St. Petersburg, RUSSIA
Vera Zvonareva claimed her first victory against a Top 30 player since 2015 as Kiki Bertens retired after the first set of the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy.
Zvonareva won four games in success to storm back from 2-4 down to claim the opener 6-4, and Bertens, who was visibly struggling through illness, felt she could go on no longer thereafter.
“It’s not how I wanted to win,” the WTA World No.197 admitted. “I want to wish her a speedy recovery.”
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia
Dominika Cibulkova booked a second round clash with St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy defending champion Kristina Mladenovic after a decisive win over Sorana Cirstea, 7-5, 6-2.
Cirstea had only beaten Cibulkova once in five previous meetings, but had taken the opening set when last they played at the 2016 Mutua Madird Open, and enjoyed a similarly strong start in Sibur Arena.
This picture of Australian Open finalist Simona Halep lying helpless in a hospital bed lays bare what tennis players put their bodies through.
After a captivating tussle played out in stifling humidity in a floodlit Rod Laver Arena, Caroline Wozniacki held firm to shake off a tenacious challenge from Halep - edging a classic Australian Open final 7-6(2) 3-6 6-4.
LEVEL: Premier
CITY: ST. PETERSBURG
COUNTRY: RUSSIA
PRIZE MONEY: $733,900
DATE: Jan 29 Feb 4, 2018
SURFACE: Hard
SINGLES DRAW SIZE: 32
DOUBLES DRAW SIZE: 16
MELBOURNE, Australia At long last, Caroline Wozniacki is a Grand Slam champion, clinching her maiden major title and securinp a return to world number one with a 7-6(2), 3-6, 6-4 win over top seed Simona Halep.
"I think last year, already for a year and a half, I've proved that I can beat anyone out there on court," an exultant Wozniacki said in her post-championship press conference. "When you're in the finals, I'm not going to lie, I was really nervous before going out there on court, but once I kind of settled in and we had the warmup, I thought, 'I have everything to win.'
