Simona Halep – TOUCHLINE UI

The second day at Wimbledon featured the 1^st round match-ups for players in the bottom half of the draw.

The bounce of the ball has been quite high at SW19 but perhaps that might not be the only scenery worthy of note as there seems to have been an installation of the installed high-speed rail as Seppi, Federer, Alexandr Dolgopolov, Kvitova, Kerber and a host of others raced through their openers.

Defending champion, Petra Kvitova continued from where she left off on Centre Court, breezing past the challenge of Kiki Bertens in 35 minutes. Angelique Kerber played a perfect match against Carina Witthoeft without losing a game. Another fast one was the victory of Agnieszka Radwanska over Lucie Hradecka.

Following the high profile loss of Carla Suarez Navarro on Monday, it was to be seen whether the upsets were ready to roll in at the All England Club. The big upsets came to town in the women’s draw Tuesday as one-time Slam finalists Simona Halep and Eugenie Bouchard blew their hopes of making their major breakthrough at SW19.

Simona Halep lost in three sets to “lowly” Jana Cepelova while last year finalist fell after a dismal performance to a largely unknown Ying-Ying Daun.

Elsewhere, there were wins for Caroline Wozniacki, Ekaterina Makarova, Alize Cornet, Sabine Lisicki, Heather Watson, Timea Bacsinszky, Garbine Muguruza, Casey Dellacqua, Monica Niculescu, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Silvia Soler, Denisa Allertova and Camila Giorgi among a few others.

In the men’s draw, Roger Federer needed 68 minutes as he made a perfect start to his quest for an unprecedented 8^th Wimbledon title. The second seeded Swiss recorded a 6-1 6-3 6-3 win over Damir Dzumhur.

Home favourite, Andy Murray had no troubles as he won in straight sets to see off the threat of Mikhail Kukushkin while two-time winner, Rafael Nadal was in great form as he dispatched Thomaz Bellucci in straight sets. Alexandr Dolgopolov had little time to spare, racing into the second round with a 7-6 6-1 6-2 win over Kyle Edmund. The likes of Roberto Baustista, Andreas Seppi, Benoit Paire, Fabio Fognini, Gilles Simon and Jiri Vesely also recorded comfortable straight sets wins.

Tomas Berdych booked a second round pass seeing off Jeremy Chardy in fourth sets, coping with the darkness whie Jo-Wilfred Tsonga also needed four sets to overcome Gilles Muller.

Borna Coric registered his first win at Wimbledon after seeing off Sergiy Stakovsky in five sets.

There were wins as well for Ivo Karlovic, Samuel Groth, James Duckworth, Albert Ramos, Gael Monfils, James Ward, Feliciano Lopez, Viktor Triocki, Vasek Pospisil, Dustin Brown and a few others.

American Jack Sock was the biggest casualty in the men’s draw; losing out to Samuel Groth.

2^nd round action in the top half of each draw is slated for Wednesday, 1^st July, 2015. Enjoy!

The annual end-of-season tournament featuring the top eight female tennis players on the Women’s Tour kicks off in Singapore tomorrow with the pre-tournament festivities. The tournament will kick off on the 20^th of October. The eight ladies that will make up the star-studded lineup are Caroline Wozniacki, Ana Ivanovic, Agnieszka Radwanska, Eugenie Bouchard, Petra Kvitova, Simona Halep, Maria Sharapova and SerenaWilliams.

Are we going to have a new Queen of Female Tennis or would previous winners in Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova and Petra Kvitova ensure we have a familiar face?

Take a look as we preview the eight players that will showcase their talents in what will be a brilliant tournament.

NAME-SERENA WILLIAMS

WTA RANKING- 1^stwith 8645 points

Road to Singapore Ranking: 1^st with 7146 points

2014 Record- (48 wins-7 losses)

Calendar Titles- 6

GRAND SLAM RESULTS:

Australian Open – 4^th Round exit

French Open – 2^nd Round exit

Wimbledon – 3^rd Round exit

US OPEN – Winner

WTA Tour Finals Statistics

This is her ninth appearance and she has been victorious on four of her previous eight occasions (2001, 2009, 2012 and 2013

Qualified for the championship on the 5^th of September and was first to do so.

Serena Williams 2014 SEASON

COMPETITION	SURFACE	TOURNAMENT FINISH	OPPONENT
Brisbane International	Hard court	Winner	Victoria Azarenka 6-4 7-5
Australian Open	Hard Court	Fourth Round	Ana Ivanovic 6-4 3-6 3-6
Dubai Tennis Championship	Hard Court	Semi Final	Alize Cornet 4-6 4-4
Miami Masters	Hard Court	Winner	Li Na 7-5 6-1
Family Circle Cup	Clay (Green)	Second Round	Jana Cepelova 4-6 4-6
Madrid Open	Clay	Quarter Finals	Withdrew before match against Petra Kvitova
Italian Open	Clay	Winner	Sara Errani 6-3 6-0
French Open	Clay	Second Round	Garbrine Muguruza 2-6 2-6
Wimbledon	Grass	Third Round	Alize Cornet 6-1 3-6 4-6
Stanford Classic	Hard Court	Winner	Angelique Kerber 7-6(7-1) 6-3
Canadian Open	Hard Court	Semi Final	Venus Williams 7-6 (7-2) 2-6 3-6
Cincinnati Masters	Hard Court	Winner	Ana Ivanovic 6-4 6-1
US Open	Hard Court	Winner	Caroline Wozniacki 6-3 6-3
Wuhan Open	Hard Court	Second Round	Alize Cornet 6-5 RET
China Open	Hard Court	Quarter Final	Withdrew before match against Samatha Stosur

Following her total domination of the 2013 Calendar season, 2014 was going to be a year of defending ranking points and titles. She might not have been successful in doing that as her performances in Australia, France and Wimbledon and title count have shown but she has still been too good for everyone who will be part of this tour. She is 3-0 against Caroline Wozniacki which includes a straight set win at Flushing Meadows; 2-0 against number two, Maria Sharapova and 3-1 against Ana Ivanovic with the Serb’s solitary win coming at the Australian Open.

Apart from this dominant record, she has got a tremendous record against most of her opponents. She has won her last fifteen matches against Maria Sharapova with most of those results lopsided. She also has the physical advantage as she can drain her opponents and make them play that extra ball. If you call her the female version of Rafael Nadal, you would not be far from the truth. Her huge serves would also be a big asset here as she seeks her fifth World Tour Finals Title. She currently has the highest number of aces on the female tour (395), the highest percentage of second serve points won (51.0). She has won 81.7% of her service games and the American has saved 63.2% of the break points she has faced.

There is a lot at stake for the 33 year old going into the championship at Singapore. The number 1 ranking is still up for grabs as Sharapova’s win in Beijing means the jostle for the ladies Numero Uno will be decided in Asia. She has the tournament experience as this will be her 9^th appearance at the World Tour Finals and on her previous eight occasions, she was victorious four times (2001, 2009, 2012 and 2013). Only two players have won more titles at the finals; Steffi Graf (five) and Martina Navratilova (eight). With six titles to her name this year, the American will go in search of her seventh title and if she manages to do that, it will be the fourth time in her illustrious career that she has won seven or more titles in a season; 2002(eight), 2012 (seven) and 2013 (eleven).

However for all her impressive records and stats against her opponents, if there is one person that can stop Serena Williams, it has to be Serena Williams. She has the ability to self-destruct and choke when it matters most. Her solitary Grand Slam win in New York came after her failure to reach the quarter-finals of the first three which is some incredible feat. Also, she has been battling a knee injury which made her miss her quarter final match against Stosur in Beijing. If it rears its ugly head again at the Tour Finals, her title hopes, WTA number one rank and WTA Player of the Year hopes could come to a premature end.

Barring any injury worries and assuming she does not press the self destruct button; Serena Williams should start out as favorite in Singapore. Victory in Singapore will also see Williams become the third player to win the WTA Finals three consecutive times. The others are Seles (1990-1992) and Navratilova (1983-1986).

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD AGAINST THE OTHER SEVEN PLAYERS

V Sharapova 16-2

V Halep 3-0

V Kvitova 5-0

V Bouchard 1-0

V Radwanska 8-0

V Ivanovic 7-1

V Wozniacki 9-1

Name: Maria Sharapova

Ranking: 2^nd with 6680 points

Road to Singapore Ranking: 2^nd with 6680 points

2014 Record: 48-11

Calendar Titles: 4

Grand Slam Results

Australian Open- 4^th Round exit

French Open- Winner

Wimbledon-4^th Round exit

US Open: 4^th Round exit

WTA Tour Final Statistics: She will be competing at the WTA Finals for a seventh time. She has won it once which was her debut in 2004 beating Serena Williams along the way. The Russian has finished runner-up on two other occasions in 2007 and 2012

Qualified for the Tour Finals on the 9^th of September and was second to do so.

MARIA SHARAPOVA 2014 SEASON

COMPETITION	SURFACE	TOURNAMENT FINISH	OPPONENT
Brisbane International	Hard Court	Semi Final	Serena Williams 2-6 6-7 (7-9)

Australian Open	Hard Court	4^th Round	Dominika Cibulkova 6-2 4-4 1-6
Open GDF Suez	Hard Court	Semi Final	Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-4 3-6 6-4
BNP Paribas Open	Hard Court	3^rd Round	Camila Giorgi (Q) 3-6 6-4 5-7
Sony Open Tennis	Hard Court	Semi Final	Serena Williams 4-6 3-6
Porsche Tennis Grand Prix	Clay	Winner	Ana Ivanovic 3-6 6-4 6-1
Mutua Madrid Open	Clay	Winner	Simona Halep 1-6 6-2 6-3
Internazionali BNL d’Italia	Clay	3^rd Round	Ana Ivanovic 1-6 4-6
French Open	Clay	Winner	Simona Halep 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 6-4
Wimbledon	Grass	4^th Round	6-7 6-4 4-6
Rogers Cup	Hard Court	3^rd Round	Carla Suarez Navarro 2-6 6-4 2-6
Western and Southern Open	Hard Court	Semi Final	Ana Ivanovic 2-6 7-5 5-7
US Open	Hard Court	4^th Round	Caroline Wozniacki 4-6 6-2 2-6
Wuhan Open	Hard Court	3^rd Round	Timea Bacsnszky 6-7 (3-7) 5-7
China Open	Hard Court	Winner	Petra Kvitova 6-4 2-6 6-3

It has not been a vintage all round Sharapova year but it has certainly been a clay season for the Russian Lady. Three of her 2014 titles have been on the red surface; Stuttgart, Madrid and French Open, underlying her dominance on the red surface. Her 17-1 record on clay further strengthens her claim to being the best clay courter of her generation. That is surprising when you consider the fact that clay used to be her least favorite surface. Unfortunately, away from clay, she has been far from dominant. However her win at the China Open suggest she still has one or two things to say on the hard court surface. Her shoulder issues have no doubt contributed to her decline on the faster surfaces as her swing and serve have been badly affected.

She would compete in her seventh tour final and she is one of the three players in Singapore to have hoisted the trophy (Petra Kvitova and Serena Williams the others). If she is to have a go at the title, then she will have to do something she has not done in ten years; beat Serena Williams. The Russian has lost her last fifteen encounters against the 33 year old. She is seeded second which means she will most likely meet the American in the semifinal at the very least.

Apart from trying to gain some pound of flesh against her nemesis, there is something else up for grabs and that is the number one ranking. Maria Sharapova currently trails Serena Williams by 1965 points, but as defending champion, Williams will defend 1500 points unlike the Russian who has no point to defend as she missed last year’s edition thanks to injury.

Her style of game is ideally suited to indoor courts where wind would not be a factor and she has a pretty good record on indoor surfaces; in 12 indoor finals and the World No. 2 has picked up nine titles.

If she can overcome the psychological block against Serena Williams, be more consistent and hopefully avoid niggling injuries, then we could have another familiar name win the finals. Should she triumph, it will be Sharapova’s fifth title of the season. She has only achieved that feat twice in 2004 and 2006.

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD AGAINST THE OTHER SEVEN

V Serena 2-16

V Halep 5-0

V Kvitova 6-2

V Radwanska 10-2

V Bouchard 3-0

V Ivanovic 9-4

V Wozniacki 5-3

NAME: Simona Halep

Ranking: 3rd with 6246 points

Road to Singapore Ranking: 4^th with 5403 points

2014 Record: 43-14

Calendar Titles: 2

Grand Slam Results

Australian Open- Quarter Final exit

French Open- Final

Wimbledon- Semi Final exit

US Open- 3^rd Round exit

WTA Tour Final Statistics

The 23 year old Romanian would be participating in her first WTA Tour Finals. She became the third player to qualify for the championship on the 15^th of September.

2014 Simona Halep Season

COMPETITION	SURFACE	TOURNAMENT FINISH	OPPONENT
Sydney	Hard Court	1^st Round	Madison Keys 1-6 4-6
Australian Open	Hard Court	Quarter Final	Dominika Cibulkova 3-6 0-6
Paris	Hard Court	1^st Round	Kristina Mladenovic 6-7 4-6
Doha	Hard Court	Winner	Angelique Kerber 6-2 6-3
Dubai	Hard Court	1^st Round	Alize Cornet 6-1 1-1 RET
Indian Wells	Hard Court	Semi Final	Agnieszka Radwanska 3-6 4-6
Stuttgart	Clay	2^nd Round	Svetlona Kuznetsova 5-7 6-7
Mutua Madrid Open	Clay	Final	Maria Sharapova 6-1 2-6 3-6
Rome	Clay	3^rd Round	Carla Suarez Navarro W/O
French Open	Clay	Final	Maria Sharapova 4-6 7-6 4-6
S- Hertvgenbosch	Grass	2^nd Round	Annika Beck 5-7 3-2 RET
Wimbledon	Grass	Semi Final	Eugenie Bouchard 6-7 2-6
Bucharest	Clay	Winner	Roberta Vinci 6-1 6-3
Cincinnati	Hard Court	Quarter Final	Maria Sharapova 6-3 4-6 4-6
New Haven	Hard Court	2^ndRound	Magdalena Rybarikova 2-6 6-4 3-6
US Open	Hard Court	3^rd Round	Mirjana Lucic-Baroni(Q) 6-7 2-6
Wuhan Open	Hard Court	2^nd Round	Garbine Muguruza 6-2 2-6 3-6
China Open	Hard Court	Quarter Final	Ana Ivanovic W/O

It has been a year of consolidation for the 23 year old. After a breakthrough 2013 where she established herself as a top ten player, 2014 has been about improving on it and it has been impressive the way she has gone about it. Yes the stats read 2 tour titles but she reached her first Grand Slam Quarter Final at the Australian Open, won the Qatar Open, reached the final of the Madrid Open losing in three sets to Maria Sharapova. After a minor blip, she bounced back to reach her first slam final of her career at the Roland Garros. Unfortunately for Halep, she once again ran into Maria Sharapova who edged her in three tight and tough sets. She became the first player since Martina Hingis in 1997 to reach a maiden Grand Slam Final without dropping a set before the reverse to Sharapova.

She is an aggressive baseliner and her favorite shot is the serve and that should serve her well in conditions that will not be windy. She has also shown that she can be consistent so you her expect to have a good run in the tournament.

However despite her consistency, she has won the just one big title and she could go missing where it matters. The fact that this is her maiden appearance at the Tour Finals could also be a limiting factor. Also, her preparations for Singapore have not been up to scratch as she suffered a hip injury which forced her to withdraw prior to her Quarter Final clash with Ana Ivanovic. Playing against the world’s best seven players would a massive test on her fitness, and hip of course.

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD AGAINST THE TOP SEVEN

Halep 0 V Serena 3

Halep 0 V Sharapova 5

Halep 2 V Kvitova 0

Halep 2 V Radwanska 4

Halep 1 V Bouchard 1

Halep 2 V Ivanovic 1

Halep 1 V Wozniacki 1

Name: PETRA KVITOVA

Ranking: 4^th with 6126 points

Road to Singapore Ranking: 3^rd with 5597 points

2014 Record: 40-14

Calendar Titles: 3

Grand Slam Results

Australian Open- 1^st Round exit

French Open: 3^rd Round exit

Wimbledon: Winner

US Open: 3^rd Round exit

WTA Tour Finals Statistics:

This will be her third appearance at the Tour Finals. In her previous two occasions, she made it past the round robin stage, winning it at her first attempt in 2011(beat Azarenka in three sets) and losing in the 2013 semifinal to Li Na. She missed the 2012 championship due to injury.

2014 KVITOVA SEASON

COMPETITION	SURFACE	TOURNAMENT FINISH	OPPONENT
Sydney	Hard Court	Semi Final	Tsvetana Pironkova 4-6 3-6
Australian Open	Hard Court	1^st Round	Kukiska Kum Khum 2-6 6-1 4-6
Doha	Hard Court	Quarter Final	Jelena Jankovic 1-6 3-6
Dubai	Hard Court	2^nd Round	Carla Suarez Navarro 6-1 4-6 6-7
Indian Wells	Hard Court	4^th Round	Dominika Cibulkova 3-6 2-6
Miami	Hard Court	Quarter Final	Maria Sharapova 5-7 1-6
Stuttgart	Clay	2^nd Round	Alisa Kleybanova 2-6 6-7
Madrid	Clay	Semi Final	Simona Halep 7-6 3-6 2-6
Rome	Clay	2^nd Round	Shuai Zhag 6-7 7-5 3-6
French Open	Clay	3^rd Round	Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-6 6-1 7-9
Eastbourne	Grass	Quarter Final	Heather Watson W/O
Wimbledon	Grass	Winner	Eugenie Bouchard 6-36-0
Montreal	Hard Court	3^rd Round	Ekaterina Makarova 4-6 6-1 2-6
Cincinnati	Hard Court	2^nd Round	Elana Svitolina 2-6 6-7
New Haven	Hard Court	Winner	Magdalena Rybarikova 6-4 6-2
US Open	Hard Court	3^rd Round	Aleksandra Krunic 4-6 4-6
Wuhan Open	Hard Court	Winner	Eugenie Bouchard 6-3 6-4
China Open	Hard Court	Final	Maria Sharapova 4-6 6-2 3-6

After an underwhelming 2013, this year has been a much more productive year for the 24 year old. The highlight of her year was her triumph in Wimbledon where she dismantled Bouchard 6-3 6-0 in 55 minutes to win her 2^nd All England Club Crown in 4 years. Her serves and groundstrokes are the biggest assets of the left hander. Pundits have tipped her as the next “power woman” after Williams leaves the scene.

However, unlike the American, she is not consistent and has been accused of saving her best for Wimbledon. The fact she failed to reach the Quarters Final of any of the other slams further strengthens the claim of critics of her being a grass-courter. Her wins at Wuhan and New Haven would suggest that she could be competitive on hard court.

I believe she will start out in Singapore as the third favorite (behind Serena and Sharapova) but if she is to really wrestle and win Tour Finals for a second time, she will have to show greater consistency in her game.