Update: Dubai - Quarter's, Semi's & Final

Hi everyone,

With both Serena Williams and Azarenka withdrawing from Dubai, it was quite interesting to see who would take the lead in Dubai. Sharapova decided not to participate here at all, so the highest ranked player was Radwanska here.

And then suddenly, Kvitova emerged reborn. Her forehand was as deadly as in her Wimbledon campaign two years ago (hitting an incredible 222 winners in one tournament!). Okay, it wasn't that spectacular ... yet. Kvitova did defeat Radwanska 6-2, 6-4 in the quarterfinal and it wasn't because the Pole wasn't as consistent as ever.

 

 

In the semi's she pushed through against another defensive player: Wozniacki. The Dane seems to recover slowly from her drop in the rankings. She did play convincingly in Dubai, overcoming a determined Bartoli: 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the quarters. But Kvitova was too much for her in the semi's: 6-3, 6-4.

 

 

 

In the top draw, the doubles team Errani and Vinci had to battle it out in the semi's after Errani won against Petrova: 6-4, 0-6, 6-3 and Vinci extends her great form by beating Stosur: 6-2, 6-4, after previously sending Kerber home too! In their semifinal, Errani came out victorious: 6-3, 6-3, stringing along five consecutive wins against her doubles partner.

 

 

I had seen Kvitova play, so I thought she would leave nothing standing of Errani to take the Dubai title (after previously not even winning a match here!). But the fiesty Italian decided to make it a threesetter but lost in the end: 2-6, 6-1, 1-6.

 

 

Now I'm very excited to see if Kvitova can push through with her strong game. She encountered a lot of defensive players in Dubai, so playing against a Serena or Sharapova will be the real test!

 

 

The tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami are coming up in March, so keep posted!

Update: Dubai - Road to Quarterfinals

Hi everyone,

The battle of number one continues with a weird withdrawing game at Dubai! First Azarenka withdrew before the tournament started due to a foot injury (no loss this year but two withdrawals already though, something to think about!) and then Serena provided Bartoli with a walkover the first match she was supposed to play, complaining of back issues. I'm liking this bizarre Azarenka - Serena competition, although they'll have to watch out they're not looking at each other and meanwhile Sharapova or Kvitova races straight pass them (wait that's cycling, sport-confusion!)

 

 

The withdrawals make Radwanska the highest ranked player in the draw (much like last year, what kind of wicca is the Pole using?) but that doesn't make her quarterfinal opponent Kvitova any less dangerous. The Czech is definitely getting back into shape with two convincing wins against Hantuchova first: 6-2, 6-1 and Ivanovic next: 7-5, 7-6(1) to reach the quarter's. Radwanska got good practice against 18 year old wildcard Putintseva: 7-5, 6-3. The Kazach player broke Radwanska's serve numerous times. I like her fiesty character too, hopefully we'll see more of here again! Just check out her enthousiasm after she won an epic battle against Robson: 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(6) in the first round:

 

 

In the top draw both Errani and Vinci knocked themselves in the quarterfinals and hopefully the doubles team will meet in the semi's but Errani will have to beat Petrova for it and Vinci has to get past Stosur! Vinci had a tremendous win over Kerber on route to the quarter's by the way: 7-5, 6-1, very impressive!

 

 

The last quarterfinal will be played between Wozniacki and Bartoli. The Dane is also getting quite better, just relinquishing five games in two rounds against Safarova and Zheng no less! Bartoli needed a three set win over Zakopalova before getting the walkover by Serena.

 

 

Keep posted!

Introducing: Dubai Duty Free Championships - Dubai

Hi everyone,

We're moving on to Dubai as the last Middle East tournament with a very, very packed draw (as in Kuznetsova had to play qualies!). Let's introduce:

 

 

And then move on to the draw!

 

Which top seeded players are in the same half?

- Top half = Azarenka, Errani, Kerber, Stosur

- Down half = Kvitova, Radwanska, Wozniacki, Williams

 

First round matches to look forward to: Stosur vs. Makarova, Pavlyuchenkova vs. Ivanovic.

 

Last year's winner was Radwanska after both Kvitova and Azarenka had to withdrew due to an injury to make the Pole the highest ranked player in the tournament then. She was still obviously happy of course! I'm not sure if she'll be able to defend her title though with so many competition on the court!

 

 

 

Underdog (aka who is gonna have the toughest opponents if she's planning on winning the title): Ivanovic! She'll meet Pavlyuchenkova first, then has a potential mash-up against Kvitova to face Radwanska next to just reach the semifinals. Following are brand new number one Serena Williams in the semi's and well Azarenka in the final. If that isn't mission impossible, I don't know what is!

 

The ladies had some fun already in Dubai: Wozniacki went to a wildwater park and the player's party always produces great pics too when the Dubai people shove animals in player's hands or tempt them with djembes and henna (both Radwanska by the way, I noticed alright!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keep posted for some excellent matches!

Update: WTA Rankings

Hi everyone,

Check out those fresh new rankings:

1) Serena Williams - 10.590 points (the oldest number one at 31!)
2) Victoria Azarenka - 10.325 points (not trailing by much, should get interesting)
3) Maria Sharapova - 9.715 points (quite strapped in that number three spot for now)
4) Aga Radwanska - 7.750 points
5) Na Li - 6.130 points
6) Angelique Kerber - 5.400 points
7) Sara Errani - 4.820 points
8) Petra Kvitova - 4.510 points (ready to gain some places?)
9) Sam Stosur - 3.835 points
10) Caroline Wozniacki - 3.570 points (making a bigger gap with Bartoli)

I updated you on the Azarenka - Redfoo romance last time I did a WTA Rankings overview, so let's do that again. The photos of them as a couple are simply multiplying daily and just last Valentine's Day, Redfoo posted this:

 

 

I thought it was quite creepy, what do you think? I liked his romantic creativity on Azarenka's bed better although I'm hoping she's not seriously when she posted this: im sleeping on the floor tonight :) thank u ❤ - Azarenka

 

 

In other news, chapter 2 of Wozniacki's insane line calling dispute. Check them both out (the last one was in Doha and father Wozniacki decided to give an input as well!)

 

 

 

Keep posted, Dubai is right around the corner!

Update: Quarterfinals, Semi's & Final - Doha

Hi everyone,

The real challenges were yet to come in the quarterfinals of the Qatar Total Open!

First up was the exciting match between Kvitova and Serena Williams. The American would become the oldest number one with a semifinal spot here at Doha. The match turned out to be a real thriller when Kvitova demonstrated some of her famous (but for long unshowed) forehandkillers and fabulous play at the net! Each took a 6-3 set before a nailbiting third set had to decide everything. The Czech took a 4-1 lead and Serena seemed a shell of herself, fighting a flue apparantly. It was her hunger for that number one spot that made her battle again and wait for Kvitova to pile up the unforced errors. At 5-5, she levelled and immediately broke to capture the win: 3-6, 6-3, 7-5. She was extremely happy and that's still an understatement!

 

 

The other quarterfinals weren't as sensational as Serena's victory but definitely showed some quality-tennis. Radwanska defeated good friend Wozniacki in two sets: 6-2, 7-5. Azarenka didn't leave much chance for the Italian Errani: 6-2, 6-2 while Sharapova showed Stosur how it was done: 6-2, 6-4. Check out the highlights here:

 

 

So the semifinals featured two mash-ups that we've seen many times before and are quite one-sided. Azarenka had little problems against the defensive game of Radwanska: 6-3, 6-3. The Pole exited Doha at the semifinals of last year in the same fashion.

 

The other semifinal was a classic Sharapova - Serena match which I always look forward to with much expectations but they seem to disappoint each and every time. The Russian hasn't won against Serena since 2004 (I was shocked about that piece of statistic!) so this time wasn't any different with a 6-3, 6-2 score.

So what about that final then! I've been begging for a Serena - Azarenka battle and surprisingly since the Belarussian is no longer number one, she can beat Williams! She played really strong when battling back a break in the first set and she also had a tremendous start in the third set. The highlights say it all:

It seems quite fair: Serena takes number one (and I think that's what she really came for in Doha) and Azarenka defends her title from last year. I'm so looking forward to the next duel between the two, maybe in Dubai! Keep posted!

Update: Road to Quarterfinals - Doha

Hi everyone,

There've been quite some retirements already in Doha. Cibulkova had to forfeit before the tournament even could start while Wickmayer, Lepchenko, Kirilenko and Makarova were forced to retire during play citing a back injury, an illness, a shoulder injury and dizziness respectively. It's a shame for Makarova because she was actually making it hard on Kvitova in the second round, losing the first set: 6-4 before withdrawing.

The first upset of the tournament was delivered by Mona Barthel when defeating current number six Kerber in the second round (she got a bye in the first round). The two Germans were 1-1 in their head-to-head with Barthel winning a 6-0 bagel in both matches. Kerber wasn't her fittest with back troubles while Barthel had just won the Open GDF Suez tournament in France last week. Score: 6-1, 6-2.

The other top seeded players got through to the quarterfinals without much trouble. Azarenka didn't have the bestest of starts, trailing a break against Oprandi in her first match of the tournament but then she overclassed the Suisse player: 6-2, 6-3. In the third round the current number one left no game to McHale: 6-0, 6-0 to set up a quarterfinal match against Errani.

 

Stosur needed three sets against Niculescu in the second round but eventually got the job done: 6-4, 1-6, 6-3. To reach the quarterfinals, she had to get past strong Kuznetsova who previously defeated Bartoli: 6-4, 6-4. Eight seed Stosur did so in two sets: 6-4, 7-5. Her opponent will be another Russian Sharapova, who hasn't lost a set here in Doha.

The other quarterfinal matches are played between Kvitova and Serena Williams (for the number one spot!) and good friends Wozniacki and Radwanska. The Pole had to defeat Ivanovic for it: 6-1, 7-6(6). Check out some of the highlights:

Looking forward to the quarterfinal mash-ups: Azarenka vs. Errani, Radwanska vs. Wozniacki, Stosur vs. Sharapova and Serena vs. Kvitova, keep posted!

Introducing: Qatar Total Open - Doha

Hi everyone,

It's time for the tournaments in the middle east for the ladies with Dubai next week but kicking off with Doha first. With sixteen seeded players of the top 17 (only Na Li isn't gonna play here), this could turn into an exciting competition.

 

 

A quick scan of the draw reveals:

- Azarenka and Radwanska in the same part of the draw (semifinal meet) while Serena got Kvitova and either Stosur or Sharapova to dispose of before reaching the final.

- Interesting early round mash-ups: Robson vs. Hantuchova (first round), Paszek vs. Ivanovic (first round), Vinci vs. Wickmayer (first round), Stosur vs. Jankovic (second round), Kvitova vs. Makarova (second round).

 

Last year's winner was Azarenka beating Stosur: 6-1, 6-2 in the final.

 

 

My pick for the underdog of the tournament: Bartoli. She'll face Schiavone first before probably meeting Kuznetsova. If she survives that, she'll encounter eight seed Stosur and Sharapova next in the quarters before facing (almost certainly) Serena in the semi's. Bartoli reached the semi's in 2012 so that's one heck of a road to equal that!

 

Keep posted!

Update: WTA Rankings

Hi everyone,

Though the Australian Open was quite eventful, the WTA rankings didn't change that much after all. Azarenka keeps hanging on to her number one spot (although I'm predicting it's gonna be a real battle this year for her to keep it!) by winning the throphy (although they had a small error occur there:

 

I'm thinking the Australian people are hung up on Kim Clijsters, because Azarenka is so not from Belgium! Understandable mistake, both tiny countries, both starting with a 'B', both in Europa, what do they care right? I'm not complaining and not picky, we could use some error-titles with all our terrific Belgian players retiring!

 

Furthermore a few players swapped places while the biggest winner in the rankings is definitely Sloane Stephens, jumping from 25 to spot 17!

 

Check out the new top 10:

1) Azarenka - 10.325 points

2) Serena Williams - 9970 points (jumping one spot up at the expense of the Russian)

3) Sharapova - 9545 points

4) Radwanska - 7750 points

5) Na Li - 6255 (her final spot at the Aussie Open earns her the fifth place above Kerber)

6) Kerber - 5400 points

7) Errani - 4795 points

8) Kvitova - 4285 points

9) Stosur - 4230 points

10) Wozniacki - 3545 points (the Dane and Bartoli are constantly hopping over each other for that number ten spot).

 

With snow and freezing temperatures over in Europe, I totally envy these Australian Open pics!

 

 

 

In other news, Azarenka and Redfoo (mental picture 'wiggle, wiggle' in his song: Sexy and you know it) are dating! The interviews don't lie, Redfoo talked about Azarenka:

"I'm supporting Team Vika. You know, I came here just to see her play. It’s very exciting. I don’t like to kiss and tell. But we’re really close and she’s a very special person and I’m very happy in my life right now."

And when asked about a special lady in his life Redfoo was quite subtle:

"I'm in love. I don’t care who knows it. With a special one. I got a special one. A number 1, if you will."

The pictures don't lie either:

 

 

Juicy details: Azarenka dated pole vaulter Sergei Bubka Jr. not long ago (they reportedly split just a few months ago), Redfoo or Stefan Kendal Gordy if you will is 14 years older than Azarenka, 23 and he's 37!

I'm happy for the couple from the moment I get that 'wiggle, wiggle'-mental picture out of my head and he stops wearing these kind of shirts: [Vika, you grunt on].

 

Next up is the Qatar Total Open in Doha with temperaturs around 26 degrees (or 79 F) so keep posted!

Update: Semi's & Final - AO Melbourne

Hi everyone,

The very first word that comes to mind to describe the semi's & final of the Australian Open: bizarre!

First up, Na Li shattered Sharapova in the semifinal in two sets: 6-2, 6-2. After the amazing run of the Russian (losing a mere 9 games), I didn't see that coming! It's true the score doesn't say it all because Na Li still needed over an hour and a half, but I was hoping for a thrilling threesetter match. Bye bye number one spot for Sharapova.

 

 

Azarenka's match against Sloane Stephens went according to plan for the number one, leading 6-1, 5-3 when serving for the set. And then she choked (massively), that's the least you could say. Stephens surprisingly took the break after Azarenka had numerous chances to finish the match. Then the Belarussian complained of shortness of breath and other symptoms pointing towards a panic attack.

The question is: is that a legitimate reason to take a medical time out? It was all quite controversial and a lot of tennis specialists and commentators demanded stricter rules for situations like this. Or requiring Azarenka to spread some demonstrating photos of a visable injury like Serena did after twisting her ankle:

 

Later on, Azarenka said her back and a rib injury bothered here too, but at that point it seemed a bit fabricated. She didn't mention it at all when being interviewed after the match (she won: 6-1, 6-4 by the way).

 

I'm gonna keep score of all the controversial medical stuff and withdrawals that Azarenka pulls this year, so far: 2 (after withdrawing for a toe injury before facing Serena in Brisbane). It caused a creative banner in the final though:

And then that final between Na Li and Azarenka, as if we didn't have enough drama already!
It was an edgy start for both with breaks flying around and mysteriously Azarenka was quite quiet... As I said: bizarre! Na Li was the bigger hitting player in the first set and with a double fault, Azarenka handed the Chinese a 6-4 lead.
The second set was a completely different story with the number one taking a 3-0 lead before Na Li had an unfortunate ankle twist. The Chinese definitely seemed in pain but she did level at 4-4. Azarenka then grid her teeth and won the second set: 6-4.

It all came down to a third set and after a ten minute break due to the fireworks for Australia Day, Azarenka showed her consistency (and louder shrieks). Na Li twisted her ankle for a second time and hit her head (showing Azarenka how a real medical time out is justified?). The unlucky Na Li showed some great points after that but Azarenka had enough of a lead to finish it: 6-4.

So Azarenka wins the Australian Open again and retains the number one spot. But her game was shaky against the Chinese, I'm so looking forward how she does against a Sharapova, Serena or Radwanska! Keep posted!