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Sunday, January 22, 2023

AO.7 - Rybakina R-E-S-P-E-C-T

"Hey, what you want
(Oo) Baby, I got
(Oo) What you need
(Oo) Do you know I got it?
(Oo) All I'm askin'
(Oo) Is for a little respect"




What Elena Rybakina hasn't been able to garner from the Powers That Be since her Wimbledon title run last summer -- namely, the measure of status, recognition and higher profile scheduling usually accorded to a grand slam champion, as the loads of rankings points that the tours conspired to keep out of the columns of the highest achieving players in London last year are lost to the shredder of Stupid Decisions for all eternity -- she quite simply went out and *took* in large measure in Melbourne on Sunday.

And she did it at the expense of world #1 Iga Swiatek.

Ever since winning at SW19, Rybakina has been quick to note the peculiar level of disrespect she's been given as a reigning major title winner (and, let's remember, a quite spectacular one at that over the course of the fortnight). Already denied a four-digit cache of ranking points because of the decision to screw over the players who *were* allowed to participate at Wimbledon -- in response to screwing over a group of still other players who *weren't* since they were being publicly punished for the decisions of their nation's strongman-wannabe-dictator (as if they could get ol' Vlad on the phone and convince him to alter his disastrous course of action), a move that prevented her from climbing into the Top 10 (and ultimately even kept her out of the Top 20), Rybakina has also seen tournament schedules often ignore her when it's come to assigning her matches to show courts and instead sending her to the outer edges of the grounds to play (including in her opening match at the U.S. Open in her slam follow-up, perhaps contributing in some small way to her quick exit at Flushing Meadows).

Needless to say, it's been enough to make even the mild-mannered Kazakh a bit piqued.

So the occasion of *finally* being allowed to step onto the Laver Arena court on Day 7, albeit not in the "primetime" night session, against the world #1 in a match-up featuring the players who won 3/4 of 2022's major titles (the other 1/4 was claimed by a player who is no longer even an active tour player) was an opportunity that Rybakina simply could not pass up the chance to fully take advantage of.

Against Swiatek, with her headlock on the top ranking having been largely fueled by a two-title (24-2) slam resume since the start of last year, #22 Rybakina hit the ground running with her big groundstrokes and powerful serve, winning the "aggression game" vs. the Pole and pounding shots keep into the court, keeping Iga at bay and taking away her big speed/defensive advantage. Swiatek, the current president of the Figure-It-Out Club now that Ash Barty is out of the game, could never devise a way to overcome her predicament.

Rybakina broke Swiatek in the opening game of the match, then after she'd let it slip re-claimed her break advantage at 4-3. In a pressure game, the Kazakh closed out a key hold from 30/30 to consolidate the edge a game later. Serving for the set at 5-4, Rybakina held at love in dominant fashion, proving to be up to the task in her mission to prove herself all over again.

It was Swiatek who got the early break in the 2nd set, leading 2-0 and extending her edge to 3-0 with a hold of serve. But Rybakina didn't blink, and instead got the set back on serve. Mid-set, with the score tied at 3-3, the match plotline revolving around Rybakina outhitting and outserving Swiatek showed no signs of an eleventh hour re-write.



In the 4-4 game of the set, Rybakina took at 15/40 lead on Swiatek's serve and on her third BP saw the Pole net a forehand, giving the Kazakh a chance to serve out the win for her first career victory over a world #1 and her maiden AO quarterfinal. She quickly took a 30/love lead with big first serves, then blasted an ace up the service T to reach triple MP. A forehand winner put away the love hold, ending the 6-4/6-4 match and once again daring TPTB to ignore her.



Afterward, in her post-match interview with Jelena Dokic (so nice to see her again!), Rybakina's naturally calm exterior once again carried the moment, though she did note that her coach says that she needs to show her emotion *sometimes*. It's a work in progress.



But that's a lesson to be learned at a later date. For now, "taking care of business" is first on the agenda.

After previously finding herself on the unfortunate side of fate during the two best times of her career, when her ridiculously good season opening run in 2020 was interrupted by the pandemic shutdown and when she wasn't able to collect *all* that she'd earned for her maiden slam title, Rybakina's task is just to handle what she *can*. The rest will work itself out.

Just win, baby. Again, and again. And then again. What it would mean to Rybakina would be clear, and the deserved, though belated, dose of r-e-s-p-e-c-t would no longer be able to be denied.

TCB.




=DAY 7 NOTES=
...the top half continues to carry the weight of past deeds at this Austrailian Open, as the eight women competing in 4th Round matches on Sunday included five former slam champions (w/ 8 total major titles), two players who've been ranked #1 and a slam finalist. In all, the eight have combined to reach twelve slam finals (and soon to be 9, of course).

...while Rybakina was making her point against Swiatek on Laver, #17 Alona Ostapenko was on MCA doing what *she* does best. When she does it. In other words, unabashedly bash the ball without thought to consequences -- leaving the result of the match largely *not* on the racket of #7 Coco Gauff -- and then leave 'em smiling with a truth bomb dropped right in the middle of a slam event that has decided that humans can't be trusted to call the lines.

In any event, the Latvian thundered past Gauff and into her first slam QF since 2018.



Gauff entered the match having yet to lose a set in 2023 through her first eight matches, and was a combined 15-3 in majors since the start of last year. While Ostapenko's overwhelming power commanded center stage in this one, Gauff *did* have opportunities on the scoreboard to potentially change the direction of things. In the 1st set alone, she had seven BP chances but converted just one.

Ostapenko consistently survived such threats, holding serve from down 15/40 in game 5 for a 3-2 lead, then again two games later from love/40 (saving 4 more BP). From there the set raced to a seemingly inevitable TB, as games 8 through 11 saw the servers drop a *total* of two points and the games last less than an average of two minutes each. In game 12, Gauff took a 40/15 lead and the TB scoreboard was warming up. But Ostapenko flipped the game, reaching SP and then coming in to the net and putting away her first SP to take the set 7-5.

Ostapenko never gave up her momentum, and Gauff never found a way to turn the tide. The Latvian faced just one BP in the 2nd, winning 7-5/6-3, side-eyeing and pointing at the line calling system in meme-generating fashion (Haha! So what is is new?) throughout.



Pressed in her post-match interview by Laura Robson about how she *really* feels about electronic line calling, Ostapenko did the only thing she knows. She told the truth, with hilarious effect.



One is tempted to say that this result could lead to Ostapenko catching extended fire ala her Paris run in '17. But, well, you know, the Alona Experience is simply not one that can be planned out, predicted or theorized about in advance. It'd just make little sense... we all sort of know the How-To of all her matches, and only someone who'd invest their life savings in cryptocurrency would dare to put *much* credence in *any* flip-a-coin prognostication about which way things might go.

Every Tilt-a-Penko ride is different, sometimes in a brilliant fashion and sometimes in the cover-your-eyes-and-hold-on-tight (and don't forget to scream) sort of way.

It's always best -- and for the well being of everyone involved -- to just let what happens next be a total surprise.

...in the final women's 4th Rounder of the day session, #3 Jessie Pegula continued her generally ship-shape current run, though this time she had to fight #20 Barbora Krejcikova to avoid springing a few leaks.

Pegula seemed on her way to a routine 1st set win, breaking the Czech for a 5-3 lead and looking to serve things out a game later. But Krejcikova pulled out of a 15/40 hole in game 9, with her second saved SP coming after Pegula netted an easy put-away volley off a desperation running slice forehand from the Czech, to hold for 5-4. A game later, Pegula lost a 30/love lead and dropped serve.

In game 11, though, Krejcikova ultimately came up on the short end of a 7-deuce game in which Pegula finally converted on her fifth BP of the game (she'd been 1-of-12 on BP prior to that), getting the break to lead 6-5. Krejcikova had had four GP to take the lead herself.

A 30/love lead on Pegula's serve turned into 30/30 a game later, but the Bannerette claimed the set on her third SP with a winner in the corner off the very back of the baseline.

Krejcikova's short-circuited comeback at the end of the opening set seemed to fuel Pegula to greater heights in the 2nd. The two exchanged breaks in the first three games, but once Pegula jumped in front 2-1 she never relented, winning 7-5/6-2. Pegula's win sends her into her third straight AO quarterfinal, and her fourth in the last five slams. So far, she's yet to reach a semifinal.



...the final women's Round of 16 match-up from the top half of the draw will be the night-closing match on Laver between #24 Victoria Azarenka and Zhu Lin.

Azarenka, 33, is now a full decade beyond her last AO title run, with her most recent QF in Melbourne coming in 2016. She's had just one Final 8 result in her last 18 appearances in majors (compared to doing so at 13-of-19 between 2011-16), as she's missed two season's worth of slams (8) due to pregnancy, child custody issues and last year's SW19 RUS/BLR ban since her last deep run in Australia.

Zhu will be trying to reach her maiden slam QF, and add her name to the group of three Chinese women -- Li Na, Zheng Jie and Zhang Shuai, with the latter also still alive in the draw -- who've reached the Final 8 in Melbourne.

...a little surprisingly, Marketa Vondrousova was back out on the doubles court today with Miriam Kolodziejova after barely being able to walk in the final games of her 3rd Round singles loss to Linda Fruhvirtova yesterday. The Czech pair took on #7 seeds Beatriz Haddad Maia & Zhang Shuai, and staged a remarkable multi-headed comeback to get the win.

Kolodziejova/Vondrousova saved three MP in the 2nd set, two in a TB that they finally won 11-9. In the 3rd set, Haddad/Zhang led 5-0, 40/love, but the Czechs saved four more MP in game 6, then two more in a MTB (at 9-8 and 11-10 - making it 9 MP in all) before finally winning 14-12.

Meanwhile, Sania Mirza (w/ Anna Danilina) lost, meaning the Indian tennis legend's slam doubles career is now over (per her official announcement earlier this month). She and Rohan Bopanna won their MX opening round match, though, so she's not finished yet!



...the girls' singles seeds are falling like raindrops in Melbourne, as five of the top six seeds failed to get out of the 1st Round, including #1-seeded Sara Saito of Japan, who fell to Aussie wild card Stefani Webb today.

The only Top 6 seed who *did* win? #2 Tereza Valentova... naturally, as she's the only seeded Czech in the girls' draw.

Trarargon champ Melisa Ercan (TUR) lost today to #15 Renata Jamrichova (SVK).





...STOSUR SAYS GOODBYE (and this time she means it)...ON DAY 7 DAY 6:




...WELL, OKAY THEN (brevity is an art)...ON DAY 7:




...aka The Logo (sorta)...ON DAY 7:






...WELL...ON DAY 7:




...EEESSSHHH...ON DAY 7:












=WOMEN'S SINGLES ROUND OF 16=
#22 Elena Rybakina/KAZ def. #1 Iga Swiatek/POL
#17 Alona Ostapenko/LAT def. #7 Coco Gauff/USA
#3 Jessie Pegula/USA def. #20 Barbora Krejcikova/CZE
#24 Victoria Azarenka/BLR vs. Zhu Lin/CHN
#30 Karolina Pliskova/CZE vs. #23 Zhang Shuai/CHN
Magda Linette/POL vs. #4 Caroline Garcia/FRA
#5 Aryna Sabalenka/BLR vs. #12 Belinda Bencic/SUI
Donna Vekic/CRO vs. Linda Fruhvirtova/CZE

=WOMEN'S DOUBLES ROUND OF 16=
#1 Krejcikova/Siniakova (CZE/CZE) vs. Kalashnikova/Parks (GEO/USA)
Mihalikova/Sasnovich (SVK/BLR) vs. #6 Krawczyk/Schuurs (USA/NED)
#4 Hunter/Mertens (AUS/BEL) vs. Golubic/Niculescu (SUI/ROU)
Kostyuk/Ruse (UKR/ROU) vs. Kolodziejova/Vondrousova (CZE/CZE)
Pavlyuchenkova/Rybakina (RUS/KAZ) vs. #10 Aoyama/Shibahara (JPN/JPN)
Dolehide/Kalinskaya (USA/RUS) vs. #3 Dabrowski/Olmos (CAN/MEX)
Kalinina/Van Uytvanck (UKR/BEL) vs. #11 H-C.Chan/Yang (TPE/CHN)
#16 Kato/Sutjiadi (JPN/INA) vs. #2 Gauff/Pegula (USA/USA)

=MIXED DOUBLES QF=
x vs. x
x vs. x
x vs. x
x vs. Stefani/Matos (BRA/BRA)



















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*2020-23 WINS OVER #1*
[2020]
Brisbane 2nd Rd. - #53 Jennifer Brady/USA def. #1 Barty
Aust. Open SF - #15 Sofia Kenin/USA def. #1 Barty (W)
Doha SF - #11 Petra Kvitova/CZE def. #1 Barty
[2021]
Aust.Open QF - #27 Karolina Muchova/CZE d. Barty
Adelaide 2nd Rd. - #37 Danielle Collins/USA d. Barty
Charleston QF - #71 Paula Badosa/ESP d. Barty
Madrid Final - #7 Aryna Sabalenka/BLR d. Barty (W)
Rome QF - #35 Coco Gauff/USA d. Barty (ret.)
Roland Garros 2r - #45 Magda Linette/POL d. Barty (ret.)
Olympics 1r - #48 Sara Sorribes Tormo/ESP d. Barty
U.S. Open 3r - #43 Shelby Rogers/USA d. Barty
[2022]
Wimbledon 3rd Rd. - #37 Alize Cornet/FRA d. Swiatek
Warsaw QF - #45 Caroline Garcia/FRA d. Swiatek (W)
Toronto 3rd Rd. - #24 Beatriz Haddad Maia/BRA d. Swiatek
Cincinnati 3rd Rd. - #24 Madison Keys/USA d. Swiatek
Ostrava!!! F - #23 Barbora Krejcikova/CZE d. Swiatek (W)
WTA Finals SF - #7 Aryna Sabalenka/BLR d. Swiatek
[2023]
United Cup SF - #3 Jessie Pegula/USA d. Swiatek (W-USA)
Australian Open 4r - #25 Elena Rybakina/KAZ d. Swiatek
=
(W) - won title


**WTA "CAREER QF SLAM" - active**
[with slam at which completed]
Azarenka - 2012 US (28th)
Halep - 2015 US (22nd)
Kanepi - 2022 AO (53rd)
Kerber - 2016 AO (33rd)
Keys - 2018 RG (23rd)
Kuznetsova - 2006 RG (16th)
Kvitova - 2015 US (30th)
Pavlyuchenkova - 2017 AO (37th)
Ka.Pliskova - 2021 WI (36th)
Stephens - 2018 RG (25th)
Svitolina - 2019 US (29th)
V.Williams - 1998 WI (6th)
Zvonareva - 2010 US (31st)


*RECENT BEST U.S. WOMEN'S SLAM RESULTS*
=2015=
AO: Serena Williams (W)
RG: Serena Williams (W)
WI: Serena Williams (W)
US: Serena Williams (SF)
=2016=
AO: Serena Williams (RU)
RG: Serena Williams (RU)
WI: Serena Williams (W)
US: Serena Williams (SF)
=2017=
AO: Serena Williams (W)
RG: Venus Williams (4th)
WI: Venus Williams (RU)
US: Sloane Stephens (W)
=2018=
AO: Madison Keys (QF)
RG: Sloane Stephens (RU)
WI: Serena Williams (RU)
US: Serena Williams (RU)
=2019=
AO: Danielle Collins (SF)
RG: Amanda Anisimova (SF)
WI: Serena Williams (RU)
US: Serena Williams (RU)
=2020=
AO: Sofia Kenin (W)
US: Serena Williams and Jennifer Brady (SF)
RG: Sofia Kenin (RU)
=2021=
AO: Jennifer Brady (RU)
RG: Coco Gauff (QF)
WI: Coco Gauff and Madison Keys (4th)
US: Shelby Rogers (4th)
=2022=
AO: Danielle Collins (RU)
RG: Coco Gauff (RU)
WI: Amanda Anisimova (QF)
US: Coco Gauff and Jessie Pegula (QF)
=2023=
AO: Jessie Pegula (in QF)







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TOP QUALIFIER: Katherine Sebov/CAN
TOP EARLY ROUND (1r-2r): #3 Jessie Pegula/USA
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): xx
TOP LATE ROUND (SF-F): xx
TOP QUALIFYING MATCH: Q2 - #27 Brenda Fruhvirtova/CZE def. Daria Snigur/UKR 5-7/7-6(3)/6-3 (rallies from 7-5/5-1, break down twice early in the 3rd; 15-year old is youngest in AO MD in slam debut)
TOP EARLY RD. MATCH (1r-2r): 2nd Rd. - #6 Maria Sakkari/GRE def. (Q) Diana Shnaider/RUS 6-3/5-7/3-6
TOP MIDDLE-RD. MATCH (3r-QF): xx
TOP LATE RD. MATCH (SF-F/WC/Doub.): xx
=============================
FIRST VICTORY: #3 Jessie Pegula/USA (def. Jaqueline Cristian/ROU)
FIRST SEED OUT: #28 Amanda Anisimova/USA (1r-lost to Kostyuk/UKR)
FIRST SLAM MD WINS: Anna Bondar/HUN, Olivia Gadecki/AUS, Diana Shnaider/RUS, Lucrezia Stefanini/ITA
BEST PROTECTED RANKING MD RESULT: Laura Siegemund/GER, Marketa Vondrousova/CZE (both 3rd Rd.)
UPSET QUEENS: UKR
REVELATION LADIES: CZE (three youngest players in MD)
NATION OF POOR SOULS: GER (1-4 1r; Petkovic ret., Kerber pregnant; NextGen 0-2)
LAST QUALIFIER STANDING: Cristina Bucsa/ESP and Katie Volynets/USA (both 2nd Rd.)
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: Kimberly Birrell/AUS, Olivia Gadecki/AUS, Taylor Townsend/USA (all 2nd Rd.)
LAST AUSSIE STANDING: Kimberly Birrell, Olivia Gadecki (both 2nd Rd.)
Ms. OPPORTUNITY: xx
IT (Czech Crusher): Linda Fruhvirtova, CZE (into second week at age 17 in second major)
COMEBACK PLAYER: xx
CRASH & BURN: Garbine Muguruza/ESP (1r; 5 con. losses; out of Top 80 first time in a decade)
ZOMBIE QUEEN OF MELBOURNE: Nominees: L.Fruhvirtova (3r: Vondrousova led 3-1 w/ BP in 3rd; Vondrousova hurt after Fruhvirtova MTO, 17-year old sweeps final five games); B.Fruhvirtova (Q2: trailed Snigur 7-5/5-1, break down twice in 3r; at 15 in youngest in MD); Kolodziejova/Vondrousova (2r: saved 9 MP vs. Haddad Maia/Zhang; won 14-12 MTB)
KIMIKO VETERAN CUP: xx
LADY OF THE EVENING: Nominees: Coco vs. Emma, Vika, Bencic, Women of Poland
AUSTRALIAN LANGUAGE ARTS AWARD: One year after Barty is first WS champ in 44 years, #160 Fourlis is highest ranked AUS in MD; only two AUS wild cards get 1r wins, none past 2r
DOUBLES STAR: xx
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: xx





All for Day 7. More tomorrow.
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