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2004
WTA Tour Championships News
Brad Falkner | November
10 , 2004
For the last two years
the WTA Year End Championships were notorious for attracting
crowds the size of a typical little league game. Thanks to
an improved marketing campaign and reduced ticket prices the
WTA Year End Championships are in now in the big leagues.
The evening's marquee match lived up to its billing as six
time Grand Slam Champion Serena Williams enthralled the LA
fans with a stunning comeback over the top ranked Russian
Anastasia Myskina.
Down a set and two service breaks Serena Williams was in desperate
need of inspiration, which came from her best friend, aspiring
actor Jackie Long.
Perched behind the baseline in the front row Long cheered
on Williams and entertained the opening night 8000 plus crowd
with gyrations that would have made a young Elvis envious.
"He (Long) is like one of my best friends. He is totally
insane. He is an actor. I think he is going to be huge"
Said Williams.
Anastasia Myskina began the match with precision, focus and
determination. The 2004 French Open champion raced ahead to
a 6-4 3-0 lead and without warning took her foot off the gas.
When I was 6-4, 3-Love, I started to step back and started
hoping for her to make mistakes." Lamented Myskina. "I
just kind of felt that I won the match because Serena was
struggling at the beginning of the second set."
Realizing the match was far from over Williams overtook the
suddenly tentative Myskina, winning the next eight games,
gaining the upper hand in the contest.
"I just thought I had a chance. I hadn't shook her hand
yet. So I figured I was still in the match." Williams
said.
Myskina regained her poise and leveled the match at two games
all in the third set and found her way to a 3-2 lead. Again
the match loomed ominous for Williams.
With the full support of the her hometown fans Williams displayed
the type of moxie that once made her the most feared woman
in tennis, coming up with impossible passing shots and frequent
service winners. On her fourth match point Williams hammered
a 110 MPH ace up the T for a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory.
Williams, who is competing in her third WTA Tour Championship,
won the crown in 2001 and was a runner-up to Kim Clijsters
in 2002.
In the evenings opening match US Open Champion Svetlan Kuznetsova
and Vera Zvonerava made their WTA year end championship debut
a rather uneventful one. The 67 minute contest lacked the
sizzle of the Williams/Myskina match, as Kuznetsova routed
Zvonareva 6-2, 6-4
A drained Zvonarveva, who played six straight weeks leading
up to the Championships, rode into the Porsche Championships
with her tank on empty.
"I thought she was going to play much better. But she
played so many tournaments in a row. And she came here a little
tired." Kuznetsova said
Zvonareva, who narrowly qualified for the prestigious event,
clinched her spot by thrashing Jennifer Capriati in the Advanta
Championships last week prior.
The night ended on the same note as it began with a one-sided
thrashing, as world number one Lindsay Davenport dismantled
Elena Dementieva 6-0, 6-1.
Thursday's evening round robin play begins with Amelie Mauresmo
vs. Vera Zvonareva followed by Svetlana Kuznetsova vs Maria
Sharapova, and concludes with Serena Williams vs Elena Dementieva.
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