- Alexandra Fusai History 2002
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- Saturday 4/13/02
- Alexandra won today! 1st Round Singles Qualifying! Unseeded over Seeded! Tier 1 event! 6-1, 6-2!! YEA! YOW! WOW! HOORAY!
- And I was there! Saw the whole thing! (It's only about a 2.5 hour drive, each way. It used to be about a 10-minute walk, but oh well.....)
- Yep, Qualifying started today at the Family Circle Cup in Charleston, South Carolina, USA (a Tier 1 event). In 1st Round, Alexandra Fusai, unseeded, faced #10 seed Selima Sfar (WTA ranked #108). Being joyfully redundant, I now re-report that Fusai d. Sfar: 6-1, 6-2. YEA!
- It went like this (Sfar served 1st): 0-1, 1-1, 2-1, 3-1, 4-1, 5-1, 6-1, 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, 3-1, 3-2, 4-2, 5-2, 6-2. YEA!
- Actually, both players played quite well. It was closer than the score indicates - maybe more like 6-3, 6-3 - maybe even closer than that. Sfar had her chances. Six games passed through deuce - 14 deuces total. But Alexandra played QUITE EXCELLENT! Except for one game, Alexandra served very well, maybe 80%ish 1st serve, while Sfar seemed more like 50%ish, and her 2nd serves were mostly marshmallows, which Alexandra pounced on. Both players returned very well - Alexandra better, but Sfar quite well. Alexandra had many net-approaches, and they were usually successful, Sfar had fewer, and they were less successful. Alexandra looked a bit worried, even "spooked" at times, but she clearly had SOME fun, and I guess it looked like mostly her state of mind was persistance and determination.
- Alexandra defeated quite a good player, who was playing quite well, today, with very good serving, great returning and that enormous SPIRIT of hers. YEA!
- In more detail (or other detail - this added 5/17 - from notes taken during the match): Alexandra won the toss, and elected to receive. SS took the 1st point, then it was 15-all on an SS error. SS then went up 30-15 on a good serve, then it was 30-all on another SS error. Then SS took the game on an Ace (wide) and an Ace (center): 0-1. So: it looks like this game was all SS - not so! - Alexandra communicated that error production was going to occur, but Aces could be winners. Alexandra then served, and went up 15-0. But it became 15-15 on a lucky winner from SS. Then it was 30-15 on a winner from AF, then 40-15 on a good serve, then 1-1. In the next game SS saw clearly the reality of the situation: a winner brought 15-0, but then 2 drop winners, and a cross winner, and it was 15-40, then 2-1 AF. Alexandra then went up 15-0, but it became 15-all on a good point which ended with a drop from SS. Then SS got a cross winner and Alexandra double-faulted and it was 15-40, giving SS double-break-point. Uh-oh! But then 2 SS errors brought deuce and Alexandra then got the add. An AF error brought a 2nd deuce, but then 2 SS errors gave the hold to Alexandra: 3-1 (Alexandra had only fair serves in this game, though). Then SS lost the 1st point, but came back to 15-15 with a winner on the line (or down the line?). An SS error long, and an SS drop short, brought 15-40. But SS brought deuce with a good serve and a winner at the net. Then Alexandra had a pass winner, and SS double-faulted: 4-1. Alexandra then held at love with a cross winner, a good serve, a winner, and another good serve: 5-1. SS then got a point on a good serve, but Alexandra got a cross winner: 15-15. Then AF got a winner at net, but SS got a drop winner: 30-30. A double-fault gave AF break-point (and set-point), but an SS winner brought deuce. An SS error and an AF winner gave the set to Alexandra: 6-1. YEA!
- In the 2nd set, the 1st point went to SS: 0-15. Then 2 SS errors long, and a pass winner from AF, brought 40-15. Alexandra held with a great point pass winner: 1-0. SS then went down 0-15 on a long error, but came back to 15-all on a good point. Alexandra then made it 15-30 on a great point cross winner, then 15-40 on another cross winner. A very long error from SS gave the break to AF: 2-0. SS then made another long error, but an SS winner made 15-15. A cross winner from Alexandra brought 30-15, but a drop winner from SS brought 30-30. On a great point, an SS error finally brought 40-30, then Alexandra held with a winner: 3-0. Then an AF error wide made 15-0 for SS, but an SS error long made 15-all. An SS winner made 30-15, but an SS error into the net made 30-30. An SS error made 30-40, and gave Alexandra a break point, but then it was deuce, then add-SS, then SS held with a pass winner: 3-1. Alexandra then went down 0-15 with a long error, SS had a pass winner, and Alexandra had a net slam error: 0-40. SS then made a long-wide error for 15-40, but SS then got the break, and put the set back on serve, with a drop winner: 3-2. Then it was clearly WAR! SS, serving, went up 15-0 on a great point, then SS made a wide error for 15-15. AF then made a long error, but then it was 30-30 somehow. SS then made an error into the net to give AF break-point, 30-40, but 2 aces brought add-SS. An SS error into the net, then a "lucky lob" from AF brought add-AF. Then a drop winner and a pass winner brought add-SS. Then an error into the net, and an overhead-slam error, brought add-AF again. Then a long error, and a great point winner, made add-SS again. Then a net error on a great point, a pass winner, and a drop winner, gave the game, and break, to Alexandra: 4-2. (Yes, that's 6 deuces!) Alexandra then went up 40-0 on a net error and 2 long errors (probably, mostly, great serving). SS then got a point on a pass winner, but a net error from SS gave the hold to Alexandra: 5-2. Then it was WAR, again. SS, serving, got the 1st point on a drop winner, but then Alexandra made it 15-15 with a spectacular overhead slam winner. Then SS had a pass winner, but an SS net error made 30-30. A cross winner gave SS hold-point at 40-30, but a great point winner from Alexandra brought deuce. Another great point gave the add to Alexandra, but a pass winner from SS brought another deuce. SS then made a net error to make add-AF again, but then it was deuce again on a net pass winner from SS. Alexandra then got a "lucky"(?) winner, and took the game, and set, and match, on the next point, probably with a winner: 6-2. YEA!
- (When Alexandra wins, my documentation of the last point is usually unreliable, as my priority is to stand, and clap, and yell - then to write.)
- The tournament was a bit coy about whether the qualifying draw that I was able to scrounge up is "official", but if it is then Alexandra's 2nd Round will be vs. #2 seed Virginie Razzano (WTA ranked #82). I saw Razzano bouncing around the grounds today, prior to her match, in an obviously very good mood. Then I saw some of her 6-2, 6-0 victory over Abigail Spears. That match looked a little closer than that score, but not by much, especially in the 2nd set. Spears played not-too-well, while Razzano played very well, especially serving. However, Alexandra, playing as she did today, is fully capable of "stunning" Razzano and getting the victory, definitely!
- Win again, Alexandra, WIN AGAIN!
- And HAVE FUN!
- (By the way, Alexandra played with no tape today, and gave no indication whatsoever of any injury, even doing many of her wonderful jump-in-the-air returns.)
- (Of course, "soon" there will be some 2002 Family Circle galleries posted. For now, here's a sample: click here! Alexandra is WAY CUTE, eh?)
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- Sunday 4/14/02
- Alexandra won again today! Alexandra has Qualified! YEA! HOORAY!
- Today in Charleston it was 2nd Round (ie. Final Round) Qualifying. Alexandra Fusai (unseeded) d. Virginie Razzano (seeded #2): 6-2, 6-4. YEA!
- It went like this (Razzano served 1st): 1-0, 2-0, 2-1, 3-1, 3-2, 4-2, 5-2, 6-2, 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, 3-1, 3-2, 3-3, 3-4, 4-4, 5-4, 6-4. YEA!
- Alexandra played very well, again, with more excellent serving (except for 1 game) and excellent returning. Razzano returned very well (perhaps even better than Alexandra), but her serving was generally poor (although occasionally excellent). Razzano seemed "stunned" and ad-libbing from the beginning, and seemed to think only spectacular winners would end the long rallies and get her points (but mostly they went out). So Alexandra "produced" many errors (and had some excellent winners) and seemed to have the "upper-hand" until after the 3rd game, 2nd set. At that time, Razzano called for a trainer, and a "medical time-out", got some tape (and about a 5 minute break), and seemed to regain her cool. Meanwhile, it seemed the long break had lost Alexandra her rolling rhythm. Briefly, it looked like Alexandra might let that 2nd set slip away, but she got her focus back, and Razzano had to return to ad-libbing. Alexandra then put the match away handily with some fantastic shot-making.
- This match was not closer than the score. If anything, the score exaggerates the closeness. Alexandra was even more dominant than yesterday, and played even better.
- In more detail (or other detail - this added 5/21 - from notes taken during the match): Alexandra won the toss, and elected to receive. VR then went down 0-30 on 2 errors into the net (good returns by Alexandra, probably), but then it was 30-30 on a net approach winner and a pass winner from VR. Then VR made a net slam error for 30-40, and Alexandra went up a break, 1-0, on the next point. Alexandra then went down 0-15 on a long error, then 0-30 on a good-point pass winner from VR. Then Alexandra made a wide error: 0-40. Uh-oh. Not to worry, though: a good serve from Alexandra, then 4 errors from VR (wide, long, long, net - probably, mostly, forced) gave the hold to Alexandra: 2-0. VR then got a cross winner for 15-0, then made a long error for 15-15. But then a net error from Alexandra, and a cross winner, and an ace, put VR on the board: 2-1. Alexandra then went down 0-15 on a drop winner, but a good serve produced a wide error for 15-all. A wide error from Alexandra made 15-30, but then, on a very good point, a long-and-wide error from VR made 30-30. Alexandra then went up 40-30 on a lucky net point, but it went to deuce on an approach error long. A long error and a net error, both from VR, gave the hold to Alexandra: 3-1. Alexandra then (barely!) made a wide error to put VR up 15-0, then it was 30-0 on a pass winner. A double-fault made 30-15, but then an AF net error made 40-15. Another double-fault made 40-30, but, in a good point, VR held with a long error from Alexandra: 3-2. Alexandra then went down 0-15 on a pass winner from VR, but a cross winner made 15-15. A double-fault made 15-30, but a good point net error from VR made 30-all. Another good point produced a long error from VR: 40-30. But a very lucky cross winner from VR brought deuce. Then a cross winner from AF and a long error from VR gave the hold to Alexandra: 4-2. Alexandra then put a 2nd serve into the net to make 15-0. Then it looks like VR made a net error for 15-15. A long error from Alexandra made 30-15, but then a double-fault made 30-30. Another long error from AF made 40-30, but another double-fault brought deuce. A wide error gave the add to Alexandra, but a cross pass winner brought another deuce. Another wide error gave AF another add, but a pass winner brought a 3rd deuce. Alexandra got the break on a long error, then a wide error (both probably forced): 5-2. Alexandra then went up 15-0 on a wide error, but a pass winner made 15-all. A pass winner from Alexandra, then a wide error from a good serve put Alexandra up 40-15. On a very good point, a wide error made 40-30, but then a long error gave the game, and set, to Alexandra: 6-2. YEA!
- In the 2nd set, VR went up 15-0 on a wide error from Alexandra, but then a net error, a long error, and an EXCELLENT cross winner made 15-40. A good serve produced a wide error from Alexandra for 30-40, but a double-fault gave the game, and break, to Alexandra: 1-0. Alexandra then double-faulted to go down 0-15, but a lucky lob made 15-15. A long error made 30-15, but an overhead pass winner from VR made 30-all. Then, on a great point, an overhead slam gave Alexandra the 40-30 lead, and a good serve made VR pour it into the net: 2-0. VR then went up 30-0 on a wide error and a drop winner. A net-cord made 30-15, and a double-fault made 30-30. An AF net error made 40-30, but a VR net error brought deuce. A good serve then produced a wide error from AF to give the add to VR, but a long error brought another deuce. A drop error, and a long error, gave the game, and another break, to Alexandra: 3-0. At this point, VR called for the trainer, then for a "medical time-out", and she got ice, then taping of her elbow and lower arm. Meanwhile, Alexandra waited, for minutes (like 5ish, I guess, but it seemed a long time). Alexandra, then, after serving very well up to that point, served only fair, and was broken at love, on a pass winner, a cross winner, a wide error, and another cross winner: 3-1. VR then went up 30-0 on an overhead slam and a good serve, then a long error made 30-15, but a net error from AF made 40-15. A good serve, which led to a cross winner, gave the hold to VR: 3-2. Alexandra was then broken again, at love, again, with a double-fault, 2 pass winners, and a point which had Alexandra falling down reaching: 3-3, back on serve. VR then went up 15-0 on a cross winner, but a long error made 15-15. Then a net error (which was really an AF winner) made 15-30. A pass winner made 30-30, a long error made 30-40, but a bad error from AF brought deuce. Alexandra then got the add on a double-fault, but a pass winner from VR brought a 2nd deuce. A pass winner on a very good point, then another pass winner, gave the hold to VR: 3-4. Alexandra then went down 0-15 on an overhead cross pass winner, but 2 long errors from VR made 30-15. Another long error from VR, on a great point, made 40-15. VR came back to 40-30 on another great point, but a good serve, producing a long error, gave the hold to Alexandra: 4-4. Then a good serve led to a cross winner for VR: 15-0. But, in a great point, Alexandra made it 15-all with a net-approach cross winner. A long AF error, responding to a drop, made 30-15, but then 2 double-faults made 30-40. In a good point, VR made a volley pass for deuce, but a long error, and a double-fault, gave the break to Alexandra: 5-4. Alexandra then went down 0-15 on a good point cross pass winner, but came back to 15-all on a great point long error. A net error made 30-15, and another net error, on a great serve, made 40-15. A long error then gave the game, and set, and match, to Alexandra: 6-4. YEA!
- Tomorrow, in 1st Round Main Draw, it will be Alexandra Fusai vs. Nicole Pratt. Then it will be Alexandra Fusai/Caroline Vis vs. Alicia Molik/Henrieta Nagyova in 1st Round Main Draw Doubles.
- Win again, Alexandra, WIN AGAIN!
- Then WIN THAT DOUBLES!
- And HAVE FUN!
- (Here's a sample picture from today: click here! Alexandra's expression looks more like Razzano's mood for most of this match.)
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- Monday 4/15/02
- It was a JOYFUL day for ol' Gzimman in Charleston today! And for Alexandra!
- Alexandra won! TWICE! YEA and HOORAY!
- Noonish, it was (qualifier) Alexandra Fusai (WTA ranked #185) vs. (unseeded) Nicole Pratt (WTA ranked #38). Alexandra won! 6-4, 6-1! YEA-YEA-YEA! HOORAY!
- It went like this (Alexandra served 1st): 0-1, 1-1, 1-2, 2-2, 3-2, 4-2, 4-3, 4-4, 5-4, 6-4, 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, 4-0, 4-1, 5-1, 6-1. YEA!
- In the first game, it seemed Alexandra was feeling destined (or obligated?) to lose the match. She lost that game awfully, nervously, at love. Then, in the 2nd game (Pratt began it with a double-fault), it seemed to occur to Alexandra that, "I can win this or lose this, my choice." - and she chose to win. At that point, the match was essentially over. It was just "going through the motions". Sure, there was plenty of "drama" and "suspense", and we all wondered (probably even Alexandra) if she was going to be able to do this supposedly HUGE upset - but she decided to do it, so she did. Simple as that, no kidding.
- A "real" score was more like 6-3, 6-2, with the 1st set not as close as 6-4 and the 2nd set closer than 6-1. But Alexandra was like "Charlie Hustle" out there (hopefully without the sports betting) - Pratt didn't have a prayer.
- No, it wasn't easy. Pratt played very well: very good serving, incredible returning, and smart. Pratt was Pratt - fully deserving of her ranking. But Alexandra played like #22, or #14, or #7. Alexandra served VERY well, producing many errors, and her returning was AWESOME! Alexandra returned literally dozens of what Pratt thought were "sure winners" - and returned them smartly, with excellent placement. She OWNED her court - nothing was going by her.
- Alexandra had her full, incredible, SPIRIT fully in her in this match - in my opinion, only Seles has spirit comparable to Alexandra's - and I think Alexandra has more!
- In more detail (or other detail - this added 6/24 - from notes taken during the match): Pratt won the toss, and chose to receive: Alexandra was then broken, at love, on a net error, a wide error, a cross error wide, and a long error: 0-1. NP then went down 0-15 on a double-fault, but then a long error, and a wide error, from AF, made 30-15. A wide cross from NP, then, on a good point, a net error from NP, made 30-40. A long error gave the break to AF: 1-1 - back on serve. Alexandra then went down 0-15 on a wide error, but a "lucky" pass winner made 15-15. A lob error from AF made 15-30, but a wide error from NP made 30-30. On a good point, a wide error from AF made 30-40, then, on another good point, a pass winner from NP made 1-2. (Even so, Alexandra played very well in this game.) The next game began with 3 good points: a wide error from AF, a drop winner from AF, and a long error from NP: 15-30. An overhead slam winner by NP made 30-30, then a net error by NP made 30-40. A miss-hit error wide made deuce, but a lob error long by NP gave the add to AF. A "lucky" pass winner by AF made 2-2: back on serve. A long error from NP, then a cross winner at the net by AF, made 30-0. A "close" wide error by AF made 30-15, but, on a particularly good serve, a long error by NP made 40-15. On a good point, a long error by AF made 40-30, but a drop winner at the net by AF gave Alexandra the hold: 3-2. (Alexandra served "very well" in this game.) NP then went up 15-0 on a "lucky" pass winner, then 30-0 on an ace. Then a good return produced a wide error from NP for 30-15, and, on a good point, a long error from NP made 30-30. Two more good points produced a wide error, then a net error, from NP: 4-2. Then, with Alexandra serving, a wide error made 0-15, a cross winner at the net made 15-15, and, on a good point, a net error made 15-30. Another good point produced a long error from NP for 30-30. A cross winner at the net by AF made 40-30, but, on a good point, a pass winner from NP brought deuce. A net error by AF gave the add to NP, but a drop winner by AF brought deuce #2. A drop error, then another error(?), gave the break to NP: 4-3 - back on serve. (Alexandra's serving was only "fair" in this game.) Pratt then went down 0-15 on a cross winner at the net by AF, but a long error at the net by AF made 15-15. A string broke on Alexandra's racket, producing a long error: 30-15. An overhead net error made 40-15, but a cross winner by AF made 40-30. An overhead slam winner made deuce, but NP got the add with a pass winner, then held with a winner at the net: 4-4. Alexandra then went up 30-0 on a long error and a net error, then, on a GREAT point, Alexandra fell down after hitting a cross winner at the net: 40-0. Alexandra held at love after a good serve produced a wide error from NP: 5-4. NP then went down 0-40 on a pass winner, a net error, and a long error. Then a long error from AF made 15-40, and a cross pass winner from NP made 30-40. Alexandra then took the break, and game, and set, with an overhead slam winner, although she had to do it twice! 6-4. YEA!
- As noted above, this set, and match, was essentially over after the 2nd game, although Pratt, clearly, didn't know it, and Alexandra probably didn't either. Alexandra was the "winner" after that 2nd game - they just had to play it out.
- In the 2nd set, Alexandra went up 15-0 on an overhead slam winner, but then a drop winner from NP made 15-15. A good serve made a long error for 30-15, and another good serve produced another overhead slam winner from AF: 40-15. On a good point, Alexandra held with a winner at the net: 1-0. A net error put NP down 0-15, but then a good serve produced a wide error by AF for 15-15, a wide error made 30-15, and a net error made 40-15. A drop winner by AF made 40-30, and a pass winner brought deuce. NP then gave the add to AF with a lob error long, but a good serve produced a net error from AF for deuce #2. A good return by AF, producing a net error, and an overhead cross winner, gave the break to AF: 2-0. A good serve then produced a long error from NP, and a cross winner at the net made 30-0. NP then got a pass winner, and a double-fault made 30-30. A net error by NP made 40-30, but a wide lob error by AF brought deuce. A pass winner, then a good serve producing a wide error, gave the hold to Alexandra: 3-0. NP then went up 15-0 on a cross pass winner, but a wide error made 15-15. On a "weird" point, a wide error by NP made 15-30, then a good serve produced a "short" return error by AF: 30-30. A cross pass winner by AF made 30-40, but a long error brought deuce. Alexandra got the add on a double-fault, then the break on a pass winner: 4-0. On a great point, Alexandra then went up 15-0 on a net error, but then, despite a great effort, couldn't return a drop winner by NP: 15-15. A long error by NP made 30-15, but then a "lucky" pass winner made 30-30. A long error, and a net error, gave the break to NP: 4-1. (Alexandra's play in the latter part of this game was only "fair", as if she was, perhaps, "tired".) A wide drop error then put NP down 0-15, but a pass winner at the net made 15-15. A pass winner from AF made 15-30, but, on a great(!) point, a net error by AF made 30-30. Another great point, another net error, this time by NP, made 30-40. Alexandra got the break with another net error from NP: 5-1. Alexandra then went down 0-15 with a net error, but a cross winner at the net made 15-15. A great return produced a net error for 30-15, but another great return produced a wide error for 30-30. (You figure it out.) A slam winner at the net made 40-30, then Alexandra held for the game, set, match, possibly with a cross winner: 6-1. YEA!
- Pratt truly played this match to the very end. But did she have a chance? Her only chance was if Alexandra reverted to "amateur hour", which she obviously didn't. Was this an "easy" match for Alexandra? NOT AT ALL! Alexandra played very, very, very well, after the 1st game. Pratt played very well - Alexandra played better.
- (By the way: "net error", above, probably, mostly, means "into the net", while "at the net" means just that, ok?)
- Next for Alexandra, in Singles, will be vs. Meilen Tu, probably Wednesday. Today, Tu (unseeded, WTA ranked #61) d. Tatiana Panova (seeded #15, WTA ranked #23): 6-3, 6-4. I saw some of this match - Tu played quite well, but not as well as Alexandra did!
- Win again, Alexandra! And ENJOY IT!
- Then it was several hours until Doubles. The sun was low and the shadows were long. It was clear that Alexandra has acquired many new fans these past 3 days - Caroline got a bunch today, too.
- It was Alexandra Fusai/Caroline Vis vs. Alicia Molik/Henrieta Nagyova in 1st Round Main Draw Doubles. Nagyova had lost a tough 3-setter to Clarisa Fernandez earlier in the day (Fernandez is very good!), but both Molik and Nagyova played quite well throughout the match, returning very well, and serving especially well. Caroline, although erratic, played quite well throughout. The story was Alexandra - she was brilliant in the 1st set, then it seemed fatigue caught up with her in the 2nd and she played, well, poorly. But Caroline took up the slack, as best she could, gave Alexandra a bit of a rest, and much encouragement, and Alexandra was again brilliant in the 3rd.
- It was Fusai/Vis d. Molik/Nagyova 6-4, 4-6, 6-0. YEA!
- It went like this (Molik served 1st, then Alexandra): 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, 4-0, 4-1, 4-2, 4-3, 5-3, 5-4, 6-4, 0-1, 1-1, 1-2, 2-2, 2-3, 3-3, 3-4, 3-5, 4-5, 4-6, 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, 4-0, 5-0, 6-0. YEA!
- Although Alexandra produced more points (and far fewer errors) than Caroline, it was really Caroline who won this match, with her ability to get Alexandra back into it for that 3rd set. Thank you Caroline!
- In more detail (or other detail - this added 6/21 - from notes taken during the match): Molik/Nagyova won the toss, and elected to serve. Molik served. Caroline got the 1st point with an overhead slam: 0-15. Then, on a good point, MN made a long error from the net: 0-30. A great winner from Alexandra made 0-40, but then a long error from Alexandra made 15-40, and a good serve made 30-40. A winner from Caroline gave FV the break: 1-0. Then Alexandra served. Caroline got the 1st point at the net, then Alexandra got a lucky net point. A good serve made 40-0, but an AF error made 40-15, and an AF double-fault (sun in eyes?) made 40-30. Caroline got the hold with a winner: 2-0. Now Nagyova serving: AF got the 1st point with an overhead slam winner, then a Molik winner made 15-15. A good serve, which Caroline couldn't quite handle, made 30-15, then a long error at the net by Molik made 30-30. A "close" CV error long made 40-30, then a net CV drop winner brought deuce (#1). A double-fault gave the add to FV, but a Molik winner at the net brought deuce (#2). A long error at the net by CV gave the add to MN, but a long error at the net by Molik brought deuce (#3). A net error by CV made add-MN, but a Nagyova long error made deuce (#4). A Nagyova wide error, and a Nagyova long error, gave the break to FV: 3-0. (Whew!) Caroline then made a good serve, which Nagyova couldn't handle, but then she made a long net error: 15-15. On a good point, CV made a wide pass winner for 30-15, but a double-fault made 30-30. FV (unknown who) then had a drop winner, and a long error from Molik, on a good serve, gave the hold to FV: 4-0. Then Molik, serving very well, got a net error from CV and a long error from CV, then an ace, then a net error from Alexandra, to hold at love: 4-1. Then, with AF serving, a lob winner from Nagyova, and a net winner from Molik, made 0-30. A long lob error from MN, and a long-wide error from MN, after a good serve, made 30-30. An AF net error made 30-40, but a CV net winner brought deuce. A wide winner from MN, and a CV error, gave the break to MN: 4-2. Nagyova then double-faulted for 0-15, but a good serve, which AF couldn't quite handle, made 15-15. A CV long error made 30-15, but a Nagyova wide error made 30-30. A CV long error, then an MN net winner, gave the hold to MN: 4-3. Caroline then held at love with a Molik net error, an AF net winner, a CV winner, and an MN net error: 5-3. A double-fault from Molik, and a long error from MN, made 0-30, but a "dumb" net error from CV, an MN winner, and an AF net error, made 40-30. An AF wide error gave the hold to MN: 5-4. With Alexandra serving for the set, it was an AF net winner, an MN error long (on a good serve?), and another AF winner: 40-0. A double-fault made 40-15, but a wide error from MN (on a good serve!) gave the hold, and set, to FV: 6-4. YEA!
- (Now my notes have a problem. Instead of "M srv" and "N srv", they just show "MN srv". And I seem to recall seeing a match in which the member of a team who served last in a set, also served 1st, for that team, in the following set. Is that permitted? Or did I not see that? If you can enlighten me on this please email gzimman@fusai.com - thanks! Anyway, for now, I will assume that rotation was maintained (FV did so). However, at this point, I apparently became confused who was M and who was N, as the rest of my notes are all "mn-e" and "mn-w" instead of specifying which.)
- In the 2nd set, Nagyova serving(?), a CV wide cross error at the net brought 15-0, then an AF error long made 30-0. A "close" MN error long, and an MN net error, made 30-30. An MN winner made 40-30, but an MN net error made deuce. An ace, then an MN winner at the net, gave the hold to MN: 0-1. With CV serving, a CV drop winner, an AF overhead slam winner, and an ace, made 40-0. A very FUN(!) point made 40-15, then an AF winner at the net gave the hold to FV: 1-1. With Molik serving(?), CV did a "nice try" on a drop: 15-0. Then AF had a "lucky" lob winner: 15-15. An MN winner at AF's feet made 30-15, then a good serve produced an AF error wide: 40-15. A CV error long gave the hold to MN: 1-2. With AF serving, a "lucky" cross wide winner from MN made 0-15, then a CV winner (my notes say "pun" or "pvn"?) made 15-15. A "lucky" CV winner, and a "lucky" MN winner, made 30-30. On a good point, with AF at the net, MN made a long error, then a CV net winner gave the hold to FV: 2-2. With Nagyova(?) serving, an AF net winner, then the same from MN, made 15-15. A CV error long, then an MN wide drop error, made 30-30. A CV error wide brought 40-30, but, on a great point, an AF net winner brought deuce (#1). A "bad" net error from CV gave the add to MN, but a great return by AF brought a net error by MN: deuce (#2). A "bad" net error by CV, and a good serve, which AF couldn't quite handle, gave the hold to MN: 2-3. CV then served, and a great point made 0-15, then another great point made 15-15. On another good point, MN made a net error: 30-15. An overhead slam winner from AF made 40-30, then FV held: 3-3. With Molik(?) serving (to CV 1st, say my notes), an MN drop winner made 15-0, then an MN net error made 15-15. An MN overhead error made 15-30, but, on a good point, an MN winner made 30-30. On another good point, MN had a net winner, then a spectacular ace, to hold: 3-4. AF then double-faulted, and a good return produced an AF long error: 0-30. A good serve from AF then produced a wide error from MN, 15-30, but a CV net error made 15-40. Another good serve from AF produced another wide error from MN for 30-40, but another CV net error gave the break to MN: 3-5. With Nagyova(?) serving, an AF net winner, and an AF "between" winner, made 0-30. An MN pass winner made 15-30, but an MN net error made 15-40. A CV error long, and an MN net winner, brought deuce. An error wide at the net by MN gave the add to FV, and a drop winner by CV at the net gave the break to FV: 4-5 - back on serve. Then, with CV serving, a wide error from MN, after a good serve, made 15-0, then an overhead winner from AF made 30-0, then, on a good serve, a long error from MN made 40-0. But then, on a good point, a CV error made 40-15, and an AF net error made 40-30, and a wide cross winner from MN brought deuce (#1). On a "wild!" point, MN got the add, but a good serve, producing a long error from MN, brought deuce (#2). An AF overhead error long brought another add-MN, but a good CV net winner brought another deuce (#3). A CV net error produced another add-MN, but, on a good point, an AF net winner brought another deuce (#4). An AF long error (after which she threw her racket) produced another add-MN, then a CV net error gave the set to MN: 4-6. AF then looked angry and tired. Oh well....
- (The details of this set may seem to contradict the summary remarks, above, which were written the night of the match. I trust my remarks from that night - that Alexandra played "brilliant" in the 1st and 3rd sets, but perhaps she didn't play "poorly" in set #2, just less well. Caroline played quite well throughout the match, but I still think that, basically, the most important thing that Caroline did, in the whole match, was some talk to Alexandra in the sit-down time between sets #2 and #3 (although everything else Caroline did in this match was also important, ok?). Also: it is worth noting here that a "net error" may be an "error into the net" or an "error at the net". I didn't distinguish - sorry - but if it says "long" or "wide" then it is "at the net". All net winners were "at the net".)
- In the 3rd set, Molik(?) serving, AF had a net winner, then CV had a "bad" net error: 15-15. A CV cross winner, a CV net winner, and an AF "lucky" winner, gave the break to FV: 1-0. Then, despite a good serve by AF, and return by AF, an AF net error made 0-15. Then an MN error wide made 15-15, and 2 CV net winners (the 1st a cross) made 40-15. Alexandra held with a good serve which produced a long error from MN: 2-0. Nagyova(?) then served, and a CV long error made 15-0, but a CV net winner made 15-15. A good return (by someone) made 15-30, then a "wow" winner by CV made 15-40. The break came from an AF net winner: 3-0. CV then served, and the 1st point somehow produced an MN net error: 15-0. But then, despite a good serve from CV, an AF net error made 15-15. An ace, and a long error from MN, made 40-15. FV held with an AF net winner: 4-0. Molik(?) then served, and went down 0-15 on a spectacular AF winner. But then an MN winner made 15-15. A good serve produced a CV long error, 30-15, but a CV winner made 30-30. A "lucky" point made 40-30, but an AF winner brought deuce. A spectacular winner from AF, and a good return by AF, which produced a long error by MN, gave the break to FV: 5-0. Alexandra served very well in the final game of the match. A good serve allowed CV to slam a winner: 15-0. Another good serve produced a net winner by CV: 30-0. On a good point, Alexandra made a net error: 30-15. Then FV touched rackets: 30-30. An ace made 40-30, and a CV net winner gave the set, and match, to FV: 6-0. YEA!
- (The remarks above, about Alexandra playing "brilliant", and "Alexandra produced more points...", which were written the night of the match, refer to the fact that many, many MN errors were not "unforced", they were "forced", mostly by Alexandra.)
- Next for Fusai/Vis (maybe also Wednesday) will be vs. Maja Palaversic-Coopersmith/Monica Seles. They are a "wild-card" entry - and that's an apt description. They defeated #5 seeds Nicole Arendt/Liezel Huber today 6-3, 7-6(8-6). P-C plays quite well, and Seles is, well, Seles. Even so, I think the EXCELLENT team of Fusai/Vis can show them the door!
- Win again, FV, WIN AGAIN! And ENJOY IT!
- Thank you for a very wonderful day today, Alexandra! GIMME MORE!
- (There are 2 gallery sample pictures from today: Singles - click here - and Doubles - click here. Nice outfits!)
-
- Wednesday 4/17/02
- MUCH JOY in Charleston today!
- Alexandra WON again! TWICE again! (Kind of...) Singles and Doubles! (Kind of...) YEA!, HOORAY!, and HUH?!
- At noon, in 2nd Round Main Draw Singles, it was (qualifier) Alexandra Fusai (WTA ranked #185) vs. (unseeded) Meilen Tu (WTA ranked #61). Alexandra won! 6-1, 6-1! YOWSAH and HOORAY!
- (Tu had defeated the #15 seed, Tatiana Panova, WTA ranked #23, on Monday: 6-3, 6-4.)
- It went like this (Tu served 1st): 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, 3-1, 4-1, 5-1, 6-1, 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, 4-0, 4-1, 5-1, 6-1. YEA!
- Alexandra played very, very well - again. Her 1st serving % was easily 80+%, and those were easily 80+% very excellent 1st serves, producing many errors. Tu was more in the 50% range, although those were quite good, and her 2nd serves were also quite good. Alexandra, again, returned very, very well. There were, literally, dozens of Tu shots which were "sure winners" - but Alexandra returned them, somehow, excellently.
- Alexandra was clearly "in" this match for almost every point of every game (except maybe 3 or 4 points) - Tu was also clearly "in" it for at least 80-90%, and fought to the bitter end. (Tu had a leg taped, but showed no indication of any injury.)
- Alexandra took command in the 1st game, never looked back, and Tu never had a chance - that's the gist of it.
- Alexandra also played very "smart" in this match. Alexandra is clearly not just great body and great SPIRIT, but also great brain, also!
- In more detail (or other detail - this added 7/16 - from notes taken during the match): Tu won the toss, and elected to serve. A pass winner made 15-0, but a net error made 15-15. A cross winner, on a good point, gave MT 30-15, but a great return from Alexandra produced a net error for 30-30. Two long errors gave the break to AF: 1-0. On a good point, a net error put AF down 0-15, but a good serve produced a long error from MT for 15-15. Another good point brought a wide error and 30-15, but a pass winner by MT made 30-30. Two good serves produced two wide errors from MT for a hold: 2-0. On a good point, Alexandra made a (rare!) long error at the net for 15-0, then a good return produced a net error from MT: 15-15. On a close call, an "almost" winner from MT was instead a wide error: 15-30. A good return from AF, leading to a net error, and then a double-fault, gave another break to AF: 3-0. A long error by MT made 15-0, but a double-fault brought 15-15. Three good points were a wide error by AF, a pass winner by MT, and a net error by AF, giving MT a break back: 3-1 (this game may have been a bit of "letting off" by AF and "pouring on" by MT, but, if so, it was a temporary thing). MT then went down with a double-fault, a net error, and two good returns producing two wide errors, for a break at love: 4-1. At this point, the set, in a sense, began again. Tu was determined to take it back, and Alexandra was at least equally determined to not let it slip away. AF went down 0-15 on a good point pass winner from MT, then a long error made 0-30. On a close-call, AF did a cross pass winner for 15-30, then a good point led to a wide lob error by MT: 30-30. Another good point, especially a good return by AF after the point got going, produced a net error by MT: 40-30. But a long error made deuce #1, and a long error by AF (after a good return by MT) gave the add to MT. On a good point, a net error by MT brought deuce #2. A cross pass winner gave MT another add, but a good serve produced a wide error for deuce #3. Another good serve, producing another wide error, made add-AF. The next point was stopped before it was scored, or successfully disputed after it was scored (I forget the details), and was replayed. The replay resulted in a long error by MT, and thus a hold by AF: 5-1. A pass winner by AF made 0-15, and a double-fault made 0-30. But a pass winner by MT, and a cross winner by MT, made 30-30. A net error by MT made 30-40 (set point for AF), but a net error by AF made deuce. A net error by MT, then a net-cord (ie. close) error by MT, gave the break, and set, to AF: 6-1. YEA!
- This set had considerable closeness. Tu played very well, but Alexandra played very, very well. The early lead (well deserved and earned!) gave Alexandra the determination to prevail (although she probably could have come back from being down). The trials, late in the set, confirmed her ability (and determination) to prevail. Tu played appropriate to her ranking, Alexandra played convincingly above Tu's ranking.
- In the 2nd set, Alexandra held at love with great serves. The 1st point, a good point, was won with a "lucky" winner, then a good serve produced a long error for 30-0. On a "smart" (by AF) point, another long error was produced, then an ace brought 1-0. A long error made 0-15, then another long error, on a good point, made 0-30. A pass winner by MT made 15-30, but a good return produced a net error for 15-40. A cross pass winner made 30-40, but another good return produced another long error by MT: 2-0. A net-cord (ie. close) error by MT made 15-0, then a drop winner by MT made 15-15. After the point got going, a good return by AF produced a net error by MT for 30-15, then a good serve produced a wide error for 40-15. Alexandra held on a good point with a pass winner: 3-0. Tu then seemed to realize that her opponent can play very, very good singles, and so Tu was a bit discouraged, but only temporarily. A double-fault made 0-15, but a long lob error by AF made 15-15. Another double-fault made 15-30, then a good return by AF produced a wide error for 15-40. AF got the break on a good point, producing a long error: 4-0. A good return by MT then produced a net error by AF for 0-15. A wide error by MT (after a drop by AF) made 15-15. Into the point, a good return by AF made a net error by MT for 30-15, but a double-fault made 30-30. A cross pass winner by AF made 40-30, but a pass winner by MT made deuce. On a good point, a net error by AF gave the add to MT, then a winner after a drop-shot by AF gave the break to MT: 4-1. On a good point, a wide slam error by MT made 0-15, then a good return by AF produced a net error by MT: 0-30. A drop winner by MT made 15-30, but a "dumb" overhead net error by MT made 15-40. A long error gave the break to AF: 5-1. Alexandra, serving for the match, went up 15-0 on a "close" wide error by MT. A double-fault made 15-15. A cross pass winner from MT brought 15-30, then a good return by MT produced a net error by AF: 15-40. On a great point, a pass winner, at the net, by AF made 30-40. Then, into the point, a great return by AF made a long error by MT: deuce. A pass winner by AF brought match-point, then the set, and match, was over (on a winner?): 6-1. YEA!
- (When Alexandra wins, the final point is usually recorded unreliably. This is because my priority abruptly shifts from recording points accurately to standing up, clapping loudly, yelling, jumping up and down, and generally going bananas, although in a truly restrained, almost British, or even Canadian, sense.)
- In this 2nd set, Alexandra was not only showing to herself (and everyone there) that Tu was less in current abilities, but also that the next round (Capriati, then WTA ranked #1), was also winnable.
- (By the way: "net error", above, probably, or at least mostly, means an error into the net - but I don't know.... Sorry.)
- This match showed Alexandra's current ability to, basically, "take it" to ANYONE, these days. That's GOOD! Alexandra played very, very well, smartly and cleverly, with that fully AWESOME SPIRIT of hers, both serving and returning. Alexandra showed, clearly, that she is currently, very much, a GREAT Singles player!
- (And this was a GREAT show for the crowd - that ain't hay!!)
- WELL DONE, Alexandra!
- Next for Alexandra, in Singles, will be vs. Jennifer Capriati, probably tomorrow (Thursday) at 7pm, in the Stadium (and it is a HUGE stadium!). Capriati is the #1 seed (and WTA ranked #1), but she was "tested" today by Janette Husarova (unseeded, WTA ranked #43), finally winning 2-6, 6-2, 6-4, but it was on serve 4-4 in the 3rd, then Capriati got the break, and match, from 30-40, after holding for 5-4. Alexandra, meanwhile, defeated WTA #38, Nicole Pratt, on Monday: 6-4, 6-1.
- Capriati will have many good serves, and some aces, and many good returns, and some winners. Alexandra will have very many good serves (probably few aces, but many serves will produce errors), and she will return "sure winners" until the cows come home, or until Capriati pulls all her hair out (whichever comes first). Alexandra will also have many winners. Net-approach might be a good idea for Alexandra - I don't know - she will know.
- If Alexandra plays as well as she has in her 4 previous Singles matches, doing (mostly) every shot of every point of every game, then Capriati is history, probably in 2 sets, maybe 3. Capriati is tough, and good, but today's match indicates that she is clearly vulnerable. And Alexandra is playing so well lately that vulnerable is not necessary.
- I am, however, concerned that Alexandra is perhaps not aware of how VERY well she has played these last 4 Singles matches. Some opponents have been taped (but they played very well!). Alexandra may feel she hasn't been "tested" - but she has, with comebacks from 0-40 and 3-4 and like that. Even if vs. Capriati goes to a 3rd set: look at the 6-0 3rd in doubles - that was mostly Alexandra (although Caroline made it happen - thank you Caroline!).
- WIN AGAIN, Alexandra! And ENJOY IT!
- Anyway: then, today, it was Doubles time.
- "Not before 3pm" it was Alexandra Fusai/Caroline Vis (unseeded) vs. Maja Palaversic-Coopersmith/Monica Seles (wild-card) in 2nd Round Main Draw Doubles.
- Fusai/Vis WON! (kind of...) YEA! (kind of...)
- It went like this (no one served 1st): walkover.
- Monica dropped out of Doubles because of a stomach virus. I would have liked very much to see Alexandra vs. Monica (Fusai/Vis would have won!) - on the other hand, I like Monica a ton. Get well, and be well, Monica!
- Next for Fusai/Vis (3rd Round Main Draw Doubles - the Quarterfinals - probably Friday) will be vs. Janet Lee/ Wynne Prakusya. Lee/Prakusya (unseeded) defeated the #2 seeds, Virginia Ruano Pascual/Paola Suarez, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(7-5) today.
- WIN AGAIN, FV, and ENJOY IT!
-
- Thursday 4/18/02
- Well, Alexandra played well, but Capriati played better. That seems to be basically what happened tonight. Oh well....
- Congrats on playing so well, Alexandra! And having such an EXCELLENT Singles run these past few days! Well done!
- But tonight, in Charleston, 3rd Round Main Draw Family Circle Cup Singles, it was Jennifer Capriati d. Alexandra Fusai 6-3, 7-5. Oh well....
- Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond my control (traffic from a couple of wrecks made me over an hour late instead of over an hour early), I only clearly saw the last few games.
- The progression probably went like this (I'll figure out who served 1st later - I'm only sure about the last few games): 0-1, 0-2, 0-3, 1-3, 2-3, 3-3, 3-4, 3-5, 3-6, 1-0, 2-0, 2-1, 3-1, 3-2, 3-3, 4-3, 4-4, 5-4, 5-5, 5-6, 5-7. Oh well....
- I saw some holds, with the 2nd set on serve, then Alexandra was broken, then Capriati served it out. Oh well....
- In more detail (this added 12/17 - based on incomplete, and possibly inaccurate, notes taken during the last few games of the match, and other, also possibly inaccurate, sources): In the 1st set, JC served 1st, and held, and then AF was broken: 0-2. Two holds brought 1-3, then AF put the set back on serve with a break: 2-3. Two more holds brought 3-4, then AF was broken, and JC took the set with a hold: 3-6. Oh well....
- In the 2nd set, Alexandra held, then broke Capriati: 2-0. A break back by JC made 2-1, then AF went up 15-40 on a winner at the net, then another winner made 3-1. With Alexandra serving, a long error and a net (short) error made 30-0, but a double-fault, an error (long or wide?), and another error (into the net?) made 30-40, and Capriati put the set back on serve with a wide error from Alexandra: 3-2. With JC serving, a great point ended with a long lob from AF, then a net drop error made 30-0. Two great points ended with a pass winner and a drop winner, both from JC: 3-3. Then, in a game with many good serves from Alexandra, JC went up 0-30 with a pass winner on a great return, then a cross winner. Two good serves brought two wide errors from JC for 30-30. A wide lob error made 30-40, but a net error by JC brought deuce #1. It was add-AF when a great serve brought a wide error, but a wide error by AF, ending a good point, brought deuce #2. A wide error by JC made it add-AF again, but a pass winner on a good return brought deuce #3. A wide error by JC made add-AF again, but a net error made deuce #4. A net error by JC brought another add-AF, then a winner(?) gave the game to AF: 4-3. Nice hold, Alexandra! With JC serving, a good point ultimately produced a long error from AF: 15-0. Then a good serve produced a wide error from AF: 30-0. On a good point, JC made a long error for 30-15, then a good return by JC made a short error by AF for 40-15. Then JC, at the net, returned wide, and it was 40-30. But a good serve (ace?) gave the hold to JC: 4-4. Alexandra then held at love, as follows: a good serve produced a long error, good returns produced a net error, a good point produced a wide error, and a very good serve produced a net error: 5-4. YEA! JC then got a pass winner on a great point, then another pass winner: 30-0. A net error made 30-15, but another pass winner made 40-15, and JC held with an ace: 5-5. Two good serves produced two long errors to put Alexandra up 30-0. Then a double-fault made 30-15, and a good point brought an at-net wide error from AF for 30-30. A wide error from AF made 30-40, and a winner from JC made 5-6. With JC serving for the match, a drop error, and a long error, by AF brought 30-0. A net error by JC made 30-15, but then, on a great point, a drop error by AF made 40-15. A long error by AF gave the set, and match, to JC: 5-7. Oh well....
- SO: Capriati was, at the time, ranked #1 in the world - and Alexandra was, well, not. Yet this looks like it was a quite close match, especially(?) the 2nd set. WOW!
- (By the way: "net error", in the above description, "probably" means "into the net" instead of "at the net", unless otherwise specified.)
- At least, after the match, the crowd gave Alexandra a HUGE ovation, with thunderous applause, as she left, and that gave her a big grin. I think Alexandra got more applause from the crowd than Capriati did - but I don't know. (She did from me, at least - haha.)
- From what I saw, Alexandra played VERY well, as did Capriati. But when both are playing that well, um, Capriati is playing better (if that makes any sense).
- Actually, it looked like Alexandra played not quite as well as she did in the previous 4 matches. Her serving was maybe only 70%ish (but still very good!) - that could have had to do with the venue (stadium w/crowd), the lights, the "occasion", or who knows what. The crowd saw Alexandra serving very well, but Capriati did likewise, maybe a bit better. Alexandra also returned very well, though not quite as well as in the previous 4 matches, although that probably had a lot to do with Capriati's very good serving, and also very good returning (also a bit better than Alexandra's, I guess).
- Capriati played like #1 (which makes sense, eh?) while Alexandra played like #5 or something (top 20, at least!). That's not bad for #185!
- I think Alexandra is aware that she is playing very well lately, and tonight she saw just how well that is: it is very very close to the level of the very best in the world!
- I hope Alexandra is very proud of her play tonight (and in the previous 4 matches!). She has made many, many new fans, who feel honored and privileged to have seen her play. (Well, thankful and appreciative, ok?) If there is any cause for disappointment, it is just that Capriati was not at least a little bit "off" tonight. Oh well....
- So now it's DOUBLES TIME!
- Tomorrow, the 3rd match on Club Court (a very nice court, by the way) will be Alexandra Fusai/Caroline Vis vs. Janet Lee/Wynne Prakusya in Quarterfinals.
- Win again, Fusai/Vis, WIN AGAIN!
- You are a GREAT team!
- And HAVE FUN!
-
- Friday 4/19/02
- Alexandra WON today! (Caroline helped - a lot!)
- Today, at the Family Circle Cup, in Charleston, South Carolina, USA, it was 3rd Round Main Draw Doubles (Quarterfinals): Alexandra Fusai/Caroline Vis d. Janet Lee/Wynne Prakusya: 6-2, 6-4. YEA!
- It went like this (Alexandra served 1st, then Prakusya): 1-0, 1-1, 1-2, 2-2, 3-2, 4-2, 5-2, 6-2, 0-1, 0-2, 0-3, 1-3, 2-3, 3-3, 4-3, 4-4, 5-4, 6-4. YEA!
- In more detail (this added 12/17, from notes taken during the match): Alexandra served 1st, and went up 15-0 on a net error by LP, then 30-0 on a drop winner by CV. A double-fault made 30-15, but an AF cross winner at the net made 40-15, then the hold happened in an unrecorded way: 1-0. Prakusya then served, and held at love, with a CV net error, an AF wide error, a CV long error (on a good serve), and a winner(?): 1-1. With CV serving, CV then made a net error, after a good return, for 0-15. A net winner, down the center, by AF, made 15-15. A good return pass winner by LP made 15-30, then a great serve ace made 30-30. A good return pass winner, and a lucky pass winner, gave the break to LP: 1-2. Then, with Lee serving, a good return by CV produced a long lob error from LP, then a net winner from CV at the feet of LP, and a wide cross overhead slam error by LP: 0-40. A winner at the net by LP made 15-40, but a good return by CV led to an overhead slam winner by AF to but the set back on serve: 2-2. Alexandra then held at love with a wide error after a great serve, a long lob error, a long error, and an AF winner in the corner (lucky?): 3-2. With Prakusya serving, it was a net error, then a winner down the center at the net, for 15-15. A "dumb" CV long error made 30-15, but a drop winner at the net by CV made 30-30. On a good point, an overhead slam winner by AF made 30-40, then a (lucky?) AF winner at the net made 4-2. With CV serving, on a great point, a CV cross winner at the net made 15-0, than a winner at the net by AF made 30-0. A wide lob error by LP made 40-0, but a lucky lob winner by LP brought 40-15. On a great point, an overhead slam winner by CV gave the hold to FV: 5-2. A Lee double-fault made 0-15, but a great serve produced an AF error for 15-15. A winner at the net, down the center, by LP made 30-15, but an error by LP made 30-30. A wide pass winner by CV at the net made 30-40, then a drop winner by CV at the net brought 6-2. YEA! (There were grins from FV at this point.)
- In the 2nd set, an AF double-fault made 0-15, then a great serve produced a long error for 15-15. A cross winner by LP made 15-30, then it was 30-30 (somehow). A winner by LP brought 30-40, and a CV winner made it deuce. A CV center error, and an AF error, gave the break to LP: 0-1. With Prakusya serving, a CV long error made 15-0, then a pass winner made 30-0. A CV net error made 40-0, but, on a great point, a CV winner down the center made 40-15. The hold came on a CV net error: 0-2. With CV serving, a lucky lob winner made 0-15, then a "dumb" CV overhead slam error wide made 0-30. A good serve produced a net error for 15-30, then a drop winner at the net by AF brought 30-30. But an overhead slam winner, down the center, by LP made 30-40, and a CV wide error at the net made 0-3. (FV were now down 2 breaks in this 2nd set.) With Lee serving, a net error, then a wide error, brought 0-30. A (lucky?) pass winner wide by CV made 0-40, then a CV error wide made 15-40, but a (lucky?) pass winner by CV got a break back: 1-3. Alexandra then served, and went up 15-0 on a Caroline pass winner wide at the net, then a great serve produced a long error from LP: 30-0. On a good point, a long error by CV ("lucky" for LP) made 30-15, then a great serve produced a net error from LP: 40-15. A great return by LP, a pass winner, made 40-30, then an AF net error made deuce. Then two CV winners at the net gave the hold to FV: 2-3. With Prakusya serving, a pass winner made 15-0, but a CV winner at the net made 15-15. CV then provoked a net error, and a CV pass winner made 15-40. A CV long error made 30-40, but a good return by AF produced a net error by LP and the set was then back on serve: 3-3. Three great serves by Caroline then produced a net error, a wide error, and a long error: 40-0. The hold came with a cross winner at the net by Alexandra: 4-3. With Lee serving, a CV pass winner made 0-15, but a great return by LP produced a wide error from Alexandra for 15-15. A good serve then produced a close wide error from CV for 30-15, then a great serve produced a wide error from AF for 40-15. The hold came after a great serve produced a long error from CV: 4-4. With AF serving, a great point produced a CV cross winner at the net for 15-0. Then a pass winner down the center by LP made 15-15. A close error wide by LP made 30-15, then a double-fault (both very long) made 30-30. A net error by AF made 30-40, but a good serve produced a wide error from LP for deuce #1. A CV net error gave the add to LP, but a great serve by AF produced a wide error from LP for deuce #2. A good serve by AF then produced a long error by LP for add-FV, and a cross winner at the net by CV got the hold: 5-4. With Prakusya serving, CV got a lucky(?) line winner for 0-15, then LP got a winner at the net for 15-15. A good return by CV produced a net error from LP for 15-30. A cross winner at the net by CV made 15-40, then (maybe) a long error by LP gave the set, and match, to Fusai-Vis: 6-4. YEA!
- (Note: "net error", above, probably "mostly" means "into the net" instead of "at the net".)
- Caroline was the real star of this match, although Alexandra certainly did her part. Alexandra served quite well, but Caroline served some real MONSTERS. Caroline's net work was also (mostly) AWESOME. Meanwhile, Alexandra kept the pressure on with her fairly-constant very good serving, did some good net work, and got some winners, but mostly contributed (very importantly!) with excellent back-court returning. Alexandra is the better all-around player, probably by a fair margin, but Caroline was HOT today!
- After the first set, FV were all "whoopee!", with Alexandra grinning broadly, and I thought, "Hey girls! You haven't won yet!". Then the FV train started coming off the tracks in the 1st 3 games of the 2nd set (2 breaks), but then they steadied things and won 6 of the next 7, much of it in quite spectacular fashion. LP did not play badly at all, with some good net work, some very good returning, and some great serving (mostly Lee's serving, I think). But FV are a GREAT team, and are fully capable of AMAZING play! Even so, that 2nd set was plenty exciting (ie. scary) - down to the last point. That's OK! So long as you WIN, FV!
- My advice to FV, though, is this: After you win a 1st set, forget about it, then win a 1st set again!
- Next for FV is 4th Round - the Semifinals - vs. Conchita Martinez/Patricia Tarabini, tomorrow, the 4th match in the Stadium.
- I saw some of Martinez/Tarabini d. Rika Fujiwara/Tatiana Panova today 6-3, 7-6(8-6). FP played quite well, but MT was clearly better, and probably capable of better than they played today. Martinez served only so-so, and seemed generally lethargic, while Tarabini oscillated wildly from almost awful to truly great.
- Tomorrow, I expect Martinez will be less lethargic, and Tarabini will be less often awful. If FV are less premature in their celebrations, then they can and will celebrate at the proper time, even if it takes 3 sets, OK? FV are playing GREAT!
- HAVE FUN, FV, and WIN AGAIN!
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- Saturday 4/20/02
- Alexandra WON again today! (Caroline did, too!)
- Today, at the Family Circle Cup, in Charleston, South Carolina, USA, it was 4th Round Main Draw Doubles (Semifinals): Alexandra Fusai/Caroline Vis (unseeded) d. Conchita Martinez/Patricia Tarabini (seeded #4): 3-6, 6-4, 6-3. YEA!
- It went like this (Conchita served 1st, then Alexandra): 0-1, 0-2, 0-3, 1-3, 1-4, 2-4, 3-4, 3-5, 3-6, 0-1, 0-2, 1-2, 1-3, 2-3, 3-3, 4-3, 4-4, 5-4, 6-4, 1-0, 2-0, 2-1, 3-1, 4-1, 4-2, 5-2, 5-3, 6-3. YEA!
- In more detail (this added 12/20 - from notes taken during the match): Fusai/Vis won the toss, and elected to receive. Conchita Martinez served 1st. A drop winner by CV made 0-15, but a CM pass winner made 15-15. A PT drop winner made 30-15, then, on a good point, an AF net error brought 40-15. A good serve by CM brought a long error from CV and MT got the hold: 0-1. With AF serving, a double fault, a long error by AF at the net, a long error by CV, and a pass winner by CM, produced a love break: 0-2. With PT serving, a CV net error, but then a CV pass winner down the center, brought 15-15. A CV long error, and a CV net error, made 40-15, but then a CM net error, and another CM net error, on a good point, produced deuce. A good serve produced a CV long error, then a "dumb" CV net error gave the hold to MT: 0-3. At this point, during the break, it seems Alexandra said something like, "Let's play!" to Caroline, 'cause CV served great in game #4: it was an AF winner at the net, an ace, an overhead slam cross winner by CV, and a CV drop winner - love hold: 1-3. In the next game, it seemed Conchita played a bit with Caroline's new confidence: a "dumb" net error by CV made 15-0, but then, on a great point, a long CM error brought 15-15. A PT pass winner at the net made 30-15, then a CM cross pass made 40-15. CM, and MT, got the hold on a "dumb" net error by CV: 1-4. With AF producing only "fair" serves, a PT winner at the net made 0-15, then an overhead slam at the net by CV brought 15-15. A good serve by Alexandra produced a PT wide error, then an ace made 40-15. A "lucky" drop from the net by CM made 40-30, but a good serve produced a CM net error: 2-4. With PT serving, a "dumb" net error by CV was followed by a "dumb" net error by PT: 15-15. A "lucky" CV pass winner wide made 15-30, then a great return by AF produced a net error from CM: 15-40. A "dumb" long error by CV made 30-40, but a CM long error put the set back on serve: 3-4. With CV serving "great" (like 99mph!), a great try produced a long error (by AV?): 0-15. A CM long error made 15-15, but a CV net error made 15-30. On a great point, an AF pass winner wide brought 30-30, but a good point brought a "dumb" CV error wide: 30-40. A "dumb" net error by CV made 3-5. With CM serving, a net error by AF, then a PT winner at the net, brought 30-0. A "dumb" net error by CV made 40-0, but a wide-long error by CM (or is it more properly described as an AF cross winner?) made 40-15. A PT cross winner at the net gave the game, and set, to MT: 3-6. Oh well....
- In this 1st set, AF varied from good to very good, while CV varied from great to "dumb". MT certainly looked "beatable". It would involve AF being more "very good" than just "good", CV being less "dumb" (even if less "great"), and MT not getting much better. This match was certainly not over yet.
- In the 2nd set, with AF serving, a "nice try" by CV produced a long error, but then, on a good point, a CM long error made 15-15. A "dumb" net error by AF, then a "lucky" drop winner at the net by PT, brought 15-40. A "dumb" CV error wide gave the break to MT: 0-1. At this point I was thinking, "uh-oh". With CM serving, a CM error long made 0-15, but an AF lob error long made 15-15. A "dumb" net error by CV, then a good serve which produced a wide error from AF, made 40-15. MT held with a cross winner from CM: 0-2. With CV serving, a CM winner (at AF's feet) made 0-15, then, on a great point, a CV winner made 15-15. A good point produced a cross winner at the net by CV, then good serves produced wide errors from CM and PT: 1-2. With PT serving, a CM long error at the net made 0-15, then a very great point brought a CM winner wide: 15-15. A CM error wide made 15-30, but a "lucky" PT winner at the net brought 30-30. A slam winner by CM, then a cross drop winner at the net by PT, gave the hold to MT: 1-3. In the next game, great serves by Alexandra helped(?!) to clearly state this match was not over, at all, and was maybe turning around. A good serve by AF produced a net error from PT, but then a close double-fault made 15-15. A "dumb" overhead slam long by CV made 15-30, but a net error by CM brought 30-30. On a great point, an AF pass winner made 40-30, but a great return by CM produced a cross pass winner for deuce #1. The next point, another great one, ended with a slam winner by CV (but not her only slam of the point!): add-FV. On a good point, a close long error by CV brought deuce #2. Another good point brought a "dumb" long error by CV for add-MT, but an overhead slam winner at the net by CV made deuce #3. A close long lob by CM made add-FV, but a miss-hit error wide by AF brought deuce #4. A CV slam winner then brought add-FV (#3), but an AF wide error brought deuce #5. A CV slam winner gave the add to FV (again!), and a great serve by AF produced a PT long error for the hold: 2-3. With CM serving, a CM net error made 0-15, but then an AF net error made 15-15. On a good point, a CV long error brought 30-15, but an overhead slam winner by CV at the net made 30-30. A double-fault then made 30-40, and a "dumb" long error by CM gave the break to FV, and put the set back on serve: 3-3. With Caroline serving great (100mph!) an AF slam winner at the net made 15-0 (this point really pissed-off Patricia), then two slam winners at the net by CV made 40-0. A double-fault made 40-15, but a drop cross winner by AF gave the hold to FV: 4-3. With PT serving (she was acting very serious), two pass winners at the net by PT made 30-0. Then a net error by PT brought 30-15, but a close long error by AF made it 40-15. A CM net error brought 40-30, then, after a good point, it was deuce after a CM long error. PT then got a pass winner at the net down the center (my notes contain a word which looks like "coat" - but that makes no sense), then a close AF error wide gave the hold to MT: 4-4. This is where it seemed three players were "playing", and one (Patricia) was "working". The next game had good serves from Alexandra. A good serve produced a long error from PT for 15-0, then a long error from CM made 30-0. A cross pass winner by CV at the net brought 40-0, but, on a good point, a CV net error made 40-15. A "dumb" CV error made 40-30, then a PT slam winner brought deuce. On a good point, a CM long error gave the add to FV, then a CV slam winner at the net brought the hold: 5-4. With CM serving, a good return by PT produced an AF error: 15-0. Then a PT winner at the net (my notes say "down" - I don't know what that means) made 30-0. A "dumb" net error by CV made 40-0, but a good return by AF produced a CM net error: 40-15. A "dumb" net error by CM, then a CM error wide, brought deuce. A CM net error gave the add to FV, and a good return by AF was a winner, giving the game, and set, to FV: 6-4. YEA!
- In this 2nd set, Conchita's play had slipped a bit, and Patricia's had improved some. Alexandra's had remained very good, perhaps improving slightly, and Caroline's had improved considerably. Alexandra was clearly playing the best of the four, although Patricia was improving, and approaching Alexandra's quality. Caroline's very good serving was also a real factor in the match at this point. Mostly, though, it seemed that three were "playing a game" and one (Patricia) was "working at her job". I remember thinking that if Patricia would "lighten up", then MT could win this, and being torn between wanting FV to win (very much!) and wanting Patricia to have some fun out there. Whatever....
- In the 3rd set, with CV serving, a PT net error made 15-0, but then a double-fault made 15-15. A CM error long made 30-15, but another double-fault made 30-30. (At this point I was again thinking: "uh-oh".) A CV overhead winner made 40-30, but a CV net error brought deuce. (Uh-oh.) Add-FV came from a winner at the net by AF. (My notes again say "down", and that may well mean Alexandra fell after this shot - Alexandra is like that: try and make the shot, then try and stay on your feet. This is a good thing!) The hold came on a great point with a wide pass winner, at the net, by CV: 1-0. With CM serving, an AF winner at the net made 0-15, then, on a good point, a CM lob long error brought 0-30. It "somehow" (sorry) then became 0-40, and an AF net error made 15-40. The break came on a good point CV winner at the net: 2-0. With AF serving, a "dumb" CV error wide brought 0-15, but then a cross drop winner by CV made it 15-15. A CV long error made 15-30, then a slam cross winner at the net by CV made 30-30. An AF net error, and a CV net error, but the set, and match, back on serve: 2-1. With PT serving, a PT error wide made 0-15, then a good return by AF produced a net error from CM: 0-30. A pass winner at the net by Alexandra made 0-40, then a spectacular fall by Alexandra (the stadium gasped!) on a good try, was returned by PT for a pass winner: 15-40. An AF error wide brought 30-40, but the break came on a PT net error: 3-1. With Caroline serving, a good point ended with a CV slam winner: 15-0. A good return by CM produced a CV net error for 15-15. A CV pass winner made 30-15. (Patricia was again very pissed after this point - and I don't think line-calls had anything to do with Patricia's upsettedness through much of this match.) A "close" lob error long by CM brought 40-15, then a "lucky" pass winner wide by CM made it 40-30. The hold came on a net error by CM after a good serve by CV: 4-1. With CM serving, a CM long error made 0-15, then a CM wide error made 0-30. A CM pass winner, then a CV long error, then a "close" CV wide error, brought 40-30. The hold came with a PT cross winner at the net: 4-2. With AF serving, on a good "lucky" point, MT (one of them) hit it out (somewhere): 15-0. A "kind-of" winner from CV made 30-0, then a double-fault made 30-15. On a good point, a drop winner by AF brought 40-15, then a good serve produced a long error from PT for the hold: 5-2. (My lack of detail in this game may well have been due to excitement.) With PT serving, a "dumb" net error by CV brought 15-0, then a good return by AF produced a CM net error: 15-15. Another "dumb" net error by CV followed, then a PT pass winner made 40-15. The hold came with a 3rd (in this game) "dumb" error from CV, this time long: 5-3. With CV serving (for the match!), it was Alexandra's 3rd slam of this point which finally recorded: 15-0. A CV long error made 15-15, then, on a good point, PT got a winner at the net for 15-30. (My notes, again, say "down" - which may well mean that Alexandra, maybe the greatest player who has ever played, all things considered, fell again, either trying to return that shot from PT, or successfully returning some earlier shot in the point.) Then AF had "kind-of" a slam winner for 30-30, and a CM error wide brought 40-30. Then the match ended: 6-3. YEA!!!!!!
- When this matched ended, I jumped to my feet, yelled and screamed at the top of my lungs, clapped until my hands and arms were totally numb (many, many others did as I did). Then, minutes after the match had ended, I recorded my recollection of the last point: "W?". (I really have no idea if it was a winner or an error which ended this match, or who to "credit" - this is typical - I am rarely able to accurately document the last point of an Alexandra match, especially a winning match. Oh well....)
- In this 3rd set, all four players played quite well, including Caroline, despite some "dumbness". Three players played very well in this 3rd set, and Alexandra was superb - half again better than any of the other three. All the crowd (many thousands) saw that, and appreciated it.
- (By the way: "net error", above, "probably" means "into the net" instead of "at the net", unless obviously stated otherwise.)
- Well, it mostly wasn't real "pretty", but it was clearly SOME FUN, especially for Fusai/Vis, and especially in the 2nd half.
- Alexandra's play progressed fairly steadily throughout the match - from only fair (or fairly good?) at first to very good at the end. Her returning was especially good throughout, but also her serving and net play. Caroline did some excellent serving (100mph-ish!), but Alexandra's serves, although "only" 85mph-ish, were so smartly and excellently placed that they were just as likely to produce points. Caroline made spectacular (ie. dumb) errors and spectacular (ie. wow) winners, often on consecutive points, usually in that order. After the mid-point she made more winners than errors, but it was really Alexandra's consistency, and steady improvement, which won this match.
- Martinez/Tarabini were a factor in this match in that it was a spell of errors by Conchita in the 2nd set that gave FV an opening (but FV's play was improving, too, at that point), and Tarabini didn't really shine (she didn't have a lot of opportunities).
- A lot of people left after the 1st set, because it wasn't really "good tennis" (except Alexandra returned well, when she had the chance), and it never really became "good tennis", but it sure got more interesting, and more entertaining! (It was also nice that they finally let us day-trippers in the cheap ($55!) seats come down from where the players looked like ants.)
- Anyway: Alexandra and Caroline clearly had quite a bit of fun, and Conchita had some, but Patricia acted often just pissed-off at being part of such an "unprofessional" display. Patricia looked like she wanted to lecture the other players: "This isn't PLAY! This isn't a GAME! This is WORK!". Well, Alexandra and Caroline and Conchita played, and Patricia couldn't get any work done. Poor Patricia....
- Tomorrow will be 5th Round (The Finals!): Fusai/Vis vs. (#1 seeds) Lisa Raymond/Rennae Stubbs, who won today without having any fun, or doing any real work either. Raymond is consistent, like Alexandra, but Alexandra is probably a better player than Raymond. Stubbs is erratic, like Caroline, but Caroline probably is, or at least can be, a better player than Stubbs.
- This one's for ALL THE MARBLES, FV!
- Win again, FV, WIN AGAIN!
- And HAVE FUN!
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- Sunday 4/21/02
- Well, Alexandra lost today (Caroline lost too). Oh well.... But what an incredible, wonderful, fantastic, almost-win, loss it was!
- Today, at the Family Circle Cup, in Charleston, South Carolina, USA, it was 5th Round Main Draw Doubles (The Finals!): Lisa Raymond/Rennae Stubbs (#1 seeds, WTA ranked #1 and #2) d. Alexandra Fusai/Caroline Vis (unseeded): 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(7-4). Oh well.....
- It went like this (Raymond served 1st, then Alexandra): 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, 4-3, 5-3, 6-3, 1-0, 1-1, 1-2, 2-2, 2-3, 2-4, 3-4, 3-5, 4-5, 5-5, 6-5, 6-6, (0-1, 0-2, 0-3, 1-3, 2-3, 3-3, 3-4, 4-4, 4-5, 4-6, 4-7), 6-7. Oh well....
- In more detail (this added 12/27 - from notes taken during the match - in the following "RS" is Rennae Stubbs, "R/S" is Raymond/Stubbs): Raymond/Stubbs won the toss, and elected to serve. Raymond served 1st, and a winner from Stubbs at Alexandra's feet made 15-0. A pass winner down the center from Stubbs brought 30-0. A good serve produced a wide error from Caroline for 40-0, then a double-fault made 40-15. A "close" wide error from CV gave the hold to R/S: 0-1. The next game had much good serving from Alexandra. A good serve produced a long error from RS for 15-0, but a net error by CV, then a net error by AF, made 15-30. A cross drop winner by Alexandra at the net made 30-30, then a good serve produced another RS long error: 40-30. The hold came from a long RS error: 1-1. With RS serving, in a game with good play, a cross pass winner by CV at the net made 0-15, and, on a good point, a long error by RS(?) made 0-30. A cross pass winner by CV brought 0-40, but a "lucky" cross pass winner by RS at the net made 15-40, then a side pass winner by RS made 30-40, and, on a good point, an LR(?) slam wide winner brought deuce. A CV net error made add-R/S, but an LR net error brought deuce #2. An LR(?) long error made add-FV, but a good serve produced a wide error from AF for deuce #3. An ace, then a cross pass winner at the net by RS, gave the hold to R/S: 1-2. It had gotten "nice and breezy" and the next game had good serves from CV. A CV slam pass winner made 15-0, then a good serve brought an RS error for 30-0. An ace, then a good serve, which produced a long error from RS, gave the love hold to FV: 2-2. With LR serving, a "not really" wide error by CV made 15-0, then a pass winner wide by AF made 15-15. A good serve produced a long error from CV, then a slam winner by RS at the net, at CV's feet, made 40-15. An ace gave the hold to R/S: 2-3. With AF serving good serves, a "close" AF error wide made 0-15, then a "lucky" LR lob winner brought 0-30. A slam winner at the net by CV made 15-30, then a "kind-of" slam winner by AF at the net brought 30-30. A pass winner by AF down the center made 40-30, but a pass winner wide by RS brought deuce. An RS net error, and an RS long error, gave the hold to FV: 3-3. With RS serving, an LR overhead slam pass winner between FV made 15-0, then a "wow" cross return winner by AF brought 15-15. An RS slam winner at AF's feet made 30-15, then a "not really" AF error made 40-15. A "lucky?" pass winner by CV down the center made 40-30, but a pass winner wide by RS gave the hold to R/S: 3-4. With CV serving good serves, a CV net error, then a "close" CV long error, brought 0-30. In the next point, good AF returns produced an LR long error, then a good serve by CV produced an RS net error for 30-30. A "lucky?" cross winner by AF at the net made 40-30, but an RS pass(?) winner brought deuce. A "kind-of" overhead winner by AF, then a winner by AF at LR's feet, gave the hold to FV: 4-4. With LR serving, a good serve produced a CV wide error for 15-0, then, on a good point, an LR net error made 15-15. An ace made 30-15, then a good return by AF brought a net error by RS for 30-30. A "lucky++" winner at the net by R/S made 40-30, but then a double-fault brought deuce. An LR lob winner, then a slam winner by RS at the net, at CV's feet, gave the hold to R/S: 4-5. With AF serving "great", a good return by LR produced an AF net error for 0-15. A good serve then produced an RS net error: 15-15. On a point with especially good play by AF, an RS long error made 30-15, then on a "fun" good point, an RS slam winner brought 30-30. Another "fun" good point ended with another RS slam winner: 30-40. An RS cross pass winner gave the break, and set, to R/S: 4-6. Oh well....
- In this 1st set, it seemed R/S kind-of "stole" it, and FV had clearly played better. Yet, as the 2nd set began, it seemed R/S considered it little more than a "formality", while the attitude of FV seemed to be, "We can win this!".
- LR began the 2nd set with an ace: 15-0. A "perfect" lob winner by AF made 15-15, then an LR net error made 15-30. A pass winner down the center by AF at the net brought 15-40, but a "dumb" CV long error made 30-40. A wide pass winner by LR brought deuce, then an ace gave the add to R/S. The hold came from a cross pass winner by RS at the net: 0-1. With CV serving "great", an RS net error, then an LR net error, produced 30-0. A "wow" cross pass winner by AF at the net, and a cross winner by AF at the feet of R/S, gave the love hold to FV: 1-1. With RS serving, an odd point (was there a yell of "yours"?) produced a long error from CV, then a good serve produced an AF net error: 30-0. An RS slam winner between FV, then a "close" overhead AF error wide, gave the hold to R/S: 1-2. With AF serving "great", CV did "something dumb" for an error (possibly she lost the ball in the sun): 0-15. A 95mph ace made 15-15, then a slam down by CV at the net brought 30-15. On a good point by AF, an RS net error made 40-15, but a "dumb" CV error long, and a double-fault, brought deuce. An RS long error gave the add to FV, but a net error by AF (after a mis-call of a long error by R/S?) brought deuce #2. A "lucky" lob winner by R/S gave the add to R/S, but a great serve produced a very long error from RS for deuce #3. On a great point, an RS net error gave the add to FV, then the hold came with a CV cross down winner at the net: 2-2. With LR serving, an RS slam pass winner made 15-0, then an RS slam down winner between FV brought 30-0. A CV slam down winner at the feet of R/S made 30-15, but a good serve produced a net error from AF for 40-15. A "basically" ace gave the hold to R/S: 2-3. With CV serving, a "wow" pass winner by LR(?) made 0-15, then a "wow" cross winner by CV at the net brought 15-15. A "close" CV error long made 15-30, then a "dumb?" RS net error made 30-30. A "dumb" CV error wide made 30-40, but a good serve produced a long RS error for deuce. A good point by AF ended with an AF long error for add R/S. A CV slam winner ("I got it!") brought deuce #2, then a "wow" AF slam winner gave the add to FV, and the hold came with another "wow" AF slam winner, this one between R/S: 3-3. With RS serving, a pass winner wide by RS at the net made 15-0, but an RS slam error long brought 15-15. A good serve produced a "dumb" long error from CV (and a yell from CV) for 30-15, then a good return by AF produced an RS net error for 30-30. A good return by CV produced a net error from RS for 30-40 (RS was "pissed" after this point). The break came with a wide pass winner by AF at the net: 4-3. With AF serving, a good serve produced an LR net error, and another good serve, and return, produced an RS net error: 30-0. An "oops" net error by AF made 30-15, then a "close" RS lob error brought 40-15. A slam down winner by CV at the net gave the hold to FV: 5-3. With LR serving, a good point produced an LR net error, then another good point produced an LR long error: 0-30. An RS winner at AF's feet made 15-30, then a "wow!!!" pass winner wide by AF brought 15-40. A good return by FV produced an RS net error, and the break, and set, went to FV: 6-3. YEA!
- In this 2nd set, it was clear that Fusai/Vis was the better team, although Raymond/Stubbs were also playing VERY seriously. As the 3rd set began, the attitude from R/S seemed to be, "We could lose this!", while the attitude from FV seemed to be, again, "We can win this!".
- The stadium had, by now, gotten very windy, and CV began the 3rd set with a game of great serves. A good serve produced an LR long error for 15-0, then a "dumb" net error by AF made 15-15. A cross winner by CV at the net made 30-15, then a "lucky!" drop winner by AF at the net brought 40-15. A "wow" running pass winner wide by CV gave the hold to FV: 1-0. LR had good serves in the next game. On a good point, an RS slam winner made 15-0, then another RS slam winner, this time at CV's feet, brought 30-0. A "dumb" net error by CV, and an ace ("basically"), gave the love hold to R/S: 1-1. With AF serving only "fair", a good serve produced an LR net error, and a slam down winner from AF made 30-0. A "dumb" net error by CV, and a pass winner wide by RS, made 30-30. A slam down winner by CV made 40-30, but a "miss-hit" error by CV brought deuce. A double-fault gave the add to R/S, and the break came from a "bad" net error by CV: 1-2. With RS serving, a pass winner wide by CV made 0-15, and a good return by AF produced a long error from RS at the net: 0-30. A good serve then produced a long error from CV, and an ace made 30-30. An LR winner to AF's body made 40-30, but, on a good point, an RS error long brought deuce. Then a CV winner (at RS's feet), and a pass winner wide by CV at the net, put the set back on serve: 2-2. With CV serving (101mph!), a "forced" net error by AF made 0-15, then, on a good point, an RS error wide brought 15-15. A "dumb" net error by CV, a double-fault, and another "dumb" net error by CV, and it was 2-3. With LR serving, a "lucky" pass winner by CV at the net made 0-15, then, on a good point, an RS slam winner between FV brought 15-15. On a "strange" point, a CV long error made 30-15, and another RS slam between FV brought 40-15. The hold came with a "lucky" long winner by LR: 2-4. The next game had "long talks". AF served. A good serve produced a long error from LR: 15-0. Then a "lucky" lob winner from RS(?) made 15-15. A slam down winner by CV made 30-15, but, on a good point, an AF net error brought 30-30. An ace by AF made 40-30, but a "not bad though" long error by CV brought deuce. A great return by CV produced an RS net error for add-FV, but, on a great point by AF, a "wow" cross slam winner by LR brought deuce #2. A good serve by AF (94mph!) produced an LR error wide for add-FV, then the hold came with a wide pass winner by AF, which Alexandra fell producing: 3-4. With RS serving, on a good point, an RS net error, then an RS wide error, made 0-30. On a good point for CV, a slam cross winner by LR made 15-30, then a "dumb" net error by CV made 30-30. A good serve produced a long error from CV, then a cross winner from LR at the net gave the hold to R/S: 3-5. To many in the stadium, the match seemed close to over at this point - but it clearly didn't seem that way to Fusai/Vis! With CV serving "great", a good serve produced a net error from LR, then a cross slam winner from CV made 30-0. A good serve (101mph!) produced an LR net error, and, on a good point, the love hold came from a slam winner by CV at the net: 4-5. With LR serving (for the match), a "dumb" CV long error made 15-0, then a CV winner (to RS's body) brought 15-15. A good return by CV produced a net error by RS for 15-30, then a good return by AF produced a wide error from RS for 15-40. A "dumb" CV long error made 30-40, but the break came with an LR net error: 5-5. At this point, it was truly windy, the crowd was going wild, and Alexandra served the next game very well. Good returns by FV produced an LR error for 15-0. A "close" cross error wide by CV made 15-15, then a long lob error by LR brought 30-15. A slam winner by AF between R/S made 40-15, and a good serve produced an LR net error for the hold: 6-5. (I was very much a part of the "wild" crowd, by the way.) With RS serving, a good serve(?) produced a CV net error for 15-0. An RS error long then brought 15-15, and an LR wide lob error made 15-30. A "wow!" cross AF winner brought 15-40 (double-Championship-point for FV! - I said, quietly, "Right now, girls, do it!"), but an "at feet" error(?) by CV, and, on a good point, an AF net error brought deuce. Alexandra played the next point very well, but it ended with an AF error: add-R/S. The hold came from a CV long error: 6-6.
- Tie-break time: CV served 1st, and a lob error wide by AF made 0-1. With LR serving, an LR pass winner wide made 0-2, and a CV error long made 0-3. With AF serving, a "close" error wide by R/S brought 1-3, then a CV slam down winner wide produced 2-3. With RS serving, an RS net error made 3-3, but an RS winner through AF's legs brought 3-4. With CV serving, a good serve produced an RS net error for 4-4, but a double-fault made 4-5. With LR serving, despite good hustle from AF, the point went to R/S: 4-6. A good serve produced a CV error, and the 3rd set, and match, ended: 6-7(4-7). Oh well....
- I stood and applauded, long and loud, as did ALL of the thousands of others there. I didn't yell real loud, though....
- I moved a bit closer to the court, took some pictures of the awards ceremony, applauded some more, then went downstairs. When Fusai/Vis went by, in their chauffer-driven golf cart, I applauded some more, but I don't think they heard or saw me.
- I was very, very proud of Alexandra and Caroline for what they had done.....
- (Note: in the above, "net error" probably means "into the net".)
- (These notes from 12/27 are hereby dedicated to Joe Strummer, recently deceased - a true Fusai of music.)
- Someone looking at the score may think, "I guess Raymond/Stubbs just played a little bit better.". NOT SO! Fusai/Vis played better! When FV served it was often ZAP! - hold. When RS served it was often deucy-time. After the match, Caroline said something like, "I guess they just hung in there a bit longer than we did, at the end.". That's about right.
- I would estimate that FV played better than RS for 80% of this match. But part of the 20% that RS played better was the last 15 minutes or so.
- So Raymond/Stubbs didn't play all that well? NOT SO! They played VERY well! FV pressured them from the very first second to the very last second. They didn't have even a single second, in the whole 2.5 hours, to "cruise" at all. (Actually, I think Raymond liked, even enjoyed, the pressure - but Stubbs didn't.) Raymond served and returned VERY well, and did some very good net-work. Stubbs served and returned quite well, with much GREAT net-work. They both gave it their all, holding back nothing, not even for a second. They had to!
- Caroline was TREMENDOUS! Her serving was FANTASTIC (100mph, 70+% 1st, smart and accurate placement). Her returning was VERY good, and her net-work had the crowd going BANANAS! Sure she made some errors, but very few "dumb" ones. For her style of play (which I think is an entirely appropriate compliment to Alexandra's), her error count was very, very low.
- Alexandra was the best player on the court today (that includes the Singles Final, in my opinion). I think the crowd recognized Alexandra as the best player (in the Doubles, at least). Her serving was mostly 85ish mph (but I saw 95ish some), and only 60%ish 1st, but was VERY smartly and precisely placed. Her returning was AWESOME! And she had much GREAT net-work. Alexandra was the best Doubles player in the Whole World today!
- Regarding FUN FACTOR: I think FV had FUN from the very beginning until very near the end. I think they just decided to, and that it helped them (of course I think that it helped them!). I think Raymond had SOME fun, and likes the idea of having a true and clear "rival" team to play sometimes. I think Stubbs doesn't like the idea of a "rival", and so had very little fun.
- SO: Raymond/Stubbs probably can't play any better than they did today - Fusai/Vis maybe can. IN NO WAY do I mean to imply that Caroline "lost" this match. IN NO WAY! Even today, Fusai/Vis are the best Doubles Team in the WHOLE WORLD!
- If I may get political for a moment: Gore won, so did FV.
- Thank you, Alexandra (and Caroline!), for the best 9 days of tennis that I have seen this millenium (so far!). I feel I speak for at least many hundreds, and maybe thousands, in saying that. After the match, from behind me, I overheard, "I think that was the best match of the entire week!". (Of course she didn't see every match, no one did, and there were many great matches, but she may well have been right!) On the bus to parking, it was all abuzz about "Alex" - "She's SO NICE!" and "She's SO SMART!". I felt like tossing out, "How about BEAUTIFUL?" and I KNOW that would have gotten unanimous agreement, then I could have said, "And she PLAYS TENNIS VERY WELL!" and there would have been a loud cheer of agreement with that, but I just sat there, silent, grinning, very happy.
- Alexandra: In my opinion (obviously), you are now clearly capable of getting to your best Singles ranking ever. It won't be "easy", of course, what with draws, and "bad weeks", and those darned "up-and-comers", but you can if you want to, and I hope you do, and have VERY MUCH FUN doing it, but, of course, I always just want you to do what you want to, whatever that is.
- It occurs to me, though, that after yourself (you, and what you want is most important!), it is especially about the people who have never seen you play, yet. Like: Grandpa to Grandson, 50 years from now: "I remember, when I was your age, this tennis match, Alexandra Fusai vs. somebody, I forget who. VERY PRETTY girl! INCREDIBLE match! I remember it like it was yesterday. I think she won, but I forget. They don't play tennis like that anymore!". (Grandson: "Yeah, Grandpa, and you used to walk to school every day, in the snow, and it was uphill both ways, right?".)
- Fusai/Vis: As far as I'm concerned, you are #1 and #2 right now. You can be that, officially, if you just play like you did today, even just occasionally. My advice is obvious: HAVE FUN!
- (Let me now thank "the coach". I don't have a name, but I think "the coach" is very, very, VERY, VERY, deserving of thanks at this time. THANKS, COACH!)
- (These Family Circle entries will be "filled in" as time permits. And there will be (I promise!) Galleries, hopefully "later this year".)
- (As for me: I think I will sleep late tomorrow, and then NOT drive to Charleston, for a change. Then I WILL sail my boat, somehow, in the next few days. Sailing is FUN!)
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- Go: to next AF History 2002: click here!