Poor Elena Vesnina. She came back from 2-5 down in her round robin match against Ana Ivanovic, forced a tiebreak, and won it 7-1, only to see Ivanovic wind up in the Sofia semifinals. If Sam Stosur had lost her match to Tsvetana Pironkova, Vesnina would have been in, but the Australian easily beat the wild card, 6-1, 6-4. Stosur plays Simona Halep in the semifinals, and Ivanovic plays Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
In Nanjing, Ayumi Morita was at it again, playing three hours, and--this time--saving only one match point. She defeated Anna Schmiedlova 6-7 (8), 7-6 (0), 7-5. Morita, who must be exhausted, is now into the semifinals, in which she'll face Jarmila Gajdosova. In the other semifinal match, Yanina Wickmayer will face Zhang Shuai.
3 comments:
Hmmm, maybe Vesnina should take a cue from Wozniacki and complain to Allaster. You know, about Pironkova even being in the Tournament of "Champions" draw (as a "hometown wild card") in the first place... for the second straight year... though she's never been a champion on tour. In two years, she's gone 1-6 in the TOC, making the semis last year pretty much because Kirilenko withdrew with an illness (she withdrew in the middle of the event yet again this year, too).
Of course, this year it's Ivanovic who's reached the SF (as a wild card), while in the draw without actually being a champion during the season.
Sigh... why does this tournament exist again? (Sometimes it's hard to remember.) And in Sofia, of all places... if it was in Asia, where it started (in Bali), then at least it'd be a chapter in what is the overall WTA plan for expansion in the region.
Oh, well, maybe Halep will pick up another win. That'd at least be a redeeming moment. Almost.
The tournament is a joke, but this weekend, it's better than Fed Cup!
I don't understand why Pironkova can't get it together and win a few for the home crowd. But then, Pironkova is a total mystery.
Do you suppose, Todd, that, umm, "Something" recently came out of a sleep and blew into Russia on a misty night? Maybe it's not enough to mess with 'Pova--just go ahead and obliterate the country's tennis federation.
Hmmm... and interesting theory. ;)
(Speaking of, someone has some work to do in that area over the next two months.) :)
Post a Comment