Yulia Putintseva's revival heralded by bags being stolen in Madrid: "I got nothing and I cannot get worse"
WTATuesday, 26 March 2024 at 20:30
Yulia
Putintseva is the big surprise in the quarterfinals of the Miami Open and
mentioned that she experienced luggage theft in Madrid while making a layover
on her way to California for the Indian Wells tournament.
The world
No. 68 is enjoying a good moment during the Sunshine Double. In Indian Wells,
she secured three consecutive straight-sets victories, including wins over
Ekaterina Alexandrova (No. 15) and Madison Keys (No. 18). However, she was
eliminated in the round of 16 against Iga Swiatek by 6-1, 6-2 in a lackluster
performance by the Kazakh.
This week
in Miami, she once again achieved a good winning streak and is now in the
quarterfinals. With another four victories, Putintseva overcame Liudmila
Samsonova (No. 13) and Anhelina Kalinina (No. 32).
Despite the
good moment she is experiencing, she suffered luggage theft a few weeks ago and
was left with nothing but her passport in hand. Nevertheless, she managed to
speak with her lawyer to expedite the paperwork for entering the United States
and had to replace sneakers, rackets, and clothing:
"When
they stole everything from me, I called my old coach and I talked to Matteo
[Donati, her new coach]," Putintseva told WTA Insider. "I said from
this moment everything should be good now. I got nothing and I cannot get
worse. We were laughing and I thought, now I have to play good."
The former
tennis player Matteo Donati recently joined her team at the end of the 2023
season: "I saw on Instagram that he posted that he quit because of
injuries," Putintseva said. "I knew him from juniors so I thought,
let's give it a try."
"I'm
improving each part of my game, but most importantly I'm getting more
confident," tha Kazakh added. "I'm very happy that Matteo is there
and trying to help everywhere. We stay competitive when we practice with each
other.
"It's
better because sometimes at practice you get bored because you are doing the
same thing over and over again, so we're trying to make things
interesting."
"Dancing
and singing are my thing," Putintseva said. "Here, I'm staying at
home so Matteo is driving my car around. I'm always singing so I hope he's
enjoying it. But if he doesn't, it doesn't change anything -- I'll keep on
singing. But sometimes I think he's trying to turn the music down."
Before the
Sunshine Double, the Kazakh had reached the third round of a WTA 1000 three
times in her career, and this month she has already added two more occasions.
Putintseva will face Victoria Azarenka in the quarterfinals and has the
possibility of reaching the semifinals of a WTA 1000 for the first time.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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