JAPAN OPEN REVIEW
So Federer blows away the competition yet again on his way to yet another
title, number 9 of the year and number 42 over all, leaving him just five match wins short of his personal best of 82 single
match wins in one season. His opponent in the final? To the shock of many, it was Britain's very own Tim Henman - the veteran
reaching his first final in over two and a half years (the last coming in Indian Wells 2004). Henman, who has gradually played
better as the season has progressed, now moves back into the Top 40 thanks to his run to the final; however his loss to Fed
Express now means that the Swiss now leads their head to head meetings 7-6, winning their last six encounters without losing
a set. The week was not all plain sailing for Federer; he very nearly lost to a player officially ranked 1,076th on
the ATP computer; T Suzuki of Japan; Fed squeezing past thanks to a final set tiebreak. Federer's next scheduled event, as
well as Henman's, is the Madrid Masters starting on Oct 16th.
In the women's competition, Marion Bartoli won a historic final, beating
world number 89 Aiko Nakamura 26 62 62. The reason I say historic is because it is the first final on the Sony Ericsson WTA
Tour between two players who play with two hands on both sides. Bartoli now seems to be showing the promise she has displayed
over the past few years, however, he progress has been halted on numerous occasions due to various injuries which have forced
her to retire from various torunaments. Some might associate the term that was used to describe Todd Martin; "walking hospital".
Anyways, Bartoli adds to her tournament win in Auckland, New Zealand in January, preventing the Japanese Nakamura from being
the first home player to win the tournament since Ai Sugiyama (who was beaten in the quarter finals at this year's torunament)
last won in 1998.
STUTTGART GRAND PRIX REVIEW
It seems a long time ago since Nadia Petrova was one of the hottest
players on tour; since winning her fourth title of the year in Berlin (adding to her title wins in Doha, Charleston and Amelia
Island), she has endured a horrid last six months. After being touted as one of the favourites for the French Open title,
she crashed out 62 62 to Akiko Morigami of Japan in the opening round, carrying an injury in the process. She then went on
to miss Wimbledon, and endured a host of disappointing losses to players she should have walloped on paper. In fact coming
into this tournament, she had compiled a meagre 3-8 win loss record since this years' French Open. But all of that changed
this week as she stormed to the title with a 63 76 win over surprise finalist Tatiana Golovin, who was seeking her first WTA
singles title. Petrova picked up a number of scalps along the way; beating home favourite and out of sorts Anna Lena Groenfeld
64 63 in round 2, then Daniela Hantuchova in the quarters and perhaps her biggest victory of the red hot Svetlana Kuznetsova,
who was currently riding an 11 match winning streak, have won in Bali and Bejiing prior to the tournament. Golovin primary
scalp was her defeat of Patty Schnyder 61 57 75 in the semis. Golovin now falls to 0-3 in in singles final appearances as a result of this defeat.
BEST MATCHES
Federer bt Suzuki, OF: 63 57 76: Federer admits to maintaining his image
with a hard fought win over a player on the comeback trail from a serious shoulder injury and currently ranked outside
the worlds top 1000.
Henman bt Lee, SF: 64 76: Could the Tim Henman of circa 2003/2004 be
returning?
Dementieva bt Srebotnik, 2r: 46 75 75: You just cannot count Ms Dementieva
out. The Russian yet again stages a miraculous comeback, fighting from a set and 4-1 down to win in three sets. No wonder
she has got once of the best records on tour for winning three sets matches. Didn't help her though; she had to withdraw from
her QF match against Schnyder due to a left quadriceps strain.
Petrova bt Kuznetsova, SF: 62 16 64: Despite a second set wobble,
Petrova edges out a win in slightly controversial circumstances (The umpire overuled a shot from Kuznetsova at 4-5 in the
final set, calling the ball out. Had the umpire let the call stand, Kuzzy would have levelled at five games all).
PLAYERS UP
Federer: After a his ninth title win of the year, he is just five match
wins away from his best ever season on the ATP Tour.
Henman: Encouraging result for the Briton; a result which could seem
him playing for at least another year.
Bartoli: Wins her second title of the year in Japan.
Tulaganova: Remember her? Won three singles titles in the year 2000,
was ranked in the world's top 20 in for a few years? Well after a number of personal issues and injuries, she's back with
a bang, reaching the final of Tashkent, her home tournament before losing to Tian Tian Sun 62 64.
Petrova: Back in the winners' circle after a torrid six months. Along
with Justine H-Hardenne, leading the way for most singles titles won on Sony Ericsson WTA Tour 2006 with five championships
won each.
Rubin: You're wondering why she's here. Well, former world number six
Chanda, due to various injury problems, has not played in three two three consecutive tournaments since Jan/Feb 2004. After
beating Martina Muller in Luxmebourg in the first round she was beaten by Schnyder 60 63, then lost to Schnyder 62 62 in Stuttgart
and believe it or not - she's got Schnyder again in the first round in Moscow this week. But good to have you back, Chanda.
PLAYERS DOWN
Murray: After winning his two Davis Cup matches, in relation to the ATP
Tour, he has lost his last three matches - Davydenko in the last 16 in New York, losing to Henman for the first time in Thailand
and losing to Novak last week in Japan. Nothing to worried about....is it?
Groenefeld: After starting the season impressively, highlighted by a
Roland Garros quarterfinal appearance, Groenefeld really seems to have run out of steam; losing in the first round at both
Wimbledon and the US Open to young guns Pironkova and Rezai respectively and until her win over fellow German Malek in Stuttgart,
she had not won a match in her previous three attempts.
Venus Williams: Another comeback by Venus was cut short; after beating
sixth seed Ana Ivanovic in Luxembourg, she fell to teenager Radwanska in round 2 63 60 and reinjured her troublesome left
wrist during the match. In that second set, Venus was forced to resort to playing one handed slice backhands as the pain of
playing a two hander was too much to bear. One senses that could be it for Venus in terms of playing again in this 2006
season.
