- Alexandra Fusai News
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- Saturday 7/13/02
- Congratulations, Alexandra!
- I hope today is the happiest day of your life, so far!
- And I hope that there are many, many even happier days in your future!
- HAVE FUN!
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- Friday 6/28/02
- Well, today it was Wimbledon 1st Round Main Draw Mixed Doubles: Alexandra Fusai/Tom Vanhoudt (unseeded) vs. Lisa McShea/Rick Leach (unseeded).
- This was a very close and exciting match - however.....
- McShea/Leach d. Fusai/Vanhoudt: 6-4, 7-6(7-5). Oh well.....
- It went like this (Fusai/Vanhoudt served 1st): 1-0, 1-1, 2-1, 2-2, 3-2, 3-3, 3-4, 3-5, 4-5, 4-6, 1-0, 1-1, 2-1, 2-2, 3-2, 3-3, 3-4, 4-4, 5-4, 5-5, 6-5, 6-6, (0-1, ?-?, ?-?, ?-?, 1-4, 1-5, 1-6, 2-6, 3-6, 4-6, 5-6, 5-7) 6-7. Oh well.....
- Again there is only spotty detail, but there is some. In the 1st set, Fusai/Vanhoudt held sometime after 30-0, then ML held sometime after 40-0: 1-1. A hold by FV after 15-0, and a hold by ML after 40-0 and 40-15 made 2-2. Two holds after 15-0 made 3-3. Then FV, after going up 15-0, were broken sometime after that, and ML held sometime after 40-0: 3-5. Then FV went up 15-0, but it went to at least one deuce, then FV held: 4-5. ML took the set with a hold sometime after 40-15: 4-6. Oh well.....
- In the 2nd set, FV held sometime after 15-15, then ML went down 0-15 but came back to hold: 1-1. A hold by FV after 30-15, and two more holds, made 3-2. ML then went down 0-30, but held: 3-3. FV then went down 0-40, but came back to deuce, but were broken sometime after that: 3-4. Then ML went down 30-40, came back to deuce, but gave the break back sometime after that: 4-4, back on serve. FV then held, and ML did likewise, sometime after 40-0: 5-5. FV then held, and ML did also, sometime after 15-0 and 30-15: 6-6. Tie-break time!
- In the tie-break, FV went down 0-1, then 1-4 somehow. Then 1-5, 1-6 - uh-oh. Then four straight points for FV made 5-6, but a point gave the tie-break, and set, and match, to ML: 6-7(5-7). Oh well....
- This looks like it was a very, very close match - played fully to the very last point. That's GOOD, and a life-memory for the crowd. Well done, Fusai/Vanhoudt!
- So Alexandra is now done with Wimbledon for 2002: no wins, 3 losses. So it was a "bad" Wimbledon for Alexandra? Not really. Not "great", but certainly not "bad". In the Oremans match it looks like there may have been "issues" involved, although it looks like Alexandra played quite well in that match, but Oremans may have had some "special" motivation, which can help, but not on a regular basis. In the Fusai/Vis match it looks like FV played very well (except, perhaps, for the 2nd set), and both Martinez and Pierce are very "hot" this week. This match in no way changes my opinion that Fusai/Vis is a VERY GREAT team! The Fusai/Vanhoudt match, today, was very, very close - and vs. a former #1 doubles player.
- None of these three Wimbledon losses challenge the considerable recent-past indications that Alexandra is playing VERY WELL lately!
- And if Roehampton is considered part of Wimbledon then this was certainly a GOOD Wimbledon for Alexandra! Roehampton was EXCELLENT!!
- Now, Alexandra: Get Married! And I hope (!!!!) that is VERY MUCH FUN!!!! Forever!!!!
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- Thursday 6/27/02
- Well, today it was Wimbledon 1st Round Main Draw Ladies' Doubles: Alexandra Fusai/Caroline Vis (unseeded) vs. Conchita Martinez/Mary Pierce (unseeded).
- It was a nice 1st set, a not-nice 2nd set, and a very exciting 3rd set - however.....
- Martinez/Pierce d. Fusai/Vis: 2-6, 6-1, 8-6. Oh well.....
- It went like this (Martinez/Pierce served 1st): 0-1, 1-1, 2-1, 3-1, 3-2, 4-2, 5-2, 6-2, 0-1, ?-?, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, 1-5, 1-6, 1-0, 1-1, 2-1, 2-2, 3-2, 4-2, 4-3, 5-3, 5-4, 5-5, 6-5, 6-6, 6-7, 6-8. Oh well.....
- There is not a lot of detail, but there is some. In the 1st set, Martinez/Pierce held after 0-15, then Fusai/Vis held after 15-15: 1-1. Sometime after 30-40, MP were broken, then FV held after 15-0: 3-1. A hold by MP and a hold by FV (after 30-15) made 4-2. In a game which passed through deuce at least twice, MP were again broken (they had at least one hold chance), then FV held after 40-0 and 40-15 for the set: 6-2. YEA!
- In the 2nd set, MP held, then the 2nd game went through 15-15 and 30-30, but I don't know what happened, except after three games it was 1-2. FV then went down 0-15, came back to 30-15, but were broken: 1-3. A hold by MP sometime after 30-30 and 40-30 made 1-4. I don't have any details of the final two games of this set, except the set went to MP: 1-6. Oh well....
- In the 3rd set, FV held, then MP passed through 30-30 to at least one deuce, then also held: 1-1. Sometime after 15-0 FV held, then MP went down 0-15, but also held: 2-2. After 15-0 again FV held again, then MP went down 30-40 and were broken sometime after that: 4-2. The next game went through 0-15, 30-30, and 30-40, then FV gave the break back sometime after that: 4-3. Then MP went down 0-15, came back to 40-30, then were broken, obviously after at least one deuce: 5-3. Serving for the match, FV were then broken, after at least one deuce: 5-4. MP then held: 5-5. FV then went up 40-0, then finally held after at least one deuce: 6-5. MP then held, and FV went down 0-30 and were broken sometime after that: 6-7. MP held for the set, and match: 6-8. Oh well....
- Yeah, Martinez and Pierce are both playing very well this week (both unseeded, they defeated seeded players to advance to 3rd Round Singles), and it looks like it was a great show for the crowd, especially the 3rd set, of course, and I hope it was some FUN!
- Even so, well, whatever.....
- So now it's MIXED time!
- Alexandra Fusai/Tom Vanhoudt (unseeded) vs. Lisa McShea/Rick Leach (unseeded) in 1st Round Mixed Doubles is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon on Court #5.
- Have some FUN, Alexandra and Tom!
- And a WIN would be nice!
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- Wednesday 6/26/02
- Alexandra and Caroline (aka Fusai/Vis) face Martinez/Pierce in 1st Round tomorrow, the 4th match on Court #7.
- Although Martinez and Pierce are both good players, Fusai/Vis are THE TEAM!
- Win, FV, WIN! And HAVE FUN!
- AND: Alexandra is playing Mixed! That's GOOD!
- Alexandra is teaming with Tom Vanhoudt of Belgium to play Mixed. Vanhoudt is a bit older than Alexandra, and seems to be a Doubles specialist, currently Doubles ranked #56, with his highest Doubles ranking (#36) coming less than a year ago (9/10/01). This seems to be very much a "serious" Doubles pairing. That's GOOD!
- In 1st Round it will be Fusai/Vanhoudt vs. Lisa McShea (AUS)/Rick Leach (USA), maybe Friday. Leach is 37-years-old, but currently ranked #18 in Doubles (another Doubles specialist), and a former #1 in Doubles. McShea is Alexandra's age, ranked #77 in Doubles (and seems to be tending toward being a Doubles specialist).
- This looks like a "serious" (and FUN!) 1st Round for both teams.
- Win, "other FV", WIN! And HAVE FUN!
- NOW: Kevin Bacon, and History, require me to document what follows.
- Alexandra's Mixed partner, Tom Vanhoudt, was also in the Gentleman's Doubles, teamed with fellow veteran, and Doubles specialist, Martin Rodriquez of Argentina. Although almost certainly favored, by virtue of experience and rankings, Vanhoudt/Rodriquez lost in 1st Round to the Qualifying team of Amir Hadad of Israel/Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi of Pakistan, in straight sets: 7-5, 7-6(7-5), 7-6(7-2). Close!
- Hadad/Qureshi had Qualified with victories of 6-4, 7-6(9-7) and 6-7(3-7), 6-3, 6-7(5-7), 7-6(7-3), 15-13.
- (Wow.)
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- Monday 6/24/02
- Well, Alexandra had kind-of a bad day today in London, on-court at least. Off-court, I hope Alexandra had an EXCELLENT day, of course!
- Anyway: today, in 1st Round Wimbledon Main Draw Singles, it was Miriam Oremans d. Alexandra Fusai: 6-3, 6-4. Oh well....
- Basically, Alexandra got off to a good start in both sets, but then Oremans came roaring back. Oh well....
- It went like this (Oremans served 1st): 1-0, 2-0, 2-1, 3-1, 3-2, 3-3, 3-4, 3-5, 3-6, 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, 3-1, 3-2, 3-3, 3-4, 3-5, 4-5, 4-6. Oh well....
- The Java Scoreboard provided some detail - other detail came from the regular scoreboard, and from the Dutch forum at WTAworld.
- So: Oremans went down 15-30, then 15-40, then was broken sometime after that: 1-0. Alexandra then went down 0-15, came back to 40-15, then it was 40-30, and AF held sometime after that: 2-0. Oremans then held in identical fashion: 2-1. Alexandra then held like this: 15-0, 15-15, 30-15, 40-15, hold: 3-1. The next game went: 0-15, 0-30, 15-30, 15-40, 30-40, deuce, add-AF, deuce, add-MO, hold: 3-2. (Alexandra had 3 break chances - after this game, the tide seemed to change, for this set at least.) Then AF went down 0-15, then it was 15-15, then 15-30, then deuce, then, sometime after that, break: 3-3, back on serve. MO then held after 30-15 and 40-15: 3-4. Then AF was broken sometime after 0-30, 15-30, and 15-40: 3-5. MO held for the set sometime after 40-15: 3-6. Oh well....
- In the 2nd set, AF went down 0-15, then 15-40, then came back to deuce, but then it was add-MO, but then another deuce, than add-AF, then hold: 1-0. MO was then broken sometime after 0-40 and 15-40: 2-0. Alexandra held sometime after 15-15 and 30-15: 3-0. Sometime after 40-15 MO held, then sometime after 15-30 AF was broken: 3-2, back on serve. MO then held sometime after 0-15 and 30-15, and went up a break sometime after 15-15, 30-30, and 30-40: 3-4. MO then went down 0-30, came back to 40-30, then held sometime after deuce: 3-5. Alexandra then went up 40-0, and held, sometime after 40-15: 4-5. The final game went through 0-15, 15-15, 30-15, 40-15, then Oremans held for the set, and match, sometime after that: 4-6. Oh well....
- Last Thursday, Alexandra won 5-in-a-row in both sets of her match - today it was Oremans who did that. Huh.....
- This loss today, although very much an "oh well" event, in no way diminishes the tremendous and wonderful and very impressive achievement of last week's Wimbledon Qualifying at Roehampton. That was GREAT and NICE, Alexandra! Today was just "oh well".
- (By the way: there is a "rumor" that Oremans let it be known that if she lost today then she was going to retire, forever and completely, on the spot. If that is true, and Alexandra was aware of it, and even if Oremans was just "being honest", I think that is a very nasty "head game" to play on a nice girl like Alexandra. I mean, "Let me win or my fans will HATE YOU ALWAYS!". Come on! If she did that, I hope Oremans wonders, right now, and forever, if she "really" won today. That **** probably won't work on Shaughnessy, her next opponent - if she tries it I think she can expect many 1st serves aimed directly at her head!)
- (In fairness, it doesn't really look like Alexandra "gave it away". Even so, the subconscious is a powerful thing....)
- Anyway: Now it's DOUBLES TIME! Doubles are FUN!
- In 1st Round, Fusai/Vis face Martinez/Pierce, maybe Wednesday.
- Win, FV, WIN! You are a GREAT Team!
- (And Mixed can be FUN, too, Alexandra!)
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- Friday 6/21/02
- Alexandra's opponent in Wimbledon 1st Round Main Draw Singles will be Miriam Oremans of The Netherlands, probably Monday or Tuesday.
- Oremans' stats are very similar to Alexandra's, almost eeriely so. Oremans is currently WTA-ranked #128.
- This looks like a very win-able match for Alexandra, especially considering how VERY WELL she has been playing lately! I suspect neither player will be "favored", per se, but, early in the match, the crowd will "favor" Alexandra!
- So: WIN IT, Alexandra! And HAVE FUN!
- (By the way, this week I have read a book called "Ladies of the Court" - subtitled "Grace and Disgrace on the Women's Tennis Tour" by Michael Mewshaw. Although it is very much about the "dark side", and mostly concerns 1991, it is very well written and interesting. Recommended.)
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- Thursday 6/20/02
- Big Drama on Court #1 at Roehampton today!
- ALEXANDRA HAS QUALIFIED for Wimbledon! YEA!
- In 3rd (ie. Final) Round Wimbledon Qualifying at Roehampton, today, it was Alexandra Fusai (seeded #22) d. Shinobu Asagoe (seeded #1): 6-2, 6-4. YEA!
- It went like this (Asagoe served 1st): 0-1, 1-1, 1-2, 2-2, 3-2, 4-2, 5-2, 6-2, 0-1, 0-2, 0-3, 1-3, 1-4, 2-4, 3-4, 4-4, 5-4, 6-4. YEA!
- The Java Scoreboard was again stingy with point-scores, but the regular scoreboard provided some additional details - even so, most point-scores were missing. Oh well.... (I suspect Carnivore.)
- In the 1st set, Asagoe held, then Alexandra did likewise, sometime after 30-15: 1-1. SA then went down 0-30, but came back to 40-30 and held sometime after that: 1-2. Alexandra then held (after 15-15), got the break (after 0-15), then held, broke again, and held (after 30-0) for the set: 6-2. YEA! (Five games in a row: WOW!)
- The lack of detail in this set prevents me from really drawing any valid conclusions. Perhaps Asagoe was a bit "off"? My hunch, however, is that Asagoe did not play "badly", it was just that Alexandra played better, much better. But, I don't know....
- In the 2nd set, Asagoe held, then broke Alexandra (through 15-15, 30-30, and 30-40), then held again: 0-3. AF then held (after 15-0 and 30-15) and SA did likewise (sometime after 15-30 and 40-30): 1-4. Alexandra then went down 15-30, came back to 30-30, then it went to deuce, then Alexandra held sometime after that: 2-4. A break put the set back on-serve, 3-4, then AF went up 30-15, then down 30-40, then held (resisting at least one break-point): 4-4. A break sometime after 15-15, 15-30, and 30-40, gave Alexandra the opportunity to serve for the set, and match, which she did, passing through 15-15, 30-15, and 40-30, and holding sometime after that: 6-4. YEA! (Five games in a row, again! DOUBLE WOW!!)
- The better detail in this set seems to show Asagoe fighting like a Ninja to the last point (as expected), and not playing "badly", but Alexandra just playing better, probably much better (except, perhaps, in the first 3 games of this set). Maybe.
- It cannot be understated what a significant and meaningful accomplishment these 3 Qualifying victories are for Alexandra. All 3 were very impressively done, and over 3 truly "real" players (including the #1 seed!). While it is profoundly hoped that even more success lies ahead for Alexandra in the Wimbledon Main Draw (that means, Alexandra, please don't think, "OK, now I've done it, now I'm done!"), to be one of the only 12 (out of 96) "winners" of what is basically the Roehampton "tournament" is something to be very, very proud of. (That means: YES, Alexandra, YOU'VE DONE IT! But you're not done!)
- There may have been "folks" (ie. Brits) who noted Alexandra's Wild-Card into Roland Garros, although her excellent performance in 1st Round there (although she lost), should have silenced them. That Wild-Card was entirely appropriate, based on recent victories (especially in Charleston), and her being a Favorite Daughter of France, and her extraordinary Beauty and Spirit (qualities which the French especially value, thank you very much!). (Even so, I still wonder, if Alexandra had had to Qualify there, which she certainly probably would have done, and could have accepted that requirement as somehow not in any way an insult, if she might have done even better in the Main Draw there.....)
- It is unknown to me at this time who Alexandra will face in 1st Round at Wimbledon. However, there is really something even more important going on here. By Qualifying, hundreds, and perhaps thousands, of very, very lucky people at Wimbledon will see the Prettiest girl in all of tennis, with the most amazing Spirit, play at least one Singles match. Win or lose, her magnificent and magical Smile will remain in their memories forever. That's a GOOD THING!
- HAVE FUN, Alexandra! (And WIN again, baby!) Allez Fusai!
- Meanwhile, also at Wimbledon, Alexandra is teaming with Caroline Vis (as usual this year, and that's a GOOD THING, too!) in Main Draw Women's Doubles. In 1st Round it will be vs. Conchita Martinez/Mary Pierce. Martinez and Pierce are good players, of course, but are they a better TEAM than Fusai/Vis? Not bloody likely! FV could well get the Title at Wimbledon this year! (VERY bloody likely!)
- Win, Fusai/Vis, WIN! And HAVE FUN!
- (And Alexandra might be playing Mixed, as well. That could be FUN!)
- Hooray, Alexandra! You're a WINNER!
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- Wednesday 6/19/02
- GOOD NEWS from Roehampton!
- Today was 2nd Round Wimbledon Qualifying: Alexandra Fusai d. Angelika Bachmann: 6-3, 6-2. WOW! YEA!
- It went like this (Alexandra served 1st): 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, 3-1, 3-2, 4-2, 5-2, 5-3, 6-3, 1-0, 2-0, 2-1, 3-1, 3-2, 4-2, 5-2, 6-2. YEA!
- The Java Scoreboard produced more point-scores than yesterday, but most were missing.
- In the 1st set, Alexandra held sometime after 30-0, then got a break, then held again, also sometime after 30-0: 3-0. AB then went up 40-15, but AF took it to deuce at least once, but AB held: 3-1. Then AF was broken, but broke right back in a game that went 15-0, 30-40, then through at least one deuce: 4-2. Alexandra held for 5-2 (sometime after 40-0), then AB held (sometime after 30-0), then AF held for the set (sometime after 30-30): 6-3. YEA!
- While this set looks like it had close moments, mostly it looks like Alexandra was in charge basically throughout. But, I don't know....
- In the 2nd set, Alexandra got the break sometime after 0-40, then held: 2-0. Then AB held after 30-0 and 30-15: 2-1. AF then held after 30-0, then AB did likewise, despite going down 0-15: 3-2. Alexandra then held, got another break in a game that went through 15-30 and 30-30, then held for the set, and match: 6-2. YEA!
- This set seems to show Alexandra in complete control, with Bachmann totally out of it. Maybe.
- These 2 Qualifying victories (so far!) provide firm evidence that Alexandra is continuing to play VERY well! Although both opponents were ranked 200ish, these were not "junk" players! It may be that Pizzichini played better than Bachmann, but it may also be that Alexandra played better against Bachmann than against Pizzichini. In the 1st Round, Alexandra showed that she can come back impressively from what may have been a shaky start, even under what looked like considerable pressure. In the 2nd Round (assuming Bachmann is not injured or something), Alexandra showed that her current ranking is a complete crock. EXCELLENT victories, Alexandra!
- In the 3rd (ie. Final) Round of Wimbledon Qualifying (tomorrow?), it will be Alexandra Fusai (seeded #22) vs. Shinobu Asagoe (seeded #1).
- Some may think it a bit of a shame that Alexandra will have to defeat the #1 seed to Qualify, but when Alexandra wins it will be very sweet, and significant.
- Asagoe's route to this point has been similar to Alexandra's, with a long 1st Round (longer than Alexandra's) and a short 2nd Round (shorter than Alexandra's). Although not much younger than Alexandra, Asagoe seems to more closely resemble the "inexperienced but shows potential" Bachmann (although with more experience, and probably more potential) than she does the "veteran" Pizzichini. In their only previous meeting (that I know of) Asagoe prevailed in 2 sets, but they were both tie-breaks (ie. very close).
- My hunch is that it is quite important to both these players to Qualify here, but that, despite Asagoe's WTA ranking of #88, Alexandra is the better player. Alexandra's considerable cleverness, and enormous Spirit, will prevail, although Asagoe will likely fight to the very last point (so will Alexandra!).
- Sometimes "win or lose" is not as important as, "Did I give it all I've got today?". If you gave it all you've got, and still lose, then appropriate pride can wash away any sadness. I hope Shinobu finds comfort in this thought.
- Meanwhile, I expect the crowd will see another GREAT match! And, hopefully, everyone will have MUCH FUN!
- Allez Fusai! Win again, baby!
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- Tuesday 6/18/02
- Alexandra had a NICE "test" today at 1st Round Wimbledon Qualifying in Roehampton!
- It was Alexandra Fusai d. Gloria Pizzichini: 3-6, 6-3, 6-1. YEA!
- It went like this (Pizzichini served 1st): 0-1, 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 2-3, 2-4, 2-5, 3-5, 3-6, 1-0, ?-?, 2-1, 3-1, 4-1, 4-2, 4-3, 5-3, 6-3, 1-0, 2-0, 2-1, 3-1, 4-1, 5-1, 6-1. YEA!
- The Java Scoreboard produced only occasional point-scores, but some enhanced detail can be inferred.
- In the 1st set, GP held sometime after 40-30, then AF went down 30-40, but held sometime after deuce: 1-1. GP then held for 1-2, and AF was broken, sometime after deuce: 1-3. Then GP went up 30-15, but AF got the break back, sometime after deuce: 2-3, back on serve. Then AF went up 40-15, but was broken again, sometime after deuce: 2-4. Then GP went down 15-30, then 30-40, but held, sometime after deuce: 2-5. AF then held for 3-5, but GP also held, sometime after 30-0, for the 1st set: 3-6. Oh well....
- This set was actually quite close, with at least 5 games passing through deuce. Alexandra won 2 of those 5, and had at least 1 game point in another 2 of them. Although GP took the set, there was really no indication that Alexandra was playing badly. But, I don't know....
- In the 2nd set, AF held for 1-0, then I don't know what happened in the 2nd game, but then it was 2-1 for AF. AF then got a break after 15-0 and 15-30, then held: 4-1. Then GP went down 0-15, but held sometime after deuce, then got the break back sometime after 0-30: 4-3, back on serve. But AF got the break back sometime after 0-15, then held for the set: 6-3. YEA!
- This set showed some good tenacity from Alexandra, although it looked like Pizzichini was still hanging in there. Maybe.
- In the 3rd set, GP was broken, sometime after 30-30, then AF went up 30-15, then held sometime after deuce: 2-0. GP then held sometime after 15-15, then AF went down 0-30, but held: 3-1. GP was then broken, AF held after 0-15 and 30-30, and GP was broken again to give the set, and match to AF: 6-1. YEA!
- This 3rd set was probably closer than the score. Give Pizzichini credit for keeping up the good fight, but mostly give Alexandra credit for pulling out what looked like quite a tough one - and in impressive fashion! It took about 1.5 hours. (Prior to today, Pizzichini had taken 3 out of 4 against Alexandra.)
- (There are some statistics posted at the Wimbledon web-site, but a close examination of them reveals them to be absurd.)
- Tomorrow, the 1st match on Court #12 (11am London time) will be Alexandra Fusai (seeded #22) vs. Angelika Bachmann (unseeded) in 2nd Round Wimbledon Qualifying.
- Bachmann had an even tougher test than Alexandra today, also coming back from a set down. She is WTA-ranked #196, and although she is 23-years-old, she seems to fall into the "inexperienced but shows potential" category of someone younger than that, even much younger.
- Alexandra will again be "favored" tomorrow. It may be another "test", maybe even more than today was, or maybe Alexandra will play with all her capability, and Bachmann will be humbled by the much, much better player: Alexandra. We'll see....
- Either way, the crowd will see a GREAT match! And, hopefully, everyone will have MUCH FUN!
- Allez Fusai! Win again, baby!
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- Monday 6/17/02
- Tomorrow, in 1st Round Wimbledon Qualifying (at Roehampton, actually), it will be Alexandra Fusai (seeded #22) vs. Gloria Pizzichini (unseeded), the 3rd match on Court #15.
- Pizzichini is just a bit younger than Alexandra, but has had a far less successful career than Alexandra (about 1/4th the earnings), and her current ranking of #200 is far above Alexandra's #143.
- And Alexandra's being seeded is very nice! (And appropriate!)
- So Alexandra will be "expected" to win. But Pizzichini will probably try very hard to prevent that, and I suspect that Alexandra will discover that she will very much have to "earn" this win. That's OK! On the other hand, Alexandra is playing so very well lately that she might "blow away" Pizzichini in a hurry! That would be OK, too! Either way, the crowd will see an excellent match! And everyone will have FUN!
- Allez Fusai! Win this, baby!
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- Saturday 6/15/02
- Today, in preparation for Wimbledon, Alexandra played 1st Round Qualifying at the Britannic Asset Management International Championships in Eastbourne, England, UK, Europe.
- It was Alexandra Fusai vs. Amy Frazier (AF vs. AF!).
- Guess what? AF won! But it was Frazier d. Fusai: 6-3, 6-3. Oh well.....
- Frazier is a very good and experienced player (from Michigan!), very smart, and WTA-ranked #76. So this result is not particularly shocking, and in no way tragic, especially considering that Wimbledon Qualifying starts in 2 or 3 days, and Frazier won't have to qualify, while Alexandra will.
- It is probably appropriate to assume that Fusai/Vis will not be playing Eastbourne - but will be playing Wimbledon! (Not next week, though - Fusai/Vis will be Main Draw!)
- There was a Live Scoreboard, but it was quite pathetic. It showed no individual points, just gave an occasional game-score update. There were indications that it used Microsoft technology, and as everyone knows (or should), Microsoft technology is garbage. It showed Alexandra up 1-0, then 3-2, in the 1st set, then 2-1 in the 2nd set. Then it showed Alexandra up 5-2 in the 2nd. This was, obviously, what Microsoft calls a "feature".
- So now it's on to Wimbledon!
- Wimbledon Qualifying (in Roehampton, actually) is no picnic, but it can certainly be FUN! My clear hunch is that Alexandra will Qualify - although she may well be "tested". But being "tested" can be a good thing!
- Allez Alexandra!
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- Tuesday 6/11/02
- Well, I've looked and looked, and it seems that Alexandra is not playing pro tennis this week.
- Perhaps she is doing wedding prep?
- YEP: A so-far reliable source, Alexandra-fan "Lalejand", has informed me that a French tennis magazine (called "Tennis Magazine") has reported that Alexandra will marry David Crochu in about a month - on Saturday, July 13th.
- CONGRATULATIONS ALEXANDRA!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Of course I hope, TRULY and PURELY, and VERY VERY MUCH, that Alexandra and David will be VERY VERY HAPPY, for ever and ever.
- I know nothing of David, except he might be a Scientist, or Engineer, who cares greatly about the Environment, and Pollution, and has considerable skills to protect people from all the crap that the greedies are making us eat and drink and breathe. Or maybe that's not him. Maybe he's a Banker or Salesman or Laborer, or something. I don't know.....
- David must be VERY SPECIAL, though, or Alexandra wouldn't be marrying him, eh? And I'm sure he knows how VERY SPECIAL Alexandra is - probably more than anyone, or soon will.
- I like the thought of Alexandra's daughter playing pro tennis someday. Maybe I will somehow live long enough to see that daughter's parents looking so very proud when she wins a Juniors or Pro match somewhere. Could Alexandra's daughter be as beautiful as Alexandra? Is that possible? What is very possible, though, is that Alexandra's daughter could well have Alexandra's incredible and magnificent and wonderful SPIRIT!
- If Alexandra's daughter is a Scientist, or Engineer, or whatever, I have no problem with that, though, truly!
- CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN ALEXANDRA!!!!!!
- Know this, though: wife-career can make tennis-career seem like a GAME!
- HAVE FUN!
- "Love is all you need....."
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- Go:
to previous AF News: click here!