TennisToday

Serena Williams Wins 3rd Title at Charleston

WTA Charleston - Women's Final

1 Serena Williams d 9 Jelena Jankovic - 36 60 62

Charleston title #3. Clay title #6. WTA title #49.

This is the 10th time in a final she's rebounded from a 1st set loss.

She will enjoy a 131th week at #1.

Also this week she cruched Venus in the Sf's: 61 62 - their 24th meeting.

When asked about improving on her 1st R loss at the French last year...

She replied coyly: I didn't play the French last year.

She kills me.

Serena Williams & Maria Sharapova to Play for WTA Miami 2013 Title

WTA Miami - Women's Semifinals

1 Serena Williams d 4 Agnieszka Radwanska - 60 63

3 Maria Sharapova d 22 Jelena Jankovic - 62 61

Jeez. Two beat-downs to set up a blockbuster final. #1 vs #2. Apt.

But hold up. This may just be a one-sided affair as well.

Serena has completely owned Maria for years. And years. And years.

Their H2H is 11-2 in Serena's favor.

The last time Maria won a match was in '04. Her last set won was in '08.

In their last 5 matches Maria's managed to win 4 games in ONE set. ONE.

Which must suck for Maria cuz this is her 5th final - she lost her last 4.

This is Serena's 8th Miami final - she's won 5: '02-'04, '07 and '08.

She also set a record for most matches won in Miami: 60.

Mmmm. I'm guessing this match will be more than the same.

So make that 61.

Jelena Jankovic into Quarterfinals at Miami

WTA Miami - Women's 4th Round

22 Jelena Jankovic d 28 Sorana Cirstea - 60 64

Last month she won her 1st tournament in 3 years...

And now she has a good shot at a Sf's showing at Miami.

That ain't no monkey business.

This is her 3rd trip to the Qf's here - she was runner-up back in '08.

She will next play Roberta Vinci - H2H: 3-2/Vinci.

Tho Vinci won their last two. I'm picking JJ in 3.

Jelena Jankovic Win Lucky Title #13 in Bogota

WTA Bogota - Women's Final

1 Jelena Jankovic d Paula Ormaechea - 61 62

Oh hell no - don't write-off Double J. Just yet.

This had to feel good for Jelena... and her long-suffering fans.

It's been 3 years since her last title at Indian Wells 2010.

Post match: I had a wonderful week here. It's been an amazing experience.

I'm so happy I was able to come here to Bogotá for the first time and

winning my 13th WTA title here makes the experience even better.

How many more titles does JJ have left in her?

Serena Williams Plays in Front of Michelle Obama as She Moves into 2nd Round at the Olympics

Olympics - Women's Second Round

4 Serena Williams d Jelena Jankovic - 63 61

Easy peasy.

Serena is looking for one of the few titles to elude her: singles gold.

Post match: They asked me if I minded if she sat in my box, and I was like...

'Of course not. Please. It would be my honor'.

I mean, I love Michelle. She's so cool. I've met her several, several times.

Seeing her there made me feel better and made me want to play better.

After the match I gave her a thumbs up just to acknowledge...

I knew she was there - obviously it's impossible not to see her.

I also loved her dress. She's always looking good.

Photos: Reuters

Melanie Oudin Wins Maiden Title at Birmingham

WTA Birmingham - Final

Q Melanie Oudin d WC 5 Jelena Jankovic - 64 62

Awesome win for Mel.

Since her unbelievable run to the Qf's at the '09 USO she's really dropped off.

In fact, she has only won 3 Slam matches since.

The win will bump her up the rankings from #208 to #122.

Bonus: The win also got her a wildcard into Wimbledon next week.

Post match: I've learned a lot about my game, how I want to play...

How to play within myself and not trying to do more than I can.

That's what I did really well all week.

Photo: Getty Images

Jelena Jankovic Enjoys Down Time with LMFAO

JJ posted this on her Facebook - it made me laugh.

Captioned: I met the group LMFAO in Moscow!

She sexy and she knows it.

Caroline Wozniacki into Semifinal at WTA Rome

Rome WTA - Quarterfinal

1 Caroline Wozniacki d 5 Jelena Jankovic - 63 16 63

People keep bitching about Caro - but you know what guys?

SHE SEEMS TO KEEP PLAYING ON THE WEEKENDS.

Caro has reached the Sf's or better at 7 of the 10 events she played in '11.

Serena is off the tour & Kim is part-time - how is this Caro's fault?

She plays by all the sames rules everyone else does...

Get over it people.

Photo: Getty Images

Jelena Jankovic Goes on Shopping Spree in Rome

I see Jelena picked me up something nice from Gucci.

She is playing in Rome and is in Caroline Wozniacki's quarter of the draw.

Photo from Jelena's Facebook page.

Caroline Wozniacki into WTA Charleston Final

Charleston WTA - Semifinal

1 Caroline Wozniacki d 3 Jelena Jankovic - 64 64

Love her or not Caro sure does win a LOT of matches.

In her last 10 tournaments she has made the finals of 7 - winning 4.

She is a clear #1 in the rankings but many still refuse to give her props.

Including Chris Evert saying, "She needs to win the French."

Chris also said that Caro would "for sure" win a Slam in her career.

She'll next play Elena Vesnina - H2H: 4-1/CW - including the last 3.

Don't know about you but I'm ready for all the players to be in Europe.

Ana Ivanovic Wins Battle of Serbians at Indian Wells

WTA Indian Wells - Fourth Round

19 Ana Ivanovic d 6 Jelena Jankovic - 64 62

This is Ana 2nd straight Premier Mandatory Qf - following Beijing.

Remember, Ana was the IW champion in 2008.

She lost in the 2nd R last year - so this should give her a little rankings bump.

She will probably find herself inside the top 15 come next Monday.

Ana: This kind of match gives me confidence.

ADJE

Photo: From the players party - Getty Images

 

iPhone Photos from My Day at Indian Wells Tennis

Here are 10 iPhone photos I shot on Saturday.

***

Julien Bennetaeu and the lovely Indian Well background.

My favorite pic of the day - the one & only Andrea Petkovic.

David Ferrer slinked into this golf cart just after his loss to Ivo Karlovic.

The lovely Vera Zvonareva signing autographs.

Rafael Nadal caused a near-frenzy as he hit the practice courts.

Thomas Berdych works up a sweat in practice.

Jelena Jankovic working on her hair - then her volleys.

Janko Tipsarevic rocking the Oakley's in practice.

Richard Gasquet serves. Big.

And future (super)star Milos Raonic of Canada.

WTA Weekend WInners: Wow, Go Dokic!

WTA Kuala Lumpur

Jelena Dokic d 5 Lucie Safarova - 26 76(9) 64

Jelena survived 2 match points in this satisfyingly tasty match.

Savor it: Jelena last won a WTA title at Birmingham 2002.

This is her 6th title.

I don't know where I pulled it out from today... I even surprised myself.

***

WTA Monterrey

2 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova d 1 Jelena Jankovic - 26 62 63

Tough task: I spelled out AP's name by memory.

Which means I'm writing it a lot. Which means - she's winning matches.

This is her 3rd WTA title and 2nd straight in Monterrey.

Anastasia: It's always tough to defend a title so it means a lot.

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

Jelena Jankovic Upset at Australian Open

Australian Open - Women's Second Round

Peng Shuai d 7 Jelena Jankovic - 76(3) 63

Oh dear, this is starting to get ugly. JJ has lost 6 of her last 7 matches.

She was up a break in the 1st and then completely fell apart.

She was a 3rd round loser last year so the ranking won't take a hit.

But JJ needs to get it together as she goes to defend at Indian Wells...

Weird how the 2 Serbian ladies were on top on day and struggling the next.

Photo: Reuters

Former #1's Jelena Jankovic & Dinara Safina Suffer Losses in Australia Yesterday

Sydney: Aravane Rezai d 6 Jelena Jankovic - 75 26 63

Hobart: 1 Marion Bartoli d Dinara Safina - 60 61

***

These are two ladies that are just hard to write about these days.

It wasn't long ago that each was the #1 woman on the WTA tour.

It's far too soon to write them off but both are struggling to find confidence.

Mightily.

And it's really hard to see either making much noise in Melbourne either.

Which saddens me. But hey, a decent draw and who knows...

Photos: Getty images

Jelena Jankovic Graces the Pages of Serbian 'Elle'

And all that jazz.

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

WTA Doha Day 1: BOOOO-RING

Day One Round Robin Results

1 Caroline Wozniacki d 7 Elena Dementieva - 61 61

5 Samantha Stosur d 4 Francesca Schiavone - 64 64

2 Vera Zvonareva d 6 Jelena Jankovic - 63 60

***

Hey, the top 2 players played like the top 2 players today.

What a boring day tho when the 3 defeated opponents muster 13 games.

The only real excitement today was Sam come back from 0-4 in the 1st.

What the hell with Elena and Jelena. To be fair, niether was 100%

Don't be surprised to see alternates Shahar Peer & Li Na thi week.

Ok, I'm not feeling well so hopefully I'll have more for you tomorrow.

Here's a video recap on the day:

Photo: AP

WTA Championships in Doha Start Tomorrow - A Look at the Players

Fran, Kim, Vera, Caro, Jelena, Elena & Sam. Vika not pictured.

Last years finalists (Serena d Venus) both qualified but have withdrawn.

The gals have been split into 2 groups of 4 for round-robin play:

White Group: Vera, Kim, Jelena, Victoria

Maroon Group: Caroline, Francesca, Samantha, Elena

2 players from each group will move to the knockout Sf round.

*** The Players ***

Caroline Wozniacki

Ranking: 1

Previous best was a Sf here last year.

She has won 6 titles this season including 4 of the last 5 she's played.

Caro owns a tour-leading 59 match wins (and counting) for 2010.

Vera Zvonareva

Ranking: 2

She was a runner-up at the WTA Championships in 2008.

She played in 6 finals this year winning only 1: Pattaya City.

She was the runner-up at Wimbledon and at the US Open.

Kim Clijsters

Ranking: 4

She has previouly won the WTA Championship in 2002-03.

Kim won 4 titles this season including her 3rd at the US Open.

She ha not lost to a top 10 player all year: 6-0.

Francesca Schiavone

Ranking: 6

This is her first trip to the WTA Championships.

She won 2 titles in 2010 including her famous win at Roland Garros.

Where she became the first Italian woman to win a Slam.

Samantha Stosur

Ranking: 7

This is her first appearance at the WTA Championships.

Sam has won 1 title in 2010 and was runner-up at Roland Garros.

She has served 280 aces this season - 2nd only yo Nadia Petrova.

Jelena Jankovic

Ranking: 8

Previously she has reached the Sf's twice: 2008-09.

She won 1 title in 2010 - at Indian Wells.

In Rome became the 7th player to beat Serena & Venus in the same tourny.

Elena Dementieva

Ranking: 9

Previously she has reached the Sf's in 2000 & 2008.

This is her 10th trip to the WTA Championships.

She has won 2 titles this in '10 & is 1 of 4 active players with 500 tour wins.

Victoria Azarenka

Ranking: 10

Vika booked her spot in Doha after winning in Moscow just last week.

Previously she lost in the round-robin here a year ago.

She won 2 titles in 2010 - at Stanford and Mocow.

She is the only player in the field to have not played in a Slam final.

***

The 8 players have a combined title count for 2010 of 19.

That seems fairly low if you ask me.