2016 WTA Rogers Cup.

[skyline]

Halep into her first ever doubles final in Montreal and it's a Premier 5. Partnered by Niculscu, they face Makarova/Vesnina.

Also Halep's win over Kerber in the SF was just her 2nd top 3 win. The other being that shock crushing of Serena at the 2014 WTA finals RR. Funnily enough, both top 3 wins have featured Simona dishing out a bagel.

When Simona's on, watch out. I truly believe she can win a GS if she ever gets her head straight. I love her game, personally.

I am happy with whoever wins tomorrow. Madison is my fellow American and I love her personality and game, but Simona's also someone I like and I feel like she really deserves it after last year. Can't wait & hope it's a good match.

 

[Tennis wizard]

When Simona's on, watch out. I truly believe she can win a GS if she ever gets her head straight. I love her game, personally.

I am happy with whoever wins tomorrow. Madison is my fellow American and I love her personality and game, but Simona's also someone I like and I feel like she really deserves it after last year. Can't wait & hope it's a good match.

Her serve and inability to stay consistent will always be a problem for her I'm afraid .. still i think she might get lucky and end up with 1 grandslam

 

[ScentOfDefeat]

Still favouring another Keys breakthrough moment.

 

[Sysyphus]

No commentary on this nice final?

Halep one break ahead at 4-3

Rooting for Simona as always, but would be happy for Keys as well.

 

[Fastpace Ace]

They both seem as tight as a drum nerves wise!

 

[tacou]

These two need to stop blabbering on about Halep, Keys has been just as bad.

Also, did Halep just ever so politely thank the ball boy?

 

[Tennis wizard]

good grief neither can hold serve

 

[Sysyphus]

Halep pulling ahead in the breaker! Mon!

 

[elkwood]

Keys is the one that decided the pts.

 

[elkwood]

I wish Halep come to the net more.

 

[Underhand]

I feel sorry for the crowd who payed to watch this chokefest. Although they knew it will be a WTA match, so... LOL

 

[Red Rick]

Halep, 1 winner, 15 UE, wins set.

WTA gonna WTA

 

[elkwood]

Ouch poor keys just having a off day.

 

[Tennis wizard]

I feel sorry for the crowd who payed to watch this chokefest. Although they knew it will be a WTA match, so... LOL

kerber v halep was the real final... was a high quality match

 

[ScottleeSV]

Is it me has Keys got absolutely no control over where she hits the tennis ball? Every shot is one big hopeful slap.

Someone needs to have a word with her as well that you will not beat top players without rallying. That's just the sport.

 

[Underhand]

kerber v halep was the real final... was a high quality match

Well, maybe if you arrived after the 60 first set LOL

 

[elkwood]

Is it me has Keys got absolutely no control over where she hits the tennis ball? Every shot is one big hopeful slap.

Someone needs to have a word with her as well that you will not beat top players without rallying. That's just the sport.

Keys hits very very flat and her margin of error is tiny. So when
she is off it looks really bad.

 

[skyline]

Not able to watch right now (will have to hit espn replay). Keys down a break already?

 

[ScentOfDefeat]

Halep's nerves are worrying. May prevent her from winning a Slam.

 

[Tennis wizard]

Well, maybe if you arrived after the 60 first set LOL

yeah disregard the first set lol, last 2 sets were great from both players

 

[Sysyphus]

Halep's nerves are worrying.

pun intended?

 

[ScentOfDefeat]

pun intended?

Don't see it. I'm quite slow today.

 

[spystud]

Not able to watch right now (will have to hit espn replay). Keys down a break already?

Simona up 5-2 now, Keys serving to stay alive.

 

[ScentOfDefeat]

What a great second serve by Halep. 5-2.
Darren has really improved her serve.

 

[ScentOfDefeat]

Is this the highest unforced error per point count ever?

 

[elkwood]

match pt for Halep

 

[Tennis wizard]

ohmygod pathetic errors from keys

 

[spystud]

Over, on to Rio.

 

[elkwood]

It ends on a Keys error !! Sort of fitting for how the match went for poor
keys . Grats Halep !!!!!!!!!

 

[Sysyphus]

WOOHOO!

Very nice win for Simona!

 

[fundrazer]

Keys is brainless

 

[elkwood]

Looking foward to the doubles coming up Can halep win it also ??

 

[ScentOfDefeat]

14th title for Halep, not too shabby.

 

[tacou]

Aww. Simona is so damn cute. "Don't leave."

 

[Sela]

Halep? Who would have thought? Nobody according to the poll!

 

[ALEXT]

Now next is to win Cincy.... She has a final to defend there too.

 

[spystud]

The @CoupeRogers doubles final will start at 4pm EST.

 

[Fintft]

Halep? Who would have thought? Nobody according to the poll!

Pool closed too early!

GJ Simona! She just let Madison implode at some point.

 

[ALEXT]

^^^
That's exactly what I thought she did-rightfully so, just put the ball in the court and let Keys make the mistake. Yes, she will hit some winners but a lot more mistakes which is precisely what Keys did. Being able to adapt your strategy and game plan on the fly is a sign of progress for Halep.

 

[spystud]

Makarova/Vesnina won the doubles.

 

[skyline]

Serena also has the Indian Wells final, Miami 4R, Rome title, Toronto SF and Cincinnati title. She should play some more tournaments but at her age, she can't risk injuries and she can keep winning the big titles.

This rankings stuff happens on the mens tour too. Nadal is 4th in the world with nothing better than a slam 3R. He has a 3R at USO, 1R at Aus Open, 3R at the French and N/A at Wimbledon. Holds a masters title and two ATP500's though. Same with Dominic Thiem, until his French Open SF he was 15th in the world yet had only had 2R 2015 FO, 2R SW, 3R USO and 2016 3R AO. But he'd played 30 tournaments (was actually 30 within 52 weeks, crazy) which helped his ranking.

I don't mind the current system though, it's hard to come up with a great one.

Bit late to this party, but just wanted to clarify my comments. I'm not critical of the rankings/points system; I don't think there's a better way to score tournaments. If we're to give high value to GSs - and imo we should, because they're the events that matter the most - that necessarily means that a couple of deep runs (or going all the way on even one GS event) will keep a person high up regardless of how the rest of the season goes. I'm willing to live with that.

Should Kerber overtake Serena at no. 1, it won't be because of rankings being flawed; it'll be because Serena's schedule's too reduced to keep up with points-collecting workhorses like Angie.

I don't think the system penalizes Serena or anything; indeed, she's been able to comfortably hold onto her spot despite having a very reduced schedule for a number of years now. Even now, all it would have taken would have been to play either Cincy or Montreal - not that much of an ask in itself (though obviously a hard ask if a person's indeed injured).

Needless to say, Olympics are also complicating things right now since I'm sure she'd play Cincy otherwise - and she gets no points for playing those this time around (which Imo was a bad decision, although I get it).

Sorry for resurrecting a now-dead thread; just wanted to clarify my POV.

 

[skyline]

Her serve and inability to stay consistent will always be a problem for her I'm afraid .. still i think she might get lucky and end up with 1 grandslam

Her nerves are a big liability for sure (I think serve is improving). I really, really think she ought to get an FO one of these days/years though. I really like her game.

 

[PDJ]

Is it me has Keys got absolutely no control over where she hits the tennis ball? Every shot is one big hopeful slap.

Someone needs to have a word with her as well that you will not beat top players without rallying. That's just the sport.

I thought Davenport would be able to help her and instill a champions mentality. I was wrong.
Keys seems a nice girl, but I'm yet to be convinced she's more than a 'plan A, no plan B' player.
Pity, as she's been around for a while now. In her favour, she rarely makes a ridiculous noise when hitting the ball.
And Halep ... once again, hits great approaches. ..... and backs off.
She may have a major in her, but I doubt it unless she takes her chances more aggressively.
Very frustrating to watch her.
These players just confirm my preference for watching Radwanska or Hingis in singles and doubles.

 

[ScentOfDefeat]

But Halep has the GOAT smile in the WTA.

 

[skyline]

Yeah, Simona really frustrates me so I've been trying not to root too much. But I just like her personality and her game, so it's hard to stay away.

 

[ScentOfDefeat]

Yeah, Simona really frustrates me so I've been trying not to root too much. But I just like her personality and her game, so it's hard to stay away.

Yeah, same here. And I don't have someone like Serena to root for (someone who delivers more often than not), which makes it a frustrating (but interesting) experience. But it's like a football club, once you're a real supporter (and I'm still on the fence with Simona) you just stick with it through good times and bad times: I used to do that with Rafter, Ivanisevic, Sabatini and Novotna (imagine the nightmare of supporting Novotna). But it's that much sweeter when they finally realise their potential (especially Ivanisevic and Novotna).

 

[skyline]

Yeah, same here. And I don't have someone like Serena to root for (someone who delivers more often than not), which makes it a frustrating (but interesting) experience. But it's like a football club, once you're a real supporter (and I'm still on the fence with Simona) you just stick with it through good times and bad times: I used to do that with Rafter, Ivanisevic, Sabatini and Novotna (imagine the nightmare of supporting Novotna). But it's that much sweeter when they finally realise their potential (especially Ivanisevic and Novotna).

Oh god, Novotna! I remember those days. I was a Majoli supporter so I suffered quite a bit, though in different ways since Majoli was a partier rather than a headcase. As for Ivanisevic, I think he owes me money for eating up so much of my sanity over the years.

These days it's much easier, with Serena and Venus. Serena delivers and Venus, well, anything is a bonus now - I can't possibly demand that she win another GS at this stage in her life.

 

[NewOrder]

Yeah, same here. And I don't have someone like Serena to root for (someone who delivers more often than not), which makes it a frustrating (but interesting) experience. But it's like a football club, once you're a real supporter (and I'm still on the fence with Simona) you just stick with it through good times and bad times: I used to do that with Rafter, Ivanisevic, Sabatini and Novotna (imagine the nightmare of supporting Novotna). But it's that much sweeter when they finally realise their potential (especially Ivanisevic and Novotna).

I feel the same way about Radwanska. I still believe she can win a GS in the future, but even if she doesn't, I will always have her trademark trick shots. That's one of the reasons that make me root for her even after seeing her being overpowered so many times.

(I loved the bit about football teams. So true, especially for a certain portuguese team...)

 

[ScentOfDefeat]

I feel the same way about Radwanska. I still believe she can win a GS in the future, but even if she doesn't, I will always have her trademark trick shots. That's one of the reasons that make me root for her even after seeing her being overpowered so many times.

(I loved the bit about football teams. So true, especially for a certain portuguese team...)

Yeah, she's definitely among the players I'd love to see lift a major trophy. She already has a WTF to her name, so that's not bad (similar to Corretja, one of my favourite players from the 90's and a really nice guy).

Yup, once you go Lion you never look back.

 

[NewOrder]

Yeah, she's definitely among the players I'd love to see lift a major trophy. She already has a WTF to her name, so that's not bad (similar to Corretja, one of my favourite players from the 90's and a really nice guy).

Yup, once you go Lion you never look back.

It's not bad (and I wasn't expecting her to win it), but a slam is a slam. Seeing her winning a major trophy (and I'm only asking for one) considering her well known shortcomings would be even better.

(Yeah, I wouldn't change it for the world, but I could use less suffering at times...)