Saturday, July 13, 2019

Halep's Long and Winding Road Leads To Wimbledon's Door

See Simona. See Simona win. See Simona win Wimbledon?



Yes, as a matter of fact. We just did.


On the occasion of the 2019 Wimbledon Ladies final, Simona Halep answered the time honored question that centers around what one does *after* getting what they'd always dreamed of. It's a query that has stumped many before who'd won their first major title, only to be then forced to ask themselves, "Now what?"

One recently tasted even more immediate success (Naomi Osaka) before eyebrows were raised, while another simply decided that the journey was over (the eccentric Marion Bartoli). One appeared to "drift" for nearly a decade without ever revisiting a similar feeling of triumph (the forever maddening Ana Ivanovic), while others are seemingly trapped somewhere in the chaos of all their options (the enigmatic trio of Muguruza, Ostapenko & Stephens).

But few have had to climb the same mountain as Halep, who last year finally overcame her biggest obstacle (herself and a sometimes crippling negativity that she has since pointed out is a natural trait common to Romanians such as herself) as well as a series of near-miss slam finals that might have crushed the will of a lesser warrior.

But, past self-flagellating appearances aside, there has rarely been a player more eager to battle than Halep.

While many over the past year have seized upon the former #1's "chill year" description of her twelve-month reign as the leading lady of Paris as a sign that she may have lost her edge, was lackadaisical or didn't have the same desire to win major crowns, Halep's results have always countered any such notion. She was a point away from the rare back-to-back Montreal/Cincinnati combo last summer, led Romania to a huge Fed Cup win over the Czechs in February, and has never been anything less than game and/or in-the-mix at nearly every big event she's played in 2019 even if she *didn't* have anything tangible (like a singles title) at hand to unquestionably prove it as recently as two weeks ago. Sometimes she just lost, was beaten (just no longer *by* herself). She accepted it, learned from it, and moved on. It wasn't the end of the world, but it could still be the start of a good thing. That, more than anything, is the mantra that has driven the current version of Simona forward to new experiences, including winning at SW19.

While Halep has never "left" since the spring of last year, what she proved to be in London over the last fortnight *is* something new. With her RG reign behind her, she confirmed at this Wimbledon that the "better Simona" that she and former coach Darren Cahill strived to create has unequivocally emerged from her cocoon, fully formed and brilliant.



Her win over Serena Williams in the today's final, if one only managed to maintain a glancing focus on the proceedings, appeared to come with relative ease. But it was hardly that. At various times, Williams seemed on the verge of emerging in her own right, only to see the Romanian's hard work thwart such momentum from being established by chasing down ball after ball, gliding atop the grass surface from sideline to sideline and then finding room to strike a winner or put Serena into a position where she couldn't keep the rally alive.

Here comes Serena. No. Then *here* she comes. Umm, still no.

Soon, Halep held a dominant edge on the scoreboard, between the lines and in the air. Then the notion dawned, this was *really* going to happen.

Somewhere in the middle of Simona's masterpiece in southwest London, it was almost as if an in-her-prime Justine Henin had been transported through time and into the body of what once was the young Romanian girl (La Petit Swarmette?) who'd idolized the Belgian. Henin, in spite of her size, found ways to tactically frustrate more powerful players, to out-prepare and sometimes even out-will them. She even did it against one Serena Williams, defeating her in three consecutive slam QF in 2007, as well as in their biggest slam match ('03 RG semi) with the same sort of confidence, lack of fear, and utterly crystal-clear clarity and adherence to an agreed upon game plan that Halep showed in her match with Williams today.

(And, no, she didn't need a wave of the hand to make things interesting, either, in case you were wondering.)

Williams, 37, was taking part in her 11th Wimbledon final, it was her third attempt (after losing finals in London and NYC last year) to claim career slam win #24 and tie Margaret Court atop the all-time list, while the 27-year old Halep was in her fifth slam final, at a third different major, as she tried to become the first Romanian (male or female) to win Wimbledon and become a *multiple* slam winner in her first major since the end of her reign as Roland Garros champ. Halep had won just once in ten meetings with Williams, but held close to the memory of her lone win in the WTA Finals in '14, as well as likely the tight three-setter she'd lost against Serena in the Round of 16 at this year's Australian Open.

After her semifinal win on Thursday, the Romanian was asked whether she wanted to prevent Williams from winning her 24th major title. When she replied that she was more desperate to *win* Wimbledon than she was to keep Serena from winning #24 it should have been clear that her mind was uncluttered heading into the final. And with her once-troubled thought process having found such a (rare) clean space of air to breathe, all things were prepared to go her way.

Needing a good start to avoid being swept away by a potential tide of Williams momentum in the early going, Halep hit the match with her legs running. Literally. In the early stages, her ever-important mobility was in perhaps all-time best form. A solid opening return game carved out a break point, and a wide Williams forehand got the break. A volley on the line got a love hold to lead 2-0.



Racing from side to side, Halep's running crosscourt backhand winner kept her even at 15/15 at the beginning of game #3, and Williams' wayward backhand (UE #7) flew long to give her a BP for a double-break edge. Halep's backhand return winner made it 3-0. Soon, an ace sealed a hold to lead 4-0, as the Romanian held a 16-6 points advantage as the reality of an unruffled opponent combined with a Williams seemingly slowed by the same sort of a pressure-related haze that engulfed her in her last two attempts (vs. Kerber at Wimbledon, then Osaka at the U.S. Open) to win #24 was again in evidence. It wasn't a good sign for those expecting to see Court finally caught 46 years after the Aussie's last major title.



Williams finally got on the board in game #5, but Halep's expert prowling of the baseline kept every ball within her racket's reach. At game point, Halep saw Williams seize upon several of her second serves to threaten to get one of the breaks back. She reached BP, but couldn't put it away. Instead, it was Halep whose big first serve got Williams off-balance and helped give her another GP chance. A forehand winner made it 5-1.

Serving at 5-2, Halep's defense again reigned supreme. Reaching set point at 40/15, Halep saw Williams keep the set alive with a big second serve return, but when the Romanian put in a solid first serve a point later Serena's return went wide. In just twenty-six minutes, Halep had taken the 1st set at 6-2.

Somewhat surprisingly, the 2nd set was more of the same.

At 2-2, Halep's defense carved out a love/30 lead on Williams' serve. A passing shot made it 15/40. A point later, with Halep having been dragged into the court's perimeter, Williams found herself positioned at the net for an easy winner into an open court, only to push her shot long and hand a break and a 3-2 lead to the Romanian.



By now, Halep was fully in the flow. Up 4-2, she again led love/30 on Serena's serve. Williams fought back to hold a GP, but too many errors reversed the course of the game. She saved Halep's first BP with an ace, her first of the match. But on BP #2, Halep immediately seized control of the rally and then ended it with a backhand winner down the line to take a 5-2 lead. Serving for the title, Halep went up 30/love when Williams' backhand sailed long. She put in a big serve to lead 40/love. It took two attempts, but on her second MP Halep claimed the title when Williams netted a forehand, ending the 6-2/6-2 match after just fifty-six minutes.



Halep's post-match interview with Sue Barker was engagingly sweet, as she had the air of a kid who'd just opened her presents on her birthday and gotten the puppy she'd always wanted. The grin never left her face, nor did the light behind her eyes dim over the notion of what she'd just done.



With her newly "chill" (i.e. thankful, unpressured and confident in her intent and capabilities) self on full display, Halep admitted that she'd never played better, and that the previous hour on Centre Court had been "the best one" of her life. She thanked her entire team, and talked of how she'd met her mother's lofty expectations by finally succeeding at the sport's oldest tradition-stuffed event



But she singled out former coach (but still friend and advisor) Cahill for addition praise, noting the work he did to help make her "a better person on the court." The sincerity in her voice was obvious, and it spoke a great deal to the sort of ongoing symbiotic relationship -- Halep has continued to grow beyond her past experiences and learned to apply them to what she does at every turn, even as the Aussie who taught her how to do so has stepped away from coaching this season -- that can develop between a player and still-proud-from-slightly-afar coach (you can tell by Cahill's voice when he talks about Halep that it's almost as if he's watching a daughter or niece succeed after coming to him for and listening to his sage advice) in this day when such player/coach pairings on tour are often elusive, brief and/or contentious.

Even as she smiled and delivered some very engaging (and also very funny) comments, it all belied the killer instinct Halep showed not only in the match, but during this whole tournament. This wasn't a one match thing. Two days after playing one of her best big stage matches ever in the semis vs. Elina Svitolina, Halep was even better vs. Williams. And it completed a pattern that began two weeks ago, something that her overwhelming tournament stats (during which she lost just one set on a surface that had never brought out her very best results) reveal:



At the same time, while Halep's clean game had just three unforced errors (vs. 13 winners), she faced just one BP (she saved it) while converting 4-of-5 on Williams' serve (similar to Alison Riske's then-stunning 5-for-5 in the QF), Williams had 26 unforced errors on the day, many coming after having been forced to engage in longer rallies than she'd have liked due to Halep's tremendous defensive skills. Unable to fully rev up her serve, Williams saw Halep's gameplan to reposition herself to receive serve in a more advantageous spot on the court turn her biggest weapon into a virtual non-factor. With Williams' power held at bay, and nearly every point beginning with a rally rather than ending via a quick-strike Serena winner, the Romanian controlled the flow of the entire match. On her heels from the start, Williams never established preeminence. The result: the worst slam final loss (4 games won) in her career, tying for fewest games she's won in *any* final ('04 vs. Davenport in L.A., '09 vs. Azarenka in Miami).

As Williams moves toward what will likely be (at least) another shot at title #24 in her future, what we're left with is a newly minted Wimbledon champion who has once again re-written the first paragraph of her career bio just thirteen months after having already made significant revisions to it in plain sight last spring in Paris.

In recent years -- since Jana Novotna went from crying on the shoulder of the Duchess of Kent to lifting the Venus Rosewater dish -- has there been a more decidedly *human* slam champion than Halep? Or one who has freely admitted her failings quite so unflinchingly, dealt with them so openly, and then ultimately conquered them while the sports world (and her entire "Si-mo-na!" crazy home nation) watched? Oh, there have been quite a few multi-dimensional figures on the slam-winning stage over the years, but has any been as open and honest a book, warts and all, as the Romanian *and* successfully come back for more after having experienced such highs and lows?

Surely a few are in the conversation (from Halep's opponent today to the aforementioned Bartoli, and even Li Na and Amelie Mauresmo), but you'd really have to spend many hours splitting hairs to put Halep anywhere but *atop* that list.

It's been quite a journey of discovery these last few years. For Halep, as well as for anyone who's been invested in her quest to embrace her favored identity. While Roland Garros allowed her to finally exhale a year ago, Wimbledon now enables her to take another gulp of air. Who really knows what will come next?

The journey isn't over, though. And isn't that grand?






=DAY 12 NOTES=
...the girls singles champion is Ukrainian Daria Snigur, the second (Kateryna Bondarenko '04) from her nation to win the Wimbledon juniors and third to claim a major girls crown (Elina Svitolina - '10 RG & Marta Kostyuk - '17 AO). The 17-year old dropped just one set all week (3r vs. Robin Montgomery in a 1st set TB), and finished off her title run with a 6-4/6-4 win today over #10-seeded Bannerette Alexa Noel. Snigur defeated Noel in last week's Roehampton final, as well, and her SW19 title run makes her the sixth of the last eights (and 7/10) tune-up champions to double up and win the main event immediately afterward.

And Snigur even had a memorably star-making response to converting MP, too...




...a big upset in the wheelchair final, as Aniek Van Koot ended #1-seeded Diede de Groot's 25-match slam winning streak (14 singles, 11 doubles) to claim her first Wimbledon singles crown. De Groot was looking to win her third straight SW19 singles and tenth straight overall slam competition (dating back the 2017 RG doubles).



Van Koot won the 1st set, but de Groot took things to a 3rd. After Van Koot broke for 4-2, de Groot broke back at love. After DF'ing to go down a break again at 5-3, de Groot fired a return winner on BP to get back on serve again a game later. Serving to stay in the match, de Groot fell down love/30, and saved a MP when a mishit caught the baseline mid-rally and went on to hold for 5-5. After a solid hold of serve from Van Koot, de Groot was down love/30 on serve again in game #12. A Van Koot net cord dribbler gave her triple MP. De Groot saved the first, but then DF'd on the second as Van Koot won 6-4/4-6/7-5.

The two will return on Sunday as doubles partners to try to pick up the title there.

With the win, Van Koot solidifies herself as probably the most underrated WC player of the era. Though she rose to #1 in 2013 after Esther Vergeer's retirement, throughout her career there has always been "someone else." Van Koot won her first of now thirteen slam titles (3s/10d) in 2010, but has played in the shadow of, first, Vergeer, then Yui Kamiji, Jiske Griffioen and now de Groot. Yet, at 28, with this SW19 win she's now claimed seven of the eight major titles, joining only de Groot (w/ all 8), Kamiji (7) and Vergeer (who played when there wasn't a Wimbledon singles competition) with such a distinction. She could become the second to win all eight with a title at next year's Roland Garros.

...in Bastad, Misaki Doi swept the singles and doubles crowns, defeating Danka Kovinic in both. In singles, it was a 6-4/6-4 win, and in doubles she teamed with Natalia Vikhlyantseva to defeat Kovinic & Alexa Guarachi 7-5/6-7(4) [10-7]. It's the 28-year old's second WTA 125 singles title ('16 San Antonio), matching her biggest title other than her lone tour-level win in Luxembourg in 2015. She's won three 125 doubles crowns.



Doi jumps a huge 36 spots in the rankings and will be back in the Top 100 on Monday.




ROYALS WATCH ON DAY 12:




NOTE ON DAY 12: Serena doesn't *need* #24 (or #25) to secure her legacy, but if she never gets it after having so many (and maybe more) opportunities it *will* leave a rather curious footnote to the final chapter of her career.



Will she get it? Probably. Maybe even later this summer in New York. I mean, come on, wouldn't it be oh-so-Serena to come back to the U.S. Open one year after the embarrassment of that selfish display in the final (which is what it was, not the revisionist "I'm fighting for everyone" claptrap that even she's trying to push now) and *win* #24 there this time around? In fact, barring a flare-up of the knee on summer hard courts, it'd be difficult to pick against her. If not then, she'll have more chances in 2020 as she attempts to win a major in what would be a *fourth* different decade.

When and if Williams were to get it, and especially if she pushed the total to 25, it'd likely be a record not to ever be broken. Surely, at least, none of us will ever see it happen. Not on the women's side. As for the men, well, Novak Djokovic might yet chase it down in a few years (the ol' "Numbers Guy" from those past ATP Backspin write-ups is doing his computations... and he still thinks it looks good).

If she doesn't, though. Well, time *is* undefeated, and even Williams isn't necessarily immune to it running out on her quest.


LIKE ON DAY 12: Royal Watch (in the second row)... a 1994 Ladies final reunion.




AH... ON DAY 12: And there you go. I thought ESPN was going to go the entire match and wrap-up without using that wrong (for three years!) graphic with Californian Helen Wills Moody backed by the Union Jack on the all-time slam titles list. But then after Serena's press conference, there it was. Tradition, I tell ya.


Ummm... ON DAY 12:





LIKE ON DAY 12: Making if official...




NOTE ON DAY 12: And Bara bats clean-up (with the #1 ranking hanging in the balance)...




LIKE ON DAY 12: Yep, still grinning...




DISLIKE ON DAY 12: Reading the tweets from sickeningly poor-sport Serena fans, bringing to mind U.S. political supporters of a certain mindset, who somehow (but not surprisingly) found ways after the final to, in turn, viciously attack Chris Evert (for saying -- aghast! -- that Halep won the match and that Serena didn't lose it... I mean, how *dare* she, right?) even while she *did* do all she could to bow at the altar both during and after the match, give no credit to Halep, put a pox on everything in tennis because Serena didn't win, etc. Such a thing is often taken to absurd levels of defense that challenge reality.



The thing about it is that they don't even take Williams' lead when she praises an opponent after a loss, an act of graciousness that she *has* developed over the years as it's become more necessary.

It's to the point where Halep will probably be assailed for simply saying this...



It's a truly curious phenomenon to express the belief that someone, anyone, can simply do no wrong, is never not at their best, is at no time "bested" and that any comment, thought or notion that in any way -- no matter the context in which it exists -- questions such dogma is tantamount to some combination of heresy, treason, bigotry and wickedness. Or worse.

Personally, I've never understood it, because, really, isn't an individual even *more* worthy of admiration *because* of their acknowledged faults and their ability to nevertheless rise above them far more often than not? To be wrong at times, but have the grace to admit as much. To be great because it is hard be as such, not because it's an individual's general resting condition no matter the minute, hour, day, week, month or year (and not "a curse on you if you don't acknowledge it, even in the face of another being even a little bit "greater" on a given day"). To have highs and lows, both of one's own accord. To have lapses in judgment. To have second thoughts. To admit when one is wrong. To struggle to persevere, but to do so anyway, because of great will and effort and not simply because one is incapable of anything *but* ultimate success.

Isn't that what it's all about, Charlie Brown?

After all, Serena wasn't *supposed* to be great. Yeah, yeah... Richard told us she would be. But Venus already seemed destined for that path, so what were the odds? Pretty good, apparently. Serena has been defying them ever since, be they against history, health, tragedy, disappointment, expectation, prejudice (the real kind, not the ginned up variety) and, now or soon, time. And she's won. Not every time, but most of them. Over and over again. And is still doing so.

Yet it continues to be portrayed by many -- be they random Twitter voices or larger media-generated ones -- as some kind of alternative reality blood sport on the rare occasion when she doesn't.

Honestly, Serena herself deserves more than to be stained by such ridiculousness. (Sigh.) But I guess that's too much to expect.


AND IT'S NOT JUST SERENA FANS ON DAY 12:



Seriously, a Simona fan was questioning whether or not Simona was cranky and a pain to deal with when she'd scream at her player's box (or whether it was not okay to say it about *her* if it wasn't said about *another* player)? Seriously? Really... get a grip.

And *stop* mentioning the Cahill quitting story? What are you talking about? While "negative" at the start, the *story* is what she did to improve herself *after* that moment (which was clearly meant by Cahill to be a test as much an an ultimatum), and it played a huge role in what Halep has become. You can't tell the *complete* story without noting it -- though where she is now is a totally different version of herself -- so why would you want to banish it from the discussion forever? It helped to *make* the player who just won Wimbledon. It's astounding sometimes the cleaned-up reality some fans want their favorite player to exist in, rather than recognize that the path to success isn't a straight line, nor is it always pretty.

Anyway, the point is that sometimes indiscriminate comments *are* wrong-headed and offensive, but some aren't. Some are just spare words that impart a thought, based in reality, that are innocuous when viewed in context. Learn to detect the difference (as difficult as that may be for some).



The final Grass Court Award lists arrive tomorrow, by the way. Obviously (as I figured *before* the start of the tournament), I was never going to have time to complete the Decade's Best series for Wimbledon before the end of the event. So it'll be continued into the next week. (2015 will go up soon.)






=WOMEN'S SINGLES FINAL=
#7 Simona Halep/ROU def. #11 Serena Williams/USA vs. #7 Simona Halep/ROU 6-2/6-2

=WOMEN'S DOUBLES FINAL=
#3 Hsieh/Strycova (TPE/CZE) vs. #4 Dabrowski/Xu (CAN/CHN)

=MIXED DOUBLES FINAL=
Ostapenko/Lindstedt (LAT/SWE) vs. #9 L.Chan/Dodig (TPE/CRO)

=GIRLS SINGLES FINAL=
Daria Snigur/UKR def. #10 Alexa Noel/USA 6-4/6-4

=GIRLS DOUBLES FINAL=
Bartone/Selekhmeteva (LAT/RUS) vs. Broadus/Forbes (USA/USA)

=WHEELCHAIR SINGLES FINAL=
Aniek Van Koot/NED def. #1 Diede de Groot/NED 6-4/4-6/7-5

=WHEELCHAIR DOUBLES FINAL=
#1 de Groot/Van Koot (NED/NED) vs. #2 Buis/Capocci (NED/ITA)

=WOMEN'S INVITATION DOUBLES FINAL=
Kim Clijsters/Rennae Stubbs vs. C.Black/Navratilova
















*RECENT WOMEN'S SLAM WINNERS*
[# - first-time slam champ]
2016 AO: Angelique Kerber, GER #
2016 RG: Garbine Muguruza, ESP #
2016 WI: Serena Williams, USA
2016 US: Angelique Kerber, GER
2017 AO: Serena Williams, USA
2017 RG: Alona Ostapenko, LAT #
2017 WI: Garbine Muguruza, ESP
2017 US: Sloane Stephens, USA #
2018 AO: Caroline Wozniacki, DEN #
2018 RG: Simona Halep, ROU #
2018 WI: Angelique Kerber, GER
2018 US: Naomi Osaka, JPN #
2019 AO: Naomi Osaka, JPN
2019 RG: Ash Barty, AUS #
2019 WI: Simona Halep, ROU
[WI Finals]
10: Serena Williams def. Vera Zvonareva
11: Petra Kvitova def. Maria Sharapova
12: Serena Williams def. Aga Radwanska
13: Marion Bartoli def. Sabine Lisicki
14: Petra Kvitova def. Genie Bouchard
15: Serena Williams def. Garbine Muguruza
16: Serena Williams def. Angelique Kerber
17: Garbine Muguruza def. Venus Williams
18: Angelique Kerber def. Serena Williams
19: Simona Halep def. Serena Williams

*CAREER SLAM FINALS - ACTIVE*
32...SERENA WILLIAMS (23-9)
16...Venus Williams (7-9)
10...Maria Sharapova (5-5)
5...SIMONA HALEP (2-3)
4...Angelique Kerber (3-1)
4...Svetlana Kuznetsova (2-2)
4...Victoria Azarenka (2-2)
3...Garbine Muguruza (2-1)
3...Caroline Wozniacki (1-2)
3...Petra Kvitova (2-1)
2...Naomi Osaka (2-0)
2...Sloane Stephens (1-1)
2...Samantha Stosur (1-1)
2...Vera Zvonareva (0-2)
1...Ash Barty (1-0)
1...Alona Ostapenko (1-0)
1...Genie Bouchard (0-1)
1...Dominika Cibulkova (0-1)
1...Sara Errani (0-1)
1...Madison Keys (0-1)
1...Sabine Lisicki (0-1)
1...Karolina Pliskova (0-1)
1...Marketa Vondrousova (0-1)
-
ALSO: Jelena Jankovic (0-1)

*WIMBLEDON FINALS - active*
11..SERENA WILLIAMS (7-4)
9...Venus Williams (5-4)
2...Maria Sharapova (1-1)
2...Petra Kvitova (2-0)
2...Angelique Kerber (1-1)
2...Garbine Muguruza (1-1)
1...SIMONA HALEP (1-0)
1...Vera Zvonareva (0-1)
1...Sabine Lisicki (0-1)
1...Genie Bouchard (0-1)

*SLAM FINALS - 2010-19*
18 - SERENA WILLIAMS, USA (12-6)
6 - Maria Sharapova, RUS (2-4)
5 - SIMONA HALEP, ROU (2-3)
4 - Angelique Kerber, GER (3-1)
4 - Victoria Azarenka, BLR (2-2)
4 - Li Na, CHN (2-2)-ret.
3 - Petra Kvitova, CZE (2-1)
3 - Garbine Muguruza, ESP (2-1)
2 - Kim Clijsters, BEL (2-0)-ret.
2 - Naomi Osaka, JPN (2-0)
2 - Francesca Schiavone, ITA (1-1)-ret.
2 - Sloane Stephens, USA (1-1)
2 - Samantha Stosur, AUS (1-1)
2 - Caroline Wozniacki, DEN (1-1)
2 - Venus Williams, USA (0-2)
2 - Vera Zvonareva, RUS (0-2)
1-0 (active) = Barty,Ostapenko
1-0 (ret.) = Bartoli,Pennetta
0-1 (active) = Bouchard,Cibulkkova,Errani,Keys,Lisicki,Ka.Pliskova,Vondrousova
0-1 (ret.) = Henin,A.Radwanska,Safarova,Vinci
[slam champs by nation - 2010-19]
13 - USA
3 - GER
2 - AUS,BEL,BLR,CHN,CZE,ESP,ITA,JPN,ROU,RUS
1 - DEN,FRA,LAT
[Wimbledon finalists by nation - 2010-19]
7 - USA (4-3)
3 - GER (1-2)
2 - CZE (2-0)
2 - ESP (1-1)
2 - RUS (0-2)
1 - FRA (1-0)
1 - ROU (1-0)
1 - CAN (0-1)
1 - POL (0-1)

*WTA FINALS - 2015-19*
22 - 5/3/5/6/3, SIMONA HALEP (11-11)
20 - 6/4/3/2/4, Karolina Pliskova (11-9)
18 - 5/8/1/2/2, Angelique Kerber (9-9)
18 - 3/2/8/4/1, Caroline Wozniacki (8-10)
17 - 4/3/1/5/4, Petra Kvitova (13-4)
14 - 5/5/1/2/1, SERENA WILLIAMS (8-6)
13 - 1/3/5/4/0, Elina Svitolina (11-2)
11 - 0/1/5/3/2, Julia Goerges (5-6)
10 - 0/0/3/3/4, Ash Barty (6-4)
10 - 0/2/2/4/2, Kiki Bertens (8-2)
10 - 0/7/1/2/0, Dominika Cibulkova (4-6)

*RECENT WIMBLEDON GIRLS FINALS*
2010 Kristyna Pliskova/CZE def. Sachie Ishizu/JPN
2011 Ash Barty/AUS def. Irina Khromacheva/RUS
2012 Genie Bouchard/CAN def. Elina Svitolina/UKR
2013 Belinda Bencic/SUI def. Taylor Townsend/USA
2014 Alona Ostapenko/LAT def. Kristina Schmiedlova/SVK
2015 Sofya Zhuk/RUS def. Anna Blinkova/RUS
2016 Anastasia Potapova/RUS def. Dayana Yastremska/UKR
2017 Claire Liu/USA def. Ann Li/USA
2018 Iga Swiatek/POL def. Leonie Kung/SUI
2019 Daria Snigur/UKR def. Alexa Noel/USA

*RECENT GIRLS SLAM CHAMPIONS*
[2010]
AO: Karolina Pliskova, CZE
RG: Elina Svitolina, UKR
WI: Kristyna Pliskova, CZE
US: Daria Gavrilova, RUS
[2011]
AO: An-Sophie Mestach, BEL
RG: Ons Jabeur, TUN
WI: Ashleigh Barty, AUS
AO: Grace Min, USA
[2012]
AO: Taylor Townsend, USA
RG: Annika Beck, GER
WI: Eugenie Bouchard, CAN
US: Samantha Crawford, USA
[2013]
AO: Ana Konjuh, CRO
RG: Belinda Bencic, SUI
WI: Belinda Bencic, SUI
US: Ana Konjuh, CRO
[2014]
AO: Elizaveta Kulichkova, RUS
RG: Darya Kasatkina, RUS
WI: Jelena Ostapenko, LAT
US: Maria Bouzkova, CZE
[2015]
AO: Tereza Mihalikova, SVK
RG: Paula Badosa, ESP
WI: Sofya Zhuk, RUS
US: Dalma Galfi, HUN
[2016]
AO: Vera Lapko, BLR
RG: Rebeka Masarova, SUI
WI: Anastasia Potapova, RUS
US: Kayla Day, USA
[2017]
AO: Marta Kostyuk, UKR
RG: Whitney Osuigwe, USA
WI: Claire Liu, USA
US: Amanda Anisimova, USA
[2018]
AO: Liang En-shuo, TPE
RG: Coco Gauff, USA
WI: Iga Swiatek, POL
US: Wang Xiyu, CHN
[2019]
AO: Clara Tauson, DEN
RG: Leylah Annie Fernandez, CAN
WI: Daria Snigur, UKR

*JUNIOR SLAM FINALISTS - UKRAINE*
2000 Wimbledon - Tatiana Perebiynis
2000 U.S. Open - Tatiana Perebiynis
2003 Australian Open - Viktoriya Kutuzova
2004 Wimbledon - Kateryna Bondarenko (W)
2010 Roland Garrros - Elina Svitolina (W)
2012 Wimbledon - Elina Svitolina
2014 U.S. Open - Anhelina Kalinina
2016 Wimbledon - Marta Kostyuk
2017 Australian Open - Marta Kostyuk (W)
2019 Wimbledon - Daria Snigur (W)

*ROEHAMPTON CHAMPS, w/ WIMBLEDON JR. RESULT*
1996 Amelie Mauresmo = won Wimbledon Jr. title
1997 Brie Rippner = lost Wimb.Jr. F (won by C.Black = Roe.QF)
1998 Jelena Dokic = lost Wimb.Jr. SF (won by Srebotnik = Roe.DNP)
1999 Lina Krasnoroutskaya = lost Wimb.Jr. F (won by Tulyagnova = Roe.3r)
2000 Aniko Kapros = lost Wimb.Jr. QF (won by Salerni = Roe.2r)
2001 Gisela Dulko = lost Wimb.Jr. 3r (won by Widjaja = Roe.QF)
2002 Vera Dushevina = won Wimbledon Jr. title
2003 Allison Baker = lost Wimb.Jr. QF(won by Flipkens = Roe.RU)
2004 Michaella Krajicek = lost Wimb.Jr. SF (won by K.Bondarenko = Roe.QF)
2005 Caroline Wozniacki = lost Wimb.Jr. 1r (won by A.Radwanska = Roe.DNP)
2006 Kristina Antoniychuk = lost Wimb.Jr. 3r (won by Wozniacki = Roe.DNP)
2007 Petra Kvitova = lost Wimb.Jr. 3r (won by U.Radwanska = Roe.DNP)
2008 Melanie Oudin = lost Wimb.Jr. 2r (won by Robson = Roe.RU)
2009 Kristina Mladenovic = lost Wimb.Jr. F (won by Lertcheewakarn = Roe.SF)
2010 Kristyna Pliskova = won Wimbledon Jr. title
2011 Indy de Vroome = lost Wimb.Jr. SF (won by Barty = Roe.2r)
2012 Genie Bouchard = won Wimbledon Jr. title
2013 Belinda Bencic = won Wimbledon Jr. title
2014 Alona Ostapenko = won Wimbledon Jr. title
2015 Dalma Galfi = lost Wimb.Jr. 1r (won by Zhuk = Roe.3r)
2016 Anastasia Potapova = won Wimbledon Jr. title
2017 Claire Liu = won Wimbledon Jr. title
2018 Coco Gauff = lost Wimb.Jr. QF (won by Swiatek = Roe.DNP)
2019 Daria Snigur = won Wimbledon Jr. title

*WIMBLEDON WHEELCHAIR WINNERS*
[singles]
2016 Jiske Griffioen, NED
2017 Diede de Groot, NED
2018 Diede de Groot, NED
2019 Aniek Van Koot, NED
[doubles]
2009 Korie Homan/Esther Vergeer, NED/NED
2010 Esther Vergeer/Sharon Walraven, NED/NED
2011 Esther Vergeer/Sharon Walraven, NED/NED
2012 Jiske Griffioen/Aniek van Koot, NED/NED
2013 Jiske Griffioen/Aniek van Koot, NED/NED
2014 Yui Kamiji/Jordanne Whiley, JPN/GBR
2015 Yui Kamiji/Jordanne Whiley, JPN/GBR
2016 Yui Kamiji/Jordanne Whiley, JPN/GBR
2017 Yui Kamiji/Jordanne Whiley, JPN/GBR
2018 Diede de Groot/Yui Kamiji, NED/JPN
2019 ?

*RECENT WHEELCHAIR SLAM CHAMPS*
[singles]
2017 AO: Yui Kamiji, JPN
2017 RG: Yui Kamiji, JPN
2017 WI: Diede de Groot, NED
2017 US: Yui Kamiji, JPN
2018 AO: Diede de Groot, NED
2018 RG: Yui Kamiji, JPN
2018 WI: Diede de Groot, NED
2018 US: Diede de Groot, NED
2019 AO: Diede de Groot, NED
2019 RG: Diede de Groot, NED
2019 WI: Aniek Van Koot, NED
[doubles]
2017 AO: Griffioen/Van Koot, NED/NED
2017 RG: Buis/Kamiji, JPN/NED
2017 WI: Kamiji/Whiley, JPN/GBR
2017 US: Buis/de Groot, NED/NED
2018 AO: Buis/Kamiji, NED/JPN
2018 RG: de Groot/Van Koot, NED/NED
2018 WI: de Groot/Kamiji, NED/JPN
2018 US: de Groot/Kamiji, NED/JPN
2019 AO: de Groot/Van Koot, NED/NED
2019 RG: de Groot/Van Koot, NED/NED
2019 WI: ?

*WIMBLEDON INVITATION DOUBLES WINNERS (since 2008)*
2008 Jana Novotna & Kathy Rinaldi
2009 Martina Navratilova & Helena Sukova
2010 Martina Navratilova & Jana Novotna
2011 Lindsay Davenport & Martina Hingis
2012 Lindsay Davenport & Martina Hingis
2013 Lindsay Davenport & Martina Hingis
2014 Jana Novotna & Barbara Schett
2015 Magdalena Maleeva & Rennae Stubbs
2016 Martina Navratilova & Selima Sfar
2017 Cara Black & Martina Navratilova
2018 Kim Clijsters & Rennae Stubbs
2019 ?



TOP QUALIFIER: Coco Gauff/USA
TOP EARLY-ROUND (1r-2r): #1 Ash Barty/AUS
TOP MIDDLE-ROUND (3r-QF): #11 Serena Williams/USA
TOP LATE-ROUND (SF-F): #7 Simona Halep/ROU
TOP QUALIFYING MATCH: Q2: #20 Kaja Juvan/SLO def. Basak Eraydin/TUR 4-6/7-6(3)/6-3 (trailed 6-4/4-1 40/15)
TOP EARLY-RD. MATCH (1r-2r): 1st Rd. - Alison Riske/USA def. #22 Donna Vekic/CRO 3-6/6-3/7-5 (Vekic led 4-1 in 3rd; first Ct.1 roof closure)
TOP MIDDLE-RD. MATCH (3r-QF): 3rd Rd. - (WC) Coco Gauff/USA def. Polona Hercog/SLO 3-6/7-6(7)/7-5 (down 6-3/5-2; Hercog 3 MP in 2nd)
TOP LATE-RD. MATCH (SF-F/Jr.): xx
=============================
FIRST VICTORY: Madison Keys/USA (1st Rd. def. Luksika Kumkhum/THA)
FIRST SEED OUT: #10 Aryna Sabalenka/BLR (lost 1st Rd. to Rybarikova/SVK)
UPSET QUEENS: Slovenia
REVELATION LADIES: Russia
NATION OF POOR SOULS: BLR (1-3 1st; 3/4 of "Dream Team" lose, including #10 Sabalenka)
LAST QUALIFIER STANDING: Coco Gauff/USA (4th Rd.) (LL: L.Davis/USA - 3rd Rd.)
LAST WILD CARD STANDING: Harriet Dart/GBR (3rd Rd.)
LAST BRIT STANDING: Johanna Konta (QF)
IT ("Kid"): Coco Gauff, USA
Ms.OPPORTUNITY: Simona Halep, ROU (first Wimbledon final) and Alison Riske, USA (into "Last 8 Club")
COMEBACK PLAYER: Alona Ostapenko/LAT (MX)
CRASH & BURN: #2 Naomi Osaka/JPN (1st Rd. - lost to Putintseva/KAZ)
ZOMBIE QUEEN OF LONDON: Elina Svitolina/UKR (2nd Rd.: Gasparyan two points from win at 7-5/5-4, cramps, retires when leading match)
DOUBLES STAR: Nominees: Strycova, L.Chan, Capocci (WC)
VETERAN PLAYER (KIMIKO CUP): Barbora Strycova/CZE
SPIRIT OF JANA (NOVOTNA) HONOREE: (Bad Donna) Vekic/CRO
JUNIOR BREAKOUT: Daria Snigur/UKR (Roehampton/Wimbledon winner)
RAD REMEMBRANCE DAY malevolent activity notes...
June 26 official: In Eastbourne, a day after her first Top 10 victory in over a year (and first consecutive wins in back-to-back events since last grass season), '18 Wimbledon semifinalist (and former SW19 girls champ) Alona Ostapenko is forced to retire from her 3rd Round match with a hip injury.
Day 3 observed: Margarita Gasparyan, having overcome three knee surgeries and missing most of two years between 2016-18, comes within two points of defeating #8-seeded Elina Svitolina at 7-5/5-4. Five minutes later, she serves and lands awkwardly on her "bad" leg and immediately doubles over in pain. She is treated for cramping, and ultimately, in tears, retires while still leading 7-5/5-6, with an 82-81 points edge and 42-15 lead in winners.




All for Day 12. Grass Court Awards tomorrow.

posted by Todd.Spiker @ 7:52 PM 

7 Comments:

Blogger Diane said...

Context is dead. It is no more. Even that media member who misrepresented BJK's comment about Serena, in turn, had her comment taken somewhat out of context. She was just making a general (though inaccurate) comment, lumping all of Serena's off-court activities in together. Suddenly, entire articles are being written about it.

Simona's story reminds me a bit of Angie's. Both worked so hard to get to the next level, and then the next. Both had to fight their own natures. Both are delightful women.

I, like many others, am sorry that--now that she doesn't really need anyone in Romania--she has to keep heaping praise on Tiriac, but Simona has never really "gotten" the equality issue (I think that she will some day), and it's entirely possible that he has treated her with respect.

Sat Jul 13, 08:28:00 PM EDT  
Blogger colt13 said...

Si-mon-a+

Serena's slow start killed her. By scoreline, this was not close. But after the first 4 games, Serena raised her level. Halep matched her shot for shot. "Can't win a slam with defense," they say. You can if you can hit winners on the run, which was the most impressive part of Halep's game today. Caught Serena flat footed a number of times.

Serena has said that she wants to play both Toronto and Cincinnati. She needs more matches, and needs to play players that give her trouble, not just those she is 5-0 against.

Will catch up on the wheelchair later, but watched the girls final early because of the twitter comments about Snigur's serve. Compared to Ostapenko, that seems off base. To me, she is really similar to Madison Brengle in that she pushes her serve in, then really takes a long time to set up a point. She will get stronger, and her serve will be mid 80's just like Brengle.

Projects as a Top 35 player.

Noel has a bigger upside. Muchova lite, she has a one handed backhand, and a powerful serve. Just 16, she is probably 3 years away from a breakthrough as she has extremely poor shot selection. Was up 4-1, then repeatedly sliced instead of going for a winner, which let Snigur back into the match.

Projects as a Top 20 player.

S.Williams-Wins 2015 French/2016 Wimbledon
Muguruza- Wins 2016 French/2017 Wimbledon
Ostapenko*- Wins 2017 French/2018 Wimbledon SF
Halep- Wins 2018 French/2019 Wimbledon
Barty- Wins 2019 French/2020 Wimbledon ???

Only Top 20 player in Bucharest is Sevastova. A surprise, as Latvia's event is the week after.

Only Top 40 players in Lausanne are Garcia and Goerges.

Stat of the Day- 5- The number of countries that have had a wheelchair player win a doubles title.

That includes the slams, master's events and the Olympics. Of the 76 events, meaning 152 players, only 36 spots have been taken up by women not from the Netherlands. And 27 of those are taken up by Kamiji or Whiley.

NED, AUS, FRA, GBR, JPN, are the 5 nations that have won, but if Italy's Giulia Capocci wins tomorrow, there will be a sixth.

Similar numbers in singles, as 67 of 78, including the last 5, have gone to players from the Netherlands.

Sat Jul 13, 08:28:00 PM EDT  
Blogger Todd.Spiker said...

D-
Yeah, hello... it's Billie Jean King. I don't think she's against "fighting for equality." And Serena knows that, too. Which is sort of why I didn't even include it in this post, because I thought it was a bit of a self-serving, intentional drop-the-mic moment that got her out of the room with a quotable zinger that she knew would be represented in a way favorable to her.

Not only that, but it's now *once again* managed to make Serena the story rather than you know, the player who defeated her. For a third straight time.

My "favorite" headline: Equality is my cause: Serena puts legend King in her place

Yeah, okay. :\

C-
Still somewhat amazed that the U.S. doesn't have a true top WC player. You would think there would be more resources and, honestly, more eligible athletes who could participate, too. Don't know if it's the USTA dragging it's feet or not, but it's rather curious.

Matheson has improved, but she's not at that level at this point.

Sun Jul 14, 12:42:00 AM EDT  
Blogger Diane said...

Yes, that Yahoo headline just proves that what happens in the media is a giant game of Gossip.

And I, too, was uncomfortable with Serena’s comment, a bit of a flame-throw to a group of easily manipulated, very influential, people. The even sadder part of this circus is that Simona’s press conference was filled with charming, quotable content.

Sun Jul 14, 10:44:00 AM EDT  
Blogger colt13 said...

"Still somewhat amazed that the U.S. doesn't have a true top WC player. You would think there would be more resources and, honestly, more eligible athletes who could participate, too. Don't know if it's the USTA dragging it's feet or not, but it's rather curious."

Hmmm, I was watching the Cleveland Indians game the other night, and former Indian Cory Snyder was on. He was talking about one of his daughters, specifically Amberley, who is a paralyed rodeo racer. An athlete paralyzed due to a car accident, she still manages to ride. Fun fact-she rides a horse named French Open.

Anyway, even without the USTA's help, I think it will be a former athlete/crossfit/daredevil type that wants to try something new that will be the first. We don't seem to have a Dutch like system to nurture young wheelchair athletes, as girls like Vergeer and Griffoen both played wheelchair basketball along with tennis.

Sun Jul 14, 02:36:00 PM EDT  
Blogger Todd.Spiker said...

D-
I was interested to see what the Washington Post's sports section would do for the women's final, after essentially shafting Kerber after Wimbledon last year (not one picture of her face, while Serena got the headline, multiple photos and a column) and then the U.S. Open (w/ Sally Jenkins' infamous, ill-informed rant). Shocker (really): Simona got the headline and a huge photo, while SW was only in a photo as she watched Halep from behind as she lifted the dish.

C-
Ah, you might be right about that sort of player finally making WC tennis a thing in the U.S.. That'd be fun to follow, too.

Sun Jul 14, 07:38:00 PM EDT  
Blogger Diane said...

That’s good to hear re WAPO. How ridiculous is it that’s it’s a surprise? You have to wonder, if someone from Germany or Croatia or Italy won a whole lot of majors, would U.S. MSM even notice?

Sun Jul 14, 08:24:00 PM EDT  

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