(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.
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