Svetlana Kuznetsova

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2017 @USOpen Women’s Preview, Predictions

Posted by Admin on August 28, 2017
Posted in: New York, Niall Clarke, US Open, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment
Garbine Muguruza, 2017 US Open

Garbine Muguruza, 2017 US Open

2017 @USOpen Women’s Preview, Predictions
Niall Clarke, Tennis Atlantic

We have reached the Big Apple for the final grand slam of the year and there is not only the US Open to fight for, but also the world number one ranking.
128 will enter Flushing Meadows, but only one woman will be crowned champion at the end of the fortnight. Here is a rundown of the draw for the 2017 US Open.

Top Quarter

Karolina Pliskova, 2017 US Open

Karolina Pliskova, 2017 US Open

World number one Karolina Pliskova has finals points to defend here and it is likely she will have to make that stage again if she is to keep the top spot. The Czech has a good draw ahead of her though with the first seeded player being Shuai Zhang. Kristina Mladenovic is projected for the fourth round, but the Frenchwoman’s lack of form and fitness issues may lead to another early exit. Look for Barbora Strycova to take advantage and possibly meet her compatriot in the round of 16.

The bottom half of this quarter seems more stacked and closely contested than the top half. Svetlana Kuznetsova is the highest seed and should be good enough for the third round at least. From there, it could get interesting with Anett Kontaveit, Lucie Safarova or Cici Bellis waiting in the wings. Agnieszka Radwanska is yet to break her Grand Slam curse, and if she is to do so here she will do it as the tenth seed. Coco Vandeweghe is her biggest test before a potential fourth round against Kuznetsova.

Second Quarter

Madison Keys, 2017 US Open

Madison Keys, 2017 US Open

Elina Svitolina is one of the tournament favourites for the US Open as she looks to claim her first Grand Slam title. The Ukrainian has a tough opener against Katerina Siniakova, but the third round clash with the in form Daria Gavrilova could be her toughest first week opponent. Round four is projected to be Madison Keys, but she has a tough first round against Elise Mertens to worry about first. Elena Vesnina is the first seeded opponent for the American.

Angelique Kerber is the defending champion here, which is hard to believe given how underwhelming she has been in 2017. The German faces big hitting youngster Naomi Osaka in one of the picks of the opening round matches. Lesia Tsurenko is the first seeded opponent she will face, but things get really interesting in round four as Kerber could face French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova has also landed in this section alongside dangerous unseeded player Daria Kasatkina.

Third Quarter
Garbine Muguruza has been in good form since Wimbledon and is in many people’s mind the favourite to go the distance in New York. The Spaniard has a good draw to the second week with Magdalena Rybarikova being the toughest opponent before round four. Petra Kvitova is projected to face Muguruza at this point, but her inconsistency could open the door for Caroline Garcia to make the second week of a third straight slam.

The US Open might be Caroline Wozniacki’s best shot at winning a maiden Grand Slam crown, and with the openness of the draw, she could very well go all the way. The Dane has some dangerous players in her section such as Ekaterina Makarova and Mirjana Lucic-Baroni. Venus Williams has an outside shot of claiming the number one ranking if results go her way, and given her form this year you can not rule out the elder Williams sister prevailing. Venus plays Kiki Bertens in round three, her toughest opponent before the potential Wozniacki clash.

Bottom Quarter
The bottom quarter of this draw features the headline match of the opening round as Maria Sharapova faces second seed Simona Halep. It is not an ideal draw for either player, but it is the pick of the round one matches for the fans. Outside of the opening round, the draw looks good for the winner. Sevastova is the trickiest player in the section and is projected for the fourth round.

Johanna Konta has not had the best preparation for the US Open, but the Brit is still among the outside favourites for the title. Konta’s toughest match in the first week comes in the form of Germany’s Julia Goerges, a big hitter who has resurged somewhat this season. Dominika Cibulkova will be hoping for a good grand slam run at Flushing Meadows, but she has some tough matches including Sloane Stephens in round two and Ana Konjuh in round three.

Predictions
Round of 16:
Pliskova def. Strycova
Kuznetsova def. Vandeweghe
Svitolina def. Keys
Kerber def. Ostapenko
Venus def. Wozniacki
Muguruza def. Garcia
Konta def. Stephens
Halep def. Sevastova

For the most part I believe the seeds will hold up. There are many players capable of upsets, but they are so inconsistent, it is hard to back them. The only non top eight seed I have predicted to make the quarter finals is Venus, but that could easily be wrong too.

Quarter Finals
Pliskova def. Kuznetsova
Svitolina def. Kerber
Muguruza def. Venus
Halep def. Konta

The top four seeds are the strongest players in the draw and I believe they will fill out the semi finals in a rarity for the WTA.

Semi Finals:
Svitolina def. Pliskova
Muguruza def. Halep

These two matches can go either way but I have favoured the fourth and third seeds to get the job done. Pliskova will feel the pressure of keeping her ranking whilst Muguruza has a good record against Halep.

Final:
Muguruza def. Svitolina

I have predicted this final before at the French Open and somehow I have done it again. The draw can go either way, but Muguruza’s form should carry her far and the Spaniard seems to step up in the latter stages. That is why I have gone for her to win the final and take the crown. She seems much better at handling pressure after winning Wimbledon, and she can do well here despite her poor record.

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2017 French Open Women’s Preview, Predictions

Posted by Admin on May 27, 2017
Posted in: France, French Open, Niall Clarke, Roland Garros, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

French-open-2016-Tennis
2017 Roland Garros Women’s Preview, Predictions
Niall Clarke, Tennnis Atlantic

The second Grand Slam of the year has arrived and wow, it is as open as ever. Who will run out as Champion of Roland Garros? Let’s break down the draw and find out.

Top Quarter

World number one Angelique Kerber has been anything but in number one form. The German has struggled to put together a run of results. Can she turn it around for the French Open? She has a tough opener against fellow lefty Ekaterina Makarova. The Russian always brings her best to the big events and will no doubt be a huge test for the German. If Kerber can pass that match, then she should be good to make the quarter finals. Roberta Vinci is the first projected seeded opponent, but she could have a lot of issues with Monica Puig in round one. Petra Kvitova is back as the 15th seed, and it is great to see her making her return to tour. It will be unfair to expect much though, as the in-form Sam Stosur should make it to the fourth round to face Kerber.

With Kerber’s struggles, there could be a chance for Svetlana Kuznetsova to make the semi finals again.  The Russian is a former champion here but has a tough draw ahead. Christina McHale is first up, then possibly France’s Oceane Dodin, who will no doubt have the support of the home fans. Shuai Zhang is the first seeded opponent for Kuznetsova.

Clay has never been Caroline Wozniacki’s favourite surface, but the Dane will be hoping to find the form that got her to the world number one position years ago. The section is a fairly good one for the Dane, at least until the second round where she could face the in-form Kiki Bertens. The Dutchwoman impressed in Nurnberg again and is a former semi finalist here. It will not be a shock to see Bertens do well at Roland Garros again and set up a fourth round match with Kuznetsova.

Second Quarter

The defending champion is Garbine Muguruza, and once again we do not know which version will show up. Despite struggling for most of the season last year, the Spaniard played close to her best at this tournament in 2016, and as a result went all the way. Can she repeat that success? It is a tough opener against Francesca Schiavone, then the winner of Monica Niculesu vs Ana Kontaveit will also be a test of where Muguruza is at with her game. Yulia Putintseva is the first seeded opponent.

French hopes will be heavy on Kristina Mladenovic’s shoulders. The 13th seed has been in good form this season, but will the pressure of a home crowd get to her? If we are going by game alone then Mladenovic should be safe to make the fourth round with Mirjana Lucic-Baroni being the toughest opponent in the third round. A Mladenovic vs Muguruza fourth round will be fireworks, and it looks like it will happen.

Dominika Cibulkova has not had a great clay court season, but often players can catch fire at the right time. Will the Slovak pick up her form for the French Open? She has a tough match against Lara Arruabarrena in the first round in a possible upset. That could open the door for Timea Bacsinszky to have another good run at Roland Garros.

Venus Williams has never won the French Open, but with the draw so wide open, the former world number one could make a decent run. She has a tough opener against Qiang Wang, then Daria Gavrilova as a potential third round opponent. The Aussie has been in good form recently. Can she translate it to the grand slam stage? I think she might, and it will be an unexpected fourth round against Bacsinszky that could be her reward.

Third Quarter

simona-halep

Simona Halep

A few weeks a go I would have labelled Simona Halep as the favourite to go all the way and win the title, but an ankle injury has put her participation in doubt. If the Romanian can fight through the pain then she should make the third round at least to face Daria Kasatkina. Elena Vesnina is the projected fourth round opponent for Halep, but the Russian could have a struggle against Carla Suarez Navarro in the third round. I think the Spaniard may get through that one and possibly go on to face Halep in the fourth round, depending on how bad her injury is. If the injury is serious then Kasatkina could make the fourth round for the first time.

Her Rome title win sets Elina Svitolina in good stead heading into Roland Garros. The Ukrainian is among the favourites in many peoples minds, but she has a very tough draw ahead of her. Svitolina opens against the streaky Yaroslava Shvedova, then she could potentially face another streaky player in Mona Barthel in the following round. Youngster Ana Konjuh is projected for round three, another tough match for the fifth seed.

Madison Keys has not played much this year due to injury, but she is always a dangerous opponent. Ashleigh Barty is a tough first round opponent, but things could get tougher in round three with Anastasija Sevastova waiting. The Latvian is possibly the favourite to go on to face Svitolina in the fourth round.

Bottom Quarterpliskova-2016

This quarter is arguably the most open of the lot with no former Grand Slam champions in the section. Karolina Pliskova is the second seed, but she has struggled on clay in the past. The Czech has a good draw to the fourth round with Lauren Davis being the toughest opponent on the road. From there it could get difficult though with Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova projected for the round of 16. The Russian could have a tough match with Lucie Safarova, and the big serving Coco Vandeweghe is the first seeded opponent. Pliskova should be safe for the fourth round, but it is tough to predict who will join her there.

Johanna Konta’s section is arguably the softest of the draw on this surface. The Brit does not perform well on clay, so do not be surprised to see her exit early. It opens the door for France’s Caroline Garcia to make the second week if she can handle the home pressure. Agnieszka Radwanska would be the favourite to make it through this section, but her lack of form is worrying. Barbora Strycova could take advantage, but this is a wide open section, solook for an unlikely fourth round match to come out of it.

Predictions

Round of 16:

Stosur def. Kerber
Kuznetsova def. Bertens
Muguruza def. Mladenovic
Bacsinszky def. Gavrilova
Halep def. Suarez Navarro
Svitolina def. Sevastova
Garcia def. Strycova
Pavlyuchenkova def. Pliskova

There are some tough matches to predict in there. Stosur’s form and clay court prowess may be too much for Kerber. Kuznetsova vs. Bertens is a tough call, but I am going with the Russian to edge it. Form says Mladenovic beats Muguruza, but the defending champion might step up to the plate again and the home crowd could put pressure on Mladenovic. Bacsinszky should have enough to beat Gavrilova, and Halep should make the quarter finals if her ankle is back. Svitolina’s good form should carry her past Sevastova. Garcia has a good draw to finally make a grand slam breakthrough, and Pavlyuchenkova will likely beat Pliskova on this surface.

Quarter Finals

Kuznetsova def. Stosur
Muguruza def. Bacsinszky
Svitolina def. Halep
Pavlyuchenkova def. Garcia

Kuznetsova vs. Stosur is a close match, but the Russian has often had the advantage on clay in their head to head matches. I think Muguruza might have played her way into form by this point to beat Bacsinszky. Halep’s injury makes it difficult to back her going too deep, so I think Svitolina is favourite for the semi finals. Home hopes will end here with Garcia unlikely being able to handle the pressure and Pavlyuchenkova beats her.

Semi Finals:

Muguruza def. Kuznetsova
Svitolina def. Pavlyuchenkova

If Muguruza makes it this far, she is playing well, so I see her overcoming Kuznetsova in the semi finals. Svitolina should be too solid for Pavlyuchenkova in the other semi final.

Final:

Muguruza def. Svitolina

This will be a first Grand Slam final for Svitolina and a third for Muguruza. Experience in this situation will play a factor and I think the Spaniard will defend her title. If she is on form, then it is difficult seeing Muguruza being stopped. That said, she could easily bomb out in the first round and destroy a lot of brackets.

2017 @MutuaMadridOpen Women’s Preview, Predictions

Posted by Admin on May 7, 2017
Posted in: Madrid, Niall Clarke, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

2017 @MutuaMadridOpen Women’s Preview, Predictions
Niall Clarke, Tennis Atlantic

 kerber-2016

Clay season is in full effect now as the tour stops off in the Spanish capital of Madrid for the Mutua Madrid Open. It is one of the biggest clay court events in the season, and Tennis Atlantic has on-site coverage of the Premier event. For now, here is a run down of the draw.

Top Quarter:

With Serena Williams out of action with pregnancy, Angelique Kerber enters the Madrid Open as the top seed. The German is not In the best form this year, but with the tour is wide open and she could go all the way in Madrid. Kerber opens up against big serving Timea Babos in the first round with Katerina Siniakova likely for the second. It is the third round where things could get very interesting though as a potential Maria Sharapova clash is on the cards. The Russian, who has recently returned from a doping ban, faces Mirjana Lucic-Baroni in round one then the winner of Eugenie Bouchard vs Alize Cornet in the second round. A Sharapova vs Kerber round three is very much on the cards, and it could be fireworks. I think Kerber progresses as Sharapova will not be back to her best form quite yet, but the way this season has gone so far, anything can happen.

Svetlana Kuznetsova could be seen as an outside favourite here as the courts suit her game. She is a former Roland Garros champion and is well adapted to clay. The Russian opens against the ever unpredictable Yaroslava Shvedova then possibly Alison Riske in the second round. Elina Svitolina is the projected round three opponent, but the Ukrainian could have trouble with Caroline Garcia in the second round. It could well be youth vs experience in the third round, and on clay I think Kuznetsova has the advantage.

The quarter final will no doubt be a great match, but with Kerber’s struggles this year I can see Kuznetsova grabbing the upset on clay.

Prediction: Kuznetsova def. Kerber

Second Quarter:

Dominika Cibulkova

Dominika Cibulkova enjoyed a big run to the final in Madrid last year, and the Slovak will look to at least replicate that form in 2017. The fourth seed faces Jelena Jankovic first then a qualifier in round two- a good draw for the Slovak. The first seeded opponent is projected to be Kristina Mladenovic who has been in good form this season. The Frenchwoman has a tough opener against Ana Konjuh however, and then she could face Monica Puig in round two. With Cibulkova having the easier path to the third round and being a former finalist here, I can see the fourth seed getting through this section to the quarter finals despite what should be a difficult third round.

Madison Keys has spent a lot of her year injured thus far, but if any clay court tournament suits her big hitting game it is Madrid. The American opens against Misaki Doi before a potential meeting with Yulia Putintseva in the second round. Anastasia Pavlyuchkova has been in good form as evident by her run in Rabat, and the Russian will see this as a good quarter final chance. Sorana Cirstea is first up for the 13th seed, followed by CiCi Bellis or Daria Gavrilova. It will be an upset to see any of the seeded players lose before the third round, and I see Pavlyuchenkova advancing to the quarter finals.

Pavlyuchenkova and Cibulkova could meet once again in Madrid. Last year it was a close match in which the Slovak won in three sets. I can see something similar happening here.

Prediction: Cibulkova def. Pavlyuchenkova

Third Quarter:

simona-halep

Simona Halep

Simona Halep returns to Madrid as the defending champion and potential tournament favourite. Can the Romanian defend her crown? She has a tough opening match against Prague finalist Kristyna Pliskova in the first round. Then she meets the winner of Roberta Vinci vs Daria Kastakina. If she can avoid an early exit, Halep could face Sam Stosur in the round of 16, a repeat of the semi final from last year in which Halep won comfortably. That is providing the Aussie gets past Sara Sorbes-Tormo and Julia Goerges.

Johanna Konta has not had the greatest of success on clay, but the Brit aims to change that this year. She is under no pressure to defend points in Madrid, but she still has a tough draw ahead starting with Stuttgart champion Laura Siegemund. The winner could face big serving Coco Vandeweghe in the second round with Caroline Wozniacki likely waiting in the third. The Dane faces Monica Niculescu in the first round, then Shuai Peng or Carla Suarez-Navarro. I believe that Wozniacki will make it pout of this section to set up a quarter final with Halep as Konta is not strong on clay, and the 10th seed is the superior player to anyone else in the section.

However, I see Halep being a little too strong in the quarter finals. As the defending champion, the Romanian will be keen to repeat her success. She played well here last year and I see no reason why that would change.

Prediction: Halep def. Wozniacki

Fourth Quarter:

vesnina champion

Elena Vesnina

Karolina Pliskova is another player who often struggles to adapt her game to clay, but the quicker courts of Madrid might suit her more than most clay court tournaments. As the second seed there will be a lot of pressure on the Czech to go deep, but she has some tough tests in her draw starting with Lesia Tsurenko then potentially Anastasija Sevastova. It could be an all Czech third round with Strycova or Lucie Safarova who face each other in round one. The winner of that faces either Christina McHale or Laura Arruabarrena.

Garbine Muguruza will be the home crowd favourite in Madrid, but she has traditionally struggled in at this tournament. Add to that the poor form of this year, this could be a tough tournament for the fifth seed. If she can harness the energy of the crowd then she could get through her a tough section which starts with Timea Bacsinszky. The winner will face either Kiki Bertens or Ekaterina Makarova, with Elena Vesnina potentially awaiting in the third round.

This section is very unpredictable as all players could go out at any time. It is a tough call, but I will go out on a limb and say Elena Vesnina makes it to the quarter finals over Pliskova

Prediction: Vesnina def. Pliskova

Semi Finals:

Kuznetsova def. Cibulkova

Halep def. Vesnina

Final:

Halep  def. Kuznetsova

This is a difficult call, but Halep is the only player I can be sure of here because she is the defending champion. My predictions could go completely wrong because it is exceptionally difficult to call, but Halep is my pick to go all the way.

 

2017 @MiamiOpen Women’s Preview, Predictions

Posted by Admin on March 21, 2017
Posted in: ATP, Miami, Niall Clarke, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

2017 @MiamiOpen Women’s Preview, Predictions
Niall Clarke, Tennis Atlantic

vesnina champion

Elena Vesnina

The Premier Mandatory double reaches its second leg in Miami this week, with Elena Vesnina entering as the Indian Wells champion. Can the Russian do it again?

Top Quarter:

Serena Williams’ withdrawal means Angelique Kerber will keep her number one ranking despite not being in the best of form. The German is still searching for her first title of the season in Miami, and could face one of the players that has gotten the better of her thus far in the third round. Daria Kastakina has landed in Kerber’s section once again. Can the top seed get her revenge? If she can get past the Russian, then it is hard to see the German losing in round four. It is likely either Kiki Bertens or an out of sorts Carla Suarez Navarro in waiting.

Svetlana Kuznetsova (Photo: (C) 2014 Chris Levy @tennis_shots for TennisEastCoast.com)

Svetlana Kuznetsova (Photo: (C) 2014 Chris Levy @tennis_shots for TennisAtlantic.com)

Svetlana Kuzenstova will enter Miami in good form after making the final of Indian Wells last week. The Russian Is set to meet Roberta Vinci in the third round, but has a tough test in a confident Kristyna Pliskova in the second round.  It is hard to look past Kuznetsova making the fourth round where she is projected to meet Venus Williams. The three time champion could end up with a tough third round against the in-form Kristina Mladenovic. Kuznetsova will be favourite however, and given Kerber’s so-so form, I see the Russian progressing to the last four again.

Prediction: Kuznetsova def. Kerber

Second Quarter:

simona-halep

Simona Halep

Simona Halep’s 2017 has been a non-starter due to poor form and injury woes. Can she kick start her season properly in Miami? The Romanian could face rising youngster Naomi Osaka in what could be a testing second round match. Ekaterina Makarova is projected for round three. Sam Stosur is the seeded fourth round opponent, but the Aussie has a tough draw ahead with Eugenie Bouchard or Ashleigh Barty in round two, then possibly Caroline Garcia in round four. This is a wide open section with the potential of a surprise quarter finalist.

Madison Keys will look back positively on her Indian Wells run given it was her first tournament on the year. The American will look to go even further in Miami where she likely kicks her tournament off against Tsvetana Pironkova. Irina Begu is the first seeded opponent, so it looks like a good draw for Keys to make the fourth round, but there is when it gets interesting. Johanna Konta voiced her disappointment after her loss to Garcia in Indian Wells and aims to be in better form for Miami. The Brit could meet another Frenchwoman in round two in Alize Cornet. Timea Babos is the projected third round opponent before an interesting clash with Madison Keys. The American’s form is still unknown at this point so I am predicting Konta to make it out of this match and out of the quarter.

Prediction: Konta def. Halep

Third Quarter:

Muguruza (Photo courtesy of Mallorca Open)

Muguruza

There were positive signs for Garbine Muguruza in Indian Wells. She showed more aggression and despite another loss to Karolina Pliskova, she came out of the tournament with a positive mind set. The Spaniard has some tough players in her section such as Christina McHale, Belina Bencic and Shuai Zhang, but if Muguruza can play her best tennis then she will be favourite to advance. Where it could get interesting is against Caroline Wozniacki in round four. The Dane is not a given to make it to the last 16 with players such as Monica Puig and Anastasija Sevastova in her section, but a match against Muguruza in round four will be an enticing affair.

Fourth seeded Dominika Cibulkova will look at Miami as a chance for another big title, but she has a tough draw ahead if she is to do so. Whilst Misaki Doi should not be much of a problem, highly touted youngster Ana Konjuh could be in the third round. Indian wells champion Elena Vesnina has also ended up in this section of the draw. The Russian herself could have a difficult third round match against Lucie Safarova or Daria Gavrilova. Vesnina’s confidence will be sky high after winning the Indian Wells title, but will it be enough to get past Cibulkova? I believe the winner of this will make the quarter finals with Muguruza’s indifferent form.

Prediction: Cibulkova def. Muguruza

Fourth Quarter:

pliskova-2016

Karolina Pliskova is once again one of the tournament favourites heading into Miami. The Czech will open against Jelena Ostapenko in round two then face Yulia Putintiseva in the third round which is a decent draw for Pliskova to the last 16. There she could be in for an all Czech battle against Barbora Strycova,  but the 15th seed could find herself being overpowered by Coco Vandeweghe in the third round.

Agnieszka Radwanska’s season has been less than stellar, but she is the latest person to win the event in the draw. Can she do it again? The Pole has a good second round draw, but her third round opponent is the ever dangerous Mirjana Lucic-Baroni. Based on form, Elina Svitolina may be the one to make it to the quarter finals. The Ukrainian has some tough matches ahead against the likes of Katerina Siniakova and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, but she should make the fourth round against Radwanska. I feel Svirolina will beat the out of form fifth seed, but will find Pliskova too much in the quarter finals

Prediction: Pliskova def. Svitolina

Semi Finals:

Kuznetsova def. Konta

Pliskova def. Cibulkova

Final:

Pliskova def. Kuznetsova

Kuznetsova, Cornet Claim Pre-Australian Open Titles

Posted by Admin on January 18, 2016
Posted in: ATP, Niall Clarke, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Kuznetsova, Cornet Claim Pre-Australian Open Titles
Niall Clarke, Tennis Atlantic

Preparations for the Australian Open are now complete after Svetlana Kuznetsova and Alize Cornet claimed titles in Sydney and Hobart.

Sydney

With many top players taking part, Monica Puig vs Kuznetsova was not the final anyone expected pre tournament. Both played fantastically well to get to the final, but only one carried that form over.

Just hours after finishing her rain delayed semi final against Simona Halep in which she won 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-3, the Russian outclassed Puig 6-0, 6-2 in just 55 minutes.

“It’s great. I mean, honestly, I didn’t expect this, but I’ve also never gone into a tournament thinking about winning, never even once,” Kuznetsova said after the match.

“I just went out there and performed, and everything went my way. Now I just want to keep focused for the Australian Open.”

It was quite the effort given the marathon against the top seed just hours before. This is Kuznetsova’s 16th WTA title, two of which are Grand Slams.

“Actually somebody asked me before the match, the supervisor, ‘How do you feel?’ Everybody probably thinks because I’m 30 that I’m really old and need to pick myself up. But I felt great. I felt better than most days here. First matches of the year you’re sore, but after you get going, it’s great.”

It was still a wonderful week for Puig who made her first Premier final this week.

“There wasn’t really too much I could do. I definitely ran around the court and tried to get every single ball I could back, but the only answer I have today is that she was the better player,” Puig commented.

“I had an incredible week coming through qualifying, my first time here in Sydney, and I made my first final of a Premier tournament. Overall it was a very good week and I’m very happy about it.

“I’m really not going to get disheartened about this final. She just played unbelievable.”

Hobart

Cornet Washington 2013

Cornet

Meanwhile in Hobart, Cornet eased to victory over Eugenie Bouchard to claim her first title in nearly two years. The Frenchwoman only dropped three games as she destroyed the Canadian 6-1, 6-2 in just over an hour.

“I was very focused for the whole tournament and the whole match today, and now I can let go!” Cornet told press after the match. “To start the year this way, it’s the best.”

Cornet broke the Bouchard serve seven times in the match and claimed her first victory over her opponent. Bouchard had won their previous two meetings.

“Each time we’ve played against each other, it was a tough battle and at least two hours, three sets or two tight sets.” Cornet added.

“This time, I was just a little bit better from the beginning of the match. I was patient, trying to be aggressive but trying to play the right shot at the right time. It all worked out my way today, and it’s just great to have an easy final like this because finals are already so emotional

Defending Champion Madison Keys Falls in Eastbourne

Posted by Admin on June 23, 2015
Posted in: Eastbourne, Guest Writer, On Site, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Defending Champion Madison Keys Falls in Eastbourne
Elliot Cornish for Tennis Atlantic

Wozniacki vs Gajdosova 2015 WTA Eastbourne (Elliot Cornish)

Belinda Bencic brought Madison Keys’ reign at the Aegon International in Eastbourne to a swift end, beating the American 6-2 6-2 in under an hour.

The Swiss youngster took full advantage of an error-strewn showing from Keys, breaking her opponent twice in each set. The defending champion failed to find any consistency on her forehand, an essential facet of her game, and hence unforced errors were aplenty throughout the match.

Bencic ensured she kept the ball in court with regularity, forcing Keys to play the extra shot, and also produced some exquisite tennis of her own, including a couple of exquisite lobs.

The win continued Bencic’s strong grass swing, backing up her final appearance in s’Hertogenbosch earlier in the month.

She said: “It feels very natural for my game [grass courts] so I don’t have to change everything. I think it suits me well.”

Britain’s Johanna Konta knocked out fourth seed Ekaterina Makarova in straight sets, in the first match of the day on Centre Court.

Konta – who is ranked 146 in the world and was wildcarded into the tournament – backed up an impressive performance over Zarina Diyas at the weekend, breaking her Russian opponent five times in a 6-2 6-4 win at Devonshire Park – her first against a top-10 player.

The Australian-born Briton was dominant on serve in the opening set, not having to face a single break point, and while Makarova pegged her back twice in the second, a crucial breakthrough at 4-4 proved pivotal, and she closed out the contest in her following service game.

“On paper it is my best-ever win,” said Konta. “I had to play some of my best tennis out there and I managed to do that.”

The victory moves her into the third round where she will take on Garbine Muguruza, who battled back from a set down to best Polona Hercog, winning the final set 6-0.

There was more British success in the form of Heather Watson’s gritty fightback to overcome Elina Svitolina, in the final match on Centre. Trailing by a set, the British number one dug in from a break down in the second to pinch it 7-5, and despite wasting one break in the final set, she took her next opportunity with the Ukrainian serving at 4-5, sealing the win on her first match point.

Eugenie Bouchard found a much-needed win over America’s Alison Riske, accelerating well after a tight first set. The opener went to a tiebreak which the Canadian won 7-5, and she broke midway through the second to record a 7-6(5) 6-3 triumph.

The 21-year-old will suffer a heavy ranking drop if she fails to defend the 1400 points she received upon making last year’s Wimbledon final, and her readiness for SW19 is sure to come under much more thorough examination in Eastbourne this week.

Bencic will play Bouchard in the last 16, and after her clinical dismissal of Keys, the latter will have to be wary since her style of play is not unlike the American’s.

Wozniacki moves through

Jarmila Gajdosova was unable to maintain her strong start as Caroline Wozniacki moved through the gears to collect a straight-sets win. The former was a break up early in the match but was broken while serving for the first set. Wozniacki then edged through a shaky tiebreak before cruising through the second 6-2.

“I know that Jarmila is a really tough opponent and I’ve had tricky matches against her in the past and she plays very powerful tennis, good serves, so for me it was all about just keeping my mental toughness and just go for the right shots,” said the former world number one.

Svetlana Kuznetsova, who won the title here in 2004, will meet Wozniacki on Wednesday after she dispatched Italy’s Flavia Pennetta 6-3 6-4.

Meanwhile, last year’s finalist and Birmingham winner, Angelique Kerber, withdrew from the event on Tuesday due to a “viral illness”. As a result, Monica Niculescu was given a spot in the main draw, but she lost to Coco Vandeweghe 7-5 2-6 6-1.

Birmingham runner-up Karolina Pliskova arrested a second-set slide to come through in straights against Casey Dellacqua. The eighth seed took the first set 6-4 but slipped 5-2 behind the Australian in the second, before rolling off five consecutive games to move through to round three.

Dominika Cibulkova’s comeback picked up pace with a 7-6(7) 6-4 victory over recent French Open finalist Lucie Safarova. The Slovakian staved off two set points on her opponent’s serve in the tiebreak before prevailing, and then an early break in the second gave her a lead she would not relinquish.

Ninth seed Agnieszka Radwanska breezed past American qualifier Irina Falconi on Court 1, winning love and two in a mere 57 minutes. The Pole, who reached the Wimbledon final in 2012, is due meet Pliskova in the next round.

Elsewhere, grass specialist Tsvetana Pironkova took out Sam Stosur in two tight sets on Court 2. The Bulgarian broke late in the first to win it 7-5, and she won all seven points in the second-set tiebreak to progress.

Sloane Stephens made sure Carla Suarez Navarro’s stay in Eastbourne was a short one, dumping out the fifth seeded Spaniard 6-1 7-5 in the second match on Court 1. Her last 16 match will be against home favourite Watson.

France’s Caroline Garcia’s continued her patchy start to the grass season as she fell easily in two sets to Germany’s Andrea Petkovic. The world number 31 was broken four times in a 6-2 6-4 loss, as the 10th seed strolled through in just one hour and 20 minutes.

Sara Errani and Daria Gavrilova also booked a third round clash after beating Barbora Strycova and Camila Giorgi respectively in deciding sets.

Wednesday’s matches

The Aegon International moves into the last 16 on Wednedsay with four singles matches to be played on Centre Court and Court 1.

Bouchard will open proceedings on Centre against Bencic, with Muguruza-Konta and Kuznetsova-Woznacki to follow, before Watson once again is the final match on when she challenges Stephens.
On Court 1, Cibulkova versus Pironkova will kick off the action at 11.00am. Radwanska then takes on Pliskova, with Vandeweghe and Petkovic to play match three. Gavrilova and Errani will then conclude the day.

The doubles also continues tomorrow with the top seeds set to enter the tournament. Martina Hingis/Sania Mirza are fifth on Centre Court against Hao-Ching Chan/Flavia Pennetta, while Ekaterina Makarova/Elena Vesnina are last on Court 2 when they meet Eugenie Bouchard/Marina Erakovic.

Rain Mars Day 1 At WTA Eastbourne 2015

Posted by Admin on June 22, 2015
Posted in: Eastbourne, Guest Writer, On Site, WTA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Rain Mars Day 1 At WTA Eastbourne 2015
Elliot Cornish for Tennis Atlantic

Kuznetsova Rybarikova 2015 WTA Eastbourne (Elliot Cornish)

Heather Watson beat Varvara Lepchenko in straight sets to pick up her first grass court win of the season after Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova withdrew due to illness on a rain-affected day at the Aegon International in Eastbourne.

On a rainy and breezy day at Devonshire Park, play began four and a half hours late at 3.30pm after heavy showers throughout the morning and early afternoon.

The 23-year-old Watson had the benefit of a supportive home crowd, but the world number 64 was embroiled in a tight opening set with Lepchenko, who is ranked 26 places above her.

A tiebreak was required after three breaks of serve each, and after leading 4-0, Watson looked to have missed her chance as the American ran off five points in a row to grab a minibreak. However, she failed to hold her following two service points and an unforced error handed the set to Watson.

The second set was much more comfortable for the Brit, and after exchanging early breaks she stretched clear, breaking the Lepchenko twice more to win 7-6(5) 6-2 in a solid display, booking a round two meeting against Elina Svitolina, the 11th seed.

Watson said: “I was super, super motivated today. I just felt really good and excited to play. Being here at home I always feel extra motivated.”

In the first match on Centre Court, Svetlana Kuznetsova defeated Magdalena Rybarikova 7-6(5) 6-4, improving her head-to-head record over the Slovakian to 3-0. The 2004 champion traded breaks with Rybarikova three times in the first set before prevailing 7-5 in the tiebreak.

The second set was a closely fought affair but when serving to stay in the match, Rybarikova was broken at love – with Kuznetsova crunching a sizzling down-the-line forehand on match point – as her Russian adversary secured a second-round berth against Italy’s Flavia Pennetta.

Kvitova withdraws

The big story of the day came away from the court though as champion Petra Kvitova was forced to withdraw, just a week before the beginning of her Wimbledon title defence with a sore throat.

The Czech said: “I didn’t feel well when I came here last Thursday, I had to make this decision.

“I hope to be fine for Wimbledon. I’ll stay here in Eastbourne and then slowly move to London.”

Kvitova’s decision means she will head to SW19 without having played a competitive match on grass this season, therefore she could be vulnerable during the early stages. Daria Gavrilova will take Kvitova’s spot in the main draw.

Around the grounds

Elsewhere, Dominika Cibulkova eased past British wildcard Harriet Dart, completing a 6-1 6-3 victory in just an hour and 19 minutes on Court 1. Playing her first match in over four months after undergoing surgery on her Achilles tendon, the Slovakian raced through the first set but faced stiffer resistance in the second as Dart, the world number 358, broke her twice.

Cibulkova’s experience eventually saw her through, however she is likely to receive a much tougher challenge in her next match as she takes on French Open finalist Lucie Safarova.

Barbora Strycova was broken just once in her triumph over Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu, cruising to a 6-4 6-2 win, and Camila Giorgi wasted no time in dispatching American qualifier Christina McHale, closing out the match in straight-sets in a little over an hour.

Thirteenth seed Sara Errani will play Strycova next while Giorgi’s second-round encounter will be against Gavrilova. The winner of those matches will then meet in round three, in what has become an open section of the draw following Kvitova’s withdrawal.

On the outside courts, Australia’s Jarmila Gajdosova fought back from a set down to dump out Lauren Davis in an all-qualifier bout, while former Wimbledon semi-finalist Tsvetana Pironkova scored a routine win over Marina Erakovic.

Madison Brengle’s loss to Polona Hercog added to the American woes in Eastbourne, but there was one ray of light in Irina Falconi’s dominant performance against Alexandra Dulgheru, with the 25-year-old dropping only two games.

Tuesday’s highlights

With multiple matches pushed back, Madison Keys will now start her defence of her Aegon International title on Tuesday when she plays rising Swiss talent, Belinda Bencic.

Britain’s Johanna Konta will look to build on her impressive upset of Zarina Diyas against Ekaterina Makarova, while Eugenie Bouchard will hope to find some grass court form with final points from last year’s Wimbledon due to come off next week. She is set to meet Alison Riske in the second match of the day on Centre Court.

Watson will then once again finish proceedings on Centre against Svitolina.

Tuesday’s other selected matches

• Jarmila Gajdosova vs Caroline Wozniacki
• Lucie Safarova vs Dominika Cibulkova
• Tsvetana Pironkova vs Samantha Stosur
• Flavia Pennetta vs Svetlana Kuznestova

Due to the lengthy delay, all of the scheduled doubles matches on Monday were cancelled. Tuesday’s play is set to start at 11.00am local time.