While Australian players are left wondering how many mirrors they must have broken and how many ladders they must have walked under in the past 12 months in order to receive such a walloping in the Australian Open Draw Ceremony (home Grand Slam event advantage - that's a laugh), the seeded players have spent their first nights post-Draw pondering the possible paths left them en route to glory or disaster.
Let us have a clinical look at some of the match ups, should things go according to rankings, or in a few cases according to our hearts.
Ladies first - Starting at the top, Serena Williams is in what I will call the quieter half of the draw, and her first round opponent is Australia's Ash Barty who is claiming (using all the spin of a wily politician) that she is excited by the prospect of a match with the best. The prospect of course is defeat, and the young and extremely talented teenager clearly would have loved the clash with Serena to have been somewhat later in the Open.
The top seed was none to pleased that her compatriot and upstart Sloane Stephens removed her from proceedings in the quarter final last year, so to see the young American on the bottom (noisier) side of the draw puts paid to a repeat of that nonsense at least until the final.
Serena is seeded to play Hantuchova in the third round and Ana Ivanovic in the fourth round. However, Australians want Samantha Stosur to be that round of sixteen opponent. It becomes messy here, because Sam first needs to win her opening match, a task often proved to be difficult here. Stosur just lost to her first round opponent, Klara Zakopalova, in Hobart's semis in straight sets and even if she manages to reverse that result in Melbourne, her second round opponent will likely be the winner of the just completed Sydney event, Tsvetana Pironkova - Pironkova defeated Errani, Kvitova and Kerber to win that title. Ana Ivanovic won in Auckland last week so all of the form in the first three rounds is against Samantha.
Why am I even talking about this though? Serena Williams will be playing whoever happens to win through all of that drama and end the tournament for that person there and then.
Sara Errani is drawn to be the quarter final "threat" to Serena's assault on Aus Open number 6, and at her best she hasn't sufficient weapons to pose a concern. Making it worse for Sara is her form coming into Melbourne which hasn't inspired one bit.
The fun is deciding the Williams semi final opponent, and the money would have to be for 4th seed Li Na, who impressed so much at the end of 2013 and is already a winner this year. She has drawn Kvitova or Kerber in her quarter final, but may first have to sneak past Venus Williams who is the dangerous unseeded player looming as a fourth round fly in the ointment for the 2011 and 2013 runner up. The Auckland form of the older sister is reason enough to watch her progress with interest.
From the top (quieter) section of the draw, my prediction is a semi final according to the seedings, with Serena Williams perhaps taking 3 sets to overcome Li Na.
Now to the noisier part of the draw. The top half of the bottom half is the Sharapova quarter. We know that the number 3 seed has a great record over many years at the Aus Open. winning in 2008, twice a finalist and three times semi finalist.
Her hardest match in the first week is probably her first round clash with in form American Bethanie Mattek-Sands. Other than that 16th seed Carla Suarez Navarro in the fourth round will pose more problems for the scoreboard than for Maria as the Russian screams into another quarter final. Her Brisbane form was surprising, considering the length of time out of the game, and her hunger must be as great as ever.
Meeting Maria in the quarters is scheduled to be 8th seed Jelena Jankovic, my favourite player, and naturally my heart wants that match-up to occur. On paper, it is a reasonably friendly draw for the Serbian former semi finalist here (that was 2008 and never past the 4th round apart from that) but Simona Halep is the probable fourth round opponent, and Halep had a huge 2013, winning multiple tournaments. Also lurking in this part of the draw is unseeded former top ten player Andrea Petkovic whose match against Serena in Brisbane suggested that her best tennis could cause some seeded players plenty of worry.
Ultimately I believe that Maria Sharapova will cruise into the semi final, probably by defeating Jankovic, though I hope I lose my money on this one.
The bottom half of the bottom half features the number 2 seed Vika Azarenka, and she is in the sort of form that enabled her to win the past 2 Australian Opens. Her draw is one of the reasons you can see her smiling wherever she is spotted in Melbourne at the moment.
Nothing is troubling her until a likely fourth round clash with Sloane Stephens, and many of us remember last year's semi final clash between the two where Vika became very much the "bad girl" following her controversial medical timeout which appeared to change the momentum of the second set.
Should they meet, Stephens will no doubt win the hearts of the crowd again, but that will be all she wins.
Azarenka will play either Radwanska or Wozniacki in the quarters because I honestly believe that section of the draw to be very soft, and barring big upsets, Aga and Caro should waltz through to their 10th meeting - Caro leads 5-4 but has lost the past 3.
As with the top half of the draw, I am predicting the seedings to play out, with this semi final featuring a record attempt on the decibels reached in a match between 2 players. Vika and Maria to slug it out and Vika to rule. They have a decent rivalry building - 13 times they have met with Azarenka ahead 7-6. Maria has won the past two, but importantly the only time they've played at the Australian Open was the 2012 final which Vika won in a canter.
Basically I can only see the result of this Australian Open being the first leg of a possible calendar Grand Slam for Serena Williams, and further proof that while Vika is clearly the second best player on this planet, Serena is the dominant player in the known universe.
Saturday, 11 January 2014
Friday, 10 January 2014
Petra Kvitova - time to fulfil your potential
Where is Petra Kvitova in terms of her career? The talented left hander from the Czech republic was two years ago approaching the Australian Open as the number two player in the world having just won the season ending WTA Tour Championships and earlier her first Grand Slam title on Wimbledon's grass in 2011.
People had drawn some comparisons to another Czech born left hander who won her first major at Wimbledon and proceeded to win another 8 at the same place. Martina herself predicted a stellar future for Kvitova.
Petra appeared to have the game and the desire to be the biggest name in women's tennis for a significant period to come. However, despite Kvitova making the semis at both the Aus Open and Roland Garros in 2012, it was the Aus Open champ - Vika Azarenka - who in 2012 realised her potential and took the big step up to now be the best in the world when Serena chooses to be doing something else.
Kvitova can win tournaments, defeat any opponent when her game is switched on, and could be a serious contender for the top 2 in the singles rankings. Consistency of performance, though has dragged her back and although she ranks constantly in the top ten, that is not total fulfilment of potential and not befitting of the player I saw prevail over Sharapova at Wimbledon in 2011.
2013 was a year of lost opportunities, especially at the 4 majors. Petra only made it to the second round in Melbourne, third round in both Paris and New York, and the quarters at Wimbledon. The disappointment of losing exits such as those is compounded by knowing that the defeats were to players ranked 53, 54, 20 and 81 in the world. Kvitova suffered the ignominy of further losses in the season to players ranked 71, 87 and 131.
The end of the year was better, with a final in Tokyo and semis in Beijing and the WTA Tour Championships - her only losses to fellow top ten players.
This year, after her Hopman Cup appearance, Petra survived the glut of upsets in the Sydney event only to fall to Pironkova in the semi final. Still a good lead-in effort to the Australian Open, and maybe, just maybe a 2014 full of consistent high standard tennis from a racquet capable of propelling Petra Kvitova from a regular top ten performer into one of the top two or three, and number one should Serena ever finish.
People had drawn some comparisons to another Czech born left hander who won her first major at Wimbledon and proceeded to win another 8 at the same place. Martina herself predicted a stellar future for Kvitova.
Petra appeared to have the game and the desire to be the biggest name in women's tennis for a significant period to come. However, despite Kvitova making the semis at both the Aus Open and Roland Garros in 2012, it was the Aus Open champ - Vika Azarenka - who in 2012 realised her potential and took the big step up to now be the best in the world when Serena chooses to be doing something else.
Kvitova can win tournaments, defeat any opponent when her game is switched on, and could be a serious contender for the top 2 in the singles rankings. Consistency of performance, though has dragged her back and although she ranks constantly in the top ten, that is not total fulfilment of potential and not befitting of the player I saw prevail over Sharapova at Wimbledon in 2011.
2013 was a year of lost opportunities, especially at the 4 majors. Petra only made it to the second round in Melbourne, third round in both Paris and New York, and the quarters at Wimbledon. The disappointment of losing exits such as those is compounded by knowing that the defeats were to players ranked 53, 54, 20 and 81 in the world. Kvitova suffered the ignominy of further losses in the season to players ranked 71, 87 and 131.
The end of the year was better, with a final in Tokyo and semis in Beijing and the WTA Tour Championships - her only losses to fellow top ten players.
This year, after her Hopman Cup appearance, Petra survived the glut of upsets in the Sydney event only to fall to Pironkova in the semi final. Still a good lead-in effort to the Australian Open, and maybe, just maybe a 2014 full of consistent high standard tennis from a racquet capable of propelling Petra Kvitova from a regular top ten performer into one of the top two or three, and number one should Serena ever finish.
Thursday, 9 January 2014
What have the top ranked men been up to ?
After the draw is announced I will make my usually ill advised predictions for the Australian Open this year. Until then it is best just to observe and comment on the build up to what promises to be another fabulous fortnight of competition.
To borrow car racing terminology, Serena Williams has set the fastest lap in qualifying to take provisional pole in the Women's Singles race, and will not go out again, convinced that the performance will hold up, and saving tyres for the long haul in the process.
Of the prominent male singles players Rafa won as expected in Doha, although most matches went the distance, a fact not displeasing in hindsight for the world number one as it provided valuable court time at match level pressure. He did lose a match, but only an exhibition against Ferrer in Abu Dhabi. Of course in a proper tournament the Spaniards will never repeat a result such as this.
Djokovic will enter Melbourne Park in his defence of his defence of his defence of the 2011 Australian Open crown on the back of no official tournaments, a ploy which he hopes will work well. It certainly did for Federer some years ago when he used to win these events.
Roger has had a match on Rod Laver Arena this year already and that exhibition - we are witnessing plenty of those this year - was a three setter against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to raise funds for the Federer Foundation and to raise the profile of the barely noticed Swiss player.
Another Swiss player, one could fairly argue the top player from that nation at present, won the recent event in Chennai. Stanislas Wawrinka had a breakout year in 2013 and may be a contender for even bigger honours this time around. He seriously challenged eventual champion Djokovic in the fourth round here last year and each of the top 4 seeds will be hoping not to draw Stan as a potential quarter final opponent.
Del Potro also holds some fears come the second week due to some more consistency in his output in 2013. He has cemented the number 5 ranking and depending on Andy Murray's fitness and form, the latter which is none too inspiring and the former which is not all that convincing, the tall Argentine could easily slip into the top four. Remember Andy has 1200 points to defend as runner up, and Rafa is back this time to make the defence of those points extra tough.
For locals, we are relying as for many years on Lleyton Hewitt, and he is in good shape to fly the flag manfully. The win in Brisbane brought about a change in mind - he now won't play the Kooyong Exhibition - too hard on the body - instead he will prepare in other ways (probably helping Bec with the kids) and then hit some balls with Andy Murray in another of those exhibitions, because Andy refused an offer to play in a proper tournament in Auckland and so was at a loss for something to do.
The ATP Tour has begun, and players are sorting themselves out either in tour sanctioned events or exhibitions, or just practising in earnest. However, we are now only 4 days way from the first day of
play in the Australian Open, and qualifying is underway, and many of those competing, or aspiring to compete in the men's singles are in Melbourne now.
Draw tomorrow and Day One Schedule on Sunday night - can hardly wait.
To borrow car racing terminology, Serena Williams has set the fastest lap in qualifying to take provisional pole in the Women's Singles race, and will not go out again, convinced that the performance will hold up, and saving tyres for the long haul in the process.
Of the prominent male singles players Rafa won as expected in Doha, although most matches went the distance, a fact not displeasing in hindsight for the world number one as it provided valuable court time at match level pressure. He did lose a match, but only an exhibition against Ferrer in Abu Dhabi. Of course in a proper tournament the Spaniards will never repeat a result such as this.
Djokovic will enter Melbourne Park in his defence of his defence of his defence of the 2011 Australian Open crown on the back of no official tournaments, a ploy which he hopes will work well. It certainly did for Federer some years ago when he used to win these events.
Roger has had a match on Rod Laver Arena this year already and that exhibition - we are witnessing plenty of those this year - was a three setter against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to raise funds for the Federer Foundation and to raise the profile of the barely noticed Swiss player.
Another Swiss player, one could fairly argue the top player from that nation at present, won the recent event in Chennai. Stanislas Wawrinka had a breakout year in 2013 and may be a contender for even bigger honours this time around. He seriously challenged eventual champion Djokovic in the fourth round here last year and each of the top 4 seeds will be hoping not to draw Stan as a potential quarter final opponent.
Del Potro also holds some fears come the second week due to some more consistency in his output in 2013. He has cemented the number 5 ranking and depending on Andy Murray's fitness and form, the latter which is none too inspiring and the former which is not all that convincing, the tall Argentine could easily slip into the top four. Remember Andy has 1200 points to defend as runner up, and Rafa is back this time to make the defence of those points extra tough.
For locals, we are relying as for many years on Lleyton Hewitt, and he is in good shape to fly the flag manfully. The win in Brisbane brought about a change in mind - he now won't play the Kooyong Exhibition - too hard on the body - instead he will prepare in other ways (probably helping Bec with the kids) and then hit some balls with Andy Murray in another of those exhibitions, because Andy refused an offer to play in a proper tournament in Auckland and so was at a loss for something to do.
The ATP Tour has begun, and players are sorting themselves out either in tour sanctioned events or exhibitions, or just practising in earnest. However, we are now only 4 days way from the first day of
play in the Australian Open, and qualifying is underway, and many of those competing, or aspiring to compete in the men's singles are in Melbourne now.
Draw tomorrow and Day One Schedule on Sunday night - can hardly wait.
Wednesday, 8 January 2014
Women's Tennis - Under-appreciated Still
There still exists a less than helpful section of the tennis world which appears to want to cling to the notion that the sport is essentially a male domain to which women only have associate entitlements.
Of course thanks to Billie Jean King and her warriors, we for over 40 years have had a professional women's tour that stands alone in the sport.
Irrespective of that, every year at every Grand Slam event the old argument about prize money is raised by those that believe playing best of five sets is deserving of greater reward than doing it in best of three, and that equal prize money for women is unfair.
And then there is the equally tiresome one about how the men hit the ball harder, they move faster, and so clearly the matches are more interesting to watch.
At the pointy end of proceedings that latter argument has some merit - currently if you were to choose to watch a final between the 2 best men - Rafa and Novak - or the 2 best women - Serena and Vika - no question the guys have it. However there is a lot of boring men's tennis played on the way to the final few matches, and we often have to suffer through the tedium at Grand Slam level until someone has managed to win 3 sets of the stuff.
That's not what I'm going to talk about here though. I've said enough about that and my opinion on prize money is unchanged. It should be equal by gender.
Today it's about the depth of the respective tours and over the past few years there has been a progressive shift. No longer can the boys claim to have the numbers here. It used to be the boast that a man ranked in the top 50 or so was capable of winning against anyone else above them on a given day.
While that is still a true statement, the given day is now closer to once in a blue moon than a distinct possibility. Especially so if it is the elite that are being tested. For too long now men's tennis has been dominated by a very few - for a long time Federer and Nadal, before the emergence of Djokovic and now Murray has seen the club membership reach four.
Even with the slow slide of Federer, no one is seriously rating Ferrer as a Grand Slam title threat above the Fab Four. Sure Del Potro, Berdych, Ferrer, Wawrinka are doing Ok, but none has taken the step into the world of the Grand Slam winning 4 apart from Del Potro's brief foray in 2009.
The interest now is with the unpredictability of results on the women's tour, leaving aside Serena because she is freakish and cannot be usefully included in statistical analysis such as this.
Apart from Serena, finalists in last year's Grand Slam events included Vika Azarenka, Li Na, Maria Sharapova, Marion Bartoli and Sabine Lisicki with Bartoli a debut winner.
For the men it was Nadal, Djokovic, Murray and Ferrer and no debut winner.
Just taking note of what has happened in Australia and elsewhere this summer we can see how insecure a top 10, even top 5 ranking can be.
The 8th ranked and 4th seed Jelena Jankovic took Azarenka to 3 sets in Brisbane in the semis yet was dumped in the first round in Sydney by unseeded Makarova.
5th ranked and top seed Agnieszka Radwanska was given her marching orders by capable and colourful American Bethanie Mattek-Sands first up, and Aga won the same event in 2013.
10th ranked and 6th seed Wozniacki lost out to Safarova in the second round.
9th ranked and 5th seed Kerber survived her first round match, but having to play highly credentialed but unseeded Cibulkova was never going to be a picnic. Just shows how competitive the WTA has become and what the season promises to be.
Li Na, 2011 Roland Garros champ, and one of the established brigade, stormed her way to number three in the world on the back of a brilliant finish to 2013, and she has already won her first event of this year in China.
Ana Ivanovic, another previous winner at Roland Garros, just won in Auckland - her first tournament win in over two years. I've predicted her moving back to top ten for each of the past two years - so third time lucky Ana will join her Serbian compatriot Jankovic in the top ten by 2014 end.
We have seen the emergence of Simona Halep, Sloane Stephens signalling maybe another generation of US power together with Madison Keys, the rise of Roberta Vinci from a wonderful doubles player into one of the best by herself, Kirsten Flipkens looking to restart the Belgian train, and Genie Bouchard putting Canada back on the map. So the WTA is offering plenty, not just from the top few, but from a large group, many of whom have claims on a top ten position by year's end.
Serena may be far and away the best but there is a scramble for the next several spots and that's one good reason why women's tennis should be regarded more seriously by those embedded in old age chauvinistic views of the world, unwilling to appreciate the value offered by women playing this sport at such a level of excellence.
Of course thanks to Billie Jean King and her warriors, we for over 40 years have had a professional women's tour that stands alone in the sport.
Irrespective of that, every year at every Grand Slam event the old argument about prize money is raised by those that believe playing best of five sets is deserving of greater reward than doing it in best of three, and that equal prize money for women is unfair.
And then there is the equally tiresome one about how the men hit the ball harder, they move faster, and so clearly the matches are more interesting to watch.
At the pointy end of proceedings that latter argument has some merit - currently if you were to choose to watch a final between the 2 best men - Rafa and Novak - or the 2 best women - Serena and Vika - no question the guys have it. However there is a lot of boring men's tennis played on the way to the final few matches, and we often have to suffer through the tedium at Grand Slam level until someone has managed to win 3 sets of the stuff.
That's not what I'm going to talk about here though. I've said enough about that and my opinion on prize money is unchanged. It should be equal by gender.
Today it's about the depth of the respective tours and over the past few years there has been a progressive shift. No longer can the boys claim to have the numbers here. It used to be the boast that a man ranked in the top 50 or so was capable of winning against anyone else above them on a given day.
While that is still a true statement, the given day is now closer to once in a blue moon than a distinct possibility. Especially so if it is the elite that are being tested. For too long now men's tennis has been dominated by a very few - for a long time Federer and Nadal, before the emergence of Djokovic and now Murray has seen the club membership reach four.
Even with the slow slide of Federer, no one is seriously rating Ferrer as a Grand Slam title threat above the Fab Four. Sure Del Potro, Berdych, Ferrer, Wawrinka are doing Ok, but none has taken the step into the world of the Grand Slam winning 4 apart from Del Potro's brief foray in 2009.
The interest now is with the unpredictability of results on the women's tour, leaving aside Serena because she is freakish and cannot be usefully included in statistical analysis such as this.
Apart from Serena, finalists in last year's Grand Slam events included Vika Azarenka, Li Na, Maria Sharapova, Marion Bartoli and Sabine Lisicki with Bartoli a debut winner.
For the men it was Nadal, Djokovic, Murray and Ferrer and no debut winner.
Just taking note of what has happened in Australia and elsewhere this summer we can see how insecure a top 10, even top 5 ranking can be.
The 8th ranked and 4th seed Jelena Jankovic took Azarenka to 3 sets in Brisbane in the semis yet was dumped in the first round in Sydney by unseeded Makarova.
5th ranked and top seed Agnieszka Radwanska was given her marching orders by capable and colourful American Bethanie Mattek-Sands first up, and Aga won the same event in 2013.
10th ranked and 6th seed Wozniacki lost out to Safarova in the second round.
9th ranked and 5th seed Kerber survived her first round match, but having to play highly credentialed but unseeded Cibulkova was never going to be a picnic. Just shows how competitive the WTA has become and what the season promises to be.
Li Na, 2011 Roland Garros champ, and one of the established brigade, stormed her way to number three in the world on the back of a brilliant finish to 2013, and she has already won her first event of this year in China.
Ana Ivanovic, another previous winner at Roland Garros, just won in Auckland - her first tournament win in over two years. I've predicted her moving back to top ten for each of the past two years - so third time lucky Ana will join her Serbian compatriot Jankovic in the top ten by 2014 end.
We have seen the emergence of Simona Halep, Sloane Stephens signalling maybe another generation of US power together with Madison Keys, the rise of Roberta Vinci from a wonderful doubles player into one of the best by herself, Kirsten Flipkens looking to restart the Belgian train, and Genie Bouchard putting Canada back on the map. So the WTA is offering plenty, not just from the top few, but from a large group, many of whom have claims on a top ten position by year's end.
Serena may be far and away the best but there is a scramble for the next several spots and that's one good reason why women's tennis should be regarded more seriously by those embedded in old age chauvinistic views of the world, unwilling to appreciate the value offered by women playing this sport at such a level of excellence.
Tuesday, 7 January 2014
Aus Open - the Draw draws near
So another season is upon us and already we have a number of interesting results to ponder as the start of the Australian Open draws to within less than a week.
Increasingly it seems the draw - out on Friday - is as anxiously awaited as the first ball struck in anger, frustration, exasperation or occasionally joy. This year for Australians it mainly centres on Lleyton Hewitt, principally due to his astonishing start to the summer, not the type of summer experienced by him for the first time, but unexpected given his position in the life cycle of a tennis player. Even more remarkable the feat of winning the Brisbane International was that it came using the same injury riddled body he continues to push to the absolute limits in his preparation, a preparation still unequalled on tour.
The fact that Hewitt was able to conquer his long time nemesis Roger Federer for the second time in their last three meetings, both in ATP finals, is reason for joy for the Australian, now ranked 43 in the world, but still leaves him unseeded for Melbourne Park and just as open to the horrors that the draw can throw up for qualifiers, lucky losers and wild cards.
Yes, Lleyton may play someone well down the rankings in round one and begin as favourite, but he is also not immune from the likes of the reigning and 4 time champ Djokovic, or the current world number one, Nadal turning up on the other side of the net for the first encounter of the first Grand Slam event of 2014.
Hopefully, for many reasons, including adding interest to the men's event at the Aus Open, which to be blunt over the past few years has been a matter of "let's hit a few tennis balls for a couple of weeks but we only need you 4 or 5 guys back here for the semis", Hewitt can be given the best chance to play himself into the tournament in the first couple of rounds. Then as the most likely unseeded player to cause havoc amongst the seeds, he might actually proceed with that havoc making.
Increasingly it seems the draw - out on Friday - is as anxiously awaited as the first ball struck in anger, frustration, exasperation or occasionally joy. This year for Australians it mainly centres on Lleyton Hewitt, principally due to his astonishing start to the summer, not the type of summer experienced by him for the first time, but unexpected given his position in the life cycle of a tennis player. Even more remarkable the feat of winning the Brisbane International was that it came using the same injury riddled body he continues to push to the absolute limits in his preparation, a preparation still unequalled on tour.
The fact that Hewitt was able to conquer his long time nemesis Roger Federer for the second time in their last three meetings, both in ATP finals, is reason for joy for the Australian, now ranked 43 in the world, but still leaves him unseeded for Melbourne Park and just as open to the horrors that the draw can throw up for qualifiers, lucky losers and wild cards.
Yes, Lleyton may play someone well down the rankings in round one and begin as favourite, but he is also not immune from the likes of the reigning and 4 time champ Djokovic, or the current world number one, Nadal turning up on the other side of the net for the first encounter of the first Grand Slam event of 2014.
Hopefully, for many reasons, including adding interest to the men's event at the Aus Open, which to be blunt over the past few years has been a matter of "let's hit a few tennis balls for a couple of weeks but we only need you 4 or 5 guys back here for the semis", Hewitt can be given the best chance to play himself into the tournament in the first couple of rounds. Then as the most likely unseeded player to cause havoc amongst the seeds, he might actually proceed with that havoc making.
Thursday, 21 November 2013
The 2 Best Served Out the Year
Whatever 2013 may have offered us in the way of tennis delights, no one dare deny with a straight face that 3 players stood on a tennis court far beyond the reach of the rest of those wielding racquets in various fashion. Things will continue to be said and written concerning the place in the game that belongs to Serena Williams, and I am fortunate enough to be among those battling to find the words to adequately describe her eminence.
Today though I pay overdue recognition to the year's dominant 2 male exponents of the wonderful art of tennis ball persuasion. Although he finished 2013 ranked number 2, Novak Djokovic displayed truck loads of stoicism and wizardry, not losing a single match following the shattering Flushing Meadows result. For anyone else second prize in New York would be a joy, but of course Nole knows that on hard courts he is best placed to win against Nadal. Given that he came to the absolute brink of knocking off Rafa in Paris on the surface in which the Spaniard eats and sleeps, another loss in Grand Slam tournament play was doubly agonising.
Rafa, for his part, entered the 2013 fray having missed the Australian Open and doubts still lingered over his ability to withstand a full season with the troublesome knee. However the only thing troublesome was Rafa himself if you as a player happened to run into him in a tournament draw. The guy won practically everything - Wimbledon was a blip in proceedings - including 2 of the year's GS titles, making him the best, and Novak was the first to hand him that accolade after the US Open.
The 2 arrived in London for the ATP Tour finale, as the top 2 seeds, and proceeded to demonstrate that to be a true measure of where they sit in Men's tennis. Cruising through to the semis undefeated in their groups, they had Swiss opponents with which to contend next. Neither had difficulty - Rafa dispatched Federer as he does most times, and Stan Wawrinka could not contain the excellence and consistency of Djokovic to the same degree he had shown in 2 classic encounters earlier in the year.
The final was as it should have been in terms of the participants, if not in competitiveness (Djokovic too strong indoors) - both had extraordinary years and one can only hope that the 2012 Australian Open final can be relived in 2014, because these 2 are at the peak of their powers and managing their duties to serve and ancillary obligations so much better than the next tier of players.
2013 belonged to 3 players and Rafa and Nole join Serena to take the chocolates.
Today though I pay overdue recognition to the year's dominant 2 male exponents of the wonderful art of tennis ball persuasion. Although he finished 2013 ranked number 2, Novak Djokovic displayed truck loads of stoicism and wizardry, not losing a single match following the shattering Flushing Meadows result. For anyone else second prize in New York would be a joy, but of course Nole knows that on hard courts he is best placed to win against Nadal. Given that he came to the absolute brink of knocking off Rafa in Paris on the surface in which the Spaniard eats and sleeps, another loss in Grand Slam tournament play was doubly agonising.
Rafa, for his part, entered the 2013 fray having missed the Australian Open and doubts still lingered over his ability to withstand a full season with the troublesome knee. However the only thing troublesome was Rafa himself if you as a player happened to run into him in a tournament draw. The guy won practically everything - Wimbledon was a blip in proceedings - including 2 of the year's GS titles, making him the best, and Novak was the first to hand him that accolade after the US Open.
The 2 arrived in London for the ATP Tour finale, as the top 2 seeds, and proceeded to demonstrate that to be a true measure of where they sit in Men's tennis. Cruising through to the semis undefeated in their groups, they had Swiss opponents with which to contend next. Neither had difficulty - Rafa dispatched Federer as he does most times, and Stan Wawrinka could not contain the excellence and consistency of Djokovic to the same degree he had shown in 2 classic encounters earlier in the year.
The final was as it should have been in terms of the participants, if not in competitiveness (Djokovic too strong indoors) - both had extraordinary years and one can only hope that the 2012 Australian Open final can be relived in 2014, because these 2 are at the peak of their powers and managing their duties to serve and ancillary obligations so much better than the next tier of players.
2013 belonged to 3 players and Rafa and Nole join Serena to take the chocolates.
Friday, 18 October 2013
WTA Championships or Serena Benefit ?
The 2013 season finishes for the top women players with the TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships beginning on 22 October. The field is missing Maria Sharapova through injury, allowing 9th ranked Angelique Kerber to take her place in the field of 8 for the second successive year.
In fact the only new face from the 2012 draw is the "comeback kid", Serbia's Jelena Jankovic, who has qualified 7th (8th had Sharapova competed).
Serena Williams qualified third for the event last year and cleaned up the field in no uncertain manner. This year she has dominated, and will enter as the top qualifier by a street, safe in the knowledge that she will hold the number one ranking irrespective of results in Istanbul.
How the two groups are shaped will determine to a large extent predictions for who might be the second finalist because only someone who has just entered this cosmos would not select Serena Williams to appear in the final and in the same breath claim an ounce of sanity.
Let's consider the cold facts. Only one player in the Istanbul field has beaten Serena in 2013 and Vika Azarenka has done the job twice. The first time was the Doha final coming on the back of Azarenka's second Aus Open triumph. The second meeting between the pair this year - the Rome final - (all their clashes in 2013 have been for titles) saw Serena win in straight as she dominated the clay season en route to her second Roland Garros crown.
Vika impressed on hard courts approaching the US Open winning another three set thriller in Cincinnati. However it was to be Serena levelling the ledger for 2013 by taking out the US Open appropriately in three sets over the only woman on the planet to regularly trouble her on a tennis court. It has taken about a dozen matches of constant pain of failure against Williams to reach this level of competitiveness, so props to the screamer from Belarus.
Since the US Open Vika has found it difficult, losing her only two matches, whereas Serena has won yet another title in her only outing. Momentum is going to have to shift next week in order for Azarenka to win overall, but it would be foolish to think that anyone else has a better chance of challenging Serena.
Against Aga Radwanska Serena has won all 7 times including the three semi finals this year, most recently in Beijing.
Li Na beat Serena in 2008 but failed in her other 9 attempts, three of those this year including a semi final thrashing at Flushing Meadows.
Petra Kvitova has lost all her four matches to Serena, although their 2013 contest in Doha was a tight 3 setter.
All six encounters with Sara Errani have seen Serena successful, among those 2013 clay court semi wins in Madrid and significantly Roland Garros.
Bucking the trend somewhat Jelena Jankovic was 4-4 in career meetings with Serena after defeating her in Rome 2010. However Serena has won the past three, including 2 finals in 2013, the latter being the Beijing title.
Serena Williams and Angelique Kerber have only played three times, the first way back in 2007. Kerber lost that but won the next one which was Cincinnati last year. Serena balanced the books by winning a round robin match at the year end championships, but there is no 2013 head to head form line here.
Based on what we have seen, and not knowing how the two groups will fall, I rate Azarenka as the prime threat to Serena at the WTA Championships, but more realistically the favourite to take the second finalist position. I think that Jankovic and possibly Radwanska are playing well enough to push through to the semis of the event.
In fact the only new face from the 2012 draw is the "comeback kid", Serbia's Jelena Jankovic, who has qualified 7th (8th had Sharapova competed).
Serena Williams qualified third for the event last year and cleaned up the field in no uncertain manner. This year she has dominated, and will enter as the top qualifier by a street, safe in the knowledge that she will hold the number one ranking irrespective of results in Istanbul.
How the two groups are shaped will determine to a large extent predictions for who might be the second finalist because only someone who has just entered this cosmos would not select Serena Williams to appear in the final and in the same breath claim an ounce of sanity.
Let's consider the cold facts. Only one player in the Istanbul field has beaten Serena in 2013 and Vika Azarenka has done the job twice. The first time was the Doha final coming on the back of Azarenka's second Aus Open triumph. The second meeting between the pair this year - the Rome final - (all their clashes in 2013 have been for titles) saw Serena win in straight as she dominated the clay season en route to her second Roland Garros crown.
Vika impressed on hard courts approaching the US Open winning another three set thriller in Cincinnati. However it was to be Serena levelling the ledger for 2013 by taking out the US Open appropriately in three sets over the only woman on the planet to regularly trouble her on a tennis court. It has taken about a dozen matches of constant pain of failure against Williams to reach this level of competitiveness, so props to the screamer from Belarus.
Since the US Open Vika has found it difficult, losing her only two matches, whereas Serena has won yet another title in her only outing. Momentum is going to have to shift next week in order for Azarenka to win overall, but it would be foolish to think that anyone else has a better chance of challenging Serena.
Against Aga Radwanska Serena has won all 7 times including the three semi finals this year, most recently in Beijing.
Li Na beat Serena in 2008 but failed in her other 9 attempts, three of those this year including a semi final thrashing at Flushing Meadows.
Petra Kvitova has lost all her four matches to Serena, although their 2013 contest in Doha was a tight 3 setter.
All six encounters with Sara Errani have seen Serena successful, among those 2013 clay court semi wins in Madrid and significantly Roland Garros.
Bucking the trend somewhat Jelena Jankovic was 4-4 in career meetings with Serena after defeating her in Rome 2010. However Serena has won the past three, including 2 finals in 2013, the latter being the Beijing title.
Serena Williams and Angelique Kerber have only played three times, the first way back in 2007. Kerber lost that but won the next one which was Cincinnati last year. Serena balanced the books by winning a round robin match at the year end championships, but there is no 2013 head to head form line here.
Based on what we have seen, and not knowing how the two groups will fall, I rate Azarenka as the prime threat to Serena at the WTA Championships, but more realistically the favourite to take the second finalist position. I think that Jankovic and possibly Radwanska are playing well enough to push through to the semis of the event.
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