Players are back for the US open series. A bonus will be added to the player that cumulates more points. Last year, Dementieva was the leader heading to the US open but it is not looking so good for her at the moment. So, to make it short, Azarenka won Stanford, Pavlyuchenkova won Istanbul, Kuznetsova finally wanted to play a little and won San Diego while Wozniacki won Copenhagen in her home country.
Surprisingly, but not without effort, Jelena Jankovic climb back to number 2, and since then, she had been plagued by a series of injuries and if you asked me, the ankle injury is the worst she could have since her footwork is the anchor of her game. Still a little rusty, she couldn’t make it very far in Cinci and finally Kim Clijsters won a third tournament of the year. The women are now fighting for the Rogers Cup in Montreal where the level of competition is very high. It is going to be a hot tournament
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Serena wins Wimbledon
Wimbledon left me on my appetite, or not! On the woman side at least, since my champion on the men side won : Rafael Nadal. As you know it, Serena Wiliams won it, in front of Vera Zvonareva who was marvellous all week for a her first ever slam final.
Since it happened a month ago, i won’t comment any further, you all know the story. No offence to Serena, but even thought she has guts and talent, with what happened at the US open last year, she should have been suspended. Maybe they didn’t do it because of the spectacle, but they are a bunch of great players out there who would have been able to keep us entertain.
Since it happened a month ago, i won’t comment any further, you all know the story. No offence to Serena, but even thought she has guts and talent, with what happened at the US open last year, she should have been suspended. Maybe they didn’t do it because of the spectacle, but they are a bunch of great players out there who would have been able to keep us entertain.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
I don't like cheaters
And a new one is born today, as Soderling took a loooooooong medical time out just before Nadal has to serve for the third set. It looks pretty much little a strategy to cool down Nadal. That it works or not, i don't care, you just don't so that.
I did like the tall guy from Sweden before, but he just exited my favorite list.
I did like the tall guy from Sweden before, but he just exited my favorite list.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Wimbledon update
It was no surprise to me that Samantha Stosur, who has, almost, the perfect game to play on Grass was defeated so early. The big problem of Sam on that surface is her foot work. Not it’s bad, but it doesn’t allow her to be quick enough to use her forehand as much as she does on Clay. So she was out on the first round, so was the destroyer of her dreams, Schiavone.
Kanepi, who defeated the Aussie, is now on her first Grand slam quarter final. And since she had problem with injuries last year, she had to pass by the qualification rounds to make it here. Which might caused her a problem against Kvitova who is having the time of her life at this tournament, defeated everybody on her way. She defeated Cirstea, Zheng, Azarenka and even trashed out Wozniacki 6-2, 6-0.
The Williams sisters are always dominants on grass and this year is no exception as they both reached the quarter final. It wasn’t that complicated for them, only their round of sixteen opponent shows a bit of problem, but didn’t last. Serena had to face Sharapova, and if the tall Russian held her part of the bargain in the first set, she just became too heavy on her foot in the second. Venus didn’t expect such an opposition from Growth, which a salute for reaching a fourth round in Slam. She just lack of experience on those great event and I guess that was the end of her.
Kuznetsova is continuing her disastrous year and lost in the second round to Rodionova who then lost to Na Li, who is now also in the quart a final after beating Radwanska and she will now face Serena. They had such a fight in Australie this year, we never know what can happen.
Another Player struggling for a while is Pennetta, and she was out in the third defeated by Zakapalova who then lost the Kanepi.
Cjisters brilliantly come back after losing the first set to Henin, but Justine had in her head to beat the other Belgian playing the same game then her from the baseline, as kim was totally dominant from there. She would probably say that the injury timeout bugged her. Sorry Justine, it is just something you were doing then and you still do now.
And speaking of drama queen, Jelena Jankovic was in a good way to do better then she ever did in wimbledon, but it is true, this time, that she has an excuse, as just got a bad injury in her second round match, just got worst in her third and couldn’t keep up against a very in form Zvonereva who is going after the Belgian in quart.
Let’s also mentioned the good run of the pack of bones Pironkova, who, without having very tough opponents, doesn’t have any problem to get rid of them either but what will she be able to do against Venus Williams in quart?
Kanepi, who defeated the Aussie, is now on her first Grand slam quarter final. And since she had problem with injuries last year, she had to pass by the qualification rounds to make it here. Which might caused her a problem against Kvitova who is having the time of her life at this tournament, defeated everybody on her way. She defeated Cirstea, Zheng, Azarenka and even trashed out Wozniacki 6-2, 6-0.
The Williams sisters are always dominants on grass and this year is no exception as they both reached the quarter final. It wasn’t that complicated for them, only their round of sixteen opponent shows a bit of problem, but didn’t last. Serena had to face Sharapova, and if the tall Russian held her part of the bargain in the first set, she just became too heavy on her foot in the second. Venus didn’t expect such an opposition from Growth, which a salute for reaching a fourth round in Slam. She just lack of experience on those great event and I guess that was the end of her.
Kuznetsova is continuing her disastrous year and lost in the second round to Rodionova who then lost to Na Li, who is now also in the quart a final after beating Radwanska and she will now face Serena. They had such a fight in Australie this year, we never know what can happen.
Another Player struggling for a while is Pennetta, and she was out in the third defeated by Zakapalova who then lost the Kanepi.
Cjisters brilliantly come back after losing the first set to Henin, but Justine had in her head to beat the other Belgian playing the same game then her from the baseline, as kim was totally dominant from there. She would probably say that the injury timeout bugged her. Sorry Justine, it is just something you were doing then and you still do now.
And speaking of drama queen, Jelena Jankovic was in a good way to do better then she ever did in wimbledon, but it is true, this time, that she has an excuse, as just got a bad injury in her second round match, just got worst in her third and couldn’t keep up against a very in form Zvonereva who is going after the Belgian in quart.
Let’s also mentioned the good run of the pack of bones Pironkova, who, without having very tough opponents, doesn’t have any problem to get rid of them either but what will she be able to do against Venus Williams in quart?
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Schiavone wins RG
When the tournament started, it was hard already to do a prediction on who was going to win but, but no one expected that it would be Italian veteran, Francesca Schiavone, holding the trophy and not many gave her a change against this season Queen of clay, Samantha Stosur.
I didn’t expect that either, until, the match started. The Italian had nothing to lose, and she just kept focus and stuck to her plan. It was a big moment for both of them, but she handled it better. Sam was not as effective as she was from the beginning of the tournament, but all credit to Schiavone who took her chances and play consistently enough to win this major 64 76. Her reaction, so genuine, you can't help but just be happy for her!
I didn’t expect that either, until, the match started. The Italian had nothing to lose, and she just kept focus and stuck to her plan. It was a big moment for both of them, but she handled it better. Sam was not as effective as she was from the beginning of the tournament, but all credit to Schiavone who took her chances and play consistently enough to win this major 64 76. Her reaction, so genuine, you can't help but just be happy for her!
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Roland Garros Up Date
Samantha Stosur proved me wrong, and I am glad. Mental toughness makes a big difference in sport. I always suspected that the Aussie wasn’t always consistent at times because of that. And, it also happened yesterday when she was serving for the match, but she hung on in there and when she finally had a second chance, some sixteen games later, she seized it.
It wasn’t the best match of Serena Williams, but the American always finds a way to mess up with her opponent’s head but this time, Samantha Stosur was up to the challenge. She shows great strength in many aspects of her game not only today, but all week long, beating also Justine Henin, who some people like to call The Queen of clay. That will gave her a lot of confidence and she will need it in her next match.
The higher seeded remaining in the draw, world number 4 Jelena Jankovic is also having a good tournament. Nothing as impressive as Stosur, but she defeated along the way, players who once deprived her to go further in a tournament: Kanepi, Bonderenko, Hantuchova and Schedova. So in short, Stosur will be her toughest Challenge up to now, and if someone is up to it, it is Jelena.
I do believe that it is going to be a very close match. Stosur is playing unbelievable and she might have a slight advantage going into the match even if the Serbian is leading 3-1 in their encounter. Stosur is stronger, but Jankovic move better. Both use brilliantly every aspect of the game, Stosur with power, Jankovic with fineness. The key to the match is the first serve % and the consistency. The one that top that, will go out as a winner, not only of this match, but the tournament.
Elena Dementieva comes a long way: I’ve never seen her with so many bandages of her entire carreer. Wozniack scared her for a moment, but not able to capitalize, the Russian ran away with the victory. Petrova also gave her some thought moments, hammering her with winners in their first set, but with no surprise, Nadia had a mental break down and it was so easy afterward. It is a ninth grand slam semi finale for Elena and she will face the surprising Italian Frencesca Schiavone..
I knew she would have a good run, but that good : hell no. Nobody gives her a real chance to beat Dementieva, but be aware, she shows mental toughness this week and she might surprise us all! Well, the chances are slims, but they are there. Don’t count her out yet, this is going to be a real fight.
It wasn’t the best match of Serena Williams, but the American always finds a way to mess up with her opponent’s head but this time, Samantha Stosur was up to the challenge. She shows great strength in many aspects of her game not only today, but all week long, beating also Justine Henin, who some people like to call The Queen of clay. That will gave her a lot of confidence and she will need it in her next match.
The higher seeded remaining in the draw, world number 4 Jelena Jankovic is also having a good tournament. Nothing as impressive as Stosur, but she defeated along the way, players who once deprived her to go further in a tournament: Kanepi, Bonderenko, Hantuchova and Schedova. So in short, Stosur will be her toughest Challenge up to now, and if someone is up to it, it is Jelena.
I do believe that it is going to be a very close match. Stosur is playing unbelievable and she might have a slight advantage going into the match even if the Serbian is leading 3-1 in their encounter. Stosur is stronger, but Jankovic move better. Both use brilliantly every aspect of the game, Stosur with power, Jankovic with fineness. The key to the match is the first serve % and the consistency. The one that top that, will go out as a winner, not only of this match, but the tournament.
Elena Dementieva comes a long way: I’ve never seen her with so many bandages of her entire carreer. Wozniack scared her for a moment, but not able to capitalize, the Russian ran away with the victory. Petrova also gave her some thought moments, hammering her with winners in their first set, but with no surprise, Nadia had a mental break down and it was so easy afterward. It is a ninth grand slam semi finale for Elena and she will face the surprising Italian Frencesca Schiavone..
I knew she would have a good run, but that good : hell no. Nobody gives her a real chance to beat Dementieva, but be aware, she shows mental toughness this week and she might surprise us all! Well, the chances are slims, but they are there. Don’t count her out yet, this is going to be a real fight.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Roland Garross Preview
Last year, the players who dominated the clay season were the one making it to the final : Safina and Kutnetsova, with the latest winning the title. This year, no one really dominated this preparation to RG and it is hard to say who is going to hold the trophy at the end of the tournament. But it isn’t going to be Kuznetsova, or Safina.
The first thing we notice on the draw is that Justine Henin wasn’t granted of any favor and is seeded as her rank allows : 22. She is standing in the first half of the draw with a possible meeting with Maria Sharapova in third round. But even that, shouldn’t be a problem. Stosur is also standing there, but their first and only encounter earlier this month shows that Justine was still superior mentally speaking. So, i guess the first quart will oppose Justine to Serena Williams who might have a tough match against Peer, but still, she should dispose of anyone standing her way till Justine. And even then, hard to saw which one will make it through.
And the second part of the top draw, Jelena Jankovic might have some problems in earlier rounds with possible meeting with players that already beaten her in the past : Kanepi, then Bonderenko and Hantuchova. And she is passes that, is hard to say who she is going to meet in quart because Safina is a possibility but she had been playing so miserably since she returned that i doubt that even a mentually disturb Zvonarava shouldn’t get rid of her, unless that fact that she finally fired that ungrateful coach shows instant result. There is also Ivanovic on that part but is what we saw in the latest tournaments is going to be enough? Radwanska didn’t really shows consistency on clay so, who is going to be? Hard to say: the huge Russian, Kleybanova ?
The second part of the draw holds the defending champion. Sveta had a very unconvincing clay season but with her, we never know. Her draw doesn’t look too bad, but what a draw means anyway? If she is playing at the best of her talent, she could even make it to the semi since Wozniacki, still injured, should not last that long and Pennetta is still in a mid-struggle crisis. Can she find her game on time for the tournament?
And the last part of the draw, I see an immediate clash as I am almost certain that Dulko is going to win over Azarenka: the Belarus is playing injured for a way too long and Dulko is on a good mood. Will it be her or Dementieva in Quart? Hard to say. The Russian is having any kind of problem losing match she should win lately but i gave her the benefit of the doubt, because she the higher seeded in that part. At the bottom of the draw there is Venus Williams: I say for many years that clay isn’t Venus Williams’s surface and even thought she seems to be playing good this season on it and might have her best run for years, she is not going to win this.
The first thing we notice on the draw is that Justine Henin wasn’t granted of any favor and is seeded as her rank allows : 22. She is standing in the first half of the draw with a possible meeting with Maria Sharapova in third round. But even that, shouldn’t be a problem. Stosur is also standing there, but their first and only encounter earlier this month shows that Justine was still superior mentally speaking. So, i guess the first quart will oppose Justine to Serena Williams who might have a tough match against Peer, but still, she should dispose of anyone standing her way till Justine. And even then, hard to saw which one will make it through.
And the second part of the top draw, Jelena Jankovic might have some problems in earlier rounds with possible meeting with players that already beaten her in the past : Kanepi, then Bonderenko and Hantuchova. And she is passes that, is hard to say who she is going to meet in quart because Safina is a possibility but she had been playing so miserably since she returned that i doubt that even a mentually disturb Zvonarava shouldn’t get rid of her, unless that fact that she finally fired that ungrateful coach shows instant result. There is also Ivanovic on that part but is what we saw in the latest tournaments is going to be enough? Radwanska didn’t really shows consistency on clay so, who is going to be? Hard to say: the huge Russian, Kleybanova ?
The second part of the draw holds the defending champion. Sveta had a very unconvincing clay season but with her, we never know. Her draw doesn’t look too bad, but what a draw means anyway? If she is playing at the best of her talent, she could even make it to the semi since Wozniacki, still injured, should not last that long and Pennetta is still in a mid-struggle crisis. Can she find her game on time for the tournament?
And the last part of the draw, I see an immediate clash as I am almost certain that Dulko is going to win over Azarenka: the Belarus is playing injured for a way too long and Dulko is on a good mood. Will it be her or Dementieva in Quart? Hard to say. The Russian is having any kind of problem losing match she should win lately but i gave her the benefit of the doubt, because she the higher seeded in that part. At the bottom of the draw there is Venus Williams: I say for many years that clay isn’t Venus Williams’s surface and even thought she seems to be playing good this season on it and might have her best run for years, she is not going to win this.
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