In many ways this is the final real tennis fans had been hoping for. The pretenders to the No 1 crown Safina, Jankovic and co have long since packed their bags and flown home. The hierarchy at the top of the ladies game has been reestablished and hopefully this rivalry between Henin and Williams can mirror Roger and Rafas intense competitiveness. The ladies game has been calling out for a hero an underdog to take the game by the scruff of the neck and dominate, a Federer of the WTA. With both ladies very much at their peak, this year the WTA tour could rival the ATP in the all important tv ratings. ( but lets no get ahead of ourselves)
Has her coach Carlos Rodriguez has said, Justine has to work so hard to get in shape to play on the tour, the dainty Belgian is only 5ft 5 and incredibly slender, shes faces one of the beasts of the ladies game. Formwise Serena has been imperious, her serve has regularly bombed down at 125mph and was not broken until the ding dong match against Azarenka. Serena powers her way past opponents. In many ways the William’s ‘style’ can be seen in most up and coming women players, bish bash bosh, close ur eyes and see where it goes. In too many WTA matches we say ladies smacking the ball up and down the middle of the court with no thought for angles or moving the opponent around. If only we had more players like Justine, the ladies game could be more attractive and maybe then start competing with the mens.
In the semis, we had contrasting tales with similar results. Incredibly surprised at how easy Justine won, her variety was simply to much for her Chinese opponent. Serena on the other hand got it tight,two hours two tiebreak sets. So we know Serena will be looking to pile on the power from the outset wereas Justine will be trying to take away Serena’s legs early on. This new Henin tactic of go for it at all costs can cause Serena some problems so long as she moves Serena around, side to side, back to front. Serenas a big girl, keep her moving. Justines achilles heel has always been her serve, her first serve is ok, failing that the 2nd serve is a push a get it in at all costs kinna thing! Serena will be lining up a huge attacking groundstroke on every 2nd serve. I cant see fatigue coming into the equation, wereas the final had been mid afternoon in previous years, this years final will be in the cool of the evening. Serena is my favourite to win this one but i wouldnt discount the young Belgian just yet!
Serena to win in two tight sets!
Pros Pro Tennis Racquet Vibration Dampener
it’s a hard match to call like a lot of ladies matches of late. Serena had her own mini fairytale comebacks in the past from bouts of injury so perhaps it will be Justine’s time to shine. it is great to see her and her backhand back in tennis, she should have never left in the first place! both singles finals have potential to be great matches so fingers crossed they both go to the wire and finish the first grand slam of 2010 with a bang