Singapore: Kuznetsova Vs Radwanska
Svetlana Kuznetsova takes on Agnieszka Radwanska in the round-robin stage of the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.
Svetlana Kuznetsova takes on Agnieszka Radwanska in the round-robin stage of the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.
Simona Halep speaks after her straight-sets loss to Angelique Kerber in the round-robin stage of the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.
Angelique Kerber takes on Simona Halep in the round-robin stage of the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.
The question on everyone’s lips at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global was an obvious one – what does Svetlana Kuznetsova make of her new, self-administered haircut?
Long before the Olympic tennis event kicked off in Rio de Janeiro, Venus Williams toyed with the idea of sticking around for 2020, when the Olympics moved to Tokyo, Japan.
“We have to start looking at 2020,” she said at Wimbledon when asked about her successful doubles tenure with sister Serena. “That would be impressive. If you think this year’s impressive, hold on.
“That would be a blessing if we did play. I’m so grateful for each and every time we’ve had a chance to play and qualify. It’s been beyond our dreams. It means the world to us to play together.”
Venus and Serena have been the story of Olympic tennis since the two first paired up to win gold in women’s doubles back in 2000. Since then, the sisters have each amassed quite a haul, each taking gold in singles – Venus in 2000, Serena in 2012 – and earning three golds in women’s doubles in 2000, 2008, and 2012.
She narrowly missed out on a fifth gold medal in mixed doubles, winning silver alongside Rajeev Ram in Rio.
“Tokyo is about if I want to be there,” the five-time Wimbledon winner said in August. “If I want to continue to work as hard. It’s a lot of hard work. I have to want to do the work. So we’ll see.”
Her resolve appears to have solidified even more in the off-season, discussing the possibility of playing through 2020 on a soon-to-be broadcast program on the Hallmark Channel.
“I am targeting that to see if it’s possible to play there. While you’re out there playing, I love that challenge, I love the pressure, it’s all a privilege.
“If I can be out there, I will be.”
All photos courtesy of Getty Images.
World No.6 Karolina Pliskova has split with her coach Jiri Vanek. The successful partnership began in 2014 and resulted in two career-best seasons for the 24-year-old Czech, who broke into the Top 10 in 2015.
Pliskova continued her rise in 2016, winning the biggest title of her career at the Western & Southern Open and advancing to her first Slam final at the US Open, where she lost in three sets to World No.1 Angelique Kerber. The announcement comes after Pliskova helped lead the Czech Republic to their fifth Fed Cup title in the last six years.
Like Pliskova, Elina Svitolina also announced her decision to split with longtime coach Iain Hughes; neither Pliskova nor Svitolina have named replacements.
Olga Govortsova knocked out former champion Vitalia Diatchenko to secure the first semifinal spot at the OEC Taipei WTA Challenger.
November 19, 2016
At the final Premier Mandatory event of the campaign, the China Open, Agnieszka Radwanska reclaimed the trophy she won five years earlier, while over in indoor halls of Europe, Dominika Cibulkova and Svetlana Kuznetsova sealed their spots at the WTA Finals.
WTA Insider Courtney Nguyen | Entry lists for the first week of 2017 are out – here’s where World No.1 Angelique Kerber, Serena Williams, Venus Williams and more are starting out the new season.
Spanish player Lara Arruabarrena is well known for her skills and touch on clay courts, but earlier this week she may have hit her best shot ever.
While trying out some trick shots and skills with the tennis ball at the Mutua Madrid Open, Arruabarrena’s coach captured a soccer-inspired trick serve that’s lighting up social media.
We’ll let you see it here for yourself:
Just another normal day practising some serves ? pic.twitter.com/rJ7tjXlchI
— Lara Arruabarrena (@laraarrua) April 25, 2016
We caught up with Arruabarrena when she arrived in Madrid this morning.
“I just did it for fun,” she told wtatennis.com. “I had never done such a thing, you know, first touching the ball with my foot to hit a serve.”
A friend of Arruabarrena’s saw the trick on Instagram and dared her try it out on the practice court.
“Can you imagine I did this in a match? I don´t think I can,” she laughed. “Maybe during the warm up.”
“Just another new way of practicing some serves.”
Arruabarrena’s trick serve might be impressive, but is it the best you’ve ever seen?
After all, earlier this year Yulia Putintseva hit a serve at the BNP Paribas Open that could rival Arruabarrena’s. Check it out:
New way to serve ??? pic.twitter.com/cwSNDtxmy5
— Yulia Putintseva (@Yulka1995P) March 17, 2016
And let’s not forget Elina Svitolina’s serve of the year at the 2014 China Open:
So what’s the verdict? Who hit the best trick serve? Vote here to have your say!