Talk About Tennis 2.0

Tournament: Mérida Open Akron
Location: Mérida, Mexico
Dates: February 24 - March 2, 2025
Level: WTA 500
Total Financial Commitment: $1,064,510
Surface: Hard

Qualifying Draw

M. Carle (1) vs V. Rodriguez (WC)
K. Kawa vs E. Arango (9)

A. Todoni (2) vs L. Kung
A. Sanchez (WC) vs F. Jones (10)

M. Joint (3) vs E. Bektas
L. Fruhvirtova vs S. Sierra (12)

Y. Starodubtseva (4) vs D. Pavlou (WC)
A. Sharma vs L. Jeanjean (7)

P. Martic (5) vs J. Grabher
H. Chang vs N. Hibino (11)

D. Saville (6) vs E. Perez (WC)
V. Strakhova vs V. Lepchenko (8)

Main Draw Singles

E. Navarro (1)/Bye
S. Stephens (WC) vs Qualifier
M. Linette vs E. Cocciaretto
Z. Sonmez (WC) vs M. Sakkari (8)

A. Kalinskaya (4/WC)/Bye
Qualifier vs J. Grabher
J. Bouzas Maneiro vs R. Jamrichova (WC)
E. Avanesyan vs M. Frech (7)

D. Vekic (5) vs Qualifier
M. Sherif vs Qualifier
R. Sramkova vs L. Sun
Bye/B. Haddad Maia (3)

M. Kostyuk (6) vs Qualifier
A. Kalinina vs Qualifier
J. Cristian vs C. Osorio
Bye/P. Badosa (2)

Nice field...Andreescu seema to have dropped out?

ashkor87 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 23, 2025 2:41 am Nice field...Andreescu seema to have dropped out?

She had to her appendix removed recently, and has delayed her return until the clay court season.

Monday Order of Play

Akron Stadium
Starts at 3:00 PM

UKR A. Kalinina vs FRA L. Jeanjean
Upcoming
ARM E. Avanesyan vs POL M. Frech (7)
Upcoming
CRO D. Vekic (5) vs COL E. Arango
Upcoming
ESP J. Bouzas Maneiro vs SVK R. Jamrichova

Court 1
Starts at 5:00 PM

AUS M. Joint vs AUT J. Grabher
Upcoming
UKR V. Strakhova/NZL L. Sun vs MEX V. Rodriguez/MEX A. Sanchez

Court 2
Starts at 5:00 PM

POL K. Piter/EGY M. Sherif vs SVK R. Sramkova/UKR Y. Starodubtseva
Upcoming
ROU J. Cristian/ITA A. Moratelli vs NOR U. Eikeri/JPN M. Ninomiya (4)

I am so fed up with people constantly reminding us that Navarro and Pegula have billionaire parents.. thry are simple, players with no airs about them and anyway how is it relevant? I don't even want to hear how much money Coco made last year .sounds crass. Why would I care?

Some people believe that Pegula and Navarro's upbringing helped them become top tennis players.
Sure, they certainly did not have any issues getting a new racquet or as many new balls as they wanted. But the inheritance that they really should be thankful for are their genes.

ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Feb 24, 2025 6:18 pm Some people believe that Pegula and Navarro's upbringing helped them become top tennis players.
Sure, they certainly did not have any issues getting a new racquet or as many new balls as they wanted. But the inheritance that they really should be thankful for are their genes.

At least in JPeg's case, it seems to be all hard work and discipline, she isn't even all that naturally gifted - unlike, say Coco or Rybakina .

Tuesday Order of Play

Akron Stadium
Starts at 3:00 PM

UKR M. Kostyuk (6) vs AUS D. Saville
Followed By
USA S. Stephens vs CRO P. Martic
Followed By
TUR Z. Sonmez vs GRE M. Sakkari (8)
Followed By
ROU J. Cristian vs COL C. Osorio

Court 1
Starts at 3:00 PM

EGY M. Sherif vs GBR F. Jones
Followed By
SVK R. Sramkova vs NZL L. Sun
Followed By
POL M. Linette vs ITA E. Cocciaretto

Court 2
Starts at 5:00 PM

UKR M. Kolb/UKR N. Kolb vs USA H. Giavara/USA D. Hewitt

ashkor87 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 25, 2025 12:45 am

ponchi101 wrote: ↑Mon Feb 24, 2025 6:18 pm Some people believe that Pegula and Navarro's upbringing helped them become top tennis players.
Sure, they certainly did not have any issues getting a new racquet or as many new balls as they wanted. But the inheritance that they really should be thankful for are their genes.

At least in JPeg's case, it seems to be all hard work and discipline, she isn't even all that naturally gifted - unlike, say Coco or Rybakina .

Which you obviously mean, for THAT level. Anybody in the top 100 is oozing with talent.
I remember Lendl. People said he had no touch, that that was the reason he was no good at the net. I remember one match in which he served, the ball was called out, but his opponent (I think Becker) had hit the ball right at him. Lendl caught the ball on the strings of his racquet, effortlessly, and in one single motion passed it to the ball boy. Everybody in the stadium went "Wow!".
And that was the guy with no touch.
They all have more talent that 99.9999% of the rest of us. Almost by definition.

true, i mean by comparison with Coco and Rybakina

Wednesday Order of Play

Akron Stadium
Starts at 3:00 PM

AUS D. Saville vs UKR A. Kalinina
ESP J. Bouzas Maneiro vs ARM E. Avanesyan
Followed By
CRO D. Vekic (5) vs AUS M. Joint
Followed By
TBD vs ESP P. Badosa (2)

Court 1
Starts at 3:00 PM

KAZ A. Danilina/RUS I. Khromacheva (1) vs GBR E. Appleton/USA Q. Gleason
Followed By
ARG M. Carle/MEX R. Zarazua vs USA S. Santamaria/CHN Q. Tang
Followed By
HUN T. Babos/USA N. Melichar-Martinez (3) vs GRE D. Pavlou/GRE M. Sakkari
Followed By
ARM E. Avanesyan/USA S. Stephens vs RUS A. Panova/AUS E. Perez (2)

what's up with Sakkari? hit rock bottom.. anyone know?

ashkor87 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 26, 2025 9:16 am what's up with Sakkari? hit rock bottom.. anyone know?

I don't think she's hit rock bottom yet - wait until after Indian Wells, and Miami - she's at risk of dropping well outside the top 50 if she doesn't win some matches next month.