Kerber, Bencic, Venus Lead Charleston; WTA Previews This Week

by Staff | April 3rd, 2016, 4:12 pm
  • 7 Comments

VOLVO CAR OPEN
Charleston, S.C., USA; Surface: clay

Seeds: Angelique Kerber, Belinda Bencic, Venus Williams, Lucie Safarova, Sara Errani, Andrea Petkovic, Sloane Stephens, Madison Keys, Jelena Jankovic, Samantha Stosur, Kristina Mladenovic, Daria Gavrilova, Irina-Camelia Begu, Daria Kasatkina, Sabine Lisicki, Misaki Doi
ADHEREL
Floaters: Caroline Garcia, Genie Bouchard, Alison Riske

Notes: Two Top 10ers in the field, in addition to two former No. 1s…The Top 8 seeds receive opening-round byes…Potential tough starts for (9) Jankovic vs. Garcia and (3) Venus Williams vs. Riske…Wildcards were awarded to Americans Frances Altick, Louisa Chirico and Shelby Rogers…Withdrawing from the event were Mona Barthel, Mariana Duque Marino, and Varvara Lepchenko…Still held at the Family Circle Tennis Center, but family circle opts out as the title sponsor, replaced by Volvo…Kerber beat Keys in last year’s three-set final…Americans won the title from 1973-85…Former champs in the field are Kerber (2015), Petkovic (2014), Stosur (2010), Lisicki (2009), Jankovic (2007), and Venus (2004).


KATOWICE OPEN
Katowice, Poland; Surface: hard

Seeds: Anna Karolina Schmiedlova, Jelena Ostapenko, Alize Cornet, Camila Giorgi, Lesia Tsurenko, Timea Babos, Dominika Cibulkova, Kirsten Flipkens

Floaters: Magdalena Rybarikova, Donna Vekic

Notes: Devastating withdrawal of Poland’s own Aggie Radwanska due to a right shoulder injury, leaving no players in the Top 25…Tough starts for (3) Ostapenko vs. Rybarikova, and (9) Flipkens vs. Vekic…Receiving wildcards were Poland’s Paula Kania, Belarus’ Vera Lapko, and the Ukraine’s Anastasiya Shoshyna…Schmiedlova beat Giorgi in last year’s final, the second straight loss in the final for Giorgi…Schmiedlova (2015) and Cornet (2014) are former champs in the field.


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7 Comments for Kerber, Bencic, Venus Lead Charleston; WTA Previews This Week

RZ Says:

Even though Maria Sharapova hasn’t played since the Australian Open, her ranking went up 2 places from 11 to 9 this week.


jalep Says:

RZ — I’m not a Sharapova fan but it’s very sad (imo) about her plight. Tough times. Best Wishes to her.

Happy to see #126 ranked, 19 yr-old, Louisa Chirico (Usa), won a main draw match in Charleston.

Charleston is a 470 point tournament. Doubles draw there is great.

Katowice – 280 pts. Draw is on the thin side without Aga but a few flashy players are there: Ostapenko, Giorgi, Schiavone, Broady, and Cibulkova.


jalep Says:

Katowice Quarterfinals:
Jelena Ostapenko continues her march to the sea with a 3 set win over Timea Babos. Teen, Ostapenko keeps surprising me. My pick was the more experienced Babos.

Flipkins over Giorgi. Wrong again! Picked Flipkins because Giorgi is consistently inconsistent but happy Camila made the SF!

Home favorite, Linette over veteran, Parmentier

Cibulkova over Schiavone

Tennis Channel will broadcast Katowice Semi’s tomorrow. Giorgi vs Ostapenko, oh goody…

Charleston QFโ€™s all look good. Will only pick Kerber โ€“ the otherโ€™s are too tough to call for me!
Kerber over Begu
Stephens v Kasatkina
Siegemund v Vesnina
Errani v Putintseva


jalep Says:

I’m in moderation ๐Ÿ˜ฎ๐Ÿ˜…


Giles Says:

Hey jalep. Glad I’m not the only one. ๐Ÿ˜Ž


jalep Says:

Hey Giles – I guess my moderation comes and goes? Not sure if yours does. Completely unfair, too ๐Ÿ˜•

Big Semi-final starting in a few minutes in Katowice – oh goody….

Giorgi v Ostapenko.


jalep Says:

Giorgi loves the Ostapenko pace. And Girogi can’t miss today. Hitting the lines, angles, wow…

Ostapenko saves a match point. 2nd Giorgi mp. She gets it, wins and will be in the final.

Ostapenko will get closer to being seeded for FO and Wimbledon. Keep climbing the ranks, Jelena!

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