Champions On Four Continents

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Woke up too late to watch the Rotterdam final. Tried to watch the replay, even though I knew the result. Couldn't do it. I hate when finals end in retirement. Robin Söderling defeated Mikhail Youzhny 6-4, 2-0. Hamstring, I think.


Reuters

Elena Dementieva finally wins Paris Indoors. Lucie Safarova can't seem to get over the hump. Second time to the final, second time she takes the first set against a higher-ranked Russian opponent, second time she finishes runner-up. 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-4.


AP

Lukasz Kubot was a bit overwhelmed and couldn't exactly get out of his own way. But Juan Carlos Fererro was otherworldly to take the Brasil Open title. He is a Roland Garros champion, after all. And when he's clicking on clay, it's some clicky classy stuff. Not to mention crushing. Yeah. I know. But I couldn't resist.

The Spaniard lost a single game. 6-1, 6-0. Crushing.

Happy belated 30th birthday, JC.


Reuters

Didn't see a point of the match. Wanted the homegirl to take the title, but I've no problem with Vera Zvonareva beating Tamarine Tanasugarn to win the Pattaya Open in Thailand.


AP

I said it before and mean it again: this title was Andy Roddick's to lose. He lost it. Check the stats. They each won 50% of the points, 95 of 190 to be exact. Roddick won slightly higher percentage of serve points and a slightly higher percentage of return points had a higher first-serve percentage, and saved a slightly higher percentage of break points against serve.

But stats don't always tell the tale especially when a match is so close.

Wanna know when Roddick lost the match?

Second set, third game 15-40 on serve. Had been facing down triple break point before saving one with aggressive tennis. At 15-40, though, Roddick constructed a point and blasted a forehand so hard, it pulled Verdasco so far to his forehand he had to stretch, open his racquet face, and lunge just to get his racquet on the ball. He did. It floated. Roddick, waiting, waiting, waiting, oh, so, patiently on the baseline for the floating ball to land, pushed it inside out crosscourt with his forehand. This time, Verdasco had no trouble planting his feet and stricking a forehand crosscourt that landed short enough for Roddick to angle a two fisted backhand right back to Verdasco who, waiting expectantly, struck a forehand down the line to break serve.

Game, set, match.

Really. Cuz after that, Roddick reminded Verdasco just how vulnerable he's been since Wimbledon 2009. And when you smell blood....

Roddick, down break points in the final two sets, played tentatively and lost. Verdasco, on the other hand, stepped up and crushed the ball when facing break points in the second set, faced no break points in the final set -- he was, after all, under no pressure, the smell of blood intensifying -- and won.

Or, to put it another way, Roddick broke serve twice in 9 games and won a set. Verdasco broke serve twice in 20 and won the match. 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Go figure.

And to think Roddick was a set away from giving the USA a clean sleep in San José, Mardy Fish and Sam Querrey taking the doubles title earlier.

The broadcast director, whenever Brooklyn Decker Roddick was on the screen, kept asking the graphic designer to draw a heart around her head. You know. Valentine's Day. But the heart always looked like the cloud containing the dialogue above a comic strip character. In her heart, she seemed to say, "This is how I have to spend Valentine's Day? You better win, honey.... Yes!.... Wait.... You.... What?!!!.... Awwwwwwwwww.... crap.... Humph.... No nooky for you tonight, buddy."

The Spanish Armada carries on.

Lawn Tennis Champions

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Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark holds up the trophy after defeating Virginie Razzano of France during their Eastbourne grass court tournament final tennis match in Eastbourne, England, Saturday, June 20, 2009. Wozniacki won 7-6, 7-5.


AP

Dmitry Tursunov of Russia shows off his trophy after defeating Frank Dancevic of Canada during their Eastbourne grass court tournament final tennis match in Eastbourne, England, Saturday, June 20, 2009. Tursunov won by 6-3, 7-6.


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Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand poses with the trophy after beating Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium on June 20, 2009 in the final of the Ordina Open in Rosmalen. Tanasugarn won 6-3, 7-5.


Ordina Open

Benjamin Becker of Germany won his first ATP title with a 6-5, 7-5 victory of Dutchman Raemon Sluiter at the Ordina Open on June 20, 2009.

Day 8: Chinese History

Zheng Jie became the first Chinese player to advance to the semifinals of a Slam in singles in tennis history. As a wild card. Her gutsy 6-2, 5-7, 6-1 victory over No. 18 seed and headcase Nicole Vaidisova stunned the commentators and raised the hopes of a nation in the lead up to the Beijing Olympics.

Remember back in 2005 when the Chinese players weren't allow to compete at Wimbledon because they had to prepare for the China games? The stringent control the government wields over its athletes has come under fire from everywhere.

But today, one of their players has made history and she didn't even celebrate with much enthusiasm. Perhaps she was simply shocked herself.

But her backhand, return of serve, and wily point construction also shocked NikkiV, who was trying to get her boring, one-dimensional bashing back on track and steer her career in the right direction. I was pleased that she lost as much as I was pleased Zheng won.

I first saw Zheng play in 2004 when she took on Serena Williams on Centre Court in the first round. Serena was in fine form, but I was impressed with Zheng's all striking and it was apparent her game got along great with the grass. Her run through the draw proves it.

And speaking of Serena, who Zheng will play again in the semifinals, has she played a better match?



The Fierce Stomping Diva painted corners and lines, defended absorbed fired on all cylinders and all the above.

Agnieszka Radwanska didn't know what hit her. 51 minutes later, Serena finished with 27 winners to 5 unforced errors, 11 aces to 1 double fault.

I'm not seeing anybody beat this brand of Serena tennis.

If she can keep it up....

Nice to see her get over her quarterfinal blues. This is the first Slam since she won Melbourne last year that she's advanced past the last eight.

As for Aggie. The talented Pole needs a serve. Her first serve is placed well, but her second serve is a cupcake sweet for eating. And while I have no problem with a woman's game compared to a man's (I can't believe I read someone say that there's no way you can compare the two because men are so much stronger), the comparison to Andy Murray John McEnroe was tossing around doesn't work. Neither does the one to Martina Hingis. Aggie's game is quite original given what she does (and does not) bring to the table. I'm not seeing anybody in her game except her.



Venus Williams had a tougher time against Tamarine Tanasugarn in their quarterfinal, but she still advanced in straight sets behind the strength of her huge serve, saving all but 1 of 10 break points.

TammyT did herself proud this forthnight, advanced past the round of 16 at her favorite Slam on her umpteenth try. Too bad her country didn't find it necessary to broadcast her matches. I've little doubt if Paradorn Srichaphan were in the second week of Wimbledon, he'd be all over the television in Thailand.

Sexism is the bitch.

Venus will face first-time Wimbledon semifinalist Elena Dementieva, who fought through her demons to dismiss compatriot Nadia Petrova, who didn't fight through her demons, in three unwatchable sets of tennis.



At No. 5, Elena is the highest seed remaining in the final four.

Who woulda thunk it?

WIMBLEDON 2008: Women's Quarterfinals PREVIEW

by Mad Professah

The 2008 Wimbledon Women's Quarterfinals are now set. After correctly predicting all four of the 2008 French Open Women's quarterfinals here are my predictions for the second summer slam's women's quarterfinals. Note, that this post was begun before the 4th Round of play was completed on Monday.

Ana Ivanovic SRB (1) Agnes Szavay HUN (15) Jie Zheng CHN vs. Nicole Vaidisova CZE (18). This was supposed to be the new World No. 1's easy road to her second consecutive Wimbledon semifinal. Unfortunately for her, after barely surviving a second round clash against determined Frenchwoman Nathalie Dechy 6-7, 7-6, 10-8, Ivanovic easily lost to doubles specialist Jie Zheng in the next round. Nicole Vaidisova has had a horrible year but getting through to the Wimbledon quarterfinals (and possibly the semifinals) should resurrect her year, and career. However, the achievement of Zheng to make her first quarterfinal (and possibly semifinal) is a bigger story. This is a player ranked No. 133 in the World in singles (No. 22 in doubles, but been as high as No. 3) who could possibly make her country's first major semifinal! She is very consistent, plays low to the ground and is comfortable on grass. But Vaidisova is more powerful and has the bigger game. PREDICTION: Vaidisova in 2 sets.

Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS (4) Agnieszka Radwanska POL (14) vs. Serena Williams USA (6). This should be the best quarterfinal of the four. As you can see, I had expected Kuznetsova to get through to be Serena's opponent here. Kuznetsova was up 4-2 in the third set but somehow managed to lose that match. Surprisingly Aggie won the grass court warm up in Eastbourne, beating last year's Wimbledon finalist Marion Bartoli and Nadia Petrova. Serena has been playing well and has actually been coming to the net more than Venus. She faced down a spirited challenge from fellow American Bethanie Mattek who impressed many with her serve-and-volley game. Radwanska plays similarly to the recently departed but rarely lamented Martina Hingis, absorbing power and redirecting it with ease and possesses an uncanny ability to anticipate where her opponent is going to hit the ball. However, she really has no single dangerous weapon except her mind. However, both Aggie and her sister Ursula Radwanska (who Serena beat 6-4 6-4 in the 2nd round) have won Junior Wimbledon titles (2005 and 2007). Agnieska can get overpowered, and Serena Williams is used to out-hitting her opponents. If you see Serena starting to play slice and dice cat-and-mouse points it will be a long afternoon. PREDICTION: Serena Williams in 2 sets.

Elena Dementieva RUS (5) vs. Maria Sharapova RUS (3) Nadia Petrova RUS (21). This will probably be the ugliest quarterfinal of the four. Remember that horrendous 2007 Kuznetsova vs Chakvetadze semifinal? I think that this could rival that in nervous tennis. Matches between fellow Russians are often not very pretty affairs and when the stakes (and prizemoney) gets bigger the quality of the tennis gets worse. That being said, Dementieva has been playing reasonably well. She still has some of the best groundstrokes of anyone on tour and her serve has significantly improved from the one-time laughingstock it was. Petrova leads their head-to-head rivalry 7-4 and has never lost to Dementieva on grass. In fact, Petrova got to the Eastbourne final, losing to Radwanska in a tough 3-setter. But Petrova is widely known as the least mentally strong of the top Russian players, so if anyone can find a way to lose a match she should win, it's Nadia. PREDICTION: Petrova in 3 sets.

Jelena Jankovic SRB (2) Tamarine Tanasugarn THA vs. Venus Williams USA (7). Why was 4-time (and defending) champion seeded No. 7 this year? When getting this far in the tournament Venus has never lost before the final, and she has been in 6 out of the 8 played this decade. Tamarine Tanasugarn is a good grass court player and won a grass court warm up last week. Six times the unseeded Tanasugarn has played well above her seeding to play in the round of 16 and 6 times she has lost. In the seventh attempt she played the highest remaining seed in Jankovic and took her out easily 6-2 6-3. Jankovic was injured and facing the mental pressure of becoming No. 1 if she outperformed Kuznetsova in this tournament. Now she won't have to worry about that and will have to listen to the whispers of why she is the top Serbian player who hasn't one a major yet. In fact, Jankovic is the most current occupant of the "Best Player Not To Have Won A Major." Venus has played Tanasugarn 6 times and never lost. Will the seventh time be a charm for the Thai player? Doubftul. But I hope they don't schedule the match on Court No. 2. PREDICTION: Venus Williams in 2 sets.