Austrian teenager Tamira Paszek made a forceful return to the winner's circle in Québec City Sunday afternoon, edging Bethanie Mattek-Sands for her second career Sony Ericsson WTA Tour title.
Paszek, a former No.35 who had to make it through qualifying this week on account of her current No.151 ranking, didn't drop a set en route to the final and showed she could still play big time tennis on Court Bell, saving two set points in the first set and rallying from a 3-1 deficit in the third to win, 76(6) 26 75.
"It's overwhelming," said Paszek, who has ties with Canada - her father lived there for 15 years. "I'm extremely happy. Anytime you win a tournament for the first time it's very special. This is something I'll remember the rest of my life."
Paszek's 2009 was marred by injury, and at only 19 she is trying to work her way back up. She is projected to return to the Top 100 after this. "I want to thank my family and friends for supporting me during tough times last year.
"I always believed I could come back."
Paszek is now 2-1 in career finals, also winning in Portoroz as a 15-year-old in 2006. She was a runner-up to Patty Schnyder at Bali in 2008.
Paszek, a former No.35 who had to make it through qualifying this week on account of her current No.151 ranking, didn't drop a set en route to the final and showed she could still play big time tennis on Court Bell, saving two set points in the first set and rallying from a 3-1 deficit in the third to win, 76(6) 26 75.
"It's overwhelming," said Paszek, who has ties with Canada - her father lived there for 15 years. "I'm extremely happy. Anytime you win a tournament for the first time it's very special. This is something I'll remember the rest of my life."
Paszek's 2009 was marred by injury, and at only 19 she is trying to work her way back up. She is projected to return to the Top 100 after this. "I want to thank my family and friends for supporting me during tough times last year.
"I always believed I could come back."
Paszek is now 2-1 in career finals, also winning in Portoroz as a 15-year-old in 2006. She was a runner-up to Patty Schnyder at Bali in 2008.
14 comments:
In a tournament like this which has a lot of upsets I always like to see the lowest seed possible winning the tournament. Even though Tamira is ranked at 151 and Bethanie at 63 is a bit misleading because both at some point have been ranked in the top 40. Having said that loved the fact that Tamira won. She went through qualies, faced a feisty Craybas (who upset Rezai) and a pesky Bethanie and won. The favorites went home early and the long shots became the news which made this tournament a delicious treat; and having a player ranked 151 in the world winning made the cherry on top of the treat.
Its always nice to see an "underdog" come out on top every now and then.
And always makes the tour more intresting!
It was also nice to see (altough top seed) Jarmila Groth win her debut title, and crack the top 50!
"Captain" how do you see Jarmila do in the future? A super star like Serena, a star player, or a solid player like Z.Jie?
I don't think she will be a super star, but I think she has top 10 potential and I think she could be a star, but like many players have done in the past and not live up to thier expectations I think she will only be a solid top 30 player. What do you think?
I think she can be a solid top 30 player. She is married and she is young, she has to know how to handle both career and marriage. In tennis years at her age, her game must be already developed (IMO a player must have their game developed at the age of twenty, from that point their game can only be perfected. Very few players can develop or further develop their game at that age). We have to take into account injuries which no one is immune and slows down a player's career. Is she a snap, crackle, and pop type of player? (injury prone :P) or will she have a serious injury like Divapova which can side line her for a while? So I'm taking all this factors in consideration in my prediction, but I hope she can prove me wrong and do better.
I hope she does too! I hope she gets top 10 and threatens for slams, shes peeking at the right time in the tennis world, as Serena gets older. IMO when Serena, Venus, Kim and Justine go the slams will be more open than ever. And there will be more "one time wonders" than ever. Because I cant see Caro, Vika, Radwanska and other players like that, really steping up to take control of the game, like those four ladies have.
You are right again "Captain". But you forgot one player Divapova. Will she ever be the same player as she was before? After the Belgians and the William sisters go, she is next in line to dominate the game. However will her shoulder be healthy enough to allow her to be at top of her game again or is she done? I think she can not play at the high level that she once did. BTW love Divapova's game, I really dislike the woman, same thing with Azarenka.
Yes Divapova, well I don't think her sholder will ever be able to prepel her back to the top of the game again, you have to take into consideration, In two years she hasn't yet gotten back to the top 10, which is a worrying sign. I don't think she has the mental strength either, which is what Serena used to get back to world number 1 and stay there. In saying about Divapova, im sure that Henin won't be able to get back to grand slam winning form. And I remember Tracy Austin saying in the Australian Open telecast that she saw Henin top 2 at the end of the year, so far her comeback has been very unsuccessful. This isn't the first time Australian Open commentators have gotten thier predictions very very very wrong. I don't like Divapova or Azarenka aswell but there game is very good.
I noticed also Kim has not been consistent outside the USO. Tracy Austin is a bad commentator as well as Mary Carillo both get under my skin. I like Mary Jo Fernandez, to a lesser extent Pam Shiver, Darren Cahill and John McEnroe. Play by play, I like Dick Enberg. Who are your favorite commentators and play by play guys?
Yeah, Kim's success doesn't really go out the US Hardcourts. I really Like Mary Jo and strongly dis-like Mary Carillo. I don't mind Tracy Austin but shes definatly not the best. John McEnroe is very good and I also liked in Australia this year we had Henri Leconte and that was a good laugh. Tony Trabert is good. The commentator I hate the most is Jim Courier, I can't stand him atall, also we have Samantha Smith here in Australia and she is terrible.
And as for play by play, I havent really listend to them that often, so I wouldn't have a clue who any of them were!
You know "Captain" the play by play guy is in my opinion an extra commentator.
Jim Courier, I been trying to remember this guy's name. It might have been erased from my consciousness because like you, I can't stand him either.
Well I will definatly need to check it out more often then!
Yes, I think Jim Courier is just the worst commentator, and so stuck up, he always goes on about what he did in his carear and its like well we don't care thats all past, get over it!
You should meditate to erase Courier from your mind. :P
I recommend not to check the play by play guy. Example: There would be McEnroe and Carillo commenting, and Enberg just telling you what you seeing on court. Also asking both commentators on their opinions. There is a lot yakking on U.S. televised tennis games.
I definatly could use that!
Well alright then, I wont be checking out play by play anytime soon!
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