Tennis Acumen

Roger Federer Wins 6th World Tour Finals Championship & 70th Career Title

PETE ZIEBRON

Roger Federer stands alone with 6 World Tour Finals Championships       Charles Gabrean Photography

While the rest of the Big Four on the ATP circuit failed to even make the Semifinals of the World Tour Finals, Roger Federer rolled to his 6th Year End Championship today in London, defeating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-2 7-6 (6) 6-4.  The win also marked the 17th consecutive win for Federer, the 3rd title in a row and he will move back to #3 in the world with this result.

World number 1 Novak Djokovic, #2 Rafael Nadal and #3 Andy Murray combined for a dismal 2-5 record in round robin play as Federer remained perfect at 5-0 during the 8 day event.  Murray pulled out of the event after his initial match, citing a groin injury, Djokovic had to save a Match Point in the only match that he was able to win and Nadal managed to win only 4 games in his lopsided loss to Federer.

Ironically, Federer faced and beat Tsonga for the 3rd consecutive Sunday today, having defeated him in the Final to win the Masters 1000 event in Paris two weeks ago and again last Sunday on the opening day of the World Tour Finals.  Federer improved to 8-3 lifetime against Tsonga and 6-2 in 2011.

With today's victory, the 6th World Tour Finals crown for Federer, he surpassed Pete Sampras and Ivan Lendl who each have 5 Year End Championships.  The win was also Federer's 70th career title as well as his 100th career Final appearance.  Last month, prior to Federer's run of 3 consecutive titles, I was able to talk with Pete Sampras in Surprise, AZ about Federer to get his impressions of where Roger's game stood at the moment.

Pete Sampras: "He's right there.  I wouldn't change anything in his game.  He's lost some tough matches to Novak this year but beat him at Roland Garros and should have beaten him at the US Open.  He's in good hands working with Paul (Annacone)."

Pete Sampras, 5-time World Tour Finals Champion          Pete Ziebron Images

Following his US Open Semifinal loss to Djokovic, Federer won 2 Davis Cup matches in Australia and then defeated Kei Nishikori in the Final of the Swiss Indoors 500 in Basel to win the tournament for the 5th time in his career.  Next up was the BNP Paribas Masters 1000 at Paris Bercy.  Federer had never won this tournament previously in his career despite his preference for its fast surface.  This August in Cincinnati, I asked Federer to elaborate on the speed of hard courts and he specifically pointed out that Bercy is the quickest on tour:   "Bercy indoors was actually really quick last year - faster than here (Cincinnati). It was like lightning really. Or like back in the day really."

Federer would not drop a set all week long in Paris, defeating Tomas Berdych in the semifinals and Tsonga in the Final.  The victory would be his 18th Masters 1000 title, his first at Paris Bercy and his winning streak stood at 12.

Last Sunday to open play at the World Tour Finals, Roger Federer would defeat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga once again for the second time in 8 days.  Next he destroyed Rafael Nadal, yielding only 4 games in the process and hit 28 winners compared to only 4 from Nadal.  The win guaranteed a spot in the semifinals for Federer and he proceeded to beat Mardy Fish in the last of the round robin matches.  In the semifinals yesterday, Federer defeated David Ferrer for the 12th consecutive time in as many efforts to set the Finals meeting with Tsonga, who eliminated Tomas Berdych.

The World Tour Finals is a true test of endurance.  The top 8 players of the year are in action against each other and only the strong survive and win.  Roger Federer completed the task yet again today - for the 6th time.  The only other member of the "Big Four" to win the World Tour Finals is Novak Djokovic, who won in 2008.  Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray have yet to win the event.

World Tour Finals Championships:

• Roger Federer 6 (Djokovic 1, Nadal 0, Murray 0)
• Pete Sampras 5   (Agassi 1)
• Ivan Lendl 5  
• Ilie Nastase 4
• Boris Becker 3
• John McEnroe 3 (Borg 2, Connors 1)

Despite the fact that Novak Djokovic won 3 Grand Slams in 2011, the spotlight entering 2012 will be on Roger Federer and he looks forward to next season: "I'm happy I'm still strong and healthy and really excited for next year." 

Following the US Open, the records of the Big Four are as follows:

• Roger Federer 17-0 (3 titles)
• Andy Murray 17-2 (3 titles)
• Rafael Nadal 8-4 (0 titles)
• Novak Djokovic 6-4 (0 titles)

Sessil Karatantcheva Defeats Michelle Larcher De Brito to Win Goldwater Women's Tennis Classic

PETE ZIEBRON in PHOENIX

Sessil Karatantcheva of Kazakhstan on her way to winning her first ITF tournament of the year today in Phoenix.  Pete Ziebron Images

The 2011 Goldwater Women's Tennis Classic Final between Sessil Karatantcheva of Kazakhstan and Michelle Larcher De Brito of Portugal featured several extended rallies in excess of 50 shots, wild swings of momentum in the 2nd set, an underhanded serve and a code violation warning.  After all of the drama, Karatantcheva would prevail 6-1 7-5.

Sessil Karatantcheva broke Michelle Larcher De Brito in the opening game of the match to set the tone early on and marched to a 3-0 lead.  Despite getting broken in her next service game, Karatantcheva would break Larcher De Brito all 4 times she served in the opening set to take the set 6-1.  In fact, Larcher De Brito only managed to win 3 points on her serve in the set and was broken at love in the 5th and 7th games of the first set.

Karatantcheva held to open the 2nd set and then neither player was able to hold serve in the next 3 games.  At this point in the match, Larcher De Brito had been broken in all 6 of her service games.  Karatantcheva held to go up 4-1 and was only 2 games away from winning the title.

Despite going up 40-0 in her service game, Larcher De Brito lost the next 2 points, won the next point and finally was able to win her first game on her serve in the match.  The tide turned drastically as Larcher De Brito broke Karatantcheva at love and then won her service game at love as well to knot the 2nd set at 4-4.  Larcher De Brito also won the first point on Karatantcheva's next service game, marking a run of 10 consecutive points!  

Portgual #1 Michelle Larcher De Brito                                Pete Ziebron Images

The remainder of the match from this point on was surreal.  Karatantcheva would win the next 3 points to lead 40-15, however the rallies in 2 of these points exceeded 50 shots!  Now serving with 2 game points in hand, Karatantcheva double faulted.  Her second serve bounced into the net, marking the second time in the match that she failed to even hit a serve into the net.  At 40-30, Karatantcheva faulted on her first serve and then, noticeably shaken, inexplicably hit her next serve underhanded.  The unusual serve landed well long and the score was now deuce, 4-4 in the 2nd set.  After saving 2 break points, Karatantcheva was eventually broken and Larcher De Brito would serve for the 2nd set at 5-4.

Larcher De Brito double faulted to open the game, lost the next 2 points and double faulted yet again, her 6th of the match, to square the set at 5-5. As Karatantcheva served for a 6-5 lead, the players traded endless groundstrokes with little pace on them, meaning that many of the points in this game lasted at least 30 strokes and some even exceeded 50 strokes.  Karatantcheva would eventually serve at 40-30, squander a game point and the 11th game of the set went to deuce.  After losing the following point, Larcher De Brito was issued a code violation warning by the chair umpire for angrily tapping her racquet on the court behind the baseline.  (Earlier in the match, Larcher De Brito hit her racquet 3 times into the ground, yet a warning was not issued at that time.)  Larcher De Brito questioned the warning, fired herself up and won the next point forcing the second deuce of the game.  Karatantcheva would win the next point, fail to close out the game and then win the next 2 points to take a 6-5 lead in the set and be within 1 game of the title.

Serving now to stay in the match, Michelle Larcher De Brito won the first point of the game.  However it would be the last point she would manage to win in the match as she double faulted and then dropped the next 3 points of the game.  Sessil Karatantcheva would be crowned as the 2011 Goldwater Women's Tennis Classic Champion with a 6-1 7-5 victory.

During the awards ceremony, Karatantcheva thanked Tournament Directors Sara and Dan Stablein, USTA Officials Bunny Williams and Missy Malool, the ball boys and girls, wished everyone Happy Holidays and hoped that Santa would bring many presents to all.

2011 Goldwater Women's Tennis Classic Champion Sessil Karatantcheva and Tournament Director Sara Stablein  Pete Ziebron Images

Prior to the singles Final, American Jamie Hampton and Ajla Tomljanovic of Croatia rallied from one set down to defeat Americans Maria Sanchez and Yasmin Schnack 3-6 6-3 10-6 to win the Doubles Championship.

Goldwater Doubles Champions Ajla Tomljanovic and Jamie Hampton              Pete Ziebron Images

 

Michelle Larcher De Brito & Sessil Karatantcheva Advance to Goldwater Final in Phoenix

PETE ZIEBRON in PHOENIX

Portugal's Michelle Larcher De Brito knocked out the tournament's #1 & 3 seeds en route to the Final.           Pete Ziebron Images

Despite the fact that rain was forecast for the Valley of the Sun, the Goldwater Women's Tennis Classic proceeded as scheduled on Saturday at the Phoenix Country Club.  Portugal's Michelle Larcher De Brito defeated Mandy Minella of Luxembourg and Sessil Karatantcheva of Kazakhstan rallied from a set down to beat American Madison Keys.

Earlier in the week, Michelle Larcher De Brito defeated #1 seed Irina Falconi and today took out #3 seed Mandy Minella 6-2 6-0 to advance to tomorrow's Final.  The initial game of the match featured rallies that lasted nearly 30 strokes as it appeared that the match would be quite lengthy.  However, Minella requested to see the trainer on the next changeover in the 2nd game of the opening set.  Down 0-3, Minella departed the court and reappeared with her left thigh bandaged and seemed to continue to be impacted by the apparent injury.

Larcher De Brito managed to play solid tennis throughout the match, showing no mercy to her wounded opponent and consistently kept the ball in play.  The victory was the 9th in the last 10 matches for Larcher De Brito and she will attempt to win her 3rd ITF title of the year tomorrow.

Sessil Karatantcheva stymies American upstart Madison Keys in Saturday's 2nd Semifinal.  Pete Ziebron Images

The 2nd semifinal featured veteran and former Roland Garros quarterfinalist Sessil Karatantcheva and 16 year-old Madison Keys.  The young American served big and unloaded huge forehands early on, taking the first set 6-1.  However, Keys was breathing heavily behind the baseline early in the match, causing Karatantcheva to have to wait before she was able to serve to Keys.  Even though Keys won the opening set fairly easily, one could get the sense that she would need to win the match in 2 sets due to all of the energy that she expended in the first set.

Despite dropping the opening set, Karatantcheva used years of experience on tour to finally solve Keys in the second set.  Karatantcheva would proceed to move Keys all over the court during the 2nd set as she hit several beautiful lobs, causing Keys to have to track difficult overheads and scramble back into position.  No matter how hard Keys would hit her serves and forehands, they all seemed to come back at her and as the match continued, Keys would lose pace on her shots and continued to breathe harder.

The players traded breaks at key times late in the 2nd set and fittingly, the set went to a tiebreaker.  Keys jumped to a 3-1 advantage and she thought she hit a deep forehand for a winner however the chair overruled and correctly called the ball out.  Karatantcheva would win the next 4 points to take a 6-3 lead and would win eventually win the breaker 7-4 to take the match to a deciding set.

Katatantcheva's solid backhands would continue to wear down Keys in the 3rd set.  Although the players again would trade breaks midway through the set, Karatantcheva was the steadier player throughout, won the final set 6-3 and was rewarded with a place in the Final against Michelle Larcher De Brito.

Sunday's Singles Final will be preceded by the Doubles Championship, featuring the unique duo of UCLA graduate Yasmin Schnack and USC alum Maria Sanchez against the #4 seeds, American Jamie Hampton and Ajla Tomljanovic of Croatia.  Action gets underway at 12 noon at the Phoenix Country Club.

 

Goldwater Semifinalist Mandy Minella of Luxembourg          Pete Ziebron Images

Goldwater Semifinalist American Madison Keys                     Pete Ziebron Images

Goldwater Women's Tennis Classic Underway in Phoenix

PETE ZIEBRON in PHOENIX

American Maxine Thomas in one of the first matches of the day.    Pete Ziebron Images

The initial round of qualification of the Goldwater Women's Tennis Classic got underway today at 9 AM at the Phoenix Country Club.  The tournament, one of the largest on the ITF Women's Circuit is the last opportunity in the US in 2011 for players to gain points for entry into the 2012 Australian Open.

Two years ago, the tournament debuted as a $50,000 ITF event.  Last year, the event expanded its prize money to $75,000 and Tournament Director Sara Stablein hopes that next year the Goldwater Classic can even grow to reach the $100,000 prize money mark.  All proceeds from the 2011 tournament will go to Ryan House, a local non-profit that provides respite and palliative care for chldren with life threatening conditions.

All of the seeded players in the qualification draw advanced today, including #8 seed American Jennifer Elie (pictured below)

Jennifer Elie saved a Match Point and needed a 3rd set tiebreaker to finally defeat Russian Vasilisa Bardina.          Pete Ziebron Images

 

The 2011 Goldwater field boasts several notable players, including:

Elena Bovina, once the 14th ranked player in the world.  Bovina has battled back from a serious shoulder injury and will play American Macall Harkins in a 2nd round qualification match tomorrow on the Stadium Court.  Bovina advanced to the quarterfinals at the 2002 US Open, as well as to the round of 16 at the 2003 Australian Open and Roland Garros in 2005.  The tall Russian is seeking to regain the form that led her into the top 15 in the world in 2005.

Alexandra Stevenson, the American who made an improbable run all the way to the semifinals at Wimbledon in 1999, where she lost to eventual Champion Lindsay Davenport.  Stevenson reached a career high of 18 in the world in 2003.

Sessil Karatantcheva, who defeated Venus Williams in the 3rd round at Roland Garros in 2005 and then proceeded to advance to the quarterfinals.  This impressive run on the clay helped Karatantcheva achieve a career high of 35 in the world in 2005.  At the time, Karatantcheva played for her native country of Bulgaria and she currently plays for Kazakhstan.

Irina Falconi, the 2011 Gold Medalist at the Pan American Games.  Falconi also defeated world #15 Dominika Cibulkova in the 2nd round of this year's US Open.  The American is the #1 seed in the 2011 Goldwater Classic and reached a career high of #73 in the world 3 weeks ago.  Falconi lost a tough semifinal match in last year's Goldwater Classic to defending and eventual Champion Varvara Lepchenko.

Monica Puig, the 2011 Silver Medalist at the Pan American Games.  The Puerto Rican native was a Finalist this year at the Junior Australian Open as well as the Junior Roland Garros tournament.  Last year at the Goldwater Classic, Puig won 3 qualification matches and gave American Christina McHale all she could handle in a tight 1st round contest.

Play continues in the qualification round tomorrow at 9 AM on 3 courts at the Phoenix Country Club.  Main draw action will begin on Tuesday morning at 9 AM, followed by the Player's Party in the evening.