Thursday 30 August 2012

Day 3 US Open: End of an era

Singles - Second Round
(1) Victoria Azarenka (BLR) d. (Q) Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) 62 62
(3) Maria Sharapova (RUS) d. Lourdes Domínguez Lino (ESP) 60 61
(5) Petra Kvitova (CZE) d. Alizé Cornet (FRA) 64 63
(7) Samantha Stosur (AUS) d. (Q) Edina Gallovits-Hall (ROU) 63 60
(9) Li Na (CHN) d. Casey Dellacqua (AUS) 64 64
(11) Marion Bartoli (FRA) d. Romina Oprandi (SUI) 62 16 75
(15) Lucie Safarova (CZE) d. Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN) 63 46 62
(WC) Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) d. (17) Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) 61 62
(19) Nadia Petrova (RUS) d. Simona Halep (ROU) 61 61
Laura Robson (GBR) d. (23) Kim Clijsters (BEL) 76(4) 76(5)
Pauline Parmentier (FRA) d. (25) Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) 76(5) 63
(28) Zheng Jie (CHN) d. (Q) Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) 63 61
(31) Varvara Lepchenko (USA) d. (Q) Anastasia Rodionova (AUS) 62 62
Anna Tatishvili (GEO) d. Sorana Cirstea (ROU) 67(5) 61 62
Mandy Minella (LUX) d. (Q) Kristyna Pliskova (CZE) 64 64
(WC) Mallory Burdette (USA) d. Lucie Hradecka (CZE) 62 64

Laura Robson (GBR) d. (23) Kim Clijsters (BEL) 76(4) 76(5) 


Kim's last tournament ended with a whimper as she was ousted by an on-fire Laura Robson in 2 tight sets. Despite leading 5-2 in the first set, Kim lost her serve and 3 set points and let the young teen take the first set. Laura was not intimidated by the event and played better and better. These 2 went toe to toe until Laura set up a match point with a brilliant running forehand winner. After an unreturned serve, Robson ends the singles career of the legend. It's heartbreaking to see your favourite player go like this but it's also time. Kim was obviously a step slower and it wasn't fun to see her struggle with injuries. So, I'll like to formally thank Kim for the ups and the downs. She has made tennis so much more interesting to follow and I'll never ever support another player like I did with you again.

(WC) Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) d. (17) Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) 61 62


Despite dispatching dangerous floater, Daniela Hantuchova convincingly in the first round, Pavlyuchenkova falls unexpectedly to Mladenovic in a crushing manner. Kristina has never won a main draw match until this week and she certainly knows where to pick up her first victories. Maybe it's time that she finally fulfils her full potential after years of failed hype around her. Pavlyuchenkova should be very disappointed at not being able to capitalize on her good form and for losing her quarter-finalist points. She needs to get fitter if she wants to challenge for the top.

(WC) Mallory Burdette (USA) d. Lucie Hradecka (CZE) 62 64 


My kiss of death strikes again as Hradecka loses easily to Mallory Burdette. Hradecka is one crazy player who can play world class tennis one day, and club level tennis another. Burdette's rapid rise is good for American tennis as they prepare for the imminent retirement of the Williams sisters. With Sloane Stephens and Christina McHale, these 3 form the future of American tennis. I just hope that Burdette will not regret her decision to go back to college. College can wait but if you are out of the game for too long, you lose your competitive juice.

Anna Tatishvili (GEO) d. Sorana Cirstea (ROU) 67(5) 61 62


As expected, unpredictable Sorana Cirstea bombs out against Tatishvili after beating Sabine Lisicki in the first round. Whoever is Cirstea's coach need to let her know that there's more to tennis than just hitting the covers off the balls. With no variety and no plan B, Cirstea will forever be plagued by these kind of puzzling losses. But I guess some players are just content with being a journeywoman. 


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