Behind The Tour: Commentators
You’ve probably heard their voices during a match, but now WTA’s Behind The Tour takes you face to face with the commentators who called the action during the WTA Finals in Singapore.
You’ve probably heard their voices during a match, but now WTA’s Behind The Tour takes you face to face with the commentators who called the action during the WTA Finals in Singapore.
Watch live action from Moscow & Luxembourg this week at WTA Live Powered By TennisTV!
The World No.12 knew she had to win the tournament, which is also being contested by Singapore rival Svetlana Kuznetsova, to reach the finals, but was trailing the Australian, 6-3, 3-0, when she pulled out.
It was Suárez Navarro who made the brighter start, finding her range in rallies from the off and breaking after Gavrilova sent a forehand long. The Australian had a chance to get back on terms immediately but squandered three break points and the Spaniard recovered to hold.
The No.3 seed missed an opportunity to extend her lead in the third game of the match but both players settled after the frantic opening and became more comfortable on serve.
With Suárez Navarro serving at 4-3, Gavrilova rallied, producing some stunning winners to finally draw level after a marathon game. The World No.37 ground out a hold and soon found herself with two set points on the Suárez Navarro serve; she took the second thanks a forehand into the tramlines.
Suárez Navarro, who had to undergo treatment between sets, had the chance to get on the front foot at the start of the second but sent a routine backhand wide on break point. A string of unforced errors then handed Gavrilova a break to love and the Australian soon had a clear lead.
After Suárez Navarro missed a further chance to break the Gavrilova serve and slumped to a 3-0 deficit in the second set, she announced to the umpires that she was retiring, ending her chances of reaching Singapore.
The last @WTAFinalsSG spot is down to Jo Konta or Svetlana Kuznetsova. Scenario is simple: If Sveta wins Moscow, she's in. If not, Jo is in.
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) October 19, 2016
“I thought I played pretty well, it was a tough battle, I’ve practised with her a lot of times,” Gavrilova said after the match.
“[There were] a few pretty tough games, I think we played the first four games for like 40 minutes, and then I found momentum.
“I lost my serve at the very beginning, but I felt like I was still in it and I had a lot of chances and then finally it all worked out.
“I feel very different to how I felt last year; I was really tired last year. This year, I had a few days off after the US Open and regrouped and had my training in Melbourne and now I’m just enjoying the last few tournaments.”
Suárez Navarro’s withdrawal means that only Kuznetsova can prevent Johanna Konta from filling the final spot in Singapore.
MOSCOW, Russia – Daria Gavrilova ended 2014 champion Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova’s hopes of returning to the Kremlin Cup final after a two-hour-and-thirty-six-minute battle in the Moscow quarterfinals.
Watch live action from Moscow & Luxembourg this week at WTA Live Powered By TennisTV!
Last week at the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open, Gavrilova stunned the WTA World No.1 Angelique Kerber in straight sets, and tonight in Moscow she added another scalp to her long list of upsets after taking out Pavlyuchenkova 7-5, 4-6, 6-3.
Gavrilova squeezed through a tight opening set, with both players wrestling for the momentum before the Australian converted her fourth break opportunity in the eleventh game to narrowly take the set. She climbed ahead to a 4-0 lead in the second, with Pavlyuchenkova looking increasingly more frustrated, and looked set to wrap up the encounter.
The Russian had other ideas, though, and harnessed the energy of her home crowd to mount her comeback, rattling off six games in a row to level the match and force a decider.
With emotions running high, Pavlyuchenkova dumped a forehand into the net and got her second warning for racquet abuse, handing Gavrilova the first break in the third set at 3-2.
The Australian took over from there, and she brought up match point with a well-timed drop shot after running Pavlyuchenkova all over the court, then sealed the match with a blistering forehand for a spot in the semifinals.
Pavlyuchenkova will likely rue her missed opportunities – she brought up 17 break points (with six of them coming in the deciding set) and only converted on five. For her part, Gavrilova was more efficient and converted six of her nine chances. Pavlyuchenkova struck 30 winners and 45 unforced errors throughout the match against Gavrilova’s 27 and 33.
Gavrilova will play Julia Goerges for a spot in the final after the German edged past No.8 seed Daria Kasatkina 7-5, 6-1.
SINGAPORE – Simona Halep has won the Jerry Diamond ACES Award for 2016.
The Diamond ACES Award was first introduced in 1995, in memory of former WTA CEO Jerry Diamond. The award is presented to the player who consistently goes above and beyond in promoting the sport of women’s tennis to fans, media, and local communities by performing off-court promotional and charitable activities.
The Romanian has earned the ACES award for the first time in her career, having participated in numerous kids’ clinics throughout the globe, charitable activities such as the Charity Day Clinic in Madrid, as well as fan friendly events, including the Sydney Festival, to help bring the game closer to the community.
WTA Diamond Aces Award Winners
2016: Simona Halep
2015: Caroline Wozniacki
2014: Petra Kvitova
2013: Victoria Azarenka
2012: Victoria Azarenka
2011: Caroline Wozniacki
2010: Samantha Stosur
2009: Elena Dementieva
2008: Ana Ivanovic
2007: Jelena Jankovic
2006: Svetlana Kuznetsova
Complete listing of the historical WTA Awards.
Looking for a nice Christmas gift for your tennis-loving friend or a treat for yourself? Marija Zivlak of Women’s Tennis Blog will help you pick the best presents.
If you wish to surprise someone with a kit worn by a top WTA player, look no further than adidas’ range launched at the US Open. Angelique Kerber lifted the champion’s trophy wearing the adidas Fall Pro Tank, featuring adjustable shelf bra and contrast racerback with mesh insert, and adidas Fall Pro Skirt, whose famous geometric print draws inspiration from New York City’s famous skyscrapers. Both the items are equipped with Climacool moisture management.
There’s also this Ana Ivanovic adidas Fall Pro Dress, one of the most beautiful designs of the season, while if you’re not into skirts, there are Simona Halep stunning adidas Fall Pro Shorts, whose built-in printed compression shorts peek through a woven mesh layer.
Even though other models were promoted far more on the courts, the adidas Barricade Classic Bounce remains the cutest shoe I’ve seen this year. Whether you like it in green or red, it promises high levels of cushioning, stability and comfort. Since the shoes were introduced even before the Australian Open, their discounted price makes them extra attractive.
If you’re looking for more affordable presents and stocking stuffers, there’s no shortage of options to surprise your tennis friends.
You can’t go wrong whether you choose this 2-pack Nike hairband in pink and deep garnet, the black and white option with a stylish split section, or adidas’ 3-pack in purple and slime. All the hairbands have silicone/gel that keeps them in place.
Everyone needs a white visor, even if they have several already. Stella McCartney offers the most beautiful one, with lovely mesh lining on body and subtle adidas and designer logo.
Wristbands also make a great affordable gift. You can pick these purple ones from Nike’s new collection, these discounted red adidas ones, or these classic white Fila ones.
One can never have enough socks and these adidas Climalite striped ones are adorable!
Narrowing down a selection of bras, I’ve come down to these three: this light blue EleVen bra with crossed spaghetti straps, this secure and compressive Nike bra that offers multidirectional medium support, and this purple Under Armour bra with stylish straps for lightweight support.
If you’d like something that is extravagant, yet not expensive, pick these pink Nike arm sleeves, that Serena Williams sported at the US Open. They offer a UPF 40+ protection.
Finally, it’s time for some luxury. If you want a tennis bag that provides a stylish transition from a stroll in the city or a business meeting to a tennis practice, Court Couture Karisa Black Pebble Bag is your perfect splurge. The racquet department of this embossed faux leather bag fits two racquets. There are inner and outer accessory pockets, as well as a separate cosmetics case to carry your essentials.
If you’re still unsure whether any of these items are the best picks for you, don’t risk and give your friend a Tennis Warehouse gift card. There are tons of things to choose from and a lot of them are discounted now!
When the WTA and SAP announced a multi-year sponsorship in 2013, most of us in tennis wondered what the technology company’s ultimate deliverable would look like. Flash forward three years and SAP’s vision on how its data solutions could elevate the women’s game has become clear: start with the on-court product.
After a full year of data collection from matches and opening up the development process to players and coaches, SAP launched its on-court coaching tablet last August. The tablet, which had to be retrofitted to work in tennis’ grueling sun and heat conditions, allows coaches to track real-time match data from the coach’s box and, if needed, use the tablet as a visual aid during on-court coaching timeouts.
“When SAP looked to partner with the WTA this was one of the main reasons why women’s sport was something that we were interested in,” said Jenni Lewis, head of tennis technology at SAP. “Because we saw we could work together in impacting the sport in a positive way with technology. Playing by the rules, but still being able to say there was a gap there we could fill. The On Court Coaching rule has been there for a long time. Now we have the ability to bring in some facts to that conversation.”
But there’s only so much information a coach and player can process during a match. Using feedback from coaches with respect to the data points they are most interested in during matches, SAP worked to curate the tablet experience to make sure they had what they needed at their fingertips.
Away from the matches, coaches and players now have access to a robust Tournament Performance Center, an online portal that provides access to even more data and information which can be configured by each user. While the coaching tablet has been heavily refined so as to not overwhelm the coaches with information while they are trying to manage the match, the TPC unlocks a wealth of information for coaches to use in analysis, scouting, and preparation. The courtside solution is only accessible via a WTA authorized tablet. The TPC can be used on a website, tablet, or mobile device.
“I think it’s a game changer,” said Nicole Pratt, who currently coaches Daria Gavrilova, “The data that’s now available to the coaches and what the coaches are giving back to the players.”
The hope is that access to information will give coaches the tools to become better coaches and result in better players and a better on-court product. As Pratt told WTA Insider last year, the hard data helps solidify the player/coach relationship and cuts through the debate as to what did or did not happen in a match so both can focus on reinforcing solutions or diagnosing the problems.
“Sometimes you see the player and the coach arguing on court,” Pratt said. “With this data you cannot have that argument on court because it’s real. It’s right in front of them.”
The result is an uptick in efficiency, driven by the needs of the coaches.
“The platform gives us the flexibility, but the people give us the ideas,” Lewis said. “So we’ve been very lucky to have that access and also the buy-in from the coaches and the players about telling us. We took some time because we wanted to make sure the adoption happened.”
The current databases are built off automated data from the umpire’s electronic scoring devices, meaning there is a guaranteed minimum threshold of data points for every match on tour, as well as Hawkeye data where available. In the future, Lewis hopes to be able to incorporate racquet technology and data generated from wearables into the full dataset. In the meantime, the next step is to provide more analytical tools for broadcast and media to be able to use the data to enhance their storytelling abilities.
#SAPCoachesView: See insights on how @Vika7 Azarenka got the upper hand against Kuznetsova in the @MiamiOpen final! pic.twitter.com/pYeqUgG5Hc
— WTA (@WTA) April 2, 2016
Speaking to reporters at the Miami Open, WTA President Micky Lawler highlighted the potential health benefits of SAP’s work as well. The more data the tour has on the physical effects of game on the players’ bodies could impact everything from the tour’s Sports Science and Medicine team to how best to reconfigure the circuit structure to protect the athletes.
Daria Gavrilova has Thursday’s shot of the day at the Kremlin Cup.
Angelique Kerber’s stellar 2016 season is earning her recognition from the editors of espnW, who have compiled their shortlist of honorees for this year’s IMPACT25.
IMPACT25 honors achievements not only from athletes like Kerber and US Olympic gymast Simone Biles, but also from influencers like Hillary Rodham Clinton and Leslie Jones.
Kerber finished 2016 atop the WTA rankings after a year of career breakthroughs, chief among them a pair of Grand Slam victories at the Australian Open and US Open, along with a silver medal showing at the Olympic tennis event, and a runner-up finish at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.
Click here to check out the full list of honorees on espnW.com.
BOGOTA, Colombia – Alexandra Panova was taken to the limit twice by a determined opponent but the Russian continued her run at the Claro Open Colsanitas, overcoming Conny Perrin 7-6(7), 7-6(7) for a spot in the quarterfinals.
Panova was the author of one the first round’s most dramatic upsets, emerging victorious in a rain-delayed three set comeback against the No.1 seed Elina Svitolina.
In the second round against Swiss qualifier Perrin, Panova was taken to two very tight sets. She built up a 5-2 lead in both sets before the Swiss came back twice to force a tiebreak in each one. Perrin held set points in both sets, but each time Panova was able to find a way shut her out.
“My opponent played really well, she has a really heavy forehand,” Panova said about 20-year-old Perrin. “I got really unlucky when I was trying to close it out with 5-2, but she was playing really well, nothing I could do. Just fight.”
Bogota’s high altitude and sharp change in climate – today being the first hot and sunny day after a week of cold and rainy weather – was almost too much for the Russian, who had to receive treatment during the second set due to dizziness.
“I felt fatigue, I felt like fainting. I couldn’t look up,” Panova said afterwards. “It was cold yesterday, today it’s hot. It’s still a high altitude and even if I’m in great shape and very fit, it’s very difficult.”
Also into the quarterfinals are Amra Sadikovic – who’s enjoying a successful return to competition in her first WTA tournament since her 2014 retirement – along with Sílvia Soler-Espinosa and Sachia Vickery.
Svetlana Kuznetsova takes on Elina Svitolina in the semifinal of the Kremlin Cup.