Hometown Favorite Rogers Stuns Top Seed Keys In Charleston
Charleston local Shelby Rogers stunned the No.1 seed Madison Keys in three sets to move into the Volvo Car Open round of 16 for the first time.
Charleston local Shelby Rogers stunned the No.1 seed Madison Keys in three sets to move into the Volvo Car Open round of 16 for the first time.
Shelby Rogers is the talk of the town as she returns to her home, Charleston – catch up with all the social media buzz.
MONTERREY, Mexico – Angelique Kerber cut the ribbon as the Abierto GNP Seguros officially unveiled its brand-new stadium court: Estadio GNP Seguros.
The World No.1 was one of the guests of honour as the crowds were treated to a real show in Monterrey – culminating in a stunning fireworks display.
Kerber opened her campaign on court by beating Francesca Schiavone in three sets, 4-6, 6-0, 6-4.
– All photos courtesy of Abierto GNP Seguros
MONTERREY, Mexico – World No.1 Angelique Kerber was taken to three sets by Italian veteran Francesca Schiavone but came away with a hard-fought victory in her opening match at the Abierto GNP Seguros.
A finalist here in 2013, Kerber was back in Monterrey after a three-year absence from the tournament and needed an hour and forty minutes to shake off the rust and move on 4-6, 6-0, 6-4 against the 36-year-old wildcard Schiavone.
“It was not so easy to find the rhythm in the first set, because she played very well from the first ball and I was trying to find my game,” Kerber told press after the victory.
“I was a little bit tight today, but after the second set I was playing my game and moving good. I’m happy that I stayed positive.”
First set goes to @Schiavone_Fra!
Grabs the opening set off Kerber 6-4! pic.twitter.com/B2csuEMq5M
— WTA (@WTA) 5 de abril de 2017
Schiavone, who previously announced that this year would be the end of her nearly two-decade-long career, opened her final Monterrey campaign in commanding fashion against the World No.1. She broke early and raced ahead to a 3-0 lead before Kerber found her footing.
Kerber stayed patient to pounce on her first opportunity as the Italian faltered while serving out the set, striking her first double fault. The German came up with a laser-accurate forehand winner to finally earn the break back, but Schiavone calmly struck back in the next game to take the set.
The World No.1 finally found her range – and her forehands – in emphatic fashion in the second set, breaking Schiavone three times in a row and dropping just three points on her own serve to take the second set in less than 15 minutes and level the match.
World No.1 @AngeliqueKerber survives!
Edges Schiavone 4-6, 6-0, 6-4 in @Abierto_GNP First round! pic.twitter.com/jw662N6zM6
— WTA (@WTA) 5 de abril de 2017
After going down an early break in the third, Schiavone finally stopped the rot of Kerber’s eight games in a row. The Italian refused to fade away and stayed within touching distance, but wasn’t able to pressure the German’s serve the way she did in the first set. Kerber didn’t face any break points and stayed solid to serve out the match and take the hard-fought opening victory.
Kerber will take on Mandy Minella in the next round after the Luxembourger defeated Elitsa Kostova in a tight straight sets earlier in the day, 7-6(3), 6-3.
“I will be looking more on my side of the court,” Kerber said. “I’ll be trying to go out and enjoy the match and try to be aggressive. I think I’ve never played against her, but I think it will be a good match as well.”
No.11 seed Mirjana Lucic-Baroni outlasted Aleksandra Krunic to ease into the second round of the Volvo Car Open in Charleston.
CHARLESTON, SC, USA – 2010 Volvo Car Open champion Samantha Stosur eased past 2007 champion Jelena Jankovic, 6-1, 6-3, to advance into the third round in Charleston.
“I’ve had eight hours of practice on clay courts, so all in all, I’m pleased with how I started the match and got through it in straight sets,” she said after the match. “That’s not easy to do against Jelena; we’ve had some really long matches in the past, so I was glad to get through.”
Crafty shot from @BamBamSam30! #VolvoCarOpen pic.twitter.com/Oz10dPwqh6
— WTA (@WTA) April 5, 2017
Stosur is coming off a solid run to the round of 16 at the Miami Open, and was facing a tough test in Jankovic, who led their head-to-head 7-2 and won their most recent encounter at the 2013 French Open.
“Right from the first practice, I felt comfortable. I obviously had a great clay court season last year,” she added, referring to her run to the final four last spring in Roland Garros. “So I’m really trying to pick up from there, and keep the good tennis from Miami going.”
Still, it’s been a tough Sunshine Swing for the Serb, who won just one of her last five matches heading into Charleston – though she emerged victorious against Ekaterina Alexandrova on Monday – and appeared on the brink of a swift defeat as the Aussie took the opening set.
Outstanding volley by @Jelena_Jankovic! ? #VolvoCarOpen pic.twitter.com/uYoIKXhhqF
— WTA (@WTA) April 5, 2017
Jankovic settled and played more consistent tennis in the second, but Stosur proved too strong, taking the contest on one hour and 13 minutes.
“A lot of it comes down to the serve; if I can hit my spots and be accurate, it’ll be hard for my opponent.
“If I’m getting 65% or more in, that’s pretty good. On a clay court, it can be a little more because I’ll be hitting a few more kick serves, but the worst part of my year last year was my winning percentage on first serves. That’s really been a focus, and tonight that was really good.”
Up next for the former World No.4 is eiher No.10 seed Irina-Camelia Begu or Kristina Kucova.
.@BamBamSam30 is first through to @VolvoCarOpen Round of 16!
Tops Jankovic 6-1, 6-3! pic.twitter.com/X9NNwHN03V
— WTA (@WTA) April 5, 2017
All the best from the world of social media as the week begins with tournaments in Monterrey and Charleston.
Hear Daria Gavrilova’s thoughts prior to the start of the tournament.
MONTERREY, Mexico – Hundreds of Monterrey locals got a chance to be up close with the WTA’s biggest stars as the Abierto GNP Seguros put on a colorful display at one of the city’s most popular avenues, San Pedro de Pinta.
World No.1 and Monterrey top seed Angelique Kerber joined Donna Vekic in a mini-tennis exhibition match, before covering each other – and the crowd – in colorful powdered paint.
The pair even took to the stage afterwards, joining a local band to sing some tunes at Monterrey’s weekly festival.
Check out the best photos below, courtesy of the Abierto GNP Seguros!
Hear from Venus Williams before the start of the tournament.