|
Federer dominates tennis again in 2005
(AP)
Updated: 2005-12-20 11:33
The Argentine was also responsible for another stunning victory, when he
defeated Hewitt in Sydney to clinch a Davis Cup quarterfinal. Croatia won the
Davis Cup in the fifth rubber over Slovakia in a first-time final for both.
The Fed Cup went to Russia for a second straight year, but unlike in 2004
when they dominated the Slams, the Russians' spotlight was reclaimed by the
Williams sisters and Belgians in a year of comebacks.
Serena Williams, without a major in 18 months, captured her seventh Grand
Slam title at the Australian Open, but would reach only one more tournament
semis because of left leg problems, and finished out of the top 10 for the first
time since 1998.
Venus Williams ended a nearly four-year-old Grand Slam drought when she
stared down a match point and overcame Lindsay Davenport to win her third
Wimbledon, in the longest and one of the most stirring women's finals.
Justine Henin-Hardenne, back from a virus and knee injury which crippled her
2004, won the French Open during a year-best 24-match winning streak then
hamstring problems pinched the rest of her schedule.
Kim Clijsters, who didn't start until late February after wrist surgery in
mid-2004, led the year with nine titles, including her first major at the U.S.
Open. She'd lost her first four major finals. She rocketed from an injury
ranking of 134 to No. 2, and narrowly missed No. 1 which was held for most of
the year by Davenport.
The American won six titles, and set aside retirement after reaching the
finals of the Australian Open and Wimbledon. Davenport joined Chris Evert,
Martina Navratilova and Steffi Graf as the only Open era players to finish the
year No. 1 at least four times. She briefly gave it up to Maria Sharapova, who
became the first Russian and fifth youngest No. 1 ever.
Sharapova reached the quarterfinals or better at all 15 of her tournaments.
Mary Pierce appeared in her first Grand Slam finals in five years at the
French and U.S. Opens, and compatriot Amelie Mauresmo finally broke through in a
big final when she beat Pierce in the season-ending WTA Championships. Another
serious comeback was on the cards when Martina Hingis planned to end a four-year
retirement in January.
Nobody, however, rang the veterans' bell louder than Andre Agassi. A
career-threatening back injury undermined his French Open and sidelined him from
Wimbledon, and a lingering ankle injury is threatening to keep him from next
month's Australian Open.
|
