Monday, June 24, 2019

Wk.25- Barty On, Ash

Oh, I see. So Ash Barty is just going to take over the entire season? I gotcha.



First there was her breakthrough slam Down Under, followed by some Fed Cup brilliance. Next came Miami, the Top 10, and *more* Fed Cup heroics. A Roland Garros title run is barely in her rearview mirror, but the Aussie has already moved on to the grass season and won *there*, too. And now she's the #1 ranked player in the world.

via GIPHY


Hmmm...with the slam played on her favorite surface starting in one week's time, as well as an entire hard court summer, on deck. Oh, yeah. And there's *still* the Fed Cup final at the end of 2019, too.

So Ash Barty *is* just going to take over the entire season. Okay, then.




*WEEK 25 CHAMPIONS*
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND (Premier/Grass Outdoor)
S: Ash Barty/AUS def. Julia Goerges/GER 6-3/7-5
D: Hsieh Su-wei/Barbora Strycova (TPE/CZE) d. Anna-Lena Groenefeld/Demi Schuurs (GER/NED) 6-4/6-7(4) [10-8]
MALLORCA, SPAIN (Int'l/Grass Outdoor)
S: Sonya Kenin/USA def. Belinda Bencic/SUI 6-7(2)/7-6(5)/6-4
D: Kirsten Flipkens/Johanna Larsson (BEL/SWE) d. Maria Jose Martinez-Sanchez/Sara Sorribes-Tormo (ESP/ESP) 6-2/6-4
FED CUP - ASIA/OCEANIA II
PP (Dushanbe, Tajikistan/HCO): Taiwan def. Singapore 2-0
PP (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia/HCO): Uzbekistan def. Hong Kong 2-1


PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Ash Barty/AUS
...even in the shadow of her win in Paris, there was a sense that Barty wasn't finished. She *still* might not be.

With the opportunity to be the first Aussie woman to reach #1 since Evonne Goolagong (she of similar Indigenous heritage, it should be noted) becoming a reality after Naomi Osaka's early loss, Barty seized it in Birmingham. She didn't drop a set while defeating the likes of Donna Vekic, Jennifer Brady, Venus Williams, Barbora Strycova and Julia Goerges, becoming the first player this season to win three titles (on three different surfaces, naturally) and matching Belinda Bencic's season-best mark with her twelfth straight win.

Best of all, never once was there a mention of any of that oh-she-can't-win-again-so-soon-after-her-first-major-title-because-everything-has-changed-forever-and-she's-just-a-young-woman-after-all-so-we-shouldn't-expect-so-much nonsense. Barty may or may not win another big title soon, but if she doesn't please don't start (as was recently the case *after* a player had won her *second* major, making it all the more ridiculous) with the let-the-losses-slide excuse-making about being "the hunted" rather than the "hunter." Please.




Actually, the Aussie's only disappointing moment all week might have been having to let Andy Murray down easy (though I'm sure he won't be left standing alone with his racket and a bucket of balls at the AELTC, so no worries)...



It was only right, though. Ash could very well be working all the way until the final weekend of the forthcoming fortnight.


===============================================
RISERS: Belinda Bencic/SUI and Petra Martic/CRO
...Bencic looked well on her way to claiming her second career grass court title in Mallorca, the third different tour-level event on the surface at which she'd reached a singles final (after playing in the Rosmalen deciding and winning Eastbourne in '15) in her pro career since winning the SW19 girls crown in 2013. She'd put up impressive wins over Amanda Anisimova and Angelique Kerber, coming back late in the 2nd in the latter to force a 3rd set and winning it in a TB, to get the chance. Her entire week in Spain has gone well, in fact. Her win over Kerber was her tour-best third over a #1 seed this season (no one else has more than one) and her eight Top 10 victory of '19 (tying her career single-year best with five months of season remaining). She and Viktoria Kuzmova even put out #1-seeds Elise Mertens & Zhang Shuai in the QF.

In the final, Bencic led Sonya Kenin 7-6/5-4, only to produce a three-DF game (en route to 13 for the match), squander three MP, and then see the Bannerette get a late 3rd set break and serve serve out a 6-4 set to steal away with the title.

It was still a great week for the #13-ranked player in the world, as she improved to 33-12 on the season. But this one will likely sting for a while.



In Birmingham, Martic was on the *other* end of an unlikely match result. After having put together one of the spring's best clay court seasons, during which she won her maiden tour title and reached her first career slam QF, the 28-year old Croat kicked off her grass season with her first semifinal on the surface. After wins over Russians Ekaterina Alexandrova and Margarita Gasparyan, Martic trailed Alona Ostapenko 7-6/5-2, and stared down 5 MP before ultimately coming out on top against the suddenly error-ridden game of the Latvian. She fell a round later to Julia Goerges, but this week returns to the career high ranking of #24 that she established two weeks ago.


===============================================


SURPRISE: Kristyna Pliskova/CZE
...nine years after she won the Wimbledon junior title, Kristyna had another major career moment on English grass courts. After qualifying in Birmingham, the Czech knocked off Viktoriya Tomova in the 1st Round to set up a rare match (the first in six years) against her twin Karolina.

While her sister is the "Ace Queen," Kristyna is the twin who holds the record for aces in a match (31 in '16), and with the 24 she fired in this meeting she's now the only women in history with *three* matches in which she had 23 or more. Finally, after having lost on the other two occasions, Kristyna got the win this time. Her first career Top 5 victory, albeit at the expense of a family member, will lift her back into the Top 100 on Monday. Fellow Czech Barbora Strycova ended her run a round later.


===============================================
VETERANS: Julia Goerges/GER and Angelique Kerber/GER
...finally healthy and with a new coach (Sebastian Sachs) -- and just in time, too -- Goerges looks ready to have a go at defending her '18 Wimbledon semifinal. Playing on grass for the first time since her last visit to SW19, the German quickly put behind her her 7-11 slide since successfully defending her Auckland title in January. In Birmingham, the 30-year old defeated Dayana Yastremska (a two-time '19 title winner and former Wimbledon girls finalist), Evgeniya Rodina, Yulia Putintseva (a round after she upset #1 Naomi Osaka) and Petra Martic to reach the final. She lost to Ash Barty, but it was one of those odd/interesting tennis situations where the runner-up was seemingly as happy for the winner (who was also her doubles partner for the week, until they pulled out at the SF stage because their schedule was already full) as she'd been had *she* won, and both went about heaping praise on the other afterward for how great a person they were. And it was sincere, too.



In Mallorca, Goerges' 31-year old countrywoman Kerber gave at least some (hopefully) reliable evidence that she might be able to be playing at an optimal enough level to make her Wimbledon title defense interesting. In her first grass event since winning in SW19 (since which she's yet to win a title, and reached just one final), the German knocked off Ysaline Bonaventure, Maria Sharapova and Caroline Garcia to reach the semifinals. She appeared ready to go a step further, but wasn't able to close out Belinda Bencic in the 2nd set and then saw the Swiss beat her to the punch in the 3rd.

In her two previous slam defense attempts ('17 AO and US), Kerber failed to reach the QF stage in either Melbourne (4r) or New York (1r). But she's had more QF+ results at SW19 (4) than at any other major, so we'll how this goes.
===============================================


COMEBACK: Alona Ostapenko/LAT
...sure, things didn't end will in Birmingham for Ostapenko. But, my, when things *were* going her way, she looked as Thunder-like as she has in quite some time.




After opening by allowing just two games to Iga Swiatek (in a match-up of former SW19 girls champs), Ostapenko defeated Johanna Konta in straight sets to end her 0-5 slump vs. the Top 20 in 2019 and reach her first QF of the season. Against Petra Martic, she led 7-6/5-2 and held 5 MP and, well, we'll just leave it at that. Needless to say, what happened involved a lot of unforced errors and the Croat celebrating in the end. Meanwhile, in doubles, the Latvian (w/ Galina Voskoboeva) upset #3-seeded Melichar/Peschke ('18 WI finalists) and reached the semifinals.

On the bright side, '18 Wimbledon semifinalist (yeah, so she's ranked #35 and will soon be defending *that*) Ostapenko showed that the Latvian Thunder moves *are* still in her. She just has to find a way to calm some of the between-the-lines demons that make her burn so hot but *also* so cold that results like the one against Martic are not only possible, but not exactly all that surprising.

Psst, new coach, new coach, new coach...

No, Alona, not "New Coke" (are you watching "Stranger Things" or something?)... new *coach.*
===============================================
FRESH FACE: Sonya Kenin/USA
...Kathy Rinaldi's grooming of Kenin in Fed Cup competition seems to have paid some dividends for both women. The 20-year old clinched the last FC tie for the U.S., and the match toughness the Bannerette has picked up in such atmospheres had led to some mighty personal results in 2019. Her maiden tour singles title in Hobart opened the season, and her upset of Serena Williams at Roland Garros en route to her first slam Round of 16 sent Kenin into the grass season with fully blossoming confidence. This weekend in Mallorca, she picked up her second title (and first on grass) in what she dubbed her "special tournament," knocking off Kirsten Flipkens, Ons Jabeur (ret.), Elise Mertens, three-time finalist Anastasija Sevastova and Belinda Bencic in the final. Against the Swiss, Kenin saw Bencic serve for the title with a set and 5-4 lead and hold three MP, only to fall in a 2nd set TB before Kenin break for 5-4 in the 3rd and served out the championship. Kenin is the sixth 2019 singles champion to come back from MP down to take the title.



Kenin will move up two spots to a new career high of #28 on Monday, hot on the heels of the likes of Andreescu, Anisimova and Muguruza (#25-27, and all within 101 points head of her).
===============================================
DOWN: Naomi Osaka/JPN and Elina Svitolina/UKR
...first it was dubbed "it's all new as the world #1" growing pains, with a touch of post-Sascha "figuring things out," and then came the clay court "learning curve," soon replaced by the "difficulties of the transition to grass." Now Osaka has finally lost her #1 ranking (after managing to dodge multiple attempts to swipe it for months, but not because of anything *she* did to prevent it). At some point, I suppose she'll be given something other than a "yeah, but..." pass for slipping back into many of her old ways, but it looks like that moment hasn't arrived *yet.* Still, trends matter, even when they overlap with the unique grass season.



Since winning in Melbourne, in four months, Osaka has lost six times (w/ two more walkovers) as the world #1. She's recorded 13 wins in the stretch, but when she's been beaten it has often been in very "pre-2018" ways: ousted in straights or after blowing leads, usually while looking lost and frustrated, and always firing far too many wayward shots, as all occurred during her 2 & 3 2nd Round defeat by Yulia Putintseva this week in Birmingham (after which she skipped all media access, something which the tour simply can't allow its #1 ranked player to slide by on). Essentially, Osaka has somewhat devolved into the talented but up-and-down prodigy she was *before* what she developed into in 2018. Will the trend continue through the end of the summer, and if it does will it stir any high-placed eyebrows to be raised? We'll soon see, I guess.

Speaking of trends, what of Svitolina? Can it actually almost be *July* and she's yet to win a title, or even reached a final?

Most of the Ukrainian's season has seen her either perform poorly in the clutch, be injured or seemingly distracted by things other than her tennis. Or precisely how 2019 should *not* have gone after her big-time close-out of 2018, which finally included a huge title in Singapore at the WTA Finals which *should* have sent her into this season on wings (as has occurred with Barty's win in the otherwise-forgettable-at-best late-year "Elite" Trophy).

Svitolina started the season 13-4, but since her QF defeat of Marketa Vondrousova in Indian Wells, beginning with a SF loss to Bianca Andreescu (hmmm, didn't Kiki M.'s bad run start with loss to the Canadian, too? Hmmm.), she's gone 1-6, including a three-set 1st Round defeat at the hands of Margarita Gasparyan this past week in Mallorca. Even during her good start, she didn't bear much resemblance to the player who toughed out the WTAF title in November. She'll drop another spot to #8 this week, and hasn't been outside the Top 10 since May 2017.

So, surely, Svitolina is busy regaining her focus, keying in on the process necessary to reverse her slide, right?



Well, maybe that'll happen after her early-round exit at the All-England Club.
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ITF PLAYER: Monica Niculescu/ROU
...with four SW19 wild cards having been awarded, a fifth was waiting for the winner of the $100K Ilkley final match-up between #142 Niculescu and #139 Timea Babos. 31-year old Niculescu's only other grass court final came in the tour-level '15 Nottingham event (def. Konjuh), and her 6-2/4-6/6-3 victory over Babos (in her first grass singles final since a 2009 $10K, and with just a 3-7 career mark at Wimbledon) gives the Romanian a third career $100K crown. It's her biggest title since a WTA 125 win in Limoges in 2017. Niculescu had posted earlier wins over Luksika Kumkhum, Robin Anderson, Tereza Smitkova and Jana Cepelova.
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????

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JUNIOR STAR: Polina Kudermetova/RUS
...after a few weeks during which older sister Veronika has posted some career-best results (RG 3rd Round, her first WTA semi), 15-year old Polina apparently saw it as her cue to take action. The girls #79, Kudermetova claimed her first career Grade 1 crown in Berlin, doing so without dropping a set all week and wrapping things up with a SF win over #2-seeded Marta Custic and 6-2/6-0 victory over Denmark's Hannah Viller Møller (jr. #436, who sprouted up from the draw after having been competing in Grade 4 events -- w/ QF-SF-RU results -- in recent outings).

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Ups! Winner G1??

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DOUBLES: Hsieh Su-wei/Barbora Strycova (TPE/CZE) and Kirsten Flipkens/Johanna Larsson (BEL/SWE)
...while other duos got a head start on them (and have had a good deal many more outings), Hsieh & Strycova's Birmingham title run made the 33-year old pair the first WD team to win three titles in 2019.



After surviving a 10-8 match tie-break vs. Jurak/Srebotnik early in the week, Hsieh/Strycova got a retirement from Atawo/L.Kichenok and defeated Ostapenko/Voskoboeva to reach their fourth WTA final as a pair since first teaming up (on a one-event basis) in Indian Wells last year. As it turned out, they ended the week as it began, by winning a 10-8 TB to defeat Groenefeld/Schuurs (0-3 in finals together in '19) and improved their record to 4-0 in title-deciders. They've won their three titles this season on three different surfaces, and are now a combined 19-5 (w/ an additional 5-0 in '18). Strycova now has 26 career WTA WD titles, while Hsieh has 23. Hopefully this made up for Strycova defeating Hsieh in singles last week en route to the semifinals.



In Mallorca, Flipkens & Larsson took the title to claim their second WTA title as a pair (2-4 in finals back to '16), winning a 28-point match TB over Rosmalen champs Aoyama/Krunic in the semis, then defeating Maria Jose Martinez-Sanchez (a DC) & Sara Sorribes Tormo (in for Andrea Klepac) 2 & 4 in the final. It's title #14 for Larsson, but (a little surprisingly) just the fifth for Flipkens, who really only greatly increased her doubles output in recent years. All eleven of her tour-level WD finals have come since 2016, three years after she reached the Wimbledon semis in singles in '13.
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WHEELCHAIR: Zhu Zhenzhen/CHN
...Zhu won't be in the Wimbledon singles draw, but she's posted wins this season over a quite a few players who will. This week, the 30-year old won the Series 2 Czech Open crown with victories over top-seeded Lucy Shuker in the 1st Round, then Argentina's Maria Florencia Moreno in the final. She's put together a 14-match winning streak since August, a run that included wins over Jordanne Whiley (2), Charlotte Famin, Dana Mathewson and (again) Shuker. Prior to the streak, she recorded '19 wins over Giulia Capocci and Manami Tanaka.
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FED CUP MVP's: Hsu Chieh-yu/TPE and Nigina Abduraimova/Akgul Amanmuradova (UZB)
...over the past two weeks, some additional FC zone competition took place in Dushanbe, Tajikistan and Kuala Lumpur as two nations advanced out of Asia/Oceania II to one level higher for 2020.

Two weekends ago, Taiwan repeated its path from the end of 2018 by claiming the one half of the A/O II zone, defeating Singapore 2-0 in the promotional playoff. While the Chan sisters contributed two doubles wins in round robin play in TPE's undefeated week, and teenager Liang En-shuo provided the clinching singles win in the PP, I'll single out Hsu's performance, largely because she'd never come close to anything like it in Fed Cup before. The 27-year old has won a handful of ITF titles over the years (5 in WS, 18 in WD), but she'd been 0-5 in singles in her FC career before going 3-0 here, accounting for nearly half of Taiwan's eight total points during the week.



This past week in Kuala Lumpur, Uzbekistan advanced from the other half of A/O II, defeating Hong Kong in a deciding doubles match in the promotional playoff. Undefeated in RR play, the Uzbekis were put behind the proverbial 8-ball when HKG's Wu Ho Ching upset Nigina Abduraimova in the opening singles match of the tie. Sabina Sharipova leveled things with a win over Eudice Chong, and then Abduraimova teamed with UZB's all-time FC queen Akgul Amanmuradova to win a 6-2/4-6/6-3 deciding doubles match over Chong & Wong Hong Yi Cody (who were playing their first WD match together for HKG).


Meanwhile, with Fed Cup action comes Heart Awards... just not for the action that just took place, or that anyone really likely remembers the details of. So *why not* have people vote in June for the best of April, in the tiny space between grand slams, while *other* FC action was taking place, right? Sounds logical to me.

The winners were Ash Barty (for leading AUS to the final) and Katie Boulter (she clinched the WG Playoff win over KAZ after dropping a clutch match a day earlier).

Of course, my favorite note on this is that the link to the story about the awards on the FC website (just like all the news items on the page) has led to a blank page all week long, which I thought was amazingly fitting.
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=WIMBLEDON WILD CARDS=
Harriet Dart, GBR (22): Dart is 0-2 in slam MD, and reached the AO draw via a successful qualifying run in January
Monica Niculescu, ROU (31): the Romanian gets the nod with her de facto WC playoff match win in the Ilkley $100K final over Timea Babos. She reached the Wimbledon Round of 16 in 2015, but (a bit surprisingly) her last slam MD win was at the U.S. Open in 2017.
Katie Swan, GBR (20): receiving a WC for a second straight year, Swan recently went public with a load of issues she's dealt with in the past year. She won a 1st Round match at SW19 in '18.
Iga Swiatek, POL (18): the '18 Wimbledon girls champ, Swiatek reached the Round of 16 in Paris. She qualified to reach the AO draw earlier this year.
Heather Watson, GBR (27): Watson made her slam debut as a WC at Wimbledon in 2010, and has reached the 3rd Round three times. She came within two points of her first slam second week run in '15 (coming that close to defeating Serena Williams), and has reached two MX finals at SW19 (winning in '16).




Meanwhile...








1. Mallorca Final - Sonya Kenin def. Belinda Bencic
...6-7(2)/7-6(5)/6-4. Bencic had the title on her racket, serving up 7-6/5-4. But a 3-DF game did her in, as she failed to convert three MP and Kenin forced a deciding 3rd set. Tied at 4-4, the Bannerette got the break and served it out. Somewhere Cap'n Rinaldi is smiling... again.


===============================================


2. Birmingham QF - Petra Martic def. Alona Ostapenko
...6-7(4)/7-5/6-1. Yeah, Ostapenko led 7-6/4-0, and held a 5-2 advantage and triple MP (+2 more). Yeah, errors brought the whole house down. But remember when she lost a close match to Pliskova at the AO in '17 and still seemed almost giddy about it all because she KNEW? A few months later she won Roland Garros.

Well, the Latvian's performances on the grass this past week *should* have been enough to let her KNOW the Thunder still resides within her. Hopefully she'll take *that* with her to London, not how this one ended. It doesn't mean she'll win any big titles soon, but it means all hope is *not* lost.
===============================================



3. Birmingham Final - Ash Barty def. Julia Goerges
...6-3/7-5. There was a time when we didn't wonder about the mental makeup of grand slam champions, and about whether they could hold it together after winning a big title? Well, on many levels, Barty comes off as something of a "throwback" to the players of old. Hopefully this week was a sign that that notion is more than just skin deep.



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4. Birmingham 2nd Rd. - Alona Ostapenko def. Johanna Konta
...6-3/6-4. After a banner clay court season and renewed expectations for the former SW19 semifinalist, do you have a feeling that Jo and Wimbledon success might not be a good mix? I know I do.
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5. Birmingham 1st Rd. - Margarita Gasparyan def. Elina Svitolina
...6-3/3-6/6-4. You know how for so long, it was easy to disregard a certain Frenchman's big event chances because you just *knew* -- in your bone marrow -- he didn't have it in him to finish in a major because it just wasn't all that important to him? Well, after picking her to win her first slam at the start of the season, *that's* how I'm now seeing Svitolina in pretty much every tournament in which she appears.

Weird how that works, huh?
===============================================


6. Mallorca 1st Rd. - Maria Sharapova def. Viktoria Kuzmova 7-6(8)/6-0
Mallorca 2nd Rd. - Angelique Kerber def. Maria Sharapova 6-3/6-2
...two sides of the Maria coin, but it's still nice to see her back. Hopefully her body allows her to stay around for the summer.
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7. Mallorca 1st Rd. - Paula Badosa def. Alison Riske
...6-7(2)/7-5/7-5. Riske served at 7-6/5-3, but the Rosmalen champ's grass court winning streak ended at 10.
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8. Birmingham Q1 - Naiktha Bains def. Claire Liu
...6-1/3-6/7-6(8). Bains, having just this spring gone from representing AUS to GBR (the family moved Down Under when she was 8) saved MP's here, and should soon add another intriguing young player to a deepening British FC roster already filled with another former Aussie (JoKo) and whole lot of Katies/Katys, just to name a few. At the very least, come 2020 she might make Wimbledon use an extra MD WC on her (since they're always so conservative when it comes to handing them out compared to the other slams).


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9. Mallorca SF - Sonya Kenin def. Anastasija Sevastova
...6-4/4-6/6-2. Sevastova didn't reach her fourth straight Mallorca final, but this was still her first SF since Moscow last fall.
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10. Mallorca 1st Rd. - Caroline Garcia def. Victoria Azarenka
...1-6/6-4/7-5. Vika needs to find some compromising photos of a few of the Tennis Gods in charge of main draw match-ups. This is her third early round meeting with Garcia (Cincy-Miami-Mallorca) since last summer. The Pastry has won all three.
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11. Birmingham 1st Rd. - Ash Barty def. Donna Vekic
...6-3/6-4. The Tennis Gods weren't moved by Donna's emotional response after last week's Nottingham final. Maybe they'll get back to her at Wimbledon. Or maybe they just like Ash.
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12. $60K Stare Splavy CZE Final - Barbora Krejcikova def. Denisa Allertova
...6-2/6-3. Krejcikova is back on the ITF horse, winning her fourth '19 title.


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13. $25K Madrid ESP Final - Mayar Sherif def. Eva Guerrero Alvarez
...6-2/6-3. Sherif's fifth '19 title ties Vitalia Diatchenko for the circuit lead, as she's currently on a 22-match winning streak.


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14. $25K Denver USA Final - Usue Arconada def. Alexa Glatch
...6-1/2-6/6-3. Arconada's second title of the season, and Glatch's first final since 2015 (a $25K Gatineau, CAN win over a 15-year old Bianca Andreescu).
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15. $15K Orlando USA Final - Natasha Subhash def. Tori Kinard
...6-1/6-2. Bannerette Subhash's second pro title.

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Second pro singles title?? #notapethistime

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HM- Eastbourne Q1 - Fiona Ferro def. Genie Bouchard
...6-2/6-0. Bianca Andreescu has only played one match since Miami, but she's still got more wins over that nearly three-month stretch than countrywoman Bouchard.
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It was twenty years ago this weekend...





It's funny how two photos of the same two people can show them in such different ways: one as equal teammates, and the other as something resembling a ballgirl pulled from the court's shadows for a few hits with a future Hall of Famer.







1. Birmingham 2nd Rd. - Yulia Putintseva def. NAOMI OSAKA
...6-2/6-3. Osaka was down 5-0 in the 1st, then 2-0 in the 2nd. After winning three straight games, she lost the last four.

Hmmm...???

via GIPHY

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2. Birmingham 2nd Rd. - KRISTYNA PLISKOVA def. KAROLINA PLISKOVA
...6-2/3-6/7-6(7). In the twins' first WTA MD match-up, Kristyna fired 24 aces and overcame Karolina's 4-1 2nd set lead to win in straights. In the TB, Kristyna led 6-5 after Karolina's DF, only to DF herself. Another Karolina DF gave her sister her third MP, which she finally put away with a service winner to secure her first Top 5 win.


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3. Birmingham 1st Rd. - NADIIA KICHENOK/Abigail Spears def. Harriet Dart/VENUS WILLIAMS
...4-6/7-6(3) [10-7]. Between 1997 and 2018, Venus played women's doubles with someone *not* named Serena on just two occasions in a non-Fed Cup match (Rubin in '04, Wozniacki in '08). She's done it twice in 2019, with Madison Keys in Rome, and Dart here.
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4. Birmingham QF - Ash Barty def. VENUS WILLIAMS
...6-4/6-3. Playing in a rare tune-up grass event (her first since 2011), Venus was in amazing spirits all week ("The new 39 looks amazing!"), notching wins over Aliaksandra Sasnovich and Wang Qiang before losing her fifth straight QF match over the last two seasons. Not sure if it means anything, but it was nice to see.


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5. $15 Orlando USA Final - ALLURA ZAMARRIPA/MARIBELLA ZAMARIPPA def. Kimmi Hance/Ashley Krueger
...6-3/6-1. Two weeks, two titles for the Zamarripa twins.
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HM- Birmingham 1st Rd. - HSIEH SU-WEI def. Aryna Sabalenka
...6-3/2-6/7-6(1). Sabalenka's low-key five-month slippage continued in Birmingham, as she lost a 4-2 lead in the 3rd set, and DF'd on three different BP. Starting with the bum-rush loss to Anisimova in Melbourne, she's gone 13-13.
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Well, you know, who wants to see the closing moments of the 3rd set of a late-week women's match? On the other hand, we *must* see that 30/15 point in game #1 of a Federling match. Right?








































*2019 WTA FINALS*
4 - ASH BARTY, AUS (3-1)
4 - Petra Kvitova, CZE (2-2)
3 - Kiki Bertens, NED (2-1)
3 - SONYA KENIN, USA (2-1)
3 - Karolina Pliskova, CZE (2-1)
3 - Marketa Vondrousova, CZE (0-3)

*2019 WTA WIN STREAKS*
12...ASH BARTY, MAY/JUN [ACTIVE]
12...Belinda Bencic (w/ 2 FC), Feb/Mar [lost to Kerber]
11...Ash Barty (w/ 2 FC), MAR/MAY [lost to Halep]
11...Petra Kvitova, JAN [lost to Osaka]
10...Karolina Pliskova, January [lost to Osaka]
10...Bianca Andreescu , March [lost to Kontaveit-ret]

*2019 WINS OVER #1*
Sydney 2nd Rd. - #15 Barty d. #1 Halep
Australian Open 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
Birmingham 2nd Rd. - #43 PUTINTSEVA d. #1 OSAKA

*2019 TITLES FROM MATCH POINT DOWN*
Auckland: Julia Goerges (1 MP - QF/Bouchard)
Dubai: Belinda Bencic (6 MP - 3r/Sabalenka)
Budapest: Alison Van Uytvanck (5 MP - SF/Alexandrova)
Strasbourg: Dayana Yastremska (1 MP - F/Garcia)
's-Hertogenbosch: Alison Riske (5 MP - F/Bertens)
Mallorca: SONYA KENIN (3 MP - F/Bencic)

*PLISKOVA vs. PLISKOVA*
2006 Jr. G5 Malta SF (hc) - Kristyna 6-4/6-1
2006 $10K Cavtat Q3 (rc) - Karolina 6-3/7-6(1)
2010 $50K Gifu SF (hc) - Karolina 6-4/6-2
2010 $50K Kurume F (grass) - Kristyna 5-7/6-2/6-0
2010 $25K Bratislava 2r (hci) - Kristyna 6-3/6-3
2011 $100K Ningbo 1r (hc) - Karolina 6-3/6-4
2011 $25K Vendryne QF (hci) - Karolina 6-1/6-1
2012 $25K Andrezieux-Boutheon QF (hci) - Kristyna 6-3/6-2
2012 $25K Grenoble F (hci) - Karolina 7-6(11)/7-6(6)
2013 Eastbourne Q3 (grass) - Kristyna 7-6(5)/3-6/6-3
2019 Birmingham 2r (grass) - Kristyna 6-3/2-6/7-6(7)

*WTA - ALL-TIME ACES*
31 - Kr.Pliskova, 2016 AO 2r - lost Puig
27 - Lisicki, 2015 Birmingham 2r - def. Bencic
24 - KR.PLISKOVA, 2019 BIRMINGHAM 2r - def. Ka.Pliskova
24 - Kanepi, 2008 Tokyo 1r - def. Safarova
24 - S.Williams, 2012 Wimbledon SF - def. Azarenka
23 - S.Williams, 2012 Wimbledon 3r - def. J.Zheng
23 - Kr.Pliskova, 2016 Linz 1r - lost Dodin

*2019 WTA SF*
6 - Kiki Bertens, NED (3-3)
4 - Petra Kvitova, CZE (4-0)
4 - ASH BARTY, AUS (4-0)
4 - Karolina Pliskova, CZE (3-1)
4 - BELINDA BENCIC, SUI (2-2)
4 - Donna Vekic, CRO (2-2)
4 - ANGELIQUE KERBER, GER (1-3)

*MOST SINGLES TITLES - 2017-19 (active)*
9 - Elina Svitolina, 5/4/0
8 - Petra Kvitova, 1/5/2
7 - Kiki Bertens, 2/3/2
7 - Karolina Pliskova, 3/2/2
6 - ASH BARTY, 1/2/3
5 - Julia Goerges, 2/2/1
5 - Elise Mertens, 1/3/1
5 - Caroline Wozniacki, 2/3/0

*AUS - CAREER WTA TITLES*
92 - Margaret Court, 1968-76
68 - Evonne Goolagong-Cawley, 1970-80
17 - Kerry Melville-Reid, 1968-79
15 - Dianne Fromholtz-Balestrat, 1973-79
9 - Wendy Turnbull, 1976-83
9 - Samantha Stosur, 2009-17
6 - ASH BARTY, 2017-19
6 - Jelena Dokic, 2001-11
5 - Alicia Molik, 2003-05

*2019 WTA BY SURFACE...*
[finals on multiple - chronological]
3 - Bertens = Hard, Red Clay, Grass
3 - BARTY = Hard, Red Clay, Grass
2 - Kvitova = Hard, Red Clay
2 - Vondrousova = Hard, Red Clay
2 - Halep = Hard, Red Clay
2 - Ka.Pliskova = Hard, Red Clay
2 - Yastremska = Hard, Red Clay
2 - Garcia = Red Clay, Grass
2 - Riske = Hard, Grass
2 - Vekic = Hard, Grass
2 - KENIN = Hard, Grass
2 - GOERGES = Hard, Grass
2 - BENCIC = Hard, Grass
[titles on multiple - chronological]
3 - ASH BARTY = Hard,Red Clay,Grass
2 - Petra Kvitova = Hard,Red Clay
2 - Kiki Bertens = Hard,Red Clay
2 - Karolina Pliskova = Hard,Red Clay
2 - Dayana Yastremska = Hard,Red Clay
[titles on 3+ surfaces]
2010: -
2011: (3) Kvitova [HC/RC/GR], Wozniacki [HC/GC/RC]
2012: (4) S.Williams [GC/BC*/GR/HC]
2013: (3) S.Williams [HC/GC/RC], Halep [RC/GR/HC]
2014: (3) Petkovic [GC/RC/HC]
2015: (4) Kerber [GC/RC/GR/HC]
2016: -
2017: -
2018: (3) Kvitova [HC/RC/GR]
2019: (3) Barty [HC/RC/GR]
--
* - Madrid was played on blue clay in 2012

*WTA DOUBLES FINALS in 2019*
3...HSIEH/STRYCOVA, TPE/CZE (3-0)
3...Babos/Mladenovic, HUN/FRA (2-1)
3...Chan/Chan, TPE/TPE (2-1)
3...GROENEFELD/SCHUURS, GER/NED (0-3)

*2019 FED CUP HEART AWARD WINNERS*
=February=
WG: Simona Halep, ROU (nominees: Barty,Garcia-Perez,Sevastova)
E/A I: Johanna Konta, GBR (nominee: Vikhlyantseva)
AM I: Carolina Alves, BRA (nominee: Osorio Serrano)
A/O I: Zarina Diyas, KAZ (nominee: Sh.Zhang)
=April=
MVP vote: Ash Barty, AUS (nominees: Konta,Garcia,Suarez-Navarro)*
SF: Ash Barty, AUS (nominee: Garcia)
WG PO: Katie Boulter, GBR (nominees: Cibulkova,Golubic,Suarez-Navarro)
--
* - vote taken immediately after weekend's play (votes for rest were all months after play)

*2019 WEEKS AT #1*
[1Q]
12/31: Simona Halep
1/7: Simona Halep
1/14: Simona Halep
1/21: Simona Halep
1/28: Naomi Osaka
2/4: Naomi Osaka
2/11: Naomi Osaka
2/18: Naomi Osaka
2/25: Naomi Osaka
3/4: Naomi Osaka
3/11: Naomi Osaka
3/18: Naomi Osaka
3/25: Naomi Osaka
4/1: Naomi Osaka
[2Q]
4/8: Naomi Osaka
4/15: Naomi Osaka
4/22: Naomi Osaka
4/29: Naomi Osaka
5/6: Naomi Osaka
5/13: Naomi Osaka
5/20: Naomi Osaka
5/27: Naomi Osaka
6/3: Naomi Osaka
6/10: Naomi Osaka
6/17: Naomi Osaka
6/24: Ash Barty

*REACHED WTA SINGLES #1*
[year first reached #1]
1975 Chris Evert, USA
1976 Evonne Goolagong, AUS
1978 Martina Navratilova, USA
1980 Tracy Austin, USA
1987 Steffi Graf, FRG/GER
1991 Monica Seles, YUG
1995 Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, ESP
1997 Martina Hingis, SUI
1998 Lindsay Davenport, USA
2001 Jennifer Capriati, USA
2002 Venus Williams, USA
2002 Serena Williams, USA
2003 Kim Clijsters, BEL
2003 Justine Henin, BEL
2004 Amelie Mauresmo, FRA
2005 Maria Sharapova, RUS
2008 Ana Ivanovic, SRB
2008 Jelena Jankovic, SRB
2009 Dinara Safina, RUS
2010 Caroline Wozniacki, DEN
2012 Victoria Azarenka, BLR
2016 Angelique Kerber, GER
2017 Karolina Pliskova, CZE
2017 Garbine Muguruza, ESP
2017 Simona Halep, ROU
2019 Naomi Osaka, JPN
2019 Ash Barty, AUS

*2019 WTA CHAMPIONS BY RANKING*
#2 - Ash Barty, AUS (Birmingham)
#3 - Petra Kvitova, CZE (Stuttgart)
#4 - Naomi Osaka, JPN (Australian Open)
#7 - Kiki Bertens, NED (Madrid)
#7 - Karolina Pliskova, CZE (Rome)
#8 - Karolina Pliskova, CZE (Brisbane)
#8 - Kiki Bertens, NED (Saint Petersburg)
#8 - Ash Barty, AUS (Roland Garros)
#9 - Petra Kvitova, CZE (Sydney)
#12 - Ash Barty, AUS (Miami)
#13 - Aryna Sabalenka, BLR (Shenzhen)
#14 - Julia Goerges, GER (Auckland)
#18 - Madison Keys, USA (Charleston)
#19 - Garbine Muguruza, ESP (Monterrey)
#21 - Elise Mertens, BEL (Doha)
#28 - Caroline Garcia, FRA (Nottingham)
#30 - Sonya Kenin, USA (Mallorca)
#39 - Yulia Putintseva, KAZ (Nuremberg)
#40 - Petra Martic, CRO (Istanbul)
#42 - Dayana Yastremska, UKR (Strasbourg)
#45 - Belinda Bencic, SUI (Dubai)
#47 - Dayana Yastremska, UKR (Hua Hin)
#50 - Alison Van Uytvanck, BEL (Budapest)
#51 - Maria Sakkari, GRE (Rabat)
#56 - Sonya Kenin, USA (Hobart)
#60 - Bianca Andreescu, CAN (Indian Wells)
#61 - Alison Riske, USA (Rosmalen)
#65 - Wang Yafan, CHN (Acapulco)
#76 - Amanda Anisimova, USA (Bogota)
#89 - Polona Hercog, SLO (Lugano)
#146 - Jil Teichmann, SUI (Prague)

*2019 WTA CHAMPIONS BY AGE*
30 - Goerges
29 - Kvitova
28 - Hercog,Kvitova,Martic,Riske
27 - Bertens (2),Ka.Pliskova
26 - Ka.Pliskova
25 - Garcia,Muguruza
24 - Keys,Putintseva,Van Uytvanck,Wang Yafan
23 - Barty (2),Mertens,Sakkari
22 - Barty
21 - Bencic,Osaka,Teichmann
20 - Kenin (2),Sabalenka
19 - Yastremska
18 - Andreescu,Yastremska
17 - Anisimova


























All for now.

posted by Todd.Spiker @ 1:15 AM 

15 Comments:

Blogger colt13 said...



Quiz Time!
Since the WTA rankings started, who is the highest ranked woman from Georgia?

A.Anna Chakvetadze
B.Anna Tatishvili
C.Leila Meskhi
D.Melanie Oudin


Interlude-Up/Down Side with another grass premier-though as expected, Barty, Goerges, and Sevastova out. 6 LL so far w/Bencic and Kenin still in.



Answer!

With NBA free agency next week, I probably will make some references to that, but only one NFL reference this week.

There was Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, but the WTA had (D)Melanie, the Russian Slayer. Making her name off of the 2009 USO run in which she defeated 4 Russians in a row, she is not the correct answer, partially because she is from Marietta, Georgia, USA, not the country.

She only reached a high of 31, as she had her David Tyree moment. Tyree, the New York Giants wide receiver known for his Super Bowl catch, played 6 years, and missed a 7th due to injury. He only caught 54 passes in his career, plus 4 in the playoffs. His last touchdown was in the Super Bowl, and the one handed catch was the last of his career.

Oudin took a similar path. Even with winning 1 WTA title, plus a mixed w/Jack Sock, her 18 slam main draws are 3 less than Kournikova. Her career best at 3 of 4 slams was in 2009-did not play French. That is also misleading, as she lost 1st round in Australia, where she never won.

She may not have built on that magical run, but for a short time in 2009, we believed.

(B)Tatishvili is the wrong answer, but this was a cheesy attempt to talk about her situation. It is fair to call her a journeywoman, as she has never ranked higher than 50. And she technically can't build on that, as the Russian born Tatishvili now represents the US.

So the silence from the USTA in regards to Anna being fined 46k, her total prize money, is disappointing.

Understandably, the optics aren't great with her scoreline. But with 127 matches, actually a couple less due to walkovers and retirements, that was tied for the worst score, as Halep d Swiatek 6-1, 6-0.

What makes this problematic is Anna's injury history. If you are a direct entrant, you can withdraw on site and get paid, like Boulter did. But if using a PR, and Tatishvili had been out so long that she did not even have one, you are ineligible.

Common sense says to look at her past record. This is someone who was going to play a seed, had not beaten a Top 100 player in 3 years(#75 Siegemund-Miami 2016), and lost her last WTA level match to the now retired Safarova 6-0, 6-1, Quebec City 2017.

To fine her for being average is just wrong.

Back on topic, (A)Chakvetadze is wrong. Although she is the highest ranked player on this list, having reached 5 after her USO SF in 2007, she represented Russia, though her father is from Georgia.

That leaves Meskhi, whose career spanned the breakup, leaving her as a Top 20 player for the USSR first, then Georgia.

Mon Jun 24, 11:34:00 AM EDT  
Blogger colt13 said...

Somebody needs to do a side by side of Barty's pics. The Birmingham one, the 2011 Wimbledon one, and the young one where she is holding up the trophy. Notice that hat, bent just so, in all of the pics. Some things never change.

Ana(and Basti) seems happy.

Q-list out later today.

Unofficial doubles list has some surprises. Though I want Barty/Goerges, who is similar enough to Vandeweghe, it is Barty/Azarenka. Collins/Mattek-Sands together, though Collins retired from today's match. Also Potapova/Yastremska, and Friedsam/Siegemund.

Bains/Broady were one of 4 all British teams to get WC, but mixed winner Heather Watson w/Minella did not.

Stat of the Week-27- The amount of #1's in WTA history.

The original planned stat until yesterday gets bumped because this was quick. Or was it?

Barty winning a slam and then reaching #1 is the way it normally goes. So it seemingly was just a matter of time. But in the scheme of things, it took longer.

One year ago, Barty was the #17 seed at Wimbledon. So going from 17 to 1 is impressive, right? I tease, because the #18 seed was Naomi Osaka, who beat Barty to the top slot by 5 months.

So in the space of a year, they managed to win 3 out of 4 slams, the last 3 consecutive, plus Barty won USO doubles.

While Osaka was Japan's first #1, Barty is the first in 43 years. And the old adage about the Fed Cup winners having a slam winner within that 2 year window? Aussies are looking like heavy favorites.

Mon Jun 24, 11:35:00 AM EDT  
Blogger colt13 said...

5 On the Up Side-John Deere Edition

1.Konta-Vekic was my pic, but since Vekic/Konta 8 doesn't happen-all in the last 3 calendar years-, she is the pick. Curious if she plays her other magnet in Pliskova. Except for last year, had played at least one Pliskova on grass every year since 2013. 5th year in a row she has gone Nottingham, Birmingham, Eastbourne. One of the few I don't worry about overplaying.
2.Peterson- Improving, and the 11-11 record on the year is better than it looks. Tough draws kept her running into Serena, and 11 of her 22 matches have been against higher ranked players. Only 2-9 against those, but the 2 wins were her last 2(Putintseva/Sasnovich).
3.Kerber-Not in last year's form, but from grass to clay is like night and day. She may not be a favorite, but she looks like a slam winner again.
4.Goerges- Same for Goerges, who is the anti-Sharapova. Where Maria won Wimbledon, then brcame great on clay, Julia was best on clay for the first decade of her career, now has a game made for grass. No points off for the loss to Barty, she's making everybody look bad.
5.Bencic-A lot depends on the draw, but as of today, she is my Wimbledon pick, though the longer she stays in the Eastbourne draw, that may change. Always an uphill battle against a big server, she has enough patience to work her way into a point, and is finally healthy enough that I believe she can play 7 matches.

Mon Jun 24, 11:46:00 AM EDT  
Blogger colt13 said...

5 On the Down Side.

1.Svitolina-With withdrawals, only has one other seed(Konta) in her section, so even off form QF possible. But what could have been. Coming off the YEC win, she was playing well enough to beat both Barty and Vondrousova at IW, the only player to have beaten both this season, before losing to eventual winner in Andreescu. Just feels like a missed opportunity.
2.Brady- A darkhorse for an upset? Only 4-3 on grass, but with the exception of the loss to McNally, all have been higher ranked. The issue is that she rarely gets Top 30 wins. When she does, it is normally at a slam, so watch out. Ironically, the only Top 20 win she has outside of a slam is Garcia....twice.
3.Ostapenko- Turned back the clock to 2016, slamming winners left and right. Here because of the Martic match. Not because of the 5 match points, but the scoreline, which has been a problem all year of her not closing out sets. Lost 5 games in a row in the 1st st. Lost 5 games in a row in the 2nd set. Lost 6 of 7 in the 3rd set. That means she is getting broken multiple times in a row. She is going to have to find a way to start the point, because with her tools she can hit winners, if she has a chance. Double faults give her no chance.
4.Rogers-If she were healthy, she would be a darkhorse QF pick. Her Bertens-lite game, which bloomed on clay, and now is improving on grass, is dangerous. The problem is her health. Retired from her last match, and if you can extend her to 3, you have a huge advantage. In fact, all 6 of her WTA level losses since her return have been in 3 sets.
5.Sabalenka- Still a darkhorse for Wimbledon, but here because she has finalist points to defend. A poor showing at Eastbourne, and Serena Williams jumps back in the Top 10.

Mon Jun 24, 11:59:00 AM EDT  
Blogger Todd.Spiker said...

Wasn't sure where you were going with the potential answers, but I did know that Anna C. had been the highest ranking of the group. ;)

You know, I hadn't thought about that with the USTA regarding Tatishvili, but you're right about the organization's disappointing response to her situation. Would they have done the same had it involved, say, (just to pick a name or two out of this week's results) Alexa Glatch or another player who'd been in their system since they were a teenager?

And I don't even know if TC or ESPN (during RG) ever discussed what happened. If not, it sounds suspiciously similar to how commentators would seem to always make a note to call Lepchenko "a naturalized American" during her matches.

Really, Barty looks pretty much the same as she did in that rainy court photo from when she was about 5. :)

I was never a big fan when AnaIvo played, but I don't know if I've ever seen a former player wear retirement as well as she has. If she'd been able to play/exist as happy as she looks now, who knows what she might have accomplished on the court.

A few more results, and with the FC waiting in the wings, might Barty have a shot at the "best" overall season of the decade? Right now, Serena's 2015 would probably rank (3 slams, Miami & Cincinnati titles, but with no WD or team additions, and she didn't play in the WTAF).

In my heart of hearts, I know (w/o a draw) the Wimbledon final I'd *like* to pick based on a combo of form and past results. We'll see soon if the draw allows for it. (I'll say in the picks post whether it worked out.) ;)

Mon Jun 24, 02:03:00 PM EDT  
Blogger colt13 said...

Andreescu out of Wimbledon, Kr. Pliskova in. Tsurenko becomes 32nd seed. If this is like Vondrousova's 2017, another 4-5 months to go before healthy.

Best overall season of the decade? Good topic. Sort of like 70's Steelers vs 10's Patriots. Barty is in the Top 10, as I see her start similar to Azarenka in 2012.

What is insane is this: You pick Serena's 2015, I pick 2013, and 2012 could just as easily be the best.

2012- 7 titles, 2 slams, Olympic Gold, YEC.
2013- 11 titles, 2 slams, YEC.
2015- 5 titles, 3 slams, plus Miami and Cinci.

Fed Cup participation in all 3 seasons, but 2012 was a dominant second half, 2015 was a dominant 3/4 of the season, while 2013 was her being dominant all year.

Tue Jun 25, 08:59:00 AM EDT  
Blogger Todd.Spiker said...

Regarding Svitolina today... exactly what I was talking about here.

When I saw she was going to play Cornet, I just *knew* she was going to lose (and how often can you say that with confidence in a match involving Alize?), or surely would soon afterward if she did happen to slip through today.

The TC announcers were calling it a "big upset" (not really) and seemed confused about how a "top player" (not really... not lately, at least) couldn't take advantage of the openings she had in the match.

Tue Jun 25, 09:01:00 AM EDT  
Blogger Todd.Spiker said...

Haha, you're probably right on the Serena years (of course, so many to choose from). I just looked at the majors ('15 was her top slam season, at least), but she loaded up elsewhere in 2012-13. Although, with Barty's doubles and team results, she still might top the "most versatile" top season list. ;)

Andreescu's social media over the past week or so sort of gave a hint about her grass court plans (a lot of traveling, and only a little rehab/practice). She still might end up with as many wins as Bouchard come North America.

Tue Jun 25, 09:08:00 AM EDT  
Blogger Todd.Spiker said...

Rad Remembrance Day activities have been rolled back a bit now that Aga is gone, but the cataloging of the malevolent activity continues...

*June 26 (official)*
In Eastbourne, a day after her first Top 10 victory in over a year (and first consecutive wins in back-to-back events since last grass season), '18 Wimbledon semifinalist (and former SW19 girls champ) Alona Ostapenko is forced to retire from her 3rd Round match with a hip injury.

*Wimbledon Day 3 (observed)*
???

Wed Jun 26, 01:36:00 PM EDT  
Blogger Diane said...

Malevolent indeed. Alona can’t catch much of a break. (Hoping to see her in Cincy; our interview in Charleston was mysteriously canceled, presumably by Alona—I have really bad luck with interviews).

Wed Jun 26, 04:13:00 PM EDT  
Blogger Zaki Sheikh said...

Well women's are not coming not slow in tennis.
Most Beautiful Female Tennis Players in the world

Thu Jun 27, 03:41:00 AM EDT  
Blogger colt13 said...

With qualifying done, we have some intrigue. Cibulkova pulled out, but Davis, Bouzkova, and McHale are LL, which means 2 more are out. We will know who in less that 12 hours.

Ironically, due to the Gimelstob rule, the highest seeded loser in Blinkova, isn't in yet.

Thu Jun 27, 07:38:00 PM EDT  
Blogger colt13 said...

Rodina and Zvonareva are the 2 that pulled out.

10 On the Up Side-The in before anybody thinks I am copying them edition.

1.Vekic-Technically an out of the box pic, since her type(Lisicki, Zvonareva) normally reaches the final, but is too emotional to win it. But might as well, as my first 4 choices before the draw are all in this quarter-Vekic, Barty, Kerber, Bencic. Almost guaranteed to play a first time Wimbledon finalist, as Venus is the only former finalist in the bottom half.
2.Sabalenka- 3rd rd match vs Keys could be epic. Still showing flashes of brilliance with falling repeatedly. Doubles might wear her down, but losing earlier than expected in Eastbourne has a silver lining.
3.V.Williams- Won't go far, but unfortunate matchup vs Gauff will make people notice that she isn't done yet. Favorite over Gauff, who doesn't have any major weaknesses, but has struggled to close out matches. If it is close, and we know Venus is getting a main court, the situation might be too big.
4.Bonaventure- The most impressive woman in qualies, she is looking for her first slam win. Should get it.
5.Gatto-Monticone- Was on the list before she drew Serena. An underdog looking for her first slam win at 31, after 28 ITF singles finals(10-18), and 37 doubles finals(25-12). Italy's 3rd highest ranked player at least will get a show court.
6.Kerber-One of the favorites, 6 of her last 11 grass events have had her reach SF or better. In the group of death, so she might play great and still be out by round of 16.
7.Keys- Can Chris Evert write an op ed about her? The WTA's anwser to Dwight Howard, the NBA star who lived on potential for years, but whether it is LA, Charlotte, Washington, or Atlanta, the story was that this time it will be different. It never was. Same with Keys, who is one of 5 potential seeded women to have not played a warmup event. Andreescu pulled out, while the others are Kvitova, S.Williams, Keys, and one other. Note, Keys has played 12 events in the last year, often injured Lisicki played 23. Still could scratch out a QF run if she beats Sabalenka.
8.Yastremska- Former junior RU looks for her 1st MD win. That's isn't bad at all, as this is actually only her 4th career slam, starting with last year's US Open.
9.Bencic-Another of the favorites, she gets Vekic early in the Group of Death. 2013 Junior Champ may go out earlier than expected, but could also go all the way.
10.Martic- The only reason she isn't higher is that she is one of the 13 seeds that hasn't previously reached a grass final. And only 4 of the last 40 SF had not. Other seeds that haven't include Osaka, Svitolina, Stephens, and Anisimova.

Fri Jun 28, 03:17:00 PM EDT  
Blogger colt13 said...

10 On the Down Side.

1.Gasparyan- Mauresmo and Henin had the one handed backhand battle in 2006, but Gasparyan struggles on this surface to gain time. Her backhand is a liability her. Talented enough to keep the score close, but 2nd rd at best.
2.Sharapova- Deserves notice as a former champ, but Gauff was 4 when Sharapova won the title. Not 4 years old, 4 months old. Nice to see her back, but expectations are low.
3.Lapko- 4-14 on the season, she along with Kumkhum(1-9) are two of the 29 players that have lost in both slams so far. Although there are others like Goerges, Ostapenko and Buzarnescu with more name recognition, these are the two that may lose a third.
4.Schmiedlova- Not having a bad of a season as Lapko, but a worse problem. She has lost 10 1st rd MD slam matches in a row. And that is a streak that has lasted so long that Flavia Pennetta was won a slam match more recently. Due to Schmiedlova's losing streak, she did not play a slam in 2017, making her last win the 2nd rd of the 2015 USO-Kovinic.
5.Muguruza- NFL Hall of Famer Kurt Warner took snaps in 12 seasons, but only played 16 games in 3. Those were the 3 in which he reached the Super Bowl. Muguruza was the 5th and last player who did not play a warmup event, which really stands out, and the only 2 times that she has played 2 warmup events, were the 2 years she reached the Wimbledon final. So no expectations for a deep run.
6.Ostapenko- The hip scares me. Good enough on grass to reach another SF, that injury was probably caused by her chasing her ball toss, which she did so badly this week that she arched her back like Stosur. Probably the biggest wildcard in the field, even if Kvitova stays in.
7.Anisimova- Last year I made a joke, because of Kournikova, that I would pick her to bake the SF here at 17. But since she isn't Hingis, who reached all 4 slam finals at 17, it would be a folly to do so. Living up to her seed and reaching the 3rd rd would be a good step.
8.Kontaveit- 2-6 since Stuttgart SF, she hasn't really had bad losses, as the one to Friedsam is bad by ranking only. This may show if it is just a slump, or something more.
9.Wozniacki- Loved her wedding pics. BFF A.Radwanska was in them, and just as Aga got knocked out in the 4th rd of the USO 5 times, Wozniacki has been knocked out in the 4th rd here 6 times. That again will be her limit.
10.Ka.Pliskova- Should be a favorite, but in the penalty box as she has reached her 5th grass final, but never is able to get it to translate to Wimbledon success. In a good section of the draw, can she take advantage of it?

Fri Jun 28, 03:38:00 PM EDT  
Blogger Todd.Spiker said...

I like folly. ;)

(Of course, one could argue that slam picks are *always* folly, you know?)

Fri Jun 28, 06:22:00 PM EDT  

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