Alexandra Fusai News

Alexandra Fusai 2001 News
Wednesday 6/27/01
Alexandra and Rita played some NICE tennis today, fer shure! YEA!
Yep, it was Fusai/Grande d. Helen Crook/Victoria Davies in 1st round Doubles today at Wimbledon: 6-2, 6-2. YEA!
In fairness, it was FG (seeded #10) vs. CD (unseeded), so the result is not a real shocker - yet with CD the GBR team the crowd was probably more than a bit partisan against FG, at least at first. But by the end, I bet FG had another big batch of forever fans. Likely, that's what that is!
I missed the 1st three games, so as for how it went, this is what I saw (CD served 1st): ?-?, ?-?, 1-2, 2-2, 3-2, 4-2, 5-2, 6-2, 1-0, 2-0, 2-1, 3-1, 4-1, 5-1, 5-2, 6-2. YEA!
In more detail - well I have no detail on the 1st three games, and the only detail of the 4th game that I have is that it was an FG hold: 2-2. In the 5th game, FG got the break at 30 on their 2nd chance: 3-2. Then FG went down 30-40 but held through a deuce: 4-2. FG then went up 0-40, but CD fought back to deuce - FG got break #2 after 2 deuces on their 5th chance (CD had no hold chance): 5-2. FG then took set #1 with a hold at 15 on their 2nd chance: 6-2. YEA!
In the 2nd set, FG got the break at 30 on their 2nd chance to go up 1-0, then held through a deuce on their 2nd chance for a 2-0 lead. In the 3rd game, CD came back from 15-30 to hold through 2 deuces on their 3rd chance (FG had no break chance): 2-1. Then FG won an amazing, and very impressive, 12(!) points in a row with a love hold, a love break, and another love hold: 5-1. WOW! Then CD held at 30, but FG took the match with yet another(!) love hold: 6-2. YEA!
This was a very good win for Fusai/Grande, providing much evidence that FG is doing some MAGIC things out there on the Wimbledon grass. The rounds get more difficult now, of course, but today's VERY NICE win indicates that ALL THE WAY is a VERY REAL possibility! That would, of course, be EXCELLENT!
As always, it's one match at a time. Next for FG is vs. Nadia Petrova/Tina Pisnik, maybe Friday. PP got a good win today - down a set they then took the 2nd, and the match with an 8-6 third set. They seem to be a pair who fights. So is FG, of course! Win, FG, WIN!
Alexandra is also entered in the Mixed, teaming with Pablo Albano of Argentina. Pablo is an experienced player with much success in doubles, so this could be a very good pairing. However, their 1st round is vs. #1 seeded Todd Woodbridge/Rennae Stubbs (an Aussie pair). Both Woodbridge and Stubbs are quite good at doubles, so their #1 seeding is understandable, and, well, appropriate. Yet Alexandra and Pablo are also quite good doubles players! When FA get the win over WS some will be surprised, but I won't! Win FA, WIN!
And, in addition to WINNING, Alexandra, please do these things: TAKE CARE, BE HAPPY, and HAVE FUN!
Friday 6/29/01
Well, Fusai/Grande got a set, but not the match. Oh well....
Yeah, it was Petrova/Pisnik d. Fusai/Grande in 2nd round Wimbledon doubles today: 4-6, 6-4, 6-4. Oh well....
It went like this (PP served 1st, all 3 sets): 0-1, 0-2, 1-2, 2-2, 2-3, 3-3, 4-3, 5-3, 5-4, 6-4, 0-1, 1-1, 1-2, 2-2, 2-3, 3-3, 3-4, 4-4, 4-5, 4-6, 0-1, 1-1, 1-2, 2-2, 2-3, 3-3, 3-4, 4-4, 4-5, 4-6. Oh well....
In more detail: PP held at love then got the break at 15 on their 2nd chance: 0-2. But then FG got the break back at 30 and held through a deuce on their 1st chance (fighting off a break chance): 2-2. A pair of love holds produced 3-3. Then FG went up 0-40 - and it rained.
The match resumed about an hour and a half later, then PP got a point, but FG got the break at 15: 4-3. FG then went down 30-40, but held through a deuce: 5-3. PP then held at 30 and FG went up 40-0, but PP came back to deuce, then FG held for the set: 6-4. YEA!
In the 2nd set, holds at 30 brought 1-1 (1st chance for PP, 2nd chance for FG). In the 3rd game, FG had a break chance, but PP held through a deuce, then holds at 30, 15, love, and love: 3-4. Then FG held through 2 deuces on their 2nd chance (PP got the add after deuce #1): 4-4. A hold at 30 (2nd chance) and a break at 30 (1st chance) gave the 2nd set to PP: 4-6. Oh well....
In the 3rd set, PP held through 2 deuces on their 2nd chance (FG had a break chance after deuce #1), then it was quick-hold-city: 15, love, 15, love, and love: 3-3. Then PP went up 40-0, FG took it to 40-30, but PP held on their 3rd chance: 3-4. FG then held at 30 on their 1st chance: 4-4. PP then held at love, and FG went down 0-40, came back to 30-40, but then PP got the break, and match: 4-6. Oh well......
This was a fairly exciting match, especially the 1st set, although the other 2 sets were both on serve until the last game of each set. I think the rain delay played a part - FG seemed to be getting momentum when the rain hit. Although FG got that set, the momentum seemed to have dissipated. Credit is due to PP, however, especially in terms of awesome service games - 6 love holds, 3 in the last set (FG had 3, 1 in the last set). And FG had only 1 break chance in each of the last 2 sets. PP got their 2nd set break on their 2nd chance, and their 3rd set break on their 3rd chance (all 3 chances in that final game). Without the rain, FG may have taken this handily in 2. Maybe. Oh well.....
Now it is Fusai/Albano vs. Stubbs/Woodbridge in 1st round Mixed, probably tomorrow.
Win, FA, WIN, and WIN FUN!
Saturday 6/30/01
Well, today it was unseeded Alexandra Fusai/Pablo Albano vs. #1 seeded Rennae Stubbs/Todd Woodbridge in 1st round Mixed Doubles at Wimbledon.
Not shockingly, #1 seed SW d. unseeded FA: 6-3, 6-2. Oh well.....
It went like this (SW served 1st): 0-1, 1-1, 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, 3-3, 3-4, 3-5, 3-6, 1-0, 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 2-3, 2-4, 2-5, 2-6. Oh well....
In more detail: SW held at 15, then FA held at love: 1-1. Then FA broke at love to go up a break: 2-1. But then SW got the break back through 2 deuces on their 1st chance (FA had 2 hold chances): 2-2. SW then held at 15, FA held through a deuce on their 2nd chance (SW had no break chance): 3-3. Then SW held at love, FA were broken at 15, and SW held at love, again, for the set: 3-6. Oh well.....
In the 2nd set, FA went up 40-15, then finally held after 2 deuces on their 4th chance (SW had no break chance), then SW held at 30, and FA were broken at 15: 1-2. Then SW went up 40-0, and finally held at 30: 1-3. Then FA held through 2 deuces on their 2nd chance (SW had a break chance after deuce #1): 2-3. Then SW held at 30 on their 2nd chance, then FA was broken at love, then SW took the 2nd set, and match, with a hold at 30 on their 1st chance: 2-6. Oh well.....
This seemed to be an impressive performance by the unseeded team vs. the #1 seeded team. Hopefully, it was also FUN for everyone.
It seems to me that it was a good Wimbledon for Alexandra this year - 3 wins, 3 losses, that's ok.... And they were good wins and tough losses.... That's OK!
Now it looks like next for Alexandra is Palermo, Italy, in about a week.
In Palermo, Alexandra, please do these things: WIN and HAVE FUN, or, alternatively, HAVE FUN and WIN! At the very least: TAKE CARE, BE HAPPY, and HAVE FUN!
Tuesday 7/10/01
It looks like Alexandra has been having some FUN in Palermo lately!
This week, Alexandra is at the Internazionali Femminili di Tennis Di Palermo in Palermo, Italy, Europe. And I bet the crowd is very glad she's there!
In qualifying, Alexandra was seeded #3 so drew a bye in 1st round. (YEA!) In 2nd round, Alexandra defeated Tatiana Kovalchuk with a nice, no-nonsense, 6-2, 6-4: YEA! Then in 3rd (and final) round, Alexandra moved to the Main Draw with a very impressive (and good show for the crowd!) win over Valentina Sassi: 6-3, 6-7(1-7), 6-3. YEA!
Then in 1st round Main Draw, Alexandra, the qualifier, faced Main Draw player Nuria Llagostera - and got a BEAUTIFUL comeback win: 3-6, 6-1, 6-3. YEA and HOORAY!
Next is vs. the #2 seed Tatiana Panova. Panova has been playing occasional very good tennis lately, but is perhaps somewhat erratic and inexperienced. I mean, Panova can play - but so can Alexandra!
So, Alexandra, it's ok if Panova wins a set - but YOU win TWO! Then you can CRUISE to the TITLE!
And HAVE FUN!
In Doubles, Alexandra is teaming with Maria-Emilia Salerni (they are seeded #4). First round will be vs. "lucky-losers" Maria Geznenge/Tatiana Kovalchuk (yes, Kovalchuk again).
Win, FS, WIN! And WIN FUN!
Friday 7/13/01
Well, Alexandra had a good run in Palermo this week, but it ended before the finals, in both Singles and Doubles. Actually, that's OK. Still: oh well.....
In Doubles, Alexandra teamed with Maria-Emilia Salerni and they were the #4 seeded team. In 1st round, they faced "lucky-losers" from qualifying (because of a last-minute main-draw withdrawal) Maria Geznenge/Tatiana Kovalchuk. Alexandra had defeated Kovalchuk (6-2, 6-4) in Singles Qualifying - so they had seen each other before.
Anyway: KG took the 1st set to a tie-break, then took the tie-break 7-3, then FS took the 2nd set nicely 6-2, but KG took the match with a 6-2 3rd set. Oh well....
Even so, this was probably good experience for FS (and hopefully some FUN!), and probably a very good show for the crowd. So YEA for that!
In 2nd round Singles, Alexandra faced the #2 seed Tatiana Panova. Well, Panova got the win: 6-4, 6-4. Oh well.....
This is, hopefully, really not a problem for Alexandra. Panova has been very hot lately, and that the #2 seed defeated a "qualifier" (even though it was Alexandra!) is really not a shocker. Alexandra's singles play is clearly lately improving - next time Fusai v. Panova may well have a different result!
It is unknown to me, at this time, just what is next for Alexandra.....
So please do these things, Alexandra: TAKE CARE, BE HAPPY, and HAVE SOME FUN!
Tuesday 7/17/01
Well, Alexandra got a WIN in Belgium this week! YEA! But then a loss. Oh well....
A win is better than no win, that's fer shure! And it was a good win!
This week for Alexandra has been a visit to the Sanex Trophy in Knokke-Heist, Belgium, Europe. Alexandra was seeded #1 in Qualifying (WOW!).
First round was a nice, solid, impressive win over Mariam Ramon: 6-2, 6-0. YEA!
Second round, however, was a tough loss to Adriana Barna, who seems to be continuing to improve. Barna got the victory 6-4, 6-3. Oh well... (Even so, I bet it was a good show for the crowd, with many long games!)
Apparently, Alexandra chose not to play doubles, which is fine - doubles can just be a bother sometimes, probably. I mean, Alexandra is a GREAT doubles player - there's no need to prove that week after week after week. (Alexandra is also playing very good singles lately - that remains true!)
Next for Alexandra may be Casablanca, or maybe California, or there may be something happening in Poland next week. And I think Dylan is touring Europe this summer - Bobby Z. is not to be missed these days! ROCK n' ROLL!! (Yell out: "MR. JONES!" or "THIN MAN!" or "DES ROW!" or "SPANISH BOOTS" and what you hear may well be almost as incredible as a Fusai match!).
FACT is this: YOU'RE THE GREATEST, Alexandra!
Tuesday 7/24/01
There is a thing called "jet-lag". It is a real thing. Once I flew from Europe to California - I was a wreck for days. And it was "going home" for me then!
And I have seen some(!) Dylan shows - afterward I was a wreck for days. (A very happy wreck, though! - cousin Bob ROCKS!)
I hope Alexandra caught at least one of Bobby's Europe shows this summer - especially an Italian show (Bob has a rep for especial greatness in Italy, also Sweden, for some reason.)
Then there is the jet-lag.....
Anyway, at the Bank of the West in Palo Alto, California, USA, this week, Alexandra, seeded #4 in Qualifying (which was nice) lost to unseeded Erika deLone 6-3, 6-1 in 1st round. Oh well....
So now Palo Alto is Fusai/Grande doubles. FG are seeded #3 and face unseeded Kim Grant/Renata Kolbovic in 1st round, later tonight.
Grant/Kolbovic will likely be hyper-pumped with the possibility of getting a win over a seeded team. But FG may decide that they are the better team (which they are!), and will demonstrate that!
WIN FUN, FG!
Friday 7/27/01
Alexandra is doing some amazing exciting doubles out in California this week - Rita Grande is the co-conspirator. This is nice!
Fusai/Grande, seeded #3, faced unseeded Kim Grant/Renata Kolbovic in 1st round. This was a late-night match on the main court (#1) and it looked like few saw the huge drama of this match - what a shame.....
There was some internet video of this match, but the point updates came very occasionally, and, well, I'm an idiot, so I watched a little window at 1024x768 and didn't think to drop down to 640x480, so I am unsure who served first. But I think GK served first.
It went like this (GK served 1st?): 1-0, 1-1, 2-1, 3-1, 3-2, 4-2, 4-3, 5-3, 6-3, 1-0, 1-1, 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, 2-4, 3-4, 4-4, 5-4, 5-5, 6-5, 7-5. YEA!
In more detail (and assuming GK served 1st), this is what I saw: GK were broken, then FG were also broken: 1-1. Then GK were again broken, and FG held at 15(?): 3-1. Four holds produced 5-3, with that eighth game passing through deuce at least once. Then FG took the 1st set 6-3, probably with a break. YEA!
In the 2nd set, it seemed FG held the 1st game, then GK held through a deuce: 1-1. Then it seemed FG held through 2 deuces, GK held at 30(?), then GK broke through a deuce to go up: 2-3. Then GK held through 4 deuces, although FG had at least 2 break chances: 2-4. A hold for FG, a break through a deuce, and a hold through a deuce gave FG the lead: 5-4. Two holds and a break gave the set, and match, to FG: 7-5. YEA! And HOORAY!
Thursday night (this morning here) the Quarters were Fusai/Grande vs. Erika deLone/Annabel Ellwood. (It was deLone who knocked Alexandra out of the Singles qualifying - interesting......)
This time I was viewing at 640x480 and the points came quite regularly. I think DE played in matching white top-blue skirt outfits, and I think Rita wore her nice all-blue, and Alexandra wore white with blue stripes down her sleeves.
It went like this (DE served 1st, then Rita): 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, 4-0, 4-1, 4-2, 4-3, 5-3, 5-4, 6-4, 1-0, 1-1, 1-2, 2-2, 2-3, 3-3, 3-4, 4-4, 5-4, 6-4. YEA!
In more detail: FG got the break in the 1st game through a deuce on their 3rd chance, then held at 15 (Rita serving), then got break #2, again through a deuce on their 3rd chance, then Alexandra held at love: 4-0. But then DE held at 30 on their 1st chance, broke Rita through a deuce (FG had 2 hold chances), then held through a deuce on their 2nd chance: 4-3. Then Alexandra held at 30 on her 2nd chance, DE held at 15 on their 1st chance, and Rita took the set with a hold at 15 - 1st chance: 6-4. YEA!
In the 2nd set, FG got the break through a deuce on their 1st chance, but then Alexandra was broken at 30. Then a pair of holds at love made 2-2. Then DE held through 2 deuces (FG had 1 break chance): 2-3. First chance holds at 30 produced 3-4. Then Rita went down 0-40, but FG finally held after 5 deuces on their 1st chance (DE had 7 break chances!): 4-4. Then FG got the break through 2 deuces on their 3rd chance (DE had no hold chance), and Alexandra held at 30 on her 1st chance for the set, and match: 6-4. YEA! HOORAY!
Fusai/Grande have now played four GREAT sets in California this week - and they have been WINS! I like that!
The Semi's for FG will be vs. either Daja Bedanova/Elena Bovina or Nicole Arendt/Caroline Vis, probably tomorrow.
WIN AGAIN, FG! And WIN FUN!
Saturday 7/28/01
Today, at the "Bank of the West" at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, USA, it was #3 seeded Alexandra Fusai/Rita Grande vs. #2 seeded Nicole Arendt/Caroline Vis in Semifinal Doubles.
Well, Arendt/Vis got the win: 6-4, 6-1. Oh well....
The video feed was fairly good and I was able to determine when Rita and Alexandra were serving (AV I couldn't tell apart). Like Thursday night, Rita always served from the near court and Alexandra from the far one. The scoring was occasionally erratic (and absent from the last two games), but it was very useful in determining generally what was going on, as was the video.
It was clearly closer than that score indicates, although it is fair to say that AV dominated throughout. It is also fair to say that FG fought hard throughout, and played well. But AV played better, and, perhaps, fought harder. Oh well.... At least it did look like some FUN!
Anyway: it went like this (Rita served 1st): 0-1, 0-2, 1-2, 1-3, 2-3, 2-4, 3-4, 3-5, 4-5, 4-6, 0-1, 0-2, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, 1-5, 1-6. Oh well....
In more detail, this seems like what I saw: Rita went down 0-40, the FG came back to 30-40, but AV got the break. Then AV held at love: 0-2. Then Alexandra went up 40-30, but AV came back to deuce, then this game seemed to pass through deuce at least 6 times, with AV having at least 3 break chances, but FG finally held. Then AV held at 30, FG held through 3 deuces on their 3rd chance, and AV held at 15 to produce 2-4. A pair of holds at 30 produced 3-5. Then Rita again went down 0-40, but FG held through at least 3 deuces on what may have been their 1st chance (AV had at least 4 break chances): 4-5. Then AV held for the set through a deuce (FG had 1 break chance - probably their only break chance of the set): 4-6. Oh well....
In the 2nd set, Alexandra went down 15-40, but FG came back to deuce, then it looked like it passed through deuce twice more with AV then getting the break, with FG having no hold chance. Then it looked like 3 love holds made 1-3. Then Alexandra went down 0-40, but FG came back to at least 30, and probably at least one deuce (the scoring froze for the rest of the match at 30-40 in this game), but AV got the break for 1-4. Then came a very long game, which clearly passed through deuce many times, but AV ultimately held for 1-5. A final quick break of Rita (possibly at love) gave the set and match to AV: 1-6. Oh well....
(By the way: in my details, in no way do I intend to imply "blame" for anyone in this loss. For instance: although it seemed Alexandra had some aces, it also seemed Rita had a higher 1st serve percentage (although these things were very hard to tell). I like the concept of Fusai/Grande very much. They have seemed to be often on the verge of major success - at least equal to Fusai/Tauziat. And I have heard that they enjoy playing together - and that is, of course, the most important thing. Arendt/Vis were properly seeded #2, and this match was more like 7-5, 6-4 than 6-4, 6-1. Fusai/Grande played well! A rematch could well be a win for FG!)
Next for Alexandra (and Rita) is the Acura Classic, down the California coast in San Diego. Alexandra has a Wild-Card into the main draw and faces Daja Bedanova in 1st round. Bedanova is young (18) and "hot" and will likely be favored. This is a do-able upset for our experienced Alexandra!
Win, Alexandra, WIN! And HAVE FUN!
The doubles draw is not yet announced - but it will probably have FG in there somewhere, probably seeded. Hooray for Fusai/Grande!
Wednesday 8/1/01
Alexandra got a good win today at the Acura in San Diego! Yea! (But a tough loss yesterday - oh well.....)
Yesterday, it was #140 ranked wild-card Alexandra Fusai vs. #46 ranked "hot" youngster Daja Bedanova in 1st round main-draw singles. Alexandra fought well, much better than the score indicates, but Bedanova advanced: 6-0, 6-2. Oh well.....
It went like this (DB served 1st): 0-1, 0-2, 0-3, 0-4, 0-5, 0-6, 1-0, 2-0, 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, 2-4, 2-5, 2-6. Oh well....
But it seemed to be much closer than that score. The Acura has only occasional refreshes of scores during a match (maybe every 40 seconds or so), so my detail of the Acura matches is probably flawed. (In my opinion, Java Scoreboard, which is on many sites, is much better - but now that Microsoft has abandoned Java it looks like the convicted monopolist Microsoft will continue to harm the world for their own increase of power and wealth, until???. OK, enough of that!)
Anyway: in yesterday's AF vs. DB match this is my take on the detail that I did manage to see: DB served the 1st game, and held through a deuce on her 2nd chance. Then a break at love and a hold at love put DB up 3-0. Then a break at 30 and a hold at 15 put DB up 5-0. In the final game of the set AF went up 40-15, then got the ad through a deuce, but DB took the set, probably on her 1st chance: 6-0. Oh well....
In the 2nd set, Alexandra got the break through a deuce, probably on her 2nd chance. Then Alexandra went down 30-40, but came back to hold through a deuce: 2-0. But then a hold at 15, a break at 30, and a hold at 30 put DB up 3-2. Then Alexandra went down 0-40, but came back to deuce, but then DB got the break for 4-2. A hold at 15 and a break at 30 gave the set, and match, to DB: 6-2. Oh well....
Alexandra clearly gave this match a good try, but Bedanova is apparently quite a good player. (It may be relevant that Bedanova defeated Aranxta Sanchez-Vicario in 2nd round today: 6-1, 6-4.)
Today, it was 1st round main-draw doubles for Fusai/Grande vs. Amy Frazier/Katie Schlukebir - both unseeded. In fairness, it is worth noting that Amy Frazier had lost a tough 2nd round singles match to Alexandra Stevenson, 6-1, 5-7, 6-4, not much more than an hour before. Even so, I think the victory, and the score, of FG's victory over FS today is entirely appropriate, and only trivially, and unimportantly, involved with Amy's singles loss earlier today.
Alexandra Fusai/Rita Grande defeated Amy Frazier/Katie Schlukebir in 1st round main-draw doubles today: 6-2, 6-2. YEA!
It went like this (FS served 1st): 1-0, 2-0, 2-1, 3-1, 4-1, 5-1, 5-2, 6-2, 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, 4-0, 4-1, 5-1, 5-2, 6-2. YEA!
In more detail (inaccuracies can be rightly blamed on Microsoft): FS was broken at 15, then FG held at 30: 2-0. Then FS held at 30, and FG held through a deuce (fighting off a break chance): 3-1. Then a break at 30 and a hold at 15 made 5-1. A hold through a deuce (2nd chance) made 5-2, but a hold by FG (at 30?) gave the 1st set to FG: 6-2. YEA!
In the 2nd set, a break at 15, a hold at 15, and another break at 15 put FG up 3-0. A hold through at least 3 deuces (FS had at least 2 break chances) put FG up 4-0, on perhaps their 2nd chance. Then FS held at 30, FG held at 15, as did FS: 5-2. FG took the set, and match, with a hold at love: 6-2. YEA!
This match was a clear indication that Fusai/Grande are well back to doing amazing doubles things. This is good!
Next for FG is vs. the #1 seeded team of Martina Hingis/Anna Kournikova, probably tomorrow.
I have no problem with this matchup. I think Fusai/Grande are entirely capable of winning this. But it probably won't be "easy"....
Win, FG, WIN! And WIN FUN!
Friday 8/3/01
Yesterday, at the Acura in San Diego, it was Fusai/Grande vs. Hingis/Kournikova in the Quarters - a very exciting match!
Especially the 2nd set!
However, it was HK who advanced: 6-3, 7-6(7-1). Oh well.....
It went like this (HK served 1st): 1-0, 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, 2-4, 3-4, 3-5, 3-6, 1-0, 1-1, 2-1, 2-2, 3-2, 3-3, 4-3, 4-4, 5-4, 5-5, 5-6, 6-6 (1-0, 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, 1-5, 1-6, 1-7), 6-7. Oh well....
Due to erratic updating, I missed some details, and may have misunderstood others, so the details which follow may contain inaccuracies. This is how the match "seemed" to me to progress, however:
In the 1st set, FG got the break at 30 on their 1st chance, but then FG went down 15-40, came back to deuce, but were then broken back: 1-1. Then HK held at 30 (3rd chance, though), and got a break at 15 (1st chance): 1-3. A hold at 15 (1st chance) put HK up 1-4. But then FG held at 15 (2nd chance) and got the break back at 30 (1st chance): 3-4 - back on serve! But then FG were broken at 30 (1st chance) and HK took the set with a hold at 15 (1st chance): 3-6. Oh well....
Actually, this looked like quite a close set, but HK played a wee bit better, maybe.
In the 2nd set, this match became truly amazing, with strong indications that FG is actually the better team. FG served the 1st game, which they finally held after at least 4 deuces, possibly on their 1st chance, fighting off at least 3 break chances. Then HK held, maybe at love, and FG held at 30 on their 2nd chance: 2-1. Then HK went up 40-0, but FG came back to deuce, and got a break chance, but HK held after the 2nd deuce (their 4th chance): 2-2. Then FG fought off a break chance at 30-40 and held after a deuce, then HK held at 15 (1st chance): 3-3. Like the previous hold, FG then went down 30-40, then held through a deuce: 4-3. Then FG got a break chance at 30-40, but HK ultimately held through 3 deuces on their 3rd chance: 4-4. A hold at 15 (2nd chance) put FG up 5-4, but a hold by HK at 30 brought 5-5. But then a break of FG at 15 (1st chance) put HK up 5-6 and serving for the match. Then, despite seeing at least one match point, HK were broken through a deuce to force the tie-break: 6-6.
Although this 2nd set indicates an approximate parity between the teams of Fusai/Grande and Hingis/Hournikova, the tie-break went almost entirely HK's way. FG got the 1st point, but then HK got the next 7. Oh well....
Hopefully, this match communicated to Fusai/Grande that they are playing VERY well lately, and that even #1 seeded teams like Hingis/Kournikova are not at all to be feared. Fusai/Grande remain "on the verge" - but now they seem closer to that "verge" than they've been in months. That's good!
And a silver lining is that yesterday's loss gave Alexandra an opportunity to participate in today's 1st round qualifying at the "estyle.com" Classic, up the coast near Los Angeles (it's in Manhattan Beach, actually). Today's match is vs. Pavlina Nola - possibly happening as I write this.
Play well, Alexandra, and HAVE FUN, and WIN!
And I suspect Fusai/Grande will be a major crowd-pleaser at this "estyle.com" thing, also!
Win, FG, WIN! And WIN FUN!
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