Tennis Frontier

Author: Susan DePalma

  • Serena Williams Wins Cincinnati

    Serena Williams Wins Cincinnati

    Serena Williams

    Serena Williams won her first ever title in at the Western and Southern Open, beating Ana Ivanovic 6-4, 6-1.  The Serb made a strong start, breaking Williams in the first game of the match and seemed committed to being aggressive on the intimidating Williams serve, often standing inside the baseline.  But Serena found her serve, breaking back in the sixth game for 3-3.  After that, Ivanovic appeared to be feeling the effects of a long and emotional match win last night over Maria Sharapova.  And Williams began to play her best tennis of this North American hard court swing, the lead-up to the US Open, which begins in 8 days.

    Ivanovic, having the winningest season of any woman on tour, will be back in the top 10 when the rankings come out tomorrow.  Serena, one month shy of her 33rd birthday, goes into the next Slam as the heavy favorite.  She is looking for her 18th Major title, which would tie her with Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova.  And having won the US Open tune-up season, she would also collect a bonus, should she win the title in New York…a payday of $4 million dollars.

    [divider]

    Cover Photo (Creative Commons License): Marianne Bevis

  • Tsonga Takes Toronto’s Rogers Cup

    Tsonga Takes Toronto’s Rogers Cup

    Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

    Jo-Wilfried Tsonga capped an amazing run in Canada by besting Roger Federer (2) in the final of the Rogers Cup, 7-5, 7-6(3). Including his win over Federer today, Tsonga had to defeat four Top-10 players to grasp the trophy: Novak Djokovic (1), Andy Murray (9), and Grigor Dimitrov (8). This second win at the Masters 1000 level (he won Paris in 2008) puts Tsonga back in the Top 10. Although his year to date had been disappointing, he came into this tournament looking very fit, focused, and combining his power game and big serve with good shot selection and a steely determination that hasn’t always been a hallmark of his game.

    The Frenchman struggled early with his first serve, but both players stayed on serve in the first, with Tsonga’s first serve percentage improving and his holds becoming easier. As Federer served at 5-6 to force a tiebreak, the great Swiss champion made some wild unforced errors to hand the Frenchman the break and the first set. In the second, Tsonga’s service games were more solid, while Federer, who marked his 33rd birthday during the tournament, struggled through several long games just to hold. Serving at 4-5, Tsonga had a championship point, though Federer eked out the hold, eventually forcing the tiebreak. But when Tsonga had three more championship points at 6-3 in the tiebreak, he converted the first to take the match.

    For fans and admirers of Tsonga, he has often been frustrating to follow, with injuries and strings of inconsistent play undermining his natural gifts. But this week showed a resurgent and mature player. If he continues this form, he will likely pose a real danger in the draw at the US Open. With even a decent run at the Western and Southern Masters 1000 in Cincinnati, which begins today, no one will be interested in facing him in Flushing Meadows.

    [divider]

    Cover Photo (Creative Commons License): Marianne Bevis

  • Radwanska Rocks Rogers Cup Final in Montreal

    Radwanska Rocks Rogers Cup Final in Montreal

    Agnieszka Radwanska

    Agnieszka Radwanska, of Poland, won her first title of the year, defeating Venus Williams 6-4, 6-2. It is the 14th career title for the World No. 5.

    Radwanska troubled a tired-looking Venus, who didn’t seem to know how to handle the tricky Pole’s game. Aga broke her in the third game of the first set, which was all she needed to take it. In the second, she broke Williams in the first game. Then breaks were traded, and Williams looked deflated after the second break of her serve.

    Venus, 34, had spent a lot of time on court over the last two weeks, including the Bank of the West last week, and an emotional three-set victory over her sister, Serena, in the semifinals yesterday. However, it was one of her best runs in some time, and she will be back in the Top 20 when the rankings come out tomorrow.

    [divider]

    Cover Photo (Creative Commons License): topol6

  • Rogers Cup 2014 PhotoBlog (1972murat)

    Rogers Cup 2014 PhotoBlog (1972murat)

    Tennis Frontier contributor 1972Murat shared some photos of players practicing before main draw play begins:

  • DC Citi Open 2014 PhotoBlog (KSkate)

    DC Citi Open 2014 PhotoBlog (KSkate)

    [divider]

    Pictures courtesy of kskate (Tennis Frontier)

  • Kuznetzova Returns to Form at Citi Open in DC

    Kuznetzova Returns to Form at Citi Open in DC

    DSC_0903

    Svetlana Kuznetsova ended her four-year WTA title drought Sunday, beating Kurumi Nara of Japan 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in the Citi Open in Washington, DC.  The Russian is a two-time Major champion.

    Nara is 22, and an excellent returner. She has one WTA title to her credit.

    Kuznetsova smiled when asked about the drought: “It feels like it’s been too long.”

    [divider]

    Photo credit:  Kiu (© Tennis Frontier)

  • Serena Regroups and Wins in Stanford

    Serena Regroups and Wins in Stanford

    Serena Williams

    After some very mysterious behavior at Wimbledon, Serena Williams, determined to prove that was the result of just an anomalous illness, bypassed all critics and put in a dominating performance at the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford, CA, a tournament she has won three times. Today, she beat Angelique Kerber, of Germany, 7-6 (1), 6-3.

    Williams, who captured Stanford titles in 2011-12, improved her unbeaten run at the tournament to 13-0 three weeks before she is set to defend her title at the U.S. Open, which begins August 25.

    Williams was down 1-5  in the first – saving two set points at 2-5 – before seizing control of the match and closing out Kerber in 1 hour and 19 minutes.

    “Serena had the better answer at the end,” said third-seeded Kerber.

    [divider]

    Cover Photo (Creative Commons License): Francisco Carbajal

  • Raonic Overcomes Compatriot in All-Canadian Final at Citi Open

    Raonic Overcomes Compatriot in All-Canadian Final at Citi Open

    Milos Raonic

    The Canadian Milos Raonic moved a step higher in his bid to become a significant Top 10 player by winning his first ATP 500 title at the Citi Open in Washington, DC. He bested his compatriot, Vasek Pospisil, in the first-ever all-Canadian ATP final. Pospisil, who was forced to play his quarterfinal and semifinal matches yesterday, due to weather, seemed very much gassed in the first set. He rallied in the second to make a match of it, but Raonic, the more seasoned player, prevailed to win it 6-1, 6-4.

    It was Pospisil’s first ATP final. Raonic now has six titles to his credit.

    [divider]

    Photo credit:  Kiu  (© Tennis Frontier)

  • Goffin Wins First Title in Kitzbuhel

    Goffin Wins First Title in Kitzbuhel

    David Goffin

    David Goffin of Belgium defeated Dominic Thiem of Austria on Saturday at the Bet-at-Home Cup, 4-6, 6-1, 6-3. It was the first ATP final for either man, and therefore the 23-year-old Goffin’s first title. Thiem is a young player on the rise, just 20 years old, but even the support of the local crowd couldn’t get him through to his first trophy.

    [divider]

    Cover Photo (Creative Commons License): Marianne Bevis

  • Isner Repeats in Atlanta

    Isner Repeats in Atlanta

    John Isner

    John Isner won his ninth career title on Sunday, defending his win last year at the BB&T Atlanta Open, by defeating Israel’s Dudi Sela, 6-3, 6-4.  The U.S. No. 1 player, with arguably the best serve in the men’s game today, was playing probably the best returner in the tournament. However, Isner broke Sela immediately in the first set, and only a bit later in the second, which gave him comfortable control of the match to the end.

    The doubles were an all-North American affair, with Vasek Pospisil of Canada and Jack Sock of the U.S. defeating Steve Johnson and Sam Querrey, both of the U.S., 6-3, 5-7, 10-5.

    [divider]

    Cover Photo (Creative Commons License): Carine06