2019 WTA Qatar Total Open - Premier

[ALEXT]

Looks like Dubai has full roaster except for Sloane, Keys and Barty.

 

[Deleted member 293577]

Serena also missing from Dubai.

 

[WDC]

Serena also missing from Dubai.

Good. Should be two fantastic semi-finals today, I am going for a tasty Halep v Kerber final but either of the games today could go either way.

 

[TagUrIt]

I really like Svitolina, but I don't think she's strong enough to get past Halep. Kerber should win over Mertens, but that depends on which Angie shows up.

 

[ALEXT]

Serena also missing from Dubai.

Correct but that's given.

 

[WDC]

I really like Svitolina, but I don't think she's strong enough to get past Halep. Kerber should win over Mertens, but that depends on which Angie shows up.

I like her as well and she is looking strong again, so I expect her to do well this year. I think Simona has the tools to mess her game up where she can be vulnerable, change the pace, mix it up that's the way to go against Elina. If Elina get's her first serve firing she will get a lot of free points and confidence from that, so that will be a key. 55/45 Halep I think.

 

[spystud]

Simona/Svitolina underway now.

 

[spystud]

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

Pera won 1 & 0, guess no one hit the jackpot.

 

[spystud]

Simona takes the first @ 3.

 

[bezs]

Simona's playing well.

 

[spystud]

Simona takes the first @ 3.

Elina does the same in the second.

 

[bezs]

Game on now.

 

[bezs]

Nice break from Elina.

 

[spystud]

From 1-4 to 5-4 for Simona, will serve for it.

 

[spystud]

Over, not great by Elina.

 

[WDC]

Great game that, Elina a bit passive on a couple of points at 4-1 and Simona slammed the door wide open. Both will have their best years based on the quality of that match, pure gold.

 

[bezs]

Svitolina should have closed it out when she had the chance.

 

[spystud]

Mertens up 4-1 on Angie early.

 

[ALEXT]

Svitolina must hate Halep guts for doing this to her again... But she "stole" two significant titles from Halep too.

 

[spystud]

Now Angie back on serve @ 4-5, Elise is trying to pull an Elina.

 

[spystud]

And of course Elise promptly breaks for the set after my post.

 

[spystud]

Angie quickly handles the second to force a decider.

 

[spystud]

Elise up a break @ 4-1.

 

[ALEXT]

Let's see if Kerber can pull a Halep - like come back from 1-4 down in the 3rd.

 

[spystud]

And she reels off the next 2 to win.

 

[TagUrIt]

Maybe I should stop under estimating Mertens. She played lights out tennis in the last set. Even with her performance against Kerber, I still think Halep is too strong. Halep for the win in 3.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

New WTA Top 10 on Monday:

1. Osaka
2. Halep
3. Stephens
4. Kvitova
5. Pliskova
6. Svitolina
7. Kerber
8. Bertens
9. Sabalenka
10. S. Williams

Halep back to #2
Angie down to #7
Serena back in the top 10

 

[Deleted member 293577]

I just saw the Halep Svitolina match on replay. Wow, Incredible shot making! That loss is going to sting a while for Svitolina.

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

I really like Svitolina, but I don't think she's strong enough to get past Halep. Kerber should win over Mertens, but that depends on which Angie shows up.

I was predicting she could beat Halep due to she has better record against her especially in HC. But yeah, haven't watch tennis lately and it seems Halep in good form to crushing on no. 1 again.

 

[fundrazer]

Halep looking pretty solid so far other than dropping serve.

 

[spystud]

Simona takes the first @ 3.

 

[spystud]

Playing 3.

 

[fundrazer]

Kinda confused about that call. Mertens raises her finger to say the ball is out, but Simona challenges and the ball is right on the line. Point is replayed. Didn't seem like the call hindered Mertens at all. Wasn't paying attention to see if Mertens got the ball back or not.

I've almost never agreed with Nouni on these judgement calls though. I understand that sometimes things happen quickly, but I feel like he consistently misinterprets events and gets the calls wrong.

 

[TagUrIt]

I still think Halep will take it in 3. I’m kinda rooting for Mertens though, I always like the underdog.

 

[TagUrIt]

Whatta fight by both of these players.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Crowd love Mertens

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Love Mertens fight. Still remember tuning into the Hobart final last year which was the start of her breakout. Won that title and then made the Aus Open SF. Winning this title would be huge for you.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Halep is looking tired which we don’t often see, maybe not smart ahead of Premier 5 Dubai.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Brilliant shot from Halep. 30-30.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Mertens a game away from the biggest title of her career.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Double championship points for Mertens.

 

[spystud]

Elise wins.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Mertens wins! Huge for her. 3 top 10 wins in a row.

 

[TagUrIt]

Well done Mertens, well done.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Halep pronouncing Elise like Alizé (Cornet). I don't think I knew that one.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

@Aussie Darcy @TagUrIt

Halep looking pretty solid so far other than dropping serve.

Elise wins.

Didn't see. But heard there might have been some flack about a Mertens' MTO. Real or calculated (to stop Halep's p=mv )?
Apparently, Simona won 94 points to 88 for Elise -- just not enough of the important points for Simona, I guess. 1st serve stats for Halep looked quite good; but not so for 2nd serves.

Mertens converted 7 of 10 break point opportunities. Halep only 6 of 17. Any other insights?
.

 

[spystud]

Yeah, Twitter has been killing Elise for it all day. It miraculously came right after Simona reeled off 18 straight points.

 

[TagUrIt]

@Aussie Darcy @TagUrIt



Didn't see. But heard there might have been some flack about a Mertens' MTO. Real or calculated (to stop Halep's p=mv )?
Apparently, Simona won 94 points to 88 for Elise -- just not enough of the important points for Simona, I guess. 1st serve stats for Halep looked quite good; but not so for 2nd serves.

Mertens converted 7 of 10 break point opportunities. Halep only 6 of 17. Any other insights?
.

Unfortunately I tuned in at the end of the 2nd set so I didn’t see that medical timeout.