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Mar 25 2008 22:08:53
thedestroyer9 (Mod)
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Elena Vesnina (RUS) d. Elena Likhovtseva (RUS) 6-4 6-4 at Miami WTA Tier I (USA) - Hard Court, Round of 96 <<

Value in this game either way you look at it but if you get any decent odds over $1.80 about Vesnina you should be on board straight away. Vesnina is a very steady competitor who is very compotent from the baseline. She moves extremely well and can hit the ball just as sweetly on the run as she can stationery. She's not overly powerful, nor does she have a devastating serve, but against this type of opponent she always fancies herself because she will not usually make as many errors as her opponent and forces them to come up with something a bit extra to win the points. Fact is, Likhovtseva is now a real tour veteran who has turned her main focus to the doubles and mixed doubles at TMS and Grand Slam events. She no longer possesses the qualities required to be a solid singles player - she is slower in the legs, has never had a great deal of power or zip in her groundstrokes, and feels the need to have to approach the net on more occasions than not to actually win a baseline rally against these younger players. Whilst Vesnina is 21, she has been on the tour for several years and looks ready to lift her work rate in an attempt to push the top 30 players in the world. She was unlucky in Dubai, and ran into a brisk Bartoli in Indian Wells, but will enjoy conditions much more here where she looks to continue Likhovtseva's 4 match losing streak.

Feb 17 2008 01:31:14
thedestroyer9 (Mod)
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Na Li (CHN) d. Elena Likhovtseva (RUS) 6-1 0-6 6-4 at Doha WTA Tier I (QAT) - Hard Court, Round of 56 <<

Li Na has not played the consistent tennis we are accustomed to seeing from her of late since winning the Gold Coast title. The supremely talented Chinese player is probably guilty of going into her shell a little inh er games instead of freeing her arms and when she does that she is a formidable opponent who has a great mix of offense and defense, a decent serve, great court smarts and nice lateral movement. She trounced Likhovtseva only last week in Antwerp, and it is unlikely to see the veteran Russian (who now plays most of her tennis on the doubles circuit) making any further impression on that considering the surface is the same.

Feb 10 2008 21:15:44
thedestroyer9 (Mod)
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Na Li (CHN) d. Elena Likhovtseva (RUS) 6-1 6-1 at Antwerp WTA Tier II (BEL) - Indoor Hard, Round of 32 <<

Chinese number one Li Na played well in the Fed Cup tie against France despite going 1 and 1, and that backed up a solid Australian summer that saw her clinch the Gold Coast title (d. Bammer, Vaidisova, Schnyder, Azarenka) and a third round shownig at Aus Open where she was stunned by youngster Domachowska after leading by a set. She has a very reliable serve, and has a massive forehand and solid backhand. The best part about Li's play is she knows when to pull the trigger - she has great court instincts and has great variety with the spin, pace and loop she puts on the ball. When she is on the attack, she is very dangerous and Likhovtseva has not been sighted regularly on the singles circuit for a while now. She is a veteran at 32 years of age, and spends most of her time dedicated to the doubles game where she is formidable opponent. Her last singles match was a 6-3 6-2 drubbing by Bammer at Portoroz (Tier IV) and her fitness and stamina must really be questioned at this stage of her career. Nevertheless, she is competitive and possesses good variety and tennis smarts so to see her take a set and give Li a little bit of a fright wouldn't surprise, but boy a win would.