Kim Clijsters (click to enlarge)
As a Kim Clijsters fan, I hate to say the time is here. No matter what happens, should she lose her next match or win the tournament, this is it for the 41-time WTA champion. The US Open, where she won the first 3 of her 4 career Majors, is her swan song. The tour will definitely miss Kimmie. I wish she could play forever. Unfortunately, she cannot but she will play at least another round as she overcame some early nerves and unforced errors to easily dispatch Victoria Duval down the stretch, 6-3 6-1. Duval is a young player with a nice game and sparkling personality to look out for in the future. However, on this night, the opening night session of the tournament, it was Kimmie time to extend her amazing US Open winning streak to 22 matches.
Maria Sharapova (click to enlarge)
The first day of the US Open main draw saw a flash storm interrupt play early. When they resumed in the afternoon, it was Maria Sharapova who brought down the thunder on Melinda Czink, 6-2 6-2. Like Clijsters, Masha didn’t look perfect…lots of winners, but too many unforced errors, something that could bite her against better players…however, she just had too much power and game for her overmatched opponent. Masha would never say it openly, but I think she really wants this one in the worst way. She briefly regained the #1 ranking going into Wimbledon 2012, but then was bounced in the 4th round. Also, while making the Olympic singles final, she was smoked by Serena. A win at the US Open would be a nice exclamation point and bounce back on what has been a great season for Sharapova.
Singles – First Round
(1) Victoria Azarenka (BLR) d. Alexandra Panova (RUS) 60 61
(3) Maria Sharapova (RUS) d. Melinda Czink (HUN) 62 62
(5) Petra Kvitova (CZE) d. Polona Hercog (SLO) 76(6) 61
(7) Samantha Stosur (AUS) d. Petra Martic (CRO) 61 61
(9) Li Na (CHN) d. Heather Watson (GBR) 62 63
(11) Marion Bartoli (FRA) d. Jamie Hampton (USA) 63 76(5)
(15) Lucie Safarova d. (WC) Melanie Oudin (USA) 64 60
Sorana Cirstea (ROU) d. (16) Sabine Lisicki (GER) 46 62 62
(17) Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) d. Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) 64 76(1)
(Q) Kristyna Pliskova (CZE) d. (18) Julia Goerges (GER) 76(4) 61
(19) Nadia Petrova (RUS) d. Jarmila Gajdosova (AUS) 63 76(3)
(23) Kim Clijsters (BEL) d. (WC) Victoria Duval (USA) 63 61
(25) Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) d. (Q) Julia Glushko (ISR) 75 62
Lucie Hradecka (CZE) d. (27) Anabel Medina Garrigues (ESP) 63 63
(28) Zheng Jie (CHN) d. Virginie Razzano (FRA) 46 62 ret. (right hip injury)
(31) Varvara Lepchenko (USA) d. Mathilde Johansson (FRA) 63 36 75
Aleksandra Wozniak (CAN) d. Alexandra Cadantu (ROU) 60 63
Alizé Cornet (FRA) d. (WC) Nicole Gibbs (USA) 75 63
Simona Halep (ROU) d. Iveta Benesova (CZE) 75 76(5)
Romina Oprandi (SUI) d. Andrea Petkovic (GER) 62 75
Anna Tatishvili (GEO) d. Stéphanie Foretz Gacon (FRA) 62 60
Lourdes Domínguez Lino (ESP) d. Sesil Karatantcheva (KAZ) 64 61
Mandy Minella (LUX) d. (WC) Olivia Rogowska (AUS) 62 36 63
Laura Robson (GBR) d. (Q) Samantha Crawford (USA) 63 76(6)
Pauline Parmentier (FRA) d. Michaella Krajicek (NED) 62 64
Casey Dellacqua (AUS) d. (Q) Lesia Tsurenko (UKR) 62 63
(Q) Magdalena Rybarikova (SVK) d. Hsieh Su-Wei (TPE) 63 26 63
(Q) Kirsten Flipkens (BEL) d. Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (CZE) 63 36 63
(Q) Edina Gallovits-Hall (ROU) d. (Q) Stefanie Voegele (SUI) 75 64
(Q) Anastasia Rodionova (AUS) d. (WC) Julia Cohen (USA) 63 60
(WC) Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) d. Marina Erakovic (NZL) 75 64
(WC) Mallory Burdette (USA) d. Timea Bacsinszky (SUI) 64 63
ALL PICS ENLARGE BY CLICKING
KIM CLIJSTERS
MARIA SHARAPOVA
VICTORIA AZARENKA
PETRA KVITOVA
SAMANTHA STOSUR
LI NA
MARION BARTOLI
Fairways and Forehands 