Indeed 2010 will be very interesting as Serena ended 2009 making a statement to the tour by being dominant on serve when she needed to be. For all the expectations put on her, I have to say that Serena may say that 2009 was a satisfying year for her as she had many ups(AO, Wimby, and Doha) and downs(USO tirade,number 1 debate, and whether or not she can perform well in regular WTA events).

I love it when the Williams sisters play their best tennis. They bring a lot of excitement to Women's tennis.

I was slightly dissapointed that Venus was not able to repeat as champion, and did find it *odd* there was no embrace at net after the match. But it was probably more fitting that Serena won, esp in light of her meltdown at the USO. She was able to end her season on a positive note, with a big win, and year end #1.

"It was a serving clinic from Serena in the end. She finished with no double faults and won an astounding 82 percent of her second-serve points—that’s dominance" Tignor.

Serena's serve is undoubtedly the best in the women's game and how many times has she served break point down and pulled out a service hold and eventual win. When her serve is on all those free points put her opponents back to the wall and most can't compensate with just being able to return well.

Glad that Tignor noted how due to both Serena and Venus ability to track down would-be winners that this is a reason for much of the spotty play in their H2H's. IMO they both get straddled unfairly with the label of playing poor matches against each other, when you have to factor in that they both play similar styles, dependent on aggressive, attacking ball, AND obviously know each other games so intimately.

Really looking forward to next year, hopefully all the women get healthy in the off-season.

I tend to think of Serena Williams serve as "cheap points." It's interesting to note that on the ATP, the serve-massters are not always the top players.

Happy Serena won the year ending tournament and claim the number one spot once again,shes a great champion but am all for venus(my Queen)...wish them both all the best next season its gonig to be a competitive and interesting season cant wait to see Serena,Venus,Henin,Clijsters,Sharapova,Dementieva,Kuznetsova,Wozniacki,Safina,Azarenka in action....love ETA....WILLIAMSES 4 LIFE

GIVE IT UP, SHE'S THE BEST. ALL YOU HATERS CAN CHOKE ON THE ENORMOUS WAD OF CASH THAT WAS HER WINNINGS FOR THIS YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!

@pov: Serena is not like an ATP serve-master, she's not the female Dr Ivo if that's what your statement implied. Serena's serve is an actual weapon, she's winning points from it not just trying to get the ball in play. She's a top player, THE top player now because she is NOT a one-trick pony.

Nice article! While I am not a big fan of the Williams sisters, I do think they are the top players in the game and have worked very hard, for very long to get--and remain--there.

I just wish there wasn't a quote by Mary Carillo... I can't stand her commentary.

I may not agree with the "looking good" part, as I have never thought that Serena's game was particularly appealing, esthetically. However, there is no doubt thyat she can dominate like no one we've seen since Steffi Graf. I personally believe it comes down to two things -- her serve and her return. She hits both of these shots, when dialed in, better than any other woman on the tour. Not much one can do to stop that train when it's on track.

Maybe throw a Kimmie at it?! ;-))

Like the comment about learning before she ever came on tour. She hit thousands of balls with Venus in Compton and other places. Intuitively, now, she hits the ball.

Athleticism may be a mushy word, because it ate too many other words or Halloween candy, but it's descriptive sense applies to both Williamses. I began to think on Sunday that Venus looked slow, a step off, not because Serena didn't let Venus play her game - although that is true - but because Venus is older.

A year's difference in age surely can't make that much difference. But we can't predict when a star, that would be Venus Ebony Star Williams, will begin to miss a beat. At 4-games all in the second set, Venus looked magnificent. She dominated. But it was fleeting. She struggled up through the tiebreak and started that badly. Serena went up 3-0 with an ace and two unforced errors from Venus. Had Serena continued wracking up unforced errors, a third set might have been played.

Against any other player, other than Serena, Venus still commands respect. Remember that drubbing of Safina at Wimbledon this year? And against Dementieva in Los Angeles?

Bottom line... Serena deserved her vicotry in Doha. Amongst the walking wounded, she stood very tall.

I think the article was good and well written. I'm a big Serena fan. I must say, I've never seen her so tried. She was clearly exhausted at the end of play. I could tell from the very first match she played, she really wanted to win every match regardless of what she said in her interview. She certainly deserves everything she got yesterday, I really believe she worked hard this year to get into shape. I do believe also, that her US Open experience has taught her a lesson and it has made her a better person inside and out. You can tell from her entire court presence during the entire Doha matches. She has opened herself up to a new hitting partner/coach and I think it shows she's on the right track for 2010. It will be certainly interesting to see what happens with the US Open incident.

I've been waiting to read an article like this about either Venus or Serena's game for so long that I'd almost given up hope that it would ever happen. Thank you, Steve, for this excellent, cool, professional analysis of Serena's game. It is so far removed from so much of the garbage that has been written about the play of the Williams sisters that to say how much better it is than most of what I've read would sound almost like damning with faint praise.

I could throw bouquets at many aspects of your commentary and many of the points that you made, but that would require a post of a length that I prefer to avoid.

Let me, however, highlight just one of the many important points that you've made. You referred to what Roddick said about the seriousness with which both Venus and Serena approached and executed their practice sessions. I had not previously heard about Andy's comment, but it reminded me of what Zina Garrison, who has known V&S personally and professionally for years, said a few years ago when an interviewer asked her if she could explain how V&S could return to the Tour from extended layoffs -- for injuries or whatever -- and play so well, so successfully, without the usual "rust" etc.

I can't remember or locate Zina's exact words, but here's a paraphrase of what she said: "You wouldn't ask me that if you'd ever seen those girls' practice sessions. THEY DO NOT PLAY!" (meaning that they are deadly serious about their work and do not fool around with each other or with the drills and other things that are part of their strenuous practice routine.

So much for those fans and, sadly, those sports writers who talk and write as if these two tennis players just roll out of bed, head to the courts, and win by "overpowering" their opponents only (or mainly) by virtue of their "athleticism."

Thanks, again, Steve.

When the so-called top seeds face Serena in 2010, they better bring everything they got, be the best they can be, and even then, hope that Mother Luck serves them a play.

Go Serena!

I think this was one of the best written article on SERENA's game and style of playing. It was to the point, commonly asked and clinical expression of her game.

Serena made quite a few statements with her year end performance.

I am guessing there are a few sponsors out there that do not want to see this #1 out of too many tournaments....

This is one article that makes my day,I'm going to print it and put it up "sous verres",it's not always anyone has something that objective and true to say about my SEREBABY!!!lovely indeed!

Serena may be able to beat every other woman out there, but if she's "the best," that's as far as it goes. I find her personality repulsing and her egoism infuriating. Even the style of her tennis is unappealing. Effective, yes, but not much fun to look at. So okay, she's the best. But it's a shallow title in her case.

It will be interesting to see how she fares against Henin next year, who in 2007 managed to take Serena out of her comfort zone so effectively. Or to see if Kimmie can overpower her like last time.

Im not sure about what IS special about her game, other than the raw power, and her serve is special as far as a WTA serve goes.. other than that, her technique and style isn't great on alot of shots, but having so much more power than the average female makes up for that. One thing she has going for her right now is that the rest of the WTA is so UNSPECIAL for some reason at this time, a bunch of habitually injured people, mentally or physically or those without major weapons. Helps to make Serena look pretty "special" a few tournaments a year anyway. Amazingly, as "special" as she is, she only won three tournaments all year long against the said chronically injured, mentally weak, or weapons lacking rest of the field. That's not good...

the only thing that distinguishes her is her power. she'd be totally mediocre without that hulking physique... is this like the elephant in the room or something? all shes got is power

It was a great year for Serena. Of the events that i imagine she really cared about, the 4 grand slams, miami and doha, she won 3 of them, was a runner up, and a quarter finalist. Thats an excellent record, especially given that the 3 she won were in the top tier of events on the tour.
I believe Serena is a player who very much resents the mandatory tournaments she is required to play by the WTA. So is it any surprise that she may not have the desire to 'grind out' matches at events she does not want to be at? I believe this partly explains the lack of success at the WTA events.
Compared to previous years, I think Serena made a concerted effort to play enough tournaments to give herself a chance to be number 1 in the system the WTA has imposed on the players this year. She made the effort to enter them, and showed up to many more than in previous years, yet perhaps did not have the desire to fight through the lesser events.
I believe this may always be a factor so long as the tour forces the best to play at certain events all year round, especially with such a strong willed woman like Serena.

daniel, if all she had was power than any female body builder would be able to dominate tennis...

and you obviously think only having power is a bad thing, i imagine many players wish they had more power than all their competitors

I agree JollyJohn. It seems evident that Serena did not appreciate the Roadmap and being forced to play more tournaments. I won't say she tanked some tournaments but I think in a more than a few her heart and body weren't into it. Plus Serena has said as much about her disdain for the roadmap, or at least hinted it.

Serena's best was in 2002 when she was one of the best athletes women's tennis has ever seen. Serena is about 2-3 steps slower than that today. But she hey even w/ that she still won 2 slams so no knock against her.

I <3 Serena. I am so happy she won this tournament and look forward to her playing in 2010. Although I want Venus to win at the Australian Open, I want Serena to win at Key Biscayne and Roland Garros. This happeneing would make me very happy!