First and second round matches were played on Wednesday at EMPIRE Slovak Open 2016, first quarterfinalists are already known. Sevastova, Eguchi, Siniakova and Pliskova, who eliminated Slovakian Jurikova, are all amongst best eight. Only 16 years old Vondrousova also made her through, as well as Slovakian Jana Cepelova. Biggest clay tournament in Slovakia will see at least one Czech semi-finalist; Katerina Siniakova will play Kristyna Pliskova in the solely Czech quarterfinal.
Jan Studenic is coaching Tereza Mihalikova since she was 9, very rare in tennis these days. Starting at HTO tournaments, Mihalikova has won grandslam under him. "It is all about hard work, respect and understanding. Both player and coach are developing. Everyone has its own input. We both need to work hard, to improve," says about the reasons of their long term cooperation going so well.
Rebecca Sramkova (19) got forwarded to eight-finals of singles at the ITF EMPIRE Slovak Open in Trnava (prize money 100 000 USD, clay court). She got there due to her great fight on Tuesday. During the match of the first round, she managed to beat the Czech player Barbora Krejcikova (20) in 159 minutes 4-6, 7-6(6), 6-4.
Tereza Mihalikova (17), new EMPIRE Tennis Academy member, is one of the most recognised junior players at her age. In 2015, she won girls singles at Australian Open, year later she was in the singles final and won the doubles. She already made herself name amongst women, winning four ITF tournaments, two of them in current season. In the WTA rankings, she occupied her career best No. 466 recently. She was given wild card at EMPIRE Slovak Open 2016.
Do you recall your beginnings in Trnava or anything interesting from youth categories?
Lenka Jurikova just like a year ago, advanced into the singles main draw at the clay court of ITF EMPIRE Slovak Open 2016. Now, in the qualifying final, she has beaten the first seeded Arantxa Rus from Netherlands 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-3. Kristyna Pliskova advanced into the second round of the above mentioned match.
Exactly two years ago, Jana Cepelova reached her career best in WTA ranking, 50th place and although she fell out of TOP 100 she is eager to make a come back. She started the new season well, coming through the qualies in January in Brisbane, Australia, her most successful tournament this year. About her current goals, she spoke for our tournament program.
Dear tennis friends,
We are delighted to welcome you all together with my colleagues at TC EMPIRE club at 8th edition of international women´s tournament EMPIRE Slovak Open 2016.
Dear friends,
the International Women‘s Championship of Slovakia will take place under its usual name EMPIRE Slovak Open in the beautiful tennis club TC EMPIRE Trnava, with total prize money of 100 000 USD. Starting line-up promises to bring extraordinary tennis with lot of drama. Five players from Top 100 and basically all the players in the main draw from Top 150 in the WTA rankings only prove, tournament has become very popular amongst players because of very pleasant surroundings in the club and perfect organization.
Players in great form in recent days and weeks signed up for biggest women’s tournament in Slovakia EMPIRE Slovak Open 2016. Together with number of Slovakian players, they will highlight the quality of the clay event in Trnava based TC EMPIRE tennis club. Total prize money of 100 000 USD, tournament begins on May, 7 and the singles final is scheduled at 11:00 on May, 15.
Six players from TOP 100 WTA singles ranking have shown interest to play at 8th EMPIRE Slovak Open. Tournament will take place in TC EMPIRE club in Trnava from 7th until 15th May 2016.