Tennis News

September has been marked by the US Open, but since we already voted for our NYC fashion favorites, let’s see who dominated the tennis fashion scene in the remainder of the month. Marija Zivlak of Women’s Tennis Blog will show us the clothes that have ruled the courts this fall, following the final Grand Slam of the season.

Caroline Wozniacki won the Toray Pan Pacific Open title in what she called her favorite outfit of the year: the signal green adidas Barricade Dress Set. Designer Stella McCartney created this women’s tennis dress and shorts set with mesh shoulder straps and laser-cut holes to ensure both ventilation and style. Wozniacki not only lifted her first trophy of the season feeling like a queen in green, but she followed it up with her 500th career match win at the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open.

Wozniacki completed her look with black and white adidas Stella Barricade Boost Shoes, whose seamless knit upper hugs Caroline’s feet, while boost™ is there to energize her movement.

Naomi Osaka‘s quirky young energy makes her and adidas one of the best tennis fashion matches, which we thoroughly enjoyed this month during the Toray Pan Pacific Open, as the 18-year-old Japanese spectacularly made her biggest WTA final at the Premier-level tournament in her home country.

Sporting the adidas Fall Pro Tank, featuring a statement contrast racerback with mesh insert, and the printed adidas Fall Pro Skirt, Osaka ensured a rise from No. 66 to a career-high of No.47 in the WTA rankings, beating two Top 20 players on the way.

Elsewhere in Asia, at the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open, Simona Halep showcased a wonderful pale version of the bold geometric print. The cute contrast flash red elastic waistband of her skirt perfectly matches the striking racerback of her predominantly white tank.

Right after the US Open, at the Coupe Banque Nationale, Oceane Dodin made the Top 100 for the first time in her career and became the first teenager to win a WTA title in 2016, all the while looking stylish in the black and volt Nike Fall Maria Premier Tank and Nike Fall Maria FLX Premier Short.

At the $2,288,250 Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open, Petra Kvitova eliminated world number one Angelique Kerber in one of this season’s most dramatic matches, wearing the striking Nike Winter Flex Victory Premier Skirt that wonderfully combines purple dynasty and bright mango colors in a gradient effect on all-around knife pleats. The skirt, available in two lengths, features a flat-front elastic waistband and built-in compression shorts.

The orange Nike Winter Dry Slam Tank, made of 92% Dri-Fit polyester, is a classic soft performance pique tank top, whose racerback and side slits allow optimal range of motion.

The two-time Wimbledon champion is rocking personalized speed-oriented Nike Zoom Vapor 9.5 Tour footwear. The shoe’s lightweight construction is accompanied by enough support and stability to allow confident on-court movement.

What are your favorite women’s tennis styles this fall?

It’s semifinal Friday at the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open! And Chris Oddo is previewing both matchups right here at wtatennis.com.

Friday

Semifinals

[4] Simona Halep (ROU #5) vs. [14] Petra Kvitova (CZE #16)
Head-to-head: Halep leads, 3-0
Key Stat: Halep has won 24 of her last 27 matches

Two of the hottest players on tour will tangle for a spot in the prestigious Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open final on Friday, as Simona Halep and Petra Kvitova meet for the fourth time overall and second time in 2016. Halep has been absolutely on fire since Wimbledon, winning 24 of 27 matches while grabbing titles in Bucharest and Montreal, and the Romanian just locked up her third consecutive appearance at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global with her straight-sets win over Madison Keys. Halep is the only player remaining in the draw who has yet to drop a set in Wuhan but she’ll have her hands full with the suddenly scorching Petra Kvitova. The Czech was hovering around the .500 mark after Wimbledon but since then she has regained her daunting power game and won 18 of 23 matches. The only thing missing from Kvitova’s late-season turnaround? A final. Kvitova has reached multiple finals on tour in every year since she emerged as an elite player in 2011, but thus far this year she hasn’t been able to break through. It has already been a banner week for Kvitova, who notched her fourth career win over a reigning world No.1 when she defeated Angelique Kerber in a three-hour and 20-minute marathon in the round of 16. But she knows she’ll have to produce more electric tennis if she is to get past Halep for the first time. “It’s a new day and I will do everything possible, try my best,” Kvitova said of her winless past against Halep. “I lost to her last time so I have something to work on for tomorrow. I know how well she’s playing so I need to be ready.”

Pick: Kvitova in three

[9] Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS #10) vs. [10] Dominika Cibulkova (SVK #12)
Head-to-head: Cibulkova leads, 4-3
Key Stat: Kuznetsova owns a 17-6 record in three-set matches in 2016.

Svetlana Kuznetsova’s career resurgence continues at full throttle in 2016. By reaching the semifinals with a win over Agnieszka Radwanska, Kuznetsova is guaranteed to move into the WTA’s Top 8 for the first time since May 24, 2010. The 31-year-old has been a warrior all season, displaying rejuvenated fitness and a replenished passion for grinding it out on a weekly basis on tour. Kuznetsova has captured nearly half of her matches in deciding sets (17 of her 35 wins) and because of her hard work the Russian now finds herself contending for a coveted slot at this year’s BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global. The St. Petersburg native could find herself in the Top 8 in the RTS Standings by reaching the final, or even higher if she takes the title in Wuhan. On Thursday Kuznetsova saved a match point to defeat No. 3-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska for her fourth Top 10 win of the season. Also homing in on a Singapore spot is the ever feisty Dominika Cibulkova. The Slovakian survived double-duty on Thursday, defeating No.5-seeded Karolina Pliskova and Barbora Strycova to reach her seventh semifinal of the season. Cibulkova started the week at No.7 in the Road To Singapore leaderboard standings, and she could bolster her bid for a first appearance in Singapore with a strong finish in Wuhan. It’s not something that Cibulkova wants to dwell on, however. “Right now I’m not thinking about it,” the Slovak told WTA Insider after she won the Eastbourne title this summer. “In 2014 I was very close, and that’s what made me very intense and want it too much. I was over-motivated and it didn’t happen. So, I’m not thinking about it.” With so much on the line, Kuznetsova and Cibulkova’s first meeting since 2011 will likely come down to which player can execute best under pressure. The margins will be thin—they have met four times on hardcourts, with each player winning twice.

Pick: Cibulkova in three

By the Numbers:
1 – Kvitova is the only former Wuhan champion remaining in the draw.
53 – Career titles owned by the four semifinalists (Kvitova, 17, Kuznetsova, 16, Halep, 14, Cibulkova, 6).
10-1 – Kvitova’s career record at Wuhan.
5 – Kuznetsova has won her last five hardcourt semifinals.

WUHAN, China – Simona Halep has secured a spot at this year’s BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global. The Romanian joins Angelique Kerber and Serena Williams in the singles field.

Halep has secured her third consecutive qualification at the WTA Finals by reaching the semifinals with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Madison Keys at the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open on Thursday. Both of her previous appearances were in the first two editions of the WTA Finals held in Singapore – highlighted by her win over then World No.1 Serena Williams in the round-robin stage in 2014 en route to the finals followed by last year’s showing, where she defeated the 2015 US Open champion Flavia Pennetta in the round-robin stage.

“Congratulations to Simona on qualifying for the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global for the third consecutive year,” said WTA CEO Steve Simon. “She is an outstanding player who has enjoyed a very successful year with three Tour wins and fans in Singapore and following along around the world will enjoy watching her competitive spirit against the other top WTA athletes.”

Halep is one of four players to win three WTA singles titles in 2016 (also Azarenka, Kerber and Stephens), clinching her second Premier Mandatory trophy at the Mutua Madrid Open and back-to-back titles at the BRD Bucharest Open and Rogers Cup in Montréal, bringing her win-loss record to 43-14 (thru Wuhan QF). In addition, the 25-year-old reached two semifinals at the Apia International Sydney and Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati and four quarterfinals at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Miami Open, Wimbledon and the US Open.

“It means a lot to qualify for the WTA Finals Singapore – it was one of my goals this year,” said Halep. “It will be my third time in a row competing at the WTA Finals and I hope I play great. I have great memories from 2014 and am confident I can do well. I will be very focused.”

The current Road to Singapore Leaderboard as follows (as of September 26, 2016):