WTA 1000 Dubai 2/19 - 2/27 2023

[meganfernandez]

Swiatek has become a monster...

baking Samsonova (my term for a scoreline of only bagels and/or breadsticks) is absolutely monstrous.

Unexpected scoreline for Bencic, going out 1 and 4 to Muchova. Keys easily over Vika is suprising, too, unless Vika was tired from her long match vs Anisimova.

So far Samsonova not doing any better vs Swiatek than Fernandez managed.

Going on memory, Samsonova was one of the only players to give Swiatek a good match last spring - one of the finals on clay, maybe Stuttgard? So I expected more of a challenge from her.

[Suliso]

Going on memory, Samsonova was one of the only players to give Swiatek a good match last spring - one of the finals on clay, maybe Stuttgard? So I expected more of a challenge from her.

That's right. On clay in Stuttgart SF's (6-7, 6-4, 7-5).

[Suliso]

I think Bencic was too tired from too many extra long matches recently.

[ponchi101]

1 & 0 against a top 20 player. Crazy, isn't it.

In other news Rybakina has withdrawn with a lower back injury. Gauff will play Keys in QF's.

When she is on, she is on.
What I find a bit strange is that the fluctuations are wide. As I said before, against Cami at the Aussie she played "well" but was broken 4 times, by a player that really does not have a great return.
Then the Rybakina match was rather routine, for Rybakina.
And then, as you say, she is plastering top 20 and top 10 opponents, at ease. I understand that no player stays at these peaks for long stretches, but when she drops her level, it is noticeable. By now, I was really expecting the Rybakina match, but we won't see that. So only Aryna, playing also at her peak, could be a challenge.
Could be a great match. COULD.

[ponchi101]

I think Bencic was too tired from too many extra long matches recently.

Uhm. She had several days off after withdrawing last week.

[Suliso]

I think Bencic was too tired from too many extra long matches recently.

Uhm. She had several days off after withdrawing last week.

But not after playing 3 1/2 h yesterday too.

[ponchi101]

Then, she and Sakkari have to get together and plan on their training. Belinda plans the on court schedule, Maria the gym.
Best of both worlds (I hope).

[ponchi101]

Alona and Aryna playing a schizoid match. 6-2 Alona, 6-1 Aryna. They are probably trying to prove who can hit the ball harder.

[nelslus]

IN other news, Pliskova had to default her next match against Iga, due to a bad case of inevitability-itis.

[Suliso]

IN other news, Pliskova had to default her next match against Iga, due to a bad case of inevitability-itis.

I had to check it up to make sure you were not joking.

[ti-amie]

Day 7 Order of Play

Centre Court
Starts at 03:00 PM

Quarterfinal
CAN L. FERNANDEZ/USA B. MATTEK-SANDS vs RUS V. KUDERMETOVA/RUS L. SAMSONOVA
NOT BEFORE 5:00 PM
Quarterfinal
USA M. KEYS vs USA C. GAUFF (5)
NOT BEFORE 7:00 PM
Quarterfinal
CZE B. KREJCIKOVA vs BLR A. SABALENKA (2)
FOLLOWED BY
Quarterfinal
CZE K. MUCHOVA vs USA J. PEGULA (3)

Court 1
Starts at 03:00 PM

Quarterfinal
USA D. KRAWCZYK/NED D. SCHUURS (3) vs ROU M. NICULESCU/BEL K. ZIMMERMANN
FOLLOWED BY
Quarterfinal
CHN Z. YANG/RUS V. ZVONAREVA (7) vs UKR L. KICHENOK/LAT J. OSTAPENKO (2)

[nelslus]

....LET me also add, and to be clear- Bencic is not gonna happen. (Slam-wise, at least.) The gold medal was punishment enough for true tennis fans.

....Same for Garcia- and I actually like Garcia. Albeit, I must add that two Slam doubles titles= nothing to sneeze at.

[ponchi101]

IN other news, Pliskova had to default her next match against Iga, due to a bad case of inevitability-itis.

I had to check it up to make sure you were not joking.

What a virtuous cycle. You demolish an opponent so your next opponent chickens out, so you don't get to play one match and you are rested, so you will demolish your next opponent...

[JazzNU]

On the one hand, you gotta think Pliskova can do better than the suffering the 6-0, 6-0 beatdown since it was on clay. On the other hand, that beatdown happened at one of Pliskova's most successful tournaments on tour, so yes, a repeat was possible.

But in all seriousness - this is feeling like it's going to become a bit of an issue. People are making jokes now, but if it's the start of a trend, no one will be laughing and it's not a good look at all for the game.

[Suliso]

But in all seriousness - this is feeling like it's going to become a bit of an issue. People are making jokes now, but if it's the start of a trend, no one will be laughing and it's not a good look at all for the game.

I hope it's not a trend. One tournament or two no big deal, but we do want some competition too.