US Open - Women's Quarterfinal
1 Victoria Azarenka d 7 Samantha Stosur - 61 46 76(5)
With the win Vika is guaranteed to retain her #1 ranking on Monday.
After the 1st set blowout this became a highly entertaining match.
The shot-making was of the highest caliber - pity either had to lose.
Afterward Vika expressed her thoughts on her Twitter account:
What a great match today! Fight and battle is what we live for…
Really happy to be competing… Thank u for all the support #NYC love it.
Roland Garros - Women's Quarterfinals
6 Samantha Stosur d 15 Dominika Cibulkova - 64 61
21 Sara Errani d 10 Angelique Kerber - 63 76(2)
This is Sam's 3rd trip to the RG Sf's: 1-1. She was runner-up in 2010.
Stat of the match: Sam hit 30 winners to 13 errors.
She is looking for her 2nd Slam following her triumph at the USO last year.
***
This was Sara's 1st win against a top 10 player in 29 tries.
Her reward is to play in her 1st Slam semifinal.
She will also become the top ranked Italian in the rankings Monday.
***
This will be the 6th meeting between Sam and Sara - H2H: 5-0/SS.
Truth be told...
Sam must be considered an overwhelming favorite to gain her 2nd final.
Photos: Getty Images
WTA Doha - Final
1 Victoria Azarenka d 3 Samantha Stosur - 61 62
Well that was... decisive.
Vika is on a stunning roll in 2012; 17-0 bagging 3 titles: Sydney, AO & Doha.
Impressive: In those 17 match wins she has only dropped 4 sets.
Even more impressive: In her 5 matches in Doha she lost a mere 18 games.
Crazy stuff.
She is the top seed at this weeks event at Dubai.
She has a 1st R bye and will play the winner of Kuznetsova/Georges.
Can she remain unbeaten thru 4 tournies? I'd bet on her.
Photo: Getty Images
WTA Doha - Semifinal
1 Victoria Azarenka d 4 Agnieszka Radwanska - 62 64
Early in the 2nd set Vika went down with an ankle injury.
Vika: I don't know how it happened.
But I just focused on each point until the painkillers kicked in and...
I'm happy to pull it out.
If it went to a third set I don't know what would have happened.
Will she be able to return for tomorrow's final against (3) Sam Stosur?
Sam advanced after Marion Bartoli retired before the start of the 2nd set.
Vika has never lost a set to Sam in their previous 5 meetings.
Vika has not lost a match this year: 16-0 - including 2 tournament wins.
It'd be a shame if she couldn't take the court at 100% tomorrow.
Photo: Getty Images
That's a crazy - a troubling - stat.
The latest victim came yesterday at the Australian Open...
Sam Stosur was sent off by Sorana Cirstea 76 63 in the 1st round.
Telling the truth tho Sam has never faired well in her home Slam.
She follows AO.11 champ Kim Clijsters who lost in the 2nd R at the French.
RG.11 champ Li Na in the 2nd R at Wimbledon.
And W.11 champ Petra Kvitova in the 1st R at the US Open.
Let's hope this trend curse comes to an end.
Photos: Reuters and Getty Images
Novak Djokovic - Men's Singles Champion
Samantha Stosur - Women's Singles Champion
Philipp Petzschner & Jurgen Melzer - Men's Doubles Champions
Liezel Huber & Lisa Raymond - Women's Doubles Champions
Jack Sock & Melanie Oudin - Mixrd Doubles Champions
Photos: Getty/Reuters
Toronto WTA Final
Serena Williams d 10 Sam Stosur - 64 62
So I'm just gonna say it - Serena is officially the favorite at the US Open.
In only her 4th tourney back after a year off this is her 2nd straight title.
She has yet to lose a hard court match in the North American swing.
The win today win see her ranking rise to around #30.
To think just a couple of weeks ago she was outside the top 150.
Serena: My goal was to do really well to get some extra cash...
Cuz I haven't played all year.
Photo: Reuters
Roland Garros - Women's Third Round
Gisela Dulko d 8 Samantha Stosur - 64 16 63
I woke up to this little shocker this morning. Wow.
The women's draw has lost 3 of it's big contenders before the 4th round.
Kim, Caro & Sam are all out. And we almost lost Vera & Maria the other day.
As a finalist last year there's a scenario that sees Sam drop out of the top 10.
Wild stuff happening in Paris folks.
As for Dulko: In 31 Slams played this is her 3rd time to a 4th round: 0-2.
She will next face home favorite (11) Marion Bartoli.
Photo: Reuters
Rome WTA Final
7 Maria Sharapova d 6 Samantha Stosur - 62 64
Maria picked up her 23rd title and 3rd on clay while also moving up to #7.
Satisfying week as Maria hadn't won a title since last May.
She also hadn't won a title this big since '09.
One thing is for sure... Maria must now be considered a favorite at RG.
Not sure which is heavier: The trophy or that ginormous engagement ring!
Photo: Reuters
Rome WTA - Semifinals
6 Samantha Stosur d 4 Li Na - 76(6) 60
Here we go... Samantha is finally get her Roland Garros legs sorted.
Remember: She is an impressive 11-2 in her last two years in Paris.
This is Sam's first final of her very sub-par season.
She is looking for her 3rd WTA title. I forgot she only has two.
Oy oy oy.
Photo: Getty Images
Stuttgart WTA - Quarterfinal
5 Samantha Stosur d 2 Vera Zvonareva - 26 63 76(3)
I am a huge fan of cars on the court - they make for hilarious pictures.
And lookie here, Sam is finally thru to her first Sf of the season.
Yea, she's been having a rough year: W/L 13-9.
Oy oy oy: Sam has dipped to #7 and has runner-up points to defend here.
She'll next face the surging German Julia Georges - H2H: 1-0/JG.
Photo: Of Vera from my TV.
For some reason I just can't get my blogging juices going lately, sorry.
The following are second round matches all:
5 Andy Murray d Illya Marchenko - 61 63 63
Boy, the big boys sure aren't wasting any time getting thru these matches.
This is Andy's 4th trip to the 3rd round: 3-0. Remember, he was RU in '10.
He will next face 32 Guillermo Garcia-Lopez - H2H: 1-0/AM.
Andy is on track to face #4 stealer Robin Soderling in the Qf's.
5 Samantha Stosur d Vera Dushevina - 63 62
Ah, the hopes of a nation...
Boy, for Sam to win this thing she's gonna have to play some great players.
Up next is Petra Kvitova a Sf'ist at Wimby last year - H2H: 1-0/PK.
Take a deep breath Australia & hold it. Sam'll let you know when to exhale.
4 Robin Soderling d Gilles Muller - 63 76(1) 61
Ding ding ding - this is the furthest Robin has ever gone at the Aussie Open.
Which means he's now padding that #4 ranking ahead of #5 Andy Murray.
And with Andy defending finalist points... well, you do the math.
As I mentioned earlier - Robin & Andy are heading to a Qf showdown.
7 David Ferrer d Michael Russel - 60 61 75
The Spanish #2 has looked quite good thru 2 rounds of play.
You might find this surprising but he's been to the 3rd round 5 times: 3-1.
Except at the Slams last season David has a phenominal year.
It'll be interesting to watch him try to follow it up. Another trip to London?
2 Vera Zvonareva d Bojana Jovanovski - 26 63 61
After that 1st set it sure seemed like Vera was a goner, didn't it?
A little more experience and i'm thinking Bojana will be a big name.
Vera has 31 Lucie Safarova next - odd that they've never played before.
13 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga d Andreas Seppi - 63 76(1) 76(5)
Ok guys, this is Jo-W's best Slam - can he work more of his magic this year?
It's doable but he has a very tough quarter - Murray/Soderling.
Even his next match is a tricky one, Alexandr Dolgopolov - H2H: 1-0/JWT.
But... that win was 10-8 in the 5th at Wimby last year.
***
Well, those were some highlights for me. Enjoy Day 5 everyone.
Photos: Reuters/Getty Images
Australian Open - Women's First Round
2 Vera Zvonareva d Sabille Bammer - 62 61
5 Samantha Stosur d Lauren Davis - 61 61
I know it's early and they both have to win 3 more matches but...
Nobody is coming between these 2 women from meeting in the Qf's.
How's that for some chrystal ball reporting?
Both Vera & Sam are still in search of maiden Slam titles.
Remember, they are the losing finalists at the last 3 Slams.
Sam lost to Fran at RG & Vera lost to Serena at W and Kim at the USO.
AO best results: Vera a Sf in '09 & Sam 4th round showings in '06 & '10.
Let's make this happen.
Photos: Reuters
Doha WTA Championships - Round Robin Day Three
1 Caroline Wozniacki d 5 Francesca Schiavone - 36 61 61
3 Kim Clijsters d 8 Victoria Azarenka - 64 57 61
7 Elena Dementieva d 6 Samantha Stosur - 46 64 76(4)
***
So I bitched the last couple days about crappy matches...
Well, we got a great slate of 3-setters today.
With Caro's win she sealed the deal for year-end #1. Congrats!
Like I've said before - she reminds me so much of Martina Hingis.
At 20 Caro is the youngest YE #1 since the Swiss Miss.
Kim moves into the Sf's & keeps hopes of year-end #2 alive.
Sam needed to win a set to clinch a Sf birth - done.
So tomorrow the matches will decide who plays each other on Saturday:
Caroline Wozniacki will play the Vera Zvonareva/Kim Clijters winner.
Samantha Stosur will obviously play the Vera/Kim loser.
Any way you slice it - we are looking at a great weekend of tennis.
Photo: Reuters
Doha WTA Championships - Day Two
5 Samantha Stosur d 1 Caroline Wozniacki - 64 63
2 Vera Zvonareva d 8 Victoria Azarenka - 76(4) 64
3 Kim Clijsters d 6 Jelena Jankovic - 62 63
***
6 matches played so far - not a single 3-setter yet.
Caro was playing to seal #1 for the year - she will again tomorrow.
Vera still has an outside shot at stealing #1 away from Caro. Slim.
With 2 matches won Sam has more than likely booked a Sf spot.
Kim was playing her first match since winning the US Open.
Jelena needs to go back to the drawing board on the off-season.
And I'd look for Vika to have a break-out 2011.
Photo: Getty Images
Day One Round Robin Results
1 Caroline Wozniacki d 7 Elena Dementieva - 61 61
5 Samantha Stosur d 4 Francesca Schiavone - 64 64
2 Vera Zvonareva d 6 Jelena Jankovic - 63 60
***
Hey, the top 2 players played like the top 2 players today.
What a boring day tho when the 3 defeated opponents muster 13 games.
The only real excitement today was Sam come back from 0-4 in the 1st.
What the hell with Elena and Jelena. To be fair, niether was 100%
Don't be surprised to see alternates Shahar Peer & Li Na thi week.
Ok, I'm not feeling well so hopefully I'll have more for you tomorrow.
Here's a video recap on the day:
Photo: AP
Fran, Kim, Vera, Caro, Jelena, Elena & Sam. Vika not pictured.
Last years finalists (Serena d Venus) both qualified but have withdrawn.
The gals have been split into 2 groups of 4 for round-robin play:
White Group: Vera, Kim, Jelena, Victoria
Maroon Group: Caroline, Francesca, Samantha, Elena
2 players from each group will move to the knockout Sf round.
*** The Players ***
Caroline Wozniacki
Ranking: 1
Previous best was a Sf here last year.
She has won 6 titles this season including 4 of the last 5 she's played.
Caro owns a tour-leading 59 match wins (and counting) for 2010.
Vera Zvonareva
Ranking: 2
She was a runner-up at the WTA Championships in 2008.
She played in 6 finals this year winning only 1: Pattaya City.
She was the runner-up at Wimbledon and at the US Open.
Kim Clijsters
Ranking: 4
She has previouly won the WTA Championship in 2002-03.
Kim won 4 titles this season including her 3rd at the US Open.
She ha not lost to a top 10 player all year: 6-0.
Francesca Schiavone
Ranking: 6
This is her first trip to the WTA Championships.
She won 2 titles in 2010 including her famous win at Roland Garros.
Where she became the first Italian woman to win a Slam.
Samantha Stosur
Ranking: 7
This is her first appearance at the WTA Championships.
Sam has won 1 title in 2010 and was runner-up at Roland Garros.
She has served 280 aces this season - 2nd only yo Nadia Petrova.
Jelena Jankovic
Ranking: 8
Previously she has reached the Sf's twice: 2008-09.
She won 1 title in 2010 - at Indian Wells.
In Rome became the 7th player to beat Serena & Venus in the same tourny.
Elena Dementieva
Ranking: 9
Previously she has reached the Sf's in 2000 & 2008.
This is her 10th trip to the WTA Championships.
She has won 2 titles this in '10 & is 1 of 4 active players with 500 tour wins.
Victoria Azarenka
Ranking: 10
Vika booked her spot in Doha after winning in Moscow just last week.
Previously she lost in the round-robin here a year ago.
She won 2 titles in 2010 - at Stanford and Mocow.
She is the only player in the field to have not played in a Slam final.
***
The 8 players have a combined title count for 2010 of 19.
That seems fairly low if you ask me.
Here are your 8 combatants for the season-ending championships in Doha.
1. Caroline Wozniacki 2. Serena Williams 3. Vera Zvonareva
4. Kim Clijsters 5. Samantha Stosur
6. Francesca Schiavone 7. Jelena Jankovic 8. Elena Dementieva
Venus & Justine would've qualified but have ended her years owing to injury.
The tournament begins on Oct. 25 and will be aired live on Tennis Channel.
Hopefully without that annoying ticker...
Beijing ATP 500 - Men's First Round
1 Novak Djokovic d WC Mao-Xin Gong - 61 63
Novak never faced a break point while breaking Gong 4 times to advance.
Novak will next play Mardy Fish - H2H: 5-0/ND, including 2 this year.
Novak, along with others, looking dapper at the player's party last night.
Let's see, we've got Dinara & Sam on Fern's shoulders, Caro, Tomas & Andy.
I'm guessing that all equals good times.
Novak is a breath away from qualifying for the year-end finals in London.
He is currently #2 in the regular rankings and #3 in the year-to-date.
With a lot of points to defend this year, Novak may finish '10 at #3.
To finish ahead of Roger this year - well, he has his work cut out for him.
Photos: Getty Images
Victoria Azarenka Thru to Semifinals at Rome
Rome WTA - Women's Quarterfinal
3 Victoria Azarenka d 9 Samantha Stosur - 64 16 63
This is Vika's 2nd trip to the Sf's at Rome: 0-1.
Remember: Vika is still on the comeback trail after an ankle injury.
Post match: It's all a process - I'm just trying to improve day to day,
and I feel it's happening. I will probably never be truly satisfied,
but I'm on a good road. Winning matches is very important,
because it gives you opportunities to play more matches.
That's really what I'm looking for right now.
Posted at 04:19 PM in Commentary, Rome, Samantha Stosur, Scores, Victoria Azarenka, Womens Tennis | Permalink | Comments (0)
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