Brisbane: Tuesday Highlights
Highlights from all of Tuesday’s action on Day 3 of the Brisbane International.
Highlights from all of Tuesday’s action on Day 3 of the Brisbane International.
AUCKLAND, New Zealand – Venus Williams eased through a tense opening set against hometown favorite Jade Lewis, 7-6(2), 6-2, before being forced to withdraw from what would have been her second match of the day at the ASB Classic, citing right arm pain ahead of a highly anticipated encouter with Japanese youngster Naomi Osaka.
“I love this tournament and I’m really sad that I have to withdraw, but I’m happy to have had the opportunity to be here again this year,” the five-time Wimbledon winner said in a statement.
Impacted by adverse weather to start the tournament, Venus was scheduled to play a pair of singles matches on Tuesday after defeating Lewis to kick off the day session in Auckland. Lewis led by a service break three times in the opening set, holding a set point in the tenth game before fading in the tie-break and ensuing second set.
The win booked a clash with Osaka, who first the American after winning the Rising Stars Invitational at the 2015 BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.
“I wasn’t really talking,” Osaka said at the time. “I was just kind of creeping her out. But she’s really nice. I don’t remember what we talked about because I was really freaked out.”
Venus reached back-to-back finals at the ASB Classic in 2014 and 2015, winning the latter over Caroline Wozniacki in the final.
We regret to announce that @Venuseswilliams has had to pull out of the #ASBClassic Tournament due to injury. Updated Order of Play to follow pic.twitter.com/hc95EMuYAr
— ASB Classic (@ASB_Classic) January 4, 2017
In today’s SAP Stat Of The Day, Destanee Aiava scored a big win for millennium babies everywhere at the Brisbane International.
AUCKLAND, New Zealand – Caroline Wozniacki continued her confident start to the new season by breezing past Varvara Lepchenko and into the quarterfinals of the ASB Classic.
With the dust still settling from the exits of both Williams sisters from the tournament, No.3 seed Wozniacki made light work of the gusty conditions to wrap up a 6-3, 6-3 victory.
“It was a bit of a different match, a little bit tougher conditions today. But I was happy with the way I managed to keep cool and deal with her tricky lefty serves – I was pleased with it.”
Venus Williams’ withdrawal ahead of her second-round match resulted in Wozniacki taking court a little earlier than expected, but she took the change of schedule in her stride, finishing both sets strongly to wrap up victory after an hour and 18 minutes.
.@CaroWozniacki is serving for a place in the @ASB_Classic quarterfinals – and it's no surprise when she's playing like this! pic.twitter.com/WTHph6pF3v
— WTA (@WTA) January 4, 2017
“I was in my room and I got a text asking where I was, and I was like, what do you mean? Then I found out Venus was pulling out and I needed to play a little earlier and started to stress out because I wasn’t ready.”
The former World No.1 will now play Julia Goerges, against whom she has a mixed record, winning four of their eight encounters, including two years ago in Auckland. “She’s a tough opponent, a tough match-up for me,” Wozniacki added. “But I’m excited for it, it’s going to be a good challenge. I’ve played her here before and done well, so I’m hoping I can play another good match and win.”
Goerges booked her spot by prevailing over Naomi Broady, 7-5, 6-4, in the battle of the big servers. Also advancing were Barbora Strycova, who edged past Lucie Safarova, 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(4), and Jelena Ostapenko, a 6-2, 7-6(3) winner over Mirjana Lucic-Baroni.
Daria Kasatkina has Tuesday’s shot of the day at the Brisbane International.
BRISBANE, Australia – For the second time in as many days, Garbiñe Muguruza came back from the brink to keep her hopes alive at the Brisbane International.
Muguruza entertained a record crowd at the Queensland Tennis Centre on Tuesday night, coming from match point down for to defeat the courageous Daria Kasatkina, 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(7), in one minute shy of three hours.
“What a match! It was terrible, I was suffering until last moment, but I think we were both playing amazing,” Muguruza said in her on-court interview. “The tie break is just a few points where it will be decided. I don’t know how I won but I’m glad I did it.
Another huge moment!@DKasatkina breaks back after this phenomenal challenge! pic.twitter.com/wWC8Oa8tNG
— WTA (@WTA) January 3, 2017
In a match that ebbed and flowed until the last, Kasatkina came roaring back from 4-1 down in the deciding set only to stumble when she was then presented with the opportunity to serve for it. Muguruza, somehow maintained her composure in the subsequent tie-break, wiping out a match point at 6-7 with a pin-point forehand before eventually making her weary limbs across the finishing line.
The previous evening, the Spaniard had been involved in an equally dramatic contest against home favorite Samantha Stosur. By her own admission, it is an atmosphere she revels in.
“I love to play in this type of court when the crowd is so into the match. I like to make them enjoy and suffer like me!”
This match?? @BrisbaneTennis
— Elena Vesnina (@EVesnina001) January 3, 2017
In the quarterfinals, Muguruza will face either Svetlana Kuznetsova or Destanee Aiava.
Another seed put through the ringer was Elina Svitolina, who eventually saw off Shelby Rogers, 7-5, 2-6, 7-5.
Karolina Pliskova takes on Asia Muhammad in the second round of the Brisbane International.
AUCKLAND, New Zealand – World No.2 Serena Williams won five straight games en route to her first match win since September, defeating French veteran Pauline Parmentier, 6-3, 6-4, to advance into the second round of the ASB Classic.
Relive the match as it happened on the WTA Insider Live Blog!
“It’s my first match back in serveral months and I was playing a really good player today,” she said during her on-court interview.
“COME ON!”
Yup, @SerenaWilliams is back! ✊ pic.twitter.com/w05QPuTfGh
— WTA (@WTA) January 2, 2017
“This wind was really getting to me! This whole week I practiced with no wind, but today it was so windy.
“But it was fun…well, it wasn’t fun, but it was interesting!”
Serena was forced to miss much of the second half of 2016 due to injury – though she still managed to tie Stefanie Graf’s Open Era record of 22 Grand Slam titles at Wimbledon – and hadn’t been on court since the US Open.
Overcoming a slow start, the American recovered from a 1-3 deficit to take the first set, and fought off three break points in the middle of the second to seal victory in one hour and 15 minutes.
Sneaky drop shot from @SerenaWilliams! ? #ASBClassic pic.twitter.com/gPh0vy80ld
— WTA (@WTA) January 2, 2017
“I’m feeling like I’m trying to get out there, and that every match counts. I’ve never played in front of you guys so this is really special for my career. I’ve never been here, so thanks for making me feel so welcome.”
Up next for Serena is either Madison Brengle or qualifier Jamie Loeb, two Americans who could face the top seed.
She’s back!@SerenaWilliams beats Parmentier 6-3, 6-4 in @ASB_Classic First round! pic.twitter.com/gLufwPcT5z
— WTA (@WTA) January 3, 2017
Garbiñe Muguruza takes on Daria Kasatkina in the second round of the Brisbane International.
Dominika Cibulkova and Casey Dellacqua paid a special visit to the children at the Ronald McDonald House in Brisbane with WTA Charities.