Tuesday, March 24, 2015

THE RISE OF HALEP(ENO)





At the end of 2013 when the WTA was handing out its annual awards they named Simona Halep, a little known Romanian as its Most Improved Player.  Journalists, bloggers and drive by fans, not knowing who she was, were in high dudgeon as to the WTA’s reasoning for making this little nobody its Most Improved Player. They felt that this title should have gone to the American Sloane Stephens.  Their reason for this is that Stephens had performed better on the biggest stages of the sport, i.e. the Grand Slams, something Halep had not done.  All Halep had done was win 6 titles.  They were not big titles, but they were titles.

In an interview with Tennis Channel, Stephens indicated that Halep had done well in the “small tournaments”, implying that she Stephens had done well on the bigger stages.  That was all true, but as we say in the Caribbean, you have to learn to creep before you can walk. At the time of that interview, Stephens was on the cusp of the top 10 (ranked No. 11).

Since that time Halep has made slow but steady progress up the rankings.  From winning 6 small tournaments, she eventually made the quarterfinal of her first Slam (Australian Open 2014), the semifinal of her first Slam (Wimbledon 2014) and her first final (French Open 2014).  In addition to those accomplishments, she has been racking up titles as if she is ticking off a to do list of accomplishments. 




2 weeks ago she hoisted the biggest trophy of her career winning the Dubai Duty Free title (Premier).  She has now eclipsed that accomplishment by winning the biggest title of her career, the BNP Paribas Open trophy (Premier Mandatory), a title just below that of a Grand Slam, by outlasting former champion Jelena Jankovic in a 3 set marathon.  Halep has now won a title at every level of the WTA Tour and there is no doubt that she and her team are now focused on bringing this renewed focus and energy to the Grand Slam stage.   For the first time in a long while I can’t wait for the clay season to start.

This and That


Louise Thomas has an amazing piece in Grantland on Serena’s return and ultimate withdrawal from the BNP Paribas Open trophy.  In case you have been living under a rock, Serena Williams, after a 14 year boycott returned to Indian Wells but had to withdraw from her semifinal match against Simona Halep. As they did in 2001, the Tournament chose not to inform fans that there would be no second women's semifinal played due to a withdrawal.  In this instance however, the court announcer Andrew Krasny took to the court with Serena Williams to announce that Serena would not be playing due to an injury.  



While there were many who mentioned how classy Andrew Krasny dealt with the situation, my thinking is that the more things change, the more they remain the same.  Frankly, why could Serena not have walked out on court, with the announcer in tow, to let the fans know that she would not be playing tonight due to an injury.  I can understand the disappointment, but am I the only one missing how hard Mr. Krasny had to work to set up this moment?  I don't want to beat a dead horse, but it is as clear as day that if Mr. Krazny had not been present, the situation could have turned ugly pretty quickly.  The fact that there were reporters on the ground who heard boos just goes to show that nothing much has changed where this tournament is concerned. 

It was reported a few days later that Serena has had cortisone shots in her knee to aid her in playing the Sony Open or Miami Open or whatever it is called these days. 

Sloane Stephens has either got her mojo back or she does what she does best and get it up for the top players.  I am hoping that it is the former.  

Master Ace has done a quick preview of the Miami Open draw and his predictions are below:


QF 1: S Williams vs Muguruza
QF 2: Azarenka vs Stephens
QF 3: Suarez Navarro vs V Williams
QF 4: Zahlavova Strycova vs Sharapova

SF 1: S Williams vs Azarenka
SF 2: V Williams vs Sharapova

F: S Williams vs Sharapova

W: S Williams

6 comments:

Unknown said...

I am picking Halep this year to win RG and win her first GS title,her game suits the clay,slides well on both wings,can defend and turn defense into attack.Last year she had a good game plan against Sharapova,it was just lack of experience at times in the final that cost her the match.Sometimes you have to lose a GS final in order to know how to win one,as long as she can stay healthy during the clay season.Halep is my pick.

Serena has a outstanding winning record at Miami,though I have a cloud over her cause of her right knee? I am picking a Sharapova v Azarenka final,sorry Master Ace :)

Unknown said...

Lot of people have that final you mentioned. We shall see.

Overhead Spin said...

Hey Aussie Marg. Good to see you around these parts. Hope all is well with you honey

Unknown said...

Hi Karen! Hope all is well with you and your family.I am still alive and kicking:)

Unknown said...

Well done to Daria soon to be Aussie resident defeating Sharapova 76 63

Oi,Oi,Oi,

I dont mind being wrong with one of my finalists by the way!

Okay Master Ace:)

Anonymous said...

Always good to find insightful blogs in tennis. I too am excited for the clay season. I clearly would love for her to do the IW/MIAMI double but I feel it's more meaningful as a fan if she does the Madrid/Rome double esp. Madrid. The tournament which started this ascendancy.

In my head and heart the French Open is Halep's to lose but I also think she's not playing good this year but despite that she's winning. Her serve, I know she had her injury but I am patiently waiting for that serve to come back.Next thing really is more variety and I keep on stressing her net play I hope in time she gets comfortable with this.

Her on court coaching is hilarious and she's clearly a perfectionist. I have never been one to like coaching and Halep doesn't either but lately she has been and this is one exception where I like to hear her thoughts but I hope in her next tournaments she'll stop doing this. I'm worried she will be reliant on this.

I do hope we get to see a Serena-Halep semifinals that we have been denied in IW. I was really looking forward to that match. Having said that Serena is going to win Miami.