Serena Wins Istanbul Again, Del Potro Outduels Federer Again

Serena Williams topped off an incredible year with a victory in the WTA Championships in Istanbul.  She defeated Li in 3 sets in the final after surviving Jankovic in 3 sets in the semis to finish the year with an amazing 78-4 record.  She was clearly the best player all year long and this has to be one of the better tennis seasons ever.

-Serena wins her 57th career title, 11th of 2013, last '13 Beijing
-It is her 4th win at the tour championships and 2nd consecutive ('01,'09,'12)
-She hasn't lost a match at the event since '08 - she didn't compete in '10 and '11

Serena (3-0) and Kvitova (2-1) advanced to the semis from one group while Li (3-0) and Jankovic (1-2) advanced from the other.  Kerber (1-2), Radwanska (0-3), Azarenka (1-2), and Errani (1-2) failed to get out of their group.  Jankovic advanced because she took a set off Li.

Serena finishes year-end no. 1 for only the the 3rd time in her career, which is surprising and really shows how little she has cared about the regular tour for much of her career.  She now has 160 total weeks at no. 1 which ranks #6 behind Graf, Navratilova, Evert, Hingis, and Seles.

Li takes over no. 3 in the world, a career high, while Radwanska takes no. 4 and Sharapova slips to no. 5.  Then it is Kvitova, Errani, Jankovic, Kerber, and Wozniacki.

In ATP action, Del Potro and Federer had a rematch of last year's final and Basel, and the result was the same.  Juan Martin Del Potro defeated the local boy in 3 sets, and won his 4th 500-level tournament of the year.  David Ferrer, 3 times a winner in Valencia (once on clay), was thwarted in his title defense by Mikhail Youzhny, who wins his 2nd title of the year.  He has quietly had a solid year.

There was mostly poor play by those in contention for the last spots in London.  Berdych lost early but qualified anyway due to no one else taking advantage.  Gasquet, Wawrinka, Isner, and Simon all suffered early losses.  Really only Federer made to move and he is one win from qualifying.  Wawrinka, Gasquet, and Tsonga are still tightly bunched going into Paris with Raonic not too far behind.  They are trying for the last 2 spots.  Haas, Almagro, and Youzhny must win Paris to have a chance.

ATP 500: Basel, Switzerland

1) Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) def. 3) Roger Federer (SUI) 7-6(3) 2-6 6-4

-Del Potro wins 17th career title, 4th of 2013, last '13 Tokyo

Defending champion: Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) - defended title

Quarterfinalists: 8) Grigor Dimitrov (BUL), Ivan Dodig (CRO), Vasek Pospisil (CAN)-SF, Daniel Brands (GER), Edouard Roger-Vasselin (FRA)-SF, Q) Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA)

Players reaching QF in '12 and '13: Del Potro, Federer, Dimitrov, and Mathieu
Locals performance: 4-4, but 0-3 not counting Federer:  Wawrinka, Chiudinelli, and Laaksonen

Americans performance: 0-1, Kudla l. to Mathieu after qualifying
Note: There was only one 3-setter in the first round out of 16 matches

Third set tiebreaks: Karlovic def. Berdych (R1)

ATP 500: Valencia, Spain

Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) def. 1) David Ferrer (ESP) 6-3 7-5

-Youzhny wins 10th career title, 2nd of 2013, last '13 Gstaad

Defending champion: David Ferrer (ESP) - F l. to Youzhny

Quarterfinalists: 3) Nicolas Almagro (ESP)-SF, 5) Jerzy Janowicz (POL), 7) Fabio Fognini (ITA), Dmitry Tursunov (RUS)-SF, Jarkko Nieminen (FIN), Jeremy Chardy (FRA)

Players reaching QF in '12 and '13: Ferrer and Almagro

Locals performance: 9-10, 4 wins for Ferrer, 3 for Almagro, and 1 for Granollers and Bautista Agut.  First round losses for Lopez, Verdasco, Garcia-Lopez, Andujar, Montanes, and Carreno Busta
Americans performance: 1-1, Isner beat Gulbis but then lost to Chardy
Other notable winners: Pablo Carreno-Busta (ESP), a 22-yr-old who broke out during the clay season, reappeared in an ATP draw, and got a hard court win over Zopp.

Third set tiebreaks: Nieminen def. Becker (R1), Gulbis def. Chardy (R1)

Paris Preview

2013 final: David Ferrer (ESP) def. Jerzy Janowicz (POL)
Semifinalists:  Gilles Simon (FRA), Michael Llodra (FRA)
Quarterfinalists:  Tomas Berdych (CZE), Janko Tipsarevic (SRB), Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA), Sam Querrey (USA)

Prepare to expect the unexpected in Paris in the last Masters tournament of the year.  Just look at those names in the last eight a year ago.  I would look for Djokovic to play well, Del Potro should be a threat, and don't discount Federer.  I would be surprised if Nadal did much and the second tier of players in so inconsistent there is bound to be another Janowicz or Llodra performance to be had.  Paris often produces an unexpected winner.  A big 4 member has won this event only twice (Djokovic in '09, Federer in '11).

Davis Cup Europe/Africa Zonal Group I Relegation Playoffs

Also this past weekend Russia and Sweden survived relegation to Group II, sending down South Africa and Denmark instead.  RUS swept RSA, who didn't have anybody decent on the roster, and Karen Khachanov became the youngest Russian ever to play Davis Cup.  SWE came from 2-0 down to relegate DEN.  Eriksson upset Nielsen 9-7 in the 5th and then 17-yr-old Elias Ymer defeated Martin Pedersen in the live 5th rubber.

The Danes last played in Group II in 2011 but South Africa hasn't been that low since 2008.

2013 Davis Cup is now concluded save the final.  I'll get a 2013 wrap and set the groups for 2014 at some point in the future.