Rafael Nadal overcame Murray-complex and powered his way to a 6-1, 6-2 victory at the BNP Paribas Open, Indian Wells final this morning!
This championship not only avenged a loss to Andy Murray in the Rotterdam final this year but also shows that Nadal has already mastered the hard court surface.
“I felt I played really good,” Nadal said.
“Maybe I was a little bit more prepared. I think I accepted the conditions."
“I tried to play inside the court, go to the net some, move all the time. It’s important that you know you don’t have to find the lines all the time, but hit the ball inside, not so close to the lines.”
Murray said, “Rafa dealt with it well."
"He hit the ball cleaner and just seemed to get himself in better positions than I did. You want to be in the best position possible to hit each ball and I wasn’t."
"That’s why he managed to dictate most of the points.”
In the women's singles final, Vera Zvonareva defeated defending champion Ana Ivanovic 7-6 (5), 6-2.
“After a couple of games, I knew that the conditions were very difficult and it’s not going to probably change and I have to fight for every point, have to adjust my game,” Zvonareva said.
“Even though I had some mistakes and some frustrating points with the wind, I was still trying to put as many balls as I can in the court, try to concentrate.”
Ivanovic said the conditions were the worst she’s played in.
“It wasn’t much about the game plan. It was just who can handle the conditions better, and who can stay probably mentally tougher through it,” Ivanovic said.
“Today, she did. “Yeah, she played really well.”
The victory evened Zvonareva’s record against Ivanovic to 4-4.
(Via AP; Images by Matthew Stockman/Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images)
Suddenly Sania Mirza is in the final at the Pattaya Open and is ready to take on top seed Vera Zvonareva!
Unranked Sania had to pull off a tough fight before overcame eighth-ranked Magdalena Rybarikova 6-4, 5-7, 6-1 in the semifinal.
Sania was once ranked as high as 27th, before she fell to no. 126 due to a long-term wrist injuries last year.
Pattaya is her first trip to a singles final since Stanford in 2007.
Her only WTA-level singles title was way back in 2005!
It's a tough match up in the final tomorrow but who knows what's going to happen. I can only wish Sania all the best!
More good news about Sania.
She has been granted a wild card entry for this week's Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships.
"Sania Mirza has a huge fan following here and we have seen the stadium packed to capacity each time she has come here," said tournament director Salah Tahlak.
Updates: Sania started off strong but Vera played better to win 7-5, 6-1 at the Pattaya Open.
(Image by Christophe Archambault/AFP/Getty Images)
As predicted, Serena Williams will play against Elena Dementieva in one of the women's semifinals tomorrow.
Both players have a fair chance to win; Serena has more experience than anybody to win in Grand Slam tournaments while Elena has been very consistent and had won two warm up tournaments in Auckland and Sydney.
Here are their thoughts on each other. Elena on Serena: ELENA DEMENTIEVA: Every time it's different, especially against Serena. You don't know what to expect from her. All the matches that we play, all the last three matches, was completely different games.
I think she likes to play here (in AO). She won this title (here before). She feels pretty comfortable playing, you know, in this surface. I think it's going to be tough match. It's always good to have, you know, a positive results. But it's all new.
Serena on Elena: SERENA WILLIAMS: I think she's playing amazing. I think she's actually playing some of the best tennis on the tour. She's really stepped up the level of her game to an unbelievable level. I'm going to have to play really well to do well tomorrow.
The other semifinal match is between Vera Zvonareva and Dinara Safina. By the way here are some off court photos of Elena who visited the Melbourne Zoo yesterday. That's a nice dress for an outing to the zoo.
(Images by Robert Prezioso/Getty Images via zimbio)
Venus Williams defeated Vera Zvonareva in straight sets to seal victory for the Americas over Russia in the Hong Kong JB Group Classic World Team Challenge yesterday.
Williams wins 6-2, 6-2 to give her team a 3-1 lead in the best-of-five gold group final.
It followed a hard-fought 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 win for Gisela Dulko over Anna Chakvetadze after the Americas and Russia were tied at 1-1 overnight.
Williams, who struck 10 winners and six aces, looks in great shape for this month's Australian Open, which she has never won.
Earlier in the tournament she crashed world number one Jelena Jankovic by the same scoreline.
"I've been here so many years and this is the perfect way for me to prepare for the Australian Open," Williams said after her team's win.
Referring to her victories over Jankovic and Zvonareva, Williams said: "(They are) very accomplished players and experienced and both of them played great last year so it's definitely a great way to start the year with wins against such talented players."
In the final match of the exhibition tournament, Williams and Coco Vandeweghe beat Chakvetadze and Alexandra Panova 6-4, 6-1 in doubles to seal a 4-1 victory for the Americas.
On Friday, Williams beat Chakvetadze 7-6 (7/1), 6-3 to give the Americas the lead but Russia hit back through Zvonareva, who beat Dulko 6-4, 0-6, 6-3.
Asia-Pacific won the silver group final 3-0 against Europe.
Finally I'm in the mood to blog again! My resolution this year is to focus more on the Asian tournaments as well as the players in this region.
So let's kick off the new year with news from the women's tennis players.
Recently the Hong Kong Tennis Patrons’ Association announced the withdrawal of Maria Sharapova from the Hong Kong event.
I'm not sure about you but I'm so eager to see Sharapova back in the court again.
She was reportedly said to be reluctant to withdraw from the exho.
A full recovery from a shoulder injury has allowed her to only start hitting balls just over two weeks ago. She's playing but has not had sufficient training to compete at the high level that Hong Kong demands.
Sharapova announced:
"It's with much disappointment that I have to withdraw from Hong Kong. I've been using this event for the last five years to get match fit and ready for the new season, in fact Hong Kong has been successful in preparing me for the Australian Open.
I am very sorry I won't be competing, and I deeply apologise to my fans and the sponsors that they won't see me there this year.
I'm just not ready to play against the top class competition in Hong Kong, although I remain hopeful for Australia where I'm the defending champion.
Believe me, it's been a very difficult decision, but I only started practicing 16 days ago. I love playing in Hong Kong, and the Organisers attract a world class field."
Max Eisenbud, Maria's agent at IMG commented:
"I know how difficult this decision has been for Maria. Hong Kong is a special event for her, she's been competing there since she was 15 years old and the event staff and team are like family, and there has been no better place to prepare for a Grand Slam. Maria needs to get "tennis fit" now and she's working hard."
Co-Tournament Director in Hong Kong, Mr. Terry Catton said:
"We're hugely disappointed, who wouldn't be, but we've known Maria for over five years and we know what a tough competitor she is. She wouldn't give up her spot in Hong Kong lightly and we are terribly sad for her.
We're particularly disappointed for our sponsors, our fans and all our different partners but we welcome Maria's comments about Hong Kong, we wish her well for the season and look forward to welcoming her back another year. Tennis needs a fit and competitive Maria."
The Tennis Patrons’ Association will replace her with world class Russian, Anna Chakvetadze who is currently the world no. 18.
Anna's presence will continue to make Team Russia a powerful contender for the JB Gold Group crown. Replacing Maria as Team Russia’s Captain will be World No. 7, Vera Zvonareva.
The JB Group Classic is a world team event featuring Europe, Russia, Team Americas and Asia Pacific.
Heading up these teams are World No 1 Jelena Jankovic, Wimbledon Champion Venus Williams and crowd favourite Zheng Jie from China.
Organisers also revealed that they were in discussions with Martina Hingis, former World No. 1 in both Singles and Doubles, to come to the JB Group Classic to compete in the Doubles Event for Team Europe.
A total of 12 players make up a star-studded field. (Via JB Group Classic, Image via womenstennisblog.com)
The star players at ATP and Sony Ericsson WTA Tour send out a very cute Christmas message to fans.
Lead by world no. 3 Novak Djokovic, the players came up with a hilarious rendition of the "12 Days of Christmas'.
Some of the players include Andy Murray, Ana Ivanovic, Jelena Jankovic, Jo-WIlfried Tsonga, Vera Zvonareva, Nikolay Davydenko, Dinara Safina, Nicolas Kiefer and many more. Do check out Sam Querrey singing too!
At the end of the video, ATP and Sony Ericsson WTA Tour invite tennis fans to check out the brand new TennisTV.com, which will live stream more than 700 matches, highlights, exclusive interviews and behind the scenes features from more than 40 tournaments around the world in 2009.
Venus Williams wins the WTA’s Sony Ericsson Championships for the first time, defeating Vera Zvonareva 6-7 (5), 6-0, 6-2 Sunday at the season-ending event.
“I’m so excited,” Williams said. “That was a hard-fought match, every point, right down to the end.”
Williams won $1.34 million at the event, which for the first time offered the same prize money as the men at the ATP’s season-ending Masters Cup.
The first lady of Qatar, a conservative Muslim sheikdom, presented the trophy to Williams, shaking her hand and kissing her on both cheeks. Sheika Mozah bint Nasser al-Missned wore a traditional black head scarf and robe.
“Thanks to your Royal Highness for coming. Wow!” Williams said.
Such a public appearance by a ruler’s wife is unusual in the region. Mozah might be one of several wives; many emirs and kings in the Gulf have multiple wives—up to the four permitted by Islam.
Billie Jean King sat with Mozah and other dignitaries during the match and joined Williams on the court for the awards ceremony.
The trophy is named for King.Williams’ ranking will improve to no. 6 from no. 8, while the 9th-ranked Zvonareva also will move up two spots.
The two were the lowest-ranked players at the event, which featured the top eight players in the world.
“I know I can go higher” in the rankings, said the 28-year-old Williams, a former No. 1 who defeated top-ranked Jelena Jankovic in the semifinals.
Williams qualified for the championships for the eighth time since 1998.
She had reached the semifinals twice and withdrew five times because of injuries and illness.
“It was missing, this one,” Williams said of the WTA Championships title.
She has won 39 tour singles titles, including five Wimbledon and two U.S. Open crowns.
Williams’ career earnings rose to $21.9 million.
In doubles, Cara Black and Liezel Huber defeated Kveta Peschke and Rennae Stubbs 6-1, 7-5.
Igor Kunitsin, right, still appear to be shocked after his win against Marat Safin.
World no. 71, Igor Kunitsyn who played his first ATP final, upset former world number one Marat Safin 7-6 6-7 6-3 in an all-Russian Kremlin Cup final to clinch his maiden title on Sunday.
Earlier, world number one Jelena Jankovic overpowered Vera Zvonareva 6-2 6-4 in the women’s final to win her third title in a row.
“This is beyond my wildest dreams,” Kunitsyn told reporters.
“I’d never have expected to beat Marat in the final in Moscow,” added the 27-year-old from Vladivostok, who took home $171,000 in winnings to more than double his earnings for the year.
Safin, seeded 7th and bidding to claim his first title in almost four years, reached the final without hitting a ball when his semi-final opponent, German Mischa Zverev, withdrew with illness on Saturday.
The big Russian has not tasted success since winning the Australian Open in January 2005.
“I have only myself to blame,” said Safin, who also lost to compatriot Nikolay Davydenko in the 2006 final in Moscow.
“If I had won the first set, it would have been a different story but he gained confidence as the match went on, played well in the end and deserved his victory.”
Love strucked Jelena Jankovic of Serbia, left, and Vera Zvonareva of Russia pose with their trophies after a final match.
In the women's singles, Jankovic, making her debut in Moscow, broke Zvonareva twice to take the first set in just over half an hour.
“I’ve played her twice in the last two weeks so I really knew what to expect and was focused right from the start,” said Jankovic, who pocketed $196,900 for her efforts.
“I dominated in the first set but in the second my concentration slipped a little bit but I was able to get myself together in the end.”
The 23-year-old has been playing almost non-stop in the last couple of months and must keep going for another week before taking a well-deserved rest.
“I’ve worked really hard in the last three weeks, winning three titles in a row. It’s not easy,” she told reporters.
“But I still have my commitments to play next week in Zurich. Then I’ll take a two-week rest before playing (next month’s season-ending WTA Championships) in Doha.
“I’ve had a tough season, overcoming a number of injuries but I’m quite close to finishing the year ranked number one and I’m really proud of it,” she added.
Zvonareva, who reached her first Kremlin Cup final on her eighth appearance in Moscow, said she could do little to stop Jankovic.
“It seems she had an answer for everything I tried,” the 24-year-old Muscovite told a news conference.
Ross Hutchins, left, and Stephen Huss, middle, pose with their runner-up trophies beside Sergiy Stakhovsky, right, with his winners trophy (without his partner Potito Starace), after the doubles final.
In the men's doubles final, first-time pairing of Sergiy Stakhovsky and Potito Starace captured their first ATP doubles title with a 7-6(4), 2-6, 10-6 victory over Stephen Huss and Ross Hutchins.
The 22-year-old Stakhovsky, currently no. 167 in the Stanford ATP Doubles Rankings, was appearing in his first ATP doubles final. Earlier in the season he captured his maiden ATP singles title in his first final at Zagreb.
The 27-year-old Starace has now won three titles in four finals. He captured two titles in 2007 at Kitzbuhel and Acapulco and was runner-up at Acapulco in 2006.
“We played unbelievable doubles. We only signed up at the last moment and we can play maybe the next tournament then we’ll see," said Starace.
Nadia Petrova, left, and Katerina Srebotnik, 2nd left, pose with their trophies after winning the doubles against Cara Black, 2nd right, and Liezel Huber, right.
In the women's doubles final, top seeds Cara Black and Liezel Huber took on no.4 seeds Nadia Petrova and Katarina Srebotnik.
Petrova and Srebotnik pulled off the upset in straight sets, 6-4 6-4, for their first title as a team.
It was Petrova's 15th career Tour doubles title and Srebotnik's 19th.
Vera Zvonareva (R) of Russia poses with Peng Shuai of China while holding their respective trophies after the final of the Guangzhou Open women's tennis tournament in Guangzhou, southern China's Guangdong province.
World no.9 Vera Zvonareva won her seventh WTA Tour singles title Sunday, beating China’s Peng Shuai 6-7 (4), 6-0, 6-2 in the Guangzhou International final.
The 24-year-old Russian won her second title of the year after winning the Prague Open in May. The top-seeded Zvonareva recently won a bronze medal at the Beijing Olympics.
"I wasn't going for my shots enough in the first set; I think I was playing a bit too passively," Zvonareva said.
"She's a very good player and fights well, and she took advantage. But I had more experience behind my back and was able to turn the match around by going for my shots again. We had a tough match in our first time playing each other - if she keeps playing like this, she has a great future."
The Chinese contingent was very strong in Guangzhou, with nine - almost a third - of the 32 competitors in the main draw representing the home nation.
Peng made it the furthest and continued to show improved consistency in her week-to-week results, reaching her second Tour final in as many months, having finished runner-up at Forest Hills in August (to Lucie Safarova).
"I was really happy I could get to the final," Peng said.
"There were a lot of fans here, and whenever I was in a tough match they helped me fight through it. Every year this tournament gets better and I hope to be back here next year."
"She had a lot of expectation when she was younger," Zvonareva said of Peng.
"She is improving every year and this year she's playing very well. Chinese tennis is strong right now. People don't want to play in Russia because there are so many Russian players, but now people don't want to come to China either! And I think there are going to be even more young players coming up."
It was a Top 2 showdown in the doubles final, which followed the singles final, with No.1 seeds Sun Tiantian and Yan Zi taking on No.2 seeds Mariya Koryttseva and Tatiana Poutchek.
And it was Koryttseva and Poutchek that prevailed, taking the title by a match tie-break victory, 63 46 108. It was their first Tour doubles title as a team; they now each hold four Tour doubles titles individually.
Gold medal winner Elena Dementieva (C) of Russia, Dinara Safina (L) and Bronze medalist Vera Zvonareva also from Russia display their medals after competing in the women's singles tennis competition at the Olympic Green Tennis Centre in Beijing today.
I didn't expect Elena Dementieva to win against Dinara Safina in a head-to-head all-Russian final at the Olympic women's singles today. And even the bronze medal won by Vera Zvonareva belongs to Russian!
Dementieva wins 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, making up for her disappointment in losing the 2000 Sydney Olympic final to Venus Williams.
She clenched her fists in celebration and then wiped away tears of joy after denying the in-form Safina for the first time in four attempts this year.
I would say that Safina has temper that is very much like her brother. After double-faults she flung her racket, banged it against the concrete and smacked a ball into the stands, but the tantrums failed to help.
When Dementieva closed out her victory with a forehand winner, she collapsed to her knees, then walked to net and received a congratulatory hug from Safina. Dementieva snapped Safina’s 15-match winning streak.
“I never expected a medal—gold, silver or bronze,” said Dementieva, 26. “It’s unbelievable. For me this is the best moment in my career. I’ll never forget it.”
(Images by BEHROUZ MEHRI/PHILIPPE HUGUEN/AFP/Getty Images)
Rafael Nadal overcame Murray-complex and powered his way to a 6-1, 6-2 victory at the BNP Paribas Open, Indian Wells final this morning!
In the women's singles final, Vera Zvonareva defeated defending champion Ana Ivanovic 7-6 (5), 6-2.
