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Keys Ends Kvitova Hopes, Two Wins From Singapore

Keys Ends Kvitova Hopes, Two Wins From Singapore

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

Madison Keys produced one of the most impressive performances of her young career to defuse Petra Kvitova in a thrilling quarterfinal shoot-out in Beijing. The result ends Kvitova’s slim chances of reaching the season-ending showpiece, but what does it mean for Keys and the other contenders? 

Matches to Watch in Beijing

Konta vs Keys (SF, Saturday): Keys moved up to No.7 on the RTS leaderboard by overcoming Kvitova and is now just two wins away from securing qualification for her first WTA Finals. If Keys lifts the title in the Chinese capital, she qualifies for Singapore.*

There is plenty on the line for her opponent, too. By reaching the last four, Konta moved into the first alternate position (RTS No.9). If she advances to the final, then Konta will move into the Top 8, 10 points ahead of Dominika Cibulkova.

Should Konta defeat Keys, then she will also make her Top 10 debut, becoming the first Briton to achieve this feat since Jo Durie in 1984.

* Keys had previously only needed to reach the final to qualify for Singapore. However, Karolina Pliskova’s withdrawal from Linz on Friday saw Garbiñe Muguruza take her place as a direct entry as a result of the Top 10 replacement rule. Keys and Dominika Cibulkova also accepted wildcards into the tournament, thus creating a possible scenario where Keys could be overtaken even if she reached the final in Beijing.

Madison Keys

Heading To Zhuhai

While Kvitova is no longer is in contention of for a spot in Singapore – neither as a qualifier nor as an alternate – her late-season form has guaranteed her a place at the WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai.

SINGLES:

Qualified: Angelique Kerber, Serena Williams, Simona Halep, Agnieszka Radwanska, Karolina Pliskova

Next In Line (Current Top 8):

Johanna Konta

Still in Contention – Currently No.9 to No.13 with points behind current projected cut-off (3352)

WHO IS PLAYING WHERE?
Muguruza: Linz
Cibulkova: Linz, Moscow
Keys: Linz
Suárez Navarro: Linz, Moscow
Konta: Hong Kong
Kuznetsova: Tianjin [will need to play Moscow to stay in contention, possible WC]

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Mattek-Sands & Safarova Continue Winning Streak

Mattek-Sands & Safarova Continue Winning Streak

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

BEIJING, China – No.5 seeds Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Lucie Safarova defeated wildcards Christina McHale and Peng Shuai on Friday to reach the China Open semifinals and extend their unbeaten run.

Titles at the US Open and Wuhan have established Mattek-Sands and Safarova as the form team on tour and despite falling an early break behind the always looked in control against McHale and Peng, closing out a 6-4, 6-2 victory after an hour and 10 minutes.

The next team charged with snapping their winning streak – which now stands at 14 matches – is Gabriela Dabrowski and María José Martínez Sánchez after they edged past recent BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global qualifiers Julia Goerges and Karolina Pliskova, 6-4, 6-4.

In the top half of the draw, top seeds Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic stayed on course for their first title since June thanks to a 6-4, 6-3 win over wildcards Timea Bacsinszky and Jelena Ostapenko. Meeting the French duo for a place in the final will be No.3 seeds Chan Hao-Ching and Chan Yung-Jan.

WTA Finals: Get Your Tickets!

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WTA Breakthrough Of The Month: Osaka

WTA Breakthrough Of The Month: Osaka

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

Naomi Osaka

Naomi Osaka has saved some of her best tennis for the major tournaments in 2016, reaching the third round at three of the four Grand Slams this season.

“I’m happy with the way I play at slams, because they’re very important to me,” she said at the US Open, addining, “but I kind of wish I could transfer the feeling like to the other tournaments, you know.”

The Japanese teenager’s wish came true at home; playing at the Toray Pan Pacific Open, Osaka rolled into her first WTA final, dismantling former Australian Open finalist Dominika Cibulkova along the way.

“I don’t really feel pressure here since the first match, since everyone is ranked higher than me,” she said after knocking out Elina Svitolina in three sets. “I’m a wildcard, so I just try to do my best. But this, for sure, it’s my best tournament.”

Up to a career-high ranking of No.46, Osaka is your Breakthrough Player of the Month!

Final Results for September’s WTA Breakthrough Performance Of The Month

1. Naomi Osaka (45%)
2. Kristyna Pliskova (40%)
3. Oceane Dodin (9%)
4. Christina McHale (6%)

2016 Breakthrough Performance Of The Month Winners

January: Zhang Shuai
February: Jelena Ostapenko
March: Nicole Gibbs
April: Cagla Buyukakcay
May: Kiki Bertens
June: Elena Vesnina
July: Kristina Kucova
August: Karolina Pliskova

How it works:

Finalists are selected by wtatennis.com
Winner is then determined by a fan vote on wtatennis.com

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WTA Shot Of The Month: Flipkens

WTA Shot Of The Month: Flipkens

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

September was packed with plenty of amazing shots – we narrowed it down to the five best.

In the end, it was Kirsten Flipkens, who played a key role in the rally Agnieszka Radwanska won to clinch August’s Shot Of The Month, after showing off more of her signature variety at the Korea Open in Seoul. On her way to beating Kristyna Pliskova in three tough sets, the Belgian pulled out all the stops to beat her powerful opponent, including a behind-the-back backhand stab to pass Pliskova at net.

Click here to watch all of September’s finalists.

Kirsten Flipkens

Final Results for September’s WTA Shot Of The Month

1. Kirsten Flipkens (47%)
2. Agnieszka Radwanska (39%)
3. Simona Halep  (6%)
4. Caroline Wozniacki (4%)
5. Angelique Kerber (3%)

2016 WTA Shot of the Month Winners

January: Caroline Wozniacki
February: Agnieszka Radwanska
March: Agnieszka Radwanska
April: Monica Niculescu
May: Simona Halep
June: Agnieszka Radwanska
July: Simona Halep
August: Agnieszka Radwanska

How it works:

Five shots are selected by wtatennis.com
Winner is then determined by a fan vote on wtatennis.com 

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WTA Player Of The Month: Kvitova

WTA Player Of The Month: Kvitova

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

Petra Kvitova

Petra Kvitova arrived at the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open not having reached a final since finishing runner-up at last year’s BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global. By the end of the week, the two-time Wimbledon winner had not only won her first title in over a year, but also put herself in position to make a sixth straight Singapore appearance.

“The beginning of the season wasn’t really great,” she said after winning her second Wuhan title in three years. “I don’t think that I changed anything, like, special. I mean, I was trying to feel better on the court since Montréal.

“I think the turning point was during the Olympic Games when I won the bronze medal and it was kind of a boost. I did feel much relaxed, and with the confidence it’s always nicer to play. I’m kind of the player who needs the confidence to play the best game.”

After defeating young American Madison Keys in the Bronze Medal match at the Olympic tennis event, Kvitova brought that form into the second week of the US Open, where she lost to eventual champion and future No.1 Angelique Kerber to start the month.

Less than four weeks later, Kvitova turned the tables on Kerber in what many considered to be the best match of the year, and dropped five more games in her next two matches against Simona Halep and Dominika Cibulkova to win the title.

“The second part of the season, for sure it’s better. It’s not the best, but it’s still better. So I’m really satisfied how everything is going. I’m healthy. I love to play tennis. I do have motivation.”

That motivation appears to be paying off as she remains in contention to return to the WTA Finals, and it certainly helped her earn her the mantle of September’s WTA Player of the Month!

Final Results for September’s WTA Player Of The Month

1. Petra Kvitova (55%)
2. Caroline Wozniacki (34%)
3. Naomi Osaka (11%)

2016 WTA Player of the Month Winners

January: Angelique Kerber
February: Carla Suárez Navarro
March: Victoria Azarenka
April: Angelique Kerber
May: Garbiñe Muguruza
June: Serena Williams
July: Simona Halep
August: Monica Puig

How it works:

Finalists are selected by wtatennis.com
Winner is then determined by a fan vote on wtatennis.com 

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