Friday, September 06, 2024

US.11- The Hands of Fate


Once again, Aryna Sabalenka's fate rests in her hands. So far, her grip remains tight.



Save for one bad opening set in a match that didn't start until after midnight, the #2 seed has been pretty close to untouchable at this U.S. Open. Sabalenka's quest to finally win the concluding major of the WTA season after SF-SF-RU results the last three years has done nothing but grow deeper roots over the past two weeks after she'd arrived in New York already coming off a dominant title run in Cincinnati.

Tasked with upending that storyline a round short of the final was #13 Emma Navarro, a winner over defending champ Coco Gauff two rounds earlier. The former NCAA champ upset Sabalenka earlier this year at Indian Wells, but was defeated handily by her at Roland Garros. Having already this season won her maiden tour title, improved her career-best slam result with each successive '24 major and assured herself of a Top 10 ranking next week, Navarro was prepared to take her best shot at something even bigger.

Sabalenka burst into the match (her fifth under the lights through six rounds at this slam), getting a quick hold and break combo to lead 2-0. But Navarro rebounded, getting an immediate break back as she took advantage of a few Sabalenka second serves (creeping in and going on the attack). But Sabalenka's big game was not to be held back, as she kept her UE total low and re-established her break lead at 4-2.

From there, Sabalenka's attempt to pull away was momentarily slowed by Navarro's ability to keep rallies going, as she held a BP in game 7. But Sabalenka got the hold for 5-2, then two games later served out the 6-3 set, having mixed in some drop shots with her regular power game to keep Navarro just off-balance enough to keep a step ahead.



At 2-2 in the 2nd, Sabalenka grabbed a love/30 lead on Navarro's serve and reached BP. A big groundstroke forced an error to give her a 3-2 edge, and she backed it up a game later as her power shots continued to overwhelm. An ace completed a hold for 4-2. Sabelenka had a shot at a double-break lead, holding a pair of BP in game 7, only to fire off three consecutive UE as Navarro held to stay close at 4-3.

Sabalenka pulled out of a tight 30/30 game with big serves, finishing things with a service winner for a 5-3 edge. Serving for the final at 5-4, though, she fell behind 15/30, then Navarro stepped in on a second serve and fired an angled return out of the Belarusian's reach to get two BP opportunities. Sabalenka's error on #2 knotted the set at 5-5, as her history of blown leads on big stages lurked in the background only two days after Navarro had escaped her QF vs. Paula Badosa when the Spaniard blew a big 2nd set lead after things had seemed destined to go to a 3rd.

Suddenly playing as well as she had all night, Navarro took a 40/love lead on serve, having won eight of eleven points, taking the game (and the 2nd set lead) and forcing Sabalenka to serve for a tie-break only minutes after she'd failed to serve out the win. Sabalenka went up 40/love, but a UE/DF combo, then a Navarro backhand winner down the line from well behind the baseline, got the game to deuce. Not about to fold, though, Sabalenka blasted a huge serve and let out a bellow. She held and forced the TB.



After a DF on her first serve point in the breaker, Sabalenka found herself down 2-0. But it was then that she ripped off one of the best TB stretches you'll see. Holding her second point, then sweeping both points on Navarro's serve, Sabalenka was suddenly untouchable yet again. A drop shot gave her a 6-2 lead and a handful of MP. A volley and put-away combo claimed a seventh straight point, and a 6-3/7-6(2) win.



Sabalenka's win sends her to her second consecutive U.S. Open final, making her the first woman to go back-to-back since Serena Williams in 2018-19. It's also the Belarusian's fourth straight final at a hard court major. The last to do *that* was countrywoman Victoria Azarenka in 2012-13. Azarenka went 2-2 and, like Sabalenka, won both finals in Melbourne, but lost both in New York (to Serena).

A year after falling to Coco Gauff in the U.S. title match, Sabalenka surely hopes that the parallels don't carry over one more time. She's now in position to become just the second woman to sweep the AO/US crowns (w/ Angelique Kerber in 2016) since Martina Hingis won both in 1997.

17-1 in slam play in '24, even with her second major win of the year, Sabalanka can't catch Iga Swiatek for #1 at the conclusion of this tournament as she did a year ago. With a win, she'd still trail the Pole by about 2100 points, but Swiatek has many points to defend in the fall (when she went 12-1, winning the Beijing 1000 and WTAF to reclaim the top spot) while Sabalenka (5-3, w/ two SF) has significantly fewer.

Having gifted herself with a second chance at winning the Open crown, Sabalenka could give herself another opportunity to sit atop the WTA pyramid by the end of the year, as well.

That is, if she can continue to take her ultimate fate into her own hands.




=DAY 11 NOTES=
...if the night's first semifinal was a case of destiny and fate holding hands to the finish line (before the actual finish line), then the second saw both Karolina Muchova and #6 Jessie Pegula take turns wearing the "inevitable finalist" label. But, in the end it was Pegula whose perceived fate proved to be the most pure.



Pegula came into this U.S. Open on the sort of summer run that in the past has ultimately foreshadowed a title run at Flushing Meadows (see Sloane and Coco). She did indeed carry over her form into New York, too, finally reaching her maiden slam SF (after being 0-6 in major QF) in her 23rd career MD. She came into the night at 14-1 on hard court this summer.

Meanwhile, Muchova was just, well, herself. Capable of every shot in the book, from every angle on the court, at nearly every speed. After reaching the Open semis last year, the Czech missed nine and a half months and had wrist surgery. But, in just her sixth event back, here she was right back where she'd left off at the end of last summer, routinely pulling off the sort of shots that make hers the most aesthetically pleasing game in the sport and, once again, edging close to possibly claiming one of the sport's biggest prizes as her own.

Early on Thursday night, Muchova looked unbeatable. After saving three BP and holding for 2-1 in the 1st, the Czech broke at love a game later and went on to win eight straight points. In such immaculate form that she made, as Pegula stated after the match, her opponent "look like a beginner," Muchova took the set 6-1 and more than doubled up the Bannerette in points (30-14), winning 19 of the final 23 to end the set.



Her game perfectly tuned and all her multi-faceted weapons firing, Muchova broke Pegula to open the 2nd, held for 2-0 and was a BP away from a 3-0 double-break lead when Pegula's desperate forehand from off the court toward a waiting Muchova at the net *seemed* like just the shot before the Czech put away the volley that might seal the U.S. woman's fate in the match. But then Muchova pushed that volley just beyond the baseline, losing a point at the net for the first time in the match.

The moment, as innocuous as it appeared to be in that instant, turned the match.

Had Muchova gotten the additional break of serve, Pegula's hole on the scoreboard may have been too deep from which to escape. But Pegula *did* -- barely -- get the hold of serve. From there, Pegula's game finally found its footing, while Muchova -- while still brilliant at times -- appeared far more mortal. The serve-and-volleying Czech failed to get back a Pegula return that dipped over the net and at her feet, as Muchova was broken and the score tied at 2-2. Two games later, Pegula broke her again on the fourth BP of the game to take a 4-2 lead, winning a fourth straight game (Muchova had held a GP in three of them).

Muchova managed to break to get back on serve at 4-3, then held for 4-all, sliding a short ball crosscourt past (and spinning away from) Pegula. But, down 5-4, Muchova fell behind 15/40, then DF'd on Pegula's second BP/SP to close out the 6-4 set and knot the match. After having nearly taken a commanding lead, Muchova's UE totals for the 2nd set had climbed to 19 by its conclusion.

Winning 16 of 20 points, Pegula took a 2-0 lead in the 3rd, but managed to avoid the slip that the Czech had had a set earlier. Muchova *did* provide herself with chances, but Pegula slipped through the trouble each time and held her off. Pegula saved a BP and held for 3-0, then after losing a 40/15 lead two games later as Muchova once again began to make shots from everywhere on the court, she saw another BP come and go (w/ a Muchova forehand error) as her lead climbed to 4-1.

The same 40/15 to BP scenario played out again in game 7, but another Muchova error squandered the opportunity (the Czech threw her racket exceeding high in the air frustration... and then smoothly caught it with one hand in a move nearly as impressive as some of the points she won). Pegula held for 5-2.

Pegula didn't have to stave off BP again two games later, as she broke Muchova to end the match in the following game, winning 1-6/6-4/6-2 to reach her maiden slam final, in her home country, in her home state.



The first woman to reach the Canada, Cincinnati and U.S. Open finals in the same season since 1973, Pegula will face in Aryna Sabalenka the (only) player she's lost to on hard courts this summer, in a replay of the Cincy final from last month.

...earlier in the afternooon on Thursay, the first champions of this U.S. Open were crowned as Sara Errani and fellow Italian Andrea Vavassori defeated Taylor Townsend and Donald Young (in his farewell match) 7-6(0)/7-5 to the the Mixed Doubles crown.



It's Errani's first career MX slam title, adding to her five WD majors won with Roberta Vinci between 2012-14 (they completed a Career Slam), and it tops off a remarkably resurgent year for the 37-year old (and she's still got the doubles at the WTAF left as a possible "big get").

In 2024, The Italian has (at this U.S. Open) reached her first slam singles 3rd Round since 2021, and just her second since 2015 (she reached a major final and two SF in 2012-13, including a final four run at Flushing Meadows), won Olympic doubles Gold with Jasmine Paolini, and joined with her fellow Italian to also reach the RG final and win on home clay in Rome (her biggest tour doubles title since 2014).



...in the girls' singles semis, two Brits remain in contention for a face-off in the final. #8 Mimi Xu upset #2 Tyra Caterina Grant (USA), and will face #7 Wakana Sonobe of Japan (def. #4 Teodora Kostovic), while unseeded Mika Stojsavljevic ousted another Bannerette in wild card Annika Penickova.

After already having upset #1 seed Emerson Jones in the 3rd Round, Stojsavljevic will next face #3 Iva Jovic, who reached the women's 3rd Round and took Ekaterina Alexandrova deep into the a 3rd set, in the semis. The last Brit to win the U.S. Open juniors was Heather Watson in 2009.



Meanwhile, don't look now but the girls' doubles semis include *two* Czech Crusher pairs.

...in Paris, the first Paralympic Gold medals were handed out at Roland Garros, and things didn't *quite* go as "planned" for the best WC player in the world.



First up was the doubles final (the singles final is Friday), where not only did Yui Kamiji & Manami Tanaka become the first Japanese players to win Paralympic tennis Gold, but they also became the first non-Dutch women to do so. The dominant Dutch wheelchair tennis machine had swept all sixteen Para Golds in the event's history until today.

Of course, Kamiji has a knack for winning big-time doubles titles, no matter whether she's partnering the likes of (formerly) Jordanne Whiley, (now) Kgothatso Montjane or (today) her countrywoman Tanaka.

The pair won a MTB to take the Gold with a 4-6/7-6(3) [10-8] victory over top seeded and defending champions Diede de Groot & Aniek Van Koot. De Groot flew a volley on the Japanese team's third MP to seal the deal.



So, de Groot's chances at a *second* consecutive s/d Paralympic Gold sweep (she did it in Tokyo in '21) are now out the window, and instead the pressure shifts back onto the world #1's shoulders tomorrow as she'll try to prevent *Kamiji* from getting the sweep. It'll be the second straight Paralympic Gold match between the two, and the third straight medal match, as they played for the Bronze in Rio in '16.







*WOMEN'S SINGLES FINAL*
#6 Jessie Pegula/USA vs. #2 Aryna Sabalenka/BLR

*WOMEN'S DOUBLES FINAL*
#7 L.Kichenok/Ostapenko (UKR/LAT) vs. Mladenovic/Zhang S. (FRA/CHN)

*MIXED DOUBLES FINAL*
#3 Errani/Vavassori (ITA/ITA) def. (WC) Townsend/Young (USA/USA) 7-6(0)/7-5

*GIRLS SINGLES SF*
Mika Stojsavljevic/GBR vs. #3 (WC) Iva Jovic/USA
#7 Wakana Sonobe/JPN vs. #8 Mimi Xu/GBR

*GIRLS DOUBLES SF*
Krejcova/Tichackova (CZE/CZE) vs. El Allami/Sartz-Lunde (MAR/NOR)
Pastikova/Stusek (CZE/CZE) vs. #7 De Zeeuw/Klugman (NED/GBR)

*WHEELCHAIR JUNIOR SINGLES FINAL*
#1 Vitoria Miranda/BRA vs. #2 Yuma Takamuro/JPN

*WHEELCHAIR JUNIOR DOUBLES FINAL*
#1 Gryp/Miranda (BEL/BRA) vs. #2 Okano/Takamuro (JPN/JPN)

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

*PARALYMPICS WHEELCHAIR WOMEN'S DOUBLES FINAL*
#2 Kamiji/Tanaka (JPN) def. #1 de Groot/Van Koot (NED) 4-6/7-6(3) (10-8)







...THERE'S SOMETHING QUITE FUNNY ABOUT ESPN'S CHRIS FOWLER THROWING TO PAM SHRIVER WITH "WHAT A NIGHT FOR AMERICAN WOMEN'S TENNIS," AND SHRIVER ADDING THAT IT'S A "GREAT WEEKEND" FOR AMERICAN TENNIS (w/ the all-U.S. men's SF, too)... ON DAY 11:

I mean, consdering Shriver coaches a Croatian woman (and it's been going quite well so far, too, I might add).



...BJK IN THE HOUSE... ON DAY 11:





...SO, SHE DIDN'T HAVE "AN INKLING" THAT SHE'D WIN AT 6-1/2-0, THEN?... ON DAY 11:





...EVERYONE PROMOTES WOMEN'S TENNIS BETTER THAN THE WTA PROMOTES WOMEN'S TENNIS (even when they're not specifically promoting women's tennis)... ON DAY 11:





...KAROLINA MUCHOVA APPRECIATION MOMENT... ON DAY 11:





...THE BILLS' SOCIAL MEDIA MIGHT WANT TO HOLD OFF ON PUSHING PEGULA'S APPEARANCE IN A BIG CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH... ON DAY 11:

I mean, she's avoided the Bills' (bad) karma so far at this major, so why tempt fate?




...WELCOME (BACK) TO THE REAL WORLD... ON DAY 11:










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**MOST WTA FINALS in 2024**
6 - ARYNA SABALENKA (2-3)
5 - Iga Swiatek (5-0)
5 - Elena Rybakina (3-2)
4 - JESSIE PEGULA (2-1)
4 - Dasha Kasatkina (1-3)
3 - Diana Shnaider (3-0)
3 - Danielle Collins (2-1)
3 - Jasmine Paolini (1-2)

**CAREER SLAM FINALS - ACTIVE**
16...Venus Williams (7-9)
5...Iga Swiatek (5-0)
5...Simona Halep (2-3)
5...Victoria Azarenka (2-3)
4...Naomi Osaka (4-0)
4...ARYNA SABALENKA (2-1)
3...Petra Kvitova (2-1)

**"FIRST SLAM..." FEATS IN 2020s**
=FINAL=
2020 AO - Sofia Kenin, USA (12th slam MD)
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)
2023 RG - Karolina Muchova, CZE (17th)
2024 AO - Zheng Qinwen, CHN (9th)
2024 RG - Jasmine Paolini, ITA (18th)
2024 US - Jessie Pegula, USA (23rd)

**AO/US FINALS IN SEASON - OPEN ERA**
[AO/US Jan/Sept events; 1969-76]
1969 Margaret Court (W-W)
1970 Margaret Court (W-W)
1973 Margaret Court (W-W)
1973 Evonne Goolagong (L-L)
1974 Evonne Goolagong (W-L)
1975 Evonne Goolagong (W-L)
1976 Evonne Goolagong Cawley (W-L)
[US/AO Sept/Dec events; 1977-86]
1980 Hana Mandlikova (L-W)
1981 Martina Navratilova (L-W)
1982 Chris Evert-Lloyd (W-W)
1983 Martina Navratilova (W-W)
1984 Chris Evert-Lloyd (L-W)
1985 Martina Navratilova (L-W)
[AO/US Jan/Sept events; 1987-present]
1987 Martina Navratilova (L-W)
1988 Steffi Graf (W-W)
1989 Steffi Graf (W-W)
1990 Steffi Graf (W-L)
1991 Monica Seles (W-W)
1992 Monica Seles (W-W)
1993 Steffi Graf (L-W)
1994 Steffi Graf (W-L)
1994 Arantxa Sanchez Vicario (L-W)
1996 Monica Seles (W-L)
1997 Martina Hingis (W-W)
1998 Martina Hingis (W-L)
1999 Martina Hingis (W-L)
2000 Lindsay Davenport (W-L)
2006 Justine Henin-Hardenne (L-L)
2012 Victoria Azarenka (W-L)
2013 Victoria Azarenka (W-L)
2016 Angelique Kerber (W-W)
2023 Aryna Sabalenka (W-L)
2024 Aryna Sabalenka (W-?)

**CINCINNATI/U.S. OPEN FINALS - OPEN ERA**
1970 Rosie Casals, USA (W-RU)
1973 Evonne Goolagong, AUS (W-RU)
2010.Kim Clijsters, BEL (W-W)
2013 Victoria Azarenka, BLR (W-RU)
2014.Serena Williams, USA (W-W)
2016 Angelique Kerber, GER (RU-W)
2016 Karolina Pliskova, CZE (W-RU)
2020 Victoria Azarenka, BLR (w/o W-L)#
2020 Naomi Osaka, JPN (w/o L-W)#
2023.Coco Gauff, USA (W-W)
2024 Jessie Pegula, USA (L-?)
2024 Aryna Sabalenka, BLR (W-?)
--
NOTE: Premier 5/1000 since '09
#-both held in NYC in '20

**CANADA, CINCINNATI & U.S. OPEN FINALS**
1970 Rosie Casals (Cin W, Can RU, US RU)
1973 Evonne Goolagong (Cin W, Can W, US RU)
2024 Jessie Pegula (Can W, Cin L, US ?)

**RECENT U.S. OPEN "Ms. OPPORTUNITY" WINNERS**
2015 Roberta Vinci, ITA
2016 Anastasija Sevastova, LAT
2017 All-Bannerette SF: Keys,Stephens,Vandeweghe,V.Williams
2018 Naomi Osaka, JPN and Anastasija Sevastova, LAT
2019 Belinda Bencic, SUI
2020 Laura Siegemund & Vera Zvonareva, GER/RUS
2021 Diede de Groot, NED [WC Golden Slam]
2022 Ons Jabeur, TUN
2023 Diede de Groot, NED [WC Grand Slam x 3]
2024 Jessie Pegula, USA and Emma Navarro, USA

**U.S. OPEN LAST BANNERETTE STANDING**
2015 Serena Williams (SF)
2016 Serena Williams (SF)
2017 Sloane Stephens (W)
2018 Serena Williams (RU)
2019 Serena Williams (RU)
2020 Serena Williams and Jennifer Brady (SF)
2021 Shelby Rogers (4th)
2022 Coco Gauff and Jessie Pegula (QF)
2023 Coco Gauff (W)
2024 Jessie Pegula (in final)

**RECENT U.S. OPEN "COMEBACK" WINNERS**
2015 Victoria Azarenka, BLR
2016 Caroline Wozniacki, DEN
2017 Petra Kvitova, CZE
2018 Bethanie Mattek-Sands, USA
2019 Taylor Townsend, USA
2020 Tsvetana Pironkova, BUL
2021 U.S. Open fans
2022 Caroline Garcia, FRA
2023 Caroline Wozniacki, DEN
2024 Karolina Muchova, CZE

**U.S. OPEN "KIMIKO CUP" VETERAN WINNERS**
2015 Flavia Pennetta, ITA
2016 Angelique Kerber, GER
2017 Venus Williams, USA
2018 Serena Williams, USA
2019 Serena Williams, USA
2020 Serena Williams, USA and Victoria Azarenka, BLR
2021 Samantha Stosur/Zhang Shuai, AUS/CHN
2022 Alize Cornet, FRA
2023 Sorana Cirstea, ROU
2024 Sara Errani, ITA

**RECENT U.S. OPEN "JUNIOR BREAKOUT" WINNERS**
2016 Viktoria Kuzmova, SVK
2017 Maria Lourdes Carle, ARG & Emiliana Arango, COL
2018 Dasha Lopatetska, UKR
2019 Oksana Selekhmeteva, RUS
2020 [under 18] Katrina Scott, USA
2021 Robin Montgomery, USA
2022 Alex Eala, PHI
2023 Katherine Hui, USA
2024 Mimi Xu, GBR & Mika Stojsavljevic, GBR

**RECENT U.S. OPEN MIXED DOUBLES CHAMPIONS**
2015 Martina Hingis/Leander Paes, SUI/IND
2016 Laura Siegemund/Mate Pavic, GER/CRO
2017 Martina Hingis/Jamie Murray, SUI/GBR
2018 Bethanie Mattek-Sands/Jamie Murray, USA/GBR
2019 Bethanie Mattek-Sands/Jamie Murray, USA/GBR
2020 DNP
2021 Desirae Krawczyk/Joe Salisbury, USA/GBR
2022 Storm Sanders/John Peers, AUS/AUS
2023 Anna Danilina/Harri Heliovaara, KAZ/FIN
2024 Sara Errani/Andrea Vavassori, ITA/ITA






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TOP QUALIFIER: Yuliia Starodubtseva, UKR (4 con. slam Q-runs)
TOP EARLY-ROUND (1r-2r): #2 Aryna Sabalenka/BLR
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): #2 Aryna Sabalenka/BLR
TOP LATE-ROUND (SF-F): x
TOP QUALIFYING MATCH: Q1: Francesca Jones/GBR def. #5 Rebeka Masarova/ESP 6-1/2-6/7-6(6) - Masarova comes back from 5-1 in 3rd to force MTB, and leads 4-2 before Jones rallies for 10-6 win
TOP EARLY-RD. MATCH (1r-2r): 2nd Rd. - #29 Ekaterina Alexandrova/RUS def. (WC) Iva Jovic/USA 4-6/6-4/7-5 - Alexandrova outlasts 16-year old, wins on MP #7
TOP MIDDLE-RD. MATCH (3r-QF): 3rd Rd. - #26 Paula Badosa/ESP def. (Q) Gabriela Ruse/ROU 4-6/6-1/7-6(10-8) - saved MP at 4-5 3rd, led by break twice in 3rd (3-2,6-5); wins 10-8 TB on MP #2 for first U.S. second week)
TOP LATE-RD. MATCH (SF-F): x
=============================
FIRST VICTORY: Wang Yafan/CHN (def. #9 Sakkari/GRE, ret. after 1st set)
FIRST SEED OUT: #9 Maria Sakkari/GRE (1r- retired vs. Wang Yafan after losing 1st set)
FIRST CAREER SLAM MD WINS: Maya Joint/AUS, Iva Jovic/USA, Ashlyn Krueger/USA, Jessika Ponchet/FRA, Ena Shibahara/JPN
PROTECTED RANKING MD WINS: Ajla Tomljanovic/AUS (2r)
LUCKY LOSER MD WINS: none
UPSET QUEENS: United States
REVELATION LADIES: Italy
NATION OF POOR SOULS: CAN (0-2 1st Rd.; '19 champ Andreescu & '21 finalist Fernandez)
CRASH & BURN: #4 Elena Rybakina/KAZ (2nd Rd. walkover is 8th '24 event pulled out, walkover or retired; at third different 2022-24 major)
ZOMBIE QUEEN OF NEW YORK: Paula Badosa/ESP (3r- MP down 5-4 3rd vs. Ruse; 10-8 MTB win for first U.S. Open second week)
IT ("Bannerette Teen"): Iva Jovic/USA
Ms.OPPORTUNITY: Jessie Pegula/USA and Emma Navarro/USA
LAST QUALIFIER STANDING: Jessika Ponchet/FRA and Gabriela Ruse/ROU (both 3rd Rd.)
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: Iva Jovic/USA and Naomi Osaka/JPN (both 2nd Rd.)
LAST BANNERETTE STANDING: Jessie Pegula (in final)
COMEBACK: Karolina Muchova/CZE
VETERAN PLAYER (KIMIKO CUP): Sara Errani/ITA
DOUBLES STAR: Nominees: L.Kichenok/Ostapenko, Mladenovic/Zhang
BIG APPLE BANNERETTE BREAKTHROUGH: Ashlyn Krueger
BROADWAY-BOUND: "In the Heat of the Night" (Zheng/Vekic 2:16 a.m. finish, latest for U.S. women's match)
LADY OF THE EVENING: Aryna Sabalenka/BLR
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: Mimi Xu/GBR and Mika Stojsavljevic/GBR







All for Day 11. More tomorrow.

posted by Todd.Spiker @ 2:00 AM 

2 Comments:

Blogger khan35 said...

Last year at the Open, Gauff beat Muchova in the SF and went on to win the title by defeating Sabalenka in the final. This year Pegula beat Muchova in the SF and Sabalenka is the opponent she will face in the final.

I will be cheering for Pegula since I don't want Sabalenka to surpass Vika in slam count race. ( yeah. I know in the end she will pass Vika in the slam count )

Fri Sep 06, 05:15:00 AM EDT  
Blogger Todd.Spiker said...

Ah, good catch on the possible similar Muchova/Sabalenka ending to the Summer of Coco/Pegula Summer runs. That'll surely make it into the post for the final.

Sat Sep 07, 12:06:00 AM EDT  

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