Pierce Qualifies for WTA Championships; Male Models in Madrid; Molik to Retire?
Posted on October 22, 2005
Nadal Advances to Ginepri Match-up at ATP MadridRafael Nadal continued to put his knee tendonitis problems behind him Friday at the ATP Masters Series-Madrid, with the top-seeded Spaniard defeating No. 10 Radek Stepanek 7-6(9), 6-4 to move into the semifinals.
"Stepanek was a very uncomfortable opponent and it was a very tough match," Nadal said. "But the important thing is that I'm in the semis in front of my home crowd. I haven't played well in Madrid in previous years and I really want to make the final this time."
No. 5 seed David Nalbandian showed his return-of-serve skills in putting down Croatian qualifier Ivo Karlovic in straight sets.
Also into the semis was No. 16-seeded American Robby Ginepri (d. (11) Ferrer), and No. 8 Ivan Ljubicic (d. (15) Gonzalez from a set down).
"I came out playing extremely well," Ginepri said. "I served well, got off to a good start and David wasn't on the top of his game at the beginning."
Into the doubles semifinals Friday were (2) Black/Ullyett (d. Arthurs/Hanley), (3) Knowles/Nestor (d. (WC) Ferrer/Verdasco), (4) Llodra/Santoro (received a walkover from (WC) Blake/Roddick with Roddick ill), and Paes/Zimonjic (d. Bhupathi/Damm).
Saturday's match-ups are (1) Nadal vs. (16) Ginepri in a first-time meeting, (8) Ljubicic vs. (5) Nalbandian (the Argentine won their lone meeting last year in Madrid), and in doubles (3) Knowles/Nestor vs. (2) Black/Ullyett, and Paes/Zimonjic vs. (4) Llodra/Santoro.
Myskina, Davenport Into Semis, Dementieva Upset at Zurich
Elena Dementieva's post-season chances took a hit Friday in the quarterfinals at the WTA stop in Zurich when the No. 4 seed was ousted by No. 7-seeded countrywoman Anastasia Myskina 6-3, 6-7(1), 6-4.
"It's every time like this between us," Myskina said. "We grew up together, we play together, we still compete together, so it's tough between us."
Dementieva is among a group of players vying for the four remaining spots at the year-ending WTA Championships.
Lindsay Davenport, who will reclaim the No. 1 ranking on Monday from Maria Sharapova, also moved into the semifinals with a three-set win over Italian giant-killer Francesca Schiavone.
"I feel like I've been struggling," Davenport said. "To be able to come through and not play my best really says a lot."
No. 6 seed Patty Schnyder fought her way into the semis from a set down again Italy's Flavia Pennetta, while Serb teen Ana Ivanovic became the only unseeded semifinalist in dropping only four games against Katarina Srebotnik.
"She's a good a player, she's in good form, but I think it was a little bit mentally tough for her after her win over Mauresmo," Ivanovic said of Srebotnik. "I think I'm playing good tennis at the moment, so I'm hopeful I can carry on winning."
Schnyder had a meltdown in her post-match press conference, reacting to what she interpreted as not enough crowd support in her homecountry.
"I have just two things to say," Schnyder said before storming out of the interview room. "Rainer (Hofmann, her husband), I love you, and to the crowd, next time try cheering for me in the first set as well."
Saturday's semifinal match-ups are (6) Schnyder vs. Ivanovic (the Swiss has won both career match-ups easily), (1) Davenport vs. (7) Myskina (Davenport leads 5-2), and in doubles Asagoe/Srebotnik vs. Black/Stubbs, and Raymond/Stosur vs. Hantuchova/Sugiyama.
TENNIS-X READER MAIL
From Annie S:
"I found it somewhat insulting what Richard Vach said in his article (Friday). To refer to the WTA as "bland white-bread" without the Williams sisters is really racially insulting to all the white players on the tour. If it happened that the WTA was made up of 80% non-white players at some point, would Mr Vach feel comfortable in saying "without Maria and Justine, the WTA is just bland RAISIN Bread"? Racism sucks, and it sucks just as bad when directed at whites."
Richard Vach responds: Your point is valid Annie, and I profoundly apologize to you and any other white people who may have been offended. The intended meaning was bland and unexciting, and contained no racial undertones.
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
Mary Pierce has joined Maria Sharapova, Lindsay Davenport and Kim Clijsters as the fourth woman to qualify for the eight-player field at the WTA Tour Championships. Six players remain in the running for the final four spots: Justine Henin-Hardenne, Venus Williams, Patty Schnyder, Elena Dementieva, Amelie Mauresmo and Nadia Petrova...On Monday at 7:30 p.m. (EST), catch the witty repartee between Tennis-X Senior Writer Richard Vach, Tennis Channel CEO Steve Bellamy, Tennis Week magazine founder Gene Scott, and moderator Bud Collins for the debut of "Tennis Insiders: Super Insiders #1" on The Tennis Channel...From the BBC on next year's WTA Championships in Madrid having male models instead of ballboys: "Male models are to be used as ball boys at the end-of-season WTA Tour Championships in Madrid next year. Officials in the Spanish capital have been accused of sexism after employing female models for the last two years at the men's Madrid Masters. But organisers say the move has been so popular, male models will be used for the WTA event from 7 to 12 November. "This adds to the most important event on the WTA Tour calendar," said WTA Tour chief executive Larry Scott. "The players aren't only great athletes, they are also fashion icons and this idea complements the crossover between sport and fashion."" Nice spin Larry, male models sure do add to the importance of your year-end championships...The Age is reporting that next week Aussie Alicia Molik will announce her retirement from tennis after failing to fully recover from an inner-ear infection. Other speculation is that Molik will take a break from the game and come back: "I think I need a long period of time away, first of all to become healthy again, to get over my illness, and second of all to remain happy and to do things to occupy myself," Molik said. "I think it's time to do something for myself for a change. I want to take a lot of stress out of my life."...Neil Harman writing for the Times Online: "The irony in the dilemma over doubles is that it has surfaced at a time when there is far too much stereotype in men's tennis: macho baseline top spin, ferocious pounding of the ball, manic court coverage and, the inevitable consequence -- injuries. Doubles enhances volleying, speed of thought at the net, feathery touch -- a different emphasis to a sport that needs versatility to make it watchable."...Sky Sports subscribers, seems like you're screwed for the weekend in regards to the Masters Series-Madrid...From the James Blake website: "James and Andy [Roddick] had to pull out of the Madrid doubles tournament this morning because Andy became sick overnight, and was, err, having trouble keeping some of Madrid's finest food in his stomach...so it's off to Lyon for the next tournament."...Mats Wilander on never winning Wimbledon: "I won in Australia twice on grass. I beat [John] McEnroe and [Stefan] Edberg. It was nothing to do with the grass. I lost a lot of close matches at Wimbledon. I never lost that many close matches at the French. It has a lot to do with luck. And my mindset at Wimbledon was such that I could not win. I never came there thinking that I am the favourite. I pushed myself. You should take into consideration that I always did well in the clay court season. And I played two weeks at the French every year for my whole career pretty much. Five finals, a semifinal, and a quarterfinal. So I never had the time to spend on grass. In Australia we went a month before. So, I got a good preparation. A lot of different things went into me not winning Wimbledon." Wilander on Andy Roddick and Lleyton Hewitt getting consistently thumped by Roger Federer: "Andy Roddick has the big weapons that really help him win. He needs to use that better and he needs to play a lot more aggressively. When you watch Roddick play Federer at Wimbledon, you wonder how much knowledge he has about the game. He is doing the same thing every time and always getting beaten. It is so predictable. He needs to be unpredictable. He is strong enough and has a good game, but not good enough to beat Federer. Lleyton Hewitt needs to change his style. He needs to serve and volley, take his chances and come in a lot. It is very disappointing to see these guys play against Federer. I understand Federer is better, but give yourself a chance to do something different. If you lose, you lose. What is the problem at this point? Lose 1, 1 and 1 you look stupid anyway. So, do something different."