Tag Archive for WTA

Tuesday, 12th – March 2013

March 12, 2013 / / No comments

Tennis ball

 

Dear tennis nerds and other No-Life,

no more earthquake for Indian Wells – how depressing, right? Thank God we have Ana Ivanovic’s tears in a golf cart and a couple of more or less good results. So…

What’s to keep in mind?

1 – Mona Barthel loves the desert

It must be the proximity with Las Vegas Eiffel Tower that reminds her of Paris because the girl is on fire (except a desert like second set but who is not used to it in the WTA?).

And who had to suffer from this form? Ana Ivanovic who couldn’t do much against the German and left on a golf cart, crying her heart out à la Vera Zvonareva (her head under a towel).

Mona defeats her 6-1 3-6 6-0

2 – The Double Fault Award goes to…

Maria Sharapova who hit 7 of them during her match against the Spaniard Lara Arruabarrena-Vecino.

Don’t we all love know how the Russian can literally throw herself in a DF festival from time to time… Well, she did it one more time.

She nonetheless defeats her opponent 7-5 6-0

3 – Urszula Radwanska strikes again

What is her Indian Wells magic potion? After Sloane Stephens, the Polish girl got the best/worst of Jamie Hampton.

Looks like she is on her way to destroy all the American girls around. Watch out.

Urszula defeats Jamie 6-1 7-6(4)

4 – Caroline Wozniacki loves shakin’ it

As much as she tweeted about it, the earthquake didn’t trouble her much in the end since she easily defeated Elena Vesnina. Some golf results later and the former #1 is enjoying her walk through the desert.

Caroline defeats Elena 6-2 6-1

5 – Vera Zvonareva is alive

And at the gym. Yes, she is.

Her shoulder is free of tapes and your favorite racquet smasher is on her way to smash it soon on court again.

Go, Bepa!

…..

On the doubles front – yes, the doubles front – haven’t I forgotten to tell you that Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci had lost? Little earthquake in itself, let’s face it. Ousted by Peng and Hsieh; yes, things happen.

Quietly enough, Daniela Hantuchova and Anabel Medina-Garrigues are strolling through the draw as well after having defeated Anastasia Rodionova and Cara Black.

What to think about Lisa Raymond and Sam Stosur? Former #1 a little while ago when social networks were little Internet babies, the pairing is back but not on top yet. They lost to Casey Dellacqua and Kimiko Date-Krumm, a pairing that seem to hit it off pretty well.

On a more literary – or not – point of view, I hope you are all enjoying Sorana Cirstea’s WTA blog because it is worth the read. If only for… Oh well, it is worth it. Really.

Tennistically yours,

Me.

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Category: Agathe Rigault, Contributors, Indian Wells, Tennistically Yours / Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Monday, 11th – March, 2013

March 11, 2013 / / No comments

Tennis ball

 

Dear tennis nerds and other No-Life,

if I haven’t written anything since last Wednesday, it is because nothing happened in the wonderful tennis world. Or almost. Thus, it is with great pleasure that I will come back on these few days of absolute nothingness.

What’s to keep in mind?

1 – Her heart doesn’t belong to daddy anymore

Exit Doctor Walter Bartoli once and for all: Marion got herself a new coach and this coach is called Jana Novotna.

If you belong to the old school, don’t be worried. It seems like the French will keep on bouncing around and fistpumping on her chest… To the point of cutting herself with her necklace which requires a MTO.

2 – California shakes it

While everyone was still more or less asleep – except for Lisa Raymond who was observing the wild life of the desert on court (cf. her Twitter accuont), an earthquake decided to hit Palm Springs.

Needless to say this turned out to be the event of the week after the more than questionable outfit worn by Yaroslava Shvedova and Julia Goerges.

You will find a wonderful recap of the events a bit everywhere on social networks with Roger Federer as the special correspondent.

3 – Drama can come within 140 characters

We had had Jarmila Gajdosova’s little altercation with a few fans a while ago, yesterday we got Jennifer Capriati vs some fans vs Chris Evert.

Mind you, none of the players currently on tour decided to join the heated conversation concerning Jennifer’s private-life-outed-in-tabloids, probably because they have enough to do on court and in their life.

4 – Urszula Radwanska is in top form

If we tend to talk more about her sister, it would be great to notice the upset of the day. Urszula took out Sloane Stephens in straight sets.

Sure, the American hasn’t been on top lately due to an abdominal strain but still, it is a big score for the Polish.

Urszula defeats Sloane 6-3 6-4

5 – Agnieszka Radwanska likes Indian Wells

She likes it so much that the more time she spends on court the better. Therefore the reason why she defeated Sorana Cirstea – the Queen of the WTA blog – in three sets.

Tough round, late start… Take your pick.

Agnieszka defeats Sorana 6-7(3) 6-3 6-4

…..

The world can keep on turning for Maria Sharapova: she had forgotten her socks at home but they finally arrived on time for her first match. First match that turned out to be a bit more complicated than planned against Carla Suarez-Navarro.

The Indian Wells Players’ Party turned out to be wonderful and cheesy again: disco themed party. Too bad Sabine Lisicki wasn’t there when we know how much the German appreciates Gloria Gaynor.

A remake of The Silence of the Lambs could be filmed within the next few days by the tournament site. Indeed, the awful same bug is flying around. Doctor Lecter still has to be cast.

Tennistically yours,

Me.

 

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Category: Agathe Rigault, Contributors, Indian Wells, Tennistically Yours / Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Wednesday, 6th – March, 2013

March 6, 2013 / / No comments

Tennis ball

 

Dear tennis nerds and other No-Life,

Who says Wednesday in the Californian desert says first round of Indian Wells. But not only. The WTA offered us a wonderful yet completely unexpected tennis present: the all-access hour in live from the roof of Lord knows which building, by the way.

What’s to keep in mind?

1 – Petkovic sees doubles

No, she isn’t drunk – or at least not that I know – but she lost her last round of qualies and thus didn’t make it to the main draw in single.

But… For her fans – and perhaps Fed Cup purposes too – she made it to the doubles main draw with Angelique Kerber.

Yeah oh well. Why not.

2 – The Maria Sharapova Show

Exit Ellen Degeneres, Maria Sharapova is in top form in the desert. Not only did she sing a bit of Cher, “Believe”, but she also offered us a big scoop: her rapper name.

Pimpmepova.

… … … Le’s all hope she sticks to tennis for some more years.

3 – Caroline Wozniacki and birthday cakes

Caroline is joyful. Yes, she is. And like any joyful person, she loves birthday cakes. Or at least when they are hers.

It wasn’t the case, today. So she crashed her hand right in Agnieszka’s during an interview.

And don’t try to say it wasn’t you, Caroline. We saw you live.

4 – Agnieszka and the color purple

Because sometimes, interviews go deep into thoughts about tennis, we now all know that Agnieszka’s favorite outfit is her purple dress from last year.

No, please.

Don’t thank me for the info. It is just my job I am doing here.

5 – Let’s ace the double faults

All-access hour aside, things also happened on court in Indian Wells. And by things, I mean double faults, of course.

So the Double Fault Award goes to a whole match – and why not sharing the mess, in the end?

Ksenia Pervak and Jie Zheng are the big winners with a total of 11 double faults through a straight set match.

Congrats.

And no ace.

Wonderful.

Ksenia defeats Jie 6-1 6-2.

…..

Time zone difference for me, if you are American then you will probably follow Indian Wells better than me.

So far, some doubles action: Jelena Jankovic and Mirjana Lucic-Baroni are leading 4-1 against Eva Birnerova and Dominika Cibulkova.

Casey Dellacqua got breadsticked by Anabel Medina-Garrigues and why not.

Julia Goerges and Yaroslava Shvedova lead 3-1 against Natalie Grandin and Vladimira Uhlirova.

For the Italian lovers, Francesca Schiavone is up next against Flavia Pennetta. Yes, it is cruel.

Then if you are still tennis hungry, I suggest you a Christina McHale against Tsvetana Pironkova.

Tennistically yours,

Me.

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

Tuesday, 5th – March, 2013

March 5, 2013 / / No comments
Tennis ball

Tennis ball

 

Dear tennis nerds and other No-Life,

What happened, what happened? Apart from a very Spring-y day in Paris but do you really care much about that, right? I know, I know. Let’s head to the desert and maybe – if you are nice enough – we will also stop by New York at some point.

What’s to keep in mind?

1 – A terrible draw

Only joking. Or so.

Indian Wells Main Draw got done yesterday and boy wasn’t it the best moment to suffer from a seizure or a heart attack.

Personally, I prefer to keep in mind Maria Sharapova’s wonderful Italian draw. She got ‘em all: Fran, Roberta, Sara… Only Flavia is… Where is she?

2 – Live from New York…

Every year we go back to Madison Square Garden for a night of boucing yellow ball.

I will keep in mind the way commies talked about the exhibition as if it was a grand slam final. Hey guys, no big pressure… Remember?

I won’t keep in mind Redfoo playing terrible tennis.

I will keep in mind Serena and Vika playing as lefties – with no power whatsoever.

I won’t keep in mind the migraine I got because of these kid extra-lines on the court.

Serena defeats Vika 6-4 6-3.

3 – Petko is back

Looks like San Diego and Las Vegas paid off – or at least for this first round of qualies because Andrea literally crushed down her opponent Yulia Putintseva.

Andrea defeats Yulia 6-0 6-2.

4 – Anastasia Rodionova can thank doubles

Because it is already over in singles. Michelle Larcher de Brito got the best – or the worst? – of her in two small sets.

Michelle defeats Anastasia 6-2 6-3.

5 – The Double Fault Award goes to…

Casey Dellacqua. 5 of them in a straight-set match against Nastassja Burnett but somehow and in spite of them, the Australian got her ticket for the main draw.

See, hit double faults and you still can be rewarded.

Casey defeats her opponent 6-3 6-1.

…..

What to say what to say… Caroline Wozniacki survived a 16-hour flight from Hong-Kong and a ton of rumors about her relationship to land straight on the Indian Wells court for a practice.

Sam Stosur was seen hitting the ball with the WC controversial Shahar Peer. Rebel!

Petra Kvitova and Yanina Wickmayer hit it off again in doubles. For whatever reason. While Flavia Pennetta will play with Svetlana Kuznetsova.

Last but not least – don’t you just love this expression? I do – Iveta Benesova misses Indian Wells. So feel free to send her now some comforting words.

And when the hell does Vera Zvonareva come back?

Tennistically yours,

Me.

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

Monday, 4th – March, 2013

March 4, 2013 / / One comment

Tennis ball

 

Dear tennis nerds and other No-Life,

A new tennis week is coming which means…? Yes, a whole new week of double faults. Yes, a whole new week of aces. Yes, a whole new week of withdrawals. But most of all, a recap of what happened during this lovely little weekend.

What’s to keep in mind?

1 – Karolina Pliskova goes all the way

To the victory, that is. The girl aced it all week along only to get the best of Bethanie Mattek-Sands in the Kuala Lumpur final. First WTA title. Ain’t it sweet…

Karolina defeats Bethanie 1-6 7-5 6-3

2 – Sara Errani doesn’t like remakes

Too bad for Carla Suarez-Navarro because a Paris Open GDF Suez remake would have been terrific and the possibility to finally convert these match points the Spaniard had got way back then.

But no. The Acapulco sombrero went to the Italian.

Sara defeats Carla 6-0 6-4

3 – Monica Niculescu and Brasil

Must have been love… A tough one, though. The Romanian needed three sets to win Florianopolis against Olga Puchkova. Great performance and great win considering she didn’t have to wear a sombrero nor face a rain delay as in Acapulco and Kuala Lumpur.

Monica defeats Olga 6-2 4-6 6-4

4 – Caroline Wozniacki dances, again

Don’t we know the girl is unstoppable when invited to an exhibition. If the oddest, champagne-d one remains Bratislava, it seems like the Dane had a lot of fun today with her friend Agnieszka Radwanska in Hong Kong since… She started dancing again.

Rumor has it that it wasn’t the Macarena. We’re in progress

5 – I want to be a part of it, New York New York

As usual, some players stop by The Big Apple for an exhibition. This year: Victoria Azarenka and Serena Williams. Nothing special to say except the Belarusian practiced in Grand Central and why not. You know… Between two connections, it’s always good to hit the ball.

…..

In other news, if you were in Memphis during the tournament, watch out your stomach. Sabine Lisicki withdrew from Indian Wells with a viral illness. Seeing how livid she was during her final in Tennessee, the bug must be a little nasty.

Headin’ to the desert for Indian Wells. Qualifications start today. Big news so far, Michelle Brito ousting Misaki Doi right from the beginning when Misaki was seeded. Uh oh.

On the Aussie front, Anastasia Rodionova survived and Casey Dellacqua cruised.

Julia Goerges is nominated for a Heart Award and boy does she have monopolized all the Goerges Forces. A retweet spam battle has officially started in Twitter, starring Julia and Barbara Rittner. If you need to work on your German, it’s now or never to tune in.

Tennistically yours,

Me.

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