WTA week of 7/29; San Jose (Premier) & Washington DC

[insideguy]

I can't imagine that she serving that way because of an injury. So I suspect that she does always serve that way.

Huh, I have watched her before I guess I don't remember that.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Huh, I have watched her before I guess I don't remember that.

I've never watched her play before. My original comment about her serve came while watching her warm it up

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Unless I missed one, MB has only won two points in her three service games. And both of those might have been errors by Amanda

AA serving ar 5-1 to close out the set

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

At least Madison is returning better than she is serving. She just broke back again

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Amanda breaks again to take the set, 6 2. Madison only won four points on her own serve. Two or three of those might have been errors from Amanda

 

[spystud]

Pretty serious injury/illness.

Madison Brengle is a professional women’s tennis player, one of the 100 best in the world.

Madison Brengle also can’t pick up a cup of coffee with her right hand without immense pain.

Those two sentences sound totally incongruous: How could a top athlete in the prime of her life be able to compete and win, yet struggle with her morning Starbucks latte?

But it’s the reality the Dover native faces every day. When she wakes up in the morning, Brengle has no idea if the pain disease she suffers from will be debilitating, or merely painful but tolerable.

“Every day my life is a coin toss with how I might feel,” the 28-year-old said Sunday night here in New York, as she prepares to try to qualify for the U.S. Open. “Literally, I have no idea what’s going to be when I wake up.”

And with all that’s happened to her over the past two years, Brengle could easily be forgiven for being depressed and unable to crack a smile.

Instead, she’s become the queen of gallows humor when it comes to the medical condition that has taken a once-promising women’s tennis career and made every match a struggle.

“Look, as long as I play a match and by the end of it my hand doesn’t fly off my body like the hand from ‘The Addams Family,’ I’m happy,” Brengle said with a laugh.

“If I survive,” she added, “I call it a win.”

The “this” to which Brengle refers is her battle with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome induced by venipuncture, a debilitating condition Brengle was diagnosed with in 2016 that causes major swelling and pain in her hands and feet.

Her right hand, specifically, has never fully recovered from three mandatory blood drug tests she was subjected to from 2014-16, before Grand Slam events, in which needles were inserted into her right arm as per usual International Tennis Federation protocol. The tests were done despite Brengle repeatedly telling testers of her hereditary vein issues.

As Brengle’s ability to play at full strength diminished, her strong results have fallen off a bit. For the first time in four years she will need to play the qualifying draw here, needing to win three matches to make the main draw.

Brengle was ranked as high as No. 35 in the world in 2015.

In April she sued the ITF, the Women’s Tennis Association and the ITF’s drug-testing agency for damages of $10 million, claiming “prolonged mistreatment at the hands of the giants in women’s professional tennis.”

On Sunday, Brengle said she had tried to stay out of the details of the case as it moves forward. But, on Monday, Brengle’s lawyer, Peter R. Ginsberg, said the WTA portion of the case had been moved to arbitration, which can lead to a quicker result.

Ginsberg said that the ITF part of the case was still in the federal court system and was moving through “at a normal pace,” with no resolution expected anytime soon.

Whatever the outcome of the lawsuit, Brengle’s career and life have forever been changed. Currently ranked No. 105 on the WTA Tour, she now does hours of daily physical therapy to try to keep strength in her hands and feet

On the tennis court, her right wrist is taped so tightly because it hurts to raise her hand up, and she’s greatly curtailed her doubles play because hitting volleys is too painful.

“From the minute I wake up there’s burning in the hand, it’s just a matter of how bad it is on a particular day,” Brengle said. “Some days I can barely get my hands around a racket, but I still try to practice.”

One of Brengle’s coaches, Pat Harrison, said given the amount of constant pain Brengle is in, she’s done a terrific job of compartmentalizing and focusing on her tennis.

“She’s still got a top-caliber backhand and she still has a great service return, and she’s always fighting no matter how she’s feeling,” Harrison said. “With tournaments in the past year, her health has obviously been the major factor, and she’s gotten some tough draws.”

Brengle’s 2018 season has seen some highs and lows. Despite suffering three torn ligaments in her left ankle at a grass-court Wimbledon warmup in June, she recovered to win her first-round match at the All England Club.

“This is going to sound weird, but it was so nice to have a ‘normal’ tennis injury,” Brengle said with a laugh. “Like, oh, this will hurt for a while, then get better. That’s a nice break from what I normally go through.”

The obvious question to Brengle, given how much pain she endures, is why do it? She’s 28, has earned more than $2.3 million in her career, and could do other things in her life that won’t be quite as excruciating.

Why not just walk away from the sport and do something else? Her answer is revealing.

“Because this is something that was done to me, I want to walk away on my terms,” Brengle said, suddenly turning serious. “I want to retire because I decided to retire, not because of the pain that has been caused to me. I’ve been playing tennis since I was 2, and I’m very emotionally invested in the sport, obviously.

“Besides, I still enjoy playing. It hurts a lot, but I get to travel and play the sport I love. Right now, I’m not ready to give in.”

 

[PeteD]

Ouch! Dumped overhead by Amandy

 

[Harry_Wild]

Amanda just got broken! Her coach should kept quiet about it until the match is done.

 

[spystud]

Believe they just said Brengle has dropped all 7 service games now.

 

[spystud]

11 points won on serve in the entire match for MB.

 

[James P]

2&2

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Believe they just said Brengle has dropped all 7 service games now.

Madison ended up losing all 8 of her service games.
She did break Amanda twice in each set.

Has Madison always served that way during her career (13+ years)? Not referring to the abbreviated aspect of her takeback. But I noticed that her elbow never appears to flex completely (to a 90 degree angle). Almost no racket drop... pretty much a classic WTE. No rotation of the racket face... no supination and minimal ESR. Consqently, no forearm pronation and only moderate ISR.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Anyone having any success reaching Scoreboard.com?

http://scoreboard.com/tennis

EDIT: Never mind. Appears to be back on line in my area.

 

[spystud]

She literally can’t lift her arm sometimes.

Whatever the outcome of the lawsuit, Brengle’s career and life have forever been changed. Currently ranked No. 105 on the WTA Tour, she now does hours of daily physical therapy to try to keep strength in her hands and feet

On the tennis court, her right wrist is taped so tightly because it hurts to raise her hand up, and she’s greatly curtailed her doubles play because hitting volleys is too painful.

“From the minute I wake up there’s burning in the hand, it’s just a matter of how bad it is on a particular day,” Brengle said. “Some days I can barely get my hands around a racket, but I still try to practice.”

 

[spystud]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1157091213272469505

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

She literally can’t lift her arm sometimes.

It's a shame that she has these issues. Hope she get's some decent compensation from ITF/WTA.

Found a video of her from early 2015. Abbreviated motion but much better trophy and drop than we saw today.

 

[insideguy]

Why do these women need to wear the exact same outfit. Doesn't nike have different ones?

 

[spystud]

My forever biggest pet peeve. Nike & Adidas should make two colors of every kit, it ain’t like they’re broke.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Why do these women need to wear the exact same outfit. Doesn't nike have different ones?

Noticed the same thing at RG

 

[spystud]

It’s all year, every year. Go back to the Dani/Ana/Maria K. matches, & they’re all retired. So ridiculous.

Unless you’re Serena, Maria, or Caro, don’t think anyone else has an exclusive deal with the big two brands anymore.

 

[Harry_Wild]

Donna. Vekic turn out to be a top touring player! She is ranked 25 currently! Probably after San Jose, close to top 20!

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Donna. Vekic turn out to be a top touring player! She is ranked 25 currently! Probably after San Jose, close to top 20!

DV is losing 80 points from last year so the live ranking actually has her at 27 right now. Carla SN is moving up four slots to #25. DV can regain the slot at 25 if she wins her QF match and CSN loses in the QF

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Diyas 6-4 6-2

Tracy Austin says this will lower expectations for Gauff, in a good way

Vickery, Gauff, Stephens, Kiick, Rogers all went down in WTA Washington today!

Coco Gauff still playing in DC with doubles partner, Caty McNally (also from the US). They are in the SFs this afternoon. Also in the doubles SFs, playing earlier, is Fanny Stollar (Hungarian QT) with Maria Sanchez (another US player).

 

[Aussie Darcy]

Not related to this weeks tournaments but next weeks.

Kvitová has withdrawn wirh a forearm injury (I swear that woman has the worst luck).

On the positive side, the withdrawal means Venus gets into the main draw directly and doesn’t need the wildcard she had been given. That wildcard now goes to Kuznetsova instead! Also, Serena gets bumped to a top 8 seed.

 

[Harry_Wild]

She literally can’t lift her arm sometimes.

What happen to her arm?

 

[Enceladus]

Cori Gauff met former First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama in Washington:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1157036178060861452

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1157033176587522048

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1157286195585519616

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Coco Gauff still playing in DC with doubles partner, Caty McNally (also from the US). They are in the SFs this afternoon. Also in the doubles SFs, playing earlier, is Fanny Stollar (Hungarian QT) with Maria Sanchez (another US player).

Stollar and Sanchez have started off their SF doubles rather dominant. Lead 4-1.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Stollar/Sanchez now up vs the Chinese pair, Wang & Yang, 5-2

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Fanny holds serve easily to close out the set, 6-3

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Beautiful drop volley from Maria Sanchez. Fanny holds serve for 1-1 in 2nd set. Then they break to love with a sweet angled poach from Fanny to go up 2 serving 1

 

[Harry_Wild]

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

In QF singles, Lauren Davis dropped her first set, 2-6, to Jessica Pegula. But holds serve at start of second set

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Surprised that Let It Be is allowed to stream these matches from DC and SJ. But no replays. LIB has indicated that they are only allowed to stream WTA matches, not ATP matches.

Lauren doing fine with her first serves but is getting beaten up on her second serve. Disadvantage of being so short. Still, two holes from her the second set

Fanny and Maria close out there SF doubles match, 6-3 6-3

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Very kewl. Lauren is now up 4-1 in 2nd set. Now doing better on her 2nd serves... even better than her first serves now

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Coco Gauff still playing in DC with doubles partner, Caty McNally (also from the US). They are in the SFs this afternoon. Also in the doubles SFs, playing earlier, is Fanny Stollar (Hungarian QT) with Maria Sanchez (another US player).

Gauff and McNally due to start their SF doubles match in about 3 hours.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

What happen to her arm?

Complications due to ITF doping-test injections, it seems. Check out extended quotes in posts #164 and #156.

 

[tennis4me]

How the heck does the 5'2" Lauren hit such a heavy ball with so much space? I guess with perfect timing and technique. Probably that Chang-size legs/thighs help with leverage.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Lauren's 1st serve % dropped off. Barely better than 50% right now. Got broken back at some point in this set. Score now even at 4-4

 

[Harry_Wild]

Surprised that Let It Be is allowed to stream these matches from DC and SJ. But no replays. LIB has indicated that they are only allowed to stream WTA matches, not ATP matches.

Lauren doing fine with her first serves but is getting beaten up on her second serve. Disadvantage of being so short. Still, two holes from her the second set

Fanny and Maria close out there SF doubles match, 6-3 6-3

I try the watch later click so I will find out if it works or not!

Of all the hard work, Davis only gets $6,200 as prize money and 60 points for a quarterfinal finish. I think she gets free hotel stay but not her entourage and they all have to pay for food and travel expenses.

 

[I Am Finnish]

Sabalenka to peak during the usa summer season again ?

 

[Harry_Wild]

Pretty serious injury/illness.

I Hope Bengle gets the full amount! This is terrible for the ITF to not listen to her hierarchy condition. The could of done other type of drug test other then by needle and into the her veins!

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

I Hope Bengle gets the full amount! This is terrible for the ITF to not listen to her hierarchy condition. The could of done other type of drug test other then by needle and into the her veins!

Apparently, they cannot test for everything they want to test for with urine. But they really need to find some alternative to sticking her in the arm with a needle

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Kalinskaya over veteran Mlad in 3 sets and a bit over 2 hours. Qualifier makes it into the SF round... yet another young (20) player with a Russian name on the rise. Congrats.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

I try the watch later click so I will find out if it works or not!

Of all the hard work, Davis only gets $6,200 as prize money and 60 points for a quarterfinal finish. I think she gets free hotel stay but not her entourage and they all have to pay for food and travel expenses.

Hope 2c Lauren go deep again soon. She's got a lot of heart and drive. Really thought she was going to take that second set

Curious as to what is going on with the these streams. It is now GRAVIA and not LET IT BE. The latter is now showing only Russian non-tennis videos at this point. Are these really WTA appoved streams?

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Gauff and McNally due to start their SF doubles match in about 3 hours.

This will be delayed another hour or more... cuz McNally is still dealing with Hseih in a singles match. Caty McNally took the 1st set. Needs to take the 2nd before Hseih finds answers.

Svitolina battling with Sakkari in the 3rd set. Elina lost the 2nd set TB and seems rather negative now even tho her coach tried hard to talk her out of her funk. Elina struggling to hold at 2-3

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Sakkari breaks to go up 4-2. She reached the final last year. Will she do it again?

 

[spystud]

Stream, but it may be over shortly.

 

[spystud]

Yep, that was quick, Sakkari served it out at love.

 

[elkwood]

Was a good match Sakkari really picked up her game and Poor Svit just wanted it to bad and fall
apart.

Anyone watching the Mcnally match ? Looking like the Youngster might pull off the upset

 

[ALEXT]

Toronto MD is out. Time for the tournament thread. Some interesting potential matches.....