|
ACURA TENNIS CLASSIC
by Kent Hinckley
The Acura Classic resumes this week in the beautiful La Costa Resort and
Spa north of San Diego. This popular tournament consistently attracts
the top ranked players although this year due to injuries many had to
cancel including #1 Lindsay Davenport and Serena Williams. The
tournament still offers plenty of action as the fans witnessed today.
The biggest contest showcased the always aggressive
Elena Dementieva from Russia seeded #3 against China's top ranked Shuai
Peng, #46 in the
world.
Miss Peng aged 19 has only played in 14 tournaments in 2005 due to her
required participation in China's Olympics which are held in March,
June, and October. These games occur every four years. Her involvement
in these events did not impede her momentum in this second round match.
She lost the first two games of the first set, and then
came out blasting. Her consistent ground strokes pressured Elena
all day.
Not intimidated by the veteran from Russia who was in the finals of the
US Open last year, Miss Peng displayed patience, fleetness of foot, and
her share of winners. The first set showed the aggressiveness of both
players as they crunched lethal forehands and snapped crisp backhands.
Each would wait until a short ball was delivered and
then struck it for a winner. Shuai prevailed 7-5 in the first set.
She continued her momentum in the second set and hit more to
Dementieva's backhand. Surprisingly this strategy produced more
unforced errors, and Elena lost 6-4 and the match. Peng had been close
to beating top players in other tournaments losing in three sets to
Justine Henin-Hardine and to Lindsay Davenport. If she had any doubts
today about outlasting a top ten opponent, she didn't show it. The
tennis world has a new rising star in Shuai Peng. As she gets more
experience and plays in more tournaments, I predict excellent results
for her.
Dementieva has been criticized for her serve in the past. Today it let
her down once again along with an inconsistent two handed backhand.
Everyone probably has an opinion as to how she can
improve her serve. I am no exception and will offer some observations. I
find her motion to be excellent. She displays good form and fluidity. I
believe she
needs to toss the ball higher and not so much out in front. Moreover, it
appears that she slows down prior to hitting it producing an ineffective
follow through. Accelerating through the ball at contact
will give her more consistency and confidence especially on spin serves.
Her second service slice bounces into her right handed opponent's
forehand which can be dangerous and put Elena on the defensive which it
did today.
Dementieva is one of the tour's exciting players. She
displays a friendliness that seems inconsistent with her intensity on
the court. We all wish her well as she addresses some of her
vulnerabilities.
| 