Game over for Sharapova

Maria Sharapova should have reached her third straight Roland Garros quarterfinal, but crumbled late in the third set and lost to compatriot Dinara Safina, 7-5 2-6 7-5, in two hours and 34 minutes on Court Suzanne Lenglen Sunday.
Sharapova led 4-0 and 5-1 in the final set, but won only won six more points, as Safina stormed back to reach the final eight at a Grand Slam for the first time.
"I just didn't want to leave the court. I was enjoying. It was nice to play," is how Safina described her mindset at 1-5. "I just wanted to stay more. I said like, okay, for to stay more, I have to try to do more. And I played I think very well from 5-1."
Safina, the 14th seed, really only played well for parts of the opening set and in the final six games of the match, but it was enough to oust Sharapova.
"She picked up her game a little bit and mine went down. You know, that's not a good combination," Sharapova said. "I really think it has to do with the fact that I haven't, you know, had those kind of tough matches in the past few weeks and it's hard to come into a Grand Slam [like that].
"It's in your hands and you've got to finish it off, all of a sudden you start thinking. That's what happened today."
On the verge of defeat, Safina found her rhythm. Her ground strokes started finding the line and her defensive play picked up. And when Safina did not win the point outright, Sharapova gave it away. Even when she came to the net, Sharapova could not slow Safina's momentum.
The match ended on a backhand cross court winner off a too-deep Sharapova forehand volley.
"I took everything in my hands, you know" Safina said of her comeback. "I said, 'Okay, like before she was dictating, I had to run always from corner to corner.' I said, 'Okay, now I try to make her run.' I started to look for the lines and I started to be more aggressive from every point."
But Sharapova never should have been in that position - this could have been a fairly routine straight set victory. The former Wimbledon champion gift-wrapped the opening set for Safina by failing to consolidate two early breaks and then sailing an easy forehand on set point at 5-4, one of 33 first-set unforced errors.
Safina won the final three games of the first set, breaking at love to close out, but Sharapova recovered quickly. She took the second set with little trouble and built what seemed to be an insurmountable lead in the third set.
"I didn't think I would be playing my best tennis here [because of a foot injury]…but I did the best I can," Sharapova admitted. "You know, I had the chances to be in the quarterfinals; I just didn't take them."
She did not take them in large part due to her forehand. Its inconsistency kept Safina afloat in the opening set and it abandoned her once again during Safina's resurgence, in particular when she served at 5-4.
Safina's break in the tenth game came care of Sharapova's three consecutive forehand errors.
In the quarterfinals, Safina will meet another Russian, 8th seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova, who posted her own come-from-behind victory Sunday, 1-6 6-4 6-4 over Italian Francesca Schiavone.

Michaella Krajicek

Krajicek beats Safina, wins Ordina Open
Sat Jun 24, 11:03 AM ET

DEN BOSCH, Netherlands - Michaella Krajicek beat Dinara Safina of Russia 6-3, 6-4 to win the Ordina Open on Saturday, the first Dutch woman to capture her country's only grass-court tournament.
In a final between younger sisters of Grand Slam winners, Krajicek won her third career title and second this year, the others coming in Hobart in January and last year in Tashkent.


The 17-year-old player has won all three times she has been to a final.
Richard Krajicek, a tournament organizer who won Wimbledon in 1996, kissed his sister on both cheeks at the on-court awards ceremony of this Wimbledon tuneup.

Jelena Kostanic

Kostanic goes through
By: Niko van H.
Date: June 14, 2006, 6:18pm
Jelena Kostanic defeated Karin Knapp in two tight sets 6-4 7-6(5) in the ITF-tournament played this week in Zagreb.
The first seed had to play hard for sending the Italian woman packing. It's her first win after her comeback. In her first match at Roland Garros, she fell to American Ashley Harkleroad in three sets after having MP's to close the match. Let's hope she can win this tournament and get her confidence back!
Kostanic prevails in thriller
By: Niko van H.
Date: June 15, 2006, 5:23pm
First seeded Jelena Kostanic survived fellow Croat Sanja Ancic in three tough sets (4-6 7-5 7-6).
If you think her match against Knapp was tough, this one went beyond that. Despite losing the first set, Jeka was able to come back and win this 2nd round encounter. It surely has given her a lot of confidence. Ancic is a promising tennis star who will certainly be a Top100 player soon. In the next round, Jelena will meet Hungary's Kyra Nagy

Some Old News From Anastasia Myskina

U.S. eliminated by Russia in Fed Cup semis

July 10, 2005 Led by Myskina, Team Russia defeated the USA Team in Fed Cup 4-1, to advance to the final against France in September.
``It was much tougher for me to play against Venus yesterday because she is playing on a much higher level,'' said Myskina, who beat Williams in the opening singles Saturday. ``Today I knew that we had a great chance to win and if I were to miss it that would have been terrible for the team.''
The Americans needed to scramble in their semifinal because of injuries to Australian Open champion Serena Williams and top-ranked Lindsay Davenport.
``It was a tough situation,'' U.S. captain Zina Garrison said. ``We knew it was going to be tough when we came in. And we tried to repair as much as we could, but we came up short.''
The United States has won the Fed Cup 17 times -- more then any other nation -- and has been runner-up nine times. Its last title, however, came in 2000.
The Americans began the day down 2-0 in the best-of-five competition on indoor clay at Olympic Stadium, and Wimbledon champion Venus Williams kept her team alive by downing Elena Dementieva 6-1, 6-2 in reverse singles. Russia then clinched its spot in the final when Anastasia Myskina beat Jill Craybas 6-2, 6-4.
In the inconsequential doubles match, Vera Douchevina and Dinara Safina defeated Williams and Corina Morariu 6-1, 7-5.
``It was difficult to find energy after so many weeks of playing,'' Williams said. ``I definitely was not my normal self for sure. Last night I wanted to win for the team and that was important. It's definitely hard because it's not just one person. It's a disappointment for the whole team.''
In Fed Cup playoffs, Belgium, Austria, Italy and Germany won their series and will play in the elite group next year.
Myskina, last year's French Open champ, had little trouble against 60th-ranked Craybas, who substituted for Mashona Washington.
``It was much tougher for me to play against Venus yesterday because she is playing on a much higher level,'' said Myskina, who beat Williams in the opening singles Saturday. ``Today I knew that we had a great chance to win and if I were to miss it that would have been terrible for the team.''
Myskina was glad she didn't have to face Williams on Sunday.
``I think she was really hurt that she lost to me,'' Myskina said. ``Her ego was hurt and she really wanted to give a point to her team. That's why she found extra motivation.''
Myskina has an 18-4 Fed Cup record and is unbeaten in the last 10 matches. She won both her singles matches against France in last year's final, then won the decisive doubles.
``I'm really happy when I'm back on the team,'' she said. ``Team spirit is really important for me.''

Jelena Dokic: Latest News

June 21st 2006: Unfortunately, Jelena came up short in her opening match in the Wimbledon qualifying, she lost 4-6, 7-6, 6-2 against American Alexandra Stevenson:(
June 19th 2006: Jelena will have a first round match in Wimbledon qualifying against Alexandra Stevenson, pretty ironic considering when they first played in this tournament, circumstances were VERY different... oh well, let's hope Jelena can pull this match off:)
June 17th 2006: Great news as Jelena was given a wild card for the Wimbledon qualifying that will be played next week! Go Jelena!!
June 15th 2006: Jelena's winning streak came to an end as she lost her 2nd round match 6-2, 7-6... still congrats on getting some wins back in the bank:)
June 13th 2006: More good news as Jelena defeated Maria-Vanina Garcia-Sokol 6-3, 6-1 to advance to the 2nd round of the main draw, she will now face Madalina Gojnea!
June 12th 2006: Jelena will play her first round in the main draw against another qualifier, Maria-Vanina Garcia-Sokol!
June 11th 2006: Jelena continued her road and won 2 matches today! She defeated Gatto Monticone 6-1, 7-5 and Olga Panova 6-2, 6-4 to qualify for the main draw:)
June 10th 2006: Awesome news! Jelena played and she defeated Michaela Johansson 1-6, 7-5, 6-4 today!! Great job Jela!
June 9th 2006: Jelena is back in action, or at least she is supposed to. She is scheduled to play in a 25K qualifying event in Italy that starts tomorrow! She will face #16 seed Michaela Johansson in her first match... go Jelena!!

Monique Viele

Unique Monique: Kournikova could have company in Viele

PHILADELPHIA (Sports Network) - Anna Kournikova is unchallenged right now as the most marketable woman on the WTA Tour, but the Russian beauty should have some company when American Monique Viele joins the circuit on a regular basis.
Viele, who will turn 16 on Friday (October 6), is a California native/Florida resident and considered to be the next hot prospect in women's tennis. Once she reaches the age of 16, the young gun will be allowed to play in 10 WTA events. The tour doesn't allow full-time status until the age of 18.
Like so many of the youngsters these days, Monique possesses solid, powerful groundstrokes and a booming serve which has been clocked in the Serena Williams range (115 mph).
At the tender age of 8, Viele appeared on "60 Minutes," saying "I want to be No. 1 in the world."
It was apparent then that she was destined for stardom.
The talented teen has been making strides as a tennis player, but her talents are not limited to the courts. The ambitious Viele (pronounced VEEL-ee) is also a professional singer, actress and model.
The venerable Bud Collins referred to her as "the Eighth Wonder of the World."
In 1999, the beautiful athlete graced the covers of five magazines, was written up in over 300 publications world wide, appeared on 22 international TV shows, and was voted No. 4 among the Top 300 female personalities on the internet.
An agent once said of the 5-9, 125-pound Monique: "She rivals a champion thoroughbred with her physical grace and beauty. Her long, lean, tanned, muscular legs are both an attribute to her good looks and her speed on the court. Her physique is astonishing...she looks more like a supermodel than a tennis player."
Viele played World Team Tennis for the New York Hamptons this past summer, competing on the club owned by current ESPN analyst and former ATP performer Patrick McEnroe (younger brother of all-time great John McEnroe). Former world No. 1 men's star Jim Courier also represented the Hamptons. Viele's record for the WTT squad was less than stellar, as she was a disappointing 8-30 in 38 games played for the team, and finished 25th out of 25 ladies in league singles. Venus Williams posted the best women's singles winning percentage (.909) in the league (co-founded by the legendary Billie Jean King), going 10-1 in 11 games played for the St. Louis Aces.
The young Viele fine-tuned her tennis skills at the [Rick] Macci Academy in Pompano Beach, Florida. Macci's students have produced 94 USTA national titles.
Macci is a veteran tutor of adolescents earmarked as future tennis stars, including Venus and Serena Williams, Jennifer Capriati and Mary Pierce. Macci swears, however, that Viele is the best one yet.
"She brings more to the table than just great tennis. She does it all, and she might be the most marketable American player in the last 25 years," said Macci. "She is the ultimate, total package, a one-in-a-million can't miss prospect."
I guess time will tell.
Monique's results were encouraging early on. By the age of 11, she had a Top-40 ranking in Florida's girls' 18 division, and in 1998 she became the youngest player ever to win the 18 division of the Florida Open.
Viele's parents, Richard and Bernadette, have been pushing Monique towards greatness since an early age. Of course, many of us are familiar with her folks' battle with the WTA. Mom and dad demanded the WTA stretch its age eligibility rules for minors and allow their at-the-time 14-year-old Monique to gain a wild-card entry into a WTA event...or face a court case. The WTA gave in to the Vieles' request and granted Monique a wild card into the Princess Cup event in Tokyo in 1998, thereby changing its age eligibility rules to allow 14 year olds the opportunity to compete in just one WTA tournament in that season.
Like Kournikova, Viele has several distractions away from the court, focusing just as much attention on a singing career as she does on her tennis prowess. Viele was scheduled to head into the studio to cut a single with the producers that worked with Britney Spears, the Backstreet Boys and N'SYNC.
All this and she still manages to keep an A average with her schoolwork -- which comes via tutoring and home-schooling.
Viele is managed by mega-mogul Donald Trump, who Monique calls a "great guy, very intelligent, very successful and very funny."
The currently 876th-ranked Monique has played in only eight WTA tournaments thus far, but for obvious reasons she has been drawing comparisons to Kournikova, with a promising game, sun-streaked hair and ocean blue eyes. And, much like "Kourni," if Viele fails to live up to all the hype on the court she'll be harshly criticized for style as opposed to substance.
Viele has not shyed away from encroaching on the Kournikova sex appeal. The young American's off-court attire often features slinky strapless dresses, miniskirts and four-inch high heels -- a look well beyond her almost-16 years.
Monique, like some many of today's vocal teens, is not lacking in the self-confidence department, once stating that she wants to be the greatest player of all-time, "and that includes men too." Viele has already said that she can beat Martina Hingis and Kournikova.
Between all the media attention and public fascination with Viele, this star-in-the-making should soon be shooting for the top.

Ashley Harkleroad: The Next Kournikova?

With Anna Kournikova growing old and saggy, a number of bright teenagers want to imitate her style and get the millions that she has obtained. One of these is Ashley Harkleroad, age 16.
Detractors say she does not quite have it. She has the looks. She has the style. But, she does not hit the ball hard enough.
"She doesn't have the same feel for the game and doesn't hit as hard," one commentator said of Harkleroad. "There was so much hype surrounding her and I thought, `She's going to be really, really good.' But you can see she is still making a transition to the pros."
A packed crowd on Court 11 noticed Harkleroad, the tanned 16- year-old from Florida playing her debut match at the United States Open. A couple of shirtless fans in the front row cheered Harkleroad's every move, even her mis-hits. A few fans whistled. Others took pictures. Meanwhile, her opponent, who is ranked much higher on the world ranking list, received almost no attention.
Afterward, 43 members of the press wanted to speak to Harkleroad; only three spoke to the opponent who had just defeated her. Harkleroad talked about her clothes, not her tennis, a fitting statement about her career now.
If Ashley Harkleroad wants to make it to the top, she will have to do it harder.
Sam Sloan

Source

http://www.samsloan.com/harkleroad.htm

Latest News On Maria Kirilenko

Ordina Open
Rosmalen, June 18
Maria faces a qualifier in the first round of the women singles.In the women doubles her partner is Ana Ivanovic and they have beaten the team Eleni Daniilidou / Anabel Medina Garrigues in the first round in two sets 7-5 6-4.In the quarter finals they face unknown.
Roland Garros
Paris, June 7
In the mixed doubles Maria's partner is Leander Paes of India and they are beaten today in the quarter finals by Martina Navratilova / Bob Bryan, both of the USA, in two sets 3-6 3-6.Maria, seed 20, is beaten by Anna-Lena Groenefeld of Germany in the third round of the women singles in two sets 2-6 6-7.In the women doubles Maria's partner is Gisela Dulko and they are beaten by the team Anna Chakvetadze / Elena Vesnina, both of Russia, in the third round 3-6 4-6.
Internazionali d'Italia
Rome, May 19
Maria lost the first round of the women singles to Italian Maria Santangelo in three sets 6-3 3-6 5-7.In the women doubles her partner is Gisela Dulko and they are beaten by Anabel Medina Garrigues / Katarina Srebotnik in the quarter finals in three sets 6-7 6-4 5-7.
Qatar Total German Open
Berlin, May 11
Maria is beaten by Justine Henin-Hardenne in two sets of the third round of the women singles 1-6 0-6.In the women doubles Maria's partner is Gisela Dulko and they are beaten by the team Iveta Benesova/Michaella Krajicek in the second round in two sets 3-6 2-6.
J & S Cup
Warsaw, May 6
Maria is beaten in the first round of the women singles by Martina Hingis of Switzerland in two sets 5-7 6-7.In the doubles Maria's partner is Ana Ivanovic and they are beaten by the team Elena Likhovtseva/Anastasia Myskina in two sets 3-6 4-6.