Tennis News

MONTRÉAL, Canada – 2014 Montréal champion Agnieszka Radwanska came away victorious in a battle of trick shots against Monica Niculescu, dodging three set points to survive a late challenge and advance to the third round of the Rogers Cup, 6-1, 7-5.

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The fans at Court Central were treated to an array of slices, drop shots and variety as the pair of trick shot queens faced off for the third time in 2016. Despite having similar playing styles, Radwanska owns the edge in their head-to-head record, coming into the match up having won all of their previous hardcourt meetings.

Niculescu struggled to meet Radwanska shot for shot early on in the match as her signature forehand slice seemed to be missing from her game. She struck almost twice as many unforced errors as Radwanska – 13 to the Pole’s 7 – and quickly found herself trailing a double break. She got on board at 4-1, but she couldn’t stop Radwanska’s all-out assault as the No.4 seed powered on to take the first set 6-1.

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But what looked to be shaping up into a straightforward victory for Radwanska got a little more complicated as Niculescu took off in the second set. Whereas in the first set Niculescu couldn’t find a way to pressure Radwanska’s serve, in the second she and Radwanska traded five consecutive breaks of serve as the Pole struggled to win points behind her vulnerable second serve.

Radwanska faced down three set points on the Romanian’s serve at 5-4 as Niculescu looked ready to extend the match. She dodged all three and ultimately earned the break on a drop shot that clipped the netcord and dribbles over. She reeled off the final four games of the match to earn her spot in the third round.

She’s set to play Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova for a place in the last eight after the Russian overcame Christina McHale 6-2, 7-5.

? from @ARadwanska #CoupeRogers pic.twitter.com/ZvbDTIUf6G

— WTA (@WTA) July 27, 2016

MONTRÉAL, Canada – Reigning Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber acquitted herself well in her first hardcourt match since Miami; despite a second set wobble, the No.2 seed stood tall in the end to defeat unseeded Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 in the second round of the Rogers Cup.

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“It was a really tough match. She played really strong and tough, and I knew it would be a tough match. But I was trying to keep focusing until the last point, and staying in the match. I’m really happy about my first match here.”

Playing just her second match since after reaching the Wimbledon final – having pulled out of the Ericsson Open due to an elbow injury – but played the crucial points well against an in-form Lucic-Baroni on Wednesday night.

“I knew she was playing well, but I was trying to focus on my game. It was a good match.”

Getting out to a quick 5-2 lead in the opening set, Kerber was suddenly confounded by the Croatian No.1, who broke serve in the opening game of the second and never looked back to force a decider.

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“In the second set, she played great and won the important points. I wanted to come back strong in the third set and play my game.

Conserving her energy well throughout the one hour, 38 minute match, the World No.2 didn’t face a break point in the final set, breaking serve on her second opportunity – ultimately clinching the match on her own serve at love.

“It’s just great to be here. I love to play here in Montréal. The fans are amazing; it’s always full and they always stay until the end!”

Up next for Kerber is No.17 seed Elina Svitolina, who outlasted Canadian wildcard Francoise Abanda, 7-6(2), 7-6(3) early on Wednesday. Svitolina is currently working with Justine Henin, who appeared as her on-court coach during the match.

“It was my first match on hard court after a long time. It was not so easy.” – Angelique Kerber pic.twitter.com/mG745ZuMyW

— Coupe Rogers (@CoupeRogers) July 28, 2016

MONTRÉAL, Canada – No.6 seeded Venus Williams extended her perfect record against Barbora Strycova after sailing past the Czech in straight sets to earn a spot in the third round of the Rogers Cup.

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Williams enjoyed a successful start after the quick turnaround from the Bank of the West Classic last week in Stanford, three time zones away from Montréal. While her last encounter with the tricky Strycova was a nearly-three hour, three set battle, today’s encounter went decidedly smoother for the American as she wrapped up the 6-3, 6-0 match in just 58 minutes.

“It was definitely more straightforward I think than all of our other matches,” Williams said after the match. “I didn’t mind that, especially after playing a lot last week, just to be able to come out and hopefully advance to the next round.

“It’s been intense. Usually I don’t play this much back-to-back. But I knew what I was going to do going into the year, what it was going to take. I never sign up for anything that I don’t think I can achieve.”

Strycova seemed to struggle under the balmy conditions after a tightly drawn first set. Her unforced errors count climbed to 36 – Williams struck 19 – and her frustration mounted as she brought up only one break point in the match even while the American struggled with her serve in the second set. Williams broke three times to zoom through the second set and into the third round.

“I had issues,” Williams admitted after the match. “I don’t like to really get into, you know, what’s going down. But I had some issues. I definitely do like to serve a lot bigger.”

“I hope to be better for the next match.”

Next up for Venus Williams is young American Madison Keys, who battled past Madison Brengle 6-4, 6-3 for a spot in the third round.

Also looking for a spot in the last 16 are No.7 seed Roberta Vinci and No.12 seed Petra Kvitova, who were both put through their paces on their way to the third round. Vinci battled back from a set down in an all-Italian derby against Camila Giorgi before advancing, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, while Kvitova overcame a surging Andrea Petkovic in straight sets 6-2, 6-4.

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