Cincinnati 2014: Western and Southern open

[Fefe26]

Simo needs to find another gear in her play. Masha is fighter though.

 

[kskate2]

MP

 

[kskate2]

And what a mp it was! Maria wins again. She's not even playing well and Halep could not get the job done leading a break in each set. No way she's winning a major yet. :nono

 

[10isfan]

Pova has played ugly tennis all week. I am hoping Ana takes her out next round.

 

[Hoergren]

[video=youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJBsxv89qR8[/video]

Order of play Saturday 16.8 2014 - SEMIFINALS

CENTER COURT
Starting At: 13:00
Serena WILLIAMS (USA) [1] vs Caroline WOZNIACKI (DEN) [12]

Not Before 19:00
Ana IVANOVIC (SRB) [9] vs Maria SHARAPOVA (RUS) [5]

Grandstand

13:00 - [6] Timea Babos / Kristina Mladenovic (HUN / FRA) V Kimiko Date-Krumm / Andrea Hlavackova (JPN / CZE)
15:30 - [8] Alla Kudryavtseva / Anastasia Rodionova (RUS / AUS) V [7] Raquel Kops-Jones / Abigail Spears (USA / USA)

 

[TennisFanatic7]

Good win from Ana. Of the last four, I'm on her side this weekend.

 

[Moxie]

And what a mp it was! Maria wins again. She's not even playing well and Halep could not get the job done leading a break in each set. No way she's winning a major yet. :nono

I thought Halep might assert herself here. But Sharapova won't be denied. She's been pulling off 3-setters all year that you thought she might lose. I'm admiring Halep, but she has to learn something from Maria and Serena about raw ambition and hunger for a win. They are two of the best in that.

 

[tenisplayrla08]

Soooo.... I'm gonna need Caro and Rory to get back together so they can both start sucking again. Caro is clearly back since the break up. She won Istanbul easily it seemed, though she dropped two sets in her second and third matches. Her first title since Luxembourg at the end of last year (and her 22nd overall, which still baffles me... how did she dominate the tour outside of the slam for two years???) And then there's the fact that she gave Serena everything she could handle last week in Toronto. Serena seems to have sharpened her game since last week, but we'll see if it's enough. Caro does have a win over Serena and of course, they're apparently friends, so that never helps you to put on your killer instinct.

And as for Rory, I never liked him either and he's been tearin it UP since they broke up. I mean, it's like Caro was holding him back immensely. 2 slams and another win as well I think since they broke up. No me gusta! I mean, yeah he's talented as all get out and clearly is the best player in the field lately, but I'm just gonna need that to stop. Or rather for someone to rise up and be able to beat him at his best, because ya know, you don't want people to only be able to beat someone when they're not at their best.

Here's to Serena finally winning Cincy! And winning her 5th title of the year. She'll need to win the US Open though if she wants to keep her #1 ranking, and that may not be enough if Halep has a good Open. Not that Halep could take it at the Open if Serena wins, but Serena will have to win Beijing and the YEC again and perhaps something else to keep Halep off her tail. Because while Maria may be ahead of Halep in the Road to Singapore rankings, Halep actually has points after the US Open. And could overtake Serena before the end of the year for a week or two, even if she doesn't end the year as #1, especially if Serena doesn't defend the US Open.

 

[Hoergren]

When did we have this situation on the WTA tour? 2 semifinals representing players who all have been world #1 - impressive isn't it? Well done ladies.:clap

PS. Have you seen who is in the semis in the doubles tournament? Kimiko Date-Krumm - impressive !

By the way did you see Caros ice bucket challenge - if not here it is:

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/08/caroline-wozniacki-ice-bucket-challenge-serena-williams

 

[colleen66]

And what a mp it was! Maria wins again. She's not even playing well and Halep could not get the job done leading a break in each set. No way she's winning a major yet. :nono

I thought Halep might assert herself here. But Sharapova won't be denied. She's been pulling off 3-setters all year that you thought she might lose. I'm admiring Halep, but she has to learn something from Maria and Serena about raw ambition and hunger for a win. They are two of the best in that.

She allowed Maria to dictate too often on many of the big points. She needs to be a consistent attacker, especially when she has a lead. IMO she became a little passive every time she was up a break and Maria took advantage of it. Defense is great, but it will not give you many victories against the top hitters on tour. In the third set especially, Maria's grounds strokes were big and penetrating. As long as she kept the ball in, she usually won the point. If Maria did not have all of those double-faults, Halep would have lost this match in straights.

 

[10isfan]

The posts about the Pova vs Halep match make it seem as though Halep was not trying hard enough. The outcome was never on her racquet. The power player determines who wins. If they execute, they win. If they don't, they lose. Pova is one of the hardest hitters on tour. If she grooves her shots, which usually happens by the third set, she won't be defeated. Halep can beat power hitters, but typically not those with as much power and mental toughness as Pova or Serena. If only she were bigger.....

Halep's coach should tell her to stop kicking her serve. She can't generate enough racquet head speed against gravity. She is better off hitting two flat serves and risking a DF rather than spinning a serve in and watching a return winner fly by her.

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

Match is ON!

ESPN is providing TV coverage.
Caro breaks early and leads 3-1 in the opening set. 43% first serve is not going to do it Caro.

 

[Calvy]

Serena needs some life, energy...wth

 

[Fefe26]

sighs.... why does serena do this to me.

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

After breaking Serena twice and holding her own serve, Caro serves for the first set leading 5-1, Serena breaks at 15 to make it 5-2
Caro comes back and returns the favor and wins first set 6-2

Horrendous display of serve by both ladies.

 

[Fefe26]

what is serena' problem.

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

3 games played in the second set and no one has been able to hold serve.
Serena held her serve once first 11 games!

Serena leads the second set 2-1, serving next.

 

[Calvy]

Serena looks tired, and has started to shorten the points.

 

[kskate2]

what is serena' problem.

I think the announcer said it could be a flare up w/ her back. It can be a consequence of playing so much. 3 weeks in a row on HC is difficult for a young person, Serena (while fit) is no spring chix anymore.

 

[Calvy]

This match like most matches is on Serena's racqet, and she's bl owing it.