’s really nice,” Halep said. “I saw many flags in the crowd, so [that] makes it special.”
Click here to catch up with the match courtesy of the WTA Insider Live Blog, as well as an exclusive Insider Reaction.
Dominika Cibulkova has Wednesday’s shot of the day at the Qatar Open.
ISTANBUL, Turkey – No.6 seed Nao Hibino overcame a slow start to defeat wildcard Dayana Yastremska and book her place in the second round of the TEB BNP Paribas Istanbul Cup.
Watch live action from Stuttgart & Istanbul this week on WTA Live powered by TennisTV!
Having played just a handful of clay court tournaments during her time on the ITF Circuit, Hibino’s unfamiliarity with the surface was betrayed by a number of tumbles. And by the start of the second set she looked to be slipping out of the tournament as World No.509 Yastremska threatened to move a double break ahead.
However, the Japanese player hung on, drawing herself level before breaking decisively in the final game of the set when Yastremska erred on the forehand wing. With confidence now coursing through her veins, Hibino reeled off 12 of the next 14 points to take a stranglehold of the match. It was a grip she would not relinquish, wrapping up a 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 with a crosscourt backhand winner.
“I didn´t know how she played. I struggled in the first set, but I found a way to win as the match went on,” Hibino said. “This is the first proper clay court season of my career. I practiced very hard in Japan. It was tough but I got used to the clay and hope to feel better on it in my next match.”
In the only other main draw match, No.5 seed Danka Kovinic recorded a straightforward 6-3, 6-3 victory over Kurumi Nara. Meanwhile, in the final round of qualifying there were wins for Maria Sakkari, Kristina Kucova and Sorana Cirstea.
Svetlana Kuznetsova clenched the final spot for the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global after a straightforward victory against Daria Gavrilova in the Kremlin Cup.
The Russian powerhouse’s last WTA Finals appearance was seven seasons ago (2009), but this time around she’s feeling the energy. “I’m playing my best tennis for like five seasons, and it shows because now I’m in Singapore,” she said after her win in Moscow. “I’m really pleased with the win and making it to the Finals again after such a long time.”
Kuznetsova will be the first to admit that her journey has not been easy. When asked how she defended her title, she responded, “I don’t know. I fought in every match. I tried to win. I had very tough matches because I didn’t [feel] comfortable with the tennis I played.” She added, “But I understood I could win even with bad tennis. I leveled up my tennis.”
This level up didn’t come in physical form either. The 31-year-old defending champ improved her psychological state. She’s thinking more, playing more stable. She said, “I used to think: What do I have to do to achieve this or that…And I understand that ‘that’ level is already in the past. Every day I am working to get on a different level.”
The next level starts in Singapore and the 17-time title winner finds peace with herself for making it this far. “I didn’t even think I’d get there. I just wanted to play my tennis.” she says “And whatever happens. It’s a bonus.”
Kuznetsova plays her first match in Singapore against Agnieszka Radwańska at 7:30 p.m. on Monday. “It will be a tough match” Kuznetsova says. “I don’t expect anything else.”
Dominika Cibulkova takes on Samantha Stosur in the second round of the Qatar Total Open.
Karolina Pliskova has Monday’s hotshot at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.
In today’s SAP Stat Of The Day, Daria Kasatkina adds another name to her growing list of big wins.
An interview with Angelique Kerber after her round-robin win at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.
An interview with Karolina Pliskova after her win in the semifinals of the Qatar Total Open.