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Being out of town this week on business and quite a bit of pleasure (congrats, Nadia and Rick!) made it difficult to keep up with the WTA year end action in Istanbul. Reading up on the final, it sounds like an exciting and fitting ending to a wild season: two established yet still fresh-faced young guns battling it out in front of a packed, enthusiastic audience. Petra Kvitova made good on her role of reigning Wimbledon Champion, taking out the perpetually pent up Victoria Azarenka 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 for the year end title. The season is closed but do we have closure? Was the 2011 WTA season lacking resolution or completely unsettling for tennis fans? GTT Contributor, Van Sias, is asking all the right questions. Who has the answers? – F.F.

Serves and Returns: WTA 2011: Boom or Bust?
By Van Sias
Welcome to the (for lack of a better word) return of Serves and Returns!

In case you missed it in its earlier incarnation, this is where guest blogger Van (that’s me) throws out a topic for discussion around the game we all know and love, and gets your comments and feedback, which plays into the whole “serves and returns” concept.

This week, I thought I’d get the talks going around the WTA 2011 season as we’re all about to say goodbye to an enjoyable year from a fan’s perspective: four different Grand Slam singles winners with one of them (Petra Kvitova) capturing the year-end championships; the welcome return of Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova to their near-highs; and up-and-comers, like Kvitova and Angelique Kerber, making their way up the rankings.

Well, actually, was it really a great season?

Not to pick on her, but some way, some how, Caroline Wozniacki finished on top of the rankings, despite not making a Major final. We did have to endure the post-Slam slumps of Li Na, Kvitova and Samantha Stosur. Plus, injury knocked out Aussie Open champ and fan favorite Kim Clijsters for much of the season. And it looks like the days of a player dominating appear to be over.
So here’s the “serve” to you:

WTA ’11: a great season, or one that left you longing for more?

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