The sun will rise in the east, summer rains will appear when you don't have an umbrella.....and Simona Halep--having gone deep in one tournament--will sustain an injury in the next one. Today the world number 3 retired during the second round of the Topshelf Open because of a shoulder injury (there may have been a wrist injury, also). The number 1 seed's retirement isn't a surprise. After going deep in one tournament, Halep is likely to retire in the next one. Whatever is going on, it needs to be addressed; evidence indicates that--so far--it has not been adequately addressed at all.
The transition from clay to grass is always difficult. 3rd seed Genie Bouchard went out in the first round to Vania King. Today, 6th seed Kirsten Flipkens, who is a good grass court player, was eliminated in the second round by Elina Svitolina.
Meanwhile, in Eastbourne, Heather Watson served out of her mind to defeat Flavia Pennetta 6-7, 6-4, 6-2. It was a masterful performance by Watson, who beat Tsvetana Pironkova in the opening round. Pironkova knows her way around a grass court, so Watson has now had two excellent wins.
Also in the second round, Ekaterina Makarova--always a threat on grass--defeated Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who upset top seed Aga Radwanska in the first round. Defending champion Elena Vesnina was defeated 7-5, 7-6 by Madison Keys, who upset Jelena Jankovic in the first round. Victoria Azarenka (making her return to the tour), Francesca Schiavone and Sara Errani were all beaten in the first round.
Caroline Wozniacki is making a statement at this tournament. She beat Sam Stosur in the first round, and Sloane Stephens in the second. Also winning her first two matches was Petra Kvitova, who will next play Watson.
Defending doubles champions Kveta Peschke and Katarina Srebotnik have advanced to the semifinals, as have Martina Hingis and Flavia Pennetta.
8 comments:
I enjoyed watching Watson this am. Her 80% 1st serves in and getting points on her second serve also just got better as the match progressed along with her forehand down the line and crosscourt. She also didn't get down about losing the tight 1st set and tiebreaker. Watson just put it behind her and moved on.
I also watched the Wozniacki-Stephens match. Wozniacki was consistent in all areas and just kept pressing. Stephens was not consistent, hitting great strokes but then going through patches of UFEs.
It is too bad about Halep but the back has been an issue within the last 12 months. She was quoted as saying it was a muscle between her shoulder and rib that was contracting in the cold weather. Someone needs to figure the back issue or upper arm issue.
Kvitova was her "real self" this week. Injury caused her to withdraw after beating Lepchenko. She will be dangerous at Wimbledon. Her mental strength has been on an upward path for a few months now. Holding my breath...
Here's the new old Petra: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzYKkgy9kK0
Yeah, Sunny, someone (a good chiropractor comes to mind) needs to figure out Halep's muscle issue. All this retiring is bad news.
I think it's good that Kvitova retired with the hamstring injury. She doesn't need to be dragging that into Wimbledon. Fingers crossed :/
I am about to give up on Petra. I think she might be too fragile (mentally and physically). It's too bad as she has the game to beat anyone.
I know. And of course, you can't separate the mental and physical fragility--they go round and round in a vicious cycle. I still believe her issues could be resolved, too, but it would take a different approach from the one she's getting currently.
New Coach for starters?
Seems like the logical place to start, doesn't it? If I were placed in charge of her career (knowing what I know--there may be things none of us knows):
1. Daily Tai Chi to strengthen immune system
2. New coach
3. What Schiavone called the "mental coach"
4. Review and assessment of asthma treatment(s)
I know what you know. There's a K in the picture. I think that there's baggage that has accrued there, plus continuing s-pig stuff.
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