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    Wozniacki Again #1, Wins in Dubai

    By Donal on Fri, 02/18/2011 - 11:33am | Sports

    Already set to reclaim the #1 world ranking from Kim Clijsters, Caroline Wozniacki easily won the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship today, winning in the final 6-1, 6-3 over Svetlana Kuznetsova.

    In some ways her play reminds me of Martina Hingis, in that she manages to hit many shots that lead her opponents into errors. Unlike Hingis at 20, Wozniacki has yet to win a leg of the traditional Grand Slam - Roland Garros, Wimbledon, the US Open or the Australian Open, also known as the majors.

    By consistently winning in smaller tour events, Wozniacki, Jelena Janković, Ana Ivanović and even Dinara Safina have earned the number one computer ranking, but only Ivanović has won a major. The players winning majors, Sharapova, Henin, Clijsters and especially the sisters Williams have been too occupied retiring, unretiring, being injured or pursuing outside careers to consolidate number one rankings.

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    Comments

    I like the first picture better.


    by Michael Maiello on Fri, 02/18/2011 - 12:23pm

    Not very funny. A bit sad, actually, with as hard as these athletes work.

    BTW, "Since her WTA debut in 2005, she has improved her year-end ranking each year until finishing on top in 2010. She has won twelve WTA singles titles, three in 2008, three in 2009 and six in 2010, which is the most since Justine Henin in 2007". Yes, hasn't won a Grand Slam title. Yet.

    Of course she's only 20 years old. Serena Williams only won one Grand Slam Title before getting her 2nd at 21. Venus Williams got her first at 20. 

    Anyway, a failed blog post. Perhaps Bahrain would have been an easier subject.


    by Decidious (not verified) on Sat, 02/19/2011 - 12:44pm

    Should note that Wozniacki has suffered her share of injuries, including 1 of her 4 losses to the Williams sisters. It's a pretty grueling sport overall, even though doesn't involve helmets or hardballs. Klijsters is 7 years older, Serena Williams 9 years, Venus 10 years - it's not surprising that these older players might be retiring or coming out of retirement, nor that they might have the experience and skill on the court still to overcome a 20-year-old. 

    Anyway, imagine Wozniacki might have her first Grand Slam shortly (2 matches before her 21st birthday, one just after)


    by Decidious (not verified) on Mon, 02/21/2011 - 11:35am

    Hingis had more talent in her little-toe than this girl. (imho). And no similarity apart from ... the teeth, maybe. Hingis was all about angles and placement. Wosniacki is just a bloody wall - sends the ball back again and again until the opponent gets frustrated. I find her unwatchable, ... from a tennis point of view that is. Nice pic.


    by Obey on Mon, 02/21/2011 - 11:48am

    Hingis had more than just about anyone. I've heard Wozniacki described as a backboard, but she hit some innocent-looking shots right to Kuznetsova that Svetlana bricked twelve feet out. Makes me think she must be somewhat clever about spin.


    by Donal on Mon, 02/21/2011 - 11:58am