(Rank/Seed)
In a see saw match, (8/6) Kvitova edged (7/5) Errani 62 16 61 to win her tenth career title.
1st Set
Kvitova dominated to begin with, hitting 19 winners to just 15 errors as she overwhelmed the Italian, who hit a mere one winner.
2nd Set
Out of the blue, despite being broken in the first game, Errani battled back, attacking the net at every opportunity to win 6 straight games to level the match. Errani now hit 8 winners, whilst Kvitova managed only 9 as she struggled to cope with Errani's serve and volley change up.
3rd Set
The first three games were crucial, as both held and then Kvitova recovered from 0-40 down to hold for 2-1. From there on in, the momentum returned to Kvitova who powered through the next five games, finishing with 47 winners to 37 unforced errors; the only real poor stat was her 8 double faults to no aces. Still, Errani did very well to even get in the match, showing a side of her game not many had witnessed before. All in all, my prediction Kvitova would win was correct and it turned out to be a great all court final, with 41 forays to the net between them!
Showing posts with label women's tennis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label women's tennis. Show all posts
Saturday, 23 February 2013
Friday, 22 February 2013
Errani Vs Kvitova
The semi finals saw predictable results with the two higher ranked players pulling through.
(Ranking/Seed)
7/5 Errani beat her close friend and doubles partner (17/-) Vinci 63 63 to reach her second Premier final of the year. In an all court slice, drop shot, topspin match, Errani outlasted her compatriot in a match full of breaks. However, Errani held five times to her opponents two as Vinci just wasn't aggressive enough.
8/6 Kvitova thumped (10/8) Wozniacki 63 64 to reach her first final of 2013. After breaking in the first and ninth games, Kvitova looked to have it under control, but the second was tougher. Still, the Dane couldn't control the points enough to break her opponent, who was hitting winners at will as usual, finishing with 37 for the match.
Kvitova has won all three of their past meetings, all in straight sets on hard courts last year. She also has won 9 of 11 finals, including many big titles i.e. Wimbledon. Errani has a much closer 6-5 advantage in finals; losing the two big ones, both in Paris at the French Open 2012 and indoors this year. Each time she lost to big hitters who dominated; Sharapova and Barthel and so far she's had the tougher route with two three setters, whilst Kvitova hasn't dropped a set so far. Also, Errani is carrying a thigh injury and will no doubt feel fatigued, whilst Kvitova looks fresher than ever and eager. Kvitova will win in straight sets.
(Ranking/Seed)
7/5 Errani beat her close friend and doubles partner (17/-) Vinci 63 63 to reach her second Premier final of the year. In an all court slice, drop shot, topspin match, Errani outlasted her compatriot in a match full of breaks. However, Errani held five times to her opponents two as Vinci just wasn't aggressive enough.
8/6 Kvitova thumped (10/8) Wozniacki 63 64 to reach her first final of 2013. After breaking in the first and ninth games, Kvitova looked to have it under control, but the second was tougher. Still, the Dane couldn't control the points enough to break her opponent, who was hitting winners at will as usual, finishing with 37 for the match.
Kvitova has won all three of their past meetings, all in straight sets on hard courts last year. She also has won 9 of 11 finals, including many big titles i.e. Wimbledon. Errani has a much closer 6-5 advantage in finals; losing the two big ones, both in Paris at the French Open 2012 and indoors this year. Each time she lost to big hitters who dominated; Sharapova and Barthel and so far she's had the tougher route with two three setters, whilst Kvitova hasn't dropped a set so far. Also, Errani is carrying a thigh injury and will no doubt feel fatigued, whilst Kvitova looks fresher than ever and eager. Kvitova will win in straight sets.
Thursday, 21 February 2013
Kvitova KO's Radwanska
The quarter finals took a long time to complete and there was a couple of notable upsets.
(Rank/Seed)
8/6 Kvitova handled defending champion (4/3) A. Radwanska 62 64, hitting 37 winners and 38 unforced errors in a match where she left her opponent completely helpless. After five breaks at the beginning of the match, Kvitova pulled away. One break in the second was enough as Petra constantly saved break points with booming winners. It was her first top 5 win since the 2011 WTA Championships.
7/5 Errani avenged a loss in her last meeting against (12/-) Petrova in a strange match, 64 06 63, making it an all Italian semi final against her close friend and doubles partner, Vinci!
17/- Vinci made beating (9/7) Stosur look simple, mixing up her slice backhand effectively to win 62 64. It was the first time she'd beaten two top 10 players in the same event.
10/8 Wozniacki edged (11/-) Bartoli in the match of the event 46 61 64. With her idol Maradonna in the stands, Wozniacki let a 4-2 first set lead slip, before restoring parity in the second. Despite trailing 0-2 and points for 0-3 in the third, the Dane battled past her determined opponent who reduced a 2-5 deficit to 4-5 40-40. The match was highlighted by long rallies and fantastic all court resistance.
(Rank/Seed)
8/6 Kvitova handled defending champion (4/3) A. Radwanska 62 64, hitting 37 winners and 38 unforced errors in a match where she left her opponent completely helpless. After five breaks at the beginning of the match, Kvitova pulled away. One break in the second was enough as Petra constantly saved break points with booming winners. It was her first top 5 win since the 2011 WTA Championships.
7/5 Errani avenged a loss in her last meeting against (12/-) Petrova in a strange match, 64 06 63, making it an all Italian semi final against her close friend and doubles partner, Vinci!
17/- Vinci made beating (9/7) Stosur look simple, mixing up her slice backhand effectively to win 62 64. It was the first time she'd beaten two top 10 players in the same event.
10/8 Wozniacki edged (11/-) Bartoli in the match of the event 46 61 64. With her idol Maradonna in the stands, Wozniacki let a 4-2 first set lead slip, before restoring parity in the second. Despite trailing 0-2 and points for 0-3 in the third, the Dane battled past her determined opponent who reduced a 2-5 deficit to 4-5 40-40. The match was highlighted by long rallies and fantastic all court resistance.
Wednesday, 20 February 2013
Kerber Continues To Struggle
The second round wrapped up and most of the top players moved on, whilst new number one Serena Williams predictably followed Azarenka in withdrawing from the tournament with a back injury, giving Bartoli a free quarter final place.
(Rank/Seed)
4/3 Defending champion A. Radwanska beat 18 year old wild card Putintseva 75 63.
17/- Vinci picked up her second straight win in their head to head over (6/4) Kerber 75 61. Kerber hit 10 double faults as she completely hit herself out of the match; so far, 2013 hasn't got going at all for the German as she's now lost three straight matches and lost all five times this year to non top 10 players!
7/5 Errani edged Cirstea 64 64 to continue her positive form.
8/6 Kvitova battled past (13/-) Ivanovic 75 76(1), having initially led 5-1 in the first and 5-3 in the second sets.
9/7 Stosur crushed Hsieh 64 60. Like Errani and Kvitova, the Middle Eastern events have resurrected her 2013.
10/8 Wozniacki killed Zheng 60 61, the same number of games dropped as (12/-) Petrova's win over lucky loser Suarez Navarro 61 60.
(Rank/Seed)
4/3 Defending champion A. Radwanska beat 18 year old wild card Putintseva 75 63.
17/- Vinci picked up her second straight win in their head to head over (6/4) Kerber 75 61. Kerber hit 10 double faults as she completely hit herself out of the match; so far, 2013 hasn't got going at all for the German as she's now lost three straight matches and lost all five times this year to non top 10 players!
7/5 Errani edged Cirstea 64 64 to continue her positive form.
8/6 Kvitova battled past (13/-) Ivanovic 75 76(1), having initially led 5-1 in the first and 5-3 in the second sets.
9/7 Stosur crushed Hsieh 64 60. Like Errani and Kvitova, the Middle Eastern events have resurrected her 2013.
10/8 Wozniacki killed Zheng 60 61, the same number of games dropped as (12/-) Petrova's win over lucky loser Suarez Navarro 61 60.
Tuesday, 19 February 2013
Seeds Strong To Begin
The top 10 players were in action today in the 1st round of Dubai and all four who played moved through into the second round, whilst sadly Azarenka announced her withdrawal due to a foot injury (probably she just wants a rest). There's also a pleasant change to the court surface in Dubai which is green this year, as opposed to the now overused blue.
(Rank/Seed)
7/5 Errani edged (20/-) Goerges 63 46 64. The first nine games of the third set went with serve before Errani came from 0-40 down in the tenth to ultimately break to win the match, after staying solid and avoiding her opponents lethal forehand.
8/6 Kvitova crushed qualifier Hantuchova 62 61.
9/7 Stosur handily beat (19/-) Makarova 63 61.
10/8 Wozniacki avenged a loss in their last meeting with (18/-) Safarova 62 62.
Elsewhere, (11/-) Bartoli avenged a recent loss in Shenzhen to Zakapolova 36 64 61, (12/-) Petrova fired 10 aces to edge (15/-) Cibulkova 57 63 62, (13/-) Ivanovic beat Pavlyuchenkova 63 76(5) and Vinci beat in form qualifier Kuznetsova 63 62. The only upset was Cirstea's come back win against (16/-) Stephens 57 63 62, who seems to be struggling to live up to increased expectations since her Australian Open run.
(Rank/Seed)
7/5 Errani edged (20/-) Goerges 63 46 64. The first nine games of the third set went with serve before Errani came from 0-40 down in the tenth to ultimately break to win the match, after staying solid and avoiding her opponents lethal forehand.
8/6 Kvitova crushed qualifier Hantuchova 62 61.
9/7 Stosur handily beat (19/-) Makarova 63 61.
10/8 Wozniacki avenged a loss in their last meeting with (18/-) Safarova 62 62.
Elsewhere, (11/-) Bartoli avenged a recent loss in Shenzhen to Zakapolova 36 64 61, (12/-) Petrova fired 10 aces to edge (15/-) Cibulkova 57 63 62, (13/-) Ivanovic beat Pavlyuchenkova 63 76(5) and Vinci beat in form qualifier Kuznetsova 63 62. The only upset was Cirstea's come back win against (16/-) Stephens 57 63 62, who seems to be struggling to live up to increased expectations since her Australian Open run.
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