Rome Round 3

[Omair]

There are some intriguing matches in Round 3 today.

- Sara Errani vs Maria Kirilenko
- Sloane Stephens vs Maria Sharapova (Stephens has finally won back to back matches for the first time after Australia. I hope she is getting her act together)
- Serena Williams vs DOminika CIbulkova (Cibulkova had WIlliams on the wires in Miami (If I am not wrong). Hoping for a great match)
- Jelena Jankovic vs Li Na (THis is the match I am looking forward to, should be a good test for Li. JJ is in good form)
- Simona Halep vs Roberta VInci (Would love to see both winning but that is impossible. I hope Halep goes for it after her victories over Kuznetsova and Radwanska)
- Kvitova vs Stosur (Both need this win badly to develop some confidence before heading into the RG)
- CSN vs LDL (A good chance for both to make the quarters here. Hope it is CSN)
- Morita vs Azarenka (I love Morita's game and I hope she gives Azarenka a tough test)

Who do you see winning today? A lot of intriguing matches
P.S : Sorry for any typos and abbreviations

 

[10isfan]

I predict Errani, Pova, Serena, Li, Vika, Vinci. I have no idea about the other two matches. Surprised that Vika was able to bagel Georges. She seems on a mission to roll over everyone so she can get another chance to play Serena in a final.

 

[Omair]

I predict Errani, Pova, Serena, Li, Vika, Vinci. I have no idea about the other two matches. Surprised that Vika was able to bagel Georges. She seems on a mission to roll over everyone so she can get another chance to play Serena in a final.

It wasn't much of a surprise that GOerges has been bagled. She has been playing poorly recently, but yes, Vika is fired up to do well in Rome after an early exit in Madrid.
and as for the rest of two matches, i think Stosur should take an advantage of the mental walk abouts of Kvitova, if it happens during the match today.
Carla Saurez Navaro (CSN) is a good clay court player, but as is LDL ( she came in as a Lucky loser in the place of Kerber), but I think CSN should move onto the quarter-finals.

 

[Omair]

Li vs JJ on air. DOuble fault by JJ and LI draws the first blood. 1-0 Li.

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Li consolidates the break. JJ to serve at 0-2

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JJ having problem with her boll-toss.

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Rome must love JJ considering the audience out there to watch the match. THe court is full, while in Li's match yesterday there hardly were any audience.

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Li had a few break points but in the end JJ proved too strong. Li and overheads have never been friends. Yes, she did hit one in this game and yes the ball landed outside the court.
JJ is on board 1-2

 

[kskate2]

It's damp because it's been raining all morning w/ more rain to come. It will be a challenging day for all players and oftentimes conditions like these will magnify bad technique.

 

[Omair]

JJ is settling down and engaging Li and forcing errors out of Li. JJ breaks at 15 and we are back on serve. 2-2

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JJ with and easy hold and now at deuce on Li's serve. Li is not moving her legs at all.

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It's damp because it's been raining all morning w/ more rain to come. It will be a challenging day for all players and oftentimes conditions like these will magnify bad technique.

Agreed. The damp conditions will impair the techniques of players. Let us see who takes advantage of these conditions.

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Tough hold from Li for 3-3. JJ serving

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JJ unable to find her first serve, still holds her serve at 30 to move ahead 4-3. Li's turn to serve.

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JJ's technique is working well so far and Li is an error prone machine at the moment and paid the price. JJ breaks serve to move ahead 5-3. JJ will serve for the set.

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A very long game in which Li saved 5 set points, and JJ saved 2 break points. JJ got time violation warning, but in the end she double faulted on the 3rd break point and we are back on serve. Li to serve to stay in the set.

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A good needed hold from Li who held at 30. JJ to serve at 5-5

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JJ with an easy hold. Held at 15. Li to serve to force a tie-break

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Li holds at 30 to force a tie-break.

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JJ 4-1 in tie-break. Li to serve.

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Set on JJ's racquet as she is to serve at 5-2 in TB

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and finally JJ wins on her 6th set point. Li spraying the ball everywhere but inside the court and she paid the price by losing the tie-break. JJ leads 7-6(2)

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Li holds to start the second set.

 

[Omair]

A tough and confidence boasting hold from JJ. Faced a Break point but saved it courtsey of a Li error. It is going to be mentally tough now for Li

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

This Jankovic/Li match is a nice match up! If it goes 3, I wonder if the winner will have anything left in the tank for the next match.

 

[kskate2]

This Jankovic/Li match is a nice match up! If it goes 3, I wonder if the winner will have anything left in the tank for the next match.

I don't think it will go 3. Li is an UE machine. She needs to stop the bleeding quickly.

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

JJ is hot, Old Li is not. And so, JJ dumps Li in straight sets. This is 3 matches in a row for JJ, she is now all even with Li at 4-4

Sara is holding tight, Kirilenko is about to be out! May be this rain delay would help her get back in.

 

[Omair]

JJ is hot, Old Li is not. And so, JJ dumps Li in straight sets. This is 3 matches in a row for JJ, she is now all even with Li at 4-4

Sara is holding tight, Kirilenko is about to be out! May be this rain delay would help her get back in.

Kirilenko withdrew from the match citing Knee problem.

Li made 62 unforced errors today. I have serious concerns now over her chances at RG.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

Yeah this is the time of year that Li usually shines as the second half of the year usually isn't her strongest time of year. Good thing for Li is she can improve drastically for the second half of the year, but clay has been a bust for her so far this year after starting strong in Stuttgart.

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This also has me wondering is this partnership with Carlos Rodriguez benefiting him more than her. I know he enjoys the recognition he gets for his academy in China for coaching Li. I am just wondering if perhaps this is more of a one-sided partnership in which he reaps more benefit than she does. She seems more erratic than ever in her play.

 

[10isfan]

Sorry to see Li falter. I agree her chances at FO are drastically reduced given her current form.

Great matches still to come. Can Cibulkova and Sloane each win a set? Will Petra hold herself together long enough to beat Sam? Will Serena continue playing or withdraw to rest?

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

I think if Serena were to withdraw, it would be during the later stages at least up to the semis so she defends what she did last year and doesn't lose any margin if possible. I doubt it though Serena looks to be game to play at the moment unless she is doing it as a precaution before the FO.

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

... Will Serena continue playing or withdraw to rest?

Serena and Lil' Domi are warming up.

BTW, thanks Omair for starting this thread, a new thread for every new round is a good idea and then we can have individual threads/polls for Semis and Final.
We do need more thread starters around the WTA forum.

 

[kskate2]

Serena is returning well. Looks sharp early. Up 3-0

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... Will Serena continue playing or withdraw to rest?

BTW, thanks Omair for starting this thread, a new thread for every new round is a good idea and then we can have individual threads/polls for Semis and Final.
We do need more thread starters around the WTA forum.

You can say that again Kiu...

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

Oh Lil' Domi is such a little cutie pie...Cutie pie is getting dismantled by Serena, now a point away from 4-0

 

[Calvy]

Is there a website to watch the matches?

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

www.streamhunter.eu

 

[Calvy]

www.streamhunter.eu

Thank you, Kui!!