Patty Schnyder grabs the title at her favorite tournament

September 14, 2008

Patty Schnyder is a familiar face for loyal WTA Bali fans and she managed to maintain her fine form from US Open in securing her 11th title after the last one in 2005 Cincinnati. After three times appearance in the island of Gods, she is truly the champion now of her favorite tournament in the calendar of Sony Ericsson WTA Tour. She could not ask for anything better than crushed her 12 years younger opponent, Tamira Paszek 6-3, 6-0. She has reason to be proud after winning today's final, she notched her 500 wins of her career!

The second seeded left-hander Swiss had to be competitive in earning points which made her to lead 2-0. Paszek kept on fighting and leveled-up 2 games all. Fans were delighted to witness both players demonstrated unexpected shots. From then on, Schnyder had another break to lead 4-2 and Austrian teenager began to lose her tenacity influenced by tireness of playing three sets two days in a row. In the 2nd set, Basel resident who has been on the tour since August 1994 simply took control of the match and won 6-0. It took just 67 minutes for Schnyder to clinch her Bali victory and to climb back as world number 11 by the time the latest WTA ranking list is released tomorrow. Today's scoreline was slightly better than 1st round match in Dubai earlier this year when Schnyder cruised past Paszek 6-4, 6-0. As the winner, Schnyder pocketed US $ 35,000, while Paszek added her current season earnings with US $ 19,000.

Being runner-up here, Paszek got her best result of the season. Her ranking will rise from WTA 85 to WTA 63 tomorrow. Both Schnyder and Paszek will catch the flight to Guangzhou, China tomorrow to be on time for participating in another Tier 3 tourney with total prize money of US $ 175,000.

Prior to the one-sided singles' final, the fans were entertained with great doubles' final from beginning to end. The 3rd seeded pair of Taiwanese Hsieh Su-Wei and Chinese Peng Shuai won the title for the 1st time together after beating Marta Domachowska/Nadia Petrova (Poland/Russia) 6-7(4), 7-6(3), 10-7 in two hours and two minutes. Tomorrow, Peng and Domachowska will continue their trip to Guangzhou same as Schnyder and Paszek. While Petrova will play Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, Japan. As per yesterday, Hsieh withdrew from qualifying round of Toray Pan Pacific.

Photo is Adji Soedibjo's collection

Bali's final preview: showdown of two players from neighboring countries

September 14, 2008

Tamira Paszek of Austria will face 2nd seeded and "veteran" Patty Schnyder from Switzerland in today's final of the Commonwealth Bank Tennis Classic at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Nusa Dua, Bali. Yesterday, 17 years old Paszek continued her run by cruising past top seed Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia in such grueling three sets 6-2, 5-7, 6-4. Earlier in the 1st semi-final, Schnyder won a tight 1st set but then crushed 4th seeded Nadia Petrova from Russia in the 2nd set for a 7-5, 6-1 victory.

Schnyder makes her 1st final appearance here in Bali and certainly she is highly motivated to earn her 11th title to be noted in her career record. Her last title was at 2005 Cincinnati. The younger Paszek will be performing her 2nd final of her career. Her 1st final at 2006 Portoroz when she was 15 years old and it was indeed putting her on the list of Open Era Tour's Champions by grabbing the maiden title.

Schnyder and Paszek have battled twice before, splitting the series, 1-1. Paszek created her shock by gunning down Schnyder in their first meeting in the third round of 2007 US Open, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(1). Then at Doha earlier this year the lefty Swiss got her revenge in the first round,winning 6-4, 6-0.

Schnyder has been looking very fit all this week in Bali,while Paszek has shown her determination and has played twice in thrilling three sets. Schnyder with her vast experience should be able to make Paszek uneasy by forcing her to chase her top spins from side to side. By maintaining her calmness and being relaxed, these are advantages for quarter-finalist at recent US Open to end her title drought. On the other hand, Paszek must serve well combined with her strong backhand to counter her opponent's strategy. Her defense will be crucial indeed in retrieving Schnyder's tactical attack. Nevertheless, mental toughness will become vital for both finalists.

Photo - courtesy of commbanktennis.com

Bali's semi-finals preview

(1) Daniela Hantuchova versus Tamira Paszek

This is the first meeting between the two players, but certainly Hantuchova walks on the court by far the more experienced player. Currently world ranked 11, early this season Hantuchova reached first career Grand Slam semi-final at Australian Open, while 17 years old Paszek reached her first Tier I quarter-final at Montreal and defeated top seed Ivanovic en route. Paszek finished the fourth round at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open last year and climbed to No. 35 in the rankings. But she has struggled this year and arrived here at number 85. Nevertheless, Paszek is the only unseeded player in this last four round of the Commonwelath Bank Tennis Classic.

Out of the tour for 10 weeks due to stress fracture, Hantuchova has been struggling with her performance since Wimbledon up to US Open and she is certainly happy to be in semi-final here. In the last two matches against Savchuk and Chan, it was obvious that Hantuchova looked rusty in her overall game. In order to win the battle, Hantuchova needs to utilize her solid ground strokes off both wings. Her movement will be crucial indeed in covering the court and she is to make sure to mix it up as much as possible and not allow the teenager to just fire away.

Can Paszek prevail? Indeed, she has a chance. After all she was capable of edging Ivanovic in a bigger event. If she can keep her nerve, throwing a bet on her hefty underdog odds would payout nicely. Paszek needs to maintain her patience combined with tenacity and a whiplash backhand. It is important for her to be aggressive all the time so that she can produce surprising winners. She needs to go for her big shots and connect on crucial points.

(2) Patty Schnyder versus (4) Nadia Petrova

In this afternoon's semi-final, it is going to be their twelve meetings. At this point, lefty Schnyder still leads 6-5 overall. But in the last meeting at Toronto in 2007, Petrova won the battle in two sets, 6-4, 6-1. Reaching two quarter-finals at French Open 2008 and recent US Open could bring Schnyder high confidence as she demonstrated in her victory over Domachowska yesterday. On the other hand, Petrova who had her best ranking at WTA 3 in 2006, she has been working hard to bring back her fine form and so far in her only 2nd visit to Bali after 2004, Petrova has been showing solid game with strong ground strokes.

It will be an interesting match for sure. Schnyder will rely on her top spins most of the time. Her persistence and patience will be crucial in long rallies. While Petrova must be strong in her serve along with her blistering forehand to penetrate Schnyder's defense. Only the player with better mental toughness and sound strategy will prevail eventually.

Photos - courtesy of Aussie Open.com

Domachowska survived the thriller and booked her place in quarter-final

September 10, 2008

Currently ranked WTA 57, Marta Domachowska became the 1st player to secure a place in quarter-final of the Commonwealth Bank Tennis Classic on this Wednesday afternoon at the Grand Hyatt, Nusa Dua, Bali. In her third visit to this prestigious tourney as part of Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, 22 years old from Warsaw, Poland made her best result in Bali this time . In 2004, as qualifier, she lost immediately in 1st round then in 2005 again she had an early exit in 1st round. In today's 2nd round, her opponent was very familiar indeed, the oldest player in top 100s - the one and only Jill Craybas of USA who is 34 years old and at present is ranked WTA 76. Coming to this match, Domachowska had reason to be confident since she has won 4 times over Craybas in all their four meetings. Their last battle was at Wimbledon this year and Domachowska prevailed as the winner in three sets.

As the 1st match of the day on center court, Domachowska was able to take early control in 1st set and she closed it out 6-3. Then in 2nd set, the intensity of the match got tighter as both players fought point by point closely. This year's runner-up of Pattaya Open, Craybas eventually had stronger mental toughness to win 7-6(5) and forced her nemesis into 3rd set. In the final set, Craybas kept on challenging her younger opponent but in the end, Domachowska secured her own game to defeat Craybas 6-4 after 2 hours and 24 minutes. In this grueling long fight, Domachowska had 5 aces and 11 double faults, while Craybas had 10 double faults.

It is indeed Domachowska's 1st quarter-final of this season. Her best performance this year, as qualifier she managed to reach 4th round at Australian Open when she bowed out to Venus Williams. Meanhwile, it is Craybas' best result by reaching 2nd round in Bali. After all she had 1st round losses in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2007.

Photo is courtesy of Aussie Open.com

Three local players bowed out immediately

September 8, 2008

Main draw matches of the Commonwealth Bank Tennis Classic 2008 got underway at the Grand Hyatt, Nusa Dua, Bali this afternoon. In its final stage this year, the tourney is part of Sony Ericsson WTA Tour with total prize money of $ 225,000. Three Indonesian players were among the entrants of its main draw in this prestigious event in South East Asia.

After the withdrawal of sixth seed, Li Na from China due to right knee injury today, 20 years old Lavinia Tananta received lucky loser and entitled to play in the main draw. Tananta (WTA 542) played the 1st match of the day at 3 pm on center court and she faced Polish Marta Domachowska (WTA 57) who has improved her ranking from WTA 146 up to her latest one. Domachowska had to go through qualifying round at Australia Open 2008 which she eventually performed her best result ever in any of grand slam career by reaching fourth round only to lose to Venus Williams. Tananta went out there and tried her utmost, but in the end, Domachowska was a better player and won 6-2, 6-3. Despite her early exit, Tananta could not be happier since she pocketed an unexpected $ 1,665 into her bank account.

Fifth seed from Milan, Italy, Francesca Schiavone (WTA 28) made a sweet return to Bali by defeating qualifier, Sandy Gumulya (WTA 264) 6-2, 6-0. Schiavone last time played here in Bali in 2005 and she ended-up as finalist. Currently number one in Indonesia, Gumulya had an early 2-0 lead but experienced Schiavone quickly knew what to do towards her opponent then managed to earn the next 12 games in a row. As usual, Gumulya relied on her forehand almost in the entire match and she was reluctant to utilize her backhand when needed.

Meanwhile in the next match, a big server from Uzbekistan, Akgul Amanmuradova (WTA 78) did not have to work hard to beat another qualifier, Ayu Fani Damayanti (WTA 823) 6-2, 6-1. Same as her compatriot, Gumulya, Balinese Damayanti quickly lead 2-0 in the early match and then Amanmuradova took charge of the whole match by serving 7 aces. Both Amanmuradova and Damayanti had 2 double faults.

On Sunday, September 7, 2008 the qualifying round was half of the full capacity. Total of 8 players were directly playing its final qualifying round. Damayanti edged past her compatriot, Tananta 6-2, 6-4. Gumulya gunned down Shikka Uberoi of India (WTA 772) 6-1, 6-3, while veteran and unranked Liza Andriyani lost to Olga Savchuk of Ukraine (WTA 121) 0-6, 0-6. Last but not least, Natalie Grandin from South Africa (WTA 305) defeated Ipek Senoglu of Turkey (WTA 849) 6-4, 6-1.

Photo - courtesy of commbanktennis.com