2024 Cincinnati Open - WTA 1000 Discussion

[tennis4me]

Sometimes she appears to be completely disoriented on court ("Oh, is it my shot now? Well, I don't really feel like moving my legs or reaching for that ball, so I guess it's a winner.").

Looked like she overslept and rushed to "work", thus slightly groggy. Very disappointing performance.

 

[Rafa4LifeEver]

They're Playing a stupid WTA match on centre court before completing the unfinished Alcaraz - Monfils match.
What a travesty!

 

[zvelf]

Very much so, but also not even sure who the 4th of the big 4 is meant to be lol.

Rybakina hasn't won a big title since the Rome 1000 in May last year. Doesn't hold any big titles.

Meanwhile:

Krejcikova won Wimbledon and is a former French Open and Dubai champ.
Pegula won both the 2023 and 2024 Canadian 1000 titles.
Paolini won the Dubai 1000 and made both the French and Wimbledon finals.

I like Elena and she's been consistently going deep at tournaments but she's not winning any.

I don't think we should let the recency bias from her last match, admittedly an awful, awful performance, tarnish how well Rybakina has been playing generally this year. She's reached 5 finals, winning two of them, beating Sabalenka 6-0, 6-3 in one of them and beating Iga along the way on clay in the other. Rybakina has made the quarterfinals or better of all but two tournaments she's played in 2024. Rybakina's 80% win percentage is the second best on the tour after Iga. For comparison, Paolini and Pegula are at 70% and Krejcikova is at a distant 63%. And Rybakina's competition has been tougher. She's played Iga twice and Sabalenka twice this year going 2-2. Paolini and Krejcikova are a combined 0-2 against Swiatek and Sabalenka, both losing easily, while Pegula has not played either in 2024. Against the top 20, Rybakina is 10-4, Paoloini is 6-5, Pegula is 2-2, and Krejcikova is 4-4. So Rybakina has played more top 20 players than Pegula and Krejcikova combined and yet has a superior win percentage. Krejcikova's season being considered stellar is entirely owing to her going on a hot streak at Wimbledon. Otherwise, Krejcikova would right now be 10 wins to 10 losses on the year with no other titles, finals, or semis.

 

[Bill Lobsalot]

Congrats to the big beautiful Russian matron, Pavs over Woz.

 

[spystud]

2 & 2 for Iga over Kostyuk.

 

[Bill Lobsalot]

2 & 2 for Iga over Kostyuk.

Didn't watch. Did Kostyuk start tearing up in the 1st or 2nd set?

 

[spystud]

Ha, I just saw Iga being interviewed after.

First set to Paolini over Mirra at 3.

 

[spystud]

Aryna takes the first over Svitolina.

 

[spystud]

Mirra forces 3.

 

[spystud]

Aryna wins.

Mirra trying to follow suit.

 

[spystud]

And she does. Think Paolini ran out of gas.

Shnaider v. Leylah & Paula v. Yulia next.

 

[spystud]

Damn, quick breadstick from Leylah.

 

[spystud]

More rain!

 

[spystud]

Paula up 6-4, 3-1.

Leylah trying to close hers out.

 

[spystud]

And she does, Canada wins the lefty battle.

 

[tennis4me]

Leylah was playing quite well today - focused, calculated winners, incredible defense, smart plays.
Diana didn't actually play that bad - but Leylah hit a lot of incredible angles to open the courts and finished many points.
Not to mention Diana being a good sport - smiled before the handshake. Both have bright futures, imo.

 

[spystud]

JPeg v. Townsend underway.

 

[tennis4me]

6-2 Pegula.

When Pegula is on, it's so beautiful to watch. Very calm, composed - never in a hurry, change direction with eyes half closed like it was nothing - Wait her eyes are always half-closed - she has sleepy eyes.
Let's see whether JPeg can keep the momentum on Set 2.

 

[spystud]

2 & 3 for JPeg.

Qinwen v. Pavs to end Friday.

 

[VilasFan]

Leylah was playing quite well today - focused, calculated winners, incredible defense, smart plays.
Diana didn't actually play that bad - but Leylah hit a lot of incredible angles to open the courts and finished many points.
Not to mention Diana being a good sport - smiled before the handshake. Both have bright futures, imo.

I think Shnaider has a bright future, but she needs to rein in the unforced errors and work on her serve. In the offseason, it would benefit her to focus on adding more "shape" and net clearance to her baseline drives. Also, I believe focusing more on her fitness could reap benefits.

 

[timmyy]

Well done Pav for that baseline smash!!! And down 15-30!!!

 

[timmyy]

I think Shnaider has a bright future, but she needs to rein in the unforced errors and work on her serve.

Welcome to the WTA.

 

[spystud]

5 & 1 for Pavs in 78 minutes.

 

[Bill Lobsalot]

So happy for the Tattooed Tennis goddess.

 

[spystud]

Pretty solid lineup.

 

[sportsfan1]

5 & 1 for Pavs in 78 minutes.

Woah, Slshe took out the Olympics gold winner, and rather routinely?

 

[spystud]

Indeed.

 

[slipgrip93]

Swiatek vs. Andreeva QF starting. Now young 17 yr old Andreeva having an improved season since her team up with new coach and player veteran Conchita Martinez. More power on her shots, better defense and footwork, still ambitious after her setbacks facing veteran competition last year.
I like that she hasn't become an early medical time-out/withdraw or tanking diva yet. She avenged her SF loss to Paolini in her previous round coming back from first set down, and serving seven aces.

Currently. Just broke Swiatek in third game from 40-30.

 

[spystud]

Playing 3.

 

[spystud]

3-all.

 

[spystud]

4-all. Who blinks first?

 

[spystud]

Not the kid, she just held at love.

 

[spystud]

Ha, Iga does the same.

 

[spystud]

Uh oh, Iga breaks. Kid is bummin’.

 

[bw114]

Iga really didn’t have to do much there. Shame for Andreeva, but can’t really blame her. Do feel like if these sorts of things go away and she keeps developing her game she must win multiple slams

 

[spystud]

Iga wins, fun final set though.

 

[spystud]

Aryna takes the first at 3 over Samsonova.

 

[marc45]

does Iga have a chance against Sabalenka here?

 

[spystud]

3 & 2 in 80 minutes for Aryna.

 

[spystud]

JPeg v. Leylah underway.

 

[spystud]

7-5, 4-0 for JPeg currently. Handshake time.

 

[flyingboris]

7-5, 4-0 for JPeg currently. Handshake time.

Just noticed that it's 4-4 30-30. Leylah is a fighter!

Edit: and after the 7th deuce she holds! Leylah one game away from the set.

 

[flyingboris]

Crazy wind out there. Umbrella lady could barely hold the thing up.

 

[ScottleeSV]

does Iga have a chance against Sabalenka here?

Iga is the 4/9 match favourite.

 

[timmyy]

Oh Leyla...

 

[spystud]

Just noticed that it's 4-4 30-30. Leylah is a fighter!

Edit: and after the 7th deuce she holds! Leylah one game away from the set.

Never fails, right?

7-3 in the deciding breaker for JPeg after all that.

 

[flyingboris]

Never fails, right?

7-3 in the deciding breaker for JPeg after all that.

At least Leylah got the match practice she needed for a US Open title run.

 

[Bill Lobsalot]

Pavs and Badosa ready to go on center court. Hope its a good one.

 

[spystud]

Pavs gonna have to step it up soon.

 

[spystud]

First set to Paula at 3, & breaks to 2-1.