[zenga10]

Great tournament and final performance from both players, who remained strong mentally through the final and gave it their best. It was compelling stuff, very high standard of shotmaking, seemed like an ATP match with the shot weight. They said on Tennis Channel that the average speed of their ground strokes was 7 mph faster than Tsitsipas last match. They are two of the top 3 players if they can keep that up, and should provide strong challenge to Iga this year.

Extraordinary how Sabalenka has pulled her game together, technically and mentally, since the low point 12 months ago when her serve fell apart. I think i heard on TC she now moves into the #2 ranking spot, and, if so, she deserves it.

Elena will be happy for now I'm sure to be ranked in top 10 and not have to play out on Court 18 again, lol. Getting to the final of two out of last three Grand Slams, winning one, ain't bad.

 

[dernit]

Just watched her post-match speech and press conference, she's pure class. A fantastic player but better human being.

 

[tony p]

When Elena doesn't play (Having a week off), she just vanishes without trace, which is probably a good thing if you want to be out of the limelight.

 

[tony p]

So Elena gets to play Andreescu in Round 1 in Dubai. , she's in theTop half.

Her little section,
Elena v Andreescu,
Kenin v Bouzkova,
Sasnovich v Q
BYE v GAUFF

Others in her bit if she was to win 2 matches, include
GARCIA, Keys, Anisimova, Azarenka.

Obviously Iga is in the top half, along with Samson & Sakkari, so to go far, she needs to be on the top of her game.

 

[tony p]

Playing doubles again with Pavs , play (8)Siegemund/Flipkens in Round 1.

They are currently 8th in the Doubles Race for the YEC, so something they may look at as the year goes ahead if they keep playing together.

 

[tony p]

Great doubles win by Elena & Pavs, 6-2, 6-4 over the #8 seeds.
Really becoming a handy partnership.
They do look like they are enjoying themselves.

Elena's match with Bibi, last up on centre court tomorrow (Monday), 4 matches before her's.

 

[tony p]

An unwell Pie 🥧, still to good for Bianca who did have a MTO.
6-3, 6-4 was a fair reflection, a good match.
I'm still up at 3.23 am, a glutton for punishment.
Bouzkova tomorrow.

 

[Queen_Of_Spray]

Easy win today, she just looks unwell, you can see she is weathering something. Needs a bit of a rest after this tournament and get ready for the two week events.

I feel for Marie, she is one of my fave grinders but having to face Pie so many time.

 

[Queen_Of_Spray]

I'll be out for a few days as well, good luck to CutiePie the rest of the week, I'll check in and out of discord and keep an eye on the games occasionally.

 

[tony p]

Solid enough performance from Elena.
Picked it up well in the second set.

Has a potentially long day today with both singles and doubles ( should really pull out of doubles)
Plays Gauff on Court 1.

 

[tony p]

Elena has pulled out of her singles with Gauff and her Doubles with Pavs due to a lower back injury.
Hopefully she's okay, I thought she was under the weather, her back seemed fine against Bouzkova last night.

Need to be fit for the Sunshine double in a fortnight, rest up.

 

[Cloudy Sky]

Hopefully it's minor and she's back for Indian Wells.

 

[tony p]

As long as she's fit, I'm expecting a deep run (At least a final ) in one of the two sunshine events.
I don't think she's ever going to be totally reliable, but I think the bigger events where she has a day off inbetween are probably better than the back-to-back matches she has to play in a WTA250 or 500 event.

 

[Cloudy Sky]

As long as she's fit, I'm expecting a deep run (At least a final ) in one of the two sunshine events.
I don't think she's ever going to be totally reliable, but I think the bigger events where she has a day off inbetween are probably better than the back-to-back matches she has to play in a WTA250 or 500 event.

The sunshine double courts are pretty slow though, especially Indian Wells, which doesn't work well for her style of play since it'll be harder to hit fast shots.

 

[tony p]

Elena has officially entered the "Charleston" tournament starting on April 3rd.
It's a WTA500 event.

 

[tony p]

At least we know "Pie" is at Indian Wells.
Had an instagram story pic showing that she's there

 

[Queen_Of_Spray]

Pie made the quarter final last year at Indian wells but there is no pressure to defend those points as she banked good points in January.

 

[tony p]

Elena gets a first round bye at IW as the seed, she's in the top half (Iga's half)

Interesting Quarter for her, never a fan of byes, can easily be caught off guard,

(10) RYBAKINA - Bye
Stephens v (wc)Kenin
Parrizas Diaz v Cocciaretto
Bye v (21) Badosa.

The other six seeds in her Quarter are, Jabeur, Bouzkova, Trevisan, Azarenka, Martic & Kasatkina, so they aren't to bad actually for her.

 

[tony p]

Elena has officially entered the "Charleston" tournament starting on April 3rd.
It's a WTA500 event.

She seems not to be playing this now, not on the tournament website, maybe a change of schedule.

 

[jimbo mack]

I hope the back injury issue is ok now. Although I wonder if she was also ill in Dubai.