A forum to discuss all things related to the Women’s Tennis Association.
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A forum to discuss all things related to the Women’s Tennis Association.
Copyright © 2024 | MH Magazine WordPress Theme by MH Themes
Wow! Kerber wins.
Kerber is more fit – has more endurance in long rallies
Angie Kerber wins it. Oh my.
She earned it. Look at the shape she’s in. Bye bye Vika
She was 0-6 v Vika. Ah she’s great in the interview. Brava Angie!
Now Konta and Zhang.
I am not familiar with either one of them. So this will be my chance to get a good look at them.
Zhang is out of nowhere. I saw Konta play at the USO.
I never heard of either until last week.
Konta only appeared on my radar last summer during grass season. She made the QF at Nottingham lost to Nicelescu; and QF in Eastbourne lost to Belinda Bencic, (I remember the match with Bencic very well-great match). Continued US Open making 4th round – lost to Petra Kvitova. QF’s on the Asian Swing lost to Venus. From May 2015 to Jan. 2016 she went from #147 to #47! She’ll be in the top 30 after AO.
She credits her success to help she received from a psychologist in Spain. Read here about that!
http://www.ausopen.com/en_AU/news/articles/2016-01-27/360_johanna_konta.html
That must be why amy brought it up on one of the threads today in reference to something for Rafa. I had no idea about it.
i think i saw her beat Petko
Konta is a joy to watch.
Yes, she is!
ALLEZ Kerber wins!!
A Kerber fan Benny? I like her too.
Konta serving for set got too tight and blew it – first try. But she’s going to try to serve it out again.
hahaha Zhang not going away…nothing to lose!
Konta did well to win that first set. I am liking her game.
Fascinating battle between these two. Konta had a struggle to serve out the 1st set but eventually got it done. Refreshing to see two talented new players. Loving it
Konta breaks. I am sure her ranking will go up, especially if she wins this match and gets to the final.
Sorry, meant semis! Getting ahead of myself.
The Junior Girls’ Singles Final is the first match scheduled on Rod Laver Arena day session and will star second seeded, 2015 Australian Open Girls’ Champion, Tereza Mihalikova (SVK) and fifth seeded, Vera Lapko (BLR).
Tereza Mihalikova – if you don’t remember the name, don’t worry, keep watching tennis and you will. The 17 year old Slovakian is a future WTA #1. That’s my prediction. Here she is with the 2015 AO Junior’s trophy alongside Katie Swan of Great Britain, runner up.
http://www.15min.lt/deuce/galerija/australian-open-jauniu-varzybose-triumfavo-tereza-mihalikova-60545#galerija/60545/1329508
Vera Lapko (BLR), also 17, has been Mihalikova’s doubles partner at both US Open 2014 and Wimbledon 2015, they were finalists at each event. Here’s Vera Lapko and Tereza Mihalikova at Wimbledon:
http://www.itftennis.com/media/218222/218222.jpg
Tomic not in it 🙁
Sorry Ricky – Sara Tomic didn’t make the final. 🙁
bad for the game
So happy for Kerber! Have yet to watch the final – just read the news.
What on earth happened to Serena? Will watch match – have to see it to believe it.
ESPN is showing the Women’s final right now – for anyone reading that slept through it and didn’t record it. 🙂
And I do love Serena Williams – but have grown weary of the dominance.
rc,
I remembered to turn on ESPN this morning in time to see the last few games of the match. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing! I did think that kerber could make a match of it. No pressure on her at all. But I thought Serena would prevail. I do like Serena, but she will have other chances to go after Steffi’s slam record.
Well done to Kerber!
Would like to know your thoughts about it, Nny. Serena’s performance …well below her best, not a doubt in my mind about that. And her response was close to relief, I thought. She was so easy and happy in defeat. Not sure what to make of it. But I’m happy for Serena and Angelique! It looked like Serena was attempting to take a page out of Vinci and Pennetta – good buddies happy to be there in the final – runner up as satisfied as winner. Runner-up not elated like the winner but it’s a win-win.
It’s okay to tell me I’m crazy. That’s my feeling. Genuine relief for Serena and complete disbelief, mixed with joy for Angie. Congrats both, is in order 🙂
rc,
I did not see the whole match. I will have to watch it later when they replay it on the tennis channel. My feeling is that Kerber beating Vika was huge for her. I think she got a lot of confidence and belief from that win. As you get these wins, then you start thinking that you can maybe win the whole thing.
I am sure that Serena was genuinely happy for Angelique. Serena knows that she will have other chances to tie and even pass Steffi’s slam total. I don’t think she’s going to get another crack at the calendar slam at this point in her career. Last year was her shot at doing it.
I do not think you are crazy! I can’t say if it was relief for Serena or just being a good sportswoman and being happy for someone else to realize their dream. Serena knows that she won’t be able to have it all. She’s achieved so much in her career. It’s a nice moment to see a young woman win a slam for the first time and do it against the best! 🙂
Yes, Nny, the Vika win! The Vika win especially – but I knew Angie was in great form going into AO. One bracket I had her beating Vika thinking Vika is maybe still a bit rusty or would be too tired by semi’s. Hindsight tells me that I hopped on the bandwagon too soon and picked Vika all the way to beat Serena. Serena losing was the right feeling though!
Still, watching Serena v Maria, or any of Serena’s other matches, (after we knew the Hopman Cup injury scare was nothing), there was not a good reason to suspect an in-form Serena wouldn’t beat in-form Kerber.
My take after watching the whole thing – Serena is relieved and happy. If you watch her tennis in the 3rd set, then her face immediately after, and in the trophy ceremony – see what you think. Sure, she’s fully aware the camera is on her at all times but if she was put-off or even disappointed, she sure doesn’t show it and that’s hard to hide. I don’t think she threw the match – that’s not where I’m going at all. It’s genuine happiness and at peace with this. Her first words are: “thank Jehovah God”.
It’s very much like Rafa looked after losing to Nole last fall. They are in completely different places in their careers, Rafa and Serena, but both okay with the situation.
Rafa is not okay now, NO. Last fall, yes, for awhile.
Serena is a tennis fan. She grasps the joy of the moment for Angelique. It’s also an annoying pressure off of her, I speculate – whether she admits it or not it’s a heavy spotlight, in which perform for a sustained amount of time. Sucks the joy out of the thing you love. She’s adjusted something in the aftermath of bombing US Open and not going to allow that pain again. She’ll get 22 slams when she feels like it – and if she feels like it!
Strike out that last sentence I wrote at 8:51 pm. It’s not right – winning or not winning isn’t completely in her control, of course. If Serena can bring her prime A game to the final, yes. Her serve among other things didn’t work as I have seen it before. And Angelique was too good today.
Wishing Angelique more big wins in 2016!
KERBER WINS!!! Wow. VAMOS!!!!!
For Nny or anyone interested, here’s the winning Tennis Channel WTA bracket:
http://www.tourneytopia.com/RacquetBracketAussieOpenWTA/AussieOpenWTA/pool/entrypicks.aspx?entryid=528437
His/her bracket the picks were worse than mine in the first 3 rounds, about even in 4th round, and the same ones right and wrong in the quarterfinal! The difference was the winning bracket picked Angelique Kerber to beat Serena and I picked Vika Azarenka. My bracket was in the top 1% for awhile. Konta and Zhang messed everyone up, as did the exodus of so many top seeds like, Halep, Muguruza, Kvitova, Venus, ect… But it’s always like that. It’s WTA. If only I had put some dollars on Kerber. And that’s what I said about Vinci and Pennetta. Tennis Channel’s winner’s prize would be nice, too – 500 dollar prize package.
One of these days…
Vika was a good pick
Your pick too, right? 😀
Wish mine was Kerber!
After waiting all week Fed Cup weekend is finally here! Saturday and Sunday, the 6th and 7th. (my alternate to Superbowl!!)
Tennis Channel will broadcast USA v Poland live from beautiful Kona, Hawaii, at 4 pm EST. Scintillating match-up, Germany v Switzerland, will start at 6 am EST and shared with the Montpellier and Quito ATP semi-final coverage.
Or, there is Fed Cup live stream here: http://www.fedcup.tv/
Powerhouses Czech Republic v Romania start 11:00 am, GMT, Saturday and Sunday
http://www.fedcup.com/en/draws-results/tie/details.aspx?tieId=100026333
Fed Cup World Group 2016 First Round:
Czech Rebublic v Romania
Germany v Switzerland
France v Italy
Netherlands v Russia
World Group 2
USA v Poland
Canada v Belarus
Australia v Slovakia
Spain v Serbia
USA v Poland: I like our American chances. Serena Williams is missing but so are Poland’s famous Radwanska sister’s. Sloan Stephens (No.25) will kick off Round One singles action against Magda Linette (No.96). Round Two singles match will follow with Venus Williams (No.12) v Paula Kania (No.153).
In doubles we have Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Coco Vanderwehge. The doubles team for Poland will be Klaudia Jans-Ignatik and Alicja Rosolska.
what are the best matches
Tennis Channel broadcasting some Fed Cup – Germany v Switzerland – along with Montpellier and Quito semi’s is great. Germany and Switzerland has perhaps the best match-ups.
Here’s the schedule and match-ups for Ger and Sui:
http://www.fedcup.com/en/draws-results/tie/details.aspx?tieId=100026334
Kerber v Bencic is the match for me. Petko v Bacszinsky – maybe.
And of course Martina Hingis will play in the dubs rubber.
On FedCup.com live stream:
Romania v Czech Republic
Halep v Kvitova. Love it.
France v Italy (big Camila Giorgi fan)
Garcia v Giorgi and Mladenovic v Giorgi
Serbia v Spain
Muguruza v Jankovic
That’s it.
USA v Poland – Venus, Sloane, and Bethanie Mattek-Sands are playing. That all sounds good but I don’t know much about the Polish squad. Without Aga and Ursa, not sure how competitive the singles will be. It will all be on Tennis Channel live, Hawaiian time.
Russia is going to crush the Netherlands:
Makarova, Kuznetsova in singles – with Sharapova and the rocket, Daria Kasatkina playing doubles.
World Group I
Heartbreak City in Moscow. Netherlands over Russia 2-0. Kiki Bertens upsets Ekaterina Makarova, 63 64. Rachel Hogenkamp defeats Svetlana Kuznetsova 7-6 5-7 10-8.
On the home court in Romania: Karolina Pliskova gives Czech Republic a point beating Simona Halep, 67 64 62. But Monica Niculescu turns the table upsetting Petra Kvitova, 63 64! Romania 1, Czech Republic 1.
Camila Giorgi scores one for Italy beating Kiki Mladenovic, 16 64 61. Super win for Camila. Garcia ties France and Italy with a win over Errani 63 75!
The matches I’ve been able to watch so far: Kerber defeated Baczsinsky, 61 63, and Bencic over Petkovic, 63 64. Poor Andrea Petkovic in a heap of tears. Bencic hung tough in Leipzig, Germany. Switzerland and Germany Tied.
Showdown match tomorrow Bencic v Kerber!
Swiss Misses are breaking hearts in Leipzig, Germany.
First it was Belinda Bencic defeating Australian Champ, Angelique Kerber 76(4) 63.
A daring move by the German coach to put 21 yr. old, Annika Beck, in and hold Petkovic for doubles. Annika Beck (43) has a good h2h against Timea Baczsinsky (15) and it worked, 75 64.
Nothing to be done when Martina Hingis is playing doubles. Hingis is effervescent and perfect; Belinda is missus of the universe after winning singles yesterday and today against Kerber. Delightful to watch, Martina and Belinda! wins it – 63 62!!
I have a much better chance of seeing the women playing these days on the tennis channel. I haven’t had much luck seeing the men’s tournaments.
TC will show Buenos Aires, Nny. Left you a message on Rafa’s page.
Come shoot me if I’m wrong 😀
Watching Quito right now – freaking Quito. They have broadcast Buenos Aires – it’s the best draw anywhere next week.
Haven’t watch much WTA this week but the QF’s in St. Petersburg results:
(16)Roberta Vinci (Ita) over (51)Timea Babos (Hun). The 22 yr. old Babos is a rising star and Vinci just edged her out, 76 46 76.
Quarter-finals:
(20)Ana Ivanovic (Srb) over (177)Katerina Kozlova (Ukr), 61 75. Much needed win for Ana over the 21 yr. old, Kozlova.
(66)Dominika Cibulkova (Svk) v (63)Daria Kasatkina (Rus) is in progress. Cibby is one of my favorites but 18 yr. rising star Kasatkina is to the WTA what Sascha Zverev is to the ATP! Impressive teenager. Cibby had surgery on her left Achilles last spring and it’s been a long road back to form – she should be ranked much, much higher than #66. Hope she can make this but the adorable Daria Kasatkina has the home crowd and is a fighter, like Cibby. Good match right now!
Upcoming:
(11)Belinda Bencic (Sui) v (26)Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (Rus).
18 yr. old phenom, Belinda Bencic, is red hot and still rolling after her almost single-handed win over Czech Republic last weekend in Fed Cup. But the big hitting Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova is in her element in St. Petersburg and this should be an exciting match-up!
Roberta Vinci will take on Ana Ivanovic in one semi; the other semi – yet to be decided – should be a blockbuster, no matter who comes through!
Correction/edit: Switzerland beat Germany last weekend not Czech Republic! Czech Republic v Switzerland coming in April. (nobody reading this page 😉 I can get away with about anything, lol)
Daria Kasatkina – wow. She wins it, 46 75 63.
Heart break City for dear Cibby.
But a glorious win for the Russian teenager, Kasatkina, who will jump to at least #45, maybe higher if she can beat Bencic or compatriot Pavlyuchenkova. That’s a tall order. Would love to see Bencic v Kasatkina two future WTA superstars in the St. Petersburg final. (St. Petersburg is the equivalent of an ATP 500 pt. event)
St. Petersburg: Watching Bencic and Kasatkina SF. Daria perhaps a little tight and out-gunned by Belinda from the baseline. First set 6-4, Bencic.
First SF: Vinci beat Ivanovic, 75 64.
Daria Kasatkina the better mover. But in everything else, BB has the advantage. Both are aggressive and like to take the ball early. Daria is a fighter and her expressions remind me of Vika Azarenka 😀
Good match. Bencic wins 64 63.