Tennis: It's one week to the next

Caroline Wozniacki was in the thick of the best action. Photo / Getty

The New Zealand Festival of Tennis wound up yesterday. Michael Burgess looks at the highs and lows of the fortnight

Best match: For the occasion, the drama and quality of play it had to be the ASB Classic final between Venus Williams and Caroline Wozniacki, which had everything.

Worst match: The Heineken Open quarter-final between Adrian Mannarino and Alejandro Falla, riddled with unforced errors and poor play.

Best moment: Michael Venus winning his first-round match, after defending three match points against Alejandro Gonzalez. If there was a roof in the stadium it would have lifted off, such was the explosion of joy in the arena.

Worst moment: When Tommy Robredo pulled out of the Heineken Open, hot on the heels of three other high-profile withdrawals.

Best drama: The second set tiebreak between Kevin Anderson and Steve Johnson. Special mention also to Wozniacki's semifinal against Barbora Zahlavova-Strycova.

Best atmosphere: Two moments in particular - (1) Marina Erakovic getting her campaign off to a winning start and (2) the sheer jubilation around the stadium when Michael Venus and Artem Sitak scored an unexpected doubles win.

Best quote (1): "No, not really ... I'm wearing my Rolex," said Wozniacki, when asked if she felt nervous walking around with a $15,000 bracelet (a sponsor's gift) on her wrist.

Best idea: The new temporary roof-top grandstand. It offered a birds-eye view of centre court and gave several hundred more people the chance to see the action.

Worst idea: The BMW-sponsored revving sound whenever someone hit an ace. It may have seemed like a fantastic idea when discussed in the marketing boardroom but was out of place and a bit weird.

Best quote (2): "I know, I'm living my life backwards. It's the strange case of Venus Williams." - the American explains why she had gone back to university to study maths.

Best decision: Lucas Pouille changing his travel plans, which enabled him to grab a 'lucky loser' spot.

Worst decision: The umpiring call which denied the Bryan brothers on match point. If only ...

Best quote (3): "I try to relax but, if I completely let my brains go, I'm not back on tour next year. I always have to keep my hand on the wheel and make the right decisions so I don't screw up my health, my body and my regime." - Ernests Gulbis on his off-season.

Biggest bonus: The fairytale stories provided by the likes of qualifiers Urszula Radwanska and Jiri Vesely and lucky loser Pouille.

Biggest disappointment: The early exit of Gulbis. There were hints of the Latvian's genius in his opening match but it wasn't to be.

Best quote (4): "When you're thinking about not making double faults, for sure you're going to make it. I wish sometimes I had no brain." - Adrian Mannarino.

Best shot: So many contenders, but Williams' scorching backhand winner midway through the second set of the ASB Classic final will take some beating. The American looked cornered as Wozniacki approached the net but found an incredible angle for the winner.

Biggest mystery: The disappearance of the on-court scoreboards. Did someone just forget to retrieve them from out the back?

Best quote (5): "When I got my first [match point] I said, 'mate, just be aggressive'. This is unbelievable." - Venus reflecting on his historic victory.

Most awkward moment: A fax machine whirring into action during a press conference at the ASB Classic. Sure, it's also embarrassing when a phone goes off at an inopportune moment but who is still using faxes?

Most unlikely hero: Wesley Whitehouse. There were a few raised eyebrows as Whitehouse, built more like a rugby prop, took the court for his first-round doubles match alongside Finn Tearney but the two Kiwis came oh-so-close to upsetting their opponents and the 36-year-old Whitehouse had a stunning game.