Best Shots Of The Week From Sydney
Watch all the best shots of the week from the Apia International Sydney!
Watch all the best shots of the week from the Apia International Sydney!
This year the US Open is looking to make rain delays a thing of the past, having finally unveiled a retractable roof over the world’s largest tennis venue, Arthur Ashe Stadium.
It was a massive undertaking requiring two years under construction, and it was inaugurated a few weeks ago just in time for this year’s final Grand Slam.
CNN Open Court gives you some fast facts on everything you need to know about Arthur Ashe Stadium’s new retractable roof.
Angelique Kerber recalls her best memories from the Australian Open.
Angelique Kerber was named among Europe’s 30 Under 30 according to Forbes; how much did the two-time Grand Slam champion earn in her breakthrough 2016 season?
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – Brazilian qualifier Paula Goncalves is through to her first WTA quarterfinals after upsetting the No.2 seed Johanna Larsson 6-4, 6-4.
Playing on the smaller Court 1 of the Jockey Club Brasileiro, Gonçalves channeled the Brazilian fans’ energy to fuel her to the biggest win of her career.
“This stadium is small so the crowd feels very near to you,” she told RioOpen.com after the match. “This is great because I can feel the energy of the fans – this helps me even more.”
Galvanized by the support of the enthusiastic home crowd, Gonçalves didn’t lose her nerve when the Swede broke her serve to start the set 3-1. Instead she broke back twice, sending Larsson on the run with her powerful groundstrokes and taking the first 6-4.
Larsson opened the second set with another break but Gonçalves broke her right back, leveling the score. A net cord on match point sealed the result and kept Brazilian hopes for a home champion alive – the world No.285 is the last Brazilian player left in the Rio Open draw.
“All of the pressure was against her,” Gonçalves said of playing Larsson. “I came here very calm, like I did from the first game of qualifying. It has been a week where my tennis came together, so I just gonna take advantage of this moment and keep going.
“Beating players at her level, inside the Top 50, shows that it’s possible for me to dream bigger.”
No.3 seed Danka Kovinic advanced comfortably against Sílvia Soler-Espinosa, winning 6-2, 6-3 against the Spaniard.
“I expected a longer and tougher match, but I played really good so I’m glad that I finished after maybe a bit more than an hour,” Kovinic said after the match. The Montenegran player struggled in her previous match against the intense heat and humidity of Rio de Janeiro.
“I really feel better today. I played good because I had two days off. I think that helped for me a lot to adjust to this weather.”
Also into the quarterfinals are No.6 seed Lara Arruabarrena and Petra Martic.
NEW YORK, NY, USA – Serena Williams has her work cut out for her to start the 2016 US Open. The top seed, aiming for a record-breaking 23rd Grand Slam title, plays Ekaterina Makarova in a rematch of their 2014 semifinal encounter. No.2 seed Angelique Kerber opens against Polona Hercog and is projected to have a tricky second round against either Alizé Cornet or Mirjana Lucic-Baroni.
Serena leads a loaded first quarter anchored by No.5 seed and Rogers Cup champion Simona Halep. Her projected opponents also included No.29 seed and former No.1 Ana Ivanovic in the third round, and 2011 champion Samantha Stosur in the fourth round. Stosur defeated Serena in that final, one of the American’s only two losses in Flushing in the last five years.
Halep’s early draw:
1R: Kirsten Flipkens
2R: Gavrilova/Safarova
3R: Babos
4R: Vesnina/Suarez Navarro.Could face Serena in QF.#USOpen
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) August 26, 2016
Kerber is slated to face 2015 finalist and No.7 seed Roberta Vinci in the quarterfinals, but not before getting through the likes of 2012 semifinalist Sara Errani and two-time Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova in the third and fourth rounds.
Muguruza is seeded third following a solid week at the Western & Southern Open; the French Open champion landed in Kerber’s half of the draw, with No.8 seed Madison Keys anchoring her quarter. The first seed that the Spaniard could face is Olympic Gold medalist Monica Puig, who defeated her just two weeks ago at the Olympic tennis event. Her fourth round opponent is projected to be Bank of the West Classic champion and No.13 seed Johanna Konta.
Radwanska rounds out the Top 4 seeds and is Serena’s possible semifinal opponent. The Pole could play two-time US Open champion and former No.1 Venus Williams in the quarterfinals, and has Caroline Garcia and Timea Bacsinszky in the third and fourth rounds.
Serena-Halep quarter: Brutal.
Aga-Venus quarter: Big opp.
Keys-Garbi quarter: Balanced.
Kerber-Vinci quarter: Petra/Domi could upend.— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) August 26, 2016
Notable 1Rs: Kvitova-Ostapenko, Kuznetsova-Schiavone, Stosur-Giorgi, Halep-Flipkens, Konta-Mattek Sands. #USOpen
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) August 26, 2016
Defending champion and recently retired Flavia Pennetta was on hand to help with the draw ceremony:
“I’m relaxed and retired! Every day’s a vacation” she joked with Chris Evert.
“I’d like to be involved in tennis; ir’s my life. It’s something that I really love, and maybe I can help coach a new generation to come out of Italy. It’s something I’ve always wished to do.”
Ciao @flavia_pennetta! pic.twitter.com/pssEqBTooj
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) August 26, 2016
MELBOURNE, Australia – Six-time Australian Open champion Serena Williams leads the bottom half of the draw into action on Day Two at Melbourne Park. Dominika Cibulkova and Agnieszka Radwanska are also in action on the last day of Round 1. We preview all the day’s matchups right here at wtatennis.com.
Tuesday, First Round
[2] Serena Williams (USA #2) vs Belinda Bencic (SUI #59)
Head-to-head: Tied at 1-1
Key Stat: 2017 Australian Open marks first Grand Slam where Serena hasn’t been top seed since 2013 Australian Open (No.3)
Belinda Bencic’s reaction to the draw is quite different to how you’d think someone would react when finding out their first-round opponent is six-time champion Serena Williams:
“My first reaction was actually, like, really happy,” Bencic told press ahead of the match. “I’m super-pumped, like excited I get to play on the big court, I guess.
“Yeah, everyone is like, ‘Oh, bad luck with the draw.’ Me, I’m pretty happy and excited about it!”
Bencic has a reason to feel good: back in 2015, she scored the biggest victory of her career over Serena at the Rogers Cup, becoming one of just 3 players to defeat the American that year.
But a lot has changed since in two years, and injury woes have caused the Swiss wunderkind’s ranking to plummet. And Serena – as always – has her eye on making history and reclaiming the No.1 ranking in Melbourne Park.
“All I can do is do my best,” Serena said. “If I can play the way I’ve been practicing, it will be fine. I know she’s been playing well, so it will be good for both of us.”
[3] Agnieszka Radwanska (POL #3) vs Tsvetana Pironkova (BUL #64)
Head-to-head: Radwanska leads 9-3
Key Stat: Pironkova’s last Top 5 win came over Radwanska in 2016 Roland Garros R16
World No.3 Agnieszka Radwanska has many positives to take away from her run to the Apia International Sydney final: before getting thoroughly outclassed in the last match by Johanna Konta, Radwanska hadn’t dropped a set all tournament long and her tricky, deliberate game was flowing freely.
“Of course, losing finals always is disappointing,” Radwanska reflected in pre-tournament press. “But it’s still a good week with great matches against top players.
“I’m very confident. I really hope I can play the same tennis, even the tennis I played in the final. But every tournament is different story, especially in the tough first round.”
After the quick turnaround to Melbourne, Radwanska will bring all of that confidence and preparation against an opponent who has troubled her in the past: Tsvetana Pironkova. The pair have met 12 times previously, with the Bulgarian stunning Radwanska in the fourth round of Roland Garros.
“Pironkova is a very tricky opponent,” she said. “I’m expecting everything from her side. For sure it’s going to be a lot of running. I’m going to really have to work on each point.”
[5] Karolina Pliskova (CZE #6) vs Sara Sorribes Tormo (ESP #106)
Head-to-head: First meeting
Key Stat: Sorribes Tormo is playing just the second Grand Slam main draw match of her career
After her dominant performance at the Brisbane International, where she claimed the first title of her season, Karolina Pliskova took two days off before heading straight to Melbourne.
“I’ve been practicing here since Tuesday. Even yesterday,” the Czech said in pre-tournament press. “But I’ve been feeling good so far. I was even ready for Monday start, but will be ready even for Tuesday.
“That’s what I did in New York, as well. So I just did it here. I don’t know if it’s going to work, but I just want to leave everything in this tournament.”
But despite her red-hot start to 2017, Pliskova wouldn’t be drawn into discussing her Australian Open chances – not even on the eve of the tournament after drawing Sara Sorribes Tormo in the opening round.
“I would definitely not take me as a favorite of this tournament. It’s a big draw,” the Czech said in pre-tournament press. “There is a lot of players. I just take it step by step.”
“I just know my opponent from the first round. I want to pass this one. Then we can talk about the next one.”
Her opponent, Sorribes Tormo, is a 20-year-old Spaniard who might be out of her depths against the big-hitting Czech: this will be the just the second Grand Slam main draw match of her career, and her first match against a Top 10 opponent.
Around the grounds…
Reigning WTA Finals champion Dominika Cibulkova will open against No.90-ranked Denisa Allertova on Day 2. The Slovak reached the final here in 2014, and will hope her 2016 momentum will carry her to a maiden Grand Slam title. Britain’s No.1 Johanna Konta will square off against Kirsten Flipkens – Konta leads the head-to-head 2-1.
Want to know which hotel has its own private beach, the best spot to grab an Arabic coffee or where you can go ice skating in the middle of the desert? Our guest contributor and defending champion Lucie Safarova gives you the insider guide to Doha and the Qatar Total Open in this edition of the WTA Travel Guide.
WATCH THE MATCHES
Former home of the WTA Finals (previously the WTA Championships) from 2008 – 2010, the Khalifi Tennis and Squash Complex now plays host to the first Premier 5 of the year. Come watch the matches while some of the WTA’s best compete to join the ranks of Justine Henin, Monica Seles and Maria Sharapova as a champion of the Qatar Total Open. Tickets are available here. Main draw begins February 21 and runs through February 27, with qualifying taking place February 19 and February 20.
Qatar Total Open Official Tournament Website
WHERE TO STAY
The Four Seasons Doha is the premier hotel destination for luxury and relaxation. With nine restaurants and lounges, five swimming pools, a three-story spa and its own private beach, this hotel has something for everyone.
WHERE TO EAT
Qatar’s capital city offers an incredible range of cuisines from all over the world. Celebrity Chef Gordon Ramsey’s flagship restaurant, Gordon Ramsey Doha, offers award-winning Mediterranean food to Doha. If you’re looking for a steak, head to Prime, which has been voted best steakhouse in the city by Time Out Doha. In the mood for culture with your meal? Look no further than Jazz at The Lincoln Center Doha where you can enjoy American comfort food and live entertainment programmed by artists from the world-renowned Jazz at The Lincoln Center New York. If you are just looking for something to grab-and-go on your way to the tennis, then stop by Quick Bites for a big selection of pizzas, sandwiches, salads and ice cream.
WHAT TO DO
In between matches, make sure to visit Katara Cultural Village, a celebration and showcase of cultures, theatre, art and architecture. And of course, a trip to Doha would not be complete without a Desert Safari. Whether it’s riding on a camel or driving up the sand dunes in a four-wheel vehicle, there are plenty of adventures to be had in the “land-sea” surrounding the city.
LUCIE SAFAROVA’S FAVORITE SPOTS
“To me, the most interesting place in Doha is the Souk Wagif. It’s a local market where you can find everything from traditional food to coffee to souvenirs to home pets! Just watch out for those little animals because they are so cute you might just want to take them home. It feels like a magical maze of little streets and the air is filled with local spices. Don’t forget to check out the huge selection of peanuts if you love them as much as I do.
If you’re looking for great shopping, I love the Villagio Mall. If you don’t feel like walking, you can take a gondola ride or try ice skating on the indoor ice rink.
And of course, you must go to The Pearl for a nice seaside walk. There are shops and a lot of restaurants, ice cream shops and coffee shops; my favorite is The Art Coffee. Follow my Instagram for all of my favorite coffee spots around the world with #coffeewithLucie.
But the absolute best place to be in Doha is at the tennis center, watching the Qatar Total Open. It is one of the strongest events of the year. See you there!”
NEW YORK, NY, USA – There was pandemonium on 34th street on Thursday as fans lined up to catch a glimpse of Serena Williams at Macy’s Herald Square for the US launch of Berlei. The iconic Australian brand, known for its sports bras, celebrated their launch into the American market for the first time with brand ambassador Serena at the forefront.
Serena has worn Berlei bras in every match she’s played for the last 10 years, but it’s the first time they’ll be available in the United States.
“As a female athlete, I know how important a good bra is,” Serena said. “As my tennis regimen includes tons of high performance exercises, I’m always running, bouncing and jumping, and I need to be confident there is both comfort and support – especially on court. I am excited to help introduce these bras globally; I haven’t looked back since my mom introduced me to Berlei.“
Check out all the best photos from the event, right here on wtatennis.com.
– Photos courtesy of Getty Images
Anastasija Sevastova takes on Kristina Kucova in the second round of the Australian Open.