Mona Barthel

why is that the question? she's a superstar now? it's too low for me but that's beside the point

The thing is she doesn't need to win...

why doesnt she need to win?

Because someone has pulled out of the main draw and she is the highest seed left in qualifying...

DrewLilley Drew Lilley
Kanepi withdraws with right shoulder injury. I presume lucky loser takes her place. Brianti (0-5 down to Barrois) could benefit #opengdfsuez

mind you, even though Drew Lilley says Brianti could benefit, she is only the 3rd highest seed left. If either Barthel or Mattek-Sands lose they will take the lucky loser spot over Brianti

So basically Barthel will play for an additional 8 ranking points and if she fancies the qualifier spots on the draw more than Kanepi's spot. At least I think as a lucky loser she would directly take Kanepi's place without any shuffling in the draw.

ah Jimmy i didn't know about Kanepi, cheers

One of the wonders of women's tennis! I think Barthel will want to go through automatically as I don't see much difference in being the lucky loser as the route is similar...

ATP has exactly the same lucky loser rules...

Looking fwd to this 1!

Mattek can lose now too!

So that's two now....Will Jankovic make it three?

how i love the fact that having serve means nothing in the women's game. one break does it in the men's game usually, this one is on course for three of the first four games...

Of course it means something ffs. It means you will lose the game! So not much different from two argentines playing each other on a clay court.

If we don't count the freak results like yesterday Lisicki-Kvitova where they went....21 (?) straight games without a break of serve.

10 holds yes now that was an exceptional fluke!, especially given their respective matches prior to it when they weren't convincing on serve to say the least