Now onto the clay season...
WTA 2011 Top 3 clay court season matches
Number 3: Brussels Open, Final, Caroline Wozniacki d.Peng Shuai, 2-6, 6-3, 6-3.
At number 3, this was another one of the Premier events on the tour season and it was the final at the Brussels Open, which saw the World No.1 Caroline Wozniacki take on the Chinese No.2 Peng Shuai in a very gripping and entertaining final. After dropping the first set, Caz fought back in the second set and after an exhaustive game in the second which saw Peng ultimately fail to take another break opportunity (lasting 12 deuces no less!), Caz then went on to brake to lead into levelling the match, and in the 3rd set Caroline broke again and soon closed out the match. Both players put on a fine display for the cheering Brussels crowd in the match, and Peng Shuai also deserved a great deal of credit for putting up a real brave fight against the World No.1 as she battled it out for 2 hours and 30 minutes before succumbing to the wily Dane who went on to lift her 5th title of the year. Its also a fine match because its good to hear a couple of players grunt quietly when playing rather than screeching Sharapova or Azarenka like. Great stuff.
Number 2: French Open Final, Li Na d. Francesca Schiavone, 6-4, 7-6(0).
Well a grand slam final had to be in here somewhere and here it is, which was arguably the best of the ladies season, as Schiavone, who was the defending champion took on Li Na. On paper Schiavone sounded like the favourite, but it was Li who came out stronger, especially in the first set as she hit some stunning forehands at wide angels to throw off the Italian. In the 2nd set, which was roughly three quarters of the match, things really heated up as after Li Na took an early break, Schiavone broke back at 4-4 all, and pushed the Chinese player to her limits, as they both produced some incredible tennis for the cheering French crowed (and booing too!). One of the funniest things about this match was actually when Schiavone gathered momentum, her Italian fans started to chant the White Stripes "Seven nation army". It was priceless. At 6-6 all in the tiebreak, which made a thrilling conclusion to a terrific match, Li Na secured her first grand slam title, as Schiavone failed to get on the scoreboard, but regardless it was great to watch.
Number 1: 2011 Stuttgart Porsche Tennis Grand Prix semi finals, Caroline Wozniacki d. Agnieszka Radwanska, 7-5, 6-3.
Yeah OK, while it might seem the French Open should ideally be at the top here, this match actually topped it for quality, as the Caroline Wozniacki took on one of her best friends on the tour, Agnieszka Radwanska, in a highly entertaining match. From the start the quality of play was pretty much of the highest I've seen on the tour, as Wozniacki and Radwanska traded some amazing points, one of which Radwanska won after a 37 shot rally, and Radwanska showed her incredible skill to create sneaky points. The first set was very tight, as Radwanska came out strong and raced to a 3-0 lead, but soon Wozniacki broke back and levelled the match, as the two of them battled on, with Wozniacki taking the first. The 2nd set, was in a way even more remarkable, as Radwanska managed to save 7 match points before falling to her best friend on the tour. On Radwanska saving the 5th match point the crowd hit the roof, and by the end of the match the two players definitely earned their applause, as for me it definitely ranks as the best clay court match of the year.
So onto the grassy stuff....
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