TennisToday

Serena Williams Set to Return to #1 after Doha Quarterfinal Win Over Kvitova

Doha - Women's Quarterfinal

2 Serena Williams d 7 Petra Kvitova - 36 63 75

Well. This was only a matter of time.

And with not a ton to defend before Wimby she'll stay at #1 for a spell.

On Monday she'll become the oldest #1 in WTA history - nearly 31 1/2.

It also marks Serena's 6th time at #1 - her first: July 8, 2002.

Post match: I am so thankful that I have the opportunity to get back to #1.

It has been a long road back and it's a great feeling.

It has been a lot of hard work but I don't want to stop here.

Oh honey, it won't.

Sloane Stephens Upsets Idol Serena Williams to Gain the Semifinals at Australian Open

Australian Open - Women's Quarterfinals

29 Sloane Stephens d 3 Serena Williams - 36 75 64

That sure felt like a momumental changing-of-the-guard moment.

Sure Serena effed up her back in the 2nd set - she seemed fine in the 3rd.

Sloane is the 1st US teen to reach a Slam Sf since Serena at USO in '01.

Post match: Last night someone asked me, 'Do you think you can win?'

I thought about it and I was like, 'Yeah, I think so,'

but I wasn't too clear about it. This morning when I got up, I was like,

'Dude, like, you can do this. Like go out and play and do your best.'

I think I was convinced I was able to do it when I lost serve in the

first game in the second set and went down 2-0. I was like,

'Hmm, this is not the way you want it to happen.

But just fight and just get every ball back, run every ball down,

and just get a lot of balls in play. I think you'll be okay.

That's right girl. You're okay.

Victoria Azarenka Squeaks One Out to Advance to the 4th Round at Australian Open

Australian Open - Women's Third Round

1 Victoria Azarenka d Jamie Hampton - 64 46 62

Boy Vika was crabby in this one.

And had Jamie not cracked her back she may have pulled off the upset.

Jamie post match:  I hurt my back last year at the French pretty badly.

It's something I deal with day to day, and yeah, it was hurting.

Normally when my back starts up, I start cramping.

I'm not sure exactly how the ranking points are shaping up but...

Vika is going to at least get to the final to keep her #1.

And she is heading toward a Sf showdown with Serena Williams.

Hmmmmmm.

 

Serena Williams Moves into 3rd Round at Australian Open

Australian Open - Women's Second Round

3 Serena Williams d Garbine Muguruza - 62 60

What ankle problem?

Post match: I didn't feel anything today.

Obviously when you go out to play you're heavy on adrenaline and

you're really pumped up.

Usually I feel injuries after the match, but so far so good.

I felt better than I ever dreamed of expecting to feel.

It can only get better from here.

And she's playing doubles too. Serena is on a title gobble.

Serena Williams Advances to 2nd Round at Australian Open Despite Injury Scare

Australian Open - Women's First Round

3 Serena Williams d Edina Gallovits-Hall - 60 60

Even with the injury drama Serena served-up a double bagel.

Post match: But I'll be out there on Thursday -

I mean, unless something fatal happens to me -

there's no way I'm not going to be out there competing.

Further: I've played this tournament with so many injuries and

was able to come out on top. So for me, it's just another page,

and a great story to tell the grandkids one day.

You know Maria & Vika were in their rooms grunting with jack-knived arms:

EFF YEA!!!

Serena Williams Heavy Favorite to Win Autralian Open

See that smile? Get use to it. Cuz she's going to be smiling a lot.

Cuz, I'll pile on with all the commentators - Serena is winning.

Serena Williams - The 2013 Champ at Brisbane

WTA Brisbane Final

3 Serena Williams d Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova - 62 61

Girlfriend begins 2013 right where she ended 2012 - kicking ass.

This is her 47th WTA - the most of active players & 10th all-time.

Post match: It was a really good week in Brisbane, for sure.

I definitely worked hard for this week..

And I'm going to do a little more work so I can be ready in eight days.

And who on this planet would bet against her winning a 6th Aussie title?

Not I.

Serena Williams Wins WTA 2012 Player of the Year

NO-BRAINER.

Serena pretty much ran the table from Madrid on...

She won 7 titles this year - the most she's collected since her 8 in 2002:

Charleston, Madrid, Wimby, Olympics, Stanford, USO & the Tour Champs.

And still she could only manage to finish the year ranked #3.

That could change after the Aussie Open. Lookie here:

The 2 women ranked ahead of her were the AO finalists last year.

Serena lost in the 4th round so a deep run or win...

And a stumble by Vika and Maria and pow - back to #1.

If it doesn't happen after Melbourne it will before the French.

Vika and Maria just have way too many ponts to defend to start the year.

Serena will benefit. And rightly so.

The 2012 US Open Champions

Men's Champion - Andy Murray

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Women's Champion - Serena Williams

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Men's Doubles Champions - The Bryan Brothers

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Women's Doubles Champions - Sara Errani & Roberta Vinci

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Mixed Doubles Champions - Bruno Soares & Ekaterina Makarova

Serena Williams Wins 4th US Open Title

US Open - Women's Final

4 Serena Williams d 1 Victoria Azarenka - 62 26 75

2012 will go down in the tennis history as the Summer of Serena.

She cleaned up the 3 big titles on offer: Wimbledon, Olympics & US Open.

And she came from the brink to win her 15th Slam...

Vika was up 5-3 and Serving for it. Serena broke and won the next 3 games.

Serena even admitted: I was really prepared for my runner-up speech.

Only 5 woman have more Slams than Serena (AO-5, W-5, USO-4, RG-1):

Court with 24, Graf 22, Moody 19 and both Navratilova and Evert with 18.

Serena's first USO title came in 1999 - she has title in 3 different decades.

Post match: Yeah, three decades - the '90s, 2000s, 2010s, that's kind of cool.

It's exciting to have this opportunity. And 13 years is a long time between...

the first and the last.

For me to get this 13 years later, and that I'm at No.15 now, it's so cool.

Serena Williams Sails into Semifinals at US Open

US Open - Women's Quarterfinal

4 Serena Williams d 12 Ana Ivanovic - 61 63

Serena's incredible summer season continues.

In 5 matches she has lost 16 games. That's less than 2 a set folks.

Who will beat her here? Certainly not Errani.

This is the 3 time champions 7th trip to the Sf's: 5-1.

She hasn't hoisted the trophy since '08 - she looks really hungry.

Post match: I feel like I'm going to get more focused and serious

and start playing Serena tennis in the next couple of rounds,

if I get to play two rounds, that's my goal.

I don't think I came into this tournament playing my best,

but I've played better in the last two matches.

I hope I have two left. I'll give 200%.

***

Jeez, really? It feels like it's 200% to me.

Ana Ivanovic Gains 1st Slam Quarterfinal in 4 Years

US Open - Women's Fourth Round

12 Ana Ivanovic d Tsvetana Pironkova - 60 64

This is her 1st Slam Qf since she won Roland Garros in 2008.

Just goes to show that if you chip away long enough...

Post match: I have been in the fourth round here quite a few times,

so to make that step and reach a quarterfinal, as well as first time since '08,

I'm very thrilled. It has been a roller coaster the last four years.

There were good moments and tough ones, but it's all a process.

I understand it better now.

So what's next? How about a Qf match with 4 Serena Willams.

Which is a giant yikes as Serena has won her last 3 sets all at love.

In 3 matches Ana has never taken a set. That won't change on Wednesday.

Serena Williams Wins Olympic Gold Medal at London Games

Olympic 2012 Women's Gold Medal Match

4 Serena Williams d 3 Maria Sharapova - 60 61

No women's final has ever been this lopsided.

The nearest is 6 games lost which happened on 3 occasions.

In fact, Serena lost a grand total of 17 games this entire tournament.

This is Serena's 1st Olympic singles medal & 44th WTA title.

And she's still in the hunt for a 3rd doubles gold with sister Venus.

Serena joins Steffi Graf as the only women to win all 4 slams & a gold medal.

Remember: Steffi did it in the same year, 1988.

With 5 titles this year, it's the most Serena has won since winning 8 in '02.

She won't gain enough points to move up from her current rank of #4 but...

Her current form would suggest she could be #1 before long.

AND, there is little doubt in the locker room who the best player is.

Coincidence: SW19 - Southwest or, Serena Williams?

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Post match: I didn't expect this. I can't even... oh my gosh.

I have a gold medal in singles, oh my gosh. I got the gold. I'm just so happy.

I don't know what to do. I just feel good about my game.

I've practiced so hard. It was time.

It's too much. I never expected gold in singles.

I was so happy with my doubles golds. I thought if my career's over...

I have my gold medal, now I have everything, literally.

I have everything there is to win in tennis. Where do I go from here?

Now I can go to Disneyworld!

Photo: Getty Images

ATP & WTA Weekend Winners for July 15, 2012

Good week for top seeds as 5 of 6 tournies were won by the top dog.

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Umag ATP 250: 2 Marin Cilic d 4 Marcel Granollers - 64 62

The 23 year-old Croat won his 8th title and 2nd on the season.

He went one further this year as he was the runner-up last year.

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Bastad ATP 250: 1 David Ferrer d 2 Nicolas Almagro - 62 62

David picked up his 16th title, 2nd at Bastad & 5th on the season.

All this and he's still stuck at #5 in the rankings.

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Newport ATP 250: 1 John Isner d W/C Lleyton Hewitt - 76(1) 64

This is John's 4th title and 1st of the season.

This is the 1st time he has ever defended a title.

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Stuttgart ATP 250: 1 Janko Tipsarevic d 2 Juan Monaco - 64 57 63

Janko earned his 3rd career ATP crown and 1st of the season.

He is now 3-6 in finals.

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Stanford WTA: 1 Serena Williams d LL Coco Vandeweghe - 75 63

Serena won her 43rd WTA title, 4th on the year and 2nd at Stanford.

This is also the 2nd straight Sunday with a title following Wimbldeon.

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Palermo WTA: 1 Sara Errani d 8 Barbora Zahlavova Strycov - 61 63

Sara won her 6th WTA title and 4th of the year.

She is the 1st Italian to win 4 titles in a single season.

The Wimbledon Champions for 2012

Men's Champion - Roger Federer

Women's Champion - Serena Williams

Men's Doubles - Robert Lindstedt & Jonathan Marray

Women's Tennis - Serena & Venus Williams

Mixed Doubles - Lisa Raymond & Mike Bryan

Serena Williams Wins 2012 Wimbledon Title

Wimbledon - Women's Final

6 Serena Williams d 3 Agnieszka Radwanska - 61 57 62

Boy, Serena almost made a mess of that match...

She was up a set and a break before Aga turned it around.

It happened just after NBC showed a graphic of Wimby final beatdowns.

Serena won her 5th Wimbledon title and 14th Slam overall.

Breakdown: 5 Aussies, 1 French, 5 Wimby's and 3 USO's.

Later in the day she teamed with Venus to win a 5th doubles title.

She will move up to #4 in the rankings. But isn't still really the best?

Serena was absolutely giddy after sealing the match.

Post match: Oh my God, I can't even describe it.

I want to thank Jehovah for letting me get this far.

I almost didn't make it a few years ago, but now I'm here again and...

It's so worth it. I'm so happy. I've dreamed of being here again.

It shows if you never give up, you can achieve anything.

Now Serena will go for Olympic gold on the same court next month.

The singles gold is really the only thing missing from her resume.

And she has to be considered the heavy, heavy favorite.

Photo: AP

Serean Williams & Agnieszka Radwanska to Play for Women's Title at Wimbledon

Wimbledon - Women's Semifinals

3 Agnieszka Radwanska d 8 Angelique Kerber - 63 64

6 Serena Williams d 2 Victoria Azarenka - 63 76(3)

Final Preview

3 Agnieszka Radwanska vs 6 Serena Williams - H2H: 2-0/Serena

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Big congrats to Aga for winning her 1st Slam Sf and gaining her 1st final.

#1 on the line: If she wins she will also find herself at the top of the pile.

But that is a very BIG 'if' as she faces 4-time champ Serena Williams.

Not only is Serena going for her 5th Wimby but also her 14th Slam.

Their 2 previous matches were both in '08 and both straight sets.

But this is a different Aga - she is a human backboard.

Serena will need to be prepared to see a ton of balls come back.

But in the end expect Serena's serve and power to prevail.

She'll hoist the Venus Rosewater Dish for a Venus Williams tying 5th time.

Photos: Getty Images

Serena Williams Returns to Semifinals at Wimbledon

Wimbledon - Women's Quarterfinal

6 Serena WIlliams d 4 Petra Kvitova - 63 75

The legend takes out the defending champion.

This is Serena's 8th trip to the Sf's: 6-1 - she's pretty lethal at this stage.

That one Sf loss was to sister Venus way back in 2000.

Remember: Serena is in the hunt for her 5th Wimby title & 14th Slam.

And she wants it. Bad...

Serena (sounding a lot like Serena) post match: I hate losing.

If you're not first, you're last. If I lose I don't keep the trophy.

I wouldn't bet against her lifting the Venus Rosewater Dish on Saturday.

Photo: Getty Images

Serena Williams Wins Thriller at Wimbledon

Wimbledon - Women's Third Round

6 Serena Williams d 25 Jie Zheng - 57 76(2) 97

Crazy, crazy match.

Afterward Zheng said Serena said to her at the net at the handshake:

You are crazy. You are crazy. This was an unbelievable match.

Haha, she may have that backwards!!!

Post match Serena had this to say:

I definitely had to dig pretty deep - she was playing really well...

And I had to go out there and do what I could.

I hit so many errors off the returns. I was just off.

Usually I'm returning really, really well.

And I think she played an unbelievable match today.

But I think I can play better.

Lookie there... Serena paid her opponent a compliment.

She next plays Shvedova and is headed for Sharapova in the Qf's.

Now that's the match I wanna see.

Photo: AP

Micaela Bryan Sure Has Some Famous Fans

Micaela Bryan has a Twitter page y'all.

And she having fun with her father Bob Bryan's famous friends.

So cute.