WTA 500 Charleston 4/1 - 4/7 2024

[ashkor87]

Townsend doing very well, if she is comfortable on this surface, she could even win the event ..

You're taking her over your beloved Alexandrova?

On a slow court? Yes.

TT lived up to my high estimation of her. Alexandrova is very good,but not on clay...

[ashkor87]

Fernandez vs Stephens is a nice match-up. On clay, Leylah should win .SS has done well at RG in the past but these days, I don't think she can beat Leylah...on this surface, volleying is very effective, Sloane can volley but doesn't,often enough..

[ponchi101]

ANYBODY can beat Leylah. It is not as if she can overpower you, or she is loaded with weapons. She moves well, she is solid, being a lefty helps, but this is one those matches were 50% for both is accurate.

[ashkor87]

ANYBODY can beat Leylah. It is not as if she can overpower you, or she is loaded with weapons. She moves well, she is solid, being a lefty helps, but this is one those matches were 50% for both is accurate.

she is one of the most purposeful and effective volleyers in the game..and her ability to handle pace from the opponent is outstanding .. I do think that latter capability is more useful on faster surfaces but volleying will win her matches even on clay..

[ti-amie]

Friday Order of Play

Credit One Stadium
Starts at 11:00 AM

RUS D. KASATKINA (4) vs ROU J. CRISTIAN
Followed by
USA J. PEGULA (1) vs BLR V. AZARENKA (12)
Followed by
BEL E. MERTENS (11) vs USA D. COLLINS
Followed by
RUS V. KUDERMETOVA (9) vs GRE M. SAKKARI (3)
Followed by
USA N. MELICHAR-MARTINEZ/AUS E. PEREZ (1) vs UKR L. KICHENOK/UKR N. KICHENOK

Althea Gibson
Starts at 12:00 PM

USA A. KRUEGER/USA S. STEPHENS vs GBR O. NICHOLLS/GBR H. WATSON

[ashkor87]

Who is this Cristian? Someone to keep an eye on?

[skatingfan]

Who is this Cristian? Someone to keep an eye on?

Looks like a player having a good week during the their career peak. 25 years old, and just playing regularly on tour in past few months since cracking the top 100 last year. I'm sure they're a very good player, but unlikely to have much of an impact in the long run.

[nelslus]

Who is this Cristian? Someone to keep an eye on?

Looks like a player having a good week during the their career peak. 25 years old, and just playing regularly on tour in past few months since cracking the top 100 last year. I'm sure they're a very good player, but unlikely to have much of an impact in the long run.

....WHEN Christian wins Wimbledon this year, won't YOU eat your words....


Alternate post: Co-sign.

Alternate post, the Return: Unless, of course, Alycia Parks wins the 2024 WImbledon title.

[skatingfan]

....WHEN Christian wins Wimbledon this year, won't YOU eat your words....


Alternate post: Co-sign.

Alternate post, the Return: Unless, of course, Alycia Parks wins the 2024 WImbledon title.

1-3 on Grass last year - I think I'm good.

[ashkor87]

Superstition says the player who beat the reigning champion will win...Collins, then!

[meganfernandez]

Who is this Cristian? Someone to keep an eye on?

Looks like a player having a good week during the their career peak. 25 years old, and just playing regularly on tour in past few months since cracking the top 100 last year. I'm sure they're a very good player, but unlikely to have much of an impact in the long run.

Wins over Keys and Navarro don't mean a lot IMO. Even on their favorite surface. Both of those players should have won and had every opportunity to win. Christian outcompeted both of them fair and square, but more intense players would have won those matches.

Emma doesn't seem to have a killer instinct or an intense bone in her body. I'm not sure how competitive she is. You'd think you have to be somewhat competitive to breeze to the NCAA title and get to 20 in the world, but it wasn't there yesterday. She competed well to win a tight second set, fending off 2 match points, but I think she just concentrates more than competes.

[ashkor87]

saw a bit of the Keys-Cristian match - Cristian looks like a newer lighter version of Halep - light on her feet, great footwork on clay, fearless returns. She may do well this cay season..

[meganfernandez]

Pegula-Azarenka was amazing. Pegula edged it 7-6 in the third for her best win of the year. She had 3 math points at love-40 on Vika's serve in the third, at 4-5, didn't convert. Then Vika had three match points at 6-3 in the breaker and another one later. Pegula played some of her best stuff down those match points. Tough loss for Vika, she played great and came back from a set and 3-1 down.

Collins still looks like the best player in the draw.

[nelslus]

Pegula-Azarenka was amazing. Pegula edged it 7-6 in the third for her best win of the year. She had 3 math points at love-40 on Vika's serve in the third, at 4-5, didn't convert. Then Vika had three match points at 6-3 in the breaker and another one later. Pegula played some of her best stuff down those match points. Tough loss for Vika, she played great and came back from a set and 3-1 down.

Collins still looks like the best player in the draw.

Pegula actually had a 4th match point after the love-40 lead where she had been up 5-4. It was funny how great they both played when match points down, and how tight they got when match points up. The last two points in the third set tiebreaker, Vika missed a VERY makable pass (after a couple of pretty shaky volleys from Pegula), and then Vika hit over the baseline. Nervy stuff- but, obviously, very dramatic.

[nelslus]

....WHEN Christian wins Wimbledon this year, won't YOU eat your words....


Alternate post: Co-sign.

Alternate post, the Return: Unless, of course, Alycia Parks wins the 2024 WImbledon title.

1-3 on Grass last year - I think I'm good.

....You said it here first, Suliso.