WTA week of 6/14; Berlin 500 & Birmingham 250

Two very good draws.

It's very nice to see WTA tennis back in Berlin (after COVID delayed this by a year). When Wimbledon was finally pushed back a week from 2015, I was thinking that a WTA grass court event in Germany was essential.

The former Berlin clay court event clearly had problems before it was cancelled, but I still liked it a lot more than Madrid (where less face it's the women's tournament has often been treated as an 'inconvenience' in the past).
 
Interesting they downgraded Birmingham from a Premier/WTA500 to an International/250 and brought back Berlin for the first time in 13 years and replaced it as the WTA500.
 
Cant believe the odds had Andreescu as favourite and Cornet all the way out at $3.40.

Bianca has played just one Wimbledon back in 2017. Hadn't played on grass snce Wimbledon qualifying back in 2018. Literally 3 years without a match on grass.
 
Aussie Darcy said:
Think we can agree it'll likely be none of those ladies that win it judging by history.
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I honestly can't think of any obvious favourites. I think Barty and Halep are steady enough and have proven form on grass, but that's providing they're fully fit. Kvitova would be strides ahead if she was just a bit more consistent but that's no given either. Muguruza? Constantly loses early when favourite in some form. Any idea if Krejcikova is good on grass? I wouldn't put it past her given the mind set we saw at RG. Swiatek? I'd say she's showing good signs mentally and should have the game to settle in on grass. Also, this HAS to be Serena's best chance at getting 24. Based on her RG form I am no confidence in her winning it but QF to F with a good draw is possible on grass, undoubtedly.
 
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D-Lite said:
I honestly can't think of any obvious favourites. I think Barty and Halep are steady enough and have proven form on grass, but that's providing they're fully fit. Kvitova would be strides ahead if she was just a bit more consistent but that's no given either. Muguruza? Constantly loses early when favourite in some form. Any idea if Krejcikova is good on grass? I wouldn't put it past her given the mind set we saw at RG. Swiatek? I'd say she's showing good signs mentally and should have the game to settle in on grass. Also, this HAS to be Serena's best chance at getting 24. Based on her RG form I am no confidence in her winning it but QF to F with a good draw is possible on grass, undoubtedly.
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Agreed.

Halep is the defending champ from 2019 but we haven't seen her since she retired in Rome and it;'s up in the air.
Serena was the runner up in 2019 but lord knows how she'll go this time round since her form is horrible.
2019 SFist Strycova is now retired and other SFist Svitolina hasn't made a final since Strasbourg last year.
Osaka, Sabalenka have never gone past the 3R at Wimbledon.
Kenin meanwhile lost 4 consecutive matches going into the French Open.
Andreescu hasn't played a grass match since 2018.
 
Aussie Darcy said:
Agreed.

Halep is the defending champ from 2019 but we haven't seen her since she retired in Rome and it;'s up in the air.
Serena was the runner up in 2019 but lord knows how she'll go this time round since her form is horrible.
2019 SFist Strycova is now retired and other SFist Svitolina hasn't made a final since Strasbourg last year.
Osaka, Sabalenka have never gone past the 3R at Wimbledon.
Kenin meanwhile lost 4 consecutive matches going into the French Open.
Andreescu hasn't played a grass match since 2018.
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Andreescu lost in R1 to Cornet. Maybe if she can get some solid practice in before Wimbledon she could work her way into being decent on grass, but I think this could be a good opportunity for players like Azarenka, Pavlyuchenkova and others who have played plenty on grass over the years and are in decent form right now. I'd like to see what Gauff can do here also - a good draw and potentially she can beat her RG run and get a SF here?
 
Thursday’s Berlin OoP is fun.

Samsonova v. Kudermetova
Kerber v. Azarenka
Muguruza v. Rybakina
Pliskova v. Pegula
 
THUNDERVOLLEY said:
I would not be surprised if she did not make it out of the first week at Wimbledon. Despite her success there, she's one of those players that most do not think of first if the topic of "Wimbledon contender" comes up.
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I don’t think anybody would be surprised haha. But if she does make it.....look out
 
spystud said:
5-all in the 3rd of Bencic/Alexandrova.
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Yeah, close match. Some good shots by both.

Good camera angle too, you really get a sense of the speed of these shots.

Tie break time.

Alexandrova beating herself up over some UE, Bencic up two mini breaks, 3*-1

Bencic takes it on an UE by Alexandrova. Great play by both, impressive hitting.
 
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