A PERSON
It’s hard to choose between Novak Djokovic and Guillermo Cañas, but let it be Cañas - 19-year-old Djokovic has his whole life ahead, and without five minutes, 30-year-old Kanyas might not have the opportunity.
Guillermo Cañas set a couple of records in Miami. For example, he became the first qualifier in Miami history to reach the finals. He also became the first seedless finalist after Sebastian Grosjean in 1999. Records are always pleasant, but specifically these do not look very impressive, since they took place only due to the low position of Kanyas in the ranking. But a personal achievement - two consecutive victories over Roger Federer in one month - this is serious.
And it all started, by and large, from chance. In Indian Wells, Cañas accidentally hit the main net as a lacquer due to Xavier Malissa’s injury. Then Federer defeated. Also as if by accident. And this is what all this led to. To the second victory over Federer, as well as to the victories over Henman, Ferrero, Gasquet, Robredo and Lyubichich - any top tennis player will envy such a list.
It is difficult to judge how much the victory over Federer had influenced Cañas and what he would have shown if he hadn’t had these victories in his pocket. But one thing is for sure - whether the Kanyas was disqualified for the case or not, but this clearly benefited him. There is a minimum of fatigue, usually arising from a constant stay on the tour, but a maximum of good sports anger. It remains only to wish the Argentine no less achievements on the eve of the dirt season - there he will certainly be on the list of favorites.
MATCH
Both final matches in Miami are worthy of history. The women's final can be compared, perhaps, with a contrast shower. I wanted to get the most out of the match with Justin Henin and Serena Williams - to have a hard fight, to play at least three hours, and finish with the result, for example, 7: 6, 6: 7, 7: 6 in someone's favor. But it turned out even better. Even in women's tennis, you rarely see a tennis player losing 0: 6, 4: 5 to play two matchballs and win the match. But it’s a “tennis player”, and this is Serena Williams - a big difference.
For men, everything was simpler in the account, but not in the struggle. What is only one game in the middle of the second set, which lasted 20 minutes - it was “exactly” eight times, and Djokovic had to play three break points at Kanyas to take the game and lead 4: 2. The organizers of the Sony Ericsson Open themselves call this game one of the most unforgettable in the entire 23-year history of the tournament.
RECORDS
It is always pleasant when modern tennis players beat some ancient, unshakable records. Here in the men's round Federer regularly pleases us. And in the female authority, Steffi Graf will be indisputable for a long time. But Serena Williams may try to break some records of local scale at the Earl.
On Saturday, Serena won her fourth victory in Miami. Now she just needs to win the tournament again to repeat the Earl’s record, which is also the record of Sony Ericsson Open itself. To repeat the achievement in terms of the number of finals, Serena will have to try to get to Miami a couple more times. In the meantime, she shares second place with Chris Evert - both of them have 5. But in terms of the total number of victories, Serena Williams is still very far from Steffi Graf. 18 victories are a big difference, although if you take into account Serena’s amazing ability to concentrate on your favorite tournaments and ignore the rest, then why not.
ANTI-RECORDS
Unfortunately, Masha Sharapova could not become the sixth tennis player in history, who managed to defeat both Williams sisters in one tournament. Only Arante Sanchez-Vicario, Steffi Graf, Lindsay Davenport, Martine Hingis and Kim Kleisters became able to pass such a test. Let's hope that next time Masha will be ready for both sisters. Must be ready - the Williams sisters are very fond of appearing in nets in the most inappropriate places.
AWARDS
Last week, tennis associations traditionally named the best last year. Novak Djokovic was recognized as the most progressive player of 2006 . And by the way, they recognized, albeit last year, just between the final in Indian Wells and the victory in Miami. Well done, Novak, lived up to expectations for the full program.
SYSTEM
The WTA and ATP have unveiled their reform plans to improve everything and everyone. In short, from 2009 onwards there will be fewer tournaments, more prize ones, but appearance at a larger number of tournaments will become mandatory. As for the prize, of course, no one objected. But on the remaining points, disagreements arose.
The dirt trackers are on strike to reduce the number of dirt tournaments ahead of Roland Garros - and they can be understood. Since the resistance movement was led by Federer and Nadal themselves, the dirt tournaments, one must think, still have chances for salvation.
The Williams family does not care about the ground, it protests against the obligation. Serena and Venus say that they will not go to Indian Wells, which will become mandatory. And they can also be understood - at one time in Indian Wells they were greatly offended. And dad Richard can't let his girls get hurt. And with the loss of a large number of points and money in case of failure to appear on Indian Wells, he also can’t come to terms, therefore, he talks about democratic freedoms and promises to sue the WTA. But he won, what the hell is not joking. True, a court may cost more than a failure to appear on Indian Wells, but the point is not about money.
VIDEO
Roger Federer is unlikely to be comforted by the memory of a won super-match in the match with Cañas - but nothing prevents us from enjoying the way the first racket of the world drives the court of the future finalist of the tournament.
THE WORDS
At a press conference after the match with Kanyas, Ivan Lyubichich expressed the view that giving tennis cards to tennis players returning after doping disqualification is somehow wrong. Like, "these guys" were deceiving us, so why should we help them? It’s somehow cruel to punish those who have just served their sentences and are likely to repent. And then, taking illegal drugs and being disqualified for it, as practice shows, is not always the same thing. However, this is not our business. Our business is to notice that it looked ugly - as if Lyubichich threw a stone in the garden of Kanyasa immediately after he lost to him.
NUMBERS
Queen Elizabeth II, who is a patron of the English Tennis Association, opened a new tennis center in southwest London last week. This tennis palace, designed for training the country's strongest athletes and beginner tennis players, has 20 outdoor courts, 6 indoor, 4 scientific laboratories, a gym and a medical center. When will we have such a president?
Ksenia VITRYAK