Paris, Sharapova Out And On Her Way To Sochi Olympic Gig

Written by: on 1st February 2014
GDF Suez Tennis Open in Paris
Paris, Sharapova Out And On Her Way To Sochi Olympic Gig

epa04051022 Maria Sharapova of Russia reacts during her semi final match against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia at the GDF Suez Tennis Open tournament in Paris, France, 01 February 2014. EPA/YOAN VALAT  |

* 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

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