W.1- Kvitova Comes Tumbling Down
Kvitova had already been more productive at all the other slams since her most recent Ladies championship seven years ago, reaching at least the final eight at all three while never doing so in her last five trips to the All-England Club. She was the '19 Australian Open finalist, and played in last year's Roland Garros semis. In her career, she's only failed to crack the final four at the U.S. Open, often played in the sort of summer heat that works against her asthma. But Kvitova has still posted multiple final eight results in New York in recent years. As the #10 seed at this year's Wimbledon, the Czech was looking to turn around a 3r-2r-2r-1r SW19 that was finally somewhat remedied two years ago when she reached her first Round of 16 in London since her title runs. But while she continues to profess a love for grass court tennis and this very tournament, even with what was immediately recognized as a bad draw (though it seemed even *worse* for Stephens, whose *only* second week run at Wimbledon came in '13) and with the Czech acknowledging before the start of play a sore ankle during her week in Germany, this early 6-3/6-4 loss has to be viewed as a huge step (or two) back in the overall picture of her SW19 career simply because it carries on what has now become a downward trend.
An impressive performance ??@SloaneStephens defeats two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova 6-3, 6-4 to reach the second round #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/LlWiAptOQz
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 28, 2021
In some ways, Kvitova has morphed into the latest version of Maria Sharapova, who rose to initial fame at the All-England Club with a title in '04 as a teenager but eventually saw the tournament become effectively her "worst" major in the back half of her career. In the Russian's case, a shoulder injury and an inability to rely on her serve played a large part in the transformation. The first player born in the 1990s to win a major title, Kvitova nearly lost the function of her racket hand in a knife attack in December '16, but any lingering issues there haven't prevented her from winning titles on multiple surfaces or going on deep second week run at the other majors. Wimbledon, it seems, has become her toughest obstacle. Kvitova is surely a future Hall of Famer, and one of the most beloved players of her generation (by fans and foes alike), but she's never *fully* lived up to her early promise. She's come up a match short on multiple occasions of reaching #1, hasn't collected a major title at a second different slam (making her near-miss in Melbourne two years ago so frustrating), and never even quite became the dominant force at Wimbledon that she seemed destined to be when she won her maiden SW19 crown a decade ago. Her place in the game's history is secure, but her "chapter space" appears as if it'll be far smaller than her tour times seemed capable of occupying when we first began to hear "Pojd!" ring out from courts all around the world.
Meanwhile, after looking lost and with little hope of finding her way back to relevance earlier this year, Stephens continues to point her nose upward toward potentially greater things after a training trip to Florida and a reinvigorating clay season that ended with a Round of 16 result at Roland Garros. Assuming Kvitova's seeded position in the draw, perhaps *she* might have still more major career storyline territory to stake out this fortnight, or at the very over what remains of this summer. After all, Sloane's done it before.
First win of The Championships 2021 belongs to @SabalenkaA ?
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 28, 2021
The No.2 seed defeats Monica Niculescu 6-1, 6-4#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/MIYHb7RaQZ
With rain further delaying the start of play on the outer courts on the first day of on-site action in the tournament since 2019, Sabalenka and qualifier Monica Niculescu (in her 13th consecutive SW19 MD) for a while were the *only* players in action on the AELTC grounds. Tucked safely under the Court 1 roof, Sabalenka raced to a 5-0 1st set lead on the Romanian and rolled to a 6-1/6-4 victory. It's only the Belarusian's second MD win at Wimbledon, and her first since 2017.
Sabalenka: I was really nervous to open Wimbledon and also be first playing on first court. I was nervous a little bit because I haven't play on the stadiums at Wimbledon. Really happy that I won that match. The atmosphere there was unbelievable. Yeah, I was enjoy it." pic.twitter.com/eDCE8m70jf
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) June 28, 2021
Unfortunately for Niculescu, while she hasn't missed a date for a Wimbledon 1st Round since 2007, and failed to play in at least the qualifying of all but three majors since the start of the '08 season, she's won just one match in her last nine slam MD appearances (and is just 3-13 from 2017-21). ...meanwhile, #11 Garbine Muguruza, a significant threat to win another Wimbledon title if she's fully healthy (which she wasn't throughout the clay season after having gotten off to a blazing start on hard courts), looked ready for bear in her opener against Fiona Ferro, allowing the Pastry just one game.
#23 Madison Keys hit her way through Katie Swan, who last week became the first British woman to successfully make her way through Wimbledon qualifying in over two decades, with a 6-3/6-4 victory. Keys' SW19 career began with an impressive 3r-3r-QF-4r stretch, but she's failed to advance past the 3rd Round in any of her last three appearances. ...Svetlana Kuznetsova's series of slam cameo appearances added another to the growing collection in London, as the four-time Wimbledon quarterfinalist fell in the 1st Round to qualifier Lesley Pattinama Kerkhove on Monday. The 29-year old Dutch woman picks up her first career slam win. It's the Russian's third straight opening round exit at SW19, and her ninth in her last eleven slam appearances. Kuznetsova's 71 slam main draws are third all-time in tour history, ranking behind only the totals of Venus (90) and Serena (79) Williams, who are scheduled to make their '21 debuts on Day 2.
Also winning her maiden slam MD watch was qualifier Maria Camila Osorio Serrano, who previously made her slam MD debut last month at Roland Garros. The 19-year old Colombian prevailed over fellow qualifier Anna Kalinskaya 1-6/6-0/6-4 on Monday.
...aside from Kvitova, #29 Veronika Kudermetova was the only other women's seed to fall in the sixteen matches completed on Day 2. After losing in the 2nd Round in Paris to Katerina Siniakova after having held a 5-1 3rd set lead and two MP, the Russian today lost a 2:45 battle with Swiss Viktorija Golubic after having been within two points of victory at 7-6, 8-7 and 9-8 in the 3rd set. Kudermetova saved two MP and then broke Golubic when she served for the match at 5-4, only to ultimately be bested in the closing games as Golubic rallied to win 3-6/6-1/11-9. The Swiss reached the 3rd Round at SW19 two years ago. This was Golubic's 40th match win (in 52 matches) across all levels in '21. ...in the final match in action on Monday, lucky loser Kristie Ahn battled to push Heather Watson -- the top-ranked home player with #25-seed Johanna Konta's eleventh hour withdrawal due to having to enter COVID quarantine -- to a 3rd set, winning a 7-3 TB that led to the Court 1 roof being closed. In the deciding set, Watson led 4-2. After the Bannerette had knotted the match, the Brit broke back and served for the win at 5-4, holding a MP. But Ahn broke her once again. Watson held from 5-6, but saw her time run out when Ahn got the match-ending break to win 2-6/7-6(3)/8-6.
From Lucky Loser to the second round of #Wimbledon ??
— wta (@WTA) June 28, 2021
???? @kristieahn outlasts ???? Watson in a tight three-set battle, 2-6, 7-6(3), 8-6! pic.twitter.com/rPhFeLxxqN
Wild card Katie Boulter was the only British woman to win today (def. qualifier Danielle Lao in three) of the four who were in action. Fellow wild cards Emma Raducanu, Francesca Jones, Harriet Dart and Samantha Murray Sharan are still to play.
...WIMBLEDON SOCIAL MEDIA TEAM BEING ON IT FROM DAY 1:
Today, our gates are open ??#WimbledonThing pic.twitter.com/ePQ6URnMqQ
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 28, 2021
...LIKE ON DAY 1+50:
...TECHNOLOGY DUNKING ON THE COMPETITION... ON DAY 1:
Why did I just get this email ???????????? missing ?@Wimbledon? so much!! pic.twitter.com/qpwKhTtrU3
— Genie Bouchard (@geniebouchard) June 28, 2021
...WELL, I'M SURE HE'LL DO THE RIGHT THING NOW... ON DAY 1:
Former VP Al Gore on his message to Donald Trump: "I would say please do the right thing. Acknowledge reality. Stop hurting this country. Stop undermining democracy." pic.twitter.com/8BI4tud29P
— The Hill (@thehill) June 28, 2021
...LIKE ON DAY 1:
...IF ANYONE TRIES TO CONNECT THIS TO OSAKA I SAY WE INSURRECT (no?)... ON DAY 1:
Serena Williams, a 4-time gold medalist, says she will skip the 2020 Tokyo Olympicshttps://t.co/5YR7oLKuAo
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) June 27, 2021
I mean, some people tried to tie Nadal's withdrawal from Wimbledon and the Olympics to Osaka (rather than, you know, a 35-year old player trying to avoid wearing down and keeping his *best* slam prospects in play, as he's done in the past), so...
First Rafael Nadal and now Serena Williams withdraw from the Olympic games in Japan. Is this a result of the Naomi Osaka’s effect??
— Fernando (@Fernand1094) June 27, 2021
Another big tennis name out of Tokyo: Simona Halep.
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) June 28, 2021
Mihai Covaliu, president of Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee, announced that the injured Halep will not be participating in Tokyo Olympics, for which she had been set to be Romania's flag bearer.https://t.co/SJEjthzVTi
Wimbledon whites, Tiger attitude. pic.twitter.com/mroxyMTTTo
— Jimmie48 Photography (@JJlovesTennis) June 28, 2021
The last time ???? @iga_swiatek played on No.1 Court...#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/IX3jwuPVIR
— wta (@WTA) June 28, 2021
=AO=
Olga Danilovic, SRB
Liudmila Samsonova, RUS
Mayar Sherif, EGY
Nina Stojanovic, SRB
=RG=
Hailey Baptiste, USA
Tereza Martincova, CZE
Harmony Tan, FRA
=WI=
Lesley Pattinama Kerkhove, NED
Maria Camila Osorio Serrano, COL
*RECENT FIRST-TIME SLAM CHAMPS AND NEXT MAJOR RESULT*
2008 Ana Ivanovic (RG): Wimbledon 3rd
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): retired
2015 Flavia Pennetta (US): retired
2016 Angelique Kerber (AO): Roland Garros 1st
2016 Garbine Muguruza (WI): 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): DNP 2020; Australian 2nd
2020 Sofia Kenin (AO): U.S. 4th
2020 Iga Swiatek (RG): Australian 4th
2021 Barbora Krejcikova (RG): Wimbledon ??
*WIMBLEDON "FIRST SEED OUT"*
2005 #10 Patty Schnyder, SUI (Ant.Serra-Zanetta/ITA)
2006 #28 Sofia Arvidsson, SWE (Birnerova/CZE)
2007 #30 Olga Puchkova, RUS (Vesnina/RUS)
2008 #30 Dominika Cibulkova, SVK (J.Zheng/CHN)
2009 #23 Aleksandra Wozniak, CAN (Schiavone/ITA)
2010 #5 Francesca Schiavone, ITA (Dushevina/RUS)
2011 #22 Shahar Peer, ISR (Pervak/RUS)
2012 #16 Flavia Pennetta, ITA (Giorgi/ITA)
2013 #5 Sara Errani, ITA (Puig/PUR)
2014 #17 Samantha Stosur, AUS (Wickmayer/BEL)
2015 #24 Flavia Pennetta, ITA (Diyas/KAZ)
2016 #25 Irina-Camelia Begu, ROU (Witthoeft/GER)
2017 #31 Roberta Vinci, ITA (Kr.Pliskova/CZE)
2018 #19 Magdalena Rybarikova, SVK (Cirstea/ROU)
2019 #10 Aryna Sabalenka, BLR (Rybarikova/SVK)
2021 #10 Petra Kvitova, CZE (Stephens/USA)
*WIMBLEDON "FIRST VICTORY OF THE FORTNIGHT"*
2009 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova/RUS (L: Cetkovska/CZE)
2010 Chan Yung-Jan/TPE (L: Schnyder/SUI)
2011 Kimiko Date-Krumm/JPN (L: O'Brien/GBR)
2012 Samantha Stosur/AUS (L: Suarez-Navarro/ESP)
2013 Lesia Tsurenko/UKR (L: Arruabarrena/ESP)
2014 Elena Vesnina/RUS (L: Mayr-Achleitner/AUT)
2015 Victoria Azarenka/BLR (L: Kontaveit/EST)
2016 Dasha Kasatkina/RUS (L: Duval/USA)
2017 Wang Qiang/CHN (L: Chang/TPE)
2018 Yanina Wickmayer/BEL (L: Barthel/GER)
2019 Madison Keys/USA (L: Kumkhum/THA)
2021 Aryna Sabalenka/BLR (L: Niculescu/ROU)
[2018]
Barbora Krejcikova, CZE
...Brno-born; wins WD title in first Wimbledon since ex-coach Novotna's death
Nicole Melichar, USA
...born in Brno, CZE (like Jana); wins MX title in first Wimbledon since death
Donna Vekic, CRO
..."Good Donna"
[2019]
Donna Vekic, CRO
..."Bad Donna"
[2020]
RG Special: Barbora Krejcikova, CZE
...to RG 3rd Rd. (Oct.) on Novotna's 52nd birthday; dedicates to Jana
[2021]
RG Special: Barbora Krejcikova, CZE
...wins maiden slam singles crown w/ Jana as inspiration; also wins WD
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 = won Wimbledon Jr. title
2021 =event being held this week=
TOP EARLY-ROUND (1r-2r): xx
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): xx
TOP LATE-ROUND (SF-F): xx
TOP QUALIFYING MATCH: Q3 - Lesley Pattinama Kerhkove/NED def. Jule Niemeier/GER 6-4/2-6/9-7 (saved 2 MP)
TOP EARLY-RD. MATCH (1r-2r): xx
TOP MIDDLE-RD. MATCH (3r-QF): xx
TOP LATE-RD. MATCH (SF-F/Jr.-WC): xx
=============================
FIRST VICTORY: Aryna Sabalenka/BLR (def. Niculescu - first official match at AELTC in 715 days)
FIRST SEED OUT: #10 Petra Kvitova/CZE (1st Rd.-Stephens)
FIRST SLAM MD WINS: Day 1 wins: Lesley Pattinama Kerkhove/NED, Maria Camila Osorio Serrano/COL
UPSET QUEENS: xx
REVELATION LADIES: xx
NATION OF POOR SOULS: xx
LAST QUALIFIER STANDING: Day 1 wins: Kerkhove, Osorio Serrano (LL win: Ahn)
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: Day 1 wins: Boulter
PROTECTED RANKING WINS: Day 1 wins: none
LAST BRIT STANDING: Day 1 wins: Boulter
Ms./Miss OPPORTUNITY: xx
IT "...": xx
COMEBACK PLAYER: xx
CRASH & BURN: Nominee: #10 Kvitova (1r-Stephens; second 1r loss in 3 app.)
ZOMBIE QUEEN OF LONDON (early-round): Nominee: Ahn (LL; 1r saved MP vs. Watson)
ZOMBIE QUEEN OF LONDON (mid/late-round): xx
DOUBLES STAR: xx
VETERAN PLAYER (KIMIKO CUP): xx
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: xx
SPIRIT OF JANA (NOVOTNA) HONOREES: xx
RAD REMEMBRANCE DAY malevolent activity notes...
June 26 official: all quiet, but on 25th Ula Radwanska loses in final qualifying round and on 27th top-ranked Brit Konta w/d due to COVID protocols
Day 3 observed: xx
posted by Todd.Spiker @ 6:47 PM
4 Comments:
It was so hard to watch Petra go out. As is often the case with watching Petra, I frequently had to avert my eyes from the screen :'-(
Ostapenko is up to 34, probable US Open seed.
Players that get knocked out early have options. Next week, Hamburg has a 250 event, while Bastad is 125K. Both are on clay.
Even with Tsitsipas out, it doesn't feel like the event started yet.
TV must be mad. There was a roof, but no play because of a 2 1/2 hr later start.
Like the gates opening tweet. Very creative.
Sabalenka and Swiatek got through. That was the main thing, as it is for everyone.
Stat of the Day- 40- Wins for Carling Bassett in 1984.
Ironically, I was actually looking to figure out who had the best Canadian season- Genie Bouchard 2014 or Bianca Andreescu 2019. Bassett comes in 3rd, but deserves more notice. Why? Let's compare all 3.
Rank at beginning of career year:
20- Bassett
31- Bouchard
152-Andreescu
Rank at end of year:
6- Bouchard
6- Andreescu
12-Bassett
Wins:
44- Bouchard
42- Andreescu*
40- Bassett
Andreescu also had 5 125K wins.
Losses:
8- Andreescu
20-Bassett
24-Bouchard
Bassett had 8 losses to Top 3 in Evert/Navratilova/Mandlikova.
Titles:
3-Andreescu*
1-Bouchard
0-Bassett
*Andreescu also won 125K
Finals losses:
2-Bouchard
1-Bassett
1-Andreescu
SF:
5- Bassett
3- Bouchard
1- Andreescu
QF:
4- Bassett
2- Bouchard
1- Andreescu
Slams:
SF-SF-F-R16- Bouchard
QF-R32_SF-R64-Bassett
R64-R64-X-W- Andreescu
Bassett's numbers are F-W-US-AO, which leads up to the best Bassett number,
WTAF:
1-1 Bassett
0-2 Andreescu
0-3 Bouchard
This is the one that points out how special this year was. 37 years later, Bassett is the only singles player to have won a match at the finals.
She won a match in 84, but also made the field in 85 and 86, giving her the most appearances for a Canadian. Surprisingly, neither Bouchard or Andreescu is second. That would be Helen Kelesi, who made it in 1988 and 89 when it was a 16 player field.
D-
Her Wimbledon career trajectory has to rank as one of the more surprising in recent memory. Everyone really thought she might dominate the event (nope), or at least develop a big rivalry there with Serena (nope). Not that two titles is anything to sneeze at, mind you. She's just turned out to be more of a comet streaming (pojding?) by the AELTC than the eclipse we all thought she'd embody.
C-
Another player from that general era that is mostly overlooked now is Zina Garrison. Looking at her career numbers (S/D/MX + Olympics) always tends to jog my memory about how much she actually did *before* Venus & Serena arrived, but she's *never* talked about anymore. :/
I saw Zina play in at least one (maybe two, don’t remember) Virginia Slims events. She was a big deal at the time, and it puzzles me also, how rarely she’s mentioned.
And I’ll probably never get over Petra’s 2019 AO loss. We all knew that she could win in Melbourne, amd when she got as far as the final and then lost—what a blow.
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