Also, notice for Cagla Buyukakcay, who effectively re-writes almost every page of the WTA Turkish records book today by reaching the final in Istanbul (she was already the first Turk to make a WTA singles SF in the last round). She'll also break in to the top 100 for the first time. Nice to do it all at home, too. She still has some way to go to match the highest Turkish ranking though, as Ipek Senoglu topped out at WR53.
Scrub that last part! Senoglu's WR53 was in doubles. So, Cagla is also the first Turk in to the WTA top 100. Well done her!
-- Edited by insomniacfolder on Saturday 23rd of April 2016 06:03:07 PM
Little shout for Laura Siegemund (GER) who, as a qualifier, put out Halep in two easy sets yesterday.
She backed it up today with a thorough dismantling of Vinci - more accustomed to being the perpetrator of such things than on the receiving end. Siegemund played some really lovely stuff today, including one rather delicious backhand-cross-court lob. You can see the confidence flowing through her right now. Her reaction at the end of the match, in front of the German crowd, was also pleasingly unrestrained and joyous.
The run continues, as Laura just absolutely dismantled Aga 6-4 6-2 to make the final against Angie, and guarantee a German title. Yet to lose a set this week in 7 matches. She's become the German JoKo
Starting the week already at a CH 71 that's Laura apparently up to WR 42 and on to WR 36 if she wins the final.
A big shout out for a little guy with a big heart.
Diego Schwartzman at all of 5 feet and 7 inches takes his first ATP title by beating Grigor Dimtrov in Istanbul.
Dimitrov seemingly retired at at *0-5 40-40 in the final set after smashing what was presumably his last racket. He had already obliterated three of them at earlier points in the match.
EDIT: Dimitrov was actually given a game penalty for racket abuse at duece in the final game after previously having had a warning and a point penalty.
-- Edited by RJA on Sunday 1st of May 2016 05:16:29 PM
Does have a good feel to it - not only for Luczak but because it suggests some really strong talents and good management behind recent Aussie successes. (Well, good feel for them. Less so for other teams that may have to play them in DC!)
Although they have beaten the Brits (boo, hiss), this is a lovely article about the Uruguay team in the women's young senior world championships - supposedly the whole of their country is following, they have no idea where they are (Umag) or who they're playing - and the event has no flag for them - but they're loving every minute
http://www.itftennis.com/news/228675.aspx
-- Edited by Coup Droit on Friday 6th of May 2016 12:40:43 PM
Looking at the men's "young seniors" championship, though, there is a certain humour, given that eleven members of the top 100 in singles are currently 34 or over ... and in doubles, 21 of the current top 100 are 35 or over, including three (Nestor/Paes/Knowle) who are over 40. The boundaries are shifting ...
Myrtille Georges aged 25, career high 192 beat McHale at Roland Garros, playing amazing tennis bar the occasional nervy double fault, and some underwhelming drive volleys. Not beaten anyone ranked inside 200 on clay this year until today.
Quite 'remarkable', and certainly 'incredible' and very much a 'performance', Alize Cornet managed to struggle through her third set against Tatiana Maria today, despite having an injury so severe she could hardly limp from side to side between points. She stayed quite good at scampering forwards to field dropshots though, scrambling back for overheads, covering the corners of the court, and won 6-4 in the third.
She seemed to me to have succeeded in persuading a baying crowd to shame Maria from trying to win the match.
Quite 'remarkable', and certainly 'incredible' and very much a 'performance', Alize Cornet managed to struggle through her third set against Tatiana Maria today, despite having an injury so severe she could hardly limp from side to side between points. She stayed quite good at scampering forwards to field dropshots though, scrambling back for overheads, covering the corners of the court, and won 6-4 in the third.
She seemed to me to have succeeded in persuading a baying crowd to shame Maria from trying to win the match.
It was all rather undignified, but then, no one, including Alizé ever pretended she's not a drama queen; she started off as an actress.
The two actually are playing doubles against each other today. Warm handshakes might be scarce currency.
Was going through doubles results, and one non-GB one elicited a smile. Brian Baker, who has been discussed on this thread before (in essence, you could write a medical textbook focused solely on his injuries) is into the 3rd round of the doubles with Marcus Daniell.
Turned up in Nurnberg qualifiers, ten days ago; won the tournament. Also won the doubles with Larsson.
Rewarded for this with a lousy draw at Roland Garros, against Kerber, she beats her. Then beats 2 more, including Kasatkina, and on a singles run of Played 10, Won 10.
The doubles run lasted for 6 unbeaten, until they drew the Williams sisters. Kiki+ just won that one too, 6-3, 6-3.