2011 BNP Paribas Open: Women’s Tennis Association seeds Part XV
World Number 34 Jarmila Groth
Australian tennis pro, Jarmila Groth, has been part of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Tour for almost six years, having joined the circuit in May 2005. The player has competed in the Indian Wells tournament four times, participating in 2004, 2007,
2008 and 2009.
In 2004, Groth could not even make it past the qualifying rounds of the event. She managed to gain entry into the main draw of the 2007 Indian Wells Masters, but was defeated in the first round by Caroline Wozniacki in straight sets. At that time, Wozniacki
was ranked World Number 138, while Groth was World Number 90.
She participated in the tournament again in 2008 and 2009, and was ousted in the qualifying rounds once again. Her 2009 qualifying run lasted till the second round after she defeated Angelique Kerber in straight sets. She was ousted by American tennis player,
Angela Haynes. Groth did not take part in the 2010 BNP Paribas Open.
The player has been posting good results at recent tournaments, particularly the BMW Malaysian Open, where she proceeded to the latter stages of the event. However, her poor previous record at the tournament makes her chances at success somewhat doubtful.
Despite this, it is her first time as a seeded player and she may be able to surprise pundits and spectators alike.
World Number 33 Tsvetana Pironkova
Tsvetana Pironkova is a Bulgarian tennis pro who joined the WTA circuit almost ten years ago, and has been playing professionally since 2002. She is currently 23 years old. The player has participated at the BNP Paribas Open on multiple occasions in the
past and in fact, she has been a constant fixture at the tournament since 2006.
Her best showing at the tournament was the second round. During the 2009 BNP Paribas Open, she managed to defeat Marina Erakovic of New Zealand before going down to first seed Dinara Safina. Pironkova was ranked World Number 50 at that point in time.
Her latest appearance at the tournament was similar to her previous ones. She was ranked World Number 127 by the WTA at this time, and could not gain direct entry into the tournament. However, she managed to defeat Kristina Kucova of Slovakia and Ayumi Morita
of Japan to qualify for the main draw of the event. In the first round, she defeated Uzbekistan’s World Number 98, Akgul Amanmuradova, to reach the second round. Here, she was defeated by Russian pro and 23rd seed Alisa Kleybanova in three sets.
Given that her ranking has risen considerably over the past few months, Pironkova may also have a few tricks up her sleeve on the hard court this time. However, if her past performance is anything to go by, she will most likely be ousted in the second round.
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