Will It Always Be Sunny in Miami?
It's March, so things have moved from the desert to the beach.
Last year at this time, we were stationed in the pause between what turned out to be Victoria Azarenka's "Sunshine Double" combination of back-to-back titles in Indian Wells and Miami, as the former #1 surged back into the Top 10 while riding her best stretch of tennis in three seasons.
Since then, of course, Azarenka has become a mother and is already working toward getting back on the court. Whether it be in Paris, on the grass, or North American hard courts, we should be seeing Vika again in the not too distant future (yay!). With her Indian Wells title points falling off the computer she fell from #17 to #48 on Monday, and will fall outside the Top 300 in two weeks when she loses her Miami cache.
Here she is this week...
- Believe it or not, 2012 winner Aga Radwanska is the only Miami women's singles champion who hasn't also won a slam title. This tournament was first held in 1985. That's 31 of 32 champions. - Additionally, only three of the thirty-two women's singles champions have never been ranked #1 on the WTA computer: Gabriela Sabatini (1989), Svetlana Kuznetsova (2006) and Radwanska (2012). Kuznetsova and Radwanska have been ranked #2, and Sabatini was as high as #3.She's just too cool ??
— Miami Open (@MiamiOpen) March 21, 2017
Stay tuned to see what @SvetlanaK27 is up to.#MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/BvlbniTaXo
- More: Of the sixty-four Miami singles finalists, all but five have also played in a slam singles final: Judith Weisner (1990), Kimiko Date (1995), Chanda Rubin (1996), Anna Kournikova (1998) and Carla Suarez-Navarro (2015). So, only one player matching such a description has advanced so far in the past eighteen editions of what is now called the Miami Open. - Martina Hingis has won the Miami doubles title in two of the last three years, with two different partners. She's in the draw this year with a third partner, Chan Yung-Jan, and the duo is coming off having won their first title as a pair last week in Indian Wells. - There was at least one Russian in the Miami women's doubles final every year from 2009-15. A week after two Russians faced off in the Indian Wells final, it should be noted that there has been just one Hordette singles champ (Kuznetsova '06) in Miami, an occurrence that came about due to another all-Hordette championship match. The other eight Russian singles finalists in Miami have gone 0-8 (including an 0-5 record from Maria Sharapova).One of those finalists was Anna Kournikova, the first of the Russians to reach the Miami final. In 1998, she lost in three sets to a 17-year old Venus Williams (winning just her second career title) nineteen years ago this month. Just 16 years old herself at the time, Kournikova's Miami run turned out to be the first (and biggest) of her four career tour-level singles finals (she also reached the Wimbledon semis in 1997). While she had a great doubles career (reaching #1 and winning two slams), Kournikova famously never won a WTA singles crown, going 0-for-4 in her attempts (losing twice to Hingis in tournament finals from 1999-00, and Anna Smashnova in '02). She did win two ITF challengers in 1996.
In the first of those wins, 14-year old Kournikova defeated an 18-year old Lindsey Lee-Waters in Midland, Michigan. While Kournikova last played on tour in 2003 (she's still seen in exhibitions and World Team Tennis), Lee-Waters is still an active pro. In 2016, she played in a challenger event which also included her daughter in the draw (they very nearly played AGAINST each other), and she is 4-4 in ITF events so far in 2017. Lee-Waters will turn 40 in June, the same month in which Kournikova will turn 36. Of course, she's still younger than Venus (weird how that works out, huh?), who played in the Australian Open final in January and is in the Miami draw this week nineteen years after she won her first of three titles at the event over a four-year stretch.
Meanwhile, Kournikova will at least likely be within shouting (or binocular) distance of the grounds again these next two weeks. She's a Miami native, after all.
Full circle.
.@nastiaapotapova on playing her brand of tennis @MiamiOpen:
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) March 21, 2017
The ???? is one win from a @WTA main draw debut --> https://t.co/zxDV3uUDE0 pic.twitter.com/f4Gfmk2pM7
1. Q1 - Anastasia Potapova def. Maria Sakkari
...6-4/0-6/7-6(2). The 15-year old '16 Wimbledon girls champ, wild card Potapova made her first career WTA match a memorable one. Ranked #454, she faced off with #84-ranked Sakkari. After falling behind 3-0 and 4-2 in the 1st, the Russian battled back to take the set, only to drop the 2nd at love. Potapova nearly squandered a 4-0 lead in the 3rd, where she led 5-2 and held a MP before Sakkari caught her on the scoreboard and things went to a deciding TB. The teenager rebounded again, though, taking it 7-2 to grab her first win in a tour-level event. She fell in her next match, but they were still a few days to remember.
===============================================
2. Q1 - Taylor Townsend def. Sofya Zhuk
...7-6(3)/7-6(5). Another recent Hordette Wimbledon junior champ (2015), Zhuk didn't get a win in what was just her second WTA match. But, still, the wild card fought back from 5-2 down in the 2nd, saving two MP and forcing a second TB.
===============================================
3. Q1 - Donna Vekic def. Kayla Day
...4-6/6-2/6-4. A star of the early days of the Indian Wells event, '16 U.S. Open girls champ Day's time in Miami didn't last quite as long in Miami.
===============================================
4. Q1 - Alison Van Uytvanck def. Elise Mertens
...7-6(5)/7-6(4). In an all-Waffle match-up, #1 Q-seed Mertens fell to Van Uytvanck, in just her second match back since December wrist surgery (she lost in I.W. qualifying to Peng). In January, Mertens missed out on AO qualifying while going from qualifier in Hobart to maiden tour singles champ in Week 2, ultimately running her winning streak to eleven matches, going 15-1 from her title week into Dubai. There, she defeated Tsvetana Pironkova in the 1st Round, then had the misfortune of having to attempt pull a Pironkova/Radwanska double when she faced Aga in the 2nd Round. She lost to the Pole, and hasn't won since. This was her fourth straight loss. Hmmm. I'm not sayin' nuthin'... but I'm just sayin'.
===============================================
5. Q2 - Jana Cepelova def. Anastasia Potapova
...6-3/6-1. Hmmm, Cepelova is (apparently) healthy (enough) to win back-to-back matches. You know, Charleston is coming up soon. All right... now it's out there.
===============================================
HM- Q1 - Francesca Schiavone def. Kateryna Kozlova 6-3/6-0
Q2 - Kurumi Nara def. Francesca Schiavone 6-3/6-0
...and, thus, the final clay court season of Francesca Schiavone officially begins.
===============================================
**RECENT MIAMI SINGLES FINALS**
2005 Kim Clijsters/BEL d. Maria Sharapova/RUS
2006 Svetlana Kuznetsova/RUS d. Maria Sharapova/RUS
2007 Serena Williams/USA d. Justine Henin/BEL
2008 Serena Williams/USA d. Jelena Jankovic/SRB
2009 Victoria Azarenka/BLR d. Serena Williams/USA
2010 Kim Clijsters/BEL d. Venus Williams/USA
2011 Victoria Azarenka/BLR d. Maria Sharapova/RUS
2012 Aga Radwanska/POL d. Maria Sharapova/RUS
2013 Serena Williams/USA d. Maria Sharapova/RUS
2014 Serena Williams/USA d. Li Na/CHN
2015 Serena Williams/USA d. Carla Suarez-Navarro/ESP
2016 Victoria Azarenka/BLR d. Svetlana Kuznetsova/RUS
2017 ?
[doubles champions since 2005]
2005 Svetlana Kuznetsova & Alicia Molik
2006 Lisa Raymond & Samantha Stosur
2007 Lisa Raymond & Samantha Stosur
2008 Katarina Srebotnik & Ai Sugiyama
2009 Svetlana Kuznetsova & Amelie Mauresmo
2010 Gisela Dulko & Flavia Pennetta
2011 Daniela Hantuchova & Aga Radwanska
2012 Maria Kirilenko & Nadia Petrova
2013 Nadia Petrova & Katarina Srebotnik
2014 Martina Hingis & Sabine Lisicki
2015 Martina Hingis & Sania Mirza
2016 Bethanie Mattek-Sands & Lucie Safarova
2017 ?
**INDIAN WELLS & MIAMI**
[reached back-to-back IW/MIA finals]
1991 Monica Seles (L-W)
1994 Steffi Graf (W-W)
1996 Steffi Graf (W-W)
1999 Serena Williams (W-L)
2000 Lindsay Davenport (W-L)
2000 Martina Hingis (L-W)
2005 Kim Clijsters (W-W)
2006 Maria Sharapova (W-L)
2012 Maria Sharapova (L-L)
2013 Maria Sharapova (W-L)
2016 Victoria Azarenka (W-W)
[reached AO/IW/MIA finals in same season]
1991 Monica Seles (W-L-W)
1994 Steffi Graf (W-W-W)
2000 Lindsay Davenport (W-W-L)
2000 Martina Hingis (L-L-W)
2012 Maria Sharapova (L-L-L)
**MOST MIAMI SINGLES TITLES**
8...Serena Williams*
5...Steffi Graf
3...Victoria Azarenka*
3...Venus Williams*
2...Kim Clijsters
2...Martina Hingis*
2...Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario
2...Monica Seles
[oldest champion]
33...Serena Williams (2015)
[youngest champion]
16...Monica Seles (1990)
-
*-active
**MIAMI SINGLES FINALS**
10..Serena Williams (8-2)*
7...Steffi Graf (5-2)
5...Chris Evert (1-4)
5...Maria Sharapova (0-5)*
4...Venus Williams (3-1)*
3...Victoria Azarenka (3-0)*
3...Monica Seles (2-1)
3...Gabriela Sabatini (1-2)
3...Jennifer Capriati (0-3)
2...Kim Clijsters (2-0)
2...Martina Hingis (2-0)*
2...Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario (2-0)
2...Svetlana Kuznetsova (1-1)*
1...Martina Navratilova (1-0)
1...Aga Radwanska (1-0)*
1...Kimiko Date (0-1)*
1...Lindsay Davenport (0-1)
1...Elena Dementieva (0-1)
1...Justine Henin (0-1)
1...Jelena Jankovic (0-1)*
1...Anna Kournikova (0-1)
1...Li Na (0-1)
1...Chanda Rubin (0-1)
1...Carla Suarez-Navarro (0-1)*
1...Judith Weisner (0-1)
1...Natasha Zvereva (0-1)
[unseeded finalist]
2005 Kim Clijsters (W)
-
*-active
**MIAMI SINGLES FINALISTS...**
[without grand slam final appearance]
1990 Judith Weisner
1995 Kimiko Date
1996 Chanda Rubin
1998 Anna Kournikova
2015 Carla Suarez-Navarro
[without grand slam title]
1990 Judith Weisner
1994 Natasha Zvereva
1995 Kimiko Date
1996 Chanda Rubin
1998 Anna Kournikova
2008 Jelena Jankovic
2012 Aga Radwanska (W)
2015 Carla Suarez-Navarro
**MOST MIAMI DOUBLES TITLES**
[individual]
7...Jana Novotna
5...Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario
4...Martina Hingis*
3...Nadia Petrova
3...Lisa Raymond
3...Helena Sukova
2...Gigi Fernandez
2...Svetlana Kuznetsova*
2...Martina Navratilova
2...Pam Shriver
2...Katarina Srebotnik*
2...Samantha Stosur*
2...Ai Sugiyama
2...Natasha Zvereva
[team]
2...Martina Navratilova/Pam Shriver
2...Jana Novotna/Helena Sukova
2...Jana Novotna/Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario
2...Jana Novotna/Martina Hingis
2...Lisa Raymond/Samantha Stosur
[mixed champions]
1985 Martina Navratilova & Heinz Gunthardt
--
*-active
**PLAYERS WITH BOTH I.W. & MIAMI SINGLES TITLES**
Victoria Azarenka
Kim Clijsters
Steffi Graf
Martina Hingis
Martina Navratilova
Monica Seles
Serena Williams
[active, won I.W. but not Miami]
Simona Halep
Daniela Hantuchova
Jelena Jankovic
Maria Sharapova
Elena Vesnina
Caroline Wozniacki
Vera Zvonareva
[active, won Miami but not I.W.]
Svetlana Kuznetsova
Aga Radwanska
Venus Williams
**WON I.W./MIAMI "SUNSHINE DOUBLE" IN SAME SEASON**
1994 - Steffi Graf
1996 - Steffi Graf
2005 - Kim Clijsters
2016 - Victoria Azarenka
[doubles]
1990 - Jana Novotna & Helena Sukova
1997 - Natasha Zvereva
1999 - Martina Hingis
2002 - Lisa Raymond & Rennae Stubbs
2006 - Lisa Raymond & Samantha Stosur
2007 - Lisa Raymond & Samantha Stosur
2015 - Martina Hingis & Sania Mirza
2016 - Bethanie Mattek-Sands
MIAMI, FLORIDA USA (Premier Mandatory/hard outdoor)
16 Final: Azarenka d. Kuznetsova
16 Doubles Final: Mattek-Sands/Safarova d. Babos/Shvedova
17 Top Seeds: Kerber/Ka.Pliskova
=============================
=ROUND OF 16=
#1 Kerber d. Riske
#11 V.Williams d. #7 Kuznetsova
#32 Makarova d. Peng
#24 Babos d. #8 Keys
Puig d. #6 Muguruza
#4 Cibulkova d. Safarova
#9 Svitolina d. #26 Lucic-Baroni
#2 Ka.Pliskova d. #18 Vandeweghe
...Kerber is back at #1, and could face Kasatkina (she def. the German in January, but is now in need of a big win) in the 3rd Round. 2015 finalist Suarez-Navarro is in the same section, but still hasn't fully returned from her injury layoff. Venus (who was last champion in Miami sixteen years ago) might get the surging Mladenovic in the 3rd Round, with '16 Miami finalist/17 I.W. finalist Kuznetsova up next. Will Halep ('16 QF) take a big step in Miami, or settle for a small one? If she can knock off Osaka in her opening match, she could be staring down longtime nemesis Makarova in the 3rd Round. A year ago, the Russian reached the QF after putting up Miami wins over Kvitova and Svitolina. In the fourth quarter of the top half is Konta, who hasn't been totally healthy since January, and she might be tested by Babos (4th Rd. '16) in the 3rd, leading to a possible clash for the winner vs. Keys ('16 QF). Both Babos and Keys lost to Kerber in this event last year.
Can Muguruza maintain the momentum she gathered in the desert? Puig, back on her game after a slow '17 start and in friendly surroundings in Miami, could face Wozniacki in the 3rd Round. The Dane defeated her in January, but a win from the Puerto Rican could reignite #PicaPower, as Puig destroyed Muguruza en route to the Gold in Rio and could see her in the Round of 16 here. I.W. champ Vesnina could face an early obstacle in Safarova in the 3rd in what would be their first meeting since 2006 (!). Former champ Radwanska could face off with Lucic-Baroni in the 3rd as the big-hitting Croat looks to continue her early-season roll. Could Svitolina find a way past her to get another shot at Pliskova? I'm picking the Ukrainian, but I may regret it later. Meanwhile, Pliskova's quest for "cosmic tennis" switches coasts. She reached the I.W. semis while never really feeling good about the "B"-level quality of her desert game. What happens if she finally gets some oceanside satisfaction? The 4th Round could provide a Fed Cup SF preview vs. Vandeweghe.
=QUARTERFINALS=
#11 V.Williams d. #1 Kerber
#32 Makarova d. #24 Babos
Puig d. #4 Cibulkova
#2 Ka.Pliskova d. #9 Svitolina
...might a long three-setter vs. Kuznetsova reduce Venus' chances vs. Kerber? After last week, I have to plant a singles flag in the OTHER half of the Makarova/Vesnina doubles duo. Cibulkova looked more like her usual self in California, so if Puig can come in on a roll this one could be an instant classic in a match-up of players who have recently broken out of their January funks. Pliskova has never lost to Svitolina.
=SEMIFINALS=
#32 Makarova d. #11 V.Williams
#2 Ka.Pliskova d. Puig
...the last time a Russian played in both the Indian Wells and Miami finals in the same year was Sharapova in 2013. The last time different Russians played in finals of the two events was 2006 (Kuznetsova/Sharapova and Sharapova/Dementieva). These results would produce a final that would at least challenge tournament history, as neither player has won a slam, and only Pliskova has played in a major final.
=FINAL=
#2 Ka.Pliskova d. #32 Makarova
...okay, let's try this one again. The last Czech winner in Miami was, well... there hasn't been one. Yet. In fact, the only Czech-born player to ever reach the final was Martina Navratilova, who won the inaugural event in 1985.
Meanwhile...
=DOUBLES QUARTERFINALS=
#1 Mattek-Sands/Safarova d. #5 Y.Chan/Hingis
#3 Mirza/Strycova d. Jurak/An.Rodionova
Kuznetsova/Mladenovic d. #4 Hlavackova/Peng
#2 Makarova/Vesnina d. #8 Spears/Srebotnik
...Hingis already has two "Sunshine Double" combos in doubles. A third would tie Lisa Raymond's tournament record. Mattek-Sands suffered her first WD loss of the season last week vs. Chan/Hingis.
=DOUBLES SEMIFINALS=
#1 Mattek-Sands/Safarova d. #3 Mirza/Strycova
#2 Makarova/Vesnina d. Kuznetsova/Mladenovic
...BMS & Safarova are looking to defend their Miami title. The last individual player to do so was Hingis (2014-15), while the last duo was Raymond/Stosur (2006-07). The Russians were runners-up in Miami in both 2014 and '15.
=DOUBLES FINAL=
#2 Makarova/Vesnina d. #1 Mattek-Sands/Safarova
...these two duos have met three times, with Team Bucie winning the '15 AO QF and '16 U.S. SF, and the Russians (temporarily) preventing Mattek from reaching the doubles #1 ranking with a win in the WTA Finals championship match last November. Mattek (w/ Mirza) defeated the pair in the Brisbane final in Week 1. The only all-Hordette pair to win in Miami: Kirilenko/Petrova in 2012.
posted by Todd.Spiker @ 5:56 PM
12 Comments:
Last one until Rome or Madrid.
7.5 on the Up Side
1.Garcia-An odd pick, but I have to go off book as only 2 of 8 QF from IW last year made the QF in Miami-Azarenka and Halep. Also the fact that Mladenovic made the SF should motivate her. Add that to an early loss in doubles there, and not entered here, she should hold up down the stretch if she gets there.
2.Muguruza-Playing some good under the radar tennis. The only reason she ist on top is her results. In order this season-RET, QF, R16, RET, QF. So it should be R16(like Todd picked), but the eye test says different.
3.Makarova-Because I have to pick a Russian to lose in the final(1-8 in Miami). Also due to the fact that she isn't at her 2014 form, and I didn't pick her down under. Then she did what she always does. That may apply here, as she reached the QF last year, and R16 4 other times.
4.Ostapenko-One of the smartest players on tour. But the mental side needs work. If she can get to Pliskova, she actually has a better chance if it is a night match. The player that is hurt most by on court coaching-because it lets her vent/be enabled instead of focusing on the match.
5.Keys-Another QF from last year. Has a tough draw, but will be fresher than most.
6.Svitolina-May have gotten the best draw of the elite players, because I expect the 4th QTR to fall apart.
7.Kerber-If there is a week that she could run the table, this is the one. Although should face Kasatkina again, it is an odd section in which the Goerges/Riske winner can do damage.
7.5.Minella-I admit that I would not have had her here before yesterday. But depending on some other results, if she wins her next match, The 74th ranked Minella could surpass her career high of 66.
7.5 On the Down Side.
1.Ka.Pliskova-Yes, you read that correctly. For this week anyway. Had the shoulder taped up and her play was patchy at IW. And the stats back that up. After playing 34 sets this year without a tiebreak, since there wasn't one for the Ostapenko match, she then played 5 in 10 sets at IW.
2.Kr.Pliskova-Already lost, but is so close to breaking out. 6 of her 7 losses have been in 3 sets, the only other was the loss to Kerber, where she got freight trained in the 1st set. Her breakout will probably be at Birmingham or Eastbourne, because in the last 3 years, she has done the almost impossible task of playing more on grass than clay(11 grass, 10 clay).
3.Davis-And winner of the worst draw goes to Davis. You would think that without Williams/Kvitova/Bacinszky), the 34th ranked Davis would have been seeded. But alas, she was 37th when the draw came out, and her reward is Wozniacki and Muguruza in her section.
4.Gibbs-Already out, and with a weak 3-8 record on the year. Also now out of the Top 100, and goes onto clay, which she went 1-4 last year. And the player she beat? Kr.Pliskova. Has never had more than 1 win on clay in a year on the WTA level.
5.Pavlyuchenkova-She may win a couple of rounds, but there is something lurking. Or someone. Namely Cibulkova. If Radwanska-Cibulkova was the 2nd best rivalry of 2016, behind Williams/Kerber, Cibulkova-Pavlyuchenkova is the 2017 version. The problem is that they beat each other up so much that neither one has anything left. In Pavs' case, she was so whipped after the first encounter(she lost), that she promptly lost her next match to Jabeur. At IW, had nothing left for Sveta, which isn't a bad loss, but didn't bring her best.
6.V.Williams-A legit threat to go deep in the draw every time out. But the thigh was strapped up, and she is on the entry list for Charleston, which she has played 4 of the last 5 years. Is it possible she has an off day like Lucic-Baroni recently had, and then gets to rest at home for a week?
7.Puig-Another one that will probably have a breakout during the grass season, as that is her best surface. But knowing her talent, her 9-7 record is disappointing, especially since she is 0-5 vs Top 20 after being 8-8 last year.
7.5.Nobody, because I need to stop picking on Bencic.
I'm THIS CLOSE to being right with you on Muguruza for Miami. But I sort of got addicted to the whole Puig-Rio-like-run-in-Miami notion and had to go with that. Now watch Monica lose tonight under the lights to Cirstea. :\
Puig is 8-4 (and really should have beaten Pliskova in IW... just ask Karolina) since her 1-3 start. Hoping that's a good sign.
This is likely the last time I'll be picking much of a result (other than FC) from Pliskova until the grass season. So, crossing fingers.
See you in about a month in a half (more or less), Colt. ;)
Oh, I will be around, just not doing the up side stuff. Thinking just slams, premiers, and YEC.
Plus I will have to weigh in on Fed Cup, especially since Belarus may have the opportunity of a generation, with Bacsinszky injured, Bencic out of form, and Hingis limited to singles. Golubic, Masarova, Hingis, Bencic might be their lineup.
Last thought-Do you think Bencic/Mladenovic should team up for doubles?
Oh, good. :)
Yes, and I guess because of all that Vika might end up having a spectacular end to '17 that could send her into '18 with big momentum, too.
Hmmm, it would seem to be an easy choice, considering they're best friends. I can't imagine Kiki & Sveta will be regular partners the rest of '17. Although, Bencic would probably need to get her ranking up so that they'll actually be playing the same tournaments. With their rankings going in opposite directions, that might not be the case for long if things don't turn around. BB's 2-7 (1-1 FC) on the season now (and 2-12 on tour going back to her U.S. Open loss).
Well as usual your sensible picks will probably win through. I don't entirely buy Barty but the thing about the WTA is that EVERY tournament has a cinderella story. It's just about picking who it is. Why not Barty this time? Still, I think my player of the week is probably going to be the iguana.
Duly noted, and I therefore want to see the iguana play Muguruza.
Well Todd - time to revise your last 16 and remember to look under the radar. Caroline is playing well right now - just won over another returning player Cirstea who played really well against Caro in a good match around midnight. I guess Mugu will have a difficult time when they meet monday
One ranking note that I find interesting-Kvitova's 2016 is so backloaded that her points from after the USO through the end of the year would have her 20th right now. She's 15th now , but 1000 pts ahead of 16th. A split you see in the Top 10 sometimes, but normally not below.
L-
Yeah, those are also some of the reasons I picked her to reach the final in Indian Wells. Naturally, it's more coming to the fore in Miami. Though we may still well get my IW final pick in the Miami SF vs. Pliskova, so at least there's that. Muguruza is going to have to cut out the bad patches in the 4th Round. She's, once again, shown great fight, but Wozniacki vs. a player in inconsistent form is usually good for the Dane.
C-
Well, one of the bright sides of that is that Kvitova shouldn't have to go through the whole WC/unseeded process when she comes back, which might help her get back in form faster, with the ability to actually play multiple matches at events. In other words, the opposite of what Bencic has faced in 2017 with her draws.
What is happening to Aga? That 0 and 3 loss was pretty brutal. With the clay swing coming up I smell trouble. Could her window be closing?
Note: I'm watching Taylor Townsend play and I'm thinking about that generation coming through. Venus W has been playing for their WHOLE lives. Now you think about playing her. Playing someone who has been around for a generation. 21 years. It beggars belief. The funny thing about this is that people I talk to always say either:
a) God that's amazing, Venus is great
b) God, the WTA is awful, what a joke
Which (in some ways) might be able to be looked at as two legitimately competing opinions in any sport when a veteran has success, if the same argument was being waged about the ATP with Federer, only a year younger than VW, suddenly the most in-form player there. But, of course, when he wins in his mid-thirties he gets Greatest Tennis Player Ever magazine covers. He deserves all the acclaim he gets, of course, but so do Venus, and Serena.
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