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agnieszka radwanska

Andy Murray, Agnieszka Radwanska Winners in Beijing – Mondays with Bob Greene

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Mondays with Bob Greene

 

STARS

Agnieszka Radwanska beat Johanna Konta 6-4 6-2 to win the China Open women’s singles in Beijing, China

Andy Murray beat Grigor Dimitrov 6-4 7-6 (2) to win the China Open men’s singles in Beijing, China

Nick Kyrgios beat David Goffin 4-6 6-3 7-5 to win the Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championships 2016 in Tokyo, Japan

Jan-Leonard Struff beat Vincent Millot 6-2 6-0 to win the Ethias Trophy in Mons, Belgium

Francis Tiafoe beat Noah Rubin 6-4 6-2 to win the Stockton Challenger in Stockton, California, USA

 

SAYING

“Every title means a lot, but especially here when you play against the best players in the world in one of the biggest tournaments.” – Agnieszka Radwanska, after winning the China Open.

“It was probably my best match of the week.” – Andy Murray, on his straight-set victory over Grigor Dimitrov in the China Open men’s singles final.

“I just didn’t feel that I had another gear.” – Grigor Dimitrov, who lost to Andy Murray in the Beijing final.

“I guess it’s pretty cool. I’m very pleased with my progress over the last few years and hopefully, yes, still many more places to climb.” – Johanna Konta, who becomes only the fourth British woman to be ranked in the Top 10.

“He knew if he wanted to win he had to serve well, and that’s what he did. That’s his best weapon.” – David Goffin, after losing to Nick Kyrgios in the Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championships final.

“I was just trying to be really focused on every ball, and of course try to win.” – Elina Svitolina, who did just that in upsetting Angelique Kerber in the third round of the China Open.

“It’s amazing. I’m already there for singles, so it’ll be great to be there in doubles as well.” – Karolina Pliskova, who has qualified for the season-ending BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore in both singles and doubles.

“This year everything change. I am feeling much more confident on court. When I want to go cross-court, the ball go cross-court. When I want to go down the line, they go down the line. I can control everything on court. I feeling everything working, yeah. Feeling good. I like this tennis.” – Zhang Shuai, after upsetting fourth-seeded Simona Halep at the China Open. Last year Zhang was considering retiring from tennis.

“I know who I am and I know how I’ve played the sport since I was a young girl, with integrity. I’ve never taken the easy way out. I’m one of the biggest fighters in the game. I love what I do and I will continue to keep doing it and forming my legacy.” – Maria Sharapova, after having her two-year ban from tennis reduced by nine months.

 

SURGING ANDY

Andy Murray continued his surge toward the top of the men’s rankings by grabbing a straight-set win over Grigor Dimitrov in the China Open. It was Murray’s fifth title of the year and 40th of his career. “Considering the conditions were fairly cold, I was still serving over 100 miles an hour on some second serves,” Murray said. “I felt using good variation on that shot, so I didn’t give him a chance to really attack me there, and that was probably the thing that I did best tonight.” Murray started the finale by breaking Dimitrov’s serve. In the second set, both held serve through the first four games until Murray once again broke his Bulgarian opponent to go up 3-2. Dimitrov was not finished, however, He won 11 consecutive points, breaking Murray at love, and the battle went into a tiebreak. It was all Murray in the extra session, as he won every point when Dimitrov served. “I personally think I didn’t play a good enough match to rally with him throughout,” Dimitrov said. “If the match would have gone to the third set, I’m not sure that I could have done things differently.” Murray is the 16th man in the Open Era to win at least 40 titles and the fourth active player to accomplish the feat as he joined Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. Dimitrov reached the final when his semifinal opponent, Milos Raonic, withdrew with an ankle injury.

 

SWINGING POLE

Asia is a happy hunting ground for Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska. She won her second China Open crown by easily downing Johanna Konta in the women’s singles final. It was Radwanska’s 20th career title, her third of 2016 and career ninth in Asia. “That was a really special week for me,” Radwanska said. “I really played great tennis, especially against top players. Against Konta, she committed just six unforced errors to 29 by her opponent. She did not drop a set all week and led 5-2 in the second set when Konta finally began playing the kind of tennis that took her to the title match. The Brit won two straight games before missing a routine drive volley. A few points later, Radwanska was holding up the winner’s trophy. “It’s top players from the first round and I’ve been playing my best tennis all week, so of course I’m very happy to win this tournament again, and this trophy is going to stay in a very special place,” said Radwanska, who became one of four active players to win three or more Premier Mandatory titles. The others are Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka.

After posting China Open victories over sixth-ranked Karolina Pliskova and eighth-ranked Madison Keys, Konta moved into the Top 10 in the WTA rankings, becoming the first British woman to do so since Jo Durie in 1984. And with Andy Murray ranked second in the ATP World Tour rankings, it is the first time a British man and woman are ranked in the Top 10 at the same time.

 

SERVING TO WIN

Riding his powerful serve, Nick Kyrgios won his third title of the year, the Rakuten Japan Open, by coming from behind to beat David Goffin. There were only three breaks of serve in the three-set match, but none in the third game of the second set when Kyrgios fell behind 0-40 before staving off five break points. “He was serving at 215 kph (134 mph) with a lot of precision,” Goffin said of his Australia foe. “I had to be solid on my serve and wait for my opportunity. I didn’t take it.” Kyrgios pounded 21 of his 25 aces in the final two sets, including an ace down the middle on match point. Goffin’s serve, on the other hand, fell apart in the third set when he double-faulted six times. “It was physically pretty tough, we had a lot of long rallies,” Kyrgios said. “The way I returned today got me a lot of break points. If one of us had taken more of their break points, it would have made it a lot easier for both of us. There was just a couple of points in it.” Goffin won only one of his 12 break points, while Kyrgios won two of 13.

 

SURPRISING SVITOLINA

Elina Svitolina wanted to prove that her upset win over then-number one Serena Williams at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics was not a fluke. Now she has another win over the world’s top-ranked player. Svitolina beat number one Angelique Kerber in the third round of the China Open in straight sets, 6-3 7-5. “I was trying to think about my next step, what I should try to do,” the 22-year-old said. “I tried to make my first serve and concentrated on the next shot, but still I was a little bit shaky.” Apparently not that shaky. After Kerber saved a couple of match points, Svitolina finally closed out the victory. “The main thing is to just stay in the moment, to think about the plan, about the match, what is my next step, next action,” Svitolina said. “So I try to really don’t think about (playing a number one). If I think too much, I lose my way. Of course, Angelique or Serena, they’re not letting you play your game. If you’re out for even two, three seconds, they just going to do winners. They are there all the time. They’re not letting you go.”

 

SET FOR SINGAPORE

Karolina Pliskova will be doing double duty in Singapore – doubles as well as singles. The Czech right-hander and her partner, Julia Goerges, grabbed the final spot in the BNP Paribas WTA Finals Singapore presented by SC Global when they knocked off Martina Hingis and CoCo Vandeweghe 6-3 4-6 10-8 (match tiebreak) in the second round of the China Open. “It’s very exciting, I must say,” said Goerges, who will be making her first appearance at the WTA Finals. “We didn’t plan it because it was our first year playing together. We said we’d only play around 10 tournaments, and to qualify with eight pretty decent results is pretty special for us.” The other seven teams in the elite field are Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic, Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza, Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina, Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Lucie Safarova, Timea Babos and Yaroslava Shvedova, Chan Hao-Ching and Chan Yugh-Jan, and Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka. “Kaja will be going there for singles as well,” Goerges said, referring to Pliskova. “But for me, it’s amazing to go to Singapore. It’s always been a dream, either in singles or doubles – hopefully one day I’ll get to go for singles, too – but it’s exciting and a nice way to end the season.”

 

SECURES SPOT

China’s Zhang Shuai is going to Zhuhai, China. Asia’s top woman player received a wildcard into the second edition of the Huajin Securities WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai. The year’s event will be played November 1-6 in Zhuhai featuring 11 of the top-ranked players – those who do not qualify for the WTA Finals in Singapore – and one wildcard entry, Zhang. The Chinese star received the wildcard after upsetting Simona Halep and Samantha Stosur en route to the quarterfinals of the China Open. Her Beijing results have moved Zhang into the Top 30 in the WTA rankings. She recently reached the semifinals in Seoul and Tokyo, as well as the third round at the US Open. “I’m very happy to get to play in my homeland in front of all Chinese fans,” Zhang said. “I can’t wait to play 2016 WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai and meet the fans from Zhuhai there.”

Last year, Zhang was thinking about retiring from tennis. Once ranked 30th in the world, she had fallen to 191 in the rankings. After suffering yet another first-round defeat, Zhang was ready to call it a career. However, her family convinced her to play one last tournament – the Australian Open. She shocked Halep in the first round of the year’s first Grand Slam event and reached the quarterfinals. “I feel I played much more better today than in Australia Open because I have more confidence,” Zhang said after crushing the fifth-ranked Halep 6-0 6-3 in Beijing. “Especially because we are in the China Open, my favorite tournament, so I’m really happy.” “Last year I was feeling really down,” she said. “I was feeling really sad. I felt I was working hard but never won, never play good, never play well. This year everything change.”

 

SHARAPOVA BAN REDUCED

Maria Sharapova will be heading back to a tennis court soon. The Court of Arbitration for Sport reduced the Russian star’s suspension to 15 months. She had been handed a two-year suspension after testing positive for meldonium. Now she will be able to return to play on April 26, 2017, in time for the French Open, which she won in 2014. “I’ve gone from one of the toughest days of my career last March when I learned about my suspension to now, one of my happiest days, as I found out I can return to tennis April,” Sharapova said. “In so many ways I feel like something I love was taken away from me and it will feel really good to have it back. Tennis is my passion and I have missed it. I am counting the days until I can return to the court.” Sharapova won Wimbledon in 2004, the US Open in 2006 and the Australian Open in 2008, one of just 10 women to have won all four Grand Slam tournaments.

While winning her appeal, Sharapova and her attorney took shots at the International Tennis Federation (ITF). The game’s governing body immediately denied the player’s suggestions that the ITF sought a four-year ban, that its independent tribunal was not neutral and that it knew about the widespread use of meldonium in Eastern Europe prior to the drug being banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on January 1, 2016. Sharapova’s legal team has argued that the ITF should have informed Eastern European athletes that meldonium had been placed on the prohibited substances list. Sharapova was first prescribed meldonium in 2006 for heart issues, and she said she was unaware it had been added to the banned substance list by WADA.

Steve Simon, chief executive of the WTA, said the women’s organization, to avoid a repeat of the Sharapova case, will take a greater role in educating players on doping rules. “I think it is really clear that not only does the athlete need to pay attention to what the latest rules are and what they are ingesting into their systems, but I also think there is a takeaway for us at the WTA that we cannot sit back and wait for the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme or the ITF to give their education to the players,” Simon said. “You will see an increased effort from the WTA to ensure that we never see another positive drugs test because a player was uninformed.”

 

SELECTED

Japan’s Naomi Osaka has been voted WTA Breakthrough of the Month after reaching the final of the Toray Pan Pacific Open. It was the first WTA final for Osaka, who turns 19 next Sunday. She also reached the third round at three of the four Grand Slam tournaments this season. “I’m happy with the way I play at Slams because they’re very important to me,” she told reporters at the US Open, “but I kind of wish I could transfer the feeling like to the other tournaments.” She did at the Tokyo event, knocking off former Australian Open finalist Dominika Cibulkova and Elina Svitolina on her way to the title match. “I don’t really feel pressure here since the first match since everyone is ranked higher than me,” Osaka said. “I’m a wildcard, so I just try to do my best. But this, for sure, it’s my best tournament.” She also is the youngest player ranked in the WTA’s Top 50.

 

SAD NEWS

Angie Cunningham, the WTA’s former vice president of player relations and on-site operations, has died at her home in Melbourne, Australia, following a long battle with Motor Neurone Disease. Cunningham was a leading junior player who went on to work at the WTA for eight years before moving back to Australia with her husband and their two children. She was diagnosed with MND in 2012. In the United States, the disease is also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

 

SHARED PERFORMANCES

Beijing (men): Pablo Carreno Busta and Rafael Nadal beat Jack Sock and Bernard Tomic 6-7 (6) 6-2 10-8 (match tiebreak)

Beijing (women): Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Lucie Safarova beat Caroline Garcia and Kristina Mladenovic 6-4 6-4

Mons: Julian Knowle and Jurgen Melzer beat Sander Arends and Wesley Koolhof 7-6 (4) 7-6 (4)

Stockton: Brian Baker and Sam Groth beat Matt Reid and John-Patrick Smith 6-2 4-6 10-2 (match tiebreak)

Tokyo: Marcel Granollers and Marcin Matkowski beat Raven Klaasen and Rajeev Ram 6-2 7-6 (4)

 

SURFING

Shanghai: http://en.shanghairolexmasters.com/

Tashkent: www.tennis.uz/

Monterrey: www.sierramadretennisclub.com/

Fairfield: www.usta.com/Pro-Tennis/Pro-Circuit/

Tianjin: www.tianjinopen.com/

Linz: www.generali-ladies.at/de/news/index_ger.html

Hong Kong: www.hktennisopen.hk/p/en/home

Stockholm: www.stockholmopen.se/

Antwerp: www.teleticketservice.com/en/tickets/2016-2017/european-open

Moscow: www.kremlincup.ru/

Brest: www.openbrestarena.fr/

Luxembourg: www.bglbnpparibas-open.lu/main_en.html

 

TOURNAMENTS THIS WEEK

MEN

$7,655,640 Shanghai Rolex Masters, Shanghai, China, hard

$125,000 Tashkent Challenger, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, hard

$100,000 Monterrey Open, Monterrey, Mexico, hard

$100,000 Francis Ford Coppola Winery, Fairfield, California, USA

 

WOMEN

$426,750 Tianjin Open, Tianjin, China, hard

$226,750 Generali Ladies Linz, Linz, Austria, hard

$226,750 Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open, Hong Kong, China, hard

 

TOURNAMENTS NEXT WEEK

MEN

$792,645 VTB Kremlin Cup, Moscow, Russia, hard

$711,776 If Stockholm Open, Stockholm, Sweden, hard

$711,776 European Open, Antwerp, Belgium, hard

$125,000 2016 International Challenger Ningbo, Ningbo, China, hard

$119,256 Open Brest Arena Credit Agricole, Brest, France, hard

 

WOMEN

$758,788 Kremlin Cup, Moscow, Russia, hard

$226,750 BGL BNP Paribas Luxembourg Open, Luxembourg, Luxembourg, hard

$100,000 Soho Square Egypt Women’s, Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, hard

 

Andy Murray
Andy Murray

John Isner Struggles, But Survives Tiebreakers — Mondays with Bob Greene

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STARS

 

Dominika Cibulkova beat Agnieszka Radwanska 3-6 6-4 6-4 to win the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford, California, USA

 

John Isner beat Kevin Anderson 6-7 (3) 7-6 (2) 7-6 (2) to win the BB&T Atlanta Open in Atlanta, Georgia, USA

 

Mikhail Youzhny beat Robin Haase 6-3 6-4 to win the Crédit Agricole Suisse Open in Gstaad, Switzerland

 

Tommy Robredo beat Fabio Fognini 6-0 6-3 to win the Vegeta Croatia Open in Umag, Croatia

 

Elina Svitolina beat Shahar Peer 6-4 6-4 to win the Baku Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan

 

Dudi Sela beat Mikhail Kukushkin 5-7 6-2 7-6 (6) to win the President’s Cup in Astana, Kazakhstan

 

SAYING

 

“I lived on the edge all week, and seemed to come through for the good every time. It feels good to be on the right side.” – John Isner, after winning two of three tiebreakers to capture the Atlanta, Georgia, USA, tournament.

 

“He definitely played two better tiebreakers than me; there’s no question about that.” – Kevin Anderson, after losing to John Isner in the BB&T Atlanta Open final.

 

“In the long rallies I started to feel my breath and my legs. The last match point I was so dead, I was so tired, but I knew I could not give it up now. I knew I just had to make one, two more balls and the match is mine.” – Dominika Cibulkova, who beat Agnieszka Radwanska in the final of the Bank of the West Classic.

 

“I didn’t use my chances when I was 4-2 up, and I paid the price.” – Agnieszka Radwanska, following her loss to Dominika Cibulkova.

 

“I’m more than happy. I’ve been a professional for nearly 15 years and this is my 12th title, so there have not been many times with trophies. I love the emotion.” – Tommy Robredo, following his victory at the Vegeta Croatia Open Umag.

 

“I’m very happy. When you win a tournament, it doesn’t matter how you’ve played or who you beat.” – Mikhail Youzhny, following his victory over Robin Haase in Gstaad, Switzerland

 

“I’m here as the runner-up and that’s great. I think that the altitude fits my game and that I can handle it well. It’s tough to play against Mikhail. He’s a great player and I never beat him.” – Robin Haase, who has lost to Youzhny in all five of their career meetings.

 

“We played a great match today again. We played two weeks in a row so now we know each other quite well. We’re very happy because we lost in the final last week and now we got the title.” – Edouard Roger-Vasselin, after he and Igor Sijsling won the BB&T Atlanta Open doubles title.

 

“I served well and put pressure on him from the very beginning. It helped that I already played him in Hamburg last week.” – Daniel Brands, after he upset Roger Federer at the Crédit Agricole Suisse Open in Gstaad.

 

“I got a few chances but finally couldn’t take advantage of them. I wasn’t consistent enough in the end. He was serving well and I couldn’t do enough with my return.” – Roger Federer, on why he lost to Daniel Brands.

 

“I’m happy that I was able to play because I’ve had problems for some time now, already in Hamburg. But it didn’t get worse during today’s match. I’m positive and I felt that it was getting better during the last few days.” – Roger Federer, discussing problems with his back.

 

SWITCHEROO

 

Dominika Cibulkova remembered the last time she played Agnieszka Radwanska – a 6-0 6-0 double-bagel to the world’s fourth-ranked player in the final at Sydney, Australia, in January. This time Cibulkova beat Radwanska in the Bank of the West Classic title match. “The difference between Sydney and today was that I made the first game,” Cibulkova said. “And after the first game I looked at my coach and was like, ‘Here we go. I’m out here, and it’s going to be good today.” It wasn’t all easy sailing for the Slovak, who lost her serve twice in the final set – both on double faults. But she won the final four games and fell to the ground in joy as her father, Milan, rushed out of the stands to hug her. “I was just so happy and he scared me,” Cibulkova laughed. “He gets emotional. I think that I have this after my parents – especially after my father – that I get into the matches sometimes so much and I just put my heart into it. And I think he did the same today.” It was Cibulkova’s third WTA title, having won in Carlsbad, California, USA, last year and in Moscow, Russia, in 2011.

 

SMASHING TIME

 

Perhaps John Isner doesn’t know how to play a short, quick match. In a battle of giants – Isner is 6-foot-9 (2.06m) and Kevin Anderson 6-8 (2.03m) – Isner outlasted his South African foe 6-7 (3) 7-6 (2) 7-6 (2) in the longest three-set ATP World Tour final this season: 2 hours, 54 minutes. “This is a tournament where I could have been out in my first match,” said Isner, a former University of Georgia star. He played at least one tiebreaker in all four of his matches – seven tiebreaks in all. Isner has played at least one tiebreaker in 11 of his last 13 matches prior to Atlanta and has an ATP-best tiebreaker record this season of 26-7. Against Anderson, Isner faced 11 service breaks – winning them all, often with aces. He missed his only chance to break Anderson’s serve. “I had a couple chances,” Anderson said. “He’s proven himself to serve well when it matters. He stepped it up well. Even if I was the better player in the majority of the match, he stays in there.” This was the first time in their eight career meetings that the winner of the first set did not win the match.

 

STUNNED AGAIN

 

It’s becoming habit-forming, Roger Federer being booted out of tournament by low-ranking opponents. In Gstaad at the Swiss Open, Federer fell in the second round to 55th-ranked Daniel Brands of Germany 6-3 6-4. Once the top player in the world, Federer has now lost to players ranked outside the top 50 in his last three tournaments, including Wimbledon, where he was beaten by Ukraine’s Sergiy Stakhovsky, who was ranked 116th in the world. Last week Federer fell to Argentine qualifier Federico Delbonis, the world number 114, in Hamburg, Germany. Federer, who never complains about injuries, said there was a reason behind the losses. “I’ve had serious problems with the back, I had to get some anti-inflammatories last week in Hamburg due to the back pain,” he said. “It was so tough to play and move out there today. I’ll just have to take treatment and see how it all goes.” The Swiss ace failed to reach a final in the first four months of this season before winning at the Wimbledon warm-up event in Halle, Germany. But his results in the Grand Slam tournaments have been atrocious: going out in the Australian Open semifinals, the quarterfinals at Roland Garros and the second round at Wimbledon.

 

A day after Federer was ousted at the Swiss Open, Switzerland’s second-highest ranked player, Stanislas Wawrinka retired from his quarterfinal match at Gstaad with the same ailment: a bad back. Wawrinka stopped after requiring a medical timeout more than two hours into his match with Feliciano Lopez. The Spaniard was leading 6-4 2-6 4-3 when Wawrinka retired.

 

Federer and Wawrinka teamed in 2008 to win the doubles gold medal at the Beijing Olympic Games.

 

STAYING HOME

 

The Spanish sport daily Marca reports that Rafael Nadal may skip the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, which is scheduled to begin on August 11. The reason is that Nadal’s left knee and left elbow may not hold up after he plays the Rogers Cup in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, the week before. Both are hard court tournaments and lead to the year’s final Grand Slam event, the US Open, which is also played on hard courts. The newspaper also alleged that Nadal may not choose to play Cincinnati because “many players don’t like it because it’s geographically in the middle of nowhere.”

 

SHARAPOVA STILL OUT

 

Injuries suffered at Wimbledon are still being cited as the reason Maria Sharapova will not be playing the Rogers Cup in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The world’s second-ranked woman said she still hasn’t recovered from the injury sustained during a second-round loss to Michelle Larcher de Brito back in June. The Russian tumbled several times during the Wimbledon match, took a medical timeout and later said she thought she had strained a hip muscle. She also withdrew from the Bank of the West Classic played at Stanford, California, USA.

 

SUISSE CHAMPION

 

It has been 18 years since a Russian has captured the trophy in Gstaad, Switzerland. But Mikhail Youzhny did just that by beating Robin Haase in the final of the Crédit Agricole Suisse Open. “My last title was at the start of last year in Zagreb, so it’s been quite long.” Youzhny said. “I’m trying everything to try and play more consistently at a high level.” He did just that against Haase, needed 68 minutes and converting his third match point for the title. “When you see the score, it looks easy, but it wasn’t,” Youzhny said. “It was only one break in each set and I didn’t have many chances to break him again. The last game on my serve was also very close.” The last Russian to win at Gstaad was Yevgeny Kafelnikov in 1995.

 

SHOULDER TROUBLES

 

Bob Bryan’s left shoulder injury has caused the world’s top-ranked doubles to pull out of the Citi Open in Washington, DC, USA. Bob and his twin brother Mike have not played since becoming the first doubles team in the Open Era to be the reigning champions in all four Grand Slam tournaments and the Olympic gold medalists. The Americans own a record 15 major championships and are seeking to become only the second men’s doubles team to win a calendar Grand Slam, matching the feat of Ken McGregor and Frank Sedgman in 1951. The American twins are currently on a 24-match winning streak and have won a record 91 doubles titles as a team.

 

SENIOR CHAMPIONS

 

Tennis is apparently becoming an old man’s game – old being relative, of course. When Mikhail Youzhny captured the Suisse Open in Gstaad, it was the 12th time this year that a player aged 30 or over has won an ATP World Tour event. Now 31, it was Youzhny’s first title since he won the PBZ Zagreb Indoors in February 2012.

 

SWINGING AGAIN

 

Now that she’s been inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, Martina Hingis is spending her time back on the WTA Tour playing doubles. The 32-year-old Swiss star was inducted into the Newport, Rhode Island, USA, shrine earlier this month. Now she has two tournaments on her calendar, playing only doubles. She added the Rogers Cup in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to her schedule to go along with her return to the WTA Tour at the Southern California Open in Carlsbad, California, USA. Hingis asked for and received a wild card into the doubles in Toronto, but her partner has yet to be named. Hingis won the Rogers Cup singles in 1999 and 2000, as well as the doubles in 1998 and 2000. In her Hall of Fame career Hingis won five Grand Slam tournament singles titles and nine major doubles championships.

 

SVITOLINA WINS

 

Elina Svitolina won her first WTA title by beating Shahar Peer in the final of the Baku Cup. It was the first time the Ukrainian had reached a title match on the main women’s tour. At 18 years, 10 months and 18 days, Svitolina is the first teenager to win a WTA title in 2013 – and the first teenager to win since Timea Babos captured Monterrey in February 2012. Svitolina dominated her Israeli opponent, her power game just too much for the veteran Peer. On match point, Svitolina hit an ace out wide to wrap up the win. The champion had won a small International Tennis Federation tournament in Pune, India, last November, her only other title as a pro. She also won the French Open junior girls crown in 2010.

 

SAYS TESTED POSITIVE

 

According to media in Zagreb, Croatia, the country’s top player, Marin Cilic, failed a drug test in April. Quoting “reliable sources,” the Slobodna Dalmacija newspaper reported that Cilic failed the test only two weeks after passing a doping control at the Monte Carlo Masters. The International Tennis Federation (ITF) is said to be probing the case and the 24-year-old Croatian, who is ranked 15th in the world, has sent his explanation to the world tennis body. The Jutarnji List newspaper reported that Cilic allegedly tested positive because of “incautious use of glucose.” Croatian newspapers said Cilic found out about the positive results during Wimbledon, adding that was the reason he withdrew from his match against Kenny de Schepper. At the time it was reported that Cilic withdrew because of a left knee injury.

 

SEEKS APPEAL

 

Serbia’s Victor Troicki is appealing his 18-month suspension for failing to provide a blood test to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. “This was a clear mistake from the on-site doping control officer who was also a doctor, and the person in charge to decide,” Troicki said in a statement published on his website. “I am destroyed and exhausted. This is a real nightmare.” Ranked 53rd in the world, Troicki’s suspension last through January 24, 2015, meaning he will miss six Grand Slam tournaments. Troicki said he gave a urine sample after losing a match to Finland’s Jarkko Nieminen, but declined to give blood because he felt ill and feared needles. Anti-doping rules require athletes selected for testing to comply with official requests. “The doctor in charge of the testing told me that I looked very pale and ill, and that I could skip the test if I wrote an explanation letter to ITF about it,” Troicki said. The player said he gave a blood sample the following morning to the doctor, Elena Gorodilova, and it was “negative, totally clean” like the initial urine test. The ITF tribunal said it found the 27-year-old Troicki a “confident and determined man” with “genuine belief” in the truth of what he was saying. “However, that does not mean that this account was in fact accurate,” the ruling said. “Mr. Troicki came across to us as someone prone to exaggeration in order to make his point.”

 

STEPPING DOWN

 

Once Britain’s top female player, Anne Keothavong has called it a career. The 29-year-old will join BT Sport’s tennis coverage team later this year. “I think I am leaving tennis in excellent shape with both Laura Robson and Heather Watson leading the way for Britain in the women’s game,” said Keothavong, who won 20 singles titles on the International Tennis Federation (ITF) circuit, a stop below the WTA tour. She reached a career-high singles ranking of 48th in the world in 2009. She currently is ranked 285th. “I have given my decision a lot of thought and I believe this is the right time to move on to the next stage of my career,” she said.

 

SWITCHING COACHES

 

When Heather Watson takes to the court at the Citi Open in Washington, DC, USA, she will be working with a new coach. Britain’s number two player has parted company with coach Mauricio Hadad and will work with Jeremy Bates throughout the American hard-court season. The 21-year-old Watson has fallen to 78th in the world rankings after missing two months in the spring with glandular fever. Bates is the women’s lead coach for Britain’s Lawn Tennis Association. He will work with Watson in Toronto and Cincinnati before heading to the US Open in New York City. Watson has not played since losing a first-round Wimbledon match to American Madison Keys.

 

SOME CHANGES COMING

 

The Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, site of the US Open, will undergo a USD $500 million expansion. The New York City Council voted to accept a plan that allows the 46-acre tennis center to annex a small parcel of parkland in Flushing Meadows Park and in return receive more than USD $10 million for improvements to the park. Community groups that had pressured the United States Tennis Association (USTA) for concessions applauded the deal, which includes an annual job fair for local residents, allowing area high schools to hold their graduation ceremonies at the center and including tennis coaching programs for local children.

 

SHARED PERFORMANCES

 

Astana: Riccardo Ghedin and Claudio Grassi beat Andrey Golubev and Mikhail Kukushkin 3-6 6-3 10-8 (match tiebreak)

 

Atlanta: Edouard Roger-Vasselin and Igor Sijsling beat Colin Fleming and Jonathan Marray 7-6 (6) 6-3

 

Baku: Irina Buryachok and Oksana Kalashnikova beat Eleni Daniilidou and Aleksandra Krunic 4-6 7-6 (3) 10-4 (match tiebreak)

 

Gstaad: Jamie Murray and John Peers beat Pablo Andujar and Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-3 6-4

Stanford: Raquel Kops-Jones and Abigail Spears beat Julia Goerges and Darija Jurak 6-2 7-6 (4)

 

Umag: Martin Klizan and David Marrero beat Nicholas Monroe and Simon Stadler 6-1 5-7 10-7 (match tiebreak)

 

SURFING

Carlsbad: www.southerncaliforniaopen13.com/

Washington: www.citiopentennis.com/

Kitzbühel: www.bet-at-home-cup.com/de/

Vancouver: www.vanopen.com/

Montreal: www.rogerscup.com/men/english/

Toronto: www.rogerscup.com/women/english/

Aptos: http://seascapesportsclub.com/challenger/

 

TOURNAMENTS THIS WEEK

(All money in USD)

 

MEN

 

$1,295,790 Citi Open, Washington, DC, USA, hard

$539,000 bet-at-home Cup Kitzbühel, Kitzbühel, Austria, clay

$100,000 Odlum Brown Vancouver Open, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, hard

 

WOMEN

 

$795,707 Southern California Open, Carlsbad, California, USA, hard

$235,000 Citi Open, Washington, DC, USA, hard

$100,000 Odlum Brown Vancouver Open, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, hard

 

TOURNAMENTS NEXT WEEK

 

MEN

 

$2,887,085 Coupe Rogers, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, hard

$100,000 Comerica Bank Challenger, Aptos, California, USA, hard

 

WOMEN

 

$2,369,000 Rogers Cup presented by National Bank, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, hard

 

Serena Sends Signal She’s Ready for Australian Open — Mondays with Bob Greene

by

By Bob Greene

STARS

Richard Gasquet beat Nikolay Davydenko 3-6 7-6 (4) 6-3 to win the Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha, Qatar

Serena Williams beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-2 6-1 to win the Brisbane International women’s singles in Brisbane, Australia

Li Na beat Klara Zakopalova 6-3 1-6 7-5 to win the Shenzhen Longgang Gemdale Open in Shenzhen, China

Andy Murray beat Grigor Dimitrov 7-6 (0) 6-4 to win the Brisbane International men’s singles in Brisbane, Australia

Janko Tipsarevic beat Roberto Bautista-Agut 3-6 6-1 6-3 to win the Aircel Chennai Open in Chennai, India

Agnieszka Radwanska beat Yanina Wickmayer 6-4 6-4 to win the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand

Spain beat Serbia 2-1 to win the Hyundai Hopman Cup in Perth, Australia

SAYING

“I kind of zoned, where I’m in a really calm place and not panicking, I’m not overthinking it and not just blasting every ball. I get really calm and kind of serene. It was a really good week in Brisbane, for sure.” – Serena Williams, after capturing the women’s singles for her 47th career title.

“This was the fourth time I’ve played against Serena and every time I go on the court feeling confident and feeling well. I started the match pretty well, but when she’s on fire I feel like there’s not much I can do. I was hoping to turn the match around, I was fighting every point to the end, but what I said about playing her was true. She’s a great player.” – Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, after losing to Serena Williams in the women’s final in Brisbane, Australia.

“Winning the title certainly helps boost my confidence for the coming weeks, but it also depends on how I’m playing on the courts. Confidence itself won’t guarantee a win.” – Li Na, after winning in Shenzhen, China.

“It was about a few points today, but she really proved she’s a top player. She played her best from 5-all. She’s playing unbelievably fast and flat, and she’s hitting her backhand down the line very well. To me she’s one of the top three players right now and I hope she can make it there. There’s no way to be sad about losing – I lost to a top player and I’m happy to reach the final.” – Klara Zakopalova, who lost to Li Na in the Shenzhen, China, final.

“I couldn’t imagine a better start to the year. I’m very happy. I really like this tournament. It’s my first time here and everything was very good. … I didn’t even drop a set.” – Agnieszka Radwanska, following her win over Yanina Wickmayer in the Auckland, New Zealand, final.

“She doesn’t give you anything. You have to work for every ball. If you make mistakes too early you will lose pretty bad.” – Yanina Wickmayer, who lost to Agnieszka Radwanska in the title match.

“I was mentally stable and was not worried when I was one set down. I didn’t play my best tennis in every match this week, but I am happy to win the title.” – Janko Tipsarevic, after winning in Chennai.

“This boosts our confidence, and to win our first WTA title together in the first week of the year and in the first year of this tournament, it means a lot to us.” – Chan Yung-Jan, who teamed with her younger sister Chan Hao-Ching to win their first WTA doubles title together.

“I thought the standard of tennis was good today. There were a lot of high quality rallies and I had to change a few things. He started the match off very well and was extremely aggressive. I managed to start dictating a lot of points and used my forehand well.” – Andy Murray, after beating Grigor Dimitrov to capture the men’s singles in Brisbane, Australia.

“Fear? Why fear? Why do I have to feel intimidated? I want to play them. I want to play them all. There’s nothing better than to play against these guys and do the best you can against them. Eventually, long-term, if you want to be good you’re going to play them almost every week.” – Grigor Dimitrov, when asked if he was afraid to play of felt intimidated by any of the top three players in the world: Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer or Andy Murray.

SOARING SERENA

One week into the season and Serena Williams has already sent a strong signal to her rivals: She’s at the top of her game. Ranked third in the world, the American took just 51 minutes to beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and capture her 47th career title. “I’ve been in the zone a few times,” Williams said of her game. “I don’t know if I was in the zone today, but I was definitely heading in that direction.” So overpowering was the winner that Pavlyuchenkova told Williams: “I always feel like I don’t know how to play tennis when I play against you.” The reigning Wimbledon, US Open and Olympic champion, Williams has won 52 of her last 54 matches, including winning the season-ending WTA Tour Championships and now the 2013 opener. She didn’t drop a set at Brisbane. “I was looking at a lot of old matches on YouTube, and I feel like right now I’m playing some of my best tennis. I feel like I want to do better and play better still,” Williams said. She will be the favorite to win her 16th major championship and sixth Australian Open title later this month.

SICK FRIEND IS KEY

Fighting back tears, Andy Murray dedicated his latest tournament title to “one of my best friends back home. After beating Grigor Dimitrov to win the Brisbane International men’s singles, Murray said in his trophy presentation speech: “You’re going to be OK. You’re going to get through.” Asked to identify the person, Murray said, “Just a sick friend.” Dimitrov made Murray work hard for the victory, pounding out hard ground strokes against the tournament’s top seed as he battled into a tiebreak before Murray won 7-0. Even in defeat, the 21-year-old Bulgarian showed he could be a dangerous player in the Australian Open.

SERBIAN WINNER

It took him six tries, but Janko Tipsarevic finally won the Chennai Open. The 28-year-old Serb beat Spain’s Roberto Bautista-Agut in the final one year after he lost the title match to Canada’s Milos Raonic. “I think there’s just one work to say, and it’s ‘finally,’” Tipsarevic said. “Last year, some of you may know, I could smell it, it was just there.” His fourth career crown wasn’t easily obtained as Bautista-Agut won the opening set 6-3. “Roberto was just the better player than me in the first set, making me move left and right and being the dominant man on court,” Tipsarevic said. “But I refocused, similar top my semifinal, and I took it step by step from there.” Bautista-Agut upset top-seeded Tomas Berdych in the quarterfinals.

SHENZHEN STEP ONE?

Li Na’s second WTA title in China could be the start toward her second Grand Slam tournament crown. The top-seeded Li overcame Czech Klara Zakopalova to win her seventh career title and stamp herself as a contender for the Australian Open. Two years ago, Li reached the final of the year’s first Grand Slam tournament before going on to become China’s first major singles champion when she won at Roland Garros. In 2004 Li became the first Chinese winner on the WTA tour when she captured the title at Guangzhou.

SETTLES DAVIS CUP FEUD

The All India Tennis Association (AITA) has agreed to accept most of the demands made by the country’s top players who had threatened to boycott the first round of Davis Cup play next month against South Korea. The AITA agreed to the demands made by the eight players, including getting a new coach, a higher share of prize money and having a voice in the choice of venues for ties. Leander Paes was the only top player who was not part of the complaining players.

SUCCESS IN QATAR

Any elbow problem was forgotten in Richard Gasquet’s run to his eighth career title. The Frenchman rallied to beat Nikolay Davydenko and win the Qatar Open in Doha. “I’m really happy with the way I won,” Gasquet said. I’m confident. When you’re winning a tournament like that, it’s perfect. I played a lot, so for sure I will be ready for Melbourne.” Gasquet pulled out of this week’s tournament in Sydney, Australia, because of elbow trouble. Davydenko called for the trainer early in the third set for treatment on his hip. He blamed his conditioning for his defeat. “He beat me physically,” Davydenko said of Gasquet. “He runs very well.”

SIMPLY PERFECT

Agnieszka Radwanska was almost perfect as she swept away the competition to win her 11th career singles title by beating Yanina Wickmayer in the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand. The Pole dropped only one set in five matches in the Australian Open warmup. “I couldn’t imagine a better start to the year,” Radwanska said. “It’s the perfect preparation for the Australian Open. Wickmayer, who was making her third finals appearance in Auckland, having won once, didn’t go away quietly. She saved five match points before losing to Radwanska for the third time in three meetings. “I’m a little disappointed,” Wickmayer said. “But I fought my heart out and I left my heart and soul on the court. I couldn’t have done any more than I did.”

SIDELINED

Defending Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka said it “a bad pedicure experience” forced her to withdraw from her semifinal match against Serena Williams at the Brisbane International. The world’s top-ranked woman pulled out of the match 30 minutes before it was to be played, announcing she had undergone a minor procedure to fix an ingrown nail on her right big toe. “I don’t know in medical terms, but I had to get a piece (of nail) out of my toe because it was jamming into me and got infected,” she said. “It’s something that’s very just really unfortunate, but I had to do that. It was just jamming underneath into the skin.”

SENIOR PARTNER

Like hitting a tennis ball against a backboard, players keep coming back after retirement. The latest is Zimbabwe’s Cara Black, who teamed with Anastasia Rodionova in Auckland, New Zealand, to win the ASB Classic doubles. The pair beat the top-seeded team of Julia Goerges and Yaroslava Shvedova 2-6 6-2 10-5 (match tiebreak) in the final. Earlier in the tournament Black and Rodionova ousted the second-seeded team of Marina Erakovic and Heather Watson as well as the third seeds, Liga Dekmeijere and Megan Moulton-Levy. It was the 55th WTA doubles title for Black. She spent 163 weeks ranked number one in the world in doubles, but hadn’t played since July 2011. During her layoff, she gave birth to Lachlan Alexander Stephens in April 2012. “I’d actually never really had a break from the game before,” Black said. “Fortunately I was injury-free in my whole career, so I played full schedules, year in, year out. So when I left the tour I was sort of mentally fried from all the years of traveling and things. Then the time away refreshed me a lot, and having a child changed my whole perspective a lot. I had time on my hands so I started going out and hitting again, and it felt good, so I thought I’d give it a bash again, nothing to lose, have a bit of fun, really.” Winning is really fun.

SPAIN STOPS SERBIA

Anabel Medina Garrigues won both of her matches to lead Spain to a 2-1 victory over Serbia and the country’s fourth Hyundai Hopman Cup title. Seeking its first Hopman Cup championship, Serbia took a 1-0 lead on Novak Djokovic’s 6-3 7-5 win over Fernando Verdasco. But Medina Garrigues outlasted Ana Ivanovic 6-4 6-7 (3) 6-2, then teamed with Verdasco to capture the decisive mixed doubles. Ivanovic, who once was ranked number one in the world, led 5-2 in the second set before having to hang on to win the tiebreak. The veteran Spaniard was dominant after that. “I was dreaming all of my career of winning against a great player in a big stadium,” Medina Garrigues said. “I’m 30 years old and finally I take it, so I’m really happy. The crowd is like a Grand Slam and they were supporting me because they wanted a live mixed doubles.” They got it.

STARRING

Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams were named 2012 World Champions by the International Tennis Federation (ITF). Djokovic won the honor for the second straight year, while Williams was named Women’s World Champion for the third time. American brothers Bob and Mike Bryan were named Men’s Doubles World Champions for the ninth time in 10 years, while Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci captured the Women’s Doubles title for the first time. Named ITF Junior World Champions were Canada’s Filip Peliwo and American Taylor Townsend. All will receive their awards at the ITF World Champions Dinner in Paris, France, in June.

SENIOR SUCCESS

Thomas Enqvist continued his winning ways against Fabrice Santoro when he edged the Frenchman 6-3 4-6 10-7 (match tiebreak) to capture the inaugural Raizen Grand Champions Rio title. Enqvist has never lost to Santoro in their four career meetings. “We haven’t played for a long time and he beat me again,” Santoro said. “I’ve never beaten him on the main tour or the ATP Champions Tour. He’s younger and fit, strong and powerful … But I will win next time.”

SITE FOR DAVIS CUP

The Davis Cup will hold its Asia/Oceania Zone Groups III and IV competition in Yangon, Myanmar, April 22-May 5. A total of 19 nations will participate at the 10-court facility during the two weeks. Eight nations – Cambodia, Hong Kong China, Iran, Malaysia, Oman, Pacific Oceania, United Arab Emirates and Vietnam – will contest the Asia/Oceania Zone Group III. The following week will have 11 nations compete in Zone IV: Bahrain, Bangladesh, Iraq, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Turkmenistan and Yemen. “The Davis Cup is a very prestigious event and for the nation of Myanmar we are extremely proud of this honor to be host nation,” said U Aung Maw Thein, president of the Tennis Federation of Myanmar. “Because of the Davis Cup this will be a catalyst for developing the tennis at all levels throughout the country.” Davis Cup by BNP Paribas is the largest annual international team competition in sport with 130 nations entered in 2013.

STOPS WITH A WIN

Playing a ceremonial farewell match in Antwerp, Belgium, Kim Clijsters finished her career with a 6-3 6-3 victory over American Venus Williams. Clijsters retired from the WTA tour after the US Open, but played an exhibition before a crowd of 13,000 at the Antwerp Sports Place, including Crown Prince Phillipe and Princess Mathilde. Clijsters beat Williams on her way to her last two US Open titles – in 2009 and 2010, and she held a 7-6 career edge over the American. Clijsters also won the US Open in 2005 and earned the Australian Open in 2011.

SKIPPING TOMIC

Bernard Tomic will not be representing Australia when it plays a first-round Davis Cup tie against Taiwan in February. “As a team we just felt that part of the commitment that we make to athletes and athletes make to the sport is they always put 100 percent commitment and effort in competing for their country,” Craig Tiley, director of tennis for Tennis Australia, said. “It’s not one specific incident, just an aggregation of his approach to the game.” The 20-year-old Tomic appeared to stop competing in a string of matches that saw him tumble from a career-high world ranking of 27th to his current ranking of 52. “We just felt that this decision should provide additional motivation every time he walks on the court to be a total professional in his approach to not only his preparation but competing in the match and post-match,” Tiley said.

SAYONARA

Argentina’s Juan Ignacio Chela has retired from the ATP Tour. Chela reached the quarterfinals of three Grand Slam tournaments – the French Open in 2004 and 2011 and the US Open in 2007. He won six ATP singles titles and three doubles crowns, all on clay. The 36-year-old was ranked as high as 15th in the world in 2004.

SCRAP SERBIAN EVENT

The Serbia Open is no more. Novak Djokovic’s tournament has been dropped after it failed to attract top players or major sponsors. Last year even Djokovic and other top Serbians skipped the event. First held in 2009, the Serbia Open was sold back to the ATP. It was the only ATP tournament held in Serbia.

SEEKING SPOT IN RIO

Although he’s planning on cutting back on his schedule over the next few years, Roger Federer says he wants to compete in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. “I have to make sure that I take care of my schedule, of my body, of my mind,” the 31-year-old Swiss star said. “Hopefully I can still stay on tour for many more years and hopefully play the Olympics in three and a half years or so, so I have to look far ahead and not just the next six months.” Federer has competed in four Olympics, winning a doubles gold at Beijing in 2008 and a singles silver at London last year.

STEPPING DOWN

After being in charge of tennis’ anti-corruption group for more than four years, Jeff Rees has retired. He has been replaced by Nigel Willerton, a former police officer. Rees was hired as Director of Integrity in August 2008. Following a series of player suspensions for betting on matches and a gambling investigation into a match involving Nikolay Davydenko, the ATP and WTA Tours along with the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and the Grand Slam Committee formed the Tennis Integrity Unit. In the last four years two players have been banned from tennis for life. Willerton has been an investigator for the Tennis Integrity Unit since June 2010.

SPONSOR

Emirates has replaced South Africa Airlines as the title sponsor of the ATP Rankings. Emirates also becomes the official airline of the ATP World Tour and the official Platinum Partner of the men’s tennis tour as well the season-ending Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. The five-year agreement runs through 2017. Emirates will also become the presenting sponsor of the ATP World Tour number one trophy ceremonies and the ATP Newcomer of the Year award.

SHARED PERFORMANCES

Auckland: Cara Black and Anastasia Rodionova beat Julia Goerges and Yaroslava Shvedova 2-6 6-2 10-5 (match tiebreak)

Brisbane (men): Marcelo Melo and Tommy Robredo beat Eric Butorac and Paul Hanley 4-6 6-1 10-5 (match tiebreak)

Brisbane (women): Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Sania Mirza beat Anna-Lena Groenefeld and Kveta Peschke 4-6 6-4 10-7 (match tiebreak)

Chennai: Benoit Paire and Stanislas Wawrinka beat Andre Begemann and Martin Emmrich 6-2 6-1

Doha: Christopher Kas and Philipp Kohlschreiber beat Julian Knowle and Filip Polasek 7-5 6-4

Shenzhen: Chan Yung-Jan and Chan Hao-Ching beat Irina Buryachok and Valeria Solovieva 6-0 7-56

SURFING

Sydney: www.apiainternational.com.au

Auckland: www.heinekenopen.co.nz

Hobart: www.hobartinternational.com.au

Melbourne: www.australianopen.com

ITF: www.itftennis.com

TOURNAMENTS THIS WEEK

MEN

$436,630 Apia International Sydney, Sydney, Australia, hard
$433,400 Heineken Open, Auckland, New Zealand, hard

WOMEN

$690,000 Apia International Sydney, Sydney, Australia, hard
$235,000 Moorilla Hobart International, Hobart, Australia, hard

TOURNAMENTS NEXT WEEK

MEN and WOMEN

Australian Open, Melbourne, Australia, hard (first week)

Nadia Petrova: “Being what she might have been”

by

By David Kane, Special for WorldTennisMagazine.com

Exciting up-and-comers come and go, but in tennis (as in life), you never forget your first love.

It would be impossible to explain why fans support the players they do. It could result from nationalistic pride, or even a chance encounter on the grounds of a tournament. No matter the meeting, the resulting emotional connection is usually indelible, and as long as that player has a racquet in his or her hand, the fan will be there, cheering them on to the last point. If the connection is to a ten-or-more Slam titlist, then “loving you is easy,” to quote Sarah McLachlan.

If the connection is to Nadia Petrova, then Avril Lavigne would call it “complicated.”

Despite her many gifts, including athletic genes and an effortlessly powerful serve, Nadia Petrova perfectly personifies the chaos that has often reigned on the WTA. While she may be one of the most talented players never to win a slam, very rarely is the body and mind of the tall Russian in proper alignment. During her long career, one or the other has failed her at crucial times, be it the upper leg injury that sent her packing from a French Open she was favored to win, or the many defeats she snatched from the jaws of victory. As recently as the US Open, both weaknesses appeared on display as a bandaged Petrova surrendered an early third set break to compatriot Maria Sharapova under the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium. Combine these singular disappointments with a three year slump that has seen her fall from the top 20 and it would have been sensible to peg the 30 year old as a likely retirement casualty.

Leave it to Nadia to continue confounding expectations.

Earlier this year, her revolving door of coaches saw the arrival of Ricardo Sanchez. The man behind Jelena Jankovic’s rise to #1 and Caroline Wozniacki’s fall from the top spot brings his share of baggage and controversy. Such controversy was literally given a microphone when he let a few choice words slip this week during a coaching time-out. Love him or hate him, he appears to have gotten through to his charge in a way that few have in the last decade. In Tokyo, Petrova showed a new willingness to use her power and net prowess to end points and take the agency away from players like Sara Errani, Sam Stosur and Agnieszka Radwanska, three top 10 players who prefer to work points and create opportunities over long rallies. Against Petrova, they rarely had the chance.

A new physical strategy seems to coincide with a new mental mantra as well. Sanchez is overwhelmingly positive from the stands, and has morphed Petrova from a oft-described sourpuss into something of a fist pumper, a player more concerned with the progression of the match as opposed to perfect play. The player who survived a second set blowout by the world #3 to play positive tennis in the third was a stranger to all who watched her. She became even more unrecognizable as she pounced on the only break point of the set and punctuated a long rally on championship point with a ferocious swing volley.

Nadia Petrova falls to her knees upon winning the Toray Pan Pacific Open.

Throughout the week, she played more than her fair share of long matches, and the longtime fan in me was ready to forgive her for letdowns that never came, but even a run to the final would have done little to convince me that this was more than the result of a lucky break; after all, she owes her place in the draw to the late withdrawal of doubles partner and fellow London bronze medalist Maria Kirilenko.

But as Petrova silenced Radwanska, a troublesome opponent when the Russian was at her best, and won her way to her highest ranking in two years, her on-court decision-making and positive attitude made the run seem like it could be more than a fluke, that at 30, her long-discussed promise could still be realized. Either way, results like this give hope to players and fans alike that, to quote the inimitable Mary Carillo, “it’s never too late to be what you might have been.”

Serena Serves Up Fifth Wimbledon Title

by

By Randy Walker

 

Serena Williams completed one of the most devastating displays of serving ever seen at a major tennis tournament Saturday, defeating Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 to win her fifth Wimbledon women’s singles title.

Williams fired 17 aces passed Radwanska to finish her run through the tournament with 102, setting a new Wimbledon women’s standard for aces during a fortnight. She lost only eight points when she got her first serve in all afternoon and had one service game – the fourth game of the third set when trailing 1-2 – where she served four straight aces, the fourth ace of the game being her 100th for the tournament. Williams did not lose another game the rest of the match.

Tennis historian Steve Flink, in his new book THE GREATEST TENNIS MATCHES OF ALL TIME, ranks the Williams first serve as the best women’s first serve in the history of tennis.

“Watching Serena Williams serve when she is in peak form is astonishing,” wrote Flink in THE GREATEST TENNIS MATCHES OF ALL TIME (available here:http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0942257936?ie=UTF8&tag=newchapre-20&linkCode=shr&camp=213733&creative=393185&creativeASIN=0942257936&ref_=sr_1_1&keywords=Greatest%20tennis%20matches%20of%20all%20time&qid=1341504389&sr=8-1) “Her motion is the most natural of any woman player I have ever seen. Her toss is reliable, her velocity impressive, her ability to rack up free points ever apparent. It is a daunting first serve, delivered with power and panache. As the serve goes, so goes Serena Williams.”

Williams lost her serve two times in the match, however, serving at 4-3 in the second set and down 5-6 in the second set to lose the set. In her semifinal win over Victoria Azarenka on Thursday, Willliams fired a new Wimbledon record 24 aces in her 6-3, 7-6 (6) victory, breaking the record she set when hitting 23 aces in her 6-7, 6-2, 9-7 third-round win over Jie Zheng of China. Williams served 89 aces in winning Wimbledon in 2010, the previous women’s record for aces during a tournament at Wimbledon, according to THE BUD COLLINS HISTORY OF TENNIS (available here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/094 …)

The win was the 14th major singles title for Williams, who trails now by four majors both Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova (18 majors each) for fourth place all time in major singles titles won by a woman in a career. Margaret Court holds the all-time record with 24 major singles titles. The 30-year-old Williams also became the first woman over age 30 to win the Wimbledon women’s singles title since 33-year-old Martina Navratilova won her ninth singles title at the AELTC in 1990.

Williams streaked to win the first five games of the match before Radwanska, appearing in her first major singles title, settled down. The match was then delayed for 20 minutes due to a brief rain shower. Williams broke Radwanska’s serve in the third game of the second set and appeared on her way to breeze to the title. However, Radwanska stayed tough and took advance of increased errors from Williams, likely due to nerves being so close to the title, and broke Williams back two times to even the match at one set all. After Radwanska held serve for a 2-1 lead in the final set, Williams won the last five games of the match.

Radwanska, seed No. 3 and ahead of Williams at No. 6, was the first Pole since Jadwiga Jedrzejowka in 1937 to reach the Wimbledon final. If she had beaten Williams, Radwanska would have moved to No 1 in the world rankings, but instead Azarenka will move to that ranking, replacing Maria Sharapova. Williams will move to the No. 4 ranking.

“I can’t even describe it. I almost didn’t make it,” said Williams post-match, discussing her health problems, depression and near-death experience over the last two years since she last won Wimbledon in 2010.”A few years ago, you know, I was in the hospital, and now I’m here again. It’s so worth it, and I’m so happy.”

Williams entered Wimbledon this year after a shock first-round upset in the first round of the French Open last month to Virginie Razzano. She returned to tennis last summer after a year off the circuit after suffering from a serious foot injury, sustained while cutting her foot on a broken glass at a restaurant in Germany in July of 2010. She also suffered from a near-fatal hematoma and pulmonary embolism last year.

“I never dreamt of being here again, being so down,” Williams said. “Never give up. You can continue.”

Serena Williams
Serena Williams

Here’s how the day unfolded via my Twitter feed from my @TennisPublisher Twitter handle. For those not too familiar with twitter the “@” is someone’s Twitter handle – or profile – and “RT” means that a tweet is “Re-Tweeted.”

 

8:00 am One-hour pre-game show for Wimbledon women’s final starting now on ESPN now…

8:05 am “Her game blossomed. We are looking at a new Serena Williams,” Chris Evert on ESPN on Serena’s 2nd week Wimbledon form

8:05 am RT @Wimbledon #Wimbledon 2012 is the 48th Grand Slam Serena Williams has contested and Agnieszka Radwanska’s 25th.

8:06 am “You are scared,” Mary Joe Fernandez on what it is like to have to play against the Serena Williams power. ‪#Wimbledon

8:09 am “Tennis Made Easy: Essential Strokes & Strategies for the Modern Game” by Kelly Gunterman http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/094 …‪#itstennisday ‪#Wimbledon

8:11 am “Titanic: The Tennis Story” Narrates Possibly Greatest Tennis Story Ever http://www.worldtennismagazine.com/archives/6547 

8:20 am Wojtek Fibak, the great Polish men’s tennis player, reached the Wimbledon men’s quarterfinals in 1980, his best finish at SW19

8:24 am “I hope your tennis game is better than your golf game,” John McEnroe to Charles Barkley on ESPN

8:29 am “I am a serve and volleyer,” said Charles Barkley on his tennis game, on ESPN set, saying he played a lot of tennis as a kid

8:30 am RT @Wimbledon Half an hour to go until the final. Let’s hear your twitter cheers. Is it‪#GoAga or ‪#GoSerena? ‪#Wimbledon

8:33 am “It’s awesome. I can cross it off my bucket list,” Charles Barkley on ESPN on being at Wimbledon

8:34 am “It sucks” said Charles Barkley on ESPN on what it’s like to be a great athlete, like Murray, and not have a championship (or major title)

8:36 am “It’s an expensive sport. The equipment is expensive. Racquets and balls are expensive.” Barkley on why tennis isn’t a more popular sport

8:41 am “It is the most dominant shot in both the men’s and women’s game” – Mary Joe Fernandez on ESPN on the Serena Williams serve‪#Wimbledon

8:45 am The Serena Williams serve is rated No. 1 in tennis history by Steve Flink in “The Greatest Tennis Matches of All Time” http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0942257936?ie=UTF8&tag=newchapre-20&linkCode=shr&camp=213733&creative=393185&creativeASIN=0942257936&ref_=sr_1_1&keywords=The%20Greatest%20tennis%20matches%20of%20all%20time&qid=1341665048&sr=8-1

8:46 am Steve Flink actually rates Samantha Stosur’s second serve No. 1 above Serena’s in THE GREATEST TENNIS MATCHES OF ALL TIME

8:48 am “She could be feeling anything from sick to her stomach to strangely confident,” ESPN’s Pam Shriver on what Radwanska is feeling now

8:53 am ESPN’s Chris Evert said Radwanska needs to hope roof stays open, it gets blustery, and for her to hit slices, dropshots, get SW off baseline

8:54 am “Serena has to just keep up her serving,” Chris Evert on ESPN

8:59 am A secret look at Serena and Venus Williams at age 12, 13, from @WorldTennisMag http://www.worldtennismagazine.com/archives/7121 #Wimbledon

9:01 am “How the heck am I going to return the Serena Williams serve,” Chris Evert on ESPN on what Radwanska is probably thinking right now

9:01 am “There is no other court in the world like Centre Court. Dick Enberg used to call it the tennis cathedral,” Chris Evert on ESPN

9:03 am Read all about ‪#Wimbledon history in “The Bud Collins History of Tennis: An Authoritative Encyclopedia and Record Book”http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/094 …

9:03 am Serena wins toss. Elects to serve. “Is there any surprise?” says Chris Fowler on ESPN

9:06 am RT ‏@vblacklabel Wonder if Nike has put a Serena “14” trenchcoat in her bag, just in case?

9:08 am “A commanding hold for Serena” says Chris Fowler on ESPN. 1-0 for Williams.

9:13 am A drop shot for Radwanska on her first shot in her first service game….Serena tracks it down, wins point….

9:22 am “It is going to be a crusade for Radwanska to hold serve today,” says Chris Fowler on ESPN. Serena eventually breaks serve for 2-0.

9:25 am Serena needs 5 aces today to break her own Wimbledon tourney record. She hit a record 89 aces in 2010, from BUD COLLINS HISTORY OF TENNIS

9:28 am  RT ‏@TennisNewsTPN Serena 3-0 hits fh dropper to close out game

9:32 am Rod Laver says in this book, the most important point in each game is the first one “The Education of a Tennis Player” http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0942257626?ie=UTF8&tag=tennisgrancom-20&linkCode=shr&camp=213733&creative=393185&creativeASIN=0942257626&qid=1336920533&ref_=sr_1_3&sr=8-3

9:34 am “Radwanska looks rattled here…just trying to get on the board here,” says Chris Evert on ESPN. Serena breaks again for 4-0 lead

9:36 am RT @DaveESPNPR “You start 2B embarrassed when you’re being beaten so soundly…at some pt Radwanska has to get angry w/herself.” – @ChrissieEvert

9:38 am RT @Wimbledon Is Radwanska bagel bound? Serena now 5-0 in the opening set of the ‪#Wimbledon final and in crushing form so far

9:39 am 1911 Wimbledon women’s final Dorothea Douglas Chambers defeated Dora Boothby 6-0, 6-0

9:43 am RT @YCochennec 6-0 in opening set at @Wimbledon women’s final, last time in 83: Navratilova-Jaeger(6-0, 6-3)

9:45 am No Breakfast at Wimbledon bagel. Radwanska holds. Serena serves for first set at 6-1.

9:47 am “Just beginning to pick up, the rain now,” says Chris Fowler on ESPN. “We are on the brink of a rain delay here.”

9:49 am Service winner for Serena and she takes the first set 6-1. Three aces for Serena in the first set, 88 now for the tournament. ‪#Wimbledon

9:51 am Serena wins 36-minute first set, finishes off with ace, service winner. And, it’s raining. Roof break?

9:52 am 1st major final played indoors was 1988 Australian Open. Roof was closed with Graf leading Evert 2-1 in the first set www.TennisHistoryBook.com

9:56 am @christophclarey Graf vs. Evert 1988 Australian final had 90-minute delay to decide to close roof/and to close roof. Match stopped at 2-1

9:57 am Roof not being closed because officials believe it will only be a brief shower, says Mike Tirico on ESPN

10:04 am July 7, 2007: No. 31 Venus Williams beats No. 20 Marion Bartoli  6-4, 6-1 to win #Wimbledon women’s title, her fourth. www.TennisHistoryBook.com

10:06 am RT ‏@Ataraxis00 RT @mzemek: It’s worth noting that ESPN’s ratings are noticeably better than NBC’s. When tennis gets shown live, more people tune in.

10:08 am “The rain came at a good time because she was getting blitzed,” says Chris Evert on ESPN.on Radwanska

10:13 am July 7, 1978: @Martina Navratilova wins first #Wimbledon, first major singles title, beats Chris Evert 26 64 75 www.TennisHistoryBook.com

10:15 am RT @Tennisfan24 Wow, Serena is 190-4 when she wins the first set in a Slam. Her fourth loss was this year vs Razzano ‪#Wimbledon2012

10:18 am 5 aces for Serena, that’s 90 for the tourney, 1 better than her 2010 #Wimbledon record total, according to BUD COLLINS HISTORY OF TENNIS

10:19 am “Batting practice” says Chris Fowler on ESPN as she breaks Radwanska for 2-1 lead in second set ‪#Wimbledon

10:22 am “What can you do about that!” says Chris Fowler on ESPN as Serena fires seventh ace

10:25 am Let us know in ‪#London2012 ! @USTA_TimCurry Wonder how many aces Serena serves against the men in mixed doubles?

10:25 am @USTA_TimCurry That is…if she is selected for mixed!

10:29 am Goran Ivanisevic fired a record 212 aces in winning ‪#Wimbledon in 2001, from THE BUD COLLINS HISTORY OF TENNIS

10:30 am “This is totally in Serena’s hands,” says Chris Evert as she leads Radwanska 6-1, 3-2, serving, but Aga as 0-30 crack on SW serve.

10:32 am nerves  @dougrobson First serve dipping a bit for Serena. Energy too? All that dubs catching up to her? ‪#wimbledon

10:33 am Eighth ace for Serena as she wins four points in a row from 0-30 down, she leads 4-2

10:35 am RT @TheFanChild That was perhaps the craziest angle on a backhand winner in the history of tennis (at 0-30, 3-2 from Serena). Wow. ‪#Wimbledon

10:37 am Serena admitted to having some nerves being up a set and break against Azarenka in the semis. Let’s see what happens here. SW up 6-1, 4-3

10:41 am 10th ace for Serena

10:43 am RT ‏@bgtennisnation Why is Agi Rad just like Aza standing on the baseline to return SW 1st serve makes no sence to me at all @ESPN10s

10:44 am Break point for Radwanka – first in the match

10:45 am Serena pushes forehand long and is broken for the first time…. 4-4 in the second set.

10:46 am RT ‏@bgtennisnation nice fightback from Agi Rad now can put some scoreboard pressure on SW

10:49 am “Radwanska in front…for once,” says Chris Fowler as she holds to lead 5-4 in second set. Nerves settling in for Serena.

10:51 am “She was aiming for the press up there,” Chris Evert on ESPN as Serena smashes overhead well into the Centre Court stands.

10:52 am Radwanska’s first-Slam-final nerves have been transferred and transformed into Serena’s closing-out-first-major-in-two years nerves

10:53 am “She can play defense too,” says Chris Fowler on ESPN as Williams hit backhand down the line passing shot to hold for 5-5 in second set.

10:54 am “Radwanska now showing why she is No.  3 in the world and has won three titles this year,” says Chris Fowler on ESPN.

10:55 am “Now Serena must hold to force a second-set tie-break,” says Chris Fowler on ESPN as Radwanska holds for 6-5 in the second set.

10:57 am Serena is so nervous…this has a real shot at going three sets… 0-30

10:59 am Four errors for Serena in her service game as she misses another backhand into the net. Radwanska wins the second set 7-5.

11:01 am Serena missed a swinging volley, two backhand unforced errors and a double fault and is broken to lose the set….nerves.

11:01 am ‏RT @BenRothenberg This collapse is all Serena. Amazing how poorly she seems to deal with stress so often recently, given her past unflappability.‪#Wimbledon

11:04 am Serena Williams has a break point in opening game of third set, but Williams misses lob long

11:05 am “This game sets the tone for the third set,” says Chris Evert on ESPN. Unforced errors piling up for Serena Williams.

11:06 am “Radwanska passes a crucial test,” says Chris Fowler on ESPN as the Pole holds for 1-0 in the third set.

11:07 am “The no pace balls are giving Serena more problems,” says Chris Evert on ESPN.

11:08 am RT @Becker_Boris Radwanska getting better…come on Serena !!!

11:11 am “A more controlled game that time,” says Chris Fowler as Serena holds serve for 1-1 in the third set.

11:12 am RT @darrenrovell Radwanska takes 2nd set from SERENA. Lexus is happy. Did a patch deal with Radwanska for Wimbledon.

11:12 am  RT ‏@newballsplease ‘Champions adjust,’ says Lindsay Davenport. Great defence and volleys from Serena.

11:13 am Double fault for Radwanska after a bad unforced error. 15-40 for Serena. The Pole fights off first BP with a strong forehand

11:14 am Backhand winner for Radwanska as she saves second BP

11:16 am “A big underdog in this match…hanging on,” says ESPN’s Chris Fowler as Radwanska wins four points in a row from 15-40 down, holds for 2-1.

11:16 am RT @Ringham7 Whether or not she wins today, we’re seeing a GS champ in making here. Good match player, calm in crisis & 15-40 was a crisis for Rad

11:17 am RT @jon_wertheim Serena in 501(c)(3) mode with all these mid-rally gifts…2-1 aggie

11:18 am “Four for four!” says Chris Fowler on ESPN. Serena belts four aces to hold for 2-2. 100 aces now for Serena in the tournament.

11:19 am 15 aces today for Serena

11:20 am ‏Amazing RT @linzsports 14 for Aga all tournament. RT @TennisPublisher: 15 aces today for Serena

11:23 am “Serena is in front again…can she keep the lead this time?” says Chris Fowler on ESPN, as Serena breaks Radwanska for 3-2 lead in 3rd set.

11:24 am RT @vblacklabel The American tennis mentality is so focused on power, aces, that many miss that what Radwanska does can be ridiculously effective

11:25 am “I have to admit that I didn’t think that Radwanska would give her this tough of a match,” says Chris Evert on ESPN.

11:27 am ‘The finish line is close,” says Chris Fowler on ESPN as Serena holds for a 4-2 lead in the third set.

11:28 am Serena Williams 1st serve rated No. 1 all time by Steve Flink in hew book “The Greatest Tennis Matches of All Time” http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0942257936?ie=UTF8&tag=newchapre-20&linkCode=shr&camp=213733&creative=393185&creativeASIN=0942257936&ref_=sr_1_1&keywords=The%20Greatest%20tennis%20matches%20of%20all%20time&qid=1341674760&sr=8-1

11:28 am 0-40 for Serena. If she can get this insurance, second break, it will help her nerves…

11:30 am Radwanska keeps fighting…staves off 0-40 hole

11:31 am Serena shows her touch, hits forehand drop shot winner to break serve, leads 5-2.

11:33 am “Now the most dominant serve in the history of women’s tennis is one hold away from the Wimbledon title,” says Chris Fowler on ESPN.

11:34 am 17th ace from Serena today…

11:36 am “Serena Williams…Champion at Wimbledon again” Chris Fowler says on ESPN as she hits a backhand inside out winner to clinch it.

11:37 am “Serena pulling a Pat Cash”

11:37 am RT @TennisReporters Beaatiful BDL winner & Serena Williams wins 5th Wimbledon & 14th Slam. Falls on back. Face full of joy. Been a long 2 years. Well deserved

11:38 am RT @jonscott9 Serena Williams def. Agnieszka Radwanska 6-1 5-7 6-2 to win‪#Wimbledon, tying sister Venus with five singles titles.

11:39 am RT @DaveESPNPR “Some day she’ll be in the winner’s circle.” – @ChrissieEvert‪#Radwanska ‪#Wimbledon ‪#ESPN10s

11:40 am RT @ryanlochte Congrats to my good friend @serenawilliams for winning her 5th Wimbledon title!! JEAH!!!

11:41 am RT @jon_wertheim Serena is the story but admire radwanska fight, no? Great last three rounds. Great event for wta….

11:42 am Serena grabs hold of Venus…..Rosewater Dish, the Wimbledon women’s trophy

11:43 am “I think I had the best two weeks of my life, says Radwanska to Sue Barker of BBC on court

11:48 am “I can’t even describe. I want to thank Jehovah,” Serena Williams to BBC’s Sue Barker on how it feels to be Wimbledon champion again

11: 48 am “You just never give up. You have to continue.” Serena Williams to Sue Barker of BBC on overcoming health troubles to win Wimbledon

11:48 am “Aggy played so well. You guys have to give her another round of applause because she is so amazing” Serena Williams to BBC on-court

11:49 am “Mentally I am like 12 or 13, so that kind of helps,” Serena to BBC on winning Wimbledon at age 30.

11:50 am “I’ve always wanted everything that Venus has….” Serena to BBC on court on tying Venus with her 5th Wimbledon title.

11:51 am RT @alex_willis ‘I believe you’re watching the greatest female player that’s ever played this game.’ John McEnroe

11:56 am “I didn’t think I would ever play tennis again. I just wanted to live,” Serena Williams to MJ Fernandez on ESPN on her health comeback

11:58 am “What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger….” Serena Williams, literally, on her health comeback, to Mary Joe Fernandez on ESPN

12:02 pm Steve Flink ranks Serena Williams No. 6 greatest women’s player of alltime in “The Greatest Tennis Matches of All Time” http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0942257936?ie=UTF8&tag=newchapre-20&linkCode=shr&camp=213733&creative=393185&creativeASIN=0942257936&ref_=sr_1_1&keywords=The%20Greatest%20tennis%20matches%20of%20all%20time&qid=1341674760&sr=8-1

12:07 pm “I think it’s the most extraordinary sports story ever,” Pam Shriver on ESPN on the Williams family tennis domination

12:09 pm This also is a most extraordinary sports story. Titanic survivor wins US Open… “Titanic: The Tennis Story” http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1937559041?ie=UTF8&tag=newchapre-20&linkCode=shr&camp=213733&creative=393185&creativeASIN=1937559041&ref_=sr_1_1&keywords=Titanic%20The%20tennis%20story&qid=1341677307&sr=8-1 #Wimbledon

12:22 pm “What is more important than something that happens every 74 years?” says John McEnroe on ESPN on the Queen’s Sunday schedule ‪#Wimbledon

12:33 pm Final tally for Serena Williams: 17 aces against Radwanska and 102 for The Championships.

12:35 pm The 102 tournament aces from Serena Williams is a new ‪#Wimbledonrecord, according to THE BUD COLLINS HISTORY OF TENNIShttp://www.amazon.com/gp/product/094 …

12:38 pm  RT ‏@serenawilliams 5th Wimbledon title. That’s a ‪#WinFromWithin @GatoradeYahooooooooo

12:38 pm RT @SerenaWilliams Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

12:55 pm Steve Flink’s rankings of best 1st serves of all time from new book 1.Serena 2.Venus 3. Alice Marble 4. Martina Navratilova 5. Althea Gibson

12:56 pm RT @KimKardashian Congrats @serenawilliams on winning your 5th Wimbledon!!!!! So proud of you!!!!

 

Wimbledon road to the semifinals: Victoria Azarenka against Serena Williams, Agnieszka Radwanska versus Angelique Kerber

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By Romana Cvitkovic

The women’s semifinals are set at Wimbledon as Serena Williams is set to take on Victoria Azarenka, while Agnieszka Radwanska will battle against relative newcomer Angelique Kerber. Although Williams is a 13-time Slam champion, her somewhat rusty play this week has evened the playing field and it is any woman’s title. Here’s a look at each player’s road to the semifinals at Wimbledon.

[2] Victoria Azarenka (BLR) vs. [6] Serena Williams (USA)

Serena Williams lead’s the head-to-head 7 to 1, winning the last five times including their sole encounter on grass at Wimbledon in 2009.

Although Williams is a four-time Wimbledon singles champion, it’s been Victoria Azarenka who has been breezing by on the grass this past week. Sure, some of her opponents were overwhelmed by the atmosphere (or possibly, her grunting), but her beating of No. 14 Ana Ivanovic in just 62 minutes solidified her place as a regular Slam contender. No longer a “would be,” Azarenka has acheived what many feared she wouldn’t but hoped she would when she won her maiden title at this year’s Australian Open. Her improved smart play and physical training, control of emotions on-court, and sheer will power put her at an advantage against most players. But Williams is not most players, and Azarenka will surely have her work cut out for her as she tries to reach her first Wimbledon final.

Victoria Azarenka’s Road to the Semifinals:

Quarterfinal: def. Tamira Paszek 6-3, 7-6(4)

4th round: def. #14 Ana Ivanovic 6-1, 6-0

3rd round: def. Jana Cepelova 6-3, 6-3

2nd round: def. Romina Oprandi 6-2, 6-0

1st round: def. Irina Falconi 6-1, 6-4

 

When Serena Williams steps on a tennis court, all bets are off. She has the ability to return from a year-long hiatus from the sport and still reel back to beat a World No. 1 upon her return. She is one of the ageless tennis wonders that breaks all norms in sports. Her career seems to be defined not only by Slam titles but also by her drama both on- and off-court. This year saw Williams decidedly beat No. 5 Samantha Stosur, No. 2 Azarenka, and No. 1 Maria Sharapova, but lose to the likes of Ekaterina Makarova and Virginie Razzano both at the last two Slams in Australia and Paris, respectively. Williams becomes the first 30-something semifinalist at Wimbledon since 1999 when Steffi Graf was the runner-up. Can Williams go all the way again and make history once more?

Serena Williams’ Road to the Semifinals:

Quarterfinal: def. #4 Petra Kvitova 6-3, 7-5

4th round: def. Yaroslava Shvedova 6-1, 2-6, 7-5

3rd round: def. #25 Jie Zheng 6-7(5), 6-2, 9-7

2nd round: def. Melinda Czink 6-1, 6-4

1st round: def. Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 6-2, 6-4

 ***

[3] Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) vs. [8] Angelique Kerber (GER)

Head-to-head is even at 2-2 for Angelique Kerber and Agnieszka Radwanska, with their last three meetings going the full three sets.

She may be world No. 3 and riding high from winning Dubai, Miami and Brussels already this year, but Agnieszka Radwanska is in her first Slam semifinal. With her steady game, intricate angles and mixture of slices and lobs, Radwanska grinds down her opponents on-court with carefully constructed points that end in the occasional off-handed winner. Suffering her worse loss at Wimbledon last year by crashing out in the second round, Radwanska has re-energized her game and confidence by reaching the semifinals here. But her match today against Maria Kirilenko that spanned across seven hours and four rain delays, in addition to her still being alive in the Ladies’ Doubles Draw, will surely put both her mental and physical strength to the test in her next match.

Agnieszka Radwanska’s Road to the Semifinals:

Quarterfinal: def. #17 Maria Kirilenko 7-5, 4-6, 7-5

4th round: def. Camila Giorgi 6-2, 6-3

3rd round: def. Heather Watson 6-0, 6-2

2nd round: def. Elena Vesnina 6-2, 6-1

1st round: def. Magdalena Rybarikova 6-3, 6-3

 

If you’ve never heard of Angelique Kerber before you’re not alone. After a slow start to 2011, the 24-year-old German catapulted to the semifinals of the U.S. Open, defeating seeded players Flavia Pennetta and Radwanska, before losing in three sets to eventual champion Stosur. Ranked 92 in the world coming into that tournament, no one could have guessed that the magic would continue well into the following year. While many players are able to compile week-long streaks, most are never able to back it up week after week. But not Kerber. By winning two tournaments and reaching four semifinals already in 2012, her results show that the U.S. Open run was no fluke. Winning a Slam is a much higher challenge, but why not? Petra Kvitova won her maiden slam at Wimbledon last year, and Kerber may very be next. With her aggressive groundstrokes and dependable serve, Radwanska will be forced to go for a few more winners than usual if she wants to win.

Angelique Kerber’s Road to the Semifinals:

Quarterfinal: def. #15 Sabine Lisicki 6-3, 6-7(7), 7-5]

4th round: def. Kim Clijsters 6-1, 6-1

3rd round: def. #28 Christina McHale 6-2, 6-3

2nd round: def. Ekaterina Makarova 7-5, 6-3

1st round: def. Lucie Hradecka 6-4, 6-1

 

All too human — 2012 Sony Ericsson Open recap

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By Andrea Leand

Victoria Azarenka had to be the one to remind us that our top tennis stars are not “superhuman,” she said, but  “human being(s) with good days and bad days.” Thank goodness for that, as their foibles and follies during the Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne, Florida captured our attention if not our hearts as much as their supercharged forehands.

How quickly Azarenka’s undefeated season of 26-0 and titles at the Australian Open and Indian Wells propelled her from side show to super power-and World No.1- in one fell swoop. So blistering was her surge up the rankings that pro-turned television pundit Justin Gimelstob flippantly dismissed the rest of the field-except for Serena Williams-as capable of uncovering Azarenka’s Achilles heel. His predictions did not faze his Tennis Channel cohort and former World No.1 Lindsay Davenport whose deadpan silence in response, reflected the same teeth-grinding angst in the WTA locker room from those  who believed there were plenty of players who could beat  Azarenka-including Azarenka herself.

Touted as one of the most talented juniors in the world, Azarenka topped nearly everyone’s list as ‘most likely to succeed’ on the pro tour. When she stumbled in the transition and failed to live up to expectation, most pinpointed the problem as more immaturity than game. Only when stalwart champions like Justine Henin, Kim Clijsters and the Williams sisters faded away time after time leaving room for Azarenka’s contemporaries to squeeze through the ranks-most especially Caroline Wozniacki, Vera Zvonareva, Petra Kvitova and Agnieszka Radwanska- did Azarenka take steps to harness her raw ability into a more seasoned, reliable style.

What emerged in the last year was a more disciplined Victoria in both mind and body. Her hiccup at the Sony Ericsson-a quarterfinal surrender to Marion Bartoli- seemed just that, a glitch easily resolved with better scheduling and pacing. The same could be said about other unexpected casualties including-Roger Federer, John Isner, Andy Roddick, Li Na, Francesca Schiavone, Mardy Fish, Kvitova and Rafael Nadal (who flew to Monte Carlo after siting a knee injury and withdrawing to semifinal opponent Andy Murray-but then was reportedly practicing on his preferred red clay a day later). Was it human frailty or cases of ‘hard courtitis’ that caused these stars to prematurely eject from Crandon Park?

Maybe the mass exodus in Miami was to be expected after top seeds depleted themselves the prior week at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. Let’s face it, when Oracle founder, billionaire Larry Ellison paid millions two years ago to take ownership of the premiere event and then infused it with millions more, he upped the ante in tournament standards. Pampering players with five star parties and every VIP amenity available, not to mention lucrative enticements for double duty in entering doubles (how many times have we’ve seen Nadal and Federer play singles and doubles at a single tournament?), Ellison revitalized player interest and consequently the event itself.

IMG, who owns the Sony Ericsson Open, tried to keep pace under fiscal corporate constraints. Unfortunately, its efforts to upgrade player locker rooms, eating facilities etc. did not go over well. Why weren’t there enough lockers for players like eventual doubles champion Leander Paes during the first days of the event? And pitching an outdoor tent with overzealous air conditioning for a makeshift eating area literally left competitors out in the cold looking for warmer havens with healthier food choices. Cracked, uneven outside courts at the site also forced players to look else where for practice courts. It was unclear whether Dade County or IMG was responsible for picking up the tab for ground maintenance, but just as IMG client Maria Sharapova switched from endorsing the Sony Ericsson cell phone to Samsung, there were definitely whispers that the event may be for sale.

Sony Ericsson Open stadium court (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

IMG denials aside, time will tell the event’s future. What was certain were the terrific crowds that filled the venue daily undeterred by withdrawals or internal issues. IMG’s announcement of the event’s name change from Sony Ericsson Open to Sony Open did not seem to have any bearing on the sponsorship deal in place but did promise utilization of Sony’s entertainment technology to expand the experience. This year, fans had plenty to cheer about in getting their money’s worth of action. The return of the Williams sisters, Serena and Venus, made many realize how much they transform the women’s draw into prime time with their mere presence. Whether in peak match shape or not, it doesn’t matter; Serena and Venus infuse an unparalleled energy, excitement and interest by just showing up.

Naturally, both legends did more than just punch in their cards. Venus, wild carded into the event and looking noticeably trimmer since recovering from the autoimmune disease Sjogren’s Syndrome, dusted off her serve and nerve to post upsets from the onset with her second round romp of World No. 3 Kvitova. Dressed in her most attractive ELEVEN sports line yet-a flattering, well-structured contemporary design of black and white patterned skirts, tops, shorts and dresses-Venus showed true grit as well as a host of well timed big serves to survive consecutive three set battles with Kvitova, Aleksandra Wozniak and Ana Ivanovic.

In earlier years, it would have been a sure thing to bet V. Williams would overpower a more diminutive Radwanska in their quarterfinal. But times have changed; the Polish wonder quietly but confidently moved to No.4 in the world and 31-year-old Venus, well, has just gotten older. Sure enough, there was nothing left in the tank for Williams as Radwanska made quick work of the straight set victory. Still not outdone, Venus attracted more attention leaving the site than Radwanska did in her press conference.

Much the same could be said about sister Serena. Looking noticeably fitter since the Australian Open, Serena avenged her US Open loss to Sam Stosur in the fourth round before getting whisked away with the windy conditions in her evening quarterfinal demise to a younger, well-wheeled Wozniacki. If the wear and tear of aging makes these comeback cameo performances from both sisters more difficult and disappointing, Serena still flexed super star status by attracting the sole tennis coverage the following day in internationally distributed USA Today. At a time when pro tennis fights for space in any media outlet, the Williams sisters are still the only sure US headlines in the women’s game.

That’s not to say that eventual champions Radwanska and Novak Djokovic do not deserve their due. Can there be a more humble, understated champion than Radwanska? Although the 5‘6” brunette has earned millions in prize money, don’t ever expect Radwanska to move to the glitzy tax haven Monaco like her contemporaries, Azarenka, and Wozniacki. Unfazed by her own success, 23-year-old Radwanska finds her happiness huddled in her hometown Krakow honing her game on any random court with her father, Robert. Such simplicity belies how balanced she is in both temperament and game. She defined in the best sense “playing within oneself” in using her versatility and guile to disarm Venus, Bartoli and ultimately Maria Sharapova in the final.

Djokovic, on the other hand, needed to raise his game to close out an unusually flat Murray. With nearly 80 unforced errors between the two, suffice is say, it was neither’s best day. Murray said afterwards that he was not ready for Djokovic’s pace and it “took a while to get used to”. But with new coach, legend Ivan Lendl and extra days off from two withdrawals, how could Murray be so ill-prepared for such a big moment? After his partnership with Lendl had been hyped in news outlets from the internet to the Wall Street Journal, everyone just expected more from Murray in explanation as well as on court. Loping several feet behind the baseline as counterpuncher hardly seems the best way to win a match for a 6‘1” man who has all the tools and  ability to be No.1. But as Azarenka would say, Murray is only human and hopefully will adopt more of Lendl’s aggressive approach to matches and maturity to make use of it all.

Djokovic already learned that lesson in making the necessary changes 18 months ago to raise his level. Whether it was his new gluten free diet or more mature sense of self, Djokovic’s evolution of all aspects of his game mentally and physically shows. Along with his natural athleticism and all court ability, Djokovic’s improved fitness, speed, resilience and serve have given him new found confidence to prevail even when things are not going perfectly. Such was the case against Murray. What could have been a 6-1, 6-2 win for the Serbian turned into a tense, page turning second set tie break. When it counted, Djokovic switched gears, stepped up to the baseline and took control of the match with big serving and ground strokes. To the delight of his ever growing base of fans-most especially his Pied Piper following of children-Djokovic pounded his chest and raised his arms in triumph, showing the passion and warmth that has made him one of the most popular world champions.

Andrea Leand is a former U.S. Fed Cup and Olympic tennis team member and former writer/columnist for USA Today and the now-defunct Tennis Week. She can be reached at cl3535@aol.com

Strangeness at the Sony Ericsson Open

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By Thomas Swick

It’s getting quieter here, and not just because Victoria Azarenka is gone. There was no cluster of cars at the Rickenbacker tollbooth this morning; no great multitude waiting impatiently to cross Crandon Boulevard into the tennis center.

Near noon, the desks in the media center were still mostly empty. My neighbor from The Asahi Shimbun left town after the loss of Kei Nishikori.

The day’s schedule, once so crowded with names you could barely read some of them, now has almost as much white space as print. Some wag has placed a battered old tennis ball in the top cup at the water cooler. It sits there like a symbol (rebuke?) of all the balls we’ve watched over the last nine days.

Maria Sharapova beats Caroline Wozniacki at the Sony Ericsson Open (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Fans who arrived early for the Caroline Wozniacki-Maria Sharapova match (probably not Miamians) got a taste of the low-key atmosphere when they walked in the stadium and saw Mardy Fish casually serving aces to a hitting partner. He whacked the last ball high into the stands and then walked toward the tunnel unimpeded. Not a single kid was there to bother him for an autograph.

The match began a little after 1, and Sharapova started and – more important – finished strong, hitting more than five times as many winners as her opponent. Still upset with a call on Sharapova’s ultimately winning serve, Wozniacki shook the victor’s hand but not the chair umpire’s. In her press conference she looked so forbidding – her expression conveying a kind of fuming grief – that a number of reporters (like me) didn’t dare venture a question. The ones she did get, she answered briefly, in an accent that at times sounded vaguely Irish.

Fish came out next, with Argentina’s Juan Monaco. It must feel strange to play a couple hours’ drive from your old home and hear louder support for your opponent who hails from a country that’s thousands of miles away. So strange, perhaps, that it affects your play, as Fish fell easily in straight sets. Kids now stood outside the tunnel with oversized balls but Fish – like every other loser I’ve seen – refused to acknowledge their existence.

There have been a lot of strange things happening here. Roddick beating Federer. The last Argentinian standing being not Del Potro but Monaco. (Think of all the people who bought tickets for the semis imagining they’d see Federer, a few of them, at least, now asking themselves, ‘Who the hell is Monaco?’) The seemingly invincible Azarenka silenced by Bartoli.

I needed some air to clear my head, so I took my daily stroll through the grounds. A young Mexican woman, who’d come with her father, complained about the Argentinian fans, saying she told a group of them, “It’s not a soccer match.”

On Court 3 I found two ball boys and one ball girl playing with a ball. (Nothing odd about that.) On hearing I was a writer, they asked if I’d ever written about the ball kids. I told them I had, yesterday. Then I asked them which players treated them the nicest.

“Ivanovic,” the girl said. “She’s really nice.”

“Djokovic,” the taller of the boys said. “All the Serbians are nice.”

I said I’d heard the French can be difficult. They all nodded their heads, adding that Monfils and Tsonga were exceptions. The tall one said that they’re given a talk before they work a match with Llodra.

“Nadal is nice,” the other ball boy said. “He always says, ‘Gracias.’”

I asked about Federer, but none had had the pleasure. “I’ve done Nadal matches seven times,” the girl said. (This was not their first year; they were veteran ball kids.) “I would trade seven Nadal matches for one Federer match.”

Back in the stadium, I watched Djokovic fail to serve out the match against Ferrer. But, bringing things back to normal, he cruised through the tiebreak. Before stepping into the tunnel, the vanquished Spaniard stopped and signed autographs.

In the last match, Marion Bartoli  and Agnieszka Radwanska rallied strongly in the first set until Bartoli went off with a trainer. She reappeared with her left thigh wrapped. Limping noticeably, she lost the set. It looked as if that would be all. But after struggling to get her serve in, she started rallying as before. At 4-2, Radwanska’s turn to serve, the lights went out and the stadium was plunged in darkness.

Immediately the back-up lights came on, and the booths and exits and scoreboards all emitted an eerie glow. But the court remained in darkness. The players retreated to the locker. Twenty minutes later, when the lights returned, many of the fans had left, and those who’d stayed moved down to the front rows. It was like a night match at the U.S. Open, though without the drama. Radwanska won the next two games and the two women, in full light, exchanged kisses at the net.

Serbian Hats, Middle-Aged Ball Boys, and Unanswered Questions from the Sony Ericsson Open

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By Thomas Swick

At around 1 pm yesterday, Agnieszka Radwanska walked onto the stadium court, placed her heavy bag on her chair, and took out a plastic bag of bottled drinks as if she had just entered her compartment for a long train ride.

It was the express from Warsaw to Krakow, as the young Pole dispatched Venus Williams in straight sets. She was helped by the fact that Williams moved on the court like someone who had just gotten off a red-eye.

I asked Radwanska at her press conference if she had noticed her opponent’s lethargy. “Well, um,” she said, “well, about that, you really have to ask her.” Williams had already had her press conference, so I didn’t have the opportunity to ask her: “Did Radwanska notice that you were tired?”

Williams’ sluggish performance was echoed outside the stadium. Lanes that last week had brimmed with people now carried a wandering straggler or two. The Corona and Ben & Jerry’s stands outside Court 8 stood abandoned.

The bleachers had already been removed from Court 6, giving a view onto a young man standing at the net and having his picture taken by a young woman standing on the baseline. Next door on Court 3, empty bottles of water bubbled a bench, and a white towel curled up in a chair. The circus had left town.

Andy Murray in his win over Janko Tipsarevic (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Or rather, moved into the big top. A good-sized crowd watched Andy Murray take on Janko Tipsarevic on the stadium court. During the third set, as I looked out over the crowd, it occurred to me that tennis is that rare sport (golf another) in which fans frequently dress like players. In baseball, basketball, football, hockey, you get the jersey, but in tennis you often see the whole outfit: cap, shirt, shorts, white socks, sneakers. A sportswriter told me he once saw a guy even wearing a wristband, as if he were ready, in an emergency, to fill in for an injured player.

It also struck me that the Sony Ericsson is probably the only tournament at which Andy Murray hears “Vamos Andy!”

After the match, the food court came to life, as dawdling day session crowds mixed with early-bird night session folks. A young man draped in a Serbian flag walked past wearing what looked like a military hat, minus a brim and with a diagonal crease on the top.

“It’s a sajkaca,” he told me. “It’s a traditional Serbian hat. Some people in villages still wear it. It goes very well with slivovitz.”

Not far away, a man sat at the Corona bar dressed for a match. Which made sense, since he had just worked the Murray-Tipsarevic three-setter. Glen Outlaw was the tournament’s oldest ball boy and, unlike most ball boys, he was quenching his thirst with a Negra Modelo.

He was 52. I asked if players are surprised to see him.

“Sometimes,” he said. He told of working a Nadia Petrova-Maria Kirilenko doubles match and being asked by Petrova if he was a ball boy. “After I said ‘yes,’ she said: ‘I feel bad asking you to get stuff for me.’”

Glen will be working both finals, but not at the net, because there – on the stadium court – you need to kneel, and that was too difficult, at his age, to do for an entire match. Standing was not an option (as it is on the outside courts). “They tell us,” he said: “’You have the ability to influence a match and the responsibility not to.’”

His favorite position was chair side baseline, because “that’s where the players take the towel. It gives you more interaction.” I asked if a player ever said ‘thank you.’ “Some do,” he said. “There was a guy, I can’t remember his name, who said ‘thank you’ every time you gave him a ball.”

The gentleman’s game lives.

Del Potro’s Latest Title Has French Flavor — Mondays With Bob Greene

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STARS

Agnieszka Radwanska beat Julia Goerges 7-5 6-4 to win the Dubai Duty Free Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Jurgen Melzer beat Milos Raonic 7-5 7-6 (4) to win the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships in Memphis, Tennessee, USA

Juan Martin del Potro beat Michael Llodra 6-4 6-4 to win the Open 13 in Marseille, France

David Ferrer beat Nicolas Almagro 4-6 6-3 6-2 to win the Copa Claro in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Timea Babos beat Alexandra Cadantu 6-4 6-4 to win the Whirlpool Monterrey Open in Monterrey, Mexico

Sofia Arvidsson beat Marina Erakovic 6-3 6-4 to win the Memphis International in Memphis, Tennessee, USA

SAYING

“I’m sorry I beat three French players in this tournament.” – Juan Martin del Potro, who won the Open 13 in Marseille, France, after beating Frenchmen Richard Gasquet, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Michael Llodra during the week.

“I just like indoor hard courts a lot. And there’s a different kind of atmosphere here, too. It feels like home. I have my own parking spot because I won here. Normally I play better when I’m having more fun somewhere.” – Sofia Arvidsson, who won in Memphis for the second time in three trips to the final, making it her best event by far on the WTA tour.

“I don’t know what’s happened to the weather here. I love it here, but it was very cold and it was windy out there, and it’s been a bit crazy with the dust too. I have been eating kilos of dust when I’ve been training. It’s not the same as some of the desserts.” – Jelena Jankovic, on the conditions in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

“It’s strange that at the age of 24 I am considered old. It’s a great challenge for us players who have been around for a while. They are pushing us to get better, and I still believe that I can.” – Ana Ivanovic, referring to the rise in 2011 of Victoria Azarenka, Petra Kvitova and other younger players.

“I played a really good match today, I kept my head in the game. I knew it was tough. He’s probably the best server on tour at the moment. Sometimes you just walk left to right without doing anything, but I felt like when the ball was in play and when I had my chances, I played really solid.” – Jurgen Melzer, after beating Milos Raonic to win the men’s singles in Memphis.

“It doesn’t feel like it’s too far out of my grasp. It’s like somebody dangling a piece of cake in front of my face and then taking it away at the last second. I’ll definitely be back.” – Milos Raonic, after losing the final at Memphis for the second straight year.

“I’ve been extremely close. I’m working hard, making all the right decisions and hopefully down the road I will pick up a few more. Did I miss some big opportunities? I think I put it more down to that than actually not playing as good (as previous years). At times I think I was even playing better. I’ve had some tough losses over the last couple of years, which have denied me a few Slams, I believe.” – Roger Federer, saying he could still win another Grand Slam tournament, something he hasn’t done since the 2010 Australian Open.

“I would like to come back and be one of those top players and be really successful again. I could make a list of the tournaments I want to win, but first of all I want is an Olympic Games medal. To wear it around my neck, shining, that would be special.” – Jelena Jankovic.

STROKIN’

Juan Martin Del Potro (GERARD JULIEN/AFP/Getty Images)

Juan Martin del Potro’s latest tournament title had a huge French flavor, and not just because the tournament was played in Marseille, France. The Argentine captured his 10th career ATP crown by beating local favorite Michael Llodra 6-4 6-4 at the Open 13. It was del Potro’s third consecutive victory over a Frenchman. After downing Russian Nikolay Davydenko in his first match, Del Potro began his French run by stopping Richard Gasquet, and then knocked off Jo-Wilfried Tsonga before eliminating Llodra. The 2009 US Open champion, del Potro was devastating on serve, conceding only 13 points and never facing a break point in the title match. “Beating Davydenko, Gasquet and Llodra is a great performance,” said del Potro, who annexed his first indoor title in his fourth final attempt. “It shows how I have improved.”

SUCCESS

Timea Babos is finally a champion. The Hungarian won her first WTA title by beating Alexandra Cadantu of Romania 6-4 6-4 in Monterrey, Mexico. The 18-year-old Babos dominated when serving, not allowing a single break point. Until the week before Monterrey, Babos had won only one match in a main draw. But she reached the semifinals at Bogotá, Colombia, before capturing the Monterrey Open title.

STOMPIN’

Not even a broken toe could slow down Jurgen Melzer. The Austrian won his fourth career title and first since 2010 by beating Milos Raonic in the final of the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships in Memphis. “If anybody would’ve said last Friday, especially in the morning after seeing the doctor, that I’ll be holding the trophy next Sunday, I would’ve called him a fool,” Melzer said. “But sometimes, you know, life plays games like that. Maybe it took a little bit of the pressure off in the beginning.” Melzer broke his right bit toe when he caught his foot in a hotel bedspread in the dark. A doctor discovered the break on an X-ray on Feb. 17. The Austrian returned to practice two days later and had to survive three-set tiebreakers in his first two rounds at Memphis. He showed no signs of discomfort as he won his first title since capturing Vienna in 2010. “If I play like this to win a tournament, I’ll break a toe any day,” Melzer said. It was only Raonic’s second loss of the year, his first being to Lleyton Hewitt in the third round of the Australian Open. The Canadian now has a 15-2 mark.

SURVIVOR

Agnieszka Radwanska survived her opening-round match, rallying from a 5-3 deficit in the third set to beat qualifier Aleksandra Wozniak. The rest of the week belonged to the Pole, who won the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships and rose in the rankings to fifth in the world. After her tight first-round battle, Radwanska lost only one more set, that being the second set against Jelena Jankovic before she ripped off a 6-0 third set.
During the week Goerges eliminated former number two Svetlana Kuznetsova and former number one Caroline Wozniacki before falling to Radwanska 7-5 6-4.

SPANISH STAR

Manuel Orantes, who upset Jimmy Connors to win the 1975 US Open, will be inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in July. The Spanish star of the 1970s and 1980s is the third member of the Class of 2012 to be announced, but the only inductee in the Master Player Category. It was previously announced that tennis administrator Mike Davies has been elected in the contributor Category and Randy Snow has been elected in the Recent Player Category for his achievements as a wheelchair tennis player. The Induction Ceremony will be held July 14 at the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum in Newport, Rhode Island, USA. Orantes, now 62, was ranked as high as number two in the world. He won 33 singles titles and 22 doubles titles while finishing runner-up to Bjorn Borg at the 1974 French Open. He was a Davis Cup stalwart for Spain, compiling a record of 60 wins and 27 losses. In 2009, Orantes was presented the Davis Cup Award of Excellence by the International Tennis Hall of Fame and the International Tennis Federation.

SIDELINED

An ankle injury forced top-ranked Victoria Azarenka to pull out of the Dubai Tennis Championships. Even though the Australian Open champion injured his left ankle during a semifinal match at the Qatar Open, she was able to capture that tournament. But the 22-year-old, who has won 17 straight matches to begin this season, rested for a few days, hoping the ankle would heal. During the break, the Belarusian went home to spend some time with her family.

SPEAKS OUT

Agnieszka Radwanska has a problem with world number one Victoria Azarenka. The 22-year-old Pole said she was “angry” and had lost respect for Azarenka, alleging that the Belarusian’s behavior in Doha, Qatar, had not been good for the image of the game. Radwanska was referring to Azarenka hobbling and wincing between rallies during parts of their semifinal match. But during the rallies Azarenka had no problem moving as she took a straight-sets victory. Radwanska also took the time to criticize the shrieking of Maria Sharapova. She described it as “pretty annoying” and “just too loud.” Radwanska then said: Of course everybody can make some noise. This is tennis. But I think it’s just too loud. I don’t think it’s very necessary to scream that loud.”

SLIPPING

Andy Roddick is having a hard time getting started this year. The one-time world number one lost his first-round match to Xavier Malisse 7-6 (8) 7-5 at the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships. Roddick was the defending champion at the Memphis, Tennessee, USA, tournament. It’s the earlier exit Roddick has made from the Memphis tournament in 12 appearances as he dropped to 27th in the ATP world rankings. Seeded second in the tournament, Roddick has been slowed by hamstring and ankle problems this season. He failed to capitalize on two set points in the first set and was broken in the last game of the match by the 31-year-old Belgian.

SINGULAR EFFORT

Memphis, Tennessee, is the lone WTA indoor tournament held in the United States these days as the women’s tour has grown world-wide and, for the most part, played outdoors. What a huge change. Twenty years ago, the 1992 WTA Kraft Tour played indoor tournaments in Chicago, Illinois; Denver, Colorado; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Oakland, California; Nashville, Tennessee; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Indianapolis, Indiana, and the Virginia Slims Championships in New York City.

SIXTH IN TITLES

Lisa Raymond continues to write her name in the record books. With Liezel Huber as her partner, Raymond won the doubles title at Dubai for the first time. It was Raymond’s 77th WTA doubles title as she passed Jana Novotna for sixth in the Open Era. The veteran American now trails only Martina Navratilova, Rosie Casals, Pam Shriver, Billie Jean King and Natasha Zvereva, all inductees of the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Together, Raymond and Huber continue to dominate the women’s tour. The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships title was their seventh as a team and third is as many weeks.

SONY SIGNUP

Venus William is seeking to play her first tournament since last August when she enters the Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne, Florida, in March. The elder Williams sister, who received a wild card into the hard-court event, hasn’t played singles since withdrawing from the US Open before her second-round match because of an autoimmune disease. Venus did team with Liezel Huber to win a doubles victory that capped a Fed Cup shutout for the United States against Belarus. Venus Williams has won the singles at Key Biscayne in 1998, 1999 and 2001. She was a finalist in 2010 and missed last year’s tournament with an injury.

Tournament officials also gave wild cards into the men’s singles to Fernando Gonzalez and David Nalbandian.

SOFIA’S HOME

You can’t blame Sofia Arvidsson for loving Memphis, Tennessee, USA. The Swede won the Memphis International title for the second time – her only career titles on the WTA tour. And it was the third time she has reached the final of the indoor tournament. She won the title in 2006 and was runner-up to Maria Sharapova in 2010. Arvidsson’s only other trip to a final was at Québec City in 2005, where she was runner-up to Amy Frazier. Sofia has won twice as many matches in Memphis that at any other – 18, with the next-highest being Québec City, where she has won nine matches. “I just love this place. It’s my second home,” Arvidsson said. “The fans here are great and the tournament takes such good care of the players, so it makes us all feel good.” In this year’s final, Arvidsson lost the first two games before beating Marina Erakovic 6-3 6-4. Erakovic was playing in her second final, and has yet to win a title.

SABATINI HONORED

Argentina’s Gabriela Sabatini received her Hall of Fame ring during the Copa Claro tournament in Buenos Aires. The one-of-a-kind ring is being presented to Hall of Famers at tennis events around the world over the next several years. Christopher Clouser, chairman of the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum in Newport, Rhode Island, USA, presented the ring to Sabatini in an on-court ceremony. She won the US Open in 1990, defeating Stefanie Graf, and teamed with Graf to win the Wimbledon women’s doubles in 1988. As a member of the Argentine Olympic team in 1988 and 1996, Sabatini won a silver medal in 1988.

SPEAKING HER MIND

Caroline Wozniacki says she has lost respect for Martina Navratilova after the Hall of Famer said on television that the Dane had never deserved to be atop the world rankings. “I would never say Martina was number one when there was no-one playing,” Wozniacki said, “or that she was the best when no-one was playing. That would be disrespectful.” During a news conference at the Australian Open Navratilova said, “Clearly nobody feels Wozniacki is a true number one.” The 55-year-old Hall of Famer also criticized the ranking system that placed Wozniacki at number one for 68 weeks, saying it places too much emphasis on the quantity of wins rather than their quality. “She was unbelievable,” Wozniacki said of Navratilova. “She won so many Grand Slams, her touch was unbelievable. Martina Hingis was unbelievable as well – for me my favorite player. But I think they should respect players that are playing now as well. Because they know how hard it is. You don’t just wake up and say OK I want to win this tournament, and it just happens like this. At that point, you are like, they should just think a little bit.”

SHARED PERFORMANCES

Buenos Aires: David Marrero and Fernando Verdasco beat Michal Mertinak and Andre Sa 6-4 6-4

Dubai: Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond beat Sania Mirza and Elena Vesnina 6-2 6-1

Marseille: Nicolas Mahut and Edouard Roger-Vasselin beat Dustin Brown and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 3-6 6-3 10-6 (match tiebreak)

Memphis (men): Max Mirnyi and Daniel Nestor beat Ivan Dodig and Marcelo Melo 4-6 7-5 10-7 (match tiebreak)

Memphis (women): Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka beat Vera Dushevina and Olga Govortsova 6-3 6-4

Monterrey: Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci beat Kimiko Date-Krumm and Zhang Shuai 6-2 7-6 (6)

SURFING

Dubai: www.dubaidutyfreetennischampionships.com/
Delray Beach: www.yellowtennisball.com
Acapulco: http://abiertomextenis.com.mx
Kuala Lumpur: www.bmwmalaysianopen.com
Indian Wells: www.bnpparibasopen.com/

TOURNAMENTS THIS WEEK

(All money in USD)

MEN

$1,700,475 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, hard
$1,155,000 Abierto Mexicano Telcel, Acapulco, Mexico, clay
$442,500 Delray Beach International Tennis Championships, Delray Beach, Florida, USA, hard

WOMEN

$220,000 Abierto Mexicano Telcel, Acapulco, Mexico, clay
$220,000 BMW Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, hard

SENIORS

Delray Beach International Tennis Championships, Delray Beach, Florida, USA, hard

TOURNAMENTS NEXT WEEK

MEN

$4,694,969 BNP Paribas Open, Indian Wells, California, USA, hard (first week)

WOMEN

$5,536,664 BNP Paribas Open, Indian Wells, California, USA, hard (first week)

Sampras, Martin Included In Super Bowl Week in Indianapolis: This Week in Tennis Business with Justin Cohen

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Pete Sampras

Super Bowl XVLI week in Indianapolis to include Pete Sampras vs. Todd Martin exhibition match

On Sunday, January 29 at 7 p.m. at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, tennis legends Pete Sampras and Todd Martin will take part in the “Match For a Cure,” an exhibition tennis match kicking-off Super Bowl XLVI week. The event was put together by Pacers Sports & Entertainment, California-based Live Nation Entertainment Inc., and Michigan-based BP Sports and Entertainment.  Event organizers said 25 percent of the proceeds will go to organizations dealing with cancer research and treatment. The event founder is leukemia survivor and former tennis professional Bill Przybysz. The “Match For a Cure” event was started in 1999 when Przybysz challenged former world No. 1 John McEnroe to a match to raise money for cancer. This year’s event will feature Sampras competing against Martin in singles, as well as both men playing doubles against two local celebrities. Event organizers expect 10,000 to 12,000 fans to pack the stands for the event. “We think a lot of people who live here as well as visitors that happen to be here will want to come downtown to watch some high-level tennis in a good venue,” said Rick Fuson, Pacers Sports & Entertainment Vice President and Director of Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Club level tickets for the event are $27, lower-level tickets are $47 and $67, and courtside tickets—which include a meet-and-greet with the players—cost $150. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster.

Tennis Channel launches two consumer-targeted marketing initiatives during 2012 Australian Open

During this year’s Australian Open, the Tennis Channel has announced two brand new consumer-targeted marketing initiatives. The Tennis Channel Advantage program, which began during the first Grand Slam event of the year in Melbourne, offers viewer discounts, exclusive tips and news, as well as access to members-only VIP events. The network will also connect with their viewers by giving fans the golden opportunity to win signed tennis racquets. For users who “LIKE” the Tennis Channel Facebook fan page, they are given the chance to a win a signed tennis racquet each week for up to three months by players such as Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova.  Winners will be selected at random. “We are thrilled to begin the year with two major promotions,” said Robyn Miller, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Tennis Channel. “Not only are we expanding awareness of our network but we’re getting a chance to reward our passionate and loyal fans for their support and viewership.” The Tennis Channel program enables avid fans of the network to sign up for everything from discounts on tennis merchandise, movies, concerts and more to special “VIP experiences” such as access into behind-the-scenes activities, premiere seats to Tennis Channel events and more. The program also encourages its members to create or connect with local chapters by organizing or participating in activities that range from tournament events to matches to viewing parties, while maintaining a profile page on which participants will receive exclusive tips, news and more. Members will pay a small fee to be a part of the program run by Stoneacre Acquisition Company, Inc., which has created similar programs for NASCAR, the NFL Alumni Association and University of Cincinnati Athletics. “We are excited to partner with the Tennis Channel and leverage our proprietary platform to treat passionate tennis fans as VIPs and deliver more of the sport they love for less,” said David Hickson, President and CEO, Stoneacre. For more details or to enroll, please visit www.TennisChannelAdvantage.com.

Baghdatis fined $800 for smashing four racquets at Australian Open

World No. 44 Marcos Baghdatis was slapped with an $800 fine after breaking four racquets on one changeover during his four-set loss to Stanislas Wawrinka at the Australian Open last week. The biggest fine given out was to Spain’s Fernando Verdasco, who was docked $2,000 for receiving coaching from his players’ box in his first round loss to Australian Bernard Tomic. Other ATP World Tour players given fines at this year’s first Grand Slam event included American John Isner, Alexandr Dolgopolov, Denis Istomin, Donald Young, Juan Carlos Ferrero and Gilles Simon.

Radwanska hires Dokic’s former coach

World No. 8 Agnieszka Radwanska has hired Borna Bikic as her new coach. Bikic is the brother of Jelena Dokic’s longtime boyfriend, and was once Dokic’s coach. Bikic previously coached Croatian player Karolina Sprem. Radwanska reached the quarterfinals at this week’s Australian Open before falling in three sets to world No. 3 Victoria Azarenka.

Bob Bryan to skip Davis Cup tie against Switzerland in February

Bob Bryan will skip the United States’ Davis Cup first round tie against Switzerland next month because his wife Michelle is due to give birth to their first child on January 29. “Mike is going solo and play with Mardy (Fish), John (Isner) or Sam (Querrey),” said Bryan. “I’m officially out. I called (captain) Jim (Courier) in November and he was supportive. He said it’s probably not a smart play, you won’t have your head in the game.” The Bryan Brothers have compiled an impressive 19-2 record together in Davis Cup doubles matches. The last time the top-ranked doubles duo in the world has not played together in a Davis Cup match was against Serbia two years ago, when Mike got food poisoning. Bob ended up joining forces with Isner and came through with the victory. The United States will take on the Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka led Swiss team in Fribourg, Switzerland, from February 10-12.

Roddick injured; will miss three weeks including Davis Cup against Switzerland

After retiring from his second round Australian Open match with a right hamstring injury against Lleyton Hewitt, American Andy Roddick will miss three weeks, including Davis Cup against Switzerland. Roddick said he hopes to be fit enough to play the tournament in San Jose.

Andrea Petkovic hopes to be Lucky Loser in Istanbul

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By Stephane Carter

Watching Andrea Petkovic calculate her way into Istanbul reminded of playing poker in an online casino.

Andrea PetkovicBut I digress.

Unfortunately for the lovely German, it wasn’t mean to be. To qualify for the Tennis Championships in Istanbul she had to win the Beijing Open. She failed to do that and as a result the race for that number eight spot is now between Agnieszka Radwanska or Marion Bartoli. They are both great players and especially Marion Bartoli has been a revelation this season. Bartoli showed that by reaching the finals of the Pacific Life Open and the semis of the French Open that the Wimbledon finale was no fluke and that she is definitely trying establish herself as a consistent performer worthy of one of the top spots of the WTA Tour.

Petkovic’ quest for qualification for Istanbul also reminded me of the poker players using the baccarat strategy when we looked at the points that Petkovic needed to earn to get her into Istanbul. Even with wins in Luxembourg or Moscow then she wouldn’t have gotten in. She would still be approximately 200 points away from qualifying.

But I digress.

Andrea Petkovic has had a top season. She impressed by reaching the semis of the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami with her solid results and her famous Petko dance. She maintained her good form during the clay season with good results at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart and winning the Internationaux de Strasbourg tournament and her best result on clay came when she reached the semis of the French Open. And even though it became fairly obvious that grass isn’t her game she quickly showed her good form again during the US Open Series and China.

What should have been the crown on an excellent season ends in a bummer for Petkovic. With a broken meniscus, heavily fatigued by the long season she is still hoping to play in Istanbul. She will travel to the tournament with hopes of one of the qualified will withdraw so she can take the spot. Play a few matches in the round robin stage and end the year in Indonesia to play the Commonwealth tournament in Bali.

It is unfortunate that she does not get the close out the season by playing Istanbul directly. Of all the other competitors, she is the most qualified for it.