Tennis Frontier

Tag: final

  • Serena Williams Wins the US Open

    Serena Williams Wins the US Open

    Serena Williams fought Victoria Azarenka, the wind, and her nerves to win her 17th Major title.

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    Serena Williams has won her fifth US Open crown with a hard fought victory over world No. 2 Victoria Azarenka, 7-5, 6-7(6), 6-1, in a match lasting 2 hours and 45 minutes.  Oddly, it was the first time that the world No. 1 and No. 2 had faced each other in a US Open final in 10 years.

    It didn’t come easy. Serena had to overcome blustery weather conditions, unforced errors, and a very stubborn opponent in the Belorussian. Twice in the second set she served for the match but Azarenka broke her both times to force a deciding set.

    Azarenka had beaten Williams recently in Cincinnati in a three-set thriller but fell behind early in the final set and could not recover. Williams finally sealed the match when an Azarenka return sailed long.

    Williams increased her Grand Slam count to 17, one fewer than Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova on the all-time list, and jumped for joy on winning her fifth US Open title.

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    Cover Photo: edplain (Creative Commons License)

  • Li Na and Maria Sharapova in Stuttgart Final.

    Li Na and Maria Sharapova in Stuttgart Final.

    The top two seeds at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, Stuttgart, Maria Sharapova and Li Na both advanced to face off in Sunday’s final. Top seeded Maria Sharapova defeated hometown girl Angelique Kerber with Li Na prevailing over Bethanie Mattek-Sands.

    Sharapova had the tougher task of the two, being pushed by the German to a 7-5 final set decider. The Russian World Number 2, began well enough, breaking twice to take the first set and then started the second set with another break.

    Kerber fought back strongly, reeling off eight of the next nine games to secure the second set and break Sharapova early in the third.

    The third set was a rollercoaster of momentum swings following Kerber’s initial break with both players breaking. Delicately poised at 5-5, Sharapova put the hammer down, winning the next two games without dropping a point to take the match and advance to the final. Notably this was her 15th straight clay court victory.

    Her opponent on Sunday, Li Na advanced in more convincing fashion. A straight sets victory over in-form American qualifier Bethanie Mattek-Sands 64 63. Mattek-Sands had enjoyed a great week, including taking the scalp of fourth seeded Sara Errani. However, Li Na’s combinaton of poise, strength and consistency were a step too far.

    Sharapova leads the head to head 8-5, but on the single occasion they have met this year, Li ran out a comfortable winner. It will be an interesting final.

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