Category: Petra Kvitova

JJ shines, shakes Wimbledon, shocks Kvitova

Post author By Marija
Post date July 4, 2015
3 Comments on JJ shines, shakes Wimbledon, shocks Kvitova

When Petra Kvitova wrapped up the first set against Jelena Jankovic in just 29 minutes and grabbed an early break in the second set, it seemed that the home crowd would not wait much for the following encounter on Centre Court featuring Andy Murray to start, but the former world number one from Serbia miraculously managed to rally from a set and 4-2 down to eliminate the defending champion on the first match point. Final score of this Wimbledon third-round match: 3-6 7-5 6-4.

Watch how JJ celebrated the spectacular victory, her first Top 10 win this season and only her second Top 5 win on grass out of the total of 21:

WATCH An emotional @jelena_jankovic celebrates her huge win over the defending champion #Wimbledon http://t.co/kc29u4q8p8

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 4, 2015

The second-ranked Kvitova suffered her earliest exit from Wimbledon since 2009.

Mutua Madrid Open Petra Kvitova Svetlana Kuznetsova

Kvitova dominates the Madrid final against Kuznetsova

Post author By Marija
Post date May 9, 2015
6 Comments on Kvitova dominates the Madrid final against Kuznetsova

In the match-up of two-time Grand Slam champions, who were despite that fact unlikely finalists, Petra Kvitova dominated Svetlana Kuznetsova to win the Mutua Madrid Open title with a 6-1 6-2 victory.

Judging by the period leading up to the Premier Mandatory tournament, neither Kuznetsova nor Kvitova were expected to turn out to be the last women standing in the Spanish capital, as the Czech had distanced herself from the tour for more than a month, as advised by her coach who realized she desperately needed a break, and after her recent return she recorded two match wins in the Fed Cup but lost her opener in Stuttgart, while Kuznetsova’s claycourt season began with a loss in Prague last week.

After becoming the first player to beat Serena Williams in 2015, the fourth-seeded Kvitova recorded 33 winners in just 66 minutes of the final Madrid encounter en route to clinching her 16th career title and second this year. Kuznetsova left disappointed: “I’m sorry the level wasn’t very high, but I promise to come next year and play better.”

Maria Sharapova Mutua Madrid Open Petra Kvitova Serena Williams Svetlana Kuznetsova

Shock! Shock! Kuznetsova stuns Sharapova, Kvitova knocks out Serena

Post author By Marija
Post date May 8, 2015
3 Comments on Shock! Shock! Kuznetsova stuns Sharapova, Kvitova knocks out Serena

Wow, the outcome of the Mutua Madrid Open semifinals is pretty stunning! Both world No.1 Serena Williams and defending champion Maria Sharapova are out! Losing with very straightforward scores! I mean, they didn’t lose to some unknown players, both their opponents are fellow Grand Slam champions, but still, Svetlana Kuznetsova has been out of the limelight for a long time, while Petra Kvitova recorded her first victory over the practically undefeatable Williams sister.

The first to make the final was the US Open and French Open champion Kuznetsova, who defeated Sharapova for the first time in seven years. The world No.29 Russian, once ranked No.2, saved the sole break point she faced against Sharapova and recorded a surprisingly dominant 6-2 6-4 win.

The second semifinal also offered a surprise, as Petra Kvitova ended the many winning streaks of top-seeded Serena Williams and also with a straightforward score, 6-2 6-3. Serena had won 19 straight matches in Madrid, 27 consecutive matches in general and 50 at Premier Mandatory tournaments, but the Czech went for winner after winner and showed the door to the queen.

No one expected that both Sharapova and Williams would fall in these semifinals, especially not with these scorelines! As for Kvitova’s record against Kuznetsova, she leads 3-1, but that one Kuznetsova’s victory was their last meeting, at the 2014 French Open. (photos: Jimmie48)

Barbora Strycova Karolina Pliskova Lucie Safarova Madison Keys Petra Kvitova Timea Bacsinszky Victoria Azarenka

Cash the Czech…and life lessons from Timea

Post author By David Fearnhead
Post date March 5, 2015
3 Comments on Cash the Czech…and life lessons from Timea

Our guest columnist, sportswriter and author David Fearnhead gives us the lowdown on the biggest movers in the WTA rankings for the beginning of March 2015, with focus on the Czech Republic’s historic success of having four players in the Top 20, and the lessons we can learn from the new Acapulco champion Timea Bacsinszky.

Lucie Safarova - DSC_8869 — Safarova leads this week’s Czech rankings rise

Lucie Safarova is the most notable mover on the latest WTA rankings. Whilst there is no change to the Top 10, the Czech leftie is up to 11th from 15th. Known for her striking, mascara-enhanced eyes, the attractive 28-year-old proved a doll-faced assassin in Doha by carrying her form from winning the Grand Slam doubles in Australia to singles triumph in Qatar.

Safarova beat an impressive path to the Doha final, putting aside Aussie Sam Stosur and then defeating Australian Open semifinalist and world No.9 Ekaterina Makarova. Andrea Petkovic, fresh from claiming a walkover title in Antwerp was downed in straight sets by the Czech, before her fellow Antwerp finalist Carla Suárez Navarro suffered a similar fate.

Going into the final Victoria Azarenka was favourite, having defeated Safarova in all six of their previous meetings, four of which were on hardcourt. Safarova had not won a tour singles final since her 2013 victory in Québec. That all changed in Doha with an impressive 6-4 6-3 win in the title match. Her reward was a healthy cheque of $124,000 and 470 ranking points.

Acapulco champion Timea Bacsinszky believed in the light at the end of the tunnel

Czech women’s tennis is breaking all kind of records. Having fielded nine players into the main draw at last year’s Wimbledon, four were still standing by the final 16. And now another record has gone. With Petra Kvitova holding firm at 4, Safarova up to 11, and Karolina Pliskova at 15, Barbora Zahlavova Strycova has become a record fourth Czech player into the Top 20, as she moves from 22 to 20.

American Madison Keys has also moved up a place to 18th in the world and Chinese Peng Shuai is up two places from 21st to 19th. Azarenka’s efforts have also been rewarded, as she attempts to regain her rightful place in the Top 10, moving ten places from 48 to 38.

And finally a very honourable mention to Timea Bacsinszky. The Swiss player is at a career-high of just outside the Top 30, moving from 37th to 31st place. The likeable 25-year-old has battled back from one of the worst career slumps in the sport. Struck down by a series of injuries, she’d dropped as low as 578 in the world by April 2012, and even contemplated hanging up her racket for good in 2013. Thankfully for tennis fans she rebuilt her team, and her game. Timea is proof positive that if you are prepared to fight for it, you can achieve it. (photos: Jimmie48)

Tags Timea Bacsinszky

Agnieszka Radwanska Alize Cornet Ana Ivanovic Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova Andrea Petkovic Angelique Kerber Belinda Bencic Caroline Wozniacki Daniela Hantuchova Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships Garbine Muguruza Heather Watson Julia Goerges Karolina Pliskova Lucie Safarova Monica Puig Petra Kvitova Sabine Lisicki Samantha Stosur Simona Halep Venus Williams Vera Zvonareva

WTA fashion at the Dubai tournament: who rocked and who hit rock bottom?

Post author By Marija
Post date February 20, 2015
15 Comments on WTA fashion at the Dubai tournament: who rocked and who hit rock bottom?

Women’s Tennis Blog is known for its Grand Slam fashion overviews, but Dubai is one of the biggest tournaments of the season with its 64-player field, so tennis apparel companies are definitely eager for their representatives to show up at the Aviation Club Tennis Center and display their new designs. Last year I also made the Dubai WTA fashion overview and let’s see now what the brands prepared for February 2015.

I’ll start with the best of the best and it has to be Adidas’ Adizero line, rocked by Daniela Hantuchova, Ana Ivanovic and Simona Halep. I am sometimes fed up with always favoring Adidas Adizero, but what can I do when it really is the best. I think that this line works for everyone. It caters both those who prefer simple and sporty looks and those who like to have the edge, as the wonderful mesh back provides just enough stylish visual interest. Also, both the Adidas Adizero Spring Dress worn by Ivanovic and the separates worked by the finalist Halep are equally perfect options.

Stella McCartney also did an awesome job and Caroline Wozniacki, Garbine Muguruza and Andrea Petkovic all looked great in her subtle floral designs. Stella is not consistently great as Adizero, but this Adidas Spring 2015 Barricade collection is a hit in my opinion. I especially like the peach flowery pleated skirt.

Nike was all pink in Dubai. Sabine Lisicki, Lucie Safarova and Petra Kvitova all wore the Spring Victory Printed Skirt paired with the Spring Advantage Printed Tank, or Spring Advantage Printed SS Top in Kvitova’s case. I like these clothes in a sense that they are lively and cheerful, but nothing more than that.

Fila, New Balance and Asics were in the orange department, as seen in these photos of Vera Zvonareva, Heather Watson, Julia Goerges and Samantha Stosur. Pretty dull overall, except for Watson’s kit. The Brit has recently partnered with New Balance and after her lovely blue Hobart outfit, this bright cherry Spring Challenger Print Tank and the matching skirt are another great choice of the young WTA star.

Another young women’s tennis force looked awesome in stripy sporty style – Belinda Bencic in Yonex separates. Yonex most famously used to be the clothing sponsor of Elena Dementieva and, quite frankly, never impressed, but I am positively surprised by their new designs, or they just look awesome on the rising Swiss miss. The world No.37 worked the Yonex Melbourne Tank and the skirt that goes with it, in both bright pink and dark blue.

The navy camp included a variety of brands and players. Monica Puig is doing a great job in helping Ellesse rise to tennis fashion prominence again (even though this white panties photo may not suggest so :)), Lacoste traditionally didn’t bring absolutely anything new, as witnessed by Alize Cornet‘s outfit, while Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Angelique Kerber both looked great in the navy and orange Adidas tank with criss-cross spaghetti straps and the skirt with fun all-around pleats.

Just as at the Australian Open, in Dubai we enjoyed the EleVen Ola collection, worn by Venus Williams, Jarmila Gajdosova and Arina Rodionova. As you can see, the leading item was the EleVen Women’s Ola Print Love Tank.

As for Lotto, after its spectacular 2014, we’re yet to see something even remotely interesting on Agnieszka Radwanska in 2015, while Karolina Pliskova has made the run to the finals in, I’m sorry to say, equally bland Li Ning piece.

What do you say? Do you agree with my take on the WTA Dubai fashion? (photos by Jimmie48)

Petra Kvitova

Petra Kvitova has a new boyfriend, and his name is Radek!

Post author By Marija
Post date February 11, 2015
14 Comments on Petra Kvitova has a new boyfriend, and his name is Radek!

You can have a sigh of relief, no, it’s not Radek Stepanek! Petra Kvitova has a new beau, a 26-year-old Czech hokey player Radek Meidl.

https://www.instagram.com/p/y7e57NQX-l/

Hours ago Petra shared this photo on Instagram, saying:

Early dinner with my boy 🙂 Leaving for Dubai on Friday!

I’ve learned about these love birds only now, although they have apparently been dating since fall 2014. This is Petra’s tweet from October last year:

The couple has also frequented public events together. Radek accompanied Petra at the Czech Athlete Awards ceremony where she was named Sportsperson of the Year for the second time in her career.

This relationship probably started about six months after Petra’s break up with Radek Stepanek in April 2014.

Czech readers, please contribute in the comments if you have any more info about Radek Meidl.

If you like these tennis dating updates, visit our WTA players and their Love Partners page.

Karolina Pliskova Petra Kvitova Sydney International

Kvitova downs Pliskova for 15th WTA title in Sydney

Post author By Marija
Post date January 16, 2015
4 Comments on Kvitova downs Pliskova for 15th WTA title in Sydney

Second seed Petra Kvitova won two tiebreaks and battled past fellow Czech Karolina Pliskova in the final of the 2015 Apia International Sydney on Ken Rosewall Arena. The Waterford Crystal trophy is the 15th champion’s trophy in Kvitova career and came in her 15th straight victory over a Czech player.

The first set finished in a tough tiebreak won by Kvitova, but it started with Pliskova’s 2-0 lead that included a break of Kvitova’s serve in the first game and a hold to love. Pliskova was leading all the way to 5-3, when Kvitova won three games in a row to go up for the first time in this match, 6-5. Pliskova responded with a love hold, but Kvitova prevailed in the tiebreak. The fourth-ranked Kvitova was the first to go up a break in the second set, but even though she consolidated it for a 3-1 lead, she gave it away later on and we were again treated with a tiebreak. Eventually, it was the more experienced Kvitova who celebrated 7-6(5) 7-6(6).

Despite the loss, Pliskova’s week has been more than successful — she made her first Premier-level quarterfinals, and then her first big semis, and afterwards even the final. The world No.22 Pliskova will now crack the Top 20 for the first time, which means that next week she will have climbed more than 50 spots in a one-year period.

Kvitova’s winning apparel: the collared Nike Winter Advantage Print Polo and the Nike Winter Woven Pleat Skirt.

Karolina Pliskova Petra Kvitova Sydney International

All-Czech title battle in Sydney: Pliskova and Kvitova dump last year’s finalists

Post author By Marija
Post date January 15, 2015
4 Comments on All-Czech title battle in Sydney: Pliskova and Kvitova dump last year’s finalists

We will have an all-Czech affair at the Apia International Sydney, as Karolina Pliskova and Petra Kvitova defeated last year’s finalists and will now face each other in the fight for the Premier-level title and $124,000 in prize money.

The 22nd-ranked Pliskova was the first to advance, as she bulldozed tired fifth seed Angelique Kerber, last year’s runner-up, whose all previous matches this week were three-setters in each of which she had to come back from a set down (remember that her second-round match even ended past 3 a.m. local time, while in her quarterfinals she was bageled in the first set). Pliskova’s 6-3 6-2 victory came in just 55 minutes.

In the repeat Sydney semifinal from last year, the second-seeded Kvitova avenged last year’s loss, dispatching defending champion Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria 7-5 6-1, who scandalously had to go through the qualifying this year, just like last year, despite being the reigning champion. Imagine, tournament organizers were not willing to give her a wildcard! They really treasure their champions…

The two Czechs have met once so far, very recently, at the Wuhan Open last fall, and Kvitova won 6-3 2-6 6-4. (photos: Jimmie48)

Agnieszka Radwanska Ana Ivanovic Andrea Petkovic Caroline Wozniacki General Jelena Jankovic Maria Sharapova Petra Kvitova Serena Williams Simona Halep Victoria Azarenka

Are you a good tennis predictor? Join John Bolan in his 2015 WTA year-end rankings forecast and win a WTA player autograph

Post author By Marija
Post date December 16, 2014
48 Comments on Are you a good tennis predictor? Join John Bolan in his 2015 WTA year-end rankings forecast and win a WTA player autograph

Over years some topics have spontaneously turned into special fan favorite series here on Women’s Tennis Blog and John Bolan’s pre-season year-end Top 10 ranking predictions have definitely acquired that status. This year we’re actually celebrating fifth straight year (half a decade!) of our friend’s WTA forecasts. As always, John is inviting all of you to join him in the comments and if at the end of 2015 your Top 10 standings turn out to be the most accurate, John will award you with an autograph of one of your favorite WTA players. Comments received by January 1st, 2015 will be eligible for the prize.

For many years, I have made the Top 10 end-of-year predictions, but 2015 has been the most difficult. The 2014 rankings had six players just a win or two away from being a member of the Top 10. The top player was not decided until the WTA Finals in Singapore. Four players in the Top 10 had less than 200 points separating them. A perennial Top 10 player was injured for the majority of the year and must be considered in 2015’s standings.

My first step, the logical part, was to choose the players to be considered Top 10 material for 2015. I chose the 2014 16 highest-ranked players plus the injured, Victoria Azarenka, and the best rising young player, Garbine Muguruza. I considered these 18 players as finalists.

Of course, we all have personal favorites. Your heart, not just your brain, joins in the decision. In the end, my brain won out this year as two of my favorite Top 10 players in 2014 missed the final cut for 2015. My apologies go to Eugenie Bouchard and my friend, Dominika Cibulkova. I eliminated four veterans – Angelique Kerber, Flavia Pennetta, Sara Errani and Lucie Safarova – because of their play in matches I witnessed. Garbine Muguruza will be in the Top 10 soon enough, but not in 2015. For me, the hardest choice was Ekaterina Makarova, whom I know and like. She had a great year, and if she had just won one match at the Tournament of Champions in Sofia, she would have been in the Top 10 in 2014.

Here are my Top 10 year-end rankings for 2015:

Serena Williams
Maria Sharapova
Simona Halep
Agnieszka Radwanska
Caroline Wozniacki
Victoria Azarenka
Petra Kvitova
Andrea Petkovic
Ana Ivanovic
Jelena Jankovic

In 2015, the number one spot is up for grabs. Any of the Top 3 could be number one a year from now. Serena’s age and injuries have leveled the playing field. Maria and Simona are ready to take advantage. It was difficult to choose between the Top 3, so I picked them in the same order they finished in 2014.

Aga now has Martina Navratilova on her team which is a definite plus. Caroline is playing great once again. Having Serena for a best friend is a plus for her. Victoria should be well this year and back in the Top 10. Petra has just said she wants to be number one in 2015.

Andrea is the hardest working player in tennis. The two Serbians also make the Top 10 because of their work ethic. Andrea, Ana and Jelena know how hard they must work to be a Top 10 player.

There is no expectation on my part you will agree with me on these picks. This is the reason we play the game. Now let’s see your WTA Top 10 year-end ranking predictions for 2015 in the comments below! Remember, the deadline for submission is January 1st, 2015 and the best predictor will receive an autograph of one of their favorite women’s tennis players. Good luck!

Agnieszka Radwanska Ana Ivanovic Angelique Kerber Caroline Wozniacki Dominika Cibulkova Eugenie Bouchard Jelena Jankovic Li Na Maria Sharapova Petra Kvitova Sabine Lisicki Serena Williams Simona Halep Victoria Azarenka

The story of 2014 WTA rankings, how the situation looked in January and how the year ended + Mabel Ratto is our winner, our best predictor

Four years in a row my friend John Bolan has been playing with his tennis prediction skills, sharing with you at/before the launch of a season his guess of what the Top 10 WTA rankings will look like at the end of the year. Being generous and social, John is also always inviting you to join him in predictions, offering a nice incentive – an autograph of your favorite WTA player. We have calculated everything carefully and commenter Mabel Ratto is our winner for 2014! Congratulations, Mabel! Let’s now see the analysis of the WTA Top 10, of how the Women’s Tennis Blog crowd fared in January 2014 and why Mabel was the best predictor! I’m giving the word to John.

The tennis year is over and the year-end Top 10 players have been named. The Women’s Tennis Blog published my Top 10 picks for 2014 back in December 2013 and many fans joined in with your own picks. We all included two players who were thought certain to make the Top 10 – Victoria Azarenka and Li Na. Because of injury neither player made the year-end Top 10. Additionally, no one picked Dominika Cibulkova as a Top 10 player. The best score possible was eight correct out of ten. Let’s see how the final standings compare to my predictions:

[col type=”half”]

BOLAN’S JANUARY PREDICTIONS
1. Serena Williams
2. Li Na
3. Victoria Azarenka
4. Maria Sharapova
5. Agnieszka Radwanska
6. Petra Kvitova
7. Simona Halep
8. Caroline Wozniacki
9. Jelena Jankovic
10. Sabine Lisicki

[/col]

[col type=”half last”]

ACTUAL YEAR-END TOP 10
1. Serena Williams
2. Maria Sharapova
3. Simona Halep
4. Petra Kvitova
5. Ana Ivanovic
6. Agnieszka Radwanska
7. Eugenie Bouchard
8. Caroline Wozniacki
9. Angelique Kerber
10. Dominika Cibulkova

[/col]

I only had six correct picks. Fans using the comment section to submit their own picks averaged six correct picks. Seven fans who submitted timely entries had seven correct picks. In order to choose a winner, I had to determine which of those seven fans had the players in the closest order to the actual finish.

The race to the Top 10 was very exciting this year. The number one ranking was not decided until the second set of two matches in the WTA Finals at Singapore. In the Red Group final match, Ana Ivanovic had to win the second set over Simona Halep to make it into the final round. She lost that set which sent Serena Williams into the final round. Over in the White Group, Maria Sharapova also had to win her second set over Agnieszka Radwanska, but lost 6-7(4). This loss eliminated Maria from the final round. Both Ana and Maria won their matches in three sets, but failed to win in straight sets needed to advance. Maria led Serena most of the year in the 2014 points race until after the American section of the tour. Serena won Stanford, Cincinnati and her only major, the US Open, matching Maria who had won the French. Maria came back to win big in the required tournament in China, setting up the showdown in Singapore.

The final standings were very close. Less than 200 points separated number five and number 8. Just one more good victory would have moved Caroline from #8 to #5, for example. Dominika stopped Ekaterina Makarova’s Top 10 bid by just 82 points. If only Ekaterina had won one match at the Tournament of Champions in Sofia or another match in any tournament during the year, she would have been in the Top 10.

Seven fans with seven correct picks were: Alejo Belatti, James (our 2012 winner), Mabel Ratto, Mann, Michael N, Daryl Neo, and Emman Damian. James and Michael N were the only fans to pick Eugenie Bouchard. All seven chose Serena Williams #1, but Emman Damian was the only fan to pick Maria Sharapova #2. If Mann had gone with his heart and chosen Ana Ivanovic instead of Jelena Jankovic, he would have won this contest with eight correct picks. His comment about Ana needing a miracle to make the Top 10 came true.

This contest could not have been any closer. Based on a mathematical solution to find which fan had the closest picks to the final order, Mabel Ratto is our winner for 2014. Congratulations to her and a big thank you to all the fans who played this contest.

I’d like to thank everyone who joined us this year and to congratulate Mabel once again for being our best WTA predictor. Mabel, I will contact you shortly to see which autograph you’d like to receive.

If you’d like to remind yourselves of how the previous rankings looked, check out John’s past comparisons of early-season and season-ending WTA rankings.