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Post by Wagasi on Jan 10, 2013 22:24:25 GMT -5
Australian Open 2013 Women's Singles Championship
[1]AZARENKA, Victoria BLR NICULESCU, Monica ROU DANIILIDOU, Eleni GRE PLISKOVA, Karolina CZE (Q)KUMKHUM, Luksika THA ARVIDSSON, Sofia SWE HAMPTON, Jamie USA [31]RADWANSKA, Urszula POL
[21]LEPCHENKO, Varvara USA HERCOG, Polona SLO (W)GARCIA, Caroline FRA VESNINA, Elena RUS JOHANSSON, Mathilde FRA (Q)AMANMURADOVA, Akgul UZB SOLER-ESPINOSA, Silvia ESP [16]VINCI, Roberta ITA
[10]WOZNIACKI, Caroline DEN LISICKI, Sabine GER HLAVACKOVA, Andrea CZE VEKIC, Donna CRO (Q)GAVRILOVA, Daria RUS DAVIS, Lauren USA (Q)TSURENKO, Lesia UKR [24]PAVLYUCHENKOVA, Anastasia RUS
[26]HSIEH, Su-Wei TPE ARRUABARRENA-VECINO, Lara ESP KUZNETSOVA, Svetlana RUS DOMINGUEZ LINO, Lourdes ESP PUTINTSEVA, Yulia KAZ MCHALE, Christina USA SUAREZ NAVARRO, Carla ESP [7]ERRANI, Sara ITA
[3]WILLIAMS, Serena USA GALLOVITS-HALL, Edina ROU RYBARIKOVA, Magdalena SVK MUGURUZA, Garbine ESP MORITA, Ayumi JPN TATISHVILI, Anna GEO BECK, Annika GER [28]SHVEDOVA, Yaroslava KAZ
[20]WICKMAYER, Yanina BEL (W)GAJDOSOVA, Jarmila AUS (Q)ARN, Greta HUN CEPELOVA, Jana SVK MARINO, Rebecca CAN PENG, Shuai CHN KING, Vania USA [14]KIRILENKO, Maria RUS
[12]PETROVA, Nadia RUS DATE-KRUMM, Kimiko JPN PEER, Shahar ISR PANOVA, Alexandra RUS TORRO-FLOR, Maria-Teresa ESP JOVANOVSKI, Bojana SRB LUCIC-BARONI, Mirjana CRO [17]SAFAROVA, Lucie CZE
[29]STEPHENS, Sloane USA HALEP, Simona ROU MLADENOVIC, Kristina FRA BABOS, Timea HUN OUDIN, Melanie USA ROBSON, Laura GBR SCHIAVONE, Francesca ITA [8]KVITOVA, Petra CZE
[6]LI, Na CHN KARATANTCHEVA, Sesil KAZ PARMENTIER, Pauline FRA GOVORTSOVA, Olga BLR PLISKOVA, Kristyna CZE (W)JONES, Sacha AUS VANDEWEGHE, Coco USA [27]CIRSTEA, Sorana ROU
[18]GOERGES, Julia GER (Q)DUSHEVINA, Vera RUS OPRANDI, Romina SUI PIRONKOVA, Tsvetana BUL (W)ZHANG, Yuxuan CHN ZHENG, Jie CHN CHANG, Kai-Chen TPE [9]STOSUR, Samantha AUS
[13]IVANOVIC, Ana SRB CZINK, Melinda HUN (Q)CHAN, Yung-Jan TPE HANTUCHOVA, Daniela SVK (Q)KOEHLER, Maria Joao POR (Q)KNAPP, Karin ITA LARSSON, Johanna SWE [22]JANKOVIC, Jelena SRB
[32]BARTHEL, Mona GER PERVAK, Ksenia KAZ WATSON, Heather GBR CADANTU, Alexandra ROU BEGU, Irina-Camelia ROU RUS, Arantxa NED (W)BOBUSIC, Bojana AUS [4]RADWANSKA, Agnieszka POL
[5]KERBER, Angelique GER SVITOLINA, Elina UKR HRADECKA, Lucie CZE BERTENS, Kiki NED DELLACQUA, Casey AUS (W)KEYS, Madison USA VOEGELE, Stefanie SUI [30]PASZEK, Tamira AUT
[19]MAKAROVA, Ekaterina RUS (Q)LARCHER DE BRITO, Michelle POR GIORGI, Camila ITA FORETZ GACON, Stephanie FRA (Q)DOLONC, Vesna SRB (W)ROGOWSKA, Olivia AUS MEDINA GARRIGUES, Anabel ESP [11]BARTOLI, Marion FRA
[15]CIBULKOVA, Dominika SVK (W)BARTY, Ashleigh AUS MINELLA, Mandy LUX (Q)SAVINYKH, Valeria RUS FLIPKENS, Kirsten BEL BRATCHIKOVA, Nina RUS SCHEEPERS, Chanelle RSA [23]ZAKOPALOVA, Klara CZE
[25]WILLIAMS, Venus USA VOSKOBOEVA, Galina KAZ CORNET, Alize FRA ERAKOVIC, Marina NZL MARTIC, Petra CRO DOI, Misaki JPN PUCHKOVA, Olga RUS [2]SHARAPOVA, Maria RUS
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Post by Wagasi on Jan 10, 2013 22:41:00 GMT -5
Azza-Serena SF looks to be a go. Shitra's varied section gives her many new and interesting ways to crash out. Making the QF with Serena should be a respectable result. A-Rad's quarter has loads of comedy potential, being full of crazy people. I hope there's a surprise in the last quarter, like Cake running rampant all of a sudden.
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Post by lexpretend on Jan 11, 2013 5:19:24 GMT -5
Schiavone is about the only way I could've seen Shitra winning a match. But she'll probably lose to Robson in the next round. And Stephens will come out of that section. LOL Venus/Ma$ha 3R. I hope Misaki beats them both. Barty really gets no luck with her draws...a seed in R1 of the last three Slams she's played. Meanwhile Rogowska gets a Q Wozniacki will probably lose R1 to Lisicki, but it'd be great if Vekic got to make a name for herself by doing the job in R2. Eagerly anticipating the lulz that shall occur when Stosur loses her second consecutive match to Chang.
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Post by janie on Jan 11, 2013 10:04:58 GMT -5
Barty really gets no luck with her draws...a seed in R1 of the last three Slams she's played. Meanwhile Rogowska gets a Q Hard to imagine Rogowska beating a Q, though. Would be fun to see Jamie Hampton win a couple of matches here. But who knew that Oudin was Slam MD material again? That Jankovic-Ivanovic-Hantu-Q parade section!
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Post by Traveling Man on Jan 11, 2013 10:33:40 GMT -5
I'm not sure what to say about this draw. It can't possibly turn out well no matter which way I look at it.
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Post by DBBN on Jan 11, 2013 12:53:03 GMT -5
Predix!
R16: Azarenka-Vinci, Wozniacki-Errani, S. Williams-Wickmayer, Safarova-Robson, Li-Goerges, Ivanovic-A. Radwanska, Kerber-Makarova, Zakopalova-Sharapova QF: Azarenka-Wozniacki, S. Williams-Robson, Li-A. Radwanska, Kerber-Zakopalova SF: Azarenka-S. Williams, A. Radwanska-Kerber F: S. Williams def. A. Radwanska
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Post by Old Hag on Jan 11, 2013 13:35:46 GMT -5
Not looking forward to the guaranteed Silliams d. Azza SF.
Surprising seed of the year: Zakopalova. She was winning Tier IVA clay tournies last millennium.
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Post by DBBN on Jan 11, 2013 15:03:26 GMT -5
Since this time last year, The Zak has steadily moved up and up the rankings, each week hitting an insane CHR. At least last week she finally made a final and almost beat LeeNa.
Zak (along with Lepchenko and this bunch of terrible "new stars" like Stephens, Watson, and Begu) is proving Corswandt's theory that no one good is coming up to replace the retirees. The probable high number of Slam debutantes coming through this tournament, which Alex pointed out, along with a large number of laughable players getting direct entry (including 4-eva junior no-hopers like Putintseva and Davis), is bearing it out.
Pretty soon SEWTA will have to consider 64 draws for the Slams; fortunately the rest of the Tour will forever be in China and NOC how bad the sport will be.
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Post by lexpretend on Jan 11, 2013 15:32:06 GMT -5
I think I disagree with a lot of that. For the first time in years, SEWTA looks somewhat promising again.
The Zak, Lepchenko and the real shocker in the seeds to me, U-Rad, are there because of the strength of the top. The top players have finally started acting like top players and hoovered up all the available points. Below about 18, no one's achieved much of anything. Back in the 16-seed days, no one would have noticed this.
Putintseva might not be an elite player because of her obvious physical limitations, but she was a junior star, not a no-hoper, and her transition to the senior tour has been swifter than any other player her age in years. Davis is ranked like 90 and that's where she belongs. No one has ever called Begu a star. Stephens and Watson are over-hyped because they're Anglo but they're not useless, they'll be respectable 20-30 players. Meanwhile, how long has it been since a 16-year-old made Slam direct entry (Vekic)? Plus, Keys finally stepping up.
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Post by lexpretend on Jan 11, 2013 15:34:48 GMT -5
Anyway, I'm waiting for the Qs to be placed before I do predix.
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Post by DBBN on Jan 11, 2013 18:02:53 GMT -5
I think I disagree with a lot of that. For the first time in years, SEWTA looks somewhat promising again. The Zak, Lepchenko and the real shocker in the seeds to me, U-Rad, are there because of the strength of the top. The top players have finally started acting like top players and hoovered up all the available points. Below about 18, no one's achieved much of anything. Back in the 16-seed days, no one would have noticed this. Putintseva might not be an elite player because of her obvious physical limitations, but she was a junior star, not a no-hoper, and her transition to the senior tour has been swifter than any other player her age in years. Davis is ranked like 90 and that's where she belongs. No one has ever called Begu a star. Stephens and Watson are over-hyped because they're Anglo but they're not useless, they'll be respectable 20-30 players. Meanwhile, how long has it been since a 16-year-old made Slam direct entry (Vekic)? Plus, Keys finally stepping up. No, it's worse than 2001-2006, with strong top AND strong middle. No. Putintseva has had a horrifically slow rise to nothing. Just because you start early doesn't mean slow is not slow. No. SEWTA itself has called Begu a star. She was voted Newcomer of the Year of 2011. And I really don't know when "respectable 20-30 players" stopped being "useless," especially at this board.
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Post by DBBN on Jan 11, 2013 18:06:35 GMT -5
But I mean, YES, you're saying it's better now than the Wozniacki/Zvonareva/sometimes Clijsters years? I'll give you that. Lulz. So is root canal.
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Post by lexpretend on Jan 11, 2013 22:14:55 GMT -5
I said SEWTA is looking promising for the future, not "is back to peak levels right now". Right now is merely an improvement on the doldrum years.
Putintseva played her first full year in 2011. In two years she's won six ITFs (from 25K up to 100K) and is on the verge of the top 100. That's not slow.
"Newcomer of the year" ≠ "star", especially not in 2011. SEWTA has barely attempted to hype Begu.
If you want to write off Stephens and Watson that's fine, they're obviously not Slam material, but neither are they the reasons for real optimism.
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Post by DBBN on Jan 11, 2013 23:49:16 GMT -5
It's promising a whole bunch of crap, that's for sure.
I'm pretty sure I'm right about everything I've said but oh well.
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Post by Wagasi on Jan 12, 2013 3:33:53 GMT -5
Updated with qualifier placements.
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Post by Traveling Man on Jan 12, 2013 5:53:31 GMT -5
Predictions
R16 Azarenka - Garcia Vekic-Kuznetsova Shvedova-Kirilenko Petrova-Robson Na-Zheng Ivanovic-Barthel Kerber-Makarova Cibulkova-Sharapova
QF Azarenka-Kuznetsova Shvedova-Robson Na-Barthel Kerber-Sharapova
SF Azarenka-Robson Na-Sharapova
F Azarenka-Na
Champion: Li Na
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Post by lexpretend on Jan 12, 2013 6:34:07 GMT -5
Haha, Ali trying to switch things up!
Azarenka d. Vesnina Pavlyuchenkova d. Kuznetsova S.Williams d. Wickmayer Stephens d. Petrova Li d. Pironkova A.Radwanska d. Ivanovic Kerber d. Bartoli Sharapova d. Cibulkova
Azarenka d. Pavlyuchenkova S.Williams d. Stephens Li d A.Radwanska Sharapova d. Kerber
S.Williams d. Azarenka Sharapova d. Li
S.Williams d. Sharapova
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Post by janie on Jan 12, 2013 7:05:50 GMT -5
Predict: Lex's scenario Hope: Ali's
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Post by Traveling Man on Jan 12, 2013 7:33:55 GMT -5
Someone had to have an alternative to Serena winning, as delusional as it may be!
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Post by Lady on Jan 13, 2013 16:12:17 GMT -5
This will be my 1st time picking it on this board, yeah, just because I'm bored. Picking Silliams seems predictable and inevitable, so I won't do it.
R16:
Azza d. Vinci Woz d. Kuznetsova Silliams d. Wickmayer Kvitova (lol) d.Petrova
Li Na d. Goerges ARad d. Ana Kerber d. Makarova Sharapova d. Cibulkova
Azza d Woz Silliams d Kvitova (lol)
Li Na d ARad Sharapova d Kerber
Azza d Williams (lol) Sharapova d Li Na (sad)
Azza d Sharapova (lol)
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Post by DBBN on Jan 14, 2013 9:35:50 GMT -5
Just thinking about Slam debutantes in bed (and I'm still single if you can believe that) and: aren't there a few direct entry debs as well?
Torro-Flor for one. Who else? WHERE IS CORSWANDT TO SHOW ME THE WAY.
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Post by lexpretend on Jan 14, 2013 10:16:24 GMT -5
I answered on Twitter, but here as well, because I think about this in bed as well:
Direct entry debutantes: Vekic, Putintseva, Torro Flor Qualifier debutantes: Kumkhum, Gavrilova WC debutantes: Jones, Y. Zhang
All teenagers except Torro Flor, who is 20, and Jones, who will never need to cross any of our minds again.
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Post by janie on Jan 14, 2013 10:26:51 GMT -5
Jones will probably cross our minds again when she's gifted her 10th undeserved AO WC!
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Post by Traveling Man on Jan 19, 2013 11:40:10 GMT -5
I got 8/16 with my insane picks. lol.
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Post by DBBN on Jan 19, 2013 11:41:32 GMT -5
10/16. Not bad, not bad.
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Post by Lady on Jan 19, 2013 11:59:02 GMT -5
11/16 And I only got Cibulkova wrong in the bottom half. And even Wickmayer JUST lost to Kirilenko of all people. SEWTA is becoming so predictable again.
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Post by Traveling Man on Jan 23, 2013 23:53:53 GMT -5
I was almost right with my women's SF. I got the wrong teen phenom tis all.
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Post by lexpretend on Jan 24, 2013 3:01:29 GMT -5
10/16, 6/8, 3/4, 0/2. Most happy about the last one!
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Post by Lady on Jan 26, 2013 6:42:59 GMT -5
Well, I got the winner right, while Ali predicted the final correctly. Now be very afraid non-Muzza supporters
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Post by Traveling Man on Jan 26, 2013 6:44:35 GMT -5
Muzza! You go Lady!
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