Archive for Charleston

Tuesday, 11th – June 2013

June 11, 2013 / / No comments

Tennis ball

 

Dear tennis nerds and other No-Life,

Hello. Yes, we never say “hello” too many times. Today didn’t disappoint in the tennis sphere: rain, terrible matches and a few awesome results.

What’s to keep in mind?

1 – The rain

It is the signature of this season, obviously. So, Nürnberg decided to be trendy and stick to it.

So. Nice.

Matches interrupted, then delayed… It is becoming quite a classic, lately. The tour hopes that you enjoy it.

2 – The Ace Award goes to…

Madison Keys! The young American fired 12 of them during her match against Jamie Hampton in Birmingham.

Madison defeats Jamie 2-6 6-3 7-6(3)

3 – The Double Fault Award goes to…

Kristina Mladenovic! Marion Bartoli not being around, another French had to put herself under the serve spotlight. Kristina hit 10 double faults during her match against Tara Moore.

And yet she won.

Kristina defeats Tara 5-7 7-6(5) 6-4

4 – The trendy double pairing

For whatever reason, the association of Laura Robson with Lisa Raymond had made the headlines. Well, since it did, it seems like both players have not won a single match.

Oops.

Cara Black and Marina Erakovic defeat Lisa Raymond and Laura Robson 6-4 6-2 in Birmingham.

5 – Nürnberg loves long matches

5 matches lasted over two hours today in Germany. Yes, the rain delay might have helped a few but definitely not most of them.

Who knows. Perhaps the players love so much the courts out there that they try their best to stay on them as long as possible.

…..

In other very important news, Samantha Stosur is on a British Botanical Garden Tour. And why not. The Australian posted thus two pictures of her in a rose garden; a lovely poem accompanied them.

When in London, Maria Sharapova takes the tube; mostly The District and Piccadilly Lines. Of course, we all hope that she owns an Oyster Card. And a London A to Z.

Serena Williams made it to Florida. Hmm… … … Could someone remind her that the European season isn’t over yet? There is still a Grand Slam to be played, right around the corner.

Maria Kirilenko took part in a photo shoot for Glamour. Except now, we are even less sure about her new hair color. But really not.

Tennistically yours,

Me.

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Category: Agathe Rigault, Charleston, Tennistically Yours / Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Monday, 8th – April, 2013

April 8, 2013 / / No comments

Tennis ball

 

Dear tennis nerds and other No-Life,

Welcome to Europe.

Yep. Goodbye America and its wonderful rain temperatures and hello to the European winter that seems to really feel at ease over the Old Continent. Even more in Poland. Oh, welcome on the WTA board, dear Katowice.

What’s to keep in mind?

1 – Jelena Jankovic has only suffered one defeat on clay

So far. This year.

Ladies and gentlemen, please a warm applause to Jelena Jankovic who is back but had the unfortunate fate to cross Serena Williams in Charleston.

Serena defeats Jelena 3-6 6-0 6-2

2 – The Mexican girl

We had all assumed that she would crash because, well, you know… But no. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova told us to not jump on conclusions so quickly.

Especially in Monterrey. Against Angelique Kerber.

Anastasia defeats Angelique 4-6 6-2 6-4

3 – Oh… Laura!

You had done it again. What? Oh come on. Jump to conclusion, of course!

And you got it wrong.

Because Laura Robson did lose to Lourdes Dominguez-Lino. Believe it or not. But at the same time, it is clay. And as we all know, clay is just another tennis dimension.

Lourdes defeats Laura 5-7 7-6(7) 6-1

4 – Sabine Lisicki and American Airlines

A big love story. Or not.

But somehow, the German made it to Katowice after an epic travel of cancelled flights and long roadtrips.

5 – We never talk enough about Klara Zakopalova

And perhaps we should change our old habits because the Czech is surely getting rather consistent. Today again against Kristyna Pliskova.

Klara defeats Kristyna 7-6(2) 6-2

…..

Rumor has it that Sam Stosur would play the Fed Cup against Switzerland at the end of the month. Rumor has it that she would now call Florida “home”. Uh oh, Gold Coast…

Maria Sharapova is addicted to yoga in spite of her strong irony when her friend had decided to take her to her first lesson.

Caroline Wozniacki wants to see as an independant person and not just Rory McIlroy’s girlfriend. So to highlight her desires, she tagged Rory in a couple thing tweet. Well done.

Tennistically yours,

Me.

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Category: Agathe Rigault, Charleston, Contributors, Katowice, Monterrey, Tennistically Yours / Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Friday, 5th – April, 2013

April 5, 2013 / / No comments

Tennis ball

 

Dear tennis nerds and other No-Life,

Today is a bit like Groundhog Day, tennis version. Why? Because if you are following Chaleston and The Family Circle Cup, you might get the feeling to see the same players on court several times within a few hours.

Blame the rain for it.

What’s to keep in mind?

1 – The rain

Kuala Lumpur is back, in South Carolina. The Stadium turned into a giant mud bath – excellent for the skin but not much for the game – before getting assaulted by a thousand of white towels.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen. In 2013, we still dry clay courts thanks to tiny towels.

2 – The rain consequences

As usual, the consequences turned into a big mess of a reschedule of some sort. Therefore the Williams Sisters Day happening right now on Daniel Island.

Hope you enjoy the show.

3 – Sam Stosur retired

That might actually be historical now I think about it.

Looks like the Aussie came back a bit too soon after contracting a calf injury in Indian Wells. Two matches back-to-back and low temperatures didn’t get the best of her… For Eugenie Bouchard’s highest joy.

Eugenie defeats Sam 6-1 2-0

4 – Venus Williams sees in double

And no, she isn’t drunk. Or at least not that I know of in spite of the nice cocktail names offered by the tournament.

But… She still saw in double and won her two matches, today. Now she does deserves a little rest.

In the third round, Venus defeats Varvara Lepchenko 6-2 4-6 6-2

In quarters, Venus defeats Madison Keys 6-4 6-4

5 – Jelena Jankovic is back

You thought she was dead? Well, no. Or like Jesus, she resurrected. Pick your choice.

Whatever it is, she got the best of Canadian Eugenie Bouchard in the quarters.

Jelena defeats Eugenie 6-2 6-1

…..

Sabine Lisicki seems to be stuck in Charleston. Could be worse, mind you. Except Poland is waiting for her. Flights cancelled, fully booked… Lord know where she is at this exact moment.

Monterrey isn’t going pretty for Angelique Kerber and Maria Kirilenko who made it through to the next round in three sets. I mean… What on Earth? Angelique defeats Alla Kudryavtseva 6-4 4-6 6-2 and Maria defeats Jovana Jaksic 6-0 4-6 6-1.

Are we going to get a Williams semifinal in Charleston? Could be since Venus has just earned her ticket for the next round while Serena is about to play Lucie Safarova. Hmm… It’s so Back To The Future, suddenly.

Tennistically yours,

Me.

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Category: Agathe Rigault, Charleston, Contributors, Monterrey, Tennistically Yours / Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Wednesday, 3rd – April, 2013

April 3, 2013 / / No comments

Tennis ball

 

Dear tennis nerds and other No-Life,

today was placed under the sign of three-setters, Bethanie Mattek-Sands’ impersonations and French defeats. No? Oh yes, it was.

What’s to keep in mind?

1 – Odd match

Julia Goerges and Olga Govortsova decided to offer us a very doubles like match this morning.

What is that?

Oh… You know… When you go from doing wonderful in one set only to lose the next one without winning a single game. Yep.

Julia defeats Olga 6-2 0-6 6-3

2 – Sam Stosur is Bethanie Mattek-Sands

On one side only, mind you.

The Australian who had had to withdraw from Miami citing a calf injury is back but heavily taped… In a way that, in the distance, she seems to be wearing Bethanie’s legendary socks.

Why not.

Injury or not, Marina Erakovic learned the hard way.

Sam defeats Marina 6-1 6-2

3 – The Wozniacki Express

Sometimes, you just don’t want to spend too much time on court. Because your favorite tv show is on, of course.

Or else.

This is what happened to Caroline Wozniacki against Silvia Loser-Espinosa.

An hour later, they were back to the lockers.

Caroline defeats Silvia 6-1 6-1

4 – Ex-BFF

The tennis life is hard. Why? Because sometimes, it challenges your friendships. Laura Robson and Eugenie Bouchard can testify.

Not happy.

Nope, not at all.

Eugenie defeats Laura 6-4 3-6 6-1

5 – Lisa Raymond and Vania King

Exit new-partner Laura Robson for the week, Lisa Raymond is back with Vania King and… Fair to say they did fine against Mandy Minella and Varvara Lepchenko.

The pair defeats them 6-1 6-2

…..

You had planned on watching Marion Bartoli play this week? Too bad. After hitting 12 double faults, the French lost to Coco Vandeweghe 6-4 3-6 1-6. Ouch.

No big surprise in Monterrey apart from Marion’s loss. The seeds are through and enjoy the mini-tennis court. And why not. Mexico has always been fun.

Have you kissed Heather Watson, lately? If so, watch out. You might have caught mononucleosis. The British player is thus out of the tour for a little while. Bloody sickness!

Of course, Jelena Jankovic stole the show today – and remains undefeated on clay so far this year (yes, I am sober) by playing the longest match of the day against Caroline Garcia whom she defeated in three sets 5-7 7-6 (10) 6-3.

What else… Let’s see… Maria Sharapova attended a yoga class. And apparently wasn’t that thrilled about such idea. Too bad there was no picture around.

Sabine Lisicki loves so much soccer that she tweeted the Bayern’s first goal. Looks like the second one wasn’t worth a tweet in the end. Unless the German had better things to do. And why not.

Tennistically yours,

Me.

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Category: Agathe Rigault, Charleston, Monterrey, Tennistically Yours / Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Tuesday, 2nd – April, 2013

April 2, 2013 / / No comments

Tennis ball

 

Dear tennis nerds and other No-Life,

How have you survived Caroline Wozniacki’s chances to prank you all during April, 1st?

So what do we have, today… Expeditive matches Robocop version, upsets, new fans, quotes to remember…

What’s to keep in mind?

1 – Bagels delivery

Special delivery this morning in Charleston by Sabine Lisicki who cruised through her opening match in 40 minutes, hitting 7 aces and no double fault against Anna Tatishvili.

Unfortunately for Anna, it was quite the opposite kind of a day for her.

Sabine defeats Anna 6-0 6-0

2 – Serena Williams has arrived

Without forcing – an ace by here, an ace by there – and it resulted enough for her to get the best of Camila Giorgi who had started her match wonderfully: 2 games, 6 double faults.

Serena defeats Camila 6-2 6-3

3 – The Double Fault Award

Goes to… Camila Giorgi who hit 12 of them within two sets. Nice record, bad day at the office.

It happens.

4 – The double uh oh

Playing your former double partner – aka best friend on tour – is never a happy encounter in the first place. And when it lasts three sets, even less.

Ask Vania King and Yaroslava Shvedova.

Vania defeats Yaroslava 4-6 6-1 6-4

5 – The Marathon

Jelena Jankovic was scheduled. This should be enough for you to come to some conclusions, no?

Yep.

It took 2 hours and 55 minutes for Jelena to defeat Melanie Oudin.

Jelena defeats Melanie 6-4 5-7 6-4

…..

Sorana Cirstea is doing wonderfully. On to the third round without losing a game. Well, without playing a single match either. Okay. Anabel Medina-Garrigues has withdrawn from the tournament, citing a knee injury.

The seeds are falling. Mona Barthel lost to Jessica Pegula in straight sets 6-7(4) 1-6. Meanwhile, Stefanie Voegele has defeated Carla Suarez-Navarro 6-2 6-4.

You haven’t seen Daniela Hantuchova on green clay? Well, you won’t see her this year. She lost to Marina Erakovic 6-7(2) 4-6.

Laura Robson – supported all match long by her brand new fan Lisa Raymond – said she loved coming to Charleston because players got presents every day. Well… We al have our motivation, right?

Bring on the pics! Caroline Wozniacki, Mona Barthel, Sabine Lisicki and Kristina Mladenovic won cams at the players’ party. Doing what? No idea!

On the gossip front, Pauline Parmentier lost her coach. Well, she knows where he is: at Victoria Azarenka’s place serving as a new sparring partner. Oh the joys of the top 10…

Tennistically yours,

Me.

ps: we are glad to announce that we have got press credentials for the Stuttgart Porsche Grand Prix Tournament. So if you want to see us driving that little car, stay tuned.

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Category: Agathe Rigault, Charleston, Contributors, Tennistically Yours / Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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