Women Tennis Update 08-04-12 : Olympics, Washington, and Rankings

Written by: Staff on 4th August 2012

Citi Open tennis tournament in Washington, DC

Women Tennis Update 08-04-12 : Olympics, Washington, and Rankings

epa03339255 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia returns a ball to Vania King of the USA in their semifinal match during the Citi Open tennis tournament in Washington, DC, USA, 03 August 2012. EPA/SHAWN THEW |

Olympics

Singles – Semifinal: (4) Serena Williams def. (1) Victoria Azarenka 6-1 6-2

There isn’t much to say about this; Serena Williams sliced through Victoria Azarenka like a hot knife through butter. Which means that the #1 ranking will be on the line in the final: Maria Sharapova can take it with a title. Even with the loss, Victoria Azarenka looks pretty good for bronze, given her opponent.

Singles – Semifinal: (3) Maria Sharapova def. (14) Maria Kirilenko 6-2 6-3

There wasn’t much to this. The only chance Maria Kirilenko had to do any real damage was when Maria Sharapova hit a particularly puffball-ish serve. She didn’t even get that much attention for it — not with Roger Federer and Juan Martin del Potro doing their thing on Centre Court. Kirilenko will end up #14 no matter how she does in the bronze medal match.

Doubles – Semifinal: (4) Hlavackova/Hradecka def. (1) Huber/Raymond 6-1 7-6(7-2)

On clay, this would be no surprise. But on grass? We have to think the Americans were suffering from nerves — after all, they’re both old enough that this will surely be their last Olympics, and both have had problems getting into the draw in the past.

Mixed Doubles – Quarterfinal: (3) Raymond/Bryan def. Dulko/Del Potro 6-2 7-5

A long, long day for Juan Martin del Potro, obviously. For Raymond/Bryan, the big news is, they’re in the semifinal a day before two of the other semifinal teams.

We also find ourselves thinking that, in women’s doubles, Lisa Raymond and Liezel Huber are tied for #1. Should this perhaps count as a tiebreak? It would make the mixed a little more interesting.

Mixed Doubles – Quarterfinal: Lisicki/Kas def. Vinci/Bracciali 4-6 7-6(7-2) 10-7 (Match TB)

A very Olympics-ish result: Neither of these teams would have been at all likely to play except when players from the same nation have to be together.

Washington

Singles – Semifinal: (1) Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova def. (4) Vania King 4-6 7-5 6-4

This took two hours and fifty minutes, and in conditions hot enough that they took a heat break after the second set. It will be interesting to see what Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova has left for the final. If she isn’t too debilitated, she will be the overwhelming favorite — and she will be just below the Top Twenty if she wins. Vania King ends up just below the Top Fifty.

Singles – Semifinal: Magdalena Rybarikova def. (3) Sloane Stephens 6-3 6-3

Magdalena Rybarikova is on a genuine hot streak. Sloane Stephens was, perhaps, nervous about making a final. The combination made for a surprisingly easy match. Rybarikova is climbing fast. #114 a week ago, she came here at #102. This takes her to around #75.

Doubles – Final: Aoyama/Chang def. Falconi/Scheepers 7-5 6-2

Shuko Aoyama isn’t an entirely negligible doubles presence. She had won four $50K or higher Challengers in the last couple of years, including Lexington last week. But she came here with only nine WTA wins, and a five match WTA doubles losing streak going back to Seoul 2011. She wasn’t having an easy time getting into WTA events. Indeed, this was only her fourth of 2012. Talk about breaking a slump! It is her first WTA title.

It’s not so big for Chang Kai-Chen; she won Osaka 2010 with Osterloh (over Aoyama/Fujiwara, ironically), plus she won Kuala Lumpur this year with Chuang. Still, she had never won two titles in one year. So it’s a breakthrough for both winners.

Estimated WTA Rankings As of August 3, 2012

Rank &

Prior

Rank …Name …………. Points

1..(1) AZARENKA ………..8800

2..(3) SHARAPOVA ……… 8590*

3..(2) ARADWANSKA ………8260

4..(4) SWILLIAMS ……… 7700*

5..(5) STOSUR ………….6195

6..(6) KVITOVA ……….. 5275

7..(7) KERBER ………….5225

8..(8) WOZNIACKI ……… 4206