US open SERIES 2013

[Correspondent Kiu]

As usual, soon we will have the US open series, a bunch of tournies leading to USA Open.
this is the list:

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STANFORD.
ATLANTA.
CARLSBAD.
WASHINGTON DC.
TORONTO.
MONTREAL.
CINCINNATI.
NEW HAVEN.
WINSTON-SALEM.
NEW YORK.

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And as usual there is the extra bonus for winning the series and the open to get an extra Million Dollars.
http://www.emiratesusopenseries.com/Standings/Bonus_Challenge/?intloc=headernavsub

Here are the past Champions:
Year---Men's Champions ----Women's Champions
2012-Novak Djokovic (SRB)---Petra Kvitova (CZE)
2011-Mardy Fish (USA)---Serena Williams (USA)
2010-Andy Murray (GBR)---Caroline Wozniacki (DEN)
2009-Sam Querrey (USA)--Elena Demenetieva (RUS)
2008-Rafael Nadal (ESP)--Dinara Safina (RUS)
2007-Roger Federer (SUI)--Maria Sharapova (RUS)
2006-Andy Roddick (USA)--Ana Ivanovic (SRB)
2005-Andy Roddick (USA)--Kim Clijsters (BEL)
2004-Lleyton Hewitt (AUS)--Lindsay Davenport (USA)
^pretty impressive list^

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It all begins in Stanford on July 22nd, so we have two weeks to discuss this.

Who will win the US open Series?

 

[ozza]

Doesn't US Open series use a stupid points distribution where winning Washington gets you the same points as winning Stanford and Carlsbad.

I fancy Sharapova to win this anyway. I think she will win Stanford, make final of Toronto, then providing she doesn't completely tank Cincinnati that will be quite a high points total for someone to beat.

Kvitova also has a reasonable shot given the number of events she is playing, and seemingly she is targeting this.

I personally think USO series is always much hype about nothing though.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

Yeah, I thought it was a pretty stupid points system. I think those attending the lesser events should get less points. I think events like Toronto and Cincy should be weighed more.

 

[kskate2]

Those events do weigh more Sunday. You get 100 points for winning Cinci or Toronto, but only 70 points if you win Carlsbad, Stanford or New Haven. The breakdown for the finalist and SF is reduced as well. Here's a link that explains the point system:
http://www.emiratesusopenseries.com/Standings/Bonus_Challenge/?intloc=headernavsub

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

I still think it might need some looking into because for the contenders that don't play a full schedule, so they don't peak before the US Open it can be tough to contend in this series. Why should Serena Williams or Maria Sharapova not contend for playing a shorter schedule and typically making it farther in the big events and being a front runner at the US Open say versus a Kvitova or Radwanska who will play 4-5 tournaments and win the US Open Series more than likely, but more than likely flame out at the US Open. I would weight Toronto and Cincy a bit more like the winner gets 250-300 points and break it down that way. That way a Serena, Vika or Maria can contend and aren't necessarily penalized for playing a smarter schedule.

 

[kskate2]

Maybe. Off of Kiu's original list only one man and one woman have won the USO Series and the USO to get the 1 mil bonus anyway: Kim in 05 and Fed in 07.

 

[ozza]

I still think it might need some looking into because for the contenders that don't play a full schedule, so they don't peak before the US Open it can be tough to contend in this series. Why should Serena Williams or Maria Sharapova not contend for playing a shorter schedule and typically making it farther in the big events and being a front runner at the US Open say versus a Kvitova or Radwanska who will play 4-5 tournaments and win the US Open Series more than likely, but more than likely flame out at the US Open. I would weight Toronto and Cincy a bit more like the winner gets 250-300 points and break it down that way. That way a Serena, Vika or Maria can contend and aren't necessarily penalized for playing a smarter schedule.

While you are right, there is an obvious reason they don't do this. They want to encourage the best players to play as many of the US Open series events as possible. The perfect way to do it would surely be to just add up the WTA points earned from the 6 events which are already weighted towards the level of the event.

This ultimately is why I think the US Open Series is much ado about nothing, the top players don't care, they would rather win the US Open. Some of the tier below will go chasing this then burn themselves out by the US Open. What does the US Open series really tell us? Not a lot really.

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

Maybe. Off of Kiu's original list only one man and one woman have won the USO Series and the USO to get the 1 mil bonus anyway: Kim in 05 and Fed in 07.

Indeed it's a very difficult task.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Just read on TAT that Sharapova will be looking for a new coach as she and Hogstedt have parted ways due to personal
issues with Hogstedt as he is no longer able to travel in the near future.Sharapova has confirmed this on her personal
webiste and said she will be confirming her new coach in the next few days.

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

I will list the winner for each event after it's finished.
This week we are in Stanford.
This thread will live until we know who wins the series.

 

[djmm]

Just read on TAT that Sharapova will be looking for a new coach as she and Hogstedt have parted ways due to personal
issues with Hogstedt as he is no longer able to travel in the near future.Sharapova has confirmed this on her personal
webiste and said she will be confirming her new coach in the next few days.

Jimmy Conners!!

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

We have front runners!

1 Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) 70
2 Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) 45
T-3 Sorana Cirstea (ROU) 25
Jamie Hampton (USA) 25
T-5 Vera Dushevina (RUS) 15
Olga Govortsova (BLR) 15
Varvara Lepchenko (USA) 15
Urszula Radwanska (POL) 15

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

Women's Standings
Place Player Points
T-1 Dominika Cibulkova (SVK)-- 70
Samantha Stosur (AUS)--70
3 Agnieszka Radwanska (POL)--60
4 Victoria Azarenka (BLR)--45
5 Urszula Radwanska (POL)--30
T-6 Sorana Cirstea (ROU) --25
Jamie Hampton (USA) --25
Ana Ivanovic (SRB)--25
Virginie Razzano (FRA)--25
T-10 Vera Dushevina (RUS) --15
Olga Govortsova (BLR)--15
Petra Kvitova (CZE)--15
Varvara Lepchenko (USA)--15
Roberta Vinci (ITA)--15

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

Serena joins the front runners:

Women's Standings
Place Player Points
1 Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) 105
2 Serena Williams (USA) 100
T-3 Dominika Cibulkova (SVK) 95
Sorana Cirstea (ROU) 95
5 Samantha Stosur (AUS) 85
T-6 Victoria Azarenka (BLR) 45
Na Li (CHN) 45
T-8 Ana Ivanovic (SRB) 40
Petra Kvitova (CZE) 40
T-10 Urszula Radwanska (POL) 30
Roberta Vinci (ITA) 30
T-12 Sara Errani (ITA) 25
Jamie Hampton (USA) 25
Virginie Razzano (FRA) 25
Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) 25
T-16 Marion Bartoli (FRA) 15
Alize Cornet (FRA) 15
Vera Dushevina (RUS) 15
Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) 15
Olga Govortsova (BLR) 15
Jelena Jankovic (SRB) 15
Varvara Lepchenko (USA) 15
Sloane Stephens (USA) 15

 

[kskate2]

So Aga is playing 3 weeks in a row? That's too much for anyone who is serious about title contention at a major.

 

[Calvy]

So Aga is playing 3 weeks in a row? That's too much for anyone who is serious about title contention at a major.

She has to play a lot, she and her sister own a HUGE home in Poland, and the upkeep cost must be crazy.

 

[djmm]

Serena leapfrogged and is sitting pretty at #2. One more tourny in Cincy will take her over the top!!

Go Serena :angel:

 

[djmm]

So Aga is playing 3 weeks in a row? That's too much for anyone who is serious about title contention at a major.

She has to play a lot, she and her sister own a HUGE home in Poland, and the upkeep cost must be crazy.

Yeah, and baby sis lost in qualies

 

[djmm]

Serena has more ranking points than The Joker

You go girl!!

 

[kskate2]

Serena has more ranking points than The Joker

You go girl!!

He's only won 1 Master's 1000 title (MC). Serena has won more overall titles, plus she did well at 4 of the premiere's Miami, Madrid, Rome and Toronto.