switz
Jan 8th, 2005, 05:41 AM
http://www.tennisaustralia.com.au/pages/article.aspx?id=4&articleid=ArticleID200518144755&pageId=9067&HandlerId=1
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Stosur falls in long three set final
January 8, 2004
Gold Coast, January 8 – Rising Aussie star Samantha Stosur came agonisingly close to her first WTA title before going down in a three set blockbuster to Swiss Patty Schnyder at the Uncle Tobys Hardcourts today.
In the doubles final second seeds Elena Likhovtseva and and Magdalena Maleeva defeated Italians Maria Elena Camerin and Silvia Farina Elia 6-3 5-7 6-1.
Stosur played near faultless tennis to sweep through the first set 6-1 and seemed destined to become the first ever Australian champion on the Gold Coast. But the second seed soon found her rhythm with a mix of punishing groundstrokes and fine drop shots.
Schnyder broke her opponent for the first time of the match to go ahead 4-2 in the second set, which stayed on serve for the remainder. In the decider both players produced some of the best tennis of the tournament but it was the Swiss who gained the upper hand with a break from 40-0 down in the 11th game before serving out the match 1-6 6-3 7-5 in just under two hours.
It was Stosur's first runner-up finish on the WTA Tour.
Stosur said she played at the top her game in the first set but slowly Schnyder began her to work her out.
"In the first set I just didn’t do anything wrong," she said. "I don’t think I could have really played that set much better.
"I had some chances in the second set to break her in a few games and didn’t get it. The third set was just a bit tough losing that service game from 40-0. That doesn’t happen very often and that’s probably the worst time you could ever do it.
"She started working out a little bit where I was serving (as the match wore on). I wanted to serve it out to her backhand on the deuce court and try and get her off the court and opening it up and she started picking it a bit.
"At 6-5 my legs ran out, I thought I was going to collapse. I don’t know if it was the nerves but I kind of felt a bit different in that last game when it was coming to an end and I had to do it but didn’t. But hopefully I will get used to those kind of situations."
The 20-year-old had no hesitation confirming her attendance here next year, saying she hoped it was a one step at a time process following her 2004 semifinal and this year’s final.
"I guess it’s hopefully one step at a time," she said laughing. "I’ll be back, I love playing here so whatever happens I’ll be back and hopefully I can play better and better."
Stosur was a victim of Schnyder’s very classy drop shots and said she just couldn’t counter them.
"You can’t pick them firstly. And then I was trying to run as fast as I could and still couldn’t get to them. Obviously that’s a great shot of hers and she definitely uses it at the right time – deuce and chances to go break point down and you hit a drop shot like that I mean full credit to her, you couldn’t hit it much better."
Looking ahead Stosur said a top 30 ranking by the end of the year was her goal.
"I’d like to be in the 30s. When you climb up the rankings it gets harder and harder, but that’s the goal. I just want to keep improving and playing well and hopefully it will all fall into place.
"It’s one of those things where you’ve got to try and back up and the top players can do that. I’ve got to try and pull myself together now and go out there (at the Medibank International) and play another match and try and get as far into the tournament as possible. Really try and back it up.
"I’m pretty happy with how I held up this week. I had some pretty tough matches so I’m pretty happy but obviously disappointed to lose today."
The runner-up performance by Stosur capped an amazing week in which she defeated four higher ranked players including three seeds.
Schnyder said the victory was no easy feat, but felt great.
"It was tough," she said. "Especially like the beginning she was all over me and I had no chance to break her. It was a really lucky turnaround in the second set. And I well deserved the third set I think.
"She’s a great player and I’m really happy to win such a difficult match and to win overall. I’m really excited about starting the year like this. It’s always nice to play five matches in a row like this and leave a place as a champion."
The Swiss has now claimed three of her nine titles on Australian soil, including her first ever in Hobart, and was a semifinalist at last year’s Australian Open. She said she was looking forward to the rest of the Aussie summer.
"It’s great," she said of the title. "I’m aiming for ten now so that’s great. I’m having so much fun playing Australia. It’s by far my best continent for titles. I love coming back here and also Melbourne, it’s a great Grand Slam."
Schnyder predicted big things for the Australian and compared her power to that of reigning US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova.
"She’s playing really good tennis in Australia, but so far she hasn’t be able to play constantly good in the States or in Europe, but she’s definitely a very good player.
"She has some unbelievable weapons. I guess she’s going to be around 30 for sure (by the end of the year). She can be even higher (than that) if she maintains her level.
"(She compares to) a really strong player with a powerful arm like Kuznetsova or even Molik with her serve. She’s got big power in her arm and great acceleration."
Both Stosur and Schnyder will now travel to Sydney to compete in the Tier II Medibank International. Stosur has been awarded a wildcard into the main draw.
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stop being such a bitch patty :mad: :lol:
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Stosur falls in long three set final
January 8, 2004
Gold Coast, January 8 – Rising Aussie star Samantha Stosur came agonisingly close to her first WTA title before going down in a three set blockbuster to Swiss Patty Schnyder at the Uncle Tobys Hardcourts today.
In the doubles final second seeds Elena Likhovtseva and and Magdalena Maleeva defeated Italians Maria Elena Camerin and Silvia Farina Elia 6-3 5-7 6-1.
Stosur played near faultless tennis to sweep through the first set 6-1 and seemed destined to become the first ever Australian champion on the Gold Coast. But the second seed soon found her rhythm with a mix of punishing groundstrokes and fine drop shots.
Schnyder broke her opponent for the first time of the match to go ahead 4-2 in the second set, which stayed on serve for the remainder. In the decider both players produced some of the best tennis of the tournament but it was the Swiss who gained the upper hand with a break from 40-0 down in the 11th game before serving out the match 1-6 6-3 7-5 in just under two hours.
It was Stosur's first runner-up finish on the WTA Tour.
Stosur said she played at the top her game in the first set but slowly Schnyder began her to work her out.
"In the first set I just didn’t do anything wrong," she said. "I don’t think I could have really played that set much better.
"I had some chances in the second set to break her in a few games and didn’t get it. The third set was just a bit tough losing that service game from 40-0. That doesn’t happen very often and that’s probably the worst time you could ever do it.
"She started working out a little bit where I was serving (as the match wore on). I wanted to serve it out to her backhand on the deuce court and try and get her off the court and opening it up and she started picking it a bit.
"At 6-5 my legs ran out, I thought I was going to collapse. I don’t know if it was the nerves but I kind of felt a bit different in that last game when it was coming to an end and I had to do it but didn’t. But hopefully I will get used to those kind of situations."
The 20-year-old had no hesitation confirming her attendance here next year, saying she hoped it was a one step at a time process following her 2004 semifinal and this year’s final.
"I guess it’s hopefully one step at a time," she said laughing. "I’ll be back, I love playing here so whatever happens I’ll be back and hopefully I can play better and better."
Stosur was a victim of Schnyder’s very classy drop shots and said she just couldn’t counter them.
"You can’t pick them firstly. And then I was trying to run as fast as I could and still couldn’t get to them. Obviously that’s a great shot of hers and she definitely uses it at the right time – deuce and chances to go break point down and you hit a drop shot like that I mean full credit to her, you couldn’t hit it much better."
Looking ahead Stosur said a top 30 ranking by the end of the year was her goal.
"I’d like to be in the 30s. When you climb up the rankings it gets harder and harder, but that’s the goal. I just want to keep improving and playing well and hopefully it will all fall into place.
"It’s one of those things where you’ve got to try and back up and the top players can do that. I’ve got to try and pull myself together now and go out there (at the Medibank International) and play another match and try and get as far into the tournament as possible. Really try and back it up.
"I’m pretty happy with how I held up this week. I had some pretty tough matches so I’m pretty happy but obviously disappointed to lose today."
The runner-up performance by Stosur capped an amazing week in which she defeated four higher ranked players including three seeds.
Schnyder said the victory was no easy feat, but felt great.
"It was tough," she said. "Especially like the beginning she was all over me and I had no chance to break her. It was a really lucky turnaround in the second set. And I well deserved the third set I think.
"She’s a great player and I’m really happy to win such a difficult match and to win overall. I’m really excited about starting the year like this. It’s always nice to play five matches in a row like this and leave a place as a champion."
The Swiss has now claimed three of her nine titles on Australian soil, including her first ever in Hobart, and was a semifinalist at last year’s Australian Open. She said she was looking forward to the rest of the Aussie summer.
"It’s great," she said of the title. "I’m aiming for ten now so that’s great. I’m having so much fun playing Australia. It’s by far my best continent for titles. I love coming back here and also Melbourne, it’s a great Grand Slam."
Schnyder predicted big things for the Australian and compared her power to that of reigning US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova.
"She’s playing really good tennis in Australia, but so far she hasn’t be able to play constantly good in the States or in Europe, but she’s definitely a very good player.
"She has some unbelievable weapons. I guess she’s going to be around 30 for sure (by the end of the year). She can be even higher (than that) if she maintains her level.
"(She compares to) a really strong player with a powerful arm like Kuznetsova or even Molik with her serve. She’s got big power in her arm and great acceleration."
Both Stosur and Schnyder will now travel to Sydney to compete in the Tier II Medibank International. Stosur has been awarded a wildcard into the main draw.
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stop being such a bitch patty :mad: :lol: