WTA Oct 22-28 Generali Ladies, Linz, AUT Tier II $600,000 28 players - indoor: hard Intersport Arena Live Scores - in popup window draw, .html WTA pdf: draws & OOP - notes pics: Yahoo - tourney - WTA Linz: weather radar - forecast maps: Google - Mich. - MultiMap # 7 Anna Chakvetadze # 9 Daniela Hantuchova # 11 Marion Bartoli # 14 Dinara Safina # 15 Nicole Vaidisova # 17 Patty Schnyder # 18 Tatiana Golovin # 21 Sybille Bammer

Tourney pages: Linz: 2006 - 2005 - 2004 - 2003 previous other tourney pages next Linz: #17 Patty Schnyder 5' 6¼" 125lb LH 2H-BH Linz: #9 Daniela Hantuchova 5' 11¼" 123lb RH 2H-BH

    On Sunday in Linz, Austria, in the final of the Generali Ladies Linz, 24-year-old 2nd-seeded # 9 Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia (residence: Monte Carlo, Monaco), defeated 28-year-old 6th-seeded # 17 Patty Schnyder from Baech, Switzerland, 6-4, 6-2 (photo shown).

    Daniela trailed 2-4 in the 1st set, but then won the next five games in a row. Daniela said: "I can't believe right now that I've won. Patty played very well, especially in the first set, so I had to dig deep to win this match." AP story

    Patty said: "[Daniela] played really well from the beginning; it was tough for me to do it today. She never gave me a chance to come back - she was hitting clean winners, so many winners [Daniela hit 28 winners in the match]." WTA story

    Daniela now leads Patty 9-8 in career matches, and Daniela also won the previous three times they played, most recently three weeks ago in the Luxembourg quarterfinals, when she defeated Patty 6-3, 5-7, 7-5. Patty's last win over Daniela was two years ago in Linz, when she whupped Daniela in the quarterfinals, 6-2, 6-1.

    Daniela is now 3-6 in WTA singles finals; both of her previous victories were outdoors at Indian Wells, in 2002 and 2007. She has a 51-26 match record for the season.
    Patty is now 10-12 in WTA singles finals (her most recent title was in Cincinnati in 2005), and her match record in 2007 is 45-25.

    In addition to the $88,265 champions prize money, Daniela also earned 275 ranking points for the victory-- and a bonus of at least $100,000. This is because the extra points will put Daniela in the season-ending WTA Championships in Madrid, and all 8 players in the Madrid draw will win at least $100,000 this year (with a chance to earn $1,000,000).
    Tied with Daniela in 8th place is Maria Sharapova, also with 2431 points. But the tiebreaker is the number of tournaments played, and Daniela has played in 26 tourneys this year, while Maria, with a wounded right shoulder, has played in only 12. Maria is not playing next week in Quebec City, so Daniela has won the 8th position in the WTA Championships draw.

    Almost immediately after Daniela Hantuchova won the Linz title, the WTA announced that Venus Williams has withdrawn from the 2007 WTA Championships. Venus has been undergoing medical tests since being troubled by oncourt dizziness at this year's US Open, and doctors have advised her not to play at this time. WTA story
    Thus Maria Sharapova will play in this year's WTA Championships, if her ailing right shoulder will permit it. There has been no word to indicate that Maria will not be ready to play, but if she is not, next in line for the position is her compatriot Elena Dementieva.
    Maria said: "It's been a frustrating year for me physically, but I'm a great battler and I want to make it there."

Linz player's blog by Tatiana Golovin

WTA SCOREBOARD: Linz s=seed, #=rank, *=upset, LL=lucky loser ranks are for the previous week How do players get into the "draw"? Generali Ladies,  Linz, Austria   Plan your trip Local Radar Detailed Forecast     Linz: The main draw for Linz has 8 seeds, with 4 1st-round byes. There are 4 qualifiers in the main draw.     Qualifying (3 rounds) starts on Saturday, qualifying finals are on Monday.     Intersport Arena Linz - click for sat pic Latitude: 48.293444 Longitude: 14.276068 goto link for World Wind     The time in Linz is UCT (GMT, Zulu, Greenwich...) plus 2 hours. That is Eastern Daylight Time in the US + 6 hours, PDT+9 hours. Austria news 2007: Retired former WTA # 7 (and Austrian # 1) Barbara Schett spoke at the draw ceremony on Saturday, Oct 20... on Tuesday, top seed Anna Chakvetadze, who had just clinched a place in the 8-player season-ending WTA Championships, met the media at the weekly All-Access Hour, as did 2nd seed Daniela Hantuchova, who tried not to get too excited about the nice questions from the friendly reporters... Also on Tuesday, Daniela went shopping in Linz with smiling Gisela Dulko, who will be her opponent in the 2nd round... Later on Tuesday, darned good looking healthy young ladies at the Linz players party included Vera Dushevina, Galina Voskoboeva & Elena Vesnina, and Alicia Molik (answering reporters questions upon arrival)... Players attending the party, including Daniela, Anna, and Tatiana Golovin modeled attire (Anna appears to have lost the toss, but will no doubt get a pretty dress like Daniela's next time)...

Linz, 1st Rd, Mon, Tue noon & 1pm; Wed 2pm WTA story losers' prize: $3,855 US (2006: $4,175); points: 1 #15 s5 Nicole Vaidisova CZE d #39 wc Flavia Pennetta ITA 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(4) Wed Nicole following a forehand     Nicole said: "[Flavia] played a great first set; I was a little tired, but in the end I was able to pull it out. It's easy to win when you're playing great but winning the ones where you're not playing that great helps you much more in the future." #17 s6 Patty Schnyder SUI d #78 q Aravane Rezai FRA 6-4, 6-3 Tue Patty and Aravane driving lefty and righty backhands #43 Eleni Daniilidou GRE d #18 s7 Tatiana Golovin FRA v 6-4, 0-1 retired-- right knee injury Wed Tatiana and Eleni driving forehands     Tatiana has twice been sidelined by bad right ankle injuries, and is very wary of getting another. Tatiana said: "I slipped running for a drop shot, and felt like I twisted my ankle. Thank God I had my brace on, but with that my knee went. I tried to continue to play but I couldn't extend my knee afterwards."     Tatiana also said: "I guess it's just my body's way of telling me that's enough and I've played too much. It could have been worse though. I'm able to walk and it doesn't seem to be too long-term. And at least now I can look forward to some time off and some well-deserved rest, and get ready for 2008.     "We're going to try to fly out to Paris in the morning. I've got some things I'd like to do out there, then I'll head back to Miami after that. I'm really looking forward to going back home - I haven't been back there since the US Open. I'll probably take a vacation to the Caribbean, see some friends... just try to enjoy myself!." Linz player's blog by Tatiana Golovin *#40 Ai Sugiyama JPN d #21 s8 Sybille Bammer AUT 2-6, 7-6(5), 6-0 Tue Sybille following a serve, and Ai's principal weapon, her backhand drive *#32 Francesca Schiavone ITA d #24 Katarina Srebotnik SLO 7-6(6), 6-3 Tue #25 Alona Bondarenko UKR d #51 Martina Muller GER 6-3, 6-0 Mon *#38 Julia Vakulenko UKR d #26 Maria Kirilenko RUS 7-5, 6(0)-7, 6-4 Tue *#69 q Alicia Molik AUS d #31 Agnieszka Radwanska POL 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 Tue *#57 q Karin Knapp ITA d #33 Michaella Krajicek NED 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(4) Tue *#45 Tamira Paszek AUT d #35 Anabel Medina Garrigues ESP 6-3, 7-5 Wed #37 Gisela Dulko ARG d #269 q Sandra Martinovic BIH 6-3, 6-3 Tue #66 wc Yvonnne Meusburger AUT d #421 wc Melanie Klaffner AUT 6(2)-7, 6-4, 5-3 Mon

Linz, 2nd Rd, Wed-Thu 2pm Thu WTA story losers' prize: $7,230 US (2006: $7,820); points: 35 #7 s1 Anna Chakvetadze RUS d #32 Francesca Schiavone ITA 6-0, 6-2 Wed Anna driving a forehand, and Francesca volleying a backhand #9 s2 Daniela Hantuchova SVK d #37 Gisela Dulko ARG 6-3, 6-1 Thu Gisela's forehand, and Daniela driving a backhand     Daniela said: "I felt really good out there. The first set I was perhaps rushing too much and I missed some shots I usually wouldn't, but in the second I calmed down and just played my game and enjoyed myself out there. Every win is a great win, but I made it easier for myself by making sure that I was really there for every point and never losing my concentration." #11 s3 Marion Bartoli FRA d #45 Tamira Paszek AUT 6-2, 6-1 Thu Marion's 2-handed forehand drive with backhand grip, and Tamira driving a backhand     Marion said: "I was expecting a much tougher match, but I think maybe because Tamira was the last Austrian in the draw there was a lot of pressure on her and she found this difficult to deal with. She's really young and I think she will learn from it and get better year after year. I'm sure she will have a great future as she has so much ability and also a great coach in Larri Passos, who is very experienced and knows how to make the most of her talent." #14 s4 Dinara Safina RUS d #57 q Karin Knapp ITA 6-2, 6-2 Wed Karin's forehand drive, and Dinara's backhand #15 s5 Nicole Vaidisova CZE d #66 wc Yvonnne Meusburger AUT 6-3, 6-1 Thu     Nicole said: "I think I played better than in the first round. In the second set I was starting to find my range and with every set and every match I win, I get more confidence and hopefully I can keep it going in my match against Dinara [Safina]." #17 s6 Patty Schnyder SUI d #69 q Alicia Molik AUS 6-4, 6-4 Thu Patty tossing the ball for her serve, Alicia slicing a backhand, Patty driving one, and after match point     Patty said: "It was a pretty tough match. [Alicia] really started to play well in the second and she was serving great, which put a lot of pressure on my serve and making things difficult. I think tactics played a big role out there and it was maybe only a few points that decided the entire match." #25 Alona Bondarenko UKR d #43 Eleni Daniilidou GRE 6-4, 6-3 Thu #38 Julia Vakulenko UKR d #40 Ai Sugiyama JPN 6-0, 6-2 Thu

Linz, QFs, Fri 2pm WTA story losers' prize: $13,500 US (2006: $14,600); points: 70 *#17 s6 Patty Schnyder SUI d #7 s1 Anna Chakvetadze RUS 6-1, 6-0 Patty "using the whole racquet" to spin a forehand, Anna's backhand drive, and Patty after match point #9 s2 Daniela Hantuchova SVK d #25 Alona Bondarenko UKR 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 Daniela and Alona driving forehand and backhand #11 s3 Marion Bartoli FRA d #38 Julia Vakulenko UKR 6-1, 1-6, 6-4 Julia's forehand drive, and Marion's backhand *#15 s5 Nicole Vaidisova CZE d #14 s4 Dinara Safina RUS 6-3, 7-6(7) Nicole and Dinara driving forehands     Nicole said: "The second set was really close and I think it all came down to who handled the pressure better. I think I was perhaps a little better at controlling my nerves and I'm happy I managed to win such a close tie-break. I served for the set twice and so I was a little disappointed not to win earlier, but [Dinara] played some great tennis and deserves a lot of credit. Thankfully I managed to get over the finish line eventually."

Linz, SFs, Sat 2pm WTA story losers' prize: $25,240 US (2006: $27,300); points: 125 #9 s2 Daniela Hantuchova SVK d #15 s5 Nicole Vaidisova CZE 2-6, 6-2, 7-6(3) Nicole and Daniela driving forehands, and Daniela after match point     Daniela said: "It was a fantastic win for me. I'm really glad to have won such a close match and it was so tense that I actually didn't even know what the score was at some moments in the third set. It was just very close and we just kept fighting and because both of us were serving well so it was always going to be even, but I just worked for every point and tried to do my best which thankfully got me through to the final." *#17 s6 Patty Schnyder SUI d #11 s3 Marion Bartoli FRA 7-6(5), 6-3 Marion's "flat," and Patty's high-topspin, forehand drives     Patty said: "I thought it was a really high-quality match. I mean, in the tiebreak it was only winners and great rallies from both of us, but somehow I managed to get through and then I think [Marion] struggled a bit mentally at the start of the second, giving me a few easy games. Although at 5-1 down she came back again making some amazing winners and I was struggling just to get the balls back. It was an enjoyable match and I'm really happy to have come through with the win."

Linz, Final, Sun 1:45pm loser's prize: $47,125 US (2006: $51,000); points: 190 winner's prize: $88,265 US (2006: $95,500); points: 275 #9 s2 Daniela Hantuchova SVK d #17 s6 Patty Schnyder SUI 6-4, 6-2 Patty and Daniela driving backhands, Daniela after match point, and Patty congratulating Daniela

Linz, Doubles Final, Sun after singles losers' prize: $14,900 US (2006: $16,120) winners' prize: $27,730 US (2006: $30,000) cdr3 s1 Cara Black & Liezel Huber d cdr15 s2 Ai Sugiyama & Katarina Srebotnik 6-2, 3-6, (10-8) Linz, Qual Finals, Mon Oct 22 noon losers' prizes: q1:$595 pts:1; q2:$1,105 pts:3; q3:$2,065 US (2006: $2,230) pts:10; qualifier points: 15 *#57 Karin Knapp ITA d #41 Vera Dushevina RUS 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 *#69 Alicia Molik AUS d #49 Shuai Peng CHN 6-2, 7-6(3) #78 Aravane Rezai FRA d #145 Sandra Kloesel GER 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 #269 Sandra Martinovic BIH d #377 Patricia Mayr AUT 6-3, 7-5 Linz, Withdrawals #5 Maria Sharapova RUS right shoulder injury #10 Nadia Petrova RUS left hip #20 Agnes Szavay HUN left thigh #22 Lucie Safarova CZE illness #23 Vera Zvonareva RUS right shoulder #30 Sania Mirza IND abdominal strain #34 Mara Santangelo ITA left foot plantar fascitis #36 Tathiana Garbin ITA foot

    (Oct 18, 2007) # 5 Maria Sharapova will not play at Linz due to the right shoulder injury which has troubled her all year. After withdrawing from the Zurich Open, she traveled from Switzerland to the US for treatment. Maria was to be replaced by #10 Elena Dementieva, who is still in the running for a place in the WTA Championships, but Elena suffered a left adductor (thigh) strain in Zurich on Wednesday, and Gisela Dulko has been placed in the Linz main draw instead. tourney story

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