TENNIS 2007 AWARDS: Best Dramatic Performance

The tennis world is heading into its brief off-season after this weekend's Davis Cup final with players enjoying only a few weeks of R & R before hitting the grind for another long tennis season. However, this time gives us a great opportunity to look back, sigh, and honor the players who made us laugh, the outfits that made us cry, and the matches that kept us pinching ourselves (or others if you were so lucky.) We'll offer our take on the best and worst of TENNIS 2007.

BEST DRAMATIC PERFORMANCE - Serena Williams

This part-time actress gave us one of the best - if not THE best - performances of her still-budding acting career. She made us laugh, she made us laugh more, and she made us shake our heads in amazement.

At this year's Wimbledon, Serena 'ReRe' Williams met Daniela Hantuchova in the 4th round. The match went along as expected - ReRe breezed through the first set 6-2 but found more resistance from the Slovak in the second. All of a sudden at 5-all, the 8-time Grand Slam champion fell to the grass with a severe cramp in her left calf muscle. She laid on the court as she was treated by the medical staff but returned to play despite wearing heavy tape on the injury and tears on her disappointed face. Though Daniela went on to win the second set in a tie-break, the drama was just beginning.

As if on cue, the ubiquitous rains of this year's Wimbledon tournament returned and the players left the court to grab shelter. They returned two hours later with ReRe sporting sweatpants and a determined look in her eyes. Like a wounded animal, the American screeched, scowled, stretched, and growled her way past a shell-shocked Hantuchova in the final set, winning 6-2 6-7 (2-7) 6-2.


In her post-match press conference, ReRe had this to say: "It's definitely among my gutsiest matches, [...] I had little to no movement. It was all about hanging in there, hitting aces and going for it. [...] I just decided at one point it was over and I was going to die trying, I was not going down to day - there's no way. I figured my heart wouldn't give out."

We knew it wouldn't either ReRe. We always know we can count on you to bring the drama - and that's why we've honored you with the TENNIS 2007 Award for Best Dramatic Performance. Congrats!