Women's Tennis Association 2016

[bangkokbobby]

more pics and video on my blog: The Good News For Maria Sharapova: She Won Her Fourth Round Match With Belinda Bencic, The Bad News…

Maria Sharapova


Generally speaking, if two tennis players have played each other as much as 20 times and you can name all the tournaments one of them has won against the other and the year those tournaments were played off the top of your head it usually means it’s a lopsided rivalry. One side has so few victories it’s easy to remember them. Unfortunately for Maria Sharapova, without even looking it up most hardcore tennis fans can tell you the 2 times she’s beaten Serena Williams, Wimbledon 2004 and the WTA Championship/Tour Finals 2004. So today is a happy day for Masha. She blasted a career high 21 aces to edge 12th seed Belinda Bencic 7-5 7-5 in the fourth round of the 2016 Australian Open. Bencic might be part of the future of the tour, but Masha is still part of its present. Now Sharapova gets to reprise last year’s Aussie Open final match against her nemesis, Serena Williams, this time in the quarters. Serena is playing like she’s a little peeved that so many people have picked Victoria Azarenka to win this event despite all that Serena has done in the Majors both in her career and the last couple of years. The world #1 can send a message with another romp against Sharapova. On the other hand, Masha can send the tennis world a message about her fight and resiliency by ignoring her 2-18 record against Serena and taking down the top seed.



5 MARIA SHARAPOVA d. 12 Belinda Bencic, 7-5 7-5

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more pics and video on my blog: Cinderella Story Continues For Zhang Shuai With Fourth Round Win Over Madison Keys At 2016 Australian Open

Zhang Shuai


Rarely does my favorite active player lose yet I cheer a result. Well, maybe cheer isn’t the right word. I clearly would have preferred Madison Keys to win her fourth round match at the 2016 Australian Open against qualifier Zhang Shuai. That didn’t happen as Zhang took out a an injury hobbled Keys, 3-6 6-3 6-3. Despite my despondency with Maddie’s loss, the Cinderella story of Shuai is too inspiring for me to feel anything but happy for the budding Chinese star. And with Maddie’s injury, it would have been unlikely that she could have won the tournament. Although she doesn’t have the name recognition of the other players in the quarterfinals, Great Britain’s Johanna Konta is known to hardcore tennis fans for the way she has played over the last 6 to 8 months. Zhang Shuai will have to be ready for a stern test from Konta, who “upset” (not really) both Venus Williams and Ekaterina Makarova already down under. But so long as Shuai is still in it, I’ll root for her to win it.

[Q] ZHANG SHUAI d. 15 Madison Keys, 3-6 6-3 6-3

[bangkokbobby]

First, let's hear from Zhang Shuai...the match ended early in the morning US East Coast time, so I didn't have time to do as full a blog post, as I had to squeeze it in at work:



more pics and video on my blog: Agnieszka Radwanska Defeats Carla Suarez Navarro, Set For Semifinal Showdown With Serena Williams At 2016 Australian Open

Agnieszka Radwanska


The match of the day at the 2016 Australian Open was arguably the Serena Williams v Maria Sharapova quarterfinal match. But that “rivalry” hasn’t had any steam for 12 years. As expected, Serena dispatched with Masha for the 19th time in 21 matches, including 18 in a row. The last time Sharapova beat Williams, The Incredibles was the #1 movie in the United States. So let’s see if Agnieszka Radwanska, who beat Carla Suarez Navarro 6-1 6-3, can fare any better. Admittedly, the last time Aga beat Serena was…never. But Radwanska won the 2015 WTA Finals (which Serena skipped) and won in Shenzhen to open 2016. Add in titles in Tianjin and Tokyo at the end of last year, all on hard court, and if there is ever a time for Aga to pull off the upset it’s now. Unlike Masha, The Ninja (as they call Aga) has a varied array of deft shots that rely as much or more on guile as force. Maybe a change of pace, similar to what Roberta Vinci did at the 2015 US Open against Serena, is what is needed to derail her. On the other hand, maybe we’re just headed to an inevitable Serena vs Vika showdown in the final.



4 AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA d. 10 Carla Suarez Navarro, 6-1 6-3

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more pics and video on my blog: Angelique Kerber Takes Out 2-Time Champion Victoria Azarenka At 2016 Australian Open, Advances To Semifinals

Angelique Kerber


I wonder if Serena Williams is somewhere having a bit of a le. Despite all that she’s done in recent years, many tennis experts were picking Victoria Azarenka to win the 2016 Australian Open. Angelique Kerber didn’t get that memo. Playing with a bit more pop and pace on her shots than in the past, Angie overcame a winless record against the Belarusian star, including a lopsided final loss in Brisbane a few weeks ago, and took out the 2-time Aussie champion, 6-3 7-5. Kerber had to hold off an attempted Vika comeback in the second set which had Angie down 2-5 0-40. But she repelled 5 set points against her and roared back to win 5 games in a row to win a spot in the semifinals, where unseeded but highly dangerous Johanna Konta of Great Britain awaits. Here’s a recommendation to the tennis experts. Nobody wins every match. That’s true. And I know there were some questions about her knee coming into Melbourne. However, I’ve seen too many times Serena romp through draws when she supposedly wasn’t 100% physically. So until Serena starts to show significant decline in her game, it’s probably wise to begin every tournament with the world #1 as everybody’s pick to win it.



7 ANGELIQUE KERBER d. 14 Victoria Azarenka, 6-3 7-5

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more pics and video on my blog: Angelique Kerber Wins 2016 Australian Open, Denies Serena Williams 22nd Major Singles Title

Angelique Kerber


Steffi Graf’s Open Era record 22 Major singles titles is safe…for now. Her German countrywoman, Angelique Kerber, denied Serena Williams’ bid to match Graf atop the Major mountain with a 6-4 3-6 6-4 victory that stunned the tennis world. Sure, Angie had beaten Serena before, at the 2012 Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati. But since then, Williams hadn’t lost a set to Kerber and led their head to head 5-1 going into the Melbourne final. This is a better Kerber. She’s in better shape as well as flattening out some shots for more pace, especially her serve, which is seen as a weakness. She’s also getting more depth and power since adding gut strings in a mix with her poly strings. The German star put it all together to win her first Major singles title and rise to world #2. Not only that, but if this is real, if Angie has raised her game to the point where she can play like this on a consistent basis, it’s good for the game. If you are a Serena fan, maybe you don’t care if she’s virtually unopposed on her way to winning Majors. However, if you are a tennis fan you want actual competition. It can’t just be Serena alone on top and everybody else is just there to sell tickets for two weeks. Maria Sharapova’s game doesn’t bother Serena. Petra Kvitova has the game to challenge Williams, but not the consistency to get to finals as often as she should. Victoria Azarenka shows flashes of what she’s capable of doing, but isn’t quite 100% back to where she once was. Now that Angie has a Major win and has risen to world #2, maybe she’s the one to give Serena a run for her money.

Angelique Kerber


I guess we’ll see how Kerber follows this up. For today, we should just let her enjoy the biggest tennis victory of her life. She is the first German, male or female, to win a Major since Steffi Graf won Roland Garros 1999. She’ll take home $3.4 million Australian dollars (about $2.4 million USD) for the win. This is all the more impressive considering that despite her high ranking, the Majors have not been kind ot Angie. Not only was this her first Major final, she was often an early victim in Majors past, including last year when she lost in the first round of the 2015 Australian Open. She almost was out in the first round this year, when Misaki Doi held a match point against Kerber but couldn’t convert. It’s similar to when Li Na fought off a match point against Lucie Safarova in the 2014 Australian Open (third round) and then went on to win the tournament. So congratulations to Angelique Kerber on a well-earned, hard fought victory. Hopefully, this is just a taste of things to come.





7 ANGELIQUE KERBER d. 1 Serena Williams, 6-4 3-6 6-4

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more pics and video on my blog: Angelique Kerber: 2016 Australian Open Women’s Singles Champion Photocall

Angelique Kerber


2016 Australian Open Women’s Singles Champion Angelique Kerber stepped out for the traditional winner’s photocall. The first time Major champion sparkled in front of the Government House holding the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup. Angie is the new world #2, coming a long way from where she was early last year. I hope she can sustain this high level of play. She is known to be a very emotional player. A player like her can thrive on confidence in the same way as a player like her can become mired in negativity. But Kerber has seemingly had a rebirth over the off-season. Keeping in mind that she was one point away from losing in the first round at Melbourne, I think this could be a title that changes how she sees herself and thus lead to much more success.



ANGELIQUE KERBER

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from my blog: Bud Collins (1929-2016)

Bud Collins


After the Australian Open, I took a bit of a break from tennis and golf blogging and forums, then I became sick just as I was ready to resume. Now recovered, I was going to start posting at the conclusion of this week’s JLPGA event. Unfortunately, sad news from the world of tennis hastened my timetable. Bud Collins, one of the greatest tennis journalists, one of the greatest sports journalists, has passed away at the age of 86. A National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association and International Tennis Hall of Fame member, Collins also covered other sports, including boxing where he was an early chronicler of Muhammad Ali, then known as Cassius Clay. Although he referred to himself as a hack, he was a skilled player in his time as well, winning a US Indoor Mixed title and reaching the final of the Roland Garros Senior Doubles. While known for his flamboyant dress, make no mistake, Bud Collins was an encyclopedia of tennis knowledge. He had great style, but it was also backed up by unmatched substance. So great was his impact as a tennis sportscaster, the USTA named the media center at the US Open in his honor.



Bud Collins and Bethanie Mattek-Sands


The tennis world, insiders and fans alike, have flooded social media in the past 24 hours to say what Bud Collins meant to them. To me, he was an accelerant. In the late 70s and early 80s, I was a child who had his love for the game sparked by my godmother and a stepmother. But that was the introduction. Something greater was flickering down deep. I was a fan of boxing, baseball, basketball and football, but something about tennis drew me in. I would turn on NBC and see Bud Collins. Sure, he was over the top with his passion and enthusiasm…and his pants…oh, those crazy pants. But I got him. I understood him. Although not nearly as demonstrative as he was, inside I was that same fanatic about the game. Using players today as an example, there are some who say they are tennis fans but upon further questioning they really only follow a couple of players. If Serena Williams or Venus Williams isn’t playing, they aren’t watching. If Roger Federer goes out early, they lose interest in a tournament. If players who grunt/scream like Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka are playing they won’t watch. Some say they prefer the grace and style of the game before all the booming serves and baseline bashers. I am more like Bud Collins. The game itself is the passion. Whatever era, whatever players, I’m in. Sure, I’d like to see the big names in the big matches. However, I get jazzed to see a final between Carla Suarez-Navarro and Jelena Ostapenko as well. They played a sensational final in Doha recently, but I bet a lot of so-called tennis fans paid no attention. It’s tennis. It’s TENNIS. IT’S TENNIS!! If tennis were a corporeal being, if the game itself were somehow incarnate, I would throw my arms around it. That’s what Bud Collins did. So as a very young tennis aficionado, his demonstrative passion fanned my tennis spark into a flame. It’s been burning ever since. Thank you, Mr. Collins, for being a mirror of how I feel inside about tennis. May you rest in peace.

[bangkokbobby]

from my blog: Maria Sharapova Calls Mysterious News Conference, Retirement Rumors Swirl

Maria Sharapova at 2016 Vanity Fair Oscar Party


The last time I saw Maria Sharapova, she was looking fantastic at the 2016 Vanity Fair Oscar Party. Of course, I’d much rather see her on the tennis court where she is a 35-time WTA singles champion, including 5 Majors. I’m beginning to worry that part of her life might be coming to an end as Masha has called a press conference for Monday, March 7th at noon Pacific time/3PM Eastern time. Her management says to expect a “major announcement” from the Career Grand Slam winner. The 28-year old former world #1 has enjoyed a stellar career, but has also endured a variety of injuries that have taken her away from the court for prolonged periods of time. She hasn’t played since the Australian Open this year due to an arm injury. This is after missing the majority of the second half of 2015 with ailments. I can’t imagine what the announcement could be if it’s not concerning retirement. Any business announcement would not need such a secretive and specially called presser. If she were pregnant or taking the year off for her health, she could make that announcement on Facebook and her website. Hopefully, there is no major illness to announce, If Masha is retiring, and let’s see if she is before singing her career praises, I will certainly have a lot to say about what she has meant to the game.

[bangkokbobby]

from my blog: Maria Sharapova Fails Drug Test At 2016 Australian Open: My Thoughts

Maria Sharapova


Before I even begin to share my thoughts about Maria Sharapova’s surprise revelation about failing a drug test at the 2016 Australian Open, it’s best to first share her statement so it’s clear what I’m parsing. Here’s the former world #1, in her own words:





I am a huge Masha fan, but I have to treat her like anybody else in her situation. A person can be forgiven for reacting with skepticism when an athlete says they didn’t know they were taking a banned substance. Too many liars and cheaters have come before. Still, I’d like to maintain a case by case evaluation point of view. Sharapova has been a professional since her 14th birthday. She will be 29 on April 19th. There hasn’t been a whiff of suspicion surrounding her concerning banned substances. The drug in question, mildronate aka meldonium, was added to WADA’s banned list in January of this year. Sharapova says she has been taking this drug legally since 2006 when her doctor prescribed it in response to various ailments, including an irregular EKG and a history of family diabetes, two prime reasons this drug is used. She claims to not have realized that meldonium was the same as mildronate, the name the drug was prescribed to her as. If this is all true, then this could reasonably be seen as a mistake, a very costly mistake. Tennis has come down pretty hard on people who have failed tests. Despite her fame and stature in the sport, you can’t have rules taken seriously if penalties are not equally meted out.



Many of Masha’s contemporaries have expressed disappointment that Sharapova failed a test, but also back the notion that it was an honest mistake. Martina Navratilova, Ryan Harrison and James Blake were among those who tweeted support. Jennifer Capriati was not. She tweeted that “i didn’t have the high priced team of drs that found a way for me to cheat and get around the system and wait for science to catch up”…well, ok. It really all comes down to whether you believe Masha or not…or does it? A third option exists. She could be telling the truth…and getting a competitive advantage. In addition to treating heart conditions and diabetes, meldonium has shown in some tests to help endurance. So Masha could honestly have taken this drug for her health conditions and gained an advantage in endurance. In recent years, Masha has a very good record in 3-set matches. I wonder how Garbine Muguruza, Eugenie Bouchard and Simona Halep feel about this. They all lost in 3 sets to Sharapova when Masha won Roland Garros 2014. Masha won the final set in those matches (quarters, semis and final) 6-1, 6-2 and 6-4. Is it possible, even if it were inadvertent, that the 5-time Major winner had a little extra in the tank going down the stretch? Might she have beaten all three of those players regardless of meldonium or not? After all, it hasn’t helped when the 3 setter was against Serena Williams.



The one truth I do know is that none of us really know. People will make up their own minds whether they believe her or not. In some cases, many cases probably, it will have less to do with what she said in her press conference and more to do with how people already felt about her. Only Masha and her doctor know for sure if this was a costly, but innocent, mistake, an attempt to get an advantage or an innocent mistake that inadvertently led to an advantage. I will say this, whenever she comes back…assuming she does come back…she wants to, no retirement here…she can’t get busted again. That’s obvious. The tennis world will by and large welcome her back. And if she continues to win…assuming she can avoid all the injuries that have stymied her in recent years…she can claim a measure of vindication. But Masha will never erase the memory of this. People who don’t like her will take every opportunity to remind the world of this. It’s too bad, but that’s the price she will pay for, at best, not being vigilant about what she put in her body or, at worst, cheating.

[bangkokbobby]

Masha wrote a letter to her fans thanking them for their support:

I woke up yesterday morning with an inbox, in full capacity of love and compassion.

The first email I immediately opened was from my best friend, you know, the type of person who can make you smile and cry with only one word and who I spent the evening on the phone with, checking up on me, how was I doing?

On average, I love the mornings. New day, new start. It is fair to say that this day was not average. Nothing came to mind at 6am except that I am determined to play tennis again and I hope I will have the chance to do so. I wish I didn’t have to go through this, but I do – and I will.

I needed to sweat, to push through and grind as I have done most of my life, so I made my way to the gym. That’s when I realized a bunch of tinted windowed cars were following me. The good old paparazzi, back on the trail.

I have not been online much except the odd search for a new antique coffee table (random, I know), but my friends made a collage for me with all your beautiful messages and hashtags that you created (#IStandWithMaria and #LetMariaPlay). I spent the afternoon reading them next to my dog, who couldn’t quite understand why this was more important than the walk he was expecting to take.

In this moment, I am so proud to call you my fans. Within hours of my announcement, you showed me support and loyalty, which I could only expect to hear when someone would be at the top of their profession.

I wanted to let you know that your wonderful words put a smile on my face. I’d like to play again and hope to have the chance to do so. Your messages give me great encouragement. This message isn’t anything else but to say thank you. Thank you very much.

-Maria Sharapova

Full press conference with follow up questions:

[bangkokbobby]

blog: Maria Sharapova Rebuts Media Reports Concerning Her Failed Drug Test

Maria Sharapova continues to train


In the wake of her announcement concerning the failure of a drug test at the 2016 Australian Open, former world #1 Maria Sharapova sought to clarify some of the reporting that has followed. In a letter posted online, Masha rebuts some of the details being forwarded in the media. Here is her open letter:

To My Fans:
I want to reach out to you to share some information, discuss the latest news, and let you know that there have been things that have been reported wrong in the media, and I am determined to fight back.

You have shown me a tremendous outpouring of support, and I’m so grateful for it. But I have also been aware that some – not all, but some – in the media distort, exaggerate and fail to accurately report the facts about what happened.

A report said that I had been warned five times about the upcoming ban on the medicine I was taking. That is not true and it never happened.

That’s a distortion of the actual “communications” which were provided or simply posted onto a webpage.

I make no excuses for not knowing about the ban. I already told you about the December 22, 2015 email I received. Its subject line was “Main Changes to the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme for 2016.” I should have paid more attention to it. But the other “communications”? They were buried in newsletters, websites, or handouts.

On December 18, I received an email with the subject line “Player News” on it. It contained a newsletter on a website that contained tons of information about travel, upcoming tournaments, rankings, statistics, bulletin board notices, happy birthday wishes, and yes, anti-doping information. On that email, if a player wanted to find the specific facts about medicine added to the anti-doping list, it was necessary to open the “Player News” email, read through about a dozen unrelated links, find the “Player Zone” link, enter a password, enter a username, read a home screen with more than three dozen different links covering multiple topics, find the “2016 Changes to Tennis Anti-Doping Program and Information” link, click on it and then read a page with approximately three dozen more links covering multiple anti-doping matters. Then you had to click the correct link, open it up, scroll down to page two and that’s where you would find a different name for the medication I was taking.

In other words, in order to be aware of this “warning”, you had to open an email with a subject line having nothing to do with anti-doping, click on a webpage, enter a password, enter a username, hunt, click, hunt, click, hunt, click, scroll and read. I guess some in the media can call that a warning. I think most people would call it too hard to find.

There was also a “wallet card” distributed at various tournaments at the beginning of 2016, after the ban went into effect. This document had thousands of words on it, many of them technical, in small print. Should I have studied it? Yes. But if you saw this document (pictured below), you would know what I mean.

Again, no excuses, but it’s wrong to say I was warned five times.

There was also a headline that said, “4-6 Weeks Normal Treatment for Drug in Maria Sharapova Case.” That headline has been repeated by many reporters who fail to tell their viewers and readers what the rest of the story says. The story quotes the manufacturer of my medicine as saying: “Treatment course can be repeated twice or thrice a year. Only physicians can follow and evaluate patient’s health condition and state whether the patient should use meldonium for a longer period of time.”

That’s exactly what I did. I didn’t take the medicine every day. I took it the way my doctor recommended I take it and I took it in the low doses recommended.

I’m proud of how I have played the game. I have been honest and upfront. I won’t pretend to be injured so I can hide the truth about my testing.

I look forward to the ITF hearing at which time they will receive my detailed medical records.

I hope I will be allowed to play again. But no matter what, I want you, my fans, to know the truth and have the facts.
– Maria

Wallet Card part 1


Wallet Card part 2

[bangkokbobby]

With some of her sponsors distancing themselves, Head has doubled down for Maria Sharapova. I get their argument about Meldonium being questionable as to its level of benefit, but that seems beside the point. If WADA for some reason banned chocolate, then you can't have chocolate! You can't complain AFTER you fail a test. Nonetheless, here is part of the second statement Head has released defending Masha:

[bangkokbobby]

more pics and video on my blog: Victoria Azarenka Wins 2016 BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, Hands Serena Williams Second Straight Finals Loss

Victoria Azarenka


Forget the 13 next to Victoria Azarenka’s name at the 2016 BNP Paribas Open. Yes, she was the 13th seed. But that is only due to taking an extended period of time to come back to form from injury. There are, in my opinion, four players who currently, if playing their best, separate themselves from everybody else regardless of where they happen to be ranked; Serena Williams (of course), Maria Sharapova, Petra Kvitova and Victoria Azarenka. With Petra unable to find any kind of consistency outside of Wimbledon and Masha on an extended vacation due to a failed test for meldonium, the best matchup possible in terms of marquee value was Serena vs Vika. Venus vs Serena probably has more star appeal, but at this point in her career Venus isn’t quite what she once was.

Victoria Azarenka


So it was fortuitous that women’s tennis was blessed with a match to take its mind off the controversy swirling around the game the last few weeks. Vika showed why she has given Serena all she could handle in past years, win or lose. For all of her great skills, Azarenka is perhaps the only player right now, other than Venus, that looks Serena in the eye and doesn’t blink. Vika is not intimidated by anybody. Serena had Vika under constant pressure in the final, recording 12 break point opportunities. Vika only cracked once, while converting 3 of 4 break chances against Williams. Azarenka fighting off 11 of 12 break chances is as much about poise and heart as talent and ability. Vika was down double break point (15-40) in the final game of the match before rallying back to finally close out Serena in straight sets, 6-4 6-4.

Victoria Azarenka


Any time a player can defeat Serena, it’s a great win. For Vika, the fact that it occurred at Indian Wells, arguably the “fifth Major” (the attendance for Indian Wells last year equalled that of Roland Garros), gives it even more significance. If Azarenka can stay healthy…and that’s a big if…the tennis season gets a lot more interesting on the women’s side. We can’t just pencil in Serena as the winner in every event she plays. This was Williams’ second consecutive loss in a final. To show how consistently dominant she’s been, that hasn’t happened since Sharapova beat Serena at Wimbledon and Los Angeles…way back in 2004!!! And we know what Serena has done to Masha since then. We’ll see if Serena takes this loss to Azarenka as a similar challenge.



13 VICTORIA AZARENKA d. 1 Serena Williams, 6-4 6-4

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more pics and video on my blog: Victoria Azarenka Completes Sunshine Double With Title At 2016 Miami Open

Victoria Azarenka


Let the sunshine in! There is no doubt who is shining brightly early in the 2016 WTA season. With her win at the 2016 Miami Open, former world #1 Victoria Azarenka became only the third female player, following Steffi Graf and Kim Clijsters, to accomplish the Sunshine Double, winning Indian Wells and Miami back to back in singles. Azarenka took out fellow 2-time Major winner Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-3 6-2 in the final. Sveta had upset Serena Williams earlier in the tournament but had no answers for Vika on an error-plagued day. With the win, Azarenka will move back into the top 5. She had fallen out of the top 10 in recent years due to injury. Now she seems back to her former glory, already capturing 3 titles in this young season. She is 21-1 overall and, with all due respect to Serena, currently looks like the best player on tour. Clay is not her best surface, so it remains to be seen if she can continue this hot play into the clay court season coming up. Maria Sharapova overcame an aversion to the dirt to become a Roland Garros champion. Perhaps Vika can do the same.



13 VICTORIA AZARENKA d. 15 Svetlana Kuznetsova, 6-3 6-2

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more pics and video on my blog: Petra Kvitova Survives Scare, Lucie Safarova Rolls On Day 1 Of Roland Garros 2016

Petra Kvitova


Before I get to Roland Garros 2016 day one, let me congratulate Serena Williams on her win last week in Rome, Jiyai Shin for her win last week on the JLPGA and Ai Suzuki for her win this week on the JLPGA. Normally, I would have covered all three but I’ve been really swamped the last 7 to 8 days. But now it’s tennis Major time! Czech mates Petra Kvitova and Lucie Safarova took disparate routes to first round wins. After an easy breezy first set, Petra found herself in a struggle against 21-year old Montenegrin Danka Kovinic. It took all the fight in Kvitova to escape with a 6-2 4-6 7-5 victory. Meanwhile, Petra’s great friend and countrywoman Lucie Safarova had no trouble with Russia’s Vitalia Diatchenko, winning 6-0 6-2. Lucie didn’t need to be spectacular as Vitalia practically gave things away with 7 winners to 27 unforced errors. Safarova is starting to find her game in the nick of time. She was the singles runner-up at Roland Garros last year and won the doubles with Bethanie Mattek-Sands. Lucie also recently won in Prague on clay at the end of April. Serena is the favorite in any tournament she enters, but after her and perhaps Victoria Azarenka, Lucie has as much of a chance as anybody else if she’s healthy.



Keep an eye out the next couple of years for young American Louisa Chirico!


10 PETRA KVITOVA d. Danka Kovinic, 6-2 4-6 7-5


11 LUCIE SAFAROVA d. Vitalia Diatchenko, 6-0 6-2