Let's Talk About Wuhan

Source-HongWuGettyImagesAsiaPac

For the WTA Wuhan, or more precisely the Dongfeng Motor Wuhan Open, was set up to be the Jewel in the Crown of the refocused WTA Main Tour, the showcase to show Asia what women's tennis was all about. All of the big names were in attendance and it promised to be bigger than Beijing.

When dealing with tennis as the good people of Hong Kong found out, what's promised is not always what's delivered.
Wuhan was something different though. The top seed, and one of the top up and comers were wiped out by gastric distress early in the event. Considering that the tennis stars were probably staying in a five star hotel and still got sick I wonder what is going on in the kitchens there? One person tweeted that when they went to China they lost seven pounds due to gastric issues. I hope that situation gets straightened out.

The other top seeds seem to have been going through the motions. What happened could be called a massacre I suppose because after the early rounds only second tier seeds were left along with the number three seed Petra Kvitova. This is what you'd expect to happen to a tournament held the week before a Premier Mandatory. Do I think the WTA should adapt the ATP numeric systen to describe its tournaments? Yes. It's a real pain in the ass to find out the point levels assigned to a tournament. And don't forget there are a couple of different levels of Premier events. Yes there are Masters 500 and Masters 1000 on the ATP side but doesn't knowing the number of points the winner will get better than having to search the interwebs to find out the same information for a WTA event?

Anyway anyone with eyes to see and follows tennis knew what the desired final matchup was going to be and lo and behold the rematch of the Wimbledon Final took place at about three in the morning Eastern time. Of course everyone was up to watch right? I know I wasn't. It was the end of a long week and unless you were being paid to stay up I'm guessing many in the States passed. Those on the west coast of the States would've had an easier time of it.

I don't know how either woman played since I was asleep. I do know that Petra won in straight sets 6-3, 6-4. I read some analyses that said Eugenie Bouchard was trying to outhit Petra instead of making her move. Like Maria Sharapova Petra is not a great mover. I'm sure whoever has been working on making her tennis less ugly will be working on that as well.

I did see some of the early round matches since they started about 11p in my time zone. The seats around the court were fairly well populated while the upper tiers were pretty empty. The fans showed up at the end of the work week but by then the matches were starting in the early morning hours and I'd end up falling asleep during the first set.
I feel that the WTA by setting such late for the US starting times wrote off the potential audience in the States given preference to Asia. If that's what she wants so be it.

I'd call the tournament a moderate success based on what bits and pieces I saw. I think next year, when top players won't be forced to play a week before a Premier Mandatory tournament will be the test. By that time some Asian stars may have emerged and something will have been done to make the viewing easier for a non Asian audience.

Next up is Beijing where the tradition of an empty stadium appears to be continuing. Nothing is worse than playing in an empty stadium and I saw parts of two matches played in one. Even the one featuring promising teenager Xu Shilin playing Sabine Lisicki was played in a mostly empty stadium. I swear only officials saw Carla Suarez Navarro play Kirsten Flipkens.

I wish I could promise more detailed posts on these tournaments but with the time difference (yes again!) I don't think that's possible.

So congratulations to Petra Kvitova for winning the inaugural Wuhan tournament. I wonder if she'll be back to defend her title next year?

It's Time To Play in the Dirt

by Savannah

Clay court play is officially underway. That makes me very happy. It'll be think or go home.

Houston Recap

Wayne Odesnik finally lost to Sam Querrey on Saturday thus sparing the ATP and the ITF the embarrassment of someone handing him a check on Sunday. I guess his speech would've been something like FTW. Fortunately for tennis this won't happen. Now someone needs to sit Odesnik down and make it very clear he is not doing himself, or tennis, any favors by not taking the provisional suspension not that I think he gives a rat's ass. If he did he would've taken it to begin with.

Ponte Vedra Beach Recap

Elena Vesnina snatched defeat from the jaws of victory yesterday afternoon in Florida. Serving at 5-3 in the second set for the match I guess the best that can be said is that she had a brain fart and managed to lose it and the match. The loss negates all of the great play by Elena during the match. Caroline Wozniacki will play Olga Govortsova in the final.

Marbella Recap

Flavia Pennetta won a three set victory over Carla Suarez Navarro. Congratulations to Flavia on her ninth title.

Charleston Main Draw

WOZNIACKI, Caroline (1)/ bye

ZAHLAVOVA STRYCOVA vs Barbora-GULLICKSON, Carly (WC)

LARCHER DE BRITO Michelle vs MANASIEVA, Vesna

QUALIFIER vs SCHNYDER, Patty (16)

WOZNIAK, Aleksandra (12) vs OSTERLOH, Lilia

QUALIFIER vs QUALIFIER

RODIONOVA, Anastasia vs KING, Vania

PETROVA, Nadia (6)/BYE

AZARENKA, Victoria (3)/BYE

QUALIFIER vs KUDRYAVTSEVA, Alla

QUALIFIER vs QUALIFIER

CRAYBAS, Jill vs OUDIN, Melanie (13)

BONDARENKO, Alona (9) vs DITTY, Julie

GOERGES, Julia vs MATTEK-SANDS, Bethanie

DE LOS RIOS, Rossana vs CECIL, Mallory (WC)

ZVONAREVA, Vera (7)/BYE

BARTOLI, Marion (5)/BYE

PERRY, Shenay vs PENG, Shuai

SEVASTOVA, Anastasija vs ARVIDSSON, Sofia

QUALIFIER vs VESNINA, Elena (10)

DUSHEVINA, Vera (14) vs GOVORTSOVA, Olga

CHANG, Kai-Chen vs MAKAROVA, Ekaterina

FICHMAN, SharonR vs YBARIKOVA, Magdalena

STOSUR, Samantha (4)/BYE

HANTUCHOVA, Daniela (8)/BYE

DUQUE MARINO, Mariana vs MORITA, Ayumi

KERBER, Angelique vs RISKE, Alison (WC)

QUALIFIER vs RAZZANO, Virginie (11)

CZINK, Melinda (15) vs KRAJICEK, Michaella

RODINA, Evgeniya vs QUALIFIER

GALLOVITS, Edina vs LEPCHENKO, Varvara

JANKOVIC, Jelena (2)/BYE

Monte Carlo Main Draw

[1] Novak Djokovic (SRB)/bye

Florent Serra (FRA) vs Stephane Robert (FRA)

Ernests Gulbis (LAT) vs Marco Chiudinelli (SUI)

Victor Hanescu (ROU) vs [13] Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI)

[12] Tommy Robredo (ESP) vs Horacio Zeballos (ARG)

Viktor Troicki (SRB) vs Lukasz Kubot (POL)

David Nalbandian (ARG) vs Andreas Beck (GER)

[7] Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) /Bye

[4] Marin Cilic (CRO) /Bye

Igor Andreev (RUS) vs [WC] Simone Bolelli (ITA)

Olivier Rochus (BEL) vs Andreas Seppi (ITA)

Albert Montanes (ESP) vs [16] Marcos Baghdatis (CYP)

[10] Tomas Berdych (CZE) vs Feliciano Lopez (ESP)

Qualifier vs [WC] Richard Gasquet (FRA)

Julien Benneteau (FRA) vs Qualifier

[6] Fernando Verdasco (ESP) /Bye

[8] Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) /Bye

Fabio Fognini (ITA) vs Michael Llodra (FRA)

Jeremy Chardy (FRA) vs Qualifier

Qualifier vs [11] David Ferrer (ESP)

[15] Jurgen Melzer (AUT) vs Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA)

Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP) vs Philipp Petzschner (GER)

Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) vs Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER)

[3] WC Andy Murray (GBR) /Bye

[5] Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) /Bye

Nicolas Almagro (ESP) vs Simon Greul (GER)

[WC] Bernard Tomic (AUS) vs Benjamin Becker (GER)

Qualifier vs [9] Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP)

[14] Juan Monaco (ARG) vs Qualifier

Michael Berrer (GER) vs Evgeny Korolev (KAZ)

Qualifier vs Eduardo Schwank (ARG)

[2] Rafael Nadal (ESP) /Bye

As The Stomach Churns - Sania Mirza Edition

The reports that Sania was moving her wedding day up by six days have so far proven to be false as far as I know.
There are also reports that an official delegation from Pakistan will attend the wedding.

Hey, it's either this or ranting about the Odesnik situation again.

News and Views 3/17/2010

by Savannah

HAPPY ST PATRICK'S DAY TO ALL!!!

WTA Quarter Final Match-Up's

[5] Agnieszka Radwanska vs. [4] Elena Dementieva
[18] Zheng Jie vs. [2] Caroline Wozniacki
[23] Alisa Kleybanova vs [6] Jelena Jankovic
[28] Maria Jose Martinez-Sanchez vs [8] Samantha Stosur

So... Do You Think This Guy Has A Right To Be This Happy?

Too bad the commentators forgot the adage about not counting chickens before they're hatched.

By the way who did Robbie Koenig offend to get paired with the Slob doing commentary?

Bienvenidos a Miami

There were some raised eyebrows, mine among them, about who was selected to receive a WC into the WTA tournament in Miami.

Justine Henin

Anastasia Pivovarova

Arantxa Rus

Jelena Dokic

Michelle Larcher de Brito

Ajla Tomljanovic

Petra Martic

Heather Watson

You're right. Not one American was given a WC. Last I checked this tournament is still on the US mainland. As a tennis head friend of mine said it seems that the organization that "Owns" this event made sure all of it's girls got in. After all IMG is everything no?

I haven't seen the Qualifying Draw yet but I'm sure that's where all the promising Americans are.

Winner of the "What Not To Wear Award" - WTA
Aravane Rezai

Runner Up: Jelena Jankovic

Honorable Mention: Caroline Wozniacki

A lot of people picked JJ's dress right off the bat but unless someone can prove otherwise I think Aravane's outfit takes the cake. From what I can see of the fabric it's just not something I'd wear on a tennis court (or anywhere for that matter).

JJ's dress is not that bad. It's just that you can't see it because of the color. I also wonder why JJ feels the need to wear an outfit with a padded bra. Doesn't she have boobies?

The only reason Caroline Wozniacki's outfit didn't win is because in my mind it's a given that whatever Stella McCartney designs for tennis wear is going to suck big time. I didn't like the scribble on that outfit Venus Williams wore last year and I like it less here. The color isn't good for Caroline's skin tone and it makes her look matronly. The only reason I don't say Stella made it all on her last name is because I pass her Madison Avenue store at least once a week on my way home and she does have some cute stuff in the window from time to time. She just has no concept of what a tennis player needs to project on court.

Best Dressed - WTA

Maria Sharapova has finally learned what is best for her. She is long and tall and while some may feel she needs a "feminine" look on court - lots of ruffles and flourishes - she looks best when she keeps it simple. This was a great outfit on her.

Zheng Jie is small. She is short in stature and very fit. Some may be surprised but it is very hard for a woman built like her to find clothes that suit her. This outfit does it all. It allows her to move and has just enough fabric in the skirt to give it a flair but not envelop her in it.

Of course there are awards to be given for the men's side. There are the shorts of course, and the outfit another player wore that made me keep looking for the "ready to rumble" guy and the cut man. That's all I'm going to say for now.

End Notes

Carla Suarez Navarro and Alisa Kleybanova played to an almost empty stadium last night. Judging from the way the Twitter gang cleared out there weren't many people watching on line either but that could be because only TennisTV showed the match. I tried to watch it but I fell asleep during the third set. Tennis Channel has been showing the women's late night match as a lead in to their daily coverage of late, something else they're doing right.
I have to say I was surprised that the organizers didn't have fans who stayed come down from the upper level to fill in the seats around the court. That is what they do in New York when matches run late and the crowd has thinned out in Ashe. Then again maybe they did.

Has the Andre Agassi "I'm Sorry But He Won't Call" tour ended yet? I'm not watching the vid, especially after one of the tennis media big wigs asked the rhetorical question "How can you stay mad at this guy?" It's that attitude that allowed Agassi to get away with skipping drug tests and being on meth.

By the way Pete Sampras issued a statement. Speaking to the Los Angeles Times he said the following:

"Mostly, this just bums me out," Sampras told the newspaper. "It makes our relationship uncomfortable now... It saddens me.

"We've done this before, the imitating each other. He usually just sticks out his tongue at me.

By the way no more shout out's from this space. I mention that Vera Zvonareva is the only woman who is fighting in her matches and bam, she's gone.

I'll end with one of my favorite Irish Blessing's

May the road rise to meet you,

May the wind be always at your back,

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

May the rains fall soft upon your fields,

And, until we meet again,

May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.

Tennis News and Views

by Savannah

Twenty year old Nicole Vaidisova has officially retired from tennis. Vaidisova, who is set to marry Radek Stepanek in July, was no longer interested in tennis if one looks at her play over the last few years. I think Kim Clijsters statement says it all:

“She was a big talent. I never really felt when I was playing against her like if I practiced against Jennifer Capriati or Sugiyama, like those were really good hits and fun hits. We were laughing and training really hard. I think with her we never really had that feeling that she was out there for the fun of it I think she felt a lot of pressure. Maybe from her entourage. I think also obviously the different personalities. There's girls, if you're a perfectionist in sports, I think it's very hard to achieve. Maybe after a while it becomes very draining. You need to realize even Roger Federer, makes mistakes. She was always a girl, especially in matches, was very down and showed a lot of emotions.

While we all have our opinions about her relationship it seems that she is happy now and going to focus all of her attention on her marriage. I wish her well.

Hit For Haiti Part Three

The Hit for Haiti story has still not gone away. Andre Agassi is not stopping with his "apology" in which he says he's "reached out" to Pete Sampras who hasn't responded. Justin Gimelslob, uh, Gimelstob, fresh from his dissing of Lindsay Davenport last night, is scheduled to interview Agassi with excerpts to be shown during coverage by both Fox and Tennis Channel. I'm sure that like me, you're all waiting for Justin's "fair and balanced" interview. I just hope Justin wears a bib. Wouldn't want to get one of his silk ties covered in drool would we?

The WTA Indian Wells Debacle Part Deux

The head count so far:
Justine Henin. Gone
Maria Sharapova. Gone
Kim Clijsters. Gone.
Ana Ivanovic. Gone.
Svetlana Kuznetsova. Gone.
Victoria Azarenka. Gone.

Jelena Jankovic barely won her match yesterday.

Vera Zvonareva is the only woman who, after a scare from American teenager Sloane Stephens, seems to have her eye on the prize.
Has all the star power gone from the WTA tournament? If people feel that way it's the fault of the PR machine of the WTA. Players like Alisa Kleybanova, Elena Dementieva, Zheng Jie, Carla Suarez-Navarro and Maria Jose Martinez-Sanchez are not the players the tour wants to promote. I left Yanina Wickmayer off that list because she's Belgian and that seems to always be a WTA flavor of the month. I put Elena in because for some reason the tour has never promoted her despite her model looks. Go figure. Won't it be funny, ho-ho, if things continue the way they have been in the WTA and all they're left with are the non center court girls? I'm just saying things could get very interesting.

The Fans

The fans who have actually paid their money to sit in the stands seem to be voting with their feet about who they want to see. At any given time the stands in the outer courts are SRO while you could shoot a cannon through center court and not hit a soul. It's not just during the day when the sun is brutal either. While Jelena Jankovic was fighting her heart out against young Italian up and comer Sara Errani the number of fans in the stadium that seats 16,000 could be numbered in the hundreds. And the sun was no longer a factor. I'm sure they're there. I guess the food court must be fabulous.

End Notes

One of the top tennis reporters printed comments allegedly made by Rafael Nadal during a presser that proved to be false once the transcripts were available for publication. The big shots are really on a roll.

Meanwhile there hasn't been the usual brouhaha over those who must not be named not playing for the 9th year in a row. I wonder why? Bet they wish they were...

For those who haven't seen the translation of the Haitian Creole expression on the shirt worn by Rafa during the Hit for Haiti it means "Hold on tight." I'd love to have the shirt.
ETA: I finally found the source for what is my favorite picture from H4H, Monogram and all.