Simona Halep ‘zebra’ outfit turns heads at French Open

WHAT’S black and white and wears suspenders? No, it’s not a zebra performing in the circus.

It’s world No. 6 Simona Halep’s new get-up — and it’s as much a head-turner as it is a head-scratcher.

Social media lit up with comments about the unconventional tennis attire as the Romanian — a runner-up in Roland Garros two years ago — reached the French Open second round in just 43 minutes overnight.

The outfit is an adidas design and Halep at least is a fan, describing the design as “perfect”.

Fed Cup: Angelique Kerber gives Germany the lead with a straight sets win over Romania's Simona Halep

Angelique Kerber only dropped 4 games against world number five Simona Halep to give Germany a crucial 2-1 lead on the red clay.

With the tie equal at 1-1, Angelique Kerber and Simona Halep went head to head at this year's Fed Cup looking to give their team a crucial win. After a tight couple of games at the beginning of the first set, Kerber was the first one to break, and never looked back, taking the first set 6-2. Things started to look better for Romania as Halep got the first break of the second set. But a couple of forehand winners from the German saw her get the break straight back. Each player held serve 3-2, as Kerber then broke again for a 4-2 lead. Two more games in a row saw Kerber take the rubber 6-2 6-2 to give Germanythe lead 2-1.

Kerber runs away with the first set

Both players started out serving great, each with holds to love. That didn’t last long, though, as Kerber broke immediately with gifted unforced errors from the Romanian. Halep, who hasn’t had the best season so far this year, broke back in the very next game with a backhand cross-court winner. Things looked to be back on serve, but a 3-2 a marathon game happened in which both woman had their chances, but Kerber prevailed, and broke again for a 4-2 lead.

The Romanian then responded on Kerber’s serve, forcing two break points. But Kerber was too good, and she consolidated the break for a 5-2 lead. The German then broke again, a netted backhand giving Kerber the break and the set.

Little resistance from Halep as Kerber takes the second set.

The second set started out in favor of the Romanian, as Halep grabbed the break on her first opportunity. Kerber then responded greatly, a well-placed forehand winner helping her get the break to love. The German then held her serve easily, a missed passing shot by Halep would help her make it 2-1. Kerber then held a break point in the very next game, but a fantastic backhand cross-court winner by the Romanian kept Kerber at bay. A netted forehand by the German gave Halep the game.

Great defense from Kerber would again get her a fairly easy service game to make it 3-2 in favor of the German. Kerber’s attacking tactics would grant her two break points on the Romanian’s serve in the very next game. A lucky net cord from Halep would save the first break point, but not the second. A forehand winner for the German’s racquet helping her get a break lead. Another fantastic cross-court forehand winner from Kerber got her to consolidate the break and gave her a 5-2 lead. Serving at 5-2 down, Halep seemed helpless as she got down 0-30. The Romanian sprouted a mini comeback to get it back to 30-30, but another forehand winner from the German earned her a match point. Kerber would take the match at her first opportunity, an uncharacteristic forehand sailing wide from Halep as the German closed out the match 6-2, 6-2 in 1 hour and 7 minutes.

Winner's Comments

"I tried to play aggressively and I succeeded in doing that. I carried out my match plan well," said Kerber.

"It was a tough match. Simona is a tough player. I am really happy about my performance today. The atmosphere here is amazing and I really enjoyed it."

Serena Williams v Simona Halep BNP Paribas Open tennis live: World No. 1 meets defending champion in quarter-finals

World No. 1 Serena Williams and defending BNP Paribas Open champion Simona Halep collide in a blockbuster quarter-final showdown at Indian Wells on Wednesday night.

One year after they were first scheduled to meet in the semi-finals of the BNP Paribas Open, Serena Williams and Simona Halep will finally meet in the Californian desert on Wednesday - just one round earlier. Last year Williams - returning from a well-documented 14-year boycott of Indian Wells - was forced to withdraw from their final-four encounter with a knee problem. Halep ultimately received a walkover into the final, where she won the biggest title of her career and well and truly established herself within the top 3 of the rankings.

The pair would rekindle their rivalry later in 2015 at Cincinnati, where Williams emerged a 6-3 7-6(5) winner in the final. Halep hasn’t reached a final since and has endured a turbulent start to 2016. The Romanian has crashed out in the opening rounds of the Australian Open, Dubai and Doha, while simultaneously putting off planned nose surgery, which clearly affected her in one way or another on court throughout the first two months of this season.

However Halep is enjoying a sudden return to top form at Indian Wells, surging into the quarter-finals without the loss of a set. Players often display their best tennis when they return to a scene of their greatest triumph, and that’s certainly been the case with Halep so far this tournament. A second round 6-1 6-1 romp of Vania King was followed up by an extremely impressive 6-2 6-4 triumph over the always-threatening Ekaterina Makarova. Benefitting from a retirement due to illness from Barbora Strycova in the Round of 16, Halep says she is relishing the chance to take on Williams in the quarters.

"I would like to play against her; I'm looking forward to it, and I know she's the best player in the world, so I have nothing to lose. I want just to go and fight for my chance - I know that I have a chance.

"I will go with confidence, positivity and just fighting for the match."

Simona Halep (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

Top seed Williams is playing at Indian Wells for just the second time since winning the 2001 title, and she will be hoping to add a second championship over the next few days. As has become the norm in recent years, Williams has played a limited scheduled to start the season. In fact, this is the first tournament Williams has contested since falling to a shock loss at the hands of Angelique Kerber in the Australian Open final in January.

The 21-time Grand Slam champion doesn’t take long to get the engine running though, and she’s illustrated that through back-to-back-to-back straight set thumpings of Laura Siegemund, Yulia Putintseva and Kateryna Bondarenko in her first three matches at Indian Wells. Still without a title since defeating Halep at Cincinnati last August, this is an extremely important tournament for Williams to re-establish her dominance as the undisputed champion figure on the WTA Tour. After a ridiculously successful opening eight months of 2015, question marks have plagued Williams since THAT loss to Roberta Vinci in the US Open semi-finals - questions that can only be answered if she returns to the winners circle consistently on the biggest stages.

Williams and Halep have only ever met on the biggest stages, with Serena enjoying a dominant 6-1 record. Halep has only ever taken two sets of Williams in her six defeats, while her only win came in the round robin stage of the 2014 WTA Championships - with Williams later avenging that loss in the final. A win for Halep here would be among the most significant in her career, and give her a chance to defend her title and kick-start her 2016 campaign. A win for Williams would place her firmly in the drivers seat to capture a whopping 70th WTA title and further extend her lead at the top of the rankings. Before this tournament she would be the overwhelming favourite - but Halep is showing signs of recapturing her best form. Strap yourselves in, this promises to be an absolute cracker of a battle under the lights of Stadium 1.

Serena Williams sets up Simona Halep showdown at Indian Wells

Serena Williams registered a comprehensive 6-2 6-2 victory over Kateryna Bondarenko at the BNP Paribas Open on Tuesday.

Serena Williams sent down seven aces on her way to a comprehensive 6-2 6-2 victory over Kateryna Bondarenko at the BNP Paribas Open on Tuesday, setting up a mouth-watering quarter-final against defending champion Simona Halep.

“It’ll be a really good match I think for both of us to kind of see where we want to be at this point in the year,” top seed Williams told reporters of the showdown against the Romanian in California.

“I really like her game. I like how she’s aggressive. She’s a fighter. I definitely have to be ready.”

The American world number one, a 21-time grand slam champion, is looking for her first title at Indian Wells since 2001.

Halep moved a step closer to repeating last year’s triumph after her opponent Barbora Strycova retired with the world number five leading 6-3 1-0.

The Romanian has only defeated Williams once in her career, a 6-0 6-2 thrashing in the group stages of the 2014 WTA Finals that the American avenged in an equally as one-sided final.

The pair were due to meet in the semi-final of this tournament a year ago but Williams was forced to withdraw ahead of the contest through a knee injury.

“I know that it’s gonna be tough to win, but still, I have my chance,” Halep said.

“I feel that I have the game to play against her. We will see tomorrow. She’s number one in the world.”

In earlier women’s action, Polish third seed Agnieska Radwanska beat Serbia’s Jelena Jankovic 6-3 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals, where she will face world number nine Petra Kvitova.

Radwanska, who was a runner-up in the event two years ago, broke last year’s losing finalist six times in an error-strewn contest in which both players struggled on serve.

Two-time Wimbledon champion Kvitova ended the fairytale run of American qualifier Nicole Gibbs, rallying for a 4-6 6-3 6-4 win to book her spot in the quarters.

Kvitova imposed her left-handed power to overcome Gibbs, swatting 27 winners to 11 for the American and claiming 18-of-25 points at net to prevail.

“It’s always tough coming back after losing the first (set),” said the Czech, who has needed three sets in each of her three victories. “We both played really well in the third set so I was happy to get the win.”

Italian ninth seed Roberta Vinci retired from her match against unseeded Magdalena Rybarikova while trailing 2-6 0-2.

Victoria Azarenka, Timea Bacsinszky and Karolina Pliskova were also winners.

YOUR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING GUIDE

Looking for a Christmas gift or a treat for yourself? Tennis apparel companies worked hard all year round to create stunning outfits and now our fashion contributor Marija Zivlak of Women's Tennis Blog will help you make the best selections.

My all-time favorite line is adidas adizero and looking back at the year behind us, the spring/summer clothes beat all the rest. The statement item from the collection is this purple three-piece dress, most famously worn by Ana Ivanovic, which features flash orange coordinating sports bra and compression shorts, neatly visible through sheer mesh insert on back. If you like to absolutely match everything, there is this orange tieband equipped with moisture-wicking technology and these graphic-print wristbands that offer maximum absorbency.

In the summer, adidas additionally blew us away with the neon pink and light flash green version of the wonderful style of clothes. As you can see, there are also separates, whose most prominent endorser is Simona Halep, and again a cute set of wristbands that flawlessly complete the look.

When it comes to Stella McCartney's work for adidas, the designer created a whole range of breathtaking clothes that most notably ensured utmost stylishness of world number three Garbiñe Muguruza during her spectacular 2015 rise. From the early season's divine match of athletic adidas Spring Stella McCartney Barricade Tank and ultra feminine pleated peach floral skirt to the late season's grey colorblock tank and its coordinating skirt, the 2015 was a big fashion success for Stella's players.

If you're looking for tennis whites with a special twist, the above shown Wimbledon separates are a great option, with nice touches of amber yellow accompanying functional half-zip in the adidas Fall Stella McCartney Tank and the innovative skirt with circular laser cuts. For footwear I'm picking these adidas Stella Barricade 8 shoes, while to break up the whites, I'm suggesting the yellow long-sleeve top with textured mesh at underarms.

The EleVen Ndebele Print Ready To Play Tank has it all: a lively colorful zig-zag print and super stylish back featuring triangular cutout and a nice fold that make the top stand out. There is a wide variety of bottoms you can pair it with and I'm picking this EleVen Ndebele Flutter Skirt.

For those days when you feel like being elegant in black, there's the sophisticated Denise Cronwall Jewel Cap-Sleeve Top with mesh raglan sleeves and print trim, matched with this ruffle skirt and long-sleeve shirt for warm-ups.

Fila's Fall Platinum Dress endorsed by Jelena Jankovic proved to be one of the best fitting dresses of the season in all its simplicity and this printed zip top is a perfect match for the solid dress. The collection's visor and wristbands with Fila's F-Box logo take this look up a notch.

If you like to look like a Grand Slam champion, go for Maria Sharapova's US Open dress or Serena Williams' US Open dress, while if you're on a more low-key side for everyday practice, this light blue kit from Nike's latest collection is just right for you. Even though the clothes are from the winter collection, all the items provide lightweight feel: from the copa blue tank with adjustable white spaghetti straps and the skirt with perforated sections, to the featherlight visor and Nike Zoom Vapor 9.5 Tour shoes that deliver quick and responsive ride in a light package.

SERENA WILLIAMS: WTA PLAYER OF THE YEAR

From winning three of the four Grand Slams to holding No.1 from start to finish, it should come as no surprise that Serena Williams has been voted WTA Player Of The Year for 2015.

From winning three of the four Grand Slams to holding No.1 from start to finish and an historic lead at that top ranking for six weeks in the summer, it comes as no surprise that Serena Williams has been voted WTA Player Of The Year, her fourth straight and seventh overall time receiving the honor.

Williams won her 19th, 20th and 21st majors at the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon, and coupled with her US Open title from last year she completed a Non-Calendar Year Grand Slam, her second self-stylized Serena Slam. Her first ran from the 2002 French Open to the 2003 Australian Open.

Her dominance of the tour was so great that she made WTA Rankings history in the summer, too. For six weeks she actually had over twice as many ranking points as the World No.2, something that had never happened before - Maria Sharapova was that No.2 for three weeks, Simona Halep the other three weeks.

But the Grand Slams and historic ranking points lead are just the tip of the iceberg on the World No.1's season. Her overall record was a sensational 53-3 - she won two more big WTA titles at Miami (a Premier Mandatory) and Cincinnati (a Premier 5), the only losses coming in the Madrid semifinals (Petra Kvitova), the Toronto semifinals (Belinda Bencic) and the US Open semifinals (Roberta Vinci).

Williams also pocketed $10,582,642 in 2015, second only to her own $12,385,572 from 2013.

"One of the factors for my results is just me being free and really enjoying the game, just really enjoying every time I'm out there," Williams said after winning Wimbledon. "Not that I didn't enjoy it before, but these last eight Grand Slams have come after I got really sick, and I have a different outlook on life now. Even though I'm super intense on the court all the time, I have more fun now."

And when asked during the summer about her personal highlights, Williams didn't just point to her on-court wins - she also pointed to her emotional return to a massive tournament she once dominated.

"I think Indian Wells was pretty amazing," she said, referring to her comeback to the BNP Paribas Open for the first time in 14 years and reaching the semifinals before withdrawing due to a knee injury.

"And I think Serena Slam 2.0 - winning Wimbledon - was pretty awesome, too. I didn't expect it."

Williams has now won WTA Player Of The Year seven times in her career - 2002, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. She's now tied with Martina Navratilova (seven) and trails only Steffi Graf (eight).

Though she had to wrap her season up after the US Open, Williams heads into the 2016 season as a clear favorite to keep piling on the majors - she's just one away from tying Graf's Open Era record.

This award was voted for by media and fans. Williams won the media vote with 79% (Garbiñe Muguruza was next with 12%); Agnieszka Radwanska won the fan vote with 52% (Williams was next with 37%).

Inca doua jucatoare s-au calificat la Turneul Campioanelor - ce adversare va avea Simona Halep

Dupa Simona Halep si Maria Sharapova, inca doua jucatoare au reusit sa obtina, joi, biletele pentru calificarea la Turneul Campioanelor din Singapore, ultima mare competitie de avengura a anului in tenisul feminin.

Este vorba despre Garbine Muguruza si Petra Kvitova, ocupantele locurilor 4 si 5 in clasamentul WTA Race.

Muguruza s-a calificat dupa ce a ajuns in sferturile de finala de la Beijing, in timp ce Petra Kvitova a profitat de conjunctura rezultatelor.

Urmatoarea jucatoare ce s-ar putea califica la Turneul Campioanelor este Angelique Kerber, care mai are nevoie de o singura victorie la Beijing.

Turneul Campioanelor din Singapore va incepe pe 23 octombrie in direct pe Ziare.com.

Anul trecut, Simona Halep s-a calificat in finala Turneului Campioanelor, unde a fost invinsa de Serena Williams.