Steffi Graf’s Open Era record 22 Major singles titles is safe…for now. Her German countrywoman, Angelique Kerber, denied Serena Williams’ bid to match Graf atop the Major mountain with a 6-4 3-6 6-4 victory that stunned the tennis world. Sure, Angie had beaten Serena before, at the 2012 Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati. But … Continue reading
Tagged with Upset …
Qualifier Zhang Shuai Shocks #2 Seed Simona Halep In The First Round Of The 2016 Australian Open; Ana Ivanovic Advances
Chinese qualifier ZHANG Shuai came into the 2016 Australian Open with the worst record of any player in the top 300 player, 0-14. None of that mattered in Melbourne as she jumped all over world #2 Simona Halep in the first round, sprinting out to a 4-0 first set lead and holding on for a … Continue reading
Petra Kvitova Opens 2016 Season With Australian Open First Round Victory; Sloane Stephens Upset Down Under
It was great to see Petra Kvitova start her season with a win in the first round of the 2016 Australian Open, beating Thailand’s Luksika Kumkhum, 6-3 6-1. The 2-time Wimbledon champion from the Czech Republic is very unpredictable. If she loses her next match or wins the tournament, few hardcore tennis aficionados would be … Continue reading
2015 US Open Day 12: Roberta Vinci Shocks The World With Upset Of Serena Williams, Will Face Countrywoman Flavia Pennetta In Final
Veni. Vidi. Vici. Vinci! I don’t know if Roberta Vinci told herself “I came. I saw. I conquered.” when the final point of her 2015 US Open Women’s Semifinal triumph over the massively favored Serena Williams was won, but she certainly could have. Who would begrudge her that moment? Instead, it was tears that flowed … Continue reading
Belinda Bencic Hands Serena Williams Only Her Second Loss Of The Season In 2015 Rogers Cup Semifinals
As the final point was played in her 2015 Rogers Cup semifinal win against Serena Williams, young 18 year old rising star Belinda Bencic didn’t quite know what to do. Her gaze went everywhere, her hands went to the top of her head. She smiled, she cried. In her post match interview, Belinda could barely find … Continue reading
Wimbledon 2015 Day 2: Eugenie Bouchard, Simona Halep and Laura Robson Exit Early
Three big names to hardcore tennis aficionados took first round exits from Wimbledon 2015 on day 2. All three are dealing with different issues at the moment. I’ll start with Laura Robson. Hers was the least surprising loss (6-4 6-4 to Evgeniya Rodina). This was only her second match back after missing 17 months with … Continue reading
Roland Garros 2015 Day Two: Venus Williams, Agnieszka Radwanska Exit In First Round
Let me be clear about something. I know that the terre batue of Roland Garros doesn’t quite suit the game of Venus Williams. The elder of the two Williams sisters has never won the singles title here. She hasn’t been past the 2nd round in Paris since 2010, not as far as the quarterfinals since … Continue reading
Fairways and Forehands 2014 Top 25 WTA and LPGA Year In Review: #22 Paula Creamer and Garbine Muguruza
Like 2013, this year I will do a countdown of the top money list leaders from both the WTA and LPGA. Last year I did the top 30, but this year I will do the top 25. Note that as of this post, the retired Li Na has been removed from the WTA website money … Continue reading
US Open 2014 Day Two Wrap-Up: 15-Year Old CiCi Bellis Shocks Dominika Cibulkova; Petra Kvitova, Eugenie Bouchard Ease Through
One of the best parts of the first week of a tennis Major is when something special is brewing away from the big show courts. On day two of the 2014 US Open, Court 6 was the site of high drama. Catherine Cartan Bellis, also known as CiCi Bellis, became the youngest player since Anna … Continue reading
Wimbledon 2014 Day 8 Women’s Wrap Up: Angelique Kerber Upsets Maria Sharapova In Fourth Round; Petra Kvitova Into Semifinals
Although Angelique Kerber had reached three Major quarterfinals in her career heading into her fourth round match against Maria Sharapova at Wimbledon 2014, in six of the last seven Majors Angie had lost in the fourth round. Not this time. In the most dramatic match on the women’s side so far this fortnight, Kerber upset … Continue reading