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Tomljanovic into Round 2 of the China Open

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Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic was two points away from being sent packing in the first round of the China Open in Beijing, but her opponent, Chinese no. 1 Qiang Wang couldn’t finish the match due to heat cramping. Tomljanovic advanced to the second round, 5-7, 4-5 (ret.).

The match could have been over a lot sooner, with Wang storming out to a 5-1 lead, and serving for the first set, but the Australian found her form and fought back to level the score at 5 all. It still wasn’t enough for Tomljanovic, as Wang quickly finished up the last two games to win the first set.

Once again the Chinese dominated to lead 4-0, but Tomljanovic fought back again to 4 all as Wang began to suffer cramps in her right leg. She managed to hold on for one more game to lead again at 5-4, but with just two points from the second round, the pain became too much for Wang, and she couldn’t continue. She tried to stretch out her leg, with the Australian running over to help her, however, it did her no favour as her other leg began to cramp also. Wang was wheeled off court in a wheel chair with the Beijing crowd watching on in despair, having also just witnessed Chinese no. 2 Shuai Zhang lose a thriller to Angelique Kerber in the previous match.

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Photo: BEIJING, CHINA – SEPTEMBER 29: Qiang Wang of China gets injured while Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia tries to help during the women’s singles first round match of 2019 China Open at the China National Tennis Center on September 29, 2019 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Xinyu Cui/Getty Images)

Tomljanovic will face American Alison Riske in the second round.

Fed Cup finals spot up for grabs

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This weekend (20th-21st April) the FedCup is back in action, with 8 of the world’s top 20 showing their colours and supporting their nation in the highly anticipated team tennis event.

France, Romania, Australia and Belarus headline the action as they battle it out for a place in the World Group final.

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Photo: BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 19: Austalian Captain Alicia Molik, Priscilla Hon, Daria Gavrilova, Samantha Stosur and Ashleigh Barty pose during Official Fed Cup draw for the Fed Cup World Group Semi Final Australia v Belarus media opportunity at at Emporium Hotel on April 19, 2019 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Two-time Champions, France are hoping to reach the Fed Cup Final for the sixth time. They have nominated Caroline Garcia, Pauline Parmentier, Alize Cornet, Kristina Mladenovic and Fiona Ferro. This team, along with captain Julien Benneteau will be hosting Romania in Kinarena, Rouen, France, and they will play on an indoor clay surface. Team Romania overcame the defending champions Czech Republic to equal their best Fed Cup showing since 1973, having also made the semis that year. Romania will be represented by world no. 2 Simona Halep, Mihaela Burzarnescu, Irina-Camelia Begu, Monica Niculescu, Raluca Olaru and captain Florin Segarceanu.

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Photo: France’s team players (LtoR) Pauline Parmentier, Caroline Garcia, Alize Cornet, Kristina Mladenovic and Fiona Ferro, celebrate with a French flag after France’s Caroline Garcia won against Belgium’s Elise Mertens, at the end of the Fed Cup World Group first round quarter final tennis match on day two, between France and Belgium, in Liege on February 10, 2019. (Photo by EMMANUEL DUNAND / AFP) (Photo credit should read EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images)

Australia are back in the World Group semifinals for the first time since 2014. World no. 9 Ashleigh Barty, Daria Gavrilova, Samantha Stosur, Priscilla Hon and captain Alicia Molik will be hosting the Belarusian team, consisting of Aryna Sabalenka the world no. 10, Aliaksandra Sasnovich, former world no. 1 Victoria Azarenka, Vera Lapko, Lidziya Marozava and captain Tatiana Poutchek. The tie will take place on the hard court of Pat Rafter Arena in Brisbane, Australia.

In the World Group Play-Offs, the Czech Republic will take on Canada, USA will play Switzerland, Latvia will play Germany and Belgium will take on Spain. The ties are as follows:

Czech Republic v Canada
Venue: National Tennis Centre, Prostejov, Czech Republic
Surface: Indoor, Clay
Czech Republic Team Nominations: Marketa Vondrousova, Karolina Muchova, Marie Bouzkova, Lucie Safarova, Barbora Krejcikova and captain Petr Pala.
Canada Team Nominations: Rebecca Marino, Leylah Annie Fernandez, Gabriela Dabrowski, Sharon Fichman and captain Heidi El Tabakh.

USA v Switzerland
Venue: Freeman Coliseum, San Antonio, USA
Surface: Indoor, Hard
USA Team Nominations: World no. 8 Sloane Stephens, Madison Keys, Sofia Kenin, Jessica Pegula, Jennifer Brady, and captain Kathy Rinaldi.
Switzerland Team Nominations: Viktorija Golubic, Timea Bacsinszky, Conny Perrin, Ylena In-Albon, and captain Heinz Guenthardt.

Latvia v Germany (19th-20th April)
Venue: Arena Riga, Riga, Latvia
Surface, Indoor, Hard
Latvia Team Nominations: Jelena Ostapenko, Diana Marcinkevica, Daniela Vismane, Partricija Spaka and captain Adrians Zguns.
Germany Team Nominations: Julia Goerges, Andrea Petkovic, Mona Barthel, Anna-Lenna Groenefeld, and Captain Jens Gerlach (World no. 5, Angelique Kerber was nominated but a flu forced her to withdraw, so Barthel was added to the team).

Belgium v Spain
Venue: Lange Munte Kortrijk, Kortrijk, Belgium
Surface: Hard, Indoor
Belgium Team Nominations: Alison Van Uytvanck, Kristen Flipkens, Ysaline Bonaventure, Yanina Wickmayer and captain Johan Van Herck.
Spain Team Nominations: World no. 19 Garbiñe Muguruza, Carla Suarez Navarro, Aliona Bolsova Zadoinov, Georgina Garcia-Perez, Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez and captain Anabel Medina Garrigues.

Filed Under: ITF

Azarenka Outlasts Kerber to Advance to Final in Monterrey

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In a battle of former world no. 1’s, Belarusian Victoria Azarenka defeated German Angelique Kerber, the no. 1 seed 6-4 4-6 6-1 in the semi-final of the Monterrey Open.

The win extends Azarenka’s dominant head-to-head record to 8-1. The only time Kerber has defeated the Belarussian was in the quarters at the Australian Open in 2016, a tournament she went on to win.

This week in Monterrey it is the first time Azarenka has put together this many wins in a week. She had won her first three matches without dropping a set.

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Photo: Victoria Azarenka into her first final since Miami in 2016.

Kerber took the early lead, breaking in the first game, and had the chance to lead by a double break at 3-1, but after multiple deuces two consecutive aces saw the Belarusian hold for 3-2. Azarenka lead for the first time after the ninth game and then a shot into the net by Kerber brought up set point on the German’s serve, which Azarenka converted with a backhand return winner. Kerber should have seen the score at 5-5 but missed a sitter of a shot with game point. She sent Azarenka wide and then had an open court to hit into, but pushed a shot long.

Once again, Kerber broke in the first game, but Azarenka was able to break back immediately to level the score at 1-1. Azarenka was not able to hold her next service game, giving the German the lead again at 2-1. A double fault by Azarenka in the seventh game brought up another break point for Kerber. She lead by a double break when a backhand by Azarenka was overruled as out by the chair 5-2.

The German was unable to serve out the set the first time. She hit a forehand winner in the next game to earn a set point, but she hit a backhand long in the next point to allow Azarenka to hold on for another game. Kerber successfully served out the set the second time to take the match to a decider.

Azarenka stormed out to a 5-0 lead in the third set and had a match point in the sixth game when Kerber sent a backhand into the net. She couldn’t convert it as she returned the serve into the net, giving Kerber her first game of the third set. The Belarusian was able to serve it out, despite facing a break point. Kerber hit a forehand out on match point, handing Azarenka her ticket into her first tour-level final in just over three years.

Kerber had too many unforced errors throughout the match with 40 to 32 and it was 35 winners for Azarenka to 30 for Kerber. Throughout the match Azarenka broke six times from 12 opportunities. Kerber broke four times.

She will play no. 2 seed and defending champion, Garbiñe Muguruza for the title. Muguruza easily overcame Magdaléna Rybáriková in straight sets 6-2 6-3. Both Muguruza and Azarenka have only dropped one set each on their road to the final.

Kerber cruises past Putintseva in Indian Wells

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Germany’s Angelique Kerber has played a “really perfect match” at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells on Saturday to defeat Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan, 6-0 6-2.

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Photo: INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 09: Angelique Kerber of Germany plays a backhand against Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan during their women’s singles second round match on Day 6 of the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 09, 2019 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images)

Kerber broke in the opening game with a forehand winner. She then held her serve when Putintseva hit a forehand down the line just wide, despite first thinking it was in and fist pumping in celebration. Kerber broke again in the third game to gain a 3-0 lead.

Putintseva earned herself a break point in the fourth game with a forehand winner, but it was saved when she returned a serve with a drop shot and the German hit a winner off it. Two consecutive errors to follow this from Putintseva handed Kerber the game. Kerber broke again in the next game, allowing her to serve out the set. She fired an ace to bring up set point and then Putintseva sent a forehand long to hand Kerber the set 6-0.

In the second set, Kerber hit a forehand winner to bring up three break points in the first game, Puntintseva hit a forehand winner to save one, but then another forehand winner from the German allowed her to take the early break. In the next game, Kerber sent a forehand into the net to bring up a break point for Putintseva. Kerber saved in with a backhand drive winner. Kerber was able to hold her serve after being at deuce five times.

Kerber broke again in the third game then held her serve to lead 4-0. In the fifth game, Putintseva did not face any break points and finally won a game. Kerber held her next serve again, as did Putintseva, allowing Kerber to serve for the match. She had three match points, and closed it out with yet another forehand winner.

Post match, Kerber said “I think I play a really perfect match” as her winner to unforced error count was 29-12 and she won 93% of point on her first serve.

In the third round, Kerber will play qualifier Natalia Vikhlyantseva of Russia, who defeated Pricilla Hon and Carla Suarez-Navarro.

Kerber defeats Kontaveit to begin Qatar Total Open run

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Germany’s Angelique Kerber has secured her first win against Estonian world no. 20, Anett Kontaveit, defeating her in the second round of the Qatar Total Open in Doha 6-1 7-6(3). Kerber had never won a set against Kontaveit, who had beat her on two occasions, though these were both on clay. This win is also Kerber’s 600th career win, making it something to celebrate.

The German got off to a strong start, breaking in the opening game and then consolidating for a 2-0 lead. She had a triple break point in the third game, but Kontaveit fought back to hold her serve; however, she wasn’t able to win any more games in the first set, as Kerber kept making her play one more ball, causing the Estonian to feel uncomfortable.

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Photo: Angelique Kerber of Germany hits a backhand (Photo by TPN/Getty Images)

In the second set, Kerber charged out to a 4-1 lead and looked like she had control of the match, but Kontaveit was able to break back to love in the seventh game, when a double fault by the German brought up the triple break point, and then she hit a backhand into the net whilst on the run, giving Kontaveit her first break of the match.

Kerber was able to break back to gain a 5-3 lead and try and serve out the match, but she was unable to do so, as a ball off Kontaveit’s racquet clipped the net and just fell over on match point. Kerber had another match point in the next game, but Kontaveit saved it with a backhand winner to level the score at 5-5.

Kerber held in the eleventh game to lead 6-5, and had two more opportunities in the next to close out the match. Kontaveit saved the first match point with an impressive forehand that landed right on the baseline, and then Kerber failed to return the next serve, giving away the second match point.

Kerber had now lost five match points and Kontaveit held her serve in the twelfth game, taking the set to a tiebreaker. Kerber finally won the match on her eighth match point, winning it when Kontaveit sent a forehand into the net.

Despite the fact that it was the Estonian who played more winners throughout the match (25 – 10), she also hit a total of 34 unforced errors giving away too many easy points to Kerber, who had only 13 unforced errors for the match.

In the quarterfinals, Kerber will face Babora Strycova of the Czech Republic. Kerber leads the head-to-head, 7-1.

Yastremska claims second WTA title at Toyota Thailand Open

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18-year-old Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine has come back from 5-2 down in the deciding set to snatch the championship trophy from the hands of Australia’s Ajla Tomljaovic. She won in a three-set showdown 6-2 2-6 7-6(3).

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Photo: Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska hits a retun against Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic during the final of the WTA Thailand Open tennis tournament in Hua Hin on February 3, 2019. (Photo CHALINEE THIRASUPA/AFP/Getty Images)

Yastremska started strong, breaking in the second game. Tomljanovic had a chance to break back in the next game, but she sent the ball into the net on break point. Yastremska brought out a great number of winners to gain a 5-0 lead. Tomljanovic won her first game of the match in the sixth game and then broke in the next when Yastremska was trying to serve out the match, but the Ukrainian then broke Tomljanovic again in the eighth game to win the set.

Tomljanovic had a break point in the first game of the second set, and she almost got the break when a second serve from Yastremska was called out. But the Ukrainian challenged the call successfully, and then Tomljanovic returned the next serve long, preventing her from converting the break point. Yastremska went on to hold.

Tomljanovic held to love and then have another two chances to break in the third game, bringing up a double break point with a forehand winner. Yastremska gifted her the break with a double fault. The Ukrainian then broke back immediately to level the score at 2-2.

Another double fault by Yastremska brought up two break points for Tomljanovic, she couldn’t convert the first as she didn’t return the serve, but Yastremska doubled faulted to once again gift the Australian the break. Tomljanovic continued to win all the next games to win the second set and take the match to the distance.

Yastremska got an early lead in the third set, breaking in the second game to lead 2-0, but Tomljanovic found her form again to win the next five games, saving four break points along the way.

Tomljanovic attempted to serve out the match but did so unsuccessfully as she hit a ball into the net to give Yastremska a break point. This first break point was saved as Yastremska made the same error, but then two forehand winners by the Ukrainian kept her alive in the match. Yastremska then held her serve.

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Photo: Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic hits a return against Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska during the final of the WTA Thailand Open tennis tournament in Hua Hin on February 3, 2019. (Photo CHALINEE THIRASUPA/AFP/Getty Images)

During the change of ends between the ninth and tenth game, Yastremska called a trainer for her left knee, which Tomljanovic wasn’t happy about, complaining to the umpire and shaking her head in frustration. The Australian had a second chance to serve for the championship, but once again could not do so, giving Yastremska the second break back with a double fault.

Both players held to love in the next two games, taking the match to a tiebreaker. Tomljanovic got the mini-break on the first point when Yastremska hit the ball into the net, but she couldn’t keep her lead as the Ukrainian got three championship points brought up when Tomljanovic hit a backhand into the net. Yastremska won the match with a forehand winner.

In her speech following the match, Yastremska said that she dedicates the win to her mother, who recently had an accident and underwent surgery. From this win, the young Ukrainian will jump 13 places to reach a career-high ranking of 34 in the world. Tomljanovic also has reached a career-high ranking of 41.

“The match was really tough for me,” Yastremska told the press. “The first set I played maximum, and the second set, I felt that I can’t play like that, like how I played the first set, and I didn’t know what’s going on. I tried my best, and I tried to do the same things I was doing in the first set, but it’s just feelings like you’re empty, completely empty. I don’t know how to describe that.”

“But in the third set, when I was losing 5-2, I remembered one thing, which happened before this tournament, and it really helped me to go through and take extra power, and finish with a win,” Yastremska continued. The youngster was referring to an accident her mother had with an exploding champagne bottle at the Australian Open, which left her eye injured.

“She did the operation in Australia and she [flew] back to Ukraine, and it was really tough for me to play because I didn’t sleep well for nights, because she had a long operation,” Yastremska admitted. “But now she’s good, and that extra motivated me to win.”

Yastremska secures spot in Toyota Thailand Open Final

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18-year-old Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine has defeated Magda Linette of Poland to earn a spot in her second WTA final at the Toyota Thailand Open in Hua Hin. Yastremska made her maiden WTA final in Hong Kong, where she beat China’s Qiang Wang to win her first title.

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Photo: Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine hits a return against Magda Linette of Poland during their semi-final match at the Thailand Open tennis tournament in Hua Hin on February 2, 2019. (Photo by Chalinee THIRASUPA / AFP) (Photo credit should read CHALINEE THIRASUPA/AFP/Getty Images)

Yastremska, who stunned former Grand Slam champion Garbiñe Muguruza in the quarterfinals, secured the first set with a pivotal break at 5-4.

Yastremska and Linette exchanged breaks of serve at the start of the second set before the Ukrainian stepped up to win 6-4, 6-3 in a little over 90 minutes.

In the final on Sunday, Yastremska will face the hard-hitting sixth seed Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia. The two have played once before in China Open qualifying last year, where it was the Ukrainian who came out on top.

But both players are at the top of their game in Thailand, having not dropped a set on their path to the final.

Also read – Tomljanovic cruises into Toyota Thailand Open Final

Tomljanovic cruises into Toyota Thailand Open Final

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Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic, the world no. 49 has defeated Slovenia’s Tamara Zidansek in straight sets, 6-3 6-1.

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Photo: Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia serves against Tamara Zidansek of Slovakia during their semi-final match at the Thailand Open tennis tournament in Hua Hin on February 2, 2019. (Photo CHALINEE THIRASUPA/AFP/Getty Images)

Tomljanovic started well, bringing up a break point in the first game when she forced an error from Zindansek. It was converted when Zidansek hit long. Tomljanovic then consolidated for a 2-0 lead. The Australian had another chance to break, holding three break points, before Zidansek fought back to hold. Tomjlanovic was winning service games comfortably and kept of break of serve.

The Australian had a bit of a wobble when serving out the set after falling behind 0-30. But she won the next four points to take the first set.

Tomljanovic got on top early again in the second set, breaking Zidansek in the first game with a drop shot. Tomljanovic broke again in the third game when Zidansek hit a backhand into the net on break point.

After another service hold, Tomjlanovic held a commanding 4-0 lead. Zindansek finally got on the scoreboard for the second set, winning the fifth game. The Australian sent a forehand into the net which brought up Zidansek’s first and only break point of the match; however, she was unable to convert it after hitting a backhand into the net.

Tomljanovic held for a 5-1 lead, and then brought up two match points with a forehand winner in the seventh game. She sealed the match with a backhand return winner that just caught the line.

Tomljanovic will be looking to win her first WTA title, failing on three previous occasions. To do this she must beat Ukrainian Dayana Yastrenska who defeated Polish Magda Linette 6-4, 6-3.

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Photo: Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine hits a return against Magda Linette of Poland during their semi-final match at the Thailand Open tennis tournament in Hua Hin on February 2, 2019. (Photo CHALINEE THIRASUPA/AFP/Getty Images)

Also read – Yastremska secures spot in Toyota Thailand Open Final

Kvitova begins St Petersburgh Ladies Trophy title defence defeating Azarenka

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World no. 2, and defending champion, Petra Kvitova has made it to the quarterfinal of the St Petersburgh Ladies Trophy following a first round bye and then defeating Victoria Azarenka 6-2 7-6(3).

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Photo: Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic returns the ball to Victoria Azarenka of Belarus during their WTA St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy 2019 tennis match on January 30, 2019 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. (Photo by Mike Kireev/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

The two exchanged breaks of serve in the first four games of the match, but then Kvitova found her form and won the next four games to take the first set.

In the fifth game, when Kvitova held serve for the first time, Azarenka had a double break points but Kvitova saved one with a forehand winner and then Azarenka hit a forehand into the net preventing her from converting the break points.

Kvitova closed the first set with her twelfth forehand winner of the match. It was these winners that helped her take the lead.

In the second set, Kvitova stormed out to a 5-1 lead, and was serving for the match in the seventh game, with Azarenka holding serve for the first and only time of the match in the fourth game of the second set. Kvitova looked in control, leading 30-0, but then Azarenka won the next three points, hitting a backhand winner to bring up a break point. It was saved by Kvitova with a volley, and then the Czech hit a backhand winner to bring up a match point; however, she double faulted on this point and then doubled faulted again to bring up a second break point for Azarenka. The break point was converted when Kvitova sent a forehand into the net.

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Photo: Victoria Azarenka of Belarus celebrates during her WTA St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy 2019 tennis match against Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic on January 30, 2019 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. (Photo by Mike Kireev/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Azarenka held her serve in the next game, but was still down a break, so Kvitova had a second chance to serve for the match. She once again double faulted to bring up a break point for the Belarusian. Azarenka broke when Kvitova overcooked a backhand, and then she held her serve to level at 5-5.

Both were able to hold their serve in the next two games, taking the set to a tiebreak. Kvitova lifted her game again and cleaned up her unforced errors win the tiebreak 7-3. She earned four match points 30 minutes after getting her first in the seventh game. Azarenka had a stroke of luck as her return of serve off the forehand looked to be going wide, but it caught the net and just landed in. Kvitova didn’t let this get to her as she won the match with a powerful backhand down the line.

Kvitova has won 12 of her last 13 matches, as she won the Sydney International and then lost in the final of the Australian Open. She is looking to continue playing at a high level to win the tournament for the second consecutive year.

In the quarterfinal, Kvitova will face Croatian, Dona Vekic who defeated lucky loser, Veronika Kudermetova in straight sets 6-4 6-3.

Muguruza mounts comeback to oust Barthel at the Toyota Thailand Open

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No. 1 seed, Garbiñe Muguruza of Spain has eliminated German Mona Barthel to advance to the quarterfinals of the Toyota Thailand Open. She took the first set comfortably, but then was trailing 4-0 in the second. She was able to comeback to win the match in straight set 6-2 7-5.

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Photo: Spain’s Garbine Muguruza plays a forehand (Photo by Fred Lee/Getty Images

Four consecutive unforced errors by Barthel in the first game allowed Muguruza to break to love, but Barthel immediately broke back in the next game to level at 1-1. In the fifth game, a double fault by the German brought up two break points for Muguruza. The first was saved when Muguruza returned a serve into the net, but she was able to break on the next point when Barthel sent a backhand over the baseline, giving the Spaniard a 3-2 lead.

In the eighth game, Barthel made three double faults, where her second one brought up a break point, then the third gave Muguruza the break of serve and the first set.

Barthel came out for the second set with a great lift in form, and she broke to love in the opening game, hitting two consecutive forehand winners to bring up and then convert the break point. She consolidated, and then a backhand winner in the third game brought up two break points for her. She converted the first one with a forehand winner, and it seemed like there wasn’t much the Spaniard could do to win the second set.

In the fourth game, Barthel sent a backhand wide, which brought up a break point for Muguruza, but Barthel saved it with another forehand winner that she passed by Muguruza who was trying to come in to the net and play aggressively. Muguruza finally won a game, but was behind 4-1. She advised her coach during the change of ends, where she was told to play with more accuracy rather than power, as she was over playing a lot of her shots.

Muguruza had three break points in the next game, brought up by a backhand that went into the net off the German’s racquet. A double fault allowed Muguruza to break to love. She then held her next service game, and another two consecutive double faults by Barthel gave Muguruza the second break to level the score at 4-4.

Muguruza held in the ninth game to take the lead in the second set at 4-5, and Barthel had to serve to stay in the match. She did so with success, holding to love. Muguruza held again, putting pressure back on the German to once again serve to stay alive in this second round clash. This time, she didn’t manage to hold her serve, as she send a backhand wide, bringing up three match points for Muguruza. The Spaniard failed to convert the first one, as she sent a cross court shot into the net, but on the next point, Barthel hit a backhand wide, giving Muguruza the set and match.

In the quarter-final, Muguruza will play 18-year-old, Dayana Yastremska, who defeated Chinese Peng Shuai 6-1 6-4.