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Category: WTA Tour

Tennis Frontier News from the WTA Tour

  • Australian Open Day 2: Order of Play & Scores

    Australian Open Day 2: Order of Play & Scores

    Stan Wawrinka Novak Djokovic Serena Williams Petra Kvitova

    On Day 2 of the Australian Open, the top halves of the men’s and women’s draws play their first round matches. On Rod Laver Arena, the defending champion Stan Wawrinka (4) plays Marsel Ilhan (TUR), followed by the No. 1 seed, Novak Djokovic, who will take on Aljaz Bedene (SLO). On Margaret Court Arena, Serena Williams (1) will meet Alison Van Uytvanck (BEL), and on Hisense Arena, the No. 4 seed, Petra Kvitova (CZE) will play Richel Hogenkamp (NED).

    The full schedule for Day 2 is listed below (Results to follow).  All times are local.

    [divider]

    Rod Laver Arena — 11:00am 

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Samantha Stosur (AUS) (20) d. Monica Niculescu (ROU) — 6-4, 6-1

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Stan Wawrinka (SUI) (4) d. Marsel Ilhan (TUR) — 6-1, 6-4, 6-2

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Novak Djokovic (SRB) (1) d. Aljaz Bedene (SLO) — 6-3, 6-2, 6-4

    [divider]

    Click here to discuss the Men’s Day 2 matches in the discussion forum.

    Click here to discuss the Women’s Day 2 matches in the discussion forum.

    [divider]

    Not Before 7:00pm

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) d. Ze Zhang (CHN) — 6-3, 1-6, 6-0, 6-4

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) d. Shelby Rogers (USA) — 4-6, 6-4, 6-0

    [divider]

    Margaret Court Arena — 11:00am 

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Kei Nishikori (JPN) (5) d. Nicolas Almagro (ESP) — 6-4, 7-6(1), 6-2

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) (8) d. Taylor Townsend (USA) — 7-6(1), 6-2

    Not Before: 2:30pm

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Casey Dellacqua (AUS) (29) d. Yvonne Meusburger (AUT) — 6-4, 6-0

    Not Before 7:00pm

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Serena Williams (USA) (1) d. Alison Van Uytvanck (BEL) — 6-0, 6-4

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Gael Monfils (FRA) (17) d. Lucas Pouille (FRA) — 6-7(3), 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-4

    [divider]

    Hisense Arena — 11:00am

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Victoria Azarenka (BLR) d. Sloane Stephens (USA) — 6-3, 6-2

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Milos Raonic (CAN) (8) d. Illya Marchenko (UKR) — 7-6(3), 7-6(3), 6-3

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Petra Kvitova (CZE) (4) d. Richel Hogenkamp (NED) — 6-1, 6-4

    Not Before: 5:00pm

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Venus Williams (USA) (18) d. Maria Torro-Flor (ESP) — 6-2, 6-2

    [divider]

    Show Court 2 — 11:00am 

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Alejandro Gonzalez (COL) d. Fabio Fognini (ITA) (16) — 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Gilles Simon (FRA) (18) d. Robin Haase (NED) — 6-1, 6-3, 6-4

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Nicole Gibbs (USA) d. Olivia Rogowska (AUS) —  6-4, 6-1

    Not Before: 6:00pm

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) (6) d. Kurumi Nara (JPN) — 6-3, 6-0

    [divider]

    Show Court 3 — 11:00am

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Alize Cornet (FRA) (19) d. Shuai Zhang (CHN) — 6-3, 6-2

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) (11) d. Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) — 3-6, 6-3, 6-1

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    David Ferrer (ESP) (9) d. Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) — 6-7(2), 6-2, 6-0, 6-3

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Benjamin Becker (GER) d. Julien Benneteau (FRA) (25) — 7-5, 5-7, 6-2, 6-4

    [divider]

    Court 6 — 11:00am 

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Feliciano Lopez (ESP) (12) d. Denis Kudla (USA) — 3-6, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, 10-8

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Madison Brengle (USA) d. Andrea Petkovic (GER) (13) — 5-7, 7-6(4), 6-3

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Camila Giorgi (ITA) d. Flavia Pennetta (ITA) (12) — 4-6, 6-2, 6-3

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Vasek Pospisil (CAN) d. Sam Querrey (USA) — 6-3, 6-7(5), 2-6, 6-4, 6-4

    [divider]

    Court 7 — 11:00am

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Garbine Muguruza (ESP) (24) d.  Marina Erakovic (NZL) — 7-5, 6-0

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Fernando Verdasco (ESP) (31) d. James Ward (GBR) — 2-6, 6-0, 7-6(6), 6-3

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Vera Zvonareva (RUS) d. Ons Jabeur (TUN) — 6-2, 6-3

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Jerzy Janowicz (POL) d. Hiroki Moriya (JPN) — 7-6(5), 2-6, 6-3, 7-5

    [divider]

    Court 8 — 11:00am

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) d. Saisai Zheng (CHN) — 6-4, 6-4

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    John Isner (USA) (19) d. Jimmy Wang (TPE) — 7-6(5), 6-4, 6-4

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Go Soeda (JPN) d. Elias Ymer (SWE) — 1-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Anna Tatishvili (USA) d. Kimiko Date-Krumm (JPN) — 7-5, 6-4

    [divider]

    Court 10 — 11:00am 

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Tsvetana Pironkova (BUL) d. Heather Watson (GBR) — 6-4, 6-0

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Andreas Haider-Maurer (AUT) d. Laurent Lokoli (FRA) — 6-4, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Jarkko Nieminen (FIN) d. Andrey Golubev (KAZ) — 6-1, 6-2, 7-6(6)

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Lauren Davis (USA) d. Aleksandra Krunic (SRB) — 6-1, 7-5

    [divider]

    Court 11 — 11:00am

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Adrian Mannarino (FRA) d. Blaz Rola (SLO) —  7-6(7), 6-3, 6-2

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Irina Falconi (USA) d. Kaia Kanepi (EST) — 2-6, 6-4, 7-5

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) d. Dusan Lajovic (SRB) — 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7(3), 6-4

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Johanna Larsson (SWE) d. Alla Kudryavtseva (RUS) — 6-4, 6-3

    [divider]

    Court 12 — 11:00am

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Denisa Allertova (CZE) d. Romina Oprandi (SUI) — 6-0, 6-2

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Donald Young (USA) d. Tim Puetz (GER) — 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Matthias Bachinger (GER) d. Pablo Cuevas (URU) (27) — 7-6(1), 6-3, 6-1

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Madison Keys (USA) d. Lesia Tsurenko (UKR) — 6-3, 7-5

    [divider]

    Court 13 — 11:00am 

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (CZE) (25) d. Timea Babos (HUN) — 6-4, 6-4

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) (13) d. Dominic Thiem (AUT) — 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-6(5)

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Timea Bacsinszky (SUI) d. Jelena Jankovic (SRB) (15) — 6-1, 6-4

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Paolo Lorenzi (ITA) d. Alexandr Dolgopolov (UKR) (21) — 6-4, 6-3, 6-2

    [divider]

    Court 15 — 11:00am

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Kai-Chen Chang (TPE) d. Jie Zheng (CHN) — 6-1, 6-2

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Marcel Granollers (ESP) d. Stephane Robert (FRA) — 6-3, 6-4, 6-4

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Elina Svitolina (UKR) (26) d. Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) — 6-3, 7-5

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Andrey Kuznetsov (RUS) d. Albert Ramos-Vinolas (ESP) — 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(3)

    [divider]

    Court 19 — 11:00am

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP) d. Peter Gojowczyk (GER) — 6-7(1), 7-5, 6-4, 1-0 (Ret.)

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Coco Vandeweghe (USA) d. Francesca Schiavone (ITA) — 6-2, 6-2

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Marius Copil (ROU) d. Pablo Andujar (ESP) – 6-2, 6-2, 7-5

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Varvara Lepchenko (USA) (30) d. Vitalia Diatchenko (RUS) — 6-3, 6-3

    [divider]

    Court 20 — 11:00am

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Santiago Giraldo (COL) (30) d. Jan Hernych (CZE) — 6-3, 6-2, 6-2

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Ivan Dodig (CRO) d. Joao Souza (BRA) — 6-4, 7-5, 6-4

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Tereza Smitkova (CZE) d. Mirjana Lucic-Baroni (CRO) — 6-1, 6-1

    [divider]

    Court 22 — 11:00am 

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Steve Johnson (USA) d. Kyle Edmund (GBR) — 6-4, 6-4, 6-3

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Gilles Muller (LUX) d. Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP) — 6-4, 7-6(5), 7-6(3)

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Mona Barthel (GER) d. Donna Vekic (CRO) — 3-6, 6-4, 6-2

  • WTA: Week No. 2

    WTA: Week No. 2

    Heather Watson Petra Kvitova

    The second week of the season included a Premier-level event in Sydney, and an International-level event in Hobart. They were the final warm-ups to the Australian Open in Melbourne.

    Our own Correspondent Margaret McAleer watched as Petra Kvitova scored her 15 WTA title in Sydney. She faced fellow Czech Karolina Pliskova in the final and won in two straight tiebreaks, dodging a late surge by Karolina in the second set. Final score: 7-6(5), 7-6(6).

    Kvitova has now scored the most points during the first two weeks of the season, with 590. Currently ranked No. 4, she has an outside chance of becoming No. 1 if she wins the Australian Open, and Serena Williams has an early exit.

    Also, it’s worth noting that Simona Halep withdrew from Sydney due to illness.

    [divider]

    Click here to discuss the Sydney tournament in the discussion forum.

    [divider]

    Surprise results came out of a rainy and windy Hobart. Heather Watson became the first British woman in 30 years to score her second WTA title. She overcame a shaky first set to defeat American qualifier Madison Brengle. Final score: 6-3, 6-4. Watson did not drop a set during her run to victory, beating three seeded players, and winning the title on her first match point.

    [divider]

    Click here to discuss the Hobart tournament in the discussion forum.

    [divider]

    Cover Photo (Creative Commons License): Marianne Bevis / VOXSPORTSdotNET

  • Australian Open Day 1: Order of Play & Scores

    Australian Open Day 1: Order of Play & Scores

    Australian Open

    Action on Rod Laver Arena on Day 1 of the 2015 Australian Open begins with Simona Halep (ROU), the No. 3 seed, taking on the Italian Karin Knapp. They will be followed by Ana Ivanovic (SRB), the No. 5 seed, who will play Lucie Hradecka (CZE). Up next, the men’s No. 3 seed, Rafael Nadal (ESP), plays the veteran Russian Mikhail Youzhny. The night session begins with Roger Federer (SUI), the No. 2 seed, who will face Yen-Hsun Lu (TPE). The final match pits the women’s No. 2 seed, Maria Sharapova (RUS), against Petra Martic (CRO).

    The full schedule for Day 1 is listed below (Results to follow).  All times are local.

    [divider]

    Rod Laver Arena — 11:00am

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Simona Halep (ROU) (3) d. Karin Knapp (ITA) — 6-3, 6-2

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Lucie Hradecka (CZE) d. Ana Ivanovic (SRB) (5) — 1-6, 6-3, 6-2

    [divider]

    Click here to discuss the Men’s Day 1 matches in the discussion forum.

    Click here to discuss the Women’s Day 1 matches in the discussion forum.

    [divider]

    Not Before: 2:00pm

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Rafael Nadal (ESP) (3) d. Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) — 6-3, 6-2, 6-2

    Not Before 7:00pm

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Roger Federer (SUI) (2) d. Yen-Hsun Lu (TPE) — 6-4, 6-2, 7-5

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Maria Sharapova (RUS) (2) d. Petra Martic (CRO) — 6-4, 6-1

    [divider]

    Margaret Court Arena — 11:00am 

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Jarmila Gajdosova (AUS) d. Alexandra Dulgheru (ROU) — 6-3, 6-4

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Andy Murray (GBR) (6) d. Yuki Bhambri (IND) — 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(3)

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Irina-Camelia Begu (ROU) d. Angelique Kerber (GER) (9) — 6-4, 0-6, 6-1

    Not Before 7:00pm

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) (7) d. Anna-Lena Friedsam (GER) — 6-2, 6-4

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Nick Kyrgios (AUS) d. Federico Delbonis (ARG) — 7-6(2), 3-6, 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-3

    [divider]

    Hisense Arena — 11:00am

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Julia Goerges (GER) d. Belinda Bencic (SUI) (32) — 6-2, 6-1

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) d. Sabine Lisicki (GER) (28) — 4-6, 6-4, 6-2

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Bernard Tomic (AUS) d. Tobias Kamke (GER) — 7-5, 6-7(1), 6-3, 6-2

    Not Before: 5:00pm

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Sam Groth (AUS) d. Filip Krajinovic (SRB) — 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-4

    [divider]

    Show Court 2 — 11:00am 

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) (10) d. Dustin Brown (GER) — 6-2, 6-3, 6-2

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Caroline Garcia (FRA) d. Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) (27) — 6-4, 6-2

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Tomas Berdych (CZE) (7) d. Alejandro Falla (COL) — 6-3, 7-6(1), 6-3

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Monica Puig (PUR) d. Arina Rodionova (AUS) — 6-0, 6-3

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) d. Lucie Safarova (CZE) (16) — 6-4, 2-6, 8-6

    [divider]

    Show Court 3 — 11:00am 

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Marinko Matosevic (AUS) d. Alexander Kudryavtsev (RUS) — 6-4, 6-7(5), 4-6, 7-5, 6-3

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) d. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) (23) — 4-6, 6-3, 6-3

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) (10) d. An-Sophie Mestach (BEL) — 6-2, 6-2

    Not Before: 6:00pm

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) d. Ernests Gulbis (LAT) (11) — 5-7, 6-0, 1-6, 7-6(2), 8-6

    [divider]

    Court 6 — 11:00am

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Shuai Peng (CHN) (21) d. Tatjana Maria (GER) — 6-4, 7-5

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    James Duckworth (AUS) d. Blaz Kavcic (SLO) — 6-2, 5-7, 7-6(7), 3-6, 6-2

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Sara Errani (ITA) (14) d. Grace Min (USA) — 6-1, 6-0

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Simone Bolelli (ITA) d. Juan Monaco (ARG) — 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1

    [divider]

    Court 7 — 11:00am 

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Klara Koukalova (CZE) d. Storm Sanders (AUS) — 7-5, 6-4

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    David Goffin (BEL) (20) d. Michael Russell (USA) — 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 6-0

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Zarina Diyas (KAZ) (31) d. Urszula Radwanska (POL) — 3-6, 6-4, 6-2

    Not Before: 6:00pm

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Viktor Troicki (SRB) d. Jiri Vesely (CZE) — 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3

    [divider]

    Court 8 — 11:00am

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Martin Klizan (SVK) (32) d. Tatsuma Ito (JPN) — 7-6(6), 6-2, 6-4

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Polona Hercog (SLO) d. Qiang Wang (CHN) — 3-6, 6-3, 6-2

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Leonardo Mayer (ARG) (26) d. John Millman (AUS) — 6-3, 6-3, 6-2

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Kiki Bertens (NED) d. Daria Gavrilova (AUS) — 7-6(8), 5-7, 6-2

    [divider]

    Court 10 — 11:00am 

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) d. Ana Konjuh (CRO) — 6-4, 6-4

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Anna Schmiedlova (SVK) d. Chanelle Scheepers (RSA) — 6-4, 4-6, 6-2

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Lukas Rosol (CZE) (28) d. Kenny De Schepper (FRA) — 4-6, 6-2, 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-4

    Not Before: 6:00pm

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Malek Jaziri (TUN) d. Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) — 6-2, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(3)

    [divider]

    Court 11 — 11:00am 

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Lukas Lacko (SVK) d. Maximo Gonzalez (ARG) — 4-6, 6-2, 7-5, 6-7(4), 6-1

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) d. Ying-Ying Duan (CHN) — 6-4, 3-6, 6-3

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Jurgen Melzer (AUT) d. Victor Estrella Burgos (DOM) — 6-1, 6-4, 6-2

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Carina Witthoeft (GER) d. Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) (17) — 6-3, 6-1

    [divider]

    Court 12 — 11:00am 

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Ricardas Berankis (LTU) d. Igor Sijsling (NED) — 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(2), 6-7(6), 6-4

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Stefanie Voegele (SUI) d. Pauline Parmentier (FRA) — 6-1, 3-6, 6-2

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) (22) d. Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA) — 6-2, 6-2, 6-1

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Roberta Vinci (ITA) d. Bojana Jovanovski (SRB) — 7-5, 6-1

    [divider]

    Court 13 — 11:00am

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Joao Sousa (POR) d. Jordan Thompson (AUS) — 6-4, 7-6(5), 6-4

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) d. Teymuraz Gabashvili (RUS) — 6-2, 6-7(5), 3-6, 6-4, 6-4

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Silvia Soler-Espinosa (ESP) d. Annika Beck (GER) — 7-5, 6-4

    [divider]

    Court 15 — 11:00am 

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Jeremy Chardy (FRA) (29) d. Borna Coric (CRO) — 3-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-4

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Karolina Pliskova (CZE) (22) d. Evgeniya Rodina (RUS) — 7-5, 6-1

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Christina McHale (USA) d. Stephanie Foretz (FRA) — 6-4, 1-6, 12-10

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Ivo Karlovic (CRO) (23) d. Ruben Bemelmans (BEL) — 6-4, 6-2, 6-4

    [divider]

    Court 19 — 11:00am

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Kevin Anderson (RSA) (14) d. Diego Schwartzman (ARG) — 7-6(5), 7-5, 5-7, 6-4

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Katerina Siniakova (CZE) d. Elena Vesnina (RUS) — 6-2, 7-5

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Edouard Roger-Vasselin (FRA) d. Tommy Robredo (ESP) (15) — 2-3 (Ret.)

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Alexandra Panova (RUS) d. Sorana Cirstea (ROU) — 7-5, 6-0

    [divider]

    Court 20 — 11:00am

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Lara Arruabarrena (ESP) d. Renata Voracova (CZE) — 6-1, 6-2

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Richard Gasquet (FRA) (24) d. Carlos Berlocq (ARG) — 6-1, 6-3, 6-1

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Tim Smyczek (USA) d. Luke Saville (AUS) — 7-6(2), 7-5, 6-4

    [divider]

    Court 22 — 11:00am

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Andreas Seppi (ITA) d. Denis Istomin (UZB) — 5-7, 6-3, 2-6, 6-1, 6-4

    Women’s Singles – Round 1
    Oceane Dodin (FRA) d. Alison Riske (USA) — 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-3

    Men’s Singles – Round 1
    Dudi Sela (ISR) d. Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) — 6-4, 4-6, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5

    [divider]

    Cover Photo (Creative Commons License): Phil’s Fotos

  • 2015 Australian Open Women’s Draw

    2015 Australian Open Women’s Draw

    Australian Open

    The women’s draw for the 2015 Australian Open was released today. In the top half are the No. 1 seed, Serena Williams (USA), and the No. 4 seed, Petra Kvitova (CZE). In the bottom half are the No. 2 seed, Maria Sharapova (RUS), and the No. 3 seed, Simona Halep (ROM).

    [divider]

    Click here to discuss the 2015 Australian Open Women’s Draw in the discussion forum.

    [divider]

    First Quarter

    Serena Williams (USA) (1)
    Alison Van Uytvanck (BEL)

    Vera Zvonareva (RUS)
    Ons Jabeur (TUN)

    Olivia Rogowska (AUS)
    Nicole Gibbs (USA)

    Jana Cepelova (SVK)
    Elina Svitolina (UKR) (26)

    Garbine Muguruza (ESP) (24)
    Marina Erakovic (NZL)

    Daniela Hantuchova (SVK)
    Saisai Zheng (CHN)

    Kimiko Date-Krumm (JPN)
    Anna Tatishvili (USA)

    Timea Bacsinszky (SUI)
    Jelena Jankovic (SRB) (15)

    Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) (11)
    Kirsten Flipkens (BEL)

    Tsvetana Pironkova (BUL)
    Heather Watson (GBR)

    Romina Oprandi (SUI)
    Denisa Allertova (CZE)

    Shuai Zhang (CHN)
    Alize Cornet (FRA) (19)

    B.Zahlavova Strycova (CZE) (25)
    Timea Babos (HUN)

    Jie Zheng (CHN)
    Kai-Chen Chang (TPE)

    Sloane Stephens (USA)
    Victoria Azarenka (BLR)

    Taylor Townsend (USA)
    Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) (8)

    [divider]

    Second Quarter

    Petra Kvitova (CZE) (4)
    Richel Hogenkamp (NED)

    Donna Vekic (CRO)
    Mona Barthel (GER)

    Lesia Tsurenko (UKR)
    Madison Keys (USA)

    Yvonne Meusburger (AUT)
    Casey Dellacqua (AUS) (29)

    Samantha Stosur (AUS) (20)
    Monica Niculescu (ROU)

    Francesca Schiavone (ITA)
    Coco Vandeweghe (USA)

    Irina Falconi (USA)
    Kaia Kanepi (EST)

    Madison Brengle (USA)
    Andrea Petkovic (GER) (13)

    Flavia Pennetta (ITA) (12)
    Camila Giorgi (ITA)

    Tereza Smitkova (CZE)
    Mirjana Lucic-Baroni (CRO)

    Lauren Davis (USA)
    Aleksandra Krunic (SRB)

    M.Torro-Flor (ESP)
    Venus Williams (USA) (18)

    Varvara Lepchenko (USA) (30)
    Vitalia Diatchenko (RUS)

    Shelby Rogers (USA)
    Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS)

    Alla Kudryavtseva (RUS)
    Johanna Larsson (SWE)

    Kurumi Nara (JPN)
    Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) (6)

    [divider]

    Third Quarter

    Ana Ivanovic (SRB) (5)
    Lucie Hradecka (CZE)

    Polona Hercog (SLO)
    Qiang Wang (CHN)

    Storm Sanders (AUS)
    Klara Koukalova (CZE)

    Julia Goerges (GER)
    Belinda Bencic (SUI) (32)

    Karolina Pliskova (CZE) (22)
    Evgeniya Rodina (RUS)

    Alison Riske (USA)
    Oceane Dodin (FRA)

    Roberta Vinci (ITA)
    Bojana Jovanovski (SRB)

    An-Sophie Mestach (BEL)
    Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) (10)

    Sara Errani (ITA) (14)
    Grace Min (USA)

    S.Soler-Espinosa (ESP)
    Annika Beck (GER)

    Renata Voracova (CZE)
    Lara Arruabarrena (ESP)

    Yanina Wickmayer (BEL)
    A.Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) (23)

    Sabine Lisicki (GER) (28)
    Kristina Mladenovic (FRA)

    Ying-Ying Duan (CHN)
    Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA)

    Jarmila Gajdosova (AUS)
    Alexandra Dulgheru (ROU)

    Karin Knapp (ITA)
    Simona Halep (ROU) (3)

    [divider]

    Fourth Quarter

    Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) (7)
    Anna-Lena Friedsam (GER)

    Kiki Bertens (NED)
    Daria Gavrilova (AUS)

    Stefanie Voegele (SUI)
    Pauline Parmentier (FRA)

    Caroline Garcia (FRA)
    Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) (27)

    C.Suarez Navarro (ESP) (17)
    Carina Witthoeft (GER)

    Stephanie Foretz (FRA)
    Christina McHale (USA)

    Elena Vesnina (RUS)
    Katerina Siniakova (CZE)

    Irina-Camelia Begu (ROU)
    Angelique Kerber (GER) (9)

    Lucie Safarova (CZE) (16)
    Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ)

    Monica Puig (PUR)
    Arina Rodionova (AUS)

    Ana Konjuh (CRO)
    Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK)

    Tatjana Maria (GER)
    Shuai Peng (CHN) (21)

    Zarina Diyas (KAZ) (31)
    Urszula Radwanska (POL)

    Anna Schmiedlova (SVK)
    Chanelle Scheepers (RSA)

    Alexandra Panova (RUS)
    Sorana Cirstea (ROU)

    Petra Martic (CRO)
    Maria Sharapova (RUS) (2)

    [divider]

    Cover Photo (Creative Commons License): brassynn

  • WTA: Week No. 1

    WTA: Week No. 1

    Maria Sharapova Venus Williams Simona Halep

    The 2015 tennis season started with multiple events in different cities. Brisbane, Auckland, and Perth in Australia, plus Shenzhen in China were all hosting events. All this serving as warm-up to the first Grand Slam of 2015 in Melbourne, Australia.

    The first title of the season went to one of the oldest players on tour. Venus Williams scored her 46th career title in Auckland in a drama-filled three-set encounter against Caroline Wozniacki. The two former world No. 1’s delighted a packed crowd on a bright, windy, sunny afternoon for close to two hours. The final score was 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 in favor of Venus.

    Ana Ivanovic was in the same position as Venus, but she was competing in Brisbane, the only Premier-level event of the week, though Ana was the second seed and across the net was the top seed again. Maria Sharapova and Ana Ivanovic delivered and made the final in a dream match-up. Both former No. 1’s fought for 2 and 1/2 hours before Maria finished first in the three-set match. The first set alone took over an hour. Final score:  6-7(4), 6-3, 6-3.

    With Li Na’s retirement, Shenzhen was left without a defending champion in its third year of existance but WTA delivered two Top 10 stars in the form of Simona Halep and Petra Kvitova. In the end, the two stars delivered. Simona Halep won her first title of 2015, and her ninth overall in a little over an hour via straight sets; Petra Kvitova lost the semifinals to eventual runner-up Timea Bacsinszky.

  • Brisbane International – Monday, January 5 – Order of Play & Scores

    Brisbane International – Monday, January 5 – Order of Play & Scores

    Victoria Azarenka Bernard Tomic

    The night session on Pat Rafter Arena features two matches. Up first, Victoria Azarenka (BLR) takes on Karolina Pliskova, followed by local boy Bernard Tomic, who will play the American Sam Querrey. The full schedule is below.

    [Scores added as known. All times are local.]

    [divider]

    Monday, January 05, 2015

    Pat Rafter Arena — Start 11:00 am

    (4) Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) v Madison Keys (USA)

    (6) Gilles Simon (FRA) v (WC) James Duckworth (AUS)

    (8) Julien Benneteau (FRA) v (WC) Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS)

    Not Before 7:00 pm

    Victoria Azarenka (BLR) v Karolina Pliskova (CZE)

    Bernard Tomic (AUS) v Sam Querrey (USA)

    [divider]

    Click here to discuss the ATP matches in the discussion forum.

    Click here to discuss the WTA matches in the discussion forum.

    [divider]

    Show Court 1 — Start 11:00 am

    (WC) Jarmila Gajdosova (AUS) v Shuai Zhang (CHN)

    (Q) Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) v Sabine Lisicki (GER)

    (3) Angelique Kerber (GER) v Caroline Garcia (FRA)

    Chris Guccione (AUS) / Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) v (WC) James Duckworth (AUS) / Marinko Matosevic (AUS)

    [divider]

    Show Court 2 — Start 11:00 am

    (Q) Daria Gavrilova (RUS) v Alison Riske (USA)

    (8) Garbine Muguruza (ESP) v Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA)

    Jeremy Chardy (FRA) v Andrey Golubev (KAZ)

    (2) Rohan Bopanna (IND) / Daniel Nestor (CAN) v Alexandr Dolgopolov (UKR) / Kei Nishikori (JPN)

    (4) Eric Butorac (USA) / Sam Groth (AUS) v Jurgen Melzer (AUT) / Gilles Simon (FRA)

    [divider]

    Court 6 — Start 11:00 am

    Rhyne Williams (USA) v Matt Reid (AUS)

    Not Before 1:00 pm

    (2) Viktor Troicki (SRB) v (6) Denis Kudla (USA)

    Mirjana Lucic-Baroni (CRO) v Christina McHale (USA)

    (Q) Lesia Tsurenko (UKR) v (Q) Madison Brengle (USA)

    [divider]

    Court 14 — Start 11:00 am

    Frank Dancevic (CAN) v Lukasz Kubot (POL)

    (3) Marsel Ilhan (TUR) v Marius Copil (ROU)

    Jelena Jankovic (SRB) / Arantxa Parra Santonja (ESP) v Raluca Olaru (ROU) / Shuai Zhang (CHN)

    (2) Raquel Kops-Jones (USA) / Abigail Spears (USA) v Alla Kudryavtseva (RUS) / Alexandra Panova (RUS)

    Cover Photo (Creative Commons License): Steven Pisano / Marianne Bevis

  • Navratilova to Coach Agnieszka Radwanska

    Navratilova to Coach Agnieszka Radwanska

    Agnieszka Radwanska Martina Navratilova

    World No. 6 Agnieszka Radwanska has hired 18-time Major champion Martina Navratilova to be part of her coaching team.

    Radwanska made the official announcement on Twitter: “So happy to announce @Martina as the newest member of my coaching team!”

    Navratilova then Tweeted this follow-up: “Am very excited to be working with @ARadwanska and her team:), should be a fun ride!!!”

    This will be Navratilova’s first endeavor as a coach, but she’s enthusiastic about it: “I did not sleep very well last night, thinking about getting back into match mode and the competitions. I am really excited about this opportunity to join Agnieszka’s team and work with Tomasz and it is going to be a fun challenge. I was delighted when Agnieszka asked me if I would collaborate with Tomasz and I can’t wait to get started.”

    [divider]

    Click here to discuss “Navratilova to Coach Agnieszka Radwanska” in the discussion forum.

    [divider]

    Radwanska echoed her sentiments: “I am absolutely delighted that Martina has agreed to help me and my team next season. She is my idol in tennis and I am honored we will be working together. Her achievements speak for themselves and I hope that I can learn from all her experience. My goal is to win a Grand Slam, so to have someone with Martina’s accomplishments in my corner is going to be hugely advantageous and give me a big boost. We are originally from a similar part of the world so we share an understanding about tennis and life, which I’m sure will translate into a successful relationship.”

    Cover Photo (Creative Commons License): Marianne Bevis / VOXSPORTSdotNET

  • Serena Superb in Singapore

    Serena Superb in Singapore

    2014 Singapore WTA Finals Winner – Serena Williams

    The WTA Finals, as it’s termed now, featured world No. 1 Serena Williams against the top Romanian, No. 4 seed Simona Halep.  This was the first time Simona Halep made the trip to the year-end championship, whereas Serena was looking for her third WTA Finals title in a row.

    Williams needed just 1 hour and 9 minutes to defeat Halep with a score of 6-3, 6-0.  The match was close early in the first set but at 3-3 Serena took the next nine games to close it in a hurry.

    The inaugural event in Singapore, where the year-end championship dubbed WTA Finals was held this year and shall be for next four years, was more than just the competition between the top eight ladies in tennis; this was a spectacle of show, passion, mishaps, missed opportunities, triumph, and of course defeat.  It was obvious from the beginning this will be a championship like none before since it all started at a packed 21st Century resort’s shopping center.

    In addition to the regular competition, this year the WTA added mini-events titled “Rising Stars” and “Future Stars”, as well as legends matches, stretching the show to 10 days.

    Round Robin competition brought many surprises.  Both top seeds suffered losses and only one made the semifinals.  At the end, No. 4 seed, Simona Halep, and No. 8 seed, Caroline Wozniacki, led their respective groups.

    Although routed in straight sets by Simona Halep in the Round Robin stage in one of the worst defeats of her career, Serena Williams returned the favor by only allowing three games in the final match, and none in the second set.

    Williams will retain her No. 1 ranking for the remainder of the year and beyond.  Halep improved to No. 3.

    [divider]

    Click here to discuss the Serena Williams/Simona Halep final in the discussion forum.

    [divider]

    Cover Photo (Creative Commons License): VOXSPORTSdotNET

  • Singapore BNP Paribas WTA Finals – Day 7: Final – Serena Williams vs. Simona Halep – Order of Play & Scores

    Singapore BNP Paribas WTA Finals – Day 7: Final – Serena Williams vs. Simona Halep – Order of Play & Scores

    2014 Singapore Day 7- Serena Halep

    The BNP Paribas WTA Finals concludes today with the singles and doubles finals. Serena Williams (1) will face Simona Halep (4) in the championship match. In their round-robin encounter, Halep beat Williams 6-0, 6-2.

    [Scores added as known. All times are local.]

    [divider]

    Center Court —  4:00 P.M.

    Cara Black/Sania Mirza (3) d. Su-Wei Hsieh/Shuai Peng (2) — 6-1, 6-0

    Not Before 7:00 P.M.

    Serena Williams (1) (USA) d. Simona Halep (4) (ROU) — 6-3, 6-0

    [divider]

    Click here to discuss the Serena Williams/Simona Halep final in the discussion forum.

    [divider]

  • Singapore BNP Paribas WTA Finals – Day 6: Semifinals – Order of Play & Scores

    Singapore BNP Paribas WTA Finals – Day 6: Semifinals – Order of Play & Scores

    Serena Williams Caroline Wozniacki Simona Halep Agnieszka Radwanska

    Day 6 of the BNP Paribas WTA Finals features the semifinals. First up are Serena Williams (1) and Caroline Wozniacki (8). They’re followed in the evening session by Simona Halep (4) and Agnieszka Radwanska (6).

    [Scores added as known. All times are local.]

    [divider]

    Center Court — 12:00 P.M.

    Su-Wei Hsieh/Shuai Peng (2) d. Alla Kudryavtseva/Anastasia Rodionova — 6-1, 6-4

    Not Before 2:30 P.M.

    Serena Williams (1) (USA) d. Caroline Wozniacki (8) (DEN) — 2-6, 6-3, 7-6(6)

    Not Before 6:00 P.M.

    Simona Halep (4) (ROU) d. Agnieszka Radwanska (6) (POL) — 6-2, 6-2

    Cara Black/Sania Mirza (3) d. Kveta Peschke/Katarina Srebotnik — 4-6, 7-5, 11-9

    [divider]

    Click here to discuss the Williams/Wozniacki semifinal in the discussion forum.

    Click here to discuss the Halep/Radwanska semifinal in the discussion forum.

    [divider]