World #1 Slums It Up In Slovenia

There's something to be said for having big name players show up to small tournaments to promote the game. It helps tennis gain roots in non-traditional markets, and lets fans in far flung locales see world class tennis in their own part of the world.

But when the big name player in question is a world #1 hearing increasingly loud criticism that her ranking is unjustified due to her inability to win the biggest tournaments, the decision is a little more questionable.

Dinara Safina is not only the only top ten player entered in this week's in Banka Koper Slovenia Open in Portoroz, Slovenia--she's only one of two entrants inside the top twenty (the second, twentieth ranked Anabel Medina Garrigues, barely fits in that category). It's almost as if Safina heard Serena Williams' sarcastic remarks about Safina deserving the #1 ranking because "she won Berlin and Madrid" and decided that the joke needed a better punchline.

While Safina spends her time in the second-least populated of the former Yugoslav nations, the rest of the top flight of women's tennis is preparing for next week's Premier level tournament in Stanford, a tournament Safina is not playing. The field at Stanford includes Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Elena Dementieva, Jelena Jankovic, Samantha Stosur, Nadia Petrova, Dominika Cibulkova, Agnieszka Radwanska, Marion Bartoli, and Na Li. Every one of those players is ranked above anyone Safina might face in Slovenia. That list doesn't even include other Stanford participants like Maria Sharapova and Sabine Lisicki, both of whom are much scarier opponents than an Anabel Medina Garrigues or a Kaia Kanepi.

Portoroz, Slovenia sounds a lot more desolate than it is, in fairness. It's less than ten miles from Italy, and only about sixty miles of the Adriatic Sea separate the tournament from Venice. And Safina has been training in nearby Croatia for some time now, the home country of her coach, Zeljko Krajan.

But Portoroz is still Portoroz. Safina winning the title this week in Slovenia would only confirm her propensity for winning only the smaller titles in the eyes of her many critics, and would make her even more of a laughingstock .

And since that's how bad it would be if she wins, I can't even begin to imagine what the reaction will be if she loses.

WTT: Washington Kastles def. Newport Beach Breakers 22-12

WASHINGTON—After a starting line up introduction of WWE proportions—complete with cheerleaders, pyrotechnics, and no less than three mascots (a medieval knight in full armor and a giant tennis ball of each gender)—the Washington Kastles and Newport Beach Breakers were set to battle in front of a sell-out crowd of over three thousand in Kastles Stadium, the venue for World Team Tennis in downtown DC.

There was little doubt whom the throngs had come to see: Serena Williams, fresh off her eleventh Grand Slam Singles title just ten days ago at Wimbledon. Though Serena Williams is the marquee player on Washington’s lineup, she plays only one of her four World Team Tennis matches in Washington, as the league makes an effort to get the fan favorite to as many of their locations as possible.

Though Serena is the main attraction, the fans will have to wait for her to take the court until the second half of the competition, with men’s doubles and singles serving as her opening acts.

Men’s Doubles: Kaes Van’t Hof/Ramon Delgado (NBB) vs. Scott Oudsema/Leander Paes (WAS)

The Kastles got off to a quick start in the first event of the evening, with the home team taking the first six points of the match on the back of the dominant play of the best doubles player on the court—Leander Paes. The momentum soon ran out though, with Newport Beach coming back with a six point streak of their own to gain complete control of the match-up.

Newport Beach won the event 5-2, with the Kastles only winning the games on Oudsema’s serve (as much due to Paes’ presence at net as Oudsema’s tough serving). Serena Williams and Olga Puchkova coped with the defeat as they coped with most everything else during the evening—by giggly chit-chat. Newport Beach Breakers lead 5-2.

Everybody on each team comes on the court to warm-up, as the crowd applauds the introduction of Redskins QB Jason Campbell, who, like almost everyone else, is here to watch Serena.

Men’s Singles: Ramon Delgado (NBB) vs. Scott Oudsema (WAS)

Based on their relative forms in the doubles, Delgado seems primed to take the singles rubber. But Oudsema gets off to the better start, breaking the Paraguayan in the third game for 1-2.

Oudsema’s demeanor on court is a strange cocktail of listless and fired up; he lackadaisically gives up on several points after hitting poor approach shots, yet shows an incredible amount of emotion after every big point won.

The instability of both players’ emotions makes for some pretty ugly tennis. Both are content to moonball back and forth, waiting for the other to change things up and inevitably make a mistake. With neither player having any success flattening out the loopy shots, it’s a style that pays dividends, however unattractive it is to see enacted.

The event goes to a tiebreak, with Oudsema jumping out to a 4-1 win and holding on for a 5-4 win, which makes the partisan crowd and Washington Kastles Coach Murphy Jensen extremely happy. Newport Beach Breakers lead 9-7.

With the men’s tennis out of the way, it’s time for Serena to take center stage.

Mixed Doubles: Kaes Van’t Hof/Julie Ditty (NBB) vs. Leander Paes/Serena Williams (WAS)

On paper, the mixed doubles is a mismatch of epic proportions. Leander Paes and Serena Williams have won a combined twenty grand slam doubles titles, which compares rather favorably with Van’t Hof and Ditty’s combined total of zero.

Not surprisingly, the matchup isn’t much closer on court than it looked on paper. Though Serena doesn’t even touch a ball for the first seven points of the match, the Kastles win them all. A few crowd-pleasingly grunted Serena Williams volleys later, the Kastles close out the event 5-0, and take the lead in the match. Washington Kastles lead 12-7.

Women’s Doubles: Marie-eve Pelletier/Julie Ditty (NBB) vs. Rennae Stubbs/Serena Williams (WAS)

This match-up doesn’t look much closer on paper than the mixed. Rennae Stubbs and Serena Williams have won a combined seventeen grand slam doubles title, and Pelletier doesn’t bring any more to the Breakers’ table than Van’t Hof did, leaving the Newport Beach total at zero.

Williams makes it seven games in a row for herself before Pelletier and Ditty take a game thanks to some nice touch from the front of the court. Williams and Stubbs are unfazed, and stay strong to win the event 5-1. Washington Kastles lead 17-8.

Rough day at the office for Julie Ditty, who won exactly one of her eleven games.

World Team Tennis founder and civil rights icon Billie Jean King comes on to the court to say a few words to the crowd, who show their respect for all that she’s done for tennis with the loudest applause of the evening.

Women’s Singles: Marie-eve Pelletier (NBB) vs. Serena Williams (WAS)

Though she made things look easy in her first two doubles events, Serena Williams hardly looks to be playing effortless tennis in her singles match vs. Quebecoise Marie-eve Pelletier. Williams labors to hold for 2-1, but then gets a relatively soft break to go up 3-1. But she digs herself a 1-3 hole in her next serve game, needing to lean on her big serve more than before to get to 4-1.

With Pelletier serving at 1-4, Serena jumps out to an 0-3 lead, giving herself four match points. But she manages to lose all four, spraying shots wide when trying to end the evening with an exclamation point. Pelletier is taking the ball early and taking advantage of Serena’s often slow first step, as she moves to 0-3 on Williams’ serve. But Serena holds on for the 5-2 with four big serves, carrying the Kastles to the “W” on the strength of her 15-3 record on the night. Washington Kastles win 22-12.

The victory brings the Kastles’ winning streak to five, and moves them into second place in the Eastern Conference. A matchup with the first place New York Sporttimes and John McEnroe looms for Thursday. The Kastles won’t have Serena, so they’ll have to rely on Puchkova and Stubbs to compensate for the lost fifteen points. Won’t be easy.

To see all the exclusive photos from Tuesday night's action, check out The Daily Forehand's Picasa Album.

WTT Coverage Tonight: Breakers @ Kastles

I'll be covering World Team Tennis for the first time tonight, as the Newport Beach Breakers are in DC to face the Washington Kastles. Headliner Serena Williams, in her only home match for her team, the Kastles, has already caused the first sell out of the season in Washington.

The Kastles boast a line up of Serena Williams, Leander Paes, Rennae Stubbs, Scott Oudsema, and Olga Puchkova (who probably won't see much action with Serena in the lineup).

The Breakers don't quite have the star power of the Kastles, bringing a lineup of Ramon Delgado, Julie Ditty, Marie-Eve Pelletier, and Kaes Vant Hof.

I've never been to a World Team Tennis event before, but I've heard from everyone who has that they're a lot of fun, so it should be a good time. Hopefully I'll be able to get some good stuff out of it in the way of photos, recaps and interviews as well.

Stay tuned for all that good stuff some time later tonight (and probably into early tomorrow).

Serena Does Letterman

The woman with 11 slams made an appearance at 11:30 last night on The Late Show With David Letterman, a traditional stop on victory laps for American slam winners.

Letterman asked Serena about grunting, her knee injury from a couple years back, and, out of nowhere, drinking. And she was pretty candid throughout. I just wish she had been asked about the #1 ranking. Because that's what really brings out the laughs.

Note that the outfit she showed up to the studio in (above) is completely different from what she wore on the set. Guess that dress must've been stuffed in the purse.



Smoothly done keeping the people at Wilson who sign her checks happy.

Ladies' Quarterfinals Preview

The men get the day off on Tuesday, leaving the women to carry the day. Each match features a top four seed, meaning that we could get the top four ranked players in the world in the semifinals, which would be the first time that had happened on the women's side this decade.

CENTRE - SHOW COURT - 1.00 PM START

1. Dinara Safina (RUS) [1] 1 vs Sabine Lisicki (GER) 26
A perplexing battle between an underperformer and an overperformer. It's tough to say who will win, but based on who has been playing closer to their best, it would have to be Lisicki. I think Safina's difficulties on grass will finally catch up with her against the flat hitting, aggressive, courageous German, and she'll be the sole spoiler to the top four party in the semis.
Prediction: Lisicki in three.

2. Victoria Azarenka (BLR) [8] 97 vs Serena Williams (USA) [2] 128
This one could be quite the bloody affair. The two met in the fourth round of the Australian Open earlier this year, with Azarenka winning the first set then retiring midway through the second due to vertigo symptoms. It was a mess. Azarenka was a different type of mess in her fourth round win over Petrova yesterday, throwing a general tantrum the entire time yet still managing to power her way into her first Wimbledon quarterfinal. Serena, for her part, has looked great this entire tournament, but she hasn't faced anyone near Azarenka's caliber. This one could go into overtime.
Prediction: Williams in three.

COURT 1 - SHOW COURT - 1.00 PM START

1. Venus Williams (USA) [3] 33 vs Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) [11] 49
Serena got the opportunity to dismantle Radwanska in last year's Wimbledon quarterfinals, so it's only fair that Venus should get the chance to do so this year. Venus has been hitting the ball very cleanly, and Radwanska has no weapons that Venus won't be able to pound her way through.
Prediction: Williams in two.

2. Francesca Schiavone (ITA) 74 vs Elena Dementieva (RUS) [4] 96
Elena Dementieva's soft draw continues. Two veteran players, neither of whom was talked about much going into this tournament, face off for a spot in the semis, where they will undoubtedly lose meekly to the Serena-Azarenka winner. Dementieva's game is much more stable, and should hold up better to the pressures of the occasion.
Prediction: Dementieva in two.

The Best Day on the Tennis Calendar - Fourth Round Preview

The best ticket available in the world of tennis, the second Monday is one of two days on the tennis calendar where both the Gentlemen's and Ladies' draws converge on the dame day, the other being Super Saturday at the US Open. But while Super Saturday features only three matches and six players, the second Monday of Wimbledon features every Round of 16 match in both the men's and women's draw. Stars normally guaranteed a spot on one of the two main stadiums are relegated to outer courts, giving fans a chance to see big stars with just a grounds pass.

I made it out to Wimbledon on the second Monday last year, and with my grounds pass got to see Venus Williams, Serena Williams, Elena Dementieva, Arnaud Clement, Marin Cilic, Shahar Peer, and Dinara Safina, capping my day off by being one of the five or so on Henman Hill pulling for Richard Gasquet against Andy Murray. Quite the day for £14 (plus £3 or so for strawberries and cream).

Here's what's on tap for this year's best tennis day of the year:

CENTRE - SHOW COURT - 1.00 PM START

1. Robin Soderling (SWE) [13] 113 vs Roger Federer (SUI) [2] 128
For a player whose big breakout tournament came on the terre battue, Robin Soderling's game is totally built for grass. Featuring power and more power, I expect him to smack a lot of winners past Federer in between moments of being thoroughly outclassed.
Prediction: Federer in four.

2. Dinara Safina (RUS) [1] 1 vs Amelie Mauresmo (FRA) [17] 9
The marquee matchup on the women's side today sees top Dinara Safina play on Centre court for the first time this tournament. She faces 2006 Champion Amelie Mauresmo, who always brings her best tennis (if not her strongest nerves) to the All-England Club. Safina has looked shaky at best through the first week of the tournament, while Mauresmo has looked calm and in control throughout. I like the Frenchwoman to blitz the hollow top-seed in two jarringly vicious sets.
Prediction: Mauresmo in two.

3. Andy Murray (GBR) [3] 33 vs Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) [19] 41
The Brits have got to be loving the draw that has fallen at Andy Murray's feet through these first four rounds. And if he does make it through the fourth round, his quarterfinal opponent from the winner of Ferrero-Simon shouldn't prove too challenging either. Onward toward the semifinal he marches.
Prediction: Murray in three.

COURT 1 - SHOW COURT - 1.00 PM START

1. Venus Williams (USA) [3] 33 vs Ana Ivanovic (SRB) [13] 48
A rematch of the 2007 Wimbledon semifinal, this match will be a testament to just how far Ivanovic has fallen. Ivanovic played by far her best match of the year in beating Sam Stosur in the third round, a match that I can only explain by calling it a strange fluke. Ivanovic hasn't made a grand slam quarterfinal since she won the 2008 French Open, and there's no way that streak is ending against Venus Williams.
Prediction: Williams in 2.

2. Fernando Verdasco (ESP) [7] 97 vs Ivo Karlovic (CRO) [22] 105
As ugly and hard to watch as his game is, it's kind of refreshing to see Ivo Karlovic's serve blowing its way through the draw, taking down popular darkhorse J0-Wilfried Tsonga with it. Karlovic's game has a way of keeping players honest, and if his opponent doesn't play well he will lose, no matter how good he is (see also Federer Cincinnati 2008). Verdasco has been impressive thus far, but his mental struggles of yore are not completely behind him. I like Ivo to pull off the frustrating upset here, with a classic Verdasco breakdown left in the fifth.
Prediction: Karlovic in five.

3. Tomas Berdych (CZE) [20] 24 vs Andy Roddick (USA) [6] 32
This is the kind of matchup Andy Roddick loves to see in the middle of a slam. A mentally suspect player without a lot of variety, Tomas Berdych will hold serve a bunch, but is unlikely to pose any longterm threat.
Prediction: Roddick in three.

COURT 2 - SHOW COURT - 12.00 NOON START

1. Elena Vesnina (RUS) 86 vs Elena Dementieva (RUS) [4] 96
Probably the most under the radar of any of the sixteen women remaining, Elena Dementieva has quietly played some seriously ass-kicking tennis, earning a breadstick in each of her three matches so far. Vesnina is a nice draw, and a surprising fourth rounder on grass. Dementieva should get through easily, and make an impressive third quarterfinal at Wimbledon, despite it being on what should be her worst surface.
Prediction: Dementieva in two easy sets.

2. Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) 115 vs Serena Williams (USA) [2] 128
A rematch of their d-r-a-m-a filled fourth round match in 2007, this should be a pretty routine match for an in-shape, in-form Serena, neither of which she was in 2007. Good showing by Daniela to make it this far.
Prediction: Serena in two.

3. Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) 3 vs Radek Stepanek (CZE) [23] 9
One of the most consistently underrated players on the ATP Tour (probably due to his grave lack of charisma), Radek Stepanek has played great grasss court tennis before, and may very well surprise those who penciled Hewitt in to the quarters as soon as he beat Del Potro. This will be a tough loss for whoever comes out on the wrong end--it's a winnable match for both.
Prediction: Stepanek in four.

COURT 3 - SHOW COURT - 12.00 NOON START

1. Victoria Azarenka (BLR) [8] 97 vs Nadia Petrova (RUS) [10] 112
What should be a good match on paper should go to the Banshee of Belarus relatively easily, I would think. Azarenka has been steamrolling her way through the competition, and though she's had some underwhelming losses on big stages, I like her chances of crushing Petrova.
Prediction: Azarenka in two.

2. Dudi Sela (ISR) 85 vs Novak Djokovic (SRB) [4] 96
Novak Djokovic, like his opposite number Dementieva, largely flew under the radar through the first week. After a tough first rounder vs. capable grass courter Julien Benneteau, Djokovic looked very special in fending off a popular upset special from Mardy Fish. Dudi Sela is a fun player who has had a fun tournament, but it's largely the result of a soft draw, and reality should crash in vs. Djokovic.
Prediction: Djokovic in three.

3. Juan Carlos Ferrero (ESP) 53 vs Gilles Simon (FRA) [8] 64
A rare battle of lightweights late at Wimbledon, this match is a test of Ferrero's fitness as much as anything. And with his lack of runs in recent majors, I have to think that Ferrero won't be nearly as fresh as his younger opponent. Could be an underwhelming end to a nice run for Ferrero.
Prediction: Simon in four.

COURT 4 - SHOW COURT - 12.00 NOON START

1. Igor Andreev (RUS) [29] 72 vs Tommy Haas (GER) [24] 73
I'm at a loss for how Igor Andreev's game has been able to hold up this well on grass. With his big windmill forehand, I can't imagine it's an easy transition for him to the faster surface. Tommy Haas, on the other hand, has been playing some of the most solid tennis of his career, and should match up very well against Andreev.
Prediction: Haas in three.

2. Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) [9] 17 vs Sabine Lisicki (GER) 26
This is a tough match to get a read on. Wozniacki has had some strange losses at majors, making unseeded dreams come true so by crashing out to Dokic and Cirstea at the first two majors of the year. Lisicki has played some utterly fearless tennis so far, but she does it with a recklessness that makes me think the wheels will fall off without notice. So who knows.
Prediction: Lisicki in three.

COURT 18 - SHOW COURT - 12.00 NOON START

1. Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) [11] 49 vs Melanie Oudin (USA) 58
Melanie Oudin seems to feed off power and not deal very well with variety. Those two factors could conspire to make it a short day at the office for the perky American qualifier from Marietta, GA. Radwanska, for a player completely devoid of power, has had some very impressive grass results in her short career, including a quarterfinal at Wimbledon last year and the 2008 Eastbourne title.
Prediction: Radwanska in two.

2. Virginie Razzano (FRA) [26] 72 vs Francesca Schiavone (ITA) 74
A battle between two entertaining, scrappy players (if not necessarily cover girls), I go with Razzano, whose game seems more suited to grass than the quick yet relatively punchless Schiavone.
Prediction: Razzano in two.