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Petra Kvitova 2011 Wimbledon Champion

By Ellen Newton Story Updated July 2, 2011

London, England—A Wimbledon final without a Williams in it is definitely a breath of fresh air not to mention some new talent.  The talent for this year’s final was a fresh face in the number 8 seed, 21 year old Petra Kvitova, and a veteran and former 2004 Wimbledon Champion 24 year old Maria Sharapova. 

If you look at the draw, neither player was challenged until the semifinals where Petra Kvitova took three sets to finish off Victoria Azarenka 6-1, 3-6, 6-2, and Maria Sharapova won the battle of the breaks of serve against wildcard Sabine Lisicki 6-4, 6-3.

Going into the final the feeling was clearly that Maria Sharapova was the odds on favorite to win her second Wimbledon title, but judging by her semifinal performance my thought was Kvitova looked the stronger, steadier player although she did drop a set to Azarenka in the semifinals.

Kvitova came out swinging but much to every one’s surprise dropped her opening service game of the match; Sharapova fared no better in her opening service game, broken at 15-40 hitting out.  By Kvitova’s second service game she had steadied her nerves to survive a break point and win the game with a forehand winner down the line.

Both players had trouble finding their rhythm.  The rallies were short and Sharapova’s  double faults were becoming commonplace.  In the sixth game of the first set Sharapova not only double faulted to go down 30-40, to bring up break point, but double faulted on break point to lose the service game and go down 2-4.  In the ninth game of the set, serving at 5-3 Kvitova held set points at 40-0 and needed only one chance to capture the set 6-3.

Sharapova began the second set just as she had the first, by losing her service game.  In the third game of the set it looked as if Sharapova had gotten herself together serving an ace and winning her serve at love and breaking Kvitova in her next service game bringing the score even at 2 all. For the next three games ‘broken’ would be the name of the game.  Kvitova was broken once and Sharapova twice bringing the score to 4-3 in favor of Kvitova.

Kvitova serving with new balls, double faulted once but managed to hang on to her next service game.  Sharapova serving to stay in the match at 3 games to 5 served a love game just when she needed it most. Sharapova still down a break, Kvitova served for the match at 5 games to 4.  At match point Kvitova took full control of the match and punctuated the final point and the win with an ace.  Kvitova won her first Wimbledon title 6-3, 6-4.

This was not just her biggest tournament win, but it was her fourth WTA title.  Now she officially holds the title of Grand Slam Champion.  This could be the first of many for Petra Kvitova.   

Wildcard Lisicki Makes a Run for the Semifinals

By Pat Byrd Story Updated June 29, 2011

Wimbledon, England—Sabine Lisicki wrote a personal letter to the All England Lawn Tennis committee requesting a wildcard entry into this year’s Wimbledon tournament.  She could have had her agent make the request but she didn’t, she wrote a letter from the heart telling the committee how much this tournament meant to her.  She couldn’t gain direct entry into one of the 128 spots because due to an ankle injury the prior year that left her on crutches for seven weeks her ranking had fallen out of the top 200.  Wildcards at the All England Club are usually reserved for Brit’s, but this year they reserved one spot for a German, for Sabine, and she did not let them down.

After Lisicki’s second round win over 3^rd seeded 2011 French Open champion Na Li, it was clear sailing to the quarterfinals where she met the 9^th seed Marion Bartoli of France.  Bartoli reached the quarterfinals by taking out the controversial 7^th seed Serena Williams in straight sets in the round of sixteen 6-3, 7-6(6).

The quarterfinal match between Bartoli and Lisicki began with three straight breaks of serve with Lisicki in the lead 2-1.  Serving at 1-3, Bartoli became the victim of what became the shot of the day for Lisicki, the drop shot winner.  Bartoli managed to hold her serve in this game and throughout the remainder of the first set but the one break was all Lisicki needed for a 6-4 first set victory.

Bartoli proved herself in the fourth game of the second set.  Lisicki had game point at 40-30 when Bartoli hit her own drop shot winner bringing the game to deuce.  Lisicki hit the next point out giving Bartoli the break point.  Lisicki hit the next point in the net giving Bartoli the first break of the set to go up 3-1.  Bartoli serving up an early break fell victim to a crisp forehand cross court winner going down early 0-15, which drew a big fist pump from Lisicki.  Lisicki then hit her favorite shot of the match, a drop shot for a winner, 30-0 Lisicki.  She hit another short ball drawing Bartoli into the net but Bartoli’s volley was out, 0-40 Bartoli.  With three break points on her racket Lisicki finally hit one out but Bartoli still had two break points to deal with.  On the next point Lisicki hit what was now her trademark shot, the forehand drop shot for a winner breaking Bartoli to get back on serve.

Serving at 4-4, Bartoli quickly got herself into a 15-40 deficit.  Although she served up an ace to bring the score to 30-40, she hit the next point out giving Lisicki another break of serve.  This put Lisicki up 5-4 serving for the match.  Lisicki had three match points on her racket and lost them all.  On the third deuce point, Bartoli hit a backhand down the line winner to bring up break point.  Lisicki showed her nerves and double faulted giving Bartoli the game, tying the score at 5-5. Both Bartoli and Lisicki held their next service games bringing the set to 6 games all and a tie break.

In the tiebreak Bartoli was first to be broken giving Lisicki the early mini-break 1-0.  Bartoli broke Lisicki on her next two serves giving her a 2-1 lead.  She held only one of her two serves but kept the lead at 3-2.  Lisicki still couldn’t manage to hold either of her serves hitting one out, and the other in the net, Bartoli held a convincing 5-2 lead.   Bartoli, perhaps feeling the pressure of the moment failed to win either of her two service opportunities letting Lisicki back into the tie break at 4-5.  Lisicki’s nerves got the best of her on her next two serves; she hit out on the first point, and Bartoli at set point making a statement of her own, hit a drop shot winner to take the second set 7-6(4).

In the third set you could feel Bartoli running out of steam.  The look on her face was clear, her mind said fight, but her body was saying it couldn’t go any farther.  Bartoli serving at 0-3, already broken in the second game of the set, drug her service game out to five deuce points finally winning the game as Lisicki sailed game point long.  Lisicki had no trouble holding her service game at love and breaking Bartoli again in her next service game.

Lisicki serving for the match for the fourth time at 5-1, 40-30 in the third set served hard and deep to Bartoli who returned the point into the net.  Bartoli was completely exhausted.  It was game, set, and match to Sabine Lisicki 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-1.

Lisicki now faces a rejuvenated veteran, 24 year old Maria Sharapova in the semifinals.  Sharapova completely destroyed Dominika Cibulkova, the 24^th seed 6-1, 6-1 in her quarterfinal match.   In other quarterfinal action Victoria Azarenka, the number 4 seed defeated Tamira Paszek 6-3, 6-1, and 8^th seed Petra Kvitova beat 32^nd seed Tsvetana Pironkova 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-2.  Kvitova will meet Azarenka in the semifinals.

Wildcard Lisicki Thunders Past Li in Three

By Pat Byrd  Story Updated June 24, 2011

Wimbledon, England—Wildcard Sabine Lisicki fell to the ground in tears on center court after the number 3 seed and French Open champion hit match point out, winning the emotionally charged match 3-6, 6-4, 8-6.

In Lisicki’s second service game of the match she began with her barrage of aces, serving her first three winning the game at love.  Lisicki served a total of sixteen aces in the three set match.

In the eighth game of the first set, Li Na broke Lisicki’s service game.  Locked at deuce, Li hit a forehand winner down the line.  At break point Lisicki hit out giving Li the game to go up 5 games to 3.  Serving for the first set Li faced two break points at 15-40.  Lisicki hit the next point into the net helping Li save one break point.   Lisicki hit a backhand down the line winner to bring the score to deuce.  At set point Li hit a forehand cross court winner taking the game and first set 6-3.

Lisicki served to begin the second set.  She started out with a service winner then fired off her fourth ace of the match.  At 40-0 she rifled her fifth ace to score the game. Li started the fourth game of the second set well, hitting a backhand cross court winner to go up 15-0.  Hitting balls out Li quickly fell behind 15-40 in her service game.  At 30-40 Li double faulted to hand Lisicki the service break and go down 1-3.  In the ninth game Lisicki served a 112 mph bomb to tie the score at 30-30 but dumped the next point in the net giving Li an opportunity to break back at 30-40.  Lisicki hit out on break point and the set was back on serve.  Li, serving to stay in the second set at 4 games to 5, hit out to bring the score to 30-40, break point and set point.  Lisicki hit the next point out giving Li the easy escape to deuce.  Li hit out on the next point bringing up a second set point for Lisicki.  There were four deuce points in all played in the game.  Down break point once more Li hit out giving Lisicki the break and the second set 6-4.

Lisicki began the third set with a love service game, but was once again broken in the fifth game of the set giving Li a 3-2 advantage.  Serving at 5-4 in the tenth game, Li was broken when she hit one in the net putting the set back on serve at 5 games all.  Serving in the twelfth, Li was broken at love, Lisicki drawing even in the set at 6 games all.  Li serving to stay in the match in the 14^th game of the set hit the first rally exchange in the net drawing a loud ‘come on!’ from Lisicki.  Li hit a flurry of errors, balls flying long, quickly bringing the score to 15-40, double match point for Lisicki.  Li successfully saved match point number one and responded to the second match point with an ace bringing the score to deuce.  Lisicki scored the ad point for her third match point.  Li Na put the ball in play but responded by hitting her reply long, Lisicki won the game, set, and match in three grueling sets, 3-6, 6-4, 8-6.

Lisicki was a wildcard entry into 2011 Wimbledon.  She spent several months off the tour with an ankle injury that required surgery and put her on crutches for 7 weeks.  She recently broke back into the top 100 and  two weeks ago won the tune up grass tournament in Birmingham.  Her next opponent is Misaki Doi from Japan; she is in Serena Williams half of the draw.

Rainy Days and Mondays

By Pat Byrd  Story Updated June 20, 2011

Rain was the order of the afternoon Monday in first round action at Wimbledon.  Prior to the roof being closed during Andy Murray’s match on center court, a couple of top seeds made it through to the second round.

By far the most under rated match of the day was 2011 French Open finalist and number 6 seed Francesca Schiavone taking on an unseeded and blast from the past Jelena Dokic.

Schiavone took control in the first set taking the early lead 6-4.  In the second set Dokic scurried to a 4-1 lead. With Schiavone serving the next game just trying to hold serve, Dokic hit a forehand winner that brought the game to deuce.  Schiavone hit the next shot out bringing up break point.  As the rain began to come down, Dokic hit a winning drop shot once again breaking Schiavone serve showing her delight with a celebratory fist pump. She now served for the second set at 5-1. Serving with new balls, Dokic quickly went down 0-30.  Recovering with a shot down the line while up at net, Dokic evened the score at 30 all.  Serving for the second set at 40-30, Dokic took a short return out of the air and hit a forehand winner to take the second set 6-1. Schiavone had been completely outplayed in the second set.

During the break between sets Dokic called the trainer over a turned ankle but declined to have the ankle wrapped.

Schiavone served first in the third set and won the game at 40-15.  Dokic began her first service game with an ace and won the game at love.  At 1 all, deuce in the third game, the match was suspended due to rain and the roof on center court was closed making for a 30 to 60 minute delay in play.

When play resumed the players were given a five minute warm up period.  As play began Schiavone struck first with a volley winner for advantage.  On game point Schiavone hit another volley winner to hold her serve and go up 2 games to 1.  Dokic was broken in the 4^th game of the set and Schiavone was broken back at love in the 5^th game of the set.  In the important 8^th game of the set Dokic serving at 3-4, down 30-40 double faulted giving Schiavone the lead 5-3 and the opportunity to serve for the match.

Serving for the match Schiavone faced three break points.  On her fourth deuce of the game Schiavone hit a 103 mph service winner to gain her first match point.  After 2 hours and 3 minutes Schiavone hit the next point out bringing the game to its fifth deuce.  Dokic dumped the next point in the net giving Schiavone her second match point.  Dokic hit the next point out giving Schiavone the game, set, and match 6-4, 1-6, 6-3.

In other first round action, 23^rd seed Venus Williams took on little known unseeded Akgul Amanmuradova of Uzbekistan. When most people first see Amanmuradova they make inappropriate comments over her style of dress.  No, she’s not wearing the latest outfit from Venus’s ’11’ collection, she wearing shorts and a t-shirt.  I first saw Amanmuradova play in Cincinnati in 2010; I head many comments that can only be described as mean, mostly from older men and insecure women.  I think whatever you’re comfortable with, within modesty and ethical reason is just fine, let the girl wear what she wants to and just get over yourself.

In this 60 minute warm-up match for Williams wearing her own latest fashion disaster, she only dropped 4 games winning easily over the 26 year old Amanmuradova 6-3, 6-1.  Next up for the 31 year old Williams is 40 year old Kimiko Date-Krumm who beat Britain’s Katie O’Brien 6-0, 7-5.  These two will be playing each other for the first time.  Wheel chairs and oxygen will be available for the two players upon request.

The number 2 seed Vera Zvonareva beat Alison Riske 6-0, 3-6, 6-3, Elena Vesnina downed Laura Pous-Tio 6-4, 6-3,  22^nd seed Shahar Peer fell to Ksenia Pervak 7-5, 4-6, 4-6.  Svetlana Kuznetsova took three sets to conquer Shuai Zhang 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, American Christina McHale also came through in three over Ekaterina Makarova the 28^th seed 2-6, 6-1, 8-6, and Varvara Lepchenko was taken out by 19^th seed Yanina Wickmayer 7-5, 6-3.

Road to the Finals

Venus Williams

By Pat Byrd—Story Updated June 30, 2010

London, England—Suffering one of her worst defeats on grass, or perhaps any surface, Venus Williams lost what could have been her 200^th Grand Slam match win by losing to Tsvetana Pironkova 6-2, 6-3, in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon.

Williams’s road to the quarterfinals was paved with lesser known, much lower ranked players; in the first round she defeated Rossana De Los Rios 6-3, 6-2, second round Ekaterina Makarova 6-0, 6-4, third round Alisa Kleybanova 6-4, 6-2, fourth round Jarmila Groth 6-3, 7-6(5), and finally losing in the quarterfinals to world ranked number 82, Tsvetana Pironkova.

Venus Williams is facing life at 30.  Thirty is by no means old, but in tennis years, you’re playing on borrowed time, this isn’t an opinion, it’s a fact of nature.  After 30 you’re no longer the fastest or strongest lion in the jungle.  With pesky teenage sensations breathing down their necks and injuries piling up, the Williams sisters have developed an ingenious plan to combat age; they are playing doubles. It would have been great for Venus to have a Wimbledon doubles title since she lost in the singles quarterfinals, but that didn’t work out either, the sisters lost in the quarterfinals to the unseeded team of Elena Vesnina and Vera Zvonareva 6-3, 3-6, 4-6.

Venus reacted to being questioned about pursuing something other than tennis by stating almost childlike, “Well why wouldn’t I want to pursue this (tennis)? I’m pretty good at it most days; today I didn’t seem to best tennis player but for the most part I rock and roll this game so...um...I’ll give it up when I’m just terrible. It would take more than a few bad days a year to make me quit tennis so that’s not even in the equation.”

Unseeded Tsvetana Pironkova won her way to the semifinals not only through Venus Williams, but she also defeated the 11^th seed Marion Bartoli.  Also in the semifinal meeting Pironkova will be Vera Zvonareva, the 21^st seed.  She made her way to the semis via a shocker besting Kim Clijsters in three sets, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2.

In the other half of the draw sits the number one seed Serena Williams who has yet to be tested, not dropping a set on her way to the semifinals.  In the fourth round she took on a determined Maria Sharapova who fell short in a first set tie break and never recovered any momentum into the second set where she got down a break to finish the match at 7-6(9), 6-4. In the quarters Williams defeated a tough Na Li 6-3, 6-2, she will meet unseeded Petra Kvitova in the semifinals.

Unseeded Petra Kvitova reached the semifinals via a player she never played; Sam Stosur.  Kvitova is in the number 6 seed Stosur’s quarter of the draw but in a shocking outcome, Stosur lost in the first round to unseeded Kaia Kanepi who would lose to Kvitova in the quarterfinals. It works out to be six degrees of separation. 

The road to the Wimbledon Ladies final has been fraught with upsets and peril. From 128 women, four remain to battle for a place in the final. The title is certainly Serena Williams’s to win or lose, or perhaps she can be bested by an opponent, either way in three days Wimbledon will have crowned another, perhaps a new champion.

OK, it’s July already and I should go ahead and say something about Wimbledon, and apologize for the deliberate lack of attention I gave it while it played out.

I’m not sure how to start this so let’s just jump on in the thick of it.  Without Nadal in the tournament, Roger Federer’s name should have been engraved on the trophy since the first day.  Yes there were one or two surprises and I think everyone wanted to believe Andy Rodick had the fury to defeat the scorned King Federer, but in all honesty, he pushed his body and mind to the limit but just didn’t have it, nor did anyone else. Roger moves on and another line in the sand is drawn, who might be so bold as to approach it yet dare to cross it.

Another crown for another Williams sister, this time Serena.  Was it earned? Was it deserved? Was it prepared for?  I don’t know how they do it, to go through the year entering smaller less advertised tournaments and lose in the first and second rounds to someone you’ve never heard of or never will hear of again, but at Wimbledon they are on fire.  They own this tournament, all their injuries and excuses fade into distant memories.  They play; they win until there is no one left without the name of Williams.

Quite frankly I’m not tired of the William’s excuses anymore.  There were 126 other women there, what were their excuses? Could no one reach deep within them and pull out one win against the Williams sisters? Neither Venus or Serena excels on clay, what makes the magic for them on grass? So many questions so few answers.  Only the William sisters have the answers.  Maybe they only care about playing and winning the slams, the smaller tournaments just don’t pay well enough or interest them anymore. Without doubt you won’t see them at an international event, as I type they are playing a premier event in California, their first tournament since Wimbledon.

As the William sisters grow older I don’t know how they are going to keep up with the ever changing landscape of the tennis world.  There is a never ending line of ever younger talent trying to knock them off their trophy stands and of course the top ten that stay up late thinking about what they could do better next time.