WTA Upsets in Rome; Tues. Djokovic vs. Worm

by Staff | May 12th, 2014, 11:00 pm
  • 10 Comments

A pair of unseeded veteran Slam winners orchestrated upsets on Monday at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome when Samantha Stosur defeated No. 15 seed Sabine Lisicki 6-3, 6-3, and Francesca Schiavone put on a claycourt clinic in ousting No. 17 seed Genie Bouchard 6-4, 6-2.
ADHEREL
Seeded players into the second round were No. 11 Ana Ivanovic, No. 12 Flavia Pennetta, and No. 16 Sloane Stephens coming from a set down to defeat Serb Bojana Jovanovski 3-6,  6-3, 6-3.

Unseeded players of note into the second round were Andrea Petkovic, former world No. 2 Svetlana Kuznetsova, former No. 1 Venus Williams, and American Madison Keys who subdued countrywoman Alison Riske 6-2, 6-2.

“After Charleston I put my racquets down and wasn’t able to play anywhere for a while,” said Williams after playing her first match in more than a month due to illness, cruising past Annika Beck. “I got back on the court about a week before Madrid, just taking my time and getting my rhythm again…Today I spent the first two games trying to get my flow again, and after that I felt pretty good.”


Top-ranked Serena Williams would not commit to playing after pulling out of Madrid last week with a injured left thigh.

“I’m taking it a day at a time. We’ll see as the week goes on. I have the rest of the day off and I’ll see how I feel tomorrow,” Williams said. “I hit some balls today a little bit so I’m going to see later tonight how it feels.”

Only one seeded upset on the men’s side Monday as Czech upset specialist Lukas Rosol defeated one of the hottest claycourt players over the last two years, downing No. 13-seeded Fabio Fognini 6-3, 6-2.

Other seeded winners on the day were No. 11 Jo-Wilfried over Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-3, 7-6(5); No. 12 Grigor Dimitrov coming from a set down to defeat France’s Ed Roger-Vasselin 4-6, 6-3, 6-4; and No. 14 Mikhail Youzhny winning the veteran battle over France’s Nicolas Mahut 6-4, 6-4.

“The first couple of matches are always tricky, as you have to adjust to the different conditions,” Dimitrov said. “This time it was Madrid’s altitude to the speed of the Rome courts. As much as I’d like to say I became accustomed to the court, I was flat in the first set and didn’t execute my chances.”

Dimitrov will next meet “Dr.” Ivo Karlovic, a winner on Monday.

Highlights of Tuesday play include Radek “The Worm” Stepanek vs. (2) Novak Djokovic, Italian homeboy Andreas Seppi vs. (15) Tommy Haas, (9) Dominika Cibulkova vs. the feisty Italian (WC) Camila Giorgi, and German qualifier Mona Barthel vs. (13) Carla Suarez Navarro.


You Might Like:
Stosur Fail; Federer v Worm, Djokovic v Dimitrov Tues at ATP/WTA Madrid
Osaka Crushes Azarenka, Vince Retires; Sharapova On Court Tues. In Rome
Djokovic Downs Dolgopolov In Rome; Berdych v Shapovalov Tues.
Milos Raonic Left Alone; Novak Djokovic Djanky; Loaded Thursday In Toronto
Djokovic Opens Play Tues. In Rome; Young Italians Sinner, Musetti Advance

Don't miss any tennis action, stay connected with Tennis-X

Get the FREE TX daily newsletter

10 Comments for WTA Upsets in Rome; Tues. Djokovic vs. Worm

Colin Says:

Nice to see Schiavone getting a victory over a good player, as it was beginning to seem her career was winding down, her scampering style being slowed by the years.


courbon Says:

Novak is not ^playing bad considering how long break he had and Radek…well, his heart is broken and his head is somewhere else.I blame Kvitova for that!


Hippy Chic Says:

And heres me thinking he was still married to the lovely Nicole,my god that man must be great in bed,probably why he was always a good player rather than been a great player,he lacks the stamina because he saves it for other things?


courbon Says:

@ Hippy: You are on to something, naughty girl…( alwys one thing on your head, isn’it?) (-:


Hippy Chic Says:

Courbon lol just a theory,anyway Nole looked pretty good today,doesnt seem like the wrist is bothering him anymore,hes my bet for the title this week him or Stan….


courbon Says:

@ Hippy: Too early to say if Novak is in top form. I think draw is wide open-_could be any of those guys winning it ( Nadal, Novak, Stan, maybe Fed?…. ). What a shame for Liverpool-_stambling at last hurdle


courbon Says:

Pere Riba-that nd Serbian means Washing Fish.Funny name, for Serbs off course…


Hippy Chic Says:

Courbon regarding LVC im completely gutted,they had it in the bag and threw it away grrrr….


James Says:

@Hippy Chic, your post at 9:53 am hahaha
I do think the worm must be good at something. There’s gotta be something about him other than great looks that attracts the ladies. I wonder what?

Good to see Nole back in competition. Always good to have the best players all competing for a title. I hope Kei will be ready to compete by Frenc Open.


Hippy Chic Says:

James well its lost on me,but my late father used to say its not always the best looking men that get the women,its the way they carry themselves,a great sense of humour,caring and listening,and a great personality(maybe Radek has a great personality?)he also used to say whats good looking to one person aint necassarily good looking to another peron and vice versa,each to their own i suppose??anyway yeah about Kei hope hes ready for the FO?

Top story: Dimitrov Dominates Alcaraz At Miami Masters, Sets Zverev SF; Sinner v Medvedev