Despite a persistent drizzle, spectators stayed glued to their seats at the Foro Italico. In the final of the Internazionali BNL D’Italia defending champion Maria Sharapova roared back from a 4-6, 0-4 hole to vanquish Na Li 4-6, 6-4, 7-6.
In the first set, Sharapova got the initial break to go up 2-1. However, Li quickly captured the next game to get back on serve.
With Sharapova serving at 4-5, some critical service miscues allowed Li to bag the first set.
Read the full story
Even though Maria Sharapova had a 5-4 record against Na Li going into the quarterfinals at the Sony Ericsson Open, Li had been victorious their last four meetings. Thus, there was a revenge factor at play. Sharapova exacted her pound of flesh in dispatching the reigning French Open champion 6-3, 6-0 to get to the semifinals for the second successive season.
For Li, this was a third quarterfinal showing while Sharapova had been a finalist three previous times in South Florida including last year. With mistakes upon mistakes, neither player could hold serve the initial five games.
Read the full story
Following her semifinal win, Serena Williams admitted that Samantha Stosur, the tenth seed, would be a tough task in the final. While Williams’ words were proven true early on, she still found the means to neutralize her adversary. Williams prevailed 6-4, 6-2 over Stosur for her second Rogers Cup Trophy.
For Stosur, the 2010 French Open finalist Stosur, it’s been a difficult year. Finally though, in Toronto, Stosur has been able to string together good performances putting down Na Li in the third round and Agniezska Radwanska, the titlist last week in Carlsbad, in the semifinals.
Although at their ultimate meeting, the 2010 French Open, Stosur saved match point in defeating Williams in the quarterfinals. With a record of 2-8 in finals, Stosur would have to come up with something special to beat Williams who has a mark 38-14 at this stage of tournaments.
In her third round match, Williams overcame dropping the first set against Jie Zheng and did the same in the quarterfinals in battling lefty Lucie Safarova. Yet, in the semifinals, Williams dominated world number four, Victoria Azarenka.
At first, Williams had no answer for Stosur’s hugest weapon, the kick serve. With an ace, Stosur sealed her second love game for 3-2. Later, by utilizing her second big asset, the forehand, Stosur connected on a down the line winner for game point. When Williams netted the return, Stosur went ahead 4-3.
Williams was also coasting on her service games and forcing a myriad of errors from Stosur. With no indication of an upcoming break point, the tide suddenly shifted with Stosur serving at 4 all and 40-15.
Williams pulverized a second serve forehand return winner which stunned Stosur. The Aussie’s subsequent first serve was hit with less power resulting ultimately in a backhand mistake by Stosur and deuce.
A definite truism which applies to Serena Williams is that she’s always hungry for another major. The two time defending champion demonstrated that despite some first week cobwebs, she is prepared to fight for a “three-peat” at the All England Club.
Venus Williams, a five time champion at Wimbledon, is still in contention for another title on her most successful surface. Maria Sharapova, the 2004 champion, is almost playing to the standards expected of her. Sharapova is trying to get pass the fourth round for the first time since 2006 at this venue.
The most stunning early departure was 2010 runner-up Vera Zvonareva. Here’s a mid-tournament summary and a preview of the interesting match-ups to come.
After going the distance her first two rounds, Serena Williams cruised in the third round against Maria Kirilenko. The next round, Serena will have to bring her best stuff against Marion Bartoli, the 2007 Wimbledon finalist. Bartoli is playing with great confidence since winning her maiden grass court title in Eastbourne.
Subsequent to a comfortable opening match, Venus Williams clawed past 40 year old Kimiko Date-Krumm in the second round. However, in the third round, Venus coasted to victory. Next up for Venus is Tsvestana Pironkova.
In a rematch of last year’s semifinal, Pironkova avenged her lost to Zvonareva in the third round. In 2010, Pironkova reached the semifinals by upending Venus in the quarterfinals. Pironkova also ousted Venus at the Australian Open in 2006. With Pironkova’s 2-1 against Venus, this tussle could be another doozy.
The Williams sisters made their long awaited return to competitive tennis this week. Despite being rusty, with nine of the last eleven championships at the All England Club, Venus and Serena are among the favorites. Moreover, the Wimbledon draw sets up the potential for a fifth all Williams final. Here’s a more detailed analysis.
World number one Caroline Wozniacki hopes to validate her ranking with a first major. However, Wozniacki will need to do some heavy lifting to achieve that feat.
In the quarterfinals, Wozniacki may have to go through 2004 Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova. In addition, for the Dane, a semifinal encounter with defending and four time winner Serena or reigning French Open champion Na Li may be in the cards. Needless to say, Wozniacki will have to work hard to earn her maiden major.
Serena will begin her title defense by facing the talented Aravane Rezai in the first round. In the fourth round, Serena could see another sizeable French hurdle in 2007 finalist Marion Bartoli.
Later, in the quarterfinals, Serena may clash against Li who is no push over. In Li’s case, Sabine Lisicki may present difficulties in the second round. Lisicki has been regaining her form and confidence as is evident with her recent title in Birmingham.
Sharapova is again in the mix at another major. While a first round match with countrywoman Anna Chakvetadze could be testy, Sharapova should come through. Sharapova is likely to have a tougher time in the fourth round if Samantha Stosur is the opponent.
Serena had been out of commission nearly a year. For the seventh seed to claim her fifth Wimbledon crown, she will have to come up with the type of performance which resulted in her surprise victory at the Australian Open in 2007. With Serena’s track record, it’s certainly hard to bet against her. Yet, with Ana Ivanovic, Maria Kirilenko, Flavia Pennetta and Julia Goerges in the top half of the draw, there is an endless list of players capable of pulling off an upset.
From the outset, this year’s French Open title was up for grabs. Still, a final featuring world number five and defending champion Francesca Schiavone and world number six Li Na was a surprise. Today, Li defeated Schiavone 6-4,7-6 to become the first Chinese player to capture a major.
With a combined age of over sixty, this was the most mature major women’s final since Wimbledon 1998 whereby Jana Novotna prevailed over Nathalie Tauziat. At 30 years of age, in her first final since her title at Roland Garros, Schiavone was hoping to end her trophy drought by successfully repeating.
Since becoming the first Chinese individual to reach a major final, Li fell off the radar. After the Australian Open, the 29 year old failed to advance beyond the second round at any hardcourt event. Ultimately, the clay proved therapeutic with two semifinal showings by Li in Madrid and Rome.
After each woman held her initial two games, with a backhand volley winner, Li had double break point. With Schiavone’s forehand up the line sailing wide, Li pocketed the break. By consolidating with a love game, Li moved ahead 4-2.
With Schiavone unable to fabricate a break point, the one game difference was all Li required to seize the first set.
There was a serenity about Li which was absent in her first major final. Li had clearly learned from her loss to Kim Clijsters in Melbourne. With sizzling forehands, Li had double digit winners in the first set.
Furthermore, early on, it was conspicuous that Schiavone’s use of spin, slice, volley and overall variety were not throwing Li off balance. Instead, it was the Italian who was finding herself on her back heel.
With the exception of one Federation Cup match last year, Kim Clijsters has not competed on clay since the French Open in 2006. Nevertheless, with Clijsters triumphant at the last two majors and considering the state of the women’s game, the Belgian can play herself into form and is consequently a serious contender for the French Open trophy.
Strangely enough, Maria Sharapova is also a favorite on clay. The Russian’s victory in Rome two weeks ago demonstrates that she can power her way to a title on this surface. As such, Sharapova deserves to be in the column of players to beware of.
More so than previous years, there has been no standout on the red clay this season. Julia Goerges surprised world number one Caroline Wozniacki in the final in Stuttgart. Petra Kvitova made her debut into the top ten with her victory in Madrid, stunning world number four Victoria Azarenka.
Therefore, any one residing in the vicinity of the ten best from world number three Vera Zvonareva to Azarenka to defending champion Francesca Schiavone to Kvitova has a fair shot at hoisting the title. The French Open draw is revealed. Here’s an analysis of the key match-ups.
Wozniacki’s first round opponent is Kimiko Date-Krumm. The Japanese is know for pulling upsets at majors. Last year, she shocked Dinara Safina in the same round. As a result, Wozniacki will have no time to relax early on.
Another challenging encounter for the world number one could come in the third round where she may face 2009 French Open winner Svetlana Kuznetsova. Wozniacki’s progression to the final could be further complicated by 2010 finalist Samantha Stosur or Goerges in the quarterfinals and either Jelena Jankovic, Zvonareva, or Schiavone in the semifinals.
Coming into this year’s Australian Open championships, most analysts tagged Kim Clijsters as the outright favorite. Today, the Belgian demonstrated that they were correct in pegging her as the one to beat. Clijsters fought off China’s Li Na 3-6,6-3,6-3 to claim her first major in Melbourne, the fourth of her career.
Subsequent to a love hold, Clijsters broke Li at love thanks to a net court winner and took a 2-0 lead in the opening set. However, with Clijsters donating four straight errors after having game point, Li erased the advantage. Later, serving at 2-3, Li overcame a 15-40 deficit to reach deuce. Despite resistance from Clijsters, Li equalized the set at 3 all. With Clijsters flubbing a forehand volley, Li arrived at double break point. She capitalized and obtained a 4-3 edge when Clijsters dumped a backhand crosscourt into the net. After staving off a break point, Li consolidated for 5-3 and with a forehand crosscourt pass winner broke Clijsters for the third time to secure the set.
Clijsters was acutely aware that Li would not be an easy put away. In the semifinals, Li salvaged a match point before upsetting world number one Caroline Wozniacki to become the first Chinese female to book a spot in the final at a major. Moreover, just two weeks ago in Sydney, Li defeated Clijsters in the final. More importantly, although this was Li’s initial major final, she was doing a great job at bottling her nerves.
In spite of two game points at the start of the second set, Li failed to maintain serve, double faulting to hand Clijsters the first game. Yet, like in the previous set, on her second break point opportunity, Li provoked a backhand mistake from Clijsters to get back on serve. Still, the very next game, with a crosscourt winner, Clijsters broke for a 2-1 lead. Relentless, on her fourth break point, Li struck a forehand crosscourt winner to level the set at 2 all. Then, Li obliterated double break point to hold serve for 3-2. But Clijsters would not be denied. Following a tough service game, Clijsters again was at double break point. This time with a backhand down the line winner, the Belgian broke for 4-3 and ultimately consolidated. Next, with Li gifting a few errors, Clijsters closed the set with another break of serve.
The halfway mark has been reached at the Australian Open. While Kim Clijsters and Caroline Wozniacki are still in line to collect their first major Down Under, the dream is at an end for Justine Henin and Samantha Stosur. Here’s a look at the tournament’s past seven days.
In the top half of the draw, world number one Wozniacki coasted into the round of 16. Despite difficult challenges from Gisela Dulko and Dominika Cibulkova, the Dane has yet to drop a set. Wozniacki will battle Latvian talent 20 year old Anastasija Sevastova who stunned Yanina Wickmayer in the second round.
On the other hand, Henin, a finalist last year, was dismissed in the third round by Svetlana Kuznetsova. The 2009 French Open champion who appears to be fitter than ever will face reigning French Open victor Francesca Schiavone in the fourth round. The latter needed three sets in each of her first two rounds.
There will be no Williams hoisting the prize this year. Venus was forced to retire one game into her third round match with Andrea Petkovic due to a pelvic muscle injury. Consequently, Petkovic will clash with Maria Sharapova in the round of 16. Sharapova scraped by Julia Goerges in the previous round. With Sharapova’s serve a continual sore spot, Petkovic has a golden opportunity to reach her first quarterfinal at a major.
Both Li Na and Victoria Azarenka have been unforgiving thus far with straight sets victories to get to the round of 16. These two will now collide for a place in the quarterfinals.
For the second consecutive major, Serena Williams will be a no-show. With the two time defending champion and former world number one still injured, current world number one Caroline Wozniacki should technically be “the” favorite. While Wozniacki is a certain contender for the crown Down Under, it’s difficult to position her in the number one spot. With her victories at the U.S. Open and the WTA championships to finish 2010, Kim Clijsters has to be viewed as the outright favorite. The way the Australian Open draw stacks up, Clijsters has to relish her chances. Let’s take a look how it breaks down.
Imagine needing to conquer Gisela Dulko in the first round, Dominika Cibulkova in the third round and either Justine Henin or Francesca Schiavone just to get to the quarterfinals. This is the precise task which probably awaits Wozniacki. Moreover, in the semifinals, the Dane could clash with either Venus, whom she has never beaten, Victoria Azarenka or Maria Sharapova. In light of the treacherous road ahead, Wozniacki has her work cut out for her in trying to survive the first week and retain the number one ranking.
Since her 2010 Wimbledon injury, this will be Henin’s first major. After months of noncompetitive play, Henin performed well at the Hopman Cup. In Melbourne, a possible third round encounter with Svetlana Kuznetsova will be her first true challenge. Last year, Henin battled her way to the final after an almost two year sabbatical. Consequently, if the Belgian successfully navigates the first week, she could duplicate her feat of a year ago.
If healthy, Venus should reach the round of 16 with ease. At that stage, the 2003 Australian Open finalist could be tested, if the draw holds true to form, by the 2008 Australian Open champion, Sharapova. The Russian’s last major was in Melbourne. Subsequent to shoulder surgery a couple of years ago, Sharapova appears finally at full steam. That type of encounter could be a shot in the arm for Sharapova and push her back into the top ten.
