Hingis Beats No 12 Myskina
Posted on February 23, 2006
Confident Hingis Beats Myskina at WTA DubaiSince her comeback to the WTA Tour in 2006, Martina Hingis has beaten former No. 1 and Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova, rising Indian star Sania Mirza, and was a finalist in Tokyo, losing to Russian Elena Dementieva in search of her first comeback title.
On Wednesday at the WTA stop in Dubai, the 25-year-old Swiss upped her battle with the new-generation Russians that have risen to prominence in her absence, defeating former French Open winner Anastasia Myskina 6-4, 6-3 to advance to a quarterfinal meeting against a revenge-seeking Sharapova.
Hingis, who ended a three-year retirement last month and has risen to a No. 50 ranking on the results of just four events says don't call it a comeback, she is again one of the WTA's top players.
"It is not a comeback anymore," Hingis said. "I am here now and this is my fifth tournament. I have shown that I can still play. I don't look at it as a comeback anymore. It is more like the second part of my career now."
Myskina entered the match with a 1-1 career mark versus Hingis, beating the Swiss in their last encounter in 2002.
"It is difficult to play with her as you do not know how her shot would be," Myskina said. "She sometimes played high balls and in this hot condition, it is difficult to run."
Seeded winners through safely to the quarterfinals Wednesday were (1) Amelie Mauresmo (d. Nagyova), (2) Lindsay Davenport (d. Likhovtseva 0-and-0), (3) Maria Sharapova (d. Dushevina 1-and-0), (4) Justine Henin-Hardenne (d. K.Bondarenko), and (7) Francesca Schiavone (d. Sfar).
"I took a little time to adjust out there after two weeks of playing indoors, but it felt good," said Mauresmo who has now won 16 matches in a row. "Ever since winning the Australian Open, I have no pressure and that has added to my confidence. I am not even thinking of a fourth straight title or the world No. 1 ranking."
Former No. 1s posted a perfect 5-0 record on the day.
"I played well and my body held up," said Davenport, coming off an ankle injury. "So I am thrilled. To win here, I need to play four days in a row. I am not getting any younger and I have to be fresh for my next match."
In the only all-unseeded match-up, Russian Maria Kirilenko followed her previous upset over Nadia Petrova with a straight-set win over rising Czech star Lucie Safarova.
Lining up for the Thursday quarterfinals in Dubai are Mauresmo vs. Kuznetsova, Henin-Hardenne vs. Schiavone, Hingis vs. Sharapova, and Kirilenko vs. Davenport.
"I do not have revenge on my mind, but I don't like losing to the same player twice in a row," Sharapova said. "Martina played some amazing tennis in Tokyo, but it is a different match tomorrow."
Frazier in Turn-Around Wednesday at WTA Memphis
All five seeds in action advanced unscathed into the quarterfinals Wednesday at the WTA stop in Memphis in (3) Sofia Arvidsson (d. Raymond), (4) Laura Granville (d. Perebiynis), (6) Marta Domachowska (d. Sucha), (7) Amy Frazier (d. Shvedova, bageling the last two sets), and (8) Jill Craybas (d. (Q) Yuan).
In her victory the American Frazier didn't win a point until down 0-5, 0-40 in the first set.
"I've lost sets 6-0 before, but I was definitely on the verge of not getting a point," said Frazier, who will next face Shenay Perry. "She was playing unbelievable. I couldn't get into a point. She had six or seven aces and hit six or seven winners off my serve. If I got the ball back to her, she hit a winner. Once I was able to get into the points, I was able to get going."
In the only all-unseeded meeting on the day, American Lilia Osterloh outlasted Belarus wildcard Victoria Azarenka in three sets.
Thursday's match-ups in Memphis are Frazier vs. Perry, Wozniacki vs. Arvidsson, Osterloh vs. Craybas, and Granville vs. Domachowska.
Cervanova Makes Case for 1st Title at WTA Bogota
Slovak Ludmilla Cervanova caused the lone upset of the day Wednesday at the WTA stop in Bogota, turning around a 1-6 beating in the first set to defeat No. 5 seed Mariana Diaz-Oliva 1-6, 6-2, 6-1 to advance into the quarterfinals at the Copa Colsanitas Seguros Bolivar.
Other winners into the quarters on the red dirt were (2) Gisela Dulko (d. (Q) Errani), (4) Emilie Loit (d. Yakimova 0-and-1), and (6) Lourdes Dominguez Lino (d. Martinez Sanchez in three).
"After two days of heavy activity I finally felt much less affected by the altitude, and my game picked up," Dulko said.
On tap for Thursday on the red dirt are Pennetta vs. Abramovic, Castano vs. Gussoni, Vierin vs. Sanchez Lorenzo, and Mattek vs. Szavay.
Brit Rusedski Falls, Henman Wins at ATP Rotterdam
No. 2 seed Nikolay Davydenko didn't let a foot injury from his first round match slow him Wednesday at the ATP stop in Rotterdam, where the Top 10 Russian rolled over Britain's Greg Rusedski 6-4, 6-1. Maligned former Top 10er Tim Henman then saved one for Britain with a straight-set upset of No. 4 seed Thomas Johansson.
"Usually it's not easy to break Rusedski," Davydenko said. "But today he was struggling a bit with his serve and I tried to play some long rallies with a lot of top spin and slow down the speed."
Henman was please after suffering with back injuries in 2005-06.
"I played aggressively and took my chances," Henman said. "I guess most importantly I felt physically good out on court. I've had an ongoing back issue for quite some time, probably nearly 18 months, and it's sometimes a bit unpredictable. It was very bad in Marseille last week, I was there ready to play but my back thought otherwise, so I was still a little bit unsure whether I was going to play this week. I was pleased with the whole performance tonight."
No. 6 Radek Stepanek was another seeded winner, straight-setting Swiss Michael Lammer.
Finn Jarkko Nieminen had the upset of the day with a 7-5, 7-6(5) win over No. 5 Mario "Baby Goran" Ancic, while Brit Arvind Parmar followed his upset over Paradorn Srichaphan with a straight-set dismissed of qualifier Dominik Meffert, and Belgian Christophe Rochus advanced when American Taylor "Acci-" Dent was forced to retire with a back injury after losing the first set.
"Obviously you don't like somebody's game if you lose to him three times in a row," said Ancic of Nieminen. "I had a very good week last week in Marseille, but today I wasn't playing very well. Against Nieminen you have to be a 100 percent ready, otherwise you don't have any chance to beat him."
In doubles highlights, Israel's Erlich/Ram took out top seeds Knowles/Nestor.
Jockeying for the final quarterfinal spots Thursday will be (Q) Bracciali vs. (LL) Calatrava, (6) Stepanek vs. Santoro, (3) Ferrer vs. O.Rochus, (Q) Djokovic vs. Henman, and (Q) Simon vs. Nieminen.
Roddick, Murray Advance in Thrillers at ATP Memphis
Top seed Andy Roddick again survived in a third-set tiebreak Wednesday at the ATP stop in Memphis, weathering 33 aces from Aussie Wayne "The Serving Machine" Arthurs to advance 6-7(4), 7-6(9), 7-6(2) into the quarterfinals.
"I was lucky to get through," said Roddick, who in his first round edged Mardy Fish 7-6 in the third. "I didn't think anybody could serve better than Mardy did, but he did. He served huge. I didn't even feel like I had a chance on his service points. I guess there's something to be said for just hanging around and playing."
Arthurs said it was his best match of the year, with both players dropping serve only one in the contest.
"I had great rhythm on my serve," Arthurs said. "And I felt I was picking his serve pretty well. I've watched him enough to know where he goes on the big points."
No. 6 Tommy Haas was the only other seeded victor on the day (d. Gimelstob who retired in the first set with a back injury), joined in the winner's circle by Americans Paul Goldstein (d. countryman Jenkins) and Vince Spadea (d. countryman Reynolds 7-6 in the third), and Brit sensation Andy Murray (d. Schuettler in three).
"I have got a lot more confidence after winning against guys like Hewitt and Roddick and in the quarters I came back from a break and a set down against (Robin) Soderling, so I know how to get myself out of tough situations and today that was pretty important," Murray said. "Mentally I didn't feel like I was out of the match. I had a lot of chances in the second set to break him, I was 30-love up a couple of times, I had another couple of 30-all points and obviously my first break point at 5-4. I did feel like I was having a lot of chances but I was making a few too many mistakes and at 5-4, when it got to 30-30, that extra confidence that I got from San Jose helped me."
Murray and Schuettler had a heated exchange that lasted nearly a minute before chair umpire Norm Chryst intervened, with Murray complaining about the German's complaining on line calls the whole match.
"Basically, I hadn't said anything the whole match after the second game," Murray said. "He was complaining every single close call the whole match. In the third set...I was throwing the ball up to serve and he was still speaking (to Chryst) when I was in my motion. The umpire didn't say anything, and (Schuettler) thought I was saying something bad about him. I was just asking (Schuettler) when I throw the ball up if he could stop speaking."
South African lucky loser Rik De Voest, replacing ill No. 2 seed Nicolas Kiefer, defeated Jonas Bjorkman in straight sets.
On court Thursday are (Q) Julien "United Colors of" Benneteau vs. (8) Xavier "X-Man" Malisse, Murray vs. (LL) De Voest, in doubles (1) Bryan/Bryan vs. Belgians Malisse/Vliegen, Spadea vs. (6) Haas, Vliegen vs. Goldstein, Soderling vs. Carlsen, Tursunov vs. Saulnier, and "Dr." Ivo Karlovic vs. (Q) Capdeville.
Gaudio Loses Patience at ATP Costa Do Sauipe
It was Dead Wednesday for tournament organizers at the ATP claycourt stop in Costa Do Sauipe yesterday, with No. 1 seed Gaston Gaudio, No. 3 Filippo Volandri, and No. 4 Florent Serra bowing out before the quarterfinals.
Gaudio, who has been troubled in past weeks by a bad shoulder, managed only two games against French qualifier Olivier Patience, while Volandri was schooled 0-and-1 by Czech Jiri Vanek, and Serra managed only two games against Argentine Juan Monaco.
Seeded winners into the quarterfinals Wednesday were (5) Juan Ignacio Chela (d. Starace), (6) Nicolas Massu (d. Vicente from a set down), (7) Al Martin (d. (WC) Ghem in three), and (8) Boris Pashanski (d. (WC) Mello).
In the only all-unseeded match-up, Spanish qualifier Nicolas Almagro disappointed the home crowd with a win over Brazilian Flavio Saretta in straight sets.
Lining up Thursday on the dirt are (5) Chela vs. Monaco in an all-Argentine, (6) Massu vs. (Q) Almagro, Vanek vs. (7) A.Martin, and (Q) Patience vs. (8) Pashanski.
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TENNIS-X NEWS, NOTES, QUOTES AND BARBS
Early highlights from next week's "Tennispalooza" at the ATP stop in Las Vegas, the Tennis Channel Open: a $1 million Kwiat Diamond Wilson tennis racquet symbolizing the "Grandeur of Professional Tennis" (can we win it? raffle?) -- a women's event featuring top seeds Jelena Dokic and Alexandra Stevenson -- the men's event featuring Andy Roddick, Lleyton Hewitt, Fernando "Hot Sauce" Verdasco, Fernando "Gonzo" Gonzalez, Xavier "X-Man" Malisse, Tommy Haas, Robby Ginepri, Vince "Rappin'" Spadea James Blake, the Bryan brothers and Mark Philippoussis among others -- the Wilson World Stringing Championships ("Feel the Finger Burn!") -- a fast-serve competition where the amateur winners get to compete against the pros on Stadium Court -- the world's first non-gender discriminatory pre-qualifying tournament where men and women compete against each other in the same draw, "Shotgun 21" -- an in-the-works player/media/special guest veggie hot-dog eating contest (Tournament director/circus manager Steve Bellamy is a vegetarian) -- and an international paddle tennis event with wildcard entrants the Jensen brothers...Speaking of the bald-pated duo, here's Murphy Jensen blogging for The Tennis Channel website on the return of John McEnroe: "What I admire most about this comeback is that he is traveling with his Dad, just like the good ol' days. That is extra special for me because it takes me back to all those epic Grand Slam finals when John always had his family in the players' box. John Sr. is just as much a legend of the sport as John Jr. I have always felt that he called the shots and represented the tennis parent the best way one could, rooting and supporting his son and yet letting him be who he is and without getting in the way or looking for a way to benefit from his success. If there ever is a tennis parent hall of fame, it would include Mr. McEnroe. He raised a great family in and out of tennis and yet was able to always be a symbol of excellence and dignity in whatever he did. I admire him greatly. I want to ask you one simple question, though. Is John McEnroe going to become tennis' George Forman? Will he knock out all young competitors and send them crying home to Mom? Will there be a Johnny Mac Grilling Machine or meat cleaver?"...The retired Brenda Schultz-McCarthy won a round in the qualifying this week at the WTA stop in Memphis...The WTA Memphis final will be Saturday at 8 p.m. (EST), shown live on The Tennis Channel...Kim Clijsters, coming back too soon from injury last week in Antwerp, says she has aggravated her ankle to the point where she will now pull from Indian Wells...Boris Becker won damages of $1.4 million Wednesday from the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung that used his image for an advertising campaign without his permission in 2001...Jon Wertheim writing for SI.com: "Last summer, the head of ATP Europe made the stunningly distasteful analogy between men's doubles and cancer. A doubles player responded in kind, referring to the executive as "Hitler." Around the same time, the doubles specialists hired lawyers and announced they were suing the tour. It was shaping up to be a typical mindless, mutually destructive tennis turf war when, against all odds, reason and compromise prevailed. Here we are six months later, and doubles is suddenly a hot property. The Australian Open doubles final may have been the match of the tournament, one that sent fans away happy after the ugliness of the preceding women's final. Men's doubles has its own blue-chip sponsor in Stanford Financial. John McEnroe's return last week in San Jose gave doubles an extra jolt of publicity." From Mike Bryan: "My dad sent an e-mail to all the doubles players asking, "Do you think McEnroe and Bjorkman will beat Arthurs and Huss?" I'd say at least 80 percent said McEnroe and Bjorkman would win. John is so sharp, he's playing so well, and Bjorkman is Bjorkman. John played well in that exhibition and so I said it would be four and four. They won three and three, so I won the pool." Mike on if they were to face Andy Roddick and Andre Agassi in doubles: "I'm going to say we'll win eight of 10. I mean, we played Agassi and Blake in an exhibition, and Agassi was playing great, and we hadn't hit a ball in a while. He clipped us. He comes in hot. Afterwards, he gives us crap: "It's great beating the Number 2 team in the world." Next time we play Agassi we're getting ready."...Mardy Fish blogging for the ATP website on coaches Todd Martin and Scott Humphries: "Todd is a little more hands on; he wants to talk about everything. He likes to write everything down in this little book during a match and analyze...and sometimes overanalyze things! Todd's got a lot of knowledge and we play very similar games, so I knew we would be a good fit. I've never seen the book, so I don't know what he's jotting down during a match. He likes to talk a lot during practice and I get a little agitated with him at times. He'll want to work on one thing and I'll do it wrong and he'll want to talk about it. I'll be like 'Just let me get back there and let's do it again.' So we get into little arguments. When Todd's not here Scott takes over the role and we'll talk about things I need to accomplish in a match."...Sania Mirza says she is in a transitional phase of her game with coach Tony Roche: "There are a few things that we've worked upon at the end of last year. I've been slicing the ball as often as I can. I've also changed the action of my serve. But I suppose it will take some time for me to effect the changes in the serve. It may be in the next one month or it may take six months."...Svetlana Kuznetsova likes Dubai: "It's almost like Russia. This place is so multi-racial. It's so amazing. There seems to be more Russians here now. The difference is Dubai is safe. 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Bache, there are two primary reasons for Keldie's exclusion from pension benefits: The ATP asserts Keldie failed to timely pay his membership dues. The ATP asserts Keldie failed to pay a $1,000 fine (previously thought to be $2,000) assessed against him for not honoring the ATP's 1973 Wimbledon boycott. New information obtained by Bache and Keldie -- including an April 8th, 1974 letter from Hall of Famer and former ATP executive director Jack Kramer acknowledging Keldie paid his dues and appealed his fine -- suggests both reasons cited by the ATP are without merit..."...Lindsay Davenport's double bagel of Russian Elena Likhovtseva in Dubai was her 700th career win.