It Ain't Over Till It's Over
Seles could still play this match, a match featuring two great champions of the 1990’s, and still continuing today. Their rivalry dates back to 1989 and they have met in some pretty serious situations in the past, having met in 10 finals out of 22 encounters. This could be an even more interesting encounter if Davenport loses to Martinez as the pressure would be on both Seles and Sanchez-Vicario to win this crucial match. They have had a long rivalry but Monica has taken most of their meetings and with 19 wins in 22 matches, Monica enters the match with a huge psychological edge. She knows exactly how to play against Arantxa as Monica takes the ball early, hits with aggression and utilizes her angles. With Arantxa though, you can never say never. She hasn’t been at her best on the indoor surface but you can always count on the Spanish bumblebee to make a tough match out of a seemingly impossible situation. Arantxa will try to extend the rallies as much as possible and run the balls down in order to grind her way through the match and tire Monica. Something Arantxa has tried in the past is to be more aggressive and she has tried flattening out her groundstrokes and attacking the net when she gets the opportunity – I would be very interested to see if she decides to use this strategy again and how it pans out for her. However, Monica’s all-out aggression and ability to finish the majority of points off with a few big hits (plus the favourable surface towards power-hitting) should see her through this interesting battle between two former world #1’s.
Prediction: SELES in TWO SETS, 6-4 6-1
Chase Championships of the Sanex WTA Tour, New York
November 13-19, 2000
Carpet (Indoor) surface
No. 1 seed: Martina Hingis (SUI)
1999 Champion: Lindsay Davenport (USA)
2000 Champion: Martina Hingis (SUI)
QUARTER FINALS
1-Martina HINGIS (SUI) d. 6-Nathalie TAUZIAT (FRA) 6-1 6-7(2) 6-2
3-Monica SELES (USA) d. Amanda COETZER (RSA) 6-3 6-4
7-Anna KOURNIKOVA (RUS) d. 4-Conchita MARTINEZ (ESP) 6-4 6-0
Elena DEMENTIEVA (RUS) d. Kim CLIJSTERS (BEL) 6-4 2-6 6-4
SEMI FINALS
1-Martina HINGIS d. 7-Anna KOURNIKOVA 7-6(2) 6-2
3-Monica SELES d. Elena DEMENTIEVA 6-1 7-6(4)
FINAL
1-Martina HINGIS d. 3-Monica SELES 6-7(5) 6-4 6-4
DOUBLES FINAL
2-Martina HINGIS (SUI)/Anna KOURNIKOVA (RUS) d. Nicole ARENDT (USA)/Manon BOLLEGRAF (NED) 6-2 6-3
Volvo Women’s Open, Pattaya City
November 13-19, 2000
Hardcourt (Outdoor) surface, Tier
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