STANFORD, California—Victoria Azarenka also received – and took advantage of – a few birthday gifts from her opponent Sam Stosur. Stosur, who is arguably one of the nicest, most decent women on tour, may have taken her generosity a bit too far this time.
Her first offering came in the fifth game of the first set at 2-2 and deuce, when Stosur, who never summoned her “A” game today, whiffed on a screamer at the baseline. If that didn’t shatter all of her confidence temporarily, the ensuing point would take care of the rest. At ad-out Stosur came well inside the service line to put away a sitter, and drove the ball into what she believed would be an open part of the court. Azarenka, who hadn’t bothered to move since her last feeble shot, was ready to accept the offering. She casually flicked a down the line winner past a perturbed Stosur.
In the next three games Azarenka lost only five points, and she closed the first set out in just thirty-six minutes.
The paid crowd of 2,193 politely urged the world No. 5 to get in gear (even a few tame Aussie, Aussie, Aussie chants surfaced from the cheap seats), and Stosur did show signs of life, particularly with her bazooka inside out forehand. But her efforts were ultimately acted out in vain. Azarenka was simply too much of a terror today. She was relentless, opportunistic, improvisational, and closed the match by winning five of the last six games.
The Belarusian helped her own cause by only missing 12 first serves for the whole match, and she further helped her cause by committing only 15 unforced errors (to 33 for Stosur).
Meanwhile, her irascible return game brought out the worst in Stosur’s serving, as Azarenka managed five breaks in nine games against the Aussie’s world class kick serve.
It was an all-around dominating day for the birthday girl, and she’ll be searching for her 1st title of the year in her 3rd final of the year, tomorrow.
*****
Double Trouble:
Doubles wonder Zheng Jie has been ranked as high as No. 3 in the world (2006) and she exhibited every facet of her world class game today in her semifinal match alongside her partner Chan Yung-Jan.
I guess it’s good money if you can make it, and Zheng and Chan certainly did make it today. They were pushed to a match tiebreak by the new pairing of Victoria Azarenka and Maria Kirilenko, but the stellar net skills of Zheng, and the all-around doubles supremacy of her team, which angles, lobs, and hits reaction volleys with the best of them, was too much for Kirilenko and the birthday girl.
Zheng and Chan found another level and cruised to victory by winning seven of the last eight points in the match tiebreak, much to the delight of an appreciative crowd, who needed a little pick me up after the one sided semifinal that had just completed.
Unlike last night, when most of the packed crowd filed out long before Zheng and Chan dismissed Jill Craybas and Carly Gullickson with a double bagel, today the doubles match was by far the more entertaining match of the session.
Between the play of Zheng and Chan, and the pressworthy return of Lindsay Davenport, the doubles draw is turning out to be much more than a sidecourt distraction this week in Stanford.
*****
Just stepped out of the pressroom to see the on-court pre-match ceremony celebrating forty years of the Bank of the West in Stanford. Billie Jean King gave a really inspiring speech (and a presser that nearly brought some of us to tears) about the origins of the tournament that she brought to San Francisco. She spoke warmly of how badly the players wanted to make the tour work, and told of how she wanted to send the folks home with something memorable every time she played. “I wanted them to say that was fun, or maybe even take up the game,” she said.
Billie Jean was a woman who knew that the success of the tour would be ultimately be determined by the fan’s experience. And it showed.
*****
Editor’s Note: In the second semifinal of the day, Maria Sharapova defeated Agnieszka Radwanska 1-6, 6-2, 6-2 to set up a final match against Azarenka.
Chris Oddo is a freelance tennis writer and blogger who is based in San Francisco, California. He is a regular commenter at OTB under the moniker The Fan Child. You can follow his blog at http://thefanchild.blogspot.com.
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I am not sure I like the fact that Azarenka’s wonderful play is not being given enough credit. There is a reason why the h2h is the way it is with these 2. Azarenka is one of the best returners on tour. She is ranked in the top 5 on the women’s tour in terms of returning and as such she negates one of Stosur’s biggest strengths, her serve.
When you compare Stosur’s serve to someone like Serena’s you will see the difference. Serena hits every single spot in the service box. Stosur does not I believe have a slice serve out wide to the ad or deuce court.
In addition, as much as people love Stosur’s serve it is the most predictable on the women’s tour. You know exactly where the second serve kick is going, backhand side, no matter which side of the court you are on and as a result she plays directly into Azarenka’s strength, her backhand.
One of the reasons why Stosur does so well on clay is that she is able to run around her backhand and hit forehands. On grass and hard courts that is negated. The ball comes harder and faster and it takes away Stosur’s time. You noticed that a lot in her match against Azarenka yesterday as well as her match in Eastbourne where she lost and at Wimbledon as well.
Great article, Chris. Looks like Azarenka has been able to manage her emotions this time around. Not sure if she can take out Sharapova, given her current form. Should be an exciting match either way!
Thanks Paula – hey tennis ace – I was thinking about how amazing Stosur would be if she started mixing a slice in there – but it is so much easier said than done.
Tennisace: Thanks for your astute comments! Good observations on Sam Stosur – but keep in mind that this was her first tournament on the fast hardcourt, so she’s probably becoming aware of what she’ll need to do to improve. I definitely have faith in Sam’s work ethic and her ability to keep evolving her game.
I do agree some slice and variety would make her a truly dynamic server on the faster surfaces.