And Sam took it! Playing in Arthur Ashe Stadium for the 1st time, the 27 yo aussie defeated Serena Williams 6-2 6-3 and is the US Open 2011 women's singles champion.
Well-deserved, in fact. Sam played really well, tactically perfect and very relaxed - she had no pressure, Serena was the favourite. She broke Serena twice in the first set to take it, 6-2. Serena played like crap. In the second one, Sam was 1-0 up and with a break-point when Serena screamed while hitting a forehand. Of course Eva (the umpire) gave the point to Sam but Serena started arguing with her. "aren't you the one that screwed me? You are a hater, you are unattractive inside. If you see me walking down the hall, look the other way". Shameful, imo. She's a truly champion, I (used to) admire her but she can't do it. Sport is full of respect and she needs to understand it. I'm no one to tell her what to do but I really became disappointed. Anyway, then the crowd started supporting Serena and she broke Sam back in the next game. It seemd like Serena was going to win it, but Sam was too calm and confident in herself. The aussie never lost the confidence, even with the crowd against, and broke Serena to take the second set and win, 6-2 6-3. In the end, Serena ignored the umpire.
Great year in WTA so far. Four different Slam champions, three of them for the first time (Li Na in RG, Petra Kvitova in Wimbledon and Samantha Stosur in USO). Also three different countries won Slams this season (Europe, Asia and Oceania). And a special one for aussie sports, winning the Tour de France (Cadel Evans) and a tennis Major. Congratulations (australian accent)!
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segunda-feira, 12 de setembro de 2011
domingo, 11 de setembro de 2011
US Open women's final preview
Today, 9/11, Serena Williams and Samantha Stosur will play for the women's title (not before 4:30pm NY). It was supposed to be played yesterday, but due to schedulling problems because of the rain men's final was delayed for tomorrow, Monday, and women's for today, Sunday. It probably doesn't mean anything but I do think that it's better to remember 9/11 in what concerns about tennis with a american player on court (Serena) than with two european players (Rafa and Nole).
Everybody expected Serena to make the finals, but Sam's attendance is quite surprising.
Initially, of course. When Sam, one of my favourite female players, defeated Vera Zvonareva to make the semis I started believing in Sam's capacities to reach the last match in Flushing Meadows, and she really deserved to had played her semi against Kerber in Arthur Ashe. Anyway, she will play in Arthur Ashe today and it gonna be a great match.
About Serena, she's being just terrific. Didn't lost any set so far, defeated players like Ana Ivanovic, Victoria Azarenka, Caroline Wozniacki... Great to see her back on courts, I bet she takes the trophy in 3 sets.
About Caro, she'll have to wait till next year to win a Slam. She is the top-ranked since 2010, and in these 2 past years (8 Slams) she didn't win any. It starts to be worrying, if she can't win a Slam with Williams sisters and Kim Clijsters injured how can she win?
Last but not the least, I congratulate german female tennis this year. Andrea Petkovic, Julia Goerges, Sabine Lisicki, Angelique Kerber are probably the surprises of this season. Well, Petko isn't a surprise anymore and neither Sabine, but the brunette made quarters in 3 Slams this season (no one else made it) and the blonde is back from a terrible injury and made the semis in Wimbledon (was #62). Then, Julia did a great clay season and now Kerber made the semis in Flushing Meadows. Deutsch Tennis ist zu beglückwünschen!
Everybody expected Serena to make the finals, but Sam's attendance is quite surprising.
Initially, of course. When Sam, one of my favourite female players, defeated Vera Zvonareva to make the semis I started believing in Sam's capacities to reach the last match in Flushing Meadows, and she really deserved to had played her semi against Kerber in Arthur Ashe. Anyway, she will play in Arthur Ashe today and it gonna be a great match.
About Serena, she's being just terrific. Didn't lost any set so far, defeated players like Ana Ivanovic, Victoria Azarenka, Caroline Wozniacki... Great to see her back on courts, I bet she takes the trophy in 3 sets.
About Caro, she'll have to wait till next year to win a Slam. She is the top-ranked since 2010, and in these 2 past years (8 Slams) she didn't win any. It starts to be worrying, if she can't win a Slam with Williams sisters and Kim Clijsters injured how can she win?
Last but not the least, I congratulate german female tennis this year. Andrea Petkovic, Julia Goerges, Sabine Lisicki, Angelique Kerber are probably the surprises of this season. Well, Petko isn't a surprise anymore and neither Sabine, but the brunette made quarters in 3 Slams this season (no one else made it) and the blonde is back from a terrible injury and made the semis in Wimbledon (was #62). Then, Julia did a great clay season and now Kerber made the semis in Flushing Meadows. Deutsch Tennis ist zu beglückwünschen!
sábado, 10 de setembro de 2011
US Open - semi-finals
And here we are, six matches away (three in men's and another three in women's) till the end of US Open 2011. Due to schedulling problems because of the rainy weather on Tuesday and Wednesday, today (Saturday) both men and women play their SFs. Tomorrow it's the women's singles final and on Monday it's the men's singles final.
My preview: about men's semis I'm not sure about it. Novak Djokovic is being terrific this season but Federer is always terrific in Flushing Meadows, and defeated Nole in their last semi (French Open). Then, Nadal may be the favourite but Muzz made his fourth semi-final in Majors this year (becoming the 7th player ever to make it in a single season) and I truly believe he takes a set, maybe two... or even three.
In fact, if we got a final between Roger Federer and Andy Murray it'd be historical; each player of top-4 would have reached 2 finals of Majors in a single season (AO - Nole/Muzz; FO - Rafa/Fed; W - Rafa/Nole; USO - Muzz/Fed(?)).
About women's, it's quite easy to predict: Serena will probably lose a set against Caro but will make the finals in New York. Caro is playing well but I'm not seeing how can she defeat a Serena Williams that won all sets so far (and bageled or breadsticked all oponnents but Ana Ivanovic).
The another semi-final, Samantha Stosur vs Angelique Kerber, is the one that won't be played in AA Stadium. Which is fucking unfair, both players are playing very well so far and deserve the Arthur Ashe Stadium. Anyway, I bet Sam win in two. Kerber is being the surprise in this USO but I think she won't go through the finals. Sam is too strong for her. But no one thought Kerber would reach the semis, so we never know...
And I'd like to congrat Melanie Oudin and Jack Sock for being United States Open 2011 mixed doubles champions. Melanie really won a Slam, after her appearence in US Open 2009 when she made quarters (and Caro was the runner-up). Seems like every player win a Slam but Caro.
Cheers,
Pedro Mendes
My preview: about men's semis I'm not sure about it. Novak Djokovic is being terrific this season but Federer is always terrific in Flushing Meadows, and defeated Nole in their last semi (French Open). Then, Nadal may be the favourite but Muzz made his fourth semi-final in Majors this year (becoming the 7th player ever to make it in a single season) and I truly believe he takes a set, maybe two... or even three.
In fact, if we got a final between Roger Federer and Andy Murray it'd be historical; each player of top-4 would have reached 2 finals of Majors in a single season (AO - Nole/Muzz; FO - Rafa/Fed; W - Rafa/Nole; USO - Muzz/Fed(?)).
About women's, it's quite easy to predict: Serena will probably lose a set against Caro but will make the finals in New York. Caro is playing well but I'm not seeing how can she defeat a Serena Williams that won all sets so far (and bageled or breadsticked all oponnents but Ana Ivanovic).
The another semi-final, Samantha Stosur vs Angelique Kerber, is the one that won't be played in AA Stadium. Which is fucking unfair, both players are playing very well so far and deserve the Arthur Ashe Stadium. Anyway, I bet Sam win in two. Kerber is being the surprise in this USO but I think she won't go through the finals. Sam is too strong for her. But no one thought Kerber would reach the semis, so we never know...
And I'd like to congrat Melanie Oudin and Jack Sock for being United States Open 2011 mixed doubles champions. Melanie really won a Slam, after her appearence in US Open 2009 when she made quarters (and Caro was the runner-up). Seems like every player win a Slam but Caro.
Cheers,
Pedro Mendes
terça-feira, 6 de setembro de 2011
US Open - women's quarter-finals
Today all the matches were cancelled in Flushing Meadows due to the rainy weather. So, as long as I've nothing better to do (my life is just tennis in this 2 weeks) I'll write my preview of women's quarter-finals.
Starting tomorrow on (instead of today), it's possible to watch interesting matches such as Stosur vs Zvonareva, Wozniacki vs Petkovic or even Serena vs Pavlyuchenkova... or maybe the less interesting, Kerber vs Pennetta, but also a great match, both players are doing a great campaign so far.
My bet: as long as we can't predict Caro's performances in Slams, I'm not sure about her match against Petko. However, I'm rooting for the number 1.
Then, I believe Serena will defeat Pavs in 2 sets; she's been playing too well so far and I believe she gonna win the US Open 2011.
About Sam vs Bepa, I'd prefer Sam for the win but Bepa will probably defeat the australian top-ranked. Sam is being quite inconsistent this season, unlike Bepa.
Then, the surprise quarter-final: Kerber vs Pennetta. Pennetta is the favourite, but she's being awful this season. I mean, before US Open. It gonna be a very interesting match.
About Ana's performance in New York, I can't say it was bad. Pretty good, considering the circumstances. She reached the 2nd week of a Slam for the first time this season, and also the third time in her career - defending her 2010 points. Also, she played quite well against Serena, winning 7 games and having more winners than the north-american - but also more UEs, that's why she lost.
Hope she finishes 2011 ia good shape, in order for starting 2012 very confident and not repeating this awful year.
Starting tomorrow on (instead of today), it's possible to watch interesting matches such as Stosur vs Zvonareva, Wozniacki vs Petkovic or even Serena vs Pavlyuchenkova... or maybe the less interesting, Kerber vs Pennetta, but also a great match, both players are doing a great campaign so far.
My bet: as long as we can't predict Caro's performances in Slams, I'm not sure about her match against Petko. However, I'm rooting for the number 1.
Then, I believe Serena will defeat Pavs in 2 sets; she's been playing too well so far and I believe she gonna win the US Open 2011.
About Sam vs Bepa, I'd prefer Sam for the win but Bepa will probably defeat the australian top-ranked. Sam is being quite inconsistent this season, unlike Bepa.
Then, the surprise quarter-final: Kerber vs Pennetta. Pennetta is the favourite, but she's being awful this season. I mean, before US Open. It gonna be a very interesting match.
About Ana's performance in New York, I can't say it was bad. Pretty good, considering the circumstances. She reached the 2nd week of a Slam for the first time this season, and also the third time in her career - defending her 2010 points. Also, she played quite well against Serena, winning 7 games and having more winners than the north-american - but also more UEs, that's why she lost.
Hope she finishes 2011 ia good shape, in order for starting 2012 very confident and not repeating this awful year.
segunda-feira, 5 de setembro de 2011
US Open - 1st week
The first week of the US Open ended yesterday, so today starts the R4 for most of the players - men's will start today, but half of women's started yesterday. In what concerns about me, it really starts today because both Ana and Nole will play today.
First of all, the men's draw. Four non-seeded players have reached the round 4, about 25%. However three of them will probably end their campaigns in this same round - Muller vs Nadal, Young vs Murray and Monaco vs Federer are tough tasks for the non-seeds - and Ferrero has a great challenge against the serbian nº3, Janko Tipsarevic. Then, we have just 6 top-10 players in this round 4 - the 4 favourites and also Ferrer and Fish. In fact, I believe the greatest matches of this R4 are Ferrer vs Roddick and Tsonga vs Fish. I bet in both americans.
Another important stat: four americans have reached the last 16. Isner and Young will probably be defeated (play against Simon and Murray), but A-Rod and Fish can truly go through.
Another important stat: four americans have reached the last 16. Isner and Young will probably be defeated (play against Simon and Murray), but A-Rod and Fish can truly go through.
About women's, there is one important stat: no women have reached the 2nd week of all Slams this year. Victoria Azarenka did it in Australia, Paris and Wimbledon but was defeated by Serena in Flushing Meadows. This stat is an example of what is WTA nowadays - the tennis players are too inconsistent in Slams.
In women's R4, we just have 3 non-seeded players. The spanniard Carla Sanchéz Navarro will probably end her campaing here - against Andrea Petkovic - and the others two non-seeds played yesterday: Angelique Kerber defeated Monica Niculescu and reached the quarters for the 1st time in a Slam. Kerber will play against Pennetta (26) and one of them will reach the semis for the first time on their careers!
Actually, we had 3 germans on R4 (Kerber, Petko and Lisicki); Lisicki lost yesterday against Zvonareva, but did the R4 for the first time on her career. Great coming back is Sabine doing this year!
About Ana, she'll play against Serena to reach the quarters. Ana is the 16th seed, Serena is the 28th, but we all know that's almost impossible for Ana winning it. If she takes a set, I'd be happy.
Cheers,
Pedro Mendes
In women's R4, we just have 3 non-seeded players. The spanniard Carla Sanchéz Navarro will probably end her campaing here - against Andrea Petkovic - and the others two non-seeds played yesterday: Angelique Kerber defeated Monica Niculescu and reached the quarters for the 1st time in a Slam. Kerber will play against Pennetta (26) and one of them will reach the semis for the first time on their careers!
Actually, we had 3 germans on R4 (Kerber, Petko and Lisicki); Lisicki lost yesterday against Zvonareva, but did the R4 for the first time on her career. Great coming back is Sabine doing this year!
About Ana, she'll play against Serena to reach the quarters. Ana is the 16th seed, Serena is the 28th, but we all know that's almost impossible for Ana winning it. If she takes a set, I'd be happy.
Cheers,
Pedro Mendes
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