2009 WTA Madrid Singles Draw

Serena and Venus are on the same side of the draw.

Serena's first match is against Schiavone. Hmmm...an out of form Serena against Schiavone on red clay. The only win out of 5 matches that Schiavone has over Serena is in 2005 on clay in Rome. If I remember correctly, Serena was somewhat injured for that match. Sometimes I think Serena really only plays the warm up events because she has to. If it were up to her, she probably really wouldn't play any events leading up to a major. I think at her age and with her being so prone to injury, Serena would prefer to save herself and work her way into a grand slam tournament by becoming match tough in the early rounds. It's dangerous, but it seems to work for her.

Serena retired in the second set after losing 4-6 to Schiavone in the first set.
Just as I had thought, Serena wants to save herself for singles and surprisingly, doubles, at the French Open. I'm hoping this injury doesn't turn out to be something that will keep Serena out of the game for much longer.

Two big clay events one right after the other? It is no wonder that many of the seeded players have already lost. Who planned the WTA tournament schedule and what were they thinking?

Anyone know if there is WTA early round coverage in US? I see Tennis Channel is ATP all week and womens semis/final (not live) later in the week.

Can they get WTA/ATP on the same page outside the slams??? It's such a big bore.

Kuzy just lost too. You're right, back-to-back premier tournaments means lots of upsets for top players. In terms of scheduling though, it's probably difficult to fix, since Rome is a long-established tournament with a set date in the calendar and Madrid is a WTA/ATP combined event.

Venus also lost to Kleybanova. I think it may end up working better for her and Kuznetsova so they can be rested for the French. Venus to me can't do these back to back tournaments leading up to a slam. Kleybanova is very capable on clay though. Kuzzy is...who knows. I'd say Safina's stock is the highest right now going into the French. Serena has had 4 losses in a row, having injury issues. Venus hasn't been back to a French final since she met her sister there the one time. I think there could be some capable clay girls who decide to have a nice run, but the big girls like Ivanovic and Dementieva and Jankovic are just not in form right now. It looks like Dinara's for the taking.

Mauresmo beats Dementieva in 3! Woo Hoo. Looking for the stats....

How does a Kleybanova who takes out Venus go down 2 and 2 to Wozniacki? I had high hopes for the sisters in Paris, but I think making the second week would be a good result for them this time around. (They didn't manage it last year.) Safina should be the one tanking her matches - I don't know if she'll have anything left for the French at this point, since she may well reach a third final in as many weeks.

Je-lame-a got a very kind draw, and should make only her third semifinal all year (there's not much to her once 'consistency' was taken out of the equation, eh?). I see that Szavay is on a bit of a roll here, taking out Azarenka in three, but I think the other half of the draw will be Wozniacki's for the taking, unless Mauresmo has something to say about it.

Kleybanova goes haywire the minute she faces a player with some variety. She seems to thrive on opponents with pace, like Ivanovic or Serena.

I'm happy Szavay beat Azarenka, though it sounds like she tried her hardest to choke it away. Agi's choking rep is almost comical. And only two years ago she seemed kinda fearless.

Safina is a wall. Safarova took a set from her today and went up a break in the third, to no avail. Lucie has had a steady year. But she keeps playing the bridesmaid in these kinds of matches. Same thing against Venus in Rome.

Wow. Amelie has risen from the dead! Could it be that this year when she's presumably past her prime and mired in a prolonged slump that she can take the French? She has always seemed to me to be a taller, more muscular Justine (although she never seemed to try and hit winners returning weak second serves). If she is nearing retirement I hope she goes out with at least one wild run through the tournament that more than any other has bestowed the reputation of choker on her.

I don't know that Mauresmo was dead, although she was in the 30s in rankings. Yeah every blue moon, she comes through and does something surprising....hope emerges, and then....but oh well. I love it when she is healthy and playing well. I hope she keeps it up . Who needs #1? I'd love to see her age and keep playing. So many just stop. I think it's her fitness that has kept her going.

Dang. Jankovic lost to Schnyder in straight sets. Jelena officially is off my list of French Open faves, along with Ivanovic, Dementieva, Serena, Azarenka, and Zvonareva. My faves are Safina, followed by in second place by both Kuznetsova and Venus. If Mauresmo wins Madrid I would put in her in my faves category too.

Well on to the semis for Amelie! Am I mistaken, or has she had a pattern of doing well in the pre French clay tournaments. And then ...well we know how she is at Rolland Garros. But she gives us hope....

I just looked at the rankings and saw that Amelie is still #18 in the world. I thought she was way down.
So she goes out in the semis to Wozniaki. Oh well. Good run. Her serve really let her down today.
I do hope she keeps playing. The online video snippets of her matches show nice court coverage. She's still very fit.

She did drop out of the top 30 last year, but she has--sporadically--played better this year, particularly when she won the Open Gaz de France. With her falling off the radar a bit, she shouldn't be under nearly as much pressure and I wouldn't be surprised to see her do some damage at Roland Garros. Another veteran who showed signs of life and might be worth a look at RG (not to win but to upset somebody) is Schnyder.

At the other end of the age spectrum, could Szavay and Safarova be pulling their respective acts back together? They've been winning matches here and there this year after a ghastly 2008.