Venus Williams action in Wimbledon 2009

What Dinara Safina must know, is that she is not the number one tennis player in the world.  It is time the tournament organizers got the message.  On Thursday, Dinara Safina entered Centre Court alongside the third or fourth best female tennis player on the planet.

If there was ever any doubt about the true rankings, the rankings the tour players keep in the purses, Wimbledon fans heard it loud and clear.  Actually, they must have known what would happen. In a rare occurrence, less than half the seats surrounding Centre Court were occupied for the 6-1, 6-0, fifty-one minute drubbing.

Give the Brits credit.  They know a mismatch when they do not see one.  In this economy, why bother?  To the telly!

The finals will now be just as the bookmakers suggested, a family affair.  It will be difficult to pick a favorite.  Let’s just say, Serena thinks she should have won last year, and she has been carrying it around ever since.

For this most disappointing semifinal, Dinara was never there, never in the match.  She was resigned to disappointment.  In big matches, it seems her plight.

At 23, she is young.  She cannot be blamed for the seeding.  Dinara’s day will come.  Not right away.  Not until she develops a second serve that exceeds 75 mph, not until her foot speed gets her across the court with more ease and not until she spends some time with a sports psychologist, but those things will happen.  Dinara’s day will come.  Right now, she is like a long-legged colt, really.

Venus is like a thorobred.  She adds to the Wimbledon mystique.  She is beautiful, soft spoken and gracious.  In every interview, she takes her time, thinks through her answers and elevates the stature of the tournament and women’s tennis.  She has won me over.  I hope Dinara was rightfully impressed, because one day will be her day. But, not today.  Congratulations to Venus Williams for a job well done.

Elena Dementieva action during Wimbledon 2009

In a semifinal match that cannot be surpassed, two of the world’s three best women grass court players went head to head for nearly three tense, exciting hours. When two athletes like Serena Williams and Elena Dementieva rise to the moment, rise to the setting and perform at the highest level, everybody wins.

Serena Williams showed why she is the fiercest competitor on the tour and why she should be the game’s top ranked player. Elena Dementieva showed her full potential and clearly established herself on a par with the Williams sisters, something that no other professional tennis player has accomplished in many years.

Serena’s 6-7 (4), 7-5, 8-6 victory was a win for the ages, a credit to Elena Dementieva and an emotional ride for more than 15,000 Centre Court spectators. What Elena Dementieva has accomplished is a vastly improved serve, a superb forehand and the foot speed and grace it takes to win big matches. Elena Dementieva has not only developed the athleticism to play with the Williams sisters but the mindset to play on the big stage.

There is no bigger stage than Centre Court, Wimbledon. Steeped in glorious tradition, these wonderfully graceful and powerful athletes gave tennis fans a match to remember, a match to tell children about and a match that may create change in women’s tennis.

Elena Dementieva came from the locker room with purpose. She carried the play, challenging every Serena serve, every Serena outburst, every Serena drive. There was a feeling that it would not last. It has happened so many times before. When the key point, the key game was on the line, other players have succumbed to Serena Williams.

Serena Williams action during Wimbledon 2009

At 6-6 in the first set, that feeling of doubt was thick in the air. Suddenly Elena Dementieva blasted two returns and was pressuring Serena, who was committing uncommon strategic and errors and errors in execution. This just does not happen.

With two breaks of serve in the tiebreaker, Elena sat at set point at 6-3. She double faulted. Okay, she did not believe she could win. It was understandable. Elena dug deep inside herself, deep inside that new serve and fired a wide serve to Serena’s forehand. Surprised, Serena lunged and tried to go down the line. Wide! Game, set to Elena Dementieva. The match was on! We are going three today on Centre Court. You just knew it.

It was match on! What a set!

Serena Williams had a little conversation with herself. It was time. This is to be her tournament. She may not be the world’s top ranked player, but she is clearly the world’s best player. Serena Williams has not won 10 Grand Slam Championships by not rising to the occasion. Sometimes, she even needs to bring her game along for the ride. Serena Williams is that most dangerous combination of prizefighter and figure skater, very fluid with a real knockout punch.

If you drop your guard or look the other way, forget it. Serena will be in your face.

Elena Dementieva took one minute to savor her first set victory. Elena had blinked. Serena broke at game one second set. It took about as long as a Muhammad Ali knockout punch.

The crowd knew what would happen next. All the other players have done it. They sulk, get angry, express frustration. They know you cannot give Serena Williams breathing room. She is human, you know.

But, Elena Dementieva has won three of their last four meetings. Elena Dementieva is healthy, she puts her long legs to work and gets to balls other players simply stand and watch. After losing that first game of the second set, Serena held twice and Elena held twice.

With Serena serving at 2-3, Elena Dementieva unleashed a series of shots that had Serena shaking her head and looking to her corner for help. Like the champion she is, Serena came right back at the Russian pretty girl. At 30-40, Elena went down the line for an astonishing winner. This lady came to play. At deuce, she pitched an ace, her third of the match. Then another resounding serve to hold and go 4-3.

The crowd was into this match. It just does not get any better. You could sense that Elena was going to go for it. Elena was going to lay it out on the line and play for the break. It was in the air. At 5 foot 11 inches, Elena tends to look frail, but she is sturdy, composed and filled with game.

So, is Serena Williams. She might bend, but she does not break. And, Elena would not break her twice in a row. But, at 30-30, she doubled. Is it possible? You knew the match was on the line. Right now. Serena hit a shot that was called out, but which replay declared a winner. 40-40. That one hurt. Elena thought she had the game. She had spent the set, right? Wrong!

Elena now hits a backhand crosscourt, outright winner. Advantage Dementieva. Serena catches her breath and fires a huge wide serve. Deuce. Now, a long rally, and Elena comes up short. A big serve follows and Serena holds.

Now, Elena will fold like a tent. She put it all out there and came up short. Too bad. Wrong! She battles for a win, overcomes another double (they are starting to mount) and holds.

At 4-5, Serena does not play with this game. She serves out in love. 5-5. At game 11, Serena scorches four winners to break. She survives four ad out points before getting back to deuce and pitching two more aces to go up 7-5.

Does this ever have to end?

The ladies may have been tired. It was hard to tell. The women may have been nervous. It was hard to tell. This was about none of the above. This was simple. This match was now about who was the better player, who had the stronger will on this court at this moment. This was a beautiful heavyweight prizefight, with all the choreography of a Broadway show.

With Serena serving at 4-5 and ad out, it was match point. Inexplicably Serena found herself charging the net. Elena had an open court backhand. She elected to go crosscourt; the only place Serena could reach the ball. It was Elena’s biggest strategical error. Serena volleyed the ball. It clipped the net and staggered over to save the match, win the point.

Another big rally, Serena wins with a sterling crosscourt drive. Elena nets a return to go to 5-5. Both women hold to go 6-6. With the ad, Serena goes behind Elena for a winner.

Serving at 7-6, there was a feel of desperation. Even at 30-30, there was weight in the air. When Elena missed a down-the-line attempt, it all ended too quickly. Serena Williams won this elegant display. She deserved it. So did Elena Dementieva. What a contest!

Hantuchova is ranked number 32 in the world but is a former top five player and looks to be on her way back up the WTA rankings as she dispatched her counterpart in just 1 hour 36 minutes on Court 18.

The Slovak’s reward is a difficult 4th round tie against two-time Wimbledon Queen Serena Williams who earlier in the day brushed aside Roberta Vinci in two untroubled straight sets.

Sugiyama and Hantuchova, who have won three doubles titles together, resume their partnership when the sixth seeds face Russia’s Alisa Kleybanova and Ekaterina Makarova in the second round of the women’s doubles tournament.

The Japanese world number 38 will surely hold no hard feelings over the loss as she was well and truly outclassed by the rejuvenated Slovakian.

Despite the seemingly coasted victory, Hantuchova had her work cut out early in the first set as Sugiyama broke her serve in the very first game and led 40-0 in the eighth game as she looked to be edging towards the first set.

However, the 26-year-old Slovak showed just why she has caught the punter’s eyes again in this tournament as she overturned the 40-0 deficit to break back and even out the contest.

That break proved to be the turning point of the match as Hantuchova, galvanised by the four straight points which saved the set, upped her game to take full control by holding serve and then breaking her opponent to take the first set 6-4.

It only took until only the second game for the first break of the second set as The Slovak frustrated her opponent into gifting the breakthrough. However, the gift was short last as the 33-year-old Japanese number one bit back immediately with a break of her own before holding serve to take the second set score to 2-2.

Hantuchova then began to dominate proceedings as she edged two games in front once more by holding serve and following that up with another break, restoring her two-game advantage.

At 4-2 up, the Slovak held serve once more despite being pegged back to deuce which left Sugiyama serving to stay in the match, which she managed to her credit.

At 5-3 Hantuchova was the overwhelming favourite at this stage and although her Japanese opponent took her to deuce yet again, she was unable to cope with the Slovak’s improving serve and lost the match point with a wild return of serve.

The pair’s head to head record now reads 6-5 in favour of the 33-year-old Japanese veteran who had won the previous two meetings between the pair. Given Sugiyama’s unfavourable age, this may yet be the final meeting between the two.

Given Hantuchova’s next opponent is world number 2, yet self proclaimed number one, her odds of winning the tournament still give her little chance at around 100/1. She will no doubt prove to be Serena’s toughest opponent so far at Wimbledon, but whether the pretty Slovak has the power to overturn the American is a different matter.

Dinara will make use of her top seed to romp through the opening rounds. The tennis world keeps waiting for Safina to bring that early-round mentality to the finals. At some point, she begins to play not to lose rather than to win.

Her resume is dotted with success. She has earned her top billing. However, her Grand Slam final matches have not helped the public’s perception of Safina as a bit of a choke artist. Her time is now!

2. Serena Williams – 5/2 –

Watch out for the Williams women. Serena is looking for her 3rd Wimbledon title and her 11th Grand Slam Championship. She is tough on grass and has a score to settle with Safina. Serena is looking to get the number one ranking back. In a big match, it is hard to bet against a proven star.

3. Venus Williams – 11/4 –

A five-time winner at Wimbledon and a two-time runner-up, Venus is right at home on the grass. Uncomfortable on the clay of Paris, she will be a force to beat in this one.

Venus has had a disappointing season with early exits in Melbourne and in Paris. The elder sister looks fit and fans expect the juices to flow for the next two weeks. A tough out for anyone.

4. Elena Dementieva – 25/1 –

Elena has reached the semis in three of the last four Grand Slams. Her 2008 semifinal appearance was her best performance in ten outings. However, the fleet Russian’s lackluster effort at clay ground raises questions about her heart.

Dementieva needs to assert herself to hold her number four ranking. Lesser players now regard Elena as a good and doable win.

5. Svetlana Kuznetsova – 16/1 –

Svetlana has added the 2009 French Open to her 2004 U.S. Open Championship and she did it with all the qualities of a true champion. Her strategy and execution were precise and her conditioning excellent.

Svetlana has climbed up in the rankings and the bookmakers like her chances at Wimbledon, where she has reached the fourth round and the quarters in the past two years. If we had to pick an upset winner, Svetlana would be our choice!

6. Jelena Jankovic – 16/1 –

Jankovic was favorably positioned in Paris and was cruising through the draw. When Dementieva was taken down, Jankovic seemed on track to move through the draw until her game inexplicably disappeared in the fourth round.

Much like Safina, the former number one has a history of Grand Slam failure. Her fitness is in question and once again Jelena looks like a long shot.

7. Vera Zvonareva – 33/1 –

Vera’s 20-4 record this year would normally make her a better risk. The determined Russian missed Roland Garros, but is in shape for Wimbledon. If she is fully rested and recuperated, Vera can pull an upset. With $1 million banked so far this season, we look for Vera to reach the quarters and quite possibly the semis.

8. Victoria Azarenka – 12/1 –

Now here is an athlete. Entering her fourth Wimbledon, Victoria strutted her big game power in Paris and should benefit from the grass. Her 32-6 record explains her jump in the rankings and in her popularity with the bookmakers.

Azarenka has the stuff to intimidate sift servers. A native of Belarus, Victoria could very well be a semifinalist this time around.

9. Caroline Wozniacki – 25/1 –

Denmark’s consistent tour player just does not seem to have Grand Slam consistency. The hard-working blonde may not have the ability to endure the grueling two-week demands. Caroline could be out early at Wimbledon. Her serve must improve to reach the quarters.

10. Nadia Petrova – 66/1 –

A quarterfinalist last year, Nadia’s sub-par performance in Paris raises more questions than it answers. One of Russia’s dominating team, Nadia may not fare too well. We look for an early upset of the ten seed.

11. Ana Ivanovic – 14/1 –

Where have you gone Ms. Ivanovic? The pretty fan favorite lost her serve here last year and has only whimpered since. The pretty Serb and Verdasco heartthrob has dropped five notches since the season began. Without a coach and a serve, Wimbledon may not be Ana’s best event.

12. Maria Sharapova – 6/1 –

She’s back! Praise be! Have you ever seen a 24 seed at 6/1? Probably not. If Maria’s conditioning lets her compete, she will be in the mix and the player all the big guns look to avoid. She had moments of brilliance in Paris but lacked stamina. We look for a solid performance on the grass.