Lately, I've been concerned about both Sara Errani and Aravane Rezai, two players who--at the end of last year--appeared poised to have really good 2010 seasons, but who have fizzled out this year. Errani went out in the first round in Madrid on Friday, losing a three-setter to Andrea Petkovic.
Rezai, however, pulled off one of the upsets of the clay season today, defeating Justine Henin 4-6, 7-5, 6-0. Between them, they double-faulted 17 times, which is unfortunate. And speaking of double faults, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova double-faulted only once in her victory over Daniela Hantuchova.
11th seed Maria Sharapova was also upset--by Lucie Safarova--but there is hardly anything shocking in that score, considering the surface, Sharapova's issues, and Safarova's recent good form.
Venus Williams had service win percentages of 85 and 75 in her first round match against Stephanie Voegele, which she won 6-4, 6-2.
In doubles, 5th seeds Cara Black and Elena Vesnina were defeated 6-0, 7-6 by Chan Yung-Jan and Zheng Jie.
6 comments:
Yeah, I had been wondering about Rezai this year also. She just seemed to disappear after making a splash last year. Do you know what happened to Henin to get bageled in the third set? Had Rezai raised her level or was Henin loss due to the double faults?
Also I have been impressed this year with Safarova and Peer (Peer picking up the end of last year.) They were promising a couple years ago and then seemed to go away. Safarova is another lefty-which I kind of like.
Safarova is really good, I think, but she has so much trouble with consistency. Not lately, though.
I'm glad about Peer, too. She hangs in until the very last point.
Henin double-faulted three times in the last set.
She had a tough time in her first round in Stuttgart, too, you'll recall. I wish I could have seen today's match so I would know more about what actually went on.
FYI: This is how Tennis.com explained it:
"The Ticker @ Tennis.com
Ill Henin shocked in Madrid opener May 09, 2010
Justine Henin has been defeated 4-6, 7-5, 6-0 in the first round of Madrid by Aravane Rezai.
Henin said she had been suffering from a cold and throat infection since winning the title in Stuttgart a week ago. "Today I wasn't able to give everything, wasn't 100 percent, and my opponent was better," she said.
The Belgian said she would rest for a couple of days and begin training again on Thursday in prepration for the French Open."
I'd heard Henin was feeling somewhat tired; she probably needs to rest.
Naw... She can't blame this one on her cold. If that was the case she would have not played, period! She would had bowed out and rested for the FO. Nothing happen to Henin for her to get bageled in the third set, she was just out played, this has happened to alot of the top ten players, nothing new..
Actually, it's an infection she has. I'm not saying she would have won if she didn't have it--I have no idea. But playing with an infection is usually not the best idea.
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