EMPIRE Slovak Open 2018 (10th edition)
10th edition
Prize Money: 100 000 USD
Tournament Date: 12 May - 20 May
Singles winner: Viktória Kužmová (SVK)
Final: Viktória Kužmová - Veronica Cepede Roygová 6-4, 1-6, 6-1
Doubles winners: Jessica Moore (AUS) / Galina Voskoboeva (KAZ)
Final: Jessica Moore / Galina Voskoboeva - Xenia Knoll / Anna Smith [1] 0-6 6-3 [10-7]
EMPIRE Slovak Open after 4 years of waiting knows again winner from Slovakia. The biggest clay court event in Slovakia, its 10th edition, was dominated by 20 years old Viktoria Kuzmova, who overwhelmed in the finals Veronica Cepede-Royg of Paraguay in 3 sets 6-4 1-6 6-1. It was the most valuable title of her career so far. Kuzmova has equaled Anna K. Schmiedlova from Slovakia who triumphed in Trnava in 2014. At that time, tournament was funded by 75,000 $, is now funded 100,000 $. "It is really huge success for me to win such a big tournament and even played on clay," said Kuzmova, whose opponent failed to win for a second time in Trnava in a row. In 2017, she lost to Czech Vondrousova.
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EMPIRE Slovak Open 2017 (9th edition)
9th edition
Prize Money: 100 000 USD
Tournament Date: 13 May - 21 May
Singles winner: Marketa Vondrousova (CZE)
Final: Marketa Vondrousova - Veronica Cepede Royg 7-5 7-6(3)
Doubles winners: Naomi Broady / Heather Watson (GBR)
Final: Naomi Broady / Heather Watson (GBR) - Renáta Voráčová / Chia-Jung Chuang 6-3 6-2
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 2017 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, who several weeks ago triumphed at WTA tournament in Biel, Switzerland, confirmed she is playing in a form of her life. „My opponent played really well, she was running a lot and returning all the balls back. Then when leading 7-5 and 5-3 she did not make any errors, so this set went to a tie-breaker. At the end she helped me by making errors. It was a difficult match indeed. I am glad I won it in two sets,“ said Czech player after the match. She received 15 200 USD and 140 points into the WTA rankings.
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EMPIRE Slovak Open 2016 (8th edition)
Prize Money: 100 000 USD
Tournament Date: 07 May - 15 May
Singles winner: Katerina Siniakova (CZE)
Final: Katerina Siniakova - Anastasia Sevastova (LAT) 7-6(4), 5-7, 6-0
Doubles winners: Anna Kalinskaya (RUS) / Tereza Mihalikova (SVK)
Final: Anna Kalinskaya (RUS) / Tereza Mihalikova (SVK) - Evgeniya RODINA (RUS)/ Anastasija SEVASTOVA (LAT) [3] 6-1 7-6(4)
Katerina Siniakova from Czech Republic won the EMPIRE Slovak Open 2016 title (prize money 100 000 USD, clay). WTA No. 124, 22 years old Siniakova beat the Latvian Anastasija Sevastova (26) (No. 94.), winner from four years ago, number three seeded, in three sets 7-6, 5-7, 6-0. Siniakova lost lead in second set, being 5-1 up. She made nine double faults. After Strycova win in 2013, this is second Czech player to take the title from Trnava. Hradec Kralove born Siniakova won her seventh singles title under ITF. This is her most prestigious title, first after two years. Two years ago she won 50K tournament in Nantes. For her win, she will receive 15 200 USD and 140 points into the ranking. Finalist Sevastova receives 85 points and 8108 USD before taxation.
Siniakova was up in the final match 7-6(4) and 5-2, her Latvian opponent got back into the match. "I am very happy, especially after that bad second set. Sevastova played very well, she plays very technically. I helped her a lot in second set, especially after being 5-2 up. I did not win my serve, then she was on fire. Nervous were there, it was not easy. I could not get into rhythm," said Siniakova about the beginnig of the match.
EMPIRE Slovak Open 2015 (7th edition)
Prize Money: 100 000 USD
Tournament Date: 03 May - 10 May
Singles winner: Danka Kovinic (MNE)
Final: Danka Kovinic (MNE) - Margarita Gasparyan (RUS) 7-5 6-3
Doubles winners: Yuliya Beygelzimer (UKR) / Margarita Gasparyan (RUS) [3]
Final: Yuliya Beygelzimer (UKR) / Margarita Gasparyan (RUS) [3] - Aleksandra Krunic (SRB) / Petra Martic (CRO) [4] 6-3 6-2
Danka Kovinić beat Russian Margarita Gasparyan in straight sets 7-5, 6-3 in the final of the EMPIRE Slovak Open 2015 in Trnava on Sunday to lift her first trophy of the season. "It was extremely difficult match. Margarita was playing better than me in the beginning. Strong wind made it difficult on serve, changed the direction of the balls. I really wanted to win this one. Despite not ideal start into the game, I stayed calm, tried not to show negative emotions," Danka Kovinić described her final match. Both players showed their qualities. Danka did not forget to praise her opponent after her second head to head win over Margarita Gasparyan: "She has great forehand. Powerful strokes from all over the court." With 140 points from EMPIRE Slovak Open 2015, Podgorica born player has reached her career high, TOP 70.
EMPIRE Slovak Open 2014 (6th edition)
Prize Money: 75 000 USD
Tournament Date: 05 May - 11 May
Singles winner: Anna Karolina Schmiedlova (SVK)
final: Anna Karolina Schmiedlova (SVK) [2] - Barbora Zahlavova-Strycova (CZE) [1] 6-4 6-2
Doubles winners: Stephanie Vogt (LIE) / Saisai Zheng (CHN) [2]
final: Stephanie VOGT (LIE) / Saisai ZHENG (CHN) [2] - Margarita GASPARYAN (RUS) / Evgeniya RODINA (RUS) 6-4 6-2
EMPIRE Slovak Open has had the winner from Slovakia for the first time in its history. The title has belonged to Anna Karolina Schmiedlova, who won the final against Zahlavova-Strycova of the Czech Republic 6-4, 6-2. The Slovak tennis player Schmiedlova has won the biggest tournament in her career this time. ESO is the biggest women’s clay tournament in Slovakia also. „It was a smaller tournament in the previous years but it’s 75K now with great players from the top hundred. Before the start I had said that I would see match after the match to see what’s going to happen. I didn’t believe that I could win. I’m very pleased and surprised that I’m the winner of this tournament,“ commented Schmiedlova. Zahlavova-Strycova recognized after the final the quality of the opponent. "Karolina played very well. I thank all the sponsors who support the tournament and thank you also for the fact that I could stay in a hotel EMPIRE," she added.
EMPIRE Slovak Open 2013 (5th edition)
Prize Money: 75 000 USD
Tournament Date: 6 May – 12 May
Singles winner: Barbora Zahlavova-Strycova (CZE)
final: Barbora Zahlavova-Strycova - Karin KNAPP (ITA) [2] 6-2 6-4
doubles winners: Mervana Jugic-Salkic (BIH) / Renata Voracova (CZE) [1]
final: Mervana Jugic-Salkic (BIH) / Renata Voracova (CZE) [1] - Jana Cepelova (SVK) / Anna Karolina Schmiedlova (SVK) 6-1 6-1
The International title of Slovak champion from 75K tournament with a brand new name EMPIRE Slovak Open was won by Zahlavova-Strycova from the Czech Republic. She beat the Italian Knapp 6-2, 6-4 in the final. "This has been my third appereance in Trnava and I am glad that I won," said the Czech. She was banned for six months by the ITF after testing positive in October 2013. But one month before the ESO tournament, she has started to play again. "After a long break, I played the third tournament, and I won this one. I'm excited," added happy Barbora, who fall in the rankings before to No. 189. During five previous seasons, she had always ended in the top hundred. Karolina Schmiedlova has been the best Slovak player in the singles main draw and she lost in the quarterfinal. The Czech player Renata Voracova won the third doubles title in Trnava (2011, 2012, 2013) always partnering another player and she is the first player to achieve that success.
Empire Trnava Cup 2012 (4th edition)
Prize Money: 50 000 USD
Tournament Date: 30 July - 5 August
Singles winner: Anastasija Sevastova (LAT)
final: Anastasija Sevastova (LAT) [7] - Ana Savic (CRO) walkover
doubles winners: Elena Bogdan (ROU) / Renata Voracova (CZE)
final: Elena Bogdan (ROU) / Renata Voracova (CZE) [1] - Marta Domachowska (POL) / Sandra Klemenschits (AUT) [4] 7-6(2) 6-4
ITF Tournament again with 50 000 USD prize money was the biggest for women in Slovakia. Elena Bovina from Russia (former No. 14 in the WTA rankings) was playing in the main draw but she lost in the second round. Sevastova from Latvia, former No. 36 in the rankings, won the ninth ITF title of her career in Trnava (she has one WTA title from 2010 Estoril Open). The No. 1-seeded German Pfizenmaier lost early, as well as the previous finalists, two-times winner Meusburger of Austria (2009, 2011) and Kostova from Bulgaria. There wasn't any Slovak player in the second round either. Sevastova won the title without a fight because Ana Savic from Croatia had injured herself before. The final was replaced by an exhibition match.
Empire Trnava Cup 2011 (3rd edition)
Prize Money: 50 000 USD
Tournament Date: 1 August – 7 August
Singles winner: Yvonne Meusburger (AUT)
final: Yvonne Meusburger (AUT) [3] - Elitsa Kostova (BUL) [7] 0-6 6-2 6-0
Doubles winner: Janette Husarova (SVK) / Renata Voracova (CZE)
final: Janette Husarova (SVK) / Renata Voracova (CZE) - Jana Cepelova (SVK) / Lenka Wienerova (SVK) [2] 7-6(2) 6-1
No. 3 seeded Meusburger won the second title in Trnava, this time at the 50K tournament. After the final, she also spoke about 1R match where she was almost beaten by young Karolina Schmiedlova (6-0, 5-7, 6-4). "It was clear that home talent was playing against me without any pressure and she was enjoying this chance. Karolina had nothing to lose and she showed the performance, which is promising for her future," said Meusburger. The Slovak player Janette Husarova was also successful – it was her first international tournament after a nearly two-year break – which she won in doubles partnering Voracova. The main draw was also played by 9 Slovak girls - Schmiedlova, Cepelova, Wienerova, Kristina Kucova, Tabakova, Honcova, Jurikova, Natalia Vajdova and Pochabova. Kucova and Jurikova advanced to the singles quarterfinal.
Empire Trnava Cup 2010 (2nd edition)
Prize Money: 25 000 USD
Tournament Date: 8 August – 15 August
Singles winner: Sandra Zahlavova (CZE)
final: Sandra Zahlavova (CZE) [1] - Lenka Jurikova (SVK) 2-6 6-3 6-1
doubles winner: Iveta Gerlova (CZE), Lucie Kriegsmannova (CZE)
final: Iveta Gerlova (CZE) / Lucie Kriegsmannova (CZE) [3] – Michaela Honcova (SVK) / Lenka Wienerova (SVK) 6-2 6-1
In the three-round singles qualifying, there were 46 players. Two Slovak players advanced to the main draw – Luknarova and Honcova. The No. 1 seeded Sandra Zahlavova was in the first top hundred of the WTA rankings. This time, last year's semifinalist managed to win the trophy when she beat 20 years old Slovak Lenka Jurikova. Among the other big names, you could see Pliskova sisters from the Czech Republic and Reka-Luca Jani from Hungary. Interestingly, two singles semifinals were played by three Czech players and one from Slovakia. Zahlavova won against surprising qualifier Zuzana Zalabska and Jurikova, now a member of TC EMPIRE Trnava, dealt with Eva Birnerova. Juríkova earned 34 points for the WTA rankings and she was then close to No. 200.
Empire Trnava Cup 2009 (1st edition)
Prize Money: 25 000 USD
Tournament Date: 10 August – 16 August
Singles winner: Yvonne Meusburger (AUT)
final: Yvonne Meusburger (AUT) [3] - Sandra Zahlavova (CZE) [1] 7-6(0) 7-5
doubles winner: Sandra Klemenschits (AUT), Vladimira Uhlirova (CZE)
final: Sandra Klemenschits (AUT)/Vladimira Uhlirova (CZE) [1] - Michaela Pastikova (CZE) / Darina Sedenkova (CZE) [3] 6-4 6-2
The winner of the first edition was Austrian Meusburger who beat Sandra Zahlavova (No. 111 in the WTA rankings). "I have been in Trnava for the first time. I liked the organization of the event in this beautiful venue. Sandra played very well in the final. I had heavy legs after the three-set semi-final match," said Meusburger after the triumph over Zahlavova. In the two-round singles qualifying, we could see 8 girls from Slovakia playing, while two of them advanced to the main draw – Luknarova and only 16 years old Cepelova. Six Slovak players were included in the main draw – Nociarova, Skamlova, Baranova, Pochabova, Jurikova and Marcakova. Only two of them, Nociarova and Pochabova, advanced to the second round. An interesting participant was a 17 years old Romanian Simona Halep, recent world number two, who advanced to the singles quarterfinal.