Tuesday, 8 January 2008
Moorilla Hobart International - TIER IV - HARD - Quarterfinal
Well sad to see that both Bondarenko's have lost but on the other hand Flavia Pennetta has a strong chance to get to the finals. She will have to take out Sania Mirza in the quarterfinals which will be tough but I am sure that Flavia can do that. Victoria Azarenka retired which is a bad sign before the Australian Open. However it's good that Ashley Harkleroad is really starting to show her best getting further in tournaments. Sadly this tournament has been shrouded with retirements, I don't know if they just want to rest for the Australian Open or if they're really injured seriously but this week has definitely seen a lot of retirements. It's dissapointing that Kirilenko, Dulko and Azarenka from this tournament and Li, Mauresmo and Safarova have retired this week.
Medibank International - TIER II - HARD - Quatrefinal
Well how sad that Na Li and Amelie Mauresmo had to retire I wonder if they will be fine for the Australian Open, hopefully Na Li will be able to get back because I think if she goes she'll do better than Amelie would. Anyway Justine hasn't had a match yet and she will face Kaia Kanepi, being her first match of the tournament and season. Elena Dementieva was schokingly defeated by Sofia Arvidsson so thinking ahead I would put little hopes on Elena Dementieva coming back to her best form in the near future.
Ana Ivanovic had a scare against Virginie Razzano whilst a player that has amazed me this year is Katarina Srebotnik who seems to be doing quite well so she may be a giantkiller in the Australian Open. As I expected Nadia Petrova lost and I don't think she will get far next week if she enters, I think Nadia's career is in jeopardy so is Elena Dementieva's and Amelie Mauresmo's thinking that most of them had performed their best tennis before their demise. As I expected the tussle against Safina had did enough to tire Daniela Hantuchova, not saying Nicole couldn't have won but she would have an easier task. She would face Jelena Jankovic who I have to say I thought would have a much tougher match against Tatiana Golovin but she is definitely not in her top form so I think I would put this as a fifty fifty match.
It's sad that Na Li couldn't play as everytime Kuznetsova and Li have played its been tough. Well it allowed Marion an easy pass though she was unable to sink Francesca Schiavone. I think Justine will play Ivanovic in the semifinals but Ivanaovic winning hangs only by a thread here because I personally think Katarina Srebotnik is in better form that Virginie Razzano. I'm being risky here but I think Nicole Vaidisova will play Svetlana Kuznetsova in the semis, I just really don't believe Jelena will get to the semis!
Ana Ivanovic had a scare against Virginie Razzano whilst a player that has amazed me this year is Katarina Srebotnik who seems to be doing quite well so she may be a giantkiller in the Australian Open. As I expected Nadia Petrova lost and I don't think she will get far next week if she enters, I think Nadia's career is in jeopardy so is Elena Dementieva's and Amelie Mauresmo's thinking that most of them had performed their best tennis before their demise. As I expected the tussle against Safina had did enough to tire Daniela Hantuchova, not saying Nicole couldn't have won but she would have an easier task. She would face Jelena Jankovic who I have to say I thought would have a much tougher match against Tatiana Golovin but she is definitely not in her top form so I think I would put this as a fifty fifty match.
It's sad that Na Li couldn't play as everytime Kuznetsova and Li have played its been tough. Well it allowed Marion an easy pass though she was unable to sink Francesca Schiavone. I think Justine will play Ivanovic in the semifinals but Ivanaovic winning hangs only by a thread here because I personally think Katarina Srebotnik is in better form that Virginie Razzano. I'm being risky here but I think Nicole Vaidisova will play Svetlana Kuznetsova in the semis, I just really don't believe Jelena will get to the semis!
Monday, 7 January 2008
Chennai Open - INTERNATIONAL SERIES - HARD - Review
I am so amazed by Mikhail Youzhny beating Rafael Nadal not only because he won but he thrashed Nadal 6-0,6-1, Nadal basically had no chance. Though Mikhail didn't have extremely tough opponents leading up to the final he beat Rafael so badly that it makes up for anything. I'm also amazed how long it took Nadal to to beat Moya showing that Nadal isn't at his best and I wouldn't put money on him getting to the finals in the Australian Open, it would be so great if this year neither Federer nor Nadal got to the final! I truly believe Nadal has hit an injury point in his career and it will probably take a few months to recover to his best form. Overall this is one of the best moments in tennis for me in the past two years and I have to say it trumps Murray winning his fourth title.
Sunday, 6 January 2008
Qatar Open - INTERNATIONAL SERIES - HARD - Review
This is a great moment for Andy Murray and I'm happy for him winning his fourth title.
I'm ecstatic by Andy beating Nikolay in straight sets, though I knew Nikolay was inconsistent I thought it would be tougher, Well done to Dmitry Tursunov for pushing Nikolay in the first set. The match between Ljubicic and Wawrinka was unexpected to me as I thought that Wawrinka hadn't had the toughest of opposition yet so him getting to the quarters is quite expected but him in the final really amazed me, anyway Andy Murray won brilliantly and I hope he achieves similar success in his next tournament.
I'm ecstatic by Andy beating Nikolay in straight sets, though I knew Nikolay was inconsistent I thought it would be tougher, Well done to Dmitry Tursunov for pushing Nikolay in the first set. The match between Ljubicic and Wawrinka was unexpected to me as I thought that Wawrinka hadn't had the toughest of opposition yet so him getting to the quarters is quite expected but him in the final really amazed me, anyway Andy Murray won brilliantly and I hope he achieves similar success in his next tournament.
Saturday, 5 January 2008
Heineken Open - INTERNATIONAL SERIES - HARD
I'm kind of interested in why David Ferrer chose this Open instead of the Medibank International being the strongest ranked player in both draws!?! but anyway rank wise he is far ahead of anyone else but will he win it? All I have to say is the player I'm cheering for is Mario Ancic, a player that has been through so much difficulty. I'm also interested who Jose (rubin) Statham is mainly because he has a name in brackets!
Medibank International - INTERNATIONAL SERIES - HARD
Richard Gasquet is No.1 seed here, Let's hope he wins it. Though I would like to see Dmitry Tursunov do well here aswell. Peter Luczak however I'm sure made some upsets last year so we will have to see where he gets to now. Blake has my full support in the second quartet of the draw whilst Lleyton Hewitt also for the third and Jo-Wilfred Tsonga for the fourth. I am not going to predict this draw as I think it is quite a tough one and it will be hard to predict.
Moorilla Hobart International - TIER IV - HARD
This event looks quite strong to me with a lot of possible winners dotted throughout the draw.
Alona Bondarenko heads the seeds and she looks likely to get to the semis if she can stay together, it would be interesting if Kateryna could play Alona (sisterly affair). But we never know a Marina Erakovic may happen here.
I'm so happy that Flavia is playing but her first match is tough and I don't want to jinx her in anyway by saying what I think the eventual outcome may be. Sania Mirza will probably play against the winner there.
Victoria Azarenka looks really strong at the moment and I won't put her out of a possibilty of winning this tournament. Both Gisela and Maria are in this draw and I hope they do well.
The last quartet looks weaker so Vera will probably get through here but Shuai Peng could pull off an unexpected win!
I'm not going to predict this tournament instead I'm going to list my most supported players in this draw.
Alona Bondarenko
Kateryna Bondarenko
Agnieszka Radwanska
Flavia Pennetta
Victoria Azarenka
Gisela Dulko
Maria Kirilenko
Shuai Peng
I wish they were the eight seeds!
Alona Bondarenko heads the seeds and she looks likely to get to the semis if she can stay together, it would be interesting if Kateryna could play Alona (sisterly affair). But we never know a Marina Erakovic may happen here.
I'm so happy that Flavia is playing but her first match is tough and I don't want to jinx her in anyway by saying what I think the eventual outcome may be. Sania Mirza will probably play against the winner there.
Victoria Azarenka looks really strong at the moment and I won't put her out of a possibilty of winning this tournament. Both Gisela and Maria are in this draw and I hope they do well.
The last quartet looks weaker so Vera will probably get through here but Shuai Peng could pull off an unexpected win!
I'm not going to predict this tournament instead I'm going to list my most supported players in this draw.
Alona Bondarenko
Kateryna Bondarenko
Agnieszka Radwanska
Flavia Pennetta
Victoria Azarenka
Gisela Dulko
Maria Kirilenko
Shuai Peng
I wish they were the eight seeds!
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