Dubai: Errani vs. Strycova
Sara Errani takes on Barbora Strycova in the final of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Sara Errani takes on Barbora Strycova in the final of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
An interview with Sara Errani after her win in the final of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
The player party at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships is one of the hottest parties in tennis – DDF ambassador Ana Ivanovic takes you inside the action.
Highlights from the semifinals action at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Sara Errani has Friday’s shot of the day at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
It’s another milestone week for the WTA with Serena Williams hitting 157 consecutive weeks at No.1, passing Martina Navratilova for the second-longest streak at No.1 in WTA history.
Williams’ streak began in 2013 after defeating Petra Kvitova in the quarterfinals of the Qatar Total Open; the American hadn’t been ranked No.1 in over two years after a foot injury and pulmonary embolism left her very career in question. Overcoming incredible adversity, a near-perfect 2012 season the the stage for the now-21-time Grand Slam champion to take back No.1 from Victoria Azarenka just over three years ago; she hasn’t reliquished the top spot since.
During this latest reign at No.1, Williams has won six major titles at all four Grand Slam tournaments – including two French and US Open titles – and remains one major victory away from tying Steffi Graff, who not only holds the Open Era record at 22 Grand Slam titles, but also has the longest streak for consecutive weeks at No.1 (186 weeks).
Sara Errani takes on Elina Svitolina in the semifinals at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
An interview with Barbora Strycova after her win in the semifinals at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – Former World No.4 Francesca Schiavone showed flashes of the tennis that took her to a maiden Grand Slam title at the 2010 French Open, edging past American Shelby Rogers, 2-6, 6-2, 6-2, to win her seventh career title at the Rio Open.
“I feel very emotional right now,” she said during the trophy ceremony. “It was a very tough match, and I want to congratulate Rogers. She is a young player and she grew a lot in the circuit.”
Schiavone looked down and out when she fell behind against a set and a break to Rogers, who was in just her second WTA main draw since last fall’s Coupe Banque Nationale, but the wily veteran cruised through the second set and raced out to an idential 5-2 lead in the final set before treating the Rio crowd to a tense ending.
“I want to thank everybody who made this fantastic tournament possible,” Rogers said in her runner-up speech. “It was definitely one of the best weeks of my life. I hope I can come back next year.”
Though she lost her first eight career WTA finals, the Italian has been 7-3 since breaking the duck back in 2007 (Bad Gastein), and her win in Rio is her first in just under two years (Marrakech); she will return to the Top 100 on Monday’s rankings.
“I’m really happy to be here today. I wrote this speech this morning,” Schiavone said, addressing the crowd in Portuguese, “regardless of the result, because I wanted to share my joy with you.
“Today is a happy day and I’m very emotional because Brazil is such a wonderful country. Your smile fulfilled my days here and I wish you the best for the Olympic Games.
“I want to thank everybody who helped me, and now it´s time to enjoy.”
An interview with Sara Errani after her win in the semifinals at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.