With the start of main draw action at the 2015 Brisbane International Tennis being just one day away, Saturday was all about preparation for the tournament’s marquee players.
Among them was last year’s finalist Victoria Azarenka, the Belorussian spent an extended time out on Queensland Tennis Centre’s practice courts, hitting with Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro.
Having been sidelined for most of the 2014 season due to a foot injury, the two-time Australian Open champion recently dropped out of the Top 40 and will start her quest to make up the lost ground in Brisbane.
While some of her opponents were putting in the hours on the practice courts, top seed Maria Sharapova met the media, discussing her new year’s resolutions and her off-season activities with the press.
Sharapova’s press conference had a very light-hearted moment, as one journalist asked the Russian about her upcoming Davis Cup duties, of course referring to Sharapova’s Fed Cup participation in February.
It wasn’t all fun & games out on the courts though, as the second round of qualifying wrapped up on Saturday, leaving eight players that will duel for the four main draw spots tomorrow.
One player that won’t be in the final round of qualifying tomorrow is Kimiko Date-Krumm. The Japanese WTA legend lost her Q2 match to reigning Australian Open juniors singles & doubles champion Elizaveta Kulichkova 6-4 6-0, failing to win a single game in the second set.
Sunday will be a very busy day at the 2015 Brisbane International with both the qualifying finals and the start of main draw play scheduled. Furthermore, Pat Rafter Arena will be the scene of the tournament’s annual kids day, an event that is a favorite with fans, players & media alike.
Needless to say, Women’s Tennis Blog will take you right to the action all week so keep checking back for more from Brisbane!
It is time to start the season. We didn’t have too much break this year but more is better:)
Tennis Island, I hope that the break was long enough for the players.