[RiskeFan1]

Well that was certainly more productive than giving a WC to one of their own countries players...Even though Vento is having probably the best few months of her 10+ year career, that is a baaadddd scoreline

 

[Knizzle]

Well that was certainly more productive than giving a WC to one of their own countries players...Even though Vento is having probably the best few months of her 10+ year career, that is a baaadddd scoreline

Is Kim playing doubles with her sister??

 

[GoDominique]

I think from now on we can call Leipzig "the tournament with 5 byes", as I'm sure Elke will get a WC again next year.

 

[Fantasy Season]

4 games to Elke?

Maria should retire.

 

[Mercury Rising]

I don't think it's that bad

 

[bandabou]

Damn....this is Elke´s reward for receiving the wild-card?! Damn....the girl just isn´t at wta-tour level yet.

 

[Wimanna]

I don't think it's that bad

hehe

But this is a bad scoreline...

 

[Dizzy Miss Lizzy]

Is Kim playing doubles with her sister??

No

 

[matthias]

I think from now on we can call Leipzig "the tournament with 5 byes", as I'm sure Elke will get a WC again next year.

:haha:

 

[ghosts]

4 games to Elke?

Maria should retire.

I can't believe that E.Clijsters has even challenger-level play...

 

[KV]

That was an expected scoreline. It's only obvious Elke would lose to Maria Vento Kabchi

 

[GoDominique]

I can't believe that E.Clijsters has even challenger-level play...

She doesn't. She has satellite level.

 

[Kuti Kis&Monica]

What more can i say ?

 

[Wojtek]

I can't believe that E.Clijsters has even challenger-level play...

Futures or satelites but not challengers

 

[Venus Forever]

Maria

 

[GermanBoy]

I think the officials should have given this WC to a German player. Elke Clijsters did real bad, that`s right, but a score sometimes doesn`t show what happened on the court. Perhaps Kim Clijsters asked the officials to give her sister that WC. A "No" could have meant that Kim Clijsters also wouldn`t have played. IMO, young players need every chance they can get to gain experience. You can`t really say Elke Clijsters doesn`t deserve the WC. The one I don`t understand is the one for Schett.

 

[Dawn Marie]

I can understand Germany giving out WC's, but I am baffled at them NOT giving their own #1 player one.

That is pathetic.

Tennis is about money and politics though. so sad.

 

[RiskeFan1]

IMO, young players need every chance they can get to gain experience. You can`t really say Elke Clijsters doesn`t deserve the WC.

Yes you can. If this tournament were in Antwerp and they really wanted to give her a WC, sure, go for it. I think she's among the top 5-10 or so in Belgium so it's not totally outrageous for her to recieve one. Recieving one here however is unnecessary. I can understand Anna Lena because she is an up and comer with very good results in the juniors and a ranking of around 150 plus she is GERMAN. Babsi, although slumping, is a former top 10 player and the replacement for Anna Kournikova in the looks department. Also, I know Anke is doing something with the tourney in Filderstadt but may very well be doing work for the tourney here. If that's the case, she and Babsi are best friends so it is politics coming into play.

As far as Elke goes, she doesn't suck. The whole "riding on Kim's fame" thing is very unfair. She's not like Torrey Gambill (brother of Jan-Michael) who plays satellite qualifying and often can't even get a game in the 1st round of it. She HAS had some decent results on the satellite level for singles and the low challenger level for doubles. HOWEVER, she is in no way ready to play with the kinds of players in these tournaments. A qualy WC would be understandable. She would probably get a better match and maybe even sneak in a win. Throwing her to the wolves in a Tier II does nothing. It might the first time, as getting your butt kicked on a big court in front of a big crowd might be a "learning experience." Eventually that experience becomes repetitive though, as has happened with her. But she does play a full schedule and although very slowly, she is showing some signs of progress with her results. She very well may never make it past 25K level, but that doesnt mean she hasnt put in the same amount of work Kim has..