Cincinnati 2014: Western and Southern open

[Correspondent Kiu]

http://www.cincytennis.com/

Another premier 5 tournament following Rogers Cup, it's the survival of the fittest folks.

Defending Champion is Vika Azarenka, she beat Serena in the finals in a 3rd set tie-breaker. Serena is the top seed.

Draw will be out soon, I will post when available, or feel free to do it when ready.
Qualifying rounds start tomorrow.

Tennis Frontier will have live coverage of early rounds this event.

 

[kskate2]

It's called survival of the Goodwill vases. They're both pretty putrid, but larger one is exceptionally ugly.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

Really Stosur again as a potential 2nd round opponent for Serena? Though I find this draw pretty balanced. Looks like potential Vika quarter for Serena.

 

[Calvy]

Serena will probably play one match and then withdraw.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

Maybe but this is like what the only pretty significant title she doesn't have?

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

Top 8 seeds get first round BYE!

Draw:

WILLIAMS, Serena USA
BYE
STOSUR, Samantha AUS
QUALIFIER
KOUKALOVA, Klara CZE
QUALIFIER
QUALIFIER
PENNETTA, Flavia ITA

AZARENKA, Victoria BLR
ZAHLAVOVA STRYCOVA, Barbora CZE
PETKOVIC, Andrea GER
STEPHENS, Sloane USA
MUGURUZA, Garbiñe ESP
QUALIFIER
BYE
JANKOVIC, Jelena SRB

RADWANSKA, Agnieszka POL
BYE
NARA, Kurumi JPN
OPRANDI, Romina SUI
VINCI, Roberta ITA
LISICKI, Sabine GER
QUALIFIER
ERRANI, Sara ITA

WOZNIACKI, Caroline DEN
RYBARIKOVA, Magdalena SVK
ZHANG, Shuai CHN
QUALIFIER
HANTUCHOVA, Daniela SVK
MAKAROVA, Ekaterina RUS
BYE
KERBER, Angelique GER

BOUCHARD, Eugenie CAN
BYE
GIORGI, Camila ITA
KUZNETSOVA, Svetlana RUS
QUALIFIER
MCHALE, Christina USA
CIRSTEA, Sorana ROU
IVANOVIC, Ana SRB

SUÁREZ NAVARRO, Carla ESP
PIRONKOVA, Tsvetana BUL
QUALIFIER
DELLACQUA, Casey AUS
SVITOLINA, Elina UKR
DAVIS, Lauren USA
BYE
KVITOVA, Petra CZE

SHARAPOVA, Maria RUS
BYE
CORNET, Alizé FRA
KEYS, Madison USA
QUALIFIER
BENCIC, Belinda SUI
PAVLYUCHENKOVA, Anastasia RUS
CIBULKOVA, Dominika SVK

SAFAROVA, Lucie CZE
WILLIAMS, Venus USA
QUALIFIER
QUALIFIER
QUALIFIER
FLIPKENS, Kirsten BEL
BYE
HALEP, Simona ROU

---

Link here:
http://www.wtatennis.com/SEWTATour-Archive/posting/2014/1017/MDS.pdf

 

[Calvy]

Interesting enough, in 2011, Serena beat Stosur in Canada and then was scheduled to play her first in Cincinnati.

 

[10isfan]

Nooooooo. Not Venus vs Halep so early. What bad luck.

Vika probably will not survive Barbora if injured. Petko vs Sloane in round one. Wow.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

Venus has a resurgent Lucie to worry about in Cincy before Halep can happen .

 

[Si Si Simona]

Nooooooo. Not Venus vs Halep so early. What bad luck.

You beat me to it. Tough match on both sides.
and what about... Ana burying her sister Sorana alive in R1
Life is cruel

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Genie gets a rematch of Wimby final, IF she and her projected opponent
both reach quarterfinals.

In case, you are wondering, that is a big if.

 

[Si Si Simona]

Genie gets a rematch of Wimby final, IF she and her projected opponent
both reach quarterfinals.

In case, you are wondering, that is a big if.

IF I care about those wanabees I have my player to focus on now and thats all that matters. The real business. Would be interesting to see the state of the Simo storm and her assault on the western world
Simona has already done enough for my taste. Anything more is just a bonus.
I wont be bothered even if she falls to 1000 ranking now! She already done her thing and proven something.

 

[Si Si Simona]

Vika! defends 900 points and starts Cinci from the 17 ranking spot! uzzled
At least she improves all the time but who knows if her knee will hold. Pressure time but she must be happy to just play again.

 

[10isfan]

Maybe but this is like what the only pretty significant title she doesn't have?

I am guessing Serena does not want to add that ugly vase to her collection of trophies. If that were her reason who can blame her?

 

[special700]

Serena will probably play one match and then withdraw.

Why would you say that? When was the last time Serena withdrew from a tournament she has already started playing in? Even with an injury she does not really withdraw she tries to play the entire tournament e.g. Wimbledon's doubles.

 

[special700]

Nooooooo. Not Venus vs Halep so early. What bad luck.

Vika probably will not survive Barbora if injured. Petko vs Sloane in round one. Wow.

For who?

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

So far so good, no withdrawals.
But I am not holding my breath, sooner or later, there will be some.
Order of play here:
https://assets-ssl.usta.com/assets/663/15/OPAug_10.pdf?intloc=headernavsub
Franny, Heather and Julia among others.

I will list the winners of tomorrow's matches, those would be your qualifiers.

 

[Si Si Simona]

Nooooooo. Not Venus vs Halep so early. What bad luck.

Vika probably will not survive Barbora if injured. Petko vs Sloane in round one. Wow.

For who?

You know for who but I will leave this discussion for another day. Venus is in my best 5 of all times list. Respect.
Btw, I wont be surprised if both sisters will withdraw.

 

[10isfan]

I don't know whether Venus or Hakep will win. Bad luck for those of us who are fans of both players having to see one of them exit early.

 

[Si Si Simona]

I don't know whether Venus or Hakep will win. Bad luck for those of us who are fans of both players having to see one of them exit early.

They played in Tokyo last year and Venus won after 3 tough sets in a very good match.
Simo had a bad Asia tour then and was too rusty. Maybe its the same now Simo will need time to wake up her engine. It wont be tuned at the start of her USA tour.
She doesnt really care about defending previous results, she just wants to play well and let results speak for themselves.