Kaohsiung: Thursday Highlights
Highlights from the round of 16 action at the Taiwan Open.
Highlights from the round of 16 action at the Taiwan Open.
KEY INFORMATION:
Tournament Level: Premier
Prize Money: $2,000,000
Draw Size: 28 main draw (4 byes)/32 qualifying
Qualifying Dates: Saturday, February 13 – Monday, February 15
First Day of Main Draw: Monday, February 15
Singles Final: Saturday, February 20, NB 7.00pm GST
Doubles Final: Saturday, February 20, 5pm GST (before singles final)
MUST FOLLOW SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS:
@WTA
@WTA_Insider – WTA Insider, Senior Writer Courtney Nguyen
@DDFTennis – official tournament handle
Get involved in conversations with the official hashtags, #ddftennis and #WTA.
TOURNAMENT NOTES:
· Simona Halep has accepted a wildcard to defend her Dubai title.
· There have been five different champions in the past five years in Dubai. There are two returning champions in the field this year – Halep (2015), Petra Kvitova (2013).
· For the complete draw click here.
WILDCARDS:
Simona Halep (ROU), Petra Kvitova (CZE), Karolina Pliskova (CZE)
WITHDRAWALS:
Angelique Kerber (right thigh injury), Agnieszka Radwanska (left leg), Lucie Safarova (bacterial infection), Serena Williams (illness), Caroline Wozniacki (left knee injury)
Highlights from second round action at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy.
KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan – Venus Williams booked her spot in the Taiwan Open final without dropping a set all tournament long, but the No.1 seed had to overcome a stiff challenge from Yulia Putintseva to get there.
Watch live action from St. Petersburg & Kaohsiung this week on WTA Live powered by TennisTV!
At the start, it seemed like the match was going to be smooth sailing for the American – Williams broke the No.3 seed early and rushed ahead to a 4-1 lead. But after some words from her coach during the changeover, Putintseva roared to life, winning four out of the next five games to level the score at 5-5.
They stayed toe to toe until a double fault and a mishit forehand from Putintseva gave Williams a break to close out the opening set at 7-5.
Williams and Putintseva started out the second set as evenly matched as they ended the previous one: they traded breaks and holds to keep the score tied at 2-2. But from then the errors began to creep up on Putintseva and Williams closed out the match 7-5, 6-3.
“What a tough opponent today,” Williams said of Putintseva after the match. “She has so much energy.
“It was very difficult to win, but I’m very glad to be in the final tomorrow.”
Awaiting Williams in the final is another opponent who has yet to lose a set: No.2 seeded Misaki Doi. Doi dashed Taiwan’s hopes for a home champion when she brushed aside local favorite Hsieh Su-Wei in commanding fashion, dropping just two games in the 6-0, 6-2 thrashing.
Tomorrow’s final will be the first time Williams and Doi will play each other.
“I’ve never played her before,” Williams said. “I have no idea what to expect.”
“But to be in the final you have to play well, so I’m sure to expect the best tennis from her.”
Belinda Bencic takes on Annika Beck in the second round of the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy.
Dominika Cibulkova takes on Caroline Wozniacki in the second round of the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy.
The stars of the WTA are about to descend on the luxurious, modern city of Dubai for the 2016 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. Dubai has been a favorite tour stop since it became a joint event in 2001 and this year’s event will feature World No.1 Serena Williams along with defending champion Simona Halep, 2013 champion Petra Kvitova and our guest contributor, Ana Ivanovic. The WTA Travel Guide is here to tell you everything you need to know about visiting the City of Gold.
WATCH THE MATCHES
The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Centre is host to the two-time winner of the WTA Premier Tournament of the Year award, with the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium serving as center stage for the matchups of some of the WTA’s best. Tickets are available here. Main draw begins February 15 and runs through February 20, with qualifying taking place February 13 and February 14.
Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships Official Homepage
WHERE TO STAY
If you’re looking for a place to stay while in Dubai, it doesn’t get more convenient than the Jumeirah Creekside Hotel, which is located adjacent to the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Centre and minutes away from the Dubai International Airport. A 5-star resort, with 292 rooms, the Jumeirah Creekside Hotel features two outdoor pools, fitness facilities, two restaurants, two bars, a lounge and a healthy café. You’ll also be able to unwind at the Akuru Spa, or if you were inspired by watching the WTA matches, head to one of the four tennis courts to work on your game.
Jumeirah Hotels
WHERE TO EAT
For a good meal after taking in a day of matches, head over to the Century Village for a beautiful al fresco dining experience and 10 different world cuisines to sample from including Lebanese, Italian, Portuguese, French and more. Also within walking distance from the courts is Irish Village, offering a true Irish experience in the heart of Dubai.
Restaurants in Jumeirah Creekside Hotel
ANA IVANOVIC’S FAVORITE SPOTS
“I always look forward to coming back to Dubai. Not only is the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships one of my favorite events on tour, but also the city itself has so much to offer. Here are my favorite spots:
Dubai Miracle Gardens is perfect for an afternoon stroll amongst the beautiful flower arrangements. Take a drive down Sheikh Zayed Road for the quintessential Dubai drive and a chance to see all of the iconic architecture along the way.
Luckily for me, one of my favorite restaurants in the world is located in Dubai. Head to Nobu for incredible Japanese food (like this sushi I had last time I was there)! Other favorite restaurants of mine include La Serre, Cle and Armani Italian. And, no trip to Dubai would be complete without some world-class shopping at the Dubai Mall.”
Visit Dubai
Dubai Duty Free
Caroline Wozniacki had Thursday’s shot of the day at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy.
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia – Ana Ivanovic moved confidently in the semifinals of the St. Petersburg Ladies Open with a 6-1, 7-5 win over qualifier Kateryna Kozlova.
Watch live action from St. Petersburg & Kaohsiung this week on WTA Live powered by TennisTV!
In her opening round match Ivanovic took a while to get into her groove, but against Kozlova she hit the ground running, reeling off five straight games to pocket the opening set in 23 minutes. Kozlova, who was appearing the quarterfinals of a Premier event for the first time, gave a better account of herself in the second, battling back from 5-3 down before eventually succumbing.
Meeting Ivanovic for a place in the final will be another of the draw’s more established names, Roberta Vinci. And Vinci needed to draw on all her experience to see off Timea Babos in an absorbing encounter, 7-6(3), 4-6, 7-6(4).
Babos was in command for much of the final set – leading 5-3 and then 4-2 in the tie-break – but was unable to find the decisive blow. The decisive moment came in the 10th point of the tie-break when Vinci skipped around a second serve only to flash a forehand fractionally wide.
The Hungarian’s relief was short-lived, though, Hawk-Eye adjudging the ball to have clipped the outer edge of the sideline. This successful challenge took the No.2 seed to match point, which she converted when Babos sent a weary forehand sailing beyond the baseline.
“It was a long match, a tough match. Timea has a great serve – always 190km/h. Tough for me to return,” Vinci said. “I was 5-3 down at the end, but I stayed focused and won a great match today.
“In those moments you have to stay positive and don’t think about the score. In the end she was probably a little bit nervous, and a little bit tight, she missed some easy balls and I won.”
Vinci has lost six of her previous nine meetings with Ivanovic, although the two have not crossed paths for a couple of years.
“Ana is a great player. Of course it will be a difficult match. But I’m in the semifinals, nothing to lose, just enjoy! I will try my best – I need to be aggressive every single point. We will see.”
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova takes on Carina Witthoeft in the second round of the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy.