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Friday, June 28, 2024

W.Q - Arrivals of Grass


A look back at the Wimbledon qualifying rounds...







*TOP Q-PLAYERS*

1. Katie Volynets, USA (22, #71)
...Volynets, the #1 qualifying seed, didn't take out the best three opponents of the sixteen qualifiers. Nor did she sweep the opposition without losing a set (she dropped one). But there's something to be said for successfully making it through the Q-rounds at *four* straight majors. Volynets did that with this run. Now with 39 wins on the season and a #71 ranking, she should finally not have to worry about having a MD spot awaiting her at the U.S. Open.


===============================================
2. Alycia Parks, USA (23, #121)
...before heading into Gaiba 125 qualifying in Week 25, Parks had lost 15 of her last 16 matches. Flashforward two weeks and, with her Wimbledon qualifying run, she's now riding a nine-match winning streak. She reached the 3rd Round at the Australian Open in January.
===============================================
3. Robin Montgomery, USA (19, #160)
...one of three teenagers to make it through qualifying, Montgomery continues to add "firsts" to her '24 season. Maiden 1000 wins in Miami/Madrid and an initial tour QF at Rosmalen will now be joined by her maiden Wimbledon MD berth. She had 20 aces in a Q2 win over Kamilla Rakhimova.


===============================================
4. Dalma Galfi, HUN (25, #128)
...a lucky loser at Roland Garros, Galfi left nothing to chance this time around, taking down Olga Danilovic in the final Q-round. The Hungarian reached the 3rd Round at SW19 in 2023.
===============================================
5. McCartney Kessler, USA (24, #118)
Kessler won a trio of three-setters (two from a set down) over Rebecca Marino, Maya Joint and Renata Zarazua. The former Florida Gator, with 125 and $75K title runs in '24, got her first slam MD win in Melbourne earlier this year.
===============================================

*OTHER WI QUALIFIERS (* - slam MD debut)*

Bai Zhuoxuan, CHN (21/#92)...came in 7-17 on season, but 7th CHN player ranked in Top 100 earns second staight Wimbledon Q berth

Olivia Gadecki, AUS (22/#177)...three Wimbledon Q-wins coming off her Surbiton SF (and win over Birmingham finalist Tomljanovic)

Sonay Kartal, GBR (22/#295)...after being a MD WC in 2022-23, Kartal makes it back to the MD as a qualifying WC. The low-ranked slam qualifier of '24, the Brit is 22-5 on the year with three $35K titles.



Eva Lys, GER (22/#130)...two consecutive slam qualifying runs; Lys defeated Anisimova from a set down in the Q3.



Gabriela Ruse, ROU (26/#150)...a three-time Wimbledon qualifier, with the other runs coming in 2018-19. Ruse has been a tough out, too. In 2018, she took Radwanska to a 7-5 3rd, and in '22 (when she was automatic entry) she did the same vs. Gauff.



Daria Snigur, UKR (22/#131)...her second '24 slam Q run (w/ AO); Snigur overcame a set and 4-0 deficit, and was down 5-3 in the 3rd vs. Sonmez in the 3Q.

Marina Stakusic, CAN (19/#164)*...the BJK Cup star makes her slam MD debut after falling in the Q3 in Paris

Yuliia Starodubtseva, UKR (24/#153)...the Ukrainian (ex-Old Dominion Univ.) has made her slam MD debut at all three majors in 2024, earning three straight berths through qualifying

Lulu Sun, NZL (23/#123)...makes her second slam MD debut (after qualifying at the AO while still representing SUI) of '24. The New Zealand-born Sun lived in the U.S. and Switzerland after age 5, played college tennis at Texas, and represented SUI until April of this year. She saved a MP vs. Gabriela Knutson in the Q2.

Anca Todoni, ROU (19/#141)*...a recent 125 champ (on clay), the Romanian makes her slam MD debut



Panna Udvardy, HUN (25/#134)...the Hungarian was a RG lucky loser, but didn't lose a set over three Q-matches this time around



*RECENT WIMBLEDON "Q-PLAYER OF THE WEEK" WINNERS*
2017 Petra Martic, CRO
2018 Mona Barthel, GER
2019 Coco Gauff, USA
2021 Ana Konjuh, CRO
2022 Maja Chwalinska, POL
2023 Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, ESP
2024 Katie Volynets, USA
[2024 slams]
AO: Alina Korneeva, RUS
RG: Jule Niemeier, GER
WI: Katie Volynets, USA

*MULTI-SLAM QUALIFIERS IN 2024*
3 - Katie Volynets, USA (AO-RG-WI)
3 - Yuliia Starodubtseva, UKR (AO-RG-WI)
2 - Olivia Gadecki, AUS (AO-WI)
2 - Leolia Jeanjean, FRA (AO-RG)
2 - McCartney Kessler, USA (AO-WI)
2 - Eva Lys, GER (RG-WI)
2 - Daria Snigur, UKR (AO-WI)
2 - Lulu Sun, SUI/NZL (AO-WI)

*2024 SLAM QUALIFIERS BY NATION*
6...UKR (3/1/2)
6...USA (1/1/4)
5...GER (1/2/1)
4...RUS (3/1/0)
3...FRA (2/1/0)
2...AUS (1/0/1)
2...CAN (1/0/1)
2...CZE (2/0/0)
2...HUN (0/0/2)
2...ROU (0/0/2)
1...ARG (0/1/0)
1...BRA (0/1/0)
1...CHN (0/0/1)
1...CRO (0/1/0)
1...ESP (0/1/0)
1...GBR (0/0/1)
1...ITA (0/1/0)
1...JPN (0/1/0)
1...MEX (1/0/0)
1...NZL (0/0/1)
1...SLO (0/1/0)
1...SRB (0/1/0)
1...SUI (1/0/0)
1...SVK (0/1/0)
1...TUR (0/1/0)

*WI LUCKY LOSERS (as of June 28)*
Olga Danilovic, SRB (23)

*WI WILD CARDS*
Francesca Jones, GBR (23)
Angelique Kerber, GER (36)
Lily Miyazaki, GBR (28)
Naomi Osaka, JPN (26)
Emma Raducanu, GBR (21)
Heather Watson, GBR (32)
Caroline Wozniacki, DEN (33)

*WI - MD PROTECTED RANKINGS*
Bianca Andreescu, CAN (24)
Paula Badosa, ESP (26)
Kateryna Baindl, UKR (30)
Irina-Camelia Begu, ROU (33)
Lauren Davis, USA (30)
Alison Van Uytvanck, BEL (30)
Wang Qiang, CHN (32)
Zheng Shuai, CHN (35)





WI Q1 - (WC) Armani Banks def. Kristina Mladenovic 4-6/6-4/6-2
...Mladenovic got an undeserved freebie WC into the RG draw, but not here.

The 21-year old Brit handed Mladenovic her seventh straight loss (and 9th in 10 matches) in a match in which Banks (#258) was only *barely* the ranking underdog against the former Top 10er (#215).



Just last week, Mladenovic won the $100K Ilkley doubles with Gabriela Ruse. This week, Ruse won her three qualifying matches to reach the Wimbledon MD.
===============================================
WI Q1 - #20 McCartney Kessler def. Rebecca Marino 6-4/6-7(2)/6-4
...last week, Marino defeated Kessler in the 1st Round en route to her title run at $100K Ilkey. The script was completely flipped by the Bannerette this time. Kessler ultimately reached the MD.
===============================================
WI Q2 - (WC) Hannah Klugman def. #28 Linda Fruhvirtova 6-2/0-6/6-4
...the 15-year old British wild card eliminates the last teen Czech Crusher remaining in Wimbledon qualifying. Klugman fell a round short of the MD, losing to Alycia Parks.


===============================================
WI Q2 - Amanda Anisimova def. #4 Hailey Baptiste 6-7(3)/7-5/6-1
...Anisimova climbs out of a 7-6/4-0 hole to get the win here, only to fall in three sets in the Q3 to Eva Lys.
===============================================
WI Q2 - Robin Montgomery def. #10 Kamilla Rakhimova 7-6(0)/6-7(4)/7-6(10-4)
...a true WTA unicorn of a match: there were zero breaks of serve over the 36 games, with only 5 BP faced. Montgomery fired 20 aces, while the two combined for 132 winners (67/65).
===============================================
WI Q2 - Marina Stakusic def. #16 Chloe Paquet 4-6/7-6(5)/6-2
...from 6-4/5-3 back (w/ Paquet serving at 5-4), the Canadian teenager battles back to win here and then reach her first slam MD.


===============================================
WI Q2 - Alex Eala def. #14 Tamara Zidansek 1-6/7-6(9)/6-3
WI Q2 - #23 Lulu Sun def. Gabriela Knutson 4-6/6-4/7-6(10-6)
...19-year old Filipina Eala keeps her slam MD hopes alive, saving a MP in the 2nd set TB (winning 11-9); while Sun squanders a 5-1 3rd set lead, saving a Knutson MP at 5-6 to force and win a 10-6 MTB.

WI Q3 - #23 Lulu Sun def. Alex Eala 7-6(3)/7-5
...Sun then overcame a 4-2 1st set deficit vs. Eala to win in straights, once again delaying the former U.S. Open girls' champs' MD slam debut. Eala also lost in the Roland Garros Q3.


===============================================
WI Q3 - #24 Daria Snigur def. Zeynep Sonmez 1-6/7-5/7-5
...Sonmez led 7-6/4-0, then was up 5-3 in the 3rd. Snigur rallied to win both sets to prevent the Turk was playing in a second straight slam MD. Countrywoman Cagla Buyukakcay played in five straight MD from the 2016 RG through the '17 RG.
===============================================
WI Q3 - (WC) Sonay Kartal def. #5 Erika Andreeva 6-3/6-1
...again, there won't be *two* Andreevas in a slam MD. So far, only RG (2023 and '24) has hosted the full set. A year ago, Mirra made it through Wimbledon qualifying en route to the 4th Round. This year, after reaching the semis in Paris, she's the #24 seed.
===============================================




=LOW-RANKED 2024 SLAM QUALIFIERS=
#295 - Sonay Kartal, GBR (WI)
#280 - Irene Burillo Escorihuela, ESP (RG)
#191 - Anastasia Zakharova, RUS (AO)
#189 - Lulu Sun, SUI (AO)
#188 - Julia Avdeeva, RUS (RG)
#185 - Lucija Ciric-Bagaric, CRO (RG)
#182 - Rebecca Marino, CAN (AO)
#180 - Alina Korneeva, RUS (AO)
=LL (as of June 28)=
#147 - Dalma Galfi, HUN (RG)
#132 - Panna Udvardy, HUN (RG)
#126 - Jana Fett, CRO (RG)
#123 - Olga Danilovic, SRB (WI)
#107 - Hailey Baptiste, USA (RG)

*YOUNGEST 2024 SLAM...*
=WC=
AO - Taylah Preston, AUS (18)

=Q=
AO - Alina Korneeva, RUS (16)
AO - Brenda Fruhvirtova, CZE (16)
AO - Sara Bejlek, CZE (17)
AO - Ella Seidel, GER (18)
WI - Marina Stakusic, CAN (19)
WI - Anca Todoni, ROU (19)
WI - Robin Montgomery, USA (19)

=LL (as of June 28)=
RG - Hailey Baptiste, USA (22)
WI - Olga Danilovic, SRB (23)

=PR=
AO - Emma Raducanu, GBR (21)
AO - Amanda Anisimova, USA (22)

=OLDEST 2023 SLAM...=
=WC=
WI - Angelique Kerber, GER (36)
RG - Alize Cornet, FRA (34)
AO - Alize Cornet, FRA (33)
WI - Caroline Wozniacki, DEN (33)
AO - Caroline Wozniacki, DEN (33)
WI - Heather Watson, GBR (32)
RG - Kristina Mladenovic, FRA (31)
WI - Ajla Tomljanovic, AUS (31)
RG - Ajla Tomljanovic, AUS (31)

=Q=
RG - Sara Errani, ITA (37)
AO - Rebecca Marino, CAN (33)
AO - Storm Hunter, AUS (29)
RG - Laura Pigossi, BRA (29)
AO - Leolia Jeanjean, FRA (28)

=LL (as of June 28)=
RG - Jana Fett, CRO (27)
RG - Dalma Galfi, HUN (25)
RG - Panna Udvardy, HUN (25)

=PR=
RG - Angelique Kerber, GER (36)
AO - Angelique Kerber, GER (35)
WI - Zhang Shuai, CHN (35)
RG - Irina-Camelia Begu, ROU (33)
RG - Irina-Camelia Begu, ROU (33)
WI - Wang Qiang, CHN (32)
AO - Shelby Rogers, USA (31)
RG - Aleksandra Krunic, SRB (31)
AO - Ajla Tomljanovic, AUS (30)
AO - Aleksandra Krunic, SRB (30)
WI - Alison Van Uytvanck, BEL (30)
RG - Alison Van Uytvanck, BEL (30)
WI - Kateryna Baindl, UKR (30)
WI - Lauren Davis, USA (30)

=MAKING SLAM MD DEBUTS (*-won in 1r)=
=AUTOMATIC ENTRY MD=
AO - none
RG - Maria Lourdes Carle, ARG
WI - none

=WC=
AO - McCartney Kessler, USA*
AO - Taylah Preston, AUS
RG - none
WI - none

=Q=
AO - Alina Korneeva, RUS*
AO - Ella Seidel, GER
AO - Yulia Starodubtseva, UKR
AO - Lulu Sun, SUI
AO - Maria Timofeeva, RUS*
AO - Anastasia Zakharova, RUS*
RG - Julia Avdeeva, RUS
RG - Irene Burillo Escorihuela, ESP
RG - Lucija Ciric-Bagaric, CRO
RG - Julia Riera, ARG
RG - Zeynep Sonmez, TUR
WI - Marina Stakusic, CAN
WI - Anca Todoni, ROU

*2024 OVERALL SLAM MD DEBUT RECORDS
AO...[7-8] = 1r: 4-4 / 2r: 2-2 / 3r: 1-1 / 4r: 0-1
RG...[0-6] = 1r: 0-6
WI...[2 debuts - Stakusic,Todoni]




*2024 WIMBLEDON...*
=youngest MD=
17 - Mirra Andreeva, RUS - DOB: April 29, 2007
17 - Brenda Fruhvirtova, CZE - DOB: April 2, 2007
19 - Marina Stakusic, CAN (Q) - DOB: November 27, 2004
19 - Linda Noskova, CZE - DOB: November 17, 2004
19 - Anca Todoni, ROU (Q) - DOB: October 10, 2004
19 - Robin Montgomery, USA (Q) - DOB: September 5, 2004
=oldest MD=
37 - Sara Errani, ITA - DOB: April 29, 1987
36 - Tatjana Maria, GER - DOB: August 8, 1987
36 - Laura Siegemund, GER - DOB: March 4, 1988
36 - Angelique Kerber, GER (WC) - DOB: January 18, 1988
35 - Zhang Shuai, CHN (PR) - DOB: January 21, 1989
35 - Lesia Tsurenko, UKR - DOB: May 30, 1989
34 - Victoria Azarenka, BLR - DOB: July 31, 1989
34 - Sorana Cirstea, ROU - DOB: April 7, 1990

*2024 WIMBLEDON - MOST IN DRAW BY NATION (as of June 28)*
18 - United States
11 - Russia
9 - China
8 - Czech Republic
8 - Ukraine
--
HOST: GBR (7...4 WC, 2 Auto, 1 Qualifier)

*RECENT WIMBLEDON CHAMPIONS*
2010 Serena Williams, USA
2011 Petra Kvitova, CZE
2012 Serena Williams, USA
2013 Marion Bartoli, FRA
2014 Petra Kvitova, CZE
2015 Serena Williams, USA
2016 Serena Williams, USA
2017 Garbine Muguruza, ESP
2018 Angelique Kerber, GER
2019 Simona Halep, ROU
2021 Ash Barty, AUS
2022 Elena Rybakina, KAZ
2023 Marketa Vondrouosva, CZE

*WIMBLEDON #1 SEEDS SINCE 2010; w/ result*
2010 Serena Williams, USA (W)
2011 Caroline Wozniacki, DEN (4th)
2012 Maria Sharapova, RUS (4th)
2013 Serena Williams, USA (4th)
2014 Serena Williams, USA (3rd)
2015 Serena Williams, USA (W)
2016 Serena Williams, USA (W)
2017 Angelique Kerber, GER (4th)
2018 Simona Halep, ROU (3rd)
2019 Ash Barty, AUS (4th)
2021 Ash Barty, AUS (W)
2022 Iga Swiatek, POL (3rd)
2023 Iga Swiatek, POL (QF)
2024 Iga Swiatek, POL

*WIMBLEDON DEFENDING CHAMP RESULTS - OPEN ERA*
1968 Billie Jean King (RU)
1969 Ann Jones (retired)
1970 Margaret Court (RU)
1971 Evonne Goolagong (RU)
1972 Billie Jean King (W)
1973 Billi Jean King (QF)
1974 Chris Evert (SF)
1975 Billie Jean King (DNP-retired)
1976 Chris Evert (SF)
1977 Virginia Wade (SF)
1978 Martina Navratilova (W)
1979 Martina Navratilova (SF)
1980 Evonne Goolagong Cawley (DNP-pregnant)
1981 Chris Evert-Lloyd (RU)
1982 Martina Navratilova (W)
1983 Martina Navratilova (W)
1984 Martina Navratilova (W)
1985 Martina Navratilova (W)
1986 Martina Navratilova (W)
1987 Martina Navratilova (RU)
1988 Steffi Graf (W)
1989 Steffi Graf (SF)
1990 Martina Navratilova (QF)
1991 Steffi Graf (W)
1992 Steffi Graf (W)
1993 Steffi Graf (1st Rd.)
1994 Conchita Martinez (SF)
1995 Steffi Graf (W)
1996 Steffi Graf (DNP-injured)
1997 Martina Hingis (SF)
1998 Jana Novotna (QF)
1999 Lindsay Davenport (RU)
2000 Venus Williams (W)
2001 Venus Williams (RU)
2002 Serena Williams (W)
2003 Serena Williams (RU)
2004 Maria Sharapova (SF)
2005 Venus Williams (3rd Rd.)
2006 Amelie Mauresmo (4th Rd.)
2007 Venus Williams (W)
2008 Venus Williams (RU)
2009 Serena Williams (W)
2010 Serena Williams (4th Rd.)
2011 Petra Kvitova (QF)
2012 Serena Williams (4th Rd.)
2013 Marion Bartoli (DNP-retired)
2014 Petra Kvitova (3rd Rd.)
2015 Serena Williams (W)
2016 Serena Williams (DNP-pregnant)
2017 Garbine Muguruza (2nd Rd.)
2018 Angelique Kerber (2nd Rd.)
2019 Simona Halep ('20 no event; '21 DNP; '22 SF)
2021 Ash Barty (DNP-retired)
2022 Elena Rybakina (QF)
2023 Marketa Vondrousova (??)

*World Number 1's Slam Bests (29) at WIMBLEDON*
[W - 14]
Barty, Davenport, Evert, Goolagong, Graf, Halep, Hingis, Kerber, Mauresmo, Muguruza, Navratilova, Sharapova, S.Williams, V.Williams
[RU - 4]
Seles, Sanchez Vicario, Henin, Pliskova
[SF - 7]
Austin, Capriati, Clijsters, Ivanovic, Safina, Azarenka, Sabalenka
[QF - 1]
Swiatek
[4th Rd. - 2]
Jankovic, Wozniacki
[3rd Rd. - 1]
Osaka

*FIRST-TIME SLAM CHAMPS AT WIMBLEDON - Open era*
1968 Billie Jean King, USA
1978 Martina Navratilova, USA
1994 Conchita Martinez, ESP
1998 Jana Novotna, CZE
2000 Venus Williams, USA
2004 Maria Sharapova, RUS
2011 Petra Kvitova, CZE
2013 Marion Bartoli, FRA
2022 Elena Rybakina, KAZ
2023 Marketa Vondrousova, CZE

*FIRST-TIME SLAM SEMIFINALISTS AT WIMBLEDON SINCE 2010*
2010 Petra Kvitova, CZE
2010 Tsvetana Pironkova, BUL
2011 Victoria Azarenka, BLR
2011 Sabine Lisicki, GER (RU)
2012 Aga Radwanska, POL (RU)
2013 Kirsten Flipkens, BEL
2014 Lucie Safarova, CZE
2015 Garbine Muguruza, ESP (RU)
2016 Elena Vesnina, RUS
2017 Magdalena Rybarikova, SVK
2018 Julia Goerges, GER
2019 Elina Svitolina, UKR
2019 Barbora Strycova, CZE
2021 Aryna Sabalenka, BLR
2022 Elena Rybakina, KAZ (W)
2022 Ons Jabeur, TUN (RU)
2022 Tatjana Maria, GER

*DEFENDING CHAMP OUT IN SLAM 1st RD., since 2000*
[AO]
2003 Jennifer Capriati
[RG]
2005 Anastasia Myskina
2018 Alona Ostapenko
2022 Barbora Krejcikova
[WI]
none...ONLY TIME IN OPEN ERA: 1994 Steffi Graf
[US]
2005 Svetlana Kuznetsova
2017 Angelique Kerber
2022 Emma Raducanu

*IN WOMEN'S SLAM SINGLES MD...*
[oldest]
=2020=
AO: Venus Williams, USA (39)
US: Venus Williams, USA (40)
RG: Venus Williams, USA (40)
=2021=
AO: Venus Williams, USA (40)
RG: Venus Williams, USA (40)
WI: Venus Williams, USA (41)
US: Samantha Stosur, AUS (37)
=2022=
AO: Samantha Stosur, AUS (37)
RG: Kaia Kanepi, EST (36)
WI: Serena Williams, USA (40)
US: Venus Williams, USA (42)
=2023=
AO: Kaia Kanepi, EST (37)
RG: Kaia Kanepi, EST (37)
WI: Venus Williams, USA (43)
US: Venus Williams, USA (43)
=2024=
AO: Sara Errani, ITA (36)
RG: Sara Errani, ITA (37)
WI: Sara Errani, ITA (37)
[youngest]
=2020=
AO: Coco Gauff, USA (15)
US: Robin Montgomery, USA (15)
RG: Coco Gauff, USA (16)
=2021=
AO: Coco Gauff, USA (16)
RG: Coco Gauff, USA (17)
WI: Coco Gauff, USA (17)
US: Ashlyn Krueger, USA (17)
=2022=
AO: Coco Gauff, USA (17)
RG: Linda Noskova, CZE (17)
WI: Coco Gauff, USA (18)
US: Sara Bejlek, CZE (16)
=2023=
AO: Brenda Fruhvirtova, CZE (15)
RG: Mirra Andreeva, RUS (16)
WI: Mirra Andreeva, RUS (16)
US: Mirra Andreeva, RUS (16)
=2024=
AO: Alina Korneeva, RUS (16)
RG: Mirra Andreeva, RUS (17)
WI: Mirra Andreeva, RUS (17)




All for now.