Sunday, September 11, 2022

US.13- The Manifestation of Iga


If we've learned anything during the 2022 tennis season, it's that Iga Swiatek is everything we thought she was. And maybe even a little bit more.




When Swiatek put together a dominant run to her maiden slam title at Roland Garros as a 19-year old in the fall of 2020, the Pole gave the impression of being a "new school" version of an "old school" champion, one who minds her professionalism while focusing on the task at hand, but also being willing to admit her vulnerability amid the process while choosing to utilize "new" ways of dealing with it.

Since she burst to prominance not long after being a junior star, Swiatek has shown a willingness to do everything within her power to better herself (both on and off court), to learn how to handle each new situaton that her success presents with patience and assurance, and to embrace the challenge of the things that make her uncomfortable, leaving no stone unturned when it comes to maximizing her career potential to become the very best player she can be.

Among the tools Swiatek used in this endeavor was the installation of a full-time, traveling sports psychologist who was as important part of her team as any coach or trainer (while Swiatek *has* changed coaches -- from Piotr Sierzputowski to Tomasz Wiktorowski -- over this early career stretch, psychologist Daria Abramowicz has been there for the long haul), speaking to what Swiatek sees as maybe being *the* most consistent and enduring aspect of her rise, for if she isn't confident and focused in her own mind and with her own emotions when it comes to her part of the equation in individual sports competition how is she going to be able to effectively handle the innumerable things -- from opponents on down -- that *aren't* as straightforwardly within her control?

So far in her career, Swiatek has won a major before turning 20, then saw the #1 ranking fall into her lap a year and a half later. Her response to then-#1 Ash Barty's sudden March retirement was to win the "Sunshine Double" in Indian Wells and Miami, put together a 37-match winning streak and win a *second* Roland Garros title the same week she turned 21.

What could she possibly do for an encore?

Swiatek's roll slowed a bit after Paris, as her streak ended at Wimbledon, and she came into the U.S. Open after a lackluster summer on the faster surfaces of the North American summer, where she was also forced to play with lighter, fluffier tennis balls that she felt didn't suit her game.

Characteristically, Swiatek made her worries known. Even during her run to this year's U.S. Open final, Iga continued to "crack open her head."



Swiatek's Flushing Meadows run over the past two weeks served to remind us that while the Pole rose to power while winning in dominant fashion and playing from ahead (just look at her 19 bagel sets in '22 so see how good a frontrunner she can be), when she's had to this season she's usually proven that she can also struggle, work things out, play from behind, battle and *also* win. She came into her first U.S. Open final having won 47 of 51 matches since late February.

On the other side of the net on this Open's final Saturday was the player who has been the *second*-best player of '22 (and who'll return to the #2 ranking next week), Ons Jabeur, Swiatek's opponent in the Rome final in the spring during her long winning streak. Swiatek won then, but Jabeur had reached new career heights since, playing in her maiden slam final at Wimbledon and following up by using her entertaining array of artistry to reach a second straight major final in New York. Having already won titles on clay and grass in '22, Jabeur had shown a different side of her game in the Open semifinals, using a big serve and aggressive style to stop cold the player, Caroline Garcia, who'd been *the* hottest player on tour since Wimbledon.

If Jabeur brought such a game against Swiatek, who then continued to struggle with her own, the Tunisan stood the chance of adding yet another "the first North African, Arab... etc." line to her lengthening career bio.

It didn't take long for it to be clear that the final would look nothing like the respective semis played by Swiatek and Jabeur two days earlier, when the Pole had struggled to find her game and had to battle tooth and nail all night long before finally getting her first lead in the match at 5-4 in the 3rd against Aryna Sabalenka, after the Tunisian had put together a virtual masterpiece against Garcia.

Swiatek's game flowed from the start this time, as she opened the match with a quick hold, while Jabeur DF'd on the second point of game 2. Sluggish from the outset of play, Jabeur's wide backhand down the line sealed a love break as she lost her eighth of the first nine points. Eight minutes into the match, Swiatek led 3-0 and had surrended just two points.

Needing to slow down Iga's roll (and avoid being served a bagel on Ashe court as an afternoon snack), Jabeur held to get on the board at 3-1, and finally began to find some footing in the match. Swiatek was brilliant on the first point of game 5, winning an exchange at the net with a volley and flick backhand winner, but Jabeur responded with a 4-winner game (three from the forehand wing) to break for 3-2.

But Swiatek was having none of it. Gliding around the court with hungry eyes, the Pole immediately snapped right back into "the zone" (though she'd never really left it), breaking back and then holding for 5-2 when a Jabeur volley went long. A game later, Jabeur's service game woes continued. A missed overhead put her behind love/30. A Swiatek backhand down the line and Jabeur error gave the Pole double SP, which was converted via a missed backhand from the Tunisian to give Iga the set at 6-2 in just half an hour.



Having hit the ground running, the supercharged Swiatek doubled Jabeur's points (28-14) in the set, while serving at a 90% clip with her first serve (winning 63%) vs. Jabeur's eye-popping (and not in a good way) 20% (of which she won 48%).

As the 2nd set began, Jabeur tried to force the issue by being more aggressive. She put away a smash to deny Swiatek a GP, but an Iga backhand down the line gave the Pole another chance and another forehand down the *other* line held for 1-0.

Swiatek continued to send groundstrokes deep into the backcourt, preventing Jabeur from seeing the appropriate short balls that might allow her creativity to run amock. She tried a drop shot, but from behind the baseline. It came up short of the net, and Jabeur tossed her racket in frustration. Jabeur reached GP, but missed on a wide forehand. A point later, off a Swiatek net cord shot, Jabeur didn't direct her shot down an open line and instead fired it crosscourt into Swiatek's forehand. The Pole sent the ball back up the middle, off the racket of Jabeur, who fell and tossed her racket out of the way (it landed near where the ball eventually came down). At BP, Swiatek's passing shot down the line gave her a 2-0 edge.

Jabeur took a 15/30 lead in game 3, but closed the small opening she had all on her own, sending a jumping backhand drop shot from the corner into the net. Another Jabeur backhand error gave Swiatek a GP, and then another jumping backhand from the Tunisian was redirected by Iga down the line for a winner and a 3-0 lead.

In a must service game, Jabeur held from 15/40 down, saving three BP, then saw the momentum carry over to game 4. An angled forehand winner off a shorter Swiatek ball gave Jabeur a 15/30 lead, and a deep return produced a Swiatek error. Swiatek wasn't able to get back a volley after a Jabeur passing attempt, dropping serve for the first time as the set went back on serve at 3-2. But Swiatek continued to prevent Jabeur from mounting a full-fledged comeback, rallying from 30/15 down with back-to-back winners to reach BP. An error put the game at deuce, but another Swiatek winner gave her a second BP chance. Jabeur sailed a ball and Iga was once more up a break at 4-2.

Giving it another try, Jabeur's forehand down the line put her up 15/40 moments later. Two long forehands delayed any sort of payoff, but a Swiatek error on Jabeur's third BP put the set back on serve again at 4-3. Jabeur held to knot the set at 4-all and seemed to catch an updraft. A drop shot and volley combo to take a 15/30 lead caused the crowd to erupt, and a long Swiatek forehand gave Jabeur double BP to take the 2nd set lead. But back-to-back long Jabeur shots squandered the chance, and after the Tunisian failed to convert on a third BP, her long return on Swiatek's second GP allowed the Pole to hold and re-established her on-serve lead at 5-4.

Both then waited for the other to blink, but neither seemed willing. Jabeur held from 15/30 down, then Swiatek followed suit (at 30) in a tight game for 6-5.



Swiatek's return caught the baseline to take a love/30 lead in game #12, but Jabeur battled back to 30-all. Jabeur pulled a backhand wide to give Swiatek a MP, and Swiatek immediately raced to change her racket (she later said she'd wanted to before the start of the game). The Pole then lost three straight points -- two via errors, and with the other a service winner -- as Jabeur held to force a tie-break.

The TB was dominated by the returners. Swiatek dropped the opening point on serve, but Jabeur wasn't able to take advantage by sweeping her first two service points (splitting them instead). Swiatek took a 4-2 lead with a Jabeur first ball forehand error, but then saw Jabeur run off three consecutive points to lead 5-4, sweeping both of the Pole's serve points. But Swiatek's forehand down the line, then a Jabeur error, gave Iga a second MP at 6-5. Jabeur's forehand error ended it, as Swiatek won 6-2/7-6(5) to become the first Polish woman to be crowned the U.S. Open singles champ.



A year after the U.S. Open crowned a #150-ranked qualifier as its queen, Swiatek assumes the title as the world #1 and tour leader in victories, titles and most everything else when it comes to winning in 2022.

With Swiatek's latest monumental victory, it's diffcult not to think that we're watching the construction of the early foundation of an indisputably great champion. At just 21, it's now become a regular occurrence to see her latest accomplishment allow her name to be spoken in the same breath as a series of historic figures from the last three decades of women's tennis.

The first #1 seed to win the Open since 2014 (Serena Williams), Swiatek's Roland Garros/U.S. slam combo marks the fifth time the feat has been accomplished this century (first since 2013 - Serena), with the other four authored by Williams and Justine Henin (twice each). She's the third woman to win Indian Wells, Miami and the U.S. Open in the same year (joining Steffi Graf in '96, and Kim Clijsters in '05).

3-0 in slam finals to begin her career, Iga matches Naomi Osaka's recent spotless start (that now stands at 4-0, a mark matched only by Monica Seles and Roger Federer in the Open era of tennis). Her seventh singles title this season is the most in a year since '14 (S.Williams - 7). Her tenth career tour title marks her tenth consecutive win in a final in straight sets, with Jabeur's six games won in the 2nd set today being more games won by any of the other nine in their *entire* matches (a belated congrats to Polona Hercog, who defeated Swiatek in her maiden tour final in Lugano in a three-setter in April '19... we're still waiting for a second woman to be able to raise her hand when asked, "Who's beaten Iga in singles final?").



First, Iga conquered clay. But that was "easy." Now she's shown that she can outlast the best on hard courts, as well, having knocked off three Top 10 players (Jabeur, Sabalenka and Pegula) and a former Open champ (Sloane Stephens) en route to the title at Flushing Meadows. Is grass next?

Swiatek has admitted to an unease on the surface this summer, and a decided lack of confidence with the lawn under her feet. Sort of like what she felt heading into this major.

The Pole surely has the ability to overcome *that* stumbling block, as well as maybe, most importantly, the will to challenge herself, work and learn so that she's not "beaten" by anything without doing everything she can to change the negative narrative. Would the adding of a Wimbledon trophy to her collection be her most difficult "get?" Yeah, probably. But her tennis idol (Rafa Nadal) went through the same process early in his career, and found a way to win at SW19, so...

The *new* goal is set. Let's see how long it takes for Iga to check it off her list.






=DAY 13 NOTES=
...earlier in the day, the rush of champions being crowned began, as all remaining matches on the schedule will determine who'll be lifting trophies.



In the mixed doubles final, #4-seeded Aussies Storm Sanders & John Peers prevented veteran Kirsten Flipkens from picking up her first career slam crown as a pro, defeating the Belgian and Eduoard Roger-Vasselin 4-6/6-4 [10-7]. It's Sanders' maiden slam win, while Peers picks up his second (w/ '17 AO MD; as well as a MX Olympic Bronze w/ Ash Barty last year in Tokyo).

...in the wheelchair doubles final, top-seeded Diede de Groot & Aniek Van Koot picked up their 12th overall major title as a pair, defeating #2 Yui Kamiji & KG Montjane 6-2/6-2.

The win marks a succesful defense of the Dutch pair's '21 title at Flushing Meadows, and they've now left NYC with the crown three times in the past four years (de Groot has done so in five of six trips, teaming with Marjolein Buis in '17 and Kamiji in '18 for titles). For de Groot this makes it 15 slam doubles wins, but Van Koot's 22nd major breaks her tie with the legendary Esther Vergeer for the most ever in doubles in the women's game. Incidentially, it was *Vergeer* who handed out the trophies in the post-match ceremony.



Meanwhile, with junior #1 Lizzy de Greef having not been in the small field in New York, the first junior wheelchair slam champion was crowned on Saturday. Brazilian Jade Moreira Lanai defeated Japan's Yuma Takamuro 7-5/2-6/7-6(5) in the final.



Moreira Lanai went on to sweep the s/d titles, getting the latter alongside Bannerette Maylee Phelps with a double-bagel win in the final over the U.S. duo of Ruby Bishop & Lily Lautenschlager.

...in the junior singles final, the Philippines' Alex Eala added her name to the annals of tennis history, as the #10 seed became the first Filipino to claim a slam singles crown (she won a pair of girls' doubles majors in 2020-21), defeating #2-seeded Lucie Havlickova 6-2/6-4, denying the Czech in her bid to become the first girl to pull off the RG/US singles championship combo in 32 years.



Eala lost no sets en route to the title, defeating three Top 10 seeds (Havlickova, #8 Taylah Preston and #9 Victoria Mboko). The Filipina, 17, is the sixth-youngest ranked player in the WTA Top 300 (with four of the five above her all Czechs), having won a pair of ITF pro challenger titles over the last two seasons (and reached her first $60K final this spring).

Havlickova rebounded to win the girls' doubles alongside Diana Shnaider (a new member of N.C. State Wolfpack tennis)), with the #1 seeds winning a 6-3/6-2 final over Germans Carolina Kuhl & Ella Seidel. It's the Czech's second girls' doubles slam ('22 RG w/ Sara Bejlek), while Shnaider has now won three different majors ('21 WI/'22 AO).



...in the WTA 125 challenger in Bari, Italy, the final will pit Austrian Julia Grabher against the winner of the all-Italian/all-surprise semifinal, Nuria Brancaccio. The #433-ranked qualifier outlasted #678-ranked wild card Matilde Paoletti in three sets.




*WOMEN'S SINGLES FINAL*
#1 Iga Swiatek/POL def. #5 Ons Jabeur/TUN 6-2/7-5(5)

*WOMEN'S DOUBLES FINAL*
#3 Krejickova/Siniakova (CZE/CZE) vs. McNally/Townsend (USA/USA)

*MIXED DOUBLES FINAL*
#4 Sanders/Peers (AUS/AUS) def. (PR) Flipkens/Roger-Vasselin (BEL/FRA) 4-6/6-4 [10-7]

*WHEELCHAIR WOMEN'S SINGLES FINAL*
#1 Diede de Groot/NED vs. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN

*WHEELCHAIR WOMEN'S DOUBLES FINAL*
#1 de Groot/Van Koot (NED/NED) def. #2 Kamiji/Montjane (JPN/RSA) 6-2/6-2

*WHEELCHAIR JUNIOR SINGLES FINAL*
Jade Moreira Lanai/BRA def. Yuma Takamuro/JPN 7-5/2-6/7-6(5)

*WHEELCHAIR JUNIOR DOUBLES FINAL*
#1 Moreira Lanai/Phelps (BRA/USA) def. #2 Bishop/Lautenschiager (GBR/USA) 6-0/6-0

*GIRLS SINGLES FINAL*
#10 Alex Eala/PHI def. #2 Lucie Havlickova/CZE 6-2/6-4

*GIRLS DOUBLES FINAL*
#1 Havlickova/Shnaider (CZE/RUS) def. Kuhl/Seidel (GER/GER) 6-3/6-2







...THE 2022 U.S. OPEN'S ANSWER TO A 2021 FINAL BETWEEN TWO TEENAGERS IN THEIR FIRST MAJOR FINAL APPEARANCES... ON DAY 13:




...IGA AFTER DARK ON DAY 13:




...PETKO PETKO-ING... ON DAY 13:

(since deleted, but...)





...2001 BABIES... ON DAY 13:




...SO IS THIS A THING AT ALL THE SLAMS NOW?... ON DAY 13:




...POST-OPEN UPDATE... ON DAY 13:

Nine months in, the Top 10 is finally *starting* to resemble the 2022 season as we've known it. Still some big '21 points totals (from Indian Wells & WTAF) to come off, though.









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*RECENT WOMEN'S SLAM WINNERS*
2019 AO: Naomi Osaka, JPN
2019 RG: Ash Barty, AUS*
2019 WI: Simona Halep, ROU
2019 US: Bianca Andreescu, CAN*
2020 AO: Sofia Kenin, USA*
2020 US: Naomi Osaka, JPN
2020 RG: Iga Swiatek, POL*
2021 AO: Naomi Osaka, JPN
2021 RG: Barbora Krejcikova, CZE*
2021 WI: Ash Barty, AUS
2021 US: Emma Raducanu, GBR*
2022 AO: Ash Barty, AUS
2022 RG: Iga Swiatek, POL
2022 WI: Elena Rybakina, KAZ*
2022 US: Iga Swiatek, POL
--
* - first-time slam champ

*AGE OF 2020s SLAM WINNERS*
18 = Emma Raducanu, GBR (2021 US)
19 = Iga Swiatek, POL (2020 RG)
21 = Iga Swiatek, POL (2022 RG)
21 = Iga Swiatek, POL (2022 US)
21 = Sofia Kenin, USA (2020 AO)
22 = Naomi Osaka, JPN (2020 US)
23 = Naomi Osaka, JPN (2021 AO)
23 - Elena Rybakina, KAZ (2022 WI)
25 = Ash Barty, AUS (2021 WI)
25 = Ash Barty, AUS (2022 AO)
25 = Barbora Krejcikova, CZE (2021 RG)

*TITLES AT INDIAN WELLS, MIAMI and HC SLAM IN CAREER*
Victoria Azarenka (AO)
Kim Clijsters (AO/US)
Steffi Graf (AO/US)
Martina Hingis (AO/US)
Martina Navratiova (AO/US)
Monica Seles (AO/US)
Iga Swiatek (US)
Serena Williams (AO/US)

*"SUNSHINE DOUBLE" and U.S. OPEN TITLES IN A SEASON*
1996 Steffi Graf, GER
2005 Kim Clijsters , BEL
2022 Iga Swiatek, POL
[won AO in same season as I.W./Miami]
1994 Steffi Graf, GER
[didn't win HC slam in same season as "Sunshine Double"]
2016 Victoria Azarenka, BLR

*MULTIPLE WTA SINGLES TITLES in 2022*
7 - IGA SWIATEK POL
3 - Caroline Garcia, FRA
2 - Ash Barty, AUS
2 - Beatriz Haddad Maia, BRA
2 - Simona Halep, ROU
2 - Ons Jabeur, TUN
2 - Dasha Kasatkina, RUS
2 - Bernarda Pera, USA
2 - Liudmila Samsonova, RUS

*2022 - TOP 10 FINALS*
Sydney - #9 Badosa def. #4 Krejcikova
Saint Petersburg - #9 Kontaveit def. #7 Sakkari
Doha - #8 Swiatek def. #7 Kontaveit
Indian Wells - #4 Swiatek def. #6 Sakkari
Stuttgart - #1 Swiatek def. #4 Sabalenka
Rome - #1 Swiatek def. #7 Jabeur
US OPEN - #1 SWIATEK def. #5 JABEUR

*SLAM FINALS IN 2020's*
3 - IGA SWIATEK, POL (3-0)
2 - Ash Barty, AUS (2-0)
2 - Naomi Osaka, JPN (2-0)
2 - Sofia Kenin, USA (1-1)
2 - ONS JABEUR, TUN (0-2)
1 - Barbora Krejcikova, CZE (1-0)
1 - Emma Raducanu, GBR (1-0)
1 - Elena Rybakina, KAZ (1-0)
1 - Victoria Azarenka, BLR (0-1)
1 - Jennifer Brady, USA (0-1)
1 - Danielle Collins, USA (0-1)
1 - Leylah Fernandez, CAN (0-1)
1 - Coco Gauff, USA (0-1)
1 - Garbine Muguruza, ESP (0-1)
1 - Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, RUS (0-1)
1 - Karolina Pliskova, CZE (0-1)

*RG/US TITLES IN SEASON - OPEN ERA*
1969 Margaret Court, AUS
1970 Margaret Court, AUS
1972 Billie Jean King, USA
1973 Margaret Court, AUS
1975 Chris Evert, USA
1980 Chris Evert, USA
1984 Martina Navratilova, USA
1988 Steffi Graf, FRG
1991 Monica Seles, YUG
1992 Monica Seles, YUG
1993 Steffi Graf, GER
1994 Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, ESP
1995 Steffi Graf, GER
1996 Steffi Graf, GER
2002 Serena Williams, USA
2003 Justine Henin, BEL
2007 Justine Henin, BEL
2013 Serena Williams, USA
2022 Iga Swiatek, POL

*WI/US FINALS IN SEASON - since 2000*
2000 Venus Williams, USA (W-W)
2000 Lindsay Davenport, USA (L-L)
2001 Venus Williams, USA (W-W)
2002 Serena Williams, USA (W-W)
2002 Venus Williams, USA (L-L)
2006 Justine Henin, BEL (L-L)
2008 Serena Williams, USA (L-W)
2010 Vera Zvonareva, RUS (L-L)
2012 Serena Williams, USA (W-W)
2016 Angelique Kerber, GER (L-W)
2018 Serena Williams, USA (L-L)
2019 Serena Williams, USA (L-L)
2022 Ons Jabeur, TUN (L-L)

*U.S. OPEN WHEELCHAIR CHAMPIONS*
[doubles]
2005 Korie Homan & Esther Vergeer, NED/NED
2006 Jiske Griffioen & Esther Vergeer, NED/NED
2007 Jiske Griffioen & Esther Vergeer, NED/NED
2008 --
2009 Korie Homan & Esther Vergeer, NED/NED
2010 Esther Vergeer & Sharon Walraven, NED/NED
2011 Esther Vergeer & Sharon Walraven, NED/NED
2012 --
2013 Jiske Griffioen & Aniek van Koot, NED/NED
2014 Yui Kamiji & Jordanne Whiley, JPN/GBR
2015 Jiske Griffioen & Aniek van Koot, NED/NED
2016 --
2017 Marjolein Buis & Diede de Groot, NED/NED
2018 Diede de Groot & Yui Kamiji, NED/JPN
2019 Diede de Groot & Aniek van Koot, NED/NED
2020 Yui Kamiji & Jordanne Whiley, JPN/GBR
2021 Diede de Groot & Aniek van Koot, NED/NED
2022 Diede de Groot & Aniek van Koot, NED/NED
--
NOTE: event not held in 2008/12/16 (Paralympics)

*RECENT MX SLAM CHAMPIONS*
[2017]
AO: Abigail Spears/Juan Sebastian Cabal (USA/COL)
RG: Gaby Dabrowski/Rohan Bopanna (CAN/IND)
WI: Martina Hingis/Jamie Murray (SUI/GBR)
US: Martina Hingis/Jamie Murray (SUI/GBR)
[2018]
AO: Gaby Dabrowski/Mate Pavic (CAN/CRO)
RG: Latisha Chan/Ivan Dodig (TPE/CRO)
WI: Nicole Melichar/Alexander Peya (USA/AUT)
US: Bethanie Mattek-Sands/Jamie Murray (USA/GBR)
[2019]
AO: Barbora Krejcikova/Rajeev Ram (CZE/USA)
RG: Latisha Chan/Ivan Dodig (TPE/CRO)
WI: Latisha Chan/Ivan Dodig (TPE/CRO)
US: Bethanie Mattek-Sands/Jamie Murray (USA/GBR)
[2020]
AO: Barbora Krejcikova/Nikola Mektic (CZE/CRO)
[2021]
AO: Barbora Krejcikova/Rajeev Ram (CZE/USA)
RG: Desirae Krawczyk/Joe Salisbury (USA/GBR)
WI: Desirae Krawczyk/Neal Skupski (USA/GBR)
US: Desirae Krawczyk/Joe Salisbury (USA/GBR)
[2022]
AO: Kristina Mladenovic/Ivan Dodig (FRA/CRO)
RG: Ena Shibahara/Wesley Koolhof (JPN/NED)
WI: Desirae Krawczyk/Neal Skupski (USA/GBR)
US: Storm Sanders/John Peers (AUS/AUS)

*RECENT U.S. OPEN GIRLS FINALS*
2010 Daria Gavrilova/RUS d. Yulia Putintseva/RUS (now AUS & KAZ)
2011 Grace Min/USA d. Caroline Garcia/FRA
2012 Samantha Crawford/USA d. Anett Kontaveit/EST
2013 Ana Konjuh/CRO d. Tornado Black/USA
2014 Marie Bouzkova/CZE d. Anhelina Kalinina/UKR
2015 Dalma Galfi/HUN d. Sonya Kenin/USA
2016 Kayla Day/USA d. Viktoria Kuzmova/SVK
2017 Amanda Anisimova/USA d. Coco Gauff/USA
2018 Wang Xiyu/CHN d. Clara Burel/FRA
2019 Maria Camila Osorio Serrano/COL d. Alexandra Yepifanova/USA
2020 DNP
2021 Robin Montgomery/USA d. Kristina Dmitruk/BLR
2022 Alex Eala/PHI d. Lucie Havlickova/CZE

*GIRLS SLAM SINGLES - ASIAN FINALISTS*
1952 Wimbledon - Rita Davar, IND (RU)
1969 Roland Garros - Kazuko Sawamatsu, JPN (W)
1969 Wimbledon - Kazuko Sawamatsu, JPN (W)
1983 Wimbledon - Patricia Hy, HKG (RU)
1993 US Open - Yuka Yoshida, JPN (RU)
1994 Wimbledon - Jeon Mi-ra, KOR (RU)
1995 Wimbledon - Tamarine Tanasugarn, THA (RU)
1998 Australian Open - Wynne Prakusya, INA (RU)
1999 Wimbledon - Iroda Tulyagnova, UZB (W)
2002 Roland Garros - Angelique Widjaja, INA
2008 Wimbledon - Noppawan Lertcheewakarn, THA (RU)
2009 Wimbledon - Noppawan Lertcheewakarn, THA (W)
2010 Wimbledon - Sachie Ishizu, JPN (RU)
2018 Australian Open - Liang En-shuo, TPE (W)
2018 US Open - Wang Xiyu, CHN (W)
2022 US Open - Alex Eala, PHI (W)

*RECENT GIRLS SLAM CHAMPIONS*
[2015]
AO: Tereza Mihalikova, SVK
RG: Paula Badosa, ESP
WI: Sofya Zhuk, RUS
US: Dalma Galfi, HUN
[2016]
AO: Vera Lapko, BLR
RG: Rebeka Masarova, SUI
WI: Anastasia Potapova, RUS
US: Kayla Day, USA
[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 Fernandez, CAN
WI: Daria Snigur, UKR
US: Maria Camila Osorio Serrano, COL
[2020]
AO: Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva, AND
RG: Elsa Jacquemot, FRA
[2021]
RG: Linda Noskova, CZE
WI: Ane Mintegi del Olmo, ESP
US: Robin Montgomery, USA
[2022]
AO: Petra Marcinko, CRO
RG: Lucie Havlickova, CZE
WI: Liv Hovde, USA
US: Alex Eala, PHI

*RECENT GIRLS DOUBLES SLAM CHAMPIONS*
[2018]
AO: Liang En-Shuo/Wang Xinyu (TPE/CHN)
RG: Caty McNally/Iga Swiatek (USA/POL)
WI: Wang Xinyu/Wang Xiyu (CHN/CHN)
US: Coco Gauff/Caty McNally (USA/USA)
[2019]
AO: Natsumi Kawaguchi/Adrienn Nagy (JPN/HUN)
RG: Chloe Beck/Emma Navarro (USA/USA)
WI: Savannah Broadus/Abigail Forbes (USA/USA)
US: Kamilla Bartone/Oksana Selekhmetova (LAT/RUS)
[2020]
AO: Alex Eala/Priska Madelyn Nugroho (PHI/INA)
RG: Eleonora Alvisi/Lisa Pigoti (ITA/ITA)
[2021]
RG: Alex Eala/Oksana Selekmeteva (PHI/RUS)
WI: Kristina Dmitruk/Diana Shnaider (BLR/RUS)
US: Ashlyn Krueger/Robin Montgomery (USA/USA)
[2022]
AO: Clervie Ngounoue/Diana Shnaider (USA/RUS)
RG: Sara Bejlek/Lucie Havlickova (CZE/CZE)
WI: Rose Marie Nijkamp/Angella Okuyoyi (NED/KEN)
US: Lucie Havlickova/Diana Shnaider (CZE/RUS)v

*WHEELCHAIR SLAM DOUBLES TITLES*
[AO-RG-WI-US]
22 - ANIEK VAN KOOT, NED [6-8-3-5]*
21 - Esther Vergeer, NED [7-5-3-6]
18 - Yui Kamiji, JPN [5-3-7-3]*
15 - Diede de Groot, NED [3-5-2-5]*
14 - Jiske Griffioen, NED [5-3-2-4]*
12 - Jordanne Whiley, GBR [3-2-5-2]







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kosova-font










TOP QUALIFIER: Sara Bejlek/CZE (16; youngest in MD)
TOP EARLY-ROUND (1r-2r): Serena Williams/USA (PR/#413; def. #2 Kontaveit; into 3rd Rd. at age 40) and Liudmila Samsonova/RUS (off back-to-back titles; def. '21 RU Fernandez 2r; 12 con. wins/14 con. sets)
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): #17 Caroline Garcia/FRA
TOP LATE-ROUND (SF-F): #1 Iga Swiatek/POL
TOP QUALIFYING MATCH: Q3 - #28 Clara Burel/FRA def. #7 Misaki Doi/JPN 2-6/6-4/7-6(10) - Doi led 6-2/3-1, Burel up 4-2 in 3rd; Burel saves 4 MP at 5-6 down in 3rd (rain before MP #1) and 5th in TB before winning 12-10
TOP EARLY-RD. MATCH (1r-2r): 1st Rd. - (Q) Daria Snigur/UKR def. #7 Simona Halep/ROU 6-2/0-6/6-4 (#124-ranked qualifier gets upset in slam debut)
TOP MIDDLE-RD. MATCH (3r-QF): 3rd Rd. -#21 Petra Kvitova/CZE def. #9 Garbine Muguruza/ESP 5-7/6-3/7-6(10) (Mugu wins 1st from 4-2; Mugu up 5-2 in 3rd, and Kvitova saves 2 MP at 6-5, then won 12-10 MTB on own MP #4)
TOP LATE-RD. MATCH (SF-F): xx
=============================
FIRST VICTORY: Anna Kalinskaya/RUS (def. Peterson/SWE)
FIRST SEED OUT: #7 Simona Halep/ROU (1st Rd./lost to qualifier Snigur/UKR in slam MD debut; 3rd 1r U.S. exit in last five app.)
FIRST SLAM MD WINS: Cristina Bucsa/ESP, Linda Fruhvirtova/CZE, Elli Mandlik/USA, Daria Snigur/UKR, Yuan Yue/CHN
PROTECTED RANKING MD WINS: Evgeniya Rodina/RUS (2r), Serena Williams/USA (3r)
UPSET QUEENS: China
REVELATION LADIES: Ukraine
NATION OF POOR SOULS: GER veterans (Maria/Petkovic/Siegemund 0-3, pregnant Kerber DNP; Petkovic to retire)
CRASH & BURN: #7 Simona Halep/ROU (1r- lost to #124-ranked qualifier Snigur/UKR in slam MD debut)
ZOMBIE QUEEN OF NEW YORK: #6 Aryna Sabalenka/BLR (2nd Rd. - trailed Kanepi 6-2/5-1, Kanepi twice for match and 2 MP in 2nd set TB)
IT ("??"): Nominee: de Groot, Jabeur
Ms.OPPORTUNITY: Nominees: Garcia, Jabeur, Kamiji (WC)
LAST QUALIFIER STANDING: Clara Burel/FRA and Yuan Yue/CHN (both 3rd Rd.)
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: Elli Mandlik/USA (2nd Rd.)
LAST BANNERETTE STANDING: Coco Gauff/USA and Jessie Pegula/USA (both QF)
COMEBACK: Nominees: Rodina, Garcia, Townsend, Marino
VETERAN PLAYER (KIMIKO CUP): Alize Cornet/FRA (63rd con. slam; def. DC Raducanu 1r)
DOUBLES STAR: Nominees: McNally, Sanders, Krejickova/Siniakova
BIG APPLE BANNERETTE BREAKTHROUGH: Nominees: Mandlik, McNally/Townsend
BROADWAY-BOUND: "Danimal After Dark" (Danielle Collins/USA - all four matches in night session)
LADY OF THE EVENING: Serena Williams: The End
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: Alex Eala/PHI







All for Day 13. More tomorrow.

posted by Todd.Spiker @ 2:41 AM 

2 Comments:

Blogger colt13 said...

This match could have been shorter than Gauff's at RG. Swiatek was up 6-2, 3-0, 40-15 in 54 min.

Saved her best match for the final while Jabeur did the same thing over and over again.

Going down the stretch will be real interesting. Badosa as 40% of her points to defend, Kontaveit 50, Muguruza 60. If they were to flame out in every event, Badosa would be around 24, Kontaveit 27, Muguruza 58.

Potoroz favorite is Tomljanovic in a draw that is bottom heavy. Some really good matches there if they happen, though Siniakova still in draw for now.

Stat of the Day- 7- New members of the Top 10 in 1989.

Not counting the debut year of the rankings back in 1975, 1989 was the year in which the highest number of debuts were made during the season.

1989 Top 10 Debut:

Katerina Maleeva
Stephanie Rehe
Arantxa Sanchez Vicario
Conchita Martinez
Mary Joe Fernandez
Monica Seles
Jana Novotna

1989 Ending Top 10:

Graf
Navratilova
Sabatini
Garrison
Sanchez Vicario
Seles
Martinez
Sukova
Manuela Maleeva
Evert

Only 3 ended the year there, but never a bad time to go up the rankings. Rehe is the curious one, as due to an injury at the end of 1988, she reached her career high in a year in which she did not play.

Contrast that to 2021, which had 6 newcomers, all of whom finished in the Top 10.

2021 New Class:

5- Krejcikova
6- Sakkari
7- Kontaveit
8- Badosa
9- Swiatek
10-Jabeur

Well, we know Swiatek and Jabeur will stay at the end of 2022, but will the others? The one that hasn't reached the Top 10 and might before the end of the season is Kudermetova.

Sun Sep 11, 06:59:00 AM EDT  
Blogger Todd.Spiker said...

There's an interesting sort of pressure on those trying to keep their rankings up, but only having one *big* event (Guadalajara 1000) where a single result could make a huge deal... and it's not for six weeks.

At this point in the season, just how many tournaments (and how many consecutively) are they willing to play down the final stretch?

Sun Sep 11, 07:11:00 PM EDT  

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