Garbine Muguruza gets a terrific start at Italian Open

Garbine Muguruza in action at the BNL Internazionali D'Italia on Tuesday night

Garbine Muguruza had her eyes on being at her best and came through at the BNL Internazionali D’Italia Tuesday night. The ninth seed clobbered in each set between a rain delay giving Sloane Stephens no momentum in a 6-3, 6-3 win on Campo Centrale at Foro Italico. 

The two met for the fourth time with the American carrying the edge over the Spaniard. On clay, Stephens defeated Muguruza at the French Open last year. With that and a better outcome from the US Open than her opponent, the 27-year-old looked to be in good standing in the Italian capital. Muguruza spent a lot of downtime playing tennis on the clay courts in Europe with coach Conchita Martinez. With that being a factor to her dismal exit in New York, the former world number one anticipated her investment on the surface to pay off. 

The 26-year-old served to open the match but a challenge from the American made it necessary to bring up deuce. The hold came on the first break as lightning and thunder made their appearance. Stephens expressed her concern on court but umpire Kader Nouni assured her of notice when it became a threat. She served up a shutout to Muguruza but watched as she answered back with a good hold. 

Muguruza anted up to win the break and pushed Stephens to deuce turning up her aggression level. It all ended well for the ninth seed, gaining the break for a 3-1 lead. The streak increased to three after consolidating the break with her third service hold. Muguruza locked up the double break with such great focus but all of it disappeared in the seventh. Three double faults rocked the Spaniard to her inner core while Stephens added a well-placed winner. Needing something to change, the victory to add a second win to her belt helped the American turn the tables to gain momentum. 

On serve in the eighth, the 27-year placed herself well in the court and dictated her returns for points that eventually led to sitting two games back of the ninth seed. Muguruza saw the finish line just as rain began to fall but her two set points became a play to deuce instead. Stephens countered with a sliced winner for the AD point but couldn’t convert the break. She gave Muguruza two more set points but the Spaniard couldn’t put it away. 

After seven breaks and a fifth set point attempt, the ninth seed got it to rest in 44 minutes. Muguruza committed more unforced errors in the final game (10 in total) but her troubles would take a rest as rain fell on court suspending play. After an hour off the court, the two warmed up to begin the second set with Stephens opening service. 

Muguruza attacked her well enough to get the break and attempt to consolidate in the second. Stephens answered with a counter return strategy that pressured the Spaniard to deuce. Key mistakes by the American caused her to scream out in frustration as Muguruza held for a 2-0 jump. An important hold for Stephens got her on the board with the hope that she could build upon it. A break wasn’t in the cards for the American as the ninth seed went up 3-1. 

Muguruza and her opponent remained on serve through the next three games with Stephens matching a serve to love from the sixth. She was again two games down as Muguruza held an important game to go for a shot at breaking Stephens for the win. The American got on the board in the ninth, but let the control get away from her. The ninth seed marched with a three-point streak to have match point where she fired a stunner winner out of Stephens reach to end the night in 1 hour and 21 minutes.

Magda Linette wins first match at Italian Open

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Jelena Ostapenko had a rough outing in her return to tennis at the BNL Internazionali D’Italia. Magda Linette played her best while the Latvian double-faulted through a majority of her service games to bow out 6-3, 6-4 on Court One at Foro Italico in Rome. It was the first win for the Pole in the main draw on what was her premier entry to the tournament.

 

The two faced off for the first time in WTA action with the Latvian experiencing competitive tennis after nearly two months from the sport. With the Pandemic cutting Ostapenko off at Doha back in March, the 23-year-old looked to get back on track as the court season went into full swing. The former French Open champion had dealt with a lot this year since the death of her father and falling in the ranks.

 

With the sport back in limited play, the former world number five looked to have an edge on the Pole. Linette went three rounds at the US Open before transitioning back to Europe to begin clay court training. With Ostapenko ahead of her with time on the court and her past success, the hill for Linette would be strenuous.

 

Ostapenko served to open the match but had her usual trouble of double faults crash into her game. Two of them allowed Linette to force deuce where she gained break points but couldn’t cash in. The Latvian notched another double fault and only won three points from the serve. Despite that, four breaks were played with Ostapenko somehow locking down the service that took her seven minutes.

 

Linette had the more comfortable service as her victory lasted three minutes, holding her to a point. The 23-year-old surprised herself with a serve to love consisting of a messy first serve that produced forced errors from Linette each time. A break to love for the Latvian increased her margin but the Pole broke back in kind, sitting a game down in the fifth. She took a medical timeout on court before returning to play with the service.

 

Linette drew errors from Ostapenko, earning her the break back to level a three-all. She turned that into a good winning streak, consolidating a hold with a double break thereafter. It was 5-3 for the 28-year-old, with the Latvian struggling to stay in it. She racked up her sixth double fault of the set. Linette had set point but returned into the net to bring up deuce. The game only went a break as the world number 35 put too much pep on her returns, handing Ostapenko a much-needed service hold.

 

Despite earning the chance to break and force the set on, Linette wasn’t going to let Ostapenko get into that position. The 28-year-old built together set points and held her third attempt to put an end to the first in 48 minutes. The Latvian improved her serve just slightly to 30 percent with seven double faults to her name so far. Linette doubled that of her opponent’s first serve but struggled with her return end. With an advantage in the match, she would try to hold up her end and cruise through the following set.

 

A troubling start for the Latvian presented itself in the shape of an eighth double fault on the third point of the opening game. Linette responded with a winner later on that scored the early break. She consolidated the early lead with a hold in the second and won seven of the last eight games. It was vital for Ostapenko to win the third but her opponent was becoming an unstoppable force. A tenth double fault blew her best chance to hold, but in spite of going to deuce with Linette, she managed to hold on a final error from the other end. A break got the Latvian to level pegging with the Pole, letting out a scream of frustration to make room for the increasing confidence.

 

With her move to go for the lead in the fifth, Ostapenko recorded a 12^th double fault that handed Linette breakpoints. She reached her fourth attempt when a 13^th from the Latvian sealed the break back. The 28-year-old inched closer with a hold of serve, but Ostapenko produced another serve to love that kept her a game back after seven. Errors ruined the Latvian’s chance to break and level the score that made it 5-3 with one left for the win.

 

The 23-year-old served to stay alive but a 14^th double blew game point and forced deuce for Linette. The Pole reached match point on Ostapenko’s 15^th of the day where a cross-court response saw a line drive land long to end the match in 1 hour and 31 minutes.

 

 

 

Tig edges Bouchard late to win Istanbul Cup

 Patricia Maria Tig dramatically reached victory at the TEB BNP Paribas Istanbul Cup Sunday night. What was a roller coaster pair of sets ended with a race to the finish against Eugenie Bouchard pulling off a late comeback but fell in the tiebreak completing a 2-6, 6-1, 7-6(4) result on center court at the Garanti Koza Arena. It was the second WTA title for the Romanian who last won a title in 2019.

 

This was their first meeting and for both, a chance at a second title during this strange year would end their week on a high note. The Canadian has had quite a week as she came through two rounds of qualifications to be in the first final since winning Kuala Lumpur in 2016 against Elina Svitolina. She matched her previous winning streak of six matches back in 2018 in Luxembourg hoping that a different outcome would surface.

 

Her choice to come back into the sport on clay was a smart idea as she conducted herself well in the last six matches. Tig last appeared in a final back in 2019 at Karlsruhe taking home the international tournament title. With another one close at hand, the 26-year-old Romanian would hope to break the heart of the popular WTA star and leave with another championship for her career.

 

Bouchard got things underway with a terrific service that led to holding Tig to love. Her return game produced three breakpoints on Tig delivering well-placed shots. The Romanian saved one but the talents of her opponent only made the hole bigger for her to dig out of. Bouchard was up 3-0 having only lost on two points. The situation changed in the fourth as the Romanian dug in for a good hold in the fourth, scoring an important point on deuce to end the shutout.

 

Bouchard’s service was still tight as she succeeded in the fifth taking a 4-1 lead on Tig. With a little more confidence growing in the 26-year-old, she managed another service hold that put her two games down of Bouchard after six games played. Despite being forced to deuce on serve in the seventh, Bouchard held her end strong and played two breaks to make it 5-2.

 

Tig served in her attempt to extend the set but returns from Bouchard put her in place with two set points. An unforced error from the Romanian ended the set in 36 minutes giving the 26-year-old a leg up. She outscored Tig 30-16 with  80 percent of points won on the first serve and 75 percent from the second.

 

The Romanian didn’t let statistics bother her going into the second set as she fought through every point to force deuce. On the second break, Tig produced a chance to break the serve of Bouchard and accomplished a nice footing going forward. A consolidation of the break made it 2-0 for Tig who had the biggest lead of the match for herself. Bouchard didn’t let her enjoy it for long as she recovered the service game and scored a straight-lined winner to get on the board in the set.

 

Just when it looked like the Canadian would consolidate with a break back of Tig, her opportunity slipped away in the fourth. Tig forced deuce and saved another breakpoint before turning the control back to hold. Bouchard was losing control of more than just opportunities as the Romanian scored a break to love taking a 4-1 position. Bouchard smacked a ball in the air in frustration as she saw her usual run of a match leer again.

 

The pressure increased as her returns started to fall wide or put too much on the ball to fall long of the baseline. Tig played to force a decider in the seventh but was forced to deuce on two bad returns. She produced another but got focused on her fourth try where a long rally saw her place at center and score the point to end the second in 38 minutes. Errors racked up for the Canadian who let things slip away with only seven points won for the first serve and five from the second. Unable to win a single return game, led her to play her third three-setter of the tournament with the title coming closer into view for both players.

 

Taking a moment off the court, Bouchard returned to play on Tig’s opening service which ended in a serve to love for the Romanian. With such a perfect start, Bouchard needed similar results but instead handed a game break to Tig in the second. The hole got bigger as well as the nerves of the Canadian who tried containing service in the fourth but the wide returns and long balls made it very challenging. A big hold for Bouchard ended Tig’s winning streak but there was a long way to go.

 

The Romanian didn’t make it easier as she produced another victory for a 4-1 lead inching closer to the title. Bouchard did everything in the sixth to secure a hold of serve and make winning the championship a reality. Despite needing three breaks, the Canadian made it two service games in a row. Tig had a big hiccup in the seventh when she committed back to back double-faults. It gave Bouchard two break points to clinch a third win on Tig’s error.

 

As the deciding set went into the late stages, Bouchard served up the shots and watched the Romanian commit further errors since her two double faults. She somehow turned the eighth game around and broke Bouchard to serve for the title. She reached championship point but couldn’t win it as Bouchard found her attacking return to be golden. They went to deuce where two more championship points were saved by the Canadian who then began producing breakpoints. It was the second one that kept the match alive with her serving to force more opportunities.

 

A second ace was well-timed for Bouchard who went on to add a pair of winners to go the distance with Tig, who was feeling the nerves. She responded with technical attacks that awarded her a serve to love setting the bar high for Bouchard. Just as evening prayers began, Tig’s own were answered as she caught a break with three more championship points. Bouchard responded by saved all of them, totaling six that Tig had only to play to deuce. It was only one break as a long ball from Tig clinched the comeback for Bouchard who got into a final tiebreak.

 

Tig earned a mini-break and made it 2-1 before the change of service. Bouchard broke back but the Romanian widened the gap 4-2 on a good service run. Bouchard blew her chance to level back but they never came for her. Tig reached her seventh championship point which was lucky enough to bring an end to a dramatic 2 hour and 29-minute fight.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Naomi Osaka wins second US Open championship in three set roller coaster

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Naomi Osaka was once again champion at the US Open Saturday evening. Breaking a 25-year record of being down a set early, the Japanese superstar overcame the 1-6 start and defeated a surging Victoria Azarenka in three sets 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 at Arthur Ashe Stadium at the Billy Jean King National Tennis Center.

 

This was the fourth meeting between the two players that were supposed to meet in the season’s previous final. Azarenka and Osaka both battled through the Western and Southern Open only to miss a chance at playing. To make sure that she would damage herself and her chances at a successful US Open, Osaka decided to withdraw and hand the Belorussian the title.

 

In the major final, both were not making excuses to put on a great show as they once again faced one another. For Azarenka, it would be a third grand slam title and the first since 2012. Osaka vied for her third as well having won the Open two years ago. She holds the series lead 2-1 with both coming on clay. Though both are good on the hard courts and have speedy forehands, the match would go great lengths to determine a champion whether it be a new or previous winner.

 

Osaka opened service but had troubles early with the forehand committing errors. With the early lead, Azarenka conducted a strong service game setting up her strikes to force errors from the fourth seed. Osaka tried ironing out the problems but return errors from the Belorussian helped her get on the board in the third.

 

The 31-year-old refused to play defense in the fourth and continued to force the issue upon the Japanese superstar. After holding yet again, Azarenka locked down the double break on the 2018 champion taking a commanding 4-1 stand. Osaka earned a shot at turning the tables in the sixth but consistency on hitting through her opponent’s returns blew her chance on deuce and would serve to extend the set. Despite her chance to hold for the first time since the third, Azarenka forced deuce and reached set point to end a dismal 27 minutes for the fourth seed.   

 

The Belorussian was at 94 percent from her first serve and won 75 percent of points from it. Osaka had 13 errors in total and was outscored 27-15 through seven games played. With near perfect ball placement, the 31-year-old had the leverage that included serving to open the second.

 

She wasted little time in blasting away at the 22-year-old who struggled to get in place of the shots coming across. Osaka was down 2-0 and a break to the Belorussian who focused on the backhand which wasn’t the Japanese star’s strong suit. Though it took a fight to deuce, the fourth seed managed to break back in the third, ending the shutout, and hope that she could build upon it.

 

Scoring two aces in the fourth, Osaka consolidated the break with a much-needed service that put her level for the first time in the match. They remained on serve through three games until a huge move from the 22-year-old where she placed herself in the right place for Azarenka’s shots. The success led to a break, giving her a 4-3 lead and an open road to dictate the set.

Producing strategic counterattacks against the crosscourt forehand of Azarenka led to a strong hold for Osaka in the eight. The 22-year-old dug into the longest game of the match that spanned eight minutes and 16 points to send them to a decider after 40 minutes elapsed.

 

With nothing left but to play out the third set, Osaka opened with a service hold followed by Azarenka as they made it their mission to get the other to break. Osaka earned the moment to break her opponent as the service speeds differed between the two. The 22-year-old notched a pair of winners in the third that gave her the lead. Azarenka had very little momentum left as her serve struggled to get the ball over the net right.

 

It resulted in a double break for the Japanese star who was well in control of her game in the late stages of the match. With the service in the fifth, Osaka surprisingly fell into a 0-40 hole but managed to force deuce. It took only a service break to capture the AD point and reach 4-1 over the Belorussian. When it looked as if another break would into the hands of Osaka, the 31-year-old fought to the brink to force deuce. She went five breaks and eight minutes into game six with the award of holding serve.

 

Azarenka used pinpoint accuracy on her returns to force deuce again in the seventh. A break was all that was needed for the former world number one to get within one game of leveling. A bad service game for Azarenka gave her opponent the 5-3 lead with her shot at serving for a second US Open championship. She smashed the winners across court forcing errors from Azarenka inching closer to victory. A long return from the 31-year-old brought match point to Osaka, who erred on a long rally between them.

 

On her second attempt, a final rally ended with the Belorussian returning into the net to close the match in 1 hour and 53 minutes. For the third time, Azarenka was denied a title in New York, losing her strength in what became a drawn-out match due to Osaka’s surge in offense.

Victoria Azarenka shuts the door late on Serena Williams to enter US Open final

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For the first time in 11 tries, Victoria Azarenka tasted victory against Serena Williams Thursday night. In what most thought would be another defeat for the Belorussian, turned into just another surprise occurring at the US Open as the 31-year-old defeated the third seed 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Overcoming a devastating first set, the unseeded superstar surged back to control and win her way to a third final in New York.

 

The victory denies the former world number one a chance to win an all-time record 24^th grand slam. This became the first major final for the 31-year-old in seven years and one where she’ll go against 2018 US Open champion Naomi Osaka.

 

“Seven is my favorite number,” Azarenka said when asked about her span between championship matches. “It’s meant to be. I’m very grateful for this opportunity and for playing a champion in the semifinal.”

 

When asked by Mary Jo Fernandez of ESPN about her match Azarenka replied, “I knew it’s never over till I have another chance. I said that before the match and I knew it wasn’t going to be over at 5-3 and today was going to be different.”

 

“She dug me in a big hole in the first set. I had to climb my way out of there one by one and I had been able to turn it around because it wasn’t easy for sure.”

 

It won’t get easier as the former world number one and Australian Open champion will vie for her third grand slam championship on Saturday. It would mark their fourth meeting with Azarenka last winning in 2016. They were supposed to play in the Western and Southern Open but an injury from Osaka kept them from having a match that will now take place.

Victoria Azarenka shocks Elise Mertens in straight sets at the US Open

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It appeared that no one could stop Victoria Azarenka at the US Open Wednesday night. The unseeded superstar destroyed 16^th seeded Elise Mertens 6-1, 6-0 at Arthur Ashe Stadium at the Billy Jean King National Tennis Center. In a match that was supposed to be hard-fought went one-sided as the tennis mom moved into the semifinal for the first time in a major in seven years.

 

The two met in a very important point for both as one continued a lengthy winning streak and a quest to capture US Open glory. The other back in her second consecutive quarterfinal eyed to end Azarenka’s ten-match winning streak and reach a second career grand slam semifinal. The Belgian took down Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin in straight sets with 20 winners and eight aces.

 

Committing only seven unforced errors put Mertens in a great place to tackle the former world number one who struggled in her battle with Karolina Muchova but managed to cruise to victory. While they faced one another in doubles in Melbourne and Miami this season, their singles fight would be a dramatic one if both held their games in check.

 

Azarenka opened service with Mertens forcing deuce but she kept it short to hold after a break. The 31-year-old consolidated with the following game as the Belgian had some problems on the first serve. Mertens broke back in the third after having her return game challenged by the crosscourt hits from the Belorussian. The Belgian denied her game point and got on the board just in time for her serve. The fourth saw them deliver high lobs to one another with the 31-year-old scoring on terrific court placement, firing the ball back. She forced deuce, producing breakpoints that led to a 3-1 lead on a Mertens double fault.

 

The momentum flowed with Azarenka as another hold made it 4-1 on a perfect line drive winner. She won 8 of the last 11 points with her ninth scoring the service break and a shot at serving for the set. She held back the Belgian just enough to earn her fourth game in a row and put the first in the books in 35 minutes. The net points stood out as a major key to victory winning 5 of 7 and committed only seven unforced errors. Azarenka outscored Mertens 30-18 showing that she was being outplayed.

 

It continued into the second set as a fourth service attempt failed at the hands of the Belorussian. She held for a 2-0 lead as it looked like there was little chance for momentum change. Mertens’ offense was on life support while Azarenka continued the attack straight drives and cross-courts. The 16^th seed hit line drives but speed was lower than her opponent who struck big to produce AD points in the third.

 

With a 3-0 run, Azarenka conducted her game smoothly earning a service win and then triple breaking Mertens for a 5-0 stand. With the 31-year-old serving for the match against the 16^th seed, it was hers to finish but Mertens somehow forced deuce. Despite playing two breaks, the two-time finalist earned the shutout with the Belgian sending a forehand into the net to end a surprising 1 hour and 13 minutes.

 

“I feel like I saw the ball really well today and executed the plan that I wanted to do,” Azarenka said to ESPN’s Darren Cahill. “I was aware that I was going to use my speed and power on the ball so I made the court really big today and got her unbalanced to make winners.” Azarenka outscored Mertens 59-35 in a lopsided conclusion no one saw coming. With ten match wins in a row, she’ll try to make it 11 as she goes against Serena Williams who she lost in both final appearances in New York.

 

 

Victoria Azarenka makes it ten straight to enter US Open quarterfinal

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Victoria Azarenka came out on top in a highly challenged match at the US Open late Monday night. The former world number one earned it well against Karolina Muchova 5-7, 6-1, 6-4 on Louis Armstrong Stadium at the Billy Jean King National Tennis Center. It marked her tenth straight match and a place in the quarterfinals.

This was the first meeting for the two and a key for the unseeded superstar. In her 50^th career US Open match, the Belorussian faced her second-seeded opponent in her quest to make the quarterfinal for the fifth time. In her way was the 20^th seeded Czech who appeared her third straight third round, going deep against Sorana Cirstea. It was a tiebreak in the final set that put these two on a collision course for her to push further. With Azarenka carrying a nine-match winning streak, the 31-year-old used to action in New York would try and stay with Muchova for the duration.

 

She fell into trouble early as Muchova broke her in the opening game and held through deuce to make it 2-0. The former world number one got on the board with a serve to love but her Czech opponent opened the gap back to a pair of games. She made it three with a double break secured making it the largest gap anyone had earned against her in the tournament.

 

Just when it looked as if momentum was the key for Muchova to close in on the set, a critical double fault opened the door for Azarenka to break back in the sixth. The 31-year-old scored a much-needed hold in the following game but Muchova was on the ball reaching 5-3 to fight for the set. Playing defense, Azarenka was forced to deuce by the 24-year-old but only went two breaks to clinch the hold.

 

The comeback was looking very good for the Belorussian who had three break points in the tenth but lost two of them as Muchova wanted to hold and stop her. She forced deuce once again but despite five chances and three of them blown, the set marched on with Azarenka level. Muchova broke back to take the lead but another on serve would be needed to avoid a set tiebreak. She locked down the hold in the 12^th that ended her long fight to secure the first after 57 minutes.

 

Azarenka opened the second with a service hold but it was a long uphill battle to go. Muchova tried to follow suit but had to come back and force deuce again. It was four break battle that saw the Belorussian hit long on the returns that led to a hold. The 31-year-old answered with a strong serve to love and consolidated it with a break leading 3-1. Azarenka was surging the victories together as her fourth straight led to a momentum that inched her close to a decider.

 

The former world number one dictated another break from the 20^th seed in the sixth and closed out the second swiftly 6-1 in 34 minutes. The surge that occurred for the two-time finalist put Muchova on noticed that her slip up changed the tide for Azarenka to make a serious run at victory in the third. Before that could occur, Muchova called for the physio and left the court to receive a medical timeout for her left leg.

 

She returned to open the third seven minutes later with service coming from her end. Allowing just two points, Muchova ended the opening game with a straight shot smash. Azarenka followed along with a hold of serve but she wanted another break that didn’t come easy. Having two break points early, Azarenka couldn’t close it up and was forced to go for it again on deuce. The two spanned nearly 11 minutes and five breaks until Muchova’s leg pain caused her to fall a game down.

 

She took a medical timeout on court before getting into the fourth with Azarenka on serve. A key break for Muchova leveled the score before a big hold gave her the lead back. The 31-year-old kept things on serve as her opponent set the bar and reached it. She broke the Czech in the seventh after a double fault cost the 20^th seed. A crosscourt forced error made it 4-3 for the Belorussian who hoped that this was the key to running away with the match.

 

A hold put the Czech in trouble as she sat two games down with Azarenka closing in on a quarterfinal spot. In the ninth, Muchova saved match point to force deuce with the Belorussian and hold after two breaks. The former world number one was back on serve for the match and reached three match points before easily putting a tough one away in 2 hours and 30 minutes.

 

“She played unbelievably,” Azarenka said to Andrew Krasny during her on-court interview. “She was getting to the balls and bringing them back and I had to dig in and bring some aggression so it was really tough and so much fun.”

 

She’ll play against Elise Mertens for the first time. “It’s gonna be a fun match,” she said. “I’ve played against her in doubles but it should be another fun time on the court.”