Today’s Women’s Updates: Doha – Qatar TOTAL Open 2012

Written by: Staff on 13th February 2012

Today's Women's Updates: Doha - Qatar TOTAL Open 2012

Christina McHale of the US hits a return to Maria Kirilenko of Russia during their third round match on the fifth day of the 2011 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA 02 September 2011. The US Open runs through 11 September 2011. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO |

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Doha

Singles – First Round: Ksenia Pervak def. (10) Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 1-6 6-2 6-3

Ksenia Pervak’s steady climb seemed to have hit a bit of a stall, but maybe this will get her going again. She defends her points, and is probably one win away from the Top Forty. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova wasn’t defending anything, but her Top Fifteen ranking is nonetheless in some danger.

Singles – First Round: (12) Peng Shuai def. (WC) Fatma Al Nabhani 6-0 7-5

Pretty cheap points for Peng Shuai, but she needs more than this to hang onto her ranking.

Singles – First Round: (13) Ana Ivanovic def. Carla Suarez Navarro 6-1 4-1 retired

Odd that Carla Suarez Navarro came here, given that her ranking would have let her be a high seed at Bogota; she prefers clay and she gets hurt easily. One might almost say that this was an injury waiting to happen. And it means that she will fall below #60.

Singles – First Round: (14) Svetlana Kuznetsova def. Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez 7-5 6-3

Svetlana Kuznetsova is defending finalist points, so this was very big — had she lost this, her Top Thirty ranking would have been in some danger. Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez wasn’t defending anything, but won’t rise much above #40.

Singles – First Round: Shahar Peer def. (WC) Nadia Lalami 6-0 6-0

Shahar Peer needs two more wins to defend her points, and at least one more to stay Top Forty, so an easy start is a good sign.

Singles – First Round: Christina McHale def. Chanelle Scheepers 6-4 6-3

Chanelle Scheepers will fall below #45. Christina McHale adds some points, but they aren’t yet enough to help her ranking.

Singles – First Round: Mona Barthel def. (Q) Caroline Garcia 7-6(8-6) 7-6(7-4)

Back into form for Mona Barthel, who might rise as high as #36.

Singles – First Round: Tsvetana Pironkova def. Polona Hercog 6-0 6-4

Polona Hercog is really a mess this year. This will cost her at least one ranking spot, and if she doesn’t come out of this funk soon, it’s going to be more!

Singles – First Round: Monica Niculescu def. Elena Vesnina 6-1 6-0

Elena Vesnina seems to be in “all messed up” mode, too. She loses another Top Fifty chance, but Monica Niculescu is likely to hit the Top Thirty.

Singles – First Round: (Q) Kateryna Bondarenko def. (Q) Vera Dushevina 7-5 6-2

At the rate she is going, Vera Dushevina may not be Top Hundred much longer.

Singles – First Round: (Q) Anne Keothavong def. Tamira Paszek 7-6(7-4) 7-6(7-5)

Anne Keothavong beat first Laura Robson and then Heather Watson in the qualifying here. It must have been a relief not to face a countrywoman. She leaves Tamira Paszek still below #45.

Singles – First Round: (Q) Varvara Lepchenko def. (Q) Aleksandra Wozniak 6-3 6-3

It looks as if Aleksandra Wozniak will remain stuck below #80.

Doubles – First Round: (7) Goerges/Zheng def. (WC) Al Nabhani/Jabeur 6-4 6-2

Doubles – First Round: Dushevina/Peer def. Pennetta/Schiavone 6-2 5-7 10-7 (Match TB)

With Gisela Dulko playing with the un-retired Paola Suarez, Flavia Pennetta needs a new partner, and preferably an Italian for purposes of the Olympics — but Francesca Schiavone has fallen to #130 in doubles….

Doubles – First Round: Klepac/Rosolska def. Jovanovski/Lalami 6-3 6-1

Doubles – First Round: Medina Garrigues/Pavlyuchenkova def. Cirstea/Keothavong 2-6 6-2 10-2 (Match TB)

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