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  • Canberra Events
    • Apis Canberra International Tennis
      • Canberra Challenger tournament transferred to Bendigo
      • Zoe Hives takes the Apis Canberra International title from Olivia Rogowska
      • Hoyt and Wu win men’s doubles Perez and Rodionova win women’s doubles at the Apis Canberra International
      • Rogowska moves closer to defending her Apis Canberra International title
      • Santillan jumping for joy as Duckworth left smashing
      • Top seed out of the women’s Apis Canberra International tennis tournament
      • Duckworth gives Polmans an early trip home after their round one Apis Canberra International match
      • 2016 Champion James Duckworth faces 2016 Runner-up Polmans in round one action at the Apis Canberra International
  • Australian Tennis
    • Videos
      • Tennis News
        • Sam Stosur becomes a mum
        • Pro tennis is back in Australia
        • Australian Tennis Results 11-17 February 2019
        • Fed Cup USA v Australia preview
        • Peers and Thompson secure Australia’s Davis Cup finals spot
        • Barty advances to the fourth round for the first time at the Aussie Open
        • de Minaur claims his maiden ATP title in his home town
        • Team Germany Secure Their Spot in the Hopman Cup Final 2019
        • Strong Start for Angelique Kerber at the Hopman Cup
        • Tomljanovic and de Minaur march on in Brisbane, Kyrgios falls
        • de Minaur, Kyrgios and Thomson lead men’s Australian charge in Brisbane
        • Federer Claims Victory in Historic Doubles Match Against Serena Williams
        • Australian results for 14 November
        • Australian Tennis Results 5-11 November 2018
        • Stefanos Tsitsipas gets the better of Alex de Minaur to claim the Next Gen ATP Finals
        • Australian Tennis Results 29 October – 4 November 2018
        • Zoe Hives takes the Apis Canberra International title from Olivia Rogowska
        • Top seed out of the women’s Apis Canberra International tennis tournament
        • Hon claims first ITF title in two years at the expense of Perez in Bendigo
        • Thanasi Kokkinakis into the Las Vegas ATP Challenger Final
        • Ellen Perez – forever the bridesmaid?
        • Australian Tennis Results 8-14 October 2018
        • Marc Polmans into the ATP Challenger Stockton $100,000 final
        • Marc Polmans and Jordan Thompson look to setup an all-Australian ATP Challenger final in Stockton
        • Alex de Minaur set to take over as the top ranked Australian
        • Australian Tennis Results for the week of 24-30 September 2018
        • Bernard Tomic Charges into the 70s as he comes back from four match points to win the ATP 250 title in Chengdu
        • Daria Gavrilova Advances Past Jelena Ostapenko – Ash Barty gets the better of Johanna Konta in Wuhan
        • Australian Tennis Results for the week of 17-23 September 2018
        • Bertens denies Tomljanovic her maiden WTA title as she wins the Korea Open title
        • Australian Tennis Results for the week of 10-16 September 2018 – James Duckworth Claims Cary Challenger Title
        • Ash Barty teams up with CoCo Vandeweghe to claime their first Grand Slam doubles title
        • Can John Millman pull off another big upset against Novak Djokovic at the US Open?
        • Tomic wins Challenger event at Rafa’s home patch
        • Millman marches on as Federer outclasses Kyrgios to setup meeting with Millman
        • Ash Barty advances to round 4 for the first time at a grand slam in singles
        • Kyrgios advances after a bizarre pep talk from the umpire – Federer is next
        • Tomljanovic lets a match point slip away before losing second round match in third set tiebreaker
        • Australia’s Alex de Minaur triumphs again in New York
        • Ash Barty has too much firepower for Lucie Safarova
        • Kyrgios Advances at the US Open
        • Gavrilova and Kubler out of the US Open
        • US Open preview for the Australians
        • Maverick Banes wins his maiden ATP Challenger title
        • The fight is on for a ticket to New York and the US Open – updated – Ellen Perez v Lizette Cabrera in final
        • Maverick Banes ends Alexei Popyrin’s win streak in Korea
  • Grand Slams
    • Australian Open
      • Osaka claims her second Australian Open title
      • Comeback queen Muchova sends Barty packing
      • Serena too tough for Simona
      • Barty cruises into her third straight Australian Open quarterfinal
      • Osaka sees off two match points before bookin a showdown with Hsieh
      • Barty stands alone after Fognini beats de Minaur
      • Djokovic roars back for win after a slip against Fritz
      • Thiem tames Kyrgios serve to advance
      • Kokkinakis falls short after five set marathon against Tsitsipas
      • Ash overcomes Dash in all-Australian matchup
      • Kyrgios fights off two match points enroute to epic win
      • Halep escapes challenge from Tomljanovic
      • Day 1 wrap for the Aussies
      • Australian Open 2021 – Australian women’s preview
      • Australian Open 2021 – Australian men’s preview
      • 3 Positive COVID-19 tests – Keys out, Sandgren in, Murray maybe
      • Tomic the lone Aussie to advance through qualifying
      • More to get wild about at the Aussie Open
      • Australian Open wild cards so far
      • Australian Open dates confirmed
      • Australian Open dates still up in the air
      • Djokovic is great at eight
      • Ram and Salisbury claim their first Grand Slam doubles title
      • Kenin completes the fairytale as she claims her maiden Grand Slam title
      • Barty blows it twice and Kenin swoops to take her place in the final
      • Could this be the changing of the guard?
      • Saville and Purcell advance to their first Grand Slam semifinal
      • Federer pulls off another escape act to advance to the semis
      • Barty books semifinal spot against Kenin after dismantling Kvitova
      • Kyrgios pushes Nadal to the limit before world no. 1 marches into the quarter finals
      • Barty bounces Riske to setup Kvitova quarterfinal rematch
      • Polmans gets breakthrough win at the Australian Open
      • The rain is the big winner at the Australian Open on day 1 but Barty advances
      • Aussies at the Australian Open – round one matchups and previews
    • French Open
      • Swiatek becomes first Pole to win a singles grand slam
      • Australian lucky losers and protected ranking player advance
      • Nadal the King of Clay reigns supreme at Roland Garros
      • Barty cruises to Grand Slam glory in Paris
      • Barty rides the rollercoaster into the French Open final
      • Barty charges into the French Open semifinals
      • Barty books French Open quarterfinal match against Keys
      • Barty enters new territory at Roland Garros
      • Top Aussies Barty and de Minaur advance at Roland Garros
      • Angelique Kerber is first to lose on the new Philippe Chatrier Court
      • Ash Barty headlines Aussie charge at Roland Garros
      • Nadal Stays Perfect in Roland Garros Finals and Claims Title Number 11
      • Simona Halep Finally Lifts a Grand Slam Trophy after Winning at Roland Garros
      • Gavrilova and Stosur crash out of the French Open
    • Wimbledon
      • Wimbledon cancelled for 2020 due to coronavirus
      • Djokovic fights off two match points to retain the Wimbledon title
      • Halep first Romanian to claim the Wimbledon Ladies singles title
      • Serena doing it for the mums at Wimbledon
      • Riske is rewarded as she bundles Barty out of Wimbledon
      • Kyrgios v Nadal match lives up to the hype as Nadal advances
      • Barty eases through to the third round
      • Tomljanovic and Popyrin lose their round two matches
      • Four Aussies still alive in Wimbledon qualifying draw
      • Mixed day for the Aussie women after a perfect start for the Aussie men at the Wimbledon qualifying
      • Aussies off to a perfect start at Wimbledon qualifying
      • Off Court News – What Have Some of the Players Been Up To Since Wimbledon
      • Novak Djokovic completes the comeback with a surprise Wimbledon title
      • Angelique Kerber Claims First Wimbledon Title
      • Aussies wiped out on Wimbledon’s opening Saturday
      • Barty, Gavrilova, Kyrgios, Ebden and de Minaur advance to the third round at Wimbledon as Tomic falls
      • Top three Australian women safely through to the second round of the Wimbledon Ladies’ singles
      • Day one Wimbledon wrap for the Australians
      • Australian Preview for Gentlemen’s Singles at Wimbledon 2018
      • Kubler, Smith and Bolt win through to the Wimbledon main-draw
      • Five from Eight Australian Men Advance at Roehampton in Wimbledon Singles Qualifiers
    • US Open
      • Mother of all comebacks falls short as Osaka claims title
      • Thiem tramples de Minaur to advance to semifinals
      • de Minaur into his first grand slam quarterfinal
      • Coric defeats Thompson to advance to the quarterfinals
      • Jordan Thompson advances to a grand slam fourth round for the first time
      • de Minaur advances Millman and O’Connell are out
      • Jordan Thompson advances to third round
      • Day two US Open Aussie review
      • Aussies fight hard but only Thompson advances
      • Aussies at the US Open – preview
      • Nick Kyrgios says no to the US Open
      • Barty confirms she won’t be playing the US Open
      • Wang Qiang ends Barty’s US Open
      • Barty and de Minaur take their place in the US Open round of 16
      • Rain sends most players packing at the US Open but Barty marches on
      • A good day for the Aussies in New York
      • Barty recovers from a slow start to Open her US Open campaign
      • Novak Djokovic joins Pete Sampras with 14th Grand Slam singles titles after defeating Juan Martin del Potro at the US Open
      • Ash Barty teams up with CoCo Vandeweghe to claime their first Grand Slam doubles title
      • Japan’s Naomi Osaka claims first Grand Slam title amid Serena coaching controversy
      • Lightning doesn’t strike twice as Djokovic advances past Millman
      • Can John Millman pull off another big upset against Novak Djokovic at the US Open?
      • John Millman claims the biggest win of his career as he knocks off Roger Federer
      • US Open – Barty fails to captilise on break points and bows out to Pliskova
      • Millman marches on as Federer outclasses Kyrgios to setup meeting with Millman
      • Alex de Minaur goes down fighting against Marin Cilic
      • Ash Barty advances to round 4 for the first time at a grand slam in singles
      • Tomljanovic lets a match point slip away before losing second round match in third set tiebreaker
      • Australia’s Alex de Minaur triumphs again in New York
      • Kyrgios advances after a bizarre pep talk from the umpire – Federer is next
      • Ash Barty has too much firepower for Lucie Safarova
      • Gavrilova and Kubler out of the US Open
      • Kyrgios Advances at the US Open
      • US Open preview for the Australians
      • The fight is on for a ticket to New York and the US Open – updated – Ellen Perez v Lizette Cabrera in final
      • Six US Open Winners Headline the 2018 US Open Women’s Singles field
  • Women’s Tennis Association
    • ATP and WTA announce an extension of the COVID-19 suspension
    • Ash Barty wins the WTA Finals to cap off an amazing year but one prize still remains
    • Videos
    • Premier
      • Aussie summer of tennis is go
      • Kenin bundles Barty out of the Rogers Cup – Osaka one win from no. 1 ranking but Pliskova also in the hunt
      • Pliskova sends a warning ahead of Wimbledon
      • Ash Barty is two wins away from no. 1 after advancing past Venus Williams in Birmingham
      • Barty overcomes a tough first round opponent in Birmingham
      • Barty could take world no.1 ranking in Birmingham
      • Barty can’t halt Halep surge for no. 1
      • Barty punctuates her top-ten arrival by claiming Miami Open title
      • Barty beats the rain and Kontaveit to reach the Miami final
      • Barty finally gets the better of Kvitova to advance to the Miami semifinals and lock-in top-ten ranking
      • Andreescu completes her Indian Wells fairytale
      • Barty sets up Svitolina showdown in Indian Wells
      • Perfect day for the Aussies at Indian Wells with wins for Barty, Gavrilova, Bolt and Popyrin
      • Tomljanovic and Thompson advance – Stosur, Millman and Ebden are out at Indian Wells
      • Daria Gavrilova breaks her duck in Indian Wells
      • Bencic claims the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship title
      • Mertens claims another top-10 scalp on the way to the Qatar Total Open title
      • Bertens overcomes a slow start against Vekic to claim the St Petersburg title
      • Bertens and Vekic to face off for the St Petersburg title
      • Vekic ends Kvitova’s win streak in St Petersburg
      • Kvitova begins St Petersburgh Ladies Trophy title defence defeating Azarenka
      • Gavrilova’s 2019 winless streak continues
      • Petra Kvitova breaks Aussie’s hearts as she claims her second Sydney International title
      • Barty defeats Bertens to book her second consecutive final at the Sydney International
      • Barty advances to semifinal showdown against Bertens
      • Kvitova ends Kerber’s title defence at the Sydney International
      • Sydney International Tennis Stars Cruise the Harbour
      • Birrell stuns world no. 10 Kasatkina at the Brisbane International
    • International
      • Konta ends Tomljanovic’s run in Rabat
      • Anisimova denies Sharma her first WTA title as she wins her first in Bogota
      • Astra Sharma advances to her first WTA semifinal after a tricky encounter with Sara Errani
      • Sharma marches into new territory in Bogota
      • Azarenka Outlasts Kerber to Advance to Final in Monterrey
      • Yastremska claims second WTA title at Toyota Thailand Open
      • Yastremska secures spot in Toyota Thailand Open Final
      • Tomljanovic cruises into Toyota Thailand Open Final
      • Yastremska too hot for Muguruza in Thailand – Tomljanovic, Linette and Zidansek also advance
      • Tomljanovic toughs it out in Thailand
      • Muguruza mounts comeback to oust Barthel at the Toyota Thailand Open
      • Muguruza defeats Lisicki to open Toyota Thailand Open campaign
      • Bertens denies Tomljanovic her maiden WTA title as she wins the Korea Open title
      • Ajla Tomljanovic into Korea Open final after upsetting Hsieh Su-Wei
      • Ajla Tomljanovic battles past Mandy Minella to earn a semifinal spot in Seoul
      • Olga Danilovic is the first-ever lucky loser to claim a WTA singles title
      • Alizé Cornet heads to Gstaad final after Bouchard retirement
      • Sam Stosur Can’t Get Past the Mallorca Defending Champion
    • ITF
      • Ash Barty wins the WTA Finals to cap off an amazing year but one prize still remains
      • Honours even after Fed Cup day one – Australia v Belarus
      • Fed Cup finals spot up for grabs
      • Rogowska adds clay title to her Canberra hard court title
      • Hon to take on Rogowska for the ACT Clay Court International #2 title
      • Aussies shine despite gloomy weather for the ACT Clay Court International #2
      • No. 1 seed Hon advances while the defending champion goes down at the ACT Clay Court International #2
      • Priscilla Hon headlines the ACT Clay Court International #2 tournament
      • Destanee Aiava finally claims a Canberra title
    • Players
      • Angelique Kerber
  • ATP Tour
    • ATP and WTA announce an extension of the COVID-19 suspension
    • de Minaur back in action in Spain
    • Videos
    • Masters 1000
      • Indian Wells tournament called off due to coronavirus fears
      • Kyrgios and Thompson crash out of Miami along with Djokovic
      • Jordan Thompson steps it up in Miami
      • Kyrgios the entertainer marches on in Miami
      • Thiem overcomes Federer for Maiden Masters Title in Indian Wells
      • Perfect day for the Aussies at Indian Wells with wins for Barty, Gavrilova, Bolt and Popyrin
      • Tomljanovic and Thompson advance – Stosur, Millman and Ebden are out at Indian Wells
      • Potential Desert Duel for Kyrgios and Djokovic
      • Matt Ebden loses to Borna Coric in the quarterfinals at the Shanghai Masters
      • Djokovic finally gets his Cincinnati Masters title and completes career Golden Masters
      • Federer and Djokovic set to meet for the 46th time in the Cincinnati Masters final
      • Nick Kyrgios goes walkabout against Juan Martín del Potro
      • Rogers Cup – Barty Collects the Doubles Title in Montreal and Peers wins the Toronto Title
      • Kyrgios feeling the pain after falling to Wawrinka at Toronto
      • Nadal takes Rome Masters 1000 title from Zverev
    • ATP Cup
      • Australia defeats Great Britain in a thriller to advance to the ATP Cup semifinals
      • Australia takes another step toward the ATP Cup quarterfinals after despatching Canada
      • Kyrgios and de Minaur get Australia a winning start at the ATP Cup
    • World 500
      • Kyrgios Claims second ATP 500 title as he defeats Medvedev for the title in Washington – to rise to no. 1 ranked Australian
      • Kyrgios reaches ATP 500 final in Washington after rollercoaster ride against Tsitsipas
      • Nick Kyrgios silences the critics as he caps off an amazing week in Acapulco with title
      • Federer joins exclusive 100 club after claiming Dubai crown
      • Kyrgios ices Isner in Acapulco to book Zverev finals showdown
      • Federer one match away from 100 titles as he takes on his Australian Open conquerer Tsitsipas
      • Kyrgios Conquers Nadal in Acapulco
      • Kyrgios and de Minaur advance Popyrin falls in Acapulco
      • Alex de Minaur earns his first ATP 500 finals berth after epic battle against Andrey Rublev
      • Injured Kyrgios Withdraws from Washington – Duckworth into ATP 500 Third Round
      • Dominic Thiem proves too good for John Millman on the Hamburg clay at the ATP 500 event
      • John Millman Defeats Jan-Lennard Struff at Hamburg ATP 500 Event
      • Cilic Too Good for Kyrgios at the Queen’s Club
      • Kyrgios halts Murray’s comeback at Queen’s Club
      • Borna Coric takes the Halle title from Roger Federer
    • World 250
      • Millman claims his maiden ATP title in Nur-Sultan
      • Humbert defeats de Minaur to claim European Open title
      • de Minaur to take on Umbert for European Open title
      • de Minaur advances in Atlanta – Popyrin and Tomic are out
      • Thompson falls short in first ATP level final
      • Popyrin falls to defending champion in Estoril
      • Thompson fights back from defeat in Houston
      • de Minaur claims his maiden ATP title in his home town
      • Seppi into Sydney International Tennis final
      • John Millman falls short of Sydney International semifinal
      • Some late night Hewitt entertainment at the Sydney International
      • No. 1 seed knocked out of the Sydney International by Andreas Seppi
      • Stefanos Tsitsipas and Andreas Seppi preview
      • de Minaur Overcomes Thompson in an All Aussie Quarterfinal Clash at the Sydney International
      • Local hopes end as de Minaur and Tomljanovic bow out of the Brisbane International
      • Tomic grabs a top-100 ranking as he marches into the Chengdu final
      • Ebden falls to Isner in Atlanta – Thompson and Rodionova advance to finals in Binghamton and Granby
      • Ebden into Atlanta semis as Kyrgios retires against Norrie and Thompson marches on at Binghamton Challenger
      • Federer gets past Kyrgios to claim world no. 1 and reach the Stuttgart final
    • Challenger
      • Polmans wins the Zhangjiagang $54K ATP Challenger Title
      • Polmans overcomes a slow start to defeat Banes in Bangalore at the ATP Challenger Tour $150,000 event
      • Jordan Thompson rockets his ranking up to 73 after back-to-back ATP Challenger titles
      • Thompson aiming for eighth ATP Challenger final in 2018
      • Jordan Thompson wins his second ATP Challenger title for 2018
      • Thanasi Kokkinakis into the Las Vegas ATP Challenger Final
      • Jordan Thompson reaches back-to-back ATP Challenger finals
      • Kokkinakis and Smith roll into Las Vegas semifinals

Kyrgios fights off two match points enroute to epic win

February 11, 2021 by Alicia Keating Leave a Comment

Australia’s Nick Kyrgios has delighted the crowd at John Cain Arena with a fighting five set win against France’s Ugo Humbert.

Melbourne – 3 February 2021: Nick Kyrgios (AUS)

France’s world no. 34 was serving for the match at 5-4 in the fourth set and held two match points. He tightened up and Kyrgios lifted hitting some great shots to keep his Australian Open campaign alive.

The opening set saw Humbert, a two time title winner in 2020, hit 15 winners and winning 86 per cent of first serve points. He offered just one break point opportunity to Kyrgios which he saved when hitting a forehand winner.

Kyrgios fought off a break point in the tenth game of the opening set but he wasn’t able to do it again in the twelfth game. He made some poor shot choices including a drop shot that just sat up and said hit me. Humbert did just that as he broke for a 7-5 first set after 42 minutes.

Umbert was under pressure in the opening game of the second set after jumping out to 40-0. He was taken to deuce before serving an Ace for AD and taking the game after an unforced error from the Australian.

Umbert hit three winners in the next game to push Kyrgios to deuce.

In the third game Kyrgios got the key break when back-to-back unforced errors from the Frenchman handed the Australian the game.

Kyrgios then held his serves to level the match and pump up the crowd despite looking a bit troubled by his right leg at times.

In the third set. Humber broke to move to a 5-3 lead, he held to love to calmly take the set.

Things were not looking good for the world no. 47 from Canberra when Humbert broke Kyrgios in the opening game of the fourth set. Humbert was striking the ball well.

Humbert consolidated the break to lead 2-0. At 4-3 with Humbert serving Kyrgios was applying the pressure. He jumped out to 15-40 but wasn’t able to convert either of those chances. Another came a few points later. Again he was denied.

A pair of Aces and a winner from Humbert saw him escape that game with a hold.

Kyrgios held comfortably to put the pressure back on the Frenchman as he had to serve for the match.

Humbert stood at the service line at 40-30 with his first match point. Kyrgios was able to force an error to save that. A Kyrgios unforced error presented Humbert another opportunity to take the match.

Humbert served well and made his way to the net. With little margin for error Kyrgios slotted a backhand passing shot into the open court. The crowd was going crazy as the winners flowed from the racquet of the local hero.

Job done and the break back was wrapped up.

Kyrgios fell behind 0-30 in his next service game but yet again his monster serves saved him and he was able to hold to take a 6-5 lead. Humbert would hold to take the set into a tiebreaker.

Kyrgios dominated the breaker to level the match. Despite a COVID-19 restricted crowd, the joint was jumping with excitement as Kyrgios had lifted and he was looking energised.

“The only thing I really had on him today was experience,” Kyrgios said. “I have been in so many big matches, and on that court in particular, two sets to love down, winning. I’ve just been through so much on the court, I just felt like I was an old savvy veteran who had experience over him.

“I was just trying to draw from experience, trying to make him play as much as I could, and then I somehow got out of jail today. Honestly, it’s surreal.”

Kyrgios hit 14 winners to eight in the deciding set and has seven unforced errors to eight from Humbert.

The key game was the third when Kyrgios hit back to back winners to setup two break points. An unforced error from Humbert gave Kyrgios the upper hand. He held to love to consolidate the break.

Kyrgios had another break point in Humbert’s next service game but wasn’t able to convert.

Another love service game for Kyrgios and he was closing in on a fantastic victory.

He would barely drop a point as he continued to hold serve to seal a 5-7, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(2), 6-4 victory in 3 hours 25 minutes.

It was great to hear at one stage the umpire asking the crowd to be quiet. Melbourne was alive again at a major sporting event.

“The crowd was awesome tonight,” Kyrgios acknowledged. “That court is so special. I have had so many good memories on it. The crowd was awesome – half packed and it felt like it was a full stadium. I got goosebumps towards the end.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2RTEtP9A7c

World No.3 Dominic Thiem awaits in the third round. The US Open 2020 champion won his only previous meeting against Kyrgios, which was in 2015, via retirement.

“He trains like an absolute animal,” Kyrgios noted of last year’s finalist. “He’s consistent every day and I actually have a lot of respect for him.”

Filed Under: Australian Open

Tomljanovic into Round 2 of the China Open

September 30, 2019 by Alicia Keating Leave a Comment

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.

Embed from Getty Images
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.

Filed Under: Premier

Fed Cup finals spot up for grabs

April 19, 2019 by Alicia Keating Leave a Comment

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.

Embed from Getty Images
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.

Embed from Getty Images
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

April 7, 2019 by Alicia Keating Leave a Comment

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.

Filed Under: International

Kerber cruises past Putintseva in Indian Wells

March 10, 2019 by Alicia Keating Leave a Comment

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.

Filed Under: Premier

Kerber defeats Kontaveit to begin Qatar Total Open run

February 14, 2019 by Alicia Keating Leave a Comment

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.

Filed Under: Premier

Yastremska claims second WTA title at Toyota Thailand Open

February 3, 2019 by Alicia Keating Leave a Comment

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.”

Filed Under: International

Yastremska secures spot in Toyota Thailand Open Final

February 3, 2019 by Alicia Keating Leave a Comment

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

Filed Under: International

Tomljanovic cruises into Toyota Thailand Open Final

February 2, 2019 by Alicia Keating Leave a Comment

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

Filed Under: International

Kvitova begins St Petersburgh Ladies Trophy title defence defeating Azarenka

January 31, 2019 by Alicia Keating Leave a Comment

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.

Filed Under: Premier, Tennis

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