WTA Champs Limps Into Semis, Nadal Says Bad Masters Court Choice

Posted on November 12, 2005

Davenport v Pierce, Sharapova v Mauresmo in WTA Champs Semis

Like an injured animal looking for someone to put it out of its misery, the WTA Championships limped out of the round robin competition Friday with play reflecting weariness and the day's almost-meaningless matches since the semifinal participants were already determined.

"Tired" continued as the buzzword du jour, with Maria Sharapova, Amelie Mauresmo and Elena Dementieva all citing fatigue after Friday losses. Kim Clijsters, a winner Friday after dropping her first two matches to hand Lindsay Davenport the year-end No. 1 ranking, finally seemed ready to play after arriving too late and jet lagged from Belgium to begin the event.

The Frenchwomen Mauresmo and Mary Pierce, both of who had already qualified for the semifinals, played a round-robin finale Friday that reflected their inability to decide whether to play full-out or conserve energy for the Saturday semis.

"I still had the opportunity to maybe win in two [sets]," said Mauresmo, who after winning the first set and losing the second began to realize the folly of playing three sets the day before the semifinals. "And after I lost the second set, it was pretty tough to keep the intensity up for the third. If you're not qualifying, you see things differently. You don't want to push yourself too much."

Defending champion Maria Sharapova had no such trouble making a decision, phoning in a quick loss to countrywoman Nadia Petrova 6-1, 6-2. Still sore from a three-set win over Lindsay Davenport the previous day, Sharapova knew even a loss would have her finishing atop the Green Group with Davenport also advancing to the semis.

"It's hard to get going when your body isn't there and your mind is on your pillow," said Sharapova, whose workday Friday clocked in at under an hour. "It is hard to recover from a tough match in such a short period of time."

In a face-off of two players already eliminated from semifinal contention, Clijsters defeated Elena Dementieva 6-2, 6-3 on Friday. It was an unexpected finish to the year for Clijsters, who won a tour-leading nine titles in 2005 and was tipped to walk away with the year-end No. 1 ranking if not the title in L.A.

The Saturday semifinals line up as Davenport vs. Pierce (American leads career series 8-3), and Sharapova vs. Mauresmo (Frenchwoman won their lone meeting at last year's Championships).

"She is a complete player," said Sharapova on Mauresmo. "I don't think there is one big weakness in her game. She is very consistent, mixes it up, has a pretty good serve. I have to be ready for a tough match."

Saturday also begins the star-challenged doubles semifinals with Cara Black and Rennae Stubbs vs. Elena Likhovtseva and Vera Zvonareva, and Conchita Mart�z and Virginia Ruano Pascual vs. Lisa Raymond and Samantha Stosur.

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