January 27, 2016
It’s semifinal day Down Under, and Serena Williams, Agnieszka Radwanska, Angelique Kerber and Johanna Konta are in action seeking a spot in the year’s first Grand Slam final. wtatennis.com contributor Chris Oddo makes his picks.
Caroline Garcia takes on Carla Suárez Navarro in the second round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Want to know which hotel has its own private beach, the best spot to grab an Arabic coffee or where you can go ice skating in the middle of the desert? Our guest contributor and defending champion Lucie Safarova gives you the insider guide to Doha and the Qatar Total Open in this edition of the WTA Travel Guide.
WATCH THE MATCHES
Former home of the WTA Finals (previously the WTA Championships) from 2008 – 2010, the Khalifi Tennis and Squash Complex now plays host to the first Premier 5 of the year. Come watch the matches while some of the WTA’s best compete to join the ranks of Justine Henin, Monica Seles and Maria Sharapova as a champion of the Qatar Total Open. Tickets are available here. Main draw begins February 21 and runs through February 27, with qualifying taking place February 19 and February 20.
Qatar Total Open Official Tournament Website
WHERE TO STAY
The Four Seasons Doha is the premier hotel destination for luxury and relaxation. With nine restaurants and lounges, five swimming pools, a three-story spa and its own private beach, this hotel has something for everyone.
WHERE TO EAT
Qatar’s capital city offers an incredible range of cuisines from all over the world. Celebrity Chef Gordon Ramsey’s flagship restaurant, Gordon Ramsey Doha, offers award-winning Mediterranean food to Doha. If you’re looking for a steak, head to Prime, which has been voted best steakhouse in the city by Time Out Doha. In the mood for culture with your meal? Look no further than Jazz at The Lincoln Center Doha where you can enjoy American comfort food and live entertainment programmed by artists from the world-renowned Jazz at The Lincoln Center New York. If you are just looking for something to grab-and-go on your way to the tennis, then stop by Quick Bites for a big selection of pizzas, sandwiches, salads and ice cream.
WHAT TO DO
In between matches, make sure to visit Katara Cultural Village, a celebration and showcase of cultures, theatre, art and architecture. And of course, a trip to Doha would not be complete without a Desert Safari. Whether it’s riding on a camel or driving up the sand dunes in a four-wheel vehicle, there are plenty of adventures to be had in the “land-sea” surrounding the city.
LUCIE SAFAROVA’S FAVORITE SPOTS
“To me, the most interesting place in Doha is the Souk Wagif. It’s a local market where you can find everything from traditional food to coffee to souvenirs to home pets! Just watch out for those little animals because they are so cute you might just want to take them home. It feels like a magical maze of little streets and the air is filled with local spices. Don’t forget to check out the huge selection of peanuts if you love them as much as I do.
If you’re looking for great shopping, I love the Villagio Mall. If you don’t feel like walking, you can take a gondola ride or try ice skating on the indoor ice rink.
And of course, you must go to The Pearl for a nice seaside walk. There are shops and a lot of restaurants, ice cream shops and coffee shops; my favorite is The Art Coffee. Follow my Instagram for all of my favorite coffee spots around the world with #coffeewithLucie.
But the absolute best place to be in Doha is at the tennis center, watching the Qatar Total Open. It is one of the strongest events of the year. See you there!”
Ana Ivanovic takes on Simona Halep in the second round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
DUBAI, UAE – Sara Errani returned to the final of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships after a hard-fought win over Elina Svitolina on Friday afternoon.
Watch live action from Dubai & Rio de Janeiro this week on WTA Live powered by TennisTV!
Despite trailing 3-1 in the second set, Errani produced a typically punchy fightback to prevail, 6-4, 6-4. The Italian, who lost to Petra Kvitova in the 2013 final, will meet either Barbora Strycova or Caroline Garcia on Saturday.
“It’s tough today – it’s hot and Elina hardly missed a ball at first – so I just tried to stay focused every point,” Errani said in her on-court interview.
Both players had their moments in the opening set, but it was Errani who held her nerve when it most mattered, some resolute defending helping her to the decisive break in the ninth game.
Struggling with a At times in the previous round, Errani had cut a forlorn figure, but there were no signs of fatigue against Svitolina. From 3-1 down in the second set she pegged back, then surged past her faltering foe.
Errani’s last title came exactly one year ago, in Rio de Janeiro, and she is excited about the chance to get her hands on some silverware again.
“It’s always unbelievable for me to play a final and I’m really happy to be here.”
More to follow…
Elina Svitolina takes on Garbine Muguruza in the second round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
An interview with Ana Ivanovic after her win in the second round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
An interview with Caroline Garcia after her win in the second round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
DUBAI, UAE – Roberta Vinci caps a spectacular six months that saw her reach the US Open final, qualify for the Huajin Securities WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai, and capture the biggest title of her career at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy with one incredible 33rd birthday present. Next Monday, Vinci will become the oldest woman (at 33 years, four days old) and fourth Italian in WTA history to debut in the World’s Top 10.
“Yes, well, it was an incredible month for me, incredible end of the season, and incredible ranking right now,” Vinci said after reacing the semifinals in Zhuhai, which helped her finish 2015 ranked No.15.
A former No.1 in doubles, Vinci completes a quartet of a most impressive generation of Italians that includes Flavia Pennetta, Francesca Schiavone, and Sara Errani – all of whom have reached the Top 10 and the finals or better at a Grand Slam in singles. Vinci paired with Errani to form one of the most dominant doubles pairs of the decade, winning five major titles together and completing a career Grand Slam at the 2014 Wimbledon Championships.
The veteran had previously peaked at No.11 for ten weeks in 2013 after reaching back-to-back quarterfinals at the US Open, but it was her most recent fortnight in Flushing – six weeks after being ranked as low as No.58 – that will prove unforgettable. Playing her first Grand Slam semifinal, she halted World No.1 Serena Williams’ own history-making bid to become the first to achieve the Calendar Year Grand Slam in 1988. Eliminating the American in three arduous sets, she then took part in the first-ever all-Italian final against eventual champion and childhood friend, Flavia Pennetta.
“I won a lot of matches,” Vinci told WTA Insider in Wuhan. “I reached one final in a Grand Slam for the first time, I beat Serena, I beat Petra. So of course now is my time, no? I’m close to the Top 10, so now I have to push more, I think.”
She began 2016 with a career-best Australian swing – reaching the quarterfinals of the Brisbane International and the third round at the Australian Open for the fourth time in her career – and a clear goal in mind for what she initially considered to be her last season.
“Well, of course I’m confident right now,” she said in Brisbane. “I’m 15 in the world right now and will try my best to reach the Top 10. This is my goal. I know it’s not easy, but I would like to enjoy this year, no pressure, try my best, improve every single day, every single tournament everything.”
Vinci all but clinched that goal a month later when she won her first Premier-level title at the inaugural event in St. Petersburg, defeating another Top 10 debutante Belinda Bencic in the final.
“It’s a lot for me. It’s an amazing moment. I’m not young,” she said on the WTA Insider Podcast. “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.”
Here is a look at the oldest players to make their Top 10 debut after the rankings made its debut in November 1975:
|
PLAYER (NATIONALITY) |
DATE OF TOP 10 DEBUT |
AGE |
|
Roberta Vinci (ITA) |
22-Feb-16 |
33 years, 4 days |
|
Betty Stove (NED) |
2-Oct-76 |
31 years, 100 days |
|
Francesca Schiavone (ITA) |
7-Jun-10 |
29 years, 349 days |
|
Julie Halard-Decugis (FRA) |
23-Aug-99 |
28 years, 347 days |
|
Ai Sugiyama (JPN) |
10-Nov-03 |
28 years, 128 days |
|
Lucie Safarova (CZE) |
8-Jun-15 |
28 years, 124 days |
|
Paola Suárez (ARG) |
7-Jun-04 |
27 years, 349 days |
|
Li Na (CHN) |
1-Feb-10 |
27 years, 340 days |
|
Sandrine Testud (FRA) |
7-Feb-00 |
27 years, 310 days |
|
Flavia Pennetta (ITA) |
17-Aug-09 |
27 years, 173 days |
An interview with Elina Svitolina after her win in the second round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.