Tennis Chatter

A year ago Virginie Razzano had the week of her career in LA. This week, she won just six games in a first-round drubbing against lucky loser Melinda Czink.

What is it that makes tennis so mental? So stringy? Players are hot for a few points, or games, or weeks or months, and then they disappear into the oblivion? I know that's a rather general statement, and that every sport has its ups and downs, but to watch mid-majors like Razzano, Maria Kirilenko, Marion Bartoli, or, on the guy's side Janko Tipsarevic or Radek Stepanek have such talent but not always be able to execute it is baffling to me. Is it mental?

Last week, Aleksandra Wozniak gave Canada something to cheer about by coming out of nowhere to win the Bank of the West Classic.

This week, however, my favorite Canadian takes center stage in the friendly confines of Toronto. Frank Dancevic began his dream run in 2007 in Indianapolis and continued it here at the Rogers Cup. This year Dancevic didn't fare as well in Indiana, but the hometown boy won his opening match last night against Mario Ancic in straight sets, and now gets a tall order tonight: defending champion Novak Djokovic.

Doug Robson, a freelance writer who does lots of tennis for USA Today, posted this item on his blog about an OUT Magazine article featuring a gay tennis player. Robson dismisses Rodriguez's coming out, saying it will take a "much higher profile retired player" to make any waves in tennis, but it's still an interesting read.

Razzano Rallies for Title

Virginie Razzano pulled off a rousing rally in the second-set ti-breaker, saving three championship points and beating Venus Williams 4-6, 7-6(7), 6-4 for the Tokyo title.

The Frenchwoman led 5-2 in the second set before Venus charged ahead 6-5. In the breaker, Williams led 6-3, but wasn't able to close out the match.

Razzano now how back-to-back titles after winning Guangzhou last week.

See a full article on Razzano's recent rise and whether or not the Frenchwoman will be able to maintain the form that has brought her such success.

Stuttgart, Tokyo, Metz, Oh My!

Serena Williams and Svetlana Kuznetsova are underway in their quarterfinals at the Tier II event in Stuttgart this week. I can't imagine a more dream draw for such an event. Justine Henin, Jelena Jankovic and Tatiana Golovin are already into the semifinals.

While some people moan and groan about the fall season (I tend to join in on that chorus usually), I'm really digging the competition lately. Davis Cup week supplied us with plenty of inspiring stories, and the women seem to be in make-up mode for such a boring summer by playing every fall event they can.

In Tokyo, Venus Williams will meet Virinie Razzano (newly tagged on AIPT) in the finals. Razzano benefited from depleted draws to have a hot summer and has gained confidence into fall, especially after winning a career-first title in Gangzhou last week.

Also in Tokyo, Lleyton Hewitt couldn't be more frustrated after holding serve 12 times (and not facing a break point) but still losing to Ivo Karlovic. With 25 aces in the match, Karlovic joins the 1,000 Ace Club. Karlovic is just the fourth man to complete this feat (1,000 aces in one year) in history. (See ATP link for graphic.)

Andy Murray continued his comeback from a mid-year injury that forced him to sit out Wimbledon. The Scot defeated Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Metz to advance to the semifinals Friday.

No YouTube clip has shown up yet from Stefan Koubek's meltdown over a linecall. The search continues...