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Latest blog posts from WTA Backspin

Wk.10- Random Musings & Dark Clouds
As I type the "I" in Indian Wells, the second half of the 3rd Round is taking place, but that doesn't mean that a semi-recap of the past week isn't possible, or necessary.Ten random thoughts from Week 10...1) Justine Henin lost early, but it probably means zilch.2) Sloane Stephens outshined...
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Published 3 days ago

All That's Well in Indian Wells
Ah, the Indian Wells draw. Hmmm... there are four Belgians in the mix, but still no Williams Sisters after all these years. Svetlana Kuznetsova is the #1 seed... which is something of a damning indictment of the event, but who's going to argue with the rankings (or whatever the WTA is calling...
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Published a week ago

Wk.9- .now for All (The 6th Annual Backwards Backspin)
[Helpful Hint: It might be easier to read this week's edition of Backspin from the bottom up]The draw comes out soon, so I'll make picks then. All for now.Of note, AnaIvo won this title in '08, and was runner-up a year ago. If her slide continues and she exits early in '10, her ranking will...
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Published a week ago

Wk.8- Saving the February Dramas for Their Mamas (especially Jada's)
The drama that percolated throughout the two weeks of the Australian Open in January wasn't exactly carried over into February on the WTA tour.Of course, since the likes of Serena, Barbie and the still-unranked Justine didn't play in a match that mattered during the month, while Maria and...
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Published 2 weeks ago

Wk.7- Last Word Williams
Venus gets the last word... again.At the Australian Open, we learned about the law of nature... and Serena. Over the past week in Dubai, the Law of Venus came to the forefront as it so often has in the past when her future was questioned. At this point, it's almost becoming old hat to say it...
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Published 3 weeks ago

Wk.6- A Case for "The Hall of the Very Good?"
With Elena Dementieva, it's so often been about how good she COULD be... if only.As good as the Russian HAS been through the years, she seems forever destined to be the "best player who never... (fill in the blank as you wish)." To never win a slam. To never reach #1. To never develop the...
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Published 4 weeks ago

Wk.5- The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same
There was a legitimate chance that a true sea change could have occurred in this weekend's Fed Cup action. But, in the end, not much changed at all.With so many countries developing a depth of talent that'll make them potential FC forces in future seasons -- China, Belarus, Great Britain,...
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Published a month ago

2010 Dorothy Tour Awards
One slam down. Three to go. One month down. Nine more to go. And, in a few minutes, one Backspin monthly awards presentation down, too.First, though, a casting call for the Backspin's 2010 production of "Oz":DOROTHY GALE (Serena Williams, USA)...do ruby slippers clash with white...
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Published a month ago

What a Difference a Year Makes
One year ago, Roger Federer was standing in a puddle of tears on Rod Laver Arena after have been bested once again by Rafael Nadal. With his throne of power having been chiseled away over time by the Spaniard, it was easy to write King Roger's epitaph -- at least in pencil -- as the lead actor in...
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Published a month ago

Real Champions Wear Combat Boots
"It's gotta be the shoes!" - Mars BlackmonIn recent years, women's tennis has so often seemed to be all about footwear. No, I'm not talking about anyone donning a pair of red pumps or stylish flats in a photo shoot, I'm talking about having to so often watch not-quite-champion players sport...
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Published 2 months ago

Oz 12: For Whom the Book Tolls, circa 2010
Never let it be said that the WTA's wrong-headed decision to NOT have a printed version of the tour's Official 2010 Guide means that I can't give out awards for the new and old bio photos included in the (shortened and less reliable) online version. So there.Once again, as I talked about in the...
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Published 2 months ago

Oz 11: A Long Time Coming
Discussion of the appearance of two Chinese players in a slam semifinal for the first time was the pre-match topic du jour in Melbourne. But the story of the Chinese tennis revolution is a still-evolving one, while the double-headed story of Serena and Justine is front and center RIGHT NOW.A day...
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Published 2 months ago