Davenport, Sharapova Play in Snow; Roddick v Fish Today
Posted on February 21, 2006
Davydenko Fights Off Injury at ATP RotterdamTop 10er and No. 2 seed Nikolay Davydenko won through his first round Monday at the ATP stop in Rotterdam, defeating Czech Jan Hernych 6-3, 6-3, but a left foot injury may be a bigger obstacle in the second round than opponent Greg Rusedski.
The Russian took an injury timeout for a taping of his foot in the last game of the first set.
"After that kind of taping, you don't feel the pain, you just feel the tape," Davydenko said of the treatment that allowed him to pull through. "I expect to be ready for Wednesday. I'll be ready to play Rusedski."
Rusedski advanced to his meeting with the Russian after a straight-set win over Czech Robin Vik.
"He returns so well," Rusedski said of Vik. "But at the beginning I just couldn't miss. I managed to stay on top, played some great tennis, and I'm very pleased with it. He played a little better in the second set but I though from about 4-4, I played some really good tennis and came up with the break."
Other winners into the second round Monday were qualifiers Gilles Simon of France (d. Moodie in three) and German Dominik Meffert (d. (WC) Sluiter who retired with a leg injury), and American Taylor Dent (d. (8) Berdych) with the lone upset on the day.
Thus far 14 players have pulled out of the maligned Rotterdam event.
On court Monday are Andreev vs. (Q) Daniele "Choppin'" Bracciali, (LL) Parmar vs. Paradorn "The Thai Fighter" Srichaphan, Fabrice "The Magician" Santoro vs. Mathieu in an all-French, (WC) Van Der Duim vs. (LL) Calatrava, (3) Ferrer vs. Minar, (LL) Lisnard vs. Christophe "The Roach" Rochus, Olivier "The Other Roach" Rochus vs. Jurgen "Tuna" Melzer, and (Q) Djokovic vs. Seppi.
Roddick v Fish Tuesday at ATP Memphis
Chilean qualifier Paul Capdeville continued Tommy Robredo's difficult February on Monday at the ATP stop in Memphis, ousting the No. 3-seeded Spaniard 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-4 to move into the second round.
Robredo was also ousted as a seed in the first round last week at San Jose by wildcard Mark Philippoussis.
"It is my best win because Robredo is ranked 14," Capdeville said. "Last year at the US Open I beat Mathieu, but this is different."
Other winners Monday were No. 8 seed Xavier Malisse (d. Phau), Frenchman Cyril Saulnier (d. (LL) Garcia-Lopez), and Dane Kenneth Carlsen (d. Luczak).
Scheduled for Tuesday are Blake vs. Vliegen, Ginepri vs. Tursunov, Roddick vs. Fish in an all-American, Mirnyi vs. Soderling, Karlovic vs. Pless, Benneteau vs. Wang, and Arthurs vs. Zib.
Mello Fellow Into 2nd Round at ATP Costa Do Sauipe
Brazilian wildcard entrant Ricardo Mello thrilled the homecountry fans Monday at the ATP claycourt stop in Costa Do Sauipe, grinding down Costa Rica's Juan Antonio Marin 6-0 in the third set.
"They had been some lost games in the estreia and this finishes provoking anxiety and tension," said Mello via the always-entertaining Google Translator. "To play in house, with support of the twisted one, is a chance that necessary to use to advantage to recoup the confidence."
Hard to be beat with the Twisted One on your side.
Other winners Monday were Czech Jiri Vanek (d. Montanes) and Spain's Fernando Vicente (d. Berlocq who retired with an ankle injury).
Scheduled for Tuesday on the dirt are (1) Gaudio vs. (LL) Portas, (WC) Ghem vs. Kuerten in an all-Brazilian, (6) Massu vs. Daniel, Saretta vs. (2) Ferrero, Monaco vs. (Q) Del Potro in an all-Argentine, (3) Volandri vs. K.Kim, (5) Chela vs. (Q) Gimeno-Traver, (Q) Almagro vs. (WC) Sa, Dlouhy vs. (4) Serra, Horna vs. (7) A.Martin, Behrend vs. (8) Pashanski, (LL) Navarro Pastor vs. Starace, and (Q) Patience vs. Sabau.
Harkleroad Upsets Stosur at WTA Memphis
Ashley "H-Road" Harkleroad orchestrated the upset of the day Monday at the WTA stop in Memphis, with the 20-year-old American ousting No. 5 seed Sam Stosur of Australia 6-4, 6-3.
"I took some time off and I grew up," she Harkleroad, who spent most of last year at minor-league ITF events after injury. "I got some perspective on my life. I realized I can't worry about people's expectations, I've just got to go out and do my best."
Seeds successfully into the second round were (2) Anna-Lena Groenefeld (d. Cho), (4) Laura Granville (d. countrywoman Shaughnessy), and (7) Amy Frazier (d. countrywoman Tu).
"Meilen didn't play as well as she normally does," said Frazier, recording her first win since a first-round loss at the Australian Open. "She normally doesn't miss that much. I'm not looking too far ahead this week -- I don't even know who I play in the next round."
Unseeded winners through to the second round were Americans Shenay Perry (d. Bychkova) and Lida Raymond (d. (Q) Stanciute), Russian qualifier Yaroslava Shvedova (d. Jackson), Dane wildcard Caroline Wozniacki (d. Brandi in three), and Chinese qualifier Meng Yuan (d. Lepchenko from a set down).
On court Tuesday are Perry vs. Groenfeld, Vaidisova vs. Azarenka, Osterloh vs. Laine, Haynes vs. Domachowska, Harkleroad vs. Wozniacki, Kloesel vs. Craybas, and Czink vs. Perebiynis.
Seeds Myskina, Hantuchova Tested at WTA Dubai
No. 6 seed Anastasia Myskina and No. 8 Daniela Hantuchova fought back three-set challenges Monday to advance into the second round at the WTA stop in Dubai.
The Russian Myskina split sets with Jie Zheng before rolling the Chinese player 6-1 in the third, while the Slovak Hantuchova edged another Chinese player, Na Li, 7-6 in the third.
"It was a little bit difficult to close the match today," Myskina said. "I've been playing indoors and it was different here, and I was a little bit nervous as well. But I'll settle down...Everything is getting better -- everything -- my life, my shoulder. I'm more happy right now. I want to play now. I want to do my best. Last year I didn't want to play any more. I was stepping on the court thinking when am I going to get off. Now it's different."
Un-seeds into the second round Monday were Russians Elena Likhovtseva (d. Jankovic) and Vera Dushevina (d. Bartoli), and Czech Lucie Safarova (d. Sugiyama), all in straight sets.
The final round of qualifying was also completed with four more poured into the oil-money-laden field in Kyra Nagy (HUN), Henrieta Nagyova (SVK), Kateryna Bondarenko (UKR), and Martina Muller (GER).
On tap for Tuesday in Dubai are Kuznetsova vs. Muller, Petrova vs. Kirilenko in an all-Russian, the spotlight match of the day in the former No. 1 Hingis vs. the slumping Indian Mirza, Zvonareva vs. Sfar, Razzano vs. Schiavone, in doubles Huber/M.Navratilova vs. Jankovic/N.Li, K.Bondarenko vs. Peschke, and Nagy vs. Nagyova.
Seeds Loit, Diaz-Oliva Through at WTA Bogota
The seeds went 2-for-0 Monday at the WTA claycourt stop in Bogota, with No. 4 Emilie Loit (d. Argero) and No. 5 Mariana Diaz-Oliva (d. Birnerova who retired with illness) through to the second round.
Un-seeds into the second round were Argentine Natalia Gussoni (d. Gagliardi), American Bethanie Mattek (d. Parra Santonja in three), and Hungarian Agnes Szavay (d. (7) Ant. Serra Zanetti in three) with the lone upset on the day.
Four more players were added to the main draw with the completion of the qualifying in Valentina Sassi (ITA), Andrea Benitez (ARG), Sara Errani (ITA), and Neha Uberoi (USA).
Scheduled for Tuesday on the dirt are Pennetta vs. Bohmova, Castano vs. Munoz Gallegos, Sassi vs. Sanchez Lorenzo, Martinez Sanchez vs. Johansson, Dominguez Lino vs. Kanepi, Skavronskaia vs. Dulko, Pous Tio vs. Vierin, Yakimova vs. P.Garcia, Martinez Granados vs. Abramovic, N.Uberoi vs. Errani, and Benitez vs. Cervanova.
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TENNIS-X NEWS, NOTES, QUOTES AND BARBS
From the WTA: "In a scene more reminiscent of the Winter Olympics than the Dubai Tennis Championships, former world No. 1's Lindsay Davenport and Maria Sharapova took time out on Monday from their preparations for the Dubai Duty Free Women's Open to enjoy a unique "practice session" at Ski Dubai, the world's first indoor alpine ski resort located in the Mall of the Emirates, one of the largest shopping malls in the world. Playing in minus two degrees Celsius and surrounded by snowy slopes and chalets, the world No. 3 and 4 rallied on a specially-built tennis court at the recently opened Ski Dubai. The court was surrounded by five runs that vary in difficulty, height and steepness, the longest being 400 meters with a height of over 60 meters. Real snow covers the slopes all year round, and fresh snow is created daily to ensure perfect conditions at the resort, which spans 22,500 square meters -- the equivalent of three football fields. Ski Dubai is located in the Mall of the Emirates, one of the largest shopping malls in the world." -- Must be nice to have so much oil money you don't know what to do with that you combine a shopping mall with an indoor ski resort...Coach Mark Petchey sees a slam win in ward Andy Murray's future: "I personally don't think he has a chance of winning a slam at the moment on grass," Petchey told Sky Sports. "I think [Roger] Federer's shown how complete he is on that surface. I would have to say the US Open if you were looking at one that is going to be his best chance. It's hard to keep a lid on it with how well Andy's done. But the next goal, once he's broken the Top 50, is try to get him in the top 32 before the French Open so that he gets seeded. Then I hope he can avoid some of the bigger names in the opening couple of rounds. I said a week ago that I still believe you're going to see Andy's best tennis in his 21st year -- and I still maintain that. It's a phenomenal effort to go and beat two former world No. 1s, especially [Andy] Roddick in a tournament he loves. Then to beat [Lleyton] Hewitt in the final of any event underlines Andy's potential."...From Dale Robertson at the Houston Chronicle: "A record seven black women are ranked among the Top 20 players in the U.S. They are Venus and Serena Williams, plus Jamea Jackson, Mashona Washington, Shenay Perry, Asha Rolle and Angela Haynes. Washington, a familiar face at Westside, finished 2005 ranked No. 99 in the world. Jackson, Perry, Rolle and Haynes are 21 or younger. "The U.S. is currently experiencing the greatest depth of African-Americans in women's tennis ever," said U.S. Fed Cup captain Zina Garrison. "The impact that Venus and Serena have made is obvious." A recent USTA survey showed that one-third of all new recreational players are black or Hispanic."...After the release of Monday's ATP Rankings, Brits Greg Rusedski, Tim Henman and Andy Murray are within eight ranking spots of each other...From the ATP: "World No. 1 doubles team and Memphis top seeds Bob and Mike Bryan found themselves on opposing sides of the net Monday night during the Cellular South Charity Challenge with Anna Kournikova and Tracy Austin. Bob partnered Kournikova to a 7-6, 7-6 victory after an entertaining duel that entertained the enthusiastic crowd on hand. At one point Bob fired a 130 mph ace by Mike. In the next game Austin's serve was clocked at a more sedate 60 mph, prompting the former world No. 1 to ask aloud "Can we turn that thing off?" Money raised from the event benefits the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, the Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center and the Katrina Relief Fund."...More from Tommy Haas on his coaching switch from "Red" Ayme to Thomas Hogstedt: "Red and I are like brothers, but I just felt it was time for a change," Haas told the Bradenton Herald. "Thomas was ranked 35th in the world, and he traveled with guys like Bjorn Borg and Mats Wilander. He is also someone I can practice with on the court. He had all those components, so I'm going to give it a try and go from there."...The bookmakers William Hill having slashed the odds of Andy Murray winning this year's Wimbledon tournament from 25-1 to 10-1...Marat Safin is practicing in Valencia and plans to fly to Dubai on Friday for next week's event to make his 2006 ATP debut coming off a knee injury...From Tennis Week: "Doubles celebrates its own Valentine's Day on March 19th as the Bryan brothers, Mark Knowles, Daniel Nestor, Graydon Oliver and Jonathan Stark are among the players who will participate in the third annual Love Doubles.Net event. A two-hour pro-am round robin will be followed by a doubles clinic and USA vs. The World doubles event at the 2,500-seat Racquet Club of The South in Norcross, Georgia."...Pat Cash and his son Daniel lost first round in doubles in a Futures event...Eric Gilmore of Knight Ridder under the headline "McEnroe, Murray liven up a dying sport at SAP Open": "We hear it all the time. Tennis is dead in America. It's an afterthought. Irrelevant. So far down the sports food chain behind football, baseball, basketball, hockey, golf, NASCAR -- name a sport -- that you need binoculars to spot it. At times, it's hard to argue. Then you watch the finals Sunday -- singles and doubles -- at the SAP Open, a spectacular show starring 18-year-old Andy Murray and 47-year-old John McEnroe, and you remember what a great game tennis can be and why it used to be so popular in America. Scotland's Murray, a precocious star in the making, upset Lleyton Hewitt, 2-6, 6-1, 7-6 (3), to win his first ATP title in thrilling fashion. Then it was time for McEnroe to give Bay Area tennis fans a blast from his glorious past. Teaming with Jonas Bjorkman, McEnroe won his 78th ATP doubles crown and first since 1992." -- See, throw former stars like McEnroe in the mix and even the dusty part-time tennis reporters and outlets wake up...Mardy Fish blogging for the ATP website: "James [Blake] and I beat Ashley Fisher and Tripp Phillips in a match tie-break. I haven't played doubles in a long while. That was my first win since Indianapolis last year. Even in doubles it's nice to get a win. If James and I strategize before a match it's usually right as we're walking out to the court. We never talk strategy during the changeovers; we always talk about something else. The weather has 'warmed up' to around 35 today, but it's still pretty chilly and it's supposed to get cold again tonight. It's way too cold for my liking! We were going to go bowling tonight but my bicep is a little sore. I'll need my arm in good shape tomorrow against Andy, so I may have to pass on that. I saw Andy [Roddick, his first-round opponent] for the first time today. We said 'hi' and then we said, 'Okay, don't talk to me anymore.'"...Justine Henin-Hardenne shedding more light on her stomach-illness retirement in the final of the Aussie Open: "Now I can think about what happened in Melbourne I have the feeling I should never have walked on the court because it could have been dangerous for me. It's not good to play with your health because you just have one life and you have many tennis tournaments. I'm upset with myself that I didn't call anyone that night before the match. My stomach was in so much pain and I have regrets I should have made the call [to a doctor]. I cannot stop people thinking something about me, but I know the way I am and I'm totally fine with the fact that I left the court. Some people understand and some don't. That's life. You can't make everyone happy and can't make everyone like you."