“Get Excited” is a new segment here on The Changeover where the writing staff looks at the upcoming WTA and ATP tournaments and talk about the things we’re looking forward to in the upcoming week, or the things we’re dreading, or the things we just don’t understand. So here’s what’s ahead in Week 2 of the tennis season:
WTA: Hobart
1. HSIEH, Su-Wei; 25
2. CIRSTEA, Sorana; 27
3. ZAKOPALOVA, Klara; 28
4. SHVEDOVA, Yaroslava; 29
5. SUAREZ NAVARRO, Carla; 34
6. SCHIAVONE, Francesca; 35
7. PAVLYUCHENKOVA, Anastasia; 36
8. STEPHENS, Sloane; 38
Lindsay: I love tournaments like this where the b-list players get a chance to shine through. I’m most excited to see if Sloane Stephens can break through after her solid start to the year in Brisbane and make a run. There are some great R1 matches, including defending champion Mona Barthel taking on Cirstea and Stephens taking on Robson. I can’t wait to see who steps up!
Amy: Three players I’m particularly interested in watching this year, Pavlyuchenkova, Shvedova, and Stephens, are in this tournament. A draw like this is a big chance for any of them.
Juan José: A few years ago, my wife and I thought we saw the future of Spanish women’s tennis when Carla Suárez Navarro beat Venus Williams at the Australian Open. Turns out, that wasn’t much of a vision – just a mirage. Still, it’d be great if Suárez Navarro starts the year on a strong note and improves on that meddling ranking of hers. Also, like Lindsay, I’m very curious about that Sloane Stephens-Laura Robson match. I wonder if Robson can pull off the upset there and improve on her showing in Shenzhen last week.
WTA: Sydney
1. RADWANSKA, Agnieszka; 4
2. KERBER, Angelique; 5
3. ERRANI, Sara; 6
4. LI, Na; 7
5. KVITOVA, Petra; 8
6. STOSUR, Samantha; 9
7. WOZNIACKI, Caroline; 10
8. PETROVA, Nadia; 12
Lindsay: There are so many awesome things about this draw. I’m most excited to see if Kerber, Kvitova, Stosur, and Wozniacki can establish some momentum before the Australian Open.
Amy: Why is Radwanska playing this event? That seems like a poor decision.
Juan José: Really strong draw for Sydney – so many big names. I wonder if Wozniacki can get her 2013 going after her lukewarm performance at Brisbane. I’d love it she made it to that potential third round match against Kerber, who struggled her way through Brisbane, finally losing to the eventual runner-up. Kerber has had a somewhat underwhelming start to 2013 – I wonder if she can keep her cool for a full week here. I’m also curious to see what Kvitova can do here – she lasted all of two matches last week.
ATP: Sydney
1. ISNER, John; 14
2. SIMON, Gilles; 16
3. SEPPI, Andreas; 23
4. VERDASCO, Fernando; 24
5. MAYER, Florian; 28
6. STEPANEK, Radek; 31
7. CHARDY, Jeremy; 32
8. GRANOLLERS, Marcel; 34
Lindsay: What’s there NOT to be excited about in a tournament where John Isner is the top seed? I mean, really. The Tomic/Matosevic battle of the Australian bad-boys in R1 should be epic, Jeremy Chardy and Feliciano Lopez can have an emo-off, and everyone should keep an eye on Benny. This is just the type of tournament that he likes to make it to the finals in and then lose in dramatic fashion. Fun!
Amy: Lindsay just ruined it for me — I’m definitely not excited for any tournament in which Isner is the top seed. However, I’ll be very interested to see how Tomic does.
Juan José: Isner is the first seed. Simon is the second seed. Seppi is the third seed. After looking at that trio, I was going to pull the plug on my interest in Sydney, but there are a couple of noteworthy things. First, Bernie Tomic makes his official debut! #BernieGOAT watch can start! Tomic was allegedly very good in Hopman Cup last week, even getting a win over World No. 1 and good friend Novak Djokovic. Can he make a deep run here? Also, the unexpected Brisbane finalist Grigor Dimitrov is here – I wonder if he has something left in the tank after his breakout run this week.
ATP: Auckland
1. FERRER, David; 5
2. KOHLSCHREIBER, Philipp; 20
3. HAAS, Tommy; 21
4. QUERREY, Sam; 22
5. JANOWICZ, Jerzy; 26
6. MELZER, Jurgen; 29
7. KLIZAN, Martin; 30
8. BELLUCCI, Thomaz; 33
Lindsay: Okay, so there is absolutely no reason that David Ferrer should be playing this tournament! But besides that, there’s a really fun field here. Two of the late-season bloomers, Janowicz and Querrey, make their 2013 debuts and it will be interesting to see if they can carry their momentum from last year over. Some of my sentimental favorites such as Malisse, Lacko, and Brian Baker are also in the mix, so it should be fun to see who can take advantage of a relatively wide-open field.
Amy: Nice draw here. I’m also confused about Ferrer’s presence, but playing a heavy schedule didn’t deter him from winning a Tour-best 76 matches last year. I’ll be watching Haas to see if he’s fresh, after a lackluster performance at Hopman Cup (I know, I know, it’s an exo.)
Juan José: Two words: JERZY JANOWICZ! The surprise Paris Masters finalist starts his season here, and given his improved ranking, has a pretty decent draw. I would’ve loved if Janowicz started against anybody else except Brian Baker – I want to see more out of the American this year, too. Speaking of Americans, Sam Querrey will make his season debut here as well, and it’ll be interesting to see what he can do in 2013 after finishing 2012 on a high note. Querrey and Janowicz could meet in the third round – that’s a lock to be a triple tiebreak serve fest. One thing I don’t understand about Auckland is why Ferrer is here. The soon-to-be Number 4 seed for the Australian Open has decided to start the year by (potentially) playing four straight weeks. That seems highly questionable to me. When I saw Ferrer play in Doha, I thought he had swapped that tournament for Auckland. Not so. If Ferrer goes deep here (and he should – he has a favorable draw), what will he have left for the Australian Open?
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What are you guys excited about this week?
I’m excited for the later rounds on the womens side in Sydney. Possible Kerber-Wozniacki and Li Na-Stosur quarters will be glorious messes! But I’m most excited for a Kerber-Kvitova semi. If they both make it, I’m just hoping Kvitova brings the goods because Kerber is always ready.
Does Jerzy have a clothing sponsor yet?
I don’t think so, Henk. In Auckland he has the same Nike kit he used in Paris, plus the new Lotto kit that Ferrer has been wearing. However, he’s putting patches over both logos, so it’s safe to say that no deal has been reached yet. However, it does seem like Babolat picked him up in earnest, and Oakley might have some sort of deal with him.
Juan Jose,
How about Brian Baker defeating a certain Polish player in 3 sets?
An unfortunate situation, Master Ace. Apparently it was extremely windy. But you fail to mention how Janowicz did manage to save 15 of 17 break points (only got broken in the 3rd set), as well as 7 match points. Yes, he had a horrible day returning Baker’s serve, and was in double digits in terms of double-faults, but there were some encouraging signs from that match. Or at least that’s what I keep telling myself.
Pavlyuchenkova w/d due to hip injury (more like rest to me after making an unexpected run to the final at Brisbane). Believe Wozniacki may do well this week as she does the week before a Slam. Agree that Radwanska needs to rest this week because I can see a “hot” player defeating her before the quarterfinals in Melbourne.