Tennis News

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – The tennis Olympians are making their way to Rio for next week’s Summer Olympic Games. While first ball won’t be hit until Saturday, the WTA stars are arriving early to acclimate to their new and exciting surroundings and have the chance to explore the city.

Check out what some of your favorite players have to say about their Rio arrival on Twitter:

On my way to #Rio2016 ! ?? Happy national day Switzerland ?? ! #proud #hoppsuisse #riocalling #Olympics2016 pic.twitter.com/iydIg3iXCK

— Timea Bacsinszky (@TimeaOfficial) August 1, 2016

So proud to be part of #czechteam in Rio ?? Go to my Facebook Fanpage for daily info #riofotodenik #riophotodiary pic.twitter.com/UOuSAcNdVA

— Andrea Hlavackova (@AndreaHlavackov) August 1, 2016

Off to Rio!!!! ✈️??☀️????? pic.twitter.com/fqH7B8bCJt

— Heather Watson (@HeatherWatson92) August 1, 2016

This feeling ???? Rio bound .. #TeamIndia #Olympics https://t.co/wEzJ5CsWHc

— Sania Mirza (@MirzaSania) July 31, 2016

.@anabelmedina cumple años en la Villa Olímpica en vísperas de competir en sus cuartos Juegos. ¡Muchas felicidades! pic.twitter.com/IWtRFguaic

— COE (@COE_es) July 31, 2016

Crece el equipo en @rio2016_es @CarlaSuarezNava @MedinaParraRio @conchitamartinz pic.twitter.com/drPUsOXvSl

— Pedro Hernandez (@PedroRFET) August 1, 2016

Le trio débarque bientôt à Rio ??????? @alizecornet @CaroGarcia @FranceOlympique #RoadToRio pic.twitter.com/o4YTfO0FQl

— Kristina Mladenovic (@KikiMladenovic) July 31, 2016

The village? the shuttle ? the ball? in Rio! ? pic.twitter.com/r9o4ksuXz0

— Zheng Saisai (@Zheng_Saisai) July 31, 2016

Hello Rio! So honored and happy to be here.. #TeamBelgium #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/r9XngTTyDQ

— Yanina Wickmayer (@wickytennis) July 31, 2016

Kiki Bertens earned her spot onto her country’s Olympic team after her inspiring run to the French Open semifinals, but the Dutch powerhouse still has some packing to do…

Packing for a trip for 6 weeks… What should I bring??? #rio #Usa #myhouseisamess pic.twitter.com/JDw7JxGgG7

— Kiki Bertens (@kikibertens) July 30, 2016

Galina Voskoboeva will headline the Kazakh team in both singles and doubles, and is giving fans an in-depth – and bilingual! – look into the Rio experience on her official Facebook page:

The Olympics won’t be complete without Svetlana Kuznetsova, but the Russian admitted to having some difficulty securing a flight from the Rogers Cup – where the two-time Grand Slam champion reached the quarterfinals – but appears to have sorted out her travel issues after a short stay in New York City:

Deammm please one seat to Rio from NY for meeeee????????

— Svetlana Kuznetsova (@SvetlanaK27) July 31, 2016

UPDATE: Kuznetsova is on the ground with Team Russia in Rio!

TAIPEI CITY, Taiwan – Samantha Stosur overcame a stern second round test against Slovenian qualifier Dalila Jakupovic, needing to come back from a set down to reach the quarterfinals of the Taiwan Open.

The No.146-ranked Jakupovic was two games away from sealing the upset in the second set, but Stosur stormed back to close out the match 3-6, 7-5, 6-3.

“I didn’t feel like I was playing too bad, because I had lots of chances to win many of the games,” the Australian explained in her post-match press conference. “I earned many break points but wasn’t able to convert them, and every time she had one chance she took it.

“It felt like I should have been leading in the first set, so it was tough to start out the second set thinking about how I was going to convert all these chances. By the third set, I feel like I was playing my best tennis.”

Perfect drop shot from @BamBamSam30!! ? #TaiwanOpen pic.twitter.com/NMeZfxLVGT

— WTA (@WTA) February 2, 2017

Stosur let four break chances go by before Jakupovic grabbed an early lead, breaking three times to take the opening set. The Australian finally converted to start the second, wrestling with the momentum as Jakupovic surged back to level the match at 5-5. Stosur grabbed the decisive break to close out the set with Jakupovic two games away from victory.

The Australian was in full flight in the final set, rattling off four straight games to make her way into the quarterfinals after two hours and sixteen minutes.

Her next opponent will be Peng Shuai, who knocked out the No.5 seed Katerina Siniakova, 6-1, 6-3.

“We’ve played each other a few times, but not for many years,” Stosur said. “She hits the ball very hard, very flat – it really comes through the court. I know it’s going to be very difficult, and I’m sure she’s feeling very confident after her quick win today.”

.@BamBamSam30 overcomes Jakupovic 3-6, 7-5, 6-3!

Meets Peng in @WTA_Taiwan_Open Quarterfinals! pic.twitter.com/iqNO5heSoQ

— WTA (@WTA) February 2, 2017