SaiSai also had a MTO for her back in the middle of the second set.

Ace Ventura wrote:

---

AliBlahBlah wrote:

---

[...] (though the field she's come through has been pretty weak), but her hectic schedule could be a useful factor in Katie's favour. Or, she may get a replacement; we'll see.

---

That's generous, she's beaten 171, 232, 253 and 137 to get there. I don't think you'll ever find a weaker route to a WTA main draw final. Tournament really needs looking into, just a rankings booster for local players.

---

It's not Saisai's fault that the other seeds were all defeated. She would very reasonably have expected to face WR32 in the SF, but Shuai Zhang suffered a massive upset.

The tournament is open to everyone to enter, and several prominentnon-locals came, or withdrew on the eve of the event, Bouchard being one such. Far too late to attract anyone else. Players taking the gamble to Nanchang, and then on to USA across the Pacific may well be rewarded for their gamble.

This was always said of the Baku event, that it needed looking at, as though some countries shouldn't really be allowed an event, or only in very specific weeks. If they put up the money, why not? Players like Svitolina & Vekic got their foothold in the upper echelons by taking the chance at Baku, or one of the other unfashionable, 'weak' events, and excelling. Where's the harm in that? With the slams set in stone, and the idiotic double weeks for Miami asnd IW set in stone, there's precious little room in the WTA structure or calender to innovate, or put events where they might naturally best fit - Kuala Lumpur & Pattaya City have had this problem, and Doha/Dubai a related problem of attracting big names after a Slam.

This week is empty on the WTA except for the new second Moscow event, at least this gives options of tier and surface to players. It's arguably a better warm up for the hard court swing, as the Russian event is on very heavy clay.

Sponsors are not knocking down the WTA doors with offers to hold events, even at Internationals. They simply can't afford to turn any concrete offers down. If UK, France, Spain, Germany, Italy etc wanted more events, in the 'traditional' countries then they need to prove it. The Chinese are putting up the money. Without it, WTA, and to some extent tennis globally, might be looking nervously at their bank balances. I'm sure they want more diverse events, but players don't go to them, and crowds don't either. Rabat, Bol, Quito, Tashkent, Casablanca etc, have all tried, but they can't make money from it, and have to give up.

The alternative is an empty calendar.

Under way. Harriet broke immediately, then served badly, and was broken back, 1-1*

Harriet 5-1*
Odd serving stats:-
50% first serves in winning 10/10
Wins on 2nd serves 1/10

Harriet has transcended.

Guarachi has just beaten Di Lorenzo 2-6 7-5 7-5 so bar one of the biggest turnarounds in history, that will be who Harriet plays tomorrow.

Currently ranked 379 and more of a doubles player so as good as can be expected for a FQR of a international draw.