WTA Championships - Round Robin matches

Hi everyone,

Time for THE event of the year: the WTA Championships in Istanbul!

This tournament is played a little bit different from others. You see, the eight players are first divided into two groups, the red and white one, and take on each other before battling it out old school with a semifinal and final. In that semifinal, the number two of the groups take on the winner of the other.

 

In the white group Sharapova, Radwanska, Kvitova and Errani are drawn and the red group consists of Azarenka, Williams, Kerber and Na Li.

Day 1:

First up was Radwanska vs. Kvitova. It was time to see how last year's champion was ready for the number four!

Kvitova started off with too many unforced errors and faced a 0-3 deficit. With her strong serve and forehand she knocked herself to level at 3-3. But Radwanska wasn't impressed and finished the first set: 6-3. The second set saw a lot of breaks back and forth until Kvitova got stuck at 2 games: 6-2 for Radwanska.

Next Kerber vs. Williams with a very similar result as the previous match. Serena rushed towards a 3-0 lead, only to find herself at 3-3 after some surprising faults. Kerber didn't take the opportunities that followed and whilst Serena was struggling with her serve, the win came quite easily: 6-4, 6-1.

Last match of the day was Sharapova vs. Errani. They both took the time to get into the match, playing just four games in half an hour, leveling at 2-2. But then Sharapova overclassed the Italian: 6-3, 6-2.

Day 2

The second day was amazing! Three very long and right-at-the-edge-of-your-seat play!

Serena took on Na Li first. The Chinese started very strong, leading 4-1 with Serena still not serving like usually. Williams battled back to 4-4 and served then twice for the set but couldn't finish it off. In the tiebreak 5 points in a row secured the 7-2 win for Serena. A quite emotional Williams upped her game and served out the match, this time succesfully, 6-3. No surprise, Serena is quite sure of reaching the semifinals already!

The Azarenka - Kerber match developped like a real thriller! That first set really deserved a tiebreak with both players making beautiful points. Azarenka looked to win that with a 6-2 lead but Kerber took it 13-11, the crowd went ballistic! The number one was immediately frustrated in the second set when facing a 0-2 deficit. A long game at 4-4 in the second set seemed to decide it all when Kerber won it and had 2 matchpoints at Azarenka's serve in the next game. I was totally in zombie mode watching my tv! The Belarussian battled back and this time didn't miss her 6-2 lead: 7-6(2). Azarenka then held a break to finish: 6-4.

The Turkish people weren't done watching with another tennis rollercoaster Radwanska vs. Sharapova. I actually didn't think Radwanska would dig as deep as she did. She took the first set: 7-5 and held the pressure on the Russian. Sharapova needed to break Radwanska twice to win the second set with the same score. And then a funny moment occured! At a very important game when Sharapova desperately tried to hold her serve, she screamed: 'RUN! RUN!' after smashing a ball down the line. Radwanska's dropshots definitely frustrated Sharapova! Another decisive break happened at 5-5 and the Russian won: 7-5. It was half past two before the die heart tennis fans could head home and the tennis players could crawl into bed.

 

- Click to watch -

 

Day 3

Kerber and Azarenka both lost their matches in day three, obviously from the effort of the day before. Serena proved herself too strong against Azarenka: 6-4, 6-4 and moreover stated she is the onofficial number one. Kerber couldn't hold off Na Li: 4-6, 3-6. Both matches were very similar, with Serena and Na Li always keeping a break up and their opponents running out of energy to battle back.

And seriously, she's 31 and she can do that! I'm twenty and I would end up in the hospital if I even tried that!

In the other group Errani was up against Stosur. In the first set the Aussie alternate made too many mistakes and handed it to Errani on a platter: 3-6. Stosur's game payed off in the second set with a 6-2 win. It all looked okay for Stosur but then suddenly the 6-0 score appeared on the board for Errani, Sammy just developped: bad, good, worse in sets...

Day 4

In the very last day of the Round Robin matches, still a lot of stuff had to be decided. In the red group, Azarenka still had to earn her semifinal spot against Na Li. The Chinese had all the intentions of going to the semifinal herself and find herself serving for the first set at 5-4 but Azarenka battled back to force a tiebreak and a: 7-6(4) win. Then she was launched and quickly played her way to a 5-1 lead. She needed some games to finish it off: 7-6(4), 6-3. 

In the white group Sharapova defeated Stosur quite easily: 6-0, 6-3. But Sharapova's spot in the semifinal was already evident so everybody was looking forward to the Radwanska - Errani set-up. The Pole always seemed a step behind in the first set and although she hit a lucky bastard shot on setpoint in the tiebreak, Errani took it: 7-6(6). The Italian looked strong and forced breaks on the Radwanska serve. But her opponent bended the score in her favor, from 0-2 to 3-2 and 4-5 to 7-5. In the third set Radwanska wasn't in so much trouble anymore and finished: 6-4 in three hour 29 minutes! The longest match on the Masters yet! We'll see how that translates in her semifinal.

Keep posted on the semifinals: Azarenka - Sharapova (classic show down of the last year!) and Radwanska - Serena (this year's replica of the Wimbledon final).

Update: Linz & Osaka, Kremlin Cup & Luxembourg

Hi everyone,

You may have noticed I've been offline for a couple of weeks, but I'm going to update you superquick on what has been happening since the China Open so we can take a look at the real work: the WTA Championships in Istanbul!

 

First up were the smaller tournaments in Linz (Generali Ladies in Austria) and Osaka (HP Japan Women's Open).

It wasn't a surprise that Azarenka won in Linz, with only Ivanovic and Goerges as real contenders for the title. I'm more surprised the number one chose Linz instead of the Kremlin Cup in Moscow. Interesting at Linz was Belgian Flipkens' performance. She beat Ivanovic in the quarter finals in two sets: 6-4, 6-0 and seemed to upset Goerges in the semi's also with a 6-1 lead. Goerges kept her cool and battled back with her strong forehand: 1-6, 6-2, 6-3. In the final Azarenka won against the German: 6-3, 6-4.

In Osaka, Stosur was the first seed and everything looked promising until she bumped into Chang Kai-Chen, a player from Taiwan and ranked 134! The 2 hour and 24 minutes lasting semifinal ended in suspense with a third set tiebreak: 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(3).
In the final, another grueling match occured with the Taiwanese player battling Heather Watson for the title. It took three hours and 11 minutes, including overcoming four match points, before the Brit took it: 7-5, 5-7, 7-6(4). And in doing so, Watson becomes the first Brit to win a WTA title in 24 years!

Next up was the Kremlin Cup in Moscow, normally a packed Premier tournament, but this time Stosur was the first seed. So no Azarenka, Sharapova, Radwanska or Serena, just Stosur and Bartoli of the top ten.
Bartoli was immediately outplayed by Arvidsson, who is having an amazing autumn season, in the second round: 3-6, 0-6. Wozniacki had all the trouble in the world to get past the Swedish player in the semifinal: 6-3, (4)6-7, 6-4. In the final the Dane came across Stosur who defeated Ivanovic in the round before: 2-6, 6-3, 6-2.
I was all set for an epic Stosur title at Moscow, especially with Wozniacki struggling with her new more agressive play but with Sammy, you never get what you want! The Dane was more patient in the third set and actually made a lot of beautiful points: 2-6, 6-4, 7-5. It's Wozniacki's second title, and it showed, in the photo it's like she's saying: nobody dare to take away my precious!

Last but not least was the smaller tournament in Luxembourg. Special guest here was Venus Williams! She immediately steamrolled ahead to a victory here by beating Niculescu in the final: 6-2, 6-3. Petkovic also had a good run here, meeting Venus in the semifinal and losing in a close three setter: 7-5, 4-6, 4-6.

So now you're totally caught up with all the action, ready to tackle on the WTA Championships in Istanbul! Keep posted!

Fun off court - China Fun!

Hi everyone,

The China Open always results in funny clips when tennis players try to speak Mandarin! Last year, we got this:

Love Kerber in the end: 'Oh, that's my name!'

This year, Na Li and Peng give some lessons:

Funny how rabbit and I is so close together, especially with Radwanska's: Rabbit eating Peking duck!

Also, not Chinese I know, the players try out gangnam style. It's a clip made by Robson and her best friend Bouchard (so Laura's & Genie's gangnam style):

Stosur's moves in the elevator are priceless!

Update: Beijing - Semifinals & Final

Hi everyone,

The China Open is already over and I was just liking those pretty court names (like Moon Court, Diamond Court and Lotus Court)!

 

Anyway, let's discuss the semifinals first. They were both very similar with a hard-fought first set and pure dominance of one player in the second set.

Na Li met Sharapova in the downdraw semifinal. The Chinese was definitely the crowd's favorite and that resulted in some unsporty behavior like cheering when Sharapova made a double fault or calling out so the Russian stopped playing when the ball was surely in.

 

 

The first set definitely was a thriller, lasting over an hour with many long games (though the points were generally quite short). Na Li was the first to break serve and get a 3-1 lead. Sharapova took the next 3 games and even forced a breakpoint for a 5-3 lead but Na Li put things straight and leveled at 4-4. Sharapova proved herself more equipped against the pressure and took the first set: 6-4.

 

 

In the second set, Na Li lost her intensity and concentration and Sharapova steamrolled ahead to: 6-0. The Chinese crowd wasn't so happy but I'm surely excited to see the Russian in another final again!

 

 

Bartoli had to take on the number one Azarenka in the semifinal that followed. The first set was very equal and both players held serve until 5-4. Then the number one striked on the right time to pressure Bartoli in a double fault (seems to be happening a lot here at the China Open!) to win the first set: 6-4. The French woman definitely had the spirit to fight back but Azarenka just wouldn't let her back into the match and took the second set: 6-2.

 

 

And so folks, we've got another number one - number two duel needing some earplugs, it's Azarenka vs. Sharapova in the China Open final!

And yet again it was kind of an anticlimax. Azarenka rushed to a 5-0 lead in the first set with Sharapova trying to climb back but getting stuck with a: 6-3 score. Just too many unforced errors and Sharapova usually can pull it off nevertheless against almost any player but definitely NOT Azarenka!

 

 

The second set was even more disappointing with Sharapova losing grip again quite soon and preventing a bagel just at the last minute. Azarenka served her way to the China Open cup (which is HUGE! by the way, might want to order an extra seat on the plane for it!) in two sets: 6-3, 6-1. Mascots are adorable by the way, we don't expect less from those Chinese!

 

 

Keep posted for the Kremlin Cup starting next week!

Update: Beijing - Third round & Quarterfinals

Hi everyone,

Some more surprising subtoppers made their way further into this China Open at the expense of seeded players in the third round and the quarterfinals.

 

Oprandi upset Ivanovic in the third round: 6-4, 6-3 before being brushed off by Azarenka in the quarterfinal: 2-6, 0-6. The number one had defeated Vesnina the round before: 6-3, 6-3.

 

 

Azarenka will take on Bartoli in the semifinal after the French woman had much difficulty getting there. In the third round she had to overcome a powerful Goerges: 6-3, 7-6 after the German kept coming back to haunt and taunt her. In the quarterfinal she met Suarez Navarro after the strong Spanish player outplayed Jankovic in the third round: 7-5, 6-4. My money was on Bartoli, definitely after she won the first set: 6-0. When I checked the score a little after that, suddenly it was: 6-0, 2-6, 0-3 with Suarez Navarro having points to expand her lead to: 4-0. Bartoli needed every ounce of determination and she battled towards a: 6-0, 2-6, 6-4 win. Very impressive but maybe she's run out of energy to take on Azarenka in the semifinal.

 

 

On the other side of the draw, the seeded players did their part. Sharapova overcame Hercog quite easily: 6-0, 6-2 in the third round. Radwanska needed three sets for it, but won against Spanish Lino: 2-6, 6-1, 6-4.

 

 

The other two matches of the third round in the down draw featured Kerber vs. Wozniacki and an all Chinese mash-up between Na Li and Peng.

The Chinese crowd got a treat with that set-up as the two Chinese brought quality to the court in their two hour and 30 minutes match. Na Li struggled with her serve (16 double faults!) so the final set went to a tiebreak where mighty Na Li prevailed: 4-6, 6-2, 7-6(3).

 

 

The Kerber - Wozniacki match was also quite spectacular. The German won the first set easily: 6-1 so nobody expected Wozniacki to take that second set: 6-2 (her dad had work motivating her again as shown in the photo). We saw flashes of the former number one but it was mostly Kerber who let the set slip. Luckily she tackled on that third set with full confidence and Wozniacki fought back with pure agression. The third set became a real thriller where Kerber eventually won: 6-1, 2-6, 6-4.

 

 

It's a shame Kerber needed to withdraw from the China Open in the quarterfinal against Sharapova after trailing: 0-6, 0-3.

 

 

The last quarterfinal was between Na Li and Agnieszka Radwanska (quite a difference in name length!). Last year's victor had much difficulty holding her own serve while Na Li avoided the double faults. It seemed Radwanska didn't have the motivation anymore at the end of the year and lost: 4-6, 2-6. Now Na Li is certain of her Istanbul spot for the WTA Championships!
 

 

 

Keep posted for the Sharapova - Na Li & Azarenka - Bartoli semifinals!

Update: Beijing - First & Second Round

Hi everyone,

We've been getting some surprises already in the first two rounds at the China Open!

 

First up: the number one Azarenka seems totally recovered from her dizzy spells of last week at the Toray Pan Pacific Open. She cruised past Cornet: 6-1, 6-0 and beat Lisicki in the second round: 6-4, 6-2.

 

 

First seeded victim of the tournament was Errani. The Italian was forced to withdraw with a thigh injury against fellow country woman Giorgi after trailing 5-4 in the first set. Giorgi herself was outplayed in the next round: 5-7, 2-6 against Oprandi who will face Ivanovic in the third round. The Serbian made a solid effort against McHale: 6-3, 6-2 and needed three sets to get past Lepchenko: 4-6, 7-5, 6-1.

 

 

More upsets in the second round though! Kvitova fell to Spanish Suarez Navarro: 6-3, 6-2. The Czech lacks the determination in the last few weeks of the season and is bothered by a stomach virus. At least she's pretty sure she will qualify for the championships in Istanbul, hopefully we'll see her A-game there!

 

 

Suarez Navarro will take on Jankovic in the third round after the Serbian won against her doubles partner Petkovic in the first round (how sucky is that draw?!): 6-2, 6-4 and defeated Niculescu next: 6-2, 6-1. Jankovic seems on fire!

The Jankovic - Petkovic tandem reached the second round in the doubles before losing a very close match to the number two seeds Kirilenko - Petrova: 3-6, 6-3, 6-10.

 

 

It's really the tournament of the subtoppers because Goerges managed to knock Stosur out in the second round: 7-6, 4-6, 7-5. The German faces Bartoli next and maybe another upset is in the making!

Our loved subtopper Petrova on the other hand ran out of gas against Na Li in the second round: 6-1, 6-2. She's forgiving, winning in Tokyo probably took a lot of energy!

 

 

Third round matches to look forward to: Bartoli vs. Goerges and Kerber vs. Wozniacki.

Keep posted!

Introducing: China Open - Beijing

Hi everyone,

We've moved from the Hello Kitty loving Tokyo to Dumpling heaven Beijing for the China Open, one of the five Premier Mandatory:
 

Mandatory isn't something the Williams sisters really appreciate, so they're out with some well-timed injuries (Venus a back injury and Serena with the flue). Everybody else is pretty much here, so quite a treat! Last year's winner Radwanska is definitely competing to prolong her title here.

 

A quick look at the draw reveals these interesting mash-ups:

- First round: Ivanovic vs. McHale, Giorgi vs. Errani, Kvitova vs. Hantuchova, Na Li vs. Schiavone, Wozniacki vs. Scheepers, Kirilenko vs. Makarova, Jankovic vs. Petkovic (check out some fun those two have been having, playing fierce dragons!)

 

 

- Second round: Azarenka vs. Lisicki, Stosur vs. Goerges, Na Li vs. Petrova

 

Keep posted!