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Welcome to Rome, Italy
This is a Tier III, Clay Event.

Deadline for Points - by Friday 18:00GMT

Remember, Singles points to me and doubles to me and dAdEx

Good Luck to everyone competing here
:wavey:

Entry List

Singles
[1] AUS Casey Dellacqua
[2] JPN Akiko Morigami
[3] POL Ula Radwanska
[4] RSA Lizaan Du Plessis
[5] ISR Anna Smashnova
[6] SVK Romana Tabakova
[7] USA Venus Williams
[8] GER
SWE Sofia Arvidsson
SUI Timea Backzinsky
ARG Gisela Dulko
HUN Agnes Szavay
ESP Lourdes Dominguez Lino
BLR Tatiana Poutchek
SRB Ana Jovanović
DEN Caroline Wozniaki

Doubles
[1] ESP Domingez Lino/SUI Baczkinsky
[2] ISR Peer/USA Williams
[3] AUS Dellaqua/RSA De Beer
[4] HUN Nagy/GER Lisicki
BLR Poutchek/SRB Jovanovic
WC
WC
WC

Note - If you partner is playing in Tokyo this week, you can make a new pair for this week and you will be given a WC if one of you sends points to both me and dAdEx. Only then will you be awarded a WC.

Teams without Partners
Japan, Slovakia, Argentina, Denmark, Sweden

Draw

Singles
[1] AUS Casey Dellacqua vs. SUI Timea Backzinsky
ESP Lourdes Dominguez Lino vs. [6] SVK Romana Tabakova
[8] GER vs. SWE Sofia Arvidsson
HUN Agnes Szavay vs. [4] RSA Lizaan Du Plessis

[3] POL Ula Radwanska vs. BLR Tatiana Poutchek
DEN Caroline Wozniaki vs. [5] ISR Anna Smashnova
[7] USA Venus Williams vs. ARG Gisela Dulko
SRB Ana Jovanović vs. [2] JPN Akiko Morigami

Doubles
[1] ESP Domingez Lino/SUI Baczkinsky vs. WC
BLR Poutchek/SRB Jovanovic vs. [4] HUN Nagy/GER Lisicki
[3] AUS Dellaqua/RSA Du Beer vs. [WC] JPN Morigami/SWE Arviddson
[2] ISR Peer/USA Williams vs. WC

Preview

World number ones Australia are looking to find a rythmn this clay season after a below par Australian season by their standards. They have a tough openor though in the shape of Switzerland, who have beaten them twice before.
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Spains Lourdes Domingez Lino is looking to start climbing up the ranks this clay season on her favourite surface. As one of the early favourites for Roland Garros, she will be expected to get the better of the Slovakian side who is the number six seed here.
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The eight seeds Germany who re-enterd the Top 10 this week after a final in Charleston will be hoping to build on that but face a tough match in the consistent Sofia Arvidsson, who is dangerous on Clay and has enough points to rattle anyone.
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Last week Champions South Africa will be expecting to make it two titles in as many weeks but face a hard challange from the off in the shape of Agnes Szavay, who if on form, has caused shocks in her WTT carrer. South Africa should have the upper hand here though as a re match of the Charleston final beckons in the Quarters.
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Third seeds Poland are not the best on this surface so their less experianced opponents Belarus know its theirs for the taking, but against one of the best tactitons in the game against her, Tatiana Poutchek can take nothing for granted.
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Aussie Open runners up Israel play an unkown force in the shape of Caroline Wozniaki of Denmark. Caro likes the clay whilst Anna does not but the fighting spirit and temprement of the Israeli could see her through, but she cant take anything for granted against her teenage opponent.
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The USA seem to still be on a high after their crown in Melbourne but they are an unkown quantity on this surface and know one really knows what they can do here. Venus Williams will do her best to end the hopes of Gisela Dulko in the first round, who was enourmous potential on the clay, but still finding the ropes on tour.
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The final first round match sees clay haters Japan take on newcomers Serbia, who are looking for that first win. This could be the perfect opportunity for the Serbian Ana Jovanovic to give her team some confidence, but after being so close last week, Japan will be hungry to end the clay court win drought.

Clay - Points to Use

Australia - 165
Japan - 60
Poland - 50
South Africa - 205
Israel - 60
Slovakia - 65
USA - 130
Germany - 170
Sweden - 200
Switzerland - 150
Argentina - 170
Hungary - 180
Spain - 200
Belarus - 80
Serbia - 130
Denmark - 138

Season 2 - Bonus Points

This season there will be a chance to collect bonus points in each tournament. You can win bonus points either by writing an article (worth 5 bonus pts) or beating a player who has more surface points than you (worth 3 bonus pts)

However, you will only be able to use these points at Grand Slams. You collect up as much points as you can in the weeks between Slams to use at the next Slam coming up. So all bonus points you make during Wks 1, 2 and 3 will be used to add on to your normal points at the French Open. The same will be done for the other three slams and the Olympics

Any Questions?
:wavey:

Bonus Points:
Argentina - 10
Belarus - 10
Japan - 10

Not clay again :sobbing:

^^You couldve entered Tokyo :p

Entry List and Draw for Singles up :)

Well, I got a good draw :p

I´ve got 180 point?

Anyone with Fernandez in doubles?

Nope, still 170. Bonus points can only be used in Slams.

Belarus and Serbia will team up again ...

Is that okay Marko? :D

http://www2.tennisserver.com/images/photofeed/2007/WSFG/DoublesTrophyBobPayne-sm.jpg
Poutchek with her award and the 3 other girls who were also nominated as bitchiest player on tour

With confidence to Rome
Tatiana Poutchek of Belarus is heading into Rome with a lot of confidence. Yesterday she got the prize as "The bitchiest player on tour." A prestigeous prize, that all the players would kill for. When asked how she felt about winning this prize, she said: "I don't have time for this crap now." She will face some Polish girl in the first round of Rome. A match she is expected to win. She is also participating in doubles, where she is playing with her girlfriend, Ana Jovanovic of Serbia.

More clay :sad: Looks like I will have to wait another week to get a win on this surface :lol: Anyone wants to play with Japan in doubles?

Morigami touches down in Rome

http://www.wtnphotos.com/data/656/JPRA114051312_1024x768.jpg
Morigami in a practice session yesterday on the Italian clay

As the clay court season continues in Rome, Italy, the Japanese contingency will be represented by Akiko Morigami, who has the unenviable task of taking on Serbian Ana Jovanovic. Unenviable for one simple reason: Japan, the number two team in the world, are yet to win a singles match on clay. Morigami, who landed in Rome earlier this week, believes that it will just be a matter of time before her team eventually secures a win on the clay.

"Of course it is very tough for us. It is not our natural surface. In Serbia there are many clay courts, so Ana has been brought up on this surface. Out in Japan it is very difficult to find clay courts, so we do not play well this time of the year. We know that our strengths like on the hard courts, Rebound Ace and grass. However, we want to improve. It gives us motivation to do well and Ai was so close to winning last week. Her opponent just played the big points better in the end and I know that we will soon be winning matches on this surface. I'm not here just to fill in the draw and fulfil my duties to the tour. I want to win for my team," Morigami stated in a press conference earlier today. Action will take place later this week.

All posts updated. Bonus points; singles, doubles draws/entry lists and preview. Im away for two days so if any teams send points for doubles then Ill add you to the draw when Im back Friday Morning.
No one has a Bye here so all points need to be in by the deadline as R16 matches will be Friday night. If you dont send for the second week running, then this will be your warning and next week if you dont send you will be retired.

:wavey:

More clay :sad: Looks like I will have to wait another week to get a win on this surface :lol: Anyone wants to play with Japan in doubles?

Just choose anyone who dosnt have one and send points :lol: im sure they wont mind playing with you ;)

Lourdes To Make Her Clay Debut In Rome!

http://www.fedcup.com/shared/medialibrary/image/gallery/FC_4303_gallery.JPG
Looking relaxed as ever, Lourdes is ready to take home the title for Spain

Lourdes Dominguez Lino(pictured above) of Spain is "rearing and ready" for the tournament to start in Rome, Italy. Spain, who is one of the best teams on clay, is looking to take home their first singles title. However, of the three Spanish players Lourdes has the least experience. She has only played one event in Hobart where she qualified for the MD falling in the first round. But that doesn't phase Lourdes. "I'm really excited to play on my first tournament on my favorite surface. I hope that I can do well and make my country proud."

In the first round, Lourdes will be up against 6th seed Romana Tabakova of Slovakia. Lourdes said on the encounter, "It can be a very tough match because Romana is the 6th seed and hs the experience. However, I feel like I'm the better clay court player. I've spent my off time at the Sergio Casal Academy working on my game for the clay." If Spain is to win that match, she will be up against the #1 seed Casey Dellacqua of Australia or doubles partner Timea Bacsinszky of Switzerland. Lourdes said, "That match will be certainly be much tougher but right now I'm taking it one match at a time and still have to focus on my match with Romana."

She is set to play in her first doubles tournament with Timea Bacsinszky of Switzerland and are the #1 seeds. They are set to face a Wildcard and if not will get a bye into the next round. Lourdes said, "I would really appreciate to get the bye so I can get some sort of rest during this tournament[laughs]. The tournament is set to start later this week.

http://img355.imageshack.us/img355/6892/session4giseladulko4wf6rx7.jpg

She looks for the excellence

The Argentine Gisela Dulko was seeking in Italy to recover of the evil start of the secion of clay.
The Argentine think that this this epoch of the year is in the one that must add the major quantity of points, for what in Rome she was seeking to play with the heart.
In the first round Gisela not the not easy at all tendra was facing the North American Venus Williams.

Japan will play with Sweden in doubles :)

R16 in 10mins

Patch, did I send new points? :confused:
If not do you mind if I send now? :)

Rome

R16

[1] AUS Casey Dellacqua vs. SUI Timea Backzinsky

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Patch, did I send new points? :confused:
If not do you mind if I send now? :)

you can send now
but your match is next so hurry up :p

you got my new points right?(i sent 2, but I want the second one:p)

Rome

R16

[1] AUS Casey Dellacqua vs. SUI Timea Backzinsky

26 00

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you got my new points right?(i sent 2, but I want the second one:p)

ok :)

Patch, please use my second points I sent and not the first. Sorry about that. :banghead:

Rome

R16

[1] AUS Casey Dellacqua vs. SUI Timea Backzinsky

26 64 00

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http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2008/04/16/camCaseyDellacqua_wideweb__470x341,0.jpg

[1] AUS Casey Dellacqua def. SUI Timea Backzinsky
26 64 62

Much needed win for the Aussie, with some big points to defend soon she will be looking for these wins and going deep in this tournament will help the confidence. Number 1s moving slowly back into form.

Rome

R16

ESP Lourdes Dominguez Lino vs. [6] SVK Romana Tabakova

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Patch, those were the points that were titled "Sorry About That" right? :)

Rome

R16

ESP Lourdes Dominguez Lino vs. [6] SVK Romana Tabakova

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ESP Lourdes Dominguez Lino def. [6] SVK Romana Tabakova
76(6) 61

After a close start, the Spaniard totally ran away with it as she looks to take her first title on tour here. Shes got a tough match next, but in the form shes showed us already on the clay, she has a chance to take her first win over the worlds top team.

Patch, those were the points that were titled "Sorry About That" right? :)

the ones called 'SORRY USE THESE PLEASE!' ;)

Rome

R16

http://www.sportgate.de/typo3temp/pics/Anna-Lena-Groenefeld-steckte-nach-der-Trennung-von-ihrem-Trainer-in-der-Krise_02c0970920.jpg

[8] GER Anna Lena Groenfeld def. SWE Sofia Arvidsson
W/O

Warning for Sweden :o

Rome

R16

HUN Agnes Szavay vs. [4] RSA Lizaan Du Plessis

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Did I send points for tokyo??

Rome

R16

HUN Agnes Szavay vs. [4] RSA Lizaan Du Plessis

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Did I send points for tokyo??

Bumpage:lol:

Did I send points for tokyo??

nope. starts tommorow anyway.

Rome

R16

HUN Agnes Szavay vs. [4] RSA Lizaan Du Plessis

63 57 00

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[4] RSA Lizaan Du Plessis def. HUN Agnes Szavay
36 75 63

Last weeks champions survive Szavay after coming from MP down. South Africa move into the quarters but watch out for the Hungarian in the remainder of the clay season.

Rome

R16

[3] POL Ula Radwanska vs. BLR Tatiana Poutchek

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Rome

R16

[3] POL Ula Radwanska vs. BLR Tatiana Poutchek

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Rome

R16

[3] POL Ula Radwanska vs. BLR Tatiana Poutchek

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BLR Tatiana Poutchek def. [3] POL Ula Radwanska
64 46 64

Poutchek takes out the number 3 seeds in Belarus' second win on tour and moves into their first Quarter Final. Not bad for a team that didnt want to play on the clay for this week. Good start for Poutchek.

Rome

R16

http://www.almanak.dk/kultur/event/ol/beijing2008/billeder/caroline-wozniaki-250.jpg

DEN Caroline Wozniaki def. [5] ISR Anna Smashnova
W/O

Warning for Israel :sobbing:

Rome

R16

[7] USA Venus Williams vs. ARG Gisela Dulko

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Rome

R16

[7] USA Venus Williams vs. ARG Gisela Dulko

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Rome

R16

[7] USA Venus Williams vs. ARG Gisela Dulko

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ARG Gisela Dulko def. [7] USA Venus Williams
46 61 76(2)

The Aussie Open champ goes down and was always having to play catch up to the Argentine after letting an early lead slip. Big win for Dulko though, one of her best on tour yet. Well Done to her.

Rome

R16

SRB Ana Jovanović vs. [2] JPN Akiko Morigami

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Good job Tatiana :D

Rome

R16

SRB Ana Jovanović vs. [2] JPN Akiko Morigami

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SRB Ana Jovanović def. [2] JPN Akiko Morigami
63 64

Big win for Serbia - their first on tour and against one of the best teams on tour aswell, hopefully this will give them confidence to start progressing. The Japanese are still looking for that one win on clay.

Quarterfinal Line Up
[1] AUS Casey Dellacqua vs. ESP Lourdes Dominguez Lino
[8] GER Anna Lena Groenfeld vs. [4] RSA Lizaan Du Plessis

BLR Tatiana Poutchek vs. DEN Caroline Wozniaki
ARG Gisela Dulko vs. SRB Ana Jovanović


QF tommorow

Congrats Gisela :banana:


Anyone doubles with Argentina?

http://img360.imageshack.us/img360/2898/dsc04525el2.jpg



Win in her début

The Argentine Gisela Dulko achieve the best victory of her career in Rome, Italy defeating the American Venus Williams for 4.6 6.1 7.6.
The Argentine one that was very sure from the bottom of the field with your right could achieve an important victory for your career on clay Gisela's favorite surface.
In the next round side with the Serbian Ana Jovanovi  that gave the surprise extracting of the tournament the best second rankeada.

- I was working to achieve this victory. Always I knew that algun day llegaria and today I come. I it dedicate to the whole people of Argentine that it does forces for my - Dulko said

Vamos Lourdes! :rocker2: Solid win! :bounce:
Beat Australia now! :devil:

:sad:

Glad to allow Serbia to lose their victory virginity ;) Another clay match, another loss :sad:

Morigami injury fear for rest of season

http://www.wtnphotos.com/data/656/akiko4.jpgMorigami looks on during her opening round defeat

Japanese player Akiko Morigami will now be a doubt for the rest of this year after sustaining an injury during her opening round defeat to Serbian Ana Jovanovic on the clay courts of Rome today. After losing the match, Morigami spoke to the media about the injury she sustained.

Morigami started the match erratically, coming down from 1-3 to 3-3, constantly pressuring the Serbian. However, at that point Morigami seemed unable to play well, with several unforced errors and double faults being produced. She quickly lost 7 of the next 9 games to trail the Serb 3-6 2-4; the Serbian team had not recorded a win in the singles all season and it looked as if Morigami could make a comeback and Jovanovic's nerves got to her and the set was levelled at 4-4. Despite the brief respite for the Japanese player, she looked ill-at-ease and surrendered 6-3 6-4 before crying her way off court.

"Everything was hurting out there. I went to see the doctor yesterday and he said to me that I might have fractured the scaphoid bone in my wrist. My thumb and hand were in a lot of pain and he told me not to play, but I took lots of painkillers and had a lot of strapping on there to try and just play out there. Part of me was naive in trying to come out here and play a good match with this problem, but I feel it is my duty to come out here and do this for the fans and for the tour. I might need surgery for this and lots of physio. I'm not sure how long it will take and I could end up missing the rest of the season. I still have the doubles left, but I'm not sure what I will do about that. The main thing is having good health. I've let my team down here today. All I can hope is that I can make it up to them at some point soon," Morigami broke down saying in her press conference. Jovanovic will now face Argentine Gisela Dulko for a place in the last four.

Japan :hug: thanks for the article :)
results soon.

Rome

Quarter Finals

[1] AUS Casey Dellacqua vs. ESP Lourdes Dominguez Lino

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Rome

Quarter Finals

[1] AUS Casey Dellacqua vs. ESP Lourdes Dominguez Lino

64 00

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http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2008/01/18/caseydellacqua_wideweb__470x339,0.jpg

[1] AUS Casey Dellacqua def. ESP Lourdes Dominguez Lino
64 64

Big win for Casey. Given the surface, they were the underdogs but playing some of their tactially great tennis saw them overcame the Spaniards. Domingez Lino needs to start adding new strategies for different players. The Aussies get to their first semi this year.

Rome

Quarter Finals

[8] GER Anna Lena Groenfeld vs. [4] RSA Lizaan Du Plessis

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Rome

Quarter Finals

[8] GER Anna Lena Groenfeld vs. [4] RSA Lizaan Du Plessis

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Rome

Quarter Finals

[8] GER Anna Lena Groenfeld vs. [4] RSA Lizaan Du Plessis

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[4] RSA Lizaan Du Plessis def. [8] GER Anna Lena Groenfeld
36 63 63

Pretty much like yesterday, the South Africans tough it out in a three setter in this last weeks final re-match. Du Plessis isnt looking as sharp as last week but no one has taken advantage of that yet. They roll on to the semis; undefeated on the clay.

Rome

Quarter Finals

BLR Tatiana Poutchek vs. DEN Caroline Wozniaki

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Rome

Quarter Finals

BLR Tatiana Poutchek vs. DEN Caroline Wozniaki

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