Wrung Out
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by Bobby Chintapalli, TW Contributing Editor
Doha, which winds up with the knockout semifinals and final this weekend, has had everything – blood, sweat, tears, match-points saved, the Number 1 question answered, injuries, retirements. . .and lots of drama.
JJ STYLE: In the past we discussed whether, in terms of number of matches played, Caroline Wozniacki is the new Jelena Jankovic. Let’s get off the court this time and talk about how, in terms of post-match comments, Jelena Jankovic is the new Serena Williams. After her loss to Azarenka, Jankovic said, “I basically gave her everything. I beat myself.” Of course a journalist mentioned this to Azarenka (you have to love journalists), who said, “I'm glad she gave me the match and she was not in the mood. It worked out pretty well for me.”
Vera Zvonareva has game, but admit it – Doha wouldn’t have been as much fun if JJ didn’t qualify.
INJURIES: The big injuries were in the white group, though it had younger players. The only one of the four who didn’t retire or fall to the court in tears at some point is the oldest in the white group - and the one the most notorious when it comes to bailing out (just ask Maria Sharapova), Jankovic.
What's going on here, battle fatigue? After all, the white-group women played nearly 20 percent more matches this year than their maroon counterparts. Or perhaps they have less experience in training for the long term, or in ways that minimize injuries and maximize stamina? Perhaps they just haven't mastered that trick of the veteran athlete: listening to her body.
Whatever the case, it was difficult to watch such young women crying, bleeding, cramping, falling and otherwise openly suffering.
The only thing harder than watching was not watching.