Women's Tennis Association 2016

[bangkokbobby]

more pics and video on my blog: WTA Wrap-Up 1.10.2016: Victoria Azarenka (Brisbane), Sloane Stephens (Auckland) and Agnieszka Radwanska (Shenzhen) Open 2016 Season With Titles

Victoria Azarenka


Coming back from injury in 2015, former world #1 Victoria Azarenka had, by her standard, a bit of an underwhelming season. She reached a final at Doha, but the year was not indicative of what she can accomplish when fit and focused. Maybe 2016 will be the year tennis fans see the rebirth of Vika. She certainly started with a bang, winning the 2016 Brisbane International with a 6-3 6-1 victory over Angelique Kerber. This is Azarenka’s 2nd Brisbane title, although this time she won as an unseeded player due to her slippage in the rankings. If she keeps playing as she did this week, she won’t continue being unseeded. This is her 18th WTA singles title, but the first since the 2013 Western & Southern Open. I hope this is the start of Vika reclaiming her place among the best in the game. She is bold and fearless. Win or lose, she isn’t intimidated by any player on tour. There are other players who have defeated Serena Williams; naturally, Serena is human after all. But nobody looks the world #1 in the eye and fights the way Vika does. They’ve had great battles on court over the years. I’d love to see more in 2016.



Sloane Stephens


In Auckland, New Zealand 22-year old Sloane Stephens showed she is still one of the young, bright hopes for the future of American tennis. Heck, forget the future…the future is now, perhaps. Early in her career, she showed flashes of brilliance but no titles. However, after winning the Citi Open in the second half of last season and opening this year with the ASB Classic championship, it appears Sloane’s vast potential is coming to fruition. Due to a rain interruption the previous night, the 5th seeded Stephens had to pull double duty the final day, taking down 3rd seed Caroline Wozniacki in the semifinals before turning around later to defeat the dangerous Julia Goerges in the final. I look at Sloane Stephens, Madison Keys and an emerging young, big hitter like Samantha Crawford and I feel very confident about the youth brigade in American women’s tennis.

Agnieszka Radwanska


After winning the biggest title of her career at the 2015 WTA Finals, it’s no surprise that Agnieszka Radwanska rides into 2016 with an opening tournament run at the 2016 Shenzhen Open. Since last year’s US Open, Aga has won in Tokyo, Tianjin, Singapore and now Shenzhen. She probably doesn’t want to leave Asia at this point! The top seed defeated Alison Riske in the final, 6-3 6-2. It might be unfair, but it’s all about Radwanska getting her first Major now. At least that’s how I see it. Well, that or being ranked #1. This victory gives Radwanska her 18th career WTA singles title.

SHENZHEN OPEN FINAL

1 AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA (POL) d. Alison Riske (USA), 6-3 6-2




ASB CLASSIC FINAL

5 SLOANE STEPHENS (USA) d. Julia Goerges (GER), 7-5 6-2




BRISBANE INTERNATIONAL FINAL

VICTORIA AZARENKA (BEL) d. 4 Angelique Kerber (GER), 6-3 6-1

[bangkokbobby]

more pics and video on my blog: Ana Ivanovic Looks To Bounce Back At 2016 Australian Open

Ana Ivanovic at Adidas Pre-Australian Open Event


After a great 2014 where she won 4 titles and was runner-up in 2 other events, 2015 saw Ana Ivanovic reach only 1 final…and that one was at the beginning of the year at the Brisbane International in January. Admittedly, she did make a semifinal run at Roland Garros but otherwise it was a season that paled compared to the year before. Ana was looking to get off to a good start in 2016 but so far she’s stumbled out of the gate, losing in the first round of both the ASB Classic and the Apia International Sydney. At Sydney she lost to the rising star Karolina Pliskova. That’s understandable. But at the ASB Classic she was taken out by qualifier Naomi Broady. That shouldn’t happen to somebody who is still (when she’s on) among the best ball strikers on tour. All will be forgiven and forgotten if Ivanovic makes a deep run at the Australian Open. Ana is a fan favorite. She is great for the tour when she is playing well. I hope that regardless of what happens in Melbourne, she bounces back in 2016 with at least 1 title.



with Caroline Wozniacki and Andrea Petkovic

[bangkokbobby]

more pics and video on my blog: Eugenie Bouchard Off To Positive Start In 2016 Despite Hobart International Final Loss; Alize Cornet (Hobart) and Svetlana Kuznetsova (Sydney) Take Titles

Eugenie Bouchard


It wasn’t Eugenie Bouchard’s day in the final of the 2016 Hobart International. She fell to Alize Cornet 6-1 6-2 in a one-sided match. But if one takes a step back and looks at the bigger picture, Genie’s start this season gives reason to hope for a resurgence in her game. In 2014, she was the new tennis rising star, reaching the semifinals of the Australian Open and Roland Garros. She followed that up with a runner-up at Wimbledon. But since losing to Petra Kvitova in those finals, she has steadily fallen in quality of play until 2015, where her game dropped off precipitously. Bouchard lost her opening match in 11 tournaments. It was shocking to see the player she was in 2014 be so poor in 2015. To add insult, her year ended with a slip in the US Open locker room where she hit her head and suffered concussion symptoms the rest of the season. But 2016 has seen Genie rebound with a quarterfinal run in Shenzhen and a runner-up finish at Hobart. Hobart was her first final since Wuhan 2014. Wins over tough opponents Dominika Cibulkova, Camila Giorgi and Bethanie Mattek-Sands suggest that Bouchard is beginning to find her way again under the tutelage of new coach Thomas Hogstedt. He is noted in WTA circles for his outstanding work with Li Na and Maria Sharapova. The talent is still there for Genie. It’s just a matter of putting it all together again. Because of 2015, her ranking has slipped so her draw at the Australian Open will be much tougher this year than last year. But that’s what she will have to deal with until she can climb back up the rankings.

Alize Cornet


That said, I would be remiss not to celebrate and congratulate this week’s WTA title winners, Alize Cornet (Hobart) and Svetlana Kuznetsova (Sydney). Both of those players are the kind of upset threats that the top seeds don’t want to see in their draw. First of all, Sveta is a 2-time Major champion with the kind of mental strength that helps her fear nobody. Win or lose, she’s going to make it a fight. And for Alize, let’s not forget that in that same 2014 season where Eugenie Bouchard was turning heads, it was Cornet who beat Serena Williams multiple times, including knocking her out of Wimbledon. In fact, she beat Serena in the third round of Wimbledon 2014 and then lost to Genie in the fourth round. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Alize or Sveta lose in the early rounds at Melbourne…but I also wouldn’t be surprised to look up and see them in the quarterfinals.

APIA INTERNATIONAL SYDNEY FINAL
SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA (RUS) d. [Q] Monica Puig (PUR) , 6-0 6-2


w/Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario and Monica Puig


HOBART INTERNATIONAL FINAL
7 ALIZE CORNET (FRA) d. Eugenie Bouchard (CAN), 6-1 6-2

[bangkokbobby]

more pics and video on my blog: Garbine Muguruza, Victoria Azarenka Ready For Australian Open 2016

Garbine Muguruza


Garbine Muguruza could be the next big star on the WTA. The 22-year old 2015 Wimbledon runner-up goes into the 2016 Australian Open ranked #3 in the world. She has the shots, size and power to give anybody a problem on a given day. However, question marks surround her injured foot. Will her movement be hampered on the hard courts in Melbourne under a sweltering summer sun. She will be tested immediately by 20-year old rising Estonian Anett Kontaveit. Should Gabi win, she’ll have to face either Kirsten Flipkens or Mirjana Lucic-Baroni. If Muguruza can’t move well on her foot, all three of those opponents could be tricky.



Victoria Azarenka


The marquee fourth round potential match up in Gabi’s section would be her against 2-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka. Although she is seeded 14th, many see Vika as the #2 favorite behind Serena Williams to win it all. Certainly, Azarenka’s form at the Brisbane International was impressive. She also has a favorable draw to get to a potential Muguruza match. Obviously, anything can happen. They could both lose in the first round. But if form holds up, fans could be treated to a sensational early clash between two of the top players on tour.

VICTORIA AZARENKA
AO Kids Day w/Milos Raonic, Caroline Wozniacki, Roger Federer, Lleyton Hewitt and Novak Djokovic


GARBINE MUGURUZA

[bangkokbobby]

more pics and video on my blog: Petra Kvitova Opens 2016 Season With Australian Open First Round Victory; Sloane Stephens Upset Down Under

Petra Kvitova


It was great to see Petra Kvitova start her season with a win in the first round of the 2016 Australian Open, beating Thailand’s Luksika Kumkhum, 6-3 6-1. The 2-time Wimbledon champion from the Czech Republic is very unpredictable. If she loses her next match or wins the tournament, few hardcore tennis aficionados would be surprised. I just think tournaments are more interesting the longer Petra is in the draw. Few players are capable of hitting…or even outhitting…Serena Williams. Kvitova is one of them. But that’s only if she’s on, as she was when she beat Serena last year in Madrid.



Sloane Stephens


On the other hand, I’m bummed about Sloane Stephens crashing out in the first round of the year’s first Major. She came into Melbourne riding a wave of confidence, having won the title in Auckland, New Zealand at the 2016 ASB Classic. That mattered not at all to China’s Qiang WANG, who dismissed the 24th seeded Stephens, 6-3 6-3. I have to be honest, unless Wang goes on a run early this season this is a bad loss for Sloane. Losing to a qualifier in the first round is far below Sloane’s capabilities. Hopefully, she will rebound, understanding that she does have a tournament win already this year. If she does, I’m sure we’ll hear good things to come from the young talented American.

[Q] QIANG WANG d. 24 Sloane Stephens, 6-3 6-3


6 PETRA KVITOVA d. [Q] Luksika Kumkhum, 6-3 6-1

[bangkokbobby]

more pics and video on my blog: Maria Sharapova, Eugenie Bouchard Advance On Day 1 Of Australian Open; Caroline Wozniacki Upset

Maria Sharapova


Maria Sharapova and Eugenie Bouchard are certainly two of the biggest names in women’s tennis. However, I don’t know how many people are picking either to go deep at the 2016 Australian Open. Serena Williams is the obvious choice to win it all and Victoria Azarenka is the fashionable choice as an alternate pick. But let’s not forget it was Masha who was runner-up last year. She started this year’s campaign with a 6-1 6-3 win over the feisty Nao Habino of Japan. The scoreline doesn’t reflect how much Habino was able to make Sharapova work, particularly in the second set. Meanwhile, Eugenie Bouchard scored an impressive victory over the potentially very tough Aleksandra Krunic, 6-3 6-4. The problem for Genie, as I mentioned in the my last post about her, is that her ranking has slipped so far that she will get tough draws until she can climb back up. Case in point, she gets 4th seed Agnieszka Radwanska in the second round. Bouchard looks better than she has in a year. But is she back to the level where she can beat Aga? We’ll soon find out.

interview prior to first match


Caroline Wozniacki


Caroline Wozniacki was in no mood for condolences after blowing an early lead and losing to Yulia Putintseva, 1-6 7-6 (3) 6-4. In fact, I’ll just stop talking about her loss and simply let Caro’s quote tell the tale:

“I would say it’s a pretty sh***y start to the season.” – Caroline Wozniacki

Ummm, yep.



YULIA PUTINTSEVA d. 16 Caroline Wozniacki, 1-6 7-6 (3) 6-4


EUGENIE BOUCHARD d. Aleksandra Krunic, 6-3 6-4


5 MARIA SHARAPOVA d. Nao Hibino, 6-3 6-1

[bangkokbobby]

from my blog: Madison Keys, Garbine Muguruza Get Off To Strong Starts At 2016 Australian Open

Garbine Muguruza


I was very excited for day two of the 2016 Australian Open, as probably my three favorite players, Madison Keys, Garbine Muguruza and Simona Halep, would be in action. Up first were Maddie and Mugu. If Garbine was feeling the ill effects of her foot injury, it didn’t stop her from laying down an emphatic 6-0 6-4 win over Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit. I love that Mugu is being coached by Sam Sumyk. If they can duplicate, or even exceed, the success he had with Victoria Azarenka in her best years, Gabi will be a future world #1 and multiple Major winner.

“Every time I hear I’m like ‘puhhhhh, yeah, whatever’. I really don’t know what to say. I feel good when people think that I can do it, but I’m like, ‘yeah, we’ll see.’” – Garbine Muguruza, responding to people saying she has what it takes to be world #1

Madison Keys


It’s also been said by many that 20-year old Madison Keys is a future world #1. That might be true, but I was sweating a little when she was down a couple of set points against Kazahkstan’s Zarina Diyas. But the talented American would battle back from 3-5 down to force a first set tiebreak, which she won. From then on, Maddie blitzed through the second set to take out Diyas, 7-6 (5) 6-1. It took Keys a little while to get going, committing too many first set unforced errors, but once she found her groove she showed why there is nobody in the world she can’t hit with when she’s on her game.

“I think being down set point almost helped me. I thought, ‘You’re down, keep playing. You can only lose the set.’ I definitely had to dig deep and figure it out.” – Madison Keys



15 MADISON KEYS d. Zarina Diyas, 7-6 (5) 6-1


3 GARBINE MUGURUZA d. Anett Kontaveit, 6-0 6-4

[bangkokbobby]

more pics and video on my blog: Qualifier Zhang Shuai Shocks #2 Seed Simona Halep In The First Round Of The 2016 Australian Open; Ana Ivanovic Advances

Simona Halep


Chinese qualifier ZHANG Shuai came into the 2016 Australian Open with the worst record of any player in the top 300 player, 0-14. None of that mattered in Melbourne as she jumped all over world #2 Simona Halep in the first round, sprinting out to a 4-0 first set lead and holding on for a shocking 6-4 6-3 upset victory. Although Halepeno can have days like this from time to time, in no way did I see this coming. Zhang played with purpose and a strong baseline game that makes one wonder how she was 0-14, especially considering she does have a win over a reigning world #1 (Dinara Safina) in her past. She’s 5’10” with a nice variety of shots. Maybe it’s been mental for the soon to be 27-year old. We’ll see if she can back this up next round against the very tough Alize Cornet, who is coming off a title run at Hobart. Regardless, it was a wonderful win for a tour veteran. I love Simona Halep, but I also love seeing somebody achieve something they’ve worked so hard to reach.



Ana Ivanovic


After getting off to an 0-2 start in 2016, former world #1 Ana Ivanovic had a much needed first round win in Melbourne, defeating qualifier Tammi Patterson, 6-2 6-3. With Halep’s loss, this quarter of the draw is wide open. If Ana can beat another qualifier, Anastasija Sevastova, and Madison Keys can get by the dangerous Yaroslava Shvedova, fans would get a marquee third round showdown between Ana and Maddie. The winner would have a very good chance to get through to the quarters, although Alize Cornet is lurking in this section as well. We’ll see who steps up and takes advantage Zhang’s upset of Halep.

20 ANA IVANOVIC d. [Q] Tammi Patterson, 6-2 6-3


[Q] ZHANG SHUAI d. 2 Simona Halep, 6-4 6-3

[bangkokbobby]

Jan 20, 2016 0:56:34 GMT -5 @mr3putt said:

BKB
I can't believe you're posting so much about other things golf considering the Oz Open is now playing?
What gives?...you were quite absent for some time last year.

Woz looks miserable...she's still not over Rory dumping her...lol....maybe Serena can hook her up.

Could one only imagine how far she could hit a golf ball if she was a golf pro.
OK...can any guy on this site honestly say that they have bigger pipes than Serena?....lol.

Tennis gets it.....4 majors in 4 countries and spread out from Jan to Sept....unlike the Yank centric majors on the PGA and LPGA.

Seems like all the retired tennis pro's keep themselves in generally good shape.....I can't say I can name any who have been eating too much KFC in their retirement.

So what do you think about all the fixed match discussions?

I'll answer later today...on the run right now.

more pics on my blog: American Lauren Davis Reaches Third Round Of 2016 Australian Open, Will Face Maria Sharapova

Lauren Davis


When the discussion of which Americans can win the 2016 Australian Open comes up, it’s the usual suspects that are mentioned. Of course, Serena Williams leads all discussions concerning possible champions. Then there are the young players bursting with talent, waiting for a breakthrough like Madison Keys. A name not mentioned is Lauren Davis. Honestly, that’s understandable. To date, she’s never been past the third round of a Major. Also, she’s never won a WTA level event. But the 22-year old will get another chance as she finds herself in round three in Melbourne, when Magdalena Rybarikova retired after Davis won the first set of their second round clash. However, it was the Lauren’s first round win that turned heads, when she knocked out 26th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, a player some thought could make a little noise if she started to roll in the draw. The 82nd ranked Davis would have arguably the biggest win of her career if she can come through in her next match.

Maria Sharapova


It will be a tall task as next up for Davis is 5-time Major champion Maria Sharapova. The 5th seeded Russian has run through her first two overmatched opponents like she means business…of course, the ultra-focused Masha always means business. I can’t wait to see the handshake at the net after the match if only to see the difference between one of the shortest women in the draw in Davis (5’2″) and one of the tallest in Sharapova (6’2″). Can Lauren really knock off Masha? Look, anything can happen. Is it likely? No. But this is why you compete…for these moments, these opportunities. If Davis beats Sharapova, the whole narrative around her career changes. Of course, she would have to keep winning. If that happens, maybe then her name will soon be included as a pre-tournament pick to win titles.



5 MARIA SHARAPOVA d. Aliaksandra Sasnovich, 6-2 6-1


LAUREN DAVIS d. Magdalena Rybarikova, 7-6 (7) 0-0 ret.

[bangkokbobby]

more pics and video on my blog: Young, Talented Qualifier Naomi Osaka Reaches Third Round Of 2016 Australian Open, To Face Huge Test Against Victoria Azarenka; Ana Ivanovic Into Third Round

Naomi Osaka


I often call young, talented players “rising stars.” But in the case of 18-year old Naomi Osaka of Japan, she literally won the Rising Stars Invitational event at last year’s WTA Finals. However, after seeing her play against Donna Vekic in the first round of the 2016 Australian Open, I was shocked at how much she is improving in a short period of time. She simply hit Vekic off the court. I wondered if she could do the same against 18th seed Elina Svitolina. It was a closer match, 6-4 6-4. Still, Osaka…who interestingly was actually born in Osaka, Japan…was comfortably in control against the more experienced top 20 player. Now it gets really tough. Next up is Victoria Azarenka. Honestly, this is probably where the story of this Australian Open ends for Naomi. Vika has won her two matches by scores of 6-0 6-0 and 6-1 6-2…taking time to dab along the way. Nobody expects Osaka, who currently lives and trains in Florida, to win so she might as well go out and blast away. Who knows? Maybe the young rising star will pull off the upset. By the way, for those who don’t know, her father is Haitian and her mother, Tamaki, is Japanese.



Ana Ivanovic


I’m very pleased to see Ana Ivanovic move into the third round with back to back comfortable wins. Her 6-3 6-3 win over Anastasija Sevastova means Ivanovic will play the winner of the Madison Keys v Yaroslava Shvedova match (which I happen to be watching now while typing this post). Either of those players is a threat to beat Ana. But Ana is also capable of handling both of them as well. Regardless, the way she played last year coupled with her 0-2 start this year had me worried she could be out in the first round at Melbourne. Happily, that wasn’t the case.

20 ANA IVANOVIC d. Anastasija Sevastova, 6-3 6-3


[Q] NAOMI OSAKA d. 18 Elina Svitolina, 6-4 6-4

[bangkokbobby]

more pics and video on my blog: Zhang Shuai Continues 2016 Australian Open Success With Upset Of Alize Cornet; Madison Keys Advances

ZHANG Shuai


ZHANG Shuai sure isn’t playing like somebody who was 0 for her career in Major singles play coming into the 2016 Australian Open. With her upset of 2nd seed Simona Halep and now following it up with a 6-3 6-3 win over 2016 Hobart International champion Alize Cornet, Shuai is showing the talent that once lifted her to the top 30 in the world. She’s 5’11” with power off the ground. This might not be a fluke. She might really have the game to be this good. Cornet didn’t help herself with 6 double faults and a 7 to 36 winners to unforced errors tally. Nevertheless, Zhang Shuai is lacing some solid winners out there. It only gets tougher moving forward. But whatever happens next, the young Chinese talent has already proven she belongs out there with the elite players of the world.

Madison Keys


Meanwhile, American Madison Keys…the next big thing for a lot of us hardcore tennis fans…rebounded from losing the first set to come back and beat the dangerous Yaroslava Shvedova, 6-7 (4) 6-3 6-3. Maddie had her chances in the first set and could have made this an easier match. However, once she had it working, it was easy to see why people are so excited by her potential. Even when she isn’t hitting aces with her serve, it is so tough it continually puts the returner in weak positions. It’s really a matter of whether Keys will capitalize on the many weak returns she gets off her serves. When she does, her game is frighteningly good. Next up is a similar player in former world #1 Ana Ivanovic. When Ana has it all working, her game is also beautiful to behold. This is as marquee a third round match as there is in the women’s singles draw. And it’s a tough one to pick because both players can be inconsistent at times. Whomever can sustain their best play with the fewest rough patches is likely to be the victor.



15 MADISON KEYS d. Yaroslava Shvedova, 6-7 (4) 6-3 6-3


ZHANG SHUAI d. Alize Cornet, 6-3 6-3

[bangkokbobby]

more pics and video on my blog: Belinda Bencic, Maria Sharapova Set For Showdown At 2016 Australian Open

Belinda Bencic


It’s starting to heat up down under. After making a run to the US Open quarterfinals last fall, 18-year old Belinda Bencic is one match away from equaling that result at the 2016 Australian Open. The new Swiss Miss had to come back from a set down to defeat Kateryna Bondarenko, 4-6 6-2 6-4. Obviously, matches still have to be played and anything can happen, but should she advance to the quarters it’s likely that she would face world #1 and defending champion Serena Williams, who is getting better with each round. Bencic beat Serena last year at Rogers Cup on the way to her second WTA level singles title. To be fair, Serena was way off her game that day. However, in the end it doesn’t matter how it happened. The bottom line is that Belinda was one of only three people to take down Williams in 2015.



Lauren Davis & Maria Sharapova


There is a major roadblock standing between Belinda Bencic and a date with Serena Williams. That would be career Grand Slam winner Maria Sharapova. The 6’2″ Russian superstar took out 5’2″ American Lauren Davis, 6-1 6-7 (5) 6-0. After fighting to take the second set, it was disappointing to see Lauren suffer the bagel in the final set. But Masha has an ability to regroup and focus that is matched by few on tour. So if Serena gets by her fourth round match…and while that’s likely, anything can happen in sports…just ask Roberta Vinci…the question is would fans rather see one of the biggest names in women’s tennis history, Maria Sharapova, play Serena knowing she hasn’t beaten the world #1 since 2004 or would fans rather see up and coming Bencic get another crack at the champ, knowing Belinda actually has beaten Serena within the last 12 months? I’m going to say Masha. I know she hasn’t beaten Serena in what seems like forever. But keep in mind that Serena is known to smoke players who have beaten her recently. Don’t expect that just because Bencic won at Rogers Cup that she will be more competitive that Sharapova. If it’s Serena vs Belinda, expect an ultra-focused Williams in that match.

5 MARIA SHARAPOVA d. Lauren Davis, 6-1 6-7 (5) 6-0


12 BELINDA BENCIC d. Kateryna Bondarenko, 4-6 6-2 6-4

[bangkokbobby]

more pics on my blog: Naomi Osaka’s 2016 Australian Open Run Ended By Victoria Azarenka In Third Round

Naomi Osaka


There will be better days ahead for 18-year old Japanese tennis player Naomi Osaka. With her big game and charming personality, she became a bit of a media magnet following her upset of 18th seed Elina Svitolina in round two. Unfortunately, in round three Naomi ran into Victoria Azarenka, who is on fire right now. Vika made quick work of Osaka, 6-1 6-1. But tennis today is different from even 10 or 15 years ago. Naomi has plenty of time at 18 to develop. At one time in the women’s game, you could expect players to come up and be Major champions by the time they are 20. The power and physicality of today’s game is different. While Osaka works on her shots, she will also continue to work in the gym (hopefully) and grow into her full abilities. Even beyond Serena, while young players still win Majors like Petra Kvitova, a lot of recent Major winners are older players. Li Na, Flavia Pennetta, Francesca Schiavone and Marion Bartoli were all seasoned veterans when they won their Major (Li Na won two). In fact, Flavia and Marion won their Major and then retired from the tour before the next Major. So Naomi has plenty of time. She just needs to keep working and improving, and learn from facing a proven champion like Vika.



12 VICTORIA AZARENKA d. Naomi Osaka, 6-1 6-1

[bangkokbobby]

more pics and video on my blog: Madison Keys, Zhang Shuai Advance To Fourth Round Showdown At 2016 Australian Open

Madison Keys


On paper, the 2016 Australian Open third round match between Madison Keys and Ana Ivanovic looked like a tight contest that could go either way. That’s exactly how it played out as Keys came back from a set down and being down a break several times, including 0-3 in the final set, to outlast Ivanovic, 4-6 6-4 6-4. There were not a lot of long artful rallies. This was power tennis by two of the streakiest players on tour. But watching it all unfold, I felt Maddie had more pop on her biggest shots, but Ana was a bit craftier and spent most of the match playing with a lead. If Keys could just pull even I felt she would right the ship. Eventually, she did. I am extremely impressed with how Maddie has battled back in her matches this first week. The road to being a champion isn’t always a smooth one. She is demonstrating a growing ability to better deal with adversity when the lights are shining the brightest.

Nigel Sears Taken Out Of Arena


I can’t talk about this match without mentioning that after the first game of the second set, Ana’s coach Nigel Sears collapsed in the stands. Apparently, he has some medical issues. Let me be clear that everything I am saying is what just what was being said on the broadcast live while the Keys v Ivanovic match was being delayed nearly an hour and during the resumption. It was speculated that a defibrillator was used on Sears and he was hooked up to oxygen on the way out. I don’t know if that’s true but in the pictures of him being taken away he has his shirt removed. Watching it unfold, there was a group of medical staff and security around him so it was difficult to see anything that was happening. Sears is not only Ana’s coach, he is the father in law of Andy Murray, who was playing a match in Margaret Court Arena when this was happening in Rod Laver Arena. Sears’ daughter, and Murray’s wife, Kim Sears, is expecting her first child. It was reported that Nigel Sears had regained consciousness and was alert, sitting up in the hospital. Hopefully, they will pinpoint why he has been sick and set him up on the correct treatment plan. Ana was clearly shaken during the episode. However, once play resumed Ana looked fine. This was not why she lost. Ana didn’t give this one away, as she has done plenty of times in the past. Maddie took it from her.

ZHANG Shuai


And now I have a conflict. Madison Keys is my favorite active player. But what ZHANG Shuai has done this Aussie Open, being 0 for her career in Majors, never having won even one singles match, has warmed my heart. I want Maddie to win this tournament, whether that actually happens or not with Serena and Vika playing scary tennis. But I also don’t want to see Zhang Shuai’s run end in her fourth round match against Keys. I guess I’ll root, as always, for Maddie, but should she lose I’ll be less upset than if she had lost to anybody else in the draw. I’ll say this: be clear, Zhang can beat Keys. She’s run through #2 seed Simona Halep, 2016 Hobart champ Alize Cornet and tricky Varvara Lepchenko all in straight sets. These are not flukey wins. She has shown why she was once a rising player on tour. With her size and groundstrokes I can only surmise it has either been a lack of preparation or the mental/psychological side of the game that has held her back. She clearly has talent. That is evident. The talent to beat Keys is there. However, in her run Zhang Shuai has not faced anybody with the kind of firepower on her shots like Maddie. If Keys is on her game, she could simply hit Zhang off the court. But if Keys is overly streaky again, she would be in danger of leaving an opening Zhang could exploit.

[Q] ZHANG SHUAI d. Varvara Lepchenko, 6-1 6-3




15 MADISON KEYS d. 20 Ana Ivanovic, 4-6 6-4 6-4

[bangkokbobby]

....more from Zhang Shuai


By the way, in case anybody doesn't already know...you can watch matches in their entirety using the WatchESPN app (at least in America...I don't know about worldwide). Go to the Tennis Section and scroll through the REPLAY tab and pick any of the matches. It's great because on TV they switch back and forth between matches so you can miss action in the match you want to see...and they only show what they consider feature matches. Just be sure to get the WatchESPN app. The regular ESPN app does have WatchESPN in it, but not as expansive in choices as the WatchESPN app...at least not yet. The HD quality of the app is very good. I watch replays of matches on a Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 Tablet and the picture is clear and sharp even on a big 12.2 inch tablet screen.