I have just realised that I forgot to do a wrap-up for the Stanford final so here goes! Serena continued her good form to defeat Marion Bartoli in the final, 7-5 6-1. Bartoli started the match well and earnt the first break to lead by 4-2 in the first set. Bartoli's serve was really hitting the spot and she was able to move Serena around the court, which neither Sharapova or Lisicki had managed to do consistently in the Quarters and Semis. After an exchange of breaks, Bartoli served for the match at 5-4 but was unable to make her advantage count. From this point, Bartoli appeared to be suffering from a wrist injury, which seemed to restrict her as Serena raced away with the match to win 8 games in a row before wrapping the win off.
Serena won her first title on her comeback from injury
The commentator on Eurosport, Sam Smith suggested it could have been related to an old wrist injury, which Bartoli suffered from a few years ago. There has been no news since but I hope it is nothing too serious because Bartoli is playing some of the best and most consistent tennis of her career. She also looks the fittest she has ever been, which is probably down to a gruelling couple of months. This has included Grand Slam Semis and Quarters at the French Open and Wimbledon respectively and runs to the finals at both Strasbourg and Eastbourne.
Bartoli has been on terrific form
Serena looked awesome throughout the week although I believe she was not fully tested; both Sharapova and Lisicki produced poor serving displays and Bartoli appeared hampered with her wrist in the final. I think she still needs some more matches under her belt but there is no doubt she is going to be a huge threat the US Open. Serena is only scheduled to play Toronto and Cinncinati so unless she has superb runs in both, it is likely she will be unseeded at the US, which will have all the seeded players scrambling to avoid her in the draw!
In the other women's tournament, Nadia Petrova returned to form to claim her tenth title on the WTA tour after beating Shahar Peer in the final, 7-5 6-2. I was interested to learn on the WTA website that Petrova has been suffering from vertigo since Miami which explains her run of poor form at the beginning of the season. Petrova is an extremely talented player and has had some big wins in her career; the recent ones I remember were the 6-0 6-1 annihilation of Clijsters in Australia and the 4th round victory over Venus Williams at the French Open last year. However she can never seem to back up the big win and does not seem to have the mental strength to last seven matches and claim a Grand Slam. Washington also saw Shahar Peer return to some good form, Irina Falconi reach her first WTA tour Semi and Tamira Paszek tough it out in three epic matches before eventually succumbing to Shahar Peer in the Semis.
Petrova has looked back to her best in recent weeks
Serena won her first title on her comeback from injury
The commentator on Eurosport, Sam Smith suggested it could have been related to an old wrist injury, which Bartoli suffered from a few years ago. There has been no news since but I hope it is nothing too serious because Bartoli is playing some of the best and most consistent tennis of her career. She also looks the fittest she has ever been, which is probably down to a gruelling couple of months. This has included Grand Slam Semis and Quarters at the French Open and Wimbledon respectively and runs to the finals at both Strasbourg and Eastbourne.
Bartoli has been on terrific form
Serena looked awesome throughout the week although I believe she was not fully tested; both Sharapova and Lisicki produced poor serving displays and Bartoli appeared hampered with her wrist in the final. I think she still needs some more matches under her belt but there is no doubt she is going to be a huge threat the US Open. Serena is only scheduled to play Toronto and Cinncinati so unless she has superb runs in both, it is likely she will be unseeded at the US, which will have all the seeded players scrambling to avoid her in the draw!
In the other women's tournament, Nadia Petrova returned to form to claim her tenth title on the WTA tour after beating Shahar Peer in the final, 7-5 6-2. I was interested to learn on the WTA website that Petrova has been suffering from vertigo since Miami which explains her run of poor form at the beginning of the season. Petrova is an extremely talented player and has had some big wins in her career; the recent ones I remember were the 6-0 6-1 annihilation of Clijsters in Australia and the 4th round victory over Venus Williams at the French Open last year. However she can never seem to back up the big win and does not seem to have the mental strength to last seven matches and claim a Grand Slam. Washington also saw Shahar Peer return to some good form, Irina Falconi reach her first WTA tour Semi and Tamira Paszek tough it out in three epic matches before eventually succumbing to Shahar Peer in the Semis.
Petrova has looked back to her best in recent weeks
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