Women’s Update & Results. Next Week Preview

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 28th September 2013

Women's Update & Results. Next Week Preview

epa03887075 Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic returns a shot against Angelique Kerber of Germany during their final match of the Toray Pan Pacific Open tennis tournament in Tokyo, Japan, 28 September 2013. EPA/KIYOSHI OTA |

****** TODAY’S WOMEN’S NEWS ******

Beijing

Singles – First Round: (1) Serena Williams def. Elena Vesnina 6-4 6-2

Poor Elena Vesnina has had two tough draws in a row. She might have had a chance to earn points last week even so, but not this week. She will remain below the Top Twenty — probably for the year, unless she has better luck in Moscow.

Singles – First Round: (3) Agnieszka Radwanska def. Stefanie Voegele 4-6 6-4 6-4

This should not have been so tough. Is Agnieska Radwanska still feeling the effects of playing Seoul and the Pan Pacific back-to-back?

Singles – First Round: (4) Na Li def. Daniela Hantuchova 6-0 6-4

This was very strange — Li Na won the first ten games, then Daniela Hantuchova four of the next five before Li finished it off. That probably means no Top Thirty spot for Hantuchova.

Singles – First Round: (13) Sabine Lisicki def. Chanelle Scheepers 6-3 6-2

Sabine Lisicki keeps herself barely alive in the Race. But some of the numbers here were a bit disturbing. She had seventeen break chances against Chanelle Scheepers — and converted only five.

Singles – First Round: Lucie Safarova def. (15) Samantha Stosur 7-5 6-3

For the second straight week, Lucie Safarova tops Samantha Stosur. Which means that Stosur is officially out of the WTA Race. She will remain around #20 — maybe lower.

Singles – First Round: Lauren Davis def. Mona Barthel 6-0 5-7 6-4

It appears Mona Barthel will end the year below #30.

Singles – First Round: Laura Robson def. Klara Zakopalova 7-6(7-3) 4-6 6-1

Probably no Top Thirty spot for Klara Zakopalova this year either. Laura Robson still has a chance, but she’ll need more.

Singles – First Round: Misaki Doi def. Silvia Soler-Espinosa 6-1 6-1

Misaki Doi won her opener in Tokyo also. By her standards, it has been a very good Asian swing.

Singles – First Round: Kaia Kanepi def. Julia Goerges 7-5 6-4

When Kaia Kanepi can play, she’s usually trouble…. This probably means Julia Goerges will end the year around #50.

Singles – First Round: Madison Keys def. Dominika Cibulkova 6-4 6-3

There will be no spot at Istanbul for Dominika Cibulkova. She will remain below #20.

Singles – First Round: Maria Kirilenko def. Jie Zheng 7-5 6-2

Maria Kirilenko is still in the Istanbul hunt, at least officially, though it would take a near-miracle for her to qualify.

Doubles – First Round: Mladenovic/Pennetta def. Jurak/Minella 6-2 6-2

Doubles – First Round: Pavlyuchenkova/Safarova def. Lepchenko/S Zheng 5-7 6-0 10-6

Doubles – First Round: King/Voskoboeva def. Kuznetsova/Stosur 7-6(7-5) 6-3

******** THIS WEEK IN TENNIS ********

THIS WEEK ON THE WTA:

Beijing (Premier Mandatory/Hard). Defending Champion: Victoria Azarenka

NEXT WEEK ON THE WTA:

Linz (International/Indoor Hard). Defending Champion: Victoria Azarenka

Osaka (International/Hard). Defending Champion: Heather Watson

************ STATS AND FACTS ************

**RANKINGS

Estimated WTA Rankings As of September 28, 2013

Rank &

Prior

Rank….Name…………..Points

1..(1) SWilliams ……… 12260

2..(2) AZARENKA ………..9480

3..(3) Sharapova ……… 7641

4..(4) ARADWANSKA ………5995

5..(5) Li ……………..5565

6..(6) ERRANI ………….4300

7.(11) KVITOVA ……….. 3945*

8..(8) WOZNIACKI ……… 3735

9..(9) KERBER ………….3645

10..(7) Bartoli ……….. 3622

11.(10) JANKOVIC ………..3300

12.(12) VINCI …………. 3060

13.(13) STEPHENS ………..3045

14.(14) SUAREZ NAVARRO …..2775

15.(16) IVANOVIC ………..2775

16.(15) Lisicki ……….. 2770

17.(18) HALEP …………. 2685

18.(19) Kirilenko ……… 2620

19.(20) FLIPKENS ………..2596

20.(17) STOSUR ………….2445

21.(21) CIRSTEA ……….. 2245

22.(22) Makarova ………..2146

23.(23) CIBULKOVA ……… 2126

24.(24) VESNINA ……….. 2125

25.(27) KUZNETSOVA ………2063

26.(25) Hampton ……….. 1851

27.(28) CORNET ………….1790

28.(29) PAVLYUCHENKOVA …..1750

29.(32) PENNETTA ………..1730

30.(30) Kanepi ………….1671

**DRAWS

Pan Pacific — Week of September 22

WINNER: Petra Kvitova

………………..3R……………..QF………..SF………F

1 Azarenka……….V.Williams………Williams…..Williams

13 Halep…………(13)Halep

9 Stephens……….Bouchard………..Bouchard

6 Jankovic……….(6)Jankovic

3 Errani…………Kuznetsova………Kuznetsova

15 Cirstea……….(15)Cirstea

10 Suarez Navarro…Keys

7 Kvitova………..(7)Kvitova………Kvitova……Kvitova…..Kvitova

8 Vinci………….Safarova………..Safarova

12 Stosur………..(12)Stosur

14 Flipkens………Rybarikova

4 Wozniacki………(4)Wozniacki…….Wozniacki….Wozniacki

5 Kerber…………(5)Kerber……….Kerber…….Kerber……Kerber

11 Ivanovic………(11)Ivanovic

16 Cibulkova……..(16)Cibulkova

2 A Radwanska…….(2)A.Radwanska…..Radwanska

STATUS OF SEEDS:

1 Azarenka………lost 2R (V.Williams)

2 A Radwanska……lost QF (Kerber)

3 Errani………..lost 2R (Kuznetsova)

4 Wozniacki……..lost SF (Kerber)

5 Kerber………..lost F (Kvitova)

6 Jankovic………lost 3R (Bouchard)

7 Kvitova……….WON TOURNAMENT

8 Vinci…………lost 2R (Safarova)

9 Stephens………lost 2R (Bouchard)

10 Suarez Navarro..lost 1R (Keys)

11 Ivanovic……..lost 3R (Kerber)

12 Stosur……….lost 3R (Safarova)

13 Halep………..lost 3R (V. Williams)

14 Flipkens……..lost 2R (Rybarikova)

15 Cirstea………lost 3R (Kuznetsova)

16 Cibulkova…….lost 3R (A. Radwanska)

Beijing — Week of September 29

1 S Williams

16 Halep

11 Stephens

6 Wozniacki

3 A Radwanska

14 Ivanovic

10 Vinci

7 Kerber

5 Errani

9 Kvitova

13 Lisicki

4 Li

8 Jankovic

12 Suarez Navarro

15 Stosur

2 Azarenka

STATUS OF SEEDS:

1 S Williams

2 Azarenka

3 A Radwanska

4 Li

5 Errani

6 Wozniacki

7 Kerber

8 Jankovic

9 Kvitova

10 Vinci

11 Stephens

12 Suarez Navarro

13 Lisicki

14 Ivanovic

15 Stosur………..lost 1R (Safarova)

16 Halep…………lost 1R (U Radwanska)

******** SCORES ********

SUNDAY

Beijing

Singles – First Round

(1) Serena Williams def. Elena Vesnina 6-4 6-2

(3) Agnieszka Radwanska def. Stefanie Voegele 4-6 6-4 6-4

(4) Na Li def. Daniela Hantuchova 6-0 6-4

(13) Sabine Lisicki def. Chanelle Scheepers 6-3 6-2

Lucie Safarova def. (15) Samantha Stosur 7-5 6-3

Lauren Davis def. Mona Barthel 6-0 5-7 6-4

Laura Robson def. Klara Zakopalova 7-6(7-3) 4-6 6-1

Misaki Doi def. Silvia Soler-Espinosa 6-1 6-1

Kaia Kanepi def. Julia Goerges 7-5 6-4

Madison Keys def. Dominika Cibulkova 6-4 6-3

Maria Kirilenko def. Jie Zheng 7-5 6-2

Doubles – First Round

Mladenovic/Pennetta def. Jurak/Minella 6-2 6-2

Pavlyuchenkova/Safarova def. Lepchenko/S Zheng 5-7 6-0 10-6

King/Voskoboeva def. Kuznetsova/Stosur 7-6(7-5) 6-3

* Kvitova edges Kerber in Tokyo

* Black beats ex-partner Huber in doubles

* Quiet start to Beijing main draw, but lots of upsets in qualifying

****** TODAY’S WOMEN’S NEWS ******

Pan Pacific

Singles – Final: (7) Petra Kvitova def. (5) Angelique Kerber 6-2 0-6 6-3

This was such a seesaw contest that, despite going three sets, it lasted only an hour and thirty-nine minutes. There were more momentum swings than even the score indicates. Petra Kvitova built a 4-0 lead in the final set, then started to struggle; she needed four match points to finish it off.

It’s her second title of the year, following Dubai, and the biggest — indeed, the biggest for her since she won last year’s Canadian Open. This marks the third straight year in which she has won at least two titles. She will rise to #7 (from #11) as a result.

And she has completely changed the picture in the Race. She came in at #7. She is now effectively tied with Sara Errani for #6. That makes it very likely that both Errani and Kvitova will qualify — but it also reduces the odds of Errani qualifying this week.

Angelique Kerber hasn’t won a title since Copenhagen 2012. And she didn’t add enough points to improve her ranking; she remains #9. But she came in at #12 in the Race, and it appears she’ll be rising to #8. So, suddenly, she has good chances to play Istanbul also. It was a disappointing final, but a good week….

Doubles – Final: Black/Mirza def. H Chan/Huber 4-6 6-0 11-9

There is always a lot of interest when Cara Black faces Liezel Huber. When it happens in a final, it gets all the more interesting. And even more interesting since they came in ranked right next to each other — Black #24, Huber #25. That must grate a bit on Huber, given that she had the advantage of a higher ranking for most of the year. Not any more; Black will now be far ahead. Huber is still looking for her first title since New Haven 2012.

Black earns her first title since Auckland, and her biggest since she and Huber won Cincinnati 2009.

Sania Mirza earns title #4 of 2013, all Premier events, although this is the biggest. She might yet make the Top Ten this year. Unfortunately for her, those four titles came with three different partners. So she isn’t in contention for Istanbul. If she can find a regular partner, she might well have a chance next year.

Beijing

It was a wild day in Beijing qualifying. Eugenie Bouchard, the top qualifying seed, managed to win — but six other qualifying matches ended in upsets. #2 Marina Erakovic lost to #11 Galina Voskoboeva, #3 Kimiko Date-Krumm retired before countrywoman Misaki Doi, #13 Polona Hercog upset #3 Lourdes Dominguez Lino, #12 Chanelle Scheepers beat #6 Lesia Tsurenko, #14 Lauren Davis beat #7 Karolina Pliskova, and Sharon Fichman took out #10 Yaroslava Shvedova. Our other qualifier is Silvia Soler-Espinosa, who advanced when Virginie Razzano retired. (That was one of three retirements on the day; perhaps it’s a side effect of this being a Premier Mandatory.)

Singles – First Round: (5) Sara Errani def. Kirsten Flipkens 7-6(7-3) 6-1

Good news for Sara Errani after all her recent struggles; she needed a win over a solid opponent like Kirsten Flipkens. For Flipkens, this officially ends her chances to qualify for Istanbul (not that she had much chance in the first place).

Singles – First Round: (10) Roberta Vinci def. Elina Svitolina 6-2 6-2

Roberta Vinci slipped in the Race standings after her bad result in Tokyo, but this at least keeps her alive.

Singles – First Round: (11) Sloane Stephens def. Aleksandra Wozniak 6-4 6-4

Stephens, too, keeps alive, although she will probably need at least one more withdrawal to have a shot.

Singles – First Round: (12) Carla Suarez Navarro def. Kristina Mladenovic 6-2 3-6 7-5

After a good start to the year, Kristina Mladenovic is really struggling at the end.

Singles – First Round: Urszula Radwanska def. (16) Simona Halep 7-6(7-4) 7-6(7-2)

Simona Halep led for most of the second set, but couldn’t hold her lead. A tough end (or near-end) to a great year; she is formally out of the Race.

Singles – First Round: Monica Niculescu def. Annika Beck 7-6(7-4) 6-4

After a lost year, Monica Niculescu seems to be finishing strong.

Singles – First Round: Francesca Schiavone def. Alize Cornet 3-2, retired

Francesca Schiavone is having a much better second half than first half, too.

Singles – First Round: Varvara Lepchenko def. Heather Watson 1-6 6-3 6-3

Varvara Lepchenko might not have gotten direct entry based on her current ranking, but at least she’s showing signs of life again.

Doubles – First Round: (6) Kops-Jones/Spears def. Govortsova/Rosolska 6-1 6-1

The doubles draw here is surprisingly lacking in Istanbul contenders. Errani/Vinci (seeded #1) and Hsieh/Peng (seeded #2) are here, but Ekaterina Makarova is out, so Elena Vesnina is seeded #7 with Marina Erakovic. Nadia Petrova can’t play, so Katarina Srebotnik is with Jelena Jankovic; they’re #4. Barty/Dellacqua are #3, Groenefeld/Peschke #5. Also missing are Hlavackova/Hradecka. Which means that the U. S. Open champions are out of the Race. In that field, Kops-Jones/Spears are genuine contenders for the title — but the Race is looking even more as if the qualifiers will be Errani/Vinci (clinched), Hsieh/Peng, Makarova/Vesnina, and Petrova/Srebotnik. Assuming they can all play, anyway.

Doubles – First Round: Goerges/Zahlavova Strycova def. Aoyama/Moulton-Levy 7-5 4-6 10-8

Topics: Angelique Kerber, Beijing, Pan Pacific, Petra Kvitova, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News