Jax Sporting News.com© News & Views

Beat Down Down Under

By Pat Byrd  Story Updated January 28, 2012

Melbourne, Australia--The number 3 and 4 seeds squared off in the final of the Australian Open Saturday to what spectators hoped would be a well fought match.  What they saw was the number 3 seed, 22 year old Victoria Azarenka, put an old fashion thrashing on the 4th seed, 24 year old Maria Sharapova, to take the 2012 Australian Open title 6-3, 6-0, and also take over the world number 1 ranking, taking it away from its two year owner Caroline Wozniacki who now falls to number 4.

The match started on a positive note for Sharapova who immediately broke Azarenka's serve on an unforced error and then managed to hold her serve to take the early 2-0 lead. Things were looking up for Sharapova until the fourth game of the set where Azarenka broke her service game at love on four straight unforced errors. Sharapova was pulling out all the stops but Azarenka had an answer for everything she threw at her. Azarenka again broke Sharapova's serve in the 8th game of the set; this game though was a little closer going to three deuce points but Azarenka won the game on a swing volley winner and again Sharapova was broken. At 5 games to 3 Azarenka served out the set at 40-15 when Sharapova hit a service return into the net giving Azarenka the first set 6-3 in just 46 minutes.

If the first set was a nightmare for Sharapova, the second set was a horror movie in slow motion. Azarenka broke Sharapova's serve on all three service games.  The scores weren't even close.  She lost her first service game at 15-40 when she tried to approach net and was stunned with a scorching passing shot.  At 0-2 she was broken again at 15-40 when she hit a cross court backhand wide.  At 0-4 she was broken for the final time at 30-40 when she hit a  forehand cross court shot long.  Azarenka served for the match at 5-0 and looked and played as if she were under no pressure at all.  You would never have know this was her first Grand Slam final.  At 30-30 Sharapova got lucky with a net cord winner giving her at break point at 40-30 but then came back hitting a backhand down the line into the net bringing up deuce.  Azarenka replied with a forehand down the line winner to give her her first match point.  She only needed one match point try; Sharapova handed the match point to her hitting a backhand down the line into the net. Azarenka won the tournament 6-3, 6-0 in 1 hour and 22 minutes.

Azarenka did not serve any aces to win the match, she served up 4 double faults, 12 unforced errors, and 14 winners winning an overall 61 points in the match. Sharapova managed 1 ace, 3 double faults, a whopping 30 unforced errors to only 14 winners and managed to win only 38 of 99 points played.  It's all in the stats, Victoria Azarenka was just the better player. Chris Everett said that if a player beat you so many times in a row it was said that they 'owned you'.  Victoria Azarenka has beaten Maria Sharapova 3 of their last four meeting.  The onetime Sharapova won, Azarenka retired the match. I think it goes without saying that at this point in her career Victoria Azarenka 'owns' Maria Sharapova.  Without a doubt she owns the 2012 Australian Open title and the world number one ranking, what she does next will say a lot.  After winning their first slam many players have just faded, Li Na, Francesca Schiavone, Ana Ivanovic, Sam Stosur, but somehow I don't think that's going to be the case for Victoria. There are three slams to go and I can't wait to see how she does.                       

Last American Singles Player Out at the Australian Open

By Pat Byrd Story Updated January 23, 2012

Melbourne, Australia--Will the last American singles player out of the tournament please turn off the lights before you leave.  Nine American women entered the singles main draw at the 2012 Australian Open and now with the elimination of the 12th seed Serena Williams in the round of sixteen by unseeded Russian Ekaterina Makarova 6-2, 6-3, none remain.  In fact with the elimination of American John Isner in the third round by Feliciano Lopez 6-3, 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-7(0), 6-1, no Americans remain in the singles draw at all.  The 'hey day' of American tennis is definitely on hiatus.

Twenty eight year old 11th seed, Belgium Kim Clijsters has said this may be her final Australian Open.  She may retire again to have another child putting tennis behind her.  She is playing as if this is her final Australian Open; she is hitting every ball with 150 percent effort, playing every game as if she were match point down, in other words, she is playing unbelievable tennis.  Thirty year old Serena Williams who says she will continue to play for several more years, although other than Fed Cup and the Olympics she is closed lipped about just what tournaments she will enter, has played the first Grand Slam of the year at half speed.  In her round of sixteen match the heat bothered her early; within the first four games she was using ice wraps to cool down, a sign she came into the Open not match fit.  She may split her time between practicing and selling her wares on HSN, but practicing does not take the place of playing actual matches, she let her country down; what can America expect of an Olympic or Fed Cup performance, and don't get me started on the choices for our Fed Cup team of whom Venus Williams was picked and she isn't even playing or even in the top 100. But back to the Australian Open; Williams first two service games went well, she threw in two double faults but balanced them out with two aces and managed to hold easily.  Makarova also held her first two service games easily.  It wasn't until 14 minutes into the match with Williams serving in the fifth game that things began to go south for the American.  Williams threw in her third double fault to go down break point, 30-40, but then managed to bring the game to deuce with a backhand down the line winner.  She then brought up a second break point  with a wide cross court forehand.  Hitting an unforced error, a cross court forehand wide, Williams service game was broken.  Makarova held her service game at love in the sixth game of the match to go up 4 games to 2.  Williams served in the pivotal seventh game of the set and at 30-40 hit a backhand in the net giving Makarova the 5-2 lead and she would be serving for the first set. Williams didn't just hand the 8th game over to Makarova, she did make her work for it.  It wasn't until Makarova's 6th set point that she hit a backhand cross court winner to take the game and the first set 6-2 in just 35 minutes.

Williams and Makarova traded breaks of serve early in the second set, in the second and third games, but it would be Makarova who would be the steadier of the two and hold her serve while breaking Williams again in the fifth game with Williams giving up the game with a double fault. It took Makarova four match points to put the game, set, and match in her pocket taking 47 minutes in the second set, ­­­­­­­­­1 hour and 22 minutes in all.

Throughout the match Williams managed 8 aces, 7 double faults, 33 unforced errors and won 50 of the 112 points played.  In contrast Makarova had only 1 ace, 0 double faults and only 16 unforced errors and won a total of 62 points to give her the match.

Next up Makarova will meet the 4th seed and rejuvenated favorite Maria Sharapova who beat the 14th seed German Sabine Lisicki 3-6, 6-4, 6-2.  The number 2 seed Petra Kvitova will take on the unseeded Italian Sara Errani.  In the other half of the draw quarter final match ups feature the number 1 seed Caroline Wozniacki against defending champion Kim Clijsters the 11th seed, and Victoria Azarenka the 3rd seed matching up with a bit of a surprise in the number 8 seed Agnieszka Radwanska.

By Pat Byrd  Story Updated January 19, 2012

Melbourne, Australia--It took 12th seeded 30 year old American Serena Williams just one hour and eight minutes to move into the third round of the Australian Open by punishing unseeded Barbora Zahlavova Strycova, the world ranked 49th player, of the Czech Republic 6-0, 6-4.

Williams appeared to be playing at half speed, almost disinterested, not really putting all her strength into every shot but it didn't seemed she needed to.  Even a half hearted Williams was more than the Czech could handle in the second round of the year's first Grand Slam. Williams had both ankles heavily taped and even took a tumble but showed no sign that an earlier ankle injury at Sydney was giving her any problems.

In the first set Williams was only hitting 41 percent of her first serves in, managed only one ace, 7 winners, and hit 8 unforced errors, but the deciding factor was that she won 25 of the 38 points played even though Zahlavova Strycova was hitting a very high 82 percent of her first serves in but hit zero winners and 11 unforced errors.  The stats and the score and everyone watching saw a very lopsided first set that ended 6-0 with very little effort from Williams.

The second set began with the sun bothering Williams on her serve.  She compensated with a lower ball toss and a half speed serve, just spinning it in, and still managed to win her service game only losing one point when she hit a backhand in the net. In the second game of the second set, the 8th over all game, Zahlavova Strycova finally managed to hold her serve, this in part to four straight errors from Williams, but it didn't matter, she was on the board.  Williams wasn't fazed but more irritated at losing the previous game and made Zahlavova Strycova pay by serving up two straight aces, one at 119 mph.  Zahlavova Strycova replied with two consecutive errors to hand over the game to Williams.  Zahlavova Strycova went on to win three games in the set and even found a way to break William's serve once in the 9th game of the set, but ultimately when she was serving in the 10th game of the second set at 4 games to 5, just trying to stay in the match Williams only needed a peek at one break point to seal her fate and move into the third round by taking the match.

Interestingly enough this was Williams 500th career match win catching up with big sister Venus who had already accomplished this feat.

Williams moves on to meet unseeded Greta Arn in the third round and is on a collision course to meet 7th seed Vera Zvonareva, that is if Zvonareva doesn't have a meltdown before the round of sixteen.  Zvonareva has had two very tough matches already, one going three sets, the second going to a tie break in the second set.  Zvonareva faces unseeded Ekaterina Makarova of Russia in the third round.

In other action my 'dark horse' pick of the tournament, 14th seed Sabine Lisicki had no trouble pounding past Shahar Peer 6-1, 6-2 and will meet 18th seed Svetlana Kuznetsova who may have seen better days but may still have a few tricks up her sleeve. If Lisicki survives she is on a collision course to meet the 4th seed Maria Sharapova in the round of sixteen.  I may be speaking too soon, but playing well of late is French Open Champion Ana Ivanovic the 21st seed.  If she makes it through her third round match with a fired up American Vania King  she will likely meet Petra Kvitova the number 2 seed in the round of sixteen.

By Pat Byrd  Story Updated January 17, 2012

Melbourne, Australia--Round one of the 2012 Australian Open is over and 64 hopefuls remain.  Of the surprises that are getting an early ticket home, the highest of the seeds at number 6 is Samantha Stosur, her second first round exit of the season being beaten by Sorana Cirstea 7-6(2), 6-3. Also leaving in the first round was the 19th seed Flavia Pennetta of Italy losing to qualifier Nina Bratchikova.  Not a great surprise but another blow to American tennis was an early exit by Irina Falconi who showed so much promise at the 2011 U.S. Open losing to Italy's Alberta Brianti 6-2, 7-5. Seeded but not a surprise exit was 28th seed Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium losing to Galina Voskoboeva 7-5, 6-2, who no surprise, she hasn't really show any results in the previous months.

Surprises that won who maybe should be on their way home are the number 7 seed Vera Zvonareva who fought a very lackluster match against Alexandra Dulgheru and managed to squeak by 7-6(4), 6-7(5),6-3, the 14 seed Sabine Lisicki, who has been injured, but managed get one by Stefanie Voegele 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.  Svetlana Kuznetsova looked totally out of shape against a thinner, fitter Chanelle Scheepers but managed to muddle through after a clothing change and three sets 6-3, 3-6, 6-0, Scheepers did fade in the final set. Here's a name most people have heard of but few think is still around:  Nadia Petrova; she is the 29th seed and won in three sets, 6-3, 3-6, 6-0 over Andrea Hlavackova.  I wouldn't count on her getting too deep in the draw but it is nice to see her still giving it a go.

Another surprise to still be struggling on the pro tour is Jelena Dokic, now an Australian citizen.  She won her first round match against Russia's Anna Chakvetadze with relative ease 6-2, 6-1. I know everyone is pulling for her do go deep into the draw but with her next opponent Marion Bartoli the 9th seed, I don't see that happening.  Another hope for America, although slight, Vania King made it out of the first round beating Kateryna Bondarenka, a name that should be familiar to the regular tennis enthusiast, 7-6(3), 6-3.  My biggest surprise to make it out of the first round was Canada's Aleksandra Wozniak, a wild card, she easily handled China's Shuai Zhang 6-3, 6-3. 

One think is for sure, it's still a wide open draw and no one has a hold on the trophy at this point. If I was going to place a wager on this year's tournament I think I would have to split it in the first half of the draw between Kim Clijsters and Victoria Azarenka; in the second half of the draw thing become a bit more cloudy, it's more a case of who I don't think can win it. I don't think Serena Williams can pull it off, nor can Maria Sharapova, both have too many injuries. I think if I'm going to make one wild pick in the second half of the draw it would be Sabine Lisicki even though she is recovering from an injury, and my one safe pick is Petra Kvitova to win her second Grand Slam.  How's that for being non committal?

Clijsters Wins 2011 Australian Open

By Pat Byrd  Story Updated January 29, 2011

Melbourne, Australia—With a shaky start, and after dropping the first set to a determined underdog Li Na, Kim Clijsters regrouped to win the first Grand Slam of the year, and her first Australian Open Title 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.  This makes her fourth Grand Slam title overall.

The 27 year old Belgium started the match very much in control, serving an ace to start things off, and winning her first service game at love.  In contrast her opponent Li Na of China lost her first service game at love giving Clijsters the early break.  In Clijsters next service game she was broken by Li putting the set back on serve.  This wouldn’t be the only time Li Na broke the Clijsters serve, she would break to go up 4-3 and then again with a brilliant passing shot to take the first set 6-3.

Both players struggled to begin the second set, four games, four breaks of serve.  After Clijsters and Li finally held serve, it was Clijsters who was first to draw blood with a break to go up 4-3, then held her own serve for 5-3.  Now Li Na would have to hold her serve or the match would be going to a third set.  With Li Na serving down 3-5 the game went to deuce and Clijsters won the next point to give her the advantage.  Li Na hit the next point played into the net giving Clijsters the game and the second set.

The third set began as a replay of the first.  Clijsters began by holding her service game at love then breaking Li Na’s serve.  The third game of the set Clijsters serve was broken to put the set back on serve.  Breaking Clijsters serve in the third game of the third set was Li Na’s last taste of victory; Clijsters took advantage of Li's double fault at deuce to earn a break point that won her the game going up 3-1.  With Li Na unable to break Clijsters serve to gain back the advantage, her fate was sealed.  Clijsters won her first Australian Open title 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.  Li Na will be remembered as the first Chinese woman to make it to a Grand Slam final.

The final match was not an easy road for Kim Clijsters; she had to fight for every point.  Both players had similar styles of play, aggressively earning points from the baseline with blistering winners crosscourt or down the line.  Li Na did not lose a championship; she won a place in history, and inspired a country, something to be proud of. Clijsters took another step closer to the number one ranking, and her own place in history as a four time Grand Slam champion.

Four Unseeded Players Move into the Round of 16

By Ellen Newton  Story Updated January 22^nd 2011

Four unseeded players, Peng Shuai, Ekaterina Makarova, Iveta Benesova, and Anastasija Sevasotova,  moved into the round of 16, while 5^th seed Samantha Stosur fell to the 25^th seed Petra Kvitova 7-6(5), 6-3, another disappointing Australian Open for the Aussie.  Number 1 seed Caroline Wozniacki continues to cruise, not dropping a set so far, coasting in to the round of 16 with a win over the 29^th seed Dominika Cibulkova 6-4, 6-3.

In action in the other half of the draw, Vera Zvonareva roared into the round of 16 squeezing out a win over the 31^st seed Lucie Safarova  6-3, 7-6(11-9). The first set was an easy one for Zvonareva, breaking Safarova in the 6^th game of the set to go ahead 4-2 and easily holding her own service games to finish off the set.  In the second set Safarova came alive, pushing Zvonareva to a tie break that would take three match points before she secured the set and the match.

In action today it will be the battle of the seeds, number 1 seed Caroline Wozniacki  taking on unseeded Anastasija Sevastova,  number 9 seed Na Li vs. Number 8 Victoria Azarenka, this should be a very interesting match to see how and if the number 14 seed Maria Sharapova holds up to the number 30 seed Andrea Petkovic, and a barn burner number 23 Svetlana Kuznetsova battling the French Open champion and number 6 seed Francesca Schiavone. 

Not to ignore the men, in a round of 16 match up, the number 2 seed Roger Federer will take on unseeded  Tommy Robredo, and number 8 seed Andy Roddick will take on the 19^th seed Stanislas Wawrinka.

Who’s In It to Win It?

By Pat Byrd   Story updated January 19, 2011

Melbourne, Australia—Everyone who could get an entry into the main draw showed up to play in this year’s Australian Open , well, almost everyone.  The top 20 women in the world thought it was a big enough event to show up to, with two notable exceptions; Elena Dementieva who retired at the end of 2010 (she is still ranked in the top 20), and Serena Williams who has been out for several months with a lingering foot injury.  So, who is going to win the 2011  Australian Open Women’s Title? 

The odds makers in Las Vegas are probably looking at the number 3 seed, Kim Clijsters to take the title; it would be her first Australian Open title.  Keep in mind that Clijsters lost last week in the finals at Sydney to Na Li. As for the draw, Clijsters half is a dream, there isn’t anyone she hasn’t beaten including the number 2 seed Vera Zvonareva. The number 7 seed Jelena Jankovic was beaten by Shuai Peng 7-6(3), 6-3 in the second round so a Clijsters-Jankovic  meeting in the quarters is off. If Kim stays healthy and happy she should win her half of the draw and make it to the finals, the only person who could possibly beat her would be the number 2 seed Zvonareva, or possibly Samantha Stosur the 5^th seed, otherwise it’s clear sailing.

In the other half of the draw the seeds are stacked to the ceiling starting with the number 1 seed Caroline Wozniacki who I think everyone believes she should win a slam because she is the number 1 seed, but I don’t think she can take Clijsters in a final if she makes it that far. But before she makes it to a final she has to make it past Svetlana Kuznetsova who just took out the 11^th seed Justine Henin, Maria Sharapova, Na Li the 9^th seed, Victoria Azarenka the 8^th seed, and you still can’t count out the 8^th seed and French Open champion Francesca Schiavone.

In my opinion, its Clijsters tournament to win or lose, but she’s got some feisty competition. My pick to win the other half of the draw, I think it’s going to come down to Wozniacki and Sharapova in the semifinals. 

I know what you’re asking, what?, no word on Venus Williams…..another injury, another disappointment, another excuse.  We’ll see her back at the French, maybe.

Seeds Move On

By Pat Byrd  Story Updated January 17, 2010

Melbourne, Australia—The number 2 seed Vera Zvonareva sped through her first round match in just 59 minutes at the Australian Open, taking out Sybille Bammer with ease 6-2, 6-1.

Within 24 minutes Zvonareva was serving for the first set at 5-1, then her nerves got the best of her and she lost her serve at love by double faulting at game point.  She quickly regained her focus and broke Bammer’s serve to take the first set 6-2 in just 31 minutes.

The second set wouldn’t look any brighter for Bammer whose unforced error count continued to rise.  Within 28 minutes Zvonareva had the second set in hand 6-1, and won the match 6-2, 6-1.

In a first round upset, Daniela Hantuchova, the 28^th seed was defeated by unseeded Regina Kulikova of Russia 7-6(3), 3-6, 9-7.  Hantuchova looked in control of the match, moving Kulikova around the court, utilizing the drop shot and lob, but her serve would let her down in the first set tie break.  She came back to take the second set with relative ease 6-3, breaking early and staying up a break, earning a chance to win the match with a decisive third set.

Hantuchova broke early in the third set to go up 4-1 but Kulikova would come right back breaking Hantuchova’s serve and go up 5-4.  With no tie break in the third set, play would continue at six all.  Kulikova broke Hantuchova’s serve at 7 all and serving at 8-7, 40-15 won the point and the match.

In other first round action, the number 1 seed Caroline Wozniacki beat Gisela Dulko 6-3, 6-4, number 4 seed Venus Williams defeated Sara Errani of Italy 6-3, 6-2,  20^th seed Kaia Kanepi outlasted Magdalena Rybarikova 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, number 11 seed Justine Henin slid past Sania Mirza 5-7, 6-3, 6-1,  number 6 seed Francesca Schiavone beat Arantxa Parra Santonja 6-7(7), 6-2, 6-4, and 5th seed Samantha Stosur dispatched Lauren Davis of the U.S. 6-1, 6-1.

And Then There Was One

Serena Williams and Justine Henin

January 30, 2010

Melbourne, Australia—From 128 women who entered, Serena Williams prevailed to win her second straight and fifth overall Australian Open Championship defeating an unseeded Justine Henin 64, 36, 62. This was Henin’s second final in as many tournaments since coming out of a 20 month retirement; Sydney was her first tournament back where she lost to Kim Clijsters in the final.

This match was only the second of the tournament that Williams had been stretched to three sets, the first was against Victoria Azarenka in the quarterfinals, till that point she had handled her matches easily in two quick sets.  There was a much different story to be told for Justine Henin, her second round match was played against the number five seed, Elena Dementieva, which took Henin to a second set tie break to secure to match.  Throughout the tournament she would endure three more tie breaks, and two more three set matches to gain a spot in the finals.

Both women played some incredible tennis to make it to the final, but once they got there it seemed neither one wanted to win.  Henin couldn’t hit a first serve, I believe the stats had her first serve around 46%, and Serena, although she would hit the occasional ace, couldn’t keep the ball in the lines otherwise. On Henin’s second serve, Serena would stand well within the base line to receive, a clear intent to intimidate, but was unable to keep the ball in the court on the return. All things being equal in the first set, Serena had the superior serve which carried her to win the first set.

Serving second in the second set, Henin found herself down 15-40, continuously hitting out, before finding her rhythm, serving up an ace and winning her service game to bring to second set to 1 all. Each player would continue to break serve throughout the second set but Henin would fight back to win it 6-3.

Where Serena look shaky in the second set, she showed no such form in the third, she won her first service game of the third and quickly broke Henin at 4-2. Serena served for the match at 5-2 and 40-0.  Henin would win only one point on William’s serve to make it 40-15. Serena would win the next point and the Championship, 64, 36, 62.

I don’t think either woman played up to their potential; both played cautiously, not nearly like they had played to get to the finals. Its possible nerves were the issue, but both players have been to and won major titles before. Without doubt, these two will meet again, hopefully in another major final, and when they do lets hope they play up to their full potential, no excuses, no ailments, no bandages, just all out, go for it all tennis.

Into the Quarterfinals; Who’s in, Who’s Out, and Who’s Coming

Safely in the quarterfinals of the 2010 Australian Open rest unseeded Justine Henin, surprise quarterfinalist, 19^th seed Nadia Petrova, even bigger surprise unseeded Jie Zheng of China, and unseeded Maria Kirlenko compliments of number 1 seed Dinara Safina who retired at 4-5 in the first set in the round of sixteen.

Who is still in the round of sixteen waiting their turn? Number 1 seed Serena Williams who should have a tough match against the 13^th seed Sam Stosur, 9^th seed Vera Zvonareva, always an emotional question mark, taking on 7^th seed Victoria Azarenka, 4^th seed Caroline Wozniacki should have no problems against the 16^th seed Na Li, and finally number 6^th seed Venus Williams could have, but can she have an easy match against the 17^th seed Francesca Schiavone of Italy.  In my mind Venus is a big question mark to make it to the quarterfinals.

Who’s out in the round of sixteen? How about Yanina Wickmayter who had the misfortune to take on a charmed Justine Henin.  Former US Open Champion Svetlana Kuznetsova, the 3^rd seed was downed by a red hot Nadia Petrova.  Alona Bondarenko the 31^st seed, stunned by Jie Zheng and finally the number 2 seed Dinara Safina, still waiting for her first Grand Slam, retired in the first set with an injury in her match with Maria Kirilenko.

The draw has certainly opened up to offer Serena Williams her fifth Australia Open title, but it’s an even year and Serena has never won this tournament on an even year, can she break the curse? If Stosur isn’t the one to beat her, remember, it was Victoria Azarenka who was beating her last year before she retired due to illness, and it’s quite probable Azarenka will defeat Zvonareva in the round of sixteen and advance to play Williams in the quarters.

It also looks like a Wozniacki, Venus Williams Quarterfinal. This is particularly difficult match to call.  Venus has been playing well, but so has Wozniacki. If Williams is serving well and not hitting out when she’s going for the lines she should have the edge.  If Venus struggles at all with her first serve and has difficulty finding the lines, Wozniacki will take the edge, either way this one might go three sets.

I think this tournament has been too unpredictable to call for the final two spots, what with Clijsters and Kuznetsova being ousted by Petrova, and Jankovic and Safina out, everything is just too close to call.

Ana Ivanovic

January 20, 2010

Melbourne, Australia—Australian Open, day four, round two. Ana Ivanovic now worlds away from her success at Rolland Garros, now ranked 21^st in the world, took on Gisela Dulko ranked number 36 in the world.  Not that rankings count for much at a slam, just ask the number 5 seed Elena Dementieva who is out in round two with a loss to an unseeded Justine Henin.

Wasn’t this supposed to be the year of the new and improved Ana?  Didn’t she get a new trainer to work on her fitness so she would have greater stamina, and fewer injuries?

What we got to see with her second round match loss against Dulko were glimpses of a former French Open champion, but with volumes of  frustration, tired by the third set, and utterly lost when it came to first serves.

Ivanovic needs to put her game between her ears together first, second find someone to help her with that first serve, and then fix everything else.  No, I haven’t forgotten that Dementieva needs a serve too, but come on, she lost to Henin!, and that should never have been a second round match.  What were they thinking!?

Ivanovic lost to Dulko 67, 75, 64, she came back from a 1-4 deficit to win the first set, it was a close second, but she got down early in the third and just didn’t have any gas left in the tank to pull out another set where she was not only behind, but saw numerous match points against her.

My point, a greater part of the game is mental than physical (except for the Williams sisters). Ivanovic has the game, does she have the mind? Can she survive the pressure and regain a top ten spot? I’m not sure, but I think she will keep doing what she knows to do.  So to the Ana’s, the Dokics, and the Jankovics of the world I say play on.  The only wrong thing to do would be to stop trying.

Serena Rockets Past Safina In Australian Open Final

January 2009

Melbourne Australia—There is no doubt that the Australian Open’s number 2 seed, Serena Williams showed the world why she deserves to be Number 1. It took only 22 minutes for Serena to dismantle her opponent and secure the first set of the Australian Open final from the number 3 seed Dinara Safina 6-0, playing a set like no other during the entire tournament. The Serena that dropped a first set to Victoria Azarenka…..gone, the Serena that faded in the heat to Sevtlana Kuznetsova……. gone.  

This Serena Williams dominated play in a final that lasted only 59 minutes. She scored 23 winners, while dropping only 7 unforced errors saying, “I was just able to lift the level of my game”.  From her first serve till the last ground stroke, Serena was devastating and sharp with a single minded focus that earned her a 10^th Grand Slam title, her 4^th Australian Open and the world’s number 1 ranking. To add to an already impressive run, Serena and her sister Venus won the Australian Open Doubles title as well.

Along this yellow brick road came the 1.3 million dollar prize money for the Australian title and with it Williams became the career prize money leader for female athletes.

If Serena can remain uninjured and otherwise healthy while playing enough tournaments throughout the 2009 season, it would appear her number 1 status could stay in place. It would seem her only competition will be Venus.