Hat tip to Montana Nick McCarvel, our former Tennis magazine intern and now a full-fledgedblogger, who wrote to me about midway through the BNP Paribas Open to barrack for one of his favorite WTA players. I must say, I wonder how one becomes a Vera Zvonareva fan (not that there's anything wrong with that!). It's just that. . . well, there are so many WTA players out there, bringing such diverse talents, personalities, resumes and personal histories.
Such are the mysteries of fandom, I suppose. But I have to hand it to Nick, he sure called this one. Here's what he wrote:
Hey Pete-
- I couldn’t help but get all worked up about Vera Zvonareva’s run at Indian Wells. Here are some of my thoughts about the topsy-turvy Russian and her potentially bright future. . .*
On Wednesday of last week, an article that ran in The New York Times about the resurgence of Roger Federer in Indian Wells ended with this nonchalant, but telling paragraph: Vera Zvonareva, a Russian ranked No. 6, on Wednesday reached the semis by dismissing the precocious Dane, Carolina Wozniacki, 6-4, 6-4, before a nearly empty main court.
Empty courts are something that Zvonareva is used to. She’s also used to end-of-story blurbs, passing comments by seasoned tennis fans (“Oh yeah, Vera…”) and a less glamorous tennis lifestyle than top stars. She’s always been the bridesmaid to Maria (and Svetlana and Dinara and Elena…). But, she’s suddenly becoming a player who deserves full courts – full stadium courts – and should be put on the radar – everyone’s radar.
There are two distinct Grand Slam moments seared in my mind when it comes to Vera. The first is my image of the elated Russian teen, wearing a tight yellow Adidas visor, pumping her fist after a dramatic three-set win over Venus at the 2003 French. The second is drastically different: a torn and troubled Vera, fighting back tears in the first round of the 2006 Australian Open while being methodically picked apart by a resurgent Martina Hingis.
Two very different images from two very different points in her career.
But this year, as Zvonareva continues her resurgence, that Roland Garros moment from nearly six years ago may become more common than the one in Melbourne - especially if Vera continues to play the steady, confident tennis she exhibited this week in Indian Wells.
I guess you could say that Vera has re-arrived. She reached the title match of last year's year-end WTA championships (losing to Venus after tearing through Ana Ivanovic, Jelena Jankovic and Elena Dementieva - all in three setters. And Vera has opened this year with a sizzling 18-2 record - including her first-ever Grand Slam semifinal, a title in Pattaya City and a now a big-event win at Indian Wells.
A lot happened for - and presumably, to - Vera between that moment on Court Suzanne Lenglen in 2003 and last Saturday. There was that series of injuries in ’05 and ’06, a public emotional meltdown, who knows what other form of turmoil. At one point she talked of quitting tennis.
The women’s tennis tour hasn’t always been about comebacks. Sure, there’s been Monica and Jennifer, and most recently, Lindsay – but when a player like Zvonareva surges into the Top 20 before her 20th birthday and then begins to fade, she usually floats around the Top 40 to 100 before disintegrating into oblivion. And that's what makes Vera unique. She'll be dangerous when the French Open rolls around. She may be the most reliable, heavy-hitting Moscovite of the bunch – and it’s a tough crew to compete with.
So here’s my thought, Pete: It’s all about confidence. Vera has been through it all, and now, her game is clicking. More important though, her confidence is brimming. In a sense, she’s stolen the momentum that Jankovic has last fall and has tucked it under her visor’s brim and is saving it for the big ones. She’s paid her dues on tour for over eight years, and is blooming. Her game - and her mind – are ready to handle it all.
Do you think she’s got a shot at the French? She’s always given the Williams sisters trouble on clay, and while Maria hates the stuff and the Serbians have their own issues to deal with, maybe we should quit talking about Vera, the empty-court player and start talking about Vera, the Grand Slam contender.
-- Nick
Well, Nick, far be it from me to be the buzz-kill here. I think what Vera has done is terrific, and she has plenty of game. But two other factors come into play here: Vera's history, and difference between Grand Slam events and all other tournaments, including premier mandatory tournaments - especially when the full deck of cards isn't being dealt. You saw that the Williams sisters weren't at Indian Wells; that counts for something. In fact, it counts for a lot. I know who I'd choose if I had to pick between Serena Williams and Ivanovic as a final-round opponent. Still, all credit to Vera. She had a great tournament. But to me it has the earmarks of a career run, rather than a career-transforming moment, although I'm not ruling out the latter possibility.
The other factor here is the status of the majors. Vera's history of emotional turbulence is not a terribly encouraging sign when you think about the qualitative difference between the majors and all other tournaments. Although that performance down under was impressive, this is a girl with just one previous Grand Slam quarter to her name, and that was in Paris, 2003. You need a competitive fifth-gear to fight through week 1, and she hasn't demonstrated that she's got one. And beyond that, week 2 is an entirely different event, with increased pressure. It demands different, superior mental and emotional responses. Maybe she absorbed enough experience on that front in Melbourne, we'll have to see.
One thing you look for in these scenarios is consistency. On that front, you're on the right track. Vera has been very consistent this year, and I'll take two consistent months over a flashy tournament win or two any day of the week. We all saw what happened to Dinara Safina last year, starting in the spring. Vera could pull off something similar, although I'm not sure she has enough help (coaching and advice-wise) to navigate the obstacles. But one thing that might help is an adequate sense of opportunism. I've never seen a more vulnerable looking collection of "top players" in WTA history, which suggests that anything is possible - for anyone. Besides, there's no stigma to crying in tennis anymore, right?
-- Pete