Saturday, July 06, 2019

W.6- Future Tense, Taut Future?

While Sloane Stephens has become Johanna Konta's favorite security blanket this season, the former slam winner is also something of the echo of both the player Konta once was *and* still hopes to be.



At this point, it's become clear that Stephens' 2017 U.S. Open title run, while it officially called into action "Future Sloane" as a legitimate player in the WTA field of contenders for the rest of her career, didn't change *everything.* The comeback flourish that the Bannerette put on that summer didn't mean that her "best self" was going to be our constant companion from that day forward. "FS" remains akin to a brilliant, celestial manifestation. Not as rare a sight as Halley's Comet, but not as reliably calming as the presence of Orion's Belt in the night sky, either.

Unless things change some day, I suppose everyone will have to live with the reality that the Sloane we get won't consistently be the Sloane we'd like to embrace. In many respects, Johanna Konta watchers found themselves in a similar predicament not long ago.

From 2016-17, Konta produced back-to-back Top 10 seasons, a Top 5 ranking, three singles titles, an Australian Open semi and the first final four run at Wimbledon by a British woman since 1978. After that, though, things went a bit haywire. Coming into '19, Konta had gone through a handful of coaches, won zero titles, fallen outside the Top 30 and failed to reach even the *3rd* round of a major (1r-2r-1r-2r-1r) since her level of expectation had been raised.

2019 has seen a reversal of those fortunes, with today's comeback win over Stephens to return to the second week of action at Wimbledon further proof that the newly-recharged "Future Jo" might just be capable of putting on quite a show.



Since the addition of coach Dimitri Zavialoff, Konta has taken flight all over again, and may be better prepared to sustain her run over multiple surfaces, months and seasons than she was before. Back in the Top 20, Konta has undertaken a leadership role by putting on her warrior garb and leading Great Britain to its best Fed Cup performances in over 25 years, and reached a semifinal at a *third* different major in Paris as she shined like she never had before on clay this spring. 23-6 since the start of April, her 3rd Round victory today turned aside the notion that Konta's old burden of expectation may yet still be her burden to bear. No matter what happens next week, as her nation's best singles hope, Konta wasn't dragged down in the early going by a force she *could* control at this SW19.

Konta still hasn't won a title since 2017, and of her five Top 10 wins this season (after having zero in '18), that *four* have come against Stephens -- on three different surfaces and in two majors -- says as much about her as it does about Stephens.

The swing of confidence and momentum in the middle of today's match was evident on Saturday. Stephens took the 1st set at 6-3, and in game #5 of the 2nd set undertook a pitched battle in a long game on Konta's serve. For thirteen minutes, momentum was volleyed back and forth across the net on Court 1 as the six-deuce game was marked by a frustrated Konta's seeming distraction and *inability* to get back "over the hump" on home soil (a problem often largely between her ears, with shades of Mauresmo in Paris and Stosur in Melbourne). But after staving off three BP to hold for 3-2, Konta's confidence grew. As she debugged her game, Stephens decelerated her own.

Up 5-4, Konta converted her first BP of the match (she'd only *seen* her first two games earlier) by firing a forehand behind Stephens to win the set, as her increased aggression was countered by a more passive, defensive-oriented Stephens rather than the opportunistic "Future" version of herself that can defeat almost anyone (you-know-who gets the potential exception) when her game is in line with her willingness to get the most out of it. From about mid-way through the 2nd set, "Future Sloane" took a bit of a sabbatical, and it likely cost her the win.



In the 3rd, Stephens attempted to pick up her get up and go, but it was too late. Konta was already flying high, and wasn't coming back down. She broke for a 2-0 lead. Stephens' increased production allowed her to avoid a two-break hole as she held for 3-1, but two games later Konta got the additional break by winning a brilliantly played point in which she pulled Stephens from one side of the court to the other, came in to strike a swing volley, then followed up with a drop shot volley before redirecting a forehand volley winner into the open court off Stephens' running forehand passing shot attempt.


Konta served out the 3-6/6-4/6-1 victory a game later, proving a point about "The Jo Show's" potential long-term viability at this slam (though it'll surely be challenged for cancellation by a certain Czech on Monday) while simultaneously issuing a terse announcement that everyone should be on the lookout for a certain "Future Sloane," for she *still* tends to go missing at precisely the wrong time a bit more often than she should.



Like Stephens in her home slam two years ago, might Konta have figured out how to call up her best self on her most important stage when the most is at stake? Could she *win* Wimbledon? Hmmm... maybe.




=DAY 6 NOTES=
...in the day's other 3rd Round matches, for some reason *all* scheduled as the earlier matches in the day...

* - #11 Serena Williams won her '18 SW19 semifinal rematch with #18 Julia Goerges, giving up just one more game this time around (2018: 6-2/6-4, 2019: 6-3/6-4) while winning 76% of her first serves and 71% of her seconds, never facing a BP and firing seven aces. Hmmm...

via GIPHY


* - #6 Petra Kvitova removed the final Pole from this year's first Aga-less Wimbledon draw, defeating Magda Linette 3 & 2 to reach the second week of the fortnight for the first time since... yes, her last SW19 title run year of 2014. The note wasn't lost on Petra, either.



* - #30 Carla Suarez-Navarro ended lucky loser Lauren Davis' run, meaning that Argentina's Maria Jose Gaidano's 1993 U.S. Open Round of 16 result remains the most recent best by a LL at any of the slams.

Always undervalued and overlooked (though *that'll* likely change a little on Monday, as she'll face Williams), CSN's sixteen career slam Round of 16's is more than all but Serena and Kvitova amongst this year's 4th Rounders.

* - Now 13-1 this grasscourt season, Alison Riske is into her second career ('14 U.S.) slam 4th Round with her upset of #13 Belinda Bencic, 4-6/6-4/6-4.



Of course, #1 Ash Barty theoretically laughs at "13," as she won her *fifteenth* straight match on Saturday with a 6-1/6-1 victory over wild card Harriet Dart. Barty has now recorded a win to match or set her personal best result at eight straight majors.



Ash and Alison will sort it out on Monday.

* - #21 Elise Mertens, forced to a 3rd set by #15 Wang Qiang, won 6-2/6-7(9)/6-4 to reach the second week of Wimbledon for the first time. She's now reached the 4th Round at all four slams.

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Still hanging in there! 2nd week is coming. ??

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She'll next see Barbora Strycova, at 33 the second-oldest to reach the second week, as she recorded her tenth career Top 10 win with a victory over #4-seeded Kiki Bertens, 7-5/6-1. Strycova reached the QF at SW19 in 2014. As for Bertens, the loss continues the Dutch star's curiouser and curiouser collection of slam results. Bertens has reached a Roland Garros semi (2016) and Wimbledon QF (2018) while climbing into the Top 10 *and* Top 5. But those are her only 4th Round-or-better major results over the last twenty slams, and she has just three (w/ '14 RG 4r) in 29 career MD.



...in the final junior tune-up before Wimbledon, Ukraine's Diana Snigur defeated Bannerette Alexa Noel in the Roehampton final, picking up her biggest career honor in the Grade 1 event. The semifinalists were France's Diane Parry and the U.S.'s Hurricane Black. Marta Custic & Elli Mandlik (ESP/USA) won the doubles.



Roehampton girls champions have an intriguing history at Wimbledon. Since the start of the event in 1996, the champion has gone on to win the SW19 junior title eight time, with three other winners reaching the Wimbledon final, and three the semis.

Before last year's Wimbledon, the Roehampton/Wimbledon double had been accomplished in six of the previous eight years, with the tune-up champ reaching the final in seven of nine. In 2018, though, Wimbledon winner Iga Swiatek didn't play Roehampton, while the Roehampton winner was upset at the AELTC in the junior QF. Who was that player? Let's see (checks list)... someone named Coco Gauff. I wonder whatever happened to her?

Junior action kicked off at Wimbledon on Day 6, with #1-seeded Bannerette Emma Navarro (def. Diana Shnaider, she of the polka-dot headwear, 6-0/6-2) joining #2 Maria Camila Osorio Serrano (COL) and #3 Zheng Qinwen (CHN) in the 2nd Round. Of note, or not (?), Navarro was the #1 seed at Roehampton, as well, but lost in the 1st Round to Brit Sasha Hill. Upsets today included Aubane Droguet (FRA) over #14 Joanna Garland and Wong Hong Yi Cody (HKG) knocking off #13 Anastasia Tikhonova.

For what it's worth, I'll go with #5 H.Black over the unseeded Snigur in the final, with #10 Noel and British WC Emma Raducanu as semifinalists.




LIKE ON DAY 6: Sakkari coming to play, double-bun in place...





LIKE ON DAY 6: Honoring history...




NEXT LEVEL NOTIFICATIONS ON DAY 6:





Hey, Flipper *has* reached more Wimbledon semifinals than Michelle has.


Hmmm... ON DAY 6: If Ash wins Wimbledon, will she say, "I'm going to Disneyland!"?




A REMINDER ON DAY 6: She *is* only 15...




AND AWAY WE GO... ON DAY 6:







It still baffles me why the promotions of Diede de Groot continue to refer to her great career accomplishment as being the "first to hold all four singles slams at the same time" when she's actually the first to *win* all four titles in a career, PERIOD. *And* she's the first to hold all EIGHT slam titles (as a collection, or simultaneously). I think those notes deserve equal, if not more, time.

Coach Amanda Hopmans notes that de Groot changed her chair after the AO, and it still improving her strokes, as her RG title run showed.

In the interview, it's noted that de Groot doesn't think anyone will break Vergeer's records, but I'd suggest she might change her mind on that soon. Sure, the undefeated streaks are untouchable, but Vergeer's slam title marks aren't necessarily safe, especially if no *new* WC star arrives soon who might challenge de Groot over the course of all four majors. Kamiji is a solid #2, but de Groot has still (for the most part) taken control of their series when it comes to meetings in major events, and none of the other top WC players really threaten to win slams more than (maybe) once a season. Jordanne Whiley, finally back after having a baby, could be dark horse for next week's Wimbledon title, but de Groot is still the overwhelming favorite to win her third straight SW19 crown.




=WOMEN'S SINGLES ROUND OF 16=
#1 Ash Barty/AUS vs. Alison Riske/USA
#11 Serena Williams/USA vs. #30 Carla Suarez-Navarro/ESP
#21 Elise Mertens/BEL vs. Barbora Strycova/CZE
#6 Petra Kvitova/CZE vs. #19 Johanna Konta/GBR
#8 Elina Svitolina/UKR vs. #24 Petra Martic/CRO
#3 Karolina Pliskova/CZE vs. Karolina Muchova/CZE
#7 Simona Halep/ROU vs. (Q) Coco Gauff/USA
Zhang Shuai/CHN vs. Dayana Yastremska/UKR






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thanks for coming D ???? @dc10s #bestcoach

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Don't worry, Aga... they'll get theirs.









*WIMBLEDON "LAST BRIT STANDING"*
2008 Elena Baltacha & Anne Keothavong (2nd Rd.)
2009 Elena Baltacha (2nd Rd.)
2010 Heather Watson (GBR 0-6 in 1st, Watson last to lose)
2011 Elena Baltacha, Anne Keothavong & Laura Robson (2nd)
2012 Heather Watson (3rd Rd.)
2013 Laura Robson (4th Rd.)
2014 Naomi Broady & Heather Watson (2nd Rd.)
2015 Heather Watson (2nd Rd.)
2016 Johanna Konta & Tara Moore (2nd Rd.)
2017 Johanna Konta (SF)
2018 Katie Boulter, Johanna Konta & Katie Swan (2nd)
2019 Johanna Konta (in 4th Rd.)

*WIMBLEDON "ZOMBIE QUEEN" WINNERS*
2007 Venus Williams, USA
2008 Nicole Vaidisova, CZE
2009 Dinara Safina, RUS
2010 Petra Kvitova, CZE
2011 Marion Bartoli, FRA
2012 Tamira Paszek, AUT
2013 Genie Bouchard, CAN
2014 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova/RUS & Lucie Safarova/CZE
2015 Serena Williams, USA
2016 Dominika Cibulkova/SVK & Aga Radwanska/POL
2017 Arina Rodionova, AUS
2018 Katerina Siniakova, CZE
2019 Elina Svitolina, UKR

*RECENT BEST SLAM "LUCKY LOSER" RESULTS*
2006 US: Nicole Pratt, AUS (2nd)
2006 RG: Kirsten Flipkens, BEL (2nd)
2007 WI: Alize Cornet, FRA (2nd)
2008 US: Mariana Duque-Marino, COL (2nd)
2009 RG: Mariana Duque-Marino, COL (2nd)
2009 WI: Kristina Kucova, SVK (2nd)
2010 RG: Bethanie Mattek-Sands, USA (2nd)
2011 WI: Stephanie Dubois, CAN (2nd)
2012 RG: Sesil Karatantcheva, KAZ (2nd)
2013 US: Patricia Mayr-Achleitner, AUT (2nd)
2014 AO: Irina Falconi, USA (2nd)
2015 US: Dasha Kasatkina, RUS (3rd)
2016 WI: Duan Yingying, CHN (2nd)
2017 RG: Ons Jabeur, TUN (3rd)
2018 AO: Bernarda Pera, USA (3rd)
2019 WI: Lauren Davis, USA (3rd)

*LAST TWO BEST 3rd Rd.+ "LUCKY LOSER" SLAM RESULTS*
=AO=
3rd Rd. - Sandra Kleinova, CZE (1997)
3rd Rd. - Bernarda Pera, USA (2018)
=RG=
3rd Rd. - Gloria Pizzichini, ITA (1996)
3rd Rd. - Ons Jabeur, TUN (2017)
=WI=
3rd Rd. - Tine Zwaan, NED (1974)
3rd Rd. - Lauren Davis, USA (2019)
=US=
4th Rd. - Maria Jose Gaidano, ARG (1993)
3rd Rd. - Dasha Kasatkina, RUS (2015)



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


*ROEHAMPTON CHAMPS, w/ WIMBLEDON JR. RESULT*
1996 Amelie Mauresmo = won Wimbledon Jr. title
1997 Brie Rippner = lost Wimb.Jr. F (won by C.Black = Roe.QF)
1998 Jelena Dokic = lost Wimb.Jr. SF (won by Srebotnik = Roe.DNP)
1999 Lina Krasnoroutskaya = lost Wimb.Jr. F (won by Tulyagnova = Roe.3r)
2000 Aniko Kapros = lost Wimb.Jr. QF (won by Salerni = Roe.2r)
2001 Gisela Dulko = lost Wimb.Jr. 3r (won by Widjaja = Roe.QF)
2002 Vera Dushevina = won Wimbledon Jr. title
2003 Allison Baker = lost Wimb.Jr. QF(won by Flipkens = Roe.RU)
2004 Michaella Krajicek = lost Wimb.Jr. SF (won by K.Bondarenko = Roe.QF)
2005 Caroline Wozniacki = lost Wimb.Jr. 1r (won by A.Radwanska = Roe.DNP)
2006 Kristina Antoniychuk = lost Wimb.Jr. 3r (won by Wozniacki = Roe.DNP)
2007 Petra Kvitova = lost Wimb.Jr. 3r (won by U.Radwanska = Roe.DNP)
2008 Melanie Oudin = lost Wimb.Jr. 2r (won by Robson = Roe.RU)
2009 Kristina Mladenovic = lost Wimb.Jr. F (won by Lertcheewakarn = Roe.SF)
2010 Kristyna Pliskova = won Wimbledon Jr. title
2011 Indy de Vroome = lost Wimb.Jr. SF (won by Barty = Roe.2r)
2012 Genie Bouchard = won Wimbledon Jr. title
2013 Belinda Bencic = won Wimbledon Jr. title
2014 Alona Ostapenko = won Wimbledon Jr. title
2015 Dalma Galfi = lost Wimb.Jr. 1r (won by Zhuk = Roe.3r)
2016 Anastasia Potapova = won Wimbledon Jr. title
2017 Claire Liu = won Wimbledon Jr. title
2018 Coco Gauff = lost Wimb.Jr. QF (won by Swiatek = Roe.DNP)
2019 Daria Snigur =



TOP QUALIFIER: Coco Gauff/USA
TOP EARLY-ROUND (1r-2r): Ash Barty/AUS
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): xx
TOP LATE-ROUND (SF-F): xx
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): xx
TOP LATE-RD. MATCH (SF-F/Jr.): xx
=============================
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 (in 4th Rd.) (LL: L.Davis/USA - 3rd Rd.)
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: Harriet Dart/GBR (3rd Rd.)
LAST BRITS STANDING: Johanna Konta (in 4th Rd.)
IT ("Kid"): Coco Gauff, USA
Ms.OPPORTUNITY: xx
COMEBACK PLAYER: Nominee: Kvitova, Konta
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 STAR: xx
VETERAN PLAYER (KIMIKO CUP): xx
SPIRIT OF JANA (NOVOTNA) HONOREE: (Bad Donna) Vekic/CRO + ??
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: xx
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 Day 6. More on Monday (after a Decade's Best).

posted by Todd.Spiker @ 7:31 PM 

2 Comments:

Blogger colt13 said...

Williams 6-0 vs Suarez Navarro, 4 of 6 times she went on to win title. Suarez Navarro has never won more than 3 games in a set.

Muchova/Pliskova meeting in another slam.

With Serena and Zhang still in mixed, we have 6 women left doing double duty. The 4 left in women's doubles are Martic, Strycova, Mertens, and Barty. Except for Martic, all alive for #1 ranking.

Will be interesting to see if Halep hits directly at Gauff. Her movement isn't as good on this as clay.

Stat of the Day- 6- The amount of women in the sweet sixteen with a WTA grass title.

Every year, I say it is less than the year before, so let me give you proof:

2016-11
2017-10
2018-8

This is the lowest number I have had, shows the changing of the guard. Listed will be most recent title for those, and best grass results for the rest.

Most recent title:
Halep 2013 Rosmalen
Williams 2016 Wimbledon
Kvitova 2018 Birmingham
Riske 2019 Rosmalen
Barty 2019 Birmingham
Pliskova 2019 Eastbourne

Konta 2018 Nottingham RU/2017 Wimbledon SF
Martic 2013 Nottingham (W) ITF/2019 Birmingham SF
Strycova 2016 Birmingham RU/2014 Wimbledon QF
Svitolina 2017 Wimbledon 4th/2012 Jr Wimbledon RU
Yastremska 2016 Jr Wimbledon RU/2018 Ilkley ITF RU
Mertens 2019 Wimbledon 4th/2019 Mallorca SF
Zhang 2019 Wimbledon 4th/2014 Birmingham SF
Suarez Navarro 2016 Wimbledon 4th/2016 Birmingham SF
Muchova 2019 Wimbledon 4th/2019 Den Bosch R32
Gauff 2019 Wimbledon 4th/2018 Jr Roehampton (w)

Zhang has reached 29 ITF finals, none on grass.

Had to use R32 result for Muchova, because it is the only other main draw she has been in on grass.

Same with Gauff.

8 of 16 alive for SF fit the profile of being a WTA grass finalist.

Sat Jul 06, 08:56:00 PM EDT  
Blogger Todd.Spiker said...

Considering how things are now, it's hard to believe some top players used to play all three disciplines and, in the case Martina, threaten to go deep in each one.

With Gauff's age you almost have to go to her junior results. And she did, at least, win Roehampton last year.

Sat Jul 06, 10:09:00 PM EDT  

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