Moscow: Thursday Highlights
Highlights from the quarterfinals action at the Kremlin Cup.
Highlights from the quarterfinals action at the Kremlin Cup.
SINGAPORE – Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic have been named 2016 WTA Doubles Team Of The Year.
The pair won their first-ever Grand Slam title in 2016 at Roland Garros, the first all-French team to reach the French Open doubles final since 1971. They also reached the final of the US Open and the Wimbledon quarterfinal.
They duo enjoyed success on clay all year, winning the Volvo Cars Open in Charleston, Porsche Tennis Grand Prix and Mutua Madrid Open. Garcia and Mladenovic were also four-time finalists on hard courts as they finished as runners-up at Apia International Sydney, Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, US Open, and China Open.
The French doubles pair will be the top seed in the doubles competition at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global, where they will have a chance to claim the 2016 Year-End World No.1 Doubles Ranking, presented by Dubai Duty Free.
Congrats @KikiMladenovic and @CaroGarcia!#WTA Doubles Team of the Year! pic.twitter.com/UZiBQ59V5C
— WTA (@WTA) 21 October 2016
In a tight field, they finished with 20 points ahead of Lucie Safarova and Bethanie Mattek-Sands, who got 17, Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza on eight, while Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina got four.
WTA Doubles Team Of The Year Winners
2016: Caroline Garcia / Kristina Mladenovic
2015: Martina Hingis / Sania Mirza
2014: Sara Errani / Roberta Vinci
2013: Sara Errani / Roberta Vinci
2012: Sara Errani / Roberta Vinci
2011: Kveta Peschke / Katarina Srebotnik
2010: Gisela Dulko / Flavia Pennetta
2009: Serena Williams / Venus Williams
2008: Cara Black / Liezel Huber
2007: Cara Black / Liezel Huber
2006: Lisa Raymond / Sam Stosur
2005: Lisa Raymond / Sam Stosur
Complete listing of the historical WTA Awards.
Daria Gavrilova has Thursday’s shot of the day at the Kremlin Cup.
SINGAPORE – Dominika Cibulkova has been named the 2016 WTA Comeback Player Of The Year.
The Slovak was one of the brightest players on the tour in 2014 as she reached three finals, including the Australian Open, her first Grand Slam final appearance. Cibulkova, however, narrowly missed out on qualifying for the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global in 2014, and endured a frustrating start to the 2015 season. She elected to undergo surgery on her Achilles in February forcing her to miss three months of action. During her absence, her ranking dropped outside the Top 50.
But she didn’t stay there long, and in 2016 Cibulkova has rediscovered her form, returning to the Top 10 and qualifying for the WTA Finals in Singapore for the first time in her career thanks to tournament wins at the Katowice Open, the Aegon International Eastbourne and the Generali Ladies Linz.
#WTA Comeback Player of the Year?
Dominika @Cibulkova! pic.twitter.com/yXaXJwrfXe
— WTA (@WTA) October 21, 2016
Her achievements have been recognized as she received 26 votes for WTA Comeback Player Of The Year award, ahead of Anastasija Sevastova (12), Elena Vesnina (11) and Vania King (1).
WTA Comeback Player Of The Year Winners
2016: Dominika Cibulkova
2015: Venus Williams
2014: Mirjana Lucic-Baroni
2013: Alisa Kleybanova
2012: Yaroslava Shvedova
2011: Sabine Lisicki
2010: Justine Henin
2009: Kim Clijsters
2008: Zheng Jie
2007: Lindsay Davenport
2006: Martina Hingis
2005: Kim Clijsters
2004: Serena Williams
Complete listing of the historical WTA Awards.
Svetlana Kuznetsova takes on Timea Babos in the quarterfinals of the Kremlin Cup.
SINGAPORE – Johanna Konta has been overwhelmingly voted as 2016 WTA Most Improved Player Of The Year.
Konta has enjoyed her best season to date, starting at the Australian Open, where she became the first British woman to reach a Grand Slam semifinal since Jo Durie in 1983. She went on to match Durie in ranking as well as result, finally ending the drought of British women in the Top 10 after reaching the final of the China Open, a Premier Mandatory event.
In between, Konta captured her first WTA title at the Bank of the West Classic, stunning former No.1 and Stanford champion Venus Williams in three scintillating sets. In 10 matches against Top 10 players, Konta won six encounters, and also has a 12-2 record in tie-breaks – the second best on the tour this season.
Her achievements have not gone unnoticed and she received 40 votes, ahead of Monica Puig with five, Kiki Bertens with three and Laura Siegemund with one.
Thank you everyone who voted!!!! https://t.co/jYI9R9pz2s
— Johanna Konta (@JoKonta91) October 21, 2016
WTA Most Improved Player Winners
2016: Johanna Konta
2015: Timea Bacsinszky
2014: Eugenie Bouchard
2013: Simona Halep
2012: Sara Errani
2011: Petra Kvitova
2010: Francesca Schiavone
2009: Yanina Wickmayer
2008: Dinara Safina
2007: Ana Ivanovic
2006: Jelena Jankovic
2005: Ana Ivanovic
Complete listing of the historical WTA Awards.
Elina Svitolina takes on Ana Konjuh in the quarterfinals of the Kremlin Cup.
SINGAPORE – Naomi Osaka has been named 2016 WTA Newcomer of the Year.
The 19-year-old Japanese player has enjoyed a breakthrough year on the tour in 2016, rising to a career-high ranking of No.40 after finishing 2015 ranked No.203.
Osaka made an impact at Grand Slam level, reaching the third round at all three Slams she played – Australian Open, French Open and US Open.
In addition to her Grand Slam feats, she was a force on the tour as well and she became the first Japanese player since 1995 to reach the final at the Toray Pan Pacific Open. As a wildcard, she knocked out Misaki Doi and Dominika Cibulkova before losing to Caroline Wozniacki in the final. Additionally, she was a three-time quarterfinalist: Abierto Mexicano TELCEL, Brasil Tennis Cup and Tianjin Open.
.@Naomi_Osaka_ named #WTA Newcomer of the Year! pic.twitter.com/D38TOrccp8
— WTA (@WTA) 21 October 2016
Osaka won the prize with 42 votes ahead of Viktorija Golubic with six, and Jelena Ostapenko and Louisa Chirico with one apiece.
WTA Newcomer Of The Year Winners
2016: Naomi Osaka
2015: Daria Gavrilova
2014: Belinda Bencic
2013: Eugenie Bouchard
2012: Laura Robson
2011: Irina-Camelia Begu
2010: Petra Kvitova
2009: Melanie Oudin
2008: Caroline Wozniacki
2007: Agnes Szavay
2006: Agnieszka Radwanska
2005: Sania Mirza
Complete listing of the historical WTA Awards.
Daria Gavrilova takes on Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the quarterfinals of the Kremlin Cup.
Here’s what they’re all playing for: the Billie Jean King Trophy, awarded to the winner of the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.
But before that, there were a few things to take care of, like the draw ceremony and the Iconic Photo! Agnieszka Radwanska and Karolina Pliskova got made up together…
… along with Finals debutante Madison Keys…
…and WTA World No.1 Angelique Kerber.
That’s why she’s the fan favorite! WTA Finals defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska always has time for a selfie with her fans.
The stars headed to Marina Bay Sands for the official draw ceremony, but not before they were presented with their WTA Year-End Awards. Angelique Kerber picked up 2016 WTA Player Of The Year…
…And Simona Halep was also among the winners, being awarded the 2016 Jerry Diamond ACES Award for helping promote tennis throughout the season.
The groups were decided with Radwanska leading the White Group, which includes Garbiñe Muguruza, Pliskova and the yet-to-be-determined eighth qualifier.
Madison Keys was drawn into the Red Group, along with Kerber, Dominika Cibulkova and Halep.
What do you think of the draw, Domi?
With the draw ceremony done and dusted, the players headed to Merlion Park on the Singapore waterfront to take part in the Iconic Photo, the official photo of the WTA Finals.
Johanna Konta was also in attendance as she awaits to hear the fate of the eighth qualification spot.
Of course, before the Iconic Photo comes the iconic selfie – the unofficial photo of the WTA Finals!
And here is the Iconic Photo, featuring the seven confirmed qualifiers for the WTA Finals! Who will emerge on top against the greatest eight in women’s tennis?