14-year-old Michelle Larcher de Brito has entered the Sony Ericsson WTA tour rankings as number 364 in the world. This year, the Lisbon native became the youngest player to win a main-draw match (at the Sony Ericsson Open) since the age-eligibilty rule was put into place in 1995.
If you have The Tennis Channel, you can watch de Brito as she plays World Team Tennis for the Sacramento Capitals.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Razzano wins her first title
Hard-working, entertaining Virginie Razzano, who is a dangerous floater in most tournaments she enters, won her first career title today, defeating Tzipora Obziler, 6-1, 6-2 in the Jinjiannan Guangzhou International Women's Open. The unseeded 34-year-old Obziler, who had to take out Peng Shuai to get to the semifinals, had never before been in a final, and it would have been equally satisfying to see her win in Guangzhou.
Williams wins Hansol Korea Open
Venus Williams defeated Maria Kirilenko, 6-3, 1-6, 6-4, today to win the Hansol Korea Open in Seoul. Williams obviously entered the Tier IV affair to get needed points in the final run to the Sony Ericsson WTA Championships. For some time now, I have wondered why the tour does not do something to prevent top players from entering Tier IV tournaments to grab quick points. Yes, an argument can be made that having a Venus Williams in the tournament raises everyone's level of play, but it also spoils the competitive nature of the event. As a fan, I would not be happy to buy a ticket to a Tier IV event and know beforehand who was almost certainly going to win the title.
Williams was decked out in full Korean costume for the trophy presentation, and appeared to enjoy the experience.
Williams was decked out in full Korean costume for the trophy presentation, and appeared to enjoy the experience.
Ivanovic wins in Luxembourg
Ana "I'm so happy to be here" Ivanovic didn't look too happy to be in Luxembourg today until she was a set and a half into her final against Daniela Hantuchova in the FORTIS Championships. Trailing a set and down 0-3, Ivanovic suddenly found her game, and with it, her aggression. During the first set and a half, she was sloppy and sluggish, and was easy pickings for a sharp Hantuchova. Ivanovic was missing a lot of first serves, and winning only 25% of her second serves, as Hantuchova demonstrated an impressive variety of shots and some very clever strategy.
When Ivanovic got back in, though, Hantuchova's play became shaky and error-prone. We have seen this from Hantuchova before, of course. Many times. In fairness to Hantuchova, when Ivanovic finally got into the match, she got in with a vengeance. Still, Hantuchova's level of play was so high that she should have been able to close, if not in straight sets, at least in three.
I was very impressed with Hantuchova's mental toughness against Patty Schnyder in their quarterfinal match. Schnyder saved three match points in the second set, and another three in the third set. As a rule, that kind of toughness causes Hantuchova to cave, but she hung in and won the match. Yesterday, she was stunning against Marion Bartoli in their semifinal. But once again, placed in the position of winning a tournament, she faded away when she most needed to come on strong.
Final score: Ivanovic def. Hantuchova, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
When Ivanovic got back in, though, Hantuchova's play became shaky and error-prone. We have seen this from Hantuchova before, of course. Many times. In fairness to Hantuchova, when Ivanovic finally got into the match, she got in with a vengeance. Still, Hantuchova's level of play was so high that she should have been able to close, if not in straight sets, at least in three.
I was very impressed with Hantuchova's mental toughness against Patty Schnyder in their quarterfinal match. Schnyder saved three match points in the second set, and another three in the third set. As a rule, that kind of toughness causes Hantuchova to cave, but she hung in and won the match. Yesterday, she was stunning against Marion Bartoli in their semifinal. But once again, placed in the position of winning a tournament, she faded away when she most needed to come on strong.
Final score: Ivanovic def. Hantuchova, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
Friday, September 28, 2007
Ivanovic qualifies for Sony Ericsson Championships
Today, Ana Ivanovic became the fourth player to qualify for the year-end championships when she won her quarterfinal match in Luxembourg. Ivanovic soundly defeated Tatiana Golovin, 6-1, 6-2. She joins Justine Henin, Jelena Jankovic and Svetlana Kuznetsova. There are four more slots to be filled. As of now, the next four in line are Anna Chakvetadze, Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams, and Venus Williams. The season, however, is hardly over.
Chakvetadze out of Luxembourg; Schnyder has a bad day
Number one seed Anna Chakvetadze was taken out of the FORTIS Championships today by Marion Bartoli, who defeated her, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. It was the first time they had ever played each other, and I wish I could have seen it. For several weeks, Bartoli has told the press that her post-Wimbledon stress issues are behind her, but she did nothing to prove that until she got to Luxembourg. Having beaten Both Sybille Bammer and Chakvetadze in succession, she now goes to the semifinals, in which she will face Daniela Hantuchova.
Hantuchova played Patty Schnyder today. Schnyder saved three match points in the second set, and three in the third, but Hantuchova prevailed, 6-3, 5-7, 7-5. Apparently, Schnyder had some problems with the umpiring, and things got a bit out of hand. I'm told she broke her racquet, gave Hantuchova a less-than-cordial handshake, and that her coach/husband, Rainer Hoffman, kicked some of Hantuchova's water bottles over after the match.
Schnyder has an undeserved reputation for poor sportswomanship. The fact is that her peers generally cite her as being a very good sport, and she is one of the few players I know who, as a rule, is very warm toward her opponents during the handshake, no matter how bad a loss she has suffered, and very gracious when she wins. But because of an incident involving Conchita Martinez several years ago at the Family Circle Cup, Schnyder has developed a reputation among some fans as being "rude."
Martinez, as many will recall, had a habit of insisting on using the same balls over and and over if she had won points with them (Henin has now developed this habit to some extent). During this particular match, she apparently slowed things down considerably because of her superstition, and Schnyder became very annoyed. When the match was over, Schnyder pulled her hand away as the handshake was about to take place. She later said, in an interview, that she pulled her hand away so that she could get Martinez's attention and say something to her. No one but Schnyder and Martinez knows what she said.
For her part, Hantuchova, though a charming and intelligent person, has also been known to annoy several opponents because of the way she stalls. Some think that tour umpires have been too kind to her. Schnyder, who is all business on the court, probably had her fill of the stall tactics, too.
My purpose here is not to defend Schnyder regarding today's activities; I'm sure she should have given Hantuchova a regular handshake. My purpose, rather, is to present facts in place of mythology. Yes, Schnyder possibly acted out of line; no, it is not usual behavior for her.
As for Hoffman, he is the latest of several coaches who misbehave; one never knows what to expect of him.
Hantuchova played Patty Schnyder today. Schnyder saved three match points in the second set, and three in the third, but Hantuchova prevailed, 6-3, 5-7, 7-5. Apparently, Schnyder had some problems with the umpiring, and things got a bit out of hand. I'm told she broke her racquet, gave Hantuchova a less-than-cordial handshake, and that her coach/husband, Rainer Hoffman, kicked some of Hantuchova's water bottles over after the match.
Schnyder has an undeserved reputation for poor sportswomanship. The fact is that her peers generally cite her as being a very good sport, and she is one of the few players I know who, as a rule, is very warm toward her opponents during the handshake, no matter how bad a loss she has suffered, and very gracious when she wins. But because of an incident involving Conchita Martinez several years ago at the Family Circle Cup, Schnyder has developed a reputation among some fans as being "rude."
Martinez, as many will recall, had a habit of insisting on using the same balls over and and over if she had won points with them (Henin has now developed this habit to some extent). During this particular match, she apparently slowed things down considerably because of her superstition, and Schnyder became very annoyed. When the match was over, Schnyder pulled her hand away as the handshake was about to take place. She later said, in an interview, that she pulled her hand away so that she could get Martinez's attention and say something to her. No one but Schnyder and Martinez knows what she said.
For her part, Hantuchova, though a charming and intelligent person, has also been known to annoy several opponents because of the way she stalls. Some think that tour umpires have been too kind to her. Schnyder, who is all business on the court, probably had her fill of the stall tactics, too.
My purpose here is not to defend Schnyder regarding today's activities; I'm sure she should have given Hantuchova a regular handshake. My purpose, rather, is to present facts in place of mythology. Yes, Schnyder possibly acted out of line; no, it is not usual behavior for her.
As for Hoffman, he is the latest of several coaches who misbehave; one never knows what to expect of him.
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