Top Seed Pereira Stunned In Rio
Top seed Teliana Pereira was shocked in the first round of the Rio Open, falling in straight sets to the unseeded Petra Martic.
Top seed Teliana Pereira was shocked in the first round of the Rio Open, falling in straight sets to the unseeded Petra Martic.
The story of the tournament from the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy.
On this episode, WTA Insider Senior Writer Courtney Nguyen recaps last week’s action at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy and Taiwan Open, where two veterans put their stamp on a week that was supposed to be all about the youth. You’ll hear from St. Petersburg champion Roberta Vinci, who crashed Belinda Bencic’s Top 10 debut party, beating the teenager in straight sets to win her first title since 2013.
We’ll also preview the upcoming week’s tournaments at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships and the Rio Open. Brazil’s No.1 Teliana Pereira joins the podcast to discuss the current state of Brazilian tennis. Currently ranked No.43, Pereira became the first Brazlian woman to win a WTA title in 27 years last year when she won the Claro Open in Bogota, and picked up her second title later in they year on home soil in Florianopolis.
Pereira opens up about the unique experience of being a Brazilian tennis player, what it’s like playing in the immense shadow of Gustavo Kuerten, and her Rio Olympic hopes, which are still clouded in uncertainty.
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Roberta Vinci had Sunday’s shot of the day at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy.
Ana Ivanovic, a Dubai Duty Free brand ambassador, glammed up for the event.
No.4 seed Petra Kvitova, who took a wildcard into the event, was also in attendance.
She joined Colm McLoughlin, Executive Vice Chairman of Dubai Duty Free, on the red carpet. DDF has been an ambassador for women’s tennis in the Middle East since 2004.
Doubles players Nichole Melichar and Darja Jurak donned some Emirati dresses for the party…
…and they made a new friend, too!
Defending champion Simona Halep also befriended the falcon.
Ivanovic finds time to snap a quick selfie…
…as Kvitova enjoys the best of Emirati hospitality.
DUBAI, UAE – Jelena Jankovic was two games from elimination in the first round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. Playing against against No.5 seed Belinda Bencic – who made her Top 10 debut on Monday – the former No.1 survived an onslaught from the 18-year-old to come out on top, 4-6, 7-5, 6-4.
“I just fought every point,” Jankovic said during her on-court interview. “I tried to hang in there; Belinda was playing so well and I was almost on the edge of losing in the second set but I fought hard and I’m lucky to win.”
Coming to Dubai a mere days after reaching the final of the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy, Bencic led by a set and a break, and had her chances in the final set as well, saving 14 of 17 break points faced – including three in a row in the eighth game of the third – but Jankovic proved too strong in the end.
“I made a few tactical changes, and my fighting spirit all added up together and it made me win at the end. Belinda is coming from the finals in St. Petersburg; she’s playing very well, she’s in form, and I’m happy to win tonight.”
In a match that had little between the two, the Serb hit 37 winners to 33 from the Swiss, and eight fewer errors than her much younger opponent – 44 to 52.
“When you look at it, I’m like 12 years older than her, almost her whole age!” Jankovic joked. “That was my advantage tonight.”
Up next for the 2008 US Open finalist is good friend Andrea Petkovic; the German had a seamless first round victory over Camila Giorgi 24 hours ago, dropping just three games.
“It’s all with the ‘-ic’ if you look at it,” Jankovic said with a laugh. “Jankovic, Bencic, and Petkovic all on this side of the draw!
“It’s kind of cool, but Andrea is my friend and I know her very well. We just practiced with each other a couple of days ago. We know each other’s games and there’s no secrets.
“It will be another tough match and hopefully I can play well and we’ll see how it goes.”
“When you look at it, I'm like 12 years older than her. I'm almost her whole age!” -@Jelena_Jankovic on Bencic #WTA https://t.co/lMeue1myOq
— WTA (@WTA) February 16, 2016
Roberta Vinci takes on Belinda Bencic in the final of the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy.
DUBAI, UAE – Romania’s recent Fed Cup defeat to the Czech Republic was a bittersweet experience for Simona Halep.
Halep and company went into the tie – their first in World Group I since 1992 – as overwhelming underdogs against the defending champions, only to defy expectations and force a deciding fifth rubber. While this ultimately proved a bridge too far, Halep’s disappointment was tempered by the relief of being able to compete pain-free once again.
This prompted a sudden change in schedule for the World No.3, who had planned to take February and March off to undergo surgery to tackle an ongoing sinus infection. Instead of sitting out her defense of this week’s Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, Halep accepted a late wildcard to take up a place in the draw.
“I delayed it because I feel okay now. I got good treatment at home and now I feel that I’m able to play, so I’ve put it off until the end of the year, maybe – I’m not sure exactly when,” Halep said during her All Access Hour in Dubai. “But now I feel good and I want to just keep playing.
“Actually I decided to delay the operation before Fed Cup; I really wanted to play in my country, for my country. So this helped me a lot to get some confidence. I had some good matches and thought that I feel good here [in Dubai] and would play some matches.”
It has been a stuttering start to the campaign for Halep, whose preparations were dealt a couple of body blows: “It started in the beginning of December. I was practicing but it wasn’t easy for me because I got tired very often and very fast. After that I had a stomach infection and I had to take some days off.
“It was tough, I came to Australia still taking antibiotics and it was tough for me to start playing tournaments. Then I had the Achilles injury and then before Melbourne, in Sydney, I got infection of my nose and ear. So it was tough to play, it was tough to stay there focused.”
Despite suffering a couple of surprise losses Down Under – against Svetlana Kuznetsova in the Sydney semifinals, then to World No.133 Zhang Shuai at the Australian Open – the 24-year-old is refusing to let hindsight cloud her thoughts.
“Yes maybe it would’ve been better if I didn’t go to the first tournaments because I had the stomach infection but I thought it was going to be easy. But the jet-lag and everything was tough for me to adapt, it was tough to play,” she added.
“But I don’t want to regret anything and now I’m just keeping an eye on my health more and on enjoying playing.”
Unsurprisingly, given her run to the title 12 months ago and victory in neighboring Doha in 2014, Halep has fond memories of this time of year.
“I’m happy to be back here. It means a lot this tournament because last year I won it. I have great memories from that time – many fans are coming to support me here.
“So I’m looking forward to starting the tournament and that I’m able to play.”
Venus Williams takes on Misaki Doi in the final of the Taiwan Open.
Ok, maybe all that retirement talk was premature.
On Sunday, Roberta Vinci ended a two-and-a-half year title drought, beating Belinda Bencic 6-4, 6-3 to win the inaugural St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy. The title, her first since Palermo in 2013 and her first-ever on the Premier level, brought her career tally to 10 titles and punctuated a dreamy six-month span that has seen Vinci play the best tennis of her career. She will rise to No.13 on Monday; with little to defend until August, a Top 10 debut could be coming soon.
Vinci was ranked outside the Top 50 last summer when she made a run to the Rogers Cup quarterfinals, losing in straight sets to Serena Williams. Of course, we know what’s happened since then. One month later she upended Serena at the US Open to make her first major final and continued that momentum into the fall, where she made the semifinals at the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open and Huajin Securities WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai, losing to eventual champion Venus Williams both times.
At the end of the season, Vinci told reporters in Zhuhai that 2016 would be her final season. Now, after beating both Bencic and Ana Ivanovic to win St. Petersburg, Vinci admits she may have to revisit the decision later this season. “I could change my mind,” Vinci told WTA Insider. “I don’t want to play more than two or three years for sure. But yeah, maybe not this is my last year. We will see at the end of the season.”
WTA Insider caught up with Vinci after her St. Petersburg victory to discuss the current state of her game, more retirement thoughts, and the surprising reason she doesn’t consider herself “a real Italian.”
WTA Insider: St. Petersburg is a brand new tournament on the calendar this year. What made you decide to play here?
Vinci: Why not? It was a new tournament. I prefer to play. After the Australian Open I spent 10 days off at home. No Fed Cup for me. Just good preparation to come here and I won a great tournament.
WTA Insider: When you returned home after Melbourne, how did you assess your start to the season? Was it a good January or a disappointing one?
Vinci: No, it was a good start of the season. I always play so bad in Australia. This year I played so good in Brisbane, Sydney too. I reached the third round of the Australian Open. For me it was a good start and I’m really happy that I’m confident and in good form and I won here.
WTA Insider: What does it mean for you to win your first title since 2013?
Vinci: It’s a lot for me. It’s an amazing moment. I’m not young. I’m almost done. I’m really happy. I always tried to my best. It’s not easy to practice every single day. For me this tournament was a fantastic moment.
WTA Insider: You keep saying that you’re almost done. When I asked you in Wuhan you said this would be your last season. Any thoughts about changing your mind now?
Vinci: I don’t want to think about this right now. We are in February. Of course I could change my mind. I don’t want to play more than two or three years for sure.
But yeah, maybe not this is my last year. We will see at the end of the season. If I can still motivate and I’m still good, why not? But I don’t want to think about it right now. I just want to enjoy my victory here.
WTA Insider: You’re playing the best tennis of your career right now. What’s the difference? What’s changed?
Vinci: I don’t know the difference but I’ve been playing so good since Toronto of last year. So many points, so many results. I don’t have a secret. Maybe just relaxed outside the court and enjoy.
WTA Insider: You’re up to No.13 now and getting close to breaking into the Top 10.
Vinci: I don’t want to think about the ranking. I’m almost Top 10 but we will see. So happy to be No.13 and we will see.
WTA Insider: One thing that’s clear is you seem so much fitter now compared to 10 years ago. Do you think you’re fitter now?
Vinci: Yeah, much more better than 10 years ago. I lost some kilos and I run a lot more than when I was young.
WTA Insider: Why do you think you’re fitter now at 33 than when you were in your early 20s?
Vinci: I don’t know. When I was young maybe it was difficult for me to practice and stay focused every single day. Now for me it’s much better. I have more experience. I feel more mature, much more than when I was young that’s for sure.
WTA Insider: So what will you to celebrate? Are you still headed to Dubai for next week’s Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships?
Vinci: Tomorrow I will go to Dubai and I will arrive late there and I will play the next day. I’m a little bit tired but happy. Tonight there is a tournament party and we will celebrate there. And then go to bed.
WTA Insider: What’s your celebratory drink of choice? Beer? Wine?
Vinci: I don’t like beer or wine! Just a Coca-Cola. I’m not a real Italian!
WTA Insider: Really? You’re breaking my heart, Roberta…
Vinci: Maybe tonight I can drink a little bit of wine. Maybe.
WTA Insider: It’s Valentine’s Day, you know.
Vinci: It’s true. Ok. One glass of wine. Just one.
All photos courtesy of Getty Images.