I was all set to write a preview of the potential Serena Williams/Justine Henin rematch and talk about all the variables that go into that rivalry, but a very quiet and calm Australian had different ideas today. When Sam Stosur took the court against Henin in their fourth round encounter, the partisan French crowd rooted for the Belgian as if she were a native. But it wasn’t enough to help Henin deal with the work Stosur put on the ball as well as her composure that allowed the Australian to hand Henin her first defeat in six years on the red clay of Paris in a 2-6, 6-1, 6-4 win that is probably the biggest of Stosur’s career. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Justine Henin
Did Serena Say “I’m Not Justine” to Jankovic? You Be The Judge.
The tennis world, and the internet, is abuzz with yesterday’s video replay of the Italian Open semifinal between Serena Williams and Jelena Jankovic, but mostly for what happened after the match.
After Jankovic won 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (5), Williams came to shake her hand at the net and to apologize for holding her hand up earlier during a Jankovic service game in which Jankovic complained to the umpire that Williams had to play at the server’s pace. It’s hard to tell exactly what Williams said other than she was sorry for holding up her hand and “I would never do that.” But what’s got everybody intrigued is the part where Williams covers her mouth and says, according to those who can read lips through closed fists, “I’m not Justine”. Continue reading
Filed under WTA
Safina Wins First Match While Wozniacki Falls in Stuttgart.
A word of warning to WTA pros. When the tournament you play at asks you to do promo work before the event starts, think twice before saying yes. I mention this as Caroline Wozniacki, Victoria Azarenka and defending champion Svetlana Kuznetsova who all took time out to pose on the Porsche race track prior to the start of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix all fell in early round matches. Meanwhile, Dinara Safina made a triumphant return while Justine Henin didn’t let a broke pinky derail her chances to win her first event after returning to the tour. Continue reading
Filed under WTA
Miami WTA Review: Does Clijsters Want Serena’s Part-Time Job?
Rather than analyze yesterday’s final where Kim Clijsters ran away with the title 6-2, 6-1 by merely keeping the ball in play versus an erratic Venus Williams, I’d rather spend time pointing out this recent Twitter message from Clijsters to Venus’s sister Serena and what it all means for the WTA.
“@serenajwilliams Lucky you on your way to the beach! some of us have to practice for a tough match 2moro!!”
This gentle jab at Serena for spending time (rather obviously by the photos Serena tweeted about herself in a bikini) at the beach while still recovering from her knee injury basically summed up the whole women’s event at Miami. Even though she never stepped on a court, Serena still overshadowed any matches played. And though we still don’t know when or where Serena will play again, it’s safe to stay that Clijsters, who will be ranked No. 10 on Monday, could soon find herself with another job besides taking care of her daughter Jada, that of being No.1. Continue reading
Comments Off on Miami WTA Review: Does Clijsters Want Serena’s Part-Time Job?
Filed under WTA
Clijsters & Henin Dismantle “Future” of WTA Azarenka & Zvonareva.
Remember this time last year when the “future” of the WTA appeared out of nowhere? Vera Zvonareva’s title run at Indian Wells followed by Victoria Azarenka’s win over Serena Williams in Miami seemed like the beginning of another wave of young stars set to dominate the tour.
Well, fast forward a year and with the easy wins by Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters over both of these rising stars today at the Sony Ericsson Open, it raises questions of where both Azarenka and Zvonareva are headed in their careers and where the WTA is going too. Continue reading
Comments Off on Clijsters & Henin Dismantle “Future” of WTA Azarenka & Zvonareva.
Filed under WTA
Adjusting the Net 