Serena Williams has backed up her ascent to the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour’s top spot with her third title of the year.
The incoming world No. 1 star capped off a perfect week in Doha on Sunday by beating her sister Venus for the singles trophy.
“It feels good,” Serena said after winning her first non-Grand Slam title since Charleston’s Family Circle Cup in 2008. “I totally didn’t expect to come here and win.”
While the final was competitive between the two sisters, both were struggling with injuries and had heavy taping on their left legs. Serena dominated the opening set 6-2 before Venus stepped up her game in the second set. The defending champion managed to force a tiebreak, but could not stop her sister from winning the match 6-2, 7-6(4).
Serena’s victory ends an impressive week in Doha for the eleven-time major singles champion.
She went undefeated in round robin play at the Sony Ericsson Championships and was awarded a winner’s check of $1,550,000 dollars in prize money.
Williams is just the second player in Sony Ericsson WTA Tour history to earn more than $5 million in prize money in a single season, after Justine Henin in 2007.
Ah well, bad end for a bad season. Time for Justine to come back, the order needs to be restored :0)
Congrats Serena. This is a nice way to cap a good year’s performance. You showed great courage fighting injuries and everything else to come out on top once again. Kudos…
Yes so happy. Serena deserved this.
ORDER IS RESTORED!
Congratulation Serena on you success, well deserved. You are a wonderful star, many your light continue to shine. Enjoy your rest period and looking forward to seeing you next year. Good health and blessings to you and your family. ONE LOVE
Bravo Joana! It is great to see that there still remains positive insight to Women’s Tennis. The statement from Marine was unnecessary – at least Serena is an honest champion!
Serena – honest champion? She is a steriods-pumped fraud.
Hingis down, Justine quit amidst questions of steroid use, Wickmayer dishes, Agassi fesses up, Gasquet kissed, etc. Every one caught, but as many as you who think Serena is pumped with steroids, WHERE’S the proof? What are you saying, (wish you were)Marine? When will she be caught with steroids. She’s played more than 10 years, written a book, when do you think she will finally lie for you? Help me to understand your stance that she is doing drugs, but if ITF, USTA, WTA are teseting these players why has no one has found these drugs.
and oh yeah. Which of the quitters Safina, Azarenka, Wozniacki, Zvonereva, etc. do you think should have won YEC. And I am only saying this for you benefit as I DO believe that each of the ladies were legitmately hurt. As I do BELIEVE that Serena and Venus were hurt too.
If serena is a steriods-pumped fraud then Justine is even more of a steriod pumped fraud AND a coward, I always thought those muscles on such a little woman and her masculine walk (legs apart) was quite fishy. As to coward, Who quits when they are #1? She needed a break, she could have just said that, but no, she retires and everyone is hailing her return like she’s bestowing favors on the masses, spare me!
Don’t EVER call Vera ZvonArëva a quitter!
Woah, there’s a lot of extremes of opinion being expressed on this page! I don’t like Serena’s style of play, but is she a worthy no. 1? Yes, she is. It’s true her results in the non-slam events were not that great, but she earned the points to get to no.1. It’s not her fault that Safina didn’t defend her points or earn enough points.
Chidi, I recall reading your previous comments, and you always struck me as quite fair, but I think your comments here are quite harsh, especially how you’re using Justine’s appearance to imply that that she took steroids.I never noticed anything particularly strange about Henin’s walk, but some people just walk strange. Besides, I wouldn’t be able to imagine why steroid abuse would affect the way you walk.
Someone mentioned that Henin quit amidst questions of steroid use, well like frankiejames said, where is the proof? There isn’t any except gossip on the net, just like there is nothing for Serena.
Interesting point about Henin being a coward. I guess it depends on how you interpret being a coward. Personally, I think it’s braver to quit the sport, and then realise you made a mistake than to half-heartedly carry on playing a sport professionally, something that demands passion, because you’re too scared of what will happen to you if you do quit. Who quits when they’re no. 1? Not many people in tennis, but it’s not uncommon in other sports for people to retire after they’ve won something major in their sport.
You are right. I really like Zvonareva, but she just irks the hades out of me. I know she can do better. When she played Venus? I think, last year. I can’t remember which tourny (YEC?) she wasn’t beaten so bad, but every time she missed a return or every time Venus? returned her ball, she fell to the ground. One time really crying uncontrolably. I couldn’t believe that she folded like that. And then at this YEC, please tell me, how many times did she hit the ground. Like, “why do I put myself through this” She just gives in.
Wheres’s the proof? Well, if you have a good eyesight compare the photos of Serena from now and say, 2005. She’s grown a fair bit, hasn’t she? In comparison with other female players she is much bigger.
Justine on roids? Too much muscle? Don’t think so. Also, her figure has not changed over the years in terms of being more muscle-bound. In Serena’s case it is the opposite. Also, one of the side effects of steroid use is an ugly “roid rage”. Serena’s gotten quite “grumpy” on the court over the years and it’s getting worse. Fist pumps, aggressive demeanour on court which peaked at US Open. If you want to ignore it, do so, kid yourselves… Justine has never been so aggressive, she doesn’t need roids, she has talent and wit. Her game is tactical, it is not boring power game. No steroid in the world can get you tactical skills, you just have to know how to play, not just smack the ball as hard as you can…
To my mind, this year’s YEC was full of tragedies. Those “quitters” as you awkwardly call them stopped because they were just exhausted. Yes, Williamses also had a few injuries, but apparently it couldn’t have been that bad as for example Caroline or Dinara who just had to stop or else they’d ******* themselves up completely. I wanted Venus to win,if you’re so keen to know.And I was almost right,hehe, sadly she also crumbled (?) at a crucial point. Something is definitely off in her game when she plays against her sister, but that can be a topic of a whole new debate, I guess.
Zvonareva is a headcase. When she loses it she does big time and completely self-destructs.I think she’s a case for a good sport psychologist, if she sorted out her mental toughness she’d be much more serious contender on the biggest events.
I’m sorry if you feel that way small observer, but I do believe people often use Serena’s physique to say that Serena uses steriods, I mean, just read Marine’s comments again. Apparently, we’re kidding ourselves because we do not see things as “obviously” as s/he does. I do believe I am quite fair, I don’t need you to see it that way or otherwise, but when logic doesn’t work with some people you use their logic because that’s all they seem to understand. Marine’s over there talking about how Serena’s game is all about smacking the ball hard. Well, so does Sharapova and many countless girls, however what does it say about all the players on tour, including Justine, when Serena’s power game is winning her 11 slams? Aggie Radwanska’s game is tactical, hasn’t netted her much has it? Sharapova’s game of smacking the ball hard gave Justine a bagel at AO 2008, didn’t it? Martina’s was just as tactical, 5 slams right? I don’t care what Justine’s reasons were to quit, neither will I hail her as the coming savior because she decided to return, it’s ridiculous, and to do it at the expense of Serena (and yes, it’s only serena’s name that’s come up over and over again) is just as ridiculous.
Chidi, so maybe all the other players should just leave the tour so Serena can be basically handed all the trophies, shouldn’t they? Or are you so scared about her return…as is Serena, too, and many other players.
That Serena has won so many slams is a result of her game strategy. She is a big-venue player these days. At other tournaments she exits early so she has more fuel in the tank than others who are all-season players. Just like Justine.
And to all others:
Aggie’s game neeed some development,for sure…
Sharapova’s smacking the ball earned her many losses against Justine and also a screwed up shoulder…
With brainless power play one won’t go far, it’s predictable and skilled players such as Justine or Martina can deal with that. And to address Martina, I don’t care she doesn’t top the charts with no. of slam trophies, she was fantastic tactician who really knew how to play and joy to watch. But to everybody their own. You like ball bashers, worship them. I like those who can play tennis.
And I like those who can write an opinion without denigrating to mindless insults. I don’t worship anybody thanks, not my style. And once again, saying one’s scared about Justine’s return is laughable. We are talking about tennis, right? Is she some wizard of oz conjuring up green lights to make her opponents tremble with fear? I believe she’s just a player like any other. she loses, she wins. And no honey, you don’t like those who can play tennis, you just hate Serena!
Couple of points to make:
- Lots of differing opinions, but please stick to commenting on the topic at hand — Serena’s win in Doha.
- As for the alleged steroid use by Serena and Justine ,just because a player has muscles does not mean she is doping. If you had Serena’s body build and played aggressive tennis nearly day for nearly two decades, you’d have muscles too! Just because Justine is small and successful doesn’t mean she’s on steriods either.
I have never read, seen, or heard one credible piece of evidence that would prove that either Justine or Serena was on steroids. Saying a player might be on drugs because she chewed someone out on court or walks funny can hardly be called proof.
Also, if there is one thing we’ve learned with the Yanina Wickmayer case, it is that the ITF and other anti-doping officials take their jobs very seriously. If for one moment the ITF thought a top player was doping, don’t you think they would investigate it? No player (regardless of their profile or fame) is invincible from investigation —- have we already forgotten about Martina Hingis?
Anyway, carry on — about Serena’s win in Doha. I hate to break up the discussion, but if this one starts veering again south, I’m going to have to moderate it and make sure that we stick to the topic at hand. Thanks!