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Serena Records 308th Grand Slam Win

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

NEW YORK, NY, USA – World No.1 Serena Williams is back into the quarterfinals at the US Open, advancing in a dominant 6-2, 6-3 performance against Yaroslava Shvedova. With the victory Williams recorded her 308th Grand Slam win, passing Roger Federer’s all-time record and making her the winningest player – male or female – in the Open Era.

“It’s a huge number,” Williams said of the history-making achievement. “I think it’s very significant actually. I think it’s something that just really talks about the length of my career.”

“I’ve been playing for a really long time, but also, you know, given that consistency up there. That’s something that I’m really proud of.”

Williams was in control of the match from the start, and set the tone early on when she blasted an ace in the very first point. Her powerful, well-placed serves were her biggest weapon; she struck 11 aces in total, as well as an unreturnable 126 mph cracker, the fastest serve of the tournament so far. She didn’t face a break point all match long and won 93 percent of points behind her first serves.

She’ll face No.5 seed Simona Halep for a spot in the US Open semifinals. It’s the first seeded player Williams has faced in the tournament, but the World No.1 knows that figure doesn’t mean much.

“I just think with everyone I play, they play a step up and above their ranking,” Williams explained. “I think that’s the beauty, one of the reasons I’m able to hang. Everyone I’m playing is playing like they’re No. 1.

“To me it doesn’t really matter who I play because I have to expect they’re going to play the match of their life. That’s how I go into these matches now.”

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Konjuh Thrives In The Concrete Jungle

Konjuh Thrives In The Concrete Jungle

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

A US Open champion must balance the fatigue from a long season with the freneticism the big city. Unseede dAna Konjuh triumphed three years ago in the junior event, and New York has been in her blood ever since.

“The energy here is great,” she said after her third round win over Varvara Lepchenko. “There’s always something to do, so I’m not in the hotel like usual. I love the city and the tournament. It’s really great to be here.”

Konjuh had just reached the second week of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time, but the last teenager left in the draw discussed her daily schedule like an old pro.

“There’s always a day between the matches, so I finish practicing around noon, and then go do what I do.

“I don’t want to be stuck on site 24/7 where it’s just tennis, tennis, tennis. That’s a bit boring. I’m 18 years old and I like to do other stuff too.

“I like to discover new restaurants, see movies, and just strolling around the city. I went shopping on Fifth Avenue, went to Broadway and Times Square, I did some sight seeing. It was really nice.”

The Croat’s week got even nicer on Monday when she knocked out No.4 seed Agnieszka Radwanska under the roof at Arthur Ashe Stadium to reach the quarterfinals.

“I played her at Wimbledon,” she reminded members of the media late last night. “This time I took opportunities. I was just going for it. It was the key to the match.”

Ana Konjuh

Konjuh had held three match points against the Pole at the All England Club, eventually spraining her ankle en route to a heartbreaking loss.

“After that, I went home and had three weeks of therapy. That was really hard because I didn’t get any off time in the summer; I had to do therapy and exercises all day to get better. After that, I got back on court and was bit afraid of moving.”

Fans who saw the injury could certainly forgive the fear. The teenager was running for a Radwanska drop shot when disaster struck in real time.

“My coach showed me the video on Twitter while I was waiting in the physio room,” she recalled.” I said, ‘Yeah, that looks great!’ I didn’t know what had happened to my ankle yet, but I saw the video and was like ‘Oof. If I get back on the court, it’ll be good.'”

Looking more than good headlining her first night session, Konjuh received high praise from coach and former WTA No.32 Jelena Kostanic Tosic.

“My coach said it was my best match ever, and I believe her. I’m obviously seeing that from the other side. I’m real excited about my performance tonight. My serve was pretty good tonight. I don’t think she had any answers.

“I just took the opportunity and went for it, enjoyed the moment.”

Ana Konjuh

Staying present is a learned skill for Konjuh, who was a budding junior star when older sister Antonia fell dangerously ill with a rare autoimmune disease.

“One day she fell on the ground and we didn’t know what had happened. I think I was in Turkey, somewhere, playing a 10K. My father let me know, but I didn’t think it was something serious.

“But then day after day, she didn’t get better, and she celebrated her birthday not knowing who we are. That was really tough for our whole family. She was in the hospital and when I was home, I’d get to see her. I had to do what I had to do in tennis, but I was praying for her. When she got better, it was a miracle.

“Nobody knew what was wrong with her because it was an autoimmune disease, and she was the first case in Croatia. We’re a small country so nobody knew anything. It was really hard for us, but we got through it.

“It defined who I am today. Now I don’t take anything for granted and I just live every day like it’s my last.”

There’s a quiet confidence about the Croat, who next plays No.10 seed Karolina Pliskova, herself a rookie at this stage of a Slam. Her no-nonsense attitude could not only rival a native New Yorker’s, but also help her continue to get by in the city that never sleeps.

“I like fancier places but the food is so expensive, and I don’t see why I should pay for that when the food is great at Dave & Buster’s. We’ll go after a match and have some fun, and then go to Times Square and do some sight seeing. I haven’t been to the Empire State yet, so I hope I can do that this year.

“But if not, there will be other years.”

All photos courtesy of Getty Images.

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Garcia, Mladenovic Qualify For Singapore

Garcia, Mladenovic Qualify For Singapore

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

SINGAPORE – The World No.2 doubles team of Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic has qualified for this year’s BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global, the WTA’s year-end event that brings together the Top 8 singles players and doubles teams to compete for $7 million in prize money.

Ticket packages for the WTA Finals are already available!

“It was one of our goals when we started to play together to qualify for the WTA Finals,” Garcia said. “We are always improving and I am looking forward to competing in Singapore again.”

“We are excited and happy to have qualified,” Mladenovic added. “It’s a dream come true to qualify and celebrate the great year we’ve had.”

Garcia and Mladenovic began their partnership this year and together have reached six finals. The French duo started the season with a final appearance at the Apia International Sydney, then continued their success with another final appearance at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. They went on to win in their next four WTA doubles finals appearances at the Volvo Car Open (Charleston), Porsche Tennis Grand Prix (Stuttgart), Mutua Madrid Open and Roland Garros. As a result, they have earned the second slot in the doubles field, joining Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza at the WTA Finals Singapore.

“Congratulations to Caroline and Kristina on what has been a fantastic season, earning them a spot at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global,” said WTA CEO Steve Simon. “These exciting players have achieved great success in doubles this year, and we are very excited that they will be joining us in Singapore to compete for the most prestigious title on the WTA tour.”

Here is the current doubles Road to Singapore Leaderboard:
1. Martina Hingis (SUI) / Sania Mirza (IND) – Qualified
2. Caroline Garcia (FRA) / Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) – Qualified
3. Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) / Elena Vesnina (RUS)
4. Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) / Tima Babos (HUN)
5. Chan Hao-Ching (TPE) / Chan Yung-Jan (TPE)
6. Andrea Hlavackova (CZE) / Lucie Hradecka (CZE)
7. Julia Goerges (GER) / Karolina Pliskova (CZE)
8. Xu Yifan (CHN) / Zheng Saisai (CHN)
9. Raquel Atawo (USA) / Abigail Spears (USA)
10. Venus Williams (USA) / Serena Williams (USA)

The doubles competition will begin in Singapore on October 27 and is a single elimination contest between the Top 8 doubles teams of the 2016 season, all vying to hold the Martina Navratilova Doubles Trophy.

Kristina Mladenovic, Caroline Garcia

For the latest updates and insights, follow on Twitter (@WTAFinalsSG), Facebook (facebook.com/WTAFinalsSG) and Instagram (@WTAFinalsSG).

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Pliskova Stuns Serena To Reach Final

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

NEW YORK, NY, USA – No.10 seed Karolina Pliskova reached her first Grand Slam final in style, shocking top seed Serena Williams, 6-2, 7-6(5) in the semifinals of the US Open.

“It was always a dream to, you know, get a title, get to the semifinal, get to the final,” Pliskova said in her post-match press conference. “So, I mean, it’s a big result for me. I hope I didn’t stop yet, that there is still one more step to go. I’ll do anything for getting the title.

“Even if I don’t get it, it’s a big result. I’m really happy to be there and even have the chance to play in the final here. It doesn’t happen often that you’re playing a semifinal against Serena on center court here in New York. It doesn’t happen often that you’re in the final of Grand Slams.”

Pliskova came into her first major semifinal having won her last 10 matches, dating back to a title run at the Western & Southern Open; the 2016 WTA ace leader was in ruthless form on serve against Serena, striking seven aces and winning 84% of first serve points.

“I was pretty calm today. Before the match I felt a little bit like pressure, nervous. But when I stepped on the court I didn’t feel anything. I just wanted to win. Not just enjoy but to win.

“I knew I’m going to have my chances even if she’s playing her best. There is always a chance in those two sets. I was calm during the whole match. Even in the second set there was some complications. I was up a break.

“But it never can be so easy to play No.1 in the world. You cannot win, 6-2, 6-1, so I wasn’t expecting a match like this. I was prepared for anything, even if I would have lose the second set I would be ready for the third.”

Serena, by contrast, had just won an epic match over No.5 seed Simona Halep less than 24 hours ago, and appeared to struggle with a left leg injury that was later confirmed by coach Patrick Mourataglou. Pushing Pliskova into a second set tie-break, the World No.1 threw in a sixth double fault to end the contest after just 85 minutes.

“I have been having some serious left knee problems,” Serena said after the match. “I wasn’t tired. Fatigue had absolutely nothing to do with it. If I was tired I should definitely get into a new career.

“I think she’s been on tour for numerous years and she’s had some good wins. She was doing so well last year, was so close in so many finals, and I think maybe this was her year to really do well, at least here at the Open.”

Still, it was a banner day for the Czech powerhouse, who played flawless tennis throughout and showed off her improved mobility to hit 19 winners to just 25 unforced errors. Serena hit one more winner but six more errors and only managed to engineer one break point on the Pliskova serve. Pliskova became the eighth woman ever to defeat both Williams sisters in the same tournament, and the fourth to do it at a major tournament.

“There is not more than to beat both sisters in one tournament in New York,” Pkiskova said. “I’m really excited about those two wins.

“For the crowd, it’s not probably the best that I beat both of them in their country, but for me it’s really something special. Obviously the match with Venus helped me, not only with the game, but also with the crowd, also. It was my first match on center court, so I knew I was to play center court one of the Williams sisters against all the people there. I was prepared for it. I was prepared for a fast game, for great serving, and probably it helped me.

“That’s maybe why I won the match today.”

Up next for the 24-year-old is either No.2 seed Angelique Kerber – the new World No.1 after Serena’s loss – or former No.1 Caroline Wozniacki. Pliskova beat Kerber in the final of Cincinnati just two weeks ago, ironically preventing the German from hitting No.1 earlier.

“If I play Kerber tomorrow I’ll know her very well. We played a lot of times. I lost to her; I won. So I will be ready for anything. That’s a final of a Grand Slam, so anything is possible. Of course, probably nerves from both sides. We both have a good chance to win.

“But I will just do anything to win the title here.”

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Venus Discusses Indian Wells Return

Venus Discusses Indian Wells Return

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

One month after she officially announced her intent to return to the BNP Paribas Open for the first time since 2001, seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams wrote at length about her decision and close bond with her sister, World No.1 Serena Williams, in the Players Tribune.

“Being the big sister,” she said, “I didn’t take that responsibility lightly. I knew what she was going through – debuting as a professional tennis player, growing up in front of a camera, entering public life as a young black teenager – and I knew how hard that could be. And I knew how much I would have loved to have had a big sister on tour during my first year, and how much pride I took in the knowledge that my little sister had me. Serena always has me.”

Venus and Serena had stayed away from Indian Wells for nearly 15 years following an ugly incident that left both sisters, who were still in the nascent stages of their careers at the time, feeling profoundly unwelcome in a sport they loved.

Venus Williams, Serena Williams

“I remember the pain of my knee injury, and how badly I wanted to play in the semis against Serena – before finally accepting that I wouldn’t be able to. I remember the accusations toward me and my sister and our father. I remember the crowd’s reaction, as I walked to my seat, during Serena’s match in the final. And I remember how I couldn’t understand why thousands of people would be acting this way – to a 19-year-old and a 20-year-old, trying their best.

“There are certain things where, if you go through them at a certain age, you simply don’t forget them.”

Serena’s decision to come back last year led Venus, who has long fought against injustice – as evidenced by her work in engineering equal prize money at Wimbledon – to do some soul-searching of her own, inspired by her younger sister’s choice to not only forgive, but to return to a place that had caused them both such pain.

“It was in that moment, seeing Serena welcomed with open arms last year at Indian Wells, that I think I fully and truly realized what being the big sister means. It means that, for all of the things I did first, and all of the times when I paved the way for Serena, the thing I can be most proud of is this time.

“When Serena paved the way for me.”

Read more about Venus’ thoughts at the Players Tribune.

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Roddick Previews US Open Final

Roddick Previews US Open Final

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

NEW YORK, NY, USA – Andy Roddick has had a lot to say throughout the 2016 US Open.

The former ATP No.1 and 2017 International Tennis Hall Of Fame Nominee – alongside Kim Clijsters – partnered with Chase to launch the #MasterTheOpen series on Periscope, where he broadcasts his signature mix of incisive and humorous commentary live each day at the Open.

Weighing in on the upcoming women’s final between new World No.1 Angelique Kerber and Western & Southern Open champion Karolina Pliskova, the 2003 US Open champion had this to say:

Stay tuned for the Saturday’s final at 4pm EST / 9pm BST!

US Open

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Sharapova Out Of Indian Wells

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA, USA – Former World No.1 Maria Sharapova announced that she would be unable to participate in the upcoming BNP Paribas Open due to an ongoing left forearm injury that saw her miss the Middle East Swing.

“I am extremely disappointed that I am unable to compete in this year’s BNP Paribas Open,” she said. “I have been focused on healing my left forearm injury and tried to get my body to be 100% ready to play this event, as it is one of my favorites on the WTA and so close to my home in LA. I know the tournament will be a great success this year and I will be anxious to return next year and hopefully many years after.”

A two-time winner in Indian Wells (2006, 2013), Sharapova pulled out of the Brisbane International to start the season due to pain in her left forearm, and though she reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, the Russian has not played a match since.

With her withdrawal, Mariana Duque-Mariño moves into the main draw.

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US Open Sunday: Doubles Championship

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

The singles champion has been crowned in New York. Now it’s time for the doubles hardware to be handed out! Chris Oddo previews Sunday’s doubles final right here at wtatennis.com.

Day 14
Doubles Final

[1] Caroline Garcia (FRA #3) / Kristina Mladenovic (FRA #4) vs. [12] Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA #16) / Lucie Safarova (CZE #42)
Head-to-head: Garcia and Mladenovic lead, 1-0
Key Stat: Mladenovic and Garcia snapped Mattek-Sands and Safarova’s 8-match winning streak in this year’s Charleston final.

France’s dynamic duo of Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic will seek its second Grand Slam title of the year while Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Lucie Safarova will look to claim their third major title of the last two seasons in Sunday’s US Open Women’s Doubles final. Garcia and Mladenovic are currently No.3 and No.4 respectively in the WTA’s double rankings, but they are playing like they have their eyes on the No.1 ranking here in the Big Apple. In their first season as a full-time team the pair are in the midst of a career season that has seen them go on a 16-match winning streak and earn four trophies, including an emotional run to the Roland Garros title where they became the first French team to win in Paris since 1971. The Frenchwomen became the second team to qualify for the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global earlier this week and they have not skipped a beat since. Garcia and Mladenovic have defeated the WTA’s No.1 and No.2 ranked doubles players in the last two rounds, notching wins over No.7-seeded Sania Mirza and Barbora Strycova in the quarterfinals before taking out No.6-seeded Martina Hingis and CoCo Vandeweghe in the semifinals. And they’ve yet to drop a set all fortnight.

Their opponents should be their toughest test to date, however. Two-time major champions Mattek-Sands and Safarova have finally located their missing mojo in New York. After falling in the first round at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, they have snapped a four-match losing streak as a team en route to their third Grand Slam final and first at the US Open. They defeated 2014 US Open champions Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina in the semifinals, and have gone 5-1 in finals as a team overall. Can Mattek-Sands and Safarova, reunited after a long hiatus due to Safarova’s health concerns and individual Olympic preparations, ride the emotional wave to a third major title? Or will Les Bleus have another crowning moment on the Grand Slam stage?

Pick: Mattek-Sands and Safarova in three

By the Numbers:
1 – Only one all-French duo has reached the final at Flushing Meadows (Chanfreau/Durr were runners-up in 1970). Garcia and Mladenovic are bidding to be the first all-French champions.
5-1 – Safarova and Mattek-Sands’ record in finals as a team. They won their first five finals before falling to Garcia and Mladenovic in the Charleston final.
19 – Mattek-Sands owns more doubles than any of the other three finalists. She’s bidding for her 20th title today. Mladenovic owns 16 titles, Safarova owns 9 and Garcia has won 6.

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