Sunday, September 05, 2021

US.6- Northern Re-Exposure

Don't look now, but St.Bibi of the North might just be stirring once again. After nearly two years of troubles, could 2019 U.S. Open champ Bianca Andreescu have rediscovered her safe space at Flushing Meadows?



Two seasons ago, Andreescu became a star. Finally staying healthy (enough) to put together a relatively full season (though even '19 saw her miss months with a shoulder ailment, then ended with a knee injury), the Canadian stunned the tennis world with her title run in Indian Wells, returned to action after her injury break to win in Toronto, and then carried her momentum to and through the Open, defeating Serena Williams in the final to take her maiden slam in just her fourth career MD appearance in a major.

Since then, everything has been a trial. Andreescu injured her knee in the WTA Finals, then saw that injury, another one, and Covid conspire to cost her the *entire* 2020 season. On the whole, 2021, which saw her finally return after fifteen months away from tour, has only been marginally better, and racked with questions. She's contracted Covid, changed coaches (moving on from Sylvain Bruneau to her current try-out with Sven Groeneveld), missed more time with injury, had a hard time finding her game when she has managed to be healthy enough to play, and been a virtual afterthought during the slam season prior to arriving in New York, going 1-3 in Melbourne, Paris and London. There was that intriguing March run (with wins over Mugururza and Sakkari) to the Miami final early in her comeback but, alas, it ended (what else?) via retirement. Nothing has gone smoothy since.

When Andreescu stepped onto the court in the 1st Round earlier this week, she'd gone just 4-6 over the previous five months. She barely escaped with a win under the lights on Ashe -- the site of her greatest accomplishments -- against Viktorija Golubic. But she flashed the "knowing how to win" gene that served her so well two years ago, and that was no small thing. It was a start, but to think it might be something more than that, at least for this tournament, seemed a step (way) too far.

But that may be changing, as with each round Andreescu has been heating up significantly, gaining confidence and, slowly but surely, getting back a bit of her past champion's glow and game (the confounding -- for opponents -- variety has been a lagging accomplice, but it'll surely arrive in full in good order), not to mention getting off the court in a more efficient manner. She allowed just eight games to Lauren Davis in the 2nd Round, and today against lucky loser Greet Minnen she never allowed the Belgian an opportunity to dream. Andreescu won 6-1/6-2 in a little more than an hour, putting in as little toil as necessary on this U.S. Labor Day weekend.



If Andreescu is going to catch a wind behind her back and take an exciting ride, this tournament would surely seem personally best suited to play host to it. Today's 3rd Round victory improves her U.S. Open record to 10-0 (she's 3-5 in the other slams), and she's gone 45-4 on all levels on North American soil back to 2018 (w/ two of the losses coming via retirement). Next up will be Maria Sakkari, the same Greek she defeated en route to the Miami final earlier this season, as the Canadian (one of two in the Open final 16, a first) seeks to try to pick up where she left off. From both "the last time," as well as the "time before that"... before everything went haywire.

Andreescu has provided ample evidence that she can emerge from the shadows of inactivity, play her way into an event, and bloom in full form down the stretch of said tournament, taking down all in her path until there are no more, even if she'd given no forewarning that such a thing was likely before the festivities began. She's not there yet, but if she can find her way through a couple more rounds, well, *that* storyline just might float to the top of the possibility file.

Stay tuned in Week 2 to find out.






=DAY 6 NOTES=
...while North American women's tennis has thrived at this U.S. Open, it's been the rackets of the Canadians that have been golden, not those of the Bannerettes.

Things immediately got off to a bad start for the home contingent with Serena Williams, Sofia Kenin and Jennifer Brady -- all slam semifinalists or better during the last two seasons -- pulled out of the event, while the depth of the women's draw saw the three remaining women's seeds from the U.S. exit earlier than they might have otherwise. #21 Coco Gauff (who lost to former champ Sloane Stephens in the 2nd Rd.), #26 Danielle Collins (hit off the court on Night 5 by #2 Aryna Sabalenka) and #23 Jessie Pegula (who fell today to the Olympic champ, #11 Belinda Bencic) all failed to reach the Round of 16. Amanda Anisimova nearly upset #4 Karolina Pliskova the other night, but the Czech pulled through late.

Thus, the Bannerettes' last chance for Round of 16 representation fell on the shoulders of Shelby Rogers when she went up against world #1 Ash Barty on Saturday night. Her exit would mean, four years after all four semifinalists hailed from the U.S., none would reach the women's 4th Round for the first time in the 141-year history of the tournament, and it'd happen for the first time in a major since the 2014 Wimbledon.

After a quick start in which she won the 1st set 6-2, Rogers seems on her way out and history would be made. Barty, seemingly overcoming the first week, post-Cincinnati title run "spotty" play that saw her struggle in sections of her first two Open wins and into this match, won the 2nd 6-1 and led 5-2 in the 3rd, with a double-break edge. But a loose service game (3 UE) opened the door for Rogers, who surged back to erase the lead and break the Aussie in back-to-back serve games to force a TB. Knotted at 5-5 in the breaker, Rogers claimed the first mini-break for a 6-5 lead, then saw another Barty error end the contest and break open wide the top half of the draw.



Barty's exit closes out an odd dance with Naomi Osaka in the 2021 slams. In the four majors this season, either one of those two won the title (Osaka/AO, Barty/WI) or they both exited early in the same round (RG 2nd via retirement and withdrawal, then 3rd Round here).

...with the final 16 a group of woman representing a varied, United Nations-like collection of countries, the Czechs still came into the day looking to put multiple players into the second week. Barbora Krejcikova had already pushed her way into the 4th Round on Friday, but Petra Kvitova could not join her in Saturday's afternoon session. #17 Maria Sakkari again played too clean and consistent a service game on the day for the #10 seed, firing nine aces and winning 25 of 28 first serve points (89%). Sakkari won 6-4/6-3 to reach her second straight Round of 16 at Flushing Meadows. Kvitova's 16/34 winner-to-UE ratio tells the tale of her day.



Later, the aforementioned Pliskova did what Kvitova couldn't, giving the Czech a second survivor into the second week of play, handing Aussie Ajla Tomljanovic in straight sets.

In total, the Final 16 consists of women from fourteen different nations.

...meanwhile, British qualifier Emma Raducanu continues to go about her merry way in the big city, smiling every step along her widening path. Today she was all over Sara Sorribes Tormo, destroying arguably 2021's most improved player 6-0/6-1 in 1:10. The 18-year old held a MP on Sorribes' serve at 6-0/5-0, only to fly a wild shot as she went for a closing return winner. The Spaniard finally held with a serve-and-volley smash to avoid her second love & love loss at the U.S. Open in four years ('18 1r vs. Gavrilova). Raducanu served out the match a game later, blasting a forehand winner into the corner to finally end things. She led 23-5 in winners on the day, won 79% of her first serves, never faced a BP and feasted on the second serve (29% win pct.) of Sorribes.



Raducanu gets Rogers now rather than #1 Barty in the 4th Round.

...#7 Iga Swiatek advanced to her first U.S. Open Round of 16 with a three-set win over #28 Anett Kontaveit. The '20 RG champ has reached the second week at all four '21 majors, the only tour player to do so, and at the last five slams, the tour's best active streak. Her run to a maiden 4th Round in New York also completes the 20-year old's "Career Round of 16 Slam" in her eleventh career major.

...in the late match on Armstrong, the all-Russian clash between #14 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Varvara Gracheva was wrapped up by the RG finalist in straight sets, but the contest was far closer than the 6-1/6-4 final score would indicate. The result marks the third straight time this season in which Pavlyuchenkova has posted her best result in a major in quite some time. Her final in Paris was her best result there since 2011, her 3rd Round at Wimbledon was her best since 2016, and this U.S. Round of 16 is once again her best result in a decade.





...in Tokyo, Diede de Groot became the third different Dutch woman to sweep the singles/doubles Paralymic Golds (Esther Vergeer and Jiske Griffioen), joining with Aniek Van Koot to become the eigth straight duo from the Netherlands to win the event's women's doubles competition. They routed Brits Lucy Shuker & Jordanne Whiley (who took Silver after Bronze in back-to-back Games) 6-0/6-1 in the WD final. De Groot will soon arrive in New York looking to claim the first WC Golden Slam in singles, as well as add to her career slam haul (Aussie Dylan Alcott will be trying to do the same in the men's Quad event, of which their is no women's slam equivalent).



Yui Kamiji picked up her second medal (w/ singles Silver) in her home Paralympics, as she and Momoko Ohtani defeated China's Wang Ziying & Zhu Zhenzhen 6-2/7-6(3) in the Bronze match.




*WOMEN'S SINGLES ROUND OF 16*
Shelby Rogers/USA vs. (Q) Emma Raducanu/GBR
#11 Belinda Bencic/SUI vs. #7 Iga Swiatek/POL
#4 Karolina Pliskova/CZE vs. #14 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova/RUS
#17 Maria Sakkari/GRE vs. #6 Bianca Andreescu/CAN
#5 Elina Svitolina/UKR vs. #12 Simona Halep/ROU
Leylah Fernandez/CAN vs. #16 Angelique Kerber/GER
#9 Garbine Muguruza/ESP vs. #8 Barbora Krejcikova/CZE
#15 Elise Mertens/BEL vs. #2 Aryna Sabalenka/BLR

*WOMEN'S DOUBLES ROUND OF 16*
#1 Hsieh/Mertens (TPE/BEL) vs. Minnen/Van Uytvanck (BEL/BEL)
#11 Gauff/McNally (USA/USA) vs. x
(PR) Rodionova/Rodionova (AUS/AUS) vs. x
Kostyuk/Yastremska (UKR/UKR) vs. x
#6 V.Kudermetova/Mattek-Sands (RUS/USA) vs. #10 Dolehide/Sanders (USA/USA)
#14 Stosur/Zhang (AUS/CHN) vs. #3 Aoyama/Shibahara (JPN/JPN)
#7 Guarachi/Krawczyk (CHI/USA) vs. x
Fernandez/Routliffe (CAN/NZL) vs. Niculescu/Ruse (ROU/ROU)

*PARALYMPIC WHEELCHAIR SINGLES*
GOLD: #1 Diede de Groot/NED def. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN 6-3/7-6(1)
BRONZE: #4 Jordanne Whiley/GBR def. #3 Aniek Van Koot/NED 6-4/6-7(7)/6-4

*PARALYMPIC WHEELCHAIR DOUBLES*
GOLD: #1 de Groot/Van Koot (NED) def. #2 Shuker/Whiley (GBR) 6-0/6-1
BRONZE: #3 Kamiji/Ohtani (JPN) def. Wang/Zhu (CHN) 6-2/7-6(3)




*2021 US WOMEN'S FINAL 16*
[by ranking]
#2 - Aryna Sabalenka
#4 - Karolina Pliskova
#5 - Elina Svitolina
#7 - Bianca Andreescu
#8 - Iga Swiatek
#9 - Barbora Krejcikova
#10 - Garbine Muguruza
#12 - Belinda Bencic
#13 - Simona Halep
#15 - Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
#16 - Elise Mertens
#17 - Angelique Kerber
#18 - Maria Sakkari
#43 - Shelby Rogers
#73 - Leylah Fernandez
#150 - Emma Raducanu
[by age]
33 - Kerber
30 - Pavlyuchenkova
29 - Halep, Ka.Pliskova
28 - Rogers
27 - Muguruza
26 - Sakkari, Svitolina
25 - Krejcikova, Mertens
24 - Bencic
23 - Sabalenka
21 - Andreescu
20 - Swiatek
18 - Fernandez, Raducanu
[by nation]
2...CAN (Andreescu, Fernandez)
2...CZE (Krejciova, Ka.Pliskova)
1...BEL (Mertens)
1...BLR (Sabalenka)
1...ESP (Muguruza)
1...GBR (Raducanu)
1...GER (Kerber)
1...GRE (Sakkari)
1...POL (Swiatek)
1...ROU (Halep)
1...RUS (Pavlyuchenkova)
1...SUI (Bencic)
1...UKR (Svitolina)
1...USA (Rogers)
[by career slam Round-of-16's]
23 - Kerber
20 - Halep
16 - Mertens
16 - Muguruza
13 - Svitolina
12 - Ka.Pliskova
9 - Pavlyuchenkova
7 - Swiatek
6 - Bencic
4 - Krejcikova
4 - Rogers
4 - Sabalenka
4 - Sakkari
2 - Andreescu
2 - Raducanu
1 - Fernandez
[w/ consecutive slam Round of 16's]
5 - Iga Swiatek
3 - Krejcikova
2 - Kerber
2 - Ka.Pliskova
2 - Raducanu
2 - Sabalenka
-
NOTE: Halep in last 2 slams played (DNP RG/WI)
[w/ multiple career US Round of 16's]
6 - Kerber
5 - Ka.Pliskova
4 - Halep
4 - Mertens
4 - Svitolina
3 - Bencic
3 - Pavlyuchenkova
2 - Andreescu
2 - Muguruza
2 - Rogers
2 - Sabalenka
2 - Sakkari
[w/ consecutive US Round of 16's]
4 - Mertens
2 - Kerber
2 - Rogers
2 - Sakkari
-
NOTE: Svitolina in last 4 US Opens played (DNP 2020)
NOTE: Andreescu in last 2 US Opens played (DNP 2020)
NOTE: Bencic in last 2 US Opens played (DNP 2020)
[WTA career slam Round of 16's - active]
64...Serena Williams
50...Venus Williams
32...Svetlana Kuznetsova
25...Victoria Azarenka
25...Kim Clijsters
23...Angelique Kerber
21...Petra Kvitova
20...Simona Halep
16...Garbine Muguruza
16...Carla Suarez-Navarro
16...Vera Zvonareva
15...Madison Keys
14...Sloane Stephens
13...Elina Svitolina
12...Karolina Pliskova
12...Samantha Stosur
[WTA slam Round of 16's since 2020 (of 7) - active]
6 - Swiatek
4 - Halep, Jabeur, Kenin, Kerber
4 - Krejcikova, Mertens, Sakkari
3 - Badosa, Barty, Gauff
3 - Kvitova, Muchova, Muguruza
3 - Pavlyuchenkova, Rogers, Sabalenka
3 - Svitolina, S.Williams
2 - Azarenka, Bertens, Brady
2 - Kontaveit, Osaka, Ka.Pliskova
2 - Raducanu, Rybakina, Vondrousova
1 - 27 players
[2021 slam Rd. of 16's - youngest]
17 - Coco Gauff (RG)
17 - Coco Gauff (WI)
18 - Marta Kostuk (RG)
18 - Emma Raducanu (WI)
18 - Emma Raducanu (US)
18 - Leylah Fernandez (US)
19 - Iga Swiatek (AO)
20 - Iga Swiatek (RG)
20 - Iga Swiatek (WI)
20 - Iga Swiatek (US)
[2021 slam Rd. of 16's - oldest]
39 - Serena Williams (RG)
39 - Serena Williams (AO)
35 - Hsieh Su-wei (AO)
33 - Angelique Kerber (US)
33 - Angelique Kerber (WI)
31 - Victoria Azarenka (RG)
31 - Sorana Cirstea (RG)
30 - Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (US)
[2021 slam Rd. of 16's - unseeded]
AO - (2) Hsieh, Pegula, Rogers
RG - (5) Cirstea, Kostyuk, Krejcikova, Stephens, Zidansek
WI - (4) Golubic, Raducanu (wc), Samsonova (wc), Tomljanovic
US - (3) Fernandez, Raducanu (q), Rogers
[2021 slam Rd. of 16's - 1st-time GS 4th Rd.]
AO - (1) Pegula/USA
RG - (3) Kostyuk/UKR, Rybakina/KAZ, Zidansek/SLO
WI - (3) Golubic/SUI, Raducanu/GBR, Samsonova/RUS
US - (1) Fernandez/CAN
[2021 slam Rd. of 16's - lowest-ranked]
#338 - Emma Raducanu (WI)
#150 - Emma Raducanu (US)
#85 - Tamara Zidansek (RG)
#81 - Marta Kostyuk (RG)
#75 - Ajla Tomljanovic (WI)
#73 - Leylah Fernandez (US)
#71 - Hsieh Su-wei (AO)
#66 - Viktorija Golubic (WI)
#65 - Liudmila Samsonova (WI)
#61 - Jessica Pegula (AO)
#59 - Sloane Stephens (RG)
#57 - Shelby Rogers (AO(
[2021 slam Rd. of 16's]
4 - Iga Swiatek (AO/RG/WI/US)
3 - Barbora Krejcikova (RG/WI/US)
3 - Aryna Sabalenka (AO/WI/US)
2 - Paula Badosa (RG/WI)
2 - Ash Barty (AO/WI)
2 - Coco Gauff (RG/WI)
2 - Simona Halep (AO/US)
2 - Ons Jabeur (RG/WI)
2 - Angelique Kerber (WI/US)
2 - Elise Mertens (AO/US)
2 - Karolina Muchova (AO/WI)
2 - Garbine Muguruza (AO/US)
2 - Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova RG/US)
2 - Karolina Pliskova (WI/US)
2 - Emma Raducanu (WI/US)
2 - Shelby Rogers (AO/US)
2 - Elena Rybakina (RG/WI)
2 - Elina Svitolina (AO/US)
2 - Marketa Vondrousova (AO/RG)
2 - Serena Williams (AO/RG)
1 - 20 players
[2021 slam Rd. of 16's - by nation]
11 - USA (1)
9 - CZE (2)
4 - BLR (1)
4 - ESP (1)
4 - POL (1)
3 - AUS
3 - ROU (1)
3 - RUS (1)
3 - UKR (1)
2 - BEL (1)
2 - CAN(2)
2 - GBR(1)
2 - GER(1)
2 - GRE(1)
2 - KAZ
2 - SUI(1)
2 - TUN
1 - AO: CRO,JPN,TPE
1 - RG: SLO
1 - WI: -
1 - US: -
[2021 slam Rd. of 16's - by region]
27 (6-5-8-8) - W.Eur./Scand. (BEL-CRO-CZE-ESP-GER-GBR-POL-SLO-SUI)
13 (4-4-2-3) - North America/Atlantic (CAN-USA)
13 (3-4-2-4) - Eastern Europe/Russia (BLR-ROU-RUS-UKR)
7 (3-1-3-0) - Asia/Oceania (AUS-JPN-KAZ-TPE)
4 (0-2-1-1) - Africa/Middle East/Medit. (GRE-TUN)
0 (0-0-0-0) - South America (-)






...MEANWHILE, THE OTHER NIGHT:




...ONE TIME AT BAND CAMP... ON DAY 6:




...FACT ON DAY 6:

More Bianca Andreescu = more Coco Andreescu





...SEE YA WHEN WE SEE YA (though I'm sure we're actually hear and see her quite a bit before we see her again, eh?) ON DAY 6:








FADE IN:




”The Pizza Ninja”

INT. HOUSE
Her afternoon workout complete, Iga Swiatek is lounging at home in a t-shirt and sweatpants. She’s bored, and hungry. Iga grabs her phone (its cover is emblazoned with “IGA”), opens up an app labeled “The Pizza Ninja" and orders up a pie. She kicks up her feet, leans back on the coach, and waits.

Five seconds later, the doorbell rings.

Iga opens the door and sees Dasha Kasatkina running away from the house with a pizza box in her hands. Once Dasha spies over her shoulder that Swiatek has opened the door, she picks up her speed and then flings the pizza box back up the walkway, through her legs in tweener fashion. Iga catches it.

EXT. HOUSE - DAY
Dasha looks back, giving a self-satisfied nod to Iga, who responds with an appreciative thumbs up.

INT. HOUSE
Iga casually closes the door and immediately begins to devour a slice of pepperoni and mushroom pizza as she turns to walk back through the house. Before she can, though, the doorbell rings again. Iga opens the door. Aga Radwanska is standing there, dressed in a full tennis outfit with racket in hand.

AGA
Did someone order a ninja?

IGA
Sorry, wrong number.

Iga closes the door in Radwanska's face without another word, then continues eating as she walks across and then out of frame.

IGA
(w/ mouth full)
Mmmm... pizza.


The screen fades to BLACK.



END.


To be continued...

















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**WTA "CAREER ROUND OF 16 SLAM" - active**
[with slam at which completed]
Victoria Azarenka - 2009 Wimbledon (15th)
Ash Barty - 2019 Wimbledon (20th)
Genie Bouchard - 2014 US Open (5th)
Kim Clijsters - 2001 US Open (10th)
Alize Cornet - 2020 US Open (57th)
Simona Halep - 2014 Wimbledon (17th)
Angelique Kerber - 2013 Australian (21st)
Madison Keys - 2016 Roland Garros (16th)
Johanna Konta - 2019 Roland Garros (22nd)
Petra Kvitova - 2011 Australian (11th)
Svetlana Kuznetsova - 2005 Australian (11th)
Petra Martic - 2019 US Open (32nd)
Elise Mertens - 2019 Wimbledon (12th)
Garbine Muguruza - 2017 US Open (20th)
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova - 2017 Australian (37th)
Karolina Pliskova - 2018 Wimbledon (25th)
Sloane Stephens - 2013 US Open (10th)
Carla Suarez-Navarro - 2013 US Open (20th)
Iga Swiatek - 2021 US Open (11th)
Elina Svitolina - 2018 Australian (22nd)
Donna Vekic - 2021 Australian (29th)
Serena Williams - 2000 Wimbledon (8th)
Venus Williams - 1998 Wimbledon (6th)
Vera Zvonareva - 2004 US Open (11th)

**U.S. OPEN "CRASH & BURN"**
2007 Maria Sharapova, RUS (3rd Rd.)
2008 Ana Ivanovic, SRB (2nd Rd.)
2009 Elena Dementieva, RUS (2nd Rd.)
2010 Victoria Azarenka, BLR (2nd Rd.)
2011 Petra Kvitova, CZE & Li Na, CHN (both 1st Rd.)
2012 Caroline Wozniacki, DEN (1st Rd.)
2013 Samantha Stosur, AUS (1st Rd.)
2014 Dominika Cibulkova, SVK (1st Rd.)
2015 Karolina Pliskova, CZE (1st Rd.)
2016 Monica Puig, PUR (1st Rd.)
2017 Angelique Kerber, GER (1st Rd.)
2018 Simona Halep, ROU (1st Rd.)
2019 Sloane Stephens, USA (1st Rd.)
2020 Karolina Pliskova, CZE (2nd Rd.)
2021 A.Barty, AUS and N.Osaka, JPN (3rd Rd.)
[2021]
AO: Sofia Kenn, USA (2nd Rd.)
RG: A.Barty, AUS (2nd ret.) and N.Osaka, JPN (2nd w/d)
WI: P.Kvitova, CZE (1st Rd.) and S.Williams, USA (1st ret.)

**U.S. OPEN LAST BANNERETTE STANDING**
2008 Serena Williams (W)
2009 Serena Williams (SF)
2010 Venus Williams (SF)
2011 Serena Williams (RU)
2012 Serena Williams (W)
2013 Serena Williams (W)
2014 Serena Williams (W)
2015 Serena Williams (SF)
2016 Serena Williams (SF)
2017 Sloane Stephens (W)
2018 Serena Williams (RU)
2019 Serena Williams (RU)
2020 Serena Williams and Jennifer Brady (SF)
2021 Shelby Rogers (in 4th Rd.)

*RECENT BEST U.S. WOMEN'S SLAM RESULTS*
=2016=
AO: Serena Williams (RU)
RG: Serena Williams (RU)
WI: Serena Williams (W)
US: Serena Williams (SF)
=2017=
AO: Serena Williams (W)
RG: Venus Williams (4th)
WI: Venus Williams (RU)
US: Sloane Stephens (W)
=2018=
AO: Madison Keys (QF)
RG: Sloane Stephens (RU)
WI: Serena Williams (RU)
US: Serena Williams (RU)
=2019=
AO: Danielle Collins (SF)
RG: Amanda Anisimova (SF)
WI: Serena Williams (RU)
US: Serena Williams (RU)
=2020=
AO: Sofia Kenin (W)
US: Serena Williams and Jennifer Brady (SF)
RG: Sofia Kenin (RU)
=2021=
AO: Jennifer Brady (RU)
RG: Coco Gauff (QF)
WI: Coco Gauff and Madison Keys (4th)
US: Shelby Rogers (in 4th)

**#1 WINS BY U.S. WOMEN - since 2014**
2014 #26 Venus Williams (S.Williams, Montreal SF)
2017 #35 CoCo Vandeweghe (Kerber, AO 3rd)
2017 #12 Venus Williams (Kerber, Miami QF)
2017 #22 CoCo Vandeweghe (Ka.Pliskova, US Open QF)
2018 #16 CoCo Vandeweghe (Halep, Stuttgart QF)
2019 #16 Serena Williams (Halep, AO 4th)
2019 #55 Alison Riske (Barty, Wimbledon 4th)
2019 #29 Sofia Kenin (Barty, Toronto 1st)
2019 #22 Sofia Kenin (Osaka, Cincinnati QF)
2020 #53 Jennifer Brady (Barty, Brisbane 2nd)
2020 #15 Sofia Kenin (Barty, AO SF)
2021 #37 Danielle Collins (Barty, Adelaide 2nd)
2021 #35 Coco Gauff (Barty, Rome QF)
2021 #43 Shelby Rogers (Barty, US Open 3rd)>br /> --
3 - Kenin
3 - Vandeweghe
2 - V.Williams
1 - Brady
1 - Collins
1 - Gauff
1 - Riske
1 - Rogers
1 - S.Williams

**BACKSPIN 2021 FRESH FACE-OF-THE-MONTH WINNERS**
JAN/FEB: Veronika Kudermetova, RUS
AO: Kaja Juvan, SLO
FEB: Coco Gauff, USA
MAR/APR: Leylah Fernandez, CAN
1Q...SWIATEK
APR: Maria Camila Osorio Serrano, COL
MAY: Coco Gauff, USA
RG: Coco Gauff, USA
2Q Clay Court...GAUFF
JUN: Liudmila Samsonova, RUS
WI: Emma Raducanu, GBR
2Q Grass Court...SAMSONOVA
JUL: Gabriela Ruse, ROU
OLYMPICS: Elena Rybakina, KAZ
AUG: Jil Teichmann, SUI
[2021 Weekly FRESH FACE Award Wins]
4 - Coco Gauff, USA
4 - Maria Camila Osorio Serrano, COL
3 - Varvara Gracheva, RUS
3 - Marta Kostyuk, UKR
3 - Elena Rybakina, KAZ
3 - Liudmila Samsonova, RUS
3 - Clara Tauson, DEN
2 - Clara Burel, FRA
2 - Kaja Juvan, SLO
2 - Ann Li, USA
2 - Jule Niemeier, GER
2 - Jil Teichmann, SUI

**BACKSPIN 2021 JUNIOR-OF-THE-MONTH WINNERS**
JAN/FEB: Linda Fruhvirtova, CZE
FEB: Natalia Szabanin, HUN
MAR/APR: Anastasia Yepifanova, USA
1Q...SZABANIN
APR: Linda Fruhvirtova, CZE
MAY: Petra Marcinko, CRO
RG: Linda Noskova, CZE
2Q Clay Court...NOSKOVA
JUN: Linda Fruhvirtova, CZE
WI: Ane Mintegi del Ohmo, ESP
2Q Grass Court...MINTEGI DEL OHMO
JUL: Sara Bejlek, CZE
AUG: Alex Eala, PHI
[2021 Weekly JUNIOR Award Wins]
7 - Linda Fruhvirtova, CZE
4 - Alex Eala, PHI
3 - Oksana Selekmeteva, RUS
2 - Erika Andreeva, RUS
2 - Mara Guth, GER
2 - Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva, AND
2 - Julia Middendorf, GER
2 - Linda Noskova, CZE
2 - Diana Shnaider, RUS
2 - Johanne Christine Svendsen, DEN
2 - Natalia Szabanin, HUN

**WOMEN'S WC PARALYMPIC SWEEPS**
2004 Esther Vergeer, NED
2012 Esther Vergeer, NED
2016 Jiske Griffioen, NED
2021 Diede de Groot, NED

**PARALYMPICS WC DOUBLES MEDAL WINNERS**
[GOLD]
1992 Monique van den Bosch/Chantal Vandierendonck, NED
1996 Monique Kalkman-van den Bosch/Chantal Vandierendonck, NED
2000 Maaike Smit/Esther Vergeer, NED
2004 Maaike Smith/Esther Vergeer, NED
2008 Korie Homan/Sharon Walraven, NED
2012 Marjolein Buis/Esther Vergeer, NED
2016 Jiske Griffioen/Aniek Van Koot, NED
2021 Diede de Groot/Aniek Van Koot, NED
[SILVER]
1992 Nancy Olson/Lynn Seidemann, USA
1996 Hope Lewellen/Nancy Olson, USA
2000 Branka Pupovac/Daniela Di Toro, AUS
2004 Sakhorn Khanthasit/Ratana Techamaneewat, THA
2008 Jiske Griffioen/Esther Vergeer, NED
2012 Jiske Griffioen/Aniek Van Koot, NED
2016 Marjolein Buis/Diede de Groot, NED
2021 Lucy Shuker/Jordanne Whiley, GBR
[BRONZE]
1992 Oristelle Marx/Arlette Racineaux, FRA
1996 Oristelle Marx/Arlette Racineaux, FRA
2000 Christine Otterbach/Petra Sax-Scharl, GER
2004 Sandra Kalt/Karin Suter Erath, SUI
2008 Florence Gravellier/Arlette Racineaux, FRA
2012 Lucy Shuker/Jordanne Whiley, GBR
2016 Lucy Shuker/Jordanne Whiley, GBR
2021 Yui Kamiji/Momoko Ohtani, JPN







kosova-font








TOP QUALIFIER: Rebecca Marino/CAN (first US MD since '11)
TOP EARLY-ROUND (1r-2r): #9 Garbine Muguruza/ESP
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): xx
TOP LATE-ROUND (SF-F): xx
TOP QUALIFYING MATCH: Q3: Katie Boulter/GBR def. #8 Kristina Kucova/SVK 7-5/2-6/6-4 (from break down at 4-2, wins final 4 games to reach first U.S. Open MD)
TOP EARLY-RD. MATCH (1r-2r): 2nd Rd. - #4 Karolina Pliskova/CZE def. Amanda Anisimova/USA 7-5/6-7(5)/7-6(7) - (Anisimova first on Ashe; Pliskova US reocord 24 aces; Anisimova up 5-2 in 3rd TB, Pliskova saves MP and wins on MP #2 9-7; no Top 20 seed def. in first two round)
TOP MIDDLE-RD. MATCH (3r-QF): xx
TOP LATE-RD. MATCH (SF-F): xx
=============================
FIRST VICTORY: Kristina Kucova/SVK (def. Li/USA)
FIRST SEED OUT: #31 Yulia Putintseva/KAZ (1st Rd./lost to Kanepi)
FIRST SLAM MD WINS: Valentini Grammatikopoulou/GRE, Rebeka Masarova/ESP
UPSET QUEENS: Russia
REVELATION LADIES: Greece
NATION OF POOR SOULS: USA (8-14 in 1st; Keys/Riske out; Serena/Venus/Kenin/Brady DNP; 3/4 '17 all-US SF out)
CRASH & BURN: #2 Naomi Osaka/JPN (3rd Rd. to Fernandez/CAN; served for match in 2nd set) and #1 Ash Barty/AUS (3rd Rd. to Rogers/USA; led 5-2, double-break in 3rd)
ZOMBIE QUEENS OF NEW YORK: Elise Mertens/BEL (1r vs. Peterson; down 6-3/5-3 and RP served twice for match; saved 5 MP in 2nd, 1 MP in 3rd) and Rebeka Masarova/ESP (1r vs. Bogdan; down 7-6/4-1; saved 2 MP in 3rd TB, on own 6th MP; first slam win) - simultaneously-played U.S. Open women's record 3:40 matches
IT ("xx"): Nominees: Fernandez, Raducanu
Ms.OPPORTUNITY: xx
LAST QUALIFIER STANDING: Emma Raducanu/GBR (in 4th Rd.) (LL 3r: Minnen, Rakhimova)
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: none (went 0-8 in 1st Rd.)
LAST BANNERETTE STANDING: Shelby Rogers (in 4th Rd.)
COMEBACK PLAYER: Nominee: Andreescu
VETERAN PLAYER (KIMIKO CUP): Nominees: Kerber, Pavlyuchenkova
DOUBLES STAR: xx
BIG APPLE BANNERETTE BREAKTHROUGH: xx
BROADWAY-BOUND: Nominee: Fernandez
LADY OF THE EVENING: Nominees: Canadians (Andreescu/Fernandez)
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: xx







All for Day 6. More tomorrow.

posted by Todd.Spiker @ 12:51 AM 

3 Comments:

Blogger colt13 said...

Pliskova finally beat Pegula, so Rogers beating Barty fits the narrative.

This week is a win for Andreescu, with those IW points to defend, she needs to find some consistency. Plus she still has a 1 in 16 chance here.

Osaka is taking a break, but with Chicago and IW still to come, will we see Serena nad Venus?

Osaka's team failed her. One thing we see from Mouratoglou, is that he will make statements, some outlandish, so Serena doesn't have to. Sascha saw that firsthand, so seeing him pump Naomi up in the press and on social media helped shield her. Notice that with the understated but blunt Pliskova, there is no need to do so.

So Osaka needs to find someone willing to play that role. Also to have a team that doesn't say yes to every endorsement. 55 mil is great, but she could cut that in half and take off some stress.

Serena, especially in the second half of her career, learned the balance between endorsements, doing Beyonce videos and playing great tennis. Osaka will eventually(I hope) figure it out, but this won't be solved overnight.

Stat of the Day- 13- Members of the sweet sixteen with a title on hard.

Titles on Hard:

11- Svitolina
11- Halep
10- Pliskova
9 - Pavlyuchenkova
9 - Sabalenka
7 - Kerber
6 - Muguruza
4 - Bencic
4 - Mertens
3 - Andreescu
1 - Swiatek
1 - Fernandez
1 - Krejcikova

Last title on hard:

Pavlyuchenkova- 2017 Hong Kong
Kerber- 2018 Sydney
Andreescu- 2019 US Open
Pliskova- 2020 Brisbane
Halep- 2020 Dubai
Sabalenka- 2021 Abu Dhabi
Mertens- 2021 Gippsland
Swiatek- 2021 Adelaide
Muguruza- 2021 Dubai
Fernandez- 2021 Monterrey
Bencic- 2021 Olympics
Svitolina- 2021 Chicago

Sakkari- 2018 San Jose-RU/2015 ITF Heraklion-W
Rogers- 2020 Lexington-SF/2020 ITF Midland-W
Raducanu- 2021 Wimbledon- 4th rd/2021 125K Chicago-RU

The only 2 women without a title on any surface(Rogers, Raducanu)play each other.

Raducanu is the only woman who has never been Top 100, though she will be if she wins her next match.

Raducanu was 7 when Pavlyuchenkova won her first title.

52 weeks before her breakout US Open QF run in 2014, Bencic was ranked 330.

52 weeks before this US Open run, Raducanu was ranked 338.

Kerber(2016) and Andreescu(2019) are the only former winners left.

Counting all slams, 7 junior winners are left.

Bencic has won all 5 of her career titles in 3 sets.

Nottingham. Wimbledon. San Jose. US Open. That is Raducanu's whole career.

Pavlyuchenkova has reached 21 finals, none on grass.

The only titles Muguruza has won off hard are slams.

Svitolina has reached a final 9 years in a row.

Halep has reached a final 11 years in a row, but not this year.

Andreescu has reached all 5 of her career finals on hard.



Sun Sep 05, 08:21:00 AM EDT  
Blogger Todd.Spiker said...

Hmmm, and Bajin's reward was a spot in the ejector seat. That says a lot. As does the seeming inability of anyone to prepare her for those press conference moments from a few weeks ago, which was then stoked into an unnecessary victimization story by the agent, and then there's no one saying to avoid the sort of eye-rolling comments made prior to this tournament, either.

Sun Sep 05, 01:36:00 PM EDT  
Blogger Diane said...

It’s entirely possible that Osaka’s team have been sucked into the vortex of her behavior; it’s very easy to be controlled by passive-aggressive behavior (been there, done that). Or perhaps they’re afraid tomgo against the “woke” narrative.

Mon Sep 06, 07:15:00 PM EDT  

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