* Errani runs out of steam against Pavlyuchenkova
* Makarova finally earns second career title
* Peng on the verge of earning doubles #1
****** TODAY’S WOMEN’S NEWS ******
Paris
Singles – Final: Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova def. (3) Sara Errani 3-6 6-2 6-3
This arguably should have gone the other way, and in straight sets. Sara Errani seemed to be cruising into the second set, breaking in Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova’s first service game — only to lose seven straight games. It looked as if the marathon she had played the night before had cost her. But one of Errani’s assets is incredible stamina; she scraped herself up off the floor and again led in the third. Pavlyuchenkova, though, was hitting lasers (she was credited with 48 winners, to Errani’s 18), and eventually Errani had no more answers.
At least the Italian lasted long enough to keep the #7 ranking. But it’s interesting to wonder if it was worth it. She bailed on the doubles the day before — and she may well lose the doubles #1 as a result; see the Pattaya City doubles story.
This is career title #6 for Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova — but it’s her first Premier title, and her first indoor title. She will make a substantial move as a result — #26 coming in, we show her up to #21. And a strong #21, just 55 points behind #20 Kirsten Flipkens. She might well make the Top Twenty at Doha.
Doubles – Final: (3) Groenefeld/Peschke def. (4) Babos/Mladenovic 6-7(7-9) 6-4 10-5
That must be a big relief. Neither Anna-Lena Groenefeld nor Kveta Peschke had won a title since Brussels in May 2013. And their last one before that was Linz 2012. Not a great way to make a living as a doubles specialist.
But this really seems to be a comeback year for Kveta Peschke. Last week, she made the Australian Open semifinal. Now this. She won’t quite make the Top Ten; we show her still at #11. But she is now only 200 points back; if she can keep up this pace, she should reach #10 or higher in the next few months. It doesn’t look as if Anna-Lena Groenefeld will be moving either, but at least she now seems to be quite secure in the Top Fifteen.
Pattaya City
Singles – Final: (4) Ekaterina Makarova def. Karolina Pliskova 6-3 7-6(9-7)
The two players here faced just about every possible distraction. As you probably know, there have been political problems in Thailand lately. And Sunday was election day, so the street protests were even bigger than usual. Plus — each player was going for only her second career title, and both had been waiting a long time. In Ekaterina Makarova’s case, it had been three and a half years since she won Eastbourne 2010. But she is much better at finding ways to win (if also ways to lose) than Karolina Pliskova. She said she worked hard on her returns, and it paid off. She finally has career title #2, even if it’s at an International event — and she has also regained the ground she lost when her Australian Open quarterfinal came off last week. This takes her to #23.
Karolina Pliskova didn’t win title #2, and as a result remains below the Top Fifty. But she came here at #66, close to her career high of #63, and this result will blow her past that. We show her at probably #53. Which makes it very likely that, just due to random rankings movement, she will hit the Top Fifty some time this year, even if she can’t follow this up. It will surely be a nice feeling when it happens.
Doubles – Final: (4) Peng/Zhang def. (3) Kudryavtseva/Rodionova 3-6 7-6(7-5) 10-6
In one sense, this is pretty minor. Peng Shuai already had a dozen doubles titles, including a Slam; what’s one more International title? And it won’t budge her ranking; she stays #3.
But Peng is now in sole possession of #3, breaking her tie with Hsieh Su-Wei. And — if we did this right — she is now a mere 60 points behind Errani and Vinci in the contest for #1 — 7875 versus 7815. And Errani and Vinci have Doha to defend in two weeks, and that’s 900 points. Peng has nothing that week, and has only 160 points in her tenth event score. That means that Peng can overtake Errani and Vinci with a semifinal, or will pass them if they fail to defend. That doesn’t quite guarantee Peng the top spot, because someone else could still take it (Vesnina being perhaps the strongest candidate, since she isn’t defending either), but certainly Peng has the inside track.
Rankings
Estimated WTA Rankings As of February 2, 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.(26) PAVLYUCHENKOVA …..2240*
22.(22) Pennetta ………..2165
23.(28) MAKAROVA ………..2080*
24.(20) Kirilenko ……… 2046
25.(25) CORNET ………….1985
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)
WINNER: Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
……………….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………..lost F (Pavluchenkova)
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)
WINNER: Ekaterina Makarova
………………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……….WON TOURNAMENT
5 Vesnina………..lost QF (Goerges)
6 Muguruza……….lost 1R (Date-Krumm)
7 Mattek-Sands……lost 1R (Ka. Pliskova)
8 Peng…………..lost QF (Hlavackova)
******** SCORES ********
SUNDAY
Paris
Singles – Final
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova def. (3) Sara Errani 3-6 6-2 6-3
Doubles – Final
(3) Groenefeld/Peschke def. (4) Babos/Mladenovic 6-7(7-9) 6-4 10-5
Pattaya City
Singles – Final
(4) Ekaterina Makarova def. Karolina Pliskova 6-3 7-6(9-7)
Doubles – Final
(4) Peng/Zhang def. (3) Kudryavtseva/Rodionova 3-6 7-6(7-5) 10-6
Topics: 10sballs, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Anna Lena Groenefeld, Ekaterina Makarova, Kirsten Flipkens, Paris, Roberta Vinci, Sara Errani, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News, Wta