Volvo Car Open, Charleston, USA, WTA 500

[MargaretMcAleer]

Another first win for Ons Jabeur over Coco Gauff 63 63..well done Ons....you used your spin well on this fast clay surface

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Paula Padosa playing some fine clay court tennis wins the 1st set 64 over Ash Barty....Ash was down 2-5 and worked her way back had 4BPs but to Padosa's credit won the 1st set.
Tellling stat for the 1st set Barty BPs 1/10 Badosa 3/3
Paula Badosa defeats Ash Barty 64 63....Paula saved crucial BPs in the 2nd set and played the big points well for the whole match
Well deserved win!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Kudermetova was the one dictating play in the 1st set against Stephens and won 63.
Sloane was being too passive and has to be more aggressive this court is playing fast.,can't be too defensive.
Both players are having trouble hitting through the court now,there has been some light showers and the ball is heavy.,court is slower at night
A gutsy win from Kudermetova 63 64 over Stephens.........Sloane too passive all match and only hit 6 winners,though a pleasing aspect of Sloane's game she did not give up and kept trying.
Well done to Kudermetova making the s/final at Charleston.

 

[Fiero425]

Kudermetova was the one dictating play in the 1st set against Stephens and won 63.
Sloane was being too passive and has to be more aggressive this court is playing fast.,can't be too defensive.
Both players are having trouble hitting through the court now,there has been some light showers and the ball is heavy.,court is slower at night
A gutsy win from Kudermetova 63 64 over Stephens.........Sloane too passive all match and only hit 6 winners,though a pleasing aspect of Sloane's game she did not give up and kept trying.
Well done to Kudermetova making the s/final at Charleston.

Caught last couple games of the match! What is Davenporte; Stephen's secret coach? That was weird insinuating Kudermetova was "ready to crack!" WTF? She served out that match routinely with poor Sloane looking pretty much the amatuer instead of this new, hot player I don't even know! Now watching upset of Barty! A lot of upsets on the women's side while the men are still routinely moving along on tour with or without the so called "Big 3!"

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Caught last couple games of the match! What is Davenporte; Stephen's secret coach? That was weird insinuating Kudermetova was "ready to crack!" WTF? She served out that match routinely with poor Sloane looking pretty much the amatuer instead of this new, hot player I don't even know! Now watching upset of Barty! A lot of upsets on the women's side while the men are still routinely moving along on tour with or without the so called "Big 3!"

Sloane who beat Keys in her previous match did not 'turn up' for her match against Kudermetova....Sloane has added to her team a long time male friend that plays on the challenger tour,he was able to go to Miami and Charleston.
Changing from HC to clay I am not surprised with the upsets, most of these players played in Miami..The only true clay courter in the s.finals is Paula Badosa (Spain)

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Not one of the semifinalists at the Volvo Car Open,a WTA500 has won a tour-level singles title
One of these players will break through this weekend

Veronika Kudermetova (RUS) vs Paula Badosa (ESP)
Danka Kovinic (MNE) vs Ons Jabeur (TUN).

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Order of Play,Saturday,April 10,Ladies S/finals.

Althea Gibson Court,
Not before 1.00pm

Ons Jabeur (12) vs Danka Kovinic
Their H2H is 1-1 but they haven't met since 2018.This is both players best result so far in 2021.

Veronika Kudermetova (15) vs Paula Badosa.
Kudermetova H2H 2-0- both on HC.
Badosa's upset wins against Belinda Benic and a straight sets victory over the No 1 player in a q/final match Ash Barty have been impressive.
Kudermetova hasn't dropped a set this tournament on the way to the s/final.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Well done to Danka Kovinic (91 ranked) defeated Ons Jabeur (12) 63 62
Danka previously defeated 2 seeds on the way to the s/final Kvitiova (3) and Putintseva.(11)
1st final for Danka since 2016 Istanbul.I don't what happened to Ons it was not very competitive s/final at all.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Veronika Kudermetova (15) d Paula Badosa 63 63.Veronika into her 2nd final of the season.First clay final.Veronika has not lost a set in Charleston,faces Kovinic in the final on Sunday.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Sunday 11th April,
Althea Gibson Court,Not before 10.45am
Ladies Doubles Final,
N.Melichar/D.Schuurs (1) vs M.Bouzkova/L.Hradecka.

Not Before 1pm,
Ladies Singles Final,

V.Kudemetova (15) vs D.Kovinic
H2H 1-0 Kudemetova 1-0 HC Shenzhen 2019.

Both ladies have the chance to win a WTA 500 singles title in this final.
Kudemetova has yet to lose a set on her way to the final and had a straights sets win over Paula Badosa in the s/final.
Kovinic has defeated a couple of seeds on her way to the s/final,Kvitova (3) and Putintseva (11) and had a straight sets win over Ons Jabeur (11) to qualify for the final.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Congratulations to N.Melichar/D.Schuurs (1) winning the Ladies Doubles Title defeating M.Bouzkova/L.Hradecka 62 64.
BTW the winners each received a volvo car....not a bad bonus for winning.( I knew the singles winner receives a volvo.not doubles winners).

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Congratulations to Veronika Kudermetova winning her maiden WTA title defeating Danka Kovinic 64 62
Veronika becomes the first woman since 2012 (Serena Williams) without dropping a set all tournament.