2019 WTA Dubai - Premier 5

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Garbine with the freaking forehand.
She looks like her ranking suggested she is atm.

 

[PDJ]

Kerber narrowly escaped Hsieh treatment at 2018 AO, but not this time around.

Hsieh can now put Kerber on her big-name, GS holders, wins list along with Muguruza ('18 AO) and Halep ('18 Wimbledon).

There is just something so compulsive about the way Hsieh plays: the most unattractive, effective backhand. And a pleasant contrast to the identikit players out there: and such variety of shot.
But mostly, she doesnt give up. So much heart.
Checkout around 13 minutes. No wonder Kerber looked pedestrian!

 

[fundrazer]

Disaster first set

 

[PDJ]

Muguruza has interesting game plans.... in as much she has no interesting game plans...

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Muguruza just not moving forward today.

 

[fundrazer]

Classic coaching timeout with Sumyk incoming...

Why bother at this point.

 

[spystud]

Another scintillating meeting between Sam & Garbine.

“Because like this, in 5 minutes we’re in the locker room.”

 

[spystud]

It worked! For one game.

 

[ALEXT]

Let's see... you know Svitolina is prone to lose matches from a set up, 5-1 and 3 match points...

 

[spystud]

1 & 2 for Elina.

 

[spystud]

Took like 9 minutes to be in the locker room.

 

[PDJ]

How on earth has Muguruza won major titles? I suppose she is to be admired that she strung enough matches together with such a one-dimensional game (lob aside, which whilst rarely utilised, is first-class) to take those few trophies. Just 6 tournament wins INCLUDING the French and Wimbledon.

 

[spystud]

Sabalenka/Bencic underway now.

 

[spystud]

Belinda’s black & yellow Nikes are badass.

 

[spystud]

Belinda is up 5-1 with a quickness.

 

[spystud]

Hmm, now it’s 5-4, Belinda trying to serve for it again.

 

[spystud]

She holds for the first.

 

[spystud]

Belinda serving @ 2-5 in the second now.

 

[spystud]

Sheesh, TC left the 3rd for a men’s match.

 

[bezs]

When will Garbine wake up and finally ditch Sam.

 

[spystud]

Everything he tried to tell her was correct, she was just in typical Garbine-mode.


Aryna broke for 3-1, Belinda got it right back.

 

[spystud]

Good stream.

 

[spystud]

Aryna to serve for it @ 5-3.

 

[spystud]

BB saves a MP, back on serve.

 

[spystud]

3 MPs saved, 5-all now.

 

[PeteD]

How is Bencic ranked only #44? She flies around the court like Halep and stays clutch on big points a lot!

 

[spystud]

4 MPs, breaker time for the QFs.

 

[spystud]

12 DFs for BB.

 

[spystud]

13 DFs, MP #5.

 

[PeteD]

BB needs to improve serve, this is true

 

[spystud]

And of course Aryna returns the favor to 6-all.

 

[spystud]

MP for Belinda now.

 

[spystud]

Wow, BB saved 6 MPs for the win. That was a freaking crazy match.

 

[FakeEmpire]

Topsy turvy match, but I'm so pleased with Bencic's resilience. She could've lost the match in several moments, but she stayed calmed and composed and ended up rattling Sabalenka. Well done!

 

[AM75]

6 UE on 6 match points. What a stupid way to lose the match.

 

[fundrazer]

How is Bencic ranked only #44? She flies around the court like Halep and stays clutch on big points a lot!

I don't really remember Bencic being all that fast, but she normally has great anticipation and court sense. If her athleticism has improved though then she should be back in the top 20 in no time.

One issue for her being the serve as another poster mentioned, but I don't necessarily think it's all that weak a shot.

 

[spystud]

Really would have liked to see Simona/Aryna, but oh well. Still pretty good QFs...

CSN/Elina
Simona/Belinda
Hsieh/Karolina
Kuzmova/Petra

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Everything he tried to tell her was correct, she was just in typical Garbine-mode.

Agree. On the 1st On Coach he asked her to be more tentative with her shot and forward more and she didn't do it.
On 2nd On Coach he asked her that maximum 2 shots and she's to be inside and she didn't do it lol.

This is 2nd time in a row Garbine lost on embarrassing score to a quality player this year (Pliskova at AO).

 

[spystud]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1098309134410309632

Honesty.

 

[TagUrIt]

Good stream

That’s my go to for watching WTA matches. Good quality stream for free on YouTube.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Tournaments must be so pleased when Halep plays: appears to be the only player with a significant fan base that boosts attendance. And atmosphere.

Noticed that in Doha too. Loyal fan base who always seem to have a presence.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Fantastic win for Bencic and I love that it was over awful Sabalenka. Any loss for her is a good one

 

[ALEXT]

Halep vs Bencic will be interesting. I don't think they played since 2015 final in Toronto when Halep retired in the 3rd due to heat sickness.

 

[Dondon]

Hsieh bagels kerber
Wad a shock

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Hsieh bagels kerber
Wad a shock

Is it though? She lost 0&2 to Collins.

 

[WDC]

How on earth has Muguruza won major titles? I suppose she is to be admired that she strung enough matches together with such a one-dimensional game (lob aside, which whilst rarely utilised, is first-class) to take those few trophies. Just 6 tournament wins INCLUDING the French and Wimbledon.

When her head is on and she confident she has a good game for the inconsistent clay and grass surfaces, not so much on hard-courts which reward the more consistent players. She has been in decline for quite a while now, others are getting better she isn't and mentally she struggles to cope when a good player gets on top of her. She might do better on the clay and grass but I don't see her as a top 8 player anymore. Good chance of another classic Halep v Svitolina semi this week, not certain because both will be tested today but likely. Last weeks match up was quality.

 

[WDC]

Fantastic win for Bencic and I love that it was over awful Sabalenka. Any loss for her is a good one

Yes I have my doubts over Sabalenka to be honest.

 

[PDJ]

When her head is on and she confident she has a good game for the inconsistent clay and grass surfaces, not so much on hard-courts which reward the more consistent players. She has been in decline for quite a while now, others are getting better she isn't and mentally she struggles to cope when a good player gets on top of her. She might do better on the clay and grass but I don't see her as a top 8 player anymore. Good chance of another classic Halep v Svitolina semi this week, not certain because both will be tested today but likely. Last weeks match up was quality.

Very fair and balanced summation.
Unless her form/mindset improves history will recall her as an over-achiever, albeit an opportunist that took said oppourtunities when they came her way. Given her limited strategic mind, that's not too shabby.

 

[TagUrIt]

Pliskova and Hsieh underway now. Should be interesting.

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

How on earth has Muguruza won major titles? I suppose she is to be admired that she strung enough matches together with such a one-dimensional game (lob aside, which whilst rarely utilised, is first-class) to take those few trophies. Just 6 tournament wins INCLUDING the French and Wimbledon.

She's also win Beijing and Cincinnati.
Probably the best footwork in W's game and one of the complete package.

Just low in confidence at the moment. That French Open against Serena was her best. Serena wasn't even play bad that time.