2014 AO WTA Draw

[Correspondent Kiu]

I believe both draws pan out about the same, pretty equally balanced.

If you go half and half, it is pretty equal.
How about each quarter?

#1 Serena gets #7 Sara in her quarter.
#4 Li Na gets #6 Petra in her quarter.
#3 Masha gets #8 JJ in her quarter.
#2 Vika gets #5 Aggie in her quarter.

 

[sk310]

I am pulling for Bouchard and Pirokova. I like their style of play and how they are on court. Plus, they very likely will be future stars of the WTA.

Huh? Pironkova is 26 years old. That's a little old to be a "future star" of the WTA.

 

[Calvy]

I am pulling for Bouchard and Pirokova. I like their style of play and how they are on court. Plus, they very likely will be future stars of the WTA.

Pirokova or Pironkova? Because Pironkova has been on the tour for many years, so, don't know about her being a "future" star.

 

[colleen66]

I like Pironkova also, but she needs to be more consistent She has a solid serve and is a good mover. Her game really elevates itself on grass, more so than on the hard courts. Her appearance belies the fact that she can really put some force behind her shots. She has played a lot of tennis recently so it will be interesting to see how she does at the AO.

 

[Calvy]

I believe both draws pan out about the same, pretty equally balanced.

If you go half and half, it is pretty equal.
How about each quarter?

#1 Serena gets #7 Sara in her quarter.
#4 Li Na gets #6 Petra in her quarter.
#3 Masha gets #8 JJ in her quarter.
#2 Vika gets #5 Aggie in her quarter.

Even by quarter still pretty equal.

Sara doesn't have power to beat Serena.
Li and Kvitova are both head cases, so, that's a draw.
JJ can't beat Maria, I'm saying, how long has it been?!
Aggie is to Vika, what Maria is to Serena.

 

[MashaFan]

Of course any lower ranked can defeat a higher ranked player in a slam and JJ fans are of course entitled to their opinion that she can beat Masha even if it isn't based on any valid stats or facts

May your favorite reach the heights you all so desire

 

[MashaFan]

I like Pironkova also, but she needs to be more consistent She has a solid serve and is a good mover. Her game really elevates itself on grass, more so than on the hard courts. Her appearance belies the fact that she can really put some force behind her shots. She has played a lot of tennis recently so it will be interesting to see how she does at the AO.

*Likes Pironkova a lot!!*

 

[RJD11]

I think Serena got the toughest half.

Stosur, Razzano, Makarova, Lisicki, and Kerber

5 players who have recently beat her.

Also top players Kvitova, Venus, Li Na, Ivanovic,

along with tough newcomers like Keys, Safarova,

Bouchard, and Pironkova.

Her first round opponent wasn't even born yet

when she turned pro.

AO Favorites Handed Tricky Draws

Friday's draw for the Australian Open handed tough draws to both defending champion Victoria Azarenka and No.1 seed Serena Williams.


MELBOURNE, Australia - While the past few years on tour may have been dominated by Serena Williams, the opening stanza on each occasion has undoubtedly belonged to Victoria Azarenka.

In both 2012 and 2013, as other leading names floundered, it was Azarenka that reigned supreme claiming back-to-back Australian Open crowns. Her quest for title number three begins next week, and she has been handed no favors by the draw.

Azarenka, seeded No.2 this time around, meets Johanna Larsson in the first round, and should she safely clear this and her other opening hurdles, could be faced with her semifinal victim from 12 months ago, Sloane Stephens, in the last 16. Long-term rivals Agnieszka Radwanska and Maria Sharapova potentially lurk in the quarter and semifinals, respectively, although neither will be looking too far ahead either.

Sharapova is involved in one of the first round's more colorful encounters, taking on Bethanie Mattek-Sands, who arrives in good form, having recently upset Radwanska in Sydney.

On the other side of the draw, No.1 seed Williams has also been presented with a tricky passage to negotiate. Bidding for a sixth championship at Melbourne Park, the 32-year-old finds herself in a quarter surrounded by a bevy of young talent, including Madison Keys, Laura Robson, Eugenie Bouchard, Lauren Davis and her first round foe Ashleigh Barty.

Last year Williams came unstuck in dramatic fashion against Stephens in the quarterfinals, and with Li Na, Samantha Stosur, Ana Ivanovic, Angelique Kerber, Petra Kvitova and her Wimbledon conqueror Sabine Lisicki also lurking in the top half, her progress to the final is by no means a foregone conclusion.

- See more at: http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/36...Jojq8.dpuf

 

[Calvy]

Nowhere in that articles does it imply that Serena draw is tougher than the others.

In fact, the the first sentence in the fifth paragraph states "no. 1 seed Williams has ALSO been presented with a tricky passage."

There is nothing tricky nor unusual tough about her draw, she's the number 1 player in the world. She doesn't have to pick her game up, other players in her draw have the difficult draw.

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

You know, it's one thing talking about the draw before the matches start and then another when the matches are actually decided.

It seems that for now(end of second round), JJ enjoys the easiest draw.