2019 Australian Open - WTA Thread

[helixx]

Maria already pissed

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Barty to win Wimbledon. That is if Serena and Petra let her so.

 

[flyingboris]

I like Sharapova, but it's pathetic how she makes the server wait on her little "facing back" routine. Jeez

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Maria is struggling with the sun.

 

[upchuck]

Avg fastest groundstrokes in the tournament:
Keys
Kanepi
Georges
Kuzmova
Sharapova
Osaka.

No Kvitova? Could that be right?

 

[skyline]

Wow Petra! Is she even considered as winners on bettor site?

Vs Rybarikova 6-3, 6-2
Vs Begu 6-1, 6-3
Vs Bencic 6-1, 6-4
Vs Anisimova 6-2, 6-1

3 bakery products, no one even steal 5 games in a set.

The problem with her is that she can go from on to off in 5 minutes. So many impressive performances and then just lays an egg out of nowhere. She ::should:: be considered a bigtime contender and yet I understand why she isn't.

Remember that this weather doesn't tend to favor her either.

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Avg fastest groundstrokes in the tournament:
Keys
Kanepi
Georges
Kuzmova
Sharapova
Osaka.

No Kvitova? Could that be right?

Probably for the better. Placement and speed combine. Rena is also not necessarily the fastest but her placement and choice of shot is lethal.

 

[Vanhool]

Wertheim just said by next year two majors could have mid-match coaching

Nooooooooooo!

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

The problem with her is that she can go from on to off in 5 minutes. So many impressive performances and then just lays an egg out of nowhere. She ::should:: be considered a bigtime contender and yet I understand why she isn't.

Remember that this weather doesn't tend to favor her either.

Yeah it's pretty cool even tho she got day match today. Thursday forecast especially is not looking good if she got day matches, if she got into semis.

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Opportunity missed from Maria.

 

[skyline]

Yeah it's pretty cool even tho she got day match today. Thursday forecast especially is not looking good if she got day matches, if she got into semis.

I'd be happy to see her win, I really like her & I think two slams are too little for a player of her stature. But again, I see why bettors are skeptical. She could lose bigly in the next round and I wouldn't be shocked, just as I wouldn't be shocked if she dominated her way to a slam title. Anything's possible with that woman.

In other news, the Barty-Sharapova match looks solid. Nothing super flashy so far but both are holding their own and are clearly here to play.

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Yes, and I wouldn't call what she produced her top level. Not that she was bad, but she generally went a level down post-Wimbledon, probably due to that shoulder injury. Disaster at Olympics, skipped everything before USO (cancelled Cincy last minute, which I bet was actually a hard decision even though she typically doesn't care for non-slams, because this time her record vis-a-vis Graf was on the line and I bet she cares about those). Her run-up to Halep wasn't exactly flawless either, her performance against King was junk (though she did superbly in the first round against the landmine Makarova; I got to see that one in person and was duly impressed).

That said, Halep played very well and she's no worse today than she was then, at the very least. I don't think h2h is the whole story here and Simona will have her chances unless she comes out deflated. And I think Simona is quite in the mood and ready for a fight.

(This is I hope) Simona, like Naomi, trying to produce their best against Williams sister out of respect and admiration instead of succumbing like a lot of players do (Especially against Serena).

 

[AM75]

Sharapova is back to her 2018 mode, 3 good matches against some second rate players and that's it. There's no way she will be able to pass through Barty.

 

[Nostradamus]

Sharapova is back to her 2018 mode, 3 good matches against some second rate players and that's it. There's no way she will be able to pass through Barty.

Ashley trying to junk ball Maria,, not working, maria is too experienced for that.

 

[luiz_gustavo]

Sharapova is back to her 2018 mode, 3 good matches against some second rate players and that's it. There's no way she will be able to pass through Barty.

You can call Wozniacki a lot of things but I don't think she's a second rate player at all. However, I do agree that Barty is the toughest match up so far in the tournament for Sharapova.

 

[helixx]

i dont like this match up at all

 

[skyline]

(This is I hope) Simona, like Naomi, trying to produce their best against Williams sister out of respect and admiration instead of succumbing like a lot of players do (Especially against Serena).

Yeah Simona was very can-do in their last match. People gave her crap for staying upbeat in the eventual loss, but I can see how she felt that way - she played like a person who wants to win and believes she can all the way. It was a tough match for Serena for a reason.

 

[skyline]

i dont like this match up at all

Tough crowd. Maria ain't playing half bad, esp considering how she can be. Barty is a top player, she was never going to run her over.

 

[upchuck]

Chris Evert, reminding us why commentators are often useless: "Years go she wouldn't have gotten that. I'm telling you there has been improvement in her (Sharapova) movement."

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Both are clutch facing BPs

 

[skyline]

Chris Evert, reminding us why commentators are often useless: "Years go she wouldn't have gotten that. I'm telling you there has been improvement in her (Sharapova) movement."

LOL. Yeah, very wtf. Oh, Chrissie.

 

[AM75]

You can call Wozniacki a lot of things but I don't think she's a second rate player at all. However, I do agree that Barty is the toughest match up so far in the tournament for Sharapova.

Ok Wozniacki is not a second rate player, same with Pliskova last year at RG. But the general pattern is the same.

 

[Djokovic2011]

I could watch Barty hit slice backhands all day long.

 

[The Green Mile]

LOL, supposedly Maria is over 25 seconds 65% of all her service points. Barty at 19%

 

[spystud]

First set to the tall Russkie.

 

[Nostradamus]

Oh man,, I am loving this Shriek from Maria............. I have to record it somehow and use it for morning wake up call

 

[skyline]

Sharapova just took the set and you guys are talking as if she's losing. What gives?

 

[flyingboris]

Oh man,, I am loving this Shriek from Maria............. I have to record it somehow and use it for morning wake up call

Or a car alarm. Thieves will go running for the hills

 

[Paulreedsmith]

Court looks real fast!

 

[AM75]

Or a car alarm. Thieves will go running for the hills

Sabalenka’s will work way better fot that

 

[NuBas]

What's wrong with Barty?

 

[skyline]

What's wrong with Barty?

A bit overwhelmed by the occasion, maybe, plus Maria is pretty on.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Some good play by Ash to hold serve from 15-30 down there!

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

What's wrong with Barty?

Passive. She's not coming to the net as frequent as she used to.

Maria handle those slices pretty well also.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Little moonball worked for Ash there.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Double fault. 15-30, cmon Ash.

 

[skyline]

Passive. She's not coming to the net as frequent as she used to.

Maria handle those slices pretty well also.

Maria's pushing her behind the baseline tho and not really spraying much. It's not an easy day to be playing Maria.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Another double fault and it's break point Ash!

Come on Aussie!

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Ash breaks as Maria 2 DFs in a game.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Ash breaks! 3-1.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Just so good by Ash at the net! Love that. 30-15.

 

[NuBas]

Passive. She's not coming to the net as frequent as she used to.

Maria handle those slices pretty well also.

I not no , why she played baby tennis !

That's what I thought, seems to be letting Maria and her grunts getting to her and diverting from her own game.

 

[NuBas]

Barty has great technique, it resembles ATP technique more than WTA

 

[kishnabe]

Hope Ash runs away with this. Maria boring game can go home.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Ash holds 4-1. We have a match!

 

[Paulreedsmith]

The cheaters level has dropped.

 

[skyline]

Jeez, yips on the serve and here we go.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Petra is looking stunning! ESPN2 interviewing her at the moment in the studio. Looking beautiful, just like her tennis.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Man I love Petra so much! So well spoken, so friendly, so pretty. I just adore her, so glad she recovered from that stabbing. Would love if she won this slam.

 

[helixx]

Barty‘s waiting for Maria‘s UEs finally being rewarded