The Sisters Take Saturday

Marat Safin lost in three sets in the semis in St Petersburg.

Pout.

Oh well. I shouldn't have looked. And it seems that he may be playing a cashcow exo in Hong Kong next year, so we can pretend he's still around. Sob.

Okay. Over to Doha.

We're all set up for a Serena vs Venus final, and you really have to like Serena to win this one. She's gone undefeated through the week and, to be honest, she really is the better player. And it would be a good way for her to cap off finishing as year-end #1. Though Venus is the defending champion and maybe it'd be nice for her to defend. I don't really mind. I don't really care. Congrats to both sisters on getting this far.

Venus overcame a tenacious Jelena Jankovic who, I may now finally allow, has proved her right to be here. She's played some feisty stuff in her last couple of matches. She really hasn't had the Bestest Year Ever, and I really hope she returns to her glittery best next year, with splits galore. The Jelena of '08 was one of my favourite players to watch - here's hoping she can bring it next year. She's shown she's got guts - here's hoping she doesn't go and pack on kilos upon kilos of muscle again!

But my real favourite this tournament has been C-Woz. It's such a shame that she's been all injured and had to retire against Serena today, because she's shown some real grit. I still think her tennis is vanilla and a little dull, but it's obviously working for her (US Open final, anyone?) and I hope she can bring this newfound steel to the court in 2010.

What I would really, really like to see from Caro in 2010 is... well, less of her. She's played far too much tennis this year, and it's no surprise her body's gone and broken down on her. I think she's been in something like 25 tournaments, 90+ matches... that's just not sustainable. So go and get yourself a lesson at the Roger Federer School of Smart Scheduling, Caro, and let's see you back, uninjured, and ready for the big time!


Today's Results

Sony Ericsson Championships (Doha)

Serena Williams def. Caroline Wozniacki, 6-4 0-1 retired
Venus Williams def. Jelena Jankovic, 5-7 6-3 6-4


St Petersburg Open (St Petersburg)

Sergiy Stakhovsky def. Marat Safin, 6-4 4-6 6-4
Horacio Zeballos def. Igor Kunitsyn, 7-6 (9-7) 6-3


Bank Austria Tennis Trophy (Vienna)

Marin Cilic def. Philipp Kohlschreiber, 6-4 7-6 (7-4)
Jurgen Melzer def. Janko Tipsarevic, 4-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-4


Grand Prix de Tennis de Lyon (Lyon)

Michael Llodra def. Gilles Simon, 6-7 (4-7) 6-3 7-6 (7-1)
Ivan Ljubicic def. Arnaud Clement, 6-2 6-4