|
Post by jimm on Jan 26, 2008 1:07:13 GMT
zzzzzzzzzzzzz but im forcing meself awake
|
|
|
Post by jimm on Jan 26, 2008 11:12:34 GMT
Maria Sharapova won the third Grand Slam title of her career with a straight-sets win over Serbia's Ana Ivanovic at the Australian Open.
The Russian, 20, won 7-5 6-3 to add the Australian crown to victories at Wimbledon in 2004 and the 2006 US Open.
After the pair shared early breaks of serve, Sharapova moved ahead again in game 11 and served out the first set.
And two breaks in the second set were enough to give Sharapova a convincing victory in one hour 31 minutes.
Report: Sharapova takes Aussie title News conference: Maria Sharapova
On a baking hot Australia Day, with temperatures touching 34C, people in the crowd were fanning themselves and the players looked for shade wherever they could find it.
If someone had told me in the middle of last year I'd be standing here with the big one, I'd have said 'forget it'
Maria Sharapova
Sharapova went into the final as the lower ranked player having missed large parts of last season with a serious shoulder injury.
But from the start of the tournament in Melbourne it was clear that her health problems were behind her as she swept through a draw that included Lindsay Davenport, Justine Henin and Jelena Jankovic.
Ivanovic, who had beaten Sharapova on her way to a first Grand Slam final at last year's French Open, had enjoyed a breakthrough win over Venus Williams in the last eight.
It was Sharapova who started as the favourite and she began the stronger, breaking in game six as Ivanovic double-faulted in a nervous game.
The Russian, who had not dropped a set on her way to the final, looked poised to extend that record until a surprising drop in her level from 4-2 ahead.
Ivanovic reeled off three straight games as Sharapova struggled both on serve and with her groundstrokes, and the Serbian was close to a second break at 0-30 up in game 10.
606: DEBATE What does the future hold for Sharapova and Ivanovic?
But Sharapova overcame her brief wobble to hold on before Ivanovic then suffered a slump, handing her opponent a second break of serve with a poor game.
This time Sharapova was not to be denied, serving out to love for the set and almost taking control at the start of the second, just failing to convert two break points.
She was now holding her own service games with ease, heaping the pressure on Ivanovic who finally cracked in game seven with a double fault and a forehand error.
Sharapova showed absolutely no sign of nerves as she held for 5-3 and raced to 0-40 and three championship points on the Ivanovic serve.
The first two chances went begging but Sharapova converted the third when she forced an error, before dropping to her knees in triumph and then tearfully racing to see her father, Yuri, and supporters in the stands.
"This is just incredible," she said. "If someone had told me in the middle of last year I'd be standing here with the big one, I'd have said 'forget it.'
"Last year was pretty difficult for me and my coach (Michael Joyce), who lost his mother, and I really want to dedicate this to her."
Ivanovic said: "Of course I am disappointed but I feel I have plenty of Grand Slam finals ahead of me."
|
|
|
Post by jimm on Jan 26, 2008 13:19:46 GMT
January 26, 2008
Sharapova Downs Ivanovic For Third Grand Slam Title
MELBOURNE, Australia - Her form throughout the fortnight was exceptional and that didn't change on Saturday; although she faced her biggest test yet, Maria Sharapova stayed on top of her game - particularly her serve - to defeat Ana Ivanovic in straight sets and claim her first Australian Open title.
Sharapova, seeded No.5 at the year's first major, was sensational during her first six matches, compiling a winners-to-errors differential of +59 (160-101) and losing only 24 games, the most impressive run to the final in terms of games lost since Arantxa Sánchez-Vicario lost 23 in 1995. It wasn't an easy draw, either: she received the dubious honor of drawing by far the most dangerous floater in the draw, Lindsay Davenport, in the second round, and later faced the likes of top seed Justine Henin and No.3 seed Jelena Jankovic.
She dismissed them all routinely in straight sets.
"I was told I had a great draw at the US Open and then I played horrific tennis," Sharapova said. "You have to take it one match at a time. This was probably the toughest draw I've ever had in a Grand Slam but I'm the champion now. So if I can get a tough draw again and win it, hey, I'd do it any day. You just have to believe in yourself."
The first set of Sharapova's 75 63 defeat of Ivanovic in the title match hinged largely on the end of the opening set. Having broken serve in the fifth game and given that up in the eighth, it looked as though things may be slipping away from Sharapova as she fell behind 0-30 serving at 4-5; but she was determined not to drop serve twice in a row and escaped that situation. And she didn't stop there, breaking Ivanovic before serving the set out at love.
With her serve back on track Sharapova's confidence only grew throughout the second set, as she dropped just two points in four serve games and broke twice during a four-game streak that took her from 2-3 to the trophy.
"This is just incredible - if someone had told me in the middle of last year I'd be standing here in front of you all holding the big one, I'd probably say forget it," Sharapova told the crowd during the trophy presentation. "It was a difficult year for me as well as my coach, who lost his mother, Jane. I really want to dedicate this win to her; after that loss we all suffered I gained a new perspective on life and injuries and how to treat life with respect. It's also my mom's birthday today. Last year I lost, which was pretty depressing, but this year with this big fat cheque I'll be able to send you a big bunch of roses, so look out for those!"
A year ago on the same court, Sharapova was on the receiving end of a 61 62 championship drubbing from Serena Williams; but this year she clearly exorcised those demons and is now 3-1 lifetime in Grand Slam finals with previous title runs at Wimbledon (2004) and the US Open (2006).
Ivanovic, one of the quickest-rising stars on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour who will rise to a new career-high of No.2 in the world, put together an impressive run of her own to reach her second Grand Slam final, her most notable wins being in the quarterfinals against No.8 seed Venus Williams, a player she had never taken a set off of, and in the semifinals against No.9 seed Daniela Hantuchova, who won the first eight games of the match before Ivanovic rallied to win, 06 63 64.
"I want to congratulate Maria for a great tournament and for giving me a tough time today," a teary-eyed Ivanovic said to the crowd. "I'm sure we will be playing many more matches in the future. I want to thank all the people in my box for supporting me and I look forward to seeing everyone again next year."
The result was much different from Ivanovic's first Grand Slam final, in which she fell to Justine Henin, 61 62, at Roland Garros last June.
"It was a better experience," Ivanovic said. "I won more games, but it's still a little bit disappointing because I thought I had lots of chances in the first set and didn't use them. But it's a learning experience for me. I fought hard. I felt a little bit let down with my forehand, making some big mistakes in crucial moments. That wasn't something I was hoping for. I'm still young and I still think I have a lot of Grand Slam finals in front of me. So it's still a learning experience."
Sharapova and Ivanovic weren't the only players to make headlines during the Melbourne fortnight. The Williams sisters showed some solid form early on in the tournament but were both taken out in the quarterfinals, Venus by Ivanovic and Serena by Jankovic; Hantuchova reached her first Grand Slam semifinal before succumbing to Ivanovic; Agnieszka Radwanska surprised No.2 seed Svetlana Kuznetsova en route to her first major quarterfinal; and a slew of non-seeds, like Chinese Taipei's Hsieh Su-Wei and Australia's Casey Dellacqua, made unlikely runs to the second week. But the fortnight certainly belonged to a certain Russian three-time Grand Slam champion.
At 20 years old, Sharapova is quickly building a tennis resume that will likely go down as one of the most complete ever, having already been No.1 and collecting three of the four major titles. It is no shock, then, that the opportunistic Russian was inspired prior to the final by one of the pioneers of women's pro sports.
"This morning I got a text from Billie Jean King saying 'champions take chances, pressure is a privilege.' I'm so fortunate I took my chances today.
"Sometimes when you're putting the work in, it just seems so, so hard, and you never know when that work's gonna pay off. When you're going through tough moments you never know when you're going to have good moments. I'm just so thankful that I got this one."
|
|
|
Post by jimm on Jan 28, 2008 18:14:53 GMT
Sania ranked 29th in the world, number one in Asia
New Delhi, Jan 28 : India's Sania Mirza Monday climbed three places to 29 on the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) Tour and now she is Asia Number One for the first time.
The WTA website shows Sania, ranked 32nd before the Australian Open, has 931 points. This is, however, not the 21-year-old player's career-best ranking as she was 27th in August.
Na Li of China at 32nd is the second best Asian on the WTA ranking list with 882 points.
Sania, who was seeded No. 31 at the just-concluded Australian Open, lost to eighth seed Venus Williams in the third round of the singles competition in Melbourne. Venus Williams won 7-6 (0), 6-4, but not before Sania led 5-3 in the first set.
Sania, who has a forceful forehand, and Mahesh Bhupathi then reached the mixed doubles final. The Indians lost to Tiantian Sun of China and Nenad Zimonjic of Serbia 6-7, 4-6 in the final Sunday.
The Hyderabad-based Sania, who is also a member of the Indian Fed Cup team, turned professional in 2003 and has earned $1,045,416 in prize money so far.
Sania reached quarter-finals of the Hobart tournament this month, going into the Australian Open.
In 2006, Sania won the WTA Newcomer of the Year Award.
|
|
|
Post by jimm on Jan 28, 2008 18:44:35 GMT
Karatantcheva in hot water for skipping Fed Cup event Mon Jan 28, 2008 10:39am GMT SOFIA, Jan 28 (Reuters) - Bulgaria's tennis federation has threatened to fine Sesil Karatantcheva for refusing to play in a Fed Cup zonal event in Budapest this week.
Captain Dora Rangelova picked Karatantcheva for matches in Hungary but the 18-year-old said she wanted to be left out to concentrate on getting points for her world ranking.
Karatantcheva has just returned to the court after serving a two-year doping ban, winning an ITF tournament in Arizona last week.
"Sesil is under contract with the federation and now she will pay a penalty for breaking it," Bulgarian tennis federation general secretary Georgi Donchev told reporters.
"By refusing to play in the Fed Cup it's now unthinkable for her to take her place at the Olympics in Beijing."
Karatantcheva, who reached the quarter-finals of the French Open in 2005 aged 15, beating Venus Williams along the way, said her focus was her ranking.
"I love my country but people should understand me," said Karatantcheva.
"My return to tennis turned out to be much more difficult than I expected. I need to get points from three tournaments now to get back in the ranking. I just cannot afford to miss such an opportunity." (Reporting by Angel Krasimirov; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
|
|
|
Post by jimm on Feb 2, 2008 11:36:28 GMT
Serena out of Paris WTA event
Posted Sat Feb 2, 2008 10:25am AEDT
Serena Williams has pulled out of next week's WTA Paris Open for medical reasons, the tournament's official website said on Friday.
The American, the holder of eight Grand Slam titles, was champion here in 1999 and 2003.
"I am very disappointed to have to pull out of the tournament due to needing a surgery but I hope with all my heart to play in 2009, said Williams whose place in the draw as second seed has been taken by Slovakia's Daniela Hantuchova.
Russian world number seven Ana Chakvetadze is the top seed.
|
|
|
Post by jimm on Feb 4, 2008 17:16:30 GMT
Mirza to boycott Indian tournaments Mon Feb 4, 2008 4:34pm GMT
NEW DELHI, Feb 4 (Reuters) - Sania Mirza will boycott all Indian tournaments, including next month's WTA Bangalore Open, after being dragged into a series of controversies at home in the last two months.
The 21-year-old Asian number one said she had been advised by her manager and mixed doubles partner Mahesh Bhupathi to skip the tournament starting on March 3.
"At this moment, I have been advised by my manager not to play," she told reporters on Monday in her hometown of Hyderabad.
Mirza, who emerged a youth icon since becoming the first Indian to win a WTA tour event in 2005, would have been the big draw alongside American sisters Serena and Venus Williams.
But in the face of mounting criticism, she said she had thought about ending her playing career.
The world number 29 has been summoned by a court in the central city of Bhopal after allegedly showing disrespect to the Indian flag, punishable by a jail sentence if proved, during the Hopman Cup in Perth last month.
She was also forced to apologise to mosque officials in her hometown for shooting an advert on its premises in December after a complaint of trespass was filed against her to the police.
Mirza has also faced opposition from religious Muslim groups for playing in a normal tennis attire.
"A lot has been happening in the last few months, everytime I have played in India there has been some kind of problem so we just thought it was better not to play at this point," said Mirza, who reached the Australian Open women's singles third round and the mixed doubles final with Bhupathi.
"I don't think it was an extreme reaction at all," Mirza told the NDTV channel. "There is something or the other happening. It is not easy to be dealing with stuff like that. I felt great lows in the last few weeks."
Bhupathi defended her decision to skip the event.
"The way things have panned out in the last few months is very unfortunate," he told NDTV. "In the wake of two controversies back-to-back it's probably the right thing for her."
Chief tournament organiser Sundar Raju said he heard Mirza's comments only after being told by the national federation she would play.
"Our role is to provide a platform for Indian players and this is perhaps the highest platform," he told Reuters.
The Bangalore Open has been upgraded this year to Tier II with a $600,000 prize money.
"I'd like to think most people would be happy to be playing among their countrymen who made them a star," Raju added.
(Reporting by N.Ananthanarayanan; editing by Pritha Sarkar)
"I'd like to think most people would be happy to be playing among their countrymen who made them a star,"
Easy for him to say, he's not the one catching all th flak! Outrageous the way the girl has been treated
|
|
|
Post by jimm on Feb 4, 2008 17:25:34 GMT
Monday Report by Barry Wood
Wimbledon is famous for three things - tennis, strawberries and cream, and rain. But Wimbledon is not the only place it rains all over the tennis courts. It happens in most places. But not usually in Pattaya. There are distinct weather patterns in Thailand. It rains quite a lot, but not for long, between May and October. And then it stops. It doesn't rain in February, and it hardly ever rains softly all day long at any time. A heavy deluge, man's rain, for maybe 20 minutes, and then it's done. So no-one expected light rain soaking the courts at the Dusit Resort for hours and hours. Usually the problem is that it's too hot and the heat rule is needed, offering a break for the players before a third set. There are options of course. Ille Nastase once attempted to play while holding an umbrella, and Pam Shriver once came out onto a wet court wearing flippers. Doesn't help the nifty footwork though, so the easier option is to sit down and have a cup of tea and look for a gap in the clouds. On Monday, that didn't come. That meant the only action that some of the players saw was to take an early morning trip to a ceremony held to release baby turtles into the sea as part of a conservation programme. Players who made the trip included Anastasia Rodionova, who used to be Russian but is now representing Australia, who came with her sister Arina, along with American Vania King and Italy's Nicole Clerico. But as far as tennis went, the only time they got onto court was to practise, and even that was on a wet playing surface and in the rain. So we try again tomorrow. After all, it can't rain forever. It isn't Wimbledon.
|
|
|
Post by SuperMarion on Feb 4, 2008 22:03:55 GMT
Mirza to boycott Indian tournaments Mon Feb 4, 2008 4:34pm GMT NEW DELHI, Feb 4 (Reuters) - Sania Mirza will boycott all Indian tournaments, including next month's WTA Bangalore Open, after being dragged into a series of controversies at home in the last two months. The 21-year-old Asian number one said she had been advised by her manager and mixed doubles partner Mahesh Bhupathi to skip the tournament starting on March 3. "At this moment, I have been advised by my manager not to play," she told reporters on Monday in her hometown of Hyderabad. Mirza, who emerged a youth icon since becoming the first Indian to win a WTA tour event in 2005, would have been the big draw alongside American sisters Serena and Venus Williams. But in the face of mounting criticism, she said she had thought about ending her playing career. The world number 29 has been summoned by a court in the central city of Bhopal after allegedly showing disrespect to the Indian flag, punishable by a jail sentence if proved, during the Hopman Cup in Perth last month. She was also forced to apologise to mosque officials in her hometown for shooting an advert on its premises in December after a complaint of trespass was filed against her to the police. Mirza has also faced opposition from religious Muslim groups for playing in a normal tennis attire. "A lot has been happening in the last few months, everytime I have played in India there has been some kind of problem so we just thought it was better not to play at this point," said Mirza, who reached the Australian Open women's singles third round and the mixed doubles final with Bhupathi. "I don't think it was an extreme reaction at all," Mirza told the NDTV channel. "There is something or the other happening. It is not easy to be dealing with stuff like that. I felt great lows in the last few weeks." Bhupathi defended her decision to skip the event. "The way things have panned out in the last few months is very unfortunate," he told NDTV. "In the wake of two controversies back-to-back it's probably the right thing for her." Chief tournament organiser Sundar Raju said he heard Mirza's comments only after being told by the national federation she would play. "Our role is to provide a platform for Indian players and this is perhaps the highest platform," he told Reuters. The Bangalore Open has been upgraded this year to Tier II with a $600,000 prize money. "I'd like to think most people would be happy to be playing among their countrymen who made them a star," Raju added. (Reporting by N.Ananthanarayanan; editing by Pritha Sarkar) "I'd like to think most people would be happy to be playing among their countrymen who made them a star," Easy for him to say, he's not the one catching all th flak! Outrageous the way the girl has been treatedTotally agree Jim. I shake my head in disbelief at what Sania has put up with over the years. If I get the time i'd like to put up a message of support on the Marion blog.
|
|
|
Post by SuperMarion on Feb 4, 2008 22:20:08 GMT
Monday Report by Barry Wood Wimbledon is famous for three things - tennis, strawberries and cream, and rain. But Wimbledon is not the only place it rains all over the tennis courts. It happens in most places. But not usually in Pattaya. There are distinct weather patterns in Thailand. It rains quite a lot, but not for long, between May and October. And then it stops. It doesn't rain in February, and it hardly ever rains softly all day long at any time. A heavy deluge, man's rain, for maybe 20 minutes, and then it's done. So no-one expected light rain soaking the courts at the Dusit Resort for hours and hours. Usually the problem is that it's too hot and the heat rule is needed, offering a break for the players before a third set. There are options of course. Ille Nastase once attempted to play while holding an umbrella, and Pam Shriver once came out onto a wet court wearing flippers. Doesn't help the nifty footwork though, so the easier option is to sit down and have a cup of tea and look for a gap in the clouds. On Monday, that didn't come. That meant the only action that some of the players saw was to take an early morning trip to a ceremony held to release baby turtles into the sea as part of a conservation programme. Players who made the trip included Anastasia Rodionova, who used to be Russian but is now representing Australia, who came with her sister Arina, along with American Vania King and Italy's Nicole Clerico. But as far as tennis went, the only time they got onto court was to practise, and even that was on a wet playing surface and in the rain. So we try again tomorrow. After all, it can't rain forever. It isn't Wimbledon. Who knows how Climate Change may effect tennis tournaments. You find great stories Jim. I nominate you TP2 Admin!
|
|
|
Post by jimm on Feb 4, 2008 22:32:51 GMT
"You find great stories Jim. I nominate you TP2 Admin! " LOL! I dont have too work so I can spend all day looking for Tennis stuff
|
|
|
Post by jimm on Feb 4, 2008 22:33:30 GMT
Daniilidou opens Gaz de France with win
Published: Feb. 4, 2008 at 2:38 PM
PARIS, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- Eleni Daniilidou and Katarina Srebotnik were first-round winners Monday at the $600,000 Open Gaz de France tennis tournament in Paris.
Daniilidou rebounded for a 2-6, 6-2, 7-5 win over Victoria Azarenka, while Srebotnik eliminated local favorite Emilie Loit 6-2, 6-4 to open the indoor tournament.
The Gaz de France is played on GreenSet surfaces at Stade Pierre de Coubertin.
Srebotnik moved into a second-round match Wednesday against second-seeded Daniela Hantuchova, who -- like top-seeded Anna Chakvetadze and the two other top four seeds -- was given a first-round bye.
The 28-player field is playing for a first-place prize of $95,500, which will be awarded Sunday.
|
|
|
Post by jimm on Feb 5, 2008 18:52:07 GMT
TUESDAY'S FIRST ROUND MATCHES Angelique Kerber (5) def. Meng Yuan, 6-3, 7-5 Ekaterina Bychkova def. Yaroslava Shvedova (6), 3-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 :cry: Jill Craybas (7) def. Olga Savchuk, 6-1, 6-1 Tamarine Tanasugarn def. Anastasia Rodionova (8), 6-2, 6-1 Olga Poutchkova def. Alla Kudryavtseva, 6-2, 6-3 Akgul Amanmuradova def. Barbora Zahlavova Strycova, 6-3, 6-2 Lilia Osterloh def. Shuai Zhang, 7-5, 6-2 Renata Voracova def. Melinda Czink, 6-3, 6-1
|
|
|
Post by SuperMarion on Feb 5, 2008 22:50:40 GMT
Tanasugarn again. lol.
|
|
|
Post by jimm on Feb 6, 2008 18:06:10 GMT
Henin and Ivanovic to play at German Open Wed Feb 6, 2008 4:23pm GMT
BERLIN, Feb 6 (Reuters) - The world's top two players, Belgian Justine Henin and Ana Ivanovic of Serbia, will compete at the German Open WTA event in Berlin in May, tournament organisers said on Wednesday. Australian Open finalist Ivanovic won in Berlin last year, coming from a set down to beat Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova for her first title on clay, while Henin is a three-time champion in the German capital. The $1.34-million tournament, expected to attract several more of the world's top 10 players, runs from May 5-11. (Reporting by Iain Rogers, Editing by Clare Fallon)
|
|