Some Spice Girls memories...
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Wimbledon miscellany
Semifinalists Vera Zvonareva and Tsvetana Pironkova have met only once, in Moscow last year in the round of 16. Pironkova won the match 6-0, 6-2. Serena Williams and Petra Kvitova have also met only once--at this year's Australian Open, where Williams defeated Kvitova 6-2, 6-1.
Here is a brief history of surprise semifinalists at Wimbledon.
Retiring women's master of ceremonies Jane Poynder says that Maria Sharapova is always ready ahead of time and "wonderfully prepared," that Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters are "very organized," but that her blood pressure can "rise very slightly" when it's time for the Spanish players to head for the courts.
Doubles semifinalist Yaroslava Shvedova's business affairs are managed by doubles player and friend Ipek Senoglu.
Today, in Wimbledon Village, a 15-minute preview of Unmatched was shown, with Martina Navratilova in the audience. The film, a documentary about the friendship/rivalry of Navratilova and Chris Evert, premieres September 15 on ESPN.
Here is a brief history of surprise semifinalists at Wimbledon.
Retiring women's master of ceremonies Jane Poynder says that Maria Sharapova is always ready ahead of time and "wonderfully prepared," that Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters are "very organized," but that her blood pressure can "rise very slightly" when it's time for the Spanish players to head for the courts.
Doubles semifinalist Yaroslava Shvedova's business affairs are managed by doubles player and friend Ipek Senoglu.
Today, in Wimbledon Village, a 15-minute preview of Unmatched was shown, with Martina Navratilova in the audience. The film, a documentary about the friendship/rivalry of Navratilova and Chris Evert, premieres September 15 on ESPN.
Williams sisters upset in Wimbledon doubles
Also on quite a roll are Vania King and Yaroslava Shvedova, who upset the 6th-seeded team of Kveta Peschke and Katarina Srebotnik today. In the third round, they upset 3rd seeds Nadia Petrova and Samantha Stosur. Also winning in the quarterfinals were 4th seeds Gisela Dulko and Flavia Pennetta, who defeated Julia Goerges and Agnes Szavay, and 5th seeds Liezel Huber and Bethanie Mattek-Sands, who defeated 7th seeds Lisa Raymond and Rennae Stubbs.
In mixed doubles, Kim Clijsters and Xavier Malisse upset top seeds Stosur and Nenad Zimonjic in straight sets. Also advancing were the teams of Iveta Benesova and Lukas Dlouhy, Chan Jung-Jan and Paul Hanley, and 2nd seeds Cara Black and Leander Paes.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Wimbledon junior competition 2nd round news
Grace Min, the U.S. player who took out the top junior seed in the first round, advanced to the third round today at Wimbledon. Min defeated Polina Pekhova 7-5, 7-5. 8th seed Laura Robson also advanced, as did Sloane Stephens, who defeated the 16th seed. 4th seed Karolina Pliskova was upset by Nigina Abduraimova.
Wimbledon doubles update
Today was the big day at Wimbledon in singles, and--unlike some of the tournament's mythology--it lived up to its reputation. Women Who Serve like to keep everyone updated about doubles, too, however. There was only one doubles match played today, and it was an upset. Elena Vesnina and Vera Zvonareva (that's Wimbledon semifinalist, Vera Zvonareva) defeated 12th seeds Iveta Benesova and Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 6-3, 6-2.
In mixed doubles, 10th seeds Marcelo Melo and Rennae Stubbs defeated 6th seeds Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Daniel Nestor, and 11th seeds Lisa Raymond and Wesley Moodie defeated 7th seeds Alisa Kleybanova and Max Mirnyi. Also winning in the third round were the teams of Yaroslava Shvedova and Julian Knowle, Vera Dushevina and Dmitry Tursonov, and Chan Yung-Jan and Paul Hanley.
In mixed doubles, 10th seeds Marcelo Melo and Rennae Stubbs defeated 6th seeds Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Daniel Nestor, and 11th seeds Lisa Raymond and Wesley Moodie defeated 7th seeds Alisa Kleybanova and Max Mirnyi. Also winning in the third round were the teams of Yaroslava Shvedova and Julian Knowle, Vera Dushevina and Dmitry Tursonov, and Chan Yung-Jan and Paul Hanley.
Anna and Martina meet the press
Here is an excerpt from the wonderful joint interview done by Anna Kournikova and Martina Hingis. It's the best joint interview I've seen since Chris and Martina did their hilarious--and touching--interview in Charleston in 2008.
Anna: Even to prepare for the specific tournament, the last two months, I've had to have therapy, like real therapy, every day for an hour, hour and a half. This is just for kind of the fun matches. I would have to live in the trainer's room for three hours every day. I have five different things wrong with my back from two herniated discs.
Martina: It's a good day off tomorrow.
Anna: From two herniated discs to four cracks that I have. The right side is smaller than the left side.
Martina: I don't want to hear it.
Anna: All kinds of weird stuff.
You can read the entire interview here.
Anna: Even to prepare for the specific tournament, the last two months, I've had to have therapy, like real therapy, every day for an hour, hour and a half. This is just for kind of the fun matches. I would have to live in the trainer's room for three hours every day. I have five different things wrong with my back from two herniated discs.
Martina: It's a good day off tomorrow.
Anna: From two herniated discs to four cracks that I have. The right side is smaller than the left side.
Martina: I don't want to hear it.
Anna: All kinds of weird stuff.
You can read the entire interview here.
Wimbledon--what they said
Will a win in the doubles help you get over what happened today?
I have to get over it. I have to play another match. I want to win that match. I don't want to lose that match. I have to move on rather quickly.
...her backhand is her stronger shot. I mean, it's very hard to read the shot. Especially when she goes down the line, it's like a last‑second. You can't even read it.
I had one win over her, and I thought I could win, and I was going for it.
A lot of players are intimidated by Serena Williams. You don't seem to be. You go out and seem to like to play her aggressive game against her. You come to the court. You not need be afraid about opponent. You have to think about yourself, yeah.
Obviously right now I feel disappointed, but I think it's going away in a few hours.
I think I have the habit of probably not finishing my service motion to a full end because as soon as I land with my first foot, I'm already pushing back to be ready for that next shot. So you have to make a choice. You want to be ready, you know, maybe a little bit later for the next shot because you want to have a higher percentage of serve. I'm really trying to work on that. Obviously, you know, in practice it's going well. In matches, it's your habits that come back at the most important moments in the match.
How many grass courts do you have in Bulgaria?
We have none actually.
...I didn't bring my best tennis today. And sometimes, like I said, you really have to live in the moment. I got too caught up in the mistakes I was making instead of just letting it go and moving on.
At the beginning of the third set, I was so tired like in the head and also the physical. I was really down.
I'm just so proud of the girls. They worked their asses off. Tennis is a grind. I think women in general don't get enough credit. It's a full‑time job, it's 24/7. You're week in, week out on the road for 10, 11 months out of the year. You have no personal life. You have no home life. It's very difficult.
We just had different style. Everyone had [her] own style. That made it unique. Pretty much now it looks very much the same, like the hard hitting, yeah. I think they just don't teach it anymore.
Was it the forehand that let you down the most today?
I think I missed all shots today--forehand, volley, backhand. You know, if there was a shot to miss, I think I missed it.
With players like Hingis and Kournikova in the senior division today, does that make you think you must be getting old, or...
I could ask you the same question.
I have to get over it. I have to play another match. I want to win that match. I don't want to lose that match. I have to move on rather quickly.
Venus Williams
...her backhand is her stronger shot. I mean, it's very hard to read the shot. Especially when she goes down the line, it's like a last‑second. You can't even read it.
Kim Clijsters, referring to Vera Zvonareva
I had one win over her, and I thought I could win, and I was going for it.
Tsvetana Pironkova
A lot of players are intimidated by Serena Williams. You don't seem to be. You go out and seem to like to play her aggressive game against her. You come to the court. You not need be afraid about opponent. You have to think about yourself, yeah.
Li Na
With Fed Cup coming to San Diego next, have you thought at all ‑‑ are you thinking about playing? Is it a possibility, not a possibility?
Yeah, I'm always thinking about playing. You know, it's just always so tough. Usually I can't walk in November.
Yeah, I'm always thinking about playing. You know, it's just always so tough. Usually I can't walk in November.
Serena Williams
Kaia Kanepi
I think I have the habit of probably not finishing my service motion to a full end because as soon as I land with my first foot, I'm already pushing back to be ready for that next shot. So you have to make a choice. You want to be ready, you know, maybe a little bit later for the next shot because you want to have a higher percentage of serve. I'm really trying to work on that. Obviously, you know, in practice it's going well. In matches, it's your habits that come back at the most important moments in the match.
Kim Clijsters
How many grass courts do you have in Bulgaria?
We have none actually.
Tsvetana Pironkova
...I didn't bring my best tennis today. And sometimes, like I said, you really have to live in the moment. I got too caught up in the mistakes I was making instead of just letting it go and moving on.
Venus Williams
At the beginning of the third set, I was so tired like in the head and also the physical. I was really down.
Petra Kvitova
I'm just so proud of the girls. They worked their asses off. Tennis is a grind. I think women in general don't get enough credit. It's a full‑time job, it's 24/7. You're week in, week out on the road for 10, 11 months out of the year. You have no personal life. You have no home life. It's very difficult.
Anna Kournikova, discussing the Russian players
We just had different style. Everyone had [her] own style. That made it unique. Pretty much now it looks very much the same, like the hard hitting, yeah. I think they just don't teach it anymore.
Martina Hingis
Was it the forehand that let you down the most today?
I think I missed all shots today--forehand, volley, backhand. You know, if there was a shot to miss, I think I missed it.
Venus Williams
With players like Hingis and Kournikova in the senior division today, does that make you think you must be getting old, or...
I could ask you the same question.
Serena Williams
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