Thursday, July 1, 2010

Madrid Champions

French Aravane Rezai celebrates with her trophy after defeating US  Venus Williams during their final match of the Madrid Masters on May 16,  2010 at the Caja Magic sports complex in Madrid. Aravane Rezai  won  6-2, 7-5.
Getty

Frenchwoman Aravane Rezai celebrates with her trophy after defeating American Venus Williams during their final match of the Madrid Masters on May 16, 2010 at the Caja Magic sports complex in Madrid. Aravane Rezai won 6-2, 7-5.

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Clay has always brings out the relentless shotmaking this power merchant is able to execute. Doesn't matter where the ball is -- at her shoelaces or just above her head -- she can rifle an angled winner with the precision of Monica Seles.

Venus simply can't close in a big match right now. She had 6 set points and many of them were wasted on her own racquet. Aggressive on most of Rezai's game points to get it back to deuce, she played her set points against Rezai's serve like a weak seedling. Who knows what might happened in the third set -- Williams would complete the rally or Rezai would serve up a bagel as she did to Justine Henin in the first round -- but the match certainly ought to have gone there.

As I said earlier, I'd give half the farm to see a French player take Roland Garros. The entire nation might slide into the Atlantic Ocean, taking the Iberian Peninsula with it. Rezai is the only player on either tour who has the chance to do it in 2010.

After all, the only set she surrendered this week was the first set she played. Against Henin.

Rafael Nadal of Spain looks at his reflection on his trophy as he  poses at the end of his Madrid Open final tennis match against  Roger  Federer of Switzerland May 16, 2010.
Reuters

Yup. That's you, buddy. Your second big title on home soil. First on clay. And as a bonus, you stand alone, holding the most Masters titles of man in history. Oh, yeah. And you're the first to win the trinity of clay Masters events back-to-back-to-back. Not to mention returning to No. 2 in the world.

Savor it.

MADRID, SPAIN - MAY 16:  Mike Bryan and Bob Bryan of the USA hold  their winners trophies aloft after their straight sets victory against  Daniel Nestor of Canada and Nenad Zimonjic of Serbia  in the mens  doubles final match during the Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open tennis  tournament at the Caja Magica on May 16, 2010 in Madrid, Spain.
Getty

With this straight-set victory over Daniel Nestor of Canada and Nenad Zimonjic of Serbia, the current world No. 1's, the Americans Bob and Mike Bryan will return to the top spot tomorrow.

MADRID, SPAIN - MAY 15:  Venus Williams and Serena Williams of the  USA hold their trophies after a straight sets victory against Gisela  Dulko of Argentina and Flavia Pannetta of Italy in womens doubles final  match during the Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open tennis tournament at the  Caja Magica on May 15, 2010 in Madrid, Spain.
Getty

These historic siblings ended the 17-match winning streak of Gisela Dulko and Flavia Pennetta. Also in straight sets.

Not a bad showing for those Americans with supposed allergies to the red stuff.

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