Tennis News

THE WINNERS

Heather Watson roared back from a set down to dispatch Belgium’s Kirsten Flipkens, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, to win her third career title at the Abierto Monterrey Afirme.

“I don’t know where to start,” Watson said. “I’m extremely happy today. I was nervous coming into the match, and I’ve never beaten Kirsten before – she’s a great player who really makes you work for it.”

With Johanna Konta also reaching the quarterfinals in Monterrey and Naomi Broady matching the effort in Kuala Lumpur, it was the largest contingent of British women in a WTA quarterfinal in one week since 1978 (Eastbourne).

Read the Monterrey final match recap here.

Elina Svitolina survived a stormy Sunday final against an inspired Eugenie Bouchard to capture her fourth career title at the BMW Malaysian Open, 6-7(5), 6-4, 7-5. Winning in Kuala Lumpur brings Svitolina up to a career-high ranking of No.14, and back into the Top 15 for the first time since last summer.

“It was a long day,” Svitolina said after the match, which was interrupted by rain four times. “Emotionally, I’m really exhausted now.”

Read the Kuala Lumpur final match recap here.

GAME, SET, MATCH: WTA Insider

Game: Heather Watson avoids disaster to win the Abierto Monterrey Afirme.

Things weren’t looking bright for Watson when she landed in Monterrey. She was on a string of three tough three-set losses, her tennis bag was literally being held together by a safety pin, and she lost half her laundry. Sure enough, there she was in the first round struggling against Misaki Doi and about to succumb to full-body cramps.

But she found a way to get the 6-4, 6-7, 6-3 win and went on to lose just one more set en route to her third career title. All this with her mother Michelle serving as her coach – both on and off court – throughout the week. This was the most impressive title run of the week, with the No.84 Watson knocking out No.2 seed Caroline Wozniacki and No.4 seed Caroline Garcia in straight sets.

Heather Watson wins Monterrey, her 3rd title. Shares a moment with her mom Michelle, who was her coach this week. pic.twitter.com/DivLR8Bx1w

— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) March 6, 2016

Heather’s mother Michelle had never been courtside for Watson’s first two title wins. She couldn’t have asked for a better present on Mother’s Day.

Set: Elina Svitolina gets her junior Wimbledon revenge.

In a rematch of the 2012 Wimbledon junior final, Svitolina outlasted both a rain-interrupted final and a resurging Eugenie Bouchard 6-7(5), 6-4, 7-5 to win her first title of the season at the BMW Malaysian Open. The No.2 seed took a wildcard into the event, and though she struggled to get past four players ranked outside the Top 130 to make the final, she saved her best for last against Bouchard.

It was a strong week for both finalists, though Bouchard was undoubtedly disappointed to come so close to her first title since 2014 – she served for the match at 5-4 in the third only to get broken. She has already made two finals this year and didn’t drop a set in Kuala Lumpur until the final. The consistency and decision-making has improved tremendously since last year, though her struggle to remain healthy on-court continues. She complained of dizziness during the final but played through against medical advice.

“The medical staff also strongly advised me not to continue during the second set but there was no way I was going to retire in a final,” she told TheStar.com. “I think I gave it my all and I fought well. Now I just need to go on to my next tournament and do well there.”

Match: Dry spell or oasis?

The tour now turns to two of its biggest events of the season at this week’s BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California before hitting the opposite coast at the Miami Open. With so many questions lingering about the state of the Top 10, all eyes are on the desert to see whether the tour’s elite can offer some stability after two unpredictable months.

Read more about what to expect during March Madness here.

RANKING MOVERS
Notable singles ranking movers for the week of March 7, 2016.

Heather Watson (GBR), +31 (No.84 to 53): Watson gave her mother the best Mother’s Day gift she could ask for this week. As her mum looked on in the stands, Watson clinched the third title of her career at Monterrey and made biggest ranking jump of the week, vaulting up to No.53.

Naomi Broady (GBR), +20 (No.96 to 76): Broady made her second WTA semifinal of her career at Kuala Lumpur and jumped 20 spots to a career high ranking of No.76.

Kirsten Flipkens (BEL), +14 (No. 73 to 59): Flipkens is back into the Top 60 after a stellar run in Monterrey, which saw her reach her first final since 2013. 

Eugenie Bouchard (CAN), +10 (No.52 to 42): With a final appearance in Kuala Lumpur – her second final of the year – Bouchard continues her upward trend back up rankings with a spot inside the Top 50.

Elina Svitolina (UKR), +5 (No.19 to 14): Svitolina captured the title in Kuala Lumpur and took home an even sweeter prize: a brand new career-high ranking of No.14.

Read Ranking Watch for in-depth analysis of this week’s ranking jumps.

UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS

BNP Paribas Open
Indian Wells, USA
Premier | $6,134,605 | Hard, Outdoors
Wednesday, March 9 – Sunday March 20

Miami Open
Miami, USA
Premier | $6,134,605 | Hard, Outdoors
Tuesday, March 22 – Sunday, April 3

TOP 20 PLAYER SCHEDULES

1. Serena Williams – Indian Wells, Miami
2. Angelique Kerber – Indian Wells, Miami
3. Agnieszka Radwanska – Indian Wells, Miami
4. Garbiñe Muguruza – Indian Wells, Miami
5. Simona Halep – Indian Wells, Miami
6. Carla Suárez Navarro – Indian Wells, Miami
7. Maria Sharapova – Miami
8. Belinda Bencic – Indian Wells, Miami
9. Petra Kvitova – Indian Wells, Miami
10. Roberta Vinci – Indian Wells, Miami
11. Flavia Pennetta – (retired)
12. Venus Williams – Indian Wells, Miami
13. Lucie Safarova – Indian Wells, Miami
14. Elina Svitolina – Indian Wells, Miami
15. Victoria Azarenka – Indian Wells, Miami
16. Sara Errani – Indian Wells, Miami
17. Svetlana Kuznetsova – Indian Wells, Miami
18. Ana Ivanovic – Indian Wells, Miami
19. Karolina Pliskova – Indian Wells, Miami
20. Jelena Jankovic – Indian Wells Miami

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
Best wishes to those celebrating birthdays this week:

An-Sophie Mestach (BEL) – March 7, 1994
Petra Kvitova (CZE) – March 8, 1990
Mirjana Lucic-Baroni (CRO) – March 9, 1982
Belinda Bencic (SUI) – March 10, 1997
Stefanie Voegele (SUI) – March 10, 1990
Katarina Srebotnik (SLO) – March 12, 1981
Andreja Klepac (SLO) – March 13, 1986

Since her memorable run to the semifinals of the Australian Open, Johanna Konta has been the talk of British sport – back-page domination, feature articles and talk show slots.

However, last week Heather Watson provided a timely reminder of just what she is capable of, outplaying a series of higher-ranked rivals to win the Abierto Monterrey Afirme.

A watertight defense and fit-as-a-fiddle physique were the hallmarks of Watson’s original rise to prominence on tour, bringing her a maiden WTA title and a Top 50 ranking before a debilitating bout of glandular fever intervened.

Since returning the British No.2 augmented her defensive qualities with a newfound aggression. And in Monterrey her positivity paid dividends, bossing former No.1 Caroline Wozniacki in their quarterfinal then blowing away the gifted Caroline Garcia in the semis.

She completed the week in dramatic fashion, seeing off an inspired Kirsten Flipkens in the final to lift the third singles title of her career. The result catapults Watson from No.84 to 53 – her highest ranking since last June.

Watson, though, is not the only upwardly mobile Briton.

Naomi Broady (+20, No.96 to No.76): Watson’s compatriot Naomi Broady is no shrinking violet. This week was another eventful one for Broady, whose 46 aces helped her to wins over Klara Koukalova and Sabine Lisicki, a second WTA semifinal and a career-best ranking.

Eugenie Bouchard (+10, No.52 to No.42): Broady’s conqueror, Eugenie Bouchard, narrowly missed out on a second career title, but produced enough signs to suggest that her recent revival is no flash in the plan. With few points to defend over the next few months, the Canadian’s climb up the rankings is unlikely to stall at No.42.

Elina Svitolina (+5 No.19 to No.14): Elina Svitolina does not turn 22 until September, but after her thrilling final victory over Bouchard means she already has four titles to her name. The 280 points picked up in the Malaysian capital also takes her to a career-high No.14 in the rankings.

Kirsten Flipkens (+14, No.73 to No.59): While Flipkens was unable to maintain her electric start to defeat Watson, victories over seeds Alison Van Uytvanck and Konta ensured the tournament remained a highly encouraging one. She is now back inside the Top 60 for the first time since last March.

Anett Kontaveit (+18, No.91 to No.73): Anett Kontaveit progress up the rankings has been steady rather than spectacular. In Monterrey, the Estonian took the latest step in the shape of a first WTA semifinal, a result that edged her 18 places closer to a Top 50 debut.

MONTERREY, Mexico – Heather Watson roared back from a set down to dispatch Belgium’s Kirsten Flipkens, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, to win her third career title at the Abierto Monterrey Afirme in just under two hours.

“I don’t know where to start,” the Brit said in her post-match interview. “I’m extremely happy today. I was nervous coming into the match, and I’ve never beaten Kirsten before – she’s a great player who really makes you work for it.

From losing the opening set, Watson looked well in control as she leveled the match and earned a 3-0 lead in the decider, but Flipkens fought back to level and set the stage for a tense ending. 

“I thought Kirsten was pretty flawless in the first set, and I was getting frustrated with myself. I just had to stay calm and try my best. I never looked past the next point.”

Watson served out the title and was at a loss for words after capping off a banner week for the Brits; with Johanna Konta also reaching the quarterfinals in Monterrey and Naomi Broady matching the effort in Kuala Lumpur, it was the largest contingents of British women in a WTA quarterfinal in one week since 1978 (Eastbourne).

“Mexico, thank you; te amo! I’m a big fan of Mexico; when I was six years old, we used to come to Mexico for Christmas for six years. I’m just so glad to be able to win a title here. I need to learn some more Spanish.”

Earlier in the day, top seeds Anabel Medina Garrigues and Arantxa Parra Santonja won their second straight title and completed a Mexico sweep – having also earned the trophy at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel – with a tight win over Petra Martic and Maria Sanchez, 4-6, 7-5, 10-7.

Happy Mother's Day Heather's Mum! https://t.co/1NpU140Vk7

— WTA (@WTA) March 6, 2016

Every week wtatennis.com brings you 10 Things To Know about the week – who is playing, where and much more. This week the Road To Singapore heads to the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California…

1) Venus Williams makes a long-awaited Indian Wells return.
Former No.1 Venus Williams will play the BNP Paribas Open for the first time since 2001; the seven-time Grand Slam champion wrote about her thoughts on coming back to Indian Wells in the Players Tribune. Venus recovered from a tough start to 2016 with a decisive title run at the Taiwan Open.

2) Could Steffi Graf be a secret weapon for defending champion Simona Halep?
Simona Halep enjoyed an impressive fortnight at last year’s event, roaring back from a set and a break down to oust former No.1 Jelena Jankovic for the biggest title of her career. The Romanian has endured a tough run thus far, struggling with an Achilles injury and early round losses at the Australian Open, Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, and the Qatar Total Open. Halep has since gone back to the drawing board, practicing in Las Vegas with coach Darren Cahill and getting the opportunity to hit with 22-time Grand Slam champion Steffi Graf and husband, former ATP No.1 Andre Agassi. Reigning Australian Open champion Angelique Kerber credits a hit with Graf with turning her season around; might the same work for Halep?

3) Serena and Kerber lead the seeds.
Speaking of Kerber, she and fellow Australian Open finalist Serena Williams will be seeded to face one another in yet another big-time final, should the two each make it that far. Williams has not played since Melbourne, while the German lost her opening round match in Doha to Zheng Saisai as the top seed. Joining sister Venus in California, Serena made her return to Indian Wells last year, reaching the semifinals.

4) An opening for Agnieszka Radwanska?
World No.3 Agnieszka Radwanska has been all but unstoppable since last fall, winning titles in Tokyo, Tianjin, and finishing the 2015 season with the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global title. Opening 2016 with another title in Shenzhen, Radwanska has performed consistently on the game’s biggest stages, reaching the semifinals in Australia and Qatar. How will the Pole perform in Indian Wells? Her best finish was back in 2014, where she defeated Jankovic and Halep to reach the final.

5) All eyes on Muguruza, Kvitova.
Big hitters Garbiñe Muguruza and Petra Kvitova have all the firepower to tear through the Indian Wells draw, but do either have the consistency and physical fortitude to survive the two week tournament? Muguruza has shown signs of improvement with a run to the quarterfinals in Doha, but Kvitova remains in search of the kick start to her season. With no points to defend in either Indian Wells or Miami, will the two-time Wimbledon champion play pressure-free tennis in the desert?

6) Crunch time for Carla Suárez Navarro.
The Spanish veteran impressed many with her week in Doha, winning her second career title and standing up to the pressure of being the overwhelming favorite against 18-year-old upstart, Jelena Ostapenko. Suárez Navarro enters a part of the season with plenty of points to defend – having reached the finals of both Miami and Rome – and will look to build on the momentum she’s carried through the first six weeks of the season in the hopes of capping another career-high ranking and entrance into the Top 5.

7) Can the Italian veterans build on Middle East momentum?
Roberta Vinci made history as the oldest woman to make her Top 10 debut a mere days after turning 33 by winning the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy. A week later, Sara Errani won the biggest title of her career in Dubai. In a year of young guns, the veterans continue to rack up the titles; could either make a deep run in the desert?

8) The WTA*Teens look to steal the spotlight.
Belinda Bencic capped her stunning six months with a Top 10 debut of her own – despite falling to Vinci in the finals of St. Petersburg. The 18-year-old reversed a slow start to 2015 with a solid finish in Australia, and will look to do damage in Indian Wells. Fellow 18-year-old Daria Kasatkina reached the semifinals of St. Petersburg, and is coming off of back-to-back Grand Slam third rounds at the last two hardcourt majors. Will another youngster make waves?

9) SanTina starting over.
Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza’s 41-match winning streak came to an end at the hands of Kasatkina and Elena Vesnina in Doha, but there are few reasons to dismiss the Co-No.1s as they head into the tournament that started it all for Santina. The reigning Wimbledon, US Open, and Australian Open champions played for the first time at Indian Wells and went on a 14-match streak through from there to Miami and Charleston. With other teams like Chan Yung-Jan and Chan Hao-Ching, Kristina Mladenovic and Caroline Garcia, and Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka all playing solid tennis to start the season, the women’s doubles draw promises to be as interesting as the singles event.

10) Find out where you can watch live action this week.

MONTERREY, Mexico – Heather Watson grabbed her spot in the finals of the Abierto Monterrey Afirme after dispatching an ailing Caroline Garcia 6-1, 6-2.

Watch live action from Monterrey & Kuala Lumpur this week on WTA Live powered by TennisTV!

Watson came roaring out of the gates, finding her zone right away and quickly putting Garcia in a familiar bind. The Frenchwoman was down 4-1 in the first set just as she’d been in yesterday’s quarterfinal against Pauline Parmentier, but this time she wasn’t able to bounce back, her usually agile movements hampered by a lower back injury.

“I was very happy with how I played today but obviously Caroline was hurting today,” Watson said after their match. “I hope she gets better soon, hope it’s nothing too serious.”

After the Brit grabbed the first set in a dominant 27 minutes, Garcia took an emotional medical time out before starting the next set. Despite Garcia returning to the court with a bit more bounce in her step, Watson remained completely in control, coming up with an answer to every aspect of Garcia’s all-court game.

Awaiting Watson in the final is Kirsten Flipkens, a player she’s never won against in either of their previous two encounters.

“It won’t be easy,” Watson said of tomorrow’s match. “I’ve played Kirsten a few times and she’s very experienced. It definitely won’t be easy – I’ll have to bring my A-game tomorrow.”

Flipkens had to draw from every bit of her 13 years of experience to emerge victorious against Anett Kontaveit in their seesaw semifinal, 7-6(6), 6-4.

Kontaveit had her under pressure in the first set and Flipkens found herself having to dig out of a 3-5 hole to force a tiebreak.

“I think all week I was mentally very strong, but I think first set was a really tight one,” Flipkens said. “I came back very strong and the tiebreak was so close – it was like heads or tails.”

Flipkens looked to be totally in command in the second set, rushing ahead to a 5-1 lead as Kontaveit allowed the errors to pile up. But with her back against the wall, the young Estonian seemed to get her rhythm back and won three straight games to threaten a comeback. Flipkens stayed steady to reach her first final since 2013 ‘s-Hertogenbosch.

“It’s going to be a good match and I’m looking forward to it,” Flipkens said. “It’s been my first final in a long time in WTA so I’m gonna enjoy 100 percent.”

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Eugenie Bouchard’s resurgent form continued at the BMW Malaysian Open, where she’s into the final without dropping a set so far after a win over Naomi Broady, 6-4, 6-3.

Watch live action from Monterrey & Kuala Lumpur this week on WTA Live powered by TennisTV!

Earlier in the day, Elina Svitolina made her way to the final with a win over Zhu Lin, the No.2 seed dispatching the Chinese qualifier in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3.

More to come…

MONTERREY, México – Heather Watson produced her best tennis of the season to defeat Caroline Wozniacki and take a place in the semifinals of the Abierto Monterrey Afirme.

Watch live action from Monterrey & Kuala Lumpur this week on WTA Live powered by TennisTV!

A battle between two of the WTA’s sprightliest movers produced no shortage of entertaining exchanges, yet it was Watson, not the former No.1 on the other side of the net, setting the tone.

In a sparkling display, Watson took the game to Wozniacki from the off, eventually getting her reward with a break in the penultimate game of the opening set. Even a slow start to the second failed to discourage the Briton as she came roaring back, a couple of heavy-duty forehands kick-starting a run of four straight games.

Wozniacki, as ever, battled gamely to end, but she had no answer to her opponent’s inspired tennis, spraying a forehand wide to slip to a 7-5, 6-4 defeat.

“I’m very happy with how I played today. I thought I played very well – I needed to against Caroline because she’s a great player – and I had to fight to the end because I knew she would,” Watson said during her on-court interview. “I just took it point by point and didn’t look too far ahead.

“I think one of her main traits is that she is such a fighter. She makes a lot of balls and makes you really win it. I knew I was going to have to finish a lot of points today, come to net and not be too passive.”

Meeting Watson for a place in the final will be either Caroline Garcia or Pauline Parmentier.

On the other side of the draw, hopes for an all-British final were dashed when Kirsten Flipkens upset No.4 seed Johanna Konta, 6-3, 6-7(2), 6-1. Her reward is a meeting with another unseeded player, Anett Kontaveit, a 6-1, 6-4 winner over Nicole Gibbs. 

KEY INFORMATION:
Tournament Level: Premier Mandatory
Prize Money: $6,314,605
Draw Size: 96 main draw (32 byes)/48 qualifying
Main Draw Ceremony: Monday, March 7, 3pm PST
Qualifying Dates: Monday, March 7 – Tuesday, March 8
First Day of Main Draw: Wednesday, March 9
Singles Final: Sunday, March 20, 11am PST
Doubles Final: Saturday, March 19, NB 4pm PST

MUST FOLLOW SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS:
@WTA
@WTA_Insider – WTA Insider, Senior Writer Courtney Nguyen
@BNPPARIBASOPEN – official tournament handle
Get involved in conversations with the official hashtags, #BNPPO16 and #WTA.

TOURNAMENT NOTES:
· Simona Halep bids to become only the second player (after Martina Navratilova, in 1990-91) to defend the Indian Wells title.
· There have been eight different champions in the past eight years in Indian Wells. There are seven returning champions in the field this year – Halep (2015), Victoria Azarenka (2012), Caroline Wozniacki (2011), Jelena Jankovic (2010), Ana Ivanovic (2008), Daniela Hantuchova (2007, 2002) and Serena Williams (1999, 2001).
· Twelve months ago, Williams returned to the Indian Wells Tennis Garden after a 14-year break. This time around, sister Venus will join her in the draw for the first time since 2001.
· Maria Sharapova is the only high-profile absentee, missing out due to a nagging forearm injury.
· In doubles, World No.1s Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza play their first event since having their 41-match winning streak ended in Doha. Their first event (and first title) together came at last year’s tournament.
· For the rest of the major storylines ahead of Monday’s draw, read the WTA Insider Notebook.

WILDCARDS:
Samantha Crawford (USA), Lauren Davis (USA), Daniela Hantuchova (SVK), Jamie Loeb (USA), Alison Riske (USA), Shelby Rogers (USA), Heather Watson (GBR), Zhang Shuai (CHN) 

WITHDRAWALS:
Maria Sharapova (left forearm), Alizé Cornet (back), Mona Barthel (illness), Karin Knapp (right knee), Ajla Tomljanovic (shoulder)