- 1999 Alexandra Fusai News
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- Wednesday 8/25/99
- ALEXANDRA WON!!!!
- Yep, Alexandra Fusai defeated Rosa Andres in 1st round qualifying at the US Open today: 6-4, 4-6, 6-2. YEA!
- It was an upset, too, with Rosa ranked #160 and Alexandra's ranking having recently fallen from #161 to #179. (Movin' on up now, though, yesireee!)
- (Alexandra's doubles ranking remains #7.)
- Here's how it went (Rosa served first): 0-1, 1-1, 2-1, 3-1, 3-2, 4-2, 4-3, 5-3, 5-4, 6-4, 0-1, 0-2, 0-3, 1-3, 2-3, 3-3, 3-4, 3-5, 4-5, 4-6, 1-0, 2-0, 2-1, 2-2, 3-2, 4-2, 5-2, 6-2. YEA!
- It was a very exciting match! The 1st set started with 2 holds through 40-30. Then Alexandra broke through a deuce on her 2nd chance. Alexandra went to 3-1 with a hold that went through 2 deuces and 3 hold chances (no break chances). The next game was a mirror image: 3-2. Then 2 deuces again and Alexandra held on her 2nd chance (fighting off a break chance): 4-2. Rosa then held on her 3rd chance, fighting off 2 break chances for Alexandra (4 deuces total): 4-3. Then two quick holds from 40-15 and Alexandra served for the set. Alexandra held through a deuce (Rosa had a break chance): 6-4. YEA!
- The 2nd set started with a Rosa hold through a deuce (Alexandra had a break chance). Then Alexandra had two chances to hold, but then gave Rosa two chances to break, which happened (3 deuces total). A quick (40-30) hold, and an even quicker love hold by Alexandra followed: 1-3. Then Rosa had 4 chances to hold, but gave Alexandra 2 chances to break, which happened (5 deuces total): 2-3. Then, like deja vu upside down, a quick 40-30 hold and a love hold by Rosa: 3-4. Rosa then broke quickly from 15-40: 3-5. Alexandra broke back through a deuce on her 3rd chance: 4-5. Alexandra then, without a hold chance, fought off 5 break chances (4 deuces total) before the set ended 4-6. Uhoh....
- The 3rd set started with a quick break and hold by Alexandra, both from 40-30, then a love hold by Rosa: 2-1. Rosa then broke on her 2nd chance, and Alexandra broke back, through a deuce, on her 3rd chance: 3-2. Alexandra then quickly held, broke, and held, giving Rosa only one point per game: 6-2. YEA!!!!
- It's been so long since Alexandra won a singles, I wonder if she cried afterward (I almost did) - if she did I won't accuse her of "doing a Kournikova"!
- Now maybe Alexandra can get "used to" winning again!
- Next is vs. Miroslava Vavrinec (seeded #23, ranked #133). Win, Alexandra, WIN AGAIN!
- And Alexandra: BE GOOD, DO GOOD, PLAY WELL, BE HAPPY, and HAVE FUN!
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- Thursday 8/26/99
- ALEXANDRA WON AGAIN!!!!
- Alexandra Fusai defeated Miroslava Vavrinec in 2nd round qualifying today at the US Open: 7-6(9-7), 6-4. YEA! HOORAY! HURRAH!
- It was another upset, too, with Miroslava ranked #133 and Alexandra's ranking still (officially, but absurdly) #179. (Movin' on up now, though - like a rocket!)
- Unfortunately, I did not have access to a computer while the match was going on, so I don't know "how it went", or any details, besides the score.
- That score says a lot, though, eh?!
- It MUST have been very exciting! Clearly, Alexandra's enormous and wonderful SPIRIT was very much on display for all to see! I think it is the safest thing in the world to say that Alexandra now has hundreds of more new fans, who saw her play yet another "match of a lifetime" today.
- Winning is FUN, eh, Alexandra? DO IT AGAIN!
- Next is Alexandra Fusai (still ranked #179!) vs. Anastasia Myskina (seeded #5, ranked #111), scheduled for 11 am (New York time) tomorrow (Friday) on Court 15.
- That looks to me like the makings of another upset!
- And please, Alexandra, continue to: BE GOOD, DO GOOD, PLAY WELL, BE HAPPY, and HAVE FUN!
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- Friday 8/27/99
- Well, Alexandra lost.
- Anastasia Myskina defeated Alexandra Fusai in 3rd round qualifying at the US open: 7-6(7-4), 6-2.
- It went like this (Myskina served first - some info is missing): 1-0, 2-0, 2-1, 3-1, 3-2, 3-3, 4-3, 4-4, 5-4, 5-5, 6-5, 6-6, (0-1, 1-1, 1-3, 4-7), 6-7, 1-1, 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, 2-4, 2-5, 2-6.
- It started very nicely with Alexandra getting a quick break and hold, allowing Myskina only one point in each game. Then it took Myskina until her 3rd hold chance to finally hold (2 deuces). Then 2 quick holds through 40-30, and Alexandra was broken through a deuce, despite a chance to hold, putting things back on serve. Then a 30-40 break, a 15-40 break, back on serve. Then a "duesy" of a game, which passed through deuce 5 times. Alexandra got the break, on her 5th chance (Myskina only had one chance to hold). So Alexandra was now up 5-4 and serving for the set. But she was quickly broken from 15-40, then broke back at love, and was again serving for the set. Myskina got the break from 30-40: 6-6.
- Due to computer problems, the tiebreak is unclear, except that Myskina got 7 points to Alexandra's 4. So Myskina got the first set 7-6. It had been very close, though Alexandra never saw a set-point chance.
- That computer problem prevented me from getting info on the 1st two games of the 2nd set, but they went 1-1 somehow. In the 3rd game, Alexandra held through a deuce on her second chance (Myskina had no break chance). But Myskina then ran away with it: a love hold and break, a 15 hold and break, and a 30 hold. Match over.
- So now there's Doubles (probably) and Mixed Doubles (maybe). There's still plenty of opportunity for Alexandra to shine very brightly these next two weeks, and for hundreds and thousands of people to delight in her lustrous spirit!
- At least, Alexandra sure showed 3 rookies how a real pro plays!
- Also at least, if there's any justice in this world, Alexandra's singles ranking will now move up dramatically. I mean, if #179 beats #160 and #133, then #179 moves up, right? Even if she did then lose to #111. I vote for #119, I think that's fair. And 60 places is a nice move - a nice start!
- Regardless, Alexandra: be happy and have fun!
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- Tuesday 8/31/99
- Alexandra will be busy tomorrow!
- The greatest and most exciting matches at the US Open tomorrow will both be on Court #6: the 3rd and the 5th.
- In the 3rd match, Alexandra Fusai and Natalie Tauziat (seeded #2) face Christina Papadaki and Louise Pleming in 1st round Ladies' Doubles. Spectators will see the French team of Fusai/Tauziat play very well - and win! (I hope!)
- In the 5th match, Alexandra Fusai and Martin Damm face Ai Sugiyama and Mahesh Bhupathi (seeded #2) in 1st round Mixed Doubles. I predict spectators will see a very exciting match - and the #2 seed team will fall due to especially brilliant and tenacious play by Fusai/Damm. (I hope!)
- It's a new month tomorrow - another new beginning!
- Have some fun, Alexandra! And play well!
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- Wednesday 9/1/99
- Alexandra won! (And lost...)
- Fusai/Tauziat (seeded #2) defeated Papadaki/Pleming (unseeded) 6-3, 4-6, 6-0. YEA!
- Not an upset, but very nice to see after some recent FT stumbles. FT is cruisin' again! YEA!
- It went like this (PP served 1st; I missed some games): ?-?, ?-?, ?-?, 2-2, 3-2, 4-2, 4-3, 5-3, 6-3, ?-?, ?-?, ?-?, ?-?, ?-?, ?-?, 3-4, 3-5, 4-5, 4-6, 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, 4-0, 5-0, 6-0. YEA!
- Here's what I saw: game #5 of the 1st set is 30-30, then FT has 4 chances to break, and finally does (PP had no chances to hold). Then three quick holds at 15: 5-3 - PP serving. PP had 5 chances to hold this game; FT won it on their 1st chance: 6-3.
- 2nd set: PP up 3-4 and serving. FT had 2 chances early to break, but couldn't. PP then held on their 2nd chance: 3-5. FT then held at love: 4-5. The next game then went through deuce 3 times, FT had a chance late to break, but couldn't - PP held on their 3rd chance: 4-6.
- FT fought off two break points in the 3rd set, 1st game, and held on their 2nd chance (3 deuces): 1-0. Then FT let PP catch up to 30-30 and put the game away - a break: 2-0. It took 3 chances (through 2 deuces), but FT then held (PP had no break chances): 3-0. Then a break through a deuce (PP had no hold chance): 4-0. Then FT gave PP two points for each of the remaining 2 games - but 2 points does not win a game: 6-0. YEA!
- Next is FT vs. either Tina Krizan/Katarina Srebotnik or Alicia Ortuno/Cristina Torrens Valero.
- Win, FT, win! And have fun! (Do both!)
- Then Alexandra went out there, little more than an hour after the Womens' Doubles win, to the same court (#6) to play Mixed Doubles with Martin Damm (unseeded) vs. Sugiyama/Bhupathi (seeded #2).
- FD served 1st, but was broke, although it took SB at least 2 chances to do it. Then 2 holds at 15, and 3 holds at 30: 2-4. FD then had a chance to hold (after a deuce), but couldn't, and SB took it on their 3rd chance: 2-5. SB then held through a deuce (FD had 2 chances to break, but couldn't): 2-6. Oh well.
- FD held the 1st game of the 2nd set at love, then got just 1 point in the 2nd game. In the 3rd game FD fought off 4 break points (through 2 deuces), but fell (they had no hold chances): 1-2.
- Then a real Fusai game for all New York to see (again!): SB tried to hold from 40-0, and they had 8 chances to do so (7 deuces), but FD broke on their 2nd chance: back on serve, 2-2.
- Then 3 quick holds at 15: 4-3. Then a hold through a deuce (4th chance!): 4-4. FD then held easily from 30: 5-4. FD then had 3 set points, but SB held through 2 deuces. Then SB broke at 15, and held: 7-5. Oh well.
- A lot of people saw that match. Here's what they're saying all over New York tonight: "I saw this match at the Open today: Alexandra Fusai and some guy vs. some other guy and gal. Alexandra lost, but this girl is SPECIAL! Remember her name: ALEXANDRA FUSAI! I think she's still in Women's Doubles with Natalie somebody...".
- Keep having fun, Alexandra! And continue playing well! Most of all: be happy!
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- Friday 9/3/99
- Alexandra won! Again!
- Fusai/Tauziat defeated Krizan/Srebotnik in 2nd round Women's Doubles at the US open: 6-3, 6-3. YEA!
- It went like this (FT served 1st): 1-0, 1-1, 2-1, 2-2, 3-2, 4-2, 5-2, 5-3, 6-3, 0-1, 1-1, 2-1, 3-1, 4-1, 5-1, 5-2, 5-3, 6-3. YEA!
- This was a quick match, but closer than it looks, and with much real excitement.
- There were no love games, for instance. Six games ended at 15, eight games at 30, and four games saw deuces. FT won 3 of the 4 deuce games (2 were breaks - important breaks). Four of the "15" games were holds; two were important breaks by FT. Seven of the eight "30" games were holds; the final game of the match was a break at 30.
- In other words: the match started with 4 quick holds (at 30, 15, 30, 30) then a quick break by FT at 15: 4-2. KS came back to make the 1st deuce game of the match (3 deuces, KS had one break chance, FT held on their 3rd chance): 5-2. Then two quick 30 holds: 6-3. YEA!
- The 2nd set started with two quick 15 holds, then FT fought through 2 deuces to break (3rd chance; KS had no hold chances): 2-1. Then the game of the match, as KS tried to break back: through 5 deuces KS had 3 chances to break - but FT finally held, on their 5th chance! Then a quick break at 15 (4-1), two quick holds at 30 (5-2), and FT serving for the match. FT then had 3 chances to put it away (through 3 deuces), but KS broke on their 1st chance: 5-3. The FT broke back quickly at 30 (2nd chance, though): 6-3. YEA! Well done, FT!
- Next is FT vs. Nicole Arendt/Manon Bollegraf (seeded #15) or Lori McNeil/Alexandra Stevenson (unseeded) - probably Sunday or Monday.
- Win, FT, win! And have fun! (Do both!) Most of all, Alexandra: be happy!
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- Sunday 9/5/99
- Fusai/Tauziat were scheduled to play today, late - but there was rain.
- Meanwhile Novotna/Zvereva (seeded #1) lost - so now Fusai/Tauziat is the #1 target. Good! (I hope!)
- FT are scheduled (weather permitting) vs. Arendt/Bollegraf (seeded #15) on Court #11 around 1 tomorrow (Monday) afternoon.
- WIN, FT, WIN! And HAVE FUN!
- (By the way: tonight I am posting 23 pictures of Alexandra taken by Kristin Grosch, a kind and giving fan of Alexandra, and a talented photographer. Go there: click here!)
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- Monday 9/6/99
- Well, Alexandra and Natalie lost. Arendt/Bollegraf defeated Fusai/Tauziat in 3rd round Women's Doubles at the US Open today: 6-2, 6-7(5-7), 6-3. Oh well....
- It went like this (AB served first): 0-1, 0-2, 0-3, 1-3, 1-4, 2-4, 2-5, 2-6, 1-0, 2-0, 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, 3-3, 4-3, 4-4, 4-5, 5-5, 5-6, 6-6, (0-1, 0-2, 1-2, 2-2, 3-2, 4-2, 4-3, 5-3, 5-4, 5-5, 6-5, 7-5) 7-6, 1-0, 1-1, 2-1, 2-2, 3-2, 3-3, 3-4, 3-5, 3-6.
- It was a very long and exciting match, and FT seemed to play quite well, but the impression I got was that AB was relentless and jumped on their chances, while FT let some chances go by.
- In the 1st game FT had a chance to break early, but AB held through 2 deuces. Natalie then was broken at 15. FT then had 4 chances to break (including 3 early), but AB held on their 2nd chance (3 deuces). Alexandra then held at love, and FT had another chance to break early, but AB held through a deuce. Two quick holds at 15 and Alexandra was serving at 2-5. Down 0-40, FT fought back, but AB broke on their 5th chance (2 deuces): 2-6.
- FT broke quickly to start the 2nd set, then held through 4 deuces (AB had 2 break chances). AB held at 30 then broke Alexandra at love - back on serve. AB then held through a deuce, Natalie held at love, and AB was broken through a deuce (they had one hold chance). Alexandra, serving, lost 3 points, won two, and was broken - back on serve. Four quick holds (at 15, 15, 30, and 15) brought on the tie-break, which went as outlined above (AB served first).
- So it was on to set #3, and FT finally seemed to be in winning form. The Java Scoreboard ran erratically in this 3rd set, so some of what happened is unclear, but it seemed like this: Natalie held at love, then FT had two early break chances, but AB held through 3 deuces. Then 4 quick holds and Alexandra was broken at 15, AB held at love, and Natalie was broken at love. Oh well....
- It was on NetCam, so I managed to grab 37 captures, most (or all) of which will be posted to a gallery "soon". Some are quite good.
- Alexandra's right leg was heavily taped, and that may have factored into what happened, but I think this is what happened: FT played well, but AB played VERY well.
- Alexandra's 1999 US Open record: 4 wins, 3 losses. That's OK!
- Now it's on to, well, I don't know! Probably a short healing break, then some more FUN tennis! And some more wins, fer shure!
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- Tuesday 9/21/99
- This past weekend (Sat-Mon) Alexandra gave some folks of Luxembourg (and environs) the joy of watching her play 3 great matches. Now there are yet more AF fans, for sure!
- Somehow, Alexandra finagled her way into the Seat Open qualifying (probably as a "wild card"), despite her singles ranking continuing to fall, from 178 to 186. Maybe it was that impressive performance in the US Open qualifying? Maybe it was her #41 ranking on the "money list"? Maybe it was her beauty? Maybe it was her spirit? Or maybe 10,000 French men and women did a full recreation of the storming of the Bastille, in period costume, screaming, "FUSAI, FUSAI, FUSAI!"?
- Anyway, Alexandra first faced Amanda Hopmans (seeded #2) - Hopmans had recently moved up from #89 to #79. Alexandra won: 6-3, 6-1. Yea!
- Then Alexandra faced Martina Muller, who had recently moved up from #424 to #389. Alexandra won: 6-1, 6-2. Yea!
- To decide who would go on to the main draw, Alexandra then played Tina Pisnik, who had recently moved up from #123 to #96. Alexandra took the 1st set handily: 6-1, then gave away the 2nd set 1-6. Pisnik took the 3rd set 6-4 (with many deuce games, I bet!). Oh well....
- So Alexandra won 2 out of 3. She had 5 great sets, 1 good, 1 not. And I'm sure she gave 3 crowds unforgettable memories. I know I speak for at least hundreds, again: THANK YOU, ALEXANDRA!
- The latest rankings have Alexandra actually improving from #186 to #185 in singles, and her doubles ranking, which recently fell from #10 to #12, is holding. There is now a real opportunity for a turnaround in both rankings.
- Alexandra's future is very unpredictable these days (and that's good!). There are ITF and USTA things that she can go to and star in, and that's good! But what I suspect (as opposed to expect) is that Alexandra will be a "wild card" qualifier at Filderstadt (she has legions of fans there), and will, at least, play doubles with Natalie there. And, maybe, win the singles there! That would be nice! She can!
- Most important, Alexandra, is take care, and HAVE FUN!
- (By the way: tonight I am posting the NetCam pictures from the 3rd round doubles match at the US Open. Go there: click here!)
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- Saturday 9/25/99
- (This is not really Fusai News - just FusaiWorld news - hence the parentheses: Today I am posting 26 more excellent pictures of Alexandra taken by professional tennis photographer Bill Mitchell - with permission, of course. I think they are all from this past spring at Hilton Head and Amelia. Go there: click here!)
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- Saturday 10/2/99
- FIRST: some old news (which I missed somehow): in the week between the US Open and the SEAT in Luxembourg, Alexandra was in the main draw at the Open Gaz de France d'Aquitaine (9/11-18).
- Alexandra gave a couple of crowds a couple of typically Alexandra great matches with main draw wins over Stephanie Testard (6-4, 5-7, 6-3) and Rita Kuti-Kis (WTA #72)(4-6, 6-3, 7-6(?-?)). YEA!!
- Then Gloria Pizzicini knocked Alexandra out: 6-0, 6-4. Oh well... (Pizzicini kept winning, and went on to eventually play in the final.)
- SO: not bad, Alexandra! I bet you gave the crowd the 2 best matches of the whole tourney; and now have yet another 1000 new forever fans!
- NOW: new news: Alexandra's WTA singles ranking improved this week from #185 to #177 - doubles remained #12. NICE!
- AND: Alexandra has been busy these past few days winning singles and doubles as a "team player". On Thursday 9/30/99 Alexandra played at the Championat de France par Equipes (Division National 1A Feminime; of top French players only Pierce, Sidot, and Pitkowski missed this fun) as a member of the R.C. France team vs. the A.S.U.L. Tennis Lyon team. Alexandra won her singles vs. Laurence Combes 6-4, 6-3, then won her doubles (with Celine Sfar) vs. Doriane Caporusso/Karine Bornu 6-2, 6-1. YEA! (The R.C. France team is Natalie Tauziat, Alexandra Fusai, Natalie Dechy, Justin Henin, Celine Sfar, Elodie LeBescond, and Virginie Pichet.) The team won 8-0 (Alexandra was in 2 of those 8). YEA!
- Four of 8 teams played Thursday; the other 4 played Friday. So today 4 teams played. R.C. France faced A.S. Patton Rennes. Alexandra defeated Sonya Jeyaseelan (WTA #131) 6-4, 7-6(?-?), then (with Natalie) defeated Stephanie Deville/Kildine Chevalier 6-0, 6-1. YEA! The team won 7-1 (Alexandra, again, was in 2 of those wins).
- Tomorrow, in the Final, it is R.C. France vs. T.C. Meru. T.C. Meru is a tough team: Amelie Mauresmo, Amelie Cocheteux, Emilie Loit, Els Callens, Magalie Lamarre, and Charlotte Oguez. Alexandra will probably play one of those top 4 in singles, and FT will probably play 2 of those top 4 in doubles.
- Win Alexandra! Win FT! Win RCF! And HAVE FUN!
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- Monday 10/4/99
- Well, Alexandra had a tough day yesterday at the Championat de France par Equipes (Division National 1A Feminine).
- In singles, Alexandra fell to Emilie Loit 7-6(?-?), 6-3. Then, in doubles, the fall (with Justin Henin) was to Amelie Mauresmo/Els Callens 6-4, 7-5. Two other losses by team R.C. France gave the tourney to team T.C. Meru (who were probably favored anyway) 4-3. Oh well....
- Clearly, though (as usual), Alexandra made both matches exciting!
- SO: for this tourney, Alexandra won two singles (and lost one) and won two doubles (and lost one). That's OK, gal - ya done fine!
- NOW: perhaps a few thousand lucky residents of Filderstadt, Germany, will get to see Alexandra play some exciting tennis in person, this week. Or maybe not....
- Whatever, Alexandra: take care and have fun, wherever you are!
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- Wednesday 10/6/99
- Well, Alexandra and Natalie (Tauziat, of course) failed to win their 1st round doubles at Filderstadt yesterday, but a failure to win is not necessary a "failure". Perhaps they succeeded in playing an exciting, close, hard-fought match? Perhaps they suceeded in winning the admiration, appreciation, and perhaps even adoration, of hundreds of the fans there watching?
- Anyway, Chanda Rubin/Sandrine Testud defeated Fusai/Tauziat 7-5, 7-5. Oh well....
- Alexandra was not in the singles at all, not even the qualifying (she was busy with that club thing in France). They could have given her a wild-card into the main draw, but they didn't (that's their loss, in my opinion, but oh well for them!).
- Alexandra's rankings are unchanged this week: #12 doubles, #177 singles.
- Next might be the Swisscom Challenge in Zurich, Switzerland (at least Alexandra can get plenty of her beloved chocolate there!), or perhaps something else....
- Whatever, Alexandra: take care and have fun, wherever you are!
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- Go: to more 1999 AF News: click here!