Clijsters vs. BYE
Stosur vs. Dechy
A. Bondarenko vs. Rubin
Jankovic vs. Kirilenko
Pennetta vs. Raymond
Jackson vs. Diaz-Oliva
Granville vs. Q
Hingis vs. BYE

Petrova vs. BYE
Kostanic vs. Chakvetadze
Q. vs. Golovin
Morigami vs. Ivanovic
Hantuchova vs. Peschke
Q vs. Smashnova
Likhovtseva vs. Q
Vaidisova vs. BYE

Schnyder vs. BYE
Dulko vs. Peer
Venderweghe vs. Q
Suarez vs. Safina
Srebotnik vs. Bartoli
Shaughnessy vs. Mirza
Harkleroad vs. Craybas
Dementieva vs. BYE

Pierce vs. BYE
Bammer vs. Safarvoa
Q vs. Laine
Vesnina vs. Groenefeld
Sugiyama vs. Zvonareva
Peng vs. Santangelo
Q vs. Q
Sharapova vs. BYE

So San Diego begins (in what could be its penultimate year since the Tier 1 rights look to be going to Cincy in order for a combined event with the men to be set up) & once again it's hard to look past a (dull) Clijsters victory since her biggest opponents (Venus, Justine, Lindsay, Amelie & Serena) are all sitting this one out.

Like Stanford she has a reasonably tricky draw - Stosur or Dechy then Jankovic then Hingis then Petrova/Vaidisova/Ivanovic/Golovin & of course this is the one hard court event she didn't win last year - losing to Peng in the QFs.

Hingis has a nice draw until she meets Clijsters where she should lose but traditionally Martina has played at her best on hardcourt.

Petrova is back from injury but is in a loaded section of the draw - Ivanovic, Golovin, Hantuchova, Vaidisova & Chakvetadze are all lurking so not an easy comeback.

Pierce also returns and with a nicer draw though she is seeded to meet Sharapova in the QFs. Maria has a qualifyer in her first round but then will have to face Zvonareva, Sugiyama or Peng all potentially tricky opponents.

The third quarter looks the weakest with Dementieva & Schynder both capable of reaching the Semis but also of losing their first round! Safina would seem to be the biggest threat to them in that section.

Would love to see defending champion Pierce do well here but she can be a slow starter after returning from injury - she should make the QFs though.

Great analysis as always GS2 :ok:

I think the draw in San Diego has been badly shaken by Davenport, Justine, Venus and serena not taking part. Most of the Americans mainly came to see the 3 American stars. I'm sure though that the rest will make up for it.

I think clijsters should make it through her quarter as much as i would like Hingis too, but Hingis so far just cant keep up with the pace of Kim. Her FO loss was particulary uninspired and lacklustre. It would be nice to see Hingis get back on track though with a good tournament here as there's noone with the real big arsenal to trouble Hingis up until the quarters. penetta maybe, but unlikely.

Good to see petrova back after her injury woes. Has a tough, tough draw though. Chakvetadze or Kostanic is a tough early draw for anyone, particulary the young Russian who can impose herself when given the chance on much higher ranked opposition. If she gets through this half, she'll probably face Vaidisova and we'll get a insight into where Petrova is against the up and rising Czech.

I'd love to see Safina make an impact in the next quarter. Has virtually zero points to defend in this American hardcourt season, and i have a sneaky suspiscion that she could knock off Schynder and dEmentieva, especially the latter with her recent thumping victory over dEmentieva in Rome.

In the last quarter pierce is back :D she has got a relatively comfy draw up until the quarters, with only groenfold the real obstacle in mary's way. she will probably be expected to play Sharapova in the quarters, but i could possibly see Zvonareva sneaking through to meet mary, with her great recent set of hardcourt results.

Monday, July 31, 2006

Stadium (from 10.00hrs)
1. Jankovic vs. Kirilenko
2. King vs. Laine
3. Suárez vs. Safina
4. Stosur vs. Dechy
5. Pennetta vs. Raymond (NB 19.00hrs)
6. Morigami vs. Ivanovic

Grandstand (from 10.00hrs)
1. Likhovtseva vs. Ruano Pascual
2. Granville vs. Tu
3. Vandeweghe vs. K.Bondarenko
4. Harkleroad/King vs. Kaufman/Nelson
5. Peng vs. Santangelo (NB 19.00hrs)
6. Bammer vs. Safarova

Court 1 (from 11.30hrs)
1. Jackson vs. Diaz-Oliva
2. Drake/Krizan vs. Huber/Mirza
3. Kostanic/Sromova vs. Chakvetadze/Craybas

Court 2 (from 11.30hrs)
1. Sromova vs. Savchuk
2. Bardina vs. Yuan


Pretty decent 1st round matches.

Jankovic v Kirlenko probably the most interesting - Kirilenko has gone off the boil a bit lately while Jelena seems to be getting herself together - she should take this.

Suarez has another attempt to get back in singles but a horrible draw against Safina doesn't do her any favours!

Stosur vs Dechy could go either way though Stosur looked to be in the better form of the two last week.

Likhovsteva takes on Ruano Pascual in the battle of the veterans.

Will be interesting to see if Pennetta & Raymond can carry their Wimbledon form over to here - if they can that could be a good match.

Monday, July 31, 2006

Singles - First Round
Paola Suárez (ARG) d. (9) Dinara Safina (RUS) 36 63 64
(12) Flavia Pennetta (ITA) d. (WC) Lisa Raymond (USA) 75 63
(14) Ana Ivanovic (SCG) d. Akiko Morigami (JPN) 62 61
Jelena Jankovic (SCG) d. (16) Maria Kirilenko (RUS) 61 64
Emma Laine (FIN) d. (Q) Vania King (USA) 64 62
Jamea Jackson (USA) d. (WC) Mariana Diaz-Oliva (ARG) 46 62 64
Samantha Stosur (AUS) d. Nathalie Dechy (FRA) 75 64
Peng Shuai (CHN) d. Mara Santangelo (ITA) 61 64
(Q) Virginia Ruano Pascual (ESP) d. Elena Likhovtseva (RUS) 64 63
(Q) Olga Savchuk (UKR) d. (Q) Hana Sromova (CZE) 22 ret. (right hand contusion)
(Q) Vasilisa Bardina (RUS) d. (LL) Yuan Meng (CHN) 62 64
(Q) Meilen Tu (USA) d. Laura Granville (USA) 64 16 62
(Q) Kateryna Bondarenko (UKR) d. (WC) Coco Vandeweghe (USA) 64 62
Sybille Bammer (AUT) d. Lucie Safarova (CZE) 64 67(6) 61

Doubles - First Round
(8) Huber/Mirza (RSA/IND) d. Drake/Krizan (CAN/SLO) 60 64
Harkleroad/King (USA/USA) d. (WC) Kaufman/Nelson (USA/USA) 62 60
Chakvetadze/Craybas (RUS/USA) d. (LL) Durkin/Fink (USA/USA) 62 62

Reasonably predictable first day with the big news being Suarez's defeat of Safina just when it looked like Dinara had found some level of consistency. Great win for Suarez though who's only played a handful of singles matches so far this year.

Another seed out though not really an upset is Kirilenko - falling to the back in form Jankovic. I'm really not convinced by Kirilenko - she has a nice compact game but I can't see how she's going to trouble the top players.

Ruano Pascual joined her doubles partner in the 2nd round with a good win over Likhovsteva but the other top doubles team had mixed fortunes - Stosur winning in straight sets over Dechy while Raymond fell to Pennetta who continues to prove she's not just a clay courter.

Peng Shaui starts the defence of her big semi final points from last year with a comfortable win but the up & coming Safarova continues to disappoint after a strong start to the season - losing to Bammer who will now be Mary Pierce's first opponent on her (latest) comeback.

*Lucky loser Lisjak replaces Rubin who withdrew due to a left knee and ankle injury

Not again - poor Chanda!

:badpc:

Kirilenko was dissapointing against jankovic, but i kinda expected the result. Kirilenko is like a Hingis-esque player, she hits the ball nice and sweetly and has nice angles, but there's no real fire-power in her game. She will always fall against the players who take more risks and hit with a tad more ferocity.

i'll agree with that analysis dl :ok:

:(

The most dreadful thing for rubin is that she has several injuries to deal with at once, she can seem to fully rehabilitate, which is such a shame. We may be seeing the end to Chanda's great, but unfulfilled( due to injury) career.

Great win for 32 year old Amy frazier today over the young frenchwoman Tatian golovin, 6-3 7-6. Apparently Golovin served for the second set and was 4-1 up in the tie-break, but Frazier battled through. A somewhat dissapointing result for Golovin, considering her revival in form in stanford, but the uber-experienced Frazier can never be underestimated. I thought she played very well at wimbledon to reach the third round, and never game sharapova an inch and made the young Russian work for everything. Frazier has had some good results of late with also a quarter-final appearance in Cincinatti losing to Serena, so there's still some good tennis left in the veteran american.

Wednesday, August 2, 2006

Singles - Second Round
(1) Kim Clijsters (BEL) d. Samantha Stosur (AUS) 61 62
Anna Chakvetadze (RUS) d. (3) Nadia Petrova (RUS) 63 67(5) 62
(4) Elena Dementieva (RUS) d. (WC) Ashley Harkleroad (USA) 62 62
(5) Patty Schnyder (SUI) d. Gisela Dulko (ARG) 64 61
(6) Mary Pierce (FRA) d. Sybille Bammer (AUT) 61 67(7) 76(4)
(11) Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) d. (Q) Olga Savchuk (UKR) 62 64
(12) Flavia Pennetta (ITA) d. Jamea Jackson (USA) 62 76(1)
(14) Ana Ivanovic (SCG) d. (Q) Amy Frazier (USA) 63 62
Sania Mirza (IND) d. (15) Katarina Srebotnik (SLO) 63 76(4)
Vera Zvonareva (RUS) d. Peng Shuai (CHN) 36 76(5) ret. (heat illness)
Jelena Jankovic (SCG) d. Alona Bondarenko (UKR) 61 76(4)
Paola Suárez (ARG) d. (Q) K.Bondarenko (UKR) 76(4) 26 63
Emma Laine (FIN) d. Elena Vesnina (RUS) 67(1) 76(5) 64


Easy for Kim, Elena & Patty.

Pierce just sneaked past Bammer :clap:

Unlike Petrova who had a much less successful return losing to Chakvetadze (who did well here last year as well as I remember.) Nadia went out early last year here as well to Mirza who also had a good win against Srebotnik.

But Peng goes out with more injury problems so only Mary of last years semi-finalists remains in the draw.

Comfortable wins for Ivanovic, Hantuchova & Pennetta as well.

Which leaves the Round of 16 draw looking like this

Clijsters vs Jankovic
Pennetta vs Hingis

Chakvetadze vs Ivanovic
Hantuchova vs Vaidisova

Schnyder vs Suarez
Mirza vs Dementieva

Pierce vs Laine
Zvonareva vs Sharapova

Some good match up's here.

Clijsters should have too much for Jankovic & Hingis should beat Pennetta but it could be tough.

In theory Ivanovic should be able to handle Chakvetadze but she isn't always that consistent though she's been in good form so far this tournament. Hantuchova v Vaidisova could go either way but Nicole seems better able to win these kind of matches. Good opportunity for one of these players to make the semis with Petrova knoked out.

The 3rd quarter should end up being Schnyder v Dementieva but both matches are very hard to call.

Pierce should have too much for Laine but Zvonareva v Sharapova is very interesting - Vera has been in great form & Sharapova has looked quite vulnerable in the last few months.

Zvonareva v Sharapova - I hope this match is on TV.
The way Vera is playing lately I expect her too be tought for Maria. Lets see if Vera still has really improved her mental strength. It's gonna be a 3 set match, I just can't decide which way its going to go.

Hey guys----latest scores

Clijsters 61
Jankovic 45

Mirza 24
Dementieva 63

Hantuchova 41
Vaidisova 62

Chakvedatze 41
Avanovic 60


GO Mary :yahoo: :yahoo:

Jankovic and Demenetieva have both hit 6 DFs up to now :o

Mirza has taken the 2nd set of Dementieva

Jankovic has taken the second set of Clijsters

:2quiet: :2quiet: Is there anybody there :( roflmao roflmao roflmao

Hi Liam :)

the youngsters are doing ok, aren't they?!

Jelena looks to be taking the second set off Kim, Sania Mirza also making it one set-all with Elena, Ana Ivanovic being a set to love up against Chakvetadze..

Oh, and Vaidisova is a set and a break up against Daniela.

..andd Vaidsova is a double break up in the second.. sounds like that one is shping up to be a straightforward win for her..

Ivanovic now a break up in the second.. must surely wrap up that one from here..

The Clijsters Jankovic one is very interesting though.. maybe Jelena could nick it if she has the belief??

Mirza has gone a break up against Elena :o I really hope Jankovic can pull it off. She seems such a nice girl and has the game for the top ten

Jankovic is really taking it to Clijsters. i can smell an upset brewing people, Jankovic has regained a lot of her 2005 verve and could just pull it off, roviding i havent just jinxed her now roflmao

Vaidisova has just beaten Hantuchova 6-4 6-2. Hantuchova is increasingly becoming tennis fodder to the elite, no resistance, no belief, excatly where is the threat coming from with the Slovakian. Since January she hasnt even made a quarter-final on the tour this year. hard times ahead for the slovakian......

Well she wasnt in my good books during Wimbledon for obvious reasons :angry: Discarding that though, i really like Jankovic has a player. So solid a player, good reliable serve, good flat groundstrokes, particulary that backhand which is so deceptively hit with that compact backswing. Her movement is also top-notch by anyone's standards in the top-ten.

Thats right Dl, youve jinxed her :devil: break point

:doh:

Oh piss-flaps she's broken :angry:

Agreed re: Hanutchova. it's very disappointing.. she really does have a prolbem with belief, doesn't she.. and really isn't showing any gumption, any guts..not overtly at least..

Shame as i really like her and would love to see her play to her potential..:(

Kim and Elena both through and Ivanovic a break down in the 3rd-we have put the mockers on havent we :wacko: roflmao

Yeah, Daniela is like a bubble of disbelief at times, she just doesnt have the passion and downright determination like the rest of the elite players have. I think a lot of personal issues have contributed to this, with those grumbles about her weight and her coaching debacles. it's a shame really, because when she's playing well and brimming with confidence her game can be so absorbing to watch. Lovely, rolled flat groundstrokes that skid through. Alas though, we havent seen that much for the last couple of years.

Well Masha seems to be in control---and aint Saurez doing well, i thought shed retired :o

Yes I agree. She was a good shotmaker and had quite a lot of skill at disguising them too. However, she never really wen tall the way did she, as she looked like stayign tin the top ten for years a while back and actaully winning slams. I don't know what has happened with her weight and stuff, but she still has issues with it I think. She looks like a rake and doesnt; look strong at all. She ha slost her self beleif and I feel the saem when I watch her, as in dont; beleive she can win eiether. :(

Well here are the quarter-final results:

Clijsters bt Hingis 7-5 6-2
Vaidisova bt Chakvetadze 3-6 6-4 6-3
Sharapova bt pierce 6-2 6-3
Schynder bt Dementieva 6-4 6-3

Well Clijsters beats Hingis....................again :rolleyes: Its really becoming a real mental battle now for the Swiss as she has been drubbed yet again. She must have felt she had a real chance here, and indeed had a 5-4 lead in the first, but failed to impose herself and clijsters sails through to the semis.

Vaidisova beat the impressive Russian teenager Chakvetadze in a 3 set comeback. The Russian was a set and a break up at one stage, before the big-hitting czech regrouped to take the set 6-4 and the decider 6-3.

Sharapova vs Pierce never took off at all for the Frenchwoman. she seemed laboured with injury and couldnt move to the ball run down balls at all really. Also she seems to have put on the weight she lost last year. I think this is maybe because she has barely been able to train this year and should she get over her injuries, i'm sure she'l be trim again. It hindered her however against the russian, who played a very solid match.

Schynder beat Dementieva in another dissapointing result for the Russian. Bizzarely though, it was not the serve that was off in the match, as she hit 3 aces with one timed at 112 mph, and only 2 double faults :yikes: It was her groundstrokes that were too erratic and the Swiss-woman capitalised with some outlandish angles and spins, plus she was serving very well.

So the semis are:

Schynder vs sharaopova
Clijsters vs vaidisova

I personally would like to see Vaidisova and sharapova reach the final to see who is the better teen, but i have a feeling it will be sharapova and cLijsters. Suprise, suprise :rolleyes:

I watched the Elena match. Her groundstrokes were off but her serve was working amazing compared to its usual standards. 3 aces (one at 112mph) and 2 DF is a good standard of serving

Id love to see a Vaidisova-Sharapova final aswell. This would be a showpiece and show critics just who is the best teen.

Yeah WB, Dementieva's serving was a revelation yesterday, shame her groundstrokes were as erratic as hell. She sometimes forces the issue a bit too much and the erors just unravel.

I hope her groundstrokes start working properly again and her serve stays like that. She could possibly win the USO then. She'll be my tip for the title.

Impressive recovery from Vaidisova. I'd liek to see her get to th efinals too. Shame fo rPierce, I hoped she's troubel Maria but i guess early days bakc form injury. Shcnyder - di dyou see it? id she play well then or wa sit all about Dem's errors?

I feel Dementieva should have rested well b4 USO. Personally she looks tired to me .. but so was Schynder. Apparently some of the girls do get fired up by US hard courts so I will not push it.

Vaidisova could do well, but the other girls do look out for her now. And they likewise raise their game.
Yeah, I fancy her chances, especially if seeds tumble early.

Yes, people are looking out for Nicole now, but she is young and if she develops her game properly she'll be beating top players without problem in a couple of years. She seems to be a fairly complete player (given that there are nto mnay in the womens' game anyway except JHH, Amelie) espe compared to peopel liek Sharapova.

9mmsuzi, i love your avatar. What site did you get it from?

Thx welshboy......nope ..not from any site.. just the regular logos for the various tournaments.
With some help from my trusty photoshop :hug: , and gif animator.

I am making one for the USO. Took me an hour or two but I had fun with it so it was okay. :)