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Arrruabarrena, Niculescu To Battle In Seoul

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

SEOUL, South Korea – Spain’s Lara Arruabarrena spoiled the all-Romanian party when she knocked out Patricia Maria Tig in an emphatic straight sets, dropping just three games on her way to the Korea Open final, 6-1, 6-2. She’ll take on another Romanian, Monica Niculescu, for the title.

It’s the first WTA final of the year for the No.90-ranked Spaniard, who will enjoy a much-needed boost after spending much of 2016 toiling at the ITF level and in qualifying rounds. In fact, it’s her first final since her victory at the WTA 125K event in Cali back in 2013.

Arruabarrena was dominant in the opening set, breaking Tig three times and allowing her to win only barely 11 points in the 21-minute opener. The Romanian found her footing in the second and brought up six break points on Arruabarrena’s serve, but the Spaniard brushed them aside to advance to the final after just 58 minutes.

Up next for the 24-year-old is the No.5 seeded Niculescu, who is playing her first event since reaching the third round at the US Open.

Much like her opponent, Niculescu needed barely an hour to move past her semifinal opponent Zhang Shuai 6-0, 6-4.

Zhang recovered admirably from her opening set shutout, pushing Niculescu and trading breaks with her three consecutive times. She was a game away from forcing a decider, but Niculescu rallied to claim the decisive break.

It’s also the first final of the year for Niculescu, who entered Seoul having yet to advance past a round of 16 stage.

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Serena Out Of Wuhan, Beijing – Targets Singapore Return

Serena Out Of Wuhan, Beijing – Targets Singapore Return

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

Serena Williams announced today that due to a continuing shoulder injury she will not compete in the upcoming Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open and the China Open in Beijing.

“I am disappointed that I will not be able to compete at the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open or the China Open due to continuing issues with my right shoulder,” Williams said in a statement. “I have been practicing and playing but my shoulder is still not fit for tournament play.”

“I wish the tournaments great success and I’m sure the fans will enjoy some great tennis. I am focused on getting ready to compete at the WTA Finals in Singapore.”

Williams recently told CNN’s Ravi Ubha, “I’m tired of playing tournaments unhealthy and taking losses that I would never lose.”

Williams has played eight tournaments this year, the fewest she has played in a season since returning from injury in 2011. She has won two titles (Rome and Wimbledon) and finished as runner-up three times – Australian Open (lost to Angelique Kerber in final), Indian Wells (lost to Victoria Azarenka in final) and Roland Garros (lost to Garbiñe Muguruza in final).

Her coach Patrick Mouratoglu stated in an interview with CNN, “It’s a bad season for her. She has been a lot injured. For Serena any other result that is not a title is a bad result. The final at a Grand Slam is a bad result for her. We cannot be satisfied with one Grand Slam Serena Out Of Wuhan, Beijing – Targets Singapore Return and two finals lost.”

As Williams seeks time to recover from her injury, she will look to return to action in Singapore for the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global, an event she has competed in nine times and won five titles.

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Kerber Handed Tricky Wuhan Draw

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

WUHAN, China – If Angelique Kerber thought reaching the top of the rankings would make life any easier at the WTA’s flagship events, she was given a rude awakening at Friday’s draw for the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open.

Indeed, Kerber’s first event since lifting the US Open and usurping Serena Williams as World No.1 will be far from straightforward after a number of potential banana skins were placed in her path at the Premier 5 event.

As one of the leading eight seeds, Kerber is the recipient of a first-round bye, meeting either Kristina Mladenovic or CoCo Vandeweghe in her opening match.

The German, a quarter and semifinalist in Wuhan’s first two years on the calendar, is projected to face No.14 seed and 2014 champion Petra Kvitova in the third round, with possible showdowns versus Carla Suárez Navarro and Simona Halep lurking further down the line.

In the bottom half of the draw, defending champion Venus Williams faces a slightly less threatening start. Her opening opponent will be either Anastasija Sevastova or Yulia Putintseva, while Svetlana Kuznetsova and Agnieszka Radwanska are likely to lie in wait in should she clear the early hurdles.

Serena Williams’ late withdrawal promoted Garbiñe Muguruza, last year’s runner-up, to No.2 seed, and she will begin against either Daria Gavrilova or former World No.1 Jelena Jankovic. This was not the only eye-catching first round match-up of a draw which also threw together No.16 seed Samantha Stosur and the resurgent Caroline Wozniacki.

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Radwanska Halts Puig, First Into Tokyo Semifinals

Radwanska Halts Puig, First Into Tokyo Semifinals

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

TOKYO, Japan – Agnieszka Radwanska kept her Tokyo title defense on track with an emphatic win over Olympic gold medalist Monica Puig, defeating her 6-2, 6-3 to claim her fifth semifinal berth at the Toray Pan Pacific Open.

Watch live action from Tokyo this week on WTA Live powered by TennisTV!

As SAP’s Behind The Numbers revealed, Radwanska’s game flourishes post-US Open, and is especially lethal during the WTA’s Asian Swing. She holds the record for most matches and most titles won in the Asian swing since 2011, and looks set to add to her tally after straight sets victory over Puig.

“I definitely played my best tennis today,” Radwanska said in her on-court interview. “I was serving well and keeping the ball very well. Obviously I knew [Puig] is a really great player, playing in a very top form. So I’m really glad I could do everything today, in my game.”

Radwanska hit 16 winners and allowed just 10 unforced errors during the one hour and 16 minute encounter, not giving Puig much to work with as the Puerto Rican hit 19 winners to 30 unforced errors.

Radwanska’s serve played a decisive role in the match, bailing her out of tricky situations time and time again. She struck eight aces – including a rare second serve ace to bring up set points – and won 66 percent of points behind her first serve.

“I just felt like John Isner for a little bit there!” Radwanska joked with the Japanese crowd. “I think I was serving very well today, and of course that helped me a lot. Especially because from her side the ball is coming so fast, so the serve was the key today as well.”

Radwanska awaits the winner of the day’s second quarterfinal between Caroline Wozniacki and Magda Linette for a spot in the semifinals and a shot at a third Tokyo trophy.

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Wozniacki Ends Linette's Tokyo Run, Books Radwanska SF Showdown

Wozniacki Ends Linette's Tokyo Run, Books Radwanska SF Showdown

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

TOKYO, Japan – Former champion Caroline Wozniacki ended qualifier Magda Linette’s run at the Toray Pan Pacific Open with a straight-set win in Friday’s quarterfinal.

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Continuing the form that took her to the US Open semifinals and past No.4 seed Carla Suárez Navarro in the previous round, Wozniacki overcame a spirited showing from Linette to run out a 6-4, 6-3 winner in an hour and 22 minutes.

World No.109 Linette needed nearly three hours to get past Yulia Putintseva on Thursday and despite having chances in both sets was unable to upset her more celebrated hitting partner.

“She’s been playing really well lately, had a lot of matches. She’s a good friend of mine and we practice a lot so we know each other’s game,” Wozniacki said. “I was just happy that I stayed tough and managed to serve it out in the end.”

The Dane drew on all her experience to take an evenly contested opening set, breaking in the final game when Linette netted with a tired forehand. Making a mockery of her lowly ranking, Linette continued to pose questions in the second set, attacking the net with relish. Ultimately, though, Wozniacki had too many answers, taking the final four games to reach a fifth semifinal in the Japanese capital.

In 2010 Wozniacki ended up going all the way and she continues her bid to reclaim the title against another Pole, No.2 seed Agnieszka Radwanska.

“We’ve played many times before, and again she’s a close friend. It’s going to be another tough one because she’s been playing well this week, but I’m just happy to be in the semifinals again.”

WTA Finals: Get Your Tickets!

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