(Rank/Seed)
Well, the final between the worlds top two (1/1) Azarenka and (2/2) Serena proved to be a real battle royal, and finally Azarenka finished with a win 76(6) 26 63. It certainly adds some spice to the number one contest, seeing as Serena will become number one next week off the back of this loss; only her 4th since last years French Open!
1st Set
Azarenka got an early break as Serena was slow to start, miss timing forehands particularly. However, Serena got back on serve and carried the initiative most of the set until the breaker. Still, Azarenka didn't flinch and saved a set point down 5-6 in the breaker before closing out the set. It was the first time she had won the first set against Serena since the 2010 Australian Open.
2nd Set
Serena began to find her range, breaking Victoria twice to take the set.
3rd Set
Victoria forged to a 3-0 lead and never looked back, finishing the match on her own serve to close out her first win since 2009 and only her second out of 13. Both finished with more winners than errors; Azarenka 30:28 and Serena 51:48, whilst Victoria, was broken 3 times compared to Serena's 2, but won the crucial points.
Sunday, 17 February 2013
Saturday, 16 February 2013
Azarenka vs Serena
The semi finals were both one sided as the current number one prepares for a meeting against the soon to be number one.
(Rank/Seed)
1/1 Azarenka beat (4/4) A. Radwanska 63 63 for a seventh straight win in their head to head. Though she started shakily, Azarenka dominated on return of her opponent's second serve whilst only being broken once herself throughout the whole match. She's now in her second straight final here and extends her winning streak to 13 for this year so far.
2/2 Serena confidently dispatched (3/3) Sharapova 63 62 to reach her first Doha final. After breaking in the 5th game of the 1st set and twice in the 2nd, she beat Maria for a 10th straight time and 11th overall out of 13. Not since the WTA Champs 2004 has Maria had a win over Serena and it became apparent throughout the match that her inability to take advantage of Serena's second serve would prove costly.
So, Serena dominates her head to head with Azarenka 11-1; even more one sided than against Maria and has won the last 9, so if she wins tomorrow, she will emulate her streak against Sharapova. Twice Azarenka has taken her to 3 sets since that one solitary win back in Miami 2009, most recently in the US Open final of course when she served for it. Azarenka's serve is the real weakness against Serena and I also feel Victoria sometimes feels beaten before she's even begun. This is the first meeting between them this year and I think everyone's keen to see who the true number one is, seeing as Serena will take the spot regardless. However, if Victoria were to win, that certainly would throw the cat amongst the pigeons regarding the ranking. Still, I think Serena will win in straight sets as I think if she was ever going to lose, it was against Kvitova and she pulled it through. Serena to crown the number one ranking with yet another title!
(Rank/Seed)
1/1 Azarenka beat (4/4) A. Radwanska 63 63 for a seventh straight win in their head to head. Though she started shakily, Azarenka dominated on return of her opponent's second serve whilst only being broken once herself throughout the whole match. She's now in her second straight final here and extends her winning streak to 13 for this year so far.
2/2 Serena confidently dispatched (3/3) Sharapova 63 62 to reach her first Doha final. After breaking in the 5th game of the 1st set and twice in the 2nd, she beat Maria for a 10th straight time and 11th overall out of 13. Not since the WTA Champs 2004 has Maria had a win over Serena and it became apparent throughout the match that her inability to take advantage of Serena's second serve would prove costly.
So, Serena dominates her head to head with Azarenka 11-1; even more one sided than against Maria and has won the last 9, so if she wins tomorrow, she will emulate her streak against Sharapova. Twice Azarenka has taken her to 3 sets since that one solitary win back in Miami 2009, most recently in the US Open final of course when she served for it. Azarenka's serve is the real weakness against Serena and I also feel Victoria sometimes feels beaten before she's even begun. This is the first meeting between them this year and I think everyone's keen to see who the true number one is, seeing as Serena will take the spot regardless. However, if Victoria were to win, that certainly would throw the cat amongst the pigeons regarding the ranking. Still, I think Serena will win in straight sets as I think if she was ever going to lose, it was against Kvitova and she pulled it through. Serena to crown the number one ranking with yet another title!
Friday, 15 February 2013
Serena Survives Kvitova!
The ever consistent top 4 women continued to show why they are where they're at in the rankings, all beating 'mere mortal' top 10 opponents in the quarters.
(Rank/Seed)
1/1 Azarenka may not be holding on to her top spot, but she can still defend her title, having beaten (7/6) Errani 62 62.
2/2 Serena will become the oldest number one of all time after coming back to beat (8/7) Kvitova 36 63 75. For most of the match, Serena was sluggish and outplayed. Kvitova hit 9 aces in total and led 4-1 in the third, before Serena got her game together. Serena finished on her 14th ace, to go with her uncharacteristic 8 double faults to secure the number one ranking. After her trials and tribulations with illness, Serena was visibly overwhelmed by her achievement.
3/3 Sharapova served brilliantly, hitting 12 aces to beat (9/8) Stosur 62 64.
4/4 A. Radwanska edged close friend (10/10) Wozniacki 62 75, from 0-3 and 3-5, set point down!
This isn't the first time these top 4 women have reached the semis of the same event, having done so very recently at the WTA Championships in Istanbul.
(Rank/Seed)
1/1 Azarenka may not be holding on to her top spot, but she can still defend her title, having beaten (7/6) Errani 62 62.
2/2 Serena will become the oldest number one of all time after coming back to beat (8/7) Kvitova 36 63 75. For most of the match, Serena was sluggish and outplayed. Kvitova hit 9 aces in total and led 4-1 in the third, before Serena got her game together. Serena finished on her 14th ace, to go with her uncharacteristic 8 double faults to secure the number one ranking. After her trials and tribulations with illness, Serena was visibly overwhelmed by her achievement.
3/3 Sharapova served brilliantly, hitting 12 aces to beat (9/8) Stosur 62 64.
4/4 A. Radwanska edged close friend (10/10) Wozniacki 62 75, from 0-3 and 3-5, set point down!
This isn't the first time these top 4 women have reached the semis of the same event, having done so very recently at the WTA Championships in Istanbul.
Thursday, 14 February 2013
Top 10's Triumph!
The 3rd round was dominated by the top seeds; not one lost their match, meaning 7 out of the top 8 seeds reached the quarters.
(Rank/Seed)
1/1 Azarenka routed McHale 60 60, her sixth career double bagel win.
2/2 Serena beat Urszula Radwanska 60 63. One win away from being the oldest #1!
3/3 Sharapova managed the wind well to beat Zakopalova 63 63.
4/4 Agniezska Radwanska continued her dominance over (13/13) Ivanovic 61 76(6), even though the Serb served for the set at 6-5.
7/6 Errani avenged a loss early this year in Brisbane to Hantuchova, winning 75 57 62, having initially led 75 42.
8/7 Kvitova came from 46 0-3 and 46 64 1-3 to beat (12/11) Petrova 46 64 63.
9/8 Stosur edged form player Kuznetsova 64 75.
10/10 Wozniacki beat form player Barthel 76(6) 63.
(Rank/Seed)
1/1 Azarenka routed McHale 60 60, her sixth career double bagel win.
2/2 Serena beat Urszula Radwanska 60 63. One win away from being the oldest #1!
3/3 Sharapova managed the wind well to beat Zakopalova 63 63.
4/4 Agniezska Radwanska continued her dominance over (13/13) Ivanovic 61 76(6), even though the Serb served for the set at 6-5.
7/6 Errani avenged a loss early this year in Brisbane to Hantuchova, winning 75 57 62, having initially led 75 42.
8/7 Kvitova came from 46 0-3 and 46 64 1-3 to beat (12/11) Petrova 46 64 63.
9/8 Stosur edged form player Kuznetsova 64 75.
10/10 Wozniacki beat form player Barthel 76(6) 63.
Wednesday, 13 February 2013
Seeds Strong Bar Stephens
As the second round was completed and all the top seeds have now been in action, most are still in the tournament. However, for some of the lower seeds, notably Sloane Stephens, the tournament came to an end.
(Rank/Seed)
1/1 Azarenka, the defending titlist shook off an early break and rust to beat Oprandi 62 63.
4/4 Radwanska overcame blustery conditions to beat Rodionova 63 62.
7/6 Errani comfortably beat Babos 64 60; surprisingly easy seeing considering she's been indoors lately.
8/7 Kvitova advanced when (20/-) Makarova retired with sickness after losing the first set 64. Obviously the Fed Cup has tired her and Kirilenko out.
9/8 Stosur edged Niculescu 64 16 63, emulating last year's quarter final win. It is only Stosur's second win out of seven matches!
10/10 Wozniacki saved four set points in the tie break against Cirstea to win 76(7) 60.
Elsewhere, Kuznetsova continued her strong form, beating (11/9) Bartoli 64 64. Urszula Radwanska edged struggling (16/15) Vinci 62 57 60, Zakapolova saved four match points against (17/16) Stephens to win 46 76(5) 76(5) and McHale crushed (18/17) Safarova 64 62, from 1-4 down in the first. However, (12/11) Petrova and (13/13) Ivanovic won.
(Rank/Seed)
1/1 Azarenka, the defending titlist shook off an early break and rust to beat Oprandi 62 63.
4/4 Radwanska overcame blustery conditions to beat Rodionova 63 62.
7/6 Errani comfortably beat Babos 64 60; surprisingly easy seeing considering she's been indoors lately.
8/7 Kvitova advanced when (20/-) Makarova retired with sickness after losing the first set 64. Obviously the Fed Cup has tired her and Kirilenko out.
9/8 Stosur edged Niculescu 64 16 63, emulating last year's quarter final win. It is only Stosur's second win out of seven matches!
10/10 Wozniacki saved four set points in the tie break against Cirstea to win 76(7) 60.
Elsewhere, Kuznetsova continued her strong form, beating (11/9) Bartoli 64 64. Urszula Radwanska edged struggling (16/15) Vinci 62 57 60, Zakapolova saved four match points against (17/16) Stephens to win 46 76(5) 76(5) and McHale crushed (18/17) Safarova 64 62, from 1-4 down in the first. However, (12/11) Petrova and (13/13) Ivanovic won.
Tuesday, 12 February 2013
Barthel Bruises Kerber
It is the first Premier 5 level event of the year and all but one of the top 10 players are in attendance in Doha. With the top 8 seeds given byes though, there are some tricky matches ahead and Kerber paid the price.
(Rank/Seed)
2/2 Serena debuted in Doha with a straight forward 62 61 win over lucky loser Gavrilova.
3/3 Sharapova is now 10/10 in matches here, beating qualifier Garcia 63 62.
Barthel, the recent champion at the Paris Indoors, got her best career win and second over a top tenner this year, crushing compatriot (6/5) Kerber 61 62. Barthel has always troubled the more passive German with her bold style, now winning 2 out of 3 meetings and having held match points in the one she lost. Kerber's poor form continues as she's now lost to four non top 10 players this year.
10/10 Wozniacki eased past Salkic 61 62.
Top 20 players Bartoli, Petrova, Ivanovic, Vinci, Stephens, Safarova and Makarova all won in straight sets in their first round matches. (14/12) Kirilenko was forced to retire after only 3 games against Bychkova; no doubt aggravated through winning so much lately!
(Rank/Seed)
2/2 Serena debuted in Doha with a straight forward 62 61 win over lucky loser Gavrilova.
3/3 Sharapova is now 10/10 in matches here, beating qualifier Garcia 63 62.
Barthel, the recent champion at the Paris Indoors, got her best career win and second over a top tenner this year, crushing compatriot (6/5) Kerber 61 62. Barthel has always troubled the more passive German with her bold style, now winning 2 out of 3 meetings and having held match points in the one she lost. Kerber's poor form continues as she's now lost to four non top 10 players this year.
10/10 Wozniacki eased past Salkic 61 62.
Top 20 players Bartoli, Petrova, Ivanovic, Vinci, Stephens, Safarova and Makarova all won in straight sets in their first round matches. (14/12) Kirilenko was forced to retire after only 3 games against Bychkova; no doubt aggravated through winning so much lately!
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