We’ve seen a lot of tennis played over the last ten months, but did a particular story or event stand out to you as the best moment of 2007?
Today’s Open Forum Friday question is from Chris.
Before I give my opinion, here is the rest of Chris’ comments.
“A few I remember: Serena’s amazing Australian Open run, Justine’s win streak post-Wimbledon, Venus winning Wimbledon for the FOURTH time, the emergence of the Serbs, the retirements of Kim Clijsters and Martina Hingis, and the surprise double champ Lindsay Davenport after nearly a year off the court. Hantuchova winning two titles and making the YEC was also a complete feel-good story, even if not one on the level of Serena’s early ‘07.
Anything I’m missing, anything you’d like to divulge with those stories?”
Chris, that’s an excellent recap of the season. For me, the performances of three Americans stood out as the best story of the 2007 season.
For the past couple of years, critics have been writing about the state of tennis in the USA, especially where it concerns the WTA Tour. However in 2007, three women proved that American tennis is alive and well.
Serena and Venus Williams each added another Grand Slam title to their already impressive resumes, and although she did not compete at a major event this season, Lindsay Davenport accomplished an almost impossible feat of successfully returning after giving birth to her first child.
Three amazing achievements, accomplished by three women who had been written off as disinterested, former champions ready to resume their lives off the court.
Justine Henin, Jelena Jankovic, Ana Ivanovic, and even Daniela Hantuchova had breakthrough seasons, but for me, the most exciting story of 2007 was the reemergence of American tennis, especially after a dismal showing last year.
Everyone, feel free to join in this weekend’s discussion! If you’d like to submit a question or comment of your own for a future week’s edition, please go here.
I’d say the most exciting story Venus winning Wimbledon by virtue of the way she did it, almost losing to unknowns and then demolishing 3 top 5 players to get to the final. But the best match I saw this year was the Miami final with Serena and Justine.
The best story of 2007 would be how expensive the food prices are at the Grand Slams!
Okay, I don’t really have highs but lows:
– Kim Clijsters disappearance from the tennis world. Okay, she suffered so many injuries, but I am really disappointed by her lack of commitment in late 2006 and 2007 after she announced her retirement plans
– the complete decline of tennis broadcast on TV: Eurosport pushing it to Eurosport 2, and it is sure never anywhere on US TV when I am here (I can’t even find a channel where they broadcast the Masters in Shanghai! For that reason I watched very little tennis this year, and where it leads to is very clear: no tennis on TV – no watching tennis – no interest in tennis – no fans – no money in tennis.
Highs? I agree with all the above. The summary: I think it really exciting to see a new generation of top 10 emerging… will be very interesting in 2008! I just hope there will be no injuries.
It was a big year, but for me, the best story was Marion Bartoli’s amazing Wimbledon run. I’ll never forget it; I only wish she had taken the whole thing.
Diane, wouldn’t that have been amazing if she had won the title? We would be talking about that win for years.
Still, I find it so inspiring that Marion reached the final, especially with that win over Justine. After all the years of being labeled as a bit of a nut, overweight, and an underachiever, she shut her critics up once and for all.
Highs:
- Kim retiring. Weird, but it’s a high because she’s happy moving on in life
- Being a Kim fan, Kim’s pregnancy. So happy for her!
- Ivanovic’s GS final
- Federer and Nadal’s continued rivalry
- Djokovic’s rise
_ Lindsay’s triumphant return
Lows:
- Mauresmo’s poor year
- Henin’s domination
- Jankovic’s high ranking from playing so many tournaments. And the subsequent overhype for a player who is not exactly young
- Anything that comes out of Peter Bodo’s mouth
I have to say my most exciting story of 2007 I was Lindsay’s comeback as I never thought it was going to happen and for Lindsay to win two tournaments and make a semi final in the third was a totally suprise and a totally bonus just having Lindsay back is great for tennis.
for me
highs:
1)serena stunning the tennis world winning australian open being ranked no.81-this is the greatest story for me and
2)ofcourse venus winning wimbledon and bartoli in finals
3)also as impressive henin reigning winning 2 slams
lows:
1)so sad to see kim lose in semis at australia
Yay! I made the OFF! Second year in a row.
To me, my favorite story was Dementieva in Moscow, but aside from that Serena in Australia was just something special. Aside from Kremer I thought for SURE she was going to lose to each and every player she went up against until Sharapova, who I thought she’d pulverize. And, well.
It is great to be able to post your comments on such a platform.
A couple of stories have been very interesting this year. Serena’s win at Melbourne park was a surprise, moresoever Daniela winning 2nd title at Indian wells was shocking since greatest women’e tennis like Navratilova, Graf & Davenport have also won only 2 titles at IW.
But, but guys…………
For me the most important story was DAVENPORT returning to the game. Had she not commentated at this year’s IW finals, that persuaded her to come back, she was a sure hall of famer in the coming years. Nevertheless, she will sure be but a little later.
When Lindsay won Bali, I felt at the top of the world. It almost wiped all my tears that I hae been shedding since Wimbledon 2005 finals!!
Lindsay is an asset to the tennis world & her return to tennis will take the game to greater heights.
All you young & new tennis fans will get to see the legend play live at MELBOURNE PARK….
So friends, let put our hands together for this fantastic ambassador of women’s tennis.
3 cheers for the eight time Pacific life open champion –
HIP HIP HURRAY
HIP HIP HURRAY
HIP HIP HURRAY
llll
Chris kind of summed everything up nicely, involving every big point of the season. I’d have to say the best story of 2007 was Serena’s title run at the Australian Open. She came in losing in the quarterfinals of a Tier IV, ranked 81, and a huge question mark (with many people believing her a distracted, unfit, washed-up champion). She fought with a fire in her belly and an amazing amount of grit and determination. Re-experiencing the joy of being a champion, her right index finger shot into the air: she wanted to be world no. 1 again.
Honorable mention: Serena’s title run in Miami, a fourth Wimbledon for Venus, and Lindsay’s successful return. Aaress, you are right about the strength of these American champions. There isn’t much to note on the horizon, but the foreground looks incredible. I can’t wait to see how they do in 2008. If each won another grand slam title, I wouldn’t complain…
For me, the best story of 2007 is the re-emergence and re-commitment of the Williams sisters to the tennis world.
For years now, there has been a lot of talk about how they’re not committed, how they want other things and stuff. This year, they totally showed that they are still committed to tennis and that they would want to win more Grand Slams.
Well, the Williams sisters winning a slam, Justine dominating, Kim and Martina retiring are not all that far fetched. However I do think the only true unexpected event was the return of Lindsay Davenport. I think we all thought she went quietly away after the 06 season, never to return. But, we were all pleasantly surprised to hear that she was coming back in the fall of 07 with a planned return to to semi full schedule in 08 with her eye on the Olympics. I think the competitive fire still burns within her and she realizes, with the support of her husband and family, that she can have it all and make a return to the WTA.
While I think the Williams sisters are great athletes I think they are ego maniacs bordering on prize fighters fostered by their odd father Richard. If they would tone it done a bit, they might be more appealing to a broader base. Whereas Lindsay is a class act, with a true humble spirit. It is refreshing to see that in sport in this age. I have and will always be a big fan of hers for that very reason. For me, she gives the women’s game something it lacks, a humble, classy athlete with a big game.
Have a great 08 Lindsay!! I will be watching!!
for me the best story is Venus winning Wimbledon. The way she went from almost losing in the early rounds to destroying top 5 players was amazing. Serena’s AO title run is a close second. even I didnt think she’d win that one. and although im not a fan of hers, the story of Henin’s reconsilation with her family was a nice wee feel good story.
For me it was Marion Bartoli’s great end of season run. Nobody gave her a chance of beating JuJu or making the the top ten, but she did.
Now I want Lil Masha to do the same in 2008
Serena’s dismateling of top players in the
australian open to become the champion. Venus long layoff to become wimbledon champion for the fourth time. Lets cheer for our top tennis players, Venus,Serena & Lindsay-they are simply the best.