Federer, Schuettler, Clijsters Collect Weekend Titles; Previews of TMS-Madrid and WTA ZurichPosted on October 14, 2003 ATP REVIEW/PREVIEW Rainer Schuettler looked like he was going to limp into the Masters Cup on the strength of his Australian Open runner-up effort and a few semifinals here and there, but the top German has caught fire during the indoor season, on Sunday in Lyon winning his second title in consecutive weeks after beating down local favorite Arnaud Clement, 7-5, 6-3. "I knew it was going to be a tough match because I watched a little of Arnaud's match against Paradorn yesterday," said Schuettler -- doing his own scouting, nice. The German work ethic, if you want something done right, do it yourself. "After I won the first set I felt pretty good. He was trying to put pressure on me but I was waiting for him to attack because passing shots are one of my strengths and luckily it was working." The old Michael Chang strategy -- come in and I'll pass you. In the doubles final, Israel's Ram/Erlich ended the run of Benneteau/Mahut in convincing fashion 6-1, 6-3 for their second title of the year.  It was all Club Fed all the time Sunday in Vienna, where the Swiss not only rolled over Carlos Moya in straights 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 in the best-of-five singles final, but then teamed with unheralded countryman Yves Allegro to win the doubles title over No. 2 seeds Bhupathi/Mirnyi. It was an ATP-best (tying Andy Roddick) sixth singles title on the year for Fed, who did not face a break point in the final. "It feels great, I really wanted to defend this title," Fed said. "It was a solid match from start to finish. Carlos didn't have his best day and I think I really forced him to miss some shots. It was important that he couldn't dominate from the back of the court. To win the first set was very important." The doubles title was the first for the allergy-resistant Allegro. "I'm really happy for Yves," Fed said. "I'd like to congratulate him and thank him for playing with me. It's special to win with Yves and to win the singles and doubles here. We know each other for 10 years. There were some really special moments today."Unless you're injured, having babies, or like Lleyton Hewitt just have no interest, if you're a top ATP player you're in Spain this week for the TMS-Madrid. The roster of seeds includes Ferrero, Roddick, Federer, Schuettler, Moya, Grosjean, Srichaphan, Novak, Philippoussis, Schalken, Verkerk, Calleri, Kuerten, Robredo, El Aynaoui, and Mantilla. The 16 seeds receive first-round byes (since when does this happen at a Masters Series event? Bad idea.), and potential second-round match-ups include (1)Ferrero vs. Ferreira or Ljubicic, (16)Mantilla vs. Kafelnikov, (7)Srichaphan vs. Gonzalez, (3)Federer vs. (WC)Rafael "The Prodigy" Nadal, Fish vs. Henman in an unseeded first-rounder (winner to play (14)Robredo), (15)El Aynaoui vs. former No. 1 Marat "Where is My Mind?" Safin, (4)Schettler vs. Ginepri, (8)Novak vs. Clement, and Blake vs. Mirnyi in a first-rounder (winner to play (2)Roddick). The TMS-Madrid is in it's second year as a newcomer event on the ATP, replacing (but not an ownership transfer for) the defunct TMS-Stuttgart/Essen. Qualifiers into the main draw were Jan-Michael Gambill, Thomas Enqvist, David Ferrer, Alberto Martin, Christophe Rochus, and Olivier Rochus. Andre Agassi won the TMS-Madrid last year in its inaugural roll-out. On court Monday at the TMS-Madrid are Nieminen vs. Gaudio, A.Martin vs. Chela, (WC)Verdasco vs. Massu, (WC)Corretja vs. (WC)Nadal in an all-Spanish (Corretja leads career series 1-0), Zabaleta vs. Lopez, Ferreira vs. Ljubicic (Ferreira leads 2-1), Spadea vs. (Q)C.Rochus (Spadea leads 1-0), and (Q)O.Rochus vs. Ginepri (Roach leads 1-0). Nice "Q" effort by the Roach Brothers. WTA REVIEW/PREVIEW  Kim Clijsters made a statement Sunday in Filderstadt, and that statement was "I'm still No. 1, bizzz-otch." The top-seeded Clijsters beat back Justine Henin-Hardenne, coming back from a set down 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 to reverse an 0-5 count in finals against her countrywoman. Clijsters not only retained her No. 1 ranking with the win, but tied H-H with seven titles on the year. "These are the types of matches that make tennis so much fun," Clijsters said. Yeah, the kind that you win. "I was really enjoying the feeling of going into the third set after the first two were so close. I was a little surprised at how fresh I was feeling at the end of the match, and even now, as my only training last week was some work in the pool after injuring my ankle." Surprisingly it was the usually-well-fit sprite-like H-H who felt it in the third, and not her chunky counterpart. "I was feeling physically tired at the end of the match, and it was hard to start the third set," H-H said. "It was a long match, with lots of good long rallies." In the doubles final, (2)Raymond/Stubbs upended top seeds Black/Navratilova. A solid Euro-heavy field (five of the Top 10) this week at the Swisscom Challenge in Zurich, featuring top seeds Clijsters, Henin-Hardenne, Mauresmo, Dementieva, Rubin, Sugiyama, Zvonareva, and Daniela "The Walking Stick" Hantuchova. H-H could take over the top spot for the first time, depending on how the draw opens up. The top four seeds receive byes, and early-round matches of interest include (1)Clijsters vs. (WC)Pierce (second round potential), (3)Mauresmo vs. defending champion Schnyder (potential second round), (5)Rubin vs. Dokic, (8)Hantuchova vs. the feisty Suarez, (4)Dementieva vs. Petrova in a potential second round all-Russian, and (7)Zvonareva vs. Shaughnessy. Qualifiers to the main draw over the weekend in Zurich were Alicia Molik (AUS), Tina "The Shiznik" Pisnik (SLO), Katarina Srebotnik (SLO), and Amy "Down Goes" Frazier (USA). In last year's final, Schnyder got the hometown crowd behind her to outlast No. 2-seeded Lindsay Davenport 6-7(5), 7-6(8), 6-3. Davenport pulled this week due to her ongoing foot injury. On court Monday in Zurich are Farina Elia vs. Pistolesi, Pisnik vs. Coetzer, Serna vs. Sugiyama, Martinez vs. Frazier, Dokic vs. Rubin, homecountry favorite Casanova vs. Alexandra "Dr. A" Stevenson, and Zvonareva vs. Shaughnessy. WTA ZURICH MULTIPLE WINNERS 6--Steffi Graf (1992-89, '87-86) 3--Lindsay Davenport (2001, '98-97) TENNIS MASTERS SERIES CAREER MULTIPLE WINNERS INDOORS (Since 1990) Boris Becker Andre Agassi Thomas Enqvist Goran Ivanisevic Pete Sampras Marat Safin 2003 SINGLES TITLE LEADERS (through Oct. 12) 7--Kim Clijsters (BEL) 7--Justine Henin-Hardenne (BEL) --------------------- 6--Roger Federer (SUI) 6--Andy Roddick (USA) --------------------- 4--Andre Agassi (USA) 4--Guillermo Coria (ARG) 4--Anastacia Myskina (RUS) 4--Serena Williams (USA) 2003 DOUBLES TEAM TITLE LEADERS (through Oct. 12) 6--K.Clijsters/A.Sugiyama (BEL/JPN) ------------------------------- 5--M.Knowles/D.Nestor (BAH/CAN) 5--S.Kuznetsova/M.Navratilova (RUS/USA) ------------------------------- 4--M.Bhupathi/M.Mirnyi (IND/BLR) 4--B.Bryan/M.Bryan (USA) NOTES, QUOTES, AND BARBS In Lyon Sunday, Rainer Schuettler joined four other players that have won back-to-back titles this year: Lleyton Hewitt, Guillermo Coria, Andy Roddick and Taylor Dent...The ATP is being rocked by allegations that players are throwing matches to gain from Internet betting: "Last week bookmakers suspended betting on the match between Yevgeny Kafelnikov, of Russia, and Fernando Vicente, of Spain, in Lyon six hours before it was due to start after receiving bets from 'marked accounts,'" wrote Reuters, who says other tennis bets have also been following patterns. "Although there is no suggestion that either player was involved in wrongdoing, according to the Racing Post a huge worldwide gamble was made on Vicente, who won 6-2 6-3." The ATP says they are looking into it and have passed some harsh penalties. Players found guilty of gambling could face fines of up to $100,000 and a three-year suspension...According to the AP, Martina Navratilova will play Fed Cup doubles for the U.S. next month against Belgium, likely partnering Lisa Raymond. The U.S. "C"-team is without Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Lindsay Davenport and Jennifer Capriati, while the Belgians are without world No. 1 and 2 Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin-Hardenne, who have shown no interest in the semifinal match-up. Navratilova has an overall 37-0 Fed Cup record, and would be the oldest player to compete...As of Monday morning, the ATP has not released the new No. 1 possibilities this week in Madrid, with Roger Federer and Andy Roddick both poised to take over the No. 1 spot from Juan Carlos Ferrero -- someone buy the ATP a calculator, let's go fellas...Pete Sampras has become an investor, partner, and consultant for Tennis Magazine in the U.S., and will contribute articles and help with marketing. First article: "How to Enter a Tournament Then Pull at the Last Minute"...Lleyton Hewitt has pulled from the remainder of his ATP events this year to train for Australia's Davis Cup final against Spain, and figure out how to launch more lawsuits against the ATP: "I've got a special feeling for the Davis Cup. The final is in front of my home crowd and I want to ensure I'm ready."...Kim Clijsters has quieted the doubters to her right to claim the No. 1 mantle, finally subduing countrywoman Justine Henin-Hardenne in a final, raising her record in finals against H-H to 1-5. Enjoy it while you can Belgians before the Williams sisters return to wreak havoc in 2004...Venus Williams was on hand to throw out the first pitch at Game 5 of the Florida Marlins-Chicago Cubs baseball playoffs Sunday in Miami. On the receiving end of the Venus's toss was Marlins ace Dontrelle Willis, who gave the Grand Slam champion a big hug after the pitch. She also met briefly with Cubs star Sammy Sosa as she was leaving the field. Venus, who has been off the tour battling an adominal injury and the death of her sister, is scheduled to compete at the Philadelphia event October 27. |
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