December, 30th 2009
The ten best women’s matches of the 2000-2009 decade.
1. Justine Henin def. Jennifer Capriati 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(4) – US Open semi-final 2003.
A frenzied Friday night Arthur Ashe Stadium match that finished after midnight, it featured two fierce competitors playing in front of a rowdy
pro-Capriati crowd. Henin needed an IV after the match to get prepared for her final (a victory) over Kim Clijsters less than 20 hours later, while
Capriati was disconsolate. As in 1991, when she lost a heart-breaking third-set tiebreak to Monica Seles in the semi-finals, Capriati again failed to
make it to the final of her nation’s premier event – something she never managed to do in her career.
2. Venus Williams def. Lindsay Davenport 4-6, 7-6(4), 9-7 – Wimbledon final 2005.
Williams won her third Wimbledon title despite Davenport serving for the match in the second set and holding a championship point in the third. By saving
it with a bold backhand service return winner, Williams became the first champion since Helen Wills in 1935 to survive a championship point in the final.
Both players were exhausted in the late going, with Williams winning when a Davenport forehand wound up in the net.
3. Serena Williams def. Venus Williams 7-6(6), 7-6(7) – US Open quarter-final 2008.
The sisters have met 23 times (13-10 for Serena), and this night match was the finest example of the two playing at the top of their games and with a
no-holds-barred attitude on both sides of the net. Venus had an astounding eight set points in the first set, and two more in the second, but Serena’s
slightly superior competitive grit prevailed on the way to her third US Open title.
4. Jennifer Capriati def. Kim Clijsters 1-6, 6-4, 12-10 – French Open final 2001.
The day after her 18th birthday, Clijsters came oh-so close to winning her first Grand Slam title against the more experienced Capriati, 25, in a match
highlighted by a marathon third set. The quality of the match was iffy – Capriati had 79 unforced errors and Clijsters had 76 – but it was a riveting
spectacle featuring the athletic Clijsters, a newly re-dedicated Capriati and rapt spectators, who did the wave before Capriati served out the match at
11-10 in the final set.
5. Justine Henin def. Serena Williams 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 – French Open semi-final 2003.
The match will be forever remembered for the signal Henin made indicating that she was not prepared to receive serve when Williams served at 4-2, 30-love
in the final set. When it was a fault, Henin did not allow Williams a first serve and that upset Williams, who was later in tears at her post-match press
conference. A victory in the final over Clijsters gave Henin her first Grand Slam title, and ended a string of four consecutive Grand Slam finals
featuring Williams and her sister Venus.
6. Justine Henin def. Lindsay Davenport 7-5, 5-7, 9-7 – Australian Open fourth round 2003.
Henin was down on the court with a left thigh cramp at 7-7 in the final set. She then took an injury time-out and came out to serve – almost teetering.
After missing her first serve, she proceeded to hit a second serve ace, on the line! That began a dramatic turn in her favour as a dumbfounded Davenport
was left trying to fathom how her opponent was able to pull off such an amazing revival.
7. Jennifer Capriati def. Martina Hingis 4-6, 7-6(7), 6-2 – Australian Open final 2002.
Hingis was a sad sight as she wilted in near 36-degree (100 Fahrenheit) heat after leading by a set and 4-0, and also holding four match points. At the
end, Hingis looked close to fainting as Capriati completed a remarkable turnaround. Also treated for a thigh problem in the final set, Hingis, then just
21, never again got past the quarter-finals in the remaining eight Grand Slams she played in her career.
8. Jennifer Capriati def. Serena Williams 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 – US Open quarter-final 2004.
The match is now infamous for the bad line call that Williams received in the opening game of the final set, when umpire Marianna Alves of Portugal
over-ruled and called a Williams shot wide that video replays clearly showed was good. The match is often cited as expediting the process toward
instigating the Hawk-Eye electronic line-calling system. It could also be remembered as the last Grand Slam match won by Capriati, 28 at the time, before
a chronic shoulder ailment halted her career.
9. Serena Williams def. Maria Sharapova 2-6, 7-5, 8-6 – Australian Open semi-final 2005.
Williams saved three match points, one with a shot that landed perilously close to the line, to overcome an in-form Sharapova. Williams would go on to
defeat Lindsay Davenport in the final – winning her first Grand Slam title since having major knee surgery in August, 2003. She also saved two match
points against Kim Clijsters in the 2003 semi-finals, making her the only woman in the open era (1968 to present) to win two Grand Slam titles after
saving a match point.
10. Serena Williams def. Elena Dementieva 2-6, 7-5, 8-6 – Wimbledon semi-final 2009.
Williams made it three Grand Slam titles won after saving a match point when she defeated sister Venus in the final after fending off a match point
against Dementieva serving at 4-5, 30-40 in the final set of the semi-finals. Her backhand volley tipped the net and then went into the open court for a
winner against Dementieva, who had played inspired tennis. The 7-6(3), 6-2 victory over Venus in the final gave Serena her 11th career Grand Slam title.
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