Li Na
(in Tennis Channel's pre-French Open promotion on how to make the clay court transition)
(in Tennis Channel's pre-French Open promotion on how to make the clay court transition)
Showing posts with label Li Na. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Li Na. Show all posts
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Friday, May 13, 2011
WTA launches "Strong is Beautiful" campaign
The WTA has launched a new, "Strong is Beautiful" global ad campaign, featuring a number of the tour's players. I really like the idea, though I'd like the campaign better if the women were shown in their tennis clothes, on a tennis court, rather than in "photoshoot" style. Still, the ads are attractive and refreshingly simple. Kim Clijsters' ad also contains an unexpected feminist message, so--if we have to keep hearing about how she had a baby and came back--this is certainly a a great way to hear about it. (Of course, the WTA had to go and ruin the effect by once again delivering the sexist message that Clijsters "balances" motherhood and professional tennis.)
Here is the Sugar and Spice video, narrated by Heather Watson:
And here is Li Na's video:
Here is the Sugar and Spice video, narrated by Heather Watson:
And here is Li Na's video:
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Passing shots
Dinara Safina appears to have withdrawn from the French Open.
Li Na recently told an interviewer, in response to a question about her fame, that if she were a man, she would be the most famous athlete in China. She added that women will never achieve that type of equality, not just in China, but throughout the world. You said it, Big Sister.
Li, by the way, has changed coaches. Her husband, Jiang Shan will stop coaching her. Instead, Li has hired Michael Mortensen, who is captain of the Danish Fed Cup team.
Timea Bacsinszky recently had surgery on her left foot, so she'll be out for a while.
Tom Perrotta thanks Tennis Channel for its "relentless coverage" of the clay court season. That would be "relentless coverage of the ATP clay court season."
Speaking of coverage...Tennis TV has dropped its separate WTA/ATP packages, and customers will now have to buy a package that includes both tours. This means customers will pay almost twice as much to get matches they perhaps do not want to watch. (I always bought just the WTA package, but that was only because I didn't want to tempt myself with the combined package.) The good part is that Tennis TV offers excellent customer service and way better commentary than anything we see on television in the USA.
Li Na recently told an interviewer, in response to a question about her fame, that if she were a man, she would be the most famous athlete in China. She added that women will never achieve that type of equality, not just in China, but throughout the world. You said it, Big Sister.
Li, by the way, has changed coaches. Her husband, Jiang Shan will stop coaching her. Instead, Li has hired Michael Mortensen, who is captain of the Danish Fed Cup team.
Timea Bacsinszky recently had surgery on her left foot, so she'll be out for a while.
Tom Perrotta thanks Tennis Channel for its "relentless coverage" of the clay court season. That would be "relentless coverage of the ATP clay court season."
Speaking of coverage...Tennis TV has dropped its separate WTA/ATP packages, and customers will now have to buy a package that includes both tours. This means customers will pay almost twice as much to get matches they perhaps do not want to watch. (I always bought just the WTA package, but that was only because I didn't want to tempt myself with the combined package.) The good part is that Tennis TV offers excellent customer service and way better commentary than anything we see on television in the USA.
Friday, May 6, 2011
Goerges and Azarenka to play in Madrid semifinals
People who saw Julia Goerges play (I didn't) in the third round of the Madrid Open said she looked pretty tired. She wasn't too tired to defeat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the quarterfinals, however. Goerges' 6-4, 6-2 victory places her in the semifinals against 4th seed Victoria Azarenka. In the last two months, Azarenka has either retired from events or won them. She had to retire in the quarterfinals of Indian Wells because of a hip injury (an ongoing problem), and she retired with a shoulder injury in the second round in Stuttgart. Azarenka won titles in Miami and Marbella.
To get to the semifinals, Azarenka defeated Lucie Safarova 6-3, 3-6, 6-2. The Belarusian is now 6-0 against Safarova, who took her first set off of Azarenka today.
Li Na--who has never been known for her performance on clay, and who had experienced quite a downfall since her big Australian Open run--is somewhat of a surprise semifinalist, despite being seeded 6th. Li defeated Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-4, 3-6, 6-4. Mattek-Sands gave Li a lot of opposition, but then was easil broken at love in the final game.
Li's opponent will be Petra Kvitova, the 16th seed. Kvitova is a bit of a surprise, too, in that one might not expect her to perform at a high level on red clay. But she defeated a very good clay performer, Dominika Cibulkova, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5. Kvitova is just full of surprises, however, and I look forward to seeing what the next one will be.
Azarenka and her partner, Maria Kirilenko, seeded 5th in doubles, defeated the 3rd seeds, Vania King and Yaroslava Shvedova, in today's semifinals. Their opponents in the Madrid final will be 2nd seeds Kveta Peschke and Katarina Srebotnik. Peschke and Srebotnik defeated Casey Dellacqua and Rennae Stubbs 6-1, 4-6, 10-2.
To get to the semifinals, Azarenka defeated Lucie Safarova 6-3, 3-6, 6-2. The Belarusian is now 6-0 against Safarova, who took her first set off of Azarenka today.
Li Na--who has never been known for her performance on clay, and who had experienced quite a downfall since her big Australian Open run--is somewhat of a surprise semifinalist, despite being seeded 6th. Li defeated Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-4, 3-6, 6-4. Mattek-Sands gave Li a lot of opposition, but then was easil broken at love in the final game.
Li's opponent will be Petra Kvitova, the 16th seed. Kvitova is a bit of a surprise, too, in that one might not expect her to perform at a high level on red clay. But she defeated a very good clay performer, Dominika Cibulkova, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5. Kvitova is just full of surprises, however, and I look forward to seeing what the next one will be.
Azarenka and her partner, Maria Kirilenko, seeded 5th in doubles, defeated the 3rd seeds, Vania King and Yaroslava Shvedova, in today's semifinals. Their opponents in the Madrid final will be 2nd seeds Kveta Peschke and Katarina Srebotnik. Peschke and Srebotnik defeated Casey Dellacqua and Rennae Stubbs 6-1, 4-6, 10-2.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Passing shots
Ana Ivanovic has already parted ways with new coach Antonio van Grichen. Ivanovic says her plan is to hire a full-time hitting partner while she shops for a coach. van Grichen, who formerly coached both Victoria Azarenka and Vera Zvonareva, had been working with Ivanovic only since the off-season.
Meanwhile, Galina Voskoboeva has returned to the tour and has a new coach--recently retired WTA player Alina Jidkova. Voskoboeva defeated Sania Mirza, the number 1 qualifying seed, in Pattaya City, and is into the second round with a defeat of Romina Oprandi.
Li Na has signed a deal with ice cream company Haagen-Dazs, and is set to sign one with Rolex.
Petra Kvitova is blogging from Paris.
Lisa Raymond is now writing a regular blog, Lisa's Spin, for the WTA Tour.
Meanwhile, Galina Voskoboeva has returned to the tour and has a new coach--recently retired WTA player Alina Jidkova. Voskoboeva defeated Sania Mirza, the number 1 qualifying seed, in Pattaya City, and is into the second round with a defeat of Romina Oprandi.
Li Na has signed a deal with ice cream company Haagen-Dazs, and is set to sign one with Rolex.
Petra Kvitova is blogging from Paris.
Lisa Raymond is now writing a regular blog, Lisa's Spin, for the WTA Tour.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
You can call her her Aussie Kim...you can call her 2011 Australian Open women's champion!
For the first set of her 2011 Australian Open championship match again 9th seed Li Na, Kim Clijsters made the mistake of getting into a hitting contest with China's Big Sister Na. Li likes those contests--they're her bread and butter--and she tends to win them. And even though Li looked very tight in the first couple of games and was broken right away, she soon dictated a hitting rhythm after she gained control of her forehand. Serving at 2-3, Li broke the 3rd seed, then held, though Clijsters did see a break point in Li's service game. Now up 5-3, Li took advantage of a second break point by hitting what can be referred to only as a ridiculously good forehand winner.
After the second set got rolling, it became obvious that Clijsters had learned her lesson with regard to giving Li long baseline rallies that the Chinese player could use to keep dictating play. Clijsters broke right away when Li double-faulted, and the next game featured what was probably the best rally of the match. Li won it, and got a break point as a reward, but Clijsters saved it when Li put the ball into the net. She did convert on her next break point, however. Li was then broken, and--on her third break point--she broke Clijsters with a stunning crosscourt forehand shot.
Everything still looked pretty even at this point, but then Clijsters dialed up her defense, hitting several backhand slices in a row, and throwing Li off her rhythm. She held two break points, in fact, but Li saved them. Clijsters then held and broke Li.
If I were the kind of person who used the expression "This is when the wheels fell off," I'd certainly describe flying wheels. At this point in the second set, Li looked tired--not so much physically, though it was very hot, but mentally. Some of the Chinese crowd were yelling during points, and Li asked the chair umpire to get them to stop; she would do this several times in the course of the match (why do chair umpires have to be asked to scold an inappropriate crowd?). She was distracted and frustrated, then she was broken again, and Clijsters took the second set 6-3.
Clijsters held at love to begin the third set. Li then went down 0-40, but saved two break points with her signature crosscourt forehand, and then with an ace. She set up a great save of the third break point, too, but mis-hit a volley, sending the ball beyond the baseline. Clijsters then double-faulted twice, and Li broke back, but she wasn't hitting with nearly the same accuracy and precision she had executed in the first set.
Perhaps boosted by Clijsters' service problems, Li suddenly began to serve well again. But then she, too, double-faulted, and was broken back. Clijsters then held for a 4-1 lead, and it was Li's level of play, not the score itself, that hinted that Chinese player was not going to make one of her famous comebacks. Li did hold in the next game, but it was not a strong hold, and Clijsters held, too. Li was able to hold easily when Clisters made back-to-back errors, and there was the slightest hint that the match might go on, but the 3rd seed held easily for a 6-3 set win, which gave her the 2011 championship.
Given the 9th seed's propensity for coming back in tough matches, it was entirely reasonable to suspect that she would gather herself together and figure out the third set. But that didn't happen. Instead, she continued to make a number of unforced errors and nervous shots, while Clijsters (who said, on her return to the tour, that she just had to stop doing splits on hard courts!) was doing splits right and left to retrieve balls and often turn her defensive shots into winners. In the first half of the match, Li had frequently trapped Clijsters in the ad corner, but by the third set, she was having difficulty doing even that.
As is often the case in a big match, one player's level went up and the other player's level went down. In the second half of the match, Clijsters gave Li more variety than she could handle, and Li was not up to the mental task of becoming the first Chinese player to win a major.
Nevertheless, it was a good match, and Li's run to the final was one of the great stories of the tournament. As for Clijsters, she showed, once again, that on a hard court, she can now think like a champion and do what she has to do to win. She burst into tears when the match was over, then gave an amusing acceptance speech, in which she told fans that it's finally alright to call her "Aussie Kim." Indeed.
Kim Clijsters, volume 2, is as athletic and clever on court as the first version, and--despite continuing tendencies to lose her way from time to time--this Kim Clijsters has learned to be in charge when it counts. I think health is the key for her; if she can remain relatively uninjured this season, she has a chance to give some more speeches about chipped teeth, ugly lucky pants, and anything else that strikes her fancy.
One final note: Throughout her run in Melbourne, Clijsters wore a green dress that was designed as a tribute to the great Evonne Goolagong Cawley. This was a nice touch, especially from my viewpoint, since Goolagong Cawley is one of my favorite players of all time.
After the second set got rolling, it became obvious that Clijsters had learned her lesson with regard to giving Li long baseline rallies that the Chinese player could use to keep dictating play. Clijsters broke right away when Li double-faulted, and the next game featured what was probably the best rally of the match. Li won it, and got a break point as a reward, but Clijsters saved it when Li put the ball into the net. She did convert on her next break point, however. Li was then broken, and--on her third break point--she broke Clijsters with a stunning crosscourt forehand shot.
Everything still looked pretty even at this point, but then Clijsters dialed up her defense, hitting several backhand slices in a row, and throwing Li off her rhythm. She held two break points, in fact, but Li saved them. Clijsters then held and broke Li.
If I were the kind of person who used the expression "This is when the wheels fell off," I'd certainly describe flying wheels. At this point in the second set, Li looked tired--not so much physically, though it was very hot, but mentally. Some of the Chinese crowd were yelling during points, and Li asked the chair umpire to get them to stop; she would do this several times in the course of the match (why do chair umpires have to be asked to scold an inappropriate crowd?). She was distracted and frustrated, then she was broken again, and Clijsters took the second set 6-3.
Clijsters held at love to begin the third set. Li then went down 0-40, but saved two break points with her signature crosscourt forehand, and then with an ace. She set up a great save of the third break point, too, but mis-hit a volley, sending the ball beyond the baseline. Clijsters then double-faulted twice, and Li broke back, but she wasn't hitting with nearly the same accuracy and precision she had executed in the first set.
Perhaps boosted by Clijsters' service problems, Li suddenly began to serve well again. But then she, too, double-faulted, and was broken back. Clijsters then held for a 4-1 lead, and it was Li's level of play, not the score itself, that hinted that Chinese player was not going to make one of her famous comebacks. Li did hold in the next game, but it was not a strong hold, and Clijsters held, too. Li was able to hold easily when Clisters made back-to-back errors, and there was the slightest hint that the match might go on, but the 3rd seed held easily for a 6-3 set win, which gave her the 2011 championship.
Given the 9th seed's propensity for coming back in tough matches, it was entirely reasonable to suspect that she would gather herself together and figure out the third set. But that didn't happen. Instead, she continued to make a number of unforced errors and nervous shots, while Clijsters (who said, on her return to the tour, that she just had to stop doing splits on hard courts!) was doing splits right and left to retrieve balls and often turn her defensive shots into winners. In the first half of the match, Li had frequently trapped Clijsters in the ad corner, but by the third set, she was having difficulty doing even that.
As is often the case in a big match, one player's level went up and the other player's level went down. In the second half of the match, Clijsters gave Li more variety than she could handle, and Li was not up to the mental task of becoming the first Chinese player to win a major.
Nevertheless, it was a good match, and Li's run to the final was one of the great stories of the tournament. As for Clijsters, she showed, once again, that on a hard court, she can now think like a champion and do what she has to do to win. She burst into tears when the match was over, then gave an amusing acceptance speech, in which she told fans that it's finally alright to call her "Aussie Kim." Indeed.
Kim Clijsters, volume 2, is as athletic and clever on court as the first version, and--despite continuing tendencies to lose her way from time to time--this Kim Clijsters has learned to be in charge when it counts. I think health is the key for her; if she can remain relatively uninjured this season, she has a chance to give some more speeches about chipped teeth, ugly lucky pants, and anything else that strikes her fancy.
One final note: Throughout her run in Melbourne, Clijsters wore a green dress that was designed as a tribute to the great Evonne Goolagong Cawley. This was a nice touch, especially from my viewpoint, since Goolagong Cawley is one of my favorite players of all time.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Paths to the final
3rd seed Kim Clijsters and 9th seed Li Na will soon play for the Australian Open championship. Here is how they got to the final:
Clijsters
round 1--def. Dinara Safina, 6-0, 6-0
round 2--def. Carla Suarez Navarro, 6-1, 6-3
round 3--def. Alize Cornet, 7-6, 6-3
round 4--def. Ekaterina Makarova, 7-6, 6-2
quarterfinals--def. Agnieszka Radwanska (12), 6-3, 7-6
semifinals--def. Vera Zvonareva (2), 6-3, 6-3
Li
round 1--def. Sofia Arvidsson, 6-1, 7-5
round 2--def. Evgeniya Rodina, 6-3, 6-2
round 3--def. Barbora Zahlavova Strycova, 6-2, 6-1
round 4--def. Victoria Azarenka (8), 6-3, 6-3
quarterfinals--def. Andrea Petkovic (30), 6-2, 6-4
semifinals--def. Caroline Wozniacki (1), 3-6, 7-5, 6-3
Clijsters
round 1--def. Dinara Safina, 6-0, 6-0
round 2--def. Carla Suarez Navarro, 6-1, 6-3
round 3--def. Alize Cornet, 7-6, 6-3
round 4--def. Ekaterina Makarova, 7-6, 6-2
quarterfinals--def. Agnieszka Radwanska (12), 6-3, 7-6
semifinals--def. Vera Zvonareva (2), 6-3, 6-3
Li
round 1--def. Sofia Arvidsson, 6-1, 7-5
round 2--def. Evgeniya Rodina, 6-3, 6-2
round 3--def. Barbora Zahlavova Strycova, 6-2, 6-1
round 4--def. Victoria Azarenka (8), 6-3, 6-3
quarterfinals--def. Andrea Petkovic (30), 6-2, 6-4
semifinals--def. Caroline Wozniacki (1), 3-6, 7-5, 6-3
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Li upsets top seed and advances to final at Australian Open
Under stress, you regress. That's what we sometimes say in my profession. You can describe the first half of the Australian Open semifinal between Caroline Wozniacki and Li Na in different ways, I suppose, but the gist of it is: Li went to pieces mentally for a set and a half. This is not to take anything away from the top seed, but Li (the 9th seed) was just a bundle of nerves (a trait from her past) from the moment she stepped onto the court in Rod Laver Arena. She couldn't make her racquet do what her head told her to do, and her usually-dangerous forehand broke down early in the match.
Down a set (6-3) and a break, Li broke Wozniacki at 3-4, which could have been a turning point, but she immediately double-faulted, made a few unfathomable shots, and was broken back. But she saved a match point by getting her forehand to work once more, then broke Wozniacki--again using the forehand--to bring the second set to 5-all. Li then turned into a different player (actually, the one we've been watching throughout the tournament), held her serve, and a tense game followed, with Wozniacki serving at 5-6. Finally, Li broke (on her second set point) via a double fault from Wozniacki.
Wozniacki broke early in the third, and went up 2-1, but then was broken back at love. By this time, Li was cooking her forehand and went up 40-0 on her own serve, then hit a backhand into the net, but held at 15. Wozniacki then netted a volley and double-faulted, after going up 30-0. Li hit a forehand winner to get a break point, but didn't convert until she had her second chance on an ad point. By this time, Li looked fresher and more confident than Wozniacki, but--against the Dane--even confidence and a break doesn't mean an opponent can relax; Wozniacki proved that by breaking Li to put the players back on serve.
Li broke Wozniacki to go up 5-3, then immediately went up 30-0 on her own serve. Wozniacki stopped the bleeding for a moment, then Li hit one barely out, and it was 30-all. Li, however, was able to win the match on her first match point when Wozniacki hit a forehand long.
Li did this the hard way. She overcame her problems with her nerves and, subsequently, her forehand, but struggled with her overheads and volleys right to the end. She also made 51unforced errors, though the majority of those occurred in the first half of the match. Nevertheless, Li's comeback was very impressive, and her on-court interview with Sam Smith was quite funny.
Li is the first Chinese player to make it to the final of a major tournament.
Down a set (6-3) and a break, Li broke Wozniacki at 3-4, which could have been a turning point, but she immediately double-faulted, made a few unfathomable shots, and was broken back. But she saved a match point by getting her forehand to work once more, then broke Wozniacki--again using the forehand--to bring the second set to 5-all. Li then turned into a different player (actually, the one we've been watching throughout the tournament), held her serve, and a tense game followed, with Wozniacki serving at 5-6. Finally, Li broke (on her second set point) via a double fault from Wozniacki.
Wozniacki broke early in the third, and went up 2-1, but then was broken back at love. By this time, Li was cooking her forehand and went up 40-0 on her own serve, then hit a backhand into the net, but held at 15. Wozniacki then netted a volley and double-faulted, after going up 30-0. Li hit a forehand winner to get a break point, but didn't convert until she had her second chance on an ad point. By this time, Li looked fresher and more confident than Wozniacki, but--against the Dane--even confidence and a break doesn't mean an opponent can relax; Wozniacki proved that by breaking Li to put the players back on serve.
Li broke Wozniacki to go up 5-3, then immediately went up 30-0 on her own serve. Wozniacki stopped the bleeding for a moment, then Li hit one barely out, and it was 30-all. Li, however, was able to win the match on her first match point when Wozniacki hit a forehand long.
Li did this the hard way. She overcame her problems with her nerves and, subsequently, her forehand, but struggled with her overheads and volleys right to the end. She also made 51unforced errors, though the majority of those occurred in the first half of the match. Nevertheless, Li's comeback was very impressive, and her on-court interview with Sam Smith was quite funny.
Li is the first Chinese player to make it to the final of a major tournament.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
World number 1 fights her way into Australian Open semifinals
It was obvious that Caroline Wozniacki got a lot more than she bargained for in her Melbourne quarterfinal match against 6th seed Francesca Schiavone. Schiavone wasn't expected to have any physical or mental energy left, but she came out blazing, and--using all of her beautiful signature slices and volleys--took the first set from a lackluster Wozniacki. Wozniacki, in fact, looked like she had an appointment somewhere else and needed to get away.
At the end of the first set, Wozniacki called for the trainer and came back with her thigh wrapped; later, between points, she would tear off all the tape. Schiavone, constantly moving forward and taking risks that usually paid off, went up 3-1, and then we knew that Wozniacki had to change something or she would be out of there in straight sets. She did. She became unusually aggressive, and began hitting winners with the precision for which she is known.
She had some help from her opponent, too. Serving at 4-3, Schiavone made all the right moves and did all the right things. She expertly set up four more winners, but instead, she produced four errors, and was broken at love. From that time on, Schiavone's ability to hit the lines was greatly reduced, as both her round of 16 match and a switched-on Wozniacki overtook her. Wozniacki won the second set, and broke Schiavone in the first game of the third set. The final set revealed a tired (no matter what she says) Schiavone who tried to end many of the points too soon, and got errors as a result.
Wozniacki served for the match at 5-2, but Schiavone went all out--just as she did against Svetlana Kuznetsova--and put on a performance that, for me, comprised the most memorable game in the match. She saved three match points and broke Wozniacki in a flurry of dazzling shot-making. It seemed too much to think that the Italian could go on much longer, though, and she couldn't: Wozniacki broke her in the next game, and claimed the match at 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 on her fourth match point.
It was a great set and a half for Schiavone, and a great set and a half for Wozniacki. Wozniacki really has to be pushed to play aggressively, but in this case, she was really up to the task.
The other quarterfinal was less dramatic. Andrea Petkovic went up 2-0 on Li Na, and then Li spun off six consecutive games. Petkovic, seeded number 30, broke early in the second match, too, but she ultimately could not stop the steady and accurate rhythm of Li's hitting; the 9th seed was just too good. Li defended her status as a semifinalist in 2010, and she made it look easy.
Li's semifinal opponent will be Wozniacki.
At the end of the first set, Wozniacki called for the trainer and came back with her thigh wrapped; later, between points, she would tear off all the tape. Schiavone, constantly moving forward and taking risks that usually paid off, went up 3-1, and then we knew that Wozniacki had to change something or she would be out of there in straight sets. She did. She became unusually aggressive, and began hitting winners with the precision for which she is known.
She had some help from her opponent, too. Serving at 4-3, Schiavone made all the right moves and did all the right things. She expertly set up four more winners, but instead, she produced four errors, and was broken at love. From that time on, Schiavone's ability to hit the lines was greatly reduced, as both her round of 16 match and a switched-on Wozniacki overtook her. Wozniacki won the second set, and broke Schiavone in the first game of the third set. The final set revealed a tired (no matter what she says) Schiavone who tried to end many of the points too soon, and got errors as a result.
Wozniacki served for the match at 5-2, but Schiavone went all out--just as she did against Svetlana Kuznetsova--and put on a performance that, for me, comprised the most memorable game in the match. She saved three match points and broke Wozniacki in a flurry of dazzling shot-making. It seemed too much to think that the Italian could go on much longer, though, and she couldn't: Wozniacki broke her in the next game, and claimed the match at 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 on her fourth match point.
It was a great set and a half for Schiavone, and a great set and a half for Wozniacki. Wozniacki really has to be pushed to play aggressively, but in this case, she was really up to the task.
The other quarterfinal was less dramatic. Andrea Petkovic went up 2-0 on Li Na, and then Li spun off six consecutive games. Petkovic, seeded number 30, broke early in the second match, too, but she ultimately could not stop the steady and accurate rhythm of Li's hitting; the 9th seed was just too good. Li defended her status as a semifinalist in 2010, and she made it look easy.
Li's semifinal opponent will be Wozniacki.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Miscellany
Led by Li Na, the Chinese team has won the gold medal for team tennis
competition at the Asian Games. Li, however, is not entered in the
singles competition, and neither is Zheng Jie. The top seed is Kimiko Date Krumm, who won the competition in 1994.
Be sure to check out the final "Ms. Backspin" awards for 2010. Pour a cup of coffee and take your time--there's plenty to read, including stats you would probably never find on your own.
The Bondarenko sisters, at least for now, have been removed--by mutual decision--from the roster of the Ukrainian Fed Cup team. Youngers players will compete for Ukraine, though Kateryna Bondarenko says that she and her sister may return to the team in the future.
Greg Garber and Pam Shriver say it's hard to pick the Player of the Year. Women Who Serve agrees.
"Tiger" Murphy will slice you.
"I just need to pack my racquets up and leave them alone somewhere, just not touch them for three weeks or something," says Vera Zvonareva, who reflects on her stellar season.
Be sure to check out the final "Ms. Backspin" awards for 2010. Pour a cup of coffee and take your time--there's plenty to read, including stats you would probably never find on your own.
The Bondarenko sisters, at least for now, have been removed--by mutual decision--from the roster of the Ukrainian Fed Cup team. Youngers players will compete for Ukraine, though Kateryna Bondarenko says that she and her sister may return to the team in the future.
Greg Garber and Pam Shriver say it's hard to pick the Player of the Year. Women Who Serve agrees.
"Tiger" Murphy will slice you.
"I just need to pack my racquets up and leave them alone somewhere, just not touch them for three weeks or something," says Vera Zvonareva, who reflects on her stellar season.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Seeds 1 and 3 out in Bali
Top seed Li Na went out in the quarterfinals of the Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions today. Li was defeated 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 by wild card Kimiko Date Krumm. Also going out was 3rd seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. It took Ana Ivanovic just over 56 minutes to defeat Pavlyuchenkova 6-0, 6-1.
Pavlyuchenkova, as is often the case, had problems with her serve. The talented young Russian's serve is inconsistent, and she will need to do something about it if she wants to continue to go up the rankings.
Pavlyuchenkova, as is often the case, had problems with her serve. The talented young Russian's serve is inconsistent, and she will need to do something about it if she wants to continue to go up the rankings.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Li and Pennetta beaten in Moscow 1st round
Li Na, whose WTA Championships status hangs in the balance, didn't help her cause today by losing in the first round of the Kremlin Cup. Li was defeated 6-4, 6-2 by Anna Chakvetadze, who said she thought Li might have been a bit stressed about the Championships, and Li agreed. Li is still in the running to go to Doha, but her first round loss today lowers her chance. She had a wild card into Moscow, and was also seeded third.
Moscow is traditionally a place with a big home court advantage, and it wasn't just Chakvetadze who came through. The quite talented, but sometimes shaky, Elena Vesnina upset 5th seed Flavia Pennetta 6-4, 2-6, 6-2.
The other victory of note was the defeat of Gisela Dulko by qualifier Zarina Diyas. I have seen Diyas play on clay, and though I've tried, I can't think of a more aggressive tour player. Diyas runs to the net and hits every type of volley in circumstances when other players would wait for the bounce. I was impressed when I saw her play because of her willingness to keep going forward.
In doubles, the streaky Bondarenko sisters were defeated 6-4, 3-6, 10-4 by Algul Amanmuradova and Darya Kustova.
In Luxembourg, all the seeds advanced today. Top seed and wild card Elena Dementieva defeated Peng Shuai 7-5, 7-6.
Moscow is traditionally a place with a big home court advantage, and it wasn't just Chakvetadze who came through. The quite talented, but sometimes shaky, Elena Vesnina upset 5th seed Flavia Pennetta 6-4, 2-6, 6-2.
The other victory of note was the defeat of Gisela Dulko by qualifier Zarina Diyas. I have seen Diyas play on clay, and though I've tried, I can't think of a more aggressive tour player. Diyas runs to the net and hits every type of volley in circumstances when other players would wait for the bounce. I was impressed when I saw her play because of her willingness to keep going forward.In doubles, the streaky Bondarenko sisters were defeated 6-4, 3-6, 10-4 by Algul Amanmuradova and Darya Kustova.
In Luxembourg, all the seeds advanced today. Top seed and wild card Elena Dementieva defeated Peng Shuai 7-5, 7-6.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Quote of the week
I hate playing doubles. You have to wait for the doubles after you've
played your singles matches. I like playing singles matches which means I
can go home quickly. And it saves a great deal of effort.
Li Na
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Li out of U.S. Open, Jankovic barely survives
Simona Halep served for the match today at 5-4 in the third set. She and her opponent, 4th seed Jelena Jankovic, played an error-filled mess of a match that Halep might have won had she been at a higher level of fitness and prepared to face the intense heat. But credit to JJ: When it came down to the end, something snapped into place, and she forced consecutive errors from her exhausted opponent to (finally) win 6-4, 4-6, 7-5. Halep was up 5-1 in the second set, and almost ran away with it, as Jankovic made a string of unforced errors. (During the third set, my mind wandered to that Australian Open first round in which Jankovic saved herself at the last minute from an upset by Tamira Paszek.)
8th seed Li Na, a semifinalist at the Australian Open, did not fare as well. She was defeated 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 by 2009 quarterfinalist Kateryna Bondarenko, who took advantage of Li's run of unforced errors. Also going out were 26th seed Lucie Safarova (def. by Tamira Paszek), 30th seed Yaroslava Shvedova (def. by Lourdes Dominguez Lino), and Bronx challenger winner Anna Chakvetadze (def. by Urszula Radwanska).
Jarmila Groth took a set off of Maria Sharapova, but then went to pieces mentally. She double-faulted 14 times--an unfortunate trend among big servers on the tour. Sharapova defeated her 4-6, 6-3, 6-1.
The Coco Vandeweghe Watch is over. Vandewegh won one game against Sabine Lisicki, who is trying to put her game back together after experiencing a series of injuries and illnesses and a consequent loss of form and confidence.
The player who probably feels the worst today, though, is Magdalena Rybarikova. She believed that Aravane Rezai's last shot in a first set tiebreak was out, but it called good, and Rezai won the tiebreak 7-5. Rybarikova had the second set on her racquet at 6-5, but blew it with a forehand error. She then went down 0-5 in the tiebreak, and fought her way to 5-all. Rezai, the 18th seed, won that tiebreak 9-7.
As close as that contest was, however, I have to acknowledge the competition between John McEnroe and Chris Fowler over who can blather on the most while possessing the least amount of knowledge--not just about the women's tour, but even about U.S. Open procedures. ESPN, I have a deal for you: I'll do the job, and display a quarter of the ignorance for half the money. And I won't insult half of the players.
8th seed Li Na, a semifinalist at the Australian Open, did not fare as well. She was defeated 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 by 2009 quarterfinalist Kateryna Bondarenko, who took advantage of Li's run of unforced errors. Also going out were 26th seed Lucie Safarova (def. by Tamira Paszek), 30th seed Yaroslava Shvedova (def. by Lourdes Dominguez Lino), and Bronx challenger winner Anna Chakvetadze (def. by Urszula Radwanska).
Jarmila Groth took a set off of Maria Sharapova, but then went to pieces mentally. She double-faulted 14 times--an unfortunate trend among big servers on the tour. Sharapova defeated her 4-6, 6-3, 6-1.
The Coco Vandeweghe Watch is over. Vandewegh won one game against Sabine Lisicki, who is trying to put her game back together after experiencing a series of injuries and illnesses and a consequent loss of form and confidence.
The player who probably feels the worst today, though, is Magdalena Rybarikova. She believed that Aravane Rezai's last shot in a first set tiebreak was out, but it called good, and Rezai won the tiebreak 7-5. Rybarikova had the second set on her racquet at 6-5, but blew it with a forehand error. She then went down 0-5 in the tiebreak, and fought her way to 5-all. Rezai, the 18th seed, won that tiebreak 9-7.
As close as that contest was, however, I have to acknowledge the competition between John McEnroe and Chris Fowler over who can blather on the most while possessing the least amount of knowledge--not just about the women's tour, but even about U.S. Open procedures. ESPN, I have a deal for you: I'll do the job, and display a quarter of the ignorance for half the money. And I won't insult half of the players.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Wozniacki and Zakopalova to meet in Copenhagen final
Top seed Caroline Wozniacki defeated Anna Chakvetadze today in Copenhagen, in a semifinal match whose momentum turned several times. Wozniacki dominated the first set, Chakvetadze dominated the second, and the third--which featured three breaks of serve--was up for grabs. Grab it Wozniacki did, which gave her a 6-1, 2-6, 6-4 victory. Chakvetadze, I should add, is in pretty good form again, and had an enthusiastic cheering section in the stands (which she probably appreciated every time "Let the Sunshine In" blared from the speakers).
In the other semifinal, 7th seed Klara Zakopalova defeated 2nd seed Li Na 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 in a match that featured at least one very questionable line call.
Wozniacki and Zakopalova have played each other only once before, and Wozniacki won in three sets.
In the other semifinal, 7th seed Klara Zakopalova defeated 2nd seed Li Na 6-3, 1-6, 6-4 in a match that featured at least one very questionable line call.
Wozniacki and Zakopalova have played each other only once before, and Wozniacki won in three sets.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Top players helping children around the world
I recently wrote that Maria Sharapova is making another trip to the area affected by the Chernobyl disaster. Sharapova has donated a quarter of a million dollars to expand a United Nations Development Programme that provides sports and other physical activities to the children in the area. The Maria Sharapova Foundation already supports health and education for children in the region affected by the Chernobyl event. Sharapova's parents fled their home in Gomel a year before she was born because of concerns about radiation.
Liezel Huber is helping children through the Locks of Love, an organization that collects hair to make wigs for children who experience hair loss because of medical conditions. Huber has cut off much of her own hair, and has also recruited several Sony Ericsson WTA Tour players, who have donated their hair.
Yesterday, Li Na visited Xining, the capital of Qinghai province in China, where the April earthquake caused extensive damage and loss of life. Li was a guest of the Huang Nan Zhou Orphanage in Xining, which has taken in many children from the Yushu community; the Yushu orphange was destroyed by the earthquake.
Li donated her Madrid prize money to the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation, and has also pledged her China Open prize money. She is providing living expenses for three years for the children in the orphanage, and will also provide sports equipment and facilities to ten schools in the Yushu area. The remainder of Li's donation will train teachers in using sport to help students develop basic life skills.
Liezel Huber is helping children through the Locks of Love, an organization that collects hair to make wigs for children who experience hair loss because of medical conditions. Huber has cut off much of her own hair, and has also recruited several Sony Ericsson WTA Tour players, who have donated their hair.
Yesterday, Li Na visited Xining, the capital of Qinghai province in China, where the April earthquake caused extensive damage and loss of life. Li was a guest of the Huang Nan Zhou Orphanage in Xining, which has taken in many children from the Yushu community; the Yushu orphange was destroyed by the earthquake.
Li donated her Madrid prize money to the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation, and has also pledged her China Open prize money. She is providing living expenses for three years for the children in the orphanage, and will also provide sports equipment and facilities to ten schools in the Yushu area. The remainder of Li's donation will train teachers in using sport to help students develop basic life skills.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Williams defeats Li and advances to Wimbledon semifinals
Top-seeded Serena Williams faced one of her better opponents today in the Wimbledon quarterfinals. Li Na, whom Williams beat 7-6, 7-6 in a thrilling Australian Open semifinal earlier this year, gave Williams a good fight during the first set, which Williams won 7-5. But--despite breaking Williams when she served for the match at 5-2--Li's serving level dropped in the second set, and Williams was able to attain a 7-5, 6-3 win. Williams hit "only" eleven aces in this match, bringing her Wimbledon total to 73. The defending champion committed only six unforced errors in two sets.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Miscellany
Here is an interview with Heather Watson, who won her first main draw match this week.
Sabine Lisicki says that she will return to the tour in Portoroz in July.
Bethanie Mattek-Sands is helping the Nashville flood relief effort.
Martina Hingis says she is undecided about returning to the tour as a doubles player.
Paul Vergara analyzes the on-going debate about Caroline Wozniacki.
Here are the Nike dresses that Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams and Li Na will wear at Wimbledon.
Sabine Lisicki says that she will return to the tour in Portoroz in July.
Bethanie Mattek-Sands is helping the Nashville flood relief effort.
Martina Hingis says she is undecided about returning to the tour as a doubles player.
Paul Vergara analyzes the on-going debate about Caroline Wozniacki.
Here are the Nike dresses that Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams and Li Na will wear at Wimbledon.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Li defeats Sharapova to win Birmingham
Maria Sharapova's pre-Wimbledon run was stopped short today in the AEGON Classic final by top seed Li Na, who defeated Sharapova 7-5, 6-1. Sharapova was trying for a fourth Birmingham championship.
The doubles final has been delayed by rain, with the team of Cara Black and Lisa Raymond leading Liezel Huber and Bethanie Mattek-Sands by a set.
Update: There appears to have been a retirement because of the left knee injury of either Huber or Mattek-Sands, so 2nd-seeded Black and Raymond are the champions, defeating the top seeds 6-3, 3-2.
The doubles final has been delayed by rain, with the team of Cara Black and Lisa Raymond leading Liezel Huber and Bethanie Mattek-Sands by a set.
Update: There appears to have been a retirement because of the left knee injury of either Huber or Mattek-Sands, so 2nd-seeded Black and Raymond are the champions, defeating the top seeds 6-3, 3-2.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Li and Sharapova to meet in Birmingham final
Alison Riske's great Birmingham run came to an end today when she was defeated 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 by 2nd seed Maria Sharapova. Top seed (and wild card) Li Na defeated Aravane Rezai 6-1, 3-6, 6-3. Sharapova has won the tournament three times; Li was a finalist last year, losing to Magdalena Rybarikova.
In her semifinal match, Sharapova had service win percentages of 84 and 58, and she hit 12 aces.
Riske, playing in her first main draw, defeated 3rd seed Yanina Wickmayer in the quarterfinals.
In doubles, the team of Cara Black and Lisa Raymond defeated Nathalie Grandin and Abigail Spears 6-4, 6-4. Black and Raymond are seeded second. The other semifnal was won by Liezel Huber and Bethanie Mattek-Sands. They defeated Vania King and Yaroslava Shvedova 6-4, 6-0.
In her semifinal match, Sharapova had service win percentages of 84 and 58, and she hit 12 aces.
Riske, playing in her first main draw, defeated 3rd seed Yanina Wickmayer in the quarterfinals.
In doubles, the team of Cara Black and Lisa Raymond defeated Nathalie Grandin and Abigail Spears 6-4, 6-4. Black and Raymond are seeded second. The other semifnal was won by Liezel Huber and Bethanie Mattek-Sands. They defeated Vania King and Yaroslava Shvedova 6-4, 6-0.
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