Wonderful World of Tennis / Guy McCrea / 08 December 2010 /

In the second part of our 2010 review, Guy McCrea tells us why arguably the most important event of the year happened in a restaurant rather a tennis court and how we had to say goodbye to one of the game's great personalities and ambassadors as 'Demi' called it a day.

Walking on Broken Glass

The most significant moment of 2010 on the WTA Tour didn't happen on a tennis court. It actually took place in a Munich restaurant shortly after Wimbledon. There, fresh from winning her thirteenth Grand Slam singles crown at the All England Club, Serena Williams trod on broken glass.

At first, the injury to her right foot was not thought to be serious, as Serena played an exhibition in Brussels against Kim Clijsters (currently [3.25] favourite on Betfair to win the 2011 Australian Open) in front of 35, 681 people - a world-record crowd for a tennis match. But soon after it became clear that Serena needed surgery and she was forced out of three events, including the U.S. Open. The American tried in vain to return afterwards and then missed the rest of the season, in the process losing her world number one ranking. We now know that Serena also won't be able to defend her Australian Open title in January. This is devastating for the American, who has owned the event in recent years and is the only player in the Open era to win five Australian Opens. But it is also unwelcome news for the WTA Tour - so much weaker without one of its all-time greats.

Danish Delight

Without doubt, the woman who profited most from Serena's absence was Caroline Wozniacki ([6.2] to win in Melbourne.) The Dane may still be a Grand Slam virgin, but she was in superb form in the second half of the season, with a stunning 32/4 record. Wozniacki won consecutive WTA Premier titles in Tokyo and Beijing in October to replace Serena as world number one - just the twentieth woman to reach the summit since computer rankings began in 1975.

Despite defeat to Clijsters in the WTA Championships final, Wozniacki also ended the year on the top of the rankings. Now for that maiden major title to truly silence her critics - January's Australian Open wouldn't be a bad place to do it.

Ana Ascending

Ana Ivanovic ([22.0] to win the Australian Open) teased the tennis world with her inconsistent results throughout most of 2010 until she finally caught fire towards the end of the year.

The former world number one equalled her best career U.S. Open performance by reaching the fourth round. But the Serb then improved on that to win her first WTA title in two years at Linz in October - also coincidentally the scene of her previous tournament victory. Ivanovic ended her season by picking up another WTA title at the Tournament of Champions in Bali. Her tennis in the closing weeks of the season was a clear return to the Ivanovic of old - the endearing smile and world class forehand, combined with new and improved movement around the baseline. But now that Heinz Gunthardt will no longer be her full-time coach in 2011, the question is whether Ivanovic's return to form will continue when things start up again in January - watch this space.

Do Svidaniya Dementieva

The best player (male or female) in professional tennis never to have a Slam? That title surely goes to Elena Dementieva. The Russian announced her retirement in November at the season-ending WTA Championships in Doha after more than a decade amongst the sport's elite.

Dementieva's resume doesn't include a major but it does pretty much tick every other box: sixteen WTA Tour singles titles, an incredible 529 consecutive weeks inside the world's top 20, and two Grand Slam singles final appearances. Her standout achievement was Olympic singles gold at the Beijing Olympics. It spoke volumes that all the participants in Doha were present on court to take part in the 29 year old's retirement ceremony. Right up there amongst the most popular players ever in the women's game - Dementieva's poise and personality will be missed.

Another Italian Job

There's always plenty of talk in tennis about the next big thing - but all in all, 2010 was more notable for the achievements of the WTA's older guard. As an example, take Italy's third Fed Cup title in five years, in which they beat the United States in the final for the second straight year.

Specifically, consider 28 year old Flavia Pennetta ([21.0] to win in Melbourne) - who was her country's star player throughout 2010. The former girlfriend of Carlos Moya was also the one who won the championship-clinching rubber for the second year in a row, with victory over Coco Vandeweghe in the fourth match.

Add French Open champion Francesca Schiavone ([60.0]), who at 30 years of age has more Fed Cup wins (24) than any other Italian woman in tennis history and it does seem that many of the WTA veterans are really getting better with age. Will 2011 see more of the same - or can more of the Tour's younger talent finally breakthrough on the stages that matter most?

To read Part One of the 2010 WTA Tour year in review click here

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