(Rank/Seed)
23/- Halep was a picture of consistency in her 62 62 victory over defending champion (9/3) Kvitova. Her numbers were exceptionally clean; 14 winners to 6 unforced errors, compared to Kvitova's 13:25 ratio. With the win, Halep becomes the fourth Romanian woman to crack the top 20.
1st Set
Kvitova had control initially, hitting big and rushing Halep. She held 2 break points in the 2nd game and then again in the 4th. However, before long Halep became accustomed to Kvitova's pace and began bossing the play herself, hitting deceptive winners down the line. Kvitova's game fell apart as Halep seemed to get everything back with interest.
2nd Set
Kvitova won a mere 3 points in the first 4 games as Halep extended her winning streak to 9 straight games. Even when she got her 1st serve in, Kvitova won less than half the points as Halep played with superb consistency whilst Kvitova's errors, especially on return mounted. She was a shadow of the player from the semis and Halep closed out the match to love with an ace to claim her 4th title of this summer, making her the 2nd most prolific champion this year thus far, behind only Williams.
Sunday, 25 August 2013
Saturday, 24 August 2013
Halep ends Wozniacki's winning run; Kvitova next
One semi final saw a big upset in New Haven, whilst the other was a rout.
(Rank/Seed)
8/4 Wozniacki suffered an unfamiliar experience; a loss in New Haven at the hands of (23/-) Halep 62 75. From the beginning, Wozniacki struggled to find her rhythm against the compact Romanian who dictated the play throughout, hitting 12 winners in the 1st set. Though Wozniacki played better in the second set, coming from a break down twice to ultimately lead 5-4, she made too many errors trying to force the issue. Halep was disgruntled at times herself, but ultimately targeted her attack at the increasingly dubious Wozniacki forehand and in doing so claimed her 4th career top 10 win. This was Wozniacki's 1st ever true match loss i.e. non retirement in New Haven in 25 matches!
9/3 Kvitova had her first straight sets win of the week, crushing compatriot Zakopalova 60 61. Kvitova admitted that the first 2 games were close, but from there on in she dominated her equally mercurial opponent.
The final will be a first meeting between the two. Kvitova has won 10 titles in her career, but only 1 this year. This is Halep's second Premier level final, so she could get nervous but her form in the last 4 months has been exemplary; 3 titles won (the joint 2nd best this year!), 2 Premier 5 level quarter finals or better and 3 top 10 wins. However, Kvitova's power may prove decisive and I favour her to win.
(Rank/Seed)
8/4 Wozniacki suffered an unfamiliar experience; a loss in New Haven at the hands of (23/-) Halep 62 75. From the beginning, Wozniacki struggled to find her rhythm against the compact Romanian who dictated the play throughout, hitting 12 winners in the 1st set. Though Wozniacki played better in the second set, coming from a break down twice to ultimately lead 5-4, she made too many errors trying to force the issue. Halep was disgruntled at times herself, but ultimately targeted her attack at the increasingly dubious Wozniacki forehand and in doing so claimed her 4th career top 10 win. This was Wozniacki's 1st ever true match loss i.e. non retirement in New Haven in 25 matches!
9/3 Kvitova had her first straight sets win of the week, crushing compatriot Zakopalova 60 61. Kvitova admitted that the first 2 games were close, but from there on in she dominated her equally mercurial opponent.
The final will be a first meeting between the two. Kvitova has won 10 titles in her career, but only 1 this year. This is Halep's second Premier level final, so she could get nervous but her form in the last 4 months has been exemplary; 3 titles won (the joint 2nd best this year!), 2 Premier 5 level quarter finals or better and 3 top 10 wins. However, Kvitova's power may prove decisive and I favour her to win.
Friday, 23 August 2013
Wozniacki stamps Stephens out
The quarter finals were played in rain interrupted, humid conditions.
(Rank/Seed)
8/4 Wozniacki was happy with her aggressive play in beating (17/6/WC) Stephens 76(6) 62. The American, who had beaten Sharapova just last week in Cincinnati had the early initiative; leading 4-2 and serving for the 1st set at 5-4. She even came from 3-5 down in the tiebreak, but each time Wozniacki upped her game and often attacked the net. This was her 23rd win in 24 matches here!
9/3 Kvitova had yet another 3 setter, just edging Pavlyuchenkova 26 62 75 in a rain interrupted match. Kvitova barely led the head to head 4-3 and had lost their meeting earlier this year at Brisbane. She actually won less points than her opponent but was able to break the Russian in the last game of the 3rd set from 15-40 down. This is Kvitova's 1st semi final since Katowice back during the clay court season!
Elsewhere, Halep continued her impressive run of form in reaching her 5th semi final in her last 9 tournaments with a 61 76(6) win over Makarova and Zakopalova recovered to beat Vesnina 46 60 64.
(Rank/Seed)
8/4 Wozniacki was happy with her aggressive play in beating (17/6/WC) Stephens 76(6) 62. The American, who had beaten Sharapova just last week in Cincinnati had the early initiative; leading 4-2 and serving for the 1st set at 5-4. She even came from 3-5 down in the tiebreak, but each time Wozniacki upped her game and often attacked the net. This was her 23rd win in 24 matches here!
9/3 Kvitova had yet another 3 setter, just edging Pavlyuchenkova 26 62 75 in a rain interrupted match. Kvitova barely led the head to head 4-3 and had lost their meeting earlier this year at Brisbane. She actually won less points than her opponent but was able to break the Russian in the last game of the 3rd set from 15-40 down. This is Kvitova's 1st semi final since Katowice back during the clay court season!
Elsewhere, Halep continued her impressive run of form in reaching her 5th semi final in her last 9 tournaments with a 61 76(6) win over Makarova and Zakopalova recovered to beat Vesnina 46 60 64.
Thursday, 22 August 2013
Wozniacki keeps winning
Obviously, there aren't many top 10 players left in New Haven. However, two survived the second round.
(Rank/Seed)
8/4 Wozniacki struggled a little with dizziness, but still claimed a 61 75 win over qualifier Knapp; her 22nd victory in 23 career matches here!
9/3 Kvitova had yet another 3 set struggle, eventually subduing qualifier Riske 76(5) 46 63.
Elsewhere, (17/6/WC) Stephens overcame Goerges 75 26 61, in form Halep came from 36 24 down to edge (20/-) Suarez Navarro 36 64 61, Pavlyuchenkova handled Wimbledon finalist (18/7) Lisicki 75 63 and Zakopalova cruised past qualifier Puig 64 61.
(Rank/Seed)
8/4 Wozniacki struggled a little with dizziness, but still claimed a 61 75 win over qualifier Knapp; her 22nd victory in 23 career matches here!
9/3 Kvitova had yet another 3 set struggle, eventually subduing qualifier Riske 76(5) 46 63.
Elsewhere, (17/6/WC) Stephens overcame Goerges 75 26 61, in form Halep came from 36 24 down to edge (20/-) Suarez Navarro 36 64 61, Pavlyuchenkova handled Wimbledon finalist (18/7) Lisicki 75 63 and Zakopalova cruised past qualifier Puig 64 61.
Wednesday, 21 August 2013
Errani and Kerber ousted early
There have been a number of big upsets already at the New Haven Open. The top 2 seeds had 1st round byes.
(Ranking/Seed)
5/1 Errani lost surprisingly to (26/-) Makarova 75 61. Makarova's big shots were all going in, including 8 aces. Even though she looked pained at times in the heat, Makarova continued to hit through her opponent, winning 7 straight games. Errani had won their last 2 meetings and recovered from 0-3 to 3-3, but only had 5 winners in the 1st set to her opponents 22.
10/2 Kerber continued her slump with a 62 64 loss to in form (24/-) Vesnina. The 2nd set featured several breaks of serve, but Vesnina maintained her consistency under pressure; despite the German's typically strong defence. Kerber has now lost prior to the quarters in 6 of her last 7 events as her top 10 ranking looks in jeopardy.
9/3 Kvitova started her title defence shakily with a 46 63 63 win over Beck, having trailed a break in the 2nd set.
8/4 Wozniacki is back in form and loves New Haven, so it's not surprising she claimed her 21st win in 22 matches here, though it wasn't as she would've liked. The former 4 time champion struggled to find a rhythm early as Peng took the 1st set 62, but was forced to retire down 1-3 in the 2nd set with sickness.
(Ranking/Seed)
5/1 Errani lost surprisingly to (26/-) Makarova 75 61. Makarova's big shots were all going in, including 8 aces. Even though she looked pained at times in the heat, Makarova continued to hit through her opponent, winning 7 straight games. Errani had won their last 2 meetings and recovered from 0-3 to 3-3, but only had 5 winners in the 1st set to her opponents 22.
10/2 Kerber continued her slump with a 62 64 loss to in form (24/-) Vesnina. The 2nd set featured several breaks of serve, but Vesnina maintained her consistency under pressure; despite the German's typically strong defence. Kerber has now lost prior to the quarters in 6 of her last 7 events as her top 10 ranking looks in jeopardy.
9/3 Kvitova started her title defence shakily with a 46 63 63 win over Beck, having trailed a break in the 2nd set.
8/4 Wozniacki is back in form and loves New Haven, so it's not surprising she claimed her 21st win in 22 matches here, though it wasn't as she would've liked. The former 4 time champion struggled to find a rhythm early as Peng took the 1st set 62, but was forced to retire down 1-3 in the 2nd set with sickness.
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