Saturday, June 01, 2019

RG.7- Special K's

If you had the initials "K.S." (or "S.K." for that matter) in Paris on Saturday, you had a great day.



Day 7 was bookended by two more big upsets, authored by Czech Maiden Katerina Siniakova and Bannerette Sonya Kenin, as they combined to remove *both* of last year's U.S. Open finalists -- #1 Naomi Osaka and #10 Serena Williams, respectively -- from the draw before this Roland Garros makes its official middle weekend turn into its second week.



Both Osaka and Williams failed to generate the games necessary to overcome their inability to put away the biggest points that came their way during their 3rd Round matches, seeing wayward forehand shots sap the energy from whatever comeback bids they might have hoped to cobble together against two young players seeking their first career Round of 16 slam results. Both lost in straight sets.

In the earlier match on Lenglen Court, Osaka got off to a better start than she had in her two previous matches at this RG. But with the 1st set knotted at 4-4, she hadn't been able to grab an advantage (going 0-for-3 on BP chances). Finally, in game #9, Siniakova got *her* initial BP opportunities at 15/40 on Osaka's serve. The Japanese player's sprayed forehand on #3 handed her opponent a break lead at 5-4. Endeavoring to serve out the 1st set, Siniakova fell behind love/40. She got one point back via a drop shot, then Osaka contributed a forehand and two backhand (back-to-back returns) errors to give the Czech a lifeline. On set point, Osaka fired a big forehand to stay alive, but fell to 0-for-7 in BP chances when she couldn't convert her fourth opportunity in the game. A big serve got Siniakova a second SP, and Osaka's dumped forehand into the net gave the world #42 (but doubles #1) the set at 6-4.

Osaka's errors in game #5 of the 2nd put her behind 15/40, and a netted forehand gave Siniakova a break lead at 3-2. A game later, Osaka ran the Czech from side to side across the baseline, setting up an open shot behind her that would have given her a BP. But her shot off a mid-court ball smacked the tape at the high part of the net and Siniakova had GP instead. Osaka slid a backhand wide and Siniakova led for 4-2. After having gathered herself in previous matches this week to rally for victories, Osaka's game never recovered this time. A forehand fired well long from the backcourt gave the Czech another BP opportunity. Osaka's ugly double-fault make it 5-2.

Osaka sat in the changeover area with her towel over her head, but her private moment to collect herself between games didn't change anything. A wide backhand gave Siniakova double MP at 40/15, and a wayward forehand ended it. Siniakova's 6-4/6-2 win continues a spring clay court surge (9-5, but on a 6-1 run) that now has legitimate "legs" after slow start (5-9) on hard courts in 2019.




While the higher ranked player fell early, an even bigger named icon went out late.



While #35 Sonya Kenin's tenacity hasn't always produced wins over the last two seasons, the feeling that she was on the cusp of big things has been pretty consistent. The 20-year old backed it up with early season maiden singles and doubles titles in January, and a clinching Fed Cup win this spring. But she'd only had won multiple matches in one event (Rome, which included a win over FC teammate Madison Keys) on clay, and before today hadn't done so in Paris, either, since she'd gotten a 2nd Round walkover from Bianca Andreescu.

Williams has barely played since injuring her knee and losing a big lead in the AO quarterfinals against Karolina Pliskova. She had as many retirements/walkovers between Melbourne and Paris as she had wins (three each), and had played just one clay match this spring before struggling past Vitalia Diatchenko in the 1st Round at Roland Garros.

Even with current trends, though, expecting Kenin to pull off the upset today would have been a big ask. Even after Williams' game again proved error-prone against an opponent whose defensive skills forced to her hit multiple shots to win points, and while Kenin was injected with energy from the start, and seemingly topped off her supply on occasion when the French crowd found a reason to boo every uncommon gesture and/or emotion she betrayed as everyone tried to rally behind Serena (oh, *now* she's a favorite of theirs... such a development thing would have made her chuckle about a decade or so ago).

The young Bannerette got an early break lead in the 1st set, and held onto it. Another break for 5-2 gave her the chance to serve out the set, and she did it without much consternation, then broke Williams early in the 2nd, as well. Generally, one expects Williams to find her way back into a match, and she gave herself chances to do so. At 3-2, on her third BP try of the game, Serena got things back on serve when Kenin's backhand bounced out off the net cord. An ace to hold gave Williams her first lead at 4-3. But Kenin, who wears her determination on her face more visibly than almost any other player on tour, didn't waver.

At 5-5, a series of Williams forehand errors backed her chances into a corner. She fell behind love/30, then a backhand miscue gave Kenin triple BP. When her return forehand dropped into the corner for a winner, Kenin had the chance to serve for the match. Williams reached BP in the game, but pulled a forehand wide of the sideline. Kenin's winner behind Serena gave her her first MP. It didn't end there, but it did on her second as Williams' long backhand (UE #34) brought the 6-2/7-5 match to a close.



Neither upset victim should be bothered too much by what happened today. Osaka's learning curve on clay will be picked up again in 2020, while Williams says she needs some additional match play before Wimbledon and may go the rare route (for her) of playing a tune-up event on the grass. Both will seek their (likely more successful) slam fortunes in the seasons' remaining majors, just as Siniakova and Kenin will next try to ride this RG wave for as long as they can.

If both can win one more match, they'd be able to compare slam breakthrough notes when they'd play each other in an unexpected quarterfinal clash. But, you know, that's a story for still another day.




=DAY 7 NOTES=
...on her idol Justine Henin's birthday (aka "LPT Day" in these parts), on the Chatrier Court where the Hall of Fame Belgian had some of her best career moments, defending champion Simona Halep finally put together a clean finish.



After being forced to three sets when her first two opponents at this RG won the 2nd, #3-seeded Halep didn't let #27 Lesia Tsurenko do the same. Up 6-2/5-0, she closed out the Ukrainian at 6-1 in 55 minutes to reach the Round of 16 in Paris for the fourth straight year, and fifth time in six.

Some might say she chanelled La Petit Taureau on this special day. Well, *I'll* say it, at least. ;)



...Russian Anna Blinkova tried to extend her string of comeback wins at this Roland Garros, but it wasn't meant to be. The qualifier had gotten into the MD rallying from a set and 3-1 down in one Q-match, then 3-0 in the 3rd in another. She'd erased a 4-0 final set deficit vs. Margarita Gasparyan in the 1st Round, then escaped a 3-0 hole vs. Caroline Garcia in the 2nd.

Against #14 Madison Keys, Blinkova saw the '18 RG semifinalist serve for the match at 6-3/6-5 and hold a MP, but managed to get the break to force a TB. At 5-5, Keys double-faulted and the Russian feasted on the opportunity, taking the breaker 7-5. Keys staved off three BP in the opening game of the 3rd set, and seemed on her way to a quick win at 3-0. But Blinkova was *really* just waiting for the deficit to get big enough to make her feel comfortable enough to storm back into the match. She did, too. Down 4-1, her comeback began. She leveled the set at 4-4 and was up 15/40 on Keys' serve in game #9.

But Keys lifted her game, firing two big serves to get to deuce and holding for 5-4. Serving to stay in the match, Blinkova, well, yes, I'll say it... she finally blinked. Letting loose of her previous momentum when down love/30, as well as her racket on her service follow-through, the match was over in the blink of an eye (all right, I *know* that one was a bridge too far). But, hey, if you blink you'll miss it and all will be fine and good (amends).

With triple MP in her favor, Keys chipped a short ball just over the net and celebrated her reaching a sixth Round of 16 in the last seven majors, and her third in her last four trips to Paris, winning 6-3/6-7(5)/6-4. While Keys has vacillated between inconsistent and downright disappointing in "regular" tour events the last few seasons, she's been able to produce a far more superior level of results at the slams.

Nice work if you can get it, I suppose.




Blinkova's loss left Ekaterina Alexandrova as the last living chance for the Russians to put a player into the Round of 16, something which the Hordettes have done at 71 of the last 74 majors (from the '00 U.S. Open forward). The streak of such results in Paris began in 2001, the longest active slam run of second week success for the group.

The streak is over, though. Spaniard Aliona Bolsova downed Alexandrova, 6-2/7-5, becoming the fifth qualifier this decade to reach the Round of 16 in Paris (2010 Chanelle Scheepers, 2012 Yaroslava Shvedova, 2014 Kiki Bertens, 2017 Petra Martic).

AO: one RUS-less 4th Rd. from 1999-2019, 1/21 (2019)
RG: one RUS-less 4th Rd. from 2001-2019, 1/19 (2019)
WI: one RUS-less 4th Rd. from 2001-2018, 1/18 (2013)
US: one RUS-less 4th Rd. from 1998-2018, 1/21 (2016)

So, it's now 71-of-75 (and 77-of-83 starting with the U.S. in 1998).

And, no, the Russia-born Kenin doesn't keep the streak alive. Just for the record.

...Amanda Anisimova made her initial slam mark in Melbourne four months ago, and she's going about carving out a place for herself in Paris, too. The 17-year old (still for three more months) Bannerette reached her second straight slam Round of 16 with a straights sets win over Irina-Camelia Begu. The Bogota champ will crack the Top 50 in the next rankings, and her win today means there are three teenagers in the final sixteen.



Anisimova is the youngest to reach the women's Round of 16 at RG since Martina Hingis in 1998.

...earlier in the day on Saturday, just-turned-18 Iga Swiatek had already joined tellow teen Marketa Vondrousova in the 4th Round. The '18 Wimbledon junior champ and recent Lugano finalist has been outplayed by a wide margin in a love 1st set by Monica Puig, but came back strong to sweep the final two sets at 6-3. It made her the second player born in the 2000s (Anisimova had been the first at January's AO) to reach the Round of 16 at a major.



And, finally, all those Aga/Iga and Iga/Aga lines I've been casting out the last two years have company...





You're all a little fashionably late to the Aga/Iga Party, ladies and gentlemen... but the guy at the door will let you through the ropes anyway. Have at the fun... but now I'm thinking this party might be a little too crowded now that the word is out about the free drinks and good music.



Elsewhere, #8 Ash Barty continued her quiet march through the draw, defeating Andrea Petkovic 6-3/6-1. She's now reached the Round of 16 at a major three times... and she's done it in her last three slam appearances in New York, Melbourne and Paris. Her favorite surface? Yeah, that'd be the grass.

...in doubles, with both Krejcikova/Siniakova and Chan/Chan out, the remaining top seeds swept into the Round of 16, with the #2, #4, #5 and #6 seeds posting wins.



...LIKE ON DAY 7: I mean, come on...



...LIKE ON DAY 7: Michaella is at it again... I really like *this* one.



..."FORGET IT JAKE JIMMIE, IT'S CHINATOWN PARIS" ON DAY 7: the French crowds, maintaining a reputation built up over the years (and one which Serena, too, has been on the *other* side of many times in the past)...



...LIKE ON DAY 7: when you don't *hear* the boos... and win the psychological "battle" over "support" in the post-match, as well



...LIKE ON DAY 7:



...LIKE ON DAY 7: Although they don't include the "Chakvetadze Sighting" can I found a few years ago (and snapped up on the spot, I'll have you know)...



...LIKE ON DAY 7: Petko being Petko with her stream-of-conscious "This is Tennis...bless it"-styled posts tody on her Twitter feed. One example...



...LIKE ON DAY 7: Is that... La Divine? If so, I'm in.



Speaking of...



..."Umm..." ON DAY 7: I tried. But, still, I don't see that AT ALL.





In 2014, Roland Garros' most compelling mid-decade performer once again rose above the fray...


The 2014 Roland Garros recap... here.



June 1 is Justine Henin's 37th birthday... and she's *still* younger than Serena. Weird how that works out, huh?



Yes, it's that day of the year once again. A moment to pay tribute to the Belgian great, aka in these parts as "La Petit Taureau," or maybe "The (original) Face of Backspin."




And to think it all stated with a title in her tour debut in Antwerp in 1999...


Some new and good stuff this year, as Justine has been featured on various online outlets, and recently visited India, a trip which came with a lot of media interviews and such, during which she discussed things like a potential future as a coach (not yet) and whether or not players' interest in social media may result in a lack of focus that leads to inconsistent results. Some examples:



She's been in Paris this week for Roland Garros once again, working for French television and appearing on court for ceremonial purposes...




It is on this day that Backspin presents the Coupe LA PETIT TAUREAU to a worthy honoree in action on June 1...


Three years ago, the inaugural winner of the award was Yulia Putintseva, a player who'd posted a win on LPT's birthday *and* who'd admitted to watching Henin videos on YouTube for inspiration. And, of course, she also tends to sport a very Justine-like cap on the court, as well. 2017's honoree was Elina Svitolina. In 2016, she was a pupil of Henin, who served as one of the Ukrainian's coaches. Svitolina's progress seemed to take larger steps during and immediately following her time with LPT, and one still wonders what might have been (as far as Svitolina's consistency and mental approach in clutch situations) had that stint been contracted to last longer than a single year. In 2018 it was Mihaela Buzarnescu who got the nod. The Romanian actually *defeated* Svitolina on June 1 to reach her maiden slam Round of 16 in just her third career MD at a major.

This year, though the likes of Iga Swiatek (the cap) and Diane Parry (with her one-handed backhand, she won in doubles today... but she says that Pastry Whispered Amelie Mauresmo was the one who taught her the stroke) were considered, there was really only *one* possibility from the group of players who played today: Simona Halep, the player on tour most closely associated with LPT, who actually says Simo is her "favorite" player and tour and who picked the Romanian to successfully defend her RG title before the tournament.

They've had quite the little history *before* that, as well (even prior to Halep being literally *touched* by Henin's greatness at last year's RG, where hasn't lost since)...









One thing I found for this year was so great that Backspin HQ positively lit up when it was discovered. I've mentioned before that one time I had a dream in which Justine was playing a piano and singing. Well, there's no piano here... but here she is SINGING, back in 2010!

I'd never seen this before, and now I somehow feel more complete.


And, of course, now it's time for another round of what has become a time-honored tradition at Backspin on LPT Day. Come on, you might know the words...

[with honor and amends to Charles M. Schulz]

=Linus Speech on The True Meaning of Justine Henin Day=

Charlie Brown: Isn’t there anyone, who knows what Justine Henin Day is all about?!
Linus Van Pelt: Sure Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Justine Henin Day is all about. Lights please?

And there were on the Roland Garros grounds ball kids,
abiding in the corners of the court,
keeping watch over their stock by night.
And, lo, the Tennis Gods came upon them,
and Their glory shone round about them!
And they were sore afraid.

And the Tennis Gods said unto them,
“Fear not! For, behold, We bring you tidings o great joy,
which shall be to all the people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of Liege a Savior,
which is Justine,
La Petit Taureau.

And this shall be a sign unto you:
Ye shall find the Belgian babe wrapped in swaddling clothes,
lying in an empty racket bag.”
And suddenly, there was with the Tennis Gods
a multitude of the Heavenly Host praising Justine, and saying,
“Glory to LPT in the Highest,
and on Earth peace,
and good will toward Kim.

That’s what Justine Henin Day is all about, Charlie Brown.


Until next year, Justine.




=WOMEN'S SINGLES ROUND OF 16=
Katerina Siniakova/CZE vs. #14 Madison Keys/USA
Sonya Kenin/USA vs. #8 Ash Barty/AUS
#3 Simona Halep/ROU vs. Iga Swiatek/POL
Amanda Anisimova/USA vs. (Q) Aliona Bolsova/ESP
#7 Sloane Stephens/USA vs. #19 Garbine Muguruza/ESP
#23 Donna Vekic/CRO vs. #26 Johanna Konta/GBR
Marketa Vondrousova/CZE vs. #12 Anastasija Sevastova/LAT
Kaia Kanepi/EST vs. #31 Petra Martic/CRO

=WOMEN'S DOUBLES ROUND OF 16=
N.Kichenok/Spears (UKR/USA) vs. #15 Flipkens/Larsson (BEL/SWE)
#10 Hradecka/Klepac (CZE/SLO) vs. #7 Melichar/Peschke (USA/CZE)
#4 Dabrowski/Xu Yifan (CAN/CHN) vs. (WC) Ferro/Parry (FRA/FRA)
Duan/Sai.Zheng (CHN/CHN) vs. Kasatkina/Kontaveit (RUS/EST)
#6 Mertens/Sabalenka (BEL/BLR) vs. Krawczyk/Pegula (USA/USA)
L.Kichenok/Ostapenko (UKR/LAT) vs. #3 Hsieh/Strycova (TPE/CZE)
#5 Stosur/Sh.Zhang vs. x/x
(PR) Friedsam/Siegemund (GER/GER) vs. #2 Babos/Mladenovic (HUN/FRA)














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?? racquet and ?? Elise ??????

A post shared by Aryna Sabalenka (@sabalenka_aryna) on






*Coupe LA PETIT TAUREAU WINNERS*
2016 Yulia Putintseva, KAZ
2017 Elina Svitolina, UKR
2018 Mihaela Buzarnescu, ROU
2019 Simona Halep, ROU

*2019 WINS OVER #1*
Sydney 2nd Rd. - #15 Barty d. #1 Halep
Australian 4th Rd. - #16 S.Williams d. #1 Halep
DUbai 2nd Rd. - #67 Mladenovic d. #1 Osaka
Indian Wells 4th Rd. - #23 Bencic d. #1 Osaka
Miami 3rd Rd. - #27 Hsieh d. #1 Osaka
Madrid QF - #18 Bencic d. #1 Osaka
Roland Garros 3rd Rd. - #42 Siniakova d. #1 Osaka



*2019 ROLAND GARROS WOMEN'S FINAL 16*
[by ranking]
#3 Simona Halep
#7 Sloane Stephens
#8 Ash Barty
#12 Anastasija Sevastova
#14 Madison Keys
#19 Garbine Muguruza
#24 Donna Vekic
#26 Johanna Konta
#31 Petra Martic
#35 Sonya Kenin
#38 Marketa Vondrousova
#42 Katerina Siniakova
#51 Amanda Anisimova
#88 Kaia Kanepi
#104 Iga Swiatek
#137 Aliona Bolsova
[by age]
33 - Kaia Kanepi
29 - Anastasija Sevastova
28 - Johanna Konta, Petra Martic
27 - Simona Halep
26 - Sloane Stephens
25 - Garbine Muguruza
24 - Madison Keys
23 - Ash Barty, Katerina Siniakova
22 - Donna Vekic
21 - Aliona Bolsova
20 - Sonya Kenin
19 - Marketa Vondrousova
18 - Iga Swiatek
17 - Amanda Anisimova
[by nation]
4...USA (Anisimova,Kenin,Keys,Stephens)
2...CRO (Martic,Vekic)
2...CZE (Siniakova,Vondrousova)
2...ESP (Bolsova,Muguruza)
1...AUS (Barty)
1...EST (Kanepi)
1...GBR (Konta)
1...LAT (Sevastova)
1...POL (Swiatek)
1...ROU (Halep)
[by career slam Round-of-16's]
15 - Simona Halep
13 - Madison Keys
13 - Garbine Muguruza
13 - Sloane Stephens
9 - Kaia Kanepi
6 - Johanna Konta
6 - Anastasija Sevastova
5 - Petra Martic
3 - Ash Barty
2 - Amanda Anisimova
2 - Donna Vekic
2 - Marketa Vondrousova
1 - Aliona Bolsova
1 - Sonya Kenin
1 - Katerina Siniakova
1 - Iga Swiatek
[w/ consecutive slam Round of 16's]
3 - Ash Barty
3 - Madison Keys
3 - Anastasija Sevastova
3 - Sloane Stephens
2 - Amanda Anisimova
2 - Simona Halep
2 - Garbine Muguruza
[w/ multiple career RG Round of 16's]
6 - Garbine Muguruza
6 - Sloane Stephens
5 - Simona Halep
3 - Kaia Kanepi
3 - Madison Keys
3 - Petra Martic
[w/ consecutive RG Round of 16's]
6 - Garbine Muguruza
4 - Simona Halep
3 - Madison Keys
2 - Sloane Stephens
[WTA career slam Round of 16's - active]
59...Serena Williams
50...Venus Williams
40...Maria Sharpova
32...Svetlana Kuznetsova
23...Victoria Azarenka
22...Jelena Jankovic (?)
21...Caroline Wozniacki
19...Angelique Kerber
17...Petra Kvitova
16...Vera Zvonareva
15...Simona Halep, Ekaterina Makarova, Carla Suarez-Navarro
13...Madison Keys, Garbine Muguruza, Sloane Stephens
12...Samantha Stosur
10...Dominika Cibulkova
9...Kaia Kanepi
[WTA slam Round of 16's since 2010 - active]
27...Serena Williams
23...Maria Sharapova
19...Angelique Kerber
18...Victoria Azarenka
17...Caroline Wozniacki
15...Simona Halep, Petra Kvitova, Ekaterina Makarova, Venus Williams
14...Svetlana Kuznetsova
13...Madison Keys, Garbine Muguruza, Sloane Stephens, Carla Suarez-Navarro
[2019 slam Rd. of 16's - youngest]
17 - Amanda Anisimova (AO)
17 - Amanda Anisimova (RG)
18 - Iga Swiatek (RG)
19 - Marketa Vondrousova (RG)
20 - Sonya Kenin (RG)
21 - Naomi Osaka (AO)
21 - Aliona Bolsova (RG)
[2019 slam Rd. of 16's - oldest]
37 - Serena Williams (AO)
33 - Kaia Kanepi (RG)
31 - Maria Sharapova (AO)
31 - Angelique Kerber (AO)
[2019 slam Rd. of 16's - unseeded]
AO - Amanda Anisimova, USA
AO - Danielle Collins, USA
AO - Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, RUS
RG - Amanda Anisimova, USA
RG - Aliona Bolsova, ESP (Q)
RG - Kaia Kanepi, EST
RG - Sonya Kenin, USA
RG - Katerina Siniakova, CZE
RG - Iga Swiatek, POL
RG - Marketa Vondrousova, CZE
[2019 slam Rd. of 16's - 1st-time GS 4th Rd.]
AO - Amanda Anisimova, USA
AO - Danielle Collins, USA
RG - Aliona Bolsova, ESP
RG - Sonya Kenin, USA
RG - Katerina Siniakova, CZE
RG - Iga Swiatek, POL
[2019 slam Rd. of 16's - lowest-ranked]
#137 - Aliona Bolsova (RG)
#104 - Iga Swiatek (RG)
#88 - Kaia Kanepi (RG)
#87 - Amanda Anisimova (AO)
[2019 slam Rd. of 16's]
2 - Amanda Anisimova (AO/RG)
2 - Ash Barty (AO/RG)
2 - Simona Halep (AO/RG)
2 - Madison Keys (AO/RG)
2 - Garbine Muguruza (AO/RG)
2 - Anastasija Sevastova (AO/RG)
2 - Sloane Stephens (AO/RG)
[2019 slam Rd. of 16's - by nation]
9...USA (Anisimova-2,Collins,Kenin,Keys-2,Stephens-2,S.Williams)
4...CZE (Kvitova,Ka.Pliskova,Siniakova,Vondrousova)
3...ESP (Bolsova,Muguruza-2)
2...AUS (Barty-2)
2...CRO (Martic,Vekic)
2...LAT (Sevastova-2)
2...ROU (Halep-2)
2...RUS (Pavlyuchenkova,Sharapova)
1...EST (Kanepi)
1...GBR (Konta)
1...GER (Kerber)
1...JPN (Osaka)
1...POL (Swiatek)
1...UKR (Svitolina)
[2019 slam Rd. of 16's - by region]
12 (8) - Western Europe/Scandinavia (CRO-CZE-ESP-GBR-GER-POL)
9 (4) - North America/Atlantic (USA)
8 (3) - Eastern Europe/Russia (EST-LAT-ROU-RUS-UKR)
3 (1) - Asia/Oceania (AUS-JPN)
0 (-) - Africa/Middle East (none)
0 (-) - South America (none)


Whew!


*RG "LAST QUALIFIER STANDING"*
[2006]
(3rd) Julia Vakulenko/UKR & Aravane Rezai/FRA
[2007]
(3rd) D.Cibulkova/SVK, A.Kudryavtseva/RUS & R.Olaru/ROU
[2008]
(QF) Carla Suarez-Navarro/ESP
[2009]
(3rd) Michelle Larcher de Brito/POR & Yaroslava Shvedova/KAZ
[2010]
(4th) Chanelle Scheepers/RSA
[2011]
(3rd) Chan Yung-Jan/TPE & Nuria Llagostera-Vives/ESP
[2012]
(QF) Yaroslava Shvedova/KAZ
[2013]
(3rd) Paula Ormaechea/ARG & Dinah Pfizenmaier/GER
[2014]
(4th) Kiki Bertens/NED
[2015]
(2nd) L.Dominguez-Lino/ESP, P.Kania/POL, S.Karatantcheva/BUL & T.Pereira/BRA
[2016]
(2nd) C.Buyukakcay/TUR, V.Cepede Royg/PAR, L.Chirico/USA & V.Golubic/SUI
[2017]
(4th) Petra Martic/CRO
[2018]
(2nd) C.Dolehide/USA, A.Dulgheru/ROU, M.Duque-Marino/COL, M.Frech/POL, G.Garcia-Perez/ESP & R.Peterson/SWE
[2019]
(in 4th Rd.) Aliona Bolsova/ESP




TOP QUALIFIER: #22q Elena Rybakina/KAZ
TOP EARLY-ROUND (1r-2r): #2 Karolina Pliskova/CZE
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): xx
TOP LATE-ROUND (SF-F): xx
TOP QUALIFYING MATCH: Q3: #1q Bernarda Pera/USA def. #21q Kaja Juvan/SLO 6-4/1-6/7-6(1) [Juvan up break three times in 3rd, served at 5-4]
TOP EARLY-RD. MATCH (1r-2r): 2nd Rd. - #1 Naomi Osaka/JPN def. Victoria Azarenka/BLR 4-6/7-5/6-3 (down 6-4/4-2, BP for 5-2)
TOP MIDDLE-RD. MATCH (3r-QF): xx
TOP LATE-RD. MATCH (SF-F/Jr.): xx
=============================
FIRST VICTORY: #31 Petra Martic/CRO (def. Jabeur/TUN)
FIRST SEED OUT: #5 Angelique Kerber/GER (1st Rd./Potapova)
UPSET QUEENS: Russia
REVELATION LADIES: Russia
NATION OF POOR SOULS: Italy (0-2, none in RG 2nd Round for first time since 1982)
LAST QUALIFIER STANDING: Aliona Bolsova/ESP (in 4th Rd.)
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: Lauren Davis/USA, Priscilla Hon/AUS, Diane Parry/FRA (all 2nd Rd.)
LAST PASTRY STANDING: Carolina Garcia, Krisinta Mladenovic & Diane Parry (all 2nd Rd.)
MADEMOISELLE/MADAM OPPORTUNITY: Nominees: Martic, Sevastova, Konta, Kanepi, Barty, Vekic
IT "??": Nominees: Teens (Swiatek, Anisimova, Vondrousova), Czech Maidens (Siniakova, Vondrousova), Kenin, (de Groot?)
COMEBACK PLAYER: Nominee: Azarenka (WS/WD)
CRASH & BURN: Alona Ostapenko, LAT (1st Rd.; zero RG wins before/after '17 title)
ZOMBIE QUEEN OF PARIS: Nominees: Blinkova (Q2: trailed 6-3/3-1 vs. Kalinina; Q3: trailed Glushko 3-0 in 3rd; 1st Rd.: trailed Gaspayarn 4-0 in 3rd; 2nd Rd.: trailed Garcia 3-0 in 3rd); Sevastova (3rd Rd.-Mertens 5 MP)
DOUBLES STAR: xx
VETERAN PLAYER (KIMIKO CUP): xx
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: Nominee: Parry (young MD winner since '09)
Légion de Lenglen HONOREE: Court Simonne-Mathieu
Coupe LA PETIT TAUREAU: Simona Halep/ROU (awarded on LPT Day/June 1, Henin's birthday)




All for Day 7. More tomorrow.

posted by Todd.Spiker @ 7:09 PM 

5 Comments:

Blogger colt13 said...

Osaka really trying to do everything like Serena.

Stat of the Day_ 9 _ The number of women in the sweet sixteen with a clay title.

That number is extremely low, just shows how many newbies are making their mark.

As usual, listed is the most recent title, then best results for the non winners.

2013 Brussels Kanepi
2016 Charleston Stephens
2016 French Muguruza
2017 Swedish Siniakova
2018 French Halep
2018 Bucharest Sevastova
2019 Bogota Anisimova
2019 Charleston Keys
2019 Istanbul Martic

2019 Lugano RU/2018 ITF Montreux W Swiatek
2019 Istanbul RU/2017 ITF Prague W Vondrousova
2019 Italian RU/2015 ITF Jackson W Konta
2019 French 4th rd/2018 ITF Darmstadt W Bolsova
2019 French 4th rd/2011 ITF Hvar RU Vekic
2019 Madrid QF/2012 ITF Ipswich RU Barty
2019 Rome R16/2016 ITF Wesley Chapel W Kenin

Kanepi going for her seventh slam quarter.

Swiatek won all 5 of her ITF clay finals.

Barty has reached 8 WTA finals, none on clay.

Vekic reached 12 of her 13 ITF finals on Hardcourt, while Muguruza reached 12 of 13 on clay. Garbine reversed that on the big tour, with only one of her 11 finals on clay. Guess which one?

Sat Jun 01, 08:06:00 PM EDT  
Blogger Todd.Spiker said...

Oh so Muguruza that she hasn't won a clay title in three years, since the last time she won a slam at RG. (Same with your last note.) :)

Sat Jun 01, 08:50:00 PM EDT  
Blogger Diane said...

Simona is absolutely the spiritual daughter of Justine, but with a two-handed backhand. She’s “small,” she has deceptive power, her movement is both graceful and overwhelming, she is a geometric (a nod to Hingis here, too) wizard, and she’s far too introspective. I guess it’s just a matter of time before we see a parachute unfold :D

Sat Jun 01, 09:30:00 PM EDT  
Blogger Todd.Spiker said...

You know, I sort of wonder if she might end up walking away a bit earlier than expected, too.

(Of course, she might then have a comeback, as well.)

To go back to a previous discussion in the comments...

=EARLY RD. (1r/2r) TOP PLAYERS - final results=
-2006-
RG: Mauresmo (4th)
WI: Henin-H. (RU)
US: Sharapova (W)
-2007-
AO: Clijsters (SF)
RG: Henin (W)
WI: Mauresmo (4th)
US: Sharapova (3rd)
-2008-
AO: Sharapova (W)
RG: Ivanovic (W)
WI: S.Williams (RU)
US: V.Williams (QF)
-2009-
AO: Cibulkova (4th)
RG: Safina (RU)
WI: V.Williams (RU)
US: S.Williams (SF)
-2010-
AO: Clijsters (3rd)
RG: V.Williams (4th)
WI: S.Williams (W), V.Williams (QF)
US: Wozniacki (SF)
-2011-
AO: Clijsters (W)
RG: Stosur (3rd)
WI: Kvitova (W)
US: S.Williams (RU)
-2012-
AO: Azarenka (W)
RG: Sharapova (W)
WI: A.Radwanska (RU)
US: Stosur (QF)
-2013-
AO: Sharapova (SF)
RG: S.Williams (W)
WI: S.Williams (4th)
US: S.Williams (W), Azarenka (RU)
-2014-
AO: S.Williams (4th)
RG: Halep (RU)
WI: Sharapova (4th)
US: S.Williams (W)
-2015-
AO: Bouchard (QF)
RG: Kerber (3rd)
WI: Kvitova (3rd)
US: Halep (SF)
-2016-
AO: Azarenka (QF)
RG: Safarova (3rd)
WI: Halep (QF)
US: S.Williams (SF)
-2017-
AO: Ka.Pliskova (QF)
RG: Stosur (4th)
WI: Konta (SF)
US: Muguruza (4th)
-2018-
AO: Kerber (SF)
RG: Svitolina (3rd)
WI: Halep (3rd)
US: Bertens (3rd)
-2019-
AO: S.Williams (QF)
RG: Ka.Pliskova (3rd)

Sat Jun 01, 11:32:00 PM EDT  
Blogger Todd.Spiker said...

By the way, on this, I can see where Thiem would be upset.

So I guess that makes it "1" (makes mark in air on imaginary chalkboard) time when the men's player was disrespected and/or shunted aside for the women's player (who leads 23-0 in slams, but who's counting)... meanwhile, the mountains of imaginary chalkboards filled with checkmarks from when the roles were reversed roll their imaginary eyes in the corner.

Just sayin'.

Sun Jun 02, 12:48:00 AM EDT  

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