Dementieva Tries to Overtake Venus for Last WTA Champs Berth

Posted on November 1, 2005

Haas, Rusedski, Blake Lead Unseeded Winners at ATP Paris

Former No. 2-ranked Tommy Haas was the highest-profile winner on an all-unseeded opening day at the Masters Series-Paris Monday, dropping 14 aces in defeating Andrei Pavel 7-6(6), 6-4.

Also into the second round were Brit Greg Rusedski (d. (Q) Seppi), Spaniard Feliciano Lopez (d. Malisse from a set down), Belgian qualifier Kristof Vliegen (d. countryman C.Rochus from a set down), Czech Tomas Berdych (d. countryman Novak), Serb qualifier Novak Djokovic (d. Hanescu who retired with a stomach illness), France's Paul-Henri Mathieu (d. Sanguinetti from a set down), Russian qualifier Dmitry Tursunov (d. Spadea), Swiss lucky loser Stan Wawrinka (d. (WC) Serra), and American James Blake (d. O.Rochus).

"I think I deserved the win," Mathieu said after his comeback victory over the Italian Sanguinetti. "It's more difficult than winning easily 6-2, 6-2. Here I really did with what I had. I didn't have much. I think I have to be given credit for winning that match."

Blake upped his record over Ollie Rochus to 2-1 this year after dropping their first meeting in a Davis Cup loss.

"My serve was the biggest difference today," Blake said. "It's good to be playing so well at this time of the year...The US Open was really the turning point. Now I know I can do it and, on any given day, can beat any player in the world."

Rusedski will next face Davydenko, and a win will ensure him of a 2005 finish as the British No. 1 over rival Tim Henman.

"There will be a lot at stake for me because if I win I will go to British No. 1 for the end of the season," Rusedski said. "I'd love to finish this season as strong as I possibly could. It's been a long road for me, especially since 1999 and it does matter a lot. This is a big thing because I want to prove my rank and finishing British number one would mean a lot."

On tap for Tuesday in Paris are (2) Guillermo "El Mago" Coria vs. Berdych, "Grinning" Greg Rusedski vs. (3) Davydenko, (WC) Clement vs. Kiefer, Grosjean vs. Taylor "Acci-" Dent, Nieminen vs. (WC) Fabrice "The Magician" Santoro, Blake vs. (6) Ljubicic, (Q) N.Lapentti vs. Fernando "Hot Sauce" Verdasco, (Q) Mahut vs. (LL) Lisnard in an all-France, (4) Puerta vs. (Q) Djokovic, Massu vs. Max "The Beast" Mirnyi, (15) Mario "Baby Goran" Ancic vs. (Q) Tursunov, and (8) Stepanek vs. Feliciano "F-Lo" Lopez.

Seed Jankovic Falls at WTA Philadelphia

Unseeded Russian Tatiana Panova derailed the lone seed in action Monday at the WTA stop in Philadelphia, outlasting No. 8 Jelena Jankovic 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 to move into the second round.

Wildcarded Russian Yaroslava Shvedova furthered the Muscovite celebration, defeating Czech wildcard Hana Sromova in straight sets to join Panova in the second round.

Other winners on the day were German qualifier Angelika Bachmann (d. Diaz-Oliva who retired with a wrist sprain), Czech Klara Koukalova (d. (WC) Rolle in three), and American Mashona Washington (d. countrywoman Shaughnessy in three).

"It was a tough match," Washington said. "I knew I had to stay calm and just stay in there because I was serving well, even after she took the second set. I'm just glad to be in the next round."

On tap for Tuesday in Philly are Sucha vs. Foretz, Benesova vs. Sugiyama, Karatantcheva vs. Zvonareva, Vaidisova vs. Henke, and Stosur vs. Raymond.

Canuck Dubois Dumps Seeded Jackson at WTA Quebec City

Canadian wildcard Stephanie Dubois gave homecountry fans something to cheer about Monday at the WTA stop in Quebec City with a 7-5, 6-4 win over low-powered No. 7-seeded American Jamea Jackson.

Seeded winners on the day were (5) Antonella Serra Zanetti (d. Pin from a set down), and (6) Amy Frazier (d. (WC) Wozniak 7-6 in the third).

Other unseeded victors were Slovak Henrieta Nagyova (d. Kostanic in three), Russian Elena Vesnina (d. Bremond), and Brit Anne Keothavong (d. Pastikova, bagel in the first).

Four more were also elevated into the main draw with the completion of the qualifying in Vilmarie Castellvi (PUR), Ansley Cargill (USA), Youlia Fedossova (FRA), and Sarah Borwell (GBR).

Scheduled for Tuesday are Arvidsson vs. Castellvi, Granville vs. Cargill, Schruff vs. Spears, Salerni vs. Ospina, Kloesel vs. Bartoli, Rodionova vs. Pelletier, Kurhajcova vs. Perry, Fedossova vs. Brandi, and Laine vs Borwell.

X-CORRECT
Marat Safin hasn't yet announced his official pull from the Masters Cup -- Russian tennis czar Shamil Tarpishchev announced Safin would not participate.

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