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Post by Brinyi on Jul 31, 2006 18:07:32 GMT -5
Philadelphia wins WTT tennis championship The Philadelphia Freedoms captured their second World TeamTennis championship, ousting the Newport Beach Breakers, 21-14, in a back and forth battle Sunday at the Palisades Tennis Club in Newport Beach, Calif. The match was close throughout the afternoon until the final set when Philadelphia shut out the Breakers 5-0 in mixed doubles to capture their second King Trophy. They also won the only meeting between the two teams during the regular season, capturing a 23-16 win in Philadelphia on July 20. “We got a little help from some other teams to get us into the Finals,” said Freedoms coach Craig Kardon after the match. “But, once we got here, we took control of things. We have some of the finest players in the world on our team and they did not disappoint anyone this weekend.” Newport Beach’s Ramon Delgado opened the day with a 5-3 win over Jaymon Crabb of Philadelphia in men’s singles. The momentum swung to the Freedoms when Raymond and Rennae Stubbs overpowered the Breakers’ Anastassia Rodionova and Tina Krizan 5-1 in women’s doubles to give Philadelphia an early lead. The Breakers evened the match at 11-all at halftime when they captured a close victory in men’s doubles, with Delgado and Rick Leach surprising Daniel Nestor and Crabb, 5-3. Philadelphia’s Raymond picked up her second women’s singles victory of the weekend, taking Rodionova 5-3 and giving the Freedoms a slim 16-14 lead heading into the final set. “Rodionova played well all day,” Raymond said. “At the end (of women’s singles) I just was able to run everything down and I fought a little hard because I knew I needed to give us some cushion heading into the final set.” Behind some strong play from Stubbs and Nestor in mixed doubles, Philadelphia stepped out to a quick 2-0 lead over Newport’s Krizan and Leach. At the start of the third game, Breakers’ coach Dick Leach substituted Delgado and Rodionova into the match. They didn’t do much better as Stubbs and Nestor closed out the match in impressive style, not allowing the Breakers to win a single game in the set. “Daniel and I have played well together all season,” Stubbs said. “Lisa gave us a nice cushion and once we got the first break, we felt we could roll through the set. We knew when we got to Newport Beach there was no looking back and I think we earned the title this weekend.” Stubbs, who posted victories in both women’s doubles and mixed doubles on Sunday and also during Saturday’s semifinal match, was named the MVP of the WTT Championship weekend. World TeamTennis Championship Finals at Palisades Tennis Club in Newport Beach, Calif. FINAL RESULTS - Sunday, July 31, 2006 Philadelphia Freedoms def. Newport Beach Breakers 21-14 Men’s Singles: Ramon Delgado (Newport Beach Breakers) def. Jaymon Crabb (Philadelphia Freedoms) 5-3 Women’s Doubles: Lisa Raymond/Rennae Stubbs (Philadelphia Freedoms) def. Tina Krizan/Anastassia Rodionova (Newport Beach Breakers) 5-1 Men’s Doubles: Ramon Delgado/Rick Leach (Newport Beach Breakers) def. Jaymon Crabb/Daniel Nestor (Philadelphia Freedoms) 5-3 Women’s Singles: Lisa Raymond (Philadelphia Freedoms) def. Anastassia Rodionova (Newport Beach Breakers) 5-3 Mixed Doubles: Rennae Stubbs/Daniel Nestor (Philadelphia Freedoms) def. Anastassia Rodionova/Ramon Delgado (Newport Beach Breakers) 5-0 (Rodionova and Delgado substituted for Tina Krizan and Rick Leach at 0-2) WTT FINALS MVP: Rennae Stubbs, Philadelphia Freedoms
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Post by Brinyi on Dec 18, 2006 15:06:29 GMT -5
Spanish National Masters final: Top seed Anabel Medina def. Lourdes Domínguez 1 & 2. Other participants included Virginia Ruano, María José Martínez, Laura Pous, María Antonia Sánchez Lorenzo (her last tournament ), Conchita Martínez Granados and Estrella "Candle Head" Cabeza.
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Post by DBBN on Dec 24, 2006 20:47:11 GMT -5
Right now they're showing Pam's Baltimore exho on one of the local sports channels. I started watching because it was Ginepri /Fish vs. Bryan Twins But now it's a mixed, Nav/Bob vs. Lindsay/Mike, and I'm assuming this is the match from which all of those pictures of LD surfaced where people started going HMMMMMMMMMMMM PREGNANCY BOOBS.
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Post by DBBN on Dec 24, 2006 20:49:02 GMT -5
And YES I'm home on Christmas Eve and I will be home tomorrow as well, but don't feel bad, all of my (idiot) roommates will be in and out of the house this whole weekend, and I couldn't go to the fam because I just started my new job and we get no days off aside from Christmas. And it's really okay because I never get time to myself and I could use the Jason time. And yet even now one of my roommates is home. Gnh.
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Post by freudo on Dec 29, 2006 11:40:52 GMT -5
Hi Hirley-I'm a big fan of staying home for the holidays...so many have holiday angst, hear one woman saying she's so bummed she has begun her 2007 "I'm NOT giving presents to list" lol
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Post by Brinyi on Jan 3, 2007 11:39:13 GMT -5
DOUBLES WOE FOR VAIDISOVA
World number 10 Nicole Vaidisova has withdrawn from the doubles competition at the Watsons Water Challenge because of a hand injury.
The 17-year-old 2005 Japan Open champion was set to partner Elena Dementieva against Australian Open and Wimbledon champions Zheng Zie and Yan Zi on Wednesday.
Vaidisova will be replaced in the doubles competition by 2006 junior Wimbledon champion Caroline Wozniacki, but will feature in the singles against Dementieva on Thursday as preparation for the Australian Open, which begins on January 15.
Tournament director Terry Catton said: "Nicole Vaidisova slipped in the shower and cut a finger on her left hand.
"The tournament doctor recommends she withdraws from the doubles. However, she feels she should be fit to play in the singles tomorrow.
"The cut affects the way she can play her double-handed backhand."
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Post by Brinyi on Jan 3, 2007 12:02:33 GMT -5
Meaningless HK draw -- Kim says a fond farewell to the Watson's Water Challenge.
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Post by DBBN on Jan 3, 2007 12:07:58 GMT -5
Hi Hirley-I'm a big fan of staying home for the holidays...so many have holiday angst, hear one woman saying she's so bummed she has begun her 2007 "I'm NOT giving presents to list" lol Here's mine: 1. Anyone.
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Post by DBBN on Jan 3, 2007 12:09:33 GMT -5
sports.yahoo.com/ten/news;_ylt=An3JG2Nzqbq.Yd1Z4.Hq6tc4v7YF?slug=ap-championschallenge&prov=ap&type=lgnsHONG KONG (AP) -- Belgian Kim Clijsters kicked off her final season with a 6-3, 6-2 win Wednesday over China's Zheng Jie in the quarterfinals of the Champions Challenge exhibition, a warmup for the Australian Open. Clijsters, ranked No. 5 in the world, broke Zheng's serve in the opening game and led 4-1. Zheng, the reigning Wimbledon women's doubles champion and Asian Games gold medalist, struggled with Clijsters powerful and deep ground strokes. Zheng broke back to pull to 4-3 before Clijsters held. She then broke Zheng on a deep backhand return to take the first set 6-3. Zheng broke Clijsters in the first game of the second set, but Clijsters broke back in the fourth to even it at 2-2. The 23-year-old Belgian held her next service game, then broke Zheng after a marathon game to go up 4-2. She later broke serve to win the match, helped by two double faults by Zheng. Clijsters, who plans to retire at the end of the season, said after the match she was frustrated by her injuries in the past few years. The 2005 U.S. Open champion was sidelined by a left wrist injury late last year. "I've been doing so many exercises for the wrist, for the knee, for the hip, for the back, the whole body almost. At one stage, I was completely sick of it," she said. She plans to be selective in choosing tournaments this year to ease the stress on her body and focus on better results. "I need to pick and choose just because of my body. I want to play well in the tournaments where I want to do well," Clijsters said. The field in Hong Kong includes No. 2 Maria Sharapova and Russian countrywomen Svetlana Kuznetsova and Elena Dementieva, Czech Republic's Nicole Vaidisova, Switzerland's Patty Schnyder and Zheng's doubles partner Yan Zi.
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Post by Brinyi on Jan 3, 2007 14:36:50 GMT -5
Clijsters, who won here last year, will face Switzerland's Patty Schnyder in the semifinals. World No. 9 Schnyder outlasted world No. 4 Choking Dog Kuznetsova 1-6, 6-3, 7-6 (6) in the other quarterfinal Wednesday. Kuznetsova, the 2004 U.S. Open champion, dominated the first set. Schnyder found her form in the second to even the match. Kuznetsova led 5-3 and 6-5 in the third but her Swiss opponent fought back, saving two match points as she forced a tiebreaker. Schnyder won the tiebreaker on two forehand errors by the Russian, who appeared fatigued and struggled with her movement. In play Thursday, world No. 2 Maria Sharapova will play Zheng's compatriot and doubles partner Yan Zi, while Russian Elena Dementieva squares off with Czech Republic's Nicole Vaidisova.
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Post by Brinyi on Jan 4, 2007 13:41:28 GMT -5
Sharapova shrugs off tough win in Hong Kong Associated Press Thu, Jan 4, 2007 HONG KONG -- Maria Sharapova struggled to a 7-5, 6-3 win over Yan Zi of China in the quarterfinals of the Champions Challenge in Hong Kong on Thursday. The two-time grand slam winner from Russia struggled to beat Yan, a doubles specialist ranked No. 166. Sharapova led 5-2 in the first set before Yan, doubles champion at Wimbledon and the Australian Open last year, broke serve twice and won the next three games. Sharapova broke Yan`s serve in the next game, but had a tough time serving for the set, saving three break points before winning. The second-ranked Sharapova shrugged off the tough challenge, saying at a news conference after the match that she needed time to get used to competitive conditions after the offseason. ``When you`re playing in front of a great crowd, a full crowd, you step out on the court, it`s a little bit different from what you`ve been doing. You have to adjust,`` Sharapova said. ``You`re never going to play your best tennis in your first match,`` she said. Her chances at the Australian Open were boosted by the recent withdrawal of top-ranked Justin Henin-Hardenne. Now Sharapova is the favorite according to pinnaclesports.com, who has her listed at +221 to win. In semifinal play Friday, Sharapova will play Elena Dementieva, who came from behind Thursday to beat the Czech Republic`s Nicole Vaidisova 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. Belgian Kim Clijsters and Patty Schnyder of Switzerland face off in the other semifinal Friday.
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Post by Brinyi on Jan 5, 2007 20:52:29 GMT -5
The US Open champion, playing her only warm-up tournament before the Melbourne grand slam, will face defending champion Kim Clijsters in Saturday's showpiece final after the Belgian beat Patty Schnyder 4-6 6-4 6-4.
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Post by freudo on Jan 7, 2007 8:56:13 GMT -5
I see Kim won it in 2006 !
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Post by Brinyi on Jan 7, 2007 9:22:12 GMT -5
HONG KONG (AP) - Belgium's Kim Clijsters made a winning start to her final season Saturday, beating world No. 2 ranked Maria Sharapova 6-3, 7-6 (8) in the final of the Champions Challenge exhibition tournament.
In a duel between the 2005 and 2006 U.S. Open champions, Clijsters rallied from 2-3 down to win the first set with an ace.
Sharapova missed a backhand to give Clijsters the break in the first game of the second set. The Russian used heavy hitting to break back in the fourth game to level 2-2.
Clijsters' ground strokes proved the more accurate, but her game was let down by her serving. She double faulted on break point in the sixth game to give Sharapova a 4-2 lead.
At 6-6, Sharapova, who won Wimbledon in 2004, squandered a 4-1 lead in the tiebreaker with three consecutive errors.
Clijsters hit a backhand winner to save set point, a mishit backhand by Sharapova gave her match point, then the Belgian converted by charging the net and hitting a forehand volley winner.
Sharapova, who is using the Champions Challenge as her only preparation for the Australian Open, starting Jan. 15, said she isn't worried about her form.
"You're never going to guarantee a win in every single match," she said "At some points in the match I felt a little bit flat. I'd like to get myself going. Other than that, I'm happy with the match I played here."
Clijsters, who has long said 2007 will be her final year on the WTA Tour as she is eager to start a family, isn't approaching this season with the preoccupation that it's her last.
"I'm not thinking about that at all," she said. "It's not something I want to worry about until that last match is there. I know this is the last time I'm going to be here, but to me, my goal is to still improve my tennis."
Clijsters, who has won WTA 33 titles, said earlier this week she's been frustrated by her injuries in the past few years.
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Post by leelee on Jan 7, 2007 11:31:28 GMT -5
KIM already playing the "OMG, this is the last time I'm playing here!" card. Geez. How much will she cry in Antwerp.
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Post by leelee on Jan 21, 2007 23:04:50 GMT -5
I forgot to mention that this was:
KIMMIE's last appearance in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong misses you, KIMMIE!
She is so nice!
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Post by janie on Jan 25, 2007 5:51:12 GMT -5
For Leena's "Kim Nostalgia" album:
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Post by Brinyi on Nov 27, 2007 15:52:51 GMT -5
Hantuchova, Dementieva join strong line-up in Hong Kong (AFP)
27 November 2007
HONG KONG - Slovak tennis star Daniela Hantuchova and Russia’s Elena Dementieva will join a star-studded line-up at an annual Hong Kong tournament in January, organisers said Tuesday.
Hantuchova, the world’s number nine, and Dementieva, ranked 11, will join other top-ranked female players including Russia’s Maria Sharapova, the world’s number five, and the number eight, American Venus Williams.
World number four Ana Ivanovic, from Serbia, and world number six Anna Chakvetadze, also from Russia, will also be playing at the JB Group Classic on January 2-5.
‘Apart from the Grand Slams you won’t find other tournaments that can bring six of the World’s top eleven to an event with a field of just eight,’ said Ian Wade, President of the Hong Kong Tennis Patrons’ Association. "Even if they are totally meaningless events, like ours," he surely thought to himself.
Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki and China’s number two player Peng Shuai are also included.
Last year’s final was won by now-retired Belgian Kim Clijsters, who beat Sharapova in the final.
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Post by sasha on Nov 27, 2007 21:19:10 GMT -5
I forgot to mention that this was: KIMMIE's last appearance in Hong Kong. Hong Kong misses you, KIMMIE! She is so nice! Ah, memories. Too bad Kim had to shut down after Antwerp.
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Post by DBBN on Nov 28, 2007 20:25:16 GMT -5
‘Apart from the Grand Slams you won’t find other tournaments that can bring six of the World’s top eleven to an event with a field of just eight,’ said Ian Wade, President of the Hong Kong Tennis Patrons’ Association. Hmm. I didn't know Grand Slams had a field of just eight!
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Post by Self-Love, Baby! on Nov 28, 2007 21:08:27 GMT -5
Kim beat Lindsay in the meaningless exo final. I guess we are in for another Year of Kim. This is really interesting looking back. We all thought Kim was gonna be near impossible to stop in 2006, yet she didn't make a single GS F or beat Henin, Mauresmo, or Sharapova at all (at least not that I remember). She could have been #1 that year, if only she didn't suck and whine and stuff. Loss of motivation after USO '05.
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Post by corswandt on Jan 1, 2008 17:19:44 GMT -5
Kim beat Lindsay in the meaningless exo final. I guess we are in for another Year of Kim. This is really interesting looking back. We all thought Kim was gonna be near impossible to stop in 2006, yet she didn't make a single GS F or beat Henin, Mauresmo, or Sharapova at all (at least not that I remember). She could have been #1 that year, if only she didn't suck and whine and stuff. Loss of motivation after USO '05. Clijsters did reach #1 in early 2006, for a month or so IIRC. The HK thingie begins tomorrow. First match Sharapova vs Wozniacki. This will be the first time I see Wozniacki on teevee. Then a doubles set featuring Micaela Carolina, also a first and presumably the reason why this exho was a (very) late addition to the local sports station schedule.
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Post by Brinyi on Jan 4, 2008 11:13:36 GMT -5
Hong Kong semis
Maria Sharapova, Russie (2), bat Anna Chakvetadze, Russie (3), 6-4, 6-2. Venus Williams, USA (4), bat Elena Dementieva, Russie, 6-3, 6-3.
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Post by janie on Mar 5, 2008 21:10:59 GMT -5
Hingis returning for exhibition matches in EnglandPosted: March 4, 2008 LIVERPOOL, England (AP) -- Retired tennis star Martina Hingis will play exhibition matches in Liverpool in June, her first appearance on court since her two-year ban for a positive test for cocaine at last year's Wimbledon. Banned from official competition, Hingis announced on Tuesday she will play in three exhibition matches from June 13-15 during the unofficial Liverpool International, which features ATP, WTA players and a Legends division two weeks before Wimbledon. Two other former Wimbledon champions Goran Ivanisevic and Pat Cash are also entered. The International Tennis Federation found Hingis guilty of the doping violation in January, two months after she announced her retirement when the positive doping test was revealed. She's suspended to Sept. 30, 2009. The five-time Grand Slam champion has protested her innocence, but hasn't sought to overturn the ruling or punishment. At a media conference in Liverpool to announce her participation, a live and crackly telephone call with Hingis was relayed, but questions were restricted to a selected radio personality. "She wants to give something back to the game," tournament director Anders Borg told The Associated Press. "Her life goes on and she wants to be part of the exhibition circuit." Borg believes Hingis didn't cheat and won't be a bad role model for children at the grasscourt event. "She knows within herself that she hasn't taken anything and I just find it amazing she has tested more than 200 tests in her career and nothing has ever come up," he said. "Then they find a drug that is not performance-enhancing at all, allegedly taken in the midst of Wimbledon, which I find unbelievable and she denies." Borg said Hingis still has a lot to offer the game, and could still return to competitive action. "She's incredibly still only 27 years old," Borg said. "She's still very young and capable of doing it. She reached No. 4 on her second comeback. I think she's easily a top-10 player again if she wants to. Let's hope she considers it." Hingis won her five Grand Slams before she was 19, and spent 209 weeks at No. 1.
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Post by Brinyi on Nov 25, 2008 12:38:34 GMT -5
In baltimore: Dementieva def. Silliams 6/4 6/4
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Post by Brinyi on Dec 30, 2008 15:01:41 GMT -5
Sharapova upbeat over fitness World number nine Maria Sharapova is confident of being fit enough to defend her Australian Open title despite withdrawing from next month's Meaningless Classic in Hong Kong after only recently recovering from shoulder surgery. Last year Sharapova used the meaningless Hong Kong event as her only preparation for the Australian Open and was expected to follow the same route to Melbourne. The 21-year-old Russian, who underwent arthroscopic surgery on October 15, said: "I'm just not ready to play meaninglessly against the top-class competition in Hong Kong, although I remain hopeful for Australia where I'm the defending champion." In the revamped but still bereft of meaning team competition, world number 18 Anna Chakvetadze will replace Sharapova in Team Russia alongside world number seven Vera Zvonareva and 19-year-old Alexandra Panova. World number one Jelena Jankovic leads the European challenge alongside Hungary's Agnes Szavay and Portuguese teenager Michelle Larcher De Screamo, while Wimbledon champion Villiams joins Argentina's Giiiiiiisela Dulko and compatriot Coco Vandeweghe, the 2008 US Open junior champion, in the Americas team. Finally, Wimbledon semi-finalist Zheng Jie, Indian number one Sania Mirza and Hong Kong's Zhang Ling make up the Asia Pacific team.
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Post by freudo on Dec 31, 2008 7:27:18 GMT -5
thanks Briny, for findsng a bit of meaning in the greater meaningless and Happy New Year!
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Post by Brinyi on Dec 31, 2008 8:15:15 GMT -5
Thanks Freudo and happy new year to you also!
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Post by janie on Jan 5, 2009 21:28:51 GMT -5
Vandeweghe beat de Screamo in Hong Kong!
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Post by janie on May 17, 2009 11:43:13 GMT -5
I had no idea Steffi and St. Kim were going to play a singles match -- or rather, maybe just a set? -- in this exo! How did Kim of all people deserve this honor? She never even reached the Final here, and she's not British. Ewww I can't bear to watch her beat Stef, even though Stef is now Old and Slow! And now they're showing that Craigslist killer in the audience!
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