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Roll call of champions - Page 5

© Michael Cecilio

Prediction: SELES in THREE SETS
Result: HINGIS in TWO SETS (Hingis d. Seles 6-0 7-5)

3-Venus Williams (3) versus 8-Nathalie Tauziat (8)
Head-to-Head Series: TIED 2-2
Last Meeting: 1998 Zurich (Hard Indoor) SF, WILLIAMS d. TAUZIAT 6-3 6-4
Hardcourt (Outdoor) Head-to-Head Series: First hardcourt (outdoor) meeting
Three Set Head-to-Head Series: TAUZIAT leads 2-0
What a renaissance for the 32 year old on the brink of retirement! Williams is definitely going to have her work cut out for her. She will have to try to get into the rhythm of playing a serve-and-volleyer, something which not many players (including Venus) are used to considering there are hardly any of them left. Tauziat’s best shot at winning this match is if she mixes up her shots and keeps Williams off-balance. She has the backhand slice, the net game and the big serve to throw Venus off her rhythm, and she is certainly capable of the big win. However, as we all know, Venus is brimming with even more confidence than usual as she rides a 23 match-winning streak. She is striking the ball with consistency and, of course, loads of power off the ground. Even though her serve has been off throughout these championships, she has still fought through her matches with her champion’s mentality. It’s hard not to go with Williams.
Prediction: WILLIAMS in TWO SETS
Result: WILLIAMS in THREE SETS (Williams d. Tauziat 6-4 1-6 6-1)

Elena Dementieva (25) versus 10-Anke Huber (10)
Head-to-Head Series: DEMENTIEVA leads 1-0
Last Meeting: 2000 Indian Wells (Hard) R64, DEMENTIEVA d. HUBER 6-4 4-6 6-4
Hardcourt (Outdoor) Head-to-Head Series: DEMENTIEVA leads 1-0
Dementieva has had a great first full-time season and is gaining the experience in order to make her way up the rankings. Huber meanwhile is an eleven year veteran on the tour who has improved so much over the last few months. Both have the hard baseline shots to win this match and it will come down to who can execute without making the errors at the crucial times. That is simply going to come down to experience. The last time they played in March, Huber had won only one match in the entire season up to that point. Now in September, Huber has revamped her game, won two titles and reentered the Top 10. It should be close, but look to experience to pull out the close points.
Prediction: HUBER in THREE SETS
Result: DEMENTIEVA in THREE SETS (Dementieva d. Huber 6-1 3-6 6-3)