You get a bye, you get a bye, everybody gets a bye.

Alas, we are now at the semi final stage to the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, and not only the four semi finalists vying for the title, but they have all also earned a bye for next weeks China Open in Beijing. In true WTA style the quarter finals weren't with out drama.

In the Wimbledon final rematch between Petra Kvitova and Maria Sharapova, we looked as if we were going to have a great match on our hands. With only one break point seen in the match and Sharapova seemingly found her serve. Thing went on serve and continued that way until Kvitova led 4-3 15-40 which is when Sharapova unfortunately landed awkwardly on her ankle. After a medical time out Sharapova was forced to retire, with what is believed to be a slight ankle sprain. The russian is now likely to withdraw from Beijing, and to be honest the injury could not have come at worse time for the three time Slam champ as she was on the verge of reclaiming the number 1 rank. Unless Maria gets a quick turn around, wins Beijing and does incredibly well at the Year End Championships, it would appear her bid for year end number one is seemingly over. If you missed here are some highlights, including the injury.

In the semi's Kvitova will meet with Vera Zvonareva. The world number four won her match with fellow Russian Maria Kirilenko, who as been in fine form starting from the US Open. Zvonareva prevailed with a 6-3 6-3 victory over Kirilenko and improved her lifetime head to head against her compatriot to 6-0.

In the top half of the draw Victoria Azarenka recoverd from a minor first set choke to prevail 7-5 6-0 against Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli and Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska defeated Estonia's Kaia Kanepi 6-2 7-6. Kanepi has defeated Caroline Wozniacki in the previous round.

The week that was - L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N

the time has come, we begin the final dash to the YEC's with the big Asian swing beginning with Tokyo today. And is may come as a surpirse to some, me being one, that yes tennis has been played since the US Open. So what have I missed you say? Well that's what I am here for, to tell you just that.

• One of the biggest things was Australian Jelena Dokic reuniting with abusive father Damir. I know family is family and blood is thicker than water, but really Jelena? Really? 
• Li Na blamed her form slump on what she is or isn't packing.
• Serena was appointed UNICEF's goodwill ambassador. Connors puts in his two cents on her "outburst"
• You tell 'em Sorana! Especially you, Vika. 
• Rena and Arod to play Mixed in Australia. Getting ready for Gold. 
• Li and Kim are shaking up their box. 
• Pervak and Zhavalova-Strycova won their first WTA title. 
• ...so did Jeerper Scheepers! While Galina Voskobeva was denied by Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez
• Tokyo is already under way and Kerber, Radwanska and Robson were ruthless in their first matches. 

And that's about it for now. Thank you and goodnight. 

Underdog from Down Under claims first slam title.

The Australian's have been waiting a while for a woman to step up - 31 years in fact - and boy did we get that. it undoubtedly the best match of her life Sam Stosur brushed aside huge tournament favourite Serena Williams 6-2  6-3 in and hour and 17 minutes. The last Australian to win a slam was Evonne Goolagong Cawley when she triumphed at Wimbledon.

Having not been past round three at a slam this year and struggling to dispatch of Nadia Petrova, Maria Kirilenko and even shock semi finalist Angelique Kurber in previous rounds, Srotsur was very much the underdog, however it seemed as if Stosur was playing for her 14th slam title not her first. In the first set Samantha took advantage of an off song Serena to break the great champion twice.

In the first game of the second set Serena, who embarrassed the world number in the semifinals, was down a break point and got called for hindrance. Williams hit a blistering forehand and almost simultaneously screamed "Come on" as the ball tip the frame of Stosur's out stretched raquet. Umpire Eva Asderaki awarded the point to Stosur and Serena was not impressed. As she began to rip into the umpire, "Aren't you the one who screwed me over last time? Yeah you are. You have it out for me and that is not cool" Serena responded by breaking back the next game and continued her 'chat' with the umpire "“If you ever see me walking down the hall, look the other way, because you’re out of control,” Williams said. “You’re out of control. You’re totally out of control. You’re a hater. You’re unattractive...inside. Who would do such a thing? And I never complain. Wow," and finally "Am I not allowed to express my self? Last time I checked we were in America" On Monday Williams will find out the punishment of her behaviour under her probation.

Nothing can be used to take away from Stosur's huge achievement which saw her over power tennis Goliath. Hopefully with Samantha's success the old saying Success breads success will ring truer than ever.

Returning at 5-3 Stosur powered to a 40-15 lead but Serena, being Serena, showed her fight to some degree pushing deuce, however only prolonging the inevitable as Stosur powered a forehand return of serve past Serena to claim the title.

In the on court post match ceremony Stosur praised Williams for being such a great champion and thanking her for all the amazing things she had done for the sport.

APOLOGIES - Pictures are not loading at this stage but will get them up ASAP.

Serena and Samantha set for emotional final.

On the ten year anniversary of the horrific 9/11 terror attacks in New York and Virginia, 28th seed Serena Williams and 9th seed Samantha Stosur will set battle for the 2011 US Open title.

Stosur was the first of the pair to make the final winning her match against surprise semi finalist Angelique Kerber on the Grandstand. The German world number 92 put up more resistance that what most had expected pushing the Australian all the way in a 6-3 2-6 6-2 victory for the Aussie. This will be Stosur's first final at the pinnacle level since finishing runner up to Francesca Schiavone at last years French Open. Kerber showed her fight in the final set coming from 0-5 down to have points for 3-5 but Stosur's experience won out on the day.

Stosur's opponent in the final will be American Serena Williams, who defeat World No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki 6-2 6-4 to advance to her fifth US Open final and seventeenth overall slam final. By defeating Wozniacki, Serena won her 18th consecutive match - after winning US Open series title in Stanford and Toronto - and if she wins tomorrow she will collect the biggest pay day in tennis history. $1,800,000 prize money plus her one million dollar bonus for winning the US Open Series. Williams return to the US Open final is an insperatinol feet after she missed almost a year due to a series of injuries which saw her basically on her death bed, and it is only Williams' sixth tournament back.

Stosur edges Petrova in three set marathon.

In warm conditions during the evening match on Louis Armstrong Stadium, the hard-hitting duo exchanged breaks to start the match before Stosur held to love in the third game, setting the tone for what would turn out to be the best women's match of the tournament to date and the longest recorded women's match at the US Open in the open era.

Serving for the first set at 5-3, the Queenslander gave away three set points and was eventually broken by Petrova, who had won 4 of their 5 previous encounters.
The resultant tiebreak was won by the Australian despite a moment of frustration when a successful hawk-eye challenge on a late call gave the Russian the point.

The 27 year-old, who landed 48 winners to her opponent's 37, served for the match at 5-4 in and despite turning two break points into two match points, again found herself broken by the powerful Russian 24th seed.

Petrova broke in the third game of the final set to take the lead for the first time but put a forehand into the net, allowing the Australian to level it at 4-4.

Stosur gave away her third match point with a long forehand before an electrifying rally on her fourth match point went Petrova's way.
Putting immense pressure on the Russian, Stosur created a fifth match point which she claimed as Petrova's return sailed into the net.

The upset of the day goes to Flavia Pennetta for dispatching of Russian third seed Maria Sharapova 6-3 3-6 6-4.

History in the making.

Five. That's the number of American girls who are into the third round of the US Open. Lead by 28th seed and title favourite Serena Williams, a wave of young American tennis players are all buying to leave their mark on the US Open.

Irina Falconi, Christina McHale, Sloane Stepehens and Vania King all dispatched of their seeded second round opponents to advance to the third round, all of them making it their best slam result to date. 16-year-old Madison Keys was unfortunate not to join then, narrowly going down in a tough three setter.

Serena Williams may have been ruthless in her second round encounter with Michaella Krajicek, but her years on the tour are numbed as she approaches 30 this September. The refreshing, new found success of the young stars is a pleasant surprise to see after years of searching for "The Next Williams Sister" and well, they may not have found her yet, and we shouldn't get carried away but its pretty hard not to love this.

McHale and Falconi won their respective matches yesterday while today Stephens played her match on grandstand. The big serving American broke her 23rd seeded opponent three times in the opening set where she demolished Sharhar Peer 6-1. The Israeli then bounced back to get an advantage in the second set and served for it at 5-3, Stephens showed great resistance and persistence to force a second set tie breaker where she found the edge winning it 7-4. Stephens will play 16th seed Ana Ivanovic on Saturday for a spot in the 4th round.

Fellow American Vania King played against 29th seeded Australian Jarmila Gajdasova. Jarmila has been struggling for form since her loss to Caroline Wozniacki at Wimbledon and was not able to turn things around in New York. Edged on by her home crowed on court 17, doubles specialist Vania King was far too good for Gajdasova posting an impressive 6-2 6-0 victory. King had been to the third round at the US Open once before, in 2009 where she also defeated an Australian in the second round. Thing only get tougher for King now as she faces world number one Caroline Wozniacki in the third round.

Belarusian fourth seed Victoria Azarenka won her 2nd round match against Gisela Dulko to set up the most highly anticipated 3rd round match I can ever remember, as she now gets ready to take on Serena Williams.

Tomorrow night, Christina McHale takes on 25th seed Maria Kirilenko in the first night match on Ashe. Hope she doesn't get stage fright.

Eye on the Big Apple - Day one wrap up!

The first women's match on Arthur Ashe saw women's third seed Maria Sharapova come with in a whisker of being a huge upset. The Wimbledon runner up struggled with her play throughout the match as she took over two and half hours to dispatch 19 year old Heather Watson, 3-6 7-5 6-3. Sharapova was plagued with unforced errors during her match, hitting an astonishing 58.

Petra Kvitova, who defeated Sharapova to claim her first major title at Wimbledon, was not as fortunate as the Russian in her first round match. Kvitova's tough match up which was always a possibility for a surprise saw Romania's Alexandra Dulgheru victorious 7-6 6-3. Dulgheru has been suffering injury since the beginning of the clay season, but seems to be finding her way back into form. Petra did put in a good bid for the unforced error count, but fell short only managing 52.

Only playing her 11th match of the season, Venus Williams was not expected to perform well in any aspect. The seven time slam champion, served very well in her 6-4 6-3 victory over Vesna Dolonts. Speak of Venus; for the fashionista's amongst us, she didn't look to trashy and I liked the dress from the front...I just hope she doesn't turn around!

Agnieszka wan the battle of the Radwanska's while Madison Keys, Laura Robson, Julia Goerges, Vera Zvonareva, Tsvetana Pironkova, Marion Bartoli, Dominika Cibulkova and Samantha Stosur all posted sound wins.

US Open Series surprise packet, Christina McHale won a tough three set match over Canadian qualifier Aleksandra Wozniak, 6-3 6-7 6-4.

Concrete Jungle...2011 US Open Draw Preview and Analysis.

Well, well, we are here again, time for the final slam of year. And the draw is out! As a Serena fan, I love the draw! Lucinda, as a Vika fan is not a happy camper! Unfortunately this years US Open will be with out two time defending champion Kim Clijsters, as an abdominal injury ruled her out a little over a week ago. Before looking at a possible champion, you have to take into account to stand outs of the US Open series, this year US Open Series champion Serena Williams (who as the possibility of a one million dollar bonus, if she wins the US Open), Agnieska Radwanska and Andrea Petkovic has all impressed during the series and will be eager to back that up at the open. Women's world number and top seed Caroline Wozniacki has been in a form slump lately and an unfavourable US Open draw won't help with that. For the fith consecutive slam Wozniacki will be looking to claim her maiden slam title and back up her number one rank. Well now here it goes!

First Quarter


Well obviously we have Caroline Wozniacki in the quarter, as well as Daniela Hantuchova, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Andrea Petkovic, Roberta Vinci and Li Na. In the second round Woniacki will come up against Arantxa Run, remember her? The Dutch girl who took down Clijsters at Roland Garros? Yeah, this match up will be interesting! I would expect Kuznetsova and Hantuchova to meet in the third round with the winner would likely face Caroline Wozniacki which would be a good match up! Hantuchova was Wozniacki's defeater at Roland Garros. In the lower sector it does seem to be all about Li Na and Andrea Petkovic who look poised for a fourth round clash, although Roberta Vinci could challenge Petkovic in the third round.

Predicted QF - Svetlana Kuznetsova vs Andrea Petkovic

Second Quarter

 Two words, Serena Williams. The only obsticale that seems to be stopping Serena from the quarter final is Victoria Azarenka, who has challenged Serena greatly on hard courts before, mainly at the Australia Open though but also at Miami, where Azarenka defeated Williams handily in 2009. The winner of the Azarenka/Williams match up could...to be honest, could face anyone in the 4th round, the seed to do so, Ana Ivanovic has been handed a challenging draw, where she could play Czech Petra Cetkovska in the 2nd round. Cetkovska defeated Ivanovic at Wimbledon this year. The lower section of the quarter stars Jelena Jankovic, Anastasia Pavlyucenkova and Francesca Schiavone where any woman could prevail

Predicted QF - Serena Williams vs Jelena Jankovic.

Third Quarter

 The bottom half of the draw is very open, with many dangerous players floating around. In the third quarter we have Wimbledon champ Petra Kvitova, Agnieszka Radwanska, Peng Shuai, Julia Goerges and Maria Sharapova. But also includes possible dangerous lower ranked players Virginie Razzano, former US Open semi finalist Yanina Wickmayer and Lucie Safarova. With the current form of Agnieszka Radwanska you could assume she would make the fourth round to likely play Petra Kvitova. The lower sector of the quarter would look like its going to be all about Maria Sharapova, however Peng Shuai and Julia Goerges could both produce tennis to test the Russian star.

Predicted QF - Agnieszka Radwanska vs Maria Sharapova


Fourth Quarter


The quarter is very interesting, Christina McHale and Marion Bartoli could face in round 2. Nadia Petrova and Samantha Stosur could face on in round three. The lower section features Cibulkova, Venus Williams, Sabine Lisicki, Anabelle Medina Garrigues and Vera Zvonareva. It is all very much up for grabs. Williams has not played since Wimbledon, Zvonareva made the semi's of Cincinnati last week but has been less than impressive since the start of the clay season. Lisicki and Cibulkova impressed at Wimbledon in the US Open Series Cibulkova was hampered by injury and Lisicki had mediocre performances.

Predicted QF - Nadia Petrova vs Anabelle Medina Garrigues 


QF predictions


Svetlana Kuznetsova vs Andrea Petkovic


Kuznetsova, the former champ and Andrea Petkovic the quirky dancing queen. Petko has been on fire this US Open series making semis at two of her events and quarters in the other. She has played well on hard courts all year with a final in Brisbane, QF in the AO and Semis in Miami. I think it will be pretty hard to look past Petkovic for this match, and well, say hello to your first slam semi Andrea!

Serena Williams vs Jelena Jankovic


I doubt it will be as close or as entertaining as their 2009 US Open final, I do think Serena will win with much greater ease, and I am not just saying that because I am a fan of Serena...okay well maybe I am! But Its great Jelena made the final of Cincinnati and yes, I probably am getting to far ahead of myself and herself to predict her to male the quarters of slam, giving the semis at Cincy is about the first impact she has made on the tour for...well, a while. Serena in an easy two sets...probably two and three or something like that.

Agnieszka Radwanska vs Maria Sharapova


Well I am going to go out on a huge limb here and I am going to go right ahead and say, even injurd and what not, I thing Aggie will be winning this match. She has become a new woman dropping Daddy Radwanska as her coach and she is playing like a new woman. And well Maria is still inconsistent and carrying her unrelaiable sereve, as we saw in Toronto, it can all come crashing down. Aggie in three...maybe but why not play it safe and flip a coin...oh look Maria in three.

Nadia Petrova vs Anabelle Medina Garrigues 


I still don't know why. Or who. Or why. Maybe I did this for fun, because that's how open I thought this draw would be? Hahaha, I really have no idea. I suppose Petrova will win, but I also suppose this would never happen!

SF predictions


Andrea Petkovic vs Serena Williams


Serena is just so hard to stop at these stages of the majors. Andrea will put up a stern fight but will fall short of what is one of the toughest challenges in women's tennis. Serena to make her return to slam finals winning in two tighter sets.

Maria Sharapova vs Nadia Petrova


Maria.

Runner Up
Maria Sharapova

Champion
Serena Williams

The Jankovic Saga: Resurgent JJ?

Once upon a 2007 a 22 year old Jelena Jankovic showed great promise and talent to reach the Roland Garros semi final and US Open quarter final to finish the year ranked third in the world. The following year Jelena made and impressive semi final or better finish at 3 grand slams as well as going down to Serena Williams in a closely contested entertaining US Open final 4-6 5-7. These combined successes saw Jankovic finish the year as the world number one.

In more recent time, especially this year, Jankovic has been inconsistent and appeared uninterested in tennis. Even admitting that at the moment tennis is not her top priority. And yes even I am guilty of calling for her to retire or take a break, as are many other. Until this week Jankovic had not won a tennis match since Roland Garros. Suddenly and since rehiring Ricardo Sanchez, the man who took her to number 1, as her coach Jelena finds herself in the final of the Western & Southern Open scoring wins over 2010 French Open champ Francesca Schiavone and inform Andrea Petkovic.

In tomorrows final Jankovic will take on fourth seeded Maria Sharapova, who won in scrappy performance over world number two Vera Zvonareva 2-6 6-3 6-3. The final will be a great test for Jankovic and I would love nothing more than for her to win the final, get her career back on track and win a slam or two. I hope that this isn't just a once off thing...I would like to see more of you in deep section of tournaments Jelena.

So Jelena best of luck for tomorrow and even better wishes for the US Open.

Oh and just to prove how committed she is to tennis, Jelena has accepted a Wild Card to play New Haven, I hope her plan wont back fire on her.

Clijsters withdraws from US Open

The three-times US Open champion Kim Clijsters will not defend her title after failing to recover from a stomach muscle injury. It has been an injury-hit season for the world No3, who missed most of the clay-court season and Wimbledon with an ankle injury before being forced out of last week's tournament in Toronto with the stomach problem.

The US Open was the stage on which Clijsters announced her return to the game after two and a half years in retirement in spectacular fashion in 2009. Only a month after returning to the Tour, she beat both Venus and Serena Williams, the latter in a semi-final that became famous for Williams's abuse of a lineswoman, before defeating Caroline Wozniacki to secure her second grand slam title.

She successfully defended the crown 12 months ago, beating Vera Zvonareva in the final, before winning her first grand slam title outside America at the Australian Open in January. Clijsters reclaimed the world No1 ranking and looked set to be the player to beat in 2011 before injury struck in a most unusual way as the 28-year-old sustained a serious ankle injury while dancing at a cousin's wedding.

The US Open tournament director, Jim Curley, said: "It is unfortunate that Kim has not recovered from her injury in time to defend her US Open title. We wish her a full and speedy recovery and look forward to her return to New York next year."

With Kim's career turning into another injury prone saga, one has to assume weather she will make 2012 Olympics.