Erakovic Practices Her Volley at the Net
The women's game doesn't have the power of the men's, but there is more point development, so you actually see more tennis from point to point and match to match when the women play compared to the men (of course, I'm excluding the freakishly good defensive play of the top four men, Djokovic, Nadal, Federer, and Murray, who regularly play well-crafted long points against each other). Erakovic displayed good footspeed and movement, and her forehand has some power to it. On the other side of the net, Arvidsson, a past champion in her third finals at Memphis, showed a nice backhand. In typical fashion, there were several breaks of serve, but Arvidsson's steady play led to several unforced errors by Erakovic and the past champion captured the first set 6-3.
The second set was more of the same. Again, while Erakavic has skill, she wasn't consistent. Arvidsson's reliable serve, coupled with the occssional backhand winner down the line, led her to a 5-4 lead.
Arvidsson Prepares to Serve at Match Point
Arvidsson easily served out the final game for her second career WTA title, both at Memphis. Unlike some other sports, afterwards, both the loser and winner were interviewed and awarded trophies.
Runner-up Marina Erakovic and Winner Sofia Arvidsson
Next up was the Women's Doubles Finals, a rematch from 2011, which featured the top-seeded Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka against the second-seeded pair of Vera Dushevina and Olga Govortsova.
The Doubles Teams Smile for a Photo
Last year's final went to the super tiebreak, with Dushevina and Govortsova winning 6-3, 4-6, 10-8(tiebreak).
Hlavackova Focuses on Her Forehand During Warmups
Govortsova Practices Her Serve
Since last year's tournament in Memphis, the team of Hlavackova and Hradecka won a major at the French Open in 2011, and won at Auckland and reached the semis at the Australian Open this year. They obviously have stepped up their game. Their opponents, Dushevina and Govortsova, showed good teamwork, though unlike last year, they dropped the opening set 3-6.
The difference in the men's and women's game is even more evident in doubles tennis than in singles. Doubles in men's tends to be a quick flurry of shots and the point is over. For the women, you see a lot more of the strategy and teamwork necessary to play at the highest level, such as switching sides of the court during points. Not surprisingly, there were numerous double faults; on one side Hradecka was the more guilty partner and on the other was Dushevina. Excluding the double faults, the level of play was excellent with lots of movement, quick volleys, and even a few long points.
Again, not much separated the two teams, but Hlavackova and Hradecka showed their year long form in winning the second set, 6-4. Last year, they lost a tight match, but this year they captured the title. Afterwards, the women were interviewed and received trophies. Despite the competitiveness of the sport, both team showed a lot of class and goodwill towards the other. On the court, they compete, but afterwards they seem to share the common kinship of being top level tennis players.
The Winning Team of Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka Speak
It was a fitting close for my first time seeing professional tennis in person.
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