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Tournament Preview
The Nasdaq-100 Open: Miami
The second tier one event in as many
weeks, and this time the cream of the WTA head to the sun of
Florida for the Nasdaq Open. This event is considered by many as
the fifth Grand Slam, and offers a sizable pay cheque at the end
of the event, with the winner taking a very nice $393,000 chuck
out of the $2.96 million prize purse, as well as the boost of 325
points to go towards their ranking.
The Info
As you would expect with an event of
this size, there is a great deal of work that has gone into it.
The director of the event is one Adam Barrett, who will work
alongside Earl Buchholz Jr in the organisation. Unfortunately, i
cant offer their contact e mail this week as it is not on the
website. However, you can reach any info you want on the site
itself,
www.Nasdaq-100open.com.
The prize money doesnt pay itself, and
contributing to the fund are many sponsers. There are no prizes
for guessing who the main sponser is, but Nasdaq is backed up by
the likes of Bacardi, Canon, Pricewaterhouse Coopers, Head, Fila
and Penn who all add their names to the event.
The Event and History
If you look around the tennisrulz
network, youve probably stubbled across some of Naomi's work on
Kim Clijsters. She normally does a section on Kim's history at the
weeks event, and i thought it was a good little section to
include. Unfortunately, there isnt a great deal of history at this
event for Maria. None infact. However, i can talk about the
history of the event itself, and i personally can look forward to
writing about Maria's performance this week when it comes to
writing next years article!!! The event started in 1985, and to
date Steffi Graf is the most successful women, having won some 5
titles between 1987 and 1996. Last years winner was Serena
Williams, beating Jennifer Capriati 7-5, 7-6.
Maria and the Draw
Maria got another wildcard for this
event. Her status as the new Kournikova goes before her, and with
recent results one begins to wonder if she is ready for such
events. Dont get me wrong, im not questioning her abilities. The
problem is that confidence plays such a huge part of preparation
for a match that a poor run of form can't do a lot for
Maria, especially as she is so young. Getting wild cards to large
events is good for her image, but unless she starts earning places
on merit of her tennis performance, she could well live up to the
Kournikova reference in more ways than many of us would hope.
Anyway, im hoping this week she will
prove me wrong. Her performance in the first round of Indian Wells
was heartening. She put in a brilliant perfromance in the second
set, winning it 6-1, from where i expected her to take the match
having lost the first set. However, to lose the final set 6-0 was
a disappointment, as im sure everyone felt, including Maria. From
that point though, i think she can build. Her ranking certainly
needs a boost if she is to meet with my prediction that this year
will be her break through year. That was a little hasty i think,
so look out next year, but again, lets all hope that she can prove
me wrong!!!
Its not the worst of draws, but then again, it isnt the easiest! Maria's first round match will be against the Belgian Els Callens. As world number 77, she is a player that Maria has the game in her to beat. I say it every week though, she has to perform at a high level, and certainly a consistent one. Its obvious that the desire is there, otherwise she would be playing junior tournaments and just staying there this year. The fact that she is playing senior events highlights the desire. Now all she needs is the consistency becuase we know she has the game. Every week i say that she will win the first round match, but this time im not so sure. Maybe i will say that backing her tempts fate (although maybe im just doing that to bug Glyn!), so this week im going to say that she wont make it. I fear that this week she will pick up just the one point. Still, its a point gained, because she didnt play here last year!!! It will be tight, and the first set could go to the wire. But i think the inconsistency will creep in again. Its nothing to be ashamed of certainly, and in fact its a good sign that consistency is the main thing that needs working on. Whereas some youngsters have not yet developed the game to adapt from juniors to seniors, i think that Maria has found the switch comfortably, and the consistency will come soon. I just hope that Maria knows this, and that she doesnt get her head down because of some tricky results in the beginnings of her career. 1st Round: Callens def Maria in straights 2nd round: Dechy def Callens in straights 3rd Round: Dokic def Dechy in three 4th Round: Hantuchova def Dokic in straights Quarters: Clijsters def Hantuchova in three Semis: Clijsters def Davenport (not Serena) in three Final: Venus def Clijsters in three Visit the Maria Sharapova page here
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