Today’s Women’s News (08/27)

Written by: Staff on 27th August 2012

Today's Women's News (08/27)

epa03340471 Maria Sharapova of Russia in action during the final against Serena Williams of the USA at the London 2012 Olympic Games Tennis competition in Wimbledon, Greater London, Britain, 04 August 2012. EPA/ANDY RAIN |

U. S. Open

Singles – First Round: (3) Maria Sharapova def. Melinda Czink 6-2 6-2

There was a time when Melinda Czink was a giant-killer. That was long ago; these days, she seems completely unable to threaten top players. She will be falling below #90. Maria Sharapova needs only one more win to defend her points, although she’ll need a lot more than that to climb.

Singles – First Round: (5) Petra Kvitova def. Polona Hercog 7-6(8-6) 6-1

Five straight wins for Petra Kvitova, taking her a little closer to a return to the #4 ranking. But Polona Hercog will fall below #70.

Singles – First Round: (7) Samantha Stosur def. Petra Martic 6-1 6-1

Eight straight wins here for Samantha Stosur, but that still leaves her a mere #9 in safe points, and in some slight danger of falling out of the Top Ten. Petra Martic, who made the second round last year, will fall below #70. Probably several spots below.

Singles – First Round: (9) Li Na def. Heather Watson 6-2 6-3

Unlike Stosur, with whom she shares an eighth of the draw, Li Na has nowhere to go but up. She has a big lead in the hunt for the #7 spot.

Singles – First Round: (11) Marion Bartoli def. Jamie Hampton 6-3 7-6(7-5)

Marion Bartoli is still only #11 in safe points, but it might not take much more than this to get her back into the Top Ten. Although that score hints that she may still be struggling just a little.

Singles – First Round: (15) Lucie Safarova def. (WC) Melanie Oudin 6-4 6-0

There wasn’t much to this; Lucie Safarova was simply pushing Melanie Oudin all around the court, and Oudin could’t supply counter-pressure. Which means that she will remain below #100.

Singles – First Round: Sorana Cirstea def. (16) Sabine Lisicki 4-6 6-2 6-2

Sabine Lisicki seems to be in an instant slump. Having fallen out of the Top Twenty after Dallas came off, this is going to cost her her Top 25 spot — indeed, she might end up below #30. She is already behind Sorana Cirstea, who is very close to making the Top Thirty.

Singles – First Round: (Q) Kristyna Pliskova def. (18) Julia Goerges 7-6(7-4) 6-1

It’s only the first day, so we can’t really guess what will be the biggest upset here — but this definitely feels like a candidate! Amazingly, as of now Goerges still has a chance to hit the Top Twenty, but it seems most unlikely in practice.

Singles – First Round: (19) Nadia Petrova def. Jarmila Gajdosova 6-3 7-6(7-3)

This will drop Jarmila Gajdosova well below the Top Hundred. Nadia Petrova needs one more win to defend her points; we’d guess she needs two more to hit the Top Twenty.

Singles – First Round: (23) Kim Clijsters def. (WC) Victoria Duval 6-3 6-1

Kim Clijsters seemed very slightly wobbly in the first four games of this, but once those were over, she took charge. It looks like she wants to go out on a high note. She certainly looks like a good bet to retire in the Top Twenty.

Singles – First Round: (25) Yanina Wickmayer def. (Q) Julia Glushko 7-5 6-2

Yanina Wickmayer defends her points; that may well suffice to keep her Top Thirty.

Singles – First Round: Lucie Hradecka def. (27) Anabel Medina Garrigues 6-3 6-3

Based on her current ranking, Anabel Medina Garrigues would not have been seeded. Which might have been better anyway, given the surface. But she made the third round last year, so this will cost her several more ranking spots — we’d guess she’ll end up below #40.

Singles – First Round: (31) Varvara Lepchenko def. Mathilde Johansson 6-3 3-6 7-5

Varvara Lepchenko was unable to finish her match at New Haven last week, so this is promising for her. And she wasn’t defending anything, so this just about guarantees her a Top Thirty spot.

Singles – First Round: Aleksandra Wozniak def. Alexandra Cadantu 6-0 6-3

Alexandra Cadantu had 140 points to defend this week, so it appears she will fall below #80. Aleksandra Wozniak appears to have clinched her Top Fifty spot.

Singles – First Round: (Q) Anastasia Rodionova def. (WC) Julia Cohen 6-3 6-0

Anastasia Rodionova was the lower-ranked of these two by more than sixty places, but she has a huge edge in experience. It will be touch and go whether Julia Cohen ends up in the Top Hundred.

Singles – First Round: Anna Tatishvili def. Stephanie Foretz Gacon 6-2 6-0

Anna Tatishvili is now not much below #60.

Singles – First Round: Casey Dellacqua def. (Q) Lesia Tsurenko 6-2 6-3

Lesia Tsurenko loses what should have been a good chance to make the Top Hundred.

Singles – First Round: (Q) Edina Gallovits-Hall def. (Q) Stefanie Voegele 7-5 6-4

These two came in ranked just one place apart — Voegele #134, Gallovits-Hall #135. So this is formally an upset. This will reverse the order.

Singles – First Round: Lourdes Dominguez Lino def. Sesil Karatantcheva 6-4 6-1

Lourdes Dominguez Lino adds a few points and will probably rise to around #75.

Singles – First Round: (WC) Mallory Burdette def. Timea Bacsinszky 6-4 6-3

Timea Bacsinszky is down to #308; she can’t stay healthy long enough to get her form back. Mallory Burdette will rise above #200.

Singles – First Round: Mandy Minella def. (WC) Olivia Rogowska 6-2 3-6 6-3

Olivia Rogowska will remain below the Top Hundred.

Singles – First Round: Romina Oprandi def. Andrea Petkovic 6-2 7-5

It was, frankly, a lousy day to be German, with Lisicki, Goerges, and Petkovic all bowing out. (Lucky for Germany that Angelique Kerber is in the other half!) At least Petkovic has the excuse of a long layoff. But she loses quarterfinalist points, meaning that she is going to plunge to around #60.

Singles – First Round: Simona Halep def. Iveta Benesova 7-5 7-6(7-5)

Iveta Benesova loses her chance for a return to the Top Fifty.