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News  [year 2003]


11/11/'03  2003 season, review  -  Jennifer started season with consecutive opening round losses in Sydney (l. to Panova) and Australian Open (l. to Weingärtner after leading 6-2, 4-1), becoming first defending champion there to lose 1r. Withdrew from Tokyo [Pan Pacific] citing need to recover from eye surgery in November to remove sunspots (pterygiums).
Semifinalist in Dubai, pushing eventual champion Henin-Hardenne to 3s.
As No.2 seed, reached Indian Wells SF, l. to Davenport in 3s; runner-up in Miami for third consecutive yr., l. to S.Williams in 3s (d. Shaughnessy and Rubin).
In Berlin, reached fifth straight SF of 2003, saving 2 mp in second set vs. eventual runner-up Clijsters before falling in 3s.
Fell 4r of Roland Garros to Petrova in 3s.
Reached SF in Eastbourne, l. to defending and eventual champion Rubin after holding 2 mp at 6-2, 5-3 15-40 (Rubin serving); in doubles (as wildcard w/Serna), reached her third career final, falling to Davenport/Raymond.
Reached Wimbledon QF for sixth time, falling to world No.1 S.Williams in 3s after having a break point to lead 6-2, 3-2.
Reached second Tour singles final of 2003 at Stanford, falling to Clijsters in 3s; at San Diego, ret. 2r (after 1r bye) vs. Likhovtseva trailing 4-1 first set with r. pectoral strain, an injury that forced her withdrawal from Toronto.
Ended 28-tournament losing streak in New Haven, claiming her 14th career Tour singles title, surviving opening round scare vs. Bovina and then benefiting from retirements of Mauresmo in SF and Davenport in F.
Reached career-third US Open SF (12 years after her first) and was two points from winning the match 10 times before l. the over 3-hour match to No. 2 seed and eventual US Open champion Henin-Hardenne; SF match added to WTA’s Greatest Matches voting poll.
At the WTA Tour Championships in Los Angeles, she had an hip's injury in first match against Sugiyama, all the same reached the semifinal, where lost in three sets from Clijsters.

10/11/'03  Master, semifinal: Clijsters D Capriati  -  In 1.25 time of match, Jen lost at third set (4-6, 6-3, 6-0 the final score) against Belgian Clijsters. A double-face match: Jen played very well in first two sets (but in second failed a big chance, leading 3-2 with a break) while Clijsters made too many errors; in last one, instead, Jen played badly, while Kim elevated her level of play. Jennifer took a break in first game, starting aggressively and went 2-0 up. Unfortunately, in fourth game, Jen lost badly the service and Clijsters went on 2-2. In nineth game (on 4-4) Jennifer took another break in a game played badly from Clijsters and going to serve for the set. And she won it, also realized her third ace of the match. On 2-2 of second set, Jennifer took a break and went 3-2 up. Unfortunately, she was forced to call the trainer for her injury and there were three minutes of break. In sixth game Jen lost immediately the serve (with two double-faults) and Clijsters recovered. In seventh game, Jennifer lost 3 break-point and Clijsters went again up in the score (4-3). Clijsters broke again Jennifer and won second set 6-3, winning the latest 11 points. In final set, Jennifer went out from the match: a demoralized and injured Capriati losed first, third and fifth games and Kim won 6-0.
[match statistics]

09/11/'03  Master, round-robin: Capriati D Myskina  -  In about two hours of match, Jennifer won against Myskina in three long sets (7-5, 5-7, 6-4 the score) and qualified for tomorrow semifinal, against Clijsters. In today's match, Jennifer and Miskina showed many great shots, but young Russian made too many errors. But Jenny was very able to resist at pain of recent injury and to remain concentrate, after loosing second set. Jennifer took a break in first game, but losed immediately the service in second one. In third game, another break and Jen went up (3-1). In sixth game, Jennifer losed for second time the service (3-3 the score). On 5-5, Jennifer took a break and going to serve for first set. And won it, also for many errors of the Russian. On 1-1, Jennifer took the first break of second set and went leading for 3-1. But, like as first set, Myskina recovered and went up 4-3. On eight game, Jennifer saved two consecutively break-points. In eleventh game, Jennifer missed a break-point and losed second set 7-5. In final set, Jen went immediately up 4-0 with two breaks (saving two balls of 1-1 in second game). Myskina won the fifth game (4-1). On 5-2 up, Jenny served for match, but losed the game and Myskina went 3-5.
Tomorrow, Jen will face the Belgian Kim Clijsters in semifinal. Match's prognostic is certainly for Clijsters (cause Jenny's injury), but maybe...
[match statistics]

08/11/'03  Master, round-robin: Henin-Hardenne D Capriati  -  Unfortunately, Jennifer had losed her first match at Championships, against the Belgian Henin-Hardenne in only an hour (6-2, 6-1 the final score). Jennifer never entered in match, also cause the hip's injury, remedied in match against Sugiyama. This wasn't an enjoyed match: Jen doesn't play. Jennifer losed her first service from 40-15 and Belgian went on 2-0. Jen losed again the service in fifth game, with too many errors and went 1-4 under. In next three games the services were always saved and Henin won the set 6-2. Before 2nd set started, Jennifer called again the trainer for the hip's injury remedied in first match. After the break, in second set, Jennifer saved the first services and leaded for the first time in match (1-0). But on 1-1, Jennifer losed the service for the first time in second set and went under 1-2 in the score. In fifth game, Jennifer losed again the service and went under 1-4. Jennifer definitively went  out from the match and losed second set 1-6.
Now, it's so important the last Jennifer's match of tomorrow against Myskina: who will win, is going to reach the semifinal. We hope that Jennifer will able to play and, of course, that she will win.
[match statistics]

06/11/'03  Master, round-robin: Capriati D Sugiyama  -  After two hours of battle, Jennifer win her first match of round-robin, against the Japanese Ai Sugiyama 7-5, 7-6(3). Jen played well and was able to resist to a pain at the right thigh. It was an enjoy match with protract changes and great shots. In first game of match (Sugiyama to serve), Jennifer recovered from 40-0 but failed one break-point; in second game, she was able to save 3 break-point (1-1). In fourht game (2-1 Sugiyama) Jennifer saved two break-points (from 15-40) and failed another one in the next game. On 5-5, Jennifer broke Sugiyama and served for first set and won it by her first ace. In second set, Sugiyama lost the serve (Jennifer won her fourth consecutively one), but recovered immediately (1-1). Jennifer broke again the Japanese in third game, but she was forced to called the fitness-trainer for problems at the right thigh. At restart of match, Jennifer saved a break-point and won the game by another ace, leading 3-1. On 3-2, Sugiyama recovered the break (3-3). On eight game, Jennifer saved a break-point and reached Sugiyama on 4-4 with fantastic shots. In tenth game, Jen saved a set point and reached the Japanese on 5-5. Saving three consecutive set-points, Jennifer reched the tie-break. In final game, Jennifer went up 5-0, the Japanese made only three points and Capriati won the match.
[match statistics]

03/11/'03  Master, preview  -  It's official: Jennifer is going to play at Sanex WTA Tour Championships, from Wednesday the 5th, in Los Angeles. She is seed as 4 (due to the forfait of Serena Williams and Lindsay Davenport) and she is in BLACK GROUP with Henin-Hardenne (2), Myskina (5) and Sugiyama (8). In RED GROUP there are: Clijsters (1), Mauresmo (3), Dementieva (6) and Rubin (7). It will be a strange Master, without 3 of the top-ten players: William's sisters and Davenport.
The event will be entirely transmit on Eurosport:
  • Thursday 6: live 03.00-08.00 and 09.00-18.30
  • Friday 7: live 03.00-08.00 and 08.30-11.00, 16.30-18.00
  • Saturday 8: live 03.00-08.00 and 08.30-11.00, 14.30-18.00 live from 22.00
  • Sunday 9: 10.30-12.45, 15.00-16.30 and live 21.30-00.30
  • Monday 10: 9.00-12.00 and live final 04.00

17/10/'03  Jennifer is qualified to the WTA Tour Champioships  -  Jennifer has qualified for the season-ending WTA Tour Championships, from 5 to 10 of November. But none knew if she will play there, because she was tired, and she was forced to take a break. Jennifer joins world No.1 Kim Clijsters, world No.2 Justine Henin-Hardenne and world No.3 Serena Williams as singles qualifiers for the coveted event at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles. World No.4 Lindsay Davenport has also qualified but is not expected to play after undergoing season-ending foot surgery Wednesday. With three weeks remaining in the Porsche Race to the Championships, there is a tight battle for the final four singles spots. There are at least nine players – Amelie Mauresmo, Elena Dementieva, Venus Williams, Anastasia Myskina, Chanda Rubin, Ai Sugiyama, Vera Zvonareva, Nadia Petrova and Paola Suarez – within reach of those four spots.

09/10/'03  Filderstadt, 2nd round: Pierce D Capriati  -  Unfortunately, Jennifer had losed again. In Filderstadt, she played badly and was eliminated by Mary Pierce 4-6, 2-6. In first set, Pierce started aggressively and went 2-0 (with a break). Jennifer recovered immediately (2-2). In seventh game, Jennifer had two break-points (on 15-40), but wasn't able to convert them and Pierce went 4-3. On 5-4 Pierce, Jennifer lost the serve, with many errors (also two double faults) and the first set. The second one was very fast: Mary Pierce playing well and aggressively and Jennifer did lots of errors. Pierce went 5-0 (with two breaks); on 5-1, Jennifer recovered one of two breaks, but losed next game (another break) and Pierce won the match, with merit.
Probably, now she will play in Linz from 20th of October and then at the WTA Tour Championships in Los Angeles (if she will reach the qualification).
[match statistics]

05/10/'03  Filderstadt, preview  -  This week, Jennifer is going to play the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Filderstadt (GER). She is seed as 4 and have got a BYE in first round. This is her second indoor tournament, after the previous elimination in Moscow, last week. In second round, she will face the winner from Mary Pierce and a qualifier. The others top seeded players are: Clijsters (1, high part of draw), Henin-Hardenne (2, low), Davenport (3, low), Mauresmo (5, high), Dementieva (6, low).
Filderstadt's tournament will be transmit on Eurosport.
  • Tuesday 7: live 13.00-14.30 and 17.00-19.00
  • Wednesday 8: live 13.00-14.30 and 17.00-19.00
  • Thursday 9: live 13.00-16.00 and 17.00-18.30
  • Friday 10: live quarterfinal 13.00-16.00
  • Saturday 11: live semifinal 13.00-16.00
  • Sunday 12: live final 13.00-14.30

01/10/'03  Moscow, 2nd round: Bovina D Capriati  -  In Moscow's opening match, Jennifer losed agaist Elena Bovina in three sets (6-4, 4-6, 6-7(3) the final score) after more than two hours of game and was eliminated from Russian's Tier I tournament. Jennifer losed many chances because she was leading 5-3 in final set, but Bovina recovered, cancelled one match point and won at tie-break. Jennifer played well, but was't able to defend her advantage and looked nervous in final set. Probably, we will see her at Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Filderstadt next week.
[match statistics]

29/09/'03  Moscow, preview  -  On this week, Jennifer is going to play the Ladies Kremlin Cup in Moscow (RUS). Jennifer is 1 seed because some players (Clijsters, Henin-Harednne, Davenport) were forced to withdraw from tournament. Jen has got a BYE for the first round and will face the winner between Elena Bovina and Patty Schnyder in second round. The others top seeded players are: Mauresmo (2, low part of draw), Dementieva (3, low), Myskina (4, high), Maleeva (5, low), Petrova (6, high).
Ladies Kremlin Cup will be transmit on Eurosport.
  • Tuesday 30: live 13.00-16.00
  • Wednesday 1: live 13.00-17.00
  • Thursday 2: live 13.00-16.00 and 17.00-18.30
  • Friday 3: quarterfinal 15.15-16.30
  • Saturday 4: live semifinal 14.00-15.30
  • Sunday 5: live final 11.00-12.30

14/09/'03  Jennifer withdraws from Polo Open  -  Cause the right shoulder injury suffered in Stanford final, Jennifer has been forced to withdraw from the next week Polo Open of Shanghai. "I'm really disappointed not to be able to go to Shanghai. It would've been my first visit there, and I had heard lots of great things about the tournament" - said Jennifer. "Unfortunately, after playing a lot of tennis in the past few weeks, my shoulder has gotten worse and I've been advised to rest so I can be healthy for the rest of the season. I wish the tournament all the best and maybe I can make it to Shanghai in 2004".
So, probably, we will see Jennifer only from 6 of October in Filderstadt (Germany) at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix.

06/09/'03  US Open, semifinal: Henin-Hardenne D Capriati  -  Jennifer semifinal's match was the best match played in all the tournament. More than 3 hours of fantastic and thrilling tennis. Unfortunately, Jen lost many chances (5-3 leading in second set end 5-2 in third) and was eliminated from tournament. In first set, she was great to recover from 1-4 below, and won the set. In second one, she went 5-3 over, with a break, but lost the service in nineth game and Henin.Hardenne won the set. In final set, both them were very tired. There were most unforced errors, but it was however a wonderful set. Jen leaded 5-2, with a break but, for the second time, wasn't able to close the set and Henin-Hardenne reached tie-break. In the decisive game, Jen played badly and lost 7-4.
[match statistics]

05/09/'03  US Open, quarterfinal: Capriati D Schiavone  -  In one hour and 7 minutes, Jennifer beated Francesca Schiavone of Italy 6-1, 6-3 and reached the semifinal in N.Y.. This is her best results in a Grand Slam event, this year and also her highest in US Open likes in 1991 and 2001. Match agaist Schiavone wasn't beautiful: too many errors. Maybe, it was caused by the rain of lasts three days (the Schiavone's fourth round match was played in three days). In first set, after 1-1 with two breaks, Jennifer won 5 games and the set (6-1). In fifth game of second set, Jennifer conceded the break, but recovered immediately (3-3). In eighth game, she broke again Schiavone (5-3) and served for match. She was able to cancel three break-points (from 0-40), with two great backhand winners and won the match.
In semifinal, this evening, about at 21.00 local time, she will play against Justine Henin-Hardenne, n°2 seeded. Belgian leads 3-2 and won the last match (this year in Dubai), but all matches was played in three sets.
[match statistics]

02/09/'03  US Open, 4th round: Capriati D Dementieva  -  After a long match, more than 5 hours, cause two rain delayes, Jennifer beated Elena Dementieva and reached the quarterfinals. Match started at about 15.00 local time. Jennifer won the first 4 games and was leading 40-30 in fifth game, when started to rain and match was hanging. After more than two hours, it started again. Jen won fifth game (5-0), but losed the next two (5-2) before to win, with another break 6-2. Second set was more spectacular, because Dementieva was able to opposeat Jen's powerful. On 3-2 for Jennifer (without breaks) and 0-30 in sixth game, started to rain again. Match suspended, At match's resumption, Jen broke Dementieva (4-2), but lost the successive two serves (4-5 with break). Dementieva lost the chance of served for set and Jen came back into set (5-5). On 6-5, Dementieva served to stay in match; Jennifer, who wanted to close early, played aggressively and catched up the victory.
On quarterfinal, she will face Francesca Schiavone or Ai Sugiyama (were 6-6 in first set, before match's delay). Against Schiavone, Jen always won (she leads 2-0); last match was played this year in Berlin (6-4, 6-4 final score). Against Sugiyama, the balance is 3-3, but Jennifer won the last one (in Montreal last year) 6-1, 7-5.
[match statistics]

30/08/'03  US Open, 3rd round: Capriati D Loit  -  Recovering from 0-1 with break in third set, Jennifer won the match (6-2, 2-6, 6-2 the final score) and acceded at fourth round. This success, agaist the French Emilie Loit (in one hour and 26 minutes) was more hard then previous rounds: Loit was able to recover from lost 6-2 first set and Jen was some more able to hang up the match, in third set. It was the most spectacular match played by Jen at this US Open edition: both players showed fantastic winners and points were rather long.
In fourth round, she will face the younger Russian, Elena Dementieva. In both two preview matches, Jennifer won; the latest one was played at 2003 Amelia Island and Jennifer won at third set (6-4, 4-6, 6-1 the score).
[match statistics]

29/08/'03  US Open, 2nd round: Capriati D Sucha  -  Jennifer acceded at third round in New York, beating Martina Sucha 6-1, 6-1, in one hour and three minutes. This success was less clear than the previous one; but Jen played well again. In second round match, the two engaged in numerous baseline rallies, Capriati almost always prevailed. After won first set, Jen seemed agitated by the noise in the stadium, complaining to the chair umpire who issued a warning to the crowd. But she remained concentrate and closed the match. Now, she will play agaist Emilie Loit of France. In the only match played between them, at 2001 Roland Garros, Jen won 6-2, 7-5.
[match statistics]

27/08/'03  US Open, 1st round: Capriati D Torrens Valero  -  Jennifer won the first match at US Open, against Spanish Torrens Valero. 6-0, 6-1 the final score, in only 35 minutes. Torrens Valero never entered in match, also for Jennifer's fantastic and strong game. In first set, the Spanish didn't win any game; her first winner was realized in fourth game. After first set, Jen had 6 winners and 2 unforced errors; instead, Torrens Valero had 2 winners and 13 unforced errors. Finally in game two of the second set, Torrens held serve to take what would be her first and only game of the match. At 5-1, Jennifer served to win the match and reached the second round. Wonderful was Jen's dress, blue with white stars, that she defined "Star spangled Jennifer". Now, probably on Thursday, Jen will face Martina Sucha of Slovakia (number 121 of WTA ranking).
[match statistics]

25/08/'03  US Open, preview  -  The last major of the season, the US Open, starts today in New York. Last year champions will not defend their title: Serena Williams cause a left knee's injury and Pete Sampras, who will announce his official retirement today, in evening session's open ceremony. Also Venus Willims, the 2002 finalist, withdraws due to injury and is going to be replaced by Slovenian Katarina Srebotnik. Jennifer is sixth seed and is situated in the third quarter of the draw. She is going to play her first round match tomorrow or Wednesday, against Spanish Cristina Torrens Valero (n° 105 of ranking); this will be the first match between them. The others top-10 seeded players are: Clijsters (1, high part of draw), Henin-Hardenne (2, low part), Davenport (3, high), Mauresmo (5, high), Myskina (7, low), Rubin (8, high), Hantuchova (9, high), Maleeva (10, low).
Tournament is going to transmit on SKY Sport and Eurosport, with many hours of living a day.