WTA Aug 20-26 Pilot Pen Open, New Haven, CT Tier II $600,000 - 28 players - outdoor: hard - with ATP Live Scores - draws & OOP, .pdf photos: Yahoo news - WTA New Haven Register: Pilot Pen Tennis - PPT blog Hartford Courant: PPen photos - blog New Haven: weather radar - forecast # 1 Amelie Mauresmo # 3 Justine Henin-Hardenne # 5 Elena Dementieva # 6 Nadia Petrova New Haven player's blog by Lisa Raymond WTA Classic Forest Hills, NY Tier IV West Side Tennis Club - Stadium Court $74,800 - 16 players - outdoor: hard draws & OOP, .pdf photos: WTA - tourney (2004 photos) Forest Hills: weather radar - forecast # 38 Lucie Safarova, # 39 Sofia Arvidsson # 42 Sybille Bammer, # 43 Lourdes Dominguez Lino QuickNews: New York City News & Links

Tourney pages: New Haven & Forest Hills: 2005 - 2004 New Haven: 2003 previous other tourney pages next New Haven: #3 Justine Henin-Hardenne 5' 5¾", 126 lbs, RH 1H-BH New Haven: #10 Lindsay Davenport 6' 2½", 170 lbs, RH 2H-BH

    On Saturday in New Haven, in the final of the Pilot Pen Open, 24-year-old 2nd-seeded # 3 Justine Henin-Hardenne of Belgium (residence: Monte Carlo, Monaco) won the unfun way, defeating 30-year-old 7th-seeded # 10 Lindsay Davenport from Laguna Beach, California, 6-0, 1-0, retired when Lindsay could no longer continue due to a painful right shoulder strain (both ladies are shown during the match on Saturday).

   Lindsay said: "Pretty much at 0-3, when I had already served two games, I thought I needed to saw my arm off. I had a bunch of tightness up higher. It was bothering me yesterday. Because of that, you start compensating with the other muscles going down. It was going into my elbow, into my forearm. That's the kind of stuff where you start getting in trouble." WTA story

    The match was very unusual in another respect: Justine, who won with only three service games, made 100% of her 1st serves good, and won every point she served. Justine also won 16 of the 19 points that Lindsay served, for a total of 28 of the 31 points in the match (90%). It is not surprising that Lindsay chose not to continue playing with an injury, and the big event next week.

    Justine said: "Today is not the way you want to win the tournament. I feel very sorry for Lindsay. I hope she will feel better soon. I could feel from the beginning of the match she wasn't hitting the ball as usual. But I did my job. It's not easy in this kind of situation, but I stayed very focused on every point and didn't give her a lot of opportunities. So that was the way I had to play."

    Lindsay said: "[Justine] has made some of the biggest improvements; it was three years ago maybe where she went from not having the greatest forehand to making her forehand one of the best, a huge weapon. She is very tough. If you watched some of her matches the year she won the US Open, against Jennifer, against Kim, she was as tough as they come. She is dedicated to getting even better and is constantly changing things in her game to stay on top. She's remarkable, I believe."

    Lindsay might still be OK to play in next week's US Open. Lindsay said: "I just hope that it is going to be better next week. If I can get through the first round then maybe it will be better because I will have a day off between each round. Here I played five matches and didn't have a day off. It is always hard when you come back, you want to play your best, but maybe it was just too much too soon." BBC story

    Lindsay, who is in the bottom half of the US Open draw, said she would ask tourney organizers if she can play on Tuesday rather than Monday. But for reasons unknown, tourney organizers have scheduled the bottom half of the draw for Monday anyway, and Lindsay is to play # 69 Klara Zakopalova (until recently Klara Koukalova) in the 3rd match on the Ashe court on Monday.

    Justine now leads Lindsay 6-5 in career matches. Justine has now won 28 WTA singles titles (including 5 Grand Slam tourneys) in 42 WTA singles finals; Lindsay has won 51 titles (including 3 Grand Slam tourneys) in 87 finals.
Henin-Hardenne wallpaper - Henin-Hardenne career record
Davenport wallpaper - Davenport career record

In the Forest Hills final on Saturday, 27-year-old unseeded # 64 Meghann Shaughnessy from Scottsdale, Arizona, defeated 30-year-old unseeded # 61 Anna Smashnova from Herzelia, Israel, 1-6, 6-0, 6-4 (the photo of Meghann is presumably from the final--the WTA doesn't say, and they sometimes use old file photos, but the high wall with concrete behind it looks like the West Side Club's historic center court).     It was the first time that Anna has ever lost a WTA singles final; her record in finals is now 12-1. Meghann is now 5-4 in WTA singles finals, and leads Anna 5-3 in career matches. Both ladies are former top-20 players.     Meghann said: "It was an honor to play in such an historic site this week. Anna played really well all week and today as well. All the players really enjoyed their week here, including me." WTA story

Yale University courts, New Haven - click for sat pic & street map West Side Tennis Club, Forest Hills - click for sat pic & street map New Haven current conditions: Early round play at New Haven  begins at 10am local time. Forest Hills time is the same as New Haven. Forest Hills current conditions:     New Haven: The main draw for New Haven has 8 seeds, with 4 1st-round byes. There are 4 qualifiers and 3 wild cards in the main draw. Early round play begins at 10am local time Qualifying finals are on Sunday--and main draw play also begins on Sunday.     New Haven (daylight savings) time is GMT (UCT, ZULU) minus 4 hours. That is Eastern Daylight Time in the US, =PDT plus 3 hours.     Forest Hills: The main draw for Forest Hills has 4 seeds, with NO 1st-round byes. There is 1 wild card in the main draw; there are no qualifying rounds, thus no qualifiers. Early round play begins at 10am local time.     Admission to the Forest Hills tourney is free on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday; this year they are charging $10 to see the final on Saturday. There is no qualifying and no doubles. Play at Forest Hills begins on Tuesday, August 22.

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 Rd, Sun-Tue 10am Tue WTA story losers' prize: $4,175 US; points: 1 #7 s5 Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS d #51 q Jill Craybas USA 6(6)-7, 6-1, 6-1 Mon Jill about to swat a forehand, and Svetlana's backhand *#93 q Tiantian Sun CHN d #8 s6 Patty Schnyder SUI 6-1, 6-3 Mon Patty driving a backhand, and Tiantian about to slice one-- this was Tiantian's biggest win since she defeated Serena Williams last year in Beijing #10 s7 Lindsay Davenport USA d #24 Katarina Srebotnik SLO 6-3, 6-3 Tue Lindsay and Katarina driving forehands     Lindsay said: "I got off to a little bit of a slow start. But I'm happy I've got my first match under my belt. This was really my target tournament so I'm happy with the goal of coming here and winning a match and playing better. I feel like I've learned a lot from this and hopefully will carry it with me.     "I'm not expecting miracles this week but I hope I can play well. I don’t know whether it will be this week, next week or maybe it takes a month for it all to come back together. I feel like this last week I’ve been practicing a lot better than the previous five weeks and I feel if I can keep making those kind of improvements, I'll be back to playing well." *#40 LL Mara Santangelo ITA d #11 s8 Anastasia Myskina RUS 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 Tue Mara about to belt a backhand, and Anastasia following one #15 Francesca Schiavone ITA d #33 Elena Likhovtseva RUS 6-3, 6-4 Mon Francesca serving, and Elena's backhand *#18 Daniela Hantuchova SVK d #16 Anna-Lena Groenefeld GER 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-4 Tue #20 Na Li CHN d #22 Maria Kirilenko RUS 6-1, 6-2 Sun Maria driving a forehand, and Na about to slice a backhand #23 Anabel Medina Garrigues ESP d #67 q Eleni Daniilidou GRE 6-4, 6-1 Mon Eleni's one-handed backhand, and Anabel following her 2-hander #26 Tatiana Golovin FRA d #202 Alicia Molik AUS 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-3 Sun     Alicia said: "I think the most disappointing thing is what I did on my serve. I let myself down in the breaker. I felt like I was always fighting myself. I was second-guessing what direction I was going." NH Register story     Former WTA #8 Alicia's ranking plummeted when she was sidelined for much of the past year by an inner ear infection that affected her balance and vision. Since returning to play she has found winning elusive, but believes she is on the right track.     "I am healthy and ready to go. I am doing all the right things. I had rhythm. A match like that can be decided by two or three points. I am getting myself in position time and time again. I would like to be playing in a match situation every day. I am working extremely hard. Tatiana played really well. She played a real solid match." #28 Marion Bartoli FRA d #32 Gisela Dulko ARG 6-3, 6-2 Mon *#97 q Galina Voskoboeva RUS d #31 Anna Chakvetadze RUS 6-3, 6-5 retired-- right arm strain Tue *#37 LL Samantha Stosur AUS d #35 Nathalie Dechy FRA 4-6, 5-2 retired-- left thigh strain Mon Samantha driving a backhand, and Nathalie chasing one

New Haven, 2nd Rd, Tue-Wed 10am losers' prize: $7,820 US; points: 25 #1 s1 Amelie Mauresmo FRA d #97 q Galina Voskoboeva RUS 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 Wed Amelie lunging for a backhand #3 s2 wc Justine Henin-Hardenne BEL d #23 Anabel Medina Garrigues ESP 6-4, 6-2 Wed Justine's forehand, and Anabel's backhand #5 s3 Elena Dementieva RUS d #18 Daniela Hantuchova SVK 6-2, 5-7, 6-0 Wed Elena's backhand *#28 Marion Bartoli FRA d #6 s4 Nadia Petrova RUS 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(4) Wed #7 s5 Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS d #26 Tatiana Golovin FRA 6-0, 2-6, 6-4 Tue Svetlana's forehand, and Tatiana's backhand #10 s7 Lindsay Davenport USA d #15 Francesca Schiavone ITA 6-4, 6-2 Wed Francesca and Lindsay launching backhands *#40 LL Mara Santangelo ITA d #20 Na Li CHN walkover-- r ankle sprain Wed #37 LL Samantha Stosur AUS d #93 q Tiantian Sun CHN 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 Tue

New Haven, QFs, Thu 10am WTA story losers' prize: $14,600 US; points: 49 *#10 s7 Lindsay Davenport USA d #1 s1 Amelie Mauresmo FRA 6-4, 7-5 Lindsay fielding a short ball, and Amelie's backhand     Lindsay is playing in only her 2nd tourney since early March, due to low back trouble. Lindsay said: "It's about winning these matches when you're first coming back. Finding a way to win even when you're not playing great. If you told me I would have beaten the No.1 player in the world sometime in the last six months, I probably would not have believed you."     Amelie said: "[Lindsay is] serving very well. She's hitting the ball pretty well on both sides. She seems to be moving very well right now so she can reach some balls where maybe she was struggling a little bit before." #3 s2 wc Justine Henin-Hardenne BEL d #40 LL Mara Santangelo ITA 6-2, 6-3 Justine's forehand, and Mara's backhand     Mara said: "I think Justine played unbelievable. I think at the moment she's one of the best players in the world."     Justine is 11-1 against her semifinal opponent, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Justine said: "I've been very consistent in the past when I had to play against [Svetlana]. But tomorrow is another match. Even if I have a good record against her in our last meetings, I think I lost only once. But it doesn't mean anything right now because tomorrow the conditions will be different. It depends on so many things." *#7 s5 Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS d #5 s3 Elena Dementieva RUS 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 Elena driving a forehand, and Svetlana volleying a backhand     About playing Justine Henin-Hardenne in the semis, Svetlana said: "Justine is playing very well. She's very strong mentally. She has very good tactics. She has much more experience than I do. This is her advantage. But I'm younger, I hit the ball hard. If I play my game, I think I have chances." *#37 LL Samantha Stosur AUS d #28 Marion Bartoli FRA 7-6(2), 6-0 Samantha's forehand drive

New Haven, SFs, Fri 10am WTA story losers' prize: $27,300 US; points: 88 #3 s2 wc Justine Henin-Hardenne BEL d #7 s5 Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS 6-3, 6-3 Justine and Svetlana firing forehands     Justine said: "Playing Svetlana is never easy; she's a real fighter, she never gives up. But it's been pretty positive for me here. I'll get four matches this week; that's the best I could dream of when I came to New Haven. So, very happy about that."     Svetlana said: "[Justine is] doing really well. She's one of the best players in the world. So when I play her, I have nothing to lose. I'm doing my best. Today, I wanted to beat her so badly. I was feeling so comfortable. I was enjoying the game so much. I'm looking forward to playing more matches against her, because this is where I have to grow and improve." #10 s7 Lindsay Davenport USA d #37 LL Samantha Stosur AUS 7-6(3), 7-6(7) Samantha's forehand, and Lindsay's backhand     Lindsay had lost to Samantha two weeks ago in LA. Lindsay said: "First of all, I'm ecstatic to be in the finals; I wouldn't have guessed that a few weeks ago, a few months ago, let alone a few days ago. You never want to lose to a player twice. But I knew in my head that I'm playing differently this week than I was two weeks ago. So it's nice to get that back. But for me, more importantly, it was about playing better. I played tons better here than I did in Los Angeles. I think she did, as well."     Samantha said: "I thought it was a great match. I thought I played really well, really gave it everything I had against her. She just got me. We played each other a couple of weeks ago in Los Angeles. This match was by far a better standard. I think we both played better."

New Haven, Final, Sat noon loser's prize: $51,000 US; points: 137 winner's prize: $95,500 US; points: 195 #3 s2 wc Justine Henin-Hardenne BEL d #10 s7 Lindsay Davenport USA 6-0, 1-0 retired-- right shoulder strain Justine volleying a backhand, trainer Lisa Chase testing Lindsay's arm, and Justine consoling Lindsay after she retired from the match

New Haven, Doubles Final, Sat eve losers' prize: $16,120 US winners' prize: $30,000 US *cdr7 s2 Jie Zheng & Zi Yan d cdr2 s1 Lisa Raymond & Samantha Stosur 6-4, 6-2 Jie & Zi New Haven, Qual Finals, Sun Aug 20 10am loser's prize: $2,230 US *#97 Galina Voskoboeva RUS d #37 Samantha Stosur AUS 6-4, 7-5 *#93 Tiantian Sun CHN d #40 Mara Santangelo ITA 7-5, 6-1 *#67 Eleni Daniilidou GRE d #41 Catalina Castano COL 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 #51 Jill Craybas USA d #83 Melinda Czink HUN 6-3, 6-2 New Haven, Withdrawals #14 Dinara Safina RUS r elbow sprain #21 Jelena Jankovic SCG r shoulder tendonitis #25 Shahar Peer ISR left plantar fascitis #NR Elena Bovina RUS r shoulder

Forest Hills, 1st Rd, Tue-Wed 10am losers' prize: $1,825 US; points: 1 *#46 Elena Vesnina RUS d #38 s1 Lucie Safarova CZE 6-4, 6-4 Wed *#74 Severine Bremond FRA d #39 s2 Sofia Arvidsson SWE 6-3, 7-5 Tue *#65 Martina Sucha SVK d #42 s3 Sybille Bammer AUT 2-6, 6-1, 7-5 Wed #43 s4 Lourdes Dominguez Lino ESP d #60 Iveta Benesova CZE 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 Wed #44 Sania Mirza IND d #247 wc Alexa Glatch USA 6-2, 6-3 Wed #53 Maria Elena Camerin ITA d #66 Emilie Loit FRA 6-1, 6-3 Tue *#61 Anna Smashnova ISR d #55 Julia Schruff GER 6-2, 4-3 retired-- back strain Tue #64 Meghann Shaughnessy USA d #70 Marta Domachowska POL 5-7, 7-6(3), 7-5 Tue

Forest Hills, QFs, Thu 10am-rain-Fri losers' prize: $3,400 US; points: 24 #43 s4 Lourdes Dominguez Lino ESP d #44 Sania Mirza IND 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 Thu-rain-Fri *#64 Meghann Shaughnessy USA d #46 Elena Vesnina RUS 6-2, 7-5 m3 #53 Maria Elena Camerin ITA d #74 Severine Bremond FRA 6-3, 6-4 #61 Anna Smashnova ISR d #65 Martina Sucha SVK 6-1, 1-6, 6-1

Forest Hills, SFs, Fri 1pm losers' prize: $6,300 US; points: 43 #64 Meghann Shaughnessy USA d #43 s4 Lourdes Dominguez Lino ESP 7-5, 6-2 *#61 Anna Smashnova ISR d #53 Maria Elena Camerin ITA 6-3, 6-4

Forest Hills, Final, Sat 1pm loser's prize: $12,000 US; points: 67 winner's prize: $22,000 US; points: 95 *#64 Meghann Shaughnessy USA d #61 Anna Smashnova ISR 1-6, 6-0, 6-4

Forest Hills, Withdrawals #68 Klara (Koukalova) Zakopalova CZE

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