Doha: Shot Of The Match (Radwanska)
Agnieszka Radwanska had a second shot of the match in the quarterfinals of the Qatar Total Open.
Agnieszka Radwanska had a second shot of the match in the quarterfinals of the Qatar Total Open.
DALIAN, China – Jana Cepelova ended Peng Shuai’s campaign at the Dalian Women’s Tennis Open at the first hurdle after a three-set win on Wednesday.
Watch live streaming from Dalian all week right here.
In a closely fought encounter, No.6 seed Cepelova held her nerve during a tense conclusion to close out a 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 victory in a fraction over two hours.
Exactly two years ago, Peng produced some of the best tennis of her career to reach the semifinals of the US Open. However, since then success has been thin on the ground after a debilitating back problem forced her to miss nearly all of 2015.
Progress since her return has been slow, struggling for wins away from the ITF Circuit. Against Cepelova she had her chances, threatening to get edge ahead in the deciding set only to surrender the solitary break in the seventh game.
Elsewhere, there were wins for Cepelova’s fellow seeds, Wang Qiang, Duan Ying-Ying and Tamira Paszek. Top seed Wang withstood a late rally to defeat Nigina Abduraimova, 6-4, 7-6(4), while Duan, the No.3 seed, provided further home cheer with a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Sara Sorribes Tormo.
No.4 seed Paszek was pushed even harder, but finished strongly to see off You Xiaodi, 7-5, 5-7, 6-1.
WTA Insider | In the latest Daily Dispatch, hear Italian journalist Luca Baldissera’s take on his compatriot Roberta Vinci as well as a preview of the remaining fourth-round clashes.
The stars of the WTA – including Hsieh Su-Wei, a champion here in 2012 – are gracing the courts at the BMW Malaysian Open this week.
But before the competition started it was time for the player party. Czech doubles partners Karolina Stuchla and Lenka Kuncikova were wore matching jumpsuits.
Several players – including Asia’s best – were among those at the Kuala Lumpur player party.
Roberta Vinci, the newest member of the WTA Top 10, hit the catwalk for the annual player party fashion show.
The resurgent Eugenie Bouchard walked the runway…
…as well as Ukraine’s No.1 Elina Svitolina.
Vinci, Svitolina, Daniela Hantuchova and Bouchard were the stars of the night.
The BMW Malaysian Open started in 2010 and is currently in its seventh year on the WTA calendar.
Watch all of the best shots of the Qatar Total Open – right here!
NEW YORK, NY, USA – It’s finals weekend at the US Open, as new World No.1 Angelique Kerber looks to solidify her spot atop the WTA rankings with a second Grand Slam title.
Standing in her way is No.10 seed Karolina Pliskova, who kept the German from hitting No.1 at the Western & Southern Open. Pliskova became the first Czech woman to reach a US Open final by becoming the fourth woman to ever beat both Williams sisters at a major tournament – the first since Kim Clijsters in 2009.
Hear from both finalists in their own words in the latest Daily Dispatch from the WTA Insider Podcast:
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CNN Open Court relives Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber’s triumphant homecoming in Leipzig.
After the world was done holding its breath throughout a tense final, the tweets came pouring in for US Open champion Angelique Kerber and finalist Karolina Pliskova.
Check out some of the best tweets, right here on wtatennis.com!
First up, here from the woman herself, who took time from her various post-win duties to post this celebratory message:
US OPEN CHAMPION!!! WOW, I DID IT!!! pic.twitter.com/YpWv5A7jaM
— Angelique Kerber (@AngeliqueKerber) September 10, 2016
Some of Germany’s biggest sports stars at home and abroad took to Twitter to celebrate Kerber’s achievement, including NBA star Dirk Nowitzki, F1 pilot Nico Rosberg and a whole host of World Cup winning soccer players.
Angieeeee. Wahnsinn.
— Dirk Nowitzki (@swish41) September 10, 2016
Good luck for the final, Angelique!! ✊?✊? ??? Viel Glück, du schaffst das!!! #tennis #usopen #no1 @AngeliqueKerber pic.twitter.com/2Ux7P6XZ5q
— Nico Rosberg (@nico_rosberg) September 9, 2016
?????? Gratulation @AngeliqueKerber. Gratulation an die Nummer 1 der Welt! Wow
— Toni Kroos (@ToniKroos) September 10, 2016
A fantastic year: 2 Grand Slams, Olympic silver medallist, new World No. 1! Congrats, @AngeliqueKerber ???? #USOpen pic.twitter.com/E9TPYkfrxv
— Basti Schweinsteiger (@BSchweinsteiger) September 10, 2016
Yessss! @AngeliqueKerber #USOpen ????????? Congratulations!
— Maria Höfl-Riesch (@Maria) September 10, 2016
Of course, the WTA’s stars and legends were also tuned in to the final, and they had plenty of words for both of the finalists after the match.
Here are the best messages from Kerber and Pliskova’s WTA peers:
Congratulations @AngeliqueKerber on your @usopen championship & being the new #1 player in the world. @WTA
— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) September 10, 2016
Congrats @AngeliqueKerber ??! And @KaPliskova for an amazing #USOpen so proud of you?
— Kristina Mladenovic (@KikiMladenovic) September 10, 2016
What an amazing week for @AngeliqueKerber ! Number 1 and #USOpen Champion ?? Congratulations!???? @usopen pic.twitter.com/WrieS6X8hZ
— Gabriela Sabatini (@sabatinigabyok) September 10, 2016
Congrats @AngeliqueKerber 4 your 1st @usopen title & n° #1 ranking @WTA,but so impressed by @KaPliskova @FilaTennis pic.twitter.com/PByoi32r0O
— Marion bartoli (@bartoli_marion) September 10, 2016
Congrats to @AngeliqueKerber ?Started the year #10 & made a great career, phenomenal in 9 months!!!??#1????
— Tracy Austin (@thetracyaustin) September 10, 2016
A big congrats to @AngeliqueKerber on her 2nd major of the year AND becoming the worlds #1. It's a feat only a few have accomplished….??
— rennae stubbs (@rennaestubbs) September 10, 2016
So much valuable experience 4 @KaPliskova @usopen This just beginning.Belief behind powerful groundies & serve✅Getting stronger✅Major-soon.
— Tracy Austin (@thetracyaustin) September 11, 2016
Congrats @AngeliqueKerber for an amazing #USOpen brava ragazza!!!?
— Flavia Pennetta (@flavia_pennetta) September 11, 2016
Kerber ☝ #fav
— Daria Gavrilova (@Daria_gav) September 10, 2016
Amazing from both girls. @AngeliqueKerber that's why your now the world no1 ?
— Melanie South (@melaniesouth) September 10, 2016
Wow wow wow what a season @AngeliqueKerber ?! 2 slams ??, the olympic silver medal?, new world number one ☝, that's pretty cool!!! #congrats
— Alize Cornet (@alizecornet) September 11, 2016
February was packed with plenty of amazing shots – we narrowed it down to the five best.
In the end it was Agnieszka Radwanska who, in a match full of highlights against Roberta Vinci at the Qatar Total Open, played one of those shots to rule them all in the quarterfinals. As Radwanska makes her way to net, you know something magical is about to happen; sure enough, the Pole taps a volley from behind the back to put an exclamation point on an already-entertaining rally in Doha – taking home this month’s top votes.
Click here to watch all of February’s finalists.
Final Results for February’s WTA Shot Of The Month
1. Agnieszka Radwanska (84%)
2. Jelena Jankovic (6%)
3. Elina Svitolina (4%)
4. Garbiñe Muguruza (3%)
5. Belinda Bencic (3%)
2016 WTA Shot of the Month Winners
January: Caroline Wozniacki
How it works:
Five shots are selected by wtatennis.com
Winner is then determined by a fan vote on wtatennis.com
SINGAPORE – The Russian team of Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina has qualified for this year’s BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.
Makarova and Vesnina are set to make their third appearance as a team at the WTA Finals in Singapore. The pair reached the final on their debut appearance in 2013, and fell in the opening round in 2014. The Russians also qualified for the year-end event in 2015, but had to withdraw due to an injury to Makarova.
“Congratulations to Ekaterina and Elena on qualifying for the BNP Paribas Finals Singapore presented by SC Global,” said WTA CEO Steve Simon. “This team is a favorite in any tournament, and we are thrilled to welcome them back to Singapore.”
Makarova and Vesnina began their partnership in 2012 and together have won seven titles, including two Grand Slams at 2013 Roland Garros and 2014 US Open. This year the Russian duo began the year as a team at the Mutua Madrid Open in April, where they reached the semifinals. The pair continued their success by clinching back-to-back titles at the Rogers Cup in Montréal and the Gold Medal at the Rio Olympics. In addition, they reached two finals at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome and Roland Garros. As a result, they have earned the third slot in the doubles field at the WTA Finals Singapore.
“It’s definitely very exciting to qualify for the WTA Finals in Singapore,” said Vesnina. “It was our goal when we started playing, started winning matches and started winning good tournaments, we knew that we wanted to be there. We were there two years ago and we really liked it. Last year, unfortunately, we couldn’t go because of the injury. It’s an amazing tournament – we have some great memories from there and we’re really looking forward to being there.”
“The WTA Finals is such a great tournament – and for our first year when we came out on the court, it was a full stadium for doubles,” added Makarova. “It was so fun to play out there and the fans are so excited and supportive. The whole organization and the country, it’s nice to be there.”
The current Road to Singapore Leaderboard as follows (as of September 12, 2016):