WTA Aug 23-28 Pilot Pen Open, New Haven, CT Tier II $585,000 - 28 players - outdoor: hard order of play - tourney sched - TV sched draws & schedule, .pdf - .html draws: singles - doubles photos: Yahoo news - WTA Photo Gallery New Haven Register: Pilot Pen Tennis Hartford Courant: PPen photos - articles New Haven weather s2 # 6 Elena Dementieva s3 # 7 Jennifer Capriati s4 # 8 Maria Sharapova s5 # 14 Nadia Petrova RUS WTA Classic Forest Hills, NY Tier V $65,882 - 16 players - outdoor: hard draws & schedule, .pdf - tourney sched photos - Forest Hills weather s1 # 26 Elena Likhovtseva s2 # 38 Emilie Loit s3 # 43 M Sanchez Lorenzo s4 # 44 I Benesova

Tourney pages: New Haven & Forest Hills: 2005 New Haven: 2003 previous other tourney pages next New Haven: #25 Elena Bovina 6'2½", 159 lbs, RH, 2H-BH New Haven: 3rd WTA singles title, 1st in a Tier II tourney

Doesn't everybody wear their cap this way? Huntz "Satch" Hall Bowery Boy & Dead End Kid former #4 Mary Joe Fernandez 5'9½", 140 lbs, RH, 2H-BH

Satch, Finally: On Saturday in the final of the Pilot Pen Open in New Haven, 7th-seeded 21-year-old # 25 Elena Bovina of Moscow, Russia, won her 3rd WTA singles title (and her first since 2002) by defeating 8th-seeded # 29 Nathalie Dechy of France 6-2, 2-6, 7-5. Elena is shown above during the final, wearing her headgear, as usual, in the fashion of a friend of Slip Mahoney.     This is not a fashion gaffe, as one Mary Joe Fernandez is known to have sometimes put the brim up, establishing a precedent. Elena is also shown with the glassware, sans hat.     Elena did not lose a point on her serve until she was leading 5-1 in the 1st set, and it looked like she might take the match 1 and 0. But then Nathalie broke Elena's serve, followed by Elena breaking Nathalie again to take the set 6-2. 70% of Elena's 1st serves were good in the 1st set.     As the 2nd set began, Elena lost her consistency, while Nathalie found hers, hitting fewer errors than she had in the first set. Elena appeared to lose concentration after she went down 2 breaks at 0-3, knowing a third set would decide the match.

    Elena tore into the 3rd set it aggressively, but found herself down a break again right away. This did not distract her; she broke back immediately. After Elena held to 2-1, the players exchanged breaks again, to 3-2, then held serve to 6-5. Although the score was even, Elena was dictating most of the play, hitting far more winners than Nathalie. At 5-5 Elena hit her 8th and 9th aces of the match while serving a love game (2 of Elena's aces came on hard 2nd serves down the middle after the 1st serve had been out wide). As Nathalie served the final game, she quickly fell behind love-40, and Elena won when Nathalie hit the ball wide on the 2nd match point.

    Elena said: "I'm delighted. I didn't play my best because I was a bit nervous. I got tight in the second set but I managed to hold it together at the end...I never thought for one time I could win the tournament. It's not that I don't believe in myself. I was just playing match by match and never thought of myself getting to the finals. I just wanted to get through each match." story free reg. required

21-year-old Elena Bovina was born in Moscow and still resides there, but spent some time in Morocco in her youth, and was trained in Florida at the Bollettieri Academy from 1997 to 1999.     Although she appears to be wearing Nike shoes, Elena does not seem to have endorsement contracts for her clothing or racket (a Head model, but without the logo on the strings), which is odd considering her caliber of play and her good looks.     Elena is now 3-1 in WTA singles finals; she won her other 2 titles in 2002, in Warsaw & Quebec City (she also has 4 ITF titles). That year she also reached the US Open QFs. In 2003 Elena recorded wins over Anastasia Myskina, Lindsay Davenport, and Jennifer Capriati.     Elena's net skills have won her 5 WTA doubles titles; her doubles partners' names have included Henin, Stubbs, Hantuchova, Martinez, and Dechy. She won this year's Australian Open mixed doubles title, with partner Nemad Zimonjic.     Her highest singles rank has been # 16, but up until now injury and inconsistency have prevented Elena from advancing further. Elena was coached by Joe Giuliano, but is reportedly is now coached by Pep Placin.

Elena is even more dangerous with her hair deployed (file)

    Elena Bovina Wallpaper for your PC desktop

    25-year-old Nathalie Dechy, who is getting married after the US Open, plays as a Frenchwoman, but was born in Guadeloupe and resides in Belgium (not far from her good friend Justine Henin-Hardenne). Nathalie also swings a Head axe and wears Lacoste togs. She has won 1 WTA singles title (at Gold Coast in 2003) and 1 ITF singles title, as well one of each in doubles. Nathalie has a good doubles partner for next fortnight's US Open; her name is Elena Bovina. Nathalie has been coached by Georges Goven for the past three years, but he is returning to France and Nathalie will start with a new coach after the US Open.

    In Forest Hills on Saturday, Elena Likhovtseva of Russia defeated lefty Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic 6-2, 6-2 to win the first WTA Hard Court Classic, her 3rd WTA singles title. Strangely (and sadly), no news photos emerged from remote Forest Hills all week long.
    28-year-old Elena Likhovtseva was born in Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan and now resides in Moscow. Elena won her previous 2 WTA titles in 1993 and 1997, but she has also won 19 WTA doubles titles with 6 different partners. Elena swings a club made by Wilson, wears Wilson togs also, and is coached by Dmitry Degtriarev.
    Elena said: "I was nervous. I had not played the three previous weeks so I needed matches. Once I started to compete, I got right back into my game and the results proved that, especially today."

New Haven:
    Top-seeded # 4 Lindsay Davenport, who won last week's Cincinnati tourney, withdrew from the Pilot Pen Open due to tendinitis in her left wrist. After not publishing the revised draw all day on Monday, on Tuesday it was revealed that they had placed Lucky Loser Marissa Irvin (the highest ranked loser in qualifying) in Lindsay's place, giving her a 1st round bye. They could have moved s3 Jennifer Capriati into Davenport's spot, and s5 Nadia Petrova into Jennifer's bye spot, but tennis tourneys work in very strange ways.
    The main draw for New Haven had 8 seeds, with 4 1st-round byes. There were 6 qualifiers and 3 wild cards in the main draw. Qualifying began at 9am on Friday; qualifying finals were on Sunday. 1st round play began on Sunday at 1pm.
    The time in New Haven is UCT (GMT, Zulu, Greenwich...) minus 4 hours. That is Eastern Daylight Time in the US, =PDT +3 hours. After Sunday, early round play began at noon. There was no live scoring.

Forest Hills:
    The draw for Forest Hills had 4 seeds, with 1 1st round bye. There were 2 wilds cards, but no qualifiers, in the draw, and there was no doubles competition. All matches were played in the stadium court.
    Forest Hills offered free admission from Tuesday's 1st round through the Friday semifinals, charging only $10 for admission to the Saturday final. The Forest Hills tourney has no real website, just a couple pages on the West Side Tennis Club site.
    The time in Forest Hills is UCT (GMT, Zulu, Greenwich...) minus 4 hours. That is Eastern Daylight Time in the US, =PDT +3 hours. Play at Forest Hills started at 10am on Tuesday-Thursday, at 2pm on Friday, and at 1pm on Saturday.

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

New Haven, 1st Round, Sun-Tues loser's prize: $3,830 US; points: 1 #14 s5 Nadia Petrova RUS d #116 q Cara Black ZIM 6-1, 6-4 Mon *#39 Jelena Kostanic CRO d #21 s6 Magdalena Maleeva BUL 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 Mon     Jelena said: "I was really getting tired, but I just didn’t show it. We just kept on fighting. I had fights in my head, I had fights against [Maggie]. It was pretty hard, but I managed to pull it out, and I’m really happy about that.     "...it’s the first time I’m playing directly in the main draw, which makes it easier. It’s an advantage, that’s for sure. I think I just didn’t find my rhythm in the first set. I had some really stupid mistakes. I was rushing a little bit. Then I just took my time in the points and made her play more balls. I just picked up my game. I think that was the key." story, free reg. required     Maggie said: "I was a little bit unlucky because there was a game point to go up 4-1 and I hit a great shot and missed it by this much [about an inch]. I kept trying, but there were some very long points...     "[Jelena] was playing pretty solid, even though I was up all the time. I had many, many chances. I had many games that were 30-love, or 40-15 games and I couldn’t win them, so I have to give her credit. I wish I had won, and I am disappointed, but somewhere I know that it was just a few points difference. #25 s7 Elena Bovina RUS d #54 Denisa Chladkova CZE 6-0, 7-5 Sun Elena Bovina     Elena was up a break at 4-3 in the second set when Denisa broke back to even the score at 4-4. Then neither player held serve until 6-5 when Elena, serving for the match, recovered from a love-30 deficit to win.     Elena said: "If I see that maybe my game is not going as good as I want it to go, I don't start to panic or freak out. I try to keep my cool."     Elena likes New Haven. Elena said: "I just feel very comfortable here, and I like the surface. I have this feeling even before the tournament starts that I am more confident than usual. Even during the match, there were some tough games, and I really found a belief in that I play well here. I like the center court here, it pumps me up."story, free reg. required #29 s8 Nathalie Dechy FRA d #65 Magui Serna ESP 6-1, 6-4 Mon #30 Tatiana Golovin FRA d #91 wc Shenay Perry USA 6-1, 7-6(5) Sun Tatiana Golovin     Tatiana was up a break in the 2nd, but Shenay broke back, forcing the tiebreaker. Tatiana said: "I was kind of cruising along with the match, she was making some errors. I was playing OK. Then she started to play a lot better. She started to really play her game, put a lot of spin, slices, and that kind of bothered me a little bit, but I’m happy that I got through it."     About rising rapidly in the rankings, 16-year-old Tatiana said: "To be honest with you, I’m just not really realizing it, because it’s just been going on so fast, and it’s just been tournament after tournament. It’s been kind of crazy and hectic, so I’m really waiting to get some time off and start practicing and really realize what I’ve done."     About her 2nd round match against Jennifer Capriati, Tatiana said: "I think it’s going to be a great match. I think right now what I need to do is to play against the best players, so it’s really exciting. I’m looking forward to it." *#83 wc Mashona Washington USA d #32 Meghann Shaughnessy USA 6-4, 6-4 Mon     Mashona said: "I think I served pretty well. I have been serving pretty well over the summer, and it’s bailed me out a couple times. I’m just happy to be serving well now." story, free reg. required     Meghann said: "[Mashona's serve] was the difference in the match. I think she’s been having a good year...     "I’ve struggled a bit. I haven’t played in a while and really wanted to get some rhythm going, but, unfortunately, it didn’t go my way." #36 Daniela Hantuchova SVK d #89 q Lindsay Lee-Waters USA 7-6(2), 7-5 Tues Daniela Hantuchova     Daniela said: "I'm glad I was tested today and I really had to fight through this match. I was a little surprised actually, the way [Lindsay] played. She was going for her shots, and I really had to play well to get through in two sets, and I'm happy about it.     "I always try to play my game, even though I'm playing somebody that's aggressive too. I just always try to dictate right from the beginning, and sort of try to bring my game to her and see what she can do about it." story, free reg. required #40 wc Lisa Raymond USA d #41 Dinara Safina RUS 6-1, 3-6, 6-2 Mon #42 Jelena Jankovic SCG d #84 q Henrieta Nagyova SVK 6-4, 6-2 Mon *#50 Claudine Schaul LUX d #48 Tamarine Tanasugarn THA 6-4, 6-3 Sun Claudine Schaul     Claudine said: "In the beginning, it was the first time [Tammy and I had] played each other, so we were kind of trying to see what was working best. I knew she liked when I played flat, so I tried to give a little more height to the balls and just to not let her get into the rhythm."     It was Claudine's 1st match victory in 6 weeks (she had won her 1st WTA title earlier this year). Claudine said: "You start to think, when will it come back? I tried not to think about it and just focus on what I wanted to do, just focus on my game plan, and it worked out."     About her 2nd round match against Elena Dementieva, Claudine said: "I like playing against top players. I know that I’m able to compete with them when I’m at my best. I just have to get my game going and not think that I’m playing a top 10 player on the other side of the court but just go out there and play my game." #68 Akiko Morigami JPN d #112 q Silvija Talaja CRO 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 Mon #63 q Marta Marrero ESP d #149 q Sybille Bammer AUT 6-4, 1-6, 6-1 Mon

New Haven, 2nd Round, Tues-Weds loser's prize: $7,240 US; points: 25 #6 s2 Elena Dementieva RUS d #50 Claudine Schaul LUX 6-2, 6-2 Weds Elena Dementieva     Four of Elena's nine double faults came in her first service game of the match, giving the game to Claudine. Elena said: "I was kind of nervous at the beginning of the match. I was kind of worried about how I was going to play...     "After the first two games, I found my rhythm and I didn't have a problem... [Claudine] has a good forehand and she likes to attack, but I tried not to allow her to do that...     "There are a lot of good players still here. Even though Davenport is not here, there are still a lot of good players here and it's tough to win the tournament for me. I'm never thinking about the whole tournament. I'm just thinking about the next match." #7 s3 Jennifer Capriati USA d #30 q Tatiana Golovin FRA 6-3, 6-2 Tues Jennifer Capriati     Jennifer said: "I couldn't have asked for a better match to play. [Tatiana] kind of had the style I like to play against. She put a lot of pace on the ball and mostly flat, so I think I was able to get a good rhythm out there." story, free reg. required     Tatiana said: "These are chances I'm supposed to take if I really want to beat these [high-ranking] players. I think I need to be playing more against the best players and really try to win the important points, because that's what counts in the end." *#83 wc Mashona Washington USA d #8 s4 Maria Sharapova RUS 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 Tues Mashona Washington     Maria was plagued by 12 double faults. Mashona said: "I think double faults sometimes are a sign of nerves, and I think [Maria] might have been a little bit nervous out there. I know if I was, she had to be.     "I don't think I played badly [in the 2nd set]. I think she picked up her game a little more... I felt like I had to step it up a little bit to let her know I wasn't going away.     "...it's my biggest win. I'm happy about it. I think I was well due for it." story, free reg. required     Maria said: "It's all about learning. At 17, I've got a lot to learn." *#40 wc Lisa Raymond USA d #14 s5 Nadia Petrova RUS 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 Weds Lisa Raymond     Lisa said: "I knew I had to serve well against [Nadia]. I took my time, I stepped up to the line and tried to deliver good serves...     "What I focused on doing is looking for a lot more forehands, running around my forehand. When I am playing my best tennis, I am dictating. I am not 5-6 feet from the baseline running balls down. That’s what I did, I hit a lot to her forehand, I attacked her second serve a lot more. I really took it to her." #36 Daniela Hantuchova SVK d #82 LL Marissa Irvin USA 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 Weds Daniela Hantuchova     Daniela said: "In the second set I played two great games, and then suddenly out of nowhere I made the terrible mistakes, and in the third set I felt more consistent...     "I think my drop shot was always my favorite shot. When I was little I used to always overuse it, I try not to play it as much as I used to, but when I need to hit a couple of them, I do. But I think I missed some terrible ones, too."     Daniela would have been playing # 4 Lindsay Davenport if Lindsay had not withdrawn from the tourney with wrist tendinitis. Daniela said: "I knew I had a chance, especially with Lindsay pulling out. I saw the opportunity and I didn't want to get too tired, but at the same time I wanted to make sure I'd take it, and I'm really glad that I fought for every point." story     Marissa said: "I knew it would be a close match. We both like the way each other hits the ball and I knew it would come down to a few important points. Unfortunately for me, I was unable to win the important points." #25 s7 Elena Bovina RUS d #63 q Marta Marrero ESP 6-3, 6-2 Tues Elena Bovina #29 s8 Nathalie Dechy FRA d #68 Akiko Morigami JPN 6-0, 3-6, 6-2 Weds     Nathalie said: "It’s never easy to win your first set 6-0, because you know the second set is going to be tougher...     "I love this tournament because the tournament director and player services people treat everyone so well. They treat you as well as anyone on the tour." *#42 Jelena Jankovic SCG d #39 Jelena Kostanic CRO 6-2, 7-5 Weds     Jelena Jankovic said: "I think in the first set, I was playing my game. I was really aggressive and didn’t allow [Jelena Kostanic] to get the balls back. She likes to rally a lot and I didn’t let her do that. I was just attacking her and playing my game...     "In the second set, I was up 3-1 and was serving and got a little bit tired and my concentration went down, so I kind of let her come into the game again. I was lucky at the end to finish it off because I was really physically tired. I couldn’t keep up anymore...     "Sometimes she hits too many drop shots in important points. In the last game, when it was 6-5, she tried two of them and both of them went into the net. I was lucky.     "I think if I play my game, I can beat anybody. If I’m just playing aggressive and don’t care whether the ball goes in and just play the game and don’t worry about what’s going to happen, I think I have a good chance."

New Haven, QFs, Thurs 1pm ESPN2-TV loser's prize: $13,700 US; points: 49 #6 s2 Elena Dementieva RUS v #42 Jelena Jankovic SCG 6-1, 6-4 Elena Dementieva *#29 s8 Nathalie Dechy FRA d #7 s3 Jennifer Capriati USA 6-4, 7-5 Nathalie Dechy     Nathalie had been 0-5 against Jennifer before this match. Asked about playing Jennifer after her 2nd round win, Nathalie said: "For sure I have to do something different, because I never win against [Jennifer] before. She’s a great player. I really have to play a very good match against her. I’m glad I have two matches already rather than playing her in the first match. I will enjoy playing her."     After the defeating Jennifer, Nathalie said: "It was strange because I have never won against [Jennifer] but I don't know why, but today I was feeling like I really could do it. All the way during the match, I was kind of leading the match and trying to set up my game. She was more in the back of the court. That was maybe the key of the match."     Jennifer said: "I think [Nathalie] definitely played the match of her life. I give all credit to her... I was trying almost everything, just trying to be more aggressive... She counter-punched well, and then she attacked me a lot. She just didn't make any mistakes." #25 s7 Elena Bovina RUS d #83 wc Mashona Washington USA 6-3, 6-2 Elena Bovina     Mashona, sister of former successful ATP pro & current broadcaster Malivai Washington, had used her serve to score big upsets over Meghann Shaughnessy and Maria Sharapova in the 1st 2 rounds. But the big serve wasn't there today. Neither player could hold serve for the 1st 4 games. Then each held service once, taking the score to 3-3. After that, Elena was not broken again, but Mashona could only hold serve twice, while Elena broke her serve 4 more times. *#40 wc Lisa Raymond USA d #36 Daniela Hantuchova SVK 6-4, 6-3 Lisa Raymond

New Haven, SFs, Fri 1pm ESPN-TV loser's prize: $25,900 US; points: 88 *#25 s7 Elena Bovina RUS d #6 s2 Elena Dementieva RUS 6-1, 6-1 career matches Dementieva leads 3-2 Elena Bovina     After ElenaB held serve in the 1st game of the match, ElenaD, always plagued by service trouble, only moreso this year, served 5 straight faults before putting one in. Her serve was broken after ElenaB placed a backhand winner down the line and ElenaD hit an error wide. ElenaD continued to have trouble with her serve, but the match was won by ElenaB's service (over 70% of 1st serves good, usually at 104-107 mph), her groundstroke winners (very near the sidelines, often crosscourt after a wide serve), and by her winning volleys on almost every trip to the net (she likes to go to the net).     Elena Bovina said: "I've been working a lot on my serve, because I think that's my main weapon, and it's been helping me a lot in matches.     "The last thing you want to do with Dementieva is stay on the baseline and have long rallies. She is just a great athlete and she can be running for five hours from side-to-side. I can't do it. I'm not in that great of shape." story, free reg. required     Elena Dementieva said: "I think this was one of [Elena Bovina's] best days. If she continues to play like this, she is going to be on the top very soon." #29 s8 Nathalie Dechy FRA d #40 wc Lisa Raymond USA 6-4, 6-0 career matches Dechy leads 2-0

New Haven, Final, Sat 1pm CBS-TV loser's prize: $ 49,000 US; points: 137 winner's prize: $ 93,000 US; points: 195 #25 s7 Elena Bovina RUS d #29 s8 Nathalie Dechy FRA 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 career matches: Elena leads 2-1 Elena Bovina

New Haven, Doubles Final, Sat losers' prize: $15,500 US winners' prize: $29,000 US cdr15 s2 Nadia Petrova & Meghann Shaughnessy d cdr21 s3 Martina Navratilova & Lisa Raymond 6-1, 1-6, 7-6(4) Nadia Petrova & Meghann Shaughnessy     Nadia said: "It was a very good win for us. [Martina and Lisa] played well, very well, especially in the second set. It was very hard for us, but we still pulled it out, going for every point. They were both playing very well at the net." story, free reg. required New Haven, Qual Finals, Sun Aug 22 #63 Marta Marrero ESP d #106 Els Callens BEL 6-1, 6-3 *#149 Sybille Bammer AUT d #82 Marissa Irvin USA 5-7, 6-2, 6-0 #84 Henrieta Nagyova SVK d #261 Varvara Lepchenko UZB 6-4, 6-4 #89 Lindsay Lee-Waters USA d #193 Jamea Jackson USA 2-6, 7-6(5), 7-5 #112 Silvija Talaja CRO d #115 Stephanie Foretz FRA 6-4, 6-3 #116 Cara Black ZIM d #188 Angela Haynes USA 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 New Haven, Withdrawals #4 s1 Lindsay Davenport USA left wrist

Forest Hills, 1st Round, Tues-Weds loser's prize: $1,450 US; points: 1 #38 s2 Emilie Loit FRA d #52 Anca Barna GER 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 Weds *#49 Anabel Medina Garrigues ESP d #43 s3 Maria Sanchez Lorenzo ESP 6-3, 6-2 Tues #44 s4 Iveta Benesova CZE d #904 wc Elizabeth Kobak USA 7-6(4), 6-1 Weds #47 Kristina Brandi PUR d #57 Arantxa Parra-Santonja ESP 6-3, 6-1 Tues #56 Marion Bartoli FRA d #62 Jill Craybas USA 7-6(3), 6-2 Tues Marion Bartoli *#81 Katarina Srebotnik SLO d #64 Tathiana Garbin ITA 6-3, 6-3 Weds *#180 wc Kirsten Flipkens BEL d #67 Maria-Elena Camerin ITA 7-5, 6-4 Weds

Forest Hills, QFs, Thurs loser's prize: $2,600 US; points: 20 #26 s1 Elena Likhovtseva RUS d #56 Marion Bartoli FRA walkover-- hand, blisters? *#180 wc Kirsten Flipkens BEL d #38 s2 Emilie Loit FRA 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 Kirsten Flipkens #44 s4 Iveta Benesova CZE v #81 Katarina Srebotnik SLO 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 *#49 Anabel Medina Garrigues ESP d #47 Kristina Brandi PUR 5-7, 6-1, 7-6(5)

Forest Hills, SFs Fri loser's prize: $4,800 US; points: 36 #26 s1 Elena Likhovtseva RUS d #49 Anabel Medina Garrigues ESP 3-6, 6-0, 6-1 #44 s4 Iveta Benesova CZE d #180 wc Kirsten Flipkens BEL 7-5, 6-2

Forest Hills, Final Sat loser's prize: $9,000 US; points: 56 winner's prize: $16,000 US; points: 80 #26 s1 Elena Likhovtseva RUS d #44 s4 Iveta Benesova CZE 6-2, 6-2 Elena Likhovtseva

There were no qualifying rounds and no doubles competition at Forest Hills.

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