New Haven
Singles – Semifinal: (2/WC) Petra Kvitova def. (4) Sara Errani 6-1 6-3
Finally Petra Kvitova is starting to look like the player she was in 2011! And that’s a big deal, because she won the year-end Championships last year — the biggest thing left on her record. She needs to do well for the rest of the year to qualify. A title here would really help. Sara Errani, as the feature shows, has a pretty good chance to reach #8 at the U. S. Open, but a title here would have made her chances even better.
Singles – Semifinal: (7) Maria Kirilenko def. (3) Caroline Wozniacki 7-5, retired (knee)
Caroline Wozniacki didn’t look bad here, but her knee was bandaged and she probably didn’t want to risk more. She had finally suffered a loss at New Haven, meaning that she will fall to #9. She says she will play the U. S. Open, though. Maria Kirilenko is up to #12.
Doubles – Semifinal: (1) Huber/Raymond def. (3) Srebotnik/Zheng 7-5 6-3
Huber/Raymond seem to finally be getting things together — just in time for the U. S. Open!
Doubles – Semifinal: (2) Hlavackova/Hradecka def. Lee-Waters/Moulton-Levy 6-4 4-6 10-7 (Match TB)
Two straight finals for Hlavackova/Hradecka. An impressive way to go into the year’s final Slam.
Dallas
Singles – Final: (3) Roberta Vinci def. (2) Jelena Jankovic 7-5 6-3
Jelena Jankovic led early in this, but then the balloon started to deflate. It felt like all those struggles and failures of the last year or so were getting to her — the confidence just wasn’t there. She remains title-less this year, and she remains below the Top 25 — although her result here at least put her back in the Top Thirty.
Roberta Vinci didn’t have a title this year, either, but she wasn’t a former #1. On the whole, she has been doing about as well this year as last, and better in doubles. And winning a hardcourt title has to be nice. It’s certainly nice rankings-wise; we show her rising to #19. Although she really needs to work on getting at least 50% of her first serves in!
It’s interesting to note that, although Vinci was the #3 seed here, she was actually the highest-ranked player in the field. The tournament in fact followed form pretty closely.