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(red hot) Ana on red clay 2012 season

20K views 167 replies 32 participants last post by  gaviotabr 
#1 ·
Whatever we personaly thinking about Ana's 2012 first quarter results - fact is that she finished just for the 2nd or 3rd time ever this part of the season into TOP10 in YEC race, thanks to more than solid AO-R16, IW-SF, MIA-R16, Dubai-QF results. 5 out of 7 loses which she have this season so far coming from opponents which is former WTA#1 and/or GS champions (Clijsters, Kvitova, Wozniacki, Sharapova, Venus), where she is forced once to retire due injury and twice won set against players vs worst career h2h (Clijsters and Venus). Also she collect couple notable straight sets wins (Wozniacki, Schiavone, Bartoli), and except in two cases at "tier-2" level events (Safarova and Cetkovska loses) Ana won all matches which she is supposed to win losing just one single set.

This start of the season is of course not even close to 2008 peak-Ana when she played AO final and won IW, but for sure is much better than in previous two seasons, and not worse than in 2006, 2007 or 2009. Which is more important, it coming after also very solid 2nd half of previous season. And we know how surface factor works for Ana: around TOP10 level on hardcourts means around TOP5 level on red clay - if she just keep the same level which she displayed in last about 8 months (and of course stays healthy and injury free)!

Like never before, Ana have full red clay schedule this season, but she and hers fitness ATM arguable have not ability to play permanently on high level on day-to-day events. IW and Miami is by type of schedule more close to slams than to others tournaments, but when Ana must to play vs Sharapova next day after beating Bartoli, or vs V.Williams already next day after she beat Hantuchova - she already retire vs Maria early in 2nd set, and after 7-6 2-2 start vs Venus in rest of this match won only 2 games out of last 12. So couple of disappointed loses or w/o before RG will not be end of the world and for me red clay TOP5 level performance which I really hope for Ana's this season at slowest surface means:

- to be important/crucial part of Serbian FED CUP historic SF win in Moscow. (equally acceptable scenario: to won both singles matches despite teams lose)
- to reach SF (at least) in Rome OR in Madrid. (equally acceptable scenario: to reach QF at both, or to reach Stuttgart final)
- to reach SF (at least) at French Open. (equally acceptable scenario: to lose before SF aggainst eventual RG2012 champion)

 
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#159 ·
I think Ana only won 2 matches that lasted over 1h30 mins this year: Pervak (IW) and Pavs (Fed Cup).

It's an issue.. but I think she is going very careful with fitness, scared to death of injuries. No fitness coach.. and I honestly don't trust someone who was appointed by her ex, the golfer.
 
#161 ·
Code:
FED CUP: to reach final
Porsche Open: Whatever (warm-up)
Madrid Mandatory: at least SF (acceptable early lose against eventual finalist)
Rome P5: Whatever (warm-up)
Roland Garros: at least SF [s](acceptable early lose against eventual finalist)[/s]
Even before start of 2012 clay season I promote same most-realistic scenario for Ana results and achievements on clay this season, but now I realize that there should not be any excuses for Ana for not reach at least SF this year in Paris.
 
#162 ·
You are really funny.. she would have to beat not only 1 but 2 top players to get that far. She can't even close out a set after 7 SPs against a top player, let alone win.. :bigcry:
 
#164 ·
If she draws Radwanska or Kvitova in the 4R of the FO, she has a big chance to reach the quarters. Unfortunately, top 2 players are too good at the moment, but Azarenka is everything but unbeatable. We just hope she doesn't draw Sharapova, which would be really unlucky, but if she draws any of the others - it's a great chance to go further and she even has a chance to reach the semis. Maybe even finals, who knows.
 
#165 ·
Ana had a closer match against Sharapova then the one against Azarenka.. :shrug:

I hope she draws either Radwanska or Kvitova.. but she will have to stop freezing against top players to have a real chance anyway.
 
#166 ·
Doesn't really matter who she draws. When she's on, she's got the game to beat all of them. It's all bout how she handles herself when she gets to the 4R against these players. I'm hoping she can learn from what happened against Maria and not let it bog her down. Thank goodness she has Nigel with her. I'm sure that's what he will be focusing his attention on.
 
#168 ·
Yeah, I agree. She has the game.. she needs the brain to go with it. Can't let what happened against Maria happen again. She had a great shot to win that match and ended up shooting herself in the foot. It's about attitude and how she handles herself. Needs to improve a lot in that area.

I'm not sure about how Nigel is handling this though..
 
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