Season ending Tennis and Controversy

The season ending championships in Madrid on the WTA tour has already been a microcosm of what the 2007 season produced. On the men's side, David Nalbandian defeated Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal two times each and Novak Djokovic once in two tournaments, winning both. Off the court, more players have come forward revealing they had been offered money to throw matches and Nikolay Davydenko, the man who set off this controversy, was fined for not giving a good enough effort in a match earlier this fall.

First off, I want to say that watching the women's matches has been particularly entertaining because save Justine Henin, nobody in the top 10 has separated themselves from the pack. Still, the trends from the year have been noticeable in the round robin matches. Jelena Jankovic has played a lot of matches this year and no longer seems to have the legs to be playing at a consistently high level to justify her third seed. She lost all three round robin matches, retiring in her last. The big story was Serena Williams retiring from her match against Anna Chakvetadze after losing the first set 6-4. Chakvetadze continues her surge into the upper ranks and Williams continues to demonstrate a lack of preparation and conditioning. Williams struggled prior to her injury and if she really intends to focus on tennis, she'll have to start from the basics. She plays her best when she's able to cover the court and dominate opponents with her power. Her off-season should be centered around building strength and conditioning to get her back to that level of play.

Maria Sharapova took a lot of time off presumably to let her shoulder heal and it has paid dividends right away as she has worked her way into the semifinals of the tournament. Her game depends heavily on her ability to serve well. What I like about the season-ending championships is that all of the players are good enough that you can really pinpoint the weaknesses of each player. With only the top players qualifying, the early matches are just as tough as the later matches. Unless of course if you are Justine Henin. The most emphatic statement of the tournament so far has to be Henin's 6-0, 6-0 clinic she put on against Marion Bartoli. Not only did Henin punish Bartoli for her previous defeat against the French woman at Wimbledon, she did so in downright embarrassing fashion. Although Bartoli had less than 24 hours to prepare for her match after replacing Serena in the tournament, there was no mercy from Henin. She made it clear that the championship goes through her.

David Nalbandian's recent surge is difficult to gauge in my opinion. Clearly, the season is winding down and Nadal is physically worn. Nalbandian's victories over Nadal are not terribly surprising nor worrisome. The victory over Djokovic is impressive but Djokovic still has to sharpen his complete game before he solidifies his spot in the top 3. Nalbandian was there a few years ago and is looking to regain that form. The victories over Federer are much more impressive for obvious reasons. The first match against Roger, Nalbandian dropped the first set 1-6 and took the next two. The second match was a straight set victory. At this point in the season, Federer does not look as sharp or as motivated to play at his normally pristine level. It's good to see Federer being challenged and defeated by some of the other tour players but it took him two losses against Guillermo Canas before Roger figured out how to beat him. Hopefully Nalbandian has built good momentum toward the 2008 season but don't expect him to dethrone Roger.

The recent controversy in tennis surrounds a match for which all bets were nullified involving Nikolay Davydenko. Since then, Davydenko has been criticized twice during matches for not giving a proper effort and was fined once. Other players have come forward saying they have been offered money to throw matches. Interestingly, so far only those on the men's tour have come forward with these cases. Many players are encouraging clear and open talk about the issue but so far no names have been named. This whole issue is similar in my mind seems to be less scandalous than it appears. If players are coming out and saying they were offered money but rejected it, then the tennis on the court is not compromised. If in any instance a player accepts the payment and throws a match, we have a problem. Davydenko strongly denies all claims that he is involved in match fixing so until there is proof otherwise, there is nothing to worry about. The rules must be clear (to avoid a Patriot-like "misinterpretation of the rules" and the punishment must be harsh for violators. Clearly, the tour will be more attentive to the possibility of match fixing now, but there is no drastic measure necessary.

Looking ahead to 2008 there are a few stories to keep an eye on. Lindsay Davenport looked exceptionally sharp during her few months on the tour after giving birth. She is going to be a major factor in the Australian Open. Serena Williams' latest injury will likely keep her from repeating at the Aussie Open but like I said, if Serena commits to getting in shape, she will always be a threat to win the majors. Martina Hingis retired from the tour for a second time, this time under cocaine usage allegations. I tend to agree with Hingis that someone on cocaine probably wouldn't be able to compete at the level she does. Spoiled brat as she was, she brought a lot of skill and talent to the tour so her presence will be missed. Hingis was never able to rediscover her early success but found a way to be competitive in a game that has significantly changed since she first broke out onto the tour. Hingis is another name on the list of stars such as Jennifer Capriati and Monica Seles that were forced out of competition before they could be given a proper farewell. There are a few other questions I have: What ever happened to Anastatia Myskina? Where is Amelie Mauresmo? Have people realized that James Blake and Andy Roddick have both peaked? Is 2008 the year that Sam Querrey, John Isner, and co make a large splash for American tennis?

Never Underestimate Mothers

The finals of the US Open were supposed to be the crowning moment of a summer of great tennis. But, the real excitement came one week after the everyone had left Flushing. Lindsay Davenport, who gave birth to her first child in June, defeated Daniela Hantuchova in Bali in a three set match clinching her first title in her first singles tournament after a one year hiatus from the tour.

What was surprising about Davenport's victory is that she was healthy. After struggling with injuries and going through a pregnancy, Lindsay Davenport finally showed up to a tournament fresh and eager to play. Before retiring from the tour, Davenport seemed to be at the top of her game, but her body simply would not let her perform to her abilities. Davenport picked up right where she left off, but this time with a healthy body. She was even in decent shape, beating the top two seeds in three set matches.

Davenport dropped the second set of her match against Jelena Jankovic but put together an impressive third set, winning 6-2. Remember that Jankovic was on the verge of beating Venus Williams to claim a spot in the US Open Semifinals. But similar to that match, Jankovic was not able to come up with the shots in the final set. Against Daniela Hantuchova in the finals, Lindsay Davenport again dropped the second set and again won the third convincingly, 6-2. Hantuchova had finally put together a good tournament after falling in the first round of the Pilot Pen and US Open. But her chronic inconsistency showed again in the loss to Davenport.

Davenport entered the tournament with the goal of proving, as a mother, she could still play at the highest level. She said more than that in her path to victory and with a few months of training, could be a real threat at the Australian Open. At 31 years old, Davenport is not too old to play but certainly aging. With a baby to look after, it's not likely she plays a larger number of tournaments. But she will come to Australia prepared to make a run. If Justine Henin does not play or if there are one or two upsets, I think Davenport has a better chance to win than any other up and coming player. By defeating Jankovic and Hantuchova, Davenport has proved she can still win big matches. But the Williams sisters, Henin, and a healthy Sharapova will be tougher opponents, especially in the slams.

Speaking of the slams, I cannot end without some comment on the US Open. Though the finals ended up being anti-climactic endings to an otherwise amazing tournament, I do have some final thoughts. On the women's side, I hate to say it, but I TOLD YOU SO! Henin did not drop a set the whole tournament and beat both Williams sisters on the way to her 7th slam title. If she can stay injury free for a few more years, she will separate herself from the active players in grand slam titles and establish herself as the undisputed dominant player of this generation. I already know it, but the rest of the world might not be convinced.

As far as Roger Federer's win is concerned, it was hardly surprising, like Henin's. Federer looked more human at the US Open, dropping opening sets to Feliciano Lopez and John Isner. But what separates Federer from the field was his ability to win the big points. In the final, Federer had to save seven set points in the first and second set. I am not sure if I am more impressed by the fact that Federer did indeed save those points and win the ensuing tie breaks or disappointed by the fact that Novak Djokovic was unable to capitalize on those points. Djokovic is a great but still unproven player who has been on the verge of becoming the first non-Federer/Nadal winner since Andy Roddick won the Open way back when. I guess Djokovic is just not ready to assume the role as the third wheel in the Nadal/Federer rivalry. Still, if Djokovic wins a slam next year and if Nadal can defeat Federer at Wimbledon, 2008 might be the year that the Federer dominance comes to an end. Might.

Former Champs Continue to Fall

Labor Day weekend and the Tuesday following produced quite a few great matches. Highlighting the weekend was defending women's champion Maria Sharapova losing to Agnieszka Radwanska, an 18 year-old from Poland. Radwanska out-played a sloppy Sharapova, partially by a questionable strategy. She induced double-digit double faults from Sharapova by standing halfway up to the service line on Sharapova's second serve and then moving backwards while Sharapova was serving. Though the strategy was decidedly bush-league, Radwanska smartly took advantage of a weak second serve and a mentally weak Sharapova. Maria might have to take a lot of time off to allow her shoulder to heal properly so she can get back to serving well. Without a reliable serve, she won't have success at the major tournaments. Also losing were Dementieva, another weak server, and Martina Hingis who has struggled with injury this summer.

What was most entertaining to me was Justine Henin's victory over Serena Williams. Besides looking fat and slow, Serena embarrassed herself at the press conference after losing. Serena has always claimed that at the top of her game, nobody can beat her. Well I think that's true of a lot of people. The trick is putting yourself in the physical and mental condition to be able to produce that high level of play. That is why Roger Federer is where he is and Marat Safin is where he is. Serena claimed that Justine made "lucky shots" that made the difference in the second set. In truth, Serena got wiped off the court courtesy a barrage of forehand, backhand, and volley winners at the hands of the world number one, Justine Henin.

Coming into this tournament, people were convinced that Serena and Venus could win without the match play and preparation that other players put into the majors. While they managed to do it before, Henin did not play the Australian Open and defeated Serena in the other three majors. At Wimbledon, Venus didn't have to face Henin who was upset before reaching the finals. I don't think the Williams sisters have anything to prove. They are both great players and have accomplished a great deal in the past ten years. I think Venus has been in great shape and has a real chance at the title. But the point is, although the Williams sisters are supremely talented, they will not dominate the sport like they used to with Justine at the top of her game. They may be good enough to beat everyone else, but not Justine Henin.

In the men's draw, what did David Ferrer eat yesterday? He played a dominating four set match against Rafael Nadal and looked as if he was ready for more. Ferrer had Nadal scrambling on each and every point. Nadal was clearly struggling to find a response to Ferrer's quickness and placement and his nagging knee injuries and hand injury put him in the position to be beaten. Although Nadal was in no condition to comeback and win after being down two sets to one, Ferrer maintained his level of play and his intensity to really close the door on Nadal. The most impressive part of the win was his ability to not get caught in the moment and continue to hit extremely well. Nadal was frustrated by not being able to fight as hard as he could have but Ferrer really gave him no openings. In the third set breaker Nadal called for a trainer for what seemed to be a cramp in his middle finger. McEnroe was convinced he was making something up but even if the cramp was bothering Nadal, it would not have made a big difference in the result. I think Rafa is disappointed with his result because he is a great competitor and hates to be hindered by injury. A healthy loss to Ferrer might have been easier to swallow.

Rafa's mentor and the other Spaniard still alive in the draw, Carlos Moya, has made some noise by landing a spot in the quarterfinals. Moya beat the young Latvian Ernests Gulbis in a fairly routine four set match. Moya, who now faces Novak Djokovic, was in the 1998 semifinals and looks to return this year. Unlike Moya, fellow veteran Lleyton Hewitt was bounced from the tournament easily in his second round match. Hewitt had been playing good tennis this summer, almost beating Federer in the semis of Cincinnati. But Hewitt, another former champion, fell victim to one of the many Argentinians in the draw.

Tonight's matchups of Venus vs. Jankovic and Federer vs. Roddick will be great prime time tennis. The way Jankovic has been playing, that quarterfinal match could be a three set thriller. And also, the way Federer has struggled early with big servers could prove to be the slight opening that Roddick needs to beat Roger. With the odds against him but the crowd behind him, I think this is Andy's best chance against Federer. I don't like him but I'll be pulling for him tonight. I'd like to see Venus win as well so Justine Henin can dispose of her as well.

Almost Perfect

I can't decide whether or not I was surprised by Federer winning his fifth Wimbledon. The question a lot of people are asking is: Could Federer have beat Nadal had he not injured his knee? The answer is that the injury did not matter. Nadal still had four break points in the fifth set and failed to convert.

What I like about the Caveman's stance on this final is that he recognized his own weakness: his serve. He has beaten Federer on clay and almost on grass but I think he still knows that his game needs improvement. If Nadal can learn to flatten out his serve from time to time, he could have a lot more success on grass. And remember, the kid is still only 21 years old. As long as he stays healthy, he will eventually get his first Slam besides the French.

About the match itself, you just had to watch. If you missed it, too bad for your life. Entertainment from start to finish. By the way, would you take Pete Sampras at his prime or Roger Federer at his prime at Wimbledon? I'd still take Pete no question.

Nadal = Caveman??

I'm back from a month in India and I managed to catch some of Wimbledon out there. It has been played out quite expectedly despite all the rain. I was watching Nadal's interview this morning and made a startling discovery. Geico is missing a caveman!! I found him, he's in London, playing at Wimbledon. Look:










I have to credit my brother for the idea of showing these guys side by side. Looks like Nadal is having a meltdown of his own at Wimbledon. Luckily for him he has been able to put together back to back five set wins.

In other news, Pete Sampras thinks he would still be able to get to the net against players today at Wimbledon. He's right. With his serve on point, he could do it. Roddick seems to think he's invincible with his serve as well. Given that if Roddick is going to win, he's going to do it either at Wimbledon or the US Open, but what makes Andy so cocky? Making it this far is good for Andy and he's building confidence but blah blah blah blah, Federer wins again. That is, unless blast from the past Juan Carlos Ferrero has an out of body experience. We might still see a Monday or Tuesday final to put off the boredom of July and August in the sports world.

French Open Week 2

There's no guarantee we see a Nadal vs. Federer final. But really, is anyone up to the challenge? I was happy to see Novak Djokovic playing to win and reaching the semifinals to set up his match against Nadal. Djokovic might be the type of player that men's tennis needs to challenge the two power houses. Everyone else, including former top players like Carlos Moya, look like amateurs against Nadal and Federer. Still, I doubt Djokovic will be able to seriously challenge Nadal in this year's tournament.

On the women's side, the most exciting event of week two was Justine Henin's victory over Serena Williams in the quarters. While Serena could intimidate and outplay most top players even when she's not at the top of her game, she could not do the same to Henin. That match, in my mind, solidifies Henin as the top player in women's tennis today. She has won at least one grand slam in every year since 2003 when she won two. She has reached four other slam finals and looks to add yet another French Open title to her collection. With the retirement of Kim Clijsters, the injuries plaguing the Williams sisters, and the inconsistency of Sharapova, Henin quietly put together an impressive four years of tennis. She should be the heavy favorite going into the finals against first time finalist Ana Ivanovic.

I was surpised that Guillermo Canas put on such a lackluster performance against Nikolay Davydenko. Perhaps he was looking past Davydenko, anticipating another match up with Federer. Canas is one player who managed to discover some flaws with Federer's game, beating him twice this year. Canas and Djokovic have potential to be threats to win in the future, but this year's French Open will be a rematch of the budding rivalry between Nadal and Federer. The match should prove to be a thrilling one.