The WTA Tour is gearing up for the 2006 season, which will launch with two tournaments in the Australasia zone (yes, there is such a word). But there are still few days left in 2005. Before we focus all our attention toward the new year, Martina Hingis' come-back performance and soon-to-be-played Australian Open, let's take one final look at 2005 season, especially considering the ATP version published on Sports Central last month turned out to be a hit.
Player of the Year: Kim Clijsters
I promise everyone that this is not an emotional pick. Yes, Kim is the nicest character on the tour, and yes, she is very likeable and never obnoxious. I am sure that some fans of other players will immediately resort to the classic, "Oh, he picked her because she is nice" argument. No, folks, Kim Clijsters is the Player of the Year simply because she deserves it.
In a decision that warranted much more scrutiny and analysis than the men's version (in fact, did the men's version need any at all?), one can't help but go with Kim Clijsters over Venus Williams and/or Lindsay Davenport. Kim Clijsters' nine titles and 67 tour wins this year is impressive considering she only began playing in March. She was the only player to win more than half of the tournaments that she has participated. She has numerous wins over top-10 players and won the U.S. Open title.
Davenport was consistent throughout the year, and Venus' comeback win in Wimbledon finals was dramatic. However, Clijsters' 2005 comeback from long-term injuries, coupled with her dominance in nine months of action gives her a slight, yet firm edge.
Best Match of the Year: Serena def. Maria
You could make a good case for the Wimbledon finals played between Lindsay Davenport and Venus Williams. Both matches had amazing turn of events, both matches involved players who were down and out, but found a way to get back into the match, and both matches went into extended third sets.
However, the Serena Williams/Maria Sharapova Australian Open semifinal clash (2-6, 7-5, 8-6) had an extra quality that the Wimbledon final lacked: electricity! You could tell both Sharapova and Serena left everything they have had on the court. Nor did either of them choose to hide exactly how they feel as the match got closer to the climactic finale. They showed their human side with fist pumps, screams of agony, and yells of anger, almost inviting the fans to get involved into the match with all their hearts.
And the fans did! It was a great atmosphere, an unforgettable match!
"Enough, Already!" Award: Criticizing Davenport
Do we have to do this every year that Lindsay Davenport finishes the year ranked number one? Why should Lindsay get slammed every year for being consistent? So what if she did not win a Slam? Also, for those of you who make a habit of bashing the WTA ranking system, she would have finished the year number one even if the system was identical to ATP Entry Ranking or the ATP Champions Race Ranking.
She is successful in every Slam tournament. She won six titles — she wins several titles consistently every year. She was injured less than others, probably because she takes better care of herself, thus behaving in a professional, responsible manner. Here is an idea: how about criticizing others because they can't get their act together as efficiently as Lindsay does?
"Confirmed Fluke" Award: Svetlana Kuznetsova
She made it to the records book by becoming the first defending champion in U.S. Open history to lose in the first round of the tournament, in the following year. But for most tennis followers, it was not that big a surprise. As a matter of fact, it was much less of a surprise for her to lose in the first round this year than it was for her to win the title in 2004. Let's go a step further and call the 2004 title what it is: a fluke.
As much as it was a fluke, Svetlana deserves to cherish that title as long as she lives. Nobody can take that away from her. Nobody, including herself, can bring her another one, either.
"How Did She Do That?" Award: Henin-Hardenne's No. 6 Ranking
Get this: Justine Henin-Hardenne played only nine tournaments in 2005. She was the only player in the top 60 WTA rankings to have played single-digit number of tournaments. She won four titles, including Roland Garros. But she was a no-show at the Australian Open, lost in the first round at Wimbledon, and did not reach the quarters at the U.S. Open.
Serena played only one more tournament than Justine, also won a Slam title, and she still could not crack the top 10. I don't know how she did it, but I want to be like Justine!
"Glad it's Over" Award: Venus' Wimbledon Celebration
Throughout the match, you rooted for Venus because she has been in Serena's shadow for so long, and has not won a Slam since 2001. You were glad that she won at the end. For about 60 seconds following the handshake, you shared her joy and ecstatic reaction as she jumped around. The next three minutes all the jumping up and down along with buckling up and down holding the chest started getting old.
Once the trophy presentation started, and she still kept it up, you have had enough. By that time, it was neither cute, nor necessary. The loser of the match was still standing next to her, and tennis players were still expected to have some class. By the time broadcast ended, you were glad it was over.
Journeywoman of the Year: Jill Craybas, USA
Craybas played in 30 tournaments this year. In other words, she averaged around 1.5 tournaments per every two weeks. In other words, if there was such a disease, she would be borderline obsessive compulsive about playing tennis matches.
What does she have to show for all that? One semifinal, three quarterfinals, and a ton of first- and second-round exits. The upside: she did reach a top-50 ranking. Was it by performance or by default? That is the question!
Rising Star Award of the Year: Ana Ivanovic
Ivanovic turned pro only two years ago, cracked the top 100 only a year ago, and played Slam tournaments for the first time this year. With numerous quality wins that includes victories over Amelie Mauresmo, Nathalie Dechy, and Nadia Petrova, and her first tournament title of her career, 2005 saw this 18-year-old star from Serbia finish the year ranked No. 16 in the world.
In her first Slam experiences, she did not perform too badly, either, reaching the quarters in Paris and never losing first round in any of them.
That's the wrap for 2005. As usual, let me know your thoughts.
Have a great holiday season, everyone, and see you in 2006!
December 29, 2005
Chris Bloomberg:
Thanks for another good article Mert. Keep them coming!
December 29, 2005
Brenda Raye:
I don’t see how that was a lack of class when Lindsay never even make a speech now that was a lack of class. Just imagine if Lindsay had won and venus had said nothing….she (Venus) would have hell to pay. All I could say to that article is that racism will never die with people like you in this world.
“how about criticizing others because they can’t get their act together as efficiently as Lindsay does?”
Nice dig at the sisters. Did you make a dig like that too when Lindsay was out injured for about 2 years and was losing every tournament she played in. If memory Serves me correct both V&S has been dealing with injuries for quite a while….but I see you chose to over look that little problem. As I said racism will never die with people like you writing articles because we can smell it all over the article. Let’s see who won GS this year….V&S they both kick Lindsay’s butt ms. so call consistent. Now!!! take that. There are two different type of rules in the WTA one for the white players and one for Venus and Serena Williams. Let me remind you Serena has 7 slams and Venus has 5.
December 29, 2005
Isik Okte:
…This is a comment on Brenda Rayes’ comments on Mert’s handling of the Venus/Serena vs. Lindsay situation…
Brenda - stupidity never dies with people like you making comments about intelligent writing! Because stupidity is a disease that there is no cure for!
Venus and Serena don’t know how to handle themselves in celebration - this is a known fact…Tennis isa sport that should not contain the NFL touchdown celebrations that we are accustomed to from Terrell Owens!
Why can’t the sisters be more like Graf or Federer and know how to celebrate 2 feet away from their opponents that they just beat?
Is this too much to ask?
You would nout understand this Brenda because you don’t have enough brain cell capacity to…You just resort to calling people like Mert racist because that is an easy way out…
Stupidity never dies with people like you…
December 29, 2005
Belinda:
It’s funny how most people here or anywhere in the sports medium are quick to put down Venus and Serena. This article is extremely hypocritical when discussing Venus triumph over Lindsay at Wimbledon this year and her celebration. Considering what Venus went through prior to her remarkable run at Wimbledon beating the #1 and #2 players in the WTA to claim the trophy I personally think there was nothing wrong with her celebration.
It is funny how most of you with your convenient memories forgot Sharapova’s behaviour at the WTA YEC championship last year towards Serena. Never once did she commend Serena for continuing although she was injured. Or Yuri’s antics after running onto the court and swearing at a fan. If it was Richard Williams all hell would have broken lose in the media world. Also nobody has condemned her for her behaviour towards Amelie Mauresmo this year at the WTA YEC when she upon seeing MoMo lead slippping did the choke sign. HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM how convenient that she gets a pass but Venus who was written off does not get one for celebrating something no many believed she could do or would do again.
BTW Iske Venus and Serena are Venus and Serena, not Roger, Steffi or anybody else.
December 29, 2005
Mert Ertunga:
Errr.. Brenda, I was talking about my opinion on her celebration, racism was not even an issue for me, but obviously for you it is..
And the “act together” comment was a general comment and not a Venus/Serena comment. Now let’s take a deep breath together :)
Belinda thanks for reading the article. I am not a Sharapova fan either. I agree with you on the choke sign. But I had to pick one. You specifically said in your comment that “I personally think there was nothing wrong with it”. Well, what I wrote was also was my personal opinion.
December 29, 2005
rififi:
funny that you mention Williams’s antics at Wimbledon and fail to mention the classless acts of the money grabbing machine Sharapova is at the semis of the YEC?
December 29, 2005
bob:
during that semis of the YEC,I was hoping that Mauresmo could see the stupidities Sharapova was doing and hoping she would backhand the kid all the way back to Siberia or wherever the hell she is from
enough with the “i’m only 18” garbage,Maria has been busted for her lack of class.
Hope Mauresmo runs her off court whenever possible with or without Screamapova’s alleged “pec” injury
December 29, 2005
JANET:
You guys are so full of it. Talk about double standars. I don’t know about you, but I’m still celebrating Venus’ win. Had that been anybody else that did the same thing she did, nothing would have been said. Lind had her chance to win that match, but she didn’t. she would have done the same dance Venus did, and you would have praised her for it. You wouldn’t have said jack about about class. You people can’t stand the fact that Venus won!
December 29, 2005
Mert Ertunga:
No Janet. If you have read my past articles, especially the one about Istanbul Cup you would have read about how I went on and on about what a class act Venus was that week. For me it’s not about people, it’s about what they do. It is possible for someone to act classy one time and mess up another, nobody is perfect. I am able to look at players objectively, which can’t be said for you apparently.
Rififi & Bob (since you both are the same person), read my reply above. I had to pick one. These were picks, not “mentions of several in each category”.
December 29, 2005
Tom Kosinski:
Mert,
Welcome to the “you cannot make a comment about the William’s sisters without being called racist” club. I can feel your pain, having been there before.
I and others share your feeling and while the Williams are great players, their attitude and respect for both the game and the players is, in this writer’s opinion, sorely lacking.
Very good article Mert!
Go Martina!
tom
December 29, 2005
Barba:
Didn’t you think it was classless that Lindsay did not say one word about Venus’ win..yet you have the nerve to call Venus classless? Here we go again with the double standards. If Lindsay had won and Venus refuse to make a speech on her behave Venus’ azz would have been dragged through the media like she killed someone. You are a bunch of racist and it galls you all because Venus won that match. Lindsay had the opportunit to take that match twice and could not do it. Don’t get down on Venus because she won. You poeple have got some nerve.
December 29, 2005
Isik Okte:
Thank you Mr. Kosinski for making the best comment of the day…
How sad it is that in the 21st century, you can’t make a negative remark about two great black athletes without being termed a “racist.”
It is sad to think that people like the jokers above think that an overextended meaningless celebration by Venus is OK in the great sport of tennis just because she as a black woman chooses to “express” herself that way! Whay does that mean?
Did the great Althea Gibson choose to celebrate that way after she won Wimbledon?
Can you see the great Arthur Ashe celebrating that way after he beat Okker in 5 sets in a classic duel that was as thrilling if not more than the Venus-Lindsay clash?
Come on! Learn to celebrate with dignity and class…Learn from the past great champions…
Mr. Kosinski, you are so right in hyour comments above…Mert, congratulations on a great article again!
December 29, 2005
Belinda:
Tom whatever, the minute people point out how you people use your double standard to show your biasness towards the sisters you think one is being upset, that fact is if you people were as objective as you claim to be with other players you would not be seen as racist. I guess the saying is true “if it walks like a duck, and it quacks like a duck then by golly it is a duck”
Was not Venus and Serena crucified for their power game, their interests among other things outside of tennis? Yet people like Mary Carillo, Mary Jo Fernandez and Pam Shriver are happy to tell you about the millions that Sharapova makes outside of tennis and the how wonderful her game that based on the sisters especially Venus style of playing is. Of course all this is not a distraction because the white girl can be rounded but not the two black girls, hell no. The same commentators will sit through a whole match with their heads planted firmly up Maria a*se and talk about the sisters as if they have never won a match in their lives. If you don’t have a copy I would happy to forward to you the AO ‘05 semis, Wimbledon 2005 semis and final and you can tell me if they commentary was anything but pure negativety towards the sisters. No wonder their fans feel every comment that is made about them is racist. In this very article Lindsay is put on a pedestal for being CONSISTENT yet when Venus made it to all those grandslams finals loosing to Serena you never heard the same words, the same crap is used to discribe Sharapova lack of winning any of the big matches this year.
Serena is killed for not winning anything outside of the AO, no mention is made of her struggles with her knee and ankle but you constantly read about some mystery growth spurt or pec injury Sharapova develop overnight as her reason for not winning any slams this year. When Serena said early in some tournament that the balls were to hard she was laughed at, Maria said the same thing and it’s gospel.
How many write ups did they have of Justine Henin Hardenne and the hand incident at FO 03 against Serena. Would we have been allowed to forget it had Serena done the had raising. How about Mary Carillo trying to convince us that although Maria father has been accused of coaching her from the stand, that Maria in her defense says she pay him no attention, LOL. I wonder what would have happen to Richard if this was done by him.?!
BTW you think the coward Martina Hingis will come back with her moonballs and win against the players of today? ROFL, all the smarts you people claim she had did not stop the sisters from running her tail of the court can’t wait for her beatdown to start again.
The hypocrite is only coming back because she think the field is weak with the sisters not playing up to their potential, but if she think these are the same Kim, Justine et al she use to beat up she better think again. Ask ALG who sent her into hiding the last comeback attempt.
When the double standard stop then the racist remarks will as well.
December 29, 2005
barb:
Bravo Belinda you said it all.
December 29, 2005
Belinda:
EXCESSIVE CELEBRATION is jumping around in the end zone about scoring a touchdown 1 min into the game with 3 plus quartes left to play. Excessive celebration is chestbumping, handslapping your teammates upon dunking during a basketball game during the first, second or third quarter with a one point lead. Excessive celebration is pumping your first, screaming come ons, and acting as if the game is over after striking the first ball for a winner in a tennis match.
Winning Wimbledon the biggest grandslam title after SPORTS medium or channels LIKE ESPN had caption about your picture and name like “FALLEN FROM GRACE”, where the commentators during your match keep constantly telling opponents to go for your weakness that is your forehand to break it down. Or where they constantly claim a player is ONE DIMENSIONAL is super when compared to you and practically hand that play the match, then go silent when you clobber that player. Or better yet when you comeback from the brink of losing to break your opponent at love to win your biggest title in almost 2 years is caused for celebration the likes of what Venus did.
Did anyone remind Sharapova that Serena was on the court and to thank her during the ceremony of the 2004 YEC?
Instead of America constantly trying to bringdown the sisters they should be thankful since these are the only two players, that have given America anything in tennis to talk about. Andy Roddick nasty behaviour on court is never commented about go figure.
Do you tell teams that have won the NBA or NFL championships not to celebrate because their losing opponents is close by… of course you don’t.
Venus won and she celebrated like she should have, and if you people will be honest with yourselves you would admit it is not her celebrating that you are upset about but it’s because the little black girl was doing it. NO ONE OF YOU WOULD HAVE COMPLAINED IF LINDSAY HAS DONE IT.
December 29, 2005
Janet:
Belinda,
You go. Tell it like it is. They’re never understand, nor do they want to. WHAT A SHAME!
December 29, 2005
Belinda:
Barb & Janet
Thank you both. I’ve been on enough message boards and read enough articles to know that the hypocrisy is so blatant when it comes to the sisters that it is beyond comprehension.
December 30, 2005
Marc James:
Take your racist allegations elsewhere. God forbid someone be the slighest bit critical of a Williams sister. It is indeed sickening that people are still playing the weak race card in 2005. Get a grip and take your theories back to where you came from. Mert’s comments about Venus were as mild-mannered and fair as they come and I completely agree. We were all pulling for Venus, but showing a little respect to your opponent in the form of not jumping up and down for a half four like a school girl is not too much to ask for.
And your argument essentially comes down to “but if Lindsay was doing it, you wouldn’t be complaining.” Oh, really? That’s pretty weak and unjustified. How the hell do you know? Your cruel comments to Sharapova and Hingis are not only worse than the mild criticism of Venus, but are where the true hypocrisy lies.
Take your little racism whine fest and shove it. This is 2005, which means people of different races are and should be seen equal. For you to whine about the criticism of Venus, and then to bash Sharapova and Hingis, is beyond pathetic. Get over it.