My Girlfriend and I are back together

She's winning tournaments on tv. and I'm watching them.


She's smiling, enjoying herself on court, and I'm smiling watching her smile.


Yes, that's about the extent of our love affair.

And well, that just works for us

Jelena's Orbit

The making of:



And, the commercial:



Good to see she takes direction well. I'm sure they could find her a script in Hollywood.

Back to School: Jelena, Maria, Nicole practicing @ Bolletieri this week

With all the tournament cuts the WTA made, looks like a lot of players are left on the courts.. practicing. Roadmap 2009.. is that what it is called now?



Well, the new Tour Road Map left out some of my favorite smaller tournaments in the US like the Bausch & Lomb at Amelia Island and the Acura Classic in San Diego. Boo.. road map!

Whata Dork!

#1


#2

Where do we go from here?

From Forty Deuce

Here's the thing about JJ losing to players significantly ranked lower than her. To me, it simply defies expectation. Her game is built on retrieving, counterpunching, and forcing players to go for too much and miss. But whatever Ricardo "European Tennis Genius" Sanchez did to her game over the off-season has completely thrown it out of whack. It's as though he tried to transform her into a player that she isn't/wasn't/won't be(?) comfortable being. An attacking retriever, a la Nole.

My sense of JJ's game and her success over the past few years was that it was totally "accidental". Like, she was just a retriever who ran around, dumping balls back, and then her opponent would miss out of frustration. And then next thing you know she won the match not in any spectacular way but simply because her opponents imploded. It was like "Well, I ran around for two hours and next thing you know, I won!" She didn't really have to think that much on the court. Just get the ball back and wait for the girl to miss. And it worked. She was able to beat 95% of the tour and she almost NEVER lost to anyone ranked significantly below her. She was that one player on the women's tour that you could count on to make the QFs easily, only to get beat by the players she was "supposed to lose to", like Ana, Serena, Venus, Dina, Lena, etc.

Because here's the thing about being an offensive attacking player (which is what most of the top girls are). You're going to lose to low ranked players. You're going to have those days where because you go for so much and hit with so little margin, you're just going to miss and lose.

But if JJ is losing to the likes of Kaia Kanepi, then there's something seriously wrong with her game. She shouldn't be going for so much that she consistently misses. I mean, the girl became #1 with no kill shot and no serve. She hobbled into the semifinals of AO 08 on one leg playing puffball retriever tennis. She made the semis of RG with one arm tied behind her back. Then she disappears for a few months, attests to working on her game and getting fitter, and now she's losing all the time. Not just losing tight three setters. But getting embarassed (bagels from Bartoli, breadsticks from Momo, and now straights to Kanepi).

The game that she is being asked to play is just not her style and I'm not sure she'll ever be used to it. She's just not used to missing shots. And when you're not used to it it starts to drain you and affect your confidence. Ana, Dina, Serena, they'll miss shots. But they shake it off when they know they played the right shot, went for it all, and missed. Ok, on to the next point. It's part of their mindset and psychology as an attacking player. But you can see it with JJ. She dumps balls into the net and everytime she looks absolutely befuddled as to how she missed that shot.

JJ's in a tough spot. On the one hand, if she plays a la JJ of 07 and 08, she'll consistently win and be in the top 5. But she'll never consistently beat the top girls at a Slam. Without being aggressive and taking it to them, there's no way. But if she adjusts her game and plays more of an attacking style as she has in 09, then sure, maybe (and it's a big maybe) she's added enough pop to her game that she can beat the top girls. But she's going to have to get used to losing these totally random matches against girls she should beat easily. And to be honest, I don't think that's part of her makeup. Trackback

Jelena's World hits the Web

You can view the entire documentary on Jelena on Youtube. Note: You won't understand the language but you'll get the gist. Here's a taste:

Fashion Patrol

I love the Australian Open. And one of the reasons I love it is due to the outrageous outfits the players get to wear. Some are hot, and some are not. With the winners finally crowned Down Under, here are my picks for the Best and Worst Dressed Players at the 2009 Australian Open.

Top 5 Best Dressed


#5 - Zheng Jie Simple, yet chic. Understated elegance. Nothing like a little Mercedes symbol to add a little class to your outfit as well. Great job, Zheng Jie!


#4 - Dinara Safina If you had asked me to predict who would be on my shortlist of worst dressed players before the start of the Aussie Open, I would have put Dinara Safina firmly on that list. Fortunately, I would've been wrong. Turns out, Dinara was as sick of her pink, "pepto bismol" outfit as we were. I love her new look. Let's just hope that hideous pink outfit remains shelved....permanently!


#3 - Elena Dementieva Elena was once the featured cover story for Canada's street-style magazine PEACE. She's a little bit of a fashionista, actually. She definitely delivered in the style department this year at the Australian Open. Her bright orange outfit really popped, especially against the deep blue of the courts. Can't wait to see her next outfit!


#2 - Roger Federer The Fed always shows up looking stylish and chic. If it hadn't been for Rafa's drastic transformation this year, I would have put him as #1. He was even wearing a matching belt. Whether on or off the court, the Swiss Maestro is a class act.


#1 - Rafael Nadal Like the rest of the world, I was completely shocked when I first saw Rafa's new look. No more sleeveless shirts or longer shorts. I guess being the World #1 comes with responsibilities other than stellar on-court performance. I liked his sense of color coordination too. Congrats on the new look Rafa, and on winning this year's trophy Down Under!

Top 5 Worst Dressed


#5 - Jelena Jankovic She looked like she was on maternity leave. And that color? How can you instill the fear of God into your opponent with a soft green pastel color. And to top things off, the outfit looked as if it had been washed one too many times. But since this is her first outing wearing a dress from her new sponsor ANTA, I'm willing to give her a little break.



#4 - Jelena Dokic We all love the comeback story of Jelena Dokic, but that doesn't mean we have to love her outfit. She looked like she had just stepped out of a time machine from the days of Martina Navratilova. She should save this outfit for her next 80s Night party. With all that hard earned cash, I hope she shows up next time with something a little more stylish (and current). I have faith in her.


#3 - James Blake Hello Grandpa Blake. The word out"fit" can sometimes refer to the size of the fit. Look at how much room he has in that shirt. It's like he's drowning in that rag. For someone that looks like a commercial print model, he has no excuse for showing up to the Australian Open wearing a shirt tailor-made for a man twice his size. C'mon!


#3 - Andy Murray If you're as pasty as Murray, you might want to steer clear of colors that make your skin look even more bleached. Australia is the prefect place to debut a new outfit, one with a splash of color. Perhaps a bold, primary color like red, which mirrors his fiery personality. And while he's at it, we suggest he get a tan! One more thing. Next time, please don't wear a shirt with dark patches under your armpits. Not a good idea.


#1 - Alisa Kleybanova Can you say "train wreck"? Kleybenova's outfit takes the highest honors for The Worst Dressed Player at the Australian Open. Congratulations Alisa! Those hideous colors, and that horrible hat. I couldn't believe my eyes the first time I saw her images flash on the TV screen. Especially when contrasting her against the super stylish Ana Ivanovic. Next time, she should phone her compatriot Dementieva for some much-needed fashion advice, or face the danger of being a repeat offender. Man, it's a good thing she's got some major game.

Tonight Tonight...

Jelena Jankovic’s loss to Marion Bartoli cost her more than a big check at the end of the Australian Open.

The Serbian star will now lose the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour No. 1 ranking to one of three other top players on Monday.

Jankovic had an outside chance of holding onto the top spot after her fourth round defeat, but because Dinara Safina reached the semifinals, Jelena will be ousted after seventeen consecutive weeks.

An Australian Open singles title would guarantee former world number one Serena Williams or newcomers Dinara Safina and Elena Dementieva the number one ranking. However, each of the trio still has a chance to claim the top spot without winning the Grand Slam.

Elena Dementieva
The Russian could become the 19th player since the inception of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Computer Ranking System (second Russian, along with Maria Sharapova) was introduced on November 3, 1975.

Dementieva needs to:
- Win the singles title
- Reach the finals if Safina does not also reach the finals

Dinara Safina
Like Dementieva, the Russian could become the 19th player since the inception of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Computer Ranking System (second Russian, along with Maria Sharapova) was introduced on November 3, 1975.

Safina needs to:
- Win the singles title
- Reach at least SF and neither Dementieva nor S.Williams advance to the finals

Serena Williams
The American is aiming to return to the World No.1 ranking for the third time in her career. S.Williams has held the World No.1 ranking for 61 weeks (57 weeks: 7/8/02 to 8/10/03 and 4 weeks: 9/8/08 to 10/5/08).

Williams needs to:
- Win the singles title
- Reach the finals if Safina does not also reach the finals

For more Jelena Jankovic to Lose Top Spot; Ranking Race Between Serena Williams, Dinara Safina and Elena Dementieva

Lights Out!

Marion Bartoli is through to the Quarterfinals of the Australian Open, as she dispatches Jelena Jankovic in 2 very convincing sets - 61 64. The flat-hitting French woman was on fire the entire match, putting it to the current #1 in fashionable style. She's sporting a new, streamlined physique as well. She actually looks like a tennis player (despite her balletesque serving stance). Jelena is likely to lose her #1 ranking following the Aussie Open, and will have to fend off the media wolves regarding her validation as #1. In order for her to stay at the top, either Serena, Safina, or Dementieva will have to lose in their Quarterfinal matches. I doubt that all of the remaining top seeds will fall before the Semifinals.

Side note: Perhaps Jelena should challenge the line calls a little less. In the second set alone, she challenged 3 times, losing each of those challenges. And that was at 2-2! After that, she had no challenges remaining for the entire set. I read somewhere that Serena consciously decides not to challenge often, preferring to stay in the moment and not be sidetracked by the minor details. Seems to work for her!

Musical Chair Rankings

By winning her first round match, Jankovic increased her chances of remaining No. 1 at the conclusion of the Australian Open. Here is a look at the possible scenarios regarding the coveted No. 1 ranking. Our friends over at OntheBaseline did the calculation.

Number One Ranking Projections

Points defending at Melbourne: Jelena Jankovic (900, reached 2008 SF), Serena Williams (500, reached 2008 QF), Dinara Safina (4, fell 2008 1r) and Elena Dementieva (280, reached 2008 4r).

With the winner receiving 2000 ranking points, and the top four ranking positions being so close, here are some scenarios:

• If Jelena Jankovic wins, she will remain No.1 regardless.

• If Dinara Safina wins, she will become No.1, regardless.

• If Serena Williams wins, she will become No.1 IF… she does not play Jankovic in the finals.

• If Elena Dementieva wins, she will become No.1 IF … she does not play Jankovic in the finals.

Additionally, with Jankovic winning her first round match at the Australian Open, Safina would need to reach AT LEAST the semifinals, while S.Williams and Dementieva would need to reach the finals to have a chance to become the World No.1.

Go JJ!

We'll keep you updated about rankings as matches unfold.

The Curious Case of Jelena Jankovic

Jelena Jankovic, now spending her 16th week as the #1 ranked female player, has been receiving some harsh criticism as of late, both from the outspoken tennis pundits and from her very own peers. Apparently, there will be no respect for Jelena's game until she wins that elusive Grand Slam title. How fair is that? Even the great Roger Federer pitched in by throwing dirt this week:

I would hope, though, that if he (Andy Murray) were to become world No 1 he would win a grand slam first, not like on the women's side. No disrespect to Jelena Jankovic."

If you ask me, that's a lot of pressure to place on her Serbian shoulders.

Since her thrilling and inspiring loss at the 2008 US Open Final at Arthur Ashe Stadium, I’ve been watching Jankovic more closely than ever, and I have good reason to believe that she will continue to rack up successive weeks at No. 1.

Though any Jankovic fan will admit that she does not have the fire power that makes results come easily, it’s her determination to win and her fighting spirit that is most admirable about her game.

Unlike the hot-and-cold playing of some of the women on the circuit (ie, Dinara Safina), Jelena is consistent at progressing to the latter stages of the tournaments that she enters. Favorable draw or not, Jelena shows up week-in, week-out, and wins….a lot! This proves that there is more than one way to reach the top.

Although other women lifted Grand Slam trophies last year, no one had the consistency or longevity that was required to capture the No. 1 ranking. Therefore, it was up to our JJ to take up the slack of the WTA tour, despite the unfair snickering from the sidelines.

With the 2009 season now underway, her fans can sit back and enjoy the ride as they cheer Jelena on to her first Grand Slam title, and with it the validation she deserves.

Come back tomorrow to read my follow-up blog, with my reasons for seeing Jelena win BIG in 2009!

To be continued…

Australian Open Draw Out - WTA

The draw for the Australian Open has just been posted! And here’s a Mobster Blogster view-from-the-sky outlook of this year’s key attractions on the women’s side of the field.

Upper Half of the Draw
Jelena on cruise control until Marion Bartoli in the Round of 16; a possible tricky match up. Look for Jelena to meet Vera Zvonareva in the Quarters.

Ivanovic gets a slightly thicker quarter of the draw with many young talents hiding behind every corner. Watch for a possible repeat of last years match between Ivanovic and the smart and feisty Caroline Wozniacki in the Round of 16. If Ana can scrape by with a win there, look for a blockbuster Roland Garros rematch with Dinara Safina in the Quarterfinals.

Lower Half of the Draw
Venus is gifted a watered-down quarter of the draw, with the prospect of facing a collection of the weakest servers on the WTA tour. She is likely to face the surprise Olympic Champion, Elena Dementieva, in the Quarterfinals.

Serena gets a bunch of sentimental crowd favorites in her quarter of the draw: Amelie Mauresmo, Jie Zheng, and Nicole Vaidasova. However, it's unlikely any of these match-ups will materialize. Here we go again - another Semifinal match-up between Venus and Serena.