Tennis News

NEW YORK, NY, USA – Caroline Wozniacki’s US Open revival gathered further momentum as she brushed aside Monica Niculescu to reach the fourth round.

Having arrived at Flushing Meadows with little form to speak of, Wozniacki has been one of the stories of the opening week, following up her upset of No.9 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova with another impressive showing. The two-time finalist dissected Niculescu’s unorthodox game to win, 6-3, 6-1.

As she did against Kuznetsova, the Dane delivered a tidy performance, her sprightly movement betraying no signs of the ankle injury that sidelined her for much of the spring. After trading a couple of early breaks, Wozniacki struck again to edge 3-1 ahead, maintaining this advantage – despite a fraught final service game – to close out the set.

The Romanian had failed to take a set from Wozniacki in their six previous meetings and never looked like breaking this spell, quickly slipping 3-0 behind. With the former No.1 prevailing in the battle of wills from the baseline match point soon arrived, Niculescu surrendering as a drop shot drifted tamely wide.

See you next week @CaroWozniacki! She's into round four after a straight-set victory vs. #Niculescu. #usopen @Chase https://t.co/yLiBQzy6JP

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) 2 September 2016

“I think it’s fun to play against her but also really frustrating because she makes you feel like you can’t play tennis,” Wozniacki said. “You have to be mentally prepared to grind it out. It wasn’t pretty, but I got a good workout running after her drop shots. I just need to step in and hit the ball and go for it. Otherwise, I have no chance.”

Meeting Wozniacki for a place in the quarterfinals will be Madison Keys, who kept alive hopes of a maiden Grand Slam title by producing what she described as the comeback of her career. Trailing Naomi Osaka 5-1 in the final set, the No.8 seed looked dead and buried only to capitalize on some finishing line nerves to somehow turn the match around.

Serving for the match at 5-2, Osaka missed a presentable forehand volley that left her fighting back the tears. And while she regrouped admirably to force a tie-break, her moment had passed, Keys powering towards a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(3) victory.

“Was that the greatest comeback of your career?”
“For sure, hands down.” –Madison Keys #usopen

— Nick McCarvel (@NickMcCarvel) September 2, 2016

NEW YORK, NY, USA – Two-time US Open champion Venus Williams dispatched No.26 seed Laura Siegemund, 6-1, 6-2, to waltz into the second week in Flushing Meadows for the 14th time in her illustrious career.

“I’m happy with putting wins under my belt,” she said after the match. “I’m always in search for perfection. If it’s not perfect, I’m back to the drawing board

“Today was a more straightforward win, but not perfect. So I’ll be working on perfection.”

Playing her first night match of the tournament, Venus played solid tennis against Siegemund, who was into the third round for the first time ever. Hitting 11 winners and breaking serve six times, the elder Williams sister survived several long games against the German veteran – one of the longest coming as she served for the opening set.

“Everything I’ve gone through has proven to me that I love the game, because to be out here is an effort, to say the least. So it’s proved that I love this clearly enough to go through this. And to reach perfection is something I still expect from myself, no matter what, whatever it is I’m going through.”

Saving four break points, Venus took the first set on her second opportunity and immediately broke to start the second. Making no mistake when it came time to serve out the match, she held to 15 and booked the last remaining spot in the round of 16, where she will play No.10 seed Karolina Pliskova.

“Each match is different. I approach them differently. We play kind of a similar game. So it’s about one of us playing that game better.

“I haven’t played her that often. So go out there and put the ball in the court, try to win.”

Some big serving by @Venuseswilliams seals her place in week two over Laura #Siegemund. #usopen @MBUSA https://t.co/3R435T06jT

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 4, 2016

Pliskova reached the second week of a major tournament earlier on Saturday by knocking out 2011 quarterfinalist and No.17 seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, 6-2, 6-4.

“It definitely was always my goal,” she said in her post-match press conference. “So I’m really happy that I got there. I was trying to get there for a long time, but before it probably wasn’t meant to be. So I’m happy to be there now, especially at the US Open, especially on hardcourt, which is my best surface.

“I’m also really happy with the match, how I got through.”

The two have played just once before, with Venus narrowly edging the Czech star in the final of the Huajin Securities WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai.

“It’s not that long ago, when we played. I remember the match. It was pretty good match from I think both of us. She was playing really good tennis there.

“Obviously with her it’s tough. She’s serving pretty well both serves, playing aggressive on the return. There is not much to do.

“I just have to serve well. That’s the most important thing.”

“I was waiting a long time… to get to the fourth round.” – @KaPliskova #usopen https://t.co/rPJh2LVQ7D pic.twitter.com/5kUceLRJI6

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 3, 2016

NEW YORK, NY, USA – Week 1 is in the books at the US Open, and catch up with all the best moments on Day 6’s Daily Dispatch from the WTA Insider Podcast.

Save for a three-set struggle from No.5 seed Simona Halep, all the big names progressed into the second week with relative ease on Saturday, include World No.1 Serena Williams, No.4 seed Agnieszka Radwanska, No.6 seed Venus Williams, and No.10 seed Karolina Pliskova, who reached the fourth round at a major for the first time in her young career.

Analyzing the week that was, the WTA Insider team looks ahead to Day 7, and whether there might be an upset or two on the table come Sunday.

Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher, TuneIn or on any podcast app of your choice to ensure you never miss an episode when they go live. Reviews are always helpful, so if you like what you’ve heard so far, leave us one. You can also get new episode alerts by following us on Twitter @WTA_Insider.

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NEW YORK, NY, USA – 18-year-old Ana Konjuh notched the biggest win of her career under the roof at Arthur Ashe Stadium, taking out World No.4 Agnieszka Radwanska in straight sets to reach her first ever Grand Slam semifinal at the US Open, 6-4, 6-4.

Konjuh let three match points slip by in their dramatic second-round clash at Wimbledon earlier this year, but she only needed one to get the job done today against Radwanska.

“I’m just really happy,” Konjuh grinned in post-match press. “I played her in Wimbledon. It was a tough match. This time I took opportunities. You know, I was just going for it. It was the key of the match.”

The Croat shook off a shaky start, going down an early break before she found her footing in her debut match at Arthur Ashe. Despite the initial nerves, Konjuh quickly acclimated to the big stage, digging out of a 2-0 deficit and grabbing the break right back, working the court open with vicious angles from her forehand and backhand.

.@anakonjuh connects on 20 winners to take a one-set lead over No. 4 seed #Radwanska. #usopen @MBUSA https://t.co/97R8fyJ5rL

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 6, 2016

Her aggressive, crafty tennis proved frustrating to Radwanska, who hit 13 unforced errors – a high figure for the usually stingy player – to just nine winners. Konjuh attacked the vulnerable Radwanska serve and claimed the decisive break at 4-3, managing to out-drop shot Radwanska and beat her at the baseline. She took the match after breaking in the ninth game of the second set, and serving out the biggest win of her career.

“Maybe there was one or two chances,” Radwanska said after the match. She converted just one of three break opportunities. “Then I didn’t really hold my serve. I didn’t serve good enough.”

“Then, well, I’m here not as a winner.”

The 18-year-old Croat won the US Open girls’ title back in 2013, and then two years later became the WTA’s youngest title winner in almost a decade when she captured the Nottingham title. Now, despite a season marred by injury, she’s one match away from the semifinals.

“It’s really a privilege for me to be here, just playing for the finals,” Konjuh said. “I’m 18.I won the juniors here. I have good memories. I love the city. I’m just really happy just to have this chance.”

Konjuh will play Karolina Pliskova, another Grand Slam quarterfinal debutante, for a spot in the US Open semifinals.

Unbelievable performance from 18yo Ana Konjuh, who avenges her heartbreaking Wimbledon loss to beat Radwanska. pic.twitter.com/cctQFS8qMV

— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) September 6, 2016

After a disappointing year of injuries and inconsistencies, Ana Ivanovic took to Twitter on Tuesday, announcing her intention to skip the remaining tournaments in 2016 so that she may be fully fit for the upcoming 2016 season.

Check out her full statement: 

A difficult decision that I had to take. pic.twitter.com/XMUtOORCIG

— Ana Ivanovic (@AnaIvanovic) September 6, 2016

Ivanovic had enjoyed a career renaissance in 2014 and had a strong start to 2015, peaking at No.5 just before the toe injury mentioned in her statement. Though she went on to reach the semifinals of the French Open that year, the former No.1 hasn’t made it past the third round in any of the last seven major tournaments. She last played at the US Open, where she fell in the first round to Denisa Allertova, 7-6(4), 6-1.

The Serb spoke with WTA Insider before the start of the Open on her season, career, and the concept of luck in tennis; catch up on that interview below:

NEW YORK, NY, USA – World No.2 Angelique Kerber is the first player through to the US Open semifinals after conquering Roberta Vinci in straight sets.

After withstanding a fierce early challenge from the Italian, Kerber found another gear to prevail 7-5, 6-0 and end Vinci’s bid to halt a major US Open subplot for a second time.

“I think I have right now more confidence going out there,” Kerber said in her post-match press conference. “I’m not thinking about quarters, semis, or whatever. I’m just going there to playing a good match and to win.

“I know that I can beat everybody, and this is what gives me also a lot of confidence and motivation for going out there and playing with a lot of emotion.”

Vinci and Kerber set the tone of the match early on; Vinci broke Kerber’s serve in a marathon seven-minute opening game, before the German quickly grabbed the break back. In fact, Kerber trailed Vinci a break three times during the opening set, but each time she showed her mental toughness by never allowing Vinci to hold onto the lead.

The two played a game of cat and mouse throughout the first set, with both players showing off their variety and shot making; Vinci would reach a break point with a set of slices and drop shots, and Kerber would save it with a stinging inside-out forehand.

Kerber finally claimed the decisive break in the final game, winning the set and avoiding a tiebreak when Vinci was called for a foot fault on set point.

Down, not out: @AngeliqueKerber wins three games in a row to take the opener vs. #Vinci, 7-5. #usopen @MBUSA https://t.co/CguQohxazo

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 6, 2016

“I think the key of the match was the first set,” Kerber reflected afterwards. “I mean, it was really close and tough. It’s always difficult to play against Roberta.

“Keeping my mind a little bit relaxed, and staying in the moment – I think that was my key. Also for the first set to, be a little bit more relax and had not too negative, actually.”

Already hobbled by a foot problem, losing the set by so narrow a margin seemed to suck the wind out of Vinci’s sails. She didn’t have much left in the tank against Kerber, who quickly broke three more times to run away with the match and return to the semifinals of the US Open for the first time since 2011.

Kerber struck 33 winners to 25 unforced errors during the match – just three of those errors in came in the second set – while Vinci hit 17 winners to 32 unforced errors. Vinci’s serve was particularly vulnerable, serving at 40 percent first serves and winning just 57 percent of those points.

While the win moves Kerber one step closer to the WTA No.1 ranking, it spells out a different fate for Vinci. The Italian will fall out of the Top 10 come next week, having needed a run to the semifinals to keep up her ranking.

“Of course I’m so sad about today,” Vinci said. “In general I played a great tournament. Now just will go home and take some days off; see what I have for my injury, and then we will see.”

Kerber now awaits the winner of tonight’s match between Caroline Wozniacki and Anastasija Sevastova to play for a spot in the final.

Stat of the Match: 22 of Kerber’s 25 unforced errors came in the first set. https://t.co/LdN4SrDvQn#USOpen pic.twitter.com/aLCsNv3EkL

— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) September 6, 2016

ACAPULCO, Mexico – No.2 seed Sloane Stephens needed a final set tie-break against unseeded former Australian Open finalist and 2014 Abierto Mexicano Telcel champion Dominika Cibulkova, but the American finally got the job done against the Slovak, winning, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(5).

“I got a little bit better today because of her, and I wouldn’t want to have this memory with anyone else,” Stephens said of Cibulkova during the trophy ceremony.

Stephens led Cibulkova by a set and a break before the 26-year-old, who won their previous encounter at last year’s Rogers Cup, roared back to level the match at a set apiece. In what became the longest final thus far in 2016, the two fought through several long games in the final set before heading to a tie-break. Racing out to a 5-2 lead, Stephens held three match points, converting her third on a Cibulkova forehand error.

“We had a great week and a great start to the year, and I’m looking forward to keeping it going.

“I don’t think I’ve ever played in front of a crowd quite like this. Thank you for letting me experience this in Acapulco because it’s something I’ll remember forever.”

“This is one of my favorite tournaments,” Cibulkova said in her runner-up speech. “It feels like home because of the people who work here and all the fans and sponsors. I’m a little disappointed with the result today, but that’s tennis. I hope to be back here next year and maybe get the trophy again.:

Having started the year with a title at the ASB Classic – where she beat former No.1 Caroline Wozniacki en route – Stephens now has three WTA titles and, most impressively, remains undefeated in finals (winning her first title last year at the Citi Open).

The doubles final took place earlier in the evening, and top seeds Anabel Medina Garrigues and Arantxa Parra Santonja defeated No.2 seeds Kiki Bertens and Johanna Larsson, 6-0, 6-4.

NEW YORK, NY, USA – No.10 seed Karolina Pliskova is into her first Grand Slam semifinal after a commanding victory over 18-year-old Ana Konjuh at the US Open.

Both were making their Grand Slam quarterfinal debut – in fact, neither had been past the third round at any Slam before the fortnight – but experience won out for Pliskova, who had little trouble moving past Konjuh in the 57-minute, 6-2, 6-2 romp.

“I was kind of nervous this morning, before the match,” Pliskova said of playing in her first major quarterfinal. “But always when I get on the court I just forget about everything and I’m not nervous anymore.”

“And I’m just trying to play tennis. Maybe I will think about all what I have been playing last few weeks after the tournament, but right now I just don’t want to, you know, put it in too much inside me. I just want to play.”

.@KaPliskova wins 100% of her first serves en route to a first-set victory over #Konjuh. #usopen @Chase https://t.co/o3RAc1pG59

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 7, 2016

The victory is especially affirming for the Czech, who’s been a dangerous player at the WTA level for the past two years since her breakthrough, but could never translate that big game onto the big stage.

“To be honest, the Grand Slams before, I wasn’t feeling bad in any of them,” Pliskova said after her third round press conference, the first time ever she’d reached the second week of a Slam. “But just somehow the game on the court wasn’t the way I wanted it to be.

“I was just a little bit tight, I wasn’t playing my tennis, wasn’t aggressive enough. If I’m not playing my game, I cannot beat those players like this. I cannot be the one who is running.”

Pliskova didn’t need to do much running against Konjuh, the lowest-ranked and youngest player in the quarterfinals. The Czech is famous for her huge serve – in fact she’s been the WTA’s ace leader for two years – but Pliskova kept her biggest weapon reigned in. She hit just three aces, much lower than her eight-a-match average, but was still lethal on serve, winning 92 percent of points behind her first serve during the match – 100 percent in the first set.

The 18-year-old Konjuh also wields a powerful serve, which she showed off during her impressive takedown of Agnieszka Radwanska in the last round. But the Croat struggled to hold onto it against the big-hitting Pliskova, who broke her twice at the outset of the match to go up 4-0 in the first set, then twice at the end of the second.

Pliskova closed out the match with back-to-back aces to reach her first Grand Slam semifinals.

Ace the day! @kapliskova dominates #Konjuh 6-2, 6-2 in just 57 minutes to make her first slam semifinal @mbusa https://t.co/mKjBWbbXqo

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 7, 2016

Despite the one-sided loss, Konjuh only takes the positives away from her Grand Slam experience.

“You know, I cannot be sad after all of this,” Konjuh reflected in her post-match press conference. “Good luck to her. She’s having great season so far, and, you know, I’m cheering for her.”

“But overall, I’m happy with my results here. When I came here I could only imagine playing the quarters. I think it’s been a great tournament.”

Pliskova awaits the winner in the night match between Serena Williams and Simona Halep to play for a spot in the final.