2014 Week-15: WTA in Katowice and Bogota

BNP Paribas Katowice Open

  • Singles: Alize Cornet def. Camila Giorgi 7-6(3), 5-7, 7-5
  • Doubles: Yuliya Beygelzimer/Olga Savchuk def. Klara Koukalova/Monica Niculescu 6-4, 5-7, 10-7

A Finalist in Dubai and Semifinalist in Paris, Alize Cornet won her first title of 2014 in Katowice. In her Semifinal, she took-out the crowd favorite and #1-seed Agnieszka Radwanska, even after dropping the first set 0-6. In the Final, Cornet was down 4-5, match-point in the 3rd before coming back to win her fourth career title in 3-hours and 11-mintes.

In doubles, Ukraine’s Savchuk and Beygelzimer overcame three match points in their Semifinal match to reach the Final….then captured the title in a championship tie-break. It’s the pairing’s first doubles title together.

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Claro Open Solsanitas in Bogota, Columbia

  • Caroline Garcia def. Jelena Jankovic 6-3, 6-4
  • Caroline Garcia/Lara Arruabarrena def. Vania King/Chanelle Scheepers 7-6(5), 6-4

It was a big week for the French – while Cornet collected hardware in Katowice, France’s Caroline Garcia achieved two career firsts, winning both the singles and doubles titles in Bogota. Remarklably, Garcia was 0-6 against top-10 players going into the match, but showed no fear against Jelena Jankovic, winning with back-to-back aces and a forhand pass on match point. With the win, Caroline jumps from #74 to a career-best #51 in the world.

Garcia also won her second career doubles title with partner Lara Arruabarrena. In four matches, the pair defeated the top-3 seeds at the tournament to win their first title together, and did it without dropping a single set. Bogota is Lara’s second career doubles title. She actually won the doubles title during the same week last year in Katowice.

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THIS WEEK: Fed Cup and the Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur

Both winners Alize Cornet and Caroline Garcia will be in St. Louis this week to take on Team USA in the Fed Cup World Group Playoffs. (Team USA: Sloane Stephens, Madison Keys, Varvara Lepchenko, Christina McHale)