Heard Around

by Savannah

The YEC in Doha
Before I say anything belated congratulations to Cara Black and Liezel Huber, doubles champions at the SEWTA YEC Championships.

As for the final it was everything a fan could hope for. Vera Zvonareva blew set points to end up in a tiebreak with Venus Williams. Venus raced out to a 5-1 lead and I for one thought the set was over. Instead Vera fought her way back and won the next six points to win the tie break and the set.
The next two sets saw Venus at her best. She won them love and two leaving Vera distraught and crying on the court. It was the first time that Vera had been seen in a very long time.

Many said there was no need for Vera to cry, that she had proven all the skeptics wrong and showed that she can play top tier tennis. But anyone who is a competitor, anyone who knows what it is like to want something so badly and work hard for it understood Vera's tears. It's not up to us to tell her not to cry. Short of going on a locker room destroying tear Vera let us see her emotion. It was a great tournament and all the drama was on court. Of course Serena could've looked a little happier for her sister but Serena is Serena no?

From the Ego Files
A segue from Serena to Roger seems just about right. Here is Roger's latest statement on his current status.

(Roger)Federer said being introduced as the world's second best player was the worst thing about the end of his record four-and-a-half-year reign in August.

"It doesn't change a whole lot, I just don't like the ring of it when I'm being introduced on Centre Court saying, 'and this is the number two in the world,'" he said.

"It just sounds wrong. Either I'm number one or I'm a grand slam champion, but I'm not number two."

Source
I guess that's why the major slip up by the announcers on Masters Series Television. They forgot who is Number One and who is not.

This Is Not a Djoke
English translation of Original. I'm not sure if it's Serbian.

British intelligence agents have discovered that Albanian extremists are planning the kidnapping of Novak Djokovic, which is why he is receiving special police protection in Serbia.

"I don't have now nor will I ever have the understanding for Kosovo Albanians and their move of proclaiming the independence of the southern Serbian region!" stated Novak Djokovic, world #3, not long after Kosovo proclaimed independence.

The Serb won't have good memories of this year's Wimbledon, after he was taught a lesson by Marat Safin in the second round, the British intelligence service called him for a briefing and warned him about Albanian extremists, Novak became a nuisance for them, when he visited Kosovo and donated an ambulance. That's why we took the threat seriously said one of the high officials with the Serbian ministry of internal affairs. Serbian Press revealed the info that Djokovic is protected by the elite Anti-terrorist squad every time he's in Serbia. Novak is a big patriot and will have the protection he deserves confirmed a high official of the Serbian ministry.

TMC Shanghai


Despite my opposition to Brave New World or whatever it's being called now I can't complain too much about the ATP year end tournament moving to London next year. I can't say I look forward to getting up at 5a to watch tennis. Last night play started at 1a on the East Coast of the United States. I made it through the entire Djokovic vs Juan Martin Del Potro match and the first set of Nikolay Davydenko vs Jo-Wilfrid Tsonga. I woke up in time to catch the end of the tie break between Vera and Venus. There's got to be a better way. By the way the newbies all lost their first matches. Gilles Simon plays this morning against Roger Federer. Hat trick? We'll see. Oh, and the Andy's play each other. Good times.

See You Next Year!
Final images are from Doha. The trophies were presented by Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al Misnad, the wife of the Emir of Qatar.



The WTA season is over. The totally unofficial Exhibition Season will start for the women now.