Today, two Spanish veterans triumphed in the final two clay tournaments of the year. Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez won Bad Gastein and Anabel Medina Garrigues won Palermo. I really don't care about either of them, so lets talk about what else happened in this past week.
Showing posts with label Bad Gastein. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bad Gastein. Show all posts
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
From Bad Gastein to Worse
Yeah... I went there...
Today, Simona Halep lost in three sets to Sybille Bammer. The sixth seed, she was the highest seed left in the Bad Gastein Draw, but her loss was expected. After all, the only seed to advance past the first round was Ksenia Pervak of Russia, the eighth seed. Simona Halep is probably known most for getting breast reduction surgery a couple years ago. Since then, she's risen more than 400 spots in the rankings, and she is close to cracking the top 50. Sybille Bammer is a mother who will be retiring from tennis after Bad Gastein. She reached the quarterfinals of the US Open in 2008, and she peaked at number 19 in the rankings. However, despite these accomplishments, she will probably be remembered most for having a 2:0 head to head record against Serena Williams. Aranxta Sanchez-Vicario is the only other woman in the world with a positive head to head ratio against Serena.
In other news, Flavia Pennetta was brought back from the brink of defeat by Mathilde Johansson. Johansson led 6-4 5-3 before choking away the second set. She also led by 6-4 5-7 5-3 before choking the match away. Johansson is known for choking. In her match against Vitalia Diatchenko at the 2009 French Open, Johansson wasted eight match points before losing 10-8 in the third. She double faulted four of them away.
Today, Simona Halep lost in three sets to Sybille Bammer. The sixth seed, she was the highest seed left in the Bad Gastein Draw, but her loss was expected. After all, the only seed to advance past the first round was Ksenia Pervak of Russia, the eighth seed. Simona Halep is probably known most for getting breast reduction surgery a couple years ago. Since then, she's risen more than 400 spots in the rankings, and she is close to cracking the top 50. Sybille Bammer is a mother who will be retiring from tennis after Bad Gastein. She reached the quarterfinals of the US Open in 2008, and she peaked at number 19 in the rankings. However, despite these accomplishments, she will probably be remembered most for having a 2:0 head to head record against Serena Williams. Aranxta Sanchez-Vicario is the only other woman in the world with a positive head to head ratio against Serena.
In other news, Flavia Pennetta was brought back from the brink of defeat by Mathilde Johansson. Johansson led 6-4 5-3 before choking away the second set. She also led by 6-4 5-7 5-3 before choking the match away. Johansson is known for choking. In her match against Vitalia Diatchenko at the 2009 French Open, Johansson wasted eight match points before losing 10-8 in the third. She double faulted four of them away.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Bad Tennis in Bad Gastein
I think I'm cursed. Whoever I give my resounding vote of confidence to always forgets how to play tennis. Last week, I said that no one would be able to stop Wozniacki from picking up yet another tournament, but she retired after winning a match. Now, in Bad Gastein, Goerges proved that my predictions hold little water.
Earlier today, Julia Goerges, the defending champion, top seed and clear favorite for the title, lost in three sets to Laura Pous-Tio, a player ranked 75 spots below her, 6-1 2-6 6-1. Pous-Tio still has not won a single match at a grand slam and had only ended the year in the top 100 twice. (2006 and 2005)
Although one could say that Goerges simply tanked the match so that she could get some rest before the US Open series, said person would have trouble explaining what had happened to the rest of the top players at Bad Gastein. At Bad Gastein, the top eight ranked players were given seeds. Out of those eight seeds, only one seed, the relatively unknown 61st ranked eighth seeded Ksenia Pervak, advanced past the first round. Although the sixth seed, Simona Halep has yet to play, those results are pretty embarrassing.
So who's my new pick for the title? Normally, I'd give my pick to Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez as she's a fabulous clay court player who cracked the top 20 when she won Rome in 2010, but because all the favorites are dropping like flies, I'll give my pick to Dia Evtimova who I didn't even know existed until I scanned the Bad Gastein Draw.
In Palermo, however, things look to be going better for the seeds with all eight of them advancing. One notable victory happened yesterday when 2010 Wimbledon Semifinalist and 2011 Wimbledon Quarterfinalist Tsvetana Pironkova beat Anna Tatishvili of Georgia 6-2 7-5. What was so notable about this win? It was one of Pironkova's only wins outside of Wimbledon this year. Maybe she has finally learned how to play tennis outside SW19. One can only hope that she can turn the rest of the year around and live up to her potential so that she won't be forever remembered as the girl who beat Venus Williams three times.
Earlier today, Julia Goerges, the defending champion, top seed and clear favorite for the title, lost in three sets to Laura Pous-Tio, a player ranked 75 spots below her, 6-1 2-6 6-1. Pous-Tio still has not won a single match at a grand slam and had only ended the year in the top 100 twice. (2006 and 2005)
Although one could say that Goerges simply tanked the match so that she could get some rest before the US Open series, said person would have trouble explaining what had happened to the rest of the top players at Bad Gastein. At Bad Gastein, the top eight ranked players were given seeds. Out of those eight seeds, only one seed, the relatively unknown 61st ranked eighth seeded Ksenia Pervak, advanced past the first round. Although the sixth seed, Simona Halep has yet to play, those results are pretty embarrassing.
So who's my new pick for the title? Normally, I'd give my pick to Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez as she's a fabulous clay court player who cracked the top 20 when she won Rome in 2010, but because all the favorites are dropping like flies, I'll give my pick to Dia Evtimova who I didn't even know existed until I scanned the Bad Gastein Draw.
In Palermo, however, things look to be going better for the seeds with all eight of them advancing. One notable victory happened yesterday when 2010 Wimbledon Semifinalist and 2011 Wimbledon Quarterfinalist Tsvetana Pironkova beat Anna Tatishvili of Georgia 6-2 7-5. What was so notable about this win? It was one of Pironkova's only wins outside of Wimbledon this year. Maybe she has finally learned how to play tennis outside SW19. One can only hope that she can turn the rest of the year around and live up to her potential so that she won't be forever remembered as the girl who beat Venus Williams three times.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Bad Gastein Preview
There are two clay tournaments left in the year, and they are both international tournaments played on red clay. Neither tournament has a top ten player.
One of those two tournaments is at Bad Gastein in Austria. Not to be confused with Bastad, Bad Gastein is a skiing town near Salzburg. The top seed and favorite for the title is Julia Goerges. (Remember not to call her Georges or Gorgeous as you may not live to regret it- just ask Graeme Jones.) Goerges has really blossomed this year; she won Stuttgart beating French Open finalist Samantha Stosur and world number one Caroline Wozniacki along the way. She also achieved a career high world ranking of 16. She has a great flat serve and a great kick serve as well as a strong forehand. Her play style really suits the clay because she has very long strokes, and she has extra time to generate power off of both wings. It doesn't hurt her prospects that she's the defending champion here.
Other potential threats include Jarmila Gajdosova, the hard hitting Aussie and Lourdes Domingues Lino who won Bogota this year, another outdoor red clay event. Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez is another contender for the title as she is an excellent clay court player. She is excellent at net, and she won Rome in 2010. The top five seeds also include two players from the Czech Republic, Lucie Hradecka and Iveta Benesova, two very accomplished doubles players. Lucie Hradecka won the doubles title at Roland Garros 2011, and she has won 18 ITF singles titles. However, she has yet to make a dent in the WTA singles circuit. Iveta Benesova, another Czech lefty, has won two clay titles on the WTA tour. She hits quite flat off both sides. Although she's a good player, I see her going out early seeing as she is still celebrating her recent victory in mixed doubles at Wimbledon.
Stay tuned for my preview of Palermo, the other WTA tournament next week.
One of those two tournaments is at Bad Gastein in Austria. Not to be confused with Bastad, Bad Gastein is a skiing town near Salzburg. The top seed and favorite for the title is Julia Goerges. (Remember not to call her Georges or Gorgeous as you may not live to regret it- just ask Graeme Jones.) Goerges has really blossomed this year; she won Stuttgart beating French Open finalist Samantha Stosur and world number one Caroline Wozniacki along the way. She also achieved a career high world ranking of 16. She has a great flat serve and a great kick serve as well as a strong forehand. Her play style really suits the clay because she has very long strokes, and she has extra time to generate power off of both wings. It doesn't hurt her prospects that she's the defending champion here.
Other potential threats include Jarmila Gajdosova, the hard hitting Aussie and Lourdes Domingues Lino who won Bogota this year, another outdoor red clay event. Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez is another contender for the title as she is an excellent clay court player. She is excellent at net, and she won Rome in 2010. The top five seeds also include two players from the Czech Republic, Lucie Hradecka and Iveta Benesova, two very accomplished doubles players. Lucie Hradecka won the doubles title at Roland Garros 2011, and she has won 18 ITF singles titles. However, she has yet to make a dent in the WTA singles circuit. Iveta Benesova, another Czech lefty, has won two clay titles on the WTA tour. She hits quite flat off both sides. Although she's a good player, I see her going out early seeing as she is still celebrating her recent victory in mixed doubles at Wimbledon.
Stay tuned for my preview of Palermo, the other WTA tournament next week.
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