Archive: lucie-safarova
Six Wilson Players Make Final Eight at 2014 Wimbledon
Before the matches began, there could have been a prediction that a woman whose last name ended with “ova” would be in Centre Court on the Final Saturday of Wimbledon. Quite a while ago, Bud Collins asked if anyone knew how many women with an “ova” ending to their name were in the draw.
Eugenie Bouchard (Westmount, QC) became the first Canadian in history to reach a Grand Slam singles final on Thursday at Wimbledon thanks to a 7-6(5), 6-2 victory over world no. 3 Simona Halep of Romania. / Eugenie Bouchard (Westmount, QC) est devenue aujourd’hui la première Canadienne à accéder à la finale d’un tournoi du Grand Chelem alors qu’elle a pris la mesure de la Roumaine Simona Halep, 3e joueuse mondiale, en deux manches de 7-6(5) et 6-2.
With the exception of 2011 champion Petra Kvitova, it was a treat to see new names in the frame for a place in Saturday’s final, when the women’s semi-finals were played on Thursday.
Only one champion remains in the women’s draw as two Czech lefties Lucie Safarova and Petra Kvitova will face each other in the semi-final. Kvitova owns the head to head 5-0 but they have had some humdinger of matches.
Wimbledon passes on announcements with an aura of grandeur that often outstrips the issue itself. The second Tuesday though, brought about a communiqué that outlined a sad statistic, at least where US players are concerned. This is the first time since 1911 that no Americans remain in competition in either the women or men’s side of the draws.
Martina Hingis spent last year’s Mutua Madrid Open celebrating Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova’s – the player she was training at the time – doubles victory alongside Lucie Safarova, and this time round she’ll be in the thick of the action herself.
The ITF has announced the draws for the 2014 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group semifinals, and World Group and World Group II play-offs taking place on 19-20 April.
Based on current rankings, these seedings should have been reversed -- Sloane Stephens came in ranked #16, Caroline Wozniacki #18. But you would never have known it! And, because Stephens was defending 140 points and Wozniacki only 80, that will reverse -- Stephens will fall to no better than #18, with Wozniacki probably #17 and with the chance to go higher.
Mathematical memo to Maria Sharapova and her entourage: During the first two sets of Sharapova's match with Lucie Safarova, she was winning 34% of second serve points. At the same time, she was putting in 64% of first serves, and winning 70% of those points. Had she fired a first serve on her second serve, she would have double-faulted dozens of times but would have won 45% of second serve points.
This was by no means as easy and straightforward as it looks; it took more than an hour, and if we did this right, Agnieszka Radwanska's first hold of the second set lasted 22 points! Radwanska is assured the #3 ranking; Annika Beck will probably be #43.
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Click here to see the results and order of play from the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Is Agnieszka Radwanska already running out of gas this year? She made the Australian Open semifinal, and also the semifinal at Doha -- but she was seeded for the final, and here she is out again, half a week later. She'll stay #3, but she loses the chance to open a significant lead on Victoria Azarenka...
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