WTA week of 6/17; Birmingham & Mallorca

[spystud]

Two pretty decent grass tourneys this week, a Premier in Birmingham & an International in Mallorca.


Birmingham draw

Naomi/Ash/Karolina/Elina are top 4. Hopefully the rain doesn’t cause too much havoc. Barty gets Vekic in R1 if Donna doesn’t withdraw.


Mallorca draw

Angie/Sevastova/Bencic/Mertens are top 4, but the big news is Maria is back against Kuzmova. Vika/Garcia would be another good matchup if Caroline stays in.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Mallorca's draw is pretty quality considering it's an International.

Could get 2004 Wimbledon champ Sharapova v 2016 Wimbledon champ Kerber in the 2R.

Azarenka v Garcia in the 1R is a beauty too. Winner of that gets Rosmalen champ Riske.

Bencic v Anisimova in the QF would be a great first matchup for the future.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Some nice other news, Wozniacki got married! My goodness she looked stunning as well.

It was nice to see some WTA players there, Kerber was there for the special day as was Serena.

 

[octobrina10]

Maria met the tournament director of the Mallorca Open:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1140349826091159553

 

[spystud]

Elina/Gasparyan playing 3 in Birmingham.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Ok this is an INSANE stat that I thought had to be wrong but it's not.

Most Grass Court Singles Titles at WTA Tour Events Leading Into Wimbledon (active players):

2: Garcia
2: Keys
2: Kvitova
2: Ka.Pliskova
2: Sharapova
2: Vandeweghe
2: Wozniacki

Remembering that Wimbledon isn't a "WTA" event.

I thought to myself, surely Venus has won at least 2 WTA grass events only to find out that she's won ZERO. She's never even made a final on grass outside of Wimbledon. Nine Wimbledon finals, 5 titles but no tour finals on grass. Serena is the same, has never won a tour title on grass and has never even made a grass final outside of Wimbledon/2012 Olympics.

 

[spystud]

Elina out.

 

[Harry_Wild]

Watching the Sabalenka and Hsieh match, it is 1-1 now!

 

[romeo8880]

Svitolina and Monfils both struggling now Bc they broke up

 

[jm1980]

Karolina and Kristyna Pliskova are one match away from playing each other. Will it finally happen?

 

[D-Lite]

Ok this is an INSANE stat that I thought had to be wrong but it's not.

Most Grass Court Singles Titles at WTA Tour Events Leading Into Wimbledon (active players):

2: Garcia
2: Keys
2: Kvitova
2: Ka.Pliskova
2: Sharapova
2: Vandeweghe
2: Wozniacki

Remembering that Wimbledon isn't a "WTA" event.

I thought to myself, surely Venus has won at least 2 WTA grass events only to find out that she's won ZERO. She's never even made a final on grass outside of Wimbledon. Nine Wimbledon finals, 5 titles but no tour finals on grass. Serena is the same, has never won a tour title on grass and has never even made a grass final outside of Wimbledon/2012 Olympics.

What happened to Vandeweghe?

 

[D-Lite]

Svitolina and Monfils both struggling now Bc they broke up

Well, truly amicable breakups are pretty rare, especially so early on in a relationship. Considering they went public I'm sure one of them, or both of them, may feel pretty crap about the whole thing.

 

[D-Lite]

Karolina and Kristyna Pliskova are one match away from playing each other. Will it finally happen?

I hope so! Can't recall ever seeing them play, especially in recent years. When I read your comment, I was like "yeah right, Kristyna will lose in R1", but she's playing Tomova, who I don't think I've ever heard of, so who knows? Both have won 3 qualifying matches to be here, so they should both be sharp. Karolina should trounce Buzarnescu on grass, but who knows - I recall her being tricky to many an opponent the past few years.

 

[Harry_Wild]

Sabalenka and Hsieh tiebreaker in 3rd! Hsieh got broken and then Hsieh broke Sabalenka to set up tiebreaker!

 

[Harry_Wild]

Hsieh up 5-1!

 

[Harry_Wild]

Hsieh wins 7-1 in tiebreaker!

 

[Harry_Wild]

Very interesting match between Sabalenka and Hsieh! Even the commentators were please about the match! There were entertained! LOL!

 

[D-Lite]

Very interesting match between Sabalenka and Hsieh! Even the commentators were please about the match! There were entertained! LOL!

The crafty Hsieh strikes again.

 

[D-Lite]

Heather Watson could really use a W at this event in Birmingham - how did she ever win 3 WTA singles titles? She's ranked 115 in singles, and frankly I think the LTA should stop giving wildcards to players like Watson who produce very little year in year out but benefit from a handful of wildcards during grass season. They can keep hoping she will hit a run of form at the right time and make R3 or R4 but at this stage in her career I don't think she will unless she somehow makes some big, beneficial changes to her game.

 

[Harry_Wild]

Heather Watson could really use a W at this event in Birmingham - how did she ever win 3 WTA singles titles? She's ranked 115 in singles, and frankly I think the LTA should stop giving wildcards to players like Watson who produce very little year in year out but benefit from a handful of wildcards during grass season. They can keep hoping she will hit a run of form at the right time and make R3 or R4 but at this stage in her career I don't think she will unless she somehow makes some big, beneficial changes to her game.

I think Watson game has gone down while all the competitors have up their play! Watson now makes silky unforced errors and has a problem serve too. I just do not watch her anymore! She try’s too hard now and it make it worse!

 

[Harry_Wild]

Watching Kontaveit and Konta! Look like a tough match for the players. 4-3 Konta and Kontaveit serving!

 

[D-Lite]

I think Watson game has gone down while all the competitors have up their play! Watson now makes silky unforced errors and has a problem serve too. I just do not watch her anymore! She try’s too hard now and it make it worse!

I think many of these British players would have retired by now if they didn't receive so many WCs into grass events. It was a real shame that Robson got injured - she beat Kvitova, Clijsters, Li and more - so much promise. I really hope she's over the injuries soon and can have a successful comeback in her mid-late 20s. Unlikely, but I really hope she gets her chance again. No idea where Boulter is - I know she got injured before the clay season but I don't know why she isn't back yet? Dart and Swan seem to be ready to make a move up the rankings soon, but there is no guarantee. A fair few more players lurking too but they took some convincing beatings this and last week.

 

[jm1980]

I hope so! Can't recall ever seeing them play, especially in recent years. When I read your comment, I was like "yeah right, Kristyna will lose in R1", but she's playing Tomova, who I don't think I've ever heard of, so who knows? Both have won 3 qualifying matches to be here, so they should both be sharp. Karolina should trounce Buzarnescu on grass, but who knows - I recall her being tricky to many an opponent the past few years.

They were slated to play in Prague last year but Karolina withdrew before it happened

They haven't played each other since 2012 (H2H is at 4-4)

 

[romeo8880]

LOL who’s this girl that mladenovic just lost to

 

[D-Lite]

Venus is currently on court in the doubles, partnering 22-year-old Brit Harriet Dart. They've just taken the first set 6-4 against Nadiia Kichenok and Abigail Spears.

 

[D-Lite]

Unfortunately Venus and Dart lost 10-7 in the match tie-breaker. Hopefully it was a good practice for Venus and she has a good run in the singles - fingers crossed!

 

[Harry_Wild]

Venus has had so many close third set close matches this year! Her ranking has fallen this year so far! Maybe she can get back in Wimbledon at least into the 16s!

 

[fundrazer]

I'm a bit grumpy about Garbs pulling out.

On the one hand she can't really do much worse at Wimby than she did last year... But playing a high seed in the third round without much matchplay on grass seems bad.

Belinda should be fun to watch though. Kinds crazy to think she won Eastbourne 4 years ago now. If in remembering correctly anyway.

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Was browsing the race to Singapore rankings and damn there's some interesting ones:

Obviously there's some stark differences such as:
Vondrousova #7 (real ranking #16)
Andreescu #10 (real ranking #24)
Anisimova #13 (real ranking #27)
Vekic #14 (real ranking #22)
Kudermetova #33 (real ranking #58)

But then you've got some big names who are nowhere near their ranking
Serena #39 (real ranking #11)
Gorges #46 (real ranking #19)
Wozniacki #53 (real ranking #14)
Zhang #75 (real ranking#49)
Kasatkina #81 (real ranking #29!)
Potapova #102 (real ranking #71)
Buzarnescu #103 (real ranking #46)
Ostapenko #104 (real ranking #37)
Giorgi #173 (real ranking #40!)
Cibulkova #190 (real ranking #39!!!)
Gavrilova #191 (real ranking #78)

Those last 5 players are doing real bad.

 

[D-Lite]

Kristyna Pliskova won her 1st round match earlier, guaranteeing a 2nd round tie against her twin.
Ostapenko demolishes qualifier Swiatek 0 and 2 in Birmingham - a much needed win if anyone ever needed one.
Garcia has just edged out Azarenka 7-5 in the 3rd. Sooner or later Vika is surely going to get over the line first in more of these contests - she's had a fair few tight matches go against her lately. Not a bad showing considering Garcia won Nottingham last week. I bet Garcia is glad she's decided to play Mallorca this week - some guaranteed sunshine.
Osaka is into the final set against Sakkari, currently 1 apiece.

 

[Harry_Wild]

Osaka needs to be more consistent and reduce the unforced errors!

 

[helixx]

Maria back on courts

 

[Harry_Wild]

Osaka did what I said now it is 5-2 Osaka in the third with Sakkari serving to stay in the match.

 

[helixx]

i missed her outfits

 

[D-Lite]

Osaka did what I said now it is 5-2 Osaka in the third with Sakkari serving to stay in the match.

Winner gets Putintseva in R2 - she's just dealt with Dart 1 and 4.

 

[Harry_Wild]

Osaka did it, 6-3! On to the next round!

 

[PDJ]

What's not to love: intelligent player beats powerbot.
And a lovely moment at the end (post cold handshake). Clearly a popular player at Edgbaston.

 

[Paulreedsmith]

Yes! Break back! Doper back at the highest level... of screaming.

 

[helixx]

Looks like Masha geined some weight

 

[helixx]

peak serving..3 dfs in a game

 

[romeo8880]

Third set for riske against a scrub

 

[helixx]

Yes! Break back! Doper back at the highest level... of screaming.

 

[romeo8880]

Riske loses to the amateur middle school caliber player. Americans these days are the most pathetic players in the world in tennis

 

[D-Lite]

Riske loses to the amateur middle school caliber player. Americans these days are the most pathetic players in the world in tennis

She played a lot last week in 's-Hertogenbosch, but yeah, it just shows how pathetic it was that Kiki lost to her at the weekend. WTA is a mad place.

 

[I Am Finnish]

Tomorrow The Pliskova twins against each other

 

[ScentOfDefeat]

The difference between this Azarenka and the Azarenka of old is that while the latter usually won these tough matches, the former always seems to lose, no matter how flattering the score is. She'll never be back at the top of the game if the opponents she used to beat in semis and finals keep beating her in first and second rounds. Unfortunately, I just can't see a way back for her.

 

[I Am Finnish]

Good comeback from masha

 

[jm1980]

Karolina and Kristyna Pliskova are one match away from playing each other. Will it finally happen?

 

[spystud]

Play officially canceled for today in Birmingham.

 

[time_fly]

Kerber looks done in Mallorca. She just can't consistently generate offense. Bonaventure has a lot of short middle balls to step into and put her considerable weight behind.