- 1999 Alexandra Fusai News
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- Monday 5/10/99
- Well, it happens. Sometimes the #1 seed (Hingis/Kournikova) defeats the #2 seed (Fusai/Tauziat) in the final. So it happened. The score was 6-2 twice. Oh well...
- Hey, playing on Sunday is very good, though, eh?
- Alexandra's 1st round singles in Berlin, today or tomorrow, is vs. a home-towner, Anke Huber. You can win this Alexandra!
- The future, beyond Berlin, has Alexandra in the main draw at Strasbourg, France(!) #14, then main draw at Roland Garros (French Open) #39, then a week or so off, then Birmingham, England, main draw #12, then either Eastbourne as qualifier #1 or 'S-Hertogenbosc (wherever that is) as main draw #9.
- So: Alexandra is positioned to go from the 40's to the 30's, and maybe the 20's. Actually, I think she can win Roland Garros. But I wonder if she thinks she can....
- At the very least, Alexandra will play some incredible matches these next 2 months.
- Alexandra: you're so VERY BEAUTIFUL; and a GREAT PLAYER!
- Most important: HAVE FUN!
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- Tuesday 5/11/99
- Well, there is good news and bad news.
- First, the good news: Alexandra's doubles ranking improved this week from #9 to #8. Yea! This week Fusai/Tauziat are again seeded #2 and get a "bye" for 1st round. The 2nd round match will be vs. the winner of the 1st round match Koulikovskaya/Melicharova vs. Halard-Decugis/Mauresmo.
- The rest of the good news is that Alexandra is still so very beautiful; and will forever be.
- Bad news now: Alexandra's singles ranking fell from #45 to #60 and Alexandra lost her 1st round singles today. She got 4 games from Anke Huber in the first set, and down 5-0 in the second set she got one more, but then it was over.
- Ramblin': sure doubles are incredibly exciting (and AMAZING!) but Alexandra's so very special spirit is most there in singles. And the exhibition of that spirit adds goodness to this world. I bet it was there, in full display, in today's match (and today's loss was not "unexpected", and nothing to be ashamed of, Alexandra).
- What I want (and I don't always get what I want, of course) is some nice singles wins soon, then a Grand Slam, this year; Roland Garros would be my pick!
- But most important of all, of course, Alexandra, is this: HAVE FUN!
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- Thursday 5/13/99
- Good news from Berlin!
- Fusai/Tauziat humbled Koulikovskaya/Melicharova 6-0, 6-2! Yea!
- (I thought of saying something besides "humbled" - like "blitzkrieg" or "genocide" or "ethnic-cleansing" - but I decided that would be tasteless. Still, two French girls in Berlin....)
- Anyway: next is vs. Nicole Arendt/Manon Bollegraf. Win, FT, win!
- More good news: there are rankings and there are rankings, and one is called the "money list". Alexandra is #38 on that list, with $67,875 earned this year, not including this week. Very nice! Wanna buy a web site? (Just kidding - not for sale..)
- Please do this, though, Alexandra, for your friends at FusaiWorld: HAVE FUN! (And WIN!)
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- Friday 5/14/99
- More good news from Berlin!
- Fusai/Tauziat showed a crowd of Germans how it's done in a real match today.
- The first set was: "we know this and you don't!": 6-1.
- It went like this : 1-0, ?-?, 2-1, 3-1, 4-1, 5-1, 6-1. Fun to watch! Boring?
- Then it was not boring: it went like this: ?-?, 1-1, 1-2, ?-?, 2-3, ?-?, 3-4, ?-?, 4-5, ?-?, 5-6, 6-6, 7-6(7-2).
- Looks like Alexandra showed that crowd her good stuff, eh?
- (By that I mean she introduced them to "hand me the defribulator" time.)
- Next is FT vs. Neiland/Sanchez-Vicario.
- Win, FT, win! (And HAVE FUN!!)
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- Sunday 5/16/99
- The GREATEST news from Berlin!
- Fusai/Tauziat showed a crowd of Germans how it's done in TWO real matches today!
- The day started with Fusai/Tauziat vs. Neiland/Sanchez-Vicario to determine who would play again today.
- Fusai/Tauziat played some serious tennis in the 1st set, taking it 6-4. They then apparently decided "Let's have FUN!" (or maybe "This is FUN!") and took the second set, and thus the match, 6-1. Yea!
- As for how it went: all I could see here was the 2nd set ending 4-1, 5-1, 6-1.
- So it was then on to Fusai/Tauziat vs. Novotna/Tarabini.
- The 1st set went decisively to Fusai/Tauziat 6-3. The 2nd set then got much more exciting.
- Again, I only saw the ending of this set, but what I saw made it clear that the crowd saw a match for the ages! Here's what I saw: 3-2, 4-2, 4-3, 4-4, 4-5, 5-5, 6-5, 7-5. Yea!
- Fusai/Tauziat are German Open Doubles Champions! Yabba-dabba-do! Gabba-gabba-hey!
- Now it's home to France for the Strasbourg! Alexandra is in the main Singles draw and will face Amelie Cocheteux in the 1st round. I suspect Fusai/Tauziat will be seeded #1 and will get a 1st round bye.
- Welcome home, Alexandra! Now do good, play well, and HAVE FUN!
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- Monday 5/17/99
- Looks like Alexandra's got a tough day tomorrow...
- First is 1st round singles vs. Amelie Cocheteaux, probably around noon, then, "not before 2" (and hopefully "after suitable rest") is 1st round doubles (w/Tauziat, of course) vs. Maleeva/Oremans.
- And, in a sense, the pressure is on, 'cause Alexandra did very well at Strasbourg last year, winning 3 singles (1 loss to Spirlea) and 4 doubles (no loss!).
- On the plus side, this indicates that Alexandra is very comfortable there, but on the minus side it means that a lot of ranking points are at risk.
- And that singles ranking slipped a bit more this week, from #60 to #67 - it sure would be nice to see that number start going back up again!
- Doubles ranking improved, though, from #8 to #6 - probably Alexandra's best ever! That ain't nothin' - FER SURE!
- And the "money list" ranking probably improved as well, which is always nice, eh?
- Still, Alexandra (in my opinion, of course) doesn't belong in that 60's ranking singles group - she plays singles MUCH better than that!
- Whatever happens, Alexandra, know that FusaiWorld (and France!) loves you!
- It's only a game - HAVE FUN!
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- Wednesday 5/19/99
- Well, sometimes a tough match ends with a loss... (Actually, it always does, for someone. No ties in tennis, eh?)
- Alexandra took the 1st set vs. Amelie Cocheteux to 6-6 but then lost the tie-break (0-7 yet!). Some girls would have given up at that point, but not our Alexandra! She won the 2nd set handily 6-3 to even things up! But then the match, and Alexandra's week in Singles, was over with a 3-6 3rd set. Oh well...
- Alexandra can still be a Doubles star this week, though! (Do it, gal!)
- And maybe Roland Garros will be good to her and good for her Singles next week (and FUN!). I hope so!
- Meanwhile, although Alexandra's singles ranking will likely take another dip next week, this week her "money list" ranking improved from #38 to #28, with $94,525 in 1999 earnings. That's a lot of chocolate!
- So hang in there, Alexandra, play some good doubles, and let's show Roland how truly great you are in Singles next week, ok?
- And HAVE FUN!
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- Thursday 5/20/99
- Good news from Strasbourg!
- Fusai/Tauziat are rollin' again! They defeated Maleeva/Oremans impressively: 6-2, 6-3! Yea!
- Next is vs. Jeyaleelan/Melicharova, probably today.
- Roll on, FT - and HAVE FUN!
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- Friday 5/21/99
- More good news from Strasbourg!
- Fusai/Tauziat continue rollin' BIG TIME! They defeated Jeyaleelan/Melicharova dramatically: 6-3, 7-6(7-2)! Yea!
- Then it was FT vs. Tamarine Tanasugarn/Shi-Ting Wang.
- FT won again! And impressively! The score was 6-3, 6-2. Yea!
- So now it's the finals, tomorrow, vs. Elena Likhovtseva/Ai Sugiyama.
- Show you're the BEST Fusai/Tauziat! And have FUN!
- (There is an interesting "subtext" to all this: tomorrow's singles final is Capriati vs. Likhovtseva; Capriati, well, (I hate to say it) basically "humiliated" Natalie earlier this week (I won't give the score, but it wasn't 6-0, 6-0); so, however the singles turns out, that will be hanging over the doubles. Meanwhile, Alexandra has done some "things" to Sugiyama in the past; and I think she also has some real "issues" with Likhovtseva. This looks, to me, to be a VERY interesting Final!)
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- Sunday 5/23/99
- Well, I am still unable to determine what the doubles result in Strasbourg was.
- Maybe it was a tie?
- At the very least: Alexandra was, again, a doubles finalist! Impressive!
- There is this news, though: it looks like Alexandra's 1st round singles at the Roland Garros is vs. Venus Williams.
- Win, Alexandra, win!
- And have FUN!
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- Tuesday 5/25/99
- Well, it turns out Fusai/Tauziat lost that Strasbourg doubles final. Oh well...
- They took the 1st set 6-2 and looked to be cruisin' but then it became a real match and the 2nd set was elusive 6-7(6-8). The 3rd set was an "oops": 1-6. Hey - stuff happens!
- And Alexandra lost to Venus Williams yesterday at Roland Garros (Court Suzanne Lenglen) 1-6, 1-6. Actually, the stats indicate that it was quite a close match, and Alexandra played very well. So that's some consolation...
- As expected, Alexandra's singles ranking took another hit this week, from #67 to #96. A number like that can only be considered "short-term temporary" and it will be fun to watch that number climb, and climb some more, these next few months. Doubles fell from #6 to #7: no big deal.
- Fusai/Tauziat are seeded #4 at Roland Garros, and face Kirsten Freye/Paulina Stoyanova in the 1st round, maybe tomorrow. Alexandra may likely play Mixed Doubles as well.
- Now let's see some Paris wins, Alexandra! And have FUN!
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- Wednesday 5/26/99
- Well, Fusai/Tauziat showed Paris a good show today! And won! Yea!
- It was Fusai/Tauziat over Freye/Stoyanova 6-4, 6-3: way to go, girls!
- Here's how it went (FS served first): 1-0, ?-?, 2-1, 3-1, 3-2, 4-2, 4-3, 5-3, 5-4, 6-4, 0-1, 1-1, 1-2, 2-2, 2-3, 3-3, 4-3, 5-3, 6-3. Yea!
- Unfortunately, I have very little detail on the 1st 3 games, except that the 1st was a break. The next 2 were either both breaks or both holds. Then every other game of the 1st set was a hold.
- But I was able to get "Java Scoreboard" running right in the 4th game, and managed to basically see every point after that. For instance, FT was down 0-40 in that 4th game, serving, and won 5 straight points to hold and go up 3-1. Nice!
- Game #5 was fought, but not particularly hard, game #6 was fought harder, and #7 harder still (FT missed 2 break points). #8 and #9 were milder, and the 1st set ended with a love game.
- Set #2 started with a pair of love holds, then game #3 looked more like war (but turned out to be more of a skirmish) - it went to deuce twice, but FS held.
- Game #4 was the war of the match. FT served and took this game through 16 points (5 deuces!) and held, to make 2-2, despite giving FS 3 chances to break. The crowd must have been going bananas! I know I was!
- FS next held at love for a lead, FT held through a deuce for 3-3, then FT got the break in a game with one deuce. FT then held at love, and broke again fairly easily for the match. YEA!
- Exciting! Dramatic! Entertaining! FUN!
- More! More! MORE!
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- Saturday 5/29/99
- Well! Okay! Yea! Fusai/Tauziat defeated Miho Saeki/Yuka Yoshida 6-4, 6-0. I like it!
- I was unable to connect until into the 2nd game of the 2nd set, so I don't know the sequence of the 1st set, although I suspect it had the usual FT dramatics (which is good!).
- That 2nd game of the 2nd set was clearly dramatic, too. I saw it go through deuce at least 4 times!
- In games 3-5 SY got 2, and only 2, points in each game. The last game went to deuce once.
- France LOVES FT! Go girls!
- I was able to grab some netcam pics (some quite good), but it will be a few days before I can post them. Maybe I will have some more by then!
- Next is vs. Florencia Labat/Dominique Van Roost. Win, FT!
- And have FUN!
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- Monday 5/31/99
- HUGE headline in tomorrow's Paris Times: "FUSAI/TAUZIAT WIN AGAIN!". Much smaller headline, below the fold: "Famine, Pestilence, and War engulf Earth - 2nd Coming of Christ expected soon". France has it's priorities right!
- It was Fusai/Tauziat vs. Labat/VanRoost on Court Suzanne Lenglen. It went like this (FT served 1st): 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, 4-0, 5-0, 5-1, 6-1, 0-1, 0-2, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, 2-4, 3-4, 4-4, 5-4, 6-4. YOW!
- The 1st game of the match passed through deuce at least 3 times - then FT held. There were no love games in the entire match, but FT clearly dominated that 1st set.
- In the 2nd set, LV grabbed a couple quick ones, but then FT called a halt to that in the 3rd game, and the 4th game really set the tone of the match.
- That 4th game, 2nd set, was another FT classic (although it was a loss!). FT, serving, fought off 4 break points, through 5 deuces, before finally being broken. This put them down 1-3, and when LV held (through a deuce) it was 1-4.
- At this point, I think one FT said to the other FT, "The quickest way for us to win this now is to win 5 in a row...". So they did just that!
- These were some fairly hard-fought games, but this "5-in-a-row" is so typical that it's like: "Alexandra, your spirit is showing!".
- Next is vs. Elena Likhovtseva/Ai Sugiyama (a rematch of the Strasbourg final about a week ago). Defeat them this time, FT!
- And have FUN!
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- Wednesday 6/2/99
- Well: another win: BORING!
- 2-6, 6-4, 11-9.
- Yeah 2-6, 6-4, 11-9: BORING!
- Of course, I'M KIDDING! What I mean is: WOW, WOW, WOW!
- What a show on Court Central today, eh? WOW!
- Likhovtseva/Sugiyama fell; they fought but they fell. FUSAI/TAUZIAT RULES!!
- (Unfortunately, I was cruisin' at 35k when the match was happening so I don't have a "how it went" or any Netcam captures. Maybe someone can e-mail humble me these things?)
- Next is vs. Martina Hingis/Anna Kournikova. Roll on, FT!
- And have FUN!
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- Friday 6/4/99
- Well, today was a loss, so it's over for FT, this year, in Paris. Oh well....
- It is by no means a loss for FT to be ashamed of, however! They fought hard in the 1st set but fell 3-6. Then they fought harder and grabbed the 2nd set 6-3. Then they went up 4-1 in the 3rd set, 2 games from the finals, then, well, um, ok, they lost 5 in a row. Oh well...
- It went like this (FT served first): 1-0, 1-1, 1-2, 1-3, 2-3, 2-4, 2-5, 3-5, 3-6, 1-0, 1-1, 2-1, 3-1, 4-1, 4-2, 5-2, 5-3, 6-3, 1-0, 2-0, 2-1, 3-1, 4-1, 4-2, 4-3, 4-4, 4-5, 4-6.
- This was vs. Hingis/Kournikova.
- I think Hingis is probably not from Earth. Are extra-terrestrials eligible for WTA play? And I have to say that Kournikova, despite being multiple b-words (baby, bimbo, bitch), has some talent.
- But even Alexandra's spirit, big as all of Paris, couldn't beat Hingis' alien magic voodoo. Oh well...
- FT played very well! Their best is yet to be shown; they are continuing to improve!
- (I think I wanted this win today more for Natalie than for Alexandra, actually; Natalie has earned a finals at Roland Garros, Alexandra will, and I hoped she would today.)
- This can still be the best year ever for both of them! It's barely 1/2 done! The 2nd 1/2 is the best!
- FT can improve their very impressive doubles rankings, and Alexandra can improve her absurd current singles ranking, and Natalie (or Alexandra!) can win Wimbledon this year!
- So: draw me a pint of bitter, gimme some fish 'n' chips, and let's go to Birmingham!
- And, please, let's have FUN!
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- Sunday 6/6/99
- This is really FusaiWorld News, not AF News, ok?
- Tonight I am adding a pic by Mark Cheers from the Canadian Open 1997.
- It is probably from after a losing match, as Alexandra looks somewhat sad, and very tired - but even so her beauty is shining!
- And it is huge - 600w - 900h! Go there - click here!
- Also tonight I've made much progress towards a Roland Garros '99 gallery of about 23 pictures - it may post within a week (maybe Tuesday?) - and will include a "movie" from Vincent Girardin!
- Meanwhile, FusaiWorld will be looking for (and hoping for!) much success for Alexandra, in both singles and doubles, in Birmingham.
- And, most of all, FusaiWorld hopes Alexandra has FUN!
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- Tuesday 6/8/99
- Well: there's some good news, some interesting news, and some, uh, "other" news.
- The good news is that Alexandra moved from #7 to #6 in doubles this week - and Fusai/Tauziat are #3 in Chase Championship points - YEA!
- The interesting news is that Alexandra faces a qualifier in her 1st round Birmingham singles - and her 1st round doubles will be Alexandra Fusai/Ines Gorrochategui (seeded #6) vs. Katie Schlukebir/Tamarine Tanasugarn (unseeded) - (Natalie apparently wants to concentrate on singles, where she is seeded #1).
- The "other" news is that Alexandra's singles ranking fell again, from #96 to #141, apparently because she couldn't humble Venus Williams in the 1st round 2 weeks ago. Is that fair? Alexandra actually played very well that match!
- Well, whatever....
- Maybe Alexandra will win Birmingham, singles and doubles, and go from #141 to #15, or so, by this time next week (and move up in doubles, too!). Stuff happens!
- Even at #141 (and #6!) Alexandra is the prettiest, nicest, and most exciting player in all of the WTA!
- So: Alexandra - have fun, and we'll see what happens.
- Winning is FUN!
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- Friday 6/11/99
- Well: the qualifier chosen to face Alexandra in 1st round singles turned out to be Alicia Molik.
- Alexandra won the 1st set 6-4 - then gave away the 2nd set 1-6. Alexandra did win 6 games in the 3rd set, but Molik won 8. Oh well...
- SO: for singles, there's next week.
- But, for doubles, there's still this week!
- Fusai/Gorrochategui defeated Schlukebir/Tanasugarn 6-3, 6-2! YEA!
- Then FG defeated Tina Krizan/Maja Muric 6-3, 6-3! YEA!
- Next is vs. Kristine Kunce/Kimberly Po.
- Go, FG, go! And HAVE FUN!
- (By the way: tonight I'm finally posting the '99 Roland Garros picture gallery. This was a difficult gallery to design, for some reason, but I think it turned out okay. Some of the pictures are very nice! Go there: click here!)
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- Saturday 6/12/99
- Fusai/Gorrochategui are really rollin'!
- FG defeated Kunce/Po 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 - YEA!
- There was some Alexandra spirit in that match, eh?
- Next is vs. Raymond/Stubbs or McNeil/Wild.
- Go, FG, go! And HAVE FUN!
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- Monday 6/14/99
- Well, some more good news from Birmingham!
- Fusai/Gorrochategui defeated "someone" (either Raymond/Stubbs or McNeil/Wild) to advance to the Finals in Birmingham (I don't know the score). So: YEA!
- But then Morariu/Neiland defeated FG in the Final, 6-4, 6-4. Oh well....
- So FG won 4, lost 1. Not bad!
- Now it's on to Eastbourne! Alexandra's 1st singles is vs. Mirjana Lucic. (Apparently Alexandra was able to bypass qualifying by virtue of her Sunday doubles appearance. Or maybe Eastbourne realized that her current singles ranking is ridiculous?)
- Win, Alexandra, win! And have fun!
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- Tuesday 6/15/99
- There is an old saying: "When it rains, it pours.".
- It poured on Alexandra this week at Eastbourne. Mirjana Lucic defeated Alexandra in 1st round singles 7-5, 6-3. And Kristine Kunce/Kimberly Po defeated Fusai/Tauziat 7-5, 6-3 (same score!).
- So now Alexandra can practice for Wimbledon next week.
- Alexandra's Wimbledon 1st round singles next week is vs. the #3 seed, Lindsay Davenport.
- Fusai/Tauziat (seeded #3) face Karen Cross/Jo Ward (both Brits) in 1st round doubles.
- In rankings, Alexandra's singles rank actually improved this week, from #141 to #139. Doubles probably remained #6.
- So: Alexandra can beat Davenport in that 1st round (yes she can!). And Fusai/Tauziat can beat a couple of Brits in that 1st round doubles (sure they can!).
- But, most of all, Alexandra: be good, do good, be happy, and HAVE FUN!
- And, anyway, it's only June!
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- Go: to more 1999 AF News: click here!