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I don't see them coming alive there. Pity.

Petkovic will be tough. She got to the final in Washington so she's in form and she beat Daniela when they played in Strasbourg two years ago. At the same time, all of the top players are here - including the entire top 20 - so pretty much anyone Daniela got would be a difficult opponent, although most of the other qualifiers are players that Daniela would be a big favourite against. Still, Daniela's good and she had tough draws in Madrid and Birmingham and she got good wins there.

Polite disagreement with a couple of you guys for this week. Petkovic...OK, not easy. However, she hardly plowed through a field of world beaters to reach the Washington final, and lost to Rybankova, who we all KNOW Daniela's better than. Just for fun, I looked back at the 6 finals Dani has reached in the 2010's. She lost 4 of the 6 1st round matches in the next tournament, so getting to a final last week plus $1 will get you on a bus. I can see her getting through, even if it's a hard fought 3-setter. Plus, Dani is a horse for a course. Since 2005 she has made a semi and two quarters in Cincinnati, and won a round last year when her form was far from what it is right now. In fact, of the 13 tourneys she played in after her foot injury layoff, Cincinnati was one of merely 4 that she advanced a round or more. I say she sticks around the Queen City for a few days.
I can see her and Martina winning tomorrow. Danielabel was discontinued for a reason, and maybe our gal will have extra incentive facing her. Should they reach 2nd round, well, Danielabel had Errani and Vinci beat not that long ago. Should this match take place, I will pay extra attention to it. A win will allow us to believe that Dani and Martina might last past US Open, as would a really close loss. A rout (or a 1st round loss) will leave many doubts. Few things in recent years have made Daniela look and feel as good as this pairing. I really. really want it to last, and this week may tell the tale.

Doubles:

Lost 1st set 6-4.

2nd set:
1-3
2-3, Martina holds from 15-40.
3-3, Pennetta/Medina Garrigues broken to 40.
4-3, Daniela holds to 0.
4-4, Pennetta/Medina Garrigues hold to 40.
5-4, Martina holds to 40, She served a DF at 30 all but won the next two points.
6-4, Daniela & Martina break to 40 after Pennetta DFs.

Supertiebreak: *= Daniela & Martina serving
0-1*
1-1
2-1
3-1*
3-2*
4-2
5-2
6-2*
6-3*
6-4
6-5
7-5*
8-5*
9-5
10-5

YES! YES!:D One correct prediction in the books! My confidence never wavered the whole match! (The lie detector determined that was a lie!) Daniela & Martina truly had 2 feet in the grave and 2 on slick oil. They got broke a 4-4 in the first and then right away in the 2nd. Down 2-1, they had 4 break points and lost them, then were down 3-1 15-40. What happened after that is the heart and soul of champions. Oh, I hope this is their springboard and that they make a statement against the Italians.

Daniela's the first match on Court 9, starting at 11am.