Wednesday, June 01, 2016

RG.11- In Lieu of Flowers, Send Waffles

On Justine Henin Day, no matter what happened on the court in Paris, we start with La Petit Taureau. It's a Backspin law.

Okay, sure, this wasn't exactly the BEST birthday Henin has ever spent on or alongside a tennis court, in Paris, or even with Serena Williams nearby.




But that doesn't dim the proceedings. Well wishes arrived from all the major corners of women's tennis on this day...








And it's never a bad time to see that backhand again...



Or catch up with the Justine of today (and see her do some instructional practice swings that spark memories of the past)...


Of course, there's always a case to made for making time for that. Especially this year, as they'll be a never-before-held SECOND "Justine Henin Day" later this summer...



After all, the Original Face of Backspin never rests, gets tired or fades away.



=DAY 11 NOTES=
...as it was, Day 11 was chocked full of matches that didn't get played when they were supposed to because of all the rain in Paris earlier this week.

So, a quick rundown of what happened as the four remaining women's Round of 16 matches simultaneously opened the day ...

- with many top seeds falling in recent matches, naturally, the eyes of most have turned to Serena Williams and her quest for slam #22. Today on Chatrier, she handled her Round of 16 opponent, Elina Svitolina, a quarterfinalist in Paris a year ago who often seemed frustrated and helplessly out of sorts about how to handle Williams in this match. The final result was a 6-1/6-1 win for Serena that puts the world #1 in her tenth career RG quarterfinal.



Of course, the side story of this one -- on Justine Henin Day, no less -- was that Svitolina now sports La Petit Taureau as a coach. Henin was watching from the stands as Williams crashed out her charge today, making it very easy for Serena backers to harp on the case of Williams getting some measure of additional revenge against old rival Henin, who twice defeated her in Paris during her career, including one match that included "the wave" en route to her first RG title in 2003.


Really, though, it says more about Serena's longevity and excellence than anything else. After all, 34-year old Henin is the same age as Serena (about eight months younger, actually), yet her last RG title run was NINE years ago. She's won three total matches in Paris in the last nine years, while Serena has four in the last nine DAYS. With the win, Serena is 78-4 on clay since 2012.

- on Court 1, the formerly unheralded Dutch Fed Cup legend is now an unseeded Dutch Roland Garros legend, as Kiki Bertens took out Rome finalist Madison Keys in straights sets. Bertens went up an early break in the 1st, but saw Keys break her when she was serving for the set. Bertens led 5-4, 30/love before the break knotted the set at 5-5. In the eventual tie-break, Bertens again went up (3-1) only to see the Bannerette bring things back to even (4-4). Serving two up 5-4, Bertens saw Keys end the TB with three consecutive errors as the 24-year old won 7-4.

In the 2nd, Bertens again went up an early break. She led 3-1, but this time avoided a Keys comeback by holding for 5-2, then serving out the match two games later for a 7-6(4)/6-3 win that sends her into her first career slam quarterfinal. Bertens has already raised her ranking to #33 (hello, Wimbledon seeding committee), and she can still climb higher.



Meanwhile, Keys has to be super-satisfied with her clay court season, and will now head off to the grass and hard court circuits that would seem to be even more in her "sweet spot."

- on Lenglen, '15 RG semifinalist Timea Bacsinszky tried to do what she wasn't able to a year ago -- defeat a Williams in Paris. Of course, this time it was Venus on the other side of the next in the 4th Round, rather than Serena in the semis.

Williams got off the mark quickly, taking a break lead at 2-0, but Bacsinszky quickly got her footing and reeled off six straight games to take the opening set. The Swiss opened the 2nd with a break of Venus' serve, gave it back in game #6, but then reclaimed her lead a game later as Williams ended with a double-fault and two errors. Bacsinszky served out the win, her first over a Williams, with an ace that closed out a 6-2/6-4 victory in the 1:16 match.




And, as usual, every time Timea opens her mouth she rightfully gains new fans.



- Yulia Putintseva has flown way, way, way under the radar at this RG. That won't be the case after today, as the Moscow-born (and famed Spartak Club trained) Kazakh took out Carla Suarez-Navarro in a long 7-5/7-5 contest that ended with her first career slam QF berth as the two woman traded breaks throughout the match.

On Court 2, there were two breaks in the first four games, and seven in the first twelve of the 1st set, which sported seventeen combined BP chances. Finally, Putintseva held and served out a 7-5 set. In the 2nd, Putintseva went up a break after game #3, then gave it back in game #4. Things finally settled down a bit after that, as the only other break in the set came when the Kazakh went up 6-5 on the Spaniard and served out another 7-5 set. She enters the QF having not lost a set in Paris. She'd only lost eight total games in her first three matches before surrendering ten today. Putintseva fired 33 winners in the two-setter.



One of four unseeded players to reach QF in Paris (the most at RG since 1988), Putintseva not only did time at the Spartak Club that produced the likes of Myskina, Safina and Dementieva, but she later went to Paris to attend the Patrick Mouratoglou Academy. Now Mouratoglou is the coach of her next opponent, none other than Serena Williams. So there's that.

Up to #35, at least, in the upcoming WTA singles rankings, Putintseva won't likely soon find herself in the position she was over the last few days. Arriving in Paris as an unseeded player who'd never advanced past the 3rd Round of a major, she hadn't reserved her hotel room for the second week on play. So she was busy while it was raining.



She can laugh about it now, though.

- in a match-up of the only two women who have managed to maintain some sort of regular schedule as they have advanced in the draw up to the quarterfinals. World #108 Shelby Rogers held her own throughout the 1st set vs. #4 Garbine Muguruza, breaking the Spaniard to open the match and then staving off two BP in game #8 to hold for 5-3. But when serving for the set at 5-4, despite holding a set point, Rogers was unable to close out a more aggressive Muguruza, who grabbed the initiative and secured the break, then showed why she entered 2016 having supplanted Simona Halep (who, in retrospect, I'm now wondering if she'll ever have the get-it-done-no-matter-what mindset necessary to pull off the feat after her performance on and off court yesterday) as the most likely "next first time slam champ."

Muguruza held, broke again to win a 7-5 1st, then raced to a 3-0 lead in the 2nd set. She soon served for her first RG semifinal at 5-3, closing things out with a love hold for a 7-5/6-3 victory.



The other QF held today featured the two women who braved the elements and didn't whine about them on Tuesday, as '10 finalist Sam Stosur and #102-ranked Tsvetana Pironkova, playing with her thigh strapped, both looked to make their rainy day conquests even more meaningful. And just as she did vs. Simona Halep, Stosur was forced to play from behind. Down an early break to the Bulgarian, the Aussie got back on serve at 4-4 and, going after Pironkova's forehand, broke again to once again steal an opening set from an opponent, winning it 6-4.

In the 2nd, Pironkova again went up an early break at 2-1, but the two were back on serve by the time it was 4-4. This time, things went to a tie-break. Again, the Bulgarian jumped out to the lead. 5-1 to be exact. Stosur edged closer at 5-4, though seemingly only to make the final TB score appear more respectable. Until it turned out to be more than that. Pironkova held SP at 6-4, but threw in back-to-back errors to allow the Aussie the chance to steal another set. Another error from Pironkova gave Stosur a match point. And, just like that, it was over. Stosur's 6-4/7-6(6) win flings her into her first slam semifinal since 2012 in Paris, where she'll face off with Muguruza for a berth in the final.

Muguruza, based on her form at this RG, would seem to be the favorite, even with the Aussie having won their only previous meeting (a three-setter on clay in Madrid in 2014). But Stosur, in her final event with long-time coach David Taylor (who is looking to step back from the travel necessary to be Stosur's full-time coach... though it should be noted that they've parted ways before, only to reunite), has played the last few days as if she's on deadline and determined to not allow this opportunity to pass her by. If the Spaniard has one of her little in-match "spells" and leaves ajar a door for the Aussie, Stosur has shown the initiative and desire to walk through such openings the last few days. At 32, this very well could be her last best chance at such success on the slam level... and she might just be ready to defy the conventions of her frustrating-to-fabulous-and-back-again career once again.




- in doubles action, Kristina Mladenovic officially re-assumed her former role as the most coveted doubles partner on tour, advancing to the semis in WD and quarters in MX. She's the only woman alive in both draws.

Kiki and Caroline Garcia finally ended Dutch Kiki's eigtheen-match singles/doubles winning streak with a 7-5/6-3 victory over Bertens & Johanna Larsson. Mladenovic was just not going to allow such a thing to go on...



Late in the day, Mladenovic/Herbert saved two MP vs. Vandeweghe/B.Bryan and won a 13-11 3rd set tie-break to advance.



The French duo are set to team in Rio... I mean, assuming ANYONE plays in Rio, I guess -- which seems incredible considering the perfect storm of virus fears/polluted waters/crumbling infrastructure/unfinished venues and political upheaval but, hey, the Olympics are like a cockroach, aren't they? At any rate, they're a likely Olympic mixed pair, wherever they happen to be playing this summer.

Elsewhere, the run of the young Czech Maidens continued, as Barbora Krejcikova & Katerina Siniakova, who knocked off #1 Hingis/Mirza, added countrywomen and former RG champs (2011) Hlavackova/Hradecka to their list of victims en route to the semifinals. The pair have now taken out BOTH of this year's Australian Open WD finalist duos in Paris. Meanwhile, the healthy-and-reunited Hordette duo of Makarova/Vesnina ('13 RG champ) defeated the Chan sisters and will next face the Czechs.



Another all-Russian team, the multi-generational pair of Gasparyan/Kuznetsova remains, as well, after taking out the Chinese duo of Xu Yifan & Zheng Saisai. Kuznetsova has reached seven slam doubles finals (including RG in '04 with Elena Likhovtseva), winning two AO titles. They'll face Garcia/Mladenovic in the semis.

- with eleven of the Round of 16 junior girls singles slots filled, three qualifiers have advanced, while another is still alive. And in a year-long stretch in which we have seemingly seen the past, present and future of Italian women's tennis flash before our eyes, two of those remaining qualifiers are teenagers hailing from Italy. 16-year old Federica Bilardo (jr. #86) defeated #8 Elena Rybakina to reach the 3rd Round, while 15-year old Lucrezia Stefanini (#79) is set to face #14-seeded Pastry Tessah Andrianjafitrimo in the 2nd Round.

Another qualifier, Romanian Ioana Minca, defeated Bannerette Caty McNally (def. Katie Swan in 1st) to reach the 3rd Round, where she'll see yet another U.S. prospect, #9 Usue Arconada. Still another Bannerette, Claire Liu, fell today to #12-seeded Swiss Rebeka Masarova. She'll face Bilardo in the 3rd Round.

Also, Iga lives! Poland's Iga Swiatek, 15 years old (as of Tuesday) and yet another qualifier, will face the winner of #10 Sonya Kenin (USA) vs. Lucie Kankova (CZE) in the Round of 16.

- the wheelchair draw is out (see below), and it's nice to see Yui Kamiji and Jordanne Whiley teaming up for doubles again after running off five straight slam titles (and winning a sixth in seven at last year's Wimbledon). The best-friends pair recently reunited after playing with different partners in Melbourne, where Kamiji teamed with Marjolein Buis to win the WD titles. Likely due to Paralympic eligibility, Brit Whiley paired with countrywoman Lucy Shuker in the AO. Kamiji & Whiley recently won a title in Japan, where parting was such sweet sorrow.




In their opening match in Paris, the duo are set to face, naturally, a team consisting of Buis and Shuker.

In singles, '15 U.S. Open champ Whiley will open vs. #1-seeded Dutch Jiske Griffioen, the winner of three of the last four majors. Kamiji is the #2 seed.

- in the WTA 125 Series event in Bol... come on, you knew it was coming. #1 seeded Anna Karolina Schmiedlova lost in her opening match. Again. In straight sets. Again. Getting bageled in one of them. Again.

This time the winner was Kristina Kucova, by a 6-4/6-0 score.

Sigh.


It wouldn't be "Justine Henin Day" without the awarding of the inaugural Coupe La Petit Taureau, now would it?

Of course, Serena's dominance over Henin's charge today would seem to put her in line for the honor, right? Hmmm, no. Truthfully, this eliminated her from contention before June 1 even arrived...



And there was a tad too much joy in some corners about Serena's win today over Svitolina being a case of Williams "getting back" at Henin for past wrongs and/or defeats...





So, the door was open. And then a diminutive, fiery and aggressive 21-year old reached her first career slam QF in Paris (Henin was 19 when she did the same with a SF at RG in '01). Yulia Putintseva sometimes rubs people the wrong way with the actions, sort of like a certain Belgian Waffle did on occasion during her career. She plays with a cap, as well, just like you-know-who.

And then I read this about the Russian-turned-Kazakh from Peter Bodo on ESPN.com:

"Putintseva said that growing up, she consumed matches featuring Jelena Dokic, Martina Hingis and Justine Henin. In fact, when in need of inspiration, she still goes to YouTube to watch Henin. Like her idol, Putintseva tries to mix up her game.

She can slice the backhand with one hand or drive it with two. She has a drop shot. Her favorite shot is the forehand, and she's nimble enough to set up an inside-out shot if an opponent allows. The major caveat attached to her game is size. She is just 5-foot-4. "

That almost made it TOO easy. A player whose idol is Henin notches the biggest win of her career at Henin's most special event... on Henin's birthday. 'Nuff said. Well, except for this...


Hmmm, is it just me or is there even a slight resemblance?

Anyway... Yulia Putintseva is the first Coupe LPT winner!




...LIKE FROM DAY 11: Sounds like something I'd say (or, think, at least). Haha.



...LIKE FROM DAY 11: Radio Roland Garros: The Re-Grip II

...LIKE FROM DAY 11: The squeak of a Sharapova in preparation? But for when?

Drillzzz

A video posted by Maria Sharapova (@mariasharapova) on



...LIKE FROM DAY 11: Nice try, RG app...



...LIKE FROM DAY 11: Ain't nothin' gonna break her stride. No German's gonna slow her down, oh-no. She's got to keep on movin'.



...LIKE FROM DAY 11: A German in every boiling pot...



...SIGNS OF THE TIMES FROM DAY 11: When reality intrudes on a practice session...







...and, finally, another Lenglen moment.

A few of them, actually. As in a collection of odds & ends...


"HOW I PLAY TENNIS - By Mlle. Suzanne Lenglen" (1925)

AUTOGRAPHS





THE "PREMATURE HANDSHAKE" WITH HELEN WILLS IN "THE MATCH OF THE CENTURY" (1926)
(you can see the linesman who came in and waved off the "out" call, leading to the resumption of the match)


ON THE COVER OF THE SKETCH AT AGE 14 (1914)


ON THE COVER OF TATLER, READING TATLER (1923)


And then there's the different...

SHEET MUSIC COVER FOR BURLESQUE PERFORMANCE OF "AH! SUZANNE!
ILLUSTRATED BY ROGER de VALERIO (1926)
STARRING FRENCH SINGER SAINT-GRANIER (Jean de Granier de Cassagnac)

SAINT-GRANIER in THE CASINO de PARIS (left); LENGLEN AT WIMBLEDON IN 1919 (right)

In 1926 Saint-Granier made had an ‘hilarious’ burlesque performance imitating Suzanne Lenglen in the Casino de Paris. A nobleman from Gascogne, he made a career as a journalist, writer, lyricist, singer and actor in Paris.


And then there's, uh, this...

PETE SAMPRAS MEETS SUZANNE LENGLEN (2012)

Yeah. That.

Oh, and as if I haven't out-Lenglened myself enough over the past two weeks (there are still two days left in this series, though), I finally received the Suzanne Lenglen/Helen Wills book (The Goddess and the American Girl) I ordered. Here are the quotes that lead off the first chapter:




*WOMEN'S SINGLES QF*
#1 Serena Williams/USA vs. Yulia Putintseva/KAZ
Kiki Bertens/NED vs. #8 Timea Bacsinszky/SUI
#4 Garbine Muguruza/ESP def. Shelby Rogers/USA
#21 Samantha Stosur/AUS def. Tsvetana Pironkova/BUL

*WOMEN'S DOUBLES SF*
Krejcikova/Siniakova (CZE/CZE) vs. #7 Makarova/Vesnina (RUS/RUS)
Gasparyan/Kuznetsova (RUS/RUS) vs. #5 Garcia/Mladenovic (FRA/FRA)

*MIXED DOUBLES QF*
#6 Hlavackova/Roger-Vasselin (CZE/FRA) def. #1 HC.Chan/J.Murray (TPE/GBR)
Hingis/Paes (SUI/IND) vs. #5 Vesnina/Soares (RUS/BRA)
#3 Mladenovic/Herbert (FRA/FRA) def. #8 Vandeweghe/B.Bryan (USA/USA)
#7 YJ.Chan/Mirnyi (TPE/BLR) vs. #2 Mirza/Dodig (IND/CRO)

*GIRLS SINGLES ROUND OF 16*
xx vs. #13 Marketa Vondrousova/CZE
#9 Usue Arconada/USA vs. (Q) Ioana Minca/ROU
#3 Kayla Day/USA vs. Katarina Zavatska/UKR
#12 Rebeka Masarova/SUI vs. (Q) Federica Bilardo/ITA
(Q) Iga Swiatek/POL vs. xx
xx vs. #4 Anastasia Potapova/RUS
#5 Dayana Zastremska/UKR vs. (WC) Emmanuelle Salas/FRA
xx vs. xx

*WOMEN'S WC SINGLES QF*
#1 Jiske Griffioen/NED vs. Jordanne Whiley/GBR
Sabine Ellerbrock/GER vs. Charlotte Famin/FRA
Lucy Shuker/GBR vs. Marjolein Buis/NED
Aniek Van Koot/NED vs. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN

*WOMEN'S WC DOUBLES SF*
#1 Jiske Griff#1oen/Aniek Van Koot (NED/NED) vs. Sabine Ellerbrock/Charlotte Famin (GER/FRA)
Marjolein Buis/Lucy Shuker (NED/GBR) vs. #2 Yui Kamiji/Jordanne Whiley (JPN/GBR)










Thank you @esquire for my feature in the June issue! ?? @pamela_hanson

A photo posted by Caroline Wozniacki (@carowozniacki) on










*RG "MADEMOISELLE OPPORTUNITY" WINNERS*
2004 Anastasia Myskina, RUS & Elena Dementieva, RUS
2005 Mary Pierce, FRA
2006 Svetlana Kuznetsova, RUS
2007 Maria Sharapova, RUS
2008 Ana Ivanovic, SRB
2009 Samantha Stosur, AUS
2010 Francesca Schiavone, ITA
2011 Francesca Schiavone, ITA & Li Na, CHN
2012 Samantha Stosur, AUS
2013 Victoria Azarenka, BLR
2014 Simona Halep, ROU
2015 Timea Bacsinszky, SUI & Alison Van Uytvanck, BEL
2016 Kiki Bertens, NED & Shelby Rogers, USA

*RG "ZOMBIE QUEENS"*
[2008]
Dinara Safina, RUS (2 MP down in 4r, 2 MP down in QF; reached final)
[2009]
Victoria Azarenka, BLR (down 7-5/4-1 in 3r, match susp./darkness; reached QF)
[2010]
Samantha Stosur, AUS (down MP in QF; reached final)
[2011]
Maria Sharapova, RUS (down 6-3/4-1 in 2r; reached SF)
[2012]
Victoria Azarenka, BLR (down 7-6/4-0 in 1r; avoided earlier #1 exit; reached 4r)
[2013]
Marion Bartoli, FRA (down break 3 times in 1st & 2 MP in 3rd in 1r; 4-1 1st & break in 2nd set in 2r)
[2014]
Svetlana Kuznetsova, RUS (down 3-1 in 3rd set, opp.served for match twice in 3r; to QF)
[2015]
Elina Svitolina, UKR (down 6-1/3-0, 4-1 in 3rd set in 2r; wins 9-7)
[2016]
Tsvetana Pironkova, BUL (down 6-2/3-0 vs. A-Rad 4r; wins 1st 10 games two days later)

*2016 ROLAND GARROS WOMEN'S FINAL 8*
[by career slam QF]
44...Serena Williams, USA
7...Samantha Stosur, AUS
4...Garbine Muguruza, ESP
3...Timea Bacsinszky, SUI
3...Tsvetana Pironkova, BUL
1...Kiki Bertens, NED
1...Yulia Putintseva, KAZ
1...Shelby Rogers, USA
[by career RG QF]
10 - Serena Williams
4 - Samantha Stosur
3 - Garbine Muguruza
2 - Timea Bacsinszky
1 - Kiki Bertens
1 - Tsvetana Pironkova
1 - Yulia Putintseva
1 - Shelby Rogers
[w/ consecutive slam QF]
7...Serena Williams
2...none
[w/ consecutive RG QF]
3...Garbine Muguruza
2...Timea Bacsinszky
2...Serena Williams
[2016 slam QF - unseeded]
AO - Johanna Konta, GBR
AO - Zhang Shuai, CHN (Q)
RG - Kiki Bertens, NED
RG - Tsvetana Pironkova, BUL
RG - Yulia Putintseva, KAZ
RG - Shelby Rogers, USA
[2016 1st-time GS QF]
AO - Johanna Konta, GBR
AO - Zhang Shuai, CHN
RG - Kiki Bertens, NED
RG - Yulia Putintseva, KAZ
RG - Shelby Rogers, USA
[2016 slam QF - by nation]
3...USA (ROGERS,S.WILLIAMS-2)
2...ESP (MUGURUZA,Suarez-Navarro)
1...AUS (STOSUR)
1...BLR (Azarenka)
1...BUL (PIRONKOVA)
1...CHN (Sh.Zhang)
1...GBR (Konta)
1...GER (Kerber)
1...KAZ (PUTINTSEVA)
1...NED (BERTENS)
1...POL (A.Radwanska)
1...RUS (Sharapova)
1...SUI (BACSINSZKY)
[WTA career slam QF - active]
44...SERENA WILLIAMS, USA
35...Venus Williams, USA
24...Maria Sharapova, RUS
16...Victoria Azarenka, BLR
15...Svetlana Kuznetsova, RUS
12...Aga Radwanska, POL
9...Petra Kvitova, CZE
8...Ana Ivanovic, SRB
8...Jelena Jankovc, SRB
--
ALSO: Petrova (9)
[WTA slam QF in 2010's - active]
16...SERENA WILLIAMS, USA
14...Victoria Azarenka, BLR
11...Maria Sharapova, RUS
9...Petra Kvitova, CZE
9...Aga Radwanska, POL
7...Sara Errani, ITA
6...Ekaterina Makarova, RUS
6...SAMANTHA STOSUR, AUS
6...Caroline Wozniacki, DEN

*UNSEEDED PLAYERS IN QF*
[at RG, since 32-seed draw]
2002 Clarisa Fernandez, Mary Pierce, Paola Suarez
2003 Mary Pierce
2004 - none
2005 Sesil Karatantcheva
2006 - none
2007 - none
2008 Kaia Kanepi, Carla Suarez-Navarro (qualifier)
2009 Sorana Cirstea, Maria Sharapova
2010 Yaroslava Shvedova
2011 - none
2012 Yaroslava Shvedova (qualifier)
2013 Svetlana Kuznetsova
2014 Garbine Muguruza
2015 Alison Van Uytvanck
2016 Kiki Bertens, Tsvetana Pironkova, Yulia Putintseva, Shelby Rogers
[all slams since 2014]
14 AO - none
14 RG - Garbine Muguruza
14 WI - Barbora Zahlavova-Strycova
14 US - Belinda Bencic
14 US - Peng Shuai
15 AO - Madison Keys
15 RG - Alison Van Uytvanck
15 WI - CoCo Vandeweghe
15 US - Kristina Mladenovic, Roberta Vinci [RU]
16 AO - Johanna Konta, Zhang Shuai (qualifier)
16 RG - Kiki Bertens, Tsvetana Pironkova, Yulia Putintseva, Shelby Rogers

*ACTIVE PLAYERS WITH EXACTLY ONE SLAM QF IN CAREER*
Belinda Bencic, SUI
KIKI BERTENS, NED [RG '16]
Sorana Cirstea, ROU
Kirsten Flipkens, BEL
Anna-Lena Groenefeld, GER
Johanna Konta, GBR [AO '16]
Michaella Krajicek, NED
Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, CRO
Kristina Mladenovic, FRA
Melanie Oudin, USA
Peng Shuai, CHN
YULIA PUTINTSEVA, KAZ [RG '16]
SHELBY ROGERS, USA [RG '16]
Alexandra Stevenson, USA
Barbora Strycova, CZE
Elina Svitolina, UKR
Tamarine Tanasugarn, THA
CoCo Vandeweghe, USA
Alison Van Uytvanck, BEL
Yanina Wickmayer, BEL
Zhang Shuai, CHN [AO '16]

*2016 QF - NORTH AMERICAN REGION*
4 - SERENA WILLIAMS, USA (3-0)
3 - Genie Bouchard, CAN (2-1)
3 - Sloane Stephens, USA (3-0)
2 - SHELBY ROGERS, USA (1-1)
2 - Madison Keys, USA (1-1)
1+1 - Alison Riske, USA (1-0, 1-0 125)
1+1 - Samantha Crawford, USA (1-0, 0-1 125)
1 - Louisa Chirico, USA (1-0)
1 - Irina Falconi, USA (1-0)
1 - Christina McHale, USA (1-0)
1 - Monica Puig, PUR (1-0)
1 - Venus Williams, USA (1-0)
1 - Madison Brengle, USA (0-1)
1 - Nicole Gibbs, USA (0-1)
1 - Varvara Lepchenko, USA (0-1)
1 - CoCo Vandeweghe, USA (0-1)
1 - Sachia Vickery, USA (0-1)

*RECENT WC SLAM CHAMPIONS*
[singles]
2013 AO: Aniek Van Koot, NED
2013 RG: Sabine Ellerbrock, GER
2013 US: Aniek Van Koot, NED
2014 AO: A: Sabine Ellerbrock, GER
2014 RG: Yui Kamiji, JPN
2014 US: Yui Kamiji, JPN
2015 AO: Jiske Griffioen, NED
2015 RG: Jiske Griffioen, NED
2015 US: Jordanne Whiley, GBR
2016 AO: Jiske Griffieon, NED
[doubles]
2013 AO: Griffioen/Van Koot, NED/NED
2013 RG: Griffioen/Van Koot, NED/NED
2013 WI: Griffioen/Van Koot, NED/NED
2013 US: Griffioen/Van Koot, NED/NED
2014 AO: Kamiji/Whiley, JPN/GBR
2014 RG: Kamiji/Whiley, JPN/GBR
2014 WI: Kamiji/Whiley, JPN/GBR
2014 US: Kamiji/Whiley, JPN/GBR
2015 AO: Kamiji/Whiley, JPN/GBR
2015 RG: Griffioen/Van Koot, NED/NED
2015 WI: Kamiji/Whiley, JPN/GBR
2015 US: Griffioen/Van Koot, NED/NED
2016 AO: Buis/Kamiji, NED/JPN
--
NOTE: Griffioen/Van Koot in 13 con. slam WD finals (6-7)

*LOWEST-SEEDED WOMAN IN RG SF, since 2000*
Unseeded - 2002 Clarisa Fernandez, ARG
Unseeded - 2003 Nadia Petrova, RUS
#30 2009 Samantha Stosur, AUS
#28 2014 Andrea Petkovic, GER
#23 2015 Timea Bacsinszky, SUI
#21 2016 Samantha Stosur, AUS
#21 2005 Mary Pierce, FRA (RU)
#21 2012 Sara Errani, ITA (RU)
#20 2009 Dominika Cibulkova, SVK
#18 2014 Genie Bouchard, CAN
#17 2010 Francesca Schiavone, ITA (W)
#16 2005 Elena Likhovtseva, RUS
#16 2006 Nicole Vaidisova, CZE
==
TO PLAY QF: (un)Bertens, (un)Putintseva

**WTA "CAREER QF SLAM" - active**
[with slam at which completed]
Azarenka - 2012 US (28th)
Cibulkova - 2014 AO (26th)
Date-Krumm - 1995 WI (23rd)
Ivanovic - 2012 US (32nd)
Kerber - 2016 AO (33rd)
Kuznetsova - 2006 RG (16th)
Kvitova - 2015 US (30th)
Schiavone - 2011 AO (42nd)
Sharapova - 2005 US (12th)
S.Williams - 2001 RG (12th)
V.Williams - 1998 WI (6th)
--
ALSO: Hingis - 1997 WI (11th), Petrova - 2006 AO (24th), Zvonareva - 2010 US (31st)

**RECENT RG GIRLS DOUBLES CHAMPIONS**
1999 Flavia Pennetta & Roberta Vinci, ITA/ITA
2000 Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez & Anabel Medina Garrigues, ESP/ESP
2001 Petra Cetkovska & Renata Voracova, CZE/CZE
2002 Anna-Lena Groenefeld & Barbora Strycova, GER/CZE
2003 Marta Fraga & Adriana Gonzales, ESP/ESP
2004 Katerina Bohmova & Michaella Krajicek, CZE/NED
2005 Victoria Azarenka & Agnes Szavay, BLR/HUN
2006 Sharon Fichman & Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, CAN/RUS
2007 Ksenia Milevskaya & Urszula Radwanska, BLR/POL
2008 Polona Hercog & Jessica Moore, SLO/AUS
2009 Elena Bogdan & Noppawan Lertcheewakarn, ROU/THA
2010 Timea Babos & Sloane Stephens, HUN/USA
2011 Irina Khromacheva & Maryna Zanevska, RUS/UKR
2012 Daria Gavrilova & Irina Khromacheva, RUS/RUS
2013 Barbora Krejcikova & Katerina Siniakova, CZE/CZE
2014 Ioana Ducu & Ioana Loredana Rosca, ROU/ROU
2015 Miriam Kolodziejova & Marketa Vondrouosva, CZE/CZE
2016 ?




TOP QUALIFIER: Viktoriya Golubic/SUI
TOP EARLY-ROUND (1r-2r): #11 Lucie Safarova/CZE
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): xx
TOP LATE-ROUND (SF-F): xx
TOP QUALIFYING MATCH: Q3: Lucie Hradecka/CZE d. Grace Min/USA 6-7(4)/6-1/11-9 (saved 4 MP)
TOP EARLY-RD. MATCH (1r-2r): 2nd Rd. - #25 Irina-Camelia Begu/ROU d. CoCo Vandeweghe/USA 6-7(4)/7-6(4)/10-8 (3:38)
TOP MIDDLE-RD. MATCH (3r-QF): xx
TOP LATE-RD. MATCH (SF-F/Jr.): xx
=============================
FIRST VICTORY: #24 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova/RUS (def. Sorribes Tormo/ESP
FIRST SEED OUT: #32 Jelena Ostapenko/LAT (lost 1st Rd. to Osaka/JPN)
UPSET QUEENS: The South Americans (players from three S.A. nations in 2nd Round)
REVELATION LADIES: The French (second most players in 2nd Rd.)
NATION OF POOR SOULS: Italy (remaining Quartet members Vinci, Errani & Schiavone 0-3; retired Pennetta last not in MD in 2002)
LAST QUALIFIER STANDING: C.Buyukakcay/TUR, V.Cepede Royg/PAR, L.Chirico/USA and V.Golubic/SUI (all 2nd Rd.)
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: M.Georges/FRA, V.Razzano/FRA, and T.Townsend/USA (all 2nd Rd.)
LAST PASTRY STANDING: A.Cornet, K.Mladenovic and P.Parmentier (all 3rd Rd.)
MADEMOISELLE/MADAM OPPORTUNITY: Kiki Bertens/NED and Shelby Rogers/USA (two of four unseeded quarterfinalists, most at RG since 1988)
IT "Turk": Cagla Buyukakcay/TUR (first Turk w/ GS match win)
COMEBACK PLAYER: Nominees: Makarova/Vesnina, S.Stosur
CRASH & BURN: #3 Angelique Kerber/GER (1st Rd./Bertens - fifth AO champ out RG 1st Rd. in Open era)
ZOMBIE QUEEN: Tsvetana Pironkova/BUL (4th Rd. vs. Radwanska, down 6-2/3-0 and rain suspension, no play next day, then ten straight games on rainy 3rd in 2-6/6-3/6-3 win; 3-11 vs. A-Rad)
DOUBLES STAR: Nomineess: Krejcikova/Siniakova, Garcia/Mladenovic, Mladenovic/FRA
KIMIKO DATE-KRUMM VETERAN CUP (KDK CUP): Nominees: S.Stosur, S.Kuznetsova
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: xx
Légion de Lenglen HONOREE: Alize Lim/FRA ("shorteralls" outfit)
Coupe LA PETIT TAUREAU: Yulia Putintseva/KAZ




Artist: Paul Thurlby (2013)



All for Day 11. More tomorrow.

posted by Todd.Spiker @ 7:24 PM 

3 Comments:

Blogger Diane said...

Love the graphic of Justine and the tower! And I like your selection for the inaugural award. Yulia played so well in Charleston; she was very exciting to watch.

Wed Jun 01, 10:26:00 PM EDT  
Blogger Todd.Spiker said...

I didn't really know about her idolizing Henin. Worked out pretty cleanly. ;)

Wed Jun 01, 11:00:00 PM EDT  
Blogger colt13 said...

Stats on the final 4, and why it wouldn't have been a statistical shock for Williams to have lost.

Bertens is 0-1 against Serena and Stosur. In a surprise, she is 3-0 vs Muguruza, but they haven't played since Fes in 2012.

Williams is 8-3 vs Stosur, but 2 of 3 losses were in slams. 3-1 vs Muguruza, and all of their matches have been in slams.

Stosur is 1-0 vs Muguruza-and that was on clay.

Statistically, Stosur is the outlier for the next stat. Famously, Clijsters US Open win was her 3rd tourney out of retirement. Serena is trying to win the French, and this is her 5th tournament of the year. Nobody has done that since Graf in 96. But as much as it seems like Serena hasn't been around, last year when she won, it was only her 6th, which was the lowest since Henin won in 07 playing her 7th tourney. So only the greats can win playing that few. So what about the opposite side of the spectrum? Who has played the most in the last 20 years? Majoli played 13 in 97, Schiavone 12, in 2010, Pierce 11 in 2000, and Li 10 in 2011. See a trend. Those 4 were all first time slam winners. So Muguruza-10 and Bertens-12 doesn't shock me. Stosur's 11 would be the highest for a repeat slam winner.

Thu Jun 02, 12:53:00 PM EDT  

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