The Statement (revised)

A Another joint statement from Backspin and Tennisrulz...

February 3, 2007
March 31, 2007

"After the unfortunate hamstring injury incurred by Maria Sharapova during her semifinal match in Tokyo slips on the court by Justine Henin during her final against Serena Williams in Miami, as well as her difficulties in Hong Kong, and her struggles with her serve and the heat in Melbourne which ultimately preceded her loss in a match in which she led 6-0/1-0 and held two match points at 5-4 in the 2nd set, it has been brought to the attention of Pierre Cantin and Todd Spiker that they may have had something to do with this.

They steadfastly refute that assertion. Their talk of a 'Curse' being placed on Sharapova several weeks ago Henin on Saturday, March 31, 2007 in a 'Backspin Volley' column posted on WTA Backspin during the match while Henin was seemingly on her way to victory was simply a topic of conversation referred to in jest, and in no way was a concerted effort to identify Miss Sharapova Henin as an intended or implied victim or target of any dark magic or paranormal-related activity.

They, Todd as well as Pierre, surely wish Miss Sharapova Henin success and health for the remainder of her 2007 season and beyond. Any future talk of a 'Curse' will be made with tongue firmly planted in cheek, and with the utmost respect for the talent and future endeavors of Miss Sharapova Henin in the forefront of our minds.

Any further assertions on this action shall be directed to the appropriate legal representatives."

Signed,

Thank you very much for your time.*

=============================

*-...ah, it's so nice to be "absolved" of responsibility for whatever may happen next.

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BV: On Second Thought

Three months into the season, and it's time to attempt to correct a few past wrongs... from, um, three months ago.

Remember those Top 10 predictions Pierre Cantin and I made at the start of the season? Well, forget about them. Or at least allow us to hit the post-1st Quarter reset button and try again (you know, until we hit the reset again after Wimbledon this summer). So, in this latest edition of "Backspin Volley" we revise our Top 10 (and throw in a few more for a "baker's dozen") and take a stab at a few predictions for the WTA's 2nd Quarter.



(Todd/Pierre original predictions in parenthesis)

#11-13.
11. Chakvetadze(-)
12. Jankovic(-)
13. Hantuchova(-)
---
11. Peer(-)
12. Hantuchova(-)
13. Dementieva(-)

PIERRE CANTIN: Daniela has continued to improve, she's been getting more and more confident and the top 10 is certainly still a possibility.

TODD SPIKER: I agree. How Wonder Girl handles her second round of success will be one of the more intriguing stories for the rest of this season. I'm keen to move her up 2-3 more spots if she's learned from her past mistakes. I'm not sure Miami was really a good gauge, though. I see you're drinking the Kool-Aid on Peer just as I am.

PC: Shahar has been making big improvements in the past 12 months or so and her do-or-die attitude will help her inch closer to the top 10 although her lack of great shots will make it difficult to make a move towards the top 5.

TS: I actually moved Peer a little higher than you did after her second straight solid Tier I performance this month. Oh, how different things would look now had Shahar pulled out those two winnable matches against Serena (in Oz) and Hantuchova (I.W.). I didn't follow in your footsteps on Dementieva, though.

PC: Yeah, Elena has been out of action and out of sync for a while now, but I think she will fight back, especially on clay and in the US hardcourt season.

TS: Maybe, but she's too unpredictable for me to pick her in the Top 10 at this point. It's the same for me with Jankovic. After her quick start, I was prepared to concede Jelena a Top 10 spot. But then Hantuchova won I.W., while Peer and Chakvetadze maintained their admirable consistency as Jankovic's results fell off and... poof! Maybe Kim will play enough hide-and-seek the rest of the season to let Jelena back into the Top 10 club, though. But she'll be hard-pressed to defend those US Open SF points.

PC: Ah well you forget how Jelena has really been playing so far this year. I've been through many stats for some of your "protege" players such as the obvious Nadia Petrova. Well look through Jelena's year, she has one loss to a player outside the top 20 and that was Serena. And Jelena not deserving to be in the top 10? Well she does have a 3-3 record against top 10 players this year.

TS: Hmm, well, Jankovic did lose to Santangelo in Miami this past week, and unless something wild has happened in the rankings Miss Mara isn't yet a Top 20 gal. Really, though, moving JJ out of my Top 10 was a last second move after Peer had another great tournament and will soon be heading into the clay season where she really made her first big strides a year ago. So it came down to Jelena or Corporal Peer, and I had to go with Shahar.

#7-10.
7. Hingis(6)
8. Vaidisova(9)
9. Peer(-)
10. Clijsters(4)
---
7. Hingis(4)
8. Jankovic(8)
9. Petrova(10)
10. Clijsters(-)

TS: So we finally come together on a prediction for Kim "I'd Be There, But I Have a Party To Plan" Clijsters -- a Top 10er by default in '07?

PC: I think that despite not playing more than I expected, Kim will make the top 10...barely.

TS: Here's to hoping someone will talk some sense into her and get her to show up in New York. I'm sure neither of us will hold our breath on that one now, though. Otherwise, she might as well have officially retired after Melbourne. Meanwhile, you're down on Hingis.

PC: Yep. She's still struggling against those top 5 players.

TS: Not to mention the Hantuchovas and Radwanskas of the world, too. Of course, she'll play enough to maintain a high ranking even if she can't fight through the waves of big hitters on the court. Ah, just like old times.

#4-6.
4. Kuznetsova(7)
5. Mauresmo(5)
6. Petrova(3)
===
4. Mauresmo(5)
5. Vaidisova(6)
6. S.Williams(-)

PC: I actually have Kuznetsova a little higher at #3. A distant #3, but she still has a lot more upside than downside. As for Vaidisova, there's a timer somewhere until she breaks out big time.

TS: Maybe 2008? Those RG semifinal points are going to have to be replaced by a big title or another slam run. If Henin and/or Serena are healthy, and Sharapova gets her serve right, that might be hard for Nicole to pull off until after the summer.

PC: Ah you seem to discount grass pretty easily, I really think her game could prove pretty solid on grass... and there's no way you can discount her chances on clay. She had a great run last year but it's not like the draw's very deep on clay on the ladies side. There's Justine... and, well, Justine.

TS: Oh, I totally know that Vaidisova could explode (in a good way) at any moment, in Paris or London (though if the sisters and Mauresmo are healthy, combined with an in form Henin and Sharapova, there'll be a lot of people to fight through at SW19). I think you picked Nicole to reach the US Open final in your original picks, though, so maybe it'll be NYC. Speaking of Amelie, we're both pretty much in agreement on Mauresmo at this point. She's stuck somewhere after the big 2-3, and above all the rest. She really needs to at least get back to the SF at Wimbledon.

PC: She has missed significant action but she'll be back in time for her best time of the year, clay and grass.

TS: Sounds like the Sharapova refrain, except replace "clay" with "hard court." Okay, now for the Petrova portion of our Volley.

PC: Nadia, Nadia, Nadia... what to say really?

TS: You'll notice I DID drop her a bit, but if she survives her pressure-filled clay season and has a decent run at Roland Garros I'll put her back in my year-end Top 5 after Wimbledon. She needs to get in a bit better condition for the long haul of the clay season, but her QF in Miami was identical to her QF there last year before her great clay run. So... well, we'll just see what happens.

PC: Is it me or is their a little tendancy here -- you adjusting your picks towards mine. There was Kim, now Nadia.

TS: Well, you could also say that you've adjusted Clijsters closer to my pick since you didn't have her in the Top 10 originally (and I won't mention that you also dropped Hingis down to where I had her, and moved Petrova up one place... whoops, did I actually type that?). It sort of brings to mind the wild notion that we're just the same person posing as two -- there are still no pictures of us in the same room, you know.

PC: Haha.

TS: Not that I take any credit for you now including Clijsters. I guess I should have known better than to think that in the final stretch of her career she'd suddenly morph into a player who really and truly wanted to accomplish something great. But, really, even in my wildest dreams I wouldn't have thought that she'd decide to plan a wedding party and schedule a honeymoon that would preclude her from attending two of her final three grand slams.

PC: Kim's playing her only clay court event in Warsaw? Seriously? No RG?

TS: At first I wanted to be angry at her, but now I figure why bother when the eye-rolling timing of the acts only prove pretty much everything I've ever said about her in the past.

PC: I know one difference that proves we're two people -- I think deep down you know that Nadia will once more let you down.

TS: Either way, I'm heartened a bit by the fact that she got a grand total of one victory at RG and Wimbledon in '06, and took all summer before she collected herself at the very end of the US Open Series. So even a dip in her pre-Paris results could be somewhat made up for with respectable results at the two 2Q slams and hardcourt season. Hmmm, I'm almost talking myself into putting her back up a few spots... but I'll hold off.

PC: Are we talking about good results in slams for Nadia? Seriously? So what are you hoping for here? When is the last time she posted 2 or 3 straight big wins?

TS: Come now, Pierre. Petrova has reached two slam SF and four QF, and had a run of seven straight slams with Round-of-16 or better results before she got hurt at Roland Garros last year and didn't really recover until around US Open time. She lost in the 3rd Round in Melbourne in January, but that was to Serena so it's nothing to be ashamed of. After the Party Planner's antics, Nadia would have to commit several high crimes to be the most disappointing slam player in '07.

#1-3.
1. Henin(2)
2. S.Williams(-)
3. Sharapova(1)
===
1. Henin(2)
2. Sharapova(1)
3. Kuznetsova(3)

TS: Umm, the Curse doesn't count for revised Top 10/13 picks, right?

PC: Haha, at this point. I'm scared to even consider that the curse could have extended effects.

TS: I think Justine will be fine. Maria, though... whew! You'd be hard-pressed to doubt the power of the Curse at this point in the season. Is year-end #1 a pipe dream for the Supernova, meaning that we did indeed trip up yet another one.

PC: Maria's troubles against Serena and health problems could make things a bit more complicated. No matter how good Serena is, it's not normal to see her roll past Maria this easily. Either Maria is not 100% there physically or she now has some confidence issues when playing Serena.

TS: Or some combination of both. The England-to-New York portion of the schedule is really all that Sharapova would care about if she was forced to choose, though. She might not win either Wimbledon or the U.S., but she'll probably get close in both.

PC: I still think she has a great game for Wimbledon and it's hard not to pick her.

TS: Who knows? By late June, maybe she WILL be the odds-on pick at Wimbledon. So much can happen between now and then that it's easy to think that Maria will collect herself and rise to the occasion. Unlike some player who shall remain nameless, Justine also takes advantage of her slam opportunities. It took her personal life falling to pieces for her to skip the Australian.

PC: Well despite not playing in Australia, it seems like Justine has been a lot more convincing than Sharapova.

TS: There's really no one more deserving of #1 than Henin.... I mean, unless Serena manages to play a nearly-full schedule (but what're the odds of that?).

PC: Will she play enough? Seems like the only question these days.

TS: But does she HAVE to? Melbourne. Miami. Wimbledon. The Open. If she has great results at all the top stops, she can play a relatively light schedule and be ranked very high.

PC: Indeed, with the Sharapova mini-debacle, doesn't seem like the race to #1 will bring that much excitement.

TS: Maybe it won't be Maria vs. Justine, but Justine vs. Serena could be interesting, too... maybe Miami was just a preview of things to come.


==JUST FOR THE RECORD==
--missing from our preseason Top 10's--
Golovin(8), Safina(10)
===
Ivanovic(8), Myskina(9)



Okay, we'll conclude this Volley with a few predictions for the upcoming 2nd Quarter.

==2Q CLAY SEASON==
TOP PLAYER
Justine Henin
Justine Henin

...if it's taking place on clay, the Queen is going to be the favorite.
...this event just brings out the best in Justine, no one seems even close to matching her on clay these days .
=============================
RISER
Shahar Peer
Shahar Peer

...she won Prague a year ago, and got her first career Top 10 win over Dementieva during her Round of 16 run at RG.
...Shahar certainly has a good game for clay if she can generate enough power by herself, she'll be a tough one to play against.
=============================
SURPRISE
Julia Vakulenko
Vera Zvonareva

...Vakulenko's the best slam qualifying ace around, and her best slam main draw results (3rd Rd) have come in Paris.
...Zvonareva will make big waves, especially in RG.
=============================
VETERAN
Tathiana Garbin
Amelie Mauresmo

...Garbin upset Henin at RG in '04, and has started '07 with a RU in Bogota (plus a hardcourt SF). Of course, there's always Hingis, too...but I thought I'd be a bit more adventurous.
...we pretty much know Amelie will have a good clay season, the question is how it will end. My bet is better than usual.
=============================
FRESH FACE
Agnieszka Radwanska
Na Li

...A-Rad won the RG junior crown in '06 (and then reached the main draw Round of 16 at Wimbledon).
...Li's been very slowly making her way through the rankings, will make semifinals in Paris.
=============================
COMEBACK
Nadia Petrova
Martina Hingis

...Nadia was the star of the clay circuit before RG last year, but went down in Parisian flames with an injury. Here's her second chance.
...Martina might not make the final, but will come very close.
=============================
DISAPPOINTMENT
Kim Clijsters
Kim Clijsters

...a semifinalist there last year, she just can't bring herself to make a final appearance at RG because she has to order paper plates, balloons and noisemakers that week. Seriously... well, kind of (I'm allowed a little license to exaggerate on this one, aren't I?).
...hmmm, playing her only clay court event in Warsaw? Seriously? Seriously? No RG?
=============================

==GRASS SEASON==
TOP PLAYER
a Williams sister
Maria Sharapova

...take your pick, since the winner of Wimbledon is obviously the grass court season star. And since I'm still playing Sister Roulette and saying either Venus or Serena will win at SW19, this pick has "major disaster potential" written all over it. If pressed, I'd say Serena.
...this tournament is built for Maria, she needs some confidence and to be healthy, that's it.
=============================
RISER
Daniela Hantuchova
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova

...grass is Wonder Girl's favorite surface, and for the first time since -- well, maybe ever -- her game might be in fine enough form to put together that Wimbledon run people used to talk about. Of course, Wimbledon is still three months away.
...could this be the moment when the junior world #1 takes a big step?
=============================
SURPRISE
Sybille Bammer
Nicole Vaidisova

...one of the tour's rare playing moms has been the surprise of the 1Q. Bammer made the Wimbledon 3rd Round a year ago, but she'll likely enter with a seed this time around.
...a semifinal or final for the Czech phenom?
=============================
VETERAN
Alicia Molik
Amelie Mauresmo

...the Steamer's game always seemed like it'd work well on the grass, but even before the illness the best she'd pulled off at Wimbledon was a 3rd Round result. Maybe things will be different now. Here's to hoping.
...Amelie seems to be getting better and better in Wimbledon.
=============================
FRESH FACE
Yaroslava Shvedova
Lucie Safarova

...the young Russian qualified for the Wimbledon main draw a year ago, and is coming off having won her first career title this season. Caroline Wozniacki, meanwhile, was the '06 Wimbledon junior champ, so keep an eye on her, too.
...many now know Lucie after her success in Australia, but she'll open a lot more eyes in Wimby.
=============================
COMEBACK
Mirjana Lucic
Venus Williams

...the '99 Wimbledon semifinalist got her first tour main draw win in years in Indian Wells, so just showing up at the All England Club would be a nice sight.
...Venus has been on and off so much throughout her career, but it always seems to click when Wimbledon comes around.
=============================
DISAPPOINTMENT
Amelie Mauresmo
Kim Clijsters

...I'm tempted to say Sharapova to, you know, do the ol' reverse psychology bit on the Curse. But after winning the title a year ago, Mauresmo would have to repeat as champion to avoid taking at least a small step back this time around. So I'll play it safe on this one.
...in her final slam, when all eyes will be on the second week, Kim will be surprised early on.
=============================

Hmmm, I wonder how different our Top 10's will look after Wimbledon?

All for now.

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Wk.10/11- Lost and Found

Wonder Girl and the Debutante. They've been unofficially tied together since the early days of Backspin.

As dual subjects of "Intriguing Questions," as well as the objects of either/or discussions as far as career prospects are concerned, uttering "Hantuchova" and "Dokic" in nearly the same breath is a tradition that literally goes ALL the way back, considering Daniela Hantuchova and Jelena Dokic were born just eleven April days apart in Europe in 1983.

Five years ago, they were a tandem team of on-the-rise players. They met in the Round of 16 at Wimbledon (Hantuchova won, just weeks after Dokic had completed a career "surface slam" with her first grass court title in Birmingham) amidst the usual "glamour girl" hubbub that surrounds two attractive teenagers meeting on the grass at the All England Club. A season after Dokic had won Tier I's in Rome and Moscow (and was runner-up in another in Zurich), Hantuchova finally broke through to claim her first career title at the Tier I Indian Wells event. Her stated desire to be a #1-ranked player was given legitimacy by no less than the likes of Martina Navratilova, who believed she could indeed do it. During the week of August 26, 2002, Dokic (#4) and Hantuchova (#5) were simultaneously ranked in the Top 5 for the first time. In 2003, the pair showed signs of continuing their shoulder-to-shoulder progress. In January at the Australian Open, Hantuchova played in her third straight grand slam QF, while Dokic reached another Tier I final in Zurich in October.

Then nearly everything went to hell for both of them.

Hantuchova seemingly fell into the tennis-teen-as-star track, attending more photoshoots than winning post-match press conferences as she tried to become the next Kournikova rather than the new Graf. It took a physical toll on her. She experienced a dramatic weight loss (and the already skinny Slovak didn't have much body mass to spare as it was) and often fell to pieces emotionally on court, playing through tears as the whispers about her health closed in around her. By the end of 2004, she'd dropped out of the Top 30. Meanwhile, Dokic's wild family situation and one-dimensional game stunted her growth as a player, her inability to be/want proper coaching and her now-you-see-it, now-you-don't nationality (which became an easy joke -- she's an Aussie, err, I mean a Yugoslav/Serb... or is she an Aussie again?) combined to produce a ranking freefall. Dokic went from #8 in 2001 to #9 in '02, #15 in '03, #125 in '04, #351 in '05 and #621 in '06.

As Dokic floundered with little plan of action, Hantuchova tried to backtrack and correct her mistakes. She reconnected with the coach she'd abandoned, Nigel Sears, and had some modest success, but a series of one step forward, two steps back moments saw her ranking dip in and out of of the Top 20 without her ever getting any real upward momentum. It looked as if Indian Wells '02 was going to be her one and only moment in the sun.

Until last week... again, in Indian Wells.



Travelling with a series of coaches from the Casal/Sanchez Academy, Hantuchova has seen her prospects brighten over the past year. In late 2005, she completed a career Mixed Doubles slam at the U.S. Open, then played a full season in 2006 with a noticably stronger and healthier-looking body. Last October in Zurich, she reached her first tour singles final in over a year. This season, she's showed more patience and better emotional control than during her lean (figuratively and literally) years. With it has come, if not total consistency, then much fortitude. She still hasn't played in another slam QF since 2003, but she overcame a 6-7/0-4 deficit against Ashley Harkleroad at the Australian Open, won 3rd set tie-breaks against Maria Kirilenko in Doha and Shahar Peer last week, and has twice upset Martina Hingis in the past month. Hantuchova's new/old upward mobility came to a head in the final of Indian Wells on Saturday when she put on a serving clinic while knocking off world #3 Svetlana Kuznetsova in straight sets to belatedly claim career title number two.

Still tied together after all these years, while Wonder Girl was pulling off a "rebirth" five years in the making, Dokic last week was playing (and losing) in the qualifying of a $10K event in Rome less than six years after she'd won a Tier I tour event there.

If Hantuchova now looks capable of restoring some of the luster to her career, the "Debutante" is no more. She's been replaced by a Sister Jelena who last won a main draw match at a slam in the 1st Round of the 2003 U.S. Open. While Hantuchova's results since 2002 have read like the ups and down of a rollercoaster, Dokic has been tripping over all the terrible career decisions she's made since her break with father Damir (who'd have guessed that her career would have been at its most stable while tied to the maelstrom of controversy that he created?).

For years, Dokic's career has been one wrong turn after another. Two years later than she should have, Dokic "committed" to rebuilding her career by playing challenger events. It's been akin to re-arranging deck chairs on the Titanic. Last season she was fined for entering tournaments but not bothering to show up for them, nor withdraw. She's dropped and picked up coach Borna Bikic (brother of her fiance, no less) despite the evidence of his role as an "enabler" who has allowed Dokic to chase her own tail in her worldwide attempt to avoid anyone who would try to make her do something -- no matter how sensible -- she might not want to for the sake of her career. The lack of "tough love" has only meant tougher times on the court.



Just since January '06, Dokic's one-woman newspaper headline writer's dream of a life has given us that cynical cameo in Melbourne, where she was welcomed back "home" with open (but wary) arms, only to fail to take advantage of her "second chance" and flee the country again after a tough loss in the Australian Open 1st Round (though, to be fair, she didn't set fire to every bridge in sight on her way to the airport this time around). She was jostled and had fruit juice lobbed at her by a Croatian mob after a practice session (better fruit JUICE than fruit, I guess) in Zagreb. And this offseason, she fled (hmmm, I'm sensing a pattern) the Pilic Academy either because she didn't like the contract that was offered to her or because she felt there was too much intrusion into her "personal life." Said Niki Pilic, "Jelena doesn't know what she wants."

A positive outlook might cast this week of career contrasts as having provided encouragement not only for Hantuchova, but also for Dokic. If Daniela can stage a comeback, so can Jelena. But the realistic viewpoint says that last week only further cemented the fates of both 23-year olds. Hantuchova was never quite as good as advertised when she won Indian Wells in '02, but is a solid Top 10 talent who maybe could be Top 5 again if she can work up a head of steam going into her favored grass court season and beyond. Dokic is eons behind her now, and is poised to disappear from sight like a piece of space junk floating through the cosmos thanks to as poor a job of career management as any young player in recent memory.

The last two years, Dokic has liked to compare her comeback attempt to the successful one of Mary Pierce's in her late 20's/early 30's... never realizing the difference between the two was the Pierce had more talent and, more importantly, the great maturity necessary to persevere rather than bury her head in the sand and wish all her troubles away. Dokic will likely say she sees Hantuchova's I.W. victory as another potential career rallying point, but there's little chance that that notion will stick any better than the last. Dokic hasn't given up, but often she appears to just be going through the motions... which might be an even worse path for her to trudge down.

Hantuchova surely didn't give up, either. Quite the contrary, actually. Her ability to find her way through the darkness and back into the winner's circle, for the first time, truly erases all the smartass sarcasm from her original "Wonder Girl" moniker in these parts. For the moment, in Daniela's world, the skies are bright and the forecast is sunny.

Good for her.

*WEEK 10/11 CHAMPIONS*

INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA USA (I-HO)
S: Daniela Hantuchova d. Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-3/6-4
D: Raymond/Stosur d. Chan/Chuang


PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Daniela Hantuchova
...there was a good argument to be had about what Wonder Girl's career heights were REALLY going to be after she won Indian Wells in 2002, but you would have been met with dead silence (or maybe a snicker) if you'd said then that it'd take her five years to win another title. While the sport's biggest stars either lost early or didn't show up in California, Hantuchova's I.W. wins over Schiavone, Hingis, Peer, Li and Kuznetsova (all either accomplished with ease, or after an equally impressive fight) can't be easily disregarded. Of course, she's still 0-for-a-career everywhere else on the schedule, so she still has something to prove even as her #12 ranking has her right on the doorstep of the Top 10 for the first time in ages.
=============================
RISERS: Shahar Peer & Na Li
...Peer put up her usual fight in a QF loss to Hantuchova by way of a 3rd set tie-break, but wins over the likes of Safarova and Chakvetadze still made for a nice week (and change) in the California sun. Meanwhile, Li knocked off A.Bondarenko, Jankovic and Zvonareva to reach the SF, where she fell in three sets to Hantuchova.
=============================
SURPRISES: Sybille Bammer & Mirjana Lucic
...Bammer stepped into Elena Dementieva's spot in the draw as the #33 seed when Punch-Sober pulled out of Indian Wells. She rode the break to wins over Peng, Ivanovic and Golovin, then put up a great effort in a three-set loss to Kuznetsova in the SF. Through-hell-and-back Exhibit #1 Lucic, a '99 Wimbledon semifinalist from Croatia in the same year where Dokic burst onto the scene and reached the SW19 QF, was granted an I.W. wild card and got her first main draw victory (over Lindsey Nelson) since 2002. Now 25, Lucic has played a total of six matches since the 2003 U.S. Open.
=============================
VETERANS: Lisa Raymond & Laura Granville
... Raymond (with Sam Stosur) won her second Tier I doubles title of the season, while fellow American Granville -- who's quietly putting together a nice season -- notched wins over Camille Pin and Severine Bremond.
=============================
FRESH FACES: Evgenia Linetskaya & Naomi Cadavy

... Through-hell-and-back Exhibit #2 Linetskaya ran her 2007 record to 18-1, reaching her third straight ITF singles final and winning her second title of the season in the $10K Ramat Hasharon event. 17-year old Kent-born Brit Cadavy defeated Brandi, Spears (the one without the shaved head) and Knapp (6-1/6-1 in the final) in the Orange, California $25K. It's the second ITF singles title of her young career.
=============================
DOWN: Maria Sharapova
...did someone say "Curse?" No, of course not. Who'd say something like THAT about the Supernova? Well, the numbers really tell the tale as far as Sharapova went in Indian Wells. She entered the event as the defending champion and #1-ranked player in the world. In the 4th Round, she served at 6-4/5-3 against Vera Zvonareva... then crumbled like an old hotel set for demolition. Zvonareva won eight straight games, and ten of the last eleven in the match. Sharapova ended the match with thirteen double-faults, and is now the #2 player in the world.
=============================


1. IW 4th - Zvonareva d. Sharapova
...4-6/7-5/6-1. Zvonareva is now 3-4 against Sharapova in career matchups.
=============================
2. IW Final - Hantuchova d. Kuznetsova
...6-3/6-4. Okay, it must be asked. How long will it take for Wonder Girl to win title #3? If she can serve like this at Wimbledon, might she finally be able to make that sparkling grass court run envisioned to be her destiny half a decade ago?
=============================
3. IW 4th - Hantuchova d. Hingis
...6-4/6-3. Hingis is still ranked ahead of Hantuchova, but you'd be hard-pressed to find evidence in their two most recent meetings that would back up that pecking order.
=============================
4. IW QF - Hantuchova d. Peer
...6-2/5-7/7-6. This match maybe more than any other highlighted the advances that Hantuchova has made. She grabbed an early lead, but failed to take advantage of opportunities to put Peer away in two sets. Things turned against her for a time, but rather than let Peer wait her out and steal away with a victory, Wonder Girl collected herself and finally capitalized in the 3rd set tie-break. That wouldn't have happened a few years ago.
=============================
5. IW QF - Kuznetsova d. Vaidisova
...4-6/6-3/6-4. This matchup of the #2 and #6 seeds was the one on-target QF meeting in Indian Wells. The other matches included #15 vs. #12, #14 vs. #11 and #33 vs. #13. It sounded more like the lineup at a moderate-sized Tier II.
=============================
6. IW Doubles F - Raymond/Stosur d. Chan/Chuang
...6-3/7-5. Raymond/Stosur won the season's first four Tier I titles in 2006. They're two-for-two so far in 2007.
=============================
7. IW 4th - Bammer d. Ivanovic
...6-7/6-0/6-3. Erasing any further doubt that she's the surprise of '07. Of course, I'm talking about Bammer... but Ivanovic might qualify, too -- just for very different reasons.
=============================
8. IW QF - Bammer d. Golovin
...6-2/6-3. The Frussian Pastry gets to do a Miami "do-over."
=============================
9. IW 4th - Golovin d. Petrova
...6-2/1-0 ret.. Petrova went down with heat exhaustion. Not to be outdone, Amelie Mauresmo got appendicitis (she'll miss a month).
=============================
10. IW 2nd - Molik d. Medina-Garrigues
...6-3/5-7/6-4. Sure, beating AMG on clay would be more impressive. But it's still nice to see the Steamer continuing to work her way back.
=============================


**2007 SINGLES FINALS**
2...Justine Henin (2-0)
2...Kim Clijsters (1-1)
2...Martina Hingis (1-1)
2...Jelena Jankovic (1-1)
2...Amelie Mauresmo (1-1)
2...SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA (0-2)

**2007 SINGLES SF**
4...Jelena Jankovic (2-2)
3...Kim Clijsters (2-1)
3...Amelie Mauresmo (2-1)
3...SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA (2-1)
3...SYBILLE BAMMER (1-2)

**ALL-TIME WEEKS AS SINGLES #1 (15)**
377..Steffi Graf
331..Martina Navratilova
262..Chris Evert
209..Martina Hingis
178..Monica Seles
98...Lindsay Davenport
57...JUSTINE HENIN
57...Serena Williams
39...Amelie Mauresmo
22...Tracy Austin
19...Kim Clijsters
17...Jennifer Capriati
14...Maria Sharapova
12...Arantxa Sanchez Vicario
11...Venus Williams

**2007 DOUBLES TITLES**
4...Cara Black/Liezel Huber
2...LISA RAYMOND/SAMANTHA STOSUR




ROUND OF 16: Backspin 28-25
QUARTERFINALS: Pierre 14-10
SEMIFINALS: Pierre 17-13
FINALS: Backspin 10-8
CHAMPIONS: Backspin 3-2


MIAMI, FLORIDA USA (I-HO)
2006 FINAL: Kuznetsova d. Sharapova
2007 TOP: Sharapova/Henin
=============================



**ROUND OF 16**
#13 S.Williams d. V.Williams
#8 Vaidisova d. #21 Bartoli
#3 Kuznetsova d. #14 Peer
#5 Hingis d. #12 Ivanovic
#17 Golovin d. #7 Jankovic
#4 Clijsters d. Molik
#6 Petrova d. #10 Safina
#2 Henin d. #18 Zvonareva

...need more evidence of Sharapova's bad mojo than that she enters Miami as the #1 seed and has a draw that might bring a matchup with Venus in the 3rd Round, and then Serena in the 4th if she makes it past the first sister. If both are healthy, and Maria's serve is still iffy, it's hard to see the 'nova making it through the Williams Line. Aren't #1 seeds kind of expecting the easiest draw of the top seeds rather than the worst? Zvonareva would likely have to go through Hantuchova to get the meeting with Henin, so the thinking goes that Wonder Girl has a slight letdown after Indian Wells.

**QUARTERFINALS**
S.Williams d. Vaidisova
Kuznetsova d. Hingis
Clijsters d. Golovin
Henin d. Petrova

...Hingis finds herself in an unenviable (and familiar) situation -- directly in the line of fire. If she makes it through Ivanovic in the Round of 16, she probably gets defending champion Kuznetsova. If she'd win that one, she'd either get Sharapova, Vaidisova or a Williams... and she'd still need to probably beat a Belgian to win the title. Even a grand slam draw might not be that difficult. Golovin is finally back home at last year's scene of the crime, so if she makes it this far don't discount the possibility of an upset... especially, you know, if Kim has a wedding party to plan like the one that's more important than Roland Garros.

**SEMIFINALS**
S.Williams d. Kuznetsova
Henin d. Clijsters

...one more for good measure for Justine & Kim?

**FINAL**
Henin d. S.Williams

...Justine's on a roll, but it's always a bit nuts to pick against Serena if she makes it this far.



**ROUND OF 16**
Sharapova def SWilliams
Vaidisova def Schnyder
Peer def Kuznetsova
Hingis def Ivanovic
Jankovic def Golovin
Clijsters def Molik
Petrova def Safina
Hantuchova def Henin

**QUARTERFINALS**
Vaidisova def Sharapova
Peer def Hingis
Clijsters def Jankovic
Petrova def Hantuchova

**SEMIFINALS**
Vaidisova def Peer
Clijsters def Petrova

**FINAL**
Clijsters def Vaidisova



As for the men's draw, where Roger Federer will be looking to get back on the proverbial horse... just as Nadal finally righted himself just weeks before the start of the clay season:



**QUARTERFINALS**
(1)Federer d. (9)Haas
(7)Ljubicic d. (4)Davydenko
(12)Murray d. (3)Roddick
(2)Nadal d. (10)Djokovic

...Haas is always up to play Roger. Andy vs. Andy again. Rafa vs. Djokovic again, too.

**SEMIFINALS**
Federer d. Ljubicic
Nadal d. Murray

...are we about to witness the Summer of Roger vs. Rafa, Part II?

**FINAL**
Federer d. Nadal

...it's time to start shaking up the tour again.



**QUARTERFINALS**
Federer def Haas
Berdych def Ljubicic
Murray def Roddick
Nadal def Djokovic

**SEMIFINALS**
Federer def Berdych
Murray def Nadal


**FINAL**
Federer def Murray



All for now.

=============================

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BV: The Bless-ed & the Cursed

Well, we're nearing the end of the 1st Quarter of the WTA season, so this is as good a time as any to make some early assumptions about those Top 10 picks that Pierre and I made in January.

Yesiree, the Volley is back.




(our preseason Top 10's, along with their current rankings)

**TODD**
1. Sharapova(1)...maybe Sharapova's fate in Indian Wells (a 4th Round loss to Zvonareva) provides a clue to whether the Supernova can escape any "curse" associated with Pierre and my dual #1-ranking predictions for her in '07. A major turnaround can't be expected during the clay season, either. But when you get right down to it, her "real" season doesn't begin until she shows up at the All England Club.
=============================
2. Henin (2)...hey, Justine is bulletproof, criticism-proof (now husband-proof?) and maybe already fated to reclaim the #1 ranking before the clay season even begins. Can I go ahead and change my season-ending #1 pick now?
=============================
3. Petrova (7)...she has her big clay court '06 results to defend, but an inability to match them could be made up for by being healthy enough to play into the second weeks of Roland Garros and Wimbledon (she was just 0-1 in matches in last year's middle slams). #3 might be a longshot, but Top 5 at season's end is reachable.
=============================
4. Clijsters (5)...all My Gal Kim has to do is finish in the Top 10 for my pick to trump Pierre's. She might be skipping some of the clay tour and RG, plus she's getting married in July, but I'm still thinking she'll do enough when she DOES play to at least finish her final season still ranked in the single digits.
=============================
5. Mauresmo (3)...it's hard to see her climbing up to #1, so her season-ending ranking being in the general vicinity of #3-6 still feels about right.
=============================
6. Hingis (6)...she won Tokyo, but she's losing to some of the players she was beating last year and has yet to produce an eye-opening win like her early one over Sharapova last year.
=============================
7. Kuznetsova (4)...she hasn't been able to produce that one HUGE moment that'll realistically point her back toward the #1 ranking (of course, as this is being posted, she's playing in the I.W. final) that never happened after the original "Curse" was imposed in '05. But, hey, she's #4 in the world, so she must be doing SOMETHING right, even if it is an oddly quietly achieved accomplishment.
=============================
8. Golovin (19)...we're coming up on the year anniversary of Golovin's Miami coming out party that ended with an untimely ankle injury that set back her season. It's about time for her to get movin' if she's going to challenge for the Top 10, but she's still really only one great result from getting to within shouting distance of that promised land.
=============================
9. Vaidisova (10)...Nicole is still in the waiting room when it comes to her BIG moment in the spotlight. Give her time.
=============================
10. Safina (12)...she's been in and out of the Top 10 so far, and needs t oget a handle on her consistency. Maybe that's too much to ask of the sister of Marat, though? But she's already got a singles title to her credit in '07, and that's more than she could say about her '06 season.
=============================
(current Top 10ers, not predicted)
Jankovic (9)...has played and played and played. But will she play herself out?
=============================
Dementieva(8)...maybe '07 is the year when Elena's four-year Top 10 streak ends. An I.W. RU in '06, she pulled out of this year's event and will lose valuable points.
=============================

**PIERRE**
1. Sharapova (1)...she's been solid, as much as I expected really. She had one bad match against Serena and was injured a bit, but still looks good for #1. It wasn't a surprise pick or anything but I'm still happy with it at this point. Of course, the early loss this week was a disapointment but overall I'm still confident. She will drop out of the top ranking temporarily for the next month but I think she'll be back shortly!
=============================
2. Henin (2)...Justine has missed a lot of action, which at this point looks like it will help me out because she has been very solid while she has played so my 1-2 has a decent shot at the moment but if she had played in Melbourne, I would perhaps already be in trouble.
=============================
3. Kuznetsova (4)...she's been solid so far, a lot of points to defend in the upcoming Sony Ericsson Championships but so far I stand by my pick.
=============================
4. Hingis (6)...still confident with this one, I guess I'm hoping for a solid clay court run, getting more points than she did last year (when she did great in Rome, but could have done better in RG). Apart from Serena, she's the player who's earned the most ranking points so far this year.
=============================
5. Mauresmo (3)...turning point for this pick is without any doubt Wimbledon, so let's wait...
=============================
6. Vaidisova (10)...very much on pace, I'm not worried. Nicole has not played much, I'm sure there's a plan behind that whole idea. She will make it close to the top 5 in the late innings of this 2007 season:)
=============================
7. Jankovic (9)...I'm a bit disapointed by Jelena so far, she's been solid and has improved, but has not been able to step it up enough. #7 is still very realistic, even if she was to continue to struggle against the top 5... but I'm guessing she'll turn it around.
=============================
8. Ivanovic (14)...a bit disapointing to see Ana not improve more, this Indian Wells/Miami run will be crucial for her confidence before hitting the slow clay that will display her still lack of speed around the court.
=============================
9. Myskina (28)...what can I say... the infamous curse I guess? Ok, it doesn't qualify as the usual curse but still...
=============================
10. Petrova (7)...in my opinion, she still has yet to shine in big events against those top 10 players...lots of points to defend in the next month, she might go down to #10 by then.
=============================
(currently in Top 10, not predicted)
Clijsters(5)...hmm, I had based this surprise pick on a prediction that Kim would play very little this year... so far it looks a bit of a stretch that she would move outside the top 10 although I think it's still possible. We'll see.
=============================
Dementieva(8)...tough to figure out how Elena still manages to surprise us so much, she still does. Still don't think she'll end 2007 in the top 10 though.
=============================

TODD: Of course, the biggest point of contention in our original Top 10 picks (well, outside of Petrova's ranking... but I say we shelve that discussion until we get a better gauge on her season sometime this summer) was Clijsters' presence in MY Top 10, but not your's. Even without a Farewell Tour slam title, I think she'll get enough points to remain in the Top 10 no matter if she DOES skip Roland Garros (which she doesn't seem to believe she can win anyway). Are you sticking by your Kim-less Top 10 pick?

PIERRE: I do think Kim very well could stay in the top 10 but it's still not a clear cut for me so I'll maintain my pick for now.

TS: Is there a fairy tale ending in store for her in New York? I still think she could ride a wave into the final, even if an actual title is something of a long shot (though if she got that far, who knows?).

PC: So you are assuming she will for sure be playing in NYC I guess...

TS: Clijsters is certainly her own person, but I cannot allow myself to believe that even she would skip the final slam of her final season, especially when it's the only one she's won in her career. Not being there would be monumentally disappointing for all involved. Oh, and of course everyone wants to know if you'll be in NYC again this year.

PC: Yes, of course:) It's a tradition I simply could not break. Of course, I honestly hope to see Kim, especially if it's her last slam event, but I wouldn't be surprised if she wasn't there.

TS: At this point, Myskina looks to be the prime candidate for your "cursed" Top 10er, having not played since getting hurt in her opening match of the season. By the way, any word on her return to action (seeing that you have that "inside source" within the Czarina's camp)?

PC: No Anastasia news on my end right now, in fact it looks like she's probably out for the whole clay season, I'd say the pick is now officially out of reach, sadly I must say.

TS: Aww, that's really too bad. I hope she doesn't start using the "r" word against when it comes to her career. If I had to label one of my picks for a "curse," I'd have to say I'm a little worried about Golovin. She hasn't had a disasterous year, though, so I'm still hoping things will begin to pick up in Miami as they did in '06.

PC: Yeah, I mean she did show some very good signs in Indian Wells. She did lose to Bammer which was a tough loss and a disppointment for sure. But given the fact that Bammer has been very surprising this year (including pushing Kuznetsova to 3 sets in the semis), I'd say it was still a very good tournament for Tatiana.

TS: And Bammer upset Ivanovic, too. Shockingly easily, at least by the scoreline, in the final two sets, as well. It's funny that you say you're "disappointed" by Jankovic so far. I'd actually list her as your potential "blessed" pick (her 4th Round I.W. loss to Li notwithstanding). She HAS won a title, and defeated Hingis twice. If nothing else, it looks like she may play so many matches that it'll be hard to keep her out of the year-end Top 10... that is, if she doesn't break down from overplaying.

PC: Ahh, well I was a bit shocked she wasn't in your top 10. To me, her improvement last year was unmatched in the players around the top 20-25... she's been more and more focused as well, she'll be a force to reckoned with.

TS: I'm going to have to concede a little on Jankovic (as you'll see when we re-pick our Top 10 during Miami), but I still doubt she'll come close to matching her '06 U.S. Open SF run this time around. You had Jelena's fellow Serbian AnaIvo in your Top 10, too. I still think Ivanovic is too inconsistent for me to think she'll stick in the Top 10 at the end of this season. In a way, I guess I sort of tied Ivanovic and Vaidisova's development together. Nicole is ahead of Ana by a decent distance at the moment, but the very best tennis from both will probably come in '08 rather than '07. That being said, I wouldn't be shocked at all if Vaidisova made a slam final run this season, either... it's just a matter of time in her case. What do you think?

PC: I see the two as being world's apart at this point... ok maybe not world's but pretty far. I think Ivanovic continues to disappoint with a few bad losses. Nicole's temper is surely still a problem but I think she'll be back on top of things shortly, she just has enjoyed a light schedule so far in 2007.

TS: I'm not sure if Petrova is "blessed" on my list (if I'd picked Shahar Peer at #10, I'd say my preseason backing of the Israeli would give her a shot at the honor after her near-SF run in Australia), with the pressure of defending her brilliant clay run of a year ago on the near horizon. But I've been pleased with her Hopman Cup win and title in Paris. She just needs to remain confident. Okay, I couldn't avoid it, here's your shot to be "Negative Nelly" where it comes to Nadia -- I know you enjoy it so much. :)

PC: Nadia, Nadia, Nadia...well, I mean she's 2-3 against top 20 players so far this year... so I think it'll be hard for you to really argue on the fact that she's playing like a #3 in the world, I mean seriously?

TS: Well, no, of course not. Other than Henin, though, no one's been consistently on top of things so far this season. I think her #7 ranking is pretty accurate at the moment. Still, she has wins over three players with '07 singles titles (Mauresmo, Safarova and Safina), one who was a RU (Zvonareva) and another (Golovin) who she'd been 1-3 against before this season. She retired against Ivanovic (and suffered heat exhaustion against Golovin in I.W.), and was up 6-1/5-3 on Serena in Melbourne (losses which speak to the notion that one of the big things that holds Petrova back in Nadia herself).

PC: She did win in her only match against a top 10, but that was against Mauresmo in Paris... we've seen time and time again that almost anyone could pull that one off. Still standing out for her as #3??? I mean you knocked Ana Ivanovic (as did I), but Ana has collected over 100 points more in the rankings than Nadia has this year... anything to say to that?

TS: Well, I should mention here that Mauresmo DID win the Paris title in '06, so...

PC: Haha, yeah but every rule has its exception...come on, please don't tell me defeating Mauresmo in France deserves comparable credit to defeating JHH or Sharapova.

TS: Well, if it was Sharapova on clay it would. And Petrova did beat Henin on clay in Berlin last year in what was maybe the Match of the Year (by my reckoning, as well as Tennis magazine's), so she's capable of it. I'd still take Petrova over Ivanovic for the course of this season. Her success generally comes in streaks. When she's on, she can reel off a few weeks of very good results (and HAS twice reached the SF at Roland Garros), and I don't think AnaIvo has shown that ability... at least not yet.

PC: Ah yes, I was expecting more of Ana, she's tough to figure out honestly, which is something I usually say of Russians. But yeah, has not improved as much as I expected... but please don't compare her to Nadia:)

TS: Well, I will say that Ivanovic does have more of a shot to compete for #1 down the road than Petrova... but it's still quite a ways off for the Serbian. Speaking of #1, Sharapova and Henin were the unquestioned stars of our preseason picks. While Henin has been stellar since her return after her divorce announcement, Sharapova had troubles with her serve in Australia, was injured in Tokyo, and this week got bounced by Zvonareva in the first week of Indian Wells despite serving for the match in the 2nd set. But, of course, the Supernova will have nothing to do with any of this "curse"nonsense, right? Neither of us want THAT on our conscience.

PC: Indeed... consulting my shrink since the Kuznetsova curse has been enough for me. I've never been able to look Sveta in the eyes ever since... thank god she doesn't know we are the ones responsible.

TS: Haha. Now,the unmentioned pink elephants in the middle of the room are the Williams sisters. Neither of us went out on a limb with them as '07 Top 10ers (at least I did say one would reach a slam final, though... call it a "covering all bets" prediction), but when they've played they've reminded us of the days of old. Is '07 going to be like '05 with Serena's success inspiring Venus to great heights, as well? Personally, I think one or both will be in the Wimbledon final and claim another slam there in July. Of course, these ARE the sisters, so practically anything (good or bad) is possible, right?

PC: Trying to predict that one or perhaps both the sisters will be in theWimbledon final is a gutsy move, I'm almost at the point of giving up trying to predict how they'll do.

TS: Hmmm.. anything else? Umm, how about whether you think Jelena Dokic will ever get her head out of her a-... well, you know, and put together something resembling a tennis career again?

PC: In contrast to many fans of Jelena, I really thought last week was a positive (she lost in qualifying in a $10K event)... of course, I expect her to play a few consecutive weeks and hopefully make progress to make it to a 25K or 50K soon. I wouldn't be in any hurry to go on the WTA tour even if offered a wild card...her level of confidence has to be at a record low.

TS: Really, though, up to a point, she only has herself to blame. Rarely has a player mismanaged their career as badly as Dokic in recent seasons. And how ironic it is that her most recent lackluster results occurred the same week that Daniela Hantchova -- a fellow Top 5 player with Jelena about half a decade back -- appears to have finally put together a rebirth five years in the making in Indian Wells.

Well, that just about wraps things up. the next Volley will come during Miami, and we'll re-set our top 10's and make a few predictions on the rising and falling fortunes of certain players throughout the season's upcoming final 3/4. Ready to be wrong (or right) again?

PC: Ahhh yeah, I'll side with being wrong... I've been having a tough time lately matching your performance... but I'll be studying all possible stats until then, I'll be more than ready.

TS: Yeah, but your Colts finally won the Super Bowl... and that kind of makes every other sporting occurrence "meaningless" until this September, right? :)

PC: (silence)

TS: Oh, I see, the Canadian is apparently too superstitious to say anything that might disrupt Peyton Manning & Co.'s chances to repeat as champions in the upcoming season. A very smart move, I'd say.


All for now.

Read more...

Smoke Signals

A "Royale" so special it gets its own posting.

Well, not really... the draws just came out too late to be included in the regularly scheduled edition of Backspin (plus, Carl was in charge of that one).



INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA USA (I/Masters-HO)
06 WOMEN'S F: Sharapova d. Dementieva
07 TOP: Sharapova/Kuznetsova
06 MEN'S F: Federer d. Blake
07 TOP: Federer/Nadal
=============================

First, the women (the best the world has to offer... umm, minus Justine, Amelie, Kim, Venus or Serena)...



**ROUND OF 16**
Sharapova d. Zvonareva
Jankovic d. Pratt
Hantuchova d. Hingis
Chakvetadze d. Safarova
Ivanovic d. Bammer
Petrova d. Golovin
Vaidisova d. Safina
Kuznetsova d. Sugiyama

...hopefully, Sharapova's serve is sound after such an up-and-down period in January. She's had trouble with Zvonareva in the past (up 4-2 in career matchups, but with some close wins). Pratt is a wild stab in a section that includes Li and A.Bondarenko, neither of whom have played all that well of late. Hingis might get a quick shot at revenge against Wonder Girl, so that potential meeting could go the other way. Dementieva, the RU in Indian Wells a year ago, pulled out of this event (Bammer assumed her position in the draw); while Kuznetsova will soon defend her '06 Miami RU points (and is coming off a trip to the Doha final).

**QUARTERFINALS**
Sharapova d. Jankovic
Chakvetadze d. Hantuchova
Petrova d. Ivanovic
Vaidisova d. Kuznetsova

...Jankovic has been the workhorse of the women's tour so far in '07, playing 24 matches coming into Indian Wells. If it's Chakvetadze against Hingis, though, I don't like her chances quite as well.

**SEMIFINALS**
Sharapova d. Chakvetadze
Vaidisova d. Petrova

...will it finally happen? Sharapova vs. Vaidisova? It HAS to happen SOMETIME, right?

**FINAL**
Sharapova d. Vaidisova

..#2 Henin is closing in on #1 Sharapova in the rankings, and Sharapova is defending this title. Plus, with the clay court season just around the corner, the advantage will soon shift to Justine. Then, the Williams sisters could be healthy enough to forge a dual run on the grass at SW19. Maria needs this one... sort of.



**ROUND OF 16**
Sharapova(1) def Zvonareva(15)
Jankovic(7) def Bondarenko(23)
Hantuchova(14) def Hingis(3)
Chakvetadze(8) def Safarova(8)
Ivanovic(10) def Harkleroad
Golovin(13) def Petrova(4)
Vaidisova(6) def Bartoli(17)
Kuznetsova(2) def Razzano

**QUARTERFINALS**
Sharapova(1) def Jankovic(7)
Chakvetadze(8) def Hantuchova(14)
Golovin(13) def Ivanovic(10)
Kuznetsova(2) def Vaidisova(6)

**SEMIFINALS**
Sharapova(1) def Chakvetadze(8)
Kuznetsova(2) def Golovin(13)

**FINAL**
Sharapova(1) def Kuznetsova(13)



As for the men's draw, where Roger Federer will be attempting to tie the all-time Open era record of 46 straight match wins...



**QUARTERFINALS**
Federer d. Blake
Haas d. Safin
Roddick d. Fish
Youzhny d. Baghdatis

...Blake lost to Federer in the final in 2006. As usual, the odds are not with James when it comes to the King.

**SEMIFINALS**
Federer d. Haas
Roddick d. Youzhny

...Youzhny has been on fire of late, but lost to Federer in the Dubai final. Has he lost his aura? Mikhail, not Roger.

**FINAL**
Federer d. Roddick

...get ready, Mr.Vilas, for another ceremony "celebrating" the breaking of one of your records.



**QUARTERFINALS**
Federer(1) def Djokovic(12)
Murray(13) def Haas(9)
Roddick(3) def Ljubicic(9)
Youzhny(16) def Berdych(11)

**SEMIFINALS**
Federer(1) def Murray(13)
Youzhny(16) def Roddick(3)

**FINAL**
Federer(1) def Youzhny(16)


All for now.

=============================

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Wk.9- Justine. Good.

[WTA Backspin: Caveman Edition]

[ Editor's note: subbing for Todd this week is Carl Caveman. He has promised to do his best. ]


Carl think Carl look handsome in photo.



*WEEK 9 CHAMPIONS*
DOHA, QATAR (II-HO)
S: Justine Henin d. Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-4/6-2
D: Hingis/Kirilenko d. Szavay/Uhlirova
ACAPULCO, MEXICO (III-RCO)
S: Emilie Loit d. Flavia Pennetta 7-6/6-4
D: Dominguez-Lino/Parra Santonja d. Loit/Pratt


PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Justine Henin
...Justine. Doha. Good. Again. Back-to-back titles. Eight straight matches. Finals in nine of last ten events, plus Fed Cup. Carl scared of Justine! Must fight urge to beat with stick! Carl using calming techniques... Carl all right now.
=============================
RISER: Daniela Hantuchova
...Wonder Girl beat Castano, Daniilidou and Hingis in Doha. Hingis good, but Daniela better. Nice. Carl wants Daniela phone number. She have boyfriend?
=============================
SURPRISES: Melissa Torres-Sandoval & Sara Errani
...Torres-Sandoval of Mexico gets wild card in Mexico and makes Acapulco, Mexico QF. Carl has headache. Torres ranked #402, and win $201 in 2007 before last week. Carl proud of Melissa. Carl need loan. Errani, 19, of Italy qualify in Acapulco. Beat Bammer, Kanepi and Garbin. Go to SF as #216 in world. What is "world?" Is flat? No? Carl scared! Like when first time Carl see fire!
=============================
VETERAN: Emilie Loit
...Carl trying to hold together! Carl must take a break.

(pause)

All right. Carl better now.

(clears throat)

27-year old Loit win Acapulco title over Pennetta. Also beat Dulko and Schruff. Third career title in three career finals. Last time in 2004, in Casablanca and Estoril. Carl think nice... but Todd want Pennetta to win so get both champions right this week. Todd angry. Carl no care. He no pay me.
=============================
FRESH FACES: Alize Cornet & Caroline Wozniacki
...French Pastry Cornet, 17, qualify in Doha. Win Benesova and Bremond. Reach QF. She Australian Jr. SF in January. Getting better. Wozniacki, 16, take $75K challenger in Las Vegas. Make look easy over #1-seed Morigami in final. She Wimbledon Girl champion year ago. 14-1 in 2007. She going places. Caroline as tall as Carl?
=============================
DOWN: Anna-Lena Groenefeld
...in 2006, Groenefeld win Acapulco. First career title. In 2007, she no defend title. Play hard court in Doha instead. She lose in three sets in 1st Round to qualifier K.Bondarenko. Anna-Lena one win in two months of season. Carl confused.
=============================


1. Doha QF - Henin d. Schnyder
...3-6/6-4/7-5. Justine down 4-2 and 5-3 in 3rd. Justine win anyway. Carl want to be scared of Justine, but he like her too much. She no longer with husband. Carl see opportunity.
=============================
2. Acap F - Loit d. Pennetta
...7-6/6-4. Flavia up 5-2 in 1st, then down 6-5. Lose 7-6. Flavia up 4-3 in 2nd, lose 6-4. Todd angry. Carl still no care. Carl think funny. Carl maybe want to hurt Todd.
=============================
3. Doha F - Henin d. Kuznetsova
...6-4/6-2. Kuznetsova still no over hump in 2007. Carl think can help. Carl advice: win final match. Carl expect payment for advice.
=============================
4. Doha QF - Hantuchova d. Hingis
...1-6/6-4/6-4. Carl know Martina win Tokyo and Gold Coast RU, but Carl still think she a little disappointing in 2007. Still like her, though. Still no find someone who know Daniela phone number. Carl depressed.
=============================
5. Doha SF - Henin d. Jankovic
...6-7/6-2/6-4. Carl remember U.S. Open SF. Carl wonder if Jelena do, too?
=============================
HM- Acap Doub.F - Dominguez-Lino/Parra Santonja d. Loit/Pratt
...6-3/6-3. Todd said mention Dominguez-Lino won doubles in Bogota last week, too. Why do Carl listen? Carl bigger than Todd. Can hurt him like furry animal in woods. Carl has idea.


**2007 CONSECUTIVE FINALS**
JAN - Jelena Jankovic (Auckland-W,Sydney-L)
FEB - Amelie Mauresmo (Antwerp-W,Dubai-L)
JAN/FEB - JUSTINE HENIN (Dubai-W,Doha-W)

**MOST 2007 FINALISTS - BY NATION**
8...Russia (4 titles)
4...BELGIUM (3)
4...FRANCE (2)
4...ITALY (1)
3...Serbia (1)

**2007 TOP 10 PLAYERS (13)**
[win pct.]
.909 ...JUSTINE HENIN (10-1)
.857 ...Kim Clijsters (12-2)
.824 ...Anna Chakvetadze (14-3)
.800 ...Maria Sharapova (8-2)
.792 ...JELENA JANKOVIC (19-5)
.765 ...Amelie Mauresmo (13-4)
.750 ...Nicole Vaidisova (9-3)
.737 ...MARTINA HINGIS (14-5)
.733 ...Dinara Safina (11-4)
.700 ...Nadia Petrova (7-3)
.643 ...SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA (9-5)
.600 ...PATTY SCHNYDER (9-6)
.600 ...Elena Dementieva (6-4)


INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA USA (I-HO)
2006 FINAL: Sharapova d. Dementieva
=============================

...Todd post later. Draw late. Come back soon.


All for now.

=============================

No regular "Backspin" next week. Indian Wells two-week event. "Volley," though, during week.


Pierre. Todd. Much words. A few of them worth reading. Maybe.

(giggle)

Look for it. Todd back next time, if Carl no hurt him too bad and take over "Backspin" for self.

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