St. Petersburg: Kasatkina vs. Cibulkova
Daria Kasatkina takes on Dominika Cibulkova in the quarterfinals at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy.
Daria Kasatkina takes on Dominika Cibulkova in the quarterfinals at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy.
Belinda Bencic takes on Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the quarterfinals at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy.
An interview with Roberta Vinci after her quarterfinal win at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy.
An interview with Ana Ivanovic after her quarterfinal win at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy.
An interview with Belinda Bencic after her quarterfinal win at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy.
An interview with Daria Kasatkina after her quarterfinal win at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy.
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia – Belinda Bencic has been checking off a number of career firsts at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy this week: first time playing a WTA event in Saint Petersburg, Russia; first time being the No.1 seed at a WTA event and, as of Monday’s WTA Rankings, first time ever in the WTA Top 10.
By reaching the final at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy, Bencic is guaranteed to break into the Top 10 ranking – she moved to No.9 by reaching the final and could climb as high as No.7 if she wins the title.
“This is a very big day for me,” Bencic said in an interview after defeating Daria Kasatkina in the semifinal (highlights here). “As a small kid, everyone is dreaming to one day become Top 10. And now I realize that all the hard work paid off. Until now, I didn’t know if I would make it.
“But this is an amazing moment for me and just… my dream. My goal is reached.”
This time last year, the Swiss prodigy was ranked No.37 and already on an upward trajectory, currently sitting at No.11. A flourishing 2015 saw her win a title in Eastbourne – defeating Agnieszka Radwanska in the final – and in Toronto – notching wins over Serena Williams and Simona Halep along the way – as well as reach two finals.
She might have just accomplished her dream of a Top 10 debut, but there are still plenty more milestones for Bencic to reach – after all, at 18 years old she’s just getting started.
“So yeah, now my next goals are just to keep climbing up, to keep winning matches and still to enjoy it.”
“This is a huge moment for me. To be in the Top 10 was always a dream!” -@BelindaBencic #WTA https://t.co/3jCn4gZr4I
— WTA (@WTA) February 13, 2016
We challenged Andrea Petkovic to the WTA Frame Challenge and, well, she tried her best.
ST PETERSBURG, Russia – No.2 seed Roberta Vinci is through to her first WTA Premier final at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy after pushing past Ana Ivanovic in straight sets, 7-5, 6-4.
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The No.4 seeded Serbian started the match strong off the blocks – she grabbed the first break of the match and raced to a strong 3-0 lead. But Vinci mounted her comeback by relying on her deadly slice backhand and timely trips up to the net, taking the first set 7-5.
Vinci and Ivanovic stayed deadlocked in the second set until Vinci broke again for a 4-3 lead. In the last game of the match, Ivanovic buried a drop shot into the net to give the Italian match point before Vinci sealed the match, winning the set 6-4.
Overall Vinci just played a cleaner game – she hit 18 winners just 12 unforced errors to Ivanovic’s 27 and 29 – and was lethal at the net, winning 19 of her 22 net points played.
“It was an incredible match, tough in the beginning with the 3-0 down in the first set,” Vinci said after the match. “But I think I play good games, aggressive.
“It’s always difficult to play against Ana. She plays so flat, so quick. But I’m happy.”
With the win, Vinci is into her first final since the 2015 US Open and is looking to add a tenth singles title to her career haul.
The 33-year-old Italian is set to face off against No.1 seed Belinda Bencic, who overcame the rising Russian Daria Kasatkina in the second semifinal. This will be the pair’s first meeting.
“Probably I’m gonna watch some games, but of course will be a tough match,” Vinci said of her potential opponents in the final. “They both play such a good game. They are so young but good ranking for both. So, will be tough but I’m in the final.”
Two of the youngest players in the Top 70, 18-year-olds Bencic and Kasatkina were facing off for the first time at the WTA level.
“Dasha is a very good friend,” Bencic said after the match. “I’m happy that we still can be friends off the court even though on the court we fight against each other. I think that’s the way it should be.”
Both players coming off of late night session quarterfinal matches yesterday, with Bencic’s battle with Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova ending after midnight and Kasatkina’s match against Dominika Cibulkova finishing after 1 am.
A bit of lingering sluggishness was evident at the start of the match as both players traded early breaks and holds, keeping the match level at 4-4 before Bencic broke to take the set at 6-4.
Kasatkina created many break opportunities in the match but was only about to capitalize on one out of the 10, and Bencic was able to close out comfortably in straight sets 6-4, 6-3.
The win not only books Bencic’s ticket in to the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy final, it also guarantees her spot into the Top 10 for the first time in her career.
“This is a huge moment for me!” Bencic enthused after the win. “To be in the Top 10, it was always like a dream, from very small kid – now I reached it! This is a big day for me.”
That's right @BelindaBencic…
Top 10! #WTA pic.twitter.com/w5VAZfhvmc
— WTA (@WTA) February 13, 2016
The race is on! There are only eight spots available at the WTA Finals and every match, every game, every point, matters. Follow the 2016 Road To Singapore right here!