Alexandra Fusai News

Alexandra Fusai 2001 News
Tuesday 2/6/01
Not surprisingly, after much very AMAZING stuff Down Under, Alexandra apparently headed home to La Belle France for a few days with friends+fam, and a slot in the Gaz de France (Paris Open) qualifying.
First round Quals found Alexandra vs. Bianka Lamade. This was a match-up that Alexandra has seen before, unfortunately without a lot of success.
Well, Lamade d. Fusai: 6-1, 6-4. Oh well.....
It seems that Alexandra passed on doubles at the Gaz, perhaps to have some more FUN (and some rest?) there at home, and perhaps thinking of doing Doha qualifying later this week.
Although I readily concede (often!) that I am entirely ignorant of many, many things, I truly surprise myself in having to admit that I have no idea where Doha is. Eastern Europe, maybe?
This year, I am (so-called) living in South Carolina, USA - there may be a town called Doha within 50 miles of where I sit tonight, but I doubt it is the Doha where Alexandra may well be later this week.
Anyway, after Doha, it looks like Alexandra then goes to Dubai, then Acapulco (yeah, I know where those places are).
SO: Alexandra: TAKE CARE in Doha, Dubai, and Acapulco. And HAVE FUN (at least with your tennis - fun in Doha and Dubai may be tough - too much fun in Acapulco may be something to tend away from). And WIN some more matches, ok?!
You've got a very good start to make 2001 your best year so far! Wouldn't it be FUN to do that!
(By the way: tonight I am finally posting AF History 2000 which documents yet another AMAZING year of tennis for Alexandra - it is the 2000 AF News re-ordered chronologically (with some slight edits)).
Wednesday 2/14/01
Happy Valentine's Day, Alexandra! Will you be my Valentine?
Anyway... Alexandra is in Doha, Qatar, Asia, this week - and has 1 win already! (And a loss...)
In 1st round qualifying, Alexandra got a nice win over Kim Grant: 6-1, 6-1. YEA! However, in 2nd round, it was Bahia Mouhtassine who got the win over Alexandra: 6-0, 6-2. Oh well....
So now it is strictly a doubles tournament for Alexandra, but it could be a very good one!
Alexandra is teaming, again, with Rita Grande - Fusai/Grande are a great team!
Seeded #1, Fusai/Grande face unseeded Sandrine Testud/Roberta Vinci in 1st round.
Win, FG, WIN!
And HAVE FUN!
Friday 2/16/01
Well, Alexandra and Rita gave the crowd one heck of a show, but it was Testud/Vinci d. Fusai/Grande, 7-6(7-4), 7-6(7-2) in 1st round at Doha. Oh well....
The upside of this is that Alexandra can now do Dubai qualifying, no problem, if she wants to.
There are weeks, and then there are weeks. (Talk about obvious!) A week is a week, independent, unique, unconnected to any week previous or following. That is a week.
The measure of a week is this: was it FUN?
Alexandra: my request to you is this: be good, do good, take care, and HAVE FUN!
Thursday 2/22/01
Alexandra has been doing some good things in Dubai lately!
First, there was Singles Qualifying. Alexandra, unseeded, drew the #2 seed, Barbara Rittner, for 1st round. Trouble? Not for Alexandra! And the crowd got to see another FANTASTIC Alexandra show!
Alexandra Fusai d. Barbara Rittner in 1st round Dubai Singles Qualifying: 7-6(8-6), 6-4. YEA!
In 2nd round, it was Alexandra vs. Alicia Molik. Molik has demonstrated some excellent play in the past, and apparently did so again, 'cause it was AM d. AF: 6-4, 6-3. Oh well....
SO: a good (but not great) Singles run for Alexandra in Dubai. Not bad: GOOD!
"Rumor" has it that Fusai/Grande are a team, whenever possible, at least through the French Open (Roland Garros). In Dubai, it was possible, so Fusai/Grande were seeded #3 in Main Draw Doubles. In my opinion, FG seem to be quite a good team, perhaps especially in terms of giving the crowds a good show! Nothing wrong with that!
First round (Monday) found FG vs. (unseeded) Tatiana Poutchek/Caroline Schneider. PS undoubtedly dreamed and drooled about an upset, and FG teased them plenty, and I know the crowd went absolutely BANANAS - FG got the win: 7-6(7-4), 7-6(7-3)! YEA!
A partial progression of how it went seems to be: 2-0, 3-1, 5-1, 5-2, 5-3, 5-4, 5-5, 5-6, 6-6, 7-6(7-4), 1-1, 1-2, .......
Fusai/Grande SPIRIT seems to be as AWESOME as Fusai SPIRIT is! YEA!
Second round (Quarterfinals - today) found FG facing the upstart and talented team of Lina Krasnoroutskaya/Iroda Tulyaganova. Not surprisingly, the crowd got another very good show from FG. The score? 6-7(3-7), 6-3, 6-2. YES - another win for FG! YEA!
SO: now FG advance to the Semi's vs. Yayuk Basuki/Caroline Vis. BV are a very "real" doubles team, who both apparently arrived strictly to play doubles (neither show up in singles, qualifying or main draw). This will be a nice real test for FG.
Or will it? Although all evidence that I can find (multiple sources) is that Fusai/Grande defeated Krasnoroutskaya/Tulyaganova today, it is KT who is scheduled to play BV on tomorrow's schedule at the Dubai website. Huh?
What may well be going on is that Alexandra is "committed" to the qualifying in Acapulco Saturday. And I suspect that Alexandra is very much a person who honors commitments.
Whatever is going on, Alexandra, do this: take care, and HAVE FUN!
Friday 2/23/01
Well, the crowd in Dubai got another good show from Fusai/Grande today!
Unfortunately for Fusai/Grande fans, Basuki/Vis apparently put on a slightly better show. Yeah, it was BV d. FG 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 in Dubai Semi's today. Oh well....
Still, it was a pretty good tourney for Alexandra - YEA for that!
Now it's on to Acapulco, probably.
Have some FUN there, Alexandra, OK?
Tuesday 2/27/01
Well, it seems that Alexandra is not playing in Acapulco after all....
Wherever you are, Alexandra, I hope you're having FUN!
Monday 3/5/01
This week (and probably next week) Alexandra is in the California Low Desert at Indian Wells, in suburban Los Angeles (about 100 miles from downtown).
Having lived in that area for many years (but not lately), I like the High Desert much more than the Low Desert, and the High is just as close to LA as the Low, but there is nothing up there (including Bakersfield).
I mean, Indian Wells is ok, but even Burbank is better, in my opinion. In the High Desert I really liked Lake Los Angeles - the population basically doubles when someone drives through - it is a dry lake (probably always has been - maybe it is a tiny pond for a few hours once or twice a year).
Anyway: Alexandra, unseeded in qualifying, today faced the #14 seed, Najedna Ostrovskaya.
Well YEA 'cause Fusai d. Ostrovskaya 6-3, 6-2. YEA!
Next is vs. either Maria-Antonia Sanchez-Lorenzo (seeded #8) or Laurence Courtois. Either will be a match which I expect Alexandra will proudly win.
If you have a day off, Alexandra, I would suggest you pass through Big Bear to Lake Los Angeles, then to Scholl Canyon Park in Glendale for a beer or a glass of wine, and a snack, at the little "cafe" at the top. The outside terrace seating has a great view. The adjacent putting green is excellent, if you're into that. Then a drive through Griffith Park (don't miss TravelTown!), then discover Silverlake (find the ridgetop roads, and circle the lake). Then back to Indian Wells. That's a full day, maybe 300 miles, but great FUN driving a good car, like any stick-shift Triumph, Alfa, or Jaguar. A French Blue Citroen 15 "Traction Avant", maybe a 1955, would also be a very nice car for that cruise. But it's a nice cruise in any car......
Then win some more tennis, Alexandra, and HAVE FUN!
Saturday 3/10/01
Second round qualifying at Indian Wells turned out to be AF vs. Laurence Courtois. Well, LC prevailed: 6-4, 6-4. At least Alexandra won 8 games - and this just may have been a more important win for LC than for AF. Anyway, oh well....
Then there was Fusai/Grande in the main draw doubles. FG (unseeded) drew the #5 seed Lisa Raymond/Sandrine Testud in the 1st round. Well, RT defeated FG: 6-1, 7-5. Oh well...
Next for Alexandra is unknown to me at this time. Even so, I hope it has this in it, for her, and in this order: Happiness, Fun, and tennis Wins!
Tuesday 4/3/01
Our friend Alexandra is in Porto, Portugal this week. Although I've never been there, I suspect it is a very nice place to be.
Alexandra's singles frustration continued with a loss in 1st round qualifying at Porto to Maureen Drake, despite(?) Alexandra being seeded #7 in the qualifying and Drake unseeded. The score was 6-4, 6-1. Drake is capable of such things, so it may not be that Alexandra played "badly". Still, oh well....
In doubles, however, Fusai/Grande (seeded #2), showed some very-much-Fusai Spirit in their 1st round win over unseeded Jelena Kostanic/Sylvia Plischke: 4-6, 6-4, 6-4. "YEA!" yelled the crowd in Porto! And the crowd here at FusaiWorld (now fully moved to South Carolina) also yelled "YEA!"!
Kostanic and Plischke are very "real" players - this is a good win for FG!
Next for FG is vs. Emmanuelle Gagliardi/Amanda Hopmans, also unseeded (actually there are only 2 seeds). GH are also very "real" players - the crowd there will likely see another good show, with FG prevailing again!
This I hope most of all, Alexandra: playing and not playing: HAVE FUN and BE HAPPY!
Friday 4/6/01
Alexandra and Rita are doing good things in Porto!
Second round doubles (the Quarterfinals) found FG defeating Gagliardi/Hopmans in a typical crowd-pleasing, Fusai-exciting match: 6-4, 7-6(7-2). YEA!
Next is vs. Tina Krizan/Katarina Srebotnik (who may have been seeded #3) in a semi-final match for a spot in the final.
Win again FG!
And HAVE FUN and BE HAPPY!
Saturday 4/7/01
Fusai/Grande wowed the crowds again in Porto with a dramatic semi-final victory over Krizan/Srebotnik: 6-2, 7-6(7-0). YEA!
So it was on to the final, this time vs. unseeded Maria-Jose Martinez/Ana-Isabel Medina-Garrigues (possibly a Portugese team).
Well, FG, apparently slow starting for some reason, saw the 1st set go to the challengers: 6-1. Oh well.... Then FG took the 2nd set through a tie-break: 7-6(7-5). YEA! And dramatic! However, the opponents took the match, and title, with a 7-5 third set. Oh well...
Even so, it was a very good run for FG! Good wins over good teams, and great shows for the crowds! YEA!
Now Alexandra moves around Portugal to Estoril for the Open there. First round qualifying is vs. Dragana Zaric ("The Dragon"?). FG are seeded #1 and face Rosa-Maria Andres/Tatiana Poutchek in 1st round main draw. (At least I think Poutchek is not Portugese - although she can play quite well sometimes....)
NOW: Win some singles and doubles in Estoril, OK, Alexandra!
And HAVE FUN and TAKE CARE and BE HAPPY!
Tuesday 4/10/01
In Estoril, Portugal, Europe, Alexandra was unseeded in the Qualifying and faced also unseeded Dragana Zaric in the 1st round.
Alexandra won! 6-2, 6-4! YEA!
Next was vs. seeded #4 Elena Bovina. Well, Bovina prevailed: 6-1, 3-6, 6-1. Oh well....
So it was on to Doubles, with Fusai/Grande seeded #1, facing unseeded Rosa-Maria Andres/Tatiana Poutchek.
Well, Andres/Poutchek got the upset in 1st round: 6-4, 6-3. Oh well....
Next is probably Budapest, where Alexandra is listed as the #24 in Qualifying, and Rita is in the Main Draw Singles. I hope, instead, that Alexandra "crashes" Charleston, 'cause I will be there - well, we'll see....
Anyway, now it's time to say this: PLAY, Alexandra, PLAY! There's a reason that they call it PLAY!
HAVE FUN and TAKE CARE and BE HAPPY and PLAY and WIN!
Sunday 4/22/01
Well, Alexandra spent this past week in Budapest, Hungary - which I've heard is an interesting place to spend some time in. It was not a great week, though, for Alexandra, on-court (though not awful) - but hopefully it was, at least, a great week for Alexandra off-court!.....
Alexandra was seeded #8 in Qualifying and faced unseeded Miriam Schnitzer in 1st round. Schnitzer, unknown to me (and probably to Alexandra) took the 1st set 6-0. Then the crowd was treated to an Alexandra show as AF took the 2nd set 7-6(7-2) - YEA! But then dullness returned to the crowd as MS took the match with a 6-1 3rd set. Oh well...
So Alexandra's singles were over a week and a day ago in Budapest. This is, well, surprising - Alexandra can play very excellent singles as well as doubles! Oh well.....
In the doubles in Budapest, Fusai/Grande were seeded #1 (in the main draw, of course) and faced unseeded Giulia Casoni/Emmanuelle Gagliardi in 1st round.
This was a good win for Fusai/Grande over CG: 6-3, 6-3. YEA!
2nd round (the quarterfinals) for FG was vs. Laurence Courtois/Elena Tatarkova - this time CT somehow prevailed by 6-1, 6-2 and FG were out. Oh well....
So it wasn't a great week for Alexandra in Budapest, at least on-court, but there was a good win, at least, eh?
Hopefully, however, it was a GREAT week for Alexandra, off-court, 'cause that's what weeks are for!
This week, Alexandra is probably in Bol, Croatia - for qualifying singles and main-draw doubles.
With Sarajevo such a mess these days, unfortunately, maybe Bol is now the PartyTown of the Balkans. I hope so!
In Bol, Alexandra, please do these things: BE HAPPY, TAKE CARE, HAVE FUN, and DO SOME GREAT TENNIS!
Yeah, Alexandra: DO SOME GREAT TENNIS in Bol!!!
Friday 4/27/01
It turns out that Bol is next week (qualifying starts tomorrow) - hey! I'm an idiot, ok?
Alexandra has been this week in the beautiful (probably) town of Caserta, Italy - playing singles only at the ITF Challenger event there.
These ITF Challenger things pay not a whole lot of $ ($50,000 total for everyone in Caserta, I think), but they happen in nice towns (I hope!) and put players with rankings like Alexandra's current #144 in the Main Draw.
(There's a thing like that, called a USTA, here on Hilton Head later this year, I think. Maybe with Alexandra?!)
In the 1st round at Caserta, Alexandra defeated #119 ranked Martina Sucha in a typically Alexandra-exciting (and crowd-pleasing!) match: 6-7(3-7), 7-5, 6-1. YEA!
The 2nd round (quarterfinals) was vs. qualifier Eva Fislova (ranked #383).
This match was also probably quite exciting, but Fislova prevailed: 6-2, 7-6(?-?). Oh well....
So one good win and one not so good loss for Alexandra in Caserta - probably two great matches, though!
Now on to Bol, probably....
Win a BUNCH in BOL, Alexandra! Win a BUNCH-BOL!
And: BE HAPPY, TAKE CARE, and HAVE FUN!
Wednesday 5/2/01
Well, now it seems that Alexandra is not playing pro tennis in Bol this week after all - or anywhere else, as near as I can determine.
Hopefully, though, Alexandra is doing some sort of "playing" of some kind this week (even not tennis!), somewhere, 'cause that's what life is for!
There's a "thing" in Berlin next week - maybe Alexandra will give some crowds there some forever memories next week?
And there are other "things" going on next week.....
Well, we'll see.......
BE HAPPY, Alexandra!!
Sunday 5/6/01
Well, Alexandra gave the crowd one heck of a show at the German open in Berlin this weekend! YEA! (kindof...)
Qualifying found our AF vs. Lubomira Bacheva (world rank #82) in 1st round.
Bacheva seemed to have it "in the bag" with a 1st set 6-1 score. But not so fast! Alexandra took the 2nd set through a 7-6(7-5) tiebreak, which must have been yet another forever-remember Fusai set for the crowd.
The 3rd set was probably even more amazing! Bacheva took it, however: 7-6(10-8). Even so: WELL DONE, Alexandra! Next time.......
Here is a sample of what I strongly suspect was said by many of the spectators leaving that match: "That Fusai girl, besides being INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL, plays with HEART like none other (except maybe Seles). I will now watch any FUSAI match over any other. I think she's in the main-draw doubles....."
Fusai/Grande, in the main-draw, face Iva Majoli/Barbara Schett in the 1st round, probably Tuesday.
Schett is an old rival for Alexandra, and I think Majoli is a smart and good player, often discounted, so I see this as a "real" match.
Even so, I see it as a win for FG, and probably another good show for the crowd!
Most important, though, Alexandra, is this: TAKE CARE and BE HAPPY! (And HAVE FUN!)
Friday 5/11/01
Well, Alexandra and Rita got a good doubles win in Berlin, but then a tough loss....
First round found FG (seeded #6) vs. (unseeded) Iva Majoli/Barbara Schett. This team was unseeded only because of few (if any) teamings together - Majoli and Schett are both heavyweight players in any match, of any kind. FG got the win in a probably very exciting fashion: 6-3, 1-6, 6-3. YEA!
Next round was FG vs. Karina Habsudova/Elena Tatarkova (also unseeded). HT are a different animal from MS of the previous match - just, well, different....
I managed to catch parts of most of this match on the internet.
FG, down 3-4 in the 1st set, came back to 5-5, then 6-6 through probably at least 3 deuces, to force a tie-break. Then HT took the tie-break 7-1. Oh well....
In the 2nd set, FG went down 0-2, then 1-3, then FG won 5 in a row (many through deuces, or many deuces) to take the 2nd set 6-3. YEA!
The 3rd set saw FG go up 3-1, but then HT won 5 quickly (no deuces) to take the set, and match: 7-6(7-1), 3-6, 6-3. Oh well....
In any event, this provided Alexandra an opportunity to calmly go to Rome for the Italian Open qualifying there.
In Rome, Alexandra faces Francesca Sciavone (world #76) in 1st round qualifying. Alexandra can win that! Alexandra can play, comfortably, at a #40 level, and can do much better than than, in spurts. Alexandra can win Rome, in Singles! Yea! (A tip, Alexandra: 1st win vs. Sciavone!)
Meanwhile, there will likely be Fusai/Grande doubles in Rome. FG are due to really get it together, again. FG can win Rome Doubles! Yea!
Most important, though, Alexandra, is this: TAKE CARE, BE HAPPY, and HAVE FUN!
Wednesday 5/16/01
Well, in Rome at the Italian Open, Alexandra gave the crowd a pair of 3-set matches, but they were both losses. Oh well....
In 1st round qualifying vs. Francesca Sciavone, WTA ranked #76, seeded #5 (Alexandra was unseeded), Alexandra took the 1st set handily 6-1, but then Sciavone came back with set wins of 6-4 and 6-1. Oh well...
Alexandra's recent singles troubles are likely at least somewhat frustrating for her, perhaps especially since many have been quite close. However, I suspect that Alexandra realizes that long spells of "hard times" tend to presage long spells of "good times". I feel that a long spell of good times for Alexandra will start very soon. Well, we'll see....
In Rome doubles, Fusai/Grande, seeded #6, faced unseeded Erika deLone/Maria-Emilia Salerni in main-draw 1st round. FG took the 2nd set 7-5, but the 1st and 3rd sets went to the challengers 6-4 and 6-3. Oh well....
Fusai/Grande have also been having close-call tough times lately. They are a team which seems able to explode into amazing success at any time, or could be dissolved soon as an experiment which, for whatever reason, just didn't quite work. Whichever occurs, Alexandra will be OK - Fusai/Anyone is a potentially greatest doubles team ever!
Good news comes from Roland Garros: Alexandra has received a wild-card into the singles main-draw! (And Fusai/Anyone will, of course, be a main-draw team, probably seeded.)
This is an entirely appropriate "honor", clearly revealing that the experts of the tournament acknowledge that Alexandra is entitled to "main-draw" singles status, plays at that level regularly, and is one of France's all-time greatest players, all things considered: spirit, style, tenacity, grace, personality, beauty.
Many there at Roland Garros this year will have seen Alexandra win the Juniors title 11 years ago. And they will see the considerable extent of improvement which has occurred since then! This year they may see Fusai win the Final again!
The only "down-side" to this wild-card entry (and it is a very minor one) is that an actual qualifying victory would have given Alexandra much confidence and momentum (but also, probably, plenty of aches and pains - and may have been prevented, somehow).
Now Alexandra can play in Strasbourg or Madrid next week, if she wants to. These could provide confidence and momentum, in singles and doubles, or could be understandably skipped without any justifiable criticism.
Most importantly, though, this "wild-card" gives Alexandra FREEDOM, which is something this correspondent wishes for Alexandra at least as much as he wishes her HAPPINESS and HEALTH and FUN!
Sunday 5/20/01
Alexandra is winning singles again! YEA!
Alexandra was (appropriately) seeded in the Madrid qualifying (#6) and it was vs. local Carolina Rodriguez in 1st round. Well, I suspect Alexandra acquired another batch of new forever fans with a 6-2, 7-5 win. YEA!
Madrid's tennis fans were then able to cement their love for Alexandra with a 2nd round victory over Trudi Musgrove by an impressive 6-0, 6-2. YEA!
Tomorrow, final round qualifying is AF vs. Svetlana Kuznetsova. SK is a new young player who is hot (3rd round, eh?).
WIN AGAIN ALEXANDRA!
In Madrid main-draw doubles, Fusai/Grande is seeded #4 - 1st round is vs. Jill Craybas/Maria-Antonia Sanchez.
WIN FG, WIN!
Most important, though, Alexandra, are these things (even more important than tennis!): FUN, HEALTH, HAPPINESS, and FREEDOM!
So have some HEALTHY, HAPPY, FREEDOM, FUN there in Madrid and WIN WIN WIN and WIN some more, OK?
Friday 5/25/01
Well, Alexandra's record in Madrid this year is 2 wins, 1 loss, and 2 wins, 1 loss. That's not bad! (It's not great, but it's not bad....)
After winning the 1st two rounds of qualifying, Alexandra was stopped in 3rd round by Svetlana Kuznetsova: 6-3, 6-1. Oh well.... SK is a bit of a pistol, I hear....
So then Alexandra could concentrate on main draw doubles, teamed with Rita Grande (as usual so far this year). Fusai/Grande got the #4 seeding.
First round for FG was vs. Jill Craybas/Maria-Antonia Sanchez. This resulted in an impressive win for FG: 6-4, 6-2. YEA!
Second round (the quarterfinals) was vs. Amy Frazier/Katie Schlukebir. This was probably a great match for the crowd, and another win for FG: 6-3, 5-7, 6-1. YEA!
The semifinals found FG facing the #1 seeds: Lisa Raymond/Rennae Stubbs. This time seedings predicted - RS moved on 6-0, 6-3. Oh well....
It looks like your wonderful SPIRIT is coming back nicely now though, Alexandra! That's GOOD!
So now it's on to the Roland Garros - French Open for Main Draw (wildcard) Singles, (probably seeded) Doubles, and (maybe) Mixed Doubles.
How about a HAT-TRICK, Alexandra?! And HAVE FUN!
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