Aces and Faults: Chakvetadze, Petrova Fall in Sydney First Round
Article by Aaress Lawless on Jan 7, 2008 | Print |
Aces
Justine Henin went on an African safari during the off-season. (Globe and Mail)
Venus Williams dismissed Maria Sharapova in straight sets 6-4, 6-3 to win the JB Group Classic exhibition tournament in Hong Kong. (Fox Sports)
Li Na defeated Victoria Azarenka 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Saturday for the Mondial Australian Women’s Hardcourts title. (Sporting News)
Monique Adamczak has received a wild card into the Australian Open. (Fox Sports)
Net Cords
Eighth seed Anabel Medina Garrigues retired during her match against Casey Dellacqua on Sunday at the Moorilla Hobart International because of a back injury. (Miami Herald)
Anna Chakvetadze, who is still trying to recover physically from being burglarized during the off-season, lost in the first round at Sydney to Katarina Srebotnik 7-5, 6-1.
Faults
Wild card Nadia Petrova lost in the first round of the Medibank International on Sunday to Virginie Razzano. Petrova also lost her opening match last week at the Mondial Australian Women’s Hardcourts. (Sony Ericsson WTA Tour website)
Stars On Court Monday
Medibank International: Hantuchova vs. Safina, Vaidisova vs. Pin, Srebotnik vs. Chakvetadze, Bartoli vs. Knapp, Arvidsson vs. Dementieva
Moorilla Hobart International: A.Radwanska vs. Pennetta, Dominguez Lino vs. Mirza, Muller vs. Dokic, Poutchkova vs. Zvonareva
Early Results on Monday
For more results throughout the day, visit the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour website.
Medibank International First Round
Katarina Srebotnik (SLO) d. (5) Anna Chakvetadze (RUS) 7-5 6-1
Moorilla Hobart International First Round
Flavia Pennetta (ITA) d. (4) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) 6-4 1-6 6-2
(6) Sania Mirza (IND) d. (Q) Lourdes Dominguez Lino (ESP) 6-4 6-0
Nuria Llagostera Vives (ESP) d. (9) Gisela Dulko (ARG) 6-3 2-1 ret. (left hip injury)
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Venusfan | Jan 7, 2008 | Reply
hooray for Venus. she won the doubles too! hope she does really well at the Open. i heard she had a couple of injuries, and hurt her wrist. do you know if these are serious? i’d hate for her to miss more time coz of that wrist? also what happened to Ivanovic? very patchy against Elena D and then beaten 6-3 6-1 by Peng? also why did Sharapova not play the doubles? sorry for all these questions.
Aaress | Jan 7, 2008 | Reply
Hi Venusfan,
I have heard that Venus was suffering from any number of minor injuries, but at the moment, it does not appear that any of them will stop her from competing at a high level in Melbourne. She was bothered by a hamstring injury early last week, but as you know, went on to win the singles and doubles at Hong Kong. Also, she fell on her wrist practicing, but said that it felt better after having treatment.
Ivanovic’s loss to Shuai Peng was surprising, but I generally try not to read too much into the scoreboard of an exhibition. I’m not saying that players don’t put as much effort into an exhibition, but it is not a good prediction of future results. Like all the women, Ivanovic is still trying to get back in her groove after six weeks off.
As for Sharapova, I’m sorry, but I don’t know why she opted not to play doubles.
Hope this helped!