Twits

Monday, March 14, 2011

Kim lucky to survive, Vera knocked out in Marathon.

Second seed Kim Clijsters made a surprising third-round exit at last year’s BNP Paribas Open, but avoided the same fate Sunday at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden as she recovered for a 6-3 2-6 6-4 win over Italian Sara Errani. After losing four straight service games to allow Errani to draw level, Clijsters went up the decisive break at 2-1 in the third set.

Clijsters admitted she wasn’t overly pleased with her performance, but drew on the positives. “I played a tricky player who played a good match, and I was still able to win without being close to coming to my best level,” she said. “That's the positive thing. I also know that for my next match everything will have to be a lot better. That's what my goal will be for that next match, is trying to achieve that.”

Clijsters, who has reached the final in all three of her main draw appearances this season, next plays France’s Marion Bartoli. The No. 15 seed defeated 21st-seeded German Andrea Petkovic 6-4, 6-2.

“Bartoli is a player who hits the ball very fast, likes to play into the court, and also likes girls who play fast,” she said. “I'm going to have to try and mix it up a little bit more. And obviously, she's not a bad mover, but she's not the greatest mover out there, so I'm going to have to really try and go for those lines and make her move and not let her go into the court and dictate and let her use those down the lines too much.”

The 27-year-old Clijsters made her return to the desert in 2010 after a four-year absence. She won the title in 2003 and ’05 (d. Davenport both times) and was also a finalist in 2001 (l. to S. Williams).

Reigning Roland Garros champion Francesca Schiavone, the No. 5 seed, extended her winning record against French qualifier Alize Cornet to 7-1, capitalising on four of nine break points en route to a 6-2, 6-3 victory. The Italian is through to the fourth round for just the second time in 10 event apperances, also reaching this stage in 2008 (l. to Ivanovic).

Schiavone next plays 10th-seeded Israeli Shahar Peer, who needed two hours and 17 minutes to defeat Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 2-6 6-3 7-5.

Belgian Yanina Wickmayer advanced with a 3-6 6-4 6-1 win over No. 14 seed Kaia Kanepi, and will face Dominika Cibulkova in the fourth round after the Slovakian upset World No. 3 Vera Zvonareva 4-6 7-6(4) 6-4 after three hours and eight minutes in the final match on Stadium One and having saved five match points.

It marked Zvonareva’s earliest exit in Indian Wells, where she had reached the fourth round or better in her six previous visits. The 26 year old had won both the singles and doubles titles at the BNP Paribas Open in 2009.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I can't remember who McHale was playing a while back but I saw definite potential there.

The biggest upset so far in this tournament has to be Kvitova losing to Zahlavova Styrcova.

IMO, stuffed Bunny needs to cover up her rear end and stop flashing the crowd. Translation: She needs longer dresses.

Kleybanova has tons of potential but needs to harness her power and stay in the "on" position during matches. My guess is fitness plays and part and she needs to get in shape.

Wow, speaking of upsets:

[25] D Cibulkova (SVK) d [3] V Zvonareva (RUS) 46 76(4) 64

Now, of course I think Vera is and will always be an underachiever that makes a very nice living! Cibulkova has the tools to win against big players but of course needs to be more consistent.

Carlos said...

Caps321 we can blame Stella McCurse for making horrible dresses, perhaps McCurse is trying to save money by using less fabric. :P The Big Stuffed Bunny has never complained about her tennis outfits being too short (skirts or dresses) maybe she is an exhibitionist.

The way Divapova is playing Rezai might pull the "upset".

Looking forward to the Urszula vs. Angry Bird match; and the other Radwanska vs. The Princess.

The match of the day (at least on paper)Pennetta vs. Kleybanova.

Anonymous said...

Maybe Stella needs a memo: One size doesn't fit all when you're dealing with a cotton tail stuffed bunny.

Saw this posted on Kimmie's twitter:

---
Winds from Japan hitting US West coast containing radioactive material... ?? On the news this morning! I don't think i want to be here
---

Not that I expect the Japanese or US Government to actually tell us if radioactive air is coming our way or anything....

But, I hope Kimmie doesn't let it distract her from bringing home the bacon!

Sure wish I could watch the Radwanska(s) and Princess match. I guess the television space is limited when its not on ESPN3 and there is a bunch of men playing which I care nothing about.

Carlos said...

Haha "cotton tail stuffed bunny".

I wouldn't be surprise if both goverments are in cover up mode. In this scenarios they never tell the truth meaning that I'm screw royally.

I was score watching The Princess/Aggie match. I caught the third set. The match reminded me of boring Williams sisters/Belgians matches. First set Aggie won it 6-0, second set The Princess won it 6-2. Third set, tie at three, with The Princess serving, Aggie had game point at love. The Princess cameback to win the game. The Princess went up 5-3 serving for the match was broken by Aggie. Aggie tie the score at 5 all, broke The Princess again. With Aggie serving for the match tie at thirty, the scoreboard froze, the game was taken out the scoreboard! I checked another source Aggie won 7-5 in the third. The Princes choked.

Kleybanova took the first set looks like Pennetta is having trouble handling Kleybanova's serve. Tie at 4 in the second set.

Anonymous said...

Looks like Kleybanova won 6-3/6-4. Plus Urszula and Angry Bird are tied 5-5 in the first set.

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