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Women´s FO Thread -- Ana the QUEEN!

by U11188452 23 May 2008
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As this author rightly predicted and the majority of the posters voted, the trophy Susanne Lenglen of the French Open 2008 belongs now to the number 1 player of the world, ANA IVANOVIC!!!

The match was not at the highest level today, with both players
making many unforced errors. Ana, the more experienced one(though two years younger than her opponent), started the match with furious tempo, which showed that she would NOT be denied this time(her third GS final). She raced to a 4-1 lead with the most powerful forehand in the women´s game today(especially the inside out version). Dinara, on the other hand, did not feel at home in her first ever GS final, losing two service games in a row. As it looked like Ana would bring home the first set easily, a combination of nervousness from Ana and some good defense from Dinara helped the latter to even the set at 4-4. A crucial break of serve in the ninth game give Ana the needed confidence, who served it out with some thunderous display of her inside out FH. 6-4 to Ana.

In set 2 both players raised their level, with the third game being the best. Fantastic rallies showed the determination from both players. A ferocious FH again from Ana gave her the break at 2-1, from which she never looked back. serving to stay in the match at 3-5, Dinara´s nerve got to her, losing three points in a row to give Ana three match points, which the latter converted with a unreturnable FH drive. 6-4,6-3 to Ana.

Overall, Ana was the one who took the initiative throughout the match, and her experience and her Lethal forehand was the key to overcome the solid defense of Safina. She was the better player and fully deserves to have won.

So my sincere congratulations to Ana Ivanovic, the no-1 player of the world, on her first GS victory, and to Serbia who now has a second GS champion after Novak Djokovic(AO 08).

Congrats also to Dinara Sifina on her marvelous run in this tournament, after her victory in Berlin. She will be no-9 on Monday.

I like to thank all posters who contributed on this thread -- what a fortnight it has been!!! Good luck and look forward to Wimbledon!

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comment by U11188452

posted Jun 8, 2008

Thanks Rafa, for your kind words! Congrats to Portugal on the deserved victorybubbly

As to today´s final, I just don´t see Roger beating Rafa, having watched both semis. But hope it will be a close match at least. Regards.

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comment by VenusSerenaRafa2008Wimbledonchampions (U10373084)

posted Jun 8, 2008

You see with Roger on this surface, it´s all in his head... We all know with his serve and volley game he can beat Rafa. Keeping the points short, he can beat Rafa. But something stops him playing his natural game and he frustrates himself playing Rafa´s game. I just think Roger might just pull it off this year...having said that Rafa will have to play perfect tennis. I am looking forward to this one because it a record equaling occassion for Rafa and a defining moment for Roger. Just like Wimbledon last year.

It´s nice to pick a winner, but I wont on this occassion.

By the way, I tried to correct the typo in my last post, and the correction was not allowed due to the inclusion of an offensive word! I can only assume that the offensive word is the misspelt one erm .

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comment by Celibell (U10839944)

posted Jun 8, 2008

Cheers for a nice thread, FB. Looking forward to some nice conversation on Wimbledon in the upcoming weeks. bubbly And here's to hoping for more good ladies' tennis in the upcoming weeks.

Hoping the men's final will be interesting, but Rafa has been in such dominant form of late that I really don't see Federer winning - especially after the Monfils match. He didn't look like he was fully confident out there. Ah well, only a few hours to go before match time!

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comment by U11188452

posted Jun 8, 2008

Thanks Celibell, for contributing here! It has been great fun to hear different thoughts and opinions. I am looking forward to Wimby as well.

Hope Roger can make the second set more competitive, having lost the first one easily.

Best luck to Wozniacki on her coming events. Regards.

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comment by shivfan (U2435266)

posted Jun 8, 2008

Now do you see why I picked Ivanovic to win, conosu?
winkeye

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comment by observer (U7164860)

posted Jun 8, 2008

conosu was quite an entertaining and articulate poster, bringing plenty of colour to the thread. But it has been a splendid thread overall, I feel.
Look forward to Wimbledon!

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comment by U11188452

posted Jun 8, 2008

Thanks Stefan! I have no problem with Conosu2 personally -- as you can see in the first part of the thread. But when he started to insult other posters and attempted to drive them away from the thread(he succeeded to some extent as well), I had no choice but to ask him to leave.

Nice to hear all your interesting thoughts, until Wimbledon! Regards.

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comment by wearewick (U11956895)

posted Jun 9, 2008

Great Thread Congrats to Ana deserving winner and as I posted previously no choker. Beaten by players playing better in previous slams was nervous in first.

Again congrats and great thread.

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comment by U11188452

posted Jun 9, 2008

Thanks Wearewick! Ana is a very strong character -- I noticed it in her eyes at AO, after she lost to a Maria in finest form. I knew back then if she had another chance, she would never be denied again.

Look forward to some good conversations during Wimbledon. Regards.

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