2024 WTA Doha 1000

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Big girl tennis.
 
Hope we get a Swiatek vs Rybakina final. I've not interest in the other potential match ups. Hopefully Swiatek smokes Pliskova.
 
That let cord point NO got at 0-3 of the 2nd tie break was awful. The ball hung on the net for a lifetime before it dropped. If I was Pliskova and somehow lose that match after that, I’ll be scarred forever.
 
Swiatek in Doha is just next level.

2024:
QF: Azarenka 6-4 6-0
3R: Alexandrova 6-1 6-4
2R: Cirstea 6-1 6-1

2023:
F: Pegula 6-3 6-0
SF: Kudermetova 6-0 6-1
QF: W/O from Bencic
2R: Collins 6-0 6-1

2022:
F: Kontaveit 6-2 6-0
SF: Sakkari 6-4 6-3
QF: Sabalenka 6-2 6-3
3R: Kasatkina 6-3 6-0
2R: Golubic 6-2 3-6 6-2

Only 1 set lost and that was the start of the winning streak in Doha. 6 bagels fed, 5 breadsticks given too.
 
Aussie Darcy said:
Swiatek in Doha is just next level.

2024:
QF: Azarenka 6-4 6-0
3R: Alexandrova 6-1 6-4
2R: Cirstea 6-1 6-1

2023:
F: Pegula 6-3 6-0
SF: Kudermetova 6-0 6-1
QF: W/O from Bencic
2R: Collins 6-0 6-1

2022:
F: Kontaveit 6-2 6-0
SF: Sakkari 6-4 6-3
QF: Sabalenka 6-2 6-3
3R: Kasatkina 6-3 6-0
2R: Golubic 6-2 3-6 6-2

Only 1 set lost and that was the start of the winning streak in Doha. 6 bagels fed, 5 breadsticks given too.
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What is it about this event that makes her play like this?
 
ScottleeSV said:
Isn't this the 2nd time Pliskova has pulled out of a match with Swiatek?
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Iga had a W/O last year in Dubai also. Their 2 matches in Stuttgart and Montreal were far close than the 6-0 6-0 drubbing - that was their first ever meeting back in 2021 and Iga was in top form before losing to Sakkari in the QF at RG. Pliskova is likely worn out and has decided to take her momentum to Dubai next week. If you have a 3-0 losing record and know Swiatek is in good form, then it's probably not worth risking an injury from overplaying if your body is telling you you need rest ASAP. I don't blame her but she likely foresaw a straight sets drubbing on the cards.
 
coolcamden said:
People like you are super amazing to me. Did you recite that from memory? If you did, it’s amazing to me. I can’t remember what I had for lunch yesterday. (y)
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Matmac said:
They played two matches since then, I think. But Pliskova definitely electing to stay gluten-free here.
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@coolcamden I'm a BIG Iga fan! Yes that was from memory. But I wouldn't have bet 100$ that I had the year exactly right.

And as @Matmac showed ... my memory isn't that good.
 
coolcamden said:
About time. I’ve been calling this for close to 2 years. Also time for Ons, Kuder and Badosa as well.
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It was indeed time for Sakkari to make a change. That said, I've always liked Tom Hill since he "liked" an Instagram picture I posted of one of my bikes. Totally random, but I've always appreciated him for that.

Wonder who she will work with next. Maybe Pegula's old coach David Witt?
ktx said:
Pavs is fun to watch, but a Rybakina/Swiatek final will be good and a good test of how elena can handle her. THey're both playing really well.
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Honestly, I hope that the good Rybakina shows up and kicks Iga's butt. Swiatek needs to be reminded that she isn't the best player on tour.

coolcamden said:
People like you are super amazing to me. Did you recite that from memory? If you did, it’s amazing to me. I can’t remember what I had for lunch yesterday. (y)
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That match does stand out in the memory for some reason. The final of a pretty big event, and Pliskova was absolute destroyed. I don't remember many beat-downs that bad, and in a final... plus the Rome tournament is played right next to the home of la Lazio, the team that brought football/soccer to Rome.
 
volleyandfun said:
Iga plays well in windy conditions. 2022 IW final was brutal, gale force winds, she easily beat Sakkari.
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It was Sakkari after all. lol…

Kidding aside, ER shots are very flat so less forgiving in gusty winds. Iga’s are super loopy which is much better to stay in. I think after leading 4-1 and 6-5 and had 3 set points in TB and let them all slip away, in her mind, Ryba was done.
 
coolcamden said:
It was Sakkari after all. lol…

Kidding aside, ER shots are very flat so less forgiving in gusty winds. Iga’s are super loopy which is much better to stay in. I think after leading 4-1 and 6-5 and had 3 set points in TB and let them all slip away, in her mind, Ryba was done.
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Sakkari was in a peak form at that time. As a matter of fact, it was in Doha that year Iga notched her first win against Sakkari.
One thing I noticed, interestingly Iga was playing to ER forehand, the lethal part of ER's game.
 
Elena’s serve, while a big weapon, simply isn’t clutch enough. She had plenty of chances to wrap up that first set. Needed a free point and didn’t get first serves in.
 
Since just Beijing in the fall Iga is 23-1.

Since Beijing in the fall Iga has beaten every other member of the top 8.

And yet some still fail to recognize her greatness.
 
Connor35 said:
Since just Beijing in the fall Iga is 23-1.

Since Beijing in the fall Iga has beaten every other member of the top 8.

And yet some still fail to recognize her greatness.
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I wonder why that is? By any objective statistics she has been the best player over last few years. Some statistics: winning streak, consecutive tournaments wins, multiple Grand Slams in one year, 3x Doha back-to-back-to-back, multiple wins over top 10 players, consecutive year end #1 are just mind boggling never seen in years. And yet it seems she is not considered great because???? Is it the fact she wears a cap? Her cheeks are not pinkish hue enough? Elbows too pointy?
 
Before the shin bleed MTO, Iga was actually looked rather frustrated/shaken with her game. Down 2 breakpoints. She was seen asking ump whether she could talk to her coach while ER was receiving MTO. She was allowed to speak to her coach. Then the rest was history.

Whether the coach really gave tactical advice or just a boost of confidence and calmness, we'll probably never know, but it seemed to work.

ER serve could be a weapon, but her percentage was just around 54% for the match. Not good enough against Iga.
 
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