Saturday, September 26, 2020

Restart Wk.7- Elina the Excellent


There was one final stop before everyone puts down some autumn footsteps on the terre battue in Paris.


Once that was taken care of...



futuristic-fonts


*Restart WEEK 7 CHAMPIONS*
STRASBOURG, FRANCE (Int'l/Clay Court Outdoor)
S: Elina Svitolina/UKR def. Elena Rybakina/KAZ 6-4/1-6/6-2
D: Nicole Melichar/Demi Schuurs (USA/NED) def. Hayley Carter/Luisa Stefani (USA/BRA) 6-4/6-3


kosova-font
eggs-font
PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Elina Svitolina/UKR
...Svitolina got a late start on the resumption of her season, not taking the court in the Restart until last week in Rome. Unlike many of the players who emerged from the shutdown shadows after skipping the U.S. Open, Svitolina actually posted multiple wins at the Italian Open, reaching the QF even while obviously not quite having yet found her clay court form. She made up for lost time in Strasbourg.


After a win over Magda Linette, the Ukrainian rallied from a break down in the 1st and 2nd sets to defeat Jil Teichmann, then flipped her semifinal and final matches in her favor with late 3rd set rushes against Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina, respectively, to win her 15th career tour title (5-0 in clay finals).

Clay may not unquestionably be Svitolina's best surface (most of her biggest moments have come on hard courts), but Roland Garros is likely her best opportunity to finally win a major (had she not squandered that lead vs. Simona Halep in the '17 QF in Paris -- she led 6-3/5-1, twice served for the match, and held a MP...only to lose a TB, then the 3rd set at love in :20 -- it very well may have come that year). While she finally had semifinal breakthroughs last year in London and New York, she's yet to advance as far at Roland Garros. In fact, Svitolina has fallen in the 3rd Round in both her RG appearances since '17. She'll be the #3 seed this year, facing Kiki Conqueror Varvara Gracheva in the 1st Round. Potential 3rd Round opponents: #27 Ekaterina Alexandrova or Anna Blinkova.
===============================================
RISERS: Elena Rybakina/KAZ and Aryna Sabalenka/BLR
...after a slow Restart opening, Rybakina finally strung together some victories in Strasbourg, posting wins over Greet Minnen, Alize Cornet, Zhang Shuai and Nao Hibino en route to her tour-leading fifth final of the season. Unfortunately for the Kazakh, while she also leads the WTA with 28 match wins, with her three-set loss to Elina Svitolina on Saturday she's dropped four of the five '20 finals she's played (and five of her last six dating back to last year).

A qualifier at Roland Garros in 2019 (she was Backspin's Q-Player of the Week), Rybakina will open against Sorana Cirstea this year as the #14 seed.


Sabalenka's semifinal run in Strasbourg, her first good Restart result, wasn't really a "surge" as much as it was a "delayed continuation."


While the Belarusian came into this past week having gone just 3-3 since the resumption of WTA action, it's worth remembering that in the first part of 2020 Sabalenka's long-awaited "career year" looked as if it may finally be happening. In the first two months of '20, she'd put together a 12-5 record (even with a disappointing 1st Rd. AO loss to CSN), won Doha, reached the Adelaide SF and posted wins over the likes of Halep, Mertens, Sakkari (twice), Kontaveit, Kuznetsova and Kvitova.

This week in Strasbourg, Sabalenka traveled a tough road, as much due to the rainy weather as her opponents. After a win over Anna Blinkova, her three-set QF triumph over Katerina Siniakova carried over into a second day on Friday, and *then* a short while later her semi against Elina Svitolina, too, was interrupted for a rain delay. It, too, eventually went three sets, with the Ukrainian finally putting on a late rush -- coming back from 40/love down -- to break Sabalenka to win the 3rd set 6-4 and end the match.

The #8 seed in Paris, Sabalenka's road begins with Jessica Pegula, then could get mighty interesting, with Dasha Kasatkina (assuming her ankle allows it) and Ons Jabeur possibly dotting a path that could lead to Garbine Muguruza in the Round of 16. Sabalenka is still seeking her maiden slam quarterfinal result.
===============================================
SURPRISES: Nao Hibino/JPN and Irina Bara/ROU
...arriving in Strasbourg ranked #84 and without any particular affinity for clay, Hibino, sandwiched around another victory over Zarina Diyas, proceeded to knock off a pair of former slam champions (and RG finalists) in Sloane Stephens and Alona Ostapenko, staging comebacks from a break down in two tie-break set wins over the Latvian in the QF. The upset gave Hibino her first career clay court semifinal, and will raise her ranking twelve spots next week, when she'll open in Paris against qualifier Marta Kostyuk.


In her twelfth career attempt, 25-year old Bara qualified for her first career slam MD with her three-victory run in Paris, carrying over the form that saw her reach an $80K challenger final a week ago (a loss to Sara Sorribes Tormo). The Romanian didn't drop a set in her three matches, and will face #26 Donna Vekic in the opening round.

View this post on Instagram

Today’s feelings ??

A post shared by Irina Bara (@irina.bara) on

===============================================
VETERAN: Sara Errani/ITA
...a slam finalist in Paris eight years ago, the now 33-year old Errani has struggled to return to form since her 2017 failed drug test suspension, an ordeal which saw her actually *twice* docked rankings points/prize money after her original suspension was later increased following her appeal, causing her to briefly question whether she'd continue her career at all. While progress has been slow, the Italian *has* had some good moments duirng her climb back, including challenger level succees, a tour QF in Bogota last year, and two MD wins in the opening Restart week in Palermo, over Sorana Cirstea and Kristyna Pliskova.

She had another this week in her return to Paris, making her way through Roland Garros qualifying without dropping a set, defeating #4-seeded Tereza Martincova in the final round. Errani's appearance in the MD will her first in a slam since the 2018 RG.

View this post on Instagram

MAIN DRAW @rolandgarros ?? #VAMOOOOOOSSSSS

A post shared by SaraErraniFanClub (@saraerranifanclub) on

===============================================
COMEBACK: Alona Ostapenko/LAT
...the WTA is always a more entertaining place if Latvian Thunder is in fine form, an occurrance which hasn't exactly been a common one over the last two-plus years. But maybe that's about to change, as she's now armed with a new high-level coach in Thomas Hogstedt. (Crossing fingers.)

Finally making her Restart return last week in Rome, Ostapenko fell to Magda Linette in the 1st Round. But she rebounded this week in Strasbourg, opening with a win over Lauren Davis and then battling back -- with her new "more conservative" approach -- from a set and a break down against Kiki Bertens. Bertens ultimately retired in the 3rd set, giving Ostapenko her first Top 10 win on clay since she defeated Simona Halep in the '17 RG final, as well as putting her in her first clay QF since Rome in '18.

Ostapenko fell in two tie-breaks to Nao Hibino in that QF, but her week was a good "second act" to what had been an encouraging end to her '19 season (a 9-1 run and back-to-back Linz/Luxembourg finals) and a few early-season flashes (a win over Sofia Kenin on Fed Cup weekend, as well as a two tie-break match against Serena Williams, then a pair of MD wins in Doha) before the shutdown.

She's set to face Madison Brengle in the 1st Round in Paris, with #2-seed Karolina Pliskova possibly awaiting her a round later.

===============================================
FRESH FACES: Kamilla Rakhimova/RUS and Clara Tauson/DEN
...the new wave of Russian talent -- already spearheaded by the likes of Anna Blinkova, Anastasia Potapova, Varvara Gracheva and others -- crashed onto the shores of Roland Garros this week in the form of Rakhimova, who qualified to reach her maiden slam MD. The 19-year old took down #1-seeded Ann Li in three sets after dropping the 1st set despite holding nine SP and losing a 14-12 TB.


Meanwhile, 17-year old Tauson also reached her first slam MD with a successful qualifying run in Paris, outlasting Gabriela Talaba in three sets, upsetting #6-seed Elisabetta Cocciaretto (1 & 2) and then ousting Ivana Jorovic in straights in the final round. Carrying on the tradition of the now-retired Caroline Wozniacki, the Dane's appearance in the MD makes it thirteen of fourteen years (all but '16) with a woman from Denmark in the main draw at Roland Garros.

===============================================
DOWN: Amanda Anisimova/USA
...while one first-time slam semifinalist from last year's RG -- Marketa Vondrousova -- saw her results pick up last week with a final four result at the Italian Open, Anisimova didn't follow suit in Strasbourg. After failing to serve out a straights sets win over Dayana Yastremska and losing in the 2nd Round in Rome a week ago, Anisimova was downed in the 1st Round in straights sets (2 & 3) by Jil Teichmann this week.
===============================================
DOUBLES: Nicole Melichar/Demi Schuurs, USA/NED
...with both their usual doubles partners -- Xu Yifan for Melichar, Kveta Peschke for Schuurs -- absent in Strasbourg, the duo teamed up for the very first time and walked off with the title.

Top-seeded Melichar/Schuurs didn't lose a set all week, taking down #3 Aoyama/Shibahara in the semis and #4 Carter/Stefani in the final. It's Melichar's eighth career title, and Schuurs' twelfth (w/ 8 different partners).


Schuurs is set to reunite with Peschke in Paris, but Xu won't be there to join Melichar. The two recently reached the Cincinnati/NYC and U.S. Open finals. Melichar is set to play alongside Iga Swiatek.
===============================================
WHEELCHAIR: --
...Buis Update in 3, 2, 1...

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


=TOP QUALIFIERS=
1. Mayar Sherif, EGY (24, #172)
...the Pepperdine (and Fresno State) product is simply single-handedly rewriting Egyptian tennis history.

Last year, Sherif's African Games title made her the first woman from the nation to qualify for the Olympics. That same year, she became the first Egyptian to rank in the WTA Top 200 as at one point she won 26 straight matches on the challenger circuit. Two weeks into the Restart, Sherif's Prague qualifying run made her the first player representing Egypt to play a tour-level singles MD match since 1999, and this week in qualifying in Paris, after becoming the first to win a slam singles match (Q1 def. Maria Camila Osorio Serrano), she pushed all the way into the MD with additional victories over #3 Caty McNally and Guilia Gatto-Monticone to become the first to reach the MD at a major.

===============================================
2. Renata Zarazua, MEX (22, #178)
...Zarazua, too, has been breaking barriers in 2020. In Acapulco prior to the shutdown, she became the first WTA singles semifinalist from Mexico since 1993. Her qualifying run in Paris -- with wins over Olga Danilovic, #12 Viktoriya Tomova and Daniela Seguel without dropping a set -- makes her the first Mexican in the MD of a major since Angelica Gavaldon in the 2000 Australian Open.

And, yes, that multi-year Prediction Blowout of a woman from Mexico doing just that *finally* has come true. Whew!

View this post on Instagram

Main draw RG2020 ??

A post shared by Renata Zarazua (@renazarazua) on

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


*ALL RG QUALIFIERS*
* Irina Bara, ROU (25/#142): slam MD debut
Sara Errani, ITA (32/#150): first slam MD since '18 RG
Barbara Haas, AUT (23/#143): first slam MD since '16 US
Marta Kostyuk, UKR (18/#119): RG MD debut
Varvara Lepchenko, USA (34/#183): 3 con. RG Q
Monica Niculescu, ROU (32/#141): 2 2020 slam Q (AO/RG)
Nadia Podoroska, ARG (23/#131): 1st slam MD since '16 US
* Kamilla Rakhimova, RUS (19/#189): slam MD debut
* Mayar Sherif, EGY (24/#172): 1st EGY slam MD ever
* Clara Tauson, DEN (17/#187): slam MD debut
Martina Trevisan, ITA (26/#159): 2 2020 slam Q (AO/RG)
* Renata Zarazua, MEX (22/#178): 1st MEX slam MD since '00
-
*-slam MD debut (5)

*LUCKY LOSER*
Astra Sharma, AUS (25/#114): 1-6 in slam MD matches

*PROTECTED RANKINGS*
CiCi Bellis, USA (21): won '20 slam matches (3-2 overall) at both AO and U.S.
Dasha Gavrilova, AUS (26): most recent slam win was at 2018 U.S.
Anna Karolina Schmiedlova, SVK (26): last RG MD win came in 2014


*ROLAND GARROS "Q-PLAYER OF THE WEEK" WINNERS*
2006 Julia Vakulenko/UKR
2007 Timea Bacsinszky/SUI & Raluca Olaru/ROU
2008 Maria Jose Martinez-Sanchez/ESP & Yanina Wickmayer/BEL
2009 Yaroslava Shvedova/KAZ
2010 Kaia Kanepi/EST
2011 Sloane Stephens/USA
2012 Kiki Bertens/NED
2013 Anna Karolina Schmiedlova/SVK
2014 Grace Min/USA
2015 Veronica Cepede Royg/PAR
2016 Viktorija Golubic/SUI
2017 Marketa Vondrousova/CZE
2018 Francesca Schiavone/ITA
2019 Elena Rybakina/KAZ
2020 Mayar Sherif/EGY


*2020 SLAM QUALIFIERS*
[youngest]
AO - Leylah Annie Fernandez, CAN (17)
RG - Clara Tauson, DEN (17)
AO - Elisabetta Cocciaretto, ITA (18)
RG - Marta Kostyuk, UKR (18)
AO - Caty McNally, USA (18)
AO - Kaja Juvan, SLO (19)
AO - Ann Li, USA (19)
RG - Kamilla Rakhimova, RUS (19)
[oldest]
RG - Varvara Lepchenko, USA (34)
RG - Sara Errani, ITA (33)
RG - Monica Niculescu, ROU (32)
AO - Monica Niculescu, ROU (32)
AO - Johanna Larsson, SWE (31)
[lowest-ranked]
#213 - Johanna Larsson, SWE (AO)
#206 - Leylah Annie Fernandez, CAN (AO)
#189 - Kamilla Rakhimova, URS (RG)
#187 - Clara Tauson, DEN (RG)
#183 - Varvara Lepchenko, USA (RG)
#178 - Renata Zarazua, MEX (RG)
#172 - Elisabetta Cocciaretto, ITA (AO)
#172 - Mayar Sherif, EGY (RG)
#169 - Harriet Dart, GBR (AO)
#159 - Martina Trevisan, ITA (RG)
#156 - Antonia Lottner, GER (AO)
#155 - Shelby Rogers, USA (AO)
#154 - Martina Trevisan, ITA (AO)
#150 - Sara Errani, ITA (RG)
[making slam MD debut]
AO - Elisabetta Cocciaretto, ITA
AO - Leylah Annie Fernandez, CAN
AO - Ann Li, USA
AO - Greet Minnen, BEL
AO - Martina Trevisan, ITA
RG - Irina Bara, ROU
RG - Kamilla Rakhimova, RUS
RG - Mayar Sherif, EGY
RG - Clara Tauson, DEN
RG - Renata Zarazua, MEX
[by nation]
4 - ITA [2 AO/2 RG]
4 - USA [3 AO/1 RG]
3 - ROU [1 AO/2 RG]
3 - RUS [2 AO/1 RG]
1...AO: BEL,CAN,CZE,GBR,GER,JPN,SLO,SWE
1...RG: ARG,AUT,DEN,EGY,MEX,UKR
-
LL: 1 AUS (RG)


kosova-font
1. Strasbourg Final - Elina Svitolina def. Elena Rybakina
...6-4/1-6/6-2. Rybakina seized control of the match in the 2nd set, and had five BP chances in the opening game of the 3rd to further cement her advantage. But Svitolina held, and come game #6 the Kazakh's sudden string of errors allowed the Ukrainian to once more do what she's done so often in her career -- rise to the occasion in a singles final -- while sweeping the final four games.

She improves to 15-3 in tour finals in her career (11-2 since 2017), and when factoring in WTA 125 and challenger deciders she's a combined 21-5.

===============================================
2. RG Q1 - Barbara Haas def. Daria Snigur
...6-0/5-7/7-5. Haas led the reigning junior Wimbledon champ 6-0/5-0, 40/30... then double-faulted on MP. With Snigur at that with just one winner vs. 30 unforced errors, the Austrian saw the match nearly slip away. The 3rd set began with seven straight breaks of serve until Haas finally held (after saving a BP). Serving for the match at 5-4, Haas DF'd again at 40/15 and was broken.Ultimately, Haas finally won, but it took four MP and serving for the match five times to do it. Officially playing with "house money," she went on to reach the MD, her first at a major in four years.
===============================================
3. Strasbourg 1st Rd. - Zarina Diyas def. Christina McHale
...6-7(4)/7-5/7-6(3). Diyas trailed 7-6/4-0, but prevailed in 3:08.

===============================================
4. RG Q3 - Renata Zarazua def. Daniela Seguel
...6-3/6-3. Zarazua became the first Mexican woman in the a slam MD since 2000, but if Seguel had won she'd been the first Chilean since 1982.
===============================================
5. Strasbourg 2nd Rd. - Alona Ostapenko def. Kiki Bertens
...2-6/6-4/4-2 ret.. From a set and a break down, Ostapenko notches her second 2020 Top 10 victory (Kenin/Fed Cup), but her first on clay since the '17 RG final.
===============================================
5. RG Q3 - Nadia Podoroska def. Wang Xinyu
...6-2/6-4. Podoroska improves her '20 record to 38-6, reaching her first slam MD since qualifying at the U.S. Open in 2016.

===============================================
HM- Strabourg Final - Nicole Melichar/Demi Schuurs def. Hayley Carter/Luisa Stefani
...6-4/6-3. Stefani (playing beside former North Carolina Tar Heel Carter) nearly made it a *doubly* triumphant weekend for ex-Pepperdine tennis stars, but fell short in her and her partner's second '20 final (Lexington-W), and fourth in the past year.
===============================================


kosova-font
1. RG Q3 - Mayar Sherif def. Giulia Gatto-Monticone
...6-1/6-3. Hmmm, I guess I *should* have also predicted an Egyptian woman would play a MD match at a major, huh?

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





Looks like the Original 9 are going to be getting "a call from Newport"...



futuristic-fonts


kosova-font
































View this post on Instagram

Thank you to the Original 9. Exactly 50 years ago today,nine of the world’s best women’s tennis players put their careers on the line in the name of equality. Their bravery changed the course of sports history. Thank you for your courage,bravery and fight for equality in our sport and for making our and many more generations careers possible.So many of us would not be here and would not have had the opportunities and careers if it wasn’t for the 9 of you. You gave us the opportunity to compete,to be recognised for our accomplishments and to make a living playing professional tennis. You certainly gave me the life,career and opportunities (and these images show just a fraction of the amazing things I was able to experience) that I would never have had the chance to have if it wasn’t for you,so thank you. Today and every day,we say....THANK YOU. #original9 @wta @billiejeanking ?????????????????????????? #equalityforall #equality #historymatters #adollarmakesadifference #tennis #sport #instatennis #instasport #tennis?? #?? #inspo #billiejeanking #inspiration #empoweringwomen #tennislife #tennislove #thankful #grateful #opportunity #career #wta #tennisaustralia #tennisplayer #fightforequality #womenstennis #womeninsport #women #womensupportingwomen

A post shared by JELENA DOKIC ???????????? (@dokic_jelena) on




View this post on Instagram

WFH? No problem! Yes, that’s a coconut ????

A post shared by Maria Sharapova (@mariasharapova) on





mf-xinghei-font


kosova-font

*MULTIPLE WTA SINGLES TITLES in 2020*
3 - Simona Halep, ROU [Dubai,Prague,Rome]
2 - Sofia Kenin, USA [Australian Open,Lyon]
2 - ELINA SVITOLINA, UKR [Monterrey,Strasbourg]

*MOST WTA FINALS in 2020*
5 - ELENA RYBAKINA, KAZ (1-4)
3 - Simona Halep, ROU (3-0)
2 - Sofia Kenin, USA (2-0)
2 - ELINA SVITOLINA< UKR (2-0)
2 - Naomi Osaka, JPN (1-0+L)
2 - Karolina Pliskova, CZE (1-1)
2 - Victoria Azarenka, BLR (0-1+W)

*MOST WTA SF in 2020*
5 - ELENA RYBAKINA, KAZ (5-0)
4 - Simona Halep, ROU (3-1)
3 - Naomi Osaka, JPN (2-1)
3 - Garbine Muguruza, ESP (1-1+L)
3 - Ash Barty, AUS (1-2)
3 - Jennifer Brady, USA (1-2)
3 - ARYNA SABALENKA, BLR (1-2)

*2020 WTA MATCH WIN LEADERS*
28 - ELENA RYBAKINA, KAZ
26 - Elise Mertens, BEL
21 - Garbine Muguruza, ESP
20 - Simona Halep, ROU
20 - Anett Kontaveit, EST

*MOST WTA DOUBLES FINALS in 2020*
5 (4-1) = Hsieh Su-Wei, TPE
5 (4-1) = Barbora Strycova, CZE
4 (2-2) = NICOLE MELICHAR, USA
3 (1-2) = Xu Yifan, CHN


**RECENT WOMEN'S SLAM WINNERS**
2018 AO: Caroline Wozniacki, DEN
2018 RG: Simona Halep, ROU
2018 WI: Angelique Kerber, GER
2018 US: Naomi Osaka, JPN
2019 AO: Naomi Osaka, JPN
2019 RG: Ash Barty, AUS
2019 WI: Simona Halep, ROU (2)
2019 US: Bianca Andreescu, CAN
2020 AO: Sofia Kenin, USA
2020 US: Naomi Osaka, JPN (3)

**ACTIVE SINGLES PLAYERS - FIRST SLAM FINAL**
1997 U.S. Open - Venus Williams
1999 U.S. Open - Serena Williams (W)
2001 Roland Garros - Kim Clijsters
2004 U.S. Open - Svetlana Kuznetsova (W)
2010 Roland Garros - Samantha Stosur
2010 Wimbledon - Vera Zvonareva
2011 Wimbledon - Petra Kvitova (W)
2012 Australian Open - Victoria Azarenka (W)
2012 Roland Garros - Sara Errani
2013 Wimbledon - Sabine Lisicki
2014 Roland Garros - Simona Halep
2014 Wimbledon - Genie Bouchard
2015 Wimbledon - Garbine Muguruza
2016 Australian Open - Angelique Kerber (W)
2016 U.S. Open - Karolina Pliskova
2017 Roland Garros - Alona Ostapenko (W)
2017 U.S. Open - Sloane Stephens (W)
2017 U.S. Open - Madison Keys
2018 U.S. Open - Naomi Osaka (W)
2019 Roland Garros - Ash Barty (W)
2019 Roland Garros - Marketa Vondrousova
2019 U.S. Open - Bianca Andreescu (W)
2020 Australian Open - Sofia Kenin (W)

**ACTIVE SINGLES PLAYERS - WON IN FIRST SLAM FINAL**
1999 U.S. Open - Serena Williams
2004 Wimbledon - Maria Sharapova
2011 Wimbledon - Petra Kvitova
2012 Australian Open - Victoria Azarenka
2016 Australian Open - Angelique Kerber
2017 Roland Garros - Alona Ostapenko
2017 U.S. Open - Sloane Stephens
2018 U.S. Open - Naomi Osaka
2019 Roland Garros - Ash Barty
2019 U.S. Open - Bianca Andreescu
2020 Australian Open - Sofia Kenin

*ROLAND GARROS #1 SEEDS*
2010 Serena Williams (QF)
2011 Caroline Wozniacki (3rd Rd.)
2012 Victoria Azarenka (4th Rd.)
2013 Serena Williams (W)
2014 Serena Williams (2nd Rd.)
2015 Serena Williams (W)
2016 Serena Williams (RU)
2017 Angelique Kerber (1st Rd.)
2018 Simona Halep (W)
2019 Naomi Osaka (3rd Rd.)
2020 Simona Halep

*RG FINALS - active*
4...Serena Williams (3-1)
3...Simona Halep (1-2)
2...Kim Clijsters (0-2)
2...Svetlana Kuznetsova (1-1)
1...Ash Barty (1-0)
1...Garbine Muguruza (1-0)
1...Alona Ostapenko (1-0)
1...Sara Errani (0-1)
1...Sloane Stephens (0-1)
1...Samantha Stosur (0-1)
1...Marketa Vondrousova (0-1)
1...Venus Williams (0-1)

*RECENT RG SEMIFINALISTS*
2010 Schiavone (W)/Stosur (RU); Dementieva/Jankovic
2011 Li (W)/Schiavone (RU); Bartoli/Sharapova
2012 Sharapova (W)/Errani (RU); Kvitova/Stosur
2013 S.Williams (W)/Sharapova (RU); Azarenka/Errani
2014 Sharapova (W)/Halep (RU); Bouchard/Petkovic
2015 S.Williams (W)/Safarova (RU); Bacsinszky/Ivanovic
2016 Muguruza (W)/S.Williams (RU); Bertens/Stosur
2017 Ostapenko (W)/Halep (RU); Ka.Pliskova/Bacsinszky
2018 Halep (W)/Stephens (RU); Muguruza/Keys
2019 Barty (W)/Vondrousova (RU); Anisimova/Konta

*UNSEEDED RG FINALISTS IN OPEN ERA*
1971 Helen Gourlay, AUS
1976 Renata Tomanova, TCH
1977 Florenta Mihal, ROU
1983 Mima Jausovec, YUG
2017 Alona Ostapenko, LAT (W)
2019 Marketa Vondrousova, CZE

*LOW-SEEDED RG SEMIFINALISTS - since 2010*
un....Kiki Bertens, 2016
un....Alona Ostapenko, 2017 (W)
un....Amanda Anisimova, 2019
un....Marketa Vondrousova, 2019 (RU)
#30...Timea Bacsinszky, 2017
#28...Andrea Petkovic, 2014
#23...Timea Bacsinszky, 2015
#21...Samantha Stosur, 2016
#21...Sara Errani, 2012 (RU)
#18...Genie Bouchard, 2014
#17...Francesca Schiavone, 2010 (W)
#13...Madison Keys, 2018
#13...Lucie Safarova, 2015 (RU)

*EARLIEST EXIT BY RG #1 SEED*
2017 1st Rd. - Angelique Kerber (lost to Ekaterina Makarova)
2004 2nd Rd. - Justine Henin (lost to Tathiana Garbin)
2014 2nd Rd. - Serena Williams (lost to Garbine Muguruza)

*MOST RG FINAL LOSSES IN CAREER, OPEN ERA*
4...Martina Navratilova (1975,1985,1986,1987)
3...Steffi Graf (1989,1990,1992)
3...Arantxa Sanchez (1991,1995,1996)
2...Kim Clijsters (2001,2003)*
2...Chris Evert (1973,1984)
2...Ann Jones *1968,1969 + 1963 pre-Open)
2...Simona Halep (2014,2017)*
2...Martina Hingis (1997,1999)
2...Mima Jausovec (1978,1983)
2...Mary Pierce (1999,2005)
2...Dinara Safina (2008,2009)
--
*-active

*ROLAND GARROS GIRLS FINALS - since 2007*
2007 Alize Cornet/FRA d. Mariana Duque-Marino/COL
2008 Simona Halep/ROU d. Elena Bogdan/ROU
2009 Kristina Mladenovic/FRA d. Dasha Gavrilova/RUS
2010 Elina Svitolina/UKR d. Ons Jabeur/TUN
2011 Ons Jabeur/TUN d. Monica Puig/PUR
2012 Annika Beck/GER d. Anna Karolina Schmiedlova/SVK
2013 Belinda Bencic/SUI d. Antonia Lottner/GER
2014 Dasha Kasatkina/RUS d. Ivana Jorovic/SRB
2015 Paula Badosa/ESP d. Anna Kalinskaya/RUS
2016 Rebeka Masarova/SUI d. Amanda Anisimova/USA
2017 Whitney Osuigwe/USA d. Claire Liu/USA
2018 Coco Gauff/USA d. Caty McNally/USA
2019 Leylah Annie Fernandez/CAN d. Emma Navarro/USA

*BEST RG GIRLS/WOMEN'S RESULTS*
[won Girls & Women's titles]
Sue Barker (1974 Jr. Champion; 1976 Women's Champion)
Jennifer Capriati (1989 Jr. Champion; 2001 Women's Champion)
Simona Halep (2008 Jr. Champion; 2018 Women's Champion)
Justine Henin (1997 Jr. Champion; 2003, '05-'07 Women's Champion)
Mima Jausovec (1973 Jr. Champion; 1977 Women's Champion)
Hana Mandlikova (1978 Jr. Champion; 1981 Women's Champion)
[others]
Renata Tomanova (1972 Jr. Champion; 1976 Women's RU)
Martina Hingis (1993-94 Jr. Champion; 1997/99 Women's RU)
Natasha Zvereva (1998 Jr. Champion; 1988 Women's RU)
Svetlana Kuznetsova (2001 Jr. RU; 2009 Women's Champion)

*FIRST-TIME SLAM CHAMPS AT ROLAND GARROS - Open era*
1971 Evonne Goolagong, AUS
1974 Chris Evert, USA
1976 Sue Barker, GBR
1977 Mima Jausovec, SLO
1978 Virginia Ruzici, ROU
1987 Steffi Graf, GER
1989 Arantxa Sanchez, ESP
1990 Monica Seles, YUG
1997 Iva Majoli, CRO
2003 Justine Henin, BEL
2004 Anastasia Myskina, RUS
2008 Ana Ivanovic, SRB
2010 Francesca Schiavone, ITA
2011 Li Na, CHN
2016 Garbine Muguruza, ESP
2017 Alona Ostapenko, LAT
2018 Simona Halep, ROU
2019 Ash Barty, AUS
--
NOTE: Ann Haydon-Jones won first career slam at '61 Roland Garros, before Open era began in '68

*BACK-TO-BACK AO/RG TITLES - Open era*
1969 Margaret Court, AUS
1970 Margaret Court, AUS
1973 Margaret Court, AUS
1980-81 Hana Mandlikova, TCH*
1988 Steffi Graf, FRG
1991 Monica Seles, YUG
1992 Monica Seles, YUG
2001 Jennifer Capriati, USA
2015 Serena Williams, USA
--
*-not in same tour season

*RECENT RG CHAMPIONS*
[Women's Doubles]
2010 Serena Williams & Venus Williams, USA/USA
2011 Andrea Hlavackova & Lucie Hradecka, CZE/CZE
2012 Sara Errani & Roberta Vinci, ITA/ITA
2013 Ekaterina Makarova & Elena Vesnina, RUS/RUS
2014 Hsieh Su-Wei & Peng Shuai, TPE/CHN
2015 Bethanie Mattek-Sands & Lucie Safarova, USA/CZE
2016 Caroline Garcia & Kristina Mladenovic, FRA/FRA
2017 Bethanie Mattek-Sands & Lucie Safarova, USA/CZE
2018 Barbora Krejcikova & Katerina Siniakova, CZE/CZE
2019 Timea Babos & Kristina Mladenovic, HUN/FRA
[Mixed Doubles]
2010 Katarina Srebotnik & Nenad Zimonjic, SLO/SRB
2011 Casey Dellacqua & Scott Lipsky, AUS/USA
2012 Sania Mirza & Mahesh Bhupathi, IND/IND
2013 Lucie Hradecka & Frantisek Cermak, CZE/CZE
2014 Anna-Lena Groenefeld & Jean-Julien Rojer, GER/NED
2015 Bethanie Mattek-Sands & Mike Bryan, USA/USA
2016 Martina Hingis & Leander Paes, SUI/IND
2017 Gaby Dabrowski & Rohan Bopanna, CAN/IND
2018 Latisha Chan & Ivan Dodig, TPE/CRO
2019 Latisha Chan & Ivan Dodig, TPE/CRO
[Girl's Doubles]
2010 Timea Babos & Sloane Stephens, HUN/USA
2011 Irina Khromacheva & Maryna Zanevska, RUS/UKR
2012 Daria Gavrilova & Irina Khromacheva, RUS/RUS
2013 Barbora Krejcikova & Katerina Siniakova, CZE/CZE
2014 Ioana Ducu & Ioana Loredana Rosca, ROU/ROU
2015 Miriam Kolodziejova & Marketa Vondrouosva, CZE/CZE
2016 Paula Arias Manjon & Olga Danilovic, ESP/SRB
2017 Bianca Andreescu & Carson Branstine, CAN/CAN
2018 Caty McNally & Iga Swiatek, USA/POL
2019 Chloe Beck & Emma Navarro, USA/USA

*RG WHEELCHAIR CHAMPIONS*
2007 Esther Vergeer, NED
2008 Esther Vergeer, NED
2009 Esther Vergeer, NED
2010 Esther Vergeer, NED
2011 Esther Vergeer, NED
2012 Esther Vergeer, NED
2013 Sabine Ellerbrock, GER
2014 Yui Kamiji, JPN
2015 Jiske Griffioen, NED
2016 Marjolein Buis, NED
2017 Yui Kamiji, JPN
2018 Yui Kamiji, JPN
2019 Diede de Groot, NED
[doubles]
2007 Maaike Smit/Esther Vergeer, NED/NED
2008 Jiske Griffioen/Esther Vergeer, NED/NED
2009 Korie Homan/Esther Vergeer, NED/NED
2010 Daniela Di Toro/Aniek van Koot, AUS/NED
2011 Esther Vergeer/Sharon Walraven, NED/NED
2012 Marjolein Buis/Esther Vergeer, NED/NED
2013 Jiske Griffioen/Aniek van Koot, NED/NED
2014 Yui Kamiji/Jordanne Whiley, JPN/GBR
2015 Jiske Griffioen/Aniek van Koot, NED/NED
2016 Yui Kamiji/Jordanne Whiley, JPN/GBR
2017 Marjolein Buis/Yui Kamiji, NED/JPN
2018 Diede de Groot/Aniek Van Koot, NED/NED
2019 Diede de Groot/Aniek Van Koot, NED/NED

**RECENT WC SLAM SINGLES FINALS**
2017 AO - #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN def. #1 Jiske Griffioen/NED
2017 RG - #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN def. Sabine Ellerbrock/GER
2017 WI - Diede de Groot/NED def. Sabine Ellerbrock/GER
2017 US - #1 Yui Kamiji/JPN def. #2 Diede de Groot/NED
2018 AO - #2 Diede de Groot/NED def. #1 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2018 RG - #1 Yui Kamiji/JPN def. #2 Diede de Groot/NED
2018 WI - #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. Aniek Van Koot/NED
2018 US - #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2019 AO - #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2019 RG - #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2019 WI - Aniek Van Koot/NED def. #1 Diede de Groot/NED
2019 US - #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN
2020 AO - #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN def. Aniek Van Koot/NED
2020 US - #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN

*FRENCH WOMEN IN RG ROUND OF 16*
[since last French finalist]
1994 Mary Pierce (RU), Julie Halard, Alexia Dechaume-Balleret
1995 Mary Pierce
1996 -
1997 Mary Pierce
1998 Sandrine Testud
1999 Julie Halard-Decugis
2000 Amelie Mauresmo, Mary Pierce
2001 Sandrine Testud
2002 Amelie Mauresmo, Mary Pierce
2003 Amelie Mauresmo
2004 Amelie Mauresmo
2005 Mary Pierce
2006 Amelie Mauresmo
2007 Marion Bartoli
2008 -
2009 Virginie Razzano, Aravane Rezai
2010 -
2011 Marion Bartoli
2012 -
2013 -
2014 Pauline Parmentier
2015 Alize Cornet
2016 -
2017 Alize Cornet, Caroline Garcia, Kristina Mladenovic
2018 Caroline Garcia
2019 -

**SLAM TITLES AFTER AGE 30**
10..Serena Williams, USA (age 30-35)*
3...Martina Navratilova, USA (age 30-33)
3...Margaret Court, AUS (age 30-31)
2...Billie Jean King, USA (age 30 & 31)
2...Chris Evert, USA (age 30 & 31)
1...Flavia Pennetta, ITA (age 33)
1...Virginia Wade. GBR (age 31)
1...Ann Haydon Jones, GBR (age 30)
1...Angelique Kerber, GER (age 30)*
--
*-active

**OLDEST WOMEN'S SINGLES SLAM CHAMPIONS - OPEN ERA**
Serena Williams (35y/125) - 2017 Australian
Serena Williams (34/283) - 2016 Wimbledon
Serena Williams (33/285) - 2015 Wimbledon
Martina Navratilova (33/263) - 1990 Wimbledon
Serena Williams (33/254) - 2015 Roland Garros
Flavia Pennetta (33/201) - 2015 U.S. Open
Serena Williams (33/127) - 2015 Australian

**OLDEST WOMEN'S SINGLES SLAM FINALISTS**
Serena Williams (37,347d) - lost '19 US to Andreescu
Serena Williams (37,291d) - lost '19 WI to Halep
Martina Navratilova (37y,258d) — lost '94 WI to C.Martinez
Venus Williams (37,28d) - lost '17 WI to Muguruza
Serena Williams (36/347) - lost '18 US to Osaka
Serena Williams (36/291) - lost '18 WI to Kerber
Venus Williams (36/226) — lost '17 AO to S.Williams
Serena Williams (35/125) — '17 AO, def. V.Williams

**OLDEST FIRST-TIME SLAM CHAMPS**
33y,199d - Flavia Pennetta, 2015 U.S. Open
29y,346d - Francesca Schiavone, 2010 Roland Garros
29y,275d - Jana Novotna, 1998 Wimbledon
29y,154d - Kerry Melville-Reid, 1977 Australian Open
29y,98d - Li Na, 2011 Roland Garros
28y,277d - Marion Bartoli, 2013 Wimbledon
28y,12d - Angelique Kerber, 2016 Australian Open
27y,200d - Caroline Wozniacki, 2018 Australian Open
26y,255d - Simona Halep, 2018 Roland Garros
26y,207d - Amelie Mauresmo, 2006 Australian Open
26y,165d - Samantha Stosur, 2011 U.S. Open

**MOST SLAMS BEFORE FIRST TITLE**
49 - Flavia Pennetta (2015 U.S. Open)
47 - Marion Bartoli (2013 Wimbledon)
45 - Jana Novotna (1998 Wimbledon)
43 - Caroline Wozniacki (2018 Australian Open)
39 - Francesca Schiavone (2010 Roland Garros)
34 - Samantha Stosur (2011 U.S. Open)
33 - Angelique Kerber (2016 Australian Open)
32 - Simona Halep (2018 Roland Garros)
32 - Amelie Mauresmo (2006 Australian Open)

**RECENT FIRST-TIME SLAM CHAMPS AND RESULT AT NEXT MAJOR**
2010 Francesca Schiavone (RG): Wimbledon 1st
2011 Li Na (RG): Wimbledon 2nd
2011 Petra Kvitova (WI): U.S. 1st
2011 Samantha Stosur (US): Australian 1st
2012 Victoria Azarenka (AO): Roland Garros 4th
2013 Marion Bartoli (WI): DNP/retired
2015 Flavia Pennetta (US): DNP/retired
2016 Angelique Kerber (AO): Roland Garros 1st
2016 Garbine Muguruza (RG): Wimbledon 2nd
2017 Alona Ostapenko (RG): Wimbledon QF
2017 Sloane Stephens (US): Australian 1st
2018 Caroline Wozniacki (AO): Roland Garros 4th
2018 Simona Halep (RG): Wimbledon 3rd
2018 Naomi Osaka (US): Australian W
2019 Ash Barty (RG): Wimbledon 4th
2019 Bianca Andreescu (US): injured/DNP 2020
2020 Sofia Kenin (AO): U.S. Open 4th

**TEEN SLAM CHAMPS - since 1997**
1997 Martina Hingis, 16 (AO)*
1997 Iva Majoli, 19 (RG)*
1997 Martina Hingis, 16 (WI)
1997 Martina Hingis, 16 (US)
1998 Martina Hingis, 17 (AO)
1999 Martina Hingis, 18 (AO)
1999 Serena Williams, 17 (US)*
2004 Maria Sharapova, 17 (WI)*
2004 Svetlana Kuznetsova, 19 (US)*
2006 Maria Sharapova, 19 (US)
2019 Bianca Andreescu, 19 (AO)*
--
* - first-time slam winner

**BIGGEST AGE DIFFERENCE IN SLAM FINAL**
18y,263 - Andreescu (19) d. S.Williams (37) = '19 U.S.
17y,45d - Seles (17) d. Navratilova (34) = '91 U.S.
16y,20d - Osaka (20) d. S.Williams (36) = '18 U.S.
15y,180d - Martinez (22) d. Navratilova (37) = '94 WI
14y,175d - Graf (18) d. Evert (33) = '88 AO
13y,113d - Muguruza (23) d. V.Williams (37) = '17 WI

**LOW RANKED IN SLAM FINAL - Open era**
NR - Evonne Goolagong, 1977 Australian (W)
NR - Kim Clijsters, 2009 US Open (W)
NR - Justine Henin, 2010 Australian
#181 - Serena Williams, 2018 Wimbledon
#111 - Chris O'Neil, 1978 Australian (W)
#83 - Sloane Stephens, 2017 US Open (W)
#81 - Serena Williams, 2007 Australian (W)
#78 - Betsy Nagelson, 1978 Australian
#68 - Barbara Jordan, 1979 Australian (W)
#66 - Venus Williams. 1997 US Open

**FIRST-TIME SLAM SEMIFINALISTS SINCE 2013**
=2013=
AO: Sloane Stephens/USA
RG: -
WI: Kirsten Flipkens/BEL
US: Flavia Pennetta/ITA
=2014=
AO: Genie Bouchard/CAN
RG: Simona Halep/ROU (RU), Andrea Petkovic/GER
WI: Lucie Safarova/CZE
US: Ekatarina Makarova/RUS, Peng Shuai/CHN
=2015=
AO: Madison Keys/USA
RG: Timea Bacsinszky/SUI
WI: Garbine Muguruza/ESP (RU)
US: Roberta Vinci/ITA (RU)
=2016=
AO: Johanna Konta/GBR
RG: Kiki Bertens/NED
WI: Elena Vesnina/RUS
US: Karolina Pliskova/CZE (RU)
=2017=
AO: CoCo Vandeweghe/USA
RG: Alona Ostapenko/LAT (W)
WI: Magdalena Rybarikova/SVK
US: -
=2018=
AO: Elise Mertens/BEL
RG: -
WI: Julia Goerges/GER
US: Naomi Osaka/JPN (W), Anastasija Sevastova/LAT
=2019=
AO: Danielle Collins/USA
RG: Amanda Anisimova/USA, Ash Barty/AUS (W), Marketa Vondrousova/CZE (RU)
WI: Barbora Strycova/CZE, Elina Svitolina/UKR
US: Bianca Andreescu/USA (W), Belinda Bencic/SUI
=2020=
AO: Sofia Kenin/USA (W)
US: Jennifer Brady/USA

**CAREER SLAM #1 SEEDS - active**
20...Serena Williams
6...SIMONA HALEP
3...Victoria Azarenka
3...Angelique Kerber
2...Ash Barty
2...Naomi Osaka
2...Karolina Pliskova
1...Venus Williams

**EARLIEST EXIT BY SLAM #1**
[pre-Open era]
1962 Wimbledon 1st Rd. - Margaret Court (lost to Billie Jean Moffitt)
[Open era]
1979 Australian Open 1st Rd. - Virginia Ruzici (lost to Mary Sawyer)
1994 Wimbledon 1st Rd. - Steffi Graf (lost to Lori McNeil)
1999 Wimbledon 1st Rd. - Martina Hingis (lost to Jelena Dokic)
2001 Wimbledon 1st Rd. - Martina Hingis (lost to Virginia Ruano Pascual)
2017 Roland Garros 1st Rd. - Angelique Kerber (lost to Ekaterina Makarova)
2018 US Open 1st Rd. - Simona Halep (lost to Kaia Kanepi)

**RECENT SLAM JUNIOR CHAMPS**
[2017]
AO: Marta Kostyuk, UKR
RG: Whitney Osuigwe, USA
WI: Claire Liu, USA
US: Amanda Anisimova, USA
[2018]
AO: Liang En-shuo, TPE
RG: Coco Gauff, USA
WI: Iga Swiatek, POL
US: Wang Xiyu, CHN
[2019]
AO: Clara Tauson, DEN
RG: Leylah Annie Fernandez, CAN
WI: Daria Snigur, UKR
US: Maria Camila Osorio Serrano, COL
[2020]
AO: Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva, AND
US: DNP



futuristic-fonts


kosova-font

Don't give you-know-who any new ideas.



kosova-font



kosova-font



kosova-font



kosova-font



kosova-font



kosova-font



kosova-font





Be Safe.
All for now.

posted by Todd.Spiker @ 2:39 PM 

3 Comments:

Blogger colt13 said...

The Original 9 seem to be gaining momentum. HOF seems realistic.

Ouch. Did Haas do that bad vs Azarenka last month?

10 On the Up Side-Under the Lights Edition.

1.Halep- Overwhelming favorite. 34-6 on clay the last 3 years. For comparison, 2012-14 Sharapova- 55-5. May face 2 of those six in Anisimova, who is not in form, and Vondrousova, who might be.
2.Muguruza- The one thing that worries me, is that she also seems to be everybody's second favorite. Like Halep, going for her 3rd slam. Former winner not in Australia form, but may not need to be.
3.Stephens- I hear laughter. That's ok. When she played Muguruza recently, her offense was the best it has looked since her French Open run two years ago. And with a good draw, if she can win one match, she can win 4 or 5. Defensively, still a sieve, so that will be the reason she eventually loses. I don't see her this way, but know this- since the beginning of 2019, she has only been QF or better in 3 events, Charleston, Madrid, and Roland Garros. 3 clay events.
4.Ferro- 2014 Bouchard won right before Roland Garros. 2017 Ostapenko reached Charleston final. 2019 Vondrousova beat Halep on clay. If you are looking for a deep run, why not Ferro? Mertens, Kontaveit, and Rybakina also meet the standard of having reached a post pandemic clay final, but Ferro is on home soil. The red flag is her health.
5.Blinkova- Her mission is to reach the 4th rd. One of the most solid players since the restart, she has only ever been to the 3rd rd of a slam once. Last year's RG.
6.Qualifiers- The fact that they are match tough compared to some others means that more than half could win their first match. One might even make the 4th rd, which has happened 2 of the last 3 years, with Martic in 2017, and Bolsova last year. Players from Mexico, Egypt, Argentina, and Austria are in. Plus a shoutout for Denmark, as Tauson did something that Wozniacki never did in qualifying for a slam. Her rise was so quick that she only played Q once, Wimbledon WC 2006, then got MD WC there the next year, and never looked back.
7.Konta- Moves better on clay than any other surface. Believe it or not, slight favorite over Gauff. Gauff has been hot and cold since the restart, assume the veteran can handle the possibly wet conditions better.
8.Siniakova- With Krejcikova playing different tournaments, Siniakova has rediscovered the singles play which once made her look like a future Top 20 player. The most aggressive slider on clay, her groundstrokes have been dialed in. Darkhorse for an upset.
9.Azarenka- Finally has a seed at a slam. First since she was the 5 seed here back in 2016. More importantly, it buys her time as she hasn't beat a seed here since 2013 QF-Kirilenko.
10.Strycova- Gets final seed due to Bencic pull out. But this is about doubles, where she could possibly, along with Hsieh, pass the 10,000 pt mark. They will stay 1/2.

Sat Sep 26, 03:25:00 PM EDT  
Blogger colt13 said...

10 On the Down Side.

1.Bertens- Did not look good during exhibitions, and doesn't look good now. Puts pressure on herself at this slam, but realistically, there should be 20 women in front of her. Even Grumpy Kiki can win a round, but that attitude where she can't get out of her own head will send her home sooner than later.
2.Ostapenko- Won 7 matches to win this back in 2017. Hasn't won 7 matches on clay since. That is a lie, though that was true until Strasbourg, when she picked up wins 7 & 8. If Pliskova's back is wonky, Alona's spray the ball around technique may work to her advantage. Like Stephens, getting one win may get her 4 or 5.
3.Goerges/Riske- One has to win. Both had struggles during exhibitions, and have struggled with restart. Both should shut it down until 2021.
4.Teichmann- Winner of the worst draw goes to Teichmann. Slight underdog to Begu. If she win, she gets Halep. That would actually be an improvement, as she is looking for her first MD win after losing in qualifying the last 3 years.
5.Rybakina- Hasn't had a Top 30 win since the restart. Another player needing to get their first MD win. So no miracle run to the final expected, but this week was a good reset.
6.Fernandez- Junior champ follows the same playbook of 2019 Andreescu, and ironically, 2021, with having little matchplay on clay at the upper levels. In fact, this will be her first WTA MD on clay. To speed up learning curve, she is the only non French player to get doubles WC, out of 14.
7.Gauff- Hurt by not having a regular clay season, and one of the reasons I think coaching comes back next year. A number of players have struggled, but it is the 18 and under set that could use the coaching in regular tournaments.
8.Hercog- Has the talent to make QF run. Unfortunately, she uses the prevent defense method when in front, and refuses to go for anything. In a close match, she needs players to gift her points.
9.Matttek-Sands- 1-4 since restart, and no back to back wins since Dubai. At the point where she isn't elite in doubles anymore.
10.Sabalenka- Was going to put Muchova here, as her injury takes her from a SF darkhorse, to questionable to play. But eyebrows are raised, as Sabalenka has another good week before a slam. Will it be as good as 2018, when she won Connecticut, then played Osaka in an exciting USO match, or will she fail to reach the second week. Again!

Sat Sep 26, 03:48:00 PM EDT  
Blogger Todd.Spiker said...

I'd laugh at Stephens (kidding, I think), but her draw *is* conducive to doing something interesting. Hmmm.

If *she* doesn't take advantage of the draw down there, someone else might. I could see this slam's first-time slam semifinalist coming from the combined "Czech sections" (Kvitova/Pliskova the top seds) of the draw.

Sun Sep 27, 02:30:00 PM EDT  

Post a Comment

<< Home