The Hindu : Sport : Zvonareva defends her title

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 21, 2005

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Zvonareva defends her title

MEMPHIS, FEB. 20. Top-seeded Vera Zvonareva defended her title with a 7-6(3), 6-2 victory over third-seeded Meghann Shaughnessy in the women's Cellular South Cup here on Saturday.

Meanwhile in the men's event at the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships, Andy Roddick tested his sprained left ankle and then withdrew from his semifinal against Kenneth Carlsen, hoping to be healthy enough for the first round of the Davis Cup in two weeks.

Now Carlsen will face eighth-seeded Max Mirnyi, a 7-5, 6-3 winner over second-seeded Tommy Haas.

Shaughnessy, ranked 41st in the world, broke the 11th-ranked Zvonareva in the second game and had a chance to go up 4-0 leading 15-40. But the Russian fought back to hold serve, then broke Shaughnessy in the next game.

``She started off really good, and she didn't really give me a chance to warm up and get in the match,'' said Zvonareva, who has three career WTA Tour titles.

The American led 3-1 in the tie-breaker only to see Zvonareva take the next six points, five on errors by Shaughnessy. Zvonareva easily took the second set, breaking Shaughnessy twice and the last when the American could not serve out after leading 40-0 in the eighth game and put a forehand into the net on championship point.

Roddick, the world's No. 3 player, knew that he had a great chance to win a second title in two weeks, with just Carlsen (ranked 87th) and Mirnyi (39th) left in the field. But the 2003 U.S. Open champion decided about two hours before his match that he could not risk further injury with the United States facing Croatia from March 4 to 6.

Especially not with Andre Agassi joining the team for the first round. ``Obviously, with Andre on board, and the (doubles team of Bob and Mike Bryan) playing as well as they are, I feel we have as good a shot as anyone,'' Roddick said.

``I have to do that. The repercussions of this injury wouldn't just affect me. It would affect my team-mates and playing for my country as well.''

Venus in final

At Antwerp, Venus Williams will face top-seeded Amelie Mauresmo of France in the final of the Diamond Games. Williams defeated Anastasia Myskina of Russia 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

Mauresmo, the world No. 2, beat Alicia Molik of Australia 6-3, 7-6(2) in the other semifinal.

In a seesaw battle, Williams prevailed late in the deciding set when she scored several key points at the net. Myskina, ranked two places ahead of Williams at No. 6, could not match such grit when it counted.

Two-time champion Williams flaunted her eagerness to win the Diamond Games trophy, which goes to the first three-time winner in any five-year span. The American got off to a great start and only briefly lost her poise early in the second set.

Second-seeded Myskina often threw up her hands in frustration after another long drive or a badly timed shot.

In the decider, Myskina forced a break point in the fifth game, but Williams survived with three great recovery shots to force deuce and win the game.

Williams then sensed victory and pounced on every opportunity to the delight of the crowd

Mauresmo won in straight sets but also had a tough time.

Almost throughout the match, both players dominated their serve and, early on, they never allowed more than a point per game to the opponent.

Then suddenly, Molik started to struggle in the sixth game, served a double fault and combined it with a few unforced errors to allow Mauresmo the vital breakthrough.

She closed out the opening set in just over 30 minutes with two aces and continued to pressure from the start of the second set, but Molik played herself out of a couple of tight situations to stay with Mauresmo and gained confidence as the games progressed.

Molik even earned two break points in the sixth game but Mauresmo raised her play each time. The Australian would not get such a chance again. In the tiebreaker, she never stood a chance.

Federer in summit clash

At Rotterdam, top-seeded Roger Federer of Switzerland beat Mario Ancic of Croatia 7-5, 6-3 and will face Ivan Ljubicic in the final of the ABN Amro.

Federer is playing in his third tournament this year, and this will be the second time he will face Ljubicic in a final. He beat the Croat 6-3, 6-1 at the Qatar Open last month.

Earlier, Ljubicic used 12 aces to top Thomas Johansson of Sweden 7-6(4), 7-5. It will be Ljubicic's third final this year.

Federer, who lost to Ancic at Wimbledon in their only previous meeting in 2002, broke in the 11th game of the first set and then served to take the lead.

In the second set, Federer took a 2-1 lead after an early break, and then broke again in the ninth game to get the win.

In the early match, Ljubicic beat 2002 Australian Open champion Johansson for the first time in four meetings.

Zuluaga stunned

Lourdes Dominguez Lino of Spain ousted top-seeded Fabiola Zuluaga of Colombia 7-6(7), 7-6(3) and moved into the final of the Copa Colsanitas.

Dominguez will face second-seeded Flavia Pennetta of Italy in the championship match.

Pennetta beat Clarisa Fernandez of Argentina 6-4, 6-2 in the second semifinal.

Nadal wins Brazil Open

Sixth-seeded Rafael Nadal defeated Alberto Martin 6-0, 6-7(2), 6-1 to win the ATP Brazil Open on Saturday.

The results:

At Memphis (ATP RMK Championships): Semifinals: Kenneth Carlsen w/o Andy Roddick; Max Mirnyi bt Tommy Haas 7-5, 6-3.

At Memphis (WTA Cellular South Cup): Final: Vera Zvonareva bt Meghann Shaughnessy 7-6(3), 6-2.

At Antwerp (WTA Proximus Diamond Games): Semifinals: Amelie Mauresmo bt Alicia Molik 6-3, 7-6(2); Venus Williams bt Anastasia Myskina 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.

At Rotterdam (ABN Amro World Tennis Tournament): Semifinals: Ivan Ljubicic bt Thomas Johansson 7-6(4), 7-5; Roger Federer bt Mario Ancic 7-5, 6-3.

At Bogota (Copa Colsanitas): Semifinals: Lourdes Dominguez Lino bt Fabiola Zuluaga 7-6(7), 7-6(3); Flavia Pennetta bt Clarisa Fernandez 6-4, 6-2.

At Salvador (ATP Brazil Open): Final: Rafael Nadal bt Alberto Martin 6-0, 6-7(2), 6-1. — Agencies

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