Wednesday, June 07, 2023

RG.11- Seventh Time Not the Charm

Even two rounds earlier in Paris, the result was the same.




A year ago, #1 Iga Swiatek and #6 Coco Gauff faced off for the Roland Garros singles title. As she had in their previous two meetings, the Pole won in two, claiming her second title in Paris with a 6-1/6-3 win.

Flashforward to today's quarterfinal match-up between the two, and they'd met an additional three times (all on hard court) over the past twelve months. Gauff was still looking for her first victory over the world #1, as well as a way to win even a single set.

By the end of the day, nothing much had changed, except for maybe Gauff seeing a small light at the end of the tunnel in the head-to-head series. As Swiatek is wont to do, she ultimately ran away with a match in which she had a clear -- be it tennis-related, a matter of confidence, or more likely a lethal combination of both -- advantage. Especially on clay, and specifically on the terre battue, where her third trip in four years to the semifinals leaves her with a 26-2 career record in the event.

QUICK! Who are the two players who've beaten Iga in Paris? There will be an actual quiz later.

Gauff at least seemed to *try* some new things this time around, and she did have chances to make a match (or set) of things. But Swiatek eventually found a work-around, while Coco squandered some chances (especially in the 2nd set) that would have at least put Iga into a new position against the 19-year old. But it wasn't meant to be.

Swiatek broke to take a 3-1 lead in the opener, but Gauff bounced back. Up 15/40 on the Pole's serve in the following game, Gauff saw Swiatek sail a forehand off a high-bouncing ball and things were back on serve at 3-2. Holding firm, the teenager saved a BP in game 8 and knotted the score at 4-all.

A game later, Coco just missed a backhand down the line (and a love/30 edge) at love/15 on Iga's serve, then at 15/30 saw the #1 seed expertly pick up a deep return ball that might have tied the hands of most players and deny Gauff the point. Swiatek held for 5-4. A game later, the Pole raced across the mid-court to chase down a wide shot, slid into it and passed Gauff. It was only the first point of game 10, but was key since Gauff dropped the next point and was suddenly down love/30, then triple SP. Swiatek took the 1st at 6-4.



With the score tied at 1-1, Gauff again found herself within arm's reach of "a moment" in which she'd finally put real scoreboard pressure on Iga. Up love/30 on Swiatek's serve, she followed a drop shot to the net and soon found herself face-to-face with the world #1. Rather than play the correct shot -- hitting directly *at* Iga -- after Swiatek had pushed the ball back just over the net, Gauff attempted and sailed a lob over the baseline, missing out on a love/40 lead. Thanks to a Swiatek error, Coco *did* reach 15/40, but flew a forehand long, then did it again on a return. Face-to-face at the net again moments later, this time Gauff played her shot into Swiatek's body, sending her to the dirt, and got a third BP chance. But Coco then sliced a backhand long. Swiatek held for 2-1.

If there was a "moment" to grab in this match, game 3 was it. It didn't happen. And with the proverbial wind behind her, Swiatek sailed back into the semis. After lobbing (of course) over Gauff to garner the necessary edge at 4-2, Iga closed out a 6-4/6-2 win that improved her mark over Gauff to 7-0. But there were enough either/or points to perhaps make their *next* meeting a little bit more interesting.



Still, at some point, Gauff will need to *get* one of these wins in order to jump ahead to "the next chapter" in her tennis story. Not only is she 0-7 vs. Swiatek (0-for-14 in sets, and winning three or fewer games in 11 of them), but she's 1-7 vs. world #1's (0-5 vs. Iga, 0-1 vs. Osaka and 1-1 vs. Barty, with the win coming via an Ash in-match retirement).

Next for Swiatek, who'll assure her continued spot atop the rankings by reaching the final, will be a player against whom she *isn't* undefeated, and one who could also generally out-hit her on a shot-for-shot basis. It might not be an nail-biter, but it's likely a far *truer* test of her continued hegemony over Roland Garros than any of the five matches she's played so far in Paris this year.

We've seen multiple situations already in '23 where Swiatek has looked to be coasting to a title, only to be stopped (even on clay) by a big hitter who has beaten her before and against whom she doesn't have a decided psychological edge because of past history.

There looms a potentially even bigger obstacle, on both fronts, in the final should #2 Aryna Sabalenka, on Swiatek's heels in the rankings and having beaten her twice (including on clay in the Madrid final) in three meetings since their SF in Flushing Meadows last year, win her SF vs. Karolina Muchova (no sure thing).

Maybe, being Roland Garros, the advantage has reverted back to Swiatek's side of the net vs. Sabalenka, but we'd have to see it to know for sure. That would be the relief-filled, important-for-women's-tennis finale to a slam that has too often focused on things that happen *inside* the lines that have nothing to do with things *outside* the lines.

We'll know tomorrow whether we'll get it.

Hmmm, what am I forgetting? Oh yeah...

QUESTON: Swiatek is 26-2 in her RG career. Who are the two women who've beaten her?

A. Halep and Sakkari
B. Krejcikova and Halep
C. Barty and Krejcikova
D. Barty and Sakkari

ANSWER LATER





=DAY 11 NOTES=
...in the early quarterfinal on Wednesday, after years of making history, #7 Ons Jabeur saw history made on the *other* side of the net.



Of course, #14 Beatriz Haddad Maia has been putting down new benchmarks for herself this entire tournament. The Brazilian came to Paris having never advanced past the 2nd Round in eleven slam MD. But there she was, saving MP vs. Ekaterina Alexandrova in the 3rd Round and then winning in 3:51 over Sara Sorribes Tormo to become the first Brazilian to reach the quarterfinals of a slam in 55 years.

Jabeur seemed to finally be "finding" her season again, after minor knee surgery in January and a calf injury in the spring. She'd managed to win a title in Charleston but RG was only her eighth event of the season. In her Round of 16 match, against Bernarda Pera, Jabeur had won easily on the scoreboard, but red flags abounded with a general sloppiness and inability to consistenty hold her serve.

In what turned out to be a very messy match for the groundbreaking Tunisian, Jabeur's serve issues again popped up, as did a collection of loose errors in big moments and sometimes headscratching in-game decisions (way too many drop shots, 25 in all, especially since they just weren't working). In a match that Jabeur led the majority of the time, even when she was seemingly "in charge," if felt like she really *shouldn't* be.

As things turned out, as Jabeur's game and her confidence in it slowly waned and seemingly hit rock bottom, that of Haddad Maia's gradually built up a head of steam until, with her own confidence flowing, the Brazilian burst into and through the deciding 3rd set and bathed herself in the sort of potential glory usually not afforded women's tennis players in her country. Well, at least not for about half a century.

As occurred during the Jabeur/Pera match, the 1st set was a virtual break-fest. Jabeur held in the opening game of the match, and that small edge proved to be the key to claiming the set. Three straight breaks of serve followed, as Jabeur led 3-1. She rallied from 15/40 to hold in game 5, only to lose serve again two games later. Jabeur broke Haddad again and served for the set at 5-3 and, despite generally poor stats, got the hold to close out a 6-3 1st even while barely winning over half (21/40) the points on her serve in the set.

Coming into the day, Jabeur was 11-0 in '23 when she wins the opener.

While there were breaks galore in the 1st, the opposite occurred in the 2nd. In fact, neither player even faced a BP in the first seven games and just one even went to deuce. Yet despite four love holds in the set, Jabeur wasn't able to carve out an advantage with the return game that have been her savior one set earlier. She finally took a 15/40 lead on Haddad Maia's serve in game 11, but overshot a return, then fired a forehand into the net to end an 11-shot rally. With her game becoming increasily error-strewn, Jabeur added a loose forehand error and sprayed a backhand off a slow second serve in the next two points, allowing the Brazilian to hold for 6-5.

Haddad Maia's return winner gave her a BP/SP in the next game, but she missed on a return down the line. On her fifth GP, Jabeur held to force a tie-break, hoping that she could somehow escape to fight another day on the red clay. It was there that the tall Brazilian lefty's chipping away at what had been Jabeur's sure-but-fragile lead turned the match. She claimed both of Jabeur's serve points to go up 3-0, and soon led 5-2. Haddad Maia slightly opened a door with a DF on point #9, but Jabeur shot an open court forehand long and gave Haddad Maia multiple SP at 6-3. After the Tunisian held on two serve points, the Brazilian put away a down the line forehand to win 7-5 and send things to the 3rd.

With Jabeur's game now sagging, Haddad Maia's began to take flight. She broke to open the set, held at love for 2-0, and then whacked a return to take a double-break lead (Jabeur was seen rubbing her left leg between points). After getting one break back, Jabeur saved three BP in game 5, but gave Haddad Maia a fourth try when she thought her corner serve (called in) was out and remarkably simply kicked back Haddad Maia's return shot at her feet rather than play out the point. The chair umpire checked the mark (honestly, it *looked* in) and confirmed the call, though HawkEye said that it was slightly out (I really think that was one of those "margin of error" things). At any rate, Haddad Maia then converted on her fourth BP chance to lead 4-1.

Needing a break to stay close in the match, Jabeur had four BP opportunities in the next game. On her best chance, she hooked a slow-bouncing mid-court ball outside the lines (she bounced her racked in frustration). Haddad held for 5-1. It was all over but the handshake, which *would* occur after this one (along with a hug, per usual from the "Minister of Happiness").

A Jabeur DF put her down love/40 a game later, and on Haddad Maia's second MP the Tunisian (appropriately) committed the match-ending error as the Brazilian won 3-6/7-6(5)/6-1.



The victory, Haddad Maia's third consecutive after dropping the 1st set, makes her the first Brazilian to reach a slam semifinal since seven-time slam winner Maria Bueno at the U.S. Open in 1968, and the first to do it in Paris in the Open era (Bueno did it in '66, and reached the final in '64). Haddad Maia -- ranked #358 at the start of '21 after a suspension and the pandemic kept her out of action for over a year -- will now become the first Brazilian to crack the Top 10 since the tour rankings began in 1975.



Haddad Maia faces Iga Swiatek in the semis. The Brazilian defeated her in their only meeting, last year on hard court in Toronto.

...while Coco Gauff's singles journey ended today, she knew she and Jessie Pegula were still alive in the WD semis a year after reaching the final in Paris. Today the #2 seeds learned their next opponents. They'll be #10 seeds Leylah Fernandez & Taylor Townsend, who defeated the #14-seeded Chan sisters. Hsieh Su-wei & Wang Xinyu defeated #15 seeded Hordettes V.Kudermetova/Samsonova to take the other final four spot for the right to face #6 Nicole Melichar-Martinez & Ellen Perez.

...the mixed doubles' is the first competition to have its finals competitors lined up.

Bianca Andreescu & Michael Venus, who got into the draw as alternates, defeated Gaby Dabrowski/Nathaniel Lammons in today's semis as Andreescu reaches her first slam final of any kind since winning the U.S. Open singles title in 2019.

The pair will face Miyu Kato (yes, *that* Miyu Kato) and Tim Putz, who won the other semi over Aldila Sutjiada (yes, *that* Aldila Sutjiadi) and Matwe Middelkoop. So, one of the DQ'd doubles duo was at least assured of playing for a title this week.



It'll be a first career WD/MX slam title for the winner.

For Andreescu, of course, it would move her just a WD slam away from a very sneaky collection of trophies from all three slam disciplines. The only active women who've done it are Venus Williams and Barbora Krejcikova. Victoria Azarenka has come close, winning two WS and MX crowns each but coming up short in four WD finals at three different slams.

...in wheelchair play, Diede de Groot recorded her 101st straight win (31st in a slam) with a 1 & 4 (hmm, that 2nd set was a bit close) win over Pastry Pauline Deroulede, who notches her second "L" in the Dutch #1's streak. Next up is #4 Momoko Ohtani (w/ 8 losses of the 101). De Groot has won 196 of her last 202 sets.

#2 Yui Kamiji got her 69th consecutive non-de Groot with a 6-1/6-1 win over Katharina Kruger. She'll face #3 Jiske Griffioen. Griffioen was the RG champ in 2015 before her retirement in 2017, and is still seeking her first major final appearance since her return to slam competition last season. Kamiji has won four RG singles titles, one of the few categories where she's still got an edge over de Groot (who has three).

WC doubles action got underway today, and top-seeded Kamiji & Kgothatso Montjane advanced to the semis. De Groot doesn't play until tomorrow, but finds herself unseeded while playing alongside Argentina's Maria Florencia Moreno, subbing for the injured Aniek Van Koot.

...the girls' singles QF are set, and AO champ Alina Korneeva (#3 seed) is still alive for a second straight title. She's joined by three other unseeded Hordettes (one a qualifier) in the final eight along with #2 Clervie Ngounoue (USA), #6 Lucciana Alarcon Perez (PER), #8 Mayu Crossley (JPN).

Russian Alevtina Ibragimova is the only holdover other than Korneeva from the junior QF in Melbourne.

In junior doubles, the chances for back-to-back slam titles remains alive, as well. Barely.

AO champs Renata Jamrichova & Federica Urgesi (#3 seeds) saved a MP vs. Italians Francesca Pace and Alessandra Teodosescu at 9-8 in the deciding MTB, sweeping the final three points to win 11-9.




*WOMEN'S SINGLES SF*
#1 Iga Swiatek/POL vs. #14 Beatriz Haddad Maia/BRA
Karolina Muchova/CZE vs. #2 Aryna Sabalenka/BLR

=WOMEN'S DOUBLES SF=
#6 Melichar-Martinez/Perez (USA/AUS) vs. (PR) Hsieh S-w./Wang Xinyu (TPE/CHN)
#10 Fernandez/Townsend (CAN/USA) vs. #2 Gauff/Pegula (USA/USA)

=MIXED DOUBLES FINAL=
Kato/Putz (JPN/GER) vs. (Alt.) Andreescu/Venus (CAN/NZL)

=WHEELCHAIR SINGLES SF=
#1 Diede de Groot/NED vs. #4 Momoko Ohtani/JPN
#3 Jiske Griffioen/NED vs. #2 Yui Kamiji/JPN

=WHEELCHAIR DOUBLES QF=
#1 Kamiji/Montjane (JPN/RSA) def. Bernal/Funamizu (COL/JPN)
Mathewson/Shuker (USA/GBR) vs. Deroulede/Morch (FRA/FRA)
de Groot/Moreno (NED/ARG) vs. Griffioen/Ohtani (NED/JPN)
#2 Tanaka/Zhu (JPN/CHN) def. Cabrillana/Kruger (CHI/GER)

=GIRLS SINGLES QF=
Alevtina Ibragimova/RUS vs. #6 Lucciana Perez Alarcon/PER
Rebecca Munk Mortensen/DEN vs. Anastasiia Gureva/RUS
#8 Mayu Crossley/JPN vs. #3 Alina Korneeva/RUS
Alisa Oktiabreva/RUS vs. #2 Clervie Ngounoue/USA

=GIRLS DOUBLES QF=
#1 Korneeva/Saito (RUS/JPN) vs. Stoiber/Xu (GBR/GBR)
#3 Jamrichova/Urgesi (SVK/ITA) vs. #7 Gae/McDonald (ROU/GBR)
Gureva/Kinoshita (RUS/JPN) vs. #4 Ishii/Koike (JPN/JPN)
#6 Grant/Ngounoue (USA/USA) vs. Kovackova/L.Samsonova (CZE/CZE)







...STOP WITH THAT STUFF, TC... ON DAY 11:


You can't say that Swiatek is the first player since Conchita Martinez in 1995 to reach the SF in Paris while losing 15 or fewer games and *not* also note that Iga won one round while only playing 6 total games (Tsurenko ret. 5-1 down). Context.


...AS MUCH AS SHE IRKED ME IN HER PLAYING DAYS... ON DAY 11:


I like post-tennis Kim more and more all the time.





...HMMM... ON DAY 11:


I somehow missed Roland Garros' salute to de Groot's 100th straight win yesterday. Good for them!




Although I think Esther Vergeer might have something to say about the inconceivable use of the word "unprecedented."

via GIPHY






...LOADING... ON DAY 11:

Waiting for the inevitable excited tweet from Vika Azarenka about Lionel Messi coming to Miami.



...NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS IN THIS ONE... ON DAY 11:

"History says the numbers will win out in the end, or I'm not, well, you know." - The Numbers Guy




So, if Djokovic gets the win over Alcaraz and manages to win this title, he returns to New York later this summer with a Grand Slam on his racket, right?





















kosova-font






No, I didn't forget. The answer to the flash quiz was A -- Halep (2019 4th Rd., 6-1/6-0) and Sakkari (2021 QF, 6-4/6-4)








kosova-font

*RECENT TOP 10 SINGLES DEBUTS*
2020 [1] Kenin
2021 [6] Swiatek,Krejcikova,Sakkari,Jabeur,Kontaveit,Badosa
2022 [5] Collins,Pegula,Raducanu,Gauff,V.Kudermetova
2023 [2] Haddad Maia,Rybakina

*WTA TOP 10 DEBUTS - SOUTH AMERICA*
=ARGENTINA (2)=
1985 Gabriela Sabatini
2004 Paula Suarez
=BRAZIL (1)=
2023 Beatriz Haddad Maia

*CAREER SLAM SF - active*
23 - Venus Williams, USA (16-7)
9 - Victoria Azarenka, BLR (6-3)
9 - Simona Halep, ROU (5-4)
8 - Angelique Kerber, GER (4-4)
7 - Petra Kvitova, CZE (3-4)
5 - Madison Keys, USA (1-4)
5 - Svetlana Kuznetsova, RUS (4-1)
5 - Garbine Muguruza, ESP (4-1)
5 - Aryna Sabalenka, BLR (1-3)*
5 - Iga Swiatek, POL (3-1) *
4 - Naomi Osaka, JPN (4-0)
4 - Karolina Pliskova, CZE (2-2)
4 - Vera Zvonareva, RUS (2-2)
3 - Genie Bouchard, CAN (1-2)
3 - Sara Errani, ITA (1-2)
3 - Sloane Stephens, USA (2-1)
2 - Jennifer Brady, USA (1-1)
2 - Danielle Collins, USA (1-1)
2 - Ons Jabeur, TUN (2-0)
2 - Sofia Kenin, USA (2-0)
2 - Sabine Lisicki, GER (1-1)
2 - Karolina Muchova, CZE (0-1) *
2 - Alona Ostapenko, LAT (1-1)
2 - Elena Rybakina, KAZ (2-0)
2 - Maria Sakkari, GRE (0-2)
2 - Elina Svitolina, UKR (0-2)
2 - CoCo Vandeweghe, USA (0-2)
--
*-to play SF

[SLAM SF 2020-23]
5 - Aryna Sabalenka, BLR (1-3)*
5 - Iga Swiatek, POL (3-1) *
3 - Ash Barty, AUS (2-1)
2 - Victoria Azarenka, BLR (1-1)
2 - Jennifer Brady, USA (1-1)
2 - Simona Halep, ROU (0-2)
2 - Ons Jabeur, TUN (2-0)
2 - Sofia Kenin, USA (2-0)
2 - Karolina Muchova, CZE (0-1)*
2 - Naomi Osaka, JPN (2-0)
2 - Elena Rybakina, KAZ (2-0)
2 - Maria Sakkari, GRE (0-2)
2 - Serena Williams, USA (0-2)
1 - Danielle Collins, USA (1-0)
1 - Leylah Fernandez, CAN (1-0)
1 - Caroline Garcia, FRA (0-1)
1 - Coco Gauff, USA (1-0)
1 - Beatriz Haddad Maia, BRA (0-0) *
1 - Dasha Kasatkina, RUS (0-1)
1 - Angelique Kerber, GER (0-1)
1 - Madison Keys, USA (0-1)
1 - Barbora Krejcikova, CZE (1-0)
1 - Martina Trevisan, ITA (0-1)
1 - Petra Kvitova, CZE (0-1)
1 - Magda Linette, POL (0-1)
1 - Tatjana Maria, GER (0-1)
1 - Garbina Muguruza, ESP (1-0)
1 - Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, RUS (1-0)
1 - Karolina Pliskova, CZE (1-0)
1 - Nadia Podoroska, ARG (0-1)
1 - Emma Raducanu, GBR (1-0)
1 - Tamara Zidansek, SLO (0-1)
--
*-to play SF

[2023 SLAM SF BY NATION]
3 - BLR (1-1)*
2 - POL (0-1)*
1 - KAZ (1-0)
1 - BRA (0-0)*
1 - CZE (0-0)*

[SLAM SF BY NATION 2020-23 / 13 slams]
9 - USA (5-4)
7 - BLR (2-4)*
6 - POL (3-2)*
5 - CZE (2-2)*
3 - AUS (2-1)
2 - GER (0-2)
2 - GRE (0-2)
2 - JPN (2-0)
2 - KAZ (2-0)
2 - ROU (0-2)
2 - RUS (1-1)
2 - TUN (2-0)
1 (W) - CAN,GBR,ESP
1 (L) - ARG,FRA,SLO,ITA
1 (-) - BRA*

[2023 RG SEMIFINALISTS - career RG SF]
1 - Iga Swiatek
1 - Beatriz Haddad Maia
1 - Karolina Muchova
1 - Aryna Sabalenka

[2023 RG SEMIFINALISTS - consecutive Slam SF]
3 - Aryna Sabalenka

[2023 RG SEMIFINALISTS - career RG W/L]
26-2...Swiatek
12-5...Sabalenka
10-4...Muchova
6-2...Haddad Maia

[2023 RG SEMIFINALISTS - career Slam W/L]
59-13...Swiatek
48-19...Sabalenka
32-16...Muchova
12-11...Haddad Maia

*LOW-SEED RG SEMIFINALISTS - since 2000*
#31...Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, 2021 (RU)
#30...Timea Bacsinszky, 2017
#30...Samantha Stosur, 2009
#28...Andrea Petkovic, 2014
#26...Johanna Konta, 2019
#23...Timea Bacsinszky, 2015
#21...Samantha Stosur, 2016
#21...Sara Errani, 2012 (RU)
#21...Mary Pierce, 2005 (W)
#20...Dasha Kasatkina, 2022
#20...Dominika Cibulkova, 2009
#18...Coco Gauff, 2022 (RU)
#18...Genie Bouchard, 2014
#17...Francesca Schiavone, 2010 (W)
#17...Maria Sakkari, 2021
#16...Elena Likhovtseva, 2005
#16...Nicole Vaidisova, 2006
#14...BEATRIZ HADDAD MAIA, 2023
#14...Paola Suarez, 2004
#14...Justine Henin, 2001

*"FIRST SLAM..." FEATS IN 2020s*
=SF=
2020 AO - Sofia Kenin, USA (12th)
2020 US - Jennifer Brady, USA (13th)
2020 RG - Nadia Podoroska, ARG (2nd)
2020 RG - Iga Swiatek, POL (7th)
2021 AO - Karolina Muchova, CZE (9th)
2021 RG - Barbora Krejcikova, CZE (5th)
2021 RG - Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, RUS (52nd)
2021 RG - Maria Sakkari, GRE (21st)
2021 RG - Tamara Zidansek, SLO (9th)
2021 WI - Aryna Sabalenka, BLR (15th)
2021 US - Leylah Fernandez, CAN (7th)
2021 US - Emma Raducanu, GBR (2nd)
2022 AO - none
2022 RG - Coco Gauff, USA (10th)
2022 RG - Dasha Kasatkina, RUS (26th)
2022 RG - Martina Trevisan, ITA (8th)
2022 WI - Ons Jabeur, TUN (21st)
2022 WI - Tatjana Maria, GER (35th)
2022 WI - Elena Rybakina, KAZ (12th)
2022 US - Caroline Garcia, FRA (42nd)
2023 AO - Magda Linette, POL (30th)
2023 RG - Beatriz Haddad Maia, BRA (12th)
=F=
2020 AO - Sofia Kenin, USA (12th)
2020 RG - Iga Swiatek, POL (7th)
2021 AO - Jennifer Brady, USA (15th)
2021 RG - Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, RUS (52nd)
2021 RG - Barbora Krejcikova, CZE (5th)
2021 US - Leylah Fernandez, CAN (7th)
2021 US - Emma Raducanu, GBR (2nd)
2022 AO - Danielle Collins, USA (17th)
2022 RG - Coco Gauff, USA (10th)
2022 WI - Ons Jabeur, TUN (21st)
2022 WI - Elena Rybakina, KAZ (12th)
2023 AO - Aryna Sabalenka, BLR (20th)

*SOUTH AMERICANS IN SLAM SF - Open era*
[Argentina]
1974 RG - Racquel Giscafre
1985 RG - Gabriela Sabatini
1986 WI - Gabriela Sabatini
1987 RG - Gabriela Sabatini
1988 RG - Gabriela Sabatini
1988 US - Gabriela Sabatini (RU)
1989 AO - Gabriela Sabatini
1989 AO - Gabriela Sabatini
1990 WI - Gabriela Sabatini
1990 US - Gabriela Sabatini (W)
1991 RG - Gabriela Sabatini
1991 WI - Gabriela Sabatini (RU)
1992 AO - Gabriela Sabatini
1992 RG - Gabriela Sabatini
1992 WI - Gabriela Sabatini
1993 AO - Gabriela Sabatini
1994 AO - Gabriela Sabatini
1994 US - Gabriela Sabatini
1995 US - Gabriela Sabatini
2002 RG - Clarisa Fernandez
2004 RG - Paola Suarez
2020 RG - Nadia Podoroska
[Brazil]
1968 US - Maria Bueno
2023 RG - Beatriz Haddad Maia
[Colombia]
2004 AO - Fabiola Zuluaga

*BEST 2022 SLAM RESULTS*
[qualifiers]
AO 3rd Rd. - Cristina Bucsa, ESP
AO 3rd Rd. - Katie Volynets, USA
RG 3rd Rd. - Clara Tauson, DEN
AO 2nd Rd. - Clara Burel, FRA
AO 2nd Rd. - Anna Karolina Schmiedlova, SVK
AO 2nd Rd. - Diana Shnaider, RUS
AO 2nd Rd. - Lucrezia Stefanini, ITA
RG 2nd Rd. - Mirra Andreeva, RUS
RG 2nd Rd. - Olga Danilovic, SRB
RG 2nd Rd. - Kayla Day, USA
RG 2nd Rd. - Storm Hunter, AUS
RG 2nd Rd. - Iryna Shymanovich, BLR
RG 2nd Rd. - Simona Waltert, SUI

[wild cards]
AO 2nd Rd. - Kimberly Birrell, AUS
AO 2nd Rd. - Olivia Gadecki, AUS
AO 2nd Rd. - Taylor Townsend, USA
RG 2nd Rd. - Leolia Jeanjean, FRA
RG 2nd Rd. - Emma Navarro, USA
RG 2nd Rd. - Diane Parry, FRA

[lucky losers]
RG 4th Rd. - Elina Avanesyan, RUS
RG 2nd Rd. - Aliona Bolsova, ESP
RG 2nd Rd. - Camila Osorio, COL
AO - none to 2nd Rd.

[protected ranking]
RG QF - Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, RUS
RG QF - Elina Svitolina, UKR
RG 4th Rd. - Sara Sorribes Tormo, ESP
AO 3rd Rd. - Laura Siegemund, GER
AO 2nd Rd. - Marketa Vondrousova, CZE
AO 2nd Rd. - Karolina Muchova, CZE
AO 2nd Rd. - Nadia Podoroska, ARG

*2023 WTA SF*
6 - ARYNA SABALENKA (6-0)
6 - IGA SWIATEK (4-1)
4 - Elena Rybakina (4-0)
4 - Jessie Pegula (1-3)
4 - Veronika Kudermetova (0-3+L)
4 - Maria Sakkari (0-4)
3 - Belinda Bencic (2-0+W)
3 - Ons Jabeur (1-2)
[South America]=
2 - BEATRIZ HADDAD MAIA, BRA (0-1)
1 - Camila Osorio, COL (0-1)
1 - Julia Riera, ARG (0-1)
[BY NATION; w/o as W/L]=
15 - USA (5-10)
13 - RUS (5-8)
7 - BLR (5-1)*
7 - POL (4-2)*
6 - CZE (3-2)*
4 - KAZ (4-0)
4 - CHN (1-3)
4 - GRE (0-4)
4 - UKR (3-1)
3 - ITA (3-0)
3 - SUI (3-0)
3 - FRA (2-1)
3 - TUN (1-2)
2 - CRO (2-0)
2 - ESP (1-1)
2 - BRA (0-1)*
2 - BEL (0-2)
2 - ROU (0-2)
1 - AUT (1-0)
1 - GER (1-0)
1 - SWE (1-0)
1 - ARG (0-1)
1 - BEL (0-1)
1 - CAN (0-1)
1 - COL (0-1)
1 - GBR (0-1)
1 - LAT (0-1)
1 - MNE (0-1)
--
28 nations

*RG "LADY OF THE EVENING" WINNERS*
2021 Serena Williams/USA & Irina-Camelia Begu/ROU (1st Chatrier night)
2022 Alize Cornet vs. Alona Ostapenko
2023 Aryna Sabalenka, BLR

*RECENT BEST U.S. WOMEN'S SLAM RESULTS*
=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 (4th)
=2022=
AO: Danielle Collins (RU)
RG: Coco Gauff (RU)
WI: Amanda Anisimova (QF)
US: Coco Gauff and Jessie Pegula (QF)
=2023=
AO: Jessie Pegula (QF)
RG: Coco Gauff (QF)



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TOP QUALIFIER: Mirra Andreeva/RUS (16; youngest in MD)
TOP EARLY-ROUND (1r-2r): (Q) Mirra Andreeva/RUS (6 games lost in fewest in field; 10 con. sets Q+MD)
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): #14 Beatriz Haddad Maia/BRA
TOP LATE-ROUND (SF-F): xx
TOP QUALIFYING MATCH: Q1: #29 Brenda Fruhvirtova/CZE def. Antonia Ruzic/CRO 3-6/6-2/7-6(10) - Ruzic MP in MTB; B.Fruhvirtova qualifies for first RG
TOP EARLY-RD. MATCH (1r-2r): 2nd Rd. - Anna Blinkova/RUS def. #5 Caroline Garcia/FRA 4-6/6-3/7-5 (Garcia saves 8 MP, but Blinkova gets upset on #9)
TOP MIDDLE-RD. MATCH (3r-QF): 4th Rd. - #14 Beatriz Haddad Maia/BRA def. Sara Sorribes Tormo/ESP 6-7(3)/6-3/7-5 - 3:51 is third longest RG in Open era
TOP LATE-RD. MATCH (SF-F/Jr.-WC): xx
=============================
FIRST VICTORY: Magdalena Frech/POL (def. Sh.Zhang)
FIRST SEED OUT: #29 Zhang Shuai/CHN (1r: Frech/POL)
FIRST SLAM MD WINS: M.Andreeva/RUS, Avanesyan/RUS, Grabher/AUT, Navarro/USA, Noskova/CZE, Shymanovich/BLR, Stearns/USA, Waltert/SUI
UPSET QUEENS: ITA
REVELATION LADIES: RUS (11-2 1st Rd.)
NATION OF POOR SOULS: CZE (3-9 1st Rd.; four seeds out 1r; Krejcikova 0-2 since '21 title)
LAST QUALIFIER STANDING: Mirra Andreeva/RUS, Olga Danilovic/SRB, Kayla Day/USA, Clara Tauson/DEN (all 3rd Rd.)
LAST LUCKY LOSER STANDING: Elina Avanesyan/RUS (4th Rd.)
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: Leolia Jeanjean/FRA, Emma Navarro/USA & Diane Parry/FRA (all 2nd Rd.)
PROTECTED RANKING WINS: Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova/RUS (QF), Elina Svitolina/UKR (QF); Sara Sorribes Tormo/ESP (4r)
LAST PASTRY STANDING: Oceane Dodin, Caroline Garcia, Leolia Jeanjean & Diane Parry (all 2nd Rd.)
Ms./Mademoiselle OPPORTUNITY: Beatriz Haddad Maia/BRA (first BRA slam QF since '68) Additional nominees: Jabeur, Muchova
IT "One-Name Teen": Mirra Andreeva/RUS
COMEBACK PLAYER: Elina Svitolina, UKR
CRASH & BURN: Barbora Krejcikova/CZE (0-2 since winning '21 title; 24 con. slam WD streak ends)
ZOMBIE QUEEN OF PARIS: Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (2nd Rd.: down 5-2 3rd vs. Samsonova; #333 second-lowest ranked RG 4r; 4th Rd.: down set and 3-1, w/ 7 BP for 4-1 vs. Mertens)
DOUBLES STAR: Nominees: Kato, Andreescu, Gauff/Pegula, Fernandez/Townsend, Melichar-M./Perez
VETERAN PLAYER (KIMIKO CUP): Nominees: Hsieh, WC player, Tsurenko (34; oldest in 4r)
Mademoiselle/Madame OF THE EVENING: Aryna Sabalenka/BLR (won only women's night session match)
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: Nominee: Perez Alarcon, Abragimova/Oktiabreva/Gureva, Munk Mortensen
Légion de Lenglen: UKR/RUS-BLR controversies
Coupe LA PETIT TAUREAU: 20th Anniv. of Justine Henin's first RG title in 2003






All for Day 11. More tomorrow.

posted by Todd.Spiker @ 7:21 PM 

1 Comments:

Blogger colt13 said...

Gauff's storyline is such that she may have to beat Swiatek at a major to win one. Grass offers that opportunity.

Stat of the Day- 2- The number of women left with a slam title.

Those two have won the last 2 slams, can Muchova or Haddad Maia put a different name on the list?

Sabalenka will be 1/2 with final, 1 with title.

Swiatek will be 1/2 with final, 1 with title.

Haddad Maia will be 8 with final, 6 with title.

Muchova will be 16 with final, 10/11 with title.

Swiatek would be first woman from Poland to win since she did so last year, or at any slam since she won US Open in 2022.

Sabalenka would be first woman from Belarus to reach final. Note: Natasha Zvereva represented USSR in 1988 final. First to win at any slam since the last slam, which means Grand Slam still in play.

Haddad Maia would be first woman from Brazil to win here, first to reach final since Maria Bueno in 1964, first to win slam since Bueno at US Open in 1966.

Muchova would be first Czech to win since Krejcikova in 2021, first to reach slam final anywhere since Pliskova at Wimbledon 2021.

H2H:

5-3 Swiatek leads Sabalenka/3-1 Clay
1-0 Muchova leads Swiatek/1-0 Clay
1-0 Haddad Maia leads Swiatek
1-0 Sabalenka leads Muchova
1-0 Muchova leads Haddad Maia

0-0 Haddad Maia/Sabalenka

Clay- Last 3 Years:

57-18 Haddad Maia
54-6 Swiatek
41-12 Sabalenka
17-9 Muchova

WTA Only:

12-6 Haddad Maia

Top 10 Wins-Last 3 Years:

26- Swiatek
14- Sabalenka
8 - Haddad Maia
7 - Muchova

Sakkari has the dubious honor of losing to each twice.

51/49 Muchova over Sabalenka. This is a really good mix of styles. The lack of pace Muchova gives makes this ripe for an upset. For Sabalenka to win, she needs to do what she has done so far, and that is force Muchova to move, then hit to the open court.

65/35 Swiatek over Haddad Maia. Unlike Gauff, Haddad Maia should have confidence, with a win over Swiatek in the last year. The other things that help is that she has a height advantage, something that Rybakina uses well against Swiatek. Another is that she is willing to play long points, and might be the rare person with a physical advantage. Her road to the upset is to wear her down. Swiatek's road to the win is to be a frontrunner, and squash any hope Haddad Maia has.

Thu Jun 08, 07:08:00 AM EDT  

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