WTA week of 10/14; Ningbo 500 & Osaka 250

[spystud]

More Asian tennis!

Ningbo draw

Paolini/Qinwen (if she stays in)/Navarro/Krejcikova have R1 byes. Couple of Wangs get WCs.


Osaka draw

Magdalena Frech is top seed, faces Osorio out of the gate. Looks like Leylah has withdrawn, Bianca & Sofia receive WCs.

Play begins in a little over two hours in Japan, 4.5 in China.

 

[spystud]

4 & 1 for McCartney Kessler in Japan.

 

[spystud]

Sofia got demolished in the first, but 4-1 in the next now.

 

[spystud]

Sofia out. I swizzle swear.

 

[JJGUY]

Paolini and Navarro withdrew from Ningbo, Zheng might too, there was an interview that Zheng said she needs to check with physician and physio first.

 

[spystud]

Well, we knew these tourneys sucked, even more evidence.

 

[spystud]

Asian tennis embarrasses the sport.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Asian tennis embarrasses the sport.

It feels like it's been going on for 2 months but this is only the 3rd Chinese tournament after Beijing and Wuhan.

I think moving the Beijing 1000 to 2 weeks was a big mistake.

We've still got this week in Ningbo and Osaka,Japan.
Next week Tokyo, Japan and Guangzhou,China.
Following week Jianxi in China + randomly back to Mexico and then also Hong Kong. All 250's.

Then the WTA finals in the oh so lovely.... Saudi Arabia.

 

[JJGUY]

It was reported that last year WTA had the plan to reform the tournament structure and entry eligibility, one of them was top 30 players are not allowed to participate in WTA 250 or lower tournaments, it's set to start from 2024 season, but for some reason they shelved it, it might have something to do with the rumor that ATP and WTA are exploring a merge.

 

[spystud]

Badosa beat Shnaider in 3 in China.

 

[spystud]

Damn, Bianca got demolished by Minnen, 3 & 0 in an hour.

 

[spystud]

Looks like BHM withdrew from China too, replaced by some 19-year old from Germany.

 

[spystud]

Hell, Frech quit Japan as the top seed. Osorio is about to bounce to the LL.

 

[spystud]

Osaka's court is plain, plain, plain.

 

[spystud]

2 & 3 for the immortal Eva Lys over Osorio.

 

[spystud]

Dart beats Siegemund in 3 hours.

 

[spystud]

Bouzkova finally handles Uchijima in 3 long ones. Marie is crazy thin.

 

[spystud]

Avanesyan takes the opening breaker over Krueger. Match is not hard on the eyes.

 

[spystud]

Absolutely no one there though.

 

[spystud]

Elina A. wins.

I’m out.

 

[spystud]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1846064758363246817

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Priscilla Hon who only got in as an alternate due to the withdrawals and is ranked #225 is up 6-3 2-0 on #12 Kalinskaya.

That is.. something.

 

[Bill Lobsalot]

Priscilla Hon who only got in as an alternate due to the withdrawals and is ranked #225 is up 6-3 2-0 on #12 Kalinskaya.

That is.. something.

Looking good for Hon right now. She's got some game. Attractive player.

 

[tennis4me]

Watching a few minutes of Tomljanovic/Yuan match. Hmm, very underwhelming. Match mired in UEs.

 

[jaredk]

Not sure what’s up with Kalinskaya, she had a lot problems in the match, looked like at one point was going out of the tournament at early stage. Maybe hip issues? Saw a talking to the trainer and pointing at the spot. Her Asian swing is quite abysmal.

 

[spystud]

Ma beat You in China, won’t see that score box often.

 

[HarveyPitnik]

Dart beats Siegemund in 3 hours.

Laura's matches took forever 7 to 20 years ago because of her towel-trolling (and useless arguing) and now she just seems to win or go down only after very long matches!

Looking good for Hon right now. She's got some game. Attractive player.

I don't find her attractive but she is not to underestimate as a player. At times plays formidable tennis.

My favorite in Osaka: Avanesyan & wild pick to take the title: Tauson. Favorite in Ningbo is Badosa and even more wild pick for the title is Mirra Andreeva. (Despite the fact that her semifinal opponent probably will be very formidable player. )

 

[Aabye5]

Glad to see Bibi back

 

[spystud]

She wasn't back for long.

 

[spystud]

Rain in Japan.

 

[spystud]

Lys over Kessler in 3 tough ones.

Tauson handled Dart rather easily.

 

[spystud]

Muchova battles past Gadecki in straights.

 

[tx10is]

muchova with another behind the back shot at 6-5 lol although she ended up losing the point but won match

 

[tennis4me]

In a classic WTA match inside an empty stadium, Badosa managed to force play to 3rd set after losing 7-6(4) and winning a decisive 6-1 in 2nd set.

 

[spystud]

And 6-2 in the decider for Paula.

Mirra beat Korpatsch, 0 & 4.

 

[spystud]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1846717771079430227

 

[spystud]

Bouzkova finally decides to get on the board in the 8th game.

 

[spystud]

Bagel/breaker beats Bouzkova by Bogdan.

 

[spystud]

4 & 2 for Parry over Minnen.

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Christian lost in 1R Q in her qualies, get the bye spot in R16 due to late withdrawal lol. But doubt she will beat Muchova so no lucky point lol.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1846717771079430227

 

[spystud]

Elise quit down 1-4 in the decider to Birrell.

 

[spystud]

An 18-year old beat Avanesyan.

Katie bounced in straights.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

The Osaka 250 is turning into barely a 125k. This draw is hideous for a QF:

(LL) #118 Lys v (Q) #188 Ito
(Q) #150 Birrell v (WC) #179 Saito

(Q) #125 Lamens v (Q) #111 Bogdan
(7) #52 Parry v #63 Tauson

The only two top 100 players are facing off in the bottom QF. The rest is either qualifiers, a lucky loser or a wildcard.

 

[D-Lite]

I'm concerned about Krejcikova's participation in the YEC finals. I really hope she's able to pick up her form against the top players because she's done nothing outside of Wimbledon and the AO this year. At her best she's a fantastic players but her current form has me wishing the WTA didn't include major winners unless they finish top 12 in the race for instance. The fact she's in the top 20 still after 2 results this year just shows how low the bar is set for qualification.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

I'm concerned about Krejcikova's participation in the YEC finals. I really hope she's able to pick up her form against the top players because she's done nothing outside of Wimbledon and the AO this year. At her best she's a fantastic players but her current form has me wishing the WTA didn't include major winners unless they finish top 12 in the race for instance. The fact she's in the top 20 still after 2 results this year just shows how low the bar is set for qualification.

Wouldn't be the first time Krejcikova does poorly at the YEC.

Let's not forget in 2021 (her debut), despite being the #2 seed she went 0-3 in the RR stage with losses to Pliskova, Muguruza and Kontaveit..

 

[spystud]

Lamens/Bogdan playing 3.

 

[spystud]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1847113582842109973

 

[spystud]

Lamens is into the Osaka semis.

 

[ScottleeSV]

The Osaka 250 is turning into barely a 125k. This draw is hideous for a QF:

(LL) #118 Lys v (Q) #188 Ito
(Q) #150 Birrell v (WC) #179 Saito

(Q) #125 Lamens v (Q) #111 Bogdan
(7) #52 Parry v #63 Tauson

The only two top 100 players are facing off in the bottom QF. The rest is either qualifiers, a lucky loser or a wildcard.

It's one of those late in the season things. Higher ranked players cool off just a little bit. For players outside the top 100, the grind never stops.

One of Parry and Tauson will be disappointed, that's for sure. Only a quarter final out of that line-up.

 

[spystud]

Rain interrupts Ito a game away from victory.

DasKa v. Yulia underway in Ningbo.