Seoul 2014: Kia Korea Open

[Correspondent Kiu]

http://kiakoreaopen.com/

SEOUL, KOREA
SEP 15 - SEP 21

TOURNAMENT INFO.

TIER: International
PRIZE MONEY: $500,000
SURFACE: Hard
DIRECTOR: Mr. Jin-soo Lee

Defending Champion Aga Radwanska is the top seed.

Player page here:
http://kiakoreaopen.com/en/?page_id=2163

Draw here:
http://www.wtatennis.com/SEWTATour-Archive/posting/2014/1024/MDS.pdf

 

[rubydo]

Aga won her 1st round match today beating Polona Hercog, 6-3, 6-3. 2nd seed Karolina Pliskova also won, beating Julia Glushko, 6-1, 6-2. And surprise surprise Maria Kirilenko won too, as a WC beating Donna Vekic, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4

 

[Hoergren]

Another double bagel of the year as Aga won 60 60 over Scheepers

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

#3 seed got knocked out by a WILD CARD!

Who was the wild card?

Handed the #3 seed a bagel to finish it and send Klara to next event in China.

Nicole Gibbs of USA also advanced into quarterfinals.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Nice to see Maria Kirilenko reaching her first q/final of the year,after a knee injury that kept her out the first three months of this season.

 

[Si Si Simona]

And then Aga loses to a player like Lepchenko
Aga must steady her sinking ship. She is in a crises for months.

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

Quarterfinal scores:
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2014

SINGLES - QUARTERFINALS
Christina McHale (USA) d [4] Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) | 6 - 2 | 2 - 0 | RET
[WC] Maria Kirilenko (RUS) d [6] Kaia Kanepi (EST) | 6 - 7 (3) | 6 - 2 | 6 - 3 |
[5] Varvara Lepchenko (USA) d [1] Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) | 6 - 7 (4) | 6 - 2 | 6 - 2 |
[2] Karolina Pliskova (CZE) d [Q] Nicole Gibbs (USA) | 6 - 3 | 6 - 4 |

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Pleasing result for Maria Kirilenko making the s/finals.Well done Maria!

 

[rubydo]

Yes, I am really pleased to see Maria get into the semi-finals, and all wins have come being a set down. That is encouraging, she is not the most powerfully built player, and ankles and knees have been a persistent problem for her the last 14 months, plus her rather ill-fated liaison with Sasha. Yes, Aga's game has gone "south" but give credit to Varvara, she has had such a challenging life and I can only wish her further success in her more subdued lifestyle now.

 

[rubydo]

Maria in a good battle with Karolina in the first set 5-4 Maria. Maria wins 1st set, her first one of the tournament, 6-4. Karolina has asked to see her coach.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I am watching 2 matches at once Rubydo good to see Maria win the 1st set 64

 

[Si Si Simona]

I am watching 2 matches at once Rubydo good to see Maria win the 1st set 64

and the one you dont watch is the most entertaining and fun of all 3 matches
we make our choices

 

[rubydo]

I am also watching a little of the Cornet/Niculescu match, your Romanian has been playing some inspired tennis lately, winning that first set 6-4, and leading the second 3-0. Heat is a problem for Cornet I feel.:huh:

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

Did Pliskova gift a break with a double fault serving for the set?

 

[Si Si Simona]

I am also watching a little of the Cornet/Niculescu match, your Romanian has been playing some inspired tennis lately, winning that first set 6-4, and leading the second 3-0. Heat is a problem for Cornet I feel.:huh:

Monica was amazing today. god knows where she got that from. some of her shoots would have made Serena proud.
You know what? Serena cant make some of the slices Monica did today. She had some unbelievable shoots and was such fun to watch. And she is such a nice person. She made Alize laugh and smile after the match in her speech. Alize changed her mood from bad and angry to laugh and smile.

 

[rubydo]

I am amazed that Maria, with a serve that is way less than 160kmh is still hanging in there, thanks to so many double faults by Karolina. But, with the second set going to KP 7-6(5) one would have to think that she is in the driver's seat. But, with Maria's guile you never know.

 

[Si Si Simona]

I am amazed that Maria, with a serve that is way less than 160kmh is still hanging in there, thanks to so many double faults by Karolina. But, with the second set going to KP 7-6(5) one would have to think that she is in the driver's seat. But, with Maria's guile you never know.

Maria has more experience and imo a better player at present when she is healthy.
opss... I can type "Maria" and I can even enjoy it in this beautiful occasion

 

[rubydo]

I am also watching a little of the Cornet/Niculescu match, your Romanian has been playing some inspired tennis lately, winning that first set 6-4, and leading the second 3-0. Heat is a problem for Cornet I feel.:huh:

Monica was amazing today. god knows where she got that from. some of her shoots would have made Serena proud.
You know what? Serena cant make some of the slices Monica did today. She had some unbelievable shoots and was such fun to watch. And she is such a nice person. She made Alize laugh and smile after the match in her speech. Alize changed her mood from bad and angry to laugh and smile.

Again, I always felt Monica was her own worst enemy, losing matches she should have won, but obviously she has now found that extra ingredient to compliment her game.. She could be finally on the right road. She is also a proficient doubles player too, I am happy for her, even though I have liked Cornet's style too for sometime.

 

[rubydo]

Maria, off with a medical time out, is that frail body causing her concern again?uzzled

 

[Si Si Simona]

I am also watching a little of the Cornet/Niculescu match, your Romanian has been playing some inspired tennis lately, winning that first set 6-4, and leading the second 3-0. Heat is a problem for Cornet I feel.:huh:

Monica was amazing today. god knows where she got that from. some of her shoots would have made Serena proud.
You know what? Serena cant make some of the slices Monica did today. She had some unbelievable shoots and was such fun to watch. And she is such a nice person. She made Alize laugh and smile after the match in her speech. Alize changed her mood from bad and angry to laugh and smile.

Again, I always felt Monica was her own worst enemy, losing matches she should have won, but obviously she has now found that extra ingredient to compliment her game.. She could be finally on the right road. She is also a proficient doubles player too, I am happy for her, even though I have liked Cornet's style too for sometime.

She found "that extra ingredient" as you say only until the next event i am afraid. Its very tough and she cant hold that run for too long. If she could maintain level then she would have done so in the past. She cant keep this level for too long, or she would be top 10 player or more. I wish her the best I like her a lot.
Monica is a very good doubles player.