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US OPEN Preview
8.26.05
memo meños

KIM CLIJSTERS and ROGER FEDERER gave notice this past weekend. They are the ones to beat, going into the US OPEN, which starts Sunday from New York.

FEDERER won his 22^nd consecutive final appearance, beating ANDY RODDICK for the 9^th time in 10 tries. RODDICK is clearly a rung below the world’s #1. It appeared as if RODDICK would turn the tide that FEDERER has been rolling over him, as he beat another nemesis, LLEYTON HEWITT in the semi-finals. RODDICK had similar difficulties with HEWITT, losing 5 of their 6 previous meetings before beating him Saturday in the semifinals, 6-4, 7-6(4).

And FEDERER struggled his way into the final, barely getting by a spirited ROBBY GINEPRI in their semifinal match, 4-6, 7-5, 6-4. GINEPRI was playing the best tennis of his life, after a quarterfinal victory over MARAT SAFIN, 6-2, 6-3. He had a chance to eliminate FEDERER in straight sets, but just couldn’t get it done.

ROGER FEDERER was tested in the very first round, after laying off of tennis for 5 weeks, beating JAMES BLAKE 7-6(3), 7-5. In the second round NICLAS KIEFER took him to 3 sets, before losing 4-6, 6-4, 6-4. But the best player in the game found his rhythm, adding to his 81^st week at number 1 and his 64-3 match record this year.

Meanwhile, KIM CLIJSTERS won her 6^th tournament of 2005, having no trouble eliminating JUSTIN HENIN-HARDENNE 7-5, 6-1. With the WILLIAMS sisters nursing various ailments, LINDSAY DAVENPORT having an unusually quiet summer and MARIA SHARAPOVA hurting, HENIN-HARDENNE could be the only obstacle in CLIJSTERS way to a first grand slam title.

Last year’s surprise champion SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA has had a lackluster year, losing in Toronto in the 3^rd round to GISELA DULKO. She has suffered this year with a bad back. SHARAPOVA withdrew from this tournament because of a strained right pectoral muscle. That same injury caused her to withdraw from the JP MORGAN CHASE open in Carson 2 weeks ago. Nevertheless, SHARAPOVA moved up to number 1 today, the first Russian woman ever to hold that spot.

ANASTASIA MYSKINA, the first of the Russian women to win a grand slam, the French last year, got as far as number 2 in the world in 2004. MYSKINA has been plagued by injuries, an illness suffered by her mother, and a weak second serve.

SHARAPOVA held a conference call with the media yesterday, saying “It’s just an amazing fact to be number 1 in the world…I’m just so excited I could achieve it…It’s just an amazing day for me.”

CLIJSTERS goes into the US OPEN ranked 8^th in the world, but her play this year has been solid. She made her comeback from last year’s injuries at the Pacific Life Open in Palm Springs, winning that Tier 1 tournament in March. She beat Wimbledon Champ VENUS WILLIAMS in the Finals of the Bank of the West Classic earlier this month. She dispatched HENIN-HARDENNE with little trouble, though it was only JUSTIN’S 3^rd loss all year.

She did not play in the Australian Open, and was eliminated in the 4^th rounds both at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. But she has won 6 titles this year, 5 of those on hard court surfaces. She seems to be peaking just in time for THE hard court tournament of the year.

END OF DAYS?
6.14.05
memo meños

ANDRE AGASSI announced today that he was withdrawing from WIMBLEDON because of an unspecified injury. No doubt it was the same ailment that has plagued him for the last two years-a nerve in his back that effects his hip and leg making it painful to be on the court. He skipped WIMBLEDON, the only grand slam played on grass, last year as well. ANDRE won WIMBLEDON in 1992, sharing his hard fought victory with a smitten BARBRA STREISAND who watched from the stands.

The injury caused him to limp through the final 2 sets at Roland Garos where he was ousted in 5 sets to JARKKO NIEMINEN 7-5, 4-6, 6-7, 6-1, 6-0 in the 1st round of THE FRENCH OPEN. After that match ANDRE lamented he may be nearing the end of his career. While he said he felt he had 1 good run left in him, he did indicate he would re-evaluate his career at the end of the season.. AGASSI has won only 2 tournaments in the last 2 years, and he has fallen behind the games top players, LLEYTON HEWITT, ROGER FEDERER, ANDY RODDICK and even the unpredictable MARAT SAFIN. Add to that list now RAFAEL NADAL.

In Paris ANDRE was clearly injured on the court but refused to withdraw because of injury. "I couldn't walk off the court. I just didn't want to leave that way." Today's announcement may be his way of avoiding that scenario on the grass in London. It may also signal the beginning of the end for a fantastic competitor and 8-time grand slam champion.

ROLAND GAROS 2005-THE STREAK SHOW
6.06.05
memo meños

The men's and women's champions have been crowned. JUSTINE HENIN-HARDENNE and RAFAEL NADAL are the French Open Champions, both riding the crest of 24 match win streaks. Before the weekend, you'd have to think the chances of that were about as good as the historic rover OPPORTUNITY brushing off the red clay of Mars and clearing itself from the sand wedge in which it was stuck. But there you go, on red clay, it all happened this weekend.

HENIN-HARDENNE had little trouble eliminating "Frenchwoman" MARY PIERCE 6-1, 6-1. It was the most lopsided victory since STEFFI GRAF bagelled NATASHA ZVEREVA in 1988. PIERCE, who was born in Canada, lives and trains in the USA, has been adopted by the French as their own, particularly after she won this tournament in 2000. It was her 3rd appearance in the Finals at Roland Garos (she got there in 1994 as well), but it was no contest.

HENIN-HARDENNE is fast recovering from the virus that kept her out of competition for months. This grand slam title was an exclamation point on her way back to number 1. Ranked 10th coming in, JUSTINE continued her win streak that started in Miami, and shows no signs of slowing. It was her 4th grand slam, her first coming here in 2003.

With SERENA WILLIAMS still struggling with her health and conditioning, VENUS WILLIAMS losing to 15-year old upstart SESIL KARANTACHEVA, KIM CLIJSTERS sputtering in her comeback, AMELIE MAURESMO never really fulfilling her potential, particularly here at the French Open, and LINDSAY DAVENPORT in the twilight of her career, perhaps only MARIA SHARAPOVA stands in HENIN-HARDENNE'S way to the top spot. In this streak JUSTINE has beaten MARIA twice.

Meanwhile, RAFAEL NADAL won his 24th straight match, overcoming a surprising effort by MARIANO PUERTA, a 26-year old Argentine, who nobody gave a chance, especially after seeking a medical timeout just 4 games into the match. PUERTA was coming off a streak of his own, 3 straight 5-set matches, which found him in a grand slam final for the first time in his career. Announcers JOHN MacENROE and MARY CARILLO had the match wrapped up before it even started.

And why wouldn't they? NADAL was coming off a stunning semi-final victory over once thought invinceable men's number 1, ROGER FEDERER. The match featured a harried FEDERER pleading with officials to halt the match as it was after 9pm and he claimed he was having difficulty seeing the ball. Had he won the plea, the result might have been very different, but as it was, play continued and 2 games later NADAL was the victor, exacting revenge for his last loss, in the finals to Federer in Miami.

So, when PUERTA came up lame in the opening minutes, sheepishly limping over to his chair to summon a trainer and burn an injury timeout, all watching thought the match was over. NADAL would win his first grand slam, on his first try with a walkover. But PUERTA had heart, or cunning, or just didn't want the spotlight to turn away so soon after he discovered it.

He got up off the mat to win the next 2 games to even the set at 3 apiece. He went on to win the first set, much to the surprise of all. NADAL seemed to be stunned, not knowing whether to hammer the injured opponent, or to merely wait for him to roll over. Who could fault him for having nerves in his first grand slam final?

He soon righted the ship winning the next 2 sets. But PUERTA was not done. He struggled valiantly to gain 3 set points at 5-4 to force the match into a 5th set. NADAL seized the moment to realize all the promise and accolade that he has been garnering in the past few months. He stepped into his place among the best of men's tennis a day after his 19th birthday, outwilling PUERTA on 3 amazing points to erase set point.

The rest is history, 6-7(6), 6-3, 6-1, 7-5.

Speaking of history, lost in the commotion, in the remarkable coincidence of dueling win streaks, was the moment MARTINA NAVRATILOVA faced in the mixed doubles final with LEANDER PAES of India. It would have been her 490th grand slam title, in this her 67th year on the tour. You would have thought RUSSELL CROWE would have another shot at an Oscar in some depression era boxing flick before MARTINA would be contending for another slam title. But there on the red clay, she was.

Up a set, NAVRATILOVA and PAES looked like they had it in the bag over DANIELA HANTUCHOVA and Frenchman FABRICE SANTORO. Few were in the stands, as SANTORO and HANTUCHOVA rallied to win the second set. NAVRATILOVA and PAES turned up the heat to break in the second game of the deciding set, but then fell apart as SANTORO and HANTUCHOVA won the last 6 games to win the mixed doubles crown.

Now coming into this weekend, you had to figure the French had about as much of a chance to walk away with the main swag as, say, there was a chance that RUSSELL CROWE would be arrested in New York City for assault.

Anything can happen on the red clay, at Roland Garos. (Or in a hotel lobby in the big apple.)

They love you when you're on all the covers,
When you're not, then they love another.
We're all stars now
in the streak(dope) show

ACTION SHIFTS TO WOMEN AT NASDAQ
3.28.05
memo meños

With LLEYTON HEWITT pulling out before action began, ANDY RODDICK retiring with a sprained wrist and MARAT SAFIN continuing his erratic play in a loss to DOMINIK HRBATY, the action on the men's side of play will have little drama. ROGER FEDERER still has some names left in the draw that could potentially give him some problems. GUILLERMO CORIA, ANDRE AGASSI, and his most consistent challenger this year IVAN LJUBICIC could get through to pose an obstacle for FEDERER on his way to a record 18 finals wins in a row. FEDERER has yet to win this tournament whilst AGASSI has won it 6 times, but the excitement in Miami will be on the women's side of the draw.

VENUS and SERENA WILLIAMS are both in competition. As are JUSTIN HENIN-HARDENNE and KIM CLIJSTERS; KIM fresh off her win at the PACIFIC LIFE OPEN. The only women of note not here are LINDSAY DAVENPORT, who decided to sit this one out and JENNIFER CAPRIATI who continues to nurse a shoulder injury.

HENIN-HARDENNE is making her first appearance in nearly a year, after battling hypoglycemia and cytomegalovirus in 2004. Seeded 19th here, she faces a rising Australian, ALICIA MOLIK, seeded 7th. That could turn out to be the match of the day, on a day with some pretty enticing women's matches. Number 1 seed AMELIE MAURESMO goes against CAROLINA SPREM, the feisty teenager from Croatia, who made a stir last year beating VENUS WILLIAMS twice and reaching the quarterfinals at WIMBLEDON.

Unseeded KIM CLIJSTERS takes on 5th seed ANASTASIA MYSKINA, herself coming back from an injury. Number 3 seed, SERENA WILLIAMS faces 15th seed ELENA LIKHOVTSEVA. And MARIA SHARAPOVA seeded 2nd, will go up against SHINOBU ASAGOE.

If all goes according to plan, the quarterfinals here could boast match-ups like VENUS versus SERENA, MAURESMO versus SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA, MARIA SHARAPOVA versus ALICIA MOLIK, and KIM CLIJSTERS against ELENA DEMENTIEVA. The rivalry that most would like to see happen again is number 2 SHARAPOVA against number 3 SERENA WILLIAMS. They faced off in the finals at WIMBLEDON, with SHARAPOVA breaking through for her first grand slam win, and once again in the semis at the AUSTRALIAN OPEN, with WILLIAMS saving 2 match points against SHARAPOVA, before going on to win that title.

Other intriguing contests could have KIM CLIJSTERS going up against JUSTIN HENIN-HARDENNE in a battle of the Belgians. And of course there is always the possibility of 2 Russians surviving to the final, or perhaps another unknown stepping out from the crowd..

For more information on the tournament go to www.nasdaq-100open.com. Television coverage can be found on the Tennis Channel and ESPN. Keep watching!

FEDERER STILL THE BEST; CLIJSTERS ON HER WAY BACK
3.20.05
memo meños

It wasn't the most competitive tournament, despite the promise, particularly on the men's side. With 47 of the world's top 50 competing at THE PACIFIC LIFE OPEN in Indian Wells, and with the surge by MARAT SAFIN, ANDY RODDICK and LLEYTON HEWITT to raise their games nearer the stratospheric level of world number 1 ROGER FEDERER, there was hope of some fantastic tennis. After all, SAFIN took FEDERER out in the semis of the year's first grand slam, and embarrassed HEWITT in front of his countrymen on his way to immortality. If nothing else, there was some vengeance to be had.

But SAFIN was taken out in his second match by TAYLOR DENT. Two possible marquee matches were suddenly gone. As was DENT who had to retire in his 4th round contest against the 14 seed GUILLERMO CANAS because of a stomach virus.

Another possible revenge match occurred Wednesday afternoon, in the 4th round, as GUILLERMO CORIA, the tour's quickest player, tried to reverse last year's quarterfinal loss to ANDRE AGASSI. That match, played at night, was electrifying, with ANDRE winning an exhausting fight 7-5, 6-4. It was a pleasure to watch, and one of the highlight's of last year's tournament. This match was no contest. ANDRE won easily 6-4, 6-1. It wasn't that close, as the number 9 seed sent CORIA, the number 5 seed, packing.

That left a fantastic quarterfinal match pitting AGASSI, playing much stronger than his seeding, and LLEYTON HEWITT, the current number 2 in the world. Now the tennis would really begin.


	*ANDRE'S family was on hand for his win against CORIA.*

But AGASSI awoke Thursday with a painful and swollen big toe. Fans arrived at the tennis garden for an early afternoon match for the ages. Instead they got a walkover, with LLEYTON HEWITT advancing without having to actually play. ANDRE did take the court, and in an impromptu interview, apologized to the fans, explaining why he could not compete. It was a classy gesture, and it was much appreciated from the crowd. But it was no substitute for the highly anticipated showdown between AGASSI and HEWITT.

Ironically, SERENA WILLIAMS made some news during this tournament. The DESERT SUN ran a story in which WILLIAMS said she would never return to play at this event, after being booed during her final match against KIM CLIJSTERS. VENUS has said it "would take an act of God" for her to return. In the semifinals of the 2001 tournament, SERENA was set to play VENUS, but with just minutes to go before start time, VENUS pulled out with tendinitis of the knee. It was thought the WILLIAMS sisters masterminded the move as a way to avoid battling each other.

It was a theme they were working that year, worried that one would take out other, earlier than the rest of the field could. In part they were right, as 2002 revealed, with the WILLIAMS sisters in 3 of the 4 grand slam finals. Whatever it was, it was not appreciated, and the audience let SERENA know it the next day in the fianl against CLIJSTERS. Let's just say the WILLIAMS' sisters could learn a thing or two from ANDRE AGASSI.

So with AGASSI out, that left ANDY RODDICK in HEWITT'S way to the final. ANDY got there after beating the number 7 seed, CARLOS MOYA, in a competitive match. MOYA won the first set on a questionable call wherre the chair ruled RODDICK'S raquet grazed a critical ball that went out, and that was that. It seemed to fire RODDICK up who then went on a tear to beat MOYA 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-1.

In a fantastic semifinal match, HEWITT and RODDICK battled through 3 tiebreaks, LLEYTON winning 7-6(2), 6-7(3), 7-6(4). It was the match of the tournament, and really the only one that delivered on the excitement that this tournament had promised.

HEWITT, under the discipline of ROGER RASHEED, a former Australian Rule Footballer, clearly has raised his game. He is even quicker, if you can imagine, and his strokes are cleaner and harder. He's always been a player who goes from defense to offense without effort, and there seem to be more offensive lobs at key moments in a match.

RODDICK, who replaced coach BRAD GILBERT with DEAN GOLDFINE at the start of the season, is also trying to lift his game up. He has the most powerful serve in the game, and his groundstrokes aren't far behind, but he is trying to reinvent himself at the net, where he makes it a point to get these days.

He just isn't there yet. Too many times he gets caught in no man's land trying to scrape a volley from his toes. Or, just as many times, after a tremendous serve, or fine approach shot, he pops up a volley which in this match was easy picking for HEWITT. Despite the loss, RODDICK seemed pleased with his progress after the match.

"I'm disappointed, but I'm not upset because I feel like I played a really good match, and I really kind of switched up the strategy and I feel like I applied my game plan pretty well. And I think it took-I know it took the best of LLEYTON tonight. You know this is a lot better than I've played against him before."

Prior to the match RODDICK was 1-5 in head-to-heads against HEWITT.

After the match HEWITT spoke of his game. "I think I'm definitely playing a lot better. I think the games probably changed. You know it always changes. You know, I think especially ROGER has taken it to a new level. That's the motivation to try and stay up in the top few guys in the world...The guys that I've lost to in the last few finals, obviously ROGER has been in most of them, and MARAT in the AUSSIE OPEN, you know they've had to play some scary tennis to beat me. If I go out there and put myself on the line every time, then your chances are going to come."

HEWITT got another chance at FEDERER in the final.

ROGER got there without losing a set. His toughest match of the tournament, including the best of 5-set final was against IVAN LJUBICIC. The two had faced each other in 3 finals this year, all won by FEDERER. LJUBICIC, seeded 13th here, came in perhaps the tour's hottest player. He vanquished the US DAVIS CUP team almost single-handedly just the previous weekend. And he had a 24-5 record going into the 4th round match, but even he couldn't take a set from FEDERER, though he did test him, getting into a tiebreak in both sets, 7-6(3), 7-6(4).

An obliging ROGER FEDERER was hounded whenever he came and went from the practice courts.

FEDERER next played NICOLAS KIEFFER, who stormed into the quarterfinals in impressive fashion, beating SARGIS SARGESIAN 6-0, 6-0, the number 8 seed GASTON GAUDIO 6-3, 6-1, and the number 10 seed DAVID NALBANDIAN 6-1, 6-3. He came in as the 29th seed, but was clearly playing better than that.

NICOLAS KIEFFER and FEDERER emerge from the tunnel before their match.

His hot streak continued through the first game of his match with ROGER FEDERER, where he broke him at love, with 4 of the most amazing points you will ever see. ROGER didn't know what hit him, and then went to work, winning 6-4, 6-1.

Next came GUILLERMO CANAS, who had the walkover with TAYLOR DENT, and then dismissed crowd favorite TIM HENMAN 7-6(1), 7-5. CANAS had only played FEDERER once in his career, in the first round of the ATP MASTER SERIES in 2002 in Toronto. At the time CANAS was ranked 19th in the world, with FEDERER 10TH. CANAS beat him 7-6(10), 7-5, and went on to win that tournament beating ANDY RODDICK in the final.

But here in Indian Wells, CANAS was no match for ROGER FEDERER. FEDERER won 6-3, 6-1. CANAS was just thrilled to make it to the semifinals.

So, the stage was set for the world's number 1 versus the world's number 2. How bad could that be, right? LLEYTON HEWITT had held the top spot for 80 weeks during 2001 and 2002. ROGER is in his 59th week at number 1. LLEYTON and ROGER are fairly evenly matched over the years, with FEDERER winning 8 of the 15. Last year, however ROGER beat HEWITT all 6 times that they met. HEWITT does own an impressive 23-5 lifetime mark at Indian Wells, so this should have been competitive.

Until ROGER took to it, beating LLEYTON HEWITT in straight sets. It was no contest. ROGER FEDERER has won 17 finals appearance matches in a row, and clearly holds court atop the world of men's tennis. Only injury or boredom could threaten his reign, as there seems to be no one on the horizon in the foreseeable future who can slow him down.

To be fair, LLEYTON HEWITT was struggling with a toe injury(which has caused him to withdraw from the NASDAQ in Miami), though to his credit he didn't make it known until after the match.

FEDERER pounced on it like a lion on the hunt. "I think LLEYTON wasn't at his best. I felt that very clearly, very quickly...I have great respect for him, playing all the way through this match, because I really had the feeling he was hurting, and he had to change up his game to actually have a slight chance."

Emphasis on the word "slight". FEDERER also had choice words for MARAT SAFIN, after it was suggested he might be the only player on the tour who can beat him. "I don't quite agree, it's only MARAT, you know, he's got a chance just because he beat me last time." The sports writers were waiting to hear from FEDERER himself, who else might be able to test him. "I have a great record against him as well. Don't forget that, please."

Wow! Game, set and match. This guy is the only one jumping at this level, and he's taking it another floor or two up. Can anyone stay with him?

We spoke with tennis legend PONCHO GONZALES at the tournament, and asked him just how someone could go about beating FEDERER. "You've got to play him deep, hit for the angles to keep him from hurting you. Make him go down the line with the backhand because he like's to run around it. But that is easier said than done."

There was 1 incredible moment during the final match. It was tremendous rally of some 40 plus strokes, with the crowd in an absolute frenzy. HEWITT actually won that point and the crowd stood and gave the players a 1 minute ovation. LLEYTON said it was unlike anything he had ever seen. ROGER described it as one of the best points of his career. "It started out normal," FEDERER recalled, "just a regular rally, backhand, cross-court, a couple of good shots. The crowd got into it. He (HEWITT) starts drop-shotting. You're like 'Okay, this is getting interesting'".

FEDERER ran down two of LLEYTON HEWITT'S lobs during the point of the match.

It was the inspiring tennis that this tournament was supposed to deliver. But it was small consolation, given the almost complete lack of excitement throughout the 2 weeks. It lasted for a moment, and then it was gone.

ROGER had such an easy time he showed off his ANDY RODDICK and KIM CLIJSTERS impressions.

On the women's side, there was a story that very much pleased the fans, though it went almost according to script. To get to the final, LINDSAY DAVENPORT powered her way through the field, losing a single set, to MEGHAN SHAUGHNESSY in the 3rd round. She had a stunning outing in the semifinals humiliating MARIA SHARAPOVA 6-0, 6-0.

The SHARAPOVA fist!

To show you just how fleeting the mastery of this game can be, just the day before, SHARAPOVA was taking questions from the media about how dominant she has been this year, her only loss a heartbreaker to SERENA WILLIAMS in the finals of the AUSTRALIAN OPEN. SHARAPOVA breezed by MARY PIERCE in the quarters 6-4, 6-3.

But some days you get up and you can't seem to do the things you normally do, and no amount of training, or discipline, or karma seem to make a difference. SHARAPOVA had one of those days, getting blanked by LINDSAY DAVENPORT 6-0, 6-0 Thursday afternoon.

After the match SHARAPOVA, in response to needling from the sports writers, had this to say about it, "Well, I mean, I was playing the number 1 player in the world. I mean, you know, you can't expect me to win every single match I play out there. Even if it's love-love, or 7-6 in the third, you know, there's just days like that where it's going to happen. But I'll learn and I'm going to be stronger from these experiences."

Without question, she already is.

The story for the women in this tournament was always going to be KIM CLIJSTERS. She had been out nearly a full year with a nagging wrist injury that threatened to end her career, just as it was beginning to take off. She first appeared here in 2000, losing to SERENA WILLIAMS in the round of 16. In 2001 she made it to the finals, again losing to SERENA in that now infamous match. In 2002 NATHALIE DECHY took her out in her first match, but in 2003 she stormed back to beat LINDSAY DAVENPORT in the final. Her injury forced her to retire in the 3rd round last year, and she has been struggling ever since.

She came into this tournament ranked 133rd in the world, and unseeded, but she quickly went to work to reverse that anomaly. She beat NICOLE PRATT in a first round match 6-2, 6-1, while the seeded players were still getting themselves situated. In her next match she took out the 16th seed, SHINOBU ASAGOE 6-3, 6-3. In a difficult 3rd round match, KIM had to go 3 sets to beat ANNA CHAKVETADZE 2-6, 6-2, 6-4.

She again had to go 3 sets to win her 4th round contest against EVENGIA LINETSKAYA, the number 30 seed. Then in the quarterfinals, veteran CONCHITA MARTINEZ pulled out her bag of tricks, and nearly beat KIM, finally losing 6-1, 3-6, 6-2. CLIJSTERS jumped out to a 5-0 lead, and it looked like MARTINEZ would retire, taking an injury timeout. She had been rubbing her left shoulder, but had her leg checked during the timeout, neither would seem to bother her later in the match.

CONCHITA really slowed the pace down, and completely threw KIM off her game. It almost worked, until CLIJSTERS regained her rhythm in the final set to best the 32-year old Spaniard.

That left ELENA DEMENTIEVA, who pulled off a somewhat surprising upset of her countrywoman, SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA in their quarterfinal match. DEMENTIEVA, who made it to the finals in the FRENCH and the US OPEN last year, was seeded 1 spot above KUZNETSOVA at number 4, but her serve has always let her down in the big matches. The last one being the US OPEN where she lost the championship to KUZNETSOVA.

But this time DEMENTIEVA hung tough, beating her 3-6, 6-3, 7-5. After the match ELENA was surprised, saying "I'm just very happy. I think she's the most powerful player on the tour. I mean she's very strong. She's good enough to play ATP tour." That's the men's tour for those of you not following closely, and she's not exaggerating by much.

That enthusiasm didn't last long for DEMENTIEVA, as she lost to CLIJSTERS 6-4, 6-2 in the semifianls.

So, it was LINDSAY DAVENPORT versus the comeback kid, KIM CLIJSTERS for the women's title. LINDSAY was on a 20-game winning streak, having beaten DECHY 6-0 in their final set and double-bagelling MARIA SHARAPOVA 6-0, 6-0.

She came out looking invinceable, extending that game-winning streak to 24, before falling off the ledge. She had 4 break points to go up 5-0 and serve for another 6-0 set, when CLIJSTERS broke through. "You know, I kept fighting, trying to stay in that first set. I tried to turn it around and make sure that I stayed aggressive and didn't really give her any easy points, you know, to just win that set like 6-love or anything. I just tried to make her work for every shot that she was playing."

It worked, as KIM came on to win the match 6-4, 4-6, 6-2, to complete a rapid comeback from an injury that took her out of tennis just as she was climbing to the top."I think a lot of it depends on your upbringing. My parents have always told me, you know, no matter what happens, you have to try to stay positive. You know, bad things can happen to you, but if you try to stay positive, something positive will come out of it."

Now, despite the paucity of great tennis at Indian Wells over the last 2 weeks, a better story could not have emerged. Stay positive, good things will happen.

Thank you, KIM.