15th March 2005, 09:16 PM
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Member
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 160
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Karla - thanks for the reply. Some interesting points in relation to
the ATP.
Martinez has been a positive earner for me this year as has Kirilenko. Some of themore statistical points that make me lean toward Martinez are:
Prior to this tournament she was 9-4 on hard for season.
Is 143/87 on hard over the past 8-and-half years (that's as far as my data goes back).
Solid wins over Myskina, Dechy, Peer, Linetskya and Groenefeld with in the past 4-5 weeks.
Won Pattaya Title in February.
Quarter Finalist in Indian Wells 2004. lost to Myskina (4th seed) in tight 3 setter.
Semi Finalist in Indian Wells 2003 - losing to Klijsters (1 seed).
Her current rating in my database is higher than it was in 2003 or 2004 Indian Wells tournament.
Her interviews over the past month - including the past few days - are very confident. She retires at the end of the year but reckons she's never enjoyed the game as much as she is now.
Kirilenko also has strong figures albeeit over a short time frame but loses points for success rate in
Quarter Final matches or better (ie: Semi Final and Finals). Her only Finals success was in the challengers last year, though she did beat Na Li in Hyderabad QF's this year.
Her performances at Indian Wells are negligible, though this is partly because she is young.
In the previous round Garrigue had seven break point opportunities but only made three. In Round 1 Bovina had 7 break point opportunities but only converted 3. If Martinez gets the same opportunity to break, I believe she'll have a higher conversion rate.
That said, Kirilenko can clearly still win. I just believe the value's with Martinez.
PS: It's a sad day when we both call 32 year-olds "oldies". I'd be happy to be 33 again :-)
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