Category archive: Serena Williams
Sony Ericsson Open Headlines
But, believe it or not, a whole lot more transpired. Here are our top 10 takeaways from a tournament rife with entertainment and unexpected drama:
1. Listen to me, would ya?
Don't you just want to give Maria Sharapova and Andy Murray a good old finger-wagging, in-your-grill lashing on how to win? Maria, please stop making those silly mistakes. Andy, why can't you play the important points better? If only it were so easy to follow these directives, we might have two different champions at the podium. Alas, the stubborn ones find themselves the bridesmaids again. But before we get too down on Murray and Sharapova, let's consider the good: Murray was, after all, playing the world's greatest player. No one, but no one, has found the necessary ingredients to blunt Djokovic's pristine play in these mandatory tournaments. But the saga of the mercurial Murray has gone on for so long that you wonder if he'll ever find a way to leverage his dynamic shot-making during key moments. As for Sharapova, lest we forget, she's been a top-tier player going back almost a decade now, finishing in the top 10 every year since 2004, except for 2009 and 2010. That's an incredibly hard feat. She's come back from a career-threatening shoulder injury and still sits at No. 2 on the world. But Sharapova, by her own admission, knows only one way to play: fast and furious. If she could channel just a little Caroline Wozniacki and stick with the point a shot or two longer, who knows? For now, second place will have to suffice for these two.
2. A new breed of success
Radwanska won the Sony Ericsson Open with a brand of tennis that's tricky to explain. She's defensive-minded, as we know, but she also plays a beguiling style that her opponents don't seem to like very much. Radwanska is kind of like Wozniacki in her overall approach, but with more creativity. She's a little bit like Jelena Jankovic, but with superior precision. Her unassailable attention to detail and her unique tactical approach have vaulted her up the ranking to No. 4. But, like Wozniacki, you wonder how high the ceiling is. You also have to wonder how long until the power hitters figure out how to crack her craft, much like they did versus Woz. But for now, Aga, as she now likes to be referred to, is doing all the little things right, which is leading to some big results.
3. You sure fooled us
Venus, Venus, where have you been? There were few people in and around the game who gave her any shot of producing a decent result, considering her extended time away. Venus Williams, who surmounted a few arduous three-setters to reach the quarterfinals in Miami, might not move with fleet of feet, which she never really has, and sometimes appears to be limbering along with almost no footwork. But she can still serve some serious heat, and she can also end points early when she's in the right position. That'll be a lethal combination at the All England Club. Plus, her five previous Wimbledon trophies suggest she has an inkling on how to make a healthy living on those lush lawns.
4. Rafa, don't be so sad
In a vacuum, Rafael Nadal appears to be your typical superstar going through a few rough patches. But if you parse it closely, the issues are a lot more disconcerting: He hasn't won a title in a year, his knees are hurting and he's obviously ticked off by his inability to persuade the ATP brass to adopt his views on a scheduling reform and a two-year ranking system. And he's even more vexed that his greatest on-court rival, Federer, won't use his vast influence to help push his agenda. Nadal's overall dour disposition came to light at Key Biscayne, even before pulling out of his semifinal match against Murray. The grind of the tennis season takes a hefty toll, especially for someone who plays as punishing as Nadal. If he's not in the right frame of mind, 2012 could be a long season. Fortunately for him, the clay circuit, his longtime oasis, is next on the calendar, but you get this uneasy suspicion that things might not work out for him quite the way they have in the past.
5. Welcome to planet Earth, Vika
You can't win them all. Well, Victoria Azarenka did until finally conceding to Marion Bartoli in the quarterfinals. But don't get too worked up. Azarenka's level and, more so, her will to win from the onset of the season have greatly changed from a year ago. For Bartoli, she's made a nice living thwarting the game's giants. She ended Serena Williams' run at Wimbledon last year, and in 2007, Bartoli reached the final of Wimbledon before running into a far superior Venus Williams. As we reported last week, Bartoli actually has 12 career wins over top-five players. But as for Azarenka, she should fare quite nicely on the dirt. Azarenka's irrepressible mindset is a good match for the surface, which requires maximum physical output.
6. Slow down, boy
It was clear from the beginning that the slower conditions here in Miami were going to be a considerable obstacle for Roger Federer to overcome. The courts themselves are slightly faster than at Indian Wells, but the high humidity caused the ball to almost poof up after hitting the ground. Federer's stout strokes were clearly nullified, and Andy Roddick capitalized. Of course, it didn't hurt that Roddick played "like the No. 1 player in the world," as Federer said after the match.
7. Woz up with that?
Say what you want about the most scrutinized player on the WTA. But Wozniacki showed she has enough game to hang with today's power players, when she wants to. Against Sharapova, she was in it until the bitter end when a controversial call (albeit the right one) on a Sharapova serve led to an abrupt ending to the match. But Wozniacki showed some pop on her own serve and, on occasion, some oomph in her groundies. Perhaps she is taking a small step toward making the requisite changes everyone knows she needs to make.
8. Going, going … gone!
It was a pretty amazing scene on center court this past Friday afternoon. With the air yanked out of the stadium after Nadal withdrew from his semifinal match against Murray, world No. 1 Djokovic galloped onto center court a couple of hours later for a practice session. But first, he began taking … batting practice as his hitting partner pitched ball after ball to him. Djokovic used the handle of his racket as a baseball bat and smacked some prodigious home runs into the sparse, but suddenly galvanized, crowd. This was, obviously, intended for the amusement of the fans, but you couldn't help but admire his superb hand-eye coordination.
9. Ewww!
Radek Stepanek has to be ugliest dressed tennis player -- maybe ever. (Well, perhaps second to Dominik Hrbaty, but that's a conversation for a different day). Forgive the hyperbole, but his garish blue-checkered, wannabe golf shirt crammed way too tightly into his slightly-longer-than-John Stockton-wore white shorts probably turned a few heads away. If you don't believe me, just ask de facto fashionista Sharapova, who named Stepanek as one of the worst-dressed athletes when she briefly was given the editorial keys to a 2011 issue of ESPN The Magazine. It didn't help that his doubles partner, Leander Paes, was donning a pretty hideous florescent lime green top. Together, well, let's just say he would not pass the Tommy Hilfiger "American Idol" design test.
10. Juan's the Mon-aco
Many a tournament, especially those with slower conditions, often produces an unexpected floater deep into the draw. It was Juan Monaco's time at Key Biscayne. You'd think that Monaco would be outclassed versus Roddick and Mardy Fish -- and certainly Djokovic, even after a bleak opening set. But his modus operandi -- don't stop, don't ever stop -- drove his opponents crazy. He actually made the aforementioned Americans look, dare we say, old and slow. In the end, Djokovic outplayed the spritely Argentine, but with the clay season just moments away, you had better watch out, 'cause Juan is coming for you.
One day we're doing cartwheels over the return of Andy Roddick. The next, we're left wondering how his incandescent performance against Roger Federer could so swiftly devolve into a crushing defeat to the spritely legs of Juan Monaco.
One day we're abuzz over the return of Serena Williams, the return of her hulking groundies and the sheer power she generates on nearly every shot. The next, we're trying to wrap our collective brain around how the game's most scrutinized retriever, Caroline Wozniacki, could so skillfully render the strong one, well, not so strong.
One day we're lauding the return of Venus Williams, who made an inspired journey to the Sony Ericsson Open quarterfinals, which included three consecutive three-set wins (and four overall). The next, we're asking whether she fell asleep on the court versus Agnieszka Radwanska. Hey, you snooze you lose.
One day we're applauding John Isner's polished all-court game and his inclusion into the game's inner sanctum. The next, we're puzzled by his return to the mere mortals after an early exit here in Key Biscayne.
One day we're finally reconciling that Mardy Fish's sudden ascendance a year ago was a thing of the past. The next day, we're anointing him the best U.S. tennis player -- again -- after becoming the last Yank standing.
Confused? Head spinning? You're not alone. If there's one thing the current state of U.S. tennis has taught us, it's that we know nothing. It's a veritable pogo stick competition. Up and down and all around. Dizzying. The U.S. contingent is riding a high one moment and bottoming out the next.
The tale of American tennis doldrums is nothing new. For the men, it actually dates back about a decade. We know that you know the last time any U.S. male won a Slamaroo was Roddick in 2003. All fine and good. Well, not really. But we're not expecting anyone to scale these major mountains anytime soon. These pockets of promise, though, are a cruel tease. They lift your spirits and give you hope. This, before the inevitable collapse.
Fish, who cracked the top 10 for the first time last year, ended 2011 as the No. 8-ranked player. The age of 30 is an unusual time for someone to string together a career year and finish with a personal-best 43 match wins. He played with the proverbial pep in his step after his ballyhooed weight-loss regimen and earned well-deserved praise. But this season, before reaching the quarterfinals of Miami, he won consecutive matches just once. And let's face it: If Fish is going to build any kind of momentum, it had better start now. Because after Miami, it's on to the clay, which guarantees an allergic reaction from the Americans.
"It's a really tough time looking at the schedule for Americans," Fish said of the clay season. "It's almost impossible. We have to be over there for Madrid and Rome. What do you do? Do you go after this, stay there for seven weeks, or do you come back and then go back over and have a week and a half off?
Roddick played inspired, offensive-minded tennis versus Federer, his first win over one of the big-three behemoths since thwarting Rafael Nadal in Cincinnati two years ago. But he, admittedly, was in no position to go much further.
"When you have to make a quick recovery, it will expose you if you're not in shape," Roddick said after losing to Monaco. "Most people can play a match and it's fine. It's the recovery where it kind of defines you."
There will be more questions regarding the current state of the Americans. Serena, perhaps the biggest anomaly in today's game, always seems to be a prohibited favorite, no matter how sparingly she plays. But it's now been more than a year since she won a Grand Slam, and you have to start speculating whether she's cut out for the grind. Serena still looks imposing on the court and, unlike Venus, she isn't slowed by injuries and other maladies. But Serena's inability to fight through adversity, which was readily apparent against Wozniacki, has to be a problem moving forward. After the loss, Serena said she has to figure out how to play better when she's struggling.
The problem is, she isn't. The slow decline especially came to light at the Australian Open, where Serena showed little interest in a straight-sets smackdown to Ekaterina Makarova. And at this point in her career, if she can't ratchet up her energy and performance at a major, then what?
As for Isner, he probably deserves a mulligan after his run to the Indian Wells final. But if he wants to compete with the best, he has to find ways to avoid the lulls, which have set him back before.
The performances at the Sony Ericsson Open are just another week of vertigo in the ever-morphing state of U.S. tennis. You never know what you're going to get. So tame your excitement and accept the disappointment, but relish the good moments, too. This is American tennis after all -- for better or for worse.
10. Oops, Serena did it again
Serena Williams and the U.S. Open are a fiery mix.
Two years after verbally abusing a linesperson in the semifinals, Williams went into attack mode when chair umpire Eva Asderaki enforced the hindrance rule early in the second set of this year's final.
Williams uttered a loud "come on" immediately after crunching a forehand (so the point wasn't over), with Asderaki then handing the point to Samantha Stosur. Stosur broke.
Here was part of what a seething Williams said to the diminutive Asderaki: "If you ever see me walking down the hall, walk the other way, because you're out of control.
"Totally out of control. You're a hater, unattractive inside. Who would do such a thing? And I never complain. Wow."
Another fine was on the way, this time for $2,000.
9. Djokovic's clay double
Beating Rafael Nadal on hard courts is one thing, but doing it twice on clay in the same season?
Novak Djokovic really got Nadal thinking when he crushed the Spaniard in both the Madrid and Rome finals.
Winning in Rome was particularly impressive for Djokovic since he contested a three-hour classic against Andy Murray the night before.
"I'm amazed with the way I'm playing, especially today given the circumstances and the condition I was in," Djokovic said. Had Djokovic beaten Roger Federer at the French Open, he could have made it three in a row against Nadal on dirt.
8. Kvitova opens her Grand Slam account
A star is born.
Petra Kvitova won her first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon -- and you can bet many more majors are on the way.
Two previous Czech women's winners at the All England Club, Martina Navratilova and Jana Novotna, watched as Kvitova downed a helpless Maria Sharapova in the final.
Navratilova dished out the praise.
"Kvitova has the potential to be one of the greats," Navratilova said.
Unlike Navratilova, whose success came from serving and volleying, Kvitova bludgeoned her way to the crown. The lefty serve and forehand made for a lethal combination.
Barring injury, she'll be No. 1 at some point next year.
7. Djokovic's grass delight
He won on hard courts in Australia, then handled Nadal on clay. But grass was supposed to be a surface that slightly mystified Djokovic.
Not so.
Without any grass-court prep, Djokovic battled his way to the Wimbledon title. He outlasted Marcos Baghdatis in a third-round slugfest, overcame several difficult moments against unorthodox Aussie Bernard Tomic in the quarterfinals and stole the first set versus Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the semis before comfortably prevailing.
Up next was Nadal, and Djokovic swept past the bamboozled two-time Wimbledon champion in four sets, getting some help in the final game when Nadal's forehand faltered.
Only two days earlier, he earned the No. 1 ranking.
"This is my favorite tournament, the tournament I always dreamed of winning, the first tournament I ever watched in my life," Djokovic said. "I think I'm still sleeping, I'm still having my dream."
6. Rafa tops Roger in Paris
Topping Nadal in a French Open final would have been one of Federer's finest achievements. Sadly for Federer, he missed the opportunity.
And what an opportunity it was.
Nadal looked shaky in stretches, yet when Federer's drop shot narrowly missed wide on set point in the first set, the momentum shifted.
It ended in four sets, and Nadal bagged his sixth French Open title.
"I thought he was getting tired throughout the third set and also in the fourth," Federer said. "It was unfortunate I couldn't take my chances early on in the fourth."
5. Li makes history
Finally fully healthy, Li Na came close to becoming China's first Grand Slam singles winner in Melbourne.
But there was no stopping her, surprisingly, on the clay of the French Open.
Aided by the calming presence of Michael Mortensen, Li earned her title in Paris, ousting the likes of Kvitova, Sharapova, Victoria Azarenka and the defending champ, Francesca Schiavone.
"China tennis -- we're getting bigger and bigger," Li said.
According to reports, 116 million television viewers in China took in the final.
4. The streak
An overzealous tennis schedule caught up with Djokovic in the fall. However, he strung together an almost unprecedented run to start 2011.
Djokovic won 41 in a row from January to June -- one shy of John McEnroe's men's mark set in 1984. The streak included the Australian Open, Indian Wells, Miami, Rome and Madrid.
Before Federer dethroned him in Paris, there weren't too many near misses, either (Nadal in Miami, Thomaz Bellucci in Madrid and Murray in Rome).
"Given there's more competition, more athleticism, deeper fields, I'd say his record is even more impressive than mine, especially given that in 1984, the major in Australia was played at the end of the year," McEnroe said.
Those to take a set off him during the streak? Federer, Nadal, Murray, Bellucci, Ivan Dodig, Feliciano Lopez, Tomas Berdych, David Ferrer and Juan Martin del Potro.
3. Djokovic's New York TKO over Rafa
The culmination of the Nadal-Djokovic rivalry in 2011, this had to have been one of the most physically grueling matches of all time. And when that's part of the equation, not many would look past Nadal.
But Djokovic cast aside any lingering doubts about his stamina when he defeated Nadal in four sets and more than four hours. Call it a technical knockout.
Four Grand Slam titles played for Djokovic, and three won.
"He's jumped up a level," said seven-time Grand Slam winner Mats Wilander. "I think this is the very beginning. He may be riding the wave, but it's not like the wave is going to end. This is how good he is."
2. Fed at his finger-wagging best
Djokovic had plenty on the line against Federer in the French Open semis. The Serb was seeking that 42nd straight win to start a season.
But Federer played one of the best matches of his career to prevail in four high-quality, supercharged sets to end the streak.
He was surely helped by the crowd, which chanted "Roger, Roger" and cheered in a fashion reminiscent of a Davis Cup series.
"It almost feels like I've won the tournament," Federer said.
Federer wagged his finger when it ended -- highly amusing.
1.The shot
It was quite simply the shot heard around the tennis world.
Djokovic saved two match points against Federer in the semis for the second straight year at the U.S. Open -- and this time they were both on the Swiss' serve.
Appearing to have given up and ticked he was getting no love from the New York crowd, Djokovic went for broke on the first match point and connected with an outrageous cross-court forehand return.
Federer sagged, Djokovic ascended, and that was it.
"I don't know how it happened," Djokovic said. "I read his serve and I was on the ball, and I had to hit it hard, and it got in, luckily for me."
Federer didn't cover himself in glory when he said he'd never have attempted such a high-risk shot.
"This is very hard to understand how [you] can play a shot like that on match point," he said. "But look, maybe he's been doing it for 20 years, so for him it was very normal."
It was Djokovic's year.
20. Rafa disappears
Now you see him, now you don't.
Addressing reporters following a third-round win on a sticky day at the U.S. Open, Rafael Nadal suddenly began experiencing leg cramps.
He slumped in his chair, stayed put for a while, then slithered under a desk that was in front of the chair.
Nadal is considered a warrior, so it was quite the unexpected sight.
"It's nothing important," a smiling Nadal later said. "I had that hundreds of times but not in the press conference. If that happened in the locker room, nobody knows nothing, and that's normal thing."
Indeed. Nadal reached the final.
19. Fed ends on high
Without a major for the first time in a calendar year since 2002, Roger Federer needed to end the campaign on a high.
That he did.
Federer carries a 17-match winning streak into 2012 after triumphing in the Davis Cup, Basel, Paris and London. His title at the year-end championships was his sixth, a men's record.
"It's one of my greatest accomplishments, an amazing finish again to the season," Federer said. "I've never finished on such a strong note."
Can people now stop questioning his motivation?
18. "Aussie" Kim wins Down Under
It was about time Kim Clijsters won a Grand Slam outside New York. And call it fitting that Melbourne was the venue.
Clijsters became a favorite, or even more of one, in Australia when she dated Aussie Lleyton Hewitt.
"I finally feel like you guys can call me Aussie Kim because I won the title," Clijsters told the crowd at Rod Laver Arena after topping Li Na in the final. "Even when things weren't going good, you guys were really supportive of me, and I really appreciate it."
Not always a great competitor -- see last year's loss in Melbourne to Nadia Petrova and this year's defeat to Arantxa Rus at Roland Garros -- Clijsters hung tough against Li, reversing a one-set deficit. Li overcame Clijsters two weeks earlier in Sydney.
17. Death of the "Rafa Slam"
It's easy to forget, given Novak Djokovic's season, that 12 months ago Nadal was on the verge of becoming the first man in 42 years to win four consecutive majors.
Nadal seemed doomed in his quest.
An early-January illness hurt Nadal heading into Melbourne, and it likely had something to do with the Spaniard picking up a hamstring injury against David Ferrer in a marathon second game of their quarterfinal.
Nadal refused to retire -- he did so against Andy Murray at the 2010 Australian Open -- but tamely lost in straight sets.
"We don't have luck here," Nadal's coach and uncle, Toni Nadal, said. "We think that when he had the flu, he was more [susceptible] to getting hurt."
"This is one of the bad [moments], one of the negative moments," Rafael Nadal said. "I think I am very lucky sportsman about what's happened in my career. I have to accept the fantastic moments that I had during a lot of the years with the same calm when I have problems."
16. Revolt at the U.S. Open
Nadal wasn't so calm at the rain-affected U.S. Open.
Furious that organizers told him he had to play on a court that he felt was wet, Nadal snapped at tournament referee Brian Earley, "It's the same old story. All you think about is money."
Nadal, Murray and Andy Roddick marched into the referees' office later on the second Wednesday and let their feelings be known.
"We don't feel protected," Nadal said in a TV interview. "Grand Slams, they win a lot of money, and they are just working for that, not us. They are calling us on court, and it's still raining."
As a result of the players' anger, there is a chance for an off day for the men in between the semis and finals next year.
15. Fed inexplicably blows a two-set lead Wimbledon has become slightly bittersweet for Federer.
Sure he's won at the All England Club on six occasions, but he also lost to Nadal in arguably the greatest match of all time in 2008. Then this season on the grass, Federer relinquished a two-set advantage at a Grand Slam -- he had been 178-0 -- for the first time.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, a carefree personality who actually believes he can rally from such a deficit, was the man who pulled off the 3-6, 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory.
"Kind of a strange feeling, because I did play well myself," Federer said. "I can't blame my poor returning or my poor serving or my poor movement or anything like that in this match, and that makes it a bit easier."
Tsonga upended Federer in Montreal two months later, although order was restored in the fall.
14. Djokovic's spring double
When Djokovic led Serbia to the Davis Cup title last year, it boosted his appetite for winning. Conquering Melbourne added to his confidence. But it was his back-to-back titles in Indian Wells and Miami that cemented his belief.
Never before had Djokovic topped Nadal in tour finals, yet he edged a pair of three-setters in California and Florida.
As their rivalry unfolded and Nadal kept losing, his postmatch handshakes became less warm.
13. Rafa recovers in Seville
Statistically, it wasn't a bad year for Nadal, as he suggested. He won the French Open and landed in the final at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.
But there was a sense that he needed a lift heading into 2012, especially after his performance -- and admission of a loss of motivation -- at the World Tour Finals.
Nadal got the boost he needed, leading Spain to the Davis Cup title in December.
He clinched the series with an absorbing four-set, four-hour win over Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro at a pumping Olympic Stadium in Seville.
"It was the most amazing atmosphere I have ever played in," Nadal said.
The turning point? Del Potro dropping serve when he was up a set, a break and serving at 40-0 in the second.
He failed to serve out the fourth set, too.
12. Djokovic sizzles in Melbourne
Representing Serbia last December (Davis Cup) and this January (Hopman Cup) was the perfect tonic for Djokovic. He entered the Australian Open rife with confidence -- and didn't flinch.
Djokovic tore through the field, dropping one set (to Ivan Dodig). He downed Federer in a semifinal that wasn't as close as the set scores hinted. He then eased past Murray to finally snap a three-year Grand Slam drought, longer than most everyone had expected.
"I don't want to stop here," Djokovic said.
He sure didn't.
11. Heart of a lion
You could forgive Francesca Schiavone if she decided to take it easy after winning the French Open last year. Nearing 30 back then, she had every right to sit back and bask in the glory of her success.
But no, Schiavone hasn't eased up.
In fact, you get the feeling she has an even bigger point to prove -- that she's no fluke.
Schiavone had a solid Grand Slam season, saving her most courageous display for the fourth round of the Australian Open. Schiavone saved six match points and toppled Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-4, 1-6, 16-14 in 4 hours, 44 minutes, the longest women's encounter in Grand Slam history.
"I hope one day to show this DVD to my son," said Schiavone, who is not a parent.
The third set alone lasted three hours.
"At some stage, I was like, 'What's the score?'" Kuznetsova said. "It was hard to count. I was like, 'Who is up? She or me?'"
It was ultimately Schiavone on a day where the term "loser" didn't befit Kuznetsova.
30. Henin retires, again
Unlike her fellow Belgian Kim Clijsters, Justine Henin's comeback didn't produce any Grand Slam titles.
This season, a nervous-looking Henin flopped in Melbourne, falling to Svetlana Kuznetsova in the third round.
Still hampered by an elbow injury sustained, ironically, against Clijsters at Wimbledon last year, Henin called it quits for the second time.
"I had hoped for a different return and dreamed of a different ending," Henin said.
Why Henin couldn't wait until the Australian Open ended to make the announcement is beyond many.
29. Woz's mystery man
No, not Caroline Wozniacki's boyfriend. We knew who that was pretty early: Rory McIlroy.
Rather, Wozniacki kept everyone guessing about the identity of her new coach.
The Dane reportedly began working with the mystery person in the summer, although she wouldn't name names. Wozniacki sent video tapes of her practice sessions to the new coach, getting help from afar.
Wozniacki managed to stay mum during the U.S. Open, too.
Earlier this month, however, a Danish newspaper reported that Spaniard Ricardo Sanchez -- who teamed with another Slam-less No. 1, Jelena Jankovic -- got the job.
28. It had to happen
What were the odds of John Isner and Nicolas Mahut meeting in the first round at Wimbledon? More than 140-1. So call it destiny when it happened.
"I joked with Nic last week, sent him a text saying, 'Just watch us play the first round,'" Isner said the day the draw was made. "He replied, 'No, that's not cool,' but now it's happened."
The rematch didn't live up to the immense, and understandable, hype.
Far from a 70-68 fifth set on Court 18, Isner eased past the slightly injured Frenchman 7-6 (4), 6-2, 7-6 (6) on the new Court Three.
27. Fed finally wins Bercy
It was one of tennis' minor mysteries: Why hadn't Roger Federer ever reached a Paris Masters final? He'd played at Bercy eight times.
If ever there was a time to end the slump, it was this season since he didn't have to contend with Novak Djokovic (who bailed mid-tourney), Rafael Nadal (who skipped the event) or Andy Murray (a quarterfinal loser).
And sure enough, an inspired Federer swept to the title, not dropping a set.
"It's a special victory," he said.
26. Not so Fab
When two clay-court specialists met in the fourth round of the French Open, it was pure drama. We shouldn't be surprised that one was Fabio Fognini, given his late-night thriller against Gael Monfils last year.
Fognini saved five match points while essentially playing on one leg against veteran Albert Montanes, who tensed up at crunch time. But instead of Fognini being remembered as a hero, the Italian will go down as a villain for demanding -- and receiving -- a medical timeout when it appeared he was simply suffering from a cramp. Timeouts can't be called for cramps, and the educated folks at Roland Garros knew it.
Fognini was mostly booed when the 4-hour, 22-minute marathon concluded.
Perhaps to prove he was injured, Fognini bailed from his quarterfinal against Djokovic, altering the course of history.
25. The grudge match
David Nalbandian and Lleyton Hewitt don't particularly like each other.
There was that bump in their Australian Open quarterfinal in 2005, and on the eve of a Davis Cup semi a year later in Buenos Aires, Nalbandian said he couldn't "wait for [Hewitt] to have a taste of Argentine hospitality."
When Hewitt drew Nalbandian in the first round of the Australian Open this January, the prematch hype predictably overflowed. Thankfully that match didn't disappoint.
Devoid of any ill temper this time, the two hip-affected veterans battled for five sets and nearly five hours, with Nalbandian prevailing 3-6, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (1), 9-7 after going into semi-tank mode when down a break in the fourth. He saved two match points, one with an outrageous half volley.
"It was that kind of match that nobody will forget it," Nalbandian said.
24. Kangaroo court
Obviously keen to give reporters something to talk about besides her Slam-less No. 1 label, Wozniacki took things to another level in Melbourne.
Besides setting the agenda for one of her news conferences, Wozniacki claimed a scratch on her leg came courtesy of an encounter with a kangaroo in Melbourne.
A wire service ran the story, only to have Wozniacki tell reporters later that it was a concocted tale.
"I'm sorry if I caused an inconvenience," Wozniacki said.
23. Fed punishes Rafa
Federer was in a confident mood as he prepared to face Nadal at the year-end championships. And he had every right to be considering his title at the Paris Masters and the fact that Federer had never lost to the Spaniard indoors.
Things went even better for Federer than he would have imagined.
He crunched winners from all over the court and comfortably defended Nadal's heavy crosscourt forehand.
The final score read 6-3, 6-0, Federer's most lopsided victory in their 26 encounters.
"This win ranks high because it's against my biggest rival, probably," Federer said. "It was a great match for me from start to finish. I've felt the power of Rafa in the past."
22. Slammin' Sammy upsets Serena
When Serena Williams reaches major finals, she usually wins. Entering 2011, her record was a sterling 13-3.
And when she was pitted against Samantha Stosur in the U.S. Open finale, not many gave the Aussie a chance.
But Stosur hardly blundered.
The serve and forehand worked great, as did her backhand, Stosur's weakest shot off the ground. She handled the occasion well, overcoming a minor blip after Williams clashed with the chair ump.
"I had one of my best days, and I'm very fortunate that I had it on this stage in New York," Stosur said.
Potential realized.
21. Kvitova storms to Istanbul title
To simplify matters: When Petra Kvitova is on her game, not many can beat her. Serena Williams is one of those few.
But with Williams and Clijsters absent from the year-end championships, no one managed to derail the Wimbledon winner in Istanbul.
This was the tournament -- not Wimbledon -- where Kvitova realized she's one of the best players, if not the best, in the world. She felt comfortable on the big stage.
Kvitova will be on the big stage for many years to come.
Here are a few things to watch in the next few weeks, leading off with the dominant men's world No. 1:
Gunning for Djokovic
Pressure? What pressure? Novak Djokovic looked completely at ease on the "Tonight Show with Jay Leno" on Tuesday. It's clear he can entertain no matter what the venue.
He faces a different type of pressure in Montreal, Cincinnati and, looking ahead, the U.S. Open. Djokovic wasn't the man to beat in Australia, was 50-50 with Rafael Nadal heading into the French Open, and not many picked him at Wimbledon. He's now the substantial favorite during the U.S. Open Series.
Having nabbed the No. 1 ranking, a new, driven Djokovic is determined to maintain his level. He'll lose more than one match this season, although winning in Montreal, Cincinnati and New York isn't a stretch. He's on his best surface.
A worry for Djokovic is the heat. He'll likely be tested in the broiling Ohio conditions. Djokovic had it relatively easy with the heat in Melbourne and London.
Rafa's remedy
Now wouldn't it have been nice to listen in on Nadal's practice sessions with Uncle Toni? Nadal's game has evolved since he turned pro, and he'll have to make more changes to cope with Djokovic, since he's 0-5 versus his buddy in 2011, dropping eight of the past nine sets.
Nadal enjoyed success very early in their Wimbledon final with the forehand down the line but abandoned it as the match wore on. Instead, his favored cross-court forehand to the right-hander's backhand took over, and it didn't work -- again. When Djokovic was stretched on the baseline, Nadal, a fine volleyer, stayed put rather than venturing forward. He's mindful of Djokovic's passing ability, but Djokovic, not as good of a volleyer, wasn't afraid to come in.
The dynamic among the top three is indeed peculiar. Nadal can't beat Djokovic, Djokovic has a tough time with Roger Federer, and Federer wants to avoid Nadal.
Fish's stamina
Players complain about the long season and injuries that result, then enter six tournaments in as many weeks. Strange.
But Mardy Fish did just that, and in a move smelled a mile away, bailed from the Legg Mason Classic in Washington -- as the second seed -- after going deep in Atlanta and Los Angeles. A heel injury was the official reason.
Who'd want to be a tournament organizer, eh? The heel, one suspects, will be fine in Montreal and Cincinnati.
But what about Fish's incongruous results in Canada and Cincinnati? He's played twice in the former, going 0-2, while finishing as the runner-up in Ohio twice, including in 2010. Fish has no points to defend in Montreal but plenty in Cincinnati to back up.
Serena's charge
Even before she hit a ball in Stanford, where she ended up winning the whole thing, Serena Williams meant business. She was in tip-top shape. Losing at Wimbledon to Marion Bartoli stung, although it shouldn't have given her roughly year-long hiatus.
Williams was far more efficient off the ground; the power in her strokes was also accurate, and being in better shape, she covered the court impressively.
The signs are ominous -- for her opponents.
Sharapova's answer
Maria Sharapova had reason to be confident as she embarked on the U.S. Open Series, having reached the semis at Roland Garros and final at Wimbledon. Never one to back down, the Russian said she'd look forward to playing Williams this summer, despite losing five straight to the 13-time Grand Slam winner.
It happened in California, and the streak was extended to six. It was ugly.
Sharapova got crushed in the quarterfinals, a huge blow. For a third time in the past two months, she foundered in a big match. And in those encounters against Li Na at the French Open, Petra Kvitova at Wimbledon and Williams in Stanford, Sharapova tossed in a combined 23 double faults. You almost expect a flurry of double faults now when the world No. 5 confronts top-quality foes.
She needs a morale boost.
The return of Kimmy
Kim Clijsters is back and in her favorite time of the season: Her U.S. Open Series record since 2009 is an impressive 26-3, punctuated by back-to-back crowns in New York.
But will this year be different?
Dissimilar to 2009, when Clijsters re-emerged on the circuit in a story high on feel-good factor, her health is a question mark. Clijsters was already struggling with a shoulder problem prior to two separate foot injuries surfacing, one suffered while the Belgian was at her cousin's wedding.
If Clijsters is 100 percent, even if results don't go her way in Canada, she'll probably be happy enough. She's overcome a lack of matches to win the U.S. Open in the past.
Fed Cup goes on without Venus and Serena
Will they play? Won't they play?
That's the constant question when it comes to Serena and Venus Williams and Fed Cup. Whether they lend their name to the cause, back out of commitment or don't sign up to play at all, the Fed Cup and the Williamses just don't seem to mesh.
There are those fans who say stop picking on the sisters. There's no denying they're great players, not only the best in America, but often the best in the world. But let's be honest: The last time the Williamses played Fed Cup was way back in 2007.
Venus has the better Fed Cup history with a 17-4 win-loss record in eight ties played (14-2 singles, 3-2 doubles). She last played against Russia in the 2007 semifinal. Serena has been way less active with a 7-0 win-loss record in a skimpy four ties played (4-0 singles, 3-0 doubles). She last played against Belgium in the 2007 quarterfinal.
This summer, with a second straight final against Italy looming in November, U.S. Fed Cup captain Mary Joe Fernandez made the big announcement: The sisters were interested in playing. It really wasn't a surprise. San Diego, the location for the final, provided an ideal situation -- an opportunity to play Fed Cup at home and secure qualification for the 2012 Olympics. A player is required by the International Tennis Federation to be available to play Fed Cup in advance of every Olympics.
Injuries, however, not only put an end to the dreams of a Fed Cup final dream team, but also to the sisters' seasons: Serena was still experiencing complications from stepping on glass at a bar in Europe this summer, and Venus was suffering from chronic knee problems.
Sure, Fernandez would've loved to have the Williamses on her squad -- she's been the captain for two years now without a Venus or Serena sighting. But she isn't spending time bemoaning her fate. She's going with her go-to players: No. 58 Bethanie Mattek-Sands, No. 67 Melanie Oudin and No. 3 (doubles) Liezel Huber. Fernandez also added the constantly improving No. 114 Coco Vandeweghe to the mix.
"It's funny, I guess because I haven't had Venus and Serena on a team I'm not disappointed," Fernandez said. "It's not like I've had them, they've been winning so much, and now they're not there. I really don't know it any way else."
The U.S. owns a record 17 Fed Cup titles, but last won the competition in 2000. Having the sisters would've provided a team tough to beat, but some countered that changing up the team that did the grunt work to get to the final would have been unfair. Clearly, a moot point now.
"I think Melanie, Bethanie, Liezel, they want to win. I want to win," Fernandez said. "To me, it's all about contributing to the team and about being there. If Serena and Venus were able to contribute by playing and winning it then guess what, they would've been helping everybody."
Mattek-Sands wasn't surprised when she heard the now out-of-commission sisters were initially on tap for the final.
"You can't really argue against it, they're our top American players," Mattek-Sands said. "It's tough, we have a good team and we've gotten to the finals the last two years with the same core team. Yeah, I think we deserve a chance to play, but Venus and Serena are our best so I wasn't surprised they were initially chosen."
Fernandez says she isn't worried about being considered long shots against a more accomplished Italian team -- reigning French Open champion Francesca Schiavone, Flavia Pennetta, Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci are a united front and all rank in the top 45 in singles.
"We've really been the underdogs every tie," Fernandez said. "But we're finding ways to do it. We have the passion and it means so much to represent your country."
Fernandez wasn't ready to predict a U.S. victory; soothsaying isn't her forte. But heading into this coming weekend she had a very good feeling.
"I have a lot of faith," Fernandez said. "You've got to believe and I do believe we can win."
Caroline Wozniacki hot on Serena's trail
The tennis season is winding down. But for the likes of Caroline Wozniacki, Jelena Jankovic and Samantha Stosur, there's still much to play for.
We assess what's at stake for the top 10 women until the end of the year, starting with the world No. 1, who was conspicuously absent in New York.
1. Serena Williams: This time of the year has never been a top priority for Serena, nor should it be. The majors are over. However, given foot surgery ruled her out of the U.S. Open, Williams probably has a little more desire than usual to return to the tour. Will she or won't she play in the Fed Cup final? That's the big question.
2. Caroline Wozniacki: It was all going so well for Wozniacki in New York. She swept to the semifinals without breaking a sweat. Then came that ugly match against Vera Zvonareva. Wozniacki is still at that stage where she plays a heck of a lot, and that won't change in the fall. The Danish teen is chasing the No. 1 ranking. Let the education continue.
3. Venus Williams: How Venus would love to have that second-set tiebreaker against Kim Clijsters in New York back. The elder Williams blew a golden chance to win a first major outside grass in nine years. Given she's 30 and coming off knee woes during the U.S. Open Series, Venus should get in just enough matches, not more, to prepare for the year-end championships.
4. Vera Zvonareva: What a year for Zvonareva, reaching two Grand Slam finals. Unfortunately, and similar to fellow Russian Elena Dementieva in 2004, she failed to win a set in both finales. Zvonareva needs to work on her emotions. Although much improved, Zvonareva let rip on her coach in the U.S. Open final.
5. Kim Clijsters: She returned to the tour on her own terms and nothing has changed. She'll play as little as warranted. If it keeps her going for a while longer, then great. Clijsters plans to participate in only one event prior to the year-end championships. Don't get injured heading into 2011.
6. Jelena Jankovic: It seems Jankovic hasn't recovered from her exertions in the fall of 2008, when she played five weeks in succession to grab the No. 1 ranking. She's fading, barely above .500 in her past 13 matches. The Serb could thus do with a huge boost of confidence. Getting a full-time coach must be near the top of her to-do list.
7. Samantha Stosur: Has Stosur underachieved since reaching the French Open final? Perhaps. An arm injury didn't help. Stosur would gain a huge spark by qualifying for the year-end championships for the first time, because it appears she still doesn't think she should be mixing it with the elite.
8. Francesca Schiavone: Like Stosur, Schiavone has never played at the year-end championships. Unlike the Aussie, the confidence isn't lacking. Schiavone got her swagger back at the U.S. Open, where she delighted fans with her all-court game. Schiavone likes the fall swing, evidenced by her productive 2009. She'll be looking forward to another Fed Cup final.
9. Agnieszka Radwanska: Unless she turns into a power player, Radwanska will never become a serious threat at the majors. She failed to exceed the fourth round at the Slams in 2010. The serve, especially the second serve, is a weakness. Reaching the quarterfinals and semis the next two months probably won't be enough to land the Pole a direct spot at the year-end championships.
10. Elena Dementieva: She can't seem to win the big matches. There was the Australian Open. There was the U.S. Open. And at the French, a torn calf muscle prevented Dementieva from finishing her tussle against Schiavone in the semis. Dementieva will go hard during the fall -- just as she does every week on the tour.
LONDON, England -- Can we fast forward 11½ months?
Please?
There's nothing quite like Wimbledon on the sporting calendar, and this year's edition of the world's most famous tennis tournament had to be one of the finest ever.
John Isner's 11-hour win over Nicolas Mahut couldn't be topped. But the likes of Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer went the distance in the first week, too. Nadal eventually cruised to the title, while Federer, in a watershed moment, lost prior to the semifinals for the second straight major.
After Serena Williams made an adjustment early in the tournament, no one touched her serve. It's 13 Grand Slam titles and counting for the world No. 1.
And the umbrellas were used for shade, not precipitation. No rain delays for the first time since 1995.
Here's a fond look back at the Big W:
Most valuable men's player: Rafael Nadal
When it was crunch time, Rafa delivered.
An eighth major appeared unlikely following his five-set -- and knee -- struggles in the second and third rounds.
But from the fourth round onward, the 24-year-old Spaniard dropped just one set. He won all the big points.
Most valuable women's player: Serena Williams
Williams didn't drop a set in two weeks and was tested only briefly by the towering trio of Maria Sharapova, Petra Kvitova and Li Na.
She fired a women's tournament-record 89 aces.
ESPN analyst and U.S. Fed Cup captain Mary Joe Fernandez summed up the serve best when she said, "It's got the speed when she needs it, the spin when she needs it, she can slice it, kick it and hit it into the body."
Most disappointing player: Andy Murray
This was Murray's time.
He benefited from a cream puff draw to the quarterfinals and didn't falter. More than ever, his countrymen believed Great Britain's 74-year wait for a men's Grand Slam champion would come to an end.
Instead -- and not for the first time -- Murray stumbled. Nadal taught him a lesson in the semis.
At least he outdid England at the World Cup.
Breakthrough performer: Tomas Berdych
Berdych is no longer the biggest underachiever in tennis.
The Czech backed up his French Open with an even better Wimbledon, ending Federer's dominance on the grass. Berdych didn't play a bad match in the final against Nadal, either.
A Grand Slam title must be in his future.
Most worrying development: Federer's health
Federer rubbed a few the wrong way when he, without being prompted, said a sore back and leg contributed to his defeat in the quarterfinals. It was an excuse, Berdych countered.
Breach of etiquette or not, Federer probably wasn't lying. The back has bothered the 16-time Grand Slam champ on and off for years, a bad sign with the Swiss about to turn 29.
Most considerate player: Andy Roddick
Isner revealed that Roddick got him some grub, including pizza, when his match against Mahut was suspended at 59-59 in the fifth. The players toiled for more than seven hours on the opening Wednesday.
"We just went and grabbed him some food that he could actually refuel his body with," Roddick said.
Roddick's ties to food didn't end there. He lost to a chicken catcher's son, Yen-Hsun Lu, in the fourth round. The gutsy Lu deserved to advance.
Biggest upset loss: Venus Williams
Roddick's departure surprised.
Fewer saw Venus' loss to Tsvetana Pironkova coming, despite the Bulgarian winning their tilt at the Australian Open in 2006.
Venus was having a great season, rising to No. 2 in the rankings, had claimed five Wimbledon titles and appeared in three straight finals.
Best verbal volleyer: Lleyton Hewitt
He's on his last legs, but the Aussie still hates to lose.
Hewitt couldn't help but take a shot at Novak Djokovic after he was shown the exit by the dramatic Serb in the fourth round. Djokovic took an injury timeout in the third of four sets because of stomach pain.
"He's always got something, so I wasn't focusing on it at all," Hewitt said.
John McEnroe, never one to shy away from predictions, said after the quarterfinals that he would stand on his head if Serena Williams didn't win the Wimbledon title this fortnight. He must have been a little edgy Thursday when Williams fell behind an early break to Czech left-hander Petra Kvitova. The 12-time Grand Slam champion recovered, of course.
ESPN.com grades the Wimbledon semifinalists, with Williams' next opponent, Vera Zvonareva, leading the way.
Vera Zvonareva
There was a moment in Zvonareva's 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 win over Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova when you thought the Russian might revert to type and implode. Zvonareva had just missed a backhand into the net facing set point, undoing a minicomeback from 40-0 down. She berated herself.
What would happen during the changeover?
Nothing, as it turned out.
"I've been in a lot of different situations in the past, and I think I know how to turn the matches around much better now," Zvonareva said.
Zvonareva used her all-court game to rally past Pironkova, totaling 31 winners and 13 unforced errors. She went 29-for-35 on net approaches.
Grade: A-. She's looking mentally tough.
Serena Williams
Most expected Williams to blow away Kvitova. Except Williams, that is. Williams said before the match that she had watched Kvitova earlier in the tournament and was impressed.
Williams served well at key moments again and won 80 percent of her points behind her first serve. She took advantage of a loose game to break back in the first set and ended up prevailing 7-6 (5), 6-2. Her defense was outstanding.
Plus, she doled out a rare compliment. "She does everything good," Williams said of Kvitova.
Williams, however, didn't start well.
Grade: B+. She was workmanlike, not dominant.
Petra Kvitova
Reaching the semis was no fluke for Kvitova, a tall, hard-hitting baseliner whose game resembles that of compatriot and men's semifinalist Tomas Berdych. Third-seeded Caroline Wozniacki, a slightly rejuvenated Victoria Azarenka and three other previous Grand Slam quarterfinalists (at least) were among her victims.
Kvitova started well against Williams, especially with the cross-court forehand. She was the one standing closer to the baseline. The 20-year-old was even one point from leading 5-2 in the opening set.
She predictably fizzled in the second.
"I think it was a great match for me," Kvitova said.
Grade: B. She made it closer than we thought.
Tsvetana Pironkova
Pironkova picked up where she left off against Venus Williams, ripping backhands and throwing in big serves. As with Kvitova, there were no nerves.
But she began to wobble early in the second. When Zvonareva broke for 3-2, it unsettled Pironkova. Zvonareva was suddenly the one doing the dictating.
Here's hoping 82nd-ranked Pironkova isn't a one-Slam wonder.
"There are many things I should work on, and I will do it with pleasure," she said. "Now I have lots of motivation."
Grade: B-. The magic dissipated.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Ravi Ubha (top left) is a London-based journalist. He holds a business degree from McGill University and a journalism diploma from Concordia University, both in Montreal, where he formerly covered baseball and hockey. Ubha is a tennis and soccer contributor to ESPN.com, also featuring in other publications, and does play-by-play in tennis.
Kamakshi Tandon (top center) is a freelance writer and tennis junkie who contributes regularly to ESPN. She has also written for Tennis magazine, Reuters and Dow Jones Newswires. Tandon is based in Toronto.
Sandra Harwitt (top right) is a graduate of New York University's School of Journalism and covers tennis for various media outlets. Harwitt has been accepted to pursue a part-time master of science in strategic communications at Columbia University. She is based in South Florida and New York.
Matt Wilansky (bottom left) is the tennis editor for ESPN.com. He joined ESPN in 1998 after graduating with a B.A. in communication from the University of Hartford.
Tom Tebbutt (bottom center) is the tennis writer for The Globe and Mail in Toronto. He has been covering tennis for more than three decades and is a regular at the Grand Slam tournaments. Tebbutt lives in Toronto but is originally from Quebec.
Greg Garber (bottom right) joined ESPN in 1991 and provides reports for NFL Countdown and SportsCenter. He is also a regular contributor to Outside the Lines and a senior writer for ESPN.com.