Serena Does it Again
When I watched the fourth round match between Vera Zvonareva and Victoria Azarenka, I got worried for the chances of Serena Williams to go through to the semis. Firtly, Azerenka had demolished Zvonareva after the latter had led by a set and a break- cue code violation for an obscenity by Azarenka- and the suddenly Azarenka started to clubber the hair of that ball, final score 4-6 6-4 6-0 to Azarenka. Secondly, Serena has proven susceptible to losing in grand slam quarterfinals. And thirdly, Serena had never gone past the quarterfinals at Melbourne on an even year…
After watching Venus Williams crumble in the first quarterfinal after serving for the match at 5-3 in the second set, I was pondering whether to watch Serena play or not. After a bit of mental cognisance, I decided to watch – how bad could it be…?
From the first point it was clear that Azarenka meant business, that girl in pink was thumping that yellow ball with so much conviction that I, just like I am sure Serena as well, was left having to assume that the yellow blur was a tennis ball! In no time at all the first set was over. At that point I decided to go make some cereal (it was around 06h30 am in South Africa), imagine my shock when returned to find the score at 6-4 4-0 Azarenka. Abandoning my cereal to watch the last few minutes of Serena’s match, I rationalizing that the score line was reflecting the severity of Serena’s bandages.
In the recesses of my mind I kept thinking of all the great comebacks Serena had pulled at the Australian Open, I was wishing for one more Houdini act, and sure enough my wish was granted (thinking back I should have hoped to win the lottery). To this day I am still not sure if Serena’s comeback was attributed to her waking up from her slumber and raising her level of play or if it was Azarenka taking her foot of the pedal. To be fair to both players I will say both factors came to play. Just like all those other comebacks Serena just went to another level of play that served to illiterate her dominance and skill as well crushing her opponent. After 4-4 in the second set Azarenka’s shots became more hesitant, gone was the reckless abandonment of the first set. None the less I think everyone saw just how great a player Azarenka is destined to be. After that match I ranked her as the player who will be able to beat threaten Serena Williams, Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters. She has the kind of game that can frazzle even the best of players (if she can keep her temper in check), I expect a big Roland Garros for her.
It seems that Serena Williams has a thing against blondes at the Australian Open. Almost all of her comebacks have been against blonde Europeans i.e; Svetlana Kuznetsova (2009 because Sveta always makes it so easy), Maria Sharapova (2005 revenge for the 2004 Wimbledon final), Kim Clijsters (2003 to complete the Serena Slam), Sha’ar Peer( 2007 for a bit of diversity) and Lindsay Davenport (2005 why not?).
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