Passing shots

For the first time, the tour's top ten players are from ten different countries. Kim Clijsters has moved to number 2 in the world, Francesca Schiavone to number 4, and Li Na to number 7.

Tom Perrotta says the women were the stars of the 2011 Australian Open.

Dinara Safina has parted ways with her coach, and hints that she'll soon hire a former ATP player to be her new coach.

Women's Tennis Blog offers a summary of Australian Open fashion.

Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova will participate in the Nike "Clash of Champions," to be held March 8 in Eugene, Oregon. Williams recently announced that she expects to return to the tour in April.

Sam Stosur arrived in Tasmania today, and helped open the new regional tennis center in Launceton. She will play on Australia's Fed Cup team this weekend, when Australia takes on defending champion Italy in Hobart.

Casey Dellacqua is returning to the court after a long layoff from foot surgery and rehab.

Garbin should be remembered for stylish play

Tathiana Garbin has ended her singles career. When she announced that the Australian Open would be her last tournament, she also indicated that she would play a short list of doubles tournaments in the future, so we probably should not expect to see much of her. This is undoubtedly bad news for Timea Bacsinszky, who has won three doubles titles with Garbin, and who--in a recent interview--made a plea to Garbin to stay active with her in doubles competition. Garbin and Bacsinszky have not been together that long, yet they have also have another accomplishment worth mentioning: They are 3-0 against the formidable Czech team of Iveta Benesova and Barbora Zahlavova Strycova.

Garbin, who is 33 years old, won eleven doubles titles and one singles title, and she advanced to the finals of multiple tournaments. None of her wins was in a premier tournament, but Garbin was a consistently good doubles player throughout her career. The affable Italian player, know as "Tax" to  friends, was ranked as high as number 22 (2007) in the world  in singles, and number 25 (2001) in doubles. In 2007, she made it to the fourth round of the French Open in singles, but was defeated by Nicole Vaidisova. Garbin's most dramatic singles win was her defeat of  defending champion Justine Henin in the second round of the 2004 French Open. (It must also be noted that Henin was suffering with the cytomegalovirus at the time, and was soon off the tour for several months.)

Garbin played in eleven Fed Cup ties. Throughout her singles career, she also posted wins against Monica Seles, Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, Elena Dementieva, and Chanda Rubin, and she had one other win over Henin, in Miami, 2001.

I have always enjoyed watching Garbin play, and especially on clay, her favorite surface. Her 2009 French Open third round match against Virginie Razzano stands out as one of my favorite Garbin matches. The wind was swirling around the court, making it hard for both players to make shots, and Garbin threw ever kind of shot imaginable at Razzano, who eventually prevailed, 7-5, 7-5. For me, that was probably the most entertaining match of the entire tournament, and it was a thrilling show for people watching in the stands and at home. (To my delight, one of the many dazzling shots in that match made it to Tennis Channel's top 10 "Hot Shots" list for 2009.)

In addition to being a stylish shot-maker, Garbin could also be quite humorous on the court, and almost always gave the crowd a good laugh--or at least a smile. Here's hoping we see her at least now and then on the doubles court.

Some final (really) thoughts on Henin's retirement

I reported on January 26 that seven-time major champion Justine Henin had retired from professional tennis. This was Henin's second time to leave the sport; she also retired suddenly in 2008. At that time, I wrote this and this about her retirement. Now, with my own post-Australian Open fatigue, I will not go on and on about Henin. However, her exit from the sport is big news; for me, however, it was not news to be discussed while we were enjoying the peak of the action in Melbourne.

Justine Henin had one of the most beautiful--and deadly--tennis games I have ever seen. Even though one generally knew what she as going to do, it was still always exciting to watch her do it. Henin also displayed an athleticism that was all the more amazing because of her relatively small size. Her return to the tour, which appeared to be motivated--at least in part--by a desire to win Wimbledon and achieve a career Slam, did not go the way she expected it to go. When she reached the final of the 2010 Australian Open, she generated a lot of talk, of course. But she was beset by injuries and a decrease in mental toughness, and in the end, the pain from her injured elbow forced her off the tour.

I admired Henin in a rather detached way because I had trouble tolerating her high sense of drama about herself and her (seemingly always urgent) feelings, I saw her push the sporting envelope too far too many times, and I couldn't get past her 2006 Australian Open retirement against Amelie Mauresmo. Henin was apparently an acquired taste--and one I did not acquire. But I very much liked watching her play, and I'm always sorry to see someone have to leave the game because of injury. I consider her a great tennis player, and her dominance at the French Open is of historical importance within the sport. Perhaps the saddest thing, from a fan standpoint, is that there is not likely to be anyone else who plays the way she did.

My Australian Open top 10

Here, in ascending order, are my top 10 Australian Open happenings:

10. "...I should have surgery before every Grand Slam": That's what Agnieszka Radwanska said in reponse to a comment that she got to the quarterfinals without having practiced. Radwanska played with a stress fracture in her foot through part of the 2010 season. When she finally stopped, she had to have surgery, and was told she would not be able to return to the tour until March. She recovered more rapidly than expected, and--at the last minute--entered the tournament. And despite Radwanska's service issues that generally stop her from seriously contending for a major, a run to the quarterfinals, under the circumstances, was quite an accomplishment.

9. I'll be seeing you, in all the old familiar places: Petra Kivitova isn't quite there yet, but she's getting closer and closer to becoming a force on the women's tour. She's still streaky, and she still has a tendency to get tight and make errors. Kvitova, though, is an all-out kind of player, and will probably always make a lot of errors. She has learned to protect herself somewhat, however, by not always hitting the ball so flat. She has a way to go, but her hitting is so impressive, one can't help but believe she will continue to improve and mature.

8. No retirement benefits: Venus Williams, who just can't seem to catch a break lately, had to retire in a major for the first time in her career. Williams sustained a groin injury during the first set tiebreak of her second round match. Her opponent, an in-form Sandra Zahlavova, won that set, but Williams went on to win the match. She was really hurt, though, and the retirement that was expected in the second round occurred in the third. Williams attempted to return Andrea Petkovic's serve in the second game, let out a cry of pain, and that was that. Some people in the crowd booed, literally adding insult to injury.

7. No strings attached: This is unforgettable.

6. Glazed Danish: An obviously anxious Li Na was down a set and a break against top seed Caroline Wozniacki during the semifinals. When the second set reached 5-all, however, Li regained her confidence and  never looked back. Li defeated Wozniacki 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, and Wozniacki walked away with ten winners, none of which was hit during the final set. Wozniacki went out in the semifinals in the 2010 U.S. Open, and in the round of 16 at Wimbledon. And while she claims she feels no pressure as the top-ranked player in the world, her clever, accurate, but non-aggressive game may need to be revised again.

5. The little motore that (almost) could: You could say that Francesca Schiavone wasn't exactly fresh for her quarterfinal match against top seed Caroline Wozniacki. She had played an almost five-hour, very physical (and very mental) round of 16 match, and was expected to have very little left to give. The joke was on observers: Schiavone took the first set off Wozniacki, and went up a break in the second. She finally showed her fatigue by making multiple unforced errors, and Wozniacki defeated her 3-6, 6-3, 6-3. But the Italian showed, once again, that she is tougher than tough, and that she gives away nothing.

4. What do you mean, the match is almost over?: Gisela Dulko seemed to realize that very thing, right after she and partner Flavia Pennetta went down a set, 1-4 and a point from 1-5 in the doubles championship match. Dulko, who had been the weaker player of the team throughout the first and second sets--just on the brink of defeat--suddenly turned on some inner switch and went on a volleying frenzy that turned the match around. From that point on, it was all about the top seeds, who won their first major (against Victoria Azarenka and Maria Kirilenko) 2-6, 7-5, 6-1.

3. Big Sister Na in charge: Li Na was seeded 9th at the Australian Open, but that didn't stop her from making a run all the way to the final. Her press conferences and on-court interviews were (much like Schiavone's) more of a gulp, than a breath, of fresh air. The straight-talking, consistently hilarious "Golden Flower" of China showed fans some of the best hitting in the tournament. Despite taking out the top seed, she lost in the final, but in many ways, she was the star of this Open.

2. She's Aussie Kim now: Kim Clijsters' second career, it turns out, isn't about just the U.S Open. Clijsters didn't drop a set until she reached the final, when she lost the first set to Li Na. She then used her athleticism and shot variety--and took advantage of a mentally collapsing opponent--to win her fourth major, and her first Australian Open. If Clijsters stays healthy, she can make this second career quite memorable.

1. Schiavone def. Kuznetsova, 6-4, 1-6, 16-14: "Thank goodness the second set was 6-1," Pam Shriver remarked after it took Francesca Schiavone and Svetalana Kuznetsova four hours and 44 minutes to play their fourth round match. I've covered the match in detail here, so I'll just say that the quality, the drama, the athleticism, and the all-out effort by both women makes this match a classic for all time. Those who saw it will never forget it.

Nestor & Srebotnik--what they said

Nenad has her locked up forever. He was supposed to play with Ivanovic here in preparation for the Olympics, so that opened the door for us playing together. Maybe if he plays with her again some time in the future we can play again.
Yeah, definitely. U.S. Open was the one he was still questioning. So, for sure, you're the first in line, absolutely. But since we already made an agreement, I like to keep the word, you know. If I say, that's it.
I have no problems with her stabbing Nenad in the back at all.

Srebotnik & Nestor win Australian Open mixed doubles title

Katarina Srebotnik and Daniel Nestor, seeded 2nd at the Australian Open, have won the 2011 mixed doubles championship. They defeated Chan Yung-Jan and Paul Hanley 6-3, 3-6, 10-7. Srebotnik's usual partner is Nenad Zomonjic, but she stepped aside for this major to allow Zimonjic to get in some practice with Ana Ivanovic, with whom he plans to play at the Olympic Games. That didn't work out because Ivanovic withdrew from mixed doubles. Daniela Nestor, up until recently, was Zimonjic's partner in men's doubles, and they spent time ranked as the number 1 team in the world. (Sometimes you need a chart to get through the labyrinthine makeup of doubles teams.)

Srebotnik, who is now a doubles-only player, claims this title as her first Australian Open mixed doubles title. She has won the French Open title three times, and the U.S. Open title once, and she has been the runner-up five times--twice at the French Open, twice at the U.S. Open, and once at Wimbledon.

Some drama built in to upcoming Fed Cup matches

One thing that's nice about this time of year, tennis-wise, is that before you can suffer a post-Australian Open letdown, Fed Cup has arrived. The season's first Fed Cup matches will be played next weekend, and there are already some scenarios that have potential drama.

For one thing, defending champion Italy has some tough World Group quarterfinal competition: The winning combination of Flavia Pennetta, Francesca Schiavone, Sara Errani, and Roberta Vinci face Australia, in Hobart. Representing Australia will be Sam Stosur, Jarmila Groth, Anastasia Rodionova, and Rennae Stubbs. And I know people say "I'll believe it when I see it," but I do believe that this Fed Cup quarterfinal will be Stubbs' last appearance as a professional tennis player (more on that at a later date). That in itself is dramatic enough. (There was a nice tribute paid to her in Melbourne.) Both she and Rodionova are very good doubles players, so--if it comes down to doubles--there may be some excitement.

Then there is the matter of the Belgian team, which just lost one of its key members when Justine Henin retired from tennis. Australian Open champion Kim Clijsters is scheduled to play, but one couldn't blame her if she were a bit tired. Joining her will be Yanina Wickmayer, Kirsten Flipkens and Australian Open junior girls champion An-Sophie Mestach. The Belgians' opponent will be team USA, which is comprised of Bethanie Mattek-Sands, Melanie Oudin, Vania King, and Liezel Huber. Mattek-Sands, King and Huber excel in doubles, and Mattek-Sands has served the USA team well as a Fed Cup singles player.

The Serbian team, which is competing in the World Group II first round, will play without two of its strongest players, Jelena Jankovic and Ana Ivanovic. Bojana Jovanovski will be on hand, however, to compete against Canada, and fans can look forward to the probability that Jovanovski will play Rebecca Marino.

A World Group quarterfinal I'd like to see (but won't be able to) is the one that will be played between the Slovak Republic and the Czech Republic. Daniela Hantuchova, Dominika Cibulkova, Petra Kvitova, and Lucie Safarova will all be in Bratislova, and Kveta Peschke and Barbora Zahlavova and Kveta Peschke will doubtless make a formidable doubles team.

The Russian team, which is part of World Group I (and will play France), consists of Maria Sharapova, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, and Dinara Safina. I would say that some some drama is definite built into that lineup.