2019 WTA Qatar Total Open - Premier

[spystud]

32-player draw, four R1 byes. Four qualie matches still to be played, Strycova/Al Nabhani is the only R1 match today.

Draw pdf

Simona/Karolina/Angie/Elina get the byes.

Barty was scheduled to play Martic, but Martic withdrew. Barty then withdrew after her long Fed Cup weekend, breaking up the Sevastova/Julia R1 match.

 

[spystud]

Strycova match finally underway, it's after 11 pm there. Should have just started all of R1 tomorrow.

 

[spystud]

Quick breadstick by the veteran.

 

[spystud]

Double breadstick delivered. Funny they had to play this match while the player party is going on.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Stosur manages to lose to Blinkova. Lucky for her Barty and Wang withdrew so there's 2 lucky loser spots and she was the 4th qualifying seed so chances are she'll get one.

 

[spystud]

Looks like Riske & Hercog got the two LL slots.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Looks like Riske & Hercog got the two LL slots.

Ouch, rough.

 

[Deleted member 293577]

You have to like Halep's chances after she beat Pliskova over the weekend. She's due for a title.

 

[spystud]

Wozzy quit, so Sam got in.

Blinkova bounced Sevastova in straights.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Sevastova losing in the first round means Serena Williams will be back in the top 10 for the first time since July 2017.

She's played just 8 tournaments. 2 slam finals and a slam QF.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Also, Sloane, Halep and Pliskova are fighting for the #2 spot.

Sloane currently sitting at a new career high #2 in the live rankings but Halep can overtake her with a win over Tsurenko.

If Halep loses to Tsurenko then Pliskova has a chance to become #2 with the title.

 

[La Grande]

Goerges is beautiful ahh..

 

[spystud]

Sam didn’t last long.

Hsieh smoked Sasnovich after the latter’s Fed Cup travel.

 

[Marius_Hancu]

The Ukrainian site allowing quick switching of matches at very good clarity is back in a new version.
---
It still works but I hope they fix the website soon.

PC: https://1xsone.com/sportzone/SportZone_1.5.1.exe [download and install by clicking twice]
Android: https://1xsone.com/sportzone/SportZone_1.2.3.apk
IOS: https://1xsone.com/sportzone/SportZone_1.6.1.dmg
----
Seems OK, but it's your responsibility as to viruses, etc.
Once installed, open the program. It generates its own browsing window.
Click on top left triangle.
Select Tennis.
Select tournament.
Select match
Click Play.

 

[spystud]

So Karolina quit & was replaced by...


Her evil left-handed twin. Really would be awesome if they hit from the same wing. Could really screw with the opponent.

 

[spystud]

2-6, 6-1 for Bertens right now against CSN.

 

[spystud]

Kiki delivers a breadstick to advance.

 

[spystud]

The Strycova scoreline was fun too.

6-0, 3-6, 6-0

 

[spystud]

Simona/Tsurenko walking on now.

 

[spystud]

Mertens beat lefty twin in straights.

 

[spystud]

Risky Riske forces a third against Julia.


Simona won a LONG game to go up 4-0.

Tsurenko’s Lotto kit is badass though. Also digging Simona’s long sleeve Nike pullover.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Halep's win over Tsurenko means she'll love Doha as #2.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Kerber gets great revenge over Kontaveit and wins in straights.

Her last two matches against Kontaveit? She'd been bagelled twice out of 3 completed sets.

She lost 6-4 6-0 in Rome 2017.
Also lost 6-0 2-0 retired in Stuttgart 2018.
(Both on clay, Angie's worst surface though)

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Damn, Sharapova out of Indian Wells already with her ongoing shoulder injury. Yikes.

 

[spystud]

Strycova just breadstick’d Angie in the first.

 

[bezs]

Kerber having a stinker of a 1st set against Strycova.

 

[spystud]

Angie has rebounded nicely, 8 of the next 10.

 

[spystud]

Angie breaks for 4-all in the third.

 

[spystud]

5-all.

 

[spystud]

Don’t make this call here.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1096080364311703552

 

[spystud]

Angie wins in a breaker. Not a real strong match on either side.

Simona v. Julia next.

 

[spystud]

Strycova yapped at the ball kid while walking to net for the handshake, that was uncalled for.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Halep with a great return to break in the first game.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Kerber beat Strycova despite losing more games and more points.

She's into her first semifinal since winning Wimbledon!

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Halep is looking so good. Two more break points.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Halep with a STUNNING return on a pretty decent first serve and she breaks. Easily up 3-0.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

In saying that, Julia isn’t playing well.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Wow what a point by Halep. Lots of running, great wingspan at the net. Impressive.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Don’t make this call here.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1096080364311703552

Love the sass of Marija saying "you're doing it all yourself".

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Goerges has found her game and has fought her way back in this match. Halep was up 4-0 and 5-2. It's 5-4 Halep serving for it again but isn't looking as good now.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Halep double faults and it's now 5-5. Yikes. She had 2 set points serving for it at 5-2 and another at 5-3..

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Halep manages to turn around a topsy turvy set and wins 7-1 in the first set breaker. She led 4-0 and 5-2 and had 3 set points before Goerges came right back.

 

[spystud]

Simona wins a long breaker to advance.

Julia was rocking that Asics kit though.

 

[ALEXT]

Pretty good SFs. If Bartens wins her QF it's all top 10 players. It doesn't happen too often at a Premier tournament.

 

[TagUrIt]

Love the sass of Marija saying "you're doing it all yourself".

I watched that clip and I agree with the Chair ump

 

[TagUrIt]

Simona wins a long breaker to advance.

Julia was rocking that Asics kit though.

I work odd hours so i was asleep, I’ll go back to watch highlights of the match. It looks like Julie put up a good fight though.

 

[jhick]

Mertens vs. Bertens....It's like a Dr. Seuss matchup LOL.

 

[TagUrIt]

Mertens vs. Bertens....It's like a Dr. Seuss matchup LOL.

I completely under estimated Mertens, she played really well. Kiki’s serve was way off today.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Got a strong feeling these SF’s will be much better than the Dubai ones next week despite that being Premier 5.

Halep v Svitolina
Kerber v Mertens

Let’s see what we get next week..

 

[spystud]

Bernarda Pera is -10000 in Dubai qualifying over someone named Nikita Uberoi, not sure l’ve seen a line that high before.