Freaky All-Two-Handed Both-Sides Final at WTA Tokyo
Posted on October 8, 2006TOKYO, Japan -- France's Marion Bartoli is just one step away from her second title of the year, after demolishing countrywoman Camille Pin, 60 61, to reach the final at the AIG Japan Open. In an historic first final between two players that hit with two hands off both sides, she will play Aiko Nakamura.
Bartoli, the top seed this week, totally crushed Pin, a qualifier who was playing in her second and biggest career semifinal at the Tier III event. It was much the same outcome as their most recent encounter, where Bartoli dropped just two games during a first round victory at Wimbledon.
"I was feeling really good today, after being ill earlier in the week and playing two matches yesterday," Bartoli said. "Japan has a special place in my heart because one of the first trips I made overseas as a junior was to Hiroshima for team championships, then to Osaka for a juniors championship. My cousin lives here and speaks Japanese. Also, I have some Japanese friends who speak French, so I have been very well looked after over the years whenever I come here."
Bartoli will be playing her third career Sony Ericsson WTA Tour singles final, all of which have come this year. The Frenchwoman captured her first title at the Tier IV event in Auckland in the first week of the season, and just a few weeks ago was a runner-up at the Tier III event in Bali, her first final at this level.
"I'm really looking forward to the final tomorrow," added Bartoli, who has won 12 of 15 matches since a third round loss to Patty Schnyder at the US Open. "I feel really positive, and I hope I can come away with the winner's trophy."
Prior to this week, Nakamura's best showings were two quarterfinals; but now, the Japanese youngster has broken through to her career-first final. On Saturday, she regrouped after a dismal second set to edge Taiwanese teenager Chan Yung-Jan, 76(3) 26 64, in her semifinal. Chan was also playing in her first semifinal.
"I am really happy," said Nakamura, who also prevailed in a marathon in the quarters, taking out Jamea Jackson in a third set tie-break. "My will to win was strong and that made me tense in the beginning, but in the second set, I felt it was okay to make mistakes, I should take each stroke at full power, without hesitations. Then gradually, I was able to get my rhythm back.
"I was nervous, having to play in front of a big crowd, and not to mention that I was in the semifinals for the first time."
Nakamura is familiar with playing well against the big names. She has four career victories over Top 30 players, two over Flavia Pennetta, one over Ai Sugiyama and one against Anna-Lena Groenefeld. She will be playing Bartoli for the first time, in a final that she will always cherish, regardless of the result.
"My goal after the US Open was to become a finalist in the Asian tournaments, she said, "and so far, I have attained this goal and I hope to keep it up, taking one step at a time, to aim for higher goals. For tomorrow's final match, I hope I can show the crowd how a good tennis player plays. I want to enjoy the match."
Nakamura is just the second Japanese player this year to reach a final, after Ai Sugiyama's run one week ago in Seoul. Sugiyama was the No.2 seed here, but dropped her quarterfinal match against Chan.
Two-handed technique on both sides is something Monica Seles brought to the women's game in the late 1980s, but this championship match represents the first time in Tour history that two such players will battle for a singles title.
-- WTA
Bartoli, the top seed this week, totally crushed Pin, a qualifier who was playing in her second and biggest career semifinal at the Tier III event. It was much the same outcome as their most recent encounter, where Bartoli dropped just two games during a first round victory at Wimbledon.
"I was feeling really good today, after being ill earlier in the week and playing two matches yesterday," Bartoli said. "Japan has a special place in my heart because one of the first trips I made overseas as a junior was to Hiroshima for team championships, then to Osaka for a juniors championship. My cousin lives here and speaks Japanese. Also, I have some Japanese friends who speak French, so I have been very well looked after over the years whenever I come here."
Bartoli will be playing her third career Sony Ericsson WTA Tour singles final, all of which have come this year. The Frenchwoman captured her first title at the Tier IV event in Auckland in the first week of the season, and just a few weeks ago was a runner-up at the Tier III event in Bali, her first final at this level.
"I'm really looking forward to the final tomorrow," added Bartoli, who has won 12 of 15 matches since a third round loss to Patty Schnyder at the US Open. "I feel really positive, and I hope I can come away with the winner's trophy."
Prior to this week, Nakamura's best showings were two quarterfinals; but now, the Japanese youngster has broken through to her career-first final. On Saturday, she regrouped after a dismal second set to edge Taiwanese teenager Chan Yung-Jan, 76(3) 26 64, in her semifinal. Chan was also playing in her first semifinal.
"I am really happy," said Nakamura, who also prevailed in a marathon in the quarters, taking out Jamea Jackson in a third set tie-break. "My will to win was strong and that made me tense in the beginning, but in the second set, I felt it was okay to make mistakes, I should take each stroke at full power, without hesitations. Then gradually, I was able to get my rhythm back.
"I was nervous, having to play in front of a big crowd, and not to mention that I was in the semifinals for the first time."
Nakamura is familiar with playing well against the big names. She has four career victories over Top 30 players, two over Flavia Pennetta, one over Ai Sugiyama and one against Anna-Lena Groenefeld. She will be playing Bartoli for the first time, in a final that she will always cherish, regardless of the result.
"My goal after the US Open was to become a finalist in the Asian tournaments, she said, "and so far, I have attained this goal and I hope to keep it up, taking one step at a time, to aim for higher goals. For tomorrow's final match, I hope I can show the crowd how a good tennis player plays. I want to enjoy the match."
Nakamura is just the second Japanese player this year to reach a final, after Ai Sugiyama's run one week ago in Seoul. Sugiyama was the No.2 seed here, but dropped her quarterfinal match against Chan.
Two-handed technique on both sides is something Monica Seles brought to the women's game in the late 1980s, but this championship match represents the first time in Tour history that two such players will battle for a singles title.
-- WTA