Martina Hingis & Sania Mirza secure year end No. 1 ranking in doubles

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SINGAPORE - Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza have secured the WTA Year-End World No.1 Doubles Ranking presented by Dubai Duty Free.

"Dubai Duty Free congratulates Serena, Sania and Martina on reaching the No.1 spot in singles and doubles of the 2015 WTA Year-End ranking," said Salah Tahlak, Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications at Dubai Duty Free. "We are delighted to present the Year-End No.1 trophies to these players that signify their outstanding results in 2015. We are a proud partner of the WTA and look forward to welcoming Serena, Sania and Martina back to Dubai in February 2016 to participate in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships."

Hingis and Mirza are 8-1 in finals this season, with two Grand Slam titles (Wimbledon, US Open), five WTA Premier titles (BNP Paribas Open - Indian Wells, Miami Open, Family Circle Cup - Charleston,Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open, China Open - Beijing), and one WTA International title (Guangzhou International Women's Open). 

As a result, the Swiss-Indian duo finished atop the Road to Singapore leaderboard and earned the top seed for the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.

The partnership between Hingis and Mirza began at the 2015 BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells in March, where they clinched their first title as a team. Their undefeated hot streak continued through their next two events at the Miami Open and the Family Circle Cup at Charleston, where Mirza ascended to the World No.1 ranking.

"It is definitely something beyond my expectations," said Hingis. "When I first teamed up with Sania it was a trial at Indian Wells and Miami to see how it would go. We ended up winning both of those tournaments and Charleston on top of it, and since then it has been an incredible journey. Ending up as the No.1 team is definitely something beyond my expectations and something I had dreamed of but when it really happened it was incredible."

"I'm very excited," added Mirza. "This is something we've worked towards especially in the later part of the year. When we first teamed up, we were testing it out. But when we started doing well, we realized that we could do some great things together and it became one of our goals to end the year No.1, so we're really happy to have achieved that."

Hingis, 35, has been inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame due to her 94 WTA titles over the past 20 years, which include 49 doubles titles. In 1997, Hingis became the youngest women's player to be ranked World No.1 in singles (16 years old) and the youngest-ever doubles No.1 in 1998 (17 years old).

Mirza, 28, has also made history by becoming the first Indian woman to achieve the No.1 ranking. The Indian star has clinched 32 WTA doubles titles including two Grand Slam titles, achieved this year. In August, Sania was presented with the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award, India's highest sporting honor.

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Roger Federer flies into 3rd round at Paris Masters

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Roger Federer scored his best-in-the-business 327th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 victory on Friday at the BNP Paribas Masters, easily downing Andreas Seppi 6-1, 6-1.

In 13 previous FedEx ATP Head2Head meetings, Seppi had defeated Federer on just one occasion: a 6-4, 7-6(5), 4-6, 7-6(5) third-round upset earlier this year at the Australian Open. But that seemed but ancient history at the AccorHotels Arena, where Federer overwhelmed the Italian in 47 minutes.

So speedy was the match that one reporter asked the World No. 2 if he had promised his children he would be home in time for dinner.

Federer quipped, “No, I'm too late now.”

“But it's very pleasant to play matches like this one,” he continued. “Of course, I like great battles, playing two, three, four, five hours. But 47 minutes is always very pleasant. You need to focus a lot for the very short time you are on the court, not to make any mistakes. I'm very happy with this mental performance.”

Federer, 34, playing his first match since claiming his seventh Basel title on Sunday, played near-flawless tennis in taking the opening set in an efficient 19 minutes, winning 92 per cent of his service points.

The 28th-ranked Seppi never seemed to recover in the second set. It wasn’t until, serving for survival at 0-5, that he got on the scoreboard. But it was too little too late. He finished with 18 unforced errors to just five winners.

Seppi fell to 2-8 against Top-10 competition in 2015. Federer, meanwhile, improved to 59-9 overall on the year. He will now meet John Isner in the Round of 16. The Swiss is 5-1 against the power-serving American in FedEx ATP Head2Head encounters.

"Indoors here in Paris, he's played well historically," Federer observed. "I'm aware of that, and I know it's not going to be easy. I need to make sure I focus on my own game and see what I can do on his serve. There is only so many opportunities."

Trailing 1-4 in the opening set against Viktor Troicki, 15th seed Feliciano Lopez of Spain battled back before falling 6-7(7), 7-5, 6-4. The Serb will next face Stan Wawrinka. Elsewhere, No. 9 seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga made quick work of Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut, winning 6-2, 6-2 in one hour and two minutes.

"I wanted to keep focused and not give away anything along the way,” said Tsonga. “And this I did well. I didn't want to get caught in a very long match. It was too dangerous."

The Frenchman smacked eight aces and converted four of eight break points in earning a Round of 16 match-up with Tomas Berdych.

In a marathon match that lingered until 12:24 a.m. local time, Kevin Anderson outlasted Dominic Thiem6-7(3), 7-6(4), 7-6(5) for the right to meet Rafael Nadal in the Round of 16. The two-hour and 44-minute affair saw Anderson register 30 aces, totaling 55 winners and 39 unforced errors. Both players saved match points before the decisive third-set tie-break, but it was the South African who would come through in the end.

For the first time since 2009, 14 of 16 seeds are through to the Round of 16 at the BNP Paribas Masters.

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Agnieszka Radwanska the new WTA Finals champion in Singapore!

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SINGAPORE - Agnieszka Radwanska edged Petra Kvitova in a thriller to win the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global - the biggest title of the former World No.2's career.

Watch highlights, interviews and much more video from Singapore right here on wtatennis.com!

It was a true underdog story - not only did she leave the US Open three spots out of even qualifying for the event, but after battling just to make it into the field, she was a longshot just to make the final four, having lost her first two round robin matches against Maria Sharapova and Flavia Pennetta.

But a win over Simona Halep in her third round robin match and a little help from Sharapova took her to the semifinals, and she pulled off another surprise there, grinding past Garbiñe Muguruza in three dramatic sets - her first victory over the Spanish WTA Rising Star in five attempts this year.

And then, longtime rival and fellow former No.2 Kvitova in the final - Kvitova was also playing on a new breath of life, going 1-2 in the round robin portion herself before reviving her game and battling her way into the final, pulling off a stunning upset over the red-hot Sharapova in Saturday's semifinals.

Radwanska came out on fire, capitalizing on a few untimely unforced errors from the Kvitova racquet to build an early 6-2, 2-0 lead. Kvitova started to find the range on her huge lefty game, winning eight of the next 10 games to sneak out the second set, 6-4, and build a 2-0 lead in the deciding set.

But the No.5-seeded Radwanska had one last fight left, breaking back to get to 3-all and then pulling away from there, winning three more games to finish off the No.4-seeded Kvitova, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.

"A few weeks ago I didn't even know I'd have a chance to be here, and there you go. It's just an incredible day for me," an emotional Radwanska said during her on-court interview after the match.

"It means everything. It couldn't be any better. I think that was the biggest day in my life."

Just how well did Radwanska play in the final? Five - just five - unforced errors the entire match, with three times the winners (15). Kvitova, meanwhile, finished with 41 winners to 53 unforced errors.

"Well, the serve wasn't a huge weapon today, there were lots of ups and downs and lots of breaks!" Radwanska said. "But in the important moments I was really doing the right things, I think. Of course I had my chances in the second set, but it doesn't matter how I won. I'm extremely happy about this!"

Before this, Radwanska's biggest titles were Premier Mandatory-level titles at Beijing in 2011 and Miami in 2012. This was her first title at one of the five biggest events on the WTA calendar (the four Grand Slams and the WTA Finals). It's the 17th overall WTA title of her long, successful career.

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Roger Federer triumphs over Rafael Nadal at Swiss Indoors Basel wins his 7th

 

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Roger Federer ended a three-and-a-half year drought against Rafael Nadal on Sunday at the Swiss Indoors Basel, claiming a seventh title in his hometown 6-3, 5-7, 6-3.

After a 21-month wait, Federer and Nadal renewed their storied rivalry on the indoor hard courts of the ATP World Tour 500 event, with the Swiss winning for the first time since the 2012 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. Competing in a record 12th final on home soil in Basel, he added a seventh trophy, a feat he has also achieved at four other tournaments in his career (Wimbledon, Halle, Dubai, Cincinnati).

FEDERER'S HAPPY HUNTING GROUNDS

Tournament
Titles


Halle

8

Cincinnati

7

Wimbledon

7

Basel

7

Dubai

7
"It was one of my best weeks in Basel, considering everything I've done throughout my career here," said Federer. "I thought the match was close. I had my chances in the second, but he fought back well, like he's done throughout the week really. Overall I was really happy how I played and it was a very special day.

"I know I've had better backhand days and he's had better forehand days than today, but the match was high quality and it was entertaining and exciting for both of us as well. The confidence is good, no doubt about that. It's good to get back into the mood of winning after Shanghai... I think the body's gotten used to match play again after all these weeks of not playing."

Nadal was looking to make early inroads in the Federer serve and the Spaniard would attack early behind a barrage of deep, penetrating groundstrokes. Federer was forced to save a break point in his first service game following a trio of errors, but the Swiss would quickly regain his composure. The home favourite claimed six of the next seven points and rode the wave of momentum to three break chances of his own at 2-2. Utilising the fast indoor conditions at the St. Jakobshalle to his advantage, Federer opened the court and refused to give Nadal time to set up his forehand, coming forward often, as he has done all year.

One of the points of the tournament came with Federer facing break point in the sixth game. Nadal had the Basel native on the ropes after ripping a backhand approach into the open court, but Federer turned defence into offence in a flash, lunging at a cross-court forehand from well behind the baseline and sneaking it just past Nadal for the stunning winner. He would not look back, breaking to love a few games later to capture the opener 6-3.

Federer made a push to run away with the match early in the second set, but Nadal would not go down quietly, saving a break point while serving down 2-3. The margins were razor thin as both players looked to attack with first-strike tennis. The Mallorca native was one step ahead of the top seed in the latter stages of the set and his aggressive mindset would pay dividends, claiming his first break of the match for 6-5 as Federer buried a forehand into the net. Nadal would force a decider with a hold to love.

The patterns of play from the first two sets persisted in the third, with both players looking to open the court and keep rallies short. A Nadal double fault in the third game would give Federer a break chance to claim a potentially decisive break, but the Spaniard dispelled any such notion. He would win the battle, but the Swiss would win the war, grabbing the decisive break for 5-3 and serving it out a game later after two hours and three minutes on court. The former Basel ballboy out-aced Nadal 12-0 and struck 44 total winners. He converted on three of seven break points.

Federer earned his third title this year at an ATP World Tour 500 event, adding to crowns in Dubai and Halle, and 88th of his career at the tour-level. He also emerged victorious in Brisbane, Istanbul and Cincinnati in 2015. Nadal, meanwhile, who owns a 23-11 FedEx ATP Head2Head edge, was vying for just his second indoor hard court trophy (Madrid 2005). He falls to 67-31 in tour-level finals and 3-3 this year.

"My goal is to get back to my level and be competitive against the top players again and today I was very competitive against one of the best players in the world," said Nadal. "The match wasn't far away from me. He played well and I played well too. The match was very close to win, but I think he served very well in the third. I want to congratulate him for the victory and I had a lot of quality things in my game and mental side to take away from the week."

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Martina Hingis & Sania Mirza 2015 WTA Finals doubles champions!

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SINGAPORE - Forty-eight hours after being officially crowned 2015's best doubles team, Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza underlined their dominance of the field with an emphatic victory over Garbiñe Muguruza and Carla Suárez Navarro in the final of the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.

Watch highlights, interviews and much more video from Singapore right here on wtatennis.com!

Hingis and Mirza are now unbeaten in 22 matches, stretching back six tournaments. In fact, since their last defeat - to Chan Hao-Ching and Chan Yung-Jan in Cincinnati - they have dropped just two sets.

Against Muguruza and Suárez Navarro - late replacements in the draw after Casey Dellacqua and Yaroslava Shvedova's withdrawal - they stamped their authority all over the contest immediately.

In the second game, Mirza unleashed a ferocious forehand to break Muguruza. A quarter of an hour later, it was Mirza once more coming to the fore, this time sending a backhand drive volley whistling past Suárez Navarro.

The second set was more competitive, but there was to be no denying the Swiss-Indian duo, an emotional 6-0, 6-3 triumph wrapped up on their fourth match point when Muguruza sent a tired backhand drifting wide.

"It's incredible. I feel like it was a perfect day," Hingis said. "The energy was a bit better in practice and Sania just played out of her mind - she was everywhere today - on her side, behind me - it's about choosing the right partner!"

And with success - they have won nine WTA titles since teaming up in spring - comes popularity. The partnership has already been christened 'Santina' by their legions of fans, whom Mirza was quick to thank in the aftermath of this latest triumph.

"On court, off court, we have a lot of fun," Mirza said. "To play in tournaments like this is what we've fought all our lives for and it's incredible to play in front of a packed stadium.

"We feel very fortunate. We've done some amazing things together and it's the perfect way to end the year for us."

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Roger Federer races into Swiss Indoors Basel Final sets up clash with Nadal

The long wait is over. After more than 21 months, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer will renew their rivalry with a clash in the final of the Swiss Indoors Basel on Sunday (1.30 pm GMT/8.30 am ET).

The Spaniard and the Swiss, who last squared off on the hard courts of the Australian Open in 2014 - an encounter won by Nadal in straight sets - meet for the first time in a tour-level title match since the 2013 Internazionali BNL d'Italia in Rome. The Manacor native owns a 23-10 lead in the FedEx ATP Head2Head series, including victories in the previous five meetings. Federer last triumphed at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells in 2012. It will be just their fifth hard-court final, with Federer emerging in Miami 2005 and the 2010 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals and Nadal in Dubai 2006 and the 2009 Australian Open.

"This is the first time we play each other in Switzerland," said Federer. "It will be an amazing atmosphere tomorrow. This is a dream final for the fans and the tournament director.

"I'm very delighted. It's a great feeling. You always hope at the beginning of the week that you will be part of the last two players there and have a chance to win the trophy again in your hometown. It's nice to re-live that dream again this week."

Federer needed just 63 minutes to book his spot in the Basel final on Saturday, streaking past Jack Sock6-3, 6-4. He is set to contest a 12th final on home soil in Basel (2000-01, '06-15), which remains the most at a single tournament in the Open Era. The World No. 3 is the only player to reach at least 10 finals at a tour-level event, also doing so on the lawns of Halle and Wimbledon. He is also the first player to compete in 10 straight finals at a tournament. Ivan Lendl contested the final at the season finale (former Tennis Masters Cup) nine times from 1980-88 and Rafael Nadal the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters from 2005-13.

The Swiss maestro fired 19 winners and won all 18 points when at the net. He converted on three of six break chances and withstood a late rally from Sock, after the American broke while Federer served for the match at 5-2. The Basel native would seal the win two games later, securing his place in his 133rd tour-level final.

Federer will look to add Basel to the growing list of tournaments he has won at least seven times, when he squares off against Nadal on Sunday. He claimed his eighth title in Halle earlier this year and has hoisted seven trophies at Wimbledon, in Dubai and the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati.

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Martina Hingis & Sania Mirza reach their 10th final of the year in Singapore

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SINGAPORE - Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza powered past a dangerous sister act to reach their 10th final of the year together at the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global.

Watch highlights, interviews and much more video from Singapore right here on wtatennis.com!

Facing Chan Hao-Ching and Chan Yung-Jan, Hingis and Mirza went in on a monster 20-match winning streak - but their last loss actually came to the same sister act, in the semifinals of Cincinnati.

But they'd beaten them back three times since then, and they kept that pattern going this time as well, the No.3-seeded Taiwanese pair going up 3-1 in the first set but the No.1-seeded Swiss-Indian duo reeling off 11 of the next 14 games to completely run away with the match, closing it out, 6-4, 6-2.

"On the court I feel very fortunate to have Sania on my side because she's an incredibly positive person," Hingis said. "When I get myself down, I'm not really a morning person, so she was out there and kept fighting and kept keeping me up there. That's why we were able to come back in the first set.

"Once I felt better, that's when everything started to click. They're a great team, so they've always come out strong in the past six matches that we played them. And they know how to play against us."

"We came out with a strategy against them," Mirza said. "It's very different to what we played against players like yesterday who have more power, different strategy. We kind of have to stick to our guns, stick to what we have planned. We have to trust our abilities. That's what really takes us through a lot of the times, is that trust in each other's ability. We know sooner or later we're going to break.

"It happened at 3-2. If it didn't happen there, we would still keep fighting to make it happen."

Hingis and Mirza are now through to their 10th final of the year together, winning eight titles (Indian Wells, Miami, Charleston, Wimbledon, US Open, Guangzhou, Wuhan and Beijing) and finishing runner-up just one time (Rome - falling to WTA Rising Stars Timea Babos and Kristina Mladenovic).

This is a particularly big opportunity for Hingis - she's a win away from her 50th WTA doubles title, a milestone only 15 players have reached (Martina Navratilova, Rosie Casals, Pam Shriver, Billie Jean King, Natasha Zvereva, Lisa Raymond, Jana Novotna, Arantxa Sánchez-Vicario, Gigi Fernández,Helena Sukova, Larisa Neiland, Cara Black, Rennae Stubbs, Wendy Turnbull and Liezel Huber).

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