Anna Chakvetadze.The first stop on the Olympus US Open Series, the Californian tournament hosts a plethora of great players and home favorites. The defending champion, Anna Chakvetadze is this year's second seed, with Serena Williams entering as number one. While she enjoyed a stellar season last year, this season Chakvetadze has struggled. After the terrible home invasion she endured during the off season, I, frankly, find it amazing that she was able to wina title so quickly, especially after she said that she had not regained full feeling in her hands until January. There is no doubt Anna has had a rough year, but to come through all of that and still be ranked in the top 10 is a testament to her mental fortitude. After besting her previous Wimbledon record with her 4th round finish, I think Anna is in store for a return to her top form. While I'm not sure if she can overcome Serena, I am looking forward to a Williams-Chakvetadze final.
Of course there is a whole field of players before the final and many stand a chance of upsetting the #1, #2 final. The most notable unseeded contender is Lindsay Davenport. The new mom and everlasting favorite has every chance of beating any player in the world if her movement is adequate. On the seeded front, fourth seed Daniela Hantuchova has a strong chance to make it to the Semis, barring an upset from Ai Sugiyama or Nadia Petrova. Eleventh ranked and 3rd seed Zvonerava has had a great year but Davenport is in her section and I think the American will come through. Meanwhile, Patty Shcnyder, the 6th seed,, lingers in Serena's half section of the draw and will most likely fall to the American. Spoiler Alert: 15 year old Michelle Larcher de Brito beat the number one seed in qualifying and has the game to impose herself this week. She has already had some big wins this year, including new top 10er Radwanska, and I think she can come through on her favorite surface if the draw is kind.
Bad Gastein, Austria. clay
While America is hosting the "Greatest Road Trip in Sports" some players are opting to continue the clay court season in Austria at the Tier III tournament. The main headliners this week are the top 3 seeds: Anges Szavay, Alize Cornet, and Caroline Wozniacki. Agnes Szavay suffered an early round exit in Budapest (perhaps suffering down with Mauresmo's home court illness) but can right her self this week if she finds her game. That being said, clay takes the punch out of her ball, and with Lucie Safarova and 7th seed Iveta Benesova in her quarter she'll have a rough time. I still think that she'll come through and make her second final of the year. On the bottom half of the draw, last week's Budapest winner, Alize Cornet can make it two in a row. She may be tested by Timea Bacsinzky or third seed Wozniacki but Cornet has a lot of clay court prowess and I think she has a great chance to win again.
Another big story at the 2008 Gastein Ladies Championship is the return of Sandra Klemenschits, who after battling a rare form of cancer, which sadly took the life of her twin sister, Daniela earlier this year. The Austrian doubles player, who used to partner with her sister, has been given a wildcard by the tournament and wish her the best of luck after her terrible ordeal She and her partner, Marlene Weingärtner, are drawn to play No.2 seeds Mariya Koryttseva and Galina Voskoboeva in the first round.
Bad Gastein, Austria. clay
While America is hosting the "Greatest Road Trip in Sports" some players are opting to continue the clay court season in Austria at the Tier III tournament. The main headliners this week are the top 3 seeds: Anges Szavay, Alize Cornet, and Caroline Wozniacki. Agnes Szavay suffered an early round exit in Budapest (perhaps suffering down with Mauresmo's home court illness) but can right her self this week if she finds her game. That being said, clay takes the punch out of her ball, and with Lucie Safarova and 7th seed Iveta Benesova in her quarter she'll have a rough time. I still think that she'll come through and make her second final of the year. On the bottom half of the draw, last week's Budapest winner, Alize Cornet can make it two in a row. She may be tested by Timea Bacsinzky or third seed Wozniacki but Cornet has a lot of clay court prowess and I think she has a great chance to win again.
Another big story at the 2008 Gastein Ladies Championship is the return of Sandra Klemenschits, who after battling a rare form of cancer, which sadly took the life of her twin sister, Daniela earlier this year. The Austrian doubles player, who used to partner with her sister, has been given a wildcard by the tournament and wish her the best of luck after her terrible ordeal She and her partner, Marlene Weingärtner, are drawn to play No.2 seeds Mariya Koryttseva and Galina Voskoboeva in the first round.
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