China Open Wrap Up:  Players of the week 

Djokovic - good win for Nole over Cillic. Rain delay worked in his favor as he handled the hard hitting Cillic in 2 rather uncomplicated sets

Kuznetsova - a year ago, she had a knack for coming out the loser in finals. Seems to have turned that around in 2009. She came into this match the heavy favorite but more importantly, she actually showed up to play and performed like the favorite.


Around the tour:

2 consecutive wildcard major winners? - made possible by Justine Henin who was granted a wild card entry into the 2010 Oz Open. Gives rise to the debate" "who would you rather face in your 1st round: wild card Clijsters or wild card Henin?"

Decisions, Decisions:  Amelie Mauresmo pulled the plug on her season a few days ago and refueled the question of retirement. Hate to see her go, but the legs appear tired and will has seemingly disapated. One hopes, she will give it one more year. 

This week: 

ATP Shanghai - all major players show up to play sans Roger

Safin - looking good in his 1st round. We hope to see more effort from the beloved Russian 

Nadal - lost to Cillic last week, looking to rebound  

DelPo - still riding the emotional high, lost in Tokyo but like Nadal, looking for the rebound 

Will be posting on Shanghai throughout the week. Stay Tuned.

  

Feel bad for the Shanghai tourny directors. Delpo and Roddick both out with injuries. On a brighter note, Nadal and Blake put on a good show for the crowd. I've always been a fan of Blake but it really is crunch time for him. He's had a dismal few years now. 2010 marks crisis time because this sport waits for no one.

Catch Ms. Williams on Conan tonight. Does anyone really think she should be suspended for 2 majors for her outburst? I, for one, thinks it's over kill. It was a bad moment in tennis and we all need to move on. Think the WTA's time is best spent on shortening the season, blatent coaching violations and reforming the exisiting challenge system.    

Ladies and gents, the winner of the 2009 Shanghai Survivor Series….Daveydenko

 

How about a big hand for our prematurely balding Russian? Sure, one can argue that Nadal was having an “off” day but anyone who watched the final would have tuned into a fine display of tennis by Daveydenko. Will say it again, fortune favors the brave and Daveydenko did just that. We often chastise the Russian for his “by-the-book” game but Daveydenko can be devastating when you allow him to hit from inside the baseline. Against Nadal, he did just that. He hit some exquisite backhands all match long and stuck to the game plan. Also, take note of his excellent movement; nothing flashy, but extremely effective.

 

Hey Nadal, what happened to your game circa January 2009?

 

With the rest of the tour on the sidelines, it was a great opportunity for Nadal to build some momentum into the off season. Sure, he got to the final, but can’t say he played anywhere near his best tennis. Although you can’t necessarily say he’s struggling since Roland Garros, but the aura from January 2009 has definitely evaporated. Mr. Soderling, what have you started?

 

Ps. Read Peter Bodo’s take on Nadal here, it’s a good one.

http://tennisworld.typepad.com/tennisworld/2009/10/mornin-folks-i-appear-to-have-survived.html

 

WTA report….

 

Um..there really isn’t much to report….hate to say this but where did the stars go? We would like to congratulate Sam Stosur for winning her maiden singles title. But other that than, there really has been nothing….has the off season started already ladies??

 

Maroon > White  

First thing you will notice when looking at the composition of the two groups is the jarring disparity between the resumes of the players residing on the white group and maroon group. (why can’t they just call it the “red” group?).

 

White Group: Opportunity is knocking real loud, please, somebody, just answer it….

 

Safina – Can you name another player who is in desperate need of a vacation than our resident #1? Who here thinks she really wants to end the year ranked #1 after all the unfair drama of this season?  She’s as good as she wants to be and we’re all pulling for her to at least end the year on a high.

 

Wozniacki – She’s taken on Jankovic’s job this year as the player who has logged the most miles on her way to Doha. She’s had a career year but has been victim of the injury bug as a late. Not to mention she has become the headlining star of a bizarre betting investigation.  

 

Azarenka – This pony was brilliant out of the blocks but ran out of gas around the midway turn. Hasn’t done much lately, don’t expect too much from her here in Doha.

 

Jankovic – Has put together a sub par year for herself. We hope she comes in healthy and ready to play.

 

White Group Picks: It really is a free for all but we’ll take Safina and Wozniacki

 

Maroon Group: Heavy Weight Battle Ground

 

Serena – Before you go ahead and pick her to win this title let’s do some stat checking. As great has her resume is, Serena has only one the Championships once. Surprising, non? Convention says she doesn’t show her best at “non majors”.  

 

Venus – The defending champion has done close to nothing post US Open but she should show up very well rested giving that inflamed knee a chance to calmed down.  She showed up and won this thing last year. So it’s anyone’s guess what she might do this year.

 

Dementieva – Our hearts broke a little when she lost to Oudin at the US Open after putting together a terrific summer. Given her day, she can beat anyone. She’s as good as she wants to be and who doesn’t want to see another all out slugfest between her and Serena?

 

Kuznetsova – The RG champ has been semi MIA since posing with Coup Suzane Lenglen atop Paris. It’s anyone’s guess which Kuznetsova will show up at Doha. Says here, her head is someplace other than Doha.

 

Maroon Group Picks: We’ll take Dementieva and Serena

 

Day one matches:

 

1. Victoria Azarenka vs. Jelena Jankovic

 We’ll take JJ in this one.

 

2. Elena Dementieva vs. Venus Williams

 We’ll take Dementieva in this one.  

 

3. Serena Williams vs. Svetlana Kuznetsova

We’ll take Serena in this one.

Day One Wrap:

 

Azarenka def. Jankovic

 

JJ was feeling charitable today as she donated 33 unforced errors to her opponent. Azarenka had this to say after the match: “I’m glad she gave me the match, and she was not in the mood.” “It worked out pretty well for me” That’s the way we saw it too. An excellent start for her debut at the Championships and she has a winnable watch tomorrow against Wozniacki to go up 2-zip.

 

Dementieva def. Venus

 

Shaky performance by Venus this afternoon mirrors the type of matches big sis has been playing post Wimbledon. Where is the confidence we are so accustomed to seeing from V? What the match firmly in her hand, Venus fell on her face and once Dementieva found her range, she never looked back.

 

Serena def. Kuznetsova

 

Serena hobbles out of this match on a suspect ankle.  Not her best stuff but was all she needed to take care of Kuznetsova.

 

Day Two matches:      

Wozniacki vs. Azarenka

 

We’ll take Azarenka for the upset…

 

 Dinara Safina vs. Jelena Jankovic

 

We’ll take Safina in this one

 Serena Williams vs. Venus Williams

 

We’ll take Serena in this one

Day One Wrap:

 

Day Two Wrap:

Temper, Temper: Wozniacki def Azarenka

We were one point away from calling the upset. If only she had held on to her psyche for on more point. Credit Wozniacki for hanging tough, weathering the storm just long enough for Azarenka to blow herself out with erratic errors. This is what she does best and today was no exception. 

The tennis gods get in their last laugh: Safina taps out against Jankovic TKO

Safina just can't seem to catch a break. Back injury is the final straw piled onto the "moments to forget" camel. A bad back will set her back 6 weeks which puts her Ozzy Open in serious jeopardy. On the bright side, at least she won't have to defend her #1 ranking in the presser.

Round 22 meeting goes to Serena 

It was a close one but Serena prevailed. Venus' loss today puts her 0-2 in the group. She'll need nothing short of a miracle to advance. 

Day Three: 

Vera Zvonareva vs. Caroline Wozniacki

Zvonareva made the trek out to Doha and now she get's to play. Not sure where her head is so we'll take Wozniacki.

Serena Williams vs. Elena Dementieva

Wimbledon Rematch promises to be a good one. Serena doesn't need this match to advance so how much energy is she going to spend? We'll take Dementieva.

Svetlana Kuznetsova vs. Venus Williams   

The winless duo in the maroon group go head to head. Venus is pretty much done but we'll pick V to at least win once match in Doha.

 

Agnieszka Radwanska vs. Victoria Azarenka

We'll take Azarenka
 
Wozniacki vs. Jankovic

Wozniacki is 2-zip. She doesn't need this match and is nursing an injury. Jankovic for the win.

Kuznetsova vs. Dementieva

Kuznetsova is done for the season but how she does in this match will determine the fate of Venus and Dementieva. We'll take Dementieva 

 

Venus vs. Jankovic

We'll take Venus

Serena vs. Wozniacki

Wozniacki is not 100% and has spent a lot of energy to get to this match. We'll take Serena.

Venus vs. Serena

Venus is the one who has worked the hardest to get to this match. She started horribly in the round robbin but thanks to an assist by Kuznetsova, found herself in the semis. She played a grueling match against Jankovic but held her off in the end. Based on form, we will have to go with Venus to defend her crown. Serena looked slow and struggled in the 1st set against a hobbling Wozniacki. 

We hope to see another 3 setter and we're pulling for Venus in this one!