Tennis News

The second half of the Middle East swing continues at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, the first Premier 5 event of the year. Meanwhile in Hungary, WTA action returns to Budapest for the first time since 2013 at the Hungarian Ladies Open.

Here’s what’s on tap for this week on the WTA:

CURRENT TOURNAMENTS:

Dubai:

Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships
Premier 5 | $2,365,250 | Hard
Top-ranked players: Angelique Kerber, Karolina Pliskova, Dominika Cibulkova, Agnieszka Radwanska
Defending Champion: Sara Errani

Budapest:
Hungarian Ladies Open
International | $226,750 | Hard
Top-ranked players: Timea Babos, Lucie Safarova, Andrea Petkovic, Julia Goerges
Defending Champion: None (First Staging)

UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS:

Acapulco:

Abierto Mexicano Telcel
International | $226,750 | Hard
Top-ranked players: Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Monica Niculescu, Jelena Ostapenko, Kristina Mladenovic
Defending Champion: Sloane Stephens

Kuala Lumpur:

Alya WTA Malaysian Open
International | $226,750 | Hard
Top-ranked players: Carla Suárez Navarro, Elina Svitolina, Caroline Garcia, Yulia Putintseva
Defending Champion: Elina Svitolina

Indian Wells:

BNP Paribas Open
Premier Mandatory | $6,993,450 | Hard
Top-ranked players: Serena Williams, Angelique Kerber, Karolina Pliskova, Simona Halep, Dominika Cibulkova
Defending Champion: Victoria Azarenka

TOP 20 PLAYERS’ SCHEDULES:

1. Serena Williams: Indian Wells
2. Angelique Kerber: Dubai, Indian Wells
3. Karolina Pliskova: Dubai, Indian Wells
4. Simona Halep: Indian Wells
5. Dominika Cibulkova: Dubai, Indian Wells
6. Agnieszka Radwanska: Dubai, Indian Wells
7. Garbiñe Muguruza: Dubai, Indian Wells
8. Svetlana Kuznetsova: Indian Wells
9. Madison Keys: Indian Wells
10. Johanna Konta: Indian Wells
11. Petra Kvitova
12. Venus Williams: Indian Wells
13. Elina Svitolina: Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, Indian Wells
14. Carla Suarez Navarro: Kuala Lumpur, Indian Wells
15. Caroline Wozniacki: Dubai, Indian Wells
16. Elena Vesnina: Dubai, Indian Wells
17. Timea Bacsinszky: Indian Wells
18. Victoria Azarenka
19. Samantha Stosur: Dubai, Indian Wells
20. Barbora Strycova: Dubai, Indian Wells

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
Best wishes to those celebrating birthdays this week:

Kateryna Kozlova (UKR) – February 20, 1994
Klara Koukalova (CZE) – February 24, 1982
Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) – February 25, 1994
Chen Liang (CHN) – February 25, 1989

INDIAN WELLS, CA, USA – USANA Health Sciences and the WTA have kicked off their third annual Aces for Humanity campaign in support of the USANA True Health Foundation, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide immediate and long-term assistance to suffering populations worldwide. USANA is a global nutritional company and has been a longstanding partner of the WTA since 2006.

Beginning with the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, every ace served at a Premier-level WTA event will translate into a donation for the Foundation. For every ace served by the nine USANA Brand Ambassadors – Caroline Wozniacki, Genie Bouchard, Madison Keys, Samantha Stosur, Sloane Stephens, Monica Puig, Zheng Saisai, and most recently Kristina Mladenovic and Alizé Cornet – the WTA will contribute $10 toward the campaign, while every ace served by any other WTA player will translate into a $5 donation.

Collectively, 430 aces were recorded by USANA Brand Ambassadors during last season’s campaign, with Keys leading the group with 138 non-returnable serves. Through this program and other charitable efforts, the WTA has contributed over $115,000 to the USANA True Health Foundation since 2011.

“One hundred percent of every dollar donated to the Foundation goes directly toward helping those in need of assistance,” said Deb Jordan, president of the USANA True Health Foundation. “The support we have received through the WTA and our Brand Ambassadors has allowed us to help millions around the world and we couldn’t be more grateful for their continued support and partnership.”

“I’m really impressed by USANA’s commitment to helping others and what the USANA True Health Foundation has accomplished over the past few years,” said USANA Brand Ambassador Caroline Wozniacki. “I’m proud to be part of this campaign and to help raise more awareness to their efforts.”

This year the program will also involve regular social giveaways, including autographed tennis balls and USANA product. For official rules, head to wtatennis.com.

“The WTA is proud to support the significant efforts of USANA’s True Health Foundation,” said Steve Simon, WTA CEO. “Through our partnership with USANA and the Aces for Humanity campaign, we are able to provide meaningful assistance to those in need, which is something we value greatly.”

#AcesForHumanity Fan Giveaway

It’s simple: before each WTA Premier tournament guess how many total aces will be hit.
First up is the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. Last year there was a total of 460 aces hit. It’s now your turn, take your best guess of how many will be hit in the desert this year.

How To Enter:
• Follow @WTA and @USANAFoundation on Twitter and before each WTA Premier tournament tweet the number of aces you predict will be hit during the whole tournament (Singles, Main Draw)
• Include the hashtag #AcesForHumanity
• Indian Wells deadline is March 9th at 11am PST
• The winner will be announced March 21st

Aces For Humanity is a joint WTA and USANA initiative that benefits the USANA True Health Foundation, which provides critical human necessities to those in suffering or in need around the globe.

For full rules on how to enter, click here.

It’s time to vote for August’s WTA Player of the Month!

Have a look at the nominees and cast your vote before Thursday at 11:59pm ET! The winner will be announced Friday, September 16.

August 2016 WTA Player Of The Month Finalists

Angelique Kerber: Angelique Kerber had a summer to remember, starting at the height of the Emirates Airline US Open Series. From the semifinals of the Rogers Cup, Kerber went to Rio for the Olympic tennis event, where she came away with a silver medal. Playing for World No.1 at the Western & Southern Open, she made it all the way to the final and went one better at the US Open to claim her second Grand Slam. The victory made her the first German woman to top the WTA rankings since Steffi Graf and the first lefty since Monica Seles. Oh, and she qualified for what will be her fourth appearance at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.

Monica Puig: Puig became the first Puerto Rican athlete to win a gold medal when she shocked Kerber in the final of the Olympic tennis event. Her impressive run in Rio saw her upset the likes of Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Garbiñe Muguruza, Laura Siegemund, and Petra Kvitova before winning an epic final over the soon-to-be World No.1.

Karolina Pliskova: Pliskova broke through in a big way this summer, halting Kerber’s quest to become No.1 in the final of the Western & Southern Open to win the biggest title of her young career. At the US Open, she became the fourth woman ever – and the first since 2009 – to beat both Venus Williams and Serena Williams in the same major tournament to reach her first Grand Slam final.

2016 Winners

January: Angelique Kerber
February: Carla Suárez Navarro
March: Victoria Azarenka
April: Angelique Kerber
May: Garbiñe Muguruza
June: Serena Williams
July: Simona Halep

How it works:

Finalists are selected by wtatennis.com
Winner is then determined by a fan vote on wtatennis.com

If you’re looking for the perfect combination of blue skies, spectacular mountain views, top rated spas and the world’s best tennis players all in one location, you’re in luck. Women’s tennis descends on the desert for the first Premier Mandatory event of the year, and we’re giving you all of the details you need to join in on the fun. Our guest contributor and California native CoCo Vandeweghe gives you the insider guide to Indian Wells and the BNP Paribas Open in this edition of the WTA Travel Guide.

WATCH THE MATCHES

The BNP Paribas Open has won the award for WTA Premier Event of the Year the past three years, and last year’s event saw over 456,000 of tennis’ biggest fans walk through the gates to see some of the sport’s biggest stars compete for the title.

Sitting 120 miles southeast of Los Angeles, the Indian Wells Tennis Garden boasts the 2nd largest stadium in the world, with Stadium 1 holding 16,100 spectators. Everything you need for a day of fine dining, world-class tennis and activities for all ages can be found right on site. The Indian Wells Tennis Garden hosts several fine dining restaurants, including world-renowned Nobu, The Chop House and Piero’s Pizza Vino. Details for each restaurant can be found here.

Qualifying runs March 7 – 8, with matches beginning at 11:00am and is free to the public. Main draw action is March 9 – March 20, with day sessions beginning at 11:00am. Night sessions begin March 10 and start at 7:00pm. Looking for tickets? Click here.

If you’re visiting between March 13 and March 16, make sure to head to Stadium 1 at 10:30am each morning for Serve it Up, where lucky fans can come on court and meet a player.

WHERE TO STAY

Within the Coachella Valley, Indian Wells boasts some of the finest hotels and spas in the world. The Hyatt Regency Indian Wells Resort and Spa is an AAA Four-Diamond award winning resort, and features seven swimming pools, including a kids’ pool with a water slide, and an adult pool with private cabanas.

If a smaller boutique hotel is more your style, then check-in to the Indian Wells Resort Hotel for classic, Indian Wells charm. Founded by Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, the hotel features tennis courts, access to world-famous golf courses, and a complimentary continental breakfast.

Nesting on 11 acres of gardens, Miramonte Hotel & Spa is the ultimate destination for relaxation. Named one of Conde Nast Traveler’s Top 100 Resort Spas, the The Well, features 13-treatment rooms, and a menu of both indoor and outdoor treatments. After the spa, head to the Miramonte Pool, which was named “Best Mountain View Pool” by C Magazine.

Looking for a hotel where your kids can have fun and you can relax amongst the mountains? Look no further than the Renaissance Indian Wells Resort & Spa. This sprawling property features spacious guest rooms, an award-winning Italian restaurant, fashion boutiques, a pool with a sandy beach and waterfalls, and Camp Oasis, a kids’ day camp.

WHAT TO DO

No trip to the desert would be complete without grabbing your golf clubs and playing a round of 18-holes. The Indian Wells Golf Resort features a course named by Golfweek as one of Top 20 “Best Courses You Can Play” in California, and is within walking distance of all four hotels listed above.

For a list of additional activities, including shopping, hiking and cultural outings, click here.

COCO VANDEWEGHE’S FAVORITE SPOTS

CoCo Vandeweghe has been a frequent visitor to the desert long before she ever picked up a tennis racquet, so she was an obvious choice for this month’s guest contributor. Here are California-resident CoCo Vandeweghe’s must-do activities in Indian Wells.

“I’ve been going to the desert since I was five months old because my grandparents had a house there and any break we got, we would come over from Long Island. I love playing the BNP Paribas Open because it is close to home and my family all comes out to support me.

For my birthday this year, we went horseback riding in the desert, which I highly recommend. Also, if you’re looking for a little more ‘horsepower’ then check out all-terrain vehicle (ATV) rentals and cruise through the desert to check out the mountain views. And, for a cruise amongst the palm trees, rent a bicycle and hit the road, which is one of my favorite activities to do with my sister.

For a mix of a good breakfast and some cool golf and tennis memorabilia, head to Randy’s Cafe, which is a local favorite.”