WTA tour: Top ten players in 2010 – Part one
The WTA tour reached its climax with the Tournament of Champions back in October this season. Bettor.com, therefore, takes a look at the top ten players on the tour in 2010 in terms of their overall performances throughout the season. Each part of the article will highlight a single player.
10. Azarenka Victoria
The 21-year-old Belarusian tennis ace, who made her debut on the WTA tour back in 2003, is currently ranked number ten in the South African Airways WTA list. She started her 2010 campaign by playing at the year’s opening Grand Slam, the Australian Open in Melbourne where she was seeded number seven to win the title. In her opening three clashes, the right hander lost just eight games, with a 6–0 set in each encounter. Victoria did well to continue her form in the fourth round as she got the better of Vera Zvonareva from Russia in three sets. The final match score was 4–6, 6–4, 6–0. It was her first win over Vera in five attempts. The Belarusian however was toppled in her quarterfinal match by then world number one Serena Williams with a score line of 4–6, 7–6(4), 6–2.
Seeded number four to win the title at the 2010 Barclays Dubai Tennis tournament, Victoria made her way into the finals, thrashing out Vera Zvonareva and Agnieszka Radwanska in the quarters and semis respectively. In the title battle, she however, was defeated by the defending champion Venus Williams in two sets. The final match score was 6–3, 7–5.
At the 2010 BNP Paribas Open, the 1.80 meters tall contested as third seeded player however was upset in the third round by Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez in straight sets.The final match score was 7–6(4), 6–2.
The professional tennis ace from Belarus next competed at the 2010 Sony Ericsson Open as a defending champion and fourth seeded player on the tour. She however couldn’t go beyond the fourth round as she was bundled out of the event by the ultimate winner Kim Clijsters of Belgium.
At the year’s second Grand Slam, the French Open in Roland Garros, Azarenka surprisingly lost her opening round match at the hands of Gisela Dulko in two sets. The final match score was 1-6, 2-6. By virtue of this defeat, the right hander dropped down to number fifteen in the world.
After finishing runner up to Ekaterina Makarova at the 2010 AEGON International, Victoria played at the 2010 Wimbledon tournament. She overpowered Mirjana Lucic in the opening round and Bojana Jovanovski 6-1 6-4 in the next before losing at the hands of Petra Kvitova in the round three.
Seeded 9th at the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters and Women's Open, the Minsk born fell to Ana Ivanovic of Serbia in three sets despite serving for the match on two occasions in the middle set. The final match score was 2-6 7-6 6-2.
At the United States Open in New York, Victoria thrashed out Monica Niculescu 6-0, 5-7, 6-1 in the first round. During her next round match against Gisela Dulko, the current world number ten while trailing behind at 5-1, collapsed on the court due to extreme hot conditions. She was immediately taken to the hospital and couldn’t continue her run in New York.
She won her fifth singles title of her career at the 2010 Kremlin Cup, beating Maria Kirilenko in the finals in two sets.The score line was 6-3 6-4. Victoria dismissed Andrea Petkovic, Alisa Kleybanova as well as Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez on her way to the final.
At the year ending 2010 WTA Tour tournaments, Azarenka Victoria lost her first round robin clash as she was hammered down by Vera Zvonareva of Russia in two sets.The final match score was 7-6 6-4. She next fell to Kim Clijsters before posting her only victory of the tournament against Jelena Jankovic in straight sets.
Despite her early exit at the WTA tournament, the Arizona resident managed to end the season ranked number ten in the world on the second occasion in a row.
Tags: