Three to Five: WTA Overzealous?

The WTA's Stacey Allaster made a bold statement yesterday when she spoke with Japanese publication, the Daily Yomiuri. The subject matter? Increasing women's grand slam matches from three to five sets.


What an interesting thought. Would the WTA athletes be able to endure five set battles? Of course. You have to remember that they are professional tennis players who live and breathe their sport, training as furiously and passionately as the men who already endure five set marathons. Longer matches would test both their physical and mental conditioning, and really, would make hoisting a grand slam trophy feel that much better.


But can they do that for seven matches in a row?

The tennis season is already the longest of any professional sport, pushing competitors to the brink of self-destruction. Injury, illness and fatigue already plague what has become an unpredictable field of athletes, so the increase in match length could be (and would probably be) disastrous. Do we need Sharapova to blow out her rotator cuff or sprain her ankle again? Do we want Clijsters, Ivanovic or Safina to ever fully recover? How about players like Serena, who make comebacks from long-term injuries? Would they be able to make impressive grand slam debuts when the match requires so much more of them?

Tennis is no longer a slow game of slice, spin and savvy volleying...It has evolved into a fast and physical baseline battle full of heavy hitting and dangerous slides. Demanding more of the players could result in more serious injuries, shorter careers and less interesting late-round matches (let's be honest... someone like Jankovic won't be as agile in the semifinals after lasting through five three-plus matches beforehand)

Though I love watching long matches, a five-set first round between Francesca Schiavone and the lucky no-name facing her isn't something that would catch my attention, let alone the error-fest out on court 17 between two qualifiers. A five-set championship between Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka, however, would keep fans on the edge of their seats. Is there a way to have three set matches for the first week, and five set matches for the second?


The subject is going to come down to priorities. Prove that the women are as strong as the men, or keep players fresh and healthy? The decision seems simple. No five set match is as epic as a long, tremendous career.


-Kedzie Teller, ITB Senior Editor

Quest for No.1: Wozniacki Fumbles, Sharapova Stumbles

What's happening with the WTA?

By the end of 2011, we may have a new world number one, but really... who deserves it?

(Via Getty Images)

For a moment you think the crown should remain on Caroline Wozniacki. The "golden retriever" is an absolute backboard, pushing her opponents to do their very best if they want to capture a set. She has dominated the rankings for the past year, holding the top spot since October of 2010 (minus Clijsters' brief moment). All in all, the Dane has been the pinnacle of consistency... or has she?

Since getting drubbed by Hantuchova at the French Open, Wozniacki hasn't done what she once did so well: win matches. She was ousted by Cibulkova at Wimbledon, stunned by Vinci in Toronto, kicked aside by McHale in Cincinnati and most recently, lost a lead to Kanepi in Tokyo. If you saw match point (video in link), then you would have wondered who the higher ranked player really was...

What has she done lately? She won New Haven (woo...) and made it to the semis of the US Open, which, while impressive, is overshadowed by the fact that Serena made her look like a scrub on a practice court.

Then you think, maybe it's Maria Sharapova. Maybe she's finally returned to the intimidating play that earned her the top ranking some odd years ago. Then you watch her serve and realize you were mistaken.

AP via Tennis.com

Surprisingly, Sharapova has been the most consistent contender in the slams this year. She made the semifinals in Paris and the finals at Wimbledon, and despite a third round loss in NYC, people are expecting great things from her in the Asian Swing. That is... until she rolled her ankle.

During her quarterfinal clash against Petra Kvitova in Tokyo—a rematch of the Wimbledon championship—Sharapova's serve added a whole new problem to the Russian's already inconsistent play: the landing. While it's usually her toss or timing which falter, Sharapova actually had trouble with her feet during the eighth game of the match. Serving at 3-4, all six feet, two inches of tall blonde came crashing to the ground after landing awkwardly. Sitting on the court, Sharapova looked dismayed and bewildered. Moments later, she was forced to retire.

Who, then, is deserving of the top ranking? Is it Victoria Azarenka? The under-achieving Belarusian has every tool needed to be the world's no.1, and yet she continues to cap-off at second or third best. A natural born fighter, Azarenka can't be content with quarter and semifinals. It's time she takes advantage of her innate skills and win the titles that are waiting to be claimed.

What about Zvonareva, Li, or the rest of the top 10? While not all of them have enough points to be in contention for no. 1, almost all of them are as undeservingly deserving of the honor.

What it should come down to is the world year-end championships. With any luck, this final big tournament (a dogfight between the top 8 women) should be a contest for number one. I want to see Wozniacki, Sharapova and Azarenka all make it into the semifinals, hungry to end 2011 on top of the rankings.

But, as the WTA has come to teach us, expect the unexpected....

-Kedzie Teller, ITB Senior Editor

Strong is Beautiful: New Cast Members

The WTA's continuing campaign, Strong is Beautiful, has added two new all-stars to its growing list of players. Interestingly, the new "cast members" (as you might call them) are celebrities you would have expected to see at the campaign's launch:

Venus Williams and Maria Sharapova.

Watch the video below for some behind the scenes action of the ladies' venture into artistic tennis, and be sure to check out the WTA official site for more information.

-Kedzie Teller, ITB Senior Editor

Hawk-eye: 5 Unforgettable US Open Moments

It's hard to believe the US Open is already over, but even more difficult to believe the results. When the first ball was tossed all eyes were on Serena Williams, a champion that would undoubtedly hurricane through her draw as powerfully as the storm which nearly postponed day one. Instead, it was Slammin' Sam of Australia who subdued the 13-time grand slam champion with fury of her own. While the tournament was full of upsets, fairy tales and the expected dominant performances, there are a few moments from the 2011 US Open that stand out.

In no particular order, here are ITB's top five moments/stories that will live on in our memory. We are also introducing the new "Hawk-eye" article series—posts which will revolve around shots of the day, inspirational moments and other must-see things from tennis matches as they happen.

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Kirilenko and Stosur's Epic Second Set Tiebreak: Perhaps the most heart-stopping and hard fought moment of the tournament, Maria Kirilenko of Russia and Samantha Stosur of Australia competed in a second set tiebreak that gave tournament-goers their money's worth. It was a 32 point slugfest complete with five match points (one of which featured two successful challenges by Kirilenko), extended rallies and palpable tension. If Kirilenko's grunts (roars?) aren't enough to give you chills, the look on her face when she wins the breaker to send the match into a decisive third most definitely will.

Kerber celebrates her victory over Niculescu. (AP Photo)

Kerber's Fairytale Journey to the Semifinals: If you didn't know who Angelique Kerber was before this week, don't feel bad... no one really did. Ranked 92 in the world, the German's best grand slam performance prior to this year's Open was one third round effort at the 2010 Wimbledon. You can't knock her, though; she beat good old Aggie Radwanska in the second round to start what would be the greatest run of her tennis career, then took down a surprisingly strong Niculescu and a confident Pennetta to make her way to a semifinal showdown with eventual champion Sam Stosur.

Though it's clear she took advantage of a crumbling draw, Kerber deserved her moment in the spotlight. She took a set from Stosur (something Serena didn't do) and provided us with the unexpected run we all love to see. Come next year, you might forget who she is again and she might become "the other semifinalist." But for now, she's the feel-good story of the tournament, and I can guarantee you she won't soon forget what she accomplished.

(AP Photo)

Serena Wallops Wozniacki: Since the return of the Williams sisters, we've been waiting for one thing: a face-off between Serena Williams and Caroline Wozniacki. Would the world no.1 prove her pushing prowess and absorb Serena's heat? Or would Serena step on court and prove that no one, regardless of ranking, is as good as her? Well, the moment finally came and our questions were finally answered: Williams trumps Wozzy.

Serena defeated Wozniacki in a straight set beat-down full of laser-like shots and "come on"s audible from my apartment in Boston. The unforgettable moment was not the performance, however, but the reaction after match point. Serena bounced, cheered and beamed as though she had just won the entire tournament and, quite honestly, made everyone remember that tennis is a passion, not a job. For her reaction, CLICK HERE.


The Hindrance Heard Round the World: There's not much you have to say about this unforgettable moment. Serena struck a blistering forehand that Stosur had no play on, but she exclaimed her joy before the ball was out of play and as a result a hindrance was called. A rule is a rule, and although she deserved the point, she also deserved the penalty. Unfortunately, the call against Williams was followed by a high-tempered rant... Check it out for yourself: (Be sure to vote on our poll at the top of the site!)

 

Stosur Snags Her First Slam: When all was said and done, you couldn't do anything but feel an overwhelming sense of happiness for Samantha Stosur. Not only did she pick through a difficult Russian trifecta (Petrova, Kirilenko and Zvonareva back-to-back-to-back) she beat the "unbeatable" Serena Williams in the championship match (6-2 6-3). Having been dismantled by Serena in the Toronto final, Stosur was by no means the favorite coming in to her second grand slam championship appearance. But, she did the impossible, and she did it was incredible poise.

Many thought her 2010 French Open effort was the peak of Stosur's performance and that, having crumbled against Schiavone, she would never set foot in the slam spotlight again. Well, the Australian has proven all nay-sayers wrong. Congratulations and welcome to the Grand Slam Club, Stosur.

A slam title well earned. (Reuters)

-Kedzie Teller, ITB Senior Editor

Pouring and Boring

It's interesting that the USOpen began with hurricane woes, but somehow dodged rain complications until the second week. The women's quarterfinals fell back two days but are finally underway with fans eager to see which players have stayed sharp through all the waiting.

While the entire draw has seen a variety of surprising exits, the true stunner story of the tournament is the bracket's lowest quarter where Pennetta and Kerber, two unlikely champions, have clawed their way to a birth in the elite eight. Here's a look at what's happening, what's ahead, and what the women of the WTA did to pass time during the delays.

Zvonareva v. Stosur

Maybe the most logical matchup of the four quarterfinals, the winner of Zvonareva and Stosur is favored to makes this year's USOpen final. The match is currently in progress as I write, and, like I expected, the contest will likely demand greatness from both women. So far, Stosur has the edge and considering the head-to-head (Stosur leads 7-1...) she is the favorite for victory. Not so fast, though, says the Russian who made the final here last year.

Prediction: Stosur

Kerber v. Pennetta

At the start of the tournament no one would have guessed to see this quarterfinal match. Pennetta has been a steady WTA competitor for years while Kerber has floated in and out of the top 50, but neither woman has done anything too fantastic in their singles career thus far. Both, however are vying for their opportunity to make their mark this year in New York. It's a toss up, but if Pennetta has recovered from the physical ware and tear she has endured and if she plays as steady as she did against Sharapova and Peng, she will reach the semis.

Prediction: Pennetta

S. Williams v. Pavlyuchenkova

Another match that's currently in progress, Serena will be looking to takedown young Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in her question for grand slam singles title number 14. Surprisingly, Pavluchenkova is leading by a break (and now the break back...), but we all know Serena is up for any contest. Pavlyuchenkova is strong, steady and has a lot of weapons to her game, but her lack of big stage experience might weigh her down.

Prediction: S. Williams

Wozniacki v. Petkovic

Another tight matchup, world no. 1 Caroline Wozniacki will look to soften the heavy blows of Germany's Andrea Petkovic. It's evident that Wozniacki has upped her play since facing two awkward losses in the USOpen series, but will that hold true against her second big-striking opponent in a row? Petkovic wants to bring a slam trophy home, and she has no problem beating big players in order to do so.

Prediction: Wozniacki

There's no rain in sight from here on out, tennis fans, so be sure to keep on eye on all the happens. Our facebook page will be updating with results and our twitter account will have frequent scores updates.

Also, be sure to check out the USOpen's latest video about players keeping busy during the storms.

-Kedzie Teller, ITB Senior Editor

US Open: As Seeds Fall, Venus Withdraws

The opening days of the US Open have been rather dangerous for the women's seeds as gutsy opponents made their marks. Three of the top ten seeds  and five of the top 15 suffered early exits, including French Open winner Li Na (no. 6) and the newly crowned Wimbledon champion, Petra Kvitova (no. 5). With other big names like Maria Sharapova (no. 3) and Vera Zvonareva (no. 2) narrowly escaping defeats of their own, it seemed no player was safe and a true tournament favorite was unknown—unless of course, you favored the Williams sisters.

But just as 19-year-old American Christina McHale added Marion Bartoli (no. 8) to the growing list of WTA casualties, a devastating news alert was released from Arthur Ashe Stadium: Venus Williams had withdrawn from the tournament.

Moments before her second round match, Venus Williams told officials she would not be able to compete. The seven-time grand slam champion was preparing to play German hot-shot, Sabine Lisicki, in what was expected to be one of the best collisions of week one at Flushing Meadows. Instead, Venus exited the facility head down.

Venus Williams releases news of her withdrawal from the US Open.

"I'm really disappointed to have to withdraw from this year's US Open," Williams said in a statement to reporters. "I have been recently diagnosed with Sjögren's Syndrome, an autoimmune disease which is an ongoing medical condition that affects my energy level and causes fatigue and joint pain." (via Tennis.com)


Venus has not played a match since losing to Tsvetana Pironkova in Wimbledon's fourth round (highlights from the match here). She was expected to compete in both Toronto and Cincinnati, but deferred from both with a mysterious "viral illness."

In her first round match, Venus defeated Russia's Vesna Dolonts 6-4 6-3, but according to the American who has only withdrawn from a grand slam once before in here 17-year career, the victory took every ounce of energy she had left. She leaves New York disappointed and it is unknown if she will be able to return to the game at all for the rest of the 2011 season.


Looking at Venus's performances in the last year, it seems her body can no longer keep up with the high pace, high power style of play that has earned her fame. Venus withdrew from the Australian Open earlier this year during her match against Andrea Petkovic due to a hip injury and has only played in 5 tournaments since Wimbledon 2010. Questions about her retirement have flared across the tennis world, but there's no sign that she is ready to hang up her racket.


If Venus were to retire, what would come of American tennis? For nearly two decades we have sat and watched the Williams sisters stun us with incredible wins, controversial losses and jaw-dropping outfits. Yes, we have newcomers like Christina McHale, Madison Keys and Sloane Stephens climbing the ranks, but are we really ready to say goodbye to two of the most dominant players in the women's game? Surely not. But if it is time to bid Venus farewell, something tells me Serena will pick up the slack. After all, the younger sister did win two US Open series tournaments in the previous month and earned a clean-sweep of editors picks to win this grand slam.


Whether you lose in round two, or in the championship, only one player can hoist the US Open trophy at the end of these two weeks. Unfortunately for Venus, it was not a big-hitting young gun who removed her from contention, but rather her own body. Although she was unseeded, she joins the rest of the unlucky WTA stars who were sidelined earlier than expected and will have to wait for another chance at glory. In the meantime, we'll see what little sister Serena (no. 29), has to say about the importance of seeds...


-Kedzie Teller, ITB Senior Editor

Pre-US Open: Tournament Preview

Maybe it's a little dramatic, but the arrival of hurricane Irene almost seems appropriate considering the swirling chaos of this year's US Open draw. The top half features names like Wozniacki, Serena, Azarenka, Jankovic, Ivanovic and more, all of whom will be locked in a dogfight for the sole championship opportunity. The bottom half is a little more open, with questionable seeds like Zvonareva and Kvitova looking to validate their rankings while Maria Sharapova tries to cap off what has been a spectacular summer season. Should they falter, big hitter Sabine Lisicki could wreak havoc on the draw—that is, if she survives an early clash with Venus Williams.... All together it's another power struggle for the WTA's big stars, but someone has to win. Here's a look at the tennis storm hitting New York City.

First Quarter: 
Caroline Wozniacki sits at the very top of the draw, enjoying what might be her last few months as world no.1. If she wants to keep her ranking and prove me wrong (by all means, Caro, I would love that), she will have to settle into a rhythm quickly. She's on a straight path to either Hantuchova or Kuznetsova, the former of which knocked her out at Roland Garros and the latter being a former US Open champion. Hantuchova is the more likely adversary in my mind, considering Kuznetsova's growingly inconsistent play, but the Russian definitely has more fire power and would love a chance to rekindle her fire. Either way, I'm predicting the upset. Wozniacki's win in New Haven just isn't impressive enough to block out memories from her two stunning losses. The first quarter also hosts Andrea Petkovic, the hotshot German looking for her first big breakthrough. I imagine she will struggle but survive against the two-time grand slam semifinalist Zheng Jie, but will later fall to this year's Paris champion, Li Na. Any bets on Kaia Kanepi? Ed McGrogan of Tennis.Com calls her a dark horse, but I'm not convinced.

Quarterfinalists: Hantuchova v. Li

Possible Bracket Busters: Vesnina and Kanepi

Second Quarter:
The second quarter of the draw is easily the most terrifying and talented section of this year's tournament. What predictions can you really make when Azarenka, Serena,  Ivanovic, Jankovic, Pavlyuchenkova and Schiavone are all grouped together? The easy choice is Serena, and I'm jumping on that prediction trend willingly, but who's to say someone else doesn't have the flare to take on New York City? The likely third round match between Azarenka and Serena will be the blockbuster event of the tournament should it happen—the winner of which will surely surge to the finals on confidence alone. Don't count out the Serbians, though, both of whom have upped their level of play in recent months. Jankovic fell to Serena in the US Open championship only a few years ago, so a rematch with her in the quarterfinals would be dramatic to say the least, but don't expect Russia's rising star, Pavlyuchenkova, to let her squeeze by the third round too easily. Regardless of the results, this section should give fans the tennis they want.

Quarterfinalists: S. Williams v. Jankovic

Possible Bracket Buster: Jovanovski

Third Quarter: 
The top and bottom of the third section are headlined by Wimbledon finalists Petra Kvitova and Maria Sharapova, and wouldn't a rematch between those two be thrilling? Having dropped her level since winning in London, however, Kvitova will have to work hard to earn another crack at the Russian. She is due to face tricky Dulgheru in the first round and big serving Safarova in the third, either of whom could send the Czech packing. Sharapova, on the other hand, has been consistently successful since May, and should she keep errors at a minimum, is a serious contender for the title once again. Radwanska, however, will be looking to pick Sharapova's game apart and take advantage of her ailing serve should they meet in quarters. The silent killer in this section is Pironkova. She has a fairly tame draw, facing Peng Shuai for her first seeded match and word on the Chinese woman's health is questionable. Should she rise to the occasion, she may play Julia Goerges in the third round, and who knows how the German will play.

Quarterfinalists: Radwanska v. Sharapova

Possible Bracket Buster: Oudin (Can she author another Cinderella story?)

Fourth Quarter:
Bartoli and Zvonareva are the final section's highest seeds, but danger lurks elsewhere in the draw. Both Venus Williams and Sabine Lisicki will be looking to hack their way through unlucky seeded opponents, but unfortunately only one of them will have the chance to do so as they are due to face-off in the second round. Whoever prevails will likely face self-proclaimed pocket-rocket, Cibulkova, in the third and no.2 seed Zvonareva in the fourth. If the top ranked Russian wants to make the final for the second year in a row, she will need to play some of her best tennis. Bartoli, too, will need to be on her A-game as she works her way through names like Christina McHale and Maria Kirilenko (I'm predicting a McHale upset). Sam Stosur will also be looking to enforce herself, having made the Toronto finals and looking strong despite crumbling under Serena's power. She may take on Nadia Petrova in the third round and I expect the match to be tight. Lucky for Nadia, the rest of her draw seems rather doable.

Quarterfinalists: Petrova v. Lisicki

Possible Bracket Buster: McHale

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Championship Prediction

We've all been wondering the same thing since we heard she was coming back in May: When will Serena Williams win the first grand slam of her return? My answer: this is it. Though she faces a strenuous draw, Serena Williams is a born champion and she didn't win two USOpen series titles just to come to New York City and lose. Since demolishing her competition in Stanford, Serena's engines have been firing full-blast and the momentum will carry her through the upcoming weeks. Having pulled out of Cincinnati, the 13-time grand slam champion will be well-rested and fully recovered (not that any of us really believed she was hurt when she withdrew) so fatigue shouldn't affect performance. Her biggest task may be defeating Victoria Azarenka in the third round, but after the 6-3 6-3 schooling she unleashed on the Belarusian two weeks ago, there's little one can say against Serena's chances at victory. If there is anything Serena struggles with at the US Open, it will be containing her emotions on championship point. It has been a long road of recovery for the American super star, so although she's hoisted the trophy in Flushing Meadows three times before, something tells me number four will be a little bit sweeter.

Final: S. Williams def. Lisicki

-Kedzie Teller, ITB Senior Editor