Flavia Pennetta d. Samantha Stosur, 6-4, 6-3
Both players got a boost in the WTA Tour singles rankings, with Stosur reaching a career high of 17th and Pennetta getting close to the Top 10 at 12th
Stosur, whose strengths are often best showcased on hard courts, made uncharacteristic errors from the start. Typically capable of generating a remarkable amount of racquet head speed, topspin and power on her forehand, Sam’s arm appeared slower and heavier today. Her serve couldn’t quite click either, resulting in an unusual eight double faults and she was unable to take advantage of second serve chances on her return games. “I don’t feel I was able to split the court as well as what I had in my previous matches to get her running straight away,” she confirmed. Stosur’s one opening for a lead disappeared when she failed to consolidate a break of serve at 3-3 in the second. She wouldn’t win another game.
Flavia Pennetta improved on last year's Runner-up performance
“It’s not that I felt bad today, I don’t think I played bad,” said the Aussie. “She played, I thought, very well. When I had a few opportunities… I couldn’t quite step up and go for a few balls as well as what I had earlier in the week. I didn’t do that enough to put pressure on her.”
Stosur’s outlook is optimistic. “Sure it’s disappointing but I’m gonna look back on the week I had and I’ve got a lot to be happy with and it’s certainly something I can build on for the rest of the year.” Going into the final stretch before the U.S. Open, “I know I’m playing great tennis. I think I couldn’t have set myself up any better than what I have.”
Chia-Jung Chuang/Zi Yan d. Agnieszka Radwanska/Maria Kirilenko, 6-0, 4-6, 10-7
Surviving yesterday’s shaky semifinal must have provided a much needed confidence boost for 2009 doubles Champions CJ Chuang and Zi Yan. At the start of today’s final, every shot obligingly landed on target. Even net cords cooperated. However, after blowing opponents Agnieszka Radwanska and Maria Kirilenko off the court in the first set, Chuang and Yan took their foot off the pedal in the second, allowing errors to creep in and the Polish/Russian team to establish a lead. Just as they were regaining speed, Yan’s serve took a detour and she double faulted her team into a super tiebreak.
Radwanska and Kirilenko fought back to even the match, but still came up just short in the super tiebreak
Recovering their momentum in the nick of time, and with a pep talk from their coach, the Asian pair made it a competitive 17 points, running away with the final four.
“Get the ball back,” CJ offered the magic solution when asked the secret of their success this week after the match. Her partner followed that with, “Never give up.” In tennis, you couldn’t live by two better mottos.
This was a successful title defense for 2008 winner Chuang (w/Chan) and her first title with Yan
And so the LA Women’s Tennis Championships and all its trimmings are packed away for another year. Who will we find under the draw tree next year? Make your list and check it twice. There’s always a surprise, or two, waiting to be unwrapped.
More photos from the 2009 LA Women's Tennis Championships.
Photos: Danielle Lescure