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Serena raps past Maria

 

Its been an eventful day for Serena Williams, beating Maria Sharapova, again, and releasing her debut rap track. Firstly and most importantly, the rap. Its kind of catchy, and I mean its better that Wozniacki's song...I still don't know if that is an achievement or not. Give it a listen, you might like it, it my blow your speakers, who knows.

Now the match, yes the match. Serena cut up that court like a frozen pizza, extended her head to head against Sharapova to 8-2 having won the last seven match dropping just two sets. The first set was over before you knew it, and as always against Sharapova, Serena seems to play pretty damn well no mater what the circumstances are. 

The second set, although it may not seem it from the score, was much tighter having Serena taking her foot off the gas probably feeling as though she was pretty comfortably home already. Maria definitely had chances in the second but Serena was able to step up on the big points, assisted by her trusty serve. Ultimately Serena proved too strong and always one step ahead of her opponent finishing with a 6-1 6-3 victory.

In the semis Serena will meet surprise semi finalist, Lucie Hradecka who has won through qualifying and not beaten two top five players, Petra Kvitova and Sam Stosur to make her first ever Premier Mandatory semi final. In a match which featured no service breaks and Hradecka fired 19 aces she prevailed in two tie break sets winning them 10-8 and 8-6 respectively.

On the other half of the draw Victoria Azarenka and Agnieszka Radwanska will play for the sixth time this year, and it only may, and you've got to feel bad to Radwanska drawing Vika all the time. 

Madrid's New Groove

The new Blue or "Smurf" clay courts in Madrid have caused a mixed reactions from tennis players and commentators. The first to vent their dislike was Rafael Nadal way back last year when the switch was announced, admittedly he is probably getting paid to not like due to him being sponsored by the rival company to the one which endorsed the change to blue clay. And without having seen the courts play, played on the courts or witnessed the courts at all I will give my own expert insight.

Serena called it "ridiculous" and stated that "no one likes it"  as a member of the Player Council Serena also made mentioned that they all voted against it. Venus sees as more of a "fashion statement" because "bright colours are in". Djokovic and Stosur both agree with Serena and Rafa, Stosur said it "pointless" and then went onto criticize the courts a great deal.

The general feedback seems like its very slippery and has a low bounce, so its basically a slippery hard court.

The slippery hard courts have already provided a couple of upsets with Petra Cetkosvka handily defeating world number ten Vera Zvonareva 6-2 6-2. Indicating that Zvonareva is nowhere yet down with slumping just yet and my inside sources inform me that she has a reoccurring injury, believed to hip that she's not letting on about - which would explain her sudden inability to be able to consistently hit through her shots.

Marion Bartoli also joined the seeds casualty list falling in three sets to Romanian Sorana Cirstea, Venus Williams also won in three sets over Romanian Simona Halep, while vocal critic of the courts, Stosur, narrowly survived Petra Martic edging out a 7-5 4-6 7-6 victory in what seemed to be a high quality match featuring only two service breaks. In the second round Stosur will face Christina McHale who defeated Sofia Arvidsson in straight sets.

Last years semi finalist and form clay player, Julia Goerges as defeated by compatriot Mona Barthel 4-6 1-6 in her first match.Which is a far cry from the position she was in after last years clay court season, tipped a certainty for the top 10 and a dark horse leading into Roland Garros, the German has failed to impress since her dream clay run.

Injury rules Kim out of Paris

Injuries have plagued the Belgium mother for almost the entire 2011 and now what looks to be the entire 2012 seasons. This time the hip troubles Kim Clijsters, the same problem which she retired with in Brisbane at the start of the year, however this time Kim won't be skipping a small event - she will be withdrawing from the entire clay court season, including Roland Garros.

Since returning to professional tennis in August of 2009 Clijsters has only played two tournaments on clay - Marbella in 2010 and the French Open in 2011. The injury that will sideline her this time was re-aggravated in Miami.

Unfortunately for Clijsters injuries have been a constant in her life, especially in during 2007 - her first final year, where she called quits early frustrated by ongoing injuries. And since 2011 Kim has hit by ankle, foot, abdominal  and now hip injuries.

We wish Kim a speedy and successful career and hope that she can reach her goal of playing in the London Olympic Games. 

Yes, this is post worthy.

Fed Cup week is normally pretty boring waiting for play, luckily Maria Sharapova provides the biggest bombshell. The Russian world number two has cut her hair. Gasp. Her long blonde pony tail that has been ever present through her career is no more.

Work it.

Fed Cup seriously cannot come soon enough.

You got fight

For the 11th time in 2012 Angelique Kerber was pushed to three sets and for the 11th time in 2012 Angelique Kerber has won a three set match. There is no denying that she is, now, one of the biggest fighters on tour. In four of those 11 matches the US Open semi finalist has saved multiple match points. Today she fought from 2-5 down in the third set to defeat compatriot Mona Barthel 6-2 0-6 7-5, saving two match points.

The match was full of momentum swings as the pair took turns in playing well. With Kerber serving down 4-5 in the third both decided they would give it their best at playing well at the same time and the result was some great point play from both players and great rallies for the crowd to enjoy, which unfortunately was just a handful of people as it has been always in Copenhagen unless Wozniacki is on court.

Kerber's opponent in her semi final will be former world number one Jelena Jankovic who bounced back losing the first set against Kaia Kaneppi 4-6 to eventually win 4-6 6-1 6-3. Jankovic seems to be picking her game in time for the clay season, where she has found consistent success in the past years.

In the quarter final between the two unseeded players, Bojana Jovanovski and Petra Matic. Both young emerging talents on the tour split the first two sets 6-4 while in the third set Matic got the advantage and prevailed 6-4 4-6 6-3.

The only quarter final not to go the distance featured top seed and twice defending champion, Caroline Wozniacki and she breezed passed Alize cornet 6-0 6-3 to improve to 14-0 in Copenhagen.

Aga wins big time in Miami. Oh and I'm back, just in case you were wondering.

Agnieszka Radwanska has continued her impressive start to 2012 by winning arguably the biggest title of her career, the Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne. Radwanska did not drop a set all tournament which included wins over Venus Williams, Marion Bartoli an finally Maria Sharapova in the final.

Radwanska has been impressive in 2012, the only player to have beaten her being world number one Victoria Azarenka, on four occasions. While Sharapova remains consistent with appearances in the later stages of tournaments she now, more than ever, seems really Russian having lost  nine out of her last 14 final appearances all since returning from shoulder surgery in 2009.

Just one service break in each set was enough for Radwanska to deny Maria Sharapova a maiden Miami title following four previous final berths. A strong serving performance and her trade mark craftiness around the court saw Radwanska hoist the Miami trophy for the first time which is her second, but most prestigious Premier Mandatory event title following her first which came in Beijing at the end of last year.

Defending just 630 points going into the clay season and in the form that Radwanska is in it poises her nicely for a possible accent to the top of the rankings.

And yes I have returned from over three months abroad. To be honest I was tempted to remain couch surfing through Europe for a little while longer with the beloved one when I remembered I that Uni and Work are kind of important.

Take that, Sjogren's

Venus Williams had not played a competitive for seven months before stepping onto court in Miami and suffers from the autoimmune illness, Sjogren's Syndrome. All this however was not going stop her from upsetting Wimbledon Champ and world number three, Petra Kvitova.

Many people, including myself, we're pessimistic about Venus' return and to some extent doubted that it could happen. Not only did she prove me wrong on that one she also stunned me by taking down Kvitova, especially with the ease of the third set.

One break separated the pair in the opening set as Venus Broke Kvitova in the 10th game of the set to take the first set 6-4. The second set featured three breaks, two to Petra and one to Venus, as the Wimbledon champion pushed the match into a decider taking the second 6-4. The final set was all one way traffic and Venus Williams who "didn't really realize the third set was 6-0" stormed through the final set in just over half and hour.

Fellow comebacker, Alisa Kelybanova, was less fortunate as Maria Kirilenko got the better of her in just under 2 and a half hours in just her first match back after winning the biggest battle of her life, against Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

Vera Zvonareva was the other top 10 seed to fall in the second round has she was defeated in straight sets by rising Spanish star Garbine Muguruza Blanco. Zvonareva stormed to a 4-0 lead in the first set before her young opponent battle backed to win 6-4 6-3.

American Dream

Angelique Kerber has continued her love affair with American hard courts, battling into the quarters of Indian Wells. Having made the semis of the US Open last year, losing to eventual champ Sam Stosur in three sets, Kerber continues to back up her results and puts any questions over flukes slowly to sleep.

Indian Wells has been interesting for Kerber, to say the least. In her two matches (3rd round opponent withdrew due to illness) she has saved seven match points and battled from the edge of defeat to rising American stars twice. After her first round bye, Kerber fought back from 2-6 1-5 down against Sloane Stephens saving three match points to eventually win 2-6 7-5 6-4. Today, against Christina McHale, who defeated Wimbledon champ Petra Kvitova in round three, Angelique again found herself looking like needing to book a ticket to Miami. after splitting the first two sets 6-3 in the third McHale raced to a 4-1 lead, with Kerber serving, and held a break point to extend the lead to 5-1. Kerber showed grit and determination to level the score but again faced three match points, this time serving down 5-6. Throw in another match point saved and the match edged to the tie breaker where a little more experience prevailed over youth in the end.

In the first match on court one for the day, world number one Victoria Azarenka improved her unbeaten run to 20 matches defeating Julia Goerges 6-3 6-1 to advance to the quarterfinal of Indian Wells. Her opponent will be Agnieszka Radwanska who advanced to the quarters virtue of her opponents retirement. Jamie Hampton seemed to be getting the better of the fifth seeded Pole, when unfortunately cramps got the better of her trailing 0-1 in the third set she collapsed in pain. In need of medical attention, Hampton was treated on court, at the cost of two games, but it was too much in then retiring just points later.

Hampton's retirement marked the 19th time a match could not be completed in Indian Wells this year, with most players falling victim to a viral infection sweeping through the locker room.

Radwanska wins Doha, rises to number 5

Agnieszka Radwanska improved to 15-3 for the 2012 season by beating Julia Goerges 7-5 6-4 to win the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. The only player to have beaten her is the undefeated world number one, Victoria Azarenka. With this victory and her incredible start to the season Radwanska ascends to a new career high rank, becoming a top 5 player for the first time.

In the first round of the Dubai Championships Radwanska was nearly edged out by Canadian Aleksandra Wozniak coming back from 3-5 down in the third set to prevail. And from then on hardly put a foot wrong.

Goerges had a much more interesting and up and down road into the final which included being out played by Svetlana Kuznetsova for set and half before coming back to win, the getting ready to face Victoria Azarenka, who withdrew so Goerges played lucky loser, Casey Dellaqua in the semi final Julia won her third consecutive match up with former world number one Caroline Wozniacki despite hitting nearly 60 unforced errors. Georgs' efforts see her equal her career high rank of 16.

In Memphis Sofia Arvidsson has continued her love affair by winning her second career title in the indoor championships. Three of Arvidsson fours career finals have now all been in Memphis.