TennisToday

Victoria Azarenka Remains Unbeaten in 2012 as She Takes Doha Title

WTA Doha - Final

1 Victoria Azarenka d 3 Samantha Stosur - 61 62

Well that was... decisive.

Vika is on a stunning roll in 2012; 17-0 bagging 3 titles: Sydney, AO & Doha.

Impressive: In those 17 match wins she has only dropped 4 sets.

Even more impressive: In her 5 matches in Doha she lost a mere 18 games.

Crazy stuff.

She is the top seed at this weeks event at Dubai.

She has a 1st R bye and will play the winner of Kuznetsova/Georges.

Can she remain unbeaten thru 4 tournies? I'd bet on her.

Photo: Getty Images

Injured Victoria Azarenka into Doha Final

WTA Doha - Semifinal

1 Victoria Azarenka d 4 Agnieszka Radwanska - 62 64

Early in the 2nd set Vika went down with an ankle injury.

Vika: I don't know how it happened.

But I just focused on each point until the painkillers kicked in and...

I'm happy to pull it out.

If it went to a third set I don't know what would have happened.

Will she be able to return for tomorrow's final against (3) Sam Stosur?

Sam advanced after Marion Bartoli retired before the start of the 2nd set.

Vika has never lost a set to Sam in their previous 5 meetings.

Vika has not lost a match this year: 16-0 - including 2 tournament wins.

It'd be a shame if she couldn't take the court at 100% tomorrow.

Photo: Getty Images

ATP & WTA Weekend Winners for Feb 27, 2011 - Welcome Back to Winners Circle Juan Martin Del Potro!

Dubai: 2 Novak Djokovic d 1 Roger Federer - 63 63

Very impressive win for Novak as he remains undefeated this year.

This marks the first time in his career he's done a 3-peat.

He also becomes the 7th active player to win at least 20 titles.

A lot of tennis headlines have been sounding the Fed & Nadal 'end of era'.

Too soon: Let's hold off and revisit that after Wimbledon, shall we?

***

Acapulco: 1 David Ferrer d 3 Nicolas Almagro - 76(4) 67(2) 62

David makes it 2 in-a-row in Acapulco - he likes that giant pear trohpy!

As he denies Nico a 3rd title in this years Golden Swing thru Latin America.

***

Delray: Juan Martin Del Potro d Janko Tipsarevic - 64 64

Look out guys: Someone's comeback just got a solid shot in the arm.

This is Juan's 1st title since winning the US Open in '09.

He was sidelined for most of 2010 with a career-threatening wrist injury.

Delray Beach represented his 5th tournament this season.

He's rocking a nice 13-4 W/L - which includes Sf's in San Jose & Memphis.

His ranking just spiked to #89 - FOUR weeks ago he was ranked #485.

It was a matter of time - but who knew it would be this fast?

Doha: 2 Vera Zvonareva d 1 Caroline Wozniacki - 64 64

Vera improves her finals record to 11-16 and H2H with Caro to 4-4.

Acapulco: 4 Gisella Dulko d Arantxa Parra Santonja - 63 76(5)

This is Gisella's 4th WTA title - but perhaps she had a bigger week for this:

She & Flavia became co-#1's on the the women's doubles rankings.

Photos: AP/Reuters/Getty Images

Vera Zvonareva Wins Doha WTA Title

Doha WTA - Final

2 Vera Zvonareva d 1 Caroline Wozniacki - 64 64

Oddly enough, this is Vera's first title in just over a year.

This is her 11th WTA title as she levels her H2H against Caro to 4-4.

The win won't help Vera's ranking as she remains a solid #3.

She's a little stuck behind Caro & Kim - for awhile at least.

After the match Vera took to her Twitter page:

I got so many fans supporting me here in Doha, it is an amazing feeling!

Thank you everyone!!!

Both gals will take a week or so off before heading to Indian Wells.

Vera was the winner at IW in '09, Caro the losing finalist last year.

Cali: She you in a different desert ladies!

Photos: Getty Images

Wozniacki & Zvonareva to Play for Doha WTA Title

Doha WTA - Final Preview

1 Caroline Wozniacki vs 2 Vera Zvonareva - H2H: 4-3

This is easily the hottest rivalry in women's tennis. Here comes #8.

And they only played their 1st match less than 2 years ago - Indian Wells '09.

This will be their third final together - Caro won the previous two.

They played 5 times last year: 3-2/Caro.

However, their biggest match was a Vera win last year in the Sf's at USO.

Both are still looking for their maiden Grand Slam title.

***

Semifinal Results

1 Caroline Wozniacki d Marion Bartoli - 61 61

In 15 matches played this year Caro has won 9 sets at 61 or 60.

2 Vera Zvonareva d 5 Jelena Jankovic - 61 26 64

Boy, JJ had 3 break points to go and serve for the match - brain fart.

But good for her, she needed a good result this week. Done.

Photos: Getty Images

Caroline Wozniacki Takes Court in Doha Wearing Steven Gerrard's Jersey

Doha WTA - Quarterfinal

1 Caroline Wozniacki d Flavia Pennetta - 62 60

Admittedly, I have no idea who Steven Gerrard is...

Cut me some slack - born and raised in So Cal. I'm not suppose to know!

I do know from following her on Twitter he's a footballer for Liverpool.

And that he sent her an autographed jersey the other day.

It's very cute that she wore it for her warm-up today in Doha.

Caro has improved her W/L for the year to a healthy 12-2.

She will next face Marion Bartoli in the Sf's - H2H: 3-2/CW.

Amazingly tho, Marion has won their last 2 meetings.

They have met once before in Doha - Caro taking that one in '08.

Fun fact: Caro has lost only 5 sets this year and...

In the 25 sets she's won only 6 times has she lost 4 or more games.

That worthy of a big yowza.

Photos: Getty Images

Roger Federer Wins Doha Title and Set's Himself Up at the Favorite at the Australian Open

Doha ATP 250 - Men's Final

2 Roger Federer d 4 Nikolay Davydenko - 63 64

Roger wins his 3rd title in Doha and 67th ATP singles trophy overall.

And did so in amazing fashion - Niko never once pushed him to deuce.

In fact, Roger saved all 7 break points he faced this entire tournament.

AND: 6 of those 7 BP's were in his 1st round match.

***

So, if I'm a betting man I'd surely wager on Roger for the Aussie Open.

Since the US Open he has certainly become the class of the field.

Roger has won 4 of the 6 tournaments he has entered - Rafa only 1 of 5.

Ranking points since the US Open: Roger = 3,490, Rafa = 1,770.

Add to that the serving stats I mentioned before - and well...

I'm not hating on Rafa but surely these stats scream at a high volume.

Photo: Reuters

Rafael Nadal Loses Semifinal Match in Doha then Win Doubles Title with Marc Lopez

So Rafa suffered from fever this week in Doha & he never pulled out.

Maybe not the smartest move given the Aussie Open is 10 days away.

But he soldiered on and lost in the Sf's to Nicolay Davydenko - 63 62.

Nico's now 6-4 in their H2H. Not many have a winning record on Rafa.

And what a good friend - he returned to court a couple hours for the title.

This is the 2nd time Rafa & Marc have won the Doha title, also in '09.

This is also Rafa's 7th doubles title & 3rd overall with Marc.

Rafa will stay in Doha to recover from illness before heading to Melbourne.

Get well Rafa, see you in a week.

Rafael Nadal & Roger Federer Get Tested in Doha

Doha ATP 250 - 2nd Round

1 Rafael Nadal d Lukas Lacko - 76(3) 06 63

Rafa showed up in Doha suffering from a bit of fever.

And it showed in his match today - but he still played & won in doubles after.

Rafa last lost a love set in Feb '09 to Andy Murray in the Rotterdam final.

Rafa will play 5 Ernests Gulbis - H2H: 3-0/RN.

But Ernie has taken a set in each of their three matches. Interesting.

***

2 Roger Federer d Marco Chiudinelli - 76(5) 75

Roger won the battle of childhood friends. And it was closer than he'd like.

I watched the 2nd set & Fed didn't seem to have his usual fight.

But he drew enough will to score the win. Phew.

Roger moves into the Qf's at Doha in all 6 appearances: 4-1.

Roger will play 6 Viktor Troicki in the Qf's tomorrow - H2H: 1-0/RF.

Warning ahead: Troicki is playing the best tennis of his life right now.

***

Both matches tomorrow should be good. Setting my alarm now.

Nikolay Davydenko Wins 2nd Round Match in Doha

Doha ATP 250 - 2nd Round

4 Nikolay Davydenko d Jarkko Nieminen - 64 75

Nice win for the defender today who needs to guard against a rankings fall.

Niko left Doha last year with the trophy and the #6 ranking.

Then he broke his wrist and by year-end he was ranked #22.

This after 5 straight years of top 10 finishes. Can he rebound in '11?

He will next play big-serving Ivo Karlovic in the Qf's - H2H: 4-1/ND.

Ivo needed 3 tie-break sets to down Philipp Kohlschreiber today.

This'll be their 3rd meeting in Doha (2-1/ND) & 3 of 4 sets went to TB's.

Rafael Nadal Wins Opening Match in Doha

Doha ATP 250 - 1st Round

1 Rafel Nadal d Karol Beck - 63 60

And we're off folks - the Rafa/Roger show began in fine fashion today.

Rafa is also into the 2nd round of the doubles with pal Marc Lopez.

Rafa next plays Lukas Lacko next - H2H: 1-0/RN.

Their only match was at the Aussie Open last year. Lacko won 6 games.

Rafa did seem annoyed today with a problem with his foot.

But he never called the trainer so let's just assume all is well.

Photo: Reuters

Roger Federer Wins Opening Match in Doha

Doha ATP 250 - 1st Round

2 Roger Federer d Thomas Schoorel - 76(3) 63

Stats of the match: 13 aces and 0 double faults.

He will next play good pal & qualifier Marco Chiudinelli - H2H: 1-0/RF.

Great start to the new season for the #2 player.

Y'all wanna see a practice video shot by a courtside fan yesterday?

Yea, thought so:

Photo: Getty Images

ATP Doha Preview: The Rafael Nadal & Roger Federer Bestie Tour Continues

As we long suspected - they do walk on water.

Rafa will open against Karol Beck and has Ernests Gulbis in his quarter.

Nikolay Davydenko's in his half - he beat Rafa in the final last year down MP.

Rafa is also playing doubles with Marc Lopez. They won the title in 2009.

Roger opens against a qualifier with a potential Qf with Viktor Troicki.

Can Viktor carry is fine year-end form into the new season?

Roger's seeded for a Jo-Wilfried Tsonga Sf - who is just back from injury.

Last year Roger lost in the Sf's to Nikolay Davydenko.

Rafa & Roger are the only top 10 players in Doha.

Count on yet another Rafa/Roger match next weekend.

As the 'Bestie Tour' then looks toward the Australian Open.

Rafael Nadal Prepares for Abu Dhabi, Doha and Australian Swing

Rafa's nephews (at the end) are super cute, no?

Tho it seems impossible Rafa can actually pick up points in this swing.

He was runner-up in Doha & a quarterfinalist at the Australian Open.

He can also leave Down Under as the holder of all 4 Slams.

Something that hasn't been done since Rod Laver's calendar Slam in 1969.

Rafanatics will want this one real bad...

***

Thanks to Nadal News for the video link.

Roger Federer Covers Tennis View Mag as Coach & Practice Partner Prepare Him for New Year

Well, here we go... the 2011 season is almost upon us. Are you ready? I am a complete tennis nut and I must side with the players by saying this all-too-short off-season is ridiculous. I'm not ready.

But I'm guessing Roger and the rest of the boys are... Roger spent most of his time working with coach Paul Annacone and hitting partner Stefan Koubek in Dubai intensely preparing for the Abu Dhabi exhibition tournament and the Australian summer swing.

I doubtlessly need to remind you that Roger has a ton of points to defend right out of the gates as he is the defending champion in Melbourne - but if Roger has proved anything in his legendary career it is that it's complete folly to ever count him out. We could easily blink and he's collecting Slam #17.

Interesting to note... if he fails in his attempt to win the Australian Open it will mark the first time since winning his maiden Slam at Wimbledon in 2003 that he will not be the holder of at least one Slam title on tour.

Says Paul Annacone via Steve Flink's wonderful article: The big effect that I have as one of the guys that coaches Roger is that his playpen or toolkit is so deep. He has got lots of different clubs in his golf bag, so part of my job is figuring out how he can best use those. Today’s game is different than it was ten years ago in terms of style of play and the slower courts and the heavier balls and the different strings in the rackets. There are a lot of things that make it very different in terms of how to play offensive tennis. So philosophically for me as a coach it is different from when Pete was playing or even when Tim was playing. Roger’s biggest asset is that he can do so many things at the highest level and he still has that over everybody in the world. No one today can play the variety of styles at the level Roger does. That is just fact. I don’t mean that in a derogatory way towards Rafa or Djokovic or Murray or anybody; that is just the way it is. For me it is figuring out how to do what is best for Roger and to make sure in his mind that he sees that [aggression] as an opportunity and a position of strength versus a necessity.

From Stefan Koubek's Google translated blog entry on TennisNet: Training with Roger was, as always: a lot of impact exercises that are simply in very intense that he plays very heavy, very quickly and very accurately, towards the end a lot of points. Two players serve, one returned. Or two pure-play the ball while standing, is a right / left, that the exercises you stop playing when there are three of the square. What training with Roger so intense and so does so efficiently? That one just always one hundred percent to play. If we do not do when you badly at the ball is or is not focused well, that's just too fast, which falls immediately ... and of course, is against someone like Roger then quickly embarrassing.

John McEnroe is Calling - From Doha...

He probably gets better service in Doha than I do in West Hollywood.

I HATE AT&T.

John played fellow legend Bjorn Borg in an exo yesterday in Doha.

Photo: Getty Images

Kim Clijsters Wins Year-End WTA Title in Doha

Doha WTA Year-End Championships Final

3 Kim Clijsters d 1 Caroline Wozniacki - 63 57 63

Kim was up a set and 4-1... Caro at least turned a rout into a match.

Since Kim's comeback she has been perfect in finals: 6-0. For 2010: 5-0.

She has also beaten the current or former #1 player 11 times in that span.

Kim has now won the year-end title 3 times adding to '02 & '03.

She will finish the year ranked #3.

Coulda been higher: Had she played the French she might actually be #1.

The #1 ranking will immediately be up for grabs to start the 2011 season...

Caroline, Vera & Kim all lost early in Australia - who would you bet on?

If this week is any indication - I'd surely go with Jada's mom.

Photo: Getty Images

WTA Doha Championships: A Whopper of a Day 3

Doha WTA Championships - Round Robin Day Three

1 Caroline Wozniacki d 5 Francesca Schiavone - 36 61 61

3 Kim Clijsters d 8 Victoria Azarenka - 64 57 61

7 Elena Dementieva d 6 Samantha Stosur - 46 64 76(4)

***

So I bitched the last couple days about crappy matches...

Well, we got a great slate of 3-setters today.

With Caro's win she sealed the deal for year-end #1. Congrats!

Like I've said before - she reminds me so much of Martina Hingis.

At 20 Caro is the youngest YE #1 since the Swiss Miss.

Kim moves into the Sf's & keeps hopes of year-end #2 alive.

Sam needed to win a set to clinch a Sf birth - done.

So tomorrow the matches will decide who plays each other on Saturday:

Caroline Wozniacki will play the Vera Zvonareva/Kim Clijters winner.

Samantha Stosur will obviously play the Vera/Kim loser.

Any way you slice it - we are looking at a great weekend of tennis.

Photo: Reuters

WTA Stars get Beauty Make-Overs in Doha

This is so not me. But I thought you might like it.

WTA Doha Champs: A Little Better Than Yesterday

Doha WTA Championships - Day Two

5 Samantha Stosur d 1 Caroline Wozniacki - 64 63

2 Vera Zvonareva d 8 Victoria Azarenka - 76(4) 64

3 Kim Clijsters d 6 Jelena Jankovic - 62 63

***

6 matches played so far - not a single 3-setter yet.

Caro was playing to seal #1 for the year - she will again tomorrow.

Vera still has an outside shot at stealing #1 away from Caro. Slim.

With 2 matches won Sam has more than likely booked a Sf spot.

Kim was playing her first match since winning the US Open.

Jelena needs to go back to the drawing board on the off-season.

And I'd look for Vika to have a break-out 2011.

Photo: Getty Images