by ti-amie Tournament: Porsche Tennis Grand Prix
Location: Stuttgart, Germany
Date: April 15 – April 21, 2024
Category: WTA 500
Surface: Clay
Prize Money: $922,573 (Distribution Overview)
Name Country WTA Ranking
1 Swiatek, Iga Poland POL 1
2 Sabalenka, Aryna 2
3 Gauff, Coco USA USA 3
4 Rybakina, Elena Kazakhstan KAZ 4
5 Pegula, Jessica USA USA 5
6 Jabeur, Ons Tunisia TUN 6
7 Zheng, Qinwen China CHN 7
8 Vondrousova, Marketa Czech Republic CZE 8
9 Ostapenko, Jelena Latvia LAT 10
10 Paolini, Jasmin Italy ITA 14
11 Samsonova, Liudmila 15
12 Alexandrova, Ekaterina 16
13 Kudermetova, Veronika 19
14 Navarro, Emma USA USA 20
15 Krejcikova, Barbora Czech Republic CZE 21
16 Cirstea, Sorana Romania ROU 24
17 Kostyuk, Marta Ukraine UKR 26
18 Mertens, Elise Belgium BEL 28
19 Potapova, Anastasia 29
20 Noskova, Linda Czech Republic CZE 31
21 W Maria, Tatjana Germany GER 48
22 W Siegemund, Laura Germany GER 91
23 W Raducanu, Emma Great Britain GBR 288
24 W Kerber, Angelique Germany GER 342
Steur, Joelle Germany GER 669
Guth, Mara Germany GER 521
Kuhl, Carolina Germany GER 421
Daems, Josy
by ti-amie Qualifying Entry List
Nr. Name Country Rank
1 ANNA KALINSKAYA - 25
2 DANIELLE COLLINS USA 53
3 DIANA SHNAIDER - 62
4 GREET MINNEN BEL 79
5 PAULA BADOSA ESP 80
6 OCEANE DODIN FRA 84
7 LAURA SIEGEMUND GER 91
8 KAMILLA RAKHIMOVA - 95
9 HAILEY BAPTISTE USA 96
10 SARA ERRANI ITA 97
11 ALIAKSANDRA SASNOVICH - 103
12 MARINA BASSOLS RIBERA ESP 107
13 JULE NIEMEIER GER 112
14 SARA BEJLEK CZE 130
WC ELLA SEIDEL GER 150
WC NASTASJA SCHUNK GER 61
by ti-amie Round 1 Prize $4,200
Round 2 Prize $7,010
RUS A. Kalinskaya (1) vs GER C. Kuhl
LIE K. Von Deichmann vs ITA S. Errani (5)
RUS D. Shnaider (2) vs RUS V. Zvonareva
CYP R. Serban vs CZE S. Bejlek (8)
BEL G. Minnen (3) vs AUS O. Gadecki
GER N. Schunk vs USA S. Vickery (7)
FRA O. Dodin (4) vs GER E. Seidel
CRO J. Fett vs BLR A. Sasnovich (6)
by
ti-amie Monday Order of Play
Centre Court
Starts at 11:00 AM
RUS D. SHNAIDER vs ESP P. BADOSA
Followed By
RUS V. KUDERMETOVA vs CZE B. KREJCIKOVA
Court 1
Starts at 8:00 AM
RUS A. POTAPOVA/RUS V. ZVONAREVA vs
USA A. MUHAMMAD/INA A. SUTJIADI (4)
Followed by
USA S. VICKERY vs BLR A. SASNOVICH
https://wtafiles.wtatennis.com/pdf/draw ... 051/OP.pdf
by ashkor87 Too early to say, but Stuttgart is often a good early indicator for the French...better than Madrid and Rome, actually..
by ashkor87 I am not yet convinced Coco is really good on clay, not Pegula...so I expect the big 3 to dominate this .Swiatek, Sabalenka, Rybakina..
by ashkor87 As for the rest, Samsonova is good on clay, Alexandrova is not ..Jabeur is probably still hobbled by injuries..Osta is playing well and is a FO champ...very interested to see how Krejcikova does..love her silky smooth shotmaking..
by ponchi101 Remember Ostapenko's record at RG. It is incredibly odd. Starting in 2016:
1r, W, 1r, 1r, 3r, 1r, 2r, 2r.
The oddest slam champion that I can think of.
by
ashkor87 ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Apr 15, 2024 2:53 pm
Remember Ostapenko's record at RG. It is incredibly odd. Starting in 2016:
1r, W, 1r, 1r, 3r, 1r, 2r, 2r.
The oddest slam champion that I can think of.
True but she has been doing reasonably well on hard courts (except against Vika!)
by ti-amie Tuesday Order of Play
Centre Court
Starts at 6:30 AM
ITA J. PAOLINI vs ITA S. ERRANI
Followed by
CHN Q. ZHENG (5) vs ROU S. CIRSTEA
Followed by
CZE M. VONDROUSOVA (6) vs CRO D. VEKIC
Followed by
GER T. MARIA vs BEL E. MERTENS
Followed by
CZE L. NOSKOVA vs LAT J. OSTAPENKO (8)
Court 1
Starts at 6:30 AM
USA D. KRAWCZYK/NED D. SCHUURS (1) vs GER N. SCHUNK/GER E. SEIDEL
Followed by
JPN S. AOYAMA/UKR N. KICHENOK (3) vs ESP P. BADOSA/TUN O. JABEUR
Followed by
TPE F. WU/CHN Y. XU vs CZE B. KREJCIKOVA/GER L. SIEGEMUND (2)
Followed by
RUS L. SAMSONOVA/RUS D. SHNAIDER vs SVK T. MIHALIKOVA/RUS Y. SIZIKOVA
by
ashkor87 ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Apr 15, 2024 2:53 pm
Remember Ostapenko's record at RG. It is incredibly odd. Starting in 2016:
1r, W, 1r, 1r, 3r, 1r, 2r, 2r.
The oddest slam champion that I can think of.
Strangely enough she has done better at Wimbledon..!
by ponchi101 She has said her favorite surface is grass. And with her go for broke style, you can bet it is.
by
ptmcmahon ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Apr 15, 2024 2:53 pm
Remember Ostapenko's record at RG. It is incredibly odd. Starting in 2016:
1r, W, 1r, 1r, 3r, 1r, 2r, 2r.
The oddest slam champion that I can think of.
i mean really... there is only one truly odd result in there
by ashkor87 I love her, though...
by ashkor87 great win for QZ over Cirstea, and Paolini over Errani.. of course Cirstea is not a clay court specialist as such (i think) and QZ is very good on clay.. may be she is the one who will surprise us at the FO
by
ponchi101 ptmcmahon wrote: ↑Tue Apr 16, 2024 3:34 am
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Apr 15, 2024 2:53 pm
Remember Ostapenko's record at RG. It is incredibly odd. Starting in 2016:
1r, W, 1r, 1r, 3r, 1r, 2r, 2r.
The oddest slam champion that I can think of.
i mean really... there is only one truly odd result in there
Hadn't thought about it that way. And, indeed.
by ti-amie Wednesday Order of Play
Centre Court
Starts at 6:30 AM
RUS E. ALEXANDROVA vs TUN O. JABEUR (7)
Followed by
UKR M. KOSTYUK vs GER L. SIEGEMUND
Followed by
USA S. VICKERY vs USA C. GAUFF (3)
Followed by
GBR E. RADUCANU vs GER A. KERBER
Followed by
ESP P. BADOSA vs BLR A. SABALENKA (2)
Court 1
Starts at 6:30 AM
USA B. MATTEK-SANDS/CHN S. ZHANG vs CHN H. GUO/CHN X. JIANG
Followed by
TPE H. CHAN/RUS V. KUDERMETOVA vs MEX G. OLMOS/RUS A. PANOVA
Followed by
RUS L. SAMSONOVA vs RUS A. POTAPOVA
Followed by
NOR U. EIKERI/EST I. NEEL vs ITA S. ERRANI/ITA J. PAOLINI
by ashkor87 impressive win by Noskova over Ostapenko...I would have expected Ostapenko to beat her..
saw a bit of the highlights - Osta made too many wild errors on her forehand, Noskova moves well on clay - I guess all Czechs do..
by ashkor87 Vondrousova's serve must be the most underrated weapon in tennis..it is truly effective, yet we dont notice it much.. he movement on clay is astnishing.. no wonder she reached the RG finals once.. and she is still young..could be a real force in the clay court season this year, along with QZ
by atlpam I would definitely count Vondrousova in the mix at RG if she can stay healthy.
by ti-amie Raducanu took the first set 6-2 from Kerber and they've just started the second set. The next match, Badosa vs Sabalenka, may be moved to another court since it's close to 11p in Stuttgart.
by ti-amie Kerber out 2 & 1 to Raducanu who will face Noskova next.
by
meganfernandez ashkor87 wrote: ↑Tue Apr 16, 2024 2:17 pm
great win for QZ over Cirstea, and Paolini over Errani.. of course Cirstea is not a clay court specialist as such (i think) and QZ is very good on clay.. may be she is the one who will surprise us at the FO
I've nearly forgotten that QZ was in the Australian Open final. I bet a lot of people have forgotten.
by ti-amie Good friends Sabalenka and Badosa are in a first set TB with Badosa up 3-1.
ETA: Sabalenka won the first set 7-6(4).
by ti-amie Thursday Order of Play
Centre Court
Starts at 6:30 AM
KAZ E. RYBAKINA (4) vs RUS V. KUDERMETOVA
Followed by
ITA J. PAOLINI vs TUN O. JABEUR (7)
Followed by
POL I. SWIATEK (1) vs BEL E. MERTENS
Followed by
GBR E. RADUCANU vs CZE L. NOSKOVA
Followed by
CHN Q. ZHENG (5) vs UKR M. KOSTYUK
Court 1
Starts at 6:30 AM
RUS L. SAMSONOVA/RUS D. SHNAIDER vs CZE B. KREJCIKOVA/GER L. SIEGEMUND (2)
Followed by
CZE M. VONDROUSOVA (6) vs RUS A. POTAPOVA
Followed by
GER N. SCHUNK/GER E. SEIDEL vs TPE H. CHAN/RUS V. KUDERMETOVA
Followed by
ESP P. BADOSA/TUN O. JABEUR vs USA B. MATTEK-SANDS/CHN S. ZHANG
Followed by
NOR U. EIKERI/EST I. NEEL vs RUS A. POTAPOVA/RUS V. ZVONAREVA
by meganfernandez Badosa retired in the third vs Sabalenka. Had her thigh wrapped midway through the match. She was playing well and was up a break in the third.
by
ti-amie meganfernandez wrote: ↑Wed Apr 17, 2024 11:14 pm
Badosa retired in the third vs Sabalenka. Had her thigh wrapped midway through the match. She was playing well and was up a break in the third.
She's supposed to play doubles with Ons tomorrow. Let's see what happens.
by
ashkor87 meganfernandez wrote: ↑Wed Apr 17, 2024 8:57 pm
ashkor87 wrote: ↑Tue Apr 16, 2024 2:17 pm
great win for QZ over Cirstea, and Paolini over Errani.. of course Cirstea is not a clay court specialist as such (i think) and QZ is very good on clay.. may be she is the one who will surprise us at the FO
I've nearly forgotten that QZ was in the Australian Open final. I bet a lot of people have forgotten.
And had taken a set off Swiatek a couple years ago after thrashing Halep so badly she was in tears...at the FO
by ashkor87 Raducanu-Kerber..don't know what to make of Raducanu's crushing win..Kerber is not a great claycourter but she has won Stuttgart in the past..Raducanu played well, certainly exposed Kerber's inability to finish on clay...no power..
by ponchi101 Could it be that Emma has turned the corner?
It is not as if she has enormous power, but certainly much younger legs. Could be something as simple as that.
by ashkor87 Yes, could be
by ashkor87 Time to stick my neck out!
Vondrousova will beat Saba..and Noskova will beat Raducanu..
Both these Czechs move well on clay, like they are born to it ..Saba is good on clay but probably it is not her best surface...
by ponchi101 Uhm.
Noskova beating Emma is not a high risk bet. I would say Noskova is a favorite.
And Vondrousova over Sabalenka.... I would agree. Aryna is good in Madrid, not much one any other clay court.
I say your neck is safe.
by
Suliso ponchi101 wrote: ↑Thu Apr 18, 2024 6:03 pm
Noskova beating Emma is not a high risk bet. I would say Noskova is a favorite.
Well, you would have lost your savings
by
meganfernandez ashkor87 wrote: ↑Thu Apr 18, 2024 3:25 pm
Time to stick my neck out!
Vondrousova will beat Saba..and Noskova will beat Raducanu..
Both these Czechs move well on clay, like they are born to it ..Saba is good on clay but probably it is not her best surface..
Sabalenka almost lost to Badosa! Badosa was a break up in the third when she retired.
by JTContinental Vondrousova has never won a title on clay or made a final on the surface in 5 years, so why are we liking her so much in this tournament?
by
meganfernandez JTContinental wrote: ↑Thu Apr 18, 2024 7:26 pm
Vondrousova has never won a title on clay or made a final on the surface in 5 years, so why are we liking her so much in this tournament?
My guess is eye test (+) proven potential on the surface (x) experience in big matches.
by
ponchi101 Suliso wrote: ↑Thu Apr 18, 2024 6:50 pm
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Thu Apr 18, 2024 6:03 pm
Noskova beating Emma is not a high risk bet. I would say Noskova is a favorite.
Well, you would have lost your savings
I'll mark that post as a reminder of why I don't bet...
That was shameful
by ti-amie Noskova never really got started. She was obviously better in the second set but Raducanu came out of the BJK cup with confidence. She gets Iga next. I think that match will show where she is. Based on her on court interview after the match she is very self confident.
by ti-amie Qinwen v Kostyuk is interesting. Qinwen was sleep walking the first set and dropped it 2-6. She apparently woke up in the second set taking it 6-4 and is up 2-1 in the third.
One thing I notice about Qinwen is her tendency to hit the ball right where her opponent is standing during a rally. She was up 30-15, came to the net and I guess Kostyuk knew what she was going to do and stayed right there to hit a winner dtl. Still, Qinwen held on and is up 3-1 now.
by ti-amie Interesting bit of gamesmanship by Kostyuk. She didn't sit down during the changeover appearing impatient. Qinwen serving for the match.
by ti-amie Kostyuk saved five match points. It's five all third set.
by ti-amie Kostyuk 7-5 in the third set.
by
ashkor87 JTContinental wrote: ↑Thu Apr 18, 2024 7:26 pm
Vondrousova has never won a title on clay or made a final on the surface in 5 years, so why are we liking her so much in this tournament?
True, but she has the clay game, and has been impressive thus far.
I am more surprised she won W...would never have thunk it. But she has a really good serve..
by
ashkor87 ti-amie wrote: ↑Thu Apr 18, 2024 9:45 pm
Kostyuk 7-5 in the third set.
Not surprising...Kostyuk is a potential major champion..so is QZ of course
by
ashkor87 Suliso wrote: ↑Thu Apr 18, 2024 6:50 pm
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Thu Apr 18, 2024 6:03 pm
Noskova beating Emma is not a high risk bet. I would say Noskova is a favorite.
Well, you would have lost your savings
Yes, Emma has been a really pleasant surprise...I love her anyway but didn't think she had clay legs .
by ti-amie Friday Order of Play
Centre Court
Starts at 6:30 AM
KAZ E. RYBAKINA (4) vs ITA J. PAOLINI
UPCOMING
CZE M. VONDROUSOVA (6) vs BLR A. SABALENKA (2)
UPCOMING
POL I. SWIATEK (1) vs GBR E. RADUCANU
UPCOMING
UKR M. KOSTYUK vs USA C. GAUFF (3)
by ashkor87 Paolini is probably one of the best mover on the tour, up there with Coco.. she could reach almost anything, and is totally balanced when she reaches the ball..
nice to see these new players.. they add a dimension to the game. Rybakina next for her - a very different player then Jabeur.. I think Rybakina will manage but who knows -Paolini's defence could frustrate her..
by ashkor87 Again, sticking my neck out, Kostyuk can certainly beat Coco.. 55% Kostyuk, I would say. Vondrousova 55% against Sabalenka too.. Raducanu 30% against Swiatek.. Rybakina 60% against Paolini
by ashkor87 Rybakina has acquired this disturbing habit of losing the second set against everybody..she got away with it against Kudermetova but the good players will make her pay!
by ashkor87 And again with Paolini
by ponchi101 Her margin of error is minimal. With her flat forehand, I really wonder how she can beat players on clay.
But, she does. It is just never routine.
She'll give Iga a good workout, but I don't think she can beat her here.
(Now, watch this go in the same direction as my Raducanu prediction).
by
Fastbackss ashkor87 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 19, 2024 12:30 am
Yes, Emma has been a really pleasant surprise...I love her anyway but didn't think she had clay legs .
Kids , this is where papa fastbackss advises you to not skim when reading because you read the reply and wonder why ashkor is talking about why he loves Emma's legs...
by
ashkor87 ashkor87 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 19, 2024 5:24 am
Again, sticking my neck out, Kostyuk can certainly beat Coco.. 55% Kostyuk, I would say. Vondrousova 55% against Sabalenka too.. Raducanu 30% against Swiatek.. Rybakina 60% against Paolini
That is 2 down, 2 to go.. V beat Saba and Ryba ryggled out against Paolini..now let us see how Kostyuk does...about Swiatek, I am not worried
by
ashkor87 ashkor87 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 19, 2024 12:17 am
JTContinental wrote: ↑Thu Apr 18, 2024 7:26 pm
Vondrousova has never won a title on clay or made a final on the surface in 5 years, so why are we liking her so much in this tournament?
True, but she has the clay game, and has been impressive thus far.
I am more surprised she won W...would never have thunk it. But she has a really good serve..
https://www.tennis.com/news/articles/ma ... -semifinal
as the article rightly points out, clay is Vondrousova's best surface, it is Wimbledon that is a surprise, even to her.
by
ponchi101 Fastbackss wrote: ↑Fri Apr 19, 2024 2:56 pm
ashkor87 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 19, 2024 12:30 am
Yes, Emma has been a really pleasant surprise...I love her anyway but didn't think she had clay legs .
Kids , this is where papa fastbackss advises you to not skim when reading because you read the reply and wonder why ashkor is talking about why he loves Emma's legs...
For the same reason I love Emma's legs?
by ti-amie Saturday Order of Play
Centre Court
Starts at 6:00 AM
TPE H. CHAN/RUS V. KUDERMETOVA vs USA B. MATTEK-SANDS/CHN S. ZHANG
Followed by
POL I. SWIATEK (1) vs KAZ E. RYBAKINA (4)
Followed by
UKR M. KOSTYUK vs CZE M. VONDROUSOVA (6)
by ashkor87 The usual pattern is unfolding...Rybakina wins the first set, loses the second..then scraps for the third..Iga is a better scrapper than she is, so it won't work.
by
meganfernandez ashkor87 wrote: ↑Sat Apr 20, 2024 1:48 pm
The usual pattern is unfolding...Rybakina wins the first set, loses the second..then scraps for the third..Iga is a better scrapper than she is, so it won't work.
Well, well, Rybakina comes through 6-3 in the third. Iga made a few too many mistakes. Rybakina has played okay, served okay, but this is about Iga missing. In the final game, she missed two routine short balls going for the lines and another fairly routine rally ball into the net. She was on her back foot - Rybakina's return landed by Iga's feet, and Iga tried to change directions on it, which was a bad decision.
In the last point, Iga got the short FH she wanted, just behind the service line, and she looped it back safely cross-court - I assume because she missed the previous 2 attack balls in that game. She got tenative. Should have been more aggressive on that ball - that's her game. A few shots later, Rybakina got the ball to Iga's feet on the baseline and Iga hit it long. She should have played a safer rally shot.
by
ponchi101 ponchi101 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 19, 2024 2:41 pm
Her margin of error is minimal. With her flat forehand, I really wonder how she can beat players on clay.
But, she does. It is just never routine.
She'll give Iga a good workout, but I don't think she can beat her here.
(Now, watch this go in the same direction as my Raducanu prediction).
I am on a roll this week. That's for sure...
But love that Elena beat Iga. Also glad that I did not see that match because watching Elena makes me nervous.
by
mick1303 meganfernandez wrote: ↑Sat Apr 20, 2024 2:58 pm
ashkor87 wrote: ↑Sat Apr 20, 2024 1:48 pm
The usual pattern is unfolding...Rybakina wins the first set, loses the second..then scraps for the third..Iga is a better scrapper than she is, so it won't work.
Well, well, Rybakina comes through 6-3 in the third. Iga made a few too many mistakes. Rybakina has played okay, served okay, but this is about Iga missing. In the final game, she missed two routine short balls going for the lines and another fairly routine rally ball into the net. She was on her back foot - Rybakina's return landed by Iga's feet, and Iga tried to change directions on it, which was a bad decision.
In the last point, Iga got the short FH she wanted, just behind the service line, and she looped it back safely cross-court - I assume because she missed the previous 2 attack balls in that game. She got tenatively. Should have been more aggressive. That's her game. A few shots later, Rybakina got the ball to Iga's feet on the baseline and Iga hit it long. She should have played a safer rally shot.
This tournament is a bit unique as indoor clay. In outdoor conditions Elena's shots may lack that crucial bit of precision and Iga will have an advantage.
by
ashkor87 ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sat Apr 20, 2024 3:04 pm
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 19, 2024 2:41 pm
Her margin of error is minimal. With her flat forehand, I really wonder how she can beat players on clay.
But, she does. It is just never routine.
She'll give Iga a good workout, but I don't think she can beat her here.
(Now, watch this go in the same direction as my Raducanu prediction).
I am on a roll this week. That's for sure...
But love that Elena beat Iga. Also glad that I did not see that match because watching Elena makes me nervous.
You like her too much! Me too.
by ti-amie Sunday Order of Play
Centre Court
Starts at 7:00 AM
Final
KAZ E. RYBAKINA (4) vs UKR M. KOSTYUK
UPCOMING
Final
TPE H. CHAN/RUS V. KUDERMETOVA vs NOR U. EIKERI/EST I. NEEL
by ashkor87 Rybakina hitting at Swiatek's feet is anyway a good ploy against a good mover ..they are often not good at getting OUT of the way..that is how Muguruza beat Serena at the French Open first time they played. Didn't work against Sharapova, maybe because Sharapova was happy to stand in one place and whack the ball!
by ashkor87 Loved the way Rybakina attacked the net behind good approach shots, despite getting passed a few times...showed us how to win on clay .topspin is not the only way
by ponchi101 Absolutely no surprise that Elena has no driver's license.
Just in character.
by
meganfernandez ashkor87 wrote:Rybakina hitting at Swiatek's feet is anyway a good ploy against a good mover ..they are often not good at getting OUT of the way..that is how Muguruza beat Serena at the French Open first time they played. Didn't work against Sharapova, maybe because Sharapova was happy to stand in one place and whack the ball!
True. Just a risk if you aren’t precise. Then the ball lands in her strike zone or short, and Iga pounces better than anyone.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
by
ashkor87 ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sun Apr 21, 2024 3:33 am
Absolutely no surprise that Elena has no driver's license.
Just in character.
yes, probably the menfolk around her want to drive her around so they know where she is at all time!
PS: me just being snarky but that is how it is in India I always urge all my women friends to learn to drive so they can be independent of their menfolk
by
mick1303 mick1303 wrote: ↑Sat Apr 20, 2024 3:17 pm
meganfernandez wrote: ↑Sat Apr 20, 2024 2:58 pm
ashkor87 wrote: ↑Sat Apr 20, 2024 1:48 pm
The usual pattern is unfolding...Rybakina wins the first set, loses the second..then scraps for the third..Iga is a better scrapper than she is, so it won't work.
Well, well, Rybakina comes through 6-3 in the third. Iga made a few too many mistakes. Rybakina has played okay, served okay, but this is about Iga missing. In the final game, she missed two routine short balls going for the lines and another fairly routine rally ball into the net. She was on her back foot - Rybakina's return landed by Iga's feet, and Iga tried to change directions on it, which was a bad decision.
In the last point, Iga got the short FH she wanted, just behind the service line, and she looped it back safely cross-court - I assume because she missed the previous 2 attack balls in that game. She got tenatively. Should have been more aggressive. That's her game. A few shots later, Rybakina got the ball to Iga's feet on the baseline and Iga hit it long. She should have played a safer rally shot.
This tournament is a bit unique as indoor clay. In outdoor conditions Elena's shots may lack that crucial bit of precision and Iga will have an advantage.
I actually didn't realize that Stuttgart lost his uniqueness, because another event this week in France is also indoor clay. That atrocity of a website which is WTA does not make a distinction between indoor and outdoor. Unfortunately ATP site, which used to give much better info, now also got dumbed down and lost this piece of data as well ((
by ashkor87 If I remember right, the French created the first indoor clay court at Grenoble when they had to host the US in a DC final ..their stalwart was Noah, who was very good on clay and pretty useless on anything else ..didn't help them though! I remember watching that tie. McEnroe beat Noah and the only point France got was a dead rubber match where Noah beat Gene Mayer...
by ashkor87 Ryba is up 6-2, 2-0 as I write this...hope she can stay focused and not play drama queen again...I find it nerve-wracking
by ashkor87 That was a dominant performance..saved me a lot of anxious moments. Ryba is better in clay than we give her credit for..clean hitting is effective on any surface ..
by ashkor87 Ryba pretty much outclassed Kostyuk..didn't expect that .
Could be i am overestimating Kostyuk..
by
meganfernandez ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sun Apr 21, 2024 3:33 am
Absolutely no surprise that Elena has no driver's license.
Just in character.
isn't it expensive is some countries to get a driver's license, unlike the US? It's not a given you'll get a license the day you're legally old enough, like it is here. For you non-Americans, do you have to pay a lot annually or just once?
by
meganfernandez ashkor87 wrote: ↑Sun Apr 21, 2024 2:12 pm
Ryba pretty much outclassed Kostyuk..didn't expect that .
If you're Kostyuk, is it deflating to knock off three Top 10 opponents and then lose by that score, thinking you're still so far away from winning titles? Or do you take away the positives and know you can be more competitive against the very best soon? Ther are factors like managing your energy in these one-week events, after so many big wins. There's the matchup. There are plenty of reasons for Kostyuk to be encouraged and know she can still improve. But it's easy to be deflated, too.
by
ashkor87 meganfernandez wrote: ↑Sun Apr 21, 2024 2:30 pm
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sun Apr 21, 2024 3:33 am
Absolutely no surprise that Elena has no driver's license.
Just in character.
isn't it expensive is some countries to get a driver's license, unlike the US? It's not a given you'll get a license the day you're legally old enough, like it is here. For you non-Americans, do you have to pay a lot annually or just once?
So far as I now, every country requires you to pass a test..sometimes it is cursory...I have young friends who have a license but dont actually know how to drive..a pretty dangerous situation, actually. The UK is very strict, and the test is also very tough..
by ashkor87 I think Rybakina showed the difference in class between the big 3 and the rest...Kostyuk clearly isn't in that class yet, and may never be..but she will win points, make a ton of money, earn a high rank . Not a bad future to contemplate.
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meganfernandez ashkor87 wrote: ↑Sun Apr 21, 2024 2:44 pm
I think Rybakina showed the difference in class between the big 3 and the rest...Kostyuk clearly isn't in that class yet, and may never be..but she will win points, make a ton of money, earn a high rank . Not a bad future to contemplate.
Of course, she will have a great career but I'm sure she wants to win big titles. She should have that ambition - she's good enough. She and her team can manage the disappointment - it's one of the things elite athletes have to do. But I wish I knew how she was feeling about this. Maybe it's in the transcript, but we have to work so hard as fans to find out. Most of this information just isn't available.
When I was at BJK Cup, I was astounded at how happy Hanne Vanderwinkle was after losing the last rubber, against Pegula. She had played Navarro super, super close the night before, and I thought the team had a chance in the tie after those close singles matches on day 1. But Pegula was looser on Saturday and Vanderwinkel was overwhelmed. I thought she might be upset that she wasn't even competitive and lost the tie for the team, but she wasn't at all. She was happy about the whole experience, and Wim Fisette probably managed their expectations, and Pegula was just too good that day anyway. Very different to Kostyuk's circumstances, but it was a good reminder that I really can't relate to pro tennis players or assume I know how they would feel.
And of course Vanderwinkle had nothing to be upset about, but she was in much better spirits after a beatdown to lose the tie than I expected.
She was also delightful and is a great athlete. Just 19 years old. I hope she gets into the Top 100, but she's also in med school and taking it year by year. She might not choose tennis in the end.
Sorry, I got off topic re: Stuttgart.
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meganfernandez ashkor87 wrote: ↑Sun Apr 21, 2024 2:39 pm
meganfernandez wrote: ↑Sun Apr 21, 2024 2:30 pm
ponchi101 wrote: ↑Sun Apr 21, 2024 3:33 am
Absolutely no surprise that Elena has no driver's license.
Just in character.
isn't it expensive is some countries to get a driver's license, unlike the US? It's not a given you'll get a license the day you're legally old enough, like it is here. For you non-Americans, do you have to pay a lot annually or just once?
So far as I now, every country requires you to pass a test..sometimes it is cursory...I have young friends who have a license but dont actually know how to drive..a pretty dangerous situation, actually. The UK is very strict, and the test is also very tough..
Have to pass a test in the US, too, but it's easy. And it's cheap... just pay when we renew the license every 5-10 years or something, I can't remember, a nd it's less than $100 and we don't have to retake the test. I thought a license costs over $1,000 in some European countries, and I wondered if that's just once.
by ashkor87 Yes, very true that none of us will ever know how it feels inside, as a professional player, to be thrashed by someone, even by a top player...which is why I really liked the essay about Michael Joyce in String Theory. ..
How your aspirations are shaped, and managed, is so different from player to player. .
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ponchi101 meganfernandez wrote: ↑Sun Apr 21, 2024 2:55 pm
...
Have to pass a test in the US, too, but it's easy. And it's cheap... just pay when we renew the license every 5-10 years or something, I can't remember, a nd it's less than $100 and we don't have to retake the test. I thought a license costs over $1,000 in some European countries, and I wondered if that's just once.
Colombia.
Have to pass a test, and you must have a certificate from a driving school that you have received training. The driving school is mandatory for the first time, from then on, if you always renew you don't have to do it again. If you let your license expire for over one year, you start from scratch.
The test is actually very complex, and it includes a physical. Sight, hearing, reflexes and phycological profiling.
Total expenditure is about $350, which is considerable in Colombia.
But I don't think Elena can't pay for her license
by ponchi101 Wow, she smiled after MP. What an outburst!
I can only say that I saw only that point, but there is a lot more topspin in the FH than before. if that point was indicative.
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meganfernandez ashkor87 wrote:Yes, very true that none of us will ever know how it feels inside, as a professional player, to be thrashed by someone, even by a top player...which is why I really liked the essay about Michael Joyce in String Theory. ..
How your aspirations are shaped, and managed, is so different from player to player. .
I watched Kostyuk’s press conference. She said her level was 90% about her fatigue. She also said she never thought she could have a week like this week … which I find so strange, like Navarro saying she never thought she would win a WTA title. They really don’t think they are capable of these things?
Kostyuk isn’t deflated, btw. And she doesn’t consider this a breakthrough week. Just doesn’t think about her results that way, like an outsider (for lack of a better word) would. It doesn’t feel like that to her. She looks at it as a great week she is proud of, and next week she has another goal.
by ashkor87 Good to know that about Marta
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Owendonovan ti-amie wrote: ↑Sun Apr 21, 2024 4:42 pm
To me, "My mom and my coach will be driving......" Is just weird to me. My mom and my coach did not share things like cars.
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ponchi101 meganfernandez wrote: ↑Tue Apr 23, 2024 12:55 am
ashkor87 wrote:Yes, very true that none of us will ever know how it feels inside, as a professional player, to be thrashed by someone, even by a top player...which is why I really liked the essay about Michael Joyce in String Theory. ..
How your aspirations are shaped, and managed, is so different from player to player. .
I watched Kostyuk’s press conference. She said her level was 90% about her fatigue. She also said she never thought she could have a week like this week … which I find so strange, like Navarro saying she never thought she would win a WTA title. They really don’t think they are capable of these things?
Kostyuk isn’t deflated, btw. And she doesn’t consider this a breakthrough week. Just doesn’t think about her results that way, like an outsider (for lack of a better word) would. It doesn’t feel like that to her. She looks at it as a great week she is proud of, and next week she has another goal.
I believe that is a good approach. She had a better week than all other players, except one. So, don't boast of anything (you did not win the tournament) but remember how well you did.
A proper balance.