It seems to be a continuing storyline of the 2016 season as rain continues to follow the tour… EVERYWHERE. Tuesday was another stop-start day with many showers about. Four first round matches failed to finish which means a number of players will have to play twice on Wednesday on what is a monster schedule of first and second round matches. Here’s hoping the rain will stay away…
The only women’s match on Center Court on Tuesday was a scrappy affair as Karolina Pliskova eased past Jelena Ostapenko, 6-4 6-1. Pliskova recovered an early break in the first set and saved a set point to serve out the opener. Ostapenko produced little staying power in a disappointing second set display, throwing in a trio of double faults to lose her serve in the final game of the match.
A smart serving, Alizé Cornet recorded a super win over a very erratic, Kiki Bertens, 7-6(1) 6-3. Bertens did well to force the first set tiebreak with two solid service games, but crumbled in the tiebreak as Cornet’s superior defence and ability to get a ton of balls back in play saw her prevail.
Cornet pointed to the sky at the end with a few tears.
Timea Babos won her 30th match of 2016 with a very solid display to defeat American wildcard, Louisa Chirico, 6-4 6-4. Babos was more effective behind her first serve (78% first serve points won compared to Chirico’s 59%) and served out both sets at *5-4. For a preview of Babos’s second round match against the returning, Belinda Bencic click HERE.
Alison Riske saved a set point in the second set to edge past the Russian qualifier, Varvara Flink in straight sets, 6-4 7-6(7).
In the last women’s match of the day to be completed, Barbora Strycova flew past Eugenie Bouchard, 6-4 6-0…. I didn’t expect that result after Strycova had come from Rio where she won the bronze medal in doubles with Lucie Safarova. The match ended with a pretty dicey handshake and a hilarious reaction from Barbora…
In other results, Tsvetana Pironkova cruised past Daria Kasatkina, 6-1 6-1 in just 65 minutes and Annika Beck had an excellent win over Yulia Putintseva, 6-2 6-3.
Loved these shots of Agnieszka Radwanska by @mrenzaero on Twitter!
Angelique Kerber was in press in Cincy on Tuesday. Thanks to Tennis Atlantic for posting a video of her press conference.
And finally, the wildcards for the US Open were announced today. The excitement is ramping up… I just got my tickets! 😀
Moo's Tennis Blog 