2013/05/24

Kirilenko and Petrova Claim Final Doubles Spot At TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships

ST. PETERSBURG, FL, USA (October 20, 2012) – The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) announced on Saturday that Russians Maria Kirilenko and Nadia Petrova have claimed the final doubles place at the TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships, which will be staged at the Sinan Erdem Arena in Istanbul, Turkey. This final qualification rounds out an exceptional player field for the WTA’s year-end finale, to be held from October 23-28 and featuring the world’s top eight singles players and top four doubles teams, competing for the coveted title and a share of $4.9 million in prize money.

 

Earlier today in the semifinal at the Kremlin Cup (Moscow), Kirilenko and Petrova defeated the American team of Raquel Kops-Jones and Abigail Spears to secure the last doubles place. The Russian duo will join the Italian team of Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci, the Czech team of Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka and the defending champions, Americans Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond to complete the doubles draw.

 

“Congratulations to Maria and Nadia on qualifying for the TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships,” said Stacey Allaster, WTA Chairman and CEO. “These two have had an amazing 2012, winning the title in Miami, reaching the Roland Garros final and earning the bronze medal at the Olympics in London. We are excited for them to join the field in Istanbul.”

 

“It’s an unbelievable feeling to qualify for Istanbul by winning this important match at the Kremlin Cup,” said Kirilenko. “Nadia has been to the Championships before and even won the doubles title, but for me it will be the first time and I’m really looking forward to the experience. We’ve passed through a lot of situations this year to achieve this goal, and felt a lot of different emotions. Now we feel very strong.”

 

“I think the Championships add excitement for the players – motivation to win tournaments and reach the highest ranking, for a chance to play this event,” said Petrova. “I think it’s great for the public as well to see the biggest stars and those that have accomplished the most through the year. Last year I saw some of the matches on TV and was impressed by the size of the crowds, so I’m looking forward to that. I’ve been to Istanbul before for a smaller tournament and I was fascinated by the city. Ever since then I’ve been very eager to go back!”

 

The Russian duo teamed up on a regular basis in 2012 winning their biggest title to date at the Sony Open Tennis (Miami). In addition, they reached the finals at Roland Garros, the UNICEF Open (‘s-Hertogenbosch) and will be competing in their fourth doubles final of the year in Moscow on Sunday. They also captured bronze medal at the Olympics. Throughout their career Kirilenko and Petrova have played periodically together as far back as 2008, winning their first two events they played together: the 2008 Western & Southern Open (Cincinnati) and 2009 Kremlin Cup (Moscow).

 

With 31 career doubles titles between them (Petrova with 20, Kirilenko with 11), both are also successful singles players, with Petrova winning 12 titles and reaching a high of No.3 in the world, and Kirilenko collecting 5 titles and a career-high of No.12. Petrova is making her fifth appearance at the Championships, having previously competed in singles three times and doubles once, while Kirilenko is making her debut at the event.

 

The doubles event features 4 teams in a single elimination draw, which will be held at Sinan Erdem Arena on Thursday, October 25, with top-seed being Errani/Vinci and No.2 seed being Hlavackova/Hradecka.

 

This year’s singles field includes five Grand Slam champions and the eight qualifiers have won 21 of the 26 biggest events of the year including the Grand Slams, Olympics and WTA Premier-level events (listed in order of seeds): Victoria Azarenka (Belarus), Maria Sharapova (Russia), Serena Williams (United States), Agnieszka Radwanska (Poland), Angelique Kerber (Germany), Petra Kvitova (Czech Republic), Errani (Italy) and Li Na (China). Additionally, Samantha Stosur (Australia) and Marion Bartoli (France) will be the first and second alternates, respectively.

 

The singles draw ceremony will be held on Sunday, October 21, at the Ciragan Palace Kempinski. The players will be selected into two groups – Red and White – with round robin matches to begin on Tuesday, October 23.

 

“The Turkish Tennis Federation is very proud to once again host the world’s best tennis players in Istanbul for the TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships” said Ayda Uluc, President of the Turkish Tennis Federation. “We would like to thank our partners in this event, the Ministry of Youth and Sport and TEB BNP Paribas, for their valuable support. We are looking forward to a week of thrilling tennis from these exceptional players.”

 

“We will once again welcome the world’s best tennis players to the TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships – Istanbul, which was brought to our country by the Ministry of Youth and Sport and the Turkish Tennis Federation,” said Varol Civil, TEB CEO. “We are proud to support this great event as its ‘title sponsor’. It is truly exciting to count down to the Championships where the best women’s tennis players will showcase their talents to millions of people. Reaching a record number of 34 million people last year, our country will once again be on the top of the global agenda through the exciting tennis at the TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships – Istanbul.”

 

Tickets for the 2012 TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships–Istanbul, as well as info about the event, are available for purchase through Biletix – either online at www.biletix.com or at Biletix ticket counters in Turkey.

 

Follow all the latest news about the TEB BNP Paribas WTA Championships-Istanbul on www.wtachampionships.com, www.facebook.com/WTA, and www.twitter.com/WTA using #WTAChamps.

 

 

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Notes from Behind the Wall at the China Open – October 2, 2012

By Abigail Hinto

Jelena Jankovic

BEIJING, China - Jelena Jankovic’s smile will remain on her face as she easily defeated Monica Niculescu and her unusual game 6-2 6-1 in her second round match at the China Open on Tuesday in Beijing. Jankovic has plenty of fans in Beijing and they weren’t shy about showing their support and giving her encouragement. We haven’t been seeing much of Jankovic’s famous personality and smile as her form has dipped and her ranking has plummeted, so it was a welcome sight to see her smile even before the first point of the match was played. Walking to the baseline to start the match to serve, Jankovic’s effusive Chinese fans were already cheering her on which elicited a smile that hasn’t been there for quite some time now.

 

Jankovic’s beautiful down the line shots are still there, but the consistency off them which saw her reach the no. 1 ranking is the one that’s gone missing. And with every missed shot was an on-the-ready expression of frustration. In the end, the consistency and the smile finally wins out over the missed shots and the glares to her coach team.

 

 

Li Na

I’ve never seen a player applauded for winning a round, but that’s what Li Na received as she came in to her post-match news conference following her 6-1 6-2 win over Nadia Petrova in her 2nd round match at the China Open. Maybe it has to do with her finally breaking her 6-match losing streak against Petrova.

 

For Li Na, that’s the charm in playing tennis. “Every day you can challenge yourself. You are defeated consecutively, but it doesn’t mean you were defeated by her all the time. This is sport. You never know what’s gonna happen.”

 

 

Even more rare is a player applauding a reporter. And that’s what Li Na did after being asked this question:

 

Q. Another question is we noticed when you are in rush a little bit or when you are a little bit impatient you like to say something to your coach, and Carlos has said that you have to calm down. He give you a gesture to make you calm down. In that case, you have a very important role in balancing the relations between you and Carlos?

Li Na claps and then replies “You are absolutely correct. I think before Carlos jump in, I didn’t have any intent to share with my team. But I’m not sure ‑‑ how did you spot the detail that when I start to be impatient Carlos told me to calm down?

I have to share this information to Carlos. I think he will definitely share the same thing with me.”

 

Caroline Wozniacki

Tale of a set:

 

A set that was all on Su-Wei Hsieh‘s racquet, from starting with a double fault and getting broken in the first service game, to ending with a down the line backhand winner to take the first set in her second round match against Caroline Wozniacki 7-6 (7-5).

 

Hsieh came back to win the set from being down a break twice and down two minibreaks in the tiebreak as well. Wozniacki couldn’t take advantage of all the leads given to her. Serving at 5-4 in the tiebreak with a mini break, her second serve was too short which gave Hsieh an opportunity to go for a return winner which she did. Two more winners later and it was first set to Hsieh.

 

A female Fabrice Santoro? Wozniacki was constantly kept guessing at what shot Hsieh would go for next. Put away a short ball deep with a drive down the line shot? Or a cleverly disguised forehand dropper? How about a sliced forehand approach shot? Either Hsieh was making errors or hitting winners and Wozniacki was left reacting and defending. In the end, the winners started clicking again, and Hsieh came away with a set.

Wozniacki completed the win 6-7(5), 7-6(3), 6-0.

Abigail Hinto is in Beijing this week covering the China Open for Tennis Panorama News. Follow her updates on twitter @TennisNewsTPN.

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Petrova Defeats Radwanska to Earn Tokyo Title

 

 

Nadia Petrova captured her 12th career WTA title on Saturday by winning the final of the Toray Pan Pacific Open over defending champion No. 3 Agniezska Radwanska in Tokyo.

“After running out of gas in the second set, I don’t know where I found the strength and willpower to fight in the third set, but I did and it feels amazing,” Petrova said. This is the biggest tournament I’ve ever won. It’s a great accomplishment. And at the beginning of the tournament I definitely didn’t expect to win the title, because of the back injury I’ve been struggling with. I’m so happy to be here right now.

“There are a few players who have won Grand Slams after 30, and I feel like I don’t want to walk away from tennis without accomplishing the same. I still find the will to wake up every morning and go on the court and try to improve with each day. If it’s meant to happen it will, but if it doesn’t, at the end of my career I’ll know I’ve done everything I could.”
Petrova knocked out three top ten players during the week -Radwanska, No. 7 Sara Errani and No. 9 Sam Stosur.

“I’m disappointed, ” Radwanska said. “I wanted to win this title so much, and when you’re so close and feel you can make it, it’s always emotional if you don’t. But she was playing really well. Her biggest weapon is her serve, for sure, but also her return was very good today, and I had to serve really well myself to hold my serve. But overall I think those two shots were working really well for her today.”

Petrova, currently ranked at 18 in the world, is expected to move up to No. 14 when the rankings come out on Monday.


TORAY PAN PACIFIC OPEN
Tokyo, Japan
September 23-29, 2012
$2,168,400/Premier
Hard/Outdoors

Singles – Final
(17) Nadia Petrova (RUS) d. (3) Agnieszka Radwanska (POL) 60 16 63

Doubles – Final
Kops-Jones/Spears (USA/USA) d. (4) Groenefeld/Peschke (GER/CZE) 61 64

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Sharapova Back in the Quarterfinals at US Open

FLUSHING MEADOWS, NY – For the first time since 2006, when she won the US Open title, No. 3 Maria Sharapova has made the quarterfinals by defeating Nadia Petrova 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 in a match interrupted by rain on Sunday night.

With Petrova up 2-0 in the third set the rains came and delayed the match for 75 minutes. It also caused a momentum shift. Sharapova pumped herself up with fist pumps and shouts of “C’mon!”

Sharapova said that during the rain delay her coach told her to get her act together.

In an on-court interview after the match Sharapova said, “I’m so glad to be back in the quarters.  “It’s been so many years.”

Sharapova will meet Marion Bartoli for a spot in the semifinals. The Russian had only dropped seven games through the first three rounds.

http://youtu.be/rCoxbNgipPM

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Sharapova wins easily, Admits Break-up with Vujacic

FLUSHING MEADOWS, NY – No. 3 seed Maria Sharapova who is looking to capture her second US Open title, advanced to the fourth round with an easy 6-1, 6-1 win over NCAA runner-up Mallory Burdette.

The match lasted only 58 minutes.

During her post-match news conference she confirmed the rumors that her engagement to former Los Angeles Lakers player Sasha Vujacic is no more. They were originally supposed to be married in November in Turkey.

Sharapova said that the engagement had ended in the spring. “I was waiting for someone to actually ask me that question, but nobody did directly,” said Sharapova.

“I have never really been the person to announce things,” she said. “I never announced when we were together or never announced that we were engaged. I never have in any of my previous relationships, as well.

“It’s not really the type of person that I am or the way I like to go about things. I’m not an announcer, you know. I don’t go and do interviews about it or photo ops.”

“It was obviously a challenging decision, you know, from both of our ends.  Yeah, it was a really nice period of time for both of us, but, you know, our career schedules just made it extremely difficult to see each other with the traveling, and especially his career move to Turkey.  You know, the playing there was a little bit different in terms of he wasn’t able to travel much.  He wasn’t home one time during the ten months that he was in Turkey, so that made it extremely difficult.  Yeah, but we have a tremendous amount of respect for each other.  Still would love to call him as a friend.  Yeah, we spent really great years together.

Sharapova will play Russian countrywoman Nadia Petrova in the round of 16.

“I’ve had some tough matches against her” Sharpaova said.  “Although I have a good record, they have always been really tough and have gone to some three-setters.”

“She has a big game, great serve, a difficult opponent, but I’m looking forward to that challenge.”

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An Olympic View from Court 1, Third Round

By Ros Satar

WIMBLEDON – It’s not quite the AELTC, is it?

It’s all very familiar but very different.

Where once was the comfortably subtle dark green and purple livery adorning the iconic front of Centre Court, there are angular and lively 2012 shapes and colors.

The Olympic tennis is being hosted at the All England Club, where just three and a half weeks ago, tennis fans saw an emotional Andy Murray let down his guard after Roger Federer won a record-equaling seventh title.

There are some things that are reassuringly the same.  The stoic sighs of the fans on Court 1 who take their seats in the rain.  The queues for food and drink (and yes you CAN get the SW19 drink of choice, but due to sponsorship and licensing, it cannot be referred to by a trade name)!

 

Roger Federer (Switzerland) def Denis Istomin (Uzbekistan) 7-5, 6-3

On Court 1, as the rain was spitting down, the players were brought out, including a reluctant looking Roger Federer, who was facing Denis Istomin, in the third round.

No sooner than they had sat down, the rain came down heavier, so off they went.

Play got underway around 45 minutes later, and although both players seemed to need time to find their range, Federer was soon away with a break, but did not have it all his own way, as Istomin clawed his way back, before another rain delay came.

As the resumption, Federer got the late break he wanted, taking the first set.  The second set started in much the same way, with Federer breaking Istomin in his first game.

This time there was no clawing back, although Istomin had played very well, and at times Federer had not looked as convincing as he did in the opening rounds of The Championships a few weeks ago.

 

Victoria Azarenka (Belarus) def Nadia Petrova (Russia) 7-6(6), 6-4

As the sun shone down, finally, on Court 1, these ladies slugged away at each other from the baseline.

Neither were giving ground, although every now and again Petrova would throw out a hefty kick serve which left Azarenka all at sea.

Petrova had the edge on Azarenka in the first set tiebreak, and it was only after saving the first set point against her that Azarenka suddenly stepped up a gear, fighting back and eventually winning the tiebreak.

Although Azarenka started the second set with the momentum with her, she was broken before the first change of ends, although Petrova made heavy work of consolidating the break.

Azarenka got the better of Petrova with a single break, and although Petrova challenged on match point, it was to no avail.

 

Maria Sharapova (Russia) def Sabine Lisicki (Germany) 6-7(8), 6-4, 6-3

It was almost a month ago to the day that Sabine Lisicki put paid to Maria Sharapova’s run to a consecutive Wimbledon final.

And it was like nothing had changed.

Neither was giving any leeway until the eighth game, when Lisicki stepped up her play and broke Sharapova.

However, a costly double fault sent her on the way to being broken straight back, to love.

The first set went to a see-saw tie break with Lisicki being let back in to the tiebreak that saw Sharapova edged out for the first set.

A single break margin saw Sharapova level the match and take things into a decider.

The third set started with two breaks of serve until things proceeded with serve as the clouds rolled in over the setting sun, and the light was fading.

Sharapova had the all-important break to lead 5-3 and serve out for the match.

David Ferrer and Kei Nishikori had been scheduled to finish up the day’s action but had been moved to Court 14, and then moved again to Centre Court to finish the action.

All in all, there are enough things familiar and heaven knows it was nice to spend some time in the sun, after such a rain-soaked Wimbledon.

But the volunteers sometimes enthusiastically let people in at non-change of ends pauses in matches, the ball boys and girls are maybe not as strictly drilled, and the numbers lines judges also seem to be pared down.

But for the most part the fans are reveling in a couple of weeks of extra tennis at SW19 and turn a bit of a blind eye to the different colors.

Ros Satar is a British Journalist- an IT Journalist by day, a Sports journalist part-time and her match observations can be found at the Chalkdust Chronicles (chalkdustchronicles.blogspot.com). Follow her on twitter at @rfsatar.

 

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Jelena Jankovic and Nadia Petrova Join Stanford Field

STANFORD, CA (www.BankOfTheWestClassic.com) – The player field at this year’s Bank of the West Classic now has former top-10 players Jelena Jankovic and Nadia Petrova entered into the premier WTA event.
Former world No.1 Jankovic will be making her second appearance at the Bank of the West Classic where she looks to build on her impressive 12 career WTA singles titles.
In addition, 29 -year-old, Nadia Petrova will also join the player field at this year’s Bank of the West Classic.
The addition of Jankovic and Petrova adds to the Bank of the West Classic’s field, which will include 13-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams and 2009 Bank of the West Classic Champion Marion Bartoli.
Current world No. 5, Williams will return to the Bay Area to defend her 2011 Bank of the West Classic title.
Bartoli will also return to this year’s tournament for the fifth consecutive year as she looks to avenge her 2011 finals loss to Williams.
Guests at this year’s tournament will also have the exciting opportunity to see tennis legends Pete Sampras, Jim Courier and Michael Chang as they participate in a series of exhibition matches, July 11-13.
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Djokovic, Sharapova Through, Stosur, Fish Upset at Indian Wells

 

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic tamed the big serve of South African Kevin Anderson 6-2, 6-3 to move into the round of 16 at the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on Monday. World No. 1 Djokovic  is now  12-1 for the year.

Djokovic said that the match was closer than the score indicated: “It was, especially in the start.  We had a couple of long games, especially the one at 2‑All.  You know, I expected that, in a way, because I have played him.  Last two times I have played him a won straight sets, but, again, the opening set, especially opening five games, took half an hour or more.

“So he’s very aggressive on the return games.  He has a great serve, as you can imagine for his height.  So I had to return well, I had to just be patient, and wait for my chances.

“I haven’t served well in the opening set, but then it all came down to, you know, his service games.  I think I served well and put a lot of pressure on him and returned really, really good.

“So I’m really happy with this win today, you know.  It wasn’t easy to expect to win.”

 

Maria Sharapova took out Simona Halep 6-3 6-4. The Russian was tested in the second set as Halep came back from 2 breaks down at 1-5 to make it 4-5 but could not extend the match any longer. Sharapova noted: “started slow in the match and got myself going.  I thought I played extremely well the first four or five games of that set.  Almost too good, in a way, where I felt like I was going for a lot and making a lot of shots.  Then felt like I almost started going for a little bit too much.

“Yeah, instead of being patient, maybe, you know, putting a few more balls back, I just hit a few errors that I shouldn’t have made.  Yeah, then all of a sudden your opponent gains confidence because they have nothing to lose.  Kind of in a bad situation.

“Yeah, I got it together in the end.”

 

Russia’s Nadia Petrova gained some revenge on sixth seeded Sam Stosur by taking her out 6-1,6-7(6), 7-6(5). Stosur stopped Petrova in a three set marathon match on the way to the 2011 US Open title.

“After that loss in New York it’s been hard, “ Petrova said. “I was very pumped coming out today.  I wanted to turn everything around.  I wanted to win and walk off the court with a W.

“I don’t really think I played unbelievable in the first set.  My composure was perfect.  I took the time.  No errors.  I must say Sam didn’t play her best.  She was framing balls.  She was not really putting a lot of first serves.

“So that actually helped me to get the lead in the match, and then she picked up her game in the middle of the second set.  That’s when she started to play Sam’s game.”

 

American Mardy Fish was the upset of the day on the men’s side, taken out by Matthew Ebden of Australian 6-3, 6-4. Fish was called for violating the hindrance rule at 4-4 in the second set when he yelled “Come on,” when he thought he had hit a winning shot before Ebden could get to the ball.

Fish told media:”I feel like the rule is off in a sense that, okay, if he makes that shot, I’m totally fine with giving him the point because, you know, I was ‑‑ I spoke too soon, for sure.

“But I feel like maybe we should play a let on that just because and I won’t you know, not even take the point.  There’s just no way that you could say that that shot was going to go in had I not said anything if you’re 100% certain on that.

“I made a mistake, and I would have been totally fine with playing a let on it.  But to give, you know  I mean, that’s a pretty big spot there, you know.  You’re one point away from basically losing the match and going  I was one point away from holding.

“I mean, that didn’t really have  I don’t think it had an effect on him making or missing the shot.  But I feel like maybe a let there, unless he hits the shot in.  Then that’s different.”

 

Two more victims of the “IW virus,” Francesca Schiavone the 10th seed retired from her match after losing the first set to Lucie Safarova and Petra Kvitova who lost on Sunday in singles withdrew from doubles.

Other seeded winners on Monday were: No. 4 Caroline Wozniacki who had to rally from a set and 4-5 down, No. 7 Marion Bartoli, No. 15 Ana Ivanovic, No. 20 Maria Kirilenko, No. 21 Roberta Vinci, No. 7 Andy Roddick who stopped No. 30 Andy Roddick in three sets, No. 11 John Isner,  No. 12 Nicolas Almagro and No. 13 Giles Simon.

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Notes and Quotes from the BNP Paribas Open

BNP Paribas Open Notes and Quotes for Monday, March 12,2012

 

Novak Djokovic

Birthday wish for Djokovic

Q.  You have a big birthday coming up this spring.  Have you given any thought to what you’d like for your 25th?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC:  French Open title (smiling.)  Just coming around there, at that time.

 

Sweet revenge for Petrova

Russia’s Nadia Petrova avenged a tough marathon  three-set US Open loss last year to Sam Stosur at the US Open by topping the sixth seed at Indian Wells 6-1, 6-7 (6), 7-6 (5).

Q.  Players don’t usually like to talk about revenge, but that must be a nice victory after the US Open?

NADIA PETROVA:  It sure feels good.

Yeah, after that loss in New York it’s been hard.  I was very pumped coming out today.  I wanted to turn everything around.  I wanted to win and walk off the court with a W.

 

Fish thinks the hindrance call stinks

Mardy Fish was called for violating the hindrance rule while serving at 4-4 in the second set  when he yelled “Come on,”  after he thought he had hit a winning shot before his opponent Matt Edben could get to the ball.

Q.  Back in the days of Connors and McEnroe, the game was pretty much a circus and a lot of rules were put in.  Now we have a situation where a player cracks a racquet, doesn’t hurt anybody or Andy pops one up in the stands in Cincy or the Serena situation with Stosur and today.  Do you think sometimes the rules of the game are too restrictive?

MARDY FISH:  I just feel like maybe just speaking on today, it’s sort of I feel like if he, maybe if he first off, it was totally my fault.  I mean, first of all, just for him to get that ball, he’s one of the fastest guys out there, for sure.  I thought I hit a winner and I thought it was going to bounce four times.  For him to get that on one bounce was an amazing get.

I feel like the rule is off in a sense that, okay, if he makes that shot, I’m totally fine with giving him the point because, you know, I was  I spoke too soon, for sure.

But I feel like maybe we should play a let on that just because  and I won’t  you know, not even take the point.  There’s just no way that you could say that that shot was going to go in had I not said anything if you’re 100% certain on that.

I made a mistake, and I would have been totally fine with playing a let on it.  But to give, you know  I mean, that’s a pretty big spot there, you know.  You’re one point away from basically losing the match and going  I was one point away from holding.

I mean, that didn’t really have I don’t think it had an effect on him making or missing the shot.  But I feel like maybe a let there, unless he hits the shot in.  Then that’s different.

I don’t know.  You tell me.  I mean, I’ve never done that before on tour in my life.  I was just trying to fire myself up, to be honest with you.

Q.  Do you think there is any kind of irony there is the hindrance call when people call out, Come on and so forth, but the shrieks and grunting in the game from some of the other players are incredibly loud and can’t really tell…

MARDY FISH:  Fortunately we don’t have that too much on our tour.  We don’t have to worry about it too much.

No, I certainly was in the wrong, but it was an honest mistake.  I mean, it was just  I thought I hit a good shot, and it wasn’t good enough, I guess.

Q.  Does the chair umpire have the rules flexibility to say…

MARDY FISH:  He does.  I think he does.

Q.  That’s not my reading of it.  It’s different with the slams and the ATP.

Q.  There’s not too much leeway in there.

MARDY FISH:  Yeah.  Okay.  Well, he has a right to say whether he thought I hindered though, correct?

Q.  Basically my reading of it says that if you intended to say come on, then that’s a point penalty.  It’s not that flexible.

MARDY FISH:  Okay.  Well, he made it seem like it was the other way, that he was 100% sure that I had an effect on the shot.  So that’s fine.

I think the rule is a little off, but it was my mistake.

 

 

IW Virus talk

Add Former French Open winner Francesca Schiavone and reigning Wimbledon champ Petra Kvitova to the growing list of players forced to withdraw from Indian Wells with a stomach virus. The unofficial count of players taken out by the virus -10.

Q.  How much chatter is there about this virus sweeping the area in the locker room?

MARIA SHARAPOVA:  A little bit, definitely.  There has been a few e‑mails going around and just being extra careful.

But it’s pretty tough, I mean, considering you can’t really escape it too much.  I mean, you guys know it’s not like I spend too much time at the courts anyways, so I think it just gives me an excuse to leave even sooner.  (Laughing.)

Q.  Are you taking precautions of any kind?

MARIA SHARAPOVA:  Yeah.  I mean, if Amy tells me I have a few extra interviews, I’ll be like, Nah, you know that virus.  Might not make it.  (Laughing.)

Q.  Have you ever seen so many players go down from a single virus?

MARIA SHARAPOVA:  Yeah, it’s not good.  I have had it before a few years ago and it’s not pretty.  It’s a great diet, but other than that it’s horrible, especially for an athlete.

 

 

 

Q.  About nine players now have withdrawn from the tournament due to illness.  Is that something you’re aware of and worried about?

NADIA PETROVA:  Definitely washing my hands as much as possible.  I think I’m going to have a sanitizer in my racquet bag.  I’m trying to eat outside of site, so trying to take as many precautions as possible.

Q.  Is this something a lot of players have been talking about?

NADIA PETROVA:  Yes, and I have also seen something on the news yesterday that there is some kind of a virus going on here in the desert area.  Gotta be careful.

Q.  You’re obviously aware that there has been a bad virus going around here in the last few days.  I just got the sense you were maybe struggling a bit out there today.  Anything to do with you feeling not 100%.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC:  I’m happy to say nothing is going on yet.  I’m not gonna invite any bad luck with that.  (Smiling.)

I’m taking care of  yeah, I’m okay.  Taking care of it.

From one former No. 1 to another

Q.  You could play Caroline Wozniacki, who was just No. 1, and you are a former No. 1.  Do you have any advice to give to someone else who used to be No. 1 and isn’t for a while and how to deal with that?

ANA IVANOVIC:  Um, yeah.  Maybe they can give me advice.  (Laughter.)

Maybe I’m not the right person to ask that question.  Yeah, you know, I don’t know.  It’s one way, you know, when you start and you have goals and you want to reach No. 1 position.

And then once you get there, it’s like, Oh, my God, this is amazing.  I think it’s very important to reset your goals and reset, you know, what’s next.

Because, you know, you’re chasing and chasing, and all of a sudden you have bulls eye on your back and everyone wants to get you.  I think it’s hard.

Like I say, it’s harder to stay there than to get there.

 

Ana’s book club…

Q.  What are you reading?

ANA IVANOVIC:  At the moment I’m actually reading  actually, if I would remember the name it would be good.  Fidel (phonetic) ?  Is that how you call it?

Q.  Fidel?

ANA IVANOVIC:  It’s this book about this woman who grew up in Africa, actually, and then emigrated.  It’s quite  I just started.

Q.  It’s a novel?

ANA IVANOVIC:  Yeah.  It’s actually true story.  I can’t think of name, and I just started the book.

(Actual book is titled  Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali)

 

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On the Green Carpet – Photos from the BNP Paribas Open Players’ Party

 

INDIAN WELLS, California (March 8, 2012) – The BNP Paribas Open held their players’ party at the IW club on Thursday night. Driving up to the “Green Carpet” in classic cars included the likes of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Victoria Azarenka, Petra Kvitova, Andy Murray, Ana Ivanovic, Jo-Wilfred Tsonga, John Isner, Agnieszka Radwanska, Jelena Jankovic, David Ferrer, Feliciano Lopez and a host of others.

Photos by Curt Janka and Jennifer Knapp.  Follow Tennis Panorama News’ BNP Paribas Open coverage here an on our twitter @TennisNewsTPN.

 

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