- 1998 Alexandra Fusai News
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- Friday 8/28/98
- Well: this has been a major "computer problems" week for me; but I think I now have this little box convinced I'm boss. And I have some good Alexandra news to report!
- To get caught up: FT retired from that doubles a week ago because of Natalie feeling a "strained right forearm". That didn't sound too serious, and apparently wasn't (read on).
- Alexandra then was seeded 4th in qualifying at New Haven and faced a probably very hungry girl named Rippner (maybe Jackie the Rippner?) and clearly taught her a lesson from Lao Tsu's The Art of War, but lost 6-2, 3-6, 5-7. So Alexandra was done with singles at New Haven early; but not without a real fight. Oh well.
- (Meanwhile: Natalie, in the main draw, faced Amelie Mauresmo, an occasionally brilliant French rising star. Natalie fought to a tie-break in the 1st set, but lost, then was wiped out in the 2nd set. So Natalie was also out of singles early.)
- Now for the good news: After rain delays, Fusai/Tauziat (seeded #1!) finally got to play some doubles yesterday. Adams/Tarabini were the first to fall, 6-0, 6-7(1), 6-3 in a match which indicated that any "strained arm" problem was history.
- Then: apparently late at night, FT humbled Halard-Decugis/McQuillan 6-3, 6-2.
- Tonight (weather permitting) FT will play Florencia Labat/Dominique VanRoost in a match which will probably be very hot, to put it mildly.
- (At next week's US Open, Alexandra's 1st match will be vs. Alexandra Stevenson, who she has beaten before. I am, at least, certain of this: Alexandra will win!)
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- Sunday 8/30/98
- Good news in New Haven!
- Friday night Fusai/Tauziat battled back to win the match vs. Labat/VanRoost in a 3rd set tie-break 3-6, 6-3, 7-6. This match must have been, as expected, very exciting!
- Fusai/Tauziat then stunned DeSwardt/Novotna 6-1, 6-0 on Saturday to decisively validate their #1 seeding. (In fairness, Novotna was probably not 100%. It was a loooong day for her!)
- Fusai/Tauziat are Doubles Champions at Pilot Pen!
- Whoppee! Hooray! Yippee!
- Fusai/Tauziat are seeded #3 at the US Open. Their 1st match is vs. Maureen Drake/Lindsay Lee (who were seeded #1 in qualifying).
- Alexandra may well also play Mixed Doubles, probably with David Adams.
- Alexandra's 1st match at the US Open will probably be the Singles vs. Alexandra Stevenson.
- You go, girl! Show us why you like hardcourt best!
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- Monday 8/31/98
- Good news in New York!
- The Alexandra vs. Alexandra match is over - and Alexandra won!
- Alexandra Fusai defeated Alexandra Stevenson 6-4, 6-4. Yea!
- It went like this (with Stevenson serving first): 0-1, 0-2, 1-2, 2-2, 3-2, 3-3, 3-4, 4-4, 5-4, 6-4, 0-1, 1-1, 1-2, 2-2, 3-2, 3-3, 4-3, 5-3, 5-4, 6-4.
- A bit of a nail-biter, but probably not as close as it may look. I suspect Fusai clearly dominated.
- Next is vs. Mary Joe Fernandez, which might be tough.
- Win, Fusai, win!
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- Thursday 9/3/98
- More good news in New York! (And some bad news.)
- Fusai/Tauziat defeated Drake/Lee handily, 6-4, 6-3, to advance to 2nd round doubles. That's good news!
- I missed the first few games, but what I saw went like this: 4-2, 4-3, 4-4, 5-4, 6-4, 1-0, 2-0, 2-1, 3-1, 3-2, 4-2, 4-3, 5-3, 6-3.
- Many games were very hard fought, but when it counted FT came out on top!
- The real story, however, is that Alexandra did very well in her match against Fernandez, although she lost, 3-6, 6-4, 6-7(12-10).
- It was a typically exciting Alexandra match, with the net-cord maybe deciding the outcome.
- That's all I can say about it right now.....
- Next is probably Fusai/Adams.
- You're a Tiger, Alexandra!
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- Saturday 9/5/98
- Bad News in New York Town (to paraphrase my cousin Bob)!
- Fusai/Tauziat (seeded #3) lost to Kschwendt/Sidot (unseeded) 1-6, 5-7. The 2nd set had a lot of "stuff" in it; but to "spot" an opponent a set like that is never a good idea. Just my opinion.
- Fusai/Adams (seeded #7) lost to Morariu/Macphie (unseeded) 2-6, 4-6. Scary. Just scary.
- I'm ready now to say something about yesterday's vs. Fernandez match: Alexandra did very, very well! If she had won I think she would have humbled Schnyder yesterday, instead of folding as Fernandez did. Just my opinion.
- Alexandra is #1 in spirit-heart-smarts - just my opinion. Not #1 in luck this week, though. Bad luck is no one's fault!
- What I want to see is Fusai vs. Hingis! Sure, Hingis fears Seles and Graf, etc.; she may fear Fusai most of all! She should! Alexandra will beat her! Maybe this month!
- Coming up is Seoul, Tokyo, Leipzig, Surabaya, Filderstadt, Zurich .... Alexandra will play some very exciting (of course!) matches later this month. And she will win!
- Alexandra: you're a rock!
- Rock on!
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- Tuesday 9/29/98
- As near as I can tell Alexandra has been "officially" inactive since the US Open. I hope she has spent some time making that monster 1st serve more accurate. I hope she has spent most of her time living life; 'cause that's what life is for!
- Alexandra is the #14 seed in qualifying at the Filderstadt next week, and I think she knows she can do very well in that tourney; if she wants to. (ok, no wild net-cords, ok?)
- The following week she is #14 qualifier at Zurich. Alexandra can do very well there too!
- Alexandra is the #9 qualifier at Moscow the week after that. She will go from qualifier to main draw there, I predict. She is, this year, learning what that is all about (going from qualifier to main draw). And I'm glad about that. I hope she is too. I suspect she is.
- Alexandra is then seeded #20 at Luxemboug, in the main draw. She can win there!
- Alexandra has had her best year ever; so my optimism is not insanity, ok?
- Alexandra's WTA rankings continue to improve, to #38 or #39 in singles and #6 or #7 in doubles. The rankings will see her hold or improve her doubles ranking; but they will mostly see her improve her singles ranking.
- Alexandra: you are also a major singles player now! You go girl!
- (By the way: I am working on a restructuring of the AF pic page. It will have many sub-galleries, with everything that is there now, plus much more. Please be patient; I'm working on it....)
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- Monday 10/5/98
- Well, the VERY good news is that Alexandra is back to playing "official" matches, and winning!
- And she is winning in her typical "heart-attack" way; she continues to be "the match to watch" wherever she plays.
- Sometimes I wish she would just win 6-0, 6-0; but those "heart-attack" matches are FANTASTIC (when she wins). So I'm confused.
- Alexandra was seeded #8 at Filderstadt (not #14 as I had read earlier) and her 1st match was vs. Cocheteux. And she won 6-4, 7-5! Yea!
- Then it was Alexandra vs. Oremans. And she won 6-4, 6-7(8), 6-3! Yea!
- Then Alexandra vs. Hrdlickova. I don't know how that turned out yet; although it's probably happened already. Maybe Alexandra won 7-6(54), 6-7(72), 7-6(405) and it took 28 hours and just ended minutes ago. Maybe she won 6-0, 6-0. Both are probably equally likely (or unlikely).
- Anyway: I think Alexandra will have a very good October. Just a hunch (and a hope).
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- Tuesday 10/6/98
- Well, Alexandra had an unexciting match: 6-2, 6-1.
- But it was a loss, in 3rd round qualifying at Filderstadt, to Hrdlickova. Oh well....
- Apparently as a result of not qualifying for singles, Alexandra is also shut out of doubles at Filderstadt. Oh well....
- So Zurich is next. Let's make it "Fed Cup Revenge"!
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- Thursday 10/8/98
- Finally: AF US Open pics are posted; 26 thumbnails and 26 "original size". Go there: click here.
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- Saturday 10/10/98
- Well, good news and bad news from Zurich.
- The bad news is that Alexandra lost to Sandra Kleinova in 1st round qualifying, 3-6, 1-6. So she is "probably" out of singles. Oh well....
- The good news is that Fusai/Tauziat is seeded #2 in doubles so Alexandra still has a major chance for glory this week. The 1st Fusai/Tauziat match is vs. DeSwardt/Tatarkova; probably Tuesday.
- Alexandra: you're having your best singles year; but also your best doubles year; and Natalie is very hot now!
- Alexandra: please enjoy your opportunity to win this in doubles, ok?
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- Wednesday 10/14/98
- Well, bad news from Zurich.
- Although seeded 2nd, Fusai/Tauziat lost to De Swardt/Tatarkova in the 1st round, 2-6, 6-4, 1-6.
- At least they won a set, eh?
- Oh well.....
- On to Moscow!
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- Monday 10/19/98
- Well, no bad news from Moscow. But no good news either. Apparently, Alexandra isn't there!
- Some good news from Corel, though: Alexandra has moved back up to 6th in doubles from 7th! (That's from last Monday's rankings, today's aren't out yet.)
- More good news from the Seat Open in Luxembourg next week: it looks like Alexandra is seeded #20 in the main draw, so she won't have to bother with that "qualifying" stuff.
- And Fusai/Tauziat may well be seeded #1!
- You go, girl and girls!
- Now let's see Fusai/Tauziat win the Seat doubles!
- And Fusai vs. Tauziat in the Seat singles final! (And Fusai wins!)
- On to Luxembourg!
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- Friday 10/30/98
- (Massive computer problems have again prevented timely updating of this site. Sorry. I even had to reformat and reinstall. I might replace this hardware soon; it is now a year old! Enough about me!)
- Good news from Corel: Alexandra has moved up to 37th from 39th in singles and retained the #6 doubles ranking. And Fusai/Tauziat is basically "locked" as the #4 seed of the Chase in 2 weeks. That ain't hay!
- Recent news is all bad, though. At Luxembourg, Alexandra lost to Barbara Schett 1-6, 4-6 in 1st round play. At least there wasn't qualifying to fool with (Alexandra was seeded #18 and Schett #10).
- Then Fusai/Tauziat (seeded #1!) played Schett/Spirlea and lost 5-7, 3-6. Well, another 1st round shocker!
- (By the way, Tauziat is doing very well in singles there.)
- Alexandra: sure you can lose every remaining match this year and still have your BEST YEAR YET; but I don't think that is a good idea. Improve the year, ok? Make your best year better, ok? Please give your fans 3-set matches, even if you lose (and you will win those!) OK, how dare I ask you for "more" when you have given me SO MUCH? HOW DARE I? I do it for you....
- Alexandra Fusai is the most beautiful and exciting player in tennis today.
- But not the best, YET!
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- Thursday 11/5/98
- Finally some truly good news!
- Fusai/Tauziat defeated Grande/Habsudova 7-5, 6-4 in the 1st round at Leipzig!
- Today is Fusai/Tauziat vs. Dragomir/Majoli or Morariu/Tatarkova.
- Go, girls, go!
- However, as sometimes happens, there is some bitter with the sweet....
- Alexandra's Corel singles ranking fell back to #39 from #37. Doubles held at #6.
- And Alexandra's 1st round singles turned out to be a rematch of last week's; again Schett won, this time 6-1, 6-2. Oh well....
- Next week Alexandra is in the main draw again (3rd week in a row!) at #19 in Philadelphia. Good luck there, Alexandra! And good luck in today's doubles!
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- Friday 11/6/98
- More good news!
- Fusai/Tauziat defeated Dragomir/Majoli 6-1, 6-3 in the 2nd round at Leipzig!
- That ain't hay! Both Dragomir and Majoli are excellent players. But Fusai/Tauziat is SPECIAL!
- Go, girls, go!
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- Saturday 11/7/98
- At least some good news!
- Alexandra's doubles partner, Natalie Tauziat, won a tough, 3-set, match to go to the final tomorrow vs. Steffi Graf. It will be pro vs. pro. Go Nat!
- After winning that tough match then it was Fusai/Tauziat vs. Bollegraf/Spirlea.
- Despite Tauziat being obviously very tired, Fusai/Tauziat fought like Tigers, but gave to Bollegraf/Spirlea 7-5, 7-6(2).
- This is good 'cause it shows them both as major fighters, even this late in the season.
- I can see both doing very well in singles next week in Philadelphia, with a Fusai vs. Tauziat final (and Fusai winning!) and Fusai/Tauziat winning the doubles, too!
- Then I see Fusai/Tauziat winning the Chase doubles. Well, we'll see, eh?
- (By the way, tonight I've added a 2nd Vincent Girardin gallery of pictures by him, but scanned and "massaged" by yours truly. Go there: click here!)
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- Monday 11/9/98
- Interesting things happenin' in Philly!
- Alexandra's first singles is vs. Brie Rippner, ranked #132, but who has just won 3 tough matches to qualify.
- Alexandra will probably(!) win, of course, but it could be a tough match; and a good "confidence-builder" for our Alexandra.
- Confidence will be useful in her next match, vs. Martina Hingis. (Finally!)
- That will be "The Natural" vs. "The Tiger", and I think Alexandra will show that Tigers LOVE to eat Swiss cheese!
- Then it will only be 2 more wins, likely vs. Graf, then Arantxa, to meet (and beat!) Natalie in the final!
- Doubles also looks interesting! First round is Fusai/Tauziat (seeded #2) vs. Seles/Zvereva. Go French girls!
- (By the way, Corel has had to reduce Alexandra's rankings slightly, strictly for mathematical reasons, of course. Her singles fell from #39 to #40 and her doubles from #6 to #8. No big deal...)
- SO: Philly for Fusai, and Fusai for Philly, too!
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- Wednesday 11/11/98
- Well, it's only a GAME!
- Why do some people take it so SERIOUSLY?
- Phooey on Philly!
- Alexandra lost in 1st round singles to Brie Rippner, 6-7(1-7), 2-6. Oh well...
- The score is important, of course, but what I really wonder about is the "story" of the match. Alexandra also lost to Rippner (6-2, 3-6, 5-7) at New Haven back in August. This past weekend, Rippner won 3 matches to qualify to play Alexandra. Alexandra hasn't won a singles match since winning 2 at Filderstadt a month ago.
- I wish I could have been there in Philadelphia yesterday, but 1000 miles is a long drive! Did Alexandra have a lead in that first set, and lose it, or did she fight back and not quite prevail? I don't know. At least spectators clearly saw a very exciting 1st set. Alexandra is very "dependable" in that regard!
- Anyway, an hour or two later it was Fusai/Tauziat vs. Seles/Zvereva and the latter prevailed 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. Oh well...
- So let's cut to the Chase!
- Maybe next week I can say: I love New York!
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- Monday 11/16/98
- Fusai/Tauziat are seeded #4 at the Chase Championships in New York!
- Fusai/Tauziat face (unseeded) Likhovtseva/Sugiyama in 1st round doubles Wednesday night, probably starting "not before" 9pm.
- Last year, Fusai/Tauziat made it to the Sunday finals. Of course, I hope they do again this year! But win it this year, ok, girls?
- That 1st round match is likely to be very hot, though; Likhovtseva/Sugiyama won the Advanta yesterday, beating Seles/Zvereva (who beat Fusai/Tauziat in 1st round last week). The winner will face Hingis/Novotna (seeded #1) in the 2nd round.
- So even "just" to get to 3rd round (the Sunday final), like last year, will be a major accomplishment!
- But I want SO VERY MUCH for Alexandra to be a winner on Sunday 'CAUSE IT'S HER BIRTHDAY!
- Even if Fusai/Tauziat end their year on Wednesday night (or very early Thursday morning), 1998 will have been the best year yet for both of them, in singles and (probably) doubles. That's good!
- Good news from Corel! Math can be like magic, so Alexandra's singles ranking improved from #40 to #39 and her doubles ranking improved from #8 to #6!
- PROPHECY rhyme: Fusai/Tauziat win Chase on 11/22/98!
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- Thursday 11/19/98
- I LOVE NEW YORK!
- Fusai/Tauziat defeated Likhovtseva/Sugiyama in 1st round doubles last night, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4! YEA!
- Next is vs. (unseeded) Basuki/Vis, probably Saturday. (Basuki/Vis defeated Hingis/Novotna yesterday.)
- Win, Fusai/Tauziat, win! Go, girls, go!
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- Saturday 11/21/98
- I LOVE NEW YORK!
- Fusai/Tauziat defeated Basuki/Vis in 2nd round doubles yesterday, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3! YEA!
- Next is vs. Davenport/Zvereva tomorrow after the singles final. Tough match... Fusai/Tauziat can win!
- Win, Fusai/Tauziat, win! Go, girls, go!
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- Sunday 11/22/98
- HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALEXANDRA!
- I hope you have a fun day today!
- Congratulations on your best year yet!
- Congratulations on playing in the Chase Doubles Final!
- Congratulations on fighting the good fight in that Final!
- It turns out the final was played yesterday. The score was 6-7(6-8), 7-5, 6-3 with Davenport/Zvereva getting the win. Oh well...
- Alexandra: even so, you're the greatest!
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- Wednesday 11/25/98
- 1998 - the best year yet for Alexandra Fusai!
- Final 1998 WTA rankings: #39 singles, #6 doubles. Excellent!
- 1998 earnings: $294,437(US)! WOW! That's #22 on the list - and almost 1.7 MILLION French francs! Double WOW!
- I bet her banker dad is a bit of a hero at work, eh?
- Thank you, Alexandra, for many hours of very exciting and wonderful matches in 1998!
- An easy prediction: 1999 will be the best year yet for Alexandra Fusai!
- Alexandra: regardless, you're the greatest!
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- Saturday 12/19/98
- There is one other thing worth mentioning about 1998:
- ALLEZ LE BLEU!!!
- 'Nuff said!
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