GrassCourtFan
Legend
Belgians! (heck, a poll, why not)
So, looking at the draw, I suddenly have the stunning realization that it looks like there'll be a high chance of an all-belgian final. Again.
In the top half, Clijsters will need to get past Davenport, and then through either Schnyder or Pierce, and then either Dementieva, Likhotseva, Karatancheva, or Loit or Gagliardi...
I see nobody in that list that should be able to take Clijsters down. Davenport isn't a claycourter and has been struggling mightily in her earlier matches (all 3-setters), whereas Clijsters has breezed through (set scores - 6-1, 6-0, 6-2, 6-1, 6-4, 6-2). Of the rest of those contenders - though Pierce and Schnyder and Dementieva are all good, Clijsters should just be a level above them. And however good Karatancheva is playing right now, I don't think she's up to beating Kim Clijsters in a Grand Slam semi.
On the other half it's less simple, since they haven't even played third-round matches yet. The other top players remaining in that half are Kuznetsova, Sharapova, Mauresmo, Petrova, with Tatiana Golovin thrown into the mix for some unpredictability.
IMO the most dangerous match in that bunch is the 4th round against Kuznetsova, though Kuznetsova's never been past the 4th round of RG - I don't know enough about Kuznetsova's play on clay to judge. This year, she's had one good tournament on clay (beating Clijsters but then losing to Henin in a very tight final), one okay one (losing to Schnyder in the semis) and one bad one (losing to Suarez in the first round).
But other than the Kuznetsova match, which could go either way, Henin should be able to get through. Henin has already shown that she can outclass Sharapova on clay; and though Mauresmo could have the upper hand if she played well, she always chokes in the later rounds of RG.
Other than that, there are Bovina and Petrova who seem to be typical WTA basher-type hardcourt players who are beatable on clay; and though someone like Ivanovic or Golovin could have a dream run and cause an upset, I don't see that happening...
So, what does everyone else think? Belgian-Belgian final in the making or not?
So, looking at the draw, I suddenly have the stunning realization that it looks like there'll be a high chance of an all-belgian final. Again.
In the top half, Clijsters will need to get past Davenport, and then through either Schnyder or Pierce, and then either Dementieva, Likhotseva, Karatancheva, or Loit or Gagliardi...
I see nobody in that list that should be able to take Clijsters down. Davenport isn't a claycourter and has been struggling mightily in her earlier matches (all 3-setters), whereas Clijsters has breezed through (set scores - 6-1, 6-0, 6-2, 6-1, 6-4, 6-2). Of the rest of those contenders - though Pierce and Schnyder and Dementieva are all good, Clijsters should just be a level above them. And however good Karatancheva is playing right now, I don't think she's up to beating Kim Clijsters in a Grand Slam semi.
On the other half it's less simple, since they haven't even played third-round matches yet. The other top players remaining in that half are Kuznetsova, Sharapova, Mauresmo, Petrova, with Tatiana Golovin thrown into the mix for some unpredictability.
IMO the most dangerous match in that bunch is the 4th round against Kuznetsova, though Kuznetsova's never been past the 4th round of RG - I don't know enough about Kuznetsova's play on clay to judge. This year, she's had one good tournament on clay (beating Clijsters but then losing to Henin in a very tight final), one okay one (losing to Schnyder in the semis) and one bad one (losing to Suarez in the first round).
But other than the Kuznetsova match, which could go either way, Henin should be able to get through. Henin has already shown that she can outclass Sharapova on clay; and though Mauresmo could have the upper hand if she played well, she always chokes in the later rounds of RG.
Other than that, there are Bovina and Petrova who seem to be typical WTA basher-type hardcourt players who are beatable on clay; and though someone like Ivanovic or Golovin could have a dream run and cause an upset, I don't see that happening...
So, what does everyone else think? Belgian-Belgian final in the making or not?
