Today’s Women’s News (10/13)

Written by: Staff on 13th October 2012

Today's Women's News (10/13)

epa03373035 CAPTION CORRECTION: CORRECTING ID OF PLAYER Bethanie Mattek-Sands of the US hits a return to Venus Williams of the US during their match on the second day of the 2012 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 28 August 2012. The US Open runs through Sunday 09 September 2012. EPA/JASON SZENES |

Osaka

Singles – Semifinal: Chang Kai-Chen def. (1) Samantha Stosur 6-4 4-6 7-6(7-3)

It seems like half a lifetime since Chang Kai-Chen defeated Dinara Safina and looked like the next big thing. Later, we learned that Safina was suffering from the injury that ended her career — and Chang turned out to be nothing much. Now, suddenly, she is back. Or, at least, she has another big win.

There is an interesting question, though. Samantha Stosur is the #1 seed in Moscow, which is far more important in deciding who will earn the #1 alternate spot in Istanbul than is Osaka. Did she possibly want one more day to get there and get prepared? The flip side of that is, if she were trying to get out, would she have played a three set marathon?

Singles – Semifinal: Heather Watson def. Misaki Doi 7-6(7-2) 7-5

And so, for the second time in a month, we have a British player in a WTA final. Laura Robson lost. But Heather Watson faces a weaker opponent…. Watson, #58 coming in, is up to about #56; it appears that, if she wins the title, she will be #50 and Britain’s top player.

Doubles – Semifinal: (4) Date-Krumm/Watson def. (2) Medina Garrigues/Zheng 6-4 4-6 10-8 (Match TB)

If this is to be Kimiko Date-Krumm’s last event in Japan (which certainly seems likely), she is going out in fine style!

Linz

Singles – Semifinal: (1) Victoria Azarenka def. (LL) Irina-Camelia Begu 6-2 6-1

You know, by now, how this goes: No points for Victoria Azarenka. Still, she has won nine straight matches. If nothing else, she’s telling the world how hard it will be to pass her! Irina-Camelia Begu ends up a few points shy of the Top Fifty.

Singles – Semifinal: (5) Julia Goerges def. (Q) Kirsten Flipkens 1-6 6-2 6-3

Julia Goerges hasn’t moved this week, either, and can’t even if she wins the title. And what are her odds of winning the title? She’s going to be exhausted after three sets of this plus a long doubles match:

Doubles – Semifinal: (2) Goerges/Zahlavova Strycova def. Hantuchova/Martic 6-7(3-7) 6-3 10-3 (Match TB)