Sports Then and Now

Wimbledon is over––the year 2010 tucked away in the record books.  Centre Court now sports a roof and artificial lights, an abrupt departure from tradition in favor of increased revenue and pressure from major television outlets.

Most of the traditions, however, stay intact like bowing to the Queen, strawberries and cream and no tiebreak in the final set.

While the elongated fifth set has been an issue from time to time, in 2010 it became historically significant as Nicolas Mahut and John Isner battled over three days in their first round match which finally concluded after 11 hours of match play, 70-68 in the fifth set.

Neither player could play on after that match even though both tried, Mahut in doubles and Isner in singles.  For that reason alone, some sort of limit needs to be established.

Most of the talk was of the men.  Without a “suggestive” outfit from Venus, the women seemed invisible throughout the tournament.  U.S. coverage focused almost entirely on the Williams sisters––what there was of that.  As usual, the men stole the headlines and the regular television coverage.

So Serena’s amazing win, with her sizzling serve-breaking records, received less attention than usual as all the world continued the Rafa-Roger debate.  Too bad because the ladies put on quite a show!

1. Serena Williams: Last Power Ranking #6 (ATP  Ranking No. 1)

Last Four Tournaments: Wimbledon [Winner], French Open [Quarterfinalist], Madrid [R16], Rome [Semifinalist].

Power Ranking Points: 2161W

All the number one seeds were falling all around her in singles and in doubles.  Serena, however, held onto her remarkable serve which allowed her to dominate on court.

Tested in a few matches, the younger Williams sister survived the best the field could throw at her, taking the Championship at Wimbledon for the second consecutive year.

Never was her dominance more evident than on the lawns of Centre Court––whenever the defending champion could get a match there.  This gives Williams her 13th slam and sends her skirting past the legendary Billie Jean King, heading toward Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova on the all-time best list.

Periodically we see someone come close to Serena but she quickly sends them back down the ladder.  She will be the ultimate favorite heading into New York where she will surely win again unless sidelined by injury––and even then Williams often finds a way.

2. Vera Zvonareva: Last Power Ranking NR (WTA ranking 8 )

Last Four Tournaments: Wimbledon [Finalist], Eastbourne [R1], French Open [R2], Madrid [R2].

Power Ranking Points: 1430

The Russian Zvonareva fulfilled all the early promise of her career as she picked apart opponents on her way to the Wimbledon final where she met the indomitable Serena Williams.

Zvonareva defeated No. 15 seed Yanina Wickmayer,  No. 4 seed Jelena Jankovic and No. 8 seed Kim Clijsters during the fortnight.  She earned her spot in the final the hard way by playing brilliant hard-hitting and aggressive tennis.

Most telling was the Russian’s ability to hold onto her nerves and her temper during tough times.   She suffered no melt downs and shed no tears, steeling herself against emotions that often marked her downfall on court.

In the final, she could not defeat a superior player whose serve rocketed across the net with depth, accuracy and power.  But credit Zvonareva for holding onto her will to win in the face of overwhelming odds.

In her first slam final, the Russian did herself proud––but still wished she could have come away with a win.  Maybe next time.

3. Tsvetana Pironkova: Last Power Ranking NR (WTA Ranking No. 35)

Last Four Tournaments: Wimbledon [Semifinalist], French Open [R1], Warsaw [Quarterfinalist], Stuttgart [R2].

Power Ranking Points: 924

Pironkova entered the semifinals at Wimbledon with the chance to become the first unseeded woman ever to reach the finals at the All-England Club.

She broke Zvonareva’s serve and took the first set from the Russian.  It appeared the Bulgarian had a real chance to take one more step toward a happily-ever-after finish.  But Zvonareva came back to win the match in three sets.

Pironvoka had upset Venus Williams in the quarterfinals to win a spot in the semis, so it seemed that anything was possible in this tournament in 2010 with all of the top seeds falling, except Serena Williams, who held court on the other side of the draw.

The Bulgarian came from nowhere to do what so many others hoped and wanted to do––but could not.  To her credit.  Whether she will stay up in the invigorated air of champions is yet to be seen.

For once, she will make it into the U.S. Open field without having to qualify!

4. Petra Kvitova: Last Power Ranking NR (WTA Ranking No. 29)

Last Four Tournaments: Wimbledon [Semifinalist], Herogenbosch [R1], French Open [R1], Madrid [R1.

Power Ranking Points: 905

Kvitova never expected to make it to the semifinals of Wimbledon.  Taking into account most of her match play coming into the event, Kvitova felt lucky to make it out of the first round.

That is to take nothing away from her performance on the grass courts of the All-England Club; but the Czech had never won a match at Wimbledon before 2010.

That did not stop her from ousting feisty Victoria Azarenka and No. 3 seed Caroline Wozniacki as well as her quarterfinal opponent Kaia Kanepi on her way to her semifinal match with No. 1 seed Serena Williams.  Although Kvitova lost, she did not go down easily losing 7-6, 6-2.

It marked her first major semifinal.  Needless to say, Kvitova showed remarkable mental and physical prowess on the courts.  You have to believe she will use what she learned to help her advance.  At age 20, she has a few good years left.  Truly.

5. Venus Williams: Last Power Ranking #8 (WTA Ranking No. 4)

Last Four Tournaments: Wimbledon [Quarterfinalist] French Open [R16], Madrid [Finalist], Rome [Quarterfinalist].

Power Ranking Points: 669

Venus Williams was used to playing for this championship, having done so seven times and winning five of those.

She won in 2000, 2001, 2005, 2007 and 2008 and was hoping to add her sixth trophy in 2010.  But it was not to be.

Williams was upset in the quarterfinals by the upstart from Bulgaria, Tsvetana Pironkova.

Like many of the top-ranked players, Venus did not live up to her seeding at the All-England Club.  Wimbledon was particularly hot and dry for the fortnight and the courts played hard and fast––faster than most expected.

It was disappointing for the elder Williams sister, but she will be back next year ready to face another field on greener pastures.

6. Kim Clijsters: Last Power Ranking OLI (WTA Ranking No. 7)

Last Four Tournaments: Wimbledon [Quarterfinals], Eastbourne [Quarterfinals], Marabella  [R2], Miami [Winner].

Power Ranking Points: 614

Kim Clijsters came into Wimbledon without the foundation of much match play.  The Belgian suffered with a foot injury throughout most of the spring after her win in Miami.

Much of the media concentrated on Clijsters coming in as the one true threat to the Williams sisters’ domination at the All-England Club.

It looked as though the challenge was in the offing when Clijsters dismissed country woman Justine Henin in the fourth round.

But then the surprising Vera Zvonareva dismissed the Belgian in the quarterfinals, after Clijsters won the first set rather easily. The Russian closed out the match winning the final two sets.

It was a shock but Clijsters was down and out.  There would be no chance to challenge for the Rosewater Dish for Clijsters.  At least not this year.

7. Kaia Kanepi: Last Power Ranking NR (WTA Ranking No. 38)

Last Four Tournaments: Wimbledon [Quarterfinalist], Birmingham [Quarterfinalist], French Open [R2], Miami [R1].

Power Ranking Points: 612

Kanepi started her Wimbledon run by knocking off the French Open finalist and world No. 6 player Samantha Stosur in the first round.  Stretching that win, Kanepi advanced all the way to the women’s quarterfinals.

She met Petra Kvitova in the quarters and they battled fiercely for the final spot in the semifinals.  Eventually the Czech Kvitova won 4-6, 7-6, 8-6 and she advanced.

But Kanepi’s run was remarkable and she had her best results ever at Wimbledon.

The Estonian has powerful groundstrokes and a big serve which may let her down from time to time.  The main knock on the young woman is her fitness.  This year at Wimbledon this did not seem to be an issue and she went the distance more than once.

Hopefully, this will mark the beginning of a climb into the upper ranks of the women’s game.

8. Li Na: Last Power Ranking #5 (WTA Ranking No. 10)

Last Four Tournaments: Wimbledon [Quarterfinalist], Birmingham [Winner], French Open [R32], Warsaw [Semifinalist].

Power Ranking Points: 602

Li Na was playing superlative tennis at Wimbledon until she ran into Serena Williams in the quarterfinals.

She had defeated the No. 7 seed, Agnieszka Radwanska to win her chance to play against the younger Williams sister.

As the tour moves on to hardcourts, Li Na will be playing on her strongest surface and she will be looking to advance even further into the women’s top ten.

With her best ever result on the lawns of the All-England Club, the Chinese lady should ride that improvement into the next and longest part of the season.

9. Jelena Jankovic: Last Power Ranking #3 (WTA Ranking No. 2)

Last Four Tournaments: Wimbledon [R4], French Open [Semifinalist], Madrid [Quarterfinalist], Rome [Finalist], Stuttgart.

Power Ranking Points: 560

Fighting injuries, Jankovic entered Wimbledon on a wounded wing and a prayer.

She lasted through the first three rounds and finally retired in the fourth round against eventual finalist, Vera Zvonareva.

Because of Venus Williams surprise exit in the quarterfinals, however, Jankovic finds herself now  ranked No. 2 in the WTA.

With relief Jankovic gets ready for the summer hard courts, looking forward to the U.S. Open where she reached the finals in 2008, losing to eventual champion Serena Williams.  The world is looking up for the Serbian.

10. Justine Henin: Last Power Ranking OLI (WTA Ranking No. 13)

Last Four Tournaments: Wimbledon [R4], UNICEF Open [Winner], French Open [R4], Madrid [R1].

Power Ranking Points: 430

According to all the media outlets, Justine Henin returned to tennis in order to win the one major that had eluded her throughout her career––Wimbledon.

She was inspired seeing Roger Federer hang in there until he finally won the French Open.

Henin felt she could also change  her approach to the game, enough to allow her to win Wimbledon.

This year marked her first chance to try.  She did well but again suffered with a most unfortunate draw, meeting Kim Clijsters in the fourth around.  Henin won the first set convincingly but could not hold Clijsters back in the second.

A fall Henin suffered in the first set injured her right elbow and she could not sustain the power on her strokes.  She lost in three sets.

Further, Henin has withdrawn from the tournaments in the American hard court swing, missing the U.S. Open as well.  It was an unfortunate spill for the Belgian.  She will have to postpone fulfilling her Wimbledon wish until 2011.

Outside Looking In:

Francesca Schiavone – Power Ranking Points 423

The Italian who took the tennis world by storm, winning the French Open was stopped dead in her tracks on grass.  She lost in the first round at Eastbourne and in the first round at Wimbledon.  Maybe she just had not come down to earth after her astonishing win in Paris.

Maria Sharapova – Power Ranking Points 402

Sharapova looked like her old self during her first set with Serena Williams in the fourth round at Wimbledon.

Finally it appears that her serve has stabilized and she looked as if she were hitting her groundstrokes with the same fire and desire she exhibited before her shoulder surgery.

Hopefully the willowy blond is back in the game.

Caroline Wozniacki: Power Ranking Points 397

The Danish teenager had great ambition going into Wimbledon.  But her run ended in the fourth round as she met and was defeated by Petra Kvitova during her fantastic showing at the All-England Club.

The nice thing about being a teenager is that you have plenty of time to improve.  Undoubtedly, Wozniacki will do just that.  She has the necessary fire and determination to be a champion.