(Rank/Seed)
She was fantastic from the start and she never stopped. (3/2) Sharapova thrashed (10/8) Wozniacki 62 62 as I predicted to win her second career Indian Wells title, and first title of the year.
1st Set
Breaking in the first game, Maria raced ahead. She broke her opponents serve twice, hitting four aces and only one double fault, whilst saving both break points against her. Wherever she wanted to hit a winner she did and Caroline was just hanging in the games.
2nd Set
The theme of the match continued as Sharapova crushed winners everywhere. Wozniacki did well to win two games and got close in a long seventh game.However, unlike in her semi final, which saw her win that pivotal game and switch the momentum, here she was finally broken and Maria served out to love. Sharapova finished with 33 winners to only 25 unforced errors, compared to Wozniacki's 2:19 ratio and wasn't broken once!
Overall, Maria won the title without dropping a set as is now the number two. She stands a good chance of doing the Indian Wells:Miami double too!
Monday, 18 March 2013
Saturday, 16 March 2013
Sharapova vs Wozniacki
The semi finals, unlike two of the quarters, actually saw some match play and the results were varied for the top seeds.
(Rank/Seed)
3/2 Sharapova edged her close friend (15/13) Kirilenko 64 63, hitting 29 winners to just 17 unforced errors. Generally, Sharapova was too strong on serve for her opponent; her first three service games in the second set were held to love! Kirilenko couldn't convert on any of her six break points throughout the match as she slumped to 2-5 in their head to head.
6/4 Kerber was out rallied 26 64 75 by (10/8) Wozniacki. In a match of seven breaks of serve apiece, Kerber led 62 20 before Wozniacki fought back. After surviving an epic nine deuce seventh game in the second set, the Dane went on to take it. Wozniacki ultimately had to hold off a late fight back from the German; from 4-1 and 5-3 up in the third. All in all it was a brilliant match which wowed the crowd with its variety; drop shots, volleys, moon balls galore, 39 stroke rallies! You name it, this match had it and in the end Wozniacki finished with 101 points to Kerber's 100! Despite having lost their last three meetings, Wozniacki demonstrated how high, no pace balls could disrupt Kerber's rhythm and won her the match.
So, Sharapova and Wozniacki, both former champions, are in their first finals of the year and are both appearing in their third final here. Sharapova leads the head to head 4-2, winning the last two, but on hard courts the series is tied at 2-2 and Wozniacki defeated Sharapova 61 62 in the semi finals here two years ago. So far, Sharapova hasn't dropped a set, whilst Wozniacki's dropped two. I think Sharapova will win, but regardless of the result, she will go ahead of Azarenka, as of yet unbeaten this year, as the number two in the world.
(Rank/Seed)
3/2 Sharapova edged her close friend (15/13) Kirilenko 64 63, hitting 29 winners to just 17 unforced errors. Generally, Sharapova was too strong on serve for her opponent; her first three service games in the second set were held to love! Kirilenko couldn't convert on any of her six break points throughout the match as she slumped to 2-5 in their head to head.
6/4 Kerber was out rallied 26 64 75 by (10/8) Wozniacki. In a match of seven breaks of serve apiece, Kerber led 62 20 before Wozniacki fought back. After surviving an epic nine deuce seventh game in the second set, the Dane went on to take it. Wozniacki ultimately had to hold off a late fight back from the German; from 4-1 and 5-3 up in the third. All in all it was a brilliant match which wowed the crowd with its variety; drop shots, volleys, moon balls galore, 39 stroke rallies! You name it, this match had it and in the end Wozniacki finished with 101 points to Kerber's 100! Despite having lost their last three meetings, Wozniacki demonstrated how high, no pace balls could disrupt Kerber's rhythm and won her the match.
So, Sharapova and Wozniacki, both former champions, are in their first finals of the year and are both appearing in their third final here. Sharapova leads the head to head 4-2, winning the last two, but on hard courts the series is tied at 2-2 and Wozniacki defeated Sharapova 61 62 in the semi finals here two years ago. So far, Sharapova hasn't dropped a set, whilst Wozniacki's dropped two. I think Sharapova will win, but regardless of the result, she will go ahead of Azarenka, as of yet unbeaten this year, as the number two in the world.
Thursday, 14 March 2013
Sharapova In, Kvitova Out
The quarter finals are now complete and as seven top ten players reached this stage, it isn't surprising that three of them are through to the semis.
(Rank/Seed)
2/1 Azarenka withdrew prior to her match against Wozniacki with that troublesome ankle injury. Though she tried her best to practice beforehand, she is thinking of the long term and is now focusing on Miami.
3/2 Sharapova battled past (8/6) Errani 76(6) 63 to reach her sixth career semi final here. The first set was really tough; Maria saved two set points in eventually outlasting her tenacious opponent, having trailed 3-5.
6/4 Kerber advanced to a second successive semi here when (9/7) Stosur bizarrely also pulled out prior to her match with a calf injury. It's only the second time in Stosur's career that she's pulled out during a match, quitting after the warm up!
7/5 Kvitova let a 64 42 lead slip, going down 46 64 63 to (15/13) Kirilenko. Kvitova came from 2-4 down in the first to win it 64, but then served four successive double faults whilst down 4-5 in the second to lose the game and set. From there on in, Kirilenko was far more solid as Kvitova's game became brittle. Maria has now beaten Petra in two of their last three encounters and is into her first and biggest career Indian Wells final.
Final Prediction: Kerber vs Sharapova
(Rank/Seed)
2/1 Azarenka withdrew prior to her match against Wozniacki with that troublesome ankle injury. Though she tried her best to practice beforehand, she is thinking of the long term and is now focusing on Miami.
3/2 Sharapova battled past (8/6) Errani 76(6) 63 to reach her sixth career semi final here. The first set was really tough; Maria saved two set points in eventually outlasting her tenacious opponent, having trailed 3-5.
6/4 Kerber advanced to a second successive semi here when (9/7) Stosur bizarrely also pulled out prior to her match with a calf injury. It's only the second time in Stosur's career that she's pulled out during a match, quitting after the warm up!
7/5 Kvitova let a 64 42 lead slip, going down 46 64 63 to (15/13) Kirilenko. Kvitova came from 2-4 down in the first to win it 64, but then served four successive double faults whilst down 4-5 in the second to lose the game and set. From there on in, Kirilenko was far more solid as Kvitova's game became brittle. Maria has now beaten Petra in two of their last three encounters and is into her first and biggest career Indian Wells final.
Final Prediction: Kerber vs Sharapova
Wednesday, 13 March 2013
Radwanska Edged Out!
The top women have been doing very well lately. At the Premier 5 in Doha last month, seven of the top eight seeds reached the quarter finals, and here they've done it again; the one surprising exception being Radwanska!
(Rank/Seed)
2/1 Azarenka was bothered by a bad ankle, but it didn't detract from her comfortable win over Urszula Radwanska 63 61 to reach her fourth career quarter final here.
3/2 Sharapova overcame a tough first set to beat Arruabarrena Vecino 75 60, reaching her sixth quarter final here.
4/3 Radwanska was stunned by close friend (15/13) Kirilenko 61 46 75, having led 3-1 in the third. Kirilenko is always dangerous and just missed out in her last two meetings against the Pole, losing those two 7-5 in the third, but here she got the win to reach a second straight quarter final here. For Agnieszka, it's her first pre quarter final loss of the year!
6/4 Kerber edged a close match against qualifier Muguruza 64 75 to reach her second quarter final in a row here.
7/5 Kvitova made her first quarter final here with a 62 63 win over Zakopalova.
8/6 Errani commanded a 63 62 win over (11/9) Bartoli to reach a first quarter final here.
9/7 Stosur came from behind to edge tough German Barthel 46 62 63 to reach a second quarter final here; a first since 2010!
10/8 Wozniacki came from 3-5 down in the first to edge (12/10) Petrova 76(3) 63, reaching her fifth quarter final here.
(Rank/Seed)
2/1 Azarenka was bothered by a bad ankle, but it didn't detract from her comfortable win over Urszula Radwanska 63 61 to reach her fourth career quarter final here.
3/2 Sharapova overcame a tough first set to beat Arruabarrena Vecino 75 60, reaching her sixth quarter final here.
4/3 Radwanska was stunned by close friend (15/13) Kirilenko 61 46 75, having led 3-1 in the third. Kirilenko is always dangerous and just missed out in her last two meetings against the Pole, losing those two 7-5 in the third, but here she got the win to reach a second straight quarter final here. For Agnieszka, it's her first pre quarter final loss of the year!
6/4 Kerber edged a close match against qualifier Muguruza 64 75 to reach her second quarter final in a row here.
7/5 Kvitova made her first quarter final here with a 62 63 win over Zakopalova.
8/6 Errani commanded a 63 62 win over (11/9) Bartoli to reach a first quarter final here.
9/7 Stosur came from behind to edge tough German Barthel 46 62 63 to reach a second quarter final here; a first since 2010!
10/8 Wozniacki came from 3-5 down in the first to edge (12/10) Petrova 76(3) 63, reaching her fifth quarter final here.
Tuesday, 12 March 2013
Azarenka Struggles Through
The third round is now complete and all the top ten players made it through, though Azarenka was tested.
(Rank/Seed)
2/1 Azarenka had her title defence put in jeopardy against Flipkens; seeing a break in the first set dissipate as her opponent mixed up the game with slice. However, after blowing her nose, Azarenka felt she could breathe better and ultimately finished strong, winning 36 63 60 to reach her third straight fourth round at Indian Wells.
6/4 Kerber seems to be over her recent back troubles and early tournament exits, as she came from 1-4 down in the second to beat Wickmayer 61 76(3) and reach a second straight fourth round in Indian Wells.
9/7 Stosur overcame a middle set blip to see off Peng 63 36 62, reaching her first fourth round here since 2010.
10/8 Wozniacki had little trouble out rallying Vesnina 62 61 to reach her sixth straight fourth round here.
(Rank/Seed)
2/1 Azarenka had her title defence put in jeopardy against Flipkens; seeing a break in the first set dissipate as her opponent mixed up the game with slice. However, after blowing her nose, Azarenka felt she could breathe better and ultimately finished strong, winning 36 63 60 to reach her third straight fourth round at Indian Wells.
6/4 Kerber seems to be over her recent back troubles and early tournament exits, as she came from 1-4 down in the second to beat Wickmayer 61 76(3) and reach a second straight fourth round in Indian Wells.
9/7 Stosur overcame a middle set blip to see off Peng 63 36 62, reaching her first fourth round here since 2010.
10/8 Wozniacki had little trouble out rallying Vesnina 62 61 to reach her sixth straight fourth round here.
Monday, 11 March 2013
Radwanska Battles Through
The top seeds continued to move through to the fourth round, with all top ten players winning.
(Rank/Seed)
3/2 Sharapova overcame a stiff challenge from Suarez Navarro 75 63 to reach her eighth career Indian Wells last sixteen.
4/3 Radwanska had a real battle against Cirstea, ultimately winning 67(3) 63 64. Having missed two set points in the first set, Radwanska got tight leading 5-1 in the third as her opponent hit out. Still, Radwanska progressed to her sixth straight Indian Wells last sixteen.
7/5 Kvitova beat Tsurenko 62 76(5) to reach the fourth round here for the first time.
8/6 Errani beat Larsson 63 61 in a match of intense rallies, for her best performance here to date.
(Rank/Seed)
3/2 Sharapova overcame a stiff challenge from Suarez Navarro 75 63 to reach her eighth career Indian Wells last sixteen.
4/3 Radwanska had a real battle against Cirstea, ultimately winning 67(3) 63 64. Having missed two set points in the first set, Radwanska got tight leading 5-1 in the third as her opponent hit out. Still, Radwanska progressed to her sixth straight Indian Wells last sixteen.
7/5 Kvitova beat Tsurenko 62 76(5) to reach the fourth round here for the first time.
8/6 Errani beat Larsson 63 61 in a match of intense rallies, for her best performance here to date.
Sunday, 10 March 2013
Seeds Still Unbeaten
The second round wrapped up and all the top ten players have moved through to the third round.
(Rank/Seed)
2/1 Azarenka came from 1-4 down in the first set to beat Hantuchova 64 61.
6/4 Kerber finally got a match win, her first since Melbourne, beating Begu 63 62.
9/7 Stosur beat the up and coming American wild card Keys 63 64.
10/8 Wozniacki battled past Cornet 64 36 63.
(Rank/Seed)
2/1 Azarenka came from 1-4 down in the first set to beat Hantuchova 64 61.
6/4 Kerber finally got a match win, her first since Melbourne, beating Begu 63 62.
9/7 Stosur beat the up and coming American wild card Keys 63 64.
10/8 Wozniacki battled past Cornet 64 36 63.
Saturday, 9 March 2013
Seeds Start Strong
As the second round commenced in cold, windy conditions, the top seeds struggled put pulled through.
(Rank/Seed)
3/2 Sharapova overcame Schiavone easily 62 61.
4/3 Radwanska was equally at easy against American wild card Sanchez 62 61.
7/5 Kvitova, coming off the Dubai title, struggled midway through but eventually beat Govortsova 64 36 63.
8/6 Errani, coming off the Acapulco title, also had a mid match blip before beating Dominguez Lino 62 36 63.
* In order to make my blogs more efficient and less spacey, I'm now going to be covering only the top 10 players results.
(Rank/Seed)
3/2 Sharapova overcame Schiavone easily 62 61.
4/3 Radwanska was equally at easy against American wild card Sanchez 62 61.
7/5 Kvitova, coming off the Dubai title, struggled midway through but eventually beat Govortsova 64 36 63.
8/6 Errani, coming off the Acapulco title, also had a mid match blip before beating Dominguez Lino 62 36 63.
* In order to make my blogs more efficient and less spacey, I'm now going to be covering only the top 10 players results.
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