WTA Feb 15-22: Dubai & Rio de Janeiro

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Dubai Tennis Chp. UAE PREMIER 5
$2,513,000 54m/32q/28d outdoor: hard
Live Scores
draws: WTA: Q - main - D - OOP
pics: T.com - ESPN - Y!: news | WTA
UAE News - tourney video
n3 S Halep, n4 P Kvitova
n5 C Wozniacki, n6 A Ivanovic

Rio Open, Rio de Janeiro, BRA +ATP
INTL $250,000
32m/24q/16d outdoor: red clay
Live Scores
draws: WTA: Q - main - D - OOP
pics: T.com - ESPN - Y!: news | WTA
Brazil News
n13 S Errani, n34 I-C Begu
n40 R Vinci, n46 M Brengle

tourney archive:

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Dubai:

#3 Simona Halep
5'6" 141lb RH 2H-BH

Rio de Janeiro:

#13 Sara Errani
5'4½" 132lb RH 2H-BH

On Saturday at Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in the final of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, 2015 champion at Shenzhen (and 2014 champ at Doha & Bucharest), 23 year old top seeded #3 (career high: #2) Simona Halep from Constanta, Romania, won her 10th WTA singles title by defeating the 2014 champion at Linz and Seoul, 22 year old 17th seeded #22 (career high: #22) Karolina Pliskova from Louny, Czech Republic, 6-4, 7-6(4) (Simona is shown holding the hardware after the match).

Simona's prize is $456,000; Karolina's prize is $227,860.

Simona said: "At the beginning of the tournament some people asked me if I felt pressure because I was the #1 seed. I said 'No,' because I wasn't thinking about it, and I just wanted to go on court and play match by match, because everyone would play really well here. And I played with big players like Makarova, Pliskova, Wozniacki—she was #1 two years. So it's honestly just an amazing victory for me." WTA story

Karolina said: "I was trying to turn it around, but even if I won the second set, I don't know if I would have won the whole match. It would still have been hard because [Simona] doesn't give up on any point. She runs really, really well, and it's hard to kill the ball against her. She really gets everything back."

Simona and Karolina had never before met on the field of combat.

On Sunday at Rio de Janeiro, in the final of the Claro Rio Open, the 2013 champion at Acapulco, 27 year old top seeded #13 (career high: #5) Sara Errani from Bologna, Italy, defeated 20 year old 6th seeded #75 (career high: #55) Anna Schmiedlova from Kosice, Slovakia, 7-6(2), 6-1 (Sara is shown holding the hardware after the match).

Sara said: "The first set was tough. We played more than an hour. We were both fighting hard in that set - she was playing very well and not giving me anything, really. It was also the first time I played her so I needed some time to find my tactics. I was happy I managed to win that set, and in the second set things started going much more my way. I think I was just physically stronger in the end." WTA story

Anna said: "She was moving really well and she's a really great player. I played some very good tennis in the first set. The second set was worse, but I'm so happy I was in the final."

Sara's prize is $43,000; Anna's prize is $21,400. It was Sara's 8th WTA singles title. Anna was playing in her first WTA singles final. Sara and Anna were meeting for the first time in pro singles.

WTA SCOREBOARD: Dubai & Rio de Janeiro

s=seed, n=rank, *=upset, LL=lucky loser
ranks are for the previous week
How do players get into the "draw"?

Dubai Tennis Championships, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

tourney time:

= GMT +4 hours
= US EDT +9 hours
= US PDT +12 hours

United Arab Emirates News

Dubai: The 54-56 player main draw for Dubai has 16 seeds, with 8 1st-round byes (+ 2 byes for Antwerp finalists if needed). There are 8 qualifiers and 5 wild cards in the main draw.
Qualifying finals are on Sunday.

click for broader view Dubai Tennis Stadium at top center
Latitude: 25.24243 Longitude: 55.342475

2015: At the Dubai player party on Tuesday night Elena Vesnina did the "hold the falcon" thing,
while Timea Babos, Caroline Garcia, Alize Cornet and Kristina Mladenovic found other amusements...

Dubai, 1st Rd, Sun-Mon noon
loser's prize: $7,474 US; points: 1
n14 s10 wc Flavia Pennetta ITA d n69 LL Julia Goerges GER 2-6, 7-6(3), 6-4 Sun

Flavia driving a backhand

Flavia trailed 2-6, 2-5, and held off four match points. Flavia said: "I was just playing until the last point and believing until the last point. I was almost crying on the court because I was feeling so bad, but sometimes you don't feel really good in the beginning of the year. Last year I was really good in the beginning, and this year I've been trying to find my good tennis, but it's not coming. But I have to play with what I have now." WTA story

n15 s11 Lucie Safarova CZE d n60 Monica Puig PUR 6-1, 6-4 Mon
n16 s12 Jelena Jankovic SRB d n93 q Timea Babos HUN 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 Sun
n19 s15 Alize Cornet FRA d n59 Kirsten Flipkens BEL 6-0, 6(6)-7, 6-3 Sun

Alize's backhand drive

n21 s16 Shuai Peng CHN d n72 LL Elena Vesnina RUS 7-5, 6-1 Mon

Shuai delivering a backhand

n22 s17 Karolina Pliskova CZE d n39 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova RUS 6-2, 6-4 Mon
n23 Barbora Zahlavova Strycova CZE d n166 q Yulia Beygelzimer UKR 6-4, 6-2 Mon
n24 Garbine Muguruza ESP d n54 q Jarmila Gajdosova AUS 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 Mon

Garbine serving

n25 Samantha Stosur AUS d n56 q Mirjana Lucic-Baroni CRO 6-3, 6-1 Sun
n26 Elina Svitolina UKR d n32 Coco Vandeweghe USA 3-1 retired—right shoulder injury Mon
n27 Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS d n48 Kaia Kanepi EST 4-1 retired Sun
n28 Sabine Lisicki GER d n57 Monica Niculescu ROU 6-3, 6-4 Sun

Sabine driving a forehand

n30 Caroline Garcia FRA d n272 q Arina Rodionova AUS 6-3, 6-2 Sun
n31 Camila Giorgi ITA d n189 sr Vera Zvonareva RUS 6-4, 6-2 Mon
n35 Casey Dellacqua AUS d n79 LL Katerina Siniakova CZE 6-3, 6-4 Sun
n33 Zarina Diyas KAZ d n63 Annika Beck GER 6-2, 6-2 Sun
n37 Belinda Bencic SUI d n53 Karin Knapp ITA 6-4, 6-4 Sun
*n125 q Kateryna Kozlova UKR d n38 Heather Watson GBR 6-4, 7-5 Mon

Kateryna demonstrating the splits forehand

*n73 wc Daniela Hantuchova SVK d n42 Mona Barthel GER 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-3 Mon

Daniela serving

*n50 Tsvetana Pironkova BUL d n43 Klara Koukalova CZE 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 Sun
*n98 q Qiang Wang CHN d n44 Kurumi Nara JPN 5-7, 6-1, 7-5 Mon
n118 wc Cagla Buyukakcay TUR d n184 q Gabriela Dabrowski CAN 6-2, 6(7)-7, 6-4 Mon

Dubai, 2nd Rd, Tue noon
losers' prize: $13,340 US; points: 60
n3 s1 Simona Halep ROU d n73 wc Daniela Hantuchova SVK 6-2, 6-0 Tue

Simona driving a forehand

Simona said: "I think [Daniela] was a little bit tired because she came from Pattaya. Maybe I was more fresh, and I was running very well. My shots were very, very strong and very deep, too." WTA story

n4 s2 Petra Kvitova CZE d n26 Elina Svitolina UKR 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 Tue

Petra's forehand drive

n5 s3 Caroline Wozniacki DEN d n25 Samantha Stosur AUS 4-6, 6-1, 7-5 Tue
n6 s4 Ana Ivanovic SRB d n28 Sabine Lisicki GER 6-0, 6-3 Tue

Ana driving a forehand

n8 s5 Agnieszka Radwanska POL d n30 Caroline Garcia FRA 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 Tue

Aga's backhand drive

Aga took a medical time out to have her blood pressure checked. Aga said: "I came here not really 100% well. But I think the most important part is that I was able to finish that match and win that match, so that's the most important thing." WTA story

n9 s6 Ekaterina Makarova RUS d n125 q Kateryna Kozlova UKR 6-3, 6-3 Tue
n10 s7 Angelique Kerber GER d n27 Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS 7-6(9), 6-4 Tue
n11 s8 Venus Williams USA d n37 Belinda Bencic SUI 6-1, 6-2 Mon

Venus delivering a forehand

*n33 Zarina Diyas KAZ d n12 s9 Andrea Petkovic GER 7-5, 6-3 Tue
n14 s10 wc Flavia Pennetta ITA d n98 q Qiang Wang CHN 6-3, 7-5 Tue
n15 s11 Lucie Safarova CZE d n35 Casey Dellacqua AUS 6(6)-7, 7-6(4), 7-5 Tue
*n24 Garbine Muguruza ESP d n16 s12 Jelena Jankovic SRB 6-3, 6-1 Tue
n17 s13 Carla Suarez Navarro ESP d n31 Camila Giorgi ITA 6-3, 6-4 Tue
n19 s15 Alize Cornet FRA d n118 wc Cagla Buyukakcay TUR 6-2, 6-4 Tue
*n50 Tsvetana Pironkova BUL d n21 s16 Shuai Peng CHN 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(5) Tue
n22 s17 Karolina Pliskova CZE d n23 Barbora Zahlavova Strycova CZE 6-4, 6-2 Tue

Dubai, 3rd Rd, Wed
losers' prize: $26,000 US; points: 105
n3 s1 Simona Halep ROU d n50 Tsvetana Pironkova BUL 6-4, 6-3

Simona following a forehand

Simona said: "I take every match like a tough one and I expect anything can happen. I just try to do everything I can in that moment to try to win."

*n17 s13 Carla Suarez Navarro ESP d n4 s2 Petra Kvitova CZE 6-3, 4-6, 6-3

Petra said: "Carla plays different from the other girls - the backhand slice, she can play at the net, from the forehand she can put topspin. She has a lot of variety in her game. She's not the only one playing like this, but I lost twice already against her, so I hope next time will be better."

n5 s3 Caroline Wozniacki DEN d n19 s15 Alize Cornet FRA 6-4, 6-0
*n22 s17 Karolina Pliskova CZE d n6 s4 Ana Ivanovic SRB 6-2, 4-6, 6-4
*n24 Garbine Muguruza ESP d n8 s5 Agnieszka Radwanska POL 6-4, 6-2

Garbine driving a backhand

Garbi said: "I think nowadays there are so many girls that play so well that the difference between the top players and the other ones is really small. If you work hard and play your best and concentrate on just playing your game, I think you will always have the chance to beat them." WTA story

n9 s6 Ekaterina Makarova RUS d n33 Zarina Diyas KAZ 6-3, 6-4
*n14 s10 wc Flavia Pennetta ITA d n10 s7 Angelique Kerber GER 6-2, 3-6, 6-1
*n15 s11 Lucie Safarova CZE d n11 s8 Venus Williams USA 6-4, 6-2

Lucie's forehand drive

Lucie said: "It was really an amazing match from my side. I felt great on the court and my tactic was to play fast and come forward whenever I could, which was really working today, and I'm happy to get the win." WTA story

Lucie is now 2-4 against Venus, but has won their last two encounters. Venus said: "I think I was playing well this week. I don't think I played so badly today. I missed some shots I would normally make, but it wasn't many. [Lucie] just played really well. Every time she comes out against me she's just relaxed and just swings. It's kind of like that every time I play her."

Dubai, QFs, Thu 2pm
losers' prize: $52,430 US; points: 190
n3 s1 Simona Halep ROU d n9 s6 Ekaterina Makarova RUS 6-3, 1-6, 7-5

Kate following a forehand, Simona driving a backhand, and after match point

Simona said: "There were ups and downs tonight. It wasn't easy to be in control the whole match because she's a good player. I played really well in the first set, but then in the second set she started to hit stronger, and I think I was one step further behind the baseline, which wasn't good for me. But I just tried to relax and go forward in the court more and take the ball faster, and I'm really happy it ended up being a good match for me. It means a lot, because I need more matches now." WTA story

n5 s3 Caroline Wozniacki DEN d n14 s10 wc Flavia Pennetta ITA 7-5, 6-0

Caro about to connect with a backhand

*n22 s17 Karolina Pliskova CZE d n15 s11 Lucie Safarova CZE 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-1

Karolina said: "I have to say Lucie played really well today. I would say she deserved to win as well, but there could only be one winner of course. So I feel a little bit sorry for her. But it was a great match."

*n24 Garbine Muguruza ESP d n17 s13 Carla Suarez Navarro ESP 6(4)-7, 6-3, 6-3

Garbine following a backhand

Garbi said: "I had a lot of set points in the first set—I think three—so I was sad to lose that set. But I told myself that if I wanted to win this match I couldn't play badly in the second set. My only chance was to win the second set, so I gave it my all, and I was able to do it." WTA story

Dubai, SFs, Fri 2pm
loser's prize: $113,850 US; points: 350
n3 s1 Simona Halep ROU d n5 s3 Caroline Wozniacki DEN 2-6, 6-1, 6-1

Simona driving a backhand

Simona said: "When I started the match I started with bad tactics - I was just hitting every ball and I made too many mistakes. I couldn't find my rhythm. In the second set I knew I had to change it and just play with good length and open the court more. I knew I couldn't force it too much like I did in the first set. That worked very well for me, and I just kept doing it until the end of the match." WTA story

Caro has been slowed all week by a respiratory infection. Caroline said: "I think it's taken a toll on me, but I'm still pretty pleased with my week considering everything that has been going on. But it was like the air of the balloon just kind of went out."

About playing Karolina Pliskova in the final, Simona said: "To be honest, I don't like to play girls who are serving so strong, but I have a good return, I think. But tomorrow won't just be about the serve. It's about everything. She hits the ball very strong. I have to be really focused, stay close to the line, and play smart but also aggressive. If I fight I can win. I believe in my chances and we'll see what happens tomorrow.."

n22 s17 Karolina Pliskova CZE d n24 Garbine Muguruza ESP 6-4, 5-7, 7-5

Karolina driving a forehand

Karolina said: "We both have great serves, so it's always going to be tough to break, even if you have 0-30 or 0-40, it doesn't mean anything until you get that final point. I put everything into my serve to get that final game." WTA story

Dubai, Final, Sat 7pm
loser's prize: $227,860 US; points: 585
winner's prize: $456,000 US; points: 900
n3 s1 Simona Halep ROU d n22 s17 Karolina Pliskova CZE 6-4, 7-6(4)

Karolina driving a forehand, Simona driving a backhand, and after match point

Dubai, Doubles Final, Sat
losers' prize: $65,920 US
winners' prize: $130,300 US
*s8 Timea Babos & Kristina Mladenovic d s6 Garbine Muguruza & Carla Suarez Navarro 6-3, 6-2

Dubai, Qual Finals, Sat Feb 14
losers' prizes: q1 $1,965 1pt; q2 $3,820 20pts; qualifier 30 points
n54 Jarmila Gajdosova AUS d n140 Misa Eguchi JPN 6-2, 6-2
n56 Mirjana Lucic-Baroni CRO d n95 Alexandra Dulgheru ROU 4-6, 7-5, 6-3
*n184 Gabriela Dabrowski CAN d n69 Julia Goerges GER
*n125 Kateryna Kozlova UKR d n72 Elena Vesnina RUS
*n93 Timea Babos HUN d n79 Katerina Siniakova CZE
n98 Qiang Wang CHN d n109 Evgenia Rodina RUS 6-1, 4-6, 6-2
*n272 Arina Rodionova AUS d n194 Anastasia Rodionova AUS 6-2, 0-1 retired
n166 Yulia Beygelzimer UKR d n353 Aleksandrina Naydenova RUS 7-5, 6-1

Dubai, Withdrawals
n1 Serena Williams USA illness
n18 s14 Dominika Cibulkova SVK achilles injury
n29 Varvara Lepchenko USA right foot injury
n39 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova RUS

Rio Open, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

tourney time:

= GMT -3 hours
= US EDT +2 hours
= US PDT +5 hours

Brazil News

Rio de Janeiro: The main draw for Rio has 8 seeds, with no 1st-round byes. There are 6 qualifiers in the main draw. Qualifying (2 rounds) starts on Saturday, qualifying finals are on Sunday.

click for broader view Jockey Club Brasileiro
Latitude: -22.974243 Longitude: -43.219399

Rio de Janeiro, 1st Rd Mon-Wed 11am
loser's prize: $2,100 US; points: 1
n13 s1 Sara Errani ITA d n110 wc Teliana Pereira BRA 6-3, 6-3 Tue
n34 s2 Irina-Camelia Begu ROU d n196 Olivia Rogowska AUS 6-1, 6-3 Mon

Irina-Camelia said: "In the first set I played well and then in the second I started to struggle a bit. I didn't play my best tennis, but for the first match I think it's quite good." WTA story

n40 s3 Roberta Vinci ITA d n123 Lucie Hradecka CZE 7-6(4), 6-3 Tue
n46 s4 Madison Brengle USA d n202 q Ana Bogdan ROU 6-4, 3-3 retired—heat illness Mon
n71 s5 Johanna Larsson SWE d n88 M-T Torro-Flor ESP 6(5)-7, 7-6(3), 4-2 retired—left thigh injury Mon
n75 s6 Anna Schmiedlova SVK d n103 Alison Van Uytvanck BEL 6-3, 6-0 Wed
n76 s7 Polona Hercog SLO d n106 An-Sophie Mestach BEL 6-3, 6-4 Wed
*n100 Grace Min USA d n83 s8 Chanelle Scheepers RSA 6-2, 6-1 Mon
*n262 wc Gabriela Ce BRA d n89 Pauline Parmentier FRA 6-2, 6(1)-7, 6-0 Mon

Gabriela after match point

n108 Lourdes Dominguez Lino ESP d n239 q Montserrat Gonzalez PAR 6-2, 6-2 Mon
*n180 Bethanie Mattek-Sands USA d n115 Danka Kovinic MNE 6-4, 6-3 Tue
*n150 Julia Glushko ISR d n116 Andreea Mitu ROU 6(5)-7, 6-3, 6-4 Tue
n122 Paula Ormaechea ARG d n212 q Sara Sorribes Tormo ESP 6-4, 6-4 Tue
n147 Dinah Pfizenmaier GER d n325 q E Cabeza Candela ESP 6(5)-7, 6-4, 6-4 Tue
n170 q Veronica Cepede Royg PAR d n283 wc P Cristina Goncalves BRA 6-2, 7-5 Tue
*n234 wc Beatriz Haddad Maia BRA d n199 q María Irigoyen ARG 6-1, 6-1 Tue

Rio de Janeiro, 2nd Rd Wed-Thu 11am
loser's prize: $3,400 US; points: 30
n13 s1 Sara Errani ITA d n108 Lourdes Dominguez Lino ESP 6-0, 7-5 Thu

Sara said: "I'm in the quarterfinals now, so I still just want to think match by match, but of course I hope I can win the title here. There are a lot of difficult players here in Rio de Janeiro. It's not easy to think ahead like that. I just have to think about my next opponent and that's all." WTA story

n34 s2 Irina-Camelia Begu ROU d n180 B Mattek-Sands USA 6-2, 6-4 Wed
*n170 q Veronica Cepede Royg PAR d n40 s3 Roberta Vinci ITA 6-2, 6-3 Thu
*n147 Dinah Pfizenmaier GER d n46 s4 Madison Brengle USA 7-5, 0-6, 7-5 Wed
n71 s5 Johanna Larsson SWE d n262 wc Gabriela Ce BRA 7-6(4), 6-4 Wed
n75 s6 Anna Schmiedlova SVK d n122 Paula Ormaechea ARG 6-0, 6-2 Thu

Anna said: "I really like playing on clay. And of course I like playing on the clay here in Rio."

*n234 wc Beatriz Haddad Maia BRA d n76 s7 Polona Hercog SLO 6-1, 6-2 Thu
*n150 Julia Glushko ISR d n100 Grace Min USA 6-3, 6-1 Wed

Rio de Janeiro, QFs, Fri 1pm
loser's prize: $6,175 US; points: 60
n13 s1 Sara Errani ITA d n234 wc Beatriz Haddad Maia BRA 3-6, 7-6(2), 3-0 retired—cramping
n34 s2 Irina-Camelia Begu ROU d n150 Julia Glushko ISR 6-1, 6-2
n71 s5 Johanna Larsson SWE d n147 Dinah Pfizenmaier GER 6-4, 6-0
n75 s6 Anna Schmiedlova SVK d n170 q Veronica Cepede Royg PAR 6-3, 6-1

Anna driving a backhand

Rio de Janeiro, SFs, Sat 1pm
loser's prize: $11,500 US; points: 110
n13 s1 Sara Errani ITA d n71 s5 Johanna Larsson SWE 7-5, 6-3
*n75 s6 Anna Schmiedlova SVK d n34 s2 Irina-Camelia Begu ROU 6-3, 4-6, 6-2

Rio de Janeiro, Final Sun 3pm
loser's prize: $21,400 US; points: 180
winner's prize: $43,000 US; points: 280
n13 s1 Sara Errani ITA d n75 s6 Anna Schmiedlova SVK 7-6(2), 6-1

Sara and Anna driving a backhands

Rio de Janeiro, Doubles Final Sat 4pm
loser's prize: $6,400 US
winner's prize: $12,300 US
*Ysaline Bonaventure & Rebecca Peterson d s1 Irina-Camelia Begu & Maria Irigoyen 3-0 retired

Rio de Janeiro, Qual Finals Sun Feb 15 10am
losers' prizes: q1 $600 1pts; q2 $1,020 12pts; qualifier 18 points
n170 Veronica Cepede Royg PAR d n227 Rebecca Peterson SWE 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-3
n199 María Irigoyen ARG d n225 Florencia Molinero ARG 6-3, 2-6, 6-2
n202 Ana Bogdan ROU d n203 Ysaline Bonaventure BEL 6-3, 3-6, 6-1
*n325 Estrella Cabeza Candela ESP d n205 Bianca Botto PER 6-4, 3-1 retired
n212 Sara Sorribes Tormo ESP d n315 Gaia Sanesi ITA 6-2, 6-0
*n239 Montserrat Gonzalez PAR d n233 Beatriz Garcia Vidagany ESP 6-4, 6-2

Rio de Janeiro, Withdrawals
n52 Christina McHale USA
n58 Jana Cepelova SVK
n67 Silvia Soler-Espinosa ESP
n87 Nicole Gibbs USA
n102 Sorana Cirstea ROU

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2015 Dubai Tennis Chp & Rio de Janeiro Rio Open Women's Singles Tennis Results (Sports - WTA Tennis)

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WTA Feb 15-22: Dubai & Rio de Janeiro