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2010 Eastbourne tournament | Blog

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2010 AEGON International 

Devonshire Park, Eastbourne, England | 12-19 June

DAY-BY-DAY NEWS | FEATURES | DRAW | RESULTS | ALERTS

  • Makarova makes history

    AEGON International final, Eastbourne | 19 June 2010


    Victoria Azarenka lost to Ekaterina Makarova

    6-7(5) 4-6

    Russian qualifier in seventh heaven

    Ice-cool Ekaterina Makarova became the first qualifier to ever win the Eastbourne event, after winning seven matches on the trot.

    The Russian world no100 stormed to her maiden career title without dropping a set all week, and sealed success with a battling 7-6 (5), 6-4 victory over Victoria Azarenka in 112 minutes.

    But in the opening exchanges candyfloss pink-kitted Belarussian ace Azarenka looked to end the giant-killer's emphatic run by racing to an opening set 3-0 lead. 

    The 22-year-old, playing in traditional Wimbledon white, then got some advice from her coach after the stuttering start to bounce back in style and edge the tiebreak against the world no15.

    After high-pitched shrieker Azarenka sped into an early 2-1 lead in the next set, the 20-year-old part-based in Arizona and Paris, seemed to be stuggling with a knee injury so called for her coach.

    After the enforced break, Makarova immediately broke Azarenka's serve to level matters at 2-2 and then went for broke to seal the set and the title to become the first unseeded Devonshire Park winner since Chanda Rubin's 2002 triumph.

    And Makarova will climb up the world rankings after her run of wins on grass, especially as prior to Eastbourne she had not registered back-to-back main draw matches this season.

    The rising Russian star steamrolled to the final, including stunning victories over twice grand slam winner and compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova and recent French Open runner-up Sam Stosur of Australia. 

    Makarova, playing in her third career final, said: "I started very good today and made no mistakes, but then I got a bit nervous and she came back, but I threw this from my mind and played point by point."

    "I'm in shock right now, especially that I didn't lose a set. This is just unbelievable to me, I cannot believe that I did it. I can't understand yet that I've won.

    "There was no secret to the success, my secret has been my great coach - the best! I was eating every day pasta in the same restaurant, so maybe that's the reason! But I also like the grass and I've really enjoyed the week and playing through qualifying here.

    "I never thought I could win. In the first round qualifying match I played another Russian and we're really good friends. I didn't think anything like I can win, it was a really tough draw. But I'm just enjoying my tennis.

    "My family have been watching on TV, and thanks to the crowd and the sponsors for the tennis here."

    Azarenka, who saw off two former Eastbourne champions (Clijsters and Radwanska) to reach the final, would not expand on her injury and said: "It's my problem, I'll keep it to myself. I still have to treat it and I don't want to put it out there but it's not a big thing."

2010 Pre-Tournament News 

Repeat of Roland Garros?

2010 French Open championVisitors to Devonshire Park could see a repeat of the 2010 French Open final, as both Italian Francesca Schivone and Australian Sam Stosur are among the entrants of a high quality draw.

2009 Wimbledon quarter-finalist Schivone (left) was a surprise winner on the clay courts at Paris, and doubles expert Stosur (below) - who saw off three ex-world no1 en route to the final - was a shock runner-up.

The Italian became the first female winner of a grand slam singles crown outside the world's top 10 since 1933. When asked what makes her game so special, Schivone said: "Going over the limits, and being everything you can be in two hours."

With a star-studded array of players at the 2010 AEGON International, there could be plenty of shock results and the draw will determine who makes the final four. However, grass is a faster surface and only certain players will have the guile and ability to win the event.

Henin hooked by Holland

Justine Henin, will skip 2010 Eastbourne in favour of playing at the Unicef Open at Rosmalen in Holland as a wildcard. The former world no1 triumphed at the grass court tournament in 2001 and finished runner-up in 2003.

"This is a fantastic initiative and wonderful to see that my sport is used for a better world for children," said Henin. "I look forward to playing in Rosmalen as it's very close to Belgium so a good preparation for Wimbledon. "

Tournament Director Marcel Hunze said: "Justine has always been on our wish list. Not only because of its attractive tennis, but also because they are very concerned with the welfare of children, an ambassador of UNICEF and through its own foundation of 'Justine For Kids'.

The grass court event in the Netherlands is only Henin's eighth event since returning to the WTA Tour and following her shock fourth round 2010 French Open exit to Australian Sam Stosur, she needs to win a tournament before SW19.

Henin, the two-time winner at Eastbourne, said: "I knew that 2010 was going to be difficult, I thought it would be a year of transition. I'm getting used to dealing with situations.

Brits back to south coast

Elena BaltachaBritish no1 and no2 Elena Baltacha and Anne Keothavang have been handed wildcard entries to the 2010 AEGON International.

Baltacha (pictured), who has battled her way back from numerous injuries over the years to once again make the world's top 100 rankings in early 2010, returns to Devonshire Park.

"I always look forward to playing Eastbourne, but like always I'm going to give it everything I have. There's nothing like playing in front of your home crowd and I'm really excited," admitted the Scot. "I've got great memories from the AEGON International, so I'm really looking forward to this year. I've had a great year so far, but will need to raise my game."

Kuznetsova quick on the draw

click here for Russians featureSvetlana Kuznetsova has replaced her injured Russian compatriot Elena Dementieva at the 2010 AEGON International.

The ex-Eastbourne champion, who was knocked out of the third round at Roland Garros while trying to defend her French Open title, is desperate to rediscover her form for Wimbledon.

"I'm delighted to have been awarded this wildcard to Eastbourne, it provides excellent preparation for Wimbledon," she said.

"It brings back good memories after my victory there in 2004, the courts are fantastic."

Dementieva over and out 

Russian beauty Elena Dementieva, who retired from the semi-finals of the 2010 French Open, announced after her match that she will miss the Eastbourne event. 
elena dementieva
Dementieva cited a calf injury as the reason for retiring after losing the opening set tie-break to Francesca Schiavone in Paris.

"I've a tear in my left calf, so it's very painful to even walk," she said. "Today was just a sharp pain and it was a bit too much."

The no5 seed in Paris received treatment during her French Open quarter-final victory over compatriot Nadia Petrova, but did not require a physio on the Philippe Chatrier Court against the Italian.

Dementieva claimed that she had played at Roland Garros suffering a torn calf muscle since her second-round win over Anabel Medina Garrigues and almost quit the grand slam in the third round when she faced Aleksandra Wozniak.

Peer on song to be top 10 hit 

Shahar Peer will compete at Eastbourne aiming to become a top 10 hit, as she leaps up to world no14 before the AEGON International.
free wallpapers
Peer returned to her native Israel for a break immediately after her last 16 exit at Roland Garros and does not have many points to defend at Devonshire Park this year.

Her clay court season displays, including semi-final spots at Madrid and Stuttgart as well the last 16 at the French Open, has lifted her to world no14 going into the 2010 AEGON International.

Coach Pablo Giacopelli said: "Peer will get to the top 10 this year, or at least get very near to it, but the key is about staying there to show that her tennis is solid enough. Tennis-wise and physically-wise she is ready to take the next step and we are already seeing her taking it, but psychologically she still has to move forward considerably.

"Unfortunately, against three or four players in the world she still doesn’t have the tools mentally to be able to cope with the situation and play her game, but these are the same tools that are going to enable her to be a top 10 player.”

Henin plays waiting game

click here for 2007 eventJustine Henin is desperately seeking to win Wimbledon - the sole grand slam event to elude the Belgian ace - after her French Open exit at the hands of Australian Sam Stosur.

Henin's eighth event since returning to the WTA Tour could be Eastbourne, but she is finalising her grass court season schedule before deciding whether to apply for a wildcard entry.

"I knew that 2010 was going to be difficult, I thought it would be a year of transition," she said. "I'm getting used to dealing with situations."

With Henin having already publicly said that her ambition on the WTA Tour is to win 2010 Wimbledon, it would be almost unimaginable for the 2007 Eastbourne champion not to warming-up on the sunny south coast.

Yet she playing her cards close to her chest this year and if she turns up at Eastbourne will appear as a wildcard with an incredible unbeaten record on the Devonshire Park grass.

Ace Azarenka set to return 

Despite missing star quality names in the men's draw, at least the ladies tournament will serve an ace event.

free wallpapersVictoria Azarenka (pictured) has included the 2010 AEGON International on her schedule, and the Belarussian is an exciting prospect after her breakthrough year of 2009.

And last year's champion, Caroline Wozniacki, is returning to defend her 2009 crown.

Although Wozniacki was beaten by Belgian Kim Clijsters at Flushing Meadow, the Danish youngster's game is perfectly suited to grass so she will be among the favourites to take the 2010 crown at Eastbourne's Devonshire Park.

Clijsters confident 

kim clijsters returns"I'm really excited about playing at Eastbourne, it's one of my favourite events," said Kim Clijsters (pictured). "I won it in 2005 and I can't wait to challenge for the title again."

And Wozniacki explained: "I'm really excited to defend my title and I can't wait to return to England for the grass court season. Eastbourne provides an excellent preparation for me ahead of Wimbledon."

2009 AEGON International 

Eastbournetennis.com | 13-20 June

2009 NEWS | 2009 FEATURES | 2009 RESULTS | 2009 ROUND-UP

2009 champion wozniackiFinal

player one result player two
C. WOZNIACKI [6]  7-6, 7.-5
 V. RAZZANO

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