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Dent Shoots for Second Straight Title in Moscow; Maria Sharapova Aims for First Career WTA Title in TokyoView Comments (1) | View Discussions
Posted on October 6, 2003
ATP REVIEW/PREVIEW
The Metz final Sunday will be No. 3 seed Fernando Gonzalez (d. Pavel in the Saturday semifinals) against No. 4 seed Arnaud Clement (d. (5)Santoro). "The goal is not to reach the final but to win it," said Clement, looking forward to facing Gonzo. "The most important match is the final. I've won only one title in my career and lost four finals so I'm very hungry. Lyon 2000 feels like a long time ago. (Fernando) is very unpredictable. He can hit the first serve at 110 kmh and the second at 220. He's one of the hardest hitters on the circuit." Gonzalez leads the head-to-head 3-2. The doubles final will be an all-French affair in Aussie Open champions (1)Llodra/Santoro vs. (WC)Benneteau/Mahut.
Taylor Dent will compete for a second consecutive title in two weeks in Moscow after Saturday edging defending champion Paul-Henri Mathieu 7-6 in the third set. In the final the American will face Armenia's Sargis Sargsian, who overpowered American Vince Spadea 6-2, 6-2, and is appearing in his first ATP final since Newport in 1997. "I came here in good shape and playing well," said Sargsian, a frequent practice partner for Andre Agassi. "I was just hoping to keep the momentum going today from my wins this week and it was working for me today. I feel great, it's been a long, long while since I've been in a final. To win a tournament like this, especially in Russia, would mean a lot. There are a lot of people here supporting me, people who have flown in. So it would be special." It will be the first meeting between Dent and Sargsian. "I know Sargsian well, I've seen him play a lot," Dent said. "He plays a style similar to the guy I played tonight, so for me, I just need to focus on my game and force him to play my style by serving and volleying, chipping my returns and coming in." The doubles final will be (1)Bhupathi/Mirnyi vs. W.Black/Ullyett.
It will be a No. 1 vs. No. 2 final in Tokyo Sunday, featuring (1)Schuettler (d. Saulnier in the semis) against (2)Grosjean (edged (3)Srichaphan in three). The German Schuettler will be shooting for his first title in his third final of the year, and Grosjean will be looking for his first title of 2003 in his second final. "It's going to be a tough match against Rainer," Grosjean said. "He doesn't miss and he's a good fighter. It's going to be tough on me, but I'm going to come into the net a little more and play more aggressive, but it will be a close match...Yes, I'm still thinking about the Masters Cup. It was my goal at the beginning of the year, every year it's the same goal. I have a little chance. I'm 12th (editor's note: actually 11th after reaching the final) but will have to play well at the Masters-Madrid and see how I play in Bercy (TMS-Paris)." Grosjean leads the career head-to-head 2-0. The doubles final will be Gimelstob/Kiefer vs. Humphries/Merklein.
WTA REVIEW/PREVIEW
The all-Russian final in Moscow was thwarted Saturday when No. 2 seed Amelie Mauresmo punished No. 3-seeded Russian Elena Dementieva 6-4, 6-1. In the other semi, Russian No. 4 seed Anastasia Myskina pounded Israel's Anna Pistolesi 6-2, 6-0. "I think it was a pretty intensive first set...but I adjusted a little bit to her game and I was really able to find my rhythm," Mauresmo said. Myskina will attempt to become the first Russian to win the Kremlin Cup, with past losing Russian finalists including Elena Makarova in 1995 (l. to Magdalena Maleeva), Anna Kournikova in 2000 (l. to Martina Hingis) and Elena Dementieva in 2001 (l. to Jelena Dokic). Mauresmo leads Myskina 2-0 in their career meetings. The doubles final will be Russians Myskina/Zvonareva vs. the Russian-U.S. combo of Petrova/Shaughnessy.
Russian Maria "Grunt-o-matic" Sharapova continued her ownership of the Tokyo tournament Saturday, beating China's Jie Zheng (nice draw) in straight sets to reach the final, then teaming with doubles partner Tamarine Tanasugarn to win the doubles title 7-6(1), 6-0 over Americans Cargill/Harkleroad. It was the Russian's first career doubles title in her first teaming with Tanasugarn. In the other all-unseeded singles semifinal, Hungary's Aniko Kapros housed Spain's Arantxa "Not That Arantxa" Parra 6-1, 6-2. The final between Sharapova and Kapros will see a first-time tour winner in a first-time meeting. "I don't want to think about it being my first final," said the 16-year-old Russian. "I just want to keep playing the same way and keep playing tough." Not too tough in that field.
ASK THE ANGRY INTERN
A new feature for Tennis-X where we pose pertinent tennis questions of the day to our resident Angry Intern. Why is he angry? You'd be angry too if you found out your paid internship was a...not-paid internship. Hey, it's a tough economy:
Q: Dear Angry Intern:
Why is Anna Kournikova so popular when she hasn't won a title, and doesn't even play anymore since she has a bad back?
A: Before I answer I'd like to say it sucks working here. Never accept an internship that has "free donuts" in its job posting. I've got skills, I should be at ESPN. Anna Kournikova is so popular, to answer your question, because she's hot. That answer your question? It's not brain surgery. And now that the WTA has figured out the formula, look for more skin and tighter tops in 2004. Skin to win baby, that's the ticket, soon they'll be playing naked. The WTA says it "doesn't promote sex," but you know the score -- again, not brain surgery. If the WTA is telling the truth, then why is new WTA CEO Larry Scott trying to roll back the rule that doesn't allow teen hotties to play a full tournament schedule? Answer: Because he wants the Ashley Harkleroads and Maria Sharapovas out there, no matter how young they are, because hotties make headlines, and are always saying stupid shit or having fights with their fathers or crying on court or shoplifting. Anna set the new WTA Tour marketing standard, now we're all just along for the soft porn ride.
NOTES, QUOTES, AND BARBS
Anna Kournikova is no longer employing a coach, since she is out indefinitely with a back injury: "Basically, I've had an injury nearly every single year," Kournikova told The Guardian. "In '97 I had a stress fracture and was out for three months; in '98 I had a torn ligament in my thumb and was out for three months; in '99 I had another stress fracture for three months; and then in 2001 I didn't basically play the whole year." Playing too much at a young age cut short the careers of Kournikova and Martina Hingis, and WTA CEO Larry Scott wants to kill the rule that restricts 16-and-unders from playing a full tournament schedule? Nice one WTA, way to take care of your own...Amelie Mauresmo and Anastasia Myskina have both improved their chances of qualifying for the eight-woman year-end WTA Championships by reaching the finals in Moscow...Taylor Dent, on a nine-match winning streak, is the first American to reach the Kremlin Cup final since Chuckie Adams lost to Alexander Volkov in 1994...Arnaud Clement dates Camille Pin, a player on the WTA Tour...For the first time in the Open Era, four French players will contest the doubles final of an ATP event, in Metz (France)...Taylor Dent has won 14 consecutive indoor matches...Vince Spadea won three times this week from a set down in Moscow...The Eindhoven senior tour final will be a repeat of last year in John McEnroe (d. Muster 7-5, 6-4 in the semis) vs. Petr Korda (d. Emilio Sanchez 6-3, 6-2)...Germany's top player Rainer Schuettler credits Andre Agassi with showing him how much of a push he was at the beginning of the year: "He (Agassi) absolutely killed me (in the Australian Open final). After 15 minutes I was two breaks down. But then I played him in Montreal and I knew I wanted to try everything to beat him once in my life. Again, he killed me in the first set but this time I managed to win the next two. He really goes for his shots...takes more risks. When you look at Agassi, he does everything to put pressure on his opponent. I try to take more risks now and go for my shots."...Marat Safin plans to play every week through the end of the year, way to ease back in from injury dumb-ass.
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