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Inspired Cibulkova Digs Deep To Reach Wuhan Final, Returns To Top 10

Inspired Cibulkova Digs Deep To Reach Wuhan Final, Returns To Top 10

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

WUHAN, China – Dominika Cibulkova completed her arduous journey to the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open final with a thrilling victory over Svetlana Kuznetsova

Watch live action from Wuhan on WTA Live powered by TennisTV!

After over two and half hours of thrilling tennis, Cibulkova added the finishing touch to a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory by thumping a backhand onto the baseline. In the final she will face the winner of Friday’s evening session, Petra Kvitova.

“It feels great. I’m really tired right now, but the feeling to be in the final is unbelievable, and that’s why I love it,” Cibulkova said. “It’s just a great win for me today.”

Cibulkova’s path to the final has been far from straightforward. Rain earlier in the week forced the Slovak to play both her last 16 and quarterfinal matches on Thursday, making the level of play against Kuznetsova all the more remarkable.

“I would say that nothing has been easy here. I’ve had really tough matches from the first round so you don’t expect anything easy from this tournament. I’m really looking forward to another final and I want to keep going, keep playing like this,” Cibulkova added.

Outthought and outfought in the first set, Cibulkova went back to the drawing board at the start of the second. Her change of tack reaped immediate dividends, bookending a trademark drive volley with a couple of perfectly executed drop shots to break in the opening game.

“I have my notes with me [on court] for a couple of years now and it’s helping me, so it’s nothing new for me but it’s something that keeps me focused and helps me remember things to do – it’s just a reminder for me. But it helped me today.”

While this advantage did not last for long, the tide was turning, Cibulkova taking four of the last five games to force a decider.

With the contest in the balance, Cibulkova somehow managed to summon her best tennis. Serving at 4-4, 15-30, she finished a series of energy sapping points with spectacular winners to edge ahead. This sequence seemed to drain the belief from Kuznetsova, who soon found herself staring at three match points. One was enough, Cibulkova pouncing on an inviting serve to reach her fifth final of the season.

The result not only guarantees a return to the Top 10 but also boosts her hopes of reaching the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global for the first time. She will now occupy one of the eight qualification spots on Monday, regardless of the result in the final. 

WTA Finals: Get Your Tickets! 

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News | WTA Tennis English

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

ST. PETERSBURG, FL, USA – The WTA announced today that Dubai Duty Free, the world’s leading airport retailer, has extended its longstanding global sponsorship of women’s tennis.

Under the agreement, Dubai Duty Free continues as one of the WTA’s premier sponsors, with the partnership’s core elements designed to align Dubai Duty Free’s standing as the single largest airport duty free retailer in the world with the WTA’s premium assets.

The Dubai Duty Free Player Ambassador Program will be supported by WTA players Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark and Zhang Shuai of China. Wozniacki continues her role as a valued
ambassador for the sixth year and Zhang Shuai is newly introduced into the program, representing Dubai Duty Free’s focus on China and leveraging WTA’s extensive exposure and reach in the region.

Additionally, the agreement continues Dubai Duty Free’s sponsorship of the WTA Year-End World No.1 singles and doubles awards, most recently presented to Angelique Kerber and Sania Mirza at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.

A WTA sponsor since 2004, Dubai Duty Free’s partnership with the WTA has over the years been marked by leadership and innovation. Dubai Duty Free has been a longstanding supporter of the WTA, having been the first event in the Middle East to award equal prize money and a strong supporter of the growth of women’s tennis throughout the region. Dubai Duty Free is the owner, organizer and title sponsor of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, an equal prize money Premier tournament on the WTA calendar and a cornerstone event for women’s and men’s tennis in the Middle East. The ATP week is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year and will once again attract the top players in the world.

Past winners of the tournament include several former WTA World No.1s including four-time champion Justine Henin, three-time champion Venus Williams, Caroline Wozniacki, Martina Hingis, Lindsay Davenport and Amélie Mauresmo.

“The WTA is extremely pleased to continue our partnership with Dubai Duty Free,” stated WTA CEO and Chairman Steve Simon. “Dubai Duty Free has provided its unwavering support for women’s tennis and we look forward to this next chapter together in growing the sport even more.”

Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman & CEO, Dubai Duty Free, remarked, “We are delighted to continue our long standing association with the WTA and have introduced some new marketing initiatives that will create further global awareness of our brand. In the meantime, we are looking forward to a great fortnight of tennis, commencing on the 19th February with the WTA Premier 5 week and welcome all of our players to Dubai.”

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Muguruza Dodges Begu In Beijing, Eyes Singapore Spot

Muguruza Dodges Begu In Beijing, Eyes Singapore Spot

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

BEIJING, China – World No.3 Garbiñe Muguruza kicked off her Beijing title defense with a hard-fought win over Irina Camelia Begu, emerging victorious from the early test to move into the second round of the China Open.

Watch live action from Beijing on WTA Live powered by TennisTV!

Though a spate of unforced errors from the forehand wing left Muguruza vulnerable and allowed Begu to grab the first set, the Spaniard recovered and notched a 2-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory after an hour and fifty minutes.

“I think it’s very, very satisfying when you go to a tournament where you know you played well, you feel welcome,” Muguruza said after the match. “But honestly, this was last year. Nobody really is thinking about who won last year. It’s all about who is going to win this year, who is winning.

“I’m just going for my match, just concentrating the next one.”

Muguruza also kept her bid for Singapore on track as she eyes a return to the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.

“Definitely Singapore was a great motivation to try to find my spot,” Muguruza admitted. “Well, Beijing is one of the biggest tournaments we have, so for sure I have a great opportunity to do it well and qualify.”

Also into the second round, Belinda Bencic advanced past Annicka Beck in straight sets. In a match that featured 10 breaks of serve, it was Bencic who edged through 6-3, 6-2 after an hour and 17 minutes.

Wildcard Sabine Lisicki had a more straightforward path, powering past Mirjana Lucic-Baroni 6-2, 6-2. Yulia Putintseva and Yanina Wickmayer are also through, with Putintseva weathering a stern challenge from 19-year-old wunderkind Jelena Ostapenko to advance 6-1, 3-6, 7-5. Meanwhile, Wickmayer added to Monica Puig’s post-Olympic woes, beating the Puerto Rican 6-2, 6-0 and handing her the worst defeat since the Olympic tennis event in Rio.

WTA Finals: Get Your Tickets!

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Pliskova & Radwanska Close To Singapore, Battle Royale Set In Beijing

Pliskova & Radwanska Close To Singapore, Battle Royale Set In Beijing

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

Welcome to WTA Finals month. Here are the updated scenarios after 24 hours to digest the Beijing draw for singles and doubles…

ROAD TO SINGAPORE UPDATE – Saturday, October 1st

SINGLES:

While Karolina Pliskova and Agnieszka Radwanska are next in line to qualify for the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global, Garbiñe Muguruza, Dominika Cibulkova and Madison Keys round out the Top 8 of our live Road to Singapore leaderboard.

Carla Suárez Navarro is next in line followed by Svetlana Kuznetsova, Johanna Konta, and Petra Kvitova. Four of these – Muguruza, Keys, Kuznetsova, and Kvitova are all in the same quarter of the Beijing draw, creating some exciting early round matchups at the China Open.

Petra Kvitova

Potential R16 Match-Ups in Beijing

Interesting to note this round could have a huge say in the final qualification spots if these eight players reach this stage:

Pliskova (#4 RTS) vs Konta (#11 RTS)

Cibulkova (#6 RTS) vs Suárez Navarro (#9 RTS)

Keys(#8 RTS) vs Kuznetsova (#10 RTS)

Kvitova (#12 RTS) v Muguruza (#5 RTS)

Click here for the complete China Open draws.

Qualified: Angelique Kerber, Serena Williams, Simona Halep

Next In Line (Current Top 8)

How can they qualify in Beijing ?

Pliskova – qualifies by reaching 3r OR one of the following

·Keys fails to reach 3r AND Suárez Navarro fails to reach SF

·Keys fails to reach 3r AND Konta nor Kuznetsova reach final nor Kvitova wins title*

·Suárez Navarro fails to reach SF AND Konta nor Kuznetsova reach final nor Kvitova wins title*

*all three are in the same half so only one of these is possible

Dominika Cibulkova

Radwanska – qualifies by reaching QF OR one of the following

·Keys fails to reach 3r AND Suárez Navarro fails to reach SF

·Keys fails to reach 3r AND Konta nor Kuznetsova reach final nor Kvitova wins title*

·Suárez Navarro fails to reach SF AND Konta nor Kuznetsova reach final nor Kvitova wins title*

*all three are in the same half so only one of these is possible

Muguruza – qualifies by reaching final

Cibulkova – qualifies by winning title

Keys – qualifies by winning title

Svetlana Kuznetsova

Suárez Navarro could qualify by winning title but would also need Keys not to reach QF AND Konta nor Kuznetsova to win title

It is mathematically possible for Kuznetsova or Konta to qualify this week by winning the Beijing title BUT this would have to be accompanied by early defeats for Keys, Cibulkova, Suárez Navarro, and Muguruza. 

Currently No.9 to No.13 with points behind current projected cut-off (3137)

DOUBLES

QUALIFIED: Garcia/Mladenovic, Hingis/Mirza, Makarova/Vesnina, Mattek-Sands/Safarova

NEXT IN LINE:

Shvedova/Babos

3975

1r v Savchuk/Wang

Hlavackova/Hradecka

3775

1r vs Arruabarrena/Kalashnikova (Sun)

Chan/Chan

3760

1r bye

Goerges Pliskova

3270

1r vs Aoyama/Ninomiya (Sun)

How do they qualify in Beijing:

Babos/Shvedova qualify unless Mirza/Strycova, Atawo/Spears or Xu/Zheng win the Beijing title OR by reaching the Beijing SF

Hlavcakova/Hradecka qualify unless Mirza/Strycova reach Beijing final, Atawo/Spears or Xu/Zheng win the Beijing title OR by reaching the Beijing SF

Chan/Chan qualify unless Mirza/Strycova or Xu/Zheng reach Beijing final or Atawo/Spears win the Beijing title OR by reaching the Beijing Final

Goerges/Pliskova qualify by advancing to the same round or better than Mirza/Strycova, Atawo/Spears and Xu/Zheng and if Klepac/Srebotnik don’t win Beijing title

Remaining Teams in Possible Contention (points behind current cut-off)

Atawo/Spears

-575

Must reach at least QFs to stay in contention*
(same quarter as Xu/Zheng)
1r vs Klepac/Srebotnik (Sun)

Xu/Zheng

-600

Must reach at least QFs to stay in contention*
(same quarter as Atawo/Spears)
1r vs King/Nicuescu

Mirza/Strycova

-885

Must reach at least QFs to stay in contention*
(same quarter as Goerges/Pliskova)
1r – bye; 2r vs Dabrowski/Martinez Sanchez

Klepac/Srebotnik

-1130

8th at best, must win Beijing to stay in contention and depend on other results
1r vs Atawo/Spears (Sun)

*this will change and require a better result if Goerges/Pliskova advance.

WTA Finals: Get Your Tickets!

All photos courtesy of Getty Images.

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