Firstly, I want to apologize for missing out the first day. I've been on the grounds covering for another lifestyle blog, www.superadrianme.com. Please refer to that blog for daily highlights! Due to the busy schedule, I can only update the matches with text. No fancy photos this time. Sorry!
Maria Sharapova vs. Caroline Wozniacki
Sharapova lost to Caroline in their last encounter in US Open. However, the Russian seems to be hitting well again after winning Beijing. Judging by her practice seesion, Maria seems to be getting her groove back. This will not bode well for Caroline, as the surface suits the flat hard hitters. Caroline will need to take initiative or run around with out of this world defence.
Pick: Sharapova in 2 sets
Petra Kvitova vs. Agnieszka Radwanska
It's really a no-brainer to call Kvitova the favourite here. Radwanska's form is nowhere to be found, while Petra thrives on the hard indoor surface. Will be surprised if Petra loses more than 5 games here.
Pick: Kvitova in 2 sets
Showing posts with label petra kvitova. Show all posts
Showing posts with label petra kvitova. Show all posts
Monday, 20 October 2014
Saturday, 18 October 2014
Singapore player focus: Petra Kvitova
Season highlights
Like Wozniacki, Kvitova's first half of the season is totally forgettable. However, she turned it on for Wimbledon, dominating her matches to win in style. With her confidence back, she went further by adding titles in New Haven and Wuhan. A recent finalist in Beijing, her form coming into Singapore is stellar. She has a chance to end the year number one depending on how Serena and Sharapova performs. Great turnaround for someone who has been ousted from Melbourne in the first round.
Playing style
Kvitova doesn't need to overthink much. Her game is pure power, there is no need for cute drop shots or lobs. If she's on, she's unplayable, as evidenced in the Wimbledon final. Petra's fitness is also an asset, having won numerous three set matches, but mostly due to her lapse in concentration during matches. Lately, she has been able to harness her power to great effect. If she continues her free hitting, she might just add another tour championships to her resume.
Chances of winning Singapore: 80%
There is no doubt Petra's game works well on fast surfaces. Given the quick indoor surface of Singapore, she will thrive and be able to dominate with her laser like ground strokes. However, it remains to be seen if she can overcome the top 2 seeds. She has never beaten Serena before, and hasn't beaten Sharapova since 2011. If she can overcome that, she can be the trophy holder at the end of the week.
Prediction: Semi-finals
Sunday, 5 October 2014
Beijing F: Maria ascends to number 2
Beijing final:
Maria Sharapova def. Petra Kvitova 6-4 2-6 6-3
Sharapova proves her doubters wrong by defeating the Tokyo and Wuhan title holders in succession. The Russian slugged through a dramatic but erroneous match to win her first Beijing title and claims the number 2 spot from Simona Halep. This is Sharapova's 4th title of the year and first that is non-clay. She shows that she still has it on hard courts, and erases her bad run of form since Roland Garros. Kvitova cannot be too disappointed with herself though, as she had a nice winning streak before this, and was so close in the end. Both players will be the huge favourites going into Singapore, with Serena and Simona under an injury cloud. Well done Maria!
Maria Sharapova def. Petra Kvitova 6-4 2-6 6-3
Sharapova proves her doubters wrong by defeating the Tokyo and Wuhan title holders in succession. The Russian slugged through a dramatic but erroneous match to win her first Beijing title and claims the number 2 spot from Simona Halep. This is Sharapova's 4th title of the year and first that is non-clay. She shows that she still has it on hard courts, and erases her bad run of form since Roland Garros. Kvitova cannot be too disappointed with herself though, as she had a nice winning streak before this, and was so close in the end. Both players will be the huge favourites going into Singapore, with Serena and Simona under an injury cloud. Well done Maria!
Friday, 3 October 2014
Beijing SF: Clash of the big babes
Samantha Stosur vs. Petra Kvitova
If there is a bad match up for Stosur, it is Kvitova. Samantha's kick serve to Kvitova's lethal forehand will just be punished by the tall Czech. The only thing that should favour the Aussie is that Kvitova might be tired after playing so many matches in 2 weeks. I still think that Petra has enough reserve to win this, and reach her second consecutive final.
Pick: Kvitova in 2 sets
Maria Sharapova vs. Ana Ivanovic
Ana Ivanovic trails the head-to-head with Sharapova, but has won their last 2 encounters. The last being the controversial "check her blood pressure" match in Cincinnati. I'm sure Sharapova will be very eager to beat Ana given how vocal she has been about Ana's suspect medical timeouts. Ana does hold an advantage though, winning Tokyo 2 weeks ago and having an extra day's rest. This will be a close contest for sure, and with her place secured in Singapore, I think Ana will go out free swinging and snatch another win from the tall Russian.
Pick: Ivanovic in 3 sets
If there is a bad match up for Stosur, it is Kvitova. Samantha's kick serve to Kvitova's lethal forehand will just be punished by the tall Czech. The only thing that should favour the Aussie is that Kvitova might be tired after playing so many matches in 2 weeks. I still think that Petra has enough reserve to win this, and reach her second consecutive final.
Pick: Kvitova in 2 sets
Maria Sharapova vs. Ana Ivanovic
Ana Ivanovic trails the head-to-head with Sharapova, but has won their last 2 encounters. The last being the controversial "check her blood pressure" match in Cincinnati. I'm sure Sharapova will be very eager to beat Ana given how vocal she has been about Ana's suspect medical timeouts. Ana does hold an advantage though, winning Tokyo 2 weeks ago and having an extra day's rest. This will be a close contest for sure, and with her place secured in Singapore, I think Ana will go out free swinging and snatch another win from the tall Russian.
Pick: Ivanovic in 3 sets
Thursday, 2 October 2014
Beijing QF: Simona withdraws, Ana bolsters chance of qualifying
Schedule of play:
http://www.wtatennis.com/schedule/tournamentId/1140/title/china-open
Simona withdraws from Beijing after toughing out her win against Petkovic. This gives Ana a free pass to the semi-finals, almost confirming her attendance in Singapore.
Match focus:
Svetlana Kuznetsova vs. Maria Sharapova
A rematch of last week's 2nd round match, Kuznetsova gets another chance to try to topple the tall Russian. However, it is very doubtful that Svetlana can upset Maria after that horror show last week. Sharapova was clearly not at her best but managed to toughen out a win in Wuhan. Svetlana's mental strength is just not capable of making the right shots at the right time. Expect another win for the more famous Russian.
Pick: Sharapova in 2 sets
Serena Williams vs. Samantha Stosur
Serena has not been playing her best tennis lately, and struggled with her left knee against Safarova. If Stosur plays well, she can cause another upset here. I do think that Serena is smart enough not to risk further injury before the year-end championships, so there is a possibility of her withdrawing before the match even begins. Nevertheless, if Serena steps on court, she will have to fight her way through a resurgent Stosur, whose game seem to be clicking again. Stosur's mental strength is very flaky though, so if Serena is able to pressure the Aussie, Samantha might crumble.
Pick: Serena in 3 sets
Petra Kvitova vs. Roberta Vinci
Out of nowhere, Roberta Vinci manages to win consecutive matches to enter her first Premier quarterfinal in a while. With a negative win-loss record this year, I would have expected Vinci to focus more on doubles, or look forward to next year. The Italian's run should end here though, as she collides with the ever-improving Kvitova. The Czech has been going from strength to strength here in China, still unbeaten from her run in Wuhan. Her matches have been relatively straightforward, so I don't see how Vinci's game can hurt her.
Pick: Kvitova in 2 sets
http://www.wtatennis.com/schedule/tournamentId/1140/title/china-open
Simona withdraws from Beijing after toughing out her win against Petkovic. This gives Ana a free pass to the semi-finals, almost confirming her attendance in Singapore.
Match focus:
Svetlana Kuznetsova vs. Maria Sharapova
A rematch of last week's 2nd round match, Kuznetsova gets another chance to try to topple the tall Russian. However, it is very doubtful that Svetlana can upset Maria after that horror show last week. Sharapova was clearly not at her best but managed to toughen out a win in Wuhan. Svetlana's mental strength is just not capable of making the right shots at the right time. Expect another win for the more famous Russian.
Pick: Sharapova in 2 sets
Serena Williams vs. Samantha Stosur
Serena has not been playing her best tennis lately, and struggled with her left knee against Safarova. If Stosur plays well, she can cause another upset here. I do think that Serena is smart enough not to risk further injury before the year-end championships, so there is a possibility of her withdrawing before the match even begins. Nevertheless, if Serena steps on court, she will have to fight her way through a resurgent Stosur, whose game seem to be clicking again. Stosur's mental strength is very flaky though, so if Serena is able to pressure the Aussie, Samantha might crumble.
Pick: Serena in 3 sets
Petra Kvitova vs. Roberta Vinci
Out of nowhere, Roberta Vinci manages to win consecutive matches to enter her first Premier quarterfinal in a while. With a negative win-loss record this year, I would have expected Vinci to focus more on doubles, or look forward to next year. The Italian's run should end here though, as she collides with the ever-improving Kvitova. The Czech has been going from strength to strength here in China, still unbeaten from her run in Wuhan. Her matches have been relatively straightforward, so I don't see how Vinci's game can hurt her.
Pick: Kvitova in 2 sets
Wednesday, 1 October 2014
Beijing day 6: Kvitova Venus rematch
Match focus:
Petra Kvitova vs. Venus Williams
Venus gave Kvitova her toughest match in her road to her second Wimbledon championships. Can Venus finally top the in-form Czech to avenge for her heart-breaking loss? One thing's for sure, the longer the match goes, the more it favours Kvitova. Venus's stamina isn't as before, so she needs to win this in 2 sets. With Petra hitting the ball with authority, it's difficult to see Venus upsetting the Wimbledon champion. She might take a set, but not more.
Pick: Kvitova in 2 sets
Sabine Lisicki vs. Ana Ivanovic
The trouble with Lisicki is that she cannot string 2 good wins together. Against the tour leading woman with the most wins, I think Sabine's giant killing act will stop here. Unlike Agnieszka Radwanska, Ana Ivanovic thrives upon qualifying for Singapore. She is playing her best tennis so far, and looks super determined to finish as the top 8.
Pick: Ivanovic in 2 sets
Alize Cornet vs. Samantha Stosur
Denting Wozniacki's hopes of securing her place in the year-end championships, Stosur hits a rare patch of good form to advance to the third round. She will favour her chances against Cornet, whose last win against the Aussie came in 2009. If Samantha performs as well as she did against Caroline, there's no doubt that she will best the Frenchwoman. Cornet's second serve and loopy forehand will be punished by Stosur. Nevertheless, you never know which Stosur will show up.
Pick: Stosur in 3 sets
Sure win bets: Serena Williams, Simona Halep, Ekaterina Makarova
Petra Kvitova vs. Venus Williams
Venus gave Kvitova her toughest match in her road to her second Wimbledon championships. Can Venus finally top the in-form Czech to avenge for her heart-breaking loss? One thing's for sure, the longer the match goes, the more it favours Kvitova. Venus's stamina isn't as before, so she needs to win this in 2 sets. With Petra hitting the ball with authority, it's difficult to see Venus upsetting the Wimbledon champion. She might take a set, but not more.
Pick: Kvitova in 2 sets
Sabine Lisicki vs. Ana Ivanovic
The trouble with Lisicki is that she cannot string 2 good wins together. Against the tour leading woman with the most wins, I think Sabine's giant killing act will stop here. Unlike Agnieszka Radwanska, Ana Ivanovic thrives upon qualifying for Singapore. She is playing her best tennis so far, and looks super determined to finish as the top 8.
Pick: Ivanovic in 2 sets
Alize Cornet vs. Samantha Stosur
Denting Wozniacki's hopes of securing her place in the year-end championships, Stosur hits a rare patch of good form to advance to the third round. She will favour her chances against Cornet, whose last win against the Aussie came in 2009. If Samantha performs as well as she did against Caroline, there's no doubt that she will best the Frenchwoman. Cornet's second serve and loopy forehand will be punished by Stosur. Nevertheless, you never know which Stosur will show up.
Pick: Stosur in 3 sets
Sure win bets: Serena Williams, Simona Halep, Ekaterina Makarova
Saturday, 30 August 2014
US Open day 7: Make or break for Caroline
Upset of the previous day:
Aleksandra Krunic def. Petra Kvitova 6-4 6-4
Following Halep's massive loss yesterday, Kvitova follows her footsteps in losing to another unheralded player. Aleksandra Krunic played the match of her life, running down shots that would have been winners against any other players, and managed to beat the reigning Wimbledon champion. Kvitova was unnerved by Krunic's impossible court coverage, and hit herself out of the tournament. Aleksandra's game is kind of like Wozniacki with a better forehand, so she has the potential to do well given how brainless the other players are. Another shocking loss for Kvitova when her draw has opened up considerably. Looks like her second Wimbledon was kind of fluky as well.
Schedule of play:
http://www.usopen.org/en_US/scores/schedule/schedule13.html
Match focus:
Sara Errani vs. Mirjana Lucic-Baroni
Errani was lucky that Venus committed so many errors in her match, and she will be happy she's not facing Halep instead. Mirjana's game is even riskier than Venus, so Sara already had the perfect warm-up. The crowd will be firmly behind the Croatian though, as she's the story of the tournament so far, having struggled with her private life and making a comeback here after 15 years. Nevertheless, Sara will be prepared as she silenced her doubters defiantly against Venus, as the crowd was decidedly on Venus' side. Every fairytale has to end and not every story has a fairytale ending.
Pick: Errani in 2 sets
Maria Sharapova vs. Caroline Wozniacki
Plagued by serving woes and uneven play, Wozniacki has the perfect opportunity to upset the hard hitting Russian here. Lisicki's game was too risky, and the volatile German just couldn't find the court in her nervy 3rd round, but Wozniacki thrives on the big occasions. The Dane's superior court coverage will trouble Maria, and will make her hit that extra ball. Sharapova's game is frankly extremely fragile now, so Caroline just needs to keep getting the ball back with interest and make Sharapova make the error. An upset is very possible here.
Pick: Wozniacki in 3 sets
Belinda Bencic vs. Jelena Jankovic
Barely losing games, Jankovic is quietly advancing to the 2nd week with minimal fuss. One thing to note is that the Serbian has yet to lose serve in her 3 matches. While this is definitely about to change against Bencic, you can see that Jelena is more confident of her serve now, and her game flows with it. Bencic's game is kind of like Jelena, but the former number 1 has a better serve and more experience. With her cruising through her 3 matches, it's hard not to pick Jelena, even though Belinda will definitely put up a better fight.
Pick: Jankovic in 2 sets
Lucie Safarova vs. Peng Shuai
Peng's resurgence is very impressive, but she will meet someone who she has never beaten in 4 tries. Lucie Safarova is enjoying her best year in majors, reaching the latter stages in almost all the slams, and will be the favoured player to reach the last 8. Not too sure why Shuai is winless against Lucie, but Peng will need to mix things up to unnerve the Czech. Approach the net, hit some low slice shots, and make Lucie earn the point. That is precisely not Peng's game, so it's a done deal here.
Pick: Safarova in 2 sets
Aleksandra Krunic def. Petra Kvitova 6-4 6-4
Following Halep's massive loss yesterday, Kvitova follows her footsteps in losing to another unheralded player. Aleksandra Krunic played the match of her life, running down shots that would have been winners against any other players, and managed to beat the reigning Wimbledon champion. Kvitova was unnerved by Krunic's impossible court coverage, and hit herself out of the tournament. Aleksandra's game is kind of like Wozniacki with a better forehand, so she has the potential to do well given how brainless the other players are. Another shocking loss for Kvitova when her draw has opened up considerably. Looks like her second Wimbledon was kind of fluky as well.
Schedule of play:
http://www.usopen.org/en_US/scores/schedule/schedule13.html
Match focus:
Sara Errani vs. Mirjana Lucic-Baroni
Errani was lucky that Venus committed so many errors in her match, and she will be happy she's not facing Halep instead. Mirjana's game is even riskier than Venus, so Sara already had the perfect warm-up. The crowd will be firmly behind the Croatian though, as she's the story of the tournament so far, having struggled with her private life and making a comeback here after 15 years. Nevertheless, Sara will be prepared as she silenced her doubters defiantly against Venus, as the crowd was decidedly on Venus' side. Every fairytale has to end and not every story has a fairytale ending.
Pick: Errani in 2 sets
Maria Sharapova vs. Caroline Wozniacki
Plagued by serving woes and uneven play, Wozniacki has the perfect opportunity to upset the hard hitting Russian here. Lisicki's game was too risky, and the volatile German just couldn't find the court in her nervy 3rd round, but Wozniacki thrives on the big occasions. The Dane's superior court coverage will trouble Maria, and will make her hit that extra ball. Sharapova's game is frankly extremely fragile now, so Caroline just needs to keep getting the ball back with interest and make Sharapova make the error. An upset is very possible here.
Pick: Wozniacki in 3 sets
Belinda Bencic vs. Jelena Jankovic
Barely losing games, Jankovic is quietly advancing to the 2nd week with minimal fuss. One thing to note is that the Serbian has yet to lose serve in her 3 matches. While this is definitely about to change against Bencic, you can see that Jelena is more confident of her serve now, and her game flows with it. Bencic's game is kind of like Jelena, but the former number 1 has a better serve and more experience. With her cruising through her 3 matches, it's hard not to pick Jelena, even though Belinda will definitely put up a better fight.
Pick: Jankovic in 2 sets
Lucie Safarova vs. Peng Shuai
Peng's resurgence is very impressive, but she will meet someone who she has never beaten in 4 tries. Lucie Safarova is enjoying her best year in majors, reaching the latter stages in almost all the slams, and will be the favoured player to reach the last 8. Not too sure why Shuai is winless against Lucie, but Peng will need to mix things up to unnerve the Czech. Approach the net, hit some low slice shots, and make Lucie earn the point. That is precisely not Peng's game, so it's a done deal here.
Pick: Safarova in 2 sets
Sunday, 24 August 2014
New Haven F: Kvitova back on top
New Haven final:
Petra Kvitova def. Magdalena Rybarikova 6-4 6-2
When Kvitova is on, she's almost unplayable. Her run in New Haven proves that point as she cruised to the title without much hassle. Rybarikova is an adept player, but she has holes which Petra exploited in their final match. Now watch Magdalena crash out early in New York after her inspiring run here, as she will never be a model of consistency. Kvitova now rises up again as one of the favourites in US Open after taking a while to recover from her Wimbledon triumph. Who knows? Maybe the Czech will add another grand slam title to her name in 2 weeks time.
Petra Kvitova def. Magdalena Rybarikova 6-4 6-2
When Kvitova is on, she's almost unplayable. Her run in New Haven proves that point as she cruised to the title without much hassle. Rybarikova is an adept player, but she has holes which Petra exploited in their final match. Now watch Magdalena crash out early in New York after her inspiring run here, as she will never be a model of consistency. Kvitova now rises up again as one of the favourites in US Open after taking a while to recover from her Wimbledon triumph. Who knows? Maybe the Czech will add another grand slam title to her name in 2 weeks time.
Friday, 22 August 2014
New Haven F: Rybarikova's magical run
Magdalena Rybarikova vs. Petra Kvitova
Given how Kvitova annihilated Stosur and how similar Magdalena's and Samantha's games are, it is safe to say that Petra has this in the bag. The Czech is finally showing the form that won her the Wimbledon title, after going AWOL for one month. Still, Magdalena has to be proud of what she has achieved this week. She snapped out of her slump with impressive wins over Halep and other dangerous players. If she continues her rich rein of form, she might cause some upsets in New York. Nevertheless, this match should be and will be won by the reigning Wimbledon champion.
Pick: Kvitova in 2 sets
Given how Kvitova annihilated Stosur and how similar Magdalena's and Samantha's games are, it is safe to say that Petra has this in the bag. The Czech is finally showing the form that won her the Wimbledon title, after going AWOL for one month. Still, Magdalena has to be proud of what she has achieved this week. She snapped out of her slump with impressive wins over Halep and other dangerous players. If she continues her rich rein of form, she might cause some upsets in New York. Nevertheless, this match should be and will be won by the reigning Wimbledon champion.
Pick: Kvitova in 2 sets
Thursday, 21 August 2014
New Haven SF: Giorgi continues to surprise
Magdalena Rybarikova vs. Camila Giorgi
The unpredictable Giorgi continues to defy the odds and advances to the semi-final with a hard fought win over Muguruza. Can she continue her good form and beat Rybarikova? Magdalena doesn't play a similar game with other players, incorporating a lot of slices, which will give Giorgi some trouble. I am also edging towards the Slovak as she beat a Riske in the quarters, who plays a same game as Giorgi. Nevertheless, you just don't know which Camila will show up. I do think when she's hitting well and winning matches, she's hard to stop.
Pick: Giorgi in 3 tight sets
Samantha Stosur vs. Petra Kvitova
With her tall frame and a lefty advantage, it's hard to see Petra losing this. Samantha's kick serves will bounce to the sweet spot of Kvitova's forehand, which she will not hesitate to put away. Besides, all Petra needs to concentrate on is to keep hitting crosscourt forehands to Sam's weaker backhand. If she executes her game, there's nothing much Sam can do in this bad match-up.
Pick: Kvitova in 2 sets
The unpredictable Giorgi continues to defy the odds and advances to the semi-final with a hard fought win over Muguruza. Can she continue her good form and beat Rybarikova? Magdalena doesn't play a similar game with other players, incorporating a lot of slices, which will give Giorgi some trouble. I am also edging towards the Slovak as she beat a Riske in the quarters, who plays a same game as Giorgi. Nevertheless, you just don't know which Camila will show up. I do think when she's hitting well and winning matches, she's hard to stop.
Pick: Giorgi in 3 tight sets
Samantha Stosur vs. Petra Kvitova
With her tall frame and a lefty advantage, it's hard to see Petra losing this. Samantha's kick serves will bounce to the sweet spot of Kvitova's forehand, which she will not hesitate to put away. Besides, all Petra needs to concentrate on is to keep hitting crosscourt forehands to Sam's weaker backhand. If she executes her game, there's nothing much Sam can do in this bad match-up.
Pick: Kvitova in 2 sets
Wednesday, 20 August 2014
New Haven QF: Kvitova the sole seed left
Schedule of play:
http://www.wtatennis.com/schedule/tournamentId/535/title/connecticut-open
Match focus:
Barbora Zahlavova Strycova vs. Petra Kvitova
With only one seed left, it's difficult to go against Kvitova. The Czech annihilated Makarova in their Montreal rematch, and seems to be finding her groove again. Strycova is a dangerous all court player, but Kvitova's power will just blow her away. I will be very surprised if Petra doesn't hold the trophy come Saturday.
Pick: Kvitova in 2 sets
Magdalena Rybarikova vs. Alison Riske
These 2 players surprised everyone by breaking their slumps in spectacular fashion. Rybarikova took out top seed Simona Halep, while Riske ended Pennetta's campaign. Alison plays a high risk game and it paid off well against Flavia. However, Rybarikova's game incorporates a lot of slices, which doesn't give Alison much rhythm to get into her zone. Besides, Magdalena is definitely on a high after getting her first career top 5 win. I believe the Slovak will prevail this time.
Pick: Rybarikova in 2 tight sets
Camila Giorgi vs. Garbine Muguruza
When Giorgi's playing well, not even the Great Wall of Denmark can stop her. The Italian hits every ball as hard as she can and it paid off very well against the in-form Wozniacki. Caroline was a bit flat though, but Camila stuck to her game and reaped the rewards. Garbine will be a different case as she hits the ball with authority. She can boss Camila around and make the Italian try to make outrageous shots. Given her better shot selection, I predict Muguruza will emerge the winner.
Pick: Muguruza in 3 sets
Kirsten Flipkens vs. Samantha Stosur
Look who's back. Stosur dominated rising star, Eugenie Bouchard, and raced to her first quarter-final since January. Just when we thought that Stosur can be labelled as a has-been, she showed the form that carried her to the US Open title. If she continues her form, she will sweep away Flipkens as well, who struggled to put away a stubborn Petkovic. While both players play a similar game, Stosur does everything better than Flipkens, so it should be a no-brainer.
Pick: Stosur in 2 sets
http://www.wtatennis.com/schedule/tournamentId/535/title/connecticut-open
Match focus:
Barbora Zahlavova Strycova vs. Petra Kvitova
With only one seed left, it's difficult to go against Kvitova. The Czech annihilated Makarova in their Montreal rematch, and seems to be finding her groove again. Strycova is a dangerous all court player, but Kvitova's power will just blow her away. I will be very surprised if Petra doesn't hold the trophy come Saturday.
Pick: Kvitova in 2 sets
Magdalena Rybarikova vs. Alison Riske
These 2 players surprised everyone by breaking their slumps in spectacular fashion. Rybarikova took out top seed Simona Halep, while Riske ended Pennetta's campaign. Alison plays a high risk game and it paid off well against Flavia. However, Rybarikova's game incorporates a lot of slices, which doesn't give Alison much rhythm to get into her zone. Besides, Magdalena is definitely on a high after getting her first career top 5 win. I believe the Slovak will prevail this time.
Pick: Rybarikova in 2 tight sets
Camila Giorgi vs. Garbine Muguruza
When Giorgi's playing well, not even the Great Wall of Denmark can stop her. The Italian hits every ball as hard as she can and it paid off very well against the in-form Wozniacki. Caroline was a bit flat though, but Camila stuck to her game and reaped the rewards. Garbine will be a different case as she hits the ball with authority. She can boss Camila around and make the Italian try to make outrageous shots. Given her better shot selection, I predict Muguruza will emerge the winner.
Pick: Muguruza in 3 sets
Kirsten Flipkens vs. Samantha Stosur
Look who's back. Stosur dominated rising star, Eugenie Bouchard, and raced to her first quarter-final since January. Just when we thought that Stosur can be labelled as a has-been, she showed the form that carried her to the US Open title. If she continues her form, she will sweep away Flipkens as well, who struggled to put away a stubborn Petkovic. While both players play a similar game, Stosur does everything better than Flipkens, so it should be a no-brainer.
Pick: Stosur in 2 sets
Monday, 18 August 2014
New Haven day 3: Another post grand slam slump
Schedule of play:
http://www.wtatennis.com/schedule/tournamentId/535/title/connecticut-open
Match focus:
Ekaterina Makarova vs. Petra Kvitova
Since her Wimbledon title, Kvitova has only won one match since. She suffered a loss right at the hands of Makarova in Montreal, so the Russian will be confident of her chances here. Seems like 2011 all over again with Kvitova failing to live up the the heightened expectations of her. She needs to right the ship here and get a good result, or she will go into New York with low confidence and an easy target for an upset.
Pick: Kvitova in 3 sets
Alison Riske vs. Flavia Pennetta
Pennetta got back some of her groove last week in Cincinnati, winning matches that she's supposed to win. This one is no different. Alison Riske has been struggling with her form lately, so Flavia should be able to take this one. However, Riske plays a risky game, so if she hits her spots, the match might be over quickly for Pennetta. The Italian will need to hang in and draw the errors from the American.
Pick: Pennetta in 2 sets
Caroline Garcia vs. Barbora Zahlavova Strycova
Things were going smoothly for Garcia until her collapse in Paris. She has never been the same again since then, losing matches which she's supposed to win. Strycova on the other hand, has been riding on a new wave of confidence since her surprise run in Wimbledon. This meeting will be a no-brainer as to who is the favourite. Caroline needs to address what's wrong with her mental game as she seemingly cannot handle the pressure of higher expectations laid upon her. If she can overcome that, she has the game to become a top player definitely.
Pick: Zahlavova Strycova in 2 sets
http://www.wtatennis.com/schedule/tournamentId/535/title/connecticut-open
Match focus:
Ekaterina Makarova vs. Petra Kvitova
Since her Wimbledon title, Kvitova has only won one match since. She suffered a loss right at the hands of Makarova in Montreal, so the Russian will be confident of her chances here. Seems like 2011 all over again with Kvitova failing to live up the the heightened expectations of her. She needs to right the ship here and get a good result, or she will go into New York with low confidence and an easy target for an upset.
Pick: Kvitova in 3 sets
Alison Riske vs. Flavia Pennetta
Pennetta got back some of her groove last week in Cincinnati, winning matches that she's supposed to win. This one is no different. Alison Riske has been struggling with her form lately, so Flavia should be able to take this one. However, Riske plays a risky game, so if she hits her spots, the match might be over quickly for Pennetta. The Italian will need to hang in and draw the errors from the American.
Pick: Pennetta in 2 sets
Caroline Garcia vs. Barbora Zahlavova Strycova
Things were going smoothly for Garcia until her collapse in Paris. She has never been the same again since then, losing matches which she's supposed to win. Strycova on the other hand, has been riding on a new wave of confidence since her surprise run in Wimbledon. This meeting will be a no-brainer as to who is the favourite. Caroline needs to address what's wrong with her mental game as she seemingly cannot handle the pressure of higher expectations laid upon her. If she can overcome that, she has the game to become a top player definitely.
Pick: Zahlavova Strycova in 2 sets
Sunday, 6 July 2014
Wimbledon scorecard: GOATra makes rare appearance
A+: Petra Kvitova
I don't think anyone on tour could have survive Kvitova in the final match. Just flawless hitting from the Czech.
A: Venus Williams
Strange to give such a high grade to a 3rd round loser, but she was the closest to defeating Kvitova. Venus went toe to toe with the champion and was 2 points away from victory.
A-: Eugenie Bouchard
Young star was humbled by Kvitova in the finals, but has a lot to be proud of for her first slam final appearance.
B+: Simona Halep
Seems like the only dependable player on tour. Unfortunate injury in her semi-final, but would have been destroyed by Kvitova anyway.
B: Lucie Safarova
Finally advances to her first slam semi-finals after years on tour. Let's see if she can build on this momentum.
B-: Barbora Zahlavova Strycova
Drop shot queen of the tournament, scoring upset wins over Wozniacki and Li Na. Also showing signs of maturity as she's not as animated as before.
C+: Sabine Lisicki
Didn't go all the way to the final this year, but still manages to reach the quarter-finals despite an absolute horrendous year. Now see her fade back into obscurity.
C: Tereza Smitkova
Who? Another Czech who took most of an open draw to reach the last 16. One to watch in the future.
C-: Maria Sharapova
Didn't handle the pressure of being the favourite well, faltered badly against Kerber. Grass is quickly becoming her worst surface.
D: Agnieszka Radwanska
Expected her to make things difficult for Makarova, but just went down meekly. Looks like she'll never win a major.
E: Li Na
Her split with Carlos Rodriguez definitely was a contributing factor, but her weakness was fully exploited by Barbora. At her age, it remains to be seen if she has the motivation to bounce back.
F: Serena Williams
Maybe F is too harsh for Serena, but she came into the tournament all serious and eager to prove the detractors wrong. However, she was just missing for the past 2 slams. Will Serena get back on her feet? Or is there something wrong with her health given that she withdrew under mystifying circumstances?
I don't think anyone on tour could have survive Kvitova in the final match. Just flawless hitting from the Czech.
A: Venus Williams
Strange to give such a high grade to a 3rd round loser, but she was the closest to defeating Kvitova. Venus went toe to toe with the champion and was 2 points away from victory.
A-: Eugenie Bouchard
Young star was humbled by Kvitova in the finals, but has a lot to be proud of for her first slam final appearance.
B+: Simona Halep
Seems like the only dependable player on tour. Unfortunate injury in her semi-final, but would have been destroyed by Kvitova anyway.
B: Lucie Safarova
Finally advances to her first slam semi-finals after years on tour. Let's see if she can build on this momentum.
B-: Barbora Zahlavova Strycova
Drop shot queen of the tournament, scoring upset wins over Wozniacki and Li Na. Also showing signs of maturity as she's not as animated as before.
C+: Sabine Lisicki
Didn't go all the way to the final this year, but still manages to reach the quarter-finals despite an absolute horrendous year. Now see her fade back into obscurity.
C: Tereza Smitkova
Who? Another Czech who took most of an open draw to reach the last 16. One to watch in the future.
C-: Maria Sharapova
Didn't handle the pressure of being the favourite well, faltered badly against Kerber. Grass is quickly becoming her worst surface.
D: Agnieszka Radwanska
Expected her to make things difficult for Makarova, but just went down meekly. Looks like she'll never win a major.
E: Li Na
Her split with Carlos Rodriguez definitely was a contributing factor, but her weakness was fully exploited by Barbora. At her age, it remains to be seen if she has the motivation to bounce back.
F: Serena Williams
Maybe F is too harsh for Serena, but she came into the tournament all serious and eager to prove the detractors wrong. However, she was just missing for the past 2 slams. Will Serena get back on her feet? Or is there something wrong with her health given that she withdrew under mystifying circumstances?
Wimbledon F: D-E-M-O-L-I-T-I-O-N
Wimbledon final:
Petra Kvitova def. Eugenie Bouchard 6-3 6-0
Poor Eugenie. I doubt she had the chance to be nervous and the match was over. Petra Kvitova was unstoppable yesterday, hitting her balls with power, and scrambling well to hit winners on the run. There was nothing much Bouchard could do. As predicted, Eugenie couldn't do much with Petra's powerful strikes, which allowed Petra to gain in confidence. Once the Czech hits hr stride, there's no stopping her. With a 2nd Wimbledon under her belt, let's see if Kvitova can finally become the great player that everyone expected her to be 3 years ago.
Petra Kvitova def. Eugenie Bouchard 6-3 6-0
Poor Eugenie. I doubt she had the chance to be nervous and the match was over. Petra Kvitova was unstoppable yesterday, hitting her balls with power, and scrambling well to hit winners on the run. There was nothing much Bouchard could do. As predicted, Eugenie couldn't do much with Petra's powerful strikes, which allowed Petra to gain in confidence. Once the Czech hits hr stride, there's no stopping her. With a 2nd Wimbledon under her belt, let's see if Kvitova can finally become the great player that everyone expected her to be 3 years ago.
Thursday, 3 July 2014
Wimbledon final: And then there were two
Upset of the previous day:
Eugenie Bouchard def. Simona Halep 7-6(5) 6-2
Tough luck for Simona as she injured her ankle early in the match. Halep tried to soldier on, but you can see that she's a bit tentative when hitting her backhand and running to her left. Credit to Eugenie though for playing well, and taking the net when the oppotunity arises. There was some controversy at the end of the match, but she focused immediately and served it out well. For Simona, she can take a deserving break from now and make a dash during the American hard court season.
Match focus:
Eugenie Bouchard vs. Petra Kvitova
Making her debut Grand Slam final appearance, Eugenie Bouchard will definitely feel some nerves. Besides, she is facing a former champion here in Kvitova. In her semi-final match, there were some weaknesses that Simona occasionally exploited, but hampered by her lack of power and compromised movement. If Petra can deploy body serves to Bouchard, the Canadian tends to make errors of it. With her booming serve and ground strokes, Kvitova has the edge as it is difficult to take these balls early. Still, Petra tends to rush things too quickly, and may result in an error fest. Nevertheless, I think Petra will find a way to win this even if she's not playing well.
Pick: Kvitova in 2 tight sets
Eugenie Bouchard def. Simona Halep 7-6(5) 6-2
Tough luck for Simona as she injured her ankle early in the match. Halep tried to soldier on, but you can see that she's a bit tentative when hitting her backhand and running to her left. Credit to Eugenie though for playing well, and taking the net when the oppotunity arises. There was some controversy at the end of the match, but she focused immediately and served it out well. For Simona, she can take a deserving break from now and make a dash during the American hard court season.
Match focus:
Eugenie Bouchard vs. Petra Kvitova
Making her debut Grand Slam final appearance, Eugenie Bouchard will definitely feel some nerves. Besides, she is facing a former champion here in Kvitova. In her semi-final match, there were some weaknesses that Simona occasionally exploited, but hampered by her lack of power and compromised movement. If Petra can deploy body serves to Bouchard, the Canadian tends to make errors of it. With her booming serve and ground strokes, Kvitova has the edge as it is difficult to take these balls early. Still, Petra tends to rush things too quickly, and may result in an error fest. Nevertheless, I think Petra will find a way to win this even if she's not playing well.
Pick: Kvitova in 2 tight sets
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