2013/05/23

Sharapova Extends Clay Court Winning Streak to 23

MariaSharapova2012Madrid

By Tumaini Carayol

(May 9, 2013) Up first on Central Court, Maria Sharapova continued her undisputed reign on the red dirt with a hard-fought straight  sets victory over Sabine Lisicki 6-2, 7-5.

Despite the one-sided first set scoreline, the reigning French Open, Stuttgart and Rome champion found herself deep in battle from the beginning as Lisicki showered her with numerous booming forehand winners. Countless lengthy deuce-riddled games followed as the pair went blow for blow, but the Russian’s far superior mental strength proved the difference as she triumphed on the vast majority of important points and strolled through.

After dropping the first set, a sense of calm fell over Lisicki as she settled into the match, complimenting her booming forehand winners with well-executed touch around the court. Early in set two, a variety of deft forehand angles, dropshots and impressive net forays were enough to throw Sharapova off-balance, allowing Lisicki to secure a 3-1 break lead, a thorn into Sharapova her pursuit for the one big clay title currently missing from her resume.

Predictably, Sharapova immediately broke back as the intensity of the battle increased rose dramatically. The pair traded service holds until, with Sharapova serving to stay in the set at 4-5, Lisicki sensed the opportunity. She pounced, and quickly found herself up a double set point. The 26 year-old’s focus immediately catapulted into overdrive as she knocked aside the possibility of a looming third set before breaking after a lengthy game at 5-5. Before long, the victory was the Russian’s and her red clay streak had stretched to 23.

Afterwards, Sharapova was satisfied with her victory.

“She’s the kind of opponent that plays extremely well against top players. I think you can see that from her results. She always takes the top players quite far, and she beat me last year at Wimbledon.

“So, yeah, I was quite happy to turn around that victory going into the Olympics. This was our first meeting on clay, so that was a little bit different.

“But overall I think it’s about keeping my intensity as much as I can. Obviously if you can be on the court for over three hours, maybe you’re not going to play with intensity every single point, but the more that you do the better chances you have of winning.

SerenaWilliamsMadridOpen51212-600x400

Sharapova was quickly joined in the quarterfinals by top-seeded Serena Williams who, after a sluggish start, produced her best display of the tournament as she steamrolled through 12-seeded Maria Kirilenko in an uneventful 6-3 6-1 demolition. Williams was typically understated in her review of her performance.

“I think it was okay. I haven’t had a chance to talk about it after with my team, but I will. Like you said, I am a perfectionist. I always try to look for things that I know I can do better. When we get together I will see what I can do better.”

Tumaini Carayol is in Madrid covering the Madrid Open for Tennis Panorama News. He is a contributing writer at On The Baseline, and writes about professional tennis at his site Foot Fault. Follow his tournament updates on @TennisNewsTPN and his personal twitter @TumCarayol.

 

Share
Filed Under: Contributors, Features, Front Page News, news conference, tennis news, tournament coverage, tournaments Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Checking in with the Germans at Family Circle Cup

 

By Stephanie Neppl

(April 3, 2013) CHARLESTON, SC – A talented German contingency is in Charleston for the 2013 Family Circle Cup, but it has been a mixed week for its top stars.

 

A year ago, four Germans were in the top 20: Andrea Petkovic (11), Sabine Lisicki (13), Julia Goerges (15) and Angelique Kerber (16). Mona Barthel was also on the upswing and was ranked No. 36. Fast forward a year, and Petkovic is out of the top 100 due to injury, Goerges and Lisicki have seen their form and rankings dip, and Kerber found herself the highest ranked German and cracked the top 5 in 2012.

 

Rankings – April 2, 2012                             Rankings – April 1, 2013

11 – Andrea Petkovic                                             6 – Angelique Kerber

13 – Sabine Lisicki                                                 29 – Mona Barthel

15 – Julia Goerges                                                 30 – Julia Goerges

16 – Angelique Kerber                                            41- Sabine Lisicki

36 – Mona Barthel                                                  139 – Andrea Petkovic

 

All but Kerber played in Charleston this week, with mixed results thus far. Barthel and Lisicki were upset early, while Goerges and Petkovic have each survived two rounds. Here’s a look at how the German quartet are looking at the start of the clay season.

AndreaPetkovicCalrsbad3

ANDREA PETKOVIC

In August 2011, Petkovic become the sixth German to ever crack the WTA Top 10 but injury after injury came her way in 2012 and she dealt with a lower back injury and ankle injury last year. Petkovic returned to the tour again in late 2012 at the Hopman Cup and suffered another injury, this time a rupture of the medial meniscus. She started on the comeback trail again at Indian Wells this year, and her ranking has dipped to No. 137 due to her many absences.

 

She was handed a wildcard for the Family Circle Cup, and she’s put it to good use with two wins, first over fellow wildcard Taylor Townsend of the US, and another over American Vania King. She next faces 2011 Family Circle Cup champ Caroline Wozniacki. The pair have faced each other three times, with the Dane leading 2-1, including a win on their only match on the clay.

 

Wozniacki said Petkovic is a dangerous opponent. “Petkovic is a good player.  She has been very unlucky with her injuries and she is obviously a player that does play on a very high level.” The two will kick off the day session at 11am Thursday.

Julia-Goerges-Tennis-Panorama-News-Carlsbad

JULIA GOERGES

Goerges’ two career titles are both on clay (Bad Gastein in 2010 and Stuttgart in 2011) but her 2012 season saw her go 5-5 on the dirt and she’ll be looking to improve that record. On Wednesday in Charleston, Goerges managed to come back after dropping a bagel set to Olga Govortsova to advance to the third round. She’ll next face Stephanie Voegele of Switzerland, who upset No. 7 seed Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain in the second round. Goerges said she was pleased to get the win despite not playing her best. “It’s good when you get tested right away on the clay,” she said. “It’s good to have those wins under your belt and when you’re not always playing your best and winning it’s a good feeling.” Goerges and Voegele are second on Althea Gibson Court on Thursday.

 

Sabine Lisicki

Sabine Lisicki

SABINE LISICKI

Sabine Lisicki has also had her share of injuries and illness, and her ranking has dropped from #13 a year ago to its current No. 41. Lisicki made the final in Memphis in February, but retired from the match with illness after dropping the first set to Marina Erakovic of New Zealand. Lisicki loves the green clay of Charleston and it’s where she captured her biggest title back in 2009. In her first match on Tuesday, Lisicki double bageled Anna Tatishvili in just 41 minutes. Today she was a heavy favorite to beat Mallory Burdette of the US, who is ranked #99 but the Georgian pulled out the upset 3-6, 7-6, 7-5 to advance to a contest against Serena Williams.

 

Mona Barthel photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images AsiaPac

Mona Barthel photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images AsiaPac

MONA BARTHEL

Barthel is actually the lone member of the group to have a title in 2013 and the win in Paris is the biggest of her career. Barthel also finished runner-up in Hobart and she has had wins over top 10 players Sara Errani, Angelique Kerber and Marion Bartoli. She’s now the second highest ranked German, with a current ranking of No. 29. She faced the US’ Jessica Pegula in the second round on Tuesday, but the 8th seed was upset 7-6 (4), 6-1.

 

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.

Share
Filed Under: Contributors, Features, Front Page News, interviews, tennis news, tournament coverage, tournaments Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Kirilenko Rallies to Capture Pattaya Open

 

Kirilenko

(February 3, 2013) No. 2 seed Maria Kirilenko of Russia captured the Pattaya Open on Sunday by rallying from a set down to beat Germany’s Sabine Lisicki 5-7, 6-1, 7-6 (1).

Lisicki was serving for the match at 6-5 in the third set when Kirilenko broke her serve at love and won 11 of the last 12 points to win the match.

 

“I feel great – to win a title is always special, but it’s even more pleasure when you win such a tough one,” Kirilenko said. “It was tough. Sabine played very well. I’m very happy to win this.”

 

“I hadn’t been in a final in a while, so even though it’s a tough one to lose, I still feel very good about my week,“ said Lisicki. “I played some good tennis here. I was working so hard in the off-season and it’s nice to see it’s already paying off, especially since we’re just at the start of the year.”

 

For the No. 15 ranked Kirilenko it’s her first WTA title since 2008, sixth title overall. Four of Kirilenko’s titles have come in Asia – Beijing (2005), Kolkata (2007), Seoul (2008) and Pattaya City (2013).

Kirilenko is projected to move up to No. 13 when the rankings are relaeased on Monday.

In the doubles final 42-year-old Kimiko Date-Krumm paired with Casey Dellacqua to capture their first doubles title together. It was Dellacqua’s first-ever doubles title.

Share
Filed Under: Front Page News, tennis news, tournament coverage, tournaments Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Kvitova Outmuscles Schiavone, Defending Champion Azarenka Progresses

Petra Kvitova

By Jaclyn Stacey

(January 15, 2013) MELBOURNE PARK, Australia – Eighth seed Petra Kvitova outmuscled 2010 Roland Garros champion Francesca Schiavone in a tough three set match on Margaret Court Arena in day two action at Australian Open 2013.

 

The mental strength of the 2011 Wimbledon champion showed as she overcame a flurry of unforced errors and a second set thumping to regain control in the third set and seal the match 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 in just over two hours.

 

Kvitova hit 42 unforced errors to Schiavone’s 23 and after the match said she was struggling to breath during much of the match.

 

“I have asthma so I had a little bit of trouble on court with my breathing on court but what’s important is that I came back.”

 

Schiavone saved a break point in the opening service game of the match to hold and lead 1-0. Kvitova didn’t need many more games to have another opportunity to break, taking her next opportunity in the fifth game to gain the advantage in the match 3-2. She broke Schiavone again in the seventh game to go up 5-2 and have the opportunity to serve out the set.

 

Schiavone fired up and broke Kvitova while she attempted to serve out the set. She then held to love to trail Kvitova 4-5.

 

Kvitova capitalized on her next chance to serve out the set, moving Schiavone out of the court and coming into the net to volley a forehand cross court to seal the first set 6-4.

 

In a second set reversal it was Kvitova that came under pressure early, saving a break point in her opening service game before the fighting spirit of Schiavone sealed a break point in the fourth game. Schiavone broke Kvitova another two times to level the match at one set a piece 4-6, 6-2.

 

The Italian struggled in her opening service game of the deciding set as Kvitova upped her intensity and determination to claim a break with a Schiavone double fault. She then held serve to go ahead 2-0 with a fist pump. Kvitova breaks again before the women swap breaks in the next three games before Kvitova manages to hold for 5-1. Schiavone holds her next service game and forces kvitova to serve for the match. She fires down a strong first serve on match point to seal the win 6-4, 2-6 6-2.

 

Kvitova increased her head-to-head lead over Schiavone to 4-1 on Tuesday. She says it is always difficult to play against the Italian.

 

“We played three times last year and it was always great tennis and a tough match and the last time we played was in Wimbledon and it was three sets so I expected the same, a big fight today and I was the lucky one in the end.”

 

On her slow start to the season where she lost in the second round in Brisbane and the first round in Sydney Kvitova says “It is always hard when you lose two times in a row and it is the beginning of the year but I had a great off season so I hope that the results will come.”

 

Elsewhere in Day two action at Melbourne Park world number one Victoria Azarenka defeated Romanian Monica Niculescu 6-1, 6-4 on Rod Laver Arena. The defending champion breezed through the first set dropping only one game before going down 0-3 at the beginning of the second set. She went on to break back and the set remained on serve until Azarenka was able to break in the eighth game and serve out the match. She next plays the winner of Eleni Danilidou and Karolina Pliskova.

 

Serena Williams played through a right ankle scare to completely dominate her opponent Edina Gallovits-Hall 6-0, 6-0 and progress through to the second round.

 

Two time grand slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova won through to the second round confidently defeating Spaniard Lourdes Dominguez Lino 6-2, 6-1 on show court three and will face Su-Wei Hsieh of Taipei in the second round.

 

Former world number one Caroline Wozniacki came back from a terrible first set defeat to overcome German Sabine Lisicki 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 on the first match on Hisense arena. Wozniacki will play Croat Donna Vekic in the second round on Thursday.

 

Hobart International winner Elena Vesnina had a tough opening round win over Caroline Garcia, losing the first set before recovering to win in three 3-6, 6-3, 6-1. Vesnina plays 21st seed Varvara Lepchenko in the second round who today defeated Polona Hercog in straight sets 6-4, 6-1.

 

For updated scores, draws and results visit AustralianOpen.com

Jaclyn Stacey is a Melbourne based freelance journalist covering the Australian Open tournament as media for Tennis Panorama News.  Follow her Australian Open updates on @TennisNewsTPN. Follow her personal twitter @JackattackAU.

Share
Filed Under: Contributors, Features, Front Page News, news conference, tennis news, tournament coverage, tournaments Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

An Olympic View from Court 1, Third Round

By Ros Satar

WIMBLEDON – It’s not quite the AELTC, is it?

It’s all very familiar but very different.

Where once was the comfortably subtle dark green and purple livery adorning the iconic front of Centre Court, there are angular and lively 2012 shapes and colors.

The Olympic tennis is being hosted at the All England Club, where just three and a half weeks ago, tennis fans saw an emotional Andy Murray let down his guard after Roger Federer won a record-equaling seventh title.

There are some things that are reassuringly the same.  The stoic sighs of the fans on Court 1 who take their seats in the rain.  The queues for food and drink (and yes you CAN get the SW19 drink of choice, but due to sponsorship and licensing, it cannot be referred to by a trade name)!

 

Roger Federer (Switzerland) def Denis Istomin (Uzbekistan) 7-5, 6-3

On Court 1, as the rain was spitting down, the players were brought out, including a reluctant looking Roger Federer, who was facing Denis Istomin, in the third round.

No sooner than they had sat down, the rain came down heavier, so off they went.

Play got underway around 45 minutes later, and although both players seemed to need time to find their range, Federer was soon away with a break, but did not have it all his own way, as Istomin clawed his way back, before another rain delay came.

As the resumption, Federer got the late break he wanted, taking the first set.  The second set started in much the same way, with Federer breaking Istomin in his first game.

This time there was no clawing back, although Istomin had played very well, and at times Federer had not looked as convincing as he did in the opening rounds of The Championships a few weeks ago.

 

Victoria Azarenka (Belarus) def Nadia Petrova (Russia) 7-6(6), 6-4

As the sun shone down, finally, on Court 1, these ladies slugged away at each other from the baseline.

Neither were giving ground, although every now and again Petrova would throw out a hefty kick serve which left Azarenka all at sea.

Petrova had the edge on Azarenka in the first set tiebreak, and it was only after saving the first set point against her that Azarenka suddenly stepped up a gear, fighting back and eventually winning the tiebreak.

Although Azarenka started the second set with the momentum with her, she was broken before the first change of ends, although Petrova made heavy work of consolidating the break.

Azarenka got the better of Petrova with a single break, and although Petrova challenged on match point, it was to no avail.

 

Maria Sharapova (Russia) def Sabine Lisicki (Germany) 6-7(8), 6-4, 6-3

It was almost a month ago to the day that Sabine Lisicki put paid to Maria Sharapova’s run to a consecutive Wimbledon final.

And it was like nothing had changed.

Neither was giving any leeway until the eighth game, when Lisicki stepped up her play and broke Sharapova.

However, a costly double fault sent her on the way to being broken straight back, to love.

The first set went to a see-saw tie break with Lisicki being let back in to the tiebreak that saw Sharapova edged out for the first set.

A single break margin saw Sharapova level the match and take things into a decider.

The third set started with two breaks of serve until things proceeded with serve as the clouds rolled in over the setting sun, and the light was fading.

Sharapova had the all-important break to lead 5-3 and serve out for the match.

David Ferrer and Kei Nishikori had been scheduled to finish up the day’s action but had been moved to Court 14, and then moved again to Centre Court to finish the action.

All in all, there are enough things familiar and heaven knows it was nice to spend some time in the sun, after such a rain-soaked Wimbledon.

But the volunteers sometimes enthusiastically let people in at non-change of ends pauses in matches, the ball boys and girls are maybe not as strictly drilled, and the numbers lines judges also seem to be pared down.

But for the most part the fans are reveling in a couple of weeks of extra tennis at SW19 and turn a bit of a blind eye to the different colors.

Ros Satar is a British Journalist- an IT Journalist by day, a Sports journalist part-time and her match observations can be found at the Chalkdust Chronicles (chalkdustchronicles.blogspot.com). Follow her on twitter at @rfsatar.

 

Share
Filed Under: Contributors, Features, Front Page News, tennis news, tournament coverage, tournaments Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Kerber wins All-German Battle to Gain Semis Berth

 

WIMBLEDON – In a quarterfinal battle between German women, No. 8 Angelique Kerber defeated No. 15 Sabine Lisicki 6-3, 6-7 (7), 7-5 on Tuesday at Wimbledon under the roof of Centre Court. Kerber reaches her first Wimbledon semifinal with the victory.

In the topsy-turvy match Kerber failed to take advantage of three match points in the second set.

“She played very well also in the important moments,” Kerber noted. “I had my chances.  I couldn’t take it in the second.  So, yeah, I mean, I think the challenge in the third set where I was serving, it was 4‑5, I think that was the change.  I think that saved my life in this match right now today.”

In the deciding set, Kerber opened with a break, but quickly fell behind. Lisicki was up 5-3 serving for the match when Kerber broke to stay in the match. Kerber then held and broke Lisicki again to win the match. Kerber won the last four games in the match.

“It was a very tough match,” Kerber said.  “I mean, I think everybody saw that it was a very tough fight for both of us.  And, I mean, I actually don’t know what to say right now because Sabine with playing also unbelievable in the third set.  She saved the match points in the second set.

“I was just with my mind a little bit in the final in Eastbourne where I lost with match points also.  So I think, yeah, it was a very tough, tough and important match for me.”

“It’s a great victory for me,” Kerber said.  It’s for sure one of my, yeah, best things in my career right now to be in the second semis at the Grand Slams.

“I mean, I will go out there Thursday and try my best.  Actually, I have nothing to lose right now.  I will just try to play good tennis and enjoy the second semi Grand Slam final for me.”

Share
Filed Under: Front Page News, news conference, tennis news, tournament coverage, tournaments Tagged With: , , ,

Lisicki’s Ray of Sunshine on Rainy Wimbledon

WIMBLEDON – Other than wash out days on the first two days of the Championships, the second Monday is probably the worst to be affected by rain.

With all the Round four matches on the schedule, only the women completed both halves of their draw.

Most Court 1 inhabitants were excited at the prospect of catching Andy  Murray here, when he might have reasonably been expected to play under the protection of the roof, away from the elements.

Sabine Lisicki would change all that defeating 2011 Wimbledon finalist and 2004 Champion Maria Sharapova 6-4, 6-3.

As Sharapova and Lisicki came on court, there was even a feeling of optimism that things were looking brighter.

Lisicki was placing serves well, hitting the ball back flat, at times driving Sharapova to her knees to absorb and send it back.

Lisicki said: “That’s my game, to serve well and be aggressive.  That’s what I did.  I think it worked well.”

The combination of solid serving, flat hitting with pace just seemed to leave Sharapova on the back foot.

That is not to say that Sharapova did not have her chances, clawing her way back from 2-5 down, to bringing things back on serve.

Sharapova said: “I had opportunities for it to be 5‑All.  Played a few sloppy points and she raised her level. “

The first set over, the players were taken off for the first rain break of the day and strangely Court 1 remained uncovered while others were being protected.

As the second set started, when they came back, Lisicki lost none of her aggression and drive and just pegged Sharapova back.

Sharapova said: “She came after the rain delay really firing.”

Lisicki is an engaging character acknowledging that French Open champions seem to come unstuck against her.

She sad: “I’ve beaten the French Open champion three times here.  In ’09 I beat Kuznetsova, last year Na Li, and this year Maria.  I guess they shouldn’t be in my part of the draw.”

She continued: “I think on grass you have to have a good serve.  It gives you a great advantage.  That’s what I have.

“I like to be aggressive in general, playing aggressive tennis, so I think that’s why grass suits me well.

“I like to move on it.  Also the atmosphere here at Wimbledon is just amazing.  You know, all the traditions make me feel very comfortable here. “

The crowd, dressed more for attending the Winter Olympics than a summer tennis tournament, warmed to someone who, on winning, could not make her mind whether to laugh, or cry.

As both players stopped to sign autographs as they left the court, the crowd stood to applaud her doing both.

It would be the only full match on Court 1.  Although Andy Murray and Marin Cilic started, the fine mist that had hovered throughout the day graduated to persistent drizzle.

Murray and Cilic will resume on Court 1, with Murray leading 7-5 3-1 0-40.

Mardy Fish leads Jo-Wilfred Tsonga 6-4, 1-1, 40-40.

Florian Mayer leads Richard Gasquet 6-3, 2-1. 15-15.

David Ferrer vs Juan Martin Del Potro and Brian Baker vs Philipp Kohlschrieber have yet to commence their Round 4 matches.

Ros Satar is a British Journalist- an IT journalist by day, and a sports journalist in all the gaps in between. She is the co-founder of Britwatch Sports (britwatchsports.com). Follow her on twitter at @rfsatar.

 

 

Share
Filed Under: Features, Front Page News, news conference, tennis news, tournament coverage, tournaments Tagged With: , , , ,

Lisicki upsets Sharapova, Kerber Clobbers Clijsters

Sabine Lisicki

WIMBLEDON -  No Wimbledon title for Maria Sharapova this year.  The current No. 1 who will lose her top ranking next week was dominated by Germany’s Sabine Liscki 6-4, 6-3 in a fourth round encounter on Monday.

“Yeah, certainly had chances,” Sharapova said. “I didn’t take them.  But I think I a lot of the credit goes to my opponent.  She played extremely well today and did many things better than I did on this given day.  You just have to hand it to her.”

“She did many things much better than I did today,” said the Russian.  “Of course, could have done things differently, absolutely, but not on this particular day.”

“I felt great,” said a beaming Lisicki.  “I had a great practice yesterday evening and felt good this morning.  As soon as I stepped on the court I also felt like I’m playing very well, so, you know, I was feeling very confident ‑ even though I lost the first game.

“I just missed a couple of points here and there, but overall I just felt very good and confident.”

 

The German continued: “Well, I felt very good even in the start of the first set already.  I felt like I’m hitting the balls very clean.  I’m doing what I’m supposed to do.  When I took the first set, it obviously gives you another lift, more confidence.

“Well, I knew as soon as I got the break in the second set, I knew I’m going to take it home.”

Lisicki has performed the unique feat of beating the reigning French Open champion at three Wimbledons – 2009 Svetlana Kuznetsova, 2011 Li Na and now Sharapova.

“It feels amazing,” said the German. “I mean, she won the French Open.  Actually, that’s a good omen for me, because I’ve beaten the French Open champion three times here.  In ’09 I beat Kuznetsova, last year Na Li, and this year Maria.  I guess they shouldn’t be in my part of the draw.”

 

“I enjoy the sport.  I just love playing tennis and I love being out there, especially at my favorite tournament.

“So, you know, I just have fun out there.  I mean, I know I missed the shot by a little, but I was going for the right one, so there’s nothing to be mad about.”

 

In her final Wimbledon match a soon-to-be retired Kim Clijsters was destroyed 6-1, 6-1 by Lisicki’s countrywoman Angelique Kerber.

“I know that actually maybe her last Wimbledon, but I was going out there and know before the match that I need to play very good to beat her,” said Kerber.

“I think I do a good job today, so, I mean, I’m very happy to be in the quarters right now.”

“I just had the feeling that there was absolutely nothing I could have done today to have won that match, said Clijsters. You know, I just felt, like, my opponent was better on every level.  You know, that’s all I was thinking about.

“I won’t be sorry about anything, Clijsters on her impending retirement at the end of the year.  “I mean, I know that every time that I’ve played here I’ve given my best, and that’s the only thing that I can try.  You know, some days it’s good, some days it’s great, and some days it’s not good enough.

“And that’s something that I’ll never regret.  I’ll never say that I didn’t work hard enough or I didn’t practice hard enough.

“So I don’t think I’ll feel sorry about anything when I leave.”

Clijsters spoke about her special memories at Wimbledon: It obviously all started I think from when I was a youngster, being at home even before I was a junior watching Wimbledon during summer holidays from Belgium, watching it on TV.  You just kind of felt the magic coming through the television, I think.  So that was kind of my first connection with Wimbledon.

“And then as I got older, when I was able to be here for the first time as a junior, it was just very special.  I mean, I think the first year that I played here, I was here just to take it all in.  I don’t even think I was here to play tennis.  I needed to just open my eyes and look at everything.

“It’s so new.  It was such, you know, an amazing thing.  It was like to me this was like Disneyland to another child.  So it was such a beautiful thing.

“So, yeah, I think the next year or the year after I was able to make the finals here in juniors, and that was a very special moment.  I was able to go to the championship ball.  Won doubles here.

“So I have a lot of good memories, a lot of special memories also emotionally with my family and my with my dad.  Yeah, it’s a nice place to go back to every year.

Kerber will play Lisicki in an all-German battle for a semifinal spot.

“I mean, for sure it will not be easy match against Sabine, said Kerber.  “She beat Maria today.  I know she play very well on grass.

“I mean, I said before the tournament I will look round to round, and now she is the next round.  It’s good for Germans to have two players in the quarters and one of us in the semis.

“So, I mean, it will be a good match, I think, and I will try just to focus on me and try to do my thing on the court.  We will see who will win the match.”

 

Share
Filed Under: Features, Front Page News, news conference, tennis news, tournament coverage, tournaments Tagged With: , , , , ,

On the Green Carpet – Photos from the BNP Paribas Open Players’ Party

 

INDIAN WELLS, California (March 8, 2012) – The BNP Paribas Open held their players’ party at the IW club on Thursday night. Driving up to the “Green Carpet” in classic cars included the likes of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Victoria Azarenka, Petra Kvitova, Andy Murray, Ana Ivanovic, Jo-Wilfred Tsonga, John Isner, Agnieszka Radwanska, Jelena Jankovic, David Ferrer, Feliciano Lopez and a host of others.

Photos by Curt Janka and Jennifer Knapp.  Follow Tennis Panorama News’ BNP Paribas Open coverage here an on our twitter @TennisNewsTPN.

 

Share
Filed Under: Events, Features, Front Page News, tennis news, tournament coverage, tournaments Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Sharapova Battles Past Lisicki

MELBOURNE PARK, Australia – No. 4 Maria Sharapova of Russia had to regroup after dropping six games in a row to lose the first set to defeat Germany’s Sabine Lisicki 3-6 6-2, 6-3 to make the Australian Open quarterfinals on Monday night.

“Well, the first three games were good,” said Sharapova, “then it went south for a bit, and then I got it together in the second.  The third was a battle.  No doubt, she played some really good tennis.  I think the level was pretty high.  You know, she had some opportunities and some breakpoints.  You know, I came up with a good couple of second serves, you know, won that game, and felt pretty confident after that.

“Yeah, obviously a few ups and down, but really happy to be through and a step further than last year.

“Well, she’s a really solid player.  She has a big game.  Big weapons.  Serves really well.  You know, started returning well, but that wasn’t working for me.  Got that back.  But, you know, returning’s obviously really important against her.”

“Yeah, I think I didn’t start too well, said Lisicki.  But then I just hung in there.  I kept fighting.  You know, I’m hitting the ball pretty well, so I knew I can do some damage with that.  I was obviously running pretty well, moving well.

“So, yeah, I thought it was a very good game.  Unfortunately she made some great serves in the third set when I had breakpoints.  Not much I could do there at that moment.  She served right on the line.

“But I kept fighting till the very last point, and unfortunately it wasn’t enough today.”

One of the pivotal  points of the match came when Lisicki was serving at 2-3 in the third set.

“I think it was quite important, but also the game at 2‑3 where she broke me,” said Lisicki.

“It was very close, you know, the entire match.  When the match is that close, really every single point counts at that moment.

“I mean, one year ago I was in the quallies here.  Now I was so close to beating one of the best players in the world.  So I’m taking lots of positive things out of here, you know, keep building on it.”

Two games before Sharapova  held off five break points in a 13 minute game to take a 2-1 lead.

“During a match, there’s so many emotions,”said Sharapova.  “Sometimes I’m sure it’s almost like you look angry in a way.  In the end of the match it’s more happiness and just joy, the fact that you won.  I mean, whenever I win, it’s more like just a really, really happy feeling.

“I don’t know.  I mean, you work towards winning those types of matches ‑ tough or easy ‑ and it gives you a good satisfaction when that match point ends and you’re the champion.

“It is for many athletes.  But when you’re in the moment, I’m very competitive, so when I fist pump, it’s more like, All right, I won this but we still have many more to go so I’m not celebrating that much yet.”

Sharapova will meet countrywoman Ekaterina Makarova  for a spot in the semifinals. Makarova upset Serena Williams 6-2, 6-3.

 

Karen Pestaina for Tennis Panorama News

Share
Filed Under: Front Page News, tennis news, tournament coverage, tournaments Tagged With: , ,
«Older Posts