Friday 11 January 2013 1 Comment »
Mona Barthel will play in the final of the Moorilla Hobart International for the second consecutive year after overcoming Belgian Kirsten Flipkens in straight sets 6-4 6-4 on centre court tonight. Read more
Friday 11 January 2013 3 Comments »
Today will see an exciting day of semi final action here at the Moorilla Hobart International including performances from Aussie doubles duo Ashleigh Barty and Bojana Bobusic, the USA’s rising star Sloane Stephens and defending champion Mona Barthel.
Play will commence at 12 pm with the doubles semi featuring the Aussies against Spaniards, Garbine Muguruza and Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor. This is the first tournament together for Barty and Bobusic but after their straight-set win against Nina Bratchikova and Janette Husarova in the quarterfinals they are looking in solid form to book a final appearance.
Next on centre court will be the USA’s world No.29 Sloane Stephens who has so far had an impressive run at the tournament, defeating the UK’s Laura Robson and fellow countrywoman Lauren Davis. At 19 years of age old the No. 8 seed is the youngest woman in the WTA’s top 40. She was recently dubbed by her mentor and multiple Grand Slam champion Serena Williams as a future world No. 1.
Stephens will be taking on Russia’s Elena Vesnina who will be making her fifth appearance at the tournament with the hope of advancing to her first final in Hobart.
The twilight session will commence at 5:30 pm with a doubles appearance from Spanish dynamic duo Lara Arruabarrena-Vecino and Lourdes Dominguez Lino against Timea Babos and Mandy Minella.
Last but not least former champion Mona Barthel will take on Belgium’s world No. 51 Kirsten Flipkens. The Belgian is one to watch after an inspiring performance against Romania’s unique Monica Niculescu tonight at the Domain. Despite a slow start in her tournament matches, Flipkens will be one to challenge the hard-hitting Barthel.
By Rosie Jones.
Friday 11 January 2013 Be the first to comment »
Belgium’s Kirsten Flipkens has defeated Monica Niculescu in a spectacular display of tennis this evening. Read more
Thursday 10 January 2013 2 Comments »
Defending champion and No.9 seed Mona Barthel advanced to the semi-finals today, defeating Bulgarian opponent Tsvetana Pironkova 6-3 6-3 to keep her title defence alive. Read more
Wednesday 9 January 2013 1 Comment »
A clinical Kirsten Flipkens continued her Hobart International winning streak today, easily accounting for world no.56 Bojana Jovanovski, 6-3 6-2 this afternoon.
The 26 year old Belgian has been in scintillating form. She produced one of the upsets of the tournament in the first round, beating French Open champion and former world No.4 Francesca Schiavone, before a classy display against Jovanoski today saw her book her place in the quarterfinals.
Flipkins got off to a flying start, romping to a 5-0 lead before Jovanovski managed to compose herself and work her way into the match, stealing a break back to take the score to 5-3. With her second attempt at serving out the set Flipkens made no mistake clinching the first set 6-3. The pattern of the first set continued into the second with the Belgian in complete control of the match. Her well placed drop shots and hard-hitting forehand clearly tiring her Serbian opponent, Flipkens eventually prevailing 6-3 6-2 to ensure her place in the quarterfinals.
Flipkins had a career best season in 2012, winning her maiden WTA title in Quebec City last September. She will certainly be looking to take a step closer to a second title when she meets the winner of tonight’s match between Shuai Peng and Monica Niculescu.
By Nick Cuthbertson.
Tuesday 8 January 2013 Be the first to comment »
No.3 seed Klara Zakopalova from the Czech Republic has advanced to the round of 16 after a convincing 6-4 6-3 victory over 23-year-old Hungarian opponent Timea Babos this morning.
Zakopalova took a break in the first game of the match to take an early lead. Babos then worked hard to get the break back and level at 2-2 only to throw it away again in the next game. At 4-3 Babos was again able to break the world No. 23’s serve, but the Hungarian just could not seem to build up any momentum, handing the break straight back to allow Zakopalova to take the first set 6-4 in just over 35 minutes.
From there it was all Zakopalova as she took a 4-0 lead in the second and on her way to a 6-4 6-3 victory, in a match that lasted just over one hour.
Zakopalova carries great form into the Hobart International coming off the back of a finals appearance at the Shenzen Open in China on Saturday night where she lost to top seed Li Na of China. Zakopalova is certainly one to watch as the tournament progresses, particularly considering the Hobart International is a favourite event for the 30 year old Czech Republican.
“I’m here for the 10th or 11th time so I love it (the tournament),” she said speaking post match.
But despite her great form and vast experience playing the Hobart courts, Zakopalova is modest about her chances of taking the title.
“I don’t want to say I have a chance to win the tournament, I am just in the second round and every match is very tough here,” she said.
Zakopalova will play Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova in her next match after she overcame Romanian Irina-Camella Begu 6-3 6-4 yesterday.
In this morning’s other match Serbian Bojana Jovanovski took a 6-0 7-6(9-7) victory over lucky loser Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor on Court Events Tasmania.
Spaniard Anabel Medina Garrigues was a last minute withdrawal from the singles draw with an abdominal injury, granting Torro-Flor a spot in the main draw first round. The 20-year-old Spaniard was not able to grasp the opportunity, losing to a clinical Jovanovski in straight sets.
Jovanovski will play Kirsten Flipkens in the round of 16 after she ousted No.6 seed Francesca Schiavone last night.
By Nick Cuthbertson
2010 French Open Champion Francesca Schiavone was handed an early exit from the Moorilla Hobart International tonight losing 2-6 6-3 7-6 (3) to Belgian world no. 54 Kirsten Flipkins. Read more
Former world No. 4 Francesca Schiavone enjoyed a walk around Hobart’s Constitution Dock today ahead of her opening round match at the Moorilla Hobart International which begins tomorrow. Read more
Friday 4 January 2013 Be the first to comment »
The first round of qualifying for Moorilla Hobart International 2013 took place today in hot conditions and saw all seeds advance to the next round. Read more
West Australia’s Bojana Bobusic has been awarded the final wildcard to the Moorilla Hobart International 2013 starting on Sunday.
Bobusic will play the Hobart main draw for the first time after she was defeated in qualifying last year by Great Britain’s Heather Watson.
“I’m really happy. I got to play Hobart in 2012 in qualies and I really enjoyed the event. So to be able to play it again in the main draw is a real bonus,” said Bobusic.
“It’s a really great environment, I played on centre court in front of a crowd and I really enjoyed that, the court played well and it’s a really nice centre. I’m happy to be back again.”
Bobusic has had a whirlwind couple of weeks winning the Australian Open 2013 Play-off in late December, earning direct entry into the first Grand Slam of the year, and earlier this week qualified for the Brisbane International, a WTA Premier event.
“I’m feeling good. In Brisbane I got four matches and pulled up really well from those. I feel like I have a lot of matches under my belt and coming into Australian Open and Hobart I’m feeling fit and healthy,” added the world No.331 who defeated the likes of world No.120 Karin Knapp (ITA) and world No.104 Kristyna Pliskova (CZE) in Queensland.
“I just want to keep doing what I’ve been doing and continuing the same routine. It’s now just
trying to keep the body ticking over, I’ll still get some court time over the next few days but right now it’s more about recovery, getting the body right for Sunday or Monday.”
Mark Handley, Moorilla Hobart International Tournament Director said “It’s fantastic we can host another Australian player in the main draw of the Moorilla Hobart International.”
“Bojana has come back from injury in 2012 and is looking strong and healthy to do well this summer.
“We’re happy we can give her this opportunity to set her up before she competes in her second Australian Open,” he added.
Bobusic will join fellow Australian’s 2011 champion Jarmila Gajdosova and world No.175 Ashleigh Barty in the main draw.
Main draw for Moorilla Hobart International 2013:
| Player | Country | Ranking |
|---|---|---|
| Su-Wei Hsieh | TPE | 25 |
| Sorana Cirstea | ROU | 27 |
| Klara Zakopalova | CZE | 28 |
| Yaroslava Shvedova | KAZ | 29 |
| Carla Suarez Navarro | ESP | 34 |
| Francesca Schiavone | ITA | 35 |
| Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova | RUS | 36 |
| Sloane Stephens | USA | 38 |
| Mona Barthel | GER | 39 |
| Shuai Peng | CHN | 40 |
| Tsvetana Pironkova | BUL | 42 |
| Alize Cornet | FRA | 44 |
| Simona Halep | ROU | 47 |
| Lourdes Dominquez Lino | ESP | 48 |
| Anabel Medina Garrigues | ESP | 50 |
| Irina-Camelia Begu | ROU | 52 |
| Laura Robson | GBR | 53 |
| Kirsten Flipkens | BEL | 54 |
| Bojana Jovanovski | SRB | 56 |
| Olga Govortsova | BLR | 57 |
| Monica Niculescu | ROU | 58 |
| Chanelle Scheepers | RSA | 60 |
| Romina Oprandi | SUI | 61 |
| Timea Babos | HUN | 67 |
| Elena Vesnina | RUS | 68 |
| WC Ashleigh Barty | AUS | 175 |
| WC Jarmila Gajdosova | AUS | 184 |
| WC Bojana Bobusic | AUS | 331 |
Moorilla Hobart International 2013 series packages and single sessions are on sale now with ticket prices starting from $8.90.
Tickets can be purchased online at ticketek.com.au or 1300 888 104. For further tournament information visit hobartinternational.com.au.
Moorilla Hobart International 2013 will take place at the Domain Tennis Centre from 4 to 12 January 2013.
