Na Li, Ozeki

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Na Li became the 30st female Ozeki (=Champion) of the Open Era today by beating ex-Komusubi (=Junior Champion II) Viktoria Azarenka in straight sets in the French Open quarterfinals. She thus advances to the semifinals, Li's best ever result at Roland Garros. This follows on her memorable Australian Open final loss to Yokozuna (=Grand Champion) Kim Clijsters (who this time went out early).

In the semis, Li will play ex-Ozeki Maria Sharapova, who plays her first grand slam seminfinal since 2008. A tournament victory would propel Sharapova back to her former rank. Sharapova defeated Andrea Petkovic in the quarterfinals, who earned a first-time Komusubi promotion by playing her second grand slam quarterfinal in a row. On a possible Ozeki run is also Sekiwake (=Junior Champion I) and defending titlist Francesca Schiavone if she wins this tournament.

Big titles are are stake in the men's game. If Rafael Nadal wins Roland Garros again this year it would be his 10th Grand Slam title, earning him the title of a Dai-Yokozuna (great Grand champion). Only five male open era players have earned this title thus far (Rod Laver, Ken Rosewall, Bjorn Borg, Pete Sampras, and Roger Federer). Further, Novak Djokovic would become the 16th male Yokozuna of the open era if he reaches the final. In his way is semi-final opponent ad Dai-Yokozuna Roger Federer. Finally, Andy Murray could at long last make it to Ozeki if he would win one more match and make his career-first French Open semifinal. At the moment were this is written, Murray has just won the tie-breaker of the first set over Argentine Juan Igancio Chela.

A Flawless Djokovic Wins his Second Slam

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Novak Djokovic won his second Australian Open last night, blasting past Andy Murray in three sets. Djokovic dropped only one set in the entire tournament, defeating both fellow Ozeki (=Champion)Tomas Berdych in the quarterfinals and Dai-Yokozuna (=great Grand Champion) Roger Federer in straight sets. A truly impressive feat by a matured, determined Djokovic who played marvelously intelligent and disciplined tennis the two weeks in Melbourne. The only player who might have been able to trouble him, Yokozuna Rafael Nadal--who had beaten Djokovic in the final of the US Open--went out injured in the quarterfinals.

Djokovic is now on a Yokozuna run. A final participation at the French Open would elevate him to Grand Champion status: with 2 Grand Slam titles already won, a series F-W-F is sufficient for Yokozuna. And who would doubt that in this form, Djokovic can be at least the second best clay court player of the world. Djokovic also enters the top 20 of the Yokozuna tennis open era ranking (from #31 before this tournament), probably at #19 between Ilie Nastase and Lleyton Hewitt.

Andy Murray lost the third grand slam final of his career: after two straight set losses to Federer (US Open 2009, Australian Open 2010) now another against Djokovic, who like Murray is just 23 years of age. Also not for the first time Murray fell just one victory short of an Ozeki promotion. There is no doubt that Murray plays at Ozeki level, but to date he has been lacking the consistency at the slams that is necessary for an Ozeki run. At this stage, a semifinal at Roland Garros or a final in Wimbledon would do it for the lanky Scot.

Seminfalist and ex-Sekiwake (=Junior Champion I) David Ferrer returned to the sanyaku (=Championship) ranks as a Komusubi (=Junior Champion II) after more than two years of absence. Stanislaw Warwinka of Switzerland reached the sanyaku ranks for the first time, owing to back-to-back quarterfinal participations at the US and the Australian Open.

Here is the men's sanyaku (Championship rank) line-up following the 2011 Australian Open:

Men

Career rank 1/	East	Current Rank	West	Career rank 1/
High Sanyaku (Senior Champion Ranks)
Y	Roger Federer	Y	Rafael Nadal	Y
O	Novak Djokovic	O	Tomas Berdych	O
Lower Sanyaku (Junior Champion Ranks)
S	Andy Murray	S	-	-
S	Robin Soderling	K1	David Ferrer	S
K	Stanislaw Wawrinka	K2	-	-

Kim Clijsters, Yokozuna

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Kim Clijsters became the 16th female Yokozuna (=Grand Champion) of open era tennis last night, by winning her fourth grand slam and the first pair of major titles back-to-back (together with the 2010 US Open title). Clijsters' is the first Yokozuna promotion in the ladies' game since the US Open 2003, when her compatriot Justine Henin attained the highest championship rank. Incidentally, Henin had to announce her second and probably definite retirement from the sport at these Australian Open also, suffering from a chronic elbow injury. At 27 years, Clijsters Yokozuna promotion comes late in her career.

Clijsters won a close and exciting final against Chinese Na Li (pictured below--Li is the family name, thus we write her name this way), who returns to Sekiwake (=Junior Champion I) rank as a result--a rank she first obtained at the Australian Open last year, when she lost the semifinal to Dai-Yokozuna Serena Williams (Serena sat out this Australian Open injured). Na is a French Open semifinal away from an Ozeki (=Champion) promotion, as is her seminfinal opponent Caroline Wozniacki, who will stay at Sekiwake. Clijsters semi-final opponent Vera Zvonareva defended succesfully Ozeki rank. Quarterfinalist Francesca Schiavone will remain at Sekiwake, while Samantha Stosur (3rd round exit) and retired ex-Ozeki Elena Dementieva will be demoted to Komusubi (=Junior Champion II), where they will be joined by quarterfinalist Petra Kvitova.

To this writer is seems that female tennis is finally recovering from a long through during which the game became too dependent on the Williams sisters, and during which hopefuls like Maria Sharapova, Ana Ivanovic or Dinara Safina--all reaching Ozeki rank--could not live up to expectations after promising starts, with failure often related to injury. The "new" bunch--lead by Clijsters, Zvonareva, Li, Wozniacki, Stosur--seems to have a critical mass of quality that promises to make female Grand Slam tennis interesting. Not yet the days of Evert, Navratilova, Goolagong, Mandlikova, or of Graf, Seles, Sanchez-Vicario, but getting there.

Still outstanding is the men's final between long-standing Ozeki Novak Djokovic and long-standing Ozeki hopeful Andy Murray. If Murray beats his buddy Novak tonight he will finally have taken the "great hurdle" --this is what the Japanese term "Ozeki" means literally. The match is the rare event of a Grand Slam final without the Yokozuna Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, who went out in the semis (Federer to a brilliant Djokovic) and quarterfinals (an injured Nadal to his compatriot David Ferrer, who was then wrestled into sumbission by Murray in the semis) respectively. I expect a final of highest quality.

Here are the ladies' sanyaku (=championship) ranks following the 2011 Australian Open:

Women

Career rank 1/	East	Current Rank	West	Career rank 1/
High Sanyaku (Senior Champion Ranks)
Y	Venus Williams	Y1	Serena Williams	Y
Y	Kim Clijsters	Y2	-	-
O	Vera Zvonareva	O	-	-
Lower Sanyaku (Junior Champion Ranks)
S	Na Li	S1	Caroline Wozniacki	S
S	Francesca Schiavone	S2	-	-
S	Samantha Stosur	K1	Elena Dementieva*	O
K	Petra Kvitova	K2	-	-

1/ Highest sanyaku rank achieved in a player's career
* retired

The Top Grand Slam Players of 2010

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Time for a review of the 2010 grand slam season.

Career-high sanyaku ranks are marked with an "*".

1. Rafael Nadal (Yokozuna, open era rank: 7, SF-W-W-W)

Three slam titles (French, Wimbledon, US), completing a career slam, and only one title away from Dai-Yokozuna (great Grand Champion) status. What can one say more. Oh yes: might have won the Aussie Open as well had he not been injured. Nadal's dominance in 2010 was almost scary.

1. Serena Williams (Dai-Yokozuna, 5, W-QF-W-A)

Remains head and shoulders above the rest of the ladies' field: defended her crowns at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, reached the quarterfinals at her lest-favored slam in Paris, had to sit out the US Open. The queen of women' tennis.

2. Roger Federer (Dai-Yokozuna, 2, W-QF-QF-SF)

It feels like this is the twilight of his career, but what a twilight it is: won the Australian Open for his 16th grand slam title, made it to the quarterfinals everywhere else (and to the semifinals at the US Open). At nearly 30 years of age still able to win anything any day.

2. Vera Zvonareva (Ozeki*, 50, R4-R2-F-F)

Made her career breakthrough in 2010 with back-to-back finals at Wimbledon and the US Open. Lost clearly on both occasions, but she has established herself as part of the elite on the ladies' tour. A first-time ozeki (Champion) promotion has been the result.

3. Novak Djokovic (Ozeki, 31, QF-QF-SF-F)

Showed in 2010 why he has been continously at Ozeki since the US Open 2007: regular quarternfinal participant at the slams, semifinals at Wimbledon, then the down to the wire at the US Open after overcoming his nemesis Federer. Lost to, well, Nadal.

3. Kim Clijsters (Ozeki, 15, R3-A-QF-W)

Missed the early part of the season, came back at Wimbledon. Then peaked again in New York, winnning her third slam by blowing Zvonareva off the court--the same player who had still beaten her at Wimbledon. Now the strongest female Ozeki of the open era.

4. Andy Murray (Komusubi, ex-Sekiwake, 50, F-R4-SF-R3)

His career's jo-jo pattern continued: 2nd grand slam final at the Aussie open, early exit at Roland Garros, semis at Wimbledon, then a tough to watch implosion at Flushing Meadows. Clearly has potential for Ozeki, but consitency at the slams continues to lack.

4. Francesca Schiavone (Sekiwake*, 46, R4-W-R1-QF)

The sensation of the 2010 season: won the French Open at an age of almost 30, after having been an also-ran for most of her career, and eanred a promotion straihgt to Sekiwake (=Junior Champion I). Confirmed at the US Open that her triumph was not a fluke.

5. Tomas Berdych (Ozeki*, 81, R2-SF-F-R1)

Had his breathrough year after having been considered a great talent for some time. Semis at Roland garros, then final in Wimbledon, after eliminating Roger Federer in the quarterfinals. Early exit at the US Open, hence kadoban Ozeki at end-year.

5. Samantha Stosur (Sekiwake*, 68, R4-F-R1-QF)

Established hersef firmly in the world elite in 2010 with a first-time grand slam final in Paris that she lost--somewhat surprisingly--to Schiavone. Reached another quarterfinal in New York, where she gave Clijsters one of the toughest match of the tournament.

6. Robin Soderling (Sekiwake, 57, R1-F-QF-QF)

A well-established threat now, can beat any player any day. Reverse fortune at Roland Garros compared to 2009: then he sensationally beat Nadal but lost to Federer in the final, this time he kicked out the Dai-Yokozuna but then fell to Nadal. Quarterfinals at Wimbledon and the US Open. The "George Foreman of tennis" according to McEnroe.

6. Venus Williams (Yokozuna, 9, QF-R4-QF-SF)

The long-time Yokozuna showed that she is still to be reckoned with. The quarterfinal exit at Wimbledon was perhaps a tad disappointing, but her strong run at the US Open all the way to the semifinals compensated, ending with a nailbiter-loss to Clijsters.

Honorable mention:

Mikhail Youzhny (Komusubi, 104, R3-QF-R2-SF), Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (ex-Sekiwake, 77, SF-R4-QF-A), Justine Henin (Yokozuna, 10, F-R4-R4-A), Caroline Wozniacki (Sekiwake, 67, R4-QF-R4-SF), Na Li (ex-Sekiwake, 86, SF-R3-QF-R1)

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The Top 101 Male and Female Players of the Open Era--Update at end-2010

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Nadal enters the top 10, Clijsters now #15

As the U.S. Open have run their course, bringing the 2010 grand slam season to an end, it is time to re-consider the top 101 list of open era tennis players.

Rafael Nadal (picture) improves from #13 at end-2009 to #7, upon winning three more grand slam titles and completing a career slam. One more major title and Nadal would be not only #6 but also Dai-Yokozuna (great Grand Champion)--the only 6th male player of the open era making it to that level. On the ladies' side, Kim Clijsters moved into the top 20 (#15) and is now the highest ranked female Ozeki (=Champion).

The biggest jup of the year outside Nadal and Clijsters made French Open champion Francesca Schiavone, who was not within the top 100 at end-2009 and is now #45. Slam finalists Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Robin Soderling, Tomas Berdych, Vera Zvonareva and Samantha Stosur all made major inroads too.

The top 20 are listed below, the top 101 here.

The Top 20 Male and Female Tennis Players of the Open Era

	Male Players	Highest Rank			Female Players	Highest Rank
1	Rod Laver	Dai-Y		1	Margaret Court	Dai-Y
2	Roger Federer	Dai-Y		2	Steffi Graf	Dai-Y
3	Ken Rosewall	Dai-Y		3	Martina Navratilova	Dai-Y
3	Pete Sampras	Dai-Y		4	Chris Evert	Dai-Y
4	Bjorn Borg	Dai-Y		5	Serena Williams	Dai-Y
6	Ivan Lendl	Y		6	Billie Jean King	Dai-Y
7	Rafael Nadal	Y		7	Monica Seles	Dai-Y
8	Jimmy Connors	Y		8	Evonne Goolagong	Y
9	Andre Agassi	Y		9	Venus Williams	Y
10	John McEnroe	Y		10	Justine Henin	Y
11	Mats Wilander	Y		11	Martina Hingis	Y
12	Boris Becker	Y		12	Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario	Y
13	Stefan Edberg	Y		13	Hana Mandlikova	Y
14	John Newcombe	Y		14	Lindsay Davenport	Y
15	Jim Courier	Y		15	Kim Clijsters	O
16	Guillermo Vilas	O		16	Jennifer Capriati	Y
17	Arthur Ashe	O		17	Ann Haydon-Jones	O
18	Ilie Nastase	O		18	Maria Sharapova	O
19	Lleyton Hewitt	O		19	Virginia Wade	O
20	Marat Safin	O		20	Gabriela Sabatini	O

Kim Shows Again She is a Champion

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Blasting past an overmatched Vera Zvonareva , Kim Clijsters won her third U.S. Open title. Clijsters thus makes it straight back to Ozeki (=Champion) for the third time in career. With three grand slam titles and seven final participants she is now clearly the strongest female Ozeki of the open era. Her career stats are in fact already better than those of Yokozuna (=Grand Champion) Jennifer Capriati, and comparable to those of Lindsay Davenport. One wonders whether a Yokozuna promotion may be still in the cards for Clijsters. A tournament victory down under in January would do it for her, as would two more slams at any venue.

Amidst all the well-justified enthusiasm about the charming Belgian, one should not oversee that Zvonareva earned an Ozeki promotion for herself, owing to back-to-back final participations at Wimbledon--where she lost to Yokozuna Serena Williams, who sat the U.S. Open out injured--and now here at Flushing Meadows. Zvonareva is the 30st female Ozeki of the open era. The last two Ozeki before her, Ana Ivanovic and Dinara Safina, could not hold Champion level following their promotions. One hopes Zvonareva will fare better than them.

The sole participating Yokozuna Venus Williams--apart from Serena also Justine Henin sat the tournament out--did well, reaching her first grand slam semifinal since Wimbledon 2009, where she lost a close encounter to Clijsters. This secures Venus active Yokozuna status for at least another year. By contrast, Elena Dementieva exited in round 4, hence losing Ozeki status for the third time in her career. She will join the other semifinalist (and last-year finalist) Caroline Wozniacki at Sekiwake (=Junior Champion I) rank, as well as the French Open finalists Francesca Schiavone and Samantha Stosur (her 4th round victor), who both made it to the quarterfinals. Kaia Kanepi will complete the Sanyaku lineup as Komusubi (=Junior Champion II)--the first time in Kanepi's young career that she makes it to championship rank. Put precisely, Kanepi is the 56th female Komusubi of the open era.

In the mens' tournament, long-standing Ozeki Novak Djokovic prevented an all-Yokozuna final by beating Roger Federer in five sets. In the final Rafael Nadal is waiting, in a quest to complete a career grand slam. Nadal has looked ferocious thus far at the U.S. Open.