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Post by Brinyi on Aug 23, 2006 15:21:52 GMT -5
Amelie Mauresmo FRA (1) vs. Qualifier (Kristina Barrois GER) Meghann Shaughnessy USA vs. Roberta Vinci ITA Mara Santangelo ITA vs. Lisa Raymond USA Sybille Bammer AUT vs. Nathalie Dechy FRA (31) Daniela Hantuchova SVK (17) vs. Bethanie Mattek USA Lourdes Dominguez Lino ESP vs. Serena Williams USA Melinda Czink HUN vs. Aiko Nakamura JPN Vera Dushevina RUS vs. Ana Ivanovic SCG (16)
Dinara Safina RUS (12) vs. Qualifier (Yulia Beygelzimer UKR) Yuliana Fedak UKR vs. Qualifier (Tatiana Poutchek BLR) Alexa Glatch USA vs. Jarmila Gajdosova SVK Viktoriya Kutuzova UKR vs. Flavia Pennetta ITA (18) Anabel Medina Garrigues ESP (25) vs. Qualifier (Youlia Fedossova FRA) Kaia Kanepi EST vs. Stephanie Foretz FRA Maret Ani EST vs. Virginie Razzano FRA Shuai Peng CHN vs. Martina Hingis SUI (8)
Maria Sharapova RUS (3) vs. Michaella Krajicek NED Emilie Loit FRA vs. Camille Pin FRA Qualifier (Nicole Pratt AUS) vs. Qualifier (Milagros Sequera VEN) Tiantian Sun CHN vs. Elena Likhovtseva RUS (32) Na Li CHN (24) vs. Maria Sanchez Lorenzo ESP Shenay Perry USA vs. Eleni Daniilidou GRE Qualifier (Eva Birnerova CZE) vs. Galina Voskoboeva RUS Elena Vesnina RUS vs. Mary Pierce FRA (13)
Anastasia Myskina RUS (11) vs. Victoria Azarenka BLR Jamea Jackson USA vs. Tsvetana Pironkova BUL Ahsha Rolle USA vs. Alona Bondarenko UKR Martina Sucha SVK vs. Anna Chakvetadze RUS (23) Tatiana Golovin FRA (27) vs. Ashley Harkleroad USA Zi Yan CHN vs. Qualifier (Agnieszka Radwanska POL) Amy Frazier USA vs. Virginia Ruano Pascual ESP Qualifier (Clarisa Fernandez ARG) vs. Nadia Petrova RUS (5)
Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS (6) vs. Qualifier (Sandra Kloesel GER) Lauren Albanese USA vs. Olga Savchuk UKR Hana Sromova CZE vs. Anastassia Rodionova RUS Kveta Peschke CZE vs. Jie Zheng CHN (29) Jelena Jankovic SCG (19) vs. Gisela Dulko ARG Qualifier (Yung-Jan Chan TPE) vs. Qualifier (Kirsten Flipkens BEL) Alina Jidkova RUS vs. Jessica Kirkland USA Chanda Rubin USA vs. Nicole Vaidisova CZE (9)
Anna-Lena Groenefeld GER (15) vs. Aravane Rezai FRA Samantha Stosur AUS vs. Lucie Safarova CZE Qualifier (Stephanie Dubois CAN) vs. Severine Bremond FRA Julia Schruff GER vs. Maria Kirilenko RUS (20) Vera Zvonareva RUS (33) vs. Marta Domachowska POL Iveta Benesova CZE vs. Jill Craybas USA Meilen Tu USA vs. Emma Laine FIN Laura Granville USA vs. Elena Dementieva RUS (4)
Patty Schnyder SUI (7) vs. Anna Smashnova ISR Sofia Arvidsson SWE vs. Conchita Martinez Granados ESP Catalina Castano COL vs. Qualifier (Varvara Lepchenko UZB) Qualifier (Olga Poutchkova RUS) vs. Marion Bartoli FRA (26) Katarina Srebotnik SLO (22) vs. Akiko Morigami JPN Ekaterina Bychkova RUS vs. Qualifier (Lioudmila Skavronskaia RUS) Shinobu Asagoe JPN vs. Jelena Kostanic CRO Klara Zakopalova CZE vs. Lindsay Davenport USA (10)
Francesca Schiavone ITA (14) vs. Romina Oprandi ITA Karolina Sprem CRO vs. Sania Mirza IND Martina Muller GER vs. Anastasiya Yakimova BLR Qualifier (Vasilisa Bardina RUS) vs. Shahar Peer ISR (21) Ai Sugiyama JPN (28) vs. Zuzana Ondraskova CZE Tathiana Garbin ITA vs. Meng Yuan CHN Vania King USA vs. Alicia Molik AUS Maria Elena Camerin ITA vs. Justine Henin-Hardenne BEL (2)
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Post by Grarliner on Aug 23, 2006 17:56:20 GMT -5
Well, well. A very interesting draw. Some observations: The Petrova-Myskina section is really weak. Will it revive Frazier's career! Lindsay has a good draw. She can handle all those players and she might not have to tangle with JHH in the QF if she's fortunate. Serena may not make it to Amelie. Daniela probably will lose to her, but Ivanovic could easily beat her. If neither of them, I would favor Mauresmo. Dementieva and Venus have had some horrible matches in the past. I'm sure they'll have another. But I think it'll be Elena in straight sets who wins it. Actually, the whole bottomhalf is a bit up-in-the-air. Realistically, there are a few players with a shot at the final there. As for Hingis, she could easily QF here. Or, if she's not prepared, Peng could take her down in R1. Or the growing threat of Safina in R4. But hopefully Martina does well. Sharapova has a kind draw, and she is my pick for the title.
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Post by Brinyi on Aug 23, 2006 19:37:43 GMT -5
Thank you for the fine analysis, Sjengster2. The Petrova-Myskina section is really weak. Will it revive Frazier's career! I know we all hope so, but Golovin will be the lucky beneficiary. Lindsay has a good draw. She can handle all those players and she might not have to tangle with JHH in the QF if she's fortunate. You could inverse the names and that would still be true. Serena may not make it to Amelie. Daniela probably will lose to her, but Ivanovic could easily beat her. If neither of them, I would favor Mauresmo. Ivanovic should handle her and I think should handle Mauresmo as well. Sharapova too. Dementieva and Venus have had some horrible matches in the past. I'm sure they'll have another. But I think it'll be Elena in straight sets who wins it. You are correct, Babolat Breath. Actually, the whole bottomhalf is a bit up-in-the-air. Realistically, there are a few players with a shot at the final there. Kuznetsova is one and I think she will reach the final and play Ivanovic, watched by a record US TV audience! As for Hingis, she could easily QF here. Or, if she's not prepared, Peng could take her down in R1. Or the growing threat of Safina in R4. But hopefully Martina does well. I hope so too but I can't see it. Another loss to Ivanovic is in the cards. Sharapova has a kind draw, and she is my pick for the title. Realistically she has a great chance to do it.
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Post by Grarliner on Aug 23, 2006 21:31:53 GMT -5
You're big on Ivanovic, huh?
I can't see her having the mental stamina to play and defeat so many big names consecutively at this point. She might get Serena, and she has beaten Amelie in the past ... but I think she's a long shot to make the QF.
I fear your faith in Golovin is misplaced. She hasn't recovered her form since her injury, really.
Kuznetsova is indeed one of those players with a shot.
Are we overlooking JHH? She can do very well on little matchplay. Then again, she's only had one good USO EVER (granted, it was a really good one). Every other appearance she was gone before the last eight.
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Post by DBBN on Aug 23, 2006 22:24:01 GMT -5
Sharapova has a kind draw, and she is my pick for the title. Again, and I originally felt the same way. But she got soft draws to the SF the last few Slams too and they were all for naught. I have to say, it's wide open this year, with the Big Faves rusty and/or injured. We could get another 6-10 winner like the Kuz in '04. But this is really Dementieva's window of opportunity.
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Post by DBBN on Aug 23, 2006 22:29:06 GMT -5
My full analysis.
Mauresmo looks wimpy, I do think Ivanovic makes QF and tussles with Hingis again. But I think Hingis exacts revenge on the big stage.
Sharapova races to the SF, as none of Myskina, Pierce, and Petrova will hold their seeds. Golovin will indeed give Sharapova another run in the QF, but will break 3 out of 4 limbs in the third set. Sharapova then polishes Tina off in the SF.
The winner of tomorrow's Kuz-Dementieva match will win their QF match, and I think that will be Dementieva, after surviving Stosur in the R16.
Davenport uses the crowd support to best JHH in three grueling sets, but again falls to ED.
The final will be won by a blond Russian, watched by a horny US TV audience!
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Post by Pamela Shriver on Aug 23, 2006 23:04:19 GMT -5
Mauresmo will bullshit out her QF vs. Martina, who really except for her match against Kuznetsova has looked unimpressive and kindof lost since Roland Garros. Prior to this, she'll also pull out a match against Serena, who no doubt will make Hantuchova sob in the 2r.
Sharapova's draw is just... hysterical. But I don't see her getting by Mauresmo in the SF.
I don't even think Penis plays. But if she does, she's gone in straights by the 3r. But this is not Dementieva's "time to shine". A bullshit lucky LA wins proves nothing. She could still easily lose to some scrub in the 2r, hitting 26 DF's in the process, or just flame out in the later stages of the tournament.
Lindsay's quarter is fantastic for her, but she's not beating Justine in the QF, unless hell freezes over, pigs fly, and Jesus visits her on court. All at once.
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Post by Brinyi on Aug 24, 2006 9:35:44 GMT -5
You're big on Ivanovic, huh? I can't see her having the mental stamina to play and defeat so many big names consecutively at this point. She might get Serena, and she has beaten Amelie in the past ... but I think she's a long shot to make the QF. I fear your faith in Golovin is misplaced. She hasn't recovered her form since her injury, really. Kuznetsova is indeed one of those players with a shot. Are we overlooking JHH? She can do very well on little matchplay. Then again, she's only had one good USO EVER (granted, it was a really good one). Every other appearance she was gone before the last eight. Ivanovic will be motivated to double her winnings. I like her chances against a rusty Mauresmo and her confidence should be pretty high. Plus, the alternative is to pick Sharapova and the thought replulses me. Hingis is not going to be a factor in the late rounds. I like Golovin's chances better than Frazier's, let's put it that way! JHH is one of the many many wild cards and probably the most attractive of them. I am moderating my expectations because of inactivity but she could easily win it all if she catches some form.
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Post by Brinyi on Aug 24, 2006 9:37:16 GMT -5
The winner of tomorrow's Kuz-Dementieva match will win their QF match, and I think that will be Dementieva, after surviving Stosur in the R16. My theory about that is that ED will win today and Kuz will exact revenge on the big stage. ;D
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Post by shenaynay on Aug 24, 2006 9:57:46 GMT -5
I'm seriously picking Sharahpova to win. Lame. She got the absolute best draw she could ask for. In every round.
And Ruano makes the QF. Lol.
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Post by Grarliner on Aug 24, 2006 14:23:31 GMT -5
The winner of tomorrow's Kuz-Dementieva match will win their QF match, and I think that will be Dementieva, after surviving Stosur in the R16. My theory about that is that ED will win today and Kuz will exact revenge on the big stage. ;D Perhaps, perhaps not. But it sure is easy to see whoever wins today as losing a prospective USO rematch.
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Post by Brinyi on Aug 24, 2006 14:35:21 GMT -5
My theory about that is that ED will win today and Kuz will exact revenge on the big stage. ;D Perhaps, perhaps not. But it sure is easy to see whoever wins today as losing a prospective USO rematch. It was Sveta today. I predict she will confirm her superiority at the USO.
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Post by Grarliner on Aug 24, 2006 14:36:23 GMT -5
Mauresmo will bullshit out her QF vs. Martina, who really except for her match against Kuznetsova has looked unimpressive and kindof lost since Roland Garros. Prior to this, she'll also pull out a match against Serena, who no doubt will make Hantuchova sob in the 2r. Sharapova's draw is just... hysterical. But I don't see her getting by Mauresmo in the SF. I don't even think Penis plays. But if she does, she's gone in straights by the 3r. But this is not Dementieva's "time to shine". A bullshit lucky LA wins proves nothing. She could still easily lose to some scrub in the 2r, hitting 26 DF's in the process, or just flame out in the later stages of the tournament. Lindsay's quarter is fantastic for her, but she's not beating Justine in the QF, unless hell freezes over, pigs fly, and Jesus visits her on court. All at once. I pointed this out many months ago: if there's a been a pattern to Martina, especially in her last few years, it's that her first three months or so are markedly better than the rest of the year. That appears like it may be borne out yet again. I give Lindsay a reasonable shot at winning that match if it comes off. She should have beaten her in Australia.
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Post by Edna Krabappel on Aug 24, 2006 19:09:33 GMT -5
First quarter is just ridiculous. I think it's safe to say that Hingis will reach the QF but I just have no idea who will be her opponent there. I slightly favour Mauresmo, but it's really up in the air. As for Ivanovic, I don't know. I can see her rip through this quarter and beat everyone to reach the semis, just as easily as suffer a lame 3R loss to Serena/Hantuchova.
The second quarter is horrible. I don't know why people are excited about the Sharapova/Krajicek match-up, Krajicek has done nothing since Rosmalen. Maria to the QF to meet some random player from Myskina/Petrova section. I'd say Chaky, if she wasn't injured, but this way it can really be anyone. If Nadia somehow gets through the first couple of rounds alive, I'd say she has a chance too.
Third quarter is interesting. There's the highly anticipated Dementieva/Venus match-up, which will blow. I do think Elena will reach the QF at least. As for other section, I'm curious to see how Jankovic will play. She's been on fire lately and talked about winning the whole thing. But, she's never been able to string 2 months of good play, and I don't think she'll do it now. Vaid to the quarters.
The last quarter is lame. Justine to meet Lindsay in the worst match ever.
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Post by Edna Krabappel on Aug 24, 2006 19:10:49 GMT -5
Wow, for a second I thought that Chloe really talked about women's tennis.
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Post by Grarliner on Aug 25, 2006 0:45:34 GMT -5
The Jank is definitely a threat ... not for the title, I don't think, but she shouldn't be taken lightly by Vaidisova or Kuznetsova.
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Post by Maeby FĂ¼nke on Aug 25, 2006 13:15:22 GMT -5
Apparently Venus is out. This means Bepa moves into her spot, which means a 3r with ED instead of Martina, which is slightly less boosome.
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Post by Traveling Man on Aug 25, 2006 13:41:34 GMT -5
I'm sorry Venus had to withdraw. I hope she recovers quickly.
Yay for Tina. Turn around the crappy post-Rome season.
Queen Masha should make the final and win it against Lindsay. Sveta or Elena could sneak in from the bottom half, but Lindsay seems the safest bet.
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Post by janie on Aug 25, 2006 14:54:37 GMT -5
Poor Vee. She looks like she's got the perfect build for an athlete, but her joints are so weak.
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Post by :rolleyes: on Aug 25, 2006 19:53:45 GMT -5
some people actually bought that bullshit
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Post by Brinyi on Aug 25, 2006 20:50:25 GMT -5
I've added the qualifiers. Dubois has a decent shot against Brémond who has blown since Wimby.
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Post by Pamela Shriver on Aug 25, 2006 22:47:02 GMT -5
Mauresmo will bullshit out her QF vs. Martina, who really except for her match against Kuznetsova has looked unimpressive and kindof lost since Roland Garros. Prior to this, she'll also pull out a match against Serena, who no doubt will make Hantuchova sob in the 2r. Sharapova's draw is just... hysterical. But I don't see her getting by Mauresmo in the SF. I don't even think Penis plays. But if she does, she's gone in straights by the 3r. But this is not Dementieva's "time to shine". A bullshit lucky LA wins proves nothing. She could still easily lose to some scrub in the 2r, hitting 26 DF's in the process, or just flame out in the later stages of the tournament. Lindsay's quarter is fantastic for her, but she's not beating Justine in the QF, unless hell freezes over, pigs fly, and Jesus visits her on court. All at once. I give Lindsay a reasonable shot at winning that match if it comes off. She should have beaten her in Australia. Yeah, she should have won, but she couldn't, because it was painfully obvious from the first game of the second set that she had zero belief she could beat her.
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Post by Pamela Shriver on Aug 25, 2006 22:47:29 GMT -5
Poor Vee. She looks like she's got the perfect build for an athlete, but her joints are so weak. Almost as weak as her excuses.
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Post by DBBN on Aug 26, 2006 0:26:58 GMT -5
I've added the qualifiers. Dubois has a decent shot against Brémond who has blown since Wimby. Two losses against her nemesis Obziler, but she did win a few matches and beat the Swede
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Post by DBBN on Aug 26, 2006 0:30:53 GMT -5
JHH is one of the many many wild cards and probably the most attractive of them. I am moderating my expectations because of inactivity but she could easily win it all if she catches some form. I'm biased, but I think JHH is the best player in the field since Serena got fat, and I don't see why she shouldn't be considered the favorite. If she can get to the final and plays anyone other than Mauresmo, I think she'll win. I think LD is the really big wild card; Lord knows what she's going to pull at her final USO.
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Post by DevilishAttitude on Aug 26, 2006 5:55:04 GMT -5
My Predictions:
Amelie Mauresmo FRA (1) vs. Qualifier (Kristina Barrois GER) - Amelie double-bageled the last qualifer she played at a slam, Barrois seems better than Abramovic but Amelie should win comfortably.
Maria Elena Camerin ITA vs. Justine Henin-Hardenne BEL (2) - Justine should breeze past Camerin who doesn't have any weapons.
Maria Sharapova RUS (3) vs. Michaella Krajicek NED - Maria should thrash one of the most over-rated teens around
Laura Granville USA vs. Elena Dementieva RUS (4) - Granville plays well at home, but this is the perfect 3 set match win for Demented.
Qualifier (Clarisa Fernandez ARG) vs. Nadia Petrova RUS (5) - Could be the big shock, Clarisa is slowly getting back while Nadia is a real mess currently.
Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS (6) vs. Qualifier (Sandra Kloesel GER) - Unless Sveta can't get a ball in court, she should easily beat Kloesel.
Patty Schnyder SUI (7) vs. Anna Smashnova ISR - A different style match to nowadays. Not sure Anna has the fitness to deal with players like Patty anymore so Patty in 3.
Shuai Peng CHN vs. Martina Hingis SUI (8) - Shuai could trouble Martina, but it's more likely she'll hit errors so Martina win.
Chanda Rubin USA vs. Nicole Vaidisova CZE (9) - Chanda's 1st slam since 2004 - and possibly her last. Nicole should be far too match-fit.
Klara Zakopalova CZE vs. Lindsay Davenport USA (10) - Lindsay should destroy the heavily slumping Zakopalova.
Anastasia Myskina RUS (11) vs. Victoria Azarenka BLR - Nastya can only play well on grass nowadays but Vika hasn't won a match since the French so Nastya in 2 tight sets.
Dinara Safina RUS (12) vs. Qualifier (Yulia Beygelzimer UKR) - Yulia seems to be finally showing the form she showed in mid 2004, but Dinara should have far too much.
Elena Vesnina RUS vs. Mary Pierce FRA (13) - Could be tricky, Mary still on the comeback, Vesnina though hasn't done a lot since the AO. Mary in 3.
Francesca Schiavone ITA (14) vs. Romina Oprandi ITA - On clay, Romina would be dangerous, on hard she raelly isn't. Fran in 2.
Anna-Lena Groenefeld GER (15) vs. Aravane Rezai FRA - Aravane has beaten Anna-Lena this year and ALG is still way too inconsisent. Whoever can keep the ball in court wins. I think a upset.
Vera Dushevina RUS vs. Ana Ivanovic SCG (16) - Ana has already crushed Vera this year and will do so again.
Daniela Hantuchova SVK (17) vs. Bethanie Mattek USA - Daniela has reached every 4th Round of a slam this year, but Beth has attitude and with a partisan crowd, I predict a tough 3 set victory for her.
Viktoriya Kutuzova UKR vs. Flavia Pennetta ITA (18) - Although Kutuzova leads the H2H, she's been poor all year, easy straight sets for Flavia.
Jelena Jankovic SCG (19) vs. Gisela Dulko ARG - Last year this would have been tough to predict, now though Gisela is slumping and Jelena is rising. A rout.
Julia Schruff GER vs. Maria Kirilenko RUS (20) - Maria has only won 1 match since FO, Julia is still inconsisent, but her game matches up well and I predict an upset.
Qualifier (Vasilisa Bardina RUS) vs. Shahar Peer ISR (21) - Peer hasn't been overly impressive on anything but clay, Bardina is rising fast. I predict a 3 set win for Vasi.
Katarina Srebotnik SLO (22) vs. Akiko Morigami JPN - Last year, tough to predict. This year, not so. Akiko has done little, while Kata is having her best year. Straight sets for the seed.
Martina Sucha SVK vs. Anna Chakvetadze RUS (23) - Unless Anna is still injured, she should win easily.
Qualifier (Olga Poutchkova RUS) vs. Marion Bartoli FRA (26) - Although Marion shows at times she's dangerous, she still retires too often and has too many poor losses. This will be one of them.
Tatiana Golovin FRA (27) vs. Ashley Harkleroad USA - Tati may be still struggling, but Ashley's defensive game will hamper her chances. Tati in 3.
Ai Sugiyama JPN (28) vs. Zuzana Ondraskova CZE - Unless Ai is struggling badly, she should win easily.
Kveta Peschke CZE vs. Jie Zheng CHN (29) - Last year would be a Kveta victory. This year it's the other way round. Zheng in straights.
Venus Williams (30) pulled out.
Sybille Bammer AUT vs. Nathalie Dechy FRA (31) - Sybille beat Nat Wimby, think it'll be 3 sets this time and Sybille will do it again.
Tiantian Sun CHN vs. Elena Likhovtseva RUS (32) - Elena beat Tian at Wimby and will do so again but in a much more difficult 3 setter.
Vera Zvonareva RUS (33) vs. Marta Domachowska POL - Marta's chances don't extend even despite Venus's pull out. Vera in straights.
;D
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Post by :rolleyes: on Aug 26, 2006 11:06:01 GMT -5
Poor Vee. She looks like she's got the perfect build for an athlete, but her joints are so weak. Almost as weak as her excuses. Venus should sue her shoelace company. Obviously it's their fault if she keeps injuring herself while tying her shoes.
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Post by Pamela Shriver on Aug 26, 2006 23:34:26 GMT -5
I think LD is the really big wild card; Lord knows what she's going to pull at her final USO. She's said that about like every slam she's played in the last three years. And she's already said she's playing the AO. Quitting after that would just be stupid. That being said, if her arm like falls out or something, then yeah, she's done.
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Post by Brinyi on Aug 27, 2006 0:02:21 GMT -5
Sharapova could take wide 'Open' Question marks surround many of the top women contenders COMMENTARY By Tracy Austin MSNBC contributor
A U.S. Open semifinalist a year ago, Maria Sharapova has a combination of factors in her favor which could lead her to the second major title of her career.
That said this U.S. Open is wide open on the women's side with key questions surrounding many of the top contenders.
Venus Williams was one of those about which there were some questions, but three days before the start of the tournament the two-time champion withdrew, citing a left wrist injury that's sidelined her since Wimbledon.
Let's take a look at the top women to watch.
Maria Sharapova
The Russian is seeded third, she's rested and very well prepared going into this major, and I think she has the best quarter of the draw of any of the top contenders.
The first time she could possibly run into any opponent of note would be in the fourth round and that would be Mary Pierce, who has played just three matches since the French Open, one of those against Sharapova, who beat her 6-2, 6-3 in San Diego in early August.
Among Sharapova's possible quarterfinal opponents are fifth-seeded Nadia Petrova and the 11th-seed Anastasia Myskina. Petrova has played in just three tournaments since the French Open, and she has lost her first match in each of them.
Although Myskina made it to the final in Stockholm, she lost in the first round of her two other hard court tournaments this summer.
Sharapova is off the charts as far as desire and drive to win the second major of her career (she captured Wimbledon in 2004). She really wants this U.S. Open title, and was a very impressive 27-4 on the hard courts this summer.
The only concern with Sharapova is she is not as strong and as fit as some of the other top contenders.
Serena Williams
Since she's been hampered by a left knee injury for much of the season, Serena is unseeded and a wild card.
Serena has played only 12 matches this year, and she missed six months following the Australian Open before returning for two hard court tournaments this summer.
She's got a tough draw with a possible second-round meeting against No. 17 Daniela Hantuchova, who beat her at Australian Open. If she survives that there's a possible third-round meeting with No. 16 Ana Ivanovic, who is red hot and has beaten world No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo in both of the last two years.
And a win over Ivanovic sets up a possible fourth-round match against Mauresmo. But despite her limited match play this year, I do give Serena a chance at getting to the second week.
I think her head is the right place, she's so talented, a great poet, actress and designer, and her serve is such an asset -- all factors that might combine to make her the biggest surprise of this year's U.S. Open.
Brinyi tampered with that last paragraph, damn him!
Lindsay Davenport
Seeded No. 10, the three-time major champion has been hindered by a back injury for much of this year. But she's just returned to action, and beat Amelie Mauresmo in New Haven.
Davenport, the 1998 U.S. Open winner, has a very favorable quarter of the draw. The first possible seed the 30-year-old could face would be No. 22 Katarina Srebotnik in the third round. The American has beaten Srebotnik in both their meetings, including this year at the French Open.
The biggest name she could meet in the fourth round would be seventh-seeded Patty Schnyder, whom she has defeated in nine of their 11 matches.
Davenport hits the ball so much better than the other players that even with her layoff she can't be counted out of possibly winning the title at what could be her final U.S. Open.
Amelie Mauresmo
The top seed who has won two majors this year (the Australian Open and Wimbledon) has lost in the U.S. Open quarterfinals four of the last five years.
Mauresmo's been ranked No. 1 since March, but she is coming back from a shoulder injury, and hadn't played since Wimbledon until she entered a hard court tournament in New Haven the week before the start of the U.S. Open.
There she was beaten by her nemesis Lindsay Davenport, who herself has just starting playing again after missing much of this year with two bulging disks in her back.
Mauresmo cannot be pleased that her possible opponent in the fourth-round is 16th-seeded Ana Ivanovic, who beat her this year in Sydney and last year in Paris.
The 18-year-old Serbian is coming off her first singles title on the WTA tour, having beaten Martina Hingis in straight sets (6-1, 6-3) last week in the Montreal final.
And if Mauresmo makes the fourth round and it's not Ivanovic waiting for her, it could be Serena Williams, who has beaten Mauresmo in 10 of the 11 matches they have played, including this year at the Australian Open.
Mauresmo's had a great year, but that's no guarantee she'll have a great U.S. Open.
Martina Hingis
The 25-year-old "Swiss Miss" made a comeback to the WTA tour last January after being out of tennis for three years due to foot and ankle injuries.
Hingis won the U.S. Open in 1997, and from 1996 to 2001 she at least made the semifinals. Her draw is favorable, and she has been playing well on the hard courts this summer.
Hingis is the same kind of player she was before leaving the tour, but her serve has a little more pop, and she is going for more on her second serve.
But something to remember about Hingis is she has a keen ability to think quickly on the court, and to react and execute her strategy. That's a huge asset for her.
While I would be surprised to see Hingis in the final, making the semifinals isn't out of the question.
Justine Henin-Hardenne
The 2003 U.S. Open champion has a favorable draw as Amelie Mauresmo, Maria Sharapova, Martina Hingis, and Serena Williams are all in the other half.
The second-seeded Belgian missed six weeks following Wimbledon with a knee injury, but she looked recovered from that while playing on the hard courts at New Haven -- the only pre U.S. Open tournament she entered.
One key thing to watch with Henin-Hardenne is that she has changed her service motion, tweaking it to make it a little different so it will be interesting to see if this works in her favor.
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lisab
Full Member
Posts: 126
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Post by lisab on Aug 27, 2006 16:24:13 GMT -5
Sharapova won't even get to the finals of the USO. Ivanovic more than likely won't defeat Serena. Serena may very well be a finalist. It would be lovely if JHH makes it to the finals and perfect if she wins. She is looking mighty good on harcourts..impressive.
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