2014 Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open

[Hoergren]

The draw is out and finally in a version I can read. Don't know if there is any special way you want to have this tournament but here is the draw and again it's open for a meeting Serena vs Caroline in the semis - tough quarter for Caroline anyway:

WILLIAMS, Serena USA vs BYE
CORNET, Alizé FRA vs OPRANDI, Romina SUI
QUALIFIER vs FLIPKENS, Kirsten BEL
QUALIFIER v PENNETTA, Flavia ITA
ERRANI, Sara ITA vs WATSON, Heather GBR
XU, Shilin CHN vs RISKE, Alison USA
BARTHEL, Mona GER vs PENG, Shuai CHN
BYE vs BOUCHARD, Eugenie CAN

SHARAPOVA, Maria RUS vs BYE
KUZNETSOVA, Svetlana RUS vs NARA, Kurumi JPN
QUALIFIER vs QUALIFIER
JOVANOVSKI, Bojana SRB vs MAKAROVA, Ekaterina RUS
IVANOVIC, Ana SRB vs PAVLYUCHENKOVA, Anastasia RUS
VINCI, Roberta ITA vs DELLACQUA, Casey AUS
SUÁREZ NAVARRO, Carla ESP vs ZHANG, Kai-Lin CHN
BYE vs WOZNIACKI, Caroline DEN

RADWANSKA, Agnieszka POL vs BYE
WILLIAMS, Venus USA vs GARCIA, Caroline FRA
LL Beck, Annika GER vs VANDEWEGHE, CoCo USA VIKA has withdrawn
MCHALE, Christina USA vs JANKOVIC, Jelena SRB
PETKOVIC, Andrea GER vs QUALIFIER
STOSUR, Samantha AUS vs PLISKOVA, Karolina CZE
QUALIFIER vs QUALIFIER
BYE vs KVITOVA, Petra CZE

KERBER, Angelique GER vs BYE
KOUKALOVA, Klara CZE vs QUALIFIER
ZAHLAVOVA STRYCOVA, Barbora CZE vs HANTUCHOVA, Daniela SVK
KEYS, Madison USA vs CIBULKOVA, Dominika SVK
SAFAROVA, Lucie CZE vs LISICKI, Sabine GER
SVITOLINA, Elina UKR vs GIORGI, Camila ITA
MUGURUZA, Garbiñe ESP vs TORRÓ-FLOR, María-Teresa ESP
BYE vs HALEP, Simona ROU[/i]

The 8 first seeded all have a bye in first round. Lots of points at stake:
Winner $441,000 - 900
Finalists $220,200 - 585
Semi-Finalists $110,100 - 350
Quarter Finalists $50,700 - 190

 

[Si Si Simona]

I just asked Kiu to make a thread, thanks.
Very tough draw for Simona. If Simona makes it through her qaurter it means she is in good shape and will have a good chance of winning it or at least make the final. Here, I said it.
It all depends on her mental attitude.

Wozi meats sugarova in the QF again Good luck Caro.

 

[Hoergren]

As I'm sure you all know it's Li Na's hometown or town where she learnt her tennis and people in Wuhan are moarning as you can see this woman who is holding the statue of Li Na:

 

[Si Si Simona]

^ I dont think she is really moaning, maybe just in a bad mood. Li Na is still alive. I knew she will retire, just felt it.

 

[Hoergren]

^ I dont think she is really moaning, maybe just in a bad mood. Li Na is still alive. I knew she will retire, just felt it.

Well call it what you like but to many Chinese the retirement of Li Na is the same as losing a family member - she's sad.

 

[tossip]

why is Stacey so desperate for Genie to play Serena....every draw this year had Genie playing Serena in qtrs or 4th rd.WTA is desperate for this girl to blow up...and beating Serena will put her in another lane..
Serena needs to beat this girl again and again to stop this nonsense.

 

[Hoergren]

It's a new tournament - here are some pictures - first the fantastic Center Court

This tennis center is composed of a 15,000-seat stadium, a 3,000-seat stadium, and a 5,000-seat stadium, with a total investment of 2 billion Yuan (32.3 million U.S. dollars) and an overall construction area of about 70,000 square meters. The 15,000-seat “Whirlwind Court” is the main stadium, which is sure to attract the most attention.
Fantastic surroundings

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

^ Incredible main stadium arena

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

Serena may finally get to score that win over Cornet this year .

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

^ Great minds think alike Sunday...

 

[Moxie]

It's a new tournament - here are some pictures - first the fantastic Center Court

This tennis center is composed of a 15,000-seat stadium, a 3,000-seat stadium, and a 5,000-seat stadium, with a total investment of 2 billion Yuan (32.3 million U.S. dollars) and an overall construction area of about 70,000 square meters. The 15,000-seat “Whirlwind Court” is the main stadium, which is sure to attract the most attention.
Fantastic surroundings

Those are architectural renderings. I'm trying to find a real photograph of the new stadium. It looks fantastic, though.

 

[tossip]

most of these events in Asia have empty stadiums...just a waste of money.The only match that had people was the Hingis doubles match..

 

[10isfan]

Hoergren, thanks for the photos. That stadium is gorgeous!!! So sad Li could not play there.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

Serena has the best quarter. Everyone else seems to have tough quarters. If Serena craps out to Alize Cornet again, I don't know what to say.

 

[Si Si Simona]

Hoergren, thanks for the photos. That stadium is gorgeous!!!

It cant beat the Guangzhou stadium which has so much more trees and fresh air.
Playing in the nature with some scaffoldings around is the best

 

[faradubii]

Serena may finally get to score that win over Cornet this year .

Cornet seems to be troubled by the weather in Asia, she just got bageled and lost the final in Guangzhou in 2 sets 64 60 to Niculescu. The heat might have something to do with that score. Hopefully she can get still to Wuhan in good shape.
Niculescu, the winner, is screwed though, couldn't compete yesterday in qualies, so she has a whole week to enjoy her new Guangzhou title and get ready for Beijing. I hope they will use the next Monday rankings so at least she doesn't have to play qualies there.

 

[Si Si Simona]

Serena may finally get to score that win over Cornet this year .

Cornet seems to be troubled by the weather in Asia, she just got bageled and lost the final in Guangzhou in 2 sets 64 60 to Niculescu. The heat might have something to do with that score. Hopefully she can get still to Wuhan in good shape.
Niculescu, the winner, is screwed though, couldn't compete yesterday in qualies, so she has a whole week to enjoy her new Guangzhou title and get ready for Beijing. I hope they will use the next Monday rankings so at least she doesn't have to play qualies there.

Cornet played well today and was moving and hitting and winning long rallies. She has no problem with the weather. She was just beaten by a better player on the day (not everyday) who was on fire.
If Monica could play like this the whole year she would be top 10 easy. Monica cant hold such form for a long time.

 

[sk310]

That stadium is STUNNING. I'm really impressed. It's obvious they are investing big time. Wuhan must be taking advantage of being Li Na's hometown. That's really smart of them. They can become a huge draw among Chinese tennis fans, especially if they can get her to continually support the tournament.

 

[Si Si Simona]

screamer will be ranked a solid 3 after wuhan. she starts with 500 points ahead of kviti.
kviti is 4 now.

i will jump from a bridge when she passes simona to be rank 2, to the relief of all of you

 

[faradubii]

You think Sharapova is guaranteed to do well in Wuhan?