We don't get to see Bethanie Mattek-Sands playing at her full capability as often as we should. When she's healthy and match-tough, the veteran player from the USA has every shot in the book and a natural aggression that is a delight to watch. Mattek-Sands was "on" in Sydney today, and rather easily disposed of top seed and defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska, 7-5, 6-2. Radwanska helped by not serving that well, and by making a lot (for her) of unforced errors. Mattek-Sands, a qualifier, took out hot up-and-comer Eugine Bouchard in straight sets in the first round. And while this doesn't sound like much of an endorsement for the Canadian, it should be noted that Bouchard did extremely well in Hopman Cup play last week.
Madison Keys won her second round match against Ajla Tomjanovic, but the interesting part is how she advanced to the second round: She upset 7th seed Simona Halep. Jelena Jankovic went out in the first round to Ekaterina Makarova, and Angelique Kerber won her first and second round matches against Dominika Cibulkova (7-6, 7-5) and Kaia Kanepi, respectively.
Sara Errani beat friend and doubles partner Roberta Vinci in the opening round.
In Hobart, defending champion Elena Vesnina advanced to the second round, and wild card Storm Sanders upset Shenzhen runner-up Peng Shuai.
Monday, January 6, 2014
Saturday, January 4, 2014
France wins Hopman Cup
France won the Hopman Cup title for the first time today (yesterday, if you're in Perth) when Alize Cornet and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga defeated the Polish team of Agnieszka Radwanska and Grzegorz Panfil 2-1. Radwanska defeated Cornet, but France won both the men's singles and the mixed doubles matches. Poland, the top seed, made its Hopman Cup debut this year.
Meanwhile, Serena Williams got her season off to a great start by winning the title in Brisbane, where she defeated Victoria Azarenka 6-4, 7-5. The doubles title was taken by Alla Kudryavtseva and Anastasia Rodionova. They defeated Kristina Mladenovic and Galina Voskoboeva (Mladenovic does lose now and then).
Defending chamoion Li Na beat Peng Shuai 6-4, 7-5 to win the Shenzhen title. The doubles champions are Monica Niculescu and Klara Zakopalova. who beat Lyudmyla and Nadiya Kichenok in straight sets.
Finally, the new champion in Auckland is Ana Ivanovic, who beat Venus Williams in the final, but she took the long road to get to the trophy. Ivanovic was up 6-2, 5-1 when Williams turned things around and eventually won the second set 7-5. Ivanovic prevailed 6-4 in the third, however. The unseeded team of Sharon Fichman and Maria Sanchez won the doubles title. They defeated 3rd seeds Lucie Hradecka and Michaella Krajicek 2-6, 6-0, 10-4.
Meanwhile, Serena Williams got her season off to a great start by winning the title in Brisbane, where she defeated Victoria Azarenka 6-4, 7-5. The doubles title was taken by Alla Kudryavtseva and Anastasia Rodionova. They defeated Kristina Mladenovic and Galina Voskoboeva (Mladenovic does lose now and then).
Defending chamoion Li Na beat Peng Shuai 6-4, 7-5 to win the Shenzhen title. The doubles champions are Monica Niculescu and Klara Zakopalova. who beat Lyudmyla and Nadiya Kichenok in straight sets.
Finally, the new champion in Auckland is Ana Ivanovic, who beat Venus Williams in the final, but she took the long road to get to the trophy. Ivanovic was up 6-2, 5-1 when Williams turned things around and eventually won the second set 7-5. Ivanovic prevailed 6-4 in the third, however. The unseeded team of Sharon Fichman and Maria Sanchez won the doubles title. They defeated 3rd seeds Lucie Hradecka and Michaella Krajicek 2-6, 6-0, 10-4.
Grzegorz
Friday, January 3, 2014
Vika vs. Serena, Poland vs. France
Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka will face off one more time today in the Brisbane final. Williams defeated Maria Sharapova 6-2, 7-6 in the semifinals, giving her a 15-2 record against the Russian. Jelena Jankovic easily took the first set off of Azarenka, but then lost in three sets.
In Shenzhen, top seed Li Na will face countrywoman Peng Shaui in the final, and in Auckland, it will be Venus Williams against Ana Ivanovic.
The Hopman Cup title will be contested between Poland and France. France defeated Spain 3-0 in the last day of play before the final, and the Czech Republic defeated the USA 3-0. That was an easy one because the USA team gave the Czechs two walkovers and a retirement.
Sloane Stephens retired with a left wrist problem after she played her first set against Petra Kvitova. Venus Williams was given a walkover by Jamie Hampton in the Auckland semifinals because of a hip injury.
Vania King, whose Shenzhen run included upsetting Sara Errani in the second round, gave Peng a walkover in Shenzhen. Also--and probably to no one's great surprise--Ayumi Morita retired during Sydney qualifying.
In Shenzhen, top seed Li Na will face countrywoman Peng Shaui in the final, and in Auckland, it will be Venus Williams against Ana Ivanovic.
The Hopman Cup title will be contested between Poland and France. France defeated Spain 3-0 in the last day of play before the final, and the Czech Republic defeated the USA 3-0. That was an easy one because the USA team gave the Czechs two walkovers and a retirement.
Sloane Stephens retired with a left wrist problem after she played her first set against Petra Kvitova. Venus Williams was given a walkover by Jamie Hampton in the Auckland semifinals because of a hip injury.
Vania King, whose Shenzhen run included upsetting Sara Errani in the second round, gave Peng a walkover in Shenzhen. Also--and probably to no one's great surprise--Ayumi Morita retired during Sydney qualifying.
Thursday, January 2, 2014
Sweeping the court
Check out these photos from the Hopman Cup New Year's Eve ball. (Warning: Some bad tuxedos--and worse--are in view.)
Here's the video:
Caroline Wozniacki and Rory McIlroy have announced that they are engaged to be married.
Sloane Stephens has hired Paul Annacone to coach her. Stephens and Annacone underwent a trial period together last month.
Sacha Jones has retired from professional tennis. The 23-year-old Australian left the tour because she sustained so many injuries. The New Zealand-born Jones has enrolled at Auckland University, where she will study to become a teacher.
Here's the video:
Caroline Wozniacki and Rory McIlroy have announced that they are engaged to be married.
Sloane Stephens has hired Paul Annacone to coach her. Stephens and Annacone underwent a trial period together last month.
Sacha Jones has retired from professional tennis. The 23-year-old Australian left the tour because she sustained so many injuries. The New Zealand-born Jones has enrolled at Auckland University, where she will study to become a teacher.
It's already hard to keep up with the retirements
Yesterday, it was Flavia Pennetta who had to retire while playing Eugenie Bouchard in the Hopman Cup. The really bad news is that it was her wrist--the one that required the surgery. Pennetta said she thought the problem was a simple inflammation, but that leaves with her having to figure out how to prevent future inflammation.
Earlier in the week, Sabine Lisicki had to withdraw from Brisbane because of illness, Timea Babos had to retire in Shenzhen because of gastrointestinal illness, and Ashleigh Barty retired in Brisbane because of an adductor injury, and Alexandra Cadantu retired in Auckland. Also retiring in Brisbane was Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who hurt her thigh. Caroline Wozniacki never even made it to the court for round 1 because of a shoulder injury.
Aga Radwanska's shoulder is hurting her again, by the way. But even with an injured shoulder and the withdrawal of her rising star partner, Jerzy Janowicz, the world number 5 and her able stand-in partner, Grzegorz Panfil, have made it to the Hopman Cup final. Not bad, considering this is Poland's debut performance at the event. Poland just beat Australia 2-1 (and yes, Sam Stosur lost all three of her singles matches in Perth).
France beat the USA 2-1 in New Year's Day play, and then Canada beat Italy, whose cause crumbled when Pennetta retired.
In Brisbane, the quarterfinalists are Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Jelena Jankovic (who beat Angelique Kerber), and Victoria Azarenka, who was dragged to three sets by Stefanie Voegele.
Earlier in the week, Sabine Lisicki had to withdraw from Brisbane because of illness, Timea Babos had to retire in Shenzhen because of gastrointestinal illness, and Ashleigh Barty retired in Brisbane because of an adductor injury, and Alexandra Cadantu retired in Auckland. Also retiring in Brisbane was Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who hurt her thigh. Caroline Wozniacki never even made it to the court for round 1 because of a shoulder injury.
Aga Radwanska's shoulder is hurting her again, by the way. But even with an injured shoulder and the withdrawal of her rising star partner, Jerzy Janowicz, the world number 5 and her able stand-in partner, Grzegorz Panfil, have made it to the Hopman Cup final. Not bad, considering this is Poland's debut performance at the event. Poland just beat Australia 2-1 (and yes, Sam Stosur lost all three of her singles matches in Perth).
France beat the USA 2-1 in New Year's Day play, and then Canada beat Italy, whose cause crumbled when Pennetta retired.
In Brisbane, the quarterfinalists are Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Jelena Jankovic (who beat Angelique Kerber), and Victoria Azarenka, who was dragged to three sets by Stefanie Voegele.
Grzegorz
GrzegorzPanfil, have reached the final of the Hopman Cup. Not bad, since this is Poland's debut appearance at the event.
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
20 questions for 2014
1. Will Serena Williams win more than one major?
2. Will Li Na finally win the Australian Open?
3. How far will Simona Halep go at Roland Garros?
4. Will this be the year that Maria Sharapova wins Miami?
5. Will Petra Kvitova finally "reclaim herself" and win a second major?
6. What would you like Maria to add to the Sugarpova collection?
7. Do you honestly believe that Sabine Lisicki will win Wimbledon?
8. Will Genie Bouchard make good on her role as the most promising young player on the tour?
9. Or is that Sloane Stephens?
10. Will two Italians retire, or just one?
11. Is this the final season for Daniela Hantuchova?
12. Will Victoria Azarenka win the U.S. Open?
13. Can Italy hold onto the Fed Cup title?
14. Who (the answer can be plural) will hit Liezel Huber in the face?
15. Can Agnieszka Radwanska stay in or around the top 5 for most of the season?
16. How many titles will JJ win?
17. How long will Thomas Hogstedt last as Caroline Wozniacki's coach?
18. Will Hsieh Su-Wei and Peng Shuai continue their upward mobility in doubles?
19. Will some lucky woman become Kristina Mladenovic's regular doubles partner?
20. Who's going to surprise us? a. Sam Stosur, b. Angelique Kerber, c. dream on--neither of them
Discuss......
2. Will Li Na finally win the Australian Open?
3. How far will Simona Halep go at Roland Garros?
4. Will this be the year that Maria Sharapova wins Miami?
5. Will Petra Kvitova finally "reclaim herself" and win a second major?
6. What would you like Maria to add to the Sugarpova collection?
7. Do you honestly believe that Sabine Lisicki will win Wimbledon?
8. Will Genie Bouchard make good on her role as the most promising young player on the tour?
9. Or is that Sloane Stephens?
10. Will two Italians retire, or just one?
11. Is this the final season for Daniela Hantuchova?
12. Will Victoria Azarenka win the U.S. Open?
13. Can Italy hold onto the Fed Cup title?
14. Who (the answer can be plural) will hit Liezel Huber in the face?
15. Can Agnieszka Radwanska stay in or around the top 5 for most of the season?
16. How many titles will JJ win?
17. How long will Thomas Hogstedt last as Caroline Wozniacki's coach?
18. Will Hsieh Su-Wei and Peng Shuai continue their upward mobility in doubles?
19. Will some lucky woman become Kristina Mladenovic's regular doubles partner?
20. Who's going to surprise us? a. Sam Stosur, b. Angelique Kerber, c. dream on--neither of them
Discuss......
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
Top seed Vinci upset in first round of ASB Classic
Ana Konjuh began her 2014 season yesterday in as great a way as she could ever have imagined. The Croatian wild card, who turned 16 last week, defeated Auckland top seed Roberta Vinci 3-6, 6-4, 6-2. Vinci is ranked number 14 in the world, which makes this a huge win for Konjuh. The teenager's next challenge will be to play Lauren Davis, who defeated Marina Erakovic in straight sets in the opening round.
In Brisbane, Dominika Cibulkova had to go three sets to get past Kimiko Date-Krumm, and in Shenzhen, top seed Li Na defeated Vera Zvonareva in the Russian's first WTA match in a year and a half.
Meanwhile, at the Hopman Cup event, Italy looked a lot better against Australia than it did against Poland. For one thing, Andreas Seppi recovered from his illness and was able to play. And though he lost in men's singles, he and Flavia Pennetta won the mixed doubles match, and Pennetta defeated Sam Stosur in women's singles.
In Brisbane, Dominika Cibulkova had to go three sets to get past Kimiko Date-Krumm, and in Shenzhen, top seed Li Na defeated Vera Zvonareva in the Russian's first WTA match in a year and a half.
Meanwhile, at the Hopman Cup event, Italy looked a lot better against Australia than it did against Poland. For one thing, Andreas Seppi recovered from his illness and was able to play. And though he lost in men's singles, he and Flavia Pennetta won the mixed doubles match, and Pennetta defeated Sam Stosur in women's singles.
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