[Maria Croft]

Maria's first clay Tournament of the year and her only clay tournament before Roland Garros.
It's also her first tournament in over a month.
And she also has only just recoverd from a minor injury that could be dangerous on clay.
Not no mention the extremely tough draw if you look at the entry list, a lot of great players are playing in Rome.


So enough to look forward too and get nervous about in the next two weeks


Entry List:

1. Amelie MAURESMO (FRA)
2. Maria SHARAPOVA (RUS)
3. Mary PIERCE (FRA)
4. Nadia PETROVA (RUS)
5. Elena DEMENTIEVA (RUS)
6. Patty SCHNYDER (SUI)
7. Svetlana KUZNETSOVA (RUS)
8. Venus WILLIAMS (USA)
9. Anastasia MYSKINA (RUS)
10. Francesca SCHIAVONE (ITA)
11. Nicole VAIDISOVA (CZE)
12. Daniela HANTUCHOVA (SVK)
13. Anna-Lena GROENEFELD (GER)
14. Elena LIKHOVTSEVA (RUS)
15. Ana IVANOVIC (SCG)
16. Flavia PENNETTA (ITA)
17. Dinara SAFINA (RUS)
18. Tatiana GOLOVIN (FRA)
19. Ai SUGIYAMA (JPN)
20. Maria KIRILENKO (RUS)
21. Alicia MOLIK (AUS)
22. Nathalie DECHY (FRA)
23. Martina HINGIS (SUI)
24. Anabel MEDINA GARRIGUES (ESP)
25. Jelena JANKOVIC (SCG)
26. Klara KOUKALOVA (CZE)
27. Katarina SREBOTNIK (SLO)
28. Gisela DULKO (ARG)
29. Sofia ARVIDSSON (SWE)
30. Anna CHAKVETADZE (RUS)
31. Lucie SAFAROVA (CZE)
32. Kveta PESCHKE (CZE)
33. Shahar PEER (ISR)
34. Marta DOMACHOWSKA (POL)
35. Roberta VINCI (ITA)
36. Sania MIRZA (IND)
37. Mara SANTANGELO (ITA)
38. Iveta BENESOVA (CZE)
39. Anna SMASHNOVA (ISR)
40. Virgine RAZZANO (FRA)
41. Vera ZVONAREVA (RUS)
42. Catalina CASTANO (COL)
43. Nuria LLAGOSTERA VIVES (ESP)
44. Jill CRAYBAS (USA)
45. Kim CLIJSTER (BEL)
46. Maria Elena CAMERIN (ITA)
47. Tathiana GARBIN (ITA)


Past Results:

Rome 2004


1R beat
Tatiana Perebiynis
6-4 7-5

2R beat
Elena Dementieva
6-1 6-4

3R lost
Silvia Farina-Elia
6-7 0-6

Rome 2005


1R Bye

2R beat
Anabel Medina Garrigues
6-4 6-2

3R beat
Mary Pierce
7-6 6-4

QF beat
Elena Bovina
6-2 6-2

SF
lost Patty Schnyder
6-3 3-6 1-6


So you see Maria has had some very good result here in the past

Davai Maria

[TeaMMashA]

Good Luck To Maria. I just hope the ankle is only a minor knock because it could be difficult for her as it is her first clay tournament. Possibly the worst surface for Twists etc.

[~lollipop_girl~]

Oh yes, that is right... Maria plays tennis!
It has been sooo long I almost forgot!
Thank god she will be back on the court soon!

[Sharapova's_Boy]

Good luck Maria, hope the injury isn't as serious.

[usatoffeefan]

davai... that means go in russian right? well yes GO MASHA

[Maria Croft]

Originally Posted by usatoffeefan

davai... that means go in russian right? well yes GO MASHA

It means C'mon ( I think so at least )

[furrykitten]

Good luck Maria

[Martyś]

Good luck Maria

It is going to be good, I'm telling you.

[mashafan25]

Best of luck Masha in Rome!! C'mon,Davai,and Vamos!!!

[Steve-o]

haha, I was wondering when this thread might appear, nice work Jakim

With any luck the ankle won't bother her too much . Despite the stellar field, hopefully Maria can go deep into this tourney and repeat or better her excellent performance in Rome last year.

[Martyś]

I feel that Maria has a surprise for us Hopefully, I'm right.

I can't wait. So excited with this tourney and I don't now why.

[msharafan]

i know its probably because after dubai indian wells and miami were all expecting great things from maria, and also the fact that she hasnt played in what feels like ages! anyway bring on rome it starts next wek right?

[usatoffeefan]

yep! on monday! i cant wait! they'll actually show this thing on tv here!

[Maria Croft]

No it doesn't, it starts on May the 15th, still a week to go

[Poova]

Tough draw! GOOD LUCK MARIA!