Radwanska gave to me--two sets at love. She gave them to Annika Beck, too, in Indian Wells tonight. The whole thing lasted an hour and seven minutes. Jim Courier referred to Radwanska as a "Swiss Army knife of a player" (has anyone else noticed that he has stopped his chronic habit of putting down women?).
Courier and Mary Carillo then launched into a discussion of USA tennis whose purpose seemed to be to prepare fans for a letdown. The presumption on Courier's part was that "Americans" (sorry, but for me, that term has to include our neighbors in Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Paraguay, etc.) can't assume that just because a player has "the stars and stripes on her/his shoulders," that the USA will prevail. Are citizens of the U.S. chauvinistic enough to presume that? Courier seems to think so.
Also, can we please stop the criticism of Radwanska because she has no affect on court? It's an individual personality thing--and it worked pretty damned well for Chris Evert, just in case anyone in the booth needs to be reminded.
It didn't take a lot of effort for Lauren Davis to win her match. She prevailed over countrywoman Varvara Lepchenko in straight sets. Eugenie Bouchard beat Sara Errani in straight sets, too, and Casey Dellacqua beat Roberta Vinci, so the "Italian redemption" was short-lived.
Carla Suarez Navarro and Alize Cornet went at it for three hours and 26 minutes--is anyone surprised? Cornet got the win, 6-7, 7-5, 6-3, though Suarez Navarro served for the match in the second set. (Does this mean that Cornet is the new Paszek?)
Caroline Wozniacki defeated Yaroslava Shvedova, and--in a match that was enough to make any fan of either player considerably nervous--Simona Halep defeated Lucie Safarova 6-2, 4-6, 6-4. Halep's serve was way off, or there wouldn't have been three sets. She's going to have to do something about that (note to Halep: the French Open begins in May). Halep plays Genie Bouchard next; that has the potential to be an outstanding match.
The "dream team" of Kristina Mladenovic and Flavia Pennetta were shown the exit today, also, by Kimiko Date-Krumm and Barbora Zahlavova Strycova.
Sunday, March 9, 2014
Elena Baltacha diagnosed with liver cancer
Former British number 1 Elena Baltacha, who retired last year at age 30, has been diagnosed with liver cancer. At age 19, Baltacha was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis, known to be a precurser to liver cancer, though the succession of events is rare. Baltacha's immune system has been compromised for a while.
Baltacha is currently receiving treatment for the cancer. There is speculation that an attempt will be made to shrink the tumor so that it can be removed. Liver cancer is rarely diagnosed in someone as young as Baltacha, who says she is "fighting this illness with everything I have."
Her body riddled with injuries, Baltacha, or "Bally," as she is known in the tennis world, had to travel with a large collection of pills in order to manage her fatigue level, which was always vulnerable because of her liver condition. It was remarkable that her career lasted so long, but Baltacha never let her illness get in the way of competing.
Baltacha is currently receiving treatment for the cancer. There is speculation that an attempt will be made to shrink the tumor so that it can be removed. Liver cancer is rarely diagnosed in someone as young as Baltacha, who says she is "fighting this illness with everything I have."
Her body riddled with injuries, Baltacha, or "Bally," as she is known in the tennis world, had to travel with a large collection of pills in order to manage her fatigue level, which was always vulnerable because of her liver condition. It was remarkable that her career lasted so long, but Baltacha never let her illness get in the way of competing.
Kerber out of Indian Wells
Playing a big game that included hitting 60 winners and making 72 unforced errors, Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor upset 5th seed Angelique Kerber 2-6, 7-6, 6-4 in Indian Wells yesterday. Kerber did serve for the second round match, but was unable to stop Torro-Flor from overtaking her. The German star didn't exit alone, though; countrywoman Sabine Lisicki was also defeated in the second round, by Aleksandra Wozniak. Wozniak beat Lisicki 7-5, 1-6, 7-6.
Also serving for the match but failing to win was Elina Svitolina. She and Ana Ivanvic broke each other 10 times, and many of the breaks occurred in succession in the final set. It was as if no one wanted to win. Once the third set got to a tiebreak, though, experience favored Ivanovic, and win she did, 4-6, 7-5, 7-6.
Alysa Kleybanova advanced to the third round with a win over Garbine Muguruza, and Ekaterina Makarova came back from a set and a break down to defeat Monica Niculescu. Top seed Li Na won her all-Chinese contest against Zheng Jie, and Sloane Stephens--though she got off to a slow start--brought out an impressive variety of shots to defeat Ajla Tomljanovic in straight sets. This was the Sloane worthy of all the media attention. Which Sloane will arrive to play Ivanovic in the next round?
Also serving for the match but failing to win was Elina Svitolina. She and Ana Ivanvic broke each other 10 times, and many of the breaks occurred in succession in the final set. It was as if no one wanted to win. Once the third set got to a tiebreak, though, experience favored Ivanovic, and win she did, 4-6, 7-5, 7-6.
Alysa Kleybanova advanced to the third round with a win over Garbine Muguruza, and Ekaterina Makarova came back from a set and a break down to defeat Monica Niculescu. Top seed Li Na won her all-Chinese contest against Zheng Jie, and Sloane Stephens--though she got off to a slow start--brought out an impressive variety of shots to defeat Ajla Tomljanovic in straight sets. This was the Sloane worthy of all the media attention. Which Sloane will arrive to play Ivanovic in the next round?
Friday, March 7, 2014
Redemption in the desert, Italian style
Roberta Vinci finally won a match. It's been a long losing streak for such a good player, but it ended today in Indian Wells when the world number 14 defeated Madison Keys 6-3, 6-3 in the first round. Yesterday, Francesca Schiavone finally turned her losing ways around, too, beating Mona Barthel in three sets.
Sara Errani won today, also. She defeated Sharon Fichman 6-1, 6-1. Italian qualifier Camila Giorgi won her opening round (def. Andrea Petkovic), but Karin Knapp was taken out by wild card Taylor Townsend. All in all, though, it's been a good tournament so far for the Italians. Except in doubles: Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci went out in the opening round to wild cards Svetlana Kuznetsova and Samantha Stosur. This is definitely a wild card team to watch.
Qualifier Heather Watson had a great win in the first round against wild card Belinda Bencic, but lost her second round match against Agnieszka Radwanska today. Karolina Pliskova has played just one round but has already hit 20 aces. Pliskova is now regularly hitting aces like it was nothing.
Simona Halep and Genie Bouchard both won their second round matches, defeating Karumi Nara and Peng Shuai, respectively. Annika Beck has already beaten both Stefanie Voegele and Elena Vesnina.
An obviously troubled, pain-ridden Victoria Azarenka took to the court tonight against Lauren Davis and looked as if she might retire any moment in the first set, which she lost without winning a game. It was painful to watch. Azarenka, who spent the entire month of February in a walking boot because of her injured left foot, approached the second set with more spirit, but it was quite clear that her foot was hurting her.
The world number 4 did not look pleased. She smashed a racket in frustration at one point, but still managed to get to a tiebreak, after she broke when Davis served for the match. But Davis prevailed in the tiebreak and advanced to the next round. One of the television commentators noted that Azarenka had not been practicing on the Indian Wells courts, which indicates that she probably wasn't really ready to return to the tour. She didn't look ready. Was this simple poor judgment, or is all the criticism thrown at her carrying a lot of influence in her decision-making?
Azarenka has always been injury-prone, but she has worked hard to overcome this tendency. There will always be injuries in professional tennis, however, and if a player hurts her ankle and has to wear a boot for a month, that's pretty serious. Maybe she needs more rehab. All credit to Lauren Davis for exhibiting a lot of poise while her opponent was publicly dealing with anger, pain and frustration. Davis played well and looked unruffled (hanging out with Chris Evert pays off). Vika, on the other hand, looked quite ruffled, but that's Vika.
Sara Errani won today, also. She defeated Sharon Fichman 6-1, 6-1. Italian qualifier Camila Giorgi won her opening round (def. Andrea Petkovic), but Karin Knapp was taken out by wild card Taylor Townsend. All in all, though, it's been a good tournament so far for the Italians. Except in doubles: Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci went out in the opening round to wild cards Svetlana Kuznetsova and Samantha Stosur. This is definitely a wild card team to watch.
Qualifier Heather Watson had a great win in the first round against wild card Belinda Bencic, but lost her second round match against Agnieszka Radwanska today. Karolina Pliskova has played just one round but has already hit 20 aces. Pliskova is now regularly hitting aces like it was nothing.
Simona Halep and Genie Bouchard both won their second round matches, defeating Karumi Nara and Peng Shuai, respectively. Annika Beck has already beaten both Stefanie Voegele and Elena Vesnina.
An obviously troubled, pain-ridden Victoria Azarenka took to the court tonight against Lauren Davis and looked as if she might retire any moment in the first set, which she lost without winning a game. It was painful to watch. Azarenka, who spent the entire month of February in a walking boot because of her injured left foot, approached the second set with more spirit, but it was quite clear that her foot was hurting her.
The world number 4 did not look pleased. She smashed a racket in frustration at one point, but still managed to get to a tiebreak, after she broke when Davis served for the match. But Davis prevailed in the tiebreak and advanced to the next round. One of the television commentators noted that Azarenka had not been practicing on the Indian Wells courts, which indicates that she probably wasn't really ready to return to the tour. She didn't look ready. Was this simple poor judgment, or is all the criticism thrown at her carrying a lot of influence in her decision-making?
Azarenka has always been injury-prone, but she has worked hard to overcome this tendency. There will always be injuries in professional tennis, however, and if a player hurts her ankle and has to wear a boot for a month, that's pretty serious. Maybe she needs more rehab. All credit to Lauren Davis for exhibiting a lot of poise while her opponent was publicly dealing with anger, pain and frustration. Davis played well and looked unruffled (hanging out with Chris Evert pays off). Vika, on the other hand, looked quite ruffled, but that's Vika.
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Monday, March 3, 2014
Sweeping the court
Lindsay Davenport has been elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame. And, finally, so has Nick Bollettieri. Davenport, who is now a tennis commentator, won three singles majors, three doubles majors and an Olympic gold medal in singles. She was number 1 in the world for 98 weeks.
Today is World Tennis Day.
And speaking of international tennis, I haven't commented before now on the new International Premier Tennis League because I don't understand how two tours filled with complaints about the length of the season would then assent to adding an activity to the off-season. I understand the idea from a marketing standpoint, but with all the injuries, it just doesn't make sense to me.
Women Who Serve wishes a fast, comfortable recovery for Matt Cronin.
A court has dismissed 2008 charges against Sania Mirza. These charges (there have been several over the years--all seemingly ridiculous) have to do with whether Mirza stood with her hands behind her back while the Indian national anthem was being performed.
Here is Serena Williams in the Michael Costello gown she wore to the Vanity Fair Oscars party.
Today is World Tennis Day.
And speaking of international tennis, I haven't commented before now on the new International Premier Tennis League because I don't understand how two tours filled with complaints about the length of the season would then assent to adding an activity to the off-season. I understand the idea from a marketing standpoint, but with all the injuries, it just doesn't make sense to me.
Women Who Serve wishes a fast, comfortable recovery for Matt Cronin.
A court has dismissed 2008 charges against Sania Mirza. These charges (there have been several over the years--all seemingly ridiculous) have to do with whether Mirza stood with her hands behind her back while the Indian national anthem was being performed.
Here is Serena Williams in the Michael Costello gown she wore to the Vanity Fair Oscars party.
Sunday, March 2, 2014
Cibulkova wears the sombrero!
Every year, at the end of the Acapulco tournament, I look forward to seeing the photos of the winner in a sombrero. This year, the honor goes to Dominika Cibulkova, who won her fourth yesterday in Acapulco. Cibulkova defeated Christina McHale 7-6, 4-6, 6-4 in the final. That second set was the only set Cibulkova dropped in the tournament. The final lasted just under three hours.
The Acapulco final was McHale's first. Cibulkova, the 2014 Australian Open runner-up, is now number 11 in the world.
Kristina Mladenovic and Galina Voskoboeva, seeded 2nd, won the doubles title. In the final, they defeated Petra Cetkovska and Iveta Melzer (she's back!) 6-3, 2-6, 10-5. Voskoboeva becomes the first player in the WTA to win more than one title while playing as a partner to Mladenovic. The very talented doubles player likes to spread the joy among many partners.
The Acapulco final was McHale's first. Cibulkova, the 2014 Australian Open runner-up, is now number 11 in the world.
Kristina Mladenovic and Galina Voskoboeva, seeded 2nd, won the doubles title. In the final, they defeated Petra Cetkovska and Iveta Melzer (she's back!) 6-3, 2-6, 10-5. Voskoboeva becomes the first player in the WTA to win more than one title while playing as a partner to Mladenovic. The very talented doubles player likes to spread the joy among many partners.
Saturday, March 1, 2014
Zakopalova and Florianopolis--two words that go together
Klara Zakopalova must have said to herself, "Enough is enough." Before today, she had last won a title in 2005. Last week, the Czech player lost the Rio final to Karumi Nara, and today, she was down a set and 2-5 to Garbine Muguruza in the Florianopolis final. To make matters worse, 3rd seed Zakopalova had already lost to Mugaruza in a final this year--in Hobart.
In that Hobart final, Muguruza put up a 6-0 final set. That's what Zakopalova did today, after coming very close to lifting another runner-up trophy. She defeated the Spaniard 4-6, 7-5, 6-0. So there.
Anabel Medina Garrigues and Yaroslava Shvedova won the doubles title. They defeated Francesca Schiavone and Silvia Soler-Espinosa 7-6, 2-6, 10-3.
In that Hobart final, Muguruza put up a 6-0 final set. That's what Zakopalova did today, after coming very close to lifting another runner-up trophy. She defeated the Spaniard 4-6, 7-5, 6-0. So there.
Anabel Medina Garrigues and Yaroslava Shvedova won the doubles title. They defeated Francesca Schiavone and Silvia Soler-Espinosa 7-6, 2-6, 10-3.
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Sweeping the court
Simona Halep is now number 7 in the world. Let's hope the ankle problem gets much better soon.
Li Na, Jelena Jankovic, Flavia Pennetta, Genie Bouchard, and Klara Zakopalova all have birthdays this week.
Jovana Jaksic saved 14 match points against Tamira Paszek in the 25k event in Surprise, Arizona. Jaksic defeated Paszek 4-6, 7-6, 7-5. Now let's say, for the sake of fun and argument, that I had said that Jaksic had saved 14 match points against __________, and the final score was 4-6, 7-6, 7-5. Yes, you would have guessed Paszek, wouldn't you? Because if there's a long, drawn-out, just-won't-end match, it's a pretty safe bet that Tamira Paszek is on one side of the net.
Tornado Alicia Black made her WTA debut this week, in Acapulco. She went out in the first round to Bojana Jovanovski, who beat her 6-4, 7-5.
Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Comcast Corp.'s decision to offer Tennis Channel as premium programming. The Supreme Court let stand a ruling made by a federal appeals court. Tennis Channel is seeking the same Comcast programming tier as NBC Sports Network and the Golf Channel, both of which are more accessible to customers.
Li Na, Jelena Jankovic, Flavia Pennetta, Genie Bouchard, and Klara Zakopalova all have birthdays this week.
Jovana Jaksic saved 14 match points against Tamira Paszek in the 25k event in Surprise, Arizona. Jaksic defeated Paszek 4-6, 7-6, 7-5. Now let's say, for the sake of fun and argument, that I had said that Jaksic had saved 14 match points against __________, and the final score was 4-6, 7-6, 7-5. Yes, you would have guessed Paszek, wouldn't you? Because if there's a long, drawn-out, just-won't-end match, it's a pretty safe bet that Tamira Paszek is on one side of the net.
Tornado Alicia Black made her WTA debut this week, in Acapulco. She went out in the first round to Bojana Jovanovski, who beat her 6-4, 7-5.
Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Comcast Corp.'s decision to offer Tennis Channel as premium programming. The Supreme Court let stand a ruling made by a federal appeals court. Tennis Channel is seeking the same Comcast programming tier as NBC Sports Network and the Golf Channel, both of which are more accessible to customers.
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