WTA week of 3/31; Charleston 500 & Bogota 250

[spystud]

Back on the gray/green stuff, one of the weirdest tourneys of the year for TV.

Charleston draw

48-player field, top 16 byes. JPeg/Keys/Qinwen/Navarro lead the way.


Bogota draw

Red clay here, but not much else to say. Bouzkova & Osorio are top two.


Play begins Monday morning for both.

 

[spystud]

Bucsa has an 11am match in Columbia tomorrow morning. Tough schedule.

Tuesday morning.

 

[Connor35]

Back on the gray/green stuff, one of the weirdest tourneys of the year for TV.

Given we all play on the gray/green stuff here in Florida, it's a fun tournament for me -- watching tennis on the surface I play on 95% of the time.

 

[ScottleeSV]

Yay it's the clay, also known as British hibernation season. Go on Harriet, start us off as we mean to go on.

 

[spystud]

I swear it used to be more green than it is these days.

Dart lost in 3.

McNally beat Kalinina.

Polina Kudermetova continues her decent season.

 

[spystud]

And right as I type that, this side court looks rather green.

Ajla has never won a title, that's crazy.

 

[spystud]

Not real sure who Okamura is, but she took the first over Ajla.

 

[ScottleeSV]

Dart predictably goes.

In my head the court was grey from years past. I am a bit colour blind though.

 

[spystud]

But the penguin responds with a breadstick to force 3.

 

[Purestriker]

And right as I type that, this side court looks rather green.

Ajla has never won a title, that's crazy.

Sort of a grayish green. But definitely green.

 

[spystud]

Penguin wins. Ol’ girl Okamura didn’t have much after the first.

 

[spystud]

Ouch, Katherine Sebov ate a double bagel from Volynets earlier.

Sofia v. Pera now.

 

[ScottleeSV]

I see Bencic has pulled out. That's a pity.

 

[spystud]

Rain screwing both tourneys today.

 

[spystud]

 

[spystud]

Those are some interesting doubles pairings in that OoP. BMS & Lucie back together, Shnaider/Stearns, Kichenok sisters playing each other.

 

[tennis4me]

The Kichenok twin sisters are playing doubles against each other.

 

[spystud]

Did you just skip the prior post?

 

[ScottleeSV]

Genuinely shocked that Watson and Shymanovich carry enough clout to earn themselves a better court than the two American players starting at the same time.

 

[tennis4me]

Did you just skip the prior post?

Sorry, missed that. Possibly was editing while you posted.

 

[Connor35]

Those are some interesting doubles pairings in that OoP. BMS & Lucie back together, Shnaider/Stearns, Kichenok sisters playing each other.

Penko and Erin is definitely interesting.
IDK if Gabi is just taking the week off or what.

 

[spystud]

3 & 2 for Sakkari over Stakusic.

 

[spystud]

Kenin v. Pera back underway, Pera serving at 2-5.

 

[spystud]

Little Lauren Davis rose from the ashes to get a win.

 

[spystud]

3 & 4 for Sofia.

 

[Purestriker]

Little Lauren Davis rose from the ashes to get a win.

Been a while since she got a W.

 

[ScottleeSV]

If Watson runs fast enough she might be able to get the same plane home as Dart.

Looks like I was wrong about Bencic. Looks like they took her off one tie and moved the matches around somehow.

 

[spystud]

^ Frech was the 12-seed, she withdrew, Belinda moved into the final bye slot.

 

[spystud]

Keys in straights over Dolehide.

 

[Bill Lobsalot]

Collins in Danimal mode.

 

[spystud]

Yep, 3 & 1, easy day.

 

[spystud]

Amanda v. Kudermetova the Elder now.

 

[spystud]

First to AA at 2.

 

[spystud]

2 & 2, that's a wrap for Tuesday.

An American won every match they were involved in.

 

[tennis24x7]

Given we all play on the gray/green stuff here in Florida, it's a fun tournament for me -- watching tennis on the surface I play on 95% of the time.

Since you play on it, why don't they change to red clay. I have only played a little on green clay. Is it similar to red or completely different?

 

[Connor35]

Since you play on it, why don't they change to red clay. I have only played a little on green clay. Is it similar to red or completely different?

It's between hard court and red clay. It's way less powdery and not nearly as messy as red clay -- e.g. it doesn't ruin socks after one match the same way red clay does.

There are tons of green clay (Hartru) clubs in the US Southeast. Theyre all over Florida. They're especially good for Florida where we can get 10 minute rain showers that would make hard courts unplayable, but water drains right through the green clay.

Also it's mined nearby (all green clay is mined in Virginia) and is cheaper to maintain than red clay.

There is a proprietary mix of sizes of the grind that makes it pretty consistent.

 

[tennis4me]

Kasat's first tournament with new flag, double-breadsticked Davis in just over an hour.

 

[spystud]

Navarro v. Baptiste now.

 

[spystud]

Monster lineup in Bogota.

Spoiler

https://twitter.com/x/status/1907470583169978430

 

[spystud]

First to Emma at 4.

 

[ScottleeSV]

Francesca Jones out of Colombia after collapsing on court against Riera. Thankfully she's alright.

 

[spystud]

Shnaider turns 21 today, they gave her a drink at the TC desk.

 

[spystud]

5-2, handshake time.

 

[spystud]

4 & 3, easy enough.

 

[spystud]

JPeg v. Shymanovich over Sofia v. Belinda, that's no fun.

 

[spystud]

The two Americans are up a combined 9-0 currently.

 

[spystud]

Sofia serves Belinda a bagel, ouch.

 

[spystud]

JPeg follows suit.

 

[spystud]

0 & 3 for Jess.

 

[spystud]

And Sofia follows shortly with the exact scoreline.