Alexandra Fusai 2000 News

Alexandra Fusai 2000 News

Thursday 5/11/00
Fusai/Tauziat are winners in Berlin at the German Open today! YEA!
Today's win began two days ago, on Tuesday. Fusai/Tauziat, seeded #2 (they won last year), drew a "bye" for 1st round. Second round found them facing Giulia Casoni/Tatiana Poutchek late in the day on Tuesday. Down 1-2 (when I finally managed to connect), FT then went down 1-5 in the 1st set. Not a good place to be, eh?
But this is Fusai/Tauziat we're talking about here! No problem! Yeah, they won 6 straight to take the 1st set 7-5! WOWIE-ZOWIE!! (And anyone in the crowd, who didn't know it already, discovered that Fusai and Fusai/Tauziat matches are not to be missed!)
Then FT won the first game of the 2nd set, but then they lost at least 3 games in a row to go down 1-3, then they were down 3-5 (there was a pause in transmission), then they won one (4-5), then they lost one, and the 2nd set (4-6). Uh oh....
FT led the 3rd set 2-1, then the rain fell and the match was over for Tuesday.
On Wednesday, Natalie was scheduled to play singles as the last match of the day, and FT was scheduled to finish as the last match of the day (on a different court, of course). This was obviously idiotic scheduling - the FT finishing didn't happen.
(By the way, Natalie is totally deserving of her #3 in the world WTA ranking this week. Congratulations, Natalie! Although your loss yesterday may change that ranking, you are it anyway, Natalie!)
Today, up 2-1, FT won the 3rd set vs. Casoni/Poutchek 7-5. YEA!
Next, the Quarterfinals, is vs. Nicole Arendt/Manon Bollegraf. Win, FT, WIN!
Alexandra's singles adventure at Berlin was, unfortunately, typical of the bizarreness she has had in her "singles" life for about a year now. Given her (absurd) current singles ranking, it was flattering (but appropriate) that she was included in the singles qualifying. And it seemed like almost a gift to face her with a "wild-card" unknown, WTA ranked #534, in the 1st round qualifying: Bianka Lamade. Lamade was playing in only her 4th WTA event, and had never qualified. Well, Lamade won 6-2, 6-3. Oh well...
FusaiWorld's correspondent on the scene, Kristin Grosch, a witness to this match, reports that Alexandra played much better in that 2nd set than the score implies - and that Lamade "is a great talent".
(It turns out Lamade made it into the Main Draw - I'm unclear how she did that - then beat Irina Spirlea (#55) and Sabine Appelmans (#26) easier than she beat Alexandra. Only Joannette Kruger, who beat Natalie yesterday, could beat Lamade. I hope Alexandra realizes that she could well have beaten Irina Spirlea and/or Sabine Appelmans in qualifying, 'cause there is sense in that notion.)
SO: now, Alexandra (let me tell you what to do - harhar!) WIN another doubles! Do it for Natalie! Then do it again! And again!
But most important, Alexandra, is take care, HAVE FUN, be good, and do good, ok?
Friday 5/12/00
Well, Fusai/Tauziat and Arendt/Bollegraf gave the crowd one heck of a show today in Berlin! But after about 2 hours, 24 games, and two tie-breaks, it was Arendt/Bollegraf who prevailed 7-6(8-6), 7-6(7-4). Oh well....
Clearly, it could have gone either way, and FT fought back hard after falling behind, but, well, whatever....
So it was some great exercise, ok?
Tomorrow is another day, Alexandra!
Just take care, be good, have some fun, and things that will happen will happen. Sometimes you'll lose, but sometimes you'll win, too, ok?
Sunday 5/14/00
Alexandra is a singles WINNER! YEA!!
Alexandra won her 1st round qualifying at the Italian Open in Rome, probably yesterday. YEA!
It was Alexandra vs. Jana Kandarr and the score was 6-4, 0-6, 7-5. OK!
This is an impressive win for at least two reasons: 1) Kandarr is a talented, experienced, tough and persistent player, ranked #108, so this indicates that Alexandra is currently playing at at least a 100ish level, not the absurd 200ish of her current ranking, and 2) Alexandra has in no way lost her fierce French fire and passion - coming back to take that 3rd set, which must have been very hard-fought, after that 2nd set shutout, shows clearly that Alexandra's famous and wondrous Spirit is fully active and intact. YEA!
Alexandra's 2nd round qualifying was scheduled to be vs. Marlene Weingartner, but it may be that Alexandra has gotten a bit of a lucky break (for a change!) in that it looks like 2 late withdrawals from the main draw (Hingis and Martinez) has moved the Fusai vs. Weingartner match into the 1st round of the main draw. This would be a "gift" of points (and money) - and while not "earned", strictly speaking, I feel it is certainly "owed".
Weingartner, ranked #102, is a player much like Kandarr (and Alexandra): talented, tough, persistent, and experienced. This will be another challenge for Alexandra, but I expect she will win, though probably not "easily" (are they ever?). A win will allow Alexandra to feel better about having "earned" main draw status, then she can go on and get some "true" main draw wins. This is a huge opportunity for Alexandra to make a massive improvement in her ranking, and obtain a sure invite to the upcoming European Grand Slams. I strongly suspect Alexandra is well aware of this.
Natalie (Tauziat) is also there in Rome (seeded #2) so Fusai/Tauziat matches are likely as well.
SO: Alexandra: enjoy Rome, take care, and give those Rome fans some more opportunities to experience the JOY of seeing what an exciting and impressive WINNER you are, OK?
Monday 5/15/00
Alexandra is a singles WINNER! Again! YEA!!
Alexandra won her 2nd round qualifying at the Italian Open in Rome today. YEA!
In another impressive singles victory, Alexandra faced Marlene Weingartner and took the match 7-5, 5-7, 6-0. HOORAY!
Although the match was played today (for some unknown reason), it was apparently a regular qualifying match, so Alexandra qualified in the usual way. I like that! It simplifies things.
Alexandra's 1st round main draw match will probably be vs. another qualifier, probably tomorrow.
It looks like she will face either Eva Martincova, a 25-year-old ranked #288, or Lina Krasnoroutskaya, a 16-year-old ranked #120. Each could present a challenge like Kandarr and Weingartner did, that is, a challenge that Alexandra can WIN AGAIN!
Fusai/Tauziat are seeded #4 and drew a "bye" in 1st round doubles.
You seem to be playing very well lately, Alexandra! Now just go with the flow, take care, and HAVE FUN!
Tuesday 5/16/00
Well, now Alexandra can concentrate on her doubles...
Eva Martincova defeated Alexandra Fusai 6-2, 6-3 in 1st round main draw singles in Rome today. Oh well...
Still, dramatic wins over Kandarr and Weingartner in qualifying indicate that Alexandra's singles game is finally getting back on track, and that singles ranking can start moving up again.
Fusai/Tauziat play their 1st match (2nd round) vs. Flavia Pennetta/Roberta Vinci, maybe tomorrow. Pennetta/Vinci are both teens ranked #200+ in both singles and doubles, but this will be a real match and I hope FT take it plenty seriously.
Win some doubles now, Alexandra! And have fun!
Thursday 5/18/00
Well, these things happen... No big deal...
Pennetta/Vinci defeated Fusai/Tauziat 6-3, 6-4 in 2nd round main draw doubles in Rome yesterday. Oh well...
Even so, Alexandra had two good qualifying wins, and "that's a good thing!" (to quote Martha Stewart).
Now it's maybe (probably?) Strasbourg, then Roland Garros.
Alexandra: winning is not most important - most important is take care, be good, do good, and have fun! Winning is nice, though, eh?
Tuesday 5/23/00
Alexandra is in Strasbourg, France, and got another singles win!
Alexandra Fusai defeated Miroslava Vavrinec (qualifying seed #4, ranking #86) in 1st round Strasbourg qualifying 6-3, 6-2. YEA!
But then Alexandra lost to Daniela Hantuchova (ranking #182) in an obvious battle in 2nd round qualifying 6-1, 3-6, 7-6(7-4). Oh well...
That win over Vavrinec is nice though, eh?
So now it's Fusai/Tauziat doubles (they're seeded #2). First round is vs. Joanette Kruger/Tara Snyder, today. Win, FT, win!
By the way, I've recently learned that Alexandra played at a $75,000 ITF Challenger in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the week of April 3rd - and got a main draw singles win! (I don't know if there was qualifying, or if Alexandra was in it if there was.) Alexandra defeated Lucie Ahl (ranking #209) in 1st round 6-3, 6-1. YEA! But then she lost to Nadejda Ostravskaya (ranking #113) in 2nd round 6-2, 6-0. Oh well... So Dubai was at least 1 win (or more), and only 1 loss - that's ok. (Alexandra apparently didn't do doubles there.)
Looking forward to Roland Garros, Alexandra got a "wild-card" into the main draw there - an appropriate honor, and convenient, since qualifying starts tomorrow. Hopefully, she won't face a top 10 player in 1st round (last year it was Venus Williams).
Now have some fun in Strasbourg, Alexandra, win some doubles, and next week you can show your French Fury to some Roland Garros crowds! Take care and be good!
Wednesday 5/24/00
Fusai/Tauziat defeated Kruger/Snyder 6-2, 6-1 in 1st round yesterday! YEA!
Next is quarterfinals vs. Amelie Cocheteux/Nathalie Dechy tomorrow.
Win again, FT, win again!
And take care and have fun!
Friday 5/26/00
Well, Cocheteux/Dechy defeated Fusai/Tauziat 6-2, 6-4 yesterday in the Strasbourg quarterfinals. Oh well...
Nathalie T. had lost a tough singles earlier in the day, while Nathalie D. had won in a walkover. But, no excuses...
So now Alexandra has a little time to relax a bit before Roland Garros starts Monday.
For some reason, I just have this "hunch" that Alexandra will do well at this year's French, both in singles and in doubles. We'll see!
Maybe it's because it was 10 years ago that Alexandra was "Championne de France Juniors a Roland Garros". To see a picture of the happy teen, with her cup and flowers, click here!
Alexandra's 1st round match is vs. Jelena Kostanic. Doubles and mixed doubles draws have not yet been released.
Kostanic is almost 19 years old, has been touring for less than a year, and is ranked #76 (her peak). This will be a challenge for Alexandra, but is a clearly winnable match. So WIN IT, Alexandra!
And take care and have fun!
Wednesday 5/31/00
Alexandra won today! YEA!
Alexandra convincingly verified the appropriateness of her wild-card placement by impressively defeating Jelena Kostanic 7-5, 6-1 today at the French. YEA!
With Alexandra ranked #185 and Kostanic ranked #76 this was a major upset, "on paper". However, (and this is not to diminish this triumph at all) I felt Alexandra was well capable of this victory, although I must admit I am impressed by the score. (Unfortunately, I don't have any details of the match because I was in an airplane while it was being played.)
Next is vs. Barbara Schett tomorrow (2nd match on Court 10). Schett has been a problem for Alexandra in the past (especially in late 1998) and is seeded #16 (ranked #17), yet I actually see this as another winnable match for Alexandra - maybe not as "easily" as today's Kostanic match, but definitely and truly winnable. Today's match confirms recent evidence that Alexandra is again playing singles very well. Of course, Fusai d. Schett will be a HUGE upset, but I think 50-50 is more like it, or maybe 2-1. That said, when Alexandra wins tomorrow, I will certainly WHOOP and HOLLER and YIPPEE for very many minutes, loudly and enthusiastically. But I won't be shocked, or even particularly surprised. Alexandra can play at Schett's level, and defeat Schett, and (of course) I hope she does tomorrow.
(I also think Alexandra can defeat VanRoost, who defeated Davenport today - I hope she has the chance to do so this week or next. As for Hingis, well, I would like to see that - I actually think Alexandra can confuse and confound and defeat Hingis. So I'm crazy?)
Fusai/Tauziat are seeded #6 and face Sonya Jeyaseelan/Florencia Labat in 1st round. Jeyaseelan/Labat are playing well lately (I think they won Strasbourg last week). Even so, the seeded team (FT) is the better team than the unseeded team (JL). That's just a fact. This a tough 1st round draw for FT, but FT is the clear favorite, despite last week. It will be a real "test" though, and maybe that's good for 1st round.
The Mixed Doubles draw is not yet released - maybe Alexandra will do that again, maybe with David Adams?
Now, Alexandra, just be good, do good, take care, and HAVE FUN! And whatever happens, you are still Alexandra Fusai, the 1990 Juniors Champion, and so very, very, very much more!
Thursday 6/1/00
Well, Alexandra didn't play at Schett's level today. Schett won 6-1, 6-2. Oh well....
It took less than an hour and went like this (Schett served 1st): 0-1, 0-2, 0-3, 0-4, 0-5, 1-5, 1-6, 0-1, 0-2, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, 1-5, 2-5, 2-6.
I don't have any detail of the 1st game, but the next 4 went quite quickly, then Alexandra came back from 15-30 to finally hold, but then Schett held after 40-0 got to 40-30.
In the 2nd set, Alexandra was broken at 30, Schett held at 15, then Alexandra did the same. Alexandra threatened in the 4th game, which went through a deuce, but Schett held. Alexandra was then broken at 30, Schett held at 15, and Alexandra held at 30. In the final game, Alexandra took it through 3 deuces, and had a break chance (her only one of the match), but Schett took the match on her 3rd chance. Oh well...
Alexandra had 7 double-faults, which were apparently a bit of a factor in the scoring, unfortunately. So Alexandra lost to the World #17 - that's not a disaster! And yesterday's win was certainly a good one!
I was able to grab some NetCam images - Alexandra looked beautiful (as usual) but not very happy. That's understandable. I'll post them "soon".
Fusai/Tauziat 1st round vs. Jeyaseelan/Labat is tomorrow afternoon. Win, FT, win! (Alexandra is not participating in Mixed Doubles this year.)
Take care and have fun, Alexandra, and win some doubles now, ok?
Friday 6/2/00
Fusai/Tauziat defeated Jeyaseelan/Labat 6-1, 6-0 today at Roland Garros. YEA!
It started as a war but became a rout after the 3rd game. FT served first and finally held through 3 deuces, fighting off at least one break chance. FT then broke JL through 2 deuces on their 2nd chance (JL had one hold chance). In the 3rd game FT came back from 15-40, then seemed to win it, but apparently the call was reversed. After 6 more deuces (7 total) FT held (JL had 5 break chances in this game). The match went quickly after that - there were no more deuces. FT broke at love in the 4th game, held at 15, then JL held at love (their only hold of the match). FT took the set with a hold at 30: 6-1. YEA!
In the 2nd set, FT broke at 15, held at love, broke at love, held at 30, broke at 15, and held at 30: 6-0. YEA!
Counting points illustrates how the match changed after the 3rd game. In the 1st three games of the 1st set JL had 18 points - in the 1st three games of the 2nd set they had 1 point. Or: 1st three games 24-18, next four games 12-7, 2nd set 24-6. Wow!
No NetCam, unfortunately - I bet Alexandra was smiling today!
Second round is vs. Eva Bes/Gisela Riera, maybe tomorrow.
Win again, FT, win again!
And HAVE FUN!
Saturday 6/3/00
Fusai/Tauziat defeated Bes/Riera 6-0, 6-3 today at Roland Garros. YEA! Now on to 3rd round!
Somewhat opposite from yesterday's match, it started as a rout and then became a war. The first set was the rout - there were no deuces and the points were 24-11 and FT never trailed in a game - indeed they led all of every game except a 30-30 in game #5. WOW! (There were no love games, though.)
Then it was war. FT lost the 1st point of the 2nd set but came back to hold at 30. Then BR held at 15. Computer problems confused the next 2 games, but then it was 2-2. Then it seems FT held at love and went up 0-40, then finally broke at 30 for 4-2. But then FT didn't lead the next game until after a deuce, but was broken after the next one - back on serve. Then FT came back from 30-0 with 4 straight points to re-break, and from 15-40 with 4 straight again for the match. YEA!
So it went like this (FT served 1st): 6-0, 1-0, 1-1, ?-?, 2-2, 3-2, 4-2, 4-3, 5-3, 6-3. YEA!
No NetCam again, unfortunately - we can again only imagine Alexandra's beautiful smiles today....
Third round is vs. Mariaan DeSwardt/Martina Navratilova. DeSwardt is a good player and Navratilova is, well, "experienced". This looks to be a tougher match than the previous two (hey - 3rd round!) but, again, the seeded team is a better team than the unseeded one, so FT is favored, and I think Nathalie will enjoy being just "one of the kids" on the court.
(Nathalie is unfortunately out of singles now, but I think she wants very much to play another week, and that means FT (although Nathalie is also in mixed). And I think Alexandra wants to play another week, too - she remembers 1990! So FT is seeded #1 in my book!)
Third round will not be tomorrow - maybe Monday (Nathalie plays mixed tomorrow).
Now win again, FT, win again!
And take care and HAVE FUN!
Wednesday 6/7/00
Fusai/Tauziat defeated DeSwardt/Navratilova 2-6, 6-2, 7-5 today at Roland Garros. YEA! Quarterfinals next!
It was originally scheduled for Monday on Court Central but not started because of rain. On Tuesday, it was again scheduled for Court Central, but finally started on Court Suzanne Lenglen a little after 8 pm Paris time. Then around 9ish, with the match about 1/2 over (as it turned out), darkness halted play. Today the match resumed and was played to completion on Court #1.
Computer problems cropped up at various times during the match, so some details are unavailable. My connection began yesterday with FT down a break and DN serving 1-3. This game went to deuce 4 times with FT finally getting the break on their 5th chance (DN had only 1 hold chance) - back on serve: 2-3. FT then came back from 0-30 to take it to deuce, but DN got the break: 2-4. DN then held through a deuce (FT had 2 break chances), and FT was broken at 30, despite being 30-0, so DN had the 1st set 6-2. Oh well....
The 2nd set began with DN holding, possibly at love, then FT holding at 30. DN was then broken through a deuce, depite being up 40-15. Then FT held at 15 to go up a break 3-1 (but down a set). Darkness was then called and Tuesday play was halted.
Today's 1st two games are unclear except it became 4-2, then 5-2 with a break (possibly at love). FT took the 2nd set with a hold through a deuce (DN had one break chance). YEA! One set all...
In the 3rd set, DN held at 30, then FT did the same, then DN held at 15, and FT did the same again: 2-2. In the 5th game FT fought back from 40-15 to deuce, but DN then held. FT showed more fight in the next game - down 0-40 they fought off 4 break chances, through 2 deuces, finally holding on their 1st chance: 3-3. DN then held at 30 for 3-4 and it went to 4-5 somehow (computer problems). FT then held, possibly at love, then got a break, possibly at 15: 6-5. FT then took the match with what looked like Alexandra serving a love game. YEA! HOORAY! HOORAH!
This match is further evidence that FT are currently playing with considerable skill and SPIRIT. You go, girls!
(There was some NetCam, of a sort, put it was not particularly useful due to no close-ups. Oh well...)
Next is quarterfinals vs. Anke Huber/Barbara Schett, probably tomorrow. Huber and (especially) Schett have been pests for Alexandra in Singles, but doubles is a different animal, and FT is seeded #6 with HS seeded #15. This is a truly winnable match for FT, though probably not "easily". So win again, FT, win again! Vive La France! Throw those Krauts out of Paris!
And TAKE CARE and HAVE FUN!
Thursday 6/8/00
Fusai/Tauziat defeated Huber/Schett 6-4, 6-3 today at Roland Garros. YEA! Semifinals next!
Despite the score, it was a Battle Royale, but I like to think of it as "Alexandra's Revenge". There were 8 deuce games, and 10 breaks.
Nathalie served first and quickly held at 15, then FT got a quick break at 15 to go up 2-0. Then Alexandra served and went down 15-30, then 30-40, but FT came back to deuce. Then FT fought off 3 HS ads (4 deuces total) to finally hold on their 1st chance: 3-0. Then HS held at 15 and broke back at 30: 3-2, back on serve. Uh oh! HS then held again, at 30, then FT held through a deuce, despite being down 15-40 (that's 4 straight points!): 4-3. Then FT broke through a deuce for 5-3, but HS broke back at 30 for 5-4 - back on serve. FT took the set on a break at 30. YEA!
The 2nd set was like the 1st, only wilder! Natalie held the 1st game at 15, then FT got the break through a deuce on their 2nd chance. But then FT went down 0-40 and was broken at 15 - back on serve. FT then broke back, although it took them 5 chances (4 deuces - HS had no hold chances): 3-1. But then FT was broken through 3 deuces (they had 1 hold chance) - back on serve 3-2. Then FT broke back at 30 and held through 2 deuces, fighting off an early break chance: 5-2. FT had 3 match points in the next game, but HS held on their 2nd chance (3 deuces). FT took the match with a quick hold at 15 (2nd chance) with Nathalie serving. YEA!
Next is vs. Martina Hingis/Mary Pierce, probably tomorrow. Hingis and Pierce are "good" singles players, and are seeded #3 (AF is seeded #6), but doubles isn't singles, so I see this as an even match, basically, maybe FT is even favored as the "experienced" team vs. the "occasional" HP team. And I think the crowd will know who the REAL French team is! This will likely be another Battle Royale, but FT can certainly prevail, especially considering the enormous SPIRIT of Alexandra (and Nathalie). And I think they will HAVE FUN doing so!
So now TAKE CARE and win again, FT, WIN AGAIN!
Friday 6/9/00
Well, Fusai/Tauziat took a set from Hingis/Pierce in the Roland Garros Semifinals today, but the match went to HP 2-6, 6-2, 6-1. Oh well....
It went like this (FT served first): 1-0, 2-0, 2-1, 3-1, 4-1, 4-2, 5-2, 6-2, 1-0, 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, 1-5, 2-5, 2-6, 0-1, 0-2, 0-3, 0-4, 1-4, 1-5, 1-6.
FT held the 1st game at 30, then got a break on their 4th chance (3 deuces - HP had no hold chances). But HP then broke back at 30 to get back on serve, then FT broke again, this time through a single deuce on their 1st chance (HP had 2 hold chances). Then FT held at 15 to go up 4-1 and had 3 break chances, through 3 deuces, but HP held on their 1st chance. FT took the set through a deuce on their 2nd chance (HP had no break chances): 6-2. YEA!
In the 2nd set, FT held quickly at 15, then fought off 3 hold chances for HP before HP finally held after the 3rd deuce (FT had no break chances, though). But then FT was broken at 30, HP held at 15, and FT was broken again at 30: 1-4. Then FT had a couple of chances to break back at 15-40, but HP held through a deuce on their 1st chance. Then FT held at 15 and HP held at love and it was 2-6, 1 set all. Uh oh....
The 3rd set started with FT broken at 15, then HP holding at 30. FT had two chances to hold the 3rd game, but HP got another break on their 1st chance (2 deuces). Then 2 quick love holds and a hold at 15 and FT was serving down 1-5. After going down 15-40, FT fought back to deuce and got the ad, but HP took the match after the next deuce on their 3rd chance. Oh well....
So now Alexandra is done with Roland Garros for this year. All in all, it was actually a good French for Alexandra, with good wins in both Singles and Doubles. It's basically silly to get upset about a loss to Hingis/Pierce (or Schett). Alexandra's play is clearly improving, and matches like that may well be wins for Alexandra soon.
Wimbledon is barely 2 weeks away - maybe Alexandra will do some AMAZING things there! Maybe even before there - at Birmingham or Eastbourne perhaps?
Just take care, be good, do good, and have fun, Alexandra! That's what's really important!
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