Welcome to Flushing Meadows, New York, for the season's final Grand Slam. 10 of the 11 Slams played so far on OWTT have had different winners - will we have another new Grand Slam winner here in New York? With not long to go until the Year End Championships, this tournament will be crucial in players' campaigns for the season-ending Top 8. Let's check out the big guns here in New York....
#6 Alicia Molik - Molik is #1 in the Race at the moment and finished #2 the the USO Series Race, with a title in Stanford and QF finishes in Montreal & New Haven. She definitely has the game to go all the way here in New York.
#8 Sorana Cirstea - she has had a great few weeks on tour and shooting up the rankings. She had an awesome hard court swing, finishing #1 in the USO Series Race thanks to titles in LA & Montreal as well as SF finishes in Stanford & New Haven. She is the one to beat here.
#12 Ashley Harkleroad - finsihed up at #3 in the USO Series Race. Finished RU in New Haven, SF in Montreal and a QF run in LA. She is playing with huge confidence right now.
#2 Anna Kournikova - RU finish in LA, as well as a QF in Montreal. She definitely has the weapons to go all the way, but I question her mental fragility if she were to get to the final.
#5 Nicole Vaidisova - Montreal RU and QF in New Haven. Vaidisova has had some good results recently, and she will be looking to peak here at Flushing Meadows.
#14 Na Li - She has really shot up the rankings due to some great results. Stanford RU, and QF finishes in LA & New Haven. She is definitely a dangerous opponent for anybody.
#19 Dinara Safina - was badly slumping before taking the title in New Haven last week. She will be full of confidence and hoping to repeat her success from new Haven.
#1 Serena Williams - odd to only have the #1 players as a "Dark Horse" but she failed to reach the QF in any of the warm-up events. However, Serena likes the big stage and is defending champion here. When she is on she is the toughest player out there, so a repeat win wouldn't surprise.
#10 Tatjana Malek - she won Wimbledon a few weeks back, and also reached the Stanford semis. She woudl love to win a second Slam.
#15 Venus Williams - reached QF in Stanford & New Haven. She has all the shots and could pull it off this week. She would love to follow in her sisters foot steps and win here in New York.
Serena Williams had been pretty dissapointed about her season three on OWTT, only godd thing she will remember of it is her French Open title. Serena Williams comes in this US Open and is totally conscient it's her last week as the world number one but still she's positive "I've been ranked number 1 for the last 38 weeks, that record won't be broken that soon. I'm conscient that after the tournament I will slip out of top 5, but I know that's it's only cause of a lack of effort coming from me. The only girl I can see suceeding to me as the best player in the world is Anna Kournikova, the Ana Ivanovic, Sorana Cirstea and Alicia Molik of this world bring nothing interesting to the game and it would be a shame to see them on top. Anna Kournikova has been working a lot since her pretty far back Wimbldon breakthrough."
Serena said she may take a pause after the US Open and come back for the YEC if her ranking in hte race is still high enough. Miss Williams said "Reigning on the Tour that long has been tough mentally. All year long I've been mixed up about what to do with my career and now I'm sure I want to stay on Tour, but taking a pause to be in real good shape for the Australian season and the whole next season might be a possibilty."
The most titled player of the Tour talked about what her goals from now and on would be ans said "Number 1 no more is what I mainly want, if it comes with my other future accomplisments, then I'll be glad, but if it doesn't I don't really care. From now and on, what I want is Grand Slams. I have won the season 2 Us Open, the season 3 French Open, next year I'd love to triumph in Wimbledon or at the Australian open, but I wouldn't care winning the French Open or US Open too. I still feel like I'm the best, it's just a matter of me deciding to focus on tennis 100%."
champion88
Nov 23rd, 2008, 09:35 PM
Serena :yeah:
Sean.
Nov 23rd, 2008, 09:36 PM
Serena :ras:
:( Alizé has always played so well here, but always JUST missed out. And now she is majorly slumping
Tomek.
Nov 23rd, 2008, 10:02 PM
why Serena didn't retire?
Fretchap
Nov 23rd, 2008, 10:05 PM
why Serena didn't retire?
She hasn't won the 4 slams yet, only 2 more to go ;)
Sean.
Nov 23rd, 2008, 10:06 PM
Because she has to pay for the McDonalds bill somehow :shrug:
Fretchap
Nov 23rd, 2008, 10:13 PM
Because she has to pay for the McDonalds bill somehow :shrug:
Ree is sponsored by McDonalds, everything is free for her ;)
champion88
Nov 23rd, 2008, 10:15 PM
Played out the draw using the current points for everyone...
7 matches decided by CT, including the final :eek:
RR-87
Nov 23rd, 2008, 10:37 PM
Nadia sucks :bigcry:
Tomek.
Nov 23rd, 2008, 11:15 PM
now this made me sad Nadia :)
Mikey.
Nov 24th, 2008, 02:24 AM
Go Vika :cool:
Hashim.
Nov 24th, 2008, 07:55 AM
go JJ:inlove:
Bartosh
Nov 24th, 2008, 02:30 PM
C'mon Venus :yeah:
champion88
Nov 24th, 2008, 03:57 PM
16 players sent new points so far :yeah:
Some :eek: results as things stand at the moment! :devil:
Tomek.
Nov 24th, 2008, 04:15 PM
I already know one of the ":eek:" :(
Jose.
Nov 24th, 2008, 04:17 PM
Michelle please do something good!!! :fiery:
Tomorrow I will follow all results :woohoo:
Andrew Laeddis
Nov 24th, 2008, 04:23 PM
Nikki just win 2 matches. Thats all I need for you to do.
Andrew Laeddis
Nov 24th, 2008, 07:00 PM
As Nikki's coach I'm willing to rent her out to the tour director like Alize's coach did last season to help her make the final.
Sean.
Nov 24th, 2008, 07:29 PM
:speakles: No-one would want Nikki, she has diseases!
champion88
Nov 24th, 2008, 07:39 PM
:lol: Sorry Nikki but the OWTT Tour is not for sale!
Slutati
Nov 24th, 2008, 08:03 PM
As Nikki's coach I'm willing to rent her out to the tour director like Alize's coach did last season to help her make the final.
:lol:
Tomek.
Nov 24th, 2008, 08:12 PM
will there be doubles?
champion88
Nov 24th, 2008, 09:08 PM
no doubles here. I am considering bringing it back next season, and maybe only playing at the Tier I and Slams. :)
Daszmarelli
Nov 24th, 2008, 09:15 PM
Go, Anna!!!
new points coming :yeah:
Tomek.
Nov 24th, 2008, 10:47 PM
no doubles here. I am considering bringing it back next season, and maybe only playing at the Tier I and Slams. :)
from where do I know this? :scratch:
:p
champion88
Nov 24th, 2008, 10:59 PM
:lol: Doubles is quite a bit of work combining the points etc. Was alot of effort to do at all tournies, so is a good idea to do this, even if same as WFTC :ras:
#2 Anna Kournikova - for Serena not to defend, Vaidisova or Molik not to win the title and to match or better Ivanovic. If Vaidisova or Molik do win the title, must reach the QF and match or better Ivanovic to take the #1 spot.
#3 Ana Ivanovic - for Serena not to defend, Vaidisova or Molik not to win the title and to better Kournikova. If Vaidisova or Molik do win the title, must reach the QF and better Kournikova to take the #1 spot.
#6 Alicia Molik - win the title, with Kournikova & Ivanovic falling before QF.
So, it looks likely that it will be Kournikova or Ivanovic who will take over the #1 spot next week, unless one of the other 3 put in phenomenal performances and hope for the misfortunes of the other contenders!!
It should be a fun week on OWTT!! :devil:
Tomek.
Nov 24th, 2008, 11:31 PM
So, it looks likely that it will be Kournikova or Ivanovic who will take over the #1 spot next week
I can bet all my credits that it will be Anna :nerner:
RR-87
Nov 25th, 2008, 11:40 AM
:lol: Doubles is quite a bit of work combining the points etc. Was alot of effort to do at all tournies, so is a good idea to do this, even if same as WFTC :ras:
i will appeal ;)
*Joey*
Nov 25th, 2008, 02:34 PM
So much pressure...:eek:
Bartosh
Nov 25th, 2008, 02:35 PM
results? :p
Jose.
Nov 25th, 2008, 02:35 PM
:lol: I was about to ask the same
Adal
Nov 25th, 2008, 02:46 PM
Results please :angel:
Andrew Laeddis
Nov 25th, 2008, 02:53 PM
Results?
Jose.
Nov 25th, 2008, 02:54 PM
champ88 isn't online. So.... we gona have to wait!!!
YES! :woohoo::woohoo::woohoo::woohoo:
Ashley is such a loser. :haha:
*Joey*
Nov 25th, 2008, 04:21 PM
Sorana :hug: :awww:
Tomek.
Nov 25th, 2008, 04:21 PM
Nadia :eek: :eek: :eek: :yeah:
champion88
Nov 25th, 2008, 04:21 PM
US Open : R32
http://www.wtnphotos.com/data/550/1akoupic132.jpg
Larcher de Brito def. (2) Kournikova
6-0 7-6(5)
Tomek.
Nov 25th, 2008, 04:22 PM
Anna :tape: :help:
champion88
Nov 25th, 2008, 04:22 PM
So many seeds out! Including two hot faves in Sorana and Harkleroad.
Kournikova out of Race for #1, as is Vaidisova!
Jose.
Nov 25th, 2008, 04:22 PM
Malek :sad:
Petrova :eek:
Jose.
Nov 25th, 2008, 04:23 PM
Michelle :eek: :woohoo: I can't believe!!! :bounce:
I wasn't expecting at all :eek:
Kournikova :sad: :hug:
champion88
Nov 25th, 2008, 04:23 PM
R16 Draw
(1) S.Williams Vs. (14) Na Li
(Q) Pennetta Vs. (Q) Salerni
(7) Davenport Vs. Sharapova
Hantuchova Vs. (3) Ivanovic
(4) Cornet Vs. Tulyaganova
Benesova Vs. (6) Molik
Jankovic Vs. Golovin
(Q) Petrova Vs. Larcher de Brito
Bottom 1/4 :eek:
champion88
Nov 25th, 2008, 04:24 PM
Only 6/16 seeds make it to Round 2 :o :help:
*Joey*
Nov 25th, 2008, 04:25 PM
Knew it. :sad:
Ouch. :sobbing:
*Joey*
Nov 25th, 2008, 04:25 PM
Would I have lost too with old points?
Adal
Nov 25th, 2008, 04:25 PM
How would my previous points do?
Tomek.
Nov 25th, 2008, 04:28 PM
did Dinara send new points? :p
Poova
Nov 25th, 2008, 04:29 PM
Can I go back to being unseeded in Grand Slams please? I've lost 1R in the last 2 Slams where I've been seeded. :help:
And Tati - you were just lucky that poor Ashley couldn't deal with your tactical timeouts. :awww:
Tomek.
Nov 25th, 2008, 04:30 PM
from post number 1 only 3 left :haha:
Imperfect Angel
Nov 25th, 2008, 04:30 PM
Nadia :banana:
champion88
Nov 25th, 2008, 04:31 PM
No Dinara did not send new points.
Cirstea I think would have lost in 2R or QF 0 can't remember which.
Kournikova would have come down to CT with Michelle, but lost to Nadia next round anyway.
Tomek.
Nov 25th, 2008, 04:32 PM
pity that my tactic will be not good vs Benesova :sad:
Jose.
Nov 25th, 2008, 04:34 PM
Second round also today???
champion88
Nov 25th, 2008, 04:36 PM
R16 in a couple of hours - I have to go to a presentation now :(
Jose.
Nov 25th, 2008, 04:38 PM
:lol: Good luck :wavey:
I will write a article :p
zvonarevarulz
Nov 25th, 2008, 04:54 PM
It's really sad when the former champ goes out in qualies:sad:
Slutati
Nov 25th, 2008, 05:02 PM
Can I go back to being unseeded in Grand Slams please? I've lost 1R in the last 2 Slams where I've been seeded. :help:
And Tati - you were just lucky that poor Ashley couldn't deal with your tactical timeouts. :awww:
Well, Tati's a smart girl :woohoo:
Szavay, Harkleroad and Cirstea out. :haha: Great tournament so far. :yeah:
It's really sad when the former champ goes out in qualies:sad:
the former champ sucks...big time! it was just a fluke win anyway.
Slutati
Nov 25th, 2008, 05:07 PM
Oh I wasn't sure if Azarenka was out or not. Even better. :woohoo::banana:
So the lame 4 are out. :awww:
dybbuk
Nov 25th, 2008, 05:09 PM
Crap, I spread as much rep as I can in 24 hours, still can't badrep you. :sobbing: Just a matter of time.
Slutati
Nov 25th, 2008, 05:17 PM
:haha:
I hope you enjoyed my badrep :kiss:
Jose.
Nov 25th, 2008, 05:37 PM
Michelle Larcher de Brito makes surprise of the day
Flushing Meadows, Today started the first round of the season three last grand slam, the US Open. Lots of players fighting for the title and ranking points. Lots of rivarlies and bitch fight to continue as the OWTT tour end the US hard court season. And some players fighting for the world #1 spot. One of them was the russian superstar Anna Kournikova. She was the one with more hopes and the one with more fans supporting her to win be the new number one. But her mission wasn't quite easy has she had to face fiery Portuguese Michelle Larcher de Brito in the first round.
http://i38.tinypic.com/176edd.jpg
In one of the most expected first round matches. The portuguese 15 years old start better the match by making a break in the first game of the set. She then closed her service to make 2-0. With Anna serving to recover she made 3 DF and Michelle gone to 3-0. The rest was as easy as the begin and Michelle close out the first set by 6-0 with a service winner. The second set was really different with Anna K breaking Michelle's service at the first opportunity leading the set by 2-0. But the hunger teenager was not going to let it go fast so she strated to scream louder. And it completely changed the game with Michelle easily making the 2-2. Then the match gone to a tiebreak with both players playing in their best. The tiebreak started with a DF to Michelle. Than with a ace and a winner Anna K made the 3-0. Two UE on Michelle service make the 5-0 to a delighted Anna K. Anna K then served and didn't found the way to make points and made two UE to put the scoreboard at 2-5. Michelle service returned fiery and with two aces she recovered to 4-5. Then Anna K suddently start to talk alone and let the match 5-5, 5-6 ...... And Michelle found herself serving for the match. And a winner close to the line put Michelle into the second round.
"I am really heppy win that match. The first set was easy but that second set was really hard but I was better enough to win the match and make the second round."
http://i35.tinypic.com/11l0l4y.jpg
In the second round of the tournament Michelle will play qualifier Nadia Petrova who beat Wimbledon Champ Tatjana Malek in the first round. "I hope to get through. As I am the favourite to win the match so I think I could pass into the Quarters. Let's see what happens. I don't know Nadia a lot so the match will be difficult but we played two weeks ago and she won so I want to get my revenge."
This US Open saw 10 of the 16 seeds pulling out in the first round. Michelle about that situation : "I think the tour is getting better and better and the players too. So it's getting much more competitive and I think it is normal to see so much surprises."
1-0 Benesova
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1-1
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2-1 Benesova
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2-2
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3-2 Benesova
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3-3
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4-3 Benesova
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4-4
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5-4 Molik
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6-4
1-0 Benesova
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2-0
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3-0
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3-1
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4-1
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4-2
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4-3
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4-4
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5-4 Benesova
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6-4
1-0 Benesova
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2-0
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3-0
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4-0
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5-0
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5-1
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5-2
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5-3
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5-4
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5-5
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6-5 Molik
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7-5
And :worship: Jankovic for taking out that trash :yeah:
Tati tanked, she doesn't really care about tennis, she only played this tournament to get you out. :wavey:
Iveta :haha: so pathetic.
Adal
Nov 25th, 2008, 07:08 PM
Tatiana :haha: What a joke she is. Just retire already.
Slutati
Nov 25th, 2008, 07:10 PM
At least she won a match here. :haha:
zvonarevarulz
Nov 25th, 2008, 07:28 PM
the former champ sucks...big time! it was just a fluke win anyway.
1-0 Pennetta
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2-0
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2-1
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3-1
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4-1
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4-2
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4-3
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4-4
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5-4 S.Williams
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5-5
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6-5 S.Williams
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6-6
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Tie-Break!!!
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1-0 Pennetta
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2-0
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2-1
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3-1
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3-2
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4-2
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5-2
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5-3
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5-4
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5-5
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6-5 S.Williams
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6-6
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7-6 S.Williams
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8-6
1-0 Pennetta
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2-0
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3-0*
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4-0
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4-1
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4-2
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4-3
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4-4
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5-4 Pennetta
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5-5
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6-5 S.Williams
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6-6
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Tie-Break!!!
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1-0 Pennetta
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2-0
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2-1
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3-1
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3-2
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4-2
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5-2
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5-3
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5-4
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5-5
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6-5 S.Williams
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7-5
(1) S.Williams Vs. Sharapova
(6) Molik Vs. Jankovic
champion88
Nov 25th, 2008, 07:45 PM
Race for #1 Update
If either Serena or Molik win the title they will become #1. If neither takes the title, Ivanovic will become #1 (despite losing in R2 and only passing R1 via CT :lol: )
Sean.
Nov 25th, 2008, 08:08 PM
Alizé will retire after Fed Cup, she wants to play infont of her home crowd one more time
Imperfect Angel
Nov 25th, 2008, 08:29 PM
Molik obviously slept with the tour director before.:o
Slutati
Nov 25th, 2008, 08:34 PM
Molik is so lame. She keeps whining how her points suck...:yawn::rolleyes:
Serena has terribly struggled since her French Open success, but she always believed she was the best player on Tour and that she had what it takes to turn things around when she would feel like doing it. This week she came in, not over confident at all as she had some bad losses over the last weeks, but she still believed things would get together in Flushing Meadows if she could completely focus on her own game and strategy.
Serena started off with a big win over the young Belarussian, Victoria Azarenka. The American Queen knew this match would be tricky and that it would tough to stop her bad losses streak here in the opener of a Grand Slam. Ree said after the match : "I'm real glad I got through this match, my first set was really shaky, I couldn't hit two winners in a row and it made the games really long, fortunately I was the more raelxed one in the tie break. As the match advanced I got more cumfortable and I closed the match pretty quickly, it was a good test for a first round match." Final score was 7-6(6) 6-4.
Second round was against the Chinese women and 14th seed, Na Li, who had given troubles to Ree in the past. Li got off to an impressive start, she went on winning the first set 6-1 in 23 minutes playing some near perfect tennis. The world number 1 still hasn't been on top 38 weeks in a row just cause she was lucky, she used her experienced to change up the rhythm and get back into this match. Williams was more patient and waited for a really good opportunity to hit the biggest she could, she sliced more and added more spin in her shots and totally mixed up Li. Williams finally won 1-6 6-0 6-2.
Serena then landed in QF against Flavia Pennetta, even though Serena was really happy to have won two matches, she wanted more. The Italian women, who had to get trough qualifications to get to the MD, wasn't going to be an easy opponent. The player who achieved the most things on tour quickly went down 1-4 in the first set, Pennetta's forehand was really hot. But as a champion, Serena didn't give up and rallied back to 5-5 and 6-6. Pennetta got up to 5-2 in the TB but once again, she choked her lead away to lose the TB 6-8. Second set, yet again, mainly was marked by Flavia's terrible chokes, she went up 4-0, but Williams came back to force another tie break in which Pennetta choked another 5-2 lead away to lose it 5-7.
Serena talked about her QF match : "I really couldn't get off to any king good start in any of the two sets, I always had to fight back, it was a tough match mentally. Flavia played well, but when I got my game up a level, she couldn't follow me." Williams also talked about the world number 1's race now including only her, Ana Ivanovic and Alicia Molik : "I'm surprised Anna lost first round to this young ball basher from Portugal, I can't remember her name. Pressure must have overwhelmed her. Having to choose between us 3, I'd choose myself for sure, I'm the best, second Alicia as she has to win the title to get there so at least she would have a GS title so it would be a bit more deserved compared to Ana who only can hope for others to lose to get there, it would be a real shame to the tour."
1-0 Sharapova
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2-0
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3-0
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4-0
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4-1
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4-2
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4-3
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4-4
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5-4 Sharapova
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6-4
Congratulations to Maria Sharapova, who wins her first ever Grand Slam, and her third title overall. She is definitely a surprise winner here, but played some fantastic tennis, taking out seeds Craybas and Davenport, as well as defending champion Serena this week. Today's match was a weird one, with lots of momentum shifts. Both women seemed very nervous today, but Sharapova was just able to handle the nerves a bit better in the end. She will jump to a career0high ranking of #6, and also rockets to #3 in the Race. Great week for JJ too, after a poor season for her. JJ would have beaten Serena if she had won the CT in the semi fo face JJ here in the final, so harsh luck for her.
Tomek.
Nov 25th, 2008, 10:42 PM
would I beat Sharapova?
champion88
Nov 25th, 2008, 10:48 PM
Sharapova def. Molik 6-0 0-6 6-0 :tape:
Poova
Nov 25th, 2008, 10:56 PM
Maria :worship: Congrats! :yeah:
Shafanovic.
Nov 26th, 2008, 03:39 AM
Wow MARIA!! WELL DONE!!!
Hashim.
Nov 26th, 2008, 07:50 AM
OMG:sobbing:
but i finally reached a final again:D