* Pavlyuchenkova wins marathon over Kerber in Paris; Cornet edges Petkovic on very long day
* Awful day for seeds in Pattaya City; Makarova only one still standing
****** TODAY’S WOMEN’S NEWS ******
Paris
Singles – Quarterfinal: (1) Maria Sharapova def. (8) Kirsten Flipkens 6-2 6-2
These are all free points for Maria Sharapova; if she can win her next two matches, she will regain the #4 ranking from Agnieszka Radwanska. She leaves Kirsten Flipkens at #20.
Singles – Quarterfinal: (3) Sara Errani def. Elina Svitolina 6-2 6-3
There must be something Sara Errani likes about the particular indoor conditions in Paris — she certainly doesn’t seem to like other indoor events! One more win and she will keep the #7 ranking she came in with. Elina Svitolina loses a few points, but it appears she did well enough to stay Top Forty.
Singles – Quarterfinal: Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova def. (4) Angelique Kerber 5-7 6-3 7-6(7-3)
A couple of years ago, Angelique Kerber won this title, beating Lucie Safarova, Maria Sharapova, and Marion Bartoli along the way, to announce that she had truly arrived. Now — is she going away? This costs her her chance to rise above #9. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova has now clinched a Top 25 spot.
Singles – Quarterfinal: Alize Cornet def. Andrea Petkovic 7-6(8-6) 5-7 6-3
Does Paris have some special rule that says that Alize Cornet isn’t allowed to finish in less than two hours and 45 minutes? Sometimes, giving the fans their money’s worth can be taken a little too far…. But she has certainly demonstrated amazing stamina. This might take her as high as #23; Andrea Petkovic remains below #35.
Doubles – Semifinal: (3) Groenefeld/Peschke def. Niculescu/Zakopalova 6-2 2-6 10-4
A promising sign for Groenefeld/Peschke, considering how well Niculescu/Zakopalova have played this year.
Pattaya City
Singles – Quarterfinal: Karolina Pliskova def. (3) Sorana Cirstea 1-6 7-6(7-3) 6-0
When Sorana Cirstea came apart, she really came apart, blowing two match points. And she was defending semifinal points. She will fall from #23 to no better than #25.
Singles – Quarterfinal: (4) Ekaterina Makarova def. Kimiko Date-Krumm 6-2 4-6 6-4
This was the day’s last singles match, and every other seed in the draw had already lost. It looked like we might go for a sweep of seeds; Ekaterina Makarova trailed 2-0 in the third set. But she seems finally to be recovering her match toughness. One more win would return her to the Top 25.
Singles – Quarterfinal: Julia Goerges def. (5) Elena Vesnina 5-7 6-3 6-3
After struggling for the first four weeks of the year, it looked as if Elena Vesnina might be coming out of it, but apparently not. She reaches the same round as last year, but that means she’ll stay at #33. Julia Goerges, who had fallen to #102, is now firmly back in the Top Hundred.
Singles – Quarterfinal: Andrea Hlavackova def. (8) Shuai Peng 6-2 7-5
On an awful day for seeds, Peng Shuai loses the chance to hit the Top Forty.
Doubles – Quarterfinal: (4) Peng/Zhang def. Savchuk/Tanasugarn 6-4 6-1
Despite the singles loss, it’s looking more and more as if Peng Shuai will be our new doubles #1 after Doha.
Doubles – Semifinal: (3) Kudryavtseva/Rodionova def. (2) Hlavackova/Medina Garrigues 6-3 7-5
************ STATS AND FACTS ************
Rankings
Estimated WTA Rankings As of January 31, 2014
Rank &
Prior
Rank …Name …………. Points
1..(1) SWilliams ……… 13000
2..(2) Azarenka ………..6581
3..(3) Li ……………..6570
4..(4) ARadwanska ………5750
5..(5) SHARAPOVA ……… 5600*
6..(6) Kvitova ……….. 4745
7..(8) Jankovic ………..4310
8..(7) ERRANI ………….4305*
9..(9) KERBER ………….4030
10.(10) HALEP …………. 3760
11.(11) Wozniacki ……… 3370
12.(12) Ivanovic ………..3160
13.(13) Cibulkova ……… 3056
14.(14) VINCI …………. 3020
15.(15) LISICKI ……….. 2820
16.(17) Stosur ………….2705
17.(16) SUAREZ NAVARRO …..2685
18.(18) Stephens ………..2415
19.(19) Bouchard ………..2369
20.(21) FLIPKENS ………..2295
21.(22) Pennetta ………..2165
22.(20) Kirilenko ……… 2046
23.(25) CORNET ………….1985*
24.(26) PAVLYUCHENKOVA …..1955*
25.(23) CIRSTEA ……….. 1950
26.(24) Kanepi ………….1932
27.(28) MAKAROVA ………..1910*
28.(27) Safarova ………..1785
29.(29) KUZNETSOVA ………1741
30.(31) HANTUCHOVA ………1625
Draws
Paris (Premier — Week of January 27-February 2)
……………….QF…………..SF
1 Sharapova……..(1)Sharapova….Sharapova
8 Flipkens………(8)Flipkens
4 Kerber………..(4)Kerber
7 Suarez Navarro…Pavlyuchenkova..Pavlyuchenkova
6 Vinci…………Svitolina
3 Errani………..(3)Errani…….Errani
5 Halep…………Petkovic
[Zahlavova St(LL)].Cornet……….Cornet
STATUS OF SEEDS
1 Sharapova
2 Kvitova (WC)…..WITHDREW
3 Errani
4 Kerber………..lost QF (Pavlyuchenkova)
5 Halep…………lost 1R (Mladenovic)
6 Vinci…………lost 1R (Svitolina)
7 Suarez Navarro…lost 2R (Pavlyuchenkova)
8 Flipkens………lost QF (Sharapova)
Pattaya City (International — Week of January 27-February 2)
………………QF………..SF
1 Lisicki………Hlavackova…Hlavackova
8 Peng…………(8)Peng
4 Makarova……..(4)Makarova..Makarova
6 Muguruza……..Date-Krumm
7 Mattek-Sands….Ka.Pliskova..Pliskova
3 Cirstea………(3)Cirstea
5 Vesnina………(5)Vesnina
2 Kuznetsova (WC)..Goerges…..Goerges
STATUS OF SEEDS
1 Lisicki………..WITHDREW from 2R
2 Kuznetsova (WC)…WITHDREW from 2R
3 Cirstea………..lost QF (Ka. Pliskova)
4 Makarova
5 Vesnina………..lost QF (Goerges)
6 Muguruza……….lost 1R (Date-Krumm)
7 Mattek-Sands……lost 1R (Ka. Pliskova)
8 Peng…………..lost QF (Hlavackova)
******** SCORES ********
FRIDAY
Paris
Singles – Quarterfinal
(1) Maria Sharapova def. (8) Kirsten Flipkens 6-2 6-2
(3) Sara Errani def. Elina Svitolina 6-2 6-3
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova def. (4) Angelique Kerber 5-7 6-3 7-6(7-3)
Alize Cornet def. Andrea Petkovic 7-6(8-6) 5-7 6-3
Doubles – Semifinal
(3) Groenefeld/Peschke def. Niculescu/Zakopalova 6-2 2-6 10-4
Pattaya City
Singles – Quarterfinal
Karolina Pliskova def. (3) Sorana Cirstea 1-6 7-6(7-3) 6-0
(4) Ekaterina Makarova def. Kimiko Date-Krumm 6-2 4-6 6-4
Julia Goerges def. (5) Elena Vesnina 5-7 6-3 6-3
Andrea Hlavackova def. (8) Shuai Peng 6-2 7-5
Doubles – Quarterfinal
(4) Peng/Zhang def. Savchuk/Tanasugarn 6-4 6-1
Doubles – Semifinal
(3) Kudryavtseva/Rodionova def. (2) Hlavackova/Medina Garrigues 6-3 7-5
Topics: 10sballs, Alize Cornet, Angelique Kerber, Kirsten Flipkens, Maria Sharapova, Sara Errani, Sorana Cirstea, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News, Wta