Dubai Semi Pictures

Dubai - Angelique stopped in semi

Days go by and are not all the same. In tennis, it is hard to be consistent every day but when your game is based on it, it become a little more difficult when your plan A and your plan B don’t work, but it happens, and it happened to Kerber Friday.

Angelique was defeated 6-3, 6-3, to a very offensive Svitolina.  In a good day, she would have deal with it, but today, she was always a little too long trying heself to be offensive.  At some points, there were a few games that could have turned the momentum but she couldn’t capitalize.  See for yourself.



Overall, we saw a lot of good in Angelique’s game during Dubai and i see it like an investment for future tournaments.  There were moment that it was the number one in the world, so we can see she is at the corner.

It was a good prep for Indian Wells and Miami so it will be interested to follow her in March.  Very promising, let’s wait and see the draw.

In the other semi, when everything seem to go well for Muguruza, the Spaniard seems to have panicked in the second set and her plan A when down the drain.  As she has no other, Kasatkina took advantage of the situation and got away with the win.

The day after, Svitolina was too strong, but Kasatkina never got the chance to install her game, so Elina keep her title and her points, with a 6-4, 6-0 win,

Dubai Quart Pictures

Here are some, among many pictures, of last night match,

Dubai - Angelique def Pliskova 6-4, 6-3

It was the top part of the draw to play first and there was no story telling for both quarters.  In the first, Svitolina disposed of Osaka and on the other match, let's be honest, Pliskova trashed herself against Kerber. Not that I mind an easier win for Angie, but I was expecting a more equal battle - I am sure Angie was expecting something far more complicated as well.  She was much more consistant than her opponent, Pliskova made more than 30 unforced errors compare to her only 11.  They were two very tight games on Angie's serve but she not only she managed to win the points when it mattered, but never faced a break point, which did keep the momentum on her side all match.



So, Svitolina next. I am intrigue by Elina - I am not sure where she stands in all these top 10 changes.  I mean, she plays good, but not so good when it counts. One thing for sure, if Angie could stop her losing streak against her, it could certainly boost her confidence - she has enough mental strengh now to do it.  Consistancy will be a key but if both players bring their best game on the court, the advantage goes to Angie and the fans will certainly enjoy that ferocious fight.

I love her comments after the match, see the video below, but i wonder if she finds it annoying that poeple keep bringing back 2017.  I understand though, that 2016 was amazing, and to keep bringing back these momeries, you have to bring back what comes after too, but let's move forward like she tries to do, 2018 has started 2 months ago, and it started great for her!



The other quart was held during the evening session between Garcia and Muguruza and could have been much more interesting that it really was.  They met last week and Garcia was not able to capitalize on the important points, and the story repeated itself today - you just don't let a 40-15 goes away I hope to break the Spaniard back! If you don't seize all the chances against her, she keeps getting stronger and stronger through a match!

In the last match of the evening, Kasatkina continues her good run and seize the opportinuty to reach the semi by defeating Vesnina in 2 sets.

Kerber hits the court in Dubai Kids’ Day

“I just love doing Kids’ Days, to play a little bit with the kids and just to meet them. It’s nice to meet kids from all over the world,” Kerber said afterwards.

“I think it’s a great idea to introduce the kids to the game with us players because we can play a bit with them, showing them how great the game is and having a good time together.

“The energy here is amazing; they were cheering and having a lot of fun. For me as a player it’s great to see the kids really enjoying themselves and to see how special it is for them.”

See the full articles and photos on the wta website here.

Angie in action

I really enjoy Jimmy's work.  Here are some of Angie's match from today.

Dubai - Angelique def Errani 6-4, 6-2

There were moments in this match that it was Angie, the kerbernator playing, we felt that nothing could stand in her way - some wonderful crossed court backhards, glorious forehands down the line and powerful smashes from the backline - you know how confident you have to be to hit those!  It was a little bit laborious at the beginning of the match, but the moment Errani broke her serve to lead 4-3, Angie upgraded her game and closed it out at 6-2.

“I think it was a tricky match, especially because she was, of course, playing good,” Kerber said in her post-match press conference. “She had a lot of confidence after her matches here already.

“I was just trying to stay in the match and trying to not think about how she was playing. She was playing with a lot of spin. I was just trying to more go with my game.”

She will meet Pliskova in Quart tomorrow.  Head to head shows advatage to Angie 6-3.



Pliskova had a little more problems getting rid of the always combative Carla Suarez Navarro in 3 sets.  The other quarter on the top part of the draw will oppose Svitolina to Osaka.  Svitolina also had to fight really hard against Wang and Osaka defeated Kontaveit.  On the bottom draw, Konta tripped and fall to Kasatkina who was more consistant than the Brit and she will met (and should win) Vesnina in Quart, who disposed of Ostapenko (didn't I mentioned it already).  Garcia is gonna fight hard again but it is going to be a really interesting match up against Muguruza tomorrow as they met last week and it was a really tight match - my guess can't guess -  but i'd say Muguruza just because she is intimidating on a court.

Dubai - Angie wins first round match

It is an easy match to describe: Strykova wasn't consistant but when she was trying too, Kerber was dominating the play, most of the time.  Some bad mistakes at the net from the German but it didn't really matter today.  Some strong smashes from the back line, just to tell you that Angie is confident.  A little hard on herself when she was misssing, even if she was ahead in the score, but she should lossen up as the tournament advances. She get Errani tomorrow.

We can't rely on their head to head, Errani is not to be taken lightly but Angie is much more efficient from the Baseline, so, we should expect some rallies, but the question is how long Angie will wait to hit a winner down the line?  She could also make her run from one side of the court to the other, but it is going to be a perfect match to use her upgraded agressive play.

On the other matches, lucky loser Wang did make the most of it and defeat Kiki Berten.  Stosur started strong but nothing she could really do after Kontaveit decided to play.  The always regular Navarro discarded qualifier Zhuk and Bellis continues to impress with a win over AO semi-finalist Mertens.  In the last match of the day, Garcia keep going on and get rid of Safarova in 2 sets.

Angie is off tomorrow, but several great matches to follow, and there is YouTube live Stream for Dubai in HD even. Awesome!

Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships

Several players moved on to Dubai.  The main draw counts 32 players.  At first look, Petra Kvitova was in the top part of the draw but she decided not to play.  I believe her team told her not too, at some point,  her tank needs some refill before Indian Well and Miami.  That kinda changed things a bit as now, Samantha Stosur took her place in the draw, which should still give a good match against Kontaveit but make things a bit easier for the defending champ, Elina Svitolina.

While we are at it, can she defend her title?  With the change in the draw, she can make it to the semi without too much worries even though she is not as consistant than last year so, she should be stopped in Semi by Angie.  The German has Strykova on the first round, even thought her stats are highly positive, it should be a good match, and then she’ll get a qualifier, either Errani or Tsurenko, either way, those two know how to play tennis. Then probably Pliskova, and unless i miss an episode, it should also a be a win.  Her more complete game should be the end of the Czech and she should beat Elina for the same reason..

However, the Ukrainien is part of Angie's downfall last year, 3 matches, 3 losses allowing Elina to get positive records against the German but my guess is that this year, she will turn things around.  Keep your heart on the court Angie and anything can happen.

Wait, let see who is on the bottom draw first?

The Spanish princess should make it to the quart, unless Bellis has some more tricks up her sleeves! Garcia has proven she is tough, so she’ll reach the quart by beating and Safarova and Sevastova and anything can happen between the French woman and the Spaniard. For the remaining quart, there is a lot of incertitude. Konta has played good tennis last week, but she has Radwanska in her path and even thought the Pole is not the player she was, she is still a very strong opponent, that is of course, assuming that she will win her prior round.  Ostapenko just have one match to win to make it to the quart, so with a little bit of luck she shoud make it, but I won't be surprised if she doesn't.  She will probably meet Vesnina, who is another player that we are not too sure what kinda of tennis she'll play.

Let say what happen...

Main while, Angelique was part of the Dubai kids day.

QATAR – Kvitova wins it

I knew she was dangerous, and she didn't only made the finale, but wins the tile.

Yesterday, she battled hard against Wozniacki, in a match in which the Dane had her chances but it is the mental state that made a difference for Wozniacki at the end, she seem to have lost her focus while Kvitova kept it.

Today, Muguruza took the control of the first set but then Kvitova’s game came back and she digged really hard to win this. She saved many break point, thanks to her powerful lefty serve.  She was obviously tired in the third set but was able to canalize better her energy then her opponent.

So she is in the top 10 now.

Congrat Petra!

Angelique is stopped

Yes, she started strong, but we all know that Caroline never gives up so in front most of the set, Angie's serve finally got broken and Caro won the first set 7-6 with a tie-break in which she played better than Angie.  In the second set, the German dared to go for her shots which provocked some errors from the Dane, she leveled the match 1 set all.  She takes the early lead in the third but couldn't hold after, Caroline took the mental advantage and finaly capitalized when it matter the most.   You probably read in Angie's physical behavior the same thing than me - a little 2017 hipccup here, but it isn't something that goes away in a day so, some works still need to be done to complete her return to the top, but top 10 it is and she'll continue to improve her mental state till RG because there were some points in the match that i really liked what I was seeing.



Injuries kinda put some shadows on the rest of the day.  Kvitova didn't really have to fight against Julia as she had to retire in the second set due to an hip injury.  As for Halep, when we thought it was all okay, she retired after her win against Bellis propulsing Muguruza in Final Sunday. 

You obviously noted that i am trying to stay objective, which is the key to be able to analyze a match-up or a draw and I love guessing who might win and it is not always our favorites, so i am very eager to see the match between Kvitova and Wozniacki tomorrow and it's on tv in my country so nice to have it on the big screen.  Who's gonna win? I'd say advantage to Caroline as she had to fight to win today, and her mental state might help her overcome Petra's power.  If I thought Angie's would, Caroline certainly can but i won't be surprised if it's the contrary!

Angelique Continues..

She got us scared for a moment: the first set could have started much better for her, but not able to capitalize on break points, it is only at the end of the first set that she started to find her game, but  than it was already 5-0 for Konta, who was playing a very clean tennis.  It took the Brit some set points to get it, which made her thought about what was coming – and what was coming was a far more consistent opponent who started to use her weapon of choice. A few minutes later, and it was one set all.  There was a little opening for Konta to come back in the third, but she was just not as consistent as she was in the beginning and Angie broke her serve to close it out.  1-6, 6-1, 6-3.



Caroline got the best of Niculescu in a match that seems to be a little bit in slow motion with all the drop shots and slice backhands.  7-5, 6-1.  Kvitova keeps winning, her powerful gams still hold. Goerges, Garcia, Muguruza and Halep also advanced but it is Pliskova who was sent home by Bellis who continue her wonderful run in Doha.

My prevision are still on – Angelique is still alive and if she plays like that should get the best of Caroline, but it won’t be a walk in the park, she’ll have to strive hard and stay positive, most especially, that's the key!  Muguruza / Garcia can go either way, and Halep should end the dream week of Bellis. I am curious to see what Goerges can do against Kvitova.  They played last week, long and tough match won by Kvitova in 3.  On paper, Kvitova is better but it is Goerges who is in the top 10!

Angelique begins...

I apologize for being casual, I don’t know Angie personally but I wish I was, but I have been a fan for longer than a day.

She was facing Samantha Stosur and the match was pretty much going one way; her way.  There was no superb play today, but a few great foreheads down the line from Kerber who was able to get a point when she needed it. 59 minutes 6-4, 6-1.  I am not sure I like Angie's demeanour on court, either she was into her game, but I felt her a little bit negative at times.  Not you?   She will get Konta next who got the best of Suarez Navarro. It is predicted to be an interesting matchup by the experts, bets are Kerber in 3.  To me, it depends on Angie's state of mind,  if she is all there, there won’t be much Konta will be able to do to stop her.  It remains a good test that I hope she'll pass.





There were a few surprises, somehow!  Ostapenko lost to Buzarnescu, but her peak was in France last year, and that is the only peak she’s gonna get, her game isn't matching the current top 10.  Keys lost to promising qualifier Bellis and  Mladenovic to Blinkova: i had to blink a couple of times  to acknowledge the result.  After all, it is Garcia who has the momentum as she keeps on winning.  Yesterday, Niculescu defeated Sharapova so no meeting will happen with the Dane, the number one in the world also won as well as all the other seeded players.

Let’s mentioned thought the super fight between Kvitova and Radwanska, and Petra had proven to be back winning this 3 setters match, and Julia Goerges is in a good way to proving that she indeed may have a place in the top 10.

2018 - DOHA - QATAR

Following my renewed interest for tennis because of this gruelling Australian open, it was awaiting with a lot of interest the draw of the tournament in Doha. This tournament is an excellent prep for the ladies for their next tournaments on hard court, first part of the season ending later in March.

Honestly, guessing who’s going to win, who’s going to lose, is a little more complicated than in a Slam as I know almost all the players and what they are capable of.  Last year, Pliskova won the title against Wozniacki - that however, is easier to predict - she won't win this year.

But, the Dane should make it to the quart and will be stopped then by Kerber, but before making it there, Caroline might crossed path with Maria Sharapova, but the keys to beat her is pretty well known now - you make her run - if you can call that running - and not be afraid to do so yourself to return one more ball in the corner. Caroline can do this.  One could also decide to scream louder than she does. Did you ever notice?  It is kinda funny to see her trying to scream louder than her opponent, probably losing focus on what she should be doing.

Angelique will probably met Stosur on her first match, but after that, Konta, or not... Suarez Navarro is playing good tennis and we are not so sure about the Brit, as she’s been struggling lately. Either way, Kerber seems to have found back her confidence and more importantly, solutions for winning.

I’d say she should face Kvitova in Semi, Svitolina shouldn’t really understand what is happening when she and Petra will meet in quart.  Goeges has a chance to prouve that she really has a place among the top 10 as she will face Lucie Safarava for starter, and then, i am not even sure that she’ll have to face Ostapenko, in the top 10 because of her title at RG.  Since this title, it's not easy.

The one able to say who’s going to win this first semi between Angie and Petra will be really good, but one thing for sure, it should be a good match.  Their head to head are even and the question to ask is : is the consistency and precision of Angelique will counter fight the powerful plan A of Petra?  Advantage will go to the one with the better state of mind.  If Angie starts strong, Petra won’t recover.



On the other side of the draw, there is a lot doubt regarding the ascension of the French women, Garcia and Mladenovic but I favour a bit Maldenovic for her last week performances to meet Muguruza. However, we are not so sure either about the Spanish princess, who has been cumulating ups and downs, here and there for quite sometimes now. 

Pliskova won’t have it easy to defend her title – we already establish that she won’t! Cornet, Key won’t stop her, but perhaps Halep could? However, the Romanian admitted to still be injured, but who knows, Halep make it all the way to the final with that same injury in Australia, I’d say, she’ll meet Angie in the final.  Everybody will be happy to see a rematch of this gruelling semi in Australia.  I’d say, if Angie makes it there, she’ll win, but the road is long to make it there.

A new beginning

Wow, it has been a while since last time I post.  Life, but it had been beautiful thought, nothing to complain about!  I am still a big fan of tennis, always was, always will be!  A lot happen since 2011, new players coming in, others retired, and some others just keep getting better and better, like, Angelique Kerber1  Let’s be honest thought, 2017 has been difficult after a dreamy 2016 for the German, but I do believe that she is back and that she has still great tennis to play. As she mentioned herself, her heart is back on the court.    

Serena finally surpassed Steffi Graf with 23 grand slam titles and I am pretty much guessing that after giving birth to her first child last September, she will work really hard to pass Margaret Court who still hold the record of 24. Her return is set for March. I never really like Serena, but it is true that she is an unbelievable tennis player and no one can take that away from her.

Wozniacki finally grabbed a Slam, but I am not sure she’ll get another one, but she sure deserved this.  Halep is still running after her first, but I think there is always gonna be someone to stop her! 

I could go on and on telling about who won, who didn’t, but I am sure I’ll have many other occasions in the near future to mention historic facts of the tennis world.

I have to mention thought, based on who I was cheering for when i stopped writing, that Sam Stosur won the US open in 2011, but she was never quite the same after it.  Flavia Pennetta won the US open in 2015, in a very opened draw, but she retired right after it. Jelena Jankovic remains one of the few former #1 without a slam.

This week, the ladies are in Doha!