2012 WTA Year-End Review

The time has come. (As always, thoughts and words brought to you free of charge.)

2012: The Life of Tri

"I am a year older and I behave more like a lady than a crazy kid." - Victoria Azarenka, on her rise from promising player to world #1 and grand slam champion

Our Beloved Backspin Academy

We never truly know what to expect before the start of a Backspin Academy Student Council election campaign. After an infusion of new, young talent into the field of candidates a year ago, combined with a few past reigning Presidents still looking to reclaim their former seat of power, the most recent term's race could have gone a wide range of ways. And when the first big debate took place in Melbourne in January, it began with six different candidates having a chance to be the official "frontrunner" two weeks later.

As it turned out, one candidate, a young woman from Belarus who first began to campaign hard at the end of '11, emerged from the pack in Australia and took the early lead in the race. In fact, at the early stops along the campaign trail, she seemed unbeatable. For a while, she was, too. But the student council campaign is a long, year-long slog, and no one player can be expected to maintain such fine form over the entire course. By the middle of the term, one of our ex-Presidents, a young lady from Russia who has seemingly been bouncing around campus since infancy, climbed into the lead after a particularly fine campaign swing in Paris.

But the race wasn't over by any means. While one trickster from Poland used all her own powers -- as well as those of a now-legendary "friend" -- to get within one debate in London of being able to say she was the "leader" in the Council race, she wasn't able to pull off her planned coup (though we certainly expect more "dirty tricks" from her and her minions in the future). But THIS term's battle was really only about three candidates, and none of them were 2011 Class President Petra, nor the student (based mostly on name recognition, as Caroline is very popular) who sat atop the pre-race polls.



While the Belarusian and the Russian led the race for months, it was an American student that had the most "big moments." Another former President, and one of the Academy's all-time achievers, began the year far behind in votes due to her relative absence from campaign activities. But once she hit her stride mid-way through the race, she fairly well destroyed everything in her path, winning on every major battleground along the way. But, in the end, while she managed to win the "popular vote" for President by the end of the campaign, she wasn't able to climb over either of her election opponents in the final tally. The "Electoral College" gave us our first-ever Belarusian President, and we love her to death and think she more than deserves the honor of sitting in the big chair at the end of the long table... though we know she might not be able to win a true head-to-head battle with the American if it were to come to that.

But no candidate demanded a recount. And no other student contested the election, either. Everyone on campus seemed positively fine with the current "power-sharing" set-up, figuring it might lead to compromises that will make the student government run more smoothly. Of course, the student body is sometimes naive when it comes to such matters... but we'll let them learn that lesson for themselves. As it is, each voting group has its own "icon" to follow around campus, sit near in the cafeteria and strive to be like on and off the court and in the classroom.

But that was LAST term. As we know, EVERY year is an election year. We suspect that things will be immediately contentious around here once the new campaign begins in January. By the end of the next term twelve months from now, everything might have been turned on its head all over again. After all, it's been known to happen.

=STUDENT COUNCIL=
CLASS PRESIDENT: Victoria Azarenka

LADY PRESIDENT OF THE COURT OF HISTORICAL OPINION (healthy and hearty, and the pundits were right to say that she'd return more focused than ever): Serena Williams
VICE PRESIDENT: Maria Sharapova (taking candy from babies, and giving them Sugarpova instead)

CO-PRESIDENTS PRO TEMPORE: Sara Errani & Roberta Vinci
VALEDICTORIAN: Esther Vergeer (still a straight-A+ student...now with a double Golden glow)

Co-SALUTATORIANS: Agnieszka Radwanska & Angelique Kerber

CLASS TREASURER: Nadia Petrova (finding funds where that were thought to be lost forever)
SCHOOL SPIRIT COORDINATOR (student): "Midge" (once -- and maybe still -- aspiring to be "Barbie," though her packaging changed a bit in '12)

SCHOOL SPIRIT COORDINATOR (funky Vika fan): Redfoo

STUDENT/ALTER EGO LIAISONS: Ula & Aga (last seen on an all-expenses-paid "minions holiday" at the beach with The Radwanska)

Personae Non Gratae AT BACKSPIN ACADEMY (at least a certain Czech hopes so): THAT (silent scream) Petra Kvitova!... if the deposed '11 Class President REALLY wants to jump back into the race in '13

"I mean, I don't love tennis today, but I'm here, and I can't live without it... so I'm still here and I don't want to go anywhere any time soon." - Serena Williams

"I'm 24 years old, almost 25. I love this sport as much as I loved it, you know, when I was at that age (when she won Wimbledon at 17). I've also been through a lot of tough times. I've also said the success that I can achieve, the fact that I got myself back to being Top 5 in the world, playing tennis again, playing at a high level, competing at this level is pretty remarkable from where I was on a surgery table, not knowing if I'd ever be able to hit a serve again." - Maria Sharapova

Backspin Academy's humble and hardworking staff occasionally undergoes some upheaval, but the student body (which sometimes includes a few of our instructors, who pull double duty in order to show how much they care) is generally pleased with those entrusted with molding their impressionable minds like the blocks of clay that they are. Oh, sure, some say that a few members of our staff should allow their student assistants to work with another professor without having them linger in the background (Mr. P-Woz, are you blushing?), while some simply do NOT work well together -- such as a certain Dane and Spaniard most known for his collaboration with one of our wilder students from Serbia, and a Pole who this term bluntly declared of one short-term collaborator, "He did not pass". But for every bad situation, more than a few healthy relationships even things out. Mademoiselle Bartoli and her father, for instance, no matter how many cross moments and/or controversy they find themselves embroiled in, are always there for each other when it matters... even sometimes to their own detriment. The aforementioned Spaniard found a fine partner is one of our long-time favorite students named Nadia, and the former counselor of our beloved La Petit Taureau returned to campus to help out one of our senior Chinese students, as well. So far, it looks like things will work out just fine -- and we all couldn't be happier for them both!

On balance, we think the Academy's faculty and student body blend together wonderfully.

Of course, at the close of many academic sessions, we're forced to bid adieu to some of our longstanding campus personalities. Amongst the heartfelt goodbye moments this year were send-offs for dear Ms. Clijsters (there's talk of a statue... but we all feel that's been done before), Dulko and Peschke, all of which announced their retirement from day-to-day Academy activities. Meanwhile, we are happy to report that former co-Dean Stubbs, who finally officially and fully stepped away from her duties after last season, is performing with great skill and promise in her new chosen field. In fact, some of us not-so-secretly believe that our Aussie friend may one day be THE best in her profession. As always, we are SO proud.

Naturally, Professor Date-Krumm continues to amaze us with her longevity and creative energy. Somehow, everyone figures that she'll outlast us all. Well, excluding dean emeritus Navratilova, that is.

"Why Chinese still use chopsticks? Why Chinese have to put family name first, right? I think lot of American people couldn't understand, yeah? Two thing already. I couldn't find a third one." - Li Na, when asked to recount three things that Americans don't understand about the Chinese people

=FACULTY, STAFF, DEPARTMENT HEADS & APPOINTEES=
ACADEMY DEAN (and "good cop"): Lisa Raymond
FORMER Co-DEAN ON ADMINISTRATIVE SUSPENSION FOR CONDUCT DETRIMENTAL TO THE ACADEMY: "bad cop" Liezel Huber (after complaints raised by a certain Russian student named Elena, who still keeps turning over Miss Huber's desk whenever she walks by her office)
GUIDANCE COUNSELOR (rolling the dice and winning w/ Vika): Sam Sumyk
GUIDANCE COUNSELOR (who is still SURE it will all work out fine w/ Petra): David Kotyza
GUIDANCE COUNSELOR (who landed on his feet and found a loophole through which to return to campus): Ricardo "The Kat" Sanchez
GUIDANCE COUNSELOR (who got results, but who might have nothing to show for it): Thomas Johansson
GUIDANCE COUNSELOR (who is welcomed back with open arms... and not just by Na): Carlos Rodriguez
GUIDANCE COUNSELOR (who will never leave): Piotr "The Lurker" Wozniacki (or so says Mr. Sanchez, and Mr. Johansson and...)
BACK FROM SABBATICAL: Paola Suarez
STILL ON INDEFINATE-TO-PERMANENT LEAVE: Dinara Safina
FORMER TOP STUDENTS WHO ARE TRYING TO PASS ON THEIR KNOWLEDGE: new Fed Cup captains Amelie Mauresmo (FRA) and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario (ESP)
ATHLETIC MINERS FOR STILL MORE GOLD: Patrick Mouratouglou & Mackie Shilstone (helping Serena make waves on and off court all over again)

SCHOOL MEDICAL STAFF: Venus Williams' doctors
YEARBOOK PHOTO EDITOR: Yaroslava Shvedova

Slava's "Aussie Frogs" Shot (guess which one's named "Vika")

XIMENA HERMOSO INTRODUCES...: Marcela Zacarius (joining Ximena as part of BSA's growing Mexican contingent)
ACADEMY HISTORIAN: Bud Collins (always and forever)
LUNCH LADY: Jelena Jankovic (with a constant craving for overflowing bowls of apple sauce)
(GARBLED) COMMUNICATION DIRECTOR: Stacey Allaster, head of the Office of B.S.
(GARBLED) COMMUNICATION DIRECTOR INTERNS: Caroline Wozniacki & Agnieszka Radwanska
"SUBSTITUTE" FED CUP STAR OF THE YEAR: Lucie Safarova, stronger in the broken places
SUBSTITUTE (SOUTH AMERICAN) OF THE YEAR: Paula "The New Gisela" Ormaechea

"The athlete who needs a psychologist is not suitable for sport." - Agnieszka Radwanska

SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL (non)DIPLOMACY: Agnieszka Radwanska
SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMACY: Vera Zvonareva, with maybe more diplomatic work in her near future after having such bad luck this term at the Academy

SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: The eleven students representing eleven different nations in the term-ending Best Grade Point Average list... the Academy is so proud of its diversity
SCHOOL OF MYSTICISM & MIRACLES: Ekaterina Makarova & Virginie Razzano
SCHOOL OF MYSTICISM & NEAR-MIRACLES: Yaroslava Shvedova & Zheng Jie
SCHOOL OF LIVING WITHOUT FEAR: dancing star Martina Navratilova


SCHOOL OF CREATIVE STORYTELLING: Caroline Wozniacki, still looking for her proverbial 'roo
(Unconvincing) DEBATE TEAM LEADER: Caroline Wozniacki (who unfortunately flunked her BSA history class exam)

"I would never say Martina was #1 when there was no one playing or that she was the best when no one was playing." - Caroline Wozniacki, continuing to impetuously overreact after calling Martina Navratilova "overly critical" and accusing the all-time great, who'd previously considered a coaching arrangement with the Dane, of trying to "stir everything up" by simply doing what so many others had before her, point out that the quantity-over-quality ranking point system had caused C-Woz to not be viewed as the "true" #1
"You shouldn't repair something that's not broken." - Wozniacki, as her ranking plummeted from #1 to, eventually, outside the Top 10 before a late-season rebound
"You always want to win -- yes, it's disappointing to lose, but it's not a disaster." - Wozniacki, still looking for her first 2012 title at the time, after losing in her home event in Copenhagen
"Boy, you're my match point." - Wozniacki, in her singing debut on her charity single "Oxygen"

SCHOOL OF BUSINESS & DESIGN: Venus Williams
ON MEDICAL LEAVE (but soon better able to stand up on her two feet... err, knees): Alexandra Dulgheru
BACK FROM MEDICAL LEAVE (and we're all happy about it): Alisa Kleybanova

"I'm just happy that I'm here (in Miami) and that I'm able to play again. And, I'm feeling healthy and having fun again. It's not the most important thing in my life anymore. So I'm just going to try and enjoy every day that I'm on the court." - Alisa Kleybanova, on her return to the tour after battling Hodgkins Lymphoma

*ACTING DEPARTMENT HEADS & SELECTED CLASS INSTRUCTORS*
UNORTHODOX RUSSIAN (and ironic tattoo canvas): Svetlana "Pain Doesn't Kill Me, I Kill the Pain" Kuznetsova

CHINESE (2013, here she comes) DEMOCRACY-101: Li Na
CHINESE DEMOCRACY-102: Zheng Jie, still underrated after all these years
CHINESE DEMOCRACY-103: Peng Shuai, still undecorated after all these years
ITALIAN-101: Sara Errani (a double threat)

ITALIAN-102: Roberta Vinci (a double threat, Pt.2)
FRENCH-101 & 102: Alize Cornet & Kristina Mladenovic (though the students are picketing about the banning of Mademoiselle Bartoli from the classroom, and looking for a revision of the "rules" by 2016)
GERMAN-101 (and back for even more): Angelique Kerber
ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE: Petra Kvitova
CONVERSATIONAL POLISH: Agnieszka Radwanska
CONVERSATIONAL ENTITY: The Radwanska

SOCIAL MEDIA MAVENS: Sloane Stephens (Twitter) and Vika Azarenka (Instagram)
(Naturalized) AMERICAN HISTORY: Varvara Lepchenko
INTRODUCTION TO BRITISH HISTORY: Laura Robson & Heather Watson

THE FUTURE OF CANADA: Eugenie Bouchard, Francoise Abanda & Carol Zhao
CZECH HISTORY REVISITED (again): Lucie Hradecka, Andrea Hlavackova, Lucie Safarova, Petr Pala, Petra Kvitova & the Czech Fed Cup Team

KIWI HISTORY (a one-woman story): Marina Erakovic (thanks for nothin', Sacha)
TAIWANESE ARCHEOLOGY: Hsieh Su-Wei

MODERN ANCIENT JAPAN: Kimiko Date-Krumm
TRAVELING THE WORLD (hopefully, but not usually) WITHOUT COMPLICATION: Bojana Jovanovski
SINGING THE PERFECT SONG... or not: Caroline Wozniacki

(FUNKY) CHARM SCHOOL DIRECTOR: Victoria Azarenka

"I will always play with my heart and with my passion.'" - Victoria Azarenka

Our students always tell us that they truly enjoy our award-winning lecture series. Here's a look at the preliminary upcoming schedule:

*GUEST LECTURERS*
"Dealing with Expectations That Scrape the Sky, Part 2": Petra Kvitova (with Part 3 coming in 2013, hopefully with a different ending)
"Preventative Medicine, Smart Body Management & You": Sabine Lisicki Replacement Speaker: Kaia Kanepi
"Taking One (more) For the T-E-A-M (i.e. your loving wife)": Jiang Shan
"Better Late Than Never": Kirsten Flipkens (a.k.a. "doubles bait" for Kim in '13)
"Making Deals with The Radwan... err, The Devil": Stacey Allaster
"Living in the Shadow of Greatness (It made me say that!)": Urszula Radwanska
"Convincing Yourself is STILL the Hardest Part": Samantha Stosur
"How to Resurrect a Formerly Promising Career": Jelena Dokic Replacement Speaker: Nadia Petrova (with an opening statement from Melanie Oudin)
"The Golden Rule, The Schmolden Rule": Liezel Huber
"No, We're Not Related": Vicky Duval (but not "Steve Urkel")

"Just Be Yourself and the World Will Be Yours... eventually, when it wakes up and smells the coffee": Victoria Azarenka
"What Do You Do Next When, in Your Last Best Chance for Immortality, You Stumble and Fall?": Jelena Jankovic [speaker cancelled scheduled appearance]

"How to Lose 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 Times to one player in a season... but not 7": Agnieszka Radwanska (You can't lose #7 if you don't play it. So there!!)
"It's Not as Easy as You Think... just ask me": Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
"Why U H8 Me?": Hannah Storm
"How to Play and Finish 2nd (in NYC, Istanbul & London -- twice), and How to Not Play and Finish 1st (in Prague)": Andrea Hlavackova & Lucie Hradecka
"Lose a Fiancé, Gain a Slam Title": Maria Sharapova
"Embracing the Crazy": Nadia Petrova, in a sequel to the old "JJ Series" of lectures that used to be so popular on campus (and still has it's die-hard fans who gather in the pretzel stick forest to listen to old recordings of past speeches, it should be noted)
"Thinking Other People are Stupid: The Key to Personal Success": Stacey Allaster

"This morning there was, like, a camera crew outside my hotel, which was a little bit freaky. I got really excited because I thought they were waiting for someone who was actually famous." - Laura Robson

"I think it's just too loud. I don't think it's very necessary to scream that loud. So if they (the WTA) want to do something, why not?" - Agnieszka Radwanska, on her "loud" opponents potentially being punished during matches
"About Maria, I mean, what can I say? For sure that is pretty annoying and just too loud." - A-Rad, specifically on Sharapova
"Isn't she back in Poland already?" - Sharapova, when told of Radwanska's comments, after the Pole had lost and was out of the tournament
"Weak people." - Victoria Azarenka, on what she calls players that might blame losses on the noise their opponents make (Vika was 6-0 vs. A-Rad in '12, it should be noted)
"People complain about the noise I make, but I can get louder. Maybe I should get to 100. I haven't had any luck, so it may help me put more of myself into my matches." - a punky Vika, on "measuring" players with a noise meter
"(Azarenka is) 'injured' more than anyone. Sometimes she'll withdraw and then you'll see her practicing two days later." - Sharapova, after the Stuttgart "bump" with Vika, on Azarenka's "questionable" injuries and in-tournament withdrawals from events, preventing "zero-point" efforts from going on her record

Our student body is a talented crop, and always on the look-out for rewarding extracurricular activities to take up their valuable time.

=CLUB HEADS=
DRAMA CLUB: Victoria Azarenka, Maria Sharapova, Agnieszka Radwanska & Caroline Wozniacki (auditioning for roles in the "Mean Girls" movie sequel, as long as Lindsay Lohan isn't involved)
ART CLUB: Daniela Hantuchova (also pitches in as a nude figure model)

GLEE CLUB: Vania King (now enjoying the "Memory" of her solos as much as her duets)

PSYCHOLOGY CLUB: Jelena Jankovic & Sloane Stephens (no lead is safe when they're out front!)
IMPROMPTU SPEECHMAKING CLUB, MASTER CLASS: Li Na
SHAKESPEARE CLUB: Elena Vesnina
SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING SWEATPANTS CLUB: Serena & Venus Williams (back to reclaim their original seats at the head of the table)
TIME TRAVEL CLUB: "Future Sloane" Stephens: Future Top 10er

"I've never felt this happy." - Maria Sharapova, after winning Roland Garros

[Yearbook note: with the Russian Chess Club in danger of being disbanded due to a lack of recent interest, the Americans agreed to step in to provide a little competition]

=RUSSIAN/AMERICAN CHESS CLUB=
Co-CHAIRWOMEN: Maria Sharapova & Serena Williams (though Maria hasn't defeated Serena in a chess match in years)

Co-ASSISTANTS TO THE CHAIRWOMEN: Maria Kirilenko & Nadia Petrova, and Venus Williams
(Still) THE NEXT BIG THINGS?: Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova & Christina McHale
STAR-CROSSED: Elena Vesnina (in singles finals) and the Sloane Stephens (when she has a lead against a top player)
RESURRECTED FROM LENIN & GRANT's TOMBS: Nadia Petrova & Melanie Oudin
EMERGING FROM THE MIST: Ekaterina Makarova & Mallory Burdette
FULL OF LIFE: Alisa Kleybanova & Alexa Glatch
UTILITY PLAYERS: Valeria Solovieva and Raquel Kops-Jones & Abigail Spears
READY TO FIGHT ANYONE AND EVERYONE NAMED LIEZEL: Elena Vesnina & Lisa Raymond (well, not yet... but what are the odds that'll end well?)
SECRET WEAPONS: Maria Kirilenko & Varvara Lepchenko
MISSED MOST: Ksenia Pervak & Yulia Putintseva and Bethanie Mattek-Sands (as a relevant singles player)
BEST PARTNERS: Alexandra Panova & Lisa Raymond
CAPTURING GREATNESS IN A BOTTLE: Svetlana Kuznetsova/Vera Zvonareva (in Melbourne) & Serena Williams/Venus Williams (on grass courts)
BEST JUNIORS: Irina Khromacheva & Taylor Townsend
JUNIOR VARSITY NextGEN HORDETTES/BANNERETTES OF THE FUTURE: Victoria Kan & Elizaveta Kulichkova and Madison Keys & Vicky Duval

"You look good, you feel good. You feel good, you play good. You play good, they pay good." - a Sloane Stephens Tweet
"I'm excited because now I'm going to have more Twitter followers." - Sloane Stephens, during her Round of 16 run at Roland Garros

"Sloane is one of the nicest, bubbly girls out on tour. She is so much fun and free-spirited, and I absolutely love how she is always smiling." - Victoria Azarenka, on Sloane Stephens
"Big things will happen!" - Sloane Stephens

=JUNIOR/SENIOR PROM COMMITTEE & HONOREES=
PROM QUEEN & KING (although they graduated a while ago, and really shouldn't still be hanging around at the Academy's student functions): "Woz-ilroy"

QUEEN'S COURT: Lara Arruabarrena-Vecino, Timea Babos, Mona Barthel, Irina-Camelia Begu, Kiki Bertens, Bojana Jovanovski, Kristina Mladenovic, Melanie Oudin, Laura Robson, Arantxa Rus, Sloane Stephens, Elina Svitolina and Heather Watson

LADY-IN-WAITING & HER JUNIOR QUEENS COURT: Taylor Townsend (if the USTA lets her outside to play) & Annika Beck, Eugenie Bouchard and Samantha Crawford
JUNIOR LADIES-IN-WAITING: Francoise Abanda, Vicky Duval, Krista Hardebeck, Anett Kontaveit, Antonia Lottner, Yulia Putintseva and Anna Schmiedlova
PARTY-CRASHERS: Ashleigh Barty, Alexandra Cadantu, Chang Kai-Chen, Julia Cohen, Petra Martic, Urszula Radwanska, Coco Vandeweghe and Donna Vekic
DEBUTANTES: Belinda Bencic, Ilka Csoregi, Anna Danilina, Basek Eraydin, Irina Khromacheva, Allie Kiick, Ana Konjuh, Barbora Krejcikova, Monica Puig, Chalena Scholl, Sabrina Sharipova, Katerina Siniakova and Zheng Saisai
BACK FOR MORE DANCES: Tamira Paszek & Ana Savic
BEST DANCE PARTNER: Gabby Andrews
BEST TAG-TEAM DANCERS: U.S. Junior Fed Cup Team

COLLEGE DANCE-OFF WINNER: Nicole Gibbs (of Stanford)
SENIOR-LEVEL DANCE MARATHONER: Martina Navratilova
SUDDEN WALLFLOWER (but only briefly): Rebecca Marino
(Still the) SCHEDULED PROM ADVISOR: Nicole Vaidisova (in 2004, at 15, the youngest BSA dance contest winner ever), armed with her "If at First You Don't Succeed, Get Married" theory of life
CHAPERONS: Iveta Benesova & Jurgen Melzer, Karolina Sprem & Marcos Baghdatis (but not Lucie Safarova & Tomas Berdych)

"THIS is the dream." - Petra Kvitova, on why she didn't dream of future tennis accomplishments as a kid

"I must say that the role of tennis player I like more than the role of model." - Petra Kvitova, after her first big photoshoot

=CLASS FAVORITES=
MOST WELL-LIKED: Petra Kvitova, "glam" or "non-glam"

FUNKIEST & MOST WELL-LIKED, at Backspin HQ: Vika "The New Face of Backspin" Azarenka (sorry, Petra)
MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED (though she may never escape the shadow of A-Rad or The Rad), age 21+: Urszula Radwanska
MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED, age 20-and-under: Laura Robson
MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED, under age 18: Madison Keys
POWER DUO ONCE MORE?: Nuria Llagostera-Vives & Maria Jose Martinez-Sanchez
POWER DUO-NO-MORE: Gisela Dulko & Flavia Pennetta
MOST COOLED-OFF HORDETTES: The Russian Fed Cup team
PERSONALITY PLUS: Sloane Stephens (but maybe TOO much?)
BEST VICTORY LEAP: Serena Williams

BEST/MOST POLITICIAN-LIKE POST-MATCH MOMENT: Maria Sharapova

FAVORITE SELF-ANOINTED "ENGLISH NAME": Chan Yung-Jan... or, should I say "Latisha?"
MOST ENDEARING (in her best moments): Agnieszka Radwanska

LEAST ENDEARING (in her worst moments): Agnieszka Radwanska
BEST CONTINENT-HOPPER: Victoria Azarenka (a champion on four continents and in the Middle East)
QUIETEST TOP 20 HONOR ROLL STUDENT: Julia Goerges (who seemed to be a "better" student in 2011)
SEEMINGLY MOST UNDESERVING TOP 10 HONOR ROLL STUDENT: title-less Samantha Stosur
QUIETEST JAPANESE ACHIEVERS: Ayumi Morita, Misaki Doi and Kurumi Nara, as well as the Japanese Fed Cup Team (which, one year after postponing a FC tie because of an earthquake/tsunami/nuclear meltdown, advanced to JPN's first World Group 1st Round since 2007)
(Maybe) BEST POST-MATCH DANCERS (Call Me?): Andrea Hlavackova & Lucie Safarova

FAVORITE YOUNG ITALIAN: Camila Giorgi
FAVORITE NAME (but only if you say it three times fast): Reka-Luca Jani! Reka-Luca Jani! Reka-Luca Jani!
FAVORITE OLYMPIC FLAGBEARER: Maria Sharapova

FAVORITE OLYMPIC FLAGBEARER (if you know what's good for you!): Agnieszka Radwanska

"CHARACTERS" THE ACADEMY WANTS TO SEE MORE OF: "Yuri" and "Yelena"
"CHARACTERS" THE ACADEMY IS MOST SUSPICIOUS OF: "Yuri" and "Yelena"
"CHARACTERS" THE ACADEMY LOVES THE MOST, for fear of being otherwise squished: "Carl" and "Carla"

LEAST UNEXPECTED COMEBACK: Serena "The Older I Get, the Better I Serve" Williams (which says more about what we at BSA think about her than any honor or award ever could... especially since she won this award LAST year, too)

"Well, I'm just happy. I'm so happy to be playing. I'm so happy to be on the court. I feel like this is where I belong. I mean, maybe I don't belong in a relationship. Maybe I don't belong somewhere else. But I know for a fact I do belong on this court." - Serena Williams, after winning on Wimbledon's Centre Court for her first slam crown in two years

FASHION DO: Victoria Azarenka's pants... and the confidence to be different

FASHION DON'T... unless you're Vika: Victoria Azarenka's tights

MEDAL CEREMONY DON'T: Olympic women's singles. As Serena said, the U.S. flag was so happy for her it just wanted to come down and give her a hug

PROVING THAT MARRIAGE ISN'T NEEDED TO SPUR near-but-not-quite SUPERNOVIC TENNIS SUCCESS: Maria Sharapova
LATE BLOOMERS: Kirsten Flipkens & Hsieh Su-Wei
MAYBE NOT SO LOST A CAUSE, AFTER ALL: Ana Ivanovic (well, wait... what time is it?)
BEST (Future?) TOURNAMENT TIE-IN: "The Wozniacki Open" at Yale? The Sugarpova Open

MOST LOST IN THE SHUFFLE: Aravane Rezai
NEW/OLD KIDS: Mirjana Lucic (singles) and Anna-Lena Groenefeld (doubles)
STILL MISSED: La Petit Taureau 1.0

FINALLY MISSED (after quite a long ordeal when she wouldn't have been): Kim Clijsters 2.0

MOST ANTICIPATED ARRIVAL?: LPT 1½: the upcoming (even littler) Henin

"(I'm) too old. Too old to play the game I want to play physically. I've put my body through enough strain and everything. The whole lifestyle, that's what I'm dealing with now, the lifestyle I've had for the last 15, 20 years. It's been great. I wouldn't change a thing." - Kim Clijsters, on why she was choosing to retire

"It's a dream come true. I have been dreaming and working so hard to win the grand slam, and being #1 is a pretty good bonus. Just the perfect ending and the perfect position to be in." - Victoria Azarenka
"It's like watching her drive a Ferrari without using the top three gears." - coach Thomas Johansson on Caroline Wozniacki's game
"Today you just can't let yourself get pushed back. She (Caroline Wozniacki) has to try to move in, step forward, otherwise there is always going to be somebody coming on top of her at a grand slam. She's a great player. I wish I would see her come in a little bit more." - Martina Hingis

*ACADEMY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS FEATURE PRODUCTION*
...our plucky performers were always tirelessly working to entertain the student body and faculty throughout the calendar year, but only one production has managed to stick around on our stage for multiple seasons. Until this year, that is. Attendance and interest in BSA's signature show -- "The Many Faces of Caroline" -- started to wane a season ago, if only a bit. A few tweaks to maintain the viability of the production were attempted, but they failed miserably and the show was forced to close midway through last term. A past student body President, our "Many Faces" Lead Actress scrambled late in the season to put together a new showcase. It received some favorable reviews, but it's still in the "preview" stages -- off, off-Backspin Way -- as of the completion of this Yearbook. Maybe by this time next year, a second, even-more-successful follow-up show will be going strong.

Ah, but the show must go on... and in stepped the "Faces" understudy as the lead in an entirely new extravaganza.

*"THE MANY FACES OF VIKA"*
[a brand new exhibition from Miss Azarenka]
NO LONGER A CRAZY KID:

HONORARY CHAMPION SHEILA:

RUBBING ELBOWS -- and bumping shoulders -- WITH A RUSSIAN IN STUTTGART:

OLYMPIC JOY:

"SECRET" PITCHWOMAN:

COVERGIRL:

THE COMPETITOR:

ENJOYING THE COMPANY MORE THAN SERENA?:

NO LONGER CRAZY, BUT STILL A KID... sometimes:

Scene from the HBO series "Bored to Death," where recently-stabbed cartoonist Ray (Zach Galifianakis) argues with his girlfriend Leah (Heather Burns).
Leah: "You have to stop obsessively drawing that stabbing over and over again."
Ray: "Why? It took Monica Seles years to get over her stabbing -- and she was the #1 tennis player in the world."
Leah: "You're not Monica Seles... and you have to let it go."

*ATHLETICS*
...we love our sports at Backspin Academy, and some say we love our awards even more. So, here are a few of the highlights and lowlights from the past season of competition:

=BACKSPIN ACADEMY ALL-STAR TEAMS=
*ALL-BEAUTIFUL*
Serenativity Reborn

=============================
The determination of Angelique Kerber
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Tamira Paszek on grass... courts, I mean
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Petrova wins Tokyo. Oh, Nadia!

=============================
Kazakhstan picking future Fed Cup teams from a pool that includes Yaroslava Shvedova, Galina Voskoboeva, Ksenia Pervak, Yulia Putintseva, Sesil Karatancheva, Anna Danilina & Zarina Diyas
=============================
Serena Williams' 20-1 record vs. Azarenka and Sharapova since 2005
=============================
The Shorts

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Maria Sharapova vs. Sabine Lisicki at SW19... yet again
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Sania Mirza not letting herself get kicked around or used... on or off-court
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Victoria Azarenka & Petra Kvitova playing one doubles match together in Indian Wells
=============================
Sara Errani's eyes

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Agnieszka Radwanska's brain
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As it should have been in London

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The blue clay court in Madrid... no matter how many player complaints it inspired
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EleVen fashion
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A better-late-than-never-again royal presence at Wimbledon, as Prince Charles, Prince William and Princess Catherine (w/ sister Pippa) -- along with tennis royalty Andre Agassi & Steffi Graf -- all visited the All-England Club
=============================
Maria Jose Martinez-Sanchez: Bride

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"Whack-a-Vika" in January evolves into "Thank-a-Vika" in November

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Heather Watson being the first British woman to win a match on Centre Court Wimbledon in ten years, then becoming the first WTA singles champ in twenty-four years in Osaka

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The WTA's "Original 9" reunite

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26-0 & 14-0 (Vika's '12 match winning streaks) vs. 19-0, 17-0 & 12-0 (Serena's '12 match winning streaks)
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Fans play "Tic-Tac-Vika" in Beijing
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Kim Clijsters is named Backspin's All-Time MVP, then loses the final singles match of her career a few hours later
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Jessica Korda, daughter of Petr, wins the LPGA Australian Open... and does a scissors-kick, just like dad

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Wimbledon's starting time being moved back a week beginning in 2015
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The art of appreciating it

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At least three grand slams being won by a combination of players that included either a Russian, Belgian or Williams for the ninth time in the last eleven years
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The art of Vera Dushevina

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"(She's) bipolar. On court, she's a little killer. (She) becomes a machine-like personality." - commentator Rennae Stubbs, on the difference between the nice "off-court Aga," and the quite different "on-court Radwanska"

*ALL-UGLY*
The trail of destruction left by The Radwanska in London... oh, the poor melons!

=============================
Stacey Allaster's grunt-o-meter
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Samantha Stosur at the Australian Open. Said Sam after her 1st Round loss, "I'm probably close to crying."
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Caroline Wozniacki losing in the 1st Round at both Wimbledon AND the U.S. Open
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THAT Petra
=============================

Wozniacki's journey from "mystery coach" in '11 to "crazy coach" in '12, then forward with a "coaching mystery" for '13

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Marion Bartoli and the French tennis federation being unable to reach a compromise
=============================
Azarenka & Sharapova's 1-20 record vs. Serena since 2005
=============================
The reaction to Serena Williams' celebratory "Crip walk" dance, which only served to provide further proof that Serena can't do anything -- no matter how joyful at the moment -- that isn't liable to be overanalyzed and "ruined" by some people... and you know who they are.

=============================
Jelena Dokic's 2012 season... after setting a pre-season goal of finishing in the Top 20 for the first time since 2003
=============================
Martina Navratilova finishing behind Steffi Graf as the all-time best women's player on Tennis Channel's "100 Greatest Players" list
=============================
Serena's feet
=============================
Virginia Wade's oddly-timed criticism of the resurgent and ultra-competitive WTA
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Another season without an official Serena vs. Venus match, the third consecutive of its kind
=============================
The bowels of Radwanska Abbey... or so we suspect, but now may never know.

Banned from YouTube by "MTV Cribs: Poland." Hmmm... I think we know who -- or WHAT -- is really behind that! Hopefully, everyone remembers the prospective layout of the Abbey... since we may have to storm the place one day to save humanity from The Rad's dastardly Plan. I just hope the catacombs weren't as complicated as they seemed as if they might be last summer.
=============================

"I gave it some milk, and it just spit it all over me. I was like, is this the thank you I get for just being nice and petting the kangaroo? I got milk all over myself. I guess I deserved that for the story last year." - Caroline Wozniacki, experiencing a little 'roo "revenge" one year after her tall tale about being scratched by a baby 'roo at last year's Aussie Open

"Good luck with that." - Victoria Azarenka, on Allaster's plan to measure the decibal level of players' on-court sounds

Whew! If you made it this far, congratulations. Hopefully, there was something here for everyone. If not, well, it wasn't for a lack of trying. So, as Vika knows, it's time to go.



So, from Backspin HQ, located on the top floor of Henin Hall, to be continued...

Res Ipsa Loquitur. All for now.