Backing Into the Mix

Sometimes, life really does imitate art, and in tennis yesterday it did so in hilarious fashion. Jelena Jankovic, who reacted to earning the no.1 ranking last year as if were a case of the swine flu, has qualified for the season-ending Sony-Ericsson Championships in Doha thanks to a shocking loss by one of her rivals for that final spot (as well as the title, Queen of the Head Cases), Vera Zvonareva.

This curious double-whammy, while not unknown in season-ending race scenarios, played out in Moscow, where top-seeded and no. 9 Vera Zvonareva absorbed a shocking first-round defeat - at the hands of a qualifier, no less. She was beaten by Tsvetana Pironkova 6-0,6-2.

So we had Zvonareva backing up her reputation as a mental basket case and Jankovic backing into the year-end championships without having to lift a finger. Nice.

Press reports did not mention Zvonareva crying during or after her loss, but I wouldn't be surprised. It doesn't take all that much. In a way, though, it worked out pretty well for nutty Vera. She still gets to go to Doug-ha as an alternate, which will entitle her to pick up some cash, stay in a luxury hotel, and get a chance to ride astride camels for the paparazzi. But she doesn't have to fret over having to play well for, notionally, the fifth-biggest title in the women's game. It appears that she didn't really want to have anything to do with the hen party anyway, judging from the Moscow scoreline. 

And you wonder why so many people are inclined to forgive Serena Williams anything, including death threats and warm-ups inspired by the denizen's of the Oakland Coliseum's infamous Black Hole, simply because she so often shows up to play like her life depends on it.

So the field for Doha is all set. I'm going to keep my powder dry on that one, because tomorrow morning's post by our gifted WTA watchdog, Bobby Chintapalli, will be waiting for you in the morning. It will be right below a Watercooler post where you can discuss the events of the day, as I suggested in my post yesterday. I'm off on my annual fall trip to Montana, on the Great Plains up on the Alberta, Can., border, very early tomorrow morning and will be gone all week. I will also have a column of my own on Doha up at ESPN tomorrow.

The Mod Squad, led by Easy Ed McGrogan, will make sure this site is up and running every day while I'm gone, so you'll have a place to gather. I plan to have a Watercooler (the new Your Call post) up at the very top of the weblog all the time. Should any of our regular contributors be moved to write, that's where you'll find their contribution. And **Jackie-Oh! will provide a Deuce Club post as usual tomorrow afternoon. I'll also have a column on the YEC posted at ESPN tomorrow.Now I've got some writing and editing chores to do before I close up shop.

And oh, I think the last element in this unfolding life imitates art scenario is Jankovic going all the way in Moscow, and getting back enough confidence to win in Doha. Why would I not be surprised?

Have a great weekend - and week - everyone. I'll be back a week from tomorrow.

-- Pete