Welcome to the harbour City for the final warmup before next weeks 1st Grand Slam!


http://www.thisisthelife.com/photos/experiences/large/sydney-opera-house.jpg

Points due Monday 11am Australian Eastern Standard Time!

Please commit here so we can limit walkovers! Before Saturday Night (AUS time)
Also create doubles teams by Sunday Afternoon!

Singles Draw (Bold means points sent)
(1) Serena Williams vs Bye
Na Li vs. (7) Shuai Peng
(4) Daniela Hantuchova vs. Bye
Bye vs. (5) Elena Dementieva
(8) Ashley Harkleroad vs. Stephanie Dubois
Bye vs. (3) Ana Ivanovic
(6) Maria Sharapova vs. Venus Williams
Bye vs. (2) Marion Bartoli


Doubles Draw
(1) Hantuchova/Peng vs. Harkleroad/V. Williams
Ivanovic/Li vs. (2) Dementieva/S. Williams

Elena D is in :)

Thanks :D

Ana is in :devil:

Daniela

Thank you guys ;)

Ashley just arrived!

bartoli

Masha will be playing

Na is in :D

Ok we have 7 player committed I will give an extra day!

Commit for doubles as well guys :bounce:

Venus Williams is ready :cool:

:cool: :D

"I wanna be number 1 at the end of the season"

http://z.about.com/d/movies/1/0/Z/e/8/atl03300636.jpg

Before her start in Sydney, US-Venus Williams is very self-confident. After arriving in the morning she talks with us about her future.

Q: Venus, last week you lost in a hard match to Ana Ivanovic, what do you feel after this loss?

V: Well, last week it was not a good week for me. Normally I have a great service, but there? I made too much doubles faults and faults. She played well. You know it was only a Tier III, so it is not very imporant for me. The tournament here in Sydney is more interesting for me.

Q: Do you like Sydney?

V: Yeah, for sure. It's a big and very interesting city, here are so many sights.

Q: What are your aims for this season?

V: Difficult to say. I want to win ev'ry tournament which I will play and so is the number 1 a logical answer. I will work harder and harder on my game so I think per longer the season is, I play better and better.

Q: You played doubles with Ashley Harkleroad last weeks, with do u play this week?

V: Yeah, I played with Ash. She is a very nice player, I like her really much. I'm not sure with who I will play this week, perhaps again with Ash, perhaps not, but it would be nice to play again with her.

Q: Where are u practising here in Sydney?

V: I'm ev'ry tournament on the last court in the last corner.

Q: Why?

V: There is more silence and so I have a better concentration.

Q: Good luck Venus in Sydney.

V: Thanks, talk to u soon.

http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/global/photogallery/2004/stanford/f_21.jpg

Ill play with Venus...if she wants to we can do it permentaly...let me send points

If "Alicia Rocks" confirms me as Stephanie Dubois, I'd like to commit for Sydney :)

Ill play with Venus...if she wants to we can do it permentaly...let me send points

Venus Williams wants :cool: .... Okay :kiss: :wavey:

Venus Williams wants :cool: .... Okay :kiss: :wavey:

now lets win everything :devil:

now lets win everything :devil:

For sure :cool: :p

Elena is looking for a partner.. has form on her side too ;)

Serena Williams and Elena

Serena Williams and Elena

sounds awsume :) do you want to send in the points? or shall i

U you can if you want

Ivanovic/Na???

We can dominate like in WFST!!

Ivanovic/Na???

We can dominate like in WFST!!

:sad:

Stéphanie Dubois will make her first appearance in a WWTT event

http://www.therecord.com/images/kwr/kwr1393510_1.jpg

Q=Question
A=Answer

Q: Stephanie, your the first Canadian who ever makes the main draw in WWTT event, how do you feel about that?

A:It makes me proud for sure but, I know I deserve it cause I work every day since I'm 10 years old to arrive here and now I want to enjoy each moment of this first tournament!

Q:What results do you expect for this first tournament?

A:I want to win the tournament! I can't say that I expect to make 2nd round or quarter-finals, cause I don't expect to lose any match. Seriously, all I want is, have fun on the field and play my game as well as I can.

Q:In Sydney there are big names like, Elena Dementieva, Venus Williams, Daniela Hantuchova, Maria Sharapova and others, is it something that makes you scare?

A:Not at all! Whoever I'll play, I'll arrive on the court with a lot of confidence and knowing that I have my chance if I play my best tennis.

Q:Did you bring your family with you, cause I believe you'll stay in Australia for about 2 weeks?

A:I brought my father and my coach and they'll stay for the 2 next weeks, so they'll be here for Sydney and the Australian Open. My mother will come but only next week, for the AO.

Q:How do you feel about playing your first GS next week?

A:It's just fabulous, I dream about it since I am 5 years old, but first I play Sydney and I focusing on one match at the time so I don't think to much about it presently.

Q:Do you think the AO is too early in the season?

A:No I don't think so, if some girls think so, it's maybe only cause there not able to find there game quickly which I have no problem to do.

Thanks a lot Stephanie and I wish you best of luck for the years to come!

Is Peng too late to commit?
Peng/Hantuchova again? (If i'm still accepted here)

No you are fine Peng :)

U you can if you want


Ok :)

No you are fine Peng :)

Thanks ;)

Draws are out!
Dont forget to sent points everyone who hasn't!

Why is it Li Na again!!

Why is it Li Na again!!

It was randomised :sad: Wierd that it happened again! :eek:

As unseeded I'm very happy of my draw, I play Harkleroad which is the lower seed!

As unseeded I'm very happy of my draw, I play Harkleroad which is the lower seed!

good luck I (Ashley) lost 0-6,6-4,6-0 to ivanovic

When does the tournament start ?

1st round results this afternoon/tonight :)

Cool, thanks for the update

For this week only players that didn't send new points to me, I will use their last weeks points but from next week they wont be so lucky!

Day 1 Results
1st round Singles
(7) Shuai Peng defeats Na Li
6-0 7-6(0)
:eek: Mirror image of last week, Na slow off the blocks with Shuai battling her way through the second set to hold off Li.

Stephanie Dubois defeats (8) Ashley Harkleroad
0-6 6-2 6-0
A very nervous start for the Canadian new-comer, but after that she blew Ashley away in a stunning performance. She definatly showed that she will be a force to reckon with.

Venus Williams defeats (6) Maria Sharapova
1-6 6-0 7-5
Very tough performance by both girls. Amazing hard-hitting, Venus grabbed the 1st win of her career. It will be a matter of time before Masha will grab hers. By far the match of the day!

Tomorrows schedule
First singles Quarter Final (Serena Williams v Shuai Peng)
First Doubles 1st Round (Hantuchova/Peng v Harkleroad/V. Williams)

Thursday schedule
Second two Singles Quarter Finals (Daniela Hantuchova v Elena Dementieva, Stephanie Dubois v Ana Ivanovic)
Second Doubles 1st round (Ivanovic/Li v Dementieva/S. Williams)

Friday Schedule
Final Singles Quarter Final (Venus Williams v Marion Bartoli)

Saturday Schedule
Singles Semi Finals
Doubles Final

Sunday Schedule
Singles final

Peng wins again

http://www.china.org.cn/images/120195.jpg

Two weeks in a row, the only two Chinese girls in WWTT had to meet early in the first round. And both times it is Peng Shuai that emerge victorious.
Peng won again today with a 6-0, 7-6(0) scoreline. The first set is rather one sided as Peng is really in control of most points. She only loses 10 points in the first set and wrap it up in 25 minutes.
But in the second set, Li started to fight back. Both players traded breaks early in the set and Li had a chance to serve for the set at 5-4 but Peng just hold on tight and the match went into a tie-breaker. In the tie-breaker, after a double-fault first point by Li, she seems to lose her rhythm and Peng take the match in 1hr 15 minutes.
"It is great to be the winner. I played really well in the tie break. Li Na is really a great player. She played some incredible shots that i would never make."
Next up Peng will meet Serena Williams, the top seed in the first quater finals.

jeez....first i win 6-0 then i lose the next 2 6-?,6-0

jeez....first i win 6-0 then i lose the next 2 6-?,6-0

:awww: :hug:

Dubois wins her first round match on the WWTT!

http://www.guelphmercury.com/images/guelph/gue1394134_1.jpg

Q:Question
A:Answer

Q:Stephanie, what are your first comments about your match?
A:I'm very, I can say it was a very weird match but I'm just very very happy!

Q:Why did you lose this first set 6/0, what do you think you did wrong?
A:I would say Ashley saw that I was very nervous and she knew what to do, she was just returning every ball knowing that I would make the mistake.

Q:After that first set what did you think when you sat on your chair, before beggining that second set?
A:I was very angry, I knew that today was a big day for me and to not deliver a good match was very frustrating so I just taught "Steph stop putting so much nerves on your shoulder and just play your game"

Q:How do you explain that fabulous comback?
A:Like I said I wanted to play my game and it's what I did and when that second set began I think I played my best tennis ever I made a lot of winners, my serves were I'm just very proud of what I did today!

Q:What do you think of your next opponent, Ana Ivanovic 3th seeded?
A:I never played her I think she's a great player but I don't know her a lot.

Q:Do you think you have chances to win that next match?
A:Yes, whoever I play I know I have my chance if I play well!

Thank you Stephanie, congrats for your beautiful match!

Day 2 Results

(7) Shuai Peng defeats (1) Serena Williams
6-0 6-3
In the biggest shock for the year, it seemed like Serena was still tired from the Gold Coast, with Shuai blasting her way through to the semis with a very easy win.

Harkleroad/V. Williams defeats (1) Hantuchova/Peng
1-6 7-6(5) 6-2
The upsets continued to fall with again the champions of the Gold Coast falling, Peng couldn't back up her great singles result and looked a bit tired.

Peng storms into SF

Peng Shuai of China eased past first seeded Serena Williams of US in straight sets to earn her semifinal berth here in Sydney today.
Peng started the match, firing down 6 aces and blasting 10 winners to win the first set 6-0. In the second set, just as we thought the first player to win a title in WWTT has gotten into her rhythm after being up 3-0 early in the second set, Peng just raise her power once again and take the next 6 games in only 25 minutes.
"I was not expecting this. I was predicting a really tight game. After losing in the quaters last week, i really motivate myself to practise harder and come to Sydney earlier to get use to the conditions here. Its my first time playing outside my country."
"I'm really excited to be in the semifinals. I hope i still have some more gas left in the tank to reach the finals and who knows, i might be able to win the title!"
However, Peng and Hantuchova loses in their doubles match. She was looking tired, and she cant produce the serve that we saw during the singles match.
"I was the only player to play two consecutive matches today while the others can recharge fully before going on to the court. And although my singles match is quite short but I was still tired. Our opponent really played great today too."

Day 3 Results

Singles Quarter Finals
(4) Daniela Hantuchova defeats (5) Elena Dementieva
0-6 6-4 6-0
Elena came out on fire, that was before she struggled with the hot Sydney sun. Daniela was growing in confidence, to come out on top against Elena yet again.


Stephanie Dubois defeats (3) Ana Ivanovic
6-7(1) 7-6(5) 6-4
Easily match of the year, this could become a great rivalry, with only Steph's amazing fight getting her through this.


Doubles 1st round
Ivanovic/Li defeats (2) Dementieva/S. Williams
0-6 6-4 6-2
After all these players didn't win a match in singles, pride was on the line. Somehow Ana had the stamina from her amazing singles match, and they are through to the final.

OMG another big win for me :)

Day 4 Results

Singles Quarter Final
(2) Marion Bartoli defeats Venus Williams
6-0 0-6 6-1
Not the most exciting match, Marion looks set to take the World Number 1 position as she storms into tomorrows Semi Finals!

Bartoli Into Semis!


http://www.tennisrulz.com/players/bartoli/Bartoli.jpg


(2) Marion Bartoli defeats Venus Williams 6-0 0-6 6-1



'This match was weird! I dont know what to say about it really because it was quite messy but I managed to improve my form in the final set and I am now really looking forward to my semi final because I would love to win this tournament after losing in the final last week and if I could get to the number 1 spot it would be amazing and the icing on the cake. But my real goal is next week in Melbourne!'

Dubois upsets world number 3!

http://www.itftennis.com/shared/medialibrary/image/player/IO_3946_player.JPG
Q:question
A:answer

Q;Stephanie, why do you think you won this match, what made the difference today?
A:I believe that the little thing that made me win today was that second set tie break. In that tie break she really had her chances to finish it in two sets but she didn't take it. After winning this tie break I definitly a the momentum and it permitted me to break her early in the final set.

Q: Do you feel tired, will this match affect you for you next match?
A:I don't think so, I'm young, the season is just beggining it's my first tournament and my yesterday's match was in three sets but very was a very short match so I don't think I'll look tired on the court for my next match!

Q:Why don't you play double?
A:I wanted to keep my energies for the single this week. I was so nervous about playing my first tournament that I was scare of not playing well, making my partner disappointed and just to lose my concentration for the entire week but next week I'll play double Mashona Washington (Stephanie smiling)

Q:Marion Bartoli is your next opponent, are you scare?
A:NO! I'm totally not scare, I believe in my chance and I don't know why I should be scare I beat the 3 and the 8 seed why not the second?

Best of luck for your next match Steph!

Waiting for the results now..

I am doing them now should be 5-10 minutes :)

Okie..

Day 5 Results
Singles Semi Finals
(3) Daniela Hantuchova defeats (7) Shuai Peng
0-6 7-6(4) 6-0
Shuai was inches away from moving into the final, but she looked fatigued and had no energy left to put up a fight in the 3rd. Dani is still a chance for World #1.

(2) Marion Bartoli defeats Stephanie Dubois
6-0 0-6 7-6(6)* (Cointoss)
What a thrilling match, these girls showed that they are going to be very hard to defeat next week. Marion v Dani tomorrow will most likely decide the World #1 Position and #1 seed for the Australian Open.

Doubles final
Harkleroad/V. Williams defeats Ivanovic/Li
6-4 7-6(4)
Ashley and Venus took control of this and put a fine doubles performance together to take their 1st career doubles title. :yeah: Na Li will most likely be #1 when the new doubles rankings come out tomorrow!

Peng outs as Hantuchova moves on

http://pic19.picturetrail.com/VOL1088/4132744/8623047/185687346.jpg

Peng Shuai of China was defeated here in Sdyney in 3 sets. She was beaten by her doubles partner, where they capture their doubles title last week in Gold Coast.
The tough lost send Peng packing and left for Melbourne later this afternoon. “Its really tough. I tried everything i could until the third set, I've got nothing left. I got alot more to work on if i want to win the Australian Open next week."
"Furthermore, Hantuchova really played great today. I really hope she can win this tournament and go to Melbourne with great confidence."
Peng got to another great start where she yet again bagel her opponent. But in the second set, Hantuchova woke up and started playing superbly and eventually take the second set in the tie-break. This wake-up call give Peng no chance to turn around and she was bagelled in the third.
"Yeah, I was kind of over confident after the first set so i lost my concentration in the second. I cant make all the winners. That's even more frustrating."
Asking how well she think can perform in Melbourne, Peng said, "I still believe that i can do some damage in Melbourne. I'll work more on my fitness so that i can compete in long matches. And i will also try my very best! I got to the quaters in Gold Coast, semis here. Who knows i may be able to make the finals and win Australian Open!"
Ending these last phrase with a smile, Peng carried her bags and walked away with her coach.

Marion :)


article later

Bartoli Beats Dubois In Thriller!



http://www.wtnphotos.com/data/3116/21237438450bartoli.jpg



'Oh my god! That final set was amazing! We both struggled at different times in the 1st 2 sets but the final set had great tennis in it. We both held serve until the tiebreak and knew in it, it would be close and it was! Steph will be a huge danger at the Aussie Open because she was really unlucky to lose this match today. She wasnt happy with the umpire on his overrule on match point. I thought he got it right and her forehand went out!


Im now in the final, where I face Hantuchova and hope I can win so I go into the Aussie Open with the top seeding and huge confidence. I cant wait for the final!!'

Venus/Ashley!!!

Day 6 Results
Singles Final
(2) Marion Bartoli defeats (3) Daniela Hantuchova
6-0 0-6 7-6(1)
Another tightie but her mental strength is amazing. A final and a win what a great start for Marion to the season. Daniela has also been very consistant and will be tough to beat in Melbourne.

Marion :bounce:


article later!

Bartoli Wins Title!



http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200601/r68996_191499.jpg


(2) Marion Bartoli defeats (3) Daniela Hantuchova 6-0 0-6 7-6(1)


'This is a great feeling to win my first ever title. Daniela played solid tennis but once we were in the breaker - there was only going to be one winner, I wanted it so much and I got. I want to thank the tour, the players, my coach and all the fans. I am on top of the world, Ive won Sydney, world number 1 and now favourite to win the first slam of the season, can it get any better?? I now need to get ready for Melbourne because I want to keep my ranking and it would be just great to be the first player to win a slam here.'