Serena evens record in round robin; Venus, Jelena improve record

As Day 3 of the year ending Champiomships finished, and Venus Williams' and Jelena Jankovic's record got even better, while Serena Williams' record got even after she lost her match to her sister in three sets.

The older Williams sister got a win over her younger sister Serena, 57 61 60.

"I think I started playing well in the second set," observed Venus, the seventh seed this week. "Serving a lot better, and then that first game in the third was really long. But after that, I think she started to get a little more impatient, a little more upset with her performance. She just started to play faster and faster; when the other person keeps bringing it back, it just starts a domino effect with her."

Wearing her sister-hat, Venus added: "There's nothing I can do. I think she just has to go through it, and figure out in her head what went wrong in the match - just like all the other matches, even though it was against me. I think she'll take some time and come out even stronger tomorrow."

"I wasn't playing my best in the first set, but at least I was able to get some serves in," she said. "After that it just kind of fell apart and I couldn't keep more than two balls over the net before I made an error. I've never been in a situation where I just feel like I can’t do anything - usually if I’m not serving well, I can hit a backhand.

"This is definitely the worst match I've played this year by far," added the 27-year-old, who must now defeat Elena Dementieva if she is to qualify for the semis, after the Russian beat Safina on Thursday. "I don't know why. I didn't even look like a Top 8 player today.

Jankovic also had a tough win, against Svetlana Kuznetsova , who is going home after losing two matches already, 76(6) 64.

"In the beginning for a couple of games I played very well, but then I kind of stopped," said Jankovic, who hurt her back midway during the match. "In the second set I took a lot of pace off my ball, which allowed her to step in the court and start hitting some of her shots. But then at the end of the second set I was able to focus a little bit more and push myself, and finish in two sets."

"I'm more positive after this match, definitely than after the first match," offered Kuznetsova, who lost to Zvonareva in straight sets on Tuesday and has now failed to progress past the round robin stage at four Tour Championships. "I think I had many chances. First set, second set. But I played better, and this is the most important thing. I think I missed some determination in the important moments, but I'll work on it."

Elena Dementieva was also playing on Wednesday, and won in to Dinara Safina, 62 64.

"Dinara's a really competitive player, and every time she's on the court she's fighting, so it's never easy to play her," Dementieva said. "Even though I beat her the last time we played at the Olympics, I was expecting a tough match. I never expect an easy match against her. We had a big fight in the second set."

Thursday, November 6, 2008

ROUND ROBIN

White Group

(1) Jelena Jankovic (SRB) d. (6) Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) 76(6) 64

Maroon Group

(7) Venus Williams (USA) d. (3) Serena Williams (USA) 57 61 60

(5) Elena Dementieva (RUS) d. (2) Dinara Safina (RUS) 62 64

Ivanovic, Safina lose second time in round robin; Serena makes debut on Day 2

On Tuesday, the Sony Ericsson year ending Championships saw two sisters and a Day 1 victor ended up in the winners list on Day 2, as two out of the three players won their matches in three sets.

The first winner of the day was again Vera Zvonareva in the White Group, who won her second round robin match in three sets to Ana Ivanovic, 63 67(5) 64.

"Ana is a fighter, she never gives up," said Zvonareva, who now owns two wins from two matches in the round robin stage of the event. "So I had to concentrate on myself at the end of that match, think about my game and not think about what was going on on the other side. I did that well."

"I gave my hundred percent today, but she played well," said Ivanovic, who was reluctant to complain about her health but admitted a sore throat and its side effects were a factor. "It gives me some confidence, feeling like this but almost coming back, it's a positive thing.

The second match of the day was between Venus Williams and Elena Dementieva in the Maroon Group, as the American continued to impress the crowd in Doha after winning, 64 46 63.

"I was not satisfied with the way I was playing today," said Dementieva in the wake of the loss. "I think I was a little bit too nervous playing my first match here at the Championships. It's very tough to play your first match against such a big champion. I think she played really well yesterday, and she was in good shape today. I feel I had so many chances, and couldn't make it."

Dinara Safina was featured in the third and last day of the match, against Serena Williams in the Maroon Group, and the Russian lost in two easy sets to this year's Wimbledon finalist, 64 61.

"It was definitely a very fast-paced match; there were lots of winners and not too many long rallies," Williams said. "To win in straight sets will definitely help me in my match tomorrow against Venus. She obviously wants to win every match."

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

MAROON GROUP
(7) Venus Williams (USA) d. (5) Elena Dementieva (RUS) 64 46 63
(3) Serena Williams (USA) d. (2) Dinara Safina (RUS) 64 61

WHITE GROUP
(8) Vera Zvonareva (RUS) d. (4) Ana Ivanovic (SRB) 63 67(5) 64

Russian, Serb, and American prevail on Day 1 of season ending Championships in Doha

As the season-ending Championships at Doha kicked off, a Russian and a Serb prevailed in the White Group in the first matches of the day, while a Russian lost to this year's Wimbledon champion in the Maroon Group.

Vera Zvonareva was the last player to qualify, but she was the first player to roam the courts on Monday, after she won her match against Svetlana Kuznetsova in easy straight sets, 62 63.

Next up were the two Serbs, Jelena Jankovic and Ana Ivanovic. Jankovic, the No. 1 in the world, beat countrywoman Ivanovic easily, 63 64.

The last match of the day featured Venus Williams and Dinara Safina. Safina held a great lead in the first set at 4-1 up, but wasn't strong enough to close the set out, and she lost the second set easily to the American, 75 63.

"When I was down 5-2 I thought, 'If I lose this set, it's got to be at least 6-4,'" Williams said. "Itook it from there that I don't give any set away easily. I took the attitude of trying to get some more balls in play but still be aggressive. I just started playing better tennis - playing the ball and enjoying myself. There were some tough games, but they kept going my way. I was very excited about that."

"This is my first time playing a round robin," Williams added. "I'm definitely taking it one match at a time. I have a ton of experience playing big matches though, so I'm really looking forward to the rest of my round robin matches."


Tuesday, November 4, 2008

ROUND ROBIN
White Group
(8) Vera Zvonareva (RUS) d. (6) Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) 62 63
(1) Jelena Jankovic (SRB) d. (4) Ana Ivanovic (SRB) 63 64

Maroon Group
(7) Venus Williams (USA) d. (2) Dinara Safina (RUS) 75 63

Petrova dismisses American in Quebec City final; captures second title of season

Nadia Petrova was on fire all week, winning all of her previous matches in straight sets, but she prevailed in three on Sunday's final, gaining her second title of the year against an American, who was going fo her fist ever Tour title.

Petrova was obviously comfortable winning all of her matches before the final in two sets, but she had to win three to beat No. 6 seed Bethanie Mattek to achieve the title at the Bell Challenge, 46 64 61.

"Bethanie made it so difficult for me today," Petrova said. "I really had to work hard. The 4-all game in the second set was probably the key moment of the match; it was important I won it. I'm happy how I finished in the third set.

It was really wonderful to win this event. To finish off the season like this is wonderful. Now I have a long journey ahead of me to Doha, but it'll definitely be worth it. And then it'll be really nice to put the racquets aside for a few weeks!"

"I didn't play for a month after the US Open because I hurt my hip there, and I was playing outdoors in Arizona ever since then," the 23-year-old Mattek"So I was trying to get more and more comfortable with each match here in Québec City. I had a great week this week. It was my first time here, and now I can tell why it's one of the players' favorite tournaments. Congratulations to Nadia - she played really well all week, and I wish her luck this week in Doha."

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Singles - Final
(1) Nadia Petrova (RUS) d. (6) Bethanie Mattek (USA) 46 64 61