* After Monday’s bottom half upset-fest, Wednesday brings no upsets at all in singles, but Sharapova survives by skin of her teeth
* Peschke out of doubles Top Ten
Singles – Second Round: (2) Maria Sharapova def. Alexandra Panova 6-1 4-6 7-5
This was hard to believe — Alexandra Panova was up 4-1, 30-0 in the third set. The commentators thought that the double-fault that followed was critical, but whatever the crucial point (if there was one), Panova failed to convert two match points, leaving Maria Sharapova still in the hunt for the #1 ranking. She’ll surely have to do better than this, though.
Singles – Second Round: (3) Simona Halep def. Jarmila Gajdosova 6-2 6-2
This was late, and by the looks of things, Simona Halep wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. Jarmila Gajdosova won’t quite be making the Top Fifty after all.
Singles – Second Round: (7) Eugenie Bouchard def. Kiki Bertens 6-0 6-3
It seemed as if all the other high seeds were trying to make up for the time Sharapova had lost. Eugenie Bouchard still needs at least one more win to keep the #7 ranking; she leaves Kiki Bertens around #70.
Singles – Second Round: (10) Ekaterina Makarova def. Roberta Vinci 6-2 6-4
We’d guess that this will be enough to let Ekaterina Makarova keep the #11 ranking she came in with, although she’ll need more to return to the Top Ten. Roberta Vinci for once added points and will probably end up just below the Top Forty.
Singles – Second Round: (14) Sara Errani def. Silvia Soler-Espinosa 7-6(7-3) 6-3
It seems as if Sara Errani wants to put her difficult 2014 behind her. She has already passed Flavia Pennetta to once again become Italy’s #1 singles player; she might rise as high as #12.
Singles – Second Round: (21) Peng Shuai def. Magdalena Rybarikova 6-1 6-1
For once we aren’t seeing too many nerves from Peng Shuai. She hasn’t clinched her Top Twenty spot yet, but it looks likely. Magdalena Rybarikova won’t rise above her current #47 and is likely to fall a spot or two.
Singles – Second Round: (31) Zarina Diyas def. Anna Schmiedlova 3-6 6-2 8-6
That bottom part of the draw is really struggling — Zarina Diyas faces Sharapova next, and they will obviously both be tired. And Diyas still has points to defend, so she will likely have to win that contest to hit the Top Thirty.
Singles – Second Round: Carina Witthoeft def. Christina McHale 6-3 6-0
Carina Witthoeft cruised in this match — she was the first player to reach the second round. Amazing, given that she was almost the lowest player with direct entry; she came in at #104. She had some points to defend, but still, she has put herself firmly in the Top Hundred. There is still a faint chance that Christina McHale will return to the Top Fifty, but we’d guess not.
Singles – Second Round: Yaroslava Shvedova def. Monica Puig 6-2 7-6(8-6)
Two straight upsets for Yaroslava Shvedova here, although this is a very minor upset. Still, it puts her on the brink of the Top Fifty.
Singles – Second Round: Julia Goerges def. Klara Koukalova 6-3 4-6 6-2
Wouldn’t you know that, when Julia Goerges came to life, it was at an event where she had a pile of points to defend, so she still needs more just to keep her #73 ranking. This ought to keep her above #80, at least. Klara Koukalova loses her chance to return to the Top Forty.
Singles – Second Round: Yanina Wickmayer def. Lara Arruabarrena 6-4 4-6 6-4
This is one of the best results Yanina Wickmayer has posted lately; it will probably take her back above #75.
Singles – Second Round: Caroline Garcia def. Stefanie Voegele 6-3 6-4
Caroline Garcia is now very close to making the Top Thirty — she’s at #29 in safe points, but with plenty of players who could still overtake her.
Singles – Second Round: Bethanie Mattek-Sands def. Kristina Mladenovic 7-6(7-3) 7-6(8-6)
Bethanie Mattek-Sands has now increased her points by about two-thirds; she will rise from #258 to around #185.
Singles – Second Round: Lucie Hradecka def. Polona Hercog 6-4 3-6 6-2
Lucie Hradecka is defending points, but she should rise to #120 or slightly higher.
Singles – Second Round: Irina-Camelia Begu def. Katerina Siniakova 7-5 6-4
Irina-Camelia Begu will rise above #40 — perhaps as high as #35, although we’d guess a spot or two lower.
Doubles – First Round: (2) Hsieh/Mirza def. Irigoyen/Oprandi 6-2 6-0
The result is obviously not a surprise, but we have to wonder if Romina Oprandi should even have been playing. She won just four games in singles and doubles combined. Hsieh and Mirza became the first doubles seeds to win a match here, but it’s not enough points to make any difference to them.
Doubles – First Round: (3) Makarova/Vesnina def. Keys/Riske 7-5 6-1
Makarova/Vesnina, who are defending finalist points, .improve their chances of staying Top Ten, but it’s not settled yet by any means.
Doubles – First Round: (4) Hingis/Pennetta def. Bencic/Siniakova 7-6(7-3) 6-2
Martina Hingis is at #7 in safe points, and needs a title to go higher, but the way Hingis/Pennetta have played recently, getting past the first round has been a very big hurdle.
Doubles – First Round: (6) Muguruza/Suarez Navarro def. Lepchenko/Tatishvili 6-3 6-2
Garbine Muguruza is up to #11 in safe points, although she’ll need a lot more than this to hit the Top Ten.
Doubles – First Round: Kuznetsova/Stosur def. (8) H Chan/Peschke 6-3 6-2
Kuznetsova and Stosur, as a doubles team, are rather like Kuznetsova and Stosur as singles players — very good, and even better at letting their heads get to them. Wouldn’t you know that, when they once got it together, it was against Kveta Peschke, who was defending more than a thousand points. Peschke came in at #10, but this knocks her out of the Top Fifteen; even her Top Twenty spot may be in danger.
Doubles – First Round: (11) Medina Garrigues/Shvedova def. Falconi/Martic 6-3 6-3
Doubles – First Round: (12) Kudryavtseva/Pavlyuchenkova def. Aoyama/Voracova 6-2 7-6(7-5)
A nice win for Alla Kudrayvtseva in the absence of Anastasia Rodionova.
Doubles – First Round: (13) Krajicek/Zahlavova Strycova def. Erakovic/Puig 6-7(9-11) 7-6(8-6) 6-3
Doubles – First Round: (15) Date-Krumm/Dellacqua def. Peng/Xu 4-6 7-5 7-6(7-5)
Errani/Vinci haven’t even hit a ball yet, but it looks as if they will be keeping the #1 ranking. Peng Shuai was the main threat to pass them; she was only 110 points back. It won’t happen now. In fact, the #3 and #4 players are both out (see the Cara Black result below). That means that the only remaining threat to Errani/Vinci is Hsieh Su-Wei, and she is more than 1100 points back.
Doubles – First Round: Dabroswki/Rosolska def. Black/S Zheng 6-1 6-4
This obviously means no meeting between ex-partners Black and Mirza after all. Black and Mirza split because Black was thinking she might be distracted by other things. It looks as if she was right…. She won’t rise above her current #4, and she might well fall below her ex-partner Mirza. We currently show the Top Ten as follows:
1..(1) ERRANI ………….7750*
2..(1) VINCI …………. 7750*
3..(3) PENG ……………7640
4..(4) BLACK …………. 6625
5..(6) HSIEH …………. 6595*
6..(5) MIRZA …………. 6510*
7..(9) HINGIS ………….5105*
8..(7) MAKAROVA ………..4410*
8..(7) VESNINA ……….. 4410*
10.(14) PENNETTA ………..4200*
Doubles – First Round: Adamczak/Rogowska def. Gavrilova/Sanders 2-6 6-3 6-4
Doubles – First Round: Barthel/Minella def. Kalashnikova/Nara 6-3 7-5
Doubles – First Round: Diatchenko/Niculescu def. Davis/McHale 6-2 4-6 6-3
Doubles – First Round: Jans-Ignacik/Klepac def. Jankovic/Parra Santonja 7-6(7-5) 5-7 7-6(7-2)
Doubles – First Round: Rodionova/Rodionova def. Bains/Tomic 6-2 6-2
Doubles – First Round: Rogers/Vekic def. Cornet/Parmentier 4-6 6-2 6-4
Estimated WTA Rankings As of January 21, 2015
Rank &
Prior
Rank …Name …………. Points
1..(1) SWILLIAMS ……… 7846*
2..(2) SHARAPOVA ……… 7040*
3..(4) KVITOVA ……….. 6420*
4..(3) HALEP …………. 6271*
5..(8) WOZNIACKI ……… 4565*
6..(5) IVANOVIC ………..4425
7..(6) ARADWANSKA ………4100*
8..(7) BOUCHARD ………..4065*
9..(9) KERBER ………….3090
10.(13) PETKOVIC ………..2735
11.(11) MAKAROVA ………..2635*
12.(14) ERRANI ………….2550*
13.(12) PENNETTA ………..2441
14.(18) VWILLIAMS ……… 2430*
15.(16) SAFAROVA ………..2425
16.(15) JANKOVIC ………..2360
17.(17) SUAREZ NAVARRO …..2295
18.(19) CORNET ………….2065*
19.(20) KAPLISKOVA ………2015*
20.(22) PENG ……………1970*
21.(23) ZAHLAVOVA STRYCOVA .1870*
22.(21) STOSUR ………….1835*
23.(10) CIBULKOVA ……… 1777*
24.(27) KUZNETSOVA ………1701
25.(26) SVITOLINA ……… 1680*
26.(24) MUGURUZA ………..1675*
27.(28) LISICKI ……….. 1592
28.(30) LEPCHENKO ……… 1480*
29.(36) GARCIA ………….1461*
30.(31) DIYAS …………. 1420*
Australian Open — Week of January 19
………………………2R
1 S Williams
26 Svitolina
24 Muguruza
15 Jankovic
11 Cibulkova
19 Cornet
25 Zahlavova Strycova
8 Wozniacki
4 Kvitova
29 Dellacqua
20 Stosur
13 Petkovic
12 Pennetta
18 V Williams
30 Lepchenko
6 A Radwanska
5 Ivanovic………..Hradecka(Q)
32 Bencic…………Goerges
22 Ka Pliskova…….(22)Pliskova
10 Makarova……….(10)Makarova
14 Errani…………(14)Errani
23 Pavlyuchenkova….Wickmayer
28 Lisicki………..Mattek-Sands
3 Halep…………..(3)Halep
7 Bouchard………..(7)Bouchard
27 Kuznetsova……..Garcia
17 Suarez Navarro….Witthoeft
9 Kerber………….Begu
16 Safarova……….Shvedova
21 Peng…………..(21)Peng
31 Diyas………….(31)Diyas
2 Sharapova……….(2)Sharapova
STATUS OF SEEDS:
1 S Williams
2 Sharapova
3 Halep
4 Kvitova
5 Ivanovic………….lost 1R (Hradecka)
6 A Radwanska
7 Bouchard
8 Wozniacki
9 Kerber……………lost 1R (Begu)
10 Makarova
11 Cibulkova
12 Pennetta………….lost 1R (Giorgi)
13 Petkovic………….lost 1R (Brengle)
14 Errani
15 Jankovic………….lost 1R (Bacsinszky)
16 Safarova………….lost 1R (Shvedova)
17 Suarez Navarro…….lost 1R (Witthoeft)
18 V Williams
19 Cornet
20 Stosur
21 Peng
22 Ka Pliskova
23 Pavlyuchenkova…….lost 1R (Wickmayer)
24 Muguruza
25 Zahlavova Strycova
26 Svitolina
27 Kuznetsova………..lost 1R (Garcia)
28 Lisicki…………..lost 1R (Mladenovic)
29 Dellacqua
30 Lepchenko
31 Diyas
32 Bencic……………lost 1R (Goerges)
Australian Open
Singles – Second Round
(2) Maria Sharapova def. Alexandra Panova 6-1 4-6 7-5
(3) Simona Halep def. Jarmila Gajdosova 6-2 6-2
(7) Eugenie Bouchard def. Kiki Bertens 6-0 6-3
(10) Ekaterina Makarova def. Roberta Vinci 6-2 6-4
(14) Sara Errani def. Silvia Soler-Espinosa 7-6(7-3) 6-3
(21) Peng Shuai def. Magdalena Rybarikova 6-1 6-1
(22) Karolina Pliskova def. Oceane Dodin 7-5 5-7 6-4
(31) Zarina Diyas def. Anna Schmiedlova 3-6 6-2 8-6
Julia Goerges def. Klara Koukalova 6-3 4-6 6-2
Carina Witthoeft def. Christina McHale 6-3 6-0
Yaroslava Shvedova def. Monica Puig 6-2 7-6(8-6)
Yanina Wickmayer def. Lara Arruabarrena 6-4 4-6 6-4
Caroline Garcia def. Stefanie Voegele 6-3 6-4
Bethanie Mattek-Sands def. Kristina Mladenovic 7-6(7-3) 7-6(8-6)
Lucie Hradecka def. Polona Hercog 6-4 3-6 6-2
Irina-Camelia Begu def. Katerina Siniakova 7-5 6-4
Doubles – First Round
(2) Hsieh/Mirza def. Irigoyen/Oprandi 6-2 6-0
(3) Makarova/Vesnina def. Keys/Riske 7-5 6-1
(4) Hingis/Pennetta def. Bencic/Siniakova 7-6(7-3) 6-2
(6) Muguruza/Suarez Navarro def. Lepchenko/Tatishvili 6-3 6-2
Kuznetsova/Stosur def. (8) H Chan/Peschke 6-3 6-2
(11) Medina Garrigues/Shvedova def. Falconi/Martic 6-3 6-3
(12) Kudryavtseva/Pavlyuchenkova def. Aoyama/Voracova 6-2 7-6(7-5)
(13) Krajicek/Zahlavova Strycova def. Erakovic/Puig 6-7(9-11) 7-6(8-6) 6-3
(15) Date-Krumm/Dellacqua def. Peng/Xu 4-6 7-5 7-6(7-5)
Adamczak/Rogowska def. Gavrilova/Sanders 2-6 6-3 6-4
Barthel/Minella def. Kalashnikova/Nara 6-3 7-5
Dabroswki/Rosolska def. Black/S Zheng 6-1 6-4
Diatchenko/Niculescu def. Davis/McHale 6-2 4-6 6-3
Jans-Ignacik/Klepac def. Jankovic/Parra Santonja 7-6(7-5) 5-7 7-6(7-2)
Rodionova/Rodionova def. Bains/Tomic 6-2 6-2
Rogers/Vekic def. Cornet/Parmentier 4-6 6-2 6-4
***
Content via Bob LARSON tennis news
Topics: 2015 Australian Open, AO15, Genie Bouchard, Maria Sharapova, Melbourne, Tennis, Wta
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