She beat Maria Sharapova easily in the Australian Open final, and today, top seed Victoria Azarenka beat 2nd seed Sharapova 6-2, 6-3. Once again, Sharapova never appeared to have a chance, as Azarenka controlled the rallies with ease and precision.
Azarenka is now on a 23-match win streak. Next week, she will be in Miami, where she is the defending champion. In last year's final, the world number 1 defeated Sharapova in straight sets.
What's next for Sharapova? She just didn't look comfortable today, facing the world number 1. She wasn't able to take control, and taking control is Sharapova's style of play.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Huber and Raymond win Indian Wells championship
Top seeds Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond defeated defending champions Sania Mirza and Elena Vesnina in straight sets last night to take the 2012 BNP Paribas doubles championship. Huber and Raymond are now on a 16-match, four-tournament win streak.
Mirza and Vesnina had plenty of break chances in last night's match, but were able to convert only once. However, they were broken four times, resulting in a 6-2, 6-3 victory for the top seeds.
Mirza and Vesnina had plenty of break chances in last night's match, but were able to convert only once. However, they were broken four times, resulting in a 6-2, 6-3 victory for the top seeds.
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Azarenka and Sharapova to play for Indian Wells title
Victoria Azareka increased her match win streak to 22 yesterday by defeating Angelique Kerber 6-4, 6-3 in the BNP Paribas Open semifinals. It should have been more of a contest, in my opinion, but Kerber just wasn't there much of the time; I suspect fatigue of some sort. Top seed Azarenka will play 2nd seed Maria Sharapova in the final. Sharapova defeated Ana Ivanovic when Ivanovic retired in last night's match. Sharapova won th first set 6-4, and Ivanovic had just won the opening game of the second set when she stopped playing. Her left hip was injured, and she said she could no longer push off from it. She was obviously in quite a bit of pain.
In doubles, top seeds Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond defeated Iveta Benesova and Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 6-1, 6-2, which is a surprising scoreline. On Thursday, defending champions and 2nd seeds Sania Mirza and Elena Vesnina saved five match points and went on to defeat the other Czech team--3rd seeds Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka--5-7, 7-5, 10-3. Hlavackova and Hradecka led 5-2 in the second set. Mirza and Vesnina beat the same team in the opening round in Indian Wells last year, and lost to the Czechs in the 2011 French Open final.
We don't see this too often, but in both singles and doubles, the two top seeds will compete in the finals. The doubles final will be played today, and the singles final will take place tomorrow.
In doubles, top seeds Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond defeated Iveta Benesova and Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 6-1, 6-2, which is a surprising scoreline. On Thursday, defending champions and 2nd seeds Sania Mirza and Elena Vesnina saved five match points and went on to defeat the other Czech team--3rd seeds Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka--5-7, 7-5, 10-3. Hlavackova and Hradecka led 5-2 in the second set. Mirza and Vesnina beat the same team in the opening round in Indian Wells last year, and lost to the Czechs in the 2011 French Open final.
We don't see this too often, but in both singles and doubles, the two top seeds will compete in the finals. The doubles final will be played today, and the singles final will take place tomorrow.
Friday, March 16, 2012
Thursday, March 15, 2012
"Old guard" vs. new in Indian Wells
Though it feels a bit strange to categorize Ana Ivanovic as a "past champion," that's what she is. Ivanovic won the French Open in 2008, and since then, has undergone a series of coaching changes, physio changes, confidence dips, injuries, and what has appeared from the outside to be general chaos. But here she is in the semifinals of the BNP Paribas Open, and one can't help but ask: Has Ivanovic found her way back?
The Serbian player, known for her crack forehand, holds eleven singles titles. When she's in form, she's aggressive and hard to beat. If she stays healthy and her confidence continues to increase, we could see her make yet another climb up the rankings.
Ivanovic's "old guard" opponent in the semifinals will be Maria Sharapova, who has struggled against all kinds of odds to return to the top of the game, and is currently ranked number 2 in the world. Watching them compete for a spot in the final will feel kind of like old times. Sharapova has a 3-2 record against Ivanovic, but they haven't played each other for four years.
In the other semifinal, it's "new guard" all the way, with world number 1 and Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka competing against Angelique Kerber. Azarenka is the favorite to win, of course, but suddenly, Kerber doesn't look like a stranger at the business end of a tournament. Often, when a player comes out of "nowhere" to reach a major quarterfinal or semifinal, it makes for a nice moment, but then the player goes back to her usual spot in the scheme of things. But not Kerber. Kerber's U.S. Open run was more of an announcement than a novelty, and she provides more evidence that the German contingent is serious about shaking up the status quo.
Can Azarenka win Indian Wells and Miami? Stay tuned.
Ivanovic and Sharapova advance to Indian Wells semifinals
15th seed Ana Ivanovic beat 7th seed Marion Bartoli in 6-3, 6-4 today at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. I wasn't able to watch it all, but it was obvious that Ivanovic's serve was really working, and it was also obvious that Bartoli wasn't feeling too well. The illness at this tournament has, unfortunately, been a major part of the narrative.
I was around long enough to get an earful of sexism from Ivanovic's coach, Nigel Sears, who suggested she "wear the pants" because "you like to wear the pants." Commentators on Tennis Channel thought it was funny; I don't find anything amusing at all about the assumption that taking charge is a male quality.
In the second of today's quarterfinal matches, Maria Sharapova defeated Maria Kirilenko, but only after they played for over three hours and five minutes, and broke each other twelve times. For quite a while, Sharapova played into Kirilenko's fondess of hitting sharp forehands up the line. Eventually, Kirilenko fell apart. She put herself back together toward the end of the match, but it was too little, too late; Sharapova won 3-6, 7-5, 6-2.
There was some drama in this match. Ever since the 2011 U.S. Open final, chair umpires appear to have discovered the hindrance rule. Kirilenko broke it by cracking her racquet on the court three times to propel herself on--only she did it during a point. It didn't seem (to me) like a conscious hindrance, but it was not an appropriate thing to do. The umpire called it, and then proceeded to just chew Kirilenko out. Kirilenko had to serve after that, and she had a surprisingly good hold.
This was a cranky umpire. She got testy with Sharapova over the Spidercam, then was unpleasant again with Kirilenko over a coaching request. And then there was the fact that Kirilenko virtually disappeared after the second set, which probably didn't do much to endear the chair umpire to her.
I was around long enough to get an earful of sexism from Ivanovic's coach, Nigel Sears, who suggested she "wear the pants" because "you like to wear the pants." Commentators on Tennis Channel thought it was funny; I don't find anything amusing at all about the assumption that taking charge is a male quality.
In the second of today's quarterfinal matches, Maria Sharapova defeated Maria Kirilenko, but only after they played for over three hours and five minutes, and broke each other twelve times. For quite a while, Sharapova played into Kirilenko's fondess of hitting sharp forehands up the line. Eventually, Kirilenko fell apart. She put herself back together toward the end of the match, but it was too little, too late; Sharapova won 3-6, 7-5, 6-2.
There was some drama in this match. Ever since the 2011 U.S. Open final, chair umpires appear to have discovered the hindrance rule. Kirilenko broke it by cracking her racquet on the court three times to propel herself on--only she did it during a point. It didn't seem (to me) like a conscious hindrance, but it was not an appropriate thing to do. The umpire called it, and then proceeded to just chew Kirilenko out. Kirilenko had to serve after that, and she had a surprisingly good hold.
This was a cranky umpire. She got testy with Sharapova over the Spidercam, then was unpleasant again with Kirilenko over a coaching request. And then there was the fact that Kirilenko virtually disappeared after the second set, which probably didn't do much to endear the chair umpire to her.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
"Don't make me angry. You wouldn't like me when I'm angry."
Was it "a mighty and raging fury" that took over Victoria Azarenka today in Indian Wells when she played Agnieszka Radwanska, or was it just one of those things? Things have been pretty chilly between the two players lately, and you have to wonder to what degree this chill motivated Azarenka to pretty much run over Radwanska. The top seed took the first set 6-0. At 5-0 in the second set, Radwanska broke her, and good-humoredly encouraged the crowd in its cheering. She then held at love and looked much more like herself, but it was too late, and Azarenka won the second set 6-2.
Angelique Kerber didn't have to come back from the brink tonight like she did in her last two matches. She defeated Li Na 6-4, 6-2 to advance to the semifinals of the BNP Paribas Open. This was Kerber's first win over Li. Any discussion of top German players now has to include Kerber, who has followed up her U.S. Open semifinal appearance with some excellent tennis and a lot of determination. Unlike Andrea Petkovic and Sabine Lisicki, Kerber has stayed healthy, and unlike Lisicki and Julia Goerges, she has stayed calm and consistent.
In doubles, 3rd seeds Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka defeated 5th seeds Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci, and 2nd seeds Sania Mirza and Elena Vesnina defeated wild cards Gisela Dulko and Paola Suarez. The other semifinalist teams are top seeds Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond (def. Jarmila Gajdosova and Bethanie Mattek-Sands), and Iveta Benesova and Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (def. Casey Dellacqua and Sam Stosur).
Tomorrow, the other two singles quarterfinals will be played. Marion Bartoli plays Ana Ivanovic, and Maria Kirilenko plays Maria Sharapova.
Angelique Kerber didn't have to come back from the brink tonight like she did in her last two matches. She defeated Li Na 6-4, 6-2 to advance to the semifinals of the BNP Paribas Open. This was Kerber's first win over Li. Any discussion of top German players now has to include Kerber, who has followed up her U.S. Open semifinal appearance with some excellent tennis and a lot of determination. Unlike Andrea Petkovic and Sabine Lisicki, Kerber has stayed healthy, and unlike Lisicki and Julia Goerges, she has stayed calm and consistent.
In doubles, 3rd seeds Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka defeated 5th seeds Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci, and 2nd seeds Sania Mirza and Elena Vesnina defeated wild cards Gisela Dulko and Paola Suarez. The other semifinalist teams are top seeds Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond (def. Jarmila Gajdosova and Bethanie Mattek-Sands), and Iveta Benesova and Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (def. Casey Dellacqua and Sam Stosur).
Tomorrow, the other two singles quarterfinals will be played. Marion Bartoli plays Ana Ivanovic, and Maria Kirilenko plays Maria Sharapova.
Defending champion out of Indian Wells
Ana Ivanovic, of all people, defeated defending champion Caroline Wozniacki in the 4th round of the BNP Paribas Open last night. Ivanovic, whose career has been all over the place since she won the French Open in 2008, beat Wozniacki 6-3, 6-2. Wozniacki will now fall out of the top five, and Ivanovic will now play Marion Bartoli in the Indian Wells quarterfinals.
Nadia Petrova's new-found success didn't last, though she fought very hard against countrywoman Maria Kirilenko, breaking her both times that she served for the match in the second set. Kirilenko's 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 victory gives her a quarterfinal match against yet another countrywoman, Maria Sharapova.
If there was a "player of the day" yesterday, though, it had to be Angelique Kerber, who came back from 1-4 in the third round and saved three match points against Christina McHale. Kerber won 6-3, 3-6, 7-6. In the match before that one, she came back from 1-5 down and saved two match points against Sloane Stephens. At this point, I suspect that mental fatigue may be Kerber's worst problem; she'll have a chance to tough it out again against Li Na in the quarterfinals.
The remaining quarterfinal features top seed Victoria Azarenka playing once more against Agnieszka Radwanska. There's a lot we can read into this match. Radwankska is 3-8 against Azarenka, and recently, she has been very critical of Azarenka's on-court behaviors. It's not unreasonable to suggest there may be some tension in the air (though it pales when compared to an upcoming Indian Wells ATP 4th round contest).
Nadia Petrova's new-found success didn't last, though she fought very hard against countrywoman Maria Kirilenko, breaking her both times that she served for the match in the second set. Kirilenko's 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 victory gives her a quarterfinal match against yet another countrywoman, Maria Sharapova.
If there was a "player of the day" yesterday, though, it had to be Angelique Kerber, who came back from 1-4 in the third round and saved three match points against Christina McHale. Kerber won 6-3, 3-6, 7-6. In the match before that one, she came back from 1-5 down and saved two match points against Sloane Stephens. At this point, I suspect that mental fatigue may be Kerber's worst problem; she'll have a chance to tough it out again against Li Na in the quarterfinals.
The remaining quarterfinal features top seed Victoria Azarenka playing once more against Agnieszka Radwanska. There's a lot we can read into this match. Radwankska is 3-8 against Azarenka, and recently, she has been very critical of Azarenka's on-court behaviors. It's not unreasonable to suggest there may be some tension in the air (though it pales when compared to an upcoming Indian Wells ATP 4th round contest).
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Passing shots
Apparently, Serena Williams has not yet confirmed that she will play mixed doubles with Andy Roddick at the Olympic Games. Several players have stated that it may be next to impossible to play in all three events because there is so little time scheduled for the matches.
You can now get to know Sofia Arvidsson.
Note to the sexist headline writer at Tennis.com: It's not "Mr. Mom"--we call it "a father."
Andrea Petkovic has begun hitting again.
Petra Kvitova has been hit with the stomach flu bug and she and Azarenka have withdawn from doubles competition in Indian Wells.
You can now get to know Sofia Arvidsson.
Note to the sexist headline writer at Tennis.com: It's not "Mr. Mom"--we call it "a father."
Andrea Petkovic has begun hitting again.
Petra Kvitova has been hit with the stomach flu bug and she and Azarenka have withdawn from doubles competition in Indian Wells.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Indian Wells can make you sick
One of the biggest opponents at this year's BNP Paribas Open, it turns out, is a stomach virus. Francesca Schiavone, Vera Zvonareva, Vania King, Bethanie Mattek-Sands, and several other players--as well as officials and volunteers--have become very ill, resulting in a higher than usual number of retirements and walkovers.
Sam Stosur didn't get stomach flu, but she did get some big-time payback from Nadia Petrova. Stosur and Petrova engaged in the longest women's match ever played at the U.S. Open. Stosur won that one, but today, Petrova beat the seed 6-1, 6-7, 7-6. The match lasted over two hours and 47 minutes, and Petrova hit 15 aces. Three of those she hit consecutively to win the first set.
Petrova, by the way, has applied for U.S. citizenship. She owns a house in Miami.
Fans who are relatively new to professional tennis may not realize that Petrova was considered by many to be "the one" when the post-Morozova players first hit the tour. In 2006, she looked like she might be headed for a French Open victory, but she sustained an injury while practicing before the tournament even started. The talented Russian's career has been marked not only by injury, but also by the kind of mental fragility and self-criticism that we have, unfortunately, come to associate with some of the better Russian players.
Last year, Petrova suffered from dizzy spells, but that problem appears to have been solved. The intelligent and good-humored Russian, who turns 30 later this year, has won ten singles titles and has had an outstanding doubles career, also. She looks healthy right now, and it will be interesting to see what she does this season.
Marion Bartoli, Maria Kirilenko, Maria Sharapova, and Roberta Vinci all advanced; Vinci defeated 16th seed Dominika Cibulkova.
Party central
Who you gonna dance with in here?
It depends on how much I have to drink.
Nadal will be here. You can dance with him.
Well, that depends on how much he has had to drink, too.
It depends on how much I have to drink.
Nadal will be here. You can dance with him.
Well, that depends on how much he has had to drink, too.
Vania King
McHale upsets Kvitova in Indian Wells
Watching Petra Kvitova shouldn't be the nerve-wracking event that it sometimes is. The world number 3 has plenty of ups and downs no matter where she plays, but when she plays in this country and I see her go for the asthma inhaler, I lower my expectations. Tonight in the third round of the BNP Paribas Open, Kvitova played a very good first set against Christina McHale, but then the trouble began. Kvitova lost her way and subsequently lost the second set.
In the third set, Kvitova found herself one point away from being down 1-5. At that moment, she turned on the mysterious switch that enables her to get out of profound trouble. But at 3-4, she double-faulted twice in a row, and--down a break at a very crucial time--could do nothing to stop McHale from serving out the match. McHale did that in style, too, hitting a lovely drop shot at match point, and posting a 2-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory.
Kvitova hasn't played much this season. She was injured, then she was sick, and even in Indian Wells (where she has never advanced beyond the third round), she struggled with the effects of asthma. Then there's the fact that the Czech star sometimes just "goes off," and none of us knows why. The season is still quite young, but, so far, Kvitova is just not showing us her great wealth of talent. At her best, she's extremely difficult to beat. But right now, Kvitova's "best" is absent.
McHale, on the other hand, did a great job of absosrbing her opponent's power and even showing some of her own finesse. She also does a really good job of staying calm and weathering the rough times during a match. It's no wonder she pulls as many upsets as she does.
Meanwhile, top seed Victoria Azarenka easily defeated Svetlana Kuznetsova, and Li Na defeated Zheng Jie. And though she got off to an excellent start with a 3-0 lead, Flavia Pennetta lost in straight sets to Agnieszka Radwanska.
Pennetta, by the way, went out in the first round of doubles, losing to her very good friend and doubles partner, Gisela Dulko. Dulko is playing as much as she can this year with former doubles star Paola Suarez, as they prepare for the Olympic Games. Pennetta's partner in Indian Wells was Anabel Medina Garrigues. Dulko and Suarez are wild cards.
In the third set, Kvitova found herself one point away from being down 1-5. At that moment, she turned on the mysterious switch that enables her to get out of profound trouble. But at 3-4, she double-faulted twice in a row, and--down a break at a very crucial time--could do nothing to stop McHale from serving out the match. McHale did that in style, too, hitting a lovely drop shot at match point, and posting a 2-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory.
Kvitova hasn't played much this season. She was injured, then she was sick, and even in Indian Wells (where she has never advanced beyond the third round), she struggled with the effects of asthma. Then there's the fact that the Czech star sometimes just "goes off," and none of us knows why. The season is still quite young, but, so far, Kvitova is just not showing us her great wealth of talent. At her best, she's extremely difficult to beat. But right now, Kvitova's "best" is absent.
McHale, on the other hand, did a great job of absosrbing her opponent's power and even showing some of her own finesse. She also does a really good job of staying calm and weathering the rough times during a match. It's no wonder she pulls as many upsets as she does.
Meanwhile, top seed Victoria Azarenka easily defeated Svetlana Kuznetsova, and Li Na defeated Zheng Jie. And though she got off to an excellent start with a 3-0 lead, Flavia Pennetta lost in straight sets to Agnieszka Radwanska.
Pennetta, by the way, went out in the first round of doubles, losing to her very good friend and doubles partner, Gisela Dulko. Dulko is playing as much as she can this year with former doubles star Paola Suarez, as they prepare for the Olympic Games. Pennetta's partner in Indian Wells was Anabel Medina Garrigues. Dulko and Suarez are wild cards.
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