CHERYL JONES SHARES HER POINT OF VIEW FOR THE WIMBLEDON LADIES FINALS , EUGENIE BOUCHARD VERSUS PETRA KVITOVA ON SATURDAY

Written by: Staff on 3rd July 2014

CHERYL JONES SHARES HER POINT OF VIEW FOR THE WIMBLEDON LADIES FINALS , EUGENIE BOUCHARD VERSUS PETRA KVITOVA ON SATURDAY

epa04296791 Eugenie Bouchard of Canada serves to Simona Halep of Romania in their semi-final match of the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 03 July 2014. EPA/TATYANA ZENKOVICH |

Journey Nearly Complete

Before the matches began, there could have been a prediction that a woman whose last name ended with “ova” would be in Centre Court on the Final Saturday of Wimbledon. Quite a while ago, Bud Collins asked if anyone knew how many women with an “ova” ending to their name were in the draw. As I recall it was 28, and it was likely seven or eight years ago. This year, that amount might be a bit on the high side, but more often than not, there are enough to make a prediction like that close to a sure thing.

That little piece of trivia came to mind because there is an “ova” in the final. It is Petra Kvitova. She isn’t Russian like a good many of the others; she’s Czech. She won the Venus Rosewater Dish in 2011, so she should be in the know as to how to best prepare for the Saturday match that has been the focal point of 128 women’s two week adventure into the most stately of all the Grand Slams, The Championships.

The only other member of the limited cast of characters for the Saturday afternoon matinee will be Eugenie Bouchard. Both women have had a very successful 2014 and according to each of them, it has been a fantastic fortnight in London. They have surely and steadily worked their way through the other 126 members of the women’s draw. And, each of them posted a string of “W’s” where it was necessary. Saturday, only one will have their dream come true.

Bouchard played solidly throughout her match opposite Simona Halep on Thursday. Halep who is from Romania was the runner-up at Roland Garros. In the semis though, it was a win for the Canadian, 7-6, 6-2. During the past year, Halep’s game has grown to be as solid as they come. Just a bit more than half of this year has passed, and when it was pointed out that she has had a year to remember, she merely laughed and said that it would be a year that will require a lot of points to be defended in 2015). Other contestants are likely to be thinking they’d like to have that problem. She possesses skill and an innate knowledge of how the game should be played that will take her to the highest echelons of the women’s game.

The big problem with her game today had to do with an ankle that was turned in the first set and even though it was quickly taped, she said she never really felt comfortable. It was apparent, but she’s a gutsy player. She said, “It was difficult to continue because I twist my ankle and was very hard. I felt a big pain the moment, but then was better with tape. But still I couldn’t push anymore in my leg. My first serve was really bad after that. Yeah, it was difficult to continue.” But she pushed on, but in the end it was to no avail. Bouchard was just too good.

The twenty year-old Bouchard has been a trailblazer with her game. She is the first Canadian ever to reach a Grand Slam final. If she wins the title, she will climb to Number 6 and even if she loses she will make it to Number 7. Seven puts her in the top spot for the most highly ranked Canadian ever. She is the youngest Grand Slam finalist since Caroline Wozniacki in 2009 US Open. With a win, she would become only the second player born in the 1990s to win a title at a major. (Oddly enough, the other winner was the woman that will be her opponent, Petra Kvitova.

Kvitova will move up in the rankings no matter what. She sent away a countrywoman today, Lucie Safarova, 7-6, 6-1. Both women were grinning from ear to ear when they shook hands after the match. Safarova said she was really happy for Kvitova. She recounted past encounters and said how much Kvitova’s game had improved. She was looking toward a surface change that will feature hard courts to prepare for the US Open that will take place in less than two months. Safarova matter-of-factly said, “I haven’t been home for long. I’m going to take off, recover, and then I will again practice hard and hopefully come strong for the hard courts.”

Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic celebrates a set point winner against compatriot Lucie Safarova in their semi final match during the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 03 July 2014. EPA/TATYANA ZENKOVICH

Kvitova will become Number 4 when the new ratings are posted on Monday. Gaining another title at Wimbledon would underscore the validity of her ability to compete with the elite players of the game. Grass is a surface that in the past was substantially different from the hard court surfaces of the Australian and US Opens.

More and more players are pointing out the marked similarity of the ball bounce and ball speed at all the Grand Slams. Past experiences may not have much to do with preparations if that is the case. Players of both genders have pointed out that the grass is different than it has been in the past. Will that make a difference in the match on Saturday? It could, but it would be just as likely that no one would notice.

Both women had a recurring theme to their after match interviews. Kvitova said it most succinctly, “It’s still one more to come. I want to be focused on that now.”

Eugenie Bouchard and Petra Kvitova will have roughly two days to fine-tune the games that have brought them to the final exam stage. It won’t be the usual for either one. Bouchard will be working toward a lot more than a title. She will be shooting to make Canadian history. But she’s already done that.

Both Bouchard and Kvitova have put in the effort to come away with the top prize. At the end of the day on Saturday, the fortnight’s promise will become reality for one of the two. In the spirit of sportswomanship (which evidently isn’t a word, but should be), may the best woman win!

Topics: Caroline Wozniacki, Cheryl Jones, Eugenie Bouchard, Lucie Safarova, Petra Kvitova, Simona Halep, Tennis, Tennis News, Wimbledon

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10sBalls_com says:

July 3, 2014 at 4:27 pm

CHERYL JONES SHARES HER POINT OF VIEW FOR THE @Wimbledon LADIES FINALS , @geniebouchard VERSUS @Petra_Kvitova…-http://t.co/qjH1x93wrk #WTA