2013/05/22

Serena Williams Powers Past Cornet in Brisbane

SerenaWilliamsIstanbul

(January 1, 2013) Serena Williams nailed six aces in sailing  past Alize Cornet of France 6-2, 6-2 on Tuesday at the Brisbane International.

Williams dominated with her power rocking one of her aces at 124 mph (200 kilometers per hour).

“I just really went for it. I’ve hit 200 before, but they never go in so I was really excited that it went in,” Williams said. “I tried to be more aggressive.

Williams has lost once in her last 34 tour matches.

Maria Sharapova withdrew from the tournament still nursing a right collarbone injury, while seeds Petra Kvitova and Sara Errani were upset. With the defeats of Kvitova, and Errani, the tournament has lost five of its top ten seeds.

“This tournament was a really tough draw, everybody’s playing,” 2011 Brisbane winner Kvitova told media. “After the offseason, it’s hard to be on the court against some opponents.”

BRISBANE INTERNATIONAL
Brisbane, Australia
December 30, 2012-January 5, 2013
Hard/Outdoors

Results – January 1, 2013

WTA Singles – Second Round
(3) Serena Williams (USA) d. Alizé Cornet (FRA) 62 62
Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) d. (5) Sara Errani (ITA) 46 61 75
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) d. (6) Petra Kvitova (CZE) 64 75
(Q) Ksenia Pervak (KAZ) d. Urszula Radwanska (POL) 36 62 76(6) (saved 4mp)

WTA Doubles – First Round
(1) Errani/Vinci (ITA/ITA) d. Jurak/Marosi (CRO/HUN) 62 64
(2) Huber/Martínez Sánchez (USA/ESP) d. Birnerova/Hradecka (CZE/CZE) 63 63
(4) Groenefeld/Peschke (GER/CZE) d. Cibulkova/Llagostera Vives (SVK/ESP) 16 64 108 (Match TB)
(WC) Gajdosova/Rogowska (AUS/AUS) d. Grandin/Uhlirova (RSA/CZE) 64 62

 

ATP Singles – First Round
[7] J Melzer (AUT) d [Q] D Kudla (USA) 26 64 64
D Istomin (UZB) d [8] M Klizan (SVK) 61 62
[Q] J Millman (AUS) d T Ito (JPN) 64 61
[WC] L Hewitt (AUS) d [LL] I Kunitsyn (RUS) 63 46 62
T Robredo (ESP) d [Q] R Harrison (USA) 64 76(4)
A Falla (COL) d [Q] J Levine (USA) 61 76(8)
D Goffin (BEL) d [WC] M Ebden (AUS) 62 62
G Dimitrov (BUL) d B Baker (USA) 63 76(8)

ATP Doubles – First Round
M Baghdatis (CYP) / J Nieminen (FIN) d [3] J Cabal (COL) / R Farah (COL) 63 63
A Falla (COL) / S Giraldo (COL) d F Mayer (GER) / F Moser (GER) 63 76(5)
M Melo (BRA) / T Robredo (ESP) d [WC] M Ebden (AUS) / M Matosevic (AUS) 64 63

SCHEDULE – WEDNESDAY,  JANUARY 2, 2013

PAT RAFTER ARENA start 11:30 am
[Q] M Puig (PUR) vs [4] A Kerber (GER) – WTA
[WC] J Gajdosova (AUS) vs [LL] L Tsurenko (UKR) – WTA
[6] F Mayer (GER) vs M Baghdatis (CYP) – ATP

Not Before 7:00 PM
[1] V Azarenka (BLR) vs S Lisicki (GER) – WTA
[4] A Dolgopolov (UKR) vs J Nieminen (FIN) – ATP

SHOW COURT 1 start 11:00 am
D Hantuchova (SVK) / K Srebotnik (SLO) vs A Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) / L Safarova (CZE) – WTA
S Stephens (USA) vs S Arvidsson (SWE) – WTA
A Falla (COL) vs [3] G Simon (FRA) – ATP
T Robredo (ESP) vs [5] K Nishikori (JPN) – ATP
B Mattek-Sands (USA) / S Mirza (IND) vs [2] L Huber (USA) / M Martinez Sanchez (ESP) – WTA

SHOW COURT 2 start 11:00 am
[4] A Groenefeld (GER) / K Peschke (CZE) vs A Amanmuradova (UZB) / V King (USA) – WTA
D Goffin (BEL) / G Muller (LUX) vs [2] C Fleming (GBR) / J Murray (GBR) – ATP
[1] E Butorac (USA) / P Hanley (AUS) vs J Melzer (AUT) / M Raonic (CAN) – ATP
B Baker (USA) / R Harrison (USA) vs O Rochus (BEL) / R Stepanek (CZE) – ATP

 

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Team Nominations Announced for 2012 Fed Cup Final

(October 24, 2012) The ITF has announced the team nominations for the 2012 Fed Cup World Group Final between Czech Republic and Serbia at the O2 Arena in Prague on November 3-4.

Four of the nominated players, Ana Ivanovic, Jelena Jankovic, Petra Kvitova and Lucie Safarova, are also in contention for the last Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Heart Award of 2012. Voting will continue on the official Fed Cup website, www.fedcup.com and www.fedcup.com/es, until Friday 26 October, and the winner will be announced at the draw for the Final on Friday 2 November.

The Fed Cup website will provide comprehensive coverage of the Final, featuring live scoring, reports, blogs, photographs, audio interviews, podcasts and live streaming.

Fed Cup by BNP Paribas is the largest annual international team competition in women’s sport, with 85 nations taking part in 2012. The event will celebrate its 50th birthday in 2013.

WORLD GROUP FINAL

CZECH REPUBLIC v SERBIA

Venue: O2 Arena, Prague (hard – indoors)

Czech Republic

Petra Kvitova

Lucie Safarova

Lucie Hradecka

Andrea Hlavackova

Captain: Petr Pala

Serbia

Ana Ivanovic

Jelena Jankovic

Bojana Jovanovski

Aleksandra Krunic

Captain: Dejan Vranes

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Kvitova Withdraws From Istanbul Replaced by Stosur

Defending WTA Championships title holder Petra Kvitova has withdrawn from Istanbul with a viral illness. She is replaced in the draw by first alternate Samantha Stosur.

“Yesterday when I played I thought that it’s nerves, but normally nerves are gone after first set,” Kvitova told media.  “It was actually during all the match, so I thought that it’s something wrong.  That’s why I have to pulled out.

“I mean, I never withdraw from a tournament.  This first time for me, so I don’t really experience this kind of press conferences.

“Yeah, I mean, I don’t like to give up, so I’m feeling really disappointing.  I hope that Sam (Stosur) will win some matches for me.”

Kvitova is scheduled to play for the Czech Republic in the Fed Cup final against Serbia in Prague.

“I try my best to be ready for the Fed Cup, Kvitova said.  “It’s final at home and I would like to ‑‑ I really want to play in front of our crowd, my family and friends, and try to win the Fed Cup title again.

“So I will try my best to be ready for the weekend.

Stosur on joining the TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships Istanbul field: “I came to Istanbul straight from Moscow where I played on Sunday, so I got here late, so obviously it is a little bit strange to come here straight after playing a tournament as an alternate and now get a chance to play in the Championships. Obviously, it’s never good when a player pulls out, but I will make the best of the opportunity and look forward to playing tomorrow. I am at Championships for the third time and really happy to be here in Istanbul.”

With Kvitova’s withdrawal, if Maria Sharapova wins her match on Wednesday, she will move on to the semifinals. Stosur still has a chance to advance to semifinals but would need to win both of her round robin matches, depending on other round-robin results.

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Serena Williams Dusts Off Rust to Polish Off Kerber in Istanbul

(October 23, 2012) Serena Williams defeated Angelique Kerber 6-4, 6-1 in her first match since capturing the US Open title in September at the WTA Championships in Istanbul Turkey on Tuesday in round-robin play.

 

The match stayed close in the first set until 3-3, when Williams captured 9 of the next 11 games to seal the victory.

Williams who has won 27 of her last 28 matches since capturing the Wimbledon crown, avenged her only loss which was to Kerber in Cincinnati.

“Honestly, you know, you don’t really think about it too much ‑ at least I don’t, “Williams told media.  “Obviously I go into the match ‑‑ what I do is go into the match more focused thinking, Okay, she’s beaten me before so she’s going to be a little confident and feel like she can beat me.  What can I do to improve?”

“I felt like I was ready to play,” Serena said of her layoff since the US Open.  “I felt like I practiced too much, and if I hit another practice ball I’m going to go nuts.

“So I just really wanted a match.  I was glad I played first on the first day.  I was like, if I have another practice day, you know, I don’t know if I can handle it.”

Angelique Kerber

“She plays today very well from the beginning, Kerber said. “Like I say, I was a little bit nervous in the beginning.  I mean, I was just trying to find my game and to play aggressive.  I make maybe a little bit more mistakes in the important moment than she.”

“I mean, it was not easy, the match.  And playing here first round against Serena, it was very tough match and also a very tough fight for me.

“But I think I ‑‑ yeah, I mean, she played very well and I was just trying to be there.  I think I do everything I could today.  But I mean, I’m still here.  Tomorrow it’s a next match and I can still qualify.  So I will just, yeah, take the good things from today.

“I mean, I was a little bit nervous in the beginning.  It’s my first time here, Serena is a big champion, and I think she had a lot more confidence today.  So I think that was also the thing.

“But, yeah, I was feeling actually that I can play also consistent on the top level.  Well done to her today.  Tomorrow is the next day, next match, and we will see.”

For Kerber who is at a career high of No. 5, this is her first appearance at the WTA Championships. Williams was asked if she remembered her first time: “No, I don’t,” Williams said.  “I think it was back in the 1800s.”

“I could feel that she was really excited all week long,” Williams said of Kerber. “She’s really happy to be here and feels honored to be here.  She deserves to be here because she worked hard and has been one of the most consistent players constantly on the tour. I think ten semifinals is really pretty impressive, and winning titles as well.

“I think she definitely was excited, and she will have a lot more chances to play at this event.”

Williams will face Li Na on Wednesday in “Red Group” play.

 

“It’ll be interesting, and definitely a tough match,” Williams said. “She’s been playing really well.  Obviously to make it here you have to be playing well.

So I look forward to it.  It will not be easy, but I don’t think any match in this tournament is easy.

“So you have to be ready.”

TEB BNP PARIBAS WTA CHAMPIONSHIPS – ISTANBUL 2012
Istanbul, Turkey
October 23-28, 2012
$4,900,000/SEC
Hard/Indoors

Results – Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Round Robin – Red Group
(3) Serena Williams (USA) d. (5) Angelique Kerber (GER) 64 61

Round Robin – White Group
(2) Maria Sharapova (RUS) d. (7) Sara Errani (ITA) 63 62
(4) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) d. (6) Petra Kvitova (CZE) 63 62

Order Of Play – Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Stadium (from 17.00hrs)
1. Serena Williams vs. Li Na
2. Victoria Azarenka vs. Angelique Kerber
3. Maria Sharapova vs. Agnieszka Radwanska

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Steady Radwanska Notches First Win Over Kvitova in Istanbul

 

(October 23, 2012) No. 4 Agnieszka Radwanska defeated defending WTA Championships titleholder No. 6 Petra Kvitova 6-3, 6-2 to open round-robin play in the “White Group” in Istanbul on Tuesday.

Radwanska won the first seven points of the match and rushed out to a 3-0 lead in the first set. Kvitova broke to get the match back on serve, but was broken again at 3-4 and the Pole held to close out the first set 6-3.

In the second set the Czech Kvitova was broken in her first two service games, broke back once but never got back into the set.

“For sure was a little bit up and down, especially with the serve,” said Radwanska.  “Was a lot of breaks.  I think she didn’t really use her serve like was really always her big weapon.

“I think today she wasn’t serving that good, that’s why I could really break her a couple of times in the set.  I think it was the key for me in that match.  But, you know, the first match is always tough.  I think we all might play different the next matches.”

This was Radwanska’s first victory over Kvitova (1-4) and she talked about what she did differently this time around.

“I saw the statistic before the match and I thought it would be nice to change,” the Pole said of her losing record against the Czech.

“But it’s always tough, especially for the first match.  Every week is different surface, especially here.  It’s really hard to adjust.

“Just very happy that I could play really my best tennis today and close that match in two sets.

Radwanska liked the court conditions: “It’s actually slow, slower than the usual hard court, so for sure it was a good move that I was here a little bit earlier and trying to adjust to that surface for couple of days before.

I think was the good move.”

She’s very smart and she knows what I will play, Kvitova said of her opponent.  “She knows which side I will choose.  That’s why I think she’s reading the game very well.

“I mean, she’s really dangerous player because you never know if she’s playing slice or dropshot or she can just play on the line or the cross.”

Kvitova, who committed 41 errors in the match admitted she was nervous:

“I was nervous all the match.  I felt my fingers weren’t still moving and I didn’t move on my legs.

“I’m disappointing in myself.  I had a lot of errors and it wasn’t good tennis from my side.

“Yeah, but still, I mean, it’s the Championships and I have a second chance.”

For Kvitova the loss snapped her 25-match indoor win streak and it was her first loss at the Year-End Championships for her career – she went undefeated in 2011.

TEB BNP PARIBAS WTA CHAMPIONSHIPS – ISTANBUL 2012
Istanbul, Turkey
October 23-28, 2012
$4,900,000/SEC
Hard/Indoors

Results – Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Round Robin – Red Group
(3) Serena Williams (USA) d. (5) Angelique Kerber (GER) 64 61

Round Robin – White Group
(2) Maria Sharapova (RUS) d. (7) Sara Errani (ITA) 63 62
(4) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) d. (6) Petra Kvitova (CZE) 63 62

Order Of Play – Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Stadium (from 17.00hrs)
1. Serena Williams vs. Li Na
2. Victoria Azarenka vs. Angelique Kerber
3. Maria Sharapova vs. Agnieszka Radwanska

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Draws Made for TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships

(L-R) Li Na of China, Angelique Kerber of Germany, Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic, Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, Maria Sharapova of Russia, Serena Williams of USA, Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland and Sara Errani of Italy pose for the official photo of the TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships – Istanbul (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images for WTA).

ISTANBUL (October 21, 2012) – The draws have been made for the TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships. The draw ceremony was held this evening at the Ciragan Palace Kempinski in Istanbul, Turkey.

Tuesday’s Order of Play

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Stadium (from 17.00hrs)
1. Agnieszka Radwanska vs. Petra Kvitova
2. Serena Williams vs. Angelique Kerber
3. Maria Sharapova vs. Sara Errani

The draw:
RED GROUP
(1) Victoria Azarenka (BLR)
(3) Serena Williams (USA)
(5) Angelique Kerber (GER)
(8) Li Na (CHN)

WHITE GROUP
(2) Maria Sharapova (RUS)
(4) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL)
(6) Petra Kvitova (CZE)
(7) Sara Errani (ITA)

RED GROUP: Azarenka, Williams, Kerber, Li…

(1) Victoria Azarenka (BLR)
~ ’12 Titles: 6 – Sydney, Australian Open, Doha, Indian Wells, Beijing, Linz
~ Best Grand Slam result in 2012: Won Australian Open
~ Fall record: 13-0 (and 26-0 in sets)
~ H2H vs group: 1-10 vs Williams, 2-0 vs Kerber, 4-4 vs Li
~ Quote: “Every match here will be tough - I obviously have great champions in the group. It’s challenging, definitely, but I’m looking forward to it.”

(3) Serena Williams (USA)
~ ’12 Titles: 6 - Charleston, Madrid, Wimbledon, Stanford, Olympics, US Open
~ Best Grand Slam result in 2012: Won Wimbledon & US Open
~ Fall record: 0-0
~ H2H vs group: 10-1 vs Azarenka, 1-1 vs Kerber, 5-1 vs Li
~ Quote: “I don’t really care who I play or when I play, as long as I can play. I’m really happy to be here. I’m on the red side with Victoria, so it’ll be good.”

(5) Angelique Kerber (GER)
~ ’12 Titles: 2 – Paris [Indoors], Copenhagen
~ Best Grand Slam result in 2012: SFs at Wimbledon
~ Fall record: 4-2
~ H2H vs group: 0-2 vs Azarenka, 1-1 vs Williams, 1-5 vs Li
~ Quote: “It doesn’t matter which group you’re in, it’s not easy - we’re the best eight players, and every match will be hard. But it’s an honor for me to be here. I’ll enjoy every match. It’s a bonus after such a great year. When I started this year I wasn’t thinking about No.5 or being here, so this is a great highlight.”

(8) Li Na (CHN)
~ ’12 Titles: 1 – Cincinnati
~ Best Grand Slam result in 2012: 4r at Australian Open & French Open
~ Fall record: 5-2
~ H2H vs group: 4-4 vs Azarenka, 1-5 vs Williams, 5-1 vs Kerber
~ Quote: “It doesn’t matter which group you’re in, everyone’s tough. Only the Top 8 players play this tournament. It’s a good challenge for yourself.”

WHITE GROUP: Sharapova, Radwanska, Kvitova, Errani…

(2) Maria Sharapova (RUS)
~ ’12 Titles: 3 – Stuttgart, Rome, French Open
~ Best Grand Slam result in 2012: Won French Open
~ Fall record: 7-2
~ H2H vs group: 7-2 vs Radwanska, 4-2 vs Kvitova, 1-0 vs Errani
~ Quote: “When you’re coming here you pretty much know what you’re going to get in terms of the level of the group. With the field we have, I think every match, no matter what group you’re in, will be pretty tough from the get go.”

(4) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL)
~ ’12 Titles: 3 – Dubai, Miami, Brussels
~ Best Grand Slam result in 2012: R-Up at Wimbledon
~ Fall record: 6-2
~ H2H vs group: 2-7 vs Sharapova, 0-3 vs Kvitova, 5-1 vs Errani
~ Quote: “It’s the eight best players in the world, so there’s no easy group and no easy match – but I’ll have a good couple of matches, I hope.”

(6) Petra Kvitova (CZE)
~ ’12 Titles: 2 – Montréal, New Haven
~ Best Grand Slam result in 2012: SFs at Australian Open & French Open
~ Fall record: 1-2
~ H2H vs group: 2-4 vs Sharapova, 3-0 vs Radwanska, 3-0 vs Errani
~ Quote: “You can’t choose who can be in your group. All eight players are great players who have had a great season. I’ll try my best. I remember the great support I got last year. I’m looking forward to being on the court again.”

(7) Sara Errani (ITA)
~ ’12 Titles: 4 – Acapulco, Barcelona, Budapest, Palermo
~ Best Grand Slam result in 2012: R-Up at French Open
~ Fall record: 2-2
~ H2H vs group: 0-1 vs Sharapova, 1-5 vs Radwanska, 0-3 vs Kvitova
~ Quote: “Of course it’s a tough group – both groups are tough, and the players are strong. We will see how it goes. I’ll just try to play my best game, singles and doubles – it’s amazing for me to be here.”

 

Statistics provided by the WTA

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Year-End WTA Championship on ESPN3, ESPN2

From ESPN: The coveted year-end top ranking in the WTA will be on the line when Victoria Azarenka, the current No. 1, and No. 2 Maria Sharapova lead the field of the top eight women’s tennis players in the world in Istanbul, Turkey, for the round-robin TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships on ESPN3 and ESPN2 beginning Tuesday, Oct. 23. ESPN3 will present 22 live hours from the Sinan Erdem Arena with coverage daily through the championship Sunday, Oct. 28. The final match will be aired on ESPN2 on a short delay at 2 p.m. ET with Patrick McEnroe and Jimmy Arias on the call.

 

The eight players will play in a round-robin format leading to the semifinals – the top two players in each half – and culminated with the championship. The players, in order of current ranking: Azarenka, 2004 champion Sharapova, two-time winner Serena Williams, Agnieszka Radwanska, Angelique Kerber, defending champion Petra Kvitova, Sara Errani and Li Na.

 

ESPN3 will present two matches per day from the round-robin action Tuesday, Oct. 23 – Friday, Oct. 26, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. The semifinals will be shown Saturday, Oct. 27 at 8 a.m. with the championship on ESPN3 and ESPN2 Sunday, Oct. 28 at 11 a.m.

 

The year-end No. 1 ranking will be decided between Azarenka and Sharapova. Azarenka, who has won four of five meetings against Sharapova in 2012, enters the event as No. 1, having held that ranking for all but four weeks since beating Sharapova in the Australian Open final in January. Sharapova held the top spot for one month following her French Open title.

In addition, ESPN3 will present 58 live hours of men’s play from the ATP Swiss Indoors Basel from Switzerland, and the ATP Valencia Open 500 in Valencia, Spain, including the championship of both events from Tuesday, Oct. 23 – Sunday, Oct. 28. In Basel, hometown hero Roger Federer won the event for a fifth time last year and will have to contend with Andy Murray and Juan Martin Del Potro. The field in Spain is topped by David Ferrer, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Janko Tipsarevic and John Isner.

 

ESPN3 delivers thousands of global sports events annually and accessible online at WatchESPN.com, on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app and through ESPN on Xbox LIVE to Gold members. It is currently available to 73 million homes at no additional cost to fans who receive their high-speed Internet connection or video subscription from an affiliated service provider. For fans who receive ESPN’s linear networks as part of their video subscription via Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks, Verizon FiOS TV or Comcast Xfinity TV, WatchESPN will provide live complete coverage from ESPN2 at WatchESPN.com and through the WatchESPN app on smartphones and tablets, in addition to ESPN3’s multi-screen offering.

 

WTA Tennis This Week on ESPN Networks

Date Time (ET) Match
Tue, Oct 23 – Fri Oct 26 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. WTA Championships Round Robin Action ESPN3
Sat, Oct 27 8 a.m. – Noon WTA Championships Semifinals ESPN3
Sun, Oct 28 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.2 – 4 p.m. WTA Championships FinalWTA Championships Final (tape delayed) ESPN3ESPN2

 

ATP Tennis This Week on ESPN Networks

Date Time (ET) Match
Tue, Oct 23 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. ATP Swiss Indoors Basel ESPN3
Wed, Oct 24 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. ATP Swiss Indoors Basel ESPN3
Thur, Oct 25 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. ATP Valencia 500 ESPN3
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. ATP Swiss Indoors Basel ESPN3
Fri, Oct 26 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. ATP Valencia 500 Quarterfinals ESPN3
8 a.m. – 4 p.m. ATP Swiss Indoors Basel Quarterfinals ESPN3
Sat, Oct 27 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. ATP Swiss Indoors Basel Semifinals ESPN3
10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. ATP Valencia 500 Semifinal #1 ESPN3
2 – 4:30 p.m. ATP Valencia 500 Semifinal #2 ESPN3
Sun, Oct 28 9 a.m. – Noon ATP Swiss Indoors Basel Championship ESPN3
11 a.m. – 2 p.m. ATP Valencia 500 Championship ESPN3
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Ivanovic, Jankovic, Kvitova and Safarova up for Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Heart Award

The ITF announced on Monday that Petra Kvitova (CZE), Lucie Safarova (CZE), Ana Ivanovic (SRB) and Jelena Jankovic (SRB) have been shortlisted for the last Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Heart Award of 2012. All four players competed in the World Group semifinals in April and helped their nation reach the Final, which will see Czech Republic defend its title against Serbia at the O2 Arena in Prague on 3-4 November.

 

 

The players were shortlisted by the Heart Award judging panel, consisting of ITF President Francesco Ricci Bitti and a mixture of former players and members of the international media. A public vote, running on 8-26 October, is being held on FedCup.com and FedCup.com/es to decide the winner, who will receive a cheque for $10,000 to be donated to her chosen charity. The winner will be announced in Prague during the lead-up to the Final.

 

The Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Heart Award is a joint initiative between BNP Paribas and the ITF. It aims to recognise players who have represented their country with distinction, shown exceptional courage on court and demonstrated outstanding commitment to their team. A total of five Heart Awards are being presented in 2012. Earlier in the year, Daniela Hantuchova (SVK), Sofia Arvidsson (SWE), Catalina Castano (COL) and Li Na (CHN) were all recognised.

 

Kvitova and Jankovic are both bidding to become the first player to win two Heart Awards, having received the honour in 2011 and 2010 respectively.

 

ITF President Francesco Ricci Bitti said: “All four players have shown great commitment to their countries in recent years, and deserve their place in the 2012 Fed Cup Final. Their passion and dedication embodies the spirit of the competition, and I would like to congratulate all of them for being nominated for this Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Heart Award.”

 

To cast your vote, visit the Fed Cup website.

Petra Kvitova (CZE)

The Czech No. 1 underlined her reputation as the indoor queen with another sterling performance to help her country reach back-to-back finals. The big-hitting Kvitova took out Sara Errani and Francesca Schiavone to continue her 10-match winning streak in Fed Cup.

 

Lucie Safarova

Lucie Safarova (CZE)

Safarova caused arguably the biggest upset of the 2012 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas semifinals when she stunned Francesca Schiavone on the first day to set up her teammate, Kvitova, to ensure her team’s place in next month’s showpiece.

 

Ana Ivanovic (SRB)

The elegant Serbian is a former world No. 1 and during April’s semifinal against Russia the 24-year-old was back to her very best. Ivanovic rebounded from an opening day loss to Svetlana Kuznetsova by admirably contending with the pressure of a passionate Russian crowd to overcome Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 36 60 63 in the first of the reverse singles rubbers on Saturday.

Jelena Jankovic (SRB)

Jankovic was instrumental in sealing Serbia’s place in its first Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Final. The former world No. 1, who holds the record for the most Fed Cup singles victories for Serbia, won both her singles matches against Russia, including the decisive third point against Svetlana Kuznetsova.

 

Judging panel

 

Francesco Ricci Bitti (ITA), ITF President

Sabine Appelmans (BEL), former Fed Cup player/captain

Mercedes Paz (ARG), former Fed Cup player

Craig Gabriel (AUS), international journalist

Sandra Harwitt (USA), international journalist

Corinne Dubreuil (FRA), international photographer

Ray Giubilo (ITA), international photographer

 

2012 winners

 

To be presented at the final World Group semifinals

Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) World Group / World Group II first round

Catalina Castano (COL) Americas Zone Group I

Li Na (CHN) Asia/Oceania Zone Group I

Sofia Arvidsson (SWE) Europe/Africa Zone Group I

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Li Na Clinches Final Singles Spot at WTA Championships

China’s Li Na has secured the eighth and final singles place at this year’s TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships, which will be staged at the Sinan Erdem Arena in Istanbul, Turkey. The WTA’s year-end finale, to be held from October 23-28, will feature the world’s top eight singles players and top four doubles teams, competing for the coveted title and a share of $4.9 million in prize money.

 

For the first time in the WTA Championships’ 42 year history, each player in the singles draw will represent a different country: Victoria Azarenka (Belarus), Maria Sharapova (Russia), Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland), Serena Williams (United States), Angelique Kerber (Germany), Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic), Sara Errani (Italy) and Li Na (China).

 

“I would like to congratulate Li Na on qualifying for the TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships-Istanbul for the second successive year, which is an amazing accomplishment,” said Stacey Allaster, WTA Chairman and CEO. “She is one of the WTA’s most popular players and will proudly represent her country, as she continues to inspire a generation of players in China. I am also thrilled that for the first time in the history of our Championships, the singles field will feature players from all different countries, which underscores the incredible global reach of our sport and athletes.”

 

“In the last two years, I have played the best tennis of my career and I am excited to return to the TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships again this year,” Li said after defeating Radwanska in the quarterfinals at Beijing.

 

One of five Grand Slam singles champions to compete in the Istanbul, Li won 10 matches in 11 days during the US Open Series to win the sixth WTA singles title of her career at the Western & Southern Open (Cincinnati) and finish runner-up at Rogers Cup (Montréal). The 30-year-old also advanced to the final at the Apia International Sydney and Internazionali BNL d’Italia (Rome) and was a four-time quarterfinalist at BNP Paribas Open (Indian Wells), Sony Open Tennis (Miami), Porsche Tennis Grand Prix (Stuttgart) and Mutua Madrid Open.

 

Li made her Championships debut at Istanbul last year, where she bowed out in the round-robin stages.

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Kvitova Qualifies for WTA Championships

Petra Kvitova photo courtesy of Getty Images

No. 5 Petra Kvitova  qualified for the TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships – Istanbul 2012. Angelique Kerber and Sara Errani  were also named as qualifying for the year-end on Thursday. Victoria Azarenka, Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams and Agniezska Radwanska had qualified earlier in the year.

Kivtova became only the third woman to win the event in her debut in 2011 following in the footsteps of Serena Williams in 2001 and Sharapova in 2004.

“I am very proud of Petra, ” said Kvitova’s coach David Kotyza.  “She is always trying to be better, every day, sometimes with success and sometimes not. But it doesn’t matter, after her unbelievable 2011, there are a lot of people around her who take the success as a norm, but it is not possible. She is well grounded, but she is still very young and needs time to progress further. For now, she needs time to recover from her stomach illness in Beijing and then we will start preparing for indoors, Istanbul and Fed Cup. It means we will concentrate mostly on her indoor fundamentals, serve, return, aggressive play from the baseline with transition shots. We are looking forward to it and believe we can achieve a positive end to the season.”

Kvitova who lost early in Beijing due to a stomach bug is  going home to recover. It takes some time as I don’t have any energy so I will be careful,” Kvitova said. 

She’s excited about qualifying for the year-end.

“It is really satisfying, ” said the 2011 Wimbledon winner.  “I think after last season, which was unbelievable for me, it is great satisfaction to be at the Championships again. It means a lot to me. It means that I had a solid season despite the injuries, with some great results, and was able to back up last year.”

Kvitova added: “Mostly I look forward to the matches: every match will be a big fight against great players. I’m also looking forward to playing in front of the great Turkish crowd, so many people came to watch us last year and I hope it will be the same. I remember from last year what a great event it was.”

In addition to Istanbul, Kvitova will be leading the Czech Republic in the Fed Cup final versus Serbia to be played in Prague November 3-4.

“I enjoy this time of season, indoors, the Championships and then of course the Fed Cup Final, ” Kvitova said. “This year I qualified for the Championships without winning a Grand Slam, and it’s great to be there again for confidence going into 2013. I still have a lot to improve.”

 

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