image: Zuma Press

Both women were using the event as a warm-up to the U.S. Open which begins next week and I would say that Dementieva should feel very confident after beating Sharapova 6-4, 6-3.  She remained steady and focused as Sharapova lost her composure after serving up error after error.  Dementieva also took down Serena Williams earlier in the week in a similar match.

“It’s great to have so many good matches against so many top-10 players here,” said Dementieva. “I hope it’s going to be good preparation. For sure, this kind of win gives you a lot of confidence, so right now it’s all about recovering and getting ready for New York.”

Regardless of the fact that Sharapova failed to win the title, she should be encouraged by her performance.  She made it to the final and that’s a great step toward returning to top form.  She didn’t seem too unhappy with being the runner-up either:  “I think it was a really great week for me. Playing six matches was great leading up to the U.S. Open. I think this was really good preparation.”

I couldn’t agree more.  I’m hoping Sharapova does well at the U.S. Open but after her performance at the Rogers Cup, I am definitely going to keep my eye on Dementieva.  She is on a hot streak.

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Dementieva Beats Sharapova at Rogers Cup

Williams just couldn’t get it together and grew increasingly frustrated with every error she made.  Meanwhile, Dementieva was the picture of composure, which allowed her to overcome a 5-3 deficit in the first set.  After losing to Williams in the semis at Wimbledon, I wasn’t surprised at all by the Russian’s focus.  “I was really waiting for this match after Wimbledon,” Dementieva said.  “It’s always very interesting to play against Serena, and I was looking for revenge after Wimbledon. I was very positive on the court, and very satisfied with the way I was playing.”

After committing 36 unforced errors, Williams said: “I can’t say I was especially feeling the fire.  Obviously you want to do well, and I always really want to do well. Honestly, I think I could have and should have won, but I didn’t, so . . . it is what it is… I really probably should have won the first set, which probably would have (led to) a different result.  But I didn’t. I started making a lot of errors (on) key shots I should have made.”

In the other semifinal game, Sharapova pulled out a victory against Alisa Kleybanova in a match that took two hours and 37 minutes to complete.  “It’s really exciting . . . it’s success by itself,” said Sharapova. “To go out there (Sunday) and play my sixth match is really an accomplishment. Coming back after not playing for a while is always tough, so I’m really grateful that I have a chance to be in another final in my career.”

Now Sharapova and Dementieva will go head-to-head in the final and if I had to place a bet, I’d wager that Sharapova would take the title.  Out of the 10 times that these ladies have battled, Sharapova has won eight times so the odds are overwhelmingly in her favor.  She seems to know exactly how to approach the situation as well: “She’s a grinder,” Sharapova said of Dementieva. “She makes you hit a lot of balls. You really have to be steady with her, and take your opportunities when you get them . . . and most importantly, go out there and execute what your plan is.”

image: TSN

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All-Russian Final At Rogers Cup in Toronto

The weather caused the match between Sharapova and Vera Zvonareva to be postponed for more than an hour but Sharapova was able to advance to the quarterfinals with a 6-2, 7-6 (3) victory over her compatriot.  This marks the first time that Sharapova has made it past the third round at the Rogers Cup so I’m sure she’s pretty excited considering the tough year she’s had.  I’m sure she wants to move away from being ranked 49th as soon as possible.

“I thought it was a step up, definitely,” said Sharapova. “I had to (play) against somebody that I’ve had trouble against in the past who I usually play three sets against. It was good to finish the match in two, but I really had no choice. I had to pick it up… I think this is definitely a great result.  I’ve already played against three great opponents and I’m going to play another opponent tomorrow and you just hope that with each match you can raise your level and play better.”

Meanwhile, Serena Williams battled Alona Bondarenko and things appeared to be going well at first but then Bondarenko rebounded and gave Williams a little trouble.  In the end it didn’t matter since Williams won three straight games and won 6-1, 6-4.

“I was just trying to be perfect and then I just couldn’t get my serve in and got frustrated,” said Williams. “You know, I’ve been practising a lot on my serve, it just hasn’t been well, so I think in any case it can be frustrating.  I get really emotional on the court.  Sometimes I’m really into the game too much, and I’ve just got to (remain calm). I can’t help myself when I do that, I think it’s just something natural and hopefully it helps me. I think towards the end I was able to relax and just calm down and then just try to stay positive more than anything.  I thought that if I could keep up that form, I’m on my way into glory and today I didn’t play as well so hopefully I can get it back.”

The victory might have felt a little like revenge since Alona’s sister, Kateryna Bondarenko, sent Serena’s sister, Venus Williams, packing on Tuesday.

In the quarterfinals, Maria Sharapova will face Agnieszka Radwanska while Serena Williams will take on Lucie Safarova.

image: TSN

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Williams, Sharapova Advance in Toronto

Safina was eliminated by Aravane Rezai after committing 17 double faults.  She lost with a final score of 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.  The Rogers Cup has been interesting for the top-seeded players this year since Venus Williams was eliminated yesterday by Kateryna Bondarenko but, also, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal were both knocked out when they played in Montreal last week (okay, Nadal was a little more predictable considering his knee injury).

The 23-year-old Russian phenom was so angry that she was reduced to tears as she spoke after the match.  “It’s my brain,” she said Safina. “I know exactly what I have to do, but if I’m not using my brain, I’m not doing the things my coach is telling me . . . (I’m) too disappointed with myself.”

Yeah, she was disappointed enough to go down the list of her faults adding “Ball toss disaster. I don’t move my legs, I’m jumping backwards instead of jumping forwards, I’m kicking it too much instead of hitting it more, I drop my head, I don’t hold the left arm.  It’s so much. I know this all, and I’m still so stupid that I’m continuing to do it.”

She was so upset about losing a match for the first time since February that she slammed her racket on the ground and then could barely even acknowledge Rezai when they met at the net after the match.  The 22-year-old from France was sympathetic and understanding and said “I’m very sorry for her because I don’t like a player who’s not confident.  I prefer to beat a player in good shape. I’m a player that feels when I lose, it’s the worst moment in my life.”

Safina plans to rest for a few days before getting ready for the U.S. Open, which begins on August 31, 2009.

Things were much better for Maria Sharapova, however, who has advanced to the third round after eliminating Sybille Bammer.  Even though it wasn’t a great performance, the win is helping to bolster the confidence of Sharapova, who has been steadily improving since taking some more time off to recover from her shoulder injury.  “I’m actually having a competition with myself to see how many errors and double-faults I can make and still win the match in two sets,” Sharapova joked. “The fact that I served that way and still won the match in two sets is certainly going to give me a lot of confidence when my arm is where it needs to be and when my serve gets to where it has to be.”

The following seeded players also advanced to the third round:

• No. 4 Elena Dementieva
• No. 5 Jelena Jankovic
• No. 7 Vera Zvonareva, who downed Italy’s Roberta Vinci 6-3, 6-3

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Dinara Safina Eliminated From Rogers Cup

The semi-finals were a bit of a disappointment for me since I really wanted to see Andy Roddick advance but after a very close match against Juan Martin Del Potro, he was eliminated.  In the end, Del Potro took on Andy Murray and, while he was able to handle one player with that first name, he wasn’t able to beat the other.

Murray and Del Potro also played an intense match but the Scotsman ended up winning 6-7 (4), 7-6 (3), 6-1, with the Argentine looking exhausted.  I’m sure he was since his match with Roddick was pretty demanding as well.

I’m sure it was a thrilling time for Murray, who has climbed to a No. 2 ranking.  “I love winning tournaments, it’s great, and every player will tell you the same thing,” said Murray. “But it’s tough because I’ve never been to No. 2 in the world before, so that’s new to me. I’ve won a couple of Masters Series (events) now, and it still feels great. But getting to No. 2, maybe because it’s something different it means a little bit more.”

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Andy Murray Wins Rogers Cup

image: TSN

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga proved that you should never get up, even when you’re down against the best tennis player in the world (in history?!?) when he made an incredible comeback and ousted Federer with a final score of 7-6 (5), 1-6, 7-6 (3) in the quarterfinals.

Seventh-seeded Tsonga, who played with a sore arm said: “I did not feel real good — 5-1 down and Roger playing well and I had no solutions.  I just told myself ‘you have to hit the ball one more time than him’ and I did it.  It’s a good thing for me. It’s amazing to change this match.”

The Swiss star had some words of his own after the match: “It’s obviously disappointing but you know, that’s what Jo does.  He doesn’t make a return for an hour and then he puts in a few and than all of a sudden he’s back in the match,” said Federer. “I should never have allowed it but it happened, so it’s a pity.  It’s a tough match to go through because it was either very close or very one-sided,” Federer said. “That doesn’t make it easy on the rhythm, obviously.”

Well, it had to happen, I guess.  Federer’s 22-match winning streak has come to an end, which opens the door for Rafael Nadal to close the gap between him and Federer after injury sidelined him and cost him the No. 1 ranking.  Things just got a lot more interesting in men’s tennis!

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SHOCKER! Federer Eliminated at Rogers Cup

image: Zuma Press

I have to admit that, although I’ve always liked Roddick, I gained a lot of respect for him after he took on Roger Federer at Wimbledon last month and it seems that his amazing effort has been noticed by fans of the sport at both the All England Club and North America.

Roddick explained: “I don’t know if I’ve ever had this level of support in my career thus far.  It definitely helped a lot as far the recovery process and getting excited about getting back out here again. Especially seeing the excitement it caused for tennis in the United States. It was THE story for a couple of days or a week, which is rare. There’s been a lot of good things that have come of it.”

He’s right.  It’s been weeks and people are still talking about it (myself included, obviously).  It really has renewed my appreciation for him as a player so, in some ways, maybe it’s a good thing that Rafael Nadal was unable to compete in London.  I’m not saying I would wish any harm on a player but sometimes things happen to clear the path for something else.  Nadal is back and in good form, Federer made history and Roddick will forever be linked to that amazing moment.

Roddick went on to say: “during my career I’ve been portrayed as every type of person — good, bad, ugly, rude, nice — and this is the first time it’s been presented in the light of a hard-working, everyday Joe type of tennis player trying to make good,” he said. “All the while the meat and potatoes of who I am have probably stayed the same.  Maybe people have realized that it’s not easy and it does take work.”

Roddick has advanced to a third round where he will battle Fernando Verdasco of Spain.

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Roddick Defeats Andreev in Montreal

image: TSN

Not only was it sad to see a player bow out in pain, it was a letdown for the crowd who were waiting to see how Nadal’s return would end.  The spectators all groaned when the ump announced the end of the match with Nadal leading 4-3 in the set.

“It’s always a pleasure to come back,” said Nadal.  It’s only been (two) months and a half, it’s not three years outside of tennis. I’m happy to come back and play in Canada again, but the feeling is normal, like always. But when you have some time off competition, when you come back, it’s a little more exciting.  I never expected this from David.  I’m sorry for him.”

I wouldn’t want to win that way but I’m assuming Nadal is taking whatever he can get since he added: “For me, it was nice to have a victory like this. I’m here to improve every day, to enjoy very game, every point. Sure, it was a bit strange. The first movements are tough and it’s hard to move well and to feel confident when you touch the ball. But that’s normal. I must be happy because I didn’t play terrible. Next round, I have another chance to continue to improve.”

Nadal will face Philipp Petzschner of Germany in the third round later today.

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Nadal Match Ends Early Over Sore Knee

image: TSN

While the No.1 player is definitely a fan favorite, the moment wasn’t for him and he was happy to step aside to let his old friend, and opponent, Niemeyer, enjoy the applause after the Quebec native played his final match at his home tournament.  He will retire at the end of the season.  “The atmosphere was unbelievable,” said Niemeyer. “It’s my last match here and I was able to play the way I’m capable of playing. Too bad it was my last one, but I have no regrets. I just enjoyed the moment.”

“‘He’s a nice man,” said Federer. “It’s sad when you leave the game, but he seems happy with himself, so I wish him well.  We played each other in a satellite in front of two people. It was snowing outside. And 11 years later we’re playing in front of a packed house here in Montreal.”

It was uncertain that Federer would even play at the event since many wondered if he would take more time off to be with his new daughters but, according to him, he left the decision up to his wife.  “It all depended on Mirka, if she wanted to make the trip or not.  We went day-to-day and then she said ‘all right.’  We’ll be together a long time in North America and that’s what she wanted and that’s what I wanted.”

Federer and his new family are planning to stay in North America until after the last grand slam event of the year, the U.S. Open, which begins August 31, 2009 in New York.

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Federer Beats Retiring Niemeyer at Rogers Cup

image: TSN

The surprising 7-5, 6-1 win has allowed Niemeyer to advance to the second round which will allow him to take on top-ranked Roger Federer in his first event since winning Wimbledon last month.  “It will be an honour to play Roger in front of this crowd,” said Niemeyer. “He’s the greatest player of all time, so to finish against him will be special. Or to beat him.”

Since Federer has recently become a new father to twin girls, I couldn’t help but chuckle when Niemeyer said that he is hoping the tennis great will be a bit tired from taking care of the newborns.  “I also played a tournament when my daughter was two weeks (old), and I didn’t sleep very much that week,” Niemeyer said. “He has two (kids), so hopefully he doesn’t sleep at all.”

Niemeyer will take on Federer tonight on centre court.

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Niemeyer Wins, Will Face Federer