======================
MEDIBANK INTERNATIONAL (Sydney, Australia; outdoor hard; WTA Tier II)
====================== http://www.medibankinternational.com.au/

After my very tight pre-AO schedule, a very hectic AO, and a long
post-AO backlog, I am finally ready to post my Sydney report!

Anyone who is a fan of Nicole Vaidišová, should read my combined
tournament-review instead:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/jeldani/message/3855

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Photos
------

Daniela and Nicole:
http://news.search.yahoo.com/search/news/?c=news_photos&p=hantuchova
Search Getty Images for "hantuchova"

Nicole may have won the match, but I must admit that Daniela won the
beauty-contest! ;-)


Daniela only:
http://www.wtaworld.com/showthread.php?t=278875&page=3

Various players off court:
http://www.sonyericssonwtatour.com/3/photogallery/?Event=sydney

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First round (Sunday 7th January)
-----------

Very nice winner, very nice loser:
+ NICOLE VAIDIŠOVÁ [8,EF] d. Daniela Hantuchová [EF], 6-1 6-4

Who did I want to win? My Passion said Daniela, but my Reason said
Nicole.

Nicole had lost both her matches at the Watson's Water Champions'
Challenge in Hong Kong, so she would never have gone on to reach the
Australian Open semi-finals without a good run at Sydney!

Nicole served very well, never once being broken, or even having to
face a break-point in this match! She served four aces and only one
double fault, and won all the points on her second serve!

www.wtatour.com:
>>>
Vaidišová, seeded No.8 at the Tier II event, cruised early and
remained tough in the end for a 6-1 6-4 victory over Daniela
Hantuchová.

The Czech phenom made quick work of her opponent in the first set,
dropping only 13 points, but the Slovak kept it much tighter in the
second, winning only two fewer points than Vaidišová (27-25).

Vaidišová is now 3-0 lifetime against Hantuchová.
<<<

Live-scores thread:
http://www.wtaworld.com/showthread.php?t=279581&page=32


First set
---------

VAIDIŠOVÁ *@* *@* 6
HANTUCHOV ___*___ 1

Daniela serving 0-1: broken to love after two double faults.

Daniela serving 0-3: recovered from 15/30 to hold.

Nicole serving 5-1: 15/15, 40/15, held.

Nicole served 4 aces in that set (including a second-serve ace at set-
point!), and won all the points on Daniela's second serve.


Second set
----------

VAIDIŠOVÁ _* *@* * * 6
HANTUCHOV * *___* *_ 4

The first four games were easy holds, then Nicole broke to 30 for
*3-2.

Daniela serving 3-5: held to love (including an ace).
Nicole serving 5-4: 40/0 (3 MPs) -> 40/40, ad Nicole (MP #4),
GSM Nicole.

-------
Doubles
-------

(DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [EF]/AI SUGIYAMA)[3]:
1r + (Jelena Jankovic/Li,Na)[WC], 6-0 6-2
2r - Marion Bartoli [S]/Meilen Tu, walkover

Daniela had a viral infection, which was a bit worrying so close to
the Australian Open!

Daniela's mother Marianna was quoted as saying: "Daniela's condition
is not good. She has high fever, and according to my information, the
physicians in Australia so far don't know the cause of her tiredness.
Her start at the Australian Open is seriously endangered."

Impressive that she reached the fourth round at the AO then! :-)

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

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