Instead of a year in review focusing on overall achievements, I thought this time I’d do a countdown of the top 30 money list leaders from the WTA and LPGA. For the WTA, singles, doubles and mixed are combined for this top 30. Number 29 on the money list from each tour are Jodi Ewart … Continue reading
After the withdrawals of Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka from the 2013 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, I called Agnieszka Radwanska the favorite to win. Well, that lasted less than 48 hours as Petra Kvitova earned her biggest win in recent memory, taking Aga out, 6-2 6-4. I’m not really that surprised. Even though I … Continue reading
Some of the luster of the 2013 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships was lost when Victoria Azarenka withdrew citing an injury. On day 3, a little more luster dulled on this tournament when Serena Williams pulled out with a lower back injury. As a result, Marion Bartoli advances. Of course, the tournament still has great … Continue reading
One of the biggest thrills I get when I watch sports, particularly tennis and the LPGA, is when a player breaks through to win their first event. That’s particularly true if there was a level of expectation surrounding that player. I remember the joy in seeing Natalie Gulbis and Michelle Wie finally win their first … Continue reading
Nadia Petrova showed why she is so dangerous…and also vulnerable…in the final of the 2012 Toray Pan Pacific Open. In the first set she could do no wrong, hitting pin point laser shots that blazed past overwhelmed foe, world #3 Agnieszka Radwanska. It was a display that reminded us why she can be a giant … Continue reading
I am not surprised by the rollercoaster ride Maria Sharapova and Nadia Petrova took us on in their fourth round match at the 2012 US Open. In my last post about Masha, I said that I could foresee a 1 and 1 win for Sharapova or a 3-set war that could go either way. We … Continue reading
Barring another comeback down the line, Laura Robson will go down as the answer to the question of who beat Kim Clijsters in her last professional singles match. But don’t look know, Laura is working on being much more than that. Following her defeat of Kimmie, Robson took out the #9 seed Li Na 6-4 … Continue reading
It has been said that the Russian sports federation became serious about developing tennis players when it regained medal status in 1988. They take the Olympics, and winning medals, very seriously. That dedication to tennis culminated in Russians sweeping gold, silver and bronze in the 2008 Beijing Summer Games. The gold medalist from those games, … Continue reading
Four of my favorite players started their Wimbledon 2012 campaigns on the first day of play; Kim Clijsters, Jelena Jankovic, Maria Sharapova and Venus Williams. Two survived. Two did not. Of course, it was guaranteed that one would fall, as Clijsters and JJ played each other. But first, I’ll start with the current world #1, … Continue reading
It wasn’t the prettiest path to the fourth round for former #1s Ana Ivanovic and Caroline Wozniacki, but eventually each prevailed to set up a marquee match-up between the two at the 2012 BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells. Ana squandered an early 5-3 lead and a set point in the first set of her … Continue reading
Fairways and Forehands 