by Bobby Chintapalli, Contributing Writer
It’s Day 4 in Istanbul, where the stands are full, the temps are pleasant, two qualifiers are out of the event (Caroline Wozniacki was eliminated, Maria Sharapova withdrew) and two others are in the semifinals (Petra Kvitova and Victoria Azarenka). Today’s action will determine the other two semifinalists based on a brain-hurting assortment of rules and numbers and wins and losses. Here’s a list of matches and, once again, a few numbers on and words from those playing them.
Matches
1) WHITE GROUP: Li Na vs. Samantha Stosur ? Stosur leads 5-0
2) RED GROUP: Petra Kvitova vs. Agnieszka Radwanska ? Kvitova leads 2-0
3) WHITE GROUP: Marion Bartoli vs. Victoria Azarenka ? Azarenka leads 7-1
The current standings are here, and they’ll be updated throughout the day.
Qualification Update
This is from the WTA website:
—RED GROUP: Kvitova has already qualified from the Red Group. Both Zvonareva and Radwanska could be the group's second qualifier—if Radwanska wins just a set against Kvitova on Friday, Radwanska qualifies; if Radwanska loses to Kvitova in straight sets on Friday, Zvonareva qualifies.
—WHITE GROUP: Azarenka has already qualified from the White Group. The second qualifier will be either Li Na or Sam Stosur—they play each other on Friday and the winner of that will move through to the semifinals.
Numbers
0: Number of sets lost here by Petra Kvitova and Victoria Azarenka. Yesterday both clinched a spot in the semifinals. The two were oddsmakers’ favorites going into this event.
1: Number of alternates playing today. That’s Marion Bartoli, who’s stepping in because Maria Sharapova pulled out.
3: Number of Grand Slam singles winners playing today. That’s Li Na, Petra Kvitova and Samantha Stosur. With Maria Sharapova out, they’re all the remaining Slam winners in the field.
7: The number of aces Petra Kvitova served in yesterday’s win against Caroline Wozniacki. It was the most any player here served in any one match.
8: Agnieszka Radwanska’s career-high ranking (and her ranking this week). That makes her the only qualifier who has never been in the Top 5.
10: The number of Top 10 wins Petra Kvitova earned this year. That’s more than any other player.
72: Li Na’s career singles win percentage. It’s the highest among those playing here today.
80: Victoria Azarenka’s first-serve percentage in yesterday’s win against Li Na. It was the best by any player in any match here.
94: Number of career singles matches lost by Petra Kvitova. That’s fewer than anyone else playing here today. She’s the only one among the 10 active Slam winners with that number in the double digits.
426: Number of career singles matches won by Marion Bartoli. That’s more than anyone else playing here today. In this year’s field only Vera Zvonareva has won more (452).
Words
—Petra Kvitova is happy she beat Caroline Wozniacki, but she doesn’t think it was all her: “Actually, it was like she wasn’t okay. This looks like she didn’t move very well how she can.”
—And did you know Petra Kvitova said this? “[Sometimes] it’s tough to play against Caroline because we are good friends…”
—Everyone’s been talking about the crowd in Istanbul. The fact, you know, that there is one. It’s been great to see, hasn’t it? Victoria Azarenka thinks so too: “Yeah, the crowd is amazing. I think that’s what we’ve been really missing in the last couple years, the good crowd, the good support. You really want to go out there and show good tennis... I mean, for the first year I really enjoy being here.”
—Victoria Azarenka has looked pretty excited after winning matches here, celebrating with an energetic, if slightly odd, ritual that involves sticking her tongue out. She was asked why she seemed so “pumped up” and she responded with a question first: “Have you never seen me play before? I’m always pumped up… Once you get that feeling that you won, you kind of relax, and you just let all your emotions out, because during those hour and a half you really have to keep yourself together.”
—A few players were asked who they consider the player of the year. Li Na gave an answer, and that answer was Maria Sharapova: “I always think she’s tough, like doesn’t matter if she was like win first set or she lose first set. I mean, if you see the body language, she always fighting on the court.”
—Li Na was also asked whether she and her coach/husband always talk about tactics during coaching visits or whether conversation turns to topics like, oh, dinner: “Oh, come on. He never say that on court.”
—Samantha Stosur thinks the courts have gotten faster, and that’s just fine by her: “The first few days it was nearly impossible to hit a winner…”
—After losing to Victoria Azarenka, Samantha Stosur was asked about two controversial topics in one question: “You were obviously were involved in a well-documented incident in the U.S. Open final with Serena. How much more difficult is it when a player shouts out, Come on, sort of as you’re trying to lunge for the ball than when you’re playing someone who is making a noise after each shot, as is always the case with this opponent today?”
—You can’t be sure this came from an Agnieszka Radwanska transcript (it did), but you darn well know it didn’t come from a Jelena Jankovic transcript: “Actually, my shoulder is pretty good. I’m not complaining.”
—Agnieszka Radwanska said she’s playing an in-form Petra Kvitova, one of the favorites if not the favorite now, but she said more too: “I’m gonna do my best tomorrow. I’m gonna fight like hell...”