Today’s Women’s News (6/22) – Eastbourne, ‘s-Hertogenbosch, & Wimbledon

Written by: Staff on 22nd June 2012

Today's Women's News (6/22) - Eastbourne, 's-Hertogenbosch, & Wimbledon |

Eastbourne

Singles – Semifinal: Tamira Paszek def. (4) Marion Bartoli 4-6 7-5 6-4

This was rather sad to watch. The conditions were very windy, and Tamira Paszek wasn’t liking it much, but she managed to hold together — and eventually Marion Bartoli had to call the trainer out. She ended up with very heavy strapping on her right thigh, and even so, she needed additional work on it later. It slowed her enough that she just couldn’t keep up. Not good news for Wimbledon, by the looks of things. Tamira Paszek finds herself just below the Top Forty.

We should probably point out that, although Marion Bartoli is the defending champion, those points are already off, so her ranking won’t fall. But neither will she climb.

Singles – Semifinal: (5) Angelique Kerber def. Klara Zakopalova 6-0 6-3

The wind was still blowing in this match, with cloud shadows racing across the court. It really seemed to bother Klara Zakopalova. She ended up calling her coach, who (it appeared) told her that she would just have to live with it. It helped her briefly in the second set, but Angelique Kerber dominated the end of that, too. Zakopalova will have to settle for #31. Kerber will reach #7 if she can win the final.

Doubles – Semifinal: (1) Huber/Raymond def. Groenefeld/Zakopalova 6-2 6-2

Doubles – Semifinal: (4) Llagostera Vives/Martinez Sanchez def. (2) Peschke/Srebotnik 7-6(7-5) 6-4

Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez has a good grass game; despite being Spanish, she and Nuria Llagostera Vives should be genuine threats at Wimbledon. But this still seems a cause for real concern for Peschke/Srebotnik, who of course have to defend Wimbledon next week.

‘s-Hertogenbosch

Singles – Quarterfinal: (Q) Kirsten Flipkens def. (6) Roberta Vinci 6-4 7-6(7-5)

This match had of course been halted on Thursday two games from the end of the second set. They came back, and soon after it was over. With the defending champion eliminated. It’s not clear that that was really bad news for Roberta Vinci, though — the points are already off, so it doesn’t hurt her ranking, and this year, she is a genuine contender to do damage in the Wimbledon singles and to win the doubles. She probably didn’t want to tire herself out too much.

Singles – Quarterfinal: (8) Nadia Petrova def. (Q) Kirsten Flipkens 6-4 6-2

Kirsten Flipkens can’t have been too tired, since her first match lasted only a couple of games. Nadia Petrova just seems to be on a roll. She’s up to #21, and will be #20 if she can win the final. And she has a huge edge over her opponent in late round experience:

Singles – Semifinal: (Q) Urszula Radwanska def. Kim Clijsters walkover (left abdominal injury)

Although Kim Clijsters said she was injured, it sounds as if this is one of those it’s-the-week-before-a-Slam withdrawals: She looked at the weather forecast (there was rain in the afternoon) and decided to head for Wimbledon rather than risk a lot of late matches here. That means she will stay stuck around #46.

Urszula Radwanska was already on the run of her life, and this means even more points. It appears she will rise above #55.

Doubles – Semifinals: (2) Kirilenko/Petrova def. Pennetta/Schiavone walkover (Schiavone: right thigh injury)

Wimbledon

The Wimbledon draw is of course now available; you can see it below. The preview is below; we’ll have the Men’s preview probably tomorrow.