Sunday, July 14, 2019

W.13- Time to Mow the Grass

The grass is worn, but the Grass Court Awards are new.


A quick review of the top performances and performers on the lawns...



1. Simona Halep, ROU - Wimbledon wasn't exactly the expected landing place for her big post-RG title breakthrough, and maybe because of that her SW19 title run could go down as the best result of her entire career
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2. Hsieh Su-wei & Barbora Strycova, TPE/CZE - the only pre-SW19 title winners (Birmingham) to double-up by winning the same event at Wimbledon. Additionally, first time slam winner Strycova was a maiden slam *singles* semifinalist at age 33. She'll be the new doubles #1 come Monday.
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3. Alison Riske, USA - won a grass court $100K, a WTA title and reached her maiden slam QF at Wimbledon. She'll be seen drinking free tea in the "Last 8 Club" until the roof caves in after the unexpected Great Quake of 2038.
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4. Serena Williams, USA - #24 is still hiding around the corner, but Williams has reached more finals (going 0-3) in the last six majors than anyone. The rest: Halep (2-0), Osaka (2-0), Barty (1-0), Kerber (1-0), Kvitova (0-1), Stephens (0-1), Vondrousova (0-1).
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5. Ash Barty, AUS - won Birmingham and ran her winning streak to 15 (dating back to her RG title run) before falling in the Wimbledon Round of 16, her best SW19 finish
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6. Latisha Chan, TPE - she and her sister won the Eastbourne doubles, then she teamed with Ivan Dodig to win her second straight 2019 MX slam (their third in the last six)
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7. Coco Gauff, USA - the 15-year old wild card was *the* story of the opening week, as she upset Venus Williams and staged a miraculous comeback against Polona Hercog to reach the Round of 16 in her slam debut. It took eventual champion Halep to finally bring down the curtain.
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8. Aniek Van Koot, NED - the often overlooked wheelchair star swept the Wimbledon titles nine years after claiming her maiden slam win in 2010
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9. Elina Svitolina, UKR - she had a lot of good fortune (w/ retiring and or exhausted opponents), but Svitolina turned around the worst stretch of her career with a first-ever slam semifinal run at SW19, becoming the first Ukrainian to do so at a major
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10. Daria Snigur, UKR - in the juniors, the 17-year old swept the Roehampton and Wimbledon girls title
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#1 - SUBLIME SI-MO-NA
...Simona Halep loses just one set en route to becoming the first Romanian to win the Wimbledon singles championship, thwarting Serena Williams' attempt to win slam #24 with a brilliant performance in a 6-2/6-2 victory in the final
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#2 - BARTY DOES BIRMINGHAM
...fresh off her clay title run at Roland Garros, Ash Barty arrives on the grass in fine style, sweeping through the singles draw in Birmingham to win her third '19 title on a third different surface to become the first Aussie to be the WTA singles #1 since Evonne Goolagong in 1976
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#3 - ROSMALEN RISK(e) & REWARD
...Alison Riske rallies from a set down vs. Karolina Muchova in the 1st Round, survives Veronika Kudermetova serving for the match twice (at 5-4 and 6-5 in the 3rd) and leading the deciding TB 5-2 in the semis, then in the final vs. home nation favorite Kiki Bertens erases a 6-0/4-1 deficit, staving off five MP in the 2nd set. After winning a TB to force a 3rd, she plays even with the world #4 until breaking her for 7-5 to take the match.
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#4 - PULVARIZING PLISKOVA
...a week after Ash Barty won her third '19 title on a third different surface, Karolina Pliskova followed up by doing the same. Winning her second Eastbourne title (2017), the Czech posts wins over Kiki Bertens and Angelique Kerber to pick up her third career tour-level grass crown. Not losing a set all week, Pliskova drops just nineteen games in five matches.
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#5 - KAP'N KATHY'S KENIN
...proving U.S. Fed Cup captain Kathy Rinaldi was right to groom her for greater things, 20-year old Sonya Kenin flashes continued match toughness soon after having upset Serena Williams at Roland Garros. In Mallorca, the Bannerette sees Belinda 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 breaks for 5-4 in the 3rd and then serves out the championship.
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1. Wimbledon 4th Rd. - Karolina Muchova def. Karolina Pliskova
...4-6/7-5/13-11. In an all-Czech battle, a clutch Muchova saw Pliskova twice serve for the match, at 5-4 and 11-10. What would have been the first match-deciding final set TB at Wimbledon didn't happen, though, as Muchova broke serve again to wrap up the win and reach her first slam QF in her SW19 debut (and just her fourth career slam MD).
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2. Wimbledon 1st Rd. - Alison Riske def. Donna Vekic
...3-6/6-3/7-5. Vekic, after having been forced to a 3rd set, at one point led 4-1, only to drop three straight games and ten straight points. In a long service game at 4-4, the Croat got a six-deuce hold (on GP #5, after saving 2 BP) to edge ahead. Riske knotted it at 5-5, then the roof was closed (a Court 1 first) and they had a short warmup period. Riske dominated after the resumption of the match, as Vekic has another of her (by now nearly patented) heartbreaking exits. While Riske had converted just 3 of 17 BP in the match, Vekic DF'd on #18 to fall behind 5-6. Riske then held with a match-ending an ace.
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3. Wimbledon 1st Rd. - Tamara Zidansek def. Genie Bouchard
...6-3/5-7/8-6. In a match that featured 19 breaks of serve and slim 109-107 points edge for Zidansek, the Slovenian won the first and twice held a double-break lead in what would have been a deciding set, at 3-0 in the 2nd and 4-1 in the 3rd. Still, '14 Wimbledon finalist Bouchard managed to get within 6-5 30/15 of the win in the 3rd before dropping the final three games to remain winless since February.
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4. Eastbourne 3rd Rd. - Aryna Sabalenka def. Caroline Wozniacki
...2-6/6-4/7-6(5). A finalist in Eastbourne last year (she lost to Wozniacki), Sabalenka had to escape a 5-2 (w/ MP) hole in the 3rd just to return to the QF this year and get a touch of revenge. In her other win in three career match-ups with Wozniacki, Sabalenka saved 3 MP vs. the Dane in Montreal last summer.
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5. 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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1. Rosmalen SF - Alison Riske def. Kiki Bertens
...0-6/7-6(3)/7-5. Riske becomes the fifth champion this year to stave off MP en route to the title, recovering from Bertens holding a 6-0/4-1 lead, with five MP.
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2. 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.
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3. Wimbledon 3rd Rd. - Coco Gauff def. Polona Hercog
...3-6/7-6(7)/7-5. The 15-year old trailed 6-3/5-2, and Hercog held a MP on both Gauff's and her own serve. While the teenager played with nothing to lose, the vetran Hercog's mental lapses and too passive tactics ultimately provided an assist to her own defeat.
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4. Birmingham QF - Petra Martic def. Alona Ostapenko
...6-7(4)/7-5/6-1. Having (finally) showing signs of life in the event, Ostapenko led here 7-6/4-0, and held a 5-2 advantage and triple MP (+2 more). Errors brought the whole house down. She then went to Wimbledon and lost early, but then rebounded to play a starring role in a Mixed Doubles final run.
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5. Rosmalen SF - Alison Riske def. Veronika Kudermetova
...6-4/3-6/7-6(5). Riske's comeback in the final couldn't have happened without her comeback in the semis. Kudermetova served up 5-4 adn 6-5, and held a 5-2 lead in the deciding tie-break.
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1. Wimbledon 1st Rd. - Coco Gauff def. Venus Williams
...6-4/6-4. Venus probably has a comfortable sweater older than Gauff, but that didn't stop the 15-year old qualifier (the youngest in the Open era) from making her Wimbledon debut one of the most memorable ever en route to a Round of 16 run that hijacked the first week of the fortnight.
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2. Wimbledon 2nd Rd. - Lauren Davis def. Angelique Kerber
...2-6/6-2/6-1. From the opposite end of the draw spectrum, Davis knocks off the defending champ to become the first lucky loser to reach the 3rd Round since 1974 (and the first ever at SW19 to do it w/o the aid of 1st Rd.bye).
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3. Wimbledon 4th Rd. - Alison Riske def. Ash Barty
...3-6/6-2/6-3. Riske, trying on her "Lisicki shoes," knocks of the reigning RG champ and world #1 at Wimbledon, ending Barty's 15-match winning streak en route to her maiden slam QF.
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4. Birmingham 2nd Rd. - Yulia Putintseva def. Naomi Osaka 6-2/6-3
Wimbledon 1st Rd. - Yulia Putintseva def. Naomi Osaka 7-6(4)/6-2
...is it still an "upset" if it happens twice in a matter of weeks?
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5. Rosmalen 1st Rd. - Destanee Aiava def. Aryna Sabalenka
...7-6(3)/1-6/6-4. Hmmm, might Barty's Paris triumph inspire the other Aussies? This was once-called-the-Next-Great-Aussie-Hope's first career Top 10 win.
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=RISERS=
1. Alison Riske, USA
2. Elina Svitolina, UKR
3. Johanna Konta, GBR
4. Karolina Pliskova, CZE
5. Petra Martic, CRO

=SURPRISES=
1. Giuliana Olmos, MEX
2. Lauren Davis, USA
3. Harriet Dart, GBR
4. Polona Hercog, SLO
5. Ekaterina Alexandrova, RUS

=VETERANS=
1. Barbora Strycova, CZE
2. Serena Williams, USA
3. Zhang Shuai, CHN
4. Hsieh Su-wei, TPE
5. Carla Suarez-Navarro, ESP

=COMEBACKS=
1. Johanna Konta, GBR
2. Margarita Gasparyan, RUS
3. Elina Svitolina, UKR
4. Victoria Azarenka, BLR
5. Alona Ostapenko, LAT

=FRESH FACES=
1. Karolina Muchova, CZE
2. Coco Gauff, USA
3. Dayana Yastremska, UKR
4. Sonya Kenin, USA
5. Veronika Kudermetova, RUS

=JUNIOR STARS=
1. Daria Snigur, UKR
2. Alexa Noel, USA
3. Diane Parry, FRA
4. Emma Navarro, USA
5. Sada Nahimana, BDI

=DOUBLES=
1. Hsieh Su-wei/Barbora Strycova, TPE/CZE
2. Latisha Chan, TPE
3. Gaby Dabrowski/Xu Yifan, CAN/CHN
4. Kirsten Flipkens, BEL
5. Chan Hao-ching/Latisha Chan, TPE/TPE

=ITF=
1. Alison Riske, USA
2. Monica Niculescu, ROU
3. Magda Linette, POL
4. Magdalena Rybarikova, SVK
5. Zarina Diyas, KAZ & Timea Babos, HUN

=FED CUP=
1. Nigina Abduraimova/Akgul Amanmuradova, UZB
2. Hsu Chieh-yu, TPE
3. Sabina Sharipova, UZB
4. Eudice Chong, HKG
5. Liang En-shuo, TPE

=DOWN=
1. Naomi Osaka, JPN
2. Angelique Kerber, GER
3. Dasha Kasatkina, RUS
4. Garbine Muguruza, ESP
5. Petra Kvitova, CZE

*WHEELCHAIR*
1. Aniek Van Koot, NED
2. Diede de Groot, NED
3. Diede de Groot/Aniek Van Koot, NED/NED
4. Zhu Zhenzhen, CHN
5. Jordanne Whiley, GBR

*MOST IMPROVED PLAYERS*
1. Karolina Muchova, CZE
2. Coco Gauff, USA
3. Kaja Juvan, SLO
4. Petra Martic, CRO
5. Veronika Kudermetova, RUS
6. Ekaterina Alexandrova, RUS
7. Marie Bouzkova, CZE
8. Tamara Zidansek, SLO
9. Jennifer Brady, USA
10. Chloe Paquet, FRA




=DAY 13 NOTES=
...after the long men's final had concluded, it was the women's doubles championship that closed out this year's Wimbledon. And, in the end, Barbora Strycova had the last laugh as she and Hsieh Su-wei picked up their second grass title. For the Czech it's her maiden slam win, while Hsieh gets #3 (adding a second SW19 crown to her '13 win). They're 4-0 in '19 finals (5-0 overall dating back to '18) on three different surfaces.



After having already reached her maiden slam singles semifinal *before* winning her first slam doubles crown, Strycova will now become the 43rd woman to be ranked as the doubles #1.



...earlier in the Mixed final, Latisha Chan & Ivan Dodig picked up their third title in the last six slams, adding the Wimbledon crown to their back-to-back RG MX titles. They handled what was probably the most enjoyable team (the Sir & Serena excluded, I guess) in the competition, Alona Ostapenko & Robert Lindstedt, 6-2/6-3.



Lindstedt tried to abscond with the champion's trophy. But, well, there were too many witnesses to complete the heist...



...after Aniek Van Koot upset Diede de Groot in the wheelchair singles final yesterday, the all-Dutch pair were on the same side today as they teamed to defeat Marjolein Buis & Giulia Capocci in the doubles final, 6-1/6-1. The win extends de Groot's streak of slam doubles titles to six. Four have come while partnering Van Koot, including all three '19 slams as the duo will be going for a Grand Slam at the U.S. Open. Van Koot completed a Doubles Slam with Jiske Griffioen in 2013.



...Bannerettes Savannah Broadus & Abigail Forbes defeated Kamilla Bartone & Oksana Selekhmeteva (LAT/RUS) in a three-set girls doubles final, becoming the fifth all-U.S. pair to win the title, but just the second since 1989.

*ALL-U.S. WIMBLEDON GD CHAMPIONS*
1982 Penny Bart & Beth Herr
1984 Caroline Kuhlman & Stephanie Rene
1989 Jennifer Capriati & Meredith McGrath
2016 Usue Arconada & Claire Liu
2019 Savannah Broadus & Abigail Forbes



...the Invitation Doubles final was played on the final Sunday, and it ended up not including Kim Clijsters & Rennae Stubbs. The pair had already qualified for the final before round robin play was complete, but then pulled out of their final match, and the event, due to injury. With shades of the "Elite" Trophy event, they were replaced by "technical" RR group winners Marion Bartoli & Daniela Hantuchova (34 & 36... yes, *younger* than the MD women's singles runner-up, and barely older than another semifinalist), who then dropped the first eight games of the match to Cara Black & Martina Navratilova (40 & 62...Martina played her first Wimbledon 46 years ago, reaching the women's 3rd Round and junior final at age 16).

But Black/Navratilova seemed to noticeably let up a bit to make things more competitive, and it resulted in Bartoli/Hantuchova finally getting on the board *and* on a bit of a run. They took the 2nd set 6-3 to force a ten-point match TB. Black/Navratilova took a 4-0 lead, but Martina dropped both her service points and the score tightened to 4-3. Bartoli, playing much better as the match wore on, kept the score close while (mostly) Hantuchova watched. Things were knotted at 8-8. But the (more) veteran pair put away two volleys to finish things off, first came Navratilova to reach MP, then Black with a high fade away overhead from the middle of the court, sent between Bartoli and Hantuchova, to secure the 6-0/3-6 [10-8] victory.

It's the second Invitation title won by Black/Navratilova in the last three years, as they've reached the final three years running. Martina has played in six straight, teaming with Selima Sfar from 2014-16 (and going 1-2).



...Ukraine's Katarina Zavatska won the $100K Contrexeville (FRA) event, defeating Norwegian Ulrikke Eikeri 6-4/6-4 in the final. Zavatska, 19, defeated the #2 (Stefanie Voegele/SF) and #3 (Mandy Minella/2nd) seeds en route to the crown, the biggest of her career thus far. It's her second straight title run, having picked up a $25K crown last weekend.

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Meanwhile, less than two months after cancer surgery, Nicole Gibbs played countrywoman Usue Arconada in the $60K challenger final in Honolulu. She fell 6-0/6-2, but still...






ROYAL WATCH ON DAY 13:




U.S. OPEN GRAND SLAM WATCH ON DAY 13: He's won in Melbourne, Paris *and* London this year...



De Groot won't get the chance, the Fernandez could be the first to win all four WC singles majors in the same season (and the first male to win all four, period).


NUMBERS GUY COMPUTATIONS ON DAY 13: So, slam #16 at age 32, with your main rivals being 37 and 33, and really *most* competitive for titles at *one* specific major each, and the next generation still being (mostly... I still hold out some hope for the Greek) no-account big event choke artists and/or cry-babies...


So, say (at least) three more by the end of '20 to get to 19 (or 20), one or two in '21 for 21 (or 22). By the end of 2022 *he* could reach 24. So... Serena, you have until you're 40. But you'd better get it well before then if you want to enjoy the view from atop the pyramid.

By the way the *last* player to save MP and win Wimbledon was Bob Falkenburg in 1948. He's still alive at 93, and is also known for introducing fast food (at tha "Bob's" chain of stores) to Brazil in the 1950's.


WHEN YOUR RACISM SLIP IS SHOWING ON DAY 13:







[w/ standing after RG]
1. Ash Barty, AUS (1): Barty didn't win at SW19, but had her best singles result there *and* won a grass title. At the moment, she's alone out in front in the "Ms.B" race with the final turn for home within sight (with the Fed Cup final waiting for her near the finish line for an extra eleventh-hour boost if necessary).
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2. Hsieh Su-wei/Barbora Strycova, TPE/CZE (HM): a big jump up the ladder from H.M. consideration after Paris to #2. But they've won four titles on three surfaces, are the reigning Wimbledon champs, Strycova is the new doubles #1 and both are pesky singles opponents, as well. It's a potent combination for contention.
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3. Petra Kvitova, CZE (3): by her past standards, she added nothing of much note (just a SW19 4th Round, which was still her best at Wimbledon since winning the '14 title) on the grass because of her injury, but *is* still the best "regular season" singles player on the board
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4. Simona Halep, ROU (HM): finally broke away from the "title-less" pack as her overall consistency is now a virtue in the PoW chase with a Wimbledon title to back it up. Would probably need to win in NYC to have a *real* shot, though. The reigning "Ms.Backspin" queen, Halep could finish #1 in the singles rankings and still not keep the "crown."
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5. Karolina Pliskova, CZE (4): picked up a grass title, but a disappointing Wimbledon severely hurta her chances of anything but maybe fighting her way into a Top 3 finish. Although, her only slam final *did* come at the Open...
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6. Naomi Osaka, JPN (5): after the last few months, how much will her success on summer hard courts cast a nearly-final vote on whether her season is seen in an overall positive (or negative) light?
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7. French and Australian Fed Cup Teams (6): both head into the November final, with the "classic" FC format set to be burned at the stake after the final match
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8. Diede de Groot, NED (2): her "Ms.B" chances are over, but she can still win seven of the eight slam WC crowns in '19
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=HONORABLE MENTION=
Bianca Andreescu, CAN (7): waiting for her 2019 Second Act
Timea Babos/Kristina Mladenovic, HUN/FRA (10): probably the most likely to still contend for a Top 5 placement with the hard court season, U.S. Open and WTA Finals still spots where they could brightly shine
Belinda Bencic, SUI (HM): winning one of those three MP in Mallorca would have made a world of difference
Kiki Bertens, NED (HM): might the poor slam results (and losing a title after holding 5 MP at home) turn Kiki's season trajectory decidedly in the wrong direction?
Chan Hao-Ching/Latisha Chan, TPE/TPE (-): picked up a grass title and Latisha's Wimbledon MX win to add some depth to a season in which they've won three (+2) titles
Sonya Kenin, USA (-): is proving to be a versatile, all-surface winner
Johanna Konta, GBR (HM): there was a time when the Brit might have contended for the mythical "Best Hard Courter" crown. Well...?
Elise Mertens/Aryna Sabalenka, BEL/BLR (8): they'll always have the "Sunshine Double"
Marketa Vondrousova, CZE (9): needs to recapture her I.W./Miami North American HC glow


To be continued...




=WOMEN'S SINGLES FINAL=
#7 Simona Halep/ROU def. #11 Serena Williams/USA vs. #7 Simona Halep/ROU 6-2/6-2

=WOMEN'S DOUBLES FINAL=
#3 Hsieh/Strycova (TPE/CZE) def. #4 Dabrowski/Xu (CAN/CHN) 6-2/6-4

=MIXED DOUBLES FINAL=
#9 L.Chan/Dodig (TPE/CRO) def. Ostapenko/Lindstedt (LAT/SWE) 6-2/6-3

=GIRLS SINGLES FINAL=
Daria Snigur/UKR def. #10 Alexa Noel/USA 6-4/6-4

=GIRLS DOUBLES FINAL=
Broadus/Forbes (USA/USA) def. Bartone/Selekhmeteva (LAT/RUS) 7-5/5-7/6-2

=WHEELCHAIR SINGLES FINAL=
Aniek Van Koot/NED def. #1 Diede de Groot/NED 6-4/4-6/7-5

=WHEELCHAIR DOUBLES FINAL=
#1 de Groot/Van Koot (NED/NED) def. #2 Buis/Capocci (NED/ITA) 6-1/6-1

=WOMEN'S INVITATION DOUBLES FINAL=
C.Black/Navratilova def. Bartoli/Hantuchova 6-0/3-6 [10-8]













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*POST-WIMBLEDON TOP 20*
1. Ash Barty, AUS
2. Naomi Osaka, JPN
3. Karolina Pliskova, CZE
4. Simona Halep, ROU
5. Kiki Bertens, NED
6. Petra Kvitova, CZE
7. Elina Svitolina, UKR
8. Sloane Stephens, USA
9. Serena Williams, USA
10. Aryna Sabalenka, BLR
11. Anastasija Sevastova, LAT
12. Belinda Bencic, SUI
13. Angelique Kerber, GER
14. Wang Qiang, CHN
15. Johanna Konta, GBR
16. Marketa Vondrousova, CZE
17. Madison Keys, USA
18. Caroline Wozniacki, DEN
19. Anett Kontaveit, EST
20. Petra Martic, CRO
[teens in Top 200]
#23 Amanda Anisimova, USA (17)
#24 Bianca Andreescu, CAN (19)
#34 Dayana Yastremska, UKR (19)
#61 Iga Swiatek, POL (18)
#69 Anastasia Potapova, RUS (18)
#110 Whitney Osuigwe, USA (17)
#111 Kaja Juvan, SLO (18)
#126 Wang Xiyu, CHN (18)
#131 Olga Danilovic, SRB (18)
#133 Katarina Zavatska, UKR (19)
#141 Coco Gauff, USA (15)
#146 Caty McNally, USA (17)
#173 Ann Li, USA (19)
#177 Liang En-shuo, TPE
#181 Sofya Zhuk, RUS (19)
#194 Destnee Aiava, AUS (19)
#198 Marta Kostyuk, UKR (17)
[Doubles Top 10]
1. Barbora Strycova, CZE
2. Kristina Mladenovic, FRA
3. Timea Babos, HUN
4. Elise Mertens, BEL
5. Hsieh Su-wei, TPE
6. Ash Barty, AUS
7. Demi Schuurs, NED
8. Katerina Siniakova, CZE
9. Zhang Shuai, CHN
10t. Gaby Dabrowski, CAN
10t. Xi Yifan, CAN

*ALL-TIME BEST CHINESE RANKS*
#2 - Li Na (2014)
#14 - Peng Shuai (2011)
#14 - WANG QIANG (2019)
#15 - Zheng Jie (2009)

*ALL-TIME WTA DOUBLES #1's - BY YEAR FIRST #1*
1984 Martina Navratilova, USA
1985 Pam Shriver, USA
1990 Helena Sukova, TCH
1990 Jana Novotna, TCH/CZE
1991 Gigi Fernandez, USA
1991 Natalia Zvereva, USSR/BLR
1992 Larisa Neiland, LAT
1995 Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, ESP
1997 Lindsay Davenport, USA
1998 Martina Hingis, SUI
1999 Anna Kournikova, RUS
2000 Corina Morariu, USA
2000 Lisa Raymond, USA
2000 Rennae Stubbs, AUS
2000 Julie Halard-Decugis, FRA
2000 Ai Sugiyama, JPN
2002 Paola Suarez, ARG
2003 Kim Clijsters, BEL
2003 Virginia Ruano Pascual, ESP
2005 Cara Black, ZIM
2006 Samantha Stosur, AUS
2007 Liezel Huber, RSA/USA
2010 Serena Williams, USA
2010 Venus Williams, USA
2010 Gisela Dulko, ARG
2011 Flavia Pennetta, ITA
2011 Kveta Peschke, CZE
2011 Katarina Srebotnik, SLO
2012 Sara Errani, ITA
2012 Roberta Vinci, ITA
2014 Peng Shuai, CHN
2014 Hsieh Su-Wei, TPE
2015 Sania Mirza, IND
2017 Bethanie Mattek-Sands, USA
2017 Lucie Safarova, CZE
2017 Chan Yung-Jan, TPE
2018 Ekaterina Makarova, RUS
2018 Elena Vesnina, RUS
2018 Timea Babos, HUN
2018 Barbora Krejcikova, CZE
2018 Katerina Siniakova, CZE
2019 Kristina Mladenovic, FRA
2019 Barbora Strycova, CZE

*2017-19 SLAM WD CHAMPIONS*
2017 AO: Bethanie Mattek-Sands/Lucie Safarova, USA/CZE
2017 RG: Bethanie Mattek-Sands/Lucie Safarova, USA/CZE
2017 WI: Ekaterina Makarova/Elena Vesnina, RUS/RUS
2017 US: Latisha Chan/Martina Hingis, TPE/SUI
2018 AO: Timea Babos/Kristina Mladenovic, HUN/FRA
2018 RG: Barbora Krejcikova/Katerina Siniakova, CZE/CZE
2018 WI: Barbora Krejcikova/Katerina Siniakova, CZE/CZE
2018 US: Ash Barty/CoCo Vandeweghe, AUS/USA
2019 AO: Samantha Stosur/Zhang Shuai, AUS/CHN
2019 RG: Timea Babos/Kristina Mladenovic, HUN/FRA
2019 WI: Hsieh Su-wei/Barbora Strycova, TPE/CZE

*2017-19 SLAM MX CHAMPIONS*
2017 AO: Abigail Spears/Juan Sebastian Cabal, USA/COL
2017 RG: Gaby Dabrowski/Rohan Bopanna, CAN/IND
2017 WI: Martina Hingis/Jamie Murray, SUI/GBR
2017 US: Martina Hingis/Jamie Murray, SUI/GBR
2018 AO: Gaby Dabrowski/Mate Pavic, CAN/CRO
2018 RG: Latisha Chan/Ivan Dodig, TPE/CRO
2018 WI: Nicole Melichar/Alexander Peya, USA/AUT
2018 US: Bethanie Mattek-Sands/Jamie Murray, USA/GBR
2019 AO: Barbora Krejcikova/Rajeev Ram, CZE/USA
2019 RG: Latisha Chan/Ivan Dodig, TPE/CRO
2019 WI: Latisha Chan/Ivan Dodig, TPE/CRO

*CAREER WOMEN'S DOUBLES SLAM TITLES - active*
14...Serena Williams, USA
14...Venus Williams, USA
5...Sara Errani, ITA
5...Bethanie Mattek-Sands, USA
3...HSIEH SU-WEI, TPE
3...Kristina Mladenovic, FRA
3...Ekaterina Makarova, RUS
3...Sania Mirza, IND
3...Samantha Stosur, AUS
3...Elena Vesnina, RUS

*MOST WTA DOUBLES FINALS in 2019*
4...HSIEH/STRYCOVA (4-0)
4...Chan/Chan (3-1)
3...Babos/Mladenovic (2-1)
3...DABROWSKI/XU (1-2)
3...Groenefeld/Schuurs (0-3)
2...Mertens/Sabalenka (2-0)
2...Flipkens/Larsson (1-1)
2...Kalinskaya/Kuzmova (1-1)
2...Krawczyk/Olmos (1-1)
2...Martinez Sanchez/Sorribes Tormo (1-1)
2...Melichar/Peschke (1-1)
2...Stosur/Sh.Zhang (1-1)

*SLAM MX TITLES - active*
5...Katarina Srebotnik, SLO
3...LATISHA CHAN, TPE
3...Bethanie Mattek-Sands, USA
3...Sania Mirza, IND
3...Samantha Stosur, AUS
2...Victoria Azarenka, BLR
2...Gaby Dabrowski, CAN
2...Anna-Lena Groenefeld, GER
2...Kristina Mladenovic, FRA
2...Serena Williams, USA
2...Venus Williams, USA
2...Vera Zvonareva, RUS

*RECENT WIMBLEDON DOUBLES CHAMPIONS*
2010 Vania King & Yaroslava Shvedova, USA/KAZ
2011 Kveta Peschke & Katarina Srebotnik, CZE/SLO
2012 Serena Williams & Venus Williams, USA/USA
2013 Hsieh Su-Wei & Peng Shuai, TPE/CHN
2014 Sara Errani & Roberta Vinci, ITA/ITA
2015 Martina Hingis & Sania Mirza, SUI/IND
2016 Serena Williams & Venus Williams, USA/USA
2017 Ekaterina Makarova & Elena Vesnina, RUS/RUS
2018 Barbora Krejcikova & Katerina Siniakova, CZE/CZE
2019 Hsieh Su-wei & Barbora Strycova, TPE/CZE

*RECENT WIMBLEDON MIXED DOUBLES CHAMPS*
2010 Cark Black & Leander Paes, ZIM/IND
2011 Iveta Benesova & Jurgen Melzer, CZE/AUT
2012 Lisa Raymond & Mike Bryan, USA/USA
2013 Kristina Mladenovic & Daniel Nestor, FRA/CAN
2014 Samantha Stosur & Nenad Zimonjic, AUS/SRB
2015 Martina Hingis & Leander Paes, SUI/IND
2016 Heather Watson & Henri Kontinen, GBR/FIN
2017 Martina Hingis & Jamie Murray, SUI/GBR
2018 Nicole Melichar & Alexander Peya, USA/AUT
2019 Latisha Chan & Ivan Dodig, TPE/CRO

*RECENT WIMBLEDON GIRLS DOUBLES CHAMPS*
2010 Timea Babos & Sloane Stephens, HUN/USA
2011 Genie Bouchard & Grace Min, CAN/USA
2012 Genie Bouchard & Taylor Townsend, CAN/USA
2013 Barbora Krejcikova & Katerina Siniakova, CZE/CZE
2014 Tami Grende & Ye Quiyu, INA/CHN
2015 Dalma Galfi & Fanni Stollar, HUN/HUN
2016 Usue Arconada & Claire Liu, USA/USA
2017 Olga Danilovic & Kaja Juvan, SRB/SLO
2018 Wang Xinyu & Wang Xiyu, CHN/CHN
2019 Savannah Broadus & Abigail Forbes, USA/USA

*WIMBLEDON WHEELCHAIR WINNERS*
[singles]
2016 Jiske Griffioen, NED
2017 Diede de Groot, NED
2018 Diede de Groot, NED
2019 Aniek Van Koot, NED
[doubles]
2009 Korie Homan/Esther Vergeer, NED/NED
2010 Esther Vergeer/Sharon Walraven, NED/NED
2011 Esther Vergeer/Sharon Walraven, NED/NED
2012 Jiske Griffioen/Aniek van Koot, NED/NED
2013 Jiske Griffioen/Aniek van Koot, NED/NED
2014 Yui Kamiji/Jordanne Whiley, JPN/GBR
2015 Yui Kamiji/Jordanne Whiley, JPN/GBR
2016 Yui Kamiji/Jordanne Whiley, JPN/GBR
2017 Yui Kamiji/Jordanne Whiley, JPN/GBR
2018 Diede de Groot/Yui Kamiji, NED/JPN
2019 Diede de Groot/Aniek Van Koot, NED/NED

*RECENT WHEELCHAIR SLAM CHAMPS*
[singles]
2017 AO: Yui Kamiji, JPN
2017 RG: Yui Kamiji, JPN
2017 WI: Diede de Groot, NED
2017 US: Yui Kamiji, JPN
2018 AO: Diede de Groot, NED
2018 RG: Yui Kamiji, JPN
2018 WI: Diede de Groot, NED
2018 US: Diede de Groot, NED
2019 AO: Diede de Groot, NED
2019 RG: Diede de Groot, NED
2019 WI: Aniek Van Koot, NED
[doubles]
2017 AO: Griffioen/Van Koot, NED/NED
2017 RG: Buis/Kamiji, JPN/NED
2017 WI: Kamiji/Whiley, JPN/GBR
2017 US: Buis/de Groot, NED/NED
2018 AO: Buis/Kamiji, NED/JPN
2018 RG: de Groot/Van Koot, NED/NED
2018 WI: de Groot/Kamiji, NED/JPN
2018 US: de Groot/Kamiji, NED/JPN
2019 AO: de Groot/Van Koot, NED/NED
2019 RG: de Groot/Van Koot, NED/NED
2019 WI: de Groot/Van Koot, NED/NED

*WIMBLEDON INVITATION DOUBLES WINNERS*
2007 Jana Novotna & Helena Sukova
2008 Jana Novotna & Kathy Rinaldi
2009 Martina Navratilova & Helena Sukova
2010 Martina Navratilova & Jana Novotna
2011 Lindsay Davenport & Martina Hingis
2012 Lindsay Davenport & Martina Hingis
2013 Lindsay Davenport & Martina Hingis
2014 Jana Novotna & Barbara Schett
2015 Magdalena Maleeva & Rennae Stubbs
2016 Martina Navratilova & Selima Sfar
2017 Cara Black & Martina Navratilova
2018 Kim Clijsters & Rennae Stubbs
2019 Cara Black & Martina Navratilova
[most wins]
5...Martina Navratilova
4...Jana Novotna
3...Lindsay Davenport
3...Martina Hingis
2...Cara Black
2...Rennae Stubbs
2...Helena Sukova
1...Kim Clijsters
1...Magdalena Maleeva
1...Kathy Rinaldi
1...Barbara Schett
1...Selina Sfar

*WIMBLEDON "DOUBLES STAR" WINNERS*
2006 Yan Zi & Zheng Jie, CHN
2007 Cara Black, ZIM
2008 Samantha Stosur, AUS
2009 Serena & Venus Williams, USA
2010 Vania King & Yaroslava Shvedova, USA/KAZ
2011 Kveta Peschke, CZE
2012 Lisa Raymond, USA
2013 Kristina Mladenovic, FRA
2014 Sara Errani & Roberta Vinci, ITA/ITA
2015 Sania Mirza, IND
2016 Heather Watson, GBR
2017 Yui Kamiji & Jordanne Whiley, JPN/GBR
2018 Diede de Groot & Yui Kamiji, NED/JPN
2019 Hsieh Su-wei & Barbora Strycova, TPE/CZE




TOP QUALIFIER: Coco Gauff/USA
TOP EARLY-ROUND (1r-2r): #1 Ash Barty/AUS
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): #11 Serena Williams/USA
TOP LATE-ROUND (SF-F): #7 Simona Halep/ROU
TOP QUALIFYING MATCH: Q2: #20 Kaja Juvan/SLO def. Basak Eraydin/TUR 4-6/7-6(3)/6-3 (trailed 6-4/4-1 40/15)
TOP EARLY-RD. MATCH (1r-2r): 1st Rd. - Alison Riske/USA def. #22 Donna Vekic/CRO 3-6/6-3/7-5 (Vekic led 4-1 in 3rd; first Ct.1 roof closure)
TOP MIDDLE-RD. MATCH (3r-QF): 3rd Rd. - (WC) Coco Gauff/USA def. Polona Hercog/SLO 3-6/7-6(7)/7-5 (down 6-3/5-2; Hercog 3 MP in 2nd)
TOP LATE-RD. MATCH (SF-F/Jr.): WC Final - Aniek Van Koot/NED def. #1 Diede de Groot/NED 6-4/4-6/7-5 (1st Wimbledon WC title; has won 7/8 slam titles in career)
=============================
FIRST VICTORY: Madison Keys/USA (1st Rd. def. Luksika Kumkhum/THA)
FIRST SEED OUT: #10 Aryna Sabalenka/BLR (lost 1st Rd. to Rybarikova/SVK)
UPSET QUEENS: Slovenia
REVELATION LADIES: Russia
NATION OF POOR SOULS: BLR (1-3 1st; 3/4 of "Dream Team" lose, including #10 Sabalenka)
LAST QUALIFIER STANDING: Coco Gauff/USA (4th Rd.) (LL: L.Davis/USA - 3rd Rd.)
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: Harriet Dart/GBR (3rd Rd.)
LAST BRIT STANDING: Johanna Konta (QF)
IT ("Kid"): Coco Gauff, USA
Ms.OPPORTUNITY: Simona Halep, ROU (first Wimbledon final) and Alison Riske, USA (into "Last 8 Club")
COMEBACK PLAYER: Alona Ostapenko/LAT (MX)
CRASH & BURN: #2 Naomi Osaka/JPN (1st Rd. - lost to Putintseva/KAZ)
ZOMBIE QUEEN OF LONDON: Elina Svitolina/UKR (2nd Rd.: Gasparyan two points from win at 7-5/5-4, cramps, retires when leading match)
DOUBLES STARS: Hsieh Su-wei & Barbora Strycova, TPE/CZE
VETERAN PLAYER (KIMIKO CUP): Barbora Strycova/CZE
SPIRIT OF JANA (NOVOTNA) HONOREE: (Bad Donna) Vekic/CRO
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: Daria Snigur/UKR (Roehampton/Wimbledon winner)
RAD REMEMBRANCE DAY malevolent activity notes...
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.
Day 3 observed: Margarita Gasparyan, having overcome three knee surgeries and missing most of two years between 2016-18, comes within two points of defeating #8-seeded Elina Svitolina at 7-5/5-4. Five minutes later, she serves and lands awkwardly on her "bad" leg and immediately doubles over in pain. She is treated for cramping, and ultimately, in tears, retires while still leading 7-5/5-6, with an 82-81 points edge and 42-15 lead in winners.




All for now.

posted by Todd.Spiker @ 8:25 PM 

2 Comments:

Blogger colt13 said...

Really excited to see Varvara Gracheva in her first WTA main draw.

High on Rybakina and Siegemund in Bucharest.

High on Buzarnescu and Bacsinszky in Lausanne. I mean for singles, but they will also play doubles together.

Rebuttal-Ms Backspin. No name calling here, unlike the Gaslighter in Chief, who trash talks everyone, except dictator types, when he is effusive with praise.

Ms.Backspin
1.Barty- Won a slam. Became #1. Is the 4th woman in history to win their first tournament played as #1. Fed Cup stalwart. May not stay #1, but will carry herself like one.
2.Halep- Another slam winner. Has become the test you have to pass to prove yourself. Only one title, but a big one. One clue on how much she affects the tour? She has reached the QF or better in 7 of her 11 events. The 4 losses were to Vondrousova(2), Serena, and Barty, all of whom have reached a slam final this year.

3.Osaka- Yes, there is a gap between the first 2 and everybody else. Here by default, an odd season in which she has won a slam, gotten better on both clay and grass, but has left us wanting.
4.Svitolina- Todd will disagree, but even with the hole left by the clay season(2 wins), she has had a bigger effect than most. Halep beat her at Wimbledon, just as Osaka did in Australia. Then add Andreescu at IW, and Bencic in Dubai, and she has lost to the eventual winner in 4 big tournaments.
5.Konta/Martic- Career defining runs by two women on their worst surfaces. Konta on clay and Martic on grass had career best results, plus good results on other surfaces. Unlike some(Vondrousova) who were great on one, they gave it all on both. And Konta does the Nadal thing on grass, stacking Nottingham-Birmingham-Eastbourne-Wimbledon back to back for the 5th year in a row.
6.Pliskova- Probably #3 if just counting regular tour events, she can play and win on any surface, and has.
7.Bertens- Made her first grass court final. Disappointing slam results, but brings it in tour events.
8.Kvitova- Low because of missing the French Open and most of the grass season. Has had 2 sections of the season, Australian swing, and clay season where she was dominant.
9.Vondrousova- Grass season was weak, but still has 3 finals on her record.
10.Strycova- Has been on the short list for a doubles slam for years. Especially those years in which Czech women had half of the Top 10. But without Hlavackova, Hradecka or Pliskova up there now, it is her time. Becomes the 2nd oldest first time #1 behind another Czech in Kveta Peschke.

Stat of the Week- 5- The number of years Baku had an event.

One of those post Wimbledon events that had random results, it was a place for players to get their first career win, or in some cases first career title.

Expect more of the same this week in Bucharest and Lausanne, as there are only 3 Top 40 players combined.

Quiz Time!
Who is the only 2 time winner in Baku?

A.Vera Zvonareva
B.Bojana Jovanoski
C.Elina Svitolina
D.Margarita Gasparyan






Answer!
(D)Gasparyan is wrong, though she did win the title in the final edition back in 2015. She doubled down, winning her first career title in both singles and doubles. Was the lowest ranked winner at 112.

It is not (A)Zvonareva. Also a winner, she was a surprise entrant as she was ranked #3.

The next is a good guess, but (B)Jovanoski is wrong. A 2 time finalist, she won in 2012, but lost in 2014. Ranked 97 when she won, you can see the level of her play by her tournament finals. She reached 4, winning Baku and Tashkent. The two she lost? Baku and Tashkent!

The player Bojana lost to in 2014 was (C)Elina Svitolina, who also won the 2013 edition. Baku is in Azerbaijan. Not Ukraine, which you might think once you realize that between singles and doubles, one woman from Ukraine reached a final every year. That includes Mariya Koryttseva, Irina Buryachok, Olga Savchuk, and Svitolina.

Mon Jul 15, 09:01:00 AM EDT  
Blogger Todd.Spiker said...

Semi-rebuttal to the rebuttal... ;)

BARTY: over the last two lists, you've come more in line w/ my 1Q rankings.

HALEP: over the last two lists. I've come more in line w/ your 1Q rankings.

KONTA/MARTIC: for me, they're one big win/title away from a big climb.

KVITOVA: I'd keep her higher, at least above Pliskova & Bertens, because while they have equivalent regular seasons Petra *does* have that slam final result and the other two (esp. Kiki, as KaP has the AO semi) have been disappointing.

SVITOLINA: as predicted, the only one I really disagree with. Largely because I think this has been the worst first half season (maybe, without looking too closely) ever in her career. Title-less, hurt, etc. Ironic that it includes her best slam result, though it came with a load of asterisks due to a broken-down list of opponents. And, in *her* case (esp. after Singapore), I'd look at her losing to eventual title winners as her not being good enough, as in the past (slams aside) she'd likely have won and taken the title herself at least a time or two. That said, maybe Wimbledon is the start of something good, and she'll have a Garcia-in-2017 like close to the season. She's capable of it.

--

QUIZ: aha! I got that one. :)

Mon Jul 15, 01:46:00 PM EDT  

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