****** EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ******
* Serena again looks stiff but eliminates Kirilenko
* Suarez Navarro out of Race; Vinci, Stephens also all but done
****** TODAY’S WOMEN’S NEWS ******
Beijing
Singles – Third Round: (1) Serena Williams def. Maria Kirilenko 7-5 7-5
Serena really looked uncomfortable here, but she’s good at finding ways to win. It is her seventieth victory of the season — the first time in half a decade that anyone has won that many matches in a year. She leaves Maria Kirilenko at #15 — but out of the singles Race.
Singles – Third Round: (3) Agnieszka Radwanska def. Polona Hercog 6-0 6-2
Agnieszka Radwanska isn’t moving in the rankings, but at least she’s making it harder for Li Na to catch her — Li needs a title.
Singles – Third Round: (6) Caroline Wozniacki def. (11) Sloane Stephens 6-3 6-1
These two were the last serious contenders for the last spot at Istanbul — if you check today’s Feature, Sloane Stephens came in at #12 in the Race, Caroline Wozniacki at #13. This will move Wozniacki up — and effectively ends Stephens’s run. It appears Stephens at least did well enough to rise from #13 to #12.
Singles – Third Round: (7) Angelique Kerber def. (10) Roberta Vinci 6-2 6-4
This was the other match involving two serious Istanbul contenders. And it is obviously a big blow to Roberta Vinci’s chances. It will take quite a lot of things going right for Vinci to qualify; in practical terms, she is probably out of it. And she loses another Top Ten shot, too. Angelique Kerber still hasn’t settled anything, but she is in the thick of the Istanbul Race.
Singles – Third Round: (8) Jelena Jankovic def. (12) Carla Suarez Navarro 6-0 6-0
Whatever was wrong with Carla Suarez Navarro, it formally ends her Istanbul hopes — and drops her from #15 to #18. Jelena Jankovic keeps herself among the leading contenders for the last Istanbul spot.
Singles – Third Round: Lucie Safarova def. Andrea Petkovic 6-4 6-7(4-7) 7-6(7-2)
There was no Istanbul significance to this match, but it does put Lucie Safarova back in the Top Thirty (probably #28) and leaves Andrea Petkovic at #40.
Doubles – Quarterfinal: (1) Errani/Vinci def. Mladenovic/Pennetta 6-3 6-4
Doubles – Quarterfinal: (2) Hsieh/Peng def. (6) Kops-Jones/Spears 6-2 7-6(7-4)
Hsieh/Peng are making a real push to end the year as the #2 team on the WTA. Indeed, with Errani/Vinci having the Australian Open to defend, Hsieh/Peng might have a shot at #1 early next year.
Doubles – Quarterfinal: (8) Black/Mirza def. Y Chan/J Zheng 6-4 6-1
Black/Mirza are starting to look almost unstoppable.
Doubles – Quarterfinal: Dushevina/Parra Santonja def. Hantuchova/Raymond 6-4 7-5
On the other hand, Daniela Hantuchova’s policy of teaming up with long-ago-doubles-#1-players seems to be having rather limited success.
****** TODAY’S FEATURE ******
Race Update: Women
This week is likely to settle all but one Istanbul spot. After all, there are only two Premier events left — Beijing and Moscow — and Beijing awards more than two-thirds of the points.
Let’s start with a look at the Race Top Twenty entering this week:
1. S.Williams: 11040
2. Azarenka: 7671
3. Sharapova: 5891
4. A.Radwanska: 5560
5. Li: 4990
6. Errani: 4170
7. Kvitova: 4040
8. Kerber: 3315
9. Jankovic: 3220
10. Bartoli: 3173
11. Vinci: 3150
12. Stephens: 3115
13. Wozniacki: 3051
14. Halep: 2710
15. Lisicki: 2691
16. Suarez Navarro: 2585
17. Kirilenko: 2501
18. Flipkens: 2451
19. Ivanovic: 2397
20. Cirstea: 2225
Only eight players will qualify, of course. The WTA has officially qualified Serena, Azarenka, Sharapova (although she may be unable to play because of her shoulder), Radwanska, and Li. But note that #6 Errani and #7 Kvitova came in more than 700 points ahead of #8 Kerber, with an even larger lead over the rest of the field. And they have both added points, with Kvitova now effectively tied with Errani and still active. In practical terms, they are qualified, and at least one will probably be announced as qualified by the end of the week.
But the last spot is wide open. Beijing is worth 1000 points, and Moscow 470. That means that anyone within 1470 points of Kerber still had a chance entering the week. That meant effectively the entire Top Thirty.
Of course, they have been eliminating themselves as the week goes along. Marion Bartoli won’t play and so can’t qualify. Ekaterina Makarova was unable to play Beijing; Jamie Hampton wasn’t in the field either. Kirsten Flipkens, Sorana Cirstea, Samantha Stosur, Dominika Cibulkova, Elena Vesnina, Alize Cornet, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, and Flavia Pennetta lost their openers. So did Simona Halep, although she still had a faint theoretical hope (now probably gone). Ana Ivanovic went out when she lost her second round; Sabine Lisicki, Carla Suarez Navarro, and Maria Kirilenko were eliminated when they lost their third rounds.
Still, Kerber, Jankovic, Vinci, Stephens, and Wozniacki came in within 300 points of each other. If one of them can win here, she will clinch or nearly. But if they stay in roughly their current relative positions, it will likely come down to Moscow. The losses by Vinci and Stephens, and the wins by Kerber, Wozniacki, and Jankovic, of course shift the equation significantly. Stephens in particular seems to be out in practice.
In doubles, it’s over; it will be Errani/Vinci, Petrova/Srebotnik, Hsieh/Peng, and Makarova/Vesnina. That’s if Petrova and Makarova can play, of course. If one of them can’t, we could still have a contest for the #4 spot. Barty/Dellacqua, Hlavackova/Hradecka, and Peschke/Groenefeld all have alternate chances, although they’re all out of Beijing. Barty/Dellacqua came in at #5, and lasted longest at Beijing, so they have the best chance, but they might still lose it.
******** 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 October 3, 2013
Rank &
Prior
Rank….Name…………..Points
1..(1) SWILLIAMS ……… 12510*
2..(2) AZARENKA ………..8485
3..(3) Sharapova ……… 6941
4..(4) ARADWANSKA ………5995*
5..(5) LI ……………..5365*
6..(6) ERRANI ………….4435
7..(7) KVITOVA ……….. 4115*
8..(8) WOZNIACKI ……… 3845*
9..(9) KERBER ………….3645*
10.(11) JANKOVIC ………..3410*
11.(12) VINCI …………. 3195
12.(13) STEPHENS ………..3185
13.(10) Bartoli ……….. 3172
14.(16) LISICKI ……….. 2830
15.(18) KIRILENKO ……… 2755
16.(14) IVANOVIC ………..2715
17.(17) HALEP …………. 2685
18.(15) SUAREZ NAVARRO …..2665
19.(19) FLIPKENS ………..2601
20.(20) STOSUR ………….2445
21.(21) CIRSTEA ……….. 2170
22.(25) KUZNETSOVA ………2143
23.(23) CIBULKOVA ……… 2126
24.(22) Makarova ………..2066
25.(24) VESNINA ……….. 1960
26.(26) Hampton ……….. 1851
27.(27) CORNET ………….1790
28.(34) SAFAROVA ………..1775*
29.(30) KANEPI ………….1751
30.(28) PAVLYUCHENKOVA …..1750
**DRAWS
Beijing — Week of September 29
……………….3R……………….QF
1 S Williams…….(1)S.Williams……..Williams
16 Halep………..Kirilenko
11 Stephens……..(11)Stephens
6 Wozniacki……..(6)Wozniacki………Wozniacki
3 A Radwanska……(3)A.Radwanska…….Radwanska
14 Ivanovic……..Hercog
10 Vinci………..(10)Vinci
7 Kerber………..(7)Kerber…………Kerber
5 Errani………..(5)Errani
9 Kvitova……….(9)Kvitova………..Kvitova
13 Lisicki………(13)Lisicki
4 Li……………(4)Li…………….Li
8 Jankovic………(8)Jankovic……….Jankovic
12 Suarez Navarro..(12)Suarez Navarro
15 Stosur……….Safarova………….Safarova
2 Azarenka………Petkovic
STATUS OF SEEDS:
1 S Williams
2 Azarenka………..lost 1R (Petkovic)
3 A Radwanska
4 Li
5 Errani………….lost 3R (Kvitova)
6 Wozniacki
7 Kerber
8 Jankovic
9 Kvitova
10 Vinci…………lost 3R (Kerber)
11 Stephens………lost 3R (Wozniacki)
12 Suarez Navarro…lost 3R (Jankovic)
13 Lisicki……….lost 3R (Li)
14 Ivanovic………lost 1R (Hercog)
15 Stosur………..lost 1R (Safarova)
16 Halep…………lost 1R (U Radwanska)
******** SCORES ********
THURSDAY
Beijing
Singles – Third Round
(1) Serena Williams def. Maria Kirilenko 7-5 7-5
(3) Agnieszka Radwanska def. Polona Hercog 6-0 6-2
(6) Caroline Wozniacki def. (11) Sloane Stephens 6-3 6-1
(7) Angelique Kerber def. (10) Roberta Vinci 6-2 6-4
(8) Jelena Jankovic def. (12) Carla Suarez Navarro 6-0 6-0
Lucie Safarova def. Andrea Petkovic 6-4 6-7(4-7) 7-6(7-2)
Doubles – Quarterfinal
(1) Errani/Vinci def. Mladenovic/Pennetta 6-3 6-4
(2) Hsieh/Peng def. (6) Kops-Jones/Spears 6-2 7-6(7-4)
(8) Black/Mirza def. Y Chan/J Zheng 6-4 6-1
Dushevina/Parra Santonja def. Hantuchova/Raymond 6-4 7-5
********
CHINA OPEN
Beijing, China
September 28-October 6, 2013
$5,185,625/Premier
Hard/Outdoors
Results – Thursday, October 3, 2013
Singles – Third Round
(1) Serena Williams (USA) d. Maria Kirilenko (RUS) 75 75
(3) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) d. (Q) Polona Hercog (SLO) 60 62
(6) Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) d. (11) Sloane Stephens (USA) 63 61
(7) Angelique Kerber (GER) d. (10) Roberta Vinci (ITA) 62 64
(8) Jelena Jankovic (SRB) d. (12) Carla Suárez Navarro (ESP) 60 60
Lucie Safarova (CZE) d. Andrea Petkovic (GER) 64 67(4) 76(2)
Doubles – Quarterfinals
(1) Errani/Vinci (ITA/ITA) d. Mladenovic/Pennetta (FRA/ITA) 63 64
(2) Hsieh/Peng (TPE/CHN) d. (6) Kops-Jones/Spears (USA/USA) 62 76(4)
(8) Black/Mirza (ZIM/IND) d. Chan/Zheng (TPE/CHN) 64 61
Dushevina/Parra Santonja (RUS/ESP) d. Hantuchova/Raymond (SVK/USA) 64 75
Order Of Play – Friday, October 4, 2013
National Tennis Stadium (from 12.30hrs)
1. ATP: Fognini vs. Nadal
2. Petra Kvitova vs. Li Na (NB 15.00hrs)
3. Serena Williams vs. Caroline Wozniacki (NB 16.00hrs)
4. ATP: Djokovic vs. Querrey (NB 19.30hrs)
5. Dushevina/Parra Santonja vs. Hsieh/Peng
Lotus Court (from 12.30hrs)
1. Jelena Jankovic vs. Lucie Safarova
2. ATP: Isner vs. Berdych (NB 15.00hrs)
3. ATP: Ferrer vs. Gasquet
4. Agnieszka Radwanska vs. Angelique Kerber (NB 19.00hrs)
Lotus Court (NB 15.00hrs)
1. Errani/Vinci vs. Black/Mirza
For Results
http://www.wtatennis.com/scores-and-stats
For Draws
http://www.wtatennis.com/draws-and-schedule
Topics: 10sballs, Agnieszka Radwanska, Caroline Wozniacki, Roberta Vinci, Serena Willaims, Sloane Stephens, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News, Victoria Azarenka, Wta