20. Chanda RUBIN: 1247
This promises to be a good final with some deft baseline shotmaking from both players. It is good to see these two players doing so well again after seemingly losing their ways earlier in the year. Both are Top 10 quality players and as the old adage goes, it would be a shame to see someone lose. These two will be laying a lot on the line in this final. They will not only be fighting for the most prestigious title of their respective careers, but they will be fighting for the #14 ranking entering Wimbledon (which will be secured by the winner), and will be fighting for a huge confidence and psychological boost coming into the Grand Slam next week. It is a bit of a "pick-em" match, they are both very powerful off the forehand wing and are both very adept on the grass with effective all-court games. It is all going to come down to execution on the day but I will give a slight edge to van Roost. She is coming off a huge victory over Lindsay Davenport in the quarter finals and she played extremely well in that match, serving consistently and powerfully and remaining aggressive from the baseline. Moreover, she is due for her first major title. Having lost her mother to cancer earlier in the year, she had been struggling emotionally for the best part of the season, and it caused her to lose motivation for tennis. Thankfully, she seems to have regrouped and it would be a great story if she could pull off the win today.
Prediction: VAN ROOST in THREE SETS.
Sanex WTA Tour Doubles Rankings as at June 20, 2000
1. Lisa RAYMOND: 2932
2. Rennae STUBBS: 2914
3. Corina MORARIU: 2898
4. Mary PIERCE: 2781
5. Lindsay DAVENPORT: 2539
6. Martina HINGIS: 2353
7. Arantxa SANCHEZ-VICARIO: 2258
8. Julie HALARD-DECUGIS: 2161
9. Larisa NEILAND: 2019
10. Ai SUGIYAMA: 1917
Direct Line Championships, Eastbourne
THE FINAL
5-DOMINIQUE VAN ROOST (BEL,16) versus 6-JULIE HALARD-DECUGIS (FRA,14)
- Head-to-Head Record: VAN ROOST leads 2-1
- Last Meeting: 1999 Kremlin Cup (Carpet) QF, VAN ROOST d. HALARD-DECUGIS 6-1 4-6 6-1
- Grasscourt Head-to-Head Record: First meeting on grass
- Head-to-Head Record in Finals: HALARD-DECUGIS leads 1-0
- Three-Set Head-to-Head Record: VAN ROOST leads 1-0
This promises to be a good final with some deft baseline shotmaking from both players. It is good to see these two players doing so well again after seemingly losing their ways earlier in the year. Both are Top 10 quality players and as the old adage goes, it would be a shame to see someone lose. These two will be laying a lot on the line in this final. They will not only be fighting for the most prestigious title of their respective careers, but they will be fighting for the #14 ranking entering Wimbledon (which will be secured by the winner), and will be fighting for a huge confidence and psychological boost coming into the Grand Slam next week. It is a bit of a "pick-em" match, they are both very powerful off the forehand wing and are both very adept on the grass with effective all-court games. It is all going to come down to execution on the day but I will give a slight edge to van Roost. She is coming off a huge victory over Lindsay Davenport in the quarter finals and she played extremely well in that match, serving consistently and powerfully and remaining aggressive from the baseline. Moreover, she is due for her first major title. Having lost her mother to cancer earlier in the year, she had been struggling emotionally for the best part of the season, and it caused her to lose motivation for tennis. Thankfully, she seems to have regrouped and it would be a great story if she could pull off the win today.
Prediction: VAN ROOST in THREE SETS.
THE FINALISTS
DOMINIQUE VAN ROOST
- Age: 27
- Height: 5'7"
- WTA Singles Ranking: #16
- After Eastbourne: Will move up to #15 with a loss, #14 with a win
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