Showing posts with label Weekly review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Weekly review. Show all posts

Monday, August 15, 2011

Djokovic just can't get enough

Not sure what brought about this change of fortunes for Djokovic, but even for someone like myself who is not his fan, his achievements so far this year are utterly impressive. He has been on top of the game since January, when he surprised everyone with a dream run to his second Australian Open crown. Since then it continued to grow in magnitude and the Serb kept on winning, capturing titles in Indian Wells, Miami, Rome and Madrid. He added a Wimbledon trophy and now, after capturing another Masters trophy, at Montreal, it looks like Novak just can't get enough of his recently acquired status. As surreal as it might seem, he is enjoying every minute of this wonderful period in his career and probably he is praying to keep it going for as long as possible.
His almost flawless season reached new heights when the Serb matched Pete Sampras' feat of winning the first tournament as the world number 1. Moreover, after his three sets victory over brave American Mardy Fish, Djokovic became the first player to win five Master events in one year.
Although currently the world is at his feet, Novak declared that he is still human. I tend to agree with him and to back Tsonga in his claim that the key behind his extraordinary run of form lies in his amazing consistency. After retiring injured in their semifinal clash, the Frenchman argued: "He doesn't hit harder, he doesn't hit the ball earlier. But he's always there. He does not have the best return on the Tour. But on every return, he returns well, and he's always there. So what does it is his consistency, and he has no weaknesses." As excellently captured by Tsonga, although his game lacks a killer weapon, it grew so solid that, at the moment, his rivals fail to find a way to outgun him. This probably makes him the best player on the men's tour. And after compiling a 53-1 match record, his position atop of the rankings is more than justified.

photos: GETTY IMAGES

You can't stop her now!

The fact that Serena can be unstoppable is common knowledge. She proved it time and time again. Nevertheless, after a serious leg injury and a life threatening disease, clouds of doubts began surfacing the sky. Not her sky though, as it remained pretty sunny in Serenaland. She always had faith in herself and in her abilities to regain her throne. And she was right in doing so. She proved it a couple of weeks ago in Stanford when she collected her first trophy after her return, and she followed it in Toronto with another impressive display.
After an easy win over Alona Bondarenka and a rather grueling encounter with German Julia Gorges, she benefited from Kim Clijsters retirement to avoid a highly expected clash with the Belgian in the third. Instead, she met Chinese Jie Zheng. It wasn't quite a walk in the park for the American, who lost the first set before ensuring a 4-6,6-3.6-3 victory. Serena had to overcome some tough resistance in the quarterfinals also, when her opponent, Lucie Safarova, won the first set. As previously, Serena best delivers when under pressure. Consequently, she stormed through the next sets to emerge victorious 4-6,6-3,6-2. As so many times before, when the occasion requires it, Williams is there to push the trigger. She did just that in the semifinals, brushing aside a red-hot Victoria Azarenka. The Belorussian didn't do much wrong, but Serena's raw power and mental strength proved too much for a still fragile Azarenka. The final showdown provided her a tricky rival, Samantha Stosur actually winning their last encounter in the quarterfinals of the 2010 French Open. This time around, the youngest Williams was ready for the Aussie's assault. She ensured a decisive break in the ninth game of first set and never looked back, winning the battle in impressive fashion: 6-4,6-2.
Now, after capturing back-to-back titles on the North American hardcourts, Serena looks as imperious as ever. It's like she was never gone. But again, this has always been the case with her. She returns after extensive lay-offs determined to win and she somehow finds a way to have the tennis world at her feet. She looks to have found the golden recipe, managing to make time stay still. She is definitely a major contestant for the Flushing Meadows crown, which, as things present at the moment, is hers for the taking.

photo: GETTY IMAGES