- 1999 Alexandra Fusai News
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- Friday 1/1/99
- HAPPY NEW YEAR!
- 1999 will be Alexandra's best year so far: I predict!
- However, it may still be a while before Alexandra plays an "official" match (and wins!).
- My information (usually reliable) indicates that Alexandra is not "committed" (meaning "obligated", not "insane") to the Gold Coast, the Auckland, the Sydney, the Hobart, or, even, the Aussie Open. So Alexandra might not play any "official" matches this month. Oh well....
- And Alexandra is not "expected" at the Tokyo ("Pan-Pacific") starting 2/1.
- At this point, it is actually possible that Alexandra will make her 1999 debut at the Paris on 2/22 (she is seeded #18 in the singles main draw).
- I hope she wins! And she can!
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- Tuesday 1/5/99
- Good News!
- There is evidence that Alexandra will be playing in Hannover, starting 2/15 (that's the week before Paris).
- Hannover has her seeded #19 in the main draw. Yea!
- This site has received e-mail from a girl in Hannover who is a HUGE fan of Alexandra. Perhaps some pics of Alexandra playing there will arrive here by e-mail during or after her matches there (hint, hint!). A picture of Alexandra holding the winner's trophy after the final would be nice, eh?
- It may be that Alexandra can't play January matches 'cause her father needs her to convert his bank to Euros. After 6-months with that laptop she won last year, Alexandra is probably quite a hacker by now!
- But I am selfish: I do so very much enjoy seeing that "Alexandra Fusai d. (somebody)" in the newspaper!
- Oh well... At least I KNOW I will see that MANY times in 1999!
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- Sunday 1/10/99
- More Good News!
- It now appears that Alexandra will be playing at Prostejov (wherever that is) beginning 2/8; the week before Hannover.
- Prostejov has her seeded #6 in the main draw. Yea!
- That's less than a month from now!
- I am "leaning forward" in anticipation!
- Go, girl, go!
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- Tuesday 1/26/99
- This site is very much looking forward to Alexandra playing her first matches of 1999 in just a few days!
- Alexandra can have the best year of her career this year, and I think she wants to, and will!
- I feel I must mention, however, that Natalie is expected at Indian Wells in early March, and Alexandra is not. That is, basically, San Diego, and Natalie likes San Diego.
- I think (well I hope, at least) that Alexandra will play the Family Circle at Hilton Head in late March. I will be there (I have to be, actually). She does very well there (she plays fantastic matches!). Maybe she will win it all this year; and I will see it!
- It's just that, when she plays, she plays so well, with so much SPIRIT, that the whole world gains; even if they don't see it.
- Just my opinion.......
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- Tuesday 2/9/99
- VERY GOOD NEWS: Alexandra won her 1st match of 1999; and in typical Alexandra fashion: 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. If you want to see a tennis match, then Alexandra is your gal!
- The loser was a gal named Barabanschikova and all I can say about that is that my relation Bob became Dylan when he went commercial, and it has done him well.
- There is no better name than Fusai, though; it means "fused" in english. Alexandra is that!
- Fusai/Tauziat are seeded #1 in doubles, and in a strange twist Natalie lost her 1st round singles (although she was seeded #1). This allows her (and perhaps motivates her) to win the doubles with Alexandra.
- And it gives Alexandra the opportunity to win the singles without having to beat Natalie.
- Alexandra: you can do it! You are better than ever! You are the best there, in singles and doubles both! Do it! Why not?
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- Friday 2/12/99
- Things have been strange here since the last update, so I apologize for the date-gap, ok?
- News from Czech-land is mixed, but mostly good.
- Alexandra fought like, well, Alexandra, in her 2nd round singles vs. Alexia Dechaume-Balleret (now there's a name!) but lost, 7-5, 7-5. Oh well.
- At least it once again demonstrated clearly that a win over Alexandra is not an easy win!
- The doubles news is much better, in fact, all good!
- Fusai/Tauziat's first doubles match redeemed them both individually, and as a team.
- They faced Dechaume-Balleret/Golarska in the 1st round and lost the 1st set in a tiebreak 6-7(4). But then they clearly "got serious" and grabbed 2 sets 6-1, 6-1. That is not to be sneezed at, for either of them!
- The 2nd round Fusai/Tauziat was vs. Husarova/Olsza and it was similar; but in a better way. Fusai/Tauziat won the 1st set in a tie-break 7-6(3), then put the match away in a 6-3 second set. Fusai/Tauziat is a major team!
- Fusai/Tauziat advanced to the final in a walkover vs. Courtouis/VanRoost (VanRoost was injured at the end of a tough singles match earlier).
- Fusai/Tauziat, seeded #1, are obviously expected to win that final. And seeding is a good thing. But I think any final should be a 50/50. That's just my opinion.
- ANYWAY: we have seen this week that Alexandra is playing with undiminished fire, and that Fusai/Tauziat continues to be a team for real. This 1st week of 1999 for each of them has had more success than not.
- Clearly Alexandra can be, is, wants to be, and will be, a major player in the 1999 season. That is GOOD, in my opinion.
- And Fusai/Tauziat's can be the "team to beat" in 1999. By that I mean the "team to fear".
- ANYWAY: I have been asked about my previous translation of "fusai" to "fused". My source is the Internet translator "Babelfish". Apparently the translation is accurate, but very esoteric. The main response I am getting is that "Fusai" is "just a name" and translating it is like translating "John McEnroe" into "Toilet McEnroe" (actually...).
- I meant "fused" not as "joined" (which makes no sense) but as "wired to explode".
- Meanwhile, I have received some interesting "near" translations: "fusee" is a rocket. And somehow related (in some french way) is "fondu" which means "passionate, enthusiastic, perhaps slightly crazy".
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- Sunday 2/14/99
- Happy Valentine's Day, Nokia Doubles Champions!
- YES! Fusai/Tauziat humbled Hrdlikova/Vildova (after a slow start) 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 at the Nokia.
- So The Team is 1-for-1 in 1999 doubles finals! Undefeated!
- Now, Good Luck at the Faber, both of you, singles and doubles!
- Alexandra's first round in Hannover is vs. Ruano-Pascual.
- Please win, Valentine!
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- Tuesday 2/16/99
- Well: Alexandra lost to Ruano-Pascual 3-6, 2-6. This is still very much '99 warm-up for Alexandra. This loss is in no way disturbing. Yet I frown. Oh well...
- Alexandra will play vs. Ruano-Pascual again tomorrow when Fusai/Tauziat (again seeded #1!) play Ruano-Pascual/Singer tomorrow.
- A win tomorrow will re-energize Alexandra - and will be a first step to a 2nd-in-a-row doubles championships - I hope. And will turn my frown upside-down.
- Next week is the Gaz-de-France Paris Open where Alexandra will have every opportunity to shine, big-time.
- Best years can begin with fits-and-starts; that may be typical!
- And Alexandra has no competition at all for: Most Beautiful.
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- Wednesday 2/17/99
- Well: I'm smiling!
- It started out easy, but it turned out not to be easy at all. Maybe that's good.
- Fusai-Tauziat defeated Ruano-Pascual/Singer 6-1, 6-7(5), 7-5. That crowd saw a match, eh? Wow!
- Roll on, Alexandra and Natalie, roll on!
- By the way: Alexandra started the season at #38 singles, #9 doubles - her best season-start rankings ever! Yea! Mostly: I hope she's having fun!
- And I am very glad that Isabelle Autissier is safe! Thank you Giovanni Soldini! You are a wonderful gentleman! I'm sure Joshua Slocum is smiling broadly, somewhere!
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- Friday 2/19/99
- Well: The Grin continues!
- Fusai/Tauziat defeated Carlsson/Loit rather easily 6-4, 6-2. Maybe that's good.
- I didn't post this last night 'cause the evidence of it was not entirely clear to me. Of course, I'm very glad it's true!
- Tomorrow is Fusai/Tauziat vs. Novotna/Rittner.
- Fusai/Tauziat (seeded #1!) are obviously expected to win this.
- I hope, tomorrow, a bunch of Germans see that a couple of French girls can play doubles VERY well. And I hope they see the same thing, again, on Sunday!
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- Saturday 2/20/99
- Finals time again!
- YES! Fusai/Tauziat defeated Novotna/Rittner 3-6, 6-4, 6-3!
- I guess Alexandra and Natalie just want to win! That's good!
- Tomorrow is Fusai/Tauziat vs. Williams/Williams.
- I'm not anti-American - but I'm rooting for the French team!
- Go, girls, go! Then on to Paris!
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- Sunday 2/21/99
- Well, it started out interesting. Fusai/Tauziat took the first set 7-5. Then something evidently happened.
- Maybe one Williams was angry at having lost the singles, and the other Williams was well rested from not having to play any singles.
- Anyway: it ended 7-5, 2-6, 2-6. Oh well...
- So now it's on to Paris - and I'm sure the crowds will welcome their warriors home enthusiastically!
- The draws are tomorrow - play starts Tuesday.
- Alexandra: be good, do good, have fun!
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- Tuesday 2/23/99
- Not since last year's World Cup victory has such a roar engulfed Paris! (That's called "literary license" - more follows...)
- France's Favorite Daughters, Alexandra Fusai and Natalie Tauziat, strolled onto Centre Court tonight to thunderous applause and a standing ovation. The roar of the crowd swept past the Arc de Triomphe and shook the Eiffel Tower. The occasion was a match vs. Christina Singer and Helena Vildova.
- It went like this: 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, 4-0, 5-0, 5-1, 6-1, 1-0, 2-0, 3-0, 4-0, 4-1, 5-1, 6-1. YOW! Here in the US we call that "cruel and unusual punishment". But I'm OK with it, in this case!
- As the victors left the court, the roar of the crowd shook the Tower again.
- Tomorrow is Alexandra vs. Sandra Kleinova. I suspect the Tower will shake again! (But it will stand - it is VERY well built!)
- Alexandra: be good, do good, have fun!
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- Friday 2/26/99
- I feel some guilt. Am I a jinx? I hope not...
- I didn't report Alexandra's 1st round singles loss 'cause it truly stunned me. I thought I could at least report it in the context of a 2nd round doubles win. Now I can't even do that.
- Alexandra lost the first set of her 1st round singles (vs. Sandra Kleinova) 2-6. Then she nicely won the 2nd set 6-2. But then the stunner: she lost the 3rd set 0-6. That just doesn't seem like Alexandra...
- The 2nd round doubles (vs. Karina Habsudova/Virginia Ruano-Pascual) was similarly strange. Fusai/Tauziat won the 1st set handily 6-4, then lost 3-6, 1-6. Again, this makes no sense (they were seeded #1!). I have no explanation.
- The near-future is also looking a bit odd. As near as I can tell, Natalie will be going to California next week without Alexandra. If that happens, it will be interesting to see if she plays doubles, and if so, with whom. Alexandra will presumably "rest" (or "practice"?). Then they will be re-united at the Lipton (Alexandra did very well at the Lipton last year), then Alexandra will go on to the Family Circle, without Natalie. Alexandra did very well there last year (I was there; at least I feel I wasn't a jinx at all for her there, then!)
- Now I have to ramble a bit: I blame Fernandez! That US Open match last year is still a heartache for me, and may well still be for Alexandra, and may always be, for both of us. Let's GET OVER IT, ok? Alexandra's had a semi-slump since then (although drawing Barbara Schett in the 1st round 2 weeks in a row is just bad luck). But there have been some nice wins (doubles champs at Nokia this year is good!). Also, Alexandra was savaged by the New York press after the Chase (and probably the Open); I hope Alexandra knows that's New York. New York is not America.
- The good thing about slumps is that they end. Then the "come-back" is more glorious than ever, and before the next slump begins, the player is at a level much above where she was when the previous slump began. And the New York media is (maybe) less cruel.
- Here's what I see happening: Alexandra will decide that her slump has ended. She will have a Lipton even better than last year, likewise a Family Circle. Her ranking will improve. 1999 will be her best year yet. Her "recovery from slump" will continue through 1999 and into 2000, with her ranking finally entering the 20's. In 2000, after a short slump (maybe 3 weeks in May?) Alexandra will enter the top 10. Am I a prophet?
- Most important, though, is that whenever Alexandra plays, hundreds, or thousands, of tennis fans get to see a very beautiful French girl play with incredible spirit and heart and talent. Alexandra plays matches to remember; matches which are life-changing, life-enhancing, even when she loses.
- Alexandra: be good, do good, have fun!
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- Thursday 3/4/99
- Contrary to earlier indications, Alexandra is apparently not skipping the Evert. Yea!
- Alexandra is listed in the main draw there, set to play a qualifier in 1st round singles.
- Natalie is also there, so Fusai/Tauziat will probably play doubles, but the doubles draw is not yet released.
- Go, Alexandra, go! Show those left-coasters that Fusai is dynamite!
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- Friday 3/5/99
- As I write this Alexandra is playing her 1st round singles at the Evert - it is AF vs. Alicia Molik of Australia, a qualifier. Alexandra is currently down 2-5 in the 1st set. They are playing the last Court 3 match of the day (there are later matches on other courts).
- Alexandra's singles ranking fell this week, from #38 to #39, while Ms. Molik's rose, from #137 to #132. (Alexandra's doubles ranking improved from #9 to #7.)
- Ms. Molik walked into today's match with a real improvement in her ranking, and a "win-streak" in qualifying which put her in the main draw. She is "hot". Alexandra, lately, has been "not-so-hot" in singles (hence the ratings drop).
- Even so: can a "hot" 'Roo, ranked #132, out-spirit Alexandra, ranked #39? Maybe...
- The results are now in: Alexandra lost, 2-6, 4-6. Oh well. Sometimes "hot" beats "not-so-hot" despite rankings (Alexandra got a lot of those wins last year).
- The doubles draw is not yet announced.
- Win, Fusai/Tauziat, win!
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- Monday 3/8/99
- Fusai/Tauziat are a happenin' thing! YOW!
- Fusai/Tauziat got a "bye" on the 1st round doubles. WOW! NEAT! Far Out!!
- Fusai/Tauziat play their 1st match (2nd round) vs. Graf/Huber - maybe today, more likely tomorrow.
- It will be a COOL and HEAVY match, you know?
- Yeah, fer shure, mans and babies!
- Fusai/Tauziat will TRIP!
- TO THE MAX! Yeah.... (Far out....)
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- Tuesday 3/9/99
- Well: Fusai/Tauziat lost to Graf/Huber 2-6, 4-6 at the Evert.
- (This space intentionally left blank.)
- Tea Time at the Lipton soon!
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- Monday 3/15/99
- Snapshot: this is how things look for the next few weeks:
- Alexandra and Natalie are in the main draws, singles and doubles, at the Lipton starting later this week. They might do very well, each and together. They're certainly due, eh?
- Then it looks like Natalie takes a break and Alexandra goes to the Family Circle and Amelia without her.
- Personally: I am OK with this. Although I am a HUGE fan of Fusai/Tauziat, I actually like the concept of "Fusai/X"; it's exciting - unknown!
- Of course, my favorite matches are Fusai vs. X. I think her doubles play is helping her singles play, and her singles play will climb toward, and pass, her doubles play, in the next year or two; maybe this year (but this year's top 10 is tough - Alexandra quality!).
- I hope to be at the Family Circle again this year - I hope to get some pics I can upload - mostly I hope to see Fusai wins!
- By the way, I don't take pics during a match (I think that's rude) so my pics will be: before, after, practice, and warmup. I don't want my "photoing" to be a "player" in the match, so I try very hard to hide the notion I'm photographing at all. I'm clearly not "the press". (In fairness, I think we both knew she was being photographed in that pic which crops up all over the place on this site - but it was not a grin "for the camera", it was a grin after winning a 3-hour match).
- Alexandra's rankings this week are #41 singles, #10 doubles.
- SO: sometimes I get what I want.
- Here's what I want: Alexandra, and Alexandra and Natalie, do very well at the Lipton. Then Alexandra, and Alexandra/X, do very well at the Family Circle. Then Alexandra, and Alexandra/X (or X2), do very well at Amelia.
- Is that too much to ask?
- MOST IMPORTANT: Alexandra: do good, be good, have fun!
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- Wednesday 3/17/99
- Faith and Begorrah! (Whatever that means...) It's St. Patrick's Day!
- The Lipton main draw singles start tomorrow; the main draw doubles start Friday.
- Alexandra's 1st round is vs. Brie Rippner - the winner then plays Monica Seles in the 2nd round; probably Saturday or Sunday, probably on the Main Court.
- Although Alexandra has a substantial ranking advantage over Rippner (#41 vs. #66), Rippner is a young (barely 19) Californian who improved her ranking from #81 just this week. Rippner is hungry, and on the move. I hope Alexandra "teaches her a thing or two", as they say. Then Fusai vs. Seles could be very interesting.
- Fusai/Tauziat are seeded #3 so they got a bye on the 1st round. Their 2nd round match will be vs. Asa Carlsson/Laurence Courtois or Catalina Cristea/Ruxandra Dragomir. All 4 are players with considerable talent, in my opinion. Of course, I hope (very much!) for a Fusai/Tauziat win!
- The Lipton, this year, is looking like a very good opportunity for Alexandra to improve her rankings - both singles and doubles. But it probably won't be easy!
- Allez Fusai!
- MOST IMPORTANT: Alexandra: have fun, be good, do good!
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- Friday 3/19/99
- Well - Alexandra lost to Rippner 0-6, 6-4, 0-6. 0 well...
- Alexandra also lost to Rippner at least twice last year; Alexandra's best year - so, maybe, losing to Rippner will make this year another best ever?
- But there's some good news: Alexandra won a set; that's good news! It seems she fought hard to the bitter end. So her HUGE spirit is still intact!
- I watched the 3rd set unfold on the computer (60 second refresh) and they seemed to be, mostly, close games.
- The stats (available at the Lipton site) show unforced errors to be the main problem in the 1st set, and a very low 1st serve % to be the main problem in the 3rd set. In the 2nd set she did everything right; so it is good to see Alexandra can still do everything right, sometimes.
- That 1st serve seems to be the biggest problem she has lately. Maybe she should trade some speed for accuracy? On the other hand, if she finally starts getting that MONSTER in regularly she will shine like the sun!
- And Alexandra can still shine brightly in doubles play at the Lipton! Fusai/Tauziat rocks!
- I think Alexandra will have at least some singles success at the Family Circle; it seems to have been a good place for her before. And if she plays doubles there, without Natalie, that could well be interesting and maybe quite good.
- MOST IMPORTANT: Alexandra: it's only a game - your happiness is most important! So win at Family Circle! And win Lipton doubles! Be happy! Do good! Have fun!
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- Monday 3/22/99
- Well - Fusai/Tauziat lost to Cristea/Dragomir 6-0, 1-6, 3-6. Oh well...
- I was unable to connect to "refresh-a-minute" until it was 2-1 in the 3rd set. From there it went 2-2, 3-2, 3-3, 3-4, 3-5, 3-6.
- The games mostly seemed quite long (especially the one after 3-3) so this was no simple collapse. Still...
- Whatever...
- Next week is a new world - Hilton Head Island, way out in the Atlantic Ocean (kind-of).
- It seems to me that Alexandra is clearly due for a GREAT week!
- MOST IMPORTANT: Alexandra: it's only a game - your happiness is most important! So win at Family Circle! Be happy! Do good! Have fun!
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- Go: to more 1999 AF News: click here!