Flavia Pennetta : Winner of Andalucia Tennis Experience in Marbella, 5 April
Flavia Pennetta has put herself into contention for another trip to Bali by lifting the winners trophy at the Andalucia Tennis Experience in Marbella following a hard-fought battle against Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro. The Italian won 6-2 4-6 6-3 after dropping her only set of the week.
It was her ninth career title and came after she also reached the Auckland final in January, and she broke Suarez Navarro seven times on her way to victory. Ironically, it was the second straight defeat in the final for the Spaniard after she lost last year to Jelena Jankovic.
"I just got the better of her at the end," said a beaming Pennetta, who has already played in Bali four times, reaching the quarter-finals on her last two visits. "I started well then got a bit tired, and Carla started playing more aggressively. I could have won it in two sets. I had to start all over again in the third, but from 3-all I played very well. I think Carla will have many chances to win this tournament though. People were telling me how good this tournament is, and they were right." Caroline Wozniacki: Winner of MPS Group Championships Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, 5 April
Across the world at Ponte Vedra Beach in Florida, world number two Caroline Wozniacki claimed the MPS Group Championships title with a 6-2 7-5 victory over Olga Gorvotsova. Unseeded Gorvotsova made 41 unforced errors, althought she managed to build a 4-1 lead in the second set. She also led 5-4 and held two set points in a 22-point game before a double-fault allowed the Dane to level at 5-5.
"I took the chances. I believed that I could go for it a little more when I had my opportunity," said Wozniacki. "It was important for me that I was the one opening the court and I was the one dictating the points."
Francesca Schiavone: Winner of Barcelona Ladies Open in Spain, 12 April
Francesca Schiavone has always been one of the most popular players among Bali tennis fans, and now she could be returning in November to compete in the Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions after winning the Barcelona Ladies Open.
Proving that age is no barrier to success, the feisty Italian - who will turn 30 in June - claimed the third title of her career with a convincing 6-1 6-1 victory over defending champion Roberta Vinci, adding to the titles she had already earned at Bad Gastein in 2007 and Moscow in 2009. The overwhelming victory came as revenge for Vinci’s win over her at the semi-final stage a year ago.
Schiavone didn’t drop a set in the entire week, and her victory continued a fine season that had already seen her reach the semi-finals in Auckland and the fourth round of the Australian Open where her run was eventually ended by Venus Williams.
"I felt good today," said the delighted Schiavone. "I played at a very high level and I was having fun playing. Roberta had some problems with her ankle so it wasn't easy for her. It just wasn't her day. For me, this is good preparation for Fed Cup and upcoming tournaments on clay, like Stuttgart and Rome." |