WayneWonder
11-06-2006, 03:49 PM
RED GROUP
2. Maria Sharapova (RUS) (+181)
*56-8 YTD
Sharapova comes in as arguably the hottest player on tour. She won the last major of the season, The US Open, and has put together a 16-match win streak. Her only loss since the start of the Open came in a W/O against Anna Chakvetadze. She has experience here at the TC, compiling a 6-3 record and twice making the semis. She has never won a title, but is in a three-way race with Henin and Mauresmo to finish the year at No. 1.
7. Elena Dementieva (RUS) (+2600)
*47-18 YTD
Elena is just 4-4 since the US Open, with a lowlight loss to 95th ranked A. Radwanska. She hasn't fared well in the TC, never advancing out of Round 1, while compiling a 3-11 record. She does not have a winning record against any of the other seven ladies in the Championship.
6. Kim Clijsters (BEL) (+642)
*41-10 YTD
Clijsters is an intriguing prospect at these odds. She has dominated the other three players in her group all time yet is an unknown due to injuries. She played last week in Haslett, winning the tournament, although the competition was less than stellar. Her 13-4 career record at the TC is best amongst the field and she has won both times she made the finals. Kim was in great form before having to withdraw from the Open and was on the short list of favorites, for sure. She should be able to advance in this group, but is 0-5 this year against yellow group faves Henin and Mauresmo.
4. Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) (+1062)
*59-18 YTD
Svetlana has seemed to struggle against top-flight competition at times this season. Other times she was arguably the best woman on tour. She won all three from Momo and beat Sharapova in their only meeting this year. But each time she squared off against JHH, she lost. (0-5 this year, 1-12 all-time). She could easily make it out of this group and if she could avoid Henin, would be a good a bet as anyone to win the whole thing.
YELLOW GROUP
1. Amélie Mauresmo (FRA) (+701)
*48-12 YTD
She comes in battling for the No. 1 spot and benefitting from a pretty favorable draw (for her). She is 6-2 in 2006 vs. the ladies in her group. The TC has been kind to Mauresmo as she is 9-7 all-time, having made it out of her group the L3 years. She has also played in two finals, winning one. The best season of Mauresmo's life began here last season with a win, and included victories at both the Aussie Open and Wimbledon. Both her victories over Henin came in Grand Slam finals, putting to rest any talk of mental toughness, while raising some questions about JHH. Barring a letdown, she should easily make it out of her group and holds favorable records vs. the women in the red group. (3-0 in '06 v. Clijsters, 3-1 all-time v. Sahrapova)
3. Justine Henin-Hardenne (BEL) (+327)
*56-7 YTD
Justine is one of the faves, but not quite the slam dunk some might think. She has been the most consistent woman on tour all season, with only 7 losses, but three of those seven have come in Grand Slam finals. She has never made it past the SF's of the TC (4-4 all-time) and has been off since September 17th. Should easily advance but could be vulnerable in the SF's or beyond.
5. Nadia Petrova (RUS) (+999)
*47-17
Longshot to make it out of the yellow group. Only 1-2 all-time at TC with awful H2H records vs. both JHH and Momo. (2-8, 2-5 respectively). Thanks for playing, Nadia.
8. Martina Hingis (SUI) (+2026)
*52-17
Could not have asked for a worse draw. She has not beat any of the women in her group since her comeback earlier this year. In fact just 4-11 against the field this year. She is a great player and it is wonderful that she has been able to make the Top 8 in her first year back. But the ride ends here for Hingis.
MY PICKS
After reading all of the write-ups, I am going to play 5 units on each of the following:
Mauresmo +701....5 to win 35.05
Sharapova +181....5 to win 9.05
Kuznetsova +1062....5 to win 53.10
2. Maria Sharapova (RUS) (+181)
*56-8 YTD
Sharapova comes in as arguably the hottest player on tour. She won the last major of the season, The US Open, and has put together a 16-match win streak. Her only loss since the start of the Open came in a W/O against Anna Chakvetadze. She has experience here at the TC, compiling a 6-3 record and twice making the semis. She has never won a title, but is in a three-way race with Henin and Mauresmo to finish the year at No. 1.
7. Elena Dementieva (RUS) (+2600)
*47-18 YTD
Elena is just 4-4 since the US Open, with a lowlight loss to 95th ranked A. Radwanska. She hasn't fared well in the TC, never advancing out of Round 1, while compiling a 3-11 record. She does not have a winning record against any of the other seven ladies in the Championship.
6. Kim Clijsters (BEL) (+642)
*41-10 YTD
Clijsters is an intriguing prospect at these odds. She has dominated the other three players in her group all time yet is an unknown due to injuries. She played last week in Haslett, winning the tournament, although the competition was less than stellar. Her 13-4 career record at the TC is best amongst the field and she has won both times she made the finals. Kim was in great form before having to withdraw from the Open and was on the short list of favorites, for sure. She should be able to advance in this group, but is 0-5 this year against yellow group faves Henin and Mauresmo.
4. Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) (+1062)
*59-18 YTD
Svetlana has seemed to struggle against top-flight competition at times this season. Other times she was arguably the best woman on tour. She won all three from Momo and beat Sharapova in their only meeting this year. But each time she squared off against JHH, she lost. (0-5 this year, 1-12 all-time). She could easily make it out of this group and if she could avoid Henin, would be a good a bet as anyone to win the whole thing.
YELLOW GROUP
1. Amélie Mauresmo (FRA) (+701)
*48-12 YTD
She comes in battling for the No. 1 spot and benefitting from a pretty favorable draw (for her). She is 6-2 in 2006 vs. the ladies in her group. The TC has been kind to Mauresmo as she is 9-7 all-time, having made it out of her group the L3 years. She has also played in two finals, winning one. The best season of Mauresmo's life began here last season with a win, and included victories at both the Aussie Open and Wimbledon. Both her victories over Henin came in Grand Slam finals, putting to rest any talk of mental toughness, while raising some questions about JHH. Barring a letdown, she should easily make it out of her group and holds favorable records vs. the women in the red group. (3-0 in '06 v. Clijsters, 3-1 all-time v. Sahrapova)
3. Justine Henin-Hardenne (BEL) (+327)
*56-7 YTD
Justine is one of the faves, but not quite the slam dunk some might think. She has been the most consistent woman on tour all season, with only 7 losses, but three of those seven have come in Grand Slam finals. She has never made it past the SF's of the TC (4-4 all-time) and has been off since September 17th. Should easily advance but could be vulnerable in the SF's or beyond.
5. Nadia Petrova (RUS) (+999)
*47-17
Longshot to make it out of the yellow group. Only 1-2 all-time at TC with awful H2H records vs. both JHH and Momo. (2-8, 2-5 respectively). Thanks for playing, Nadia.
8. Martina Hingis (SUI) (+2026)
*52-17
Could not have asked for a worse draw. She has not beat any of the women in her group since her comeback earlier this year. In fact just 4-11 against the field this year. She is a great player and it is wonderful that she has been able to make the Top 8 in her first year back. But the ride ends here for Hingis.
MY PICKS
After reading all of the write-ups, I am going to play 5 units on each of the following:
Mauresmo +701....5 to win 35.05
Sharapova +181....5 to win 9.05
Kuznetsova +1062....5 to win 53.10