Abierto GNP Seguros (Monterrey Open) - a WTA International category tournament, on Hard Decoturf, at Club Sonoma in Monterrey, Mexico, 1-7 April 2019.
Defending champion:
Garbiñe Muguruza (1) who defeated Tímea Babos (4) 3-6 6-4 6-3
Monterrey
Semi finals
- Vika Azarenka (5) defeated Angie Kerber (1) 6-4 4-6 6-1
- Garbiñe Muguruza (2) defeated Magdaléna Rybáriková (8) 6-2 6-3, and will play Vika Azarenka in a final featuring two former world number ones, both dual Grand Slam title holders.
Volvo Car Open (Charleston Open) - a WTA Premier category tournament, on Green Clay, in Charleston, South Carolina, USA, 1-7 April 2019.
Defending champion:
Kiki Bertens (12) who defeated Julia Goerges (5) 6-2 6-1
Charleston
Semi finals
- Petra Martic (16) v Caroline Wozniacki (5)
Wozniacki led Martic 5-0 in the previous meetings between the pair, three of the matches as far back as 2009, 2010 and 2012. Of more significance are the two wins last year, in Auckland and Beijing. Martic had never taken a set off Wozniacki, the 2011 champion here.
Wozniacki held serve in the opening game, including an ace. Martic was in the match though, a drop shot winner striking an early warning. The drop shot was attempted again in the second game, but failed. Not so the forehand which produced three clean winners for the Croatian. 1-1.
From 40-0, after an ace and two forehand winners, Wozniacki was forced to deuce. This minor concern was alleviated thanks to a loose Martic forehand and a timely ace. Serves were held through the next two games and Martic served at 2-3.
Despite hitting possibly the shot of the tournament, with a high backhand volley landing on the baseline, Martic ended up having to save two break points. The one at 30-40 was dismissed by a drop shot which Wozniacki couldn’t reach. The second disappeared after Martic delivered a backhand winner down the line. Wozniacki was too strong though, winning the next two points with pinpoint accuracy of shot making, the final blow a running forehand cross court winner. 4-2.
Winners kept coming as Wozniacki consolidated the break, a drop shot volley combo from Martic not enough to trouble the fifth seed. A Danish ace sealed a 5-2 advantage. Martic produced the first love game of the match, leaving Wozniacki the task of serving out the set.
An incredible cross court backhand winner from Martic won her the first point, but that was it. An ace from Wozniacki, plus two unforced Croatian errors gave the fifth seed two set points. An ace did the trick. 6-3 Wozniacki.
Martic began set two smartly, and after reaching 40-0 had won seven points on serve in succession. Three points won at the net highlighted the service hold. Wozniacki levelled following a love game, then put the pressure firmly on Martic, winning the opening two points of the third game. Further trouble with a break point after Wozniacki found a forehand winner from her bag of tricks. A wide Martic backhand donated the break to Wozniacki and the Dane led 2-1.
No more break points, and two straight love games brought the pair to 4-3, Wozniacki leading with serve in hand. Out of nowhere, Wozniacki faced three break points - Martic produced a drop shot winner, and Wozniacki hit forehands wide and into the net. A Danish backhand went wide and the break arrived. 4-4. Just as Martic thought she was back in the fight, Wozniacki, with a winning lob and stunning backhand return winner, put the Croatian down 0-30. This worsened to three break points following a failed backhand. The disaster was delayed with a shot on the baseline bouncing cruelly for Wozniacki, then a serve wide to the Danish forehand failed to be returned. However, at 30-40, a simple volley put away by Wozniacki meant that she would be serving at 5-4 for the match.
A Wozniacki forehand winner, and a Martic forehand failure left the fifth seed two points from victory, but Martic evened it up with a drop shot and a Wozniacki backhand error. A Croatian forehand into the net ended a lengthy rally, and brought up match point. A backhand ending in the same place finished the match, Wozniacki winning 6-3 6-4 and making the final.
- Madison Keys (8) defeated Monica Puig 6-4 6-0, and will play Caroline Wozniacki in the final.
No comments:
Post a Comment