Davenport the Favorite in Amelia Final; Americans Just Say No to MontePosted on April 10, 2005 Davenport Advances to WTA Amelia Island FinalWorld No. 1 Lindsay Davenport will get a chance to improve on her 1-3 record in finals for 2005 when she takes on No. 12 seed Silvia Farina Elia of Italy Sunday in the championship match at Amelia Island. On Saturday Davenport crushed No. 7 seed Nadia Petrova 6-0, 6-3, with the Russian looking sluggish after winning two matches on Friday due to the rain-delayed schedule in the Florida resort community. Davenport reached the final in her last event at Indian Wells, losing to Kim Clijsters. Farina Elia's draw opened up in the quarterfinals when Serena Williams retired at one-set all with a twisted ankle. In the semifinals the Italian routed unseeded Frenchwoman Virginie Razzano 6-1, 6-3. Davenport has defeated Farina Elia in six of their seven career meetings. Ferrer, Andreev Win Through to ATP Valencia final No. 5-seeded Spaniard David Ferrer won two matches Saturday at the rain-delayed ATP stop in Valencia to advance to his first final of the year. Ferrer, a semifinalist a couple weeks back on hardcourt at the Masters Series-Miami, defeated unseeded countrymen Al Martin and Al Costa in straight sets to reach his first final since 2003 Sopot on clay. In the final the Spaniard will meet No. 7-seeded Russian Igor Andreev, who stopped the run of Spanish qualifier Ivan Navarro Pastor in straight sets. Costa was no match for Ferrer in the semifinals after earlier in the day coming from a set down to beat defending champion Fernando Verdasco in three sets. Andreev won his only meeting with Ferrer last year on hardcourt. The doubles final will be (1) Arnold/Hood vs. (3) Gonzalez/Rodriguez. All-Argentine Final at ATP Casablanca Unseeded Argentine Juan Monaco advanced to his first career ATP final Saturday at Casablanca, rolling past fellow un-seed Tomas Zib 6-2, 6-4. "It's been a very difficult semifinal, although I won the first set quite easily," Monaco said afterwards. "I had to fight every single point. What made me win today is that I was very solid, made very few mistakes and kept my concentration the entire match." In the final the 21-year-old will face countryman and No. 6 seed Mariano Puerta, who upset No. 2 seed Filippo Volandri in straight sets. "I am really happy about this victory. It has been a very difficult match from the beginning," said Puerta, who closed out the second set in a tiebreak after failing to serve it out at 5-3. "I had the possibility to win the second set 6-3, but he came back and things could have gotten really ugly." Puerta his only meeting with Monaco earlier this year at Vina del Mar in three sets. "I know Juan a little," Puerta said in previewing the final. "We played each other in Vina del Mar. I barely won, it was a very tight match. He is a young rising player who plays very well and tomorrow it won't be an easy match." In the doubles final the No. 2-seeded Czech team of Cermak/Friedl defeated Garcia/Horna 6-4, 6-3 for their third title of the year. Cash, Bruguera in Final at ATP Seniors in Doha Pat Cash and Sergi Bruguera advanced to the final Saturday at the ATP senior tour stop in Doha. Cash crushed Petr Korda 6-1, 6-2 to qualify for the final, while Bruguera defeated Richard Krajicek. "I played a very good match," Bruguera said. "We had some very good rallies and some fun. I didn't expect anything. I just came to play the best that I could and fight to the end. I am very happy to be in the final considering all the players here and the level that they are playing at." Goran Ivanisevic defeated Henri Leconte 7-5, 6-1 to set up a 3rd/4th place play-off with Cedric Pioline, who defeated Thomas Muster 7-6(3), 7-6(5). DAILY TENNIS-X E-NEWSLETTER Read what tennis industry insiders read each morning to get the latest news, insight and opinion on pro tennis. Get the Tennis-X Daily Dish in your e-mail in-box, even before it's posted on the web, by signing up for the net's most complete daily e-newsletter at http://www.tennis-x.com/subscribe.php TENNIS-X NEWS, NOTES, QUOTES AND BARBS Pat Cash on his son Daniel and the future of Aussie tennis, speaking with the Gulf Times: "He's just 18 year old but is good and can make it big. He has all the qualities in him and just has to cash them. He is currently busy with his studies and could well get into full-time tennis later on. I think he should be left free to do what he wants. I can only guide him but he is an 18-year-old boy and can decide on his own...He has a few qualities that I have. He likes to come on to the net like I do. He can be a good doubles player, let's see...I have started an academy just recently in South Brisbane called the Surface Paradise Pat Cash International Academy. There are around 16 courts. I'm a bit worried about the future of tennis in Australia."...Serena said she is still planning on playing Fed Cup after twisting her ankle at Amelia Island...All the Americans in the Top 100 except Vince Spadea have blown off next week's Masters Series-Monte Carlo on the red clay. |
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