WTA: May 15-21 2006 Internazionali d' Italia Alice Cup, Rome, ITA Tier I $1,340,000 - 56 players - outdoor: red clay Live Scores WTA pdf.: draws & OOP - match notes results - order - draw, .pdf photos: tourney gallery - WTA gallery    Yahoo: "rome masters" - "italian open" Rome: weather - map # 2 Kim Clijsters # 4 Nadia Petrova # 8 Elena Dementieva #9 Patty Schnyder Grand Prix La Princesse, Rabat, MAR Tier IV $145,000 - 32 players - outdoor: red clay WTA pdf.: draws & OOP .html: draw - OOP photo gallery - Rabat: weather forecast Morocco Times: Sports # 28 Marion Bartoli # 41 Lourdes Dominguez Lino # 44 Jie Zheng # 51 Emilie Loit

Tourney pages: Rome: 2005 - 2004 - 2003 Rabat: 2005 - Casablanca: 2004 previous   other tourney pages     next Rome: #23 Martina Hingis 5' 7", 130lbs, RH, 2H-BH Rome: 41st WTA singles title 502nd match victory

    On Sunday at the Foro Italico in Rome, in the final of the Internazionali d' Italia Alice Cup (aka the Italian Open), 25-year-old unseeded # 23 Martina Hingis from Trubbach, Switzerland (winterhaus: Wesley Chapel, Florida near Saddlebrook Resort), defeated 20-year-old 16th-seeded # 19 Dinara Safina of Russia (residence: Monte Carlo, Monaco) 6-2, 7-5 (Martina is shown during the match, and with the hardware afterward).

    It was Martina's first singles title since returning to the WTA Tour last January after three years retirement due to ankle injuries. Martina, who has won 5 Grand Slam tourney singles titles and was ranked # 1 in the world for 209 weeks, won her last singles title at the Tokyo indoor tourney in February, 2002; Martina also won the Australian Open mixed doubles title early this year.

    Martina led 4-1 in the 2nd set before Dinara really got into the match. Martina said: "[Dinara] loosened up there, that's where she started playing and hitting freely. But I never really felt like the game came out of my hands. I felt like I was always the one dictating play and putting her under pressure. Even if I had lost the second set, I wasn't nervous about the third or whatever would have happened, win or lose. I played a very solid match." WTA story
    Dinara said: "In the second set at 4-1 [Martina] maybe was a little bit tight, but I started to hit wider, looking more for the lines, and it worked. Unfortunately, I couldn't break her at 6-5. I had 0-40. But she played great that point."

    About her 41st WTA singles title, Martina said: "I never thought I'd be here again. But they say never give up hope and keep fighting, and here I am. It's just great to be back on top of the game." Reuters story
    Asked about her chances of winning the French Open, which begins on May 28, Martina said: "Well, I had my chances in the past. This year there are many good players who can do well in the tournament. I've always said I'm a good horse but still an underdog. Though definitely this win in Rome will give my confidence a big boost."
Hingis career record - Martina Hingis Wallpaper

    Martina and Dinara had played only once before, on a hardcourt in the quarterfinals at Indian Wells in March, where Martina won, 6-3, 6-4. Despite losing the Rome final, Dinara has had the best week of her career, defeating # 2 Kim Clijsters, # 8 Elena Dementieva, and # 10 Svetlana in her last three matches.
    Dinara was tired from her semifinal win over Svetlana Kuznetsova. Dinara said: "Today I had a lot less energy than usual. Of course I'm disappointed, but still I had a great week. I never even dreamed that I could be in the final here by beating three top 10 players."

    Meanwhile in Rabat, in the final of the Grand Prix La Princesse, 27-year-old unseeded # 92 (and former # 11) Meghann Shaughnessy from Scottsdale, Arizona, continued her recent recovery from a slump that had lasted two years, by defeating 25-year-old 8th-seeded # 78 Martina Sucha from Nove Zamky, Slovakia, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3. It was Meghann's 4th WTA singles title, and her first since early 2003.
Shaughnessy career record - Meghann Shaughnessy wallpaper

Rome: The main draw for Rome has 16 seeds, with 8 1st-round byes. There are 8 qualifiers and 4 wild cards in the main draw. Qualifying finals are on Sunday.     Rome daylight savings time is GMT (UCT, ZULU) + 2 hours US Pacific Daylight Time +9, EDT +6. Rome has live scoring by points.       Early round play in Rome begins at 1pm local time. Subtract 2 hours from Rome for Rabat time.     Rabat: The main draw for Rabat has 8 seeds, with NO 1st-round byes. There are 4 qualifiers and 2 wild cards in the main draw. Qualifying finals are on Monday.     Rabat time equals GMT (UCT, ZULU), which is the same as US Pacific Daylight Time +8, EDT +5. Rabat does not have live scoring.     Tennis stadia at Foro Italico - click for interactive sat pic & street map   Rabat, Morocco - click for LO-RES interactive sat pic

WTA SCOREBOARD: Italian Open, Rome, & La Princesse, Rabat s=seed, #=rank, *=upset, LL=lucky loser ranks are for the previous week How do players get into the "draw"? Kim Clijsters, who will retake the # 1 ranking if she wins this tourney, paused for a pic on Monday

Rome, 1st Rnd, Mon-Tue 1pm losers' prize: $3,455 US; points: 1 #12 s9 Venus Williams USA d #96 q Zuzana Ondraskova CZE 6-3, 6-2 Mon Zuzana and Venus belting backhands #13 s10 Anastasia Myskina RUS d #117 q Victoria Azarenka BLR 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(6) Mon Anastasia running down a forehand, Victoria ready to launch a backhand drive, and Anastasia about to slice a backhand #14 s11 Anna-Lena Groenefeld GER d #64 Virginie Razzano FRA 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 Tue #15 s12 Nicole Vaidisova CZE d #62 Emma Laine FIN 5-7, 6-1, 6-3 Mon *#55 Samantha Stosur AUS d #16 s13 Daniela Hantuchova SVK 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 Tue *#34 Jelena Jankovic SCG d #17 s14 Elena Likhovtseva RUS 6-4, 6-3 Mon #18 s15 Flavia Pennetta ITA d #114 q Kateryna Bondarenko UKR 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 Tue Kateryna's service toss, Flavia about to slice a backhand, and Flavia after match point #19 s16 Dinara Safina RUS d #88 q Laura Pous Tio ESP 6-4, 6-2 Tue #23 Martina Hingis SUI d #219 q Sara Errani ITA 6-0, 6-1 Mon Martina's backhand, Sara's backhand, and Martina following her forehand *#38 Mara Santangelo ITA d #24 Maria Kirilenko RUS 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 Mon Maria firing a forehand with her new Yonex RDS 003 (she has switched from the Yonex RDX 300), and Mara shooting on the run with her trusty Prince bat #25 Anabel Medina Garrigues ESP d #42 Jill Craybas USA 7-5, 6-4 Tue *#69 q Akiko Morigami JPN d #27 Anna Chakvetadze RUS 4-6, 6-2, 4-2 retired Tue *#46 Roberta Vinci ITA d #29 Sofia Arvidsson SWE 6-2, 6-1 Tue #30 Katarina Srebotnik SLO d #493 SR23 Alicia Molik AUS 6-2, 6-0 Tue #31 Lucie Safarova CZE d #48 Kveta Peschke CZE 7-6(1), 6-4 Mon *#47 Vera Dushevina RUS d #32 Klara Koukalova CZE 62 61 Mon *#36 Catalina Castano COL d #33 Gisela Dulko ARG 6-3, 7-6(0) Mon *#40 Vera Zvonareva RUS d #35 Shahar Peer ISR 1-6, 6-2, 6-0 Tue Shahar's forehand, and Vera taking aim and dispatching a backhand drive *#56 Aiko Nakamura JPN d #39 Marta Domachowska POL 7-6(5), 6-3 Tue *#75 Shuai Peng CHN d #41 Lourdes Dominguez Lino ESP 6-3, 3-0 retired-- heat illness Tue #49 Anna Smashnova ISR d #65 LL Maret Ani EST 4-6, 6-0, 6-4 Mon Anna ready to wallop a forehand #57 Maria Elena Camerin ITA d #124 wc Nathalie Vierin ITA 7-5, 4-1 retired-- cramps Mon #63 LL Maria Antonia Sanchez Lorenzo ESP d #67 wc Tathiana Garbin ITA 6-4, 6-4 Mon Maria Antonia's two-handed forehand, and Tathiana appears to be slicing a forehand *#145 q Romina Oprandi ITA d #98 q Kristina Brandi PUR 6-0, 5-7, 6-3 Tue Romina running down a forehand

Rome, 2nd Round, Tue-Wed 1pm Wed WTA story losers' prize: $6,775 US; points: 25 #2 s2 Kim Clijsters BEL d #69 q Akiko Morigami JPN 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 Wed Kim serving, Akiko's two-handed forehand, and Kim ready to wallop a backhand     Kim said: "It's been a while since I've played here. The last tournament I played was in Warsaw. The clay was completely different. You have to change your mindset, and you have to adjust your movement a little bit. It takes a little bit of time, especially in a match, to get used to that and to get that feeling back."     About the #1 ranking, which she will retake if she wins this tourney, Kim said: "Really, that's the least of my worries right now. It's an honor to be doing something I love and to be No.1 at the time. But personally, it doesn't change. You still have to work, do everything every day to play good tennis, and that's what I try to do when I practice, when I play, to get the best out of myself. If you do that and can have fun with it, the results come automatically." #8 s5 Elena Dementieva RUS d #75 Shuai Peng CHN walkover-- dizziness #9 s6 Patty Schnyder SUI d #47 Vera Dushevina RUS 7-6(8), 6-2 Wed Vera lining up a backhand, and Patty's left-handed high-topspin forehand drive #10 s7 Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS d #49 Anna Smashnova ISR 6-1, 6-3 Tue #11 s8 Francesca Schiavone ITA d #38 Mara Santangelo ITA 6-4, 6-0 Tue Francesca's flying backhand, and Mara's more earthy type #12 s9 Venus Williams USA d #31 Lucie Safarova CZE 6-1, 6-4 Tue Venus reaching for a backhand drive #13 s10 Anastasia Myskina RUS d #46 Roberta Vinci ITA 6-0, 1-6, 6-4 Wed Anastasia at ready, Roberta's forehand, Anastasia's backhand     Anastasia was slowed by injuries to both thighs, apparently muscle strains incurred during her 3-set 1st round win over Victoria Azarenka. And, as is often the case, Anastasia was displeased with her play. Anastasia said: "I should have played aggressive during the whole match. I was thinking too much.     "It certainly wasn't a great match. I'm happy to go through. But if I play like this, I won't win my next round." AFP story #14 s11 Anna-Lena Groenefeld GER d #56 Aiko Nakamura JPN 6-4, 6-3 Wed *#23 Martina Hingis SUI d #15 s12 Nicole Vaidisova CZE 7-5, 6-3 Tue Nicole and Martina firing forehands #18 s15 Flavia Pennetta ITA d #36 Catalina Castano COL 6-3, 6-3 Wed Flavia waiting to wallop a backhand, Catalina dispatching one, and Flavia after the match-- Flavia, who swung a Head Liquidmetal Prestige in 2005, has done well with a Wilson nBlade since January #19 s16 Dinara Safina RUS d #57 Maria Elena Camerin ITA 6-4, 6-4 Wed Dinara sneaking up on a backhand, Maria Elena launching one, and Dinara after winning a point (match point?)     Dinara said: "It was difficult conditions. I had to play a good match today, [Maria Elena] doesn't give any free points. I had to fight for everything." *#40 Vera Zvonareva RUS d #21 s17 Nathalie Dechy FRA 6-2, 6-2 Wed Vera and Nathalie following running backhand and forehand *#25 Anabel Medina Garrigues ESP d #22 s18 Ai Sugiyama JPN 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 Wed Ai about to fire a forehand, Anabel watching her drive fly to the 18th green #30 Katarina Srebotnik SLO d #80 Ekaterina Bychova RUS 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 Wed #34 Jelena Jankovic SCG d #63 LL Maria Sanchez Lorenzo ESP 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 Wed *#145 q Romina Oprandi ITA d #55 Samantha Stosur AUS 6-2, 6-2 Wed

Rome, 3rd Round, Thu 1pm WTA story loser's prize: $13,285 US; points: 42 *#19 s16 Dinara Safina RUS d #2 s2 Kim Clijsters BEL 6-4, 7-6(2) Kim's Pure Drive forehand, Dinara's Pure Storm backhand, and Dinara after winning a point     Dinara had not won a single set from Kim in six previous matches. Dinara said: "I came out on court a little bit tired after playing doubles last night, but when I saw that [Kim] was not playing well I said to myself I have to go for it... She is a great baseliner and she hits the ball so hard, so you have to wait and take whatever chances come your way...     "I felt like she was making a lot of mistakes and giving me a lot of free points. I just said, 'If I don't take this chance, then I will never again have the chance.'     "I don't have so many big wins, but I can at least say last year I beat Mauresmo and Sharapova, and this year Clijsters." Reuters story     Kim said: "I was trying to play aggressive tennis, like when I played [Dinara] the previous times, but I was just missing. Not by far, but the important points I was missing. I just had no confidence. I think today was just an off day." #8 s5 Elena Dementieva RUS d #14 s11 Anna-Lena Groenefeld GER 7-6(1), 3-6, 6-1 Elena ready to slice a backhand on the run, Anna-Lena waiting for a backhand drive of the stationary variety, and Elena swatting one *#12 s9 Venus Williams USA d #9 s6 Patty Schnyder SUI 7-6(2), 3-6, 6-1 Venus and Patty firing right & left-handed forehands, and Venus after match point #10 s7 Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS d #13 s10 Anastasia Myskina RUS 6-1, 6-4 no photos of this match were available *#23 Martina Hingis SUI d #11 s8 Francesca Schiavone ITA 6-0, 7-5 Martina's forehand, Francesca eyeing a backhand at near-Sergio Leone range, and Martina's backhand     Martina said: "In the first set I played well, I made almost no mistakes. In the second set, [Francesca] definitely stepped it up and made it quite tough. She had the crowd supporting her. I was happy not to go to a third set because it's quite hot here." AP story #18 s15 Flavia Pennetta ITA d #25 Anabel Medina Garrigues ESP 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 Flavia delivering an American Twist serve with extra mozzarella, Anabel and Flavia firing forehands, and Flavia after match point *#34 Jelena Jankovic SCG d #30 Katarina Srebotnik SLO 7-6(7), 6-1 no photos of this match were available *#145 q Romina Oprandi ITA d #40 Vera Zvonareva RUS 6-0, 6-1 Vera's forehand, Romina's backhand, and Vera wondering who put the holes in her Prince O3 White

Rome, QFs, Fri 1pm WTA story losers' prize: $26,050 US; points: 75 *#19 s16 Dinara Safina RUS d #8 s5 Elena Dementieva RUS 6-1, 6-1 Dinara after winning a point, Dinara's backhand, Elena's backhand, and Dinara after winning a point     About her semifinal against Svetlana Kuznetsova, Dinara said: "I think the tournament is really open now. It's just a matter of who fights more and has more eagerness to win. It will be a great match against Kuzy. We know each other very well. I'm just going to have to concentrate like I did today." Reuters story #10 s7 Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS d #145 q Romina Oprandi ITA 6-4, 5-7, 7-6(4) Svetlana's forehand, Svetlana's backhand, Romina's backhand, and Svetlana "reacting," as they say in photo captions     Svetlana saved a match point when trailing 3-5 in the 3rd set, then broke back to force the tiebreaker. Svetlana said: "I lost concentration, got disappointed with myself, then couldn't think properly... It was very tough to play [Romina]. I'd never played her before and I wasn't playing well. I'm not happy with my game today. I'm just happy to win but I had to fight until the end.     "I think it was experience in the end. I said to myself 'I'm going to put the ball in and just see if she can keep hitting those winners'... if I play like this [in the semifinals against Dinara Safina] I don't think I'll go much further."     It was only the second time Romina had played in a WTA tourney main draw. Romina said: "When I arrived here, I never thought I could reach the quarterfinals, I thought if I'm lucky I could make it through qualifying." #12 s9 Venus Williams USA d #34 Jelena Jankovic SCG 5-7, 6-4, 6-1 Venus firing a forehand, Jelena following a forehhand, Jelena fielding a drop shot, and Venus delivering a backhand     Jelena broke Venus' serve seven times in the first two sets. Venus said: "I was thinking, 'Well, Venus, you've been in worse pickles than this.' It was a test of endurance today. I feel like I was able to match [Jelena] step for step with that and be more superb, actually." *#23 Martina Hingis SUI d #18 s15 Flavia Pennetta ITA 6-3, 6-1 Flavia about to swat a forehand, Martina ready for a backhand, and Martina after match point     It was the 500th match victory of Martina's career. Martina said: "In the beginning stages it wasn't so easy, but [Flavia] had a lot of tough matches in the previous rounds, so maybe she was a little tired."

Rome, SFs, Sat 1:45pm losers' prize: $51,000 US; points: 135 *#19 s16 Dinara Safina RUS d #10 s7 Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 Dinara's forehand, Svetlana's backhand, Dinara's forehand on the run, and after match point     Dinara said: "It was really a long [match]. In the second set I just said to myself 'play it point by point' and in the end it went my way today." Reuters story *#23 Martina Hingis SUI d #12 s9 Venus Williams USA 0-6, 6-3, 6-3 Martina charging a forehand, Venus' forehand, Martina's backhand, and Martina after match point     Martina did not hold serve until the 2nd game of the 2nd set. She then proceeded to break Venus in the next game, and twice more in winning the set. In the 3rd set, both players held serve until Martina broke Venus to take a 5-3 lead, then served for the match.     1998 Italian Open champ Martina said: "In the first set I felt like I could cry - I was missing my shots by a little bit and my timing was out.     "Rome has always been a special place for me... I'm happy to have made another final." AFP story

Rome, Final, Sun 4pm loser's prize: $100,000 US; points: 210 winner's prize: $196,900 US; points: 300 #23 Martina Hingis SUI d #19 s16 Dinara Safina RUS 6-2, 7-5 Martina and Dinara before the match, Dinara's backhand, Martina's backhand, and Martina after match point

Rome, Doubles Final, Sun after singles losers' prize: $30,000 US winners' prize: $59,000 US cdr29 s4 Ai Sugiyama & Daniela Hantuchova d cdr50 s8 Francesca Schiavone & Kveta Peschke 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 Daniela and Ai with their new glassware-- Ai's 33rd career WTA doubles title, Daniela's 8th, and their 3rd as at team Rome, Qual Finals, Sun May 14 10am losers' prize: $1,765 US *#117 Victoria Azarenka BLR d #63 Maria Sanchez Lorenzo ESP 6-2, 6-2 *#114 Kateryna Bondarenko UKR d #65 Maret Ani EST 6-4, 6-1 #69 Akiko Morigami JPN d #116 Meilen Tu USA 7-5, 6-0 *#98 Kristina Brandi PUR d #80 Ekaterina Bychova RUS 7-5, 6-1 #88 Laura Pous Tio ESP d #101 Emmanuelle Gagliardi SUI 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 #96 Zuzana Ondraskova CZE d #195 Ting Li CHN 6-0, 7-6(5) *#145 Romina Oprandi ITA d #102 Tiantian Sun CHN 6-4, 7-5 *#219 Sara Errani ITA d #104 Olga Savchuk UKR 6-1, 7-6(3) Rome, Withdrawals #1 s1 Amelie Mauresmo FRA flu #3 s3 Maria Sharapova RUS right ankle bone bruise #4 s4 Nadia Petrova RUS pectoral muscle strain #6 Mary Pierce FRA right foot injury #20 Ana Ivanovic SCG hamstring #26 Tatiana Golovin FRA ankle #37 Sania Mirza IND #43 Iveta Benesova CZE #86 Nuria Llagostera Vives ESP

Rabat, 1st Round, Mon-Wed 11am losers' prize: $1,035 US; points: 1 *#113 Sandra Kloesel GER d #28 s1 Marion Bartoli FRA 3-6, 0-2 retired Tue #44 s2 Jie Zheng CHN d #276 q Youlia Fedossova FRA 6-0, 6-1 Wed #51 s3 Emilie Loit FRA d #613 [SR?] Angelique Widjaja INA 6-4, 6-3 Tue #68 s5 Alona Bondarenko UKR d #486 q Iona Olaru ROM 6-4, 6-3 Tue #74 s6 Ashley Harkleroad USA d #97 Camille Pin FRA 6-4, 6-1 Tue *#107 Hana Sromova CZE d #77 s7 Jamea Jackson USA 1-6, 6-1, 7-6(5) Mon #78 s8 Martina Sucha SVK d #91 Vania King USA 7-5, 6-2 Mon #81 s9 Zi Yan CHN d #464 wc Bahia Mouhtassine MAR 6-4, 6-2 Tue *#138 q Anne Kremer LUX d #83 Antonella Serra Zanetti ITA 6-4, 7-5 Tue #92 Meghann Shaughnessy USA d #146 A Wozniak CAN 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 Tue #99 Melinda Czink HUN d #120 Arantxa Parra Santonja ESP 7-6(3), 3-6, 6-2 Mon *#262 LL Madalina Gojnea ROM d #100 C Martinez Granados ESP 7-6(7), 6-4 Tue *#118 Ivana Lisjak CRO d #106 Anastassia Rodionova RUS 6-2, 6-1 Mon #108 Bethanie Mattek USA d #139 Milagros Sequera USA 6-3, 6-2 Tue #252 LL Neha Uberoi USA d #228 wc Selima Sfar TUN 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 Wed #141 q Lioudmila Skavronskaia RUS d #256 LL K Liggan IRL 6-7(8), 6-3, 6-0 Tue

Rabat, 2nd Round, Wed-Thu 11am-noon WTA story losers' prize: $1,925 US; points: 12 *#138 q Anne Kremer LUX d #44 s2 Jie Zheng CHN 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 Thu     Anne is a former top-20 player, who missed a year due to injury, and has not yet been able to regain a high ranking. Anne also played Jie last week in Berlin, and lost, 7-6(4), 6-3.     About dropping the 2nd set, Anne said: "I relaxed a little bit. But I was able to play well in the third. It's a nice win for me. It's always nice to beat players who are ranked that high...     Last week [Jie] was dominating from the back court. I thought maybe today I had a chance to beat her." #51 s3 Emilie Loit FRA d #118 Ivana Lisjak CRO 6-4, 6-3 Wed #68 s5 Alona Bondarenko UKR d #108 Bethanie Mattek USA 6-3, 6-2 Thu *#99 Melinda Czink HUN d #74 s6 Ashley Harkleroad USA 6-1, 6-4 Wed #78 s8 Martina Sucha SVK d #252 LL Neha Uberoi USA 6-1, 6-0 Thu #81 s9 Zi Yan CHN d #262 LL Madalina Gojnea ROM 6-2, 6-4 Thu #92 Meghann Shaughnessy USA d #113 Sandra Kloesel GER 7-5, 0-6, 6-3 Wed #107 Hana Sromova CZE d #141 q Lioudmila Skavronskaia RUS 6-1, 6-0 Wed

Rabat, QFs, Fri noon losers' prize: $3,580 US; points: 24 *#81 s9 Zi Yan CHN d #51 s3 Emilie Loit FRA 1-6, 7-6(6), 7-6(4) #68 s5 Alona Bondarenko UKR d #107 Hana Sromova CZE 6-2, 7-6(2) #78 s8 Martina Sucha SVK d #138 q Anne Kremer LUX 3-6, 6-1, 6-0 #92 Meghann Shaughnessy USA d #99 Melinda Czink HUN 6-1, 6-4

Rabat, SFs, Sat 1:30pm losers' prize: $6,650 US; points: 43 *#78 s8 Martina Sucha SVK d #68 s5 Alona Bondarenko UKR 6-3, 6-2 *#92 Meghann Shaughnessy USA d #81 s9 Zi Yan CHN 6-0, 6-2

Rabat, Final, Sun 2:30pm WTA story loser's prize: $12,345 US; points: 67 winner's prize: $22,900 US; points: 95 *#92 Meghann Shaughnessy USA d #78 s8 Martina Sucha SVK 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 Meghann ready to fire a forehand on the run at match point, and Martina about to belt a backhand     Meghann, who was coached and managed by Rafael Font de Mora from age 13 until this year, is now coached by Aussie former ATP player Andrew Florent.     Meghann said: "This was a great tournament. It was my first time in Morocco and I will be coming back."

Rabat, Doubles Final, Sat losers' prize: $3,640 US winners' prize: $6,750 US cdr29 s1 Jie Zheng & Zi Yan d cdr160 s2 Ashley Harkleroad & Bethanie Mattek 6-1, 6-3 Rabat, Qual Finals, Mon May 15 noon losers' prize: $555 US #138 Anne Kremer LUX d #256 Kelly Liggan IRL 6-0, 7-6(4) #141 Lioudmila Skavronskaia RUS d #252 Neha Uberoi USA 6-4, 6-1 *#486 Iona Olaru ROM d #262 Madalina Gojnea ROM 7-6(1), 6-2 #276 Youlia Fedossova FRA d #416 Irina Kotkina RUS 6-1, 1-6, 6-4 Rabat, Withdrawals #41 Lourdes Dominguez Lino ESP Rome #55 Samantha Stosur AUS Rome #57 Maria Elena Camerin ITA Rome #58 Eleni Daniilidou GRE #60 Julia Schruff GER Rome qualifying #61 s4 Na Li CHN bi-lateral great toe blister #63 Maria Sanchez Lorenzo ESP Rome qualifying #84 Kaia Kanepi EST r calf strain #88 Laura Pous Tio ESP Rome qualifying #90 Shenay Perry USA #93 Martina Muller GER back injury #94 Jarmila Gajdosova SVK #109 Maria Vento-Kabchi VEN #123 Yvonne Meusberger AUT #159 Elena Bovina RUS r shoulder

    (May 17, 2005) 2nd-seeded # 4 Nadia Petrova has withdrawn from the Italian Open due to a pectoral muscle strain. Nadia, who has won her last 3 tourneys, is expected to be fit in time for the French Open; she has been replaced in the Rome draw by Lucky Loser # 80 Ekaterina Bychkova of Russia.

    (May 14, 2006) # 1 Amelie Mauresmo and # 3 Maria Sharapova have both withdrawn from the Italian Open. Amelie has the flu; Maria twisted her right ankle while training in California two weeks ago, resulting in a bone bruise which has not yet healed enough for her to play. This means Maria will enter the French Open in two weeks (assuming her ankle is OK by then) with no prior clay court match play this season.
    The withdrawal of 2005 Italian Open champ Amelie means that she will lose ranking points, and # 2 Kim Clijsters can retake the # 1 spot next week--if she wins the title in Rome.

    (May 13, 2006) Former WTA # 8 Alicia Molik is returning to the Tour in Rome. In April, 2005, Alicia began losing matches due to balance and vision difficulties caused by a viral infection of the middle and inner ear (vestibular neuronitis). In October, Alicia decided to take a break from the WTA Tour. Alicia had started practicing again by March, and last month Alicia said: "I feel very healthy, I feel very fit."

    2005 Roland Garros finalist and former WTA # 3 Mary Pierce has withdrawn from the Italian Open. Mary has played in only 2 tourneys this year (Aussie Open & Paris Indoor) due to a persistent right foot injury.

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