Today’s Women’s News (09/27): Pan Pacific & Las Vegas Challenger

Written by: Staff on 27th September 2012

Today's Women's News (09/27): Pan Pacific & Las Vegas Challenger

epa03409383 Angelique Kerber of Germany returns a backhand shot against Ayumi Morita of Japan in the second round match of the Pan Pacific Open tennis in Tokyo, Japan, 25 September 2012. EPA/KIMIMASA MAYAMA |

Pan Pacific

Singles – Quarterfinal: (5) Angelique Kerber def. (1) Victoria Azarenka walkover (Dizziness)

This was pretty predictable, after yesterday. Azarenka is safe at #1 in any case. The big news is for Angelique Kerber. It isn’t official yet, but we would consider her to have qualified for Istanbul.

Singles – Quarterfinal: (8) Samantha Stosur def. (2) Maria Sharapova 6-4 7-6(12-10)

Maria Sharapova wasn’t going to make it to #1 this week — but this is a severe blow to her hopes for the year-end #1. With 2900 points maximum available (from Beijing, Moscow, and Istanbul), she is almost a thousand points behind Azarenka. But it’s a big, big win for Samantha Stosur. She is still only #9 in the rankings, but one more win would make her #8, and she is now on Li Na’s tail in the contest for the last Istanbul spot.

Singles – Quarterfinal: (3) Agnieszka Radwanska def. (10) Caroline Wozniacki 6-4 6-3

Caroline Wozniacki’s winning streak ends at eight, leaving her still stuck at #11. And #11 in the Race. For practical purposes, she is out of the contest to qualify directly for Istanbul; she’s now competing only for an alternate spot. Agnieszka Radwanska still needs one more win to retain the #3 ranking, but she is, of course, the highest seed left here.

Singles – Quarterfinal: (17) Nadia Petrova def. (6) Sara Errani 3-6 7-5 6-3

This keeps Sara Errani from clinching her Istanbul spot (which is why we consider Kerber clinched), but her odds are still very good. She will keep the #7 ranking unless Samantha Stosur wins Tokyo. Nadia Petrova, amazingly, has hardly moved so far, rising only from #18 to #17. Make the final, though, and she is #16.

Doubles – Quarterfinal: Kops-Jones/Spears def. (3) Srebotnik/Zheng 6-3 6-2

The stars seem to be aligning for Lisa Raymond, who won’t have to face Srebotnik/Zheng on her way to the final after all. Or maybe they’re aligning for Americans — Kops-Jones/Spears keep up their winning streak and give their faint Istanbul chances a significant boost. And they will be the ones facing Lisicki/Raymond, so we’re guaranteed at least one American in the final.

Doubles – Quarterfinal: (4) Groenefeld/Peschke def. Hsieh/Medina Garrigues 6-4 7-5

Groenefeld/Peschke are the only seeds left here. It has been a long time since Kveta Peschke has been able to say anything like that!

Doubles – Quarterfinal: Goerges/Zahlavova Strycova def. (WC) Pavlyuchenkova/Safarova 1-6 6-3 10-5 (Match TB)

Las Vegas Challenger

Wednesday was a better day for seeds in Las Vegas than Tuesday; #2 Lauren Davis, #4 Anastasia Rodionova, and #8 Heidi El Tabakh all advanced. But we still managed two upsets as Maria Abramovic eliminated #5 Irina Falconi 7-5 6-1 and Stephanie Dubois knocked off struggling #6 Alison Riske in a third set tiebreak.

The illness problem isn’t confined to Asia; wildcard Chelsey Gullickson’s attempt at a comeback ended with her retiring down 5-2 to Jessica Pegula.

Several moderately familiar names advanced; Elena Bovina beat Julia Boserup in three sets, and Shelby Rogers beat promising youngster Grace Min 6-4 6-0.