Today’s Women’s News (05/29) – Roland Garros

Written by: Staff on 29th May 2012

Today's Women's News (05/29) - Roland Garros

Maria Sharapova of Russia hits a forehand to German Sabine Lisicki during their fourth round match at the Rod Laver Arena at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 23 January 2012. Sharapova won in three sets. EPA/MARTIN PHILBEY |

Roland Garros

Singles – First Round: (2) Maria Sharapova def. Alexandra Cadantu 6-0 6-0

Looks like the new-model Maria Sharapova — the one who loves clay — is still here. If she keeps playing like this, and Victoria Azarenka plays the way she played in her first round, we may see a new #1 this week.

Singles – First Round: (4) Petra Kvitova def. (WC) Ashleigh Barty 6-1 6-2

More evidence that Petra Kvitova is finally getting back into form — but she’s going to have a hard time rising above #4.

Singles – First Round: Virginie Razzano def. (5) Serena Williams 4-6 7-6(7-5) 6-3

Funny how the fates work. Serena Williams was undefeated on clay this year. But she came here, and struggled in the long rallies — and was crying after losing the second set from 5-1 up in the tiebreak. It took her several games to get back into it, and although she tried to rally, saving seven match points, making it back to 5-3 and having a break chance in the ninth game, she finally faltered. It means she will not rise above her current #5, and she will fall to #6 if Samantha Stosur can reach the quarterfinal.

It is the first time she has ever lost her opener in a Slam.

Singles – First Round: (9) Caroline Wozniacki def. Eleni Daniilidou 6-0 6-1

That is probably the best Caroline Wozniacki has done on clay this year. She has a lot to defend, due to Copenhagen coming off, but she has a pretty good chance of climbing at least one spot. Eleni Daniilidou will fall below #70.

Singles – First Round: (14) Francesca Schiavone def. Kimiko Date-Krumm 6-3 6-1

Six straight wins for Francesca Schiavone. That should keep her Top Thirty at least — but she is still well below the Top 25 in safe points.

Singles – First Round: (16) Maria Kirilenko def. (WC) Victoria Larriere 6-1 6-2

Maria Kirilenko still needs two more wins to defend her points, but her Top Twenty spot now looks pretty secure.

Singles – First Round: (22) Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova def. Greta Arn 6-4 6-4

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova is slumping badly — but then, so is Greta Arn. Pavlyuchenkova still has 400 more points to defend, but we’d guess this will keep her Top Forty at least.

Singles – First Round: (23) Kaia Kanepi def. Alexandra Panova 6-3 6-3

Just getting direct entry to a Slam was probably a bit of a thrill for Alexandra Panova — but she will stay stuck around #70.

Singles – First Round: (25) Julia Goerges def. Lucie Hradecka 7-6(7-1) 6-4

Lucie Hradecka’s earlier heroics resulted in her being touted as a potential surprise here — but she is going to remain below #60.

Singles – First Round: (28) Peng Shuai def. Tamira Paszek 6-3 6-3

This will probably leave Tamira Paszek below #55. Peng Shuai needs at least one more win to stay Top Thirty.

Singles – First Round: Klara Zakopalova def. Lesia Tsurenko 6-2 6-1

This may well be enough to move Klara Zakopalova into the Top Forty.

Singles – First Round: Ayumi Morita def. Polona Hercog 3-6 6-4 6-3

Polona Hercog’s year-long slump obviously continues — and it’s starting to cost her. This will knock her out of the Top Forty. It must be particularly depressing given that Ayumi Morita would come down sick later in the day….

Singles – First Round: (Q) Heather Watson def. Elena Vesnina 6-2 6-4

Elena Vesnina still can’t do anything at the big events. At least she wasn’t defending anything.

Singles – First Round: Tsvetana Pironkova def. Yanina Wickmayer 3-6 6-0 6-3

Yanina Wickmayer’s misery continues; she will fall below #35, and with little sign of snapping out of this.

Singles – First Round: Irina-Camelia Begu def. (WC) Aravane Rezai 5-7 7-5 6-2

Irina-Camelia Begu still has about a hundred points to defend, so she will need at least one more win to stay above #60.

Singles – First Round: Jarmila Gajdosova def. Magdalena Rybarikova 6-3 4-1 retired

Even when she finally wins something, Jarmila Gajdosova doesn’t move up; she needs one more win to defend her points.

Singles – First Round: Urszula Radwanska def. Pauline Parmentier 6-4 6-3

Urszula Radwanska should rise above #75; another win would take her above #70. But Pauline Parmentier, who was defending big points, will probably be below #75. Which probably means no Olympic spot.

Singles – First Round: Arantxa Rus def. Jamie Hampton 6-4 4-3 retired

This should suffice to keep Arantxa Rus in the Top Hundred.

Singles – First Round: Lourdes Dominguez Lino def. Marina Erakovic 7-5 7-5

It appears this will drop Marina Erakovic to around #45.

Singles – First Round: Melinda Czink def. Anne Keothavong 6-1 6-2

This brings Melinda Czink very close to the Top Hundred. We’d guess she’ll make it.

Doubles – First Round: (4) Errani/Vinci def. Brianti/Mayr-Achleitner 6-1 6-3

No signs yet that Errani/Vinci are letting up their stranglehold on clay….

Doubles – First Round: (6) Makarova/Vesnina def. Goerges/Stosur 6-4 6-2

A slight boost to Elena Vesnina’s hopes of staying Top Ten, but we’d guess she will need more. We currently show the Top Ten as follows:

1..(1) HUBER …………. 9590*

1..(1) RAYMOND ……….. 9590*

3..(3) PESCHKE ……….. 6965*

4..(4) SREBOTNIK ……… 6965*

5..(8) ERRANI ………….6220*

6..(9) VINCI …………. 6220*

7..(5) SHVEDOVA ………..5855*

8..(6) KING ……………5740*

9..(7) VESNINA ……….. 5110*

10.(12) KIRILENKO ……… 4990*

Doubles – First Round: Kerber/A.Radwanska def. (8) Benesova/Zahlavova Strycova 7-6(7-4) 7-5

Benesova and Zahlavova Strycova stay stuck around #20.

Doubles – First Round: (10) Kops-Jones/Spears def. Klepac/Rosolska 6-3 6-4

Doubles – First Round: (11) Medina Garrigues/Parra Santonja def. (WC) Bremond/Lefevre 6-1 6-2

Doubles – First Round: (12) Llagostera Vives/Martinez Sanchez def. Jans-Ignacik/Kudryavtseva 1-6 6-2 6-3

Doubles – First Round: Bratchikova/Gallovits-Hall def. (15) Mattek-Sands/Mirza 6-3 4-6 7-5

Not the best follow-up to the title last week for Mattek-Sands/Mirza. Mirza was a finalist last year (with Vesnina), so she is certain to fall out of the Top Ten.

Doubles – First Round: (17) Dulko/Suarez def. Kustova/Tatishvili 6-2 7-6(7-4)

And so Dulko/Suarez get seeded after all — you probably won’t be surprised to learn that they replace Kuznetsova/Zvonareva.

Doubles – First Round: Pennetta/Schiavone def. Cirstea/Morita 6-2 2-0 retired (Morita: GI Illness)

Doubles – First Round: Govortsova/Voskoboeva def. Pervak/Tsurenko 6-2 6-3

Doubles – First Round: Chuang/Dushevina def. Hercog/U.Radwanska 4-1 retired

Doubles – First Round: Husarova/McHale def. Pavlyuchenkova/Safarova 6-4 6-4

Doubles – First Round: Groenefeld/Martic def. Arn/Pironkova 6-2 6-4

Doubles – First Round: Dekmeijere/Tanasugarn def. Stephens/Wickmayer 5-7 7-5 6-4

Doubles – First Round: Dellacqua/Panova def. Birnerova/Cetkovska 6-4 6-4

Doubles – First Round: Chan/Chan def. Bertens/Marosi 6-3 6-2