Women’s EMPIRE Slovak Open being held in May 2018 will be again the biggest women's tennis event organized in Slovakia. From season 2013 it’s an official International Slovak tennis Championships played outdoors. This tournament is played for 9th time at EMPIRE Tennis club on number 11, Hajdoczyho street in Trnava.
Marketa Vondrousova is EMPIRE Slovak Open 2017 winner
Women’s EMPIRE Slovak Open as the biggest women's tennis event organized in Slovakia finished in TC EMPIRE Trnava on Sunday 21st of May with singles final. 17-years old Czech Marketa Vondrousova defeated 25-years old player from Paraguay Veronica Cepede Royg in straight sets 7:5, 7:6(3).
Vondrousova against Royg in Sunday's final at 11:00
Young 17-years old Czech junior Markéta Vondroušová will face Veronica Cepede Royg of Paraguay in Sunday's final at 11:00 at TC EMPIRE Trnava. Royg defeated just 16-years old Anastasia Potapova of Russia in 3 sets, Vondrousova's opponent, another Russian Alexandrova retired injured in the second set.
Paraguay player defeated just 16-years old Anastasia Potapova of Russia 6:2, 6:7(4) and 7:5. Match lasted 146 minutes
Saturday's semifinals order - Potapova against Royg, Vondrousova against Alexandrova
First semifinalists to play on Sunday are just 16-years old Russian Anastasia Potapova and Veronica Cepede Royg of Paraguay.
Alexandrova and Kozlova another quarterfinalists in Trnava
Last participants of the singles quarter-finals at EMPIRE Slovak Open 2017 were revealed on Thursday. Russian Alexandrova, Ukrainian Kozlova, Japanese Nara joined already known second round winners from Wednesday - Wickmayer, Vondroušová, Watson, Royg and Potapova at the biggest women’s event in Slovakia.
While Ons Jabeur from EMPIRE Tennis Academy lost her match to Ekaterina Alexandrova 2:6, 6:4, 5:7, Kateryna Kozlova also from EMPIRE Tennis Academy defeated British Naomi Broady 6:2, 2:6 and 7:6(5) and reached quarterfinals.
Belgian Wickmayer was No. 12 in the WTA rankings: The ambition and motivation are still there
"Of course I remember how it feels like to be as high as number 12 in the world but I enjoy playing much more now than I used to when I was younger. I still feel the ambition and motivation to improve and to get back to the top level," says Yanina Wickmayer, No. 1 seed at the EMPIRE Slovak Open 2017. She is playing in Trnava for the second time in her career.
How are you these days, you haven´t played the tournaments for more than a month, what was the main reason?
Vondrousova and Jabeur in the quarterfinals, Kuzmova out
Only 17-year-old Czech junior Markéta Vondroušová has reached EMPIRE Slovak Open 2017 quarter-finals. She has overwhelmed Van Uytvanck of Belgium in straight sets 6:1, 6:3. The EMPIRE Tennis Academy member Ons Jabeur has defeated qualifier Antonia Lottner 7:6 (4), 6:3. Slovak Viktoria Kuzmova lost in the second round to British Heather Watson.
British No. 2 Heather Watson is for the first time in Slovakia
24-years old Heather Watson is a member of one of the strongest generation of female tennis players in Great Britain. In 2015, she was No. 38, but the health problems forced her to stop playing for a while. She is not sure what would have happened if she kept playing in that time. The winner of 3 WTA singles titles is going to play in Slovakia for the first time in her career.
You have never played in Trnava or Slovakia before, have you? Why did you choose our tournament?
Wickmayer into the second round, joined by Viktoria Kuzmova
EMPIRE Slovak Open 2017 number 1 seed Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium has reached second round in Trnavae. Rebecca Sramkova, last years singles semifinalist, lost in the first round as well as Anna Karolína Schmiedlová. Viktória Kužmová was succesful after 2 hours 32 minutes of battle royal against Muhammad of USA in final set tie breaker.
Rebecca Sramkova is defending last year’s singles semifinals in Trnava
Rebecca Sramkova (19) was this year‘s star of the Slovak Fed Cup team in Italy, where she managed to beat even such experienced players as Sara Errani and Francesca Schiavone. One year ago, she played at the EMPIRE Slovak Open in semifinals. Now, she has even higher ambitions. She is currently world No. 120, but she would like to improve her position. "I think the spectators should come and see the tournament, because they can see the top quality tennis here.