Tennis News

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – Timea Bacsinszky and Martina Hingis staged a stunning comeback on Friday night to defeat Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka and keep alive their dream of an Olympic gold medal.

Four years ago in London, Hlavackova and Hradecka won silver and they looked on course for a return to the final when took the first set and surged ahead in the second. However, their Swiss opponents hung doggedly onto their coattails, escaping from a dramatic second set to complete a 5-7, 7-6(3), 6-2 victory.

The turning point came with Hradecka serving at 5-4 in the second set. Having already saved one match point, Hingis fended off another with a ferocious volley that struck Hlavackova in the eye from point-blank range.

Despite a lengthy injury timeout, it was a blow from which Hlavackova and Hradecka were unable to recover. The Czechs lost the first two points on the resumption to drop serve and while they did manage to force a tie-break, it was one that never looked like going their way.

Bacsinszky and Hingis compounded this misery in the decider, rattling off four straight games to complete the comeback.

Heading into Rio, an Olympic medal was one of the few prizes missing from Hingis’ resume. Her hopes of winning one were dealt a double blow by the withdrawal or first Roger Federer and then Belinda Bencic. Bacsinszky, though, has deputized ably and on Saturday the first-time partnership will meet Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina for gold.

Makarova and Vesnina were quarterfinalists in London and have picked up a couple of Grand Slam titles since then. Against Lucie Safarova and Barbora Strycova they needed to draw on all this experience to overcome a slow start and edge through, 7-6(7), 6-4.

Dreams are coming true for @EVesnina001 who's guaranteed an Olympic medal after reaching the women's doubles final pic.twitter.com/iQtGsEjjWm

— ITF Olympic Tennis (@OlympicsTennis) 12 August 2016

KEY INFORMATION:
Tournament Level: Premier 5
Prize Money: $2,804,000
Draw Size: 48 main draw (16 byes)/48 qualifying
Main Draw Ceremony: Friday, August 12, 5.30pm EDT
Qualifying Dates: Saturday, August 13 – Sunday, August 14 
First Day of Main Draw: Monday, August 15
Singles Final: Sunday, August 21, 2pm EDT
Doubles Final: TBC – Sunday, August 21, 12.15pm EDT on Grandstand

MUST FOLLOW SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS:
@WTA
@WTA_Insider – WTA Insider, Senior Writer Courtney Nguyen
@CinyTennis – official tournament handle
Get involved in conversations with the official hashtags, #CincyTennis and #WTA.

TOURNAMENT NOTES:
· Serena Williams bids to win a third straight Cincinnati title after accepting a late wildcard. She is the only player in the Open Era to win multiple times at the event.
· Since the tournament’s return to the tour in 2004, there have been 11 different winners of the tournament, although Serena is the only returning champion in the field this year. There are a couple of former runner-ups – Simona Halep (2015), Ana Ivanovic (2014) and Angelique Kerber (2012).
· The WTA’s current Top 5-ranked players are all in attendance: Serena, Kerber, Halep, Garbiñe Muguruza and Agnieszka Radwanska.
· Halep arrives on a 10-match winning streak, having won her past two tournaments, in Bucharest and Montréal.
· Lucie Safarova and Andrea Petkovic could both register their 400th career win by reaching the second round and quarterfinals, respectively.
· For the full draw click here.

WILDCARDS:
Serena Williams (USA), Christina McHale (USA), Louisa Chirico (SVK)

WITHDRAWALS:
Sloane Stephens (right foot), Jelena Jankovic (right shoulder)

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – No.2 seed Angelique Kerber is guranteed to win a medal at the Olympic tennis event; the Australian Open champion clinched her spot in the Gold Medal match with a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Madison Keys on Friday in the semifinals.

The highest ranked woman to reach the final four in Rio, Kerber came up against an in-form rival in Madison Keys, who has taken her to three sets in two of their last three encounters – beating her to win the 2014 Aegon International in Eastbourne.

Hoping to become the first German woman to medal at the Olympic tennis event since idol Stefanie Graf, the World No.2 played contained tennis against her more aggressive opponent, hitting just two unforced errors in the first set alone to take the early initiative.

Madison Keys: 14 winners, 18 unforced errors.

Angelique Kerber: 1 winner, 1 unforced error.

Kerber leads *4-3. https://t.co/LBU8kSMjRn

— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) August 12, 2016

“It means a lot to be in the final right now,” she said after the match. “It wasn’t easy to be the next after Steffi to reach the final at the Olympics means a lot. It’s really special to be here today, and tomorrow in the finals.”

Keys became the first American to make her Top 10 debut since Serena Williams back in 1999 earlier this year, and wasn’t about to go down without a fight. Facing down the barrel of triple match point in the tenth game of the second set, Keys saved all three – a total of four by game’s end – to try and force a deciding set.

“She’s an unbelievably good player and she played really hard today. I was trying to move well, get the balls back and go for it when I had the chance. It wasn’t easy in the second set when I had four match points, but I managed to come back and focus again. It’s really special to be in the final now.”

Kerber saved two break points on her own serve to get back within striking distance of her first Olympic final – having fallen in the quarterfinals back in her London debut four years ago – and finally secured victory on her sixth match point. 

Standing between the German and a gold medal is Puerto Rico’s Monica Puig, another youngster in the midst of a career-best season. Puig became the first woman from her country to win a medal after upsetting No.11 seed Petra Kvitova in the other semifinal, and has knocked out quality opposition all week in Rio, including reigning French Open champion Garbiñe Muguruza.

“She’s played very good this week,” Kerber said when asked about her next opponent. “I know it’ll be a tough final, but I’ll try to enjoy it, go out and play my best tennis and, of course, win the next match. But Monica plays good and I’m ready for that.”

.@AngeliqueKerber will face @MonicaAce93 in the gold medal match after defeating Madison Keys 63 75 at #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/7ruVKIroOF

— ITF Olympic Tennis (@OlympicsTennis) August 12, 2016

Puerto Rico’s Monica Puig is set to become Puerto Rico’s first women to win an Olympic medal as she advanced to the gold medal match with a three-set win over Petra Kvitova, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3.

As a result, Puig will become the first woman representing Puerto Rico to win an Olympic medal and has the chance to become the first athlete from Puerto Rico – man or woman – to win a gold medal.

#PicaPower, the world No.34’s rallying cry on social media, became a worldwide trending topic on Twitter following her victory.

Dreams come true when you work hard enough to get them! Going all the way! #JuegosOlimpicos #Tenis ?❤️?? #EquipoPUR pic.twitter.com/AI7QaVXKaT

— Monica Puig (@MonicaAce93) August 11, 2016

Entering the gold medal match, Puig has won a career-best 36 main draw matches in 2016, more than she won in the previous two seasons.

But perhaps most impressive… did Puig forecast her success in Rio back on July 27 when she shared with her Twitter following that she introduced “Rio Puig” to the Twitter-verse?

Meet the newest addition to my family! “Rio Puig” ? #NewBaby pic.twitter.com/hpdwKJGlG0

— Monica Puig (@MonicaAce93) July 27, 2016

While Puig will become the first woman representing Puerto Rico to win an Olympic medal, Gigi Fernandez, born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, won two gold medals in doubles for the United States playing alongside Mary Joe Fernandez in 1992 and 1996. Gigi was quick to join in the celebration.

MEDALLA. ??MEDALLA. ??MEDALLA ??para @MonicaAce93 y @PuertoRicoPUR ?????? POR FIN!!!! No puedo de la emocion!

— Gigi Fernandez (@gigifernandez) August 12, 2016

No matter what happens in Saturday’s Gold Medal match, we know Puig will have one fan firmly in her corner:

So some good news today though! Rio started puppy school and is doing a fantastic job!!!! Im a proud mama ❤️?? pic.twitter.com/Yb9RVzcPnK

— Monica Puig (@MonicaAce93) August 10, 2016

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – A pair of Olympic debutantes will try to knock off two experienced southpaws with the Gold medal match on the line. It’s semifinal time at the 2016 Olympic Games! Chris Oddo breaks down the match-ups for wtatennis.com.

Friday, Semifinals

Centre Court
[11] Petra Kvitova (CZE #14) vs. Monica Puig (PUR #34)
Head-to-head: First meeting
Key Stat: Puig is bidding to become the first Puerto Rican tennis player to win a medal at the Olympic Games.

Talk about making the most of an Olympic debut! Puerto Rico’s Monica Puig has dropped just 14 games en route to a semifinal appearance at Rio, and on the way the 22-year-old notched a career-best win in terms of ranking when she drubbed World No.4 Garbiñe Muguruza, 6-1, 6-1. Puig is riding an emotional high in Rio that she says is unlike any other. “It’s for my country, and I think nothing in the world can compare to that,” she told the Associated Press after defeating Germany’s Laura Siegemund in straight sets on Thursday. “It’s the most special feeling when you put on the colors of your country and you’re walking around the Olympic Village and everybody looks to see your country on the back of your shirt.” Puig will no doubt be inspired on Friday when she faces Petra Kvitova for a spot in the Gold medal round, but Kvitova is a woman who knows a thing or two about playing for national pride as well. The Czech has ably led her nation to four Fed Cup titles and she will look to add an Olympic medal to her fine international resumé when she faces Puig for the first time on Friday. Though it has been an up and down year for Kvitova, she has been in menacing form at Rio and looks primed to reassert herself as one of the dominant forces in tennis. Will Puig be able to ride the emotional wave past Kvitova, or will the legendary southpaw stay hot and break through to her first final of 2016?

Pick: Kvitova in three

[2] Angelique Kerber (GER #2) vs. [7] Madison Keys (USA #9)
Head-to-head: Kerber leads, 4-1
Key Stat: Keys has lost all three of her previous matches against Kerber on a hardcourt.

With Serena Williams out of the draw in Rio, No.2 seed Angelique Kerber has stepped in with confidence to book her spot in the last four, but she’ll have to pass her most difficult test of the Olympic Games if she is to reach the Gold medal match. Standing in Kerber’s way on Friday will be the daunting American Madison Keys, a player that has done nothing but impress since late spring. The 21-year-old has gone 25-4 since early May, playing finals in Rome and Montréal while winning the title in Birmingham. On Thursday she blitzed Russia’s Daria Kasatkina, finishing with 30 winners to just four for Kasatkina. Will Keys be able to achieve the same level of dominance against the fleet-footed, feisty Kerber? Unlikely, but Keys’ current form says that she is in this battle with a good chance to win. Though she has lost two in a row to the World No.2 she does own a win over Kerber and took the German to three sets in a wildly entertaining Charleston final in 2015. This semifinal promises to be a thrilling encounter of stylistic opposites. Kerber, the gritty, indefatigable counterpuncher, versus Keys, the scout’s dream with power to burn and a penchant for attacking. Who will emerge victorious?

Pick: Kerber in three

Around the grounds…
Women’s doubles will also be taking center stage on Friday in Rio as both semifinals are slated for Court No.2. The No.5 seeds, Martina Hingis and Timea Bacsinszky of Switzerland, will face the No.6 Lucie Hradecka and Andrea Hlavackova of the Czech Republic, while unseeded Lucie Safarova and Barbora Strycova square off with the seventh-seeded Russian pairing of Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina.

World No.1 Serena Williams has taken a wildcard into next week’s Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, a Premier 5 event.

The two-time defending champion has a 10-match win streak in Cincinnati and will be making her eighth appearance at the tournament where she holds a 21-4 match record. Serena enters the event looking to rebound from a disappointing early exit from the Olympics in Rio, where she lost in the third round to Elina Svitolina.

Having played only three matches since winning Wimbledon in July, Serena will look to return to form as she continues to prepare for the US Open, where she has a chance to break the Open Era record for Slam singles titles by winning her 23rd major.

Also on the line for Serena next week: The No.1 ranking.

Current World No.2 Angelique Kerber has a chance to end Serena’s 183-week reign at No.1 at Cincinnati, however, it will not be an easy task. Kerber, who is still in Rio de Janiero at the Olympic tennis event, would need to win the title at the Western & Southern Open in order to do so.

With Serena accepting the wildcard, she can extend her stay at No.1 through US Open if she makes the quarterfinals, regardless what Kerber does.

Kerber is trying to become the first German to reach No.1 since her idol Stefanie Graf and would be the third left-handed player to hold the No.1 ranking (along with Martina Navratilova and Monica Seles).

Main draw play at the Western & Southern Open begins on Monday, with the top 16 seeds receiving a bye into the second round. The draw ceremony will be held on Friday, August 12, at 5:30pm local time.

SHE'S BACK.

2-time defending champ @serenawilliams returns to #CincyTennis after receiving a WC into the main draw. pic.twitter.com/1rNIEvHaok

— W&S Open (@CincyTennis) August 11, 2016

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – No.11 seed Petra Kvitova kept up her world-class form in the quarterfinals of the Olympic tennis event, soaring past Elina Svitolina, 6-2, 6-0, to reach the final four in Rio.

Playing in her second Olympics, Kvitova edged closer to a first medal with a strong win over Svitolina, who was fresh off an upset of World No.1 Serena Williams in the third round.

Converting the only two break points of the opening set, the two-time Wimbledon winner raced through the opening set, and didn’t face a break point throughout the 48 minute contest. In all, Kvitova hit 18 winners to just two from the Ukrainian youngster, and hit 11 unforced errors to 16 by match’s end.

Czech Republic's @Petra_Kvitova books her place in the last 4 at #Rio2016 with 62 60 win against @ElinaSvitolina pic.twitter.com/hUVLuqgyil

— ITF Olympic Tennis (@OlympicsTennis) August 11, 2016

Into her first Olympic semifinal, the former World No.2 will face Puerto Rico’s Monica Puig for a spot in the final; Puig was equally emphatic in her quarterfinal demolition of Germany’s Laura Siegemund, 6-1, 6-1.

Kvitova has played her best tennis under the Czech flag, leading her country to four Fed Cup wins in the last five years. Jiri Fencl, coach to Kvitova’s countrywoman Lucie Hradecka, noticed the shift in Kvitova’s mental state after her hard-fought third round win over Ekaterina Makarova.

Petra is emotionally in Fed Cup mode. Watch out everyone. #pojd #Rio2016

— Jiří Fencl (@maxav) August 9, 2016

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – World Co-No.1 Martina Hingis kept her hopes of a first Olympic medal alive as she and countrywoman Timea Bacsinszky blasted past No.3 seeds Chan Yung-Jan and Chan Hao-Ching, 6-3, 6-0 to reach the semifinals of the Olympic tennis event in women’s doubles.

Bacsinszky bounced back from a disappointing first round defeat in singles to play just her second doubles tournament of 2016 alongside Hingis, the reigning US Open, WTA Finals and Australian Open champion.

Together, the pair have dropped just one set through their first three matches, and were particularly dominant against the Chans – a formidable pair who were the last team to defeat Hingis and then-partner Sania Mirza before the duo went on a 41-match winning streak – winning the second set in just 35 minutes.

After going down an early break to start, the No.5 seeds broke serve six straight times to book a semifinal encounter No.6 seeds Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka of the Czech Republic. Hlavackova and Hradecka captured the silver medal at the London Olympics, falling to three-time Olympic champions Venus and Serena Williams, and saved three match points to defeat Russians Daria Kasatkina and Svetlana Kuznetsova, 6-1, 4-6, 7-5.

Hingis is playing her first Olympic tennis event since 1996, when she was 15 years old.

On the top half of the draw, Czechs Lucie Safarova and Barbora Strycova kept up their giant-killing run with a three-set win over former World No.1s Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci. The Italians reunited for the Olympics, but fell in a tough 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 defeat to Safarova and Strycova, who began their tournament with a win over the Williams sisters.

Rogers Cup champions Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina had a rough itinerary down to Rio for the Olympics, but the Russians have made up for lost prep time in impressive fashion, easing past No.4 seeds Garbiñe Muguruza and Carla Suárez Navarro, 6-3, 6-4.