Garbine Muguruza

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6 Grand Slam Champs, 3 Former #1 Players Highlight @VolvoCarOpen Player Field

Posted by Admin on March 10, 2021
Posted in: Charleston, Volvo Car Open, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment


6 Grand Slam Champs, 3 Former #1 Players Highlight @VolvoCarOpen Player Field

CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Volvo Car Open, to be held without fans April 3 – 11 on Daniel Island in Charleston, SC, has announced its preliminary player field for the 2021 tournament. The field for the premier women’s-only professional tennis tournament in North America is led by World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty and features some of the top players in the world.

The Volvo Car Open’s 56-player draw is made up of 43 direct entries into the tournament, five wild cards and eight qualifiers. Kim Clijsters has already accepted a wild card for the event. Four additional players will join the main draw via wild card entry, to be announced at a later date.

“The world of live sporting events has had to make many difficult decisions over the past year,” said Bob Moran, Tournament Director for the Volvo Car Open. “We wish we could host a stadium full of fans in 2021 to appreciate the world-class talent represented in our player field, from WTA’s top-ranked Ashleigh Barty and our defending champion Madison Keys, to next generation tennis stars like Sofia Kenin and Coco Gauff. We are grateful that our broadcast partner Tennis Channel will air first ball to last ball main draw matches, providing our fans with more than 70 hours of live tennis and an opportunity to watch the powerful and entertaining competition on our courts this year. We look forward to getting back to normal in 2022 with a newly renovated stadium and celebrating 50 years of professional women’s tennis.”

Highlights from the main draw include:

  • 21 countries represented in the international player field, including 10 Americans
  • Three past Volvo Car Open champions: Madison Keys (2019), Kiki Bertens (2018) and Sloane Stephens (2016)
  • Six Grand Slam champions: Sofia Kenin (2020 Australian Open), Ashleigh Barty (2019 French Open), Garbiñe Muguruza (2016 French Open and ‘17 Wimbledon), Sloane Stephens (2017 US Open), Jelena Ostapenko (2017 French Open) and Kim Clijsters (2005, ‘09 & ‘10 US Open and ‘11 Australian Open)
  • Three Former World No. 1 Ranked Players: Ashleigh Barty (current), Garbiñe Muguruza and Kim Clijsters
  • Debut player field appearance by Coco Gauff and Kim Clijsters
  • Charleston native Shelby Rogers to compete in hometown tournament again

At the top of the Volvo Car Open player field is current World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty. The 2021 Volvo Car Open will mark the Australian’s second time playing in Charleston. She has held the top WTA singles ranking for the past two seasons, stemming from winning her first Premier Mandatory title at the Miami Open, her first Grand Slam title at the French Open and her first WTA Finals title.

American Sofia Kenin celebrated her first Top 10 season in 2020. She earned her first Grand  Slam title at the 2020 Australian Open and ended the year as World No. 4. The 2021 Volvo Car Open will be the 22-year-old’s fourth time competing in Charleston.

2018 Volvo Car Open champion Kiki Bertens will play the Volvo Car Open for the fifth time. The Dutch player finished 2020 in the top 10 for the third year in a row and has amassed 10 career WTA titles.

Rounding out the top-four in Charleston’s player field is Garbiñe Muguruza. Since her last appearance at the Volvo Car Open in 2013, the Spanish player has captured seven career titles, including the 2017 Wimbledon and 2016 Roland-Garros titles, and reached the World No. 1 ranking.

Current Volvo Car Open champion Madison Keys will also return two years later to defend her title. Keys defeated Caroline Wozniacki in the 2019 Volvo Car Open final to capture her fourth career WTA title and her first on clay.

The 2021 Volvo Car Open will be held without fans due to the ongoing pandemic. The tournament has partnered with the WTA and the Medical University of South Carolina to develop its health and safety protocols for the event, which will allow the team to create a safe atmosphere for players, essential staff and operational partners. Both Tennis Channel and WTA Media have agreed to broadcast the 2021 Volvo Car Open, providing a full week of coverage and more than 70+ hours of live tennis for fans both in the U.S. and abroad.

The Volvo Car Open was canceled in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Since 1973, the tournament has been a pioneer in women’s professional sports, paving the path for female tennis players to receive equal recognition, respect and pay in the sport. Originally held on Hilton Head Island, the event moved to Charleston in 2001 and is now played on Daniel Island at the LTP Daniel Island tennis center, home to the Volvo Car Stadium.

Charleston Tennis, LLC, which manages the Volvo Car Stadium under a lease from the City of Charleston, recently announced plans to renovate and modernize the 20-year-old Volvo Car Stadium. The city-owned facility will undergo upgrades to enhance the stadium experience for patrons, performers, tennis players and event management, allowing the venue to attract world-class athletes and talent to Daniel Island.

For more information on the Volvo Car Open, visit volvocaropen.com or call 843.856.7900.

—A. Alpino, Volvo Car Open

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World #12 American Phenom @SofiaKenin Booked for 2020 @Volvo CarOpen

Posted by Admin on October 29, 2019
Posted in: Charleston, Volvo Car Open, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Sofia Kenin, Charleston 2017 (TennisAtlantic.com)

Sofia Kenin, Charleston 2017 (TennisAtlantic.com)

WORLD NO. 12 AMERICAN PHENOM SOFIA KENIN BOOKED FOR 2020 VOLVO CAR OPEN

Kenin has won three singles titles and two doubles titles during the 2019 season

DANIEL ISLAND, S.C. – World No. 12 Sofia Kenin has entered the player field for the 2020 Volvo Car Open, happening April 4 – 12 on Daniel Island in Charleston, SC. The 20-year-old American will be joined in Charleston by reigning Wimbledon champion Simona Halep, 2019 Volvo Car Open champion Madison Keys and two-time Grand Slam champion Garbiñe Muguruza, among other top WTA tennis players.

Kenin has found significant success during her 2019 season, winning her first ever career WTA singles and WTA doubles titles. In total, she captured singles titles in Hobart, Mallorca and Guangzhou. She also won the doubles titles in Auckland and Beijing.

Kenin_0534

“Sofia climbed the junior rankings and has now solidified herself as a true contender and top player in the tennis world,” said Eleanor Adams, Volvo Car Open Tournament Manager. “Our fans have the opportunity to cheer on the future generation of tennis, and Sofia’s fourth appearance in our field solidifies our commitment to always finding and attracting rising stars.”

Outside of Kenin’s titles this season, she also appeared in the finals in Acapulco and the semifinals in Toronto and Cincinnati. She defeated Ashleigh Barty in Toronto and Naomi Osaka in Cincinnati, both of whom were ranked World No. 1 at the time. Additionally, she defeated Serena Williams in the third round of the French Open to reach her best Grand Slam result to date.

Sofia Kenin 2017 (TennisAtlantic.com)

Sofia Kenin 2017 (TennisAtlantic.com)

As a result of her success this season, Kenin qualified for the 2019 Hengqin Life WTA Elite Trophy in Zhuhai.

“I have had a really amazing season and will be looking to build upon it in 2020,” said Kenin. “I have always enjoyed my time in Charleston at the Volvo Car Open and am hoping to go even further in the tournament next year.”

The 2020 Volvo Car Open will be Kenin’s fourth time competing in the tournament’s main draw.

The Volvo Car Open will celebrate its 20th year in Charleston in 2020. The tournament relocated to Charleston from Hilton Head Island, where it was held from 1973 – 2000.

The nine-day Volvo Car Open is the largest women’s-only tennis tournament in North America. The event attracts an average of 90,000 attendees and more than 100 of the top singles and doubles tennis players to Charleston every year.

Patrons have the option to choose from individual tickets, ticket packages and travel packages. Ticket prices range from $25 for an individual session to $540 for an all-inclusive weeklong package with complimentary access into a private hospitality suite. The Volvo Car Open also offers packages that include premium seats, ticket savings and membership into the tournament’s Ace Club.

For more information on the tournament and ticket options, visit volvocaropen.com or call 843.856.7900.

—A. Alpino, VCO

First @USOpen Win in 6 Years for @Riske4Rewards; DiLorenzo, @JuliaGoerges Advance to Second Round Clash

Posted by Admin on August 27, 2019
Posted in: US Open, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Alison Riske, 2019 US Open (Photo: Tennis Atlantic)

First @USOpen Win in 6 Years for @Riske4Rewards; DiLorenzo, @JuliaGoerges Advance to Second Round Clash
Steve Fogleman in Queens

Pittsburgh’s Alison Riske has seen a lot over the course of her eleven year pro career: marriage, a WTA title, Wimbledon quarterfinals, competition on six continents, Fed Cup glory. But wins at her home grand slam haven’t come easy. Today, for just the first time since 2013, Riske prevailed in a three set comeback win over Garbine Muguruza of Spain by a final of 2-6, 6-1, 6-3 in two hours and three minutes.

Muguruza looked comfortable in the first set and you sensed it would be another first round letdown for the American. Riske battled back with a sizzling net game, winning 83% of net points in the match. Muguruza hit only 24 winners in the match. Riske, who is through to the second round for the second time in her career, faces Latvian Jelena Ostapenko on Thursday.

Julia Goerges, 2019 US Open (Photo: Tennis Atlantic)

American Francesca DiLorenzo won her second straight first round US Open match, this year upending Veronika Kudermetova, 7-6, 6-2. She gets Julia Goerges for her trouble: The German had a nasty three set battle against Natalia Vikhlyantseva which was decided by a final tiebreak.

Belinda Bencic, 2019 US Open (Photo: Tennis Atlantic)

Other winners included Belinda Bencic, Petra Kvitova and Andrea Petkovic in early women’s action on Tuesday.

Petra Kvitova 2019 US Open (Photo: Tennis Atlantic)

2018 @WTA @InteBNLdItalia Preview, Predictions

Posted by Admin on May 14, 2018
Posted in: Niall Clarke, Roland Garros, Rome, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Muguruza (Photo courtesy of Mallorca Open)

Muguruza

2018 @WTA @InteBNLdItalia Preview, Predictions
Niall Clarke, Tennis Atlantic

After a great tournament in Madrid, the tour heads to Rome for the second Premier tournament in as many weeks. Elina Svitolina is the defending champion on the last major stop to Roland Garros. Let’s get to it.

Top Quarter:
Simona Halep’s winning run in Madrid came to an end at the hands of Karolina Pliskova, so the Romanian will be keen to regain some ranking points in Rome. She enters as the top seed so gets a BYE into round two where she will face the winner of Victoria Azarenka vs Naomi Osaka–a brutal draw. Madison Keys is also in this section, but her struggles on clay may give Carla Suarez Navarro or Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova a chance to make the round of 16.

Caroline Garcia had a good run to the Madrid semi finals, but a 2 & 2 defeat to Kiki Bertens ended it on a sour note. The Frenchwoman looks to have found some form though and she should be safe to make the last 16 with a declining Sara Errani or Timea Babos waiting in round two. Sloane Stephens will likely meet her there, but she herself has a tough opener against Barbora Strycova.

I expect the seeds to advance to the quarter finals here despite some tough matches along the way. Both Garcia and Halep prefer the courts of Madrid, but in Rome I would give the Romanian the edge.

Prediction: Halep def. Garcia

Second Quarter:
Rome has been quite a good pit-stop to Roland Garros for Garbine Muguruza, so despite her indifferent form the Spaniard is a dangerous player here. She will open against the winner of Daria Gavrilova vs Cici Bellis which will be an interesting second round match with both those players presenting a challenge. Ashleigh Barty is the other seed here, but the Aussie prefers faster surfaces and has Maria Sharapova as an opening round opponent. Francesca Schiavone will play her last Rome tournament this week and opens against Dominika Cibulkova.

Jelena Ostapenko disappointed in Madrid but the thing with the Latvian is that she can hit form at any time. She has a relatively soft draw after Petra Kvitova’s withdrawal, so that means that Magdalena Rybarikova is the other seed in this section. She plays Johanna Konta in round one. Mihaela Buzarnescu might be the biggest challenge in this section for Ostapenko as she has form on her side this clay season.

It could all lead to a Muguruza vs Ostapenko quarter final which would be a titanic battle. Muguruza historically struggles with big hitters, but let’s face it–on clay she has the edge over the Latvian.

Prediction: Muguruza def. Ostapenko

Elina Sviotlina, New Haven

Third Quarter:
Elina Svitolina is the defending champion here and is one of the favourites as a result. She will be well rested after exiting Madrid early, but she herself as a tough draw ahead. Lesia Tsurenko and Petra Martic are dangerous floaters and we have seen how difficult Daria Kasatkina can be to beat. The Russian’s draw is quite a nice one so she could await Svitolina in the round of 16.

Karolina Pliskova, 2017 US Open

Karolina Pliskova, 2017 US Open

Karolina Pliskova has been a revelation on clay this season. It is usually a surface she struggles on, but a title win in Stuttgart followed by a semi final in Madrid has shown her improvements on the surface. Rome has slower conditions, though, that could hinder her, and the Kiki Bertens second round draw is brutal. Does the Dutchwoman have enough in the tank after her run in Madrid though? Maria Sakkari will be there to test that. You can also not count out Angelique Kerber, who is also in this section.

This is a difficult section with two very dangerous unseeded players in there. I think Svitolina will make it to the last eight, but it depends on how Bertens looks. If she continues her Madrid form I think the Dutchwoman will go far, but I expect the exhaustion to catch up to her when she makes the last eight.

Prediction: Svitolina def. Bertens

Bottom Quarter:
Caroline Wozniacki heads to Rome after a disappointing loss to Bertens in Madrid. Clay has not been her best surface despite having a game that suits it, but the draw is pretty kind to the Dane. Sam Stosur is a shadow of her former self, and whilst Kristina Mladenovic and Anastasija Sevastova are both capable here, they are not in the best of form themselves.

The other half of this section is really difficult to call. Venus Williams is the seeded player, but her difficulties on this surface are well documented. Coco Vandeweghe’s form came crashing down in Madrid and the Rome conditions do not suit her game at all, which could give Anett Kontaveit a chance to go deep. Svetlana Kuznetsova is the most natural clay courter here, but she is coming in off an injury and has no form behind her at all.

This is the weakest quarter of the draw and by the sheer lack of form and clay court prowess here, I have to go with Wozniacki defeating Kontaveit in the quarter finals.

Prediction: Wozniacki def. Kontaveit

Semi Finals/Finals Prediction:
Muguruza def. Halep
Svitolina def. Wozniacki
Muguruza def. Svitolina

There is no player who stands out above the rest at the moment, making this a difficult call. Muguruza usually comes alive here, so I am going with the Spaniard.

2018 @PorscheTennis WTA Stuttgart Preview, Predictions

Posted by Admin on April 22, 2018
Posted in: Stuttgart, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

2018 @PorscheTennis WTA Stuttgart Preview, Predictions
Niall Clarke, Tennis Atlantic

Clay season arrives in style  with the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart. The field is always stacked here as the top players aim to find their footing on the clay and this year is no exception. It is one of the best tournaments of the year, so let’s get to it.

Top Quarter:

simona-halep

Simona Halep

Simona Halep goes into the tournament as the number one seed and arguably the favourite to go all the way. The Romanian is considered to be the best clay courter on the tour by many people, but she is yet to add a French Open title to her collection. Building momentum for Roland Garros is a big aim during this stretch of the season and it starts in Stuttgart. Daria Kasatkina is the likely second round opponent which is a difficult starting match for anyone, but she is also probably her biggest test in this section.

Sloane Stephens has also landed in this section as she aims to kick off her clay court season. She is coming in off the Fed Cup semi final against France and that is why it is funny she has drawn her team-mate Coco Vandeweghe in the first round. Laura Siegemund, who has made big runs here in the past, is a potential second round opponent.

Halep is the strongest clay courter in this section, and despite some tough challenges early on I think she should come through this section.

Prediction: Halep def. Siegemund

Second Quarter:

Elina Svitolina is another player who comes into this tournament as a favourite to go all the way. The Ukrainian is usually very efficient at picking up titles such as Stuttgart so she should come into the tournament with a fair degree of confidence. After her opening round BYE, Svitolina will face the winner of Julia Goerges vs Anastasija Sevastova, two players who have a complete contrast in styles. Goerges will have the home crowd cheering for her and the indoor conditions favour her powerful game, but Sevastova is a tricky player who is hard to hit through.

Caroline Garcia has not kicked into gear in 2018, but she is a very capable clay courter who can do a lot of damage here. She has got the Sharapova draw however in one of the most high profile round one match-ups. The winner of that match should be a safe bet for the quarter finals with Antonia Lottner or a qualifier waiting in the wings.

There is plenty of talent in this section, but I have Svitolina being too stable for an erratic Garcia in the quarter finals.

Prediction: Svitolina def. Garcia

Third Quarter:

Jelena Ostapenko (Photo: Tony Callaio)

Jelena Ostapenko (Photo: Tony Callaio)

French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko will be happy with the draw she has gotten here. The Latvian has points to defend with her French Open win and this is a tournament where she could make some up and get some nice form heading into Roland Garros. She has a BYE then the winner of two qualifiers in the second round, so despite being inconsistent, you have to favour the Latvian to get through.

Karolina Pliskova has not had a great start to 2018 and clay is not her best surface. However, you can not count the Czech out. The fifth seed opens against Kiki Bertens, a very capable clay courter who can do a lot of damage during this stage of the season, then potentially faces Carla Suarez Navarro in the second round.

This is a section where we could see an unseeded player come through. Bertens comes alive on the clay and given Pliskova’s struggles in the surface we could see an upset there. Ostapenko is also very inconsistent in matches so I think the Dutchwoman will prevail here.

Prediction: Bertens def. Ostapenko

Bottom Quarter:

Garbine Muguruza, 2017 US Open

Garbine Muguruza

This is a stacked quarter headlined by Garbine Muguruza. The Spaniard is on her best surface again fresh off a title win in Acapulco so will have a degree of confidence heading into Stuttgart. However her section is stacked with power players, bot least of which is Madison Keys who she could face in the second round. Muguruza will need all her clay court prowess this tournament due to players being able to outhit her in this section.

Petra Kvitova is the other seed in this quarter and she will be one half of another big round one match against Germany’s own Angelique Kerber. The former champion has had a resurgence this year and is playing like a top 10 player once again after a disappointing 2017. The winner faces either Kristina Mladenovic, last year’s finalist or Anett Kontaveit , a dangerous big hitting Estonian. There is not easy match-up in this section.

With the home crowd advantage and being a former champion, I fancy Kerber to make her way through this section. We do not know which version of the other women will show up, so I think the more steady Kerber will fight her way past Muguruza in the quarter finals.

Prediction: Kerber def. Muguruza

Semi Finals Finals onwards Prediction:

Halep def. Svitolina
Kerber def. Bertens

Halep def. Kerber

As usual, Stuttgart is stacked and difficult to call but I am going with the number one seed to overcome the home favourite in the final.

 

 

 

WTA @BrisbaneTennis, Shenzhen, @ASB_Classic Previews and Predictions

Posted by Admin on December 30, 2017
Posted in: Auckland, Australian Open, Brisbane, Shenzen, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

WTA Brisbane, Shenzhen, @ASB_Classic Previews and Predictions
Niall Clarke, Tennis Atlantic

simona-halep

Simona Halep

The WTA season of 2018 is up and running and it promises to be a cracker. The season opens up with events in Brisbane, Shenzhen and Auckland and we have a run down of all three draws.

Brisbane

World number two Garbine Muguruza kicks off her season at the Brisbane International that boasts a stacked field of top ten players.

Top Half:

When you look at the top half you look immediately to the possible semi final between Muguruza and fourth seed Caroline Garcia. However both players have some tough matches ahead to reach this point.

Muguruza has a BYE in the opening round, but her tournament really gets going in the quarter finals where she could face the tricky Anastasija Sevastova. The Latvian faces home favourite Sam Stosur first however, and the ever dangerous floater Sorana Cirstea has also landed in this section.

Garcia opens against compatriot Alize Cornet whom she has a good record against. But her quarter final could be very interesting because she has draw Kristina Mladenovic in her section. The Frenchwoman ended 2017 on a losing streak however and that could allow Petra Kvitova through to the last eight.

Bottom Half:

The bottom half hosts a lot of big names including second seed Karolina Pliskova and third seed Elina Svitolina who are projected to meet in the semi finals.
pliskova-2016

Svitolina has a tough draw. Carla Suarez Navarro is an experienced player in round one, then Ana Konjuh is a dangerous youngster in round two. Johanna Konta meets Madison Keys in the match of the first round and the winner of that should make the quarter finals.

Pliskova has a decent draw to the quarter finals. After a first raw BYE she could face Cici Bellis in the second round. But in the quarters it will get tricky with Ashleigh Barty projected for the last eight. The Aussie’s biggest obstacle to the quarter finals is fellow youngster Daria Kastakina which will be a very entertaining second round.

Predictions:

Semi finals:

Garcia def. Muguruza
Barty def. Svitolina

Final
Barty def. Garcia

Shenzhen

Simona Halep begins her campaign in China at the Shenzhen Open, and she is joined by French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko and the unseeded Maria Sharapova

Top half:

Simona Halep enters as the favourite here and her half suggests that she should at least make the final.

Maria Sakkari is the biggest challenge in her quarter. The young Greek has a tough potential round two against Monica Niculescu though. Halep opens against Nicole Gibbs then faces the winner of Ying-Ying Duan vs Evgeniya Rodina.

We could end up with an all Romanian semi final match with Irina Begu the fourth seed here. She has a good draw too with Timea Babos the biggest challenge in the quarter finals. The Hungarian has a tougher path with Jana Cepelova or Magda Linette waiting in the second round

Bottom half:

Ostapenko is the highest seed in this half, but she has a possible clash with Sharapova in the semi finals. Will we get this mouth-watering match? Or will someone upset the odds?

Ostapenko has a tough opening round match against big serving Krystina Pliskova, the twin sister of Karolina. Camila Giorgi is also a dangerous floater to have in your section, and that is without mentioning her quarter final against Katerina Siniakova.

Shuai Zhang is the seed of the section, but all eyes will be on Sharapova. The Russian returns to action against Mihaela Buzarnescu and then could potentially face home crowd favourite Qiang Wang in the second round. There will be plenty for the Chinese fans to get excited about.

Predictions:

Semi Finals:
Halep def. Begu
Ostapenko def. Sharapova

Final:
Halep def. Ostapenko

Auckland
Caroline Wozniacki, New Haven 2015

Caroline Wozniacki headlines Auckland this year with Julia Goerges as the second seed.

Top Half:

Wozniacki vs Agnieszka Radwanska is the stand out matchup when you look at this draw, and if all goes to plan then we will see that match in the semi finals. But there are a few potential spoilers in this section.

The Dane opens up against Madison Brengle first of all, and she could face the dangerous Mona Barthel in the quarter finals. Radwanska may face Lauren Davis in the last eight, but there should not be any major obstacles standing in their way.

Bottom half:

Julia Goerges, New Haven

Goerges

Julia Goerges has a tough draw to the final with Barbora Strycova one of the few players capable of knocking the German out of the tournament.

Arguably the match of round one is Goerges’ opener against Monica Puig. The winner of this should be able to advance to the last eight to face the winner of Donna Vekic vs Kirsten Flipkens which is another stand out match in the opening round.

Strycova faces wildcard Sara Errani in the first round who is still on the comeback from a doping suspension. Yulia Putintseva is the other seed in this section, and she could be on a collision course with Strycova in the quarter finals.

Barbora Strycova

Predictions:

Semi finals:
Wozniacki def. Radwanska
Strycova def. Puig

Final:
Wozniacki def. Strycova

2017 @WTAFinalsSG Preview & Predictions

Posted by Admin on October 21, 2017
Posted in: Niall Clarke, Singapore, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Photo: WTAFinals.com

2017 WTA Finals Preview & Predictions
Niall Clarke, Tennis Atlantic

After a long season full of twists and turns, it comes down to just eight players as we reach the Year End Championships in Singapore. Not only is there a big title available, but also the world number one ranking. It promises to be a great week of tennis to close out the season. Here is a rundown of what to expect in Singapore.

Red Group

[1] Simona Halep (ROU)

[4] Elina Svitolina (UKR)

[6] Caroline Wozniacki (DEN)

[8] Caroline Garcia (FRA)

Simona Halep, 2017 Citi Open (Photo: Tennis Atlantic)

Simona Halep, 2017 Citi Open (Photo: Tennis Atlantic)

Simona Halep headlines the Red Group as the world number one and therefore the top seed for the tournament. The Romanian failed to break her grand slam duck this season, but she came within a few games of realising her dream at the French open before being beaten by Jelena Ostapenko in the final. However, she became the world number one for the first time in Beijing, the highlight of her career thus far. Halep’s only title of the year came in Madrid, but her consistency in making the latter stages of events is what got her to the top of the rankings. 

Elina Svitolina has enjoyed her best season to date, winning over 50 matches and claiming five titles whilst achieving a career high ranking of number three. The Ukrainian is also one of the players who can finish the year as number one, so it might get better yet. Three of Svitolina’s titles came at Premier 5 level, the most recent being in Canada. Despite her good results though, Svitolina failed to make a big breakthrough at Grand Slam level, something she will aim to improve for 2018.

Caroline Wozniacki heads into Singapore having won only one title this year, but the Dane’s consistency is what has brought her back into the top ten and back in the year end championships. That title came in Tokyo after losing six previous finals in 2017. Her best Grand Slam performance came at Wimbledon where she made the quarter finals, but like Svitolina, her consistency outside the slams has been remarkable, as shown by her eight finals this season.

Caroline Garcia (Photo: S. Fogleman)

Two months ago, Caroline Garcia barely stood a chance of making Singapore, but an incredible two weeks in Beijing and Wuhan saw her finish the year in the top eight against all odds. The Frenchwoman made a controversial decision to skip Fed Cup and stop playing doubles at the end of last year, and it has seemingly paid off. Before her Wuhan and Beijing double, Garcia was consistent and earned a top 20 ranking as a result. But it was the fortnight in China that made her season. She is the in-form player heading into the tournament having won her last eight matches.

Prediction:

The Red Group is interesting as the defensive players have been pitted together. It is three counter punchers and Garcia, making the possibility of some long matches very possible.

If Garcia can carry her form over to Singapore, it is hard not seeing her advance. She is the player with the most weapons in the group and the highest peak level, but the eighth seed is flaky at the best of times, and if she underperforms, none of her opponents will g gift her a win.

That makes this group wide open. Any of the players can advance with a lot of the head to heads being close minus Svitolina’s 3-0 advantage over Wozniacki. The Ukrainian seems the most likely to win at least two matches, so I believe she will advance. Garcia is the wildcard and picking her will be brave, but Halep is the number one seed for a reason and the Romanian may just edge through in second place.

1st. Svitolina

2nd. Halep

White Group

[2] Garbiñe Muguruza (ESP)

[3] Karolina Pliskova (CZE)

[5] Venus Williams (USA)

[7] Jelena Ostapenko (LAT)

Garbine Muguruza, 2017 US Open

Garbine Muguruza’s transformation after failing to defend her Roland Garros title is the main reason why she is here. Prior to Roland Garros, Muguruza struggled with her best result coming in Melbourne where she made the quarter finals. After the French though The Spaniard won her second Grand Slam title at Wimbledon and backed that up with an impressive run to the Cincinnati title a month later. Her fine summer form saw the second seed become world number one for the first time, a ranking she will look to regain this week. Muguruza was the first player to qualify for the WTA finals.

pliskova-2016

Karolina Pliskova started the season strong by winning the Brisbane title and making the quarter finals at the Australian Open The Czech’s biggest title came in Doha where she defeated Wozniacki to claim the title. Her strong start to the season earned Pliskova the world number one ranking for the first time, and she made the semi finals of the French Open in her best Grand Slam showing to date. Pliskova will be aiming for her biggest career title and the world number one ranking this week.

Venus Williams is the only player this year to make two grand slam finals, however the oldest player in the top eight failed to add to her tally of major titles. The year was still a resurgent one for Venus, who despite not claiming a title, was one of the more consistent performers of the season. The American backed up her two major finals by making the semi finals of the US Open before being defeated by the eventual champions Sloane Stephens.

Jelena Ostapenko (Photo: Tony Callaio)

Jelena Ostapenko (Photo: Tony Callaio)

Jelena Ostapenko is the only one of two players to have won a grand slam this year and compete in the WTA finals. The Latvian had a dream run to the title at Roland Garros as an unseeded player, and announced herself to the tennis world as not only a potential star, but a current one. The youngest player in the tournament backed up her maiden major title with a run to the quarter finals of Wimbledon and a second title in Seoul. Despite her risky style of play, the seventh seed has enjoyed a fair bit of consistency since Roland Garros.

Prediction:

This group is almost impossible to predict as all four of these players strike the ball very hard. One minute they look unbeatable, the next they can not keep the ball in court. That means the two players that will advance are the ones who can peak at the right times In the matches. Unlike the Red Group, matches in this one should be short, which may give the winners an advantage.

Singapore courts traditionally have been on the slow side which favours Muguruza the most as she is the one who has shown the most consistency on slower surfaces. Ostapenko also showed she can play on slower courts with her Roland Garros triumph, but will the pressure of her first WTA finals work against her?

venus-charleston

Venus has the most experience by far, but I think the conditions favour the other players more so I believe she will not advance. Muguruza has struggled against big hitters in the past but I believe these courts are suited to her game so she will advance. Pliskova’s issues have mainly come on clay and I expect her to be solid enough to join Muguruza in the semi finals.

Prediction:

1st. Muguruza

2nd. Pliskova

Semi finals

So the semi finals would pit Muguruza against Halep and Svitolina against Pliskova, coincidently the top four seeds.

Muguruza has a good record against Halep, leading the head to head 3-1 and destroying the Romanian in their most recent meeting. The slow conditions will help the top seed on this occasion, so I expect a tighter contest, but I think Muguruza will prevail.

Pliskova has definitely had the measure of Svitolina throughout their careers, winning five of their six meetings. The Czech has generally had control of their hardcourt meetings, but the Ukrainian defeated Pliskova in their most recent outing in Rome. I think the slower conditions will suit Svitolina, and I think despite their head to head, she will advance to the final.

Final

So I have Muguruza meeting Svitolina in the final and this match is a difficult call. Both players are suited to the courts and their head to head is very close at 4-3 to Svitolina. However, there is a factor of fatigue when you make the final, and I think Muguruza will be the fresher player.

Svitolina will have played many long matches by this point, and combine that with Muguruza’s ability to play well in finals and you have a recipe for a Spanish triumph in Singapore.

2017 @USOpen Women’s Preview, Predictions

Posted by Admin on August 28, 2017
Posted in: New York, Niall Clarke, US Open, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Garbine Muguruza, 2017 US Open

Garbine Muguruza, 2017 US Open

2017 @USOpen Women’s Preview, Predictions
Niall Clarke, Tennis Atlantic

We have reached the Big Apple for the final grand slam of the year and there is not only the US Open to fight for, but also the world number one ranking.
128 will enter Flushing Meadows, but only one woman will be crowned champion at the end of the fortnight. Here is a rundown of the draw for the 2017 US Open.

Top Quarter

Karolina Pliskova, 2017 US Open

Karolina Pliskova, 2017 US Open

World number one Karolina Pliskova has finals points to defend here and it is likely she will have to make that stage again if she is to keep the top spot. The Czech has a good draw ahead of her though with the first seeded player being Shuai Zhang. Kristina Mladenovic is projected for the fourth round, but the Frenchwoman’s lack of form and fitness issues may lead to another early exit. Look for Barbora Strycova to take advantage and possibly meet her compatriot in the round of 16.

The bottom half of this quarter seems more stacked and closely contested than the top half. Svetlana Kuznetsova is the highest seed and should be good enough for the third round at least. From there, it could get interesting with Anett Kontaveit, Lucie Safarova or Cici Bellis waiting in the wings. Agnieszka Radwanska is yet to break her Grand Slam curse, and if she is to do so here she will do it as the tenth seed. Coco Vandeweghe is her biggest test before a potential fourth round against Kuznetsova.

Second Quarter

Madison Keys, 2017 US Open

Madison Keys, 2017 US Open

Elina Svitolina is one of the tournament favourites for the US Open as she looks to claim her first Grand Slam title. The Ukrainian has a tough opener against Katerina Siniakova, but the third round clash with the in form Daria Gavrilova could be her toughest first week opponent. Round four is projected to be Madison Keys, but she has a tough first round against Elise Mertens to worry about first. Elena Vesnina is the first seeded opponent for the American.

Angelique Kerber is the defending champion here, which is hard to believe given how underwhelming she has been in 2017. The German faces big hitting youngster Naomi Osaka in one of the picks of the opening round matches. Lesia Tsurenko is the first seeded opponent she will face, but things get really interesting in round four as Kerber could face French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova has also landed in this section alongside dangerous unseeded player Daria Kasatkina.

Third Quarter
Garbine Muguruza has been in good form since Wimbledon and is in many people’s mind the favourite to go the distance in New York. The Spaniard has a good draw to the second week with Magdalena Rybarikova being the toughest opponent before round four. Petra Kvitova is projected to face Muguruza at this point, but her inconsistency could open the door for Caroline Garcia to make the second week of a third straight slam.

The US Open might be Caroline Wozniacki’s best shot at winning a maiden Grand Slam crown, and with the openness of the draw, she could very well go all the way. The Dane has some dangerous players in her section such as Ekaterina Makarova and Mirjana Lucic-Baroni. Venus Williams has an outside shot of claiming the number one ranking if results go her way, and given her form this year you can not rule out the elder Williams sister prevailing. Venus plays Kiki Bertens in round three, her toughest opponent before the potential Wozniacki clash.

Bottom Quarter
The bottom quarter of this draw features the headline match of the opening round as Maria Sharapova faces second seed Simona Halep. It is not an ideal draw for either player, but it is the pick of the round one matches for the fans. Outside of the opening round, the draw looks good for the winner. Sevastova is the trickiest player in the section and is projected for the fourth round.

Johanna Konta has not had the best preparation for the US Open, but the Brit is still among the outside favourites for the title. Konta’s toughest match in the first week comes in the form of Germany’s Julia Goerges, a big hitter who has resurged somewhat this season. Dominika Cibulkova will be hoping for a good grand slam run at Flushing Meadows, but she has some tough matches including Sloane Stephens in round two and Ana Konjuh in round three.

Predictions
Round of 16:
Pliskova def. Strycova
Kuznetsova def. Vandeweghe
Svitolina def. Keys
Kerber def. Ostapenko
Venus def. Wozniacki
Muguruza def. Garcia
Konta def. Stephens
Halep def. Sevastova

For the most part I believe the seeds will hold up. There are many players capable of upsets, but they are so inconsistent, it is hard to back them. The only non top eight seed I have predicted to make the quarter finals is Venus, but that could easily be wrong too.

Quarter Finals
Pliskova def. Kuznetsova
Svitolina def. Kerber
Muguruza def. Venus
Halep def. Konta

The top four seeds are the strongest players in the draw and I believe they will fill out the semi finals in a rarity for the WTA.

Semi Finals:
Svitolina def. Pliskova
Muguruza def. Halep

These two matches can go either way but I have favoured the fourth and third seeds to get the job done. Pliskova will feel the pressure of keeping her ranking whilst Muguruza has a good record against Halep.

Final:
Muguruza def. Svitolina

I have predicted this final before at the French Open and somehow I have done it again. The draw can go either way, but Muguruza’s form should carry her far and the Spaniard seems to step up in the latter stages. That is why I have gone for her to win the final and take the crown. She seems much better at handling pressure after winning Wimbledon, and she can do well here despite her poor record.

2017 French Open Women’s Preview, Predictions

Posted by Admin on May 27, 2017
Posted in: France, French Open, Niall Clarke, Roland Garros, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

French-open-2016-Tennis
2017 Roland Garros Women’s Preview, Predictions
Niall Clarke, Tennnis Atlantic

The second Grand Slam of the year has arrived and wow, it is as open as ever. Who will run out as Champion of Roland Garros? Let’s break down the draw and find out.

Top Quarter

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World number one Angelique Kerber has been anything but in number one form. The German has struggled to put together a run of results. Can she turn it around for the French Open? She has a tough opener against fellow lefty Ekaterina Makarova. The Russian always brings her best to the big events and will no doubt be a huge test for the German. If Kerber can pass that match, then she should be good to make the quarter finals. Roberta Vinci is the first projected seeded opponent, but she could have a lot of issues with Monica Puig in round one. Petra Kvitova is back as the 15th seed, and it is great to see her making her return to tour. It will be unfair to expect much though, as the in-form Sam Stosur should make it to the fourth round to face Kerber.

With Kerber’s struggles, there could be a chance for Svetlana Kuznetsova to make the semi finals again.  The Russian is a former champion here but has a tough draw ahead. Christina McHale is first up, then possibly France’s Oceane Dodin, who will no doubt have the support of the home fans. Shuai Zhang is the first seeded opponent for Kuznetsova.

Clay has never been Caroline Wozniacki’s favourite surface, but the Dane will be hoping to find the form that got her to the world number one position years ago. The section is a fairly good one for the Dane, at least until the second round where she could face the in-form Kiki Bertens. The Dutchwoman impressed in Nurnberg again and is a former semi finalist here. It will not be a shock to see Bertens do well at Roland Garros again and set up a fourth round match with Kuznetsova.

Second Quarter

Embed from Getty Images

The defending champion is Garbine Muguruza, and once again we do not know which version will show up. Despite struggling for most of the season last year, the Spaniard played close to her best at this tournament in 2016, and as a result went all the way. Can she repeat that success? It is a tough opener against Francesca Schiavone, then the winner of Monica Niculesu vs Ana Kontaveit will also be a test of where Muguruza is at with her game. Yulia Putintseva is the first seeded opponent.

French hopes will be heavy on Kristina Mladenovic’s shoulders. The 13th seed has been in good form this season, but will the pressure of a home crowd get to her? If we are going by game alone then Mladenovic should be safe to make the fourth round with Mirjana Lucic-Baroni being the toughest opponent in the third round. A Mladenovic vs Muguruza fourth round will be fireworks, and it looks like it will happen.

Dominika Cibulkova has not had a great clay court season, but often players can catch fire at the right time. Will the Slovak pick up her form for the French Open? She has a tough match against Lara Arruabarrena in the first round in a possible upset. That could open the door for Timea Bacsinszky to have another good run at Roland Garros.

Venus Williams has never won the French Open, but with the draw so wide open, the former world number one could make a decent run. She has a tough opener against Qiang Wang, then Daria Gavrilova as a potential third round opponent. The Aussie has been in good form recently. Can she translate it to the grand slam stage? I think she might, and it will be an unexpected fourth round against Bacsinszky that could be her reward.

Third Quarter

simona-halep

Simona Halep

A few weeks a go I would have labelled Simona Halep as the favourite to go all the way and win the title, but an ankle injury has put her participation in doubt. If the Romanian can fight through the pain then she should make the third round at least to face Daria Kasatkina. Elena Vesnina is the projected fourth round opponent for Halep, but the Russian could have a struggle against Carla Suarez Navarro in the third round. I think the Spaniard may get through that one and possibly go on to face Halep in the fourth round, depending on how bad her injury is. If the injury is serious then Kasatkina could make the fourth round for the first time.

Her Rome title win sets Elina Svitolina in good stead heading into Roland Garros. The Ukrainian is among the favourites in many peoples minds, but she has a very tough draw ahead of her. Svitolina opens against the streaky Yaroslava Shvedova, then she could potentially face another streaky player in Mona Barthel in the following round. Youngster Ana Konjuh is projected for round three, another tough match for the fifth seed.

Madison Keys has not played much this year due to injury, but she is always a dangerous opponent. Ashleigh Barty is a tough first round opponent, but things could get tougher in round three with Anastasija Sevastova waiting. The Latvian is possibly the favourite to go on to face Svitolina in the fourth round.

Bottom Quarterpliskova-2016

This quarter is arguably the most open of the lot with no former Grand Slam champions in the section. Karolina Pliskova is the second seed, but she has struggled on clay in the past. The Czech has a good draw to the fourth round with Lauren Davis being the toughest opponent on the road. From there it could get difficult though with Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova projected for the round of 16. The Russian could have a tough match with Lucie Safarova, and the big serving Coco Vandeweghe is the first seeded opponent. Pliskova should be safe for the fourth round, but it is tough to predict who will join her there.

Johanna Konta’s section is arguably the softest of the draw on this surface. The Brit does not perform well on clay, so do not be surprised to see her exit early. It opens the door for France’s Caroline Garcia to make the second week if she can handle the home pressure. Agnieszka Radwanska would be the favourite to make it through this section, but her lack of form is worrying. Barbora Strycova could take advantage, but this is a wide open section, solook for an unlikely fourth round match to come out of it.

Predictions

Round of 16:

Stosur def. Kerber
Kuznetsova def. Bertens
Muguruza def. Mladenovic
Bacsinszky def. Gavrilova
Halep def. Suarez Navarro
Svitolina def. Sevastova
Garcia def. Strycova
Pavlyuchenkova def. Pliskova

There are some tough matches to predict in there. Stosur’s form and clay court prowess may be too much for Kerber. Kuznetsova vs. Bertens is a tough call, but I am going with the Russian to edge it. Form says Mladenovic beats Muguruza, but the defending champion might step up to the plate again and the home crowd could put pressure on Mladenovic. Bacsinszky should have enough to beat Gavrilova, and Halep should make the quarter finals if her ankle is back. Svitolina’s good form should carry her past Sevastova. Garcia has a good draw to finally make a grand slam breakthrough, and Pavlyuchenkova will likely beat Pliskova on this surface.

Quarter Finals

Kuznetsova def. Stosur
Muguruza def. Bacsinszky
Svitolina def. Halep
Pavlyuchenkova def. Garcia

Kuznetsova vs. Stosur is a close match, but the Russian has often had the advantage on clay in their head to head matches. I think Muguruza might have played her way into form by this point to beat Bacsinszky. Halep’s injury makes it difficult to back her going too deep, so I think Svitolina is favourite for the semi finals. Home hopes will end here with Garcia unlikely being able to handle the pressure and Pavlyuchenkova beats her.

Semi Finals:

Muguruza def. Kuznetsova
Svitolina def. Pavlyuchenkova

If Muguruza makes it this far, she is playing well, so I see her overcoming Kuznetsova in the semi finals. Svitolina should be too solid for Pavlyuchenkova in the other semi final.

Final:

Muguruza def. Svitolina

This will be a first Grand Slam final for Svitolina and a third for Muguruza. Experience in this situation will play a factor and I think the Spaniard will defend her title. If she is on form, then it is difficult seeing Muguruza being stopped. That said, she could easily bomb out in the first round and destroy a lot of brackets.

Kerber, Halep Dominate Sunday Play @MutuaMadridOpen, Sharapova Wins in 3

Posted by Admin on May 7, 2017
Posted in: ATP, Madrid, Niall Clarke, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Kerber, Halep Dominate Sunday Play @MutuaMadridOpen, Sharapova Wins in 3
Niall Clarke, Tennis AtlanticHalep, New Haven

Maria Sharapova made a winning return to the Mutua Madrid Open after battling from a set down to defeat Mirjana Lucic-Baroni. That and much more in our day two wrap up.

Maria Sharapova returns to Madrid with a win
Much has been made of the decision to give Sharapova a wildcard into the tournament after serving a year long doping ban, but despite the critics the Russian made a winning return to the Caja Magica.

The former world number one dropped her opening service game but immediately broke back in a topsy-turvy first set that saw five breaks of serve. Crucially, Lucic-Baroni scored the final one and was able to hold on to take the set 6-4.

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Like many times in the past, Sharapova had to come from behind. The world number 262 wasted little time getting a break in the second set, but after failing to take any of the four set points on her opponent’s serve, Sharapova failed to serve the set out. She recovered quickly though and immediately broke again to level proceedings 4-6, 6-4.

From there, Sharapova would not go on to lose another game. Sensing the chance to strike, the five time grand slam champion raced through the third set and delivered a bagel to cap off her winning return in Madrid.

“I’m not quite sure how to describe the match because it feels like it happened so fast.” Sharapova said post match.

“I thought she played really well. I was playing against, like, a human slingshot for a while there. Balls were coming so fast and deep. I mean, for a couple of sets, I don’t believe we had too many rallies over three balls.

You know, I wasn’t really happy with my percentage of serve in the first couple of sets. I definitely improved that in the third. I think that really helped me. I got a better read on her serve, as well.

You know, she goes for it. You have to be patient. Sometimes there’s not much you can do. Those are great shots, on the line. I mean, the breakpoints, I missed a couple of second-serve returns. That was obviously an error from my side.

But she came up with some great winners. Just got to hand it to her.”

Sharapova moves on to face Eugenie Bouchard in the second round. The already intriguing affair has added spice due after the Canadian labelled the former world number one a ‘cheater’ and claims she should be ‘banned for life’, something that slightly motivates the Canadian to get the victory more.

“Once I step on the court, everything will be to the side.” Bouchard said after her win vs Alize Cornet.

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“But, you know, inside myself, I think I’ll have a bit more motivation. But it’s very important, once I step on the court, no matter who is on the other side, to focus on the tennis. Or else I think it’s easy to lose concentration.”

Kerber cruises in opener
In the opening match of the day on Manolo Santana stadium, top seed Angelique Kerber cruised to a 6-4, 6-2 victory against Timea Babos.

The German made a quick start to the match, racing into a 3-0 lead with two breaks of serve. Babos was able to claw one break back, but after spending much of the opening set under pressure, she lost out 6-4 to the top seed.

The second set was plain sailing for Kerber. She did not face a single break point and in turn inflicted two breaks of serve on the over-matched Babos. The German successfully served the match out for a 6-4, 6-2 victory, and the perfect start to her Madrid Open campaign.

Kerber reflected on the performance post match: “Once I step on the court, everything will be to the side. But, you know, inside myself, I think I’ll have a bit more motivation. But it’s very important, once I step on the court, no matter who is on the other side, to focus on the tennis. Or else I think it’s easy to lose concentration.”

Halep in a hurry
Simona Halep began her Madrid Open title defence with a crushing 6-1, 6-2 win over Kristyna Pliskova on Manolo Santana court.

The third seed quickly raced into a 5-1 lead as she exposed the slow movement of her opponent. Haleo did not face a single break point in the entire set as she closed it out 6-1. The momentum rolled into set two where an early break of serve set the tone for the second set. Halep broke again later on in the set and almost a third time as Pliskova served to stay in the match. The Czech held however and forced Halep to serve the match out. The Romanian struggled to close the match out and faced two break points before finally converting on the fourth match point.

It was a convincing win for the defending champion against a tough in form opponent. To break the big serve of Pliskova four times in the match is quite an impressive feat, so is winning in under an hour.

“It was quick because I started aggressive.” Halep Said in her post match press conference.

“I had this in my mind, to play my style, to play aggressive, to take her fast. She did great in Prague. She came yesterday. Maybe she didn’t have time to get used to this court.

“But I wanted to do my job from the beginning. I think I did pretty well. I finished strong.”

Muguruza’s Madrid Woes Continue
Garbine Muguruza continues to struggle at her home tournament as once again she lost early, this time to Timea Bacsinszky in the opening round.

Embed from Getty Images

Despite getting off to the perfect start with a break, the Spaniard was unable to sustain a good level and struggled on serve as the Swiss rallied to win six straight games to take the opening set.

Muguruza started the second set better than the first, this time converting her break into a 3-0 lead. But once again the wheels came off and Bacsinszky won six straight games for the second time In the match to knock the fifth seed and home favourite out of the tournament.

Madrid has always been a difficult place for the Spanish number one. Despite having big success on clay, she has been unable to perform at her best in front of her home fans, and she has never made it past the third round of the tournament.

“Honestly, I have zero expectations here because I never really play well here.” Muguruza said post match.

“Maybe there’s circumstances or the conditions. I don’t know what it is exactly.

“But I wish I could perform better today because I’ve been training pretty hard. You know, when the match comes, it’s just not there, you kind of feel, like, sad.”

Carla Suarez Navarro came within a game of going out herself at the hands of Shuai Peng, but the Spaniard was able to win the last nine games to secure a 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 victory and at least send a section of the crowd home happy.

WTA round up
It was a positive day for the American women. Lauren Davis came out on top in a thrilling three set contest against Monica Puig 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(3). Cici Bellis scored a big three set win of her own against Daria Gavrilova 7-5, 5-7, 6-2. CoCo Vandeweghe had less trouble and defeated Ana Kontaveit 6-4,7-6(7).
Kristina Mladenovic progressed to the second round after her opponent Ana Konjuh was forced to retire after the second set. The Croatian won the first 7-5, but after dropping the second 6-3 the teenager decided she could not continue and thus Mladenovic advances. Her compatriot Caroline Garcia was not so fortunate. In her return from back injury, Garcia lost to Chinese qualifier Qiang Wang 6-4, 6-3 on court seven. It was a mixed day for the French as Oceane Dodin recorded a straight sets win over Andrea Petkovic, whilst Pauline Parmentier lost 6-1, 6-0 to Katerina Siniakova.

Svetlana Kuznetsova made a winning start to the tournament by overcoming Yaroslava Shvedova 6-4, 6-3. It was not a good day for the Kazakh hopefuls as Yulia Putintseva also suffered a straight sets loss to Donna Vekic. Sam Stosur had little problem in her match though as she destroyed Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-2, 6-0. Caroline Wozniacki also made it through 7-5, (3)6-7, 6-4 against Monica Niculescu.

There was an upset on court five as 11th seed Elina Svitolina exited the tournament at the hands of Shuai Zhang. It appeared to be plain sailing for the Ukrainian after she took the first set 6-2, but the Chinese player fought back to get a hard earned 2-6,7-6(4),6-2 win.

Francesca Schiavone waved goodbye to the Mutua Madrid Open for the last time as she crashed out to Jo Larsson 5-7, 6-3, 6-1. Mriana Duque-Marino was also victorious over Julia Goerges.

In the all-Czech affair between Barbora Strycova and Lucie Safarova, the seeded player came out on top from a set behind. Strycova emerged victorious 5-7, 6-3, 6-3 on court six. Sorana Cirstea capped off a good day for Romanians with a three set win over the in-form Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

ATP roundup
The WTA took centre stage on the opening Sunday, but the ATP portion of the tournament also kicked off with two first round matches and the final qualifying matches taking place.

David Goffin kicked off his tournament with a 6-2 7-6 (8) win against Karen Khachanov. The Belgian impressively took the first set with a double break, but he was made to work harder for the second by his Russian opponent. Khachanov took an early lead in the second, but Goffin broke straight back and a tiebreak was needed to separate the two players. It was a long breaker, but the higher ranked Goffin came through 10-8 to book his place in the second round.

Fabio Fognini joined the Belgian in the round of 32 after a straight sets win over Joao Sousa. A break in the middle of both sets allowed for an unusually routine win for the every entertaining Italian who faces Rafael Nadal in the second round.

Adrian Mannarino, Denis Istomin, Thomaz Bellucci, Andrey Kuznetsov, Pierre-Hughes Herbert, Mikhail Kukushkin, and Ernesto Escubedo confirmed their entry into the main draw with qualifying wins.