- Alexandra Fusai News
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- Saturday 8/31/02
- Well, it did indeed look like "a match of equals" for 2 sets - then it didn't. Oh well....
- Today, in 2nd Round Women's Doubles at the US Open, it was Virginia Ruano Pascual/Paola Suarez (seeded #2) d. Alexandra Fusai/Caroline Vis (unseeded): 5-7, 6-4, 6-1. Oh well....
- It went like this (Alexandra served 1st): 0-1, 0-2, 1-2, 2-2, 3-2, 3-3, 3-4, 3-5, 4-5, 5-5, 6-5, 7-5, 1-0, 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 2-3, 2-4, 3-4, 3-5, 4-5, 4-6, 1-0, 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, 1-5, 1-6. Oh well.... It took almost 2 hours. It was reportedly very windy.
- Scoring for the 1st two games was sporadic, but after that it seemed that Java Scoreboard reported every point, very many of which seemed very long.
- In the 1st set: Sometime after 30-30 Alexandra was broken: 0-1. Then PS went down 0-15, came back to 40-30, and held sometime after deuce: 0-2. Caroline held at love(!) and the next game went 15-0, 15-15, 30-15, 30-30, 30-40, break: 2-2. Alexandra then went up 40-0 and held at 15: 3-2. PS then went up 15-0, but FV came back to 15-40 (2 break chances for 4-2), but PS came back to deuce, add-PS, deuce, add-PS, hold: 3-3. Caroline then went down 0-30, got a point, but was broken after 15-40: 3-4. PS then went up 15-0, FV evened it, but PS held after 40-15: 3-5. Then Alexandra went up 30-0, PS got a point, then it was hold after 40-15: 4-5. The next game went 15-0, 15-15, 30-15, 30-30, 40-30, deuce, add-FV, break, and then Caroline held at love(!): 6-5. PS then went down 0-30, came back to 15-30, but it was 1st set to Fusai/Vis after 15-40: 7-5. YEA! (FV won the last 4 games!)
- In the 2nd set: Alexandra went up 40-0, then held at 15: 1-0. The 2nd game went 15-0, 15-15, 30-15, 30-30, 40-30, hold: 1-1. Then Caroline went down 0-40, and was broken at 15, and PS held at love: 1-3. Alexandra then went down 0-15, came back to 30-15, then it was 30-30, 40-30, hold: 2-3. The next game went 15-0, 15-15, 30-15, 30-30, 30-40 (break chance for FV!), deuce, add-PS, hold: 2-4. Caroline then went up 15-0, then down 15-30, then up 40-30, then held: 3-4. PS then went up 15-0, FV evened it, then PS held after 40-15: 3-5. The next game went 15-0, 15-15, 30-15, 30-30, 40-30, and Alexandra held for 4-5. PS then went down 0-15, then it went 15-15, 15-30, 30-30, 40-30, hold: 4-6. Oh well. So it's one set all - let's play another set!
- In the 3rd set: Caroline went up 15-0, PS came back to 15-15, but it was a hold after 40-15: 1-0. PS then went up 40-0, held at 15, and Alexandra was broken at love: 1-2. PS then went up 30-0, FV got a point, but it was another hold at 15: 1-3. Caroline then went down 0-30, came back to 30-30, but was broken after 30-40: 1-4. PS then went down 0-30, but held with 4 straight points: 1-5. Alexandra then went down 0-30, came back to 30-30, but was broken after 30-40: 1-6. Match to PS. Oh well.....
- (By the way, my talk of "Alexandra held..." and "Caroline held..." is not particularly meaningful. I'm certain that all the games were truly Fusai/Vis games, regardless of who was serving.)
- For the first 3/4ths of this match it looks like it was 2 teams, both of great ability, both playing very well. So it was probably a very good show for the crowd, except perhaps for the last few minutes. Crowds like these, who have seen Fusai/Vis play, are no doubt well aware of their greatness, but it is unfortunate that circumstances (such as facing the #2 seeds in 2nd Round) sometimes seem to prevent them from displaying that greatness adequately. Well, whatever....
- You did fine today, Alexandra - really quite impressive! (You, too, Caroline!)
- So this years US Open was OK for Alexandra - not great, but OK. The Singles match, against a good player, who was on a "hot streak" besides, showed that Alexandra continues to play excellent Singles. That's OK! The 1st Round Doubles showed that Fusai/Vis can win big in what was, actually, a semi-close match. That's OK! And the 2nd Round Doubles showed that Fusai/Vis can go toe-to-toe against some of the very best in the world. That's OK!
- Allez Fusai! Hooray!
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- Wednesday 8/28/02
- GOOD NEWS from New York!
- Today, in 1st Round Women's Doubles at the US Open, it was Alexandra Fusai/Caroline Vis (unseeded) d. Rika Hiraki/Jelena Kostanic (unseeded): 6-2, 6-0. YEA! And WOW!
- It went like this (Fusai/Vis served 1st): 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, 3-1, 4-1, 4-2, 5-2, 6-2, 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, 4-0, 5-0, 6-0. YEA! It took about an hour.
- Scoring for the 1st three games was sporadic, but after that it seemed that Java Scoreboard reported every point.
- In the 1st set: Sometime after 40-0 Fusai/Vis held for 1-0, then Hiraki/Kostanic were broken: 2-0. Then, sometime after 15-15 and 30-15 FV held again: 3-0. HK then went down 0-15, came back to 30-15, then it was 30-30, 40-30, deuce, add-HK, deuce, add-HK, hold: 3-1. The next game went 0-15, 15-15, 15-30, 30-30, 40-30, deuce, add-FV, hold: 4-1. The next game progessed identically, but without the deuce and add: 4-2. (This game seemed to have especially long points.) FV then went down 0-30, came back to 40-30, then held after a deuce: 5-2. A break at love(!) gave the set to FV: 6-2. YEA!
- In the 2nd set: Fusai/Vis held at love(!) for 1-0, then Hiraki/Kostanic went up 15-0, then down 15-40, came back to deuce, then it went like this: add-HK, deuce, add-FV, deuce, add-FV, break: 2-0. (This game also seemed to have especially long points.) FV then went down 0-15, came back to 40-15, and held after 40-30: 3-0. HK then went down 0-40, came back to deuce, then it was add-HK, deuce, add-HK, deuce, add-FV, break: 4-0. FV then went up 30-0, HK came back to 30-30, then FV held after 40-30: 5-0. A break at love(!) gave the set, and match, to Fusai/Vis: 6-0. YEA!
- This match does look like it was a good bit closer than the score indicates, with Hiraki/Kostanic playing quite well when they were serving, but Fusai/Vis playing VERY well, both serving and receiving (especially serving).
- Hopefully, Fusai/Vis can maintain this level of play, or even take it up a notch, for 2nd Round. It will be vs. the #2 seeds, Virginia Ruano Pascual/Paola Suarez (WTA ranked #3 and #4), maybe Friday. A match of equals, eh? And a chance for FV to get a nice upset!
- Win again, Fusai/Vis, WIN AGAIN!
- Excellent match today, Alexandra and Caroline! EXCELLENT!
- (By the way: Alexandra is not in the Mixed Draw, apparently deciding to concentrate on "regular" Doubles. I'm OK with that!)
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- Tuesday 8/27/02
- The EXCELLENT Team of Alexandra Fusai/Caroline Vis are scheduled to play Main Draw 1st Round (unseeded) tomorrow (weather permitting) at the US Open.
- It is to be vs. Rika Hiraki/Jelena Kostanic, on Court 17, the 5th (and final) match of the day on that court.
- (I wish I still had my LearJet - but it's in the pawnshop. Oh well.... Just kidding!)
- Hiraki/Kostanic are not "bad" players, by any means, but they are not, at all, really, in the same "league" as Fusai/Vis. They will see it as a chance for a CONSIDERABLE upset, with every game won a major victory.
- Meanwhile: I hope Fusai/Vis see it as a rematch of the Raymond/Stubbs Final in Charleston, and play full-blast. I remember that match as a very FUN match, except for the last few minutes. This match, tomorrow, will be FUN to the last point.
- The crowd will learn that 2nd Round Fusai/Vis will be a match NOT TO BE MISSED!
- A good run at this year's US Open will do much to put Fusai/Vis into the Top 8 Teams for the year-end Championships.
- Tomorrow will be all about who has more "want to win" - that will be Fusai/Vis!
- Alexandra and Caroline: HAVE FUN! And WIN!
- (The situation with Mixed is still unreleased, as near as I can tell. My hunch is that Alexandra will also play Mixed. We'll see...)
- Allez Fusai! Allez Fusai/Vis!
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- Wednesday 8/21/02
- Well, at least it was clearly VERY EXCITING for the crowd......
- Today (mostly tonight actually), in 1st Round Singles Qualifying at the US Open, it was Miho Saeki d. Alexandra Fusai: 7-6(7-2), 3-6, 7-5. Oh well....
- It took about 3 hours. Probably at least half of it was played under lights (the latter half, eh?).
- It went like this (MS served 1st): ?-?, 1-1, ?-?, ?-?, 3-2, 3-3, 3-4, 4-4, 4-5, 5-5, 6-5, 6-6, (0-1, 0-2, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, 2-4, 2-5, 2-6, 2-7) 6-7, 1-0, 1-1, 1-2, 2-2, 3-2, 4-2, 5-2, 5-3, 6-3, 1-0, 2-0, 2-1, 3-1, 3-2, 4-2, 4-3, 5-3, 5-4, 5-5, 5-6, 5-7. Oh well....
- The details on the Java Scoreboard (and regular Scoreboard) came very erratically in the 1st set, then the tie-break was clear, then from the 2nd game of the 2nd set it seemed every point got posted. Such is the strangeness of current technology, eh?
- In more detail: the 1st game passed through 30-30 to at least one deuce, then I don't know, except that after the 2nd game it was 1-1. In the 3rd game MS went up 40-30, but I don't know what followed, nor do I have any detail of the next game, but then Alexandra was up a break, 3-2. Alexandra couldn't hold, though, so it was then 3-3, and MS held for 3-4. Then Alexandra held after passing through 15-15, 30-30, and at least one deuce: 4-4. Then MS held sometime after 0-15, 30-30, and 40-30: 4-5. Alexandra then held sometime after 40-30 for 5-5, then went up a break 6-5 (serving for the set), then passed through 30-30 and at least one deuce, but was broken: 6-6. The tie-break went as described above (no comment): 6-7. Oh well....
- In the 2nd set, Alexandra held (unknown details) for 1-0, then MS went through 0-15, 15-15, 30-15, 40-15, 40-30, and held for 1-1. Alexandra then went through 0-15, 0-30, 15-30, 15-40, 30-40, and was broken: 1-2. But Alexandra has SPIRIT (have I mentioned that before?), and the next game went 0-15, 15-15, 15-30, 30-30, 40-30, deuce, add-AF, break: 2-2, back on serve. Alexandra then went up 40-0, and finally held at 30 for 3-2, then broke at love(!) for 4-2. NICE! Then Alexandra went down 0-30, came back to 40-30, than held after a deuce for 5-2. MS then held on her 3rd chance, as follows: 15-0, 15-15, 30-15, 40-15, 40-30, deuce, add-MS, hold: 5-3. Alexandra then held for the set like this: 15-0, 15-15, 30-15, 40-15, 40-30, hold: 6-3. YEA!
- So it's one set all.... That's OK!
- In the 3rd set: MS went down 0-30, came back to 30-30, then was broken: 1-0. Then Alexandra went up 30-0, but then it was 30-30, then Alexandra held: 2-0. MS then held on a 2nd chance like this: 0-15, 15-15, 30-15, 40-15, 40-30, hold: 2-1. Alexandra then held on a 3rd chance like this: 0-15, 15-15, 30-15, 40-15, 40-30, deuce, add-AF, hold: 3-1. MS then held on 1st chance: 15-0, 15-15, 15-30, 30-30, 40-30, hold: 3-2. Alexandra then held in IDENTICAL fashion: 4-2. MS then held like this: 15-0, 15-15, 30-15, 40-15, hold: 4-3. Then Alexandra held at love(!): 5-3. MS then held like this: 0-15, 15-15, 15-30, 30-30, 40-30, hold: 5-4. Then Alexandra, serving for the match, was broken at love (huh?): 5-5, back on serve. The next game, clearly very long, was a major battle. Alexandra had two break chances, but MS held, as follows: 0-15, 15-15, 30-15, 30-30, 30-40, deuce, add-AF, deuce, add-MS, deuce, add-MS, hold: 5-6. In the final game, another battle, Alexandra had one hold chance. It went like this: 15-0, 15-15, 15-30, 30-30, 40-30, deuce, add-MS, deuce, add-MS, break: 5-7. Oh well....
- Saeki had a very good run in the Bronx last week, so she is "hot". I had hoped she was also "tired", and that seemed a possibility in the 2nd set, but I guess not. She is apparently still "hot". Alexandra, meanwhile, clearly fought to the very last point, and almost certainly played very well. That's GOOD!
- And WHAT A SHOW for the crowd! And, ultimately, isn't "the crowd" what it's all about? It's just a show, a game, entertainment, eh? Both gave VERY MUCH to "the crowd" today! GOOD for both of you!
- My hunch tonight is that many in that crowd today (tonight) will be at Alexandra's US Open Doubles matches - and they will be cheering, loudly(!), for Alexandra!
- Alexandra lost today - but tomorrow there will be many more Alexandra fans than there were yesterday. That's GOOD! Alexandra GAVE today! Thank you, Alexandra! And I suspect the handshake at the net tonight was a very HONEST handshake! Giving your peers a good match is also GOOD, Alexandra!
- While I would have liked very much to be there today, being 1000 miles away has it's advantages: I can yell myself hoarse during the match (I did), and I can say this, which I couldn't do if I were there: "BIG HUG, Alexandra! You da BABE!"
- So now it's DOUBLES TIME!
- Fusai/Vis (I hope!) will be in the Main Draw - and they are due (overdue?) to show the amazing abilities I saw in Charleston in April. Fusai/Vis can do AMAZING things in New York, this year. Win, Fusai/Vis, WIN!
- And HAVE FUN!
- And Alexandra will probably(?) play Mixed. Mixed is FUN! Win, Alexandra, WIN!
- Alexandra: ya done FINE today!
- Allez Fusai!
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- Monday 8/19/02
- This week (and, hopefully, the two after this one), Alexandra is at the US Open in New York, New York, USA, North America.
- In 1st Round Singles Qualifying it will be Alexandra Fusai (unseeded, WTA ranked #142) vs. Miho Saeki (unseeded, WTA ranked #188), probably Wednesday.
- Saeki is only a bit younger than Alexandra, but has had a much less successful career, although she does seem to be playing fairly well lately.
- Alexandra will be "favored", and rightly so. Alexandra is clearly a much better player than her current ranking indicates, Saeki probably is also, but Alexandra is almost certainly a better player than Saeki, and by a fair margin. Hopefully, this match will demonstrate that.
- While this could be a "walk in the park" romp for Alexandra, it is probably more likely that it will be at least a bit close and "challenging" for Alexandra. That's OK!
- Alexandra will WIN!
- And HAVE FUN!
- Allez Fusai! You da BABE!
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- Tuesday 8/13/02
- Well, it looks like Alexandra had kind-of a tough day on-court today. (Of course, I hope it was a GREAT day, off-court!)
- Today, in 1st Round Main Draw Doubles, it was Elena Dementieva/Janette Husarova (seeded #5) d. Alexandra Fusai/Caroline Vis (unseeded): 6-2, 6-0. Oh well....
- Not an upset - even so: oh well....
- It went like this (FV served 1st): 0-1, 0-2, 1-2, 2-2, 2-3, 2-4, 2-5, 2-6, ...., 0-6. Oh well....
- Fusai/Vis seemed to be "in it" for only a few games - mostly it seemed FV were "out of it". Stuff happens. Oh well....
- In the 1st set, FV went down 0-30, came back to 15-30, but were then broken: 0-1. DH then held at love: 0-2. FV then held: 0-15, 15-15, 30-15, 30-30, 40-30, hold: 1-2. The next game (DH serving) went: 15-0, 15-15, 30-15, 30-30, 30-40, break: 2-2, back on serve. Then FV went down 0-15, came back to 15-15, but were broken: 2-3. The next game seemed to have many long points - it went like this (DH serving): 15-0, 15-15, 30-15, 30-30, 40-30, hold: 2-4. Then FV went down 0-15, came back to 15-15, but were broken: 2-5. The next game seemed to have some FV Spirit in it - with DH serving for the set it went 0-15, 0-30, 15-30, 30-30, 40-30, deuce, add-DH, deuce, add-DH, deuce, add-FV, deuce, add-DH, hold: 2-6. There seemed to be many long points in this game - even so: FV had only 1 break-point, DH had 4 set-points. Oh well....
- In the 2nd set, FV went down 0-30, came back to 30-30, but were then broken: 0-1. The next game (DH serving) went 15-0, 15-15, 30-15, 30-30, 40-30, hold: 0-2. FV then went down 0-30, came back to 30-30, but were broken (again): 0-3. Then DH went up 30-0, FV came back to 30-30, but DH held: 0-4. Then FV went down 0-15, came back to 30-15, but were broken: 0-5. It looked like DH then took the set, and match, with a hold at love: 0-6. Oh well....
- There are days, and there are days. This was just "one of those days", ok? Stuff happens....
- Next, for Alexandra (and Fusai/Vis!) is probably the US Open (Qualifying is next week). This could be a VERY good US Open for Alexandra. I have, personally, seen Alexandra play GREAT and AWESOME Singles, this year - and I have, personally, seen Fusai/Vis play AMAZING and TERRIFIC Doubles, this year. Unfortunately, I won't (can't) be there, so I can only have much envy for the crowds who may well see Alexandra play GREAT and AWESOME Singles there, and see Fusai/Vis play AMAZING and TERRIFIC Doubles there, this year.
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- Sunday 8/11/02
- This coming week, Alexandra is in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, North America, at the Rogers AT&T Cup, playing Main Draw Doubles only. Alexandra is teaming with Caroline Vis, as usual this year, and that's GOOD!
- In 1st Round, it will be Fusai/Vis (unseeded) vs. Elena Dementieva/Janette Husarova (seeded #5), maybe Tuesday.
- Dementieva and Husarova are both good players (somewhat erratic, though), and have shown some recently impressive abilities as a Doubles team, but Fusai/Vis is a GREAT team (maybe especially when seriously challenged) so this looks like a nice test for Fusai/Vis.
- This is a good opportunity for Fusai/Vis to show the extent of their GREATNESS - although, of course, it will probably not be "easy". (Is it ever?)
- SO: Win, Fusai/Vis, WIN!
- And HAVE FUN!
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- Saturday 8/3/02
- Well, Alexandra had in a sense a GOOD day on the courts in LA today - but in some ways it was not good......
- At 10 am on the Stadium Court it was Alexandra Fusai (unseeded) vs. Angelique Widjaja (seeded #8) in 2nd (ie. Final) Round Singles Qualifying.
- This looks like it was a very close and exciting match (a great show for the crowd - that's GOOD!).
- Widjaja d. Fusai: 4-6, 7-6(7-1), 7-5. Oh well....
- There is evidence that it went like this (unknown who served 1st): 1-0, 1-1, 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, 3-3, 4-3, 4-4, 5-4, 6-4, 1-0, 2-0, 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, 3-3, 4-3, 4-4, 4-5, 5-5, 5-6, 6-6, ......, 6-7(1-7), ......., 5-7. Oh well.....
- Obviously, this match went to 5-5 in the 3rd. That's a close and exciting match - good show for the crowd! That's GOOD!
- Widjaja seems to be a player who can be quite good - for a while at least. In the handshake today I hope Widjaja conveyed considerable gratitude to Alexandra - meaning "Thank you for the very valuable lesson!" (if that makes any sense....).
- Alexandra played a VERY GOOD match today - although it was a loss. Oh well......
- Then something happened which really upsets me: Fusai/Vis were put in the Qualifying Doubles. I think Fusai/Vis are CLEARLY a Main Draw Doubles Team in ANY Tournament!
- Anyway, after playing 34 games (plus a tie-break!) in Singles, Alexandra had to go out there and play Qualifying Doubles.
- Four teams were entered - 2 teams were seeded. Fusai/Vis was seeded #2 (huh?). One of the 4 would advance to Main Draw (ie. 2 Rounds Qualifying). Both rounds were scheduled for today.
- The 1st Round for Alexandra Fusai/Caroline Vis (seeded #2) was vs. Marissa Irvin/Alexandra Stevenson (unseeded). This was a "mini-match": first-to-8, win-by-2.
- (It's only fair to mention that Irvin also played Singles Qualifying today, and won in straight sets, although it looks like it was a fairly close match - meanwhile, Stevenson is in the Main Draw.)
- Well, Irvin/Stevenson d. Fusai/Vis: 8-4. Oh well....
- (It turns out that 2nd (ie. Final) Round Doubles Qualifying has been postponed to tomorrow. Huh.)
- So LA was not great for Alexandra, this year, but it wasn't nothing either. Let's call it GOOD, ok?
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- Friday 8/2/02
- GOOD NEWS from LA!
- This coming week, Alexandra is at the JP Morgan Chase Open in Manhattan Beach (near Los Angeles), California, USA, North America.
- Singles Qualifying started today (for some reason) and Alexandra got into it due to a late withdrawal (kind-of). In 1st Round, Alexandra faced American Lilia Osterloh (unseeded - WTA ranked #102).
- ALEXANDRA WON! YEA!
- Yep, Alexandra Fusai d. Lilia Osterloh: 6-2, 2-6, 6-3. YEA!
- A witness reports that the match was very close and exciting, and that both players played very well. Alexandra's "quickness" decided it, according to the witness. (I would probably have called it "Spirit".)
- WELL DONE, Alexandra!
- Tomorrow, at 10am (local time) on the Stadium Court, will be 2nd (ie. Final) Round Singles Qualifying: Alexandra Fusai vs. Angelique Widjaja (seeded #8 - WTA ranked #75).
- Widjaja is a 17-year-old Indonesian who seems to have some real potential, and a fair bit of Spirit herself.
- This looks like another nice test for Alexandra.
- And that's GOOD!
- Win again, Alexandra, WIN AGAIN!
- And HAVE FUN!
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- Tuesday 7/30/02
- Today, at the Acura in San Diego, it was 1st Round Main Draw Doubles: Alexandra Fusai/Caroline Vis vs. Paola Suarez/Iroda Tulyaganova.
- It seems that the crowd saw a very close and exciting match, with both teams playing very well. At the conclusion, after almost 2 hours, it was Suarez/Tulyaganova d. Fusai/Vis: 6-4, 6-4. Oh well.....
- It went like this (ST served 1st): 0-1, 0-2, 0-3, 1-3, 2-3, 2-4, 2-5, 3-5, 4-5, 4-6, 0-1, 0-2, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, 2-4, 3-4, 4-4, 4-5, 4-6. Oh well.....
- In both sets, ST took an early lead, then FV came back to on-serve, then each set ended with a break.
- In the 1st set, ST went down 0-15, then up 30-15, then down 30-40. FV had another break chance after deuce #1, then it was 2 add-ST's and a hold: 0-1. FV then went down 0-40 and were broken at 15: 0-2. ST then went down 0-15, then 15-30, then 30-40, but held after a deuce: 0-3. FV then went down 0-15, but held with 4 straight points: 1-3. ST then went down 0-15, then up 30-15, then down 30-40, then were broken after a deuce: 2-3, back on serve. FV then went up 15-0, then down 15-40, came back to deuce, but were then broken: 2-4. ST then went down 0-15, but held with 4 straight points: 2-5. FV then went down 0-30, and held with 4 straight points: 3-5. ST then went up 15-0, then 30-15, then down 30-40, and were broken: 4-5, back on serve. FV then went up 15-0, then down 15-40, came back to 30-40, but were broken: 4-6. Oh well....
- In the 2nd set, ST went down 0-15, then up 30-15, then 40-30, then held: 0-1. FV then went down 0-30, then 15-40, and were broken: 0-2. ST then went down 0-40, and were broken at 30: 1-2, back on serve. FV then went up 30-0, then down 30-40, and were broken through a deuce: 1-3. ST then went up 40-0, and held at 15: 1-4. FV then went up 30-0, then held after 40-30: 2-4. ST then went up 15-0, then down 15-30, then up 40-30, then were broken after deuce: 3-4, back on serve. FV then went up 40-0, and held at 15: 4-4. Then ST did the same: 4-5. FV then went down 15-40, came back to deuce, then add-FV, then deuce #2, then add-FV again, then deuce #3, then add-ST, then break: 4-6. Oh well.....
- This looks like it was a great show for the crowd, who probably applauded long and loud at the end for both teams equally.
- Although not a victory, I suspect that this match did remind Fusai/Vis that their level of play is very high indeed! There will be plenty of victories, and soon!
- And that's GOOD!
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- Monday 7/29/02
- So now it's DOUBLES TIME!
- This week, at the Acura in San Diego, Alexandra is teaming with Caroline Vis in Doubles. (This is as usual this year - and is a GOOD THING!)
- First Round for Fusai/Vis will be vs. Paola Suarez/Iroda Tulyaganova, maybe tomorrow.
- Suarez and Tulyaganova are both good players, in both singles and doubles, so this looks like a nice test for Fusai/Vis - actually, I like the concept of that, 'cause a Fusai/Vis victory will remind them just how VERY GOOD they are!
- Win, Fusai/Vis, WIN!
- And HAVE FUN!
- (By the way: Of course I remember that the first time I saw Alexandra was that Alexandra Fusai/Clare Wood vs. somebody/somebody match at Family Circle, maybe '93 or '94. I was just playin' with your heads, ok?)
- From me and all of Detroit comes this: Welcome back, Corina!
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- Saturday 7/27/02
- Well, it seems that Alexandra had a bad day on the court today. These things happen. It's no biggie....
- In 1st Round Singles Qualifying today at the Acura Open it was Jill Craybas d. Alexandra Fusai: 6-0, 6-0. Oh well, oh well......
- (For some reason, this reminds me of a great dialog couplet from a movie called "Rushmore": A:"These are my O.R. scrubs." - B:"Oh, are they?")
- San Diego is a very strange place, and La Costa (where this tournament is being played) has a "reputation" (which I will not elaborate on) - so, today was today: whatever.....
- The website, however, is actually quite nice (albeit with a major flaw, which I will leave undescribed at this time). The "live scoreboard" was clearly being debugged as the day progressed, but they seemed to be working hard on it - and it looks like it could be very good, very soon.
- I will skip the "it went like this" part of this match description, except to record that Alexandra served 1st.
- Scores started coming in with the score 0-3 (Alexandra down 2 breaks). JC then went up 15-0, AF came back to 15-15, but the last score I saw in this game was 40-15: 0-4. Alexandra then went down 0-15, came back to 15-30, but was broken, again, possibly at that 15: 0-5. Craybas then went through 15-15 to 40-15, then Alexandra got a point to 40-30, but sometime after that it was, well, 0-6. Oh well.....
- In the 2nd set, Alexandra went down 0-15, came back to 40-15, then it looks like Craybas won 12 points in-a-row and it was 0-3. Craybas then went up 15-0, then it was 15-15, then (somehow) 15-30 became 30-15, 40-15, 40-30, then 0-4. In the next game, it seemed Alexandra went down 0-15, came back to 30-15, then it was 40-30, then add-AF, but after 3 add-JC's (4 deuces total) it was 0-5. Then the final hold by Craybas may have been at love (the last score I saw was 30-0): 0-6. Oh well....
- OK, Craybas is good lately, but this was I think clearly not Alexandra playing as very well as she has shown, many times, that she can play lately. That's OK, although I think it's a shame that folks (even San Diego-La Costa folks) will not get to see Alexandra's GREAT current singles play. Oh well....
- However, I feel it is very likely that Fusai/Vis will be in the Main Draw Doubles (when it is finally released). Alexandra is also GREAT in Doubles. And I happen to think that Caroline is an excellent partner for Alexandra. I see Fusai/Vis as a team that makes previous teams seem like preliminaries. Fusai/Vis is a GREAT Team!
- Win, Fusai/Vis, WIN!
- And HAVE FUN!
- (By the way: I have come across a document, related to this tournament, which lists Clare Wood as "Tour Supervisor". That name rings some sort of bell. Can someone tell me why? Email gzimman@fusai.com - ok?)
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- Friday 7/26/02
- This coming week, Alexandra is at the Acura Classic in San Diego, California, USA, North America.
- In 1st Round Singles Qualifying tomorrow (2nd match on Court #9, 1st match starts at 10am local time), it will be Alexandra Fusai vs. Jill Craybas.
- Craybas is an American, about Alexandra's age, but has had a shorter career because she played College ball. Craybas seems to be playing the best tennis of her life lately, with a current career-high ranking of #76. (Of course, Alexandra is also playing EXCELLENTLY lately!) Craybas is seeded #3 - Alexandra is unseeded.
- SO: A close match? Good possibility. Can Alexandra win? YES INDEEDY!!!!!
- Win, Alexandra, WIN!
- And HAVE FUN!
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- Thursday 7/25/02
- Well, last night (9pm start there - midnight start here) it was 1st Round Main Draw Doubles at the Bank of the West Classic in Stanford, California, USA, North America - Alexandra Fusai/Caroline Vis (unseeded) vs. Laura Granville/Jennifer Hopkins (qualifiers).
- Well, Granville/Hopkins d. Fusai/Vis: 6-3, 6-7(5-7), 7-6(7-0). Oh well....
- Good show for the crowd, though, eh?
- Fusai/Vis are a GREAT Team!
- Stuff happens.....
- Soon FV will again have MUCH FUN! And WIN!
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- Monday 7/22/02
- This week, Alexandra is in Stanford, California, USA, North America, at the Bank of the West Classic, playing Doubles only.
- Alexandra is teaming, as usual this year, with Caroline Vis. (That's a GOOD thing!)
- 1st Round will be vs. the sole Qualified team of Laura Granville/Jennifer Hopkins (both young USA "up-and-comers"), maybe (probably?) Wednesday.
- This looks like a very "real" match. Granville/Hopkins will likely give it 100% from start to finish, to try and get the upset. I hope the GREAT team of Fusai/Vis will also be "real" and 100% - this will result in a clear victory for FV.
- (Even FV at 50% could probably get this victory - but I hope very much that they don't try that - do 100%, gals, and blow them away!)
- Alexandra could have quite possibly been in the Qualifying Singles, but maybe she is concentrating, for a while at least, on Doubles, to get to the Chase again. That's FINE!
- Win, Fusai/Vis, WIN! You are a GREAT Team!
- And HAVE FUN!
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- Go:
to previous AF News: click here!