Myskina, Schnyder and Bovina out in Doha 2nd round

By Maarten Heida.
February 24 2005

In second round action in Doha today Myskina, Schnyder and Bovina, the 3rd, 5th and 6th seed respectively, were surprised by unranked opponents. Myskina, two-time winner was surprised by veteran Conchita Martinez, Schnyder was upset by Maria Kirilenko and Bovina lost to Daniela Hantuchova.

In the second round of the Qatar Open, three seeded players went out. The most notable casualty was 3rd seed Anastasia Myskina, who lost quite surprisingly to Conchita Martinez.

The first set surprisingly went to Martinez, 6-4.Myskina’s constant barrage of errors also put her down 4-1 in the second set.All of a sudden it seemed that she regained her composure, taking 4 straight games to go up 5-4.Then after going to 30-30, two points away from a second set win, it seemed that her tank was empty, giving up 10 straight points, to finally lose 7-5 to Martinez.

Maria Kirilenko, another promising young Russian, completely took Patty Schnyder by surprise in the first set, walloping her 6-0. Then it seemed that experienced was going to decide this match, after Schnyder clawed her way back into the match taking the second set 6-1. However, Kirilenko showed her great potential in the final set by placing to breaks on the Schnyder serve, surprising the experienced Swiss 6-0, 1-6, 6-2.

Elena Bovina, on her comeback, showed that there’s still a little rust to shake off, by losing to another player who’s trying to come back to the top of the world rankings, Daniela Hantuchova.In other second round action Maria Sharapova, 2nd seed, left Gisela Dulko of Argentina gasping for air, taking her to the cleaners by 6-1, 6-1.

Amelie Mauresmo survived a first set scare against talented Serbian Ana Ivanovic.Ivanovic showed that if she can keep her level of play more consistent, she can threaten any player in the world. After an excellent first set, 6-2, Ivanovic’ level dropped off slightly, only for the more experienced Mauresmo to make good use of the opportunity given, 6-2. In the final set Mauresmo seemed to run away with it, storming to a 4-1 lead. Ivanovic then managed to regain some of her first set spark, but it proved too little too late as Mauresmo managed to serve out the match at 5-4, winning the match in 3 sets: 2-6, 6-2, 6-4.

In an all Aussie-clash Alicia Molik, 4th seed had very little problems with countrywoman Nicole Pratt, taking her apart by winning 6-3, 6-2. Molik seemed to take control at 2-1 in the first set, by breaking Pratt to go up 3-1. Then after taking her own serve and Pratt taking hers, Molik seemed to lose focus for a moment, delivering a sloppy game. That once again seemed to wake up Molik, breaking Pratt again to go up 5-3, only to serve out the set 6-3. In the second set a break in Pratt’s first and second service game seemed to effectively end the match, Molik up 3-0. Pratt only managed a “mini-fight back”, taking her own and Molik’s serve to come back to 3-2. After that Molik finally got a hold of her self, notching another break and taking her last 2 service games winning the all-Aussie encounter 6-3, 6-2.

Second round results:

(4) Alicia Molik (AUS) d. Nicole Pratt (AUS) 6-3, 6-2
Daniela Hantuchova (SVK) d. (6) Elena Bovina (RUS) 6-0, 3-6, 6-3
(2)Maria Sharapova (RUS) d. Gisela Dulko (ARG) 6-1, 6-1
Marion Bartoli (FRA) d. Jelena Kostanic (CRO) 7-5, 6-2
Francesca Schiavone (ITA) d. Ai Sugiyama (JPN) 6-2, 2-6, 6-2
Conchita Martinez (ESP) d. (3) Anastasia Myskina (RUS) 6-4, 7-5
(Q) Maria Kirilenko (RUS) d. (5) Patty Schnyder (SUI) 6-0, 1-6, 6-2
(1) Amelie Mauresmo (FRA) d. (WC) Ana Ivanovic (SCG) 2-6, 6-2, 6-4