WTA: Feb 21-27 2005 Qatar Total Open, Doha, Qatar Tier II $600,000 - 28 players - outdoor: hard draws & schedule .pdf Doha News Photos: France - US tourney gallery - WTA Photo Gallery Doha weather # 2 Amelie Mauresmo # 4 Maria Sharapova # 6 Anastasia Myskina # 10 Alicia Molik Abierto Mexicano, Acapulco, MEX Tier III (with ATP) $180,000 - 32 players - outdoor: red clay Live Scores - draws & schedule .pdf .html: q draw - singles draw - sched tourney gallery - WTA Photo Gallery Acapulco weather # 36 Flavia Pennetta # 41 Meghann Shaughnessy # 52 Emilie Loit # 64 Dally Randriantefy

Tourney pages: Doha & Acapulco: 2006 - 2004 previous other tourney pages next Doha: #4 Maria Sharapova 6' 0", 130 lbs, RH, 2H-BH Doha: 9th WTA singles title in 10 finals

    On Saturday in the final in Doha, 17-year-old 2nd-seeded # 4 Maria Sharapova from Nyagan, Siberia, Russia (residing & training in Florida & California), defeated 24-year-old # 10 Alicia Molik of Australia (born in Adleaide, lives in Melbourne), 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 (Maria is shown during the match, and with the gold animal afterward).
    Alicia delivered 4 aces while winning the 1st set in 36 minutes. But Maria took control in the 2nd, breaking Alicia in the 2nd & 4th games. The ladies then battled evenly until Maria broke Alicia in the 5th game of the final set, and held to the end.

    Maria said: "After losing the first set, I just tried to hang in there and wait for my turn to make something happen. I am glad that I managed to play my best tennis today after the first set... I was always positive, even after losing the first set. I had a good game...
    "In the second set I thought I needed to add some pace to my shots. I also knew I had to keep my serve if I have to win the match. But the key to success is my positive attitude. I approach all tournaments with a positive frame of mind I hit the ball better in the second and third sets. And thing turned in my favour.
    "But I should say that whenever we have played, we played it tough. Alicia plays great points and to beat her I have to be at my best. Actually the match could have gone anybody's way. Only a few points separated us. But when I broke her twice in the second set I knew it would be difficult for her to beat me." Reuters story AP story

    Alicia said: "I had a long week, not bad at all. I played well too. But I spent a lot of time on the court [playing doubles and singles] and I think suffered from a lapse of concentration in the second set. Of course I am disappointed not to win the title, but overall I have been playing well of late...
    "I can safely say that the best player in the tournament won the title here."

    Maria now leads Alicia 3-1 in career matches. Alicia Molik remains the only player thus far to defeat Maria Sharapova in a WTA singles final: Alicia won over Maria in the Zurich final last year, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.

    90%: 17-year-old Maria Sharapova has now won 9 WTA singles titles in 10 finals, including last year's Wimbledon and WTA Championships. Maria serves very well (with an unusually strong 2nd serve), hits the ball great on the run, and she can topspin lob.
    Maria wears Nike and chops with a Prince axe. Maria is currently using the Prince "Turbo Shark MP", a mid-size (100 sq." head) mid-weight (11.1 oz strung) evenly-balanced bat.
    Born in Nyagan, in the Siberian region of Russia, Maria started at the Bollettieri Academy in Bradenton, Florida at age 7, and still has a residence near there. Maria spends time in California also, where she is coached by Robert Lansdorp, who helped Tracy Austin, Lindsay Davenport and Pete Sampras perfect their strokes.
Sharapova career record - Maria Sharapova Wallpaper - MariaWorld (many photos)

    24-year-old Alicia Molik has been steadily moving up the ranks since winning the Bronze medal at the 2004 Olympics. She has won 5 WTA singles titles, including this year in Sydney. Born in Adelaide & residing in Melbourne, nearly-6-foot Alicia is the biggest name in Australian women's tennis since Hana Mandlilkova, who won 4 grand slam singles titles but was born in Prague and turned Australian to get out from behind that "Iron Curtain" thing they used to have (Hana retired in 1990, with 27 WTA singles titles).
    Alicia wears fashions by Adi Dassler's company and is one of very few players who swat with a Dunlop bat, in her case with a 1-handed backhand, and a very powerful serve.
    Alicia was busy on Saturday; she won the doubles title partnered with Italian Francesca Schiavone. Alicia & Francesca defeated doubles experts Cara Black & Liezel Huber, 6-3, 6-4.
Molik career record

Acapulco:

Favorite Flavia: In the Acapulco final on Sunday, top-seeded # 36 Flavia Pennetta of Italy defeated unseeded # 101 Ludmila Cervanova of Slovakia 3-6, 7-5, 6-3. Flavia now leads Ludmilla 2-1 in career matches.     Flavia said: "I started the match a little nervous, and [Ludmilla] was playing very well. I was feeling pain in my left leg [an adductor muscle strain] in the first set, but then it got much better after receiving treatment from the physio. Again, Cervanova played very well, but I think I was playing some of my best tennis." WTA story     Ludmilla said: "In the second set, I started to think that I might win, and I think I got a little nervous and started making mistakes. In the third set, I was disappointed because I thought that I might win the second set. I was up 4-3 [in the 2nd set], and I really wanted to win, having already been in a final. Maybe that's why I lost the third set."

Flavia hoists the Acapulco orb

    Just-turned-23-year-old Italian Flavia Pennetta has now won 3 WTA singles titles in 5 finals; she won her first last year in Sopot, Poland, and has not lost a match on clay since then, winning the title last week in Bogota, and her 15th straight clay-court match in the Acapulco final. She has won 7 ITF singles titles. Born in Brindisi, Flavia resides in Milan. Flavia started playing tennis at age 5. She swings a Head bat and wears Tacchini togs, but with Nike shoes (since Martina Hingis, and earlier, Pete Sampras, cited troubles with Tacchini shoes, a number of players in Tacchini garb have opted for different footwear). Flavia is coached by Barbara Rossi.
Pennetta career record
    25-year-old Ludmilla Cervanova was born and resides in Piestany, Slovakia. She is now 0-2 in WTA singles finals, but has 7 ITF singles titles. Her ranking reached a high of # 58 a year ago, she appears to be moving back up. Ludmilla, who wears Lotto and swings a Volkl mallet, prefers clay courts and her backhand, and is coached by Peter Hruncak.
Cervanova career record

    Doha time is GMT (UCT, ZULU) +3 hours (US Pacific Time +11, ET +8).
    DEVO: The Doha website, which had live scoring last year, has abandoned it this year, and their whole website has gone way downhill.
    Acapulco time is GMT (UCT, ZULU) -6 hours (US Pacific Time +2, ET -1). Acapulco has live scoring, by points, including qualifying.

WTA SCOREBOARD: Doha & Acapulco s=seed, #=rank, *=upset, LL=lucky loser ranks are for the previous week How do players get into the "draw"? Carpetbagger & Masked Marvel Maria Sharapova arrived at Doha airport on Saturday Paola Suarez, Elena Bovina, Patty Schnyder, Alicia Molik, Anastasia Myskina & Maria Sharapova at the opening ceremony on Monday Alicia addressing the press on Monday, and Anastasia at the opening

Doha, 1st Round, Mon 5:30pm, Tue 3pm WTA story loser's prize: $4,124 US; points: 1 #14 s5 Patty Schnyder SUI d #50 q Na Li CHN 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 Patty Schnyder #16 s6 Elena Bovina RUS v #26 Shinobu Asagoe JPN 7-5, 7-6(6) Mon Elena Bovina *#21 Francesca Schiavone ITA d #19 s7 Silvia Farina Elia ITA 6-1, 6-3 Mon *#33 Marion Bartoli FRA d #20 s8 Paola Suarez ARG 6-1, 6-1 Mon Marion Bartoli lines up a 2-handed forehand #22 Ai Sugiyama JPN #47 LL Samantha Stosur AUS 7-5, 6-1 Tue Ai Sugiyama *#29 Daniela Hantuchova SVK d #28 Magdalena Maleeva BUL 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 Tue Daniela Hantuchova #30 Gisela Dulko ARG d #43 A Medina Garrigues ESP 6-1, 1-6, 6-4 Tue #37 Conchita Martinez ESP d #106 q Roberta Vinci ITA 5-7, 6-0, 6-2 Tue     About dropping the 1st set, Conchita said: "I needed to change the pace of the ball. Once I began mixing it up and becoming more aggressive I started winning."     About her 2nd round match against Anastasia Myskina, Conchita said: "Anastasia is a great player, so it's going to be a tough match. I will have to fight for every ball and be aggressive." #35 Jelena Kostanic CRO d #48 Maria Elena Camerin ITA 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 Mon *#62 wc Ana Ivanovic SCG d #51 Maria Vento-Kabchi VEN 6-1, 6-0 Mon #71 Nicole Pratt AUS d #105 wc Selima Sfar TUN 7-5, 6-2 Tue #73 q Maria Kirilenko RUS d #226 q Lucie Safarova CZE 8-3, 6-1 Tue

Doha, 2nd Round, Weds WTA story AP story loser's prize: $7,700 US; points: 25 #2 s1 Amelie Mauresmo FRA d #62 wc Ana Ivanovic SCG 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 Amelie Mauresmo     Amelie said: "It took me a while to get adjusted today; getting used to the conditions. It's so different from playing indoors and in Europe. But once I got my rhythm I felt good. [Ana is] a very good player and still so young. I think she will continue to do well."     About her QF opponent, Maria Kirilenko, Amelie said: "[Maria is] a very good player and she's one that wants it so bad. She's hungry for it. It's a good win over Schnyder so I know I have to be ready." #4 s2 Maria Sharapova RUS d #30 Gisela Dulko ARG 6-1, 6-1 Maria during the match, and Maria & Gisela at the player party Wednesday night     Maria had withdrawn from her last tourney due to respiratory illness. Maria said: "It was a good match for me considering that I was playing after a break. I wouldn't call it an easy match because I was tiring at the end. I still feel I need to work on my fitness levels...     "It's never easy in the first round but this was a good match to get through. It's also never easy to come back from feeling 0% to 100%. *#37 Conchita Martinez ESP d #6 s3 Anastasia Myskina RUS 6-4, 7-5 Conchita Martinez     Conchita said: "It was a good match, very aggressive one. However, I would say I was under no pressure. In fact, I was in my comfort zone throughout the match...     "The momentum for me started in Thailand. I feel healthy. Beating the No.5 in the world does a lot for my confidence. It took a few days to get used to the conditions here but I'm playing well, aggressive, and I didn't let [Anastasia] play her game today. It was a matter of playing my game and being confident. Hopefully I'll continue like this. I'm getting older and it's tougher all the time, but I expect to keep playing well. If I'm in the quarterfinals, it means I'm playing well."     Anastasia said: "Conchita won because she is playing very confidently these days." #10 s4 Alicia Molik AUS d #71 Nicole Pratt AUS 6-3, 6-2 Alicia Molik *#73 q Maria Kirilenko RUS d #14 s5 Patty Schnyder SUI 6-0, 1-6, 6-2 *#29 Daniela Hantuchova SVK d #16 s6 Elena Bovina RUS 6-0, 3-6, 6-3 Daniela Hantuchova     Daniela said: "I just had to go for my game and make my shots. I'm really happy to be in the next round." #21 Francesca Schiavone ITA d #22 Ai Sugiyama JPN 6-2, 2-6, 6-2 #33 Marion Bartoli FRA d #35 Jelena Kostanic CRO 7-5, 6-2 Marion Bartoli

Doha, QFs, Thurs WTA story loser's prize: $14,400 US; points: 49 Thursday's play was completed despite interruption by rain #2 s1 Amelie Mauresmo FRA d #73 q Maria Kirilenko RUS 6-2, 6-2 #4 s2 Maria Sharapova RUS d #33 Marion Bartoli FRA 6-3, 6-2 Maria Sharapova     The score was even at 3-3 in the 1st set before Maria moved ahead. Maria said: "I made some errors that I shouldn't have made. But I got my game together and managed to pull ahead. I was ready for [Marion] to get a lot of balls back. I thought I was pretty consistent and I managed to find a way to win... I was a bit sloppy in some of the games. I wished I had served a little better... I've worked very hard and I try to push myself hard and raise my game every day." #10 s4 Alicia Molik AUS d #21 Francesca Schiavone ITA 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 Alicia Molik #29 Daniela Hantuchova SVK d #37 Conchita Martinez ESP 6-4, 6-1 Daniela serving, and after match point     Daniela said: "It was a pleasing victory and I'm very happy with my concentration. Conchita is a dangerous player with lots of experience behind her and I knew I had to be very aggressive from the start... I feel like I'm playing really well right now. I've had some good matches and I'm feeling confident. After the rain delay, I was able to keep [Conchita] off balance and felt great about taking a 5-0 lead. I'm really happy about how I closed it out and hope I can bring this confidence into the semis against Sharapova."

Doha, SFs, Fri WTA story Reuters story loser's prize: $26,950 US; points: 88 Friday's play was completed despite interruption by rain *#10 s4 Alicia Molik AUS d #2 s1 Amelie Mauresmo FRA 7-6(11), 6-1 Alicia Molik     About the tiebreak, Alicia said: "It was anyone's to win. I chased the balls as hard as I could which forced her to hit winners; I was also moving well... The most important thing was I felt I lifted the level of play. I wasn't complacent after winning the tie-break; I had to fight hard to win and take advantage of every opportunity...     "I somehow always expected to stay until the weekend here. I am not surprised to see myself in the final... I must say I had to fight hard to win this match but I was always in the comfort zone so much that I could have played another two sets out there."     Amelie said: "I give all the credit to [Alicia]. The first set made a big difference. I had my opportunities but I wasn't good enough. I got a little tired in the second set, both mentally and physically. It was a difference of one or two points here and there; nothing too big of a difference. It was a really high level of tennis, especially in the first set...     "I was mentally and physically tired after the first set. But I must say [Alicia] played really well and deserved to win today. It was just one of those days when I couldn't win." #4 s2 Maria Sharapova RUS v #29 Daniela Hantuchova SVK 6-2, 6-4 Maria Sharapova     Maria said: "I am excited to be in the final. I am happy with my game and form and I am looking forward to playing Alicia in the final. I am confident that I will play well."     Daniela said: "It was pretty tough going on the court so late [due to rain delay]. My reaction time was a little slow but I'm not going to make excuses. I didn't take my chances. I didn't play the way I've been playing. If I had, the scoreline would have been a bit different."

Doha, Final, Sat 5:30pm loser's prize: $50,300 US; points: 137 winner's prize: $94,000 US; points: 195 #4 s2 Maria Sharapova RUS d #10 s4 Alicia Molik AUS 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 Maria serving, Maria after match point, Maria & Alicia with the hardware

Doha, Doubles Final, Sat loser's prize: $16,500 winner's prize: $31,000 Alicia Molik & Francesca Schiavone d s2 Cara Black & Liezel Huber 6-3, 6-4 Doha, Qual Finals, Mon Feb 21 *#73 Maria Kirilenko RUS d #47 Samantha Stosur AUS 7-5, 6-1 #50 Na Li CHN d #69 Virginia Ruano Pascual ESP 6-0, 6-1 #106 Roberta Vinci ITA d #141 Ting Li CHN 7-5, 6-4 *#226 Lucie Safarova CZE d #150 Lenka Nemeckova CZE 7-5, 6-1 Doha, Withdrawals #13 Nathalie Dechy FRA illness #17 Karolina Sprem CRO low back pain #18 Elena Likhovtseva RUS illness #27 Jelena Jankovic SCG R shoulder pain #34 Iveta Benesova CZE L elbow strain

Acapulco, 1st Rd, Mon, Tue 11am, Wed loser's prize: $1,300 US; points: 1 #36 s1 Flavia Pennetta ITA d #109 Julia Schruff GER 7-5, 6-1 Wed Flavia Pennetta #41 s2 Meghann Shaughnessy USA d #345 wc M Torres Sandoval MEX 6-3, 7-5 Wed Meghann plying a backhand, and speaking to a reporter #52 s3 Emilie Loit FRA d #128 Melinda Czink HUN 6-4, 6-0 Mon #64 s4 Dally Randriantefy MAR d #116 Angela Haynes USA 6-2, 6-2 Mon Dally Randriantefy #55 s5 Alina Jidkova RUS d #285 q R-M Andres Rodriguez ESP 6-0, 6-2 Tue *#101 Ludmila Cervanova SVK d #65 s6 Maria Sanchez Lorenzo ESP 6-3, 7-5 Mon Ludmila Cervanova #67 s7 Marta Domachowska POL d #454 wc M-J López Herrera MEX 6-2, 6-2 Mon Marta Domachowska *#117 An Serra Zanetti ITA d #76 s8 N Llagostera Vives ESP 6-2, 6-1 Tue #77 Marissa Irvin USA d #148 Tina Pisnik SLO 6-1, 6-2 Tue #79 Arantxa Parra Santonja ESP v #312 q Erica Krauth ARG 6-3, 6-7, 7-6 Tue #84 Tatiana Perebiynis UKR d #92 Lubomira Kurhajcova SVK 7-5, 6-3 Tue *#110 Liliah Osterloh USA d #91 Lindsay Lee Waters USA 6-4, 6-4 Mon Liliah Osterloh #96 Mariana Diaz Oliva ARG d #147 Maria Emilia Salerni ARG 7-6(5), 6-3 Tue Mariana Diaz Oliva #104 Severine Beltrame FRA d #374 q Agnes Szavay HUN 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 Tue #118 Catalina Castaño COL v #258 q Julie Ditty USA 6-1, 7-6(7) Tue Catalina Castaño *#124 Emmanuelle Gagliardi SUI d #123 Camille Pin FRA 6-2, 6-1Wed Emmanuelle Gagliardi

Acapulco, 2nd Round, Wed-Thu loser's prize: $2,235 US; points: 16 #36 s1 Flavia Pennetta ITA d #96 Mariana Diaz Oliva ARG 6-3, 6-2 Thu Flavia Pennetta *#79 Arantxa Parra Santonja ESP d #41 s2 Meghann Shaughnessy USA 6-4, 6(6)-7, 6-3 Thu Arantxa Parra Santonja #52 s3 Emilie Loit FRA d #104 Severine Beltrame FRA 7-6(6), 7-5 Wed Emilie Loit #64 s4 Dally Randriantefy MAR d #84 Tatiana Perebiynis UKR 6-3, 6-2 Wed *#118 Catalina Castaño COL d #55 s5 Alina Jidkova RUS 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 Wed Catalina Castaño *#110 Liliah Osterloh USA d #67 s7 Marta Domachowska POL 7-5, 6-4 Wed *#101 Ludmila Cervanova SVK d #77 Marissa Irvin USA 6-1, 6-1 Wed #117 Antonella Serra Zanetti ITA d #124 Emmanuelle Gagliardi SUI 7-6(4), 7-5 Thu

Acapulco, QFs, Fri 3pm WTA story loser's prize: $4,065 US; points: 30 #36 s1 Flavia Pennetta ITA d #110 Liliah Osterloh USA 3-6, 6-0, 6-1 Flavia Pennetta     Flavia has now won 13 straight matches on clay, dating back to her 1st WTA singles title in Sopot, Poland last year.     At the end of the 1st set, Flavia was was treated for a right groin strain Flavia said: "In the first set, I had a very bad pain in my leg. It really hurt, so I had to call the physio for treatment...     "I was able to have a good match, and it's also my birthday. It's a perfect day... I like it here very much. I've always said that this is one of my favorite tournaments." *#64 s4 Dally Randriantefy MAR d #52 s3 Emilie Loit FRA 6-3, 6-3 Dally Randriantefy *#101 Ludmila Cervanova SVK d #79 Arantxa Parra Santonja ESP 6-2, 6-3 Ludmila Cervanova #117 Antonella Serra Zanetti ITA d #118 Catalina Castaño COL 7-6(4), 6-4

Acapulco, SFs, Sat 3pm loser's prize: $7,690 US; points: 55 #36 s1 Flavia Pennetta ITA d #117 Antonella Serra Zanetti ITA 6-2, 6-1 Flavia Pennetta *#101 Ludmila Cervanova SVK d #64 s4 Dally Randriantefy MAR 2-6, 7-5, 6-1 Ludmila Cervanova

Acapulco, Final, Sun after doubles WTA story loser's prize: $14,750 US; points: 85 winner's prize: $27,500 US; points: 120 #36 s1 Flavia Pennetta ITA d #101 Ludmila Cervanova SVK 3-6, 7-5, 6-3

Acapulco, Doubles Final, Sun 2pm WTA story loser's prize: $4,250 winner's prize: $8,000 Alina Jidkova & Tatiana Perebiynis d R-M Andres Rodriguez & Conchita Martinez Granados 7-5, 6-3 Tatiana Perebiynis & Alina Jidkova     This was Alina's 1st WTA title, while Tatiana now has 3, all in doubles. Alina said: "I thought it was a tough match. We had to play two Spaniards, who are very good on clay. Plus, it was very hot out there, but we are very happy to win in the end. The points were very long, but we were patient, and that's a big reason why we won."     Tatiana said: "I wasn't feeling very well, especially because I was sick last night, but thankfully, Alina played very well and carried us. This is our best result so far playing together. I think we won because we were very solid and didn't miss much. They are very tough, so patience is important, but we were aggressive and were good at taking our opportunities." Acapulco, Qual Finals, Mon Feb 21 *#374 Agnes Szavay HUN d #158 Eva Birnerova CZE 7-6(7), 6-4 *#285 R-M Andres Rodriguez ESP d #208 Frederica Piedade POR 6-1, 7-5 *#312 Erica Krauth ARG d #142 Katerina Bohmova CZE 6-4, 6-2 #258 Julie Ditty USA d #291 Neha Uberoi USA 6-3, 6-3 Acapulco, Withdrawals #39 Klara Koukalova CZE R shoulder tendonitis #54 Mashona Washington USA #85 Alyona Bondarenko UKR #121 Chanda Rubin USA L knee inflam.

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