Maria has been on a roll, but so has Li Na
The women
Aussie Open Day 11 Picks: Women’s Semifinals plus Djokovic vs Ferrer
January 23, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Aussie Open Day 7 Picks: Are there any upsets on horizon?
January 19, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Kei looks for a major breakthrough vs. Ferrer
ROD LAVER ARENA
Exactly where are the potential upsets on Sunday? I suppose that the capable but less than spectacular Ekaterina Makarova could take out fellow lefty Angelique Kerber in the opening match. but that’s improbable given that Kerber just got over a major mental hurdle in teen Madison Keys and is due to give a counterpunching clinic. She will here and win in straight sets, but one set will be quite close.
Will Kei Nishikori ever really break out, and by really break out I mean best a solid and strong player such as David Ferrer and then reach a Slam semi? Perhaps, but not this time around. I don’t think Ferrer has been at the top of his game yet, but he hasn’t had to be, which is actually a god sign because it means that he has a lot left in the tnak. I get the sense that Nishikori will zone for two sets, but that will be all before the Spaniard makes his knees hurt. Take Ferrer in five.
Kirsten Flipkens has really found herself and is lot of fun to watch with her heavy slice and net charges, but she better keep the ball super low and deep against Maria Sharapova or she
Heads or Tails: Who will have a better 2013?
December 27, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Is Caro her generation’s leader?
Going into every new season, hundreds of questions exist in trying to determine who will be able to reach their peak and who will falter. Predictions are always difficult to make as the injury factor consistently plays a huge role in tennis. However, just for the fun of it I thought I would pose a few different opposing scenarios and select which ones I think are more probable in 2013. I will begin with the WTA.
‘Gen Caro’
Who will have better season collectively of the current top 10, these “Gen Caro” members (Caroline Wozniacki, Victoria Azarenka, Aga Radwanska, Angelique Kerber & Petra Kvitova) or the old guard (Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams, Li Na, Sara Errani and Sam Stosur)?
At some point in the future the old guard is going to fall off and Gen Caro is going to completely take over the WTA, but it
TR Year-end Top 50s: The women, Nos. 6-10
December 15, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Li has all the weaponry but is still prone to walkabouts.
Thus continues our review of the top 50 singles players on the ATP and WTA Tours. We resume with the women ranked Nos. 6 -10.
6. Sara Errani
There is strong argument to be made that Errani improved more than anyone in 2012, and while I feel that two of the lower and medium rung players improved more (Robson and Lepchenko), Errani gets my vote in the elite category, even over Angie Kerber, who also had a terrific season. What Errani did was transform herself from a run of the mill clay court player to one who could play most matches on her terms, and from a forgettable hard court player to one who could counterpunch with more zip and effectiveness.
Not only did she reach the Roland Garros final and the US Open semis in singles, but also ended the year as member of the top- ranked doubles teams with fellow Italian Roberta Vinci. She can scamper, has a fine return and under rated volley. I don’t expect her to better her year ranking in 2013, but I could see finishing in the top 10 again because she is super committed to her tennis.
7. Li Na
Even though Li has frequently said that she can
WTA Championships: A fabulous final four
October 27, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Vika became only the 11th year end No. 1 since the rankings began in 1975.
ISTANBUL – Serena Williams has cruised in to the semifinals, but Maria Sharapova did not, as Aga Radwanska pushed her past three hours her second match and while she easily took care of Sara Errani in her opening match and pounded Samantha Stosur 6-0 6-3 in a dead rubber on Friday, she has by no means been on top of her game.
She will need to be in the semifinals, as she will face her new nemesis Victoria Azarenka, who sealed the year-end top spot with 7-6 (4) 6-3 win over Li Na. While Azarenka may not be the people
2012 US Open draw analysis
August 24, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Roger is going for his sixth US Open crown.
Roger Federer and Andy Murray are in the same half, which is a disadvantage to both of them if they meet in the semis as presumably, if he makes it there, defending champ Novak Djokovic will have an easier semifinal opponent.
Top seed Federer opens against Donald Young, who just scored his first win since February on Monday. That’s a brutal draw for The Donald. I suppose that Fernando Verdasco could push Federer for two sets in R3, but the Spaniard has done little this summer so I doubt it, but the great Swiss could tested in R4 by Mardy Fish, who loves US hard courts and has taken down Federer before. That
WTA Headed to the grass
June 17, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Vika run at No. 1 is over - for now. MAL TAAM
Maria’s Sharapova’s first Roland Garros title and ascension to No. 1 makes her a strong contender for the Wimbledon title and may even give her enough confidence to knock off her nemesis, Serena Williams, should they meet on the grass. Sharapova’s improved movement, recommitment to the swing volley and more consistent serving should aid her on the lawns.
Here’s a look at some of the major players and what’s ahead during the grasscourt season.
VICTORIA AZARENKA: Imagine the amount of steam that came off of Azarenka’s ears when she heard that Sharapova has seized the No. 1 ranking from her. The two are not friendly and are quite competitive with each other. So now after four and a half months in the top spot where the world got a whiff of her forceful personality, Azarenka has been pushed back into Sharapova’s very large celebrity shadow.
Hopefully, it will motivate her to start competing well again, because she did not against Cibulkova at RG. If she can get her head on straight and pick up her first serve percentage she should be a huge threat to win her first Wimbledon title.
AGA RADWANSKA: What mess of a Roland Garros when Svetlana Kuznetsova crushed her. The Pole came into the event after winning Brussels, scored a solid win over a slow moving Venus Williams and then could not figure out how to deal with Kuznetsova’s topspin. Her counterpunching abilities should better serve her at Wimbledon, but she’s lacking confidence at big events.
PETRA KVITOVA: Getting to the semifinals was positive for the struggling Czech, but she didn
WTA 2011 Review: Li Na
December 7, 2011 by Leave a Comment
The honest Li is an inspiration to billions
Off court, there is little not to like about Li Na: she