Sunday 5 July 2015

2015 Wimbledon Part 1: Ladies update

Right well I'm a bit behind on the schedule with Wimbledon this year as the first week is already over as we go into the 2nd week of the tournament.  So rather than do a big long diatribe on how all the players got on I thought I would do a quicker summary how the main seeds are doing on both sides of the net.

So let's get on with this and take a look starting with the ladies in this post....

Serena Williams - well so far Serena has had a stern time of things as after racing through her first two rounds she faced one of the toughest tests she's had in quite some time against the British No.1 Heather Watson.  Heather took it to Serena on centre court as the home crowd got fully behind her as Heather levelled a set all and even went on to break Serena and serve for the match only for the World No.1 to break back and go on to break Heather's heart with it as she managed to win a thrilling three set battle in 6-2, 4-6, 7-5.  This was one of the best matches of the tournament so far and it was a tremendous effort from Heather who was inspired by the crowd that she very nearly pulled off the win.  However in the end Serena proved yet again why she is the world's best and greatest player so her chance to hold all four grand slams at once remains on course.

Petra Kvitova - Petra the defending champion despite making a strong start in her first two rounds as she hadn't dropped a set saw her title defence go up in smoke as she faced Jelena Jankovic in a tough match on centre court.  The match saw Petra take the first set only for Jelena fight back in the 2nd and levelled the match and in the 3rd set Petra lost her way and Jelena broke her to win the match with a surprise victory in 3-6, 7-5, 6-4.  Given Petra's form going into the tournament this really was a surprising loss for her but in a way it seemed a bit too much to ask that she could defend her title again.  

Maria Sharapova - Maria so far has had a pretty solid start in the tournament and she has made it into the 2nd week without dropping a set.  And Maria along the way had beaten the British player, Johana Konta 6-2, 6-2, Richel Hogenkamp of the Netherlands 6-3, 6-1 and Irina Camelia-Begu 6-4, 6-3 to reach the last 16.  So its so far so good for Maria and its Zarina Diyas next for her and Maria should be the heavy favrouite for that one.  Maria also has a pretty good chance of winning the title if she can dodge Serena Williams but that remains to be seen and she also could face her nemesis from the French open, Lucie Safarova in the quarter finals.

Caroline Wozniacki - so far Caroline has had a good run at Wimbledon herself and picked up her form over the grass court season after going out early at the French open.  Caroline has also made it into the 2nd week as well having not dropped a set either as she took out Zheng Saisai of China in 7-5, 6-0 and then Denise Allertova in 6-1, 7-6 and then she got revenge over Camille Ciorgi who has winning record over her, but this time Caroline thrashed the Italian 6-2, 6-2.  Caroline will next face Garbine Muguruza for a place in the quarter finals in which should promise to be a tough match and hopefully a pretty good one as well.  There is no favourite in that one but here's hoping Caroline can break her Wimbledon hoodoo and reach the quarter finals there for the first time but Muguruza will have her chances and could edge it.

Agnieszka Radwanska - next is Agnieszka who has had a pretty wretched year so far in 2015 having made the decision to hire one of the all time greats of the game, Martina Navitrilova which backfired disasterously on her as it saw her results go down the tubes.  However Aga has had a pretty strong grass court season so far and she also has managed to reach the last 16 without dropping a set showing some good form.  Radwanska next up will face Jelena Jankovic in which should be a pretty tough match so it will be hard to pick a favourite there although Radwanska leads their head to head 5-2.  So it will be interesting to see who comes out on top of that one but I might just go with Radwanska but Jankovic will make her work hard for it.

Venus Williams - next is the big sis of the Williams sisters, Venus, who also has had a very impressive first week in the tournament and she started with a double bagel rout of her compatriot Madison Brengle.  Then Venus faced another Kazahk player, Yulia Putintseva in what was Venu's toughest match so far as she had to win in two tough sets 7-6, 6-4 to advance to the 3rd round where Venus beat Alexsandra Krunic of Serbia in 6-3, 6-2.  This now sets up a much anticipated clash between the Williams sisters themselves and how that one might go is anybody's guess especially as Venus has been in very good form.  But despite that I still think younger sis (Serena that is) will come through this one as she isn't the world's best player for nothing but if anyone can pull off the upset its big sis.

Lucie Safarova - then we have this year's French open finalist, Lucie Safarova who so far has continued her impressive form into Wimbledon although she has had a tougher route and had to come from a set down in her first match against Alison Riske to win.  In the 2nd round Lucie took Hseih Suh-Wei and beat her comfortably with a 6-2, 6-3 victory before had to battle it out against the American, Sloane Stephens and she had to come from a set down to beat her in 3-6, 6-3, 6-1.  Lucie will next face Coco Vandeweghe for a place in the quarter finals so she is looking good to reach the last eight as she will be the favourite to win that one. 
 
Victoria Azarenka - and last of all we have the former World No.1 and renowned tennis player opera singer (listen to her grunts and you'll know what I mean!) Vika who has had her struggles with injury this year but is now back to full fitness and is regaining her form that took her to the world's top spot.  Vika has also progressed well so far in the tournament and is yet to drop a set as she has reached the last 16 where she will face the Swiss player, Belina Bencic, which Victoria should be the favourite to win.  After that however things will get tougher for Vika as she may face Serena or Venus in the final but she too will have her chances but we can deal with that one if and when we get to it.

And to finish off I will round up the seeds that have gone out starting with Simona Halep who lost out in the 1st round in a shock defeat as she lost to Jana Cepelova in three sets.  Ana Ivanovic was dumped in the 2nd round of Wimbledon as she suffered a loss to Bethanie Mattek-Sands of the USA in straight sets.  Sabine Lisicki the finalist from 2013 also suffered a surprise loss to a Swiss player and French open semi finalist, Timea Bascinzsky also in straight sets in the 3rd round.  Angelique Kerber also suffered a loss in the 3rd round where she booted out by Garbine Muguruza in three sets.  Sara Errani also became a victim to the grass courts of SW19 as she was defeated by Alexsandra Krunic in three sets.  And last of all Eugenie Bouchard last year's finalist suffered another shock loss in the 1st round as she went out to the cool named Duan YingYing of China in straight sets.

And that's it for my updated of the ladies matches and I'll be back soon with the men's.

See you in a bit....

 




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