STUTTGART, GERMANY
Andrea Petkovic won her second three-set encounter of the weekend to seal victory and a semifinal berth for the Germans in their Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group tie in Stuttgart.
In the day's first rubber, Angelique Kerber made up for her surpise loss on Saturday with a straight sets win against a tired Samantha Stosur, giving Petkovic the chance to secure Germany's progress.
And, as she had done in her match with Stosur on Saturday, Petkovic started quickly, winning the first set 6-3 to put herself in control. But once again she allowed her opponent back into it, with just the one break needed for Gajdosova to take the second and force her way back into the match.
And the gutsy Australian sealed an early break in the third as the tie looked to be heading towards a deciding fifth rubber.
But Petkovic’s nerves of steel, perhaps the defining feature of this tie, were apparent once more as she hauled herself back into the set, levelling at 4-4, before eventually taking the third set 8-6 to put Germany through to the semifinals.
Earlier on, Stosur failed to recapture the form that had put the visitors so close to a commanding lead on Saturday.
Kerber, by contrast, had banished the memories of losing having taken the first set against Gajdosova in the opening rubber of the tie.
In a match lasting just 88 minutes the German held her nerve as unforced errors flowed off her opponents racket to seal victory 62 64 and put the hosts within a point of a return to the semifinals.
KRAKOW, POLAND
Maria Sharapova produced her best to see off Agnieszka Radwanska in straight sets and claim the decisive point as four-time champion Russia beat Poland 4-0 to book its place in the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group semifinals.
Sharapova hit 39 winners to Radwanska’s 16 as the Russian won 61 75 in one hour and 44 minutes to secure victory for the visitors in the first of Sunday’s reverse singles rubbers. For all that Sharapova has achieved in the sport, it is the first time she has ever won the clinching point in a Fed Cup tie.
The world No. 2 said: “It’s a great feeling to be able to finish it off in the way that we did. It became really tense at the end, I’ve never been in that position and I definitely felt like I had a lot of responsibility and I really wanted to do that today.
”
Sharapova was fired up from the start and claimed the immediate break as she stormed forward to put away the drive volley with ease. Radwanska struggled to cope in the face of Sharapova’s constant attack and dropped serve twice more as Sharapova went on to claim the opening set for the loss of just one game in 33 minutes.
A sign of Sharapova’s confidence came in her repeated successful use of the drop shot and she edged ahead with the break for 3-1 in the second set with a stunning forehand pass down the line. However, serving for the match at 5-3, she got tight and Radwanska broke for the first time on her sixth break point of the match, albeit she was gifted it courtesy of a Sharapova double fault.
Serving to stay in the match, Radwanska saved two match points as Sharapova made consecutive forehand errors and the Pole levelled at 5-5. Sharapova averted danger with a hold from 15-30 down in her next service game and finally she claimed victory on her third match point before rushing over to embrace her captain, Anastasia Myskina.
Sharapova said: “I was playing in Krakow in front of Aga’s family and all her supporters in Poland. It’s a difficult match with her coach on the bench as well so it’s like everything was against me today. I just tried to keep my focus and focus on myself and I had a great team supporting me.
“Aga always plays really well right to the end and she made it really difficult for me but I’m really happy I came through.”
It brought to an end a thoroughly disappointing weekend for Radwanska, who was playing in her hometown for the first time. The world No. 8 was deeply upset after losing to Svetlana Kuznetsova in three sets on Saturday and although Sharapova was too good on this occasion, she did leave the Krakow Arena with a sense of regret at the amount of missed break point chances.
Radwanska said: “Definitely she was playing unbelievable today. Everything was working for her today. I think I started a bit too slow. She just had an answer for everything today.
“Of course I had so many chances, even in the first set. When you don’t really use those [chances] against those kind of players, then it turns against you. I think that was also the key in the match.”
Caption this pic.... Emoticono wink
#FedCup
#innerpeace
#meditationduringpractice
Warming down after a long, but good week back at training Emoticono smile
#backonthebike
#teampetra #pojd
GENOA, ITALY
Camila Giorgi overcame French No. 1 Alize Cornet to give the home side a 2-0 lead after the first day's play in Italy's Fed Cup by BNP Paribas tie with France.
Sara Errani had earlier defeated Caroline Garcia in straight sets to end the Frenchwoman’s undefeated record in the competition.
Cornet, ranked 12 places higher than the Giorgi, had edged two of their three meetings in 2015, but the Italian had won their only clay court encounter, in Strasbourg.
And Giorgi started the stronger, winning the only break in a tight first set and closing it out in 46 minutes.
The Italian then accelerated away from Cornet, capitalising fully on the two break point opportunities that came her way in the second set.
Despite some good play from the Frenchwoman to force Giorgi to serve it out, she was unable to stop the young Italian from recording a 64 62 win in one hour and 18 minutes, and put Italy firmly in charge of the tie.
Errani had got the home side off to the perfect start in the day's opening rubber as she got the better of Caroline Garcia in two tight sets.
The 21-year-old Frenchwoman had won both of her previous two singles and two doubles matches, not to mention both of her two career meetings with Errani - on clay in Madrid and on the grass of Wimbledon last year – but there was to be no repeat on Saturday.
In a first set that witnessed eight breaks of serve, the two battled to a tiebreak that was dominated by the Italian.
Errani continued to pressure her opponent and achieved the decisive break to win the match, 76(2) 75 in just over 2 hours and give the hosts the opening point of the tie.
KRAKOW, POLAND
Maria Sharapova defeated the younger Radwanska sister, Urszula, to put Russia firmly in control of their Fed Cup by BNP Paribas tie in Krakow.
The older Radwanska, Agnieszka, had earlier succumbed to a three-set defeat at the hands of a stubborn Svetlana Kuznetsova in the first rubber.
In her first match since losing the Australian Open final to Serena Williams last week, Sharapova was quick out the blocks and raced away with the first set, winning without the loss of a game in 34 minutes.
And the second set looked to be heading the same way as the world No. 2 broke early on to take a 2-0 lead. Radwanska, however, would not crumble so easily this time, breaking back to level the set before breaking Sharapova a second time to go 3-2 up.
Unfortunately for Radwanska, the Russian was able to find another gear, raising her game to break straight back before powering her way through the next three games to complete a 60 63 win, and give Poland a mountain to climb on day two.
Agnieszka Radwanska would have been considered by many the favourite to give Poland the early advantage over Russia in their Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group first round clash against Svetlana Kuznetsova in Saturday’s opening rubber at the Krakow Arena.
The Russian two-time Grand Slam champion, however, went into the rubber with a dominant record against the Pole having won 10 of their 14 career meetings and soon showed why as she too an opening set featuring five breaks of serve.
An early break in the second to lead 2-0 seemed to have put the match beyond Radwanska only for the Polish No. 1 to hit her form and win six straight games to level the contest.
Momentum swung back in the visitors favour in the final set with Kuznetsova looking imperious, losing just six points behind her own serve and attacking her opponents second serve to break twice.
The victory was sealed with an ace on her first match point to wrap up a 64 26 62 victory in 2 hours and 17 minutes.
#TeamPoland ready for the official
#FedCup dinner!
Made it to the top!
But somehow have to get down..
#CrossTraining
Argentina’s hopes of reaching the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group play-offs for the second year running – and just the second time since 2009 – appear to have been dashed before they have even begun.
Or so a glance at this weekend's draw might have them believe.
Friday’s draw for the clash between Maria-Jose Gaidano’s Argentina and USA in Buenos Aires pitted world No. 121 Paula Ormaechea and No. 197 Maria Irigoyen against the mighty Venus and Serena Williams, respectively.
The American sisters, who now have 56 different Grand Slam singles, doubles and mixed titles between them after Serena’s recent Australian Open triumph, present a formidable challenge for the Argentines.
In the host nation’s favour, at least, is the surface. Ormaechea certainly gave Venus a run for her money in the pair’s only previous meeting – which the American ultimately won in three sets on the clay of Roland Garros in 2012.
Irigoyen and Serena have never played before, but the Argentine will hope the 196 places between them in the rankings will be negated by the world No. 1s relative unfamiliarity with clay, having not contested a match on the surface since losing to Garbine Muguruza in the second round at last year’s Roland Garros.
Serena and Venus are competing in the same Fed Cup team for the first time since they defeated Sweden in the 2013 World Group play-offs.
They'll hope their influence can pull them out of the doldrums of World Group II. USA is featuring in the second tier of the competition for the first time since 2012, and only the second time since the formation of World Group II after they were stunned from 2-1 up by France in last year’s play-offs.
More to follow...
R1: Paula Ormaechea (ARG) v Venus Williams (USA)
R2: Maria Irigoyen (ARG) v Serena Williams (USA)
R3: Paula Ormaechea (ARG) v Serena Williams (USA)
R4: Maria Irigoyen (ARG) v Venus Williams (USA)
R5: Tatiana Bua/Nadia Podoroska (ARG) v Taylor Townsend/Coco Vandeweghe (USA)
KRAKOW, POLAND
Maria Sharapova returns to Fed Cup by BNP Paribas for the first time since 2012 as the world No. 2 lines up for four-time champion Russia in a mouth-watering World Group first-round clash against Poland in Krakow this weekend.
After the long journey from Melbourne where she finished runner-up to Serena Williams in the Australian Open final last weekend, Sharapova will face Urszula Radwanska in the second match on Saturday, following the completion of the opening singles rubber between Agnieszka Radwanska and Svetlana Kuznetsova.
In what will only be her fifth Fed Cup match, world No. 2 Sharapova is the overwhelming favourite against an opponent ranked 133 places below her.
The Russian won their only encounter in straight sets in Los Angeles in 2009 and arrives in Poland after a run of good form Down Under.
Sharapova said: “I think I can take a lot of positives from the whole month in Australia. I had a lot of tough matches, a lot of tough comebacks. Getting a title in Brisbane, carrying that confidence over to Melbourne and losing in the final. But as far as matches, I’m certainly ready to go out and play this weekend.”
The Russians will have to contend with a raucous local support in the hometown of the Radwanska sisters, who both play their first ever professional match in Krakow this weekend. The 15,000 seater Krakow Arena is sold out but it is the sort of occasion that Sharapova will undoubtedly relish.
Sharapova said:
“I think many things as expected when you are playing an away match might go against you as far as the court, the atmosphere and the crowd. But overall I think once the team gets out on the court, no matter who we are facing, we thrive on the challenges. I think the importance is the focus on what we have to do.
”
Agnieszka’s opener against Kuznetsova, who like Sharapova is also making her first appearance in the competition since 2012, is expected to provide a thrilling start to the tie. Agnieszka may be the higher-ranked player at No. 8 in the world rankings but she comes up against a 29-year-old opponent with stacks of experience having won the competition three times and a Grand Slam title on two occasions.
My idols!!! (the best czech-slovak actors)
Maria Sharapova will play for Russia in its Fed Cup tie against Poland on February 7-8, 2015.
Sharapova has not played Fed Cup since February 2012, when she defeated Spain's Silvia Soler-Espinosa in Moscow.
The Russian wants to play the Olympics in Rio in 2016, and must play Fed Cup in 2015 in order to qualify.
Poland will likely have world No. 6 Agnieszka Radwanska on their team.
Radwanska played Fed Cup in 2014, winning three matches against Sweden and three matches against Spain to help Poland return to the World Group. A tennis magazine in Poland reports that the tie will be held in Krakow, in a new stadium that holds 15,000 people.
TOURNAMENT INFO
TIER: International
PRIZE MONEY: $250,000
SURFACE: Hard
DIRECTOR: Geoffrey Rowe
The WTA's tour stop in the Thai beach resort town of Pattaya City has grown significantly in stature and status since its maiden staging at the Dusit Resort Pattaya in 1991, highlighted by being upgraded from Tier IV to International-level in 2009.
Previous PTT Thailand Open champions include Conchita Martínez, who netted the last of her 33 WTA titles here in 2005, and two-time winners Vera Zvonareva and Daniela Hantuchova.
"I play well under good conditions and surroundings," Hantuchova said.
"I feel comfortable playing in Pattaya City. I love the weather, the courts are in the hotel and near the beach, and the people are so nice."
The tournament not only focuses on attracting the world's top tennis stars, but also supports local Thai competitors by offering them wildcards into the qualifying and main draws. Pattaya City earned acclaim in 2010 when players voted it the WTA International Tournament Of The Year.
Can't wait to play in front of 15000 fans at the Krakow Arena next weekend!
Preparations uder way for
#FedCup
#TeamPoland
A cup of coffee before todays practice...and a selfie Emoticono smile
SELFIE OF THE DAY,
My favorite picture from the first photo shooting for Porsche.
#911
#PorscheMuseum
Even Centre Court gets a snow day.
#Wimbledon
PHOTO OF THE DAY
EUGENIE BOUCHARD BLOG. SELFIE OF THE DAY
Back to work in my Domi shirt
www.bydomi.sk
#POME
Snowy Greetings from Kraków!
I miss you Aussie Land. Here's my happiness that the next and last flight to Kraków is shorter than 10 hours.
Ajla Tomljanovic, one of the most promising WTA Rising Stars on the tour, has graced the cover of the latest edition of Sunday Style, Australia's premier glossy insert and a trusted source of inspiration and exclusive style for a modern and digital savvy audience.
From fashion to cars, food, exercise, travel and entertainment, Sunday Style covers it all, and in this latest cover story the publication discusses the recent cultural shift in female body image.
"We're all here to celebrate a cultural shift," the magazine writes.
"As we move further into 2015, allies are flocking away from camp size-zero and are looking for new body heroes who are fitter, stronger and actually have the energy to achieve great things."
Tomljanovic talks about how she went from a skinny child to taller and muscular as she got older.
A bout with mononucleosis a few years ago caused her to lose a lot of her muscle and she talks about not liking what she saw after she got better, and how women should be proud of their lean muscles.
SERENA WILLIAMS AND CAROLINE WOZNIACKI. SELFIE OF THE DAY
Serena Williams Photocall. Australian Open 2015.
Serena Williams Photocall. Australian Open 2015.
Serena Williams Photocall. Australian Open 2015.
Serena Williams Photocall. Australian Open 2015.
Serena Williams Photocall. Australian Open 2015.
