(Rank/Seed)
26/- Pavlyuchenkova secured the biggest title of her career with a 36 62 63 win over (7/3) Errani, her 6th title overall. The match was full of changes in momentum and successive runs of games but fortune seems to favour the underdog here as this marks the 5th time in the last 6 where a non top 10 player has won the title, beating a favoured opponent in the final. Errani is still without a Premier title and Errani's year spookily seems to be mirroring 2013; 2r Shenzhen (Brisbane last year), QF Sydney, 1r Australian Open, F Paris Indoors...what next? QF Doha?
1st Set
Pavlyuchenkova started quicker, hitting early winners to take a 3-1 lead. However, Errani mixed up the game brilliantly with topspin and drop shots to change the momentum, winning 5 straight games to take the set. Pavlyuchenkova looked deflated and fatigued, constantly querying line calls as if the whole world was against her.
2nd Set
Errani extended her winning run to 7 games in taking a 2-0 lead, even holding a point to break again for 3-0, frustrating the Russian with her gritty defence. Pavlyuchenkova served well to avert that disaster and began to recapture her form from the first set. At one stage, Errani had remarkably hit more forehand winners than the Russian as she attacked her opponents second serve, but this aggressive approach meant that Errani made some uncharacteristic mistakes. Most importantly, Pavlyuchenkova was back in the match mentally as she won 6 straight games to even the match.
3rd Set
After Pavlyuchenkova won her 7th straight game to hold in the first game, Errani then went on another run, showing no signs of fatigue despite a strapped thigh to take a 3-1 lead as the Russian inexplicably went off the boil, again! Still, Pavlyuchenkova has managed to find a way through tough three set matches all week and once again solved the puzzle, hitting all out to win the last 5 games of the match, finishing with her 48th winner. She only hit 33 unforced errors, compared to Errani's modest 18:16 ratio.
Monday, 3 February 2014
Saturday, 1 February 2014
Pavlyuchenkova shocks Sharapova
The semi finals were both close and intense three set battles. Sharapova will now go on to work for CBS, covering the Winter Olympics held in Sochi, Russia.
(Rank/Seed)
Russian, (26/-) Pavlyuchenkova continued her recent improved form with a hard fought 46 63 64 win against compatriot, (5/1) Sharapova to reach her 2nd Premier final after Brisbane 2013. Sharapova started sharply in building a 4-1 lead behind authoritative play, but Pavlyuchenkova warmed to the challenge to level at 4-4. Sharapova broke for the set but the signs that this would be a tough match were clear as Pavlyuchenkova took the ball early on the return, running Sharapova side to side to break twice in the second set as Sharapova's service games grew longer. Respecting Sharapova's return from their last match (which she lost in three sets in Cincinnati 2010), Pavlyuchenkova concentrated to remain unbroken in the third set bar the first game. Despite the early break lead, Sharapova's serve became increasingly ineffective at getting her out of tight spots as Pavlyuchenkova piled on the pressure with her go for broke approach and frustrating defence and anticipation. The mental pressure of serving behind told as she hit successive double faults to lose the match. This was Pavlyuchenkova's fourth straight three set win here, whilst it seems Sharapova is still struggling to find mental consistency in three set matches where she was once so secure! In a match all about the big one, two punch, fine margins made the difference as both finished with impressive winner:error ratios; Pavlyuchenkova 28:15, Sharapova 32:23.
7/3 Errani's year continues to follow last year's pattern as she reached the final here off the back of a first round defeat at the Australian Open, edging France's, (25/25) Cornet 76(3) 36 76(5). The match took over 3 hours with both players struggling to hold their serves but both players showed plenty of heart. Cornet was always fighting back, using the crowds support to help her recover from 3-5 down in the decider to lead 6-5 and then from 3-5 to 5-5 in the tiebreak. However, Errani handled her emotions better throughout against a typically demonstrative Cornet to eventually overcome the challenge, her 4th straight win against Cornet.
Pavlyuchenkova beat Errani in their only previous meeting, indoors during the Fed Cup in 2011 in two tiebreakers. Pavlyuchenkova also has the better finals record, winning 5 from 8 compared to Errani's 7 from 14. Both players are hunting for their first Premier title and they will both be tired (Errani scratched the doubles semi final). I think Pavlyuchenkova should have too much weight of shot for Errani and will claim a third straight top 10 win to do as Pironkova did a few weeks ago in Sydney. Errani, I fear will suffer the same fate as last year in being overpowered in the final.
(Rank/Seed)
Russian, (26/-) Pavlyuchenkova continued her recent improved form with a hard fought 46 63 64 win against compatriot, (5/1) Sharapova to reach her 2nd Premier final after Brisbane 2013. Sharapova started sharply in building a 4-1 lead behind authoritative play, but Pavlyuchenkova warmed to the challenge to level at 4-4. Sharapova broke for the set but the signs that this would be a tough match were clear as Pavlyuchenkova took the ball early on the return, running Sharapova side to side to break twice in the second set as Sharapova's service games grew longer. Respecting Sharapova's return from their last match (which she lost in three sets in Cincinnati 2010), Pavlyuchenkova concentrated to remain unbroken in the third set bar the first game. Despite the early break lead, Sharapova's serve became increasingly ineffective at getting her out of tight spots as Pavlyuchenkova piled on the pressure with her go for broke approach and frustrating defence and anticipation. The mental pressure of serving behind told as she hit successive double faults to lose the match. This was Pavlyuchenkova's fourth straight three set win here, whilst it seems Sharapova is still struggling to find mental consistency in three set matches where she was once so secure! In a match all about the big one, two punch, fine margins made the difference as both finished with impressive winner:error ratios; Pavlyuchenkova 28:15, Sharapova 32:23.
7/3 Errani's year continues to follow last year's pattern as she reached the final here off the back of a first round defeat at the Australian Open, edging France's, (25/25) Cornet 76(3) 36 76(5). The match took over 3 hours with both players struggling to hold their serves but both players showed plenty of heart. Cornet was always fighting back, using the crowds support to help her recover from 3-5 down in the decider to lead 6-5 and then from 3-5 to 5-5 in the tiebreak. However, Errani handled her emotions better throughout against a typically demonstrative Cornet to eventually overcome the challenge, her 4th straight win against Cornet.
Pavlyuchenkova beat Errani in their only previous meeting, indoors during the Fed Cup in 2011 in two tiebreakers. Pavlyuchenkova also has the better finals record, winning 5 from 8 compared to Errani's 7 from 14. Both players are hunting for their first Premier title and they will both be tired (Errani scratched the doubles semi final). I think Pavlyuchenkova should have too much weight of shot for Errani and will claim a third straight top 10 win to do as Pironkova did a few weeks ago in Sydney. Errani, I fear will suffer the same fate as last year in being overpowered in the final.
Friday, 31 January 2014
Pavlyuchenkova pummels Kerber
The quarter finals saw one upset.
(Rank/Seed)
5/1 Sharapova advanced beyond the quarters here for the first time in beating Belgium's (21/8) Flipkens 62 62. Sharapova is unbeaten in their head to head (4-0) and was only broken once all match as she handled Flipkens all court game and slice backhand well.
7/3 Errani avenged the first round loss of her close friend and doubles partner, (14/6) Vinci at the hands of the Ukraine's, Svitolina, beating her 62 63.
Russian, Pavlyuchenkova beat (9/4) Kerber 57 63 76(3) for a third time in 5 meetings to reach her first semi final here. After losing a tense first set in which she'd led 4-1, Pavlyuchenkova relaxed in the second, bossing the points with her flat hitting. However, Kerber was as resilient as ever in retrieving some seeming winners time and time again and actually led with service through the third set. Though Pavlyuchenkova would break in the 11th game to serve for the match, Kerber broke straight back to enforce the breaker. It was here that Pavlyuchenkova's greater weight of shot and willingness to take risks paid off as she maintained her perfect record against the German in tiebreakers at 3-0.
France's, Cornet gave the home crowd something to cheer about after outlasting German, Petkovic 76(6) 57 63 after having missed three match points in the second set, one of which she thought she'd hit an ace on!
(Rank/Seed)
5/1 Sharapova advanced beyond the quarters here for the first time in beating Belgium's (21/8) Flipkens 62 62. Sharapova is unbeaten in their head to head (4-0) and was only broken once all match as she handled Flipkens all court game and slice backhand well.
7/3 Errani avenged the first round loss of her close friend and doubles partner, (14/6) Vinci at the hands of the Ukraine's, Svitolina, beating her 62 63.
Russian, Pavlyuchenkova beat (9/4) Kerber 57 63 76(3) for a third time in 5 meetings to reach her first semi final here. After losing a tense first set in which she'd led 4-1, Pavlyuchenkova relaxed in the second, bossing the points with her flat hitting. However, Kerber was as resilient as ever in retrieving some seeming winners time and time again and actually led with service through the third set. Though Pavlyuchenkova would break in the 11th game to serve for the match, Kerber broke straight back to enforce the breaker. It was here that Pavlyuchenkova's greater weight of shot and willingness to take risks paid off as she maintained her perfect record against the German in tiebreakers at 3-0.
France's, Cornet gave the home crowd something to cheer about after outlasting German, Petkovic 76(6) 57 63 after having missed three match points in the second set, one of which she thought she'd hit an ace on!
Thursday, 30 January 2014
Sharapova makes storming start but Halep's humbled
The draw in Paris is one of the best in the last few years with 4 top 10 players in action. 2011 champion Kvitova was also due to play but withdrew prior to her second round match on Thursday with a sore throat and virus. The top 4 seeds were given a bye.
(Rank/Seed)
5/1 Sharapova started brilliantly considering her disappointing fourth round exit in Melbourne, crushing Slovakia's Hantuchova 60 61. Sharapova's confectionary brand, Sugarpova is one of the tournament sponsors and it seems that the courts really suit Maria as she blasted 10 aces past her opponent.
7/3 Errani, a finalist here last year, upended her compatriot Knapp 64 63 for the first time in 4 meetings, using sublime drop shots to optimum effect.
9/4 Kerber, the 2012 champion defeated Czech, Zakopalova 62 75 for a 4th time in 5 meetings. She played unusually well behind her serve, losing only 11 points on serve all match to remain unbroken, finishing 5 of them to love!
10/5 Halep, coming off her first major quarter final in Melbourne, was playing her first week as a top 10 player, the first Romanian since Irina Spirlea in 1996 to achieve the feat. However, reality hit hard as she was narrowly beaten by home wildcard Mladenovic 76(1) 64, who was fresh off the Australian Open mixed doubles title with Daniel Nestor. After arriving only on Monday and suffering jetlag, Mladenovic looked to make the points short, hitting an impressive 11 aces and a flurry of forehand winners. Having missed a set point when serving for the first set at 6-5, Halep was never truly in contention again as Mladenovic routinely crushed the second serve return, maintaining Halep's winless record in the main draw here at 0-3. For Mladenovic, this was her second top 10 win having beaten Kvitova in the quarters here a year ago. She obviously loves Paris...I wonder why?
(Rank/Seed)
5/1 Sharapova started brilliantly considering her disappointing fourth round exit in Melbourne, crushing Slovakia's Hantuchova 60 61. Sharapova's confectionary brand, Sugarpova is one of the tournament sponsors and it seems that the courts really suit Maria as she blasted 10 aces past her opponent.
7/3 Errani, a finalist here last year, upended her compatriot Knapp 64 63 for the first time in 4 meetings, using sublime drop shots to optimum effect.
9/4 Kerber, the 2012 champion defeated Czech, Zakopalova 62 75 for a 4th time in 5 meetings. She played unusually well behind her serve, losing only 11 points on serve all match to remain unbroken, finishing 5 of them to love!
10/5 Halep, coming off her first major quarter final in Melbourne, was playing her first week as a top 10 player, the first Romanian since Irina Spirlea in 1996 to achieve the feat. However, reality hit hard as she was narrowly beaten by home wildcard Mladenovic 76(1) 64, who was fresh off the Australian Open mixed doubles title with Daniel Nestor. After arriving only on Monday and suffering jetlag, Mladenovic looked to make the points short, hitting an impressive 11 aces and a flurry of forehand winners. Having missed a set point when serving for the first set at 6-5, Halep was never truly in contention again as Mladenovic routinely crushed the second serve return, maintaining Halep's winless record in the main draw here at 0-3. For Mladenovic, this was her second top 10 win having beaten Kvitova in the quarters here a year ago. She obviously loves Paris...I wonder why?
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