Alexandra Fusai News

Alexandra Fusai 2001 News
Monday 10/1/01
Alexandra is doing good things in Tokyo, Japan, Asia, at the AIG Open lately!
In 1st-round qualifying, Saturday, Alexandra (seeded #4) gave the crowd a great show with an exciting victory over local (unseeded) Akiko Morigami (WTA #254): 6-4, 7-6(7-4). YEA!
In 2nd-round qualifying, Sunday, Alexandra got another good win over (unseeded) local Rika Hiraki (WTA #369): 6-4, 6-4. YEA!
In 3rd (and final) round qualifying, today, Alexandra faced Frenchie Stephanie Foretz, seeded #6. A very good player!..... Alexandra prevailed, with a good Fusai-type comeback: 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. Good show! YEA!
In 1st-round Main-Draw Alexandra faces local wild-card Saori Obata (WTA #119), probably tomorrow.
Win, Alexandra, WIN! And HAVE FUN!
In Doubles, Fusai/Grande are seeded #2 and face unseeded locals Akiko Morigami/Miho Saeki in 1st-round. This will probably not be an easy match, as both are quite good players, and both Alexandra and Rita will have played earlier singles.
Even so, Fusai/Grande is a MONSTER! FG: win, Win, WIN! FG ROCKS! And ROCKS FUN!
(By the way, recently I came across a very nice pic of Alexandra, well, just standing there grinning. It might be mere days old. It's not in any gallery (yet), for now it's just here. Check it out!)
Thursday 10/4/01
There is some very good news to report from Tokyo! (But also a bit of bad news.....)
Bad news 1st: after 3 very nice qualifying wins, Alexandra lost her 1st round Main Draw Singles vs. local Saori Obata: 6-3, 6-2. This was not an upset since Obata is currently ranked 20 places above Alexandra (#119 vs. #139), but, even so, well, oh well.....
Good run, though, Alexandra, in Singles! Three wins, one loss - not bad! Well done!
So it was then on to Fusai/Grande doubles for Alexandra. And that has been very good!
In 1st-round, FG (seeded #2) faced (unseeded) locals Akiko Morigami/Miho Saeki. Well, FG gave the crowd a show, then prevailed: 7-5, 6-4. YEA!
In 2nd round (the Quarter's), FG faced (unseeded) Shinobu Asagoe/Tina Pisnik. This time it looks like FG were preparing for the final in Munich - FG prevailed 6-1, 6-1. YEA!
In 3rd round (the Semi's), it will be FG vs #4 seeded Janet Lee/Wynne Prakusya, probably tomorrow.
Win, FG, WIN! And HAVE FUN!
(By the way, I have come across another very nice picture of Alexandra from Tokyo this week. It is also not in any gallery (yet), for now it's just here. Check it out! Pretty girl! Nice hair! Great smile!)
Sunday 10/7/01
Well, in Tokyo at the Japan Open, the nice run of #2 seeded Fusai/Grande unfortunately ended in the Semi's with a loss to the #4 seeded team of Janet Lee/Wynne Prakusya: 6-2, 6-3. Oh well....
Even so, it was 2 wins for FG last week before that loss, and that's GOOD!
This week, Alexandra is at the Kiwi Open in Shanghai, China, Asia, playing Main Draw in both Singles and Doubles.
Alexandra is probably unseeded in Singles (but at least she didn't have to qualify!) and faces a very good player, quite possibly seeded, in 1st round: Rita Grande (WTA ranked #46). Interesting!
Win, Alexandra, WIN! And HAVE FUN! (Rita: you HAVE FUN, too!)
In Doubles, it looks like Fusai/Grande are seeded #2 again this week - but I have no info yet as to who they meet in 1st round.
Regardless: win, FG, WIN!
FG: take care, be safe, be happy, and have fun, Fun, FUN!
Saturday 10/13/01
In Shanghai, China, Asia, at the Kiwi Open this week, Fusai/Grande (seeded #2) faced the team of Joannette Kruger/Marlene Weingartner in 1st round.
It looks like KW took the 1st set 6-3, but then FG took the 2nd set 6-2, then FG took the final set (and match) either 6-2 or 6-0. YEA!
Nice powerful comeback, FG! Well done!
So 2nd round (the Quarterfinals) was to be FG vs. Liu Li Shen/Tian Tan Sun but FG took the loss in this match because of a walkover. Oh well....
Since Rita was still very much in the Singles at this point, there was understandable speculation that Alexandra was injured. However, there is now some indication that Alexandra is not physically injured, but instead is emotionally injured (which is a sadder thing) - it seems that what happened is that a grandfather of Alexandra died, so she went home.
Generally, people have 2 grandfathers. I only had 1 'cause my mother's father died when she was 15ish. My father's father was in France in WWI (as a US soldier) then delivered mail on foot in his little Connecticut town until his government required retirement age. Then he worked in a hardware store. He was a very good and interesting fellow. He died several years ago. He was 90ish.
I don't know if Alexandra was particularly close to this particular grandfather who apparently died recently, but probably at least one of her parents was. Maybe Alexandra is feeling some guilt for being so much "out-of-town" these past many years. Yet I suspect her grandfather much appreciated the very fine things that Alexandra has done "on the road".
So, at least, Alexandra is probably not injured physically. We, her fans, can only hope that Alexandra will feel that her grandfather would want her to keep playing, because she brings so much joy and entertainment to so very many when she does.
Alexandra: I am so very, very sorry that you have apparently had this loss. I think I speak for literally millions when I say that what we want most of all for you is that you BE HAPPY. Of course, we hope this involves you continuing to play pro tennis.
Rita Grande seems to be in the Singles at the Eurotel Slovak Indoors in Bratislava, Slovak Republic, Europe next week - perhaps Alexandra will join her there for doubles.
In about a week, there are tournaments in 2 Europe locations: Linz, Austria and Luxembourg, Luxembourg - either one could have Alexandra in Singles (probably Qualifying, at first) and Fusai/Grande in doubles (probably seeded).
Alexandra: there is much love coming at you from a million or so people this week, maybe many millions. We just hope you are ok and will always do whatever you think is best for you. At the same time, we selfishly want you to play more pro tennis, and we hope you will BE HAPPY and HAVE FUN doing so. And we, always, hope you WIN!
Monday 10/15/01
Well, to quote Vinnie Barbarino of Mr. Kotter's Sweathogs, "I'm so CONFUSED!!!".
(Some people who know me may think my theme song should be Led Zep's "Dazed and Confused", but I would probably pick Neil Young's "Words" (the long version on the "Journey Through the Past" LP), or, better yet, King Crimson's "The Talking Drum" (the version which closes the 4-CD "The Great Deceiver" set) - well, enough of that.....)
ANYWAY, I think I may have finally found some TRUTH "UP TO NOW!" (to quote The Firesign Theatre on their best album, "Everything You Know is Wrong!").
SO: it looks like Alexandra is in Bratislava, Slovak Republic, Europe, this week, at the Eurotel Slovak Indoors, playing doubles only (with Rita, of course). And it looks like FG is seeded #2, and their 1st round will be vs. Jennifer Hopkins/Zsofia Gubasci, maybe tomorrow, maybe Wednesday. Hopkins/Gubasci got into the Main Draw through Qualifying, winning a 1st round match, then either winning the 2nd and final round, or getting in as "Lucky Losers" due to a late withdrawal from the Main Draw.
And I've heard that the Slovak Republic is a nice and interesting place to be these days, and Bratislava is especially nice, but I don't know.... (Maybe, or probably, not as nice as Paris or London or Amsterdam or Goteborg or Mijas, though....)
Geez, I'm a fountain of certainty tonight, eh?
FG vs. Hopkins/Gubasci could be a good opportunity to have FUN, but not TOO MUCH FUN! HG have already won at least 1 match this week, and I suspect they will play quite serious-like, looking for an upset (and points and $).
So win, FG, WIN!
Your smile, Alexandra, after you win, will make everyone who sees it very, very happy!
And I think it is very safe to say that more people there (and everywhere else) would rather see FG play 2nd round than see HG play 2nd round.
When you play, Alexandra, you give so much, to so many - and when you win, you give us all more.
But, mostly, we all just want you to be happy.
Wednesday 10/24/01
(This update is late because I "had to" do an 8-day cruise to Bermuda - "work", you know - so pity me.....)
ANYWAY: Last week, Alexandra was in Bratislava, Slovak Republic, Europe, at the Eurotel Slovak Indoors, playing Doubles only.
In 1st round, Fusai/Grande (seeded #2) faced Zsofia Gubasci/Jennifer Hopkins - both players deserving of respect, despite getting into the Main Draw as Qualifying "Lucky Losers" due to a late withdrawal. But FG is a GREAT team, so FG got the win, HUGELY: 6-1, 6-1. YEA!
In 2nd round (the Quarterfinals) it was FG vs. another dangerous team (with names coming out the wazoo): Maja Palaversic-Coopersmith/Maria Vento-Kabchi. This match gave FG a good chance to show their persistence, power, and SPIRIT with a 3-set win: 6-7(4-7), 6-2, 6-1. YEA!
In the Semi's it was FG vs. Daja Bedanova/Elena Bovina. These both seem to be quite good players (maybe especially Bedanova), and may be a good team. BB got the win, 6-1, 6-3, to advance to the Final (which they also won). Oh well....
(Meanwhile, much congratulations to Rita for winning her 2nd Singles title - her 1st was at Hobart, in January of this year. Well done, Rita!)
This was a very good week for Alexandra and Fusai/Grande! There were two very good and impressive victories (and impressive in different ways), then the SF loss to a team which could be a force to contend with in the future (especially, again, Bedanova seems to have considerable potential, singles and doubles).
Good week, Alexandra! And: Good week, Fusai/Grande! (And VERY Good week, Rita!)
These wins, last week, may have cemented FG into the top 8 of 2001 Doubles teams, so FG is very nearly certain to be in the Sanex Championships, beginning 10/29, in Munich, Germany, Europe. That's a GOOD THING! A VERY GOOD THING!
So then it was on to the SEAT Open in Luxembourg, Luxembourg, Europe for Alexandra and Fusai/Grande.
(I think SEAT is an acronym (I have no idea what it expands to) which makes cars in Spain (mostly small cars) under license from Italy's Fiat (or maybe it is a division of Fiat?). If anyone can expand on this, or correct it, please e-mail me at gzimman@fusai.com - I'm a car-guy (native-Detroiter) and I want to know. Especially I wonder about any connection with Pegaso, which made some of the greatest cars ever. And I like Spain a lot, especially Andalusia.....)
ANYWAY: Alexandra was, for a while, in the Qualifying draw at the SEAT, but then wasn't, perhaps due to the SF Doubles match in Bratislava, perhaps for some other reason. Alexandra has apparently indicated, in public, that her focus lately is on preparing for the Munich Doubles, anyway.
So the SEAT became another Doubles-only event for Alexandra. Fusai/Grande, seeded #1, faced the Wild-Card team of Anne Kremer/Virginie Razzano in 1st round - both good players. And Kremer is a local (there are not many locals in a Luxembourg tournament).
Well, KR got the win: 7-6(7-5), 6-3. So FG gave them a good match, then KR won it, beating the #1 seed. Good for them! Oh well....
Even so, it looks like Fusai/Grande will play in the Championships next week. And that is VERY GOOD! They will likely be somewhere from #5 to #8, but I don't think they will be #9 or #9+ (and thus out of it).
In Munich: WIN, FG, WIN! You are this year's GREATEST Team: WIN!
And HAVE FUN!
(By the way, Kristin Grosch has recently started a Fusai site, which is here. Kristin has allowed me to post many of her pictures of Alexandra on this site, and my take on her is that she is a very nice, and good, and pretty, person (girl or woman). Her site is very well designed, and the match histories and head-to-head sections, well, they shame me. Even so, I think my site has a much better picture galley, and better commentary, especially match details from the recent majors, than hers. Anyway, nice site, Kristin! You Tweety you! Welcome! Rave On!)
Tuesday 10/30/01
Alexandra is, in fact, at the Sanex Championships this week to play Doubles with Rita. YEA!
Proof is in this pic here which is a crop of a pic of all the Doubles players this week. Look at that Fusai Grin! YEA!
This is a HUGE accomplishment for Alexandra: getting to these Championships, again, this time (1st time!) without Nathalie Tauziat (Nathalie is also there, in Singles and Doubles - WELL DONE, Nathalie!) - and, I hope, a BIG DEAL for Rita (it's her 1st time, after all!).
(This is not to imply, in any way, that Nathalie "carried" Alexandra in previous years - they seemed to me to always be a true team, very much!)
In 1st round (the Quarterfinals), probably Thursday or Friday, it will be FG (unseeded) vs. the #4 seeded team of Virginia Ruano-Pascual/Paola Suarez.
RS is a good team, and deserving of their seeding, but FG is a GREAT team!
So WIN, FG, WIN! And HAVE FUN!
And HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to both Alexandra and Rita just for being there. You, FG, belong there! And you can WIN IT ALL!
So: DO IT!
Friday 11/2/01
Today was the 1st round (Quarterfinals) Doubles at the Sanex Championships in Munich, Germany, Europe. It was #4 seeded Virginia Ruano-Pascual/Paola Suarez vs. unseeded Alexandra Fusai/Rita Grande. Well, the win went to Ruano-Pascual/Suarez: 4-6, 7-6(7-3), 6-2. Oh well....
At least until the 3rd set, however, this was clearly a close match and could have gone either way. All 4 players obviously gave the crowd a good show. YEA for that!
The details I have at this time are sketchy, but I may get a more complete report from a spectator at some later date - we'll see.....
It looks like FG went up 3-1 in the 1st set, then 4-1, then took it 6-4 - YEA! In the 2nd set it looks like FG went down a break 1-2, then were still down a break 4-5, then broke back to put the set back on serve 5-5. A hold by FG put them up 6-5, but RS also held to force the tiebreak, which went to RS: 7-3. Oh well... I have no details of the 3rd set beyond the score.
This is probably the end of the tennis-year for Alexandra, though she may crop up in some more "things" before Jan. 1. I will keep an eye peeled.
This was a good year for Alexandra! Not a great one, but a good one, fer shure! Singles were tough early on, then showed real signs of improvement these past few months. That bodes well for some real Singles successes next year! In Doubles, Alexandra and Rita seemed always on the verge of going from "very good" to "truly great" without quite getting there somehow. I have heard that their relationship is one of true friendship - full of mutual respect, and so secure that they can argue without risking "hurt feelings". And I happen to believe that a true friend is worth more than any trophy. I suspect that they will defend their title in Auckland the 1st week of January next year, then maybe they will stay together and maybe they will part. If they part I think they will remain true friends, and perhaps can both have better success with different partners. I am not making any sort of recommendation here, at all - my point is just that I think it is fair to expect both to have another very good Doubles year next year, together or apart.
Of course, every year brings frustrations, unpleasant surprises, sadness, and, yes, pain - but these things just make the good times (past, present, and future) that much sweeter, eh? Well, whatever.......
Alexandra: this year, literally thousands and thousands enjoyed watching you play great tennis - many have become new fans, many who were already fans greatly enjoyed seeing you play again. And I have no doubt that a substantial "inner circle" (ie. other players) love you very much. So: THANK YOU FOR EXISTING, ALEXANDRA!
Please have a GOOD and FUN rest of 2001, Alexandra! And a GOOD and FUN 2002! And BE HAPPY!
Now I can spend some time before January trying to get some galleries posted which have been sitting around for months (some many months) and maybe even attempt a complete redesign. Well, we'll see.....
I also plan to spend some time preparing myself, and my new (to me) sailboat for a Bermuda trip, maybe next year. It took me a year to find her - although, in a very real sense, it actually took 25 years. She is an S2 8.0C. I will give her her new name, "Marshwinds", and show her the 1st salt-water she has seen in 15 years, probably next week.
After Bermuda: ANDALUCIA! That will be FUN!
Wednesday 11/14/01
Some detail of the Munich match is now available, thanks to Kristin Grosch, a FusaiFan, who was there.
Apparently, Ruano-Pascual/Suarez won the toss and elected to receive. Rita then served and held, then Fusai/Grande got the break to go up 2-0. Then there were breaks and re-breaks to make 4-4. Then FG held and got the break on their 1st chance: 6-4. YEA!
In the 2nd set, Rita again served 1st, but this time she was broken, then RS held for a 2-0 lead. Then Alexandra held for 1-2, but then it became 1-5, possibly quickly. But then FG won 5 in a row to make 6-5 (WOW!). But then RS held, and took the tie-break (7-3), then took the 3rd set 6-2 (oh well....).
Even so, this match shows, yet again, that when Alexandra is involved 1-5 can be 6-5 before the set is over (I mean not just Alexandra, but also Fusai/Grande, obviously).
Unfortunately, at this time, I have no details of that 3rd set, but I strongly suspect that it was also, well, "dramatic". Alexandra seems to like "drama", and I have no problem with that, not at all!
Thank you, Kristin, for the details! (By the way, Kristin has recently started a new site, Fusai Fanpages, which is very nicely designed and has tons of Fusai-related data - check it out!)
Thursday 11/22/01
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ALEXANDRA!!!!!!
Here in the US, today also happens to be a national holiday called "Thanksgiving" (the date varies from year to year, but is always a Thursday in late November).
Today I am especially thankful that Alexandra Fusai is a professional tennis player - and I suspect that I am very far from alone in being thankful for that!
Happy Birthday, Alexandra!!!!
I hope you have some good cake, and chocolate - maybe Chocolate Cake!?! That would be NICE!
Blow out the candles and MAKE A WISH, Alexandra!
Monday 12/31/01
Well, 2001 had it's ups and downs, eh?
Goodbye 2001!
(By the way, tonight I am posting a little "thang" which I call, for some reason or reasons, "Even Lolita had an Uncle Gustaf, kind-of....". It is what it is. Check it out! Click here!)