Caroline Wozniacki's Practice Session In Dubai
Watch Caroline Wozniacki hit the practice court ahead of the semifinals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Watch Caroline Wozniacki hit the practice court ahead of the semifinals of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
DUBAI, UAE – No.7 seed Elina Svitolina took home her second title of 2017 – and the biggest one of her career – at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships after defeating 2011 champion Caroline Wozniacki in straight sets.
Playing in her first Premier 5 final, Svitolina showed no sign of nerves as she outhit the former World No.1 to claim the victory 6-4, 6-2 after an hour and 10 minutes.
“It’s very special for me [to win such a big tournament],” Svitolina said in her on-court interview. “I’ve played very amazing tennis this week and I’m happy it happened in Dubai.
“It’s the first trophy for me at such a big tournament, so it’s very special for me.”
“I dreamed for all my life to be in the Top 10” -@ElinaSvitolina pic.twitter.com/T4CooJ6Nw3
— WTA (@WTA) February 25, 2017
With the title, Svitolina will rise from WTA No.13 to No.10, making her the 120th player to make her Top 10 debut since the WTA Rankings were introduced on November 3, 1975.
“I’ve dreamed for all my life to be in Top 10. It’s a very amazing feeling to enter Top 10, and do it by winning the tournament! I’m very excited for the season and very excited I could win this tournament.”
The 22-year-old Ukrainian entered the matchup against Wozniacki with a 1-0 lead in the pair’s head-to-head record, with their only meeting coming last year in Miami where Svitolina came within two points of defeat before winning 5-7, 6-4, 7-6(1).
This time in Dubai, it was a more comprehensive affair, with Svitolina injecting pace into her groundstrokes to break down Wozniacki’s rock-solid defense.
.@ElinaSvitolina captures @DDFTennis Title!
Defeats Wozniacki 6-4, 6-2! pic.twitter.com/TA3LibF8zn
— WTA (@WTA) February 25, 2017
A pair of inch-perfect passing shots left Wozniacki wrong-footed and gave Svitolina the lone break in the first set at 3-2. But the Dane refused to fade away, batting away a pair of Svitolina set points at 5-4 with some bold tennis – including a second-serve ace – to force the Ukrainian to serve it out.
Wozniacki let three break points slip by that would have leveled the score, and instead Svitolina held serve from 0-40 down to take the opening set.
Svitolina continued her momentum into the final set; after trading breaks to start, Svitolina played more aggressive to chip away at Wozniacki’s defense as the Dane’s unforced error count continued to build. Svitolina rattled off the last five games in a row to close out the match and biggest title of her career.
“It’s been a good two weeks, @DDFTennis is a special tournament for me.” -@CaroWozniacki pic.twitter.com/xVVyG0fmXK
— WTA (@WTA) February 25, 2017
Despite the disappointing loss, Wozniacki is taking away positive signs from her Middle East fortnight, which saw her reach back-to-back finals.
“It’s been a good two weeks for me – two finals, lots of matches,” Wozniacki said in her on-court interview. “Making another final here [in Dubai] is definitely great, and I’m already excited to be back.”
Another piece of good news for Wozniacki? The Dane is inching closer to her return to the WTA Top 10: with her run to the final she’ll move to No.14, and is defending just 145 points until the US Open.
The story of the tournament from the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
September has been marked by the US Open, but since we already voted for our NYC fashion favorites, let’s see who dominated the tennis fashion scene in the remainder of the month. Marija Zivlak of Women’s Tennis Blog will show us the clothes that have ruled the courts this fall, following the final Grand Slam of the season.
Caroline Wozniacki won the Toray Pan Pacific Open title in what she called her favorite outfit of the year: the signal green adidas Barricade Dress Set. Designer Stella McCartney created this women’s tennis dress and shorts set with mesh shoulder straps and laser-cut holes to ensure both ventilation and style. Wozniacki not only lifted her first trophy of the season feeling like a queen in green, but she followed it up with her 500th career match win at the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open.
Wozniacki completed her look with black and white adidas Stella Barricade Boost Shoes, whose seamless knit upper hugs Caroline’s feet, while boost™ is there to energize her movement.
Naomi Osaka‘s quirky young energy makes her and adidas one of the best tennis fashion matches, which we thoroughly enjoyed this month during the Toray Pan Pacific Open, as the 18-year-old Japanese spectacularly made her biggest WTA final at the Premier-level tournament in her home country.
Sporting the adidas Fall Pro Tank, featuring a statement contrast racerback with mesh insert, and the printed adidas Fall Pro Skirt, Osaka ensured a rise from No. 66 to a career-high of No.47 in the WTA rankings, beating two Top 20 players on the way.
Elsewhere in Asia, at the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open, Simona Halep showcased a wonderful pale version of the bold geometric print. The cute contrast flash red elastic waistband of her skirt perfectly matches the striking racerback of her predominantly white tank.
Right after the US Open, at the Coupe Banque Nationale, Oceane Dodin made the Top 100 for the first time in her career and became the first teenager to win a WTA title in 2016, all the while looking stylish in the black and volt Nike Fall Maria Premier Tank and Nike Fall Maria FLX Premier Short.
At the $2,288,250 Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open, Petra Kvitova eliminated world number one Angelique Kerber in one of this season’s most dramatic matches, wearing the striking Nike Winter Flex Victory Premier Skirt that wonderfully combines purple dynasty and bright mango colors in a gradient effect on all-around knife pleats. The skirt, available in two lengths, features a flat-front elastic waistband and built-in compression shorts.
The orange Nike Winter Dry Slam Tank, made of 92% Dri-Fit polyester, is a classic soft performance pique tank top, whose racerback and side slits allow optimal range of motion.
The two-time Wimbledon champion is rocking personalized speed-oriented Nike Zoom Vapor 9.5 Tour footwear. The shoe’s lightweight construction is accompanied by enough support and stability to allow confident on-court movement.
What are your favorite women’s tennis styles this fall?
The Abierto Mexicano Telcel is one of the players’ favorite WTA tournaments, and it’s easy to see why at beach paradise Acapulco.
Eugenie Bouchard & Monica Puig took to the beach with ATP’s Marin Cilic for a quick snap on the tournament hashtag sign.
Christina McHale and ATP’s David Goffin were on hand at the draw ceremony and trophy presentation.
Meanwhile, Andrea Petkovic joined Feliciano Lopez for an unforgettable experience.
The pair took in a hair-raising cliff diving show at La Quebrada, where divers jump more than 35 meters into the water below.
Check out that stunning view!
Bouchard and ATP star Juan Martín del Potro took a helicopter to another scenic location.
They visited Pie de la Cuesta, a picturesque beach a few miles away from Acapulco.
Bouchard and del Potro played a bit of beach tennis…
Looks like fun!
But it didn’t go too well for Bouchard!
Kristina Mladenovic and Heather Watson took to the Princess Golf Course with Robert Farah and Juan Sebastián Cabal for a different challenge.
They played a few holes of futgolf, hybrid of a golf and football.
Check out Watson’s skill with the football!
Mladenovic, the No.2 seed in Acapulco, is definitely enjoying the outing.
Afterwards, the players challenged each other to a bit of keepy-uppy!
Dominika Cibulkova has Friday’s shot of the day at the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open.
Petra Kvitova has Saturday’s shot of the day at the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open.
Watch Kristina Mladenovic and Heather Watson try a few rounds of footgolf in Acapulco!
An interview with Agnieszka Radwanska before her first round match at the China Open.
The three-time Internazionali BNL D’Italia champion Maria Sharapova has received a wildcard entry into the main draw of the tournament in Rome this year.
The 29-year-old will attempt to reclaim the title she last won in 2015 as she continues her return to the WTA circuit. The tournament, which takes place from May 15-21, will be her third this year after she picked up wildcards for Stuttgart and Madrid this spring.
We officially announce the Wild Card for the 3 times Rome's Champion @MariaSharapova into the main draw of #ibi17! #tennis #WTA #Sharapova pic.twitter.com/bxrPrjI6fJ
— Internazionali Bnl (@InteBNLdItalia) March 1, 2017
Sharapova beat Spain’s Carla Suárez Navarro, 4-6, 7-5, 6-1, in the final on her last appearance two years ago, to win her most recent WTA title.