This post started as a quasi-year end wrap up, but as I got into it I realized (a) the year's not over this is stupid, (b) this post is going to be really long and I'm lazy, and (c) there's a lot to be said about the Slams that I haven't said yet. So here we go.
I mean, for all the wailing and rending of garments that occurred throughout this season in light of Justine's retirement, don't you think the Grand Slam winners fit the bill for a solid season? If you take out Justine, these are the four players that were expected to have solid seasons and dominate the game. Unfortunately they just couldn't figure out how to play at their best at the same time. Nevertheless, this was as good a set of results as we could hope for this year.
The Most Dominant Grand Slam Performance of 2008
Masha bursts out of the gate after a horrific 2007 season and
demolishes the field to win her third Grand Slam. Let's look back and
refresh our memories as to what exactly Masha did in Melbourne:
- vs. Kostanic-Tosic: 64 63
- vs. Davenport: 61 63
- vs. Vesnina: 63 60
- vs. Dementieva: 62 60
- vs. Henin: 64 60
- vs. Jankovic: 63 61
- vs. Ivanovic: 75 63
I mean, holy crap! This is to me, the most dominant and overwhelming performance of the year. No doubt about it. Look at those scores and look at the quality of opponent.
The Most Heartwarming Grand Slam Win of 2008
Baby Elephant finds redemption and the #1 ranking on her way to her maiden title at Roland Garros. She already had a solid season heading into RG, reaching the finals at AO and winning the biggest title of her career at Tier I Indian Wells. But all the questions about her being "too nice" to win a Slam quickly went away (at least temporarily) after she steadied herself to defeat her compatriot in the semis to take the #1 ranking. As Mary Carillo remarked in an astonished tone after AI ripped that inside out forehand winner to get match point, "She's playing like the number one player in the world right now." And then, against the resurgent Baby Beluga, Baby Elephant again kept her cool and her head in check to take the title. How poetic and fitting that the women who had destroyed her in her first Slam final would be there to hand the trophy and the crown to her this year.
- vs. Arvidsson: 62 75
- vs. Safarova: 61 62
- vs. Wozniaki: 64 61
- vs. Cetkovska: 60 60
- vs. Schnyder: 63 62
- vs. Jankovic: 64 36 64
- vs. Safina: 64 63
The Most Destined Grand Slam Win of 2008
When the trophy bears your name, you have to think that destiny is involved. And for Venus, she showed once again that when her feet touch the grass at SW19, all bets are off. Though she didn't drop a set she wasn't exactly dominant, being pushed by a few no-names. But she was serving bullets and covering the grass with gazelle-like grace and speed. Her only real challenge would come at the hands of her sister in the final. Serena was playing better coming into the final, but big sister had the mental edge on grass and when things got tight, so did Serena. Venus showed great grace and class in her victory. That can't be said about Serena in her loss, but hey, that loss stoked the fire that carry her through New York. As for Venus, she did what she set out to do, win Wimbledon for the fifth time. The rest of the season is just gravy.
- vs. Cavaday: 76(5) 61
- vs. Keothavong: 75 62
- vs. Martinez-Sanchez: 61 75
- vs. Kleybanova: 63 64
- vs. Tanasugarn: 64 63
- vs. Dementieva: 61 76(3)
- vs. Serena: 75 64
The Most Business-Like Grand Slam Win of 2008
Under the spotlight, on the biggest stage, Serena just knows what to do. She had already won "The Fifth Slam" in Miami in dominant fashion, bageling Justine on the way. But that early success in March didn't translate to major success afterwards, as she suffered a shock third round loss to Srebotnik at RG and a heartbreaking loss to Venus at Wimbledon. But despite the disappointment (or because of it) she came into the US Open with purpose, calm, and hunger. She just seemed in a better place physically and emotionally compared to years past.
Negative Rena never showed up in NYC (remember her ridiculously negative body language at AO, Miami, RG, and Wimbly?). Instead, Serena stayed positive throughout, even when the Glitter Queen was driving her nuts in the final and when her big sis had double digit set points against her in the semi. Serena just stayed calm, took a deep breath, slowed things down, and went about her business. With her last chance to do it this year, Serena finally got that trophy and the top ranking that she so rightfully deserved through most of year.
- vs. Bondarenko: 61 64
- vs. Vesnina: 61 61
- vs. Sugiyama: 62 61
- vs. Bremond: 62 62
- vs. Venus: 76(6) 76(7)
- vs. Safina: 63 62
- vs. Jankovic: 64 75
So with all the twists and turns of the year, we head into the final sprint to the YECs with the WTA in good shape. We obviously can't forget the solid year that JJ has had, or the resurgence of Dinara and Lena D. in the second half of the season. And how about the new kids on the block, Ski Boots and Cornetto. Serena is #1, Venus won Wimbly, and the Serbs and the Russians will probably duke it out to straighten out the rest of the rankings. Lots to look forward to.
