Today’s Women’s News (10/16)

Written by: Staff on 16th October 2012

Today's Women's News (10/16)

epa03434885 Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia returns the ball to Ekaterina Makarova of Russia during their first round match at the Kremlin Cup tennis tournament in Moscow, Russia, 16 October 2012. EPA/SERGEI ILNITSKY |

Moscow

Singles – First Round: (5) Dominika Cibulkova def. Ekaterina Makarova 2-6 6-4 6-2

Dominika Cibulkova is going to have a hard time defending her title this way…. And she remains in danger of falling out of the Top Fifteen, although it would take some mildly bad breaks for that to happen. Ekaterina Makarova is still #20 in safe points, but this means she won’t clinch her year-end Top Twenty spot for a few more days. Indeed, Sofia might still change things after that.

Singles – First Round: Simona Halep def. (6) Nadia Petrova 3-6 7-5 7-5

This took three hours and eight minutes, and how often do you see a marathon like that indoors? Even more irritating for Nadia Petrova must be the fact that she won four more points than Simona Halep. But she loses any chance to rise above her current #13.

Singles – First Round: Yaroslava Shvedova def. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-2 6-2

One more win might well let Yaroslava Shvedova end the year back in the Top 25 — pretty amazing after all those years of struggle. But Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova will be no better than #35.

Singles – First Round: Tsvetana Pironkova def. Varvara Lepchenko 6-0 7-6(7-3)

Only on an indoor or grass court…. Varvara Lepchenko loses any chance of reaching the Top Twenty at this time. Tsvetana Pironkova defends her points and will probably stay #45 or higher.

Singles – First Round: Alize Cornet def. (Q) Anastasia Rodionova 6-4 6-3

This by itself doesn’t help Alize Cornet appreciably, but one more win would take her close to the Top Forty.

Singles – First Round: (Q) Vesna Dolonc def. Galina Voskoboeva 1-6 6-1 6-4

After a breakthrough year last year, this year is ending pretty feebly for Galina Voskoboeva. She will probably be in the #80-#85 range.

Doubles – First Round: (1) Makarova/Vesnina def. Grandin/Uhlirova 6-0 6-4

Makarova/Vesnina can’t qualify for Istanbul this year, but they continue to make a strong case for next year. And Makarova would doubtless like to end the year in the Top Ten; Vesnina is already there.

Doubles – First Round: (3) Llagostera Vives/Mirza def. Kustova/Savchuk 6-3 5-7 10-6 (Match TB)

Doubles – First Round: Jurak/Marosi def. Craybas/Hrdinova 6-3 6-4

Luxembourg

Singles – First Round: (1) Roberta Vinci def. Olga Govortsova 6-0 2-6 6-0

Olga Govortsova loses her chance to end the year in the Top Fifty.

Singles – First Round: (2) Julia Goerges def. Silvia Soler-Espinosa 6-2 6-1

Julia Goerges hasn’t added any points yet, but it appears certain that she will rise at least one ranking spot.

Singles – First Round: (3) Jelena Jankovic def. Peng Shuai 3-0 retired (Right Shoulder Injury)

It’s rather funny: Of the four seeds to win on Tuesday, not one earned any points for her win; indeed, they all need semifinals or better. To be sure, if Jelena Jankovic didn’t earn many points, she didn’t have to do much work, either. She leaves Peng Shuai right around #40.

Singles – First Round: (WC) Kirsten Flipkens def. (5) Sabine Lisicki 3-6 6-3 6-1

At the rate Yanina Wickmayer is going downhill, Kirsten Flipkens may be Belgium’s top player soon. Odd, in a way, that Sabine Lisicki ended up in Wickmayer’s draw spot. Lisicki will remain right behind Wickmayer — we currently show them at #23 and #24. Flipkens is up to around #55.

Singles – First Round: (6) Sorana Cirstea def. Petra Martic 6-2 6-2

Sorana Cirstea needs two more wins to move in the rankings, but if she earns them, she’ll be Top 25.

Singles – First Round: Venus Williams def. (WC) Belinda Bencic 6-3 6-1

This will very likely let Venus Williams end the year in the Top Forty.

Singles – First Round: Lourdes Dominguez Lino def. (Q) Tatjana Malek 7-6(7-3) 6-1

Tatjana Malek ends the year around #115.

Singles – First Round: (Q) Annika Beck def. Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 5-7 7-6(7-2) 6-2

Annika Beck is up to about #110. She probably can’t quite make the Top Hundred this year, but she’ll have a very good chance next year. Barbora Zahlavova Strycova will probably stay a little below #90.

Doubles – First Round: (1) Hlavackova/Hradecka def. Birnerova/Castano 6-4 6-2

Hlavackova/Hradecka can’t possibly do anything for their rankings here, but they have a real shot at the year-end #3 and #4 spots. And it looks as if they’ll go to Istanbul in good form.

Doubles – First Round: (2) Begu/Niculescu def. Oprandi/Paszek 6-1 6-0

Doubles – First Round: (3) Dushevina/Govortsova def. Soler-Espinosa/Suarez Navarro 6-4 6-3

Doubles – First Round: Bertens/Rus def. Keothavong/Klepac 3-6 6-2 10-6 (Match TB)