Monday 18 June 2012

Maybe the world is going to after all!?


Birmingham final:

(Q) Melanie Oudin def. (5) Jelena Jankovic 6-4 6-2



Melanie Oudin went against all odds, qualified, and rampaged to win her first career title in Birmingham! Am I dreaming? I guess 2012 is the end of the world after all! So much for proclaiming Melanie had no weapons in her last defeat against her. Jelena might have weapons, but she misfiring all of them. I think this is the most surprising winner for the past few years given how dire Melanie's form was a few months ago. Maybe Melanie is believing again? And perhaps Jelena is inching towards retirement.

Eastbourne:

Singles - First Round
(8) Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) d. (WC) Anne Keothavong (GBR) 62 63
Chanelle Scheepers (RSA) d. Mona Barthel (GER) 61 46 61
Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN) d. Galina Voskoboeva (KAZ) 63 46 76(5)
Tamira Paszek (AUT) d. Marina Erakovic (NZL) 75 61

Rosmalen:

Singles - First Round
(Q) Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) d. (1) Samantha Stosur (AUS) 76(7) 63
Kateryna Bondarenko (UKR) d. (2) Sara Errani (ITA) 57 63 64
(3) Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) d. Alexandra Cadantu (ROU) 62 62
Francesca Schiavone (ITA) d. (5) Maria Kirilenko (RUS) 64 36 75
(6) Roberta Vinci (ITA) d. Eleni Daniilidou (GRE) 63 75
(8) Nadia Petrova (RUS) d. (WC) Kiki Bertens (NED) 62 64
Monica Niculescu (ROU) d. Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (CZE) 76(6) 63
Shahar Peer (ISR) d. (Q) Akgul Amanmuradova (UZB) 62 64
Irina-Camelia Begu (ROU) d. Iveta Benesova (CZE) 64 61
(Q) Urszula Radwanska (POL) d. Ksenia Pervak (KAZ) 46 61 64
(WC) Arantxa Rus (NED) d. Pauline Parmentier (FRA) 63 64

Shockers:

(Q) Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) d. (1) Samantha Stosur (AUS) 76(7) 63

What a shocker from Samantha Stosur. She lost to ranked 251 Kirsten Flipkens in her opening match on grass. Flipkens was ranked in the top 100 before but this loss is inexcusable. It just shows how clueless Samantha is on this surface. She should be able to take advantage of her big serve; but her spinny forehand is nullified by the low bouncing grass. Sam needs to change her gameplan for this unique surface and look to cover the net more. Still a steep learning curve for her.

Kateryna Bondarenko (UKR) d. (2) Sara Errani (ITA) 57 63 64


Another hangover case here. Probably still high from her final appearance in Paris, Sara Errani falls in her first hurdle in Rosmalen. Well, her game isn't suited for grass and it wasn't really a huge surprise. She doesn't have the aura of a top ten player yet. I guess Sara will be the seed that everyone is looking to draw in Wimbledon.

Tamira Paszek (AUT) d. Marina Erakovic (NZL) 75 61


Tamira Paszek did absolutely nothing for the past year and now she beats Marina Erakovic in straight sets. Either this Austrian really likes grass or Marina didn't show up. I'm guessing the latter. Disappointing performance from Erakovic as she did play well in Birmingham last week. As for Tamira, precious points for her as she tries desperately to defend her quarter-final points from Wimbledon last year.

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