* Pavlyuchenkova stuns Sharapova in Paris
* Will face Errani, who grinds down Cornet but then bails on doubles
* Makarova to face Pliskova in Pattaya City
****** TODAY’S WOMEN’S NEWS ******
Paris
Singles – Semifinal: Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova def. (1) Maria Sharapova 4-6 6-3 6-4
Maria Sharapova’s extremely disappointing 2014 continues. This event should have been her chance to get back to #4. Instead, after firing back-to-back double-faults to lose the final game of the match, she stays stuck at #5. Instead, it’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova who is moving — she will rise to at least #23, and a title would leave her just below the Top Twenty.
Singles – Semifinal: (3) Sara Errani def. Alize Cornet 7-6(7-3) 3-6 7-6(7-5)
And so Alize Cornet did it again, and played a match that lasted past the two and three quarter hour mark. It shouldn’t have come to that; Sara Errani served for the match at 5-4 in the third. That didn’t go so well, but after three hours and change, Errani finally finished things off. For Errani, that means she will keep the #7 ranking, but Cornet will be no better than #24, and might even stay stuck at the #25 ranking she came in with.
On the other hand, at least she gets tomorrow evening off….
Doubles – Semifinal: (4) Babos/Mladenovic def. (1) Errani/Vinci walkover
Surprise, surprise, given the singles marathon Errani had just played. (The way the schedule was set up, Errani was given both night matches.) But it’s not good news for Errani/Vinci, because they were last year’s champions. So that’s a few more points off. They are almost certainly going to be in big trouble at Doha.
Pattaya City
Singles – Semifinal: (4) Ekaterina Makarova def. Andrea Hlavackova 6-3 0-6 6-4
This match was sort of like Ekaterina Makarova’s career in miniature: Some great stuff and some lousy stuff, and no telling which would happen at any given moment. Nonetheless, she has done well enough here to reach the Top 25, and would be at least #23 with a title.
Singles – Semifinal: Karolina Pliskova def. Julia Goerges 6-3 4-6 6-3
This was mostly about Karolina Pliskova’s serve; she had 13 aces. The win puts her in her second career final, and will take her up to about #53 in the rankings. A title would make her probably #48. This, incidentally, poses a certain dilemma for her. She is already having trouble playing the same events as her sister, due to the rankings gap. And that gap will now be even wider. What will the Pliskovas do about doubles?
Doubles – Semifinal: (4) Peng/Zhang def. (WC) Lertcheewakarn/Zvonareva 6-2 6-3
Another small step toward the #1 doubles ranking for Peng Shuai….
************ STATS AND FACTS ************
Rankings
Estimated WTA Rankings As of February 1, 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..(7) ERRANI ………….4425*
8..(8) Jankovic ………..4310
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.(26) PAVLYUCHENKOVA …..2075*
23.(20) Kirilenko ……… 2046
24.(25) CORNET ………….1985
25.(28) MAKAROVA ………..1980*
26.(23) CIRSTEA ……….. 1950
27.(24) Kanepi ………….1932
28.(27) Safarova ………..1785
29.(29) KUZNETSOVA ………1741
30.(31) HANTUCHOVA ………1625
Draws
Paris (Premier — Week of January 27-February 2)
……………….QF…………..SF…………..F
1 Sharapova……..(1)Sharapova….Sharapova
8 Flipkens………(8)Flipkens
4 Kerber………..(4)Kerber
7 Suarez Navarro…Pavlyuchenkova..Pavlyuchenkova..Pavlyuchenkova
6 Vinci…………Svitolina
3 Errani………..(3)Errani…….Errani……….Errani
5 Halep…………Petkovic
[Zahlavova St(LL)].Cornet……….Cornet
STATUS OF SEEDS
1 Sharapova……..lost SF (Pavlyuchenkova)
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……….F
1 Lisicki………Hlavackova…Hlavackova
8 Peng…………(8)Peng
4 Makarova……..(4)Makarova..Makarova….Makarova
6 Muguruza……..Date-Krumm
7 Mattek-Sands….Ka.Pliskova..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 ********
SATURDAY
Paris
Singles – Semifinal
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova def. (1) Maria Sharapova 4-6 6-3 6-4
(3) Sara Errani def. Alize Cornet 7-6(7-3) 3-6 7-6(7-5)
Doubles – Semifinal
(4) Babos/Mladenovic def. (1) Errani/Vinci walkover
Pattaya City
Singles – Semifinal
(4) Ekaterina Makarova def. Andrea Hlavackova 6-3 0-6 6-4
Karolina Pliskova def. Julia Goerges 6-3 4-6 6-3
Doubles – Semifinal
(4) Peng/Zhang def. (WC) Lertcheewakarn/Zvonareva 6-2 6-3
Topics: 10sballs.com, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Julia Goerges, Kirsten Flipkens, Maria Sharapova, Sara Errani, Serena Williams, Tennis, Tennis News, Wta