SO, as can be expected, I've been tuning into the W championship since it's first started 5 days ago.
I've been rooting for, obviously, Ana Ivanovic, the world's new no. 1 and Serbia's all-time favorite cover girl, who took the French Open title less then 3 weeks ago and cemented her status as part of the long chain of champions. She has set her game apart by accompanying her explosive forehand and devastating serve with a graceful finesse, apparent in her much improved movement and smooth strokes; a rarity in her department of power-baseline players (those who point to sharapova or serena williams are on crack).
going into the W.Champs, i knew to expect the usual from Rafa and Roger... their mutual respect and admiration during their long-standing rivalry, ALMOST equals the public's boredom with it.... which was the reason why it's been so fun to have Djokavic, who's cocky comments have been...just that.... cocky... pros and experts alike wouldn't have been surprised if the 2008 Australian Open champion took the title here. and of course, you have the NOW ENGAGED (to a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model no less! CAN WE SAY... UM. DUH. EW.) Andy Roddick, still ranked top 7 in the world, and STILL w/a sizzlin serve, as the dark horse. other names in the men's game, obviously, however, these four would have been picked as the likely winners this year....
in the women's game, one that i personally am a bigger fan of... you have the previously mentioned no. 1 player in hte world, her fellow serb and jealous competitor (so catty, you can almost see hte bitch rays emanating from her shiny scalp...don't get me wrong, I love her and think she's a whole lot of fun) Jelena Jankovic, the constantly choking finalist, Svetlana Kuznetsova (her game is great, her body not so much....also known as most popular player on the women's tour...NEVER JUDGE A BOOK BY IT'S COVER!), and of course the major 3 AMERICAN players... the always formidable William's Sisters... W sisters for the W....of course... and the faux american, Maria Sharapova, who's tuxedo outfit has given her more publicity than her game has this entire season.
by day 5... 2/4 of top picks for men, 2/5 top women's picks... OUT.
roddick gets destroyed by a SERB that ISN'T djoke, since djoke lost to Marat Safin, a worthy ex-champion, though someone that's been out of the the top of the game for a LONG TIME.
and you have Sharapova going out (and some saying good riddance) as well as *sob* Ana, who after her encounter with Lady Luck due to the now INFAMOUS net-cord point on match point against Nathalie Dechy, could not capitalize on her newfound opportunity....
here's the thing. I AM heartbroken... very much so... however, no one will deny that Ana's match against Dechy was a gritty, classic one... Ana's form wasn't great, and true, luck played to her fortune... however, She took advantage of that luck, she let it motivate her and push on through to win that gritty 3rd match, forcing herself, MENTALLY, to keep on playing and WINNING, even if her game wasn't all there. I can't even begin to imagine how tough that must be. to want to go on and to KEEP ON going on when you're not at your best, where EVERYONE is watching, where so MUCH is at stake.
No one truly expected Ana Ivanovic to win the W this year...not after her first grand slam win and sudden rise to no. 1. one ccould only anticipate what impact that kind of pressure would have on her emotional and mental state.... afterall, she is only 20 years old... and really, to catch your breath so soon after your first joyride... geebus. So call it a lack of faith, but I didn't really call Ana to win this one.
However, I didn't expect her to encounter the deadly 2nd round encounter that she did and to PULL THROUGH. for me, that moment where the ball hit the net and was suspended in the air, hanging around, trying to decide which side it should fall on... that was where I half died.... and was rejuvenated. that match for me, was Ana's ultimate defining moment this year at the W... NOT when luck played in her favor... but how she recovered from the single lowest moment of her career where all that stood between her and defeat was LUCK... she pressed on. she won. and she had the courage and decency to admit that she was VERY lucky to be there. basically, she gave it all she had when she had not a lot to give.
so her loss today... while disheartening.... is not so surprising. she was, afterall, there on borrowed time... mentally and physically drained, as can be expected after all that she must have experienced from Roland Garros till now... it seems only natural that she would return that borrowed time to a player, ranked 100 spots below her... it seems only normal that she would need time to recoup and regroup for the upcoming Olympics and US Open series... and that after some time to self-reflect and on all that's happened... she would be READY to reclaim and redeem her spot as no. 1 in the world.
Q. Is it something that you relish, being No. 1, the pressures that come with being No. 1? Is that something you enjoy?
ANA IVANOVIC: Obviously there are different ways of dealing with pressure. Becoming No. 1, it takes more pressure, but also you have to see, you know, pressure for what it is. It's a reflection of your own ambition. It's something, if you see it as a positive thing, it means that you put yourself in a position to do something memorable...So if you look at it that way it can be very motivating, yeah.
Inspiring. That is why Ana Ivanovic is my favorite player. EXACTLY the reason why.
W 2008 is not going to be as much fun without Masha, Djoke, and Ana, but i'm willing to stick around to see what Rafa will do against Roger, who seems back to form, and of course, a potential Williams vs. Williams final.
LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK. i want some tennis talk with people!
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