[snoop]

Lena is back and hopefully completely recovered to play her home tournament.
She will only participate in the singles competition, no doubles
All the best Lena


WC 1 Jennifer Capriati
Elena Bovina vs Patty Schnyder
Svetlana Kuznetsova vs Q
Anna Pistolesi vs 6-Nadia Petrova

4-Anastasia Myskina bye
Magui Serna vs Silvia Farina Elia
Q vs Elena Likhovtseva
Eleni Daniilidou vs 8-Meghann Shaughnessy


5-Magdalena Maleeva vs WC Dinara Safina
Francesca Schiavone vs Lina Krasnoroutskaya
Q vs Q
3-Elena Dementieva bye

7-Vera Zvonareva vs Amanda Coetzer
WC Vera Douchevina vs Lisa Raymond
Jelena Dokic vs Alexandra Stevenson
2-Amelie Mauresmo bye



Udachi Lena

 

[goldenlox]

Lena and Patty are two stylists. Two fun players to watch. Patty beat Elena L. and Hantuchova in Leipzig. But the best of Lena will win.
GO LENA!

 

[Roxers]

davai lena

 

[* Princess *]

Lena got a pretty good draw for Moscow.

If she doesn't play stupid, she should beat Patty, who's struggling just as bad. Patty's worth some decent points, also... until Zurich comes around.

Then, with Jenny, I don't think she really wants to be playing Moscow... so there's a chance.

I'm not expecting anything from Lena though, anymore... after seeing her play magical tennis in Toronto and New Haven, and then simply throw her match away against Cervanova... Lena just is so, so, so far away from where she should be in her game.

Anyone can have a lucky match, or two... it's being consistent with your game which proves how good you are really are... and Lena is the complete opposite of consistent.

Hopefully, Lena is healthy, and she really starts focusing on her game. This tournament is a good start for her to make her climb to where she should be in tennis.

Lena knows that Top 10 quality tennis is within her... now stop fucking around, stop worrying about being nice to everyone, stop trying to hit stupid winners, and play your game.

 

[goldenlox]

Sometimes it takes time for a player to be consistent. Look at Alyona, how many thought she would win three titles, at least, in 2003?
Lena has game. A lot of tall players need time, imo.
I'm willing to wait.

 

[* Princess *]

I agree. Lena's game will take time to develop. She plays an aggressive, net game (which is her game, even if she doesn't realize it yet)... and those types usually have their best years, later on in their career. Plus, Lena still hasn't grown into her body fully.

I still think Lena has to "find herself", both on and off the court... before she will reach her full potential.

What I mean by Lena "finding herself" on the court... Lena still doesn't know her strengths, and how to use them. Lena still thinks her serve is great... and for her height, it sucks. She tries to play like Venus Williams by going for huge winners in the backcourt, and hitting swinging volleys... and that is simply NOT Lena.

Lena won't reach her potential trying to be a power player... she's far from the strongest player, and she simply doesn't have the hand-eye coordination to be able to play like a Venus or Lindsay.

I wish you all could have seen her match vs. Amanda in Toronto. She didn't try hitting lines in that match... she played smart. She hit powerful, yet high-percentage approach shots, and came to net a bunch. She even hit a few slice approaches. Just by going to net, Lena will win many cheap points against most other girls.

But, I just get the feeling that Lena doesn't have a strategy when she's playing. Even when she's practicing you can tell this. Her comfort zone is banging away shots from the baseline.

 

[goldenlox]

It's what you've said before, experience. Decision making at key moments.
One point from the Jennifer match stays with me. The second game of the third set, Lena had a breakpoint. I thought she had an overhead to win the point. I guess Lena misjudged it. She tapped the ball right to Jenn. Jenn held. Then Lena won two games to get to 2-2.
If Lena can stay healthy and play big matches, she will know better what shots she should go for. Her size can turn out to be a huge advantage when things come together.

 

[goldenlox]

Lena and Patty have split the two matches they've played, both going three sets.
Lena won on grass in 2001.
Last year, Patty won in Zurich, 6-3 in the third. At that time, Lena was playing well. She had won Quebec City. Then Lena beat Vera Z. and Alyona in the KC, before losing to Lindsay.
So I expect Patty to be very tough tomorrow.
I hope Lena comes to the net as much as possible.
Kick some tail, Lena.

 

[* Princess *]

Lena also choked that match vs. Patty in Zurich... she led 4-2 in the 2nd set.

Remember though, Lena lost to Husarova in qualis, and got in as a lucky loser... and Patty went on to win the tourney.

This is definitely a winnable match for Lena... Patty isn't playing like a Top 40 player.

 

[goldenlox]

It should be close, competitive, winnable.
I am concerned that Lena pulled out of Leipzig, and hasn't played a singles match in 5 weeks.
Patty's probably more match tough at this moment. Probably more confident.
If Lena can get this win though, she should have confidence against Jenn. That will be a fun rematch.

 

[KV]

Lena won 6-4 6-2

 

[* Princess *]

Lena won 6-4 6-2

She was down 2-4 in the 1st, and then Lena ran away with it.

I wouldn't read too much into this match, however. Patty didn't play well, at all... and Lena still played too aggressively, and made too many unforced errors. She still looks like the same player against Cervanova.

Still though, a much needed win for Lena... especially ranking wise, since this match was worth 60 points.

 

[snoop]

Lena :yeah: nice win, now good luck vs Cappy

H2H 0-1
2nd rd New Haven Aug 24 2003 J Capriati(3) - E Bovina 4-6 7-5 6-4


Wednesday, October 01, 2003
3rd match on centre court / Not before 15:00
Elena Bovina - (1)Jennifer Capriati

 

[Roxers]

Lena

Davai vs. Jen

 

[KV]

Good luck against Cappy

 

[Doc]

Yes. A tough draw for Lena. Now meeting the no 1 seed.

But I liked a lot of her play in the win over Patty Schnyder. Lena looked businesslike and determined, and she served and played her shots very well. (Some real scorchers!)

From 3-4 down in the first set she lost only two more games in the match. So play the same against Jennifer (better is allowable), and defend those points!

 

[* Princess *]

Thankfully, this week is the end of Lena defending big points for the rest of the year... just Luxembourg QF left.

This really was a big win for Lena. She desperately needs some wins before her Aussie points come off.

 

[KV]

Thankfully, this week is the end of Lena defending big points for the rest of the year... just Luxembourg QF left.

This really was a big win for Lena. She desperately needs some wins before her Aussie points come off.

You seem to be Lena's biggest fan, are you?

 

[* Princess *]

You seem to be Lena's biggest fan, are you?

Yes.

 

[Lady]