Charleston: Sam Does It. Metaphorically.

Congratulations to Samantha Stosur, who won her second (and biggest) career title at the Family Circle Cup this weekend. I’m afraid I didn’t see any of it, but it doesn’t seem like I missed too much, after Daniela Hantuchova and Caroline Wozniacki were both forced to retire during the semifinals.

Wozniacki’s injury in particular does not sound good, in any sense. Hopefully it won’t set her back too much.

Anyway, Stosur demonstrated that she was not in the final by chance by putting the absolute smackdown on Vera Zvonareva, 60 63. I’ve hastily skimmed through and it seems like it was a ruthless performance by Sam and a reminder of just how dominant her game can be when she’s got it all together. Vera could do absolutely nothing to take control of the match, which is a shame for her, but good for us, because it brings the giggles.

Cool, calm and collected.

… Really not.

(thanks to Jacko for the link)

It was Sam’s show, though, despite Vera’s best efforts to steal it, and well done to her. She had Lyme disease, you know.

She’s in there somewhere.

… In Everything Sucking

Victoria Azarenka was forced to retire when leading her opponent for the second time in two weeks. She was 6-2 2-2 up against Christina McHale when she threw in the towel.

According to tweets from on-site journalists, the problem is a pulled hamstring and she hopes to be fine in time to play in Stuttgart. We’ll see.

WTA Tuesday: JJ Survives

Three seeds fell in Barcelona; Aravane Rezai was taken down by defending champion Roberta Vinci, Regina Kulikova took out Lucie Safarova, and Gisela Dulko was shown the door by Sara Errani – who, by the way, is rapidly developing into someone you don’t want landing in your favourite’s section of the draw come Roland Garros.

Meanwhile in Charleston Elena Vesnina relished her role as the dream-crusher of the day, knocking out Heather Watson (who did incredibly well to qualify) in straight sets.

The Ponte Vedra finalist, Olga Govortsova, was forced to retire with left knee tendonitis; Virginie Razzano’s dismal year continues; and JJ survived a tough challenge from Edina Gallovits to progress in three. Ajde.

Barcelona

Singles – First Round
(1) Francesca Schiavone (ITA) d. Alberta Brianti (ITA) 62 61
Roberta Vinci (ITA) d. (2) Aravane Rezai (FRA) 63 64
(3) María José Martínez Sánchez (ESP) d. Andrea Petkovic (GER) 64 64
(4) Maria Kirilenko (RUS) d. (Q) Masa Zec Peskiric (SLO) 75 61
Sara Errani (ITA) d. (6) Gisela Dulko (ARG) 26 61 76(4)
(7) Carla Suárez Navarro (ESP) d. (Q) Simona Halep (ROU) 64 36 63
Regina Kulikova (RUS) d. (8) Lucie Safarova (CZE) 63 76(4)
Yaroslava Shvedova (KAZ) d. Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP) 61 64
Iveta Benesova (CZE) d. Petra Kvitova (CZE) 61 64
Alexandra Dulgheru (ROU) d. (Q) Silvia Soler Espinosa (ESP) 62 61
Tathiana Garbin (ITA) d. Lucie Hradecka (CZE) 64 75
Timea Bacsinszky (SUI) d. (Q) Alizé Cornet (FRA) 75 63
(WC) Arantxa Parra Santonja (ESP) d. Stefanie Voegele (SUI) 64 46 64
(WC) Laura Pous Tio (ESP) d. (WC) Lourdes Domínguez Lino (ESP) 46 63 63

Doubles – First Round
(1) Llagostera Vives/Martínez Sánchez (ESP/ESP) d. Poutchek/Senoglu (BLR/TUR) 63 64
(4) Errani/Vinci (ITA/ITA) d. Barrois/Olaru (GER/ROU) 76(2) 63
Malek/Petkovic (GER/GER) d. (2) Cirstea/Dulko (ROU/ARG) 63 75
Kondratieva/Shvedova (RUS/KAZ) d. (WC) Domínguez Lino/Parra Santonja (ESP/ESP) 60 64

Charleston

Singles – Second Round
(2) Jelena Jankovic (SRB) d. Edina Gallovits (ROU) 26 64 63
(7) Vera Zvonareva (RUS) d. Rossana de los Ríos (PAR) 62 60
(12) Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN) d. (Q) Catalina Castaño (COL) 62 46 64

Singles – First Round
(10) Elena Vesnina (RUS) d. (Q) Heather Watson (GBR) 76(4) 63
(LL) Monique Adamczak (AUS) d. (11) Virginie Razzano (FRA) 46 60 62
(14) Vera Dushevina (RUS) d. Olga Govortsova (BLR) 60 20 ret. (left knee tendonitis)
Michaella Krajicek (NED) d. (15) Melinda Czink (HUN) 76(9) 63
(16) Patty Schnyder (SUI) d. (Q) Chanelle Scheepers (RSA) 36 62 64
Peng Shuai (CHN) d. Shenay Perry (USA) 63 26 61
Vania King (USA) d. Anastasia Rodionova (AUS) 75 60
Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (CZE) d. (WC) Carly Gullickson (USA) 62 63
Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) d. Julia Goerges (GER) 67(1) 64 75

Doubles – First Round
(4) Peng/Vesnina (CHN/RUS) d. (WC) Ejdesgaard/Wozniacki (DEN/DEN) 06 63 102
Makarova/Pelletier (RUS/CAN) d. Bondarenko/Voskoboeva (UKR/KAZ) 46 64 107

Today’s OOP is brought to you by the whiteness of Patty’s mile.

… or it will be when it’s out.

Barcelona

Pista Central (from 11.00hrs)
1. Maria Kirilenko vs. Yaroslava Shvedova
2. Francesca Schiavone vs. Tathiana Garbin
3. Arantxa Parra Santonja vs. María José Martínez Sánchez (NB 15.00hrs)
4. Kristina Barrois vs. Carla Suárez Navarro

Pista 5 (from 11.00hrs)
1. Sara Errani vs. Alexandra Dulgheru
2. Laura Pous Tio vs. Roberta Vinci
3. Iveta Benesova vs. Sorana Cirstea
4. Regina Kulikova vs. Timea Bacsinszky

Pista 9 (NB 13.30hrs)
1. Kondratieva/Shvedova vs. Malek/Petkovic
2. Errani/Vinci vs. Daniilidou/Woehr

Charleston

Stadium (from 10.00hrs)
1. Daniela Hantuchova vs. Ayumi Morita
2. Caroline Wozniacki vs. Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (NB 11.30hrs)
3. Victoria Azarenka vs. Christina McHale (NB 13.00hrs)
4. Vania King vs. Nadia Petrova
5. Marion Bartoli vs. Peng Shuai (NB 19.00hrs)
6. Czink/Fichman vs. Ditty/Gullickson

Althea Gibson (from 10.00hrs)
1. Vera Dushevina vs. Chang Kai-Chen
2. Michelle Larcher de Brito vs. Patty Schnyder
3. Sophie Ferguson vs. Melanie Oudin (NB 13.30hrs)
4. Sofia Arvidsson vs. Elena Vesnina
5. Oudin/Perry vs. Mattek-Sands/Yan

Court 3 (from 11.00hrs)
1. Michaella Krajicek vs. Evgeniya Rodina
2. Alona Bondarenko vs. Bethanie Mattek-Sands
3. Angelique Kerber vs. Monique Adamczak

Court 4 (from 15.00hrs)
1. Dzehalevich/Savchuk vs. Raymond/Stubbs

Charleston: Where Everybody Looks Good

I don’t know if it’s the photography (good job, Chris Smith!) or the light or the food or what, but how lovely are these off-court pictures from the Family Circle Cup?

JJ actually looks like she’s having genuine chilled fun.

A Vera sandwich.

(That’s Galina Voskoboeva in the middle, by the way. I’m sure you know that … but I had to look it up.)

Dani’s always lovely, but how often does she look relaxed?

Yes, that is Alona Bondarenko. Looking normal. Looking pleasant. Smiling.

Mallory and Melanie.

I have just realised how pretty Nadia is.

So I think we need to ask ourselves … is Charleston the friendliest, most laid-back tournament on tour, or just the one that serves the most booze with lunch?

Either way, it’s working.

WTA Week Now: Barcelona, Charleston

Those damn Mondays do creep up …

Barcelona

Draw here.

Top seeds: Francesca Schiavone, Aravane Rezai, Maria-Jose Martinez Sanchez, Maria Kirilenko

Only two matches were completed today due to rain, with Sorana Cirstea and Kristina Barrois both progressing.

Singles – First Round
(5) Sorana Cirstea (ROU) d. Tamira Paszek (AUT) 64 76(6)
Kristina Barrois (GER) d. Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) 75 62

Suspended due to rain
Stefanie Voegele (SUI) vs. (WC) Arantxa Parra Santonja (ESP) 46 64 22

Doubles – First Round
Bacsinszky/Garbin (SUI/ITA) d. Rosolska/Zalameda (POL/USA) 75 60
Benesova/Foretz (CZE/CAN) d. (WC) Cabeza Candela/Pous Tio (ESP/ESP) 76(2) 63

Singles Qualifying – Final Round
(3) Alizé Cornet (FRA) d. (8) Maria Elena Camerin (ITA) 60 26 75
Masa Zec Peskiric (SLO) d. Alicia Molik (AUS) 57 64 61
Sílvia Soler Espinosa (ESP) d. Tsvetana Pironkova (BUL) 64 62
Simona Halep (ROU) d. Arantxa Rus (NED) 61 62

Charleston

Happy days. Draw here.

Top seeds: Caroline Wozniacki, Jelena Jankovic, Victoria Azarenka, Samantha Stosur, Marion Bartoli, Nadia Petrova, Vera Zvonareva, Daniela Hantuchova

So far: nice win for Christina McHale.

Singles – First Round
(9) Alona Bondarenko (UKR) d. Julie Ditty (USA) 64 62
(12) Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN) d. Lilia Osterloh (USA) 63 76(9)
Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) d. Sharon Fichman (CAN) 75 62
Angelique Kerber (GER) d. (WC) Alison Riske (USA) 62 64
Sofia Arvidsson (SWE) d. Anastasija Sevastova (LAT) 61 62
Ayumi Morita (JPN) d. Mariana Duque Marino (COL) 64 75
Chang Kai-Chen (TPE) d. Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) 16 62 63
Michelle Larcher de Brito (POR) d. Vesna Manasieva (RUS) 62 46 63
Rossana de los Ríos (PAR) d. (WC) Mallory Cecil (USA) 60 64
Evgeniya Rodina (RUS) d. (Q) Ekaterina Ivanova (RUS) 64 61
Edina Gallovits (ROU) d. Varvara Lepchenko (USA) 63 63
(Q) Catalina Castaño (COL) d. (Q) Anna Tatishvili (GEO) 75 62
(Q) Christina McHale (USA) d. Alla Kudryavtseva (RUS) 36 76(4) 63

Doubles – First Round
Grandin/Spears (RSA/USA) d. Goerges/Zahlavova Strycova (GER/CZE) 63 64
King/Krajicek (USA/NED) d. Dekmeijere/Schnyder (LAT/SUI) 62 61

Tuesday’s OOP brought to you by Sorana’s rain dance.

Barcelona

Centre (from 10.00hrs)
1. Andrea Petkovic vs. María José Martínez Sánchez
2. Stefanie Voegele vs. Arantxa Parra Santonja (tbc)
3. Anabel Medina Garrigues vs. Yaroslava Shvedova
4. Francesca Schiavone vs. Alberta Brianti
5. Simona Halep vs. Carla Suárez Navarro
6. Medina Garrigues/Suárez Navarro vs. Daniilidou/Woehr (after suitable rest)

Court 5 (from 10.00hrs)
1. Roberta Vinci vs. Aravane Rezai
2. Laura Pous Tio vs. Lourdes Domínguez Lino
3. Maria Kirilenko vs. Masa Zec Peskiric
4. Malek/Petkovic vs. Cirstea/Dulko
5. Llagostera Vives/Martínez Sánchez vs. Poutchek/Senoglu

Court 7 (from 10.00hrs)
1. Gisela Dulko vs. Sara Errani
2. Sílvia Soler Espinosa vs. Alexandra Dulgheru
3. Timea Bacsinszky vs. Alizé Cornet
4. Lucie Safarova vs. Regina Kulikova

Court 9 (from 10.00hrs)
1. Petra Kvitova vs. Iveta Benesova
2. Lucie Hradecka vs. Tathiana Garbin
3. Errani/Vinci vs. Barrois/Olaru (NB 13.00hrs)
4. Kondratieva/Shvedova vs. Domínguez Lino/Parra Santonja
5. Niculescu/Shaughnessy vs. Jans/Uhlirova

Charleston

Stadium (from 10.00hrs)
1. Shenay Perry vs. Peng Shuai
2. Chanelle Scheepers vs. Patty Schnyder
3. Edina Gallovits vs. Jelena Jankovic
4. Magdalena Rybarikova vs. Samantha Stosur
5. Jill Craybas vs. Melanie Oudin (NB 19.00hrs)
6. Huber/Petrova vs. Rodionova/Rodionova

Althea Gibson (from 10.00hrs)
1. Heather Watson vs. Elena Vesnina
2. Julia Goerges vs. Bethanie Mattek-Sands
3. Rossana de los Ríos vs. Vera Zvonareva
4. Peng/Vesnina vs. Ejdesgaard/Wozniacki

Court 3 (from 10.00hrs)
1. Monique Adamczak vs. Virginie Razzano
2. Vera Dushevina vs. Olga Govortsova
3. Anastasia Rodionova vs. Vania King
4. Aleksandra Wozniak vs. Catalina Castaño

Court 4 (from 11.00hrs)
1. Barbora Zahlavova Strycova vs. Carly Gullickson
2. Melinda Czink vs. Michaella Krajicek
3. Bondarenko/Voskoboeva vs. Makarova/Pelletier

The Withdrawal Method: The Couple That Pulls Out Together …

Former sweeties Dominika Cibulkova and Gael Monfils have withdrawn from their respective tournaments, adding to an impressive out-with-injury roster. Cibulkova remains troubled with a groin injury that prevents her playing Charleston, while La Monf apparently hurt his hand playing Davis Cup.

Why can’t these crazy kids just work it out? They’re clearly perfect for each other.

The Withdrawal Method: More of a Family Dot

Just so you don’t think that the ATP are the only ones with rising injury numbers … Serena, Sharapova and defending champion Licky have all pulled out of the Family Circle Cup in Charleston next week. Serena’s knee, Maria’s bruised elbow and Sabine’s left ankle have all failed to recover.

Sigh.