World number 1 Dinara Safina has qualified for the Sony Ericsson Championships in Doha.
Charles Bricker lays into the ESPN commentators for being too lazy to pronounce Marion Bartoli's name correctly--imagine how delighted I was to see this--and goes on to write humorously, but affectionately, about Bartoli.
Bricker again--this time, glad to have some real stats on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour site, but not so happy about having to search for them.
Dinara Safina is the number 1 seed at the upcoming Western & Southern Financial Group Women's Open in Cincinnati. Kim Clijsters has a wild card into the tournament.
James LaRosa asks whether women on the tour can make friends with their peers. The answer--duh--appears to be "yes."
Not surprisingly, Li Na has withdrawn from both the Cincinnati and Toronto tournaments.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Lisicki out of Cincinnati
Sabine Lisicki, who had to retire in her 3rd round match in Los Angeles, announced earlier this evening that she has withdrawn from the Western & Southern Financial Group Women's Open. Lisicki is having problems with her right shoulder and cannot serve. I will provide more information as I get it. I hope I will have good news soon.
Paszek to play for now
Tamira Paszek has been given permission to continue playing on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour until a decision is made about her possible ban for allegedly violating anti-doping rules. Paszek's attorney says that the homeopathic enrichment of her blood did not violate the rules. A decision will be made in about seven weeks. If the ban is upheld, it is not expected to be a very long one.
Cirstea goes to Los Angeles semifinals, but not without drama
There was a medical time-out. There was foot wrapping and unwrapping. There were tears. There was conflict with the chair umpire. And there was a brief, but impressive, tantrum.
Sorana Cirstea, who does not have a good record against Agnieszka Radwanska, entered the court today in Los Angeles with a good game plan, and was even able to carry most of it out in the first set, which she won in a tiebreak, after losing a chance to serve for it. Some time during that set, she hurt her right heel, and she had to have treatment for it. She looked to be quite troubled by it, and later, she told her coach she could not push off on it. "Then you have to change your tactics," he said.
Cirstea crumbled in the second set, which she lost, 1-6. Even a more than casual observer would have expected her to either retire or just slog through the last set and leave the court "a winner," as Sven Groenefeld advised her. She was hurting. She was frustrated. She was angry. And it did wonders for her. She steadied herself in a way that did not seem possible, and which appeared to unglue her opponent.
Cirstea did what any smart opponent of Radwanska's should do--she took advantage of Radwanska's throwaway second serve. Her first set confidence returned, but Radwanska fought back. Then, when Radwanska served for the match at 5-4, Cirstea broke her. Cirstea then held, and on her third match point on Radwanska's serve (which included a double fault), she won the match--probably as much to her surprise as to anyone's. It is unknown whether Cirstea's foot will permit her to perform well (or to perform at all) in the next round, but she has to be pleased with her effort today, and she has to be pleased with Groenefeld, who obviously helped her believe in herself.
Sorana Cirstea, who does not have a good record against Agnieszka Radwanska, entered the court today in Los Angeles with a good game plan, and was even able to carry most of it out in the first set, which she won in a tiebreak, after losing a chance to serve for it. Some time during that set, she hurt her right heel, and she had to have treatment for it. She looked to be quite troubled by it, and later, she told her coach she could not push off on it. "Then you have to change your tactics," he said.
Cirstea crumbled in the second set, which she lost, 1-6. Even a more than casual observer would have expected her to either retire or just slog through the last set and leave the court "a winner," as Sven Groenefeld advised her. She was hurting. She was frustrated. She was angry. And it did wonders for her. She steadied herself in a way that did not seem possible, and which appeared to unglue her opponent.
Cirstea did what any smart opponent of Radwanska's should do--she took advantage of Radwanska's throwaway second serve. Her first set confidence returned, but Radwanska fought back. Then, when Radwanska served for the match at 5-4, Cirstea broke her. Cirstea then held, and on her third match point on Radwanska's serve (which included a double fault), she won the match--probably as much to her surprise as to anyone's. It is unknown whether Cirstea's foot will permit her to perform well (or to perform at all) in the next round, but she has to be pleased with her effort today, and she has to be pleased with Groenefeld, who obviously helped her believe in herself.
Friday cat blogging--tete-a-tete edition
Ziggy Stardust relaxes on top of the loveseat with his friend VelmaThursday, August 6, 2009
Los Angeles quarterfinals to be played Friday
Here is the lineup for the quarterfinals in Los Angeles:
Zheng Jie (14) vs. Samantha Stosur (13)
Sorana Cirstea vs. Agnieszka Radwanska (8)
Urszula Radwanska vs. Maria Sharapova
Flavia Pennetta (10) vs. Vera Zvonareva (2)
Zheng Jie (14) vs. Samantha Stosur (13)
Sorana Cirstea vs. Agnieszka Radwanska (8)
Urszula Radwanska vs. Maria Sharapova
Flavia Pennetta (10) vs. Vera Zvonareva (2)
Injuries and upsets in Los Angeles--top seed out in 3d round
It wasn't a good day for Li Na, Francesca Schiavone and Sabine Lisicki. All three had to forfeit matches in Los Angeles because of injury. Schiavone and her partner, Tathiana Garbin, gave their quarterfinal opponents a walkover because of Schiavone's right hamstring strain, and Lisicki retired against Sorana Cirstea in the third round because of a right shoulder injury.
Not surprisingly, it was her knee that led Li to give Urszula Radwanska a walkover in their third round match. Li's injury problems--especially regarding her knee--have effectively shut her out of having the career many of us presumed she would have when she returned to the tour after her retirement (strange that her name is never mentioned among those of retired players who have returned to the tour). We can hope that she is able to solve her knee problem, but it certainly doesn't look good for her.
There were four upsets today. 13th seed Sam Stosur defeated 6th seed Ana Ivanovic, 6-3, 6-2 and 10th seed Flavia Pennetta upset 5th seed Nadia Petrova. Also, the team of Maria Kirilenko and Agnieszka Radwsanska upset 1st seeds Stosur and Rennae Stubbs, 6-3, 7-6.
And finally, number 1 seed and defending champion Dinara Safina was defeated 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 by 14th seed Zheng Jie. There were 13 breaks of serve in this match. The last one occurred when Safina served at 4-all and was broken at love. Zheng then held at love to win the match.
Not surprisingly, it was her knee that led Li to give Urszula Radwanska a walkover in their third round match. Li's injury problems--especially regarding her knee--have effectively shut her out of having the career many of us presumed she would have when she returned to the tour after her retirement (strange that her name is never mentioned among those of retired players who have returned to the tour). We can hope that she is able to solve her knee problem, but it certainly doesn't look good for her.
There were four upsets today. 13th seed Sam Stosur defeated 6th seed Ana Ivanovic, 6-3, 6-2 and 10th seed Flavia Pennetta upset 5th seed Nadia Petrova. Also, the team of Maria Kirilenko and Agnieszka Radwsanska upset 1st seeds Stosur and Rennae Stubbs, 6-3, 7-6.
And finally, number 1 seed and defending champion Dinara Safina was defeated 7-5, 4-6, 6-4 by 14th seed Zheng Jie. There were 13 breaks of serve in this match. The last one occurred when Safina served at 4-all and was broken at love. Zheng then held at love to win the match.
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