Kleybs!

There are not enough words to describe Kleybs’ amazing effort to come back to the WTA Tour. It was so great to see her play the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami. (Well, “see” as we all know there was no TV coverage in Miami until today.) Kleybs gutted out her opening round match against Johanna Larsson but lost to Maria Kirilenko yesterday. She played Kiri tough which was a great indication that her level is around where she was before the Hodgkin’s Lymphoma diagnosis.

Kleybs does not have a set schedule for the rest of the year yet but she is planning to play the Family Circle Cup in Charleston which begins on April 2.

Image © Winston Cho/10sworld

Kleybs: 1 Cancer: 0

Last summer, Alisa Kleybanova announced that she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and will be taking a leave from competition. Today, less than a year later, she’s back in full health and has taken a wilcard to the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami which begins in less than 3 weeks.

Kleybs wrote on the WTA website to share this great news:

Hi to all my friends and fans!

It has been a long time since my last message… and now I really want to get back in touch with you and share all the great things and emotions I have!

I finished my treatments in December and a couple of weeks ago I did my last tests in Italy. The treatments were successful, my doctors are happy with my health and I’m feeling great!

I would like to thank the Hospital Gemelli in Rome (Prof. Giuseppe Leone, Dott. Stefan Hohaus and their Team), and the Hospital Silvestrini in Perugia (Prof. Brunangelo Falini, Dott. Flavio Falcinelli and their Team). From the bottom of my heart I want to thank my coach Iulian Vespan, my boyfriend Giacomo, my family and my close friends that were next to me all this time. I will never forget it…

I have started to train and right now I’m in Florida playing tennis again!!! It was physically really hard in the beginning, but it was so emotional that I didn’t want to get off the court This is just amazing, I’m working out every day now and enjoying it so much more than before!

More than anything, I’ve missed the competition. For me tennis is not just going on the court and hitting the ball – it’s testing yourself, seeing how good you are, trying new things, trying to improve, trying to win… For me the best part of tennis is the competition and I’m really looking forward to my comeback!

By the way, I just got confirmed my main draw wildcard into the Miami tournament, so I will see you guys really soon!!!

I don’t think I have ever been more excited ))

Alisa

Go get ‘em, girl!

Kleybs diagnosed with cancer

Alisa Kleybanova announced yesterday that she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a type of cancer in the blood. She is currently undergoing treatment in Italy.

She wrote on the WTA website:

Hello everyone

It’s my birthday today and I want to thank all of you for the wonderful messages. I haven’t written anything for a long time about why I haven’t been on tour, so that’s why I’m writing this today.

It’s not an easy time for me right now. I’ve been a bit unlucky with my health. I have Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a form of cancer. I’ve been having treatment in Italy and it has been going well, but it takes lots of patience and I’ve had to be really strong to go through this. The good news is after I do treatment for a few more months, if I feel well, there’s a chance I’ll be able to play tennis again. I really miss playing – I miss seeing fans and friends around the world, I miss hitting the ball, I miss everything. Tennis has been my life for the last 15 years.

There are a few reasons I’m undergoing treatment in Italy. First, I have a training base and many close friends here, so it’s like home. Second, they have a really great hospital here that specializes in this problem; I’ve been going there since the problem started, so the doctors know me well. It’s the best place for me to be – the surroundings help me stay strong.

I am a strong person. I’ve shown it before. Obviously this is different than anything I’ve ever experienced, but after this is over my life will be even better than before. This is the toughest time in my life, and I hope it always stays the toughest time in my life. I’m sure I’ll be able to overcome this – it’s just a matter of patience and time.

When this is over, everything will be even better than before.

Of course, even though I’m in treatment, I hope I’ll have a fun birthday today I’m really happy I have the best and most important people with me here today. My family and best friends are all here. They’re here all of these days and weeks helping me get through this.

Anyway, I wanted to write to you all because it has been a long time… I won’t be on tour for a little while, but I will see you all again soon

Alisa

I wish her a successful treatment and a speedy recovery!

Australian Open 2011: Day 4 wrap

Soooo, Day 4 was kinda boring. There were a few upsets but no real shockers. Bernard Tomic is still in the tournament. That upsets me. After that marathon 5-setter against Lleyton Hewitt the other day, David Nalbandian was unable to finish his match against Richard Berankis.

Unfortunately, Jelena Jankovic losing early is no longer news. Alisa Kleybanova, Maria Kirilenko and Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez were the other women’s seeds that lost on Day 4.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga gets the picture because he won in straight sets!

Complete Day 4 results here.

Image via Australian Open / © Ben Solomon

Australian Open 2011: Ladies

Caroline Wozniacki is the top seed at this year’s Australian Open. With her new tennis racquet in tow, can she finally breakthrough and win a major? She’ll have to get through a barrage of tough opponents. In her quarter is last year’s Roland Garros champion, Francesca Schiavone [6]. Caro has a potential fourth round match against Marion Bartoli [15] while Franny will try to get past Justine Henin [11]. I would not bet on a Caro/Franny quarter here.

Possible draw ruiners:

• Gisela Dulko likes to take out top seeds in slams and she’ll try to do again in Melbourne in the first round against Caro!
• Dominika Cibulkova [29] isn’t exactly a push over and she could be a threat to Caro (again!) in the third round.
• Yanina Wickmayer [21] and recent Hobart champion Jarmila Groth will face off in a must-watch first round battle. Whoever will win will give Bartoli a run for her money in the third round.
• If, and that’s a big if, Svetlana Kuznetsova [23] shows up, as in her game shows up, in her potential third round date with Justine then… it could be fun. (Note: Fun = Sveta in more and more pressers)

Venus Williams comes in as the 4th seed with Victoria Azarenka [8] in her quarter. Vee has not played a tour match since the US Open last year but played 2 exhibition matches in Hong Kong a few weeks ago. I’m not sure if she’s physically and mentally ready to survive her stacked quarter. But there’s one thing sure of about the Williamses, they don’t need to warm-up. Vee has a potential fourth round match against former Australian Open champion (wa wa wa!), Maria Sharapova [14], and Vika has Li Na [9]. Anyone else want to see a Masha/Vika quarter here?

Possible draw ruiners:

• Andrea Petkovic [30] has been on a steady climb up the ranking and was the finalist at Brisbane just a few weeks ago. She could be tough one for Vee in the third round.
• Kaia Kanepi [20] is one of those names you just don’t want your favorite to meet early. She has a possible third round date with Masha. BUT @luciahoff pointed out to me today that Thomas Hogstedt used to work with Kaia so he should have a nice game plan for Masha going in.
• Aravane Rezai [17] is a potential third round opponent for Li Na. Aravane prefers clay but she can be tough on any surface on a good day. She’s been to the second week of both Roland Garros (2009) and the US Open (2006).

Kim Clijsters is the 3rd seed and heavy favorite to lift the trophy in two weeks in Melbourne. Kim showed some really good form early in Sydney this past week but imploded in the final against Li Na. She blew a 5-0 lead in the first set and eventually lost the match. That said, I’d still pencil (not permanent marker!) her in to get through this crazy and unpredictable cluster in the draw. Jelena Jankovic [7] (you read that right, Top 8 bitches!) anchors this quarter. Kim has a potential fourth round against Nadia Petrova [13] and JJ has Agnieszka Radwanska [12].

Possible draw ruiners:

• We all know Dinara Safina’s been struggling but I’m not counting her out yet. She has a big date with Kim in the first round. ALL EYES ON THIS MATCH.
• Ana Ivanovic has a potential third round match against Nads and there’s a big chance she’ll take out the 13th seed. Nads has been losing to everyone while Ana’s been on a nice run since the end of last year. Hopefully Ana’s stomach injury won’t be a problem.
• Kimiko Date-Krumm is invincible and she’ll be a tough first round match for Aga. Also, Aga’s just coming back from an injury so things are tricky at Camp Radwanska.
• If Aga survives Kimiko and the second round, Alisa Kleybanova [24] will be waiting to blast her off the court in the third round.

2nd seed and greatest person ever, Vera Zvonareva, has a pretty easy draw to the quarters. I think. A perfect opportunity for her to go a few rounds further than last year. Or perhaps match her best showing in Melbourne, semifinals in 2009. Homegirl, Samantha Stosur [5], is in her quarter. They both have very winnable fourth round matches. Sam has Shahar Peer [10] and Bepa has Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova [16].

Possible draw ruiners:

• Everyone is picking Petra Kvitova [25] as a sleeper or whatever but I think Sam will be able to show her the door in the third round.
• Flavia Pennetta [22] over Shahar in the third round is a possibility. Except not really because Shahar has won their last two meetings, both last year (Indian Wells, US Open). But Flavi is awesome and this is the only major where she has not been to the second week yet so, you know, forza!

Trophy case: November 7, 2010

Roger Federer defeated Novak Djokovic in the finals of the Swiss Indoors Basel in Switzerland, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, to claim his 65th career title. This is Roger’s second straight title and third straight final in three tournaments. He has four titles so far this year. What a crappy year.

David Ferrer defeated qualifier and fellow countryman, Marcel Granollers, in the finals of the Valencia Open 500 in Spain, 7-5, 6-3, to win his second title of the year. En route to the title, David had a big win over World #5, Robin Soderling, in the semifinals. This is his ninth ATP career title.

Ana Ivanovic finished off 2010 on a super high note by winning the Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions title in Bali, Indonesia and re-entering the Top 20 at #17. She defeated Alisa Kleybanova, 6-2, 7-6(5), in the finals.

It’s been a good last quarter of the season for Ana with two titles to close out the year. She bumped a certain someone out of that 17th spot. I think it’s safe to say, all’s slowly returning to normal at the Ana camp. Maybe it’s time for me not to ajde as much anymore. *wink*

Italy delivered a whoop ass-ing in San Diego against the United States to win their second straight Fed Cup title.

• Francesca Schiavone (ITA) defeated Coco Vandeweghe (USA) 6-2, 6-4
• Flavia Pennetta (ITA) defeated Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) 7-6(4), 6-2
• Melanie Oudin (USA/Believe) defeated Francesca Schiavone (ITA) 6-3, 6-1
• Flavia Pennetta (ITA) defeated Coco Vandeweghe (USA) 6-1, 6-2

Congratulations, Italy! You are all bad asses and deserve this title!

Images via Getty

Trophy case: September 26, 2010

Juan Ignacio Chela defeated Pablo Andujar, 7-5,6-1, in the finals of the BCR Open Romania in Bucharest. This is JI’s second title this year and the 6th of his career. All of his titles are on clay.

Alla Kudryavtseva defeated Elena Vesnina, 6-4, 6-4, in the finals of the Tashkent Open in Uzbekistan. It’s been a great two weeks for Alla- she was runner-up in Guangzhou the week prior to this tournament. Good to see since she hasn’t done anything after that Wimbledon incident. This is Alla’s first WTA Tour title.

Alisa Kleybanova defeated Klara Zakapalova, 6-1, 6-3, in the finals of the Hansol Korea Open in Seoul. This is her second career title, both coming this year.

New dad, Gilles Simon, defeated Mischa Zverev, 6-3, 6-2, in the finals of Open de Moselle in Metz, France. This is his first title of the year and 7th of his career.