VILLANOVA, Pennsylvania, 8 November 2005 — Amelie Mauresmo rallied to win her third straight Advanta Championships title, defeating Elena Dementieva 7-5, 2-6, 7-5 on Sunday.
Mauresmo, ranked fourth by the WTA Tour, won her third title this year and 18th overall. She came off consecutive opening-round losses at Moscow and Zurich.
“It’s a great effort to win this three times in a row,” Mauresmo said. “It doesn’t happen a lot. I’m proud of what I’ve done, especially after two bad losses.” Two points from losing the match, Mauresmo took control when Dementieva’s serve broke down. Dementieva double faulted twice in the 10th game, including the decisive point that allowed Mauresmo to even the third set at 5-all.
Mauresmo used a strong forehand to hold serve in the next game and finished off the match by forcing errant shots from Dementieva.
“I couldn’t believe I was up 4-1 and about to lose the match,” Mauresmo said. “I didn’t give in to frustration too much. It’s something I’ve improved on. Probably maturity has a lot to do with it.” The Frenchwoman’s path to the final was helped by the withdrawals of top-seeded Lindsay Davenport and Maria Sharapova earlier in the week, leaving her the highest-seeded player.
Serena Williams, Venus Williams and Patty Schnyder also withdrew because of injuries.
Steffi Graf is the only other three-time Advanta winner. She did it in 1992, ‘95 and ‘98.
Dementieva, looking for first title this year, dropped to 4-10 in career finals. She double faulted 14 times, yet nearly came out the winner.
“I lost a lot of points and gave her a big advantage. It’s not my favorite shot to do,” Dementieva said of her serve. “I’m trying to get better.”
Mauresmo is scheduled to join Dementieva, Davenport, Schnyder, Kim Clijsters, Mary Pierce, Nadia Petrova and defending champion Sharapova at the WTA Tour Championships that begin Tuesday in Los Angeles. The Advanta tournament ended its 21-year run at Villanova.
Frazier Downs Arvidsson to
Claim WTA Quebec Title
In Quebec City, Canada, US veteran Amy Frazier downed up-and-coming Swede Sofia Arvidsson 6-1, 7-5 Sunday in the final of the $70,000 WTA Bell Challenge.
Frazier, seeded sixth, captured her eighth career title, and her first since she won at Hobart in January of 2004.
“Winning any tournament is very exciting,” said Frazier, 33. “I have good memories here, it is such a nice event.” The American, who is studying to become a math teacher, said she would keep playing tennis as long as she enjoys it.
“I play for fun, and that’s the only reason I play,” she said.
Frazier, who upset top seed Nathalie Dechy of France in the semi-finals on Saturday, claimed the first prize of 27,000 dollars.
Arvidsson, the eighth seed who was leading in her semi-final against third seed Marion Bartoli when the French player withdrew, was appearing in her first WTA Tour final.
The 21-year-old Swede admitted to some nerves, but said she had learned a lot in reaching her first career final. “This is my best result in my career up to now,” she said. “I know what I have to do now, and I will work on it and come back and do better next year.”
Pierce Still Dreaming of Becoming World No. 1
Meantime, French veteran Mary Pierce, runner-up in two of the year’s grand slams, still believes she can reach world number one.
The 30-year-old, who this week contests the season-ending WTA Championships, has enjoyed a remarkable resurgence with runs to the finals of both the French and US Opens as well as titles in San Diego and Moscow.
She is already setting lofty targets for next year, with a Wimbledon crown high on her wish list.
Pierce, who also won the French Open in 2000, begins her challenge against Clijsters on Tuesday in a re-match of the US Open final that the Belgian won easily.
