Clijsters, Federer Return; Safina Shocks Mauresmo
Posted on February 14, 2005
Roddick Spanks Saulnier for First 2005 Title at ATP San JoseTop-seeded Andy Roddick rolled unseeded Frenchman Cyril Saulnier 6-0, 6-4 Sunday to successfully defend his San Jose championship from 2004, and win his first title of 2005.
"I played better than I expected today and I was happy to get through," said Roddick, who struggled at the beginning of the week at his first event since his semifinal collapse at the Australian Open against Lleyton Hewitt. "You want to turn the negative talk into positive talk."
Roddick never faced a break point on serve through two sets.
"He didn't give me any chances to come into the match," Saulnier said. "He just played much better. He didn't give me any points."
Roddick is the first back-to-back San Jose winner since Mark Philippoussis in 1999-2000.
"I came here feeling the ball wasn't doing what I wanted it to and I had to press," Roddick said. "Today I hit the ball clean, and even when I didn't, the ball would hit the right spot."
In the doubles final, top-seeded Aussies Wayne Arthurs/Paul Hanley beat No. 3 seeds Yves Allegro-Michael Kohlmann 7-6(4), 6-4 for their first title of the year and fifth career.
Johansson Wins Second 2005 Title at ATP Marseille
Sweden's Joachim "The Jackhammer" Johansson won his second ATP title of the year at the ATP stop in Marseille Sunday with a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Croatia's Ivan Ljubicic.
"I made a slow start today," said Johansson, who threw down 19 aces against the Croat. "I was not particularly nervous but I found it hard to read the way Ljubicic was playing. But I slightly changed my receiving position when he was serving and everything got much better. My game swiftly improved."
Ljubicic is now 1-3 in career finals, winning his lone title at Lyon in 2001.
"I never thought about breaking him," Ljubicic said. "But after we got to 5-5 in the first set, I had the feeling I had a chance to win, but he then lifted the level of his game and put much more pressure on me. I tried to force him to make mistakes but instead it was me who made them."
Johansson is now 3-0 in career finals.
With the win the Swede will make his first appearance Monday in the Top 10 on the ATP Rankings.
In the doubles final, Czechs Martin Damm and Radek Stepanek defeated world No. 1s Mark Knowles and Daniel Nestor 7-6(4), 7-6(5) for their first title of the year, and third of their career.
"Last year I lost in the final so I was a bit more lucky this year," Damm said. "It's a great tournament and we hope it continues and that we can come back next year."
Gaudio Wins Second Consecutive 2005 Dirt Title at ATP Buenos Aires
No. 2 seed Gaston Gaudio won his second consecutive claycourt title Sunday at the ATP stop in Buenos Aires, ending the Cinderella run of Argentine wildcard Mariano Puerta 6-4, 6-4.
"I was very tired in the second set but perhaps my greater experience and having more confidence enabled me to win this even match," said Gaudio, who also won last week's dirt title in Vina del Mar, Chile. "I've been playing with a lot more confidence ever since winning Roland Garros."
The win raised Gaudio's struggling record in finals to 5-7. Puerta is now 2-6 in finals.
"I'm very happy, I've had a great week," Puerta said. "I wanted to win but I was facing a great player who's on the top of his form and you have to play to the limit all the time against him."
In the doubles final, No. 3-seeded Czechs Frantisek Cermak/Leos Friedl defeated Jose Acasuso/Sebastien Prieto 6-2, 7-5 for their first title of the year.
Safina Masters Mauresmo for WTA Paris Title
Russian 18-year-old Dinara Safina shocked No. 2 seed Amelie Mauresmo 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 in the final of the WTA stop in Paris Sunday, her first title of 2005 and the third of her career.
"There's no doubt about it she deserved to win today," Mauresmo said. "I didn't play my best tennis today, service included. I should have taken my chances in the first set, but didn't, and once I lost my service early in the third set it was hard to get back."
In the third set Safina broke for a 5-1 lead, but choked up while serving for the match, losing her serve at love. Mauresmo then held, and the Russian then found her nerve in serving out the championship.
Safina avenged her 6-0-in-the-third loss at last month's Australian Open to Mauresmo, after which brother Marat Safin publicly questioned her dedication to the game.
"Marat told me I needed to fight during the whole game. This is what I did today," Safina said, posting her career-first win over a Top 5 player. "He was a bit angry with me. He told me 'You don't fight.' I'm going to tell him now 'See, I fight! I've called my mum in Moscow to tell her since the game was not on TV. And as Marat is at home, the whole family knows I've won."
Mauresmo recently hired Yannick Noah as a consultant to better herself in big-match situations on tour.
In the doubles final, unseeded Czechs Iveta Benesova/Kveta Peschke outlasted the top-seeded Anabel "Funky Cold" Medina Garrigues and Safina 6-2, 2-6, 6-2.
Clijsters Makes 2005 Debut at WTA Antwerp
Former No. 1 Kim Clijsters makes her return from a wrist injury this week at her home-country event, the WTA stop in Antwerp, joined by four of the Top 10 players in Amelie Mauresmo, Anastasia Myskina, Venus Williams and Alicia Molik.
Clijsters will open against Croatian Jelena Kostanic, who she beat in their only previous meeting in three sets last year at the Fed Cup.
"What do I expect of this tournament? Not much," Clijsters said. "I only want my wrist to keep up, that is most important for me now. There's no comparison between the wrist I had during the Hasselt tournament (where she retired last year) with today's. The pain is so much less. The joint is still stiff though. I'm glad to be able to play again"
Clijsters competed in only six tournament in 2004, in her first three reaching the final at the Australian Open then winning Paris and Antwerp before the wrist injury eventually brought her year to an end.
Also among the seeds in Antwerp are Russian Nadia Petrova, France's Nathalie Dechy, Swiss Patty Schnyder, and Croatian Karolina "The Spreminator" Sprem.
Other opening-round match-ups of interest are Mary Pierce vs. Iveta "Win This One" Benesova (winner to face (1) Mauresmo), (5) Petrova vs. Spain's Anabel "Funky Cold" Medina Garrigues, and (2) Myskina vs. the first-round winner of Dinara "Little Sis" Safina and Tatiana "Hot Pants" Golovin.
In last year's final the No. 2-seeded Clijsters stomped No. 8 Silvia Farina Elia 6-3, 6-0.
On court Monday in Antwerp are Srebotnik vs. Schaul, Chladkova vs. Schnyder, Maleeva vs. Garbin, Ivanovic vs. Barna, Pin vs. Gehrlein, and Chakvetadze vs. Mandula.
Defending Champ Zvonareva Returns at WTA Memphis
Russian Vera "The Crying Game" Zvonareva returns to defend her title this week at the Top 10-less "Regions Morgan Keegan Championships & The Cellular South Cup" in Memphis.
Memphis is the first WTA Tour event to break ground with a near-paragraph-length sponsor for 2005.
Joining the Russian among the seeds are Americans Amy "Joltin' Joe" Frazier, Meghann Shaughnessy and Mashona "Little Sis" Washington, Slovak Martina "Nurse, Hand Me a" Sucha, Russians Alina Jidkova and Evgenia Linetskaya, and Czech teen next-in-line Nicole Vaidisova.
Other notables in the field are wildcard Michaella "Little Sis" Krajicek, the back-from-injury Chanda Rubin vs. (8) Linetskaya, Bulgarian comer Sesil "The Mouth" Karatantcheva, and the vociferous Jamea "Action" Jackson.
In last year's final, the top-seeded Zvonareva outlasted No. 2 seed Lisa Raymond 4-6, 6-4, 7-5.
Three matches kicked off Sunday night in Memphis, with winners Karatantcheva (d. Noorlander), (WC) Katerina Bondarenko (d. (6) Jidkova in three), and Jackson (d. American countrywoman (2) Frazier in three).
The singles qualifying was also completed, with four onto the big dance in Angela Haynes (USA), Yuka Yoshida (JPN), Jennifer Hopkins (USA), and Katerina Bohmova.
On court Monday are Rubin vs. Linetskaya, Vaidisova vs. Lee-Waters, Irvin vs. Haynes, Washington vs. Spears, Sucha vs. Morigami, Beltrame vs. Osterloh, Brandi vs. Hopkins, and Craybas vs. Sromova.
Zuluaga, Pennetta Head Low-Level Clay Field at WTA Bogota
Colombia's Fabiola "The Fabulous One" Zuluaga tops the starless claycourt field this week at the WTA stop in Bogota, joined by seeds Flavia "Of the Day" Pennetta of Italy, France's Emilie Loit, Maria Sanchez Lorenzo of Spain, Czech Barbora Strycova, Spain's Arantxa Parra Santonja, the Ukraine's Tatiana Perebiynis, and Slovakian Lubomira Kurhajcova.
Wildcards for the event went to Mexico's Melissa Torres Sandoval, and Argentina's Clarisa Fernandez.
In last year's final the top-seeded Zuluaga beat Sanchez Lorenzo 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 for her third Bogota title in a row.
Federer, Five of Top 10 Feature at ATP Rotterdam
World No. 1 Roger Federer makes his first appearance since the Australian Open this week at the formidable ATP Rotterdam, joined by fellow Top 10 residents Guillermo "El Fragile" Coria, Tim Henman who is returning from a back injury, David Nalbandian, and rookie Top 10er Joachim "The Jackhammer" Johansson.
"Not having been able to defend my title at the Australian Open this year and bringing an end to my long series of match wins and victories against Top 10 players certainly is painful," said Federer, who complained of problems with his foot in his Aussie Open loss to Marat Safin. "The expectations prior to the Australian Open were huge and I must say that I am pleased with the result. It is more the fact of not having been 100 percent fit that bothers me."
Rounding out the seeds are Russian Nikolay Davydenko, Slovak Dominik "The Dominator" Hrbaty, and Spanish lefty Feliciano "F-Lo" Lopez.
First round matches of note are (3) Henman vs. Nicolas Kiefer, Taylor Dent vs. Mario "Baby Goran" Ancic in an all-unseeded serving contest, (8) F-Lo vs. hot-handed Belgian qualifier Olivier "The Roach" Rochus, former No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero vs. Rainer "Shine" Schuettler in an all-unseeded, (7) Hrbaty vs. last week's Marseille runner-up Ivan Ljubicic, and (2) Coria vs. (WC) "Everyone Loves" Raemon Sluiter.
Ferrero and Schuettler, both unseeded this week, two years ago both qualified for the year-end Masters Cup among the Top 8 players on tour.
In last year's final No. 6 seed Lleyton Hewitt came back from a set down to defeat Ferrero 6-7(1), 7-5, 6-4.
Monday's schedule is Berdych vs. Soderling, Andreev vs. Paradorn "The Thai Fighter" Srichaphan, (WC) Sluiter vs. (2) Coria, Schuettler vs. Ferrero, Fernando "Hot Sauce" Verdasco vs. (6) Davydenko, and Beck vs. T.Johansson.
Roddick, Haas Headline ATP Memphis
2002 winner Andy Roddick and 1999 champ Tommy Haas headline the field this week at the mouth-full "Regions Morgan Keegan Championships & The Cellular South Cup" (way to leverage those sponsor dollars), the ATP tour stop in Memphis, Tennessee.
The former No. 1 and No. 2-ranked players respectively are joined among the seeds by Americans Vince Spadea and Mardy "Silver" Fish, Czech Jiri Novak, Belgian Xavier "X-Man" Malisse, Austria's Jurgen "Tuna" Melzer coming off a win over Andre Agassi last week, and Max "The Beast" Mirnyi.
First-round match-ups of note in Memphis include (1) Roddick vs. Korean basher Hyung-Taik Lee (who lost to Roddick in three last week in San Jose), Robby "Baby Courier" Ginepri vs. (WC) Zach Dailey in an all-American, (6) Fish vs. buddy and doubles partner James Blake in an all-American, (4) Novak vs. car-crash-in-motion Jan-Mike Gambill, (7) Tuna Melzer vs. Aussie serving machine Wayne Arthurs, (8) The Beast vs. (WC) Brian Baker, (3) Spadea vs. Thomas Enqvist, (5) X-Man vs. German riser Philipp Kohlschreiber, (WC) Scoville "Remember Me from the US Open?" Jenkins vs. Kevin Kim in an all-American, and (2) Haas facing off against a qualifier.
In last year's final, unseeded Joachim "The Jackhammer" Johansson (who is this week competing in Rotterdam) collected his first career title with a straight-set win over the No. 8-seeded Kiefer.
Roddick (2002) and Haas (1999) are the lone returning champs in the field. Other former No. 1 winners in Memphis are Pete Sampras (1996), Jim Courier (1993), Ivan Lendl (1991), Andre Agassi (1988), Stefan Edberg (1987,'85), Jimmy Connors (1984-83,'79-78), John McEnroe (1980), and Bjorn Borg (1977).
The Bryan brothers are the defending doubles champions.
Scheduled for Monday are (WC) Jenkins vs. K.Kim, (8) The Beast vs. (WC) Baker, Dupuis vs. Jeff "Baby Krajicek" Morrison, Blake vs. (6) Fish, Carraz vs. Carlsen, and Lu vs. (Q) Frank "You Can" Dancevic.
Gonzo, Nadal Highlight Clay Field at ATP Costa Do Sauipe
Fernando "Gonzo" Gonzalez is the top seed this week at the ATP claycourt stop in Costa Do Sauipe, the Brazil Open, joined by seeds Juan Ignacio Chela, Filippo Volandri, Dave Ferrer, Rafael "The Prodigy" Nadal, Mariano Zabaleta, Al Costa and Ricardo Mello "Yello."
Gaston Gaudio withdrew from Costa Do Sauipe citing a thigh injury.
A potential semifinal meeting between (2) Gonzo and (7) Zabaleta would bring fireworks, with Zabaleta last week claiming that Gonzalez skipped the Buenos Aires event to avoid payback for the untoward behavior of the Chilean crowds the previous week in Chile.
"He broke the codes of tennis, because you can't do what he did," Zabaleta told the Argentine news agency Telam concerning Gonzalez inciting the Chilean crowd at the ATP stop in Vina del Mar. "There's no need to generate violence or the resentment of the public against a visitor to win a match. (They insulted) my coach, my physiotherapist and a friend of mine. These things don't happen in Argentina, people encourage the home players but without disrespecting the visiting player. I wanted to play Gonzalez (in Buenos Aires) because we could have met in the quarterfinals, but it appears he can't be bothered if the crowd aren't in his favor."
There are few easy opening-round matches amidst the clay-talent-heavy Costa Do Sauipe field, with tough matches of note including (9) Mello vs. Spaniard Al Montanes, (5) Ferrer vs. former No. 2-ranked (WC) Alex Corretja, (6) The Prodigy vs. Argentine Jose Acasuso, (7) Zabaleta vs. the resurgent Mariano Puerta in an all-Argentine, (4) Volandri vs. Spaniard Al Martin, and (8) Costa vs. Oscar Hernandez in an all-ESP.
In last year's final No. 3 seed Gustavo Kuerten (currently out with injury) won his home-country event for the second time, coming from a set down to defeat Argentine Agustin Calleri.
On court Monday are (3) Chela vs. Burgsmuller, (8) Costa vs. O.Hernandez, Starace vs. Calleri, D.Sanchez vs. Mathieu, and in an all-Spanish, Ventura vs. Almagro.
Federer Looks to Roche to Maintain No. 1 for 2005
Ahead of this week's ATP event in Rotterdam, his first tournament after the Australian Open, Roger Federer says he is looking forward to the part-time coaching guidance in 2005 from tennis legend Tony Roche.
"I made a short stopover in Dubai (prior to Melbourne) for a first training session with Tony Roche," said Federer, who won the ATP Doha event before to his semifinal effort in Melbourne. "We had a great time and I was -- and still am -- impressed by his qualities. Later, at the Australian Open, Tony accompanied me during the entire tournament. I consider our cooperation most enriching and I am extremely pleased by his further engagement. We will spend several weeks per year training together during the largest breaks between tournaments."
Federer said he was disappointed to see his aura of invincibility dimmed in Melbourne, but is still playing top tennis.
"Not having been able to defend my title at the Australian Open this year and bringing an end to my long series of match wins and victories against Top 10 players certainly is painful," Federer said. "The expectations prior to the Australian Open were huge and I must say that I am pleased with the result."
Expectations run high for Federer to prove his claycourt mettle at the next grand slam, the French Open, and to rebound from his Melbourne loss this week at Rotterdam which boasts five of the Top 10 players on the ATP Rankings.
"I will now have to show a reaction to this defeat and continue with the drive from Doha and Australia right up to the clay season."
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TENNIS-X NEWS, NOTES, QUOTES AND BARBS
19-year-old Australian Chris "Penthouse" Guccione won the Uncle Toby's Burnie Challenger over the weekend in Australia...Joachim "The Jackhammer" Johansson topped 100 aces for the week with his win at Marseille, elevating him into the Top 10 for the first time...Juan Carlos Ferrero on being a lower-ranked scrub: "Because I'm no longer seeded it's tougher. I had to play against Joachim Johansson in the first round last week in Marseille. In the past when I was a top seed I would have played a match like that in the quarters or semifinals. This is the big difference but I have to do it to get higher in the rankings."...Will Gaston Gaudio, who apparently decided he needed a rest after winning Vina del Mar and Buenos Aires back-to-back, be penalized for suddenly suffering a "thigh injury" Sunday (though not apparent in the B.A. final) and pulling from this week's event in Costa Do Sauipe? Not a good look commitment-wise for the Argentine, with C.D.S. putting all their marketing bank into Gaudio as the top seed this week...The Mercury in Australia reports that Lleyton Hewitt has set a wedding date with Bec Cartwright for December...Australian Fed Cup captain John Alexander, getting a little too caught up in the moment Down Under, says both Alicia Molik and Sam Stosur will eventually reach the No. 1 ranking: "When we saw Sam play Alicia in the final of the Sydney event, where she lost 7-5 in the third and was within a couple of points of winning, a lot of people said that Alicia will be the world's No. 1," Alexander told AAP. "Well, Sam is only 20, so I'll make the assumption right now that Sam will make No. 1 in the world, too."...Andre Agassi drops out of the Top 10 to No. 11 this week on the ATP Rankings.