WTA week of 6/19; Eastbourne 500 & Bad Homburg 250

[spystud]

These both start on Sunday. Always fun to see see how many retirements/withdrawals we'll get.

Eastbourne draw

Top 16 get byes. Golubic v. Kostyuk & Boulter v. Martincova are decent R1 matches.


Bad Homburg draw

Some pretty big names here. Sloane/Bianca/Simona/Angie all bouncing around.

 

[spystud]

Simona will withdraw, she may have two on Sunday in Birmingham. That's some strange scheduling on her part in the first place, instead of staying in one country.

 

[coolcamden]

Who’s Katie Swan playing Sloan right now? She’s a cutie.

 

[spystud]

Kudermetova withdrew & Juvan retired from Homburg.

 

[spystud]

Katie sends Sloane to London.

 

[spystud]

Announcer said that’s Sloane’s seventh R1 loss this season, ouch.

 

[coolcamden]

She’s 29 already. Wow. Time flies. Seeing how these players progressed in age remind me of how old I am. Lol

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

OJ vs BHM for Eastbourne!

 

[spystud]

Obviously Zhang retired from Eastbourne, Osorio v. Tsurenko is up.

 

[spystud]

@nounforcederrors, you ever actually watch WTA anymore? Or did the mods tell you you’re not allowed? You used to post.

 

[spystud]

So embarrassing when we have the double LL in R1, Watson v. Marino. Both suck, but at least they’ll show up.

 

[spystud]

What are the odds Serena/Jabeur doubles actually happens tomorrow? 5%?

 

[nounforcederrors]

@nounforcederrors, you ever actually watch WTA anymore? Or did the mods tell you you’re not allowed? You used to post.

Ha, ha, I never thought I'd be missed. I enjoy WTA matches very much - the rising newbies, the journeywomen, the glitterati, everyone who holds a racquet.
Thank you for your weekly threads, keeping the WTA interest fueled.

 

[spystud]

Then post. Your mod brothers aren’t the example.

 

[nounforcederrors]

I was sad to read that Flippy is ending her singles career with this tournament. She's been original, and an asset to Belgium and women's tennis. Hope we'll still see her play doubles for a few years to come.
My heart's with SST in Eastbourne but like many other players before a GS, she's knackered.
It's so hard to predict winners in matches the last month or so. Instead of people playing "like themselves," showing their usual merits and flaws, what I seem to be seeing is "the least exhausted/injured" wins.

 

[Larry Duff]

Swan and Stevens in doubles together.

 

[tennis4me]

The Chan sisters seem to have split for quite some time. I wonder whether it was just because the older sister’s rank (Latisha’s) dropped too low for them to enter tournaments together. Latisha had to take some time off due to her supposedly random dizziness.

 

[nounforcederrors]

The Chan sisters seem to have split for quite some time. I wonder whether it was just because the older sister’s rank (Latisha’s) dropped too low for them to enter tournaments together. Latisha had to take some time off due to her supposedly random dizziness.

Didn't the Chans originally split because Martina Hingis wanted Latisha to join her in doubles?

 

[tennis4me]

Didn't the Chans originally split because Martina Hingis wanted Latisha to join her in doubles?

Yes, but then they played together for quite some time after Hingis retired. Anyways, I think it’s refreshing to see some of these new pairings. My impression is that the H.C. Chan was the weaker of the pair.

The same goes for the split of Shibahara from Aoyama. While still a good player, Aoyama seems to be the weaker link partly because of her height. And now we’re seeing some interesting pairing of Shibahara with Krejčíková - though likely to be temporary due to Kudermetova injury.

 

[ttwreader]

Riske and Linette put on a battle in the 2R of EastBourne. Linette finally pulls off in the 3rd set's tiebreak.

 

[flyingboris]

WTA in action: Mugu was up 6-1 2-1 vs Frech. Now serving to stay in the second set at 4-5.

Edit: op 5-1 in the second set tiebreak, can she finish this?

The answer is.. yes, barely. 6-1 7-6(6). Her reaction when winning was interesting. Kind of angrily shook her head, and tapped her head. I guess she knows it's all mental.

 

[nounforcederrors]

What are the odds Serena/Jabeur doubles actually happens tomorrow? 5%?

Looking fragile. Serena canceled her practice session set up for today. Ons withdrew from singles, being replaced by LL V. Tomova.
But the Williams/Jabeur vs. Bouzkova/SST match is still on the schedule for tomorrow.

 

[ktx]

And now we’re seeing some interesting pairing of Shibahara with Krejčíková - though likely to be temporary due to Kudermetova injury.

Is Krejčíková done partnering with Siniakova? Or maybe just a temporary break due to BK's injury.

 

[spystud]

BK serving @ 6-4, 3-4 against Kostyuk.

 

[spystud]

Playing 3, will finish tomorrow though.

 

[ktx]

I am a latecomer to the Kostyuk club. I think her outspokenness is pretty refreshing.

 

[slipgrip93]

Kostyuk playing nice and powerful on the grass, just needs more consistency maybe. Still young and hope she has potential to be among the top new gen wta someday.

 

[tennis4me]

Is Krejčíková done partnering with Siniakova? Or maybe just a temporary break due to BK's injury.

My guess is just temporary. I think their synergy is still pretty good. But, ... who knows ... if she finds better fit with Shibahara, maybe she'll switch. I'm hoping to be able to watch a match or two of this new pairing.

 

[flyingboris]

Kostyuk playing nice and powerful on the grass, just needs more consistency maybe. Still young and hope she has potential to be among the top new gen wta someday.

Lots of promise, not so much progress. She was already amazing three years ago as a 16-year old, super explosive footwork, great strokes, but somehow she is not developing the consistency and discipline to win match after match.

 

[NaomiKonjuhPotapova]

Lots of promise, not so much progress. She was already amazing three years ago as a 16-year old, super explosive footwork, great strokes, but somehow she is not developing the consistency and discipline to win match after match.

she's losing the plot but yeah her candidness on twitter is fun.

 

[spystud]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1539148616131936256

 

[spystud]

Belinda’s spot is the one Korpatsch is in.

 

[spystud]

Anisimova v. AVU on TC now.

 

[slipgrip93]

After 5 break chances 4-4 in the 3rd, Kostyuk finally breaks for 5-4, serving next for the match. Krejcikova seems steady enough on her service game, but maybe still recovering from injury.

 

[slipgrip93]

Kostyuk wins 6-4 on a lob!
4-6, 6-4, 6-4, continued from yesterday. Kostyuk advances to round of 16, Eastborne.

 

[UnderratedSlam]

Pliskova serves 4 DFs in the early 3rd set vs Boulter in one game only.

The Brit goes up 2-0 but as per usual things go back to even...

This match is total chaos but interesting.

 

[UnderratedSlam]

Boulter up 4-2 in the 3rd set but it's bound to go 4-4...

 

[D-Lite]

Ostapenko vs Tomljanovic in Eastbourne. I think this is their first encounter since their dramatic match/confrontation at last year's Wimbledon.

 

[ttwreader]

Penko beat Tomljanovic. On court speech is not too bad

 

[ktx]

Finally tennis channel can rejoice, Serena is back. They were reminding me about this match every 7 minutes.

 

[fundrazer]

Ostapenko vs Tomljanovic in Eastbourne. I think this is their first encounter since their dramatic match/confrontation at last year's Wimbledon.

Man I totally forgot about this. Said she was faking injury for MTO right?

Fun stuff.

 

[marc45]

Serena looks huge

there's something on her face too?

 

[Pass750]

Looks like Mike Tyson is playing doubles with Jabuer today.

 

[Grizzy]

Serena is out there playing in slow motion right now.

 

[ttwreader]

Every tool of Serena's needs to be recalibrated. Work on fitness, losing weight,... if she seriously wants to be back.

 

[ktx]

Serena has some bandages on her face. I wonder if that's why she missed practice yesterday. I don't think she and Ons practiced at all actually. She is not looking very good movement-wise or at the net, but I am also surprised at how not great at doubles Ons is...she has such good hands.

 

[Pass750]

Every tool of Serena's needs to be recalibrated. Work on fitness, losing weight,... if she seriously wants to be back.

How in the world is she going to play Wimbledon in such poor fitness.

 

[Mr.Lob]

Serena misses easy volley. Boo

 

[Pass750]

Tormo serve is terrible.

 

[Mr.Lob]

Doubles play pitiful from both sides.