(Rank/Seed)
1/1 Azarenka buried (2/2) Sharapova in the final of the last premier mandatory tournament of the year in Beijing 63 61. As I predicted, Azarenka won her 4th match out of 5 against Sharapova this year and continued her dominance over the Russian in finals and hard courts
1st Set
Azarenka broke in the 1st game and didn't look back, parrying Sharapova's massive ground strokes and forcing Maria into errors. Despite a stay of execution in breaking back from 1-5 down, Maria simply didn't serve effectively enough and let the set slip away
2nd Set
Despite some tough deuce games, Azarenka constantly won the mini battles against Sharapova, racing to a 5-0 lead and cruising to the title
Sharapova's 18 winners were undermined by her 39 unforced errors, whilst Azarenka's tighter 7:14 ratio helped her stay in control throughout the match, dropping serve only once. It was Azarenka's 1st title since Indian Wells back in March and highlights her unbelievable dominance on hard courts
Sunday, 7 October 2012
Saturday, 6 October 2012
Top 2 To Play Beijing Final
Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova both turned up the gears to pull through tricky semi finals
(Rank/Seed)
1/1 Azarenka battled through a tough 1st set before controlling the match against (10/9) Bartoli 64 62. Azarenka hit over 30 winners to just 19 unforced errors and survived Bartoli's vicious returns of serve by millimetres to move into her 1st China Open final
2/2 Sharapova upset the party in beating (8/7) Li 64 60. The 1st set was a real battle, with Sharapova hitting 3 double faults to fall behind 1-3. However, as soon as Sharapova came back to edge the 1st set, Li's resolve faded and not even the capacity crowd could restore her faith. Sharapova cruised into her 1st China Open final
Azarenka leads Sharapova 6-4 in their head to head. She's won 3 of their 4 matches this year (all 3 on hard courts) and has won all 4 finals they've contested against each other, all on hard courts. Sharapova has won at least one set to love in her last 3 matches though and has beaten Azarenka in Beijing back in 2009. Judging on their recent US Open clash, I'm going to predict that Azarenka will edge this one, maybe in 3 sets!
(Rank/Seed)
1/1 Azarenka battled through a tough 1st set before controlling the match against (10/9) Bartoli 64 62. Azarenka hit over 30 winners to just 19 unforced errors and survived Bartoli's vicious returns of serve by millimetres to move into her 1st China Open final
2/2 Sharapova upset the party in beating (8/7) Li 64 60. The 1st set was a real battle, with Sharapova hitting 3 double faults to fall behind 1-3. However, as soon as Sharapova came back to edge the 1st set, Li's resolve faded and not even the capacity crowd could restore her faith. Sharapova cruised into her 1st China Open final
Azarenka leads Sharapova 6-4 in their head to head. She's won 3 of their 4 matches this year (all 3 on hard courts) and has won all 4 finals they've contested against each other, all on hard courts. Sharapova has won at least one set to love in her last 3 matches though and has beaten Azarenka in Beijing back in 2009. Judging on their recent US Open clash, I'm going to predict that Azarenka will edge this one, maybe in 3 sets!
Friday, 5 October 2012
Li Rocks Radwanska, Again!
The quarter finals were completed today and set up an exclusive top 10 semifinal line up
(Rank/Seed)
1/1 Azarenka cruised past number 69 Oprandi 62 60, converting all 6 of her break points to reach her 1st Beijing semi final
2/2 Sharapova was scintillating against (6/5) Kerber, leading 60 30 when Kerber unexpectedly retired with an unapparent ankle injury. Sharapova was in complete control throughout and Kerber's immediate departure raised questions about the legitimacy of her withdrawal. Sharapova's now into her 1st semi in Beijing since 2005!
8/7 Li wowed the home crowd in beating the defending champion A. Radwanska 64 62. Li had already beaten Radwanska twice this summer, losing just 5 games in 4 sets and once again controlled the rallies from the back, hitting over 30 winners to just 21 unforced errors. Radwanska did a valiant job of defending but looked jaded the more the match wore on. Li is now into her 2nd semi final in Beijing
10/9 Bartoli survived Suarez Navarro 60 26 64, coming from 0-3 down in the 3rd to reach her 1st semi final since Carlsbad in the early summer and 2nd in Beijing
(Rank/Seed)
1/1 Azarenka cruised past number 69 Oprandi 62 60, converting all 6 of her break points to reach her 1st Beijing semi final
2/2 Sharapova was scintillating against (6/5) Kerber, leading 60 30 when Kerber unexpectedly retired with an unapparent ankle injury. Sharapova was in complete control throughout and Kerber's immediate departure raised questions about the legitimacy of her withdrawal. Sharapova's now into her 1st semi in Beijing since 2005!
8/7 Li wowed the home crowd in beating the defending champion A. Radwanska 64 62. Li had already beaten Radwanska twice this summer, losing just 5 games in 4 sets and once again controlled the rallies from the back, hitting over 30 winners to just 21 unforced errors. Radwanska did a valiant job of defending but looked jaded the more the match wore on. Li is now into her 2nd semi final in Beijing
10/9 Bartoli survived Suarez Navarro 60 26 64, coming from 0-3 down in the 3rd to reach her 1st semi final since Carlsbad in the early summer and 2nd in Beijing
Thursday, 4 October 2012
Top Seeds Tough It Out
With quarter final and WTA Championship positions on the line, the top 10 players in 3rd round action today made sure they were successful
(Rank/Seed)
1/1 Azarenka made hard work of her win against aggressive qualifier Vesnina 63 63
2/2 Sharapova trampled qualifier Hercog 60 62
6/5 Kerber secured her spot in the year end championships with a hard fought 61 26 64 win over (11/10) Wozniacki. Kerber ultimately outlasted an increasingly proactive Wozniacki after struggling in the 2nd set. The 3rd set went with serve until the last game when Kerber broke to win. Thus, Wozniacki will not feature at the WTA Championships for the 1st time since 2008!
8/7 Li survived compatriot Peng 46 62 76(3), almost ensuring her place at the WTA Championships. With a surprisingly partisan crowd behind her, Li survived 16 double faults and a 3-5 3rd set deficit to put herself within a win of reaching the Champs
*Kerber, Kvitova and Errani have all secured their places at the WTA Championships, joining Azarenka, Sharapova, S. Williams and A. Radwanska. Only Bartoli now stands in contention for the 8th place behind Li, and she would have to rely on Li losing in the quarters before going on to win in Beijing AND then in Moscow to qualify. The odds are very low!
(Rank/Seed)
1/1 Azarenka made hard work of her win against aggressive qualifier Vesnina 63 63
2/2 Sharapova trampled qualifier Hercog 60 62
6/5 Kerber secured her spot in the year end championships with a hard fought 61 26 64 win over (11/10) Wozniacki. Kerber ultimately outlasted an increasingly proactive Wozniacki after struggling in the 2nd set. The 3rd set went with serve until the last game when Kerber broke to win. Thus, Wozniacki will not feature at the WTA Championships for the 1st time since 2008!
8/7 Li survived compatriot Peng 46 62 76(3), almost ensuring her place at the WTA Championships. With a surprisingly partisan crowd behind her, Li survived 16 double faults and a 3-5 3rd set deficit to put herself within a win of reaching the Champs
*Kerber, Kvitova and Errani have all secured their places at the WTA Championships, joining Azarenka, Sharapova, S. Williams and A. Radwanska. Only Bartoli now stands in contention for the 8th place behind Li, and she would have to rely on Li losing in the quarters before going on to win in Beijing AND then in Moscow to qualify. The odds are very low!
Wednesday, 3 October 2012
Serbs Sunk In Beijing
The 2nd round wrapped up and the 3rd began on Wednesday, but the Serbians wont be in the quarter finals
(Rank/Seed)
2/2 Sharapova handled Cirstea nicely 62 62 in the 2nd round
3/3 A. Radwanska had to battle from 1-3 and 2-4 down in the 3rd set and through a leg injury to defeat Dominguez Lino 26 61 64 in the 3rd round
10/9 Bartoli edged Goerges as she did in Tokyo 63 76(2) in the 3rd round
Oprandi surprised (12/11) Ivanovic 64 63, using her error and pace free game to disrupt the Serb's rhythm and force her to hit 23 unforced errors and move into the quarter finals
Hercog survived top 20 debutante (20/-) Makarova 76(5) 36 76(3), coming from an improbable 1-5 deficit in the 3rd set to move into the 3rd round
* Suarez Navarro recovered from 2-5 down in the 1st set and 6 set points to edge former champion Jankovic 75 64
(Rank/Seed)
2/2 Sharapova handled Cirstea nicely 62 62 in the 2nd round
3/3 A. Radwanska had to battle from 1-3 and 2-4 down in the 3rd set and through a leg injury to defeat Dominguez Lino 26 61 64 in the 3rd round
10/9 Bartoli edged Goerges as she did in Tokyo 63 76(2) in the 3rd round
Oprandi surprised (12/11) Ivanovic 64 63, using her error and pace free game to disrupt the Serb's rhythm and force her to hit 23 unforced errors and move into the quarter finals
Hercog survived top 20 debutante (20/-) Makarova 76(5) 36 76(3), coming from an improbable 1-5 deficit in the 3rd set to move into the 3rd round
* Suarez Navarro recovered from 2-5 down in the 1st set and 6 set points to edge former champion Jankovic 75 64
Tuesday, 2 October 2012
Stosur Sent Packing
The 2nd round saw a further major upset, whilst the other seeds battled through in differing circumstances
(Rank/Seed)
1/1 Azarenka recovered from a 1st set blip to beat tricky Lisicki 64 62, having led 5-1 in the 1st set
3/3 A. Radwanska started her title defence well with a 62 63 win over home player Zhang
6/5 Kerber cruised as usual against qualifier Arruabarrena 62 60
8/7 Li thrilled the home crowd in overcoming a 0-6 head to head deficit to beat Tokyo champion (14/-) Petrova 61 62. Petrova admitted feeling pain in her leg throughout the match after playing 6 matches last week on route to the Tokyo title
Goerges continued her success against (9/8) Stosur 76(2) 46 75, losing serve only 3 times en route to her 3rd win in 4 meetings against the Australian. Stosur committed an uncharacteristic 14 double faults and has never gone beyond the 2nd round in Beijing
10/9 Bartoli defeated similarly double handed both sides Morita 64 63
11/10 Wozniacki came back from no where to defeat recent Guangzhou champion Hsieh 67(5) 76(3) 60, having trailed 67(5) 0-3!
* Robson's run was ended by qualifier Dominguez Lino 75 63 :(
(Rank/Seed)
1/1 Azarenka recovered from a 1st set blip to beat tricky Lisicki 64 62, having led 5-1 in the 1st set
3/3 A. Radwanska started her title defence well with a 62 63 win over home player Zhang
6/5 Kerber cruised as usual against qualifier Arruabarrena 62 60
8/7 Li thrilled the home crowd in overcoming a 0-6 head to head deficit to beat Tokyo champion (14/-) Petrova 61 62. Petrova admitted feeling pain in her leg throughout the match after playing 6 matches last week on route to the Tokyo title
Goerges continued her success against (9/8) Stosur 76(2) 46 75, losing serve only 3 times en route to her 3rd win in 4 meetings against the Australian. Stosur committed an uncharacteristic 14 double faults and has never gone beyond the 2nd round in Beijing
10/9 Bartoli defeated similarly double handed both sides Morita 64 63
11/10 Wozniacki came back from no where to defeat recent Guangzhou champion Hsieh 67(5) 76(3) 60, having trailed 67(5) 0-3!
* Robson's run was ended by qualifier Dominguez Lino 75 63 :(
Monday, 1 October 2012
Another Early Loss For Kvitova!
The 1st round wrapped up whilst the 2nd round began in Beijing today and all but one seed triumphed
(Rank/Seed)
1/1 Azarenka cruised after dropping the 1st game to thrash Cornet 61 60. She appears to be over the dizziness that caused her withdrawal in Tokyo
2/2 Sharapova struggled past Halep 75 75, having led an early break in both sets
Suarez Navarro comfortably beat (5/4) Kvitova 63 62. Kvitova appeared to struggle on serve again as she did last week, not to mention she appeared to suffer with a foot injury
11/10 Wozniacki wasted 3 match points in the 2nd set but eventually pulled through in 3 sets against Scheepers 75 67(8) 62
12/11 Ivanovic survived (19/-) Lepchenko 46 75 61, saving 2 match points down 3-5 in the 2nd set
(Rank/Seed)
1/1 Azarenka cruised after dropping the 1st game to thrash Cornet 61 60. She appears to be over the dizziness that caused her withdrawal in Tokyo
2/2 Sharapova struggled past Halep 75 75, having led an early break in both sets
Suarez Navarro comfortably beat (5/4) Kvitova 63 62. Kvitova appeared to struggle on serve again as she did last week, not to mention she appeared to suffer with a foot injury
11/10 Wozniacki wasted 3 match points in the 2nd set but eventually pulled through in 3 sets against Scheepers 75 67(8) 62
12/11 Ivanovic survived (19/-) Lepchenko 46 75 61, saving 2 match points down 3-5 in the 2nd set
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