Jankovic Survives Konjuh, Tsurenko Looms In Guangzhou Final
Defending champion and former No.1 Jelena Jankovic knocked out US Open quarterfinalist Ana Konjuh, next faces Lesia Tsurenko in the Guanzhou International Women’s Open final.
Defending champion and former No.1 Jelena Jankovic knocked out US Open quarterfinalist Ana Konjuh, next faces Lesia Tsurenko in the Guanzhou International Women’s Open final.
Top 20 players’ schedules, upcoming tournaments, birthdays and more – check out what’s on tap for this week as the WTA’s top players descend on Indian Wells.
An interview with Timea Bacsinszky after her win in the third round of the BNP Paribas Open.
TOKYO, Japan – Former champion Caroline Wozniacki ended qualifier Magda Linette’s run at the Toray Pan Pacific Open with a straight-set win in Friday’s quarterfinal.
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Continuing the form that took her to the US Open semifinals and past No.4 seed Carla Suárez Navarro in the previous round, Wozniacki overcame a spirited showing from Linette to run out a 6-4, 6-3 winner in an hour and 22 minutes.
World No.109 Linette needed nearly three hours to get past Yulia Putintseva on Thursday and despite having chances in both sets was unable to upset her more celebrated hitting partner.
“She’s been playing really well lately, had a lot of matches. She’s a good friend of mine and we practice a lot so we know each other’s game,” Wozniacki said. “I was just happy that I stayed tough and managed to serve it out in the end.”
Another good day at the office! Semifinals tomorrow ???? #tokyo pic.twitter.com/0CkWKkmXfv
— Caroline Wozniacki (@CaroWozniacki) September 23, 2016
The Dane drew on all her experience to take an evenly contested opening set, breaking in the final game when Linette netted with a tired forehand. Making a mockery of her lowly ranking, Linette continued to pose questions in the second set, attacking the net with relish. Ultimately, though, Wozniacki had too many answers, taking the final four games to reach a fifth semifinal in the Japanese capital.
In 2010 Wozniacki ended up going all the way and she continues her bid to reclaim the title against another Pole, No.2 seed Agnieszka Radwanska.
“We’ve played many times before, and again she’s a close friend. It’s going to be another tough one because she’s been playing well this week, but I’m just happy to be in the semifinals again.”
Angelique Kerber is guaranteed a return to WTA World No.1 when the new rankings are released by virtue of Serena Williams’ withdrawal from the BNP Paribas Open and Miami Open.
Kerber and Williams entered the tournament facing a battle for World No.1, with the American needing to reach at least the semifinals to hold on to the top spot. But the race to the top took another twist as Williams announced her withdrawal on Tuesday before the start of play at Indian Wells:
“Sadly, I have to withdraw from the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells and the Miami Open,” Williams said in a statement. “I have not been able to train due to my knees and am disappointed I cannot be there. I will keep moving forward and continue to be positive. I look forward to being back as soon as I can.”
As a result, Kerber is projected to return to World No.1 when the new WTA rankings are released on Monday, March 20 after Indian Wells and will hold on to the spot through at least April 2, which will take her career total to 22 weeks at No.1.
She will surpass Kim Clijsters (20 weeks), Tracy Austin (21 weeks) and Maria Sharapova (21 weeks) in terms of all-time weeks atop the rankings.
The German first rose to the World No.1 ranking on September 12, 2016 after winning her second Grand Slam at the US Open. Kerber became the second German woman to reach the milestone since the computer rankings were introduced in 1975, and the first since Stefanie Graf. The then-28-year-old also became the oldest player to make her debut at No.1, a record previously held by Jennifer Capriati, who was 25 years, 200 days when she reached No.1 in October 2001.
Kerber held the spot for 20 consecutive weeks until Williams reclaimed the ranking following her historic 23rd major victory at the Australian Open in January.
Caroline Wozniacki has Friday’s Shot Of The Day at the Toray Pan Pacific Open.
Kirsten Flipkens has Wednesday’s shot of the day on Day 1 of the BNP Paribas Open.
WUHAN, China – Before main draw action got underway at the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open, the WTA stars set to take the court took to the red carpet for the Player’s Party. No.4 seed Simona Halep and No.5 seed Karolina Pliskova each struck a pose for the cameras, along with some of the biggest names in women’s tennis.
Check out the best photos courtesy of Getty Images:
Simona Halep (ROU)
Karolina Pliskova (CZE)
Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS)
Lucie Safarova (CZE)
Belinda Bencic (SUI)
Caroline Garcia (FRA)
Petra Kvitova (CZE)
Madison Keys (USA)
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS)
Carla Suárez Navarro (ESP)
Svetlana Kuznetsova talks ahead of the BNP Paribas Open.
An interview with Naomi Osaka after her loss in the final of the Toray Pan Pacific Open.