Apia International Sydney 2014

[Hoergren]

Schedule Monday, January 06, 2014
Ken Rosewall Arena
12:00 Eugenie Bouchard (CAN) V Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) 46 36
14:00 Jarmila Gajdosova (AUS) V Lauren Davis (USA) 46 67
16:00 [4] Jelena Jankovic (SRB) V Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) 46 26

Grandstand
11:00 Lucie Safarova (CZE) V Francesca Schiavone (ITA) 64 64
13:00 Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) V [5] Angelique Kerber (GER) 67 57
15:00 [6] Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) V Julia Goerges (GER) 36 62 64clap

Court 6
11:00 Darija Jurak / Megan Moulton-Levy (CRO / USA) V Daniela Hantuchova / Arantxa Parra Santonja (SVK / ESP) 62 67 1-10
12:00 Varvara Lepchenko (USA) V Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) 63 36 75
14:00 Jarmila Gajdosova / Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS / CRO) V [3] Cara Black / Sania Mirza (ZIM / IND) 63 62

Court 5
11:00 Paula Ormaechea (ARG) V Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) 63 67 26
13:00 Kimiko Date-Krumm / Alicja Rosolska (JPN / POL) V [2] Kveta Peschke / Katarina Srebotnik (CZE / SLO)

Court 4
12:00 Kaia Kanepi (EST) V Victoria Duval (USA) 61 63
13:30 [1] Sara Errani / Roberta Vinci (ITA / ITA) V Anna-Lena Groenefeld / Mirjana Lucic-Baroni (GER / CRO) 75 62
15:30 Christina McHale (USA) V Alize Cornet (FRA) 67 62 75

Court 8
12:30 Sorana Cirstea (ROU) V Tsvetana Pironkova (BUL) 46 16
14:30 Simona Halep / Raluca Olaru (ROU / ROU) V Timea Babos / Lucie Safarova (HUN / CZE) 57 26
16:30 Hao-Ching Chan / Liezel Huber (TPE / USA) V Varvara Lepchenko / Galina Voskoboeva (USA / KAZ) 63 64

 

[Hoergren]

10 questions for Caroline - nice

[video=youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPGGSV4QoHA[/video]

Apia Intl SydneyVerificeret konto ‏@SydneyTennis

You should've seen the entrance these two made! Here are besties @CaroWozniacki and @ARadwanska.

 

[Hoergren]

Will Hampton be ready for this event, after her injury in practice, she noted, "she should be ready for the AO" no mention of the Apia event.

Hampton has withdrawn and left the space to another LL Lepchenko

Revised draw on page 1 - Goerges is still in the game

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

Madison Keys took Simona Halep out in the first round. After all her success last year, this must be disappointing to her camp.

 

[kskate2]

10 questions for Caroline - nice

[video=youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPGGSV4QoHA[/video]

Apia Intl SydneyVerificeret konto ‏@SydneyTennis

You should've seen the entrance these two made! Here are besties @CaroWozniacki and @ARadwanska.

I see Aga went back to her natural hair color. Great choice!

 

[Moxie]

^That's a super-cute picture, but Aga looks like she's dressed for washing her car. (Do I sound like my mother?)

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

This is another version:

Aggie is back to being a brunette but now new for 2014, Serena is sporting a blonde hairdo.

 

[10isfan]

Disappointed that Hampton is injured. Hoping she can play her best at AO.

As for Halep... Anyone silly enough to chance coaches when on a winning streak deserves a wake up call. What was she thinking?

 

[RJD11]

Madison Keys took Simona Halep out in the first round. After all her success last year, this must be disappointing to her camp.

And very up-lifting for Madison's camp.

 

[Hoergren]

From the players party in Sydney:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sFXX7UiOTA#t=12

Seems to be some sort of fault embedding it so you get the link - it works

And time for a Carlsberg or maybe I should take a Foster - damn good Australian beer

 

[Hoergren]

Tuesday, January 07, 2014 - all times are LOCAL times
Ken Rosewall Arena

12:00 [1] Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) V Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) 57 26
14:00 Christina McHale (USA) V [2] Petra Kvitova (CZE) 16 06

Grandstand
16:00 [6] Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) V Lucie Safarova (CZE) 46 67
18:00 Lauren Davis (USA) V [3] Sara Errani (ITA) 57 26
20:00 Julia Goerges / Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (GER / CZE) V Anabel Medina Garrigues / Yaroslava Shvedova (ESP / KAZ) 64 75

Court 6
11:00 Kaia Kanepi (EST) V [5] Angelique Kerber (GER) 36 46
13:00 Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) V Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) 67 36

Court 5
12:30 Ajla Tomljanovic (CRO) V Madison Keys (USA) 06 63 67

Court 8
11:00 Varvara Lepchenko (USA) V Tsvetana Pironkova (BUL) 36 26
13:00 [4] Raquel Kops-Jones / Abigail Spears (USA / USA) V Daniela Hantuchova / Arantxa Parra Santonja (SVK / ESP) 63 46 10-7

A little closer look at Caro's "rock" - quite nice IMHO

PS. Rory asked her parents permission to propose - really old school:

Old school Rory

 

[Hoergren]

Here is another video from players party where Caro and Aga is making fun:

[video=youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evHKkNV-X74[/video]

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

Caro did a good job by beating Julia, that was a feat she had not accomplished since 2010. This should give Caro more confidence. But it doesn't get any easier, she has to face Lucie next.

I am surprised at JJ's early exit but the rest of the top seeds are still here and playing tomorrow, I have a feeling a couple will fall.

 

[Hoergren]

I am surprised at JJ's early exit but the rest of the top seeds are still here and playing tomorrow, I have a feeling a couple will fall.

Your wishes come through Kiu. Radwanska is out and that's the top seed - what more do you want

Seems we have a Kvito on fire and some Americans through. Next up is Caroline on TV hope she'll survive - fingers crossed

Well Kiu you got two - until now and sad it is that it should be Caroline:cry Well it's not all grief I saw some good points and very good play from Safarova who must have played some of the best tennis she's ever done. Caroline played well too BUT there is a little to correct about precision. If she had her shots tuned in she would have won. I saw an improved forehand and a harder serve so things are beginning to show in Carolines play. Same result as last year for Caroline where she also left Sydney after 2nd round but it must be with a better feeling than last year. They played really good tennis both players just today Safarova was the better and luckier. Congrats to her.

 

[Hoergren]

Schedule Wednesday, January 08, 2014

Ken Rosewall Arena
12:00 Lucie Safarova (CZE) V [2] Petra Kvitova (CZE) 67 26
19:30 Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) V Madison Keys (USA) 23 ret.
21:30 Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) V [5] Angelique Kerber (GER) 26 46

Grandstand
14:00 Tsvetana Pironkova (BUL) V [3] Sara Errani (ITA) 76 63

Court 6
11:00 Julia Goerges / Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (GER / CZE) V Jarmila Gajdosova / Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS / CRO) 36 64 10-1

Court 5
14:00 Timea Babos / Lucie Safarova (HUN / CZE) V [2] Kveta Peschke / Katarina Srebotnik (CZE / SLO) 75 64
16:00 [1] Sara Errani / Roberta Vinci (ITA / ITA) 63 62 V Hao-Ching Chan / Liezel Huber (TPE / USA)

A glimpse of the surprise winners - the colorful Mattek-Sands and hardhitter Safarova

Petra here I come

 

[kskate2]

Schedule Wednesday, January 08, 2014

Ken Rosewall Arena
12:00 Lucie Safarova (CZE) V [2] Petra Kvitova (CZE)

Two lefties going at it. Depending on how consistent Petra is, Lucie could take her out. Should be interesting.

 

[rugged]

Happy to see Safarova get a good win. Good luck against Petra, even though I like them both.

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

Schedule Wednesday, January 08, 2014

Ken Rosewall Arena
12:00 Lucie Safarova (CZE) V [2] Petra Kvitova (CZE)

Two lefties going at it. Depending on how consistent Petra is, Lucie could take her out. Should be interesting.

Czech against Czech, doesn't happen often!
H2H between Lucie and Petra is 0-1 in favor of Petra

More interesting is the USA vs USA match-up, who would have expected that?
Bethanie trails Madison in their H2H record 1-2, losing the first two and winning last.

I am sorry for Caro, she did get good match play here, but Lucie is no slouch, she always gives Caro tough matches.
More upsets to come! I am expecting Pirokova to take care of Sara.

 

[Hoergren]

Czech against Czech, doesn't happen often!
H2H between Lucie and Petra is 0-1 in favor of Petra

More interesting is the USA vs USA match-up, who would have expected that?
Bethanie trails Madison in their H2H record 1-2, losing the first two and winning last.

I am sorry for Caro, she did get good match play here, but Lucie is no slouch, she always gives Caro tough matches.
More upsets to come! I am expecting Pirokova to take care of Sara.

You got Errani too lost to Pironkova - doing well this time Kiu.:clap And the US battle didn't last long as Mattek-Sands had to retire. Only one quarter left.

 

[Hoergren]

Thursday, January 09, 2014

Ken Rosewall Arena
11:00 Julia Goerges / Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (GER / CZE) V Timea Babos / Lucie Safarova (HUN / CZE) 26 57
14:30 Tsvetana Pironkova (BUL) V [2] Petra Kvitova (CZE) 64 63 :clap
16:00 Madison Keys (USA) V [5]Angelique Kerber (GER) 46 26:clap

Grandstand
13:00 [1] Sara Errani / Roberta Vinci (ITA / ITA) V [4] Raquel Kops-Jones / Abigail Spears (USA / USA) 64 46 10-7