Joined
·
5,919 Posts
FILDERSTADT, Germany (AP) -- Jennifer Capriati lost to Sandrine Testud 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 in Friday's quarterfinals of the Porsche Grand Prix but can still gain the No. 1 ranking for the first time.
Capriati's possible ascent to No. 1 depends on how Martina Hingis does in the $565,000 tournament. Hingis needs to make the final to extend her 209-week reign at the top of women's tennis, the WTA said.
The Swiss star moved within one victory of keeping the top ranking for at least another week when she routed Tatiana Panova of Russia 6-1, 6-2 in the quarterfinals.
Testud will play Justine Henin in the semifinals. The seventh-seeded Belgian beat Anke Huber 6-7 (4), 6-2, 7-5. Huber, a two-time Filderstadt champion who will retire after the Australian Open, wasted a 4-2 lead in the final set.
Capriati acknowledged the prospect of becoming No. 1 might have been in the back of her mind.
``There are more tournaments to come,'' she said. ``If I play good tennis, it will happen. And if it happens, then great.''
Hingis has won the Porsche Grand Prix four of the last five years, including the last two. Testud interrupted Hingis' streak by capturing the title in 1998.
Hingis played Tatiana Panova of Russia on Friday in a quarterfinal.
Capriati, seeded second behind Hingis, entered the match with a 52-11 record, her best season on the tour. She won two Grand Slam titles this year, the Australian Open and French Open, and was in the semifinals in Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.
But she served poorly against Testud, a Frenchwoman ranked No. 15.
``She hits hard and I had to play aggressively,'' Testud said. ``She wasn't serving very well today, but the key was that I was very aggressive, especially in the second set.''
Capriati, struggling with her toss, finished with seven double faults. Despite winning the first set, she had problems with her serve.
``For some reason, I've never played my best here,'' Capriati said. ``So I am quite happy to have reached the quarters.''
Capriati began the second set by saving three break points, than held off three more in her next service game before sending a forehand wide to give Testud a break.
Serving to save the set, Capriati netted a backhand to face a set point. Testud finally won the set when Capriati's backhand went long.
Capriati fell behind 3-1 in the last set. Serving for the match, Testud double faulted twice. But Capriati was wide on a return, giving Testud her first match point. Testud won when Capriati netted a forehand.
``I have to give a lot of credit to Sandrine,'' Capriati said. ``I couldn't do that much; she was playing so well.''
Capriati's possible ascent to No. 1 depends on how Martina Hingis does in the $565,000 tournament. Hingis needs to make the final to extend her 209-week reign at the top of women's tennis, the WTA said.
The Swiss star moved within one victory of keeping the top ranking for at least another week when she routed Tatiana Panova of Russia 6-1, 6-2 in the quarterfinals.
Testud will play Justine Henin in the semifinals. The seventh-seeded Belgian beat Anke Huber 6-7 (4), 6-2, 7-5. Huber, a two-time Filderstadt champion who will retire after the Australian Open, wasted a 4-2 lead in the final set.
Capriati acknowledged the prospect of becoming No. 1 might have been in the back of her mind.
``There are more tournaments to come,'' she said. ``If I play good tennis, it will happen. And if it happens, then great.''
Hingis has won the Porsche Grand Prix four of the last five years, including the last two. Testud interrupted Hingis' streak by capturing the title in 1998.
Hingis played Tatiana Panova of Russia on Friday in a quarterfinal.
Capriati, seeded second behind Hingis, entered the match with a 52-11 record, her best season on the tour. She won two Grand Slam titles this year, the Australian Open and French Open, and was in the semifinals in Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.
But she served poorly against Testud, a Frenchwoman ranked No. 15.
``She hits hard and I had to play aggressively,'' Testud said. ``She wasn't serving very well today, but the key was that I was very aggressive, especially in the second set.''
Capriati, struggling with her toss, finished with seven double faults. Despite winning the first set, she had problems with her serve.
``For some reason, I've never played my best here,'' Capriati said. ``So I am quite happy to have reached the quarters.''
Capriati began the second set by saving three break points, than held off three more in her next service game before sending a forehand wide to give Testud a break.
Serving to save the set, Capriati netted a backhand to face a set point. Testud finally won the set when Capriati's backhand went long.
Capriati fell behind 3-1 in the last set. Serving for the match, Testud double faulted twice. But Capriati was wide on a return, giving Testud her first match point. Testud won when Capriati netted a forehand.
``I have to give a lot of credit to Sandrine,'' Capriati said. ``I couldn't do that much; she was playing so well.''
