Week 17 - WTA Premier ($711K) - Stuttgart, Germany - Clay, Indoor

markymc1983 · Club Coach

RE: Week 17 - WTA Premier ($711K) - Stuttgart, Germany - Clay, Indoor

scottie1 · Futures level

markymc1983 wrote:
Thank you!

just checked the ATP scoreboard she won 7-5 6-3 yawn

Sim · County player

Helen40 wrote:
Mervatron2 wrote:
Early rumours are she's got a qualifying WC for Roland Garros and not a MD one
This is gutting - not least for anyone in her way. Sadly I think she will come out gunning and the poor victims won't have a fair shot at getting there themselves.

Probably end up playing Heather, Naomi or Tara in q1......

tennischamp · Intermediate Club Player

Sim wrote:
Helen40 wrote:
Mervatron2 wrote:
Early rumours are she's got a qualifying WC for Roland Garros and not a MD one
This is gutting - not least for anyone in her way. Sadly I think she will come out gunning and the poor victims won't have a fair shot at getting there themselves.
Probably end up playing Heather, Naomi or Tara in q1......

To put it simply, it's unfair.

If she had stopped playing for 15 months, and lost her ranking, she wouldn't get WC's into these tournaments, so how is she receiving them after a ban?!

In some ways, I think they gave her a WC so the tournament got more viewers etc, 'the big comeback' of Sharapova, it's a publicity stunt. Either that or the tournaments think it's fair... confuse

indiana · Tennis legend

Well if it was Sharapova and she had just stopped playing for 15 months and lost her ranking of course she would get WCs on her return, just these wouldn't be so debatable.

Oh, I think there might be an element of publicity, the tournament and the WTA have made the odd reference to the Sharapova comeback! The rights or wrongs of the tournament selling itself on the back of its Sharapova WC are probably open to endless points of view, quite a number of which have been aired on the forum elsewhere.

indiana · Tennis legend

If Jo wins her R2 match vs Sevastova tomorrow she will go to #1 in the live race, well at least until Karolina Pliskova plays Vandeweghe later on.

tennischamp · Intermediate Club Player

Oh yes, it's classed as a comeback :-O

the addict · Tennis legend

And for one match she gets 55 points, and back into the live rankings at 510 :(

markymc1983 · Club Coach

I'm not a Sharapova fan but you have to admire her work ethic and determination. That must have took a lot of balls (so to speak) to go back out there. Maybe she a sociopath lol. Played much better than I expected, although I think Vinci has already mentally retired.

indiana · Tennis legend

the addict wrote:
And for one match she gets 55 points, and back into the live rankings at 510 :(

Win 3 more and she'll have enough points to get herself into French Open Qualifying.

I assume that was why she was so keen to return this week so she would have a chance to get these required points. Hmm.

tennischamp · Intermediate Club Player

She looked really nervous and self assuring as expected. Tbh I don't really like watching her play, despite some nice winners

Peter too · Tennis legend

R1: KONTA, Johanna (GBR) WC 6 7 def OSAKA, Naomi (JPN) 46 7-6(5) 3-6 6-1

R2: KONTA, Johanna (GBR) WC 6 7 v SEVASTOVA, Anastasija (LAT) 26 CH=23 6/3/17 H2H 2-1
Beijing 2016 6-1 6-1
US open 2016 4-6 5-7
Australian Open 2013 6-3 6-7(8) 6-4

tennischamp · Intermediate Club Player

Here is Sharapova's press conference, for anyone interested: m.youtube.com/watch

If you missed her 'comeback' game, here is some match highlights: m.youtube.com/watch

Jaggy1876 · Grand Slam Champion

Sharapova wasn't popular in the locker room before the ban I'd imagine even less so now. Really hope we don't see her being invited to the Slams.

AliBlahBlah · All-time great

It looked like Kuzzy & Siegemund might play 4 hours, but it finished after two.

Jo now on court. I don't expect much here, and given my demonstrable expertise today that clearly has extra credence.
Johanna 1-3*