WTA: Mar 8-21 2004 Pacific Life Open, Indian Wells, CA Tier I (with ATP) $2,100,000 - 96 players - outdoor: hard Live Scores draws & schedule .pdf order of play results schedule TV schedule (ESPN & ESPN2) draws, .pdf from ATP photo gallery interviews Indian Wells: forecast - weather radar - map Palm Springs Desert Sun: P L Open s1 # 1 Justine Henin-Hardenne s2 # 2 Kim Clijsters s3 # 4 Lindsay Davenport s4 # 7 Anastasia Myskina

Tourney pages: Indian Wells: 2006 - 2005 previous other tourney pages next #1 Justine Henin-Hardenne 5' 5¾", 126 lbs, RH, 1H-BH 18th WTA Singles Title in 28 Finals

    In the Pacific Life Open final on Sunday at Indian Wells, top-seeded # 1 Justine Henin-Hardenne of Belgium defeated California native, 3rd-seeded, # 4 Lindsay Davenport 6-1, 6-4 (Justine is shown serving during the match, and after match point).

    Justine said: "I broke [Lindsay] the first game of the match.  So I was moving her a lot.  I was in confidence.  Even if I wasn't serving well, I was feeling that my game was almost perfect at this point of the match. The beginning of the match was important for me just to let her know that I was there, you know, to play my game, being a lot aggressive...
    "Maybe in the first set, she was having a few problems with the heat [104 degrees].  Then I had at the beginning of the second set, I was feeling down.  After the long rallies, we needed a little bit of time to recover...
    "[In the 2nd set, the 7th game, tied at 3-3] was a very important game.  I broke her back to come to 3-All.  A couple of unforced errors.  It was 15-40.  I served an ace [114 miles an hour].  I went to the net.  I played really well at this point.  That was really important, this seventh game of the match. Then I kept my serve [until] I was leading 5-4.  Five match points [on Lindsay's serve].  I did everything perfect in this game.  I did some good lobs, good dropshots.  It was a good fight, probably the best game of the match.  [Lindsay] was serving perfectly on the match points. I've been patient.  I waited for an opportunity, and I took it...
    "I did everything I had to.  I was aggressive when I had to.  I had time to organize my game.  I was moving Lindsay a lot.  I know that she doesn't like it too much." interview

    Lindsay said: "[Justine} started off playing I think really well.  I mean, going for her shots, hitting a lot of winners, being real aggressive.  It certainly put me on my back foot right away, put a lot of pressure on me to have to come up with extraordinary shots to get on top of the rallies...
    "Overall, I felt like I wasn't in control of most of the rallies.  That only happens to me against a couple players.  That's some of the times when I struggle.  I think to be able to beat one of the very top players, I really need to work on, you know, really controlling the points against these types of players...
    "I actually don't feel very disappointed.  I feel like I tried my hardest.  I feel like I played a great tournament.  You know, today I lost to by far a better player.  I mean, she was, like I said, controlling the rallies, moving me around, and doing everything really well." interview

    Lindsay still leads Justine 5-3 in career matches, but Justine has now won the last three times they have met.

    21-year-old Justine, born in Liege, now "lives" (a few weeks a year) in Marloie (in the non-Flem, French-speaking area). Justine is 18-10 in WTA singles finals, and she has won 3 of the last 4 Grand Slams. Justine obtained her hyphen by marrying Pierre-Yves Hardenne, wears "The Mark with 3 Stripes" (down their back this year, a fashion gaffe by the sons of Adi Dassler), and swings a Wilson "H Tour." Justine has been coached since she was 14 by Carlos Rodriguez, and is also coached by Pat Etcheberry. Justine's best friend on the tour might be Lindsay's SF opponent Nathalie Dechy, who has a residence in Belgium although she plays under the French flag.

    27-year-old Californian Lindsay has won 38 WTA singles titles in her career, she was looking for her 2nd title of the year at Indian Wells, where she has won twice before (and 4 times in doubles). Lindsay wears Nike and hits with a Wilson "H Tour" (the same model Justine is using). Earlier this year Lindsay was saying she might retire soon because she hasn't been reaching enough finals; more recently she has been talking about how well she has been playing.

Audio interview fragments on Windows Media from the Pacific Life Open at Indian Wells, CA

Sun, March 21, 2004: Justine Henin-Hardenne (I) d #4 Lindsay Davenport 6-1, 6-4 Justine Henin-Hardenne (II) Justine Henin-Hardenne (III) Lindsay Davenport (I) lost to Henin-Hardenne Lindsay Davenport (II) Lindsay Davenport (III) Fri, March 19, 2004: Lindsay Davenport (I) d #29 Nathalie Dechy 6-2, 7-6(4) Lindsay Davenport (II) Lindsay Davenport (III) Lindsay Davenport (IV) Thurs, March 18, 2004: Anastasia Myskina (I) d #19 Conchita Martinez 7-6(2), 2-6, 6-3 Anastasia Myskina (II) Justine Henin-Hardenne (I) d #20 Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-4, 7-5 Justine Henin-Hardenne (II) Justine Henin-Hardenne (III) Weds, March 17, 2004: Lindsay Davenport (I) d #94 q Gisela Dulko 6-3, 6-2 Lindsay Davenport (II) Lindsay Davenport (III) Tues, March 16, 2004: Lindsay Davenport (I) d #30 Meghann Shaughnessy 6-1, 6-3 Lindsay Davenport (II)

Mon, March 15, 2004: Justine Henin-Hardenne d #108 q Marta Marrero 6-1, 6-2 Sat, March 13, 2004: Kim Clijsters (I) (withdrawal) Kim Clijsters (II) (withdrawal) Justine Henin-Hardenne d #80 Samantha Reeves 6-2, 6-2 Fri, March 12, 2004: # 4 s3 Lindsay Davenport d # 87 Mara Santangelo 6-0, 6-0 # 35 s24 Daniela Hantuchova     lost to # 142 q Marissa Irvin 6-4, 6-7(5), 7-6(3) Weds, March 10, 2004 pre-tourney media access: # 1 s1 Justine Henin-Hardenne (I) # 1 s1 Justine Henin-Hardenne (II) # 1 s1 Justine Henin-Hardenne (III) # 2 s2 Kim Clijsters # 4 s3 Lindsay Davenport (I) # 4 s3 Lindsay Davenport (II) # 4 s3 Lindsay Davenport (III) # 7 s4 Anastasia Myskina # 15 s9 Jelena Dokic

    Indian Wells time is GMT (UCT, ZULU) -8 hours (=US Pacific Time, ET -3). Indian Wells has live scoring by points.

WTA SCOREBOARD: Indian Wells s=seed, #=rank, *=upset, LL=lucky loser ranks are for the previous week How do players get into the "draw"?

Indian Wells, 1st Round, Weds AP story loser's prize: $2,325 US; points: 1 *#91 wc Tatiana Golovin FRA d #48 Shinobu Asagoe JPN 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 Tatiana Golovin     Tatiana said: "I played really well in the first set. The second set I ran out of energy, then I got it together." #51 Kristina Brandi PUR d #55 Denisa Chladkova CZE 6-2, 6-0 *#54 Laura Granville USA d #53 Tamarine Tanasugarn THA 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 #56 Aniko Kapros HUN d #92 Henrieta Nagyova SVK 6-1, 6-2 *#193 Mariana Diaz-Oliva ARG d #59 Akiko Morigami JPN 2-6, 6-3, 7-6(2) *#99 LL Iveta Benesova CZE d #60 Emmanuelle Gagliardi SUI 6-3, 2-6, 6-0 *NR wc Alisa Kleibanova USA d #61 Jelena Kostanic CRO 2-6, 6-0, 7-5     14-year-old Alisa said: "I came on the court thinking I have nothing to lose, do my best and see how it goes, and try to win every point I can win. The first set I had too much energy. I was losing my timing." #63 Claudine Schaul LUX d #67 Jelena Jankovic SCG 7-6(9), 6-4 *#148 wc Iva Majoli CRO d #64 Melinda Czink HUN 6-2, 6-2 #69 Lubomira Kurhajcova SVK d #116 wc Maria Kirilenko RUS 6-1, 6-4 #73 Maria Elena Camerin ITA d #89 Stephanie Cohen-Aloro FRA 1-6, 6-2, 6-1 *#87 Mara Santangelo ITA d #79 Tathiana Garbin ITA 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 #86 Marie-Gayanay Mikaelian SUI d #88 Zuzana Ondraskova CZE 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 #95 Gala Leon Garcia ESP d #133 Tatiana Panova RUS 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(5) Gala Leon Garcia *#278 wc Sesil Karatancheva BUL d #119 Alexandra Stevenson USA 6-2, 2-6, 6-1     14-year-old Sesil said: "I am so excited! This is something I really wanted to do...When I found out I was playing Alexandra Stevenson I was really nervous. Then when I got out on there and saw all the seats I thought 'My God!'"     Told she would face Magui Serna in the 2nd round, Sesil said: "I have no idea who that is. It doesn't matter to me who I play. I play the way I know I can..." Indian Wells, 1st Round, Thurs 10am *#77 Martina Sucha SVK d #50 Marion Bartoli FRA 6-0, 7-5 *#100 Flavia Pennetta ITA d #58 Ludmila Cervanova SVK 6-4, 6-3 *#108 q Marta Marrero ESP d #62 Arantxa Parra ESP 6-0, 7-6(8) *#74 Jill Craybas USA d #68 Els Callens BEL 6-1, 3-6, 6-2 *#107 q Anna-Lena Groenefeld GER d #70 Virginia Ruano Pascual ESP 7-5, 6-2 *#135 q Shenay Perry USA d #71 Julia Vakulenko UKR 6-3, 6-2 #72 Anabel Medina Garrigues ESP d #97 Dally Randriantefy MAD 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 #80 Samantha Reeves USA d #273 wc Viktoriya Kutuzova UKR 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 #75 Barbara Schett AUS d #82 Tatiana Perebiynis UKR 6(7)-7, 6-1, 6-2 *#94 q Gisela Dulko ARG d #83 Klara Koukalova CZE 7-6(5), 6-1 Gisela Dulko *#110 q Antonella Serra Zanetti ITA d #85 Rita Grande ITA 6-4, 6-1 Antonella Serra Zanetti *#131 q Samantha Stosur AUS d #90 Sandra Kleinova CZE 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 #98 q Silvija Talaja CRO d #659 Anne Kremer LUX 5-7, 6-3, 6-1 *#104 q Alina Jidkova RUS d #101 LL Eva Birnerova CZE 6-2, 6-3 #115 q Barbora Strycova CZE d #170 wc Angela Haynes USA 6-2, 6-4 *#304 q Angelika Roesch GER d #140 q Sybil Bammer AUT 7-5, 6-3 #142 q Marissa Irvin USA d #367 wc Jamea Jackson USA 2-6, 7-6(4), 1-0 retired

Indian Wells, 2nd Round, Fri 10am Reuters AP loser's prize: $4,650 US; points: 16 #2 s2 Kim Clijsters BEL d #304 q Angelika Roesch GER 6-1, 6-3     Kim said: [Angelika is] the kind of girl that doesn't really give you a lot of rhythm. You know, she can play some incredible tennis. She can really go for the shot. She plays aggressively. But she can make a few double faults and you really don't know what to expect with her....I think in the second set she played really good.     "...I started serving really well at the beginning. I was playing really aggressive, not making her stay in the same corner all the time. I was trying to make sure that I was moving her around, not let her hit two shots - two of the same shots in a row. I just wanted to make sure that I kept her moving and kept her out of balance... she can really keep going, keep going, keep going. She can hit is as hard as anyone, I think." interview #4 s3 Lindsay Davenport USA d #87 Mara Santangelo ITA 6-0, 6-0     About the double-bagel win, Lindsay said: "I've only done it once before a long time ago. I'm normally not the best at concentrating through 12 straight games. Normally it wavers for some games in there."     About the now-healed toe neuroma she had operated on late last year, Lindsay said: "It was just very annoying. It (the surgery) made such a difference. I wish I'd had it done earlier last year. I wouldn't have played for a few months with it bothering me so much... Just mentally, it makes me a lot more excited now to get up and start playing tennis and working out and doing the stuff I need to do." interview #11 s6 Vera Zvonareva RUS d #86 Marie-Gayanay Mikaelian SUI 6-1, 6-4 #12 s7 Nadia Petrova RUS d #107 q Anna-Lena Groenefeld GER 7-5, 6-3 *#95 Gala Leon Garcia ESP d #15 s9 Jelena Dokic SCG 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 Jelena Dokic #18 s10 Anna Smashnova-Pistolesi ISR d NR wc Alisa Kleibanova USA 6-4, 6-0 *#51 Kristina Brandi PUR d #22 s14 Francesca Schiavone ITA 6-2, 6-1 #23 s15 Fabiola Zuluaga COL d #56 Aniko Kapros HUN 6-3, 6-4 #29 s19 Nathalie Dechy FRA d #135 q Shenay Perry USA 6-3, 6-4 #30 s20 Meghann Shaughnessy USA d #72 Anabel Medina Garrigues ESP 6-1, 6-3 *#98 q Silvija Talaja CRO d #31 s21 Tina Pisnik SLO 6-1, 6-0 *#142 q Marissa Irvin USA d #35 s24 Daniela Hantuchova SVK 6-4, 6-7(5), 7-6(3) Daniela Hantuchova     Marissa said: "When I beat [Justine] Henin [6-3, 4-6, 6-1 at Stanford in 2002], I qualified for that tournament. Certainly playing qualies can help out because you have a few matches under your belt. You've been in the situation at the tournament that you're playing at. You've played with the balls, the ball kids. There's a certain amount to be gained from that..." interview     Daniela said: "...I was not playing my best today. But I was pleased with myself that I kept fighting till the end. It almost paid off. There were a couple of points that turned the match around in the tiebreak in the third set. That made the difference. I think Marissa played a good match.     "...I had some stomach problems. I don't know. I think maybe I drank a little too much or hadn't eaten the right thing before the match. I was, you know, very hot out there. I had some problems at the end of the second set.     "...there are still many things I have to work on. I just have to move on and forget about it as soon as I can and look forward for the next tournament." interview     Daniela is again working with her former coach Nigel Sears, after a brief stint of being coached by Harold Solomon. *#94 q Gisela Dulko ARG d #36 s25 Maria Sanchez Lorenzo ESP 0-6, 7-6(1), 6-1 *#131 q Samantha Stosur AUS d #38 s26 Karolina Sprem CRO 6-4, 6-4 *#54 Laura Granville USA d #39 s27 Petra Mandula HUN 6-3, 6-4 *#63 Claudine Schaul LUX d #40 s28 Saori Obata JPN 6-1, 6-2 Indian Wells, 2nd Round, Sat 10am #1 s1 Justine Henin-Hardenne BEL d #80 Samantha Reeves USA 6-2, 6-2 Justine Henin-Hardenne #7 s4 Anastasia Myskina RUS d #73 Maria Elena Camerin ITA 6-3, 6-2 #13 s8 Paola Suarez ARG d #91 wc Tatiana Golovin FRA 1-6, 7-5, 6-2 #19 s11 Conchita Martinez ESP d #74 Jill Craybas USA 6-0, 6-3 #20 s12 Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS d #104 q Alina Jidkova RUS 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 *#99 LL Iveta Benesova CZE d #21 s13 Magdalena Maleeva BUL 7-5, 6-4 #24 s16 Maria Sharapova RUS d #100 Flavia Pennetta ITA 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 Maria Sharapova *#278 wc Sesil Karatancheva BUL d #25 s17 Magui Serna 6-4, 2-6, 7-5     Possibly a bit excited, Sesil said: "I still can't believe I won. Let's make it clear from now. It was unbelievable. It was unbelievable. I was down 5-3 in the third set, then 5-4, 30-Love down. You know what, I didn't come all the way to California to lose. I just got myself together. I said to myself, 'No more misses, just concentrate on your game,' and it worked. I guess mentally I got my game up. I didn't give up. I got myself together. I put everything, and just got the most unbelievable result I have for now. The 25th in the world... But, you know, that's what I came for." interview     According to the AP, Sesil proclaimed that she would whup her next opponent, the above mentioned Maria Sharapova, on Monday. Reportedly cringing at this, Sesil's coach Nick Bollettieri said: "I believe I have another No. 1. But she's so young now and too boastful." Told of Sesil's remarks, Maria said: "I'm sure [Sesil is] a great young player. There are many right now. But I'm going to wait until Monday. [Karatancheva's comments] don't bother me at all." AP story on Sesil     Magui said: "...I haven't been playing well for a while. I lost early rounds that I play. I haven't play my best. And today I don't think I play my best at all... [Sesil is] not bad... She has to improve a lot of things, the serve for starters, and the forehand... obviously she plays good for a 14-year-old, but I don't see her right now as a Top 10." interview #26 s18 Lisa Raymond USA d #69 Lubomira Kurhajcova SVK 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 #33 s22 Alicia Molik AUS d #148 wc Iva Majoli CRO 6-3, 6-4 *#115 q Barbora Strycova CZE d #34 s23 Eleni Daniilidou GRE 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 *#75 Barbara Schett AUS d #41 s29 Elena Likhovtseva RUS 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 *#77 Martina Sucha SVK d #42 s30 Emilie Loit FRA 4-6 7-5 7-5 #43 s31 Maria Vento-Kabchi VEN d #193 Mariana Diaz-Oliva ARG 6-3, 7-5 *#108 q Marta Marrero ESP d #46 s32 Cara Black ZIM 7-6(6), 6-1 #47 s33 Amy Frazier USA d #110 q Antonella Serra Zanetti 7-5, 6-3

Indian Wells, 3rd Round, Sun loser's prize: $9,475 US; points: 28 *#54 Laura Granville USA d #2 s2 Kim Clijsters BEL walkover-- wrist tendonitis     Late Saturday, # 2 Kim Clijsters withdrew from her Sunday 3rd round match due to a left wrist bone bruise and tendonitis.     Kim said she first noticed the injury during her 2nd round match on Friday evening: "We were 6-1, 1-All, I just started feeling it... It felt like it was getting worse when I was hitting backhands. And I felt like I couldn't, you know, balance or, you know, have a stable sort of backhand... It felt a lot worse this morning again."     Asked if she could remember falling on the wrist, Kim said: "No, no. That's the weirdest thing, I don't know when. I know when I started feeling the pain, but I don't know what caused the pain."     (Mar 16) On Tuesday, Kim Clijsters announced that a scan had found a tear of a little over ½" in a tendon of her left wrist. Kim said: "I am not allowed to move my wrist for 10 days. At that stage a further diagnosis will be made, and if it is negative, it would mean up to three more weeks of full rest. Then it would be tough to get in top shape for the Fed Cup. It would be too bad because I was in great shape."     Belgium hosts Croatia in Kim's hometown of Bree in the Fed Cup 1st round on April 24-25. Kim has not yet officially withdrawn from next week's NASDAQ-100 Open, but is considered "questionable" for that tourney. Kim's diary (on her official website) #4 s3 Lindsay Davenport USA d #131 q Samantha Stosur AUS 6-0, 6-3 Lindsay Davenport     About winning a third straight 6-0 set, Lindsay said: "I came into this match not expecting to do the same thing just because I knew Stosur had a pretty big serve. It was pretty inconsistent today, but I knew she had the ability to string together some games there, where I would maybe not get a great hit at the ball. It was not a worry." interview #11 s6 Vera Zvonareva RUS d #63 Claudine Schaul LUX 6-2, 6-0 *#94 q Gisela Dulko ARG d #12 s7 Nadia Petrova RUS 6-3, 6-3 Gisela Dulko     Gisela's win put her in the 4th round of a Tier 1 tourney for the first time. Gisela said: ...[Nadia] has a very big serve. I think I return perfect today. I mean, my return was good. And she's a good player... But I think I played really good. Maybe she wasn't at her best tennis today, but was a good match... I think the key was my return because I start good the point since my return. I don't know, I play very aggressive. I didn't serve well, but my forehand, my groundstrokes, were good today. But the key I think was my return... I think she was more powerful in the backhand side, so I tried to play more to the forehand." interview *#142 q Marissa Irvin USA d #95 Gala Leon Garcia ESP 6-1, 6-3     Marissa said: "It's just a lot of hard work and, you know, it's paying off. My coach, Chuck Adams. I've been working off court with Travis Hannah, former professional football player. I've been working hard. It's been paying off." interview *#29 s19 Nathalie Dechy FRA d #18 s10 Anna Smashnova-Pistolesi ISR 7-5, 6-4 #30 s20 Meghann Shaughnessy USA d #51 Kristina Brandi PUR 6-4, 6-4 #23 s15 Fabiola Zuluaga COL d #98 q Silvija Talaja CRO 6-4, 2-0 retired left calf strain Indian Wells, 3rd Round, Mon #1 s1 Justine Henin-Hardenne BEL d #108 q Marta Marrero ESP 6-1, 6-2 Justine Henin-Hardenne     Asked about her loss last week in Doha, Justine said: "I hate to lose, you know. I think everything hates to lose. It didn't happen really often in the last few months, so it hurts. But that's good because, you know, I always have many things to learn, and I did last week in Doha. You know, I came here with a different mentality. I was more focused. I'm feeling more in the tournament. I'm feeling the danger, which is good, for all the players. It's totally different. I think it's good to lose like this. Sometimes it gives you a lot of motivation, you know, for the next tournament. That's been good." interview #7 s4 Anastasia Myskina RUS d #43 s31 Maria Vento-Kabchi VEN 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 *#75 Barbara Schett AUS d #13 s8 Paola Suarez ARG 6-3, 6-4 #19 s11 Conchita Martinez ESP d #26 s18 Lisa Raymond USA 6-4, 7-5 #20 s12 Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS d #33 s22 Alicia Molik AUS 3-6, 7-6(6), 6-2 *#115 q Barbora Strycova CZE d #99 LL Iveta Benesova CZE 6-1, 2-1, retired gastrointestinal illness #24 s16 Maria Sharapova RUS d #278 wc Sesil Karatancheva BUL 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 Maria Sharapova     Maria's win put her in the 4th round of a Tier 1 tourney for the first time. About her 3-6 1st set, Maria said: "I think I was a little rushed. I was trying to get the point over with very fast, which I didn't need to do at all. And I just slowed myself down in the second set. I said, you know, 'Hey, you've been doing the wrong thing for the last set and a half, why don't you change something?' I think I did. Slowly things were starting to go my way. I thought a few balls I missed here and there, were really close, you just think, 'Well, when are they going to get in?' They finally started to roll in a little bit."     About Sesil, Maria said: "...she's definitely a great young player. [Sesil] has a great future ahead of her, no doubt about it." interview     Sesil said: "[Maria] played unbelievable. I have to give her the credit. She played very well... I could have played better. But, you know what, that's my first bigger tournament. I'm 14. I have probably 30 years more in front of me. We'll play again someday. I hope I'll do better then. But she played good. You know, I played good, too. So I guess she just played better." interview #47 s33 Amy Frazier USA d #77 Martina Sucha SVK 6-2, 6-1

Indian Wells, 4th Round, Tues loser's prize: $19,350 US; points: 45 #1 s1 Justine Henin-Hardenne BEL d #115 q Barbora Strycova CZE 6-3, 6-4 Justine Henin-Hardenne     Justine said: "It was a tough match... [Barbora] pushed me a lot... She proved in the last few days that she's very good player. I knew that, and I have been very focused. In the first set, I played a very good first set. Then I lost a little bit my concentration. She was playing better. I was too far from my baseline. Then I know I had to keep fighting to break back. That's what I did. It give me a lot of confidence to finish the match. Many positive things. But I have to take care of my concentration a little bit more." interview #4 s3 Lindsay Davenport USA d #30 s20 Meghann Shaughnessy USA 6-1, 6-3 Lindsay Davenport     Lindsay said: "Meghann is a very tough opponent. I expected a tough match... I think what's been really important for my tennis is being able to start off so well. I really felt like from the first game I was really sharp and putting the pressure on her. And that was important to really get on top of her because, you know, I actually watched her beat Venus last year and felt like the more she got going, the better and better she got as the match went on. I was trying to, you know, just start off with some breaks so she wouldn't feel so confident on her big serve." interview #7 s4 Anastasia Myskina RUS d #24 s16 Maria Sharapova RUS 6-2, 6-1     Anastasia frequently practiced with Maria while both were being coached by Robert Lansdorp, who still coaches Maria. Anastasia said: "I tried to at least play smart because [Maria] hits the ball pretty hard. I know if I'm going to hit hard, it's just the way she wants me to play. So try to mix it up a lot. I took a couple steps back. I think I played really smart... She doesn't play a lot of rallies. I know she play a lot of cross-courts. I think I read her game pretty good today... I definitely have a big advantage because I know her better than I think anybody. Just, you know, I know her game better than I think anybody else on the tour right now." interview *#29 s19 Nathalie Dechy FRA d #11 s6 Vera Zvonareva RUS 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 #19 s11 Conchita Martinez ESP d #75 Barbara Schett AUS 6-1, 6-2     Conchita said: "It was very hot out there. I was trying to be really patient, try to play high balls to [Barbara]. When I had the chance, go in with my forehand, make her run, because it was hot... That's part of my game, yeah. Mix up the spins. Sometimes I do it good... my game is not hit the ball hard. I mean, everybody hits the ball really hard these days. If I hit the ball hard, I know I'm going to lose. It's not my game. I try to mix up my game with high balls, use my slice, use my angles..." interview #20 s12 Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS d #47 s33 Amy Frazier USA 6-0, 3-2 #23 s15 Fabiola Zuluaga COL d #54 Laura Granville USA 7-5, 6-2 #94 q Gisela Dulko ARG d #142 q Marissa Irvin USA 7-6(3), 7-6(2)

Indian Wells, QFs, Weds loser's prize: $39,375 US; points: 81 #4 s3 Lindsay Davenport USA d #94 q Gisela Dulko ARG 6-3, 6-2     Asked about the result of her surgery in October, 2003 for a toe neuroma, Lindsay said: "...it's the left, I guess it would be the third and fourth toes, are now numb. I have a big scar down my foot from the surgery I had in mid October. But it's been a hundred times better than I could have ever thought to go ahead and do the surgery. I was a little apprehensive about it. But it's just worked out great. I feel no pain anymore... Numb forever... But it feels so much better than just shooting pain down there... you just get used to it." interview *#29 s19 Nathalie Dechy FRA d #23 s15 Fabiola Zuluaga COL 7-6(1), 6-3 Indian Wells, QFs, Thurs #1 s1 Justine Henin-Hardenne BEL d #20 s12 Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS 6-4, 7-5 Justine Henin-Hardenne     Justine said: "...I think it was a good match, especially for me in the first set, I started the match unbelievable. I was aggressive. We could see in the first game I was already at the net. And I was serving pretty well. For sure, it's the kind of player you always have to be focused on every point, because when she started to be in the court, when she started to put on me a lot of pressure, you need to adjust a little bit your game. But I was happy in the first set that I could finish it 6-4. That was pretty good. And in the second set, I started to be nervous a little bit to finish the match, and she was playing much, much better, long rallies. She has great forehand. That wasn't easy. But finally at the end, I played well on the important points. I played well to break her at 5-All. That was a very important game." interview     Justine will not be playing at next week's hard court NASDAQ-100 Open at Key Biscayne (aka Miami), because she wants to concentrate on preparing for the clay court season. Justine said: "I love playing on clay. Amelia Island [a clay court tourney] is just a week after Key Biscayne, so you need to make choices. That's life. The French [Open], for sure, is going to be my next goal, my next main goal, and I want to be ready for it." #7 s4 Anastasia Myskina RUS d #19 s11 Conchita Martinez ESP 7-6(2), 2-6, 6-3 Anastasia Myskina

Indian Wells, SFs, Fri loser's prize: $80,000 US; points: 146 #1 s1 Justine Henin-Hardenne BEL d #7 s4 Anastasia Myskina RUS 6-1, 6-1 Justine Henin-Hardenne     Justine said: "...winning 6-1, 6-1 against Myskina is pretty unusual.  For sure she did a lot of mistakes.  She was probably a little bit tired also.  She had really tough matches this week. But I've been consistent, really solid from the first point until the end.  I just got a little bit of trouble on my serve - a little bit.  But it's not easy because you need to stay focused on every point in this kind of match. So I was aggressive, I went to the net, I just tried to play my game.  And she really never came in the match.  So it was pretty easy. But these kind of things happens.  It happens to all the players." interview     After the final, Justine will have 2 weeks off before her next tourney, at Amelia Island on clay. Justine said: "I'm going to Saddlebrook, Florida.  I'm going back with my coach, Pat Etcheberry.  My coach's family and my husband are coming there to see us.  So that's good. I love being there.  That's a great place.  That's a place where I can work.  And now the goal is preparing the clay court season.  You know it's very important for me and I want to be ready. It's a different preparation.  So I need two weeks to work hard and be ready for the next tournaments."     Anastasia said: "...bad days, good days. Today was bad day for me. But Justine play pretty well. She didn't really give me any chances today. Sometimes it happen. ...that was a bad game for me. I didn't play my game at all. So I know I have to practice, what I have to practice. Just look forward for next tournament.     "...I have a little bit pain in my shoulder today... It's the muscle inflamed... It's a sharp [pain]... after this, I'm not going to play for couple days, because it's just too much sometimes... I play Miami for sure, and then I have a rest for the month... I play Fed Cup, but then I play just Berlin after Miami." interview #4 s3 Lindsay Davenport USA d #29 s19 Nathalie Dechy FRA 6-2, 7-6(4) Lindsay Davenport     Lindsay said: "I played a couple of sloppy games and let [Nathalie] back in it, and then she started to play with a lot more confidence... I ended the match really well. I started hitting the ball better and cut down on my unforced errors." interview     Nathalie said: "I didn't worry too much at the beginning because I knew I had to get used to [Lindsay's] game. I was happy to win that first game because it is never good to lose a set 6-0... It is my best performance at this tournament and it has been a really great week for me. This gives me lot of confidence for the rest of the season." interview

Indian Wells, Final, Sun noon loser's prize: $163,000 US; points: 228 winner's prize: $332,000 US; points: 325 #1 s1 Justine Henin-Hardenne BEL d #4 s3 Lindsay Davenport USA 6-1, 6-4

Indian Wells, Doubles Final, Sat 5th Match s1 Virginia Ruano Pascual & Paola Suarez d s2 Svetlana Kuznetsova & Elena Likhovtseva 6-1, 6-2 Indian Wells, Qualifying Finals, Tues loser's prize: $1,170 US #94 Gisela Dulko ARG d #128 Severine Beltrame FRA 7-6(3), 6-4 Gisela Dulko #98 Silvija Talaja CRO d #114 Julia Schruff GER 6-3, 6-4 *#131 Samantha Stosur AUS d #99 Iveta Benesova CZE 6-3, 6-4 *#140 Sybil Bammer AUT d #101 Eva Birnerova CZE 6-2, 6-3 #104 Alina Jidkova RUS d #122 Yulia Beygelzimer UKR 6-2, 6-2 *#115 Barbora Strycova CZE d #105 Conchita Martinez Granados ESP 6-3, 6-2 #107 Anna-Lena Groenefeld GER d #169 Renata Voracova CZE 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 #108 Marta Marrero ESP d #949 Anne Yelsey USA 6-3, 6-4 #110 Antonella Serra Zanetti ITA d #218 Lilia Osterloh USA 7-6(5), 6-4 #135 Shenay Perry USA d #289 Julie Ditty USA 6-3, 6-1 *#304 Angelika Roesch GER d #137 Stephanie Foretz FRA 6-2, 6-3 Angelika Roesch #142 Marissa Irvin USA d #844 Christina Fusano USA 6-3, 6-4

Indian Wells, Withdrawals #2 s2 Kim Clijsters BEL 3rd round left wrist #3 Amelie Mauresmo FRA back #5 Jennifer Capriati USA back #9 s5 Chanda Rubin USA left knee #28 Elena Bovina RUS #44 Ashley Harkleroad USA #45 Nicole Pratt AUS #49 Amanda Coetzer RSA #76 Iroda Tulyaganova UZB

    27 of the 48 matches played in the first 3 days at Indian Wells resulted in upsets (counting strictly by rank).

    The Pacific Life Open at Indian Wells is a 2-week "mini-major". The singles draw was not held until Monday, March 8th. Qualifying play also began on Monday, at 10am, with main draw play beginning on Wednesday, March 10th at 10am, and the final on Sunday, March 21st.

    The 96-player main draw for Indian Wells had 32 seeds, with all 32 receiving 1st-round byes. There were 12 qualifiers, 2 Lucky Losers, and 8 wild cards in the main draw. There was a minor error on the drawsheet: Tatiana Panova is listed as ranked # 1061-- her rank is actually # 133 (Alexandra Panova is # 1061).

    Strange Schedule: Instead of playing the top half of the draw on the 1st day and the bottom half on the 2nd day (as is often done), the order of play was arranged so that the qualifiers, who all played on both Monday and Tuesday, got to rest on Wednesday and play on Thursday. This made sense. But then, instead of having the Wednesday winners play on Friday and the Thursday winners play on Saturday, the schedule was all mixed around so that some women played 2 days in a row, some had 1 day off, and some had 2 days to sit and wait. This makes no sense at all.

    (Mar 10) s5 # 9 Chanda Rubin has withdrawn from the Pacific Life Open due to a recurring left knee injury. The same injury forced Chanda to forfeit a SF match against Maggie Maleeva at the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo last month. Chanda said: "It's something that needs to heal on its own. Right now, I just need to make sure that I'm healthy in preparation for the upcoming tournaments." # 47 Amy Frazier was promoted to s33 and given a 1st round bye, and # 99 Iveta Benesova, last week's champ in Acapulco, was made a "Lucky Loser" (because she was the highest-ranked player who lost in qualifying) and is taking Amy's former place in the main draw.

    (Mar 8) # 5 Jennifer Capriati has withdrawn from the Pacific Life Open; the press says that she aggravated the back injury she incurred at the WTA Championships last November (which kept her out of action until the Dubai tourney 2 weeks ago), with no further details at this time.

    (Mar 6) # 3 Amelie Mauresmo has withdrawn from the Indian Wells tourney, still not fully recovered from the back injury she suffered at the Australian Open in January. Amelie now hopes to return to play at the NASDAQ-100 Open in Key Biscayne, which begins on March 24th. # 6 Serena Williams is also expected to return to action at Key Biscayne.

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