Bianca Andreescu battles back to beat Petra Kvitova in Guadalajara - UBITENNIS
Connect with us

Latest news

Bianca Andreescu battles back to beat Petra Kvitova in Guadalajara

The Canadian bounced back after dropping the first set to beat the Czech.

Published

on

BIANCA ANDREESCU OF CANADA - PHOTO: ALBERTO NEVADO / MMO

Bianca Andreescu is into the third round of the GDL Open in Guadalajara after beating the number 16 seed Petra Kvitova 3-6, 6-2, 6-0 in two hours and 11 minutes.

 

The Toronto native served one ace and won 63% of her first serve points to beat the leftie who struggled with her serve. It was the first time the two players have locked horns on the Tour.

“The first set kind of just went past me,” wtatennis.com quoted Andreescu as saying afterwards. “[Kvitova] was hitting some very big shots, and her serve was very effective, and I felt like my emotions got the better of me as well towards the end of the first set. But I bounced back. 
“I just wanted to make her play as much as I could, use my serve to my advantage, and just put pressure on her return, and I think I did that really well. And just fighting, competing really well.”

The first set stayed on serve until 2-1 with Andreescu serving. Kvitova had five chances to break before she was able to get the first break of the match. Andreescu fought back in the very next game and broke right back as the number 16 seed wasn’t able to consolidate the break but broke once again to take a 4-2 lead in the next game. That break proved enough for Kvitova who served out the first set despite getting broken back twice.

The second set was more of the same as Andreescu broke early to take a 2-0 lead but couldn’t consolidate and the next two games were breaks of serve before the Canadian finally held on to take a 4-1 lead. She went up a double break but was broken again. However, she broke serve once more to seal the second set and send it to a decider.

Riding the momentum of winning the second set Andreescu broke in the first game of the third set and managed to turn that break into a double break. Kvitova saved four match points before the Canadian was able to seal the win and book her spot in the next round.

Bouchard gets first WTA 1000 win in four years

Genie Bouchard, who unfortunately had to retire last week in Cluj-Napoca, secured her first win at a WTA 1000 since 2019 after beating the American qualifier Kayla Day in straight sets 7-5, 6-3.

The Montreal native won 65% of her first serve points in a match that lasted one hour and 25 minutes.

The first set stayed on serve until 6-5 when the Canadian found herself having two set points and broke the American to take the first set sealing it with a powerful forehand.

In the second set after holding the opening service game, she broke early but at 3-1 Day fought back and managed to get the break back and even the set at 3-3.

At 4-3, Bouchard broke the American to love and served out the match to book a date with Jelena Ostapenko on Wednesday.

Latest news

Grand Slam Glory Is The Main Goal For America’s Coco Gauff

Published

on

Cori Gauff - Australian Open 2023 (Twitter @AustralianOpen)

 Coco Gauff has big aspirations and she isn’t afraid to speak openly about them. 

 

Following her second round win over Julia Grabher at the French Open on Thursday, the 19-year-old played down the fixation on her current ranking which is No.6 in the world. Gauff admits that her position is something that doesn’t concern her in the sport unless she is sitting at the top of the world rankings. 

“I’m not a ranking person at all. The goal is No.1, and I think that’s when I would care about the ranking,” she stated in her press conference. 
“Anything in between two and 10, I mean, I’m going to be honest, it’s not that important to me.”

Gauff first broke into the world’s top 10 in September 2022 and has remained there ever since. At the time she was the youngest top 10 debutant on the WTA Tour since Nicole Vaidisova in 2006. She has been ranked as high as No.4 in the world.

“When I made the top 10, it was a cool accomplishment, but for me it was never about staying there. I only want to go upwards,” she said. “The biggest goal is to win Grand Slams, and I think the ranking will come with Grand Slams.”

It was 12 months ago at Roland Garros where Gauff achieved her best performance at a major by reaching the final before losing in straight sets to Iga Swiatek. The tournament is her best Grand Slam in terms of match wins (13) and is the only one where she has reached the quarter-finals or better on multiple occasions. Gauff also won the French Open girls’ title back in 2018 at the age of just 14. 

Five years on from the junior triumph, she has become a regular fixture on the Tour. So much so, that there is already another generation of players on the rise. One of those includes Russia’s Mirra Andreeva who says her ultimate goal in tennis is to break Novak Djokovic’s all-time Grand Slam title record which currently stands at 22. Andreeva, who is only the seventh player under the age of 17 to reach the third round of Roland Garros since 1993, will be Gauff’s next opponent. 

“I think she knows the game well, and she’s proved her position to be here and proved in her results in the past, so I don’t think the age thing matters,” Gauff commented on her next opponent. 
“I’ve never thought about my age, to be honest. This will be my third time playing someone younger than me.
“Honestly, the first two times I didn’t even think about it because when you step on the court, you just see your opponent, and you don’t really think about the personal side of things. You just see forehand, backhand, serve, and all the same.”

Gauff will play Andreeva on Saturday. 

Continue Reading

Latest news

Gael Monfils Withdraws From French Open Clash With Rune

Published

on

Image via https://twitter.com/ATPTour_ES

After winning a marathon first round clash at the French Open on Tuesday, Gael Monfils has been forced to pull out of the tournament due to a left wrist injury. 

 

The 36-year-old defeated Sebastian Baez in a five-set thriller in his opening match at his home Grand Slam which took place late at night on the Phillip Chatrier Court. Monfils’ win was the first he has recorded on the Tour since returning to action following a foot problem. He suffered a plantar fascia rupture in his right foot last year which sidelined him from competition for seven months.

Now Monfils’ latest injury setback concerns his wrist which he started to feel pain in whilst playing against Baez. He has subsequently been advised to not continue playing to avoid worsening the issue. 

“Actually, physically, I’m quite fine. I was quite happy this morning. I woke up quite good, but I had the problem with my wrist that I cannot solve,” Monfils said in a late-night press conference on Wednesday. “Felt it during the match, actually the whole match [yesterday]. And unfortunately even [though] we pushed it ’til tonight, just came back again for another exam, and yes, waited a little bit.
“The doctor said [it] was not good to play with that type of injury. Yesterday was actually very risky, and then today definitely said I should stop.”

Monfils has been diagnosed with a Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex (TFCC) injury. He has undergone an Arthroscan (MRI) which will establish how long he may be sidelined from the sport. The Frenchman is set to find out the results later today. 

“I think had it been totally broken it would have been more serious, but it’s partial,” Monfils said. “So I’ll know more about the length of time when I’m off the courts. But the doctor said he hopes I’ll be able to play on grass.”

Due to his withdrawal, Danish sixth seed Holger Rune will move into the third round where he will play either Genaro Alberto Olivieri or Andrea Vavassori who have both come through the qualifying rounds. 

As for the schedule of play at Roland Garros, Monfils’ match was set to take place in the evening slot. It has been replaced by Alexander Zverev’s clash with Alex Molcan. 

Continue Reading

Latest news

Dissatisfied Aryna Sabalenka Reaches French Open Third Round

Published

on

Aryna Sabalenka has sealed her place in the last 32 of the French Open for the fourth consecutive year after overcoming a spirited performance from qualifier Iryna Shymanovich. 

 

The world No.2 powered her way to a 7-5, 6-2, win over her compatriot in a match where she at times struggled to maintain consistency in her shot-making. Sabalenka’s powerful hitting produced some stunning shots but also resulted in some costly errors which proved pragmatic at times.

“I’m not really happy with my game today,” said Sabalenka, who hit 23 unforced errors compared to 21 winners. “I’m going to work a little bit tomorrow and make sure I’m ready for the next round a little bit better than I was today.” 

The first set was a far-from-perfect performance from the reigning Australian Open champion who produced a total of 17 unforced errors. Sabalenka looked to be on a good footing early after breaking for a 4-2 lead but her inconsistency enabled Shymanovich to claw her way back to level. Nudging ahead to a 6-5 lead, the second seed snatched the opener after prevailing in a marathon seven-deuce service game. Two set points came and went before Sabalenka converted her third with the help of a drop shot from her opponent landing out. 

Sabalenka, who is challenging Iga Swiatek for the No.1 spot in Paris, started the second set emphatically by breaking for a 2-0 lead. However, she failed to capitalize on the opportunity as once again Shymanovich broke back. Prompting her to look towards her entourage in the crowd in frustration.

Despite the blip, the 25-year-old bounced back to crush her opponent’s hope of a shock win. Surging to a 5-2 lead, Sabalenka worked her way to three match points with a powerful forehand strike that forced her rival to return the ball out. She prevailed on her second opportunity after a Shymanovich shot crashed into the net.

“It was a tough match,” Sabalenka reflected. “She played really great tennis and I’m happy that no matter what I was able to fight for every point. I’m happy to get this win.” 

Sabalenka will next take on either Russia’s Kamilla Rakhimova or Magdalena Frech. Should she win that match, she will achieve her best-ever run at the French Open. Roland Garros is the only Grand Slam where she is yet to reach the semi-final stage.


Continue Reading
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending