The four final qualifying matches for a place within the main draw were decided today. Tatiana Panova (the number one seed in qualifying; number 37 ranked on the Sanex WTA Tour) from Russia faced Marissa Irvin (number 78 ranked) from the United States. Panova had little trouble in downing the young American, with score of 6-0, 6-2. Maria Alejandra Vento (number 92 ranked) of Venezula and German Jana Kandarr (number 112 ranked) also had little trouble disposing of their opponents Pavlina Nola (Bulgaria; number 117 ranked) and Maureen Drake (Canada; ranked 103) in similar scores of 6-2, 6-2. The final main draw slot went to young Russian Anastasia Mynskina. She defeated Slovakian Tina Pisnik 6-4, 6-4.

Elena Likhovtseva def. Julie Pullin 7-6, 7-5
Centre Court
Previous head-to-head: First Meeting

Elena Likhovtseva came back from a 2-5 first set deficit to take the first set in a tie break and subsequently prevail in straight sets.

Anne Kremer def. Alexandra Stevenson 6-7, 6-1, 6-4
Centre Court
Previous head-to-head: First Meeting

Anne Kremer was down a set to prevail over Stevenson in a rather easy fashion. Both players' best surface is the grass courts. Stevenson won 13 of 15 grass court singles matches she played in 1999. Stevenson's serve is one of her most dangerous weapons. During yesterday's match, it let her down on occasion.

Anna Smashnova def. Louise Latimer 6-1, 6-3
Court 1
Previous head-to-head: First Meeting

One would have expected a different result with a player that favors the clay courts (Smashnova) and one that grew up on the grass courts and one of England's own (Latimer). Today this was not the case. Latimer's best results have come on the grass courts and the indoor hard surfaces.

Silvia Talaja def. (7) Ai Sugiyama 6-3, 6-2
Centre Court
Previous head-to-head: Talaja leads 1-0 (99 Leipzig)

This match featured a fast and powerful claycourt player (Talaja) against another who has had excellent results on the grass and hard courts (Sugiyama). Talaja's intense and strong ground strokes won this match.

Nathalie Dechy def. Corina Morariu 7-6(5), 5-7, 6-1
Court 1
Previous head-to-head: First Meeting

Here was a pitting of two players who have had past success on the harder and faster surfaces (grass and hard courts). Both reached at least the 3rd round at 1999 Wimbledon (Morariu and Dechy 4th round). Morariu has become an excellent doubles player, winning six titles in 1999 and the highlight of her season, the doubles title at Wimbledon with partner Lindsay Davenport. This was a tightly contested match and a wonderful display of action for the fans.

The 'Out and About' section will provide some interesting tidbits of players seen around the practice courts at the tournament.

Jana Novotna was out casually hitting. She's sporting a shorter haircut which is quite becoming. Jana is providing commentary on the tournament for the BBC.

Top seed Lindsay Davenport finally made it to the practice grounds. She was delayed from coming to the tournament because of a recent software glitch at London's Heathrow airport.

Martina Navratilova had two practice sessions. The first afternoon lasted nearly two hours. She and doubles partner Maarian DeSwardt faced Kimberly Po and Lori McNeil in a doubles set. Martina's second session lasted nearly an hour. More fans flocked to Martina's practices than to fan favorite Anna Kournikova's. After both, Martina was nearly mauled by anxious autograph seekers. Said she, "I felt like a pinball" (being bounced around from fan to fan).

Anna Kournikova was out with coach Eric Van Harpen and mom, Alla, honing up on her volleys, ground strokes and serves. Many fans had cameras at the ready, snapping away at Annas every move.

Lisa Raymond arrived fresh from Birmingham, winning her first grass court singles title. She was out on the courts with long time double partner, Rennae Stubbs, working effortlessly to keep in winning form.

1997 Eastbourne doubles finalists Nicole Arendt and Manon Bollegraf were out on a far court, working on their volleys and groundstrokes.

Tell me more about...... Pavlina Nola

Several of the On The Line editors have asked about Pavlina and want to know more about her.
Pavlina was born on 14 July, 1974 in Varna, Bulgaria. She currently resides in Auckland, New Zealand. The right-handed player has played in the main draw of all four majors in 1999 for the first time. Pavlina won three qualifying matches at the 1998 Lipton tournament to reach the main draw and then defeated world no. 44 Amy Frazier to reach a then career high rank of no. 107. She is an all court player who is equally at home at the baseline or the net. She is coached by Russell Simpson.

Some quick bits (courtesy of the Sanex WTA Tour Media Information):

Former surname is Stoyanova... Graduated from high school in 1992... Speaks four languages... Self-described as emotional and a little crazy... Favorite movie is Braveheart; favorite actors are Robert De Niro, Samuel L. Jackson, Kim Basinger and Bridget Fonda... Likes U2, The Verve, Elvis and Maxwell... Favorite places include New York, Los Angeles, Auckland and her birthplace in Varna, Bulgaria... Loves vanilla lattes, Maui rolls, the Haleakaia sunrise, lava cake, red wine tastings and riding "Riddlers Revenge"... Former Tetris Master... Parents are Sofia and Evgeni; has a brother, Boris... keeps a small charm from her mother in her tennis bag... Lives on the beach in New Zealand.