Sharapova Wins Zurich Open

ZURICH, Oct 22 (Reuters) - U.S. Open champion Maria Sharapova claimed her fourth title of the year on Sunday by beating unseeded Slovak Daniela Hantuchova 6-1 4-6 6-3 in the final of the Zurich Open.

It was Sharapova’s first title in Zurich, after she finished as runner-up to Alicia Molik in 2004.

The victory, achieved with the loss of just one set all week, added to the Indian Wells, San Diego and U.S. titles she earned earlier this year.

Although the second-seeded Russian will remain at number three in the rankings next week behind Amelie Mauresmo and Justine Henin-Hardenne, the win boosted her chances of ending the season as world number one.

Despite her defeat, Hantuchova’s ranking will improve next week from 22 to an expected 16.

Sharapova was far more aggressive than Hantuchova in the opening set, especially with her returns, and she pressured the Slovak from the start.

Hantuchova had to hold off three break points in the first game and then dropped her serve to love, hitting consecutive double-faults, to fall behind 2-1.

Sharapova continued to dominate, breaking Hantuchova to love a second time while winning 15 of 16 points to establish a 4-1 lead. The Russian broke for a third time to take the set when Hantuchova netted a forehand.

UNFORCED ERRORS

After calling her mother to court as her coach, allowed under rules being tried out in Zurich, Hantuchova was far more positive in the second set, breaking Sharapova for 1-0.

Sharapova’s efforts were more muted in the second set. She made considerably more unforced errors and failed to win a break point to level at 4-4 when she netted a tired forehand.

Hantuchova fought off five break points at 5-4 to take the match to a deciding set.

“It was weird having a little letdown in the second set, at the beginning,” Sharapova told reporters. “I had opportunities to break her again but I couldn’t really take them and in the last game to win the second set she served pretty well on the big points.

“But, saying that, I gave it to her in the first game. I felt like I had the chances but wasn’t converting them, and finally in the third set I did.”

Sharapova once more showed some of the aggression that had served her well in the first set and although she failed to take advantage of two break points at 1-0 she broke to lead 3-1 when Hantuchova netted a forehand.

That was enough to decide the match, which Sharapova closed out with consecutive aces.

“In the first set I think I was trying a little bit too much,” said Hantuchova. “It was my first final for a while and I was maybe a little too excited and after the first set I tried to calm down and think more about what I had to do to come back to the match.

“I thought it was a very good match. I felt like I had my chances but I have to give Maria credit for the way she closed the match out, especially in the last game. She served very, very well. I tried to hang in there and do whatever it took to still come back, but she was putting a lot of pressure on me.”

Step Up fever……..

Just few days ago, I watched “STEP UP” with ate Shelai, my friend and schoolmate in UPLB. Saya kc after a very long tym, nameet ko ulit sya who i consider one of my ate in LB.Congrats poh ulit ate Shelai..sabi ko nmn sa u kaya mo yan!

Ung movie, ok lang.masaya.kakainluv..haha.ang gwapo kc ni Channing Tatum who played the main role as Tyler. Grabeh! he’s so handsome and in fairness he rocks! Galing sumayaw..at and porma..hahaha. Kakaattract sya kc ba namn may pagkakatulad sya ky JA. may pagkasemi-kalbo at maputi..medyo mas malaki nga lang katawan nya kay John pero my resemblance tlaga cla..He also looks like Mike Holper of the gin Kings.And yung girl, well d sya ganun kabeautiful pero she’s great when it comes to dancing. Ang galing! ASTIG!

MaSha’s 2nd Grandslam

NEW YORK - Maria Sharapova began the U.S. Open with as much buzz about her sponsorships as her strokes, as much talk about her getups as her game.
She’s long insisted she’s more about substance than style, though, and now she owns a second Grand Slam title to prove it.

Better on the biggest points all night, the third-seeded Sharapova beat No. 2 Justine Henin-Hardenne 6-4, 6-4 in the U.S. Open final Saturday to add a follow-up championship to her breakthrough title at Wimbledon in 2004.

“I experienced it two years ago, and I knew that I wasn’t done,” Sharapova said. “I had a lot more in me.”

What Sharapova had on this night was a lot more force on nearly every shot, from groundstrokes to serves to returns. She faced only one break point all match, broke Henin-Hardenne three times, and compiled a 20-15 edge in winners.

“She’s been a real fighter tonight,” said Henin-Hardenne, who would have moved up to No. 1 with a victory. “The better player won tonight.”

Quite a concession from the Belgian, who leads the tour this season in matches won (54), Grand Slam matches won (25) and tournament titles (five). She was the first woman since Martina Hingis in 1997 to reach a year’s four major finals.

“She didn’t give me a lot of opportunities,” Henin-Hardenne said.

The only times Sharapova lost her composure came after Henin-Hardenne put a forehand into the net to end the match.

First, Sharapova dropped to her knees and covered her face. Then she hopped up and down, giggling — like the teenager she is. Then she tried to climb through the stands to hug her father, Yuri, and hitting partner, Mike Joyce, but got lost, and needed guidance from an usher. When she hoisted the trophy overhead, its lid fell off.

And then came her at-times petulant postmatch news conference, which Sharapova began by saying, “Let’s make this a positive session tonight, please. Por favor.” She got into a bit of a testy exchange with reporters who asked about the apparent signals sent by Yuri and Joyce about when to eat bananas or sip drinks at changeovers (coaching isn’t allowed).

All of which led to a sentence that it’s fair to say had never been uttered by a Grand Slam champion. Or anyone else, for that matter.

“I believe, at the end of the day, personally, my life is not about a banana,” Sharapova said.

“It’s not about what I wear. It’s not about the friends that I have. My career right now is about winning a tennis match. And right now, I’m sitting here as a U.S. Open champion, and the last thing I think people need to worry about is a banana.”

She became an immediate endorsement darling after her out-of-nowhere triumph at the All England Club at age 17. But then, on the court, she kept coming oh-so-close at Slams without producing title No. 2. She lost five consecutive major semifinals until beating No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo on Friday. Now Sharapova is only the eighth woman to beat the players ranked Nos. 1 and 2 at the same Grand Slam tournament.

“I think she felt a little pressure. People were talking like she didn’t have her Slam,” Joyce said. “It was just a matter of time. I think she had to prove to herself that she could do it.”

If that’s so, she proved it to everyone under the lights at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Two games into the final, a man’s voice came from the sellout crowd of 23,712, screaming the tag line from Sharapova’s oft-played current TV ad: “I feel pretty!” In the commercial, that tune is sung by various people as Sharapova walks out onto court. The punch line: Sharapova swings her racket and lets out one of her trademark shrieks.

Those high-pitched screams were muted at the start of the match, but within a few games, Sharapova was wailing as loudly as ever. Not that Henin-Hardenne was silent, punctuating winners with, “Allez!”

Sharapova won the coin toss and elected to receive, then went out and stood right at the baseline while Henin-Hardenne hit practice serves at the end of the warmup session. Picture Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter taking batting practice against Red Sox starter Curt Schilling — it just doesn’t happen in other sports.

Perhaps Sharapova noticed something, because she immediately earned two break points in the opening game. Henin-Hardenne saved both, then broke for a 2-0 edge with the aid of two double-faults by Sharapova, who never faced another break point.

But Sharapova broke right back, helped by the shot of the evening: a half-volley drop winner to close a 10-stroke exchange. That was enough to claim the first set.

With the outcome still in doubt at 3-3 in the second set, Sharapova won eight of nine points to break Henin-Hardenne for the third time — yelling “Come on!” as she ran to the changeover — then hold for a 5-3 edge.

“Come on!” from someone born in Siberia? Well, Sharapova has made her home in Florida since she was 7. After calling her mom with a cell phone while waiting for the trophy ceremony, Sharapova leaned forward in her chair and said, “This is crazy!”

During her comments to the crowd, Sharapova thanked Billie Jean King for her work for women in tennis, including for equal prize money. Sharapova earned $1.7 million with her victory, although she makes far more from endorsement deals than prize money.

Clearly, she finds more gratification in trophies.

“You can’t buy a Grand Slam title, you know?” Sharapova said. “You can’t buy it.”

She’s still only 19 and has two. After the singles final ended, Martina Navratilova, who’s 49, collected her 59th Grand Slam title by teaming with Bob Bryan to win the mixed doubles final 6-2, 6-3 over Kueta Peschke and Martin Damm.

“See, if you play long enough, good things happen,” Navratilova said. “I should know.”

Maria Sharapova is dating Andy Roddick…

Tennis’ latest glam-girl Maria Sharapova may be the new flame in fellow player Andy Roddick’s life.

“I’m ‘known’ to be dating three guys. I guess I’m just a cheater. What can I say?” she said.

http://www.santabanta.com/newsmaker.asp?select=1597&catname=Newsmaker

Congrats MaSha!

Sharapova outlasts Clijsters

CARLSBAD, Calif. (AP) – Maria Sharapova outslugged an erratic Kim Clijsters 7-5, 7-5 Sunday to win the championship of the Acura Classic.

The second-seeded Sharapova won with breaks in the final game of each set, including the only break of the second set, and snapped Clijster’s 24-match winning streak in North American summer hardcourt events.

The title was Sharapova’s first since winning at Indian Wells in March, and the 12th of her career. It was also the first time the Russian defeated Clijsters, a former No. 1, in five matches.

“There’s not a lot things not to like about my game,” said Sharapova, ranked No. 4. “I played a pretty solid five players and came out with two-set wins in each one. It gives me confidence and I feel like I’m match tough again.”

The last time Clijsters lost on North American summer hardcourts was here last year in the quarterfinals. Since then she has won four straight summer hardcourt tournaments, including last year at Los Angeles, Toronto and the U.S. Open for her only major title. Clijsters added the Bank of the West Classic title last week at Stanford, Calif.

The top-seeded Clijsters, who previously announced her plans to retire at the end of the 2007 season, was still hampered by a bad back in the finals. Clijsters, ranked No. 2, began to consistently miss her shots as the second set wore on.

“It was tough out there,” she said. “I fought. I tried to go for everything when I was down but was not good enough. After long points, it was hard to refocus for the next shot. I didn’t feel that fresh.”

Sharapova, the 2004 Wimbledon champion, and Clijsters played one incredibly long point with Sharapova serving for the first set at 6-5. The point featured a number of outstanding shots and saves on both sides before Sharapova drove a forehand into the net. The crowd erupted into a prolonged standing ovation as both players struggled to catch their breath.

“I still feel it. I was too tired to keep my eyes open,” Clijsters said.

“I can’t talk about it,” joked Sharapova. “I get dizzy thinking about it. It was basically survival.”

Sharapova closed out the set four points later when Clijsters netted a forehand.

After the players combined for seven service breaks in the first set, Clijsters held the only service breaks in the final set until the last game. The Belgian failed to convert on one break in the first game, three breaks in the seventh game and two more in the ninth game.

“I think she made a few good first serves,” Clijsters said. “On a couple of second serves, I missed. I tried to go for it a little bit too soon.”

Sharapova, who failed to serve at the level she did in her semifinal-round win over Patty Schnyder, broke through in the 12th game of the second set with the only service break for either player in the second set to end the 1 hour, 48-minute match.

“I knew that I had to be physically and mentally ready or I was going down,” said Sharapova, who earned $196,00 for the victory.

Clijsters, who won $100,000, became the ninth player to surpass $14 million in career earnings.

source: Yahoo Sports

Updated on Sunday, Aug 6, 2006 8:51

my weekend…

Wow!I had a long vacation last weekend. I spend three days in Batangas. Kelan kaya mauulit un? Im sure, August na ulit. I’ll be waiting for another holiday in Korea para makagcing ng tanghali. haha!On my way to Batangas, nilibang ko na lang ang sarili ko sa panonood ng movie. At first, I didn’t know that title of the movie. It was a movie pala entitled Godzilla but the characters were Japanese actors. The movie was okay for me, there’s a breed of comedy, action and special effects. The effects are great! although my mga flaws rin. What I like the most about it was the fighting scenes of the main rivals. Kakatuwa cla..ang galing!They’re not cute nga lang..lol..pero kakakilig pa rin ung story between the main character and her girl. haha..Anyway, after enjoying the first film, I got so affected with the second movie, American Soldiers. It tells something about a day in a life of a group of American soldiers in Iraq. Grabeh!kakatouch yung film and kakagalit at the same time. Too bad, I wasn’t able to finish the film.

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a dream come true!

MOOD: OVERWHELMED!!!

I’m posting this article by Quinito Henson because I know how memorable it is for Arriba members to know that our JOHN make it to the RP Team. Not all players are given the chance to play for your country. Yes! not all players are given the opportunity to wear a jersey with a logo of their national flag..but John did that! Congratulations.“I know it’s been your dream since you were a rookie. I am so happy for you John.. With your willingness to play for the Philippine Team, you once again prove that you deserve all our support and love. Even if you’re supposed to be in US visiting your Mom, you still opted to go to Taiwan and play for the Jones Cup. Again, CONGRATULATIONS!” 

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mixed emotions..

I just checked the internet and I found out that MaSha lost to Amelei MAuresmo in their semifinal match for Wimbledon…another sorry lost for MaSha..when will she able to get her second grandslam? Wimbledon is her favorite event pa naman..Anyway, she’s still young, im sure she will get it next time..Still Congrats MASHA! you did a great job!

Change MOOD! yung happy naman! John made it to the RP Team. YES! he is one of those players who are in Taiwan right now participating in the Jones Cup!Congratulations JA! I know it’s been your dream to make it to the national, you know given the chance to wear that jersey with the Philippine flag logo..syempre, all of us in Arriba are very happy of what he has accomplished. Not all players are given the chance to play for your country..thank GOD! Call  it overacting or whatever, I almost cried out of happiness when I found it…damn! I wasn’t able to rehearse how I will react! Btw, I know Mom Arigo is very proud of him..Congrats to you also MOM and daddy manny and to ate kara. 

Maria and Dirk…

Yup! Maria is in the semifinals of Wimbledon…I can’t wait for her next match against number one Mauresmo. I hope she wins against her and set up a finals either Clijster or Henin-Hardine. Can you imagine that, the top four women tennis are in the semis, that’s history.

Continue soaring MaSha!

About Dirk naman, well I haven’t heard about him yet. The last time I read about him is that he cut his hair again, coz it’s summer already in the States. And also, people are comparing the NBA first round draft pick to him. The guys is Italian, I forgot his name btw. He’s also a 7-footer and shoot treys like Dirk. Pretty interesting, right?

But for me, there can only be one Dirk Nowitzki, the best European player in the NBA today. 

meeting jill and iehl…

May 7 - Tigers lost that night against the Aces. I watched it live together with my cousin and funny thing was that we were actually sitting near Alaska bench.. So everytime the Tigers made their baskets, most likely I was the only one cheering for them on our side. I wasn’t aware that the the Tigers were wearing dark uniforms that game. But it’s fine with me..So what, I paid for my ticket and I have the right to cheer for my favorite team and players wherever I sit. Even my relatives told me they saw me on TV cheering after a Rafi Reavis block..lol.

Another wonderful and memorable night again.. from that night on, jill and I became regular textmates..and so with iehl. Suddenly, I have little sisters that I never had.

Visit to Moro…

APRIL 21,2006 - I was very thankful because I checkedmy email that night. I saw sis Charina’s message. She said she plans to Moro Gym to visit Coke practice. I immediately got her number and texted her. She replied and we set everything. I really can’t sleep that night. This was the first time that I would be able to see JA since 2003. That was back in college when I went to KFC Katipunan with my friend Agnes. Imagine, that was three three years in the making..I always watch his games naman but mainly on TV. Also I was very excited coz I would be able to meet somemembers of Arriba. Honestly, I didn’t know what time I was able to sleep that night. I woke up around 8am the following day. I immediately fixed myself and my things. Around 9am,Chaina and I met at LRT2 Pureza station. She was with Rubz, Rich’s number 1 supporter..(GO sis!). I would never forget when she said “PUP school ko pero puso ko nasa Ateneo.” When we arrived at Moro, it was around 10:30 in the morning. I asked one of the staff there is the team was stillpracticing. He said yes and he even accompanied us inside. “Ang bait ni manong!” He even offerred us to sit on the othe side of the court near that big electric fan..haha.

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Wimbledon 2006

I’m so excited coz Wimbledon will start on Monday already. And guess what? MARIA SHARAPOVA is the favorite of the British bookmakers to win the tournament. Well, that’s great news for all MaSha fans like me. Maria had admitted already that this is her favorite tournament, why not? This is where she won her first major tournament. Her win here two years ago had brought her to where she’s right now- of course the fame and popularity and being considered as the highest-paid female athlete in the world today at the age of 19. Of course, things will never be that easy coz she will be pitted against World no. 1 Amelie Mauresmo, Belgians Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin-Hardine, and former champs Venus Williams and Martina Hingis. She just also came up from an injury that has hindered her from joining other grass court tournaments before Wimbledon.

GO MARIA!!

a perfect birthday gift..

April 9, 2006 - This date marked a special day in my life - it’s my birthday! Unfortunately, I was not feeling well that day. I’m stacked in th ehospital with my cousin who undergone an operation, with cough and flu. What a day to celebrate my birthday! I have planned pa naman to watch Coke’s game later at the Araneta Coliseum. But since I was not feeling today, I decided to skip watching the game live and rather watch it on TV na lang. It’s a good thing, the room that my cousin was occupying had a TV set.

During the start of the game, I saw JA playing very well. And guess what! He made that amazing dunk against Marlou Aquino. Great! I even shouted out of happiness. That was really fantastic! Will Antonio also played well during that game. He was deadly from the three-point shot. Unfortunately, playing against SLR was never easy. They also hav eother players who can shoot trey like Paulo Mendoza. That’s the reason why the game was so closed and you would really know who would win it. It was on the dying seconds when JA was fouled and had to shoot two freethrows. Knowing JA, he usually made those freethrows but during that night, he missed one of those very important freethrows and SLR made a lay-up after. Coke called a time-out. While they were having a time-out, I was really praying that they would be able to send it to overtime. It’s my birthday and I don’t want to be sad on this special day. During that moment, I was really nervous. I know the importance of that game especially to Coach Binky Favis that’s why I was really praying for them to win.

After the time-out, the players were back on the court.  Few seconds before the game ended, JA pull up a trey and made it! Teh game was tied! Then SLR hurried back to their court but they failed to score. It’s OVERTIME! During the overtime, Ali Peek made sure that they would win the game. And that’ it, COKE WON that very critical game! Why? Because that game gave Coach Binky his first All-Star coachign stint. Imagine, he’s a rookie coach but he was able to do that. Congrats Coach! Also, JA, Ali and Rafi made it also to the All-Star team.

Congratulations guys!

An Introduction…

This is my first time to write a blog, I mean a serious blog for myself. Why? Well, Im the type of person who prefers to keep things to myself. I don’t want other people to know how I feel, probably that’s an effect of growing up alone. I am the only child of my parents, and I don’t have many friends to play with.

About me, I don’t like the idea of describing myself. Okay, I’m a friendly person. At first you might thought that I am a snob because I am not the type of girl who will greet you first when you see me..Maybe because I am afraid of rejection. Admit it or not, most people do not want that feeling, and so with me. My friends called me as a basketball buff, yeah, I should agree with that, but let me correct it, I am a JOHN ARIGO fan, hehe. He’s the only player that I like. Of course there are other players that I have cheered for but that was before when JA was not in the PBA yet. Super loyal, to the point that I changed my team when his former team traded him. What’s his former team again? Yeah, its Alaska Aces, Oh, I almost forgot!lol.. NBA? A little.. I like Dirk Nowitzki, the German Wunderkind! Of course Michael Jordan is given already. So unfortunate that they we’re denied of that championship but its okay. Dirk is still young and I am sure they will bounce back next season having the lessons they have learned this year. I also like tennis especially when my favorite MaSha is playing. I really admire her having the skills, the beauty, and attitude. She’s maybe young but her determination is incomparable. (more…)