PierreC
03-07-2008, 01:41 PM
Results - Sunday, February 24, 2008
Singles - Final
(Q) Nuria Llagostera Vives (ESP) d. María Emilia Salerni (ARG) 60 64
Doubles - Final (played Saturday)
(1) Benesova/Mattek (CZE/USA) d. (4) Kostanic Tosic/Müller (CRO/GER) 63 63
Final Facts
- Llagostera Vives wins her second career Sony Ericsson WTA Tour singles title, having previously triumphed at Rabat in 2005; she is now 2-1 lifetime in Tour singles finals (her runner-up finish came at Guangzhou in 2005).
- Llagostera Vives becomes the first qualifier since Arn at Estoril 2007 to win a Tour singles title.
- Llagostera Vives conceded just 22 games en route to the title - the fewest games surrendered by a tournament winner thus far in 2008 (prior to this week Pennetta held the record after dropping a mere 24 games in Viña del Mar last week).
- Salerni was appearing in her maiden Tour singles final; the closest she had come to a singles final prior to this week were semifinal losses at Hobart and Québec City in 2004.
- Benesova and Mattek both win their third Tour doubles title, but their first in tandem; Benesova’s previous triumphs came at Luxembourg in 2007 (with Husarova) and Paris [Indoors] in 2005 (with Peschke), while Mattek’s victories came at Cincinnati in 2007 (with Mirza) and Vancouver in 2004 (with Spears).
Final Quotes
Nuria Llagostera Vives, 2008 Copa Colsanitas Santander singles champion:
"Obviously I'm feeling very good - I didn't lose a set this week and that probably helped as I had to play the qualifying as well. If we went to three sets I'd have been okay, though. I was ready to do whatever it took to win today. Last year I barely won any matches, and I started this season not really knowing where I'd be. But I started feeling really good last week at Viña del Mar and I think my confidence has been growing from there. I have had a lot of exciting moments in my career and this is definitely one of them. Thinking about all of the trouble I've had the last few years and all of the work I've done to get back to where I am, I almost cried today after the match.”
María Emilia Salerni, 2008 Copa Colsanitas Santander singles runner-up:
"Everything is just going so much better the last year or two. I'm just very happy and I can't be disappointed I lost today. I had a really tough time in the semifinals, but I really wanted to make my first final and I just kept fighting. She gave me only one chance and I took it, so I was proud of that. Even though I was tired from that match I still gave it my best against Nuria but she was playing too well today. She is coming back from a bad injury and played well this whole week. I'm very happy for her."
Singles - Final
(Q) Nuria Llagostera Vives (ESP) d. María Emilia Salerni (ARG) 60 64
Doubles - Final (played Saturday)
(1) Benesova/Mattek (CZE/USA) d. (4) Kostanic Tosic/Müller (CRO/GER) 63 63
Final Facts
- Llagostera Vives wins her second career Sony Ericsson WTA Tour singles title, having previously triumphed at Rabat in 2005; she is now 2-1 lifetime in Tour singles finals (her runner-up finish came at Guangzhou in 2005).
- Llagostera Vives becomes the first qualifier since Arn at Estoril 2007 to win a Tour singles title.
- Llagostera Vives conceded just 22 games en route to the title - the fewest games surrendered by a tournament winner thus far in 2008 (prior to this week Pennetta held the record after dropping a mere 24 games in Viña del Mar last week).
- Salerni was appearing in her maiden Tour singles final; the closest she had come to a singles final prior to this week were semifinal losses at Hobart and Québec City in 2004.
- Benesova and Mattek both win their third Tour doubles title, but their first in tandem; Benesova’s previous triumphs came at Luxembourg in 2007 (with Husarova) and Paris [Indoors] in 2005 (with Peschke), while Mattek’s victories came at Cincinnati in 2007 (with Mirza) and Vancouver in 2004 (with Spears).
Final Quotes
Nuria Llagostera Vives, 2008 Copa Colsanitas Santander singles champion:
"Obviously I'm feeling very good - I didn't lose a set this week and that probably helped as I had to play the qualifying as well. If we went to three sets I'd have been okay, though. I was ready to do whatever it took to win today. Last year I barely won any matches, and I started this season not really knowing where I'd be. But I started feeling really good last week at Viña del Mar and I think my confidence has been growing from there. I have had a lot of exciting moments in my career and this is definitely one of them. Thinking about all of the trouble I've had the last few years and all of the work I've done to get back to where I am, I almost cried today after the match.”
María Emilia Salerni, 2008 Copa Colsanitas Santander singles runner-up:
"Everything is just going so much better the last year or two. I'm just very happy and I can't be disappointed I lost today. I had a really tough time in the semifinals, but I really wanted to make my first final and I just kept fighting. She gave me only one chance and I took it, so I was proud of that. Even though I was tired from that match I still gave it my best against Nuria but she was playing too well today. She is coming back from a bad injury and played well this whole week. I'm very happy for her."