Women Tennis Update – Cincinnati, US Open Seeds, and Rankings

Written by: Staff on 18th August 2012

Citi Open tennis tournament in Washington, DC

Women Tennis Update - Cincinnati, US Open Seeds, and Rankings

epa03342007 Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia returns a ball from Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia during the women's final match at the Citi Open tennis tournament in Washington, DC, USA, 04 August 2012. EPA/SHAWN THEW |

Cincinnati

Singles – Third Round: (17) Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova def. (6) Caroline Wozniacki 6-4 6-4

Earlier this year, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova was in a slump at least as bad as Caroline Wozniacki’s. The difference is, Pavlyuchenkova has recovered. She leaves Wozniacki still at #8 — for now. But Wozniacki has the title at New Haven to defend next week….

Singles – Third Round: (9) Li Na def. (Q) Johanna Larsson 6-2 6-2

Li Na can’t rise in the rankings this week, but the better she does here, the better her chances later on. After all, Li is #9, and Wozniacki is #8, and, as mentioned, Wozniacki has New Haven to defend….

Singles – Quarterfinal: (9) Li Na def. (1) Agnieszka Radwanska 6-1 6-1

Pretty impressive for Li Na, who played two matches on this day to Agnieszka Radwanska’s one. But then, Li didn’t have the #1 ranking on the line. Radwanska blows yet another chance; Victoria Azarenka will keep the #1 spot.

Singles – Quarterfinal: (5) Angelique Kerber def. (2) Serena Williams 6-4 6-4

It isn’t easy to beat Serena Williams with power. Variety, now, that she doesn’t like. And Angelique Kerber likes to give an opponent different looks. It worked this time; Serena never seemed to be comfortable — indeed, she has looked out of sorts all week. That means she will not rise above her current #4; Maria Sharapova will remain #3. Kerber is still at #7, but if she makes the final — which, with the draw as it is, looks quite possible — she’ll be #6.

Singles – Quarterfinal: (WC) Venus Williams def. (3) Samantha Stosur 6-2 6-7(2-7) 6-4

Not exactly the best omen as Samantha Stosur tries to prepare to defend her U. S. Open title. She will not be reclaiming the #5 ranking from Petra Kvitova. Venus Williams, though, returns to the Top Fifty.

Singles – Quarterfinal: (4) Petra Kvitova def. (17) Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-3 7-6(7-4)

This was a contest to see who was more tired, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, playing her second match of the day (although she had had to play only one set) or Petra Kvitova, playing her eighth match in the last two weeks. Kvitova has clinched the #5 ranking; Pavlyuchenkova is Top Twenty but loses the chance to earn a Top Sixteen U. S. Open seed.

Doubles – Quarterfinal: (8) Srebotnik/Zheng def. (WC) Daniilidou/Peng 7-5, retired (Peng: right shoulder injury)

This top part of the draw seems jinxed. First Huber/Raymond lost to Daniilidou/Peng, then Daniilidou/Peng had to retire.

Doubles – Semifinal: (5) Hlavackova/Hradecka def. (Alt) Jurak/Marosi 6-4 3-6 10-8 (Match TB)

Sanity is preserved… by the skin of its teeth.

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U. S. Open Seed Update: Women

We’re very close to done with this. Victoria Azarenka will be the #1 U. S Open seed, with Agnieszka Radwanska #2. Maria Sharapova will be #3; Serena Williams will have the #4 seed.

Petra Kvitova, Samantha Stosur, Angelique Kerber, and Caroline Wozniacki are certain to be in the #5-#8 block; all that remains to be determined is the order.

#9-#12 are Li Na, Sara Errani, Marion Bartoli, and Ana Ivanovic.

We’ve now gotten confirmation that Kaia Kanepi will miss the U. S. Open. She would have been seeded in the #13-#16 block. Her absence lets Vera Zvonareva clinch her seed in this block. So #13-#16 will be Dominika Cibulkova, Maria Kirilenko, Vera Zvonareva, and either Lucie Safarova or Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. It will be Safarova unless Pavlyuchenkova makes the Cincinnati final.

#17-#24 will be Pavlyuchenkova or Safarova, Flavia Pennetta, Sabine Lisicki, Julia Goerges, Francesca Schiavone, Nadia Petrova, Roberta Vinci, and Christina McHale.

Kanepi’s withdrawal was very good news for Zheng Jie, who now will get the last seed. The #25-#32 seeding tier will be Kim Clijsters, Jelena Jankovic, Klara Zakopalova, Yanina Wickmayer, Monica Niculescu, Anabel Medina Garrigues, Petra Cetkovska, and Zheng. Alternates are Tamira Paszak, Varvara Lepchenko, and Peng Shuai.

Estimated WTA Rankings As of August 17, 2012

Rank &

Prior

Rank …Name …………. Points

1..(1) Azarenka ………..8745

2..(3) ARADWANSKA ………8115

3..(2) Sharapova ……… 7815

4..(4) SWILLIAMS ……… 7300

5..(5) KVITOVA ……….. 6170*

6..(6) STOSUR ………….5700

7..(7) KERBER ………….5490*

8..(8) WOZNIACKI ……… 4605