WTA Championship

iceminers26 · 10-24-11, 12:02 AM

RED GROUP: Wozniacki, Kvitova, Zvonareva, Radwanska...

(1) Caroline Wozniacki (DEN)

~ Third appearance at WTA Championships (5-4 record); best previous result was runner-up finish in 2010 (l. to Clijsters in final)
~ 2011 Titles (6): Dubai, Indian Wells, Charleston, Brussels, Copenhagen, New Haven
~ Best Grand Slam result in 2011: Australian Open SFs & US Open SFs
~ Fall record: 4-2 (Tokyo 3r, Beijing QFs)
~ Quote: "It's a tough group, but both groups are tough. It's all great players. I'm going in there just hoping to play my best tennis and we'll see what happens."

(3) Petra Kvitova (CZE)

~ First appearance at WTA Championships
~ 2011 Titles (5): Brisbane, Paris [Indoors], Madrid, Wimbledon, Linz
~ Best Grand Slam result in 2011: Won Wimbledon
~ Fall record: 8-2 (Tokyo SFs, Beijing 2r, Won Linz)
~ Quote: "It doesn't matter who's in the group. All eight players are very strong."

(6) Vera Zvonareva (RUS)

~ Fourth direct appearance at WTA Championships (7-6 record); best previous result was runner-up finish in 2008 (l. to V.Williams in final)
~ 2011 Titles (2): Doha, Baku
~ Best Grand Slam result in 2011: Australian Open SFs
~ Fall record: 6-3 (Tokyo R-Up, Beijing 3r, Moscow QFs)
~ Quote: "All players who qualify for the Championships are the best players in the world, so it doesn't really matter what group you're in. All players have done an incredible job to get here. I have to play my best every single match in order to win one. That's what I'm going to try to do."

(8) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL)

~ First direct appearance at WTA Championships (2-0 record... played and won one match as an alternate in both 2008 and 2009)
~ 2011 Titles (3): Carlsbad, Tokyo, Beijing
~ Best Grand Slam result in 2011: Australian Open QFs
~ Fall record: 11-1 (Won Tokyo, Won Beijing, Moscow 2r)
~ Quote: "It's the Top 8 players in the world, the best eight players this year. I don't think it really matters who you play here. I was the last one to get in here so I'm just going to enjoy myself and try to play my best tennis, like in Asia."

WHITE GROUP: Sharapova, Azarenka, Li, Stosur...

(2) Maria Sharapova (RUS)

~ Fifth appearance at WTA Championships (13-5 record); best previous result was winning title in 2004 (d. S.Williams in final)
~ 2011 Titles (2): Rome, Cincinnati
~ Best Grand Slam result in 2011: Wimbledon R-Up
~ Fall record: 2-1 (Tokyo QFs)
~ Quote: "I think we all know what to expect going into the groups. It's the Top 8 girls of the year. You're going to get a tough group either way and tough opponents. It's just a matter of being ready from the first match on."

(4) Victoria Azarenka (BLR)

~ Third appearance at WTA Championships (2-4 record); never passed RR
~ 2011 Titles (3): Miami, Marbella, Luxembourg
~ Best Grand Slam result in 2011: Wimbledon SFs
~ Fall record: 9-1 (Tokyo SFs, Beijing 3r, Won Luxembourg)
~ Quote from Luxembourg: "I'm very pleased to win another title. I was improving from match to match. I came here to get matches before Istanbul and of course win the tournament - everywhere I enter, I try to be the best."

(5) Li Na (CHN)

~ First appearance at WTA Championships
~ 2011 Titles (2): Sydney, French Open
~ Best Grand Slam result in 2011: Won French Open
~ Fall record: 0-1 (Beijing 1r)
~ Quote: "There are two groups and both are tough. It's the last tournament for the whole year and we need to show everyone we can play good tennis."

(7) Samantha Stosur (AUS)
~ Second appearance at WTA Championships (2-2 record); best previous result was SFs in 2010 (l. to Clijsters)
~ 2011 Titles (1): US Open
~ Best Grand Slam result in 2011: Won US Open
~ Fall record: 4-3 (Tokyo 2r, Beijing 2r, Osaka R-Up)
~ Quote: "Maria and Victoria I've never beaten before, so there's a great challenge in itself. Obviously Li Na I've had success against, but every tournament is new. It's going to be a tough week but I'm looking forward to it."

(2011 WTA Tour, Inc.)

iceminers26 · 10-24-11, 12:07 AM

Note: Vika alternate in doubles.

beefcake · 10-24-11, 07:59 AM

Radwanska future looks good at 8-1 at bet 365..!!

brandoc · 10-24-11, 08:43 AM

Mate - how can you possibly like Li? She has been truly horrible of late and seems to be low on confidence. Also has pretty poor Indoor HC record...

iceminers26 · 10-24-11, 12:59 PM

Originally posted by brandoc

Mate - how can you possibly like Li? She has been truly horrible of late and seems to be low on confidence. Also has pretty poor Indoor HC record...

would all depend on the odds, which I haven't seen yet, if they are ridiculous which there is a chance since many won't think of her as a threat, I would take a small shot... I just feel she is a gamer and you know she will compete but like I said all depends on price and it would be a small shot nonetheless

iceminers26 · 10-24-11, 01:00 PM

Originally posted by beefcake

Radwanska future looks good at 8-1 at bet 365..!!

I haven'te been able to see futures yet but 8 to 1 is a pretty good price with her current form, hopefully find some time tonight to sit down and finalize my round 1 and future plays. Good luck BC.

iceminers26 · 10-24-11, 01:01 PM

Order of Play

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Sinan Erdem Dome (from 17.00hrs)
1. Petra Kvitova vs. Vera Zvonareva
2. Caroline Wozniacki vs. Agnieszka Radwanska
3. Maria Sharapova vs. Samantha Stosur

Demonata · 10-24-11, 01:27 PM

HMMMMMM. Should be a good championship.

tevari · 10-24-11, 01:37 PM

my only play would be on radwanska, i think her game is decently suited to fare well against woz. the other two are complete coin flips imo

moses millsap · 10-24-11, 04:01 PM

Sharpova owns Stosur in her career IIRC

Demonata · 10-24-11, 05:13 PM

I see Woz and Maria winning.

Krypt · 10-24-11, 05:18 PM

ALL IN ON SHARAPOVA

Demonata · 10-24-11, 05:19 PM

hell no.

iceminers26 · 10-24-11, 11:17 PM

leans at the moment Kvitova -140 and Radwanksa +120

these are current prices at my book, going to wait it out though because I'm seeing slightly better numbers at other shops and going to see if I can get better prices

Kvitova will be a play regardless, not sure if I'm going to pull the trigger yet on Rad, Woz sucks but she has a track record of playing unreal when I fade here so going to think about it.

birdmanweezy · 10-24-11, 11:25 PM

good luck will play something closer to match time

MUHerd37 · 10-25-11, 01:51 AM

Li has stated publicly that she doesn't have any confidence in her game.

Goat Milk · 10-25-11, 02:13 AM

zvonareva has the experience here

iceminers26 · 10-25-11, 08:20 AM

Originally posted by Goat Milk

zvonareva has the experience here

yes but not like Kvitova hasn't been on the big stage before and performed well, experience isn't a factor here for me

problem I'm having is current price, -145, is way out of my comfort zone for laying juice... I'm more a -105 to + bettor but might have to make an exception here, keep hoping people hit Z so I can get a little cheaper.

Good lUck

iceminers26 · 10-25-11, 08:37 AM

Tourney Record: 0-0

Day I

KVITOVA, PETRA -145 2 units

RADWANSKA, AGNIESZKA +130 1 unit

Demonata · 10-25-11, 08:40 AM

Like your first pick of kvitova. Good luck.

birdmanweezy · 10-25-11, 08:45 AM

good luck taking kvitova and stouser here

Goat Milk · 10-25-11, 10:12 AM

kvitova is a boss

Demonata · 10-25-11, 11:01 AM

Ya good job kvitova.

Not following you with ranwanska no offense I'm taking wozniacki.

iceminers26 · 10-25-11, 04:05 PM

Day 1 result: 1-1 +1 unit

Kvitova did what was expected and even though she showed some nerves closing it out, she regrouped and got it done. Not gonna lie, I'm expecting big things from her this tourney and if the prices remain right, today won't be the last time I back her this week.

Rad on the otherhand fell short, really don't know what to make out of today's match. She is one of the best returners on the tour so expected breaks that way but her service let her down when it mattered and proved to be the difference.

Had no action on the late nighter but the unexpected (0-9 h2h) heading in, happened. Not really that big of a shock imo since odds were skeptical anyways and Pova usually lays an egg here and there. Don't really think Stosur was worthly of a play at such low odds so not really that upset I didn't fade Pova here, will be more times this week to fade her.

All in all, good opening day, watched some good tennis and gained a unit in the process.

Will post leans/plays when lines come out for tomorrow's matches. Hope all had a good day.

sportman1313 · 10-25-11, 06:23 PM

Good job iceminers, i had an okay day but sharapova screwed that up....the thing is, despite the odds being fishy, she matches up EXTREMELY well against stosur and i had to back her. Went quite big and she should've won the second set and ran away in the 3rd but boy did she choke badly. Oh well, she has Li tomorrow and I'm on her and I'm most likely going to be on azarenka vs stosur. Once again, stosur does not match up well against azarenka AT ALL. BOL on future plays, would love to exchange insite into the matches.

Originally posted by iceminers26

Day 1 result: 1-1 +1 unit

Kvitova did what was expected and even though she showed some nerves closing it out, she regrouped and got it done. Not gonna lie, I'm expecting big things from her this tourney and if the prices remain right, today won't be the last time I back her this week.

Rad on the otherhand fell short, really don't know what to make out of today's match. She is one of the best returners on the tour so expected breaks that way but her service let her down when it mattered and proved to be the difference.

Had no action on the late nighter but the unexpected (0-9 h2h) heading in, happened. Not really that big of a shock imo since odds were skeptical anyways and Pova usually lays an egg here and there. Don't really think Stosur was worthly of a play at such low odds so not really that upset I didn't fade Pova here, will be more times this week to fade her.

All in all, good opening day, watched some good tennis and gained a unit in the process.

Will post leans/plays when lines come out for tomorrow's matches. Hope all had a good day.

Demonata · 10-25-11, 06:35 PM

I'm on Az and Maria sharapova tomorrow as well. When does kvitova play her next match? Really like her as a tennis player.

iceminers26 · 10-25-11, 11:12 PM

I'm gonna sleep on it before making any final decisions but here is my initial thoughts for today.

Woz/Z, wouldn't touch it with JJ's rooster... you have an overated #1 against a headcase, no thanks... pass for me.

Pova/Li... Pova looked like complete trash today and quite honestly who knows what you're going to get today, she could be unreal or just lay an egg again... Li, same thing imo, if she is on and Pova hasn't found it she could pull it out but if not could go Pova's way... passing on this one as well.

Vika/Stosur.... Probably the only match I'm interested in, even though I'm not a big fan of backing Vika, I'm confident she gets it done today. She has been playing well of late and I think Stosur's win today was more of Pova playing like trash as opposed to Stosur playing unreal... don't mean to take anything away from her win but just calling it how I see it.

So Lean: Vika

post plays in the morning, good luck all.

birdmanweezy · 10-25-11, 11:15 PM

love azarenka 2morrow

iceminers26 · 10-26-11, 08:52 AM

1-1 + 1u.

Day II

Vika -250. 1u

Hate the price but playing it. Good luck all.

sportman1313 · 10-26-11, 09:07 AM

let's get this iceminers

iceminers26 · 10-26-11, 10:41 PM

Day II Result: 1-0 +1u

Overall: 2-1 +2u

Az/Stous: Az did what was expected, don't like backing her laying high prices but she got it done without us Az backers having to worry much.

Na/Pova: Should have faded Pova here but thought since she lost the opener she would fight until the end here and the price wasn't unreal on Na with the layout so I passed, my loss.

Z/Woz: Same with Pova, stated in my opening post I didn't like the 1 or 2 but yet I haven't been fading them. I still wouldn't have backed Z, don't like backing headcases especially on such a big event.

All and all a good day picking up a unit and can't focus on missing the boat with fades of Woz and Pova because I had my reasons to be gunshy... just happy with the positive day.

Looking at the 3 matches on tap for tomorrow, probably post in the AM if I like anything. Good Luck.

iceminers26 · 10-27-11, 10:44 AM

I am only playing the late match today, Vika was too high priced for my liking and I can't see backing Kvitova @ -150 and over vs Woz (currently -175 @ my book), especially with the way Woz plays when I fade her, lol. I do think Kvitova is the better in form player but at the current price, pass for me.

Overall: 2-1 +2u

Day III

Radwanska - 2 units

(I'm waiting on price, will play up to -115 but waiting to see if a better # comes at my book; will post price when I put the play in.)

sportman1313 · 10-27-11, 10:52 AM

that radwanska/vera match is going to be quite interesting depending on the outcome of kvitova/woz match...as much as I like radwanska, if vera plays the way she did yesterday she'll roll. If she comes up the net often and continues to be aggressive she'll take care of rad...rad has beaten her 3 times straight in impressive fashion and she's a player i like quite a bit but don't think she likes these courts much and looks like her extensive playing has somewhat taken its toll. Nonetheless, i wanted to take az but way too juiced for my liking also...and these two other matches probably warrant some in-match plays. If woz can cause kvitova to start making errors nonstop, woz all the way...but if kvitova continues to play as aggressively as she has been with minimal errors, bye bye to woz. We'll see how these pan out though, so glad I have a future on Azarenka

bol iceminers

iceminers26 · 10-27-11, 10:59 AM

KVITOVA, PETRA -165 - 2 units

Price got a little cheaper and not going to find a better in-form player on the indoor surface so I decided to roll with her today.

Will post later match when I play it but for now just this one play is placed.

Good Luck.