Miami: Radwanska Interview
An interview with Agnieszka Radwanska after her win in the third round of the Miami Open.
An interview with Agnieszka Radwanska after her win in the third round of the Miami Open.
WEDNESDAY IN BEIJING: Madison Keys (RTS #8) plays Svetlana Kuznetsova (RTS #10) and Garbiñe Muguruza (RTS #6) will play Petra Kvitova (RTS #12) in what could be a decisive day on the Road to Singapore leaderboard. Who will hit the speed bumps? Who will stay on track?
Here is a player-by-player breakdown of who can qualify this week…
MUGURUZA: In its simplest form, Muguruza needs to win at least one more match. She can qualify for the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global by reaching the quarterfinals AND Kuznetsova and Konta not reaching the semifinals. She can also secure qualification by advancing to the semifinals this week, regardless of other results.
KEYS: Keys can qualify by reaching the final (she is in the same half as Kuznetsova and Kvitova) and if Konta does not reach quarterfinals. She can secure qualification regardless, if she can win the title.
KUZNETSOVA: Kuznetsova qualifies for the WTA Finals by winning the title
Additionally, Kvitova will need to reach the Beijing final to become part of the mix of being an alternate in Singapore. She is also entered into Luxembourg.
SINGLES:
Qualified: Angelique Kerber, Serena Williams, Simona Halep, Agnieszka Radwanska, Karolina Pliskova
Next In Line (Current Top 8):
Currently No.9 to No.13 with points behind current projected cut-off (3257)
Who is Playing Where?
Muguruza: currently not entered in any other events
Cibulkova: Moscow
Keys: currently not entered in any other events
Konta: Hong Kong
Kuznetsova: Tianjin
Kvitova: Luxembourg
DOUBLES QUALIFICATION UPDATE
Doubles stays the same as yesterday…
If Sania Mirza / Barbora Strycova lose, Timea Babos / Yaroslava Shvedova, Andrea Hlavackova / Lucie Hradecka, Chan Hao-Ching / Chan Yung-Jan all qualify for WTA Finals
If Mirza/Strycova AND Andreja Klepac / Katarina Srebotnik lose, the doubles field will be set as Babos/Shvedova, Hlavackova/Hradecka, Chan Sisters and Karolina Pliskova / Julia Goerges will each qualify for the WTA Finals
QUALIFIED: Caroline Garcia / Kristina Mladenovic, Martina Hingis / Sania Mirza, Ekaterina Makarova / Elena Vesnina, Bethanie Mattek-Sands / Lucie Safarova
NEXT IN LINE:
|
Babos/Shvedova |
3975 |
2r vs. Bacsinszky/Ostapenko |
|
Hlavackova/Hradecka |
3775 |
Lost 1r (Arruabarrena/Kalashnikova) |
|
Chan/Chan |
3760 |
1r bye, 2r vs. King/Niculescu |
|
Goerges/Pliskova |
3390 |
2r vs Hingis/Vandeweghe |
Remaining Teams in Possible Contention (points behind current cut-off)
|
Mirza/Strycova |
-1005 |
Must reach at least QFs to stay in contention**
(same quarter as Goerges/Pliskova)
1r – bye; 2r vs Dabrowski/Martinez Sanchez |
|||
|
Klepac/Srebotnik |
-1230 |
8that best, must win Beijing to stay in contention and Goerges/Pliskova do not reach SF
2r vs Arruabarrena/Kalashnikova |
|||
All photos courtesy of Getty Images.
The doubles field for the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global is now set after events in Beijing saw the final four qualifying berths decided on Wednesday.
Defeat for Sania Mirza and Barbora Strycova in the Chinese capital confirmed that Timea Babos and Yaroslava Shvedova, Chan Hao-Ching and Chan Yung-Jan, Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka, and Julia Goerges and Karolina Pliskova will all be heading to Singapore for the season finale.
The four join earlier qualifiers Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic, Martina Hingis and Mirza, Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina, and Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Lucie Safarova in the eight-team knockout draw.
There is a wealth of experience amongst the final batch of qualifiers, with only Goerges and Pliskova making their Singapore debut. Two-time major winners Hlavackova and Hradecka were runners-up at the Finals in 2012, before reaching the semifinals on their return in 2015. The Chan sisters were also semifinalists 12 months ago, while Babos and Shvedova, have also qualified in the past, albeit with other partners.
The current Road to Singapore leaderboard as follows (as of October 3, 2016):
Speaking to the media for the first time since facing down a knife-wielding intruder in her Prostejov flat, Petra Kvitova delivered a strong address to the tennis world, vowing to look towards a bright future where she returns to the court once again.
“While what has happened to me was very scary, I do not see myself as a victim,” she said in a statement. “I do not feel sorry for myself, and I will not look backwards.”
Kvitova was attacked in her home on Monday, suffering multiple lacerations in her left hand as she fought off the attacker, posing as a gas inspector. Following a surgery that repaired two nerves, Kvitova’s doctor recommended the two-time Wimbledon champion not resume training for at least six months, and can bear no weight in that hand at all for up to three.
“I will use all my energy to focus on my recovery, and will do everything I can to return to the sport I love as soon as possible.”
The former world No.2 finished 2016 on a high note, winning the Huajin Securities WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai without dropping a set; though she fell out of the Top 10 earlier in the season, she finished the year ranked No.11, and appeared poised to make a strong surge back up the rankings – even as a foot injury attempted to derail her pre-season.
Updating fans on her recovery, Kvitova discussed being able to move the fingers in her left hand for the first time since the attack, describing it as “the greatest Christmas present I could have wished for.”
Check out Kvitova’s full press conference below (in Czech), and click here to read the full transcript of the Czech star’s statement, in English.
An interview with Angelique Kerber after her win in the third round of the Miami Open.
An interview with Johanna Konta after her win in the round of 16 of the China Open.
Angelique Kerber takes on Kiki Bertens in the third round of the Miami Open.
Elina Svitolina takes on Angelique Kerber in the third round of the China Open.
An interview with Timea Bacsinszky after her win in the fourth round at the Miami Open.