WTA: Apr 28-May 4 2008 ECM Prague Open, Prague, CZE Tier IV $145,000 32 players - outdoor: red clay Live Scores - in popup window WTA pdf.: draws & OOP OOP & results - draws, .html pics: tourney - Yahoo! - WTA videos - Prague: radar - forecast # 14 V Zvonareva, # 18 S Peer # 26 V Azarenka, # 30 K Srebotnik Grand Prix SAR     La Princesse Lalla Meryem Fès, MAR Tier IV $145,000 32 players - outdoor: red clay Live Scores - in popup window WTA pdf.: draws & OOP pics: tourney - WTA Fes: weather forecast # 34 A Medina G, # 47 G Dulko # 49 T Garbin, # 52 A Rezai

Prague: 2007 - 2006 - 2005   Fes: 2007   Rabat: 2006 - 2005   Casablanca: 2004 previous other tourney pages next Prague: #14 Vera Zvonareva 5' 7¾" 130½lb RH 2H-BH Fes: photo in Linz, 2007 #47 Gisela Dulko 5' 7" 123½lb RH 2H-BH

    On Sunday in Prague, Czech Republic, in the final of the ECM Prague Open, 23-year-old top-seeded # 14 Vera Zvonareva from Moscow, Russia, defeated 18-year-old 3rd-seeded # 26 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus (residence: Scottsdale, Arizona), 7-6(2), 6-2 (Vera is shown with the goodies after the match). Vera's prize is $22,900; Victoria's is $12,345.

    Vera said: "It was a tough match. [Victoria] is a tough young player and it was really close, especially the first set. We both had our chances in that set but I was able to pull it out. It felt great to get through such a tough match." WTA story

    Vera is now 6-8 in WTA singles finals; she reached the finals earlier this year at Hobart, Doha, and Charleston, but had not won a title since Cincinnati in 2006. Vera now has a 31-7 match record in 2008.
    Victoria is now 0-4 in WTA singles finals; she also reached the Gold Coast final earlier this year. Victoria has a 14-8 match record in 2008.
    Vera and Victoria had played twice before. Both meetings were last year, on hard courts, and Vera won both times in straight sets. At Indian Wells, Vera defeated Victoria in the 3rd round, 6-3, 6-3. Later in the year, indoors in Luxembourg, Vera won again, 6-1, 7-6(5).

    In the Fes final on Sunday, 23-year-old 2nd-seeded # 47 Gisela Dulko from Buenos Aires, Argentina, won her 7th match in a row, narrowly defeating 25-year-old top-seeded # 34 Anabel Medina Garrigues from Valencia, Spain, 7-6(2), 7-6(5) (photos from Fes have not been good this week; Gisela is shown looking very nice last October while shopping in Linz, Austria with Daniela Hantuchova). The prize money in Fes matches that in Prague: Gisela's prize is $22,900; Anabel's is $12,345.

    Gisela said: "It was a really tough match; Anabel is a great player, especially here on clay. It was a really physical match. We had very long points and even though it was only two sets it was close to three hours. In both tie-breaks I took my opportunities and went for my shots - that probably made the difference today, even though I missed sometimes." WTA story

    Anabel said: "[Gisela] was playing smart, hitting a lot of high balls, and it was difficult for me to stay aggressive. It's too bad, because I came into this match really ready to play."

    Gisela is now 3-2 in WTA singles finals; she won both her titles last year, at Budapest and Forest Hills. Gisela has a 11-6 match record in 2008; she started the year slowly, and had a 4-6 record prior to Argentina's Fed Cup playoff tie against Germany last weekend. In the past 9 days, Gisela has gone 7-0.
    Anabel is now 7-4 in WTA singles finals; she won the Strasbourg title last year. Anabel has a 17-11 match record in 2008.
    Gisela and Anabel, too, had played just twice before, both times on hard courts, both in 2005. In the 1st round in Doha, Gisela defeated Anabel 6-1, 1-6, 6-4. But in the 2nd round in New Haven, Anabel defeated Gisela, 6-0, 6(10)-7, 6-4.

WTA SCOREBOARD: Prague & Fès s=seed, #=rank, *=upset, LL=lucky loser ranks are for the previous week How do players get into the "draw"? Prague Open,  Prague, Czech Republic   tourney time:        = GMT +2 hours        = US EDT +6 hours        = US PDT +9 hours Czech Republic News Weather Forecast | Weather Maps | Weather Radar     Prague: The 32-player main draw for Prague has 8 seeds, with no 1st-round byes. There are 4 qualifiers and 3 wild cards in the main draw. Qualifying finals are on Monday.   click for broader view   I. Český Lawn-Tennis Klub Latitude: 50.095835 Longitude: 14.439694 goto link for World Wind Prague Open venue address: The Ostrov Štvanice 38 17000 Praha 7 2008: On Wednesday, April 30 in Prague, 16-year-old twin wild cards Karolina and Kristyna Pliskova were looking good despite losing their 2nd round doubles match... Andrea Hlavackova was smiling after winning her 2nd round doubles, and Klara Zakopalova was having a smiling day off in her home town...

Prague, 1st Round, Mon-Wed 10:30am losers' prize: $1,035 US; points: 1 #14 s1 Vera Zvonareva RUS d #207 LL Lucie Hradecka CZE 6-2, 6-3 Tue Vera's service toss #18 s2 Shahar Peer ISR d #135 Anna Lapushchenkova RUS 7-5, 7-5 Wed Anna's service toss, and Shahar fielding a forehand on the fly #26 s3 Victoria Azarenka BLR d #100 Petra Kvitova CZE 6-3, 6-4 ppd-Wed #30 s4 Katarina Srebotnik SLO d #85 Yvonne Meusburger AUT 6-0, 6-0 Tue *#66 Jill Craybas USA d #36 s5 Karin Knapp ITA 6-4, 6-2 Tue *#67 Akgul Amanmuradova UZB d #45 s6 Michaella Krajicek NED 6-4, 6-3 Tue Michaella about to swat a forehand, and Akgul's backhand drive #53 s7 Klara Zakopalova CZE d #61 Sara Errani ITA 6-1, 6-3 Tue #57 s8 Kaia Kanepi EST d #238 sr Karolina Sprem CRO 7-5, 6-0 Mon Kaia driving a backhand, and Karolina following one #58 Vera Dushevina RUS d #72 Martina Muller GER 6-0, 6-2 Wed Vera following a backhand *#95 Iveta Benesova CZE d #60 Sofia Arvidsson SWE 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 Wed Iveta driving a forehand, and Sofia about to lightly tap a backhand *#167 wc Magdalena Rybarikova SVK d #62 Meghann Shaughnessy USA 6-1, 6-3 Tue #69 Tsvetana Pironkova BUL d #210 q Ekaterina Ivanova RUS 6-1, 7-6(5) Tue *#781 wc Karolina Pliskova CZE d #120 q Alicia Molik AUS 6-4, 6-4 Tue Alicia and Karolina driving forehands     16-year-old Karolina is now 1-2 in WTA singles. Last year at Prague wild card Karolina was defeated by Olga Puchkova in the 1st round, 7-5, 7-6(2). In 2006 she lost in the 1st round of qualifying at Prague. But Karolina has been playing quite a bit of ITF ball in the past year, and prior to this tourney came from qualifying to win the Bol, Croatia ITF title. Thus she has now won 9 matches in a row--by far the biggest winning streak of her young career. Karolina Pliskova record     Karolina's twin sister Kristyna is also a wild card at Prague--but no one is likely to confuse them for long. Karolina is right-handed, while her twin sister Kristyna is left-handed. #142 q Melinda Czink HUN d #204 q Jelena Pandzic CRO 6-0, 6-2 Tue #146 Tatiana Poutchek BLR d #168 Ekaterina Dzehalevich BLR 6-1, 4-6, 7-5 Mon #191 sr Roberta Vinci ITA d #895 wc Kristyna Pliskova CZE 6-2, 6-0 Mon Roberta between points

Prague, 2nd Round, Wed-Thu 11am losers' prize: $1,925 US; points: 15 #14 s1 Vera Zvonareva RUS d #167 wc Magdalena Rybarikova SVK walkover-- low back strain #18 s2 Shahar Peer ISR d #69 Tsvetana Pironkova BUL 7-5, 6-2 Thu Shahar following a running forehand #26 s3 Victoria Azarenka BLR d #146 Tatiana Poutchek BLR 6-2, 6-2 Thu Victoria's forehand drive #30 s4 Katarina Srebotnik SLO d #142 q Melinda Czink HUN 6-0, 6-2 Thu #53 s7 Klara Zakopalova CZE d #58 Vera Dushevina RUS 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 Thu *#781 wc Karolina Pliskova CZE d #57 s8 Kaia Kanepi EST 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 Wed Karolina about to swat a backhand *#191 sr  Roberta Vinci ITA d #66 Jill Craybas USA 6-4, 6-4 Wed *#95 Iveta Benesova CZE d #67 Akgul Amanmuradova UZB 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 Thu

Prague, QFs, Fri noon losers' prize: $3,580 US; points: 30 #14 s1 Vera Zvonareva RUS d #191 sr  Roberta Vinci ITA 6-1, 6-2 Vera driving a backhand, Roberta lining one up, and Vera's forehand drive *#53 s7 Klara Zakopalova CZE d #18 s2 Shahar Peer ISR 7-6(5), 6-2 Shahar driving a forehand, and Klara reaching for a backhand #26 s3 Victoria Azarenka BLR d #781 wc Karolina Pliskova CZE 6-2, 6-1 Victoria driving a forehand, Karolina about to swat one, and Karolina congratulating Victoria for ending her winning streak at 10 matches #30 s4 Katarina Srebotnik SLO d #95 Iveta Benesova CZE 7-5, 4-6, 6-2 Katarina and Iveta driving righty and lefty forehands

Prague, SFs, Sat noon losers' prize: $6,650 US; points: 50 #14 s1 Vera Zvonareva RUS d #30 s4 Katarina Srebotnik SLO 6-2, 6-4 Vera about to drive a forehand, and Katarina reaching for one #26 s3 Victoria Azarenka BLR d #53 s7 Klara Zakopalova CZE 6-3, 6-2 Victoria driving a forehand, and Klara running one down

Prague, Final, Sun 3pm loser's prize: $12,345 US; points: 80 winner's prize: $22,900 US; points: 115 #14 s1 Vera Zvonareva RUS d #26 s3 Victoria Azarenka BLR 7-6(2), 6-2 Victoria driving a backhand, Vera driving a forehand, and after match point

Prague, Doubles Final Sat losers' prize: $3,640 US winners' prize: $6,750 US cdr185 Andrea Hlavackova & Lucie Hradecká d cdr122 s4 Michaella Krajicek & Jill Craybas 1-6, 6-3, (10-6) Prague, Qual Finals, Mon Apr 28 10am losers' prizes: q1 $175 1pt; q2 $300 2pts; q3 $555 3pts qualifier 7 points #120 Alicia Molik AUS d #224 Andrea Hlavackova CZE 5-7, 7-5, 6-4 #142 Melinda Czink HUN d #207 Lucie Hradecka CZE 6-1, 5-7, 6-4 #204 Jelena Pandzic CRO d #304 Anne Schaefer GER 6-4, 6-1 #210 Ekaterina Ivanova RUS d #289 Veronika Chvojkova CZE 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 Prague, Withdrawals #39 Caroline Wozniacki DEN left ankle sprain # Akiko Morigami JPN left knee # Casey Dellacqua AUS rest & recovery #65 Camille Pin FRA #80 Mara Santangelo ITA left foot? #90 Meilen Tu USA left hip

Grand Prix SAR La Princesse Lalla Meryem,  Fès [Fez], Morocco   tourney time:        = GMT        = US EDT +4 hours        = US PDT +7 hours Morocco news Weather Forecast | Weather Maps | Weather Radar     Fès: The 32-player main draw for Fès has 8 seeds, with no 1st-round byes. There are 4 qualifiers and 3 wild cards in the main draw. Qualifying finals are on Monday.   click for wider view   Royal Tennis Club de Fès, Complex Sportif Latitude: 34.002866 Longitude: -4.969168 goto link for World Wind Grand Prix SAR La Princesse Lalla Meryem venue address: Complex Sportif de Fès, Boulevard Arrahma Narjiss, Fez (Fes), Morocco 2008: On Tuesday, April 29 (or thereabouts), Arina Rodionova and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova explored the yellow fruit area at the Fes players party... on Monday, Sorana Cirstea was interviewed by local TV after winning her 1st round match...

Fès, 1st Round, Mon 10am, Tue-Wed 11am losers' prize: $1,035 US; points: 1 #34 s1 Anabel Medina Garrigues ESP d #104 Lourdes Dominguez Lino ESP 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 Tue #47 s2 Gisela Dulko ARG d #114 Maria Elena Camerin ITA 6-1, 6-1 Wed Gisela driving a backhand #49 s3 Tathiana Garbin ITA d #119 Catalina Castano COL 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 Tue #52 s4 Aravane Rezai FRA d #115 Vania King USA 6-2, 6-4 Wed #64 s5 Timea Bacsinszky SUI d #NR wc Nadia Lalami MAR 6-2, 6-4 Tue #71 s6 Alisa Kleybanova RUS d #111 q Aleksandra Wozniak CAN 6-2, 3-2 Tue #73 s7 Sorana Cirstea ROU d #88 Marina Erakovic NZL 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 Mon #78 s8 Ekaterina Makarova RUS d #137 Andreja Klepac SLO 6-2, 6-3 Mon #84 Olga Savchuk UKR d #108 Anne Kremer LUX 4-6, 6-3, 6-0 Mon #92 Emilie Loit FRA d #118 Katie O'Brien GBR 6(7)-7, 6-4, 6-1 Tue #93 Rossana de Los Rios PAR d #94 Lilia Osterloh USA 6-4, 6-4 Tue #99 Petra Cetkovska CZE d #110 Sandra Kloesel GER 6-4, 7-5 Tue #141 Greta Arn HUN d #NR q Jelena Dokic AUS 6-4, 6-2 Tue *#276 Sesil Karatantcheva BUL d #147 Elena Baltacha GBR 7-5, 6-2 Mon #215 q Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova RUS d #930 wc Fatima Zahrae El Allami MAR 6-0, 6-1 Tue #285 q Arina Rodionova RUS d #993 wc Lamia Essadi MAR 6-1, 6-1 Tue

Fès, 2nd Round, Wed 11am-Thu 1pm losers' prize: $1,925 US; points: 15 #34 s1 Anabel Medina Garrigues ESP d #276 Sesil Karatantcheva BUL 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-1 Wed #47 s2 Gisela Dulko ARG d #92 Emilie Loit FRA 6-3, 6-2 Thu *#141 Greta Arn HUN d #49 s3 Tathiana Garbin ITA 6-4, 7-5 Wed #52 s4 Aravane Rezai FRA d #93 Rossana de Los Rios PAR 7-6(2), 6-0 Thu *#99 Petra Cetkovska CZE d #64 s5 Timea Bacsinszky SUI 6-1, 7-5 Wed #71 s6 Alisa Kleybanova RUS d #285 q Arina Rodionova RUS 6(3)-7, 6-3, 6-4 Thu #73 s7 Sorana Cirstea ROU d #215 q Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova RUS 6-4, 6-2 Thu *#84 Olga Savchuk UKR d #78 s8 Ekaterina Makarova RUS 7-6(4), 6-4 Wed

Fès, QFs, Fri 11am losers' prize: $3,580 US; points: 30 #34 s1 Anabel Medina Garrigues ESP d #84 Olga Savchuk UKR 6-1, 6-1 #47 s2 Gisela Dulko ARG d #73 s7 Sorana Cirstea ROU 6-0, 6-3 #52 s4 Aravane Rezai FRA d #71 s6 Alisa Kleybanova RUS 5-7, 7-5, 7-5 *#141 Greta Arn HUN d #99 Petra Cetkovska CZE 6-2, 6-2

Fès, SFs, Sat 11am losers' prize: $6,650 US; points: 50 #34 s1 Anabel Medina Garrigues ESP d #141 Greta Arn HUN 6-3, 7-6(3) #47 s2 Gisela Dulko ARG d #52 s4 Aravane Rezai FRA 7-6(6), 6-3

Fès, Final, Sun 2pm loser's prize: $12,345 US; points: 80 winner's prize: $22,900 US; points: 115 *#47 s2 Gisela Dulko ARG d #34 s1 Anabel Medina Garrigues ESP 7-6(2), 7-6(5) Anabel about to connect with a forehand, and Gisela following a backhand

Fès, Doubles Final, Sat after singles losers' prize: $3,640 US winners' prize: $6,750 US *cdr384 Sorana Cirstea & Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova d cdr262 s3 Ekaterina Makarova & Alisa Kleybanova 6-2, 6-2 Anastasia & Sorana Fès, Qual Finals, Mon Apr 28 10am losers' prizes: q1 $175 1pt; q2 $300 2pts; q3 $555 3pts qualifier 7 points #111 Aleksandra Wozniak CAN d #705 Kelly Anderson RSA 6-3, 6-0 *#285 Arina Rodionova RUS d #177 Neuza Silva POR 6-2, 7-5 *#NR Jelena Dokic AUS d #209 Johanna Larsson SWE 1-6, 6-2, 6-3 #215 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova RUS d #261 Silvia Soler Espinosa ESP 6-2, 6-3 Fès, Withdrawals #50 Pauline Parmentier FRA injury # Olga Govortsova BLR # Alla Kudryavtseva RUS left wrist # Nuria Llagostera Vives ESP # Camille Pin FRA # Marta Domachowska POL # Aiko Nakamura JPN # Julie Ditty USA # Stephanie Dubois CAN # Angelique Kerber GER # Galina Voskoboeva RUS knee injury # Iona Raluca Olaru ROU left wrist

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