Madrid: Cibulkova Interview
An interview with Dominika Cibulkova after her loss in the final of the Mutua Madrid Open.
An interview with Dominika Cibulkova after her loss in the final of the Mutua Madrid Open.
The draw for the Internazionali BNL d’Italia is out and it’s highlighted by a loaded top half of the draw, led by Serena Williams, and what should be an unpredictable bottom half of the draw, led by No.2 Angelique Kerber.
Here are the storylines we’re watching as the last major tune up to the French Open is set to begin.
1. Serena makes her return.
The clay season officially begins for Serena Williams this week, as the American is in Rome and has already been spotted practicing. The World No.1 has not played since losing in the round of 16 at the Miami Open and has just three tournaments under her belt this season. She’s looking to break her title drought, which goes all the way back to the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati last summer.
Serena has a bye into the second round and will open against one of two Anna’s: Anna-Lena Friedsam or Anna Karolina Schmiedlova. Schmiedlova has lost her last 10 tour matches. It’s a draw that should give Serena a few good matches to play herself into form but the business end of the tournament could be tough. Victoria Azarenka, Simona Halep, and Svetlana Kuznetsova are all looming in her half of the draw. To win the title Serena could have to go through Ana Ivanovic, Halep or Kuznetsova in the quarterfinal, and Azarenka (if she’s healthy) in the semifinal.
Rome also offers an opportunity for Serena to pick up points. With her limited play since the US Open, her point lead has began to shrink. Last year she withdrew from the tournament after her opening round match, meaning any progress past that stage this year will help her repad her lead.
2. Azarenka health watch.
Azarenka takes her 26-1 record into Rome, but she arrives under a cloud of questions. Azarenka was forced to withdraw from the Mutua Madrid Open last week due to a back injury, which she says she picked up in her opening match. It’s always difficult to gauge how serious Azarenka’s injuries may be given her cautious nature, so it was good to see her still in the tournament when the draw was released on Friday.
The book on Azarenka is that she’s less of a threat on clay. While she’s committed to proving people wrong this year, a deep run in Rome would certainly put her on the short list of favorites at the French Open, where she has never made it past the semifinals.
Azarenka was a finalist in 2013 and played well last year before losing to eventual champion Maria Sharapova in the quarterfinals. She opens against either Magarita Gasparyan or Madrid quarterfinalist Irina-Camelia Begu, and could play either Daria Kasatkina or Karolina Pliskova in the third round. If healthy, this is a good draw for Azarenka until the semifinals, where she could face off against Serena for the second time this year.
3. Vinci returns home.
Roberta Vinci makes no qualms about it: she does not play well in Rome. The 33-year-old Palermo native has won just six matches in the last 11 years in Rome. The attention and the expectation has been debilitating in the past but she hopes this year is different.
This year the US Open finalist returns to the Foro Italico to much fanfare. It could be her final appearance at the tournament if she holds firm to her previously announced plan to hang up her racquet at the end of the year. She will open her tournament against either Johanna Konta or a qualifier. Vinci told WTA Insider this week that she’s asked tournament organizers to schedule her first match on the famed Court Pietrangeli. The sight of that court overflowing with her vocal Italian fans should be something to see.
Another thing to keep an eye for: If Vinci can get some wins in Rome, she could play Serena in the semifinals in what would be a rematch of their US Open semifinal.
4. Muguruza and Suárez Navarro lead the Spanish Quarter.
Both women were disappointed to bow out of Madrid early, none more so than Carla Suárez Navarro, who was playing well but caught an upper respiratory illness during the week that left her unable to battle through a three-set match against Samantha Stosur. As for Muguruza, she lost in the third round to Begu, and it seemed the pressure of being Spain’s No.1 followed her everywhere she went in Madrid.
Which means Rome should be a refreshing change of pace for both women, who should be factors at the French Open. Suárez Navarro was a finalist here a year ago and so long as she’s put her illness behind her, she should be one to watch this week. She could face Timea Bacsinszky in the third round and Muguruza in the quarterfinals. Muguruza opens against either Danka Kovinic or Ekaterina Makarova.
5. Kvitova’s tough draw.
She couldn’t defend her title in Madrid but Kvitova has been playing good ball on clay. She made the quarterfinals in Stuttgart, losing to eventual champion Angelique Kerber, and earned two good wins in Madrid before losing to Daria Gavrilova. She’s never made it past the quarterfinals in Rome.
Her draw doesn’t inspire much confidence but if she can get through the first few rounds Kvitova could settle down. Her path to the semifinal starts with either Andrea Petkovic or Madison Keys, then possibly Venus Williams, with Angelique Kerber potentially in the quarterfinal.
@andreapetkovic yassssss ? #ihavenoideawhatimdoing pic.twitter.com/ZGPnwdN9Ra
— Madison Keys (@Madison_Keys) April 4, 2016
6. Andrea Petkovic and Madison Keys earn the first round popcorn.
Main draw play begins on Sunday. Here are the first round matches to watch:
– Andrea Petkovic vs. Madison Keys
– Daria Kasatkina vs. Karolina Pliskova
– Venus Williams vs. CoCo Vandeweghe
– Jelena Jankovic vs. Eugenie Bouchard
– Daria Gavrilova vs. Sabine Lisicki
– Kristina Mladenovic vs. Jelena Ostapenko
All photos courtesy of Getty Images.
An interview with Simona Halep after her win in the final at the Mutua Madrid Open.
With only one of the top eight advancing to the quarterfinals in Madrid, the seeds didn’t fare well in the Spanish capital. The upsets, indeed, were akin to Dubai.
So what does Rome hold? More of the same?
Here’s a look at the draw, which is highlighted by the return of 21-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams.
First quarter: Williams’ tough road
In her first clay court tournament of 2016 — and her first tournament overall since Miami — the draw gods seemingly did Serena no favors.
Following a bye, the World No.1 begins with an ‘Anna,’ either Anna-Lena Friedsam or Anna Karolina Schmiedlova. While the ranking dictates Schmiedlova will progress, the Slovak is enduring a difficult campaign after a breakthrough 2015. If Friedsam progresses, she’ll be buoyed by grabbing a set off Williams at the French Open last year.
Then a slew of Grand Slam champs or finalists could come, with Ana Ivanovic, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Simona Halep all in the mix. It was, of course, twice Rome finalist Kuznetsova who stunned Williams at the Miami Open, the event the latter adores. (Victoria Azarenka and Roberta Vinci feature in Williams’ half, too.)
Daria Gavrilova truly announced herself to the tennis world in Rome 12 months ago, battling through tough matches to reach the semis as a qualifier. Struggling for a few months after flourishing at home in Melbourne, she regained some momentum in Madrid.
Halep — speaking of players recapturing momentum — and Gavrilova could clash in the second round.
Prediction: Kuznetsova
Second quarter: How is Vika feeling?
Azarenka entered Madrid with a long winning streak. She left Madrid with the streak intact. Unfortunately for Azarenka, a back injury ruled out the former No.1 ahead of her third-round tussle with rising American Louisa Chirico.
Just how is the back now? With the French Open around the corner and little time between Rome and Madrid, Azarenka could be forgiven for erring on the side of caution at the Foro Italico.
Her probable first-round foe is Irina-Camelia Begu, part of the Romanian contingent that thrived in Madrid. When they tangled a year ago in Rome, Begu extended the Belarusian to three sets. The third round might bring Karolina Pliskova, who was upset in Madrid by Christina McHale.
With their game styles — and personalities — Italians Francesca Schiavone and Roberta Vinci are firm fan favorites. But with Vinci suggesting this is her last year on the circuit and wildcard Schiavone turning 36 in June, is this the last appearance for both in Rome?
How Vinci, then, would dearly love to turn it around in Rome. She has suffered three straight defeats there and lost her opener in four of the past five seasons. Johanna Konta figures to be the seventh seed’s opponent in the second round.
And how the home fans would love to see Schiavone, who starts against Prague winner Lucie Safarova, and Vinci meet in the third round.
Prediction: Vinci
Third quarter: Last year’s finalist
Samantha Stosur certainly played well in her victory over Carla Suárez Navarro in Madrid, yet the Spaniard was hampered because of illness. If she has sufficiently recovered, Suarez Navarro is the favorite to emerge from her quarter.
Not only did Suárez Navarro appear in the final a year ago — when she was close to ousting Maria Sharapova in straight sets — but there were quarterfinal showings on her previous two trips to Rome.
She could, however, battle a player in form in the third round, in No.11 seed Timea Bacsinszky. Bacsinszky won a clay-court title in Morocco a week ago and proceeded to post two good wins in Madrid, over the former Top 10 duo of Ekaterina Makarova and Andrea Petkovic. Perhaps fatigue was a factor in her defeat to Halep, who the Swiss had toppled in Miami.
The two seeds lower down in the quarter, Elina Svitolina and Garbiñe Muguruza, are a combined 3-5 in their last eight encounters, which should raise the spirits of the unseeded in the vicinity, such as Makarova, Istanbul finalist Danka Kovinic and Kristina Mladenovic.
Prediction: Suárez Navarro
Fourth quarter: An early blockbuster?
As a two-time winner, three-time finalist and having advanced to the semifinals as recently as two years ago, Jelena Jankovic has enjoyed tremendous success in Rome. Perhaps Rome is where Jankovic’s season ignites following a shoulder injury and being diagnosed with a cyst on her thyroid gland.
Jankovic’s opener is interesting enough — against 2014 Wimbledon finalist Eugenie Bouchard. But if the Serb wins, she lands No.2 seed Angelique Kerber.
For the second year running, Kerber won in Stuttgart and exited in her first match in Madrid. This time it came against Barbora Strycova.
Who could Kerber potentially play in the third round? None other than the versatile Czech. Or it could be Sara Errani, who delighted the locals by landing in the final in 2014.
At the top of the quarter, Petra Kvitova — who downed Jankovic in Rome last year — draws either Madison Keys or Petkovic in the second round. Tough.
And Serena isn’t the lone member of the family to be making a return to action.
Venus is back and plays her fellow American with the big serve, CoCo Vandeweghe.
Prediction: Kerber
Semifinals: Kuznetsova, Kerber
Winner: Kerber
MADRID, Spain – Following a couple of semifinal masterclasses, Simona Halep and Dominika Cibulkova go into Saturday’s Mutua Madrid Open final on top of their game. Here are 10 of SAP’s finest facts ahead of their showdown in the Spanish capital.
(6) Simona Halep (ROU #7) vs Dominika Cibulkova (SVK #38)
Head-To-Head: Cibulkova leads, 3-1
1) Cibulkova has historically proven to be a difficult foe for Halep.
Despite sitting over 30 places above Cibulkova in the rankings, Halep has struggled in their previous match-ups. While most of these came prior to Halep establishing herself at the top of the game, the mental scars from their most recent encounter – an emphatic Cibulkova victory in the 2014 Australian Open quarterfinals – could still linger. Comfort comes in the shape of Halep’s sole victory, which came a year previously in Brussels – their only meeting on clay.
2) Both players are Grand Slam finalists.
Cibulkova followed up that victory by reaching the final at Melbourne Park, where her dreams of Grand Slam glory were finally ended by an inspired Li Na. Halep is also no stranger to the business end of majors, losing a thrilling 2014 French Open final to Maria Sharapova.
3) But at Premier Mandatory level, Halep holds a decided edge.
For all her career accomplishments, Cibulkova is through to her very first Premier Mandatory final. Away from the Slams, her most significant final came at the Premier 5 Rogers Cup way back in 2008, where she lost to Dinara Safina. Halep, on the other hand, is appearing in her third Premier Mandatory final; she has a mixed record in the previous two, losing to Sharapova in Madrid two years ago and winning Indian Wells in 2015.
4) Halep and the Magnificent Seven.
Should Halep lift the trophy she will become the seventh active player to hold multiple Premier Mandatory titles. The others are Victoria Azarenka (six), Serena Williams (six), Maria Sharapova (three), Agnieszka Radwanska (two), Caroline Wozniacki (two) and Petra Kvitova (two).
5) World No.38 Cibulkova breaking Premier Mandatory records.
Since the introduction of Premier Mandatory status as part of the 2009 WTA Roadmap, Cibulkova is the first player outside the Top 30 to reach a final at a tournament of this stature. The lowest-ranked finalist (No.29 Svetlana Kuznetsova – 2015) and champion (No.24 Aravane Rezaï – 2010) at a Premier Mandatory event have both came in Madrid.
6) Madrid will have a significant impact on the Road To Singapore leaderboard.
Cibulkova, who has never previously qualified for the WTA Finals, came into Madrid at No.17 on the Road To Singapore leaderboard but – regardless of the result – will leave sitting in a qualifying spot. Halep will also crack the Top 8.
7) Cibulkova the marathon woman.
Despite skittling over semifinal foe Louisa Chirico in under an hour, Cibulkova has still spent plenty of time on court. She was taken to three sets in her previous four matches, taking her total time on court en route to the final to nine hours and 40 minutes. Halep meanwhile has dropped just the one set, spending five hours and 38 minutes on court.
8) Halep boom or bust in Madrid.
Aside from her two runs to the final, Halep has never won a main draw match in Madrid, falling at the first hurdle in 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2015.
9) Cibulkova will be close to the Top 20 again after this.
The former No.10 is projected to rise from No.38 to No.26 by reaching the final and No.22 by winning the title. In February she was ranked as low as No.66.
10) Halep serving notice.
Halep’s progress has been helped by some particularly potent serving. In five matches she has fired 15 aces and won a mightily impressive 90.2% of her service games – her 2016 average going into the tournament was 70.5%.
Simona Halep has Friday’s shot of the day at the Mutua Madrid Open.
Dominika Cibulkova takes on Louisa Chirico in the semifinals of the Mutua Madrid Open.
MADRID, Spain – Simona Halep returned to the final of the Mutua Madrid Open after outclassing Samantha Stosur on Friday evening.
Watch highlights, interviews and more video from Madrid right here on wtatennis.com!
Fifty-one minutes was all it took for Halep to romp home, 6-2, 6-0, and advance to her first final since last summer. There she will face Dominika Cibulkova, who won an equally one-sided encounter against Louisa Chirico earlier in the day.
There was little in the opening quarter of an hour on court to suggest the emphatic scoreline that was to follow, the players splitting the first four games as they traded on equal terms from the back of the court.
When Stosur moved 30-0 ahead in the next game, another hold looked on the cards. However, a couple of wayward forehands left the door ajar for Halep to break and with it change the feel of the match.
Less than 10 minutes later, Halep was serving for the set, confidently closing it out to love. The Romanian was now the one dictating the points, expertly sliding to flick a crosscourt backhand in the opening game of the second set. This display of dexterity brought up break point and she converted with an equally confident forehand.
All facets of Halep’s game were now purring as she hurtled towards the finishing line, dropping only four more points before wrapping up victory with her fourth ace of the match.
The other statistics bore equally pleasant reading, as she finished with an 80% first serve percentage and did not face a single break point. “It looked like the perfect game,” Halep told the press after the match. “In the morning actually I was a little bit sore from all the matches this week. Then I warmed up and I felt really well.
“I knew how she would play – I’ve played many times against her – and her game suits mine very well.”
A tougher challenge is likely to await in the final. Cibulkova has come out on top in three of their four career meetings, most recently in a one-sided Australian Open quarterfinal in 2014.
“Her game is fast. She hits the balls. She is moving very well. Of course I think she really wants it tomorrow, to win. We are in the same position. Everyone will fight for it.
“But it’s a big challenge for me. Another match, another day, a different day as well, so we will see. I just want to stay focused like today and to do everything I have in my gameplan.”
Halep seals it with her fourth ace of the match. Outaced Stosur 4-1. 80% 1st serves, lost 7 pts on serve, 5/5 on BPs. Fantastic performance.
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) 6 May 2016
Simona Halep takes on Samantha Stosur in the semifinals of the Mutua Madrid Open.