Alexandra Fusai News

Alexandra Fusai 2001 News
Sunday 5/27/01
It was 1990 and a very BEAUTIFUL and SPIRITED French girl, 16 years-old, was the "Championne de France Juniors 1990 a Roland Garros". Her name: Alexandra Fusai!
Since then, Alexandra has been in the main draw of every Women's singles at Roland Garros - as is the case this coming week.
In those 10 years, Alexandra has lost 4 of her 1st round matches, but she has won 6! YEA! Then it has been on to 3rd round twice! YEA!
This year, 1st round is vs. Meilen Tu - a nice challenge. Tu is 22 years-old and is ranked #46 and having the best year of her career. But she has played main-draw Roland Garros only twice, and lost in 1st round both times. This is a good match for Alexandra TO WIN!
Many in the crowd there will well know and remember Alexandra's INCREDIBLE SPIRIT, even so, Alexandra will win this entirely by herself, yet for France, and for the many, many thousands of Fusai-Fans, all over the world - but it will be for herself, which is good! YEA!
And it will be FUN!
It will probably be Tuesday.
This year I see Alexandra going beyond 3rd round. I see that, and the crowd in Paris is loving every minute of it!
And Alexandra is HAVING FUN!
Tuesday 5/29/01
Well, Alexandra played well in 1st round main-draw Roland Garros French Open vs. Meilen Tu - but Tu got the win, oh well....
In the 1st set, Alexandra got a break in the 3rd game, then held to go up 3-1. YEA! But then Tu won 5 in a row for 6-3 Tu - oops.....
In the 2nd set, Alexandra served 1st and was broken - but then broke back and held to go up 2-1. At that point the Net failed me and next I learned was that set 2 was 6-3 Tu just like set 1. So Tu had the match. Oh well.....
I'm sure the crowd enjoyed watching Alexandra play (of course!), and, these days, a loss to the world #46 player is not exactly an upset, unfortunately.
Anyway, now there is Fusai/Grande (seeded #7) vs. Maja Matevzic/Caroline Schneider in 1st round main-draw Doubles, probably Thursday.
WIN THIS, FG, WIN THIS!
And there may be Mixed Doubles for Alexandra....
HAVE FUN, Alexandra!
Friday 6/1/01
Alexandra and Rita got a good and exciting win in 1st round doubles at Roland Garros yesterday. YEA!
It was Fusai/Grande vs. Matevzic/Schneider and it was FG, after giving the crowd a great show, who finally got the win: 6-4, 6-4. YEA! And it looked like FUN! YEA!
I had difficulty getting a good internet connection, but managed to "see" most of the action from a deuce in game 5 on. Game 5 found FG up 3-1 and MS serving. This game went through deuce at least 6 times, and FG had at least 4 break chances, but MS held: 3-2. FG holds at 15, love, and love (and MS holds at 30 and 15) gave set #1 to FG: 6-4. YEA!
In the 2nd set, MS served first and held through 2 deuces, fighting off 2 break chances from 15-40. FG then held at 15 and got a break at 30 to go up 2-1. Game 4 went through deuce 6 times - FG had 3 hold chances, MS had 4 break chances - MS got the break back. Oh well....
In game 5, MS went up 40-15, but FG came back and went up a break, again, through 3 deuces on their 3rd chance. Then FG held at 15, MS did likewise, and FG held through a deuce on their 2nd chance: 5-3.
In game 9, MS went down 15-40, giving FG double match-point, but MS held through 6 deuces on their 3rd chance (FG had 3 more match points in that string of deuces - 5 total in this game): 5-4. Then FG went down 15-40, but came back and took the match through 3 deuces on their 2nd chance (MS had 3 break chances total this game): 6-4. YEA! And exciting! Good show, girls!
Tomorrow, Alexandra is scheduled to play two matches on Court #6. First is Fusai/Grande vs. Justine Henin/Elena Tatarkova in 2nd round Doubles. Then, a couple of matches later, it's Alexandra Fusai/Jerome Golmard vs. Emilie Loit/Stephane Huet in 1st round Mixed Doubles.
Have FUN, Alexandra! And WIN! And WIN again!
Saturday 6/2/01
Alexandra won today! YEA! And lost. Oh well....
The loss came first. It was Fusai/Grande vs. Henin/Tatarkova in 2nd round Women's Doubles, and it was, at least, certainly a very exciting and memorable match for the crowd. But Henin/Tatarkova got the win: 7-6(8-6), 7-5. Oh well....
It went like this (FG served 1st in first set and tiebreak, HT served 1st in second set): 1-0, 2-0, 2-1, 2-2, 3-2, 4-2, 4-3, 4-4, 5-4, 5-5, 5-6, 6-6 (0-1, 0-2, 1-2, 2-2, 2-3, 3-3, 4-3, 5-3, 5-4, 5-5, 5-6, 6-6, 6-7, 6-8), 6-7, 0-1, 0-2, 1-2, 2-2, 2-3, 3-3, 3-4, 4-4, 5-4, 5-5, 5-6, 5-7. Oh well.....
In more detail: FG held at 30, then broke through a deuce on their 2nd chance for a 2-0 lead. But then FG went down 15-40, came back to deuce, but HT got the break back through 2 deuces (FG had no hold chance): 2-1. HT then held at 15, and FG held at 30: 3-2. FG then went up a break, again, through a deuce (HT had one hold chance), but then HT broke back through 3 deuces (FG had one hold chance): 4-3 - back on serve. HT then held at love and FG held at 15: 5-4. In game 10, HT went down 15-40, but fought off two set points to deuce, then FG got the add, but it was back to deuce, then add HT, then deuce again, then add HT again, then HT held (3 set points for FG, 2 hold chances for HT): 5-5. FG then went up 40-30, but it went to deuce, then add FG, then deuce again, then add HT, then HT got the break (2 hold chances for FG, 1 break chance for HT): 5-6. HT, serving for the set, went down 30-40, but came back to deuce, then add FG, then deuce, then add HT, then deuce, then add FG, then FG got the break back (3 break chances for FG, 1 set point for HT): 6-6.
So it was tie-break time: FG served and were mini-broke: 0-1. HT then mini-held, and gave back the mini-break: 0-2, 1-2. FG then did likewise: 2-2, 2-3. HT then gave up a pair of mini-breaks: 3-3, 4-3. FG then mini-held, and gave back a mini-break: 5-3, 5-4. HT then mini-held twice: 5-5, 5-6. FG then fought off set-point and mini-held, but were then mini-broke: 6-6, 6-7. HT, serving for set point, took the set: 6-8. Oh well.....
In the 2nd set, HT held through a deuce on their 2nd chance, then FG were broken at 15, then HT held at 30: 0-3. But then FG held at love, got the break back through a deuce on their 2nd chance, and held at 30: back on serve - 3-3. A pair of holds at 15 produced 4-4. Then FG went up a break through 3 deuces on their 3rd chance (HT had one hold chance): 5-4. FG then saw set point at 40-30, but HT put the set back on serve through a deuce: 5-5. HT then went up 40-15, but FG took it to deuce, but HT held after the 2nd deuce (FG had no break chance): 5-6. HT took the set, and match, with a break at 30 (FG came back from 0-30, at least): 5-7. Oh well.....
This match seemed like 4 approximately equally great doubles players (or 2 approximately equally great doubles teams), all playing very well. It was, in a very real sense, a true victory for all four, and clearly, obviously, a life-treasure for the entire crowd watching. There were probably at least 50 very important points - but what seems to stand out is the set-points: FG had 4 (3 in the 1st set, 1 in the 2nd), but HT fought them all off, while HT had 3 (1 in the 1st set, 1 in the tie-break, and 1 in the 2nd set), and HT got 2 of those 3. I haven't counted, but it may well be that FG actually had more points won. I don't know. It was that kind of match. Four victors. But only HT moves on. Oh well.....
I have heard that Fusai/Grande plan to examine their partnership after Roland Garros. Since Auckland, they have seemed mere inches, many times, from breaking through to considerable greatness. Yet, for some reason or reasons, they have, so far, not really done so. I have no problem, at all, with Fusai/Grande continuing - they seem to be true friends and to enjoy playing together. Of course, I want friendship and enjoyment very, very much for Alexandra (and health and happiness and success and FUN, etc.) - but I wonder: Fusai/Dechy? Fusai/Sidot again?
However, although I like Natalie A TON, and have greatly enjoyed Fusai/Tauziat over the years, I think moving BACK to FT would not be moving FORWARD for Alexandra. Just my opinion.....
Now GOOD NEWS: Alexandra Fusai/Jerome Golmard got the WIN vs. Emilie Loit/Stephane Huet in 1st round Mixed Doubles: 6-3, 6-4. YEA! And it was plenty exciting! (And, hopefully, much FUN!)
It went like this (FG served 1st): 1-0, 1-1, 2-1, 2-2, 3-2, 3-3, 4-3, 5-3, 6-3, 0-1, 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, 2-4, 3-4, 4-4, 5-4, 6-4. YEA!
In more detail: Fusai/Golmard went up 40-0, then finally held after 40-30: 1-0. LH then held at love, and FG then went up 40-0 again, finally holding after 40-30, again: 2-1. Holds at 30 produced 3-2. Then FG got a break chance at 30-40, and again after a deuce, but LH held after the 2nd deuce: 3-3. FG then held at love and broke at 15: 5-3. FG then went up 40-15, but LH fought back to deuce, then LH got the add, but FG finally held 2 deuces later, on their 4th set-point chance: 6-3. YEA!
In the 2nd set, LH held at 30, FG did likewise, then LH held at love: 1-2. Then FG, up 40-30, had a hold chance, but LH got the break through 2 deuces, on their 2nd chance: 1-3. A hold through a deuce (FG had no break chance) brought 1-4. FG then held at love for 2-4, and LH went down 15-40, came back to deuce, and it rained. And rained. Then FG got the add, and the break, on their 3rd chance: 3-4 - back on serve. FG then held at 30 and went up a break at 15: 5-4. FG then went up 40-0, but LH fought back to deuce. FG then got the add, and then the set, and the match, on their 4th match point. YEA!
This was, clearly, another exciting match for the crowd - closer than the score implies. Yet it looks like Fusai/Golmard may well be a happenin' thing! OK!
Next for Fusai/Golmard (2nd round) is vs. Nicole Arendt/Mark Knowles - probably Monday.
WIN AGAIN, Fusai/Golmard! And HAVE FUN!
And BE HAPPY, Alexandra!
Monday 6/4/01
Alexandra won again today! YEA! (Jerome helped....)
It was Fusai/Golmard (unseeded) vs. Nicole Arendt/Mark Knowles (seeded #6) in 2nd round Mixed Doubles at Roland Garros. FG got the (upset?) win: 5-7, 6-4, 6-0. YEA!
It went like this (AK served 1st): 1-0, 2-0, 2-1, 3-1, 3-2, 3-3, 3-4, 4-4, 4-5, 5-5, 5-6, 5-7, 0-1, 1-1, 1-2, 2-2, 2-3, 3-3, 3-4, 4-4, 5-4, 6-4, 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, 4-0, 5-0, 6-0. YEA!
In more detail: FG got the break in the 1st game at 15, then held at 30 to go up 2-0. AK then held at 15, FG held at 30, AK held at 15, then AK got the break back at 15 - back on serve: 3-3. AK then held at love, and FG, up 40-15, finally held on their 3rd chance (AK had 4 break chances - 5 deuces) - still on serve: 4-4. Then AK held at 30, FG held at 15, and AK held through a deuce on their 1st chance (FG had one break chance): 5-6. Then FG, down 0-30, came back, but was broken at 30: 5-7. Oh well....
In the 2nd set, AK held at love, then FG, down 15-30, then 30-40, then add AK, held on their 1st chance after the 2nd deuce: 1-1. Then AK held at 30, and, again, FG, down 15-30, then 30-40, then add AK, held on their 1st chance after the 2nd deuce: 2-2. Then AK held at 30, FG held at 15, and AK again held at 30 (coming back from 15-30): 3-4. Then FG, down 0-30, then 30-40, held after a deuce: 4-4. Then AK went up 30-15 and 40-30, but FG got the break on their 2nd chance (2 deuces): 5-4. FG, serving for the set, held at love: 6-4. YEA! So: one set all.....
In the 3rd set, AK was broken at 30, then FG held at 30, and AK, after being down 0-30, came back to 40-30, but FG got the break through a deuce on their 1st chance: 3-0. FG then held at 15, broke again at 30 (2nd chance), and held at 30 for the set, and match: 6-0. YEA!
This match was an upset (unseeded over seeded), but more importantly I think it shows a profound ability of Fusai/Golmard to take advantage of opportunities presented - this seems to be an appreciation which Fusai/Grande may have lacked (but every match is different, so I may be entirely off-base here). Anyway, at the very least, it looks like Fusai/Golmard are still very much a happenin' thing this week! YOW!
Next (the Quarterfinals) is FG vs. Elena Likhovtseva/Mahesh Bhupathi, maybe Wednesday. Although LB are unseeded, this looks to be (obviously?) an even tougher match than today's was. But tough for them too, eh?!
So: WIN AGAIN, FG, WIN AGAIN!
And HAVE FUN!
Wednesday 6/6/01
Well, Fusai/Golmard fought like troopers, but ultimately in the Mixed Quarters it was Likhovtseva/Bhupathi who got the win: 6-3, 6-4. It was much closer than that score indicates, however. Still: oh well.....
It went like this (FG served 1st): 0-1, 0-2, 0-3, 1-3, 2-3, 2-4, 3-4, 3-5, 3-6, 1-0, 2-0, 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, 3-3, 4-3, 4-4, 4-5, 4-6. Oh well....
In more detail: FG went up 30-0, then down 30-40, then were broken through a deuce, LB then held through a deuce on their 2nd chance: 0-2. Then FG went down 2 breaks with a break at love: 0-3. FG then got a break back at 30 on their 2nd chance: 1-3. FG then held (at 30, I think) for 2-3, then LB went up 40-15, but FG took it to deuce, but then LB got the add and held: 2-4. FG then held at 30, and LB held at love (I think): 3-5. FG then went down 15-40, came back to 30-40, but were broken, and LB took the set: 3-6. Oh well....
In the 2nd set, FG went up 15-40, then got the break at 30: 1-0. FG then held at 15 to go up 2-0. LB then went down 0-40, giving FG three chances to go up 3-0, but LB came back to hold through a deuce: 2-1. Then FG were broken at 15 and LB held at 15: 2-3. Then FG held at love, and broke back through a deuce on their 1st chance (LB had one hold chance): 4-3. But then FG went down 15-40, came back to deuce, got the add, but it went back to deuce and LB got the break after 6(!) more deuces on their 8th chance: 4-4. LB then held at 15 and got the set, and match, with a break at 30 on their 2nd chance: 4-6. Oh well....
Alexandra had a good Roland Garros this year. The Wild-Card entry into the Main Draw was entirely appropriately respectful. The 1st round singles loss to a quite high ranked player was so close as to show that Alexandra is playing singles far above her current ranking. The 1st round doubles win (w/Grande) was very impressive, and the 2nd round loss was to a team which is hot-hot-hot (Henin/Tatarkova took seeded Po/Tauziat 11-9 in the 3rd today!). In the Mixed, very good 1st and 2nd round wins are, if anything, only enhanced by the actually very close loss in the Quarterfinals.
Alexandra seems to be playing very well lately, and, hopefully, HAVING FUN!
THAT IS GOOD!
Next week is maybe Birmingham, where Alexandra is only maybe in the qualifying, but has several great potential doubles partners (including Grande), or Tashkent, where Alexandra may be in the main-draw, or is at least high up in the qualifying, but a doubles teaming may not be something to make lasting.
Alexandra: do what you want, take care, be happy, and have fun, OK?
Tuesday 6/12/01
Alexandra is at the Tashkent Open in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Asia, this week playing Main-Draw singles and doubles (no qualifying needed for Alexandra!). Uzbekistan seems to be a tennis kind of place - for instance, this past week I saw Lolita Frangulyan of Uzbekistan play very well here on Hilton Head at the 10K USTA Kaelin/Diadora.
In 1st round singles, Alexandra drew Petra Mandula. Yesterday, Mandula's ranking improved from #131 to #67 based on Roland Garros qualifying wins vs. Ahl, Reeves, and Anca Barna, then Main Draw wins vs. Sugiyama, DeLosRios, Dokic, and Grande. Mandula then lost to Clijsters in the Quarterfinals. Understatement: Mandula is playing good singles, lately. Mandula was also impressive in doubles, with a good 1st round win, then losing to the #1 seeded team in 2nd round.
So then Alexandra took the 1st set 6-4! Look out, Clijsters! But Mandula took the next 2 sets 7-5, 6-2. So Alexandra was apparently not quite playing at a Clijsters level today - maybe Alexandra is "only" playing at a Dokic or Grande level. That's OK. Improve from that, Alexandra!
Anyway, Alexandra is still giving the crowds AF shows in Uzbekistan (that singles match must have been one heck of a show for the crowd - which they will never, ever, forget!).
Alexandra has teamed with Elena Tatarkova in Main-Draw doubles to be the #2 seeded team. Tatarkova did very well in Roland Garros doubles - her doubles ranking improved from #56 to #36 yesterday. Fusai/Tatarkova has a very real potential to give Alexandra her 2nd Doubles Title of 2001. Still, mostly, I hope for FUN matches for Alexandra. And Happiness, and, maybe actually most important of all, Health........
In 1st round, Fusai/Tatarkova face the sole qualifying team of Isroilova/Lepchenko (unknown to me their first names) - these girls, probably locals, won 3 rounds of qualifying to be the only Q doubles team. This could be a match like a final for FT......
Win, FT, WIN!
And HAVE FUN!
Friday 6/15/01
Alexandra and Elena had some success in Tashkent, with Fusai/Tatarkova getting the 1st round win nicely over the qualifiers Isroilova/Lepchenko: 6-1, 6-3. YEA!
But in the 2nd round (the Quarterfinals), it was the challengers Perebiynis/Poutchek who got the win over FT: 6-4, 6-2. Oh well.....
Hopefully, Alexandra found Tashkent a FUN place to spend time in, and showed her wonderful smile to many citizens there.
So Alexandra had a singles loss, a doubles win, and a doubles loss this week in Tashkent. But maybe the most important thing about this week is that Alexandra was in Tashkent. Important for Tashkent, I mean - and for Earth. Hard to explain.....
Alexandra's happiness is most important, of course. And a happy Alexandra, in Tashkent, makes Tashkent a happier place, and far in excess of Alexandra's happiness. Hard to explain....
Anyway: it is now Wimbledon time. Alexandra is in the Qualifying.
Win, Alexandra, WIN!
And HAVE FUN! And BE HAPPY!
Monday 6/18/01
Alexandra plays 1st round Wimbledon Qualifying vs. Kerry-Anne Guse tomorrow near London, England, Europe.
Guse is an Australian who is a wee-bit older than Alexandra, has had a good career (but far less glorious than Alexandra's), and is currently ranked far below Alexandra.
Even so: Guse will almost certainly walk out there determined to win some-how some-way. Hopefully, Alexandra will walk out there with likewise determination.
So: win, Alexandra, WIN!
And HAVE FUN!
Tuesday 6/19/01
Alexandra gave the crowd a very exciting match today in the Wimbledon Qualifying at Roehampton - and got the 1st Round WIN! YEA!
Kerry-Anne Guse also played well - but Alexandra clearly dominated. YEA!
So it was Fusai d. Guse: 7-6(7-5), 4-6, 6-2. YEA! And it looked like FUN! YEA!
It went like this (Alexandra served first): 0-1, 0-2, 1-2, 1-3, 2-3, 2-4, 3-4, 3-5, 4-5, 5-5, 5-6, 6-6 (0-1, 0-2, 1-2, 2-2, 3-2, 3-3, ?-?, 4-4, 5-4, ?-?, 6-5, 7-5), 7-6, 0-1, 1-1, 1-2, 2-2, 2-3, 3-3, 3-4, 4-4, 4-5, 4-6, 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, 3-1, 3-2, 4-2, 5-2, 6-2. YEA!
Some of the data was a bit spotty, but this is how it seemed to go, basically, in more detail: In the 1st game, Alexandra got to 40-30, but Guse got the break through 2 deuces on her 2nd chance, then Guse held at 30: 0-2. Alexandra then held (unknown details), and holds at 15, 30, and 30 produced 2-4. Then Alexandra went down 30-40, came back to deuce, fought off a break chance, then finally held after 2 more deuces on her 2nd chance: 3-4. Guse then held through a deuce on her second chance and Alexandra held at love: 4-5. Then Alexandra broke at 30, then was broken through a deuce, then Alexandra broke back again, this time at 15: 6-6.
In the tiebreak: Alexandra served 1st, and was mini-broken. Guse then mini-held then was mini-broken: 1-2, back on serve. Alexandra then held twice for 3-2 (her 1st real lead of the set), then Guse held, then "somehow" it became 4-4 (either 2 holds or 2 mini-breaks). Alexandra held for 5-4, then Guse held only 1 of her next 2 serves: 6-5. Alexandra then took the set on her serve: 7-6(7-5). YEA!
In the 2nd set, Guse went down 30-40, but came back to hold through a deuce. Then holds at love, 15 and 15 produced 2-2. Guse then went up 40-15, but Alexandra came back to deuce, but then Guse held. Alexandra then held at love, and Guse, again, went up 40-30, but had to pass through deuce to hold: 3-4. Then Alexandra held at 15 and Guse at 30, then Alexandra went down 15-40, came back to 30-40, but was then broken and Guse got the set: 4-6. Oh well....
Some interesting things stand out about this 2nd set: all 3 deuce games were Guse holds, while Alexandra's holds were at love, 15, love and 15. Both players fought off a break chance (Guse in the 1st game, Alexandra in the last), but Guse got a 2nd break chance, and that was the set.
In the 3rd set, Alexandra dominated convincingly, although there was some excitement in the middle. Guse was broken at love, then Alexandra held at 15, and Guse was broken at love, again: 3-0. Then Alexandra went up 40-15, but Guse got a break back through 3 deuces on her 3rd chance, then held at 30: 3-2. Then Alexandra held at 15, broke at 15, and held at love for the set, and match: 6-2. YEA!
So it looks like Alexandra is playing well, and now has a good 1st round Wimbledon Qualifying win! That's EXCELLENT!
Next is vs. Aniko Kapros, seeded #8 in Qualifying.
Kapros is 17 and having a fairly good year. She also got an impressive win today, losing the 1st set in a tiebreak, then taking the 2nd in another tiebreak, and the 3rd handily. So she is a "hot kid". Can she win against our experienced, crafty, creative, spirited, beautiful, playing-well Alexandra? NO!
Win again, Alexandra, WIN AGAIN! And have some more FUN!
(By the way: Fusai/Grande are seeded #10 in the Main Draw Doubles. They face the British team of Helen Crook/Victoria Davis in 1st Round, sometime next week. Win, FG, WIN! And ENJOY IT!)
(Also by the way: two pictures of Alexandra, and two of Fusai/Grande, from this year's Roland Garros have been recently posted to the Image Galleries - bringing the number of pictures there to 442. More pictures from other tournaments will be posted "soon".)
Wednesday 6/20/01
Alexandra has advanced to the 3rd (and Final) Round of Wimbledon Qualifying at Roehampton! YEA!
YES! Alexandra Fusai d. Aniko Kapros in 2nd Round today: 6-4, 3-6, 6-4. YEA!
Unfortunately, due to bizarre circumstances, I don't have any details to report. Oh well....
However, it seems quite likely that Alexandra played very well again and the crowd saw another exciting Fusai match, also again. THAT'S GOOD!
Tomorrow will be Alexandra vs. Maureen Drake - the winner gets in the Main Draw.
Drake is a Canadian who is a bit older than Alexandra and has had a good career, but Alexandra bests her in every stat. Alexandra will almost certainly be "favored" - hopefully that won't be a problem.
Drake has advanced with 2 straight-sets wins, so she is rested, but not tested. A 3 set match would seem to favor Alexandra, although it would be nice to see a Fusai victory in 2 sets (maybe just for a change?). Perhaps Drake is playing very well, but that would seem to indicate a 3-set match, and thus a likely Fusai victory, because it certainly seems that Alexandra is playing very well!
ANYWAY: somehow, Alexandra, WIN AGAIN! And WIN FUN!
Thursday 6/21/01
Well, some not-good news from London today....
Maureen Drake defeated Alexandra Fusai in 3rd (Final) Round Wimbledon Qualifying today: 6-3, 6-3. Oh well.....
It looked like Alexandra played quite well for most of the match, but so did Drake, and towards the end it looked like Drake played better than Alexandra, for some reason (most hopefully not an injury!).
Maybe Drake's initial "easy" 2 rounds were no fluke, and she is playing very well indeed lately, even better than Alexandra (who is also playing very well lately). It will be interesting to see what sort of dent Drake makes in the Main Draw.
Even so, I think Alexandra could beat the crapola out of Drake 9 times out of 10. But not today. Oh well....
Anyway: it went like this (Drake served 1st): 1-0, 1-1, 1-2, 2-2, 2-3, 3-3, 3-4, 3-5, 3-6, 1-0, 1-1, 2-1, 3-1, 3-2, 3-3, 3-4, 3-5, 3-6.
In more detail: Alexandra went up 15-40 in the 1st game, but Drake came back to deuce, then Alexandra got the break after the 2nd deuce (Drake had no hold chance). Game #2 was almost a mirror of #1 (except there was 30-30) - Drake got the break back after 2 deuces on her 3rd chance: 1-1. Drake then held at 30, and Alexandra held through 2 deuces on her 2nd chance (fighting off 1 break chance): 2-2. Holds at 30, 15, and 30 produced 3-4. But then Alexandra was broken through a deuce on 2nd chance (no hold chance), and Drake held at love for the set: 3-6.
In the 2nd set, Alexandra held through 3 deuces on her 2nd chance (fighting off 2 break chances), then Alexandra went up 15-40, but Drake came back to deuce, then Alexandra got the add, but Drake held after the 2nd deuce on her 1st chance: 1-1. Then Alexandra held at 15 and got the break at 15 to go up 3-1. But then Alexandra was broken at love, Drake held at 30, and Drake took the lead back with another break of Alexandra, this time at 15: 3-4. Then Alexandra went up 15-40, but Drake held through a deuce on her 1st chance, then took the match with another break at 15: 3-6. Oh well...
So Alexandra won't be playing Main Draw Singles at Wimbledon this year. I could say, "no big deal", or, "it's only a game", but I don't feel either of those things. What I feel is sadness, not disappointment or anger, just some sadness. Oddly, perhaps, I feel good for Drake, although I had barely heard of her before yesterday. And I feel considerable pride for the 2 matches which Alexandra won impressively, and for the other recent evidence that Alexandra is playing singles quite well, lately.
SO: Alexandra, ya DONE GOOD this week!
Now it's DOUBLES time!
Fusai/Grande face Helen Crook/Victoria Davies in 1st round Doubles next week. Maybe FG can do that MAGIC which they have seemed just about an inch away from repeating, since Auckland, all year....
So win, FG, WIN! And HAVE FUN!
And MIXED might be FUN, Alexandra!
Most important of all, Alexandra: TAKE CARE, and BE HAPPY!
BIG HUG, Alexandra, BIG HUG from all your MANY THOUSANDS of fans!
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