Monday, April 9, 2007

Singles - First Round
(9) Vera Zvonareva (RUS) d. Nathalie Dechy (FRA) 64 64
(13) Marion Bartoli (FRA) d. Shenay Perry (USA) 57 64 61
Peng Shuai (CHN) d. (Q) Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (CZE) 75 61
Zheng Jie (CHN) d. (Q) Yuliana Fedak (UKR) 64 61
Nicole Pratt (AUS) d. (Q) Varvara Lepchenko (UZB) 26 62 62
Meilen Tu (USA) d. Flavia Pennetta (ITA) 75 64
Vasilisa Bardina (RUS) d. Elena Vesnina (RUS) 16 63 61
Aravane Rezai (FRA) d. (Q) Vera Dushevina (RUS) 61 75
Lourdes Domínguez Lino (ESP) d. Vania King (USA) 61 64
Jill Craybas (USA) d. (Q) Jelena Kostanic Tosic (CRO) 76(3) 62
(Q) Anastassia Rodionova (RUS) d. Eva Birnerova (CZE) 64 67(5) 75
(Q) Chan Yung-Jan (TPE) d. Severine Brémond (FRA) 62 63
(WC) Michaella Krajicek (NED) d. Alina Jidkova (RUS) 64 60
(WC) Ashley Harkleroad (USA) d. Laura Granville (USA) 26 75 62

Doubles - First Round
Molik/Santangelo (AUS/ITA) d. (5) Chan/Chuang (TPE/TPE) 61 46 64
Granville/Kostanic Tosic (USA/CRO) d. Daniilidou/Woehr (GRE/GER) 63 62
Pratt/Stewart (AUS/AUS) d. Gajdosova/Uhlirova (SVK/CZE) 64 57 64
Kudryavtseva/Müller (RUS/GER) vs. Bartoli/Tu (FRA/USA) 75 64

Pretty dull first day with only two seeds in action and no real upsets.

Good come from behind win from Bartoli who has looked out of sorts (and fitness) this season.

Another early loss from Pennetta who seems to be struggling in her post injury comeback.

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Stadium (from 10.00hrs)
1. Ruano Pascual vs. Schiavone
2. Golovin vs. Cibulkova
3. Stosur vs. V.Williams
4. Vaidisova vs. Krajicek
5. Chan vs. S.Williams (NB 19.00hrs)
6. Li vs. Pratt

Althea Gibson (from 10.00hrs)
1. Razzano vs. Shaughnessy
2. Molik vs. Bammer (NB 11.00hrs)
3. Müller vs. Medina Garrigues
4. Craybas/Jidkova vs. Harkleroad/Mattek
5. King/Stubbs vs. Fedak/Perebiynis

Court 3 (from 10.00hrs)
1. Vakulenko vs. Srebotnik
2. Santangelo vs. Tanasugarn (NB 11.00hrs)
3. Morariu/Schnyder vs. Ehritt-Vanc/Rodionova
4. Peng/Sun vs. Husarova/Shaughnessy

Court 4 (from 10.00hrs)
1. Schruff vs. Dulko
2. Daniilidou vs. Oprandi (NB 11.00hrs)
3. Birnerova/Zahlavova Strycova vs. Dechy/Zvonareva
4. Dushevina/Vesnina vs. Rolle/Spears

Much better day today though.

Strong line up on the main court with Golovin, Venus, Serena, Vaidisova & Li all in action. Nicole & Venus probably have the toughest match ups of the lot of them but they should all come through pretty comfortably.

Elsewhere there isn't that much excitement but Molik v Bammer could be decent.

yesterdays results werent much of interest,
however the womens doubles, with the no. 5th seed Chan/Chuang defeated...
they have had an amazing start to the season, and very much taking the spotlight away from Zheng Jie and Zi Yan :(
1st round loss :o oh whoopsie!

3 2nd round matches today! im looking forward for Williams and Li Na *as always*, Vaidisova... not so much :rolleyes:

interestingly, looking at the Charleston website,
Tuesday - 1st and 2nd Round
Wedsnesday - 2nd and 3rd Round
Thursday - 3rd Round

With only 3 second round matches today and that no 3rd round matchups will be completed... surely, no 3rd round matches tomorrow?!? :wacko:

Vaidisova :) and Serena Williams out :(

Li is back! after her second round exit at Amelia Islan, she beats Nicole Pratt 61 64 in the second round yesterday.
She could face Venus Williams in the QF, so hopefully with alot of practice and a good match in the 3rd round, Li can put up a fight ;)

and here is the LineUp for today, as GS hasnt posted yet :wub:

Stadium (from 10.00hrs)
1. Dulko vs. Ivanovic
2. Safina vs. Daniilidou
3. V.Williams vs. Bardina
4. Rodionova vs. Jankovic
5. Peng vs. Schnyder (NB 19.00hrs)
6. Kudryavtseva/Müller vs. Black/Huber

Althea Gibson (from 10.00hrs)
1. Peer vs. Zheng
2. Zvonareva vs. Tu
3. Golovin vs. Craybas
4. Harkleroad/Mattek vs. Dechy/Zvonareva
5. Safina/Srebotnik vs. Granville/Kostanic Tosic

Court 3 (from 10.00hrs)
1. Santangelo vs. Harkleroad
2. Medina Garrigues vs. Schiavone
3. Rezai vs. Srebotnik
4. Dulko/Pennetta vs. Medina Garrigues/Ruano Pascual

Court 4 (from 10.00hrs)
1. Domínguez Lino vs. Bartoli
2. Razzano vs. Bammer
3. Obziler/Peer vs. Domínguez Lino/Krajicek
4. King/Stubbs vs. Pratt/Stewart

Pretty decent day in a draw that is continuing to disintegrate with the loss of Vaidisova & Serena!

Not a huge surprise to see Serena go out through injury - given her record it had to happen at some point but hopefully it will heal fast and she'll be back in Berlin.

Vaidisova going out was more of a shock since she normally handles lower ranked opponents pretty comfortably but Krajicek can be tricky - good result for Michella though whose rise up the rankings has stalled of late.

In today's action, Venus, Jankovic & Golovin shouldn't have too many problems with their opponents. Dulko did well to come back to win yesterday but I can't see her pushing Ivanovic past 2 sets.

Safina & Peer probably have the trickiest task of any of the top seeds - both Daniilidou & Zheng can cause them problems.

Of the minor matches - Tu seems in good form but is unlikely to beat Vera, Srebotnik had a tough time yesterday and could falter against Rezai. Bammer was very impressive against Molik and should beat Razzano though she has had good results on this surface before.

News Update:

Ivanovic leads 2 breaks up at 4-0
Zheng Jie 2 breaks up at 4-1 against Shahar Peer

Hope Zheng Jie can keep it up!
she is a formidable opponent, and yeah go win it ;)


EDIT:

Ivanovic takes the first set from Dulko 60.
Zheng Jie takes the first set from Peer 62

She is just dominating right now.
Winning 64% of all points, having a first serve % of 83%, winning 87% of first serves, and 100% of second serves :o
While Peer's first serve % in is 68%, and winning just 40% of them.

Zheng Jie's game really suits clay, she won her 2nd title at Estoril last year, and did well in Berlin!

Go Zheng ;) B)

3-1 to Zheng Jie in the 2nd set.
Shahar Serving first, both service games going to deuce, giving a break point in the first service game in the 2nd, saves it and holds. But zheng breaks in her second service game.

Zheng holding serve easy, first by love, then to 15.

If Zheng keeps this up, the match is hers. I wouldnt be surprised if she breaks Peer a few more times.

EDIT:
Peer holds to love, has she upped her game :o
Come on Zheng, hold to love ;) (or just hold)
currently 3-2 to Zheng, Zheng serving next

EDIT 2:
:o peer breaks Zheng. levels the 2nd set 3-3
come on Zheng! ;) break straight back! :D

EDIT 3:
:o Zheng breaks back to lead 4-3. time to consolidate the break and make it 5-3 ;) B)

EDIT 4:
Important game, went to deuce, but Zheng manages to give Peer no break opportunities, and takes the game. Leading a break up 5-3.
Peer now serving to stay in the match.
I think its Zhengs now ! *fingers crossed* :)

Zheng Jie wins against Shahar Peer, 62 63.

The second round doesnt look good for seeds with Serena and Vaidisova out yesterday :o

Ivanovic wins 60 67(5) 64 against Dulko. another scare for a seed.

another seed to fall was the 13th seed, Bartoli lost to Dominguez Lino 63 62

Golovin and Safina matches about to start, im predicting an upset here.

Remind me not to ask you for advice on predicting matches! roflmao :P

Safina and Golovin safely through with routine straight sets wins! :ok:

sorry ^^

a bit of *wishful* thinking on my behalf, lol

easy win for Golovin 60 61,
and Safina through 63 64

another slight upset was 11th seed Schiavone, she lost to Medina Garrigues 26 64 62.
Next up for the Spainard is the chinese trail blazer Li Na

Jankovic avoided joining the rash of upsets this week, overwhelming Rodionova 6-1, 6-1. It's just as well since with Peer's surprising early exit (albeit she has been playing a lot of tennis and Zheng can be a dangerous player) her quarter has opened up nicely for her. She and Venus are on course for an intriguing SF encounter, but then they also were last week and neither woman ultimately made it to that stage. Things should be different this time round but perhaps Zheng and Li would rather make it an all-Chinese affair. B)

Schnyder, last year's finalist, was not so lucky, falling to another Chinese player alive in the draw in Peng to become the latest seeded casualty. She's probably not long for the Top 20 at this rate.

im VERY liking your words ;)

3 chinese players left in the r16, and thats pretty good!
high five anyone?

an all chinese SF would be amazing, but with the 2nd seed Janovic waiting for Zheng in the QF and Venus for Li in the QF, they will have to dig deep for that to happen..

if it did happen, it would be like the Final at Estoril last year, Li vs Zheng, the first ever, all chinese final at a WTA event

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Stadium (from 11.00hrs)
1. Santangelo vs. Jankovic
2. V.Williams vs. Chan (NB 13.00hrs)
3. Golovin vs. Peng
4. Molik/Santangelo vs. Domínguez Lino/Krajicek
5. Zvonareva vs. Ivanovic (NB 19.00hrs)
6. Raymond/Stosur vs. Peng/Sun

Althea Gibson (from 11.00hrs)
1. Krajicek vs. Bammer
2. Safina vs. Domínguez Lino (NB 13.00hrs)
3. Zheng vs. Srebotnik
4. Dushevina/Vesnina vs. Dulko/Pennetta
5. Morariu/Schnyder vs. Yan/Zheng

Court 3 (NB 13.00hrs)
1. Li vs. Medina Garrigues

Despite this being the 3rd round it's a bit of a dull day in Charleston.

Jankovic lost her last match to Santangelo in Miami but should hopefully take this one pretty comfortably. Venus shouldn't have a problem against Chan so that leaves the other two singles matches as the interesting ones on the main court.

Golovin has been very impressive on green clay so far but Peng (who seems to be getting back into form after teaming up with Michael Chang) could cause her problems then Zvonareva v Ivanovic which could go either way. Vera won their last match very comfortably though Ana has been improving in the last week or so despite almost letting things slip away against Dulko.

In other matches Bammer, Li & Safina should have too much for their opponents but Zheng v Srebotnik could be close. Zheng has looked good so far while Srebotnik has struggled through her opening matches so I'd go for Zheng for that one.

Jankovic looking very good today - beats Santangelo 6-3, 6-0

Krajicek serving at 6-5 for the first set against Bammer!

Bammer takes the first set in a tiebreak. takes the set 76(4)

Second set, Krajicek breaks early, however Bammer has just broke back, and things are back on serve. 3-2 Krajicek, with Bammer to serve next.

I think Bammer will win this.

Venus and Li are about to play!

wish them both the best of luck, hopefully they both will win their matches and get into the QF and play each together!


GO LI!!!!!!

AHHHHHHHHH! :yikes: :yikes: Krajicek beat Bammer 6-7 6-2 6-1

What the hell happened Sybille! :blink:

Williams beats Chan 6-2 6-1! :ok:

Venus absolutely superb today :D

Such good serving, regulary hitting in the 118-121 mph region consistently. Her forehand was right on the money and her backhand was consistent as ever. Moving really well also :D

Chan 'Tanisha' roflmao did show some promising signs, some great depth and she does take the ball early. Does have some promise this girl :)

Medina Garrigues wins the first set from Li 64

The score was 54 in the second set, all on serve, with no breaks in the set. The spainaird to serve, and Li loses 3 set points :( to level the match.. Spainaird holds..

5-5 now, Li to serve, hopes she can hold her nerve!

:o
Spainaird breaks Li, and leads 65, serving for the match now :(

COME ON LI

Medina Garrigues wins 64 75

:( awwww

im not a happy bunny :(

Quite a disappointing outcome for Li, who had three set points at 5-4 to take it into a decider. The Spaniard seems to have finally found some form this week on her favourite surface after a poor start to the year, but she shouldn't pose too much of a threat for Venus (and may prove a good test for her as well) if the American continues the consistent, patient play she demonstrated today.

It's good to see Kracijek string some wins together here, making the best of her wildcard, and over some formidable players as well in Vaidisova and Bammer. With confidence in hand she will likely pose trouble to either Zvonareva or Ivanovic in the QFs. It's also good to see Jankovic post a solid win over her Miami conqueror Santangelo (a match she never should have lost). I think Safina is also emerging as a threat for the title, with some convincing wins already and probably the memory of her Rome finalist finish last year hanging over the clay season as a benchmark for her.

to add insult to injury, the remaining to chinese gurls in the draw have been kicked out :(

Peng Shuai lost to Golovin in 3 sets
and Zheng Jie lost in 2 sets to Srebotnik

:( not a good day for chinee tennis!

lets hope the womens doubles Zheng Jie and Yan Zi and Peng Shuai and Sun Tian, can win their doubles matches today, and make the QF's

fingers crossed *tightly*

Both chinese doubles teams make it to the QF of the womens doubles!
(makes up for the 3 exits in singles yesterday :()

Peng/Sun (CHN/CHN) d. (1) Raymond/Stosur (USA/AUS) 63 26 63
(3) Yan/Zheng (CHN/CHN) d. (WC) Morariu/Schnyder (USA/SUI) 62 67(8) 61

I'm rather surprised with Peng/Sun defeating top seeds, and currently the world no.1 team.

But anyway! its a great result ;)

Quarter Final day and still most of these ties would be standard first round fare at other Tier 1 tournaments!

Medina Garrigues did well to get past Li but considering the form Venus has been in I can't see her troubling her. Venus is two comfortable sets.

I'm not sure how Srebotnik has got this far really - all her matches have been very tight but she has really battled through. I think her run will end here though as Jankovic seems to recaptured her best form. Jelena in two.
Hope so as a Venus v Jankovic semi would really liven this tournament up!

Zvonareva really seems to have Ivanovic's number with another easy win over the Serbian and even though Krajicek has done well so far I can see Vera taking this though probably in 3 sets.

Golovin v Safina is probably the highlight of the QF's. Safina has had a solid if unexciting season but Tati is the form player and I think her run on green clay will go on for at least one more match. Golovin in 3.

Order of Play:

Friday, April 13, 2007

Stadium (from 11.00hrs)
1. Pratt/Stewart vs. Black/Huber
2. Medina Garrigues vs. V.Williams (NB 13.00hrs)
3. Srebotnik vs. Jankovic
4. Krajicek vs. Zvonareva
5. Safina vs. Golovin (NB 19.00hrs)
6. Safina/Srebotnik vs. Dulko/Pennetta (after suitable rest)

Althea Gibson (from 13.00hrs)
1. Molik/Santangelo vs. Yan/Zheng
2. Peng/Sun vs. Dechy/Zvonareva (NB 16.00hrs)

I agree on Venus...she is playing some good tennis at times....

But... Ivanovic.... :shrug: not the first time and will certainly not be her last... Vera always raises her game against playing styles like Ivanovic's ... at least with sharapova she tries to be clever with her baseline a bit so Vera works harder... Ana just doesn't try to do anything..and for sure Vera graciously accepts the opportunities....

Jelena Venus will be enticing......... We'll see... But Jelena...I don't know if she needs a bit of a rest or something...relative to 2006....she is not sharp quality wise.... :)

Wow, Venus hit a 125 mph serve yesterday :bow:

Venus has won the first set off Garrigues, but has been broken in the first game of the second :doh:

Venus wins 6-4 7-5 :yahoo: :yahoo: :party:

Venus :yahoo: :clap:

It was a rather good match for the most part. To her credit AMG played the kind of steady claycourt game that led to the tight scoreline, exhibiting solid defence as well as giving up very little, forcing Venus to have to hit that extra ball or two each time.

Venus had a characteristic patchy streak mid-match, losing three service games in a row (once whilst serving out the first set, and twice to open the second set), which could have led to a third set or even--if not corrected--an upset, but she did well to steady the ship and play more conservatively until she was swinging confidently again, not only recovering both breaks but finishing the Spaniard off with a third. Otherwise there were a lot of bright spots in her game she will want to take forward, in particular a ruthless backhand which she used to good effect in dictating play as well as finishing off points, some dominant serving (she gave up just two points on her first serve in the first set and finished with 80% first serve points won) and decisive results when she came to net. Her movement on the green clay is still a bit suspect, and DFs are (as they have been for her lately) an issue; she had six today but nearly all of them came during her off phase.

She'll just have to take care not to lose focus similarly against her next opponent, who will be Jankovic. The Serb took just 50 minutes in thrashing Srebotnik 6-2, 6-0, dealing a second bagel in as many matches (against the No 16 and 12 seeds!), an ominous sign that she's hitting some formidable form just as she approaches the business end of the tourney. I'm hoping for a cracking semi, with Venus hoping to take vengeance on clay for what took place on the grass of SW19 last year, and Jankovic aiming to reach her first Tier I final and justify her No 2 seed status.

i think this means Venus will rise to #22 minimum. If she wins it all which is possible I think she breaks into top #20, not that it is really that special for Venus, she just wants a #16 ranking for RG.

Saturday, April 14, 2007

Stadium (from 12.30hrs)
1. V.Williams vs. Jankovic
2. Zvonareva vs. Safina
3. Yan/Zheng vs. Black/Huber
4. Peng/Sun vs. Dulko/Pennetta



Safina and Zvonareva both withdrew from their doubles matched yesterday with left wrist injury.
It will be interesting to see how they play today in their singles match against each other.

I have my money on a Venus and Zvonareva final.

I'm kind of surprised there wasn't a thread following the Venus v Jankovic semi. It was a stellar match, with plenty of brilliant winners and rallies and tense shifts of momentum, culminating in a third-set tiebreaker, but it was Jankovic who came away with a gutsy 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(5) win to book a spot in her first Tier I final. Well done to the Serb. She has to now be a heavy favourite for the title, not just because of her seeding and form but what apparently has become a battle of the walking wounded in the other semi.

Without getting into too much detail, both women acquitted themselves very well. By rights Jankovic had various opportunities to run away with the third set, so Venus fought commendably to force the tiebreaker, but she kind of gave it away in the end despite leading 5-4 in it. The critical point was a backhand volley that sailed long, rather than into the plenty of open court she had, truly disappointing because Venus had been so dominant at net all along and if she had landed it she would have had two match points. Then Jankovic took her first match point (on Venus's serve, natch) with a characteristic backhand down the line that was in by a razor-thin margin. The chair umpire came down to inspect the mark, providing one last moment of drama in a match that had seen much of it, and ruled it good.

It was probably the right result. Venus should be well into the Top 20, but I don't know if she's ready for a Top 10 spot just yet, and indeed she has fallen in tight three-setters in her only Top 10 matches this year. Still she can come away with a lot of positives, and in essence she successfully defended her semi points in Rome. I wouldn't be surprised to see her repeat a QF at RG, perhaps even more.

i couldnt watch the match, sounds amazing from what you said, and dead close from the score line...

i was hoping Venus would win...

i *think* she will be number 22/23 after the ranking points are settled. And she should be entering the Top 20 very soon.
She will replace Patty, very soon, i think.

Safina makes it to the final, with the retirement of Zvonareva
63 01

Should give Safina to relax a bit, and hopefully rest her injured wrist from Friday, to give us a spectacular final tomorrow.
Though i doubt it will be anything compared to the SF match Jankovic had :P

Just realised Jankovic in my fantasy team! WHOOP!

Womens Doubles Semifinal:

3rd seeds Zheng Jie and Yan Zi beat 2nd seed Huber and Black 60 64
It was quite a one sided affair

The second SF is about to start.
Peng/Sun (chn) against Dulko/Pennetta

The chinese duo got through by defeating the no1 seed and current world no.1 stosur and raymond, whilst dulko/pennetta got through due to a retirement in the QF's.

Im hoping the chinese pair get through to the final, for an interesting all chinese Final :D

All chinese doubles final it is :D

Peng/Sun win 46 75 62

and on that note, goodnight ;)

see u in the morning!

Yes, I was also surprised to see that there wasn't a separate thread for JJ v Vee! Sounds like a cracker of a match.

So.. :yahoo: for Jelena! And :hug: for Vee..

Disappointed that Vera's wrist injury took its toll in the end. From a personal preference perspective, a Vera v Jelena final would have been very good indeed!

Here is the BBC website report on the tournament:

Jankovic defeats Serena in semis

Jelena Jankovic booked her place in the Family Circle Cup final with a 3-6 6-3 7-6 (7-5) win over Venus Williams.
Williams won four games in a row to take the opening set but lost a scrappy second after the Serbian second seed broke decisively in the eighth game.

Jankovic took the match with a winner that needed to be checked by the umpire after a topsy-turvy tie-break.

She now faces fourth seed Dinara Safina after Vera Zvonareva retired in their semi-final with the score at 6-3 0-1.

The all-Russian encounter was ended when Zvonareva decided not to risk further damage to a wrist injury.

"It just got really bad to the point I wasn't able to perform," she said.

It was the second match in a row Safina's opponent has retired.

Tatiana Golovin of France retired from their match on Friday at the end of the first set with an injured ankle.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/6556565.stm

:rolleyes:

Well, Jelena has improved her game so much in the last 12 months. However, beating both Serena and Venus at the same time takes some doing.. :whistle:

Doubtless it will be corrected at some stage, but really, who writes these things? Maybe they've got too much resource writing half baked theories as to why "Will and Kate" split up or something, but you know, none of the newspaper sites seem to make so many glaring errors as the beeb site ..