The player field at the 2010
Bank of the West Classic, which will be played July 26 – August
1 at Stanford University, is loaded with Grand Slam level
competition.
The
singles draw includes three-time Grand Slam champion Maria
Sharapova, 2008 French Open champion Ana
Ivanovic,
two-time Grand Slam finalist Elena Dementieva, 2008 Australian
Open
semifinalist Daniela Hantuchova, 2007
Wimbledon finalist Marion Bartoli, two-time Grand
Slam semifinalist Kimiko Date Krumm, 2010 French Open finalist
Samantha Stosur, 2010 of Wimbledon finalist Vera Zvonareva, 2010
Australian Open semifinalist Zheng Jie and 2009 US Open
semifinalist Yanina Wickmayer. And if that wasn’t enough, the
doubles draw will feature three-time Grand Slam champion Lindsay
Davenport playing with Liezel Huber, the world’s #1 ranked
doubles player.
21 year old
Azarenka Upsets Maria Sharapova For 4th WTA Career Title
Victoria Azarenka (BLR) [8] W d. Maria Sharapova (RUS) [5] 6-4,
6-1
Click photo for photo
gallery
Three-time Grand Slam champion
Maria Sharapova
Maria
Sharapova (RUS) [5] d. Zheng Jie (CHN) 6-4, 7-5
2008
French Open champion Ana Ivanovic
Ana Ivanovic
(SRB) d. Alisa Kleybanova (RUS) 6-3, 6-2
2/09/2010
SAP Open
Photo Gallery
(Click thumbnail photos to view as larger images)
From the 2010 SAP OPEN
Pete Sampras gives congratulations to
Fernando Verdasco after an exhibition match
he lost
at
the HP Pavilion SAP Open Monday, Feb. 08,
2010.
Pete Sampras comments on
Fernando Verdasco. "He's not one of the main
guys (meaning top contender) but he's the real deal."
(Photo: Al Reyes-BASD Photographer)
Pete Sampras talks to press after he lost
the exhibition match vs. Fernando Verdasco
at the HP Pavilion SAP Open Monday, Feb. 08,
2010.
"I couldn't get into the rhythm", said Sampras. "I really never felt I
could get into the serve. Playing defense for me was
difficult."
(Photo: Al Reyes-BASD Photographer)
Fernando Verdasco at the HP Pavilion SAP
Open on Monday, Feb. 08, 2010 acknowledges the fans as
they applaud Verdasco on a great game vs.
Pete Sampras.
(Photo: AL Reyes-BASD photographer)
News Compiled from Major Sports
News: Today's
news posted by Larry Garcia
Updated on
08/12/2010
Tennis News
Maria Sharapova
defeats Agnieszka Radwanska
Bank of the
West Classic in its 40th year
By Larry Garcia-Bay Area Sports Drive
7/31/2010
Agnieszka Radwanska began playing at age 4,
when her father introduced her to the sport.
Her birthplace was in Krakow, Poland where she
now resides. She grew up playing at a club in
Gronau, Germany. Agnieszka is now 21 years of
age. She speaks both Polish and English. She
ranks 11 in the world-turned pro in April of
2005. Now here at Bank of the West Classic (in
its 40th year) on a Saturday July
31, 2010 she went to-to-to with one of the
best in the world, Maria Sharapova born in
Russia but now resides in Florida USA, is 23
yrs old who ranks 15 and turned pro April of
2001.More>>>
Also see what legend Billy Jean King had to
say
From Russia
with Love?
Bank of the
West Classic
Elena
Dementieva vs. Maria Sharapova
By
Larry Garcia 7/30/10
It was game
five on a Friday night July 30, 2010, with two
of the best names in tennis going toe-to-toe;
both players born in Russia. Was it Russia
with love? Not when it comes to playing for
top seed, Elena Dementiva 28 years of age
(5’11”-ranking 6) played Maria Sharapova (23
yrs old at 6’2” ranking 15) soundly. Maria
turned pro April 19, 2001, Elena August 2,
1998. Maria resides in Brandenton, Florida,
USA as with Elena resides in Monte Carlo,
Monico.
Both pros
giving their all out best in front of a
capacity crowd of 2,695 playing late into the
night at (time). The grunts, hard serves,
backhands, quick feet and both vocal with
echoes of frustration with each miss. In the
Bank of the West standings as both played hard
on the court Elena was #2 on the charts as
Maria #5 before hand.
However, when
the match was inclusive late into a cold
night, it was Maria pumping the fist. After
her victory over Elena, the press asked Maria
if the cold had any effect on her arm swing.
Maria replied, “I just wanted to swing well
today. Sometimes my arm doesn’t want to get
going the way I want it to.” When asked about
her opponent Elena’s performance causing
mayhem, Maria replied, “She’s certainly a
great player. It was a true honor.”
Maria finished
the 3rd set (aces 0-1, Dbl faults
(M)6-3, 1st serve (M) 66%-63%,1st
serve points wonM-14-21 67 %- 6-17 %, 2nd
serve points won (M) 2-11 (18 %), 4-10 (40 %),
break points saved (M) 1/3 (33 %),0-3 (0%),
service games played (M) 5-4.
1st
Alina JIDKOVA (RUS) vs. Kaitlyn CHRISTIAN
(USA)
2nd Maria KIRILENKO (RUS) vs.
Agnieszka RADWANSKA (POL) followed by Brittany
AUGUSTINE (USA) vs. Evangeline REPIC (CAN)
3rd Marion BARTOLI (FRA) vs.
Victoria AZARENKA (BLR) followed by Jessica
PEGULA (USA) vs. Courtney DOLEHIDE (USA)
4th Samantha STOSUR (AUS) vs.
Yanina WICKMAYER (BEL) followed by Maureen
DIAZ (USA) vs. Alexandra MUELLER (USA)
5th Maria SHARAPOVA (RUS) vs. Elena
DEMENTIEVA (RUS)
6th (Doubles) Jill CRAYBAS (USA)
Carly GULLICKSON (USA) vs. Yung-Jan CHAN (TPE)
Jie ZHENG (CHN)
On Tuesday July 27th, Maria Sharapova was asked
at a press conference if taking time off due to her shoulder injury
had a factor on her return. Maria said, "This is y first hardcore
match. My shoulder feels strong and my mentality is to keep going. I
want to improve, get better-that's my goal." Maria also conferred on
her youth's experience. "I had to look up to my expectations since I
was young." Maria was very athletic growing up and did many other
sports besides tennis. "When I was young I was a gymnastic-boxer-did
lots of running and mountain climbing," she said. Goes to show you how
talented she is with lot’s of heart and zeal. Maria is not fully
content at this point as a tennis player. “I am fortunate to be back.
I’m only 15h seed and at this point some girls are better
than me,” said Maria.
Did you know? This year makes Bank of the West Classic 40 Years
of World Class Tennis.
