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Serena Williams Faces Daunting Early Challenges at Cincinnati
The two-time champion opens with Daria Gavrilova for the right to face Petra Kvitova in round two. Two-time champion Serena Williams will take the court for the first time since suffering her most lopsided loss as a WTA pro at next week's Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati. The 36-year-old American will open with Australia’s Daria Gavrilova, and if she wins she’ll take on No.8-seeded Petra Kvitova in the second round.
See the full women’s singles draw here:
Women’s singles draw at @CincyTennis
Serena Williams squares off with Daria Gavrilova in round one and the winner of that match faces Petra Kvitova in round 2. pic.twitter.com/g92R0AWUnm
— TennisNow (@Tennis_Now) August 11, 2018
Williams is a two-time champion at Cincinnati, last winning the title in 2015. The 23-time major champion currently owns an 11-4 record in 2018 but she has dropped her last two matches and won a total of seven games combined in them.
Williams is 2-0 lifetime against Gavrilova and has never dropped a set. The American owns a 5-1 lifetime record againt Kvitova but lost the pair's last meeting in 2015 at Madrid.
She's baaa-ack!
Hey there @serenawilliams 👋#CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/eQxUQ1nxhS
— Western & Southern Open (@CincyTennis) August 11, 2018
There are several enticing first-rounders at Cincinnati. Here’s five that we’ll be watching closely:
[9] Karolina Pliskova v Agnieszka Radwanska
[WC] Victoria Azarenka v Carla Suarez Navarro
[14] Venus Williams v Maria Sakkari
Johanna Konta v Aryna Sabalenka
[10] Julia Goerges v Kristina Mladenovic
If the seeds hold, the quarterfinals shape up as follows:
[1] Halep v [7] Muguruza
[4] Kerber v [6] Garcia
[8] Kvitova v [3] Stephens
[2] Wozniacki v [5] Svitolina
Main draw play begins on Sunday at the Lindner Family Tennis Center.
Nadal, Djokovic in Same Quarter of Cincinnati Draw
The Serb begins his quest for a first Cincinnati title in a tricky quarter of the draw. Novak Djokovic has been drawn into Rafael Nadal’s quarter at next week’s Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati. The top-seeded Nadal is a 2013 champion at Cincinnati, while Djokovic is a five-time runner-up at Cincinnati that has yet to win the title.
See the full men’s singles draw here:
Here’s the men’s singles draw for @CincyTennis
Who were the draw Gods mean to? pic.twitter.com/vFIKKs6HW3
— TennisNow (@Tennis_Now) August 10, 2018
Djokovic opens with American Steve Johnson in the first round and could face Marco Cecchinato of Italy in what would be a rematch of this year’s epic Roland Garros quarterfinal in the second.
Nadal could face Canada’s Milos Raonic after a first-round bye.
Seven-time champion Roger Federer, making his first appearance on the hardcourts this summer, will face either Peter Gojowczyk or Joao Sousa after his first round bye. Meanwhile, Federer has been hard at work in Ohio.
The Swiss boys, Roger & Seve 🇨🇭⚽😊#Federer pic.twitter.com/5ts5N7he2Q
— Suama (@suamax8) August 11, 2018
There are several enticing first-rounders at Cincinnati. Here’s six that we’ll be watching closely:
Denis Shapovalov v Frances Tiafoe
Stefanos Tsitsipas v David Goffin
Andrey Rublev v Kei Nishikori
Stan Wawrinka v Diego Schwartzman
Lucas Pouille v Andy Murray
John Isner v Sam Querrey.
If the seeds hold, the quarterfinals shape up as follows:
[1] Nadal v [5] Dimitrov
[3] Zverev v [7] Cilic
[6] Anderson v [4] Del Potro
[2] Federer v [8] Thiem
Main draw play begins on Sunday at the Lindner Family Tennis Center.
Watch: Stan Wawrinka Is Back to Making Magic Again
The Swiss didn't get the win against Rafael Nadal but his loss in Toronto may have been a big step in his comeback.
Stan Wawrinka didn’t get the win against Rafael Nadal on Thursday night in Toronto, in fact he didn’t even take a set before he fell to the Spaniard 7-5, 7-6(4) in a thrilling night session battle, but the Swiss did make some significant strides in form in what many are calling the best match of the week at the Rogers Cup.
More: 19-Year-Old Tsitsipas Stuns Djokovic to Reach First Masters 1000 Quarterfinal
Wawrinka played Nadal close the whole way, and he really turned up his tennis after falling behind by a break in the second set.
The above passing shot was just one shining example of the caliber of shotmaking that Wawrinka was able to produce in this match, and it was enough to truly fluster Nadal at moments, but ultimately not enough to get the Stanimal a win.
Welcome back to the big stage, @stanwawrinka. We've missed you. #RogersCup pic.twitter.com/2kOpK8nSwH
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 10, 2018
Such has been the case in 2018 for Wawrinka, who falls to 3-17 lifetime against Nadal and 8-12 on the season. But if Wawrinka’s swashbuckling form against Nadal on Thursday is any indication, he could be about to turn a corner on the hardcourts. We’ve been waiting for him to emerge in a season that has seen him struggle to return to the tour after undergoing double knee surgery late in 2017, and perhaps the experience of going toe-to-toe with Nadal may be the moment where Wawrinka finally starts to believe that he can once again play with the best.
Out-STAN-ding.#RogersCup pic.twitter.com/ofe68zxFLg
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 10, 2018
Tsitsipas: Playing in Incredible Era Fueling Next Gen Rise
Stefanos Tsitsipas says the ATP's Next Gen is fueled by the greats of the game and a healthy element of competion among themselves.
Stefanos Tsitsipas is excited about the future of his tennis, and he’s also excited about where the sport is headed. After his victory over Dominic Thiem on Wednesday at Rogers Cup, the 19-year-old Greek spoke about ATP’s Next Gen, saying that there’s quite a bit of competiton and camaraderie fueling the group, and pushing them higher in 2018.
“First of all, they're all great guys, so it's great to share a locker room with a bunch of motivated guys that are actually pretty nice and, you know, fun to be around,” Tsitsipas said. “So it's a good atmosphere in the locker room.”
Tsitsipas, who is looking to improve his current ranking of 27 and will face Novak Djokovic in round of 16 on Thursday in Toronto, says it’s unbelievable to start his career with the game’s greatest forces still in control at the top of the rankings.
“And I just think it's such an unbelievable era of tennis, one of the best, I think, in the history because you saw the legends like Roger and Rafa and, you know, Novak, Murray, all these guys still playing,” he said. “Whereas, you have guys like [Alexander] Zverev and me and [Andrey] Rublev and Frances [Tiafoe], all these young guys coming up that are so good and breaking into the top 30s and top 50s, stuff like this.”
Tsitsipas says that the strength of the field leads to exciting tennis, week-in and week-out, like at last week’s Citi Open where four players aged 21 and younger contested the semifinals at an ATP event for the first time since 1995.
An injured lion still wants to roar. @adidastennis | #heretocreate pic.twitter.com/MZ6YN3d39S
— Stefanos Tsitsipas (@StefTsitsipas) August 4, 2018
“So it's unbelievable where the tennis level is at now,” he said. “Every week you'll have crazy matches, and it's a really exciting time of tennis. You know, and I feel like the young generation, we all kind of push each other because we're all so motivated. We're young. We want to play every week and do better than each other.”
It’s a healthy environment, says Tsitsipas, who fell to Zverev in straight sets last week in the semis at Washington, D.C., and it is the competition that is fueling the rise of the ATP’s generation next.
“So it's a really healthy rivalry, and I feel that's why we've all come so far in such a short period of time,” he said. “We're all just pushing each other to do better and work harder.”
Personal Issues Revealed: Serena Williams Opens Up on Postpartum Struggles
The 36-year-old had a down week and wasn't afraid to share that fact with the public. Serena Williams has taken to Instagram to explain the “personal reasons” that kept her out of this week’s Rogers Cup in Montreal. The 23-time major champion says that postpartum emotions got the best of her and she fell into a funk as she tried to find the balance between her personal and professional life.
“Last week was not easy for me,” she wrote. “Not only was I accepting some tough personal stuff, but I just was in a funk. Mostly, I felt like I was not a good mom.”
“I read several articles that said postpartum emotions can last up to 3 years if not dealt with,” she wrote. “I like communication best. Talking things through with my mom, my sisters, my friends let me know that my feelings are totally normal. It’s totally normal to feel like I’m not doing enough for my baby.”
Since she gave birth to her daughter Olympia last September, Williams has stressed that being a role model is more important to her than ever. She has talked often about her willingness to embrace the responsibility that comes with being a superstar athlete, and she has been more open with the public about issues, particularly motherhood, but also women’s rights and equality.
“We have all been there,” Williams continued. “I work a lot, I train, and I’m trying to be the best athlete I can be. However, that means although I have been with her every day of her life, I’m not around as much as I would like to be. Most of you moms deal with the same thing. Whether stay-at-home or working, finding that balance with kids is a true art. You are the true heroes.”
Several stars took to Twitter to praise Williams and show her support on Monday. Here are a few samplings of that support.
You’re a badass lady !
— andyroddick (@andyroddick) August 6, 2018
I’ve been a fan of Serena’s for nearly 20 years, she is as brilliant an athlete as there has ever been – but to watch the honesty, strength and vulnerability she’s displayed as a working mother has been jaw-dropping. My constant respect from one working mother to another. https://t.co/JQ8DSyO2fZ
— Sally Field (@sally_field) August 7, 2018
Serena withdrew from #RogersCup citing "personal reasons".
Here's what she meant…📺: #TCLive
Watch now→ https://t.co/tPoe44TDv0 pic.twitter.com/zcKaTdyArK— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) August 7, 2018
After Citi Open Title, Kuznetsova is Praying for U.S. Open Wild Card
The Russian's current ranking is only good enough to get her into qualifying.
2004 U.S. Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova rises 41 spots in the rankings to return to the top 100 at No.87 this week after winning her second Citi Open title, but her rise is too late for the U.S. Open rankings cutoff which leaves Kuznetsova hoping for a main draw wild card into the event.
“I’m praying to get a wild card for U.S. Open because so far I’m into the qualies. I would love to play main draw and hopefully I will be lucky enough to get one, but we’ll see,” she said.
Kuznetsova dropped from inside the Top 70 to 128 after Wimbledon when she didn’t defend her quarterfinal points at Eastbourne or SW19.
The 33-year-old is just finally finding her form after making her return from off-season wrist surgery this spring. It has taken her time—no surprise to anybody who has seen other pros attempt to return from similar surgeries (see Juan Martin del Potro).
“I’ve done it many times, coming back, but sometimes I felt like low on motivation because you work, work, work and you don’t succeed and you work, work, work and then you still have pain,” she told reporters after saving four match points to defeat Donna Vekic 4-6, 7-6(7), 6-2. “I think I also did some bad decisions, but for me it was first time learning from surgery. My doctor who did the surgery told me ‘You should be ready for clay,’ and I was trying to get ready for Indian Wells and Miami and I was not ready.”
After reeling off five consecutive wins Kuznetsova has improved her record to 9-10 on the season. She has also demonstrated that she’s in good enough form to deserve a wild card—something that is more important than past results to the major tournaments that are tasked with these difficult decisions.
For now the Russian will return to Miami to practice, because she missed the Rogers Cup qualifying due to her run in D.C., and then play Cincinnati, where she has received a wild card. A few more wins there and it might become difficult for the U.S. Open to turn her down.
Watch: Speedy Noah Rubin is So Fast He Shredded His Shoe
The American notched the biggest win of his career, and lost a shoe in the process.
You have your footwork, you have your fast footwork and you have your BLAZING FAST footwork. For American Noah Rubin it was most certainly the latter on Day 4 of the Citi Open—check out this outrageous play by the 22-year-old World No. 152. Rubin comes at a full sprint from way behind the Washington, D.C. sign to track down this dropper from John Isner and when he's made the shot he pirouettes athletically, just barely missing the net.
Outrageous!
Rubin went on to claim the 6-4, 7-6(6) victory over second-seeded Isner, it was the biggest of his career by ranking.
Unfortunately the American did suffer one loss during the match. He ran so fast on that point that his shoe did not make it through the game. See the video below to see the damage he did to his trainer. Rubin would later toss the shoe into the crowd, not the best souvenir but a souvenir nonetheless.
Nick Kyrgios Pulls the Plug at Citi Open
The oft-injured Aussie says his hip is not quite ready to face the rigors of match play. A few days after retiring from his quarterfinal match against Cameron Norrie in Atlanta, Australia’s Nick Kyrgios has pulled out of the Citi Open in Washington, D.C., sending Lucky Loser Jason Kubler into the main draw. The fifth-seeded Aussie made the following statement on Twitter:
Absolutely gutted to have to withdraw from @CitiOpen I’ve done all I can to get my hip ready but ran out of time. I want to thank Keely & her team for the support and apologise to the fans. I’ll be back!
❤️🙏🏽— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) August 1, 2018
Kyrgios has played nine events in 2018, claiming a hardcourt title in Brisbane and reaching semifinals in Stuttgart and London on his preferred surface, grass.
The Aussie has been bothered by injuries throughout his career, and has suffered elbow and hip problems over the last two seasons. Nevertheless he is still ranked at 17 in the world and hopes to be fit for upcoming events in Toronto, Cincinnati and the U.S. Open.
Elise Mertens Hires German Coach Dieter Kindlmann
The Belgian is aiming higher in the second half of her breakout season.
In the midst of a breakout season, Belgium’s Elise Mertens has made a coaching change. The World No.15 has hired German coach Dieter Kindlmann, who has previously worked as Maria Sharapova’s hitting partner and been a coach of Madison Keys, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Laura Robson.
Kindlmann, 36 and a former World No.130, helped guide Keys to the U.S. Open final last season before the pair parted ways this May.
22-year-old Mertens reached the Australian Open semifinal this January and owns three WTA titles this season. She is 11th in the WTA’s race to Singapore standings.
"I think it was time for a change because you need somebody who has the experience already," Mertens told WTA Insider Courtney Nguyen this week at San Jose. "I'm ranked No.15 and I'm trying to go upwards and I think he's a person who can help me."
Mertens was previously coached by Robbe Ceyssens and later, Rick Vleeshouvers.
She’s hoping that Kindlmann can take her higher.
“I think after Australia I realized that I had it in me,” she said. “You always have to believe in yourself. Sometimes it's more difficult than others. But I believe I can do great stuff and go upwards."
Andy Murray and Victoria Azarenka Take Wild Cards into Cincinnati
A pair of former champions are looking to catch fire on the U.S. hardcourts.
A pair of past champions and former multiple Grand Slam winners have taken wild cards into the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati.
The tournament announced on Thursday that two-time champion Andy Murray and 2013 champion Victoria Azarenka will be joining the 56-player singles field in their respective draws.
Welcome back to Cincinnati, champs! 🏆
2013 winner Victoria Azarenka and two-time champion Andy Murray awarded wild cards into 2018 #CincyTennis: https://t.co/BtToPamtY7 pic.twitter.com/X6OdtsTr6C
— Western & Southern Open (@CincyTennis) July 26, 2018
“The resumés for Vika and Andy really speak for themselves,” said Tournament Director Andre Silva. “I think many tennis fans are eager to see each of them back on the court, and we are pleased to offer them both wild cards to play the Western & Southern Open.”
Azarenka won the 2013 edition of the Western and Southern Open, defeating Serena Williams in a dramatic third-set tiebreaker. She will play Cincinnati for the first time since giving birth to her son Leo in December of 2016. Murray is the 2008 and 2011 champion at Cincinnati and he holds a 31-10 lifetime record on the fast hardcourts at the Lindner Family Tennis Center.
Three more men and four more women will receive wild cards into the singles draws at Cincinnati before the tournament’s main draw play commences on August 12.
