Showing posts with label Ana Ivanovic. Show all posts
WTA PRE-WIMBLEDON PARTY: Red-Carpet Glam Ladies Of The WTA Enroute To Kensington Gardens
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
Venus Williams, USA
Serena Williams, USA
Ana Ivanovic, Serbia
Agnieszka Radwańska, Poland
Dominika Cibulková, Slovakia
Li Na, China
Sabine Lisicki, Germany
Sloane Stephens, USA
Victoria Azarenka, Belarus
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2012 US OPEN: Sloane Stephens Out Plays The Very Crafty Francesca Schiavone, Advances To Round 2
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
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| American Sloane Stephens after defeating Italy's Francesca Schiavone on day 2 of the 2012 US Open. |
Judging by Sloane Stephens' performance on Louis Armstrong Stadium Tuesday evening, women's tennis is out with the old, in with the new. The 19-year-old American sensation stunned veteran Francesca Schiavone 6-3, 6-4 in an intense first-round matchup that saw her upset yet another seed in Flushing Meadows, in the same fashion as she did in her debut here last year.
Stephens has had a stellar year since making her presence known at this event last year, when she reached the third round as a wild card and upset two seeds (No. 23 Shahar Peer and No. 16 Ana Ivanovic) en route. In her 2012 season, Stephens has tallied career-firsts, reaching the semifinals of two events, at Washington and Strasbourg, as well as a fourth round appearance at Roland Garros, all of which have played a part in her catapult up the ranks to No. 44. As for former French Open champ Schiavone, who played in her 13th Open this year, the last time she made a first-round exit in New York was in 2001.
The matchup between the rising, fresh-faced American and the fiery, theatrical Italian had high expectations, and the two players didn't disappoint in rally exchanges. Schiavone, the No. 22 seed, began the match with a severe case of service woes, double-faulting five times in her opening service game to hand the early break to Stephens on a silver platter. But her level of play picked up after that, and both players showed off their amazing court speed throughout the match, trading angled drop shots and tracking them down in winning efforts, much to the disbelief of the animated crowd.
Schiavone used high-looping topspin shots to keep Stephens behind the baseline, but the teenager countered her opponent's heavy spin by flattening it out with down-the-line winners, drawing a roar from the crowd with every winner she struck. Faced with battling not only Stephens' power and speed, but also the pro-American crowd and the chair umpire (the two exchanged a few words after Schiavone was warned for losing her temper), the 32-year-old Italian began to commit a slew of unforced errors (36 in the match) that eventually cost her the match.
Source: usopen.org
Photo by: Getty Images
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2011 U.S. OPEN DAY 8: Serena And Tsonga Into Quarterfinals, And Fortunately Beat The Rain
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Serena Williams, USA
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| Ana Ivanovic, Serbia |
The 13-time major champion, yet to drop a set at the tournament, played a clean match in windy conditions. "It was crazy. I didn't even go for winners at any point," said Williams. "I just tried to get it over because it was so windy. It was like, Wow. It was definitely tough. But you just have to win in all kinds of situations."
Each player started the match off well, with the 28th seeded Williams firing an ace out wide to begin and Ivanovic crushing a cross-court return winner on the second point. But after Williams held, Ivanovic was shaky in her opening service game, hitting two double faults and floating a backhand long to hand the American the break.
The Serbian, however, showed signs of the form that saw her win the French Open and attain the No. 1 ranking in 2008. For a few games, she managed to control her nerves and broke back when trailing 3-1 on her second break point opportunity after Williams netted a backhand. At 30-30 in the following game, Ivanovic unleashed back-to-back first serves to even the set at 3-3.
From there though, Williams took full control of the match. A solid forehand put Williams up 4-3, and she broke the Serbian for a second time after Ivanovic tossed in a double fault. Leading 5-3, 40-15, Williams closed out the set with a strong forehand that the 23-year-old was unable to handle.
The 29-year-old American converted an early break in the second set and maintained her advantage the rest of the way through to notch her third victory in three meetings with the Serbian. Williams was solid in all areas of her game, finishing the match with nine aces, winning 83 percent of her first service points. She also had a positive winners-to-unforced errors ratio of 16 to 12 respectively. While Ivanovic struck 20 winners, she committed 29 unforced errors and also hit eight double faults in the 74-minute defeat.
Williams increased her 2011 undefeated hard-court record to a 16-0 mark, which includes titles at Stanford and Toronto, and advances to her ninth quarterfinal at Flushing Meadows. In the final eight, Williams will take on 17th-seeded Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. The 20-year-old Russian, a former US Open junior champion, upended No. 7 seed Francesca Schiavone 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 in two hours and 41 minutes.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, USA
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| Mardy Fish, USA |
In a match played in extremely complicated, swirling winds in Arthur Ashe Stadium, the top-ranked American surrendered a two-sets-to-one advantage to the athletic and charismatic Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and finally ran out of steam in five long sets, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 3-6, 6-4, 6-2. The 3-hour, 45-minute match kept the massive night-session crowd at bay, shut out of Ashe and forced to congregate on the esplanade watching the big screen for more than an hour.
Through three sets, Fish appeared to have the advantage, using a focused and contained game, punctuated by frequent trips to the net to withstand that powerful artillery of the Frenchman. Yet Tsonga kept swinging freely and turned the match around in the fourth set with a crucial service break at 4-4.
Behind tremendous serves that routinely topped 130 mph and forehands that saw Tsonga lift off the ground to pummel the ball, the Frenchman hit through the windy conditions.
“The wind was really hard today,” Tsonga said. “You play against yourself, against your opponent. It’s really difficult.”
This was the first meeting between the two versatile veterans, who are still hoping for that elusive Grand Slam breakthrough. The Frenchman has more big-match experience, having been to the Australian Open final and the semis at Wimbledon.
Tsonga, 26, advanced to his first US Open quarterfinal by crunching 51 winners, including 12 aces. Although not known as a returner, the Frenchman crucially converted on four of six break-point opportunities.
The strong winds may have propelled both players – each of whom is known for his all-court game – toward the net even more than usual. It was an effective ploy for both Tsonga and Fish; together they attacked the net 121 times (with Tsonga winning 63 percent and Fish 69 percent of those points).
Fish began limping noticeably at the end of the fourth, and he was treated on court for a strained knee prior to the start of the final set. Tsonga immediately came out firing and seized the early break after a ricochet net rally that saw Fish push a backhand volley long, followed by a rifled forehand pass.
Tsonga has an excellent record in five-set matches, having now won seven of nine. He has been working with Andre Agassi's former trainer, Gil Reyes, who told him to “trust your legs and make it burn,” Tsonga said.
Appropriately enough on this Labor Day, he did. “Today I make it burn,” he said.
US OPEN SERIES ROGERS CUP: Venus Williams Withdraws Due To Viral Illness
Monday, August 8, 2011
Venus Williams at 1st Annual Hall Of Game Awards Hosted By The Cartoon Network in February 2011.
TORONTO — Venus Williams withdrew from the WTA Tour's Rogers Cup starting on Monday because of illness, according to organizers.
Williams said she wasn't feeling well and consulted a doctor on Sunday.
She was diagnosed with a viral illness and said she was "extremely disappointed" she won't be able to play in Toronto.
Qualifier Zhang Shuai of China steps into Williams' first-round match Tuesday against former world number one Ana Ivanovic of Serbia.
Lourdes Dominguez Lino got the extra berth in the draw.
The strong Rogers Cup field still includes Williams' sister, Serena, and world number one Caroline Wozniacki, No. 2 Kim Clijsters and No. 5 Maria Sharapova.
Serena Williams, who missed 11 months with a string of health problems, returned in June and won the WTA title in Stanford in late July.
Venus Williams, ranked 34th in the world, has had a disappointing season hampered by hip and abdominal injuries.
"I was really excited to play Toronto," Venus Williams said in a statement. "I came here ready to go and was practicing. I wasn't feeling very well and had to see the doctor today.
"I was diagnosed with a viral illness and unfortunately am unable to play. I am extremely disappointed. I'm very sorry to the fans and tournament."
The talent-laden Toronto tournament is a tuneup for the final Grand Slam of the year, the US Open that starts on August 29 in New York.
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2011 WIMBLEDON/RANGE ROVER PRE-PARTY: The Ladies Of The WTA Hit The Purple Carpet In Style
Thursday, June 16, 2011
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| American Serena Williams |
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| American Serena Williams |
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| Britain's Heather Watson |
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| Italy's Francesca Schiavone |
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| Serbia's Ana Ivanovic |
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| Serbia's Jelena Jankovic |
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| Germany's Andrea Petkovic |
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| Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki |
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| Britain's (r)Anne Keothavong and (l)Laura Robson |
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| Russia's Maria Sharapova |
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| American Bethanie Mattek-Sands |
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| India's Sania Mirza |
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| Romania's Sorana Cirstea |
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| Germany's Sabine Lisicki |
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| France's Alize Cornet |
Photos by Wireimage
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Venus Gets A "Gimme" In Win Over Ana Ivanovic
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
American Venus Williams celebrates win over Belgium'sAna Ivanovic
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| Ana Ivanovic |
"I was happy to have those clean service games and not a lot of errors," Williams said. "I thought she played really well. When she had a chance to strike the ball she hit the corners. I felt good to be able to get on top of her today. I feel I'm playing well on the big points - these matches have been crucial for me to get back, literally in the swing of things."
Williams was asked about Eastbourne - this is her first trip there since 1998. "When the Sun shines, it's gorgeous. I don't remember too much from back in the days. I remember it rained a lot here, so we were forced to stay in. We didn't really get to do anything, just kind of waiting to practice or play a match. This year I've had the opportunity to go out a little bit more. I quite like it, actually. I took a walk around town a little bit. I had a couple karaoke spots but didn't get a chance to go."
Photos by Getty Images
Source - WTA
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Venus: "It Was A Tough Match For Her, Because I'm Kind Of A Floater Right Now"
American Venus Williams appears to be contemplating her next move in her first match at the AEGON International Eastbourne, Great Britain
EASTBOURNE, England — Venus Williams took delayed revenge for a match she had to abandon nearly five months ago by beating eighth seed Andrea Petkovic 7-5, 5-7, 6-3 at Eastbourne on Monday.
The unseeded Williams carries a number 32 world ranking after last competing on January 21 in the Australian Open third round, when she had to quit after one game against the German due to an abdominal injury.
Along with her sister Serena -- out for the past year following her 2010 Wimbledon title due to a cut foot and blood clot issues in her lungs -- Venus is making a low-key warm-up for Wimbledon, which starts in a week.
"It was definitely an adventure today: the conditions, falling down every other point," said Williams.
"(It was great) just coming back from such a long layoff, competing against someone who has been playing so well in the last 12 months.
"There was definitely a lot going on out there, but I was extremely excited to come back with a win."
The world number 11 German salvaged the second set to level the match after clawing back a break from Williams, only for the American to raise her game in the third set to secure a comeback victory in two hours and 35 minutes.
"It was very interesting when I drew her," said Williams, who last played Eastborne 13 years ago. "It was a tough match for her, because I'm kind of a floater right now.
"Normally she would probably get through the first round. That was a little bit of bad luck for her, but for me it was a great opportunity.
"It felt fitting in a way, very ironic - but a great way to start it all off."
Williams next plays the winner of the match between German Julia Goerges and former world number one Ana Ivanovic of Serbia at an event featuring seven of the WTA top 10.
Photos by Getty Images
Source AFP
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(PHOTOS) Glam.Set.Match! Mel B And Jay Sean Play Sony Ericsson Open Celebrity Exhibition Match
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Mel B joined singer Jay Sean and tennis pros Novak Djokovic and Ana Ivanovic for the kickoff event of the 2010 Sony Ericsson Open, 'Glam.Set.Match!'(Photos by Getty Images)
Singer Jay Sean
Ana Ivanovic and Mel B
Benji B
(L-R) Ana Ivanovic, Jay Sean, Mel B and Novak Djokovic
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Sloane Stephens and Shenay Perry Qualify For BNP Paribas Open Main Draw
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Twelve women, including Americans Shenay Perry and Sloane Stephens, booked their places in the main draw of the BNP Paribas Open after winning their second-round qualifying matches on Tuesday at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.
Perry went the distance against Chinese Taipei’s Chang Kai-Chen, withstanding 16 aces off her opponent’s racquet to earn a 4-6, 7-6(4), 7-6(2) win in two hours and 15 minutes. The 25-year-old Perry, currently ranked No. 103, will be making her fourth appearance in the main draw. She made her best showing in 2006, when she reached the third round before falling to Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic.
Sixteen-year-old Stephens, a wild card entry in the qualification draw, cruised past Spaniard Arantxa Parra Santonja 6-1, 6-3. The 623rd-ranked Stephens is making her debut at the BNP Paribas Open. She enjoyed success in juniors last year, reaching the semi-finals at Roland Garros and the quarter-finals at Wimbledon.
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