Caroline Wozniaki- Amazingly Brave in Doha!

Phew, that was one draining, crazy match! Caroline Wozniaki, no.5 seed, was playing Vera Zvonareva in the 3rd round robin match at the WTA Sony Ericsson Championships, and literally limped her way across the finish line.

Caroline came into the match with a hamstring injury, but has played doggedly well so far against Jelena Jankovic and Victoria Azarenka. She should have faced Dinara Safina, no.2 seed, but a back injury ended her challenge yesterday. In the beginning, it looked as if the replacement player Zvonareva would offer little more than hitting practice- the hobbling Dane took the 1st set 6-0. But NO! The Russian came back in the 2nd, 7-5, which dragged us into a long match and the sight of an increasingly weakened and cramp stricken Wozniaki.

As the 3rd set rolled on, Wozniaki was in the lead but stretching manically at every opportunity. Uh oh. You just hoped Wozniaki could see the game out: she's been the more aggressive and focused of the two, but for a little complacency in the 2nd set. And with the 5th game already in play, there would be little choice but to grin and bear the pain or retire from it, so close to a win. On 30-30, that's exactly what happened: after hitting a forehand into the net, a spasm of cramp seemed to strike both legs, and the poor thing fell down unable to move. It was the most uncomfortable thing I've watched in sport, as she lay contorting in pain, all the while knowing the 20 second clock was ticking down in which she'd somehow have to get up and play. Cramp is no joke.

I titled this post 'bravery' because it takes true fighting spirit to plug away as she has in this tournament, and that belief became fact with her incredible effort to go on to win the match. Caroline is usually very good humoured on and off-court, but this show of resilience and will to win in any condition, really marks her mental strength as head and shoulders above most of the WTA players. I'm guessing, future no.1.

Clijsters Gets it Done: US Open Womens Final 2009

This match was far more topsy turvey than you'd think from the outset. While 19-year old Dane Caroline Wozniacki battled hard and got some fab break point opportunities, ultimately experience told. Clijsters held the edge with solid baseline ground strokes, mixing pace, and pressing at the net when needed.

Bloggers, twitterers and commentators talked about a subdued atmosphere on Arthur Ashe. Psh, I didn't see that! The New York crowd seemed a little stunned to even get a match, even if hope of it going the distance faded fast once Clijsters took the first (a little fortuitously) 7-5. Her victory on the horizon, though certainly not sealed, that left space to admire some fantastic long rallies, the wonderful enthusiasm of Wozniacki (who I envied for enjoying the moment whilst battling at the same time -not easy to do!) and the fierceness of Kim Clijsters to finish off a tense final game.

The winner is famously a lovely person, in addition to her competitiveness, and all in all this was a surprisingly refreshing final. Both tried hard, the winner deserved it, no one choked- nothing but celebratory clapping, baby mamma cliche remarks in the trophy ceremony (Mary Jo Fernandez shamelessly trying to provoke more 'I did it for the kid' sooundbites from Clijsters), adorable daughter Jada Lynch pointing excitedly whenever she saw herself on the big screen (move over Shiloh Jolie Pitt, there's a younger blonde moppett in town) and happy tears (not grief stricken what-the-hell-happened-out-there stares into the distance. Sorry Dinara, that'd be you).

I also liked that Caroline speaks fluent Danish and Polish and chose to hijack the airwaves demonstrating this with a lengthy shout out in native tongues to her peeps- go girl, keep on talking, let the music play before you hand over the mike...

For someone who expected to be underwhelmed by the womens final, this kept me on my toes enough. Welcome back Kim!