Wk.20- Iga with a Dirty Double
The taste of victory! pic.twitter.com/7SRhWqPVGM
— Jimmie48 Photography (@JJlovesTennis) May 18, 2024
A familiar sight ????@iga_swiatek | #IBI24 pic.twitter.com/UZAkdQmXbg
— wta (@WTA) May 18, 2024
Pure joy ??@iga_swiatek | #IBI24 pic.twitter.com/6RDMv6tarb
— wta (@WTA) May 18, 2024
Aryna Sabalenka after losing to Iga Swiatek in Rome final:
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) May 18, 2024
“This time I’m not gonna forget, I’m gonna start with Iga. Congrats on an incredible couple weeks. I hope we’re gonna make it to the final of Roland Garros and I’m gonna get you there. Just kidding. At least I’ll try to… pic.twitter.com/HpHIMNq4ew
Fact is, Sabalenka's best chance at RG might be for a draw that sets up Swiatek with a possible meeting with Elena Rybakina in the semis. After all, while Rybakina has mastered Iga better than (mostly) any other player (Alona is 4-0), the Kazakh is still no sure thing when it comes to winning finals. It's worth noting that for as brightly as #4 Rybakina (5 finals, 3 titles, 30-5 w/ wins over Iga, Aryna and Collins) has often shined in '24, both #2 Sabalenka and #3 Gauff are more points ahead of *her* in the rankings than Rybakina is ahead of #5 Jessie Pegula. Meanwhile, Gauff has yet to reach her summer of '23 level this season, but that *was* a tough act to follow. It's easy to ignore that Coco's somewhat "lesser" campaign has so far nevertheless included Australian Open, Indian Wells and (now) Rome semis, and a singles title in Auckland. A previous semifinalist at the Italian Open in '21, Gauff this time around got past the likes of Magdalena Frech, Jaqueline Cristian (in 3, after losing the 2nd at love), Paula Badosa (also in 3) and Zheng Qinwen (her first Top 10 win of the season, and first on clay in three years since Ash Barty retired in the Rome QF in '21 to give her her maiden #1 win).
How about this for a start from @CocoGauff? ??
— wta (@WTA) May 16, 2024
Breaks Swiatek for an early lead in the semifinal!#IBI24 pic.twitter.com/jybZn2FEXy
In her latest shot at Iga Swiatek, Coco played well early, taking a 2-0 lead, dropping serve in game #3 but saving BP in two other service holds while the set coasted down the stretch to 4-all. But her day collapsed in game 9, as Gauff squanderd a 40/love lead and was broken, DF'ing on the final two points. Swiatek held to take the set, and the rest was almost preordained in a 6-4/6-3 win that dropped Gauff to 1-10 vs. the Polish #1. Gauff heads to Paris having reached at least the RG QF three years running, including reaching the final twice. Gauff also played into the doubles final alongside Erin Routliffe.
Anna Karolina Schmiedlova pic.twitter.com/pxmfxPOd3T
— ken mckinnon (@kenmckinnon13) May 18, 2024
?????????????? ???? ?????????? ?????????????? ??
— Tenis España (@RFETenis) May 19, 2024
Ariana Geerlings consigue el tercer ?? profesional de su carrera en el internacional W15 de Kursumlijska Banja, ganando a la local Anja Stankovic 7-6(2) 6-7(2) 6-4.
¡Bravo! pic.twitter.com/e30PIL2cMT
Meanwhile, 18-year old Spaniard Geerlings claimed her third ITF title of the spring, picking up a third $15K crown in Kursumlijska Banja (SRB) with a 7–6(2)/6–7(2)/6–4 win in the final over Anja Stankovic. After having been 19-13 as a pro in 2022-23 (reaching her maiden final last November), Geerlings is 22-9 this year.
Are you not entertained, Rome?
— Jimmie48 Photography (@JJlovesTennis) May 15, 2024
Danielle Collins is through into the semi-finals in the Foro Italico. pic.twitter.com/0mHwVX73IQ
Danielle Collins blows a kiss as she reaches her 3rd WTA 1000 SF in Rome ??
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) May 15, 2024
Completely uninhibited.
Totally herself. ?? pic.twitter.com/7KpzuKkaPB
Thankfully, unlike last year, Azarenka hasn't fallen into the pattern of being too nicked-up to carry over the fine start to her season. In 2023, after her 10-4 start, she ultimately had as many walkovers as wins in the important Madrid/Rome/RG clay stretch. After a 10-3 start in '24, though, Azarenka has continued to post good results (and play *enough* to get them), coming out of Rome on a similar 10-4 run since her early exit in Indian Wells. Vika is 6-3 on the dirt this season, just one win shy of her high season total of 7 since the 2013 season. The veteran got wins in Rome over Magda Linette and Mayar Sherif, then recorded her first Top 10 win on clay since 2020 by topping Maria Sakkari. Collins proved too much to handle in the QF (continuing a recent theme for the Bannerette), but Azarenka stands on the verge (at #21) of re-entering the Top 20 for the first time since last October.
2013 runner up Victoria Azarenka, a former world #1, beats #8 Maria Sakkari 6-4, 6-1 to reach the QFs in Rome for an amazing 7th (!) time.
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) May 13, 2024
Surely the best match I've seen her play in 2024. pic.twitter.com/iwWwJjGxQ7
CO TAM SIE DZIEJE W TYM MECZU SRAMKOVA- OSTAPENKO pic.twitter.com/BBfJniQali
— Paulina (@catsloveer) May 13, 2024
...okay, so it's not really a *comeback*, per se, since Ostapenko has had a very good year and is in the Top 10. But it fits the narrative (and the categories) for this week. Ostapenko Watchers, as always, are looking for something that might foretell the ignition of the sort of rocket-launch run that could burn through a two-week slam stretch. It's about timing. The Latvian has been riding her personal Tilt-a-Penko all season, opening 14-2, then immediately falling into a 5-6 trough of results. Heading into Paris, though, she's turned the arrow back upward (but not *so* sharply to believe think that she's peaked *before* Roland Garros, so hope still springs for now), following up her Madrid Round of 16 with a Rome QF that leaves her on a 5-2 upturn as she leaves Italy. A semifinalist at the event last year (and quarterfinalist in 2018 and '21), Osatpenko strung together wins over Anastasia Potapova, Sara Sorribes Tormo and, in one of the matches of the tournament, determined qualifier Rebecca Sramkova. Against the Slovak, Ostapenko rallied from 3-1 down in the 3rd (Sramkova served for the win at 5-4) and won a slugfest in which she was actually out-winnered by her opponent.
Sramkova vs Ostapenko match summary : pic.twitter.com/v6XNrMIY6l
— Jess ?? (@jessica4stein) May 14, 2024
Ostapenko went down in straights to Aryna Sabalenka in the QF. But we're a week away from finding out whether Alona has a final spring flourish left in her for the terre battue. Elsewhere, it's been nearly two full years since Niemeier's stunning Wimbledon QF (and nearly SF) run, then Round of 16 U.S. Open follow-up. Injuries and a lot of L's have followed (she was 16-29 in '23), but the now 24-year old's fortunes have made a significant jump forward in '24. She came into the Parma 125 ranked at #105, with a pair of $100K finals to her credit this season. The German took out Maria Lourdes Carle (love 3rd set), Ankita Raina and Zeynep Sonmez to reach her fourth SF of the year, where a veteran Slovak, aka "AKS," aka "Schmiedy" stood between her and another final.
Finding Niemeier
— Tick Tock Tennis (@TickTockTennis) May 16, 2024
Just before Rome, Jule Niemeier reached the final of the ITF 100 event in Wiesbaden.
Now, the German is making another deep run at the WTA 125 in Parma, weathering several rain delays to defeat Zeynep Sonmez, 6-3, 7-5.
Next Up: Anna Karolina Schmiedlova pic.twitter.com/52S5TmDEJx
The semifinal against Anna Karolina Schmiedlova turned into a circus on the scoreboard. Lasting 3:38, both players saved six MP (Niemeier 6 in the 2nd, AKS 6 in the 3rd), with the German winning a 13-11 TB to force a deciding set, which began with six straight breaks of serve. After staging such a massive comeback, Niemeier would then to fail to serve out the match with a 5-4, 40/15 lead. Niemeier, at 25-15 on the year, will still climb back into the Top 100 for the first time since last August. She was ranked as low as #175 in October.
Diana Shnaider is the Champion of Paris WTA 125??
— Melanie Lautrup (@melanie_lautrup) May 19, 2024
- She defeated Navarro 6-2, 3-6, 6-4.
- It’s her second WTA 125 title and second title of the year, following her victory at Hua Hin 250
- She moves up to 47 in the rankings, a career high pic.twitter.com/vFSxDtXCgj
Navarro (in her 23rd birthday week) didn't drop a set en route to the final, never losing more than three games in any of her eight sets (and just 10 overall in four matches), while 20-year old Shnaider had to fight off Elsa Jacquemot in a 3:11 three-setter in the 2nd Round, saving 14 BP at 4-4 in the 3rd and then rallying from 4-1 down in the deciding TB. But when they met to decide the champion it was the Hordette prevailing, 6-2/3-6/6-4. Both have spread their new success around in 2024, winning maiden tour titles (Shnaider in Hua Hin, Navarro in Hobart) and also reaching 125 title matches (Navarro here, w/ Shnaider going 1-1). Both even lost in three-set affairs vs. Paula Badosa during the first weekend of play in Rome. While Navarro (#23 on Monday) won't climb back into the Top 20 with this result (the title would have done it), Shnaider will crack the Top 50 for the first time, going from #62 to #47.
?? ¡Moyuka Uchijima es la campeona del III Open Villa de Madrid! La ???? derrota en la final a una combativa ???? Leyre Romero en la final por 5-7, 6-4 y 7-5 | #ITFWorldTennisTour pic.twitter.com/kKQj9Skrk4
— Federación de Tenis de Madrid (@fedetenismadrid) May 19, 2024
Outstanding from Moyuka Uchijima ????
— Chris Goldsmith (@TheTennisTalker) May 19, 2024
3 big ITF titles in 3 different countries in the last 3 weeks over 2 continents
W100 Madrid ?? ????
W75 Trnava ?? ????
W100 Gifu ?? ????
Didn't just break into the top 100 she is way up to WTA 80th! pic.twitter.com/M3DTlwg8nY
In Zagreb (CRO), Wurth defeated 19-year old Serb (and recent Bracelet-in-training) Lola Radivojevic in a 7-5/6-3 final to win her fifth career ITF crown at the $75K challenger. The 21-year old Croat, who ranked as high as #145 last April soon after winning a $40K crown in her hometown of Split (before exiting in RG qualifying and then missing the rest of the '23 season), rises from the depths of the pro rankings with the result, climbing out of the deep hole of a #730 standing to back inside the Top 500 (#481). Wurth had been on a 1-6 slide coming in Zagreb.
MAKE UKRAINE HUMANE AGAIN: 16-year-old Ukrainian tennis player Yelyzaveta Kotliar reportedly faces charges in Ukraine after shaking hands with a Russian player following the Ukrainian girls' loss. The @Ukraine Ministry of Sports is said to have opened a case against her for… pic.twitter.com/URPjw3qdy2
— Lumumba Amin ???? (@LumumbaAmin) January 22, 2024
Top Ukrainian junior Yelyzaveta Kotliar said she was "deeply sorry" after her tennis federation criticised the 16-year-old for shaking the hand of a Russian opponent at the Australian Open.https://t.co/GA5pE5R8JU
— The Youth Times (@youthtimes) January 24, 2024
A moment they'll never forget ??@SaraErrani | Jasmine Paolini | #IBI24 pic.twitter.com/ZGCKp90j26
— wta (@WTA) May 19, 2024
Ciao, campionesse ??
— wta (@WTA) May 19, 2024
Jasmine Paolini x @SaraErrani#IBI24 pic.twitter.com/XCOmGYVq5H
No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka advances to the quarters in DRAMATIC fashion, defeating Svitolina 4-6, 6-1, 7-6(7)!
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) May 13, 2024
Next up, Jelena Ostapenko. ?? #IBI24 pic.twitter.com/odOGTU2afg
Svitolina arrived in Rome without a 1000 QF berth since 2021 at this same event (though she's since had a slam SF and two QF). She leaves still without one, as well as missing out on what would have been her first Top 10 win in nearly a full year. After getting two in her comeback season of '23 (the last: over #1 Swiatak at Wimbledon), the Ukrainian is 0-3 vs. Top 10 foes this year (and has lost her last five).
BIG shot on a BIG point ??@JelenaOstapenk8 | #IBI24 pic.twitter.com/Gg1lVWaUWp
— wta (@WTA) May 13, 2024
RELENTLESS from Rebecca Sramkova ??
— wta (@WTA) May 13, 2024
Putting on a show against No.9 seed Ostapenko!#IBI24 pic.twitter.com/YKMXpUvmq0
Sramkkova rallied from 3-1 back to win the 1st, and after Ostapenko knotted the match the two battled throughout the 3rd. Sramkova led 3-1, and served for the win at 5-4 (she was broken at love). Meanwhile, over five consecutive games (games 7-11), every service game began with either 40/love or love/40 scores. The two traded breaks for 5-4 and 5-5, with Ostapenko getting the key hold from love/40 down in game 11 to prevent Sramkova from getting a second chance to serve out the match. After Ostapenko held for a 6-5 lead, Sramkova denied her a MP in the following game and forced a TB, where the Latvian finally pulled away to win 7-3.
Ostapenko passes the test ?? @JelenaOstapenk8 battles past qualifier Rebecca Sramkova in a tight three set match 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(3). #IBI24 pic.twitter.com/YbPwJSDX5A
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) May 13, 2024
Queen Behavior ??@iga_swiatek | #IBI24 pic.twitter.com/6uzh13x3oF
— wta (@WTA) May 18, 2024
Her third title in Rome! ?? ?? ?? @iga_swiatek defeats Aryna Sabalenka 6-2, 6-3 in the Championship match and earns back to back titles in Madrid and Rome this year. #IBI24 pic.twitter.com/gn1c7zQgpG
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) May 18, 2024
Rome has been conquered, again.@iga_swiatek with her third Roma title in four years. pic.twitter.com/efRzL3TTuI
— Jimmie48 Photography (@JJlovesTennis) May 18, 2024
Extended grunt + trademark double-fistpump ????
— wta (@WTA) May 13, 2024
VINTAGE @AngeliqueKerber after saving five set points against Swiatek!#IBI24 pic.twitter.com/z68kbczjjs
2021 ? 2022 ? 2023 ? 2024 ?@iga_swiatek defeats Kerber to reach the Rome quarterfinals for a fourth consecutive season!
— wta (@WTA) May 13, 2024
Next faces Keys in a rematch from last week's Madrid semi. pic.twitter.com/1JXyD9Tz1u
Back-to-back Rome quarterfinalist ??
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) May 13, 2024
An on fire Zheng Qinwen defeats Naomi Osaka 6-2, 6-4 to reach her second quarterfinal in the Eternal City! She faces the winner of Gauff v. Badosa ??#IBI24 pic.twitter.com/YnvWkdlmzQ
In September 2023, Zheng Qinwen's coach, Wim Fissette, abruptly ended their partnership to coach Naomi Osaka in her comeback. Today, Zheng has the upmost respect and admiration for Osaka as a player and mother ??#IBI24 pic.twitter.com/i5hGD8XUIj
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) May 13, 2024
Simona started the match full of energy and ready to play. But as things progressed you could see her struggling and not in match shape yet. She was able to win the 1st set. But in the 2nd you could see her grabbing her knee. Simona Halep retired against McCartney Kessler. pic.twitter.com/GQn1Vp6qbg
— Romanian Tennis (@WTARomania) May 15, 2024
I will rest and then keep working and keep believing in my journey. Thank you to those of you supporting me, I see your messages and they mean the world to me ??
— Simona Halep (@Simona_Halep) May 16, 2024
As far as match points go, this one was pretty crazy! @CocoGauff pic.twitter.com/00vOf5TFmP
— Jimmie48 Photography (@JJlovesTennis) May 14, 2024
"She's down but not out" ??
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) May 14, 2024
In their first ever meeting, Coco Gauff defeats Qinwen Zheng 7-6(4), 6-1. She will clash with world no.1 Iga Swiatek next! ??#IBI24 pic.twitter.com/agDmLfGA1I
It's a simply unbelievable win for Diana Shnaider! She beats the home favourite Elsa Jacquemot 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 to reach the quarterfinals of the WTA125 Trophee Clarins.
— WTARussians (@WTArussians) May 16, 2024
Prevailed in a marathon 36-point game at 4-4 in the third, saving *14* break points in that game alone! pic.twitter.com/uMbWo30au4
A quarterfinal upset in Rome ??
— wta (@WTA) May 15, 2024
Wang Xinyu & Zheng Saisai knock out top seeds Hsieh/Mertens and go on to face Gauff/Routliffe for a spot in the final!#IBI24 pic.twitter.com/oe1Pq72rFP
???? Ajla Tomljanovic has made her return to the court for her first match since the 29th January with a 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 def of ???? Nuria Brancaccio - WTA 125 Parma ???? #TheFirstServe pic.twitter.com/cIeA9qKQHf
— The First Serve (@TheFirstServeAU) May 14, 2024
Coming back with a win ????
— MEF tennis events (@meftennisevents) May 14, 2024
Ajla #Tomljanovic talks about her comeback and her coach Robert Lindstedt after winning her first match in Parma ????#tennis #ParmaLadiesOpen #WTA #AjlaTomljanovic pic.twitter.com/JtlPU4GUMm
?? Championship Point ??
— MEF tennis events (@meftennisevents) May 18, 2024
Anna #Schmiedlova ???? won the Parma Ladies Open title beating Mayar Sherif 7/5 2/6 6/4 in a battle lasting 2 hours and 53 minutes ?? #tennis #ParmaLadiesOpen #WTA #Parma #AnnaSchmiedlova pic.twitter.com/m7cRoMBc1t
"There have been many inaccurate rumors about my future plans..."
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) May 12, 2024
Italian media claims Camila Giorgi's shock retirement is connected to tax evasion, here are the details.#TheBreakTC | #IBI24 pic.twitter.com/bxF7B9XlrR
She doesn’t give a tiny fck tagging the store where she is shopping in NYC. pic.twitter.com/eIe6RYbPHh
— ???s... ? (@lamg1984) May 14, 2024
8/8 - The Internazionali d'Italia 2024 is the first clay court Women's Singles tournament in the Open Era with 8 former Grand Slam finalists featuring to the quarter-finals. Pop Corn ??.#IBI24 | @WTA @WTA_insider @InteBNLdItalia pic.twitter.com/pZnZoj6Aad
— OptaAce (@OptaAce) May 14, 2024
3 - With Aryna Sabalenka joining Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff, it is the first time the WTA’s top three players have reached the semi-final at the same WTA event since Roland Garros in 2013 – excluding the WTA Tour Finals. Echelon.#IBI24 | @InteBNLdItalia @WTA @WTA_insider pic.twitter.com/6VZfvtKC45
— OptaAce (@OptaAce) May 15, 2024
Elite Company ??@iga_swiatek is the third woman to win Madrid & Rome back-to-back!#IBI24 pic.twitter.com/Ktf4rD5WhP
— wta (@WTA) May 18, 2024
125 matches! Almost 6 years. What a record @ChrissieEvert ??????Then 64 in a row after that. Lots of winning! https://t.co/AYQ2nsgS3k
— Tracy Austin (@thetracyaustin) May 13, 2024
Incident during Cirstea-Keys, two protesters on courts throwing confetti. #wta #tennis #ibi pic.twitter.com/fGSYFvnfrr
— Angelica Fratini (@angelikf) May 13, 2024
I had so much fun delivering the clues for the Trailblazing Women in Sports category on @Jeopardy!
— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) May 13, 2024
How many questions did you know? pic.twitter.com/qD3esNtFSz
Sonya Kenin cussing out the officials in Rome for making her play after she claimed the court was too wet to be safe.
— ??nebby?? (@1gamesetmatch) May 8, 2024
They stopped play a couple points later due to the rain. pic.twitter.com/paxCd6iMEk
Vania King (@queen_v21) with a first pitch for the ages tonight in Phoenix ??
— Gill Gross ??? (@Gill_Gross) May 15, 2024
pic.twitter.com/sxGfpUzplb
? Tennis legend. Cultural icon. @ESPYS host. ?
— ESPN (@espn) May 14, 2024
See you in July, @serenawilliams!
Details: https://t.co/nauFWiblaE pic.twitter.com/RYutffxDkA
Roland Garros wild cards are out:
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) May 14, 2024
No wild cards for Dominic Thiem, Simons Halep, Caroline Wozniacki or Emma Raducanu. pic.twitter.com/WtPI6ETyv9
Kiki has had *one* good result this year (a SF at Oeiras 125) and is 10-11 overall, hasn't won a slam MD match in three years, and has finished the last five seasons under .500 in singles. It's a good thing she has "FRA" next to her name, and probably that Lois Boisson was hurt the other week and apparently wasn't able to claim what had seemed a certain berth in the field.
oh :( so many more acl’s in women’s tennis now….. https://t.co/bKi44mYVPb
— Daria Saville (@Daria_gav) May 17, 2024
Of course, that doesn't explain why Leolia Jeanjean, with 3r/2r results in Paris the last two years and a $75K challenger quarterfinalist this past week, wasn't included on the list. Ranked more the 70 spots above Mladenovic, she'll nonetheless have to make her way through qualifying to reach the MD.
A nod for the Alize wild card, though.
2005 ⏩️ 2024
— Alize Cornet (@alizecornet) May 16, 2024
20 Roland Garros plus tard...
Merci @FFTennis de me permettre de choisir ma sortie grâce à cette wild card. Je ne pourrais pas rêver mieux 🙏
Et à cette gamine de 15 ans : tu t'en es pas trop mal sortie, petite 🥹
Rdv dans dix jours à la Porte d'Auteuil 🫶 pic.twitter.com/Zwmf1XoGaQ
Translation: "2005 --> 2024 20 Roland Garros later... Thank you @FFTennis for allowing me to choose my outing thanks to this wild card. I couldn't dream of better And to this 15 year old girl: you didn't do too badly, little one See you in ten days at Porte d’Auteuil"
I just searched wta on google, first tab "Something went wrong" lmao, so accurate pic.twitter.com/VM71p7XOU9
— LorenaPopa ???????? (@popalorena) May 17, 2024
This was a blast! Robin Williams was brilliant and hilarious. Thx for sharing-fun reminder. https://t.co/uU158O9Aqh
— Tracy Austin (@thetracyaustin) May 13, 2024
"Anything we face in life, we have the power to overcome. And what happened to me, it was something that I never thought about...it's really tough to overcome this experience, but I did."
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) May 13, 2024
Simona Halep is SO back.#TheBreakTC | #IBI24 pic.twitter.com/DkjV2GOIhk
Some players have poker faces.
— wta (@WTA) May 12, 2024
Jelena Ostapenko is not one of them ??#IBI24 pic.twitter.com/JCkaQXtbyT
— Kamil (@KamilD321) May 16, 2024
I wish they would listen to me like they listen to her ??
— Paula Badosa (@paulabadosa) May 14, 2024
"I want to thank my team for helping me lose another final. That's all your fault" ??@SabalenkaA | #IBI24 pic.twitter.com/Bju63Ln7QI
— wta (@WTA) May 18, 2024
Or do they, @iga_swiatek? ??#IBI24 | @WTA pic.twitter.com/HtScPgwP8m
— Internazionali BNL d'Italia (@InteBNLdItalia) May 13, 2024
Spray time @iga_swiatek | #IBI24 pic.twitter.com/pwzT7tdgug
— wta (@WTA) May 18, 2024
Danielle Collins’ reaction to someone whistling after she shanked a ball ??
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) May 15, 2024
Danielle is the main character.
That’s all ?? pic.twitter.com/7tjfJ4e751
Relive the story of how 19-year-old Maria Sharapova became a star at the 2006 US Open. pic.twitter.com/04MKEekAIo
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) May 16, 2024
*RECENT WTA #1 vs. #2 MATCH-UPS*
2014 Brisbane Final - #1 S.Williams d. #2 Azarenka
2014 Miami Final - #1 S.Williams d. #2 Li
2015 Australian Open Final - #1 S.Williams d. #2 Sharapova
2018 Australian Open Final - #2 Wozniacki d. #1 Halep
2019 WTA Finals SF - #1 Barty d. #2 Ka.Pliskova
2023 Stuttgart Final - #1 Swiatek d. #2 Sabalenka
2023 Madrid Final - #2 Sabalenka d. #1 Swiatek
2023 WTA Finals SF - #2 Swiatek d. #1 Sabalenka
2024 Madrid Final - #1 Swiatek d. #2 Sabalenka
2024 Rome Final - #1 Swiatek d. #2 Sabalenka
*MOST #1 vs. #2 MATCH-UPS IN SEASON, since 2000*
2000 (5) - Davenport vs. Hingis 3-2
2012 (4) - Azarenka vs. Sharapova 2-2
2013 (3) - S.Williams vs. Sharapova 3-0
2013 (3) - Azarenka vs. S.Williams 2-1
2023 (3) - Swiatek vs. Sabalenka 2-1
2024 (2) - Swiatek vs. Sabalenka 2-0
*SWIATEK vs. SABALENKA*
2021 WTAF rr (hc) - Sabalenka 2-6/6-2/7-5
2022 Doha QF (hc) - Swiatek 6-2/6-3
2022 Stuttgart F (rci) - Swiatek 6-2/6-2
2022 Rome SF (rc) - Swiatek 6-2/6-1
2022 U.S. Open SF (hc) - Swiatek 3-6/6-1/6-4
2022 WTA Finals SF (hci) - Sabalenka 6-2/2-6/6-1
2023 Stuttgart F (rci) - Swiatek 6-3/6-4
2023 Madrid F (rc) - Sabalenka 6-3/3-6/6-3
2023 WTA Finals SF (hc) - Swiatek 6-3/6-2
2024 Madrid F (rc) - Swiatek 7-5/4-6/7-6(7) - 3 MP saved
2024 Rome F (rc) - Swiatek 6-2/6-3
*MOST 2020-2024 WTA FINAL MATCHUPS*
5...SABALENKA/SWIATEK = Swiatek 4-1
3...Rybakina/Sabalenka = Rybakina 2-1
2...Alexandrova/Ostapenko = tied 1-1
2...Azarenka/Osaka = Osaka 1-0 (+L)
2...Barty/Sabalenka = tied 1-1
2...Bencic/Jabeur = tied 1-1
2...Bencic/Samsonova = tied 1-1
2...Collins/Kasatkina = Collins 2-0
2...Jabeur/Swiatek = Swiatek 2-0
2...Kontaveit/Sakkari = Kontaveit 2-0
2...Krejcikova/Swiatek = Krejcikova 2-0
2...Kvitova/Muguruza = Kvitova 2-0
2...Pegula/Swiatek = Swiatek 2-0
2...Sakkari/Swiatek = Swiatek 2-0
*MADRID/ROME FINALS (Madrid started '09); w/ RG result*
2009 Dinara Safina (W-W)+ RU
2013 Serena Williams (W-W)+ W
2017 Simona Halep (W-RU)+ RU
2022 Ons Jabeur (W-RU)+ 1r
2024 Iga Swiatek (W-W)
2024 Aryna Sabalenka (L-L)
[MAD-ROME-RG Finals]
2009 Safina (W-W-RU)
2013 S.Williams (W-W-W)
2017 Halep (W-RU-RU)
*LONG WTA (MD only) WINNING STREAKS - 2024*
15 - Danielle Collins (March-April; ended by Sabalenka)
12 - IGA SWIATEK (April-*)
10 - Coco Gauff (January; ended by Sabalenka)
--
UNDEFEATED NOTE: Pliskova (9 WTA MD, walkover loss, then 2 more)
*WTA 1000 EVENTS in 2024*
Doha (HC) - #1 Swiatek/POL d. #3 Rybakina/KAZ
Dubai (HC) - #26 Paolini/ITA d. #40 Kalinskaya/RUS
Indian Wells (HC) - #1 Swiatek/POL d. #9 Sakkari/GRE
Miami (HC) - #53 Collins/USA d. #4 Rybakina/KAZ
Madrid (RC) - #1 Swiatek/POL d. #2 Sabalenka/BLR
Rome (RC) - #1 Swiatek/POL d. #2 Sabalenka/BLR
*CAREER WTA TITLES - clay (active)*
9 - Simona Halep
9 - IGA SWIATEK
9 - Venus Williams
7 - Sara Errani
6 - Elina Svitolina
5 - Petra Kvitova
4 - Alize Cornet
4 - Angelique Kerber
4 - Caroline Wozniacki
[in 2020s]
9 - IGA SWIATEK (1/1/3/2/2)
2 - Danielle Collins (0/1/0/0/1)
2 - Simona Hhalep (2/0/0/-/0)
2 - Ons Jabeur (0/0/1/1/0)
2 - Barbora Krejcikova (0/2/0/0/0)
2 - Camila Osorio (0/1/0/0/1)
2 - Bernarda Pera (0/0/2/0/0)
2 - Tatjana Maria (0/0/1/1/0)
2 - Elena Rybakina (0/0/0/1/1)
2 - Aryna Sabalenka (0/1/0/1/0)
2 - Elina Svitolina (1/0/0/1/0)
*2024 WTA SINGLES TITLES*
4 - IGA SWIATEK, POL = 1000(4)
3 - Elena Rybakina, KAZ = 500(3)
2 - Danielle Collins, USA = 1000,500
2 - Alona Ostapenko, LAT = 500(2)
[2020-24]
21 - 1/2/8/6/4 = IGA SWIATEK
9 - 3/2/0/3/1 = Aryna Sabalenka
8 - 1/5/2 = Ash Barty (ret.)
7 - 0/3/2/2/0 = Barbora Krejcikova
7 - 1/0/1/2/3 = Elena Rybakina
6 - 0/1/0/4/1 = Coco Gauff
*MOST WTA FINALS in 2024*
5 - Elena Rybakina (3-2)
4 - IGA SWIATEK (4-0)
4 - ARYNA SABALENKA (1-3)
3 - Dasha Kasatkina (0-3)
2 - Danielle Collins (2-0)
2 - Alona Ostapenko (2-0)
2 - Marta Kostyuk (0-2)
*MOST WTA FINALS - 2020-24*
24 - 1/2/9/8/4 = SWIATEK (21-3)
19 - 3/3/3/6/4 = SABALENKA (9-10)
17 - 5/0/3/4/5 = Rybakina (7-10)
12 - 1/7/4/0 ret...Kontaveit (5-6-1)
12 - 0/3/6/3/0 = Jabeur (5-7)
11 - 0/4/3/4/0 = Krejcikova (7-4)
11 - 0/4/2/2/2 = Kasatkina (4-7)
*2024 SLAM-OLY-WTAF/1000 CHAMPIONS*
Australian Open - Aryna Sabalenka, BLR
Doha - Iga Swiatek, POL
Dubai - Jasmine Paolini, ITA
Indian Wells - Iga Swiatek, POL
Miami - Danielle Collins, USA
Madrid - Iga Swiatek, POL
Rome - Iga Swiatek, POL
[doubles]
Australian Open - Hsieh Su-wei/Elise Mertens, TPE/BEL
Doha - Demi Schuurs/Luisa Stefani, NED/BRA
Dubai - Storm Hunter/Katerina Siniakova, AUS/CZE
Indian Wells - Hsieh Su-wei/Elise Mertens, TPE/BEL
Miami - Kenin/Mattek-Sands, USA/USA
Madrid - Cristina Bucsa/Sara Sorribes Tormo, ESP/ESP
Rome - Sara Errani/Jasmine Paolini, ITA/ITA
*SWIATEK vs. GAUFF*
2021 Rome SF (rc) - Swiatek 7-6(3)/6-3
2022 Miami 4th (hc) - Swiatek 6-3/6-1
2022 Roland Garros F (rc) - Swiatek 6-1/6-3
2022 San Diego QF (hc) - Swiatek 6-0/6-3
2022 WTA Finals rr (hc) - Swiatek 6-3/6-0
2023 Dubai SF (hc) - Swiatek 6-4/6-2
2023 Roland Garros QF (rc) - Swiatek 6-4/6-2
2023 Cincinnati SF (hc) - Gauff 7-6(2)/3-6/6-4
2023 Beijing SF (hc) - Swiatek 6-2/6-3
2023 WTAF rr (hc) - Swiatek 6-0/7-5
2024 Rome SF (rc) - Swiatek 6-4/6-3
*MOST 2024 WTA TITLES w/o LOSING A SET*
3 - IGA SWIATEK (Doha/Indian Wells/Rome)
1 - Karolina Pliskova (Cluj-Napoca)
1 - Elena Rybakina (Brisbane)
1 - Aryna Sabalenka (Australian Open)
*MOST TITLES WON W/O DROPPING A SET - 2020s*
10 - IGA SWIATEK (3 in '24)
2 - Ash Barty
2 - Coco Gauff
2 - Anett Kontaveit (ret.)
2 - Bernarda Pera
2 - Aryna Sabalenka (1)
2 - Liudmila Samsonova
*2024 WTA DOUBLES TITLES*
2 - Cristina Bucsa
2 - Chan Hao-ching
2 - SARA ERRANI
2 - Hsieh Su-wei
2 - Sofia Kenin
2 - Bethanie Mattek-Sands
2 - Elise Mertens
2 - JASMINE PAOLINI
[duos]
2...ERRANI/PAOLINI
2...Hsieh/Mertens
2...Kenin/Mattek-Sands
[2020-24 - duos]
12..Krejcikova/Siniakova (1/5/3/3/0)
8...Aoyama/Shibahara (1/5/0/2/0)
7...Siegemund/Zvonareva (1/0/2/4/0)
5...Gauff/Pegula (0/0/3/2/0)
5...Hsieh/Strycova (4/0/-/1/-)
4...Hsieh/Mertens (0/2/0/0/2)
3...ERRANI/PAOLINI (0/0/0/1/2)
3...Guarachi/Krawczyk (1/2/0/0/0)
3...Hozumi/Ninomiya (0/0/3/0/0)
3...Kato/Sutjiadi (0/0/0/2/1)
3...L.Kichenok/Ostapenko (0/0/2/0/1)
3...Krawczyk/Schuurs (0/0/1/2/0)
3...V.Kudermetova/Mertens (0/1/2/0/0)
3...Melichar-M./Schuurs (1/2/0/0/0)
3...Xu/Yang (0/0/2/1/0)
*2024 WTA DOUBLES FINALS*
3 (2-1) = Bethanie Mattek-Sands
3 (1-2) = Lyudmyla Kichenok
3 (1-2) = Nicole Melichar-Martinez
3 (1-2) = Ellen Perez
2 (2-0) = Cristina Bucsa
2 (2-0) = Chan Hao-ching
2 (2-0) = SARA ERRANI
2 (2-0) = Hsieh Su-wei
2 (2-0) = Sofia Kenin
2 (2-0) = Elise Mertens
2 (2-0) = JASMINE PAOLINI
2 (1-1) = Storm Hunter
2 (1-1) = Irina Khromacheva
2 (1-1) = Alona Ostapenko
2 (1-1) = Katerina Siniakova
2 (0-2) = Guo Hanyu
2 (0-2) = Jiang Xinyu
2 (0-2) = Desirae Krawczyk
2 (0-2) = ERIN ROUTLIFFE
2 (0-2) = Heather Watson
[2024 finals - duos]
3...Melichar-Martinez/Perez (1-2)
2...ERRANI/PAOLINI (2-0)
2...Hsieh/Mertens (2-0)
2...Kenin/Mattek-Sands (2-0)
2...Hunter/Siniakova (1-1)
2...L.Kichenok/Ostapenko (1-1)
2...Guo/Jiang (0-2)
My favorite kind of conservative:
— Max Weiss (@maxthegirl) May 18, 2024
"A vote for Trump will eradicate democracy and destroy America as we know it."
"So you'll be voting for Biden?"
"I'd rather not say."
Alice Stewart, a veteran political adviser and CNN political commentator who worked on several GOP presidential campaigns, has died. She was 58.https://t.co/GkB4m2ki5i
— CNN (@CNN) May 18, 2024
Damn. Alice Stewart was on the "other side of the aisle" from which I consider myself, and I didn't agree with her the majority of the time, but I always liked to hear her take on things because she actually lived in the land of the sane and called out the BS on the right whenever it was appropriate. Apparently, she was also a very nice person "in the real world." So sad.
Younger audience members react to the unveiling of the new portrait of King Charles... pic.twitter.com/JgKGzz55zo
— Michael?? ? #FBPE.???? (@changed_gear) May 14, 2024
Wanted: painter for official portrait of His Majesty King Charles. Must have prior portrait experience, ability to make painting a portal into the nether realm and a conduit for millennia old evil non essential but desirable. pic.twitter.com/Muv7Yxh617
— Dr Philip Lee (@drphiliplee1) May 14, 2024
Last week Apple apologized for the most honest (and also terrible, and insidious) commercial it ever made. Everyone said it said "the quiet part out loud." But there's another angle here. Thanks to @mattzollerseitz for the conversation. Gift link: https://t.co/BUWWwHAaka
— Michael Phillips (@phillipstribune) May 15, 2024
Preorder for our Spring Anthology is live! This unthemed collection features 44 contributors across poetry, fiction, cnf, & hybrid work. Themes vary widely, and as with all of our titles, this should be read with care ? link in bio! Available May 31st pic.twitter.com/OAR9X9DoYT
— Querencia Press SUBS OPEN (@QuerenciaPress) May 15, 2024
Amy Tan: Luring birds into my backyard turned out to be the easy part https://t.co/TNohC45RXN
— Michael J Evans (@MJEvansmusic) April 23, 2024
Assistive technology for disabled peoplepic.twitter.com/tEsEqxMUVq
— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) May 18, 2024
44 years ago today, Mount St. Helens cataclysmically erupted. The event led to 57 deaths, including the death of David Johnston, a dedicated @USGS scientist, and caused the worst volcanic disaster in the recorded history of the lower 48 states. pic.twitter.com/ho1olaj11d
— US Department of the Interior (@Interior) May 18, 2024
44 years ago today, Mt St Helens erupted....??
— Volcaholic ?? (@volcaholic1) May 18, 2024
The Gary Rosenquist Sequence....
In May 1980, Gary Rosenquist and his companions arrived at a location near Mount St. Helens, where they camped overnight. The following morning, they witnessed the eruption of Mount St. Helens.… pic.twitter.com/mOGfc6xG1L
Cameraman Dave Crockett from #Seattle's KOMO arrives at St. Helens right as it erupts.
— Mount St. Helens in 1980 (@StHelensIn1980) May 18, 2024
Racing down the S. Fork Toutle valley, he's quickly trapped by a mudflow. Leaving his car as ash blots out the sky, he turns his camera on and starts walking, believing he's dead. pic.twitter.com/ox4dAJuSK7
Richard "Dick" Lasher was on his way to drive his dirt bike when Mount St Helens erupted on May 18, 1980.
— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) May 18, 2024
He spent the Saturday night packing some gear figuring he would head out first thing in the morning to get a look at the mountain.
His plan was hitching his Yamaha IT… pic.twitter.com/l9iLSsEhJu
Not again ??@iga_swiatek | #IBI24 pic.twitter.com/sEjPun0s45
— wta (@WTA) May 18, 2024
2 Comments:
Dare I say, Swiatek has become the mini female version of Nadal. I think she is untouchable at Rome and at Roland Garros. Rybakina, Sabalenka can beat her at Stuttgart and Madrid, but, they can't beat her at Rome and Roland Garros. She is most likely to surpass Evert's 7 RGs titles. I can see her winning 9/10 Roland Garros if she stays healthy throughout her career.
I noticed Shnaidar's bandanna got smaller.
Roland Garros didn't give Wozniacki a wild card. Will she get one at Wimbledon? I don't think so.
Hard to imagine anyone beating Iga in Paris. I'd hold out hope for Rybakina, but I wonder about her health (again). :/
I don't think Wozniacki was *all* that interested in playing on clay, though (she posted her family vacation photos last week).
(I bet Raducanu would have played... but the FFT is too worried with putting Pastries in the draw to then just go lose in the 1st Round.)
SW19's decision on Caro will be interesting. If she wants one, I'd think they'd be inclined to give it to her since she hasn't played there yet in her comeback. I'm not convinced she'd want it, knowing her best chance for any success is hard court.
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