Women’s Pro Tour News

Written by: on 4th January 2014
Kremlin Cup tennis tournament in Moscow
Women's Pro Tour News

epa03913620 Ana Ivanovic of Serbia in action against Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic during their second round match at the Kremlin Cup tennis tournament in Moscow, Russia, 17 October 2013. EPA/YURI KOCHETKOV  |

****** EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ******

 

* Williams sisters split: Serena wins Brisbane, Venus loses in Auckland

* Li defends in Shenzhen; Ivanovic breaks title drought

****** TODAY’S WOMEN’S NEWS ******

 

Brisbane

 

Singles – Final: (1) Serena Williams def. (2) Victoria Azarenka 6-4 7-5

New year, same old story.

Victoria Azarenka was actually fairly competitive with Serena Williams last year if you just count head-to-head. But as the year got longer, Serena got stronger. She defended here pretty routinely. That’s 22 straight wins. And she goes into the Australian Open with a lead of 5100 points on Azarenka, who has the Melbourne title to defend. It’s quite possible that Serena could leave Melbourne with a point total twice that of her nearest competitor!

Doubles: Kudryavtseva/Rodionova def. Mladenovic/Voskoboeva 6-3 6-1

There seems to be something about this time of the year that Anastasia Rodionova likes. Last year at this time, she won Auckland with Cara Black. This year, she went for the big event — and she won it. It’s the second title in a year for Kudryavtseva/Rodionova (they also won Quebec City), but it’s the first big title for either. Considering the direction both have been going in singles, that’s a pretty big thing!

Shenzhen

 

Singles – Final: (1) Li Na def. (5) Peng Shuai 6-4 7-5

It is apparently impossible to beat Li Na in Shenzhen. Fat lot of good it does her.

Li easily defended her title, but because Maria Sharapova added points, that actually costs Li; she will fall from #3 to #4. Of course, that still translates into a Top Four Australian Open seed. But then she has the Melbourne final to defend….

Our bigger winner, arguably, is Peng Shuai. Just getting to the final puts her back in the Top Forty. But, of course, it still leaves her without a singles title. Anna Kournikova Disease is very hard to cure…. The one consolation is that she has a shot at the #1 doubles ranking at the Australian Open. Which would make her like Kournikova in another way….

Doubles – Final: Niculescu/Zakopalova def. Kichenok/Kichenok 6-3 6-4

Early in her career, Monica Niculescu looked as if she might end up as a doubles specialist. Lately, that has changed — she hasn’t won a doubles title since Moscow 2012. But evidently her skills aren’t gone. She picks up career title #4. For Klara Zakopalova, it’s #3 — although they’re all low-tier.

Auckland

 

Singles – Final: (2) Ana Ivanovic def. Venus Williams 6-2 5-7 6-4

No double Williams title after all, it seems. Still, this is an impressive run for Venus, given her fatigue problems. And she does benefit substantially — we show her rising to #39. No Australian Open seed, but at the rate she’s going, a seed in Paris seems quite possible.

Ana Ivanovic earns her first title since Bali 2011. Because it’s an International event, it doesn’t help her much — but she does overtake Sabine Lisicki to earn the #15 ranking. And she will go into the Australian Open on a high note.

Doubles – Final: Fichman/Sanchez def. (3) Hradecka/Krajicek 2-6 6-0 10-4

By the looks of things, it’s going to be a very surprising year. Lucie Hradecka is a Slam winner; Michaela Krajicek has also had a good doubles record; Fichman/Sanchez had no WTA doubles titles at all. We saw a significant doubles shakeup last year; based on this week’s results, it could happen again.

Hopman Cup

 

Win or lose the Hopman Cup final, this had already been probably the biggest week of Grzegorz Panfil’s career. And if he could beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga…!

He couldn’t, quite, but he did give him a scare, losing a memorable opening match 6-3 3-6 6-3. That left Poland’s fate in the achy hands of Agnieszka Radwanska. She managed to keep the Poles alive, but it was a struggle; she edged Alize Cornet 6-3 6-7 6-2. And though Cornet had had breathing problems in the match that earned her a time violation, it was the Poles didn’t have much left for the Mixed; Cornet and Tsonga won the Cup 6-0 6-2.

It is the first time France has won the Cup.

****** TODAY’S FEATURE ******

 

Women’s Look Forward: Sydney, Hobart

 

Sydney would probably not agree with the contention that more choice is a good thing.

Sydney used to be the only high-tier event before the Australian Open, so naturally all the top players wanted to play there. It ended up as strong as any tournament on the calendar. Now, with Brisbane giving the players a Premier alternative, Sydney has to compete for the big names. And, frankly, it didn’t do so well. Not one of the Top Four is entered. Defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska — who will be tired from Hopman Cup and who reportedly is hurting a little — is the top seed. Petra Kvitova is #2. Sara Errani, who looked bad last week, is #3, with Jelena Jankovic #4 and Angelique Kerber #5. Caroline Wozniacki, who pulled out at the last minute last week, has the #6 seed, with Simona Halep making her first appearance of the year as the #7 and Sloane Stephens #8. Which means that, although we’re missing the Top Four, we have everyone else in last week’s Top Twelve! So there are plenty of tough unseeded players. Radwanska is likely to open against Eugenie Bouchard. Halep’s course runs through Madison Keys and Daniela Hantuchova. Jankovic starts against upset artist Ekaterina Makarova, then probably Carla Suarez Navarro. Kerber will have to face Dominika Cibulkova and Kaia Kanepi. Stephens starts against Svetlana Kuznetsova, then probably Sorana Cirstea. Errani’s opener is against her doubles partner Roberta Vinci, who would have been seeded if the new rankings were used. Wozniacki will have to face Lucie Safarova or Francesca Schiavone in the second round. And Kvitova is likely to open against Alize Cornet.

As far as the locals are concerned, Hobart is the event with the big names; it has Samantha Stosur, Australia’s #1, as the #1 seed. Plus three wildcards, one of whom, Casey Dellacqua, is a major force in doubles if still pretty invisible in singles.

It’s a draw Stosur ought to be able to dominate if she can play her best. The #2 seed is Kirsten Flipkens. Defending champion Elena Vesnina is #3, but she was hurting last week. #4 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova just fell out of the Top Thirty. #5 Flavia Pennetta was hurting in Hopman Cup. Mona Barthel, who likes this time of year, is #6. Klara Zakopalova is #7, but her ranking just fell. Bojana Jovanovski is #8. And then there are the unseeded players…. Barthel has to start against Elina Svitolina, who had a breakthrough year last year, and then either Magdalena Rybarikova (the top unseeded player) or Monica Niculescu. Pennetta is supposed to open against Venus Williams, with Laura Robson or Yanina Wickmayer to follow. And Flipkens has to face Peng Shuai in the second round.

The Rankings

This week’s events don’t really matter all that much; the Australian Open seeds are settled, and the events the week after that are generally weak. Still, it’s a chance to put some points in the bank before the Australian Open changes everything.

Last year, the Sydney title went to Agnieszka Radwanska, who beat Dominika Cibulkova in the final. (6-0 6-0; it wasn’t much to watch!). Li Na and Angelique Kerber were semifinalists. Elena Vesnina won Hobart, her maiden title after many misfires, with Mona Barthel the finalist and Sloane Stephens and Kirsten Flipkens semifinalists.

It’s not going to matter much at the top. Serena Williams will stay #1, with Victoria Azarenka #2, Maria Sharapova #3, and Li Na #4. Radwanska is safe at #5, although her lead on Kvitova might narrow. Kvitova too is safe. Our first possible move is at #7, where a title might take Jankovic past Errani. On the other hand, just as last week, Kerber has a shot at overtaking Jankovic if she can win the title. Wozniacki can’t rise; there is a slight but real possibility that she could lose her Top Ten ranking to Halep.

KEYWORDS: Preview Sydney Hobart

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

 

THIS WEEK ON THE WTA:

Brisbane (Premier 700/Hard). Defending Champion: Serena Williams

Shenzhen (International/Hard). Defending Champion: Li Na

Auckland (International/Hard). Defending Champion: Agnieszka Radwanska

NEXT WEEK ON THE WTA:

Sydney (Premier 700/Hard). Defending Champion: Agnieszka Radwanska

Hobart (International/Hard). Defending Champion: Elena Vesnina

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

 

Rankings

Estimated WTA Rankings As of January 2, 2014

 

Rank &

Prior

Rank …Name …………. Points

1..(1) SWILLIAMS ……… 13260*

2..(2) AZARENKA ………..8151

3..(4) SHARAPOVA ……… 6076

4..(3) LI ……………..6045*

5..(5) ARadwanska ………5820

6..(6) Kvitova ……….. 4775

7..(7) ERRANI ………….4435

8..(8) JANKOVIC ………..4230

9..(9) KERBER ………….3965

10.(10) Wozniacki ……… 3520

11.(11) Halep …………. 3335

12.(14) VINCI …………. 3170

13.(12) Stephens ………..3135

14.(13) Bartoli ……….. 3103

15.(16) IVANOVIC ………..3010*

16.(15) LISICKI ……….. 2920

17.(17) SUAREZ NAVARRO …..2735

18.(18) Stosur ………….2675

19.(19) Kirilenko ……… 2640

20.(20) FLIPKENS ………..2535

21.(21) Kuznetsova ………2341

22.(23) CIBULKOVA ……… 2175

23.(22) CIRSTEA ……….. 2170

24.(24) Makarova ………..2066

25.(25) Vesnina ……….. 1995

26.(30) KANEPI ………….1868

27.(27) Cornet ………….1840

28.(29) SAFAROVA ………..1775

29.(28) HAMPTON ……….. 1761

30.(31) Pennetta ………..1735

Draws

Brisbane (Premier)

WINNER: Serena Williams

………………QF…………..SF………..F

1 S Williams……(1)S.Williams…Williams…..Williams

9 Cibulkova…….(9)Cibulkova

3 Sharapova…….(3)Sharapova….Sharapova

8 Suarez Navarro..Kanepi

 

5 Kerber……….(5)Kerber

4 Jankovic……..(4)Jankovic…..Jankovic

7 Lisicki………Voegele

2 Azarenka……..(2)Azarenka…..Azarenka…..Azarenka

 

STATUS OF SEEDS

1 S Williams…….won tournament

2 Azarenka………lost F (S. Williams)

3 Sharapova……..lost SF (S. Williams)

4 Jankovic………lost SF (Azarenka)

5 Kerber………..lost QF (Jankovic)

6 Wozniacki……..WITHDREW

7 Lisicki……….WITHDREW from 2R

8 Suarez Navarro…lost 2R (Kanepi)

9 Cibulkova……..lost QF (S. Williams)

Shenzhen (International)

WINNER: Li Na

……………..QF……………..SF…….F

1 Li………….(1)Li…………..Li…….Li

6 Zhang……….Niculescu

3 Zakopalova…..Mayr-Achleitner

8 Beck………..(8)Beck…………Beck

 

5 Peng………..(5)Peng…………Peng…..Peng

4 Jovanovski…..Cepelova

7 J Zheng……..Zahlavova Strycova

2 Errani………King……………King

 

STATUS OF SEEDS

1 Li…………WON TOURNAMENT

2 Errani……..lost 2R (King)

3 Zakopalova….lost 2R (Mayr-Achleitner)

4 Jovanovski….lost 1R (Friedsam)

5 Peng……….lost F (Li)

6 Zhang………lost 1R (Y Chan)

7 J Zheng…….lost 2R (Zahlavova Strycova)

8 Beck……….lost SF (Li)

Auckland (International)

WINNER: Ana Ivanovic

………….QF………….SF……….F

1 Vinci……Davis

5 Hampton….(5)Hampton…..Hampton

4 Cirstea….Muguruza

7 Barthel….V.Williams…..V.Williams..V.Williams

 

8 Knapp……Ishizu(Q)

3 Flipkens…(3)Flipkens….Flipkens

6 Safarova…Nara

2 Ivanovic…(2)Ivanovic….Ivanovic….Ivanovic

 

STATUS OF SEEDS

1 Vinci…….lost 1R (Konjuh)

2 Ivanovic….WON TOURNAMENT

3 Flipkens….lost SF (Ivanovic)

4 Cirstea…..lost 1R (Fichman)

5 Hampton…..WITHDREW from SF

6 Safarova….lost 1R (Morita)

7 Barthel…..lost 1R (Meusburger)

8 Knapp…….lost 1R (Goerges)

Sydney (Premier)

 

1 A. Radwanska

–bye

Bouchard

Qualifier

Hantuchova

Tomljanovic (WC)

Keys

7 Halep

 

4 Jankovic

Makarova

Qualifier

Suarez Navarro

Kanepi

Qualifier

Cibulkova

5 Kerber

 

8 Stephens

Kuznetsova

Cirstea

Qualifier

Gajdosova (WC)

Qualifier

Vinci

3 Errani

 

6 Wozniacki

Qualifier

Safarova

Schiavone

Qualifier

Cornet

–bye

2 Kvitova

Hobart (International)

 

1 Stosur

Qualifier

Qualifier

Mladenovic

Cadantu

Rogowska (WC)

Beck

8 Jovanovski

 

4 Pavlyuchenkova

Riske

Dellacqua (WC)

Qualifier

Zheng

Zhang

Meusburger

7 Zakopalova

 

6 Barthel

Svitolina

Niculescu

Rybarikova

Qualifier

Knapp

Puig

3 Vesnina

 

5 Pennetta

V Williams

Robson

Wickmayer

Peng

Sanders (WC)

Erakovic

2 Flipkens

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

 

SATURDAY

Brisbane

Singles – Final

(1) Serena Williams def. (2) Victoria Azarenka 6-4 7-5

Doubles

Kudryavtseva/Rodionova def. Mladenovic/Voskoboeva 6-3 6-1

Shenzhen

Singles – Final

(1) Li Na def. (5) Peng Shuai 6-4 7-5

Doubles – Final

Niculescu/Zakopalova def. Kichenok/Kichenok 6-3 6-4

Auckland

Singles – Final

(2) Ana Ivanovic def. Venus Williams 6-2 5-7 6-4

Doubles – Final

Fichman/Sanchez def. (3) Hradecka/Krajicek 2-6 6-0 10-4

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