2019 Italian Open - WTA Thread

[Enceladus]

2018 winner: Elina Svitolina (two-time defending champion)
Former champions, who are participating in this year's edition: Serena Williams (2002, 2013-14, 2016), Venus Williams (1999)

Date: May 13 – 19
Edition: 76th
Category: WTA Premier 5
Draw: 56S
Surface: Clay
Environment: Outdoor
Location: Rome, Italy
Venue: Foro Italico
Official website: http://www.internazionalibnlditalia.com/en
Wiki-link (also link to draw): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_Italian_Open_–_Women's_Singles#Draw
TV: ESPN, Tennis Channel and other

WTA entry list:
Main draw
1 Osaka, Naomi (JPN)
2 Halep, Simona (ROU)
3 Kvitova, Petra (CZE)
4 Pliskova, Karolina (CZE)
5 Kerber, Angelique (GER)
6 Bertens, Kiki (NED)
7 Svitolina, Elina (UKR)
8 Stephens, Sloane (USA)
9 Barty, Ashleigh (AUS)
10 Sabalenka, Aryna (BLR)
11 Williams, Serena (USA)
12 Sevastova, Anastasija (LAT)
13 Wozniacki, Caroline (DEN)
14 Kontaveit, Anett (EST)
15 Goerges, Julia (GER)
16 Wang, Qiang (CHN)
17 Mertens, Elise (BEL)
18 Keys, Madison (USA)
19 Muguruza, Garbiñe (ESP)
20 Garcia, Caroline (FRA)
21 Bencic, Belinda (SUI)
22 Kasatkina, Daria (RUS)
23 Andreescu, Bianca (CAN)
24 Hsieh Su-Wei (TPE)
25 Vekic, Donna (CRO)
26 Tsurenko, Lesia (UKR)
27 Suárez Navarro, Carla (ESP)
28 Sharapova, Maria (RUS)
29 Giorgi, Camila (ITA)
30 Buzarnescu, Mihaela (ROU)
31 Ostapenko, Jelena (LAT)
32 Cibulkova, Dominika (SVK)
33 Pavlyuchenkova, Anastasia (RUS)
34 Collins, Danielle (USA)
35 Sasnovich, Aliaksandra (BLR)
36 Kenin, Sofia (USA)
37 Yastremska, Dayana (UKR)
38 Putintseva, Yulia (KAZ)
39 Tomljanovic, Ajla (AUS)
40 Siniakova, Katerina (CZE)
41 Zhang, Shuai (CHN)
42 Zheng, Saisai (CHN)
43 Vondrousova, Marketa (CZE)

Alternates
44 Kuzmova, Viktoria (SVK)
45 Konta, Johanna (GBR)
46 Strycova, Barbora (CZE)
47 Riske, Alison (USA)

Qualifying Draw
43 Sakkari, Maria (GRE)
45 Konta, Johanna (GBR)
47 Strycova, Barbora (CZE)
50 Riske, Alison (USA)
51 Van Uytvanck, Alison (BEL)
52 Parmentier, Pauline (FRA)
53 Anisimova, Amanda (USA)
54 Cornet, Alizé (FRA)
55 Jabeur, Ons (TUN)
56 Wang, Yafan (CHN)
57 Alexandrova, Ekaterina (RUS)
58 Gavrilova, Daria (AUS)
60 Maria, Tatjana (GER)
61 Azarenka, Victoria (BLR)
62 Puig, Monica (PUR)
63 Krunic, Aleksandra (SRB)
64 Hercog, Polona (SLO)
65 Peterson, Rebecca (SWE)
66 Mladenovic, Kristina (FRA)
68 Zidansek, Tamara (SLO)
71 Petkovic, Andrea (GER)
72 Gasparyan, Margarita (RUS)
74 Potapova, Anastasia (RUS)
75 Sorribes Tormo, Sara (ESP)
76 Kudermetova, Veronika (RUS)
77 Stosur, Samantha (AUS)
79 Kanepi, Kaia (EST)
80 Golubic, Viktorija (SUI)

Alternates
82 Brady, Jennifer (USA)
83 Begu, Irina-Camelia (ROU)
84 Zvonareva, Vera (RUS)
86 Pliskova, Kristyna (CZE)
87 Linette, Magda (POL)

Wild cards:

• Victoria Azarenka
• Elisabetta Cocciaretto
• Sara Errani
• Jasmine Paolini
• Venus Williams

 

[spystud]

Draw pdf...

https://www.internazionalibnlditalia.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/MDS.pdf

 

[fundrazer]

I don't want to get my hopes up for a good Mugu result, but she's played well here in the past. A few SF appearances. She really needs to pick up some points though, as I'm not super confident that she'll defend the RG semi.

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Bianca will not play until RG it seems.

Will be interesting to see the effort that Serena will give in this tournament as I'm pretty sure she's just in for getting into the groove for RG.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Usually steer clear of Serena outside of slams but was surprised to see she actually flew into Rome only a few days after the Met Gala. On top of that, she was seen practicing with Dimitrov.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1127206397555412993

Since her return she's been up and down but she was really finding herself at the Hopman Cup and Australian Open, was unfortunate to roll the ankle against Pliskova and let that rattle her to deliver the huge choke but I think she wouldn't return if she wasn't ready, especially considering it's not a slam. Think i'm going to vote for Serena. Probably isn't going to win but she's definitely the one i'll have my eyes on this week.

 

[spystud]

Old friends Garcia & Mladenovic get each other in R1.

 

[I Am Finnish]

Old friends Garcia & Mladenovic get each other in R1.

The handshake i am looking foward the most

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

The handshake i am looking foward the most

They already playing doubles together at Fed Cup, so mostly all drama is burried.

Finally tho Mladenovic can't avoid Garcia anymore.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Hmm Bertens doesn't overtake Kerber in the live rankings with last years Rome points off. I guess some other points come into play instead of a 0 for this year in Rome.

She's only 80 points behind so just needs 1 win to jump to #3 in the live rankings.

Some other movement:

Svitolina drops 3 spots to #9 with her champion points coming off. Her draw isn't great and she hasn't played much lately so she probably won't get too many points. As a result, Pliskova jumps to #6, Sloane to #7 and Barty to a new career high #8.

Ostapenko down 9 spots

Sharapova drops 12 spots since she can't defend her QF points.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Osaka and Halep are yet again in the running for the #1 ranking.

Halep needs to win the title and needs Osaka to lose before the QF.

 

[fundrazer]

Mugging it up again this week it looks like...

 

[fundrazer]

Garbs drives me crazy sometimes...but she got the break back and is on serve now.

Gonna be a busy day today so I'd rather start off with a win so that I'm not grumpy.

 

[spystud]

I mean, 6-3 ain't terrible...

 

[fundrazer]

I mean, 6-3 ain't terrible...

She got broken in her first or second service game. Turned it around pretty well though. Doesn't look like she's dropped a game since.

 

[spystud]

Rebecca Peterson up now, don’t recognize this woman she’s playing.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Anyone got a Serena stream?

 

[spystud]

Ha, they just labeled Patrick as her “Coaching Consultant”.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Peterson breaks fairly easily after saving break points in both of her service games..

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Serena's found her groove. My stream is pretty crumby but she's dialed it in.

From 1-3 down she's up 4-3 with a break now.

 

[spystud]

4 & 1 for Jo over Riske in R1 two weeks in a row.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Good win for Garbie who really needs some points seeing as she's defending 780 at the French Open..

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Great win for Serena who looked really good. Has it tough in the next match against either Mertens or Venus. If she can get through that then she’ll likely face either Konta or Sloane.

Would love a Sloane/Serena match up. Can’t forget their bad blood way back in 2013. Delivered the iconic “that is so disrespectful” line on top of this beauty of an article.

https://www.si.com/tennis/beyond-baseline/2013/05/05/sloane-stephens-serena-williams-2

 

[skyline]

Great win for Serena who looked really good. Has it tough in the next match against either Mertens or Venus. If she can get through that then she’ll likely face either Konta or Sloane.

Would love a Sloane/Serena match up. Can’t forget their bad blood way back in 2013. Delivered the iconic “that is so disrespectful” line on top of this beauty of an article.

https://www.si.com/tennis/beyond-baseline/2013/05/05/sloane-stephens-serena-williams-2

Sister shouldn’t be a huge issue on clay, and I doubt Mertens will be at her most dangerous either. If she’s in shape, she should get to R3.

 

[spystud]

Venus won the first @ 5.

 

[spystud]

Elise forces 3.

 

[spystud]

8 MPs for Venus gone, from 5-1 to 5-all.

 

[spystud]

Breaker time for the match.

 

[spystud]

Venus survives, barely.

 

[romeo8880]

Zhang looks angry at the beating she’s receiving from Vika.

 

[Harry_Wild]

Venus survives, barely.

A win is a win! The margin or closeness of the match is ill relative in tennis!

 

[Harry_Wild]

Aliassonov got in the MD as a Lucky Loser! She won her first round too!

 

[fundrazer]

Garbine was actually at 15-40 about to go down 1-4. Weird how quickly things turn around sometimes...

One of the worst overheads I've ever seen at 4:48.

 

[AM75]

Serena looks rusty and very slow.

 

[Mr.Lob]

Serena looks rusty and very slow.

From what I saw in the first set, I thought so too. Hit up the middle, to where she doesn't have to move, and she'll hit winners. Stretch her out a little, wide or short, she's slow getting to the ball and recovering for the next shot .A lot of unforced errors today.

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

One of the worst overheads I've ever seen at 4:48.

Rare Muguruza saying "Yeah" to Sam lol.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Serena looks rusty and very slow.

From what I saw in the first set, I thought so too. Hit up the middle, to where she doesn't have to move, and she'll hit winners. Stretch her out a little, wide or short, she's slow getting to the ball and recovering for the next shot .A lot of unforced errors today.

I disagree. Yes, early in the first set she was rusty and slow but found her groove. The second set was far better, dictating play, less errors, smashing the ball and playing very well from the baseline. Admittedly, Peterson didn't really make her work that hard but it was a good opener for Serena.

Some highlights here:

 

[MichaelNadal]

Venus lol

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Wozniacki 5-2 down and takes a medical timeout...

 

[Harry_Wild]

Cornet is ahead up a set against Sabalenka, 6-1. Second set is on serve with Cornet serving 2-3.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Wozniacki loses the first set in a breaker and she retires for the second week in a row..

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Cornet knocks out Sabalenka in straights.

Has lost her last 3 matches.

 

[fundrazer]

Cornet knocks out Sabalenka in straights.

Has lost her last 3 matches.

I wonder why so many players seem to struggle after having breakout years lately. Happening on both tours.

I'm worried about this Collins match now. Afraid Mug's gonna get blasted off the court.

 

[I Am Finnish]

I wonder why so many players seem to struggle after having breakout years lately. Happening on both tours.

I'm worried about this Collins match now. Afraid Mug's gonna get blasted off the court.

Sabalenka cant play on clay

 

[fundrazer]

Sabalenka cant play on clay

Yeah I was kind of wondering about that, but I wasn't sure. Like in my head im thinking clay kind of neutralizes her game, but was wondering if she hits big enough to not be as affected. I don't know about her movement either. She seems pretty athletic for a taller player, but moving on clay is a bit different.

The point still stands though. A lot of players lately are having a good year or so ago few good results and then it'd like they fall off a cliff.

 

[romeo8880]

Bencic playing a solid match...

 

[ScentOfDefeat]

This game is all about belief in yourself.
Look at Mladenovic now that she has Bajin in her corner.
It's not like they've had time to change her game, it's just that now her peanut brain is convinced she's a world beater just because Bajin is her coach.
And her opponents will also see her as a better player than she really is because of that simple fact.
I think the placebo effect is definitely a thing in sports and it's never talked about.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

With Sabalenka losing, Serena will now re-enter the top 10 (unless Keys or Bencic win the title).

 

[spystud]

1 & 2 for Kiki over her good buddy, double-kiss at the net.

 

[spystud]

Damn, Strycova was serving for it @ 5-3 in the 3rd to Vondrousova, wound up losing in a breaker. She was +300, that would have been some real nice value.

 

[romeo8880]

Damn, Strycova was serving for it @ 5-3 in the 3rd to Vondrousova, wound up losing in a breaker. She was +300, that would have been some real nice value.

Good thing. Had a bet on Vondrousova and she was my most confident pick of the day. Idk what’s wrong with her she was dominant earlier in the year.