WTA: YEC Semifinals Set; Dementieva Retires

After twelve round-robin matches, four ladies moved through to the semifinal stages at the WTA Championships. Along the way a player clinched the year-end #1 ranking while another said goodbye to professional tennis.


By winning at least two matches, top seed Caroline Wozniacki secured her first ever year-end #1 ranking. The only round-robin match she lost was against Samantha Stosur who took the top spot in the Maroon Group heading into the semifinals. In the White Group, Vera Zvonerava went undefeated taking the top spot while Kim Clijsters, only losing to Zvonareva, took the last semis berth. Zvonareva will now face Wozniacki while Stosur will take on Clijsters. The winners will face each other in the finals for the last big title of the year.

Among those left behind, only Jelena Jankovic was unable to win a match. In fact she failed to even win a set in three matches! Victoria Azarenka and Francesca Schiavone managed to get a win on the last day of the round-robin matches.


Finally, veteran Elena Dementieva announced her retirement from competitive tennis after losing to Schiavone earlier today. The 29-year-old Olympic gold medalist made the semifinals or better in all the Grand Slam tournaments including two finals. She was the epitome of hard work and class as she stayed in the upper echelons of tennis for the better part of the decade (top 20 for 524 of last 529 weeks). It was so easy to root for her and unfortunately part of her legacy will consist of the title "Best Player to Never Have Won a Grand Slam Title," but I hope that's not all she would be remembered for. In any case, she will be greatly missed and hope we see her in some tennis capacity in the very near future.

WTA: Year-End Championships

Seven of the eight players entered into the WTA Championships
pose in Doha alongside the brand-new logo for the WTA.

Even though there are three former (and current) no. 1s and two 2010 Grand Slam winners in the mix, the field at the WTA Championships still seems to be somewhat lacking star power especially with the absences of Serena Williams, Venus Williams, and Justine Henin. Also not in the mix are fan-favorites such as Maria Sharapova, Ana Ivanovic and Svetlana Kuznetsova.

In any case, the following top-10 women who make up the elite eight are not too shabby in their own right and deserve the spot for a chance to win the final tournament of the year. And they are...

1. Caroline Wozniacki - While she didn't reach a Grand Slam final this year, she topped the tour in number of titles and became the 20th woman to be ranked #1.

Grand Slam Results: 4r, QF, 4r, SF
Titles: Tokyo, Beijing, Montreal, New Haven, Ponte Vedra Beach, Copenhagen
Runner-Up: Indian Wells

2. Vera Zvonareva - Now at career-high ranking of #2, she reached her first and second Grand Slam finals this year, but was unable to close the deal both times.

Grand Slam Results: 4r, 2r, F, F
Titles: Pattaya City
Runner-Up: Wimbledon, US Open, Montreal, Beijing, Charleston

3. Kim Clijsters - Made lots of noise in her first full year of her comeback by getting some nice hardcourt titles including her third US Open title.

Grand Slam Results: 3r, -, QF, W
Titles: US Open, Miami, Cincinnati, Brisbane
Runner-Up: N/A

4. Francesca Schiavone - Oldest player in the draw won her first Grand Slam title at the French Open, but took awhile to recover from win.

Grand Slam Results: 4r, W, 1r, QF
Titles: Roland Garros, Barcelona
Runner-Up: N/A

5. Samantha Stosur - Strong year for the Australian, who dominated at the French Open until losing in her very first Grand Slam final.

Grand Slam Results: 4r, F, 1r, QF
Titles: Charleston
Runner-Up: Roland Garros, Stuttgart

6. Jelena Jankovic - Relatively quiet and subdued year for the former no. 1, though posted good enough results to make her fourth consecutive year-end appearance.

Grand Slam Results: 3r, SF, 4r, 3r
Titles: Indian Wells
Runner-Up: Rome

7. Elena Dementieva - Veteran whose best years may be behind her, but with solid results, made her 10th showing at the year-end tournament, more than any player in the draw.

Grand Slam Results: 2r, SF, -, 4r
Titles: Paris, Sydney
Runner-Up: Tokyo, Kuala Lampur

8. Victoria Azarenka - Recovered fully from the freak concussion incident at this year's US Open, she became the last player entered after winning in Moscow.

Grand Slam Results: QF, 1r, 3r, 2r
Titles: Moscow, Stanford
Runner-Up: Dubai, Eastbourne

Injuries have plagued the tour for the whole year and it was even more troubling the second half of the year sidelining many top players. Even heading into this tournament, at least half of the eight players entered are nursing recent injuries which is why Li Na and Shahar Peer, who are both in Doha as alternates, shouldn't be too surprised if they're called to play this week.

Fun Fact #1: Caroline Wozniacki and Vera Zvonareva both have a chance to end the year as the #1 ranked player in the world.

Fun Fact #2: Kim Clijsters is the only player to have a winning record against the rest of the field.

Fun Fact #3: Victoria Azarenka is the only player to not reach a Grand Slam final in her career. She is also the only player this year to not reach a SF or better at a Grand Slam tournament.

US Open Report: Day 7

On Sunday during Labor Day weekend, top seed Rafael Nadal led a contingent of Spanish players winning today including 10th seed David Ferrer, Tommy Robredo, 23rd seed Feliciano Lopez, and 8th seed Fernando Verdasco. Verdasco defeated David Nalbandian who is still on the mend and should be proud of what he's done this summer. For the Americans, it was mixed results. While Sam Querrey defeated higher-ranked Nicolas Almagro, his countryman John Isner fell to Mikhail Youzhny under the lights of Ashe Stadium.

But it was the HUGE upset of 4th seed Andy Murray today by Stanislas Wawrinka that all anyone could talk about. Before the tournament, I predicted Murray to lose to a player from Switzerland, but not Wawrinka and certainly not in the third round. This was an extremely disappointing result from the Brit who couldn't back up his great summer season. Will he ever get his first Grand Slam title?

There were only four matches today on the women's side with all of the higher seeds prevailing reserving their places for the quarterfinals. The day started with both recent major champions Kim Clijsters and Francesca Schiavone routing Ana Ivanovic and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova respectively, giving their opponents just three games each. Fellow Grand Slam winner Venus Williams took out Shahar Peer who put up a great fight in the first set, but couldn't recover for the next one.

The day ended with the latest-finishing woman's match at the US Open fought between 12th seed Elena Dementieva and 5th seed Samantha Stosur, which ended just a couple of minutes ago. Even though she was the lower seed, Dementieva was seen as the slight favorite. Both players split the first two sets and bringing their best tennis for the final set took it to a tiebreak with Stosur snatching the win. Dementieva was unfortunately unable to convert four match points and like Murray in the men's side will go home yet again without a major title.

US Open: Women's Fourth Round Preview

Caroline Wozniacki [1] vs. Maria Sharapova [14]
Svetlana Kuznetsova [14] vs. Dominika Cibulkova
Yanina Wickmayer [15] vs. Kaia Kanepi [31]
Vera Zvonareva [7] vs. Andrea Petkovic

Francesca Schiavone [6] vs Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova [20]
Venus Williams [3] vs. Shahar Peer [16]
Samantha Stosur [5] vs. Elena Dementieva [12]
Kim Clijsters [2] vs. Ana Ivanovic

We have certainly heard ad-nauseum the past week or so how open the women's draw is especially with the absences of Serena Williams and Justine Henin and looking at the names of the final 16 ladies fighting for the title, I'd have to say they were right. With that said, even without Serena and Justine, this is quite an impressive array of women containing six major champions and three major finalists.

The bottom half of the draw are set to play later today while the top half will play tomorrow on Monday. Most of these match-ups are quite juicy, but the two matches everyone will be buzzing about are the Wozniacki-Sharapova and the Clijsters-Ivanovic matches because of the star-studded names involved. Clijsters is a heavy favorite in her match, even though Ivanovic seems to finally be playing as if her past issues have been solved. The match between Sharapova and Wozniacki is a bit of toss-up since both are showing great form leading to and during this tournament.

As for the other matches, other than Stosur-Dementieva which is another toss-up for a match, the higher ranked player should pull through, but as everyone says, it's an open draw.

Predictions: I'll pick the ladies who I predicted to make the quarterfinals before the tournament started. I'm proud to see six of my eight still around. I'll pick Zvonareva and Schiavone to replace my initial picks of Radwanska and Azarenka (both of whom I also predicted to reach the semifinals... d'oh!).

US Open: Women's Preview

In only her third tournament last year after her comeback, Kim Clijsters won her 2nd US Open title sweeter this time because she had daughter Jada with her. This year she's seeded second and will ride a 14-match win streak at Flushing to get her third major title. She has a great quarter with Marion Bartoli or Jie Zheng as possible fourth round opponents then either French Open finalist and 5th seed Samantha Stosur or last year's US Open series champion Elena Dementieva at the quarterfinals. Unranked Ana Ivanovic is in this section as well as last year's top seed Dinara Safina who has a tough first round match with Daniela Hantuchova.

With Serena Williams out of the tournament recovering from injury, sister Venus Williams will have to hold down the fort. The 2-time US Open winner is going into this year's open cold, not playing since her quarterfinal lost at Wimbledon this year. With that said, her quarter is pretty open containing French Open champion Francesca Schiavone, 10th seed Victoria Azarenka, and last year's US Open quartefinalist Melanie Oudin. Venus would meet them all in the quarterfinals if she reaches that far since on paper she should get through to the second week. But as I said, she hasn't played tennis in a few weeks. Who knows?

In the top half of the draw, US Open series champion and last year's finalist, Caroline Wozniacki is the top seed of a major tournament for the first time in her career. She won two titles last week and has played very well this summer. The issue now is if she is fresh and rested to take on her stacked draw. She could face 2006 US Open champion Maria Sharapova in the fourth round then could face another former US Open champion, 2004 winner Svetlana Kuznetsova, in the quarterfinals. Kuznetsova meanwhile has a must-see first round match against Kimiko Date Krumm. Also lurking in this section is 8th seed and last year's quarterfinalist Na Li.

Finally, former finalist and third seed Jelena Jankovic look to get her maiden major title. She had discouraging results this summer, but she likes the big lights of the big city. On paper, the first trouble she could face is Yanina Wickmayer in the fourth round. Possible quarterfinalist opponents include 7th seed Vera Zvonareva, 9th seed Agnieszka Radwanska, and Nadia Petrova. I'm thinking one of these three will make it through this part of the section if Jankovic is not 100% this year.

Quarterfinals:
Caroline Wozniacki d. Svetlana Kuznetsova
Agnieszka Radwanska d. Yanina Wickmayer
Victoria Azarenka d. Venus Williams
Kim Clijsters d. Elena Dementieva

Semifinals:
Caroline Wozniacki d. Agnieszka Radwanska
Kim Clijsters d. Victoria Azarenka

Finals:
Kim Clijsters d. Caroline Wozniacki

French Open: The Finals Are Set

The first set of Nadal-Melzer was the only thing I saw during the semifinal stage. So I didn't get to see Elena Dementieva retire with a calf injury or Francesca Schiavone kiss the court when she became the first Italian woman ever to reach a Grand Slam final. Nor did I see Samantha Stosur reach her first Slam final after trouncing Jelena Jankovic. She also defeated Justine Henin and Serena Williams en route to the finals.


While I wasn't really particular regretting missing those matches, I wish I got to see the five-set brawl between Tomas Berdych and Robin Soderling. The Swede won after being down 2 sets to 1 6-3, 3-6, 5-7, 6-3, 6-3. Lest anyone forgets, Soderling is the only person to defeat Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros and it will be a rematch of last year's fourth round match in this year's finals. Nadal admittedly has not played his best this whole tournament, and yet he still hasn't lost a single set and was able to beat Jurgen Melzer handily. A win over Soderling would see him overtake the #1 ranking.


Seeing as how I've been just AWFUL at predicting this tournament, there really isn't any point in doing them. But I'm going to anyways... Stosur leads her H2H win Schiavone 4-1 with Schiavone's only win coming at 2005 and since then the Australian hasn't dropped a set. Stosur also has shown the better form of the two during the fortnight and so she should give Australia it's first Grand Slam champion since Lleyton Hewitt.


As for the men, on paper it's all about Nadal. Their H2H is 3-2 in the Spaniard's favor, but Soderling has won their last two meetings including that match last year at Roland Garros. Nadal will be extra motivated to avenge that lost, however, and with Soderling going through a marathon with Berdych, I see Nadal winning this one. Soderling should still be able to take a set.

French Open: Quarterfinal Report & Semifinal Previews

Unless you were a certain four-time French Open champion, it was not good to be a Grand Slam champion at the quarterfinals at Roland Garros this year.

The biggest upset of the round was Robin Soderling defeating defending champion Roger Federer ending the Swiss' streak of Grand semifinals at 23 matches. 2008 Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic followed Federer losing to 22nd seed Jurgen Melzer in five sets after being up two sets! 12-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams went out to 7th seed Sam Stosur 6-8 in the third set.

Rafael Nadal was the only Grand Slam champion able to hold off his inspired opponent who pushed Nadal to two tiebreaks. Nadal still ended up winning in straight sets, but he had to work hard against 19th seed Nicolas Almagro. Other quarterfinal winners include 15th seed Tomas Berdych, 4th seed Jelena Jankovic, 17th seed Francesca Schiavone, and 5th seed Elena Dementieva. This mean there will be a first-time Grand Slam winner on the women's side and on the men's side if Nadal doesn't win.

Men's Semifinals

Robin Soderling [5] vs. Tomas Berdych [15]
Rafael Nadal [2] vs. Jurgen Melzer [22]

How very wrong was I in my predictions getting only Nadal correct? In any case, Nadal must be feeling a bit better about reclaiming this title especially consider the players he has left to face. En route to the finals, Nadal will not have faced anyone in the top 20. Melzer, reaching his first Grand Slam semifinals ever, should be no problem for Nadal especially with Melzer going through that blockbuster five-set match with Djokovic. It's a bit of a toss-up between Soderling and Berdych as both have played an inspired couple of rounds. Soderling has the edge though being in this spot before and having huge confidence after beating both Nadal and Federer here.

Prediction: It will be a re-match between Robin Soderling and Rafael Nadal for the finals. Please tennis gods, make this happen. I'll be rooting for Soderling so that Federer keeps his #1 ranking.

Women's Semifinals

Jelena Jankovic [4] vs. Samantha Stosur [7]
Elena Dementieva [5] vs. Francesca Schiavone [17]

I did slightly better here than in the men as I predicted that (a) neither Williams sister would make it this far, (b) Jankovic and Dementieva would get here, and (c) Dementieva would go up against an Italian. The most significant aspect of this foursome is that none of them are Grand Slam champions with only Jankovic and Dementieva to have managed to reach a Slam final before. On paper, both matches look to be very competitive. Jankovic leads Stosur 3-1 in H2H, but Stosur won their last meeting a couple months ago. Dementieva leads 6-4 with the Italian's last win over the Russian over three years ago.

Prediction: Experience will prevail to bring us a Jelena Jankovic and Elena Dementieva final. I'll be happy for both, but really rooting for Dementieva.

French Open: Fourth Round Report

Top seeds Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal moved swiftly to the quarterfinals in straight sets losing only 11 games each, beating Stanislas Wawrinka and Thomaz Bellucci respectively. Their wins this year are far removed from what their experienced last year in the same round. Last year, Federer had to come back two sets to love down against Tommy Haas while Nadal was defeated for the first time in Roland Garros by last year's finalist Robin Soderling. Speaking of, 5th seed Soderling is moving through the draw with fierce efficiency as well, defeating 10th seed Marin Cilic in straights.

3rd seed and former semifinalist Novak Djokovic defeated Robby Ginepri, the last American man standing, in four sets while 22nd seed Jurgen Melzer made his first Grand Slam quarterfinal by beating Teimuraz Gabashvili. 4th seed Andy Murray lost to 15th seed Tomas Berdych, 7th seed Fernando Verdasco was beaten by 19th seed Nicolas Almagro, and 8th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga retired with a bad back in his match against 11th seed Mikhail Youzhny. This is only the second time that Berdych, Almagro, and Youzhny have reached the quarterfinals at a Grand Slam event.

Factoid: Roger Federer is one win away from reaching 24 consecutive Grand Slam semifinals. If he does this, he also guarantees his #1 ranking after the tournament and will tie Pete Sampras' record of overall weeks at #1. With his win against Belluci, Rafael Nadal has notched an impressive 200 wins in clay.


Three of the top four seeds moved through the fourth round as Serena Williams, Caroline Wozniacki, and Jelena Jankovic survive with Wozniacki being pushed to three grueling sets by 14th seed Flavia Pennetta. 2nd seed Venus Williams was defeated by 19th seed Nadia Petrova in straight sets. Venus is still alive in doubles with her sister Serena and they are the favorites to win.

Serena's next opponent was set to be four-time champion Justine Henin, but 7th seed Samantha Stosur showed it's just not THAT easy to return after being away from the tour. Stosur defeated Henin 2-6, 6-1, 6-4. 5th seed Elena Dementieva, 17th seed Francesca Schiavone, and surprise quarterfinalist Yaroslava Shvedova for Kazakhstan round out the fourth round winners.

Factoid: Serena Williams is the last American woman standing and she is also the last Grand Slam champion left in the draw. Jelena Jankovic, Caroline Wozniacki, and Elena Dementieva have all been Grand Slam finalists, but have yet to get their maiden slam title.

French Open: Women's Preview

Last year's champion and this year's 6th seed, Svetlana Kuznetsova will try to reverse her current fortune's and go far in this competition. She should be okay until the fourth round when she faces stiff competition with either 11th seed Na Li or, more likely, 17th seed Francesca Schiavone. In the same quarter as Kuznetsova is the 3rd seed Caroline Wozniacki. She should be the favorite, but with recent injuries, she's a bit uncertain. Wozniacki can either face 14th seed Flavia Pennetta or Lucie Safarova.

Second seed and former finalist Venus Williams anchors this half of the draw, but gets a potentially tricky first round match with former top ten player, Patty Schnyder. Fourth round may see her face off against 15th seed Aravane Rezai or 19th seed Nadia Petrova with possibly dangerous floaters Agnes Szavay and Anna Chakvetadze lurking as well. If the older Williams sister makes it this far, 5th seed Elena Dementieva, 10th seed Victoria Azarenka, or Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez would be her most likely quarterfinal opponents.

Jelena Jankovic, the 4th seed, will yet again try and get her maiden slam. Her early rounds are full of tricky players, but she should be able to reach at least the fourth round where she could face 16th seed Yanina Wickmayer or Daniela Hantuchova. There is also Carla Suarez Navarro acting as potential spoiler. Her quarterfinal challenges include last year's finalist Dinara Safina, former champion Ana Ivanovic, and 8th seed Agnieszka Radwanska.

Finally, but top seed and former champion Serena Williams will look to add more hardware to her already full shelf. Despite only playing one tournament since winning the Australian Open, it's foolish to underestimate her. She looks likely to reach the fourth round where 13th seed Marion Bartoli or 18th seed Shahar Peer awaits her. Four-time champion and currently 22nd seed Justine Henin could face Serena in the quarterfinals but must first get through a struggling Maria Sharapova, the 12th seed. That section also contains 7th seed workhorse Samantha Stosur and Jie Zheng.

Semifinals:
Justine Henin d. Jelena Jankovic
Flavia Pennetta d. Elena Dementieva

Finals:
Justine Henin d. Elena Dementieva