The Daily Backspin: 2006 WTA Clay Court Awards

**CHAMPIONS OF ROLAND GARROS**
WS: Justine Henin-Hardenne (BEL)
MS: Rafael Nadal (ESP)
WD: Lisa Raymond(USA)/Samantha Stosur(AUS)
MD: Jonas Bjorkman(SWE)/Max Mirnyi(BLR)
MIX: Katarina Srebotnik(SLO)/Nenad Zimonjic(SCG)
GS: Agnieszka Radwanska (POL)
BS: Martin Klizan (SVK)
GD: Sharon Fichman(CAN)/Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova(RUS)
BD: Emiliano Massa(ARG)/Kei Nishikori(JAP)


...this year's Roland Garros action wrapped up with Rafael Nadal completing his "60, not 4" win over Roger Federer (running his career record against him to 6-1, including a 4-0 mark in 2006). Lisa Raymond (her ninth slam doubles title) and Samantha Stosur (her third) picked up the slam Doubles title that they missed out on in Melbourne, putting an even tighter stanglehold on their position as the best team in the world.

In the juniors, Agnieszka Radwanska knocked off Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the Girls final. The Polish teen previously won the Wimbledon Girls crown in 2005. And Martin Klizan defeated Philip Bester in the all-unseeded Boys final.
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**RG CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND AWARDS**
PLAYER: Justine Henin-Hardenne
RISERS: Samantha Stosur & Katarina Srebotnik
SURPRISE: Sharon Fichman
VETERAN: Lisa Raymond
FRESH FACES: Agnieszka Radwanska & Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
DOWN: Kim Clijsters

**CAREER SLAM TITLES - ACTIVE**
[singles-doubles-mixed]
58...Martina Navratilova (18-31-9)
15...Serena Williams (7-6-2)
15...Martina Hingis (5-9-1)
13...Venus Williams (5-6-2)
9....Lisa Raymond (0-5-4)
9....Virginia Ruano-Pascual (0-8-1)

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**2006 WTA 2Q CLAY COURT AWARDS**
[Weeks 14-23]

=TOP PLAYERS=
1.Justine Henin-Hardenne...Queen of Roland Garros (and the pigeons) once again. And don't forget, she saved Belgium's proverbial bacon in Fed Cup play, too, as the Waffles knocked out defending champ Russia. Interestingly, she hasn't won a match at Wimbledon since 2003.
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2.Nadia Petrova...the injury and early bouncing in Paris can't take away her clay dominance this quarter. Can she make up for Roland Garros at SW19, where she made the QF in '05?
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3.Svetlana Kuznetsova...still the bridesmaid at Roland Garros, but now everyone knows that to win in Paris (as has been the case now for three years running) you HAVE to go through the Contessova.
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4.Martina Hingis...once again done in by the Top 10er in Paris -- but she DID win Rome, where she didn't have to face any (though non-Top 10ers Venus, Vaidisova and Safina proved to be pretty tough at RG, didn't they?).
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5.Nicole Vaidisova...the Dynamova was moving along quietly, until she landed on French soil. A Strasbourg title and RG semi later, and she'll be everyone's dark horse at Wimbledon.
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6.Shahar Peer...mature by necessity, the Israeli teen proved to be quite the revelation on the clay, winning two titles and nearly upsetting Hingis in Paris.
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7.Francesca Schiavone...her leading role in knocking off 2003-05 finalist France in Fed Cup play began her clay season, and pretty much everything after that was overshadowed by it.
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8.Dinara Safina...three Top 10 wins in Rome, then her shocking come-from-behind win over Sharapova at RG made everyone begin to wonder whether her career is about to surpass that of her (lately very quiet) big brother.
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9.Lisa Raymond/Samantha Stosur...it's been a rare big event title that hasn't been won by this duo in '06.
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10.Kim Clijsters...despite her Fed Cup stumble, and whiff in the Roland Garros SF, she DID win in Warsaw on the surface she refuses to believe she's very good on.
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=RISERS=
1.Nadia Petrova
2.Dinara Safina
3.Anna-Lena Groenefeld
4.Jie Zheng
5.Na Li
6.Daniela Hantuchova
7.Shuai Peng
8.Zi Yan
9.Anabel Medina-Garrigues
10.Flavia Pennetta
HM-Ting Li (Sr.) & Tiantian Sun

=FRESH FACES=
1.Nicole Vaidisova
2.Shahar Peer
3.Ana Ivanovic
4.Agnieszka Radwanska
5.Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
6.Romina Oprandi
7.Viktoriya Kutuzova
8.Michaella Krajicek
9.Victoria Azarenka
10.Aiko Nakamura
HM-Virginie Pichet, Alize Cornet & Aravane Rezai

=SURPRISES=
1.Jamea Jackson
2.Jelena Jankovic (after 0-10 streak)
3.Shenay Perry
4.Agnieszka Radwanska
5.Catalina Castano (def. Vaidisova in Charleston)
6.Mashona Washington (almost)
7.Ivana Lisjak
8.Kaia Kanepi
9.Magdalena Rybarikova
10.Anna Tatishvili
HM-Alicia Molik (the comeback begins)

=VETERANS=
1.Martina Hingis
2.Francesca Schiavone
3.Venus Williams
4.Martina Navratilova
5.Meghann Shaughnessy
HM-Lisa Raymond & Jill Craybas

=DOWN=
1.Amelie Mauresmo
2.Elena Dementieva
3.Patty Schnyder
4.Virginia Ruano-Pascual/Paola Suarez (had won RG 4-of-5 years)
5.Nadia Petrova (in Paris)
HM-Mary Pierce (missing-in-action)

=ITF STARS=
Romina Oprandi & Vasilisa Bardina

=PERFORMANCE OF THE MONTH=
Nadia Petrova sweeps Amelia Island & Charleston titles, the first to do so since '95, and wins 15 straight matches en route to three titles

=BEST (NON-TITLE WINNING) PERFORMANCE=
Dinara Safina in Rome

=BEST (NAME-MAKING) PERFORMANCE=
Nicole Vaidisova is a dynamo at Roland Garros

=BEST EXTENDED PERFORMANCE=
Justine Henin-Hardenne extended her Roland Garros record to 22-1 over the past four years in winning her third title in Paris, this time without dropping a set.

=MATCH OF THE MONTH=
Berlin Final - Nadia Petrova d. Justine Henin-Hardenne
...4-6/6-4/7-5. The long, tough match that JHH never had to win at Roland Garros.

=(MARTINA) COMEBACK MOMENTS=
Martina Navratilova returns to Czech Republic for first time in 20 years, then wins yet another doubles title in Strasbourg... Martina Hingis wins Rome, her first singles title during her comeback.

=BEST (PIGEON-ASSISTED) COMEBACK=
Roland Garros 1st - Maria Sharapova d. Mashona Washington
...6-2/5-7/7-5. Sharapova overcomes a 5-2 deficit in the 3rd, and match points that went her way after a few birds "visited" the court.

=WORST POST-SLAM CHOKE=
Amelie Mauresmo... in Fed Cup, and at Roland Garros (take your pick)

=WORST SLAM CHOKE=
Roland Garros 4th - Dinara Safina d. Maria Sharapova
...7-5/2-6/7-5. The Supernova blows a 5-1 lead in the 3rd.

=BEST DECISION=
Zina Garrison put together a "B" Fed Cup team of Jamea Jackson, Jill Craybas, Shenay Perry and Vania King... and upset Germany in the 1st Round.

=WORST DECISION=
Roland Garros SF - Svetlana Kuznetsova d. Nicole Vaidisova
...5-7/7-6/6-2. Vaidisova lost her nerve while serving up 7-5/5-3, but could have saved herself in the 2nd set TB. At 5-5, rather than go for the sure winner down the line to set up a match point she tried to go cross court behind her opponent. The ball sailed wide, Kuznetsova tied the match on the next point... and Vaidisova never recovered.

=BIGGEST (non-WORLD CUP) TEAM UPSET=
Italy def. France 4-1 in Fed Cup

=BIGGEST FED CUP UPSET (MATCH)=
Jamea Jackson d. Anna-Lena Groenefeld
...6-2/3-6/7-5. Jackson makes her Fed Cup debut a memorable one. ALG recovers in time to make the RG quarters (defeating Jackson in their early round rematch).

=BIGGEST NAME-MAKING UPSET=
Warsaw 1st - Agnieszka Radwanska d. Anastasia Myskina
...6-4/4-6/6-4. The Polish teen went on to win the Roland Garros junior title a few weeks later.

=BIGGEST SLAM UPSET=
Roland Garros 4th - Nicole Vaidisova d. Amelie Mauresmo
...6-7/6-1/6-2. And away she goes?

=MARATHON=
Amelia Island Doubles 1st - Pratt/Stewart d. Stubbs/Morariu
...7-6(5)/7-6(20). The 22-20 tie-break was the longest in WTA history.

=HELLO/GOODBYE=
Conchita Martinez retired, while Alicia Molik returned early from her inner ear-related sabbatical.

=CRASHING OUT?=

Jelena Dokic was involved in a minor car accident in Croatia, and lost in the opening round of qualifying for a challenger event (to the world #709). Soon afterward, her own ranking had nearly dipped into the 700's. (However, it should be noted that she DID just qualify for a $25K challenger... but that that's her only good news of late says a great deal about how bad things have been for the one-time Wimbledon semifinalist.)

=OH, AND THEN THERE'S...=
Katerina Bohmova, who was arrested for shoplifting (she was fined $500)... Serena Williams, who appeared as a guest on "The Bernie Mac Show," but not on any tennis courts... Nadia Petrova, who became the #1-ranked Russian after her pre-Paris clay sweep... Indonesia, which balked at traveling to Israel for Fed Cup play because the Muslim country doesn't recognize the state... Venus & Martina Hingis split a pair of matches, their first since 2002... Henin-Hardenne won her Melbourne rematch with Mauresmo in Berlin

...and just a few weeks later became "The Pigeon Queen of Paris."

Ah, what a varied trip it's been.

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**CLAY COURT LISTS**

==MOST 2Q CLAY FINALS==
3...Nadia Petrova (3-0)
2...Shahar Peer (2-0)
2...Justine Henin-Hardenne (1-1)
2...Svetlana Kuznetsova (0-2)

==TOP 10 PLAYERS - 2Q CLAY WTA RECORDS==
19-6...Svetlana Kuznetsova
15-1...Nadia Petrova (0-1 FC)
14-2...Justine Henin-Hardenne (2-0 FC)
12-7...Patty Schnyder
10-2...Kim Clijsters (1-1 FC)
9-3....Venus Williams
6-2....Amelie Mauresmo (1-1 FC)
6-4....Elena Dementieva (1-1 FC)
3-1....Maria Sharapova
0-0....Lindsay Davenport
0-0....Mary Pierce
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**WEEK 24 PREDICTIONS**

...onward we go, as the "Battle Royale" arrives at it's grass court interlude. The 2006 stats so far:

Round of 16: Pierre leads 31-29
Final 8: Backspin leads 36-29
Final 4: Pierre leads 18-16
Finalists: Backspin leads 7-5
Champions: Pierre leads 1-0


BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND (III-Grass)
05 F: Sharapova d. Jankovic
06 TOP: Sharapova/Schiavone
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-SF-
Sharapova d. Stosur
Chakvetadze d. Mirza
-FINAL-
Sharapova d. Chakvetadze

...it's back to the grass, so I'll play it safe and go with the Supernova to repeat. After not getting a single cotton-pickin' clay champion correct, it's not like I can do any worse, right?


**PIERRE's PICKS**
SEMIFINALS
Sharapova def Raymond
Zvonareva def Bartoli

FINAL
Sharapova def Zvonareva


All for now.

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ALSO THIS WEEK: 2006 ATP Clay Court Awards on ATP Backspin.

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The Daily Backspin, RG 14: Restoring Order

All hail "The Pigeon Queen."



Justine Henin-Hardenne is 22-1 in her last twenty-three matches at Roland Garros, and defended her title on Saturday to become champion for the third time in the past four years. Accomplishments to behold, for sure... but maybe not as much as being the sole survivor -- or is it the focal point? -- of the pusillanimous plan that the pigeons of Paris hatched from their safe havens above the fray two weeks ago.

Only two of the fine-feathered friends of Justine that were in on the plot had the courage to venture onto the court during the tournament, but their appearance was enough to start the Sharapova over Washington, Safina over Sharapova, Kuznetsova over Safina... and then Henin-Hardenne over Kuznetsova chain reaction that resulted in today's final.

On Friday's "Late Show with David Letterman," it was said that "scientists have been studying pigeons, and say they're definitely up to something." The statement was meant to be a joke, but it was more riddled with truth than anyone could have ever imagined. Agree or disagree with the pigeons' passive-aggressive tactics, but you've got to admire them for their devious genius. It looks like they got the result they wanted.

(Hmmm... maybe I've been too hard on the little guys. I mean, if they like Justine they can't be ALL bad, right?)

This final act in the plan was the least dramatic of the string of lost opportunities for one player that were turned into gold by another, though. There were no huge leads blown this time around. But the final match wasn't a breeze for JHH like her '03 and '05 championship matches against Kim Clijsters and Mary Pierce, either. Svetlana Kuznetsova, while not as harshly single-minded in pursuit of the title as, say, Henin-Hardenne at the 2003 U.S. Open, at least forced the Belgian to win the match rather than ceremonially handing over the title to her. The score was 6-4/6-4 and, in the end, JHH only led 69-64 in total points.

Though one wonders what might have happened had the Russian walked through the one door that opened for her in the opening stages of the 2nd set. If Kuznetsova had maintained her slight advantage, and pushed a tiring Henin-Hardenne into a 3rd set she might have actually won this title. Winning in straight sets, even though they were close ones, didn't totally break JHH's trend for the majority of a season where she's either won easily (and quickly) or teetered on the edge and failed to pull out one of those long, three-setters that used to be her hallmark. Kuznetsova could have made her prove she could still win a match like that, but she didn't come up with the goods when it was still possible to force Henin-Hardenne into a corner from which she would have to fight out. Much like with Amelie Mauresmo's three uncompleted matches in Melbourne, JHH took this title without ever having to stare down the evil eye of defeat that lurks on the outer edges of a long day.

But, as with the Australian Open, they'll be no asterisk here. No tarnished trophy, either. This slam crown will line up rather nicely alongside her other four, not to mention tie her with Martina Hingis and Venus Williams on the career majors list.

So, after a string of slams that saw Venus emerge from a few years of shadows at Wimbledon, then Clijsters and Mauresmo outrun their reputations to win their first titles, this tournament proved something that we (including myself) should never have questioned. Justine Henin-Hardenne still rules Roland Garros, as she should. Order has been restored.

JHH herself stated after the match that all the controversy of January should now be history, and that the time to more forward has arrived. Bygones are bygone... as if there was ever any doubt that that SHOULD be the case.

Allez Justine. All hail the Pigeon Queen.

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**HENIN-HARDENNE IN SLAM FINALS**
[5-2 career]
1-1...Australian Open
3-0...Roland Garros
0-1...Wimbledon
1-0...U.S. Open

**MOST SLAM TITLES - ACTIVE**
[ ]-most recent
7...Serena Williams ['05 Australian]
5...JUSTINE HENIN-H. ['06 ROLAND GARROS]
5...Venus Williams ['05 Wimbledon]
5...Martina Hingis ['99 Australian]

**MOST SLAM FINALS - ACTIVE**
12...Martina Hingis (5-7)
11...Venus Williams (5-6)
9....Serena Williams (7-2)
7....JUSTINE HENIN-HARDENNE (5-2)
7....Lindsay Davenport (3-4)
6....Mary Pierce (2-4)
5....Kim Clijsters (1-4)

**MOST 2006 WTA TITLES**
4...Nadia Petrova
3...Amelie Mauresmo
3...JUSTINE HENIN-HARDENNE
3...Shahar Peer

**2006 TITLE DEFENSES**
Antwerp -- Amelie Mauresmo
ROLAND GARROS -- JUSTINE HENIN-HARDENNE
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Emily Westacott, the record ninth consecutive different slam winner when she claimed the Australian Open in 1939, can rest easy. She won't have to make any awkward conversation with a would-be ninth straight slam winner from 2004-06 ("You wear WHAT on court when you play, dear? My goodness."). That possibility died when Nicole Vaidisova lost to Kuznetsova in the semifinals.

But as Emily goes back into her comfortable corner of history, she should keep her future personal schedule open. The current streak of different champions stands at four (Venus-Clijsters-Mauresmo-JHH), so she might be called upon to prepare for a possible dinner guest in, oh, around a year's time, when there very well could be eight consecutive different champions all over again.

Not likely, but don't necessarily bet against it.
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Unfortunately, Pierre didn't file his women's final prediction in time for it to be included in yesterday's preview. (See, like I said, this final WAS something of an afterthought.) But, considering his original pick for the final (JHH def. Kuznetsova) held up, I doubt if he would have gone out on the proverbial limb and picked against himself so late in the game.

Congrats to him.

(But, hey, at least I picked the 6-4/6-4 final score correct, right?)
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...in Day 14 action, Jonas Bjorkman & Max Mirnyi defended their Doubles title with a win over the Bryan brothers. It's Bjorkman's ninth career slam doubles title, and Mirnyi's sixth.

Emiliano Massa & Kei Nishikori won the Junior Boys Doubles, while Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova & Sharon Fichman defeated Agnieszka Radwanska & Caroline Wozniacki for the Girls Doubles crown. The Pavlyuchenkova/Fichman team also won the Girls title at the Australian Open in January.

In fact, Russia's Pavlyuchenkova plays tomorrow in the Girls final (vs. Radwanska, once again) with the opportunity to pull a double-double, sweeping both the singles and doubles titles at Oz and Roland Garros.



In tomorrow's Women's Doubles final, Lisa Raymond & Samantha Stosur try to make up for losing the Australian title, facing off against Daniela Hantuchova & Ai Sugiyama.

Then, of course, there's that OTHER final, too

=MEN'S FINAL PICKS=
#2 Nadal d. #1 Federer in 5 sets

...60, not 4. Henin-Hardenne and Bjorkman/Mirnyi have already defended their 2005 Roland Garros titles. On Sunday, Rafa tries to make a third defense attempt a charm for him, as well.


All for Day 14.

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TOMORROW: '06 CLAY COURT AWARDS


HMMM, I'M STILL NOT SURE IF THEY CAN BE TRUSTED

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The Daily Backspin, RG 13: The Other Final

What if they threw a women's final party and no one showed up?

Kind of feels that way at this year's Roland Garros, doesn't it? Just a little, at least. With the biggest story of the women's draw (Nicole Vaidisova) out in the semis, the biggest-named Russian (Mari-... oh, you know who I mean) out in the Round of 16, and the bulk of the attention going where, to be honest, it SHOULD be pointed -- at the "dream final" match-up between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in the "60 (clay-wins-in-a-row) or 4 (slam-titles-in-a-row)" battle that's been brewing since this year's tournament began (or really, as soon as that masterful Rome final was wrapped up).

So, it looks like the women will be served up as an hors d'oeuvre on Saturday in preparation for Sunday's main course. Pardon the "afterthought" feeling that lingers in the air with this match, but the fates have worked against it being much of a story in the crowded sports landscape this weekend. Not a great situation, but a realistic one. It doesn't mean the match won't be a great one, though.

Or does it?

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#5 JUSTINE HENIN-HARDENNE vs. #8 SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA


HEAD-TO-HEAD:
Henin-Hardenne leads 10-1 (JHH 3-0 on clay)
CLAY MEETINGs:
2005 Warsaw Final - JHH 3-6/6-2/7-6
2005 R.G. 4th Rd. - JHH 7-6/4-6/7-5
2006 Berlin QF - JHH 6-4/7-6

...the main problem with this "oh-yeah-they're-playing-too" match is that it might not end up being much of a contest. Henin-Hardenne is 10-1 against Kuznetsova, 3-0 on clay. In Le Petit Taureau's two previous Roland Garros final appearances, she made quick work of both Kim Clijsters (2003) and Mary Pierce (2005), and she's yet to lose a set at this year's event as she's run her record to 21-1 in her last twenty-two matches in Paris. Plainly, JHH is the best female clay court player in the world. As good as she is, Kuznetsova isn't that. She's shown herself to be capable on the terre battue, but hard courts are really her best surface. Ahh, but the one caveat in all this talk is that the Contessova has held match point against the past two eventual RG champs in 4th Round matches -- Anastasia Myskina in '04 and, yes, Henin-Hardenne (2 MP, in fact) a year ago. Plus, the three clay matches between these two have been anything but open-and-shut cases in the Belgian's favor. If Queen Justine is on her game, though, will any of that matter on Saturday? Probably not. Remember, a year ago, Henin-Hardenne said she knew she had Kuznetsova beaten during her come-from-behind win because she looked at her opponent across the net and saw "fear" on her face. JHH won't likely forget that memory, and Kuznetsova may have an even harder time doing so. The final is Henin-Hardenne's to win, or lose. It probably won't be a cakewalk like her two other RG finals, but she'll be holding up her fifth slam trophy within the next 24 hours.
PICK: HENIN-HARDENNE IN STRAIGHT (maybe 4 & 4) SETS

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**ROLAND GARROS FINALS, 2000-05**
2000 #6 Pierce d. #5 Martinez 6-2/7-5
2001 #4 Capriati d. #12 Clijsters 1-6/6-4/12-10
2002 #3 S.Williams d. #2 V.Williams 7-5/6-3
2003 #4 JHH d. #2 Clijsters 6-0/6-4
2004 #6 Myskina d. #9 Dementieva 6-1/6-2
2005 #10 JHH d. #21 Pierce 6-1/6-1

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...the tournament's first champions were crowned on Friday, as Katerina Srebotnik & Nenad Zimonjic defeated Elena Likhovtseva & Daniel Nestor for the Mixed Doubles crown. It's Srebotnik's third career slam Mixed title, joining her '99 Roland Garros and '03 U.S. Open championships.

Daniela Hantuchova & Ai Sugiyama knocked off Australian Open Doubles champs Zi Yan & Jie Zheng in the SF, and will meet #1-seeded Lisa Raymond & Samantha Stosur in the final.

In Juniors action, the top two girls seeds, #1 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS), the Aussie Open Jr. champ, will meet #2 Agnieszka Radwanska (POL), who upset Anastasia Myskina a few weeks ago in Warsaw, in the final. Meanwhile, the boys draw produced two unseeded finalists in Canada's Philip Bester and the Slovak Republic's Martin Klizan.


All for Day 13.

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COMING UP ON "THE DAILY BACKSPIN":

Day 14: The Women's Final
Day 15: 2006 Claycourt Awards

Read more...

The Daily Backspin, RG 12: Down the Line, and Across the Chops

"Down the line, and across the chops."

That was the story of the women's semifinals on Thursday... what one player DIDN'T do, and what another player DID.

It's tempting to say that what Justine Henin-Hardenne did to Kim Clijsters (a 6-3/6-2 thrashing) in their twentieth career meeting brings her tennis redemption within arm's reach, but doing so would be to fall for the months-old misperception that she's ever needed redeeming in the first place. She never has. (The lack of an asterisk by Amelie Mauresmo's Australian Open title will forever be a testament to that fact.) But it IS fair to say that, after seeing her game waver in and out of alignment for the past few months, Queen Justine has apparently rediscovered her champion's form -- and, in turn, herself -- in Paris.

Nicole Vaidisova is still in the process of completing the early stages of HER tennis foundation. She's almost got it down, but not quite yet. Thursday provided the evidence... for the 17-year old SHOULD be facing off against the Belgian on Saturday, but she'll be watching the final instead.

After so many correct decisions and the flashing of an almost preternatural ability to ignore pressure in Paris through five matches, Vaidisova's Roland Garros journey was undone by a few nervous moments and one bad shot. Up 7-5/5-3, the Czech teenager served for the match, only to appear to back off her shots just enough to allow Svetlana Kuznetsova to find a backdoor through which to enter a match that was all but a handshake at the net from being over.

After the steadier Russian gained the lead in the set at 6-5, Vaidisova got herself under control and forced a tie-break. There, at 5-5, she approached a less-than-mediocre Kuznetsova drop shot that bounced at the back of the deuce court service box and prepared to hit the most important shot of the match. Rather than crushing a stinging forehand down the line, likely out of reach of Kuznetsova, who was stationed on the left side of the court, the Czech attempted a riskier crosscourt flick-of-the-wrist shot behind her opponent. The ball sailed wide and, rather than a match point, the Dynamova faced a set point in Kuznetsova's favor. One point later, the match was knotted at a set apiece, but it turned out to be, once again, all but over save for a handshake at the net.

This time, Vaidisova failed to forget her missed opportunities. Kuznetsova jumped at the chance she was given and sailed though to her second slam final with a 5-7/7-6/6-2 victory. Vaidisova will be thinking about this one for a while, or at least until she gets another chance in similar slam circumstances.

JHH has been there. In her first career slam final at Wimbledon in 2001, the Belgian fought to knot the match with Venus Williams and took the 2nd set, only to fall flat in the 3rd and lose it at love. While Henin-Hardenne has still yet to win a Wimbledon title, she's rarely blown her slam opportunities since. She's gone 6-3 in her slam semifinal appearances, and 4-1 in slam finals (her only loss coming with that Melbourne retirement in January).

While Clijsters was the player who needed to be aggressive in the all-Waffle match-up with Henin-Hardenne, it was "Le Petit Taureau" who actually was. Rather than force the action, Clijsters reverted to the defensive, sometimes tentative player who blew so many of her slam opportunities before winning the U.S. Open last September in what might turn out to be her biggest career aberration, rather than any sort of awakening. JHH took a figurative shot across Clijsters' chops on Chatrier, and the world #2 went down in a heap... never more representative than when she nearly completely whiffed on an overhead in the final stages of the 2nd set. Whether the wind altered the course of the ball or JHH's backcourt stumble distracted her, it doesn't matter. Clijsters whiffed at Roland Garros again, and if she follows through with her retirement plans she won't get another better chance to win there than she had in 2006. Something of a pity, but hardly surprising.

Henin-Hardenne is now on a 21-1 run at Roland Garros, and looks to claim her third title in four seasons at the slam that's become her's to win if she's ready, willing and able to perform come the final week of May. The continuation of that sort of dominance could even turn that semi-tepid response she got from the post-Melbourne French crowd when the tournament began into outright admiration, right? Here's to letting (over-hyped) bygones be bygone.

Vaidisova, though, will have to wait a while longer for her big day. She wasn't ready to boil in Paris, after all. She's still on simmer. But it'd be wise to keep a close eye on THIS pot. She went 18-0 after her U.S. Open loss, then followed up her Oz loss by reaching the SF in her next slam. After today, what does SW19 hold for the Dynamova and those stinging groundstrokes and high octane serve? Could she be on a path adhering even more closely to Maria Sharapova's than anyone imagined? We'll see.

But Saturday will be Justine's time (and Svetlana's, of course), when an "untarnished" grand slam title will be doled out, and the French crowd will decide whether bygones truly will be bygone.

The perfect opportunity has arrived, and it's about time to move on.
______________________________

**MOST WTA SEMIFINALS**
7...JUSTINE HENIN-HARDENNE (5-2)
7...SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA (3-4)
6...Amelie Mauresmo (4-2)
6...Nadia Petrova (4-2)
5...Maria Sharapova (3-2)
5...Martina Hingis (3-2)

**2006 MOST WTA FINALISTS**
[by nation]
15...RUSSIA (7 champions)
7....BELGIUM (3)
6....France (4)
6....Italy (1)

**MOST '06 WINS OVER FORMER/CURRENT #1's**
6...JUSTINE HENIN-HARDENNE
5...Amelie Mauresmo
5..SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA
3...Maria Sharapova
3...Martina Hingis
2...Kim Clijsters
2...Nadia Petrova
2...Elena Dementieva
2...Nicole Vaidisova
2...Dinara Safina
______________________________

Sometimes Backspin gets caught up in the moment and roots for the big and new story. Case in point this Roland Garros, as I gritted my teeth and picked against Le Petit Taureau from the start by choosing Nadia Petrova to advance past her in the QF.

As it turned out, that match never happened.

Before these semifinals, again I touted the virtues of Vaidisova winning this title over Kuznetsova, Clijsters and... gulp... even Henin-Hardenne.

Well, now that one's over, too. So now, without conflict, Backspin can once again become a Justine-friendly zone should she win her fifth grand slam title on Saturday.

Hmmm, maybe the pigeons were Queen Justine fans all along?
______________________________

In matches other than the women's semis, Martina Navratilova's final Roland Garros journey before her 50th birthday ended when she and Bob Bryan lost in three sets to Likhovtseva/Nestor in the Mixed SF.

In Junior action, #1-seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (the Girls champ in Melbourne) dispatched Tamira Paszek as three of the top four seeds reached the semifinals.
______________________________

**GIRLS SEMIFINALS**
#1 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) v. #3 Yung-Jan Chan (TPE)
Katerina Vankova (CZE) v. #2 Agnieszka Radwanska (POL)

**BOYS SEMIFINALS**
#1 Thiemo De Bakker (NED) v. Philip Bester (CAN)
#8 Petru-Alexandru Lucanu (ROM) v. Martin Klizan (SVK)

**MEN'S DOUBLES FINAL**
#1 Bryan/Bryan v. #2 Bjorkman/Mirnyi

**MIXED DOUBLES FINAL**
#7 Likhovtseva/Nestor v. #8 Srebotnik/Zimonjic

**WOMEN'S DOUBLES SEMIFINALS**
#1 Raymond/Stosur v. #15 Daniilidou/Medina-Garrigues
#4 Yan/Zheng v. #5 Hantuchova/Sugiyama
______________________________

**BATTLE ROYALE UPDATE**

=SEMIFINAL RE-PICKS=
Backspin: 1-1 (RG: 9-5), Pierre: 0-2 (RG: 8-6)

=FINALS PREDICTIONS=
Pierre: 2/2, Backspin 1/2 (2006: Backspin leads 7-5)
______________________________



All for Day 12.

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The Daily Backspin, RG 11: Four to Shimmy on Chatrier

Only four remain in the game: the defending champion, two former slam winners and a Czech teenager looking to make her name a household one.



Hmmm, two more wins on Chatrier Court and Nicole Vaidisova could initiate another Reebok (represented by herself) vs. Nike (represented by you-know-who), teenaged blonde bomber tennis stars with modelling portfolios (though neither anything like that of Heather Mills-McCartney, it should be noted) ad war. Hey, bring it on.



#16 NICOLE VAIDISOVA vs. #8 SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA


HEAD-TO-HEAD: Kuznetsova leads 1-0
ONLY MEETING: 2005 Wimbledon 3r - Kuznetsova 7-5/6-7/6-2

...it's almost impossible to use past history to determine Vaidisova's fate against Kuznetsova. Their only previous match-up was a year ago on grass. Plus, the Dynamova seems to have learned so much since then. After blowing a lead against Nadia Petrova in last year's U.S. Open Round of 16, Vaidisova reeled off 18 consecutive wins and three singles titles. After her no-show in the Australian Open Round of 16 against Mauresmo, Vaidisova's next slam has featured a win over the aforementioned world #1, the ability to shake off opening set losses, and her first-ever slam semifinal appearance. After defeating Venus in the QF, the Czech teenager made comments about how if Sharapova can win a slam title at 17, there's no reason why she can't do it, too. It's difficult to see this match being easy, but Vaidisova's confidence is sky-high and Kuznetsova admits to pretty much being "asleep" during her early 5-1 QF deficit against Dinara Safina. If Vaidisova continues to keep her head, she'll win her third straight match against a former slam champion.
PICK: VAIDISOVA IN 2, with both sets being ultra-close (maybe even two tie-breaks)

PIERRE's P.O.V.: Vaidisova def. Kuznetsova in 3 - A very tough choice, I think the key is that Vaidisova currently has so much confidence that she will probably be able to play in a more collected manner than Kuznetsova who has had a tendancy to be nervous in big moments.


#5 JUSTINE HENIN-HARDENNE vs. #2 KIM CLIJSTERS


HEAD-TO-HEAD: Clijsters leads 10-9
MEETINGS ON CLAY (JHH leads 5-1):
...1999 Reims Final - JHH 6-4/6-4
...2001 Roland Garros SF - Clijsters 2-6/7-5/6-3
...2002 Rome SF - JHH 7-5/6-2
...2003 Berlin Final - JHH 6-4/4-6/7-5
..2003 Roland Garros Final - JHH 6-0/6-4

...in 2003, these two Waffles met eight times. But they've only faced each other twice in the past two and a half years. It's been three full years since they last met on clay, in the RG final where Clijsters was mentally shaky and thoroughly outclassed by Henin-Hardenne. JHH hasn't been in her nearly-perfect clay form in '06, having only played five EuroClay matches this season (reaching the Berlin final), but she's yet to lose a set in Paris and has lost but one match there in her last four trips (going 20-1). She's yet to have to dig out a tough three-setter, a skill she's a bit rusty at this season. If Clijsters plays with the aggressive abandon she did against Hingis in the QF, she'll force Henin-Hardenne to turn into Le Petit Taureau again to beat her. There's no more perfect place for it to happen than Roland Garros. The thought here is that Clijsters will push her fellow Belgian, but her own stated dislike of the clay will ultimately lead to her blinking in what is really a very winnable match despite JHH's commanding 5-1 clay court record against her.
PICK: JHH IN 3, with the final set being in the 6-1 or 6-2 range

PIERRE's P.O.V.: Clijsters def. Henin-Hardenne in 3 - What a win this would be, defeating Justine in 3 sets in Roland Garros, but I think Kim is more physically ready for this battle than Justine, and the way she played against Hingis was very impressive to me.

__________________________________

**JUNIOR GIRLS QUARTERFINALS**

#1 Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) vs. Tamira Paszek (AUT)
#3 Yung-Jan Chan (TPE) vs. #10 Alize Cornet (FRA)
Katerina Vankova (CZE) vs. #13 Youlia Fedossova (FRA)
Alexandra Panova (RUS) vs. #2 Agnieszka Radwanska (POL)


**JUNIOR BOYS QUARTERFINALS**

#1 Thiemo De Bakker (NED) vs. Andrei Martin (SVK)
#15 Robin Roshardt (SUI) vs. Philip Bester (CAN)
#8 Petru-Alexandru Lucanu (ROM) vs. Kei Nishikori (JAP)
Martin Klizan (SVK) vs. Pedro Sousa (POR)
__________________________________

**PAST RG GIRLS RESULTS**

2005 Final: Agnes Szavay d. Raluca Ioana Olaru

=SELECTED RECENT CHAMPIONS/RU's=
2004 Champion: Sesil Karatantcheva
2003 Champion: Anna-Lena Groenefeld
2003 RU: Vera Dushevina
2002 RU: Ashley Harkleroad
2001 RU: Svetlana Kuznetsova
2000 Champion: Virginie Razzano
1999 Champion: Lourdes Dominguez-Lino
1998 Champion: Nadia Petrova
1998 RU: Jelena Dokic
1997 Champion: Justine Henin
1997 RU: Cara Black
1996 Champion: Amelie Mauresmo
1996 RU: Meghann Shaughnessy
1994 Champion: Martina Hingis
1993 Champion: Martina Hingis
__________________________________

*MEN'S SEMIFINAL PICKS*

#1 Federer d. #3 Nalbandian in 4
#2 Nadal d. #4 Ljubicic in 3

(QF re-picks record: 3-1)
__________________________________

...in Day 11 doubles action, Martina Navratilova/Bob Bryan advanced to the Mixed SF, while Daniela Hantuchova/Ai Sugiyama upset doubles #2-seed Cara Black/Rennae Stubbs in the Quarters.

Meanwhile, after noting some of the comically "less-than-complimentary" post-match comments she made last year, I'll make a point to offer up this from Venus Williams, after losing to Nicole Vaidisova in the QF: "She (Vaidisova) just was the better player today," Venus stated.

Very gracious. (And, for once, there's no sarcasm involved when talking about Venus.) See how easy that was?


All for Day 11.

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The Daily Backspin, RG 10: Vaidisova...ready to boil?

Nicole Vaidisova's June 6, 2006 march on Paris isn't on the level of the June 6, 1944 invasion of Normandy, but the prospects of something big happening at Roland Garros are getting mighty serious now.



Watershed moments in the Vaidisova's career are hard to miss, from when she first appeared in "3-V" to when it was apparent that she was on the verge of something special. Roland Garros 2006 has become the latest moment to savor, and one day "remember when."

After witnessing the 17-year old Czech's latest dynamic win, a three-set triumph over Venus Williams that sends her streaking (moving at high speed, of course, but not nude... although, if a bump in TV ratings was the goal...) into her first career grand slam semifinal, we're now standing at the line on the court where it should be admitted that Vaidisova winning this tournament, much as was the case with Sharapova at Wimbledon in '04, would be the best thing for the women's game.

A Vaidisova victory lap around Lenglen on Saturday afternoon would provide a nice shot in the arm for a tour that's suffered through injuries, absences and indifference (hello, Serena), as well as talk of retirement (Clijsters still says '07 will be her final season) and the overblown Melbourne "civilization-crushing" final. And that's not even mentioning the ever-thickening Federer-Nadal rivalry seemingly about to write another chapter in a story that the women's game hasn't seen anything similar to since... well... Navratilova-Evert, really, thanks to Gabriela Sabatini's inability to keep pace with Steffi Graf, and that German lathe operator who changed the course of women's tennis and Monica Seles' career. Martina Hingis' comeback has been great, but it can only hide a few of those ills, especially while she's still losing in the quarterfinals of slams rather than winning them.

The impact of a Dynamova title would have far more wide-reaching repercussions than an additional slam crown claimed by either of the other remaining Belgians or Russian in the draw. Sedate parents. A capable interviewee (though it's not polite to be caught looking at yourself in the monitor, Nicole, as you did during your ESPN chat today...several times -- if your hair was covering your face, someone would have told you). An image that'll divert some eyeballs of casual fans. I mean, where's the drawback? (Even Yahoo Sports might post more positive headlines on the Tennis page... which today stated "Venus & Hingis Fall" rather than "Vaidisova & Clijsters Win." Figures.).

Another dynamic star may have already been born at Roland Garros this week, but it's the hardware that brings the real credibility. No less than the likes of Evert ('74), Graf ('87) and Seles ('90) were celebrated before winning a slam title, but it was grabbing their career's first in the city of lights that officially put their names on the tennis marquee. A watched pot never boils, but a burgeoning tennis talent often does so at the grandest of places.

Vaidisova could be the next to boil over... but her famed temper would have nothing to do with it.

_____________________________

Today's Big Matches:

1.QF - Vaidisova d. V.Williams
...6-7/6-1/6-3. Lose a 4-1 1st set lead, then a 5-2 advantage in the tie-break? No matter. Vaidisova's got nerves of steel in Paris. She's now 33-5 in career three-set matches
--------------------------
2.QF - Kuznetsova d. Safina
...7-6/6-0. In the 1st set here, Safina found out what it's like to blow a 5-1 lead. Needless to say, she didn't handle the experience very well.
--------------------------
3.QF - JHH d. Groenefeld
...7-5/6-1. Queen Justine has yet to lose a set, so far.
--------------------------
4.QF - Clijsters d. Hingis
...7-6/6-1. Vaidisova was the only player who rebounded at all from losing a tight opening set today. Hingis crumbled, Groenefeld capitulated and Safina disappeared.
--------------------------
5.Jr. 3rd Rd - Cornet d. Wozniacki
...3-6/7-5/8-6. Uh-oh. 8-6 in the 3rd set again for a young Pastry? Well, at least this time (unlike with Virginie Pichet's two-step with Kirsten Flipkens in the qualies & 1st Round) Cornet won't have to face, and lose to, Wozniacki again in her very next match.

_____________________________

...hmmm. In the 1st Round, Mashona Washington blew a 5-2 3rd set lead to Maria Sharapova, who blew a 5-1 3rd set lead in the Round of 16 to Dinara Safina, who blew a 5-1 1st set lead to Svetlana Kuznetsova today.

Is the Contessova next in line to fall in this pigeon-powered chain of events?

_____________________________

ROLAND GARROS...

=="Mademoiselle Opportunity"==
Svetlana Kuznetsova, the Last Russian Standing

=="It" Girl==
Nicole Vaidisova, naturally

_____________________________

**MARTINA HINGIS**

506-112...CAREER WON/LOST
35-11.....2006 RECORD
413-45....CAREER vs. OUTSIDE TOP 10
32-3......2006 vs. OUTSIDE TOP 10
93-67.....CAREER vs. TOP 10
3-8.......2006 vs. TOP 10

_____________________________

**MID-ROUND AWARDS (3rd-QF)**

==TOP PLAYER==
1.Nicole Vaidisova
2.Kim Clijsters

RISER: Dinara Safina
SURPRISE: Anna-Lena Groenefeld
VETERANS: Martina Hingis & Venus Williams
FRESH FACES: Nicole Vaidisova & Shahar Peer
DOWN: Amelie Mauresmo

==MATCHES==
1. 4th - Safina d. Sharapova...7-5/2-6/7-5
2. 4th - Vaidisova d. Mauresmo...6-7/6-1/6-2
3. QF - Vaidisova d. V.Williams...6-7/6-1/6-3

_____________________________

**BATTLE ROYALE UPDATE**

=ROUND OF 16 PREDICTIONS=
Pierre wins RG 12-10 (2006: Pierre 31-29)
Re-Picks: Backspin 6-2, Pierre 5-3

=QUARTERFINALIST PREDICTIONS=
Backspin wins 6-4 (2006: Backspin 36-29)
Re-Picks: Pierre 3-1, Backspin 2-2

=SEMIFINALIST PREDICTIONS=
Pierre wins 2-1 (2006: Pierre 18-16)
Re-Picks: (coming tomorrow)

_____________________________

DAY 11: Wednesday, June 7


...the last two of the men's quarters take centerstage tomorrow, but there are two doubles matches of some passing interest, as well. Martina Navratilova/Bob Bryan face Maria Kirilenko/Leander Paes in the Mixed QF, while Anna Chakvetadze/Elena Vesnina battle Zi Yan/Jie Zheng in the women's doubles.


All for Day 10.

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The Daily Backspin, RG 9: Eight on the Dirt

The final eight at Roland Garros have totalled up some impressive career statistics: 146 WTA singles titles, 16 grand slam championships, and 284 weeks as the #1 player in the world.

But only one of the Elite Eight has ever left Paris on a winning note (Henin-Hardenne, twice), and three (Clijsters, Williams & Hingis) have reached the final only to walk away dejected. Meanwhile, the other half of the group have just experienced their career-best RG result in just the past few days.


DAY 10: Tuesday, June 6


#13 VENUS WILLIAMS vs. #16 NICOLE VAIDISOVA

HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD: Williams leads 1-0 (on clay)
LAST MEETING: 2005 Istanbul Final (clay) - Williams 6-3/6-2

...I get the feeling that Venus' experience will get her through this one, but if the Dynamova does win, she'll win at least one more at this Roland Garros. PICK: VENUS IN 2 (but if it lasts 3, go with Vaidisova)

PIERRE'S P.O.V.: Vaidisova def. V.Williams in 3 - this is going to be some battle, lots of ups and downs, both players will want the win badly... In the end, I think Nicole will be able to back up her upset thanks to a bit better consistency.

#8 SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA vs. #14 DINARA SAFINA

HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD: Safina leads 3-2 (Safina 2-1 on clay)
LAST MEETING: 2006 Rome SF (clay) - Safina 3-6/6-4/7-5

...just like Safina opponent Sharapova in the 4th Round, Kuznetsova lost a lead (6-3/4-3) in her Rome loss to Marat's sister. My head says to go with Kuznetsova, as Safina's string of sweat-it-out wins has to end sometime. PICK: KUZNETSOVA IN 3

PIERRE'S P.O.V.: Safina def. Kuznetsova in 3 - Should be a good one, I think Kuznetsova is looking fairly good though, it will be tight, both are solid on clay, but I'm going with Dinara!

#5 JUSTINE HENIN-HARDENNE vs. #13 ANNA-LENA GROENEFELD

HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD: first meeting

...JHH is the best clay courter in the world not named Rafael, and the surface isn't exactly Girl Friday's best place to play. But ALG has a 2006 clay title, while Henin-Hardenne has none. Le Petit Taureau has been a slight disappointment in Europe, while Groenefeld has defied Parisian expectations through four matches so far. Still... PICK: JHH IN 2

PIERRE'S P.O.V.: Henin-Hardenne def. Groenefeld in 2 - not much of a problem for Justine here, she has too much variety and is a lot more steady, I see this match as being an under 1 hour match.

#2 KIM CLIJSTERS vs. #12 MARTINA HINGIS

HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD: Hingis leads 4-2 (never met on clay)
LAST MEETING: 2006 Australian Open QF - Clijsters 6-3/2-6/6-4

...Clijsters lost a lead and needed three sets to defeat Hingis in their Oz QF meeting. The same situation might occur here, but with a different ending. PICK: HINGIS IN 3

PIERRE'S P.O.V.: Clijsters def. Hingis in 3 - I think this will be a terrific match, lots of variety, both players will work hard. Problem for Martina is she'll have problems getting balls past Kim and thus will have to work extra to win points, which will take its toll by set #3.
________________________________

**MEN'S QUARTERFINALS PICKS**
#1 Federer d. #12 Ancic
#6 Davydenko d. #3 Nalbandian
#4 Ljubicic d. Benneteau
#2 Nadal d. Djokovic

...at least I hope so, since they were all my original Final Four predictions.

________________________________

**BATTLE ROYALE UPDATE**

...in our original Round of 16 picks, Pierre got 12 to my 10. In our Final 8 predictions, I correctly slotted 6 to his 4. For the season, Pierre leads 31-29 in Round of 16 picks, while I lead 36-29 in Quarterfinal predictions.

In our Round of 16 women's re-picks, I went 6-2 to his 5-3. Hmmm, if I'd only stuck with my original Safina over Sharapova pick from last week I would have been even better.

________________________________

"Mademoiselle Opportunity" and "It Girl" titles are down to a select few now. For the latter:

Anna-Lena Groenefeld
Dinara Safina
Nicole Vaidisova

And the former:

Anna-Lena Groenefeld
Martina Hingis (the Oz "Miss O")
Dinara Safina
Nicole Vaidisova
Venus Williams

________________________________

On Day 9, the long-awaited Martina vs. Martina Mixed doubles match didn't even go off (damn pigeons), as Hingis pulled out of the match because of having to complete her 4th Round win over Shahar Peer earlier in the day.

A few interesting junior results, as Czech Maiden Katerina Vankova upset Hordette Alisa Kleybanova, while Germany's Dominice Ripoll knocked of Swiss Junior Miss Timea Bacsinszky. On Day 10, Alize Cornet will face off against Dane Caroline Wozniacki, who was the Girls RU in Melbourne.


All for Day 9.

___________________________

COMING UP: Mid-Round (3r-QF) Awards

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The Daily Backspin, RG 8: A Supernovic Stumble and the Birth of a Dynamo(va)

What did we just witness?

The fate and future path of Nicole Vaidisova's career has been merrily conjoined with the already-traveled road of Maria Sharapova for a while now. As Vaidisova followed along in Sharapova's wake, the links between the two were certainly "intriguing," from the flowing blond locks and powerful groundstrokes to the Floridian connections and potential off-the-court marketing bonanzas.

On Day 8, the fortunes of the teenaged pair criss-crossed in rare fashion. And, as the sun set in Paris, it was the Russian who was boring holes into the ceiling with a stare that lasted deep into the night, and the Czech who was staring into the stary sky, wondering whether "her time" had suddenly arrived.



Sharapova nearly flopped out of this tournament on Day 1, but managed to make a few winged friends and survive to wail another day. Gaining her footing on the terre battue and playing off the rust of a two-month layoff, she entered her 4th Round match with Dinara Safina being able to harbor subtle thoughts of a far more successful Parisian holiday than anyone could have ever expected. And for a while on Sunday, her perceived pre-Paris faults remained a thing of the past.

Even after losing a 5-3 lead and failing to secure two set points in the opening stanza against Safina, the Supernova's fortunes appeared bright deep into the 3rd set. She led her Russian counterpart 4-0, then failed to secure a break point for 5-0. No matter, it was soon 5-1. In moments, she was just two points from the quarterfinals.

Then the pigeons got even.

Whether they stared her down from their perches atop Lenglen, or they'd already worked their dark magic earlier in the morning, something happened to Sharapova that was very uncharactistic. She choked. In a grand slam. Against another Russian. And she didn't have a Rafa banana around to help explain away her inability to swallow, either. A few ill-time double faults and wayward forehands later, and Safina was playing Rocky to the Supernova's Bullwinkle.

"Watch me pull a rabbit out of my hat."

And Safina did. She broke Sharapova's serve three straight times. She won the final six games of the match, precipitating a slam crashout that the Supernova seemed immune from every having to experience. But it happens to almost every top player at some point, and on Sunday it was Sharapova's turn.

Somewhere, the pigeons were bobbing their heads, admiring the spectacle made possible because of their interference on Day 1. In the end, they proved their unbiased nature.

A few hours later, Darlin' Nikki had the chance to fill the void left by the Supernova's exit. After a series of on-court fits and false starts, feats of promise and then feet of clay (no pun intended) in Melbourne, Vaidisova saw her chance.

As a result, "The Dynamova" was born on Court Chatrier.



In her other grand slam Round of 16 meeting with Amelie Mauresmo in Australia, Vaidisova crumbled like a stale cracker. She barely showed up, showing her youth and raising at least a little doubt about her supposedly high-flying future. Or, at the very least, the timetable for her expected ascent. On Sunday, the rematch presented another opportunity for the 17-year old to crack: she lost a tight 1st set in a 7-5 tie-break. This time, she didn't succumb. Instead, it was the Oz champ who wilted under the pressure, and the kid who played to her potential and sailed through to the quarterfinals with two dominating, not to mention somewhat strikingly uncomfortable (for longtime Mauresmo watchers), sets won by Vaidisova 6-1/6-2.

So, the Dynamova will use Sunday as a means of gaining ground on her bigger goals, while the Supernova is left to pick up the pieces and prepare for Wimbledon, where her lack of match toughness and inability to close out an "in-the-bag" match will have to be forgotten and overcome. If she's the champion she's always appeared to be, this match will only serve to spur her on.

But what of Vaidisova? Will she now be content that she finally shined on the big stage, and willingly submit to the pressure of playing five-time slam champion Venus Williams for a slot in the semis? Or, ala Sharapova at Wimbledon less than two years ago, will she recognize that there's no better time than the present to declare that "her moment" has come, and grab for her destiny with both hands?

What did we just witness? If nothing else, a 'Nova-esque rite of passage, for sure. For the Dynamova, but for the Supernova, as well. How they handle their immediate fates will be quite the intriguing story to follow for the remainder of this tournament, as well as this summer.

Slip or soar, the intertwining stories of the blonde bombers promise to continue to twist together.

Isn't it great?

______________________________

Well, that jinx on Mauresmo worked out pretty well, huh?

______________________________

By the way, big congrats to NBC for its Roland Garros coverage today. I mean, who would've ever thought to play taped coverage of Monfils/Blake AND Federer/Berdych rather than live coverage of one of the young up-and-coming stars knocking out the #1 player in the world in front of her home nation fans?

Pure genius, guys.

______________________________

**2006 WINS OVER WOMEN'S #1**
Jan - Aust. QF - #6 Henin-Hardenne d. Davenport
Feb - Antwerp F - #2 Mauresmo d. Clijsters
Mar - Miami SF - #14 Kuznetsova d. Mauresmo
Apr - Fed Cup SF - #11 Schiavone d. Mauresmo
May - Berlin SF - #7 Henin-Hardenne d. Mauresmo
June - RG 4th - #16 Vaidisova d. Mauresmo

______________________________

DAY 9: Monday, June 5



MARTINA N. & MARTINA H.

...it'll be all-Martina-all-the-time on Day 9, as Hingis completes her 4th Round match with Shahar Peer, currently tied at a set apiece. Later, Hingis & Bhupathi face off with Navratilova/B.Bryan in the 2nd Round of Mixed Doubles.

As the men complete their 4th Round action, I think the most interesting match could be Monfils vs. Djokovic. The talk of the vanquished last week centered around how hard the young Serb was hitting the ball; while the French teen has recaptured his winning junior mindset, taking all three of his matches in five-set knock-down-drag-outs that'll either soon sap him of his mojo or set up a potentially very raucous QF matchup with a particular Spanish 20-year old in long pants.

**Men's Bottom Half 4th Round Picks**
Martin d. Benneteau
Ljubicic d. Ramirez-Hidalgo
Djokovic d. Monfils
Nadal d. Hewitt

(top half 4th Rd. picks: 3-1)


All for Day 8.

=========================

TOMORROW: WOMEN'S QF WATCH

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