[The Daviator]

Tour Championships, Madrid



Week 21 * YEC * Draw Size 8

S1 Winner - Venus Williams
S2 Winner - Alicia Molik
S3 Winner - Michaella Krajicek
S4 Winner - Alicia Molik
S5 Winner - Maria Kirilenko
S6 Winner - Melanie Oudin

Madrid, ESP - Welcome and congratulations to the top 8 players of the season! All your hard work has paid off, and now we'll see who's the best of the best at this week's season-ending championships, it should be a great week, good luck to all!

Points Deadline - Thursday 21:00 CET

[The Daviator]

Madrid

Dementieva 1
Hantuchova 3
Henin 1
Hercog 3
Kirilenko 0
Myskina 0
Sharapova 3
Wozniacki 1

Bali

Cibulkova 3
Domachowska 3
Gajdosova 1
Golovin 2
Hingis 2
Oudin 3
A. Radwanska 1
Rezai 2
Shvedova 3
Tanasugarn 1
S. Williams 4

[The Daviator]

Orange Group

Daniela Hantuchova
Justine Henin
Polona Hercog
Caroline Wozniacki

Black Group

Maria Kirilenko
Maria Sharapova
Elena Dementieva
Anastasia Myskina

Bali
Melanie Oudin(1) v Qualifier B

Qualifier A v Aravane Rezai(3)

Dominika Cibulkova(4) v Martina Hingis

Qualifier C v Tamarine Tanasugarn(2)


QA. Yaroslava Shvedova v Agnieszka Radwanska
QB. Marta Domachowska v Tatiana Golovin
QC. Jarmila Gajdosova v Serena Williams

[The Daviator]

Madrid

750 -

Oudin

535 -

Sharapova

335 -

Myskina
Tanasugarn

185 -

Dementieva
Shvedova

105 -

Henin

Bali

170 -

Hantuchova

120 -

Hercog

80 -

Kirilenko
Cibulkova

40 -

Wozniacki
Rezai

[The Daviator]

Dominika Cibulkova

Domi's empowering run to the Quebec City semis gives her an extra ace to use in Bali this week Nobody in Madrid gets an ace since everyone flopped bar the winner

[The Daviator]

Profiles

Daniela Hantuchova


Coach - .Andrew.
Nationality - SVK
Rank - #1
Favourite Surface - Hard

W - Toronto, US Open, Antwerp, Moscow
RU - Australian Open, 's-Hertogenbosch
SF - Auckland, Wimbledon

Dani's climb to the top of the game and her transformation into the dominant force on the ATC has been the story of S7. Her final appearance in Melbourne foreshadowed events to come and by the end of the season, she had picked up 4 titles including her first Slam, the US Open. Having won two of the three indoor events so far, she comes in as the hot favourite to win this title too. It's up to the rest of the field to step up and stop her.

***

Maria Kirilenko


Coach - MH0861
Nationality - RUS
Rank - #2
Favourite Surface - Plexi

W - Auckland, Gold Coast, 's-Hertogenbosch, Eastbourne
RU - Roland Garros, Birmingham, Moscow
SF - Amelia Island, Olympics

S7's other big story was our legendary Queen's re-ascent to the top of the game and continued general awesomeness MK owned the first half of the season and although she couldn't grab that elusive Slam, she still notched up 4 titles and a final at RG. In S5 she produced one of her most memorable moments, going 5-0 to win this event with zero, yes, ZERO aces. If anyone can make lightning strike twice, it's our mighty lordess

***

Justine Henin


Coach - Imperfect Angel
Nationality - BEL
Rank - #4
Favourite Surface - Clay

W - Roland Garros
RU - Auckland, Gold Coast, Olympics
SF - Australian Open, Strasbourg, Birmingham

Justine Henin followed up on her strong 'debut' last season with an even more impressive season in S7. She flourished at just the right time to pick up her first Slam at Roland Garros, and a series of other strong results, including a silver medal at the Olympics, propelled her into the YEC in third place. She lacks firepower here, but her crafty game (and the ghost of S3 winner Misa) may lead to something special this week.

***

Maria Sharapova


Coach - Daniela-Is-Mine
Nationality - RUS
Rank - #3
Favourite Surface - Hard

W - Sydney, Cincinnati, Quebec City
RU - Antwerp
SF - Auckland, US Open, Moscow

Sharapova's supreme consistency lands her at the YEC for a fifth consecutive season. The three-time runner-up would greatly love to finally secure this title, and with 3 aces plus a win last week in Quebec City, she must be viewed as the biggest favourite after Hantuchova. She won titles across three different surfaces this season and winning here MAY finally bag her that coveted Hall of Fame place

***

Polona Hercog


Coach - Halcyon
Nationality - SLO
Rank - #6
Favourite Surface - Clay

W - Rome, Strasbourg
RU - N/A
SF - Sydney, Australian Open, Toronto, Moscow

Polona lived up to the promise she showed in S6 with solid top 10 results in S7 highlighted by a fine run on the clay which saw her pick up two titles. She excelled especially in Tier I events and thus coasted here easily in fifth place. She has the same number of aces on this surface as Hantuchova and Sharapova, so could be the best bet to upset the frontrunners and create a shock ending to S7.

***

Elena Dementieva


Coach - Broseghini
Nationality - RUS
Rank - #8
Favourite Surface - Grass

W - Wimbledon, Birmingham
RU - Eastbourne
SF - 's-Hertogenbosch

Lena failed to make an impact on four of the five surfaces this year, but proved that all you need is one strong suit to make it here, and Lena's was grass. She produced the goods at every grass-court event, saving her best for the biggest at Wimbledon. She lacks aces indoors and is short on match-play so may struggle this week, but could spring a surprise and determine the outcome at the end of the week.

***

Caroline Wozniacki


Coach - moodin0931
Nationality - DEN
Rank - #10
Favourite Surface - Clay

W - New Haven
RU - Wimbledon
SF - Rome, Olympics, Toronto

After some impressive results early in her career in S6, Caro steadily improved and blossomed mid-S7 to find herself amidst the elite players on the ATC. A strong swing starting at Wimbledon paved the way for her to make it to Madrid, but with just one ace and little experience, she may find herself drowned out by the bigger fish this week.

***

Anastasia Myskina


Coach - Uranium
Nationality - RUS
Rank - #7
Favourite Surface - Clay

W - N/A
RU - N/A
SF - Gold Coast, Birmingham, 's-Hertogenbosch, Wimbledon, New Haven

Well look who we have bringing up the rear Myskina was the SE-#1 in S5 AND S6 but developed a severe case of flop-itis in S7 making just five semi-finals. Still, it was enough to stumble into the field in eighth position, let's hope her group-mates take mercy on her this week

[The Daviator]

Everything for Madrid and Bali posted

Ranking points for Bali are -

Qualies - 20pts
QFs - 40
SFs - 80
F - 120
W - 170

Good luck, y'all

[moodin0931]

Horrible group

So going 0-3

[MH0861]

Excellent work on the thread, and on the preview

Queen MK ready to do work here

[AYUMI-GOAT]

many aces for Jarka?

[Imperfect Angel]

I'm surprised Nastya not even reaching a final, let alone a title, and still reaches the YEC. Unlike another slam champ.

[The Daviator]

Originally Posted by Hindrance.

many aces for Jarka?

1, see post #2

Just to remind our YEC competitors, you can send points for individual opponents or just one set for everyone

[Uranium]

Group Russia Black is the death group. I might as well not even bother with new points.

[The Daviator]

Day 1 OOP


Orange Group

Daniela Hantuchova v Caroline Wozniacki

Justine Henin v Polona Hercog


Black Group

Maria Kirilenko v Elena Dementieva

Maria Sharapova v Anastasia Myskina

[moodin0931]

When are first matches? And too bad you can't do game by game for each match in the YEC