Tennis Frontier

Category: WTA Tour

Tennis Frontier News from the WTA Tour

Li Na Defends Title in All-Chinese Final at Shenzhen Open

The top two Chinese players faced off in a home tournament, with Li Na coming away the winner over the second best player in China, Peng Shuai, 6-4, 7-5. This was only the second-ever all-Chinese final in WTA history. The match featured dramatic swings of fortune: Li trailed 3-4 in the first, then won 7 of the next 8 games to lead 6-4, 4-1 when Peng rattled off 4 games of her own to lead the second 5-4, but the world No. 3 came back to finish her countrywoman off in straight sets, and capture her 8th career title. Peng was competing in her 6th final, and has yet to come away with the hardware.

Li Na, 31, will be hoping to carry this momentum into the Australian Open where she has been a finalist twice in the last three years.

Cover Photo (Creative Commons License): globalite

January 5, 2014
Ana Ivanovic Secures WTA Auckland Title

Former world No. 1 Ana Ivanovic continued with her excellent run of form by defeating Venus Williams 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 in a titanic battle to seize the WTA Auckland crown in 2 hours, 19 minutes.

Williams, also a former world No. 1, fought back strongly after Ivanovic had raced to an early lead by taking the opening stanza 6-2. The 33-year-old American won the second set to level proceedings having fought back from 3-5 down and facing a championship point. She held serve and then broke the Serb twice to send the match into a deciding set.

In the decider, Ivanovic broke Williams early and stayed in control, despite having to survive two break points when serving for the match.

It was Ivanovic’s 12th title and first since 2011.

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Cover Photo: NAPARAZZI (Creative Commons License)

January 4, 2014
Serena Williams Bags Brisbane

Serena Williams secured her first title of 2014 defeating Victoria Azarenka in the final of the Brisbane International.

Williams, the world No. 1, took the match 6-4, 7-5 in 98 minutes to send out a clear warning to her rivals in the build up to the Australian Open.

She took the first set without facing a single break point and capitalized on an unforced error from Azarenka to break in the seventh game. The Belarus World No. 2 was offered no opportunity to restore parity and could not get back into the set.

Azarenka raised the stakes in the second set, twice breaking Williams and was in pole position to level things up after jumping out to a 4-2 lead before Williams broke back.

At 5-5, the American broke again to edge out in front and then served out the match to take the title.

The win extended a run of successive victories to 22 and Williams didn’t drop a set during the entire tournament.

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Cover Photo (Creative Commons License): Francisco Carbajal

January 4, 2014
Errani Leads Italy to Fed Cup Over Russia; Halep Wins in Sofia

Sara Errani defeated Alisa Kleybanova 6-1, 6-1 to seal the Fed Cup title for the Italian Women, 4-0 over Russia.

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Simona Halep of Romania defeated Samantha Stosur to take the WTA Tournament of Champions title in Sofia, Turkey: 2-6, 6-2, 6-2. This is Halep’s sixth title in what has been a breakout year for her. She began the year ranked No. 49, and finishes No. 11. The Romanian is the only player of the year to win titles on clay, grass, hard, and indoor courts, as well as the second most successful player behind Serena Williams in terms of number of titles won this year.

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Photo credit: Christian Mesiano (Creative Commons License)

November 4, 2013
Serena Williams Caps Historic Year With a Win in Istanbul

Serena Williams came from behind to beat China’s Li Na in the WTA Championships final in Istanbul: 2-6, 6-3, 6-0.

The 32-year-old world No. 1 overcame a lethargic start, and a stellar Li, who broke early, and dominated the first set, though Williams started to regain form in her last service game of the opener. Midway through the second set, it was the 31-year-old No. 5-ranked Chinese woman who appeared to run out of gas, allowing Serena to then run away with the match.

The win gives Williams a career-best 11 titles for the year, a win-loss record of 78-4, and a record-smashing $12.4 million in total prize money. (The previous record was set by Victoria Azarenka last year, with $7.9 million.)

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Photo credit: Aleksandr Osipov (Creative Commons License)

October 27, 2013
Serena Williams and Li Na Advance to WTA Championship Final

Serena Williams and Li Na have advanced to the final of the WTA Championship in Istanbul, Turkey.

Li Na beat Petra Kvitova 6-4, 6-2 in just over an hour and a half.

Serena Williams won the first set against Jelena Jankovic 6-4, then played a distracted second set, getting broken twice, to lose it 2-6. In the third set, Williams was up a double break, and served for the match at 5-2, when Jankovic broke back, saving a match point, then proceeded to win the next two games. Williams finally closed out the match after serving for it a second time, closing it out 6-4, 2-6, 6-4.

Williams and Li Na will play the WTA Championship final on Sunday. It will begin not before 10 P.M. EDT.

October 26, 2013
Li Na, Kvitova and Errani Prevail on Day 4 of the WTA Championships

Li Na, Sara Errani, and Petra Kvitova win their matches on Day 4 of the WTA Championships in Istanbul, Turkey.

(4) Li Na (CHN) d. (2) Victoria Azarenka (BLR) — 6-2, 6-1
(6) Sara Errani (ITA) d. (7) Jelena Jankovic (SRB) — 6-4, 6-4
(5) Petra Kvitova (CZE) d. (8) Angelique Kerber (GER) — 6-7(3), 6-2, 6-3

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Schedule of play for Saturday, October 26, 2013:

Center Court (Not Before 15.00hrs)

1. Li Na vs. Petra Kvitova
2. Serena Williams vs. Jelena Jankovic

October 26, 2013
Serena Williams, Kerber and Li Na Winners on Day 3 of WTA Championships

Serena Williams, Angelique Kerber, and Li Na were the winners on Day 3 of the WTA Championships in Istanbul, Turkey.

(1) Serena Williams (USA) d. (5) Petra Kvitova (CZE) — 6-2, 6-3
(8) Angelique Kerber (GER) d. (3) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) — 6-2, 6-2
(4) Li Na (CHN) d. (7) Jelena Jankovic (SRB) — 6-3, 2-6, 6-3

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Schedule of play for Friday, October 25, 2013:

Center Court (from 17:00 hrs)

1. Victoria Azarenka vs. Li Na
2. Petra Kvitova vs. Angelique Kerber
3. Sara Errani vs. Jelena Jankovic

October 25, 2013
Li Na, Jelena Jankovic and Serena Williams Victorious on Day 2 of WTA Championships

Li Na, Jelena Jankovic, and Serena Williams won their matches on the second day of the WTA Championships, in Istanbul, Turkey.

(1) Serena Williams (USA) d (3) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) — 6-2, 6-4
(4) Na Li (CHN) d (6) Sara Errani (ITA) — 6-3, 7-6 (5)
(7) Jelena Jankovic (SRB) d (2) Victoria Azarenka (BLR) — 6-4, 6-3

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Schedule of play for Thursday, October 24, 2013:

Center Court (from 17:00 hrs)
1. Li Na vs. Jelena Jankovic
2. Agnieszka Radwanska vs. Angelique Kerber
3. Serena Williams vs. Petra Kvitova

October 24, 2013
Serena Williams, Kvitova and Azarenka Win Opening Matches at WTA Championships

Serena Williams, Petra Kvitova, and Victoria Azarenka won their opening matches today at the WTA Championships in Istanbul, Turkey.

(2) Victoria Azarenka (BLR) d (6) Sara Errani (ITA) — 7-6 (4), 6-2
(1) Serena Williams (USA) d (8) Angelique Kerber (GER) — 6-3, 6-1
(5) Petra Kvitova (CZE) d (3) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) — 6-4, 6-4

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Schedule of play for Wednesday, October 23, 2013:

Center Court (from 17:00 hrs)
1. Li Na vs. Sara Errani
2. Victoria Azarenka vs. Jelena Jankovic
3. Serena Williams vs. Agnieszka Radwanska

October 23, 2013