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Advanta Championships
by Matty Donaldson
Advanta Championships,
Philadelphia, 27th
Oct- 2nd Nov
Ashley returns to the
tour this week after a
couple of weeks off
following the Japanese
Open, with an
appearance in the
Advanta Championships.
She was the last
placed entrant who
gained automatic
qualification, so it
would be unrealistic
to expect a fantastic
week where Ashely
flies through to the
final. However, she
has been handed a draw
where if she plays
well, she could take a
quarter final place.
A spot in the quarter
finals would certainly
be a boost to Ashley.
In recent weeks, she
has not enjoyed the
greatest run of form,
struggling against
lesser opponents, whom
she, with no
disrespect intended,
should expect to be
beating. Nevertheless,
this week offers a
chance to rectify
those results to an
extent, and with an
appearance scheduled
at Pattaya next week,
a shot in the arm for
her confidence.
Whilst we should not
expect Ashley to make
the final or anything
seemingly unrealistic,
we can hope that a
good performance here
to cement her place in
the top 50. A good
week here with a
number of points
should set her up with
a good basis to build
next week, and ensure
she finishes the year
in the top 50. It is
certainly something
that her performances
have warranted this
year, and so to lose
out on such an
accolade would be
disappointing and a
little harsh at such a
stage of the year.
What should be
remembered is that
this is her first full
year playing on the
tour. She has had
experience of 25 and
50k events over the
past few years, with
the odd wild card
appearance at some
tournaments, but this
year was her first one
playing consitent top
grade tennis. Whereas
she has not burst onto
the scene as Sharapova
has done, her
performances over the
entire year have
perhaps been more
consistent, and
perhaps highlight how
easy it s for a
youngster to
apparently burst on
the scene whilst they
have no points to
defend, something
which certainly
Sharapova has done.
Ashley however, has
been much more
consistent throughout,
and could consider
herself unlucky not to
be ahead of her
Russian counter-part
in the rankings.
Certainly, gaining and
holding a top 50 place
in ones first year is
no mean acheivement,
and the disappointing
thing is that she is
likely to be
overlooked for any
'Best Rookie' title
due to her ranking,
despite a better year
overall than a number
of her rivals for said
prize.
The tournament is
classed as Tier II
event, which carries a
purse of $585,000.
More importantly
(perhaps) it offers
195 ranking points to
the winner. It is
played on Indoor
hardcourt, at the
Villanova University
Pavillion. the website
has got enough
information to keep
one entertained for a
while, with videos and
pictures available,
but the seeming lack
of an order of play
will irritate some
people (i couldn't
find one, but
hopefully when the
tournament gets going
properly one will go
up). If you want to
visit the site for a
look yourself, then it
can be found at
http://www.advantachampionships.com.
The Draw
The event is strewn
with top players, thus
reiterating the point
regarding the
likelihood of an
extended run. The
final should be
between top two seeds
Nastja Myskina and
Amelie Mauresmo, but
in form Ai Sugiyama
will fancy her chances
of getting amongst
those two and pinching
a place in the final.
Philadelphia Draw
Ashley's first round
opponent is Elena
Likhovtseva. Ranked a
few places ahead of
Ashley, she should
provide a tough match,
and the result will
certainly be close. She
has however been through
a series of poor
results, failing to
qualify for Zurich, and
losing in round one of
Linz last week. Whilst
Ashley hasn't herself
been in the greatest
form, i think she can
beat her Russian
opponent such is her
current predicament.
In the second round, one would expect her to face Meghannn Shaughnessy. The same applies here as in the first round. Despite Shaughnessy's ranking of 20, she has been knocked out in the first round of all four tournaments she has played in since the US Open. She should easily come through first round against a qualifier, but against Ashley she will face a tougher opponent. Doubts will of course creep into her mind, and that should open an opportunity for Ashley to get a win and a few quality points. It is in the quarter finals where Ashley's week should end. Ai Sugiyama has been playing some top grade tennis of late, and it would take a fantastic effort for Ashley to pull of a win. Bad news is that i cant see a victory coming in this match for her. Even so, a quarter final appearance is a good week's work, and will give her a platform to challenge at Pattaya, where on first glance of the entry list, Ashley will have a chance of a semi spot, or even a final appearance with a good draw. Round 1: Ashley def Likhovtseva in three Round 2: Ashley def Shuaghnessy in three Quarters: Sugiyama def Ashley in straights Semis: Sugiyama def Mauresmo in three Final Myskina def Sugiyama in straights Visit the Ashley Harkleroad page here
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