Daily Women Tennis News Update – Eastbourne, ‘s-Hertogenbosch

Written by: Staff on 24th June 2012

Daily Women Tennis News Update - Eastbourne, 's-Hertogenbosch

epa03278761 Nadia Petrova of Russia makes a return against Urszula Radwanska of Poland during the womens final of the Unicef Open tennis tournament in Rosmalen,The Netherlands, 23 June 2012. EPA/KOEN SUYK SUYK |

Eastbourne

Singles – Final: Tamira Paszek def. (5) Angelique Kerber 5-7 6-3 7-5

There was a spot near the back of the Eastbourne main court where Marion Bartoli had slipped the day before. On Saturday, toward the end of the first set, it was Angelique Kerber’s turn to slip there. She played on, but it seemed to slow her down just a little in the second set. In the third, Kerber built a break lead — but then Tamira Paszek slipped in the same spot. She had her ankle worked on — and, from that stage on, it seemed as if she was fit and Kerber wasn’t quite. And Paszek does like fast courts….

It is the biggest title of her career, and naturally it will give her a big, big boost. She came in at #59; we show her rising to #37. Admittedly she has a lot to defend at Wimbledon. But, if her ankle isn’t too bad, she also goes in having shown that she can really do damage on grass. She opens against Caroline Wozniacki. Based on current form, that sounds like trouble for Wozniacki.

Angelique Kerber seemed to be nervous at the end — a little surprising, given that she was going for her third title of the year. The loss costs her the chance to rise to #7. But she will have another chance, and a very good one, at Wimbledon.

Especially if Paszek can beat Wozniacki, who will go in at #7.

Singles – Final: (4) Llagostera Vives/Martinez Sanchez def. (1) Huber/Raymond 6-4, retired (Huber: right thigh injury)

This is starting to look a little jinx-y. Huber/Raymond won four titles in a row in the spring (Paris, Doha, Dubai, Indian Wells) — and now have gone seven events in a row without a title. Admittedly there was a lot of clay in there — but grass shouldn’t be a problem, and they failed at both Birmingham and Eastbourne. They will retain the top ranking spots — but, the way Errani/Vinci have been playing, that may not last.

This is the first title for Llagostera Vives/Martinez Sanchez as a team since Dubai 2010. But they are suddenly looking like they could be a very major factor at the Olympics….

‘s-Hertogenbosch

Singles – Final: (8) Nadia Petrova def. (Q) Urszula Radwanska 6-4 6-3

This was one of those matches that may have been less close than the score. Urszula Radwanska was never really in the match. Still, she made her first-ever final, and she rose above #60. Not a bad week.

But a better one for Nadia Petrova. She picked up her first title since Washington 2011. She returned to the Top Twenty. And — she won her first grass title. That makes her the latest player to complete the career surface sweep; on clay, she has titles at Amelia Island 2006, Charleston 2006, Berlin 2006; on grass, ‘s-Hertogenbosch 2012; on hard, Doha 2006, Cincinnati 2008, Washington 2011; and indoors, Linz 2005, Stuttgart 2006, Paris 2007, Quebec City 2008.

And she still had the chance to play the doubles….

Doubles – Final: (1) Errani/Vinci def. (2) Kirilenko/Petrova 6-4 3-6 11-9 (Match TB)

All right, no two-in-one-day for Nadia Petrova. But consider what she was up against: This is already the seventh title this year for Errani/Vinci. They may be only #3 and #4 in the rankings, but they really seem to want the top spots. They are now 41-4 this year, and haven’t lost a match since Miami. (Huber/Raymond, by contrast, are 31-9.) They have won 23 in a row. And they’re winning on grass as well as clay. Wimbledon, here they come! And, perhaps not long after, #1, here they come….

Topics: 's-Hertogenbosch tennis news, Eastbourne tennis news, Nadia Petrova, Sports, Tamira Paszek, Tennis News