Prague Open, Prague, Czech Republic, WTA International

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

Seeds:
1. KUZNETSOVA, Svetlana
2. SAFAROVA, Lucie
3. PLISKOVA, Karolina
4. STOSUR, Samantha
5. STRYCOVA, Barbora
6. OSTAPENKO, Jelena
7. CIBULKOVA, Dominika
8. WICKMAYER, Yanina


Prague Open by Michal Pohořelský, on Flickr

Svetlana Kuznetsova heads the seeds who include in-form Dominika Cibulkova and defending champion Karolina Pliskova.



About Prague:

Prague, capital of the Czech Republic, is bisected by the Vltava River. Nicknamed “the City of a Hundred Spires,” it's known for its Old Town Square, the heart of its historic core, with colorful baroque buildings, Gothic churches and the medieval Astronomical Clock, with a popular show. Completed in 1402, pedestrian Charles Bridge is lined with 30 statues of saints.

The WTA returned to Prague in 2015. The city had previously hosted top tier tennis from 1992 to 2010.



Expedia Guide to Prague

 

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The Draw:

 

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I'm hoping to see Dominika Cibulkova go deep again here... she's had a good start to the season and even though she's jumped up around 30 places in the rankings over the last few weeks, she's really a Top 20 Player IMO.

 

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SINGLES - SECOND ROUND
[4] Samantha Stosur (AUS) d [WC] Marketa Vondrousova (CZE) | 6 - 3 | 6 - 4
[5] Barbora Strycova (CZE) d [WC] Jana Cepelova (SVK) | 7 - 6 (3) | 6 - 1
Camila Giorgi (ITA) d [Q] Virginie Razzano (FRA) | 6 - 1 | 7 - 5
[3] Karolina Pliskova (CZE) d [WC] Katerina Siniakova (CZE) | 6 - 2 | 6 - 4
Su-Wei Hsieh (TPE) d Ana Konjuh (CRO) | 6 - 4 | 2 - 6 | 6 - 1
[2] Lucie Safarova (CZE) d Lucie Hradecka (CZE) | 6 - 4 | 2 - 0 | RET
Monica Puig (PUR) d [L] Barbora Krejcikova (CZE) | 6 - 4 | 6 - 4
[1] Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) d Madison Brengle (USA) | 5 - 7 | 6 - 4 | 6 - 3

 

[Billie]

Thursday, April 28, 2016
singles - Quarterfinals
[4] Samantha Stosur (AUS) d [5] Barbora Strycova (CZE) | 6 - 3 | 6 - 7 (3) | 7 - 6 (4) |
[3] Karolina Pliskova (CZE) d Camila Giorgi (ITA) | 6 - 2 | 6 - 1 |
[1] Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) d Monica Puig (PUR) | 4 - 6 | 7 - 5 | 6 - 4 |
[2] Lucie Safarova (CZE) d Su-Wei Hsieh (TPE) | 7 - 6 (3) | 7 - 5 |

All 4 seeds made it to the semi finals, that's nice:

The match-ups tomorrow:

Friday, April 29, 2016
CENTRE COURT
Time RoundR. Match Scores
12:00 - [3] Karolina Pliskova (CZE) V [2] Lucie Safarova (CZE)
04:02 - [1] Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) V [4] Samantha Stosur (AUS)

 

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Surprised to see all four top seeds make it to the semis... doesn't seem to happen very often these days.

 

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Prague Semi Finals

[4] Samantha Stosur (AUS) d [1] Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) | 0 - 0
[2] Lucie Safarova (CZE) d [3] Karolina Pliskova (CZE) | 6 - 4 | 7 - 6 (4)

Svetlana pulled out with an abdominal injury, so Sam Stosur makes the final without breaking a sweat.

 

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Prague Open Final

v

[2] Lucie Safarova (CZE) v [4] Samantha Stosur (AUS)

H2H: Safarova leads 10-3

2015 Doha R32 Hard Lucie Safarova Samantha Stosur 7-6(3) 6-4
2015 Sydney R32 Hard Samantha Stosur Lucie Safarova 7-6(3) 5-7 6-3
2014 Charleston R16 Clay Lucie Safarova Samantha Stosur 3-6 6-4 6-4
2013 Beijing R64 Hard Lucie Safarova Samantha Stosur 7-5 6-3
2013 Tokyo R16 Hard Lucie Safarova Samantha Stosur 6-4 6-4
2013 Eastbourne R16 Grass Lucie Safarova Samantha Stosur 7-6(5) 6-3
2013 Czech Republic v Australia - FC WG - R1 0 Hard Lucie Safarova Samantha Stosur 7-6(6) 7-6(4)
2012 Canadian Masters R16 Hard Lucie Safarova Samantha Stosur 7-6(9) 7-6(5)
2012 Dubai R16 Hard Samantha Stosur Lucie Safarova 6-1 6-7(5) 6-1
2011 Miami Masters R32 Hard Samantha Stosur Lucie Safarova 6-0 7-6(1)
2009 Brisbane R16 Hard Lucie Safarova Samantha Stosur 6-4 6-4
2006 US Open R128 Hard Lucie Safarova Samantha Stosur 6-2 7-6(5)
2006 Charleston R64 Clay Lucie Safarova Samantha Stosur 5-7 6-1 6-4

Src: http://www.stevegtennis.com/
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[Billie]

Wow Lucie with a great H2H against Sam.

 

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Sam and Lucie locked in a battle - 3rd set decider

 

[Bert]

Break for Safarova... don't see Stosur coming back from that

 

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Yay, Lucie gets the break and leads for the first time in the match. 4-3 up in the decider.

 

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Break for Safarova... don't see Stosur coming back from that

All the momentum is with Lucie. Let's hope she doesn't choke this up.

 

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5-3. One game from the title.

 

[Bert]

Done. She had no win this season before the start of this tournament

 

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Done. She had no win this season before the start of this tournament

Good win for Lucie. Nice for my betting slip today too

 

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@Tennis Fan will be a happy bunny.

 

[Tennis Fan]

@Tennis Fan will be a happy bunny.

You got that right! I just went and checked it out on the WTATour.com and this tournament was the first time Lucie even won a match this year. Since coming back from that bacterial infection she has had all first round losses, but this week she not only beat Sam but Karolina Pliskova too. I like Karolina too because she's been losing some close matches lately and my heart goes out to her in not being able to get over that hump.

But as for Lucie, she's always had game but not enough belief, then the breakup boohoo, and finally last year she was putting it all together and bam! A nasty bacterial infection that landed her in the hospital and all of her momentum disappeared. Now it appears that she's back on track, although she's in the Madrid tournament and she admitted to being tired after some tough matches this week, so she may have an early exit which is understandable, but she got the trophy today so yes, Tennis Fan is a happy bunny. Yay!