"I regret to announce that I am withdrawing from the 2012 Australian Open.," Venus Williams announced today. "After several months of training and treatment," she said, "I am making steady progress to top competitive form. My diet and fitness regimen have allowed me to make great strides in terms of my health and I am very close to being ready to return to WTA competition."
Williams has Sjogren's Syndrome, and was only recently diagnosed. She is expected to return to the courts next month.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Passing shots
The WTA has introduced a new website feature, "Slava's Shots." The monthly gallery will feature photography by Yaroslava Shvedova.
Kim Clijsters' Brisbane injury has been diagnosed as a thigh muscle spasm, and she should be fine for the Australian Open.
The Radwanska sisters will oppose each other in the first round in Sydney. Also featured in the first round are Vera Zvonareva vs. Svetlana Kuznetsova, Sam Stosur vs. Francesca Schiavone, and Alexandra Dulgheru vs. Sofia Arvidsson (Arvidsson beat Dulgheru in the final round of qualifying). Whoever wins the last one plays Petra Kvitova in the second round.
Jelena Jankovic has a new sponsorship with Fila. For the past several years, she has worn Anta tennis outfits.
Scott Draper says there are similarities between Ashleigh Barty and Hana Mandlikova. We can only hope. Meanwhile, the great Mandlikova appears as number 1 on this list of ten WTA players who achieved very big things, but were never ranked number 1.
Kim Clijsters' Brisbane injury has been diagnosed as a thigh muscle spasm, and she should be fine for the Australian Open.
The Radwanska sisters will oppose each other in the first round in Sydney. Also featured in the first round are Vera Zvonareva vs. Svetlana Kuznetsova, Sam Stosur vs. Francesca Schiavone, and Alexandra Dulgheru vs. Sofia Arvidsson (Arvidsson beat Dulgheru in the final round of qualifying). Whoever wins the last one plays Petra Kvitova in the second round.
Jelena Jankovic has a new sponsorship with Fila. For the past several years, she has worn Anta tennis outfits.
Scott Draper says there are similarities between Ashleigh Barty and Hana Mandlikova. We can only hope. Meanwhile, the great Mandlikova appears as number 1 on this list of ten WTA players who achieved very big things, but were never ranked number 1.
Kanepi follows Kvitova path--for now
Last year, Petra Kvitova, ranked number 34 in the world, won Brisbane, the first tournament of the season. Her victory gave her a seeding of 25 at the Australian Open, where she made it all the way to the quarterfinals. This year, Kaia Kanepi, ranked number 34 in the world, won Brisbane, and will be the 26th seed in Melbourne. It doesn't necessarily "mean" anything, but the intersection of the two careers via these unusual statistics is at least worth noting.
It is probably more notable because of the memory fans have of the 2010 Wimbledon quarterfinal match played by the two women, in which Kvitova saved five match points and advanced, 4-6, 7-6 (10), 8-6 to the semifnals.
It is probably more notable because of the memory fans have of the 2010 Wimbledon quarterfinal match played by the two women, in which Kvitova saved five match points and advanced, 4-6, 7-6 (10), 8-6 to the semifnals.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Zheng wins Auckland title
Zheng Jie won the ASB Classic in Auckland today when opponent Flavia Pennetta retired during the final; the score was 2-6, 6-3, 2-0. Pennetta had to stop playing because of a lower back injury. This is great news for Zheng, who hasn't won a title in a long time. The bad news is that Pennetta now joins the ranks of the injured, with the Australian Open only days away.
The Czech team of Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka won the doubles title yesterday. They defeated Pennetta and her partner, Julia Goerges, 6-7, 6-2, 10-7.
The Czech team of Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka won the doubles title yesterday. They defeated Pennetta and her partner, Julia Goerges, 6-7, 6-2, 10-7.
Kanepi ends impressive Brisbane run with championship win
Unseeded Kaia Kanepi has won the 2012 title at the Brisbane International, making her the first player to win the tournament in its new premiere status. Kanepi easily defeated Daniela Hantuchova 6-2, 6-1 in the final. This was the fourth time the two had played each other, and the first loss for Hantuchvoa.
In the semifinal, Kaneip defeated 3rd seed Francesca Schiavone, allowing Schiavone only three games. In the quarterfinals, she defeated 2nd seed Andrea Petkovic in straight sets. And in the second round, Kanepi allowed only three games to 7th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. Kanepi's first round win, over Alexandra Panova, was her only match to go three sets.
Throughout the week, Kanepi hit 31 aces, and she sustained mean first and second serve win percentages of 82 and 62. The Tall One from Tallinn will be seeded number 26 at the Australian Open. She made her best showing in Melbourne in 2009, when she reached the third round.
4th seeds Nuria Llagostera Vives and Arantxa Parra Santonja won the Brisbane doubles title. In the final, they defeated Raquel Kops-Jones and Abigail Spears 7-6, 7-6.
In the semifinal, Kaneip defeated 3rd seed Francesca Schiavone, allowing Schiavone only three games. In the quarterfinals, she defeated 2nd seed Andrea Petkovic in straight sets. And in the second round, Kanepi allowed only three games to 7th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. Kanepi's first round win, over Alexandra Panova, was her only match to go three sets.
Throughout the week, Kanepi hit 31 aces, and she sustained mean first and second serve win percentages of 82 and 62. The Tall One from Tallinn will be seeded number 26 at the Australian Open. She made her best showing in Melbourne in 2009, when she reached the third round.
4th seeds Nuria Llagostera Vives and Arantxa Parra Santonja won the Brisbane doubles title. In the final, they defeated Raquel Kops-Jones and Abigail Spears 7-6, 7-6.
Czech Republic wins Hopman Cup
The top-seeded Czech Republic won the 2012 Hopman Cup on Saturday by defeating 2nd-seeded France in the final. Petra Kvitova defeated Marion Bartoli 7-5, 6-1, and Tomas Berdych prevailed 7-6, 6-4 over Richard Gasquet. This is the second time that the Czech Republic has won the Hopman Cup. In 1994, Jana Novotna and Petr Korda defeated Germany to win the title.
Kvitova, despite having some struggles with asthma, won all of her Hopman Cup matches, defeating defending champion Bethanie Mattek-Sands of the USA, Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria, world number 1 Cartoline Wozniacki of Denmark, and Bartoli.
Friday, January 6, 2012
Clijsters injured in Brisbane
Daniela Hantuchova, who got to the Brisbane quarterfinals by receiving a walkover from an injured Serena Williams, played only a set and half against quarterfinal opponent Kim Clijsters because Clijsters injured her left hip. Hantuchova is now in the semifinals, in which she will play Kaia Kanepi. Kanepi upset 3rd seed Francesca Schiavone 6-3, 6-0. (She had already taken out 7th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and 2nd seed Andrea Petkovic.)
In doubles, Raquel Kops-Jones and Abigail Spears defeated the Australian team of Ashleigh Barty and Casey Dellacqu, and will play Nuria Llagostera Vives and Arantxa Parra Santonja in the final.
In Auckland, Flavia Pennetta reached both finals. She defeated Angelique Kerber in straight sets, then she and Julia Goerges defeated 2nd seeds Sania Mirza and Elena Vesnina 2-6, 7-6, 11-9. In the other doubles semifinal, Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka upset top seeds Kveta Peschke and Katarina Srebotnik 6-4, 6-0.
Pennetta's opponent in the singles final will be Zheng Jie, who upset 3rd seed Svetlana Kuznetsova in the semifinals.
We are still in the first week of the new season, and already, Serena Williams, Kim Clijsters and Sabine Lisicki have sustained injuries. Williams has a history of working through and around her injuries, but Clijsters and Lisicki appear vulnerable. However, when we factor in Williams' age, so does she.
Next week, there are tournaments in Sydney and Hobart; the top seed in Hobart is Yanina Wickmayer. The draw is so strong in Sydney that Maria Kirilenko has to go through qualifying. Aravane Rezai was in the qualifying draw, but had to retire in her first match because of a knee injury. Kaia Kanepi was also scheduled to play in the Sydney qualifying rounds, but she's busy upsetting big players in Brisbane.
In doubles, Raquel Kops-Jones and Abigail Spears defeated the Australian team of Ashleigh Barty and Casey Dellacqu, and will play Nuria Llagostera Vives and Arantxa Parra Santonja in the final.
In Auckland, Flavia Pennetta reached both finals. She defeated Angelique Kerber in straight sets, then she and Julia Goerges defeated 2nd seeds Sania Mirza and Elena Vesnina 2-6, 7-6, 11-9. In the other doubles semifinal, Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka upset top seeds Kveta Peschke and Katarina Srebotnik 6-4, 6-0.
Pennetta's opponent in the singles final will be Zheng Jie, who upset 3rd seed Svetlana Kuznetsova in the semifinals.
We are still in the first week of the new season, and already, Serena Williams, Kim Clijsters and Sabine Lisicki have sustained injuries. Williams has a history of working through and around her injuries, but Clijsters and Lisicki appear vulnerable. However, when we factor in Williams' age, so does she.
Next week, there are tournaments in Sydney and Hobart; the top seed in Hobart is Yanina Wickmayer. The draw is so strong in Sydney that Maria Kirilenko has to go through qualifying. Aravane Rezai was in the qualifying draw, but had to retire in her first match because of a knee injury. Kaia Kanepi was also scheduled to play in the Sydney qualifying rounds, but she's busy upsetting big players in Brisbane.
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