07/02/2012 12:42 CEST - WTA Tour
Celebrating 20 years of womens tennis in Paris
TENNIS – It was the twentieth birthday for the women's Paris tournament on Sunday. Whilst the second qualifying round was being played, the main draw was being compiled. Italian Alberta Brianti qualified to the main draw along with the Americans Mattek-Sands and Craybas. Article and photographs by Monique Filippella from Paris, translated by Paul Sassoon
The Paris tournament has become a traditional event for me and for several years it has been part of my personal calendar. This year I made it, but it was a struggle. I had to battle with a snowfall in Rome that made trip to the airport a real adventure.
As we landed in Paris we knew it was going to be a difficult week when the captain welcomed us “Welcome to Paris! Its 23°C... in the plane. Out there its -3°C!” At least the sun was shining on a snow covered city.
When we woke up the following day it was snowing, so that we wouldn't miss our snow covered Rome.
Some of this years decorations remind me more of Father Christmas in Rovaniemi rather than tennis in Paris!
Italy's Alberta Brianti was on her way to qualification, she defeated Kristina Kucova 6-3 7-5, when we were making our way to the hall where the draw was going to be made.
The decorations in the hall were particularly impressive this year, with a series of pictures that recounted the history of the tournament,
all the decorations were there to remind us its the 20th edition of the women's tournament in the Stade de Coubertin
There are many camera operators testing their equipment before the draw started.
There were some introduction speeches by Philippe Peyrat (of GDF Suez), the co-directors of the tournament Règis Brunet and Amèlie Mauresmo before the ceremony started. Marion Bartoli and Mary Pierce (she was very keen to let us know that she had just come back from the Mauritius where she swam with dolphins).
Apparently participating in the ceremony can cause some hair trouble...
Well, not for everyone!
The draw was very interesting, even for Marion even if she was sure of qualifying to the second round, her opponent BYE never seems to win a match! Yet she still declines the invitation to stick her hand in the pot to select a number.
Amèlie, instead, is quite keen to do it, she isn't bothered anymore by the draw.
At the end of the draw Marion answered some questions. She was asked about the support of the crowd. The Stade de Coubertin has been Mauresmo's second home as she won this vent three times and reached the final another three. Even if Amèlie never had a good relationship with the Roland Garros crowd, she did here. Marion said she was well aware of this and she was a bit emotional as well “I am between two champions that won Slams, I haven't won anything”, but she is keen to have the full support of the crowd even if she has to “write Mauresmo on my shirt”.
In the end the question we all expected was asked, what happened with Aravane Rezai??? I wish I could tell you what happened, but so much has been written about this incident that we will never know what really happened. To recap, the Fed Cup captain selected 5 players excluding Rezai. She said she found out at the last minute, whilst the captain said he had told her some time before. The tournament was keeping two Wild Cards for the players involved in the Fed Cup as they would not be able to take part in the qualifying rounds. Parmentier and Rezai were selected. Once she found out she was not going to be part of the squad, Rezai headed back to Paris (the rest of the French team did not appreciate her behaviour). As she is in Paris and can take part in the qualifications the tournament decides to give Cornet the Wild Card. At this point Rezai decides to head back to support her teammates (but the rest of the team does not want to have anything to do with her, they don't even dine together). So in the end Rezai does not have a Wild Card nor did she take part in the qualifying rounds effectively losing $4800 (first round prize money). Honestly I can't tell you whether its the tournaments, the Federation's or the player's fault. My guess is they all share the responsibility.
All of this does not seem to bother Mary Pierce in any way. She is clearly enjoying the event anyway.
She keeps on enjoying herself on the stands as well. She occasionally keeps an eye on the court, but she spends most of the time chatting with Martina Hingis who is going to play in the day of legends at the end of the tournament. There will be a doubles match involving Martina Navratilova, Martina Hingis, Amèlie Mauresmo and none other than Monica Seles!!!! I can't wait!
Meanwhile Mattek-Sands is on court
Fighting it out with Naomi Broady
She is so tall she sometimes struggles to move, particularly on the backhand.
But in the end Mattek-Sands grit makes the difference
and she then thanks the crowd. I never thought she was so shy!
Mona Barthel is clearly not shy on the court
She started the season very well. Her game is varied and smart
sending poor Coin in the stands very often.
Julie fought tooth and nail, but she had to concede in the end. She should not worry though, she has a career in diving when she quits tennis!
In the freezer they insist on calling court n.1 Anna Giulia Remondina is playing against the more experienced Craybas.
Some are very attentive and spend the match writing some very tidy notes...
Maybe too tidy!!!
The match lasts for just about one set. In the end Craybas won easily for Remondina's desperation.
The entrance today was free, yet there were very few spectators. Maybe because it was just the qualifiers and the public just isn't interested. At least these two have figured out how to stay warm...
Second qualifying round results
M Barthel d J Coin 6-3, 7-5
V Lepchenko d M Domachowska 6-2, 6-3
B Mattek-Sands d N Broady 6-3, 3-6, 6-1
J Craybas d A Remondina 7-6(5), 6-2
A Brianti d K Kucova 6-3, 7-5
K Barrois d E Bychkova 6-0, 6-0
G Arn d S Beltrame 7-6(3), 6-3
G Muguruza Blanco d N Bratchikova 6-3, 6-3
Order of Play Monday, February 6, 2012
Central (from 12.00hrs)
1. Alberta Brianti vs. Kristina Barrois (Singles Q Final)
2. Bethanie Mattek-Sands vs. Jill Craybas (Singles Q Final)
3. Koryttseva/Woehr vs. Safarova/Zakopalova Court 1 (from 12.00hrs)
1.Greta Arn vs. Garbiñe Muguruza Blanco (Singles Q Final)
2. Mona Barthel vs. Varvara Lepchenko (Singles Q Final)
Monique Filippella
Some Tommy highlights for the Haas addicts out there...
- Ann Liguori's column each week as she covers the world of sports
For more information, visit www.annliguori.com
"I've got £10m in prize money but I'd pay it all back to win at Wimbledon"
Andy Murray before the Championships
January 20, 1920
Rebound Ace, the controversial court surface of the Australian Open since 1988, is thrown under microscope and criticized as two players, Gabriela Sabatini and Mark Woodforde,suffer ankle injuries that force them to leave the court in wheelchairs in third-round matches.
From "On this day in Tennis History" by Randy Walker
