Today’s Women’s News (08/19)

Written by: Staff on 19th August 2012

Today's Women's News (08/19)

epa03280879 Na Li of China returns to Ksenia Pervak of Kazakhstan during their first round match for the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 25 June 2012. EPA/FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA |

Cincinnati

Singles – Final: (9) Li Na def. (5) Angelique Kerber 1-6 6-3 6-1

We saw it at Eastbourne: Angelique Kerber couldn’t finish off a title. This was a bigger event. So was the failure.

For a three set match, this was surprisingly quick. Kerber controlled the first set, was about even for the first half of the second, then vanished.

Li Na wins her first title since, yes, Roland Garros last year. She remains stuck at #9. But she is now a very strong #9. We would expect her to climb to #7 or so after the U. S. Open. And, with a final last week and a title this week, she is definitely a factor again!

Angelique Kerber is up to a career high #6. She has shown that she can beat top players — she beat Sharapova at Paris, Kvitova at Rome and here, Serena Williams here, and none other than Li at Indian Wells. She has made the semifinal or better at nine events this year — Auckland, Hobart, Paris, Indian Wells, Copenhagen, Rome, Eastbourne, Wimbledon, and Cincinnati. But she hasn’t won a title since Copenhagen. Her ranking may be going up. Her results don’t seem to be.

Doubles – Final: (5) Hlavackova/Hradecka def. (8) Srebotnik/Zheng 6-1 6-3

Last year, Hlavackova/Hradecka won Roland Garros. But that was it. No other titles. This year in a lot of ways is more impressive. They now have three titles — Auckland, Memphis, and Cincinnati. Plus a Wimbledon final, an Olympic silver, and an Australian Open semifinal. They’re 34-8. They’re Top Ten. Only twice have they lost their opener this year. Kinda makes you wonder where they were hiding all that game for all those years….

New Haven

Fans of normal distributions (“bell curves”) didn’t have much to enjoy in the New Haven qualifying. There were four matches. Two went three sets: #1 seed Timea Babos edged Sachia Vickery 2-6 6-4 6-4 and #5 Olga Govortsova made it past Vera Dushevina 5-7 6-2 7-5. In the other two — the loser won only two games. Alexa Glatch stomped Melanie Oudin 6-0 6-2; Nicole Gibbs made the main draw when #7 seed Garbine Muguruza quit down 6-2 1-0.

Dushevina and Oudin still make the main draw as Lucky Losers. Francesca Schiavone and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova are out.

Singles – First Round: (5) Marion Bartoli def. (WC) Laura Robson 6-3 6-3

After several weeks of struggles, that must be a big relief to Marion Bartoli. It won’t help her ranking, though.

Singles – First Round: (8) Lucie Safarova def. Varvara Lepchenko 6-3 4-1, retired (left wrist)

Just what you don’t want to have happen the week before a Slam! Varvara Lepchenko was expected to be one of the stronger floaters. Now — who knows?

Singles – First Round: Sloane Stephens def. Tamira Paszek 6-3 6-1

Tamira Paszek was hurting last week, and withdrew from her opener. Maybe she’s still not well.

Singles – First Round: Carla Suarez Navarro def. Agnes Szavay 7-6(7-3) 6-4

Closer than we would have expected, given how much rust Agnes Szavay is carrying. But she probably should have played Dallas….

Dallas

Singles – First Round: Aleksandra Wozniak def. (5) Klara Zakopalova 6-0 7-6(7-2)

There is a chance that this will cost Klara Zakopalova her Top Thirty spot.

Singles – First Round: (7) Chanelle Scheepers def. Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 6-0 6-2

Chanelle Scheepers will be making another run for the Top Forty this week, but this alone won’t do it.

Singles – First Round: Polona Hercog def. Kiki Bertens 6-4, retired

Truly a murderous month, this August, in terms of retirements….

Singles – First Round: (WC) Bojana Jovanovski def. Alexandra Panova 4-6 6-1 6-1

Bojana Jovanovski continues to put her slump of the early part of the year behind her.

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