WTA CHAMPIONSHIP TENNIS NEWS: MARIA SHARAPOVA BEATS SIMONA HALEP ‘SLEDGEHAMMAPOVA SLINGS IT TO HALEP – SINGAPORE NOODLING DAY 3 BY GLOBAL CHICK

The good news is we are edging ever closer to a Singapore Sling. The bad news though was that the first of the ‘scenario’ notes started to circulate. If so and so wins, while the queue for the popcorn are still politely counting their change, then such and such is eliminated – that kind of thing.

 

We jest (because we care, of course!). The brutal fact was that decently in-form Agnieszka Radwanska was on the verge of saying toodle-pip to Singapore after a more inspired Flavia Pennetta fought her way into contention for one of the qualifying spots with a tight 7-6(5) 6-4 win.

 

Pennetta will face Maria Sharapova next, and although she joked that should would rather enjoy a few of Singapore’s sights, like the Singapore Gardens By the Bay, she can at least relate to how the 2004 champion must be feeling after her opening win, and the very fact that she is back at all this season, which is no mean feat.

 

She said: “The win she had against Radwanska the first match the first day was impressive. She play good. Of course she is healthy. She has this adrenaline because she was out for three or four months, something like that. When you come in the court after so long you are with a lot of energy. It’s going to be tough for sure.”

 

For Radwanska now, it all came down to what happened in the evening session between top seed and last year’s finalist, as Simona Halep took on Sharapova. The gritty Romanian was hunting her first win over Sharapova, and the pair were going at it with everything but the kitchen sink.

 

It was Halep who blinked first though, as Sharapova came through potential danger on her own serve and put Halep under enough pressure for the top seed to cave, as Sharapova went ahead 6-4.

 

Talk about momentum. Sharapova was about as unstoppable as a careering truck on snow as she ploughed through the Romanian to build up a 5-1 lead. Never count Halep out through, she clawed back the two breaks but just couldn’t hold on to her serve for the consolidation that would have really counted, as Sharapova closed out a 6-4 6-4 win with palpable relief. That meant a lot.

 

Halep added to Pennetta’s praise of the former World No. 1. She admitted: “She played really well today, even if she didn’t play for a long time, since Wimbledon. Yeah she knows how to play. She’s a champion. She has experience. I can say I feel she’s playing really well against me always, but that’s tennis. I have to accept and to do things better.”

 

She continued: “She is hitting the ball very strong, and today in important moments she hit almost winners in the last game. So she plays well; she plays very aggressive. You know, she knows how to play in the last games when she has the chance to finish the match.”

 

Now… ironically even though she is 2-0 with Pennetta and Halep on a one of each, and Radwanska hiding behind the cushions on 0-2, the dreams of our precious little red group unicorns are still alive.

 

For Halep and Pennetta to shut out Sharapova, they both have to win in straights… and for every other scenario under the sun, take a look at this tweet from the @WTAInsider!

 

https://twitter.com/WTA_insider/status/659004651115814912/photo/1

 

It was another great performance, but her pumped team including coach Sven Groeneveld were back in business. On Sunday she joked about him resorting to almost philosophical Paolo Coelho quotes but it was right back to basics as she found her 5-1 lead being eroded by the gritty Halep.

 

She said: “I think I was rushing a little bit too much, rushing to get free points, and that’s just not something that you ‑‑ not something I was looking to do before I got to 5‑1. I rushed myself a little too much and tried to go for maybe bigger serves. Didn’t get a first serve in.”

 

She continued: “I’ve always been a player that goes into a match and I don’t seek perfection because I don’t know if that’s possible. At least I’ve never proven to myself that’s possible. You’re always going to make mistakes and errors.

 

Sometimes, and most of the time, I feel happier when I get through a match and I didn’t play my best tennis but found a way to win. That gives me a lot more confidence.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We’re back to the cult of lefties tomorrow, with Petra Kvitova hopefully finding some spark that was sorely lacking, both last night and today on the practice court, where she and coach David Kotyze talked long and hard, seemingly about what on earth happened. It was not great, and with the Fed Cup Final also around the corner, she will need to regain a spark, and smartly.

 

https://instagram.com/p/9U_3yyQeTb/

 

Garbiñe Muguruza must really be fancying her chances as she will face Angelique Kerber with the strength of a three-match winning spree this year.

 

And as for us – we’re going to count the days down to Friday where we have our eyes firmly set on the Long Bar of Raffles. Get that Sling ready, people, Global Chick is on her way. We sure don’t want to keep our Tommy waiting , we are coming !

Topics: Agnieszka Radwanska, Flavia Pennetta, Garbine Muguruza, global chick, Maria Sharapova, Petra Kvitova, Simona Halep, Singapore tennis, Sports, sven groeneveld, Tennis News, WTA Finals

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