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Day 2, Thursday, Drama Queens Reign by Ken Kamlet Actor Joe Pesci and former French #1 Guy Forget were among the more interesting faces in attendance tonight. Match 1: Amelie Mauresmo def. Elena Dementieva 6-3, 6-2. Due to the new round-robin format, last night’s first losers were able to come back and try again. An intriguing match-up, this contest could have been significantly better if either player actually had an idea of how to play tennis. Both ladies seem devoid of strategy and neither is known for her mental fortitude. About the only thing that seems to separate these hard-hitting “Banger Sisters” is that Mauresmo is more willing to take a short ball to the net where she can demonstrate her impressive athl etic ability. Dementieva did not help her case with her stubborn unforced errors, frequently slamming the ball well past the baseline. The match included an unorthodox interruption that would have been unheard of in previous, more conservative tennis-playing days. Early in the 2nd set, a local radio station (KOST-FM) attempted a cheesy, unsuccessful version of the game show “Name That Tune” with a fan that had a chance to win prizes. The young lady froze and could only name one jingle (by Madonna) and ultra-conservative hosts “Mike and Kim” were less than smooth in trying to abruptly end their promo so that Mauresmo and Dementieva coul d be allowed back to the contest spectators were expecting to see. Later, when Mauresmo was asked about how she would strategically approach her next match (against Clijsters), she admitted that she more-or-less has no idea and would “have to talk with my coach”. Match 2: Kim Clijsters def. Chanda Rubin 6-4, 6-4. The most anticipated match on tonight’s schedule was played out to a healthy sized, late-arriving crowd and was an enjoyable display of shot-making, clever tactics, impressive hustle and guile from both players. If Mauresmo and Dementieva are comparable in their lack of tactical savvy, then Clijsters and Rubin are also comparable in their ability to give in to nerves and tension at the wrong moments. But tonight, Clijsters demonstrated her stronger, more composed side with the level of confidence that won her last year’s tournament with victories over both Serena and Venus Williams. In this match it was Rubin who came up with the costly errors and double faults in pressure situations. Her weak second serves gave Clijsters just the opening she needed. Rubin allowed Clijsters eleven break chances over two sets (the Belgian converted on 4 of those opportunities) while Rubin had just 3 opportunities (capitalizing twice). Following this match, behind-the-scenes drama proved hilarious in the media room. On one side of the room, journalists fought animatedly about whether or not this win guaranteed Clijsters a spot in the semifinals (it has) and whether or not Dementieva had been eliminated (she has not). The dispute was settled by a calculator, a hand-drawn flowchart and a knowledgeable WTA official. On the other side of the hall, photographers started a pool as to how long Chanda Rubin would keep the media waiting for her this time. If you wagered an hour, you were right! Match 3: Justine Henin-Hardenne def. Anastasia Myskina 7-5, 5-7, 7-5. Just when the evening looked to end at a reasonable hour, Henin-Hardenne and Myskina took the court and provided the drama of the evening. Spectators were stunned as Myskina dominated a slightly off-form #2 Henin-Hardenne and raced to a shocking 5-0 lead in the first set. But then Henin-Hardenne made a move that should not surprise anyone who has followed the Belgian and her recent controversies. With Steffi Graf-like regularity, Henin-Hardenne has developed a tacky habit of announcing and dwelling on a myriad of injuries, illnesses and other assorted excuses. Incredibly, Henin-Hardenne managed to announce a back injury 2 months before the upcoming Fed Cup finals. She made it clear then that while she would be able to fulfill her tournament schedule, she expected to be injured by the time Fed Cup would be contested. Earlier today, word was circulated to media that Henin-Hardenne would bravely compete, despite a sudden “respiratory” issue that reportedly necessitated antibiotics. And when she found herself down and out, Justine Henin-Hardenne naturally called an illness time out. Her trainer assisted her with an extraordinarily long treatment time (complete with blood pressure apparatus and stethoscope to spotlight the drama). The tactic worked. Myskina cooled down as Justine Henin-Hardenne suddenly rediscovered her brilliant backhand, amazing all-court coverage and admirable resilience. Myskina crumbled and stood caught in her tracks like a deer in the headlights as Justine Henin-Hardenne trapped her time after time with audacious drop shots and breathtaking passing shots. Rallying to take 7 consecutive games and the first set, the Belgian was poised to take complete control of the match as Myskina wilted in disappointment. But a second wind and a few clever drop shots of her own and Myskina climbed back in, finally taking the second set (and a standing ovation) by the same score as she had lost the first. Through much of the third set, both players competed at a very high level and most points were won rather than lost. And again, Myskina had her chances. Leading 5-5 and 40-15, the Russian was unable to hold serve and just at the stroke of midnight Justine Henin-Hardenne closed in on a sparkling 7-5, 5-7, 7-5 victory (and yet another standing ovation). A certain irony would ensue that turns into a reminder that one must not always believe what one reads. Several noted, prominent tennis writers were seen laughing at Henin-Hardenne’s suspect time-out. Later, the same journalists pleaded desperately with WTA staff to rush Justine into her media conference so that they could make their late night deadlines and because they had promised each other that they would grill Henin-Hardenne about the illness that they were so vocally doubting. When Henin-Hardenne was presented to the media, she was not asked one difficult or controversial question. Her claims of a sinus attack and accelerated heartbeat were accepted at face value. Those same reporters who cynically and very vocally blasted her behind her back and away from the ears of WTA staffers then printed stories this morning praising Justine Henin-Hardenne using terms like “bravery” and “heroic”. One of these same writers also deliberately changed the attendance figure provided by tour officials without any evidence that it was wrong. Another made up a quote in order to fill space. Mmmm … could these be the very same “journalists” who have been covering the Bush administration? Ooops, did I say that in my out-loud voice? |