GP SAR La Princesse Lalla Meryem, Rabat, Morocco, WTA International

[Moxie]

DATE: Apr 25 - Apr 30, 2016
SURFACE: Clay
PRIZE MONEY: $226,750
FIELD SIZE: 32
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Elina Svitolina

Seeds:

1. BACSINSZKY, Timea
2. MAKAROVA, Ekaterina
3. SCHMIEDLOVA, Anna Karolina
4. BEGU, Irina-Camelia
5. BABOS, Timea
6. BECK, Annika
7. TSURENKO, Lesia
8. PUTINTSEVA, Yulia

About Marrakesh: (NB: We have discovered this tournament is being played in Rabat. Please scroll down for information on the city. But enjoy the Marrakesh travelogue, anyway.)

Marrakesh is nothing if not exotic and evocative. Its souks are draped in colorful cloths, and are full of smells, both delicious and repugnant: spices and hanging meats exposed to the heat, with a vague under-note of hashish. The endless hawking of worked metal objects, leather goods and textiles, in and amongst the story-tellers and snake charmers. The blood-red sunsets, and the call to prayer.

But Marrakesh has an upscale side, too. The storied La Mamounia represents the city's colonial and jet-set past, and is one of the world's great hotels. Marrakesh has added other great hotels and restaurants to become a food and spa destination. The best way to see Marrakesh is to take in both its grit and its luxury.

 

[britbox]

Nice write up @Moxie.

 

[Bert]

Nice teaser @Moxie ! I thought this was in Rabat ?

 

[Moxie]

Nice teaser @Moxie ! I thought this was in Rabat ?

Thanks, Bert! I think Rabat has had some tournaments, but this one is in Marrakesh. Rabat is a really different city...very cosmopolitan and European. Marrakesh is one of my most exotic experiences. I've been to many 3rd world places, and they were very "real." Marrakesh, to me, was some combination of a fever-dream and a David Lynch movie. A little scary, pretty strange and strangely beautiful.

 

[Bert]

Thanks for the clarification @Moxie !!

 

[britbox]

Actually this is weird... It says Rabat in the title on the WTA website but the description says Marrakesh... and on Wiki it says Marrakesh.

Have they moved it at last minute to Rabat?

 

[Bert]

Yes strange. On the tournament website it says that they will play at "Club des cheminots" which is in Rabat...

 

[Moxie]

Yes, and the draw challenge website says Rabat. But this is the description from the WTA website:

"The WTA makes its lone stop in Africa at the Grand Prix SAR La Princesse Lalla Meryem. The red clay court tournament has been staged in several different cities in Morocco, starting off in Casablanca in 2001, moving to Rabat in 2005, to Fès in 2007 and finally Marrakech in 2013.

Located near the foothills of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains, Marrakech is a major economic center and tourist destination. The event name refers to Princess Lalla Meryem, the sister of Mohammed VI, King of Morocco.

Among the tournament's past participants are Svetlana Kuznetsova, Li Na, Dinara Safina and 2013 winner Francesca Schiavone. It has produced a different champion each year since its inception."

Obviously, it has moved around, but even the WTA implies it's in Marrakesh. That's odd. I wonder if they did have a site change. In deference to Rabat, I'll put up a little travelogue, though in my limited experience, Marrakesh is much cooler.

 

[Moxie]

About Rabat:

Morocco's capital is an elegant, European-flavored city, since France moved the headquarters from Fez in the early 20th C. But its gentile demeanor hides its past as a main harbor for barbary pirates, particularly from the 16th-18th Centuries. Its convenience to Europe makes it a tourist destination, and its medina is a World Heritage site.

 

[britbox]

Latest results in Marrak.... erm... Rabat.

SINGLES - FIRST ROUND
[2] Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) d Alexandra Dulgheru (ROU) | 6 - 4 | 6 - 2 | MATCH STATS
Teliana Pereira (BRA) d [6] Annika Beck (GER) | 6 - 3 | 6 - 1 | MATCH STATS
Johanna Larsson (SWE) d Donna Vekic (CRO) | 6 - 2 | 6 - 2 | MATCH STATS
Kiki Bertens (NED) d [3] Anna Karolina Schmiedlova (SVK) | 6 - 0 | 6 - 1 | MATCH STATS
[5] Timea Babos (HUN) d Polona Hercog (SLO) | 6 - 3 | 6 - 7 (10) | 6 - 1 | MATCH STATS
Pauline Parmentier (FRA) d Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) | 7 - 5 | 7 - 5 | MATCH STATS

 

[britbox]

SINGLES - SECOND ROUND
Pauline Parmentier (FRA) d [L] Richel Hogenkamp (NED) | 4 - 6 | 7 - 5 | 6 - 2
[5] Timea Babos (HUN) d Laura Robson (GBR) | 6 - 1 | 6 - 2
[8] Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) d Tatjana Maria (GER) | 6 - 0 | 6 - 2
Kiki Bertens (NED) d [L] Sara Sorribes Tormo (ESP) | 6 - 4 | 6 - 3
[Q] Marina Erakovic (NZL) d [7] Lesia Tsurenko (UKR) | 6 - 4 | 0 - 0 | RET
[Q] Aleksandra Krunic (SRB) d [2] Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) | 6 - 2 | 6 - 2
Johanna Larsson (SWE) d Teliana Pereira (BRA) | 6 - 4 | 6 - 4
[1] Timea Bacsinszky (SUI) d Kateryna Kozlova (UKR) | 6 - 3 | 2 - 6 | 6 - 3

 

[Billie]

Thursday, April 28, 2016
singles - Quarterfinals
[5] Timea Babos (HUN) d Pauline Parmentier (FRA) | 6 - 3 | 6 - 3 |
Kiki Bertens (NED) d [8] Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) | 6 - 3 | 6 - 7 (7) | 6 - 3 |
[1] Timea Bacsinszky (SUI) d Johanna Larsson (SWE) | 6 - 4 | 6 - 1 |
[Q] Marina Erakovic (NZL) d [Q] Aleksandra Krunic (SRB) | 6 - 4 | 6 - 4 |

Semi finals:

Friday, April 29, 2016
CENTER COURT
12:00 - Kiki Bertens (NED) V Marina Erakovic (NZL)
14:00 - [1] Timea Bacsinszky (SUI) V [5] Timea Babos (HUN)

 

[britbox]

Semi Final Results

[1] Timea Bacsinszky (SUI) d [5] Timea Babos (HUN) | 6 - 4 | 7 - 5
[Q] Marina Erakovic (NZL) d Kiki Bertens (NED) | 2 - 6 | 7 - 6 (7) | 7 - 5

 

[britbox]

Rabat Final

v

[1] Timea Bacsinszky (SUI) v Marina Erakovic (NZL)

H2H: Bacsinszky leads 2-0

2015 Indian Wells Masters R64 Hard Timea Bacsinszky Marina Erakovic 4-6 6-3 6-2
2007 Australian Open SF Hard Timea Bacsinszky Marina Erakovic 3-6 7-5 6-4

Src: http://www.stevegtennis.com/
---

 

[Billie]

Tough to call, both previous matches went to 3 sets. I give #1 seed an advantage.

 

[britbox]

Timea Bacsinszky wins the Rabat title

Timea defeats Marina Erakovic 6-2, 6-1 to win her first title of the year.