2019 WTA Mutua Madrid Open - Women's Singles General Discussion

[Aussie Darcy]

Premier Mandatory tournament #3 of the year soon to be underway.

All the big players are there except for Serena Williams who'll be working so hard at the Met Gala.

Seeded players in order are:
Osaka, Kvitova, Halep, Kerber, Pliskova, Svitolina, Bertens, Sloane, Barty, Sabalenka, Wozniacki, Sevastova, Keys, Kontaveit, Wang and Goerges.

Some incredibly dangerous floaters in the draw including former slam champs like Muguruza and Azarenka.
The qualifying draw is stacked too: Anisimova (already lost), Puig, Mladenovic, Petkovic, Potapova, Stosur, Kanepi and Siegemund.

The defending champ is Kvitova in singles and was Makarova/Vesnina in doubles but neither are playing.

The number 1 ranking is in play. Halep or Kerber need to win the title to be #1 and would also need Osaka to not make the SF.


Order of play should be here in coming days: https://www.wtatennis.com/tournament/2019-madrid-spain-1038#orderofplay
Draw is here: https://www.wtatennis.com/tournament/2019-madrid-spain-1038#draws

Some incredibly juicy 1R's:

Osaka v Cibulkova. Naomi not great on clay vs former French Open SFist and Madrid Open finalist Cibulkova.
Sabalenka v Kuznetsova. Top 10 Sabalenka vs former French Open champ Kuzy.
Kasatkina v Azarenka. Last year's QFist in Madrid v 2x slam champ Azarenka.
Pavlyuchenkova v Ostapenko.
Hsieh v Garcia.
Kvitova v Kenin.

So who do you think will win?

 

[fundrazer]

I don't think Garbine plays well here, but the seeded players in her section are all beatable for her on clay. 5 slam champs in that section is a bit crazy. I think Halep, Svitolina, or Mugu...

 

[spystud]

Ash threw down a breadstick on Dasha.

 

[spystud]

1 & 2 for Ash, clinical.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Kuznetsova knocks out #10 Sabalenka in straight sets. Her first top 10 win since Wimbledon 2017. Always love seeing Kuznetsova win.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Ostapenko also steamrolls past Pavlyuchenkova 6-1 6-2. Sets up a potentially great 2R against Bertens. Last years finalist v the 2017 French Open champ.

Nice to see Ostapenko playing well on clay even if it's just one match.

 

[fundrazer]

Will watch a bit of this Kenin vs Kvitova match.

 

[romeo8880]

Svitolina back

 

[Deleted member 293577]

Kvitova feeling it.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Svitolina down a set and break to Parmentier..

 

[Aussie Darcy]

14th seed Kontaveit, 15th seed Wang and 16th seed Goerges all out.

#1 Osaka also through.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

That's rough. Garbie blows triple set point, Martic goes on to hold her serve, break Garbie and serves out the set.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Cirstea a game away from breadsticking Keys in the 3rd set.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Svitolina is out.

Huge win for Parmentier.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

And 13th seed Keys is out as well. In her first match since winning Charleston, loses in 3 to Cirstea..

 

[fundrazer]

Don't think there's a way back from 1-5 in this breaker.

 

[romeo8880]

Svitolina still hurt

 

[fundrazer]

Very unlucky to not get the 2nd set. Martic had a half volley drop shot clip the net and dribble over to save a set point.

As usual, too many stupid errors though.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Pliskova down a set to Yastremska.

Mertens down a set to Schmiedlova.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Very unlucky to not get the 2nd set. Martic had a half volley drop shot clip the net and dribble over to save a set point.

As usual, too many stupid errors though.

Unlucky not to get the first. Had set points at 5-4 in both sets and yet lost in straights.... yikes.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Impressive save on match point from Pliskova there.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Three match points saved from Pliskova. This is clutch.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Pliskova saves four match points and holds for 5-5. Huge.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Pliskova takes the second set.

Schmiedlova knocks out Mertens.

Sloane up a set on Hercog.

Halep thrashing Gasparyan 6-0 2-1.

 

[Deleted member 293577]

Pliskova saved 4 match points en route to victory over the young and promising Yastremska. I think we will see much more of her.

 

[bezs]

Muguruza sigh ... when is she ever gonna ditch Sumyk.

 

[D-Lite]

What's everyone's opinion on some of the WTA players' scheduling? Why does it seem that when someone wins a slam or 2 they cut their schedule right down to the bones? Players like Muguruza are playing their first clay tournament of the season when other players, such as Martic are coming off title Ws on clay - this scheduling is surely making these top players vulnerable if they're rusty or lacking actual matchplay? I understand it for players like Venus, Serena as they've played hundreds more matches so that experience is hugely of benefit but players like Mugu, Sloane etc I'm not so sure? Thoughts?

 

[fundrazer]

Muguruza sigh ... when is she ever gonna ditch Sumyk.

I'm kind of hoping that she asks Ferrer, but I don't know if it would actually be a good partnership. More curious about how it would work out if anything, but obviously things aren't working with Sumyk. There is no reason she should be ranked 20 in the world (and looking to drop lower if she can't defend the RG semi).

@D-Lite one issue with the scheduling was Fed Cup for sure. Many girls withdrew from Stuttgart in particular after playing Fed Cup. Playing a tournament the week before big events isn't always great either...Look at Sakkari who played her final yesterday, then has to play her first round today in Madrid. Not very fair to her...

 

[spystud]

Damn, Caroline retired after only 3 games to Cornet with a back injury.

 

[Latetothegame]

..

 

[Latetothegame]

I'm kind of hoping that she asks Ferrer, but I don't know if it would actually be a good partnership. More curious about how it would work out if anything, but obviously things aren't working with Sumyk. There is no reason she should be ranked 20 in the world (and looking to drop lower if she can't defend the RG semi).

@D-Lite one issue with the scheduling was Fed Cup for sure. Many girls withdrew from Stuttgart in particular after playing Fed Cup. Playing a tournament the week before big events isn't always great either...Look at Sakkari who played her final yesterday, then has to play her first round today in Madrid. Not very fair to her...

konta played and won, but I abosoutely agree it was not fair, Sakkari was playing a tough opponent
T

 

[Harry_Wild]

Watch the Martic, Muguruza 1st round match and still very impressive with the Martic skill in fighting off breakpoints and doing tiebreakers.

I had to choose Osaka to win but if Martic was listed above, it would be a draw for me!

 

[Harry_Wild]

Damn, Caroline retired after only 3 games to Cornet with a back injury.

No kidding! Wozniacki kind of took the whole month of April off it seems. Wonder how she got a back injury playing only 3 games?

 

[spystud]

Sloane/Vika underway now.

 

[spystud]

Sloane takes the first @ 4.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

No kidding! Wozniacki kind of took the whole month of April off it seems. Wonder how she got a back injury playing only 3 games?

She did have her bachelorette party last month so her wedding is probably coming up, clays never exactly been her best surface anyway.

 

[romeo8880]

Bertens looked great today. Weathered ostapenko’s power and played a great match.

 

[spystud]

Vika won the 2nd @ 2, 1-all in the decider now.

 

[spystud]

Sloane wins 5 of the last 6 to advance.

 

[spystud]

Petra/Kiki up next.

 

[spystud]

Petra takes the first @ 3.

 

[I Am Finnish]

Stephens beats Azarenka again

4th time in a row now?

 

[spystud]

Barty/Collins up now.

 

[spystud]

Breadstick by Barty in the first, favor returned by Danielle in the second. This match is flying.

 

[Sysyphus]

6-1 1-6 6-1, lol

 

[romeo8880]

This Kuzmova has some power

 

[spystud]

6-1 1-6 6-1, lol

Don't see many 3-setters in 1:22.

 

[romeo8880]

Halep getting blitzed at the moment

 

[Aussie Darcy]

4 set points have come and gone for Halep. None on her serve though.

Konta still trying to force a tiebreak.

 

[romeo8880]

Halep getting blitzed at the moment

Halep no longer getting blitzed at the moment.