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Sports Line Archive
July - Dezember 2003
Henin-Hardenne fights past Pistolesi in Zurich
(October 15) Anna Pistolesi offered stubborn
resistance before bowing to No. 2 seed Justine Henin-Hardenne
in the second round of the 20th Swisscom Challenge. Henin-Hardenne,
on a remarkable 2003 season, won the first set 6-1 and served
for the match at 5-4 in the second, but the combatant Israeli
fought back to lead 6-5, serving for the second set before
surrendering her serve. The tiebreak was a close run affair,
won by the Belgian seven points to five, after Pistolesi clipped
the top of the net on a sure backhand pass at 5-all.
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Henin-Hardenne next for Pistolesi in Zurich
(October 14) Israel's Anna Pistolesi won
Monday's opening match
6-2, 7-5, against Italy's Silvia Farina Elia in the first
round of the $1.3 million Swisscom Challenge and faces second
seed and world number two Justine Henin-Hardenne in the second
round.
The 16th ranked Pistolesi lost to the U.S. and French Open
champion in last year’s Swisscom Challenge but had beaten
her a few months earlier in Key Biscayne. The second round
match is expected to be scheduled for Wednesday and to air
live on Eurosport.
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Pistolesi ranked 16 in world after Kremlin semifinal
(October 6) Anna Pistolesi's strong run
at the $1.3 million Kremlin Cup came to an end Saturday afternoon
with a 6-2, 6-0, loss to No. 4 seed, and No. 10 in the world,
Anastasia Myskina in the semifinals.
Pistolesi, ranked No. 21 in the world, earned $54,300 and
189 ranking points, which helped her climb to No. 16 in the
new world rankings released this week. It brings her 2003
winnings total to $325,447.
After trading breaks early with Myskina, Pistolesi failed
to convert three advantage points to hold her serve before
Myskina finally broke her to go up 4-2 and went on to win
two more games to take the set.
On Pistolesi's serve in the sixth game of the second set,
Myskina rallied from love-40 to take the set at love and win
the match in 62 minutes. The Israeli won only one of seven
break points, and committed an uncharacteristic 29 unforced
errors, including six double faults.
Against a younger opponent, who like Pistolesi remained back
on the baseline (each player came to the net just seven times
during the 62-minute match), Pistolesi simply ran out of steam.
In their only previous meeting, Pistolesi surprised Myskina
six weeks ago in a long, three-set match during the opening
round at New Haven. After the match, Myskina said, "This
time I wanted to finish with her as quick as possible and
quit the court."
Pistolesi reached the semis with a 6-4, 6-4, win over Elena
Bovina.
She played the same game that got her there, remaining at
the baseline (she only approached the net three times in the
match) and patiently returning nearly every shot, which frustrated
her younger opponent. As a result, the 19-year-old, who tried
to force points, ended up hitting 48 unforced errors including
five double faults.
Pistolesi raced out to a 5-1 lead in the opening set, before
Bovina, who surprised top seed Jennifer Capriati in the second
round, reeled off three games in a row to close to within
5-4. But the Israeli won the next game on love, taking the
set in 46 minutes.
Pistolesi broke Bovina early in the second set to jump out
to a 3-1 advantage, but the Russian broke back, knotting it
at 3-3. In the ninth game of the set, Pistolesi broke Bovina's
serve for the fourth time in the match to go up 5-4, and kept
her own serve in the next game to complete the victory.
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Pistolesi shoots her way into Kremlin quarters
(October 2) Anna Pistolesi stormed into
the quarterfinals at the Kremlin Cup Thursday, downing Russian
Svetlana Kuznetsova, 7-6(5), 6-0, and setting up a meeting
with Elena Bovina, who on Wednesday shocked top seed Jennifer
Capriati.
The win is worth $29,000 and 119 ranking points, which will
catapult Pistolesi from the world No. 21 ranking up to No.
17.
Pistolesi, Israel’s best ever tennis player, will play
the 19-year-old Bovina (32) for only the second time. Bovina,
a Moscow native, topped Pistolesi earlier this year in the
first round at Tokyo, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.
In typical Pistolesi-form on Thursday, the unseeded Israeli
stayed back and played patiently, benefitting from Kuznetsova
s 57 unforced errors. In fact, Pistolesi only came to the
net twice in the 82 minute encounter.
After edging Kuznetsova in a first set tiebreaker, the Israeli
took over and broke her opponent three straight times to sweep
the second, and final, set.
The Moscow tournament is Pistolesi s first since losing to
in the first round of the US Open last month.
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Anna Pistolesi returns to tennis circuit with victory
(October 1) After taking nearly a month
off, Israel's Anna Pistolesi came back with a bang, beating
world No. 13 Nadia Petrova of Russia 6-3, 6-3, in the opening
round of the $1.3 million Kremlin Cup in Moscow.
Pistolesi, Israel's top ranked player at No. 21, will face
another Russian, Svetlana Kuznetsova (35), Thursday in the
second round.
It was a typical win for Pistolesi, who played extremely
solid, returning everything her 21-year-old opponent hit at
her, and capitalizing on Petrova's 44 unforced errors to win
the match in 76 minutes.
The Israeli won 64 of the game's 113 points, excelling at
break points, winning 6-of-12. Petrova struggled with her
serve, winning only 4-of-20 second serves, while committing
six double faults.
The match was Pistolesi's first since losing to Claudine
Schaul of Luxembourg in the first round of the US Open. She
has already guaranteed a take-home of $15,600 and 73 rankings
points, which should help her leapfrog first-round losers
Patty Schnyder, Meghann Shaughnessy, and Amanda Coetzer into
the 18th spot in the WTA rankings.
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Simon Dunn bests Jochen Lupprian to claim 2003 Central
European Open
(September 15) It was no coincidence that
wind turbines surround Golf Club Gleidingen, as day one of
the 2003 Central European Open was dominated by strong winds
and heavy rain. Only the excellent drainage of the course
permitted play to be completed Sunday. Only 15 players managed
to score par or better. Round 2 saw a slight improvement in
playing conditions, which was reflected in better scoring
and moving the cut line to +3 for the top players. Day 3,
"Moving Day", saw Dubai based Scot Simon Dunn (1.94
meter) make further "giant" strides forward on the
leader board as he followed his day 2 score of 66 with a 67
to be leader at -11. Round 4 started with a 30-minute delay
due to fog, but after the fog finally lifted players were
faced with near perfect playing conditions. After 63 holes
Dunn had a comfortable 5 shot lead going into the final 9
holes. Dunn however was playing under extreme pressure as
he knew the entire season was on the line for him, as with
a victory he could move into 4th position earning himself
Challenge Tour status and Tour School exemption. Playing 2
groups ahead was Germany's Jochen Lupprian who was also on
fire on the final day and confirmed why he is currently number
two on the order of merit this season. Lupprian carded the
day’s best round with equaling Championship best of
66 and leaving himself at -11 for the final ranking tournament.
However Simon was not to be out "Dunn", by the "never
say die" German. Dunn held his composure beautifully
and produced 4 birdies on the final 5 demanding holes and
triumphed by 5 shots over the rest of the field. With this
"career changing" victory Dunn moved from 20th to
4th on the final standings of the 2003 EPDTour Order of Merit.
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Belgian golfer wins EPDTour tournament on home course
(September 1) Laurent Richard of Belgium
shot a 279 to win the inaugural 2003 Wallonia Classic in Brussels,
Belgium yesterday. The Belgian was making a comeback appearance
on the EPDTour after a hiatus from the game due to injuries
sustained earlier in the year. Richard held a two shot lead
over fellow countryman Kevin Thorrout entering the 4th and
final round held at the Robert Trent Jones Sr. designed course
at Golf Club Bercuit. Joost Steenkamer from the Netherlands
was also playing in the final group but was six shots back.
Steenkamer was in position to make a charge for one of the
top 5 exemption spots for Stage 1 of the PGA European Tour
school if he had a strong finish on the final day. It was
not meant to be for the Dutchman after a 4 over front nine
he saw his chances slipping away as Richard held to his game
plan and made no major mistakes as he knew the field had to
catch him if there were to be any changes on the leaderboard.
With a 1 over front nine from Richard along with a two over
par front nine for Thorrout, Richard had increased his lead
to two shots over Thorrout and Jerome Theunis who was also
making a charge as he shot a 2 under front nine to leave him
at -6 for the tournament. However Richard was not at all bothered
as the Belgian kept his composure entirely on the back nine
and with a final round of 74 over the demanding Bercuit layout
it was sufficient to capture the first ever EPDTour event
in Belgium and the 5,250 Euro first prize.
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Capriati Ends Pistolesi's Run
(August 21) It took world No. 7 Jennifer
Capriati to snap the 12-match winning streak of Israel’s
Anna Pistolesi, with the American reaching her eighth quarterfinal
of 2003 in New Haven. Pistolesi had shown impressive form
of late, winning clay court tiles in Sopot, Poland and Helsinki,
Finland. By reaching the quarterfinals here this week, the
27-year-old boasted the longest active win streak on Tour.
Third-seed Capriati was pushed to the limit for the second
time this week, with Pistolesi effectively mixing the pace
of the rallies and forcing a third set. The former world No.1,
however, held firm in the decider, emerging a 6-2, 5-7, 6-1
winner. The 27-year-old Capriati has been runner-up twice
this season, at Miami and Stanford, but has not won a singles
title since winning the second of her two Australian Opens
in January 2002.
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Pistolesi looks to extend win streak
(August 20) She owns the longest active
win streak on Tour right now, and Israeli Anna Pistolesi will
be looking to keep it going in Thursday’s quarterfinals.
The 27-year-old, who was born in Minsk, Belarus but moved
to Israel in 1990, has won her last two events – clay
court tournaments in Sopot, Poland and Helsinki, Finland –
and now her last 12 matches. The change of surface has proved
no problem for Anna, who went by the name Smashnova before
marrying former ATP player Claudio Pistolesi last December.
In the first round in New Haven, Pistolesi upset No.5 seed
Anastasia Myskina in three sets (after holding a match point
in the second set), setting up a clash with another Russian,
Vera Zvonareva. On Wednesday night, Pistolesi staged one of,
if not, the biggest comebacks in tournament history, recovering
from a 6-0 5-1, 0-30 deficit to beat the Roland Garros quarterfinalist
0-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2.
Pistolesi meets No.3 seed Jennifer Capriati for a spot in
the semifinals after the American came from behind to beat
big-hitting Russian Elena Bovina 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 Wednesday evening.
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Pistolesi upsets Myskina at WTA Pilot Pen
(August 18) Not missing a beat, Anna Pistolesi
picked up where she left off a week ago and downed fifth seeded
Anastasia Myskina 6-3, 6-7 (2-7), 6-4 in a first-round match
Sunday at the $625,000 Pilot Pen tennis event at Yale. The
Israeli who remains undefeated in her last eleven matches
next faces Vera Zvonareva on Tuesday. This week's winner will
take home $96,000.
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Pistolesi wins second straight WTA title
(August 11) Second-seeded Anna Pistolesi,
represented by ITMS Sports, remained red-hot as she won the
championship on Sunday at the $140,000 Nordea Nordic Light
Open to claim her second consecutive title.
The Israeli rallied from a set down to defeat unseeded Jelena
Kostanic, 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 to claim the trophy and winner’s
check of $22,000. The victory on Tapiola Tennis Park's clay
stretched Pistolesi's record in WTA finals to 8-0.
The 27-year-old Pistolesi, who has won her last 10 matches,
was the winner in last week's clay-court event at the Idea
Prokom Open in Sopot, Poland by besting Klara Koukalova in
the title match. Kostanic was appearing in her first-ever
final on the WTA Tour and started out strong before dropping
the final two sets. The 22-year-old Croatian had not dropped
a set in her first seven matches of the tournament.
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Pistolesi, Kostanic advance to Helsinki final
(August 10) Second-seeded Israeli Anna Pistolesi
continued her hot play with a three-set win on Saturday to
move into the finals at the $140,000 Nordea Nordic Light Open.
Pistolesi, who has claimed nine straight matches, defeated
eighth-seeded Karolina Sprem in a hard-fought three-set match,
6-3, 1-6, 6-4.
The 27-year-old Pistolesi will seek her second consecutive
WTA Tour singles title and eighth of her career when she battles
unseeded Jelena Kostanic in Sunday's championship match. Pistolesi
defeated Czech Klara Koukalova in last week's final at the
Idea Prokom Open in Sopot, Poland.
Kostanic was a 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 winner over Vera Douchevina
and advanced to her first-ever final on the WTA Tour. The
22-year-old Croatian has not dropped a set in seven matches
this week, including the qualifying tournament.
The champion of this clay-court event will earn $22,000.
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Pistolesi reaches semifinals with straight-set victory
(August 9) Second-seeded Anna Pistolesi
of Israel advanced to the semifinals of the Nordea Nordic
Light Open yesterday with a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Ludmila
Cervanova on Friday.
Pistolesi is on an eight-match winning streak, including
her run to the title last weekend in Sopot, Poland. Pistolesi
will now play Karolina Sprem, seeded eighth, in the semifinals.
Sprem of Croatia advanced when fourth-seeded Petra Mandula
of Hungary withdrew because of a thigh strain.
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Pistolesi into quarterfinals at Nordea Nordic Light
Open
(August 8) Second seed Anna Pistolesi of
Israel had no problem Thursday against Myriam Casanova of
Switzerland in reaching the quarterfinals of the $140,000
Nordic Light Open. Pistolesi, who has yet to drop a set this
week following her title in Poland, beat Casanova, 6-2, 6-3,
and next meets unseeded Ludmila Cervanova of Slovakia. Cervanova
advanced in a walkover when countrywoman Henrieta Nagyova
dropped out with pain in her left hip.
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Pistolesi continues winning streak
(August 7) Fresh off her title in Poland,
Israeli Anna Pistolesi was a first-round winner Wednesday
at the clay-court Nordea Nordic Light Open tennis tournament.
Third-seeded and 2002 Helsinki runner-up Denisa Chladkova,
however, was among the second-round losers on Day three.
The second-seeded Pistolesi pasted Czech qualifier Jana Hlavackova
6-3, 6-4 in a match that was originally scheduled for Tuesday,
but was postponed until Wednesday because of rain.
Pistolesi, the highest seed still standing this week following
top-seeded Patty Schnyder's setback here on Day 2, captured
last week's Idea Prokom Open in Sopot by besting Czech Klara
Koukalova in the final. The winner of this $140,000 event
will earn $22,000.
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Reimbold sets course record and wins Schaerding Classic
(August 6) It was professional victory number
one for Christian Reimbold yesterday as he captured the 2003
Schaerding Classic. Rembold broke the course record on round
1 as he set a course record 63 on the 6400 meter long Schaerding
course under extreme hot weather conditions. Reimbold started
round 2 with only a one shot lead over England's James Johnson
as carded a fine 8 under par and 3 shots over fellow countryman
Jochen Lupprian. After 27 holes it was Lupprian who had the
lead as he carded a smooth 2 under on the front nine and showed
why he is currently number 2 on the 2003 EPDTour Order of
Merit. Reimbold after 27 was still only 1 shot back and with
birdies on 11,12, and 13 he saw himself one shot ahead of
Lupprian at -10. However playing ahead was another bright
German star, Arne Dickel who fired a fine 66 on the final
day to set the clubhouse lead at -9. Reimbold knew it was
his tournament to win as he checked the leaderboard on the
demanding 16th hole. After a superbly placed drive on the
tight par 4, Reimbold and Lupprian both had perfect birdie
chances, but neither of them succeeded to drop one of the
their putts. Lupprian was still two shots off the lead heading
into the 17th and the German known his accurate iron play
hit a great shot into the 17th making birdie leaving himself
only 1 shot back going into the final hole as Reimbold made
par. Both players hit tremendous tee shots to the final par
3 18th hole, Lupprian to 4 meters and Reimbold to 3 meters.
Lupprian knew he had to make the putt to force a potential
playoff, but unfortunately he saw his putt come up just off
the mark, setting up the 2 putt for Reimbold for the victory.
Reimbold hit his first putt within tap in range for his first
ever professional victory after his great amateur career.
At the press conference, Reimbold stated what this victory
did for his confidence towards his playing career. With only
two more events until the first "graduation list"
is handed in for the top 5 players who receive Stage 1 exemptions
at the 2003 PGA European Tour school, there is still lots
that can happen to effect the final Prder of Merit.
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Pistolesi wins championship in Sopot
(August 2) Israel's Anna Pistolesi took
just over an hour to ease past Czech Klara Koukalova 6-2,
6-0 and capture the title at the $300,000 Idea Prokom Open
on Saturday.
Third-seeded Pistolesi was never in trouble against a nervous-looking
Koukalova, who displayed few flashes of the brilliance that
had seen her advance to the final. Belarus-born Pistolesi
earned $50,000 and 145 WTA Tour points for her win, which
will lift her at least three places up the rankings from 26th
spot, according to a tour official.
"Pistolesi just played better than me. She is a great
player," Koukalova told reporters.
"Klara played some good points, but I controlled the
match from the very first point," Pistolesi said.
"The final was probably the easiest of my victories
so far."
Pistolesi, who earned her seventh career WTA Tour singles
title, gained a spot in the final by beating second-seeded
Patty Schnyder in three sets in Friday's semifinal encounter.
The 21-year-old Koukalova was trying to win her first career
WTA Tour singles title. She reached the championship match
after rallying from a set down to defeat eighth-seeded Petra
Mandula of Hungary in the semis.
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Pistolesi to battle Koukalova in Sopot final
(August 1) Third-seeded Anna Pistolesi earned
a spot in Saturday's final of the $300,000 Idea Prokom Open
after disposing of second-seeded Patty Schnyder in the semifinals.
The 27-year-old Pistolesi won Friday's encounter with Schnyder,
5-7, 6-4, 6-2, and improved to 3-2 all-time against her Swiss
opponent. The Israeli, looking for her seventh career WTA
Tour singles title, will meet unseeded Klara Koukalova of
the Czech Republic on Saturday. Koukalova reached the championship
match when she rallied to defeat eighth- seeded Petra Mandula
of Hungary, 4-6, 6-3, 6-0, in Friday's other semifinal.
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Pistolesi advances to semis
(July 31) Patty Schnyder of Switzerland
and Anna Pistolesi both moved into the semifinals, but top-seeded
Anastasia Myskina was upset on Thursday at the $300,000 Idea
Prokom Open.
The second-seeded Schnyder never stepped on the court en
route to earning her place in the last four. Schnyder won
via walkover after her opponent, sixth- seeded Maja Matevzic,
pulled out before the match due to an illness.
Schnyder will next take on the third-seeded Pistolesi of
Israel in the semifinals. Pistolesi defeated seventh-seeded
Dinara Safina after the Russian, who was the defending champion,
retired in the third set. Pistolesi was leading, 6-7 (7-9),
6-1, 4-1 before Safina had the match stopped due to a heat
illness.
Myskina was not as fortunate as she also retired in her quarterfinal
match against eighth-seeded Petra Mandula. The Hungarian Mandula
was ahead 6-4, 3-0 when Myskina put an end to the match, citing
an illness. This week's titlist will earn $50,000.
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Pistolesi advances in Sopot
(July 29) Third-seeded Anna Pistolesi of
Israel moved into the second round of the $300,000 Idea Prokom
Open by beating Henrieta Nagyova in three sets on Tuesday.
Pistolesi won the last five games of the match to complete
a 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 victory over her Slovakian opponent. Nagyova
was the champion of this event in 1998. The match was suspended
because of rain after one set on Monday. The week's titlist
will earn $50,000.
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Borg, Nastase, Leconte and Bahrami turn back the
clock
(July 23) Five-time Wimbledon Champion Bjorn
Borg showed he’s still a master of his trade defeating
Henri Leconte of France in the Sauerland Champions on Sunday.
Borg easily won the first set 6-1 before the Frenchman regrouped
to take the second set 6-4. Borg, at 47 ten years Leconte's
senior, sealed the victory winning the ‘Champions tiebreak’
third set 10-8. Earlier in the day, the Iranian racquet wizard
Mansour Bahrami overcame former world number one Ilie Nastase
7:5, 1:6, 10:6 in the opening match of this inaugural event
held in Sundern, Germany.
Despite record temperatures of over 100 degrees (38 Celsius)
that made Sunday the hottest day of the year so far, over
3,000 people showed to see the four tennis legends compete
in this small sleepy town of less than 30,000.
A total of 24 amateurs also earned the right to compete with
Borg, Nastase, Leconte and Bahrami in a Champions Pro-Am tournament
held during the two-day weekend event fully conceived and
organized by ITMS Sports. The 32-player draw was made up of
current and former ATP Tour players including Lars Wahlgren,
Jens Wöhrmann and Fredrik Loven.
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Darren Lang wins EPDTour Sybrook Classic
(July 23) Darren Leng added victory number
four for the 2003 season yesterday as the EPDTour made its
annual visit to the Netherlands the last past couple days.
Leng who was battling the flu shot rounds of 70 and 69 on
his way to a two shot victory over Simon Dunn (Scotland) and
Christoph Guenther (Germany). Leng mastered the Sybrook “park
course” with patience as players had to cope with firm
greens due to the ongoing heat spell most of Europe has been
experiencing this summer. Leng entered the final 9 holes actually
one shot behind of Jochen Lupprian (Germany) and Guenther,
but Lupprian had a disappointing 4 over on the back nine to
leave him at -2 for the event. The young German who is known
for his aggressive style saw his chances slipping as he could
not get off the bogey train. Dunn was also enjoying being
tied for the lead but bogeys on 17 and 18 saw his chances
for his first EPDTour victory being taken away. The only person
left was Guenther as he was tied for the lead entering the
18th. However after an errant tee shot which left him in the
trees, Guenther made double on the final 18th, giving Leng
his fourth victory of the year. The tour now travels to Winnerod,
Germany next week, leaving only four more events until the
top 5 players will be decided who is exempt for the 2003 PGA
European Tour
School stage 1.
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Rao progresses to quarterfinals at Junior Wimbledon
(July 4) Top seed Sunitha Rao of the United States moved
into the quarterfinals of the Junior Wimbledon Championships
yesterday with a 6-4, 7-6 win over Eden Maram of New Zealand.
The 17-year-old Rao’s progress is being very closely
scrutinized by the Indian press who report daily on her Wimbledon
results. And the All-Indian Tennis Association (AITA) is determined
to have the American of Indian decent play for India in the
near future and hope to persuade the youngster to change nationalities.
Speaking for the AITA, development officer Sunil Yajman told
the Wimbledon press: "We would very much like Sunitha
to play for India and we are doing all we can to make that
happen. She has been doing well and her inclusion will make
our Fed Cup squad much more stronger." Such a switch
would give the sport a much-needed boost in India and in international
competition. The right-handed Rao, expected to climb to 140
in the WTA women’s world rankings after Wimbledon, would
be the highest ranked women’s player in the history
of India.
Sunitha Rao will next play Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium who
disposed of Ana Ivanovic of Yugoslavia.
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