Today’s Women’s News (01/7)

Written by: Staff on 7th January 2013

Today's Women's News (01/7)

epa03521383 Italy's Sara Errani returns to Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova during their second round match at the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane, Australia, 01 January 2013. EPA/DAN PELED AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT |

Sydney

Singles – First Round: (3) Sara Errani def. Karolina Pliskova 6-1 6-3

It looks as if Sara Errani is over her funk of last week.

Singles – First Round: (4) Na Li def. Christina McHale 7-6(7-2) 7-5

Six straight wins to start the year for Li Na. That’s particularly impressive since she flew in from Shenzhen. It’s not so much the jet lag — it’s the temperature difference. The temperatures in China weren’t much above freezing. Here, they’re having a record heat wave. Li herself explained that she needed to play Sydney because she needed to get in some matches in the warmth.

Singles – First Round: Jie Zheng def. (6) Samantha Stosur 6-3 6-7(7-9) 6-4

More evidence that Samantha Stosur came back from her surgery too soon. But what can she do except play through it? She certainly doesn’t want to miss the Australian season!

Singles – First Round: Roberta Vinci def. (8) Nadia Petrova 7-5 7-5

It doesn’t appear Nadia Petrova will be climbing in the rankings this week.

Singles – First Round: Kimiko Date-Krumm def. Casey Dellacqua 6-4 6-1

Kimiko Date-Krumm had a lousy 2012, then rescued her season in the late Challengers. Now it looks as if she might be continuing that form.

Singles – First Round: Jelena Jankovic def. Tamira Paszek 6-2 7-6(7-5)

This isn’t going to do anything for Jelena Jankovic’s ranking; she has done relatively well at optional events. But after having had to pull out of her tournament last week, it’s promising that she managed to win.

Singles – First Round: Galina Voskoboeva def. Yanina Wickmayer 3-6 7-6(7-5) 6-2

After reaching the Auckland final last week, Yanina Wickmayer may well have still been tired.

Singles – First Round: Madison Keys (Q) def. Lucie Safarova 6-2 6-1

Lucie Safarova loses another Top Fifteen chance. Madison Keys ought to rise above #120.

Singles – First Round: Ayumi Morita def. Daniela Hantuchova 1-6 6-3 6-3

Daniela Hantuchova will remain stuck below #40.

Singles – First Round: Svetlana Kuznetsova def. Julia Goerges 3-6 6-3 6-3

That’s the first promising sign for Svetlana Kuznetsova in a long while, although we’d guess she will still be stuck below #80.

Doubles – First Round: (2) Hlavackova/Hradecka def. Kops-Jones/Spears 7-6(7-4) 7-5

Doubles – First Round: (3) Kirilenko/Raymond def. Erakovic/Makarova 7-5 6-4

Doubles – First Round: (4) Huber/Mirza def. Cibulkova/Safarova 1-6 6-0 11-9

Doubles – First Round: Panova/Voskoboeva def. H Chan/Rosolska 6-2 7-6(8-6)

Chan Hao-Ching was another player who came here from winning in Shenzhen. Interesting that she isn’t playing with Chan Yung-Jan — presumably Yung-Jan is thinking more about the Australian Open singles.

Doubles – First Round: Petrova/Srebotnik def. Goerges/Hantuchova 6-1 6-3

Hobart

Singles – First Round: Peng Shuai def. (1) Su-Wei Hsieh 6-2 6-7(7-9) 7-6(7-4)

If Peng Shuai had done this well in Shenzhen, she might have earned an Australian Open seed. Now — it’s not enough points to matter.

Singles – First Round: (2) Sorana Cirstea def. Nina Bratchikova 3-6 7-5 6-2

Sorana Cirstea was hurting last week, so this is a good sign.

Singles – First Round: (4) Yaroslava Shvedova def. Lourdes Dominguez Lino 6-4 6-1

Yaroslava Shvedova also seemed rather off last week. And she beat a better player than did Cirstea, so this too is a good sign.

Singles – First Round: Kirsten Flipkens def. (6) Francesca Schiavone 2-6 6-3 7-6(7-3)

On the other hand, there isn’t much evidence of life from Francesca Schiavone. At the rate things are going, Kirsten Flipkens — who is very close to reaching the Top Fifty — may pass her soon.

Singles – First Round: (9) Mona Barthel def. Ashleigh Barty 2-6 6-0 6-1

Last year’s champion Mona Barthel almost didn’t get seeded; she made it only after Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova withdrew. A tough start, given how much she has to defend.

Singles – First Round: Monica Niculescu def. Mandy Minella 6-4 6-3

At this rate, it may not take much longer for Monica Niculescu to make it back to the Top Fifty.

Singles – First Round: Lauren Davis def. Bojana Bobusic 1-6 6-2 7-6(7-5)

All of a sudden, Bojana Bobusic is looking like Australia’s most promising youngster. Of course, she doesn’t have much competition….

Singles – First Round: Elena Vesnina def. Silvia Soler-Espinosa 6-2 6-4

After all sorts of trouble last year, Elena Vesnina seems to be starting 2013 in pretty good form.

Singles – First Round: Jarmila Gajdosova (WC) def. Romina Oprandi 6-4 7-5

Jarmila Gajdosova seems to be making something of a comeback, but she will need a lot more than this to get back into the Top Hundred.

Singles – First Round: Chanelle Scheepers def. Alize Cornet 6-1 6-2

This may cost Alize Cornet her Top Forty spot.

Singles – First Round: Tsvetana Pironkova def. Irina-Camelia Begu 6-3 6-4

Irina-Camelia Begu will remain below the Top Fifty.

Singles – First Round: Simona Halep def. Lara Arruabarrena-Vecino 6-3 6-2

Simona Halep should stay Top Fifty. We aren’t going to try to estimate where Lara Arruabarrena-Vecino ends up — just typing her name is exhausting…. It appears that it’s too long to fit on the WTA scoreboard page!

Doubles – First Round: (3) Bratchikova/Husarova def. Hibberd/Smith 6-1 6-3