Louise Pleming and Olivia Rogowska by Pancho Resendiz
Indian Wells
Singles – First Round: Peng Shuai def. (WC) Vera Zvonareva 4-6 6-0 7-5
Still no significant wins for Vera Zvonareva in her comeback (she did beat one wildcard ranked #357). At least she gets the showing-up points, which will help a little; she should go from #634 to around #580. And she kept Peng Shuai out there for two hours and twenty minutes, which is promising. Peng still needs at least one more win to stay Top Forty.
Singles – First Round: (WC) Shelby Rogers def. Petra Cetkovska 6-0 6-4
Given that Petra Cetkovska has seemed to be back in strong form recently, this is a nice win for Shelby Rogers — she was the first player to finish a match. This won’t put Rogers in the Top Hundred, but she doesn’t need too much more.
Singles – First Round: Silvia Soler-Espinosa def. (WC) Nadia Petrova 1-1, retired (right calf)
More sad news for Nadia Petrova. She will remain below #100 in singles — and she also has doubles finalist points to defend. If she can’t play, she will fall out of the doubles Top Ten.
Singles – First Round: Yvonne Meusburger def. Iveta Melzer 6-4 6-2
The first hour of this event seemed to be intended to weed out all the comeback players — Vera Zvonareva, Nadia Petrova, and Iveta Melzer were all scheduled early. And all lost. Melzer, like Zvonareva and Petrova, will remain nowhere in the rankings.
Singles – First Round: Lauren Davis def. (Q) Chan Yung-Jan 6-4 6-3
And here we have yet another player failing in a comeback attempt. At least Chan Yung-Jan earned qualifying points. Given that she came in ranked #342, that will probably translate into a move of several dozen places.
Singles – First Round: Bojana Jovanovski def. Alison Riske 3-6 6-3 6-3
These two came in ranked very close together, but the loss means that Alison Riske won’t be making the Top Forty. Bojana Jovanovski still has a chance, although it is by no means certain yet.
Singles – First Round: Annika Beck def. Stefanie Voegele 2-6 6-2 7-5
This will cost Stefanie Voegele her Top Fifty spot.
Singles – First Round: Yanina Wickmayer def. (Q) Anna Schmiedlova 3-6 6-2 6-4
Yanina Wickmayer still has more to defend, but this will likely keep her above #60.
Singles – First Round: Madison Keys def. Tsvetana Pironkova 6-2 6-1
When Tsvetana Pironkova falls apart, she often falls apart completely. She’ll probably be between #45 and #50. Madison Keys still has points to defend, but this should keep her Top Forty.
Singles – First Round: (Q) Heather Watson def. (WC) Belinda Bencic 7-5 6-4
Finally a comeback player has some luck. But Heather Watson is still far below #100.
Singles – First Round: Varvara Lepchenko def. (Q) Alison van Uytvanck 6-2 6-2
One of the best results for Varvara Lepchenko lately. She is close to returning to the Top Fifty, although we’d guess she’ll need one more win.
Singles – First Round: Casey Dellacqua def. Christina McHale 7-6(7-4) 6-4
So much for Christina McHale and her big turnaround at Acapulco. She’ll remain in the #55 range.
Singles – First Round: (Q) Sharon Fichman def. Shahar Peer 4-6 6-3 6-4
Only a very minor upset; Sharon Fichman has been on a hot streak, and Shahar Peer certainly hasn’t.
Singles – First Round: (Q) Yaroslava Shvedova def. Chanelle Scheepers 4-6 6-4 6-3
Even though Yaroslava Shvedova is a qualifier, this is not an upset; she came in ranked ten places above Chanelle Scheepers. And the gap will be widening; Shvedova is now just below #60, while Scheepers will fall below #75.
Singles – First Round: Kurumi Nara def. (Q) Alie Kiick 6-4 6-0
This may well take Kurumi Nara above #45. She truly is playing well all of a sudden.
Singles – First Round: Kristina Mladenovic def. Zhang Shuai 6-2 6-1
One of the best singles results for Kristina Mladenovic lately. Once again Zhang Shuai loses her chance to make the Top Forty.
Doubles – First Round: (4) Peschke/Srebotnik def. Babos/Jankovic 7-6(10-8) 6-3
Babos/Jankovic are a tough team, so this is a nice start for Peschke/Srebotnik, but it isn’t enough to count for either of them; last year’s finalist Srebotnik remains in danger of losing her Top Five spot. We currently calculate the Top Ten as follows:
1 (1) PENG 8265*
2 (2) HSIEH 8125*
3 (6) ERRANI 7270*
3 (6) VINCI 7270*
5 (5) SREBOTNIK 7040*
6 (3) VESNINA 6740*
7 (4) MAKAROVA 6530*
8 (9) PESCHKE 5350*
9 (11) MIRZA 5255*
10 (10) HLAVACKOVA 5220
Doubles – First Round: Date-Krumm/Zahlavova Strycova def. (6) Hlavackova/Safarova 6-2 7-5
Andrea Hlavackova came in #10 in safe points, and Lucie Safarova #15, and for the moment they retain those rankings, but this kills any possibility of them rising and raises the possibility that either or both might fall.
Doubles – First Round: Erakovic/Martic def. Niculescu/Zakopalova 7-6(7-2) 6-4
Quite a surprise, given how well Niculescu/Zakopalova have been playing lately.
****** TODAY’S FEATURE ******
This Week’s Movers — Women
Each week, Daily Tennis will look at the biggest movers of the week, looking at how they did what they did.
Biggest Upward Mover — Most Places Moved (Top 100)
Leader: TIE:
Christina McHale — Moved 15 places, from #70 to #55.
Yaroslava Shvedova — Moved 15 places, from #79 to #64.
McHale made the Acapulco final, and came within a hair of beating Dominika Cibulkova to win her first title. Shvedova was a semifinalist at Florianopolis.
Biggest Percentage Mover — Cut Ranking By Highest Percent (Top 100)
Leader: McHale, cut ranking 21%
Runner-Up: Shvedova, 19%
Biggest Loser — Most Places Lost (Top 100)
Loser: Karolina Pliskova — Dropped 16 places, from #51 to #67
Last year’s Kuala Lumpur champion could hardly hope to defend a title that isn’t there any more!
Biggest Percentage Loser — Worst Percentage Increase in Ranking (Top 100)
Loser: Pliskova, ranking increased 31%.
Ranking Notes
It was a pretty quiet week in the upward moves department. Note that only McHale rose as much as 20%. Only three other players gained as much as 15%: Shvedova, up 19%, Zhang Shuai, up 16% (to a career high #42), and Dominika Cibulkova (up 15%, to a career-high #11).
The two most noteworthy downward moves were by Pliskova, off 31%, and Bethanie Mattek-Sands, the player Pliskova beat in the Kuala Lumpur final, down 30% (to #52). No one else lost as much as 20%, but four players slipped between 18% and 20%: Kristina Mladenovic — who keeps winning in doubles and losing in singles — fell just less than 20%, to #91; Ayumi Morita lost 19%, to #87; 2013 Florianopolis champion Monica Niculescu lost 19%, to #63, and Silvia Soler-Espinosa fell 19%, to #89.
THIS WEEK
Rankings
Estimated WTA Rankings As of March 5, 2014
Rank &
Prior
Rank Name Points
1 (1) SWilliams 12660
2 (2) LI 6795
3 (3) ARADWANSKA 5575*
4 (4) AZARENKA 5441*
5 (7) HALEP 4395*
6 (8) JANKOVIC 4385*
7 (5) SHARAPOVA 4216*
8 (9) KVITOVA 4125*
9 (6) KERBER 4050*
10 (10) ERRANI 3775*
11 (11) CIBULKOVA 3265*
12 (13) IVANOVIC 3085*
13 (14) VINCI 2870*
14 (15) LISICKI 2660*
15 (16) SUAREZ NAVARRO 2565*
16 (12) WOZNIACKI 2495
17 (18) STEPHENS 2420*
18 (19) BOUCHARD 2388*
19 (17) STOSUR 2365*
20 (21) PENNETTA 2265*
21 (20) FLIPKENS 2215*
22 (22) PAVLYUCHENKOVA 2185*
23 (23) CORNET 2120*
24 (24) MAKAROVA 2070*
25 (26) KANEPI 2045*
26 (27) CIRSTEA 1910*
27 (28) SAFAROVA 1825*
28 (29) ZAKOPALOVA 1615*
29 (25) Kirilenko 1596
30 (31) VWilliams 1577
Draws
Indian Wells — week of March 3, 2014
1 Li
28 Zakopalova
21 Pavlyuchenkova
15 Lisicki
12 Cibulkova
23 Makarova
27 Kuznetsova
8 Kvitova
4 Sharapova
25 Cirstea
20 Pennetta
16 Stosur
11 Ivanovic
17 Stephens
32 Muguruza
5 Kerber
6 Halep
26 Safarova
18 Bouchard
9 Errani
13 Vinci
19 Flipkens
29 Hantuchova
3 Azarenka
7 Jankovic
31 Rybarikova
24 Kanepi
10 Wozniacki
14 Suarez Navarro
22 Cornet
30 Vesnina
2 A Radwanska
STATUS OF SEEDS:
1 Li
2 A Radwanska
3 Azarenka
4 Sharapova
5 Kerber
6 Halep
7 Jankovic
8 Kvitova
9 Errani
10 Wozniacki
11 Ivanovic
12 Cibulkova
13 Vinci
14 Suarez Navarro
15 Lisicki
16 Stosur
17 Stephens
18 Bouchard
19 Flipkens
20 Pennetta
21 Pavlyuchenkova
22 Cornet
23 Makarova
24 Kanepi
25 Cirstea
26 Safarova
27 Kuznetsova
28 Zakopalova
29 Hantuchova
30 Vesnina
31 Rybarikova
32 Muguruza
******** SCORES ********
WEDNESDAY
INDIAN WELLS
Singles – First Round
Peng Shuai def. (WC) Vera Zvonareva 4-6 6-0 7-5
(WC) Shelby Rogers def. Petra Cetkovska 6-0 6-4
Yvonne Meusburger def. Iveta Melzer 6-4 6-2
Silvia Soler-Espinosa def. (WC) Nadia Petrova 1-1, retired (right calf)
Bojana Jovanovski def. Alison Riske 3-6 6-3 6-3
Annika Beck def. Stefanie Voegele 2-6 6-2 7-5
Lauren Davis def. (Q) Chan Yung-Jan 6-4 6-3
Yanina Wickmayer def. (Q) Anna Schmiedlova 3-6 6-2 6-4
Madison Keys def. Tsvetana Pironkova 6-2 6-1
(Q) Heather Watson def. (WC) Belinda Bencic 7-5 6-4
Varvara Lepchenko def. (Q) Alison van Uytvanck 6-2 6-2
Casey Dellacqua def. Christina McHale 7-6(7-4) 6-4
(Q) Sharon Fichman def. Shahar Peer 4-6 6-3 6-4
(Q) Yaroslava Shvedova def. Chanelle Scheepers 4-6 6-4 6-3
Kurumi Nara def. (Q) Alie Kiick 6-4 6-0
Kristina Mladenovic def. Zhang Shuai 6-2 6-1
Doubles – First Round
(4) Peschke/Srebotnik def. Babos/Jankovic 7-6(10-8) 6-3
Date-Krumm/Zahlavova Strycova def. (6) Hlavackova/Safarova 6-2 7-5
Erakovic/Martic def. Niculescu/Zakopalova 7-6(7-2) 6-4
Topics: 10sballs, Alison Riske, Annika Beck, BNP Paribas Open, Casey Dellacqua, Heather Watson, Indian Wells, Lauren Davis, Madison Keys, Nadia Petrova, Petra Cetkovska, Shelby Rogers, Sports, Stefanie Voegele, Tennis, Tennis News, Vera Zvonareva, Wta, Yanina Wickmayer, Yvonne Meusburger
BNP Paribas Ladies Update- http://t.co/fyvByUm53L @BNPPARIBASOPEN #WTA #IndianWells #update