Tennis News

CHARLESTON, SC, USA – 2004 Volvo Car Open champion Venus Williams made a thunderous return in Charleston, hitting 20 winners to ease past Alison Riske, 6-4, 6-2.

Watch highlights, interviews and more video from Charleston right here on wtatennis.com!

“It wasn’t easy,” the former No.1 told Andrew Krasny during her on-court interview. “It was great tennis from both of us, an hour and a half of slam, bam, thank you m’am!

“I was really impressed with her; it was great to have Americans playing well.”

Keeping up a high first serve percentage, the elder of the Williams sisters hit three aces and broke serve five times in the nearly 90 minute match; despite it being her first clay court match of 2016, she still found her way to the net 26 times, winning 17 of those points. What made the difference for Venus in a battle of big hitters?

“I don’t know; I’m a little bit taller? Maybe that’s an unfair advantage,” she said with a laugh. “Thanks Mom; thanks Dad! But I think just experience definitely helped; she’s played good matches and won titles, so just the experience of playing those important points helped me a little more today.”

The No.3 seed will have an even greater height advantage in her next round as she takes on the 5’4″ Yulia Putintseva for a spot in the quarterfinals. Putintseva rallied from losing the second set of her match against 2013 Wimbledon finalist Sabine Lisicki to serve out a titanic third set against her more experienced opponent, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3. Williams and Putintseva have met thrice before, with the American winning all three matches in tight, two-set matches. No doubt another advantage will be the enthusiatic Charleston crowd, who cheered for the decorated veteran throughout her second round victory.

'It's like my second home.'

Venus Williams declared her love for #Charleston following her win over Riske. #VCO2016 pic.twitter.com/eTiRAyeTQu

— Volvo Car Open (@VolvoCarOpen) April 6, 2016

“Thank you guys for rooting me on; I love being here. I love Charleston. It’s like my second home, and so I’m looking forward to the next match!”

Earlier in the day, No.7 seed Sloane Stephens won her first match since hoisting her second title of the season by defeating Danka Kovinic, 6-4, 6-3. Former Charleston finalists Lucie Safarova and Madison Keys eached dropped their opening round matches to Louisa Chirico and Laura Siegemund, respectively. Safarova, the No.4 seed and 2015 French Open finalist, was playing her first match on clay and only her fourth singles match of 2016 after illness and injury interrupted her start to the season.

Keys appeared on well on her way to moving past a tricky veteran in Siegemund, but the 28-year-old beguiled last year’s runner-up with an array of dropshots to edge out the victory in three sets.

“I think it was a very high level that we both played,” Siegemund said after the match. “I think it was a great match in general. I had chances in the first set, had a set point, but she played very well in the tough moments, so I had to be patient and wait for more chances to come.”

Third set!@LauraSiegemund forces a decider over Keys 6-7(3), 6-4! #VCO2016 https://t.co/yijErccUs8

— WTA (@WTA) April 6, 2016

Variety was the name of the game for Siegemund, who in the midst of a career-best season after reaching the third round of the Australian Open – her best-ever Grand Slam finish – back in January.

“I’m definitely a clay court player and against someone like Madison who’s a hard hitter and likes to hit fast balls, I like to mix it up, play higher, lower, try to play slices and drops. That’s just my game and I think it worked well.”

Siegemund will play another big-hitter in Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, who saved four match points to defeat Kristina Mladenovic on Tuesday.

“Honestly, I haven’t thought about it much yet because I was thinking about my performance today and going through that. It’s just another match so I’ll focus, regroup and go out and try to play well again tomorrow.”

On the outer courts, No.14 seed Daria Kasatkina continued her clay court domination with a 6-1, 6-1 victory over fellow 18-year-old and former junior rival, Ana Konjuh. Kasatkina will next play Chirico for a spot in her first WTA clay court quarterfinal.

It was a tough finish for 2014 semifinalist Eugenie Bouchard, who had just leveled her match against Lourdes Domínguez Lino when she was forced to retire with a left abdominal injury; the Spanish veteran was leading the former World No.5, 6-4, 1-6, 1-0.

“I wanted to give it another game in the third set, and when I realized I couldn’t serve faster than I could serve lefty, then I thought I should probably stop playing,” she said after the match.

“It’s the same one [from last summer], which is why I’m concerned and why I did retire, to not get in the same situation as I was last year where I pushed way too much with an injury and made it worse.”

Also dealing with injury was No.2 seed Belinda Bencic, who is still dealing with back issues that forced her to retire from her match at the Miami Open. Playing 2011 runner-up Elena Vesnina, Bencic only managed two games as the Russian ran away with the affair, 6-1, 6-1.

“It wasn’t easy because Belinda is having a great season,” she said during her on-court interview. “She’s a young player in the Top 10 already. I saw at the end of the second set she started moving slowly. She had some problems with her back, but she started swinging and hitting as she could and it wasn’t easy. But I’m happy that I won this match and I’m sorry for Belinda; I hope she will be ready for the next tournaments.”

Vesnina has been surging back up the rankings following a year of inconsistent results; the former World No.21 has already earned wins over Simona Halep, Venus Williams, and Caroline Wozniacki. What’s her secret?

“Maybe because I got married? I guess so, because my results are getting better and better every week. I’m really enjoying my time here and I love Charleston. I love coming back here; my friends live here and they came to support me!”

The last match of the day was a night session match between Andrea Petkovic and Monica Puig, who roared back from 5-2 down in the openng set to defeat the 2014 champion, 7-5, 6-2.

Oh what a night!!!! Thanks for the fun and laughs and funny kiss cams ?! Cant wait for tomorrow!!! ?⭐️? pic.twitter.com/q9Mmj53VfF

— Monica Puig (@MonicaAce93) April 7, 2016

On this episode, WTA Insider Senior Writer Courtney Nguyen reviews the final weekend of the Miami Open, where Victoria Azarenka continued her incredible start to the season by winning her third title of the year, beating Svetlana Kuznetsova in straight sets to win Miami and become just the third woman to complete the Sunshine Double. Hear from Azarenka herself as she discusses her upcoming transition to the clay, the inherent stress of going for the American sweep in March, and how she feels to be back in the conversation amongst the game’s elite.

Nguyen is also joined by 18-time major champion and BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore ambassador Martina Navratilova to analyze the first three months of the season and preview the upcoming clay swing. Are World No.1s Serena Williams and Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis stuck in a slump? Can Victoria Azarenka continue to rack up titles on a less favorable surface like clay? Can Petra Kvitova win without a coach? Navratilova weighs in on those questions and more in a free-ranging discussion of 2016’s contenders and pretenders so far.

Azarenka: “Being a part of the discussion, I don’t listen to it that much, because it’s not interesting to me. Opinions, talks, it’s all more for people who are outside the sport. For me, I need to work and focus on my work, because it’s not going to happen if I don’t put the work in.”

Navratilova on Serena: “You don’t panic. Not when it comes to a great player like Serena Williams. I just think she needs to find some joy. It seems to me she’s just not happy on the court. Even when things were ot going her way it seemed like she was embracing that fight and right now I don’t see her embracing that fight. Sometimes that’s enough to not be able to finish those comebacks. If she finds that emotion, that passion for being in those fights then I think she’ll right the ship. There’s nothing wrong with her game.”

Navratilova on Kvitova: “Coachless doesn’t work. You can’t coach yourself. Even Roger Federer needed a coach. He was always with Severin Lüthi but he would pick up other people.”

Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or on any podcast app of your choice and reviews are always helpful, so if you like what you’ve heard so far, leave one. Get new episode alerts by following us on Twitter @WTA_Insider.

KATOWICE, Poland – She needed six match points and more than two hours but No.5 seed Camila Giorgi is through to the quarterfinals of the Katowice Open with a win over Russian qualifier Ekaterina Alexandrova, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4.

Watch live action from Katowice this week on WTA Live powered by TennisTV!

The big-hitting Italian was under pressure from the word go, dropping her opening service game and letting slip five break back opportunities in the next game to allow Alexandrova an early lead. History repeated itself, but this this time in favor of Giorgi – the Italian broke Alexandrova’s serve then saved four break points to even up the score at 3-3. Aided by her huge first serves – she hit nine aces during the match – the Russian took the first set 6-4.

But Alexandrova, who was playing in her career first WTA main draw, couldn’t keep up the intensity against the two-time Katowice finalist. Giorgi quickly took back the second set, and the two traded breaks early in the deciding set. Alexandrova showed plenty of fight while serving to stay in the match – she relied on her heavy first serves to keep her in as Giorgi brought up match point after match point. In the end, the Italian converted on her sixth opportunity, booking her spot into the Katowice quarterfinals with a hard-fought win.

“I’m really happy for this win today,” Giorgi said. “It wasn’t easy in the third set and I really want to say thank you to the fans for all the support. I hope everyone can come back on Friday [for my quarterfinal] and I can keep going in the tournament.”

Giorgi is set to play No.9 seed Kirsten Flipkens, who also made her way to the quarterfinals today with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Andreea Mitu, in the next round.

Things were more difficult for No.2 seed Anna Karolina Schmiedlova after Pauline Parmentier dealt her the biggest upset of the day. The Frenchwoman defeated her soundly 6-2, 6-0 and sent the defending Katowice champion crashing out in the first round in less than an hour.

“I was very focused from the beginning of the match,” Parmentier said. “After breaking straight away in the first game, I was really feeling good in my game. I served good, was really aggressive, and obviously it worked perfect today.”

The rest of the seeds at the Katowice Open advanced with ease, with Dominika Cibulkova, Jelena Ostapenko and Timea Babos notching straight sets wins.

KATOWICE, Poland – 2014 champion Alizé Cornet faced an unexpected challenge in the form of Bulgarian qualifier Isabella Shiniakova on her way to the second round of the Katowice Open, advancing after a 6-2, 6-7(6), 6-3 battle.

Watch live action from Katowice this week on WTA Live powered by TennisTV!

“It was a very tough match,” Cornet said after the win. “Really happy I won as she played really good and moved so well.”

After quickly taking the first set, the Frenchwoman found herself unable to convert on any of the handful of break points that came her way. The match got even more complicated as Shinikova sent it to a tiebreaker and eventually took a set off the No.4 seed.

Cornet shook off the mid-match wobble and got back to work in the deciding set – she cruised to a quick win, despite a spell of dizziness at 4-2 up saw her have to call the trainer.

“In the third set I had trouble. I felt bad at that moment, but dug deep,” Cornet said of the mid-set scare. “I called the doctor just to double check it was nothing more serious. I don’t think it will be a big deal for rest of tournament.”

Earlier in the season, the Frenchwoman was facing up to six months out of action due to a back injury she sustained in the Australian Open. She ended up making her comeback to the tour in Miami after about two months off. Cornet appreciates these tough matches as a way to get back to her pre-layoff form.

“I’m not at the same level I was, so these sort of matches are good for me.”

Later in the day, No.8 seed Dominika Cibulkova came back from a set down to survive a tricky opening round challenge from Carina Witthoeft, prevailing 6-7(6), 6-4, 7-6(3) after a three-hour battle. Two-time Katowice finalist Camila Giorgi is also through, as well as Francesca Schiavone, Naomi Broady, and Jelena Ostapenko.

CHARLESTON, SC, USA – It came down to the wire for top seed Angelique Kerber, but the reigning Australian Open champion outlasted a spirited challenge from unseeded Lara Arruabarrena, 6-2, 5-7, 7-6(3) to reach the third round of the Volvo Car Open.

Watch highlights, interviews and more video from Charleston right here on wtatennis.com!

Kerber had only dropped five games in her two previous encounters with the Spaniard, and it looked like it would be more of the same for the German, who broke through after some tight opening games to run away with the opening set.

But Arruabarrena drew the World No.2 into more than a few lung-busting rallies and, despite failing to capitalize on an early break in the second set, managed to force a decider against the defending champion who was playing her first match on clay in 2016.

“First of all, the first rounds are always tough and Lara played an unbelievable match,” Kerber told Andrew Krasny after the match. “After the first set, she was fighting. She is a great player and a great clay court player.”

Quality @AngeliqueKerber @laraarrua @VolvoCarOpen. pic.twitter.com/4dMx0pzFAp

— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) April 6, 2016

Kerber served for the match at 5-3 in the third but played some tentative play allowed a Arruabarrena to take advanage and draw level, leading to thrilling third set tie-break. Both finished the match with a positive winner/unforced error differential, with the german hitting 49 winners to 46 from Arruabarrena, and 44 errors to 40.

“It was really tough and a tricky match but I’m really happy to be back here. It’s one of my favorite tournaments. After last year to playing tonight on the Center Court; thank you guys for coming and supporting us,” Kerber said, addressing the crowd after converting the win on her second match point. 

“For me, it’s a really special place because last year, I came here and didn’t have the best start to the year. But I came here and won the tournament; from there everything changed. It’s really special to be back and I hope I will play a few more matches here. It’s great to be back!”

? ? ?

Some impressive play from both @AngeliqueKerber and @LaraArrua! #VCO2016 https://t.co/lOSn4hUzf9

— WTA (@WTA) April 6, 2016

Up next for Kerber will be the winner of the second round between qualifier Kristina Kucova – who eased past American Madison Brengle in straight sets Tuesday afternoon – or the resurgent Kateryna Bondarenko, who began the week with an upset victory over No.16 seed Misaki Doi in three sets. Ever the perfectionist, the top seed already had an idea of what she planned to improve for her next encounter with the feisty Spaniard.

“Sometimes I was too defensive and too much trying to wait for the balls and running too much,” she said after the match. “I think next time I play against her, I will try to just go for it and try to step maybe one, two steps in the court and just try to hit the balls and going for it.

“It was a little bit tough because two days ago I was in Miami and it was a little bit different than here tonight. It was actually windy. It was cold, and we started when it was like the sun was still there, and then it’s getting dark. So it was not so easy, but it’s good to have a match like this down already, and I’m looking forward to play the next one.”

Earlier in the day, Mirjana Lucic-Baroni became the first woman to reach the third round in Charleston, surviving a topsy turvy match against No.11 seed Kristina Mladenovic. The Croat had to save four match points while needing seven of her own to close out a come-from-behind 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(13) victory. Lucic-Baroni, who will play either No.8 seed and 2015 Charleston finalist Madison Keys or Laura Siegemund next, hit 15 double faults but managed to save 15 of 23 break points faced with her signature fearless play.

Bethanie Mattek-Sands also enjoyed a three-set triumph on Tuesday, recovering from a set down to outfox Brazil’s Teliana Pereira, 5-7, 6-3, 6-2. Monica Puig took out last year’s semifinalist Lucie Hradecka, 6-3, 6-2, while Australian Open quarterfinalist Zhang Shuai dropped only three games to defeat qualifier Lesley Kerkhove, 6-1, 6-2.

Starting the day on Billie Jean King Stadium Court, Daria Kasatkina – seeded at a Premier level tournament for the first time in her young career – showed why she will be one to watch on her beloved clay courts as she picked apart China’s Zheng Saisai, 6-2, 6-1 after opening up a 5-0 lead in the second set. The win was the 2014 French Open junior champion’s 100th match win (including Challengers), leading to an entertaining reaction from the Russian teenager.

“100, already? I just started to play pro last year!” a flabbergasted Kasatkina told Andrew Krasny.

2010 champion Samantha Stosur also withstood a tough test from Serbia’s Aleksandra Krunic, who led by a break advantage in each set; the No.10 seed advanced into the second round, 6-4, 6-4.

When @AndrewKrasny says you have 100 career wins ?

Congrats, @DKasatkina! ? https://t.co/KCHxYCJqmm

— WTA (@WTA) April 5, 2016