ASB Classic- AUCKLAND -2016

[Hoergren]

Well - let's get started - first a HAPPY NEWYEAR to all citizens of Tennisfrontier - may your babe have a nice 2016.

Tournament Info
Tier: International Prize Money: $250,000 Surface: Hard

Director: Karl Budge

The formation of what now is known as the ASB Classic occurred when Ari Hallenberg and Global Sports saw a hole in the marketplace and asked Tennis New Zealand about creating an event in Auckland.

The first staging was held in 1985 as part of the 1986 tour and it moved to its current pre-Australian Open spot on the calendar, New Zealand's lone stop, in 1996. It was named the WTA's Tournament Of The Year/APAC in 2014.

Champs at the tournament - staged at the ASB Tennis Arena - include Marion Bartoli, Lindsay Davenport, Elena Dementieva, Jelena Jankovic, Agnieszka Radwanska, Ana Ivanovic and Venus Williams.

Auckland, also known as the City of Sails, features black sand beaches, endless water activities and fantastic dining options. It is the largest and most populous urban region in New Zealand.

The draw will be out Saturday - sp more later - here the players list so far

Venus Williams | Rank: 7
Ana Ivanovic | Rank: 16
Caroline Wozniacki | Rank: 17
Svetlana Kuznetsova | Rank: 25
Sloane Stephens | Rank: 30
Coco Vandeweghe | Rank: 37
Barbora Strycova | Rank: 41
Alison Van Uytvanck | Rank: 43
Mona Barthel | Rank: 44
Julia Görges | Rank: 50
Lucie Hradecka | Rank: 53
Misaki Doi | Rank: 54
Johanna Larsson | Rank: 56
Danka Kovinic | Rank: 57
Bethanie Mattek-Sands | Rank: 60
Christina McHale | Rank: 63
Carina Witthoeft | Rank: 64
Nao Hibino | Rank: 66
Alexandra Dulgheru | Rank: 69
Tatjana Maria | Rank: 71
Polona Hercog | Rank: 74
Daria Kasatkin | Rank: 75
Irina Falconi | Rank: 76
Yulia Putintseva | Rank: 77
Jelena Ostapenko | Rank: 81
Francesca Schiavone | Rank: 114
Marina Erakovic | Rank: 135

 

[kskate2]

A decent field. No reason why Venus and Caro shouldn't get back to the final.

 

[Hoergren]

The draw in Auckland looks like this:

1 WILLIAMS, Venus USA
2 KASATKINA, Daria RUS
3 DUQUE-MARIÑO, Mariana COL
4 HIBINO, Nao JPN

5 HRADECKA, Lucie CZE
6 GOERGES, Julia GER
7 QUALIFIER
8 STRYCOVA, Barbora CZE

9 KUZNETSOVA, Svetlana RUS
10 BARTHEL, Mona GER
11 SCHIAVONE, Francesca ITA
12 QUALIFIER

13 QUALIFIER
14 MATTEK-SANDS, Bethanie USA
15 FALCONI, Irina USA
16 VANDEWEGHE, CoCo USA

17 VAN UYTVANCK, Alison BEL
18 DULGHERU, Alexandra ROU
19 PUTINTSEVA, Yulia KAZ
20 ERAKOVIC, Marina NZL

21 DOI, Misaki JPN
22 MCHALE, Christina USA
23 KOVINIC, Danka MNE
24 WOZNIACKI, Caroline DEN

25 STEPHENS, Sloane USA
26 HERCOG, Polona SLO
27 WITTHOEFT, Carina GER
28 MARIA, Tatjana GER

29 LARSSON, Johanna SWE
30 OSTAPENKO, Jelena LAT
31 QUALIFIER
32 IVANOVIC, Ana SRB

 

[Hoergren]

Weather is extreme in Auckland so:

Due to the weather we are experiencing in Auckland today, WTA Tour staff and ASB Classic organisers have made the decision to move matches indoors at the ASB Tennis Arena for the women’s qualifying event.

Hope it's better when the main event takes place

The stars are arriving:

Wozniacki is scheduled to arrive early tomorrow morning in Auckland, Jan 3. She'll also participate in a street match with Ivanovic at 2pm.

Must be tough to do anything because of jetlag - or what?

Auckland, including Great Barrier Island
FORECAST

Periods of rain are expected to ease Sunday morning. In the 12 hours from 9pm Saturday until 9am Sunday expect another 30 to 50mm to accumulate on top of what has already fallen

Another player has arrived:

As usual the tournament director Karl Budge is welcoming the players

 

[Hoergren]

Order of play January 4th 2016

CENTRE COURT Starting at: 10:00 am
Qualifying
Kirsten FLIPKENS (BEL) vs Tereza MARTINCOVA (CZE) 64 63
Johanna LARSSON (SWE) vs [WC] Jelena OSTAPENKO (LAT) 16 57
Svetlana KUZNETSOVA (RUS) [4] vs Mona BARTHEL (GER) 62 11 ret.
Andrea HLAVACKOVA (CZE)/Lucie HRADECKA (CZE) [1] vs [WC] Kirsten FLIPKENS (BEL)/Ana IVANOVIC (SRB) 64 46 3-10
ERAKOVIC, Marina NZL/SOLER-ESPINOSA, Sílvia ESP vs CHENG, Rosie NZL/JONES, Sacha AUS 61 76
Sloane STEPHENS (USA) [5] vs Polona HERCOG (SLO) 63 63
Irina FALCONI (USA) vs CoCo VANDEWEGHE (USA) [6] 57 64 63

GRANDSTAND Starting at: 11:00 am
Qualifying
Lauren DAVIS (USA) vs Kiki BERTENS (NED) 46 26
Carina WITTHOEFT (GER) vs Tatjana MARIA (GER) 62 76
Darija JURAK (CRO)/Nicole MELICHAR (USA) vs Julia GOERGES (GER)/Katarina SREBOTNIK (SLO) [2 46 64 12-14
Alison VAN UYTVANCK (BEL) [8] vs Alexandra DULGHERU (ROU) 61 26 46

COURT 2 Starting at: 10:00 am
Qualifying
Kurumi NARA (JPN) vs Tamira PASZEK (AUT) 67 16
Qualifying
Magdalena RYBARIKOVA (SVK) vs Naomi BROADY (GBR) 36 61 67
Mariana DUQUE-MARIÑO (COL) vs Nao HIBINO (JPN) 26 62 57
Klaudia JANS-IGNACIK (POL)/Paula KANIA (POL) [4] vs María IRIGOYEN (ARG)/Barbora KREJCIKOVA (CZE) 46 64 4-10
Petra MARTIC (CRO)/Mandy MINELLA (LUX) vs Elise MERTENS (BEL)/An-Sophie MESTACH (BEL) 64 36 6-10

 

[Hoergren]

ORDER OF PLAY - TUESDAY, 5 JANUARY 2016

CENTRE COURT Starting at: 12:15 pm
[WC] Francesca SCHIAVONE (ITA) vs [Q] Tamira PASZEK (AUT) 67 64 36
Danka KOVINIC (MNE) vs Caroline WOZNIACKI (DEN) [3] 46 46:clap
Venus WILLIAMS (USA) [1] vs Daria KASATKINA (RUS):cry
[Q] Naomi BROADY (GBR) vs Ana IVANOVIC (SRB) [2] 75 64 ANA OUT TOO
Yulia PUTINTSEVA (KAZ) vs [WC] Marina ERAKOVIC (NZL) 67 67

GRANDSTAND Starting at: 12:15 pm
Lucie HRADECKA (CZE) vs Julia GOERGES (GER) 06 36
[Q] Kiki BERTENS (NED) vs Barbora STRYCOVA (CZE) [7] 26 46
[Q] Kirsten FLIPKENS (BEL) vs Bethanie MATTEK-SANDS (USA) 36 64 63
Danka KOVINIC (MNE)/Barbora STRYCOVA (CZE) vs Tatjana MARIA (GER)/Laura SIEGEMUND (GER) 76 62

COURT 2 Starting at: 12:15 pm
Misaki DOI (JPN) vs Christina MCHALE (USA) 26 46
Jocelyn RAE (GBR)/Anna SMITH (GBR) vs Lyudmyla KICHENOK (UKR)/Nadiia KICHENOK (UKR) 36 36
Johanna LARSSON (SWE)/Alison VAN UYTVANCK (BEL) vs Anna-Lena GROENEFELD (GER)/CoCo VANDEWEGHE (USA) [3] 57 16

 

[Hoergren]

ORDER OF PLAY - WEDNESDAY, 6 JANUARY 2016

CENTRE COURT Starting at: 12:15 pm
Svetlana KUZNETSOVA (RUS) [4] vs [Q] Tamira PASZEK (AUT) 26 36
[WC] Jelena OSTAPENKO (LAT) vs [Q] Naomi BROADY (GBR) 64 67 57 great match:clap
Alexandra DULGHERU (ROU) vs [WC] Marina ERAKOVIC (NZL) 76 63
Christina MCHALE (USA) vs Caroline WOZNIACKI (DEN) [3] 06 26:clap
Marina ERAKOVIC (NZL)/Sílvia SOLER-ESPINOSA (ESP) vs Julia GOERGES (GER)/Katarina SREBOTNIK (SLO) [2] 64 46 10-7

GRANDSTAND Starting at: 12:15 pm
Sloane STEPHENS (USA) [5] vs Carina WITTHOEFT (GER) 36 61 63
[Q] Kirsten FLIPKENS (BEL) vs Irina FALCONI (USA) 61 46 62
Julia GOERGES (GER) vs Barbora STRYCOVA (CZE) [7] 64 76
Not Before 4:30 pm
After suitable rest
[WC] Kirsten FLIPKENS (BEL)/Ana IVANOVIC (SRB) vs Elise MERTENS (BEL)/An-Sophie MESTACH (BEL)
María IRIGOYEN (ARG)/Barbora KREJCIKOVA (CZE) vs Lyudmyla KICHENOK (UKR)/Nadiia KICHENOK (UKR) 76 63

COURT 2 Starting at: 1:00 pm
Daria KASATKINA (RUS) vs Nao HIBINO (JPN) 57 62 57

 

[Hoergren]

Highlights fra Carolines match:

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKsQfUf2npw&feature=youtu.be[/video]

And Venus Williams defeat

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78l9j4mUQVs&src_vid=BKsQfUf2npw&annotation_id=567b2723-0000-2b32-b020-94eb2c08dba8&feature=iv[/video]

Russian teenager Daria Kasatkina, who battled back from a set down - as well as 3-1 down in the third set - to win a thriller against the No.1 seed and defending champion at the International-level tournament, Venus Williams, 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-3.

 

[kskate2]

Maybe Venus had too much holiday ham. Today she looked every bit of 35 years. Bounced out in the first round by the other Daria.

Meanwhile, Ana is in trouble. Drops the opening set on a DF 5-7. On serve in the second 3-3. Broady is not going away. Don't think I will be awake to see this one through.

 

[colleen66]

I think Ana had too much holiday ham also!

 

[colleen66]

Highlights fra Carolines match:

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKsQfUf2npw&feature=youtu.be[/video]

And Venus Williams defeat

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78l9j4mUQVs&src_vid=BKsQfUf2npw&annotation_id=567b2723-0000-2b32-b020-94eb2c08dba8&feature=iv[/video]



Russian teenager Daria Kasatkina, who battled back from a set down - as well as 3-1 down in the third set - to win a thriller against the No.1 seed and defending champion at the International-level tournament, Venus Williams, 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-3.

Venus must have thought it was still Christmas when she gifted the young player 70+ unforced errors!

 

[Hoergren]

Great match and great drama. What a comeback - despite (inspite?) of court drama GB's Naomi Broady wins it in 3 over Ostapenko (LAT) down 15 in third set. Serving 19 aces making 14 aces yesterday against Ana Ivanovic!

If you need a stream from down under try this link - working for me:

http://www.stopstream.me/4-tennis.html

 

[Hoergren]

Caroline almost steamrolled McHale leading 60 50 before Mchale got her 2 points. Flawless play today. If she continue playing like this she's hard to beat. Well done.

Some stats:

 

[Hoergren]

ORDER OF PLAY - THURSDAY, 7 JANUARY 2016

CENTRE COURT Starting at: 12:15 pm

[Q] Kirsten FLIPKENS (BEL) vs [Q] Tamira PASZEK (AUT) 46 76 36
Julia GOERGES (GER) vs Nao HIBINO (JPN) 62 64
[Q] Naomi BROADY (GBR) vs Sloane STEPHENS (USA) [5] 67 36

Not Before 6:30 pm
Caroline WOZNIACKI (DEN) [3] vs Alexandra DULGHERU (ROU) 61 60clap
Danka KOVINIC (MNE)/Barbora STRYCOVA (CZE) vs Anna-Lena GROENEFELD (GER)/CoCo VANDEWEGHE (USA) [3] 7-6, 3-6, 10-6

GRANDSTAND Starting not Before 4:30 pm

María IRIGOYEN (ARG)/Barbora KREJCIKOVA (CZE) vs Elise MERTENS (BEL)/An-Sophie MESTACH (BEL) 36 67

 

[Hoergren]

Highligts Wozniacki vs McHale

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmFfIawPQWI&feature=youtu.be&a[/video]

Here's an article about the Broady match what went wrong:

http://thetennisisland.com/2016/01/06/i-know-what-you-did-this-summer-broady-ostapenko-light-up-auckland/

 

[colleen66]

I thought Brody was out of line both during and after the match. Let the umpire determine penalties and access the situation if further punishment is needed. The toss at the ball was not intentional towards ball boy

 

[kskate2]

Ebony Smooth out there in a Serena look-a-like dress about to dismiss the loud Broady in straights.

 

[Hoergren]

Wozniaki - Dulgheru match stats

Mean Machine WOW-ZNIACKI

A little from the match:

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqsMf3NOzS4&feature=youtu.be&a[/video]

 

[Hoergren]

ORDER OF PLAY - FRIDAY, 8 JANUARY 2016

CENTRE COURT Starting at: 3:00 pm

Marina ERAKOVIC (NZL)/Sílvia SOLER-ESPINOSA (ESP) vs Danka KOVINIC (MNE)/Barbora STRYCOVA (CZE) TBF 6/4 5/4 Saturday

Not Before 5:00 pm
[Q] Tamira PASZEK (AUT) vs Julia GOERGES (GER) 46 26

Caroline WOZNIACKI (DEN) [3] vs Sloane STEPHENS (USA) [5] TBF 52

 

[10isfan]

Woz's forehand is much improved. This could be her year to win big.