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Sports Line Archive
January - June 2005
Rao advances in Wimbledon
(June 15) ITMS Sports client Sunitha Rao
(19) has advanced to the second round of the Wimbledon qualifying
tournament at Roehampton after defeating Yulia Beygelzimer
of the Ukraine 4-6, 7-6 and 6-1.
Next up for Rao is an encounter with 14th seed Mara Santangelo
of Italy. Just three weeks ago, the two butted heads in the
second round of the Roland Garros qualifying tournament, with
Santangelo prevailing in three though sets.
With a win, the young American could move within one round
of qualifying for the world’s most prestigious tennis
tournament.
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Smashnova advances at French Open
(May 25) ITMS Sports client Anna Smashnova
(WTA 60) has advanced to the second round at the French Open
in Paris. The 28-year old had little trouble in dispatching
15th seed Jelena Jankovic (SCG) 6-0 and 6-3.
Next up for Israel’s No. 1 tennis player is German
hopeful Anna-Lena Groenefeld (WTA 44).
The two will face each other for the first time tomorrow
with a spot in the third round of the year’s second
Grand Slam tournament at stake.
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Smashnova reaches semis in Istanbul
(May 19) Anna Smashnova (28) has reached
the semi-finals of the $200,000 Istanbul Cup in Istanbul,
Turkey. The ITMS Sports client needed just over an hour to
defeat eight seed American Mashona Washington 6-3 and 6-1.
Next up for Smashnova (WTA 41) is a duel with the winner
of today’s last quarterfinal match between second seed
Nicole Vaidisova (CZE) and German Anna-Lena Groenefeld (No.
5).
With a win, the third seed Israeli could reach a WTA Tour
final for the first time this year.
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Smashnova advances in Rome
(May 10) ITMS Sports client Anna Smashnova
(WTA 40) has advanced to the second round of the $1,300,000
Telecom Italia Masters in Rome after defeating 11th seed Elena
Likhovtseva (RUS) 6-1 and 6-3.
With the win, the 28-year-old Israeli successfully avenged
a loss to the Russian veteran earlier this year. Just last
month, the ITMS Sports client had fallen to Likhovtseva in
three sets at the tournament in Amelia Island.
Next up for Smashnova is Spanish veteran Conchita Martinez
(31). Her match against the former Wimbledon champion is scheduled
for Wednesday.
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Perebiynis wins J&S Cup, captures
2nd doubles title of the year
(May 1) ITMS Sports client Tatiana Perebiynis
(WTA 75) captured her second doubles title of the year yesterday
in Warsaw (POL). Together with partner Barbara Strycova, the
22-year-old Ukrainian defeated the polish duo of Klaudia Jans
and Alicja Rosolska to win the $585,000 J&S Cup.
The victory marked Perebiynis’ fourth career title and
came exactly two months after winning the Albierto Mexicano
TELCEL Open in Acapulco, Mexico (with Jidkova). With the win,
Perebiynis now occupies the 55th spot in the latest doubles
rankings by the WTA Tour.
The Ukraine’s top tennis player will next play in Berlin
and Rome before turning her attention towards the second Grand
Slam tournament of the year, the French Open in Paris.
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„Last-minute-man“ Bachinger wins „Eclipse
Challenge Cup“
(May 1) Matthias Bachinger (18) of Munich,
Germany won the inaugural “Eclipse Challenge Cup”
junior invite this past weekend. A last minute substitute,
Bachinger beat top seed Dutch product Robin Haase (18) for
the title on Sunday.
Held during the ATP’s BMW Open by Credit Suisse, the
first-year tournament featured eight of the best junior tennis
players in Europe. Bachinger had been a late addition after
fellow German Aljoscha Thron (17) was forced to withdraw with
an injury to his forearm. After upsetting three higher ranked
opponents over the course of the tournament, he will now walk
away with the coveted wild card for the qualifying tournament
at the BMW Open 2006.
ITMS Sports organized the frist-year event held on the grounds
of prestigious MTTC Iphitos in Munich, Germany.
Results:
1. Round:
Robin Haase (NED) d. Niels Desein (BEL) 3-6, 7-5,
6-3 / Lukas Lacko (SVK) d. Igor Sijsling (NED) 7-6(6), 6-1
/ Matthias Bachinger (GER) d. Pavol Cervenak (SVK) 6-2, 6-4
/ Dusan Lojda (CZE) d. Christoph Hödl (AUT) 6-2, 6-3
Semi-finals:
Robin Haase (NED) d. Lukas Lacko (SVK) 2-6, 7-5, 7-6(1) /
Matthias Bachinger (GER) d. Dusan Lojda (CZE) 7-5, 6-0
Final:
Matthias Bachinger (GER) d. Robin Haase (NED) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
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ITMS Sports Duo back in action at J&S Cup
(April 27) ITMS Sports clients Anna Smashnova
(ISR) and Tatiana Perebiynis (UKR) are back in action this
week at the $585,000 J&S Cup in Warsaw, Poland.
Smashnova (WTA 35), playing in only her sixth tournament
of year, thereby experienced a good start into the European
clay court season. The 28-year-old Israeli came back to from
a break down twice in the first set to defeat 42nd ranked
Klara Koukalova (CZE) 7-5 and 7-5. Next up for the clay court
specialist is match-up with second seed Svetlana Kuznetsova
(RUS).
While Smashnova tasted success in her first-round encounter,
22-year-old Tatiana Perebiynis came close to scoring the upset
of the tournament in her match against Pacific Life Open and
Nasdaq 100 Open champion Kim Clijsters (BEL). Having entered
the tournament through the qualifying draw, the Ukraine’s
top player forced the 7th seed Belgian to battle for three
long sets before she eventually notched her 15th straight
victory.
Bozth, Smashnova and Perebiynis, will be competing at the
$1,300,000 Qatar Total German Open in Berlin next week.
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Perebiynis picks up doubles title in Acapulco
(March 1) ITMS Sports client Tatiana Perebiynis
(UKR) picked up her third career doubles title at the $180,000
Albierto Mexicano TELCEL Open presented by HSBC. Together
with her partner Alina Jidkova (RUS), Perebiynis beat the
team of Rosa Maria Andres Rodriguez and Conchita Martinez
Granados in the championship match on Sunday.
The straight sets win over the Spanish duo marked the appropriate
ending to a dominant week for the 22-year old Ukrainian. In
four matches, the eastern European combination of Perebiynis/Jidkova
dropped only one set on its way to the title, thereby disposing
of the top-seeded pair of Emmanuelle Gagliardi (SUI) and Emilie
Loit (FRA) with 6-3 and 6-0 in Saturday’s semi-final.
Next up for the Ukraine’s top player is the Pacific
Life Open at Indian
Wells. Now ranked 57 in doubles and 81 in singles, the ITMS
Sports client is looking to continue her good form at the
$2,100,000 Tier I event in the Californian desert.
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Venus Williams ends Smashnova’s Aussie run
(January 22) ITMS Sports client Anna Smashnova’s
(WTA 33) run at the Australian Open came to an end early Saturday
morning. The 28-year old Israeli lost her third-round encounter
with former world number one Venus Williams (24) in straight
sets.
Smashnova held an early advantage in the match as eighth-seeded
Williams made a succession of errors. The American failed
to maintain the rallies, and a tenacious Smashnova took advantage
by breaking in the opening game as Williams sent a backhand
long.
But Williams swiftly got back on level terms, as Smashnova
hooked a forehand wide on the fourth break point to leave
Williams even at 2-2.
A number of very lengthy rallies kept the crowd entertained,
and one at 4-3 left Williams with a break point. A forced
forehand error after Williams had pulled her opponent wide
gave the American the break, and she safely served out for
the set.
A string of errors from Smashnova allowed Williams to take
almost total control of the second set. A winning forehand
down the line gave her a break for 1-0, and a backhand error
allowed Williams to break to love and lead 3-0.
Smashnova briefly threatened in the next game, but Williams
saved a break point with a confident backhand volley, and
two successive double-faults gave her a further break and
left her serving for victory.
Although Williams faced a break point, Smashnova made an
error on her return and Williams sealed her one-hour victory
with an ace.
The defeat marked Smashnova's third loss in three career
encounters with the American standout.
Anna Smashnova will now return to Europe and prepare for
her next start at the $585,000 Open Gaz de France in Paris.
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Smashnova cruises into third round
(January 21) Israel’s Anna Smashnova
cruised into the third round of the Australian Open with a
6-2, 6-2 victory over Tamarine Tanasugarn (WTA 73) of Thailand.
With the win, the ITMS Sports client reached the third round
of the year’s first Grand Slam tournament for the third
time in her career.
Next up for Smashnova is 8th seed American Venus Williams
(24). The former world number one has been dominant so far,
dropping no more than six games in each one of her two contests.
However, the 28-year old Smashnova has shown good form herself,
converting on seven of eight break chances and committing
only nine unforced errors in her straight set win on Thursday.
The Ukraine’s top player, ITMS Sports client Tatiana
Perebiynis (22), lost her second round encounter with 14th
seed Francesca Schiavone (ITA) in three though sets.
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Smashnova, Perebiynis prevail in Aussie Open
(January 19) ITMS Sports clients Anna Smashnova
(WTA 33) and Tatiana Perebiynis (WTA 92) are through to the
second round of the first Grand Slam tournament of the year,
the 2005 Australian Open in Melbourne. Both players advanced
after coming back from one set down to win in three sets.
27th seed Anna Smashnova eventually advanced with ease after
dropping the first set to Maria Sanchez Lorenzo of Spain.
Finding her rhythm early in the second set, the Israeli never
looked back and went on to defeat the 58th ranked Spaniard
4-6, 6-0 and 6-0. Next up for Smashnova is a duel with Thai
veteran Tamarine Tanasugarn (WTA 73) before a potential third-round
clash with former world number one, Venus Williams, of the
United States.
Also in the second round is 22-year old Tatiana Perebiynis
of the Ukraine. The ITMS Sports client came out on top of
a hard fought three-set battle with French wild card Capucine
Rousseau (WTA 127). In the second round of the Austalian Open
for the first time in her career, she will now face 14th seed
Francesca Schiavone of Italy.
Both players are scheduled to play their second round matches
on Thursday.
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Rao ends Aussie trip with quality win
(January 18) Young American tennis prodigy
Sunitha Rao finished a successful four-month stint in Australia
with last week’s qualifying tournament to the Australian
Open.
After previously improving her ranking by more than forty
spots since
entering the Uncle Tobys Tour for Women last October, the
19-year old ITMS Sports client recorded another quality win
last week in Melbourne.
On her way to a third-round appearance, Rao (WTA 188) beat
11th seed Tiantian Sun (WTA 131) of China in straight sets
before falling to veteran American and former Top 40 player
Meilen Tu.
The 2005 Australian Open marked the third time Rao fell just
one win short of qualifying for the main draw of a major for
the first time in her young career.
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ITMS Sports stars begin tennis year down under
(January 11) ITMS Sports clients Anna Smashnova,
Tatiana Perebiynis and Sunitha Rao are back in action as they
prepare for the first Grand Slam tournament of the year, the
Australian Open beginning next week.
Israeli veteran Anna Smashnova ((WTA 32) started her 15th
season on the WTA Tour by thrashing Arantxa Parra-Santonja
of Spain. Seeded second at the $110,000 Richard Lutton Properties
Canberra Women's Classic, the 28-year old Smashnova wasted
little time in moving on to the second round where she will
face Melinda Czink of Hungary.
19-year old Sunitha Rao (WTA 187) also got her season under
way in successful fashion. After breaking into the Top 200
at the end of 2004, Rao has already recorded two victories
over players ranked in the Top 160 in the world in her two
starts at Gold Coast and Hobart (Australia). Next up for the
young American are the Australian Open, where she wil attempt
to qualify for the main draw of a Grand Slam tournament for
the first time in her young career.
The Top Ukrainen player, Tatiana Perebiynis (WTA 87), saw
her first action of year at the $110,000 at the Morilla International
in Hobart, Australia. After a though three-set loss to Czech
teenage phenomenon Nicole
Vaidisova (WTA 75), the 22-year old Perebiynis will now turn
her attention to the doubles draw, where she will partner
up with Russian Alina Jidkova to face the 4th seeded pair
of Gisela Dulko (ARG) and Abigail Spears (USA).
All three ITMS Sports players will compete at the 2005 Australian
Open in Melbourne from January 17 - January 30 2005.
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