Maria Kirilenko Maria Kirilenko won the Pattaya City title, her first since 2008, meanwhile Mona Barthel claimed her first Premier title with victory in Paris. Kirilenko survived Sabine Lisicki in a epic final that displayed all the qualities of a peak WTA match as both seem adamant in giving the match to the opposing player. …
Here is part three of the countdown of my favourite WTA matches of the year. If you missed out on either of the first two parts then you can click on the links below: Part 1 20-16 Part 2 15-11 10. Maria Sharapova d. Petra Kvitova, 6-2 3-6 6-4 (Australian Open, SF) This year’s Australian Open…
Lets take a look at some of the second round matches that will take place in Moscow and Luxembourg later today and tomorrow… Venus Williams 1. Venus Williams v Mona Barthel (Luxembourg) Mona Barthel made a stunning start to the season where she won the title in Hobart and made a name for herself in…
Pavlyuchenkova The tournament in Carlsbad, San Diego has seen the completion of the first round where Melanie Oudin saved two match points to defeat Sloane Stephens, 1-6 7-6 6-0. It is one of the those matches that can be summed up by just reading the scoreline! Stephens is a great talent, but she will have…
The women kicked off the action on the first day of the WTA Mutua Madrid Open with some upsets and epic encounters. The first match to hit the blue clay was the longest one of the day as Marion Bartoli succumbed to Sorana Cirstea in a 6-7 6-4 6-3 loss that lasted just short of…
Maria Sharapova The quarter-finals in Stuttgart promised a lot and completely lived up to their billing with a series of thrilling encounters. Victoria Azarenka held off a barrage of winners from Mona Barthel to record a 6-4 6-7 7-5 victory in 2 hours and 48 minutes. Barthel hit a staggering 64 winners but still ended…
Victoria Azarenka Victoria Azarenka and Mona Barthel will square off for the fourth time this year after both progressed to the Stuttgart quarter-finals. Azarenka advanced when Andrea Petkovic had to retire at 6-2 4-4 down after twisting her ankle. It was heartbreaking to see Petkovic pull out after returning from a back injury this week…
Ana Ivanovic If you have been reading some of my blog entries, you will no doubt have read me harping on about Mona Barthel! After a few setbacks in recent weeks, she delivered one of her biggest wins to date with a 7-5 7-6 victory over Ana Ivanovic. I was unable to watch the match…
It now seems a good time with no WTA tournaments next week to take stock and review the progress of how the women are faring in 2012 so far. We are now into the clay court season with all systems go for the second Grand Slam at Roland Garros at the end of the May. …
Kim Clijsters Mona Barthel continued her incredible start to 2012 with a career-best win over the world number 15, Jelena Jankovic. The manner of the defeat was perhaps most surprising as Barthel routed Jankovic, 6-0 6-3 and lost just 10 points in a sensational first set. Jankovic also lost her first match at Indian Wells…
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