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Wimbledon's unseeded stars; India fighting for gold medal at Olympics — The Friday Five

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By Maud Watson

Not So Happy Feet

Between kicking a box that injured a linesman and suffering a case of “foot-in-mouth” disease after, David Nalbandian’s feet have gotten him into a lot of hot water this past week. The Argentine will be able to play Wimbledon thanks to the slow bureaucratic machinery of the ATP, but count me among the camp that believes Nalbandian should be suspended for his behavior. Many were quick to equate Nalbandian’s actions with Djokovic’s smashing of the Perrier sign at Roland Garros (for which Djokovic was fined). But they are not the same thing. If two drunks get behind the wheel of a car, the guy who gets picked up merely for drunk driving gets off easier than the guy who gets picked up after his drunken driving causes an accident. They’re both guilty of the same offense, but the severity of the punishment does and should take into account the consequences of their actions. If anything Nalbandian’s actions were more akin to Tim Henman’s disqualification from Wimbledon for hitting a ball girl. Unlike Nalbandian, however, Henman took his lumps and issued a public apology. By contrast, Nalbandian has looked to blame the ATP for his actions. He also has a track record of problems with fellow players, officials, and administrators, which should be taken into account. So, while recognizing that a suspension in tennis, unlike in other sports, does mean more than just missing tournaments – it’s also a loss of potential prize money and ranking points – the ATP needs to put its foot down, suspend him, and show that it will not stand for this type of careless and deplorable behavior.

Lurking in the Shadows

Venus Williams (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

There’s always a buzz when a Grand Slam gets underway, but there’s been some extra chatter this year with a few big names going in unseeded. The biggest star to be doing so is 5-time Wimbledon Champion Venus Williams. Williams has struggled to find consistency this year, but throughout her career, no matter what her form was heading into Wimbledon, she’s always managed to flip the switch on the lawns of the All England Club. Kim Clijsters, a four-time major champion, also enters into the third major of the year unseeded. The Belgian has struggled with injury, and Wimbledon has been her worst Slam of the four. After a strong showing this past week in The Netherlands, however, she’s a decent bet at SW 19. In short, who knows what to expect? Either of them could just as easily lose early as waltz away with the title. They may also cause more than a few early problems for some of the pre-tournament favorites. Either way, the scenario makes Wimbledon just a little more interesting.

Hornet’s Nest

We all thought the U.S. Olympic selection process would be ugly, but it may not hold a candle to what has unfolded with the Indian selection process. The AITA originally planned to nominate Paes and Bhupathi as their number one team, but Bhupathi refused and insisted he be paired with his current partner Bopanna instead. Bopanna also refused to participate in the Olympics unless teamed with Bhupathi. The AITA tried to wait it out, insisting that it wouldn’t be fair to Paes to be paired with a more inexperienced and lower ranked junior player given that of the three, Paes has the highest ranking. But in the end, the AITA decided the chance to earn a medal for India was too enticing and ultimately caved to the demands of Bhupathi and Bopanna (though they have threatened to potentially punish the pair after the London Olympics have concluded). That may be too little, too late for Paes, however, with reports circulating that he has opted to withdraw from the Olympics. The rift between Paes and Bhupathi has been well publicized, with Paes being assigned the bulk of the blame for the rift. Maybe this is just karma’s way of paying him back. As for Bhupathi and Bopanna, they may be feeling extra pressure to deliver a medal. After all, a medal could go a long way towards softening any disciplinary action the AITA may levy against them later this year.

Out of Nowhere

At age 34, Tommy Haas is arguably playing on borrowed time as far as the career of a tennis professional is concerned. The oft-injured German came into Halle without too many expectations, and thanks to his countryman Kohlshreiber’s defeat of Nadal in the quarterfinals, his run to the final remained mostly low key. In the final he faced Federer, the guy who has practically owned the event to the point a street was named in his honor. But Haas, who has a game that translates to grass better than most, was firing on all cylinders, completely shocking the Swiss as he stole the first set and never looked back to win it in two. It’s a phenomenal win for Haas, and as he heads into Wimbledon, unseeded and brimming with confidence, he has the potential to cause some players a lot of headaches.

R.I.P.

The sport of tennis lost two greats this past week – Barry MacKay and The Honorable Judge Robert Kelleher. After a successful career, Barry MacKay served as one of the early pros on Jack Kramer’s tour before going on to be a tournament director and world-class broadcaster. Kelleher also enjoyed success as a player, but his greater contributions came as a winning U.S. Davis Cup captain, and more importantly, the role he played in the U.S. to help make Open Tennis a reality. They touched the sport in a variety of ways, and both will be greatly missed.

Rafael Nadal set for seventh Roland Garros title; Maria Sharapova climbing the ranks — The Friday Five

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By Maud Watson

Happy Hunting Grounds

Last weekend, Rafael Nadal was right where he wanted to be – on red clay and back in the winner’s circle. His play at the Foro Italico was a glowing example of why Nadal is arguably the greatest clay court player ever. He’s mixing in the right amount of aggression, and his defense is second to none. He’s also shown that his mental toughness is once again intact, as evidenced by his ability to come out on top in virtually any tight situation, absolutely refusing to give anything away to the opposition. This is the pre-2011 Nadal fans are used to seeing – less complaining and more sure of his game. This Rafa is also likely to hang around through the Roland Garros fortnight. There’s no doubt he’s the heavy favorite. There are only a handful of players that can even hang with Nadal when he’s playing this well, and it will take a Herculean effort from any one of them to defeat the Spaniard. At this stage, only a fool would bet against Nadal earning a seventh title in the French capital.

Don’t Rain on her Parade

Sharapova is not the most gifted athlete, and her shrieking is a source of annoyance to many. But irrespective of any of this, you have to respect that she’s currently No. 2, and it’s due in no small part to the fact that she is one of the fiercest competitors on the WTA. Down a set and 4-0 to Li Na on a cold, rainy day in the Italian capital, it would have been easy for Sharapova to throw in the towel. She’d already won Stuttgart and had put in a good effort to defend her Rome title. But the Russian has never been one to settle, and she fought to secure a dramatic three-set win to successfully defend her Rome crown. Sharapova heads to Paris as one the favorites, but gut instinct says she’s going to need some help to complete the career Grand Slam. Unlike Serena, who virtually blitzed most of the competition en route to titles in Charleston and Madrid, Sharapova more than once benefited from an opponent’s collapse. Not to take away from her victories, but it’s better to be in control of one’s destiny. Suffice it to say, Sharapova won’t be an easy out for anyone (except maybe Serena), but she’s not a lock in Paris.

Paris or Bust

Novak Djokovic hasn’t had a bad season. He won the Aussie Open and Miami, and he reached the finals of two out of the three clay court Masters leading up to Roland Garros. But after last week’s Rome final, Djokovic fans may have some cause for concern. On the one hand, he showed he still has the skills and the right game plan – when properly executed – to beat Nadal. The Spaniard has closed the gap, but there’s still a feeling that Djokovic can control the majority of points over the course of an entire match, which will likely continue to be the case given his superior return. But controlling points means nothing if you can’t execute the finishing shot. The Serb committed an uncharacteristically high number of unforced errors – 41 to be exact – ranging from shanked overheads to overcooking easy sitters. To be fair, Nadal’s incomparable retrieving ability put pressure on Djokovic to hit ever closer to the lines, but 2011 Djokovic didn’t press in those same situations. Additionally, while you had to feel for Djokovic when a botched line call late in the first set gave Nadal a reprieve and ultimately proved a crucial turning point, you can’t expect to remain No. 1 and allow such a call to have a long carry over effect as it clearly did heading into the second. Djokovic is going to have to find that 2011 form and mindset if he wants to have any shot at completing the “Nole” Slam.

White Flag Ready

With the French Open just days away, Jo-Willie Tsonga is ruffling feathers with his pessimistic forecast for French players at this year’s French Open. Tsonga stated there was zero chance a Frenchman would be hoisting the trophy, and while none would argue against the realistic nature of his comments, they were no less disappointing. Most of France’s top stars are cast in the traditional French mold – flashy shot makers able to catch lightening in a bottle at any moment. Perhaps none are more capable of catching fire than Tsonga himself. Though he’s never won a clay court event, the fact that he’s currently No. 5, has been to a major final, and has beaten each of the four guys in front of him at least once makes his comments all the more galling (or is it Gauling? – sorry, bad pun!). Yes, the Frenchmen may all be eliminated in week one, but would anyone honestly be surprised to see a handful reach the second week? It would be wonderful to see Tsonga prove himself wrong, but it’s awfully hard to put together a good run when you’ve already decided defeat is inevitable before the first ball has even been struck.

Non-Breaking News

Earlier this week, Kim Clijsters confirmed what many of us already saw coming. Rather than finish out the 2012 season, she will officially hang up the racquet at the conclusion of the US Open. It’s been a frustrating year for the Belgian, who has had to forgo the entire clay court season due to niggling injuries. As the competition is growing stiffer at the top, Clijsters’ lack of match plays is also apt to prove more costly this summer than in years past. In short, though as a four-time major champion Clijsters may know what it takes to win the big titles, it’s still a big ask for her to reign victorious at Wimbledon, the London Olympics, or at Flushing Meadows. But as one of the nicest and greatest players of her generation, here’s to hoping for a successful swan song. Here’s to hoping fans are treated to vintage Clijsters. And here’s to hoping she grabs what will be one of the three most prestigious titles remaining in 2012 before she heads off into the sunset.

Kim Clijsters to focus on Olympics; John Isner new number one American — The Friday Five

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By Maud Watson

London or Bust

To the dismay of her legion of fans and the WTA in general, Kim Clijsters announced that she will be unable to make one last run at Roland Garros. The Belgian is suffering from ankle and hip injuries and is healing much slower than anticipated. She is wisely opting to focus all of her efforts on the upcoming grass court season, which she hopes will include a victory at Wimbledon, the Olympics, or both. In reality, such a scenario is looking less and less likely. The competition near the uppermost echelons of the game has made it harder to be a part-time competitor, and given Clijsters’ slow recovery and seemingly continual string of injuries, it’s difficult to imagine her being at the top of her game when she needs it most. She’s a great person, and I’d love to see a fairytale ending to her career, but count me among those who will be sincerely shocked if she not only wins one of the biggest grass court titles of 2012, but actually finishes the season.

Joining the Club and a Snub

The lineup for the 2012 Hall of Fame class has been set, and not surprisingly, it includes Jennifer Capriati. The American’s career follows a very similar arc to that of 2011 Inductee Andre Agassi. She was a standout teen prodigy who crumbled under the pressure in a very public fall from grace, only to pick herself up and ultimately realize her Grand Slam potential more than a decade after turning pro. Her career also impacted the sport as a whole, with her early burnout cited as one of the main reasons the WTA put restrictions on its youngest competitors, while the controversial overrule in her match with Serena Williams at the 2004 US Open is considered the catalyst for introducing Hawk-Eye to the game. With three singles majors, an Olympic gold medal, and the No. 1 ranking, she’s a deserving candidate. Also a deserving candidate but who was instead snubbed for induction is Yevgeny Kafelnikov. The Russian won two singles majors, four in doubles, reached the apex of the men’s rankings, won Olympic gold, and was a member of a winning Davis Cup team. His record is equally, if not arguably more impressive, than Capriati’s, and he’s certainly a more accomplished player than some previous inductees. Some have suggested he failed to make the grade in spite of his Hall of Fame résumé because of his often sour disposition. In an ideal world, induction would be based on pure merit and not popularity, but that’s politics. And while it doesn’t’ make it right, I guess bottom line, Capriati, not Kafelnikov, puts butts in seats.

Touching Tribute

Novak Djokovic has proven his mental toughness on multiple occasions the last 12-18 months, but perhaps one of the more stunning displays of his resolve occurred in his victory over Alexandr Dolgopolov to reach the quarters in Monte-Carlo. On the morning he was to play that match, he learned that his grandfather, Vladimir, had passed away at the age of 83. Vladimir was a hero to his grandson and the man Djokovic credited with teaching him to always fight. With that in mind, he couldn’t have put together a more fitting tribute to his grandfather on the day of his passing, overcoming the Ukranian in a topsy-turvy three-set tussle. In the first set, Djokovic was clearly suffering mentally, as he swung without any real purpose and Dolgopolov’s talent was on full display. But the No. 1 roared back in the second to force a tightly contested third set that ended when Djokovic broke his opponent in the ninth game before serving it out for the win. He raised his arms and eyes to the heavens in recognition of his hero before wiping away a few tears and undoubtedly causing more than a few spectators to grow misty-eyed themselves. He’s never won Monte-Carlo, so you can bet he was plenty motivated coming into his adopted hometown event. But now there’s extra motivation, because this one is for grandpa.

New No. 1

No, nobody has knocked Djokovic from his perch atop the world rankings, but John Isner did displace Mardy Fish as the top American, becoming the 12th man to hold the coveted spot in the process. It would have been nice to have seen him punctuate the achievement with the title in Houston, but you have to give credit to his vanquisher Juan Monaco, who before having to retire in his match with Haase in Monte-Carlo was playing some very stellar tennis. Isner has coped relatively well with the expectations that were suddenly heaped on his shoulders following his surprise defeat of Federer in Davis Cup, so it will be interesting to see if he continues the trend now that he’s the U.S. No. 1. It will also be interesting to track if the flip-flop in rankings takes some of the pressure off of Fish and allows him to relax and return to playing top-notch tennis instead of continuing his downward spiral. Either way, it could make for an intriguing spring and summer.

Ultimate Professional

It’s wasn’t a long swan song for Ivan Ljubicic as he entered the final tournament of his professional career in Monte-Carlo earlier this week. Perhaps fittingly, he went out to a fellow Croat, Ivan Dodig, in a straight sets defeat where he admitted he was surprised by the well emotions swirling inside of him. His story of an escape from war-torn Croatia and eventual rise to top tennis star is an inspiring one to be sure, and his dedication to his off-court endeavors is admirable. Always ready with an endearing smile, it was touching to hear his fellow competitors gave him a standing-o when he entered the locker room after that last defeat. He has and continues to be a class act, and I for one can’t wait to see what else he’s going to be able to do for the game.

Azarenka's streak ends; Wozniacki thrills then disappoints — The Friday Five

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By Maud Watson

It Ends

Victoria Azarenka's streak ends at the Sony Ericsson Open (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Victoria Azarenka managed to find a way to come back from the brink of defeat in her fourth round match against Dominika Cibulkova (thanks in large part to a choke job by the Slovak), but she couldn’t pull off the feat twice.  The Belarusian crumbled under the relentless pressure of the penetrating groundstrokes coming off the racquet of Marion Bartoli to suffer her first defeat of 2012.  There’s no shame in the loss.  Bartoli has collected several big wins and is ranked number seven, but it was evident by the way Azarenka handled herself at the end that this was one of the toughest losses of her career.  Still, I like Azarenka’s chances of making a quick mental recovery and continuing to be the player to beat throughout the course of the season.   She’s matured and improved her game too much not to, and in the long run, the fact that the pressure of extending the unbeaten streak is over should only help her cause heading into the French.

Finding a Balance

So it was a just quarterfinal match at a premiere event, and she did fall to Sharapova in the semis.  But the win Wozniacki posted over Serena Williams earlier this week in Miami was just what the doctor ordered to get her back on track and infuse her and her fans with the belief that she may have what it takes to win a major.  And contrary to Serena’s assessment of herself, she didn’t play poorly.  She posted typical Serena numbers with 36 unforced errors that were nearly completely offset by her 34 winners.  And while Wozniacki’s consistency played a large part in allowing her to weather the barrage of Williams, it was refreshing to see her adding a little more “oomph” to her groundies and serve.  If she has in fact reconciled herself to the fact that she needs to beef up her game and take a few more risks, she could be well on her way to moving back towards the top and capturing that elusive major singles title.

Maddening

Less than 24 hours after he had completed a huge breakthrough win by claiming just his third victory over Roger Federer, Andy Roddick found himself out of Miami in straight sets – including a second set bagel – to Juan Monaco.  No offense to Monaco, who continues to enjoy a good run this week, but this was a bad loss for Roddick.  It’s understandable that he’d be mentally and physically drained after the Federer match, especially since his injuries have hampered his ability to stay in shape.  But what made the loss to Monaco so maddening was the way he lost it.  Against Federer, it appeared Roddick had turned back the clock and finally returned to the brand of tennis that took him to the top.  He was going after his shots, aggressively attacking the ball and taking it to Federer.  Against Monaco, he reverted to playing it safer and hanging out well behind the baseline, even though his lack of fitness should have encouraged him to be even more aggressive in an attempt to shorten the points.  For his sake and his fans’ sake, he needs to employ the tactics he did against Federer.  Otherwise, that win against the Swiss will turn into a fluke instead of the turning it could be for the twilight of his career.

Reality Check

Where’s Petko when you need her?  Following in the (two left) footsteps of Monica Seles, Martina Navratilova became the first competitor to be booted off of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars this past Tuesday night.  Navratilova found herself at the bottom of the pack for two straight weeks, so it wasn’t unexpected.  But in many ways, it was still sad to see her go.  Clearly out of her comfort zone and at times struggling to remember the routine, you could see glimpses where she was enjoying herself and the challenge of trying something she’d never done before.  It is a shame her journey had to come to such an early end, but no doubt she has been an inspiration to others to get out and try something they never thought they could.

Hobbling to the Finish

At this point, it would virtually be a more shocking news story if Kim Clijsters were healthy.  It seems every week we’re hearing about a new injury for the Belgian No. 1, and this week was no exception.  Clearly hampered in her loss to Wickmayer, it was later revealed that she has a tear in her hip muscle and will be out four weeks.  Following the loss, rumors abounded that she was considering early retirement, and though she herself has put a stop to the rumors, I’m still not wholly convinced.  With each injury setback, the desire to work at regaining her top form has to dwindle, and the fear factor she once had in the locker room is going to be all but non-existent come Roland Garros.  Kim’s a great competitor and an even better person, but it will be a bigger surprise if she manages to nab just one of the three prizes that enticed her to return to the game than if she calls it a career before season’s end.

Yanina Wickmayer on Serena Williams, Skiing, and Dancing

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Yanina Wickmayer at the Sony Ericsson Open (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Current world #33 Yanina Wickmayer broke through the ranks at the 2009 U.S. Open escalating herself into the tennis spotlight. The Belgian tends to shy away from press but I had a chance to chat a few interesting topics with her at the Sony Ericsson Open this week. Did you know she has never met Serena Williams? Hard to believe, but it’s true!
What is your most memorable moment on court?
Probably my semifinals run in the U.S. Open and some Fed Cup moments.
If you weren’t a tennis player, what would you be?
I chose between tennis and skiing, so maybe a skier.
If you could play against any player in history, who would it be and why?
I’ve actually never played Serena [Williams]. I look up to her a lot and have a lot of respect for her. She’s one of the biggest champions in women’s tennis, so maybe her.
Are you and Serena friends off-court?
No, never talked to her. (Laughs)
If you’re hosting a party, what three tennis players do you invite?
Probably [Gael] Monfils because of his dancing skills. And then the girls is tough to choose – I don’t want to be picky on them. (Laughs) But ‘Who would I invite?’ Hmm, Sabine Lisicki and Dominika [Cibulkova]. She’s a fun girl also.
What two things can’t you live without?
My dad. And …. I guess, happiness! (Laughs)

The Meaning of a Last Name in Tennis; Berdych as His Own Worst Enemy — The Friday Five

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by Maud Watson

Pushing the Limits

Marko Djokovic (left) and Malek Jaziri (right)

In the movie Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Severus Snape once said, “Well, it may have escaped your notice, but life isn’t fair.” Of course, Professor Snape was saying that to the Boy Who Lived, but it pretty much sums up what Dubai tournament officials told No. 1 Arab player Malek Jaziri (ranked No. 104) and the press, as they attempted to justify giving a disputed wildcard to Marko Djokovic (younger brother of Novak and ranked 869) instead. The uproar caused by the decision is only partially justifiable, and it’s most likely strictly due to the fact it involved the younger brother of the current No. 1. The Djokovic family did nothing wrong, having submitted the wildcard request at least a month ago. And as for Novak’s part in getting his brother the wildcard, he’s not the first star player to use his leverage. Many top tier players use their elite status to rake in huge appearance fees, and some, such as Hewitt and Clijsters, have also used leverage to garner wildcards for younger siblings. It’s also not uncommon for tournaments to weigh other factors over actual merit when doling out wildcards. How many French, American, and Australian players have benefited from the reciprocal major wildcard agreement between their home governing bodies that competitors from non-Slam nations can only dream of? And don’t get me started on the number of undeserving British players that have been handed a free pass to play on the most hallowed grounds in the sport. The real fault lies in how poorly tournament officials handled the situation. They previously told Jaziri he wouldn’t have to play the qualifying event only to pull the rug out from under him in the 11th hour by giving the wildcard to the younger Djokovic. Had it been handled more professionally, Jaziri may not have been as disgruntled. And yes, the extremely low ranking of Marko Djokovic does suggest officials were pushing the limits. Then again, had it been awarded to a local Arab player of the same ranking, would this even be a topic of discussion? I think not.

New Day, New Clay

Come April, France will look to do what Switzerland could not – defeat the United States Davis Cup team on clay. This time it will be an outdoor clay court set in picturesque Monte Carlo. But while the venue will serve as a beautiful locale, it’s still a surprising decision. French No. 1 Tsonga has already stated clay is not his best surface. A quicker hard court would help shorten the long rallies in which Monfils frequently finds himself entangled, not to mention better suit Llodra’s attacking style. The long short of it is that, barring injuries, these are going to be two evenly matched teams no matter what the surface, and the French need to avoid falling into a false sense of security. Playing the U.S. on the red dirt doesn’t mean what it did a decade or so ago.

Own Worst Enemy

Be it counting backwards from 10, taking a few deep breaths, or taking a page out of Frank Costanza’s book and yelling “Serenity now!” (risking insanity later), Tomas Berdych needs to find some way of letting the little things go. On a breakpoint for Berdych to extend the second set into a tiebreak, a Murray serve was initially called out, only to have Hawkeye reverse the call. Mohamed Lahyani then awarded the point to Murray rather than replaying it, infuriating Berdych in the process. It’s understandable that Berdych would rue letting the break point go, especially since he’d already saved multiple match points. But while he got his racquet on the serve, Lahyani was correct in his ruling. The initial out call in no way affected Berdych’s play on it, and yet, the Czech was still ranting about it in his press conference. But this isn’t the first time Berdych has failed to understand the rules and etiquette of the game, and sadly it probably won’t be the last. He needs to learn to stop sweating the small stuff. It doesn’t help his game any, and it certainly won’t win him any fans. With a game as big as his – a game that is capable of earning him a major – it would just be a waste to see it not come to full fruition simply because he can’t get out of his own way.

True Winner

She won’t get a ton of press, because she doesn’t have multiple majors to her name, nor is she known outside tennis circles. All of that aside, the undisputed feel-good story of the week is Alisa Kleybanova’s planned return to WTA competition. The young Russian announced last July that she had been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma and would be undergoing treatment in Italy. She now says she’s finished her cancer treatment, the doctors are pleased with her health, and she’s anxious to return to action. Stories like this really drive home the point that tennis is just a game, and hopefully she’ll be an inspiration to others. One thing is for certain – win or lose when she returns to the court in Miami later this month, it will go down as a victory.

Leftfield

The worlds of sports and entertainment are never lacking for surprises, and this week was no exception. Who can honestly say that they saw the announcement that Martina Navratilova would be joining the Season 14 cast of Dancing with the Stars coming? There are players I’d love to see take to the dance floor, and others that I can see wanting to join the cast. Somehow the 18-time Grand Slam singles champion didn’t fit either mold. It’s hard to imagine her in a frilly ball gown. But she may just be full of surprises. She’s fit, and she also possesses the work ethic and commitment necessary for success. But it will be interesting to see how easily she takes direction from one of the show’s regular pros, Tony Dovolani, as well as criticism from the judges. Hopefully she proves adept at both. It’s just a fun TV show, but after the Seles debacle a few seasons ago, tennis could do with posting a respectable finish.

Wozniacki's Woes Continue; Davis Cup Backpedaling – The Friday Five

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by Maud Watson

Finger Pointing

That’s pretty much all a stunned Swiss team could do after a shocking loss to the United States in Davis Cup play last weekend (and if the damage control Federer was rightfully forced to do following that loss is any indication, they couldn’t even explain the defeat diplomatically).  There were many factors that contributed to the upset, but first and foremost was the inspired play by the United States under the cunning captaincy of Jim Courier.  The American squad comprised of Fish, Isner, Harrison and Mike Bryan was a talented group, but up against a Swiss team that included Federer, playing in Switzerland, and on clay, it was to be an uphill battle for the red, white and blue.  But boy did they deliver.  Then there was the subpar play of Wawrinka, who appeared to struggle with the pressure.  Federer was also at fault, as he seemed pressed at times.  His backhand, especially on the return, proved a real liability, particularly in the doubles.  Finally, there was the surface itself.  Never mind that both teams found it nearly unplayable.  They shouldn’t have played on clay in the first place.  With the possible exception of Spain, countries need to chuck out the conventional wisdom that it’s best to play the U.S. on the red dirt.  In this case, an indoor hard court similar to the World Tour Finals would have been best.  It would have eliminated many of the high backhands Federer had to field, plus there would have been the confidence he would have felt on that surface after the way he finished 2011.  That assurance likely would have rubbed off on Wawrinka, and then the whole weekend might have been different.  But hindsight is 20/20.  Hats off the Americans for some fine play, and it’s back to the drawing board for the Swiss.

Caroline Wozniacki in her loss to Lucie Safarova after holding three match points

Woz Continue

Whether she is aware of it or not, Caroline Wozniacki is at a crucial point in her career.  Playing in Doha in her first match since losing in the Aussie Open and the No. 1 ranking in the process, she not only suffered defeat to Safarova, she did so after holding three match points.  Safarova is no slouch, and she’s proven her ability to beat the game’s top stars on multiple occasions.  But this was still a bad loss for Wozniacki.  This was a match that wasn’t in her hands, and it was ultimately Safarova’s willingness to take risks and control the situation that allowed her to snatch victory away from her Danish opponent.  This should be a wakeup call to Wozniacki that she needs to be looking to beef up her game and add more offense.  She’s still No. 4, and even by women’s tennis standards, she’s still young.  There’s still time to change.  But she’s not going to turn it around by being obstinate and keeping only her father as coach and acting relatively indifferent to these losses.  Without changes, losses like the one to Safarova are only going to pile up, and pretty soon, she may just find herself on the outside of the Top 10 looking in.

No Fluke

Last year, audiences saw a woman by the name of Angelique Kerber make a Cinderella run to reach the semifinals of the US Open, where she lost in three sets to the eventual champion, Sam Stosur.  But in 2012, Kerber is playing some great tennis, showing that run to the semis of the US Open was a precursor of what was to come.  She surprised Sharapova en route to the final last week in Paris, before breaking some hearts by defeating native Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli in the final.  She needs to continue to work on her fitness and consistency, but with her big strokes, fighting spirit, and the unpredictable nature of the women’s tour, there’s definitely room for her in the upper echelons of the game.

Walking Wounded

As is par for the course, injuries continue to plague the top players.  Gael Monfils has pulled out of both San Jose and Memphis citing a right knee injury.  Unfortunately for Monfils, with the way he plays, these injuries are apt to only grow in number and severity as his career progresses.  Andy Roddick is also nursing a hamstring injury and a freshly hurt ankle, which nearly cost him his match against qualifier Kudla in San Jose.  As a player who is used to being at the top and not particularly known for his patience, this latest setback will be one more test as Roddick thinks about how much longer he wants to go through the grind and stay on tour.  Spare a thought for Tommy Robredo also, who appeared to have his game back on track early last season before suffering a severe leg injury at Indian Wells.  The Spaniard played only a handful of matches after that and will now be undergoing leg surgery.  He hopes to be back for the spring clay court season.  On the women’s side, Kim Clijsters has already opted to pull out of Indian Wells, citing an ankle injury.  Her case is a little suspect given the way she played on a bum ankle in Australia and the fact that Indian Wells is still a few weeks away, but the Belgian’s history of injuries is well-documented.  In her case, it wouldn’t be shocking to see her pull the plug immediately following the Olympics, as she hobbles across the finish line of her career.

New Deal

The USTA has signed a new sponsorship deal with Emirates Airlines to be the title sponsor of the US Open Series and the official airline of the US Open.  Sponsorship dollars are a major plus, especially since the US Open Series has helped increase tennis viewership throughout the summer hard court season.  But this is just one piece of the puzzle to helping the USTA solve the problems that have plagued them the last few years.  They are going to have to look into making other changes and improvements if they wish to keep players, fans, television carriers, and all sponsors happy.
(photo © Getty Images)

I Love the WTA

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Maria Sharapova giggled and jumped in the snow with her Russian compatriots. Forty-one year old Kimoko Date Krumm upset Polona Hercog, ranked 42 spots above her and born 21 years after her.  Serena Williams destroyed a racket. Christina McHale served a bagel. Julia Goerges nearly upset Wimbledon Champion Petra Kvitova, but fell just short and broke down in tears on court. The upstart and adorable British team, led by new coach Judy Murray, stormed (and tweeted) their way through their competition.  Francesca Schiavone (over)-dramatically won a match.
It was a predictably unpredictable Fed Cup weekend, what many would describe as “typical” WTA, and I loved every single minute of it.
It’s been a tumultuous few years for the most popular female sports league in the world.  In 2007 the tour seemed invincible when Wimbledon became the final Grand Slam to offer the women equal pay.  However,  an unfortunate series of events have left the tour in flux ever since.  In 2008 World #1 Justine Henin abrubtly retired, leaving a vacuum at the top of the game.  With various injuries crippling The Williams Sisters and Sharapova, a group of talented young girls were thrust into the spotlight at the top of the game a bit prematurely.  The “Slamless Number One” saga overshadowed everything else, only rivaled in media coverage by the incessant shrieking debate (which often reaked of sexism).  Some of the best female athletes on the planet were constantly declared out of shape and mentally weak by the experts of the game, many of whom were former WTA stars themselves. To make matters worst, all of this turmoil transpired simultaneously with the “Golden Era” of the ATP.  The more Federer, Nadal, and recently Djokovic dominated the Slams the more it seemed to diminish whatever “product” the WTA tried to produce.
As a WTA fan it’s been a sad few years. Wait- no, I actually don’t mean that at all. It’s been a rollercoaster for sure, but it’s been a blast.
I love parity, I love unpredictability, I love my sports to come with a side of “WTF is going on here?”. I love the fact that every Grand Slam you could pick fifteen women who have a legitimate shot to hold the trophy at the end of two weeks. I love the fact that Schiavone, Li Na, and Samantha Stosur are now Grand Slam Champions. I love that Vera Zvonareva, despite a history of meltdowns that would have made her eligible for the Real Housewives of Russia, made two Grand Slam Finals and climbed to number 2 in the world.  I love that Kim Clijsters retired, had a baby, then came back to the tour and won three more Grand Slams- 3 times more than she had pre-motherhood.  I love that Sharapova has fought her back from what many feared would be a career-ending shoulder injury and now, at 24, seems poised to be a factor for years to come. I love that Serena went from hospital bed to U.S. Open Final in less than six months.  I love that Andrea Petkovic dances in victory. I love that the outspoken Agnieszka Radwanska seems to only win when she’s taped up like a mummy.  I love Petra Kvitova’s forehand, Victoria Azarenka’s backhand, Marion Bartoli’s insane serve, and yes- even Caroline Wozniacki’s moonball. (Sometimes).
I love that the best days are yet to come.  Champions and superstars Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova are sill hungry and fighting for titles. Azarenka and Kvitova, twenty-two and twenty-one respectively, seem unfazed by the pressure of expectations.  Clijsters is with us for the rest of the year (and I still not-so-secretly hope for more) and will be extra motivated to win her first French Open and/or Wimbledon trophy.  Venus Williams might not ever win another Slam again, but it won’t be without trying like a true Champion to deal with her Sjogren’s Syndrome and find a way to compete on the top level again.  Wozniacki will (surely) be determined to regain her spot at the top of the rankings and earn that elusive Slam.  Li, Schiavone, and Stosur will all be eager to get rid of the “One Slam Wonder” label.  And then of course there’s Svetlana Kuznetsova.  Any given Slam.
I don’t think that dominance is the only way to measure success.  I don’t think that unpredictability is always a sign of weakness. If you disagree with the prior statements then that’s fine, but I do think that these female athletes deserve heaps more respect than they get on a regular basis.
Yes, I unabashedly love the WTA, flaws and all.

Victoria Azarenka Overcomes Hype and Reaches the Australian Open Women's Finals

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It’s all in the racquet.
And for Victoria Azarenka, it may very well be the case. The young Belarussian knocked off defending champion Kim Clijsters in the semifinals of the Australian Open in three highly-contested sets that witnessed several momentum changes. And Azarenka did it all under her new sponsor Wilson using the Juice tennis racquet — a switch she made earlier this month after dropping Head as a sponsor.

Victorious Victoria

Azarenka has long been considered the sole top player consistently inconsistent in her inability to reach a grand slam final. As one of the greatest young hopes, progressing quickly through the ranking, many pegged her as an upcoming champ within “Generation Next”. However, under Head for years, her biggest gain was only reaching the semifinals in Wimbledon in 2011. But only days after switching to Wilson, Azarenka checks her nerves and closes out the sport’s best hard-court player, to reach her first grand slam final at the Australian Open.
Azarenka’s win wasn’t certain, however, as she quickly went down 6-1 in the second set after winning the first. The decisive third set saw it all: double faults, breaks of serve and, of course, plenty of grunting from Azarenka. Even while winning one less point than Clijsters, Azarenka was the better player for much of the match. Both women went for their shots as is evident by the sheer number of unforced errors (40 for Azarenka and 44 for Clijsters) and winners (20 for Azarenka and 26 for Clijsters) for both. In the end for Azarenka though, it all came down to overcoming her nerves, forcing Clijsters into mistakes and closing it out.
Today, we witnessed first-hand another new player blossom on-court. One with the ability to overcome the hype that centered around her for years, and actually play to her abilities. Azarenka matured into an adult over the course of this 2 hour and 12 minute battle and her time in the Australian sun won’t soon come to a close as she is set to take on either Maria Sharapova or Petra Kvitova in the finals on Saturday.
Additionally, whichever player wins the Australian Open becomes the new world #1. For a woman that can do anything now, this is simply no big deal.
Victoria Azarenka easily balances a tennis racquet on her head

 

Victoria Azarenka Is Here to Stay

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Victoria Azarenka will face defending Australian Open champion Kim Clijsters in a semifinal showdown.

Victoria Azarenka is not one to go unnoticed.
The tall, blonde Belarusian plays with powerful groundstrokes that matches her intense personality. She expresses her emotions freely on court and carries herself with an air of confidence wherever she goes. And let’s not forgot about the shrieks. Oh, the shrieks.
But regardless of whether you admire her on-court tenacity or have trouble watching her matches without the mute button handy, the 22-year-old is not going anywhere anytime soon.
In her Australian Open quarterfinal match against Agnieszka Radwanska, another young star of the WTA, the world No. 3 Azarenka fought back from losing the first set tiebreak 7-0 to cruise to a commanding 6-7, 6-0, 6-2 victory.
Azarenka will next face the defending champion Kim Clijsters, who defeated world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki, in her second career Grand Slam semifinal. With the quarterfinals loss, Wozniacki will relinquish her top ranking. Azarenka is among the three women remaining in the draw who can become the new No. 1 when the updated rankings are issued Monday. The others are No. 2 seed Petra Kvitova and No. 4 Maria Sharapova.
Just two days after saving four match points in a victory against Li Na in the fourth round, a hobbled Clijsters scored a straight set win over Wozniacki and appears ready to defend her title. The Belgian veteran leads Azarenka 4-2 in their head-to-head, but lost in their most recent meeting, last year in Miami. If Azarenka gets past the No. 11 seed Clijsters, she will play in her first career Grand Slam final.
And with a win on the championship stage she would not only silence her critics, but also drown them out with the sweet shrieks of victory. So whether you like it or not, Azarenka is here to stay – a fact that has become loud and clear.