Tennis News

From around the world

Sasnovich Derails Pliskova's Tokyo Challenge

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

TOKYO, Japan – World No.107 Aliaksandra Sasnovich caused the first major shock of this year’s Toray Pan Pacific Open, knocking out No.3 seed Karolina Pliskova in straight sets.

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

Less than a fortnight after contesting the US Open final, Pliskova was brought down to earth with a bump, slipping to a 6-4, 6-2 defeat in little over an hour.

“I was expecting now to be going to Wuhan for the next tournament because I know Karolina is a really good player and I didn’t expect to win today,” Sasnovich said. “But you know it’s life and it’s tennis, the ball is round!”

Sasnovich’s reward for her maiden Top 10 win is a meeting with home favorite Naomi Osaka in the quarterfinals.

“I have a lot of emotion. It was my first win over a Top 10 player, I’m really happy with it and looking forward to the next round,” she added.

Joining her there will be fellow qualifier Magda Linette, who saved two match points to defeat Yulia Putintseva, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.

More to follow…

Source link

Golubic Upsets Top Seed Errani In Guangzhou

Golubic Upsets Top Seed Errani In Guangzhou

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

GUANGZHOU, China – 23-year-old Swiss Viktorija Golubic is into the quarterfinals at the Guangzhou International Women’s Open after coming back from a set down to upset top seed Sara Errani, 6-7(7), 6-3 6-4.

Aside from reaching her fourth quarterfinal this year in what has become her breakthrough season, Golubic has also avenged her Bastad loss to Errani, where she lost to the Italian after taking her to a first-set tiebreaker.

“I’m very, very tired, it was such an exhausting match,” Golubic said. “We played each other on clay this year, and that was also very tough so I was prepared for that.”

“But still in the end I had to put all the energy together to come through, and I am very happy.”

Golubic held a 5-3 lead in the first set, as well as five set points in the tiebreak during a tight opening set. Errani fought off Golubic’s chances with her tricky forehand slices and dogged defense, roaring back from 2-6 down in the tiebreak to take the first set. Golubic stayed aggressive, and took advantage of Errani’s vulnerable serve to create more chances, outlasting the Italian after a three-hour marathon to advance to the quarterfinals.

“Sara is a very tricky player – she makes you think and she gives you the balls back, a very tough player,” Golubic said. “I was doing many good points, but I also missed a lot.”

“I tried to find the balance between aggressiveness and consistency, and it was hard work to do.”

Sabine Lisicki

Sabine Lisicki is also through to the quarterfinals after a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Chinese wildcard Peng Shuai.

Despite the match being a mostly one-sided affair during the hour-and-six-minute encounter, Lisicki admitted it was difficult to take on her good friend.

“It’s always so tough to play a friend,” Lisicki said in post-match press. “Shuai and I have played doubles together a few times, so we know each other quite well.”

“I thought I played very well. I knew that I had to play well and strong to beat her. I’m very happy with my game, but also wish her the best in her comeback.”

Joining Golubic and Lisicki in the quarterfinals at the Guangzhou International Women’s Open is No.3 seed Ana Konjuh, who weathered a late challenge from Georgian qualifier Sofia Shapatava to advance 6-1, 7-6(2).

“I’ve never played her before but I know her from Fed Cup, so I’ve seen her playing,” Konjuh said of her opponent. “I just had a tactic and just focused on myself more.

“In the second set she came back and fought for every point, so it was a bit harder.”

No.2 seed Jelena Jankovic also advanced in Guangzhou after Rebecca Peterson was forced to retire with a right thigh injury after trailing 6-1, 1-0.

Source link

Flipkens Shows Off Seoul-ful Hot Shot In Korea

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

SEOUL, South Korea – Kirsten Flipkens has hit her share of hot shots in the past; her tweener at the Connecticut Open was part of August’s Shot of the Month.

But the Belgian upped her flair and brought it to the Asian Swing; after a long rally with Dalian champion Kristyna Pliskova, Flipkens turned the tables on Karolina Pliskova’s twin sister with a behind-the-back backhand passing shot.

She went on to win the match, 5-7, 6-2, 6-2.

Check out the video right here on wtatennis.com!

 

Source link

CNN Open Court: A Smashing Summer Of Tennis

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

A first time gold medalist, a new US Open winner, and – after three years – a brand new WTA World No.1. It’s been a hectic summer of tennis and CNN’s Pat Cash will catch up with the authors of the season’s biggest storylines: Angelique Kerber and Monica Puig.

Tune in on September 22 to catch the newest episode of CNN Open Court!

Source link

SAP Behind The Numbers: Asian Swing Insights

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

Last year, Agnieszka Radwanska capped off a red-hot Asian Swing by winning the WTA’s crown jewel event, the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global. Radwanska’s 2015 streak was impressive, but how does her overall Asian Swing haul compare to other late-season records in the past five years?

Get all the insights into the Asian Swing as SAP takes you Behind The Numbers.

Source link

Radwanska, Muguruza Touch Down In Tokyo

Radwanska, Muguruza Touch Down In Tokyo

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970
The Toray Pan Pacific Open Kids’ Day kicked off with an appearance by two of the tournament’s biggest names: Dominika Cibulkova and Caroline Wozniacki.

The Toray Pan Pacific Open Kids’ Day kicked off with an appearance by two of the tournament’s biggest names: Dominika Cibulkova and Caroline Wozniacki.

Cibulkova and Wozniacki answered questions from the young fans…

Cibulkova and Wozniacki answered questions from the young fans…

…as well as taught them a thing or two on the tennis court!

…as well as taught them a thing or two on the tennis court!

Wozniacki and Cibulkova at Toray Pan Pacific Open Kids’ Day.

Wozniacki and Cibulkova at Toray Pan Pacific Open Kids’ Day.

Wozniacki and Cibulkova at Toray Pan Pacific Open Kids’ Day.

Wozniacki and Cibulkova at Toray Pan Pacific Open Kids’ Day.

We challenged Agnieszka Radwanska to show off her origami skills – and of course she made herself a trophy!

We challenged Agnieszka Radwanska to show off her origami skills – and of course she made herself a trophy!

The No.2 seed talked to the media during All Access Hour…

The No.2 seed talked to the media during All Access Hour…

…and signed lots of autographs.

…and signed lots of autographs.

Someone else who signed lots of autographs was Naomi Osaka – known as “Nao-chi” to her delighted Japanese fans.

Someone else who signed lots of autographs was Naomi Osaka – known as “Nao-chi” to her delighted Japanese fans.

Spain’s Carla Suárez Navarro manned the autograph booth for a bit…

Spain’s Carla Suárez Navarro manned the autograph booth for a bit…

…and of course, she kept signing autographs for her many fans even after she was done.

…and of course, she kept signing autographs for her many fans even after she was done.

Japanese fan favorite Nao Hibino is enjoying her time on home soil.

Japanese fan favorite Nao Hibino is enjoying her time on home soil.

Toray’s top seeds and biggest stars – Caroline Wozniacki, Petra Kvitova and Garbiñe Muguruza – held a Q&A session at the Fan Zone.

Toray’s top seeds and biggest stars – Caroline Wozniacki, Petra Kvitova and Garbiñe Muguruza – held a Q&A session at the Fan Zone.

Monica Puig, Puerto Rico’s trailblazing gold medalist, was back to her winning ways in Japan.

Monica Puig, Puerto Rico’s trailblazing gold medalist, was back to her winning ways in Japan.

Top seed Muguruza and Wozniacki left the tournament a memento and signed the autograph board at Toray.

Top seed Muguruza and Wozniacki left the tournament a memento and signed the autograph board at Toray.

During a rain delay, Radwanska, Puig and Australia’s Jessica Moore donned kimonos and played a round of hanetsuki.

During a rain delay, Radwanska, Puig and Australia’s Jessica Moore donned kimonos and played a round of hanetsuki.

Hanetsuki is a traditional Japanese game similar to badminton (but minus the net). Usually played by girls on New Year’s, players who lose a point get a mark on their forehead – like Puig and Moore!

Hanetsuki is a traditional Japanese game similar to badminton (but minus the net). Usually played by girls on New Year’s, players who lose a point get a mark on their forehead – like Puig and Moore!

Now the players are ready to take to the court at Toray!

Now the players are ready to take to the court at Toray!

Source link

How SAP Analytics For Coaches Assists Kerber Before Big Matches

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

The SAP Analytics for Coaches App has quickly become an essential tool for coaches and players through all three stages of a tennis match. Before the players even hit the court, the analytic insight gives teams an insider perspective on how to strategize for any given match.

“I look at the SAP app to see how the opponent is serving, how she’s placing the ball, and what she’s doing at crucial times,” said Torben Beltz, coach to World No.1 Angelique Kerber. “We try to focus on that to get Angie ready for the match.”

“We sit down together before the match to discuss the tactics against the next opponent,” Kerber added. “He’s able to explain with the technology where I can have more chances to go for it, and see how my opponents have been playing their matches that week.”

Watch the video above to hear how Kerber, Lucie Safarova, and Daria Gavrilova – in concert with their coaching teams – use SAP Tennis Analytics prepare for a match.

Source link

Radwanska Rallies Past Strycova, Olympic Champ Puig Next In Tokyo

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

TOKYO, Japan – No.2 seed and defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska was one game from elimination against the always-dangerous Barbora Strycova, but the Pole turned things around to advance into the quarterfinals of the Toray Pan Pacific Open, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5.

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

“The first match is always tricky, especially at a really strong tournament like here,” Radwanska said in her on-court interview. “You’re playing someone in the Top 20, Top 30, so it’s never easy. I’m just very happy with that match; it wasn’t easy, but I was just better in a couple of points.”

Radwanska last played Strycova at the French Open, where the former World No.2 survived a three-setter on the terre battue, and it quickly became clear it would be a similar struggle on Wednesday as the Czech veteran raced out to a 5-1 lead in the second set despite dropping the first.

“I’ve known her for a long time, so I know she’s a great player with great hands. She can do everything on court, with great touch and is very often at the net. She made some incredible shots, so I’m very glad the last point was mine!”

Strycova is in the midst of a career-best season after reaching the final of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships and came into Tokyo just two spots shy of her career-high ranking of No.19 – earned in late August. Thrice up a break in the decider, she served for the match at 5-4, but Radwanska gamely broke back and saved break points of her own in the next game to engineer victory in two hours and 16 minutes.

“I know it’s late but thank you for staying. Hopefully I will see even more of you the day after tomorrow!”

It is sure to be quite a quarterfinal match-up come Friday as the No.2 seed is set to take on Olympic tennis event champion Monica Puig; the Puerto Rican knocked out former Tokyo champion Petra Kvitova in three sets to earn her best result since becoming her country’s first-ever Olympic Gold medalist. Former World No.1 Caroline Wozniacki also looms as a possible semifinal opponent, making the fight for the Toray Pan Pacific Open trophy likely a photo finish.

Source link

Giorgi Battles Past Barthel In Seoul

  • Posted: Jan 01, 1970

SEOUL, South Korea – Big-hitting Italian Camila Giorgi recovered from a set down to dismiss Mona Barthel in a battle of two former Top 30 players, 2-6, 6-1, 6-4, to reach the quarterfinals of the Korea Open.

Barthel began the year ranked at World No.45, but a virus kept her off court between the Australian and French Open; the German had won just two matches since Wimbledon heading into her match against Giorgi. Still, she reminded fans why she’s been ranked as high as No.23 in the world with a stunning opening set, winning 10 of 13 points off the Italian’s second serve and saving all three break points faced.

Giorgi has also seen her ranking slip from the start of the season, but took the experience from beating Barthel less than a month ago at the Connecticut Open and overcame a few frustrating moments to turn the tables on the 26-year-old, wrapping up the topsy-turvy tussle in just under 100 minutes.

The win puts the 24-year-old into her fifth WTA quarterfinal of the 2016 season – all at International level events – and will be looking to reach her second semifinal of the year, her first since finishing runner-up at the Katowice Open.

Up next for the former World No.30 is No.3 seed and Australian Open quarterfinalist Zhang Shuai, who edged past mixed doubles Olympic Gold medalist and US Open women’s doubles champ Bethanie Mattek-Sands, 6-3, 7-5.

New Haven semifinalist and No.2 seed Johanna Larsson followed up Giorgi’s heroics with a three-set thriller of her own, knocking out rising Ukrainian Kateryna Kozlova, 6-3, 1-6, 6-2.

Source link