====================================
GUANGZHOU INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S OPEN
(Guangzhou, China; outdoor hard; WTA Tier III)
==================================== http://www.gzopen.com.cn/
Photos
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http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/2/photogallery/?Event=guangzhou
http://www.gzopen.com.cn/upimg/25/1.asp (HQs)
http://www.wtaworld.com/showthread.php?t=236270&page=8

Animated images (Refresh to repeat animation):
http://www.wtaworld.com/showpost.php?p=9174656

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Early rounds
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ANNA CHAKVETADZE [3]:
1r + Zhang,Shuai [WC], 3-6 7-5 6-0
2r + Elise Tamaela [Q], 6-2 6-7 (6/8) 6-3

Not the kind of results that suggested Anna would go on to take the
title, with Zhang ranked #209 and Tamaela #141! But these are the
matches you have to get through with grit, determination and
fighting-spirit, which Anna has in spades.

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Quarter-finals (Friday 29th September)
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+ ANNA CHAKVETADZE [3] d. Olga Poutchkova, 7-6 (7/3) 3-6 6-1

A much more impressive result, because Poutchkova is a rapidly-
rising star with an outstanding backhand, and wins over Ana Ivanovic
and Iroda Tulyaganova in the last month - the latter of which booked
a place in the Kolkata final.

I didn't expect Anna to win this match, so it was nice to be proved
wrong! ;-)


Anna quotes
-----------

"I played pretty well in the first and third sets, and kind of lost
my concentration in the second.

"Against Jankovic, I will have to be at the top of my game because
she's really fit, and has been playing unbelievable lately. I'll
have to hold serve, and break her whenever I can. It should be a
good match, and I'm looking forward to it."

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Semi-finals (Saturday 30th September)
-----------

+ ANNA CHAKVETADZE [3] d. JELENA JANKOVIC [1],
7-5 2-0 retired (heat-illness)

Apparently, the temperature was above 32°C, which is the hottest
temperature I've ever experienced here in England - you just want to
take your skin off, let alone your clothes!

I must admit this was a lucky break for Anna, as Jankovic has been
in excellent form recently - particularly at the US Open, where she
upset Nicole Vaidišová, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Elena Dementieva
back to back, then almost beat Justine Henin-Hardenne to reach the
final!

But Anna was already dominating her head-to-head against Jankovic
3-1 (the only loss coming in 1r Wimbledon 2005). It's just a shame
that she had to reach her first-ever WTA Tour singles-final this
way, without the treasured moment of closing out the match properly.

But, like Maria Kirilenko at Beijing 2005, she proved herself a
worthy finalist by winning the title.


Anna quotes
-----------

"I'm really excited to be in my first WTA Tour singles-final. It was
not the way I'd have preferred to arrive there, but I am here, so I
hope to win my first title.

"I think I was playing very well today, although I know Jelena was
having problems. I felt I had a good game, and I look forward to
Sunday's final."

-----
Final (Sunday 1st October)
-----

+ ANNA CHAKVETADZE [3] d. ANABEL MEDINA GARRIGUES [4], 6-1 6-4

Medina Garrigues came into the match with six WTA singles-titles in
her career (two in 2006), while Anna was still seeking her first.

But Anna extended her perfect head-to-head against Medina Garrigues
to 4-0 (3 in 2006) - all in straight sets, none closer than 6-4.

And she joins the great Maria Sharapova as the only Russian
teenagers to win WTA singles-titles in 2006. As a matter of fact, in
watching my tennis-videos I'm up to their French Open 2005 third-
round match right now. Anna was so cute that day that I couldn't
take my eyes off her - even in the magnetic presence of Maria! ;-)

That match was a 6-1 6-4 /loss/ for Anna. She's a much better player
this year, judging by what I saw of her at Birmingham and
Eastbourne - now with flairsome /power/ on her groundstrokes. She's
currently my favourite player outside my Eternal Fanship, and may
well be the next player to be inducted /into/ it if she keeps
improving - and proving - her tennis-qualities.


www.wtatour.com: "Chakvetadze belted the ball with conviction and
accuracy throughout the one-hour, 35-minute affair, dominating the
Spaniard in the first set and holding her off in the second for her
first Tour title."


First Set:
CHAKVETADZE *@* *@* 6
MEDINA GARR ___*___ 1


Second Set:
CHAKVETADZE _*@* * * * 6
MEDINA GARR *___* * *_ 4

Serving with a break at 2-1, Anna saved five break-points including
15/40, and held for 3-1. But Medina Garrigues saved two break-points
as she held for 2-3. Anna saved four more break-points as she held
for 4-2.

Medina Garrigues took a medical time-out after holding for 3-4, and
after she held for 4-5 there was a short rain-delay.

Anna serving for the match at 5-4: 0/15, 40/15 (2 CPs), Anna won 6-1
6-4 at 18:18 Chinese time (UTC+8).


Anna quotes
-----------

"I knew I had to be really aggressive today, and it worked. Maybe
the score looked easy, but it was a very difficult match. She is a
top player and it was not easy to beat her. I just took my chances.
Fortunately I came out on top today.

"When the rain started, I wanted to keep playing but she wanted to
stop. I just felt like I didn't want to lose the momentum. In the
end, the rain stopped after only a few minutes, so fortunately we
were able to continue, and I managed to win in straight sets.

"I'm so happy to win my first WTA Tour title. I have been working
and hoping for this for a long time."


Medina Garrigues quotes
-----------------------

"I was really tired from the three-hour match yesterday. Anna was
playing really well. She deserved to win today."

--
Dr. Andrew Broad
http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/
http://geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jeldani/