Upset Corner - 2018 USO Edition

[GameSetAndMath]

As Britbox anticipated Vika ousted Gavrilova.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Makarova is becoming serial upsetter.

After upsetting Caro recently (to the extent of making her a sore loser), now she has pulled another upset. This time the victim is Gorgeous.

 

[tenisplayrla08]

Makarova is becoming serial upsetter.

After upsetting Caro recently (to the extent of making her a sore loser), now she has pulled another upset. This time the victim is Gorgeous.

Makarova is always dangerous. Struggles mentally quite often and therefore dropped out of the top 32 and didn't get seeded. But she's former top 10. Former semifinalist here (l. Serena) and AO (l. Sharapova). By which I mean, I barely consider it an upset. She technically has more experience here. Or at least a better record. Goerges just beat her in New Haven. But Makarova had won their first two matches. So she now has won 3 of 4. One of my favorite players. Always frustrating because she can take herself to the brink of wiping the floor with someone only to get nervous, ease up, or freeze up and just let them back in. But, she's getting somewhat better the last few months. 30 now. May be one of these ladies that has a late career resurgence. Whether that happens or not, she's never lost to Sevastova. So she should be getting into the 4th round come Friday. I certainly hope so.

 

[kskate2]

Bencic, Christina McHale and Timea Bacsinzsky all lost. They are unseeded players and I didn't bother to check whether their losses are technically upsets or not. Suffice it to say that I expected more from them.

Never expect anything from McFail...

 

[AnonymousFan]

Garbine out

 

[tenisplayrla08]

Continuing on with Makarova from my reply above, she's also never lost to Svitolina. But they haven't played since 2016. And of course Svitolina has definitely taken her game to the next level since then. Of course. Svitolina could lose to Quiang Wang. Svitolina has won both of their matches. But both went three sets and were close. I wasn't sure Wang was gonna do much here. But I did have my eye on her because she upset Sloane Stephens in the first round of Wuhan after her US Open win last year. She lost to Keys in the first round of the AO this year. But then beat Venus on her way to the third round of the French. And she had beaten Sloane in the first round of the 2016 AO. Of course, if Wang beats Svitolina and Makarova/Sevastova, she'll have a shot at Stephens. IF Stephens can get by Vika (like she did in IW and Miami) and Mertens (probably) who just beat her in Cincy.

All of which is to say, this has been the most interesting quarter of the draw, to me, since it came out. Because while I love Sloane, as we saw today, she can definitely be beaten. Even if she can also dig herself out of a hole. Still pulling for her to defend her title. But I feel like I'm just holding my breath with her.

As I wrote this, Muchova, a qualifier, beat Muguruza AFTER losing the first 5 games of the match. Good on her for hanging in there. But she partly decided to stick it out I bet because she knows, like EVERYONE else on tour, that Muguruza can completely beat herself, even if she's playing lights out for a few games. So Muguruza's slide continues. Just has not been able to have her best at all this year.

Muchova very impressive. Opens this draw up for Pliskova v Barty 4th round even more. We'll see. But Barty has been really steady lately and will probably keep up her rise and get to the top 15 or top 10 by the end of this tournament. But Pliskova, who we've all sort of forgotten about during her slide this year, is in a PRIME position to make the semis if Serena or Venus doesn't come through. Though of course, we've seen her beat both of them, in the same year, here back in 2016. So she may be finding her form here again, like she did at last year's French Open when she had a poor clay season, as the number 2 player in the world. Then got a cupcake draw at the French and made the quarters. Beat Garcia and took a set from Halep in the semi before falling. Or... she could lose her next match. Doesn't beat herself as much as a Muguruza. But can definitely still do it. But it's not like she lost early last year after her final in 2016. She still made the quarters last year as the number one seed. In that close match with CoCo. So she clearly feels good here.

Other upsets I'm trying to anticipate are Tsurenko over Wozniacki. I'm not really hoping it happens. But I think it's possible. Tsurenko has had some fairly nice results here and there this year. These two have only played once. 5 years ago. Wozniacki won. Part of me thinks Wozniacki is headed for the final. Part of me thinks she's not making the quarters.

Pera over Keys. She beat Konta at the AO as a lucky loser. Got Konta started on her slide for the year. Should be able to serve with Keys. Not sure she can handle all of Keys power. And I'm not sure about much of her game. Haven't really seen her. But they played a close match in Charleston this year. Keys won it 7-5 in the third. Just feels like one of those matches that can sneak up on you.

 

[tenisplayrla08]

Never expect anything from McFail...

Yeah. Bencic has really struggled to get back into it. Which has been frustrating to watch. Just feel like she's much better than she's playing. Maybe the injury (did she have surgery?) messed up her timing or game in general. Or not having Hingis as a coach is a problem. I don't know. All I know is it looked like she was gonna be a real contender before the injury and I'm just hoping something close to her former formidable self comes back around.
I don't know why you would even include McHale here.
And Bacisnszky has had recurring injuries the last year or two. This is her first slam of the year. Hasn't played a slam since Wimbledon last year. She's allowed to lose her first slam match back.

 

[britbox]

Yeah. Bencic has really struggled to get back into it. Which has been frustrating to watch. Just feel like she's much better than she's playing. Maybe the injury (did she have surgery?) messed up her timing or game in general. Or not having Hingis as a coach is a problem. I don't know. All I know is it looked like she was gonna be a real contender before the injury and I'm just hoping something close to her former formidable self comes back around.
I don't know why you would even include McHale here.
And Bacisnszky has had recurring injuries the last year or two. This is her first slam of the year. Hasn't played a slam since Wimbledon last year. She's allowed to lose her first slam match back.

Good to see you around, you've been missed. Welcome back.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Garbage ousted by unknown Czech player!

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Sakkari and Konta light also lost, but no one bothered to mention them.

 

[golds girl]

Garbage ousted by unknown Czech player!

It was incredible GSM. Mugu looked so confident in the 1st set and as soon as unknown Czech player hit a few first great balls in the 2nd set it was all over. I should have known better than to put Mugu going past the 2nd round...

 

[AnonymousFan]

Kasatkina (11) lost to Sasnovich

 

[golds girl]

Kasatkina out as well.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Kasatkina and Hsieh are two interesting players. Unfortunately both of them lost. But, only Kasatkina's loss is an upset.
Hope Kasatkina learns to win consistently also soon. She has such a variety in her game, it would be fun to see her on court more often. But, that can happen only if she wins.

 

[Hoergren]

 

[tenisplayrla08]

Good to see you around, you've been missed. Welcome back.

Yeah just had some thoughts on the Ladies draw. And I got an email about coming back a month or two back. Thought I'd reach out.

Not shocked to see Wozniacki fall. As I mentioned yesterday. Not shocked by Kasatikina either. Wasn't confident enough to mention that match. Because she found a way to the quarters at both the French and Wimbledon. And had won their last 3 matches. Has had a really consistent year. A bunch of quarterfinals in addition to the Dubai and IW finals. Sasnovich just the woman for the job though apparently. Prevents the IW final repeat between Kasatkina and Osaka. Just one match between Osaka and Sasnovich, two years ago. Osaka won. Sasnovich can definitely come out on top. Should be a good match. Pulling for Osaka who is my favorite of the youngest crop.

Really glad we get to see Sabalenka v Kvitova. Kvitova won their only match back in Miami of this year, in three sets. But Sabalenka should feel much more confidence now. Pulling for Kvitova. Because I wanna see a Kvitova v Bertens rematch after Bertens just beat her twice in Cincy and Canada. But it'll fall how it falls. And, Osaka would not be having the results I wanna see from her if that happened. So I'm sort of cool with however this quarter pans out. Love seeing Bertens reach her potential finally. Really wanna see Kvitova finally get another slam or at least a slam final outside of Wimbledon. And wanna see Osaka doing well consistently and at the slams. Contending for titles.

Impressed to see Siniakova doing work to get her top 32 seeding back. At least I feel like she was seeded at a recent slam. Idk.

 

[tenisplayrla08]

So of course the two big upset watch matches tomorrow are Sloane vs Vika and Serena vs Venus. Technically Venus is ranked higher. But we all know she's the underdog. And Vika, despite losing to Sloane twice this spring can absolutely beat her. I love all four of these ladies. I can't wait to see Vika winning slams again. Have hated seeing all her family issues and injuries. But I totally want to see Sloane defend this title. Even though I also wanna see Serena extend her consecutive years with a slam win too. And I'd always love to see Venus get her 8th slam. No guarantee any of these ladies make the semis, no matter what happens tomorrow I guess. But definitely pulling for Sloane and Serena. And while I hate to trust Sloane still, because she can break your heart and just not have the goods on some days. I think she'll pull it out over Vika, even though she's looked great. And I think Serena will deal with Venus.

I'm still watching Qiang Wang vs Svitolina to see if Wang can pull of that upset. Possible but not likely I think. And super curious about Kenin vs Pliskova. I don't know much about the young American. And Pliskova's experience here will probably win out. But I just can't say I can expect much from Kenin because I haven't seen her play yet.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

The girl who beat Caro looks like she has not eaten for months. She was very boney and even the nerves in her face was showing up when she was giving interview. Despite all of that, she beat Woz very easily.

 

[isabelle]

awful loss for Garbine and the Woz, really disappointed

 

[britbox]

The girl who beat Caro looks like she has not eaten for months. She was very boney and even the nerves in her face was showing up when she was giving interview. Despite all of that, she beat Woz very easily.

I was pretty surprised by the result to be honest - last time I checked the match, she had what seemed a 10 hour MTO in the opening stanza. I thought Woz would clean her out after that and went to bed.