Tennis: Stanley St fans should get behind their local players

Michael Venus was the standout Kiwi in the tournament. Photo / photosport.nz

Another fortnight of tennis in Auckland has come and gone. There were some undoubted disappointments, such as the withdrawal of Juan Martin Del Potro, the early exits of David Ferrer and the Williams sisters and bad weather during the women's week.

But there was still plenty of memorable tennis - especially in the second week - and some fabulous entertainment in New Zealand's biggest annual sporting event.

Best moment
The sense of excitement and anticipation when Serena Williams walked on court before her first match against Pauline Parmentier.

Biggest disappointment
Serena Williams. Not necessarily for how she played -- which happens in tennis -- but her early exit was an unfortunate "what-might-have-been" moment.

Best women's match
There weren't many to choose from but the standout was the quarter-final between Julia Goerges and Caroline Wozniacki, which featured an amazing comeback from the German.

Best men's match
For entertainment value, the clash between Marcos Baghdatis and Dustin Brown. For drama, there was David Ferrer's exit against Robin Haase, John Isner's escape against Malek Jaziri and Michael Venus' battle with Feliciano Lopez. But for quality and tension, Yen-Hsun Lu's 4-6 7-6 (5) 7-6 (9) victory over Karen Khachanov topped them all.

Best shot
Steve Johnson's effort against John Isner. He was almost in the grandstand as he retrieved a wide Isner forehand, and then ran the full width of the court before scooping a backhand winner past a stunned Isner.

Best shot (2)
Marcos Baghdatis had several beauties but the best was a running backhand passing shot down the line from metres behind the baseline against Adrian Mannarino.

Best shot (3)
Facing match point against Madison Brengle, Serena Williams contrived a forehand crosscourt winner from a seemingly impossible angle in their third set tiebreak. She lasted only a few more minutes on court, but that was one to remember.

Asking for trouble award
Four singles matches were scheduled on the Wednesday day session for the women. Inevitably, the day session (supposed to run from 12.30pm to around 6.30pm) ran hours late, leading to irate punters waiting until after 9pm to get into the evening session.

Best idea
Hawkeye. Whatever it cost - apparently six figures - it was worth it. It added to the entertainment for spectators and to the tournaments' credibility for the players.

Worst idea
For the second successive year, the sound of a revving BMW was blasted over the speakers after every ace. Why? And the tiny speed serve display - hidden within a cutout of a car - was also a head-scratcher. Why have a speed gun if almost none of the spectators can read the display?

Best use of unnecessary force
Serena's security entourage at her Auckland Airport arrival. She needed protection but the small Kiwi media contingent wasn't exactly Fleet Street-esque. Still, ONE News reporter Andrew Saville was sent flying by the best fend he'd received since 1st XV rugby, while your Herald reporter got a decent jab to the ribs.

Quote of the fortnight (1)
"At least I can get out of these conditions, so I can get somewhere better, and warmer weather, too." -- Serena Williams after her second round defeat.

Quote (2)
"Come on crowd, make some noise, he's a Kiwi!" -- A frustrated local fan trying to get his compatriots going during Rubin Statham's second-round match.

The Gordon McLauchlan award for lack of passion
The New Zealand tennis crowds. There was a severe lack of patriotism when Kiwis were in action, especially with Venus and Statham. Both men were on the verge of career defining victories but the crowd was fairly indifferent and way too generous with their applause of the opponents.

Most unlikely champion
World No 61 Lauren Davis, who beat four seeds on her way to the ASB Classic title. She was only the third Auckland female champion from outside the top 50 in the past decade.

The Basil Fawlty award for an under-appreciated Spaniard
Roberto Bautista-Agut. The top seed and defending champion pulled out, saying he was too ill to play his first match, and no one seemed to notice. In fact, most punters were happy, as it meant that the Baghdatis-Brown match was moved to centre court.

Best effort by a New Zealander
Jade Lewis' first set against Venus Williams was remarkable, even if the teenager fell away after that. Finn Tearney was also impressive, and Statham came close to a surprise quarter-final berth. But Venus was supreme among the locals, with a quality of tennis not seen since Brett Steven in the 1990s.

The Michael Cheika award for grace under pressure
Serena Williams, for her exit speech. In 3m 33s, Williams undid a lot of the goodwill she had engendered in her short Auckland visit.

Best timing award
Serena's engagement announcement minutes after touching down in Auckland, which soon made news worldwide.

Worst timing award
The weather on the first three days of the women's event. Williams' comments were over the top but the wind and rain definitely spoilt the start of the week.

Worst campaign
The YWCA's pay parity call on Christmas Eve, which gained almost no traction once a few facts were thrown into the argument.