WTA week of 1/10; Sydney 500 & Adelaide 250

[slipgrip93]

oh wow, Badosa such good form this time and slugging it out with Kasatkina, with a more consistent backhand. Gets it done too on some net volleys. I hope she maintains this form for the AO..

 

[D-Lite]

That was a hard fought SF from Krejcikova and Kontaveit. Certainly the kind of match to get them both battle ready and dialed in for the AO. This AO field on the WTA side looks so open, even picking a top 10 of favourites for the title would leave you questioning if any one of them will actually win it.

 

[flyingboris]

and just like that, Riske is into the final, play the winner of Gauff vs Maddy.

We are getting a Riske-Keys final? What year is this again?

 

[Harry_Wild]

After 3 year in dormancy, the old top 20 Key’s is back!

 

[ScottleeSV]

Badosa the one to bet on in the Sydney final?

 

[coolcamden]

Badosa the one to bet on in the Sydney final?

Only because she had a much easier SF than Krejcikova.

 

[fundrazer]

Only because she had a much easier SF than Krejcikova.

And hasn't dropped a set to her in their two meetings. I will be rolling with Badosa myself.

Too bad I forgot about her last night. Rinderknech and Badosa were the two picks I felt strongest about, and then I only made the Rinderknech one. Whoops!

 

[fundrazer]

Riske and Keys underway. Maddy held pretty comfortably to start. Expecting a beatdown, but Keys could end up spraying.

Waiting on this Badosa match to start. I think everybody and their grandmother is on Badosa tonight, so we'll see how that goes.

 

[spystud]

If Keys could end this in like an hour, that would be cool.

 

[fundrazer]

Ditto for Badosa. This one looking like it should finish fairly quick though. Most rallies over in like 3-5 shots.

 

[spystud]

Well, we don’t get Badosa in America until this one’s over.

 

[fundrazer]

I'm using a free stream. They're finishing warm up now. Little SAP graphic says Badosa with a 62% chance to win.

 

[fundrazer]

Badosa breaks to start. Vamos!

 

[fundrazer]

Krejcikova is really erratic with her groundstrokes sometimes. I mean I guess you can say the same for most girls, but for some reason to me it seems like she has more than enough time on some balls and her shots just end up flailing all over the place.

 

[volleyandfun]

Krejcikova is really erratic with her groundstrokes sometimes. I mean I guess you can say the same for most girls, but for some reason to me it seems like she has more than enough time on some balls and her shots just end up flailing all over the place.

At the beginning of each match, Krejcikova looks like she almost doesn't want to be there.
I remember her playing Iga @ Miami last year and in the 1st set she didn't even want to run to the ball.

 

[fundrazer]

Bad game to give the break back. Two first serve aces, lost rest of points on 2nd serves including a double.

 

[volleyandfun]

Badosa is 2 levels down from yesterday

 

[fundrazer]

Really good response from Badosa though. Big serves when she needed them. Dunno if she can rely on it all match though, she's getting killed on 2nd serves.

 

[Nate7-5]

Im telling you - theres nothing like the thrill of watching a huge sporting event at 3am. Even these opening tournaments get me jacked for some tennis.

 

[fundrazer]

Back in front again, 4-3 with the break. Some big forehands that Krej could not handle.

 

[Mark-Touch]

I'm in favor of Badosa.

 

[fundrazer]

Another solid hold. Krejcikova connected with some great forehands, but Badosa responds with big serves again.

 

[fundrazer]

Breaks at love for the set. Vamos!

So back to my comment earlier too. I think it's that Krejcikova has those loopy strokes but goes for really small targets. Like she's often cutting it very close on the lines, compared to someone like Badosa who can hit to bigger targets in the court but has so much pace and topspin that it still does damage. Think that's highlighted in this particular matchup with how lopsided it is. Krejcikova maybe doesn't quite have the time she needs to hit her targets with how Badosa plays.

 

[spystud]

1 & 2 for Madison, easy day.

 

[fundrazer]

Aaand broken at love to start the 2nd. Makes sense.

 

[fundrazer]

Badosa was in danger again down 0-30, but more big serves get her out of trouble. Still down the 1 break, but she's gotten into most Krejcikova service games, including deuce in the previous one this set. Krej ended up clipping quite a few lines with forehand winners though.

 

[Nate7-5]

1 & 2 for Madison, easy day.

Looks better than expected

 

[fundrazer]

Well Badosa finds a good patch of form again and Krejcikova donates a forehand error on the 2nd break chance. Back on serve. Hopefully Badosa consolidates the break back and gets to 4-3.

 

[fundrazer]

Krej fighting in that game, but again Badosa has the big serves under pressure. 4-3 with Krejcikova to serve now.

 

[romeo8880]

Badosa must be so mentally drained from the amount of choking she’s done in her career

 

[volleyandfun]

Third set? knock knock

 

[volleyandfun]

Quck poll, who'll win?

me: Krejcikova

 

[fundrazer]

Starting to lean Krej as well. Badosa needs to up her first serve %, she also needs to do more from the baseline. Giving a few too many weak rally balls that are getting punished.

 

[romeo8880]

Badosa needed that early break Bc we all know she collapses when things get tight

 

[romeo8880]

Donates it right back. Her poor psychologist

 

[slipgrip93]

Badosa's first serve and forehand inconsistency letting her down. She needs to get back to her form she was in her prior match.

 

[spystud]

Breaker for the $.

 

[D-Lite]

Quck poll, who'll win?

me: Krejcikova

After last season, and even against Kontaveit, Krejcikova often seems to be a tough cookie to crack under pressure. Let's see how the final set breaker goes...

 

[fundrazer]

Please just bomb first serves now Badosa.

 

[spystud]

BK needs to holler at her sponsor rep about this kit. No bueno.

 

[fundrazer]

5-2, it's on Badosa's racquet. Stream is behind though

 

[fundrazer]

3 match points for Badosa now. She had to have used all her extra lives against Kontaveit.

 

[spystud]

Paula is the big winner. Easy match, never a doubt.

 

[romeo8880]

Highly entertaining match

 

[fundrazer]

Paula is the big winner. Easy match, never a doubt.

I had some doubts. But I also thought back to that final with Azarenka and how clutch she was.

Good stuff to stay composed after giving up the break.

 

[Larry Duff]

Good stuff, nice win

 

[ScottleeSV]

That was a great match. Both of these could win the Aussie Open IMO. Wouldn't be a surprise in either case.

 

[romeo8880]

That was a great match. Both of these could win the Aussie Open IMO. Wouldn't be a surprise in either case.

Wide open. With Barty being the favorite of course

 

[volleyandfun]

They can meet in quarters for a rematch

 

[slipgrip93]

Congrats Badosa! She had a grueling tournament. I felt she was gassed out this match but she still found a way to win. A good clutch match of both with Krejicova.