SINGAPORE — Serena Williams won her third successive WTA Finals title and fifth overall by beating Simona Halep 6-3, 6-0 on Sunday, avenging an embarrassing group-stage loss to the Romanian player.
Halep easily beat Williams just four days earlier during the group stage of the tournament, but the American turned that around with an aggressive game plan.
Williams won 11 of the last 12 games in the match to join Martina Navratilova and Steffi Graf as the only players to have won five titles in the season-ending championships.
The 33-year-old pulled out of her previous two tournaments with illness and a knee injury, yet still claimed the $2 million first prize, claimed the Billie-Jean King Trophy and also had a breed of orchid named after her in recognition.
“I just started training, because I had such a bad knee in Beijing I didn’t know if I’d be able to play here, and now I have won the Billie-Jean King trophy — I am so excited,” Williams said.
The match was the most one-sided championship match in the WTA Finals since Kim Clijsters beat Amelie Mauresmo 6-2, 6-0 in 2003.
Williams changed her approach from the group-stage contest, attacking Halep’s second serve with fierce ground strokes, and regularly rushing the net to cut the points short and prevent her opponent from playing her preferred style.
“I had to play more Serena-style tennis and just do what I do best,” Williams said.
“I was expecting a much better player than I was in the earlier round. Being ready for that really was able to help me out.”
Halep’s run in this tournament capped a remarkable rise, having gone from No. 64 in the rankings to No. 4 in the course of 17 months, with a French Open final appearance along the way.
However, her relative lack of experience of big occasions compared to the 18-time Grand Slam champion proved telling.
“I was nervous before the match that I had to play this big final,” Halep said. “I couldn’t manage very well the situation.
“I knew that she would be more motivated during this match because we played a few days ago and I won.”
The irony of Sunday’s match was that Halep had it within her power to deny Williams a place in the final. Halep went into her final group-stage game knowing that if she lost in straight sets, Ana Ivanovic would go into the semifinals at Williams’ expense. Instead, Halep lost in three and Williams made it in.
“I have no regrets because I did my job on court against Ivanovic,” Halep said. “That was the chance but she deserves to win the title. She’s much better.”
Williams said she would have done the same thing if in Halep’s shoes, namely try to win the group game despite the temptation of knocking out her most dangerous rival.
“No one on the tour thinks like that,” Williams said. “She definitely gives her all so I don’t think that went through her mind at all.”
Halep got the first break of the match in the third game and was up 40-0 on serve in the next and looked capable of repeating the surprise 6-0, 6-2 victory over Williams on Wednesday. However, Williams broke back in that fourth game and the course of the match was changed.
Halep won only three points fewer than Williams in the opening set but clinched just seven points in the entire second set — including only two on return. The set was over in just 25 minutes.
Halep’s serve, so effective throughout the tournament, let her down on the big stage where she won fewer than half her first-serve points while Williams won 77 percent.
Halep tried in vain to change the momentum, even trying a drop shot from well behind the baseline, but her spirit and body language quickly deteriorated in the face of Williams’ relentless attack.
Williams had 25 winners against just five by her opponent.
Halep’s victory in the group stage ended Williams’ 16-game winning streak at the WTA Finals, but the American built her career win-loss record in the championships that feature the top eight players to 29 wins and five losses. Williams also retained the season-end top ranking, taking that honor for the fourth time.
The doubles final was even more one-sided with Cara Black and Sania Mirza — in their last match together as a pairing — routing defending champions Peng Shuai and Hsieh Su-Wei 6-1, 6-0.
This is Leander Paes’ seventh mixed-doubles crown.
India’s Leander Paes and Swiss Martina Hingis turned back the clock to post a sensational win in the Australian Open mixed-doubles final and improve their respective Grand Slam count to 15, in Melbourne on Sunday.
The seventh seed Indo-Swiss pair played powerful tennis to serve past third seeds Daniel Nestor and Kristina Mladenovic 6-4, 6-3 in the 62-minute battle at the Rod Laver Arena.
While the 41-year-old Paes clinched his seventh mixed doubles crown, Hingis, who came out of retirement for the second time a couple of years back, collected her tenth doubles Slam apart from her five singles titles.
Paes and Hingis broke the Canadian-French pair of Nestor and Kristina once in the first set and twice in the second to put up an entertaining display.
Paes, a veteran doubles specialist, joined forces with the 34-year-old Hingis last year only to come up with a Slam title in quick time.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Paes on Twitter.
Hingis, who burst into the scene in 1995, thanked her idol and legend Martina Navratilova for suggesting Paes as her mixed-doubles partner.
“I am thankful to Martina (Navratilova) for getting me partner Paes. It’s incredible to be playing on the surface that I made my debut in 1995. I never imagined that 20 year’s down-the-line I would be still be playing here,” said an excited Hingis — winner of three singles Australian Open titles.
Navratilovia, who also partnered Paes to clinch the Australian Open and Wimbledon mixed—doubles crown in 2003, was in the stands to watch the tennis veterans play.
President, Prime Minister congratulate Leander Paes
PTI adds
President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday congratulated tennis ace Leander Paes for winning the Australian Open mixed doubles crown with Switzerland’s Martina Hingis.
Both PM and President took to twitter to praise Paes, who won his 15th career Grand Slam title in Melbourne. “Leander Paes continues to make us proud! I congratulate him on the Mixed Doubles win with Martina Hingis at the Australian Open,” there was a tweet from PMO.
“Congratulations to Leander Paes on the Mixed Doubles win at the Australian Open# PresidentMukherjee” read President Mukherjee’s tweet.
The five month wait for TV heartthrob and Diya Aur Baati Hum actor Gautam Gulati finally came to an end on Saturday. Gautam, a favourite with viewers, won Bigg Boss Halla Bol, beating Karishma Tanna. The actor took home the prize money of Rs 50 lakh and the Bigg Boss trophy.
Bigg Boss 8: Twitterati support Gautam Gulati
Sources inform that Gautam was pitted against Karishma Tanna and Pritam in the top three. However, in an interesting twist of events, all the top three contestants were offered Rs 25 lakh and Pritam, who was also considered as one of the strongest contestants, took the prize money and decided to quit the show. Thus, Gautam won the show leaving behind Karishma Tanna as the second runner-up.
In a recent advertisement published by BJP,have made personal attacks on Arvind Kejriwal and his family.
According to recent post of AAP has in return made a biter reply by commenting: BJP does not have the confidence to openly debate issues with Arvind Kejriwal and nor do they have a manifesto, since BJP has no agenda in Delhi.
BJP’s only campaign point is to personally malign and target Arvind Kejriwal.
AAP wants BJP to openly come out for a public debate which they claim BJP has been avoiding all the time.
The competition between the two parties is getting more intense with BJP’s MPs and MlA’s all entering the last leg of the campaign. The exit polls rating have been fluctuating by the day.
A team of our RNI reporters who are present in Delhi right now have interviewed people in Delhi from all walks of life. The majority of them favour AAP to BJP.
I decided to cover news of Republic with a difference. Out of the glitz and drama of politicians, bureaucrats and corporates I decided to cover news of the slum children who so enthusiastically celebrated Republic without any pride or prejudice. It was a clean simple celebration by the heart with no selfish motives attached. The area that ic hose was Valmiki Nagar, near Govt Colony, Bandra East.
The flag was hoisted which followed by the national anthem with everyone at their attention even the playful wicked little ones. Then small stickers of the flag were distributed along with sweets. All this was arranged with the local boys pocket money. The local corporator had promised some funds but we didn’t get anything complained Saajan who was the coordinator.
After the formalities were over I decide to test their brains. I asked why we celebrate Republic day, we got our constitution this day came the prompt answer. Who wrote it I asked again a quick correct reply. I asked the difference between Independence day and Republic to which they look a little surprised and started scratching their heads.
These youngsters between the age group of 13 to 19 are mostly school drop outs who are employed in various small companies as office boys.
If they were equipped with technical education they would have a much better income and secured life.
New Delhi, Jan. 31 — It’s safe to say that from being an adult film star to a full-time Bollywood actor, the internet has played a crucial part in Sunny Leone’s career (she was the most searched celebrity in India in 2014). Now, given her popularity in the online space, she has been signed on to mentor the participants of an online talent-based reality show.
“When the makers of the show came to me, I was sold on the idea. I will be telling the participants how and what to shoot,” says Sunny, who will give the contestants – including singers, dancers and actors, among others – tips on leveraging the internet to gain maximum mileage.
As part of the format of the show, participants will be expected to make videos showcasing their talent. They will then upload these videos on the web and then be judged as per how much popularity their videos earn.
“The internet is a huge platform, I believe even Justin Bieber was discovered after posting his videos on YouTube. That could be an inspiration, since it proves the power of the web, and of social media. You don’t always need a music company to launch you. Things are a bit different these days,” says Sunny, adding, “Much of my popularity comes from social media marketing and from being active on such platforms. The internet makes entertainment available to everyone.”
– See more at: http://www.bollywood.com/celebrities/sunny-leone/news/sunny-leone-miss-popular#sthash.R8BoXeHc.dpuf
Releasing a ‘White Paper’ on water, the party claimed there has been no improvement in the city’s water situation even after spending around Rs 32,000 crore in the last 10 years.
“The DJB Act will be amended to make clean drinking water a right of people. About Rs 32,000 crore has been spent in water and sewerage sector by the Delhi government over the last 10 years without much improvement,” senior party leader Ashish Khetan said at a press conference in New Delhi.
“The party opposes the privatisation of DJB and reaffirms its commitment to provide clean water in every home at an affordable price. We will abolish the mandatory annual 10 per cent hike in water tariffs,” the Paper said.
Quoting a “CAG estimate”, the Paper claimed that the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) is losing more than Rs 1,000 crore every year due to mismanagement and corruption.
AAP also released a ‘White Paper’ on water listing a host of measures including ensuring up to 20 kilolitres water to every household, connecting every house to piped water connection.
“We will ensure free water of up to 20 kilolitre to every household with DJB’s metered water connection apart from making a time bound plan of action for covering all residents of Delhi with piped water,” Mr Khetan added.
The party underlined that it will take “tough steps” and is committed to a clampdown to eliminate water mafia while regulating private tankers effectively to ensure low cost to the consumer.
The document also said that Yamuna could be revived the way “England revived Thames” by imposing strict rules.
Although, it had no concrete plan of action on the clean up apart from making a cursory mention of disallowing untreated sewage to enter the river and banning all construction on the river bed.
New Delhi: Kiran Bedi, recently missing in the BJP’s Delhi election posters, has got an important thumbs up from top leader and finance minister Arun Jaitley who has defended the party’s decision to pick her as its chief ministerial candidate.
“Kiran Bedi is an excellent choice. She is an iconic police officer with an impeccable track record. She is a bit unconventional, but Delhi needs a leader like her,” Mr Jaitley told NDTV after a busy Friday that saw him hold a two-hour meeting at the Delhi BJP office and address a public meeting in west Delhi.
Amid jitters in the party over Ms Bedi’s candidacy as the key elections enter the last lap, and worry that several of the BJP’s top Delhi leaders are in deep sulk over Ms Bedi being chosen, national leaders like Mr Jaitley have hit the campaign trail.
Mr Jaitley, who is also busy preparing the union budget to be presented on February 28, admitted that it is important for the BJP to win this election, which comes after the Modi government has been in power for eight months. “Each election is a barometer. This election will be a test for the credibility and performance of the BJP government. Though I will say that all elections are not a referendum,” he said.He dismissed reports of infighting and sulks among members of the Delhi BJP, and said that a letter written by Delhi BJP president Satish Upadhyay to party members on Friday not to remain inactive was more to motivate those who were denied ticket.
He also brushed aside reports of differences between top state leaders over the demand for full statehood for Delhi. Sources in the BJP say that while Kiran Bedi favours a dilution in the demand, the man who she replaced as the presumptive Chief Minister, Dr Harshvardhan wanted a firm promise on full statehood included in the manifesto. The BJP had to drop the idea of releasing a manifesto.
Mr Jaitley said, “we aren’t talking about statehood as it is not an issue in this election. The issue this time is governance vs anarchy. But if there is a consensus the key element of statehood – law and order – can be given to the state government.”
New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party on Saturday said the party would not respond to BJP’s five questions as it had already challenged the saffron party’s chief ministerial candidate Kiran Bedi for an open debate, which she “ran away from”.
“Why should we indulge in a debate? We had thrown open a challenge to Kiran Bedi for an open debate,” AAP leader Ashutosh said, and alleged “she (Bedi) ran away simply because she doesn’t have an issue to deliberate upon. She has no idea about Delhi and now BJP is throwing questions.”
The party said the questions could have been fielded by the BJP on a debating forum.
“The point is you could have asked those questions in front of lakhs of people with a moderator present at a public debate. Why didn’t you agree to that now you are trying to throw questions,” Ashutosh asked.
Ahead of the February 7 Assembly polls, the BJP has come up with a ‘vision document’ and not the traditional manifesto so far and has posed five questions to AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal on a daily basis.
Bedi, 65, who had joined earlier this month and was named its chief ministerial candidate, had turned down Kejriwal’s challenge for an open debate, saying she “accepted” the challenge but will only debate with him on the floor of Delhi Assembly and not during the campaign.
PTI
Becomes First Single Video on the Internet to Reach 1B Milestone
PSYs “Gangnam Style” has just become the first video in the history of the Internet to surpass one billion views.
At some point in the 10 o’clock hour ET on Friday (Dec. 21), PSY’s mega-hit reached this unprecedented milestone just 27 days after surpassing Justin Bieber’s “Baby” as the most watched video on YouTube. The video’s YouTube page updated with 1,000,382,639 at 10:50 a.m. A precise time has not been announced.
In the days after breaking the 803 million YouTube view record, “Gangnam Style” has sustained over 6.5 million views per day – that’s 76.4 view per second.
Recent Comments