Regardless her postur and weak serve, at 278 in the WTA rankings Ayu Fani Damayanti is the highest ranked Indonesian tennis player today. I am always enthusiastic following Ayu's performance in international tennis forums.
Having played her third main draw in Bali in September last year, Ayu Fani Damayanti continued her good performance at the Philippines ITF women's circuits. She grabbed two ITF circuit titles despite her low ranks of 733 and 727.
At the second week in Manila, Ayu defeated the top seed, Sacha Jones (then ranked number 337) of New Zealand 6-4 6-1 (H2H) in the final. Ayu played perfect games in the course of two weeks without loosing a set.
Today Sacha Jones has made her biggest leap to 168 from last week 212 in the WTA rankings after winning three Australian challenger (Mount Gambier, Port Pirie, Rock Hill) 25K tournaments in a row and a 50K tournament in Phoenix, USA.
Where is Ayu? Within the last two months Ayu didn't play any ITF tournaments. She played at local tournaments in Tegal and Jakarta. I have not seen any official reason why she didn't enter challenger tournaments or at least the circuits in Manila. The only possible guess I have is that Ayu needs to collect money from this easy-winning local tournaments.
If Ayu is given a financial support to travel from challenger to challenger and try her luck at higher tournaments, It is not possible that she could be in the Top 200 this year. I am stil hoping that someday someone would invest in Ayu and helped her join the Top 150. Nothing is impossible for this smart tactician girl.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Sunday, November 08, 2009
The Final: Bartoli vs Rezai (game by game report)
Most of the spectators in Bali International Convention Centre seems to support Rezai as she's the underdog. People around me even talked about her relation to the Middle East. I feel like the only Bartoli fan on the row behind the photographers and the D Stand.
Rezai serves the opening quite big, but a deep forehand return from Bartoli wins her the first point. Some unbelievable reaches by Rezai helped her won the game.
0-1
Bartoli open and close her service game with unreturned big serves. The game point came after a long rally ended by Rezai hit the net.
1-1
Rezai keeps her pace and powerful strokes to win the third game regardless Bartoli's determining play.
2-1
Bartoli cruised for love game with great angles and close it perfectly with a big unreturned serve.
2-2
Bartoli stayed strong and lead 30-0 on Rezai serve. Rezai managed to get a point as Bartoli hit a long forehand, but that's it, Bartoli has the break.
3-2
A great return from Rezai on Bartoli's second serve. 0-15
15-30 forehand winner from Rezai.
Rezai get the break points by hitting hard to the left corner, and the backhand defense from Bartoli went over the base line.
Bartoli forced a deuce and aced for advantage.
A long forehand down the line by Rezai went wide.
4-2
Rezai hit an ace and unreturned big serve to lead 30-0. Bartoli took the next points with winners. Deuce cannot be avoided as Rezai sent the ball long. Unreturned serve gives Rezai the advantage. Bartoli hit winner to equalize, but her forehand at the next point went wide.
4-3
Big return on 2nd serve gave Rezai first point. Her long forehand and net backhand gives Bartoli the lead. Bartoli moved her from corner to corner for the game point. Rezai sailed a long forehand to lose the game.
5-3
A return deep on the corner gives Bartoli the first point. Rezai double faulted the next. Rezai got a point after exchanging groundstrokes. Equalizer came with a blistering forehand by Rezai.
Another double fault gave Bartoli set point. Bartoli missread the 2nd serve and the return went long. Deuce. An ace by Rezai was determined by hawkeye. Bartoli overcooked a backhand and gave Rezai the game. That's is the biggest mistake of the match.
5-4
Failed to close the set, Bartoli is left 0-30.
An ace from Bartoli is paid with a winner return by Rezai. Rezai won a great point to equalize the set. Spectators in the centre court went crazy. Those who supported Bartoli when they first came in, changed their mind in order to not look different. They are the ones who have been defeated by the situation.
5-5
Bartoli had a break point for 6-5 lead, but Rezai saved the point and held serve after a long forehand from Bartoli. Her racket string was the cause of that unforced error. Bartoli changed racket, but could not help winning the game. Rezai held serve.
5-6
Walter came in and gave advice to Marion.
I still believed that Bartoli could win the set, even when she was down 15-40.
They played the same game, they hit the ball hard, and moved well on the court. Bartoli has better pace on her shots and her groundtrokes are flat and deep. Rezai hits a little spin that make he balls a bit shorter. The problem is that Bartoli is not fit enough for the match. She surrendered after being treated. Even though she tried to finish the set, it was obvious that she is limped and could not move well.
Marion went on tears as she shook Rezai's hand and forced to give up the championship.
Rezai will go home with USD 200,000 pay check (twice the prize money for Bartoli), but she keeps on smiling not because of the biggest check she got from a tournament. It is the title that matter.
Rezai serves the opening quite big, but a deep forehand return from Bartoli wins her the first point. Some unbelievable reaches by Rezai helped her won the game.
0-1
Bartoli open and close her service game with unreturned big serves. The game point came after a long rally ended by Rezai hit the net.
1-1
Rezai keeps her pace and powerful strokes to win the third game regardless Bartoli's determining play.
2-1
Bartoli cruised for love game with great angles and close it perfectly with a big unreturned serve.
2-2
Bartoli stayed strong and lead 30-0 on Rezai serve. Rezai managed to get a point as Bartoli hit a long forehand, but that's it, Bartoli has the break.
3-2
A great return from Rezai on Bartoli's second serve. 0-15
15-30 forehand winner from Rezai.
Rezai get the break points by hitting hard to the left corner, and the backhand defense from Bartoli went over the base line.
Bartoli forced a deuce and aced for advantage.
A long forehand down the line by Rezai went wide.
4-2
Rezai hit an ace and unreturned big serve to lead 30-0. Bartoli took the next points with winners. Deuce cannot be avoided as Rezai sent the ball long. Unreturned serve gives Rezai the advantage. Bartoli hit winner to equalize, but her forehand at the next point went wide.
4-3
Big return on 2nd serve gave Rezai first point. Her long forehand and net backhand gives Bartoli the lead. Bartoli moved her from corner to corner for the game point. Rezai sailed a long forehand to lose the game.
5-3
A return deep on the corner gives Bartoli the first point. Rezai double faulted the next. Rezai got a point after exchanging groundstrokes. Equalizer came with a blistering forehand by Rezai.
Another double fault gave Bartoli set point. Bartoli missread the 2nd serve and the return went long. Deuce. An ace by Rezai was determined by hawkeye. Bartoli overcooked a backhand and gave Rezai the game. That's is the biggest mistake of the match.
5-4
Failed to close the set, Bartoli is left 0-30.
An ace from Bartoli is paid with a winner return by Rezai. Rezai won a great point to equalize the set. Spectators in the centre court went crazy. Those who supported Bartoli when they first came in, changed their mind in order to not look different. They are the ones who have been defeated by the situation.
5-5
Bartoli had a break point for 6-5 lead, but Rezai saved the point and held serve after a long forehand from Bartoli. Her racket string was the cause of that unforced error. Bartoli changed racket, but could not help winning the game. Rezai held serve.
5-6
Walter came in and gave advice to Marion.
I still believed that Bartoli could win the set, even when she was down 15-40.
They played the same game, they hit the ball hard, and moved well on the court. Bartoli has better pace on her shots and her groundtrokes are flat and deep. Rezai hits a little spin that make he balls a bit shorter. The problem is that Bartoli is not fit enough for the match. She surrendered after being treated. Even though she tried to finish the set, it was obvious that she is limped and could not move well.
Marion went on tears as she shook Rezai's hand and forced to give up the championship.
Rezai will go home with USD 200,000 pay check (twice the prize money for Bartoli), but she keeps on smiling not because of the biggest check she got from a tournament. It is the title that matter.
Saturday, November 07, 2009
Photo Sessions
Other than watching the games, the most exciting part of covering a tournament is the photo sessions. Photographers and fans enjoy the time to shoot and be shot.
Bartoli Outplayed Date Krumm
Kimiko Date Krumm, the oldest winner of any tournaments in WTA Tour for the last 26 years showed her agility and power that brought her back to professional tennis after 12 year retirement. The technic and tactical game is still there, but that is not enough to beat the elite. Today's tennis requires more power and speed.
The fast surface of the centre court in Bali International Convention Centre, Nusa Dua, suits the game of Bartoli. The number 1 seed always take the ball earlier on the rise. It creates more pace that worn out the Japanese.
Bartoli had a chance to close out the match earlier. At 61 50 Bartoli had a break point that was a match point. Date Krumm survived and managed to hold the game and break Bartoli afterwards.
The spectators went crazy supporting Mrs. Krumm as they wanted a longer match. However, after loosing focus Bartoli regrouped and finished the match at 63. Albeit Kimiko's hardwork and technic, Bartoli outplayed and outpowered her quite handily.
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Order of Play D2
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Centre Court (from 14.00hrs)
1. Shahar Peer vs. Magdalena Rybarikova
2. Melinda Czink vs. Aravane Rezai
3. María José Martínez Sánchez vs. Agnes Szavay (NB 18.30hrs)
4. Anabel Medina Garrigues vs. Kimiko Date Krumm
Centre Court (from 14.00hrs)
1. Shahar Peer vs. Magdalena Rybarikova
2. Melinda Czink vs. Aravane Rezai
3. María José Martínez Sánchez vs. Agnes Szavay (NB 18.30hrs)
4. Anabel Medina Garrigues vs. Kimiko Date Krumm
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Tickets
Balcony 1 or 2
Round Robin 850,000/day or D1+D2 1,600,000
Semifinal 950,000
Final 1,050,000
Day 3 to Final 2,650,000
Continuous ticket 4,175,000
Stand A or C
Round Robin 200,000/day or D1+D2 320,000
Semifinal SOLD OUT
Final SOLD OUT
Day 3 to Final SOLD OUT
Continuous ticket SOLD OUT
Stand B or D
Round Robin 150,000/day or D1+D2 250,000
Semifinal 250,000
Final 300,000
Day 3 to Final 550,000
Continuous ticket 750,000
The Venue
http://wta2009.creativeconcept.us/page/maplayout.php
Where to Buy
Tickets can be pre-booked at various venues at major tourism points starting August 2009 until tickets will be available on November 1, 2009.
http://wta2009.creativeconcept.us/page/wheretobuy.php
,
Order of Play
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Centre Court (from 14.00hrs)
1. Sabine Lisicki vs. Aravane Rezai
2. Yanina Wickmayer vs. Kimiko Date Krumm
3. Marion Bartoli vs. Magdalena Rybarikova (NB 18.30hrs)
4. Samantha Stosur vs. Agnes Szavay
I would pick all the seeds to win tomorrow, but Kimiko Date Krumm could do a damage to the Belgian tenager. Her relentless spirit and experience would be the factors. I hope that the people in Bali will go crazy to support the Japanese.
Japanese in Indonesia, both expatriats and tourists are great supporters of the players from their home country. I have seen how the group of Japanese supporters managed to 'conquer' Senayan and helped their Davis Cup team defeated the Indonesian team regardless being down 1-2 after Febi Widhyanto won all his singles matches.
Centre Court (from 14.00hrs)
1. Sabine Lisicki vs. Aravane Rezai
2. Yanina Wickmayer vs. Kimiko Date Krumm
3. Marion Bartoli vs. Magdalena Rybarikova (NB 18.30hrs)
4. Samantha Stosur vs. Agnes Szavay
I would pick all the seeds to win tomorrow, but Kimiko Date Krumm could do a damage to the Belgian tenager. Her relentless spirit and experience would be the factors. I hope that the people in Bali will go crazy to support the Japanese.
Japanese in Indonesia, both expatriats and tourists are great supporters of the players from their home country. I have seen how the group of Japanese supporters managed to 'conquer' Senayan and helped their Davis Cup team defeated the Indonesian team regardless being down 1-2 after Febi Widhyanto won all his singles matches.
CBTC Draw
The draw for the Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions has been made. Twelve players are split into four groups of three, with one each of the top four seeds placed into Group A, B, C and D in order of ranking. The next four players based on ranking were then drawn and placed in each group, followed by the final four.
The highest ranked winner of any of the Groups will be placed at the top of the semi-final draw, with the second highest ranked placed at the bottom. The remaining two semi-finalists will be drawn to play in the top or bottom half.
Group A:
Marion Bartoli
Shahar Peer
Magdalena Rybarikova
Bartoli have lost to Peer six times in seven encounters. The only win came in Wimbledon this year. While against Rybarikova, Bartoli leads 2-1. The only lost was in New Heaven when Bartoli was forced to retire due to injury. Peer and Rybarikova have never played each other in WTA Tour.
Group B:
Samantha Stosur
Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez
Agnes Szavay
Szavay defeated Stosur in two sets at R32 of 2007 New Heaven.
Either Szavay or Stosur has never played Martinez-Sanchez before.
Group C:
Yanina Wickmayer
Anabel Medina Garrigues
Kimiko Date Krumm
Anabel defeated Yanina 1-6 6-3 6-3 in R32 of 2009 Strasbourg, but it was in red clay.
Anabel defeated Kimiko in Guangzhou, but lost to her in Seoul final this year.
Kimiko has never played Yanina.
Group D:
Sabine Lisicki
Melinda Czink
Aravane Rezai
Lisicki and Czink have met twice in 2008. Lisicki won in the 2nd round of Australian Open, but lost in Quebec City (carpet). Both matches went to three sets.
Czink and Rezai played each other twice last year. Rezai won 6-4 6-2 in Tokyo, but had to retire in Beijing while trailed 2-6 0-1.
The only encounter between Lisicki and Rezai was in the opening round of 2009 US Open when Lisicki prevails after a hard fought three setter 7-6(4) 6-7(4) 6-1.
Vera Dushevina, the alternate, will replace any injured or ill player.
The highest ranked winner of any of the Groups will be placed at the top of the semi-final draw, with the second highest ranked placed at the bottom. The remaining two semi-finalists will be drawn to play in the top or bottom half.
Group A:
Marion Bartoli
Shahar Peer
Magdalena Rybarikova
Bartoli have lost to Peer six times in seven encounters. The only win came in Wimbledon this year. While against Rybarikova, Bartoli leads 2-1. The only lost was in New Heaven when Bartoli was forced to retire due to injury. Peer and Rybarikova have never played each other in WTA Tour.
Group B:
Samantha Stosur
Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez
Agnes Szavay
Szavay defeated Stosur in two sets at R32 of 2007 New Heaven.
Either Szavay or Stosur has never played Martinez-Sanchez before.
Group C:
Yanina Wickmayer
Anabel Medina Garrigues
Kimiko Date Krumm
Anabel defeated Yanina 1-6 6-3 6-3 in R32 of 2009 Strasbourg, but it was in red clay.
Anabel defeated Kimiko in Guangzhou, but lost to her in Seoul final this year.
Kimiko has never played Yanina.
Group D:
Sabine Lisicki
Melinda Czink
Aravane Rezai
Lisicki and Czink have met twice in 2008. Lisicki won in the 2nd round of Australian Open, but lost in Quebec City (carpet). Both matches went to three sets.
Czink and Rezai played each other twice last year. Rezai won 6-4 6-2 in Tokyo, but had to retire in Beijing while trailed 2-6 0-1.
The only encounter between Lisicki and Rezai was in the opening round of 2009 US Open when Lisicki prevails after a hard fought three setter 7-6(4) 6-7(4) 6-1.
Vera Dushevina, the alternate, will replace any injured or ill player.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Sabine Lisicki and Kimiko Date-Krumm Get the Wild Cards
Commonwealth Bank Tennis announced the players who receive the wild cards for the Tournament of Champions. As I have been suggesting, Sabine Lisicki of Germany is one of the recipient. To the surprise of many tennis fans, Kimiko Date-Krumm named the other player to receive the wild card.
Stacey Allaster, Chairman and CEO of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour said, "The event promises to be a fantastic finale for the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour’s International tournaments. With the field featuring some of the Tour’s leading players and next generation stars, a great week of tennis and fierce competition is guaranteed."
The tournament news states: "Featuring top Sony Ericsson WTA Tour players and next generation champions competing in an innovative, 12-woman round robin singles format (four groups of three players), it will offer both $600,000 in prize money and an opportunity to earn a $1-million bonus."
How could WTA and the tournament owner claim to promote next generation stars, while at the same time they give a wild card to 39-year-old player? I like Kimiko Date and would love to see her in person, but is she considered a next generation champion?
I try to guess the reasoning of this choice. They want to promote Asian players. First priority would be Indonesian players, but none of them have participated in the international events or shows any significant results during the year. Then they looked at the Asian women participating in WTA tour. We have Li Na, Peng Shuai, Zheng Jie, Tamarine Tanasugarn, Sania Mirza, and Mrs. Krum in the Top 100 of WTA rankings. Chang Kai Chen could also be added due to her phenomenal achievements in the recent months, including an epic win over World No. 1 player, Dinara Safina.
Among the Asians, Tanasugarn and Date-Krumm are the only winners of international tournaments. Tanasugarn would not sell the tournament as people in Bali and Indonesia have seen her around many times. While the Japanese heroine had recorded an unlevelled achievement for Asian tennis players by being ranked No. 4 in singles back then in 1995. Having retired from professional tennis for almost 12 years her magic is still there. Her WTA tour title in Korea is considered a start of a bright new live of the Japanese player.
Maybe, WTA would use the participation of Date-Krumm as a momentum to emphasize her legacy and let Asian younger players see her as a role model for being a professional tennis player. Kimiko have shown how strong commitment for a professional life have conquerred the age and marriage barriers to be a reborn champion.
Her participation in Bali could hopefully bring older fans who miss her and the kids who want to see the Asian legend.
Stacey Allaster, Chairman and CEO of the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour said, "The event promises to be a fantastic finale for the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour’s International tournaments. With the field featuring some of the Tour’s leading players and next generation stars, a great week of tennis and fierce competition is guaranteed."
The tournament news states: "Featuring top Sony Ericsson WTA Tour players and next generation champions competing in an innovative, 12-woman round robin singles format (four groups of three players), it will offer both $600,000 in prize money and an opportunity to earn a $1-million bonus."
How could WTA and the tournament owner claim to promote next generation stars, while at the same time they give a wild card to 39-year-old player? I like Kimiko Date and would love to see her in person, but is she considered a next generation champion?
I try to guess the reasoning of this choice. They want to promote Asian players. First priority would be Indonesian players, but none of them have participated in the international events or shows any significant results during the year. Then they looked at the Asian women participating in WTA tour. We have Li Na, Peng Shuai, Zheng Jie, Tamarine Tanasugarn, Sania Mirza, and Mrs. Krum in the Top 100 of WTA rankings. Chang Kai Chen could also be added due to her phenomenal achievements in the recent months, including an epic win over World No. 1 player, Dinara Safina.
Among the Asians, Tanasugarn and Date-Krumm are the only winners of international tournaments. Tanasugarn would not sell the tournament as people in Bali and Indonesia have seen her around many times. While the Japanese heroine had recorded an unlevelled achievement for Asian tennis players by being ranked No. 4 in singles back then in 1995. Having retired from professional tennis for almost 12 years her magic is still there. Her WTA tour title in Korea is considered a start of a bright new live of the Japanese player.
Maybe, WTA would use the participation of Date-Krumm as a momentum to emphasize her legacy and let Asian younger players see her as a role model for being a professional tennis player. Kimiko have shown how strong commitment for a professional life have conquerred the age and marriage barriers to be a reborn champion.
Her participation in Bali could hopefully bring older fans who miss her and the kids who want to see the Asian legend.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Sony Ericsson Championships
The best eight women this year will compete at the Sony Ericsson Championships in Khalifa Tennis Complex, Doha, Qatar, from 27 October to 1 November 2009. They are divided into two groups of four players and will compete in round robin format.White Group
1 Dinara Safina (RUS)
4 Caroline Wozniacki (DEN)
6 Victoria Azarenka (BLR)
8 Jelena Jankovic (SRB)
Maroon Group
2 Serena Williams (USA)
3 Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS)
5 Elena Dementieva (RUS)
7 Venus Williams (USA)
The winner of the White Group will play the runner up of Maroon Group and the runner up of White Group will play the winner of Maroon Group in the semifinals.
Doubles
Along with the singles event, four doubles pairs are set to play in semifinals and final elimination matches. Only the best pairs of 2009 are qualified for the championship.
The Williamses, winner of most Grand Slam titles of 2009 (Australian Open, Wimbledon, and US Open), leads the contenders for the year-end tournament. They are followed by co-number one doubles players, Cara Black (ZIM) and Liezel Huber (USA). Spanish pair of Nuria Llagostera Vives and María José Martínez Sánchez join the elité eight for the first time. They have won six doubles titles throughout the year and will be a serious threat to the top doubles players. Australian duo of Samantha Stosur and Rennae Stubbs are in Doha not only to complete the list of players. They have won the championships twice together (Stubbs' won in 2001 with Lisa Raymond) and will try to get the third.
Dates of Play
Round Robin (Singles) 27 - 30 Oct 2009
Semi-Finals / Finals (Singles and Doubles) 31 Oct - 1 Nov 2009
Prize Money Breakdown
Singles
$1,550,000 Winner
$780,000 Finalist
RR (3 wins) $400,000
RR (2 wins) $300,000
RR (1 win) $200,000
RR (no wins) $100,000
Doubles
Winner $375,000
Finalist $187,500
Semifinalists $93,750
Ten Players are Qualified for CBTC
As Sabine Lisicki lost to Timea Bacsinszky at the Luxembourg final , none of them acquired direct acceptance to Tournament of Champion in Bali. Bacsinszky only managed to reach 55 at the WTA ranking this week.
1. Vera Zvonareva (9, RUS)
2. Marion Bartoli (12, FRA)
3. Samantha Stosur (13, AUS)
4. Yanina Wickmayer (19, BEL)
5. Anabel Medina Garrigues (27, ESP)
6. María José Martínez Sánchez (31, ESP)
7. Shahar Peer (32, ISR),
8. Melinda Czink (39, HUN)
9. Agnes szavay (42, HUN)
10. Aravane Rezai (44, FRA)
-------------------------------------------------------
11. Magdalena Rybarikova (46, SVK)
12. Vera Dushevina (49, RUS)
Two players who have won at least one international tournament and ranked immediately below Rezai will be the alternates in CBTC and will automatically replace any of the above ten if the player is injured or ill. Let's see who will be nominated for wild cards at this event. I am hoping that Sabine Lisicki will be given one.
Should the tournament or WTA does not nominate any wild card players, Rybarikova and Dushevina will fill in the last two places and the players below them, Andrea Petkovic (54, GER) and Timea Bacsinszky (55, SUI) will be the alternates.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Vera Zvonareva (9, RUS)
2. Marion Bartoli (12, FRA)
3. Samantha Stosur (13, AUS)
4. Yanina Wickmayer (19, BEL)
5. Anabel Medina Garrigues (27, ESP)
6. María José Martínez Sánchez (31, ESP)
7. Shahar Peer (32, ISR),
8. Melinda Czink (39, HUN)
9. Agnes szavay (42, HUN)
10. Aravane Rezai (44, FRA)
-------------------------------------------------------
11. Magdalena Rybarikova (46, SVK)
12. Vera Dushevina (49, RUS)
Two players who have won at least one international tournament and ranked immediately below Rezai will be the alternates in CBTC and will automatically replace any of the above ten if the player is injured or ill. Let's see who will be nominated for wild cards at this event. I am hoping that Sabine Lisicki will be given one.
Should the tournament or WTA does not nominate any wild card players, Rybarikova and Dushevina will fill in the last two places and the players below them, Andrea Petkovic (54, GER) and Timea Bacsinszky (55, SUI) will be the alternates.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions (“CBTC”) will be held in Nusa Dua, Bali, from November 4 to 8, 2009 at the Bali International Convention Centre adjacent to The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali. CBTC will present 10 top tennis players who have won at least one International Tournament of Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) in 2009 and 2 wild cards. The winner of this event will receive USD 600.000 prize money.
Among the winners of 2009 International Tournaments, 10 highest ranked players who are not participating in the Sony Ericsson Championships in Doha this week are qualified for CBTC. They will be joined by 2 wild cards to be nominated by the tournament owner or WTA. The 12 participants will be divided into four groups of three players to compete in round-robin singles format. The winners of the groups will play in single elimination semifinals for the places in the final.
Official Website of the tournament: http://www.commbanktennis.com/
Thursday, October 22, 2009
The Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions
The biggest bonus in the history of any sports in Indonesia will be provided at the 2009 season-end tournament, The Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions (“CBTC”) to be held in Nusa Dua, Bali, from November 4 to 8, 2009 at the Bali International Convention Centre adjacent to The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali. CBTC will present 10 top tennis players who have won at least one International Tournament of Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) in 2009 and 2 wild cards. The winner of this event will receive USD 600.000 prize money. A bonus of USD 1 million will be added if the winner has won three of the total 30 International Tournaments in 2009.
Among the winners of 2009 International Tournaments, 10 highest ranked players who are not participating in the Sony Ericsson Championships in Doha are qualified for CBTC. They will be joined by 2 wild cards to be nominated by the tournament owner or WTA.
The 12 participants will be divided into four groups of three players to compete in round-robin singles format. The winners of the groups will play in single elimination semifinals for the places in the final.
Qualified Players
The following players are likely to be the participants of CBTC.
Jelena Jankovic (9, SRB) or Vera Zvonareva (7, RUS)
Marion Bartoli (11, FRA)
Samantha Stosur (13, AUS)
Yanina Wickmayer (20, BEL)
Anabel Medina Garrigues (26, ESP)
María José Martínez Sánchez (34, ESP)
Shahar Peer (38, ISR),
Melinda Czink (40, HUN)
Aravane Rezai (43, FRA)
Magdalena Rybarikova (45, SVK)
Agnes szavay (46, HUN).
Actually five of the Top 10 women players are qualified to play in Bali, but they are scheduled to play in Sony Ericsson Championships in Doha, Qatar, next week. Dinara Safina (2, RUS), Venus Williams (4, USA), Elena Dementieva (5, RUS), Caroline Wozniacki (6, DEN), and Victoria Azarenka (8, BLR) have won at least one International Tournament this year, but they are likely to play in Doha for a bigger prize money and an unofficial best of the bests title.
Officially WTA have announced Wickmayer and Medina Garrigues for the tickets to Bali. The upset of Bartoli in Osaka and Stosur win in Linz last week have given them two tickets to Bali as they are ranked above Wickmayer and Medina Garrigues. It means that there are six tickets available for the other winners of 2009 International Series tournaments.
Flavia Pennetta (12, ITA), who have won the Internazionali Femminili di Tennis di Palermo would not be playing in Bali as Italy will play USA in Fed Cup final in Italy. Any of Jankovic and Zvonareva who are now competing for the last ticket to Doha would not be in Bali.
Last Chance for Other Players
There are five women who have not won an International Tournament that have the last chance to join ‘The 10 Champions’ in Bali. They are Kim Clijsters (18, BEL), Daniela Hantuchova (23, SVK), Sabine Lisicki (28, GER), Alona Bondarenko (29, UKR), Carla Suarez Navarro (32, ESP), and Patty Schnyder (47, SUI) who are now competing at the BGL Luxembourg Open
. Clijsters, the winner of 2009 US Open and former world number one player, has a big chance to win in Luxembourg and grab the last ticket to Bali.
Bonus
There are four winners who have won two International Tournaments this year, namely Victoria Azarenka, Yanina Wickmayer, María José Martínez Sánchez, and Shahar Peer. Two of them, Wickmayer and Peer, keep their chances for taking home one million dollar bonus by cruising through the BGL Luxembourg Open. They need to win in Luxembourg and Bali. Not an easy task though.
Among the winners of 2009 International Tournaments, 10 highest ranked players who are not participating in the Sony Ericsson Championships in Doha are qualified for CBTC. They will be joined by 2 wild cards to be nominated by the tournament owner or WTA.
The 12 participants will be divided into four groups of three players to compete in round-robin singles format. The winners of the groups will play in single elimination semifinals for the places in the final.
Qualified Players
The following players are likely to be the participants of CBTC.
Jelena Jankovic (9, SRB) or Vera Zvonareva (7, RUS)
Marion Bartoli (11, FRA)
Samantha Stosur (13, AUS)
Yanina Wickmayer (20, BEL)
Anabel Medina Garrigues (26, ESP)
María José Martínez Sánchez (34, ESP)
Shahar Peer (38, ISR),
Melinda Czink (40, HUN)
Aravane Rezai (43, FRA)
Magdalena Rybarikova (45, SVK)
Agnes szavay (46, HUN).
Actually five of the Top 10 women players are qualified to play in Bali, but they are scheduled to play in Sony Ericsson Championships in Doha, Qatar, next week. Dinara Safina (2, RUS), Venus Williams (4, USA), Elena Dementieva (5, RUS), Caroline Wozniacki (6, DEN), and Victoria Azarenka (8, BLR) have won at least one International Tournament this year, but they are likely to play in Doha for a bigger prize money and an unofficial best of the bests title.
Officially WTA have announced Wickmayer and Medina Garrigues for the tickets to Bali. The upset of Bartoli in Osaka and Stosur win in Linz last week have given them two tickets to Bali as they are ranked above Wickmayer and Medina Garrigues. It means that there are six tickets available for the other winners of 2009 International Series tournaments.
Flavia Pennetta (12, ITA), who have won the Internazionali Femminili di Tennis di Palermo would not be playing in Bali as Italy will play USA in Fed Cup final in Italy. Any of Jankovic and Zvonareva who are now competing for the last ticket to Doha would not be in Bali.
Last Chance for Other Players
There are five women who have not won an International Tournament that have the last chance to join ‘The 10 Champions’ in Bali. They are Kim Clijsters (18, BEL), Daniela Hantuchova (23, SVK), Sabine Lisicki (28, GER), Alona Bondarenko (29, UKR), Carla Suarez Navarro (32, ESP), and Patty Schnyder (47, SUI) who are now competing at the BGL Luxembourg Open
. Clijsters, the winner of 2009 US Open and former world number one player, has a big chance to win in Luxembourg and grab the last ticket to Bali.Bonus
There are four winners who have won two International Tournaments this year, namely Victoria Azarenka, Yanina Wickmayer, María José Martínez Sánchez, and Shahar Peer. Two of them, Wickmayer and Peer, keep their chances for taking home one million dollar bonus by cruising through the BGL Luxembourg Open. They need to win in Luxembourg and Bali. Not an easy task though.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Menyiasati Perjalanan di Jakarta
Setiap hari Jakarta lelah menampung sekitar 15 juta orang yang mondar-mandir beraktivitas. Ada yang ke kantor, ke sekolah, berjualan, berbelanja, berjalan-jalan, atau berkunjung ke berbagai tempat hiburan. Tingkat pergerakan manusia yang tinggi di Jakarta membutuhkan moda transportasi dalam jumlah yang besar. Angkutan umum yang tidak memadai dan keengganan berdesak-desakan dengan orang lain menyebabkan sebagian masyarakat Jakarta dan daerah sekitarnya memilih kendaraan pribadi untuk menunjang mobilitas mereka. Walaupun jumlah pemakai kendaraan roda dua meningkat pesat seiring melonjaknya harga bahan bakar, pemakai mobil mewah dan beraneka jenis city car tetap saja banyak. Demi kemudahan, kenyamanan, dan keamanan, kilah para pengguna kendaraan pribadi. Kita masih harus menunggu realisasi rencana Pemerintah untuk membangun moda transportasi masal seperti kereta cepat MRT (mass rapid train). 
Dengan jumlah kendaraan pribadi yang jauh melebihi angkutan umum, jalan-jalan di Jakarta seakan tak sanggup lagi menampung seluruh kendaraan yang tumpah ruah sejak pagi hingga malam hari. Kemacetan sudah dianggap lumrah oleh sebagian besar penduduk Jakarta. Bahkan, apabila tidak terpaksa melaluinya, beberapa ruas jalan berusaha dihindari oleh para pengendara. Sebut saja Jl. Raya Pasar Minggu, Jl. Warung Jati, Jl. Warung Buncit, dan Jl. Mampang Prapatan sebagai contoh. Melewati jalan-jalan ini menuju pusat kota antara pukul 7 hingga pukul 10 pagi akan terasa sebagai suatu siksaan. Tidak hanya bagi pengguna kendaraan pribadi dan angkutan kota yang berebut jalan dengan para pengendara motor yang menyemut di tepi mobil hingga menyentuh kaca spion, siksaan itu juga dialami para pengguna bus Transjakarta koridor Ragunan-Dukuh Atas. Walaupun ratusan calon penumpang dengan tertib mengantri masuk ke dalam bus Transjakarta di Halte Ragunan, calon penumpang yang siap menyesaki bus dengan lajur khusus berlabel 'busway' ini telah menanti di setiap halte di sepanjang jalur yang akan dilewati. Alih-alih menikmati udara sejuk dari mesin pendingin udara buatan Jepang di dalam bus, penumpang justru akan tersiksa dengan panas hawa tubuh berbagai macam penumpang yang ada dalam bus Transjakarta. Belum lagi parfum menyengat dari gadis-gadis pramusapa yang akan sangat menyiksa penumpang yang alergi terhadap bau-bauan yang tajam.
Untuk menghindari siksaan ini, sebaiknya Anda mengatur kembali siklus aktivitas hidup Anda sehari-hari. Untuk Anda yang tinggal di wilayah selatan Jakarta, usahakan untuk tidur cukup dan bangun pada pukul 4 pagi. Yang tinggal tidak jauh dari jalur ini boleh bangun pukul 5 pagi. Jika Anda melalui jalan ini pada pukul 5.30, saya yakin perjalanan Anda akan terasa lebih menyenangkan, bahkan dengan menggunakan bus Metromini atau Kopaja sekalipun. Untuk kembali ke rumah setelah selesai bekerja, sebaiknya Anda tidak langsung pulang pada jam 5 sore hingga jam 7 malam. Kepadatan lalu lintas di jalur ini akan sungguh menyesakkan dada, menaikkan tekanan darah, dan menambah jumlah polutan yang terpapar pada tubuh Anda. Anda tentu ingin menikmati perjalanan dan hari-hari Anda tanpa ketidaknyamanan seperti itu. Sebaiknya Anda meluangkan waktu sejenak di kantor untuk menyiapkan pekerjaan esok harinya, mampir di beberapa pusat perbelanjaan untuk meregangkan urat syaraf, atau berkumpul dengan teman-teman di kafe terdekat sekadar menghilangkan rasa lapar atau mungkin untuk bertukar informasi. Setelah itu, Anda dapat pulang dengan perasaan yang lega dan menikmati perjalanan yang tidak terlalu menyiksa dibandingkan dengan perjalanan pulang di sore hari. Walaupun kepadatan di beberapa jalur di Jakarta mungkin saja terjadi hingga pukul 9-10 malam, biasanya kepadatan itu tidak terlalu menghambat perjalanan Anda menuju rumah. Anda tetap bisa pulang ke rumah dengan perasaan tenang dan wajah tersenyum.
Jangan habiskan hidup Anda di jalan raya Jakarta yang sangat menyiksa! Hidup ini indah dan harus dinikmati dengan bijaksana.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
