My Performance: Caroline Wozniacki
Caroline Wozniacki talks through her win in the semifinals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Caroline Wozniacki talks through her win in the semifinals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Caroline Wozniacki had Friday’s shot of the day at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Elina Svitolina talks through her win in the final of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
ROME, Italy – 2015 Internazionali BNL d’Italia semifinalist Daria Gavrilova edged past former Wimbledon finalist Sabine Lisicki, 6-1, 7-6(3), to set up a second round meeting with Mutua Madrid Open champion Simona Halep in the second round.
Watch highlights, interviews and more video from Rome right here on wtatennis.com!
“It was a tough match,” she said following her win. “I played really well in the first set and then in the second set I had chances to break her in the second game, but then I got broken in the next game. Then I was a break down until 4-2, so it could have gone either way – we were both making a lot of mistakes.
“I’m happy that I could manage my nerves in the tie-break and play a pretty clean tie-break.”
Gavrilova raced through the opening set, but Lisicki, who has only won back-to-back matches once in 2016, was on course to turn things around early into the second by taking a 4-1 lead of her own.
With some help from an on-court coaching session with Nicole Pratt, Gavrilova roared back to serve for the match after winning four games in a row, but Lisicki had one more momentum swing in store, getting to within one game of a decisive set.
First set ? @Daria_Gav
Races through the opening set vs Lisicki 6-1! #ibi16 https://t.co/6mZf6qt9kT
— WTA (@WTA) May 10, 2016
Holding serve to force a second set tie-break, the youngster bounded onward and upward to clinch the match in 82 minutes. Though both she and the German each hit 18 winners, Lisicki was ultimately undone by 26 unforced errors to only 17 from Gavrilova.
“I love it [being back in Rome]. I was very surprised we played on the Grandstand; when I saw the schedule, I was like, ‘Woah, this is so cool.’ And you know the fans here are like really into it, so it means a lot to the players.
Up next for the Aussie is No.6 seed Simona Halep, who is coming off of her second career Premier Mandatory title at the Mutua Madrid Open.
“I know I have Halep next because she had a bye. I know that’s going to be a tough match, but I’m really looking forward to it.”
Earlier in the day, No.9 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova eased through her first round match with Caroline Garcia. Though the Frenchwoman has been playing some of her best tennis in doubles with partner Kristina Mladenovic, that success has yet to translate in singles, as Garcia fell, 7-5, 6-2.
“I had a tough one against her in Miami, 7-6 in the third,” Kuznetsova said after the match. “I’m really happy I was able to get it done in two sets today. I don’t think I played my best game, but I feel better playing on clay, for sure.”
Mladenovic also had trouble in her first round with Jelena Ostapenko, as the young Latvian took out the World No.28, 6-3, 6-1.
Mladenovic qualified for the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global last fall alongside Timea Babos, who is in the midst of a career-best season in singles; the Hungarian powerhouse blasted past qualifier Kiki Bertens, 6-1, 6-4.
Samantha Stosur saved a match point against Alison Riske in their first round before Gavrilova’s countrywoman pulled through, 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-1. Lesia Tsurenko similarly recovered from a set and a break down to defeat qualifier Julia Goerges, 1-6, 7-6(5), 6-3.
No.11 seed Timea Bacsinszky had no problems against Yanina Wickmayer, setting up a second round match with Tsurenko, 6-2, 6-2.
The top seeds tried to predict who would sweep Sunday’s Academy Awards to hilarious effect at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. Check it out right here!
ROME, Italy – Christina McHale celebrated her 24th birthday by scoring another good win over a quality opponent, beating Ana Ivanovic, 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-1 to advance to the Round of 16 at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia. Currently ranked No.56, McHale has quietly put together a strong four months that has seen her notch wins over Garbiñe Muguruza, Karolina Pliskova, Samantha Stosur, and Caroline Garcia.
Once ranked as high as No.24 in 2012, McHale finally seems to have put her injury and illness woes behind her.
“I think I’m physically stronger now,” McHale told WTA Insider. “I worked a lot on my fitness and I think that’s been a key for me, is to get stronger. In terms of my game I think my game is the same. You definitely try to make improvements to your game but the base of my game hasn’t changed. I try to look for forehands and rely on my movement a lot.
“But in the past couple of months in particular I’ve been healthy, which is key for me. I had the mono a few years back and I had a shoulder injury last season. Knock on wood I’ve been healthy. If you can train for matches, anything can happen.”
Her win over Muguruza at the BNP Paribas Open was her first over a Top 10 player since she beating Caroline Wozniacki at the Aegon International in 2012. Later that fall, McHale was diagnosed with mononucleosis and she was unable to back up her results in 2013, falling to as low as No.114 in the rankings. As she fought to get back into the Top 50, a shoulder injury stalled her entire 2014 off-season.
“I had a small SLAP tear,” McHale said. “I felt it on my serve. I didn’t serve once the entire off-season. Then I went to Australia and tried to play through that and it just wasn’t getting any better. After Australia I had to take a whole month off and do a bunch of rehab or therapy on it. “
Given her rise through the rankings four years ago it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking the New Jersey native is still one of the young guns on the tour. But at 24-years-old, McHale even admits she’s much more wary about the wear and tear on her body these days. Gone were the days she could just walk on court with minimal warm-up and play a three-set match. She’s had to become much more professional in how she treats and protects her body.
“I notice I have to take a lot more care of my body now,” McHale said with a laugh. “I have a whole routine I do for my shoulder, just to keep it good. All the stretching and stuff that I didn’t do in the beginning of my career.”
But her resilience has paid off. Last month she scored a key win for the United States Fed Cup team in sealing a win over Australia, beating Stosur in a tough three sets. Of all the wins she’s racked up this season, this was the sweetest.
“It was just so special to have a win that meant so much for the team and playing Fed Cup is such an honor,” she said. “I think it had been four years since I had a Fed Cup win so it was really exciting for me.”
Next up for McHale is the ultimate test in tennis: Serena Williams. The two Americans will face off for the second time in two months. McHale took Serena to three sets at the Miami Open in April, only to lose 6-3, 5-7, 6-2.
“It was the first time I had played her in a match,” McHale said. “It’s really good that I’ve had that experience, but she’s the type of player that when she’s on there’s really not much you can do. But I’m going to compete really hard and try and impose my game like I did in Miami.”
Asked whether there were rumblings in the locker room about the possibility of some signs of vulnerability from Serena this season, McHale beamed a knowing smile. Come on, you guys. This is Serena.
“In my opinion, you can never count her out,” she said. “She’s done everything she’s done for a reason. You have to be ready. No matter what the circumstances are she’s super tough.”
All photos courtesy of Getty Images.
ACAPULCO, Mexico – No.2 seed Kristina Mladenovic made a winning start to her campaign at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel, racing past Varvara Lepchenko in straight sets.
Kicking off the opening day action on Cancha Central, the Frenchwoman needed just an hour an fifteen minutes to complete the 6-2, 6-3 victory.
“It felt great to play the first match on Central,” Mladenovic said after the victory. “I was actually really surprised at the schedule, you know, to open up the tournament on the center court.
“It was difficult for me, too, because I arrived just two days ago from Dubai. I’m still a bit jetlagged and it’s totally different conditions here, but I’m just very happy with the win.”
Mladenovic got off to a quick start against the No.91-ranked American, jumping ahead to a 3-0 lead in both sets. Mladenovic played aggressive, positive tennis to keep Lepchenko out of the rallies, hitting a serve out wide and following it up with a booming forehand. She closed out the set with a second break to the Lepchenko serve.
Well-executed drop shot from @KiKiMladenovic! #AMT2017 pic.twitter.com/9hXnzArzMf
— WTA (@WTA) February 27, 2017
But the American stood her ground heading into the second, mixing up her game plan to play more aggressively and earn a break back and level the score at 3-3.
Mladenovic stayed positive, and peppered her game with dropshots to grab another break and serve out the match, sealing it with another ace out wide – her fifth ace of the match.
“I was trying to stay tough in my head, just trying to work for every single point, every game. I was just trying to go for it, and Varvara is a tough player as well. Very happy with this first win.”
Up next in the second round Mladenovic will face Heather Watson, who edged past American wildcard Bethanie Mattek-Sands, 7-5, 6-3.
.@HeatherWatson92 beats Mattek-Sands 7-5, 6-3!
Sets @AbiertoTelcel Second round vs @KikiMladenovic! #AMT2017 pic.twitter.com/VbnOMMb5xA
— WTA (@WTA) February 28, 2017
Also through in Acapulco, No.8 Andrea Petkovic faced a tough battle against American qualifier Jamie Loeb, needing to come back from a set down in her 2-6, 6-1, 6-3 victory.
“I’ve been here for a week already so I’ve been practicing for a long time,” Petkovic said. “I don’t remember the last time I waited this long for a match. So at the beginning I was a bit tight, because also she had been through qualifying here”
“She was playing really fast, and I needed some time to get used to it. In the second and third set – after some rough patches – I think it was pretty good.”
Joining them in the second round will be Shelby Rogers, who moved past her American compatriot Louisa Chirico 6-2, 6-2, and Pauline Parmentier who survived a rollercoaster against Nicole Gibbs to advance 7-5, 6-7(6), 6-2.
Playing in her first competitive match in 13 months, Ajla Tomljanovic stunned No.6 seed Eugenie Bouchard in straight sets to move into the second round at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel.
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Magda Linette says she was surprised when fourth seed Peng Shuai was forced to retire from their third-round match at the Alya Malaysian Open – but she is now ready for her next opponent.
“You are always surprised when someone retires, you’re never ready for that,” the Polish player told reporters after the match. “You just need to be focused on your own game and just try to play your own tennis. I’m glad I stayed focused.”
The 25-year-old said she noticed Peng struggling with her serve before the fourth seed admitted she could not continue, 5-2 down with just 28 minutes of the match gone.
.@MagdaLinette is in control of the first set! #alyawtamalaysianopen pic.twitter.com/5TWC2jE0Hf
— WTA (@WTA) March 2, 2017
Nevertheless, Linette was satisfied with her performance.
“I was aggressive, that was the plan, to play my own game, and I realised that most of the time,” she said. “I’m pretty happy. It was short. It’s tough to judge, but I’m happy.”
Next up for the World No.93 is Duan Ying-Ying, one of only two seeds remaining in the draw, but Linette says that no quarterfinal match would be a straightforward one.
“Everyone plays good,” she said. “Qualifiers beat the third seed and second seed. So it’s not easier now, those players are good. Even the wildcard I played two days ago was a tough one, so obviously there are no easy players, it’s even tougher because the girls are so motivated to play. I’m lucky, I’m very happy and looking forward to tomorrow.”
Lesia Tsurenko takes on Mirjana Lucic-Baroni in the semifinals of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel.