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Post by bangkokbobby on Sept 7, 2015 2:17:43 GMT
Madison KeysNo doubt about it, Madison Keys is my favorite player. I thought it could still be Novak Djokovic, but no loss has hit me in the gut quite like this since Kim Clijsters or Li Na. So today, I don’t have the energy to post media about all the ladies in women’s draw. I’ll resume full US Open posting following tomorrow’s play. I salute Serena Williams. She was better than Maddie today. Serena picked on Maddie’s backhand and Keys didn’t help matters with a low first serve percentage, not to mention a few untimely double faults. Keys has a devastating serve…when it goes in. But she and her team will review the tapes and work on the weaknessess, I’m sure. And Maddie is only 20 years old. Her time is coming. She had her best showings at Majors this year. Expect her to go all the way before too long. Madison Keys
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Post by bangkokbobby on Sept 8, 2015 3:16:15 GMT
more pics and video on my blog: 2015 US Open Day 8: Simona Halep Survives Test By Sabine Lisicki, Moves On To Quarterfinal Showdown Against Victoria AzarenkaSimona HalepFighting physical ailments and a feisty opponent, Simona Halep won her round of 16 match against Sabine Lisicki at the 2015 US Open on guts and heart, 6-7 (6) 7-5 6-2, to advance to her first ever quarterfinal at Flushing Meadows. The play on the court wasn’t always pretty or artful, but these two Major runner-ups (Halep-Roland Garros, Lisicki-Wimbledon) gave the Louis Armstrong crowd high drama. Although she is the #2 seed, Simona seems like an afterthought in the media with all the focus on Serena. That could change should Serena beat her sister Venus and Simona beats 2-time US Open runner-up Victoria Azarenka in the next round. That won’t be easy. Vika is starting to get her mojo back after a mostly subpar comeback year. If Simona is physically healthy for that match, it has the potential to be one of the best of the tournament. 2 SIMONA HALEP (won 6-7 (6) 7-5 6-2 vs 24 Sabine Lisicki) 5 PETRA KVITOVA (won 7-5 6-3 vs Johanna Konta) 20 VICTORIA AZARENKA (won 6-3 6-4 vs Varvara Lepchenko) 26 FLAVIA PENNETTA (won 6-4 6-4 vs 22 Samantha Stosur)
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Post by bangkokbobby on Sept 9, 2015 3:55:36 GMT
more pics and video on my blog: 2015 US Open Day 9: Serena Williams, Roberta Vinci Book First Two Semifinal BerthsSerena WilliamsBuster Douglas did what was previously seemingly impossible against Mike Tyson. Rulon Gardner stopped the 13 year unbeaten streak of Aleksandr Karelin. They made a major motion picture about the Miracle On Ice USA hockey win over the USSR in 1980. After Serena Williams marched past sister Venus Williams 6-2 1-6 6-3 in their 2015 US Open Women’s Singles Quarterfinal match, most already have Serena’s name etched in as one of the finalists in the last Major of the tennis season. Roberta who? Oh yes, there is a semifinal match to be played pitting Serena against Roberta Vinci before the final. Good luck finding many people who think Vinci has a realistic chance to stop Serena’s Grand Slam quest. But then again, few gave Buster Douglas a chance to even get out of the early rounds against Mike Tyson, much less win. Karelin hadn’t even surrendered a point in six years, so Gardner had no prayer of actually emerging triumphant. Maybe Serena, who was sharply focused in back to back matches against two dangerous opponents, Madison Keys and Venus Williams, will get caught overlooking Roberta, the same Roberta who needed 11 double faults and 64 unforced errors from Kristina Mladenovic to get through the quarterfinals. Maybe Serena will come out like she did against Bethanie Mattek-Sands. If she does, it might still take a near perfect Villanova vs Georgetown type effort for Vinci to shock the world. However, those previous underdogs found a way. There’s always a way. 1 SERENA WILLIAMS (won 6-2 1-6 6-3 vs 23 Venus Williams) ROBERTA VINCI (won 6-3 5-7 6-4 vs Kristina Mladenovic)
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Post by bangkokbobby on Sept 10, 2015 3:28:38 GMT
more pics and video on my blog: 2015 US Open Day 10: Simona Halep Defeats Victoria Azarenka, Advances To Semifinal Versus Flavia PennettaSimona HalepWith perhaps the most famous athlete in her country’s history, gymnast Nadia Comaneci, in the stands rooting her on, Romania’s Simona Halep punched her ticket to the 2015 US Open Women’s Singles Semifinals with a 6-3 4-6 6-4 victory over 2-time Major winner and 2-time US Open runner-up Victoria Azarenka in a tightly contested quarterfinal. A lot of buzz was in the air about Vika being the greatest threat to spoil the calendar year Grand Slam quest of Serena Williams. Honestly, I doubt anybody will stop Serena. Azarenka probably matches up better with Serena than any player currently on tour, but let’s not forget that Simona does have a victory over Williams more recently than anybody except Petra Kvitova (who lost her quarterfinal today to Flavia Pennetta) and Belinda Bencic (who, to be fair, was helped greatly by numerous Serena errors in that match). After all, it needs to pointed out the Halep is the #2 seed this year. That’s not an accident. Simona will be the favorite going into the semifinals vs Pennetta. However, although Halep won their last match, Pennetta holds a 3-1 head to head advantage, including beating her at the 2013 US Open. My heart is pulling for Simona, but I don’t expect this to be easy. Flavia has a real chance to pull what on paper would constitute an upset. 2 SIMONA HALEP (won 6-3 4-6 6-4 vs 20 Victoria Azarenka) 26 FLAVIA PENNETTA (won 4-6 6-4 6-2 vs 5 Petra Kvitova)
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Post by bangkokbobby on Sept 12, 2015 4:24:09 GMT
more pics and video on my blog: 2015 US Open Day 12: Roberta Vinci Shocks The World With Upset Of Serena Williams, Will Face Countrywoman Flavia Pennetta In FinalRoberta VinciVeni. Vidi. Vici. Vinci! I don’t know if Roberta Vinci told herself “I came. I saw. I conquered.” when the final point of her 2015 US Open Women’s Semifinal triumph over the massively favored Serena Williams was won, but she certainly could have. Who would begrudge her that moment? Instead, it was tears that flowed for a player pretty much nobody gave a reasonable chance to win. Sure, a couple of days ago I wrote about underdogs like Buster Douglas, Rulon Gardner and the 1980 US Olympic Hockey Team. They found a way to win. I said there is always a way, even if it would take a near perfect effort similar to what Villanova did to Georgetown. That said, I wouldn’t have bet any amount of money I cared about on Roberta. Vinci wasn’t perfect, but she did play beautiful all-court tennis that rose to a level that surprised even Serena, who would later say Roberta played “out of her mind.” Not only that, she showed steely resolve when other players who have had Serena in compromising positions have faltered. Vinci served to close out the second set at 5-4, but Serena fought to gain a break point. This was after Roberta lost the first set 2-6. I’ve seen so many players crumble against Serena in these situations. But Vinci would not let Serena even the set, fighting off the break to level the match at a set apiece, 2-6 6-4. The Italian veteran, who won the Career Grand Slam in doubles with former partner Sara Errani, didn’t fall apart after falling behind 0-2 in the final set, with Serena holding a game point to put Roberta in a love-3 hole. Instead, Vinci broke back for 1-2 on a Williams double fault. Roberta broke again in the seventh game and then held serve in the eighth to go up 5-3. She shut the door on Serena’s calendar year Grand Slam quest with 2-6 6-4 6-4 victory. Vinci will face countrywoman Flavia Pennetta, who upset the #2 seed Simona Halep, 6-1 6-3. Viva Italia! Serena WilliamsAlthough Serena did not achieve the calendar year Grand Slam, let’s not forget that she did complete her second Serena Slam. At least until the Women’s Final is finished, Serena holds all four Major singles titles. She’s brought so much media and fan attention to tennis with her fantastic play. The women’s final at the US Open sold out faster than the men’s final. That was because of Serena. Equaling and surpassing Steffi Graf and Margaret Court in Major singles titles seems only a matter of time if Williams stays healthy and focused. You don’t have to be a fan of hers to appreciate what she has done in and for the sport of tennis and women’s athletics overall. Nothing that happened in this match changes her status as one of the greatest and most accomplished athletes in history. ROBERTA VINCI (won 2-6 6-4 6-4 vs 1 Serena Williams) 26 FLAVIA PENNETTA (won 6-1 6-3 vs 2 Simona Halep)
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Post by bangkokbobby on Sept 13, 2015 3:41:47 GMT
more pics and video on my blog: Flavia Pennetta Wins 2015 US OpenFlavia PennettaThe first time they played against each other, Flavia Pennetta and Roberta Vinci were 9 years old. Both were raised in the same region of Italy and have been close friends for the majority of their lives. They’ve won as an amateur and professional doubles team, including the 1999 Junior Girls Doubles title at Roland Garros and the 2006 WTA Copa Colsanitas. 4 times they’ve stood beside each other as Fed Cup champions for Italy. However, they had not met in the final of a top level professional event until the 2015 US Open. With Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, who canceled his schedule and flew to New York for the final, in attendance, Pennetta and Vinci contested the first all-Italian Major singles final. One way or another, the Prime Minister was going to leave happy. In the end, Flavia just had too much for Roberta, winning 7-6 (4) 6-2. It’s strange how a sports scoreline can be misleading. Although Flavia won the second set more easily, it was in that final set that both players exhibited their best play. They were both tight as a drum in the first set. They let it flow in the second. Despite Vinci’s upset of Serena Williams a day earlier, Flavia is the better singles player. The better player won on this day. It’s Pennetta’s 11th singles title and first Major singles title. Apparently, it will also be her only Major singles title. Roberta Vinci and Flavia PennettaThere were hugs, smiles and a general sense of joy as these two longtime friends soaked up the adulation of the crowd as they received their champion and runner-up trophies. Roberta takes home $1.6 million USD as runner-up while Flavia earned the top prize of $3.3 million USD. Then Flavia pulled a Marion Bartoli move on a surprised tennis world, announcing that her winning the US Open will be the last Major she ever plays as she will retire at the end of the 2015 season. Like Bartoli, who did not wait until the end of the year to retire when she won Wimbledon 2013 (I think she retired at the Western & Southern Open in mid-August 2013, not playing again, including forgoing the upcoming 2013 US Open), Flavia has chosen, at 33, to go out a Major winner. She is engaged to ATP pro tennis player Fabio Fognini. She’s been playing competitive tennis since she was in elementary school. While a win like this whets the appetite of her fans to see her play on, if she is ready to start a new chapter in her life then so be it. A $3.3 million USD prize is a nice retirement check. 26 FLAVIA PENNETTA (won 7-6 (4) 6-2 vs Roberta Vinci) with Fabio Fognini Prime Minister Matteo Renzi (far right waving)
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Post by bangkokbobby on Sept 15, 2015 2:25:58 GMT
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Post by bangkokbobby on Sept 27, 2015 19:42:55 GMT
more pics and video on my blog: Agnieszka Radwanska Wins 2015 Toray Pan-Pacific Open; Garbine Muguruza & Carla Suarez Navarro Take Doubles CrownAgnieszka RadwanskaBack in June, in a warm-up for Wimbledon, Belinda Bencic won her first WTA title at the 2015 Aegon International by defeating Agnieszka Radwanska in three sets on grass. Aga just struck a measure of revenge on hard court by winning the 2015 Toray Pan-Pacific Open in straight sets over Bencic, 6-2 6-2. It’s the 22nd singles title of Radwanska’s illustrious career. However, it’s the first for Aga in 2015. Her last singles crown came at the Rogers Cup 2014 when she beat Venus Williams in straight sets. She has spread her 22 singles titles around, with Tokyo being her first tournament to have been won twice. Aga, who for years has been a top 10 fixture, had slipped out of the top 10. With this victory, she returns to former glory as she will ascend #7 in the world when the new rankings come out on September 28th. Garbine Muguruza and Carla Suarez NavarroTaking the doubles crown was the Spanish duo of Garbine Muguruza and Carla Suarez Navarro. Since pairing up in 2014, they’ve been one of the best teams on tour, reaching 7 finals. This is their 3rd title together. They were in the Tokyo final last year but fell to Cara Black and Sania Mirza. This year Muguruza and Suarez Navarro were not to be denied, taking out the Taiwanese sisters team of Chan Yung-Jan and Chan Hao-Ching, 7-5 6-1. Overall, this is Garbine’s 5th WTA doubles title, as she had a couple of titles before teaming up with Carla. All 3 of Carla’s doubles titles have come with Muguruza as a partner. 7 AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA (won 6-2 6-2 vs 8 Belinda Bencic) 3 GARBINE MUGURUZA/CARLA SUAREZ NAVARRO (won 7-5 6-1 vs 2 CHAN Yung-Jan/CHAN Hao-Ching)
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Post by bangkokbobby on Oct 4, 2015 0:31:47 GMT
more pics and video on my blog: Venus Williams Wins 2015 Wuhan Open; Martina Hingis & Sania Mirza Take Doubles CrownVenus WilliamsSerena Williams has shut it down for the 2015 season, but big sister Venus is still active and playing well. She added a 47th singles title (to go along with 21 women’s doubles and 2 mixed doubles titles) to her Hall of Fame career resume by winning the 2015 Wuhan Open. This is her first Premier 5-level title since 2010 when she won Dubai for the second straight year. Unfortunately, I was hoping for a tight three-setter between Venus and this year’s Wimbledon runner-up Garbine Muguruza, but the rising Spanish star was done in by an injured ankle, retiring in the second set with Williams leading, 6-3 3-0. Despite the loss, Muguruza will enter the top 5 in the rankings for the first time in her career. Venus is rising up the ranks as well, moving up to #14. Despite Garbine not being at her best, make no mistake…Venus earned this crown. Consider the heart she showed fighting back from a break down in the third set of her quarterfinal match against Johanna Konta and erasing a match point against her in her semifinal match against this year’s US Open runner-up Roberta Vinci, the woman that ended sister Serena’s calendar year Grand Slam quest. Her age and Sjogren’s Syndrome dictate that Venus has her good days and not so good days, but when she’s on and feeling well she can still play championship level tennis. Sania Mirza and Martina HingisSpeaking of all-time tennis legends still showing their greatness, Martina Hingis notched her 48th women’s doubles title by teaming with Sania Mirza to capture the 2015 Wuhan Open doubles crown. The Hingis-Mirza duo is looking nearly unstoppable these days. This is their 7th title of 2015. They’ve won the last two Majors, Wimbledon and the US Open. And they’ve won their last three events together without dropping a set. Players tend to be able to continue in doubles longer than singles. At this point, I see no reason that Martina Hingis can’t continue to dominate in doubles several more years. VENUS WILLIAMS (won 6-3 3-0 (retired) vs 5 Garbine Muguruza) 1 MARTINA HINGIS/SANIA MIRZA (won 6-2 6-3 vs Irina-Camelia Begu/Monica Niculescu)
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Post by bangkokbobby on Oct 11, 2015 19:20:19 GMT
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Post by bangkokbobby on Oct 24, 2015 4:48:05 GMT
more pics on my blog: Maria Sharapova, Garbine Muguruza, Simona Halep, Petra Kvitova, Agnieszka Radwanska, Flavia Pennetta, Angelique Kerber and Lucie Safarova Set For 2015 WTA FinalsSo here’s what happens when Serena Williams takes the rest of the season off after the 2015 US Open. You get an intriguing WTA Finals among the singles participants. I honestly can’t pick a favorite, in terms of predicting a likely winner. I can make a legitimate case for every player going all the way or not even making it past the round robin stage. For example, both Maria Sharapova and Petra Kvitova have won this event in past years. They each have the skill to rise to the top but injuries and inconsistency could also doom them early. Masha, Simona Halep, Agnieszka Radwanska and US Open champion Flavia Pennetta make up the Red Group. Normally, I would pick Masha and Halepeno, but I don’t even know if Sharapova will physically make it through her first match and you never know which Simona will show up. The White Group is Petra, Garbine Muguruza, Angelique Kerber and Lucie Safarova. Each of these players are dangerous but Safarova is coming in not long after battling illness. Petra is my personal favorite player in this event, but part of me is pulling for Garbine Muguruza, the 2015 Wimbledon runner-up, to win and throw down the gauntlet for 2016. Maria Sharapova Simona Halep Petra Kvitova Agnieszka Radwanska Angelique Kerber Lucie Safarova Flavia Pennetta
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Post by bangkokbobby on Oct 25, 2015 8:14:47 GMT
more pics and video on my blog: Top Stars Ready For 2015 WTA FinalsGarbine MuguruzaThe top stars of the WTA have had their say. Now it’s time to see who will emerge as the singles champion at the 2015 WTA Finals in Singapore. I’m not generally in the business of making predictions. It’s tennis. It’s sports. Anything can happen. Who would have guessed Roberta Vinci would upset Serena Williams at the US Open? Not even Vinci herself! With this Singapore field, I would normally pick either Maria Sharapova, Petra Kvitova or Simona Halep. When healthy and playing at the top of their games, they are currently the best players among the final eight. But health and whether they will always be at their best is a question. So with that in mind, I’m going to pick a long shot. I’m going with Garbine Muguruza. Although she has won a title recently in Beijing, her record against her round robin opponents isn’t good. It’s also her first ever WTA Finals. Logic says the 22-year old Gabi is maybe a year away from seriously challenging at this event. Nonetheless, she’s my pick. Here is a graphic for all the singles players in Singapore: The Force is with the stars of the WTA: Jedi Petra Kvitova GARBINE MUGURUZA MARIA SHARAPOVA SIMONA HALEP PETRA KVITOVA
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Post by bangkokbobby on Oct 26, 2015 1:17:36 GMT
more pics and video on my blog: Maria Sharapova, Simona Halep Victorious In First Round Robin Matches At 2015 WTA Finals; Naomi Osaka Wins Rising Stars EventMaria SharapovaI had reservations about picking Maria Sharapova as a favorite coming into the 2015 WTA Finals in Singapore. She had played only one match since Wimbledon and didn’t even finish that one, retiring with an injury. However, while I might question Masha’s health and match readiness, I have never questioned her grit and determination. She needed every ounce of her will to finally overcome Agnieszka Radwanska in her first Red Group round robin match, 4-6 6-3 6-4. This one was as tight as it could get, with Aga pushing Masha for 2 hours and 47 minutes. Final point totals: Sharapova 111, Radwanska 110. It wasn’t pretty, but at this point a win is a win. Simona HalepThe top overall seed at the 2015 WTA Finals, Simona Halep, had no problems avenging her US Open semifinal loss to eventual champion Flavia Pennetta. Halepeño crushed Pennetta 6-0 6-3 to open her Red Group round robin play. Like Masha, Simona came in with injury questions. She retired in her last match (Beijing) with an Achilles injury. She says she’s ok now, and she sure looked like it in how she handled Flavia, who came in with a 4-1 head to head advantage over Halep. I still worry about a player coming in right off an injury, especially an Achilles. If she can hold up physically, Simona has a chance to improve on last year’s runner-up finish in Singapore. Naomi OsakaI also wanted to take a moment to congratulate Naomi Osaka on her title at the WTA Finals Rising Stars Invitational. The 18-year old, whose father is Haitian and mother is Japanese, currently plays under the flag of Japan. Naomi defeated the odds-on favorite, Caroline Garcia of France, by saving four match/championship points against her. They played short sets (first to 4 games, must win by 2 games, tie-break at 4-4) with Osaka prevailing 3-5 5-4 (6) 4-1. Naomi first made noise on tour when the then-17 year old upset Samantha Stosur at the 2014 Bank of the West Classic. The fitness and power of today’s women’s game generally prevents as many teenagers from breaking through and winning Majors as they once did in the past. So give Naomi some time to mature and grow into her game. It might take two or three years before she puts things together. This victory was a great step in that direction. 1 SIMONA HALEP (won 6-0 6-3 vs 7 Flavia Pennetta) 3 MARIA SHARAPOVA (won 4-6 6-3 6-4 vs 5 Agnieszka Radwanska) shaking hands with WTA Finals Ambassador, Li Na RISING STARS INVITATIONAL NAOMI OSAKA (won 3-5 5-4 (6) 4-1 vs Caroline Garcia)
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Post by bangkokbobby on Oct 27, 2015 3:26:42 GMT
more pics and video on my blog: New World #3 Garbine Muguruza Opens 2015 WTA Finals Campaign With Round Robin Win Over Lucie SafarovaGarbine MuguruzaI’ve watched Garbine Muguruza ascend up the WTA rankings over the past few years so in theory it shouldn’t come as a shock to me that she has risen to world #3 in the new singles rankings. Yet somehow it feels like she’s rocketed up the list in recent months in such a surprising and rapid manner that her being the #2 overall seed at the 2015 WTA Finals feels like she’s arrived maybe a year sooner than I expected. But I’m very pleased to see her growth and progression. Gabi opened up play in the White Group with a hard fought 6-3 7-6 (4) victory over Lucie Safarova. Making the switch to coach Sam Sumyk, who was with Victoria Azarenka when she rose to world #1, has been a boon for Muguruza. Regardless of who is still ahead of her (Serena and Simona), Gabi is not intimidated. She’s made it clear that she is working to rise two more spots to the top of the WTA singles mountain. 2 GARBINE MUGURUZA (won 6-3 7-6 (4) vs 8 Lucie Safarova) 6 ANGELIQUE KERBER (won 6-2 7-6 (3) vs 4 Petra Kvitova)
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Post by bangkokbobby on Oct 28, 2015 3:19:49 GMT
more pics and video on my blog: Maria Sharapova Defeats Simona Halep In Round Robin Play At 2015 WTA FinalsMaria SharapovaDespite questions regarding her injury status and match readiness, Maria Sharapova has reached 2-0 in Red Group round robin play at the 2015 WTA Finals. The 5-time Major winner used a mid match hot streak to defeat top overall seed Simona Halep 6-4 6-4. Although nobody in the Red Group is yet assured of reaching the semifinal stage, Masha is in great position to be one of the final four. She is the only unbeatean player in the Red Group and thus holds her own destiny in her hands going into her final round robin match against Flavia Pennetta, who evened her round robin record to 1-1 by beating Agnieszka Radwanska. If Masha wins against Flavia, she’s in the semis. Even if she loses, she still has a chance based on tiebreaker scenarios. But best for her not to take any chances. However, keep in mind that Flavia will enter that match with a slight 3-2 advantage in head to head meetings with Sharapova. Also, with so much time away from match play, Masha is more prone to eventually have one of those days where her timing and consistency is off. I hope that doesn’t happen. Masha at least in the semifinal round is good for the tour. 3 MARIA SHARAPOVA (won 6-4 6-4 vs 1 Simona Halep) 7 FLAVIA PENNETTA (won 7-6 (5) 6-4 vs 5 Agnieszka Radwanska)
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