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Wrung Out 10/31/2009 - 10:01 AM

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by Bobby Chintapalli, TW Contributing Editor

Doha, which winds up with the knockout semifinals and final this weekend,  has had everything – blood, sweat, tears, match-points saved, the Number 1 question answered, injuries, retirements. . .and lots of drama.

Everything, it seemed, but joy. Don’t tennis players smile anymore?

Some women played as if they had to choose between winning and grinning, hoarding smiles like they were Hawk-Eye challenges. Were they hot (with one 't")?  Maybe – Jelena Jankovic kept wringing sweat out of her ponytail, and Elena Dementieva stopped serving to do the same with her wristbands. Were they tired? Probably – it’s the end of the year, and each one had played at least 16 tournaments on a tour of several continents. Were they injured? Definitely – Dinara Safina retired barely 10 minutes into her first match because of scary-sounding back issues, and soon left the court in tears. You know it’s bad when the alternate (Vera Zvonareva) gets KO'd and needs a further alternate (Agnieszka Radwanska).

And then, of course, there’s Caroline Wozniacki. 

Still, one of the few things you could count on in the deserts of Doha was that Wozniacki, who played many more tournaments this year than the others - but who’s also the youngest - would find a reason to smile. The other sure thing was that Serena would find a way to win. (She saved a match point against her big sister, Venus).

* STUFF *

Serena, along with Venus, Elena Dementieva and Svetlana Kuznetsova, ended up in the maroon group, while Wozniacki, Dinara Safina, Victoria Azarenka and Jelena Jankovic, ended up in the white group.

The white group had all the chaos (what with Jankovic, joined by Safina, Wozniacki,and Azarenka). The maroon group had all the Grand Slam singles winners, all the Olympic gold medalists, and a whole lot of the moolah. That may be partly because the maroon group had most of the tour grannies. You have to admire these veterans. I use the term with admiration and affection – these veterans can hustle, they sure can hit, and they know how to play Last Woman Standing tennis. The average age of the maroon group, which included the three oldest players, was fully five years (a virtual career) more than that of the white group. Check out the numbers:

- Average age: 27 (maroon) to 22
- Grand Slam titles (singles, total): 20 (maroon) to 0
- Olympic gold medals (singles and doubles): 6 (maroon) to 0
- Prize money (singles, this year): $10.5 million (maroon) to $8.3 million (25 percent more)

Once round-robin play began, the ace-count heightened the contrast between the two groups. Maroon group players served 75 aces, while white group players served just 14. There’s no denying a Williams sister will skew just about any serve-related statistic you can think up. But note that even the maroon player with the fewest number of aces (yes, Dementieva) had more than any white-group player. Still, Maroon 4 coughed up a towering player - Serena. She was the only one in Doha to win all her round robin matches, and her performance here ensures she’ll end the year as Number 1.

* FLUFF *

AUDIENCE: It was amusing to see coaches and players watching as their semifinal fates were determined by other players.  Venus’s hitting partner, David Witt, texted as he watched Kuznetsova get Venus to the semis. Wozniacki chatted and danced (and iced her left leg) as she watched Radwanska get her to the semis. After the match Radwanska said. “Caroline and I are best friends. I think I just gave her a great present.” The best audience moment? Definitely the Radwanska sisters singing and dancing to ‘Poker Face’.

COMMENTATORS: Tennis Channel’s Corina Morariu has a real player’s knowledge of the game, but she doesn’t shove it down your throat. She doesn’t talk too much, too little, too soft or too loud, and she doesn’t talk about women’s tennis or the players condescendingly, as some do with such obvious glee. Leif Shiras, while he sometimes doesn’t seem as focused on the on-court action,  knows how to dole out information with dollops of humor. Of Jankovic he said, “She wants to turn matches into track meets.”

92427608 DIFFERENT STROKES: Was Dementieva trying to out-Venus Venus (with some success) by coming way inside the court on Venus’s second serve? That’s new. Speaking of new, Venus hit an awful lot of nice-looking inside-out forehands for winners. It was big fun to see a between-the-legs volley from Kuznetsova in her match against Dementieva. But the latter is no slouch in the athletic department, either; she ended up winning that point.

JJ STYLE: In the past we discussed whether, in terms of number of matches played, Caroline Wozniacki is the new Jelena Jankovic. Let’s get off the court this time and talk about how, in terms of post-match comments, Jelena Jankovic is the new Serena Williams. After her loss to Azarenka, Jankovic said, “I basically gave her everything. I beat myself.” Of course a journalist mentioned this to Azarenka (you have to love journalists), who said, “I'm glad she gave me the match and she was not in the mood. It worked out pretty well for me.”

Vera Zvonareva has game, but admit it – Doha wouldn’t have been as much fun if JJ didn’t qualify.

INJURIES: The big injuries were in the white group, though it had younger players. The only one of the four who didn’t retire or fall to the court in tears at some point is the oldest in the white group - and the one the most notorious when it comes to bailing out (just ask Maria Sharapova), Jankovic.

What's going on here, battle fatigue? After all, the white-group women played nearly 20 percent more matches this year than their maroon counterparts. Or perhaps they have less experience in training for the long term, or in ways that minimize injuries and maximize stamina? Perhaps they just haven't mastered that trick of the veteran athlete: listening to her body.

Whatever the case, it was difficult to watch such young women crying, bleeding, cramping, falling and otherwise openly suffering.

The only thing harder than watching was not watching.

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Posted by aussiemarg [Madame President in Comma Rehab for 2009] 11/01/2009 at 12:06 PM

Mr and Mrs D Well I hope so lol!

There are still a good few more years in me left.

Knocks on Wood.
Posted by Master Ace 11/01/2009 at 12:08 PM

Jelena Dokic gets revenge on Sofia Arvidsson and win ITF event in Poitiers, France 6-4,6-4
Posted by Sandra 11/01/2009 at 12:09 PM

Jamaica Karen and Master Ace, thanks for the update. I just got back in town and am trying to catch up. Got home just in time to miss the end of the singles finals. Hopefully TTC will re-broadcast the match.
Posted by Jamaica Karen (Yes I am here not loving it so much - no a/c) 11/01/2009 at 12:12 PM

Sandra doubt you will see it on TTC, more likely ESPN2 will have a repeat. At least my idiot ESPN2 will have it at 11:30 tonight. Good thing I am working from home I can go to bed at any hour because my sleep patterns are so messed up I can sleep at any time and work at any time apparently these days.
@kchow- word on AO09. I hope she keeps that serving arm warm to defend her AO crown. WTA looking really good for 2010.
Posted by zenggi 11/01/2009 at 12:12 PM

Just passing by to congratulate AM on her birthday!!.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, madame! I'll talk to you in (my) morning.

Off to diner with friends.

Congratulations to Serena and fans!
Posted by aussiemarg [Madame President in Comma Rehab for 2009] 11/01/2009 at 12:13 PM

Thanks Master Ace,thats good news for Dokic as she continues to get herself back on track.
Posted by Sandra 11/01/2009 at 12:15 PM

I have never liked Pete Sampras, and it has nothing to do with him as a tennisplayer. In spite of Agassi's recent revelations, I still prefer him to Sampras any day. Agassi just strikes me as essentially a decent human being - I have never gotten that feeling from Sampras. Sampras always struck me as supercilious, chauvinistic and lacking in humility, as evidenced by his Kobe/women's tennis/women's basketball comment. Sampras should keep in mind that a whole lot more people in the world watch basketball than watch tennis, so Kobe might object to Sampras even trying to compare himself in any way with Kobe (even if it's "just" to put down women's sports).
Posted by aussiemarg [Madame President in Comma Rehab for 2009] 11/01/2009 at 12:15 PM

Thanks Zenggi

I will talk to you in your morning for sure

Gee these time differences are confusing arent they.Have a nice dinner.
Posted by Master Ace 11/01/2009 at 12:15 PM

Doha
Serena Williams defeated Venus Williams 6-2,7-6(4)
Cara Black and Liezel Huber vs Nuria Llagostera Vives and Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez at Noon - Live on Tennis Channel

ATP
St. Petersburg - Sergiy Stakhovsky defeated Horacio Zeballos 2-6,7-6(8),7-6(7)
Vienna - Jurgen Melzer defeated Marin Cilic 6-4,6-3
Lyon - Ivan Ljubicic defeated Michael Llodra 7-5,6-3


Tennis Channel will reair Serena's win at 2 PM
Posted by aussiemarg [Madame President in Comma Rehab for 2009] 11/01/2009 at 12:19 PM

Sandra I actually got a better insight with Pete when I read his book.Like you he stuck me as a person with little or no personality to begin with.Maybe I was judging him more on his on court behaviour.My hubby is a staunch fan.Thankfully he is still asleep lol!
Posted by lollipop (rafelfole forever) 11/01/2009 at 12:28 PM

Here's the TV schedule for next weeks ATP tourneys-
Valencia:

http://www.atpworldtour.atponline.net/1/en/tv/valencia09.htm

Big names playing: Murray, Davydenko, Tsonga, Verdasco, Simon, Monfils, Robredo, Ferrer

and Basel:

http://www.atpworldtour.atponline.net/1/en/tv/basel09.htm

Big names playing: Federer, Djokovic, Gonzalez, Stepanek, Wawrinka, Kohlshreiber,Blake, Karlovic

Posted by lollipop (rafelfole forever) 11/01/2009 at 12:30 PM

Basel Draw: http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2009/328/mds.pdf

Valencia Draw: http://www.atpworldtour.com/posting/2009/573/mds.pdf
Posted by MikeDC 11/01/2009 at 12:31 PM

Totally off-topic... anyone else having recent problems when using this site with being magically "re-directed" to other sites? The past few days when I've been on here, fake anti-virus sites pop up on my computer, some random ads start playing in the background, and most recently I just got forced to a yellow pages site. With the redirects they aren't pop-ups, literally they close tennis.com and take over.

My security settings are all up to date, and it doesn't happen with any other sites... so it's strange... kind of unnerving.

Posted by Nic 11/01/2009 at 12:35 PM

MikeDC - No, but I know a few people, myself included, have experienced some glitches with the site over the past week. Posts disappearing, or taking a long time to appear, and strange confirmation pages.
Posted by Master Ace 11/01/2009 at 12:39 PM

Pete has posted a thread to discuss any topic today as NYC is holding its marathon.
Posted by tina 11/01/2009 at 12:47 PM

Pete Sampras has always shown signs of being a sexist pig.

Posted by Ruth 11/01/2009 at 12:49 PM

Happy Birthday, aussiemarg. And thanks to you, my other fellow Venus fans, and all other TWibers who offered commentary during the match. (Glad that the "I hate Williams matches" voices were absent today.)

Like Sandra, I got back home just in time to see the last minute or so of the finaland the trophy ceremony. So, I'll be waiting to watch some of the match on TC (thanks MA)at 2 pm before heading out again to a special concert and dinner.

BTW I'm thrilled to be placed in the age group with JK and AM, but I'm sure that I've got a few years on you ladies...remember, my first born celebrated his 40th birthday this year, and I assure you I was no child bride! LOL

JK: Be sure to protest about getting the ESPN Latin American feed live for major tennis events in Jamaica. Until 4 years ago, that was the case in Nevis when I visited every January; and the steady diet of Gaudio, Kuerten, Gonzalez etc etc -- even with English-speaking commentators -- was not what I wanted for my live first-week AO coverage. After many protests, they now get the North American feed live from the AO.
Posted by NP 11/01/2009 at 12:51 PM

I'm loving this vacuous whinefest. Sampras rocks.
Posted by Jamaica Karen (Yes I am here not loving it so much - no a/c) 11/01/2009 at 12:59 PM

Ruth, I have just sent off my extremely stroppy email to the marketing manager of my local cable company and whilst I know she will respond in the standard way, I have to admit that I am not optimistic that this situation will end. The worst part is that I have 4 ESPNs and every single one of them is the Latin America feed, even ESPN International. That dish thing is looking better and better every time I think about it. I had ESPN Deportes sometime ago and I was also inundated with all things north of the border. Did not help that I understood not one word of what was happening, but I must be the only person in Jamaica who genuinely dislikes football and really cannot stand the game. I do not understand and have made no pretense to try. I think I should be given an option and have said as much in my stroppy email.

Posted by manuelsantanafan 11/01/2009 at 01:05 PM

Martinez Sanchez gives away three points with a passive volley, a weak overhead right at Huber that Huber reflex volleyed for a winner and . . ..

Huber-Black break back

Martinez Sanchez's choking all match long at the U.S. Open lost the match to Huber-Black.

Hope Martinez-Sanchez doesn't give us a U.S. Open encore.
Posted by Ruth 11/01/2009 at 01:19 PM

Help! Where can I find the Sampras comment that is being discussed here? Thanks.

Come on, Huber/Black!
Posted by Ruth 11/01/2009 at 01:28 PM

MikeDC: I just saw your 12:31. That is EXACTLY what has happened to me during the past two days. My computer is covered by McAfee via Comcast, and I reported he problem to Mcafee. The clean and scan process didn't help with my PC which I haven't turned on since yesterday. Except for some of the background nonsense yesterday, I haven't had the problem on my laptop -- yet.
Posted by NP 11/01/2009 at 01:31 PM

Ruth, sblily posted this Q&A earlier:

Q: Do you watch women's tennis?

A (Sampras): You can ask someone like Kobe [Bryant] if he watches the [WNBA Los Angeles] Sparks. If I have time -- I've got two kids -- to watch something, it's not going to be ladies' tennis. It's going to be basketball or football. Ladies' tennis, there's some great players, but it's not anything I'm interested in.

Of course Pete was simply saying that he prefers to watch something other than women's tennis given his limited time as a daddy of 2 youngsters, but somehow this makes him sexist, supercilious or a bad, bad human being in general. I never thought that the majority of casual sports lovers were such horrible people. What a pleasant society we live in.
Posted by Ruth 11/01/2009 at 01:46 PM

Thanks for the Sampras info, NP. If I could keep him on the top my list of favorite men's players (been there pretty much since he won his first tournament at the Phila Indoors) after his aparently pro-McCain comments, I guess he's safe after these comments. :)
Posted by Mr. and Mrs. D. 11/01/2009 at 01:51 PM

NP: agree with you @ 1:31. Free time is a precious commodity. Watching youtube clips of Sampras would be on the bottom of my list....I'm sure you wouldn't feel this makes me a bad, bad human in general?:)
Posted by Lynne (Rafalite) 11/01/2009 at 01:52 PM

MikeDC and Ruth: I have had identical problems to yours just in the last few days.
Posted by NP 11/01/2009 at 01:53 PM

Ruth, didn't know your Sampras lurve was so deep and long-standing. *hangs head in shame*

Mr. and Mrs. D., of course not. Just a human with a questionable taste. :)
Posted by M-life 11/01/2009 at 01:55 PM

Good for Melzer advancing to the final of his home tournament. He'll certainly have the crowd behind him when he faces Ljubicic.
Posted by Mr. and Mrs. D. 11/01/2009 at 02:00 PM

being called a human on this board is a good thing....i'll take it
Posted by Ruth 11/01/2009 at 02:01 PM

Good luck, Karen. I never understood why anyone would think that the residents of an English-speaking island, formerly part of the British West Indies, and with ties closer to the USA and North America than to anywhere in Latin America or South America would prefer to receive the ESPN LA feed instead of the NA or USA feed.

Could it be that thecable company's fee for the NA feed is higher than that for the LA feed? If so, hat's when viewers have to let them know that they'd be better off paing more and getting what viewers really want and will watch.

(I'm with you about football, the internatonal kind. Usually bored me to tears. *ducks flying missiles*)

Posted by NP 11/01/2009 at 02:04 PM

Welcome, Mr. and Mrs. D.
Posted by Lauryn 11/01/2009 at 02:11 PM

MikeDC, my computer has been infected with trojan horses all weekend long.
Posted by Ruth 11/01/2009 at 02:14 PM

Ah, yes, NP. I often enjoy belated readings of your Sampras hour comments which -- alas -- tend to appear when this old lady is sound asleep. When I'm being a grownup/phony, I say that I think that one can't really, truly decide who is the men's tennis GOAT, but the truth is that Pete is my sole candidate for that elusive title.*more ducking*

Lynne and Mike: Thanks for letting me know I'm not alone. I've never had a problem like that with my computer. I'm going now to see if my PC still had those horrible sites that kept popping up and hanging around yesterday regardless of what I did.

Posted by NP 11/01/2009 at 02:19 PM

"When I'm being a grownup/phony, I say that I think that one can't really, truly decide who is the men's tennis GOAT, but the truth is that Pete is my sole candidate for that elusive title."

Hear, hear!

Ruth, unlike many posters here, you have an impeccable taste.

K, I'm outtie. Ciao.
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