Vera’s Week in Linz

 

by Vassily

 

Not for the first time in the last few weeks I’m saying “Could have been better”. That’s because Vera plays well lately, but something is preventing her from going all the way to the top of the draw chart and winning another title. In my opinion, that hidden deterrence is Vera’s hectic schedule. She played four tournaments in the same number of weeks since the 29^th of September and that is too much even for the strongest of the players. In those weeks she reached two quarterfinals (in Moscow and Zurich) and this one semifinal in Linz. Yes, all this is not a bad result and is for a good cause of qualifying for the season-ending Championships in L.A., but it really might have been better if she took a week-long break instead of playing in Zurich. Winning the Linz trophy and earning more Porsche Race points for the Championships would have been more likely in that scenario. But now, Vera’s hopes to qualify there are almost completely shattered. Yet, casting that fact aside Vera, who is often called “The determined Russian”, will try to earn those last points this week! We would return to that later.

 

Let us analyze Vera’s week in Linz now. Being the number 3 seed Zvonareva received a first round Bye, which gifted her one extra day to regain at least some of all that lost energy from the previous weeks. As a result the never-say-die Russian played a relatively easy two sets against Marion Bartoli. It was the quarterfinal encounter that was the biggest surprise of the whole tournament. Zvonareva played the whole two-and-a half hours, plus ‘change’ with Israeli Anna Pistolesi, which left me forever wondering how she lasted that long, winning the match. Think of all the stamina needed to play rallies with 20+ strokes from each of the players, although it is partly Vera’s fault that the match lasted so long. Everyone on the Tour knows that Pistolesi prefers to make only safe shots without taking any risks, and in those cases the only way to prevent long rallies is an aggressive play from the opponent. Sadly, Vera did not do that, loosing a lot of valuable energy as a result.

 

22 hours later Vera was on court again. Only God knows where from did the 19 year-old get the energy for another three set battle. After all the trouble in the quarters I wouldn’t have been if Zvonareva lost to the eventual champion and the no. 2 seed Ai Sagiyama in only two sets. Nevertheless, it is a pity that Vera wasn’t able to win, especially at this tournament where the draw gave Vera a real opportunity of taking the trophy home.

 

This week in Philadelphia:

Here comes the last desperate chance to get to the Championships. And ah, she might need to win this one to get there. This week at Advanta Championships would be Vera’s 5^th consecutive week in action and it is doubtful that Vera would get far. She is the no. 6 seed, which didn’t provide her with an easy draw. Zvonareva should be able to get through to the second round, defeating Lisa Raymond on her way, and there she’ll stumble upon Tina Pisnik. The Slovenian played well recently, and might just be capable of this upset of our haggard Russian. Assuming that it does not happen, Vera will face Amelie Mauresmo in the quarters. It would be great if Vera wins that match, which in theory is possible, but she is way too tired.