The question "What's wrong with Petra Kvitova?" popped up again today as the Czech star went to pieces in the Tokyo semifinal after going up 4-0, then 5-1, in her first set against Vera Zvonareva. Zvonareva, reacting to the pressure put on her by Kvitova, couldn't do much of anything for most of that set. But then she broke Kvitova, and after that, the 5th seed's backhand, second serve and confidence began to decrease.
Slowly at first, Kvitova's game unraveled. Zvonareva, having come back from almost certain loss, practically cruised through the first set tiebreak. Then it was effectively over for Kvitova, whose game became a mass of unforced errors. She got a little of her hitting savvy back toward the end, but it was too late. Zvonareva's 7-6, 6-0 win puts her into the Tokyo final.
Her opponent will be Agnieszka Radwanska, who defeated Victoria Azarenka 6-3, 4-6, 6-2.
In doubles, top seeds Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond defeated Azarenka and Maria Kirilenko when Azarenka and Kirilenko retired early in the first set. Gisela Dulko and Flavia Pennetta defeated Vania King and Yaroslava Shvedova 4-6, 6-3, 10-8.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Passing shots
Melanie Oudin has split from coach Brian DeVilliers and is currently being coached, on a trial basis, by the USTA's Tom Gullickson.
Li Na has parted ways with coach Michael Mortensen.
Kim Clijsters has stopped working with coach Wim Fisette and will be coached again by Carl Maes. Fisette says that Clijters offered him a position at her new tennis academy, but he turned it down because wants to coach a top player before taking a role at an academy.
World number 4 Vera Zvonareva will be featured in the third edition of ESPN The Magazine's Body Issue. The magazine will be on the stands October 7.
Get to know Anastasiya Yakimova.
Li Na has parted ways with coach Michael Mortensen.
Kim Clijsters has stopped working with coach Wim Fisette and will be coached again by Carl Maes. Fisette says that Clijters offered him a position at her new tennis academy, but he turned it down because wants to coach a top player before taking a role at an academy.
World number 4 Vera Zvonareva will be featured in the third edition of ESPN The Magazine's Body Issue. The magazine will be on the stands October 7.
Get to know Anastasiya Yakimova.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Sharapova retires in Tokyo quarterfinals
Midway in her first set against Petra Kvitova, Tokyo 2nd seed Maria Sharapova had to retire when she fell and hurt her left ankle in today's quarterfinals. Sharapova is awaiting the results of an MRI and an examination.
Vera Zvonareva ended countrywoman Maria Kirilenko's impressive run by beating her 6-3, 6-3. Agnieszaka Radwanska defeated Kaia Kanepi, and Victoria Azarenka defeated Marion Bartoli.
In doubles, top seeds Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond advanced to the semifinals, as did the teams of Victoria Azarenka and Maria Kirilenko, Vania King and Yaroslava Shvedova, and Gisela Dulko and Flavia Pennetta.
Vera Zvonareva ended countrywoman Maria Kirilenko's impressive run by beating her 6-3, 6-3. Agnieszaka Radwanska defeated Kaia Kanepi, and Victoria Azarenka defeated Marion Bartoli.
In doubles, top seeds Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond advanced to the semifinals, as did the teams of Victoria Azarenka and Maria Kirilenko, Vania King and Yaroslava Shvedova, and Gisela Dulko and Flavia Pennetta.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Kirilenko keeps going in Tokyo
Maria Kirilenko, who defeated 6th seed Sam Stosur in second round play in Tokyo, defeated 12th seed Ana Ivanovic today in straight sets. 9th seed Agnieszka Radwanska defeated 8th seed Jelena Jankovic, 7th seed Marion Bartoli defeated 10th seed Peng Shuai, and 5th seed Petra Kvitova defeated Vania King, who had upset Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova earlier in the tournament.
The biggest upset in the third round, however, came at the hands of Kaia Kanepi, who beat top seed and defending champion Caroline Wozniacki 7-5, 1-6, 6-4.
The defending doubles champions also made an exit. 2nd seeds Gisela Dulko and Flavia Pennetta defeated Iveta Benesova and Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 6-3, 6-2.
The biggest upset in the third round, however, came at the hands of Kaia Kanepi, who beat top seed and defending champion Caroline Wozniacki 7-5, 1-6, 6-4.
The defending doubles champions also made an exit. 2nd seeds Gisela Dulko and Flavia Pennetta defeated Iveta Benesova and Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 6-3, 6-2.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Original 9 to attend 2012 Family Circle Cup
On the final weekend of the 2012 Family Circle Cup, April 6-8, the Original 9 will be in attendance as the tournament is played in its 40th year. The group called the Original 9, led by Billie Jean King, signed $1 contracts with Gladys Heldman, and the Virginia Slims tennis circuit was formed. The women risked their careers in order to obtain access to reasonable prize money and recognition, and they were ostracized by many men on the tour.
The Virginia Slims tour led to the creation of the WTA. Heldman, who founded World Tennis magazine, died in 2003.
The Original 9 include King, Rosemary Casals, Peaches Bartkowicz, Judy Dalton, Valerie Ziegenfuss, Julie Heldman, Nancy Richey, Kerry Melville, and Kristy Pigeon.
"In celebrating our 40th anniversary, the Family Circle Cup is thrilled to host the reunion of the Original 9," said Bob Moran, Tournament Director of the Family Circle Cup. "This event has been around for almost as long as women’s professional tennis. It’s more than just a tennis tournament. It’s a celebration of women’s tennis, and we are proud to honor these nine incredible champions at the Family Circle Cup."
The tournament, which is played on green clay, will be held March 31 through April 8 at the Family Circle Tennis Center on Daniel Island, just outside Charleston. World number 1 Caroline Wozniacki is the defending champion in singles, and Sania Mirza and Elena Vesnina are the defending doubles champions.
The Virginia Slims tour led to the creation of the WTA. Heldman, who founded World Tennis magazine, died in 2003.
The Original 9 include King, Rosemary Casals, Peaches Bartkowicz, Judy Dalton, Valerie Ziegenfuss, Julie Heldman, Nancy Richey, Kerry Melville, and Kristy Pigeon.
"In celebrating our 40th anniversary, the Family Circle Cup is thrilled to host the reunion of the Original 9," said Bob Moran, Tournament Director of the Family Circle Cup. "This event has been around for almost as long as women’s professional tennis. It’s more than just a tennis tournament. It’s a celebration of women’s tennis, and we are proud to honor these nine incredible champions at the Family Circle Cup."
The tournament, which is played on green clay, will be held March 31 through April 8 at the Family Circle Tennis Center on Daniel Island, just outside Charleston. World number 1 Caroline Wozniacki is the defending champion in singles, and Sania Mirza and Elena Vesnina are the defending doubles champions.
Stosur upset by Kirilenko in Tokyo
Maria Kirilenko and Sam Stosur, after just playing the longest women's tiebreak in major tournament history, met again in Tokyo today, and this time, Kirilenko was the winner. The Russian defeated the 6th seed 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 in the second round of play. Also going out today was 11th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who lost to Vania King.
Iveta Benesova defeated Dominika Cibulkova, and earlier in the tournament--in the opening round--Kaia Kanepi defeated 15th seed Flavia Pennetta. U.S. Open semifinalist Angelique Kerber got to the second round as a qualifier, but was defeated by 9th seed Agnieszka Radwanska.
Iveta Benesova defeated Dominika Cibulkova, and earlier in the tournament--in the opening round--Kaia Kanepi defeated 15th seed Flavia Pennetta. U.S. Open semifinalist Angelique Kerber got to the second round as a qualifier, but was defeated by 9th seed Agnieszka Radwanska.
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