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Since the past decade, Russian players have made their way to the top of the sport, while it seemed unthinkable back then.
Even though we tend to criticise their chokes, double faults, and error-strewn matches they have (and used to have) sometimes, we forget all the other times when they've brought drama and high-quality ball-striking to the WTA in their matches. Many of the finals played between russians are nervy affairs for both players, but they play better in other stages of a tournament.
Like it or not, Russia:
· Has had 10 different top ten players (Morozova, Kournikova, Myskina, Dementieva, Sharapova, Kuznetsova, Zvonareva, Petrova, Chakvetadze & Safina)
· They've contested three All-Russian GS finals (the most GS finals contested between players of the same country in the Open Era after USA, Australia & Belgium)
· A russian has won at least once at 14 of the 18 existing Tier I tournaments in the WTA history (Even more impressive considering none of the top Russian women were playing at the time of the Philadelphia, Boca Raton and Chicago Tier I tournaments' existence, therefore the only Tier I tournament of the 00s-and on which has not had a Russian Champion is Dubai)
· There has been a Tier I final contested between Russian players at 8 of 18 tier I tournaments existent in the WTA history
Since it's about to be 4 years since Russia swept all the Medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, I thought it would be interesting to find the most entertaining match we've had between Russian women. Yes, they haven't had many high-quality matches, but there have been some regardless.
The highlights of some of the matches I put for voting:
2004 San Diego SF: Myskina def. Zvonareva 6-2 6-7(4) 7-6(15)
(That TB
)
2004 US Open F: Kuznetsova def. Dementieva 6-3 7-5
(Not really that competitive, but still this was a match which put russians again on the spotlight of the tennis world, and Elena made it more of a match this time)
2004 WTA Championships SF: Sharapova def. Myskina 2-6 6-2 6-2
(Both GS champions that year, facing each other at the YEC)
2005 Australian Open QF – Sharapova def. Kuznetsova 4-6 6-2 6-2
(Nice stuff from both players, specially considering the heat)
2008 Roland Garros 4R – Safina def. Sharapova 6-7(6) 7-6(5) 6-2
(Safina again upsetting Masha at RG, this time it was better quality than 2006, both producing more than 60 winners each!)
2008 Wimbledon QF – Dementieva def. Petrova 6-1 6-7(6) 6-3
(Elena was 6-1 5-1 up in this match... almost lost it)
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5zb0t_dementieva-def-petrova-wimbledon-qf_sport
2008 Beijing Olympics F – Dementieva def. Safina 3-6 7-5 6-3
(The match where Elena wins her Gold Medal, and Russia wins all the singles medals in women's tennis
)
2009 Roland Garros 2R: Sharapova def. Petrova 6-2 1-6 8-6
(Maria coming back after injury... and still fighting it out with Nadia)
2004 Roland Garros 4R – Myskina def. Kuznetsova 1-6 6-4 8-6
(No Youtube highlights
)
2006 Berlin QF – Petrova def. Safina 3-6 6-4 6-3
(None either)
OTHER VOTING OPTIONS:
2004 Roland Garros F: Myskina def. Dementieva 6-1 6-2
(After all, in spite of the dreadful play, it was the historic, first all-russian final)
2006 Stuttgart SF – Petrova def. Kuznetsova 6-2 1-6 6-4
2007 WTA Championships RR – Sharapova def. Kuznetsova 5-7 6-2 6-2
(Amazing play by both, Maria just too match in the end)
2008 Doha F – Sharapova def. Zvonareva 6-1 2-6 6-0
2008 Dubai F – Dementieva def. Kuznetsova 4-6 6-3 6-2
2009 Roland Garros F - Kuznetsova def. Safina 6-4 6-2
(The last Russian final, and it didn't end pretty. Probably Dinara's best chance at a Slam...)
So, overall, which one was the best match and most entertaining one?
Even though we tend to criticise their chokes, double faults, and error-strewn matches they have (and used to have) sometimes, we forget all the other times when they've brought drama and high-quality ball-striking to the WTA in their matches. Many of the finals played between russians are nervy affairs for both players, but they play better in other stages of a tournament.
Like it or not, Russia:
· Has had 10 different top ten players (Morozova, Kournikova, Myskina, Dementieva, Sharapova, Kuznetsova, Zvonareva, Petrova, Chakvetadze & Safina)
· They've contested three All-Russian GS finals (the most GS finals contested between players of the same country in the Open Era after USA, Australia & Belgium)
· A russian has won at least once at 14 of the 18 existing Tier I tournaments in the WTA history (Even more impressive considering none of the top Russian women were playing at the time of the Philadelphia, Boca Raton and Chicago Tier I tournaments' existence, therefore the only Tier I tournament of the 00s-and on which has not had a Russian Champion is Dubai)
· There has been a Tier I final contested between Russian players at 8 of 18 tier I tournaments existent in the WTA history
Since it's about to be 4 years since Russia swept all the Medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, I thought it would be interesting to find the most entertaining match we've had between Russian women. Yes, they haven't had many high-quality matches, but there have been some regardless.
The highlights of some of the matches I put for voting:
2004 San Diego SF: Myskina def. Zvonareva 6-2 6-7(4) 7-6(15)
(That TB
2004 US Open F: Kuznetsova def. Dementieva 6-3 7-5
(Not really that competitive, but still this was a match which put russians again on the spotlight of the tennis world, and Elena made it more of a match this time)
2004 WTA Championships SF: Sharapova def. Myskina 2-6 6-2 6-2
(Both GS champions that year, facing each other at the YEC)
2005 Australian Open QF – Sharapova def. Kuznetsova 4-6 6-2 6-2
(Nice stuff from both players, specially considering the heat)
2008 Roland Garros 4R – Safina def. Sharapova 6-7(6) 7-6(5) 6-2
(Safina again upsetting Masha at RG, this time it was better quality than 2006, both producing more than 60 winners each!)
2008 Wimbledon QF – Dementieva def. Petrova 6-1 6-7(6) 6-3
(Elena was 6-1 5-1 up in this match... almost lost it)
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5zb0t_dementieva-def-petrova-wimbledon-qf_sport
2008 Beijing Olympics F – Dementieva def. Safina 3-6 7-5 6-3
(The match where Elena wins her Gold Medal, and Russia wins all the singles medals in women's tennis
2009 Roland Garros 2R: Sharapova def. Petrova 6-2 1-6 8-6
(Maria coming back after injury... and still fighting it out with Nadia)
2004 Roland Garros 4R – Myskina def. Kuznetsova 1-6 6-4 8-6
(No Youtube highlights
2006 Berlin QF – Petrova def. Safina 3-6 6-4 6-3
(None either)
OTHER VOTING OPTIONS:
2004 Roland Garros F: Myskina def. Dementieva 6-1 6-2
(After all, in spite of the dreadful play, it was the historic, first all-russian final)
2006 Stuttgart SF – Petrova def. Kuznetsova 6-2 1-6 6-4
2007 WTA Championships RR – Sharapova def. Kuznetsova 5-7 6-2 6-2
(Amazing play by both, Maria just too match in the end)
2008 Doha F – Sharapova def. Zvonareva 6-1 2-6 6-0
2008 Dubai F – Dementieva def. Kuznetsova 4-6 6-3 6-2
2009 Roland Garros F - Kuznetsova def. Safina 6-4 6-2
(The last Russian final, and it didn't end pretty. Probably Dinara's best chance at a Slam...)
So, overall, which one was the best match and most entertaining one?
