2013/05/25

Kiwi/Aussie Showdown Next at the Family Circle Cup

 

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By Stephanie Neppl

(April 2, 2013) CHARLESTON, SC – Marina Erakovic is the lone New Zealand tennis player ranked in either the top 100 of the WTA or ATP tours.

The 24-year old Kiwi ended New Zealand’s drought of tournament wins in February this year when she won the Memphis hard court title. She became the first Kiwi with a tournament win on the WTA Tour since 1989, the year after she was born.

“You know, it was a great week for me,” Erakovic said. “It was something that I had on my to do list for quite sometime and I achieved a goal of mine, so I was just very happy. I’ve just got to keep working and maybe try and get some more titles.”

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On Tuesday at the Family Circle Cup in Charleston, Erakovic took on former top 5 player Daniela Hantuchova on the Althea Gibson Court. Based in rankings it wasn’t an upset, but Hantuchova is a WTA tour veteran whose year end ranking has been in the top 32 every year since 2002. Currently ranked 75, the Slovak broke serve to start the match but Erakovic, ranked 65, played a better tiebreak to take the first set 7-6 (2). The Kiwi got the early break in the second and held on to win 7-6 (2) 6-4.

Erakovic said she thought both players were nervous at the start. “I felt like I managed a good tiebreak that first set to take that first set and then in the second I got an early break and I managed to just maintain that lead. So overall, a good day.”

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In 2012, Erakovic advanced to the third round, where she lost to Serena Williams in her first visit to Charleston and she’s happy to be back at the Family Circle Cup.

“I really like Charleston. The first time I played was last year and so I just enjoyed the whole atmosphere,” she said. “The people here are just super, super nice and friendly so they just make you feel right at home.”

Next up for Erakovic is Australia’s Sam Stosur, the Family Circle Cup champion in 2010.

“Sam is one of the best players out there at the moment and actually our games are sort of very similar,” Erakovic said. “I have never played her on the clay so that will be a new one and I’ve just got to do my thing, play my game and stay positive.”

Erakovic will team up with American Jessica Pegula in the doubles draw. The alternate team replaced the injured Anabel Medina Garrigues and her partner Hantuchova after the Spaniard withdrew from both the singles and doubles events due to a right knee injury she sustained at the end of her match yesterday.

Stephanie Neppl is in Charleston covering the Family Circle Cup for Tennis Panorama News. She spends all her spare funds traveling to tennis tournaments and has played since her teen years. She has worked as Social Media Manager for Tennis Auckland’s ATP and WTA tournaments. Follow her live updates on Twitter at @TennisNewsTPN. Follow her personal Twitter @stephintheus and her blog  http://ihaveatennisaddiction.blogspot.com.

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Charleston – Monday Results, Tuesday Schedule

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FAMILY CIRCLE CUP – CHARLESTON, SC, USA
$ 795,707.00
MARCH 30 – APRIL 07, 2013

RESULTS – APRIL 01, 2013
Women’s
Singles – First Round
[11] S Cirstea (ROU) d T Malek (GER) 64 76(5)
[12] V Lepchenko (USA) d C Mchale (USA) 63 46 62
[Q] G Min (USA) d [13] T Paszek (AUT) 63 00 Retired
C Giorgi (ITA) d M Minella (LUX) 64 64
[Q] M Burdette (USA) d K Mladenovic (FRA) 61 16 60
A Medina Garrigues (ESP) d A Rus (NED) 62 62
[WC] B Mattek-Sands (USA) d A Rodionova (AUS) 64 67(4) 76(3)
M Johansson (FRA) d M Czink (HUN) 57 63 75
M Puig (PUR) d A Hlavackova (CZE) 64 60
[Q] J Pegula (USA) d G Muguruza (ESP) 67(2) 64 75
[Q] C Garcia (FRA) d C Scheepers (RSA) 76(6) 64
[Q] E Bouchard (CAN) d [Q] N Burnett (ITA) 62 63
S Voegele (SUI) d [Q] T Pereira (BRA) 46 62 64
O Govortsova (BLR) d J Hampton (USA) 64 67(3) 64
[WC] A Petkovic (GER) d [WC] T Townsend (USA) 63 60
S Soler-Espinosa (ESP) d F Schiavone (ITA) 36 64 76(6)

ORDER OF PLAY – TUESDAY, APRIL 02, 2013
BILLIE JEAN KING start 10:00 am
A Tatishvili (GEO) vs [15] S Lisicki (GER)
M Oudin (USA) vs [9] J Jankovic (SRB)
[1] S Williams (USA) vs C Giorgi (ITA)
[8] M Barthel (GER) vs [Q] J Pegula (USA)

Not Before 7:00 PM
[4] S Stephens (USA) vs [WC] B Mattek-Sands (USA)
M Moulton-Levy (USA) / S Zhang (CHN) vs [WC] J Alawi (BUL) / D Kanakova (CZE)

ALTHEA GIBSON start 10:00 am
D Hantuchova (SVK) vs M Erakovic (NZL)
A Cadantu (ROU) vs M Keys (USA)
[16] L Robson (GBR) vs E Cabeza Candela (ESP)
[12] V Lepchenko (USA) vs M Johansson (FRA)
K Mladenovic (FRA) / L Safarova (CZE) vs [WC] J Jankovic (SRB) / A Petkovic (GER)

COURT 3 start 10:00 am
[14] Y Shvedova (KAZ) vs [Q] V King (USA)
Y Putintseva (KAZ) vs [10] J Goerges (GER)

Not Before 2:00 PM
[7] C Suarez Navarro (ESP) vs S Voegele (SUI)

Not Before 3:30 PM
[11] S Cirstea (ROU) vs A Medina Garrigues (ESP)

COURT 4 start 12:00 noon
R Oprandi (SUI) vs M Lucic-Baroni (CRO)
H Chan (TPE) / O Govortsova (BLR) vs L Dekmeijere (LAT) / T Malek (GER)

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Venus and EleVen Aim to Shine in Charleston

CNote and Venus EleVen Exo

By Stephanie Neppl

(April 1, 2013) CHARELSTON, SC – Venus Williams is ready to return to the place which was instrumental in her qualifying mission for last year’s London Olympics. A year ago, Williams hadn’t played much due to her Sjögren’s syndrome and she was ranked No. 87 when she stepped on the Har-Tru courts in Charleston.

 

She made the quarters in 2012, losing to Sam Stosur in a three-set battle. From then she successfully improved her ranking, made the Olympic team and walked away with her fourth gold medal, her third doubles gold with little sister Serena.

 

Venus recalled the battle and says revisiting each of the tournaments which helped her achieve Olympic Gold last year reminds her of her triumphs.

 

“I fought very hard to get back to where I was – back to the top 20,” she said. “For me last year the triumph wasn’t winning the tournament or anything like that, it was just any accomplishment was a triumph.”

 

Venus admits that battling back from being ranked No. 134 in the world to No. 24 “was one of the toughest and amazing and most exhilarating things I’ve ever done in my life.”

 

Despite withdrawing from her second round match in Miami last month due to a back injury, Venus says she is happy to be back and ready to play.

 

“I really wanted to be here,” Venus said. “I love this tournament and I have really great memories from here last year.”

 

Also appearing on the courts in Charleston is Venus’ clothing line EleVen.

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Monday night in Charleston, Venus and her EleVen brand were featured in an exhibition match on Althea Gibson Club Court. She was joined on court by her Washington Kastles teammate Arina Rodionova, Tennis Channel’s Danielle Dotzenrod and Sports Illustrated contributing writer Courtney Nguyen, all dressed in the EleVen attire. Several local Charleston women also got the chance to play doubles in a World Team Tennis style exhibition, also dressed in EleVen.

 

Venus said the EleVen line is going well. “We’re good. We’re small. But we’re growing and I think that’s the best way is to grow strategically and it’s great because more than anything people really like the clothes and that’s more than half the battle.”

 

Venus was all smiles during the relaxed exhibition and gets one more day off before playing Monica Puig of Puerto Rico on Wednesday.

 

Stephanie Neppl is in Charleston covering the Family Circle Cup for Tennis Panorama News. She spends all her spare funds traveling to tennis tournaments and has played since her teen years. She has worked as Social Media Manager for Tennis Auckland’s ATP and WTA tournaments. Follow her live updates on Twitter at @TennisNewsTPN. Follow her personal Twitter @stephintheus and her blog  http://ihaveatennisaddiction.blogspot.com.

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Serena Williams Returns to the Family Circle Cup

 Serena Day 2 Press Conference
By Stephanie Neppl

(April 1, 2013) CHARLESTON, SC – Two-time champ and defending champion Serena Williams leads a stellar field for the 2013 Family Circle Cup in Charleston this week. Coming off a record sixth title in Miami, there’s no time for the world No. 1 to rest as she kick starts her clay season on the green clay.

Last year’s Charleston win kick started a stellar 12 months for Williams, which saw her win two slams, two Olympics gold medals and the year-end championships plus retain the number one ranking.

Williams said her semis and final last year here were amazing. She dropped just two games against Sam Stosur in the semis before winning the final 6-0,  6-1 against Lucie Safarova. “I really don’t know if I’ve played better, ever. Hopefully I can kind of rekindle some of that fire,” she said.

When discussing her Miami win, Williams said she was happy she was able to solve problems on her own when she was down, and commented that on-court coaching is not for her.

“I don’t do it so much,” she said. “For me I like to solve problems and I think in Miami I solved a lot of problems. I was down in several matches and I was able to solve and figure it out on my own.”

Although Williams doesn’t use the on-court coaching, she says she definitely notices when other players do. “I do think about it and I think like ‘OK, ha I’m in now’ so it makes me feel good,” she said.

Williams will launch her 2013 Family Circle Cup against Camila Giorgi of Italy during Tuesday’s day session.

2011 champion Caroline Wozniacki and 2010 winner Sam Stosur are the 2nd and 3rd seeds, with Sloane Stephens as the 4th seed.

Stephanie Neppl is in Charleston covering the Family Circle Cup for Tennis Panorama News. She spends all her spare funds traveling to tennis tournaments and has played since her teen years. She has worked as Social Media Manager for Tennis Auckland’s ATP and WTA tournaments. Follow her live updates on Twitter at @TennisNewsTPN. Follow her personal Twitter @stephintheus and her blog  http://ihaveatennisaddiction.blogspot.com.

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Family Circle Cup Player Field Complete

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DANIEL ISLAND, S.C.- The 2013 Family Circle Cup singles player field is officially complete for the 41st tournament, March 30th – April 7th. The main draw contains players from 28 countries, and is highlighted by five former Cup champions including Serena Williams (2008 & 2012), Samantha Stosur (2010), Venus Williams (2004), Jelena Jankovic (2007) and Sabine Lisicki (2009).

Main Draw Player Field:

Serena Williams – USA
Sara Errani – Italy
Samantha Stosur – Australia
Sloane Stephens – USA
Lucie Safarova – Czech Republic
Venus Williams - USA
Jelena Jankovic – Serbia
Julia Goerges – Germany
Varvara Lepchenko- USA
Tamira Paszek – Austria
Mona Barthel – Germany
Carla Suarez Navarro – Spain
Sorana Cirstea – Romania
Elena Vesnina – Russia
Yaroslava Shvedova – Kazakhstan
Sabine Lisicki – Germany
Heather Watson – Great Britain
Kaia Kanepi – Estonia
Laura Robson – Great Britain
Christina McHale – USA
Francesca Schiavone – Italy
Lucie Hradecka – Czech Republic
Lourdes Dominguez Lino – Spain
Anna Tatishvili – Georgia
Kristina Mladenovic – France
Romina Oprandi – Switzerland
Chanelle Scheepers – Russia
Anabel Medina Garrigues – Spain
Marina Erakovic – New Zealand
Jamie Hampton – USA
Olga Govortsova – Belarus
Andrea Hlavackova – Czech Republic
Arantxa Rus – Netherlands
Daniela Hantuchova – Slovakia
Petra Cetkovska – Czech Republic
Madison Keys – USA
Pauline Parmentier – France
Camila Giorgi – Italy
Polona Hercog – Slovenia
Mathilde Johansson – France
Melanie Oudin – USA
Silvia Soler-Espinosa – Spain
Ksenia Pervak – Kazakhstan

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Sloane Stephens Joins Charleston Field

Sloane Stephens

(February 19, 2013) Sloane Stephens, World No. 16, has committed to the 2013 Family Circle Cup, March 30th – April 7th in Charleston, SC.
Stephens recently had a major career breakthrough at the 2013 Australian Open when she upset World No. 1 Serena Williams in the quarterfinals, becoming the youngest American to ever defeat Williams.

“After watching Sloane perform so well in the Australian Open, we are excited to see her game continue to mature at the Cup,” said Eleanor Adams, Tournament Manager. “The fans love watching her play, so Charleston could be a place for her to really shine.”
The 2013 Family Circle Cup will mark Stephens’ third appearance in Charleston.

“I’ve put a lot of hard work in over the past year and it’s starting to pay off,” said Stephens. “I’m looking forward to returning to the Family Circle Cup as it’s our first clay court tournament of the year. Charleston is a beautiful city with great tennis fans”

She made it to the third round of the 2011 and 2012 US Open, the third round of the 2012 Wimbledon Championships, the fourth round of the 2012 French Open and the semifinals of the 2013 Australian Open.
She joins Williams, Samantha Stosur, Venus Wiliams, Sara Errani and Mona Barthel in a world-class player field assembling in Charleston for the Family Circle Cup, featuring three of the world’s top 10 players.

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Errani and Barthel Join Charleston Field

Sara Errani2

(February 7, 2013) DANIEL ISLAND, S.C. – Sara Errani, World No. 7, and Mona Barthel, World No. 28, have committed to the 2013 Family Circle Cup, March 30th – April 7th in Charleston, SC.

The two recently met last Sunday, in the Paris Open final, where Errani, and Barthel battled it out in a tight two-setter. Unseeded, 22-year-old Barthel upset top-seed, 25-year-old Errani 7-5, 7-6(4) to win the Open GDF Suez.

“We are excited to announce Errani and Barhtel to the tournament line up, especially on the heels of their impressive performances in Paris,” said Eleanor Adams, Tournament Manager. “We can’t wait to see if the two face off again on our stadium court.”

The 2013 Family Circle Cup will mark Barthel’s first time competing in Charleston and Errani’s second, after losing in the 2nd round of the tournament in 2008.

“I look forward to returning to Charleston, and advancing further in the tournament than I did during my first visit five years ago,” said Errani. “My game has matured a lot since then and I’m happy to return to the Family Circle Cup.”

A native of Italy, Errani, had her breakthrough season in 2012, where she reached the quarterfinals, in singles, and finals, in doubles, at the Australian Open. The same year, she reached the finals of the French Open, in singles, and won its doubles title. She also appeared in the singles semi-finals at the US Open before capturing its doubles win.

Known as a clay court specialist, Errani has earned six WTA singles titles and 18 doubles titles.

Barthel, who is fairly new to the WTA, qualified for the 2011 French Open where she won her first Grand Slam main-draw match. At 2012’s Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, she recorded her first victory against a top-10 player by defeating World No.7, Marion Bartoli.

Barthel has captured two WTA singles and five ITF titles. After winning this Sunday’s Open GDF SUEZ, she reached her highest WTA ranking of 28.

Errani and Barthel join Serena Williams, Samantha Stosur and Venus Williams in a world-class player field assembling in Charleston for the Family Circle Cup, now featuring three of the world’s top 10 players.

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Serena Williams Commits to Charleston

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DANIEL ISLAND, S.C. – 2012 Family Circle Cup champion, Serena Williams, will return to Charleston for the 41st Family Circle Cup, March 30th – April 7th, 2013, to defend her title.

 

World No. 2, Serena Williams joins Samantha Stosur and sister, Venus Williams, in a world-class player field assembling in Charleston.

 

“It’s always exciting to have a past champion return to defend her title,” said Eleanor Adams, Tournament Manager. “And when that champion is Serena Williams, one of the most famous athletes in the world – we know our fans will be excited. Serena plays well in Charleston, and we’re looking forward to welcoming her back for a sixth time.”

 

Undeniably talented, Williams, the 18-year tennis veteran, has made her mark on the sport. With 47 WTA single titles, 15 Grand Slam single titles, 13 Grand Slam doubles titles and 724 total career wins, Williams has earned herself more prize money than any other female tennis player in history.

 

Williams has made six previous appearances in Charleston where she boasts a 17-4 record, and returns to this event with an active ten-match win streak in progress, stemming from her 2008 and 2012 Cup wins.

 

“The Family Circle Cup is one of my favorite tournaments to play on the WTA Tour,” said Williams. “I love the great fans, the tournament history and everything Charleston has to offer on and off the court. I’m definitely looking forward to defending my title there this spring.”

 

In 2012, Williams won her first tournament of the year in Charleston at the Family Circle Cup, and then went on to win Madrid, Wimbledon, Stanford, the Olympics, the US Open and the WTA Championships.

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Venus Williams To Play 2013 Family Circle Cup

(November 27, 2012) DANIEL ISLAND, S.C. – Venus Williams, former World No. 1 and 2004 Cup Champion, has officially entered the 2013 Family Circle Cup. Williams joins World No. 9, Samantha Stosur, in the player field assembling on Daniel Island. The 41st Family Circle Cup will be contested March 30th – April 7th, 2013 at the Family Circle Tennis Center.

“Venus is a tennis superstar with adoring fans and passion for the game, which makes it so exciting to watch her compete,” said Eleanor Adams, Family Circle Cup Tournament Manager. “I know our fans at the Cup are eager to have her return again in 2013.”

Williams is currently ranked No. 24.

“I’m thrilled to return again to the Family Circle Cup,” said Williams. “2013 will mark my sixth time competing in Charleston. It’s a tournament that feels like home to me, and one that I always look forward to playing in.”

In her five previous appearances in Charleston, Williams has accumulated an impressive 14-4 record. In 2012, she made it to the quarter-finals with a win over Anastasia Rodionova, but lost to Samantha Stosur. Williams is one of five women to win the Cup in a debut appearance.

 

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Stosur Commits to 2013 Family Circle Cup

DANIEL ISLAND, S.C. – Samantha Stosur, World No. 9 on the WTA Tour, has become the first player to commit to the 2013 Family Circle Cup, March 30th – April 7th, 2013.

 

The 2013 tournament will become Stosur’s seventh appearance at the Family Circle Cup. She won the Family Circle Cup singles title in 2010, defeating Vera Zvonareva 6-1, 6-3, in just 52 minutes. Stosur also holds the doubles title for 2006 with Lisa Raymond.

“I’m excited to return to the Family Circle Cup again this year,” said Stosur. “It’s one of my favorite tournaments and whenever I get the chance to play in Charleston, I always look forward to it.”

The 28-year-old top-ranked Australian has notched more than 390 career singles victories, been ranked as high as World No. 4 and amassed total career earnings of $11,291,537. Most notably, Stosur won the 2011 US Open.

“The Family Circle Cup is thrilled to welcome Sam back for the seventh time,” said Eleanor Adams, Family Circle Cup Tournament Director. “She is a fan favorite here in Charleston, and as a Top 10 player, a true force in the WTA.”

 

In August, Stosur was asked by TennisIDENTITY what tournament she most enjoys outside of the Grand Slams. In which she responded, “One that always stands out is Charleston. I love playing there. It’s just a really nice club and everybody in that town seems to really get behind the tennis and the stands are full from first rounds to the final…I actually think it’s the longest running WTA event so they know what they’re doing and they treat us very nice and they’ve got some of the best restaurants I’ve ever been to in that town…”

 

For the first time in the Cup’s 41-year history, locals have the chance to Select-A-Seat for the tournament, on October 18th from 4pm – 8pm. This event gives an opportunity for locals to choose from the best seating inventory before it becomes available to the general public. For more information on Select-A-Seat, please visit https://www.facebook.com/events/380967868639959/.

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