Sure it's a bit late, but congratulations to Ana Ivanovic on her breakthrough Tier One win against Martina Hingis on Monday in Montreal. I saw the rain delayed finish of the Safina-Ivanovic match on Sunday and was impressed by Ivanovic's game. I think she's got a real shot at a Semi at the Open. (Also congrats to Martina Navratilova for winning the doubles w/ Petrova as she goes into her last tournament.)
And speaking of Hingis, these bits just makes me chuckle for some reason:
"We never played together during our younger days because I was always busy playing with girls and boys three years older than me when I was 14 or 15. However, I do remember that he (Roger Federer) was my ballboy at one of the Basel tournaments (laughs). That was funny."
"A lot of the great players have been injured. I used to play Lindsay, Monica, Jennifer, the Williams sisters -- all of us were beating Mauresmo. And now she's No. 1 and she's more confident. Sometimes in tennis it's about the last one standing."
That Martina.
I woke up an hour ago and just now realized that I hadn't seen the rain-delayed Ana Ivanovic-Martina Hingis final on TV yesterday, with Pam Shriver, John McEnroe and Feliciano Lopez "judging" (god knows what; I don't remember anymore), and with Patrick McEnroe commentating on the fact that Feli turns heads and is a great pick for the panel.
Disturbing. I never have dreams I'm not in. I feel like I'm crossing some sort of fandom threshold.
Regardless, speaking of finals, Andy Roddick beat Juan Carlos Ferrero for Cincinnati, his first title of the year, and a spot in the top 10. With the victory, he also wins the US Open series and has serious OOMF going into the US Open. Roddick was back to his old self out there--spectacular serving, big stick strutting, firing himself up--as well as looking much more comfortable at net. Jimmy Connors, well done. Dare we say it? Andy seems to have finally found his mojo.
ETA: Here's a good piece on the revitalized Roddick from Tom Perrotta: For Roddick, Timing May Be Key to Success
Also, the lovely Feliciano Lopez (pictured) is blogging from New Haven this week. He dishes a bit on doubles partner and best buddy Rafael Nadal--Rafa's in New Haven to practice (he'll be hitting with James Blake (!) today), but so far it's pretty uninspired stuff.
This seals it, my Hingis Hatred can finally be put to rest. I'm really starting to love the girl. Apparently Kournikova suggested renewing their doubles partnership after the two played an exhibition in December and Hingis basically smacked a bitch down: "She was okay," said the Swiss. "But she would have to train. I don't want to go out there and lose first round."
Hingis, speaking truth to peroxide. (C'mon, Anna fans! It's all in good fun.)
I saw Hingis and Kournikova play an exhibition doubles match in NYC a few years back, in Madison Square Garden (2001, I think?), and well, that was a lot of ego out there. Of course, It Would be Great For Tennis if Anna returned, and I honestly think it would be fun to see them out there again, complete with their old Queen Bee MO.
Read 'Hingis Urges Kournikova to Think Hard about a Comeback'
Sugiyama d. Hingis
Sugiyama took the first set 7-5 but lost the 2nd set 3-6, on an early break. The Japanese veteran steeled herself to come back from a seemingly insurmountable obstacle--Martina (News, Blog Posts) broke her twice at the start of the 3rd set. What a way to play in your 14th consecutive Wimbledon!
Well at least Hingis will have some time to cheer on boyfriend Radek Stepanek; he took out Juan Carlos Ferrero 11-9 in the 5th in a spectacular match.
Here are a match report / Hingis' Interview / Sugiyama's Interview.
Li d. Kuznetsova
4th seed Svetlana Kuznetsova (News, Blog Posts) went down in a fierce battle with Li Na. The Kuze took the first set, but then started rushing and making some wild shots...and then that was all she wrote. Congratulations to Li for becoming the first Chinese singles player to make the 4th round at Wimbledon. Here's a match report.
Bremond d. Dulko
Smaller beans, but French qualifier Severine Bremond is on a serious roll; yesterday she dispatched 8th seed Patty Schnyder, and now 31st seed Gisela Dulko, in 3 tough sets. Here's a match rundown. Bremond faces Ai Sugiyama in the round of 16, and will definitely have a shot at a quarterfinal.
Here's the women's draw. Venus landed at the bottom of Mauresmo's quarter of the draw and so did 14th seed Dinara Safina. Other trouble spots: a newly brunette Tatiana Golovin and Ana Ivanovic who's already beaten Amelie this year. Michaela Krajicek, who's still having a great week in Nottingham, is a potential 2nd round match up for Mauresmo.
Sharapova's section looks pretty straightforward until Dementieva in the quarters, though Schiavone, Sania Mirza, and Danilidou, who made the semis at the Ordina Open, could add some spice.
Hingis, Hantuchova, Jamea Jackson and Patty Schnyder are in Justine Henin-Hardenne's section of the draw. Will be interesting to see if Hingis can reach the massive roadblock that is Justine.
At the bottom of the draw, there are a few threats between #5 seed Kuznetsova and #2 seed Kim Clijsters: Vaidisova, Na Li and Kirilenko.
News: Petrova's pulled out with her lingering groin injury from the French.
I didn't know Mats had one. I'm a big Mats fan and love the stuff he does for Eurosport. The blog's got some interview footage with Nalbandian, Ancic and Nadal, as well as posts by Mats himself and Mats' admin about Hingis, Marat Safin, and others. Here's the blog.
Here are direct links to some of the video interview outtakes: Here's a Rafa one, here's a Nalbandian one, and here's Mario Ancic.