WTA 500 Charleston 4/3 - 4/9 2023

[ponchi101]

Ok. Not unexpected, and a good show. And she was always a player that needed to work a lot. So, not a bad showing.

[ti-amie]

[ashkor87]

Agree.
But we know the WTA. From SHOULD to WILL.... there's a little stretch. And as you say, Har Tru is a peculiar surface. Don't know how much Bencin plays on it.

Well, bencic is defending champion

[ashkor87]

I would say they are the best in-form players in the draw, not the best pure overall players in the draw.

Of course...on this surface, at this time. ....but who is a better pure overall player in this draw? Badosa? Kudermetova? Jabeur could be, I agree...

[Owendonovan]

I thought Elina was using Monfils as her last name?

[Deuce]

I thought Elina was using Monfils as her last name?

I think she is - for everything except tennis.
Which makes sense, because she's obviously known as Svitolina in tennis circles, which makes it easier for fans to identify her.
Although I suppose it could be said that Monfils is also a name which is obviously associated with tennis - but people might think it's Gael's sister or something on paper.

[JazzNU]

I thought Elina was using Monfils as her last name?

She's using it personally, not professionally.

[ashkor87]

I would say they are the best in-form players in the draw, not the best pure overall players in the draw.

Of course...on this surface, at this time. ....but who is a better pure overall player in this draw? Badosa? Kudermetova? Jabeur could be, I agree...

There are many good tier 2 players here, including keys and alexandrova but I somehow don't think they can beat Bencic or Pegula here ..those 2 are Tier 2 players too but at the top of Tier 2...there aren't any Tier 1 players here...

[JazzNU]

I would say they are the best in-form players in the draw, not the best pure overall players in the draw.

Of course...on this surface, at this time. ....but who is a better pure overall player in this draw? Badosa? Kudermetova? Jabeur could be, I agree...

If every player in this draw plays their very best on this surface, I'd put money on Madison Keys to win this tournament every time.

She's just nowhere near the player she once was, but you know who used to be excellent on this surface before all the injuries? Sabine Lisicki. It's why I think they've been so good with trying to get her in the draw over the years as a former champ.

[JazzNU]

There are many good tier 2 players here, including keys and alexandrova but I somehow don't think they can beat Bencic or Pegula here ..those 2 are Tier 2 players too but at the top of Tier 2...there aren't any Tier 1 players here...

Alexandrova is a Tier 2 player, maybe she'll get past that soon, but that's where she is now. Keys, based on talent and history, is very clearly Tier 1. I know you're a big fan of Ekaterina, but this is an objective fact. Keys is a former top 10 player, she's a GS finalist, been to the QF or better of every slam, has a 1000 level title, been to the finals of other 1000 level tournaments. I believe the grand majority of the finals she's reached in her career have been at Premier level tournaments or higher. She's a Tier 1 talent. She's injured often and inconsistent, you never know when she's going to play her best tennis anymore even when she's seemingly healthy unlike in years past when her play got shaky because of an injury, but that doesn't change the overall talent, which was what my original comment referenced.

[ti-amie]

Day 4 Order of Play

Credit One Stadium
Starts at 11:00 AM

ESP P. BADOSA (12) vs EGY M. SHERIF
FOLLOWED BY
USA E. NAVARRO vs USA M. KEYS (9)
FOLLOWED BY
USA S. ROGERS vs USA D. COLLINS (13)
NOT BEFORE 7:00 PM
BLR V. AZARENKA (6) vs USA S. STEPHENS
FOLLOWED BY
UKR L. TSURENKO vs TUN O. JABEUR (2)

Althea Gibson
Starts at 11:00 AM

USA A. PARKS vs RUS D. SHNAIDER
FOLLOWED BY
USA C. MCNALLY vs GER J. NIEMEIER
FOLLOWED BY
CAN L. FERNANDEZ vs RUS E. RODINA
FOLLOWED BY
FRA A. CORNET vs RUS A. KALINSKAYA
FOLLOWED BY
USA S. CHANG/USA A. KULIKOV vs FRA K. MLADENOVIC/CHN S. ZHANG (2)

Court 3
Starts at 11:00 AM

GER A. FRIEDSAM vs RUS V. GRACHEVA
FOLLOWED BY
CHN X. WANG vs USA H. BAPTISTE
NOT BEFORE 2:00 PM
USA C. DOLEHIDE/AUS S. HUNTER (3) vs NOR U. EIKERI/CZE M. KOLODZIEJOVA

Court 4
Starts at 11:00 AM

USA C. LIU vs USA B. PERA
FOLLOWED BY
CZE M. BOUZKOVA (16) vs ESP C. BUCSA

[JazzNU]

Svitolina lost to Putintseva in three sets 7-6(3), 2-6, 4-6. Of course she's rusty but she moved well.

I thought she played great. And it was a very long match (close to 3 hours), so I was very impressed with her conditioning. Truly a great first match back, the only thing missing was the win.

[ashkor87]

There are many good tier 2 players here, including keys and alexandrova but I somehow don't think they can beat Bencic or Pegula here ..those 2 are Tier 2 players too but at the top of Tier 2...there aren't any Tier 1 players here...

Alexandrova is a Tier 2 player, maybe she'll get past that soon, but that's where she is now. Keys, based on talent and history, is very clearly Tier 1. I know you're a big fan of Ekaterina, but this is an objective fact. Keys is a former top 10 player, she's a GS finalist, been to the QF or better of every slam, has a 1000 level title, been to the finals of other 1000 level tournaments. I believe the grand majority of the finals she's reached in her career have been at Premier level tournaments or higher. She's a Tier 1 talent. She's injured often and inconsistent, you never know when she's going to play her best tennis anymore even when she's seemingly healthy unlike in years past when her play got shaky because of an injury, but that doesn't change the overall talent, which was what my original comment referenced.

I don't agree that Keys is Tier 1..that is reserved for the likes of Rybakina, Swiatek, Sabalenka. .could add Kvitova and Krejcikova..but Keys is not at that level, she is too slow, her footwork is not good enough ..

[ashkor87]

Certainly Alexandrova is Tier 2 but mid to bottom...

[ashkor87]

Sloane is possibly a Tier 1 player, certainly higher tier than Keys...