Wozniacki Wins; Harrison Qualifies for US Open Main Draw
Caroline Wozniacki beat Elena Dementieva in the semifinals of the Pilot Pen Tennis Tournament in New Haven to make her third straight US Open Series final, winning the event as a result. In an exciting, drama-filled match, Wozniacki played just a little more consistently in the final few games to win in the deciding tiebreak. She advanced 1-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5).
After Dementieva looked to be in control of the final set with an early break, she served for the match at 5-4, but failed to convert. Wozniacki then held multiple match points at 6-5, but couldn’t win as Dementieva raised her game. In the end, Wozniacki lived up to her number two ranking in the world, showing she’s meant to be the US Open’s number one seed as well.
The Dane next faces Nadia Petrova, who shook off negativity and errors in the beginning of her match versus Maria Kirilenko to win 2-6, 6-2, 6-2. Petrova, ranked 19th in the world, is actually a wild card in the event after Ana Ivanovic declined it. Petrova entered last minute, and she’s probably very glad as this result is her first final all season.
I predict Wozniacki cruising to take the title for her third time. Petrova needed a lot to beat Kirilenko mentally, and she has a much tougher opponent in Wozniacki. Basically, Wozniacki plays Kirilenko’s game, but much better. Therefore, I see Petrova melting down a little as her shots miss and Wozniacki’s consistent, counter-punching style overwhelms.
At day four of the US Open Qualifying Tournament, American Ryan Harrison got into the main draw after defeating Ricardo Hocevar 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. This win shows a positive sign for the teenager’s young career and the future of the sport here in the US. Hopefully, he continues playing at this high level and gives it everything in the first round.
Other qualifying matches of note: Nicholas Mahut, who lost to John Isner in the longest match ever, is one step away from qualifying. He beat Uladzimir Ignatik 6-7 (4), 7-6 (5), 6-2. Wild card Blake Strode lost, joining the 14th seed Ilija Bozoljac in defeat.
In the WTA event, Michelle Larcher de Brito dominated Anastasiya Yakimova 6-0, 6-0, and Sania Mirza qualified for the main event with a 6-1, 1-6, 6-3 win against Catalina Castano.
US Open Qualifying: Day One
I just got back from the first day of the US Open Qualifying tournament at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows. Although rain delayed play for a few hours, the tournament eventually commenced pitting former top players hampered by injury, rising young talents, and journeymen dedicated to the sport despite rankings hovering in the 200s, and more, against one another in the windy, rainy conditions.
A dog fight ensued, to say the least, and a lot of passion filled the New York City air — both on the court and off. Here’s what happened during my first day back at my favorite tournament of the season.
With the inclement weather, not too many fans showed up to see the inaugural action for the 2010 tournament. Those that did manage to get to the free event, however, embodied the die-hard fan, among a slew of officials, players, and media people.
You could feel the excitement in the air, the crowd’s energy was palpable. Almost everyone looked happy to be there, despite the annoying drizzle that hit the courts just enough to halt action. Personally, I’m always amazed by the energy, and the intensity around the grounds — the players fighting it out on court, players, trainers, vendors, and more rushing to courts, and other obligations, fans hurrying to get see matches, and other activities that fill the time in between.
After taking in the scene — and despite the rain — it was fun just taking it all in and people watching, eating a pretty good vegetarian crepe, and waiting for the rain to subside, workers took to the courts to start the process of drying. With squeegees and other equipment, matches resumed around 2pm.
The first match I watched presented one of the United States’ future hopefuls, Ryan Harrison against Jonathan Dasnieres De Veigy of France. Harrison, currently ranked 219, looked sharp in his first round qualifying match. Despite a shaky season so far, the 18-year old played with a impressive variety from stinging slices, high topspin lobs, and wicked forehands that put the French journeymen on the defensive for most of the match.
Near the beginning of the first set, I looked to my left and saw none other than Sam Querrey, the fourth-ranked American after Andy Roddick, John Isner, and a recently resurgent Mardy Fish. The 22nd-ranked Querrey, who’s having a strong US Open Series leading up to the US Open, looked to be supporting the young American, which was refreshing to see.
Harrison, probably inspired by the New York City crowd that heavily on his side, and Querrey, closed out Dasnieres De Veigy 6-1, 6-4.
After taking in some of Katie O’Brien’s match against Lesya Tsurenko — she won in three sets — I got the chance to simultaneously view the end of Anna-Lena Groenefeld’s match against Rika Fujiwara and the start of Michelle Larcher de Brito’s versus Karolina Pliskova.
Groenefeld looked ready to close out the match easily in the second, she was up 4-0. Her serve, however, got shaky, while Fujiwara improved her play with compact swings and raw emotion. The former top 20 player Groenefeld, who’s now ranked 129 in the world, eventually regained her form with poise to close out the match 7-5, 6-3. Seeing Groenefeld brought me back a few years to watching her on television. It was the first tennis match I’d ever watched, and it was fitting I got the chance to see her again today after about six years of watching, playing, and writing about tennis.
In the other match, Larcher de Brito impressed from the start with powerful forehands and a Maria Sharapova-like intensity. After trading service breaks with Pliskova, Larcher de Brito grunted her way to a 6-4, 6-4 win. Near the end of the first set, however, I’d be remiss to forget mentioning another player-sighting — none other than crowd favorite Melanie Oudin, who wowed fans with her surprise quarterfinal run at last year’s event. I was star struck to say the least. Let’s see how Oudin handles the pressure at this year’s tournament with her less-than-stellar results at other events so far this season.
Other matches of note I caught bits and pieces of as the day of tennis continued included: American Bobby Reynolds’ win against Chris Guccione, Sloane Stephens’ victorious match over Anais Laurendon, and Kei Nishikori’s successful play after an elbow injury hampered most of the season versus Paul Capdeville.
Serena, Sharapova Look Sharp; Stosur Struggles
Last year’s Wimbledon champion Serena Williams and 2004 teen sensation Maria Sharapova win in straight sets today to keep their collision course in the fourth round an exciting possibility. In the same quick fashion, Sam Stosur of Australia lost to Kaia Kanepi.
For Williams, the 6-0, 6-4 win was welcome revenge against her young opponent, the 17-year old Michelle Larcher de Brito of Portugal. The first time the two met, Serena dropped a set at Stanford in 2008 to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. This time, things were much different. Larcher de Brito’s, however, suffered from a shoulder injury throughout the match, probably adding to the pressure of coming out strong against such a powerful opponent. If healthy, I see Larcher de Brito raising the volume of her game another few notches in the future.
Get it? She’s loud. But, she also plays a loud, in-your-face type of game, and I have no problem with the decibels. Of course, that’s easy for me to say since I’m not her opponent. To tell you the truth, it’s more annoying to hear the commentators trash talk the teenager than actually hearing her. Yes, it’s 109 decibels, making her louder than both a…chainsaw, I believe, and Sharapova, but Monica Seles was loud, too. Larcher de Brito’s entitled to her grunts, and it should be left at that. Hopefully, the draw comes out kinder for her at the US Open. The backhand, which she powers through with a lot of left hand action, is a real beauty to see.
Sharapova’s 6-0, 6-1 win over Anastasia Pivovarova sends the clear message that she means real business this year. After a surprise second round let down last year, and a year marred by injury, Sharapova needs these next few wins to get her grass court confidence back. She hasn’t made it past the fourth round at Wimbledon since her run to the semifinals in 2007, a lackluster record for such a capable grass player. Interesting fact: Sharapova’s current ranking is at 17, the age she won Wimbledon. Could it be destiny that she repeats the performance, beating Serena in the fourth round? Probably not. But she’s playing like she can take on anyone at the moment.
In contrast to the success of Serena and Sharapova, the French Open runner-up Stosur disappointed with her loss to Kanepi, a virtually unknown player in the Grand Slams. Kanepi hasn’t advanced beyond the second round at Wimbledon, let alone any event in the past couple years (although she did advance to the third round of the Australian Open in 2009 and the quarterfinals of the French in 2008).
Stosur’s loss underscores the physical toll of the French Open-Wimbledon combination, and also provides insight into the Aussie’s mental game right now. Maybe she hasn’t yet fully recovered from the disappointing loss to Francesca Schiavone in straight sets. The highs that she felt after knocking out both Justine Henin in Serena at Roland Garros are being balanced out by her shoddy play since then. She’ll recover with time — it’s been a crazy month for Stosur, and she deserves the rest to recollect her form.
Sharapova Sinks to a Shrieking Halt Down Under; Soderling Shocked in Five Sets
Photo Credit: Getty Images
One of my blackhorse picks for the 2010 Australian Open has already come to a screeching halt in the first round. No, not the young, loud Michelle Larcher de Brito, who come to think of it has completely gone off the tennis radar, but the seasoned, 2008 Aussie Open champion, Maria Sharapova.
As Managing Editor of Tennis.com, Abigail Lorge, eloquently put it in her blog post, Monday Morning Kickoff, “In a baseline battle between two 22-year-old Russian glamazons, both named Maria, the 59th-ranked Kirilenko prevailed over No. 14 Sharapova, 7-6 (4) 3-6, 6-4. The first-round exit by Sharapova, one of three former Australian Open champions in the women’s draw, was the defining story of day one.”
It was an intensely close match, and a good effort from Maria Kirilenko, whose best Slam result came at the Sunny Slam in 2008 where she made it to the fourth round. On the flip side, Sharapova, who was a favorite to win the whole tournament, played a highly error prone game, making over 60 errors. Again, the question of Maria Sharapova’s shoulder comes into play. Can it be used as an excuse anymore? Maybe not.
Sharapova came into the Australian Open without playing in an actual tournament, instead using an exhibition in Hong Kong as her preparation. That in my opinion was a big mistake. Sharapova should be realizing that in this second career of hers, she needs more match play to get back into the swing of things.
In her press conference, Sharapova’s confidence and desire to win despite the disappointment was strong: “A bad day’s not going to stop me from doing what I love. I’m still going to go back on the court and work hard and perform. I’ll be back here on a Saturday of the second week, you’ll watch.”
Props to the lesser-known Maria for coming out the victor. Her next match will be against Austria’s Yvonne Meusburger. I see Kirilenko coming clean in two.
Peter Bodo provides some interesting commentary on Sharapova’s loss in a recent Tennis World blog post.
On the ATP side, there have also been some compelling stories. Two shockers on Day Two: the rising American star, Sam Querrey bowed out in four lop-sided sets to the 33-year old German veteran, Rainer Schuettler, while 2009 French Open Finalist Robin Soderling lost 5-7, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 to Marcel Granollers.
It was a complete surprise that the loss came so quickly for the eight-seeded Soderling, although he hasn’t made it past the 2nd round in his career attempts at the Aussie Open. He holds a poor 2-4 record in the past. However, Soderling took out Granollers in the 2009 Wimbledon Championships on his way to the fourth round, and it looked like he was going to do the same with his two sets to one lead during the first half of the match.
Soderling’s recent string of success is impressive: first Slam final at the French, fourth round at Wimbledon, the quarterfinals at the US Open, and a fantastic finish to the year at the ATP World Tour Finals. Maybe he’s struggling with the new pressure having recently broken into the Top Ten in the beginning of this new tennis season. Injury could also be the issue as the Swede finds himself playing more tennis at a higher level later in his career. Whatever the case, I’m still not counting him out for the future.
