Women Tennis Update – Doha Thursday, February 14, 2013

Written by: Staff on 13th February 2013

Women Tennis Update - Doha Thursday, February 14, 2013

epa02889105 Ekaterina Bychkova of Russia hits a return to Andrea Petkovic of Germany during their first round match on the second day of the 2011 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA 30 August 2011. The US Open runs through 11 September 2011. EPA/JASON SZENES |

Doha

The Story So Far — Big Results from Monday and Tuesday:

Ekaterina Bychkova def. (12) Maria Kirilenko 3-0, retired. Kirilenko, who had to bail out of the Fed Cup reverse singles, will not rise above #14.

(2) Serena Williams def. Daria Gavrilova 6-2 6-1. Serena is now two wins away from clinching the #1 ranking.

Mona Barthel def. (5) Angelique Kerber 6-1 6-2. Evidently Angelique Kerber really was too injured to play Fed Cup. She won’t rise above #6.

Wednesday:

Singles – Second Round: (1) Victoria Azarenka def. Romina Oprandi 6-2 6-3

Victoria Azarenka keeps alive her hopes of staying #1 — but she has a lot of work still to do, and it’s all up to Serena Williams anyway.

Singles – Second Round: (4) Agnieszka Radwanska def. Anastasia Rodionova 6-3 6-2

This is going to be your standard Agnieszka Radwanska week: She’ll stay #4, and she’ll stay a moderately strong #4. Just etch that in stone for the next few months….

Singles – Second Round: (6) Sara Errani def. Timea Babos 6-4 6-0

There isn’t much chance that Sara Errani will move this week, either, but at least she seems to be over her Fed Cup bobble.

Singles – Second Round: (7) Petra Kvitova def. Ekaterina Makarova 6-4, retired

Ekaterina Makarova wasn’t defending anything, so she will stay Top Twenty despite the loss.

Singles – Second Round: (8) Samantha Stosur def. Monica Niculescu 6-4 1-6 6-3

On the one hand, it’s good to see Samantha Stosur finally win something — especially since she is defending finalist points. On the other, it’s very tough for Monica Niculescu, who loses quarterfinalist points and will fall to not much above #80.

Singles – Second Round: Svetlana Kuznetsova def. (9) Marion Bartoli 6-4 6-4

Marion Bartoli is probably still not well after the problems that forced her out of Fed Cup. But she was defending semifinalist points. This means no return to the Top Ten; there is a real chance that Nadia Petrova could pass her.

Singles – Second Round: (10) Caroline Wozniacki def. Sorana Cirstea 7-6(9-7) 6-0

Sorana Cirstea led by a minibreak in the first set tiebreak, and then went away, meaning that she will stay around #30.

Singles – Second Round: (11) Nadia Petrova def. Su-Wei Hsieh 3-6 6-2 6-4

Hsieh Su-Wei loses her chance to clinch a Top 25 spot, although she may earn one anyway — the only other player with a real shot at the #25 ranking is Mona Barthel.

Singles – Second Round: (13) Ana Ivanovic def. Simona Halep 6-3, retired

This will knock Simona Halep out of the Top Fifty.

Singles – Second Round: Urszula Radwanska def. (15) Roberta Vinci 6-2 5-7 6-0

If Sara Errani managed to overcome her Fed Cup funk, Roberta Vinci perhaps hasn’t. She loses her Top Fifteen chance.

Singles – Second Round: Klara Zakopalova def. (16) Sloane Stephens 4-6 7-6(7-5) 7-6(7-5)

Sloane Stephens won’t rise above #17….

Singles – Second Round: Christina McHale def. (17) Lucie Safarova 6-4 6-2

…although Lucie Safarova’s loss means that Stephens probably won’t fall, either.

Singles – Second Round: Daniela Hantuchova def. Ekaterina Bychkova 6-3 1-6 6-3

This should at least move Daniela Hantuchova back above #70. Yes, we really said that. “Back above #70.” Hard to believe….

Doubles – First Round: Hantuchova/Medina Garrigues def. (5) Hsieh/Huber 6-2 6-3

Hantuchova really is on fire all of a sudden — although Liezel Huber really has to find a permanent partner.