by Karen
Whew, what a
day. From seeing Azarenka struggling to win her first round match,
to being knocked out of Suicide Pool, to watching Petra Kvitova show us why
many thought she would assume the keys to the WTA Penthouse, to having lots of
snark from the ladies in the press room, Day 2 of the US Open finally came to
an end, when Serena Williams showed off her best tennis in taking out up and
coming teenage prodigy Taylor Townsend in straight sets. The hug at the net was symbolic of the
respect that both women have for each other.
15 year old
Ceci Bellis pulled the upset of the tournament when she took out No. 12 seed
and this year’s Australian Open finalist, Dominika Cibulkova in 3 hard fought
sets. While credit should be given to
Bellis for pulling the upset, we should really take stock of Cibulkova and try
and find out just what has gone wrong with her since having that wonderful run
in Australia and now. I have watched a
few of Cibulkova’s matches this year and I can only assume that she is playing
with an injury of some sort, either that or her mental game has completely
deserted her in tight moments. This is
the same woman who saved multiple set and match points to defeat Radwanska
earlier this season in a match that was must see tv. The Spin team hopes that whatever it is that
ails Cibulkova will not derail her too much.
Day 3 Order
of Play is below with the Spin’s Picks in red.
Arthur Ashe Stadium
Sloane Stephens (USA) v Johanna Larsson (SWE)
Maria Sharapova (RUS) v Alexandra Dulgheru (ROU)
Timea
Bacsinszky (SUI) v Venus Williams (USA)
Louis
Armstrong
Shuai
Peng (CHN) v Agnieszka Radwanska (POL)
Jana
Cepelova (SVK) v Simona Halep (ROU)
Grand Stand
Tsvetana
Pironkova (BUL) v Jelena Jankovic (SRB)
Aliaksandra
Sasnovich (BLR) v Caroline Wozniacki (DEN)
Court 17
Madison Brengle (USA) v Sabine Lisicki (GER)
Court 5
Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) v Alize Cornet (FRA)
Sara Errani (ITA) v Anastasia Rodionova (AUS)
Court 11
Angelique Kerber (GER) v Alla Kdrayavtseva (RUS)
Belinda Bencic (SUI) v Kurumi Nara (JPN)
Andrea Petkovic (GER) v Monica Puig (PUR)
Court 13
Mirjani Lucic-Baroni (CRO) v Shahar Peer (ISR)
Lucie Safarova (CZE) v Saisai Zheng (CHN)
Court 7
Roberta
Vinci (ITA) v Irina-Camelia Begu (ROU)
Match(es) of the Day
Pironkova v Jankovic – how good is Jankovic
playing or better question, will Pironkova make her life miserable out there
today? This one should be a good one as
if Jankovic is not on her game, then Pironkova can make her life a living
hell. This will be a battle of the
backhands as the outcome of the match will be between which player can use her
signature shot to finish points.
Radwanska v Peng – Peng has been playing really
good tennis and she seems to be healthy.
Is she ready to take her game to the next level? Only time and perhaps this match will tell.
Radwanska did little or nothing in her first round match but Peng is a much
better opponent.
Upset Alert
Is it an upset if Sabine Lisicki goes out to
Madison Brengle? The pro-US crowd will
be behind Brengle and this could have either Lisicki playing balls to the wall
tennis or fading away. The other question
is whether Lisicki is looking forward to her potential third round match
against Sharapova? That third round
match would be a pretty juicy affair if it happens, but Sharapova will no doubt
have to get past Dulgheru who can frustrate her into hitting error after error
with her dogged defence.
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