8 unknown Women's singles champions: Part II
This year, as in any other year, there were an unexpected number of opponents participating as outer court players in the 2010 US Open tournament. Outer court players are a vital part of any tournament; they level out the playing field by ensuring an equal
opportunity for the more popular players and for those who are only just beginning to stand out. In the women’s singles tournament at Flushing Meadows this year, for example, there were no less than eight champions whom even diehard fans had difficulty placing.
Therefore, a brief introduction and career achievements summary of four of these players is listed in this second instalment.
Anastasija Sevastova: 20 year old Sevastova enjoyed a good run so far this year. She managed to conquer Jelena Jankovic to reach the semi finals at the Monterrey tournament, as well as winning the tournament at Estoril for a title (defeating
Agnes Szavay in the final). The Latvian player defeated fellow outer court player Regina Kulikova at the first round of the US Open, but she was taken down by Svetlana Kuznetsova in the next one. Her highest ranking on the WTA is World Number 55; she is currently
ranked at Number 54.
Sara Errani: this Italian is popular as one of the shortest players on the WTA tour, with a height of 5 foot 4 inches. However, she also has supreme ground strokes, and a career high ranking of World Number 31, along with two WTA career
titles. She reached the semi finals of the Andalucia Tennis Experience this year, losing to Flavia Pennetta. Currently ranked Number 40, she defeated compatriot Tathiana Garbin and Alisa Kleybanova at the US Open tournament this year, before losing to Sam
Stosur in the third round. She made it to the second round of the Toray Pan Pacific Open, to be defeated by Vera Zvonareva.
Polona Hercog: Slovenian Hercog has been ranked as high as World Number 43, following successes which include a narrow loss to Venus Williams at the final of the Acapulco matches. The 19 year old player has emerged victorious over Lucie
Safarova and Aleksandra Wozniak. She was defeated at the US Open in the first round by Mandy Minella. She has played two tournaments since then; the Hansol Korea Open, where she lost to Agnes Szavay, and the Toray Pan Pacific Open, falling to Aravane Rezai.
Both her losses occurred in the first round. Her current ranking is Number 45.
Timea Bacsinszky: this Swiss player reached a career high WTA ranking of World Number 37 this year, with her current ranking being Number 48. Earlier this year, 23 year old Bacsinszky defeated Bethanie Mattek-Sands, Na Li and Polona Hercog
at the Sony Ericsson Open to make it to the fourth round against Yanina Wickmayer, whom she lost to. Her latest major success was her presence at the Nurnberger Gastein Ladies, where she made it to the finals after defeating Anna-Lena Groenefeld, Ekaterina
Dzehalevich, Sandra Zahlavova and Yvonne Meusberger, before falling to Julia Georges. She participated in the US Open tournament against Jie Zheng in the first round, losing to the Chinese World Number 23 player.
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