Tag Archives: Sony Ericsson Championships

November 1, 2009 · 10:18 am

Serena Prevails Over Venus in Doha Final.

With both Venus and Serena Williams sporting heavily taped legs and knees, one would think both ladies made it to the finals of the WTA Sony Ericsson Championships via medivac helicopter. However, that didn’t stop them from putting on another slugfest with little sister Serena finally winning 6-2, 7-6 (4).

Despite both players moving slower than normal, it didn’t stop the shotmaking especially for Venus who went for more winners early in the rallies. Serena’s serve held up throughout the match as she never faced a break point.

After losing the first set, it looked like Venus might give in, but she hung tough and forced things to a tiebreak. Yet loose errors on her forehand side allowed Serena to jump out to a 4-1 lead.

Nerves got the best of Serena as she allowed Venus back in the tiebreak at 5-4, but Serena gathered herself to hit a strong first serve to get to 6-4 and then on match point hit a crosscourt forehand winner.

With the win, it marks the first time Serena was won the YEC event since 2001 and secures her No. 1 ranking for the year. Venus will finish the year ranked No. 6.

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October 31, 2009 · 11:01 am

Serena and Venus in WTA Doha Final.

Most people expected Serena Williams to make it to the finals of the WTA Sony Ericsson Championships but few, including myself, expected older sister Venus Williams to be there considering her up and down play at season’s end.

But Venus gets a chance to defend her title as she took out Jelena Jankovic in the semifinals 5-7, 6-3, 6-4. The match was another slugfest and early on it looked like Jankovic was going to take it. But Venus started serving big and hitting big especially on the forehand. By the time the third set rolled around, Venus looked more comfortable on court and seemed the fresher of the two despite having played four consecutive three set matches.

Venus, who lost to Serena in early round play, gets a chance for revenge on her little sister after Serena won her semi against a hobbled Caroline Wozniacki 6-4, 0-1 (retired). Serena and Venus also play in the doubles championships semifinals later today.

Who will win the matchup between the Williams sisters? Venus needs the win more as she could really use the points to boost her ranking going into 2010. But Serena would love nothing more than win the final event of the year as number one. Should be a great match.

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October 30, 2009 · 1:47 pm

Jankovic and Venus into Doha Semis.

Jelena Jankovic is in the semifinals of the WTA Sony Ericsson Championships at Doha despite having just played just over 90 minutes in all of her matches. Today Jankovic defeated a tired Caroline Wozniacki 6-2, 6-2.

Jankovic benefited from the early retirement of Dinara Safina in her first round match. In my opinion that match should not have counted as it prevented the other alternates Vera Zvonareva or Agnieska Radwanska any chance of advancing to the title stage.

Case in point. Today Radwanska in the only match she can play at the event defeated Victoria Azarenka 4-6, 7-5, 4-1 (ret) after Azarenka retired due to injury. This means Wozniacki will make into the semifinals along with Jankovic, Serena Williams and Venus Williams who got in after Svetlana Kuznetsova beat Elena Dementieva easily 6-3, 6-2.

I’m rather disappointed in the play of Kuznetsova, who despite winning with ease today, really had chances against both Venus and Serena in their previous matches. The event is also a disappointment for Dementieva who caps off what should have been a breakthrough year with yet another substandard result at a big event.

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