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Being a top WTA player: is it worth it?

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By Jane Voigt owner of DownTheTee.com 

October 25, 2012 — No one would deny the level of play. Each match is as good as a semifinal or final at a major tournament. And the elite 8 women who arrived in Istanbul earlier this week will be awarded generously for it. For their week’s performances. For their year of round-the-clock work.

But is it all worth it?

Maria Sharapova can’t grab a cup of coffee without being recognized. Serena Williams once hired body guards. Li Na is the most popular face in China. She admitted that winning Roland Garros in 2011 changed her life. Everyone wanted more of her.

The same scenarios can be drawn for Victoria Azarenka, especially when she’s home in Belarus. Samantha Stosur is an Australian love, Sara Errani is Italy’s darling, and Agnieszka Radwanska the same for the Poles as is Angelique Kerber for Germans.

The Green Stuff

Money is a big fat reward for these women, and huge incentive to remain at the top of the rankings’ heaps. The fact that all eight women in Istanbul were the top eight money earners on tour shouldn’t come as a surprise. Hard work yields hard cash.

Victoria Azarenka prior to her match at the WTA Championships in Istanbul this week.

The highest income winner was Victoria Azarenka, according to the WTA. She hauled in just under $7 million in singles, and a combined $11,000 in women’s and mixed doubles. Merge match money with endorsements from Nike, Citizen Watch, Wilson Racquet Sports, and American Express, et al, and her revenue jumps another $3 million. Pretty nice for the 23-year-old.

Maria Sharapova, though, is the biggest money earner of the eight. Forbes named her the top paid woman athlete in 2012 for the eighth year running. Her take … $27.1 million. Li Na is second, again according Forbes, with $18.4 million. Then there’s Serena Williams at number three with $16.3 million, and Caroline Wozniacki at number four with $13.7 million.

Tennis has been very very good to these women.

The Sine Qua Non of The Top Eight

Winning titles has to be the pinnacle of personal prizes. It drives their destiny with rocket fuel. Describing the sensation, experience, and release from a squeak-through win at a major could be compared to heaven on earth for these women. They are competition to the 10th power. Their desire to one-up an opponent has become part and parcel of their bodies and minds. When all the elements of their sport come together, and the zone has become you … nothing else prevails. Again … heaven on earth.

The Downside

People who make money and are privy to mind-blowing athletic achievements also work  the hardest. It’s not difficult to comprehend. But fans quickly forget as prep time disappears when lights go up on the courts of sport entertainment.

The time these women spend in the gym now exceeds practice time on the courts, which can top six hours, or more, per day. Then there’s the travel, lugging suitcases through international airports at all hours of the day and night. Match play week after week can leave them exhausted both physically and mentally, too. What about press conferences? They are certainly easier after a win but remain mandatory. Sponsor commitments, just like those from the media, gobble up time.

Petra Kvitova pulled out of these championships Tuesdat after her first-round loss to Radwanska. She cried from disappointment and an aggravated respiratory illness for which her doctors have prescribed bed rest. Kvitova was the defending champion and wants desperately to compete in the Fed Cup finals against Serbia in two weeks. Was her year too demanding?

This spring at Family Circle Cup, Lucie Safarova, Kvitova’s Fed Cup teammate, was asked during a pre-tournament media hour what she would love to do if she wasn’t playing tennis. Her face went blank, her shoulders slumped. She would visit her mother, play with nieces, sleep in her own bed.

Privacy goes out the window with fame and fortune, too.

Maria Sharapova is asked about her life outside tennis, but prefers not to answer … unless she’s in a good mood and giggly.

Caroline Wozniacki, who was part of the 2011 year-ending championships, and Rory McIlroy, her number-one-in-the-world golfer boyfriend seem oddly comfortable in the public’s eye. Perhaps the fact that they’ve been the focus of fans, photographers, and the press all their lives has lessened their aversion.

So … is it worth it?

Yes. Although the drawbacks can be irksome, the rewards come out on top.

The competition, the love of the game, and the desire to win motivates the best. Their support teams are along to coach, aid their health, and bolster psyches. The journey is arduous and impossible alone.

Maria Sharapova’s piercing tennis cry has been as much a part of her life as her backbone. She knows nothing else aside from tennis. So whether it’s worth it could be a mute question.

Surely she will face that question, though, as will all the women in Istanbul. The signs will appear naturally. And they will then conclude what Kim Clijsters realized. That other priorities exist. That bodies slow. That life off the tennis courts could be a new challenge and chapters for already abundant lives.

Jane Voigt lives, breathes and writes tennis. She wrote about John Isner’s ground-breaking wildcard run at the formerly named Legg Mason Tennis Classic in 2007 for Tennis.com. She has written tennis commentary for the late, great Tennis Week print publication and online version. Hundreds of articles from Jane have been seen on TennisServer.com, too. She now maintains her own website at DownTheTee.com, and has traveled throughout the U. S. and Canada to cover tournaments. Ask her to play tennis, and she’ll prefer singles to doubles.

Venus Williams: The building of a champion

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By Jane Voigt, owner of DownTheTee.com

Statistics follow Venus Williams like baby ducks after their mother. Five Wimbledon titles and two U. S. Open titles. Those are only the majors ones, though. And to think she didn’t choose her fate, her destiny which makes up chapters in tennis history annals.

Serena Williams (L) with big sister Venus as kids

The Beginning
Richard Williams, Venus’s father, had an idea. He would turn his girls into tennis stars. They made good incomes and the challenge didn’t seem that steep. If he learned as much as he could about the game and teach it to Venus and Serena his live would be abundantly full of satisfaction and, well, money. Their fates, too, would be in the hand of providence, which was really at the heart of the target for Mr. Williams — a man who makes no qualms about his love of ‘his God Jehovah.’

The route constructed by Mr. Williams, as well as Oracene Price, Venus’s mother, was indeed unconventional when compared to the map designed by the USTA Junior Development and big tennis academies. They ran on formulas while Williams’s fuel was primarily empirical.

When Venus came to light on the WTA Tour in 1997 the tennis training choices made by Mr. Williams’ were questioned and often maligned. Commentators were astounded by Venus’s power and confidence in delivering that type of tennis normally associated with the men’s game.

Tennis took note of Venus’s run to the finals of her first major at the U. S. Open in 1997. She faced the No. 1 seed and No. 1 player in the world, Martina Hingis. Venus lost 60 64, yet her presence and potential power to influence tennis was duly recognized. Venus ended the year ranked No. 22; she began it ranked No. 110.

Achievements
Venus Williams’s special home is Wimbledon. She came alive there. And her game in 2000 was perfectly suited for the lawns, which were quicker than today’s.

At six-foot-one Venus moved quickly to the rhythm grass. Her hands followed suit, connecting with low balls out in front of her, volleys no one else seemed to reach and swinging volleys, those hard-to-time swats that accentuated her long legs and arms. She flew toward the ball the way Michael Jordan floated to the basket.

The speed of the the grass exhilarated her mind, too, which triggered her long-legged pursuit of the ball. She hoisted her first Venus Rosewater Platter that year at the downfall of Lindsay Davenport. Venus leaped and leaped in the air, holding onto that lovely platter, that symbol of the height of tennis accomplishment as if it were a trinket — her golden trinket of great worth and sentiment to a woman who would raise four more.

This first major title for Venus had followed on the heels of her little sister, Serena, who had captured the U. S. Open, her first slam, in 1999. As the elder sibling, Venus led and taught and protected her younger sister. She also was expected to have made the initial foray in Grand Slams. But she didn’t. She never publicly mentioned the order in which they won their titles; that’s not Venus. Yet her determination to win and win at Wimbledon was a clear sign that the grass of Wimbledon was hers alone. At least until this year when Serena equaled the mark set by her much-admired elder sister. And instead of embarrassment and shame for not having won six or even seven crowns, Venus displayed pride.

Venus Williams has battled for over 15 years on hard courts, red and green clay courts, and grass courts. She has earned 43 career singles titles, 22 doubles titles aside sister Serena, one singles gold medal, and three doubles gold medals. Thirteen of her doubles titles were won in 13 finals — a perfect record.

The Future
Venus Williams’s future was, again, something she didn’t choose or expect or want in her life. But in early September during the 2011 U. S. Open after her second-round loss to Sabine Lisicki, Venus “could not raise her serving arm,” Karen Crouse of The New York Times wrote.

Williams withdrew from the tournament and announced “that she was suffering from fatigue and other symptoms related to Sjogren’s Syndrome,” wrote Tara Parker-Pope also of The New York Times.

The symptoms of dry eyes, aching joints, and exhaustion had followed her around for years, before the diagnosis of this chronic autoimmune disease was made. The worse part … she never knew how she would feel on any given day, even if that day was during a major tournament.

Instead of grief and discouragement, Venus treated her new life with hope. She felt a sense of relief after the diagnosis, too. It could lay a foundation for recovery, and has.

She has lost some weight, doesn’t eat meat, and remains the most dangerous floater in any draw. The dangerous floater label probably makes her smile, at least to herself. She doesn’t plan to give up her tennis career, even as she succeeds at ventures in the ‘real world,’ for example her tennis line of clothing called Eleven.

Favorite

Venus Williams playing at the Luxembourg Open this week

The titles are part of it, the attraction to Venus as a favorite player. The favorite player. But they don’t rank at the top of the list, as if she could be dispensed as a column of attributes. Venus is athleticism made for athletes. She is even in her temperament, fair, and childlike at times. She giggles. She directs the ball, her life in a manner that pulls you in to her. We sympathize with her trials. When she talks, answering questions with some meat to them, she is thoughtful and authentic. She has her days, too, when annoyance prompts an appropriate quip in response to silly questions from the press.

Toronto, Rogers Cup, 2010. Question: When did you know you’d lost the match, Venus?
Answer: When I shook her hand at the net.

Venus Williams stands on the shoulders of Arthur Ashe, the first U. S. Open men’s singles champion in 1968 — the beginning of The Open Era. Zina Garrison was probably the first black woman tennis player that spurred on Venus, as did Althea Gibson. And there is Billy Jean King, another Californian, that Venus emulates and appreciates openly.

Finally, her sense of family and love within a family, and that which was given to her by her parents no matter how far flung some methods were thought to be and no matter the fervor they have evoked for situations still unclear to most, makes her a favorite. Along with those wild swinging forehand volleys on the full stretch. There’s nothing that beats that on a tennis court.

Jane Voigt lives, breathes and writes tennis. She wrote about John Isner’s ground-breaking wildcard run at the formerly named Legg Mason Tennis Classic in 2007 for Tennis.com. She has written tennis commentary for the late, great Tennis Week print publication and online version. Hundreds of articles from Jane have been seen on TennisServer.com, too. She now maintains her own website at DownTheTee.com, and has traveled throughout the U. S. and Canada to cover tournaments. Ask her to play tennis, and she’ll prefer singles to doubles.

Heather Watson: Slow and steady wins the race

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By David Kane

As 2012 draws to a close, tennis fans feel a distinct sense of divergence on the WTA Tour, as the top women gear up for the Year-End Championships in Istanbul, while the rest give their year one last push in the effort to pick up as many points as possible. While many are looking ahead in anticipation of seeing some of the year’s bigger storylines wrap up, there is still tennis to be played and stories to be told. One such story concerns up-and-coming British talents, Heather Watson and Laura Robson.

Of late, some UK media outlets have errantly spliced the two ladies’ names together, but they are two very different players with contrasting styles. In Watson, one sees the diligent counter-puncher; in Robson, the red-lining aggressor. These two junior Slam champions have seen their careers unfold quite differently since each took the plunge into senior events. In fact, tracking the progress of Great Britain’s top women plays out much like your classic Aesop Fable, “The Tortoise and the Hare.”

The younger Robson perfectly plays the role of the “Hare.” She is the textbook prodigy who has had a career defined by fits and starts, thanks to injuries and inconsistency. In the last few months, she has shown a renewed focus that has allowed her results to transcend even her Twitter ubiquity. Robson still enjoys a considerable amount of internet celebrity; her most recent burst of technological creativity brought the men’s and women’s tours together when she and Canadian Eugenie Bouchard created a video dedicated to the “Gangnam Style” Dance:

These sudden and drastic moves have quickly overshadowed Heather Watson, the patient “Tortoise.” Her rise only appears slower because of its comparative lack of explosiveness. In reality, Watson has been the true pioneer for British women’s tennis for this decade. After all, it was Watson who was the first British woman into the second round of the French Open since 1994, and the first to the third round of Wimbledon since 2002. She broke into the top 100 before Robson, and even pushed Maria Sharapova to three sets at the 2011 US Open. However, as is often the case in tennis, one big result can often do twice as much as one hundred smaller ones. Before this week, it was Robson who peaked the highest, and on the biggest stages, making her the household name both arguably deserve to be.

Heather Watson on the rise

So when both were entered into the Osaka draw, no one was looking at the unseeded Watson, who upset Anabel Medina Garrigues en route to the quarterfinals. Instead, all eyes were on the eighth-seeded Robson, who was a match away from a rematch with US Open conqueror Sam Stosur. In a surprising reversal, the “Hare” stalled in a three-set loss to Chang Kai-Chen, and it was the Tortoise who found herself winning her way to her first WTA final, the very achievement Robson earned a few weeks earlier in Guangzhou.

This time, however, it was Watson who went one better, and even injected a dose of seemingly absent excitement to her story as she saved four match points (after serving for the match herself in the second set) to defeat Chang for the first WTA title won by a British woman since 1988.

A fairly extreme analogy, to be sure; this week neither spells the end for the rising Robson, nor does it predict a dramatic surge from Watson that would outstrip her more naturally talented rival. Instead, let it serve as an important reminder that Aesop’s moral still rings true, that sometimes “slow and steady wins the race.”

Newest Swiss star 15-year-old Belinda Bencic to take on Venus Williams in first round of Luxembourg Open

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Belinda Bencic at the BGL BNP Paribas Luxembourg Open (via TennisBloggers.com)

LUXEMBOURG (Oct. 13, 2012) — The name Belinda Bencic may be new to many tennis fans, but at only 15-years-old and already racking up ITF titles, Bencic is a Swiss star in the making and quickly paving her path onto the WTA Tour.

Receiving a wildcard into the main draw, Bencic is set to take on former world No. 1 Venus Williams in the first round of the BGL BNP Paribas Luxembourg Open where her skills will be put to the ultimate test. Playing in only her fourth Tour event, and no less against a champion as great as Venus, will in no doubt reveal how well the youngster handles pressure.

Hailing from Flawil, Switzerland and currently listed at 5 feet 8 inches tall (1.73m), Bencic is currently ranked at a career-high No. 619 in singles on the WTA Tour. She won back-to-back $10,000 ITF titles in Egypt last month, en route also taking home a doubles crown. Earlier this year, she competed in two of Switzerland’s Fed Cup ties and notched a doubles win over the Belarussian team.

On the junior circuit, she was the doubles runner-up in both the 2012 Wimbledon and 2012 U.S. Open girls championships.

Bencic’s current coaching situation may also play a key role in her ascension on the WTA Tour. She is currently co-coached by Melanie Molitor, the mother and coach of multi Grand Slam winner and former world No. 1, Martina Hingis. If that’s any indication, Bencic will be a player worth keeping an eye on in the future.

Victoria Azarenka and Novak Djokovic back in the hunt — The Friday Five

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By Maud Watson

Victoria Azarenka (TennisBloggers.com)

Business as Usual

Despite pulling out of Tokyo with dizziness, Victoria Azarenka was right back to her winning ways in Beijing. She became the first player since the WTA’s roadmap was introduced in 2009 to win two mandatory premiere events in a single season, and she did so by continuing her mastery over Maria Sharapova on the hard courts in the Chinese capital. Her deep, powerful ground strokes and superior ability to change direction of the ball led to a slew of errors from the Russian, resulting in an emphatic straight-set win for the Belarusian. It’s been a breakthrough year for Azarenka, who nearly has the No. 1 ranking mathematically sewn up, and more importantly, she’s exactly what the WTA has been looking for – a young No. 1 with the results to back it up. There’s still a bit of work to do in 2012, but fans are likely to already be looking forward to what she does for an encore in 2013.

Back in the Hunt

Playing in his first event since his five-set US Open final loss to Murray in New York, Novak Djokovic returned to the winner’s circle last week in Beijing. The indoor hard courts and a mixed field were exactly what Djokovic needed as he returned to competition. In the final, he faced fellow Top 10 member Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and after a competitive first set, it was all one-way traffic for the Serb. Having not played the event the previous year, the points were pure gravy for Djokovic’s ranking. It was the perfect way to kick off what should be an exciting fall, as Federer and Djokovic duke it out to see who will ultimately finish the season as the No. 1 ranked player in the world.

Hanging On

He may have broken “Pistol” Pete’s record for most weeks ranked No. 1, but as expected, that doesn’t mean that Roger Federer is now ready to easily relinquish the grip he has on the top of the men’s game. He took on Stan Wawrinka in the second round of Shanghai, and it was an ugly match from the reigning Wimbledon champion. He struggled to find his game, particularly on the backhand wing, and for the better part of two sets, it was Federer who looked more like the Swiss No. 2 instead of his less-accomplished countryman. But as he’s done so often throughout his career, Federer hung tough, kept going for his shots, waited for his opportunity, and pounced. Once he squeezed out the second set in a tiebreaker, it was smooth sailing for the Maestro. The win put him into the third round, but more importantly, it assures him a 300th week as world number one. With several points to defend from 2011 and Djokovic breathing down his neck, Federer will have to clean up his game if he wants to finish the year No. 1, but for now, congrats to the man from Switzerland on yet another stunning accomplishment.

Now or Never

Fans get frustrated with a player for a variety of reasons. Maybe the player lacks the smarts to strategize, think on their feet, or make adjustments. Maybe it’s maddening to see them unsuccessfully defend a weakness time and time again. Perhaps they get tight when the chips are down. But the most frustrating thing of all has to be when you see a player fortunate enough to have been blessed with both the physical and mental gifts to succeed, and yet through laziness and poor attitude, fail to maximize those gifts. Bernard Tomic has thus far proved to fit the bill of that last category. He has a variety of shots, and he’s shown the ability to think and construct points. Yet once again, after a loss in Shanghai, he admitted that he didn’t give it his all. We’re all for honesty and candid answers, but there are just certain things a player should never confess to. There’s also no excuse for not leaving it all out on the court in that situation, which is all the more disturbing given that Tomic has developed a pattern of this type of behavior. He could be someone great, and fortunately for him, there are a number of former Aussies champions trying to put him on the straight and narrow path. But in the end, the decision to commit rests solely with Tomic, and if he doesn’t make a concerted effort to utilize his talents to their fullest extent sooner rather than later, he’s headed towards the dubious honor of becoming one of the biggest wastes of talent the game has ever seen.

Another Farewell

While Tomic looks to try and get his career off the ground, Rainer Schuettler, who hasn’t played since January due to injury and fitness problems, has officially decided to call time on his career. The 36-year-old German isn’t the household name that some of 2012’s other retirees are, but he’s still one to be admired. In fact, Tomic should really take a page out of his book. Schuettler wasn’t a particularly gifted player. He didn’t possess an imposing stature or game. But he made the most of what he was given. He had a tremendous work ethic and drive, and he was rewarded with his share of successes. He’s probably best remembered for reaching the 2003 Australian Open final, where he bowed out to Agassi in straight sets, but he also won the Silver in Men’s Doubles at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens alongside compatriot Nicolas Kiefer. He’s a shining example of what can be accomplished if one’s willing to put their nose to the grindstone. The sport is fortunate that he’s going to continue to stay involved, having just purchased the tournament membership in Düsseldorf with Ion Tiriac to ensure that from 2013 going forward, there will be an ATP 250 event the week prior to Roland Garros. Congrats to Schuettler, and here’s to hoping he continues to enjoy success in his new career endeavors.

Dinara Safina deserves to be heard

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By David Kane

This week, social media forums were (pardon the pun) “a’twitter” with a certain catchphrase coined by WTA No. 3 Serena Williams back in 2009 — one of which I was certain I’d never hear again: “She won Rome and Madrid.”

Why the sudden resurrection of the past? The dig, of course, was aimed at former world No. 1 Dinara Safina. At the 2009 Wimbledon Championships, the Russian had been demolished by Serena’s sister Venus, who was in turn taken out by Serena in the finals. Serena was left reflecting on the apparent improbability that she hold three of four major titles and be ranked No. 2, while the Slamless Safina remained No. 1.

Serena Williams’ statement in 2009 ridiculing Dinara Safina’s ranking of world No. 1 given that Dinara only ‘won Rome and Madrid’ but not any Slams (skip to the 1:30 mark):

Why was yesterday’s news drudged up in an arena where news is more often shattered than broken? Because the Russian sister of former No. 1 Marat Safin piped up from relative obscurity to take a long-overdue shot at a woman who at one time led the chorus of criticism against her.

For whatever reason, a member of the Russian media asked Safina if the current No. 1 Victoria Azarenka deserved her spot despite a paltry resume against Williams, the Wimbledon, Olympic and US Open champion. Replied with what I imagine to be her shoulder-shrugged matter-of-factness, “the No. 1 is not the tennis player who selectively plays major tournaments, even winning them, but the one who is stable over the full season… Let the younger Williams play a full season, and then we’ll see who will be the No. 1.”

Dinara Safina

Journalists and fans alike took umbrage with such a statement, and were quick to resort to the aforementioned below-the-belt dig Serena once used. In a way, they have a point. When Safina was No. 1, Serena was constantly exclaiming to all who would listen that it was she who deserved the top spot, and that Safina’s ranking was in name only. Yet this time around, Serena has been silent on the issue of ranking. In fact, Serena seems satisfied with capping her year at the US Open, and may only return to the Year-End Championships in Istanbul if she plans a final tournament of 2012 at all. So it is not Serena I find at fault here.

Instead, I take issue with those who thought Dinara was better off saying nothing, that she bears no relevance to the women’s game now (if ever). Like it or not, Dinara Safina was one of the best players in the world between 2008 and 2009, and came painfully close on more than one occasion to winning the Slam title missing from her otherwise illustrious resume. All the while, she was hounded by the media for her place in the world, enough to make any human being doubt themselves if they didn’t already. If anyone has the right to defend a beleaguered No. 1, it’s Dinara.

Finally, barring some off-the-wall offensive remark, do any of us feel comfortable throwing dirt at a person who wanted to prove everyone wrong that she broke her body trying? Someone who made up for a lack of natural talent with determination and desire, only to see their dreams dashed away by an ostensibly career-ending injury? Despite many who said she was bad for the sport, any person who loved tennis as much as Dinara would have only helped it grow. Maybe if we had only given her time, she could have.

Maria Sharapova as advocate, Australian Open crisis averted — The Friday Five

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By Maud Watson

(Potential) Crisis Averted

Fans, players, and Australia Tennis staff can all breathe a little easier, as it seems any chance of a potential boycott of the first major of 2013 has been avoided.  Australian Open Tournament Director Craig Tiley and Australia Tennis Chief Executive Steve Woods spearheaded an effort to meet demands put forth by the ATP Players Council for higher prize money, and their efforts paid off in a huge way.  Prize money for the upcoming Australian Open will be $31.1 million.  This is approximately a 15% increase, reportedly the largest increase in the history of tennis.  Woods and Tiley will be meeting with the ATP Players Council to determine exactly how the increased purse will be doled out, but it’s likely the early round losers will be the biggest benefactors.  Just how likely a boycott was will remain unknown, but it was nice to see management willing to work with the players to ensure that the 2013 Australian Open continues in the tradition of being a top-notch event.

Maria Sharapova

Unlikely Advocate 

There are any number of players who might make a good candidate for the WTA’s campaign to decrease grunting/shrieking on tour.  Someone like Caroline Wozniacki, Li Na, or Aga Radwanska comes to mind.  But one of the least likely advocates has to be Maria Sharapova.  The Russian has come out in full support of the WTA’s plan, which is not surprising given that as it currently stands, it won’t impact her and the rest of the current crop of shriekers.  There’s no sense rehashing the pros and cons of the WTA’s proposal, but it’s questionable how much Sharapova’s comments actually helped its cause.  As one of the loudest on tour, her remarks seemed hypocritical.  The fact that her own shrieking volume can fluctuate to a very low level during a match to virtually non-existent on the practice court would seem to suggest the noise level could be controlled much easier than she has argued.  For that reason, perhaps her silent support would have been preferred, as judging by some of the message boards, Sharapova’s statements have only encouraged many fans to clamor for the WTA to take immediate action that is enforced uniformly across the board and at all levels of the game.

Butting Heads

The WTA has dropped its working agreement with the ITF over Fed Cup and new player requirements for Olympic eligibility.  The new requirements state players must make themselves available for three ties prior to Rio, whereas they only had to make themselves available for two years prior to the London games, with at least one of the two years being 2011 or 2012.  The WTA and some of its players feel these new requirements are unfair, but the ITF isn’t concerned.  The system for determining who qualifies for the Olympics does need some adjusting (like not punishing players who happen to be the fifth best in a tennis-rich nation like Spain or France), and the Fed Cup structure definitely needs revamped.  But it’s easy to see where the ITF is coming from on this one.  As the Olympics become increasingly popular with the players, it’s only natural the ITF would look to use it as an incentive to get the players to compete in other ITF-governed events like Fed Cup.  On the other hand, the WTA is correct in that theoretically every player represents his or her nation every time they step out onto the court.  The WTA arguably loses a little credit by threatening to stage its own team competitions and/or allowing players to compete in exos during Fed Cup weeks, which outside of the likely choice of venue and fat paycheck that comes with an exo, isn’t all that different than committing to play a tie.  Either way, it’s going to be interesting to see how this all unfolds.  Will the top players cave to compete in Rio?  If the players refuse to meet the requirements, will the ITF stick to its guns at the risk of a depleted field?  Time will tell.

Pushing Forward

Indian Wells has always been one of the premiere events in the sport.  In fact, it’s the fifth-highest attended event in the sport, just behind the four majors.  But if owner Larry Ellison and new CEO Ray Moore have anything to say about it, the desert event will soon be rivaling those four historic tournaments.  Earlier this week, Ray Moore announced an ambitious plan to have an 8,000 seat stadium completed in time for the 2014 event.  The tournament, like the Miami Masters, currently lacks a decent second show court.  This proposed stadium would rectify this problem.  There is also talk of adding a new parking lot, entrance, and box office.  Much like the addition of the Hawk-Eye on all courts, with the money and clout of Ellison behind it, these upgrades look like a real possibility.  It’s unlikely (at least in the foreseeable future) Indian Wells will officially receive status as the “Fifth Slam,” but hopefully with these types of plans and actions, they will inspire other premiere events to further raise the bar at their own tournaments.

Sad World

As if Roger Federer didn’t have enough to worry about as he prepares to defend points from his successful 2011 autumn campaign in order to maintain the number one ranking, now some loony tune has threatened to assassinate him.  A user on the website baidu.com made the death threat and allegedly posted a picture of a decapitated Federer on his knees on a court, with a masked executioner standing next to him.  It’s likely that the threat is nothing more than words and a desperate attempt to get attention, but particularly when one considers what happened to Monica Seles, no chances can be taken.  For that reason, security around Federer in Shanghai has been tightened, with added security for the rest of the players.  It’s a sad world we live in that this sort of thing happens.  Federer’s safety and that of his family is most important, but hopefully this jerk hasn’t also thrown him off his game.

Nadia Petrova: “Being what she might have been”

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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.”

US Open begins with Roger Federer, Serena Williams the favorites — Mondays with Bob Greene

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STARS

John Isner beat Tomas Berdych 3-6 6-4 7-6 (9) to win the Winston-Salem Open in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA

Petra Kvitova beat Maria Kirilenko 7-6 (9) 7-5 to win the New Haven Open at Yale in New Haven, Connecticut, USA

Roberta Vinci beat Jelena Jankovic 7-5 6-3 to win the Texas Open in Dallas, Texas, USA

SAYING

Roger Federer

“It’s going to take something special from my opponent to win. That’s kind of how it feels right now.” – Roger Federer, saying he is playing good enough to win the US Open.

“There are 128 players here who have plenty of motivation to perform their best in the Grand Slam, the last major of the year, so I’m sure that they want to cause some upsets in the opening round.” – Novak Djokovic, when asked about his repeating as US Open champion.

“I don’t put any pressure on myself. If I win, that would be great. If I lose, I realize I’m going to go home and be devastated. But there’s always tomorrow.” – Serena Williams, on winning the US Open.

“Of course she’s the favorite. But everybody is still in the draw.” – Maria Sharapova, when asked about Serena Williams’ chances of winning the year’s final Grand Slam tournament.

“I can’t sit here and say I’m the best ever. I’m not. I’m not worthy of that title. I’m just Serena. I love playing tennis and I’m good at it. Just because I’m good at it doesn’t make me the best.” – Serena Williams.

“Obviously this place is magical for me. I have had so many beautiful memories. I love the surface, I love the atmosphere, and I’m excited. I’m not really thinking about retiring yet. I’m still focusing on trying to be in the best shape that I can be.” – Kim Clijsters, a three-time US Open champion who has said this will be her last tournament.

“It’s a great feeling. Both my titles this year are the exact same titles I won last year. Defending a title is not easy. There’s pressure on you coming into the tournament so I think for me to do that, at both Newport and here in Winston-Salem, it should help me a lot going forward in the coming years. I’m absolutely thrilled.” – John Isner, after successfully defending his title in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA.

“It’s unbelievable. I mean, play three tournaments in a row and win two. It’s great for me. I hope it will continue in the US Open.” – Petra Kvitova, who won her second tournament in three weeks.

SUCCESSFUL DEFENSE

John Isner is putting his stamp on a couple tournaments. For the second time this season, the American successfully defended a title, this time the Winston-Salem Open in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA, with a 3-6 6-4 7-6 (9) victory over Tomas Berdych. The towering American fired 22 aces in his victory, sealing the win with an unreturnable forehand after saving three match points. “There were certainly some tense times all throughout the match,” Isner said. “At times probably wasn’t the prettiest of tennis, but I was able to gut it out and am very, very proud of that.” The second-seeded Berdych led 5-3 in the tiebreak. He netted a backhand volley on his first match point. Isner then saved another with a service winner. Berdych reached his third match point at 9-8, but Isner save that one with an ace. “I won a couple of matches, which was the goal and the (reason) why I wanted to come here,” Berdych said. “I made it pretty successful, but still one I was missing.”

STRONG SHOWING

Just in time for the US Open, Petra Kvitova is showing the game and form that took her to the Wimbledon title in 2011. The Czech star won her second WTA tournament in three weeks, this time capturing the New Haven Open at Yale where she bested Maria Kirilenko in the title match. Kirilenko led the first set 5-2 before Kvitova rallied. “I just played, not thinking about the shots, about the tactics, just put the ball into the court,” Kvitova said. “Then it was 7-5. Surprise.” Kvitova enters the year’s final Grand Slam tournament with a 12-1 match record on hard courts, the same surface as that played at the US Open. She also clinched the US Open Series championship after winning her first title of the year in Montreal and reaching the semifinals at Cincinnati. That makes the left-hander eligible for a bonus of up to USD $1 million depending on how she does at the US Open.

STOPPING JELENA

Three times Roberta Vinci had faced Jelena Jankovic on the other side of the net. All three times Jankovic, once ranked number one in the world, was successful. Their fourth meeting, however, was different. Vinci beat Jankovic for the first time in her career, winning the Texas Tennis Open in Dallas, Texas, USA. Jankovic served for the opening set at 5-4, only to have her Italian opponent reel off six straight games, closing out the first set and taking a 3-0 lead in the second. Jankovic took the next three games, leveling the set 3-3, before Vinci went on her own run of three straight games. “It was a tough week, a tough draw, a tough final,” Vinci said. “I’m so happy I won.”

SPECIAL LADIES

Sisters Venus and Serena Williams have had a wonderful summer playing doubles together. They teamed up to capture Wimbledon, and then returned to the grass courts of the All England Club to snare the gold medal at the London Olympics. They asked for and received a wild card entry into the US Open women’s doubles where they will be seeking their first US Open doubles championship since 2009. Also gaining entry into the women’s doubles via the wild card route was three-time singles champion Kim Clijsters, who is playing in what she says will be her last tournament. Clijsters will pair with another Belgian, Kirsten Flipkens. Two other teams received wild cards into the women’s doubles: NCAA champions Mallory Burdette and Nicole Gibbs, along with and all-American team, Melanie Oudin and Grace Min.

Ryan Harrison and his younger brother Christian were among the men to receive doubles wilds cards.

SET FOR BONUS

Novak Djokovic and Petra Kvitova could wind up with the biggest checks in tennis. The two won the Emirates Airline US Open Series and will compete in the US Open for bonuses of up to USD $1 million. The winners of both the men’s singles and women’s singles will receive USD $1.9 million. If either Djokovic or Kvitova wind up capturing the year’s final Grand Slam tournament they would receive a USD $1 million bonus. The second and third place finishers on the men’s and women’s sides will compete for $500,000 and $250,000, respectively. John Isner finished second and Sam Querrey third for the men. Li Na finished second in the women’s standings, while Dominika Cibulkova was third. In 2007, Roger Federer collected the biggest paycheck in tennis history – USD $2.4 million – when he won the US Open and the Emirates Airline US Open Series. In 2005, Kim Clijsters also captured both the US Open and the Emirates Airline US Open Series, winning $2.2 million – the largest purse in women’s sports history.

SIGNED UP

The field of the 21st annual Delray Beach International Tennis Championships next February will be highlighted by the three top-ranked American men as well as the world’s number one doubles team. John Isner, Andy Roddick and Mardy Fish have all committed to play in the Delray Beach, Florida, USA, event, as have brothers Bob and Mike Bryan, who captured the men’s doubles gold medal at the London Olympics. Isner is currently ranked 10th in the world, while Roddick is 21st and Fish 24th. Roddick played his first professional match in the Delray Beach tournament in 2000, while Fish in 2009 is still the only top seed in tournament history to win the title. “The 2013 tournament will mark the first time in our history where we will have the top three-ranked American singles players in our draw,” tournament director Mark Baron said. “We’re excited to be bringing back the wildly popular Bryan Brothers, who are already legends in the sport. This is the just the beginning of an epic year for us.”

SIX-MEMBER COMMITTEE

Six members have been named to the ATP’s new competition committee, including 1996 Wimbledon champion Richard Krajicek. The committee will recommend possible changes to men’s professional tennis and will advise the ATP Board of Directors. In announcing the committee, ATP Executive Chairman Brad Drewett said he wants to “’explore new and creative ideas for enhancing the competition and presentation of the sport.’” Besides Krajicek, others named to the committee include ATP executive vice president Gayle David Bradshaw, Sergia Palmieri, Graham Pearce, Lorne Abony and Weller Evans. Drewett appointed Krajicek, the tournament director of an event in the Netherlands, and Bradshaw. Palmieri and Pearce were selected by the ATP Tournament Council, while Abony and Weller were selected by the ATP Player Council.

SENT TO L.A.

Instead of calling lines at the US Open, Lois Goodman has returned to Los Angeles to face charges of murdering her husband. Alan Goodman was killed April 17 in his condominium in the Woodland Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. At the time, his wife told police her husband apparently had an accident while she was officiating at a tennis match. Police now say they early on considered the death to be suspicious. An arrest warrant was filed on August 14, and the 70-year-old Lois Goodman was taken into custody in New York City, where she was to begin officiating at the US Open.

SHARED PERFORMANCES

Dallas: Marina Erakovic and Heather Watson beat Liga Dekmeijere and Irina Falconi 6-3 6-0

New Haven: Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond beat Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka 4-6 6-0 10-4 (match tiebreak)

Winston-Salem: Santiago Gonzalez and Scott Lipsky beat Pablo Andujar and Leonardo Mayer 6-3 4-6 10-2 (match tiebreak)

SURFING

New York: www.usopen.org

Genova: www.atpgenova.com

ATP World Tour: www.atpworldtour.com/

WTA: www.wtatennis.com/

International Tennis Federation: www.itftennis.com

USTA: www.usta.com/

TOURNAMENTS THIS WEEK
(All money in USD)

MEN and WOMEN

US Open, New York, New York, USA, hard (first week)

TOURNAMENTS NEXT WEEK

MEN

US Open, New York, New York, USA, hard (second week)
$106,332 AON Open Challenger, Genova, Italy, clay

WOMEN

US Open, New York, New York, USA, hard (second week)

In photos: Na Li defeats Angelique Kerber in Cincinnati

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CINCINNATI – In the women’s final of the Western and Southern Open on Sunday, Na Li summoned her inner strength and battled back from a set and break down to defeat Angelique Kerber, 1-6, 6-3, 6-1.

The title in Cincinnati marked only her first title since winning the French Open 14 months ago, but she was “hungry” for this win in particular.

“Last night I was thinking about how I was in three finals this year but never won a title,” Li admitted. “So I was really hungry for the title today. Also, I was having lunch today and saw Roger after he won, having his photo taken – I really wanted to do the same.”

Although she wasn’t victorious, Kerber has much to celebrate in reflection of the past year. She climbed to a career-high world No. 6 on the WTA Tour this past Monday.

“One year ago [my ranking] was in the hundreds… like No.90 or No.100,” Kerber said. “Now I’m in the finals of Cincinnati, a really big tournament, so there are so many things that have changed in the last year. I prefer this year to last year.”

Catch all the great photos from the Cincinnati women’s final by Ken Munson below.

Photo Credit: Ken Munson. All Rights Reserved.

[nggallery id=51]

Serena Williams continues her winning ways — Mondays with Bob Greene

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By Bob Greene

STARS

Serena Williams beat Coco Vandeweghe 7-5 6-3 to win the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford, California, USA

David Ferrer beat Nicolas Almagro 6-2 6-2 to win the SkiStar Swedish Open in Båstad, Sweden

Janko Tipsarevic beat Juan Monaco 6-4 5-7 6-3 to win the Mercedes Cup in Stuttgart, Germany

Marin Cilic beat Marcel Granollers 6-4 6-2 to win the ATP Vegeta Croatia Open in Umag, Croatia

John Isner beat Lleyton Hewitt 7-6 (1) 6-4 to win the Campbell’s Hall of Fame Championships in Newport, Rhode Island, USA

Sara Errani beat Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 6-1 6-3 to win the XXV Italiacom Open in Palermo, Italy

Romina Oprandi beat Mandy Minella 7-5 7-5 to win the 10ème Open GDF Suez de Biarritz in Biarritz, France

SAYING

“I still managed to overcome some adversity, win a gold medal, win some Grand Slams and stand at the podium at the Hall of Fame. This is one milestone I thought I’d never achieve.” – Jennifer Capriati, whose journey to induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame included arrests for shoplifting and drug possession.

Serena Williams wins Stanford title

“I definitely think I survived. I don’t think I played my greatest, but I do think I was mentally there, and that helped me out a lot.” – Serena Williams, after winning her 43rd career title.

“There’s happiness that I’m in the final and there’s sadness that I lost. I just have to kind of put it on the back burner and move on.” – Coco Vandeweghe, a “lucky loser” who reached the final in Stanford before losing to Serena Williams.

“I’m so happy I’m at the age I am right now, because I had such a great run and I know there’s still more possible. To enjoy it right now, it’s very different than when I was 20 or 25. I’m at a much more stable place in my life. I wouldn’t want anything to change. So this is very, very special right now.” – Roger Federer, who at age 30 has been ranked number one in the world for a record 287 weeks.

“It’s huge for me. It’s the first time I’ve ever defended a title. I’m very happy to come through today against a great opponent – in my opinion one of the greatest ever. It’s a big win for me.” – John Isner, following his win over Lleyton Hewitt to win at Newport, Rhode Island, USA

“A lot of positives have come out of this week. Grass is a tough surface to come back on after any kind of surgery, and especially foot surgery, where my movement is such a big thing, because on grass you’re in the wrong positions a lot of the time. You’ve got to have that confidence in your footwork.” – Lleyton Hewitt, who reached the final at Newport, Rhode Island, USA.

“It wasn’t completely easy, as it might seem from the result. (Barbora) Zahlavova Strycova is a very difficult player. If you don’t keep your game up you risk being entrapped by her tennis. In fact, if you let your guard down, you won’t get out of it.” – Sara Errani, who beat Zahlavova Strycova in the Italiacom Open final.

“I feel great. I honestly still don’t believe I won the title, considering that in almost every match I was hanging to lose. There were a lot of ups and downs. I think my mental attitude was the key for me – fighting from the first to the very last point. I think that is one of the reasons why I managed to win the title.” – Janko Tipsarevic, following his win in Stuttgart, Germany.

“Marcel is a really dangerous player, so it was not easy in the beginning. He was playing really well and not giving me too much. After I found some solutions, I kept with him and played great tennis. It was maybe my best match of the week. I had a streak of winning nine games in a row, so that was amazing.” – Marin Cilic, after beating Marcel Granollers in the final to win the SkiStar Swedish Open.

“I think Marin was much better than me. He played a very good match,” said Granollers. “I was up 4-2 in the first set but I did not close out the set. Marin started to play better and better. The second set, I didn’t know how to win a point.” – Marcel Granollers.

“It would mean a lot to me, but I can’t lay all my hopes and dreams on just that. But it would mean a lot. I would like to try to get one.: — Serena Williams, when asked about winning an Olympic gold medal in singles.

STREAKIN’ SERENA

While she prepares to head back to Wimbledon for the London Olympics, Serena Williams took time to catch up with older sister Venus. Serena beat “lucky loser” Coco Vandeweghe to win his second straight Bank of the West Classic title, the 43rd in her career, tying Venus with the most titles of active players. A week after winning her fifth Wimbledon singles crown – tying her with Venus – Serena brought in some help to cheer her on: her father. Richard Williams flew from Europe to California to watch Serena’s last two match. “I haven’t won a tournament without him or my mom here,” Serena said. “I just felt like I didn’t want to go out (without him). Plus, he’s going to be at home watching everything here anyway.” Vandeweghe lost in the qualifying, but gained a spot in the main draw when Bojana Jovanovski withdrew with an injury. She broke Serena’s serve twice and was serving for the opening set at 5-4. Twelve games later Williams was collecting the winner’s check after posting a 7-5 6-3 victory. The last player to successfully defend her title at Stanford was Kim Clijsters in 2005-06. At the Olympics, Serena and Venus will be seeking their third doubles gold medal, while Serena is going for her first gold medal in singles. Venus won gold in 2000.

SECOND STRAIGHT TITLE

John Isner bested a grass-court champion to win his second straight Campbell’s Hall of Fame Championships and join a select group. The American beat two-time Grand Slam tournament champion and former world number one Lleyton Hewitt, who was playing in his first final since June 2010 when he won his 28th career crown on the grass courts at Halle, Germany, defeating Roger Federer. Isner is the first player to win consecutive titles in Newport since Fabrice Santoro in 2007-08, and only the fourth player in history. Greg Rusedski won in 2003-04 and Bryan Shelton in 1991-92. Isner pounded 16 aces and gained the only break of the match in the third game of the second set. It was all he needed. Isner will play one more tournament, this week in Atlanta, as he tunes up for the London Olympics. “The best practice is match practice,” he said.

SWEET DEAL

When Janko Tipsarevic won the Mercedes Cup in Stuttgart, Germany, it came with a car of the same name. Tipsarevic pocketed the winner’s check and the ATP rankings points, but his wife got the Mercedes Benz. “I don’t want to call it a deal, but I have a pretty solid car at home, so I don’t need it,” the tournament’s top seed said. “But my wife (Biljana) and I had our anniversary a couple of days back. She also had her birthday. So I promised her the car if I won the tournament. The points go to me.” It was the third career title for Tipsarevic, who beat Juan Monaco in the final of the clay court tournament.

STEADY OPPONENT

David Ferrer ran his record against fellow Spaniard Nicolas Almagro to 11-0, and that was good enough for Ferrer to capture his fifth ATP title of the year, tying him with Roger Federer. It was Ferrer’s second title in Båstad, Sweden; ironically, the first came in 2007 when he beat Almagro in the final. Ferrer also was runner-up at the SkiStar Swedish Open last year after beating Almagro in the semifinals. Ferrer put on display his winning clay court game in Båstad, the same surface on which he won in Buenos Aires and Acapulco. He also won on grass in ‘s-Hertogenbosch and on hard court in Auckland.

SPECIAL WIN

This title was especially sweet for Marin Cilic, who became the first Croat to win the Umag, Croatia, tournament since 1990 when Goran Prpic beat Goran Ivanisevic in an all-Croat final. “It’s a real privilege to be among these champions,” he said. “It was really special this week. I played great tennis and I was enjoying every moment in my matches. I’m really glad I won for my supporters, my team and myself.” Cilic didn’t drop a set during his run to the title, beating Marcel Granollers in the final. It was the 23-year-old Cilic’s third title in his home country, having won the PBZ Zagreb Indoors in 2009 and 2010.

SWISS TIME

Roger Federer hasn’t played since winning his seventh Wimbledon men’s singles title a week ago. But that doesn’t keep the Swiss great from piling up more records. This week Federer was ranked number one in the world for a record 287th week. He had pulled even at 286 weeks when he wrapped up his record 17th Grand Slam tournament title on the grass courts of the All England Club. He regained the top spot after a two-year absence that saw him drop as low as fourth in the world. Federer holds a 75-point lead over Novak Djokovic and is guaranteed to hold the top ranking heading into the London Olympics later this month. He has won five tournaments this year and compiled a 63-6 match record since last year’s US Open. Federer first took over the world number one spot in February 2004 and held it until August 2008. He reclaimed it in July 2009, then was overtaken by Rafael Nadal after the French Open in 2010.

SARA CRUISES

It took just 75 minutes for Sara Errani to claim her fourth title of the year. The top-seeded Italian crushed Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 6-1 6-3 in winning the Italiacom Open in Palermo, Sicily. Ranked ninth in the world, Errani is the first Italian to win four tournaments in a season. “It’s a magical time for me,” said Errani, who alsowon in Palermo in 2008. “However I don’t aim for records. I only think about playing and improving, without looking at the numbers. Today, during the match I didn’t think much about the fact that I would be winning a fourth tournament this season. I only did so a big before the match. On court, I only thought about playing.” The finalist at the French Open earlier this summer, Errani has also won titles in Budapest, Barcelona and Acapulco.

SUCRE BLEU

The early-round losers at the US Open will be pocketing more money this year. The United States Tennis Association (USTA) announced US Open prize money will jump by more than USD $2 million when the year’s final Grand Slam tournament is played later this summer. First-round losers will receive 21 percent more than they did last year, while second-round prize money will jump 19 percent. “We recognize the mounting financial pressures associated with competing on the global professional tennis circuits and especially for those who do not reach the second week of the US Open,” said USTA president Jon Vegosen. “We believe the additional prize money, as well as how it will be strategically distributed, will help alleviate some of the pressure.” The winners of the two-week event aren’t being left out. The women’s and men’s singles champions will each take home a record USD $1.9 million and could earn up to USD $1 million morfe in bonus money. In 2007, Roger Federer collected USD $2.4 million. Kim Clijsters had the biggest women’s paycheck, USD $2.2 million in 2010.

SIX IS NOT TO BE

Five times Anabel Medina Garrigues has left the Countryt Time Club in Palermo, Sicily, as champion of the Italiacom Open: in 2001, 2004-05-06 and 2011. This year was different. The Spanish right-hander was ousted in the opening round by a wild-card entry. Medina Garrigues was bounced 6-1 6-3 by Italy’s Maria Elena Camerin.

SUPREME SPOT

Jennifer Capriati, a three-time Grand Slam tournament winner, and Gustavo “Guga” Kuerten, a three-time French Open champion, and three others are the latest inductees into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island, USA. Also inducted into the shrine were former player Manuel Orantes, tennis industry executive Mike Davies and wheelchair champion Randy Snow, who was honored posthumously. “It’s been quite a journey,” Capriati said. “Here I look back at all those really great things I’ve accomplished and the achievements I’ve had and those achievements I overcame.” She won a gold medal in women’s singles at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992.

SPOTLIGHTED COLLEGIANS

Nicole Gibbs, a junior at Stanford University, and Steve Johnson, a senior at the University of Southern California, were honored as 2012 Campbell/ITA National College Players of the Year during the induction weekend at the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum in Newport, Rhode Island. The Campbell/ITA National College Player of the Year award is given to the women’s and men’s singles player who has had the most outstanding year in college tennis and finishes number one in the Campbell/ITA National Rankings.

SHARED PERFORMANCES

Båstad: Robert Lindstedt and Horia Tecau beat Alexander Peya and Bruno Soares 6-3 7-6 (5)

Biarritz: Severine Beltrame and Laura Thorpe beat Lara Arruabarrena-Vecino and Monica Puig 6-2 6-3

Bogota: Marcelo Demoliner and Victor Estrella beat Thomas Fabbiano and Riccardo Ghedin 6-4 6-2

Newport: Santiago Gonzalez and Scott Lipsky beat Colin Fleming and Ross Hutchings 7-6 (3) 6-3

Stanford: Marina Erakovic and Heather Watson beat Jarmila Gajdosova and Vania King 7-5 7-6 (7)

Stuttgart: Jeremy Chardy and Lukasz Kubot beat Michal Mertinak and Andre Sa 6-1 6-3

Palermo: Renata Voracova and Basrbora Zahlavova Strycova beat Darija Jurak and Katalin Marosi 7-6 (5) 6-4

Umag: David Marrero and Fernando Verdasco beat Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez 6-3 7-6 (4)

SURFING

Hamburg: http://bet-at-home-open.com

Atlanta: www.bbtatlantaopen.com

Gstaad: www.creditagricolesuisseopengstaad.ch/

Carlsbad: www.mercuryinsuranceopen.com

Båstad: http://women.swedishopen.org

Bucharest: www.bcropen.ro

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

Los Angeles: www.farmersclassic.com/

Baku: www.bakucup.az/

Astana: www.alau.info

Olomouc: www.itscup.cz

TOURNAMENTS THIS WEEK

(All money in USD)

MEN

$1,114,000 bet-at-home Open – German Tennis Championships, Hamburg, Germany, clay
$477,900 BB&T Atlanta Open, Atlanta, Georgia, USA, hard
$451,250 Crédit Agricole Suisse Open, Gstaad, Switzerland, clay

WOMEN

$740,000 Mercury Insurance Open, Carlsbad, California, USA, hard
$220,000 Sony Swedish Open, Båstad, Sweden, clay
$100,000 BCR Open Romania, Bucharest, Romania, clay

TOURNAMENTS NEXT WEEK

MEN

$557,550 Farmers Classic, Los Angeles, California, USA, hard
$451,250 bet-at-home Cup Kitzbühel, Kitzbühel, Austria, clay
$125,000 Astana Challenger, Astana, Kazakhstan, hard

WOMEN

$220,000 Baku Cup, Baku, Azerbaijan, hard
$100,000 ITF Astana Women’s $100,000, Astana, Kazakhstan, hard
$100,000 ITS Cup, Olomouc, Czech Republic, clay

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