1000pts if you win AO
and their points will come off eventually :lol:

LOL!! I will strip those points off of them :haha: :rolls:

Davenport Sets Up Clash with Japan
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Sydney, Australia
Lindsay Davenport took on Sofia Arvidsson of Sweden today in Sydney for a spot in the semifinals of this Rebound Ace Tier I event. Lindsay Davenport wanted to take down Sweden and position herself as the top American.
In set 1, Sofia used her forehand to try to push Lindsay from side to side and it worked. Lindsay's poor movement has been exploited this week and Sofia took the most advantage, hitting 18 winners in the first set alone. all week Lindsay's serve has been weak and putting her in trouble and Sofia got the 2 necessary breaks of the set after Lindsay hit a forehand error and doubles fault to be up 5-3 and serve out the set. On set point, Sofia hit an serve that Lindsay returned wide.
Set 2, Sofia started off well again continuing her momentum and kept slapping winners from her racquet. Lindsay couldn't reply until 3-1 where she was starting to find her groove and rhythm to ease past Sofia for a 5-3 lead. Lindsay hit 24 winners in that time, as most of the games went to deuce from the great play of both. Lindsay worked hard though to win each game with her mental toughness. Lindsay eventually pulled out the set with her first ace of the match on set point at 5-4.
Set 3, both players started off well, but at 2-2, Lindsay become more aggressive than usual taking balls earlier and out of the air to take away time from Sofia which worked to get the break. Lindsay and Sofia then traded holds back and forth until 5-4 where Lindsay closed out the match. Lindsay on match point hit a down the tee, service winner.
In the Semifinals, Lindsay will take on Japan's Ai Sugiyama.
"I am glad my team chose me to play here, this is a great week for me and I am living up to my hype. I am playing the best I've played making the semis here. Ai will be tough, but I plan to win and will try something new to try to beat her and hope I do."

Schedule:
1st Article
1st Interview
2nd Article
2nd Interview

:haha:

BTW i already written an article about my debut

Sugiyama survives Cibulkova scare

http://www.wtnphotos.com/data/535/ai212.jpg
Ai Sugiyama, seeded two, came through in 2 hours, 3 minutes against Dominika Cibulkova

Just one day after pulling through against Virginia Ruano Pascual, Ai Sugiyama of Japan had another marathon final set encounter before booking her place in the semifinals in Sydney and take on American Lindsay Davenport for a place in the final.

Having lost her doubles match earlier on in the day with Kim Clijsters to the Aussie-South African duo of Dementieva and Anderson, Sugiyama looked determined and confident on court, as she powered to a 5-0 lead before securing the first set 6-1 when Cibulkova sent a forehand long, her thirteenth unforced error of the set.

However, as in the opening set, Sugiyama's level dropped and she allowed the Slovakian back into the match. Having lead 6-1 2-1, the Japanese star dropped the next nine games and found herself in serious danger at 6-1 2-6 0-3 and with Cibulkova not seeming to break down anytime soon.

Then Sugiyama shew how she had lead her team to #2 in the world as she rallied herself back into the match. 0-3 soon became 4-4 on the Sugiyama serve, before a loose game allowed Cibulkova to break once again and serve out for the match. With her first serve at 69% and winning around three-quarters of points on her first serve, Cibulkova looked set for the win and quickly carved herself out a couple of matchpoints. Despite this, she couldn't convert as Sugiyama managed to wrong-foot her opponent with some exquisitely timed shots. Having saved the danger, Sugiyama broke back before securing the win, 6-1 2-6 7-5.

"I'm really living life dangerously here! Two 7-5 final set wins, it just shows how close all the girls are, no matter if you are ranked 2 or 22. Dominika and the Slovak team are a top 10 team and that's for a reason - they are a very good team and they are capable of playing some decent tennis. I just think she lacked the experience at the end to come through," smiled the Japanese player.

Sugiyama was also questioned about the actions of other players on tour, including Chakvetadze's pregnancy and the USA team receiving favourtism: "it's not my place to discuss these topics. It's up to the team coaches how they manage their players and deal with these situations. I'm just here to play a game I love for my team and help us become successful. If I wanted to talk about other people and their lives, I would have become a politician stuck in a suit in the city".

Sorry, that's 3 articles and 3 interviews :eek:

why don't you just put the interviews in the articles:shrug:

Taipei Through To Second Round

http://www.wtnphotos.com/data/3499/Hsieh_Su-Wei.jpg
Hsieh hits a backhand during her match against Srebotnik

Chinese Taipei recieved a WC into this week's Sydney Medibank Internation, and made a great start to their campaign as they defeated Katarina Srebotnik of Slovakia in 3 tough sets to set up a showdown with the number 1 team Australia represented by Elena Dementieva. Hsieh's game was too much for Srebotnik today as her two handed forehand and backhand did most of the damage.

Both Srebotnik and Hsieh started well as they held serve in the first two games but the two hander of both sides took the first strike and broke Srebotnik in the third game, but Srebotnik fought back and got the break back easily. But once again, Hsieh broke Srebotnik's serve after a long deuce game but this time she secured the break by holding her own serve, to love. 4-2 to Taipei.

Srebotnik then took 8 straight points to hold her own serve and broke Hsieh both to love to bring it back on serve. At 4-4 both teams wanted to get the upperhand advantage by taking the first set, and they both held serve until 6-5 to Slovakia before they broke Chinese Taipei after they have been up 40-0. They took it back to deuce and won the next 2 points to win the first set 7-5.

In the second set, the first 3 games were only breaks but the fourth game Hsieh fought to win her own service game. After getting the game to deuce after being 15-40 down, Hsieh hit 2 aces. At deuce a strong first serve set up a big forehand drive volley from Hsieh. Another service winner from Hsieh held her serve for the first time in the set. Srebotnik didn't want to stay behind as she also held her serve but a little easier at 30. Hsieh's powerful serve was too much for the Slovakian as she hit another ace and another service winner to win the game to love. Hsieh then stepped it up another gear as she broke Srebotnik and held her own serve to 15 to take the seconds et 6-2.

The third set was almost like the first set, with both teams holding their first service games before the Taipei's big return trobuled Srebotnik and broke Srebotnik again, to love. This time she maintained the lead by holding serve. All she needs to do to win the match is hold her own serves. Both girls held serve until 5-4. Hsieh was serving for the match and being 15-40 down everyone thought that the occassion was getting to Hsieh. But Hsieh's mental toughness got her back in the game. 2 long rallies, consisting of 78 shots in total, got Hsieh's serve back to deuce. Hsieh hit an ace and hit a forehand crosscourt winner on match point to take the match 5-7 6-2 6-4. Taipei now moves on to the second round to face the number 1 seed Australia.

I've decided I will do one big interview later.

Lindsay Stats Of The Week(Sydney)

Vs. Argentina
First Serve %: 57%
Winning on First Serve %: 84%
Winning on Second Serve %: 41%
Aces: 9
Double Faults: 4
Winners: 67
Errors: 52
Net points: 12/14
Break Point Conversions: 5/13

Vs. Czech Republic
First Serve %: 65%
Winning on First Serve %: 76%
Winning on Second Serve %: 31%
Aces: 6
Double Faults: 6
Winners: 74
Errors: 43
Net points: 10/11
Break Point Conversions: 3/5

Vs. Sweden
First Serve %: 59%
Winning on First Serve %: 83%
Winning on Second Serve %: 61%
Aces: 7
Double Faults: 3
Winners: 69
Errors: 39
Net points: 19/25
Break Point Conversions: 2/7

Prediction for Lindsay Davenport vs. Ai Sugiyama:
Ai Sugiyama will win a tight 3 setter, that will feature some great tennis from both. Lindsay will use her flat groundstrokes to put up a fight, but Ai will prevail.

that was something fun and creative i wanted to do:lol:

And hope you get some more BP's from it? :lol: ;)

Taipei Upsets number 1 to Quarters

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Hsieh having an erection celebration after upseting world number 1

Hsieh Su-Wei, representing Chinese Taipei, have upset Elena Dementieva, representing Australia, in 3 very tough sets to make into the Quarterfinals of the Sydney Medibank International.

The first two sets were battles from the baseline from both players and little was to divide the two. The first set went to the newcomer's way as they took it in a tiebreak 7-6 and winning the tiebreak 7-2. In the second set, Chinese Taipei had to comeback from 3-1 and 4-2 to take it back to 4-4. They had 1 match point at 5-4 but the Australian fought back and brought it back to a tiebreak and won it easily 7-0.

The final set was another battle but not as big as the first two. Hsieh broke straight away in the first game and was never behind from then on. Hsieh needed to hold her serve in this set to win the match and she idd just that although saving a break point in the 8th game. Both held serve until 5-3 when Hsieh stepped it up once again to take the set and the match 7-6(2) 6-7(0) 6-3. Chinese Taipei will now face Russian, Anna Chakvetadze after the won by retirement from Obziler of Israel.

no, it wasn't really an article,but whatever:lol:

I like that article!! Just because of the picture :lol: :haha: :rolls:

Taipei Into Semis in Debut

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Hsieh celebrating her win over Anna Chakvetadze

Hsieh Su-Wei has done another unthinkable, notching another win over Russia's Anna Chakvetadze to make it into the semifinals of her first tournament. She will next face number 5 seed, France's Amelie Mauresmo for a place in the finals, where earlier they beat, Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland 6-4 7-6(5).

In the first set at 2-2, it was all Anna Chakvetadze that took the advantage over the newcomer and took the next 4 game to take the set 6-2. In the second set, Hsieh fought back and raced to a 4-1 lead, giving up antoher game before winning the set 6-2. The final set however, was a big battle from the two as they each held serve until 2-2 when Russia broke Taipei and took the lead. They couldn't hold the lead however with Hsieh breaking back straight away and brought it back to serve. It was all then holds of serve again until 6-6 in the tiebreak.

Hsieh hit an ace. 1-0.
Chakvetadze hit an unreturnable serve. 1-1.
Hsieh got a mini-break, return winner. 2-1.
Chakvetadze broke back straight away. Forehand error from Hsieh. 2-2.
Chakvetadze hits a backhand winner. Mini-break. 3-2.
Ace from Chakvetadze. 4-2.
SWAP SIDES
Forehand error form Hsieh. 5-2.
Hsieh hits a backhand crosscourt winner. 5-3.
Hsieh hits another ace. 5-4.
Chakvetadze backhand error. Back on serve. 5-5.
Chakvetadze unreturnable. Match point #1. 6-5.
Hsieh hits a forehand down-the-line winner. A 32 shot rally. Saves match point. 6-6.
SWAP SIDES
Chakvetadze backhand error. Match point #1. 7-6.
Chakvetadze double fault. 8-6.

GAME, SET and MATCH. Chinese Taipei, 2 sets to 1. 2-6 6-2 7-6(6).

School now!! Another article later. I WANT BONUS :p

Sofia :(

Well still a good week for Spain. Final of doubles. :woohoo:

Article later. :angel:

Ai Ousts Virginia In Singles; Makes The Final Of Doubles!

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Vivi digs deep but comes up short against 2nd seeded Ai Sugiyama

SYDNEY, Australia - In 2nd round action at the Medibank International in Sydney, Australia, 2nd seeded Ai Sugiyama of Japan ousted newcomer Virginia Ruano Pascual 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 for a spot in the quarterfinls at the Tier I event. It was a tough match in which Vivi was able to get the respect of her competitor and the crowd.

The Ai/Vivi match started as a mismatch. World #2 Japan looked comfortable as ever crushing their inexperienced opponents. From 1-1 in the first set, Ai was hitting her spots with her serve and followed it up confidently at net to finish off points quickly. Her groundstrokes were also on and were painting each corner. Virginia commented, "I was just overwhelmed completely. I was so nervous before the match that I was near shaking. It translated into a slow start for me and Ai was just not giving in."

Vivi proved her talent and worth in the second set playing much better tennis. She was a break down at 2-1 to Ai but she changed to a different tactic which completely baffled Ai. Vivi is well known for her great volleying skills so she changed up her game by serve and volleying a bit more. With her approach shot, she put more slice on the ball which kept Ai guessing and off balance. It was enough to take the set 6-3. Vivi said, "I started to play better in the second. I started using my variety and started to use the whole court more like I did against Karolina. I had to work much harder though against Ai as she doesn't hit as many unforced errors but the result was still good for me."

Now that Vivi got her nose into the match, the third set was expected to be of high quality and that it was. The match stayed on serve for most of the third set with Vivi leading 4-3. To win the game she had to hit a very tough drop volley which just got over the net. She yelled a spirited "Vamos!" to get her camp off their feet. However, in a tough 8th game where she had 5 break point chances, her inexperience showed as she wasn't able to convert. Vivi's fighting spirit was broken and Ai finished the next two games quickly with Ai only dropping 1 point to finish the match with the win. Vivi commented, "I thought I played very well though I can't have mental breakdowns like I did today. Ai was just the much better player today and deserved the win. I won't be playing at the Australian Open next week but I do wish Anabel and the Japanese good luck at the tournament."

Vivi's stay at the tournament is still continuing as she made the finals of the doubles competition with Switzerland's Patty Schnyder. They fought hard for two three set wins over Kirilenko/Cibulkova 5-7, 7-6[6], 7-5 and Fernandez/Hsieh 7-6[5], 6-7[3], 7-6[5]. Vivi commented, "Yeah, we had very tough matches but I really do playing doubles very much. It is a good week for us and we hope to continue our fortunes in the final." In the final, they will go up against Elena Dementieva of Australia and Kelly Anderson of South Africa.

http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/6005/clarisawa1.jpg
They stayed out

The Argentina Clarisa Ferndandez and the Taiwanese Hsieh there lost opposite to Spain Ruano Pascual Virginia and the Swiss Patty Schnyder 7/6 (5) 6/7 (3) 7/6 (5) in 3 hours of game.
The match was corresponding for the semi-finals of Sidney's tournament in Australia where the argentinian already been eliminated by the American Lindsay Davenport.


It was tough conditions to play in today and it is always difficult when you have to wait around like we did Clarisa said.

To play against Clarisa and Hsieh was very hard, they did not give us anything. We feel very proud and want to feast with our countries. Congratulations to the girls said Ruano

Final:

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/42474000/jpg/_42474031_schnyder300.jpg

ESP Ruano Pascual/SUI Schnyder def. AUS Dementieva/RSA Anderson 6/2 0/6 6/2

:woohoo::banana:

whose points were used btw:p

:woohoo:
Vivi and Spain's first title. :banana: :D
We are really successful together, Hashim. :angel:
And I think yours, because I didn't send points. :p

yeah doubles titles in 2 games:hearts:

congrats SUI and ESP :yeah:

Sydney

Semi Finals

TPE Su-Wei Hsieh vs. [5] FRA Amelie Mauresmo

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TPE Su-Wei Hsieh vs. [5] FRA Amelie Mauresmo

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come on France:rocker:

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[5] FRA Amelie Mauresmo def. TPE Su-Wei Hsieh
75 26 64

Amelie has still only lost once this year and is playinig like a champion. Her tactic fitted perfectly around Hsieh's who hopefully wont be dissapointed with a superb debut, but its the Auckland Champion that moves on in hope to add the Sydney Crown to her collection.

Sydney

Semi Finals

TPE Su-Wei Hsieh vs. [5] FRA Amelie Mauresmo


http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41842000/jpg/_41842468_amelie416.jpg

[5] FRA Amelie Mauresmo def. TPE Su-Wei Hsieh
75 26 64

[COLOR="Red"]Amelie has still only lost once this year and is playinig like a champion. Her tactic fitted perfectly around Hsieh's who hopefully wont be dissapointed with a superb debut, but its the Auckland Champion that moves on in hope to add the Sydney Crown to her collection.

it feels great to know that I am the one that beat her:hearts:
USA is ready to lose:bounce:

Sydney

Semi Finals

USA Lindsey Davenport vs. [2] JPN Ai Sugiyama

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Lindsay won a game:rocker2:

Sydney

Semi Finals

USA Lindsey Davenport vs. [2] JPN Ai Sugiyama

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oo snap, come on Linds and lose the third:bounce:

Sydney

Semi Finals

USA Lindsey Davenport vs. [2] JPN Ai Sugiyama

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[2] JPN Ai Sugiyama def. USA Lindsey Davenport
61 67(5) 75

Lindsay knew this was going to be difficult and on this occasion it wasnt to be but she has played so well this week and made this a great match. Japan have being doing this all week - just doing enough, but it has been enough and to come out of three hard matches like that shows the true champions in them.

Tommorows Final
[5] FRA Amelie Mauresmo vs. [2] JPN Ai Sugiyama

I couldn't win in any way with only 50 points to her 130:rolls:

Go Ai! :rocker2:
Win the title. :hearts:

AUS :o

Auckland final team re-match. Hopefully Ai will succeed where Kimiko failed.
USA :hug: Congrats on your defeat

Aww FUCK!! We had 125 more than them!!!

Japan reach Sydney final

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Sugiyama stretches for a backhand in her late night thriller against Lindsay Davenport

Second seeds Japan will square off against fifth seeds France for the title in Sydney after both teams came through tough three setters against tricky, unseeded opponents to set up a repeat of the Auckland final, where Mauresmo beat Date-Krumm 7-6 6-4.

Japan, represented this week by Ai Sugiyama, had come through narrowly against Spain and Slovakia and were expected to ease through against the US team, for whom Lindsay Davenport was showing in the Stars and Stripes. Once again, the underdogs made the second seeds fight all the way before booking their place in the final.

Sugiyama started off strongly, taking the first set 6-1 and made 89% of first serves, whereas Davenport could only muster a mere 42%. The level in difference was overwhelming and the crowd were already getting ready to leave, expecting the American to offer little resistance. Just like in the previous rounds, Sugiyama was made to pay for her strong start.

Davenport started to hit with greater authority, but could not fully remove the Japanese player from the court and the set stayed very close, with neither player seeming to have the advantage. Despite leading 5-4 in the second, Sugiyama made little impression the Davenport serve, who eventually took a close tiebreaker 7-5.

The final set was just as thrilling, as Davenport hit the ball harder and harder, with Sugiyama constantly retrieving and deploying her net skills. The match looked set for the taking when Davenport took a 4-2 lead, but Sugiyama, who saved two match points against Dominika Cibulkova, came through to take the next three games and go up 5-4 and 6-5, before making an exquisite forehand volley winner to book her place in the final.

"Lindsay made me work out there but I had the belief that I could come through in the end. She has played very well on a surface that she isn't too keen on so I wouldn't be surprised if her team went far in the Australian Open. I play Amelie tomorrow and Kimiko lost to her in Auckland, so I want to make up for that and take the first title for Japan this year".

Anyone here for final?

me haha but im out :sad:.

changed mind :p final will be tommorow morning because i can put the AO thread up then too :)

Japan is here for the final!

Pwease :angel: I've been up since 4am and been to Bristol and back!

sorry didnt see this last night :hug::hug:
final now though :)

Sydney

Final

[5] FRA Amelie Mauresmo vs. [2] JPN Ai Sugiyama

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[5] FRA Amelie Mauresmo vs. [2] JPN Ai Sugiyama

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[2] JPN Ai Sugiyama def. [5] FRA Amelie Mauresmo
61 26 76(0)

Brilliant performance from Sugiyama, fighting from being down match points and then playing a flawless tiebrake. Shes played four tough matches but has came away with four great wins and her first title of the season. She looks like the favourite to lift her second grand slam title next week.

congrats Ai :bigclap:
Australian Open thread up later today, will make a live draw if anyone wants one :)

Ai :hearts: Another great final set win and first title of the season. Fingers crossed for more success at the Aussie Open :) Sorry France

:bowdown:

Sugiyama captures Sydney title

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Sugiyama salutes the crowd after winning the Tier I event in Sydney

With the Australian Open just around the corner, the WTT tour descended on Sydney, Australia, for the final warm-up event, a prestigious Tier I event, providing a confidence boost for those who did well and cause for concern amongst the early drop outs. Japan, the second best team in the world, looked in danger to be included in the latter of those two categories, but after 4 matches of guts and determination, they came out as the top team, capped with a 6-1 2-6 7-6(0) win over French fifth seed Amelie Mauresmo.

Sugiyama, who had won the final set 7-5 in her last three matches (against Ruano Pascual, Cibulkova - where she saved two match points and Davenport) despite winning the first set easily. Once again, Sugiyama came out storming to take the opening set, breaking the Mauresmo serve with ease and making only 2 unforced errors, compared to the 11 Mauresmo produced.

In the second set, the Frenchwoman settled down and started to produce some beautiful tennis that everyone knew she was capable of. She deployed her topspin forehand to great avail, backed up with a strong backhand slice and finishing off the points quickly at the net. Sugiyama's movement also looked in doubt as she stopped running for several shots and had to call the trainer on at the start of the third set, complaining of a hamstring problem.

After being bandaged up, she took back to the court and didn't seem too bothered by her injury, as seven service holds took it to *3-4. Mauresmo, looking for the breakthrough, finally got her reward as she hammered a forehand down-the-line on a weak Sugiyama second serve at 30-30 to set up the first break point of the set. The Japanese player then missed her first serve before trying to attack her second. However, it went an inch wide and gave Mauresmo what appeared to be a crucial break. Mauresmo swiftly took a 40-0 lead on her serve with 3 matchpoints, but just like in her quarterfinal, Sugiyama refused to lose. Spurred on by the crowd, she took the next five points to break back and soon levelled at 5-5. Two more service holds followed and the match went into a final set tiebreaker. Having played so confidentally for the last two sets, Mauresmo's game evaporated in the Sydney heat as Sugiyama raced through 7-0 to take Japan's first title of the year.

"I'm just in shock at the moment! I really do not know what to say! All tournament I've struggled at the end but, once again, I managed to come through. When you have already saved matchpoints in a tournament it makes you feel good and kind of invincible, so to do it twice and win the title, it's unbelievable. The French always have good players and they're difficult to beat on any surface, whether it be Rebound Ace, clay or grass. I wish them luck next week and I hope that we will do well also".