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WESTERN & SOUTHERN FINANCIAL GROUP WOMEN'S OPEN
(Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, hard, WTA Tier III)
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Congratulations to Akiko for reaching the final. Too bad she had to
take out two members of my eternal fanship on the way! :-(

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First round
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+ Akiko Morigami d. Cory Ann Avants, 6-3 6-4 (both Selesians)

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Second round
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+ Akiko Morigami d. VERA ZVONARËVA [2], 6-3 6-2

I'm very disappointed about Bepa's loss, as I didn't expect Akiko to
give her much trouble, and it wrecked my dreams of a Daniela
Hantuchová v Vera Zvonarëva semi-final.

When I saw Akiko play at Wimbledon 2003 and 2004, I must admit I was
pretty bored by her lack of `oomph'. But it seems that Akiko has
become a powerful Selesian - she outhit Bepa according to those who
saw the match.

Akiko: "I just tried to concentrate on my game and not think about
who was on the other side of the net. I played aggressive, because
you have to against Vera. If I would have played defensive against
her, she would have killed me. Maybe she lost her concentration a
little bit."

Bepa: "She was serving well and attacking the ball. I don't think
she did something I didn't expect. She played her game.

"I wasn't able to hold my serve a couple of times and didn't use a
couple of opportunities in the first set. That kind of changed the
match."

Yet another example of Bepa struggling in a hot climate this year!
:-(

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Quarter-finals
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+ Akiko Morigami d. Sania Mirza, 6-4 6-3

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Semi-finals
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+ Akiko Morigami d. DANIELA HANTUCHOVÁ [4], 6-4 6-4

Source of all my information on this match:
http://www.wtaworld.com/showthread.php?t=180418&page=6


FIRST SET
Hantucho * * *__@__ 4
Morigami _* * *@ @* 6

Daniela had to save a break-point at 1-1 30/40. Akiko dictating, but
making errors on important points. At 2-2, play was suspended when
the lights broke on Centre Court, and they had to move to Grandstand
Court. Daniela faced 3 break-points at 2-2 0/40, but held for 3-2.
Akiko holding much easier.

Morigami broke for 4-3, but Daniela broke back to love! Akiko broke
for 5-4 after 40/15 for Daniela and a controversial overrule in
Akiko's favour. Akiko served out to love for 6-4.


SECOND SET
Hantucho * * * *___ 4
Morigami _* * * *@* 6

The scoring-thread degenerated into a flame-war, so much so that
Daniela was said to be 5-4 ahead when in fact she was broken. :-(

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Final
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- Akiko Morigami lt. PATTY SCHNYDER [1], 6-4 6-0

She upset Vera and Daniela for /this/? :-||

--
Dr. Andrew Broad
http://www.geocities.com/andrewbroad/
http://www.geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/
http://www.geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/zvona/
http://www.geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/hantu/
http://www.geocities.com/andrewbroad/tennis/seles/selesians.html