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Tennis - Alicia Molik announces her retirement

Australia’s Alicia Molik has announced her retirement from the WTA tour. The 27-year-old surprised me with this announcement. Molik was one of my favourite players on the WTA.

The decision was made easier due to a string of recent arm and leg injuries and going back 3 years the inner ear problem she suffered.

“It’s tiring and it’s very draining but I guess it’s a number of things culminating,” she said.

Back in early 2005 Molik was enjoying the best form of her career and reached the quarterfinals at the Australian Open where she lost a tight match to Lindsay Davenport 6-4 4-6 9-7. After the good result at the Australian Open Molik reached a career high ranking of 8. She won 5 singles titles throughout her career. Sadly for Molik in 2005 she was struck down by her inner ear problem.

Molik was also a great doubles player and reached a career high of no. 6. Molik is credited with winning seven doubles titles including the 2007 French Open with Santangelo and 2005 Australian Open in with Kuznetsova.

Without her health issues Molik may have gone at least into the top 5 on the WTA. Unfortunately we never got to see if this was so.

Molik has previously worked in the media so it would not surprise me if she pops up on tv at the Australian Open in 2009.

With some luck, from a fan’s perspective she may reconsider her decision in a year or so.

All the best Alicia. Thanks for the memories.

Leave your comments about Alicia Molik’s retirement below.

Nadal into first US Open semi

World no. 1 Rafael Nadal has overcome his third US opponent at the 2008 US Open to advance to the semifinals for the first time at this tournament.

This time around he was up against Mardy Fish. The American got off to a good start and took the first set 6-3. Nadal stormed back into the match taking the second 6-1.  After the first set Nadal did not offer Fish another break point opportunity as he slowly worked his way to a semifinal spot.

The final match score was 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-2.

Nadal will meet Andy Murray who defeated Juan Martin Del Potro in four sets.

Serena and Safina advance to semis at US Open

Serena Williams has overcome big sister Venus to advance to the semifinals of the US Open. She will meet Dinara Safina.

Serena was pushed to the limit in a top quality match against the 2008 Wimbledon champion. It was in the final at Wimbledon where the two Williams girls last met. In today’s match Serena came out on top 7-6(6), 7-6(7).

Both sets followed a similar pattern. There was a break apiece before the set ended up being decided in a tiebreak. In the second set Venus had the set in her sights before the never say die attitude of Serena saw her come back from set points down to snatch the set and with it the match. All up Serena saved eight set points in the second set.

In the earlier match Safina had easily accounted for Italy’s Flavia Pennetta. She won 6-2, 6-3 to move into her first ever US Open semifinal. Safina earlier this year was runnerup in the French Open.

We now have the situation where the four semifinalists will be fighting it out for the title of US Open champion and also for the top spot in the WTA rankings.

The semi finals see Safina play Serena Williams and Elena Dementieva plays Jelena Jankovic. The head to head for Safina and Williams is 3-1 in favor of Williams. They have met once before at the US Open way back in 2002. On that occasion Serena belted Safina. That is so long ago it counts for nothing.

Jankovic leads her head to head matchup with Dementieva 4-3. The pair met in the 2006 quarterfinals at the US Open where on that occasion Jankovic won 6-2, 6-1. Dementieva has been playing well over recent times and could get past Jankovic to reach the final.

Federer and Djokovic made to work hard for US Open quarterfinal berth

Four time defending champion Roger Federer was taken to five sets as he progressed to the quarterfinals at the 2008 US Open. He was up against Russia’s Igor Andreev who is the no. 23 seed.

The Russian took the first set in a tie break only to see Federer level the match through another tie break. Federer then got the jump on his opponent as he took the third set only to see Andreev fight back to take the match to a deciding fifth set. It was here that Federer showed his class and he ran out a 6-7(5), 7-6(5), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 winner.

The 2008 Australian Open winner, Novak Djokovic was also pushed to five sets as he overcame Tommy Robredo. The score was 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3.

In the late match Andy Roddick has no such problems with Beijing Olympic silver medalist Fernando Gonzalez. Roddick won in straight sets 6-2, 6-4, 6-1. Roddick the winner in 2003 has dropped just one set enroute to the quarterfinals.

Roddick will be tested by Djokovic in the quarters. If he can get past the Serbian you would have to give him some chance of winning another US Open title. Federer and Nadal of course will be keen to not let this happen. Federer if he can overcome Gilles Muller in the quarters will play the winner of the Roddick match.

Dementieva and Jankovic setup US Open tennis semifinal showdown

Elena Dementieva and Jelena Jankovic have cruised into the 2008 US Open semifinals. The no. 5 seed, Dementieva was first up on center court and easily accounted for the 15th seeded Patty Schnyder 6-2, 6-3.  Jankovic followed this up with an equally impressive victory over the the 29th seed from Austria Sybille Bammer, 6-1, 6-4.

Both Dementieva and Schnyder served at a good percentage with 80% and 75% respectively. The key stat from the match was the number of unforced errors. Dementieva who is full of confidence following her recent Olympic gold medal win in Beijing made 14 while Schnyder had 29. Dementieva was well on top of her opponent and created 13 break points and was able to convert on 5. Her opponent could only manage 1 of 2.

In the after match interview Dementieva said she feels that she will need to improve her game to go all the way at the US Open. She expected she might end up playing Jankovic in the semifinal. This is how it worked out.

Jankovic dominated her opponent and had 19 break point opportunities and was able to convert 8. The no.2 seed made just 14 errors compared with Bammer’s 40. That was pretty much what decided the match.

We now await the outcome of the all Williams quarterfinal and the Dinara Safina-Flavia Pennetta quarterfinal. At this stage we now know that Ana Ivanovic will lose the top ranking in women’s tennis, just who replaces her is still wide open.

Which one of five will be world number 1 women’s tennis player?

The US Open women’s tennis tournament has reached the quarterfinal stage. The most exciting matchup is the all Williams match that sees the Williams sisters play each other for the 17th time. They are currently 8-8 in the head to head.

Going into the quarterfinal matches there are five players who may end up as the number one ranked women’s tennis player at the end of the tournament. Four are still alive in the tournament. The contenders are Ana Ivanovic, Jelena Jankovic, Serena Willams, Elena Dementieva and Dinara Safina.

The quarterfinals are as follows:

Flavia Pennetta ITA (16) v Dinara Safina RUS (6)
Serena Williams USA (4) v Venus Williams USA (7)

Elena Dementieva RUS (5) v Patty Schnyder SUI (15)
Sybille Bammer AUT (29) v Jelena Jankovic SRB (2)

Ana Ivanonic despite losing in the third round could hold onto her ranking provided neither Jankovic or Serena Williams make the semis and if neither Dementieva and Safina make the final.

Jankovic is looking good for the number one spot. She can claim it if she wins the US Open or she makes the final and does not play Serena. She can also end up as number one by making the semis with Serena losing in the quarters and if both the Russian girls do not make the final.

Serena’s chances are much the same as for Jankovic. If she wins the US Open she will be no. 1. If Serena makes the final and Jankovic loses by the semifinal along with Dementieva and Safina losing by the final this will also see her claim the top spot.

For Dementieva she can grab top spot if she wins the US Open. She also can be no.1 if she makes the final and Jankovic and Serena lose by the semifinal and Safina does not win the Open.

Safina will match the feats of her brother Marat and become the no. 1 if she wins the US Open and faces someone other than Jankovic in the final. Safina can also be no. 1 if she makes the final and Jankovic loses the quarterfinal match along with Serena and Dementieva losing in the semis.

This all makes for some exciting matches over the remaining days of the 2008 US Open women’s tournament. Since Henin has left the game just before the French Open in 2008 the top spot has been hard for anyone to take a firm grip.

My earlier tip for the US Open, Elena Dementieva is still looking good for the title.

- update, Serena takes to spot following US Open win in 2008

Serena-Venus show to take place at US Open quarterfinals

Serena and Venus Williams have both won their fourth round matches at the US Open to setup a quarterfinal showdown.

Serena will be having more to play for when the two sisters meet for the 17th time in their career. They are currently 8-8 in the head to head matchup. If Serena advances to the final she will become the new world no.1 ranked player in women’s tennis.

Serena defeated wildcard Severine Bremond 6-2, 6-2 while Venus eliminated Polish ninth seed Agnieszka Radwanska 6-1, 6-3.

The last time the pair met was at this year’s Wimbledon final when Venus got the better of Serena winning 7-5, 6-4.

The quarterfinal matchup for the 2008 US Open women’s tournament is as follows:

Flavia Pennetta ITA (16) v Dinara Safina RUS (6)
Serena Williams USA (4) v Venus Williams USA (7)

Elena Dementieva RUS (5) v Patty Schnyder SUI (15)
Sybille Bammer AUT (29) v Jelena Jankovic SRB (2)

Dementieva takes on Schnyder on Arthur Ashe Stadium starting at 11.00am on Tuesday. The second quarterfinal match is scheduled for 7.00pm and will see Jankovic take on Bammer.

The two remaining quarterfinal matches will be played on Wednesday.

Another early grand slam exit for Ivanovic

Since winning the making the final of the Australian Open and winning the French Open it has not been good for Ana Ivanovic in the grand slams.

The current world number 1 was knocked out of Wimbledon in round 3 by No. 133-ranked Jie Zheng and now in a bigger upset Ivanovic has been bundled out of the US Open in round 2.

She was defeated by Julie Coin of France 6-3,4-6,6-3. Coin is ranked 188 in the world.

US Open tennis in full swing

Just as I am getting over my Olympics hangover the US Open tennis is underway. Rafael is playing in his first grand slam as the world’s number 1 tennis player.

Roger Federer will be out to continue his run of four US Open tennis titles while Nadal will be wanting to claim his third grand slam title for the season. If Nadal can win this tournament it will add to an already list of titles in 2008. If only he could have taken the Australian Open he would have been playing for a golden grand slam.

The golden grand slam is where a player wins all of the grand slam title in an Olympic year as well as winning the gold medal at that years Olympics.

On the women’s side the Williams sisters will be looking to add another grand slam title to the family collection after Venus had won Wimbledon in July. The Serbian girls, Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic will be once again fighting for top spot in the women’s rankings. Serena also has the top spot in her sights and could end the tournament as the no.1.

Jankovic has been troubled by injuries in 2008. She says she is injury free going into the 2008 US Open however she is not as fit as she would like to be so fatigue could see her stumble if taken to too many three set matches.

Getting back to the men’s tournament it is likely that Djokovic and Nadal will be the toughest challenge for Federer as he goes for five consecutive US Open titles. Based on past US Open results Djokovic is perhaps the strongest challenger. He lost last years final. Nadal on the other hand has not been further than the quarters. Last year he was ousted in fourth round by David Ferrer. For Nadal past results probably count for nought as he is riding a high from winning the French Open, Wimbledon and the Beijing Olympic gold medal.

I am tipping Federer to get back into winning form at a grand slam as he claims his fifth US Open and in the women’s I am tipping Elena Dementieva to improve on her 2004 result when she made the final. I think her Olympic win will boost her confidence for the US Open.

Who are your tips for the 2008 US Open?

Li Na has Olympic tennis center rocking

Playing before a huge one sided crowd in the Chinese capital Beijing, Li Na could not have asked for more support as she took on the current Wimbledon champ Venus Williams.

The match started with Williams jumping out to an early 3-0 lead. She looked to be overpowering her Chinese opponent. With the crowd on her side Li gradually worked her way back into the match.

A few double faults from Williams helped the cause and before you knew it Li was up a break and had the first set in her sights. The crowd was pumped and the fact Li was playing an American made it even more exciting for them. Li went on to take the first set 7-5. If there was a roof over the whole stadium it would have been lifted by the Chinese cheering.

In the second set it was Li who got the first break as she went out to a 3-1 lead.  Williams quickly hit back and then it was neck and neck until at 6-5 when Li got the crucial break to wrap up the match.

7-5, 7-5 to Li and a great victory for  the home town favourite.

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