WTA PREMIER MANDATORY: BEIJING

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Last premier mandatory event: Beijing.

Draw Singles: http://wtafiles.wtatennis.com/pdf/draws/2017/1020/MDS.pdf
Draw Doubles: http://wtafiles.wtatennis.com/pdf/draws/2017/1020/MDD.pdf

Defending champion is Aga Radwanska and Safarova/Sands (Both are not competing for this year).
Field is strong with only Venus out of the top 20 not participating.
Once again we have a race for no 1 between Muguruza, Halep, Svitolina and Pliskova.
Would it be the time for Simona?

Sharapova got a WC for main draw and just narrowly escaped Sevastova.

WWW?

@Aussie Darcy

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Side news, Mladenovic keep falling with 9 matches and 18 sets losing streak.

 

[spystud]

Rybarikova takes the first over Genie @ 4.

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Wow, Stosur finally win!

 

[spystud]

Putintseva & Genie both out in straights.

 

[PDJ]

Rybarikova takes the first over Genie @ 4.

Ah Genie in a bottle..... Ironic, given she'd be better off taking to the drink.
Both she and Mladvonvic were outspoken about Sharapova (absolutely their right) but both have had shocking results....
Wozniacki also, better results, but lashes out again at the US Open... And crashes out.
Cibulkova also speaks out and has had a pretty average year....
Don't cross Maria!!!!

 

[PDJ]

Side news, Mladenovic keep falling with 9 matches and 18 sets losing streak.

Whilst Garcia is on the rise.....

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Side news, Mladenovic keep falling with 9 matches and 18 sets losing streak.

Mladenovic finally comes up with some excuse and is going to take time off (withdrew from doubles in Beijing and Hong Kong next week). She should've finished after the USO, pulled a Serena and finished for the year. Would've saved embarrassment.

Her announcement on twitter:

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Wow, Stosur finally win!

So very happy to see Stosur get a win. Crazy that her next match will be against Ostapenko.
Stosur's last match before her injury timeoff was the 4R of the French Open.... against Ostapenko. Sam was on an 8 match winning streak after winning Strasbourg. Stosur led a set (and maybe a break) against Ostapenko who hadn't held serve once in the match. Then Sam started having issues with the hand and Penko starting GOATing. Ostapenko went on to win the match and the title and break into the top 10 whilst Stosur was out for 4 months.

They'll play Tuesday though. Would love Sam to get revenge but can't see it happening.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Wozniacki wins in 3 sets over Wang with an odd score of 6-1 6-7 6-1.
Radwanska gets through in straight sets.
Makarova up 6-3 3-0 on Brady.

 

[unbiased]

Can someone point out the rule (or some other info) for bye's in the first round for Garcia, Barty and Ostapenko? I assume it has to do with their performance in Wuhan (or in South Korea in case of Ostapenko?). It's just uncommon for me to see that they get a complete bye instead of just favourable rescheduling.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Can someone point out the rule (or some other info) for bye's in the first round for Garcia, Barty and Ostapenko? I assume it has to do with their performance in Wuhan (or in South Korea in case of Ostapenko?). It's just uncommon for me to see that they get a complete bye instead of just favourable rescheduling.

Each year the four Wuhan semifinalists get a bye into the 2R as you can see with Barty, Ostapenko and Garcia.
But, Sakkari didn't get a bye as her ranking wasn't high enough for the main draw so she was only entered into qualifying. Her qualifying match was scheduled before her SF match in Wuhan so she was forced to withdraw. Quit unfair for her but it is what it is.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Pliskova wins in straights over Suarez Navarro. Good win for her.

Also in straight sets: Goerges over Brengle, Petkovic against Bertens and Cornet over Wang.

Arruabarrena caused an upset in 3 sets over 7th seed Kuznetsova.

 

[ScentOfDefeat]

What a terrible first set from Konta.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Konta about half way to matching Mladenovic's losing streak. If Jo loses this one (she's down a set currently) she'll have lost 5 consecutive matches... not great.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Seriously, who wears that to a players party? Christ she's annoying.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

May be a bit premature for me to say but if Konta loses this one, she's in a real struggle to qualify for Singapore. Konta is still firmly in 8th position with an 800 point cushion but an early exit would really open the Finals draw up for players like Garcia, Sloane or Vandeweghe with deep runs. If someone not in the top 10 (say Sloane or Coco) win the title then that's 1000 points which is huge to chip away at Konta's strength on that 8th spot.

Also seems pretty much certain that Ostapenko has that 7th spot locked down so it's really only one spot left.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Niculescu with break point to go up a set and double break against Konta.. Double breadstick may be incoming.

 

[octobrina10]

At the Players Party on Sunday:

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Niculescu breaks again and leads 6-1 4-1.. these stats look bad for Konta. Niculescu is winning more points on Konta's serve then Konta is... something like 45% first serves won and just 38% second serves won. Bad by Jo.

 

[PDJ]

At the Players Party on Sunday:

Does Ostapenko have to wear that dress for promotional purposes or is it that she's still young enough to raid her Disney dressing up box?

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Konta out. Loses 6-1 6-2 to Niculescu.
Now on a 5 match losing streak.

 

[tennis4me]

Looks like Niculescu was toying with Konta in this match. Haven't watched many of Konta's match. Her movements looks so awkward on court, especially when she's approaching the net. Looks a little like Spiderman climbing the wall, maybe because she stayed very low and had a lot of side-to-side movements while approaching the net. Very awkward. She even approached when her shots were landing mid-court.

I missed the beginning of this match. So, I'm not sure why Konta went to the net so often. Either because Niculescu likes to drop shot or just a change of tactic since she was losing so badly against Niculescu.

 

[tennis4me]

I noticed many of the matches in China, including the Premier and mandatory ones pretty much have almost no one watching. Maybe it's just because early rounds? It was a weekend, though. Tickets too expensive locally? Interest is low? That ex-Olympic stadium is gigantic.

 

[tennis4me]

At the Players Party on Sunday:

Nice pics. I barely recognized Ostapenko. Who's with white dress next to Sharapova? And the black dress next to Ostapenko?

Nadal looks so short at 6'1" next to Delpo.
Where's Halep? She's seeded #2.

 

[octobrina10]

Nice pics. I barely recognized Ostapenko. Who's with white dress next to Sharapova? And the black dress next to Ostapenko?

Nadal looks so short at 6'1" next to Delpo.
Where's Halep? She's seeded #2.

Petra Kvitova is in the black dress, Zhang Shuai is in the white dress.

 

[tennis4me]

Petra Kvitova is in the black dress, Zhang Shuai is in the white dress.

Thanks. I was beginning to guess that the white dress was Zhang Shuai ..., but wasn't sure - stunning picture; she really looks like an elite athlete type there. Great pictures.

 

[SpecialGunpowder]

Konta out. Loses 6-1 6-2 to Niculescu.
Now on a 5 match losing streak.

Today was like watching Jo play on clay. Footwork was a mess, every approach shot seemed to end in the net. She looks depressed and the tension is showing physically. Hope she can find a way through this funk soon. Entered for two more tournaments - Hong Kong and Moscow.

Anyone know if she's found a new mental coach?

 

[Vanhool]

Does Ostapenko have to wear that dress for promotional purposes or is it that she's still young enough to raid her Disney dressing up box?

LOL. "Mean girl"

 

[spystud]

Revise OoP after rain.

 

[PDJ]

Stephens a break down (saved points for double break).
You have to hope she'll turn this around.....

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Sloane down a break to McHale... Looking to do a losing streak post slam win like Kerber did after the AO win.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

McHale breaks again and wins the first set 6-3.

Will serve first in the 2nd. Sloane just not good.. bad errors.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

McHale up a break in the 2nd set as well. Up 6-3 3-0.

Just crappy by Sloane.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

McHale breaks again... Bagel coming for Sloane. Embarrassing.

McHale serving for 6-3 5-0.

 

[ScentOfDefeat]

Part and parcel of winning a Slam, I guess.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Sloane stepping it up but it's probably too late. Has break point.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Vesnina won the first set 6-0 and then Linette retired so she's through to the 2R where she'll play Duan.

Coco up 6-2 3-0 on Vekic.

Tsurenko up 5-3 on Lepchenko.

Strycova up a break 2-1 on Muguruza.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

McHale saves two break points and holds for 5-0 in the 2nd...

 

[Aussie Darcy]

And another break. McHale wins 6-3 6-0 over Sloane.

Recent USO champ Sloane Stephens gets bagelled and is yet to win a set since the USO win. 2 match losing streak. Not a great look.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

And another break. McHale wins 6-3 6-0 over Sloane.

Recent USO champ Sloane Stephens gets bagelled and is yet to win a set since the USO win. 2 match losing streak. Not a great look.

The loss opens up Pliskova's draw to the QF. No seed to face in the 3R, instead will either play McHale or Cirstea (Assuming she gets through Petkovic).
Also in her quarter, 6th seeded Konta lost so the only seeded player she could face en route to the SF would be 9th seed Ostapenko.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Wow, Strycova breaks again and is up a double break 4-1 on number 1 Muguruza.

 

[PDJ]

And another break. McHale wins 6-3 6-0 over Sloane.

Recent USO champ Sloane Stephens gets bagelled and is yet to win a set since the USO win. 2 match losing streak. Not a great look.

No pride.
Not just embarrassing for Stephens, but for the WTA in general.
Another crushing defeat. A good player with one great tournament. Not the heart of a true champion.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

And Strycova breaks for a 3rd time and wins the first set 6-1 over Muguruza... This isn't good.

 

[ScentOfDefeat]

Is there any doubt at this point that they can all beat each other on any given day?
And that it's as likely for Sloane Stephens to win the US Open as it would've been for - I don't know - anyone else in the top 50?

I'm actually getting used to the idea. I just wish it had happened to Lucie when she was in great form, but of course she had to peak when Serena was also peaking at RG.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Strycova breaks point to go up 2-0 in the 2nd.. Wow.

 

[PDJ]

Maybe it's easier to accept that the depth is decent but not really moved on (Venus reaching two slam finals is evidence enough) and that the players at the top are there because there aren't really top players as such any more.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Is there any doubt at this point that they can all beat each other on any given day?
And that it's as likely for Sloane Stephens to win the US Open as it would've been for - I don't know - anyone else in the top 50 to win it?

I'm actually getting used to the idea. I just wish it had happened to Lucie when she was in great form, but of course she had to peak when Serena was also peaking at RG.

Well anyone can beat anyone on any given day. Whether man or woman. It's just a matter of consistency. Is it that hard to win a title and then win the next one you play? Build a little bit of a win streak? The only time this year someone's won back to back titles was Svitolina where she won Taiwan and then Premier 5 Dubai. Only other sort of notable consistency was Muguruza winning Wimbledon and then Cincy a few weeks later. Or Pliskova winning Brisbane, making the Aus Open QF and then winning Doha.

And as I type this #1 Muguruza retires down 6-1 2-0... just no consistency.

 

[PDJ]

Muguruza retires.... Obviously.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Muguruza retires down 6-1 2-0... Bad loss and may cost her the #1 ranking. Pliskova/Halep need to reach the final to be #1 whilst Svitolina needs to win the title.