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stromatolite · Feb 15th, 2013, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by annetcl

Sam is killing me with her returns

Yes, before today I would have said that was one area in which Sam's game had improved this year. But she's been horrible today, with a couple of exceptions

stromatolite · Feb 15th, 2013, 03:58 PM

From 40-0 to MP

Got away with it in the end, more by luck than good management.

Didn't want to see Sam bow out of the tournament like that.

On CC Petra has take the first set against Serena

stromatolite · Feb 15th, 2013, 04:01 PM

GSM.

They were never really in this match, pretty poor performance overall.

annetcl · Feb 15th, 2013, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stromatolite

GSM.

They were never really in this match, pretty poor performance overall.

Really terrible! Probably 2 points from the game would make it into Sam's highlights reel and that's pretty generous! Hopefully they play better in Dubai - at least they are playing for a longer run this time round - they were really bad when they first started playing together as well - lets hope history repeats itself this year!

Who would have thought both her matches would have similar scorelines!

Good to see Petra playing well. I quite like her.

GermanBoy · Feb 15th, 2013, 06:42 PM

Not a good day for our Sam...

I shall hate the 6/2, 6/4 result forever! Same in singles & doubles...

SilverPersian · Feb 16th, 2013, 12:51 AM

Bah. Sucks that they lost, but even more it sucks that Sam played poorly. Hopefully she can regroup over the next couple of days for Dubai.

SilverPersian · Feb 16th, 2013, 08:59 AM

Dubai draw. Don't think we could have asked for any better really

Victoria Azarenka [1] - Bye
Dominika Cibulkova - Nadia Petrova
Sloane Stephens - Sorana Cirstea
Sara Errani [5] - Julia Goerges

Angelique Kerber [4] - Bye
Roberta Vinci - Qualifier
Varvara Lepchenko - Su-Wei Hsieh
Samantha Stosur [7] - Ekaterina Makarova

Petra Kvitova [6] - Qualifier
Ana Ivanovic - Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
Laura Robson [WC] - Yulia Putintseva [WC]
Agnieszka Radwanska [3] - Bye

Caroline Wozniacki [8] - Lucie Safarova
Qualifier - Qualifier
Marion Bartoli [WC] - Klara Zakopalova
Serena Williams [2] - Bye
__________________

Huntress55 · Feb 16th, 2013, 09:04 AM

I like that draw. Hopefully Sam can have a deep run and at least make semis.

stromatolite · Feb 16th, 2013, 09:49 AM

3rd quarter would probably have been better for the first couple of rounds, but from QF on this is the best quarter. Potentially three tricky lefties to negotiate for a spot in the SF. If she gets that far I can see both Vika and Serena tanking before then, so she would have a realistic shot at the title. But one match at a time

SilverPersian · Feb 16th, 2013, 10:20 AM

^There's also a chance that Cibulkova could do another one of her hatchet jobs to help Sam along with Vika

stromatolite · Feb 16th, 2013, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilverPersian

^There's also a chance that Cibulkova could do another one of her hatchet jobs to help Sam along with Vika

Well Vika's still 7-2 against her, and both her losses were on clay, which is easily her worst surface, so I won't be holding my breath on that one.

Better news is the fact that both Caro and Marion are in Serena's quarter. So even if Serena tanks (I think she will, pretty sure she only entered as insurance in case she didn't get the #1 in Doha) at most one of them will advance beyond the QF. So Sam is sure to be still top 10 at the end of the week.

SilverPersian · Feb 17th, 2013, 12:37 AM

With Serena and Vika in the final at Doha, you'd think at least one of them will tank. Or Vika might do her, "play one match and then become extremely injured" trick to avoid a zero pointer.

Anyway, we shouldn't be talking about this. Sam is totally going to lose to Lepchenko

GermanBoy · Feb 17th, 2013, 01:53 AM

Will you shut up!

Cannot wait for the doubles draw....

GermanBoy · Feb 17th, 2013, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilverPersian

Hi GermanBoy, glad to see my bossy and obnoxious rep comment had the desired effect

I always like seeing people stick up for Sam in GM, even though I'm too lazy to do it myself most of the time

Unbelievable!

Why would I not defend Sam? She is my favourite player. I used to support the US girls, Chris Evert, Jennifer Capriati & Lindsay Davenport but they unfortunately all retired. I hope Sam will not be retiring any time soon...

stromatolite · Feb 17th, 2013, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilverPersian

With Serena and Vika in the final at Doha, you'd think at least one of them will tank. Or Vika might do her, "play one match and then become extremely injured" trick to avoid a zero pointer.

Chances are they'll both turn up, but neither is very fond of playing a full programme in 2 consecutive weeks unless it's absolutely necessary. If Vika wins today (unlikely, but not impossible) I think the #1 would still be up for grabs in Dubai, and I'm pretty sure that Serena would need to reach the SF at least to be sure of staying at #1. In that case they might both go the distance.

If Serena wins today she's got the top spot sown up until Miami at least (unless Vika does something really embarrassing like asking for a WC for Kuala Lumpur). In that case I think they'll both play a round or two and then succumb to some debilitating affliction.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilverPersian

Anyway, we shouldn't be talking about this. Sam is totally going to lose to Lepchenko

You confident she'll beat Makarova then?