Well this is a real chance to be super nerdy and show some of my geeky knowledge of some of the matches I've seen on TV this year (and yep I've seen quite a few!) during the WTA tour season, and my vote on the best ones. Warning this is pretty nerdy sounding stuff! This has been updated many times since its original post date.......just so I know (you know!).
So here goes:
WTA 2011 Hard Court Season Top 3 matches.
Number 5: Australian Open 4th Round, Francesca Schiavone d. Svetlana Kuznetsova, 6-4, 1-6, 16-14.
This is definitely the most memorable match of the woman's hard court season and in general, mainly because it was the single longest match in history of grand slam women's tennis, as it clocked in at 4 hour and 44 minutes. In an unbelievable display of amazing stamina and superb quality tennis, the natural fighter and Italian No.1 Francesca Schiavone battled against the Russian Kuznetsova for a place in the quarter finals, which pretty much even put some of the men's tennis to shame, not to mention the rest of the ladies players on the tour. In what seemed to be an unending yet thrilling match, it was even more amazing after Schiavone won the match, she was able to carry on and play another great match against Caroline Wozniacki two days later, although she lost in another tight 3 set battle of the wits. But it was definitely one to remember.
Number 4: Sony Ericsson Open quarter finals, Maria Sharapova d. Alexandra Dulgheru, 3-6, 7-6(6), 7-6(5).
Numero four in the list took a bit of pruning out but it definitely proved to be one of the most intense and dramatic ladies matches on the WTA tour, and also one of the longest too, as it clocked in at 3 hours and 30 minutes (even longer than the dramatic men's final at Miami too between Rafa and Djoko). Maria Sharapova in this match really showed her amazing fighting qualities as she not only battled a very tough opponent but also a sprained ankle as well. Maria's opponent Alexandra Dulgheru without any doubt deserves massive credit for her performance here, as she went toe to toe with one of tennis's greatest fighters, and both players put on a superb play of shot making and terrific rallies that had the crooowd applauding like mad (as Alan Partridge might say). It was also a late finishing match as well, as it must have been well after midnight by the time the two women finally finished up and walked off court. For Maria the match and later reaching the final in Miami proved to be a real turning point in her career in 2011, as well as one of the loudest decibel shrieking grunting performances of her career. But grunting or not, it was a great match.
Number 3: Australian Open final, Kim Clijsters d. Li Na, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.
This match definitely deserves its place in this list because for one thing it marked that welcome rarity in the ladies grand slam finals, a 3 setter. And what a 3 set match it proved to be as the two players battled it out on court, and Li Na proved to be more than a handful for Kim Clijsters who went in as the hot favourite to win the match and the title. But Clijsters started well by breaking Li Na early on in the 1st set, but then Li broke back herself, and ended up taking the first set. However in the second set, Clijsters pounced and started to drill her way into the match, breaking the gutsy Chinese No.1 in the 2nd and 3rd sets, and ultimately closing out the match to win her first Aussie open slam title, and 4th overall of her career. The match was also memorable for Li Na's endearing personality at the award ceremony where she addressed her husband much to the amusement of the Rod Laver arena crowd "that she will love him even when he is fat and old!". It was a great effort from Li Na, and for Kim it signalled a breakthrough in her slam career, as she won the Australian open for the first time, after winning the US Open 3 times. In a way its a pity that after such a high, that Kim's career would take a downturn due to injury for most of the remainder of 2011. But it remains one of the best Aussie open ladies singles finals in recent years.
Number 2: WTA Championships Final, Istanbul, Petra Kvitova d. Victoria Azarenka, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3.
Well you'd have to hope that the year end championships would finish with a bang and no a whimper, and I'm pleased to say it certainly did end on a real bang, as two of the world's best players had it out in their bid to win the WTA crown. Right from the start Petra showed her intent by dominating Victoria, who could barely get a point in, but as the match progressed Vika started playing better, until it was level at 5-5, but Petra broke again to take the 1st set. In the second set, Victoria fought back and secured a break to put her back in the match and she took the set in 6-4, but in the final set, it was once again Petra who dished out the goods (and the pummelling) as shown won a terrific match in just about 2 hours and 30 minutes. Petra also really announced herself this year as a great player, and for my money she will be the hot favourite to take the World No.1 spot from Caroline Wozniacki. And with Petra I think we are looking at the new player to beat in the woman's game, although with Kim Clijsters, and Serena Williams coming back into the game next year no doubt, it will make for a tougher challenge. But this was a great match for Petra and a great end to her best season.
Number 1: Indian Wells final, Caroline Wozniacki d. Marion Bartoli, 6-1, 2-6, 6-3.
This is definitely one of my favorite ladies matches of the year as I caught it on Eurosport (as I have most of em!) back in March, as the World No.1 Caroline Wozniacki in great form reached the final with fair ease and faced the French No.1 Marion Bartoli in the final. Being a Premier Mandatory event, there was a lot at steak on this one, and if Bartoli won, it would signal the biggest win of her career. In the first set though, Caroline made short work of Bartoli, however from the second set onward the two players traded some terrific rallies and great points that kept the crowd entertained, with Bartoli getting the crowd behind her in a brave fightback. The high quality of play continued in the 3rd set as well, regardless of Marion's being broken twice by Wozniacki who went on to claim her 2nd Premier Mandatory title. But both players brought some terrific tennis to the fore no doubt, as it added up to one of the most entertaining matches of the year, and for my money probably the best hard court match of the women's WTA season.
Right that's part one, the clay season next.....
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