Friday 25th November
Djokovic and Berdych were fighting for their places today as wins were the name of the game for this pair. Djoko took on Davis Cup team mate Tipsarevic in the day match and Berdy fought for his place against so far unbeatable Ferrer in the evening match.
Djokovic and Tipsarevic are good friends off the court but there was little evidence of this as the pair battled it out in the O2. Djokovic came out all guns firing and quickly wrapped up the first set 6-3. He looked to be drawing on unknown reserves and making a fight for the finals of the last tournament of what has been an incredible year for the world number 1. Tipsarevic, a reserve for Andy Murray who lost his opening match, had nothing to gain by winning this match in terms of progression in the competition, and surely would want to see his good friend go through to have a chance of another title? Sportsmen, however, do not think this way. A match is a match and no player would go into one not wanting to win, or not caring whether they won or not. Tipsarevic was not about to bow out of his first Tour End Finals without a show.
He rallied in the second set and hit huge groundstrokes to take it 6-3 and set up a decider. Djokovic was broken in the very first game of the third set and never quite recovered as Tipsarevic hit clever shots and then booming groundstrokes to beat Djoko for only the 6th time this year (in 76 matches).
Djoko had to hope that Ferrer beat Berdych in straight sets to go through to the semis.
Ferrer is on a winning streak. He defeated a crook Murray in straight sets on Monday and then destroyed Djokovic on Wednesday. He is already sure of a place in the semis but a victory today ensures he will play the second place player in the other group, a far better prospect than Federer who he has not beaten in 11 meetings. He should have had no fear, then, of Berdych - a lower ranked player than himself and one who has a 1-1 win/loss ratio in the tournament so far.
He didn't look like he feared Berdy as he won the first set 6-3 and was twice a break up in the second and seemingly cruising to victory. This fearlessness, however, didn't last. He suffered a dramatic collapse and lost the second set 7-5, then the third 6-1. Berdych played well and took full advantage of his opponents loss of form, but Ferrer basically handed Berdych the win and as such the right to play Tsonga instead of Fed in the semi finals.
Ferrer said of his match against Federer that he would fight and acknowledged he's never beaten Federer before but will try his hardest to do so.
I'll keep you blogged...
Wednesday, 30 November 2011
Monday, 28 November 2011
ATP World Tour Finals - Day 4
Thursday 24th November
Today Federer took on Fish in a dead rubber match on day 4 of the ATP World Tour Finals. Fish doesn't have a good record against Federer but in a contest like this - his first tour end finals, Federer already through after two stonking performances, Fish's parents in the audience - he had nothing to lose. He started poorly, however, and soon found himself a set down with only one game on the board.
He rallied in the second set and produced some beautiful serving to gain some momentum. He then rushed Federer into a couple of mistakes and found himself a break up and cruising to the business end of the set. Federer looked edgy as Fish continued to hit the ball early and find the lines with his booming groundstrokes. He was also showing his metal at the net and served out confidently for the set to take it to a decider.
The third was a very tight affair and Federer himself said afterwards that he was worried and that he thought he was going to lose. He quickly gained a stranglehold on the set, however, as he broke Fish to go 2-0 up. Fish held on and the two men put on quite a show until Federer's trademark backhand ensured a 37th career victory in the competition - putting him second on the list and two behind top dog Ivan Lendl (39).
Fish can go home a happy man having completed his best year ever on a fine performance this Thanksgiving day.
The other match was Tsonga v. Nadal, a must-win match for both players. Nadal has had a relatively weak competition so far and would have wanted to come out all guns blazing against the in-form Frenchman. Tsonga, on the other hand, was looking to reach his first Tour Finals semi-final.
The two men commenced battle from the very first point and neither admitted defeat until Tsonga sunk Nadal and sent him home nearly three hours later. It was a great match. Two hard-hitting scrappy players fighting tooth and nail. Tsonga won a tough first set on the tie-break and Nadal took the second on a single break.
Here was another third set decider. Nadal, famed for his resilience and ability to close out tough matches was now surely firm favourite. It was Tsonga, however, who responded best to the crowd's cheers and the pressure. He played brilliantly to break Nadal in the third game, held to love, then broke the Spaniard again to secure a 5-2 lead and a chance to serve for the semi-finals. With his superb shot-making and athleticism it was hard to see how Nadal could find a way back into the match but Tsonga choked when serving for the match and three double faults kept Nadal in contention.
Nadal was a broken man though and Tsonga, no doubt annoyed with his poor display in the previous game, broke him to love with an inside-out forehand that wrapped up an awesome performance.
Tsonga - through; Nadal - gone.
I'll keep you blogged...
Today Federer took on Fish in a dead rubber match on day 4 of the ATP World Tour Finals. Fish doesn't have a good record against Federer but in a contest like this - his first tour end finals, Federer already through after two stonking performances, Fish's parents in the audience - he had nothing to lose. He started poorly, however, and soon found himself a set down with only one game on the board.
He rallied in the second set and produced some beautiful serving to gain some momentum. He then rushed Federer into a couple of mistakes and found himself a break up and cruising to the business end of the set. Federer looked edgy as Fish continued to hit the ball early and find the lines with his booming groundstrokes. He was also showing his metal at the net and served out confidently for the set to take it to a decider.
The third was a very tight affair and Federer himself said afterwards that he was worried and that he thought he was going to lose. He quickly gained a stranglehold on the set, however, as he broke Fish to go 2-0 up. Fish held on and the two men put on quite a show until Federer's trademark backhand ensured a 37th career victory in the competition - putting him second on the list and two behind top dog Ivan Lendl (39).
Fish can go home a happy man having completed his best year ever on a fine performance this Thanksgiving day.
The other match was Tsonga v. Nadal, a must-win match for both players. Nadal has had a relatively weak competition so far and would have wanted to come out all guns blazing against the in-form Frenchman. Tsonga, on the other hand, was looking to reach his first Tour Finals semi-final.
The two men commenced battle from the very first point and neither admitted defeat until Tsonga sunk Nadal and sent him home nearly three hours later. It was a great match. Two hard-hitting scrappy players fighting tooth and nail. Tsonga won a tough first set on the tie-break and Nadal took the second on a single break.
Here was another third set decider. Nadal, famed for his resilience and ability to close out tough matches was now surely firm favourite. It was Tsonga, however, who responded best to the crowd's cheers and the pressure. He played brilliantly to break Nadal in the third game, held to love, then broke the Spaniard again to secure a 5-2 lead and a chance to serve for the semi-finals. With his superb shot-making and athleticism it was hard to see how Nadal could find a way back into the match but Tsonga choked when serving for the match and three double faults kept Nadal in contention.
Nadal was a broken man though and Tsonga, no doubt annoyed with his poor display in the previous game, broke him to love with an inside-out forehand that wrapped up an awesome performance.
Tsonga - through; Nadal - gone.
I'll keep you blogged...
Saturday, 26 November 2011
ATP Tour Finals - O2
Wednesday 23rd November
Today Tipsarevic stepped into the fray as Andy Murray's replacement and the lucky number nine. He played Berdych who, after Monday's disappointment against Djokovic, had to win in order to have a chance of going through. Tipsarevic, I would imagine, was just pretty happy to be there. He can, however, go through if he wins both his matches.
Tipsy, with his trademark glasses, embraced the stage from the get-go. He won the first set 6-2 and had Berdy flustered on the other side of the net. He was looking very dangerous in fact. Berdy was going to have to step up his game if he was going to progress and beat a man obviously relishing his chance at being in this tournament for the first time.
Berdych was up for the challenge and battled in the second set to take it to a third. Tipsarevic's form didn't waver as he took Berdych to a tie-break - the third third set tie-break of the tournament. It was amazingly close with both players stretching to the limit. Tipsarevic was the first to gain that vital mini-break which brought up match point but he missed his shot and then served a double to hand Berdych a match point. He wasn't about to give that up as he had against Djokovic two days earlier, and the match ended on a rather dramatic note as Tipsarevic stretched to return a booming serve from Berdy and then slipped to the ground, tried to struggle up, slipped again, and ended up flat on the ground, face down. Great stuff.
Djokovic and Ferrer contested the evening match, both needing victory to ensure a place in the semis. Djokovic, of course, started as favourite but Ferrer had carved an admittedly crook Murray in half on Monday and would no doubt be feeling good about his chances against the world number 1.
And well he might as under 90 minutes later he had beaten the unbeatable 6-3 6-1. A rather emphatic score and an equally emphatic performance. Yes, Djoko looked absolutely knackered and in the second set could hardly find the court but Ferrer's form never wavered. He hit good clean winners in the second set and scampered about returning every Djoko ball in the first. Djokovic, tired and flat in his post-match interview, conceded that Ferrer deserved the match. Djoko will go home to some well-deserved time off. Three slams and 75 matches won to five lost is a pretty decent year, I'd say.
I'll keep you blogged...
Today Tipsarevic stepped into the fray as Andy Murray's replacement and the lucky number nine. He played Berdych who, after Monday's disappointment against Djokovic, had to win in order to have a chance of going through. Tipsarevic, I would imagine, was just pretty happy to be there. He can, however, go through if he wins both his matches.
Tipsy, with his trademark glasses, embraced the stage from the get-go. He won the first set 6-2 and had Berdy flustered on the other side of the net. He was looking very dangerous in fact. Berdy was going to have to step up his game if he was going to progress and beat a man obviously relishing his chance at being in this tournament for the first time.
Berdych was up for the challenge and battled in the second set to take it to a third. Tipsarevic's form didn't waver as he took Berdych to a tie-break - the third third set tie-break of the tournament. It was amazingly close with both players stretching to the limit. Tipsarevic was the first to gain that vital mini-break which brought up match point but he missed his shot and then served a double to hand Berdych a match point. He wasn't about to give that up as he had against Djokovic two days earlier, and the match ended on a rather dramatic note as Tipsarevic stretched to return a booming serve from Berdy and then slipped to the ground, tried to struggle up, slipped again, and ended up flat on the ground, face down. Great stuff.
Djokovic and Ferrer contested the evening match, both needing victory to ensure a place in the semis. Djokovic, of course, started as favourite but Ferrer had carved an admittedly crook Murray in half on Monday and would no doubt be feeling good about his chances against the world number 1.
And well he might as under 90 minutes later he had beaten the unbeatable 6-3 6-1. A rather emphatic score and an equally emphatic performance. Yes, Djoko looked absolutely knackered and in the second set could hardly find the court but Ferrer's form never wavered. He hit good clean winners in the second set and scampered about returning every Djoko ball in the first. Djokovic, tired and flat in his post-match interview, conceded that Ferrer deserved the match. Djoko will go home to some well-deserved time off. Three slams and 75 matches won to five lost is a pretty decent year, I'd say.
I'll keep you blogged...
Wednesday, 23 November 2011
ATP Tour Finals - O2
Tuesday 22nd November
Mardy Fish has had a stella year. He's reached his highest ever ranking, ousted Roddick as America's number 1 and saw a quarter final of a Slam for the first time. He's playing in the World Tour Finals for the first (and, dare I say it, possibly the last...) time and he's not let himself down. He was brilliant against Nadal, only missing out by a point or two. Some of his shots were breathtaking.
Today he played Tsonga and needed to win to have any chance of going through to the semi finals. The first set was a tight affair, with momentum swinging this way and that. It went to a tie-break and Fish made one too many mistakes as Tsonga wrestled the set into submission. Fish seemed to lose faith after that and apart from a couple of flashes of his previous brilliance he was beaten easily by the hard-hitting and very smiley Frenchman.
Fish will have a last hurrah against the mighty Fed on Thursday and then he goes home for Christmas and training for the new season. Tsonga, meanwhile, will play Nadal - winner takes all.
The night match was a masterclass. A look back into the past where one man was absolutely unbeatable. He was graceful, elegant, stylish, unplayable, incredible and astonishing. I know, too many verbs, but it was that good. Federer's destruction of Nadal was a match that will go down in the history books. Federer himself said of the match that it was highly ranked because it was against one of his biggest rivals and that he was excited about the way he played. The 30-year-olds 26th meeting with Nadal was set up as THE match of the tournament so far. The fans were looking for some brilliance, especially after the news of Murray's withdrawal, but nobody could have predicted the level of play Federer brought.
He beat a confounded Nadal 6-3 6-0, and hit 28 winners to Nadal's 4. He won 85% points off his first serve and afforded Nadal not a single break point. He was, as Nadal graciously pointed out afterwards, 'too good'.
I'll keep you blogged...
Mardy Fish has had a stella year. He's reached his highest ever ranking, ousted Roddick as America's number 1 and saw a quarter final of a Slam for the first time. He's playing in the World Tour Finals for the first (and, dare I say it, possibly the last...) time and he's not let himself down. He was brilliant against Nadal, only missing out by a point or two. Some of his shots were breathtaking.
Today he played Tsonga and needed to win to have any chance of going through to the semi finals. The first set was a tight affair, with momentum swinging this way and that. It went to a tie-break and Fish made one too many mistakes as Tsonga wrestled the set into submission. Fish seemed to lose faith after that and apart from a couple of flashes of his previous brilliance he was beaten easily by the hard-hitting and very smiley Frenchman.
Fish will have a last hurrah against the mighty Fed on Thursday and then he goes home for Christmas and training for the new season. Tsonga, meanwhile, will play Nadal - winner takes all.
The night match was a masterclass. A look back into the past where one man was absolutely unbeatable. He was graceful, elegant, stylish, unplayable, incredible and astonishing. I know, too many verbs, but it was that good. Federer's destruction of Nadal was a match that will go down in the history books. Federer himself said of the match that it was highly ranked because it was against one of his biggest rivals and that he was excited about the way he played. The 30-year-olds 26th meeting with Nadal was set up as THE match of the tournament so far. The fans were looking for some brilliance, especially after the news of Murray's withdrawal, but nobody could have predicted the level of play Federer brought.
He beat a confounded Nadal 6-3 6-0, and hit 28 winners to Nadal's 4. He won 85% points off his first serve and afforded Nadal not a single break point. He was, as Nadal graciously pointed out afterwards, 'too good'.
I'll keep you blogged...
ATP Tour Finals - O2
Monday 21st November
Today saw the second group - Murray, Djokovic, Ferrer and Berdych - take the spotlight. Murray played Ferrer in the early match and Djoko took on Berdych in the evening session.
I was very excited about the Murray match. I've been plugging him to everybody who asks as the winner of this tournament. With such a great build-up - winning three tournaments on the tour of Asia - I have been expecting big things from him. What I hadn't expected was a groin injury that would see him first lose meekly to Ferrer - a player who has never beaten him on anything but a clay court - and then withdraw from the tournament two days later. Bummer.
He was beaten 4 and 5 to a solid Ferrer who looked ecstatic to have won. Murray, however, looked miserable. Even for Murray. All of that work and effort in the latter part of this year to reach number 3 in the world, one Slam final and three Slam semis, and a real opportunity to win his first year end finals and he has to pull out because of a groin strain. He must be bitterly disappointed.
The other match saw Djokovic take on Berdych. Another three setter and tie-break decider was to follow. A friend of mine was at the match and said the atmosphere was incredible. Berdych powered into a 4-0 lead in the first set, eventually taking it 6-3 against a struggling Djoko. The second set was a role reversal as Berdych's forehand went astray and Djoko found his rhythm to go 3-0 up in a blink of an eye. Some breathtaking rallies followed but Djoko took the set to the same score as the first. The tension mounted in the third as both players tried to get the upper hand. Berdych was the first to pounce when he made two unstoppable forehands in game six to afford him the break. Djoko responded immediately and broke back a tight Berdych. The topsy turvy match continued as Djoko served a double to hand Berdych a match point but he couldn't capitalise and the match went to a tie-break. Here Berdych lost his nerve. Djokovic came through the tough tough match 7-3 on the tie-break and it was a relieved world number one who shook Berdych's hand.
More drama and great matches to come tomorrow as Tsonga takes on Fish in a must win match and Nadal takes on his old foe Federer in the night session.
I'll keep you blogged...
Today saw the second group - Murray, Djokovic, Ferrer and Berdych - take the spotlight. Murray played Ferrer in the early match and Djoko took on Berdych in the evening session.
I was very excited about the Murray match. I've been plugging him to everybody who asks as the winner of this tournament. With such a great build-up - winning three tournaments on the tour of Asia - I have been expecting big things from him. What I hadn't expected was a groin injury that would see him first lose meekly to Ferrer - a player who has never beaten him on anything but a clay court - and then withdraw from the tournament two days later. Bummer.
He was beaten 4 and 5 to a solid Ferrer who looked ecstatic to have won. Murray, however, looked miserable. Even for Murray. All of that work and effort in the latter part of this year to reach number 3 in the world, one Slam final and three Slam semis, and a real opportunity to win his first year end finals and he has to pull out because of a groin strain. He must be bitterly disappointed.
The other match saw Djokovic take on Berdych. Another three setter and tie-break decider was to follow. A friend of mine was at the match and said the atmosphere was incredible. Berdych powered into a 4-0 lead in the first set, eventually taking it 6-3 against a struggling Djoko. The second set was a role reversal as Berdych's forehand went astray and Djoko found his rhythm to go 3-0 up in a blink of an eye. Some breathtaking rallies followed but Djoko took the set to the same score as the first. The tension mounted in the third as both players tried to get the upper hand. Berdych was the first to pounce when he made two unstoppable forehands in game six to afford him the break. Djoko responded immediately and broke back a tight Berdych. The topsy turvy match continued as Djoko served a double to hand Berdych a match point but he couldn't capitalise and the match went to a tie-break. Here Berdych lost his nerve. Djokovic came through the tough tough match 7-3 on the tie-break and it was a relieved world number one who shook Berdych's hand.
More drama and great matches to come tomorrow as Tsonga takes on Fish in a must win match and Nadal takes on his old foe Federer in the night session.
I'll keep you blogged...
Monday, 21 November 2011
ATP Tour Finals - O2
Sunday 20th November
Federer and Tsonga kicked off this years World Tour Finals at the O2 and what a match it was. Fed cruised the first set 6-2, dropping only three points on serve, and it looked to be a masterclass from the master until Tsonga kicked into gear in the second set and beat a suddenly below-par Federer to the same score. The third set was tense and pretty even until Tsonga made fatal errors in the final game and Fed capitalised. He eventually squeezed through 6-2 2-6 6-4. He said afterwards that this is the best he's played all year and the time off before Basel and Paris has helped.
Nadal v. Fish was the evening match and the one I was lucky enough to attend. After buying our foot long hotdogs and chips (the chips were just normal sized...) we found our skyscraper seats in the incredibly warm arena and settled in to watch first a great doubles match then an even better singles.
It was the best match I've seen at the O2. Full of pace, great rallies, incredible gets and not without some drama and emotion. Nadal is not at his best - hence running to the toilet when 2-0 up in the deciding set - but neither is Fish. The feel around the place as we waited for the players to come out was that Fish didn't have a chance. Yes, he's had the best year of his career but beating Nadal at the O2? No way. And after the first set was won easily by the Spaniard it looked as if the crowd had it right.
I, however, was not convinced. Fish hits a beautiful clean, flat, hard backhand which is exactly the kind of shot that Nadal hates. In the second set Fish stepped up his game and we were treated to a brilliant display on how to play Nadal. It reminded me of Soderling beating Nadal at the French. He took the set 6-3 and roared out a 'come on!' in true American style. He was well and truly back in the game.
Nadal started the third very well and was quickly 2-0 up. After playing a great point to take the break early in the set, Nadal ran off court for a toilet break. Fish looked perplexedly up at the umps who merely watched Nadal's retreating form. It was all a little odd, I have to say. When he came back in, pale and shaking his head, he apologised to Fish and promptly lost three games in a row. Fish was a break up in the decider against a crook Nadal and looking on course for a shock win.
Nadal, however, decided, sickness aside, that he was not going down without a fight and preferably not at all. What followed were beautiful beautiful points. That set is going to be hard to beat. It came down to a very tense tie break in which Fish made one too many mistakes and Nadal made none.
After the players shook hands we had a crazy mad-scramble to get the last tube back to Waterloo and then a bizarre round-a-bout train/bus/car journey to get home, but it was all worth it. I would do it again tomorrow and the next day and the next.
I'll keep you blogged...
Federer and Tsonga kicked off this years World Tour Finals at the O2 and what a match it was. Fed cruised the first set 6-2, dropping only three points on serve, and it looked to be a masterclass from the master until Tsonga kicked into gear in the second set and beat a suddenly below-par Federer to the same score. The third set was tense and pretty even until Tsonga made fatal errors in the final game and Fed capitalised. He eventually squeezed through 6-2 2-6 6-4. He said afterwards that this is the best he's played all year and the time off before Basel and Paris has helped.
Nadal v. Fish was the evening match and the one I was lucky enough to attend. After buying our foot long hotdogs and chips (the chips were just normal sized...) we found our skyscraper seats in the incredibly warm arena and settled in to watch first a great doubles match then an even better singles.
It was the best match I've seen at the O2. Full of pace, great rallies, incredible gets and not without some drama and emotion. Nadal is not at his best - hence running to the toilet when 2-0 up in the deciding set - but neither is Fish. The feel around the place as we waited for the players to come out was that Fish didn't have a chance. Yes, he's had the best year of his career but beating Nadal at the O2? No way. And after the first set was won easily by the Spaniard it looked as if the crowd had it right.
I, however, was not convinced. Fish hits a beautiful clean, flat, hard backhand which is exactly the kind of shot that Nadal hates. In the second set Fish stepped up his game and we were treated to a brilliant display on how to play Nadal. It reminded me of Soderling beating Nadal at the French. He took the set 6-3 and roared out a 'come on!' in true American style. He was well and truly back in the game.
Nadal started the third very well and was quickly 2-0 up. After playing a great point to take the break early in the set, Nadal ran off court for a toilet break. Fish looked perplexedly up at the umps who merely watched Nadal's retreating form. It was all a little odd, I have to say. When he came back in, pale and shaking his head, he apologised to Fish and promptly lost three games in a row. Fish was a break up in the decider against a crook Nadal and looking on course for a shock win.
Nadal, however, decided, sickness aside, that he was not going down without a fight and preferably not at all. What followed were beautiful beautiful points. That set is going to be hard to beat. It came down to a very tense tie break in which Fish made one too many mistakes and Nadal made none.
After the players shook hands we had a crazy mad-scramble to get the last tube back to Waterloo and then a bizarre round-a-bout train/bus/car journey to get home, but it was all worth it. I would do it again tomorrow and the next day and the next.
I'll keep you blogged...
Wednesday, 2 November 2011
Kvitova Clinches Final Title of the Year
If you'd told me at the beginning of the year that four different women would win the Slams and Victoria Azarenka would play Petra Kvitova in the final of the WTA Championships I would have laughed. I was convinced after Clijsters' performance in Australia that she would do the Grand Slam this year. Victoria Azarenka was winning some impressive matches but was too emotional and too much of a Sharpova wannabe with that irritating scream. Petra Kvitova was 30+ in the world and very inconsistent. With Clijsters out injured after the Aussie Open, Li Na becoming the first Chinese player to win a Slam (French), Kvitova surprising everyone by playing a sublime tournament to win Wimbledon and then the resurgent Sam Stosur powering to the US Open title, the women's game has had quite a year.
Many people say this is a sign of how terrible women's tennis is. The fact that they don't have one or two stand-out champions somehow belittles everyone else's achievements, they say. If Serena had worn shoes or Kim had not danced at that wedding, the year would have been a different story. I agree with the latter statement - it possibly would have been Kim's year. It certainly felt like it was going to be at the beginning of the season. But things happen and athletes get injured, it's just the way sport goes. Does the absence of two players render this year redundant for tennis' women? Of course not. How outrageously offensive. I think 2011 has been one of the most exciting for women's tennis. I love that so many people won tournaments. I love that we had four different Slam winners. Variety is the spice of life and variety in tennis is priceless. As much as I love The Fed, tennis became a much more exciting place when Nadal came along. The rise of Djoko has been fascinating. The tantalising form of Murray in the past few weeks has added more sauce to the mix. No one wants to see one person winning every competition. That is boring. Women's tennis is poorly compared to men's but after this year I can't see why. They have fantastic rallies, amazing shots, are athletic, quick, emotional, (sometimes) loud, thoroughly captivating and often the matches are longer and more interesting than men's. (Maybe not longer in the Slams but only because of the five to three set ratio.)
Watch women's tennis. Appreciate it. It really is good.
Kvitova pile-drove her way through her opponents at the WTA Championships in Istanbul. Azarenka - apart from an odd lacklustre game against stand-in Bartoli - also streaked her way through the top players in the world. The two tall, leggy blondes, who look remarkably similar, especially in practically matching Nike outfits, had a hell of a final match of the year.
Kvitova raced into a 5-0 lead hitting winners all over the place. It looked like a whitewash was on the cards as Azarenka struggled for form and ideas. Then all of a sudden, as oft happens in sport, it all changed. Kvitova started missing and Azarenka started hitting. She fought her way back to 5-5 but couldn't hold onto Kvitova who finally took the set 7-5. The second set saw Azarenka take control and she levelled the match at one set all.
Kvitova looked down and almost out at 0-40 in the opening game of the decider but rallied back to win it, break Azarenka in the next and never look back. After nearly two and a half hours of gruelling tennis Kvitova - who is, arguably, unplayable when on her game - won the final title of the year 7-5 4-6 6-3.
She finishes the year 2nd only to Wozniacki, with the same number of tour wins (6). Azarenka moves up to 3rd, pushing Screamy Shara down to 4th. The new breed of women are well and truly on their way now.
Things to look forward to: Murray-ray winning at the O2 (beating GoNads at some point) and the Masters at the Royal Albert Hall. I love the Masters. Never watched it? Do. It'll make you smile and love tennis all the more.
I'll keep you blogged...
Many people say this is a sign of how terrible women's tennis is. The fact that they don't have one or two stand-out champions somehow belittles everyone else's achievements, they say. If Serena had worn shoes or Kim had not danced at that wedding, the year would have been a different story. I agree with the latter statement - it possibly would have been Kim's year. It certainly felt like it was going to be at the beginning of the season. But things happen and athletes get injured, it's just the way sport goes. Does the absence of two players render this year redundant for tennis' women? Of course not. How outrageously offensive. I think 2011 has been one of the most exciting for women's tennis. I love that so many people won tournaments. I love that we had four different Slam winners. Variety is the spice of life and variety in tennis is priceless. As much as I love The Fed, tennis became a much more exciting place when Nadal came along. The rise of Djoko has been fascinating. The tantalising form of Murray in the past few weeks has added more sauce to the mix. No one wants to see one person winning every competition. That is boring. Women's tennis is poorly compared to men's but after this year I can't see why. They have fantastic rallies, amazing shots, are athletic, quick, emotional, (sometimes) loud, thoroughly captivating and often the matches are longer and more interesting than men's. (Maybe not longer in the Slams but only because of the five to three set ratio.)
Watch women's tennis. Appreciate it. It really is good.
Kvitova pile-drove her way through her opponents at the WTA Championships in Istanbul. Azarenka - apart from an odd lacklustre game against stand-in Bartoli - also streaked her way through the top players in the world. The two tall, leggy blondes, who look remarkably similar, especially in practically matching Nike outfits, had a hell of a final match of the year.
Kvitova raced into a 5-0 lead hitting winners all over the place. It looked like a whitewash was on the cards as Azarenka struggled for form and ideas. Then all of a sudden, as oft happens in sport, it all changed. Kvitova started missing and Azarenka started hitting. She fought her way back to 5-5 but couldn't hold onto Kvitova who finally took the set 7-5. The second set saw Azarenka take control and she levelled the match at one set all.
Kvitova looked down and almost out at 0-40 in the opening game of the decider but rallied back to win it, break Azarenka in the next and never look back. After nearly two and a half hours of gruelling tennis Kvitova - who is, arguably, unplayable when on her game - won the final title of the year 7-5 4-6 6-3.
She finishes the year 2nd only to Wozniacki, with the same number of tour wins (6). Azarenka moves up to 3rd, pushing Screamy Shara down to 4th. The new breed of women are well and truly on their way now.
Things to look forward to: Murray-ray winning at the O2 (beating GoNads at some point) and the Masters at the Royal Albert Hall. I love the Masters. Never watched it? Do. It'll make you smile and love tennis all the more.
I'll keep you blogged...
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